Tag: Thurgood Marshall
Posted inBlack History

Autherine Lucy Foster’s courage opened doors at the University of Alabama

by Special to the AFRO

Autherine Lucy Foster became a civil rights pioneer when the University of Alabama rescinded her 1952 admission after learning she was Black. With legal backing from Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP, she won the right to enroll in 1956, but violent protests led to her suspension and expulsion. Decades later, the university reversed its decision, and Foster earned her master’s degree in 1991. She was later honored by Morgan State University for her role in desegregating higher education.

Posted inCommentary

Commentary: Maryland must end the harmful practice of automatically charging youth as adults

by Kisha A. Brown

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Maryland’s criminal justice system continues to disproportionately harm Black communities, especially through its outdated practice of automatically charging some youth as adults, a policy critics argue urgently needs to end.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 inHBCU

MPT to debut documentary on Thurgood Marshall during HBCU Week 2025

by D. Kevin McNeir

By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com In a public media partnership that offers content about the history, legacy, cultural heritage and degree programs offered by America’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Maryland Public Television (MPT) will debut “Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect.” The new documentary will explore the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall, […]

Posted inCommentary

Maryland must reckon with its juvenile justice past to protect today’s youth

by Special to the AFRO

By Marc Schindler I started my legal career in the mid-1990s as a Baltimore public defender representing children in juvenile court. In the late 1990s I joined a civil rights law firm addressing juvenile justice policies statewide and across the nation. These experiences taught me two things:  The Maryland detention facility where many of my […]

Posted inAfro Briefs

Florida’s Raiford Prison bans AFRO edition from inmates; warden cites threat to security and rehabilitation initiatives

by D. Kevin McNeir

Florida’s Raiford Prison banned the AFRO’s special edition on George Floyd and racial justice, claiming it posed a security risk and threatened rehabilitation efforts. Critics argue the ban reflects a broader pattern of censorship that suppresses inmates’ access to reform-focused content and silences marginalized voices behind bars.

Posted inMaryland News

Morgan State and Visit Baltimore recognized at 67th Capital Emmys

by Tavon N. Thomasson

Baltimore HBCU Morgan State University earned its first individual Emmy at the 67th Capital Emmy Awards for the documentary “History of a National Treasure,” highlighting its legacy and commitment to Black storytelling. Visit Baltimore was also honored in the Short Form Content category for its video “Celebrating Baltimore’s Civil Rights Legacy,” showcasing the city’s historical contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

Posted inOpinion

160 years after Juneteenth 1865: Racism, misogyny, harmful public policy, and destruction of lives

by R.L. Byrd

R.L. Byrd is an author known for his two novels, “Looking For Sweet Love” and “Black Coffee.” In this piece, he argues that 160 years after Juneteenth, the U.S. has entered a new era of racial and gender-based “Deconstruction,” as civil rights and diversity gains are being systematically dismantled under the current administration.

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