By Deborah Bailey
Contributing Editor
AFRO American Newspapers

More than 800 persons from the violence intervention community across the United States joined a White House briefing Oct.  23, to learn how states can access federal dollars provided by Medicaid for violence prevention services. 

The White House Office on Gun Violence Prevention fielded the call in response to an executive order signed by the Biden-Harris administration on Sept. 26 and its announcement of additional steps to reduce gun violence. 

During the signing ceremony, Biden called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CSS) to clarify the reimbursements currently available through CSS.

“One in five Americans know someone who has been shot or killed as a result of gun violence,” said Greg Jackson, deputy director, White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, on the call. 

“This is $805 billion put in place for the communities we are serving,” Jackson said. “We really are challenging you to step up and build the coalitions needed to access this funding; to work closely with your state leadership and to get these resources to every state.” 

Medicaid reimbursement has been available to states since 2021 for violence prevention services. However, only eight states currently provide reimbursement for community prevention violence strategies. 

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New York, North Carolina and Oregan have passed legislation allocating Medicaid reimbursement for a range of violence prevention services based on needs in communities in their respective states. 

“Different states are doing it in very different ways. There is a lot of experimentation going on and we’re learning along the way,” said Dr. Kyle Fisher, who practices emergency room medicine and serves as clinical associate professor at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. 

For instance, Maryland and several other states are using Medicaid reimbursement to pay for violence prevention training and certification for front line violence prevention workers, while North Carolina has set up a 1115 Medicaid reimbursement plan covering basic life needs such as housing, food, and job placement by those directly impacted by community level violence. 

State violence prevention coalitions have the option to work with state Medicaid offices to request what is known as a 1115 waiver, allowing states to make experimental changes to their existing Medicaid programs to offer innovative supports like the North Carolina reimbursements. 

“We need you to work closely with your state leadership” to determine what services are critically needed in individual states, Jackson said to call participants.

Gun violence was responsible for 46,728 deaths in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This figure represents a slight decrease from 2021, when the highest number of deaths by gun violence ever, 48,830, was recorded. 

Black people in America continue to face death by gun violence at a rate 13 times higher than their White counterparts, according to an analysis of CDC data by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. For children and youth ages 1-17, Black deaths due to gun violence are 17 times the rate of Whites. 

The U.S. rate of death by gun violence far exceeds other high-income nations. Additionally, the U.S. is the only country in the world where civilian ownership of guns exceeds the population according to the World Population Review.

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By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com

Chocolate City was full of Howard University students and alumni of all ages as the Washington, D.C.-based HBCU marked its 100th homecoming. However, its perhaps most consequential alumnus – Vice President Kamala Harris, who is poised to make history in her current run for the presidency – was a no-show.

The 2024 Democratic Party presidential nominee was originally scheduled to come to the homecoming with vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. Instead, she penned a letter to her alma mater in recognition of the centennial homecoming celebration. 

“I am honored to extend my warmest greetings to all the students, faculty, staff and fellow alumni of Howard University gathered to celebrate our 100th homecoming,” said Harris in the letter sent to the Hilltop on Oct. 19. 

Entertainment headliners for the centennial celebration included singers Leon Thomas and Coco Jones and rapper Real Boston Richey. But, of course, the marquee attraction was the football game on Oct. 19.

“Homecoming is so welcoming. Whether you’re a current student, former student, alum, or just visiting, Howard finds a way to say hello to you. You really have access to whatever you want in terms of food, party environments, service opportunities and HBCU culture at large,” said 2022 Howard graduate and former student-athlete Michael Codrington.

Alumni from Tennessee State University and Howard came to the capital city to show support for their football teams in a sold out homecoming matchup between the Tigers and the Bison.

The visiting Tennessee State Tigers would defeat the Howard Bison in the matchup, 27-14. At the end of the third quarter, the Bison only trailed by six points after running back Eden James ran in for a 2-yard touchdown. However, on the ensuing kickoff, return man CJ Evans ran back a 99-yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 27-14. Neither team scored points in the fourth quarter and that would end up being the final score.

Junior wide receiver Karate Brenson led the way with 153 receiving yards for the Tigers, and Howard running back Jarrett Hunter had 102 yards and a touchdown for the Bison. Defensively, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason defensive player of the year Kenny Gallop Jr. finished the game with a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. For Tennessee State, defensive backs Jalen McClendon and Tyler Jones both had an interception.

With the loss, the Bison fall to 3-4 on the season. Tennessee State improves to 6-2 on the season, with a 3-1 conference record. This is the Tigers’ best start under head coach Eddie George. Howard will begin MEAC conference play on Oct. 26 against Norfolk State.

“Homecoming was full of celebration and a sense of community.  The events, from the game to spending time on the yard, felt like home as an alum,” said Rhonda Biscette, a 1990 graduate of Howard. “The 100th homecoming made it even more special. The environment represented a sense of pride and the reputation we hold as ‘The Mecca.’”

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) on Oct. 17 announced 60,000 additional teachers, nurses, firefighters and government public administrators would have their loans canceled under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 

“I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity,” said President Biden in the announcement on Oct. 17, reminding the public of his original campaign promise to relieve student debt. 

“The 60,000 borrowers who have just been contacted brings the total number of persons whose debt has been canceled to more than 1 million,” said James Kvaal, under secretary of education, in an AFRO interview.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program provides debt cancellation to public service workers at the local, state and federal levels who have accumulated 10 years of repayment and 10 years of public service. 

For educators like Jamie Walker-Sallis, who entered the field of special education because there were not enough Black teachers, news that her remaining loan payments were canceled came as a godsend. 

“A letter came in the mail. I didn’t believe it,” said Walker-Sallis, who is now the equity and learning support administrator with Davenport Community School District in Iowa. “I looked in my account and it was zero.” 

DOE wants borrowers to know that loan forgiveness is ongoing and people who think they qualify for public service loan forgiveness should sign up now at StudentAid.gov. 

“We are continuing to process applications for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program,” said Kvaal. “I encourage all public service professionals to enroll in the Public Service Debt Forgiveness Program now, so we can ensure your payments and years of service are counted toward debt forgiveness.” 

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program began in 2007, yet only 7,000 persons had received loan forgiveness before the Biden-Harris administration restructured the program. During the current administration, $175 million in total debt impacting 5 million borrowers has been canceled. While less than the $400 billion in student loan relief Biden originally requested, it exceeds debt relief efforts by prior administrations. 

“We expect there will more than likely be another announcement regarding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program before Jan. 20,” Kvaal said.

“I encourage borrowers to contact us even if they believe errors were made in reviewing their information,” he added. “We will review your case. The Department of Education will be working to relieve student loan debt whenever we can for people who have dedicated a portion of their careers to public service.”

The post Student debt cancellation continues for public servants appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com

From Staten Island, N.Y., to Hampton, Va.; Washington, D.C., to North Carolina and now Atlanta, Baltimore native Dylan Beard’s track journey has taken him all over the Atlantic seaboard. Now, he is on a mission to make sure that he is not just a feel-good story, but a force to be reckoned with. 

Beard’s name has been trending in the track world lately. His surprise upset victory at the 2024 Millrose Games in February combined with his recent appearance on the “Today” show has gotten him a little bit more public attention. As NBC Sports reporter Lewis Johnson said to Beard in a post-race interview, “Dylan, you’re on the map. Hurdles.”

Prior to the 60-meter hurdle race at “the world’s most prestigious indoor track and field competition,” Beard wasn’t included in the camera shot until a few seconds before the starting gun went off. Division II superstar Cordell Tinch, 2022 World Championships runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles, and Trey Cunningham,  2019 USA Outdoor World Champion in the 110-meter hurdles, were highlighted prior to the race. When the man from lane one shocked the field and crossed the line victorious, NBC’s announcer asked, “And on the inside, is that Dylan Beard?”

Yes, that is Dylan Beard, the man who virtually led the race from wire to wire.

The Baltimore native graduated high school in 2016, originally committing to Wagner University. At Wagner, Beard was named the Northeast Conference’s (NEC) Most Outstanding Rookie Performer his freshman year at the NEC Indoor Track and Field Championships. He still holds the record in both the 60-meter hurdles and the 110-meter hurdles for the Wagner Seahawks. After three years, Beard made the decision to transfer to Hampton University. 

“[Historically Black colleges and universities] were the only schools that showed me love. When I was transferring from Wagner, the goal was to get that full scholarship. The Hampton head coach at the time offered me a 75 percent scholarship and I was cool with that because that is pretty much what I was getting at Wagner. Then just one day during the summer he reached out and he’s like, ‘Hey man, I just adjusted your scholarship to a full scholarship. Congratulations,’” said Beard.

After being both a Big South conference team champion and an individual champion in the 60-meter hurdles at Hampton, Beard obtained his bachelor’s degree. Beard still had two spring seasons of eligibility left from the spring 2020 season being canceled and the blanket year of eligibility granted to all NCAA athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beard decided to utilize the rest of his eligibility at Howard University in the nation’s capital. This presented Beard a unique opportunity to further his education and gain the tutelage of Olympic medalist and world champion David Oliver. 

“Think about it, right? You’ve got this guy who’s never broken 14 seconds in the 110 [hurdles] and has a good indoor time but only has two outdoor seasons,” said Beard, draped in his Team USA gear from the USA Outdoor Championships. “Coach Oliver offered me 80 percent, and I mean, they just showed the most love. I had one conversation with the coaches and I already liked what they were saying.” 

The next two years would result in Beard shattering his head coach’s 110-meter record at the school with a time of 13.29, which was the second fastest time in the nation that year. He also left Howard with two individual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles in the 110-meter hurdles and his master’s in public health. 

Transition to the Pros

After originally being torn on pursuing track professionally, Beard ultimately made the decision to move down south and embark on a dream that he had set for himself at a young age. 

“I said I wanted to be a professional athlete when I was like… 5 years old. I thought it’d be football or baseball or something. Track and field kind of snuck up on me and stuck. I genuinely do this because I love it… Honestly and realistically, if I had to set a goal, it would be to enter that 12 second club. That sub-13 second [110-meter hurdle] race club,” said Beard. 

Beard’s former head coach and the director of track and field at Howard University David Oliver, whose name is in the record books for running the second fastest 110-meter race, was on a similar journey when he graduated from Howard and wanted to pursue a career in track and field. Oliver moved down to Florida, worked at the Nike store and trained in his free time. Beard moved to North Carolina and worked at the deli at Walmart full time, all while training professionally alongside fellow Olympic hopeful Cameron Murray and coach Rueben McCoy. 

“Beard has all the talent in the world,” said Oliver. “He puts in the work and he’s already shown what he can do at the collegiate level. He’s off to a good start, now he just has to continue to show up when it matters. That’s what the greats do.”

For the Love of the Sport

All-Americans, national champions and American record holders alike, there are many athletes today that are competing in the sport of track and field at a professional level but not receiving much compensation from it. In track and field, you don’t have many athletes that continue to pursue the sport post-collegiately that aren’t either indebted or in love. 

Beard, currently the 10th-fastest man in the world in the 110-meter hurdles, received a very interesting sponsorship that will allow him to continue to compete professionally while also being able to continue to work at Walmart as a deli associate. He is believed to be the first track and field athlete to be sponsored by Walmart. 

“It was a lot of behind the scenes stuff but my agent and Walmart worked together and they got me a deal that I am pretty happy with. I like the base salary and I am satisfied with it,” said Beard.

Although Beard was shooting to make Team USA for the Paris Olympics, he was still excited to watch the Games and his season did not end at the US Olympic Trials. 

“After the Olympics, the rest of my meets are overseas, mostly in Europe. I am trying to compete in more Diamond League meets and just run as much as possible because that is the name of the game. We don’t stop in June or July. I am trying to make it to August or September and get a feel for that because that is what all the other pros do,” said Beard. 

He was also surprised on the “Today” Show with a $20,000 check from Walmart to support his Olympic dream and professional track endeavors. 

“Perseverance. I mean, it always just seems to work out when you keep pushing forward,” said Beard. “When I was growing up, my dad would always say, ‘Three things define you: Your character. Your integrity. Your word.’ So that kind of stuck with me. When you’re 95 [years old], you want to look back on your life and say I gave it my all…. What I’ve noticed is when you put your best foot forward in everything you do, you’re planting seeds. And I always somehow reap the benefits of my work ethic and efforts when I put my best foot forward.” 

The post Dylan Beard: Overcoming obstacles and embracing his journey appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Stanton Elementary School language arts instructional coach Jazzmyne Townsend has been named the 2025 D.C. Teacher of the Year. The ceremony took place at the Ward 8 school on Oct. 3.

The recognition enables Townsend to represent the District on the Council of Chief State School Officers where she will be able to advocate for the needs of her students and those across Washington, D.C. on a national level.

“This teacher is a role model for other teachers and a role model for students,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser, during the announcement. “This educator believes every student deserves a teacher who is passionate about their growth and development, a teacher who goes above and beyond to make sure every student in their classroom has everything they need to learn to be successful.”

Townsend began teaching at Stanton Elementary last year as a special education teacher. She previously served as a pre-K, kindergarten and first grade teacher at Randle Highlands Elementary School. She also served as a preschool and pre-K teacher at Friendship Public Charter School’s Chamberlain Campus.

Over her tenure, Townsend started a mentoring program for young Black girls called My Sister’s Keeper. She’s also dedicated herself to improving literacy. A self-published children’s book author, Townsend has helped students publish their own works.

Bowser surprised her with the honor during a school assembly for National Book Month, which started on Oct. 1. Townsend shed tears while walking up to receive the award, which included a $7,500 check.

“I am honored, and I am humbled to receive this recognition,” said Townsend during her acceptance. “I don’t do this by myself. I share this recognition with the leaders who have poured into me as an educator and who have built environments where I can be reflective of my practice.”

She also acknowledged her students.

“I share this recognition with my students who have motivated me with their curiosity and who have inspired me with their resilience,” said Townsend. “I am a better teacher because of my students.”

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) led the selection process for the Teacher of the Year award. It is given to an educator who advances the growth of all students, demonstrates leadership outside of the classroom and promotes the teaching profession. Townsend is also up for the National Teacher of the Year award.

Interim State Superintendent Antoinette S. Mitchell offered her congratulations to Townsend and explained that the teacher is known for her unique ability to make traditional lessons fun and engaging.

“For math class once, she had her students create a multiplication table as big as they are,” said Mitchell during the announcement. “For literacy, she actually partnered with a laundromat to create a service learning project called ‘Loads for Literacy.’ Any teacher that can connect literacy and laundry deserves this award.”

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

With safety concerns and pay raises on the bargaining table, the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) and the District of Columbia Public Schools reached a tentative five-year contract agreement on Sept. 30.

When preliminary contract negotiations began last September, some teachers criticized Dr. Lewis Ferebee, chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, for not attending the initial meetings with WTU officials. However, Ferebee did make his presence known in subsequent meetings. 

During a televised statement, Ferebee pointed out that the previous contract, which was reached during the pandemic, was different from the new contract in that it is forward facing rather than retroactive. He added that his team simply did not have adequate outcomes in the last contract negotiation.

While it took just over a year for both sides to reach an agreement, the Union’s last contract took over three years, and the one preceding that required close to five years in negotiations. 

In a press release from WTU, President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons said that she’s pleased with the contract, and that further details will be made public within the next few weeks after union members have reviewed the tentative agreement. 

“The highlights of the contract include fair and good pay raises but maybe more importantly, educators will be able to work under better conditions that should go a long way to improving recruitment and retention problems that have plagued the District,” she said, adding that her team pushed hard and obtained “decent and fair raises over the course of the five-year contract, despite the District’s contention that it was working in a tight financial environment.” 

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten agreed, describing the tentative agreement as a “real accomplishment.” 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com

As election day draws near, Black voters face a pivotal moment, as candidates at national, state and local levels take distinct approaches to addressing critical issues, like health disparities, wealth gaps, reproductive rights, voter suppression and education. 

With a polarizing presidential race, tight races in Congress and contentious ballot measures, it becomes even more important for voters to identify the policies that enable them to thrive. The AFRO sat down with three leading, nonpartisan voter organizations that seek to empower the Black community to determine which issues are the most pressing. Here’s what they said. 

National Coalition on Black Civic Participation 

Voting rights

Voter roll purging, or removing individuals from registered voter lists, has escalated in recent years. The practice is meant to preserve the integrity of the list, clearing out people who have died or moved, but a number of states have used it to remove people due to infrequent voting in recent elections.

“Most Black people, close to 60 percent, live in the South where you have a lot of voter purging taking place,” said Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP). “Voting rights is a big issue for us.” 

NCBCP has spearheaded a voter preparedness campaign to ensure people are registered to vote, know where their polling location is and understand the protections that exist.  

Economic security 

The economy has been a hot-button issue this election season. Campbell said Black women in particular are experiencing a great deal of concern over their finances. 

“We did a poll earlier in the year, and the number one issue for Black women had to do with economic security— issues around paychecks not making it all the way through the month and matching bills,” said Campbell. “There’s a high level of anxiety for Black women across generations.” 

Campbell also pointed out that the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged communities in the Southeast, would mean even more implications for the U.S. economy. 

Black Girls Vote

Economic security 

Leaders of Black Girls Vote (BGV) also touched on the economic plight of Black women. Founder Nykidra Robinson pointed out that they are the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs in the U.S., but they need to be able to preserve the wealth they are creating. 

“We have a lot of Black women who are heads of households or the breadwinner, but it’s tough,” said Robinson. “Even though we’re going to school and getting educated, we have student loan debt payments that come with our salaries, which can be limited.” 

She also highlighted the steep cost of housing today. Homeownership has traditionally been identified as a way to create generational wealth. But, if home prices are out of reach, this avenue may be closed to Black families. 

“The cost of housing is now astronomical, and Black women want to purchase homes,” said Robinson. “For those who are able, we want to make sure that they can stay in their homes and not just buy them.” 

Health equity 

BGV advisory board member Destiny-Simone Ramjohn, a public health sociologist, raised health care affordability, quality and access as a major issue up and down ballots this year.

“Health disparities exist along lines of race but also along income and geography. We need to vote for candidates who prioritize health equity and ensure that those policies are designed to reduce disparities by addressing social drivers,” said Ramjohn. “Most of what contributes to your health happens outside of your doctor’s office.”

The Black community faces disparities in maternal health, cancer rates, mental health treatment,  heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Social determinants of health, or the conditions in which a person lives, works and ages, significantly impact these disparities, according to Ramjohn. 

She warned that the next president will inherit multiple public health epidemics, including those related to Black maternal health, gun violence, 

“Black women are three times more likely to suffer from maternal morbidity and maternal mortality when compared to their White counterparts,” said Ramjohn “We also know that firearm violence, which is now a leading cause of death among children, is concentrated in marginalized, racial and ethnic communities.”

Addressing reproductive justice is also a major issue under health care. While many associate the term with abortion access, it encompasses much more than that. 

“When we hear about reproductive justice, there’s so much talk about abortion, but we’re not talking about in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments or surrogacy,” said Robinson. “We’re not talking about the mothers who desire to have a child and may not be able to conceive or have complications when trying to have a child.” 

Black Voters Matter Fund

Economic security 

Co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund LaTosha Brown explained that Black communities consider the health of the economy at an individual level rather than global. 

“We’re not thinking about the health of the economy based on how the GDP is doing or the unemployment rate being lower,” said Brown. “We’re looking at costs and the health and wellness of our communities.” 

As Black families, who were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, continue to recover from the pandemic, she said they have become increasingly sensitive to the rising costs of goods.

Like BGV, Brown called attention to pricey housing costs, which have made it difficult and sometimes impossible for African Americans to attain homeownership. 

“The cost of homes has exploded and risen to the point where it’s been cost-preventative for people coming out of college and new families to get a new home,” said Brown. “We need people with strong housing policies so we can build wealth.”

Student loan forgiveness

Though millions of Americans have outstanding student loan debt, there is a stark gap in the amount owed by Black borrowers and their counterparts. According to the Education Data Initiative, African-American college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student loan debt than White college graduates. 

Brown highlighted legal attacks, largely led by Red states, on President Joe Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, which is designed to make payments more affordable, expand forgiveness and eliminate interest. 

“They’re willing to give corporate welfare to bail banks out and millions of dollars to wealthy business owners in Paycheck Protection Program loans, but then there’s been attacks on student loan forgiveness,” said Brown. “That impacts us economically.”

Education

In recent years, assaults on Black history in schools have increased. Brown noted that several states have sought to ban AP African American studies and critical race theory. 

“Why is our history less valuable than any other? It is American history,” said Brown. “We have to see that that’s not just an attack on African American history; that’s an attack on our identity.”

The post Navigating the ballot: Key issues facing voters in the 2024 general election appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Stephen Whyno
AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) — Lamar Jackson threw for 323 yards and a touchdown to outshine rookie Jayden Daniels in a showdown between two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks this season, Derrick Henry ran for two TDs and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Washington Commanders 30-23 on Oct. 13 for their fourth consecutive victory.

Jackson found Mark Andrews for the tight end’s first touchdown of the season and completed nine passes to Zay Flowers for 132 yards — all in the first half. Henry had 132 yards and his NFL-leading eighth and ninth TDs as the Ravens (4-2) mixed and matched the pass and run to near perfection.

Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on two TD passes, but did not get nearly enough help from the backfield in a matchup of the two top rushing offenses in the league. With Brian Robinson Jr. out because of a knee injury, Washington (4-2) got just 52 yards on the ground.

The Commanders’ defense struggled to contain Jackson and Henry, allowing Baltimore to rack up 484 yards, and their winning streak ended at four with a loss at the hands of an opponent that is starting to look like the legitimate Super Bowl contender it was expected to be.

The masterclass by the Ravens included scoring drives of 93 and 94 yards, three sacks of Daniels and enough to overcome an early interception by Jackson when the ball went off Andrews’ hands and was caught by rookie Mike Sainristil for Washington’s first pick of the season. 

Struggles defending against the pass continued, with Daniels going 24 of 35 for 269 yards, but again Baltimore was able to outscore its problems.

Henry became the first player to rush for a TD in each of his first six games since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005. Andrews tied Todd Heap for the most catches since the team moved to Baltimore with the 41st of his career.

Injuries

Ravens: LB Malik Harrison (groin), CB Arthur Maulet (knee and hamstring) and DE Broderick Washington (knee) were inactive.

Commanders: DT Jonathan Allen was ruled out early in the fourth quarter with a pectoral injury. … DE Dorance Armstrong left in the second with a rib injury. … DE Clelin Ferrell missed a fourth consecutive game with a knee injury.

Up next

Commanders: Host the Carolina Panthers Oct. 20.

Ravens: Visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 21.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The post Jackson outduels Daniels and Henry runs for two TDs as Ravens beat Commanders 30-23 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

The District’s DC Circulator bus system, which has been a popular mode of transportation for riders throughout the Greater Washington Area, began laying off employees on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Ninety Circulator employees were laid off on Oct. 1. Seventy-eight employees have already secured positions within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. However, they will lose their seniority, start at lower hourly wages and be assigned different shifts. Circulator drivers also learned that they will not be given preferential treatment in the hiring process. 

During a recent council transportation hearing with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and members of the D.C. City Council, Circulator spokespersons noted that employees who secure jobs with Metro could expect their hourly wages to decline from $40 to $28 while those who have worked their way up in seniority to get nights and weekends off, many of whom are now in their 50s and 60s, could be reassigned to graveyard shifts.  

The layoffs represent part of D.C.’s plan to phase-out the bus system, which has been around for 20 years. Last year, the D.C. Circulator bus system had 1.9 million riders and close to 300 employees. In recent weeks, transit workers and District residents have held rallies criticizing the shutdown, asking Metro to take over the beleaguered bus system to no avail. 

Union representatives, including Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, one of the unions that represents the workers, said it will continue to fight to retain current pay rates. ATU asserts that Circulator employees had five-year contracts that guaranteed job security through 2028. Nonetheless, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser slashed funding for the Circulator from this year’s budget. 

Riders on the Circulator bus system can expect to see changes and cancellations of service beginning in October. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Start off your October with these free events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. 

Maryland 

Sweeten the Vote

Head to Sydney’ Ice Creams in Northeast Baltimore to register to vote and enjoy a free scoop upgrade. The Black-owned shop has teamed up with Black Girls Vote to make sure Baltimoreans are prepared to exercise their right on Nov. 5  

Date: Oct. 12

Time: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Location: Sydney’s Ice Creams 

                  3432 Belair Rd. 

                  Baltimore, MD 21213 

Maryland Women’s Small Business Celebration 

October marks National Women’s Small Business Month. In honor of observance, the Maryland Governor’s Office of Small, Minority Women Business Affairs will host a celebration for the state’s women entrepreneurs. Diedre L. Windsor, founder of the Windsor Group, will serve as the keynote speaker and share tips on fostering healthy small business practices. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about state procurement opportunities.  

Date: Oct. 10

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: Montgomery Park 

                 1800 Washington Boulevard 

                 Baltimore, MD 21230 

HUD-approved Foreclosure Prevention Workshop

To support those who have fallen behind on their mortgage or encountered challenges with their mortgage provider, the St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center will lead a foreclosure prevention workshop. The session will feature counselors and legal experts approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Attendees will learn about the foreclosure timeline, opportunities for prevention, credit management and local resources. 

Date: Oct. 10 

Time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. 

Location: St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center 

                 321 East 25th St. 

                 Baltimore, MD 21218

D.C. 

Zenith Gallery Presents: We Are Not Going Back

Sparked by Vice President Kamala Harris’ run for president and her selection of Governor Tim Walz as a running mate, this exhibit showcases artwork that’s been created to inspire hope for the future. The show features a range of media, including paintings, sculptures, mixed media and prints. 

Date: Daily through Oct. 12 

Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Location: Zenith Gallery 

                 1429 Iris St. NW 

                 Washington, DC 20012

A Speakeasy Evening 

The National Museum of African American History and Culture invites the Black community, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to an event honoring the 100th birthday of acclaimed writer James Baldwin. The event nods to the speakeasy clubs of the Harlem Renaissance. It explores the contribution of discos as an inclusive, safe space to dance and include a panel discussion, art-making, dancing and food. 

Date: Oct. 10

Time: 6:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Location: National Museum of African American History and Culture 

                 1400 Constitution Ave. NW 

                 Washington, DC 20001

Grounded: Plant Shop, Cafe, and Wellness Studio Grand Opening

Grounded welcomes all to their new space in Southeast D.C. It triples as a plant shop, wellness studio and cafe, making it the perfect place to wind down after a busy day. The grand opening will be filled with activities as visitors are invited to pick out plants,enjoy the cafe and engage in wellness activities.

Date: Oct. 12

Time: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Location: Grounded 

                 1913 Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast 

                 Washington, DC 20020

Atlanta Fine Art Print Fair

Black Art in America’s (BAIA) annual Atlanta Fine Art Print Fair makes its first appearance in Washington, D.C. The multi-day market presents works from legacy and contemporary African-American printmakers, including D.C.-based artists Percy Martin, Lou Stovall, Ed McCluney and David Driskell. Attendees can talk to the artists and attend a panel conversation on Oct. 12 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Date: Oct. 11 – Oct. 13

Time: 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Oct 12 and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 13

Location: 1201 K Street Northwest 

                 Washington, DC 20005 

2024 Free Women, Wellness and Wealth Conference 

Wealth strategist Deborah Short presents a summit addressing women’s financial and physical health. The Women, Wellness and Wealth Conference features conversations on retirement planning, mental health care, steps to take if a medical physician dismisses your concerns and creating generational wealth. Attendees have the chance to win door prizes, money bags and free manicures and pedicures.

Date: Oct. 19 

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: The Harborside Hotel 

                 6400 Oxon Hill Rd. 

                 Oxon Hill, MD 20745

Black on the Block D.C.

Join Black the Block D.C. at the Nationals Park Field Plaza and enjoy food, drinks, music, workshops and plenty of activations. There will be giveaways as well as special guests. The event is in collaboration with Walmart’s Black & Unlimited Shoutout and AT&T Dream in Black.

Date: Oct. 20

Time: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. 

Location: Nationals Park Field Plaza

                 1500 South Capitol Street SE 

                 Washington, DC 20003

Virginia 

Black Maternal Health Legislative Summit

The Virginia Black Maternal Health Caucus, Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott and Senator L. Louise Lucas take on the health crisis facing Black mothers across the country. The summit assembles legislators, experts and stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities in improving Black maternal health. 

Date: Oct. 18

Time: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Location: Virginia General Assembly 

                 1000 Bank St. 

                 Richmond, VA 23219

“Souls to the Polls”  by the Fairfax County Branch PAC Committee

FREE Fish dinner with “I Voted” Sticker

Date: Sunday, October 27th, 2024 

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: Mount Vernon Governmental Center

2511 Parkers Ln

Alexandria, VA 22306

Hampton NAACP 4th Annual Souls to the Polls March and Celebration

Go early voting alongside your fellow citizens with the Hampton NAACP’s Annual Souls to the Polls Celebration. After marching to the Hampton Registrar’s Office, residents can enjoy live music, food and talks from guest speakers. Early voting ends Nov. 2 in Virginia. 

Date: Oct. 13

Time: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: First Baptist Church 

                 229 North King Street 

                 Hampton, VA 23669

The post Upcoming events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Teachers and aides at Ward 8’s Moten Elementary School just received more than $15,000 in classroom gifts from Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins. The WNBA player teamed up with the Lids Foundation, a philanthropic organization that provides direct support to local communities and other charitable nonprofits, to surprise the educators during an assembly on Sept. 16. 

This is Atkin’s second time organizing a teacher appreciation celebration in the District. 

“Our goal is to show gratitude to teachers and their aides by providing them with essential classroom items that could enhance their classroom environment, as well as the student’s experience,” said Atkins, in a statement. “We want them to feel appreciated and valued for the undeniable impact they make every day on their students.” 

The classroom gifts included general school supplies, decor, bean bag chairs, twinkle lights and interactive rugs. Teachers and aides also received Visa gift cards to splurge on themselves and Lids store gift cards to give out to students as classroom prizes. 

Moten Elementary Principal Akela Dogbe, who covertly retrieved wishlists from the educators, said the celebration came at the perfect time. 

“My teachers deserve to feel special,” said Dogbe. “It was great to be able to celebrate them now because this is about the fourth week of school for us. People start counting down to Thanksgiving break, and the excitement of a new school year has kind of worn off.”

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 94 percent of teachers dip into their pockets to purchase classroom supplies. On average, educators in urban communities spend $529 each school year. 

Dogbe said the school provides basic materials, like paper, pens and pencils. But, other personalized items that foster a warm, welcoming environment are left to the teachers to buy. Cultivating a comfortable environment in the classroom is important for students, according to the principal. 

“We always operate under the impression that the classroom is the second teacher,” said Dogbe. “Kids want to be in pretty spaces just like adults do. Infusing more colors, more places where they can lounge around and do their work and more flexible seating makes the experience better for them.” 

Dogbe disguised the assembly as a celebration for Moten Elementary’s performance on the 2023 D.C. Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE). The school climbed 12 points in mathematics and eight points in English language arts. 

Dogbe said it has not made gains like that since before the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in learning loss for elementary and other students across the country. 

“We’re going to keep soaring and doing the things we know work. We’re going to keep having amazing tier-one instruction in our classrooms that are now so beautifully decorated,” said Dogbe. “We’re going to keep offering high-impact tutoring for every student in the building, and we’re going to keep climbing.” 

The post Washington Mystics’ Ariel Atkins surprises Moten Elementary with $15,000 in classroom gifts appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

D.C. Councilmember Robert White is on a mission to renovate downtown D.C. 

On the morning of Sept. 24, White, who is chair of the Committee on Housing, welcomed local and national leaders to discuss housing and economic recovery in a public roundtable discussion. Additionally, people from across the nation with experience in revitalizing their communities were in attendance.

“The idea of building communities, the things that support communities, investing and enlarging the arts downtown and creating outdoor markets– that is our future,” said White. “But I want to hear from people who disagree with me. I’m inviting not just people who share my vision, but people who see it differently so we can say, ‘OK, now it’s time. We’ve heard everything. Time to make decisions and move forward.’ “

With hopes of solidifying a plan by the end of the year, White is aiming to get this process started sooner rather than later. 

Mayor Muriel Bowser shared her five-year-plan earlier in the year and she’s looking to see more people come back to in-person work. White, however, doesn’t see that happening. 

The mayor’s plan has multiple foundational elements. Bowser aims to create business space; reestablish downtown as a place to safely live, work and play; build up the residential base and improve transportation. 

“Mayor Bowser and some other groups have plans, and the government has programs, but we don’t yet have an overarching vision or strategy. That’s a dangerous space to linger in for too long,” he said. “We have to know very clearly where we’re going, what it’s going to take to get there, and how we get from where we are now to there. That requires us to keep our foot on the gas.”

Mayor Bowser and President Biden have both sounded off about workers returning to traditional office settings as a way of helping revitalize downtown, but White doesn’t think that’s very likely. 

“It’s not happening. Don’t waste your energy. Workers are demanding flexibility. Talented people are going to drive the market,” he said. “Let’s turn the page and stop looking at yesterday. Let’s go forward.”

Sydney Stewart, an off-campus student at Howard University gave her thoughts on the efforts by local leaders.

 “I appreciate the convenience of working from home, it’s easier, but also downtown can be kind of scary at night,” said “People are living on top of each other and there’s a major crisis going on with the homeless community.”

Stewart noted the growing need for housing in the downtown area, not only as a way of combating homelessness, but for everyday people looking to live near their jobs and within city limits.

“The cost of living overall is insane but especially for housing,” she said. “We need affordable housing downtown. I’m sure it would help make the area more appealing and it would make more people want to come there.”

White emphasized the importance of making living in the downtown area more affordable to those that help keep the businesses in that area afloat. 

“People who work in our restaurants and accommodate tourists– those are the folks who keep our economy revving–but they can’t afford to live in D.C. now,” said White. “We have too much office space and an urgent need for more housing.”

