Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the MDDC Press Association, argues that Gov. Wes Moore’s veto of SB 459 undermines Maryland’s local news ecosystem by overlooking the reach, sophistication and community impact of local media outlets. The commentary is accompanied by a statement from AFRO leadership noting that the publication has served as a trusted paper of record for many in the African American community for 134 years and continues to reach audiences through a modern, multi-platform media operation.
Tag: AFRO-American Newspaper
Maryland Park Service dedicates Montgomery County’s Freedman’s State Park in honor of Howard Family
Freedman’s State Park, a new Maryland state park dedicated to the African American Howard family, was established to honor their journey from enslavement to emancipation and their contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.
Women preserve legacy through shared family names
While “Jr.” and “Sr.” traditions have long defined lineage through men, these stories show how women preserve family history in their own ways. Across generations, they describe names as a lasting link to identity, ancestry and legacy.
Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. The man who stopped
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper More than forty years ago, in a crowded corridor in Nassau, Bahamas, I watched Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. do something small that revealed something immense: he stopped. My mother, Frances L. Murphy II—then publisher of the AFRO-American Newspaper—and I were attending a conference where he was the keynote […]
The AFRO: A vanguard to civil rights
In this opinion commentary, Rev. Stacy Swimp traces the historic role of the AFRO-American Newspaper as a cornerstone of Black self-definition, intellectual advocacy and civil rights activism. From its founding by John Henry Murphy Sr. in 1892 to its modern-day mission, the AFRO is presented as a vital institution that has equipped Black communities to confront media bias, preserve historical truth and exercise collective agency through literacy, scholarship and service. Credit: AFRO Photo
‘Postpartum shower’ will celebrate Baltimore mothers April 16
By AFRO Staff Black mothers will be feted April 16 at a postpartum shower hosted by DMC Promise Foundation. Under the banner, “Crowned in Resilience, Blooming in Beauty: Celebrating Black Mothers & The Village!” the organization aims to create a welcoming space for mothers in the Baltimore area to gather, connect, network and access valuable […]
From the publisher’s desk: Never despise small beginnings
Frances Murphy “Toni” Draper, CEO and Publisher of the AFRO-American Newspaper, reflects on her early experiences as an entrepreneur and the importance of entrepreneurship for Black-owned businesses.
From the AFRO Archives: Bridging the gap between Liberia and Baltimore
Bilphena Decontee Yahwon is a fellow at Afro Charities, where she is using her internship to explore the transatlantic dialogue between Liberia and Baltimore, and to highlight the global impact of the AFRO-American Newspaper.

