By Nyame-Kye KondoSpecial to the AFRO The AFRO had the pleasure of catching up with some Washingtonians as they went about their daily lives. We asked five individuals to name their favorite Black-owned businesses in the area and their answers reflected both the shared culture and varied interests of the African-American community. Dezhane Moore – […]
Category: Prince George’s County News
Three key tips for newspapers to thrive for the next 100 years
AFRO leaders share three key tips for Black newspapers to thrive: balancing legacy, innovation, and engagement with younger generations amid industry challenges.
Ink, identity, and influence: The AFRO’s ongoing legacy
The AFRO has long been a vital voice for the Black community, shining a light on issues often neglected by mainstream media. As it nears its 133rd anniversary, the newspaper continues its mission to confront injustice and amplify Black voices in a changing political landscape.
Virginia man convicted in brutal slaying of Maryland woman, his ex-girlfriend
Kevin Derr, 51, has been convicted of first-degree murder and other charges for the April 2024 stabbing death of his former girlfriend, 47-year-old Wendolyn McKoy, in Prince George’s County, Md. Prosecutors say Derr lay in wait, forced McKoy into her home, and stabbed her 78 times in front of a minor; he faces life without parole when sentenced in November.
Cheltenham’s lost graves spark push for juvenile justice reform
An overgrown burial ground near the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center holds the remains of Black boys who died there more than a century ago—children once confined under Maryland’s segregated juvenile justice system. Now, a state senator is pushing to reform how the state prosecutes youth, linking today’s policies to the system’s unequal and often forgotten past.
After complaints go nowhere, Maryland woman pushes for accountability from local lawyers
After hiring a bankruptcy attorney to challenge what she believed were inflated mortgage charges, Iris McClain says she was left with missed deadlines, a dismissed case and no refund. She’s now warning others and calling for greater accountability, alleging the state’s attorney oversight system is built to shield lawyers, not protect clients.
Maryland’s forgotten victims: Shedding light on the state’s lynching legacy
Since 2018, the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project has worked to uncover the state’s legacy of racial terror, documenting dozens of lynchings that were long ignored or forgotten. Its leaders say reckoning with these truths is essential to healing—and to preventing history from repeating itself.
Protecting Moses African Cemetery: Residents return to court to safeguard the remains of Bethesda’s historic Black community
The headline says it all. Black bodies are buried underground in wealthy, well-educated, multi-ethnic, Bethesda, Maryland. This is a story you won’t believe is true – right next door to the nation’s capital. But it’s true.
Maryland lawmakers denied entry to Baltimore ICE facility
Maryland lawmakers were blocked from inspecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding areas during a scheduled oversight visit to the Baltimore Field Office on July 28. ICE officials cited directives from headquarters, sparking outrage from the delegation and drawing a comparison to the historic targeting of Black Americans by Rep. Kweisi Mfume.
In Prince George’s County, Sheriff Carr leads with service, not sirens
During a recent segment of “Behind the Badge with Sheriff Carr,” a new podcast that airs in the Greater Washington Area, host Taylor Thomas, left; Prince George’s County Sheriff John D.B. Carr; Franklyn Malone, CEO and founder of 100 Black Fathers; and Lamont Bunyon, president of 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County discuss a range of issues related to youth and family, including how to keep children engaged and out of trouble, preparing youth for employment and identifying resources to reduce the effects of mental illness and domestic violence within families.
Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood visits HBCUs and historic sites in D.C. area to empower Black youth
Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood took a tour of historically Black Colleges and Universities, museums, and landmarks in Washington, D.C., to expose young men to different learning opportunities and encourage them to attend college.
Displaced federal workers start journey toward new careers in Maryland’s K-12 classrooms
Dozens of displaced federal workers in Maryland are beginning new careers in K-12 education through alternative teacher certification programs at area colleges and universities. Funded by a $1 million state grant, these initiatives aim to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage while offering former government employees a meaningful new path in the classroom.

