By Dr. Frances ‘Toni’ Draper
Word In Black

The lyrics of an old Negro Spiritual poignantly declare, “Everybody talkin’ ’bout Heaven ain’t goin’ there.” Unfortunately, in 2024, despite all the discussion and debate about the presidential election, everybody talking about voting ain’t going there, either.  

It’s one thing to talk about the importance of this year’s presidential election, with Vice President Kamala Harris poised to become the first woman of color to hold the highest office in the land. It’s one thing to talk about the need to register and vote, but it’s another thing to actually register and then go to the polls on Nov. 5, Election Day. 

With all of the chaos, chatter, and confusion surrounding our democracy and our right as Black people to vote, it is more important than ever this election cycle that we not just talk about it but that we “be about it” — be about registering as many people as possible, be about helping people get to the polls, and be about understanding Project 2025, the right-wing blueprint that former President Donald Trump will almost certainly unroll if he wins the election.

We have to “be about” sending money not only to the Harris/Walz campaign but to down-ballot candidates running for the Senate and the House of Representatives whose policies and platforms align with your beliefs. That includes supporting Angela Alsobrooks, the Prince George’s County, Md., official who is running to become just the third Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

We must “be about” making a voting plan, and sticking to it — a plan that says, “If it rains, I vote; if it snows, I vote.” And if we don’t want to take a chance on something unforeseen happening on Nov. 5, we must “be about” requesting, filling out and submitting a mail-in ballot or voting early, if your state allows it. 

Most importantly, we must “be about” knowing our voter registration status today and making certain we are still eligible to vote.  

According to the Pew Research Center, “Black voters could play an important role in determining the outcome of key 2024 elections,” including the race between Harris and Trump. In Georgia, a closely-watched swing state, Black voters account for a third of all eligible voters in the state. 

The Black college student vote

Another group that plays a pivotal role in the voting landscape is the newly eligible young adult college student voter. 

A 2021 report from the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education said that “the voter turnout among college students jumped to a record high of 66 percent in the 2020 presidential election. And the student “yield” — the percentage at which students who are registered voters actually cast ballots — hit 80 percent. The report called it “an important milestone and signal that they are vested in their own futures and the health of democracy.”

Still, the report did not differentiate between Black and White students, so I decided to do a very informal, albeit extremely limited, poll of my own. I asked a few of our family’s college students who are first-time voters three questions: 

1. What excites you the most about voting in this upcoming presidential election?  

2. What scares you the most about voting in this upcoming election?

3. What’s your voting plan?   

Eva Lee, 19

Freshman, Georgia Southern University 

“I am excited to be a part of history and voting for the first Black woman in the election. I look forward to seeing how positive and hopeful Kamala Harris’ campaign is. I can’t wait to see new voters exercise their right to vote, especially Black teens. We all have a voice, and this is our chance to use it. 

Something that scares me is the hateful side of politics. I feel like it’s normalized to throw insults and spew misinformation and for our country, that is most bothersome. I hope the side that genuinely cares about us, the citizens, is chosen, where our rights will be respected and there’s less hate and more love for improving our livelihoods. I’m registering to vote here in Savannah!”  

Collin McLain, 18,

Freshman, Tuskegee University

“I’m most excited about finally having the chance to vote and to be able to assist towards making a change in this country. With such high stakes, the outcome of this election could significantly shape the future. 

What scares me the most about voting is feeling like my single vote is just one amongst millions and might not make much of a difference on its own. I plan to request and mail in an absentee ballot.”

Lyric Hamilton, 18

Freshman, Louisiana State University

“I am most excited for the experience to be able to vote: walking into the building, waiting in line, actually getting in the booth to vote. It’s a very surreal feeling knowing I can impact all of the U.S., from my singular vote on who helps run the government.  It is such an honor and a privilege to be a part of something that African Americans weren’t always allowed to have — especially at my age. 

What scares me the most is which candidate to choose. Each has their own flaws, and those flaws worry me sometimes. I’m not 100 percent settled on one person because neither of them lives Godly lives. I do know that whatever candidate seems closest to God is the one that I’ll be more than happy to support in this upcoming election. I hope whoever I choose doesn’t let us down, if they win, of course and strengthens America more than ever before. I plan to drive home on Election Day to vote, after my class ends at noon.” 

Blake Evans, 18

Freshman, Baylor University 

What excites me about voting in the upcoming election is voting with my family. As African Americans, it is an honor to be able to vote. Our ancestors fought for this right, and therefore, I will be going to the polls with my parents and my brother! 

I wouldn’t say I’m scared about voting in the upcoming election, but I am worried about my lack of preparation. They don’t talk much about the voting process in schools, nor do they talk about everything we’ll be voting on.  As I mentioned already, I will be going home on Election Day to vote with my family.” 

David Lee, Jr., 22

Senior, Georgia Institute of Technology

“I am excited to drive voter registration and education efforts on campus this election cycle. I am concerned about the level of misinformation that surrounds this election and worried about the long-term repercussions of this intentional falsification of reality within my community.  I go to school in my hometown, so I plan to vote in person on Nov. 5.”

Make a plan to “be about it”

Clearly, these young people have a plan to “be about it” as voters in their first presidential election. They are excited and anxious at the same time. But mostly they are full of optimism about going to the polls or mailing in their ballots.

Still, they also need to be prepared for those who don’t want them — or us — to exercise our right to vote: those who are spreading misinformation, interfering with a free and fair election, name-calling, lie-telling and plotting to overturn the election results. 

There are those who revel in what my cousin Laura Murphy calls “shenanigans.”

A seasoned civil rights and civil liberties lawyer, she reached out to her network for a toolkit of resources and election protection organizations, handy information for voters of any age:

1. Find out if you are registered, how to register and make an election-day plan by checking the Legal Defense Fund website.
2. Keep this number handy: 866-OUR-VOTE. Share it broadly. Use it If you encounter problems or interference at the polls. 
3. Join Win With Black Women to help in this election cycle

All our Word in Black publications have posted voter information on their sites; some even have links to other sites where you can check your voter registration. That includes:

• The Atlanta Voice, Voice Your Vote
• AFRO News, AFRO Votes
• The New York Amsterdam News, Election 2024
• The Seattle Medium, 2024 Elections Center
• The Washington Informer, Vote Your Future 

Let us all “be about it” during this and every election cycle. Check your voter registration status, make an Election Day plan and follow it. Encourage others to vote, utilize the suggested resources and prepare for a grand celebration in November!  

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By Dr. Frances Murphy “Toni” Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Black adults have the highest divorce rate and the lowest marriage rate of any ethnic group. And, according to my own research, and my experiences in clinical practice as a licensed pastoral counselor for many years, Christian couples divorce at the same rate as everyone else. In addition, there is a correlation between good mental health and healthy marriages. Those who are in healthy, satisfying, marriages are happier than those who are not. In fact, “healthy marriages” was the subject of my doctoral dissertation titled, “Relationship Theology: A Model for Producing Healthy Marriages in the African American Context.”

Let me be clear at the outset: you don’t have to be married to be happy. Marriage is not for everyone. It is not “one-size fits all.” Many people rightfully and righteously embrace their singleness and are more than satisfied (and happy) being single. But if you do decide to get married, especially if you and your fiancé (fiancée) also decide to have a big, expensive wedding, it is a real drain on your mental and emotional health –not to mention your financial health– to separate and / or divorce. Of course, there are those situations where divorce is the only option due to a pattern of mental, physical, spiritual, emotional or sexual abuse. Marriage, however, works if you work it!

Earlier this year, my husband and I celebrated 50 years of marriage and for 50 days leading up to that momentous occasion, we posted “a tip” a day on Facebook and Instagram. We received many comments and personal notes saying that these “tips” were a blessing and a huge help for many married couples.

Often, we were asked if we would consider writing a book. Yes, we are writing the book (in 2025), but for those who missed our “Fifty for Fifty” or want a refresher, here are just ten of our “tips,” in no particular order:

• Put God first -It is absolutely true that a couple that prays together, stays together.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff. Most of what couples disagree about falls into the “small stuff” category– just put the cap back on the toothpaste!
• Don’t use sex as a weapon. It is God’s gift to a man and a woman committed to one another in holy matrimony.
• Be willing to do what your spouse likes to do, even if you don’t particularly want to do it– even if it means hopping on a train to Yankee Stadium. Both of us are avid sports fans. He’s a Yankee, Cowboys, Lakers fan and I’m an Orioles, Ravens, no particular basketball team fan. To his credit, he cheers for the Orioles (as long as they’re not playing the Yankees), and he likes the Ravens. And I root for the Cowboys (as long as they’re not playing the Ravens – which isn’t often). But the Yankees??? Y’all pray for a Sistah!
• Do not discuss and analyze your marital “disagreements” with anyone other than your spouse, unless it’s with a mutually agreed upon “qualified, trained, compassionate, professional counselor.” Counseling works when you really commit to it—especially premarital counseling. Your unmarried, twice divorced, can’t maintain a long-term, committed relationship girlfriend, guy friend or anyone who starts the sentence with “if I were you…,” is absolutely not the best person to get advice from. I’m just saying….
• The only person you can “control” is you. The only mouth you can close (or open) is your own. In 50 years, we have never had a violent or out of control argument. Note: I didn’t say we never had a difference of opinion – we’ve had our share of those! To reduce stress, to maintain a healthy state of mind – practice disagreeing without being disagreeable; go to another room, practice taking a deep breath, counting to 20 or whatever it takes to suppress your first reaction – just because it “comes up”, doesn’t mean it should “come out.”
• If he or she is not ready to talk, don’t force it. But don’t ignore it either. Agree on a time, ideally within two to three hours of “not now,” to talk about whatever the issue is. By the way, texting is not talking! And, listening takes practice – lots of it. Don’t be in such a hurry to get your point across. You don’t always have to be right.
• Don’t let your body go. His 28 inch waist, and your size six (you pick the number) may be a thing of the past, but be intentional about keeping your body as fit and as healthy as possible. It’s good for your life span, as well as your long-term marital happiness.
• Never go to bed angry or ugly – yes, attractive nightwear is still necessary five, 10, 20, 30, 50 years later. It doesn’t have to be fancy or uncomfortable, but if it doesn’t match, if it’s frayed or torn or missing buttons, stained, mismatched, or as old as you are, do not wear it to bed, do not donate it to the thrift shop– throw it away!
• Do not commit emotional, spiritual or physical adultery. Too many extra marital affairs are born out of what seems innocent at first, i.e. he’s easier to talk to, he understands me, she pays attention to me, and she looks good all of the time. Some folk—even in the church—could care less about your marriage or your family, and make it their mission to kill, steal and destroy you and your marriage.

I hope these tips are helpful for the married, as well as those planning or desiring to be married.

I also hope you will read with great interest each of the articles in this special edition. Our writers and editors have carefully selected topics designed to promote good mental health on a variety of topics. From mental health tips for entrepreneurs to advice for veterans, this edition is all about self-care. Happy, healthy reading!

The post A good marriage equals good mental health: It works if you work it! appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances Murphy “Toni” Draper 
AFRO CEO and Publisher

I have been an entrepreneur for most of my life. My foray into business did not begin when I was elected president of the AFRO-American Newspaper in the mid-1980s. In fact, my entrepreneurial career began at the ripe old age of nine, when I passionately sold the most Girl Scout Cookies in my troop. It continued with the help of my brother, Jimmy, as we developed a robust AFRO paper route in our Hanlon Park neighborhood when I was 12. We were quite the partnership—he threw the papers on the porch, and I collected the money. Of course, we counted it together every week, put aside the cost of the papers and split the profit. It was a lucrative business for a pair of siblings who had not yet reached their teen years. Eventually, we “outgrew” our paper route, but my interest in business did not wane.

When I was in high school, my cousin Betty, her neighbor Adrian and I decided to join Junior Achievement (JA). I don’t even remember how we found out about Junior Achievement, but there we were, three Black teens from Bentalou Street in West Baltimore, traveling nearly five miles every week to Harford Road in Northeast Baltimore on a Tuesday night to learn about business and entrepreneurship. I still remember our first JA meeting when the three of us walked into the room. You could hear a pin drop. We were the only Black students there, and we didn’t know whether to sit down in the hard wooden chairs or run back to Adrian’s well-worn station wagon as fast as we could. After all, this was Harford Road in the mid-1960s. We chose to stay, and remained active JA participants for two or three years.

Much to our delight and surprise, we were warmly welcomed into the group. Most of the other teens were friendly, and the adult leaders encouraged us to participate fully. We were taught about money management, banking and credit, investing, starting a business, branding and marketing. Most of all, we were encouraged to think creatively and develop new ideas. But it wasn’t all classroom learning. Each of us had to formulate a business plan for a new product or service. I don’t remember what Betty or Adrian came up with, but I decided to make name bracelets—taking individual letters, stringing them together to make someone’s name, and then selling them. We also learned about principled leadership and business ethics– and we were only 16!

As we grew our understanding of the business world, the Junior Achievement mentors also held a speaking contest, which was a highlight for me. Now, some may wonder what that had to do with business, but for me, it was transformative. I had participated in a declamation contest in junior high school (yes, it was called junior high), but for the most part, I shied away from the public speaking spotlight. But here I was, all the way in Northeast Baltimore, learning about entrepreneurship, sales and public speaking. Each of us had to talk about our product, our pricing strategy, our sales, our customer base and how we planned to make a profit. We had five to seven  minutes to convince the “audience” that our product was the best. 

My fellow Junior Achievers had all kinds of interesting and innovative products, and I had name bracelets, which –to me– paled in comparison. Well, I thought, if my grandfather could “sell ice to an Eskimo,” as he claimed, then surely, I could sell beautiful, one-of-a-kind, economical, colorful name bracelets to my fellow Junior Achievers. And sell I did! In exactly six and a half minutes, I made bracelets sound like the best thing since sliced bread. I won the contest, which earned me a trip to the regional competition. I didn’t win the regional competition, but I learned a valuable lesson about business: When you have a good product or service that meets a perceived want or need, confidently presenting yourself and your company is crucial. So, I not only won the contest, but nearly every person in the room purchased bracelets.

Like many organizations founded in the early 20th century, JA was not always diverse, especially in its early years. Initially, the organization catered predominantly to White youth, reflecting the broader social and racial dynamics of the time. The integration of Black teens into Junior Achievement programs occurred gradually, largely in response to the Civil Rights Movement and changing societal norms in the United States. The inclusion of Black teens in Junior Achievement began to take shape more significantly in the 1960s and 1970s, as the organization sought to become more inclusive and reflective of the diverse communities it served. JA helped me develop my love for business and understand the power of entrepreneurship.

As James Bridgforth notes on page A4 of this edition, “The narrative of African American economic power is often overlooked or underestimated, overshadowed by persistent disparities and historical injustices. However, to truly grasp the impact and potential of this economic force, one must recognize its depth and breadth across various sectors—from entrepreneurship and consumer spending to workforce participation and investment.”

This August, as we celebrate National Black Business Month, we continue to highlight the contributions of Black-owned businesses to the economy and our role in promoting equity and diversity. 

The post From the publisher’s desk: Never despise small beginnings appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Recently I was asked, “Why do we need Juneteenth? Aren’t Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month enough?”  

I carefully explained – even though I was disturbed and perturbed by the question– that Juneteenth, MLK Jr. Day and Black History month are distinctly different. It was like asking why we recognize Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Don’t both have something to do with those who served in the Armed Forces? They do, but they are distinctly different and unique. 

The same is true of Juneteenth, which addresses issues and celebrates victories that are not the focus of either MLK Jr. Day or Black History Month. Juneteenth stands on its own in terms of significance. Thus, President Joseph R. Biden had the wisdom and courage to declare Juneteenth a national holiday June 2021. All 50 states and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or observance. 

Juneteenth speaks to aspects of American history, particularly African-American history, that are not fully covered by either MLK Jr. Day or Black History Month:

• Juneteenth specifically celebrates the end of slavery in Confederate states that seceded from the Union, an event that has profound historical and emotional significance. It acknowledges the pain of slavery and the joy of freedom in a way that is not the primary focus of MLK Day or Black History Month.
• Juneteenth highlights the fact that the themes of freedom, emancipation and the ongoing fight for civil rights are ever relevant. Juneteenth provides a moment to reflect on past injustices and consider the work that remains to achieve true equality.
• Juneteenth is not just a historical commemoration, but also a cultural celebration. It includes traditions such as community gatherings, music, food and education, enriching the cultural fabric of the nation.
• Juneteenth, MLK Jr. Day and Black History Month each complement each other, together offering a more comprehensive understanding and appreciation of African-American history and contributions.

Having Juneteenth as a recognized holiday alongside MLK Jr. Day and Black History Month ensures that the full scope of African-American history and the quest for freedom and equality are acknowledged and celebrated. 

As frequent AFRO contributor,  Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead wrote in a 2022 commentary, “Even though the Emancipation Proclamation did not legally end slavery (that did not happen until Dec. 6, 1865, with the ratification of the 13th Amendment), Black people have used that moment and every moment since then to make America live up to its creed to be both the home of the brave and the home of the free. 

Even though true freedom has yet to arrive, we recognize Juneteenth as a day of celebration, education and agitation. We mark this occasion with tears and with joy because we understand that we were not supposed to survive, but we did.” 

It is with this understanding, that we produced this special edition highlighting the importance of Juneteenth and passing down Black traditions, five ways to honor the ancestors and Juneteenth books for young readers and teens. 

Thanks to our advertisers, sponsors and AFRO Team members who contributed to this edition. 

We want to congratulate our AFRO Juneteenth breakfast honorees, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Dr. Thelma T. Daley, Bobby Henry Sr. and the Root Branch Media Group. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the leadership and members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) who open their national convention in Baltimore on June 19. 

Happy Juneteenth! 

The post A time to reflect: Why Juneteenth? appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances Murphy Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher 

In my family, like so many of yours, good grades were expected–no, required. Failing a class, talking back to teachers, disrupting class or any other behavior that caused a teacher to even think about calling your parents was enough to make you do as Nat King Cole sang, “straighten up and fly right!”  

If you went to West Baltimore’s Lemmel Junior High School or Douglass High School like I did, you encountered principals like Ms. Hermione Wharton, who put the fear of God in anyone who dared to even walk on the wrong side of the hallway. She was small in stature, but big on providing an excellent education for all her students. I can still see her standing in the middle of the hallway, with her arms folded and her slightly graying hair in a neat bun. Her strong, crisp voice would ring out the order to “get to class with alacrity and speed.”  At 12 or 13, I had no idea what “alacrity” meant but I knew that in between classes wasn’t the time to stop and talk to my friends. 

Although I was a (relatively) well-behaved student who received excellent grades, it wasn’t because I was so smart but rather because of parents, teachers and administrators who constantly pushed me to be better and to do better. As my mother accurately noted in her oral history, I did well in junior and senior high school – especially in all my French and Spanish classes. 

So, at the ripe old age of 16, I decided I wanted to be a foreign language teacher. I began tutoring groups of my peers after school and before I knew it, I was graduating with honors from Douglass and off to Morgan State University (then Morgan College) to major in Spanish education with a minor in French.  There were very few foreign language majors at Morgan.  It was enough that everyone had to take English 101 and 102 plus three years of humanities classes, all of which were extremely rigorous thanks to professors extraordinaire like Dr. Iva Jones and Dr. Ruthe T. Sheffy. If you enrolled in a foreign language course it was because you really loved learning other languages and cultures, you didn’t find out how hard it was until it was too late to drop the class or it was the only elective that would fit into your schedule. 

