By Dayvon Love One of the impacts of the descent of news media into the realm of pop culture is a general neglect of political discourse in Black spaces on foreign policy. The focus on things that will get likes and shares disincentivizes rigorous foreign policy conversations in Black civic and political circles. This has […]
Category: OPINION
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: 47th president’s foreign policy is White supremacy
In this opinion column, Dayvon Love argues that the 47th president’s foreign policy reflects and reinforces White supremacy through U.S. military aggression and imperialism, particularly toward Black- and Global South–led nations such as Venezuela, Nigeria and South Africa. Love calls on Black communities to more actively engage in foreign policy discourse and to demand reduced military spending and greater investment in community-based violence prevention at home.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Structural inequality undermines Jamaica’s schools
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. This week he highlights that curriculum reform efforts falter without intentional, culturally grounded curriculum implementation leadership.
Posted inCommentary
From heartbreak to hope: Reclaiming the soul of Watch Night
By Rev. Stacy Swimp For many, New Year’s Eve is a night of sparkling lights and resolutions. But for the Black community, the ticking clock has a deeper echo. To understand why we gather in churches on Dec. 31, we must look beyond the party and confront a journey of profound survival. We must remember […]
Posted inEditorial
AFRO CEO reflects on 2025: A year of resilience and relevance in Black journalism
The AFRO, a Black-owned news outlet, has been publishing for 133 years and continues to be a source of truth and self-definition for the Black community, covering a range of topics from public safety to culture and sports, while also honoring the legacy of Black leaders and preserving Black history.
Posted inOPINION
Protect our gains: Why the Black community must fight to save ACA subsidies
By Rev. Stacy Swimp The enhanced health insurance subsidies, set to expire at the end of 2025, represent a direct threat to the financial and health stability of Black Americans. While the crisis affects all races, the consequences for the Black community will be disproportionate and severe, effectively rolling back historic progress in health equity. […]
Posted inCommentary
If violent crime is truly a national priority, why isn’t gun violence?
By Renée Hall Another American community is grieving today. This time it is Stockton, Calif., where families woke up to the kind of news no parent, no neighbor, and no city should ever have to endure. Sirens at night. Candles by morning. Another headline. Another vigil. And a community asking the same heartbreaking question we […]
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: I came of age at college…I fear for my grandchildren there
By Dr. France “Toni” Murphy DraperWord in Black I remember college as a place of possibility. We protested — yes — but we did so with sit-ins, with leaflets, with raised voices and locked arms. We marched and we sang “We Shall Overcome Someday.” We believed, perhaps naively, that collective courage and moral clarity could […]
Posted inCommentary
Reframing autism in D.C. schools: From label to understanding
By Nicole A. Wynn In a busy Washington, D.C. classroom, a student rocks gently in his chair, hands over his ears. The teacher assumes he’s being defiant and calls his name sharply. In reality, the fluorescent lights and echoing voices have overwhelmed his senses. This scene plays out daily in schools across the District not […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Maryland must end the harmful practice of automatically charging youth as adults
Attorney Kisha Brown previously served as director of both the Maryland Attorney General’s Legislative Affairs division and the Civil Rights department. She was the first woman to lead the Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights. In this piece she argues Maryland’s criminal justice system continues to disproportionately harm Black communities, especially through its outdated practice of automatically charging some youth as adults, a policy critics argue urgently needs to end.
Posted inOPINION
Tips for managing your holiday budget in a time of financial uncertainty
By Janet Currie It’s hard to believe the holiday season is upon us, bringing both excitement and extra financial responsibilities. For many Maryland families, managing celebrations alongside everyday budgets can feel a bit heavier this year. According to Bank of America internal data, in 2025 nearly a quarter of all households are estimated to live […]
Posted inEditorial
This Christmas, give our children something that will grow with them
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy DraperAFRO CEO and Publisher Every holiday season, we search for the perfect gifts for the children in our lives. We want the joy and the surprise. But most of what we buy doesn’t last. Sneakers lose their shine, video games get replaced and toys are forgotten by spring. As families […]