By Nicole Tucker-Smith, Word In Black The Florida Department of Education’s recent decision to reject the AP (Advanced Placement) African American Studies course is deliberately divisive. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, knows how to stoke sentiment. The current media attention is only energizing his base and bolstering his, yet to be announced, presidential bid. DeSantis’ […]
Category: Word In Black
Posted inHealth
Reading the labels of food products can save the health of many Americans
By Reginald Williams, Special to the AFRO The front of food packaging is for entertainment—pure hype. The back of the package holds the life-altering information. Food manufacturers employ deceptive marketing strategies to capitalize on consumers’ movement toward eating healthier. Packaging designed with messages like “100% Organic,” “All Natural,” and “Made with REAL Fruit” boldly printed […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore County Public School superintendent declines to renew contract, Randallstown NAACP calls for national search to find replacement
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com Baltimore County Public Schools’ (BCPS) superintendent Darryl Williams announced on Jan. 23 that he would not renew his contract with the school district. Williams has oversaw the system’s educational program since May 2019. The Randallstown National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is asking the Baltimore […]
Posted inWord In Black
Black students are still experiencing pandemic trauma
By Maya Pottiger, Word In Black People aren’t rubber bands. Even as kids attend school in-person full-time again and life slowly returns to normal, they aren’t going to snap back to who they were and how they felt before the COVID-19 pandemic. It had a deep and lasting impact on everyone, especially Black families and […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland announces legislative agenda for 2023 general assembly session
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On Jan. 25 at 11:30 a.m. the 64-member Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (LBCM) announced their top priorities for the 445th Maryland General Assembly. A significant crowd of news outlets and community activists joined members of the caucus as they outlined five priorities affecting Black and minority Marylanders […]
Posted inWord In Black
Florida to Black People: We’re Not Teaching Your History
by Aziah Siid The Florida Department of Education officially launched its 2023 Black History Month Student and Educator Contests with the theme of celebrating the achievements of African American Floridians. In the same breath, they’ve rejected the College Board’s AP African American course for high school students. On Jan. 19, news broke that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, National News, News, NEWS, Word In Black
Breaking the School-to-Prison Cycle of Kids with Disabilities
By Aziah Siid, Word in Black Whether it’s autism or dyslexia, emotional disturbances, or a hearing impairment, it’s easy for students with disabilities to get lost in the classroom. As a result, they might behave in ways their teachers and peers don’t understand — and their teacher may lack the training, or empathy, to meet their […]
Posted inWord In Black
Word In Black expands staff with $1M in new funding from Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
By LMA Staff Word In Black, a groundbreaking collaboration of the nation’s leading Black publishers and a program of Local Media Foundation, has received $1 million from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to establish a climate justice desk and fund several other journalist positions for the next two years. This funding will enable Word In […]
Posted inWord In Black
What happened to all the high school bands? Advocates claim funding has disrupted the music pipeline in schools
By RayJaun Stelly, Word in Black Have you noticed the atmosphere is different when you’re at a high school football or basketball game? The aesthetic of hearing a band play in such a way that makes fans get out of their seats to dance, or get players and coaches riled up to go out on […]
Posted inWord In Black
Advocates urge educators to address student grief in school
By Shirley L. Smith, New York Amsterdam News The COVID-19 pandemic and America’s continuing struggle with gun violence have shined a long overdue spotlight on the impact of grief on children. Child advocates are hoping this heightened awareness will spark a culture shift in American schools so that grief training and counseling will become as […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever inspires youth to see themselves and their futures in a new light
By Bianca Crawley, Special to the AFRO The latest installment of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther saga, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” did more than just sell out theaters– it positively influenced millions of young, Black audience members across the country. The film put Black excellence on the big screen in full display for Black children, looking […]
Posted inNational News
Meharry Medical College working to increase the number of Black medical professionals with physician assistant program
By Mylika Scatliffe, AFRO Women’s Health Writer Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. has launched a physician assistant program in its School of Graduate Studies and Research, the nation’s largest private independent historically Black academic health sciences center. The first class of 25 aspiring physician assistants began their course of study in June 2022. The […]