However, for me, with teachers like Douglass’ Muriel Callaman (French) and Doris Holtsclaw (Spanish), learning foreign languages ignited a thirst in me– not only to learn the nuances of the language, but to have a better understanding of the culture. I loved the way the letter “r” sounded in Spanish and with French, when spoken with all due dignity and sophistication, amazed me. 

I don’t think my mother was terribly surprised when I announced I wanted to study foreign languages in college.  But other family members weren’t so embracing of my career choice. 

“You mean you want to be a foreign diplomat,” one cousin said.  “You want to travel to Spain and get a job there?”

“Why foreign languages? Can’t you teach English or something else? Everyone needs English, and most people here speak English, so what’s the big deal with a language nobody really cares about?” were all questions that needed answers.

The big deal for me was interacting and communicating with people from different cultures.  As my high school yearbook noted: “Culturally, the foreign language department attempts to open the mind of the student – to broaden ways of thinking. Thus, when a student learns a foreign language, he (or she) is directly introduced to another culture, which he (or she) is encouraged indirectly to understand or respect.” 

Little did I know more than 50 years ago, Spanish-speaking U.S. citizens and immigrants would rise to be an important and necessary part of our society – while also becoming the center of much controversy, political maneuvering and manipulation. 

Although my Spanish is really rusty, I am intentional about using it whenever possible, and I can’t help but notice how appreciative people are when you at least try to speak the same language they speak.  Or when you make an honest attempt to interact with and respect them for who God created them to be. 

After college, I was fortunate to be one of the few (if not the only) foreign language majors to be offered a teaching position in the Baltimore City Public Schools. The paternal side of the family, who all followed in the footsteps of their dad and my grandfather, Dr. Marion Francis Wood (the first Director of ‘Colored Schools’ in Baltimore), were thrilled that I was going to teach. Afterall, I grew up in the era where teaching and nursing were the career paths many women were encouraged to pursue.  

Although I only taught for five years, I encountered and encouraged many students I still interact with today. Students like Brenda Tiller Ransom, Dr. Karen Bethea and Ovetta Smith.  And then there was the recent Facebook message every teacher loves to read: “Dear Mrs. Draper, you may not remember me because it’s been so many years ago. But I wanted to tell you that because of your class and your love and encouragement for ‘kids’ like me, kids who others didn’t think had a real chance to succeed, and your insistence that we “can be more and do more,” I am a successful businessman and a dedicated family man today. Thank you.’” 

This week, Team AFRO put together an insightful and informative edition. There are articles on teacher pay, the 70th anniversary of the desegregation of American schools, acknowledgement of standout students and teachers and a piece on the evolution of HBCUs, from training facilities to full fledged universities. This edition is all about education and it is another keepsake! 

Teachers today are not as revered as they once were and our public school systems seem to be always under attack.  However, I know there are still many dedicated, committed educators who devote their lives to improving the lives of children, teens and young adults. 

So, if you can read this, take the time today and thank a teacher! 

The post If you can read this, thank a teacher today appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

In the Summer of 1976, my husband and I embarked on a job search, for a variety of reasons. Having managed the New Jersey office of the AFRO for two years, we decided to return to our hometown of Baltimore. With our daughter just six weeks old, we sought positions that would be less demanding and more suitable for our new roles as parents.

One day, we stumbled upon an advertisement for a brokerage firm’s open house. Intrigued, we decided to attend. To our surprise, after a brief company overview, guests were invited to apply and interview on the spot. It was mid-August, and my husband, wearing shorts, stood out among the more formally dressed attendees. I, however, was dressed professionally, albeit in one of the few outfits that fit me well post-delivery. Following a 15-minute conversation, I was invited for a second interview right away and I was eventually hired as an account executive.

Despite lacking a background in finance or investments, I possessed the necessary people, analytical and communication skills, with the assurance that I could learn the financial aspects through their comprehensive, yet intense, training program. Thus, I embarked on eight-week training course in New York, learning about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate investment trusts and more. It was a challenging time, cramming in unfamiliar information, but I persevered. I studied diligently and was among the seven out of approximately 200 who passed the grueling six-hour, no-calculator, multiple-choice examination. It was quite the journey! 

Growing up, my grandparents and mother instilled in us the importance of “saving for a rainy day” and paying bills promptly. Yet, it was a real eye-opener realizing how little I knew about finances beyond basic savings before I undertook this training. And most of my friends, college-educated or not, were in the same position. Once I started in my new position as a stockbroker, it was even more apparent that most Black families were not involved in the stock market.  I had very few Black clients and many of my friends and family had no interest in learning about the stock market, preferring to invest in what they considered to be safer investments i.e. savings accounts. 

Even today, the investment landscape in the United States reflects a significant discrepancy between White and Black families, as highlighted by a 2019 Pew Research Center analysis of Federal Reserve data. The study revealed that 61 percent of White families reported owning stocks, directly or indirectly, compared to only 31 percent of Black families.

This disparity stems from several core factors. Income and wealth disparities play a pivotal role, with White families enjoying higher average incomes and greater accumulated wealth, affording them more resources for stock market investments. Additionally, educational attainment is crucial, as White Americans, on average, achieve higher levels of education, leading to higher incomes and greater financial literacy, both key to stock ownership.

Access to employer-sponsored retirement plans also contributes to the gap, with White Americans more likely to have access to such plans, often including stock investments. Historical factors, including discriminatory housing policies and employment practices, have perpetuated wealth disparities, making it harder for Black families to accumulate wealth and invest in stocks.

Then there are differences in financial knowledge and risk tolerance. Some studies suggest that Black Americans may exhibit greater risk aversion, affecting their lower rates of stock ownership. Disparities in financial knowledge and access to financial advice further exacerbate the gap.

According to the Brookings Institute: “The racial wealth gap should be recognized as the consequence of discrimination, public and private, throughout American history and continuing to this day. Nearly 250 years of slavery were followed by a century of Jim Crow segregation and economic exploitation reinforced by state-sanctioned violence. Until the latter 20^th Century, Black people were excluded from public programs to encourage home ownership and higher education. Black people often receive lower valuations on their homes and earn less money compared to White people performing the same work.  Biases in public investment and criminal justice leave Black communities simultaneously underserved and overpoliced, and these civil rights violations also have serious economic consequences.” 

Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted approach, including efforts to reduce income and wealth inequalities, improve access to education and financial literacy, and promote policies ensuring equal access to investment opportunities.

Some of these topics are addressed in this special financial literacy edition of the AFRO. Thanks to managing editor Alexis Taylor and her team, as well as our advertising, production, finance and web teams for their hard work.  

The articles are timely and well written on a variety of subjects including “Learning to navigate and manage medical debt,” “Transferring generational wealth” and “Finance tools you can use,” to name a few. 

It is our hope that you will not only find these articles relevant to your own financial journey, but that you will pass the information on to your friends and family.  

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By Frances “Toni” Draper,
AFRO Publisher

On March 15, I had the distinct honor of testifying in favor of Maryland House Bill 0370, sponsored by Delegate Mike Rogers (D- Anne Arundel County) and others. The bill, if passed and signed, will require Maryland’s governor “annually to proclaim March 9 as 6888^th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day.”  

Currently, Maryland has 16 official commemorative days, seven months and one week that are recognized in State law including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Negro Baseball League Day, Thurgood Marshall Day and Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.  

Testifying along with Delegate Rogers and me, were Janice Martin (daughter of 6888^th member Indiana Hunt-Martin for whom a post office in Buffalo, N.Y. was recently named) and Col. (Ret.) Edna Cummings.  

I could go on and on about the 6888^th and their amazing service to the United States, especially during a time when Black women were marginalized and ignored.  I could spend hours writing about these 855 predominantly Black women who were stationed in Europe working three 24-hour shifts, seven days a week to sort 18 million letters addressed to U.S. troops scattered across Europe during World War II.  

I could write about the three 6888th members who died there and were buried in Normandy in coffins made by French prisoners. I could write about the recent honors, their commanders Major Charity Adams Earley (the first Black woman to be an officer in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later called WACS), Captains Mary F. Kearney and Bernice G. Henderson.  

I could shout out the name of my aunt PFC Vashti Murphy Matthews who was a member of the 6888^th –although I never heard her talk about her time in the Army– and I could certainly point out that if it hadn’t been for the AFRO’s extensive coverage (1945-1946) of these brave soldiers, the names and hometowns of many would not be known today.       

Due to the tireless efforts of Col. (US Army Ret.) Edna Cummings and others like Master Sergeant (Ret.) Elizabeth Anne Helm-Frazier, more people are learning about this brave, dedicated pioneering battalion.  

According to Womenofthe6888th.org, “the 6888^th was not an All-Black or an all African-American unit.  The 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion was a multi-ethnic unit that was predominantly Black with at least one Puerto Rican and one Mexican woman.  This is a change from what we have been writing and saying for years. Recently, the committee became aware of this mistake.  The second oldest 6888^th veteran still with us is 102-year-old PFC Crescencia Garcia.  PFC Garcia is Puerto Rican and knew others in the unit.”

A native of St. Petersburg, Fla., MSG (Ret.) Helm-Frazier joined the Army for its educational and job opportunities. Throughout her 25-year career, she held a variety of assignments and high-profile positions. Her bio notes that she was an exceptional soldier, role model, and was frequently commended for her outstanding leadership, recruitment and retention skills. After her retirement in 2006, she continued her service to military women, veterans and community activities.

Helm-Frazier, along with Col. Cummings, helped raise funds to build a monument at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. to recognize the 6888th’s exemplary service in WWII. 

“I started on the 6888^th Monument team which was the dream of Commander Carlton G. Philpot, US Navy (Ret.),” she said.  “Our goal was to raise money for the monument and get the word out about the 6888^th and their mission to reduce the two-year backlog of mail because mail was the third most important thing to a service member: first, pay; second, food and shelter, and third, mail!” Additionally, she served as a producer of the critically acclaimed documentary, “No Mail, Low Morale,” which tells the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion story.

Then there’s Col (Ret.) Edna Cummings – an amazing community servant and role model extraordinaire.

“In 2018, Lizz (MSG Helm-Frazier) and I began a journey to raise funds for the 6888^th Monument at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. to honor these unsung WWII Sheroes,” said Cummings. “Little did we know that the monument would launch a movement of international recognitions, an award-winning documentary, a Blue Plaque at the King Edward’s School in Birmingham, England,  a Congressional Gold Medal, a post office renaming in Buffalo, N.Y., a military base renaming at Ft. Lee, Va. (after LTG Arthur Gregg and Major Charity Adams), a Broadway-bound musical by Executive Producer Blair Underwood, a Netflix movie, and many other state and local proclamations.  I am grateful to be a part of sharing the Six Triple Eight’s history with the world.” 

This month, as the AFRO celebrates Black women heroes, Col. Edna Cummings, we are grateful to you, Lizz and so many other outstanding women leaders who have served well and continue to serve. You are role models extraordinaire, as are the women we are featuring in this month’s special edition. Kudos to you for staying on the battlefield! We are looking forward to celebrating 6888^th Day in Maryland on March 9, 2024, and every year thereafter.  And, who knows, by then there may be 6888^th days throughout the nation! 

We also salute the past and current women of the AFRO, including those who are not of African descent. You are appreciated for all that you do every day to help us tell our story—including this beautiful special edition saluting Black women young and old, women from all walks of life, women who do what they do because it’s the right thing to do. 

The post AFRO salute: the women behind the 6888th keep pushing appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO Publisher and CEO

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my work.” 

These words, found in the second chapter of the biblical book of James (the 20^th book of the New Testament) encourage followers of Christ to demonstrate their faith and their beliefs by what they do and not just by what they say.

The purpose of this commentary is not to exegete a biblical text or to be “preachy,” but to emphasize what many already know– actions speak louder than words. 

It’s one thing to say you believe in eradicating hunger, and another to hold a food drive, volunteer at a food bank, or contribute to a hungry family. The same goes for those who say they are passionate about healthcare for everyone or equal funding for education— but never contact their legislators or write to their local paper urging, others to get behind your cause. Of course, these are not the only ways to support a cause, and there are enough worthwhile causes locally, nationally and internationally. In fact, everyone does not (nor should they) embrace the same cause or approach their activism the same way. Some demonstrate. Some write. Some contribute money. And, yes, some even pray without ceasing. 

In this edition of the AFRO, we salute individuals and organizations who are passionate about what they do for the betterment of society – sometimes as a part of their paid employment and other times as volunteers for causes that they care about. We also say kudos to the Afro Charities’ team – the nonprofit partner to the AFRO who cares for our 131-year-old archives (afrocharities.org). 

These talented, highly qualified and dedicated professionals are what the Society of American Archivists calls “activist archivists,” a term given to those who “strive to document the under-documented aspects of society and to support political and social causes through that work.”  

Below are their very brief bios (in alphabetical order), as well as their answers to my question: 

“Why do you do the work that you do?” 

Bacarri Byrd is a communication professional and cultural enthusiast who specializes in exploring the intersection of popular culture, history, rhetoric and media. She approaches life with an eclectic mindset that integrates narratives and tangible objects to amplify diverse perspectives and is dedicated to bringing artifacts to life by uncovering their captivating stories. 

“I do this work because it portrays the underrepresented story of Black people in creative and intentional ways.” 

• Bacarri Byrd 

Jasmine Clarke is an artist, educator and archivist.  Her passion for archiving was ignited when she embarked on a personal journey to honor her grandmother, curating and preserving a collection of family images, videos, documents and oral histories. 

Her dedication to safeguarding the narratives of Black individuals shines through her work, emphasizing the importance of storytelling from the genuine perspective of the community. Driven by a profound belief in empowerment, Clarke is committed to ensuring Black voices actively contribute to the remembrance of both personal and collective stories. 

Through Afro Charities, she channels this dedication by preserving and preparing these stories to be accessible to the community in innovative ways. 

“Why do I do this work? To empower Black people to be active participants in the remembrance of our personal and collective stories and histories.”

• Jasmine Clarke

Megan McShea is an archivist who has been working with Afro Charities on planning, assessing, digitizing and processing the AFRO American Newspapers’ Archives since 2021. 

Megan began her archives career as a researcher in the news photo morgue of The Bettmann Archive in New York City. She was a contract archivist for the Billie Holiday Project for Liberation Arts working with archivists at four historic Black churches of Old West Baltimore and has continued working on audiovisual archives doing digital preservation with the Human Studies Film Archives at the National Museum of Natural History. 

“I do this work because I want as many people as possible to experience the uniquely powerful connection to my city’s Black past and present that the archives offer.”

• Megan McShea

Deyane Moses is an Army veteran, curator, educator and multidisciplinary creative. She is deeply passionate about Black History, archives, and cutting-edge design. In 2019, she exposed the racist history of Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) with her archive, The Maryland Institute Black Archive (MIBA), which included an exhibition and demonstration, “Take Back the Steps.” Moses’ initiatives sparked a nationwide conversation on institutional racism. In 2020, Deyane founded Blackives, empowering and providing valuable research, archival expertise, programming and innovative design solutions to Black communities. Moses currently serves as curator of the AFRO Archives, which is in the care of Afro Charities.

 “I do this work to enlighten future generations about the richness of our remarkable history.” 

• Deyane Moses 

Oyinda Omoloja is a Black studies scholar passionate about the richness and nuances of Black stories. As Afro Charities’ Archives Assistant, Omoloja fields research requests from a diverse audience of researchers from documentary producers and authors, to individuals looking to preserve their family history.  

Omoloja’s work is entrenched in making the AFRO’s expansive archives accessible. Prior to Afro Charities, Omoloja managed the Voices Lifted Oral History Project at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, where she collected and preserved the lived experiences of Black Marylanders. Her multifaceted exposures with history continuously inspire and encourage her commitment to the work. 

“I do this work to honor the nuances and richness of Black experiences.”

• Oyinda Omoloja

Savannah Wood is an artist and the executive director of Afro Charities. She is leading the charge to increase access to the 131-year-old AFRO American Newspapers’ extensive archives. In this role, she has shepherded the organization through a period of historic growth, initiated new programming and attracted support from national funders including the Mellon Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and The Ruth Foundation. Like the four generations of ancestors before her, she lives and works in Baltimore, Md., sharing and preserving Black stories. 

“I do this work to honor my ancestors, and to connect people with their history.”

• Savannah Wood

Bilphena Decontee Yahwon is an artist, archivist and transformative justice practitioner born in Suakoko, Bong County, Liberia. Her work is concerned with the uses of individual and collective memory: How we inherit it, how we preserve it and how we pass it down. 

Yahwon is the steward of her online library, The Womanist Reader, a collective member of interdisciplinary publishing initiative Press, and a founding member of New Generation Scholars Intergenerational Institute. Yahwon is currently a processing fellow at Afro Charities and a 2024 community fellow for the Diaspora Solidarities Lab (DSL).  She launched Archive Liberia in 2020 as an invitation and site for recovering, holding and organizing the collective memory of Liberia.

“I do this work because our collective memory is essential to cultural survival.”

• Bilphena Decontee Yahwon

These young professionals are clear about why they do what they do. Hopefully their work, as well as the work of those featured in this edition, will inspire all of us to either become activists or increase our activism for “faith without works is dead.” 

Special thanks to our editors, writers, photographers, advertising, production, social media and administrative team members for a job well done! 

The post A time to act: Celebrating the activists who impact the future by honoring the past appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances “Toni” Draper,
AFRO CEO and Publisher

When my grandfather, Carl J. Murphy, Ph. D., wrote of World War II as “our war,” it was an acknowledgement of how near the global conflict was to the Black community. This book was originally published in 1945, just months after the Allied victory, when the ripple effects had only begun to spread across the globe. The evils of facism were dealt a forceful, but not fatal blow, as we would later come to learn. Soldiers re-entered a country seeking to build upon their shared victory, with the civil rights movement still in its earlier days. 

Still today, as we mark 75 years of a desegregation in the United States Armed Forces, those ripple effects can be felt. 

As lawmakers across the United States attempt to minimize and rewrite Black history, hatred fuels this erasure of common purpose and knowledge. Amid these efforts, it becomes ever more important for us to document and share our own stories. “This Is Our War” does just that by highlighting the triumphs and challenges Black soldiers faced both abroad and at home in their own words. Our units delivered a forceful blow against the spread of evil abroad, but daily life in America—then and now— reminds us how much work remains in the fight against injustice. 

During the war, many African-American soldiers lamented about fairer treatment abroad compared to what they faced back in the United States. Their plight is forever recorded into history thanks to the AFRO-American Newspapers’ expansive archival collection, which put on record their day-to-day life in the military as well as their major conquests on the war front. The “Double V” campaign — “Victory Abroad and Victory at Home” — emerged from this conundrum as Black soldiers found themselves fighting two simultaneous wars for freedom and democracy. Many hoped that their patriotic service abroad would lead to better treatment upon their return home, but sadly, they were mistaken.

The war continued for Black soldiers when they returned home from foreign battle, and this war still rages today. “This is Our War” not only preserves our history, but lives on as a testament to the ongoing pursuit of justice. 

The truth matters. Brave, quality storytelling and accurate journalism matters. 

The storytelling and courage of the Black Press amplified the extraordinary efforts of Black soldiers and units across the war-front. The AFRO was proud to play a pivotal role in these efforts, sending correspondents worldwide to Europe, Africa, Alaska and into the South Pacific. 

Our writers documented various crucial inflection points in the war, from the chasing of Rommel out of Northern Africa to landfall in Normandy, and many others. 