The post D.C. Councilmember aims to revitalize downtown area, increase affordable housing appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

AFRO.com now features AFRO Votes, a one-stop shop of resources and information related to the upcoming Nov. 5 election. The new feature on the AFRO’s main web page can be found by scrolling to the bar that says “AFRO Votes” in the middle of the page.

At AFRO Votes, readers can check their registration status, learn about what elections are going on in their local area and request an absentee or mail-in ballot. It also contains a feature to help youth, between the ages of 13 and 17, register as future voters.

Included on the page are articles showcasing the AFRO’s latest election coverage, aimed at informing voters of the issues and platforms being discussed ahead of Nov. 5. 

According to the Pew Research Center, about 34.4 million Black voters will be eligible to vote in November, but not all are registered. 

Though the voter registration deadline is Oct. 15 in Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia, eligible voters can still register during the early voting period and on Election Day.

In Maryland, early voting is from Oct. 24-Oct. 31. In D.C., early voting runs from Oct. 28-Nov. 3 and in Virginia, early voting has started and will continue through Nov. 2.

The post AFRO Votes: A new go-to resource for information ahead of Election Day appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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!  

The post On Nov. 5, we must ‘be about’ voting – especially young people appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Bill Barrow, Zeke Miller and Nicholas Riccardi
The Associated Press

Vice presidential hopefuls Tim Walz and JD Vance focused their criticism on the top of the ticket on Oct 1, as they engaged in a policy-heavy discussion that may be the last debate of the 2024 presidential campaign.

It was the first encounter between Minnesota’s Democratic governor and Ohio’s Republican senator, following last month’s debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. It comes just five weeks before Election Day and as millions of voters are now able to cast early ballots.

The Oct. 1 confrontation played out as the stakes of the contest rose again after Iran fired missiles into Israel, while a devastating hurricane and potentially debilitating port strike roiled the country at home. Over and again, Walz and Vance outlined the policy and character differences between their running mates, while trying to introduce themselves to the country.

Here are some takeaways from the debate.

With Mideast in turmoil, Walz promises ‘steady leadership’ and Vance offers ’peace through strength’

Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on Oct 1, elicited a contrast between the Democratic and Republican tickets on foreign policy: Walz promised “steady leadership” under Harris while Vance pledged a return to “peace through strength” if Trump is returned to the White House.

The differing visions of what American leadership should look like overshadowed the sharp policy differences between the two tickets.

The Iranian threat to the region and U.S. interests around the world opened the debate, with Walz pivoting the topic to criticism of Trump.

“What’s fundamental here is that steady leadership is going to matter,” Walz said, then referenced the “nearly 80-year-old Donald Trump talking about crowd sizes” and responding to global crises by tweet.

Vance, for his part, promised a return to “effective deterrence” under Trump against Iran, brushing back on Walz’s criticism of Trump by attacking Harris and her role in the Biden administration.

“Who has been the vice president for the last three and a half years and the answer is your running mate, not mine,” he said. He pointedly noted that the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, happened “during the administration of Kamala Harris.”

Vance and Walz punch up rather than at each other

Vance and Walz trained the bulk of their attacks not on their onstage rivals, but on the running mates who weren’t in the room.

Both vice presidential nominees sought to convey a genial mien as they lobbed criticism at Harris and Trump, respectively.

It was a reflection of the fact that most voters don’t cast a ballot based on the vice president, and on a vice presidential nominee’s historic role in serving as the attack dog for their running mates.

Walz pointedly attacked Trump for failing to meet his pledge of building a physical barrier across the entire U.S.-Mexico border at the country’s southern neighbor’s expense.

“Less than 2 percent of that wall got built and Mexico didn’t pay a dime,” Walz said.

Underscoring the focus on the top of the ticket, during a back-and-forth about immigration, Vance said to his opponent, “I think that you want to solve this problem, but I don’t think that Kamala Harris does.”

It was a wonky policy debate, with talk of risk pools, housing regulations and energy policy

In an age of world-class disses optimized for social media, the debate was a detour into substance. Both candidates took a low-key approach and both enthusiastically delved into the minutiae.

Walz dug into the drafting of the Affordable Care Act when he was in the House in 2009, and pushed Vance on the senator’s claim that Trump, who tried to eliminate the law, actually helped preserve it. Vance, defending his claim that illegal immigration pushes up housing prices, cited a Federal Reserve study to back himself up. Walz talked about how Minneapolis tinkered with local regulations to boost the housing supply. Both men talked about the overlap between energy policy, trade and climate change.

It was a very different style than often seen in presidential debates over the past several election cycles.

Vance stays on the defensive on abortion

Walz pounced on Vance repeatedly over abortion access and reproductive rights as the Ohio senator tried to argue that a state-by-state matrix of abortion laws is the ideal approach for the United States. Walz countered that a “basic right” for a woman should not be determined “by geography.”

“This is a very simple proposition: These are women’s decisions,” Walz said. “We trust women. We trust doctors.”

Walz sought to personalize the issue by referencing the death of Amber Thurman, who waited more than 20 hours at the hospital for a routine medical procedure known as a D&C to clear out remaining tissue after taking abortion pills. She developed sepsis and died.

Rather than sidestep the reference, Vance at one point agreed with Walz that “Amber Thurman should still be alive.”

Vance steered the conversation to the GOP ticket’s proposals he said would help women and children economically, thus avoiding the need for terminating pregnancies. But Walz retorted that such policies — tax credits, expanded childcare aid, a more even economy — can be pursued while still allowing women to make their own decisions about abortion.

Both candidates put a domestic spin on climate change

In the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Vance took a question about climate change and gave an answer about jobs and manufacturing, taking a detour around Trump’s past claims that global warming is a “hoax.”

Vance contended that the best way to fight climate change was to move more manufacturing to the United States, because the country has the world’s cleanest energy economy. It was a distinctly domestic spin on a global crisis, especially after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the international Paris climate accords during his administration.

Walz also kept the climate change focus domestic, touting the Biden administration’s renewable energy investments as well as record levels of oil and natural gas production.

It was a decidedly optimistic take on a pervasive and grim global problem.

Walz, Vance each blame opposing presidential candidate for immigration stalemate

The two running mates agreed that the number of migrants in the U.S. illegally is a problem. But each laid the blame on the opposing presidential nominee.

Vance echoed Trump by repeatedly calling Harris the “border czar” and suggested that she, as vice president, single-handedly rolled back the immigration restrictions Trump had imposed as president. The result, in Vance’s telling, is an unchecked flow of fentanyl, strain on state and local resources and increased housing prices around the country.

In the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Vance took a question about climate change and gave an answer about jobs and manufacturing, taking a detour around Trump’s past claims that global warming is a “hoax.”

Harris was never asked to be the “border czar” and she was never specifically given the responsibility for security on the border. She was tasked by Biden in March 2021 with tackling the “root causes” of migration from the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador and pushing leaders there and in Mexico to enforce immigration laws. Harris was not empowered to set U.S. immigration policy — only the president can sign executive orders and Harris was not empowered as Biden’s proxy in negotiations with Congress on immigration law.

Walz advanced Democrats’ arguments that Trump single-handedly killed a bipartisan Senate deal to tighten border security and boost the processing system for immigrants and asylum seekers. Republicans backed off the deal, Walz noted, only after Trump said it wasn’t good enough.

Both candidates leaned on tried-and-true debate tactics — including not answering tough questions

Asked directly whether Trump’s promise to deport millions of illegal immigrants would remove parents of U.S.-born children, Vance never answered the question. Instead, the senator tried to put his best spin on Trump’s plan to use the military to help with deportations and pivot to attacking Harris for a porous border. Asked to respond to Trump’s having called climate change a “hoax,” Vance also avoided a response.

The debate kicked off with Walz being asked if he’d support a preemptive strike by Israel against Iran. Walz praised Harris’ foreign policy leadership but never answered that question, either.

And at the end of the debate, Vance would not answer Walz’s direct question of whether Trump indeed lost the 2020 election.

Walz has stumbles and lands punches in uneven night

Walz had several verbal stumbles on a night in which he admitted to “misspeaking” often. In the debate’s opening moments, he confused Iran and Israel when discussing the Middle East.

At one point he said he had “become friends with school shooters,” and he stumbled through an explanation of inaccurate remarks about whether he was in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. (He was not.)

But the governor noticeably put Vance on the defensive over abortion and, near the end of the debate, with a pointed question about whether Trump won the 2020 election.

Vance stays on a limb on Jan. 6 insurrection

The candidates went out of their way to be polite to each other until the very end, when Vance refused to back down from his statements that he wouldn’t have certified Trump’s 2020 election loss.

Vance tried to turn the issue to claims that the “much bigger threat to democracy” was Democrats trying to censor people on social media. But Walz wouldn’t let go.

“This one is troubling to me,” said Walz, noting that he’d just been praising some of Vance’s answers. He rattled off the ways Trump tried to overturn his 2020 loss and noted that the candidate still insists he won that contest. Then Walz asked Vance if Trump actually lost the election.

Vance responded by asking if Harris censored people.

“That is a damning non-answer,” said Walz, noting that Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, wasn’t on the debate stage because he stood up to Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, and presided over Congress’ certification of the former president’s loss.

“America,” Walz concluded, “I think you’ve got a really clear choice on this election of who’s going to honor that democracy and who’s going to honor Donald Trump.”

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

The post Walz takes on Vance for vice presidency in live debate appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today (Sept. 27) that it has filed a lawsuit against the State of Alabama and the Alabama Secretary of State to challenge a systematic State program aimed at removing voters from its election rolls too close to the Nov. 5 general election, in violation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).

“The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “As Election Day approaches, it is critical that Alabama redress voter confusion resulting from its list maintenance mailings sent in violation of federal law. Officials across the country should take heed of the National Voter Registration Act’s clear and unequivocal restrictions on systematic list maintenance efforts that fall within 90 days of an election. The Quiet Period Provision of federal law exists to prevent eligible voters from being removed from the rolls as a result of last-minute, error-prone efforts. The Justice Department will continue to use all the tools it has available to ensure that the voting rights of every eligible voter are protected.”

Section 8(c)(2) of the NVRA, also known as the Quiet Period Provision, requires states to complete systematic programs aimed at removing the names of ineligible voters from voter registration lists by no later than 90 days before federal elections. The Quiet Period Provision applies to certain systematic programs carried out by states that are aimed at striking names from voter registration lists based on a perceived failure to meet initial eligibility requirements — including citizenship — at the time of registration. The Quiet Period is an important protection for voters, because systematic removal programs may be error-ridden, cause voter confusion and remove eligible voters days or weeks before Election Day who may be unable to correct the state’s errors in time to vote or may be dissuaded from voting at all. States may remove names from official lists of voters in various ways and for various reasons, but they may not carry-on this kind of systematic removal program so close to a federal election.

On Aug. 13, the Secretary of State announced the launch of a “process to remove noncitizens registered to vote in Alabama.” This was 84 days before the Nov. 5 general election. The Justice Department’s review found that both native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens have received letters stating that their voter record has been made inactive and that they have been placed on a path for removal from Alabama’s statewide voter registration list. The letter directs recipients who are in fact U.S. citizens and eligible to vote to complete and submit an attached State of Alabama Voter Registration Form. In turn, that form instructs that people may not register to vote in the 14 days before an election. This systematic voter removal program, which the State is conducting within 90 days of the upcoming federal election, violates the Quiet Period Provision. 

The Justice Department seeks injunctive relief that would restore the ability of impacted eligible voters to vote unimpeded on Election Day and would prohibit future Quiet Period violations. The department also seeks remedial mailings to educate eligible voters concerning the restoration of their rights and adequate training of local officials and poll workers to address confusion and distrust among eligible voters accused of being noncitizens.

More information about voting and elections is available at www.justice.gov/voting. More information about the NVRA and other federal voting laws is available at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. The department recently announced a new guidance document addressing limits on when and how jurisdictions may remove voters from their voter lists. Complaints about discriminatory voting practices may be reported to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section through the internet reporting portal at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. 

The post PRESS ROOM: Justice Department sues Alabama for violating federal law’s prohibition on systematic efforts to remove voters within 90 days of an election appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
Dbailey@afro.com

Rev. Al Sharpton and recording artist Albert “Al B. Sure!” Brown don’t seem like the most likely partners in the fight for civil rights. While Sharpton, head of the National Action Network, is known for historic civil rights campaigns on behalf of Black Americans, Brown is best known for his series of top 40 and R&B hits, and more recently as host of “Love and R&B” on Urban One’s Reach Media. 

But together, these men with a national coalition of health advocates, have scored a major win for transplant patients across the U.S. Working through the Health Equity in Transplantation Coalition (HEiTC), health advocates across the nation have successfully fought for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reverse a rule banning coverage of a crucial blood test taken by transplant patients to detect the life-threatening condition of organ rejection.   

Close to 100,000 people are waiting for major body organs and more than a million transplants have already been performed in the U.S. That means the Medicare reversal on post-transplant tests is a life-altering win, especially for Black and Latino transplant patients, said Sharpton. 

Black organ transplant patients represent close to 30 percent of all transplant candidates on the waiting list, according to the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH). The most frequently donated organs in order of transplant frequency are kidneys, livers, hearts and lungs, according to OMH. 

‘’Our involvement in this major health issue is long overdue,” Sharpton said. “Life starts with our health. We (Black people) are getting ill earlier and earlier. This is a civil rights issue, so as a civil rights organization we had to get involved.”

Beginning in 2017, Medicare covered two tests that transplant surgeons use to monitor patients for organ rejection. Surgeons like Dr. Steven Potter, a Georgetown University kidney and pancreas transplant specialist and professor of surgery, use these tests on a routine basis to monitor patients for organ damage and rejection.

But in 2023, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced significant reductions in coverage for the post-transplant blood tests. Contractors who supply the tests to CMS, called Medicare administrative contractors or MAC’s, have the right to restrict access to the tests by Medicare recipients via a rule recognized by CMS called a local coverage determination or LDS, according to a spokesperson for CMS.

‘’The blood tests check for organ rejection [and] prevent patients from undergoing painful surgical biopsies to determine whether a transplanted organ is rejected by the body,” said Potter, who also supports the HEiTC Coalition. “These tests can detect possible problems long before patients have major symptoms.” 

On a practical level, the tests can be administered at home. 

“The tests save patients from losing a day of work or missing other essential commitments,” said Dr. Marsha Harris, New York University Langone Health colorectal surgeon and a HEiTC coalition member. 

Sharpton, Brown and other health organization partners got to work this summer, forming a bi-partisan response to the CMS decision. Sharpton and former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich testified on Capitol Hill supporting Medicare coverage for the tests. 

Brown, who underwent a liver transplant in summer 2022, is the executive chair of HEiTC and brings a new face to the disproportionate burdens Black transplant patients face. He embodies an urgency for Medicare to get back in the business of covering the costs of noninvasive post-transplant tests. 

“Any organ transplant recipient will tell you the path to recovery is a steep, uphill and daily battle,” said Brown about his experience.

According to University of Virginia Health, acute organ rejection happens in the months following a transplant while chronic organ rejection can happen any time after a year. 

In addition to HEiTC’s Capitol Hill testimony, 14 members of Congress and 24 leading transplant surgeons sent a letter to CMS administrator Chiquita Brooks LaSure urging her to restore Medicare coverage of the post-transplant tests. 

“What’s less known is that this journey poses even greater risks for Black Americans because we are biologically more likely to experience organ rejection, and are disproportionately represented in the transplant population,” Brown said at a Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) event celebrating Medicare’s pending restoration of coverage for the tests.

On Aug. 16, CMS issued a statement announcing the decision to withhold Medicare coverage for post-transplant tests would not be finalized. In part the statement read, “In response to public comments and upon further review of the evidence, the MACs are not finalizing the proposed LCD issued on August 10, 2023.” 

At a recent CBC event, Sharpton, Brown and other transplant supporters nationwide gathered to proclaim the fight is not over. 

Once the Medicare decision is finalized, HEiTC is poised to begin a campaign targeting the root causes of the gross inequities between Black, Latino and White patients when it comes to the chronic diseases that lead to transplantation in the first place. 

Poorly controlled diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, a condition impacting Black Americans at a rate three times greater than White Americans, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Kidneys are the number one organ on the transplant waiting list, where close to 30 percent of the waiting candidates are Black, according to the HHS – OMH. 

Reporting on this story is through the support of a journalism fellowship from the Gerontology Society of America, The Journalists’ Network on Generations, and the Commonwealth Fund.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

As the D.C. Circulator’s impending shutdown grows near, circulator employees and unions are taking to the streets to voice their concerns about how the shutdown has been handled.

“We’re going to get some answers,” said Darryl Hairston, D.C. Circulator supervisor, at a rally on Aug. 29.

Initially, circulator employees were assured that a five-year contract, finalized last year, would supply job security through 2028. However, after Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) suddenly cut Circulator funding from this year’s budget, workers were left scrambling to figure out what they were going to do.

The AFRO reached out to the mayor’s office and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) for comment, but did not receive a timely response.

The impact of the sudden change grew when the Circulator shutdown moved up from March 2025 to December 2024.

“I went out on sick leave. I returned on July 19 and on July 29 I received a letter saying I’ll be one of the people being laid off on Sept. 30,” said Natarsha Guest, a D.C. Circulator employee. “How are we supposed to rearrange our lives in 60 days and start over?”

Employees are demanding the city and RATP Dev, Circulator operator, ensure all D.C. Circulator employees retain their current pay rates if transitioned into the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Workers also want a five-year financial plan to support Circulator employees and a seat at the table during shutdown discussions.

Unions, including the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, have joined the call for better employee support and the absorption of the Circulator routes.

Since the announcement of the Circulator shutdown on July 29, the union has been vocal about the need for a transition plan, urging the mayor and DDOT to transition the services to WMATA.

DDOT has previously indicated that RATP Dev has had discussions with workers about their employment options since the announcement. Workers say those offers just aren’t enough.

“It be a tremendous pay cut for us because we have to start off from the beginning,” said Glynda Dansby, a D.C. Circulator dispatcher and supervisor. “Even if the Circulator has to leave, bring us in wherever we go, at our pay or close to it.”

Guest said some employees could lose around $10 to $12 an hour due to their positions not being directly absorbed into WMATA.

“If we’ve already been established at the job that we’ve had…why do we have to go back now and try to do two or three jobs to make ends meet?” questioned Dansby.

Though circulator employees have not yet gotten the responses they are looking for from the mayor’s office and DDOT, workers have received support from the D.C. Council.

“The employees who work for the D.C. Circulator have every right to demand better from D.C. government on how the end of the Circulator has been handled,” said Erik Salmi, deputy chief of staff for D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6). “DDOT has known this was a likely outcome for more than a year as budget constraints and improved WMATA operations made the end of the D.C. Circulator an attractive cut for the mayor. There are staff who have faithfully served D.C. residents for many years at the Circulator, and they don’t feel they are getting the support they deserve at this challenging time in their careers.”

As the official phasedown begins on Oct. 1, workers and unions show no sign of slowing down.

Phase one will include ending the Rosslyn-Dupont Circle route, altering bus arrival times to every 20 minutes instead of every 10 minutes and ending late-night service on the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan and Georgetown-Union Station routes.

By Dec. 31, all Circulator operations and employment will end.

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By Ariyana Griffin
AFRO Staff Writer
agriffin@afro.com

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser awarded $25.1 million in grants from the Education’s Office of Out-of-School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes to 125 local nonprofit organizations that offer free and low cost programming for youth on Sept. 7.

The awarded organizations offer students intensive opportunities; the D.C. Government shared that the programs will focus on “academic achievement, the performing arts, athletics, STEM, financial literacy, career preparation, and more.” 

An estimated 15,000 students will benefit from the out-of-school time initiative this school year, allowing students to engage in extracurricular activities in specified interests outside of school. 

“We’re proud to offer a plethora of out-of-school time programming in the District, and these organizations ensure our children and teens have a wide range of options that meet their

 interests and needs,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn in a statement.

“Students who participate in OST programs have higher school attendance and do better in school than those who do not. That’s what makes our investment so critical – it provides our kids with quality activities to elevate their learning beyond the classroom, setting them up for success now and in the future,” Kihn said. 

The OTS Office is dedicated to improving the programs, which are positive and safe outlets for youth. 

The office has allocated $113 million in awards for District nonprofits since 2017, creating and supporting programming for over 80,000 students. The OST Office’s Institute for Youth Development has curated over 500 workshops to ensure improvement and growth within the programs and has developed detailed training for over 5,000 service providers since 2019.  

We understand the critical role that high-quality and engaging out-of-school learning opportunities play in the lives of our kids,” said Mayor Bowser in a statement.

“This $25.1 million investment in free and low-cost programs is about more than just expanding access – it’s about ensuring that every child in D.C. has the chance to thrive,”  said Bowser.

These programs enhance social and emotional well-being and provide a safe and stimulating environment where our students can discover their passions, build new skills, and stay excited about learning every day.” 

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

A variety of events will take place at the end of September, leading into the month of October. From expos and art shows to information sessions and film screenings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the next few weeks throughout the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. 

Maryland

A Black Souliloquy

A Black Souliloquy welcomes Black women to their monthly event, a time to blend creativity and reflection to help Black girls and women connect, unwind and grow together. This month they’ll be exploring the theme of “Finding Peace During Challenging Times,” while stimulating their creativity with a sand candle workshop. During the candle making guests will engage in an open and reflective discussion on maintaining peace and balance when life gets difficult. 

Date: Sept. 28

Time: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. 

Location: Cahill Recreation Center

     4001 Clifton Avenue 

     Baltimore, MD 21216

DMV Black Student Leadership Conference

Black Student Development invites Black students from across the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area to Morgan State University for a day of inspiration, empowerment and connection. Come out for a day filled with insightful workshops, motivational speakers and networking opportunities.

Date: Oct. 4

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location: Morgan State University

    1700 East Cold Spring Lane

    Baltimore, MD 21251

Prostate Cancer Health Matters in Montgomery County

The Silver Spring Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity will host their event, “Prostate Cancer Health Matters,” in Montgomery County, Md. This event is open to all, including men, women and families, as prostate cancer is a disease that affects the entire community once a diagnosis is received.  

The event will feature a showing of the film “The Black Walnut,” and the film’s producer, Terrance Afer-Anderson, will be featured in a panel discussion with a urologist and several prostate cancer survivors. The session will be aimed at debunking myths behind prostate cancer and treatment options.

Date: Oct. 5

Time: 12  – 3 p.m. 

Location: 51 Mannakee St. (Science Building)

     Rockville, MD 2085

Black Wall Street Renaissance Pop-Up Shops

Join A-List Productions as they hold their monthly pop-up shop. Come out and enjoy a family-friendly environment that promotes unity, self love and healthy eating all the while keeping Black dollars in the Black community. 

Date: Oct. 5 

Time: 11 – 5 p.m.

Location: Everlasting Life Restaurant and Lounge

     9185 Central Avenue 

     Capitol Heights, MD 20743

Unbought and Unbossed: Shirley Watch Party and Panel Discussion

The Theta Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will host a watch party for the film, “Unbothered and Unbossed,” which tells the legacy of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Following the film’s showing, a panel discussion will be held for attendees to hear from Maryland State Legislators.

Date: Oct. 6

Time: 3 – 6 p.m. 

Location: Colesville United Methodist

     52 Randolph Road 

     Silver Spring, MD 20904

Bear Witness to Our Story

Morgan State University’s Counseling Center and NAMI Metro Baltimore invited the community to an evening focused on elevating the voices of students and faculty as they explore mental health experiences in the Black community.

Date: Oct.10 

Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m. 

Location: Morgan State University

     1700 East Cold Spring Lane 

     Baltimore, MD 21251

Washington D.C. 

Art to the Future – Art All Night on Pennsylvania Avenue East Main Street

Join the Penn Branch Center as they host the  Art to the Future – Art All Night 2024. Guests can look forward to a night filled with creativity, inspiration and innovation. This year, the fourth annual Art All Night on PAEMS will offer a diverse range of artwork and interactive exhibits from local artists. Event attendees will be delighted with live music and goods from some of D.C.,’s best artisans, vendors and craft enthusiasts.

Date: Sept. 27

Time: 6 – 12 a.m.

Location: Penn Branch Center

     3202 Pennsylvania Avenue

     Southeast Washington, D.C. 20020

Below the Surface: A History in African American Printmaking

Black Art in America is hosting a free art show, highlighting contemporary printmakers from across the nation.

Date: Sept. 27- Nov. 2

Time:11 – 6 p.m. 

Location: 1201 K Street Northwest 

     Washington, D.C. 20005

A Right Proper Block Party 2024

A Right Proper Block Party is returning for the fourth annual Art All Night party. Guests will experience this free event that will feature live music, a fire dancer, artists and local art vendors. Additionally, the Black Beer Garden, hosted by Black Brew Movement, will feature a series of local Black-owned breweries for attendees to enjoy. 

Date: Sept. 28

Time: 5 – 12 a.m. 

Location: 624 T Street Northwest 

     Washington, D.C. 20001

A FORGOTTEN MIGRATION |  Busboys and Poets 

Come out to Busboys and Poets for, “A Forgotten Migration,” a production that tells the story of “segregation scholarships.” The funding was used by states in the Southern part of the U.S. to help Black students seeking graduate education prior to the Brown v. Board of Education era. 

Date: Oct. 9

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Busboys and Poets 14th and V

      2021 14th St 

      NW Washington, D.C. 20009

Virginia 

Walking Tour: Black Heritage Fort Monroe 

Guests are invited to the Fort Monroe National Monument to explore the rich and dynamic history of “Freedom’s Fortress.” 

Date: Oct. 1 – Nov. 8

Time: 1 – 2 p.m.

Location: 30 Ingalls Road

     Fort Monroe, VA

Improving Birth Outcomes: Health Disparities and Black Birthing People 

Virginia Commonwealth University Health office of Health Equity along with the Health Humanities Lab at the Humanities Research Center will host the 2024 History and Health annual symposium on Oct.2. The event will explore the history of reproductive healthcare policies, the social determinants fueling the ongoing Black maternal health crisis and strategies to combat the health and healthcare disparities. 

Date: Oct. 2

Time: 12 – 4:30 p.m.

Location: 800 E Broad St

     Richmond, VA 23219

*All events listed are free to attend.

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By J. Pamela Stills
Special to the AFRO

On Sept. 10 the City of Alexandria, Va. honored its residents who are or will be 100 years old or older by Dec. 31.  The centenarian ceremony, held at Alexandria City Hall, brought together city employees, loved ones and guests to join in the celebration.  

Thirteen centenarians made the roll in 2024:

Lois Madolyn Cross Brooks, 100 years old; Dorothea G. Campbell, 101; Jose Croll, 101; Addie Lee Foster, 102; Mediha Frank ,100; Charles F. Funderburk ,101; Walther A. Hammersley, 102; Virginia Hoge, 100; Florence Katz ,100; Marjorie “Peggy” Knowlton, 101; Jane Sara, 104; Alice Schmidt, 104, and Donna Hamilton Shor, 100.

Kate Garvey, director of the Department of Community and Human services, provided opening remarks.  Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, gave congratulatory remarks and presented the in-person attendees with a certificate and city coin. A musical performance was delivered by the Alexandria citizens band.

Two of the four in-person attendees were Lois Madolyn Cross Brooks and Charles F. Funderburk.  Lois Madolyn Cross Brooks is the last surviving member of nine siblings. Mrs. Cross Brooks has one son, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was accompanied to the ceremony by her granddaughter LaJuanne Russell. Mrs. Cross Brooks enjoys reading, interacting with youth, keeping up with political happenings, traveling and is actively engaged working in her granddaughter’s firm, Business Management Associates. Mrs. Cross Brooks shared some secrets to her longevity which includes fresh food, plenty of rest and enjoying an indulgence– hers being a Krispy Kreme raspberry-filled donut every day.

Charles Funderburk served in the Civilian Conservation Corps under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He settled in Alexandria in 1946, working for the St. Agnes School Board. He would later be employed by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association (George Washington Estate), working for almost 50 years until his retirement. Mr. Funderburk has four children and was accompanied by his daughter Jane Funderburk, granddaughter Clarissa Winslow and family friend Franklyn Bundu.

In attendance at the ceremony, Judge Nolan Dawkins, retired.  Judge Dawkins was one of five Black students to integrate the former George Washington High School.  He later became the first Black judge in Alexandria in 1994, starting in juvenile and domestic relations court, a court where “you can make a difference.”  Judge Dawkins retired from the bench in June 2020.

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

A free clinic open to basketball coaches of all levels in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area will be sponsored by the Washington Wizards on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Entertainment and Sports Arena, home of the Washington Mystics and Capital City Go-Go, in Southeast, Washington, D.C. 

The clinic will be led by Coach Brian Keefe, head coach of the Wizards, with special guest coaches Ed Cooley of Georgetown, Kenny Blakeney of Howard, and Duane Simpkins, a coach for American University. 

According to a Wizards spokesperson, the clinic aims to strengthen the local coaching community and provide valuable insights that can be taken back to schools and teams across the region. The clinic represents the Wizards’ longtime commitment to empowering local talent. 

John Thompson III, former head coach, Georgetown University, now entering his second season as senior vice president of Monumental Basketball, continues to focus on exploring and implementing best practices for the Wizards, Mystics and Go-Go while ensuring accountability for excellence across the organization. 

He spoke with the AFRO about the upcoming clinic and noted why he thinks it’s a “win-win opportunity.” 

“This is for coaches from all levels – college, high school, summer leagues– you name it,” said Thompson, who has long been an ardent supporter of the Greater Washington Area and who, in 2007, established the John Thompson III Foundation to create a positive and lasting impact on the city that he cherishes. 

“This is about coaches helping coaches,” he said. “I’ve said many times that the basketball players in the DMV are among the best in the country – part of that is because of the outstanding coaching in this area. We have some great coaches leading the clinic. But this is only the beginning.” 

“Next year, we’ll rotate with other coaches,” Thompson continue. “The bottom line is the talented group of coaches in this region will be able to share with one another, to teach one another and to learn from one another.” 

Thompson said the credit for the clinic goes to Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe. 

“Coach Keefe walked up to me and said he wanted to hold a clinic for local coaches and asked me if we could put something together,” Thompson said. “I told him of course. This is his first year as head coach but he’s been in the NBA for a long time. He understands every position on the bench and he’s built to help players and others in the profession.”

Thompson said he feels fortunate to be part of the Monumental Basketball family. 

“I loved coaching at Georgetown but I am also really enjoying the journey that I am on today. I still have daily interactions with players and coaches and I’m involved in most aspects of the game. But I am also learning and contributing to the business side of the sport,” he said. “It’s complex for sure. But above all, it’s a people business. This clinic is another opportunity for us to bring people out, get them involved and unify them.”

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

On Tuesday, Sept. 3, a Superior Court jury returned guilty verdicts against two men charged in the murder of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson and an associate who obstructed justice in the case. 

The verdicts were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The jury found Mark Price, 30, and Antonio Murchison, 31, guilty of first-degree murder while armed; conspiracy to commit a crime of violence; participation in a criminal street gang; obstruction of justice; multiple counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and other related firearms offenses. Both men are members of the “Wellington Park Crew.” 

Additionally, the jury found Quanisha Ramsuer, 31, guilty of obstruction of justice in connection with the investigation into the murder of Makiyah Wilson.

Sentencing hearings are scheduled for Dec. 13, 2024.

On July 16, 2018, Price, Murchison, and three other individuals who have already been convicted, drove to the Clay Terrace neighborhood armed with guns. 

Price, the driver, stopped briefly to allow the other defendants to exit the vehicle. Then, they decided to open fire on the Clay Terrace courtyard, firing more than 50 shots, indiscriminately. 

Makiyah Wilson, who was sitting on the front stoop of her home, was killed. 

Several other people were wounded. Still, witnesses were unwilling to identify the shooters. 

The government presented forensic evidence, statements the defendants made over social media and motive evidence in presenting its case. Ramseur lived in or hung out in the Wellington Park neighborhood most of her life and knew most of the defendants, one of whom she identified as her cousin. She was observed on video surveillance interacting with the defendants as they loaded into the vehicles to drive to Clay Terrace to commit the shooting. She was also observed on video closely engaging with one of the defendants who orchestrated the attack, but who remained behind. 

Ramseur steadfastly refused to identify the individuals with whom she was interacting in the video, resulting in the charge of obstruction of justice. 

The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach and Natalie Hynum.

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By AFRO Staff

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson spoke in Baltimore about her new book, “Lovely One,” inside of the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Branch on Sept. 21. 

Those able to secure one of the hottest tickets in town on Saturday night were able to hear the first Black woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court speak about not only her new book, but her own personal origin story and the people who put her on the path to success in the law field. 

“My father went back to law school when I was three years old. We lived on the campus of the University of Miami Law School,” said Justice Jackson. “My earliest memories are of my dad’s education table with his law books.”

The title of her book, “Lovely One,” is a nod to the name given to her at birth by an aunt who worked in West Africa, “Ketanji Onyika,” which means “lovely one” in English. 

Jackson noted that while the book is about her life, history and the impact of crucial moments in America are also woven through the pages.

“I start the book with my grandparents and then my parents. I’m trying to emphasize the great good fortune of my birth –the timing of my birth,” said Jackson. “I am a member of the first generation post-Civil Rights Era. And the significance of that I just don’t want anyone to miss. I was born in 1970, which was within five or six years of the Civil Rights Act, the Voting rights Act, and the end of civil pro-segregation.” 

Jackson said that while her parents were born during a time of segregation, her birth came during a “new opening of society to African Americans,” and filled them with hope. 

“They were like, ‘here’s our shot,’” said Jackson, of her parent’s determination to have their daughter take advantage of every opportunity they themselves were denied. 

“If there were swimming lessons, I was in the swimming lessons. If there were music lessons, I was doing the music lessons,” said Jackson. “When I was five-years-old, 6-years-old, my mother had me memorizing poems…I wrote the book as sort of a tribute to the people and circumstances that I felt were most responsible for my being in a position to take advantage of this.” 

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Onyika Brown born to two public school teachers, Johnny and Ellery Brown, in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 14, 1970. After the pair moved to Miami, Jackson’s father eventually became a Miami-Dade school board attorney, while her mother worked her way to become a school principal.

