Lent is the 40-day Christian season of prayer, fasting and sacrifice leading up to Easter, commemorating Christ’s suffering and resurrection. While many believers give up favorite foods or habits, others practice various forms of fasting or add meaningful spiritual disciplines to deepen faith and prepare for renewal.
Category: Religion
Posted inWord In Black
In Minneapolis, faith groups provide shelter from the ICE storm
As ICE raids escalate in Minneapolis, faith leaders and lay communities are turning churches, streets, and teaching spaces into sanctuaries—offering food, trauma care, and resistance grounded in Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community.
Posted inReligion
‘Total Praise’: Smallwood’s signature anthem embodies Jan. 24 celebration of life service
Thousands gathered at First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Maryland to celebrate the life and legacy of gospel composer and singer Richard Smallwood, honoring the “Maestro” with music, testimony and tributes from faith leaders, artists and public officials. The Jan. 24 service highlighted Smallwood’s enduring impact as a theologically grounded musician whose compositions bridged church, campus and global stages.
Posted inBlack History
Faith community remembers sacrifice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Faith leaders in D.C. honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with a call to action. Bishop Mariann Budde delivers a powerful sermon on equality.
Posted inBlack Press
From the AFRO Archives: A look at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black Press
The Black Press stood shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement, serving as both a chronicler and catalyst for change. From exposing racial terror to amplifying boycotts and voter education, Black newspapers helped shape the movement from within.
Posted inReligion
Druski’s latest skit parodies Black megachurch culture
Comedian Druski’s viral skit parodying prosperity-style Black megachurch culture has ignited widespread praise, backlash and reflection, with viewers debating whether the satire critiques exploitation or disrespects sacred faith traditions. Faith leaders and commentators argue the skit resonates because it mirrors real issues of performance, money and hypocrisy that the church must confront internally.
Posted inObituaries
Richard Smallwood, gospel icon, to be honored at Jan. 24 celebration of life
The celebration of life for legendary gospel artist Richard Smallwood will take place Jan. 24 at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International in Upper Marlboro, Md. Smallwood, 77, died of complications from kidney failure on Dec. 30, 2025.
Posted inWord In Black
Richard Smallwood: ‘I’m looking forward to singing with you in heaven’
The death of Richard Smallwood, the legendary gospel composer and musician whose work reshaped Black church worship, on Dec. 30 at age 77, has prompted tributes across congregations and the music world. Best known for “Total Praise” and other modern hymns, Smallwood blended classical training with gospel tradition, leaving a lasting spiritual and musical legacy that continues to resonate across denominations and generations.
Posted inReligion
AME Zion Church hosts Christian Education Department Winter Meeting in Baltimore
By AFRO Staff Nearly 2,500 participants—most of them children and youth, alongside families and adults of all ages—convened in Baltimore Dec. 26–30, 2025 for Elevate 2025: Flourish and Thrive, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church’s Christian Education Department Winter Conference. The event took place at the Hilton in downtown Baltimore. Through outstanding worship […]
Posted inNEWS
ABC Revival calls faith leaders to renew commitment to Black progress
At a time when Black history is being censored and equity efforts reversed, ABC’s Revival became a call for spiritual renewal and civic resistance. Faith leaders reminded attendees that they were “born to carry the weight” of leadership and truth-telling.
Posted inNational News
Remembering Black leaders and icons who died in 2025
As 2025 ends, the AFRO honors the Black leaders, artists, and trailblazers who passed away this year. Their legacies shaped culture, politics and society, leaving a lasting impact on communities worldwide.
Posted inReligion
Watch Night: How Black Americans welcomed freedom with prayer
Watch Night, also known as Freedom’s Eve, is a sacred New Year’s Eve tradition in Black communities rooted in Christian worship and remembrance of Dec. 31, 1862, when enslaved and free African Americans gathered in prayer to await the Emancipation Proclamation. The tradition endures today as a blend of faith, cultural ritual and historical memory, honoring both spiritual perseverance and the long struggle for freedom.
