By Sharif El-MekkiWord in Black During a recent Freedom Friday podcast, our host, Chris Stewart, pointed out that we are living in a time when four, sometimes five, generations are working side by side, exposing fault lines around toughness, trauma, and what “safety” should mean at work. As a proud member of Generation X, I […]
Tag: Harriet Tubman
Posted inD.C. Community
Ben’s Chili Bowl Seeks community input for new mural as renovations wrap
As Ben’s Chili Bowl prepares to install a new mural following renovations, community members are being invited to help decide which figures will be featured. Retired Army Master Sgt. Elizabeth Ann Helm-Fraizer is advocating for the inclusion of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, highlighting the unit’s historic contributions and ties to Washington, D.C.
Posted inReligion
Reverend Nontombi Tutu speaks at Asbury UMC’s annual Women’s Day Service
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to The AFRO By her own admission, the Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, struggled against accepting the call to ministry for most of her life. But you couldn’t tell, based on the reactions of worshipers at Asbury United Methodist Church (UMC) on Sunday, April 2, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Black women take center stage at Harriet Tubman museum event
By: Tavon N. Thomasson Special to the AFRO tthomasson@afro.com The Harriet Tubman Spirit Awards honored local leaders March 21 at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis during a two-part program that also featured an artist discussion on history, memory and Black women’s stories. Held during Maryland Day programming from March 19-25, the event was one of […]
Posted inBlack History
Woman’s search for family’s roots leads to ancestor John T. Ward – a successful entrepreneur and conductor on the Underground Railroad
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.
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.