It was in Miami that Jackson’s start began to shine. She was elected class president while attending Miami Palmetto Senior High School and by 1988 she was studying at Harvard University. There, she crossed paths with another Harvard student, Patrick Jackson. After graduating from Harvard in 1992, the future judge went on to Harvard Law School and both graduated and married in 1996. 

After completing clerkships for three different judges, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Jackson worked with private law firms and in government for a number of years. In 2012, after working with the U.S. Sentencing Commission and serving as a prosecutor, Jackson was selected by then President Barack Obamato serve on the federal District Court of Washington, D.C.  His nomination didn’t receive a vote, so he nominated Jackson again the next year. In 2013 she was successfully confirmed. Years later, in April 2021, President Joe Biden asked that Jackson be appointed to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In a 53 to 44 vote, she was confirmed into the role on June 14, 2021, paving the way for her name to be put forth when an opening came up on the Supreme Court the very next year.

The mother of two spoke on the changes she experienced as she ascended through the ranks and took on different types of judgeships.

“I was a trial judge for the longest period of time in my career. I was seven and a half– eight years– in a courtroom where I controlled everything. I was one judge,” she told the packed room of attendees. “Appellate decision making is very challenging when you have to actually work with other judges, like voting on the outcomes.”

During the Charm City leg of her book tour, Justice Jackson spoke about the moment her journey from law student to clerk to judge and finally, a member of the U.S. Supreme Court was fully realized.

“I think the moment that hit me– the first moment–was the day I was confirmed. I actually went to the White House for the vote call, and it was really overwhelming to watch the votes come in,” said Jackson, of that historic April day in 2022.

Jackson said that her book highlights core values taught to her and passed down to her daughter.

“On the day of my divestiture as a district court judge, my first judicial appointment, I gave a speech in my daughter’s middle school: ‘Work hard, be kind, have faith, and believe that anything is possible,’” Jackson told the audience. “I think those values – you’ll see from my story of the book– are things that I try to live by.”

This article has been adjusted to reflect the correct title of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s book, “Lovely One.”

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation into Rankin County, Mississippi, and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD). The probe will determine whether the RCSD engages in unconstitutional practices, including excessive force, unlawful stops and racially discriminatory policing. Rankin County, which has a population of about 160,000, is located 30 minutes east of Jackson, the state capital.

The investigation follows the highly publicized case involving the so-called “Goon Squad,” a group of five former Rankin County deputies convicted for the brutal assault of two Black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, in January 2023. Those deputies were sentenced to federal prison, but the Justice Department is now examining whether the issues within the department are more widespread.

“We are launching this investigation to examine serious allegations that the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department systematically violates people’s constitutional rights through excessive use of force, unlawful stops and arrests, and discriminatory policing,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

The investigation will scrutinize the RCSD’s use of force, including deadly force, and evaluate whether officers have engaged in unlawful searches, stops, and arrests in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The Justice Department will also assess claims of discriminatory policing practices that could violate the 14th Amendment, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Safe Streets Act.

Rankin County officials have pledged their cooperation with the investigation. The DOJ said it would review the sheriff department’s policies, training, and oversight systems. Investigators will gather information by meeting with community members, law enforcement officers and department leadership.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division referenced the Goon Squad case in remarks about the investigation, stating, “Although the Goon Squad deputies are now serving time, we have received numerous reports that their actions were part of a broader pattern of misconduct that persists within the sheriff’s department.”

Officials said the investigation is being conducted under the authority of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which allows the Justice Department to address law enforcement misconduct through civil litigation. This marks the 12th such investigation into law enforcement practices opened by the Justice Department during the Biden administration. Recent investigations into departments in Phoenix and Louisville have led to significant reforms.

“The pursuit of justice is not just about punishing individual officers; it’s about ensuring that the culture of policing reflects the values of our Constitution,” Garland said. “No community should live in fear of those sworn to protect them.”

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

Overcast skies and unseasonably cool temperatures were not enough to keep several hundred people from the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area (DMV) from attending the 15^th Annual D.C. State Fair on Saturday, Sept. 7. 

Held this year at Franklin Park in Northwest, Washington, D.C., the event featured musical performances from local entertainers and contests – from pie eating to pie making– along with activities such as hand dance demonstrations from the National Hand Dance Association. 

The free event, inspired by decades-old state fair traditions, showcased more than 15 food vendors and more than 75 artists, makers, local small businesses, nonprofit organizations and sponsors. But the real goal of the event, according to leading sponsors, was to celebrate the people and things that make the District of Columbia unique. 

Brian Americus, 40, a self-described military brat who now lives in Southeast, Washington, D.C. was on site to sell his V-neck shirts as a fair vendor. 

“I came up with these shirts because I wanted to give men something that was both stylish and casual – a shirt they could wear to work and then to happy hour or a dinner date,” he said. “I’ve been doing well with my website (BrianAmericus.com) and with pop-ups but the best way to convince men, and now women, to buy my shirts is for them to see them in person and feel the product. Once that happens, at least 85 percent of folks are sold.” 

Native Washingtonian Dancer Sze, 28, first attended the state fair in 2021 when she took second place in a contest for creating the best pickle. This year, she set her sights on the Best Jam contest – and she took the blue ribbon for first place. 

“During the pandemic, because we were forced to stay indoors, I started spending more time in the kitchen and began to create some new items in my repertoire– including pickling and making jams,” Sze said. “I can’t express how excited and happy I am to have won first place for my blueberry balsamic jam. One day I want to have my own business and this has given me the encouragement I needed. What’s even better is having my two best friends here to help me enjoy my victory.” 

Sze’s friends, Helen Abraha, 28, and Sophie Miyoshi, 26, both from Northeast, Washington, D.C., said this year was their first time attending the state fair, but certainly not their last. 

“I grew up in Ohio, so I am used to attending state fairs,” Abraha said. “And after seeing Dancer win a ribbon, I will be back next year with some of my fabulous cakes.” 

Miyoshi hopes to return with some of her own recipes in the future. 

“I’m coming back next year to support the fair and I’m going to enter my vegan macaroni and cheese in one of the contests. It’s the bomb!” she said. 

While she enjoyed the event, Miyoshi spoke to some of the issues lurking in the background of the fun filled weekend event.

“D.C. isn’t a state but it should be,” she said.

In support of D.C. statehood and voters rights, Anne Stauffer from Northwest, representing the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia, collaborated with members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Their goal was to encourage voter engagement and to advocate for D.C. statehood. 

“D.C. statehood is crucial because we deserve the same rights as other Americans – one person, one vote,” Stauffer said. 

Lucille Brewer, from Northwest, Washington, D.C. was joined in her efforts to educate the public on voter registration and calls for D.C. statehood by her sorors, Novella Bridges and Nyisha Williams, both from the Southeast area of the District. It was their first time volunteering at the state fair.  

“We are here to promote and encourage social action,” said Brewer. “That’s what we do.”

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the owner and operator of the Dali, the massive container ship that struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26. The civil action came on Sept. 18 against Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group, both based in Singapore. 

The DOJ is seeking more than $100 million for the disaster, which resulted in the death of six construction workers and significant disruption to economic activity. 

“This tragedy was entirely avoidable. The electrical and mechanical systems were improperly maintained and configured in a way that violated safety regulations and norms for international shipping,” stated the DOJ in the suit. “These problems precipitated a power loss and then a cascading series of failures that culminated in the allision.” 

A June National Transportation Safety Board report revealed that the Dali experienced multiple blackouts before striking the Key Bridge. The board later determined the outages were likely caused by a loose electrical cable. 

The DOJ said the Dali’s “unseaworthy” condition prevented it from avoiding or moderating the collision. The bridge collapse caused the Port of Baltimore, the United States’ leading port for automobiles, to temporarily close. The port did not return to full operation until June 10. 

After the catastrophe, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group moved to limit their liability to $44 million for the incident. The DOJ asked the court to deny this request and demand that the defendants pay punitive damages.

“Other vessel owners and operators must be deterred from engaging in such reckless and exceedingly harmful behavior in the United States’ navigable water,” stated the DOJ in the suit, adding the owners and operators of the Dali “need to be deterred because they continue to operate their vessels, including a sister ship to the Dali, in U.S. waters and benefit economically from those activities.” 

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By Dr. Stephen Jackson

Washington, D.C. – On Sept. 19, 2024, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in the landmark case of Jenkins v. The Howard University et al. This case addresses serious allegations against The Howard University and its governance practices, with potential implications for institutional governance and stakeholder rights.

In June 2020, The Howard University’s Board of Trustees governance committee, without a board vote, froze stakeholder elections, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason. This decision halted the election of alumni, faculty, and students to the board, despite the university’s by-laws requiring representation from three alumni, two students, and two faculty members. With the board’s actions leading to the removal of elected alumni, faculty, and students by attrition, plaintiffs argue that these actions were illegal, breached the university’s by-laws and nullified historical alumni and student advocacy to achieve a stakeholder role in university governance.

Following a student protest in 2018, sixty years after the seminal 1968 student protest, hundreds of alumni and dozens of student leaders expressed written objections to the board’s decisions. A group of ten alumni, led by octogenarian  Attorney Timothy Jenkins, a 1960 graduate, former student leader and board trustee, and Damani Keene, a former University administrator, filed a lawsuit initially in the DC Superior Court.  After removal to the federal court, the case was dismissed.  Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.

The plaintiffs, represented by their attorney Donald Temple, an HU alum, argue that the board’s actions were a clear breach of its by-laws and patently illegal. They further contend that despite Howard University’s federal charter, the federal court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

This case is poised to set significant precedents regarding university governance and stakeholder representation, making Thursday’s proceedings of considerable importance.

A press conference with HU Alumni plaintiffs and their attorney will directly follow the hearing, scheduled for  9:30 a.m.

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By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO

The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, with the support of the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation, hosted one of the largest state gatherings during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 53rd Annual Legislative Conference from Sept. 11 through Sept. 15 in Washington, D.C.

The weekend’s Friday night is reserved for states throughout the country to host their congressional, state and local constituents, civic and business leaders and guests.  

Maryland has the largest Black state legislative body in the country with 66 members.

The event titled, “Maryland Black Excellence,” showcased Gov. Wes Moore who reminded the audience: “We have to elect Angela Alsobrooks to the United States Senate to maintain control of the country’s future agenda.” 

Alsobrooks, county executive for Prince George’s County, is the Democratic nominee for the Maryland Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin. Alsobrooks appeared on the stage with a number of Maryland elected officials, including Moore, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, who represents Maryland’s 7th congressional district, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. The diverse group also included U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th district), Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller and Democratic candidate for Congress state Sen. Sara Elfreth (D-Dist. 30), who is running to replace Congressman John Sarbanes, who did not seek re-election. Congressman Glen Ivey (4th District) was also in attendance but had to leave for another event.  

The waiting list to attend the Maryland celebration exceeded 3,000 with over a thousand people in the room of the Salamander Hotel, which is owned by a Black entrepreneur Sheila Johnson and Henderson Park.

“The excitement and interest in the event with attendees from across Maryland reflects the energy and progress we are making in the state under the leadership of Governor Wes Moore and Speaker Adrienne Jones,” said Chairwoman of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus Jheanelle Wilkins, who has represented District 20 in the House of Delegates since 2017.

“With the only Black governor in the country, and the first Black and female speaker of the House, Maryland stands as a model for Black political leadership with deep impact, “ continued Del. Wilkins.

“This was a night of celebration,” said the Rev. Dr. Zina Pierre, president of the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation. “We put in a lot of work to showcase our Black leadership at the federal level and to showcase the excellence of Maryland and its delegation. In Maryland we all work together. That is why you saw the chair of the (national) Democratic Party, Ken Ulman, along with congressional leader Steny Hoyer in attendance. Maryland is a state that is truly moving forward.”

Pierre said 34 members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus will head to the White House and Capitol Hill on Sept. 18 to lobby on behalf of the state of Maryland.

“We were so proud to come together during the nation’s foremost Black political week,” said Wilkins.

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By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com

The Howard Bison remain undefeated in the HBCU NY Classic as they overpowered the Morehouse Tigers, 35-21. The neutral site game was held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sept. 14. 

The reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions controlled all three facets of the game, proving to be especially dominant on special teams and in the run game. 

New Jersey native and freshman running back Anthony Reagan Jr. ran the opening kickoff back close to midfield and the Bison took advantage of the field position. Wide receiver Se’Quan Osbourne and freshman tight end Ke’Untae Mosley each scored the first touchdowns of their collegiate careers, and the Bison went into halftime with a 21-7 lead. 

“The Classic is a great experience for the fans and also us as athletes to come together and celebrate Black culture and also be on a big platform where we have more exposure to showcase our talent,” said starting senior cornerback Xavier Robiou, who has played in the HBCU NY Classic all three years.

Coming out of halftime, the Bison would score another touchdown, giving the D.C. team a 28-7 lead. The Bison’s lead ballooned up to 28 points before the Tigers responded by scoring two touchdown passes late in the fourth quarter. 

Redshirt senior quarterback Jaylen Tolbert started his first game of the season for the Bison and finished with four touchdown passes and one interception. Sophomore quarterback Ja’Shawn Scruggins started the first two games of the season against Rutgers University and Mercyhurst, finishing those first two games with 280 passing yards, 189 rushing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He led the Bison to a 1-1 record. 

“The HBCU Classic was a great experience the first time I went and it was even better this year. The tailgate is always a great time–good food, music, and the overall vibe just from being around current students and alumni. I think it is a great tradition for these two HBCUs to play and clearly the competition gets better and better every year,” said Joshua Pemberton, who attended the game twice as a fan.

In addition to a thrilling game, attendees were treated to a scintillating Battle of the Bands during half time, which was presented by Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. 

And following the game, Jamaican dancehall artist Sean Paul performed some of his chart-topping hits. 

“The ‘fifth quarter’ ended up being a surprise performance from Sean Paul and that ended the night perfectly,” said Pemberton. “All in all I think it’s a great event for everyone of all ages and I’ll be back again next year.” 

With the newest victory, the Bison improve to 2-1 while the Tigers drop to 0-3. The Bison will travel back to the nation’s capital to face their rival Hampton Pirates in the Truth and Service Classic on Sept. 21 at Audi Field. The Maroon Tigers will fly to Chicago to play the Kentucky State Thorobreds. The Morehouse Maroon Tigers are expected to join Howard in the MEAC in the near future, according to associate athletic director for operations at Howard University, Nicholas Latham.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) on Sept. 14 culminated in an influential Phoenix Awards gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C. This year’s theme, “From Vision to Victory: Amplifying Black Voices,” was not just a celebration of Black culture and heritage but also a call to action to defend and expand fundamental freedoms in an increasingly challenging political climate.

The Phoenix Awards, always the pinnacle of the conference, honored individuals who have made significant contributions to the progress of Black Americans.

President Joe Biden received the Congressional Black Caucus Lifetime Achievement Award. He praised the CBC for its integral role in bolstering his administration’s efforts. 

“With the CBC, we went big, and we went bold, and we are better off today than we were four years ago,” Biden said. 

He also stressed the importance of continued vigilance to ensure a future where freedom, justice and equality prevail. “We must show up; we must look to the future. I’m looking to you to help lead the way,” he told the audience.

And Democrats are looking to another CBC alum to lead the way. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, also addressed the gathering, calling on the CBC to leverage its history as “the conscience of the Congress” to shape the nation’s future. 

“The CBC has always had a vision for the future of our nation; a future where we can see what is possible unburdened by what has been;” Harris said, “a future where we fulfill the promise of America; a promise of freedom opportunity and justice, not just for some but for all.”

Another Black leader in whom Democrats see a bright future is Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who was awarded the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference Honorary Co-Chairs’ Award. 

“I am standing before you as probably the most improbable governor in America… It’s an exciting time for our country, and I’m so grateful to be your partner in the work,” Moore said.

Other honorees included the late Sheila Jackson-Lee, former U.S. representative for Texas’s 18th congressional district; the 14th Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden; and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison. 

An “in memoriam” tribute was displayed on the large screen above the stage and featured influential African Americans who died this year, like singer Frankie Beverly, actor James Earl Jones, hip-hop artists Fatman Scoop and Rich Homie Quan, actress Erica Ash, Rev. James Lawson and baseball superstar Willie Mays.

Throughout the week, the ALC tackled pressing issues impacting the Black community. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., led a session on Supreme Court reform, highlighting the challenges posed by the Court’s “6-3 MAGA supermajority” and its recent rollbacks on voting rights, reproductive rights and affirmative action. Johnson advocated for court reforms, including adopting a code of conduct, term limits and court expansion, arguing these changes are necessary to protect democracy and restore balance to the judicial system.

Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., moderated a panel on Black maternal health, focusing on the critical need for research and programs such as the NIH IMPROVE Initiative. The discussion underscored the alarming disparities in health care for Black women and the importance of ongoing efforts to address this crisis.

A significant highlight was the 16th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) Public Policy Forum Series, in partnership with the CBCF. The forum spotlighted Black women’s leadership, power and influence in shaping a new movement and political era, particularly as the nation heads into the 2024 presidential election cycle. Contributors to the 11th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable Report shared insights on Black women’s roles in various movements, from civil rights to social justice.

Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, led the “Mothers of the Movement” workshop at the conference. The session brought together African-American mothers who have lost loved ones to police violence. These mothers shared their stories and discussed their efforts in advocating for criminal justice reform and stricter gun laws to prevent future tragedies.

Congressman Glenn Ivey’s session on the challenges facing Black-owned businesses amidst conservative attacks on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs emphasized the need for legislative advocacy. The push for the Black Wealth Agenda Resolution, H.R. 1101, seeks to enshrine DEI commitments into law.

CBCF President and CEO Nicole Austin-Hillery emphasized the critical moment in history that the conference represents. “We are at a defining moment in history. Just weeks ago, we saw the first African American woman nominated to run for president by a major party,” she said. 

Austin-Hillery said the ALC’s mission remains to empower the global Black community by creating real opportunities and ensuring true equity. Reflecting on the conference’s essence, she added, “Each and every voice adds to our collective strength; every collective action emphasizes our unity and our determination. And all of those things are necessary to move us from vision to victory.” 

The sentiment was echoed throughout the conference, driving home the imperative to protect progress and work toward a future where equality and justice are not just ideals but realities. Vice President Harris summarized it this way during her remarks at the Phoenix Awards:

“Each of us has a job to do, and the bottom line is we know what we stand for and that’s why we know what we fight for. And when the CBC fights, we win.”

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – On Sept. 13, the White House South Lawn transformed into a historic celebration of Black excellence, bringing together actors, authors, television personalities, journalists, writers, activists, and artists. The event marked the first time such a celebration exclusively dedicated to honoring the achievements of Black Americans took place on the White House grounds, outside the context of Black History Month, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or Juneteenth.

“The Black community has always had my back, and I have always had theirs,” President Joe Biden said during the program, which also featured buffet tables laden with the delicacies of acclaimed Nigerian-American chef Kwame Onwuachi. 

Biden asserted that his and Vice President Kamala’s administration counts as the most diverse in the country’s history, with significant milestones such as the appointments of the first Black female Supreme Court justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson; the first Black vice president; and the first Black female queer White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre.

“I made a commitment: My administration would look like America, and it does,” he said. 

Speaking before Biden, Jean-Pierre praised the administration’s support of Black Americans. 

“There are hundreds of Black leaders on the South Lawn of the White House who exemplify Black excellence,” she noted, adding that under the Biden-Harris administration, the representation of Black Americans in powerful roles has become the norm, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and equity.

Biden highlighted the administration’s efforts to improve health care access for Black Americans, noting the significant strides made in increasing enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage. According to a White House fact sheet, the administration has “lowered premium costs by an average of $800 for millions of Americans, increasing Black enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage by 95%, or over 1.7 million people since 2020.”

The president also reflected on past events held on the White House grounds, saying, “On this very lawn, in front of the White House built by enslaved people, we hosted the first-ever Juneteenth concert after I made Juneteenth a federal holiday, and on this lawn, we celebrated the first Black woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, the best decision I made: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,” he proclaimed.

Addressing ongoing issues of racism, Biden condemned the treatment of Haitian migrants in the U.S., calling it “simply wrong” and emphasizing that the Haitian community is “under attack in our country right now.” He directly confronted recent conspiracy theories and false claims being spread about migrants in Springfield, Ohio. 

The claims were amplified during the presidential debate hosted by ABC News, during which former President Donald Trump falsely stated: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” adding that “they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

Biden, appearing to allude to these statements, firmly said, “There’s no place in America This has to stop, what he’s doing. It has to stop.”

Guests at the event included inspirational speaker Iyanla Vanzant, actor Anthony Anderson, rapper David Banner and actresses Marsai Martin, Kyla Pratt and Erika Alexander. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) were also present, engaging with the Black Press of America during the event.

Warnock praised the administration’s dedication to uplifting the Black community, contrasting it with other political agendas. 

“I certainly like what this administration and its agenda represents for 2025 versus Project 2025,” Warnock said. “The Biden-Harris administration has, from Day 1, focused on uplifting and including the Black community. We don’t have to worry about whether to invite President Biden to the barbecue; he opened the White House and brought us all to the barbecue.”

Vanzant, known for her “Fix My Life” program, offered a poignant response when asked how she would fix former President Donald Trump’s life. With characteristic directness, she quipped, “Try Jesus.”

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi made his return to Wasington, D.C. with the debut of Dōgon, an upscale Afro-Caribbean restaurant, on Sep. 9. The new concept is nestled in the Salamander Hotel along the Southwest waterfront.

Through his culinary journey, Onwuachi has taken inspiration from his Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian and Creole heritage to craft his cuisine and share history through food. 

“People ask me why I open up these restaurants, and I don’t think they understand we’re able to celebrate our culture while celebrating a special experience for some of the first times,” said Onwuachi during a Sep. 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Our food is shunned to mom and pop shops, not given the opportunity and investment or not written about. For us to have a place like this is a beacon of light for other chefs to be able to open up places like this.” 

Although native to New York, Onwuachi spent his summers in the District during his youth. His grandfather taught African-American studies and anthropology at Howard University. 

He opened his first restaurant, Shaw Bijou, in 2016, but the high-end spot closed after just two and a half months. A year later, Onwuachi returned with Kith/Kin at the InterContinental Hotel on the Southwest waterfront. There, he won a James Beard Award for rising star chef of the year in 2019. 

With Dōgon, he hopes to tell the story of Washington, D.C. through an Afro-Carribean lens and to tell the story of his ancestors. 

“Our food matters,” said Onwuachi. “We don’t need to refine it. It’s beautiful as it is.” 

Dōgon’s home, the Salamander Washington, D.C., is a part of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, a luxury hospitality management company founded by Sheila C. Johnson. She is the first Black woman billionaire and the cofounder of BET. 

Johnson purchased the former Mandarin Oriental property in 2022 and began renovating the hotel. She said she met Onwuachi in the Bahamas while attending a bridal event. 

After visiting Kith/Kin, she was amazed by his food. 

“We went there for my birthday, but then I brought my executive team because what I tasted that night was like no other,” said Jackson at the ribbon-cutting. “I knew from that point on he was going to be my go-to chef.”

Together, the pair created The Family Reunion, an immersive, multi-day event in Middleburg, Va. that celebrates diversity in the hospitality industry.

She then called on Onwuachi to open a restaurant at the newly rebranded Salamander Washington, D.C. hotel. 

“I have never been so excited about a talent like this in my life,” said Johnson. “I am willing to invest in him and keep watching his journey as he continues to grow because he is truly amazing.” 

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser believes the new concept will contribute to the rebound of tourism in the District, which declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“They have a saying when we are shopping our destination around the world, and it’s that you always have to be doing something new,” said Bowser. “You have to have new destinations, new restaurants, new activations and new chefs because people who want to come to Washington want to experience every part of D.C.” 

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By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO

Over 200 people gathered on Sept. 7 at Shiloh Baptist Church, in Washington, D.C. for the 2024 AFRO High Tea.  Watch the 360 video here.

The event attracted women in their fanciest outfits and gorgeous hats and fascinators. There were also some well-dressed men in attendance.   All present paid tribute and honor to four women who have distinguished themselves in political and community service. 

The honorees included Prince George’s County Executive and Maryland U.S. Senate Candidate Angela Alsobrooks; Cora Masters Barry, the civic leader, professor and widow of the man known as “D.C.’s mayor for life,” Marion Barry; Former mayor of D.C. and attorney, Sharon Pratt, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. 

Diane Hocker, AFRO director of community and public relations, coordinated the event, which opened with an introduction of the Mistress of Ceremonies (MC) for the occasion, Dr. Renee Allen, founder of Global Conscious Initiative, and LaTara Harris, CEO and president Crittenton Services of Greater Washington. The two MCs’ added balance to the program as they alternated duties of the program, while presenting entertainment and guests.

After being introduced, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper,  AFRO CEO and publisher thanked the honorees and hundreds present. Robert Brown, served as entertainment for the afternoon, performing two songs for the audience. AFRO Executive Director and Advertising manager Lenora Howze gave the invocation before guests were served chicken, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and salad. 

The award presentation portion of the program began with the introduction of County Executive Angela Alsbrooks, who cited the roles of each of the honorees as mentors, friends and employers in her life. 

“It was 32-years ago that I was hired by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. At the New York Democratic National Convention in 1992, I was on the floor checking credentials and 32 years later I am on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a speaker. I thank the AFRO American Newspapers for continuing to tell our story.  I believe in you,” she told the audience. “When they see me. They will see you.  The best is yet to come.”  

After receiving her award, Cora Masters Barry said to Alsobrooks, “you’re going to be President one day.” The crowd erupted into applause. “We’re running this,” referring to Kamala Harris’ campaign to become president of the United States. 

“Don’t close that door,” she said, referring to the current class of strong, Black women leaders and the opportunities they can open for those to come. “Make sure one of us is walking through.”

Honoree Sharon Pratt, former mayor of D.C., gave a moving speech to the audience. 

“When I was captain of my line, Kamala Harris was being born,” said Pratt, speaking on Harris, her fellow Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority member, now a candidate for the president of the United States.

“We’ve always been marginalized. When they said ‘Black’ they meant ‘Black men’…when they said ‘women’ they meant ‘White women,” said Pratt, before thanking the AFRO for the recognition. “If we don’t tell our story and tell it right, who is going to tell it?”  

When Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton approached the podium the crowd rose to their feet with applause. Norton has represented the citizens of Washington, D.C. since 1991. The tenured Georgetown University professor also thanked the AFRO American Newspapers for the honor of being recognized alongside such distinguished women, who are pushing for change at the highest levels of government.

“Isn’t it just perfect that one of ours will be the first woman president of these United States?” asked Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. 

Each honoree received their own framed copy of the AFRO American Newspaper, featuring their story in a front-cover layout.

Aside from the awards, a highlight of the afternoon was the fashion parade, where attendees showed off their fascinators and hats. The nearly five-minute parade through the hall featured the women dancing, swinging their napkins and tipping their hats.As the festivities came to a close, Draper reminded those present to vote, guests gathered for photos, conversation and visits to the vendor section of the event, marking yet another successful AFRO High Tea in D.C.

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

Overcast skies and unseasonably cool temperatures were not enough to keep several hundred people from the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area (DMV) from attending the 15^th Annual D.C. State Fair on Saturday, Sept. 7. 

Held this year at Franklin Park in Northwest, Washington, D.C., the event featured musical performances from local entertainers and contests – from pie eating to pie making– along with activities such as hand dance demonstrations from the National Hand Dance Association. 

The free event, inspired by decades-old state fair traditions, showcased more than 15 food vendors and more than 75 artists, makers, local small businesses, nonprofit organizations and sponsors. But the real goal of the event, according to leading sponsors, was to celebrate the people and things that make the District of Columbia unique. 

Brian Americus, 40, a self-described military brat who now lives in Southeast, Washington, D.C. was on site to sell his V-neck shirts as a fair vendor. 

“I came up with these shirts because I wanted to give men something that was both stylish and casual – a shirt they could wear to work and then to happy hour or a dinner date,” he said. “I’ve been doing well with my website (BrianAmericus.com) and with pop-ups but the best way to convince men, and now women, to buy my shirts is for them to see them in person and feel the product. Once that happens, at least 85 percent of folks are sold.” 

Native Washingtonian Dancer Sze, 28, first attended the state fair in 2021 when she took second place in a contest for creating the best pickle. This year, she set her sights on the Best Jam contest – and she took the blue ribbon for first place. 

“During the pandemic, because we were forced to stay indoors, I started spending more time in the kitchen and began to create some new items in my repertoire– including pickling and making jams,” Sze said. “I can’t express how excited and happy I am to have won first place for my blueberry balsamic jam. One day I want to have my own business and this has given me the encouragement I needed. What’s even better is having my two best friends here to help me enjoy my victory.” 

Sze’s friends, Helen Abraha, 28, and Sophie Miyoshi, 26, both from Northeast, Washington, D.C., said this year was their first time attending the state fair, but certainly not their last. 

“I grew up in Ohio, so I am used to attending state fairs,” Abraha said. “And after seeing Dancer win a ribbon, I will be back next year with some of my fabulous cakes.” 

Miyoshi hopes to return with some of her own recipes in the future. 

“I’m coming back next year to support the fair and I’m going to enter my vegan macaroni and cheese in one of the contests. It’s the bomb!” she said. 

While she enjoyed the event, Miyoshi spoke to some of the issues lurking in the background of the fun filled weekend event.

“D.C. isn’t a state but it should be,” she said.

In support of D.C. statehood and voters rights, Anne Stauffer from Northwest, representing the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia, collaborated with members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Their goal was to encourage voter engagement and to advocate for D.C. statehood. 

“D.C. statehood is crucial because we deserve the same rights as other Americans – one person, one vote,” Stauffer said. 

Lucille Brewer, from Northwest, Washington, D.C. was joined in her efforts to educate the public on voter registration and calls for D.C. statehood by her sorors, Novella Bridges and Nyisha Williams, both from the Southeast area of the District. It was their first time volunteering at the state fair.  

“We are here to promote and encourage social action,” said Brewer. “That’s what we do.”

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By The Associated Press

A former police officer in the nation’s capital was sentenced Aug. 29 to five years in prison for fatally shooting a 27-year-old man who had been sleeping in the driver’s seat of a car stopped at a traffic light.

Former Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Enis Jevric, 42, pleaded guilty in February to involuntary manslaughter and using unconstitutional, excessive force in the August 2021 shooting death of 27-year-old An’Twan Gilmore.

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss also sentenced Jevric to five years of supervised release after his prison term, according to Justice Department prosecutors.

More than a dozen officers were on the scene when Jevric arrived at the intersection in Washington, D.C., where Gilmore was sleeping in the stopped car with a handgun in his waistband.

Jevric had a ballistics shield when he approached the driver’s side door. He told another officer to knock on the car’s windows, which jolted Gilmore awoke with a confused look on his face.

Video from police body cameras shows both of Gilmore’s hands on the steering wheel. When the car inched forward, Jevric fired four times into the car and then fired six more shots as it rolled down the closed-off street, prosecutors said. No other officer fired a shot.

The gun was still tucked into Gilmore’s waistband, underneath his buckled seat belt, when police entered the car. 

Prosecutors recommended a seven-year prison sentence for Jevric. They said no other officer on the scene saw a basis to shoot Gilmore.

“Several described being ‘shocked’ that shots were fired,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

Jevric had been a police officer in Washington since 2007. His attorney, Christopher Macchiaroli, had requested a sentence of home confinement without prison time.

“Sgt. Jevric has spent the better part of his life helping people, not hurting people, protecting life, not taking life,” the defense lawyer wrote.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

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By BlackPR Wire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, the second annual HBCU First LOOK Film Festival (HBCUFLF), announced its 2024 festival dates, November 8 – 10th  and  the premiere of the 2024 HBCU First LOOK “I Aspire” 100. (2024 HBCU First LOOK 100)

The HBCU First LOOK “I Aspire” 100 is a curated collective of notable HBCU alumni who are inspiring the next generation of content creators across film, television, and digital platforms. This year’s list includes MSNBC President Rashida Jones (Hampton University); former NFL player and sports commentator Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State University); actress and singer Fantasia Barrino Taylor (Central State); actors Lynn Whitfield (Howard University),  Anthony Anderson (Howard University) and Keisha Knight Pulliam (Spelman College); film, network and studio executives, directors, and producers Will Packer (Florida A&M University), Spike Lee(Morehouse College), Aisha Summers Burke (Howard University), Robert Boyd (Morehouse), and Risha Archibald (Lincoln University); award-winning hairstylist and makeup artist Mia Neal (Jackson State University); stage and media influencer K. J. Rose (Florida A&M University); and many more. The 100 list honorees are invited to “pay it forward” by posting their “I Aspire” message highlighting a movie and/or person who inspired their career and use the hashtag #IAspire2024.

The HBCU First LOOK “I Aspire” 100 list was inspired by the inaugural 2023 HBCU First LOOK Film Festival and Initiative which highlighted the rich culture and diverse talent within the HBCU community.

Following in the footsteps of its inaugural year, which featured a star-studded presentation of the Obamas’ Netflix film, Rustin, the 2nd Annual HBCU First LOOK Film Festival (HBCUFLF) will take place on November 8-10, 2024, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. This year’s HBCU First LOOK Film Festival’s theme: “A Celebration of Black Cinema X Activism will highlight some of Hollywood’s most influential classic films and HBCU alums in arts and entertainment who have built bridges for the next generation.

HBCU First LOOK App will be the one stop source for festival activations that include the announcement of three grand prize winners of the HBCU First LOOK Film Challenge; panel discussions and masterclasses with entertainment industry leaders and filmmakers, film screenings; with interactive Career & Vendor Lounge.

Sponsors and media partners include AARP, Café Mocha Network, HBCUGO.TV, Howard University Department of Television + Film, Howard University Television (WHUT), Howard University Radio Network, and HBCU SiriusXM Channel 142.

For more information, visit HBCUFirstLook.com.

