After more than a decade researching her ancestry, Shanna Ward published a book about her forefather John T. Ward, a formerly enslaved man who became an Underground Railroad conductor, abolitionist and founder of one of the nation’s oldest Black-owned businesses. Her work highlights the power of genealogy to reclaim lost histories and honor the resilience of enslaved Africans and their descendants.
Tag: Harriet Tubman
Posted inPrince George's County News
Bowie State, DPSCS spotlight unity, education at Black History Month program
Bowie State University and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services hosted their annual Black History Month program at Jessup Correctional Institution. The day served as a time to spotlight Bowie’s Prison Education Program and the importance of investing in recidivism prevention efforts.
Posted inWord In Black
Racial healing finds new voice in community poets
Poets and poet laureates across the country are using poetry to foster racial healing, helping communities process grief, confront history, and build connection. Creative expression becomes a tool for reflection, storytelling, and reclaiming erased narratives.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Maryland must end the harmful practice of automatically charging youth as adults
Attorney Kisha Brown previously served as director of both the Maryland Attorney General’s Legislative Affairs division and the Civil Rights department. She was the first woman to lead the Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights. In this piece she argues Maryland’s criminal justice system continues to disproportionately harm Black communities, especially through its outdated practice of automatically charging some youth as adults, a policy critics argue urgently needs to end.
Posted inDMV News
B.E. Spirits Awards Gala to celebrate Black excellence at Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
By The B.E. Spirits Awards On Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, leaders, entrepreneurs and visionaries from across the nation will gather for the B.E. Spirits Awards Black Tie Gala, an unforgettable evening of elegance, culture and empowerment at the prestigious Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort and Spa in Cambridge, Md. The B.E. Spirits Awards is […]
Posted inCivil Rights
2025 Civil Rights Week breakfast sparks conversation on justice and equity
The Office of Equity and Civil Rights (OECR) hosted the 32nd Civil Rights Breakfast on Oct. 17, kicking off the 2025 Civil Rights Week. The program, led by WMAR 2 News reporter Ja Nai Wright, sparked conversations amongst city leaders, lawmakers and activists to take action against today’s democracy.
Posted inTravel
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park: A powerful destination for your travel list
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park in Church Creek, Maryland is a popular destination for visitors from around the world to pay homage to Tubman’s legacy and learn about her life and work, with the site hosting national events, exhibits, and activities throughout the year.
Posted inMaryland Government
Gov. Wes Moore tells Dems in South Carolina to become the party of ‘Yes’ and ‘Now’
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore urged South Carolina Democrats to be a party of “yes” and “now,” advocating for action and urgency. He condemned the 47th president’s actions, while encouraging his fellow Dems to learn from the president to deliver alternatives quickly.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Attacks to erase diversity, promote revisionist American history continue
By Zenitha PrinceAFRO Contributing Editor History, it’s said, is written by the victors. And since Donald Trump won the 2024 general election, he’s been on a campaign to rewrite America’s past by erasing Black history. The latest targets: a National Parks Service webpage detailing information about the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman, the Smithsonian’s […]
Posted inOPINION
Erasing Black history and culture is a key step in erasing Black lives – and we must resist
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw is the executive director of the African American Policy Forum (AAPF), a leading organization in the Freedom to Learn Network. In this column she discusses the advocacy needed to combat the 47th president’s attempts to erase African American history.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
New doc features older Black gay women farming Harriet Tubman’s ancestral lands
The documentary “The Aunties” features the love and work of spouses, farmers, and climate activists Paulette Greene and Donna Dear, co-directed and co-edited by Charlyn Griffith-Oro, and explores the historical symbolism of the land where Harriet Tubman’s family lived.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Why Black Christmas means resistance
Black Americans have historically used Christmas to resist racial injustice and donate to social justice causes, with Black households donating 25% more of their income per year than their White counterparts, and organizations such as Black Women For Wellness, Black Male Voter Project, H.O.P.E., Black and Pink National, and The National Coalition for the Homeless providing resources and support to those in need.