Effort to support independent Black journalism By AFRO Staff The AFRO-American Newspapers (AFRO News), the nation’s longest-running Black-owned family newspaper, has launched a new community fundraising effort titled “133 Years. 133 Days. 133K Strong” to strengthen and expand its work as an independent voice for Black communities locally and nationwide. The initiative invites readers, partners, […]
Tag: AFRO American Newspapers
Posted inBaltimore News
Black cemetery citizenship: Fighting for the restoration of African-American burial spaces
Cultural historian Cory J. France was recently honored with the Rory Turner Prize for Cultural Sustainability at Goucher College. France is on the frontlines of advocating for “Black cemetery citizenship,” or a commitment to respect, remember, reclaim and fight for the spaces where Black bodies are laid to rest.
Posted inBaltimore News
The AFRO Named Among the Nation’s Top Black News Outlets on Two Feedspot Lists
The AFRO-American Newspapers, the nation’s oldest continuously published Black-owned newspaper still owned by its founding family, has been named to Feedspot’s list of the “45 Best Black News Websites of 2025.” The recognition honors The AFRO’s legacy of trusted journalism and its continued innovation in digital media, storytelling, and community engagement.
Posted inEditorial
From Baltimore to D.C.: Building the next century of Black business
By Dr. Frances Murphy DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO Black-owned businesses have always been a cornerstone of our communities—anchoring neighborhoods, creating jobs and proving that vision can thrive even in the face of economic headwinds. Last week, we celebrated companies across the country that have endured for a century or more, surviving depressions, recessions, and sweeping […]
Posted inAfro Newspaper
Mobile mural unveiled at future AFRO headquarters site, celebrating Black legacy, art and community
A vibrant new mural celebrating Black legacy and community was unveiled outside Jubilee Arts in West Baltimore, created through a collaboration between Creative Nomads and Afro Charities. Featuring historic AFRO imagery, interactive AR elements, and community-driven design, the mural now surrounds the future site of the AFRO’s new headquarters at Upton Mansion.
Posted inCommentary
The fight for equal pay: In 2025, women are still working to catch up
Alexis Taylor serves as managing editor of the AFRO American Newspapers. This week, she discusses the importance of closing the pay gap between men and women.
Posted inBUSINESS
Stalled Progress for Women on Maryland’s Corporate Boards, Executive Alliance Reports
Baltimore, MD — Maryland’s progress toward gender equity in corporate boardrooms has slowed significantly, according to the newly released 2025 Executive Alliance Census Report on Women Board Directors in Maryland. The report highlights that women hold only 28% of board seats in publicly traded companies headquartered in the state — well behind the national S&P […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Honoring Black women in media and the impact of mentorship
Black women journalists, such as Kristin Gray, Rev. Dorothy Boulware, Krishana Davis, Micha Green, Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier, and Toni Draper, have been instrumental in shaping the Black Press and continue to inspire and lead conversations shaping the nation.
Posted inEditorial
The Black women who built the AFRO: A legacy of truth and trailblazing journalism
The AFRO-American Newspapers has a rich history of journalistic excellence, thanks to the contributions of many Black women, including Frances L. Murphy II, Elizabeth “Bettye” Murphy Moss, Ida Murphy Peters, Vashti Murphy Matthews, Carlita Murphy Jones, Elizabeth Murphy Oliver, and many others.
Posted inAFRO Black History: Preserving Our Legacy
Afro Charities set to break ground on new home for AFRO Archives at historic Upton Mansion
Afro Charities is set to break ground on its $16-million redevelopment of the historic Upton Mansion in West Baltimore, which will serve as the headquarters for the AFRO and feature offices for Afro Charities, including a gallery space, recording studio, and green roof.
Posted inOPINION
Let’s leave Healthy Holly in 2024, shall we?
Associated Black Charities has been in the spotlight recently due to a targeted effort by some media outlets to frame a recent grant approval in a negative light, but CEO Chrissy Thornton is calling out the perpetuation of “structural racism” and the media’s fixation on historical scandal.
Posted inAfro
AFRO team visits land that played pivotal role in newspapers’ beginnings
The AFRO American Newspapers and Afro Charities team recently visited the land where Martha Howard Murphy, wife of AFRO founder John H. Murphy Sr., was enslaved and later owned, which provided seed money for the founding of the AFRO.