About HBCU First LOOK Film Festival

The HBCU First LOOK Film Festival is inspiring a new generation of minority talent in the film, television, and broadcasting industry by teaching HBCU students practical skills to improve their craft, creating places to showcase their work, and connecting executives and students to a pipeline of talent and career opportunities.

About Miles Ahead Entertainment & Broadcasting

Miles Ahead Entertainment (MAE) is a woman-and minority-owned, MDOT/WOSB certified, global multicultural agency specializing in strategic planning, social media marketing and virtual events, talent acquisition management, concierge sponsorship engagement. Subsidiary Miles Ahead Broadcasting has produced award winning broadcast television and audio productions Café Mocha Radio & TV and Salute Her Awards. MAE’s principal, Sheila Eldridge, is a Howard University, Cathy Hughes School of Communications graduate and has been recognized with NAACP Image Awards, Women In Media Gracie Awards, Telly Award and Living Legends Foundation ‘Entrepreneur’ Award, to name a few.

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

In this series the AFRO speaks to America’s incarcerated population, who face great physical hardship and emotional challenges– especially in states with little regard for inmate welfare. This series will examine the variety of reasons Black people face higher rates of incarceration and recidivism when compared to other ethnic populations. In addition, we speak with grassroots activists, returning citizens and advocates about being on the inside of the prison industrial complex and the impact of its revolving door. 

On a warm August night, several dozen citizens from the Greater Washington Area, mostly African-American men, gather at the Busboys and Poets in the Southeast D.C. community of Anacostia. The topic of discussion: the ongoing challenges facing the formerly incarcerated and the need for more programs that support their successful reentry into society.

During the two-hour session, returning citizens share stories of resilience, redemption and success, hoping to empower and motivate others as they seek to break barriers imposed by society and to realize their dreams. 

This is just one outlet for those seeking relief from their experiences in the criminal justice system. For Ahmar “Brother Khan” Mustikhan, a writer and community activist, it is crucial work.

Mustikhan served as moderator for the Aug. 3 Busboys and Poets event, titled “If You Have a Dream You Can Make It: Formerly Incarcerated Share Success Stories.” Several D.C. legends including Tyrone Parker and Roach Brown joined the conversation, speaking as both returning citizens and advocates for others who survived years and even decades behind bars. 

Khan described the event as an opportunity to connect with a community that believes in second chances and to show support for those who have managed to overcome adversity. 

No testimony without a test 

Parker, 76, a native Washingtonian who now lives in Laurel, Md., spent 38 years in prison. The conviction on two counts of robbery cost him nearly four decades in prison–most of it spent at Lorton Reformatory, a former prison complex in Lorton, Va., located about 20 miles outside of the nation’s capital.

Also known as the Lorton Correctional Complex, the facility, which closed in November 2001, once served as a prison for nonviolent offenders from D.C. before coming under the control of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections in 1946. 

Parker said he considers himself fortunate to have been sent to Lorton because it–unlike most penal institutions–promoted work programs that allowed inmates to regularly engage with the local community as volunteers. 

“The first thing that helped me turn my life around was God – no question. But the second thing was my gaining an understanding of my own value and my importance to my community,” Parker said. “Lorton was a progressive facility that promoted sending its inmates–all 300 of us–to parts of D.C. and Virginia where we learned about responsibility. 

“We were a volunteer movement that worked with the handicapped, supported youth in public schools and went wherever else we were needed. As a result of our day-to-day encounters, we not only helped to transform the greater community, but we underwent our own personal transformations,” he said.  

Parker would use many of the skills he acquired and lessons learned while incarcerated to establish The Alliance of Concerned Men (ACM), a nonprofit he began in 1991 with former high school friends. Parker previously served as the executive director. 

Now, more than 30 years later, ACM employs a “village approach” as they work to eradicate violence in local communities. The group has brokered more than 80 peace agreements and truces between rival gangs in areas identified as “hot spots” in D.C.

Brown, 80, was born and raised in D.C. but now lives in Suitland, Md. Today, he’s a successful host of “Crossroads,” a radio broadcast heard around the world. Today, he addresses problems faced by those returning citizens and those currently incarcerated.

Like Parker, Brown was sent to Lorton, after being sentenced to life in prison at the age of 20 in 1964 for being part of a trio of robbers whose actions led to the death of another man. 

“I was physically attacked multiple times in prison,” he said. “I was paralyzed for a while, I was placed in solitary confinement and even sent to St. Elizabeths for three years after both my mother and father died and I was diagnosed as temporarily insane,” he said, speaking of the public psychiatric hospital located in Washington, D.C. 

“After being returned to Lorton after my release from the [St. Elizabeths], I started writing to clear my head and wrote a Christmas story that evolved into a play,” Brown said. Soon, he found like-minded individuals, who wanted to express themselves using performance theatre.

“We called ourselves ‘Inner Voices’ and the play and our performances became so popular that we were allowed to go on tours – some locally and even a few in other parts of the country, including the Apollo Theater in New York City. We even did a show that was headlined by Richard Pryor. 

“We were allowed to go out and perform more than 500 shows and we returned to Lorton every time without any incidents. Then, in 1975, after first being turned down by former President Richard Nixon, former President Gerald Ford granted my request for a pardon and I was released from prison. I was determined to make the most of receiving a second chance,” he said. 

Recidivism rates disproportionately high for Black men

By age 25, 15.9 percent of Black males, 6.3 percent of Hispanic males and 1.7 percent of White males are expected to have served some time in state or federal prison. By age 40, 26.6 percent of Black males, 12.7 percent of Hispanic males and 3.5 percent of White males will have served time. 

The Department of Justice routinely conducts long-term studies on all things related to incarceration. In 2018 they released an updated report on recidivism rates for state prisoners in 30 different states. The report initially surveyed returning citizens from 2005 to 2009, to see how many were arrested after their release. Roughly 44 percent were re-arrested in the first year. 

The report looked at how many people were rearrested year after year for nine years. 

“Five years after release from prison, Black offenders had the highest recidivism rate (81 percent), compared to Hispanic (75 percent) and White (73 percent) offenders,” according to information released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2014, year nine of the study. 

The report found that a total of 83 percent of prisoners in the study were re-arrested within nine years of their 2005 release. By 2014, 86.9 of all Black prisoners in the study had been rearrested after their 2005 release. That number was 85 percent for the American Indian or Alaska Native Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander prison population, and 81.3 for Hispanics / Latinos.

Still today, incarceration and recidivism rates remain high across all race and ethnicity groups. The U.S. Census reports that Black people made up 12.4 percent of the population in 2020, and 12.6 percent of the population in 2010. Still, they show up disproportionately in the prison systems of America. The Federal Bureau of Prisons, for example, reports that 38.8 percent of prisoners were Black as of Aug. 24. 

Both Parker and Brown represent the minority when it comes to Black men who once spent time behind bars. 

When asked why they believe that Black men have a high recidivism rate among those formerly incarcerated, the two men differed in their responses. 

“In D.C.’s Ward 8, where most of the inmates from this area lived before being arrested and convicted– and to where [they] are returned upon their release– it’s a community of mostly disenfranchised people,” Parker said. “The prison system feeds off of them. At the same time, Blacks continue to suffer from a lack of everything: lack of jobs, poor healthcare, inadequate education and lack of affordable housing. 

“Returning citizens need a solid base – a family – to support them when they’re released. They need constructive programs to teach them how to be part of a family or in some cases, to lead their family,” said Parker. “For some young Black men, the only thing they know is based on a culture of self-destruction – they learn it as children and it’s passed on from one generation to another. Being incarcerated, and repeatedly returning to prison, is nothing more than a new form of slavery.” 

Brown agreed and lamented that until America changes its priorities, far too many Black families will continue to be ravaged by disproportionate rates of incarceration. 

“While I believe that Americans care about the injustices routinely faced by those in our nation’s prisons and jails, Black [people] in particular just have too many other things to worry about – things that take priority, like ensuring they have enough to eat, have a place to live and have a job, not to mention racism in general,” Brown said. 

“It’s rare to find a Black family that doesn’t have someone who is or has been incarcerated. At the least, they’ve gotten a call from someone they care about who has been arrested and needs help,” said Brown. “It’s wrong to consider all Black men as criminals. I think most brothers commit crimes of need, not crimes of greed.”

Brown continued, adding that “People who don’t have a job or a home – people who are broke, broken and homeless – will do whatever is necessary to survive. When I was a little boy and D.C. was very segregated, even if you had a job, you had to hustle. You needed to supplement the family’s income just to survive. So, most of us, if we had a job, stole from that job. My take home pay wouldn’t take me home.”

Over time, however, he knew he had to change.

“How did I get my life in order? I eventually got tired of getting in the ring and getting knocked down again and again. It was like fighting Mike Tyson seven days a week,” he said. “I reached the point where I was done with experiencing the overdose of pain and I wanted something else – something different, something better.”

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Four Red Line stations reopened on Sunday, Sept. 1, with MTA Purple Line construction continuing at Silver Spring. 

By Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

As crews replaced crossties along the Red Line during the summer construction, Metro riders were forced to either take shuttles or secure other means of transportation. After a summer of lengthened commute times for passengers, four stations along the Red Line, in Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring, have reopened. Silver Spring remains an active construction site for the Purple Line and scaffolding will remain on site until the conclusion of the work, which has been extended to December 2027. At that time, Purple Line operations are slated to begin.  

The MTA has reported that more than 850,000 trips were made on the shuttles during the construction work and issued a note of thanks to customers for their patience as MTA made progress on the connection between the Purple Line light rail and Metrorail.  

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By Kevin D. McNeir
Special to the AFRO

Narcan serves as a name brand version of a nasal medication used to quickly reverse an opioid overdose. And with the number of overdoses continuing to rise throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, Loudoun County Public Schools is considering allowing students aged 16 and older to carry Narcan, or Naloxone, at school. The move would count as a revision to the current policy that deals with student medication.

The revisions, prompted at the request of Superintendent Aaron Spence, were discussed Aug. 22 by the Student Services Committee and includes a section about the proper training, storage and handling of Naloxone and requires students to alert a staff member if they use it on someone. 

According to Student Health Services Supervisor Jeannie Kloman, in order to be trained to carry Naloxone, students have to be at least 16. Kloman said the training and the dose of Naloxone given at the end of training is free and doesn’t cost the division anything. Student Services Director Kirk Dolson said the training would be provided only to students who volunteered to take it.

For now, only a handful of staff members in division schools are trained to administer Naloxone, including principals and nurses but those from the Sheriff’s Office, the Leesburg Police and other divisions including Fairfax and Arlington in Virginia and Montgomery County in Maryland, have varied policies that allow it in one way or another. 

The committee will address the policy changes at its next meeting in September. The current policy came under fire last October after nine suspected student opioid-related overdoses involving fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine, occurred at Park View High School. Seven of those happened within the span of three weeks, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

Developer Alan Henderson stepped into content creating out of a passion for architecture and a desire to inspire people to transform their homes even if they’re on a budget.

 In 2019, the Howard University alumnus purchased a home in Washington D.C., and the property became the catalyst for his content creation.  

“The intent was to show people of color that they can improve their rental house or the house they own whether they have a ton of money or not,” said Henderson. “If you don’t have a lot of money, you can put sweat equity and elbow grease in, and you can transform your space into a place you love.” 

Henderson became known on Snapchat for his “do-it-yourself” (DIY) videos, allowing people to learn by example. Throughout his renovation journey, viewers have seen Henderson strip his kitchen and dining room and remodel the space. 

Now, the Mississippi native is advancing his content creation through Snapchat’s 523 program. Launched in 2021, this accelerator was created to support and showcase diverse creators who have historically been under-resourced. The aim is to help participants grow their businesses and audiences through Snapchat’s Discover feed, which displays curated content from creators, publishers and media outlets. 

“Supporting small, minority-owned businesses and creators isn’t just about boosting the economy, it’s about leveling the playing field and breaking down barriers,” said Kyle Leverett, global editorial and 523 program lead for Snapchat. “The 523 program is all about empowering entrepreneurs to follow their own path and innovate with the support they need. By providing essential tools and a strong network, we’re not just celebrating diversity—we’re making sure those diverse voices and talents have the chance to shine and drive real impact.” 

Henderson is one of 15 creators in the 2024 cohort. As part of the program, he is set to receive $120,000 throughout the year, as well as resources, education and one-on-one mentoring to enhance and monetize his content on Snapchat. 

When Henderson discovered he was chosen for the accelerator, he was in disbelief. 

“I was absolutely floored because I knew that the creator space is extremely competitive and a company, like Snapchat, would not invest in an individual who they didn’t believe in,” said Henderson. “I was shocked that they had enough faith in me to afford me the opportunity to be in the program. It was completely life-changing for me honestly.” 

The funding from Snapchat has eased the burden of material costs for Henderson’s renovations, enabling him to take on more projects. He has also been able to hire an assistant to help him with carpentry work. 

The boost in exposure on the social media platform gives him the chance to forge brand partnerships. Since joining 523, Henderson’s following is up 80 percent. He plans to use Snapchat to spotlight his client projects in real time, while expanding his portfolio of properties for future renovations. 

“I believe that Snapchat is progressive in their thinking for doing this because a lot of the creativity we experience in pop culture and the consumer world is driven by diversity,” said Henderson. “I don’t think one group or one type of person is setting the tone for what’s popular or well-received. We all love, like and engage in different ways.”

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

Montgomery County Public Schools may be surprised with a new item coming to their bathrooms soon – vape detectors. 

That’s right – the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland recently approved a plan to use $2 million to install vape detectors in all county high schools.

Over the past few years, school officials throughout the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area have continued to address and confront the challenge of students vaping. Some school districts have already installed detectors, stationed bathroom monitors and provided information for teachers so they can better anticipate when and where students may attempt to sneak away for a puff. 

But the problem has only gotten worse. 

According to CDC research from 2023, 2.1 million students currently use e-cigarettes. Of the children who vape, 25 percent reported using e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) daily; more than 22,000 were surveyed by the FDA.

Further, recent data shows that e-cigarettes are currently the most widely used tobacco product among young people in the U.S. But hold onto your hats. While the number of high school students using tobacco decreased between 2022 and 2023, the number of middle school students went up, according to the FDA.

Any form of nicotine use, including vaping, has been found to have negative health impacts, experts say. E-cigarettes can damage lungs, leading to problems that include COPD, asthma and lung cancer. The chemicals found in e-cigarettes can also cause lung disease or heart disease. Medical officials warn that young people may become more easily addicted to nicotine because their brains are still developing.

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By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com

Fight For Children, an organization focused on using sports to improve the lives of youths, sent students in the Washington D.C. area back to school in style this year. Offering free backpacks, school supplies and haircuts, the organization held their Youth Sports Day held on Aug. 24. The event highlighted the importance of youth participation in physical activity, while showcasing the teams and programs in the area that families can put their children in for educational and recreational purposes. 

Youth Sports Day was held at the Fields at Robert F. Kennedy Campus in Anacostia Park. Sponsors and partners for the event included Gatorade, Under Armour, 37 nonprofit organizations from Fight For Children Youth Development Institute and all of the D.C.-based professional sports organizations. 

“Unfortunately, youth sports have become out of reach for a lot of families. If you want to put your kid into a quality soccer program, you’ve got to have $300 in disposable income for maybe six to eight weeks of play,” said James Kallusky, president of Fight For Children. “It’s become a business and unfortunately, it left a lot of families out that just can’t afford that. What we’ve done is assembled nearly 40 nonprofit organizations that are high quality youth sports programs that puts kids first. They focus on the whole child.”

Although the event was catered towards showcasing the sport and recreational activities that Fight For Children and other organizations in the D.C. area have available for free or low costs, Kallusky also wanted to make sure that children are being given the opportunity to have access to resources that improve their performance in the classroom as well as their overall livelihood. 

“We focus on the development of the child, not just the athlete. We have tutoring programs, college readiness programs and mentorship programs,” aid Kallusky. “After school, if kids don’t have any programs or teams available to them, they can be out getting in trouble. These programs keep kids in school, out of trouble and keep kids healthy physically and mentally. We are just trying to bring awareness to these programs.”

Youth Sports Day 2024 marks the second year that the event was put on by Fight For Children. In its inaugural year, attendance was at about 500 people, according to program coordinator Marc Shapiro. This year, that number grew to almost 2,000. 

Gatorade, one of the biggest sponsors at the event, provided water, a dunk tank, a cooling station and plenty of free merchandise. Under Armour provided 500 free backpacks and food vendors such as La Raza and DC Mexicano Grill provided free food for the community from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST. 

“We are about to start a program called E.A.T.S., which stands for ‘early access to sports’. We will be utilizing our 37 youth sports organizations and connecting the community to them by either bringing the programs into D.C. public schools or bringing the first through third graders to sites where our programs or organizations operate… We really want to eliminate the transportation barrier,” said Shapiro. 

Also provided at Youth Sports Day were physicians for youth eye exams, physicals and wellness checks. Games and activities included flag football, rock climbing and soccer. Shapiro said that Fight For Children hopes to continue to make Youth Sports Day an annual event and “something that is a D.C. staple for the end of the summer” with kids going back to school.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced the re-opening of the Lane Place Pedestrian Bridge in Ward 7 on Aug. 23. The bridge had been out of use since it collapsed on June 23, 2021 when a truck crashed into it.

“We want every Washingtonian to be able to get where they need to go quickly and safely,” said the mayor’s office on Aug. 26. “This new bridge is a critical replacement which will help keep residents safe and connect neighborhoods.”

The bridge, which goes over DC-295, was rebuilt using $17 million in federal emergency funds.

The remodeling of this bridge ended the work of repairing three of four pedestrian bridges along DC-295 that were in poor condition and posed safety risks. The other two revamped bridges are the Douglas Street Bridge and the Parkside Pedestrian Bridge.

“The completion of the Lane Place Pedestrian Bridge marks a great milestone in our efforts to provide safe, accessible and sustainable transportation options for all residents,” said DDOT Acting Director Sharon Kershbaum in a statement on Aug. 23. “We want to thank the Biden-Harris administration for their continued support on these transformative projects that are having a meaningful impact in supporting communities.”

The new structure features an enhanced vertical clearance to ensure safer vehicle passage below, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps and access stairs and better lighting on the bridge and sidewalks.

The Lane Place Pedestrian Bridge also now goes over both Kenilworth Avenue service roads, ending the need for pedestrians to cross the busy access roadways.

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By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) – In a visit to PBS-TV’s The Chavis Chronicles in Washington, D.C., Gloria James and other relatives of NBA superstar LeBron James highlighted the extraordinary impact of the LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) and its ongoing mission to uplift and empower communities. The foundation’s efforts, which began in Akron, Ohio, where LeBron was raised, have become a national model for athletes, entertainers and politicians alike.

Gloria, LeBron’s mother, expressed immense pride in her son’s accomplishments both on and off the court. 

“I’m very honored to be LeBron’s mother. He has done so much for our community and for people across the world. He’s so unselfish,” Gloria said, emphasizing that LeBron’s greatness extends beyond his athletic achievements. “He’s not only the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) on the court, but off the court. He’s a humanitarian, a great father and husband, and a great advocate for his community, people of color, and the underdog.”

The LJFF, through its flagship I PROMISE program, serves over 1,400 students in the Akron area, offering comprehensive support that extends far beyond academics. The foundation’s work, as Gloria described, is about more than just raising graduation rates; it’s about redefining the concepts of family and community.

“What we learned was that you can’t just help one person in the family and expect it to be of great significance,” Gloria explained. “Even when it comes to housing or food, we address those issues as well. We know that a lot of our families can’t provide meals for themselves for a full family throughout the entire month so we have pantries.”

The holistic approach to community support has become the cornerstone of the LJFF’s mission. “Unfortunately, some kids don’t have that in their lives,” Gloria noted, referring to the love, compassion, and support she said true family offers. “They deserve that, and that way it’ll also help them as they grow into adulthood. Family, we take that very seriously.”

Curtis James, LeBron’s uncle and an assistant at the foundation, echoed Gloria’s sentiments, highlighting the foundation’s recent projects, including a documentary. 

“We just launched a documentary, and my job is to inspire people through my podcast. We want people to do the right thing. It’s not just through our music. Family keeps me in the community, and Akron will always need inspiration, so I try to be a model for people to do better and be better,” Curtis said.

The LJFF’s influence has extended to the University of Akron, where the LeBron James Family Foundation School of Education operates with selective admission criteria to nurture future educators who will continue the foundation’s legacy of community upliftment.

“What I’ve learned through our foundation is that helping your community is probably one of the most important jobs you can have,” said Gloria James, who works as a third-grade teacher’s aide at the I PROMISE school. “Especially if you’re on a platform that allows you to help, not just talk about it, but be about it. Put your money up. Our city has been so responsive positively that it makes us want to do even more.”

The family’s commitment to Akron and its residents is unwavering. As Gloria noted, they are not just making a difference but setting a precedent for others to follow. “We also have blueprints for other athletes, actors, mayors of other cities, and we’re willing to share the blueprint so others in other cities can build up their communities,” she said. “We’ve been able to change lives.”

Reflecting on LeBron’s journey to superstardom, Gloria expressed pride not just in his athletic success, but in his dedication to his community. “I’ve always been very proud of him,” she said. “He’s such a giving and caring and compassionate person. What’s most important to LeBron is the work that he does off the court. That’s the changes that he makes in the lives of the people in our community.”

Gloria also shared her emotions during one of LeBron’s most iconic moments—carrying the Olympic flag. “Every time LeBron exceeds expectations, which is often, I feel he’s given more than he’s received. But seeing him carrying the Olympic flag made me feel even more special; that was almost surreal,” she noted. “Think back years ago when Blacks and people of color had such a hard time being chosen for something so honorable, so to see that made it even more special. To see them with medals around their necks, it just confirms that he’s done all the right things and he’s deserving.”

The excitement continues for the James family, as LeBron’s son Bronny is expected to join him on the Los Angeles Lakers for the upcoming season. “That will be very special. I know LeBron is extremely excited about playing with his son,” Gloria said, beaming with pride at the prospect of the father-son duo making history together on the court.

Sean Jones, a Cleveland native and Curtis’ music partner, accompanied the family to D.C. and reflected on his journey. “When I released my first record, I was called the LeBron James of rap, but who would ever have thought I’d be sitting here today with LeBron’s mother, Gloria, and Curtis,” he remarked, acknowledging the deep connections that the James family has fostered within their community.

Despite the success, Gloria said the family maintains a close circle. “We’ve been really blessed,” Gloria said. “Our family has been respectful. No one has really felt like they want a place in the center circle that we have, so things have worked out really well.”

In reflecting on the foundation’s broad impact, Gloria James summed up their mission with heartfelt pride: “What’s most important to LeBron is the work that he does off the court, that’s the changes that he makes in the lives of the people in our community. Coming from this same community at a time when we also needed this same help, he’s only done what he promised to do.”

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By Mark Sherman
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is embarking on a high-profile, nationwide tour to promote her new memoir, “Lovely One.”

Jackson, 53, is using the book, publisher Random House says, to trace her family’s rise from segregation to her confirmation as the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court in the span of one generation.

“It is the story of the promise of America,” she said in a television interview that aired Sept. 1.

She also is the first public defender to serve as a justice and she delves into advancing in the legal profession as a woman of color and a mother balancing a demanding career and family life.

Since joining the court in June 2022, Jackson has been the most active participant in the argument sessions, according to the Empirical Scotus website. She has at times taken a liberal approach to originalism, a method of interpreting the Constitution more often used by the court’s conservatives.

In her appearances off the court, she has embraced her history-making role, telling an audience on the day of her ceremonial swearing-in that she has “a seat at the table now and I’m ready to work.”

Jackson kicks off the book tour Sept. 3 at New York’s Apollo Theater on the same day the book is published.

Just in the first week, Jackson will make stops at major entertainment venues in Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle and San Francisco.

She reported receiving an advance of nearly $900,000 last year from Random House, putting herself in the company of two colleagues, Justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor, who each received advances of a million dollars or more for their memoirs.

The up-from-poverty accounts of Thomas’ “My Grandfather’s Son” and Sotomayor’s “My Beloved World” landed atop The New York Times’ bestseller list for nonfiction. Sotomayor has earned roughly $4 million for the memoir and children’s books she has written since joining the court in 2009.

Last year, The Associated Press reported that Sotomayor’s court staff was deeply involved in organizing speaking engagements to sell the books and also prodded colleges and universities to buy them.

The court has referred questions about Jackson’s book tour to her publisher.

The Supreme Court adopted its first code of conduct last year in response to sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices.

The code lacks a means of enforcement and it sets no limit on income justices can earn from books they write. Other outside income from teaching, for example, is capped at about $30,000 a year. The justices are earning $298,500 this year for their work on the court, though Chief Justice John Roberts gets paid a little more.

“A binding code of ethics is pretty standard for judges,” Jackson told CBS’ Sunday Morning.” “And so I guess the question is, ‘Is the Supreme Court any different?’ And I guess I have not seen a persuasive reason as to why the court is different than the other courts.” 

She said she does not “have any problem with an enforceable code” and is considering supporting an enforcement mechanism “as a general matter,” but would not comment on “particular policy proposals.”

Democratic President Joe Biden has proposed an enforceable code of ethics.

Jackson began work on the book shortly after joining the court. The book’s title comes from the English translation of Ketanji Onyika, the name suggested by an aunt who at the time was a Peace Corps worker in West Africa.

“My parents really wanted to honor our heritage and asked her to send them a list of African names. And they picked that one, Lovely One, Ketanji Onyika, which is my given middle name,” she told CBS.

Jackson was born in the District of Columbia and grew up in Miami. She has traced her interest in the law to when she was in preschool and her father, Johnny Brown, was in law school and they would sit together at the dining room table, she with coloring books and he with law books. Her father became an attorney for the county school board and her mother, Ellery Brown, was a high school principal. She has a brother, nine years younger, who served in the Army, including in Iraq, and is now a lawyer.

Justice Neil Gorsuch also has been on the road this summer with his new book, “Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law,” written with Janie Nitze, a former law clerk to Gorsuch. Gorsuch has reported receiving advances for the book totaling $500,000.

Yet another justice has a book in the works. Justice Amy Coney Barrett received $425,000 in 2021 as part of a book deal with Sentinel, a conservative imprint of Penguin Random House.

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By Reginald Williams
Special to the AFRO

The pitch arrived just about waist-high. It caught the corner of the plate and had a little heat on it based on the pop of Washington Nationals pitcher Joe La Sorsa’s glove.

Nick Arrington, a Woodbridge, Va. native and prominent cast member on Bravo network’s “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard,” threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Nationals versus Chicago Cubs game on Aug. 30, the evening the Nationals honored the legacy of historically Black colleges and universities and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, an umbrella organization for Black sororities and fraternities, which are colloquially known as the Divine Nine.

“I’m throwing out the first pitch to celebrate my fraternity and my HBCU,” explained Arrington, a 2008 graduate of Tuskegee University in Alabama.

As part of HBCU/Divine Nine Night, the Nationals also welcomed Howard University’s Army Bison Battalion & Air Force Detachment 130 to serve as Color Guard for the game. Additionally, hundreds of fans who attended the special event received a commemorative majorette bobblehead. Proceeds from the special ticket sales will be donated to the D.C. Metro HBCU Alumni Alliance, which works to raise awareness, provide resources and offer programs aimed at supporting at-risk individuals and the communities where they live.

Arrington, a standout player at Gar-Field High School and a four-year player at Tuskegee, stood atop the mound and demonstrated a pitching form that suggested he hadn’t lost any skills from his past playing days as a catcher and relief pitcher. 

“Nick threw an awesome pitch. It was awesome to be a part of it,” said Ryan Stowers, a fan from Utah. “I told him I heard some serious snap on his pitch. I loved being a part of it, and I love the mission of HBCUs. I love what he was doing here. We need more of it.”

Surrounded by his mother, Linda Arrington, and his brother, Norman, a North Carolina A&T University graduate, Arrington lived out a childhood dream of one day throwing a baseball on a Major League Baseball diamond. Norman Arrington had the honor of helping his brother warm up before the first pitch and handing him the ceremonial ball.

A rising star in the entertainment space, Arrington was humbled by the opportunity to participate in the Nationals’ annual HBCU/Divine Nine Day.

“I’m here for a number of reasons,” explained Arrington. “We are celebrating historically Black colleges—so if you know, you know. It’s HBCU Night here at National Park and I’m super excited about that. I’m a proud graduate of Tuskegee University. We’re also celebrating tonight the Divine Nine—Black fraternities and sororities.” 

In the spring of 2007, Arrington pledged with the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at Tuskegee.

Throughout the game, which the Nationals lost 7-6, the scoreboard showed scores of HBCU alumni (Howard, Bowie State, Jackson State, Virginia State) throughout the park, rocking their school’s merch, and the sororities Alpha Kappa Alphas and the Delta Sigma Theta represented well.  

Fred Watson, a 1997 A&T graduate and Cubs fan, arrived at the game wearing a Cubs fitted cap and N.C.A&T shirt but had no idea that the Nationals was celebrating HBCU/Divine Nine Day.

“I came out because I’m a Cubs fan,” explained Watson, who is not part of a fraternity. “My guy who went to FAMU got the tickets. Hey, this is perfect, I get to celebrate HBCUs, and my team is winning.”  

In the top of the second inning, the Cubs scored seven runs and never relinquished their lead. 

Evolving from a kid growing up in Woodbridge playing baseball to a growing television personality on the Bravo network and a brand ambassador for Fortune 500 organizations occurred because of what Arrington describes as “one random phone call.” 

“Now we’re (his team) juggling entertainment. We pivoted from corporate America to TV and entertainment,” Arrington said. “It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime things when you get a random phone call for casting, and it’s like, hey, let’s do this. And the thing is, I’m blessed enough to have a strong support system behind me, so why not take a risk? It’s been fruitful. Now I’m here throwing out the first pitch. I go from a corporate office and a suit to lacing them up and being on the mound.”

In addition to being a reality star, Arrington models and styles A-list celebrities. He fancies himself “as a style savant who opine on menswear, lifestyle, travel, and culture to elevate everyday life.”

Arrington’s journey from Woodbridge to Tuskegee to New York and Martha’s Vineyard has been life-changing for the marathon runner, but it was his journey from the sideline to the pitcher’s mound at Nationals Park that fulfilled a lifelong dream.

“It was exhilarating. Can you imagine a Major League stadium? You dreamed of it as a kid, and I have the jersey on. It’s incredible,” Arrington said. “Once in a lifetime.”

Reginald Williams, the author of “A Marginalized Voice: Devalued, Dismissed, Disenfranchised & Demonized” writes on Black men and holistic health concerns. Please email bookreggie@reginaldwilliams.org or visit amvonlinestore.com for more information.

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By Ariyana Griffin
AFRO Staff Writer
agriffin@afro.com

Thousands of bookworms gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Aug. 24 for the 24th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival. 

Two-time Emmy Award-winning television host Tamron Hall served as a headliner for this year’s festival among other authors. She hosted a discussion for her new cookbook co-written with Lisa Steiling,  “A Confident Cook.”

The three-story convention center was full of events: book reading sessions for children, author panels, book signings and so much more related to literary success. 

The free event is a way to allow book lovers to gather and hear from some of their favorite authors. Attendees had an opportunity to purchase books from the 90-plus authors that were a part of the festival, as well as get them signed by the authors.

Baltimore native Monet Walker shared with the AFRO that she attended to see and hear from one of her favorite authors, Christopher Paolini, a sci-fi author. 

“I try to go to any book conventions that I do hear of,” she said.

Walker said she believes such events keep the literary culture alive, and thanks social media for spreading the word. 

“Book-Tok (a world wide book community on TikTok) is keeping a lot of these bookstores alive” she said.  “I think the conventions are also keeping the bookstores and physical books alive.”

The compact schedule had a balance between reading events and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) making it suitable and enjoyable for children. Several organizations such as Black Girls Code, Boolean Girl and NASA had offerings catering to children and young adults. 

“I am an advocate for reading. If you can read, you can do math, you can do anything. So learning your alphabet, learning your letters, learning sentences, word structure is something I am a stickler for,” said Shamir Cole, who attended the festival with her nieces and daughter. “We push reading at home, and I feel like if you can take children to a carnival, you can take them to go learn something.” 

Some families anticipate making the trip to the nation’s capital every year for the day-long festival as a way to bond and grow their love for reading.

“This is maybe our third year in a row attending,” said D.C. native John Pendleton, who attended the festival with his daughter Ava Pendleton. “My daughters inherited their love of books from their mother, so they are serious about books. Ava can go through books pretty quickly, so it gets too expensive if we don’t go to the library.”

“I just like absorbing knowledge from different books and reading about different topics,” said Ava Pendleton. “And I just like reading in general; it’s fun.” 

Each session was captured and is available at www.loc.gov. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

As summer comes to a close and the new school year approaches, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee held a back-to-school pep rally for District educators on Aug. 19. The event preceded a week-long professional development series that D.C. teachers will participate in ahead of the start of school on Aug. 26. 

The rally took place at Alice Deal Middle School in Ward 3, which was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education in 2019. 

“I want to thank you for your commitment to public education and to training, loving and challenging our young people in Washington, D.C. so that they can have a phenomenal school year but also a phenomenal future,” said Bowser. “We are just so grateful.”

“We spend all year making sure that our schools have their budget, that our buildings have what they need and that our young people are supported not just at school but with all of the agencies that serve kids and families throughout the year,” she continued. 

Bowser’s budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 features a number of new investments in education. Some of the largest contributions include $2.2 billion to modernize 33 District schools, $349 million to the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) and $255 million to upgrade the conditions of District school buildings. 

During the rally, the mayor highlighted the recovery DCPS has made since the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to gaps in math and reading for students across the country. 

“We’re very proud that if you look at this entire region, the kids who have come back to school and are coming back the fastest achievement wise are our students in D.C. Public Schools,” said Bowser. “That’s comparing to the region but it’s also comparing to our own schools in Washington D.C. We know that’s because we have the most highly-effective teaching core in the United States of America.” 