In the book, we highlight the efforts of individual correspondents like Elizabeth “Bettye” Phillips, the first Black woman journalist to be sent overseas as a war correspondent. 

We also salute the tireless efforts of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, a predominantly Black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps, who sorted, re-routed, and delivered mail to more than seven million Americans and Allied troops stationed in the European Theater. The AFRO, as Col. (Rret.) Edna Cummings points out in her reflection, highlighted the service of these women and was a source of information as she and others successfully fought for a Congressional Gold Medal celebrating these courageous soldiers.   

This month, we celebrate Veterans Day and honor those who worked tirelessly to desegregate the U.S. military more than seven decades ago. We are proud to present a reprint of the AFRO book “This is Our War,” now available for $19.95, plus tax and shipping. The book, reprinted by Black Classic Press, is now available upon request by calling ​​410-554-8200 or emailing customerservice@afro.com. 

This collection of letters and photos, culled from the AFRO-American Newspapers’ Archives, captures the stories of Black service members and so much more. Today we continue to strive for our goal of recording Black life and the accomplishments of African Americans– both famous and lesser-known.

This Veterans Day we recognize Black service members for their service, but we also uplift the members of the Black Press, who recorded the battles for Black freedom— both at home and abroad during— World War II. This is still our war, and we will continue to fight on. 

The post A time to remember: ‘This is Our War’ appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper,
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Nearly 20 years ago, historian John William Templeton and engineer Frederick E. Jordan Sr. declared August as National Black Business Month to “drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African American businesses.”

Today, according to the latest data, there are more than three million Black- owned businesses in the United States. The highest percentage of Black-owned businesses is in Atlanta, Ga.  The highest ratio of Black-owned businesses is in Washington, D.C., and the state of New York has the most Black-owned firms. 

Black-owned businesses employed roughly 1.3 million people, as of 2022.

Percentages, ratios and statistics— impressive, right? Well, not really. Consider these facts: 

• While Black-owned businesses continue to grow, nearly 45 percent are still owned by those who are in the “Silent Generation” (those born between 1928 and 1945)

• According to Pew Research, most Black-owned businesses offer some type of service, opposed to selling products

• Nearly 38 percent of Black businesses are in health care and social assistance, repair and maintenance, and personal and laundry services. Other categories include advertising firms, auto dealerships, consulting services, restaurants, beauty care (barber shops/beauty salons) and more

• Of the two million Black businesses,  approximately only 107,000 have actual employees

• There are only a few Black-owned firms that generate billions of dollars in annual revenue, but many that generate millions
  
• African Americans make up more than 13 percent of the U.S. population, but only own 7 percent of the businesses.  

There are many reasons for these disappointing statistics, including  racism, discrimination, predatory lending and lack of capitol as deterrents to business growth. Too many Black business owners have been unfairly turned down by banks when applying for small business loans. However, there are some banks and financial institutions who have special lending programs to benefit Black businesses. 

As a recent guest on the AFRO’s award-winning show the Chicken Boxx (it’s live every Thursday at noon on Facebook– yes Boxx with a double “x” on the end) recently pointed out,  many Black business owners need technical assistance including how to properly start and manage a successful business. 

Throughout the United States there are several unique opportunities for African-American business owners to network with key decision makers, as well as to apply for grant programs and trainings. AARP, for example, has compiled an extensive list of agencies and companies that provide free help to Black owned businesses (see more at www.smallbizrc.org/action-plans).

In this edition of the AFRO, there are tips for diverse suppliers seeking to do business with T. Rowe  Price; as well as stories about:  Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s new credit union; CLLTIVLY, the Black philanthropy network that has raised over one million dollars for Black organizations; Creative Marketing Resources, the nation’s largest Black-owned cause marketing agency; and the March family, owners and operators of several funeral homes as well as the largest African-American owned and operated cemetery in the United States, King Memorial Park. There is even a story on artificial intelligence (AI) and the disruption to different sectors of the Black business industry.  These are just a few examples of the great journalism created and curated by our talented editors and writers.  

I invite you to enjoy every one of them! I also urge you to support Black businesses this month (and every month for that matter). Be intentional and deliberate about buying products and services from Black businesses in your community and online, and urging others to do the same. 

If you are reading this article, you most likely have a subscription to the AFRO. Thank you for partnering with us. Your support helps to continue the work that was started by my great grandfather, John H. Murphy Sr. 131 years ago.  Please encourage your friends and family members to subscribe as well.   

We also appreciate the  support of our advertisers and sponsors, and invite  you to be a part of a new and exciting initiative that we are launching this month.  For more information, please email danapeck@afro.com. 

Again, kudos to the dedicated AFRO team who works tirelessly every day to produce news for and about our community. 

Happy Black Business Month to all! 

The post A time to support: the importance of Black Business Month appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

On SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling: “The Supreme Court majority’s ruling is a shameful step backwards for equality, education, and the pursuit of prosperity for Black students in particular. This outcome reaffirms the importance of teaching and understanding Black history, rather than ignore it, as the majority justices are keen to do. 

The decision to reject Affirmative Action reaffirms the barriers of systemic racism, and denies decades of hard-earned progress in the fight for educational equity. While that fight was dealt a blow, we at the AFRO remain determined to advocate for Black voices in the classroom and beyond.”  

On NAACP’s press conference & lack of transparency w/ Police Commissioner: “The Mayor’s process for appointing Baltimore’s new police commissioner has been neither transparent nor democratic. While the police commissioner serves at the pleasure of the Mayor, the Mayor serves at the pleasure of the people, and the people deserve transparency. 

Our new commissioner may indeed come from within the Baltimore Police Department or elsewhere, but our community is owed access to a fair and open process. We at the AFRO echo the calls from Baltimore’s NAACP chapter, and our city’s civil rights partners.” 

On student loan ruling: “Once again, the Supreme Court majority has ruled against the interests of Black Americans. Our community is disproportionately impacted by student debt, with Black graduates holding $25,000 more than White graduates, and an average balance of over $52,000 nationwide. Further, our state of Maryland, which is 29 percent Black, has the highest average student loan debt per borrower, exceeding $42,000.

By discarding $400 billion in relief, the court’s decision will add to the undue burden Black students face in pursuit of higher education and economic opportunity. 

The work to achieve educational and economic justice must continue, no matter how the efforts to deny our freedoms.”

The post Affirmative action, student loans and transparency in government: a note from the desk of AFRO Publisher Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper,
AFRO Publisher and CEO

CORRECTION: This article has been updated to reflect that June 19, 2023 is the 158th anniversary of Juneteenth.

This year we celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day for the 158th time, and the third time as a national federal holiday. Many Americans are still learning about Juneteenth’s importance, and we must recognize the significance of its history, and the joy in celebrating our freedom as Black Americans. 

What Juneteenth means to us

Juneteenth’s official name is Juneteenth National Independence Day, and it is indeed celebrating different freedoms than the Independence Day we remember on Fourth of July. On July 4, we celebrate the time Americans became free from another country. On Juneteenth, we celebrate the time Americans became free from their own country. 

Plenty of folks are still figuring out how to best embrace this occasion, in part because of the federal holiday’s recency, or in part because of efforts to avoid teaching this part of our history. If we do not share the true meaning of Juneteenth, how is the broader American public supposed to know? If schools do not teach the holiday’s origins, how are young people supposed to know? How we celebrate Juneteenth matters, because Juneteenth matters. 

How we celebrate Juneteenth

Regional Juneteenth celebrations have occurred for years, particularly in Galveston, Texas where the occasion was first acknowledged. With each passing year, we see new celebrations emerge nationwide, including in the Baltimore region. This year, the AFRO will host our soon-to-be annual Juneteenth Breakfast, “We’ve Come This Far By Faith,” honoring local faith leaders, celebrating how Black church and Black press, and Civil Rights organizations have all worked together for emancipation. 

Other local events include Savage, Md.’s first ever Juneteenth celebration, “Education, Inspiration and Hope,” and artistic exhibitions like the Greater U Street Theater Group’s third annual Juneteenth performance.

Many celebrations are rooted in education, but there is a fundamental joy at the heart of each gathering. 

How businesses can accommodate

Part of our Juneteenth celebration aims to reinforce the idea that this is more than just a day off of work, if a day off is in fact granted. I firmly believe that all non-essential businesses should close for Juneteenth, and allow employees to celebrate the day just as they would for other federal holidays. 

Keeping business open on Juneteenth– while closing for other federal holidays like July 4– sends the wrong message to Black Americans, and denies employees the celebration the day calls for. 

Not a Black Holiday, but a national holiday 

Juneteenth is not just a “Black holiday,” it is a national holiday. Communities and businesses that create space for Juneteenth will help Americans not just understand the day, but celebrate it accordingly. Understanding, recognition, and celebration are key to ensuring that Juneteenth will never again be under the radar, and instead live on rightfully among our most essential federal holidays.

The post Celebrating Juneteenth appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances “Toni” Draper,
AFRO Publisher and CEO

July 10, 1994 

Dear Frances, 

Having just checked the calendar, I am amazed that it has been almost two months since I requested and received your address from Bernardine.  When she happened to mention your name, I explained to her that I have been sharing “My Treasure Chest” with its participants. I have something I wanted to share with you but did not have your address. I’m sorry that it has taken me so long to send it. 

Knowing that I will only procrastinate more (the advantage of retirement), if I wait to explain it all in writing, I’m hoping that you will call me when you find the time.  I’m in and out during the day, but usually at home at night.  My number is 987… just dial it as is; there is no toll, etc. 

Meanwhile, when are you going to stop cheating the public and publish your best seller? 

Fondly, 

Pauline W. Paysour

Mrs. Pauline Paysour was my sixth-grade teacher at Baltimore City’s Gwynns Falls Elementary School (School #60) more than 60 years ago.  She was a wonderful teacher, who cared about each student as if they were her own.  And she was the teacher who nurtured my love for reading and for writing.  Upon receiving this letter, I had to call her. It had been so long! We chatted about lots of things– including her passion for pushing young students to their potential. She also promised to send me an item from her “Treasure Chest.”

A few days later, I received the original of a short story I wrote in the late 1950’s entitled, “Elsbeth, An English Peasant Girl.”  

“In the early 1900’s,” my story began, “Elsbeth March, an English peasant girl, who was twelve years old, lived with her family of five. She was just beginning early morning chores.” 

“One of her special chores was to deliver milk to her rich neighbor, Mr. Johnson, who lived a few miles from the March farm.  When she arrived at the Johnson’s estate door, she was surprised to hear a harsh voice say, “I know you have more money than this. I don’t rob rich people for nothing!” 

The story goes on to describe in some detail how Elsbeth ran to the sheriff’s office and accompanied the deputies back to the farm.  Then, due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the sheriff, his deputies and even the sheriff in another town were unable to complete the investigation – leaving young Elsbeth to do it on her own.  Of course, she had to keep her mother informed of her whereabouts every step of the way.  Elsbeth stays on the case, accidentally has a collision with the perpetrator (both were on horseback) and knocks him unconscious. My eight- page handwritten story ends with Elsbeth receiving a letter of commendation from the mayor and a $1000 reward.  Ahhh– the imagination of a 12-year-old!

Until Mrs. Paysour mailed me the story in my own handwriting (where she circled every “m” that had an extra hump), I didn’t even remember creating this story when I was in the sixth grade.  I certainly didn’t and still don’t know anyone named Elsbeth–but I clearly remember Mrs. Paysour.  

I remember her patience. I remember her professionalism. I remember how special she made each of us feel.  I remember how she nurtured our talents and our passions. I remember how she told us we could achieve anything we set our hearts and minds to. 

When I became a Baltimore City Public School middle school teacher 10 years later, I remembered and tried to model the many Mrs. Paysours of my life.  

Young people today need the same thing young people have always needed teachers and administrators who care about the whole child.  

Thank you, Mrs. Paysour.  I’m working on my best seller! 

Thanks also go to our managing editor and our entire editorial staff, our production team and advertising experts for putting together the 2023 AFRO special edition focusing on education. 

This month we highlight the teachers who pushed us to maximize our potential and the legislators who are working to improve education in the state of Maryland for all students. There are tips for improving the educational experience of neurodivergent students and impact stories detailing the importance of having Black, male teachers. 

As we celebrate the graduates of the Class of 2023 (young and old) this week, let us look towards the future, while also never forgetting the many educators who helped us along the way. 

The post Above and beyond: remembering Mrs. Paysour and the many educators who propelled us to greatness appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances “Toni” Draper,
AFRO Publisher and CEO

It was a colorful 3×5 card (more like a booklet) with patriotic symbols and slogans about money.   Every day, I put a dime in one of its tiny slots. If I recall correctly, the card held about five dollars worth of dimes that I could take to school and exchange for a U.S. Savings Bond.  

U.S. Savings Bonds were sold in schools as part of a program called the “Savings Bonds in Education Program.” The program began in 1956 and continued through the 1970s. It was designed to encourage students to save money and to learn about finance, while supporting the government.  Under the program, bonds could be purchased for as little as $1.  

This was a big deal for me and my classmates at Gwynns Falls Elementary School– and for students throughout Baltimore.  It was also, for many of us, our first real introduction to savings—piggy banks excluded. Through savings bonds, we learned that if we held on to our bonds for a specified length of time, they would be worth more upon redemption.  However, the interest rate was so low it took a long time to get to face value!  

This was my first introduction to finance and savings. A few years later, I got another lesson in finance from my mother who was a single parent to three school-aged children.  I was the oldest.  One day, my mother called all three of us into a family meeting and said “I’m working two jobs and in graduate school, and I need some help. So, from now on, your sister Toni will be handling the family checkbook, and paying the bills for the household.”  

What? I’m 16. What do I know about checkbooks and bills?!  Isn’t it enough that I have two younger siblings to watch?  Well, anyone who knew my mother, knows that didn’t deter her.  Not one bit.  

A couple of weeks later, she took me to the bank and added my name to her checking account. Then she sat me down at the dining room table, gave me a list of bills and said, “Just make sure we have food, that the mortgage is paid, and that the lights stay on.” 

Surely, she’s kidding, I thought to myself. 

I didn’t even like math (or so I thought), much less budgets and bills. Thank God, she coached me along the way and eventually I learned how to handle the family finances. And, yes, we ate every day and the lights stayed on.  

The point of sharing this story is not to highlight my mom or me, but to highlight the importance of teaching financial lessons to our children at an early age – the earlier the better. Many times, however, that’s not what’s happening in the Black community for a variety of reasons. So, I decided to go the Artificial Intelligence (chat.openai.com) route to see what “they” had to say in response to my query, “Why is it that many Black Americans do not know about finance and investing.”  

Below is the AI-generated response: “There are a number of factors that contribute to the financial literacy gap among Black Americans. Some of these factors include: 

1. Historical and ongoing discrimination: Black Americans have faced discrimination in many areas of life, including education, employment and housing, which has limited their access to financial resources and opportunities. 

2. Lack of access to financial education: Many schools do not offer comprehensive financial education, and Black Americans may not have access to financial literacy resources outside of school. Additionally, financial information is often written in complex terms and jargon, which can make it difficult for people with limited financial education to understand. 

3. Lack of trust in financial institutions: due to historical and ongoing discrimination, many Black Americans have a lack of trust in financial institutions and may be hesitant to invest their money. They may also be more likely to rely on informal financial networks, such as friends and family, rather than traditional financial institutions. 
4. Economic inequality: Black Americans are more likely to live in poverty and have lower median incomes than White Americans, which can make it difficult to save and invest money. 

Wow! AI is going to be (and already is) a game changer. 

It is important to note that these factors are not exclusive to Black Americans, and that financial literacy is a widespread issue in the United States. It is important to address financial literacy as a systemic issue that requires a comprehensive approach, including increasing access to financial education, promoting financial inclusion, and addressing the root causes of economic inequality and discrimination.” 

Bottom line? While structural and overt racism are still alive and well in America, financial literacy is a must for the advancement of any community and the creation of generational wealth.  

As Booker T. Washington so aptly said, “At the bottom of education, at the bottom of politics, even at the bottom of religion, there must be for our race economic independence.”  

This article includes information generated by artificial intelligence.

The post From the AFRO publisher’s desk: financial training can’t start too early appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances “Toni” Draper,
AFRO Publisher and CEO

Over 110 years ago, Booker Taliaferro Washington penned this letter to my great grandfather, John H. Murphy Sr. – AFRO founder and publisher– urging him to encourage the schools of Baltimore City to teach Black history. Washington, the first president and chief architect of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University), understood that a people ignorant of its history is a people doomed to failure. 

As Dr. Tony Evans said when he was interviewed by Relevant Magazine in 2011, “Growing up in urban America during the Civil Rights Era in a Christian context of racism, segregation and an incomplete historical education didn’t give me an opportunity to know who I really was. In my all-Black classrooms, I learned about white culture and white history. I read about Paul Revere and his midnight ride. But what my teachers failed to mention was that on the night of Paul Revere’s ride, another man—a Black man named Wentworth Cheswell—also rode on behalf of our nation’s security. He rode north with the same exact message.”

Evans went on to say, “Without an authentic self-awareness, African Americans often struggle as we seek to play on the same team toward the same goal in the body of Christ. But my White brothers and sisters also need to be aware of who we are, and who God has created and positioned us to be at this critical time in our world. Black History Month gives us an opportunity to intentionally familiarize ourselves in such a way that will enable us to embrace our diversity to its fullest, putting unity to use for good.”  Amen. 

The editorial below (Making Black History Month Truly Meaningful) by Dr. John Warren, publisher of the San Diego Voice and Viewpoint Newspaper, also emphasizes the importance of teaching and knowing our history: 

“It’s not enough that Black History Month is the shortest month in the year; or that many capitalize on it with lip service and faint recognition. By this we mean the commercialization of ‘Black History Month’ by some, while others are attempting to erase us by banning books that speak to our history and struggle.

“When we personally stop and reflect or read the accounts of what people like James Weldon Johnson and his brother did in writing the ‘Negro National Anthem’ over 123 years ago; when we consider that this was done in the midst of a segregated society with much open race hatred, it’s a testimony to the personal and family commitment to a people that you not only identity with, but are proud of.

“To make Black History meaningful to us individually and to our people, we must first get reacquainted with our history. For example, it is embarrassing to be in a Black History program calling for the singing of ‘Lift Every Voice & Sing’ (the Negro National Anthem) and watch people struggle to sing one verse or fumble while looking for the words in a program. The act of meaningful engagement with our history must be year-round and based on a commitment to who we are collectively and how much we care for our own heritage. 

“Let’s start by learning the words to the song and studying the meaning for what it tells us about those who came before us. Let’s be able to sing the song from our hearts just as the people of South Africa do with their national anthem. Because the South African people care and identify with their song, we can feel the depth of their emotions.

“When we re-enter that space for ourselves, we will no longer have to be concerned about what others do or say about us. The words to the song will rekindle our desire to revisit what our ancestors have done both for us and this nation. Let’s make Black History every day.”

Booker T. Washington, Tony Evans, John Warren and countless others have sounded and are sounding the alarm about the importance of teaching the young (and not so young) the importance of Black history.  And, in this edition – thanks to our talented editorial team led by Managing Editor Alexis Taylor and Special Projects Editor Dorothy Boulware– we have lifted up and highlighted people and causes that everyone, regardless of race, should know about.  We should not spend any more time defending the value of our history. We must insist that it be taught not as an elective, not as afterthought, but intentionally as a part of every elementary, middle and high school throughout the United States. Black history is American history.  Black history is world history – the good, the bad and the ugly must be taught– the Ron DeSantises of the world be damned.