According to a May report from EmpowerK12, an education consultant in D.C., District students in grades four to eight experienced academic gains equal to two additional months of learning in reading and one additional month in math than expected over the last year. These students would have been in grades kindergarten through fourth grade during the pandemic and most vulnerable to learning loss while schooling was virtual. 

However, their math and reading test scores are still not yet on par with pre-pandemic expectations. 

At the rally, Ferebee noted that the District is sustaining efforts to increase educator pay. The latest data from the National Education Association (NEA) ranks D.C. fifth in average teacher salary at $84,882 and one in average teacher starting salary at $63,373.

“We are ensuring that you continue to be one of the highest-paid groups of educators in the nation,” said Ferebee. “We also want to continue to ensure that you are encouraged, inspired and that you are receiving the best professional learning experiences to guide the young Washingtonians who are attending school at Alice Deal Middle School.” 

He also encouraged educators to take advantage of DCPS’ Inova Employee Assistance program. The benefit provides free counseling services and legal and financial assistance to teachers 24 hours a day year-round.  

“Take care of yourself,” said Ferebee. “We know when you do that well, you are able to support our young people, our number one stakeholder, and that’s our students.”

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By AFRO Staff

The AFRO will host its annual D.C. High Tea on Sept. 7 from 2 – 5 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church.  

Each year the publication hosts the tea in honor of men and women who have significantly impacted the Black community. 

See pictures from the September 7, 2024 event here. Photo credit: Patricia Mcdougall. And the 360 Video here and below.

The AFRO will recognize Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks at the 2024 event, along with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, civic leader and professor Cora Masters Barry and Former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt. 

“This year’s honorees were chosen due to their remarkable and unwavering service to the D.C. community,” said Diane Hocker, AFRO director of community and public relations. “It’s going to be a delightful tea with lots of high energy. Our attendees will have the chance to network, be entertained and enjoy some delicious food.”

Hocker started planning this year’s tea in December 2023. The event last came to D.C. in 2022, honoring Cathy Hughes, Dorothy Butler Gilliam, Denise Rolark Barnes, Michelle Richardson and Karyn A.Temple. The job of organizing the D.C. tea passed to her after the death of D.C.’s own Edgar Brookins, a beloved member of the community and long-time AFRO circulation and general manager, who orchestrated the inaugural D.C. High Tea years ago. 

“Edgar Brookins was everything. He was ‘Mr. D.C.,’” said Hocker. “He was very instrumental in the AFRO bringing the tea to the D.C. in 2018.”

This year’s tea will be a highlight of the 2024 social calendar, complete with catering from B&B II, great entertainment and of course, the AFRO High Tea fashion show, where participants show off their finest threads and hats. 

Tickets for the 2024 D.C. AFRO High Tea are available for $100 at afrotix.live and the admission price includes a free six month subscription to the publication.

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

When it comes to defying odds and blazing trails, Windsor Group knows a thing or two about it. Since starting in 2017, the Black, women and veteran- owned business has worked hard to continuously raise the bar in the world of business professional development. 

With a series of services offered including IT, project and program management, management consulting, staff augmentation and many more, the company is on the rise. 

Diedre Windsor, president and CEO of Windsor Group, spoke with the AFRO to discuss her ever-growing business, how it started, the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses and the role they played in providing funding opportunities from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to over 58,000 agriculturists. This week, Windsor’s company was listed on the Inc. 5000 list. According to information released by Inc.com, “companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth over the last three years. They generated 874,940 jobs, $317 billion in revenue, and show where the economy is going.”

Read below to learn more about this Black woman on the move and what she told the AFRO about discrimination when it comes to African-American entrepreneurship.

AFRO: Tell me about Windsor Group. When were you founded and what’s your purpose? 

DW: We registered in January of 2014, but I did not start the business until 2017. In 2016, I quit my job in the federal government. I was working at the U.S. Department of Justice. I left that job and decided to start the business full time. 

We are a professional services firm. Under the umbrella of professional services, we offer IT services, project and program management, management consulting, training, development and staff augmentation. We are 100 percent federal government contractors. 

AFRO: How did you get involved with the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program and what was that like? 

DW: Interestingly enough, in the federal government, they have what’s called a “multiple award schedule.” We’re on the schedule and last year I got a call from a large company that wanted to pursue this opportunity at the USDA. It’s the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. The program came from legislation 22007, of the Inflation Reduction Act, which required the USDA to provide 2.2 billion in financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who had been discriminated against. You had the national administrator, who was the final decision maker, but also the vendor that would make sure the checks were distributed. You also had the regional hubs and these vendors were responsible for making sure that we communicated this information. 

Our job was outreach and technical assistance. We needed to find the farmers and make sure they understood this information–that this financial assistance was available– and then help them with the application process. The application was 40 pages and that was daunting by itself. But that was our responsibility. They asked us if we were interested. We said “yes” and went forward. 

We ended up being awarded the contract to execute East of the Mississippi River and that was 26 or 27 states, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.There were 43,000 financial assistance awards made and 33,000 of those came from the East Coast. Our technical approach was successful because we were able to get over 58,000 applications. I’m sure some of them fell out for one reason or the other, but we were responsible for about 78 percent of the applications and we were responsible for about 72 percent of the awards that were distributed. The program was a huge success.

AFRO: What does discrimination within the agriculture industry look like? 

DW: It’s the same as what it looks like for me as a small business owner. 

For example, “Mr. Smith goes to the USDA and says ‘Hey, I have 15 acres and I want to do X,Y and Z,’” but then he is discriminated against: He can’t get the loan to do what he needs to do to progress on his land. That can result in him maybe having to sell the land because he has no money to keep it. 

The old saying goes, “You have to have some money, to make some money,”  and sometimes having money just means getting a small loan. You can only do so much borrowing from friends and family. Most of us don’t have friends and family that can lend us the type of money we need to actually get something like that off the ground. 

How are you going to make progress without getting the money that you need? 

There are people who told us they tried to get a loan, but couldn’t. When they didn’t get the loan they needed, they had their White neighbor go in and try to get the same loan. 

The neighbor got the loan. 

The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program addressed all forms of discrimination. 

AFRO: What’s next for Windsor Group?

DW: We’re looking to give back even more. 

For the last two years, we’ve been on the Washington Business Journal list of corporate philanthropists. I feel like the more we grow, the more we can give back. It’s made me think a lot about how I want to give back in the future because right now we help quite a few organizations. 

Right now, we are focused on a lot of veteran organizations. I try to stick to organizations where I know what kind of impact it will have on the person. 

As a Black woman veteran, I know the trials people like me deal with, and I know organizations that support that population. I want to support them, but I also want to support scholarships at HBCUs. I also want to support food insecurity. On the business side, we’re diversified within the government, and right now I’m looking at how we move beyond the government to the commercial space. In order to truly grow and scale, that’s going to take something different and I’m not 100 percent sure what that is yet. 

We’ve been very fortunate because we’ve grown every year. This week, we were notified we’re on the Inc. 5000 list– number 318. This is our fourth year in a row we’ve been on Inc. 5000 and that means that we’ve been consistently growing.

AFRO: Why is it important to support Black-owned businesses? 

DW: I think it’s critical. Sometimes it’s only us helping each other. I’m not saying other people don’t help us, but if we don’t help us—who’s going to help us? Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great philanthropic organizations and people out there that are helping us because “they don’t see color.” However, for me, it’s important that I help Black-owned companies, women-owned companies and veteran-owned companies.”

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

It is with a heavy heart and great pride that the AFRO honors the life and legacies of Mrs. Gladys Blount and Mrs. Romay Johnson-Davis, two members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Following their courageous service during World War II (WWII) both ladies went on to live long and meaningful lives all the while never forgetting their time in the military. 

Romay Catherine Johnson-Davis was born on October 29,1919 in King George County, Va. She was the middle child of six and the only girl. With no Black high school in King George County, she was forced to attend numerous high schools in New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C., staying with different family members. 

Johnson-Davis graduated from Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. Following graduation she worked as an elevator operator in a hospital elevator and then served the Bureau of Engraving in Washington, D.C. 

During WWII, the United States decided to expand their military capacity and Johnson-Davis volunteered to join the Army. After enrolling in the Army she completed her basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa she was assigned to the motor pool at Camp Breckinridge in Morganfield, Ky. During her time there, Johnson-Davis worked as a mechanic and a driver. It was during her time at Camp Breckinridge that she volunteered to go overseas and was chosen to serve in the 6888th. 

In February of 1945, Johnson-Davis  joined the first group of women sent over to England to sort through months worth of undelivered mail. The women created a system that operated in three different shifts, seven days a week and allowed them to process approximately 195,000 pieces of mail a day. 

“In March of 2022– almost 80 years after the 6888th service in World War II–Ms. Romay came to me and told me that they are now going to award them the Congressional Gold Medal. When that announcement came, only six of the 855 women were alive,” said Col. Eries Mentzer, a member of the U.S. Air Force and a dear friend of Johnson-Davis .

“At that time Ms.Romay was the oldest living member of the 6888th at 102. It was the extended family of many members of the 6888th that accepted their honors because they were deceased. But for Ms.Romay we decided to make this as grand of a ceremony as possible because she waited far too long for this honor to happen.”

Mentzer recalled how Johnson-Davis reacted to the special celebration they held for her in downtown Montgomery. 

“When she came home from overseas she went to New York and attended the Traphagen Fashion School. When she parked her car for the first time in New York her footlocker was stolen and for almost 80 years she’s never had her military uniform,” said Mentzer. “We made it our mission to return her military uniform. We found a World War II footlocker just by kind of scouring the internet and then from the footlocker we were able to find every part of the uniform just by looking at pictures of her. We took all of this and made the footlocker into a shadow box.” 

“We presented that to her and you could just see her eyes well up. After that she never took her eyes off that footlocker. I went over to her house later that night and she was just staring at the footlocker and she said ‘I never thought I would see my uniform again. I never thought anybody would care this much about me,’”Mentzer recalls.

Johnson-Davis’ charismatic spirit and big personality stuck with her even as she grew older. Known for defying odds and marching to the beat of her own drum, the army vet went on to live a very full life following her service in the 6888th. When Mentzer met her, she was 101-years-old and working at the local Winn Dixie grocery store as a way of “keeping herself active and busy.” Prior to that she worked in the fashion industry, having earned degrees from the New York Fashion Institute and the Traphagen School of Fashion. 

Amidst her exciting career in fashion she met her husband, Jerry Davis at a party in 1957. They were married for 42 years until his passing in 1999. Throughout the years, Romay would go on to earn her master’s degree in education from New York University, in addition to picking up a series of hobbies and professional interests like taxidermy, real estate, painting and making furniture. 

Johnson-Davis was the oldest living veteran of the battalion until her passing on June 21. It was only a day later, on June 22,  that her fellow soldier, Gladys Blount would also pass.

Born on June 6, 1922 to John and Eva Debman in Newark, New Jersey, from 1944 to 1946, Blount proudly served in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Before joining the military, she worked as a beautician. In 1948 Blount married Anthony Blount Sr. and they had two children, Eva Davis and the late Kwame Blount.

“When she first went overseas she wasn’t frightened with the war going on. She was happy to be there and very excited about what laid ahead of her,” said Eva Davis, Blount’s daughter. “She went overseas and really enjoyed the assignment she was given.”

Following her service in WWII, she followed multiple career paths including one in the medical field as a nursing assistant and within the dietary department for Newark Public Schools.

Blout was the matriarch of her family with eight grandchildren: Kevin Blount Sr., Willie Davis IV, Joaquin Blount, Chaz Davis, Stephen Davis, Rakeem Blount, Amber Blount and Chole Blount. She also had 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Blount was known for her kind and joyful spirit. Her artistic spirit was often expressed through her hobbies which included scrapbooking, baking, reading and listening to classical music. 

She is survived by her daughter, Eva Davis, her 8 grandchildren, and a host of great-grandchildren. Blount is preceded in death by her parents, her son Kwame Blount, her siblings and son-in-law, Willie Davis III.

The legacy of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion is one the AFRO has treasured and upheld for years. Although many of the women who served in the unit are deceased, the few remaining members have continued to show up to receive the many honors bestowed upon the women of the battalion in the last six years.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 called out the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on Aug. 12 for not moving to transition the DC Circulator into the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

“We’re disappointed that there is not a clear transition plan in place to take care of the workers and the bus operators, who could be facing layoffs, and the thousands of people who have come to rely on the Circulator bus service,” said Ben Lynn, a spokesperson for ATU Local 689. 

The union urged WMATA to absorb the Circulator into the Metrobus instead of terminating the service altogether.

“There is already a process in place,” said Lynn. “When WMATA first put together their bus service in the 1970s, they absorbed four private bus entities into one. It worked back then, it works now and it will work in the future.”

The mayor’s office declined to comment on this matter.

DDOT announced on July 29 that the DC Circulator would begin phasing out on Oct. 1 and services would completely shut down on Dec. 31.

As of Aug. 12, the union had not received information from the mayor’s office or DDOT about a transition plan. 

The phase-down includes terminating the Rosslyn-Dupont Circle route, ending late-night service on the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan and Georgetown- Union Station routes and changing bus arrival to every 20 minutes instead of 10 minutes.

The free bus line has served Washingtonians for nearly two decades through various cuts and enhancements.

In 2019, just before the pandemic began to impact ridership, the DC Circulator served about 5.5 million riders.

The D.C. Council approved Bowser’s (D) budget in June, which cut the funding for the DC Circulator and made way for the phase-down.

Lynn said the mayor’s office reached out to the union a couple of days before the budget was presented to the Council, to notify them of the phase-out.

“The union walked away from that conversation with the understanding that there would be a transition plan in place and that the union would be provided a copy of that transition plan,” said Lynn.

ATU is concerned about the reduction in service for riders and workers.

“DDOT is working with WMATA and circulator contractor RATP Dev USA to highlight employment opportunities for circulator staff,” a spokesperson from DDOT told the AFRO.

DDOT said on Aug. 15 they would host a WMATA information session for RATP Dev USA Circulator employees where workers could apply for available WMATA positions. 

“RATP Dev USA employees who are part of a collective bargaining agreement may have received additional guidance regarding future employment opportunities from the contractor or their union representative,” said the DDOT spokesperson. 

DDOT’s current guidance for circulator riders is to use the DC Circulator website and WMATA’s online trip planner to see what routes they can take.

“Additional information regarding these impacts will be shared in the coming months as the service transitions,” said the DDOT spokesperson.  

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By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com

Washington, D.C. residents in Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8 under the age of 21 will continue to have access to free and accessible health care via a new partnership between MedStar Health and Monumental Sports and Entertainment (MSE). Aimed at serving the children and adolescents of the District, the Kids Mobile Medical Clinic will continue to serve the community for at least the next five years through the financial backing of MSE founder and billionaire Ted Leonsis.

The Kids Mobile Medical Clinic has been a mainstay in Southeast D.C. since 1992, serving approximately 800 patients a year and providing more than 1,600 screenings of social determinants that disproportionately affect Black and inner-city children such as food insecurity, income, education, community safety and more. 

“The Mobile Clinic has been a part of my family for about 20 years,” said Markia Gilbert, a D.C. native. “They’re there when you need them, they’re on call, they even call to check in. They get you seen, they get you fixed up. They were there when I delivered my baby!”

Regardless of insurance coverage, families are never charged and children are always seen at the Kids Mobile Medical Clinic. The clinic provides services that range from sick visits, well visits, immunizations, mental health screenings, vision and hearing screenings and even specialist referrals. 

“They helped me when I got hurt and they checked in on me to make sure that I was OK and healthy,” said Markia’s son, Michael Gilbert.

The pediatric health center on wheels has two units – a medical unit and a wellbeing unit. The wellbeing unit focuses on addressing complex social and mental health risk factors and how they impact young children and their families. The redesigned units will include the logos of the Washington Wizards, Mystics, Capitals and the Capital City Go-Go due to the new partnership with Leonsis, who is the owner of the aforementioned franchises.

“It goes beyond me being a father myself. I grew up as a really, really poor kid in Brooklyn, New York. I didn’t go to doctors often,” said Leonsis. “This program takes pediatricians and nurses, alongside a lot of technology, and brings it into the neighborhoods. You don’t have to be insured. If your kid is sick or you want a preventative checkup, come in and get scheduled. We’re doing it four days a week and the other three we’re parked at a permanent location. We’ve been doing it for over 20 years and we just made it another five.”

With Leonsis’ $1.1 million donation, the clinic will continue its typical four-day-per-week schedule. The clinic treats patients on site outside of public housing communities in Southeast D.C. on a rolling basis. 

Since 2019, Leonsis and Monumental have donated more than $6 million to health care initiatives and projects with MedStar Health. 

“ is very beneficial. Checkups, they’re on point. Asthma, they’re on point. They’re on point with everything we need from them. There’s never any hesitation on their behalf and that’s amazing,” said Gilbert. 

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By Deyane Moses,
Special to the AFRO

The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) has officially returned to Baltimore for its annual conference, taking place Aug. 13-16 at the Hilton Camden Yard.  The event gathers museum professionals, historians and community leaders to explore the profound impact of African-American history and culture on the nation.

Dr. Vedet Coleman-Robinson is a visionary leader dedicated to preserving and elevating African American history and culture. As president and CEO of AAAM, she continues the organization’s legacy as a powerful force for change. Her expertise in museum management, coupled with her unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion, has resulted in significant growth and impact for AAAM.

“Maybe in the last six months or so, our registration has skyrocketed to over 700 attendees for the conference! This is a huge milestone for us. Our membership since I’ve been hired has gone up by over 270 percent. So we’re on a trajectory that we’ve never seen before,” said Dr. Coleman-Robinson.

This year’s conference theme, “Acknowledging Legacy, Fostering Progress,” marks a dual celebration. It commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act while placing a spotlight on Maryland’s rich African American heritage.

“We couldn’t imagine hosting this conference anywhere else but Maryland,” says Dr. Coleman-Robinson. “The state is steeped in history, from the legacy of Thurgood Marshall and Brown v. Board of Education, to the pivotal role of Morgan State University in civil rights activism.”

Attendees can experience dynamic programming, including engaging sessions, workshops, and keynote addresses. One highlight will be a panel hosted by Afro Charities titled “Reimagining Historically Black Institutions in the 21st Century.” The panel, set for Aug.16 inside of Key Ballroom 10 at the Hilton at Camden Yards, will look at how these institutions have adapted to continue their missions of equality, justice and equity.

The discussion will include directors from the Afro Charities, The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, The Banneker-Douglass Museum and the Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center.

Dr. Coleman-Robinson is excited about the distinguished speakers that have arrived in Baltimore for the conference.

“We’re honored to welcome Dr. Carla Hayden, as she concludes her tenure as the Librarian of Congress, as our opening plenary speaker. She will receive the Dr. John E. Fleming Award. Additionally, we will present the John and Marjorie Kinard award to Robert G. Stanton, the first and only African-American director of the National Park Service. And to top it off, we’ll have the incredible musical talents of Sweet Honey in the Rock and Raheem DeVaughn.”

Beyond the inspiring speakers and thought-provoking sessions, the conference will also feature an exhibit hall showcasing the latest museum technology and resources.

Reflecting on the significance of the gathering, Dr. Coleman-Robinson shared, “This conference feels like a much-needed homecoming and family reunion for our members. We share common challenges and triumphs, and coming together creates a safe space to connect, recharge, and return to our work with renewed purpose.”

For more information on registration and the conference agenda, please visit the AAAM website at www.blackmuseums.org.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com

As the newspaper looks to its next chapter, the crucial succession question looms: Who can build on its powerful legacy?

It all started in 1892 when John H. Murphy Sr., a formerly enslaved man, borrowed $200 from his wife, Martha Elizabeth Howard Murphy to purchase a printing press for what would become the legendary AFRO-American Newspapers. What began as a church circular quickly became a vehicle for advancing Black rights and economic empowerment.

After Murphy’s death in 1922, his five sons took over, tasked with providing wages for their five sisters. Carl Murphy became editor and publisher. The family business has endured ever since and is set to celebrate its 132nd  on Aug.13.

Today, the newspaper is a media company, also known as AFRO News, with offices in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, the great-granddaughter of Murphy Sr., sits at the helm as publisher and chairman of the board. Still, she said the crucial question of who will serve next is never too far in the distance.

“It’s an ongoing discussion,” Draper says. “There are a whole lot of people who have legal and stockholder interest in the company. But succession is always at the forefront, because we don’t want it to be left to happenstance or chance.” 

Honoring the vision 

One thing is clear to Draper: The next successor must uphold the newspaper’s original purpose, which John H. Murphy Sr. outlined in a letter to his five sons two years before his death. 

He 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; and whether it stays out of politics except to expose corruption and condemn injustice, race prejudice and the cowardice of compromise.” 

This charge has changed slightly over time, as readers have turned to the AFRO for endorsements of political candidates in addition to church and community happenings.

At present, the AFRO is a privately-traded C corporation. The vast majority of its nearly 100 shareholders and 17-member board are family members. Ownership has resided with the family since its inception in 1892.

Blending institutional knowledge with outside perspectives

Draper took over the AFRO in 2018 from John J. Oliver, who served as publisher and chairman of the board for 34 years. Oliver, great-grandson of John H. Murphy Sr., never intended to lead the AFRO, although he, like most family members, grew up working in the family business. 

The emergence of the personal computer led him back to the company. Oliver recognized that the AFRO would need to embrace the digital revolution in order to compete. Gone were the days of linotype and teletype machines.

When it came time for Oliver to step down, he says there wasn’t a formal blueprint for Draper to take over. 

“There wasn’t any real plan,” Oliver says. 

Adding that “the younger generations caught on to the importance of taking advantage of digital opportunities quickly,” while also “exploring new ways in which they could radically change what we, historically, expected to be the way a newspaper is run.” 

Kevin “MPECKABLE” Peck, vice president of marketing and technology for the AFRO, and Savannah Wood, executive director of the company’s philanthropic sister company, Afro Charities, are the great-great-grandchildren of John H. Murphy Sr. Several other fifth-generation members are involved via the AFRO board.  

Both Peck and Wood oversee operational areas that will be key to the future of the media company, according to Draper. 

Peck leads the company’s technology strategy, while Wood maintains the paper’s extensive archival collection, featuring nearly three million photographs, thousands of letters, rare audio recordings and other ephemera such as the program dispersed at the funeral of Shirley Parker, found dead in the fountain of the lake at Druid Hill Park Reservoir in 1968. 

“A strength that Savannah and Kevin have is they didn’t do their entire careers at the paper,” Draper says. “They bring other experiences and they have ideas around what may appeal to their generation and the next.” 

Draper, too, did not spend her entire career at the AFRO. She worked as an educator, stockbroker and preacher. She grew up working in the newspaper’s editorial department.  

Peck has years of experience in the music business, serving as the long-time manager of notable acts like Dru Hill. Peck came to the AFRO to support his mother, Draper, as she took over as publisher. He continues to work with musical artists today, but much of his focus for the publication centers on leveraging emerging technologies to streamline the AFRO’s operations and content delivery.  

Wood worked with various arts and humanities organizations in Chicago and Los Angeles before her arrival in 2019. She was initially the AFRO’s archives director. Shortly after becoming executive director of Afro Charities, management of the archives was transferred to the nonprofit partner. 

Wood and Draper underscored the importance of the next successor being committed to supporting the preservation of the archives. 

“The archives tell the story of the newspaper company, but also the broader story about world history through Black perspectives,” Wood says.

Peck said his mission at the AFRO has been taking it from the closet to the cloud, migrating elements of the company’s operations and data management to cloud-based platforms. He was instrumental in the company’s recent launch of the Digital Billboard Network (DBN). The AFRO’s DBN delivers original content to onsite screens at heavily trafficked community gathering spots like restaurants, barbershops, gyms and auto repair shops. 

“The mission and the history and the shoulders that I stand on cannot be ignored. I have to impact the business in a way that’s never been done before,” said Peck. “I have to use all of my entertainment and marketing knowledge to make sure there’s not a Black person that doesn’t know the name of the AFRO.” 

Peck acknowledged that he has considered how he would run the AFRO if he were chosen as the next successor. If he did get the call, he would take the position. 

“I would have to. It would be destiny,” Peck says. “It would feel like everything up to that point prepared me for that next level.”

The ideal next leader

The successor needs to be able to sustain the newspaper’s historical identity and integrity while generating a roadmap for the company’s future, according to Max Hughes, senior manager, Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics LLP, who specializes in privately-held and family-owned businesses. Picking the right person, he says, is important to keeping public trust and confidence in the legacy business.  

“The right successor has to be a really special person, especially in a business like a newspaper where it’s a more public leadership role,” Hughes says. “You have this foundation and reputation and all of these things you’ve sustained on, and you have a great obligation to match that expectation.”

Micaela Saviano, a partner at Deloitte Tax LLP who specializes in succession planning, said though expectations within a family business can be high, a successor can draw in help from other sources. 

“The next generation doesn’t need to fill the shoes of their predecessor fully. You can supplement with external advisors, other family members, non-family executives, and the board,” Saviano explains. “There are a lot of folks to rely on beyond that one individual.” 

Draper said when it comes to her successor, she has several parameters in mind:

“They either need to have knowledge of trends in the industry or the ability to access that knowledge. They must be able to successfully navigate relationships with readers, policymakers, leaders, advertisers and employees,” she says. “You need someone who understands business, and it doesn’t hurt to have someone who is either technologically savvy or has an appreciation for changing technologies.” 

This article was originally published by The Exchange.

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By B. M. Phillips IV
AFRO President

August 13 marks 132 consecutive years of publishing for the AFRO-American Newspapers, founded by John H. Murphy Sr. in 1892.

Determined to succeed, at the age of 51, Murphy, a father of 11, borrowed $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. With their children’s support, a historical journey began that continues today with fourth, fifth and sixth-generation family members.

Just one month before striking into the publishing business, Murphy’s youngest son, David Arnett Murphy, also known as “D. Arnett,” was born. On July 9, 1892, his birth completed what would become the second-generation owners of the AFRO.  Collectively, they set the standard of commitment, ensuring the company’s success and the pursuit of fairness and equality for Black Americans. They also supported other like-minded publishers.

When the founder died in 1922, his children embarked on an expansion that saw the company spread their offices north and south, growing to 13 editions. The AFRO became one of the largest Black publications in circulation, with over 200 employees —many of whom were unionized. Its printing press ran every day of the week except Sundays. 

The company dispatched seven correspondents (including the first Black woman) to the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II to report the news. Their accounts are documented in the book “This is Our War,” which was released in a special reprint last year to mark the 75th anniversary of the desegregation of the United States Armed Forces.

Dr. Frances Murphy Draper, CEO and publisher, states in the foreword of the book that “Today, as lawmakers across the United States attempt to minimize and rewrite Black history, it becomes even 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. In their own words, AFRO journalists provided intimate details, including names and addresses of servicemen they encountered. In some cases, messages to loved ones at home were included.”

The paper has always been on the front line, battling racial inequality and afflictions threatening our readers.  Shining a light and advocating for better conditions required that the company be financially independent to ensure its message could not be tainted or silenced.  It became apparent that advertising revenue was critical to funding these efforts, and the addition of a sales team allowed the AFRO to augment circulation dollars and achieve its goals.

D. Arnett Murphy’s accomplishments are particularly noteworthy in these efforts. He began his career with the newspaper at the age of 13. He worked for the company for 66 years. 

His early roles included bookkeeper, pressman, linotype operator, makeup man and reporter.  At one point, he ran a sports event called AFRO Marathon, but ultimately, he discovered that advertising was his specialty.  

As director and vice president of advertising, his team fueled revenue growth during his tenure.  In support of AFRO offices throughout the eastern seaboard, he invested in his teams by holding sales meetings and conferences to share initiatives and train current and new employees to be successful. 

By partnering with similar publications across the country, a stronger pitch could be made to increase revenue.  In 1940, D. Arnette Murphy was elected vice president of the Eastern District during the initial formation of what is now the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). Today, NNPA represents more than 200 Black-owned newspapers, both in print and digital formats.

In 1944, he organized and served as president of the Associated Publishers, a national advertising agency representing 35 other weekly newspapers at the time.

A key figure in the company’s management, D. Arnett Murphy was also a stockholder, voting trustee and a member of the board of directors until his death in 1972. He retired from day-to-day operations in 1963.

As reported by his niece Elizabeth “Bettye” Moss, he was Dubbed “Chief,” “Mr. Arnett”or simply “D.A” by associates and friends. He was an avid reader and an interesting conversationalist, known for his love and concern for people.

His impact extended beyond his dedication to the company, and he was proud of his role in integrating Baltimore City’s public golf courses. Along with other members of the Monumental Golf Club and the Citizens’ Civil Rights Committee, the AFRO executive responded swiftly to being denied entry to one of the public courses and helped finance the court suit that opened the public links to all in 1948.

D. Arnett Murphy was a life member of the NAACP and served on the board of Advance Federal Savings and Loan whose mission was to help African Americans secure loans and build their credit.

Like his younger brother Carl J. Murphy, D. Arnett Murphy didn’t have any sons. He and his wife Sadie Clark Murphy had three daughters Mae E Dyson, Virginia Murphy and Arnetta Lottier who followed in the footsteps of his generation working at the paper and lending their talents as members of the Board of Directors.

As noted in the article announcing his death, he had a great love for Grace Presbyterian, where he served many years as trustee and had been a member for 50 years.   

So, as we blow out the candles for another year, let’s not forget those who got us here— people like, D. Arnett Murphy, the youngest member of my great-grandfather’s sons and daughters.  

B.M. Phillips IV is the current president of the AFRO and is great-grandson of the founder, John Henry Murphy Sr. 

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The Montgomery County Planning Board has submitted its updates to the county’s Growth and Infrastructure Policy (GIP) for 2024 to 2028. As of Aug. 1, it is now in the hands of the Montgomery County Council for review. 

The policy, which is revised every four years, is designed to ensure county infrastructure, like roads and schools, is sufficient to support growth and new development. 

“The GIP is vital to ensuring the county is meeting the evolving needs of a growing and diverse population,” said Jason K. Sartori, planning director for Montgomery County, in a statement. “We have shifted from a growth policy decades ago that was appropriate as farmland was converted into neighborhoods, to one that complements the infill and redevelopment of maturing neighborhoods, major employment centers, town centers and downtowns that we see today.” 

The top recommendations for the GIP include: extending a 50 percent impact-tax discount to developers who construct single family homes 1,800 square feet or smaller, exempting development projects that transform office space into residential units from impact taxes and exempting three or more bedroom households from school and transportation impact taxes. 

The planning board also suggested that the county conduct a Local Area Transportation Review for an upcoming development project that’s expected to generate heavy traffic and forgo transportation mitigation requirements during the construction of affordable housing units. 

“Our recommended updates to the growth policy ensure the county can continue to strengthen economic development opportunities while supporting transportation networks and school communities with the infrastructure needed to meet expected population and employment growth,” said a statement from Artie Harris, chair of the planning board. “The recommended GIP update is forward-thinking by aligning with the county’s goals of promoting housing for all, achieving racial equity and social justice, fighting climate change and harnessing economic development tools to create thriving communities.” 

The Montgomery County Council will host a public hearing for the GIP on Sep. 10. Residents can sign up to testify at the meeting on the council’s website. The policy must be approved by November 15 under county law. 

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By Tierra Stone
@tierrastone@afro.com
By Lizzie Suber
@lizziesuber@afro.com
AFRO Interns

Bloomberg Philanthropies recently unveiled a $175 million donation to the Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM), marking a major milestone in the school’s history.

“This is a transformational gift, not only for its impact on cultivating the next generation of health professionals, but for its visionary investment in the intergenerational wealth and health of our medical students and the communities they will serve,” said Howard University President Ben Vinson III, Ph.D., in a statement. 

This gift will allow HUCM to reduce student debt costs for its pupils and continue working towards its mission to “advocate for excellence in education and healthcare for underrepresented populations” as the school instructs upcoming cohorts of Black doctors.

HUCM was not Bloomberg Philanthropies’ only gift recipient. This $175 million investment into HUCM was just one of a five-part contribution to historically Black college and university (HBCU) medical schools from Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

“Diversifying the medical field and tackling health inequality are society-wide challenges, and Bloomberg Philanthropies is committed to helping to lead the way in tackling them,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, in a statement. “This gift builds on our earlier investment in these vital institutions, and it will help new generations of Black doctors build a healthier and more equitable future for our country.”

Morehouse School of Medicine and Meharry Medical College also received $175 million, while Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science was given $75 million, each gift proportional to its school’s projected growth and current enrollment numbers. Xavier University of Louisiana also received $5 million in support of their recent efforts to open a new medical school.

This donation, totalling $600 million, marks the largest donation ever made to HBCUs and more than doubles the endowments of three of the medical schools included in the historic gift.

“We have much more to do to build a country where every person, regardless of race, has equal access to quality health care — and where students of all backgrounds have an equal opportunity to pursue their dreams,” Bloomberg said in a statement.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has sued leading online ticket exchange and resale company StubHub, accusing the platform of deceptive pricing. The civil suit was filed in a D.C. trial court on July 31. 

Schwalb accused the company of engaging in “drip pricing,” a strategy where companies initially market a low price to attract consumers and later disclose additional fees during the purchasing process. The charges include fulfillment and service fees. 

“For years, StubHub has illegally deceived District consumers through its convoluted junk fee scheme,” said Schwalb in a July 31 release. “StubHub lures consumers in by advertising a deceptively low price, forces them through a burdensome purchase process and then finally reveals a total on the checkout page that is vastly higher than the originally advertised ticket price. This is no accident—StubHub intentionally hides the true price to boost profits at its customers’ expense.” 

The District houses several professional sports teams, including the Washington Commanders, Nationals and Capitals, as well as 41 entertainment venues and theaters. The attorney general asserts that the city has been disproportionately impacted by StubHub’s practices as visitors and residents spend more per capita on live entertainment than other major destinations, like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

“The District is home to one of the nation’s largest and most vibrant live entertainment scenes, and StubHub’s predatory tactics disproportionately harm District residents,” Schwalb continued. “That is why today we’re suing to end StubHub’s exploitative pricing scheme.” 