The post A time to learn: the importance of cherishing Black history appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper,
AFRO Publisher

In 1963, the AFRO meticulously chronicled the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,” where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now-famous “I Have A Dream Speech.”  

As more than 240,000 people of all races and creeds prepared to gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., AFRO Publisher Carl J. Murphy was busy amassing an army of journalists and photographers to cover “The March.”

Lula Patterson, the AFRO’s popular Women’s editor noted that her assignment was to “do a color job on the women…how they look…how they dress…dig the hats, etc.” 

“Sir,” she wrote to Carl Murphy, “I am happy to report that the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was no high dress affair. I am sure there were those who came along for the fluff…but they were few and far between. So few that if they were there, they were drowned in the crowd.  This was a working march.”  

Patterson went on to describe–in great detail– what the women were wearing, including the outfits donned by such notables as Lena Horne, Camille Williams and Mahalia Jackson. 

Then there was James D. Williams’ story of how “Black and White Americans joined hearts and hands.”

“White and colored, the skilled and the unemployed walked together,” he wrote. 

Journalist George Collins noted that on the day of the march “you walked among friends…you talked to everyone. There was not a harsh word, or an evil look tossed your way. You began to feel that this must be the Democracy we have heard so much about.”  

Of course, the highlight of the March on Washington was the oratorical genius of the Rev. Dr. King Jr.  

“Not only was Dr. King’s speech a masterpiece of logic and rationality,” wrote one AFRO reporter, “it expressed the sum total of what the March on Washington was all about. It points to the future. Its rhetoric and delivery were unsurpassed. And it wrapped up the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the hundreds of thousands present at Lincoln’s Memorial and of untold millions who watched and listened by television and radio.” 

For the most part, the March on Washington was peaceful with only three arrests reported. Even the Governor of Maryland, J. Millard Tawes, was impressed by the mass display of unity, congratulating the marchers on their demeanor and decorum.  However, according to another AFRO story, “someone tried to ambush passengers in buses returning to Philadelphia after the historic March on Washington.” 

While the March was covered by media all over the world, it was the AFRO and other Black newspapers who told the story behind the story. The AFRO took hundreds of photos on the ground, as well as from a helicopter 600 feet above the crowd—including a photo of baseball great Jackie Robinson and his son. 

The AFRO provided eyewitness accounts from ordinary citizens who traveled many hours to participate in the massive march. One man, Ledger Smith, had his photograph taken after he skated 698 miles from Chicago to join the protestors in Washington, D.C.  The AFRO’s extensive coverage amplified the ongoing inequalities and injustices suffered by African Americans throughout the United States, while embracing the sacrifices so many made to be in the Nation’s capital that cooler than usual August day. 

The March on Washington was an enormous display of organized unity that required expert skill in planning and execution. However, before one reporter was assigned, before one picture was taken, before one story was written, “Mr. Carl,” as the AFRO publisher was fondly called, penned this prayer: 

“Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that although Thou hast brought us to this pleasant land as slaves and chattels, Thou hast also stricken the chains from our arms and our legs and set us free; free in some areas, not in others; free in some respects, not in others.  But most of all, there is freedom of speech and freedom of action. 

These next days, as we perfect our plans to march on Washington and demonstrate our intentions to be fully free at any cost, strengthen the courage of our leaders, reassure the weak, confound our enemies, and on Wednesday, August 28, 1963, march with us. 

Amen.  

Immediately after the March (even as AFRO stories were still being written and edited), he wrote:, 

“For those who went to Washington this day, leaving their homes and traveling long distances to stand before the nation and bear witness to their demands for freedom now, for citizenship now, and for employment now – make real Thy promise. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of right, for they shall be comforted.” 

Amen and Amen. 

August 28, 2023 will mark 60 years since the Rev. Dr. King issued a clarion call for jobs and freedom. People marched. People cried. People prayed for change and one result was the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  The next yearn there was the Voting Rights Act of 1965, followed by the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Yet, Dr. King’s dream still has not been realized in too many American cities, too many public-school systems, criminal justice systems, voting rights, housing, health care and many other areas.  

There is still so much work to be done in the name of freedom for African Americans throughout this nation. 

But there is hope.  

There are many more people and organizations today who are champions for social justice.  The AFRO is pleased to highlight a few of them in this special edition including Andrew Muhammad of We Our Us, Nicole Hanson-Mundell of Out for Justice, Matthew Reeds of the Reeds Autism and Sarcoidosis Fund, Kevin “Ogun” Beasley and Ericka  Bridgeford of the Baltimore Peace Movement, Sharod Wade of Semper Sanitize and Muhsin Boeluther Umar, founder of D.C.’s Hustlaz 2 Harvesters and the Senior Keepers Foundation.

A special thanks to Managing editor, Alexis Taylor, and the talented team of journalists who contributed to this edition, as well as other members of the AFRO team.  

We still “have a dream!”

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By Frances Murphy “Toni” Draper,
AFRO CEO and Publisher

If a doctor gave you 48 hours to live, what would you do? How would you react? 

Who would you spend your last days, hours, minutes, or seconds with? Friends? Family? Co-workers? Complete strangers? 

Would you spend time planning your funeral, putting your affairs in order, traveling, pursuing a hobby or lamenting your missteps and mishaps?  Would you change your status on social media, (or just delete all your social media accounts), confide in close friends, forgive those who have hurt you or hide under your covers waiting to breathe your last breath? 

Maybe you’d give your kids deep hugs or begin cleaning the clutter out of a closet or write a blog about the importance of maintaining your health or produce a podcast about your life. Or maybe you’d just binge on your favorite series (or favorite food) and hope for the best.  Many of you, I’m sure, would begin to pray. 

Most of us, if pressed to do so, can come up with a long list of things that we would do if we thought we only had a few days left on earth.  We know exactly what these things are and– like the proverbial tin can– these are the things we have kicked down the road for years. Some things on your “to do” list (like the ones on mine) have been there a very long time.  And many of us wait until this time of year to start (or stop) certain activities.  

I have decided (after many years of making and breaking hundreds of New Year’s resolutions) to stop making lists of things “to do” without also developing a measurable plan of action. It’s easy, for example, to emphatically declare that I’m going to lose 10 pounds or get more sleep or write that book.  But just “saying” it or even writing it down, does not a plan make.  

This is the year that every prospective task is accompanied by a plan – even if it’s only a sentence or two. And this is the year that I am more selective than ever about doing only those things that bring value to people and causes that I truly care about. For as the late Benjamin Mays so eloquently declared: 

I have only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can’t refuse it.
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.
But it’s up to me
to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it.
Give account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute,
but eternity is in it.

This edition, Becoming Your Best Self, is full of articles that help us with our “minute” – from “‘No’ is a Sentence” to “Resolve to Get More Rest in 2023,” “You Are What You Eat” and “Improve Your Focus.”  A special thanks to Rev. Dorothy Boulware, Alexis Taylor and the entire editorial team, as well as our production and advertising teams for producing an outstanding special edition for readers to keep handy in 2023!

Merry Christmas and all the best for a prosperous New Year – one minute at a time.

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By Frances Murphy “Toni” Draper,
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Let me say from the outset that I love technology.  Some might even call me an early adopter, as I’ve been told by my Gen X children and Gen Z grands that I’m tech-savvy.  But, make no mistake about it, I am a digital immigrant (more about that later) who readily gave up her Blackberry for the first iPhone nearly 15 years ago.  I have upgraded to the latest version of Steve Jobs’ groundbreaking invention every year since (even though I think the iPhone 14 is overrated). 

The latest MacBook pro, iPad and Apple watch round out my hardware arsenal.  Now, I’m not saying any of this to impress you, but just to reinforce the point that as a digital immigrant, I love technology and its potential. No, I do not fully know how to use every feature, but I look forward to learning new things every day – and there are lots of things to learn. Technology is constantly changing, and we’ve come a long way since Six Degrees was founded in 1996. Friendster and Myspace are only vague memories. 

Unfortunately, Baby Boomers (like myself) often get a bad rap when it comes to technology.  Some people assume that if you’re over a certain age, you are severely technology challenged or that you have no interest in technology.  There are jokes about paper boarding passes or becoming like your parents (like that’s some kind of curse) or that because you’re older you are unable to use technology to navigate the simplest tasks. There are also stereotypical assumptions, bordering on ageism, that suggest many older people do not use social media or if they do it’s Facebook (Meta) only because that’s the platform for “old people.”

Here are the facts: According to the Pew Research Center, 73 percent of people over 65 in the U.S. use the internet, up from 14 percent in 2000. The older the person, the less likely he or she is to embrace the internet, social media, or smartphones, but those who have adopted these technologies use them a lot and learn new skills to do so. 

Seniors are the fastest growing online demographic, though some remain holdouts. In many of those cases, the real barrier to entry isn’t technological—it’s personal preference. Afterall, according to everythingzoomer.com, the Boomer generation (born 1946-1964) and the silent generation (1928-1945) are responsible for many breakthrough technologies including DNA fingerprinting, the Jarvik 7, Apple II, the WWW, free shipping, the universal serial bus port (USB), the ethernet, the nanoscale motor, synthetic skin and flex foot prosthesis to name a few.  

The expansion of radio, television, mobile phones, personal computers, and the internet has been pioneered by Boomers. And let’s not forget African-American technology superstars like Dr. Mark Dean, who co-invented the color IBM PC monitor and gigahertz chip and Dr. James E. West, who co-invented more than 90 per cent of the microphones used in phones and cameras today. Then there’s Janet E. Bashen, the first Black woman to receive a patent for a web-based software solution.  And, so many more! 

People use technology, including social media, for all kinds of reasons, and Baby Boomers are no exception. Social media helps keep people connected, provides an easy way to share information, is open 24/7, is relatively easy to use, allows for speedy communication, helps build relationships, makes the world seem much smaller than it actually is and opens new lines of communication. 

Many people, especially the youngest among us, cannot fathom a day without social media.  Everywhere we look — in restaurants, airports, street corners, ball games, entertainment venues — people are constantly on their phones.  In fact, our devices are often the first thing we reach for in the morning, and the last thing we touch before our heads hit the pillow.  We even text people who are in the same room with us. However, studies have shown that chronic users of social media are more likely to suffer from poor mental health including symptoms of anxiety and depression. Then there’s cyberbullying, cancel culture, fear of missing out and addiction to social media, not to mention the inability to form meaningful relationships without a device in hand.

Digital natives (Millennials and Gen Zers) grew up – in varying degrees – don’t know what it’s like to not have a cell phone or other device at their fingertips. They understand technology in a way that Baby Boomers i.e. digital immigrants—those who learned how to use computers at some stage during their adult life — rarely will. 

Digital immigrants, I believe, have the best of both worlds. While they rely on and appreciate social media and other technologies, many still prefer face to face conversations and can put their phones down or turn them off, without feeling like they’re missing the latest post, the latest like, the latest update, the latest photo, the latest video, the latest TikTok, the latest Clubhouse (or is that party over?).  

Digital immigrants, for the most part, are used to building relationships by looking people in the eye and having forthright, honest conversations. They know how to interact in digital as well as in non-digital spaces.  They tend to judge people as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “by the content of their character.” And they’re okay (really okay) if someone doesn’t like them or follow them.

At the AFRO we have a healthy mix of both digital natives and digital immigrants. Our readers also span multiple generations. Therefore, the  entire AFRO team— advertising, archives, digital, editorial, executive, financial and production— made this special edition available with a focus on many aspects of technology. 

You might see an employee who’s witnessed phenomenal changes in the way the AFRO comes through. In another article, read how technology is advancing learning in Baltimore public schools. If you haven’t heard of Hack the Hood, keep reading. And if employment is a need, find out how the metaverse is widening the possibilities. 

There’s a little something for everyone with a nose for technology.

Parts of this editorial were originally published in the November 17, 2021 AFRO edition of We’re Still Here.

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By Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper,
AFRO Publisher and CEO

A few months ago, in preparation for its 130th anniversary, the AFRO embarked on an ambitious quest to identify the direct descendants of my great grandfather AFRO founder, John Henry Murphy Sr.  

We knew that he and Great Grandmother Murphy (nee Martha Elizabeth Howard) had 11 children (one died in birth), but there was not a complete and accurate record of the family tree beyond the third generation. Not only did we seek to identify each descendant, we wanted to create an easy-to-understand visualization of how each person was connected to the founder and to one another. 

To that end, we enlisted the assistance of the Local Media Association’s data journalist, Maya Pottiger, who developed the following ‘questionnaire’ to be sent to family members: 

• Name all family members (your grandparents, parents, siblings, nephews/nieces, children, and grandchildren) connected to John J. Murphy Sr. and Martha Howard Murphy with their birth and death dates.
• Would you prefer to enter family information directly into an online portal such as ancestry.com?
• Did any of these people have a relationship to the newspaper? Do you know which years they were active with the newspaper? 
• The thing I want people to know about _______ (insert family member’s name) is ____________ (ex: Martha Murphy gave $200 to her husband to buy the name AFRO and a printing press at an auction).  
• And, if you have photos, we’d like those as well.

Simple, right?  You can use it with your own relatives by creating an editable Google document and emailing or texting the file link to as many descendants as possible. Make sure to give them permission to edit the document!  Add a “return by” date, and watch in real time as information is contributed by relatives. Voilà you’re done! 

Well, what we naively thought would be a relatively simple undertaking for our family turned into a major project that, in some cases, created more questions than answers.  

Questions about origin, questions about heritage, questions about belonging, questions about identity all came to the forefront.  These are  important questions – especially as most medical professionals ask about family histories.  They also are important because knowing where you come from and to whom you’re related, give you a sense of community and connectedness.  

As Kiana Cox and Christine Tamir (research associate and former research analyst for the Washington, D.C.-based Pew Research Center) noted earlier this year, “because of slavery, it is often difficult for Black Americans to trace their ancestry prior to the 1870 census. Records of the enslaved are often handwritten, poorly maintained, or simply lost over time. 

“Their report went on to say that “Black adults for whom being Black is a significant part of their personal identity (81 percent) were more likely than those for whom being Black is less important (59 percent) to say they have spoken to their relatives about family history.” 

While we weren’t trying to go back before the 1870 Census, we were very interested in putting the pieces of the entire Murphy family puzzle together once and for all with the goal of creating an accurate family tree.  Family members were our primary source, along with archived editions of the AFRO- after all we’ve been around since 1892.  (Sidebar: Nearly all of the Baltimore AFRO American Newspapers are digitized and searchable and are available for free. All one needs is a valid Enoch Pratt library card. For more information, go to afrocharities.org) 

“Well,” one cousin asked, “are we counting the children that my stepfather already had when he married my mother who was a direct descendant?   

“How about ‘adopted’ children?”  

“What about the child born out of wedlock who thought the person who raised him or her was their mother, when she was really her aunt?’  

“What about the child who was given up for adoption?  

The questions kept coming and coming.  

Because there were so many unanswered questions, and so much that was –and still is– unknown, we decided to figure out how many belonged to which family branch, rather than get all of the information that we originally sought. So, data was entered on ancestry.com (thanks to Savannah Wood, 5th generation family member and executive director of Afro Charities) and within a couple of weeks, there were 345 names—way too many to publish.  What we did publish, however, is the graphic below (created by Maya Pottiger) showing how many belong to which of John and Martha’s offspring. 

Do we have everyone? Probably not.  

Have we created more questions? Probably so.  

Is it important to trace our family histories? Absolutely.

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By Frances Murphy “Toni” Draper,
AFRO Publisher

When I was a young child, my mother, my brother, my sister, and I made weekly trips to the “country,” as we called our grandparents’ home.

It took nearly an hour to travel from our West Baltimore home, near Elgin Avenue and Poplar Grove Street, to the end of Arlington Avenue where they lived, now known as Cold Spring Lane. There stood a quiet 27-acre neighborhood just east of what was then known as Morgan State College. 

We loved going to our grandparents’ home– after all, it was the place where our mother and her four sisters grew up. It was the place where we could run outside with no worry about traffic. It was the place where we learned about Black history and German opera. And it was the place with an elevator, a color television, a dishwasher and more than one bathroom – none of the amenities available at our house.  

What we didn’t know at the time, was the history of our grandparents’ home – a home that was built in 1929. According to the late Dr.  Roland C. McConnell, author of The History of Morgan Park: A Baltimore Neighborhood 1917-1999, “upon learning that Morgan [College] was negotiating for this valuable piece of property, those concerned mounted an opposition that grew increasingly stronger and culminated in two lawsuits and attempted legislative enactment.” 

Indeed many attempts were made to keep Blacks from building houses in what a full-page ad in the AFRO then called “the only restricted suburban development in Maryland with city sewer, electricity, concrete footways, city water, city gas, macadamized streets and annex taxes.”

Despite the opposition, beautiful homes were built for beautiful Black families in Morgan Park. 

The space where my grandparents raised their family, and where W. E. B. Du Bois and many Morgan professors once lived, is still thriving. While there are many new residents, some of the homes– like my grandparents’ property– have been in the same family for nearly 100 years. And, as the current owners, my husband and I are planning to keep it as a family home.  

Part of that planning includes making sure that our paperwork and important documents related to the property are in order. We refuse to let the property fall through legal cracks. There are far too many members of the Black community living in what are known as “Heirs’ Property” – or, homes informally passed down from generation to generation.  

According to a recent article in The Guardian, “if a person doesn’t legally own the home, they can’t use it as capital for loans and mortgages as other homeowners might. They also are excluded from many federal and state grants historically given to homeowners to recover from disasters and could be at risk of losing the home entirely . 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture calls this unstable form of property ‘the leading cause of Black involuntary land loss,’ and increasingly, scholars recognize it as a contributor to the growing racial wealth inequality in the U.S.

This special edition of the AFRO is aimed at making sure AFRO readers are knowledgeable about the housing market, housing policy, bias in the real estate industry, and the process of home ownership. This edition will also shine a spotlight on African American realtors and contractors. 

Read about changes in the rental market if you are not looking to buy a property, and keep our in-depth guide handy for when you are ready to prepare for homeownership!

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The not-so secret of success: “Believe in yourself, in God and the present generation.”

“A newspaper succeeds because its management believes in itself, in God and in the present generation. It must always ask itself: whether it has kept faith with the common people; whether it has no other goal except to see that their liberties are preserved and their future assured; whether it is fighting to get rid of slums, to provide jobs for everybody; whether it stays out of politics except to expose corruption and condemn injustice, race prejudice and the cowardice of compromise. The AFRO-American must become a semi-weekly, then a tri-weekly and eventually when advertising warrants, a daily. It has always had a loyal constituency which believes it to be honest, decent and progressive. It is that kind of newspaper now, and I hope that it never changes. It is to these high hopes and goals of achievement that the people who make your AFRO have dedicated themselves. God willing, they shall not fail.”

These words, penned by John Henry Murphy Sr. (1840-1922) were written two years before his death. Great grandpa Murphy, with $200 in venture capital from his wife Martha Elizabeth Howard Murphy (a founding member of the Baltimore Colored Young Women’s Association), purchased the name AFRO and a printing press at an auction.  

As an emancipated man and a sergeant in the Civil War, the 52-year-old white washer understood what it meant to work hard to achieve one’s goals. He and great grandmother Martha had 11 children, 10 of whom survived to adulthood. Most of their offspring worked in the family business, including my grandfather Carl James Greenbury Murphy who succeeded his father as publisher (1922-1967). 

Initially the paper was supported strictly by readers, although some estimated that an overwhelming majority of African Americans (98 percent) could not read.  However, the subscriber base grew, and the one-pager expanded to 13 editions printed on the AFRO’s own printing presses operated by highly skilled union workers.  In turn, advertisers viewed the AFRO as one of the best ways to market their goods and services to an ever-growing, ever-influential African-American population. 

Readers trusted (and still trust) the AFRO and other Black publications not only to print the truth but to be the prime source of accurate, affirming news for and about our diverse communities. Stories about weddings, funerals, graduations, church, sporting and social events filled the pages of the AFRO, along with the current “news” of the day—including the seemingly never-ending fight for quality jobs, equal pay, housing, education, health care, safety and public accommodations. And, then there was the highly popular AFRO Cooking School, which drew thousands to the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore every year as many competed for new appliances and other prizes awarded for their culinary skills. Today, we have a weekly on-line cooking show hosted by our Jackson State intern Aria Brent. We’ve also published a 130^th anniversary cookbook that includes some of those old recipes from our Cooking School days. Other signature AFRO programs included AFRO Clean Block (one of the oldest on-going environmental programs in the country) and Mrs. Santa. Both are still in existence. 

Since 1892, hundreds of dedicated men and women have worked tirelessly to realize the vision of the founder. But we must admit to great grandfather Murphy that we haven’t always “stayed out of politics.” Since the early 1900’s, we have supported our choices for elected office including our most recent endorsement of the young, energetic, highly qualified democratic nominee for governor, Wes Moore, as well as Brooke Lierman for Comptroller and Anthony Brown for Attorney General (the AFRO got it right!). Today, we are still championing social and political change (including voting rights), as we crusade for equal opportunity and access for all and chronicle the joys and sorrows of our community.

In this age of social media and news on demand, we have exceeded great grandfather’s desire for the AFRO to become a daily newspaper. We are constantly posting to AFRO.com, to Meta (650,000 plus followers), and to Instagram and Twitter (12,000 plus followers on each platform). We’ve even ventured into TikTok! And, with the help of AFRO Charities, Inc., we are working hard to preserve our expansive archives containing more than 3 million photographs, so that more people can know about our rich history and legacy. 

The AFRO is the oldest family-owned Black newspaper in the United States and the oldest Black-owned business in Maryland.  This year we received several awards from the MDDC Press Association, as well as the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s coveted John B. Russwurm trophy for journalistic excellence (including best website). And on Saturday, August 13 (go to afro.com for tickets), we will be joined by hundreds of well-wishers including elected officials, advertisers, community leaders, AFRO team members, AFRO board members and several descendants of John and Martha Murphy for our 130^th anniversary gala featuring Tommy Davidson, the Absolute Music Band featuring Temika Moore and DJ Kid Capri. 

We also are grateful for our outstanding team of dedicated young (and not so young) journalists, graphic designers, sales specialists, social media and technology gurus, finance professionals, board members, industry partners and media executives past and present including former AFRO executive editor, Moses Newson, 95, who plans to attend Saturday’s gala.

A special thanks to our gala sponsors: AARP, Johns Hopkins University, BGE, The Baltimore Urban League, Murphy, Falcon Law, TEDCO, George Mason Mortgage/United Bank, BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport, Bank of America, Truist Bank, March Funeral Homes, Comcast, PNC Bank; our event planner CarVerPR; and everyone who has extended congratulations to us either in the 130^th souvenir journal or in this wonderful special edition.  

We also are grateful to our readers and viewers! It’s because of you that we have been able to tell our stories for more than a century. Thanks to our editorial team, led by the Rev. Dorothy Boulware and Alexis Taylor; our advertising team, led by Lenora Howze; our production team, led by Denise Dorsey; our finance team, led by Bonnie Deanes; our social media and tech teams, led by Kevin and Dana Peck and ALL of our super talented AFRO team members.  

We hope you enjoy reading this special anniversary edition, as much as we enjoyed looking back over our storied history.  Indeed, “A newspaper succeeds because its management believes in itself, in God and in the present generation.”  

Here’s to another 130 plus!

Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper, CEO and Publisher 

View photos and videos from the AFRO 130th Gala here!

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The post The AFRO at 130: a word from Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper,
AFRO Publisher

In 1933, Dr. Carter Goodwin Woodson wrote his seminal, albeit controversial, book The Mis-Education of the Negro.  A weekly columnist for the AFRO and other Black publications, Dr. Woodson argued that the education systems of his day were designed to oppress rather than uplift Black children teaching them that Whites were superior and smarter.   “If you teach the Negro that he has accomplished as much good as any other race, he will aspire to equality and justice without regard to race. Such an effort would upset the program of the oppressor in Africa and America.  Play up before the Negro, then, his crimes and shortcomings. Let him learn to admire the Hebrew, the Greek, the Latin and the Teuton.  Lead the Negro to detest the man of African blood – to hate himself.”  

Here we are, nearly 90 years later still lamenting the fact that many of our schools do not adequately and accurately teach Black history as an integral part of American and indeed world history. In fact, some do not teach it at all.   And let’s not forget the ongoing debate over teaching critical race theory (CRT).  “Critical race theory literally explains why Great Replacement Theory (GRT) exists, but now just days after a White supremacist massacre the same people who created an entire book- banning hysteria around CRT are justifying and promoting GRT. Absolutely shameless. Absolutely shameful,” tweeted Howard University professor Nikole Hannah-Jones after the tragic killing of 10 and wounding of three others in the worse mass shooting in Buffalo, N. Y.’s history.   

It is imperative that our history be taught in its entirety.  As Dr. Woodson wrote many years ago, “We should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world, void of national bias, race, hate, and religious prejudice.  There should be no indulgence in undue eulogy of the Negro.  The case of the Negro is well taken care of when it is shown how far he has influenced the development of civilization.” 

On this page are a few of the stories that appeared in the AFRO over the years about or by Dr. Woodson. And, in this special edition, we continue to tell stories that highlight the importance of accurate, culturally relevant education designed to inform, inspire and enlighten people of all races. 

White supremacy and rampant racism are still alive and well, and the Black press is needed as much as, if not more than ever. Thanks to our advertisers, sponsors and the entire AFRO team for another stellar special edition. 

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As told to Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper
AFRO Publisher

He was a widower of two years who had been married for 70 years. He was a devoted caregiver for his late wife for more than 12 years.

She was a widow of 17 years who had been married for 39 years. She was fiercely independent, happy and led a fulfilling life as an art consultant, writer and competitive swimmer. 

She believed she never wanted to be married again.

After George Johnson complained to his granddaughter that he was lonely and wanted a companion, all changed. When his granddaughter asked a mutual friend to recommend an appropriate woman for her grandfather, the friend responded, “Do you know Madeline Murphy Rabb?” 

In fact, Johnson’s granddaughter was familiar with Rabb because she knew Rabb’s son. “I’ll ask my grandfather if he would like to meet her,” she responded. When she told her grandfather the name, he exclaimed, “Madeline Murphy Rabb! I’ve known her for more than 50 years! Get me her phone number!” After badgering his granddaughter to give him the number and waiting impatiently for three hours, he Googled her.

“Madeline Rabb, this is George E Johnson. Are you looking for a companion like I am?” 

Though she  doesn’t remember what she said, Rabb was charmed and disarmed by the deep baritone voice of a confident, secure man who did not play games, who was being totally transparent. He immediately invited her to dinner at his home in a condo directly across the park from hers. 

Three days later, they reconnected over a lovely dinner. They talked for three hours straight like dear old friends. It was easy, familiar…authentic, and natural. She realized she was with a man who was not intimidated or threatened by her standing or accomplishments. They had common values-love of family, spiritual grounding, philanthropy, politics, food, travel and the arts. 

Johnson believes their meeting was divinely ordained. He knew within 30 days he didn’t want a girlfriend, and he wanted to marry her. But she had to be persuaded. He was relentless in his pursuit of her. And without knowing it, she fell in love with him. Then she realized that love like this is precious and rare at their ages. And they had to grab the moment. They decided to marry without fanfare in a small ceremony on March 30th. 

They hope the love they found will be an inspiration to other mature adults like them. 

Madeline Murphy Rabb

A native Baltimorean, Rabb is the daughter of the late Judge William and Mrs. Madeline Murphy; and the sister of Attorney William “Billy” Murphy, Jr., Laura Murphy, Houston Murphy, and the late Arthur Murphy. Rabb has been active in the art world for more than 50 years as a painter and printmaker, arts administrator, jewelry designer, collector, curatorial activist and writer. She has curated numerous important African American art collections, including Ariel Capital Management and Brown Capital Management. Rabb has lent work from her extensive African American art collection to national and international museums and conducted private tours of her art collection. She has served on the boards of Columbia College Chicago, the DuSable Museum of African American Art, the Hyde Park Art Center, and the Woman’s Board of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is completing her memoir, “Curating a Life.” 

George Ellis Johnson, Sr. 

Johnson is an American businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Johnson Products Company, an international cosmetics empire that was headquartered in Chicago, Ill. for 44 years. The company created iconic products such as Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen. Johnson Products established Soul Train on national TV in 1971, and it was the first African American-owned company to be listed on the American Stock Exchange in 1971. During his career, Johnson has received numerous honors for the contributions of the George E. Johnson Foundation and the George E. Johnson Educational Fund. He served on the boards of the Chicago Urban League, Commonwealth Edison, The Lyric Opera, Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Operation Push. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from nine universities.

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The post AFRO Exclusive: George Johnson and Madeline Rabb: Finding love late in life — a magical love story appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper,
AFRO Publisher

As we reflect on Black wealth during financial literacy month, I’m often reminded that wealth means different things to different people.  To some it’s inconsequential.  To others, it’s fleeting. And still others express a desire to be wealthy but are uncertain of how and where to start.  Unfortunately, the quest for material wealth often takes precedence over everything, including our physical health. I contend, as so many others have, that if we are not first physically healthy, we will not be able to enjoy and appreciate other things including our families and the material wealth we may accumulate. It has often been said that, “money can buy medicine, but not health.”   

It’s no secret that health disparities and inequities are prevalent in African-American communities. According to the American Diabetes Association, the prevalence of diabetes in non-Hispanic Blacks is 11.7 percent, versus only 7.5 percent in non-Hispanic whites. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases notes that African Americans are almost four times as likely as Whites to develop kidney failure. While African Americans make up about 13 percent of the population, they account for 35 percent of the people with kidney failure in the United States. And, according to the American Heart Association, about 55percent of Black adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension or HBP. 

In addition, the Center for American Progress notes:

• Eighty percent of African-American women are overweight or obese compared to 64.8 percent of non-Hispanic white women.
• In 2017, 12.6 percent of African-American children had asthma compared to 7.7 percent of non-Hispanic white children. 

• African Americans have the highest mortality rate for all cancers combined, compared with any other racial and ethnic group.
• There are 11 infant deaths per 1,000 live births among Black Americans. This is almost twice the national average of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
• 11.4 per 100,000 African-American men and 2.8 per 100,000 African-American women die by suicide.

The statistics are alarming, but the real question revolves around the impact that the racial wealth gap has on the health of African Americans.  A 2018 study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation concluded that “greater levels of wealth also predict better health outcomes.” Here are some of their other key findings:

• Parents’ wealth shapes their children’s educational, economic and social opportunities, which in turn shape their children’s health throughout life.
• Although the United States is one of the world’s most affluent nations, it is also the most economically unequal.
• A long history of discrimination and structural racism explains the wealth gap among people in America. 
• Building wealth where opportunities have been historically limited is essential for advancing health equity.

In this ‘We’re Still Here’ edition, we address several ways to build wealth including trust and estate planning, ‘mompreneurs’, cryptocurrency and NFT’s. We also feature articles on accessing the billion-dollar cannabis industry, dollar-cost averaging, and even the recent wedding of Johnson Products’ founder, George Johnson and arts  activist, Madeline Murphy Rabb. 

Special thanks to our editorial, advertising, and production teams for their hard work; our sponsors and advertisers; and our loyal print and digital readers. The magic continues to happen with each special edition as we continue to tell our story. Thanks so much for joining us on this journey toward 130 years. 

“As long as there is poverty in the world, I can never be rich, even if I have a billion dollars. As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people in this world cannot expect to live more than twenty-eight or thirty years, I can never be totally healthy even if I just got a good checkup at Mayo Clinic. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the way our world is made. No individual or nation can stand out boasting of being independent. We are interdependent.”  The Rev. Dr.  Martin Luther King Jr.

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By Frances (Toni) Murphy Draper,
AFRO CEO and Publisher

My mother, Frances L. Murphy II, was a winner and a role model to many- especially aspiring Black journalists. For most of her life she enjoyed two professions: working at the AFRO founded by her grandfather, John H. Murphy Sr., and teaching.  She began her newspaper career at the Baltimore AFRO-American, went on to head the Richmond AFRO-American, later the Washington AFRO-American and served the company as its board chair from 1972 to 1974. In 1986, she returned to the Washington AFRO as publisher and retired in 1999, an event duly noted by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton in the Congressional Record. 

In 1999, after moving to the family home in Baltimore’s Morgan Park (which was built by her parents in 1929), Mom continued to write editorials for both the Baltimore and Washington AFROs and an occasional news story.  From 1958 to 1964, she taught third grade in the Baltimore City Public Schools. She also taught at Morgan State College (now University) where she headed the news bureau for seven years; then at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and at the State University College at Buffalo (commonly called Buffalo State), where she chaired the journalism sequence. She retired from Buffalo State as a tenured associate professor.  In 2019, Buffalo State posthumously presented her with its Hall of Fame Achievement Award. 

My mother retired a second time from teaching, after serving from 1984 to 1991 at Howard University where she was promoted from visiting professor to associate professor of journalism.

An early adapter to technology, she enjoyed writing hard-hitting editorials and news stories. She also took pride in mentoring young journalists like Hamil Harris, James Wright, LaWanza Spears, John White, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and noted sports columnist, Bill Rhoden. Her oral history, which gives many more details of her life (including her time as an undergraduate journalism student at the University of Wisconsin) is posted on the Washington Press Club Foundation’s web page http://www.wpcf.org. In March, 2019 the National Newspaper Publishers’ Associated enshrined her into the Black Press Gallery of Distinguished Publishers. 

A single Mom to me, my brother (Dr. James E. Wood Jr.) my sister (Susan Wood Barnes) and a beloved “Stepmom” to Bud (Charles Campbell Jr), Jay and David Campbell, her greatest treasures were her grandchildren. She even initiated a “Camp Granny” where she invited every grandchild to come to her house for a week each summer to have fun, “hawk” AFROs on the corners of D.C. and to learn their family history. As a tribute to her, a version of Camp Granny is still held every two years, with the next one occurring in July, 2022.  And who could forget her later-in-life love of golf and the 2-seater Benz she purchased at age 80…because she finally could! She was indeed a  winner in life and in death. 

Eight months before her death she penned a letter simply entitled: “To my children” 

February 4, 2007

Many of you have heard me say over and over again that I had a good time living and enjoyed every moment of my life. Yes, there were some ups and downs but each time I grew a little bit so that I could enjoy life more. Even if the Lord decides I should suffer at the end, this does not change my mind about the good life. I have been blessed. Thank you, Lord!

It is for this reason that I want my funeral to be a joyous occasion as I take my journey into eternity with my God and Savior Jesus Christ.

My funeral should be held at St. James’ Episcopal church in Baltimore. I would ask that the priest officiate but that my grandchildren read the Gospel, the Epistle, the lessons and the Psalter; that they take the time to let Bobby, Jake, Jimmy, Sue, David, Andre, Robin, Lance, Kevin, and Marlene say a one-minute word or two about me, and that the family prayer be given by Toni. All of my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren should participate. (Pallbearers, ushers, etc.) Don’t let anyone rush you. This is for eternity. And, if elected officials attend, thank them for their support, and kindly let them know that my wishes are for only those named above should speak at my funeral.

Sing, “O Master Let Me Walk With Thee”, “Peace Perfect Peace” and Dad’s song, “Joy, Joy is in the Air.” The St. James’ Gospel Choir—of which I was a former member—should also be invited to sing.

The Delta Omega Omega Service, the LINKS Service, the Holidays’ Service and then the church service should come first, followed by burial in the family plot at Arbutus. There should be special seating for my club members—Deltas, Links, Holidays, Chums, Et Cetera, SKCs, Chipperettes, Philomathians, Morgan State University Women, The Second Thursday Club—and for AFRO employees and the Douglass High School Class of ‘40–and from St. James’, the St. Agnes Guild, the Greeters and the Vestry (of which I was a former member.) 

A champagne soirée can be held following the burial at a designated place or in the church hall. Just serve small sandwiches and cake — have a band or a disco jockey and dance…have fun. You have all seen my will so there are no surprises there.

Do read this letter at the funeral service so that my friends and family will understand that to me death is no time for tears but a time for celebration; a time to bring families together so that they can worship together, plan together for the future, and then have fun.

Love you all…Mother.

Frances L. Murphy, II died on November 21, 2007, but her winning ways and wise sayings live on through her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, students, colleagues, friends and foes alike.  Everyone who knew her has a “Frances Murphy story.” 

Thanks, Mom.  And, thanks to every member of the AFRO team who created another beautiful, story-filled special edition on Women Who Win. From advertising to business to editorial to production – each department has a hand in the final publication. Women Who Win – in the boardroom, in the storeroom, in the stock market, in their own homes with their own children – and those who spend extra time with children who belong to their neighbors. Start with the cover and meet the Women who touch the world in special places – and always come out on the winning side.

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The post Frances L. Murphy, II – A remarkable winner in life and in death appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances M. Draper,
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Tall. Dark. Handsome. Family man. No nonsense, but fair. Philanthropist. Ph.D. Farm Owner. Founder of a camp for children. Community leader. Beloved by students and teachers alike. These are just some of the words and phrases I’ve heard to describe my paternal grandfather, Francis Marion Wood. My mother once said that he was to education in Baltimore what Jackie Robinson was to baseball, an extraordinary “first.” Although he died before I was born, I have read several articles chronicling the positive impact he had on public education in Baltimore and beyond.  He was a humble man, who rarely touted his accomplishments, preferring to applaud those he worked with, especially teachers and principals.  

Grandfather Wood was born in Barren County, Ky. in 1878, the son of Fannie Myers Wood and William H. Wood. He was graduated from Glasgow High School and the State Normal School (now known as Kentucky State University). According to Wikipedia, he “received his Master of Arts degree at Eckstein Norton University in Cane Spring, Ky. in 1906 and began his career with a variety of positions in Kentucky education. He first worked as a teacher in a one-room log schoolhouse and continued teaching in rural Kentucky schools from 1896 to 1899.  Next, he taught at Kentucky’s State Normal School from 1901 to 1907. He then served as a principal of Black elementary and high schools in Kentucky. This was followed by a promotion to serve as the state supervisor of Black high schools and rural schools. He then served as the president of the Colored State Normal School at Frankfort. He was also the president of the Kentucky Negro Teachers’ Association and a member of the Kentucky Commission on Interracial Cooperation. In 1924, he was also the Rockefeller Foundation student at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University).”

In 1925, Dr. Wood was recruited by Baltimore City to become its Supervisor of Colored Schools at an annual salary of $4,200. He and his wife Nellie Virgie Hughes Wood made the trip from Kentucky to Baltimore with four young children, all under the age of 10. Three of his four children followed in their dad’s footsteps: John Wood was an educator like his father; his daughter, Iona Wood Collins owned and operated The Little School (the first African-American owned nursery school in Baltimore City); son, Albert Wood was a Baltimore City high school teacher; and, my dad, the youngest, James (Biddy) Wood was an entrepreneur and manager of several musical acts, including The Four Tops and his wife, Damita Jo.  