In the complaint, Schwalb claims the ticketing platform previously used an all-in-pricing model from 2014 to 2015, which advertised prices that included mandatory fees up front. StubHub then conducted a study to compare the more transparent model against drip pricing. 

During the testing period, the company randomly assigned customers to one of the two pricing strategies. Stubhub discovered that even when the final price was the same, consumers were less likely to buy tickets in the all-in-pricing model. It subsequently implemented drip pricing. 

The lawsuit also asserts that StubHub engages in dark patterns, including creating a false sense of urgency and high demand. According to the complaint, the company has sold nearly 4.9 million tickets to Washingtonians and for District events, amassing $118 million in hidden fees. 

The litigation follows the Federal Trade Commission’s 2023 announcement of a proposed rule that would prohibit hidden and bogus fees for resorts, concert tickets, hotel booking and more. 

StubHub says the back-end fees help the company provide a secure ticket-buying experience. The platform charges a fee when consumers buy and sell tickets on the site. These fees can vary depending on the ticket price, time before the event and supply and demand. 

“StubHub is committed to creating a transparent, secure and competitive marketplace to benefit consumers,” wrote StubHub in a statement to the AFRO. “We are disappointed that the D.C. attorney general is targeting StubHub when our user experience is consistent with the law, our competitors’ practices and the broader e-commerce sector. We strongly support federal and state solutions that enhance existing laws to empower consumers, such as requiring all-in pricing uniformly across platforms.”

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By Willy Blackmore
Word in Black

There has been a wave of endorsements big and small for Vice President Kamala Harris since President Joe Biden announced that he would not run for reelection this year. 

Some were very quick in coming, like Biden’s own endorsement, while others that took a matter of days were still slow enough to create some degree of controversy, namely that of Barack and Michelle Obama. 

But on July 31, Harris got an endorsement that stands out because it’s one President Biden did not receive: The Green New Deal Coalition, which includes more left-leaning and youth-oriented environmental groups like the Sunrise Movement, is backing the vice president in the 2024 race against Donald Trump.

Harris — who served both in the Senate and as the state attorney general in California before becoming the first woman to serve as vice president — mostly shares President Biden’s climate record. But while the administration passed the largest climate bill ever, the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden has still been criticized by groups in the Green New Deal Coalition for not doing enough in the face of the climate crisis. The more left-leaning groups have also been highly critical of his approach to the war on Gaza. So any change at the top of the Democratic ticket is welcomed by the coalition.

“This has really lit a candle of hope for a lot of us that have been in the doldrums for the past year or so,” Kaniela Ing, the coalition’s national director, told Inside Climate News.

The one big material point of difference between Harris and Biden happened during the Obama administration. After plans were finalized to allow oil exploration off the California coast near Santa Barbara for new hydraulic-fracturing wells, then-attorney general Harris sued the federal government. Climate groups have not forgotten that she was willing to challenge Big Oil in such a manner (not to mention her own party), and they want to see more of that from the White House.

Harris was also a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal legislation in the Senate. In the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, she ran on increasing federal spending on climate issues by $10 trillion over a decade, and also advocated for a carbon tax.

There’s a bit of identity politics at play in the endorsement, too, as there likely will be throughout Harris’s historic campaign: The Green New Deal Coalition believes that, as a Black woman, Harris will be an effective advocate.

Willy Blackmore is a freelance writer and editor covering food, culture, and the environment. He lives in Brooklyn.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) joined the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Ward 7 community members on July 25 as she celebrated the grand opening of the new Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge. According to DDOT, the new structure is expected to be used by thousands annually to connect residents with mass transit and different neighborhoods within the ward.

“The new Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge is another example of how we can work with the federal government to upgrade our infrastructure and build more connected communities,” said Bowser in a news release. “We’re grateful for the support of the Biden-Harris Administration, and we look forward to getting more federal dollars out the door and into projects that help us build safer, more accessible and more sustainable communities.”

The new pedestrian bridge, spanning DC I-295, cost $17 million and was funded by around $14 million in federal dollars and $3.4 million in District funds. 

The bridge will bring enhanced pedestrian safety and community connectivity to Ward 7. The Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge includes new quality lighting, access ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards for accessibility and stairs as an alternative route for bridge access. 

“By investing in projects like the Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge, we are keeping communities connected and creating safer pathways for our residents to walk, bike and commute,” said Sharon Kershbaum, DDOT acting director. “Thanks to Mayor Bowser and our federal partners, projects like the Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge, and the soon to be completed reconstruction of the Lane Place Bridge, we are making a meaningful impact by supporting communities, improving accessibility and ensuring residents in every ward can utilize safe, multimodal transportation options.”

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Former President Donald J. Trump, Republican presidential nominee, fueled controversy during a question and answer session at the 2024 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Annual Convention and Career Fair on July 31. 

Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News, opened the conversation by asking Trump to explain why Black voters should vote for him, considering previous insulting comments he has made about Black elected officials and other people of color.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” said Trump, in response to the first question.

“Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network. I think it’s a very rude introduction,” he continued.

Trump evaded a response to the first question, instead taking several digs at Scott, the company she works for and NABJ itself for a late start due to technical difficulties. 

The conversation with the former president caused a stir once it was disclosed to the Black journalists that make up NABJ and the general public. NABJ leadership addressed the controversy around the invitation, emphasizing that they spent months in communication with both political parties about participating in the convention.

Trump said NABJ invited him “under false pretense,” claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris (D) would be in attendance for the session as well. Ultimately, she was not on the stage for the conversation at the convention.

“NABJ has been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January. NABJ was in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team for an in-person panel before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July,” said NABJ President Ken Lemon in a statement. “We were advised by her campaign at the time that her schedule could not accommodate this request.”

Lemon said the last word they received from her campaign, earlier this week, was that Harris would not be available in person or virtually during the convention. Less than an hour before the conversation, NABJ announced that they were in conversation with Harris’ campaign for a live or virtual Q and A in September.

“We are in talks about virtual options in the future and are still working to reach an agreement,” continued Lemon. 

Throughout the session with Trump, moderators tried to move forward with the Q and A by asking questions on some of the most pressing issues for Black Americans, such as the economy and abortion.

On the topic of abortion, Trump said he is proud of the Supreme Court’s move to overturn Roe v. Wade, leaving the decision to each individual state.

“Right now, it’s an amazing thing. It’s out of the federal government, it’s [up to the] states and people are voting,” he said.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, at least 14 states have criminalized abortions.

During the session, Trump doubled down on criticism of Harris’ actions around the border and expressed concern about “Black jobs” being taken by people who enter the U.S. illegally.

“Coming from the border are millions and millions of people that happen to be taking Black jobs,” said Trump. 

When asked to finally answer the question of “What is a ‘Black job?’” Trump stated that “a Black job is anybody that has a job.”

Trump claimed Harris has allowed millions to flock to the border, referring to her as the “border czar” due to Biden assigning her to address the root causes of Central American migration as vice president.

“She’s done a horrible job,” criticized Trump.

Before the Q and A, NABJ convention co-chair Karen Attiah announced her resignation via X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I have decided to step down as co-chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago,” she said. “While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format.”

Lemon backed NABJ’s decision to move forward with Trump’s invitation stating that it was in line with their usual practices concerning political candidates

“It has always been our policy to ensure that candidates know that an invitation is not an endorsement,” said Lemon. “While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable.”

The convention included a live fact-checking option on the NABJ website, which attendees applauded at the event.

Ahead of the session, the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA) issued a strong statement against the invitation, demanding that it be rescinded. 

“I strongly oppose Trump’s participation in the NABJ annual convention and career fair,” declared NNPA National Chair Bobby Henry, via the NNPA Newswire. “The NNPA represents over 250 African American-owned newspapers and media companies and has been a pillar of the Black Press of America for 197 years.”

Henry said Trump’s “divisive rhetoric and actions have harmed marginalized communities, particularly the Black community.” 

“Allowing him a platform at this event undermines the NABJ’s values of inclusion and solidarity and risks normalizing his damaging behavior.”

NABJ was founded on Dec. 12, 1975 by a group of 44 individuals with a focus on providing “quality programs and services to and advocacy for Black journalists worldwide.”

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By Alexis Taylor
AFRO Managing Editor

Residents in the D.C. area are now under a drought watch, according to an alert issued by the Drought Coordination Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). 

The notice came on July 29, and will impact nearly roughly six million people. 

Residents are asked to take a variety of measures to cut down water usage, including reducing showers to five minutes, using garbage disposals as little as possible and holding off on watering lawns and plants unless absolutely necessary.

Officials say they are following the regional drought response plan by initiating the drought watch.  Even though COG officials say there is currently “an adequate supply of water in the Potomac River and back-up reservoirs,” DC Water representatives report the water levels are low enough to cause concern.

At this point in time, COG says “implementing voluntary water conservation practices across the region will help complement measures already in place and reduce water demand and environmental needs of the river.” 

While residents should be on alert, they should not panic. 

“A drought watch is the level in the plan before drought warning, when additional water restrictions are requested and could become mandatory should conditions worsen,” reports the COG. 

DC Water notes that “a drought watch is the second stage in a four-part drought awareness plan…the next step, drought warning, calls for additional water restrictions that could be made mandatory should conditions reach a drought emergency.”

David Gadis, CEO of DC Water, said in a statement that “voluntary conservation measures, no matter how small, will go a long way in our efforts to ensure we can continue to provide this critical resource to the homes and businesses we serve.”

Residents are encouraged to turn off their water while brushing their teeth, address leaky faucets and only wash full loads of clothes to do their part during the drought watch. 

Landscapers should use mulch in their yards to conserve moisture and plants should be watered in the morning hours to hold off evaporation that takes place quicker during hotter times of the day. 

According to information released by DC Water, “the Potomac River is the main source of water for much of the region, including DC Water customers. Despite recent rainfall, the drought risk remains with hot, dry conditions expected to persist.”

Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded multiple days of high heat. On July 14, a high of 101 degrees fahrenheit was recorded, followed by 102 degrees on July 15 and 104 degree temperatures on July 16. 

The drought watch went into effect just days before D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a heat emergency on July 31 and reminded District residents that there are cooling centers throughout the city. The centers are located at a total of 31 recreation centers and 26 libraries. Residents can get a free ride to a cooling center if they are in need of transportation by calling 311. 

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

Since 2006 the African Diaspora International Film Festival D.C., (ADIFF D.C.) has provided the D.C. area with an annual festival that highlights Black films from all across the world. This year’s festival is scheduled to take place Aug. 2-4 at George Washington University, located at 2121 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 

With a focus on highlighting the experiences, perspectives and issues that affect communities of African descent from around the globe, ADIFF is proud to showcase their lineup of films this year. Event attendees can anticipate topics such as women’s rights, colorism, homosexuality and gender segregation to be the focal point of some of this year’s films.

“It is a celebration of the human experience in the African world. When I say the African world, I’m referring to Africa as a continent, but also its diaspora,” said Mwiza Muthali, founder and co-director of Africa World Now. “These are the stories and various experiences of African peoples worldwide on film. You’ll notice in this festival there’ll be new films, but there are a couple of films from the past as well. We want to show those, to remind people how some of the issues that have taken place within the African world are still going on.”

When the festival first started, ADIFF D.C. was partnering with Trans Africa, but the organizations parted ways in 2014. Since then, Africa World Now has been partnering with ADIFF D.C. to bring the District a lineup of films that are giving depth to the lives of people throughout the African diaspora.

ADIFF has four annual festivals that take place throughout the year in Chicago, D.C., Paris and New York. Filmmaker Charles Uwagbai spoke to the AFRO about his film “The Wall Street Boy,” which is due to make its U.S. premiere at the D.C., festival. 

“‘The Wall Street Boy” was a collaboration between Canadians and Kenyans because we shot part of it in Kenya and part of it in Canada. It follows the story of a young boy, he’s a mathematician who created an algorithm that changes the stock market and it shows the whole world coming to steal that equation from him,” he said. “One thing I really like about this film is the positive message that it carries. A lot of times when we tell African stories it’s always about the suffering, but this story carries a very positive message. For once we can see the bright lights shining from a little village in Kenya and the whole world is crawling to get that thing that he has.” 

Uwagbai’s film is one of many that will be making their debut in the states. The grand opening film for this year’s festival is “Breaking Boundaries,” a documentary that follows the journey of a young, bi-racial woman who dreams of creating a legacy as a woman of color in rhythmic gymnastics. 

“The grand opening film is ‘Breaking Boundaries’ and it’s about a young lady who was trying to compete in the 2020 Olympics. She’s one of the few Black people to compete in the rhythmic gymnastics event,” said Muthali. “She was one of the top rated gymnasts in the USA for that event. This is a documentary following her journey.”

Following the film’s premiere, there will be a question and answer panel with the star of the film, Stasya Generlova. 

The three-day event is also scheduled to premiere a short film series, “Fighting White Supremacy: The African American Experience.” The three films featured in the series are “Keepers of the Flame,” “Judging Juries” and “How We Get Free.” All of the films focus on the battle against White supremacy throughout the U.S.

The festival’s series of events is truly helping reshape the narrative surrounding Black communities all across the world. Uwagbai explained how much he enjoys being able to share his work with a bunch of different audiences across the world due to the festival taking place in different cities. 

“When I make a film, I want to share it with the world. This festival is amazing because it doesn’t happen in one place,” said Uwagbai. “They’re really taking the message ahead and doing the work for you in terms of promoting the film and the work that you’ve done.” 

With 17 years of experience under their belt, ADIFF D.C., has much more to offer. Muthali explained that although Africa World Now is an activist organization, they began to do the film festival to help provide an outlet for filmmakers of African descent and to help provide a more accurate depiction of Black life.

“We have the film festivals to provide an avenue for filmmakers of African descent to present their stories. In the mainstream distribution system, African stories are not given a space there,” he said “The reason why we started presenting films, even though we’re an activist organization, is to give people a perspective as we’re doing our activism.”

“We want people to have a total understanding of the Black experience  because once you have a total understanding of the people and the culture then it’s easier to work on policy related issues.”

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – A group of well-known Black Democratic leaders unveiled Project FREEDOM, a fresh strategy to combat Project 2025, a contentious 922-page plan to reform the federal government put forth by a conservative Washington think tank and other political allies.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have repeatedly warned in campaign speeches that if Donald Trump wins a second term, he plans to use the conservative blueprint to exert unprecedented presidential power, eliminate the Department of Education and federal housing assistance, and significantly cut or restrict food stamps and other social welfare programs.

Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, calling some of the proposals “seriously extreme,” but its architects helped shape his Republican Party platform. 

Project FREEDOM, the organizers said in a virtual news conference, is designed to engage Black voters in four key battleground areas.

In the plan, the group says it aims to mobilize voters of color through town halls, community events, digital campaigns and phone banks in Michigan, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and the Pennsylvania/Tri-State area.

Project FREEDOM aims to provide voters with a substantial policy agenda for Democrats ahead of the November election, offering a clear and precise contrast to Project 2025. 

Organizers say Project FREEDOM is based on four pillars: Freedom to Live, Freedom to Learn, Freedom to Vote, and Freedom to Thrive.

“When people show you who they really are, you have a responsibility to speak your truth. Project FREEDOM is our opportunity to speak in one collective voice and say, ‘This will not stand,” said Rev. Michael McBride, co-founder of Black Church PAC and the National Black Brown Gun Violence Prevention Consortium, which work to center Black and Brown gun violence prevention practitioners and scale up life-saving interventions related to urban and communal violence.

They said Freedom to Live is born from the idea that the Black community should be able to “live freely and without fear.” Organizers are calling for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which Republicans in the U.S. Senate have stalled. 

“The way to really engage voters to go to the polls is to make sure they know we’re not just going for a celebratory vote. Instead, we’re going to the polls with our bag of demands with us,” said Tamika Mallory, co-founder of Until Freedom, an intersectional social justice organization.

Mallory emphasized the need to address income inequality, educational challenges and police violence. She referenced the case of Sonya Massey, an unarmed 36-year-old Black woman and mother of two, who was fatally shot by former deputy Sean Grayson in her Illinois home. Grayson’s troubled history in law enforcement, including prior disciplinary issues, highlights systemic problems in policing that Project FREEDOM aims to address.

Meanwhile, Freedom to Thrive calls for expanding the Child Tax Credit, increasing the federal minimum wage to match inflation, and a pilot program for universal basic income in low-income communities nationwide. 

Additionally, Freedom to Learn focuses on education, including canceling student debt and protecting Black American history in public schools. 

Freedom to Vote aims to strengthen voting rights, advocate for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act’s passage, and reshape the U.S. Supreme Court.

Michael Blake, founder of Project FREEDOM and CEO of KAIROS Democracy Project, emphasized the urgency of the initiative. 

“Our democracy is under siege by a man and political machine that put themselves above all those in whom they detect ‘otherness,’” said Blake, a former vice chair of the Democratic Party.

“We cannot afford to forget the pain inflicted on our people throughout Donald Trump’s administration, and we certainly cannot afford the destructiveness a second term would normalize,” Blake stated.

Project FREEDOM officials said, “Make no mistake: Communities of color are the frontline communities targeted by the poison that is Project 2025’s Christian Nationalist vision for the future, and Project FREEDOM is the antidote.”

The post Project FREEDOM unveiled to combat controversial project appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Christine Fernando
The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — ” Brats for Harris.” ” We need a Kamalanomenon. ” ” Gen Z feels the Kamalove.”

In the days since President Joe Biden exited the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Gen Z voters jumped to social media to share coconut tree and “brat summer” memes — reflecting a stark shift in tone for a generation that’s voiced feeling left behind by the Democratic Party.

Youth-led progressive organizations have warned for months that Biden had a problem with young voters, pleading with the president to work more closely with them to refocus on the issues most important to younger generations or risk losing their votes. With Biden out of the race, many of these young leaders are now hoping Harris can overcome his faltering support among Gen Z and harness a new explosion of energy among young voters.

Since July 21, statements have poured out from youth-led organizations across the country, including in Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, Minnesota, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as leaders thanked Biden for stepping aside and celebrated the opportunity to organize around a new candidate. On July 26, a coalition of 17 youth-led groups endorsed Harris.

“This changes everything,” said Zo Tobi, director of communication for the Movement Voter Project, a national progressive funding group focusing on youth-led organizations, when he heard the news that Biden was dropping out of the race and endorsing Harris. “The world as it is suddenly shifted into the world as it could be.”

As the campaign enters a new phase, both Harris and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, are expected to target messages aimed at younger voters who could prove decisive in some of the most hotly contested states. 

Trump spoke late July 26 at a Turning Point USA conference and Harris plans to deliver a virtual address July 27 to Voters of Tomorrow, an organization focused on young voters.

John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, who has worked with Biden, said the “white-hot energy” among young people is something he hasn’t seen since former President Barack Obama’s campaign. While there’s little reliable polling so far, he described the dynamic as “a combination of the hopefulness we saw with Obama and the urgency and fight we saw after the Parkland shooting.”

In many ways, it was the first time many young people felt heard and felt like their actions could have an impact on politics, he and several young leaders said.

“It’s reset this election in profound ways,” he said. “People, especially young people, for so long, for so many important reasons have been despondent about politics, despondent about the direction of the country. It’s weighed on them. And then they wake up the next morning, and it seems like everything’s changed.”

About 6 in 10 adults under 30 voted for Biden in 2020, according to AP VoteCast, but his ratings with the group have dipped substantially since then, with only about a quarter of the group saying they had a favorable opinion of him in the most recent AP-NORC poll, conducted before Biden withdrew from the race.

That poll, along with polls from The New York Times/Siena and from CNN that were conducted after Biden dropped out, suggest that Harris starts off with somewhat better favorable ratings than Biden among young adults.

Sunjay Muralitharan, vice president of College Democrats of America, said it felt like a weight was lifted off his chest when Harris entered the race.

Despite monthly coalition calls between youth-led groups and the Biden campaign, Muralitharan spent months worrying about how Biden would fare among young voters as he watched young people leave organizations such as the College Democrats and Young Democrats to join more leftist groups.

College Democrats issued statements and social media posts encouraging the party to prioritize young people and to change course on the war in Gaza and have “worked tirelessly to get College Dems programming” at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this summer. But they received limited outreach in return, Muralitharan said.

A Harris campaign represents an opportunity to move in a new direction, he said. The vice president has shown her vocal support for issues important to young voters such as climate change and reproductive rights, Muralitharan said, adding that she may also be able to change course and distance herself from Biden’s approach to the war in Gaza.

“The perpetual roadblock we’ve run into is that Biden is the lesser of two evils and his impact on the crisis in Gaza,” he said. “For months, we’ve been given this broken script that’s made it difficult for us to organize young voters. But that changes now.”

Santiago Mayer, executive director of the Gen Z voter engagement organization Voters of Tomorrow, said the Biden campaign “created an entirely new framework for operating with youth organizations” that can now be transitioned into supporting Harris’ campaign.

“Gen Z loves VP Harris, and VP Harris loves Gen Z,” he said. “So we’re ready to get to work for her.”

___

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com

The D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) has endorsed a call to cut deference to donor families and halt legacy admissions in the District’s private and public colleges. During a July 14 public meeting, the board voted 8-1 to pass Resolution SR24-16.  Testimonies from a number of Georgetown University students were given.

Many of the student advocates argued that the practice stifles diversity, preventing low-income and Black and Brown students from accessing equitable opportunity in higher education, particularly at prestigious institutions. Rising sophomore Darius Wagner dubbed it “affirmative action for the White and wealthy.” 

“At Georgetown alone, there are more students from the top 1 percent than the bottom 60 percent. Students from the top 1 percent are 2.7 times more likely to attend Georgetown than an average income student with the same exact test score,” said Wagner. “There are more legacy students at Georgetown than Black and Hispanic students, respectively. It’s clear that this pattern of fast-tracking is giving advantages to people who already have advantages.” 

The first-generation student contended that legacy students begin amassing privileges from birth. They may have access to tutors and better elementary, middle and high school education. They may be able to participate in more extracurricular activities. 

He also noted that they benefit from having a parent who already attended college. 

“All of these benefits are already provided to affluent students, and then they get another added boost in the admission process. We fundamentally think that’s unfair,” said Wagner. “We know that ending legacy admissions is going to be one step, but an important step, in helping us ensure that there’s more fairness in this process and in increasing and protecting the diversity of our institutions.” 

SBOE Representative Eric Goulet, of Ward 3, championed the students’ perspectives. He called D.C. a tale of two cities, where its racial divide between the East and West aligns with a sharp economic opportunity gap. 

He cited racial disparities in unemployment, income and child poverty. 

“Having a tool that preserves the status quo is something we need to abolish. To be clear, we’re not even fully abolishing it in this resolution,” said Goulet during the meeting. “We are demanding that if universities want to retain the ability to consider legacy preference in their admissions, they’ve got to do better in reaching out and bringing in more students who are eligible for Pell grants. , we can bring in students from lower incomes, diverse backgrounds and bring racial and economic equity to higher education.”

President Eboni-Rose Thompson, of Ward 7, was the only board member who opposed the resolution. She pointed out that a ban on legacy admissions would also inhibit Black and Brown alumni from passing on advantages to their families. 

“You have wealthy, White people who have been able to amass not just privilege, but everything else over generations, of generations, of generations, of generations,” said Thompson. “Then, as you start to get people who now could benefit and are Black, Brown and first-generation college students, you say to them you can’t use that to build your family or your community.” 

The board’s decision does not mean an automatic end to legacy and donor admission preferences in District colleges. However, it is a signal to the D.C. Council to pass the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, which prohibits the practice. 

The bill was introduced in 2022 by New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. States, including Virginia, Maryland and Colorado, have also already banned legacy admissions through state legislation. 

“We want the D.C. Council to see that while this did start with just a few students concerned about fairness in education, these concerns have been recognized,” said Wagner. “This is an issue that D.C. should prioritize.” 

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

D.C. leaders gathered at the John A. Wilson Building on the evening of July 17 to celebrate the John Lewis National Day of Commemoration and Action. Lewis, who died on July 17, 2020, was well known for his persistent work as an American civil rights leader and legislator.

“We have to be careful that we don’t lose the history. We know that there is a systematic attempt to erase the history,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), during the live-streamed ceremony. “We have to make sure that our children, our new activists, our voting educators are reminding everyone of the remarkable life of John Lewis.”

Lewis was largely known for leading the Selma March in 1965 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. The significant event of the civil rights movement was abruptly ended by police violence, which included tear gassing and assaulting unarmed marchers with billy clubs. 

“At 23, he became the youngest speaker at the March on Washington. At 25 he was on the Edmund Pettus Bridge,” said Barbara Arnwine, president of the Transformative Justice Coalition. “He didn’t need a doctor’s degree. He didn’t need a law degree. What he needed, as everybody has mentioned, was God-given courage. Afterward, what happened? The president of the United States introduced the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and it passed! For fifty years John Lewis, for the remainder of his life, was a champion of voting rights.”

“He was a dear friend of mine and the last time I saw him it was in the halls of Congress where we had just passed the then-called Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 in December of that year,” said Arnwine. “He gave me a hug and when I felt him I knew something was wrong. I said Lord, protect our brother. We are standing here today not just to celebrate, but we’re standing here today because we know his legacy and we are saying to his spirit, ‘we’re going to finish the job.’”

Bowser uplifted the importance of voting in this year’s election, what’s at stake and the ongoing call for D.C.’s statehood. The call for D.C. to be recognized as a state is partly to ensure adequate representation in Congress for the more than 678,000 District residents and reduce Congress’ legislative authority over the D.C. Council.

“What John Lewis fought for, what so many people fought for, we know is on the ballot this year. On Nov. 5, Americans will go – all the states, all of the territories and of course the best city in the world – and cast our ballots for, I believe, how we will save our democracy and our right to vote,” said Bowser. “We are especially concerned in Washington, D.C. We want to ensure our already limited autonomy is not further trampled on.”

The post Mayor Bowser celebrates legacy of legendary civil rights leader John Lewis appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By D. Kevin McNeir 
Special to the AFRO 

Montgomery County Police Department expands drone program 

If you’re outside at night over the next few months in Montgomery County, Md. – the region located just north of the District – and you hear buzzing above your head, have no fear. It’s not a UFO!

A program undertaken by the Montgomery County Police Department, in which they are employing about a dozen drones to improve public safety, has officially launched. 

The County counts as one of thousands of public safety agencies across the U.S. now using drones for a variety of public safety purposes. Officials in Montgomery County say their program is designed to send out drones to specific scenes when 911 calls are received. The drones arrive ahead of units responding on the ground and are now being referred to as “first responders.”

On July 17, after the public shared mostly positive views in a community meeting about drones inside of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School auditorium, the decision was made to expand the drone program into Bethesda, Md.

The County currently has a pilot drone program helping police fight crime in “real time” in Silver Spring and Wheaton. Officially, the program is called the “Drone as First Responder” Program – “DFR” for short – and it’s used to make it easier for police to secure real time information on incidents. 

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D), speaking at the meeting last week, said the drones have made a real difference and that he’s pleased that the program continues to be expanded throughout the county. 

Prince George’s County teacher keeps job in wake of hair braiding TikTok video 

When Marquise White shared a TikTok of his students taking his braids out during class on May 5, he could not have anticipated that the video would go viral – garnering more than 7.4 million views and 21,000 comments with mixed reactions. 

But the video–and the negative backlash which followed– led to an investigation by school district officials, jeopardizing his job and career. 

White said his students’ parents approved of his TikToks and when speaking to the press in May, said he believed that he was being attacked and accused of impropriety because “I’m a young, handsome, Black man.” 

But according to the school district’s code of conduct, teachers must adhere to “personal boundaries by maintaining proper space” and “demonstrate appropriate behaviors.” Furthermore, teachers are discouraged from recording the faces or voices of students unless the class focuses on career technology or the performing arts.

Now, with classes set to resume in just over a month, White’s case has been dismissed and he will be allowed to return to the classroom in August. 

Maryland’s highly touted unemployment rate now higher than Virginia’s 

Maryland’s unemployment rate has risen significantly over the past 12 months. In June 2023, it was just 1.9 percent, but has since increased to 2.8 percent. 

Meanwhile, Virginia’s unemployment rate remains unchanged at 2.7 percent, which is lower than Maryland’s for the first time in years.

Still, both Maryland and Virginia have unemployment rates below the national average. The national average rose in June to 4.1 percent, up from 3.6 percent a year earlier. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland counts as one of eight states that reported increases in their unemployment rates. 

As for the District, when compared to states, Washington, D.C., in June, had the highest unemployment rate at 5.4 percent, followed by both Nevada and California at 5.2 percent.   

Hyattsville center among beneficiaries of $2M grant to support Maryland’s homeless youth

Shelters that support youth homelessness in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties have learned that they will receive sorely needed financial assistance. The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently presented a check for $2 million dollars to Maryland’s Youth Homelessness System Improvement. 

One beneficiary includes Sasha Bruce Youthwork’s new center, located in Hyattsville, Md., which opened as part of their B-E-Z (be easy) Drop-in Program.

According to Donnell Potts, chief of programs, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, the services offered at the center, which include food, entertainment, basic necessities and case management, are provided with the goal of assisting 250 homeless youth and preventing 50 more from becoming homeless in Prince George’s County. 

Each year, an estimated 4.2 million youth and youth adults experience homelessness in the U.S., 700,000 of whom are unaccompanied minors – which means they are not part of a family or accompanied by a parent or guardian. In 2023, one in 30 youth ages 13-17 experienced homelessness over a 12-month period in the U.S.

Based on data from the D.C.-based National Network for Youth, instability in their homes forces many youth out onto the streets with child abuse, domestic violence, parental substance use or family conflict among the factors that often lead to youth homelessness.

Meanwhile, specific subpopulations of youth face a higher risk for homelessness: Black youth face an 83 percent increased risk than their white peers; Hispanic youth face a 33 percent increased risk; LGBTQIA+ youth were more than twice as likely to have experienced homelessness; and youth who do not complete high school are 3.5 times more likely to experience homelessness than peers who completed a high school diploma.

Services and shelters throughout Maryland whose primary mission is to assist and support youth who are experiencing homelessness will receive funds from the $2M grant.

Stay tuned. 

The post Hot off the press: News impacting the Black community in D.C., Maryland and Virginia area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) has endorsed a call to cut deference to donor families and halt legacy admissions in the District’s private and public colleges. During a July 14 public meeting, the board voted 8-1 to pass Resolution SR24-16.  Testimonies from a number of Georgetown University students were given.

Many of the student advocates argued that the practice stifles diversity, preventing low-income and Black and Brown students from accessing equitable opportunity in higher education, particularly at prestigious institutions. Rising sophomore Darius Wagner dubbed it “affirmative action for the White and wealthy.” 

“At Georgetown alone, there are more students from the top 1 percent than the bottom 60 percent. Students from the top 1 percent are 2.7 times more likely to attend Georgetown than an average income student with the same exact test score,” said Wagner. “There are more legacy students at Georgetown than Black and Hispanic students, respectively. It’s clear that this pattern of fast-tracking is giving advantages to people who already have advantages.” 

The first-generation student contended that legacy students begin amassing privileges from birth. They may have access to tutors and better elementary, middle and high school education. They may be able to participate in more extracurricular activities. 

He also noted that they benefit from having a parent who already attended college. 

“All of these benefits are already provided to affluent students, and then they get another added boost in the admission process. We fundamentally think that’s unfair,” said Wagner. “We know that ending legacy admissions is going to be one step, but an important step, in helping us ensure that there’s more fairness in this process and in increasing and protecting the diversity of our institutions.” 

SBOE Representative Eric Goulet, of Ward 3, championed the students’ perspectives. He called D.C. a tale of two cities, where its racial divide between the East and West aligns with a sharp economic opportunity gap. 

He cited racial disparities in unemployment, income and child poverty. 

“Having a tool that preserves the status quo is something we need to abolish. To be clear, we’re not even fully abolishing it in this resolution,” said Goulet during the meeting. “We are demanding that if universities want to retain the ability to consider legacy preference in their admissions, they’ve got to do better in reaching out and bringing in more students who are eligible for Pell grants. [Then], we can bring in students from lower incomes, diverse backgrounds and bring racial and economic equity to higher education.”

President Eboni-Rose Thompson, of Ward 7, was the only board member who opposed the resolution. She pointed out that a ban on legacy admissions would also inhibit Black and Brown alumni from passing on advantages to their families. 

“You have wealthy, White people who have been able to amass not just privilege, but everything else over generations, of generations, of generations, of generations,” said Thompson. “Then, as you start to get people who now could benefit and are Black, Brown and first-generation college students, you say to them you can’t use that to build your family or your community.” 

The board’s decision does not mean an automatic end to legacy and donor admission preferences in District colleges. However, it is a signal to the D.C. Council to pass the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, which prohibits the practice. 

The bill was introduced in 2022 by New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. States, including Virginia, Maryland and Colorado, have also already banned legacy admissions through state legislation. 

“We want the D.C. Council to see that while this did start with just a few students concerned about fairness in education, these concerns have been recognized,” said Wagner. “This is an issue that D.C. should prioritize.” 

The post D.C. Board of Education passes resolution in support of nixing legacy admissions appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has unveiled the first cars of the Metro’s new Purple Line. The light rail line is expected to open between Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in 2027.  

“Celebrating the arrival of the Purple Line’s first light rail vehicle is the latest significant  milestone in getting this much-needed new transit line up and running,” said Maryland  Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedenfeld.  

When completed, the Purple Line will extend 16 miles from New Carrollton, winding through Riverdale Park, College Park, Langley Park/Takoma Park and other central Prince  George’s County communities, and will end in Bethesda, Montgomery County, with 21 total stops. 

MDOT officials said the Purple Line is now more than halfway done.  

“With thousands of feet of rail track installed and 16 or 21 stations now under construction, we are happy to announce the project is more than 65% complete,”  announced Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold.  

Purple Line construction originally started in 2017 with the rail line originally slated to  start operating in 2022. However, in 2020, construction stalled on the project for more  than a year when the original contractor withdrew from the contract after numerous  disputes with state government about cost overruns.  