According to a  July 2, 1927 AFRO article, the Baltimore City School Board promoted Dr. Wood to be Director of Colored Schools in June of that year, making him the first African American to hold that post. Francis Marion Wood was a visionary and an expansionist. He is credited with doubling Black student enrollment in the Baltimore City Schools and pushing for schools to be named for prominent African and White Americans rather than just being known by their number i.e. Harriet Tubman, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Harvey Johnson. Although Dr. Wood was widely respected, numerous proposals for his promotion to assistant superintendent were denied by Baltimore’s all White school board. 

The Maryland State Archives (MSA) reveals that one of Dr. Wood’s greatest accomplishments was the organization of the Baltimore City Teachers’ Association “and the stimulation of the extension courses for principals and supervisors under the auspices of Columbia University and the courses for teachers given by Morgan College and the University of Maryland.” MSA also notes that “in the midst of his life in the educational field, Dr. Wood finds time for church and community activities. He is superintendent of Union Baptist Church’s Sunday School, a member of the executive board of the YMCA, Association for the handicapped and the Urban League. He is also a Mason, K. of P., and Elk and a member of Alpha Psi Fraternity. A now-defunct summer camp for Baltimore City youth from low-income families was named for him, as well as several schools including the Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood High School in Baltimore City. 

Francis Marion Wood died in 1943 and all city schools observed a five-minute moment of silence on the day of his funeral. Elmer A. Henderson, who was the principal of Booker T. Washington Junior High School at the time, succeeded him as director and was named assistant superintendent two years later. 

Although I did not get a chance to meet my grandfather, I inherited his love for learning and for teaching. He is a little-known hero who had a big impact on public education in Baltimore.  This edition features those who are the first and/or the few to do what they do. They are pioneers. They are creators. They are compilers. They are composers. Most of all, they are men and women who pushed through whatever fear they encountered to become and to do that which makes a tremendous difference in our world. Kirk Franklin and his unique touch on gospel music. Karine Jean-Pierre, the first African-American woman to be White House, press secretary. Alicia Hynson who finds her greatest joy in “birthing babies.” Be introduced to the first White House correspondents, the Black Press members who covered the Civil Rights Movement; and before you’re finished you’ll know the claim to fame of the Pitch and Putt Golf Club.

From the members who sell the ads to those who manage the classifieds, to those who pay the bills; the writers and the graphic designers. This is the “We’re Still Here” publication that celebrates Black History Month is the creation of the entire AFRO team, and for each of them, we are grateful.

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The post A little celebrated first: Dr. Francis Marion Wood appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

There is also a wonderful story about my maternal grandfather, Carl James Greenbury Murphy, long-time AFRO publisher and editor (1922-1967). A prolific writer of hard-hitting editorials, as well as inspirational prayers, Carl Murphy was small in stature, but stood tall and fought hard for civil and human rights.  

But he wasn’t the only civil rights advocate in the house. Grandmother Murphy was a freedom fighter in her own right. She was a soft-spoken, genteel woman, who rarely raised her voice. But, when she spoke, all 16 of us stood at attention; ready to receive her pearls of wisdom or gentle correction. 

Vashti Turley Murphy was a D.C. school teacher, and one of 22 Howard University students who founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on Jan. 13, 1913. Two months later, she joined her fellow sorority members and others, as they marched down Washington’s Pennsylvania Avenue in support of a woman’s right to vote.  The “colored women” were relegated to the back of the line, but they continued to march with their heads held high, enduring slurs and insults along the way. Isn’t it ironic (sad and disgusting) that here we are more than 100 years later still fighting for full voting rights? Still witnessing the “lynching” of Black Americans? Still being judged by the color of our skin, rather than the content of our character? Still being taught from history books that gloss over the brutality of enslavement and minimize the full contributions of the enslaved? Still fighting the structures and systems that privilege one race of people over another? Still having “the talk” with our sons and our daughters?

More than 60 years ago, in a speech for a Delta sponsored mother-daughter luncheon, Grandmother said, “As a founder, it has been my privilege to rejoice quietly in the growth of this child; to see it stretch north, south, east and west; to see it expand into regions, boards, committees and projects. It has been a joy to note its work in fellowship, libraries and the creation of jobs; to discover that everywhere Delta goes, it encourages women to reach for the noblest, the highest and the best in our civilization and shed its sweetness and light upon our communities.” She went on to say, “wherever one Delta exists, graduate or undergraduate, wherever one Delta family is established, there should grow an outpost of freedom: firm, unyielding, accepting no compromise. What a tragedy it would be, if we should stand by the Red Sea of Segregation, unwilling to advance up to our knees, up to our waists, up to our throats, up to our chins, up to our lips. What a tragedy it would be, as the history of this period is written, if it could be said that 15,000 of the best educated women in the United States, the flower of American womanhood, stood in a struggling, hesitant mass, undecided, unwilling to take the first step.

Daughters of Delta, show now that you are daughters of freedom and that you are worthy of redemption. Come, let us go forward into the sea to meet the God of our Father. Oh, God of our fathers, work thy miracle with Delta.”

Grandmother was a double amputee (diabetes), yet she rarely complained.  She, like many of those highlighted in this edition, was always fighting for one cause or another, refusing to give in or to give up. Tory Ridgeway has his own struggle with autism, a struggle that thwarted his own life dream. But he doesn’t allow that to stop him from fighting so that others with autism will realize their dreams.

Parren J. Mitchell found much to do in the community of Baltimore to make it a better place. But he took on the fight for the city and for Black small businesses to D.C., becoming the first African-American congressional representative from Maryland. That same seat was occupied by the late Elijah Cummings and is currently held by the Honorable Kweisi Mfume.

Many young people in the D.M.V. are featured in this special edition on community activism, as well. They are changing the world with a new business, a discovery, a unique way of doing something old.

And to pique the quality of our activism, we asked local leaders the question, “What is it you’d like the world to know about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? What have we missed that we really need for our justice toolkit?” You’ll find their answers intriguing; you might want to send one of your own to editor@afro.com for posting on our website.

Much appreciation to our advertising, digital, editorial and production departments for yet another brilliant compilation of news and bits from the 129-year-old AFRO Archives. And thanks to you, our readers for your support.

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The post Vashti Turley Murphy: A freedom fighter in her own right appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper
CEO and Publisher

One of my all-time favorite Christmas albums is Stevie Wonder’s first Christmas album (1967) Someday at Christmas. 

Someday at Christmas men won’t be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December our hearts will see
A world where men are free

Someday at Christmas there’ll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life’s really worth
There’ll be peace on earth.

Despite everything that’s going on in our world today, and there’s a lot going on, I still love Christmas. I love celebrating the birth of Jesus; I love singing the carols; I love Christmas decorations; I love giving (and receiving) gifts; preparing, and eating food, lots of food; I love being with family; and I love binging on Christmas movies. 

Christmas means different things to different people. In the purest sense, Christmas (a combination of the words “mass” and “Christ”) commemorates the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem to a man named Joseph and his virgin wife, Mary. Although no one knows the actual date of Jesus’ birth, Dec. 25 is generally the date of most Christmas celebrations. However, in some parts of the world like Egypt and Ethiopia, Christmas is not celebrated until Jan. 7. 

In other African countries, Christmas traditions vary from culture to culture. According to africawanderlust.com, for example, Christmas is taken very seriously in every African nation that observes this sacred holiday (holy day).  The centerpiece of most African celebrations is going to church to honor and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with nativity plays, carol singing and dancing. In fact, going to church is not optional in these countries. It is a public holiday observed throughout the continent. While gifts are exchanged and children are given toys in some countries, more emphasis is on caring for the needs of those who may not have food and other necessities. Further research reveals that family meals are also important. 

In the East African country of Uganda, where I’ve visited several times, the church also is central to the Christmas celebration. People save all year to buy beautiful new clothes to wear to church on Christmas day. The people of Uganda are friendly, loving people who are passionate in their worship (and not just at Christmas). They spend days preparing Christmas meals and insist that you try everything, especially matooke which is sweet and soft like bananas. One thing that makes Uganda different from other countries in Africa (and perhaps around the world) is that children do not believe in Santa Claus and therefore do not look for toys and gifts. Adults do not exchange gifts either, preferring to concentrate on spending time with each other. However, colorful decorations can be seen in the cities and throughout the countryside. Visiting Kampala, Uganda reminded me of how secular Christmas has become in many places in the United States; how the true meaning of Christmas is dwarfed by luxury cars with red ribbons and a reindeer with a nose that glows; how so many in Baltimore and throughout this country are burdened by the weight of multiple pandemics that do not take a holiday: COVID 19 (with its many variants), daily violence, drug abuse, stress, financial challenges, food insecurity and structural racism just to name a few.  As political, church and civic leaders struggle for answers, we continue to sing Stevie’s song: 

Someday at Christmas men won’t be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December our hearts will see
A world where men are free

Someday at Christmas there’ll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life’s really worth
There’ll be peace on earth

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas we’ll see a land
With no hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning people will share
Our world where people care.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2: 8-14, KJV).

Although Uganda’s Christmas spirit might not have fully penetrated American culture, the ways and mores, the wit and wisdom, the vision of African Americans and its manifestation have left a giant mark in history. Our global imprint in the diaspora is the focus of this month’s special edition. Ralph Moore writes about architecture and rodeo; Nicole Batey about soul food and its infectious taste. Micha Green looks at the obvious influence abroad of Josephine Baker and James Baldwin. Music. Dance. Fashion. Social media. The brilliance and resilience of Africans who were uprooted and replanted on this continent continue to reverberate throughout, leaving signs of genius throughout the universe.

And. We’re. Still. Here. 

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member – subscribers are now members!  Join here! 

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By Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper
CEO and Publisher

Let me say from the outset that I love technology.  Some might even call me an early adopter, and I’ve been told by my Gen X children and Gen Z grands that I’m tech-savvy.  But, make no mistake about it, I am a digital immigrant (more about that later) who readily gave up her Blackberry for the first iPhone nearly 15 years ago. I have upgraded to the latest version of Steve Jobs’ groundbreaking invention every year since (even though I think the iPhone 13 ProMax is overrated.) The latest MacBook pro, iPad and Apple watch round out my hardware arsenal.  Now, I’m not saying any of this to impress you, but just to reinforce the point that as a digital immigrant, I love technology and its potential. No, I do not fully know how to use every feature, but I look forward to learning new things every day – and there are lots of things to learn. Technology is constantly changing, and we’ve come a long way, since Six Degrees was founded in 1996. And Friendster and Myspace are only vague memories. 

Unfortunately, Baby Boomers (like myself) often get a bad rap when it comes to technology.  Some people assume that if you’re over a certain age, you are severely technology challenged or that you have no interest in technology.  There are jokes about paper boarding passes or becoming like your parents (like that’s some kind of curse) or that because you’re older you are unable to navigate the simplest tasks. There are also stereotypical assumptions, bordering on ageism, that suggest that many older people do not use social media or that if they do it’s Facebook (Meta) only because that’s the platform for “old people.” 

Here are the facts: According to the Pew Research Center, 73 percent of people over 65 in the U.S. use the internet, up from 14 percent in 2000. The older the person, the less likely he or she is to embrace the internet, social media, or smartphones, but those who have adopted these technologies use them a lot and learn new skills to do so. Seniors are the fastest growing online demographic, though some remain holdouts. In many of those cases, the real barrier to entry isn’t technological—it’s personal preference. After all, according to everythingzoomer.com, the boomer generation (born 1946-1964) and the silent generation (1928-1945) are responsible for many breakthrough technologies including DNA Fingerprinting, the Jarvik 7, Apple II, the WWW, free shipping, the universal serial bus port (USB), the ethernet, the nanoscale motor, synthetic skin and flex foot prosthesis to name a few. The expansion of radio, television, mobile phones, personal computers, and the Internet all have been pioneered by Boomers. And let’s not forget African-American technology superstars like Dr. Mark Dean, who co-invented the color IBM PC monitor and gigahertz chip and Dr. James E. West who co-invented more than 90 percent of the microphones used in phones and cameras today. Then there’s  Janet E. Bashen, the first Black woman to receive a patent for a web-based software solution.  And, so many more! 

People use technology, including social media, for all kinds of reasons, and Baby Boomers are no exception. Social media helps keep people connected, provides an easy way to share information, is open 24/7, is relatively easy to use, allows for speedy communication, helps build relationships, makes the world seem much smaller than it actually is and opens new lines of communication. Many people, especially the youngest among us, cannot fathom a day without social media.  Everywhere we look —in restaurants, airports, street corners, ball games, entertainment venues — people are constantly on their phones.  In fact, our devices are often the first thing we reach for in the morning, and the last thing we touch before our heads hit the pillow.  We even text people who are in the same room with us. Studies have shown that chronic users of social media are more likely to suffer from poor mental health including symptoms of anxiety and depression. Then there’s cyberbullying, cancel culture, fear of missing out and addiction to social media, not to mention the inability to form meaningful relationships without a device in hand.  

Digital natives (Generation X and younger folks who grew up – in varying degrees – with technology) understand technology in an intuitive manner that baby boomers i.e., digital immigrants—those who learned how to use computers at some stage during their adult life —rarely will.  Digital immigrants, I believe, have the best of both worlds. While they rely on and appreciate social media, many still prefer face to face conversations and can put their phones down or turn them off, without feeling like they’re missing the latest post, the latest like, the latest update, the latest photo, the latest video, the latest TikTok, the latest Clubhouse (or is that party over?).  Digital immigrants, for the most part, are used to building relationships by looking people in the eye and having forthright, honest conversations. They know how to interact in digital as well as non-digital spaces.  They tend to judge people as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “by the content of their character.”  And they’re o.k. (really o.k.) if someone doesn’t like them or follow them.

In this, our first -ever edition dedicated totally to technology, we explore the ways HBCUs have incorporated STEM and STEAM education to sharpen the preparation of their grads. We look back to how it was, and forward to how it is and what’s on the horizon. Technology in schools. Technology in hospitals. Technology in counseling sessions. Technology in worship. Technology in the production of news. Yes! AFRO news. The entire team has, once again, produced a fun-filled, teaching tool with articles for every particular taste.

And it doesn’t stop here. The same team is publishing news online multiple times a day, #AFRONewsAtNoon; sharing digital news with a live news show on Mondays, the Chicken BOXX on Thursdays at noon and unexpected Facebook Live shows a few times a week. If you’re not yet a member, the information you’ll need to join is on AFRO.com and in the 7 Things to Know and One More Thing newsletters in your inbox. Or you can call our wonderful Wanda Pearson at 410-554-8200 if you’re leaning in the “need to talk” direction.

Whatever it takes, we need you to be a part of our journey and we guarantee you’ll enjoy every moment.

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member – subscribers are now members!  Join here! 

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AFRO Publisher Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper

By Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Seven years ago, Dr. Pamela Love Manning and I compiled stories of 12 Black women who successfully fulfilled their dreams and aspirations, despite tremendous obstacles. Many of these women experienced unbelievable trauma stemming from childhood abuse or abusive relationships or poor decisions leading to years of shame, guilt, stress and regret. With their full consent, Dr. Love and I interviewed each woman and included their stories in a book entitled, Life Happens…But You Can Finish.*

As we wrote in the book’s introduction, “Many people start a lot of things that they feel are important to them. They start out with enthusiasm and with the drive and determination necessary to finish their race. But just like running a race, it’s not when you start or how fast you run, what matters most is crossing the finish line. Regardless of how long it took, what obstacles you crossed along the way, who did or did not help you, or how much you wanted to give up or quit, there’s something powerful about being able to go from thinking about what’s left to be done to saying, I did it or I finished!’

Finishers have a certain mindset and level of determination that causes them to overcome obstacles, no matter how difficult or insurmountable they seem at the time. Finishers don’t always have a concrete plan with clearly defined action steps and don’t always anticipate the opposition and delays they will encounter along the way. They don’t anticipate having to deal with the pain, hurt, shame, disappointment, betrayal, and insensitivity based on words or actions of people close to them, relatives, close friends, employers, church members, etc. Despite the odds or obstacles, Finishers finish!”

The courageous Finishers profiled in Life Happens… freely share portions of their life’s journey to encourage and inspire others. Their stories reveal how they achieved personal and professional successes, despite opposition, adversity and in some cases, a lack of personal and financial resources. Some describe how they learned to stop falling and avoid staying stuck in unhealthy patterns of thinking and behavior, because of the manipulation and controlling tactics of people who claimed to love them. Still others share insights into how they learned to let go and adjust to the loss of meaningful connections they thought they’d have for a lifetime. Each Finisher also credits her faith in God as an integral part of her journey, and each story ends with an original poem by Andrea Evans (an elementary school teacher in Texas). 

On page B-4 of this week’s keepsake edition of the AFRO (We’re Still Here: Body. Mind. Spirit.), we feature Finisher Deneen Penny-Rymes’ riveting first person account that graphically describes how she finished well, despite being raped as a child, years of substance abuse, a devastating fire, an incarcerated husband and a life-threatening illness. There are other compelling stories throughout this edition including: Sickle cell awareness, education crucial for Black families by Alexis Taylor. Suicide is real and prevention is available by Rev. Kevin Wayne Johnson, The Establishment of the Pink House by Beverly Richards, What One Question Would You Ask God and many more. 

Kudos to Managing Editor Dorothy Boulware, News Editor Jessica Dortch, DC/ Digital Content Editor Micha Green and the entire editorial, production, advertising and digital teams for a job well done. They have shown through their hard work and dedication to producing quality products (in print, on social media and online) that life indeed does happen, but they can finish and finish well. 

*Life Happens…But You Can Finish by Drs. Frances “Toni” Draper and Pam Love is available on amazon.com.

Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

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Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher

By Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO Publisher and CEO

Unless you’ve been in a deep Rip Van Winkle sleep over the past few months, I do not need to tell you that there is a great divide, especially in the Black community, over the efficacy and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Many opposed to getting the vaccination offer such reasons as: “It was developed too fast,” “It makes you sterile,” “I had COVID already,” “The government’s just trying to control you,” “I’m young and in great shape, so I don’t need it,” “The long-term side effects are unknown,” “My __________ took the vaccine, and still got COVID;” “It’s my body and my business. Nobody can tell me what to do,” “How do I know what’s really in it?” “God’s got me, so I’ll be fine as long as I have faith the size of a mustard seed,” and the list goes on and on, fueled at times by conspiracy theorists on social media. 

While I’m not going to use this space to attempt to answer any of these commonly held objections, (there are plenty of credible sources that do that), the fact of the matter Is that 4,666,804 people have died from the COVID-19 outbreak as of Sept. 15 and there have been nearly 42 million cases in the United States and 664,000 deaths. According to data recently released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), child COVID-19 cases have increased at an alarming rate, with more than 5 million children having tested positive. We can debate the accuracy of the data; We can even debate the qualifications and motives of those reporting the data, but in the past week personal friends and family have shared stories about their own unvaccinated families that I find compelling.  Below are three true stories. 

Story #1:  Dad and mom are in their early 50s. Dad, an organ transplant recipient, is fully vaccinated. Neither Mom nor their three children ages 15, 16 and 17 are vaccinated. Mom is adamant about why she will not let anything “go” into her body, and the teens parrot her reason and follow her lead. “Afterall,” she reasons, “I don’t really know what’s in that vaccine, and I don’t think the children should get vaccinated either.” Dad tries to reason with her, but to no avail. Mom contracts COVID; Dad contracts COVID, as do all the children. Dad has flu-like symptoms for a day or two and is on his way to recovery. Mom and children are still suffering with what they say is the worst thing they’ve ever experienced. “If there’s a silver lining,” Dad says, “They all want to get vaccinated, when this is over.”  