Construction resumed in summer 2022. But residents like Brittney Drakeford, an organizer with the Capitol Heights Farmer’s Market, noticed the impact of endless construction and long delays on low- and moderate-wealth neighborhoods located along the route of the rail project in Prince George’s County. 

Costs for the rail project have also ballooned, now close to $4 billion, said Arnold.

“Communities have been overwhelmed with the disruption of a transportation project  that has impacted their daily lives for years,” Drakeford said.  

This past spring, Drakeford and partners from the Greater Capitol Heights Improvement  Association developed the Blue Line Corridor Civic Leadership Institute. Organizers want to see more Black, low- and moderate-wealth residents in Prince George’s County armed with the tools needed to research, write and advocate for their own proposals about development in Purple Line light rail communities as well as other planned county  and state development proposals.  

 “We talk about equitable development and equitable design,” Drakeford said. “We go  through how to actually advocate for your needs in the public arena and where  community members can get data to support what we see and know about our  communities.”

The Purple Line Corridor Commission, a similar community organization focused on the needs of Silver Spring residents impacted by the proposed Purple Line, posted an editorial in the Baltimore Sun on May 19, expressing their concern about rising housing prices already impacting communities close to Purple Line rail stations.  

The post Purple Line trains unveiled; Prince George’s communities weigh in appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

(NNPA Newswire) – The Apollo Theater, Harlem’s legendary cultural institution, has made history by earning a rare Kennedy Center Honors, one of the highest accolades in the arts. For 90 years, the Apollo has been the heart of American culture, nurturing emerging artists, launching legends, and serving as a center of innovation for Harlem, New York City, and the world. As the largest performing arts institution dedicated to Black culture and creativity, the Apollo has significantly influenced popular culture globally.

The Kennedy Center’s recognition marks the first time a venue, rather than an individual performer, has received this prestigious award.

“We are thrilled to be the first organization honored in the history of the Kennedy Center Awards, emphasizing The Apollo’s impact on the past, present, and future of American culture and the performing arts,” stated Michelle Ebanks, president and CEO of The Apollo.

The 47th Kennedy Center Honors will also celebrate the lifetime achievements of director and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola; blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer Arturo Sandoval; and the surviving members of the countercultural rock band the Grateful Dead.

“I am profoundly humbled and deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors,” Sandoval said. “This recognition is an extraordinary milestone in my career.”

Raitt said she’s “deeply honored and thrilled to have been chosen to receive one of this year’s Center Honors. There is no higher level of esteem nor as delightful a celebration.”

Frances Ford Coppola reflected on his career and the honor, stating, “There’s no greater honor than to be included along with those who inspired me, who I looked up to, and who gave me encouragement when times were dim.”

The Grateful Dead has always been about community, creativity, and exploration in music and presentation, stated the band’s Bob Weir. “We’ve always felt that the music we make embodies and imparts something beyond the notes and phrases being played—and that is something we are privileged to share with all who are drawn to what we do—so it also must be said that our music belongs as much to our fans, the Dead Heads, as it does to us,” he continued. “This honor, then, is as much theirs as ours.”

The Kennedy Center Honors, which raises funds for the Kennedy Center in Northwest Washington, D.C., will be held on Dec. 8 and aired on CBS on Dec. 23.

Meanwhile, for 90 years, the Apollo has served as a testing ground for new artists working across various art forms and ushering in the emergence of musical genres, including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul and hip hop. The countless legendary artists who launched their careers at The Apollo’s “Amateur Night,” the original, large-scale talent show and one of the longest-running continuous events in New York City, include Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly and Miri Ben Ari. 

The Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. During its 90th anniversary season, the organization opened The Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater, marking the institution’s first-ever major expansion and renovation. It also began plans to restore and renovate its historic theater. Officials said this will allow The Apollo to increase performances and educational and community programs and expand its support for artists and other cultural organizations.

“From the longest-running talent show in America with, Amateur Night at The Apollo, which launched the careers of icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill, to performances from beloved legends like Smokey Robinson and Lil’ Kim and today’s biggest stars like Drake, The Apollo has always been a home for artists to create and a home for audiences to see incredible music and art from legendary artists,” Ebanks said.

The post Apollo Theater makes history with Kennedy Center honor appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire

In an unprecedented display of unity and determination, over 50,000 Black men gathered on a July 22 Zoom call hosted by Roland Martin’s Black Star Network, raising over $1.3 million for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. This powerful show of support came just a day after 40,000 Black women joined in a similar Zoom call, generating about $2 million for Harris and sending a resounding message of solidarity and resolve.

The men’s call, led by Martin and co-hosted by Bakari Sellers and others, was a powerful statement against former President Donald Trump, who has been twice impeached and convicted of 34 felonies. Martin, visibly moved, tweeted, “I have no words. And not just because I’m tired. My @BlkStarNetwork just told me that 53,862 people registered for our #WinWithBlackMen video call. We raised $1.3 million and counting from 17,000 donors.”

Bakari Sellers shared a poignant story that underscored Harris’s compassion and unwavering support. He recounted a harrowing time in 2019 when one of his twin daughters was born with a rare liver condition. 

“The first person to call me was Kamala Harris. I am not sure people understand the pain and suffering that goes along with being a Black man in this country,” Sellers said. “I am not sure people understand what it means to stand strong in this country. To have your back against the wall. But I am going to stand with her because she stood with me during my darkest moment when I almost lost my daughter. When I had to protect my wife.”

The Zoom call resonated with the slogan, “We Rocking with Kamala Harris,” reflecting the participants’ unyielding support. This extraordinary event followed President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would not seek the Democratic nomination, prompting the Win with Black Women network to organize a Zoom call showcasing their preparedness to back Harris.

The women’s call drew an astonishing 40,000 attendees and featured influential speakers such as Reps. Joyce Beatty, Maxine Waters, and Jasmine Crockett. These leaders passionately emphasized the vital role of Black women in the upcoming election and shared compelling stories about Harris that highlighted her qualifications and leadership qualities. Distinguished attendees included D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Maryland Senate hopeful Angela Alsobrooks, civil rights leader Bernice King, and Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown. “We have a plan. This is not arbitrary. We are ready,” asserted Holli Holiday, one of the call’s moderators.

The energy was electric, with attendees voicing their readiness to work tirelessly to elect Harris. “This is work. Roll up your sleeves; we got work to do,” one attendee urged. Another declared, “Fired up and ready for this moment led by an intergenerational legion of Black women. Let’s get to work. Let’s gather our sons, daughters, nieces, and nephews. Let’s do what Black women do!”

In a less-publicized yet equally significant gathering, a large group of Black men and boys convened in Atlanta to discuss the state of America and the importance of Harris’s candidacy against Trump in the 2024 election. These weekly discussions are critical for spreading accurate information and countering misinformation.

“The reason that we’ve gathered tonight is that there is so much misinformation, disinformation, that is being put out. So, we wanted thought leaders from across the political spectrum to come in tonight and talk directly to Black men about what they know, what they experience, and what some of the real statistics and facts are,” said Attorney Mawuli Mel Davis, co-founder of the non-profit hosting these discussions. “That’s critically important because the sources of our information are important for us to make sure that we’re basing our decisions on good quality information.”

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

The post Solidarity in action: Black Americans raise millions for Harris, send strong message against Trump appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Mekhi Abbott
AFRO Intern
mabbott@afro.com

With rising temperatures and a heat wave hitting the D.C.-Maryland area youth athletes in the area are feeling the effects of the rising temperatures. 

On June 8, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced an extended heat emergency amidst a heat wave that has been plaguing the D.C.-Maryland area for the past few weeks. With temperatures over 90 degrees on most days of the past three weeks and heat indexes over 100 degrees, both Mayor Bowser and Gov. Wes Moore have advised D.C. and Maryland residents to plan for the historic heat wave appropriately. 

“The health and safety of Marylanders is our top priority. By declaring a State of Preparedness, I am directing the Department of Emergency Management to coordinate the comprehensive preparation of State government ahead of potential impacts because of the extreme heat and humidity,” said Moore in a press release. 

According to a study released by Associate Athletics Director David Klossner at the University of Maryland, the director of National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kristen L. Kucera, Ph.D. and others, over 50 high school football players have passed away due to heat stroke in the past 25 years. Women’s cross country is actually the sport whose athletes have the highest risk of being affected by heat stroke.

Although the study shows that deaths in the sport of football are “rare but tragic events,” extreme heat and added weight from the equipment such as helmets and shoulder pads can heavily impact the safety of young athletes, exposing them to heightened levels of bodily malfunctions. Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death amongst young athletes.

In January 2024, Philip and Ashanta Laster filed a lawsuit against the Rankin County School system after their son Philip “Trey” Laster died from a cardiac arrhythmia after collapsing during an afternoon football practice in Aug. 2022. 

“No child should ever be in danger of losing their life in pursuit of a passion, especially under the supervision and instruction of adults who should know when to stop pushing these young athletes,” attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Laster against the Rankin county school district, said in a news release. “Trey’s tragic death could have been, and should have been, prevented by those in charge, and shows a troubling lack of adherence to guidelines surrounding heat exhaustion prevention.”

In February, cross country runner Memphis Zabawa suffered a cardiac arrest episode while running at a meet according to heart.org. The seventh grader, who also suffers from asthma, was able to make a 100 percent recovery from the incident, thanks in part to people at the cross country meet who performed CPR. Athletes with asthma can be even more predisposed to cardiac related incidents when temperatures are high.

The post How climate change is affecting youth sports appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By AFRO Staff

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) announced his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris on July 22 after President Joe Biden stepped down the day before and put his full support behind Harris. 

“The American people deserve a champion who will continue the progress of the Biden-Harris Administration, and that’s why I am proud to voice my full support and offer my full endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee for president,” said Moore. “I had lengthy conversations with both the president and the vice president yesterday, and I offered my full support for Kamala Harris’ candidacy to both of them directly.”

“Vice President Harris has the experience, record, vision and wisdom to unify the country. She will have the unique ability to energize the Democratic Party base and mobilize a unique coalition, and we must rally around her and elect her to serve as the next president of the United States,” continued Moore.

Harris has already filed with the Federal Election Committee (FEC) as a presidential candidate and changed the “Biden for President” campaign slogan to “Harris for President.” 

Many Democrats were quick to put their support behind Harris, including former President Bill Clinton and former candidate for president Hillary Clinton also put their full support behind Harris.

“We are honored to join the president in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her,” they said. “We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term. Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it.”

Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman released a statement announcing that Maryland Democratic National Convention Delegates met virtually on July 22 and unanimously voted to endorse Harris.

“Vice President Kamala Harris possesses experience that uniquely qualifies her to serve as President of the United States, a strong track record of delivering for the American people on the heels of the Biden-Harris Administration and the leadership to unite the party through this unprecedented time,” said Ulman. “The Maryland Democratic Delegation stands unanimously behind her candidacy, eager to cast our votes for her and campaign vigorously for a historic victory this November.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen also weighed in on the announcement with a statement sent to members of the press.

“Kamala Harris has fought tirelessly to advance the aspirations of every American and build an inclusive economy that supports working Americans, families and seniors,” said Van Hollen. “Having served with her in the senate, and worked closely together during her time as vice president, I’ve seen firsthand that she has what it takes to defeat Trump this November and to continue moving our nation forward. The stakes for our democracy could not be higher – and I’m committed to working alongside Vice President Harris to get the job done.”

Delegates will cast their votes for Harris during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19-22.

Word that Moore planned to endorse Harris came through Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, who joined a late-night July 21 Zoom call hosted by Win With Black Women, a national network of Black women leaders. The meeting was closed to the press and off the record for those present. 

More than 40,000 Black women joined the call that concluded after midnight on July 22. While Zoom usually caps audience size at 1,000, a participant on the call reached out to leaders of the company and had the restriction lifted. Attendees described the occasion as “electrifying” and “encouraging.” As a result of the call, more than 1.5 million dollars were raised during the meeting. 

Dozens of prominent Black women, including elected officials and leaders of national organizations including the Divine Nine, spoke in support of Harris for president.  Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks gave comments, as well as CEO and President of the National Council of Negro Women President Shavon Arline-Bradley; Dr. Johnnetta Cole; Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif- 43); U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30); Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-3); Bernice King, who said this is the first time she’s ever publicly endorsed a presidential candidate, and Bishop Vashti McKenzie.  

The post Kamala Harris endorsed for president by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, other Maryland leaders appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Democratic Party says it’s an inclusive of women and people of color. It’s time to prove it and get behind Kamala Harris.

By Keith Boykin
Word in Black

“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black,
examines the issues, the candidates, and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election.

“There are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen.”  

That’s what it felt like this week when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race for re-election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s new nominee.

Now the party must unite behind Kamala Harris, allow her to pick a new running mate, and move on to defeat Donald Trump.

After weeks of Democratic in-fighting, Biden’s historic withdrawal shifts the momentum away from the Republican Party and back toward the Democrats heading into their convention in Chicago next month.

The great stunt queen, Donald Trump, thought he won the publicity wars last week when he dramatically announced his new running mate, the inexperienced freshman Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and told the world the story of surviving an assassination attempt in his rambling 90-minute convention speech.

Now that’s old news, and we have a fundamentally different race. Instead of a contest between two unpopular, old White guys, the new race pits a 59-year-old Black woman against a 78-year-old convicted felon. 

It’s the past versus the future. An all-White-male Republican ticket or a Democratic ticket led by an accomplished Black woman. A party that carries the heavy baggage of scandals, impeachments, indictments, and 34 felony convictions from Donald Trump or a party that has an opportunity to reinvent itself with Kamala Harris.

I’ve said all along that I will support the Democratic nominee for president, but I’ve publicly worried about the donor class and wondered if they would accept Harris as the new nominee. 

Some floated ideas of an open primary or a “blitz primary” with candidate forums moderated by Republicans like Condoleezza Rice. And TV producer Aaron Sorkin even suggested the ridiculous idea that Democrats should nominate Republican Mitt Romney for president.

No, no, and no.

Now is the time for the Democratic Party to step up. 

All those Democratic donors and party insiders who spent the past few weeks pushing Biden out of the race better pony up their money, time, and energy and start contributing to Kamala Harris’ campaign and the Democratic Party. This is the new Plan B.

We’ve heard a lot of Democratic names floated for president in the past few weeks: Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Andy Beshear, and Mark Kelly. But now that President Biden has endorsed Vice President Harris, I hope and expect those leaders will stand down and support her, if for no other reason than loyalty to President Biden. 

But also because there are financial obstacles if Democrats nominate someone other than Harris. Harris was Biden’s running mate, so she can tap into the $96 million Biden has in the  bank. Any new candidate may have to start from scratch. Let’s not make this any more complicated than it needs to be.

Now is the time for the Democratic Party to step up. You say you are an inclusive party of women and people of color. It’s time to prove it and get behind Kamala Harris. The Congressional Black Caucus quickly announced its support for Harris.

Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. He must be defeated. We have the power to stop Project 2025 and Agenda 47. 

The wind is finally at our backs. Let’s get to work.

Keith Boykin is a New York Times–bestselling author, TV and film producer, and former CNN political commentator. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Keith served in the White House, cofounded the National Black Justice Coalition, cohosted the BET talk show My Two Cents, and taught at the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University in New York. He’s a Lambda Literary Award-winning author and editor of seven books. He lives in Los Angeles.

This article was originally published on WordinBlack.com.

The post Black Vote Black Power: Kamala Harris for President appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By AFRO Interns

As summer kicks into high gear, the AFRO would like to take time to recognize the interns that have been working hard all summer for the publication. From man on the street interviews to senior guides and more, the AFRO interns have hit the ground running, covering a range of important topics. Take a look below to see who has been reporting on post traumatic stress disorder, domestic violence on college campuses and putting together the event calendars from week to week. We are proud to be part of their humble beginnings in Black Press and look forward to following their journeys.

Aleisha Robinson, is a junior multimedia journalism major at Morgan State University with a minor in political science. She is from Westmoreland, Jamaica, where she attended St. Elizabeth Technical High School before pursuing her passion for journalism in the United States. At Morgan State, she is currently a member of the track and field team and serves as the campus news editor for the Spokesman, the school’s newspaper.

Robinson is an active participant in the Morgan State University National Association of Black Journalists (MSU-NABJ) and contributes as a journalist to MSU CREATIVES, an organization within the schools Athletic Marketing and Communications department.

Her love for storytelling and journalism stems from a deep admiration for the Black Press and its pivotal role in advocating for social justice and community empowerment. Robinson is excited to work at the AFRO American Newspapers, where she can contribute to amplifying diverse voices and stories that resonate within the Black community.

Throughout her two years of journalistic experience, she has covered a wide range of topics including politics, campus news, community involvement and sports. She aspires to be well-rounded in journalism, specifically in investigative journalism, data journalism, sports journalism and politics. Additionally, she would like to become an author. Beyond journalism, she enjoys reading, drawing and staying active at the gym. As a Black student journalist, she is committed to using her platform to inform, inspire and drive positive change.

Aleisha Robinson
Morgan State University
Multimedia Journalism

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Denim Fisher is a rising freshman at Spelman College studying sociology and creative writing on the pre-law track. She is passionate about activism and the arts. Her passion stems from her childhood. In her younger years, she was encouraged by her mom to study Black history and important, often overlooked events ,like the Tulsa, Okla. race riot and Nat Turner’s rebellion. This upbringing ignited Fisher’s fervor for activism. Fisher is a civic advocate at Beyond Youth Organization (BYO), and an awardee of the Princeton Prize in Race Relations. She is also a poet whose work touches on identity and race.

Fisher is a contestant for the NAACP ACT-SO program, using poetry to question the effects of oppression. She aspires to be a lawyer and “artivist,” pursuing law and the arts. Her purpose is to be a voice for Black and LGBTQ+ communities, challenging the status quo by expressing herself authentically.

Being raised in a predominantly White and Jewish community, and educated by a Eurocentric American education system, Fisher supplemented her education by volunteering and learning from Black community members. She is eager to continue her pursuit of knowledge about Black and queer stories at the AFRO. Fisher lives by the words of Jamaican political activist and Pan-African leader Marcus Garvey, “a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.”

During her time at the AFRO she hopes to write about education reform, the intersection of domestic and global oppression, the liberation of love and the Baltimore Black arts scene.

Denim Fisher
Spelman College
Pre-law (M.J.)

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Lizzie Suber is a rising senior at Johns Hopkins University. She is double majoring in cognitive science and computer science with a specific focus on psychology. Suber hopes to use her time as an intern to inform and expand her perspective as she develops her ability to approach technology from a human-focused viewpoint.

Suber has seen in her own life the power of knowing what other Black people are doing. Acknowledging the diversity of the Black community evokes within her a deep sense of unity with other Black people that she struggles to feel otherwise. She joined the AFRO because it exposes readers to parts of the Black experience previously unknown to them, which cultivates a broader sense of Black unity within them.

While at the AFRO, Suber has written about various events in Baltimore, documented Black opinions on fatherhood and Juneteenth, and even created a crossword puzzle to bring some fun to the publication. She aims to use her writing to explore the “why” behind Black stories.

In her free time, Suber enjoys watching sunsets, spending time in nature, scrapbooking and making origami.

Lizzie Suber
Johns Hopkins University
Cognitive Science and Computer Science

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Mekhi Abbott is a master’s candidate at the University of Maryland, specializing in multimedia journalism. Abbott has been writing for the AFRO since Oct. 2023. This year, he is doing an internship with the AFRO, focused on sports journalism.

Abbott is a student-athlete and he completed his undergraduate studies at Howard University. During his time at the institution, he became a three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion. He joined the Maryland Terrapins as a graduate transfer, and made it to the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Outdoor Track and Field East Region Championships. He has used his time at University of Maryland to become a better journalist and the school’s new record holder in the javelin.

“Working for the Black press is important to me because there are still so many neglected and untold stories in the greater D.C., Maryland and Virginia area – which many major publications ignore. At the AFRO, we tell the major stories, but we also make sure that our Black and Brown communities are being properly represented in the media.”

Abbott is passionate about historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the intersection of sports, race and culture. He aspires to be a television personality one day and takes inspiration from Stephen A. Smith, Bomani Jones and Kevin Blackistone. Outside of writing, Abbott loves football and fashion.

Mekhi Abbott
University of Maryland
Journalism

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Mackenzie Williams is a senior at Howard University in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in women, gender and sexuality studies.

Williams currently serves as the president of the Howard University Association of Black Journalists (HUABJ) and she is executive producer of News for Spotlight Network, which is a campus media organization. This summer, she will join other student elects to work on the student multimedia project for the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention in Chicago as a Producer for NABJ TV.

Outside of journalism, Williams enjoys community service, spending time with friends and walking in nature.

Throughout her experience working for the AFRO Newspapers, she has explored and written about topics such as domestic violence, Black mental health and entertainment.

Williams is honored to join the ranks of the Black Press this summer, as she understands the importance of keeping the Black press alive and raising awareness on issues that affect the community.

• Mackenzie Williams
  Howard University
  Broadcast Journalism

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Born and raised in Baltimore, Tierra Stone has been exposed to a myriad of cultures and creative expressions. She developed an interest in creative writing and theater from an early age, but it was multimedia journalism that stole her heart and took her to Morgan State University.

“When I first graduated from highschool I was very directionless and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life—theater was always a passion of mine, but it didn’t make me happy and I wasn’t fulfilled. When I stopped studying theater, my love for writing mixed with my passion for storytelling and wanting to be on television made me realize that journalism was where I always needed to be.”

Stone is currently in her junior year at Morgan State where she previously worked as a staff writer for the Spokesman, which is a student-run campus newspaper. Some of her influences include Lester Holt, Christiane Amanpour and Oprah Winfrey. As she continues her journey of completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes that her work as a student journalist will carry her towards her career goal of one day becoming a correspondent for the Today Show, 60 Minutes or Dateline NBC.

When she isn’t working Stone likes to split her time between reading books, visiting local art museums and enjoying delicious food with her family and friends.

Tierra Stone
Morgan State University
Multimedia journalism

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Gabrielle Howard is a junior journalism and mass communications student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T).

Howard is passionate about using journalism and communications to uplift marginalized communities and educate others about social issues. She has set her sights on joining the ranks of the Black Press because of her appreciation for the legacy of Black journalism and the crucial role Black voices play in shaping media narratives.

Her dedication to her field was recognized when she was selected as a Class of 2024 ColorComm NextGen Fellow, from ColorComm, a leading platform for women in communications.

Howard also enjoys reading and sewing, to express her creativity outside of her academic pursuits.

Gabrielle Howard
North Carolina A & T
Journalism and Mass Communications

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Saniyah Larkins is an intern at the AFRO American Newspapers. She enjoys writing poetry and singing in her free time. Larkins is a 16-year-old senior at Western High School. She is in the choir and the National Honors Society.

When she goes to college, she wants to major in veterinary science and minor in journalism. Larkins wants to work at the AFRO because of its history in Black culture. While there, she wants to share more about teens’ political opinions because she believes their voices matter.

Being a teenager herself, Larkins believes that the opinions of people her age aren’t often taken into account when it comes to politics because they can’t vote– and when they are, it’s usually a dig at their generation.

She believes that teens should be able to be taken into account when it comes to politics because they are going to be the new adults. Larkin is determined to get her generation to be heard in politics because she doesn’t want her generation to live in a world where somebody else picked for them.

Saniyah Larkins
Western High School

**********************************************

Madeline Seck is a senior attending the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. Seck is a double major in broadcast journalism and digital media communication with a minor in Black women’s studies.

She is the president of the Maryland Association of Black Journalists (MABJ) and the University of Maryland’s Chapter of NABJ for the upcoming Fall 2024 semester.

Outside of journalism, Seck loves reading, gaming, art and creating content.

Throughout her experience working in journalism at UMD and the AFRO Newspapers, she has explored topics about Black pop culture, fashion, arts and entertainment and feminist topics, such as rights for survivors of domestic violence.

As a Black journalist, Seck is proud to intern for a Black press this summer because she values telling stories that give a voice to underrepresented and marginalized communities and groups. She chose to intern at the AFRO Newspapers because they prioritize diversity, advocacy and stories that matter.

Madeline Seck
University of Maryland
Broadcast Journalism and Digital Media Communication

The post AFRO Interns on the move: Meet the next generation of Black journalists appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Madeleine Seck
AFRO Intern
mseck@afro.com

By Mackenzie Williams
AFRO Intern
mwillaims@afro.com

This week, the AFRO compiled a list of family-friendly events that are happening in the D.M.V. area ranging from festivals, movie nights, and networking opportunities. Take a look below to see what’s happening near you!

Baltimore City

Rhythm and Reels

Come out this summer to the Baltimore parks for free popcorn and a movie. Streaming this July is Arthur the King and a live rhythm concert.

Arthur the King
Date: July 19
Time: 5 p.m – 8 p.m.
Location: Eager Park
929 N Wolfe St,
Baltimore, MD 21205

Rhythm Concert House Head Reunion
Date: July 20
Time: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Wyman Park Deli
2929 N Charles St,
Baltimore, MD 21218

Cost: Free

African American Quilters of Baltimore (AAQB) Trunk Show and Fiber Artist Talk with Glenda Richardson

This is a perfect event for hobbyists who love quilting. Get insight from artist Glenda Richardson at the museum as she showcases her work.

Date: July 25

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Reginald F. Lewis Museum
830 E Pratt St
Baltimore, MD 21202

Cost: Up to $12, members free

Black Woman Genius Elizabeth Talford Scott

Explore the exhibit honoring the work of Elizabeth Talford Scott, a contemporary fiber artist who created exemplary artwork throughout her lifetime

Dates: Feb. 1 through Sept. 30

Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: Reginald F. Lewis Museum
830 E Pratt St
Baltimore, MD 21202

Cost: Up to $12, members free

Washington, D.C.

DMV Made Festival

Presented by Word Beats and Life at the National Mall, the DMV Made Festival celebrates an intersectionality of art and culture. The venue will hold multiple stages featuring soul, Latin, hip-hop music, Go-go artists and more.
Date: July 27

Time: 1 p.m. – 7:30 p.m

Location: 50 14th Street
Southwest Washington, DC 20004
Smithsonian Metro Stop

Cost: Free

Broccoli City Festival

One of the biggest festivals of the summer in the D.C. metropolitan area, Broccoli Festival will be held at a brand new venue, Audi Field. Headliners feature award-winning artists including Megan the Stallion, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Victoria Monét, Lil Yachty and more.

Date: July 27 – 28

Time: 2 p.m. – 11 p.m

Location: Audi Field
1100 Alabama Ave SE,
Washington D.C

Cost: Starting price $233

Kids World 2024

Join a family-friendly immersive experience at Kids World, where your little ones can go to storytelling sessions, meet-and-greets with their favorite cartoon characters, make a painting, build a bear, enjoy a bubble garden and more,

Date: July 27 – 28

Time: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Location: Franklin Park
1315 I Street NW

Prince Goerge’s County

Black Health Connect: DC 2024 Mixer

Join the Black Health Connect for their 2024 Mixer with other black professionals in the healthcare field for an evening of networking and fellowship. RSVP via eventbrite.com by searching for “Black Health Connect” on the website.

Date: July 12

Time: 5 p.m.

Location: Dirty Habit
555 8th St NW
Washington, DC 20004

Cost: Free

Little Miss Black | Miss Black Teen US of A Pageant

Continuing the legacy, from age two to seventeen are participating in the Miss Black and Miss Black Teen US of A Pageant at the University of Maryland College Park.

Day 1: July 26
Time: 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m

Day 2: July 27
Time: 1 p.m – 4:30 p.m

Location: Hoff Theater, Adele H. Stamp Student Union
3972 Campus Dr,
College Park, MD 20742

Cost: Up to $40

Movies On The Potomac

Grab a blanket and some popcorn for an outdoor movie on the waterfront at the National Harbor. This month, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Arthur: The King, Elvis and more will be streaming.

Dates: Every Thursday and Sunday night through September 29

Time: Thursday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.

Location: 165 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD 20745

Cost: Free

Virginia

“Black Vets and Allies at Ft. Gregg-Adams Starbucks Military Family store”

Sponsored by Starbucks, join the Gregg-Adam’s Military family store to honor Black veterans as they celebrate the 76th anniversary of Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948.

Date: July 6

Time: 6:30 p.m – 8 p.m

Location: ​​5320 Oaklawn Boulevard
Hopewell, VA 23860

Cost: Free

Fauquier County Fair

Enjoy a day at the carnival with thrilling rides, games and watch a variety of shows.

Date: July 17-19
Time: 2 p.m -11 p.m

Date: July 20
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Location: 6209 Old Auburn Rd
Warrenton, VA 20187

Cost: Adult $10, $5 for children and senior citizens

Black Girls Code DMV Bootcamp

Ages 11 to 13 are invited to a boot camp to learn about AI-powered technology, meet experts in the field, explore opportunities in STEAM careers and more.

Date: July 29

Time: 4 p.m.

Location: Mastercard Tech Hub #11th floor
4250 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201

Cost: Starting at $30

Virtual

Breaking the Chains: Decriminalizing Mental Illness in the Justice System

Join ​​St. Luke Community United Methodist Church as they host their 9th annual Mental Health Symposium. Important figures include Judge Lela Lawrence Mays, presiding Judge of the 283rd District Court in Dallas County, and Commissioner John Wiley Price, of Dallas County, Texas, will be attending.

Date: July 20

Time: 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Virtual Writing Hour

Aspiring writers and those looking to pick up a leisure hobby can join the Smithsonian at the National Portrait Gallery for Writing Hours. Writing prompts will be given for 30 minute sessions at a time

Date: July 23

Time: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m

Location: Online Via Zoom

Cost: Free, registration required

The post Upcoming meetings and events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance (NATO) members held their 2024 summit in Washington D.C., commemorating 75 years since they signed the North Atlantic Treaty in the District and discussing ways to ensure collective defense.

“In 1949, when leaders of 12 countries, including President Truman, came together in this very room. It had been four years since the surrender of the Axis powers and the end of the most devastating world war the world had ever known,” said U.S. President Joe Biden (D) during his speech at the NATO summit on July 9. “Here, these 12 leaders gathered to make a sacred pledge to defend each other against aggression, provide their collective security and to answer threats as one. They knew to prevent future wars, to protect democracies, to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace and prosperity, they needed a new approach. They needed to combine their strengths. They needed an alliance.”

“Today, NATO is more powerful than ever: 32 nations strong,” touted Biden. 

The conference was held from July 9 to July 11, featuring discussions on partnerships, support for Ukraine and strengthening defense and deterrence.

In his speech, Biden pushed that Ukraine will prevail against Russia, stopping any potential Russian invasion efforts in surrounding European countries.

“Make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin, especially with our full, collective support,” said Biden as he welcomed NATO members to the summit. “Together, we’ve built a global coalition to stand with Ukraine. We’ve provided significant economic and humanitarian assistance. We’ve supplied Ukraine with weapons it needs to defend itself: tanks, armored fighting vehicles, air defense systems, long-range missiles and millions of munitions.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media on July 10 to acknowledge the support Ukraine is receiving from NATO members. 

“I am grateful to the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands for taking practical steps to achieve the goal of all Ukrainians: to strengthen the Ukrainian air force with F-16s,” said Zelensky via X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is a clear signal that Russia’s ability to terrorize Ukrainian people, cities and communities will continue to reduce.”

“I anticipate that our air force capability coalition will be strengthened even further through the joining of new participants. F-16s bring just and lasting peace closer, demonstrating that terror must fail everywhere,” he continued.

NATO also held a live-streamed public forum from July 10 to July 11 in Washington D.C., aiming to help the public better understand NATO’s goals and policies through various debates, interactive sessions and panel discussions with NATO leaders.

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By Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

There are moments in life when the convictions of the spirit and personal consciousness collide in opposition to the mainstream, popular outcries for the blood, life and the end of the future existence of another human being. I refuse to be a silent witness to another lynching in America. Thus, the following is what I have observed and witnessed firsthand over the past days to the lynch mob-like escalation of calls for President Joe Biden to step down from campaigning for reelection in 2024. I am not representing any organization or political party. On July 4, while sitting quietly in Raleigh, N.C., I jotted down my personal views.

Although I am a proud Democrat, I am so saddened by the backstabbing cowardice of those who dare to publicly call for President Biden to step down while having an utter contradictory refusal to utter publicly any call for former President Donald Trump to step down and to end his fascist-engaging campaign to retake the White House. The question is why? The attempted political lynching of President Joe Biden has more to do with disingenuous political infighting than difficulties at a nationally televised political debate. What are the real motives from all of those who are calling for President Biden to step down?

Some will say my words and expressions here are too strong and controversial. That may be true because there should be strong words and expressions that always should call out and condemn any form of lynching. A political lynching is also a crime against the oneness of our humanity. Such is the situation today in America. It is the politics of division versus the politics of unifying all Americans for the best interests and future of the nation that is on the ballot. Democracy is on the ballot. Justice is on the ballot. Equality is on the ballot. Equity is on the ballot. Freedom is on the ballot.

The antidote to the current resurgence of ignorance, racism, cowardice, fascism and retrenchment from freedom, justice, equality and equity is to work hard daily and diligently to ensure the largest voter turnout this year in American history. Why do I claim responsibility for urgently making this statement on July 4, 2024? African Americans, like others who fought and died in the fields and streets in the 13 American colonies during the Revolutionary War against the British Empire 248 years ago, have a birthright to the Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776, and later to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Although thousands of people of African descent, who were not enslaved, enlisted and fought for freedom and independence against the British, no people of African descent were invited or permitted to attend the formative meetings of the newly emerging nation’s democracy and Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in 1787. My great, great, great, great-grandfather, the Rev. John Chavis (1763-1838), fought as a young, enlisted soldier in the Revolutionary War against the British in our home state of North Carolina and in the state of Virginia. The Chavis family has lived in Granville County, North Carolina, for over 285 years. My father, Benjamin F. Chavis Sr. (1898-1965) enlisted and fought as a young sergeant major soldier in the United States Army in World War I.