Story #2:  Dad and Mom are in their late 20s. They have four children: nine, seven, five and three months old.  Both Mom and Dad are Anti-Vaxxers, refusing the vaccine at all costs. “We don’t need it. We’re not even 30 yet.” Their vigorous stance against the vaccine was the subject of a big family blowout last month, leading to harsh words between them and their siblings, during what would have otherwise been a joyous family reunion. Feelings were hurt, with one sibling vowing to never speak to the other one again. Then the unthinkable happened. The parents who vowed to never be vaccinated and all four children, including the infant, tested positive for COVID-19.  They are recovering at home, afraid to even let their family members know, even though they may have exposed them to the virus too. While I’m praying for their complete healing, I can only imagine what will happen when everyone else in the family finds out they may have been exposed, but no one said anything! 

Story #3:  Then there’s this Facebook post by my dear first cousin, the Rev. Dr. Marie Braxton: 

Good day Family and Friends, 

I am sharing this urgent message with you in order that you might be informed and on guard. I went to the hospital Friday morning to have a surgical procedure on my back. Protocol required me to have a COVID test, despite the fact that I’m fully vaccinated and had the booster shot. Surprisingly, it came back positive which explains why I’ve been feeling so bad over the past week. Thanks to the quick response and persistence of my doctors, within six hours I was given the monoclonal antibodies transfusion. I was told that I’m past the infection stage, but I am still not feeling well and can’t taste or smell. COVID is no hoax. Please encourage your loved ones to get vaccinated and not to delay any longer. The nurse who attended to me said that most of the seriously ill COVID patients are under the age of 45. 

Stay safe. Stay well.
Marie

This issue reflects that in spite of our expectation to be free of COVID-19 and the pandemic it caused, we find ourselves persevering through its resurgence with Greek-named variants wielding greater power and a penchant for our young people. Once again we call out misinformation and replace it with science and the continued need for the much-longed-for herd immunity that promises to restore our peace and balance. Much appreciation for the entire AFRO team that keeps making it happen with excellence and precision.

Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO Publisher and CEO

The post The great divide over COVID vaccine appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher (Courtesy Photo)

Although the Supreme Court ruled in 1954 (Brown v Board of Education) that laws establishing racial segregation in public schools were illegal even if the segregated schools were equal in quality, it neither provided funds and protections to facilitate enactment; nor did it provide instruction on how those changes were to be effected. It did, in a second ruling, clearly state, with all deliberate speed.” 

Hence the struggle that began when people tried to teach foreign chattel workers to read, which scared the life of those who were committed to their forever enslavement, continues so many years later (so much for that deliberate speed) to pry open doors that led to sciences, arts, technology, humanities, etc. that equip and sharpen minds and hearts in equal ways. And it can’t happen without exposure to “on the way” education that happens in households, communities, museums, concert halls, houses of worship and sundry places where people exchange history and story.

One such history is the story my mother, long-time AFRO Publisher Frances L. Murphy, II (1922-2011), told Fern Ingersoll for the Washington Press Club Foundation as part of its oral history project on Women in Journalism 30 years ago. Below are a few excerpts from that interview that tell a fascinating story of what it was like for Black students seeking a college education in Maryland long before Brown v Board of Education. 

Murphy: Before I came out of high school, Parren Mitchell, who later became a congressman, had applied for the University of Maryland, and the University of Maryland had refused to let him come in even as an undergraduate. So, therefore, the governor, and I don’t remember which governor it was at that time, but the governor and my dad (Carl Murphy) got together. My father said, “If you’re not going to let them go to the University of Maryland, then Maryland citizens ought to pay for them to go someplace else.” So the agreement between the governor and my father was, “Okay. I’ll give you so much money and, therefore, you will be chairman of a scholarship commission.” There was only one criteria, that if you couldn’t get a course at Morgan State College and that course was offered at the University of Maryland, then you were entitled to room, board and tuition at any college you wanted to go to. Therefore, my father sent three of us to the University of Wisconsin, room, board, tuition, two travels home each semester. My other sister went to the University of Minnesota on the state of Maryland because we could not get journalism at Morgan State College. It was offered at the University of Maryland School of Journalism. We couldn’t go there. So, they sent us away.

Ingersoll: Would that have been true for young people who wanted to be doctors and lawyers; any kind of professional?

Murphy: That’s right. In those days, it was true for the pre-meds, all of those, if they wanted a certain course like engineering because only the University of Maryland had that.

So, I guess about 90% of my high school class went away to college, which is absolutely tremendous. I should say 90% of those of us in the academic course. There were a lot of different curriculums in those days, and we were divided according to career goals, academic or vocational or so forth. 

Ingersoll: But of the academic course people, ninety percent went on to college?

Murphy: Yes, many got scholarships from the Maryland Scholarship Commission.

Ingersoll: I was going to ask you, why Wisconsin?

Murphy: Wisconsin, in those days, was the top journalism school. It was between the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin. He started my sister Bettye off at the University of Minnesota. She ran into trouble trying to get in the dorm, so dad went looking for another school. Therefore, he found the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Grant Hyde was the chairman of the department of journalism at the University of Wisconsin. When my sister Ida got there, I don’t remember whether she got into the dorms or not, but by the time my sister Carlita and I got there, the doors were open to us. Dad had gone there and done whatever he had to do, and we were in the dormitory. We stayed in the dormitory until the war broke out.

Ingersoll: So, it was your father who looked for the right university for you girls.

Murphy: For anybody in my high school class. They would come to him and he would say, “What do you want to do?”

Ingersoll: You graduated in 1940.

Murphy: So, therefore, it had to be the mid-30s or sometime when the commission was started. There were many a class that came behind me, because I kept my scholarship for four years at Wisconsin. So, therefore, up until ’44 I knew students were still going away all over the country to colleges. I don’t remember what year Parren and the others finally broke the barrier down at the University of Maryland, but before the Supreme Court decision , so it was before 1954. But, gee, that was still ten more years, so that was a long time that they sent us all over the country to school, to just keep us out of the University of Maryland. Curly Byrd was president of the University of Maryland. I call him Curly Byrd because that’s what my father would call him. “That Curly Byrd.” I can hear him talking about “that Curly Byrd, who tells me that he wants no Negroes and coloreds in the University of Maryland, and yet he still can’t get these professors to do what he wants them to do, or he can’t get his board to do what he wants them to do. Getting all this money from the state.” I can hear my dad talking about the new stadiums they’re going to have and everything, and we couldn’t study there.

Ingersoll: So your father would help other young Black students to find the right place.

Murphy: That’s right. He was chairman of the commission.

Ingersoll: In things other than journalism?

Murphy:  Oh, yes. It depended on what they wanted to do.

Ingersoll: He would help them find the right place in California or wherever?

Murphy: And I have to be very frank with you. Dad would say to you, if you came before him, “If you want to be so and so, find one course that you want to take that Morgan doesn’t offer, so I can give you a scholarship.”

Ingersoll: Wonderful!

Murphy: He wanted some of them to come to Morgan. A lot of them came to Morgan, but there were a lot of them who were going on to professional schools so he wanted to make sure that they had everything that professional school said you were supposed to have. So, therefore, if you were going to a certain school and you didn’t have that course at Morgan, he wanted to make sure you had it. So he would say to them, “Wait a minute. Have you looked at the graduate school? Do you know what they’re going to require you to have? If you haven’t done it, you go back and get the graduate school catalogue.” He said, “Let’s look and see what you have to have in graduate school. Let’s see. Does Morgan have all that?” Or he’d say to them, “You’re going to Morgan for this one year (or these two years) because you can do all that, but then you’ve got to have a scholarship so you can go off to so and so and get the rest of it.”

Frances L. Murphy II (1922-2011) was an educator, civic worker and long-time publisher of the AFRO. (AFRO Archive)

Today, we can get “the rest of it” from many of the 101 HBCUs in the United States including Morgan,, UMES, Coppin, Bowie, Delaware State, University of the District of Columbia, Hampton, Howard, Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta to name a few.  Yet, funding is still an issue as evidenced by the recent $577 million settlement with the State of Maryland for its historic underfunding of the four HBCUs located in the State. As my mother would say, “it’s a sin and a shame” that it took a lawsuit and several years to make the State do the right thing.  Perhaps we need a new Scholarship Commission to ensure that Black colleges and universities have what they need to not only support scholarships but to build and maintain first class facilities, attract the best faculty, and continue to provide a world class education for all students.  

Thanks to the entire AFRO team and our sponsors for this edition that highlights the service HBCUs have rendered to our young people for so many years. These campuses have been home away from home and offered the kind of nurture a student needs on their first stay in a strange place. They have given stability in the face of insecurity, and at the same time, offered the gentle nudges needed to force each student to embrace the giftedness within and the greatness that lies ahead.

Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper, 

Publisher 

Editor’s Note:  Dr. Draper was appointed to the Morgan State University Board of Regents in 1995. When she retired in 2020, she was vice chair of the board.

To read more of the interview between Fran Ingersoll and Frances L. Murphy, II go to http://beta.wpcf.org/oralhistory/murph1.html

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Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher

The game is not over until the playing field is level

Kudos to Managing Editor Dorothy Boulware and her dedicated hard-working team of writers and editors for another outstanding “We’re Still Here” edition – this time focusing on Black athletes and how they’re changing the game: from sneaker culture to mental well-being; from ownership to advocacy. Let me say from the outset, given the history of Blacks in sports and the monumental achievements of so many, it was challenging to narrow down the topics in one edition. However, I am thrilled that this edition also highlights the many achievements of female athletes on and off the field.

I was born into a world where women couldn’t get credit cards, serve on a jury, get an Ivy League education or experience equality in the workplace. It was a world where gender roles were very well defined. It was the era of the M.R.S. degree (going to college to get a husband) and the stay-at-home mom. However, that wasn’t the case in our family where my college-educated single mom, the youngest of five daughters of long-time AFRO publisher, Carl Murphy, raised the three of us to pursue our passions. My mother was a die-hard Baltimore Colts fan who passed her love for sports, especially football, on to us. We couldn’t even eat dinner on Sunday until after the game, which we usually listened to, was over. I still remember how hungry I was waiting for the Colts/Giants Championship Game to be over, only to have to wait much longer when the game went into sudden death overtime. Little did I know as a young girl that particular game would be dubbed the “the greatest game ever played.” Although my mother loved sports in general and especially football, she wasn’t thrilled that I wanted to not only listen or watch sports, but I was determined to play as well. I had little interest in dolls, tea parties, dressing up or the typical things that girls supposedly did. I was, however, very interested in equality for girls on and off the field. I guess I was an early proponent of a form of Title IX – the federal legislation that gives women athletes the right to equal opportunity in sports in educational institutions that receive federal funds, from elementary schools to colleges and universities.

One of my favorite sports to play was baseball. There was a vacant lot behind our house in West Baltimore and neighborhood games were fiercely competitive. Our neighborhood was full of children – boys and girls of all ages who went to School #60 and then to Lemmel Junior High School together. Baseball games were played nearly every Saturday, when the weather was good. The boys would appoint a captain and begin picking sides. However, I was the only girl who wanted to play baseball with the boys. In my humble opinion, I was a good ball player. I would hold my breath hoping to be picked, even though some of the boys whispered that having a girl on the team was “weird.” One day, I was the last player standing when my brother had the final pick, which happened to be me. I played my heart out, and from that day forward, I always had a spot on one of the teams. I was still chosen near the end, but it was always before B.W. which I considered quite a coup. I went on to play outfield for Douglass High School’s girls’ softball team, and my mother held her breath hoping I wouldn’t play ball in college – which I didn’t – at least not as part of an organized team. I continued to play pick up ball, until I dislocated my elbow sliding into second base, long after I should have hung up my cleats!

But I am still an avid sports fan, as are many of our readers – male and female, young and old, players and spectators. Many studies tout the benefits of youth sports. However, Black youth are not playing all sports at the same rate as their White counterparts. The more important issue, for me, is not what’s happening on the field or on the court, but the push for greater representation of African Americans in front offices, in broadcast booths, in coaching, in team ownership, in refereeing, in medical teams, in gaming and the list goes on.

Venus Williams said she just came to play tennis. But she did much more. She threw a “justice tantrum,” demanding that women tennis players be equally compensated as the men.

As the struggle continues, the game is continually changing.

Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member – subscribers are now members!  Join here! 

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Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher

By Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper

As a ‘child’ of the sixties, I listened to a lot of Motown music from Stevie Wonder to Mary Wells; from the Temptations to the Supremes; from the Miracles to the Marvelettes; from Gladys Knight and the Pips to Marvin Gaye, just to name a few. I went from “Up on the Roof” to “Under the Boardwalk;” from “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” to “Dancing in the Street;” from “My Guy” to “My Girl;” from “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” to “It’s Your Thing;” from “I Do Love You” to “Hit the Road Jack.” And surprisingly I still know many of the lyrics to these 50+ year old songs (and so do some of you, and you’re not yet 50!). 

My love for music began early.  Before he succeeded his father, AFRO founder John H. Murphy Sr., as publisher of the family enterprise, my grandfather, Carl Murphy, taught German at Howard University.  He was adamant about his 16 grandchildren developing an appreciation for classical music. I can still remember coming into my grandparent’s home and hearing German opera blaring in every room. While some of it was quite melodious,  I can’t say I actually developed the same fondness for this particular genre of music as I did for the soulful sound of Jerry Butler or Aretha Franklin. But I did learn to distinguish instruments by listening to classical music.  And I did broaden my knowledge of music, even though I could only play piano a little and my singing was….let’s just say I could hold a tune, but I was rarely selected to sing a solo.  I sang in many choirs, and was content to just blend in with the other altos.  But I knew good music when I heard it!  And I especially loved music by the multi-talented Black musicians I listened to day in and day out.  Back in the day, we didn’t have Apple Music, Spotify or Sound Cloud.  We had 45’s, 33 1/3’s and 78’s—I still have some—which are back in style and popular among the Millennials! I had so many albums that I lined them up in alphabetical order against the wall and recorded the names on file cards that I stored in one of those little metal boxes. And, if you borrowed one of my albums (which didn’t happen often), you had to sign the card pledging your next paycheck as collateral! 

In 1961, just as the Motown era was beginning, my father James “Biddy” Wood married singing sensation Damita Jo (Deblanc).  Damita had one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard.  Her range was incredible, and she was quite a performer. My favorite Damita Jo songs include “You’re Nobody ‘Till Somebody Loves You”, “I’ll Save the Last Dance for You” and “If You Are But A Dream.” Thankfully, many of her songs are on YouTube.  As a young teenager, I spent many summer months on the road with Biddy and Damita either in the Club Harlem in Atlantic City or the Copacabana in Manhattan (by the time the 6 a.m. breakfast show began, my underage self was usually sound asleep under the table).  Biddy managed other artists such as the Four Tops and Nipsey Russell, and he considered himself a singer of sorts as he readily and regularly performed his singular hit song, “Meet Me With Your Black _______ On!” He was elated that his grandson, Kevin followed in his footsteps (managing musicians, not singing), and would be so proud that grandson, Aaron, and great grandson, Ryan, are pursuing music careers.

Today, while I still love all kinds of music, I get my inspiration and my peace from Kirk Franklin, Sinach, Maverick City Music, Anthony Evans and CeCe Winans to name just a few of my favorite gospel artists.  And every now and then, when I just need to exhale and reflect, I encourage myself by singing (at the top of my lungs)  “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” or  “Lord, You Are Good.” 

In this edition, the sixth in our “We’re Still Here” series, we are pleased to highlight Black Music Month as we salute Herbie Hancock, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and many more. Thanks to guest editor Brenda Alford (a super star singer and songwriter), managing editor Dorothy Boulware, production manager Denise Dorsey, executive director Lenora Howze and everyone who helped to create this keepsake edition.

Music is truly the universal language. Enjoy! 

Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member – subscribers are now members!  Join here! 

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Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher

Is it Wednesday yet? Will there be Smithfield ham, fried chicken, roast beef, sweet potatoes, string beans, homemade rolls, Hendler’s ice cream, little cakes with lots of sweet icing on top? These are the questions my brother, sister and I asked each other every week before we traveled to our grandmother’s house on Linden Avenue near downtown Baltimore.  

Our hard working single Mom attended night classes at Johns Hopkins on Wednesdays. So, Wednesdays were our “good eatin’” days – the days Nellie Virgie Wood Waters cooked dinner for us. Grandma Wood, as we called her, and her husband (we just knew him as Mr. Waters) owned Waters Catering.  Their house on Linden Avenue housed a commercial kitchen with two humongous walk-in freezers, the biggest stoves and longest counters I had ever seen. It was a far cry from our kitchen a couple of miles away, where there was hardly room to turn around without bumping into someone.  

Next to my Grandma Wood’s kitchen was a very formal dining room, where the three of us ate from china and drank pale dry ginger ale from glasses I was afraid to touch. It was the biggest (and scariest) house I’d ever seen.  Nonetheless, we loved going there on Wednesdays because the food was always fresh and delicious. It was a sharp contrast to our broiled chicken on Sunday (and Monday), hamburger helper on Tuesday (and Wednesday), liver and onions on Thursday, baked fish on Friday, hot dogs on Saturday and back to broiled (not fried or baked) chicken on Sunday. And then there was Kool-Aid in every flavor. Did I say we were never hungry? 

African Americans have been accused of loving to eat and this we cannot deny. Our many celebrations, our rites of passage, our potential memories – those moments are all marked and sealed with the breaking of bread. It is the way we seal our bonds of love and faithfulness, and to be invited to the table of a household is an honor and a sacred responsibility. We come in peace, we bring peace, and we participate in the multiplication of that peace; while in the presence of heaven and the ancestors who seal our fellowship with a holy kiss.

Food is the thing. That’s why we love to parade our best offerings at family gatherings and church potlucks. And, when someone comments, “You really put your foot in this potato salad,” our hearts swell with pride. 

From the plant based meals that crowded native tables to the vegetarian offerings we now embrace, food is important. It has always been important as the backdrop to the many important discussions that have taken place over a piece of fried chicken and a slice of homemade pound cake.  

Back in the day, young ladies wouldn’t even consider getting married without knowing how to cook. So the AFRO hosted Cooking Schools to take care of that problem. They were fabulous, as the AFRO Archives will confirm; and the winner of the cooking competition was rewarded with a new stove or refrigerator, along with other goodies. I did hone my love for cooking at my grandmother’s knee and yes, potato salad is one of my specialties.

This edition of We’re Still Here celebrates all kinds of food and foodies (as our Executive Director Lenora Howze writes): from holiday and seasonal meals to those served by professional Black chefs. It’s bold enough to begin an examination of food deserts, with the plan of showcasing the solutions that make a difference. It looks back on Black-owned eateries like Sampson’s and Sess’ and makes a forthright statement on the spirituality of food.

Kudos to Team AFRO and all our contributing writers for producing another fantastic keepsake edition for our We’re Still Here series.  I look forward to the day we can once again break bread together In person. Potato salad, anyone?

— Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper
CEO and publisher

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Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher

Over ten years ago, Black Enterprise magazine published what I’m calling Ten Wealth Principles: 

1. l will live within my means.
2. I will maximize my income potential through education and training.
3. I will effectively manage my budget, credit debt and training. 
4. I will save at least 10% of my income.
5. I will use home ownership as a foundation for building wealth. 
6. I will devise an investment plan for my retirement needs and children’s education.
7. I will ensure that my entire family adheres to sensible money management principles.
8. I will support the creation and growth of minority-owned businesses. 
9. I will guarantee my wealth is passed on to future generations through proper insurance and estate planning. 
10. I will strengthen my community through philanthropy.

These are solid wealth principles that many African-American families strive to follow. Yet, according to Brookins.edu, “the net worth of a typical White family is nearly ten times greater than that of a Black family.” This is not because Black families are not interested in accumulating wealth. Often it is because of the racist structures and systems that hinder wealth accumulation. From enslavement to the annihilation of Tulsa’s Greenwood District a.k.a. Black Wall Street, to oppressive Jim Crow laws, the wealth gap between Blacks and Whites continues to widen. In addition to these systemic barriers, too often we are not taught how to save, how to invest, how to purchase a home, how to prepare and execute a budget or how to leave something for the next generation. 

 “We are acutely aware of our ancestors’ expectations that we will scale opportunity for our children and our children’s children, as they have endeavored to do for us. With this in mind, we are intensely focused on the creation and preservation of Black family wealth. Dire predictions suggest that median Black wealth in the U.S. will reach ZERO by the year 2053. We have come too far as a people to allow these predictions to materialize,” write Robin and Portia Wood, a mother-daughter legal team specializing in estate planning, child guardianship planning, trust administration and probate litigation. (woodlegalgroup.com)

In this edition, our writers examine Black wealth from a variety of viewpoints including financial literacy, the journeys of Black billionaires and the popularity of African Savings Clubs. Recognizing that wealth, for some, does not always mean money, we also asked members of the AFRO team to describe “what constitutes wealth” in their lives. For some wealth is measured by the rich and varied relationships they have with God and with one another. For others, good health is wealth. And for others, peace and tranquility equal wealth. Regardless of your definition of wealth, we hope you enjoy this special “We’re Still Here” edition.   

Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper 

CEO and publisher of the AFRO

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Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher

By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

Recently, I heard a comedian say that, in spite of the barrage of COVID-19 warnings and restrictions, he’d done a lot of traveling this past year – from his bedroom to his refrigerator, from his refrigerator to his home office, from his home office to his refrigerator (again) and back to his bedroom. I can relate as I’m sure many of us can.  In fact, many of us are lamenting extra COVID pounds.  According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association:

• A majority of adults (61%) reported experiencing undesired weight changes since the start of the pandemic, with more than 2 in 5 (42%) saying they gained more weight than they intended. Of this group, adults reported gaining an average of 29 pounds (with a typical gain of 15 pounds, which is the median).
• Two in 3 Americans (67%) said they are sleeping more or less than they wanted to since the pandemic started. Similar proportions reported less (35%) and more (31%) sleep than desired. Nearly 1 in 4 adults (23%) reported drinking more alcohol to cope with their stress during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Nearly half of Americans (47%) said they delayed or canceled health care services, since the pandemic started.
• Nearly half of parents (48%) said the level of stress in their life has increased compared with before the pandemic. More than 3 in 5 parents with children who are still home for remote learning (62%) said the same.
• Essential workers were more than twice as likely as those who are not to have received treatment from a mental health professional (34% vs. 12%) and to have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder since the coronavirus pandemic started (25% vs. 9%).
• Black Americans were most likely to report feelings of concern about the future. More than half said they feel uneasy about adjusting to in-person interaction once the pandemic ends (57% vs. 51% Asian, 50% Hispanic and 47% white).
• Gen Z adults – 21-24 year olds — (46%) were the most likely generation to say that their mental health has worsened compared with before the pandemic, followed by Xers (33%), Millennials (31%), Boomers (28%) and older adults (9%).

In other words, the ongoing pandemic has taken a devastating toll on all of us – especially those of us of African descent. And, it is a well-known fact, due to a variety of factors – including the proliferation of food deserts, that many of us are predisposed to comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes, which complicate recovery from COVID.  We join CareFirst, Johns Hopkins, the Maryland Department of Health and so many others in encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. 

This entire edition is devoted to “Maintaining Our Health “and our editors, writers, production and advertising teams have worked tirelessly to produce content that is both engaging and informative: from intimate stories of COVID survivors to stories highlighting western medicine, home remedies and traditional healing; from accounts of the mishandling of  the pandemic to the inspiring story of  the new Roberta’s House; from a review of the different COVID vaccines to the reality that racial inequities are still very much a part of us. These stories are informative, engaging and in some cases challenging. We’re Still Here! 

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Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher

“I’m not the president of Black America,” President Barack Obama famously said in 2012 when pressed during his re-election campaign on issues of race and inequality. “I’m the president of the United States of America.” While that statement was true, Barack Hussein Obama will forever be remembered as the first African-American President of the United States of America. He will forever be remembered as the one person who did something that had never been done before.  This is the case of the African Americans highlighted in today’s edition.  

From Thurgood Marshall to Jacob Lawrence to Simone Biles, the AFRO is proudly highlighting African-American firsts.  Some of those highlighted may not be as well known as others, but each person is a noteworthy trailblazer in his or her own right.  

One of those persons is Violet Hill Whyte. When I was jumped by three girls, while walking home from Lemmel Junior High School one warm Spring afternoon, my mother said, “I’m going to call Sergeant Whyte.” At the time, I didn’t know who Sergeant Whyte was and I certainly didn’t want  (in my 13 year old opinion) to make matters worse by being labeled a tattle tale. But the bruise on my face was clear evidence that my mother wasn’t going to let it rest.  

My mother drove me to Sergeant Whyte’s office, where I had to share every detail. She listened patiently to my story, asking question after question. A few days later she called us back to her office. There to my surprise (and quite frankly, my horror) sat the three perpetrators. “Oh, no,” I thought, “this isn’t going to go well.”  However, the girls not only admitted their guilt, but they apologized profusely and promised that it would never happen again to me or anyone else – especially after Sergeant Whyte threatened to bring assault charges against them if she ever saw them in her office again. 

As Ralph Moore writes in his story about Miss Whyte (as many called her), “She was very kind to some and yet could strike the fear of God in others. The mere mention of her name made people nervous and her ‘office conversations’ were oftentimes life changing for the better.”  Violet Hill Whyte, a teacher by profession, was the first African American and the first woman to be appointed as a Baltimore City Police Officer.  

Then there’s Maggie L. Walker, the first African-American woman to charter a bank; Ethel Waters, the first Black person in history to have a lead role in a television show, Letitia James, Nicholas Johnson and Pat McGrath.

While there are hundreds, if not thousands more, who could and should be lauded for their brilliant contributions, including those whose names we may never know, we hope that our readers will share these stories –especially with the young people in their lives.  As Rep. Kweisi Mfume says, if Black history is American history than we should treat it as such.  

A special thanks to the entire AFRO team for a job well done.  This edition, like so many of our special editions, is a keepsake. 

Frances Murphy Draper (Toni)
Publisher

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Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher (Courtesy Photo)

Last summer, the entire AFRO team worked together to design a year-long series of special editions under the banner, “We’re Still Here.” We brainstormed a variety of topics and decided that each month, in lieu of our regular print edition, we would produce an entire edition around a single topic– topics ranging from Black Firsts to Building Black Wealth. These special editions will also include stories and pictures from our extensive archives. One AFRO team member was so inspired by the topics selected that she wrote a poem that was turned into a powerful, quick-moving video (go to afro.com to see the video).  This first special edition of 2021 focuses on community activists, in honor of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  

I grew up in a family of community activists. People who weren’t afraid to speak truth to power. People who taught us that if we didn’t speak up and speak out against injustices, we were as guilty as those who perpetrated those injustices. People who understood that silence in the face of wrong could be interpreted as complicity. People who put their lives on the line for what they believed in.  People who understood that our responsibility was to serve and not be served. It is against this backdrop, that I learned to really appreciate how challenging it was and still is to advocate, to demonstrate, to agitate for that which is right. My grandfather, Carl Murphy, was what some may call the “activist” in chief.  He used the pages of the AFRO to actualize the words of his father, AFRO founder John H. Murphy Sr., who wrote: “A newspaper succeeds because its management believes in itself, in God and in the present generation. It must always ask itself – Whether it has kept faith with the common people; Whether it has no other goal except to see that their liberties are preserved and their future assured; Whether it is fighting to get rid of slums to provide jobs for everybody; Whether it stays out of politics except to expose corruption and condemn injustice, race prejudice and the cowardice of compromise. The AFRO-American must become a semi-weekly, then a tri-weekly and eventually when advertising warrants, a daily. It has always had a loyal constituency which believes it to be honest, decent and progressive. It is that kind of newspaper now, and I hope that it never changes. It is to these high hopes and goals of achievement that the people who make your AFRO have dedicated themselves. God willing, they shall not fail.” Carl Murphy was bold and bodacious.  He stood by his convictions, often summoning other community leaders to his office to convince them to join his latest cause.  

For example, in 1942, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the AFRO for sedition. Sedition is a word that’s been used a lot lately, especially in light of the events that transpired at the Capitol on Jan. 6. The dictionary defines sedition as “conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.” So why did Mr. Hoover want the AFRO investigated. Because he considered our coverage of World War II to be unpatriotic and incendiary. Because we relentlessly covered racial unrest in the United States and abroad. Because we didn’t cow tow to his desire that we go along to get along. Because we had the audacity, or as my grandfather Carl Murphy would say, the unmitigated gall to call people out – including the government—for their mistreatment of Blacks at home and overseas. Hoover seemed incensed that the AFRO and other African-American publications continued to publish reports of discrimination and mistreatment of Blacks, week after week. For example, a June 1943 AFRO included front page stories about race riots in Detroit and Texas, as well as the Nazi disdain for Black soldiers in Europe.   This coverage, key to the AFRO’s “Double V” campaign, was initiated by the Pittsburgh Courier and picked up by the Chicago Defender. For months, the AFRO displayed a flag and a fist in its masthead.  Although the Justice Department publicly declined to prosecute the AFRO for sedition, it was well known that Hoover constantly urged the FBI to investigate the AFRO and other Black publications. Yet, that did not deter us. We continued to publish, and we continued to tell the stories, and eventually published a book entitled “This is Our War.”  These war stories compiled by the AFRO’s seven  war correspondents – including Ollie Stewart  who covered the war from a variety of places including North Africa, Sicily and Rome;  Art Carter, who reported on the Tuskegee airmen from Italy; Max Johnson who wrote about the invasion of Southern France in 1944; Vincent Tubbs and Francis Yancey who were firsthand witnesses to General Douglas Mac Arthur’s Southwest Pacific Campaigns in 1943 and 1944 and Carl Murphy’s oldest daughter,  Elizabeth (Bettye) Murphy Phillips who served and wrote from London. Although she became ill and could not stay in London, she wrote about Black soldiers and their journeys from her hospital bed. These war correspondents, like so many AFRO reporters then and now, were activists in the true sense who risked their lives to get out the truth, regardless of the consequences. Because of them and so many others we write about in this edition, we’re still here! 

Special thanks to our managing editor, the Rev. Dorothy Boulware; guest editor, Erricka Bridgeford; news editor, Jessica Dortch; DC editor, Micha Green; AFRO senior reporter, Sean Yoes; archivist, Savannah Wood; all contributing writers, our production, advertising, business,  circulation, digital and technology team members for your hard work and a job well done.  Of course, we are still constantly posting current news on afro.com and on our social media platforms.  #werestillhere

Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

The post We’re Still Here appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. King delivered his well-known “I Have a Dream” speech declaring, “We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote, and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until “justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

And, here we are nearly six decades later still fighting for the right to vote, even though a voting rights act was passed more than 50 years ago. Voter suppression is alive and well in America. From poll watchers to post office slowdowns, from long lines to long wait times, from broken voting machines to strict ID requirements, from Russian interference to voter apathy. And, unfortunately, too often stereotypical statements are made suggesting that African Americans are just not interested in voting.  

As Rashawn Ray and Mark Whitlock write in their 2019 article, Setting the Record Straight on Black Voter Turnout, “Black people not wanting to vote simply isn’t empirically true relative to other racial groups. We must take into account the ways that Blacks are systematically denied the ability to vote. With the rolling back of the Voting Rights Act, we are seeing from North Carolina to Texas and the upper Midwest the ways that Black voters are targeted. So, before we chastise Black people, can we address voter disenfranchisement and gerrymandering and set the record straight on voter turnout?”

Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher

Nearly 60 percent of African Americans voted in 2016 and even more in 2012.  But the question is how many African Americans still are not registered to vote? How many are eligible to register, but for one reason or another believe that they do not have the right to vote. How many are still being denied their constitutional right to cast their ballot? 

All elections are important, but the upcoming presidential election is critical. The current occupant of the White House claims to have done more for the Black community than any president besides Lincoln. Really? “This may be the president’s most audacious claim ever,” Michael Fauntroy, a professor of political science at Howard University, told the New York Times. “Not only has he not done more than anybody else, he’s done close to the least.” It is hard to fathom how anyone can vote for a person who consistently denigrates Black people and women, who falsely claimed that, if it had not been for him, no one would know about Juneteenth and who recently retweeted a video of a supporter shouting “white power.” 

However, it is not enough to complain about number 45; it is not enough to abhor his outlandish fabrications; it is not enough to doubt his sanity and competency or to complain about his racist and sexist comments. We must vote. We must encourage our friends and family members to vote. We must advocate for and promote voter registration. We must help people get to the polls or mail in their ballots. And, we must continue to hold our elected officials accountable after the votes are cast and counted.   

As the AFRO celebrates the 128th year of its founding this week, we also are celebrating the selection of Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as Joe Biden’s vice presidential running mate.  When elected, Sen. Harris – an extraordinary legislator, prosecutor and fearless champion for justice will become the first Black vice president in the United States.  “My mom and dad, like so many other immigrants, came to this country for an education,” she recently said.  “Mom from India. Dad from Jamaica. And the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s brought them together. That spirit of activism is why my mom, Shyamala, would always tell my sister and me, Don’t just sit around and complain about things. Do something.”

Let’s make sure we ‘do something’… Vote! 

Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher

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“December 23, 1909 

My dear Mr. Murphy:

I have just read your very generous editorial bearing upon my new book, “The Story of the Negro.” I thank you for all that you have said. 

Booker T. Washington

If the spirit moves you at some time, I wish you might say a word in your paper concerning the importance of putting this or some similar history in the Negro schools. We are the only race on earth that does not study the history of our own people. I suspect that if you were to go into the Negro public schools of Baltimore that you would find your children with copies of books in their hands containing the history of White Americans, the English, the Germans and the French, but not a book will you find there containing a history of our own race. This weakness should be corrected speedily. I am constantly grateful to you for the many good things you say in your paper concerning me. 

Yours Very truly, 

Booker T. Washington “

******

When Booker T. Washington wrote this letter to my great grandfather John H. Murphy Sr., founder of the AFRO American Newspapers, the AFRO was a mere 17 years old.  The year was 1909, 16 months after the race riots in Springfield, Ill that prompted W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrell and others to establish the NAACP; another time of great tension in the United States. Then, just like now, very little (if any) African-American history was taught in the public schools. And, like today, the AFRO and other Black newspapers were among the few trusted sources of accurate information about our communities. Murphy, a former enslaved man, who served as a non-commissioned officer in the Civil War, was determined to gather and publish news about and for African Americans. He also was determined to build a successful business so that he could hire and train Black journalists—many of whom went on to stellar careers in other media. 

And while the AFRO’s production and distribution methods have changed – from hot type, to cold type, to digital and social media — we’re still here. Here to plead our own cause. Here to tell our own stories. Here to highlight our many accomplishments. Here to speak truth to power.  Here to support African-American businesses. Here to advocate for economic justice for all. Here to not just set, but to keep the record straight. We are not flawed. We are not less than. We are not inherently violent or ignorant. We are made in the image and likeness of God. And. We. Are. Still. Here.

While some of the articles and pictures in this Special Section may be disturbing, so is a country where African Americans are still routinely discriminated against and marginalized. As the longest continuously published (by the same family) Black newspaper in the United States, the AFRO will continue to tell our stories – past and present—as we advocate for full citizenship and unfettered opportunities for African Americans.  

Thanks to our managing editor, Dorothy Boulware, and her team for researching, curating and writing the articles for this Special Section. Thanks to the director of AFRO Archives and fifth generation Murphy family member, Savannah Wood, who always provides the perfect historical touches for our special coverage. We also appreciate our thousands of faithful readers and subscribers and advertisers.

AFRO’s publisher and CEO, Dr. Frances M. Draper. (Courtesy Photo)

Kind regards, 

Frances Murphy Draper (Toni)

Publisher 

P.S. Be on the lookout for a Special Edition on August 15. Email lhowze@afro.com to discuss ways that your company can participate.

The post From The Publisher: We.Are.Still.Here appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Frances “Toni” Draper
AFRO Publisher

“Who do we hold responsible for what we become in our lifetimes…dope addicts or doctors, robbers or reporters, rapists or radiologists, church leaders or child abusers?  And who created the myth that permits us to place blame for our mistakes on anyone other than ourselves?  Blame only allows for cop outs and excuses while we remain unhealed, unaccomplished and faultless in the face of our own inadequacies. Ultimately I believe we must hold ourselves responsible for our mistakes. Parents can’t teach what they don’t know. Teachers can’t give you expectations that aren’t inside of you. Dreams can’t come true if you don’t dare to dream. All the preparation, right teachings, bible studies, won’t make a difference if we don’t make right choices. And even if we make wrong choices we must be responsible enough to admit to them and turn our situations around…because we can.”

These words, written by Catherine Pugh several years ago, for a yet-to-be published book entitled Leaving Home, have new meaning as the former Baltimore mayor makes the long journey from her Ashburton home to Alabama to begin a three-year sentence in federal prison on June 26.

On June 19, an Anne Arundel County, Md. judge sentenced the former Baltimore mayor to six months in prison (to be served concurrently with the three year sentence). (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In 2019, Pugh pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, and two counts of tax evasion. And on June 19, an Anne Arundel County, Md. judge sentenced her to six months in prison (to be served concurrently with the three year sentence) for failure to disclose money she received from her Healthy Holly children’s book on her State Financial Disclosure Form while she was a state Senator.   

In a recent interview, Pugh, 70, told the AFRO that she is ready to serve her time and then return to continue working on positive projects that she knows she still has to complete. “While in prison,” she confided, “I hope to write a blog and to be an encouragement to other women I encounter there. I know God is not finished with me.” She added, “and, I believe I have many productive years left.” 

Pugh was raised in Philadelphia, Pa. with her seven siblings and came to Maryland in 1967 to attend Morgan State University where she subsequently earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees. A former college instructor and public relations/media expert, Pugh served on the Baltimore City Council (1999-2004), was appointed to a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates (2005), elected to the state Senate (2010) and became the 50th mayor of Baltimore in December 2016.  She provided the founding vision for the Baltimore Marathon, is credited with creating the Baltimore Fish Out of Water Project and is a co-founder of the Baltimore Design School.  

 “Catherine, like most of us, has made mistakes,” wrote her friend, W. Paul Coates (founder of Black Classic Press, former Black Panther and father of author Ta-Nehisi Coates) in a December 2019 AFRO op-ed. “Unlike most of us, she has also done tons and tons of good. That good must be weighed against her mistakes. Some may disagree, but I want her back doing good, working in our community. This story does not end here.”

Indeed the story continues, and it remains to be seen what will happen in the future. However, for now Catherine Elizabeth Pugh is leaving home.

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