The point here is that generations of African and African-American soldiers have enlisted and fought and died to defend and protect the nation and democracy for the past 248 years. And we are not going to permit anyone or anything to deny our birthright to freedom and democracy. For us, the right to vote in America is blood-stained and sacred. We know from our lived experience the horror, pain and suffering from centuries of physical lynchings in America to satisfy the sheer fear, hatred, White supremacy and ignorance of racism. Today, we also know when mobs cry out for the downfall and political lynching of those who have been our allies in our long struggle for freedom, justice, voting rights and equity, we cannot be silent.

It is ironic that also here in Raleigh, fewer than 24 hours after the questionable so-called debate in Atlanta, President Biden spoke eloquently and forcibly at the NC State Fairgrounds about a couple of miles away from the John Chavis Memorial Park in downtown Raleigh. President Biden said, “I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious. I don’t walk as easy (sic) as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth.” 

The truth is therapeutic. Our nation needs more truth over the lies and prevalent fake news.

At the same time, as the calls for President Biden to step down, the United States Supreme Court has now ruled that future and past presidential “official acts” of violence, crime, repression, voter suppression, and insurrection are all immune from prosecution as long those acts are official acts within the core responsibilities of a President of the United States. This is dangerous and fundamentally against the meaning and principles of democracy. That is why now, more than ever before, we must raise our voices and mobilize our families and communities to go out and vote in record numbers in the swing states and in every other state across the nation. We all have work to do. We said back in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, “When things get tough in our struggle for freedom, we have to become tougher.”

Join me and raise your voice with me. Let’s vote in record numbers throughout America. Stop the lynching of President Joe Biden.

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

The post Stop the lynching of President Joe Biden appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Former President Donald Trump (R) returns to the campaign trail on July 9 with a televised rally in Florida. The gathering took place at one of his golf clubs, the Trump National Doral Miami. 

At the rally, Trump challenged Biden, offering an additional debate this week after a subpar one for the Democratic president on June 27. Trump also challenged Biden to a game of golf, something they argued about during the CNN debate.

“If he wins, I will give the charity of his choice, any charity that he wants, $1 million,” said Trump at the rally.

During the event Trump teased a potential vice president pick, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), but did not officially confirm who his running mate will be. 

James Singer, a Biden-Harris campaign spokesperson, released a statement during the rally rejecting Trump’s challenges.

“Joe Biden doesn’t have time for Donald Trump’s weird antics – he’s busy leading America and defending the free world,” said Singer.

Throughout the rally, Trump reveled in the Democratic party being at odds concerning whether or not to keep Biden as the party’s presidential nominee. He also discussed increasing border control and improving the economy. 

During a Zoom press call ahead of the rally, the Biden-Harris campaign and supporters hammered Trump’s responsibility for the undoing of Roe v. Wade via several Supreme Court appointments during his presidency. They also pushed that voting for Trump is voting for Project 2025, despite Trump’s recent attempts to distance himself from it.

Project 2025 is a massive presidential transition plan for the next conservative administration to carry out. It was created by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. The plan includes eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and removing the terms “diversity, equity and inclusion,” “abortion” and “reproductive health” from all federal documents and agencies. 

Project 2025 assumes that a conservative president will enter office in January 2025, ready to implement these wide-ranging, upending policies.

“Unfortunately for team Trump, no matter what they say, we know exactly what Trump is planning to do and he cannot run from what he has already done,” said U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) during the call. 

The post Trump challenges Biden, teases VP selection upon return to campaign trail appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By D. Kevin McNeir 
Special to the AFRO

Six-year-old boy shot and killed in Prince George’s County 

Ahsan Julian Payton of D.C., one of three people shot during a Fourth of July celebration in Temple Hills, Md., died on Saturday, July 6 .

Ahsan was shot in the 4500 block of Akron Street around 8 p.m. on July 4 during an annual holiday neighborhood gathering which has never reported any incidents of violence. According to police, the other two victims, a man and a woman, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and a graze wound, respectively. A reward of up to $25,000 has been offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.

Overall, 19 were shot and five killed in D.C. over the Fourth of July weekend. During a recent press conference, Ashan Benedict, second in command at MPD, told reporters that from Friday afternoon thru Tuesday morning of the Fourth of July holiday, the 19 people shot included a 16-year-old boy. Officers said that with so many people now armed with guns in the District, something as simple as a traffic accident or related dispute often escalates to a homicide.  

To reduce the number of similar tragedies, the District recently initiated Go Teams – teams of violence interrupters and city employees from various agencies who set up camp in 18 areas of the city known for violence.

The numbers suggest that violent crime in D.C. is related to geography. In D.C., the area east of the Anacostia River represents 17 of the 19 people who were shot and where four of the five victims were killed. In the area west of the river, where at least 80 percent of Washingtonians live, there were two shootings and one homicide. 

Heatwave results in four Maryland deaths– all in Prince George’s County

The heat-related death toll in June has increased to four, all in Prince George’s County. Meanwhile, several hundred Marylanders have been treated with heat-related ailments in emergency rooms at hospitals statewide because of the sweltering weather that has settled over Maryland in recent weeks. On Tuesday, July 9, the “feel-like” temperature reached 109 degrees in some parts of the state. 

State health officials have urged Marylanders to protect themselves during the summer months, issuing safety recommendations to help residents stay cool.

“We continue to strongly encourage everyone to practice safety while in the heat. Tuesday and Wednesday are poised to be bad as well,” Chase Cook, communications director for the Maryland Department of Health, said in a statement.

According to department officials, the first heat-related death of 2024 was a 59-year-old Hispanic man who lived in Prince George’s County. Three other deaths have followed including two over 65 and one between 45 and 64 years of age – two of the victims were African American while the third was listed as other. 

Last year, the Maryland Department of Health recorded a total of nine heat-related deaths during the heat season – an increase in five deaths from 2022 – which was one of the lowest death tolls of the last decade.

A heat advisory was implemented for July 9 and 10 with temperatures in the upper 90’s and feels-like temperatures in the triple digits. Those who work outdoors are recommended to take frequent breaks indoors or in shaded area. If possible, everyone should limit time outdoors to the early morning or evening. 

Bowie police join local authorities, search for suspects in rash of armed bank ‘jugging’ 

An armed bank “jugging” occurred on Saturday, July 6, at a PNC located on Stonybrook Drive in Bowie, Md. 

“Jugging” refers to a crime in which a suspect follows victims and sets them up to be robbed after they withdraw money from a bank. The Stonybrook Drive incident took place at 11:06 a.m. in the morning. Bowie police later recovered the car involved in Saturday’s robbery, an Acura RDX, and have released surveillance tapes that show the thieves in action. 

The armed robbery joins a rash of similar incidents throughout the region in which Blacks have been the primary victims. Officials continue to search for suspects in five bank jugging cases that have occurred within the past two weeks. 

Anne Arundel County police recently pursued three bank jugging suspects in a 30-mile car chase, which began in Annapolis and ended in a fiery crash along Southern Avenue in Southeast D.C. Two of the suspects died, while a third was critically injured. 

Bowie Police Chief Dwayne Preston, in a statement released after the fatal car crash, said the city has seen a surge in citizen robberies over the last 14 days. 

“Suspects have targeted individuals departing from banks or financial institutions and robbed them onsite,” Preston said. “I find it disturbing that these offenses are being committed against our hardworking residents by individuals from neighboring communities.”

Officials are asking residents to help keep their community safe by reporting suspicious people or vehicles and by traveling with at least one additional person when making withdrawals. They also noted that the robberies are occurring throughout the state in multiple counties, although an exact number could not be provided.

“What we’ve seen is that these things happen in succession,” Preston said. “So, it’s not occurring just here in Bowie. Generally, the same suspects have been hitting either banks in Anne Arundel County or other parts of Prince George’s County, but it’s the same suspects. And it appears to be more than one crew.”

In each case, the robbers used vehicles that had been reported stolen with the primary getaway route appearing to be Route 50, from Maryland back in the District. However, it remains unclear if the crews committing the robberies are connected or if they are simply committing the same type of crime. 

Preston also recommended that citizens avoid displaying cash or other valuables in their hands because “walking out with cash and envelopes and things like that, makes you an easier target.”

The post Hot off the press: News impacting the Black community in D.C., Maryland and Virginia area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Amber D. Dodd
Special to the AFRO
adodd@afro.com 

As Washington, D.C., welcomes summer visitors flocking to its restaurants, festivals and museums, a new Northwest D.C. hangout has been introduced into the lexicon in the form of a well-loved corner space in Shaw. 

Opened this April, Gold Clover Bar blends pop culture, eclectic yet classic music, and affordable drinks all in one.

“This is a great place for people on their way in and out of the city, before they go out and turn all the way up or before they go home and fully decompress,” said Antoine Lyers, 34, the general manager of Gold Clover Bar. “This is a great in-between. We’re here to serve.”

Located at 251 Florida Ave. NW,  the space housed the Truxton Inn bar from 2017 to 2023. Not much has changed about the spot. Stained glass allows filtered lighting into the basement corner bar. Mahogany furniture is sprinkled throughout the space. Furniture still remains in the outdoor space, allowing patrons to enjoy the weather. Three large televisions showcase live games and sports talk TV shows. 

Gold Clover Bar has already been a packed house for the NBA Finals, Washington Mystics matchups, and soccer. 

“It was extremely low priority to switch anything up they had,” Lyers said. “It was a beautiful, functional bar space,” Lyers said. 

To Lyers, corner bars are a staple for any thriving community. It is a place of not only good drinks and vibrant conversation but familiarity. 

“I’ve tried to keep open tabs with people,” Lyers said. “Every time we say goodbye, that conversation might end but the relationship doesn’t.” 

The drink menu spans from $8 wines to $12 “handshakes” composed of beer and shot combos. 

“I wanted the price to be set up where people don’t think twice about having another drink,” Lyers said. 

Most of the Gold Clover Bar staff are fellow bartenders that Lyers met in the entertainment scene. Lyers has been part of D.C.’s hospitality industry for over a decade, working in popular bars such as Solly’s, Lucky Bar and Red Light. 

A six-year friendship with Aaron Petty, 36, preceded the bar’s opening after Petty served Lyers a drink and started conversation. 

“I saw the community he fostered and carried,” Lyers said. “People understood that any time Aaron was anywhere, they were going to have a good time.”

Eugene Barnett, 45, has been in hospitality work for 15 years, spending 10 of those at Solly’s where he met Lyers. Joey Madden, 32, is a Brookland native and one of Gold Clover’s bartenders. With Lyers’s leadership, whom Madden met in 2018, Gold Clover’s potential is infinite. 

“This neighborhood has a lot of young families and young professionals who don’t have a place to drink on an every other night basis,” Madden said. “We can be the place that kicks a night off or the night’s cap, or if you need to hype yourself up to cook dinner or relax after a long day at work, we’re here. We can be a lynchpin for a bunch of different neighborhoods.”

Lyers’ governance derives from observing vast community spaces. He served as a photographer for longtime friend and D.C. rapper Oddisee’s tour from 2015 to 2017. Making international stops in Europe, the diehard international soccer culture shaped his understanding of sports’ unifying magic. 

“Sometimes it’s the background for people, other times it’s the reason why people came out,” Lyers said.

There is also a litmus-test community library to gauge everyone’s interests. Some of the library’s first fruits are Nikole Hannah-Jones’ book “The 1619 Project,” DC Comics’ “Watchmen” and “Black Women, Black Love,” Dianne M. Stewart’s examination of Black women marriage rates on the backdrop of America’s racism.  

A music lover since he can remember, Lyers uses music and pop culture as the bar’s attraction.  

“Audio is a way to communicate, and that’s one of my primary ways to communicate,” said Lyers, who played the alto saxophone for eight years. 

Three rows of his vinyl collection rest on the back wall of the space. Most sport property labels from the beloved, now defunct Waxie Maxie’s Record Store. Forty vinyls from Prince’s “Sign O’ The Times” to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” are part of the collection, along with records from pianist Patrice Rushen. 

“If there’s a record on the wall that you recognize, it’s probably a deep cut, and you can already have a more substantial conversation with the person next to you because these things speak to you,” Lyers said. 

He’s also hosted album listening events such as Eaton’s “A2B series,” where he and Talley Major discussed the DNA of The Internet’s “Ego Death” project. Lyers keeps a “non-guaranteed” song recommendation list in a pass around notepad, which he also adapted into an ongoing Spotify playlist called “Clover Request Live!”

“I played Teena Marie’s ‘Portuguese Lover’ last night and the whole bar just came together,” said Lyers. “People who were with somebody, they were dancing with them.” 

For the English Premier League finale, about 30 people came to Gold Clover Bar as the establishment’s first official watch party. To accommodate the time difference, Lyers opened the bar early at 11 a.m. to seat guests. Nicholas Warmington, 36, was one of the fans in the early-open crowd.

“This feels homey,” said the lifelong D.C. resident. 

Warmington said Gold Clover’s location is a sweet spot for the Shaw neighborhood, in between D.C. hot spots like U Street and H Street. 

“The location is unique,” Warmington said. “I enjoy something that’s off U and because it’s a neighborhood bar you can create a following.”

So far, Lyers and the Gold Clover crew are preparing for bigger weeks to come in Chocolate City. The world awaits the 2024 Paris Olympics. About 30,000 visitors attend the city’s popular Broccoli City Festival. Congressional Black Caucus Week looms months away. 

But the team will continue building, curating a Gold Clover community that shows the cultures of D.C. that Lyers remembers, knows and wants to build. According to Lyers, some have already likened the space to a Black “Cheers.” His thoughts? Great. 

 “I am more interested in meeting new people, meeting the neighborhood, integrating myself within the neighborhood and the people who live around here,” Lyers said. “People have been friendly, excited about having a neighborhood bar. I want to have a personal connection to everybody that comes in here.”

The post Northwest D.C.’s newest attraction: Gold Clover Bar appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

The Wells Fargo Foundation recently supplied $500,000 in grants to five Washington, D.C. nonprofits as part of a broader effort to address systemic housing challenges in the city. The goal of the funding is to support the creation and preservation of generational wealth through homeownership. 

The five organizations included, Building Bridges Across the River, Manna, Latino Economic Development Center, Centro de Apoyo Familiar and DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF). 

 “As the Bank of Doing, Wells Fargo is dedicated to developing solutions that increase the supply of homes that are affordable and support families in realizing the dream of homeownership and opportunities for building wealth,” said Victor Burrola, vice president of philanthropy and community impact for Wells Fargo in Washington, D.C. “These grants further demonstrate our dedication to Washington D.C., and our efforts to provide housing affordability solutions to individuals and families across the region.”

DCALF Executive Director Gabby Mulnick Majewski said her organization will use its $100,000 grant to provide free estate planning services to District families.

“At DCALF, we have been really focused on how the free legal services we deliver can expand security for families in a variety of ways,” said Majewski. “One of the key places where we feel our work can be very disruptive and transformational is empowering individuals with proactive estate planning services.” 

She explained that this endeavor was driven by the nonprofit’s work in heirs property, which occurs when real estate is inherited by multiple individuals after the owner dies without leaving a will. DCALF is one of the leading organizations for the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Heirs Property Assistance Program, which was launched in 2023. It supports low-income households and individuals in resolving title issues.

“We’re thrilled to be helping families with the very tedious, bureaucratic process of clearing titles and moving through probate, but our belief is that no one should be stuck in the probate system,” said Majewski. “As we’ve expanded our heirs property and probate work, we have been laser focused on finding new outlets and opportunities to reach families with information about estate planning and delivering those services at the key moments when people are thinking about their assets and legacies.” 

DCALF will work with the District’s housing counseling services to ensure residents can access these services. 

Majewski explained that just 31 percent of people have estate plans. The share is even smaller for African Americans. 

“I think that’s often due to the fact that at many points in time in our nation’s history, Black people have been deprived of their property through many systemic, intentional injustices that have been perpetuated. When you compound that with the fact that people don’t like thinking about death, it creates a situation where our Black and Brown families have been that much more vulnerable to tangled titles and a loss of property that can come from a lack of planning,” said Majewski. “Being able to do our part in helping to stem the tide of these horrific losses of property and empower folks with new resources to proactively build the wealth that many White families have been able to do through intentional estate planning is an important mission for us.”  

The post Wells Fargo Foundation deploys $500,000 to housing nonprofits in D.C. appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

Black Restaurant Week is returning to Washington D.C. and Baltimore for its fifth year July 16-30. The two week event  focuses on stimulating the economy of the Black community in Charm City and the District. Each year, Black-owned culinary businesses and professionals who cannot afford marketing campaigns are celebrated and promoted to the public. With a variety of cuisines, businesses and culinary artists being highlighted during the 2024 campaign, the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area is in for a treat. 

According to the James Beard Foundation’s 2023 Industry Report, 53 percent of culinary business owners garnered lower profits last year due to the constant rise in food and labor costs. The costly changes have impacted menu prices and profits significantly since 2022.

“Black Restaurant Week is not only making people aware of amazing restaurants, but it is also increasing foot traffic for these businesses,” said Derek Robinson, a managing partner for Black Restaurant Week. “Black Restaurant Week is giving folks a great opportunity to support their own local businesses and try out new spots. We’re super excited to get these businesses more stability and more financial support from their communities.” 

Last year approximately 100 participants connected with the Greater Washington, D.C. campaign, whose mission is to “feed the cultural famine.” Through this mission they’ve not only prioritized rescuing the Black restaurant industry but also helped the public understand the beauty of ethnic cuisines while eliminating the stigmas around it. 

A plethora of local restaurants are set to participate in this year’s event, including Lydia on H, Appioo Bar and Grill, Berries by Quicha, D.C. Capital Square, England Eatery and many more. 

Aisha England, chef and owner of Baltimore’s England Eatery, weighed in on what she hopes to gain from the event.

“Last year around this time I’m not even sure if we were ready, but [we are] a year into the new location and being able to host people for dining. I look forward to bringing in those folks and having them experience our food,” said England. 

Although being a Black business owner comes with many struggles, England noted that receiving financial support for her business has been very challenging.

“The biggest thing is funding,” said England. “My biggest struggle is being able to get funding to do stuff. I’ve gotten a lot of grants and I’m blessed to have those. I know some of the things that have happened to me don’t happen to bigger corporations as far as funding goes.”

While many of the participating business owners are looking forward to the financial benefit of Black Restaurant Week, they’re equally excited for the opportunity to network and connect with their communities. 

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and new patrons of course, and connecting with new restaurants,” said LaQuicha Brown, owner of Berries by Quicha, located in Baltimore.

Black Restaurant Week will conclude on July 30. After nine years, the initiative has helped more than 3,000 restaurateurs, bartenders, chefs, caterers and food trucks.

Tierra Stone, an AFRO Intern, contributed to this article. 

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

Summer is officially here, bringing with it stifling, hot weather. All across the nation, there have been complaints of scorching temperatures that have left people dehydrated, sick and downright angry. Areas like the nation’s capital reached record highs with temperatures getting up to 100 degrees over the weekend of June 22 according to the National Weather Service.

Leading up to June 24, all the outdoor pools operated by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) were only open on the weekends, however, all of their outdoor public pools are now open six days a week with varying schedules. Additionally, all of DPR’s spray parks except Fort Greble Recreation Center located in Ward Eight, have been open since June 15 and will remain open until Labor Day.

DPR has a total of 23 outdoor pools, most of which are located in the Anacostia area near Wards seven and eight. Meanwhile, Wards three and four only are reported to have one in each of their regions.

The high temperatures which lead to a high volume of visitors at the pools were well anticipated by DPR. Earlier this year they were looking to fill over 700 seasonal jobs, hoping to hire for positions like lifeguards, and camp and summer program staff. Last year the department extended both the hours and dates of operation for the outdoor pools due to the increased temperatures and they’re reportedly expected to do the same this year.

All DPR indoor and outdoor pools are free to D.C. residents and daily or seasonal passes can be purchased by non-residents online at dpr.dc.gov. Everybody is welcome and at this time there are no reserved hours of operation for District of Columbia Public Schools that use some of the indoor facilities.

A full list of public indoor and outdoor pools, along with spray parks in the D.C. area can be found at dpr.dc.gov.

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com

The U.S. Africa Collaborative recently held the 2024 Pan African City Exposition on the campus of Bowie State University. The international affordable housing symposium offered an exchange of ideas in search of solutions to the affordable housing crisis across the African Diaspora, with emphasis on Africa, the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK). 

The Collaborative, organized by Maryland native and international housing advocate, Elizabeth Glenn, connects affordable housing advocates across the African Diaspora, from government officials, universities, nonprofits and community-based voices. Glenn, former deputy director of Baltimore County’s Department of Planning has worked on affordable housing issues in Ecuador, Türkiye, South Africa, Australia as well as the U.S. 

“We operate based on the African Proverb that says ‘if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’  We are going together, and we are trying one step at a time to build bridges across the diaspora,” Glenn said. “The African Diaspora got spread out across the globe. We got disconnected from our past, but it doesn’t mean we have to be disconnected in our future.”

Glenn and symposium conveners presented a balance between U.S. housing issues and equity and solutions to the world-wide crisis in sustainable, affordable housing. Both Adrienne Todman, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Dr. Nana Mhlongo, deputy director-general of South Africa’s National Department of Human Settlements, addressed the audience and spoke to the deficit in housing for low wealth citizens and the need for innovative solutions. 

The U.S. currently has a 7.3-million affordable housing unit shortage,  according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The backlog of South Africa’s government subsidized settlements is 2.4 million, according to the country’s International Trade Administration. Both countries also face a growing homeless population. 

Sanele Mbambo, lecturer at South Africa’s University of the Free State, has been involved with the U.S. Africa Collaborative since the symposium first convened in South Africa in 2022. He came to Maryland to learn how the U.S. tackles its legacy of housing discrimination. 

“The United States has a common case with South Africa in terms of racial discrimination. I am quite impressed with how many American organizations and institutions are managing the development of human settlements,” said Mbambo, regarding the 5.2 million U.S. households receiving subsidized housing assistance. 

Ayanna Nahmias, founder of Africa Vertical, offered rural solutions for economic empowerment through the farming project she oversees in Zimbabwe. The 200 women connected with Africa Vertical’s sustainable, organic farm, grow food that feeds communities. The farm not only provides the women skills in agriculture, but also supports them in a livelihood through the micro business they operate selling the produce they harvest. 

Nahmias, who lives between Northern Virginia and Zimbabwe, first moved to Africa as a child with her parents. She considers herself a “daughter of Africa,” and began the farm in 2015 after her father’s death in Zimbabwe. 

“The Africa vertical farm in Zimbabwe is an alternative to donor dependency,” Nahmias said. “The women involved with the farm are able to grow organic food, feed their families and community, and make a living.”

Nahmias is currently implementing a hydroponic farming model and seeking other countries, including the U.S. where her Zimbabwean farming model can be replicated. 

A Pan African housing symposium wouldn’t be complete without song, dance and Capoeira de Angola, a form of Afro-Brazilian martial arts. Jonal Lartique, from Richmond, and Troy Thomas, based in metropolitan D.C, taught participants about the highly stylized and rhythmic martial arts form that looks like a choreographed dance. 

“This art form is part of the traditional practice that came with us when we came to America,” Lartique said, adding that the demonstration visualized the data and information shared in the symposium workshops. “The healing is in each of us, coming together, working out our past and working toward our future.”

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

In January, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) delivered an opinion and final order prohibiting Intuit, parent company to TurboTax, from advertising its services as “free” unless they are free to all customers, or if stipulations are clearly communicated. The directive came after an investigation into deceptive advertising claims against the global financial technology company. 

Intuit has since appealed the FTC ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In response, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside 22 state attorneys general, filed a brief calling for the appeal to be rejected on June 24. 

“Intuit misled taxpayers in D.C. and across the country with ads falsely claiming TurboTax was free,” said Schwalb in a statement. “Preying upon low-income taxpayers and military families who were eligible to file their taxes at no cost, Intuit pocketed millions of dollars in profit. The FTC’s cease and desist order protects consumers from this type of unacceptable, illegal conduct.” 

Intuit previously settled with a coalition of 50 states and D.C. in 2022, resolving state probes into allegations that the company misled consumers about TurboTax’s services. The agreement included $141 million for Americans who paid to file their taxes on TurboTax when the software should have been free. Nearly 4.4 million customers across the country received a payment, according to Intuit.  

A few months before the January opinion and final order, the FTC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge D. Michael Chappell ruled that Intuit participated in deceptive advertising. He ordered a cease and desist on these alleged practices. 

Representatives from Intuit have concerns surrounding the objectivity of the judgment, particularly because it was the FTC that lodged the suit and a judge employed by the agency who issued the ruling. 

“We resolved the core of the FTC’s complaint against us more than two years ago with the settlement with all of the state attorneys general,” said Derrick Plummer, a spokesperson for Intuit. “The FTC’s five-year escapade against us is an overreach and waste of taxpayer dollars. Intuit has always been clear and fair with our customers.”

“We have appealed the FTC’s unconstitutional order to the federal appellate court and are confident that when our case is heard, we will win,” he continued.

Attorneys general from Maryland, Maine, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin joined Schwalb and Raoul in filing the June brief. 

The officials urged the court to side with the FTC’s opinion. 
“Intuit’s arguments in this appeal— which attempt to invalidate the commission’s opinion by claiming that it was not supported by substantial evidence and that the relief the commission ordered was unnecessary given the states’ settlement— would, if adopted, interfere with the states’ interests in preventing deceptive advertising,” wrote the attorneys general in the brief.

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

On July 1, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents do have some immunity for official acts that took place during their presidency. This decision was made in a 6-3 ruling, with the majority opinion belonging to the conservative justices. The ruling will be applicable for all current and future presidents, however this Supreme Court decision is especially beneficial for former president Donald Trump. This decision aligns with his claims of immunity to criminal prosecution for his role in the events that took place in the nation’s capital on Jan.6, 2021. 

Trump argued to dismiss the indictment he received from a federal court based on four counts of conduct that happened during his presidency, following the 2020 election. He was charged with conspiring to overturn the results by spreading false claims of election fraud in an attempt to interfere with the collecting, counting and certifying of the election results. 

Trump claimed that the charges should be dismissed based on presidential immunity.

President Joe Biden spoke on the Supreme Court’s opinion on presidential immunity the night of July 1. 

“The presidency is the most powerful office in the world.  It’s an office that not only tests your judgment, perhaps even more importantly it’s an office that can test your character because you not only face moments where you need the courage to exercise the full power of the presidency, you also face moments where you need the wisdom to respect the limits of the power of the office of the presidency,” said Biden. “This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America.  Each of us is equal before the law.  No one is above the law, not even the president of the United States.”

Biden said that the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity, “almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do.”

“Nearly four years ago, my predecessor sent a violent mob to the U.S. Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power.  We all saw it with our own eyes.  We sat there and watched it happen that day.  Attack on the police.  The ransacking of the Capitol.  A mob literally hunting down the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi,” said Biden. “Gallows erected to hang the vice president, Mike Pence.  I think it’s fair to say it was one of the darkest days in the history of America.”

“Now the man who sent that mob to the U.S. Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction for what happened that day,” continued Biden. “The American people deserve to have an answer in the courts before the upcoming election.  The public has a right to know the answer about what happened on Jan. 6th before they ask to vote again this year.”

Following the Supreme Court decision, Trump took to social media to express how just he found the ruling to be and to further argue his innocence regarding the events that took place on Jan. 6. 

“Total exoneration! All of these unfair charges represent the worst level of election interference ever seen in our country’s long and storied history,” said Trump, on his social media platform, Truth Social. “It must be understood that I was totally and completely innocent from the beginning of this giant and highly illegal scam, long before the Supreme Court’s decision was released. The impact of the immunity ruling is a loud and clear signal for justice in the United States.”

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30)  also weighed in on the decision and the justices who hand a hand in the ruling.

“Let us be clear: not only is the outcome of today’s decision deeply flawed, so too was the judicial process that enabled it to move forward. Make no mistake—Justices Thomas and Alito should never have taken part in determining the outcome of this case,” said Crockett, in a statement sent to the AFRO. “Justice Thomas should have been immediately precluded due to his wife’s active involvement with President Trump’s Chief of Staff as they worked to overturn the 2020 election, raising a clear conflict of interest in the outcome of this case.” 

Crockett continued, saying that “despite these egregious actions, this Court has enabled itself to be a separate, unequal branch of government—one which has repeatedly operated without basic judicial ethics, without oversight, and without accountability.

”

“While today’s ruling will leave shocks felt throughout our judicial system, it is the American people and Congress who must check this institution and build back the system of government our Founding Fathers envisioned before it was too late,” she said. “It is time Congress fulfill its constitutional duty to ensure our Court is accountable, transparent, and protects the law and the American people rather than the special interests of wealthy donors. It is time we safeguard our democracy by preventing the appointment of judges who will overturn decades of precedent all due to their own blatantly political biases.”

Chevron ruling

Just days before the July 1 immunity ruling, on June 28, a 40-year-old ruling decision known as the “Chevron deference” was overturned, removing federal agencies power to interpret laws and decide the best ways to apply them. The ending of this deference is expected to deeply affect agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Sen.Ben Cardin (D-Md.) commented on this ruling, sharing that the decision is regressive and it prioritizes corporations over the American people. 

“I am deeply troubled by the Supreme Court’s decision today to overturn the doctrine of Chevron deference for federal agencies to set rules to protect the American public,” Cardin stated. “The ideological right of the Court has once again set aside decades of precedent at the behest of powerful corporate interests and made a decision that turns back the clock on the ability to protect the public’s health and welfare. This includes keeping our environment clean and combating financial fraud in our markets.”

Homelessness

On June 28, the Supreme court handed down a decision that makes it easier for communities across the nation to ticket, fine or arrest the unhoused. 

In a 6-3 ruling in the case of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, the justices in the majority determined that it’s not cruel and unusual punishment to target homeless people that are occupying public spaces via ban enforcements and criminal or civil penalties — even if there are no alternative shelter or housing options available for them.

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D.,(D-NC-12) released a statement condemning the ruling, declaring it to be dangerous and disgraceful. 

“The Supreme Court’s ruling that homelessness is not a protected status under the Eighth Amendment is a dangerous disgrace and is at odds with who we are as a nation,” stated Adams. “It punishes poor people for simply trying to exist. Instead of penalizing people without a roof over their head or a bed to sleep in, we should be working to make sure that every American in every corner of our country has a place to live— a fundamental human right.”

All of the court rulings mentioned here were made by the same 6-3 conservative majority vote.

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By Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller and Seung Min Kim
Associated Press

President Joe Biden, in a letter to congressional Democrats, stood firm against calls for him to drop his candidacy and called for an end to the intraparty drama that has torn apart Democrats since his dismal public debate performance.

Biden’s efforts to shore up a deeply anxious Democratic Party came on July 8 as lawmakers returned to Washington confronting a choice: Decide whether to work to revive his campaign or try to edge out the party leader, a make-or-break time for his reelection and their own political futures.

Biden wrote in the two-page letter that “the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end.” He stressed that the party has “one job,” which is to defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November.

“We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election,” Biden said in the letter, distributed by his reelection campaign. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”

Anxiety is running high as top-ranking Democratic lawmakers are joining calls for Biden to step aside despite his defiance. At the same time, some of the president’s most staunch supporters are redoubling the fight for Biden’s presidency, insisting there’s no one better to beat Trump in what many see as among the most important elections of a lifetime.

Biden followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, on which he insisted that “average Democrats” want him to stay in the race and said he was frustrated by the calls from party officials for him to step aside.

“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think,” Biden said.

He threw the gauntlet at his critics, saying if they’re serious they ought to “announce for president, challenge me at the convention” or rally behind him against Trump. Later, Biden joined a call with members of his national finance committee, while first lady Jill Biden campaigned for her husband in a three-state swing focused on engaging veterans and military families.

Biden followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, on which he insisted that “average Democrats” want him to stay in the race and said he was frustrated by the calls from party officials for him to step aside.

“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think,” Biden said.

He threw the gauntlet at his critics, saying if they’re serious they ought to “announce for president, challenge me at the convention” or rally behind him against Trump. Later, Biden joined a call with members of his national finance committee, while first lady Jill Biden campaigned for her husband in a three-state swing focused on engaging veterans and military families.

“For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” she told a military crowd in Wilmington, North Carolina. “That’s the decision that he’s made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in, too.”

Democratic voters are split on whether Biden should remain the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, or whether there should be a different Democratic nominee, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll.

More voices spoke up July 8, including the chair of the House’s Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who was not ready to cast aside Biden, saying that the threat of a second Trump presidency remains too high. Yet one of the most endangered Democrats this election cycle, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, said in a statement, “President Biden has got to prove to the American people—including me—that he’s up to the job for another four years.”

As lawmakers weigh whether Biden should stay or go, there appear to be no easy answers.

It’s a tenuous and highly volatile juncture for the president’s party. Democrats who have worked alongside Biden for years — if not decades — and cherished his life’s work on policy priorities are now entertaining uncomfortable questions about his political future. And it’s unfolding as Biden hosts world leaders for the NATO summit this week in Washington.

Time is not on their side, almost a month from the Democratic National Convention and just a week before Republicans gather in Milwaukee to renominate Trump as their presidential pick. Many Democrats are arguing the attention needs to be focused not on Biden but on the former president’s felony conviction in the hush money case and pending federal charges in his effort to overturn the 2020 election.

It’s what Biden himself might call an inflection point. As he definitely says he will only step aside if the Lord almighty comes and tells him to, Democrats in the House and Senate are deciding how hard they want to fight the president to change his course, or if they want to change course at all.

In an effort to “get on the same page,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is convening lawmakers for private meetings before he shows his own preference, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. He planned to gather on Monday some Democrats whose bids for reelection are most vulnerable.

A private call Sunday, July 7, including some 15 top House committee members exposed the deepening divide as at least four more Democrats — Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state and Rep. Mark Takano of California — privately said Biden should step aside.

Nadler, as one of the more senior members on the call, was the first person to say that Biden should step aside, according to a person familiar with the call who was granted anonymity to discuss it. He did so aware of his seniority and that it would allow others to join him.

Many others on the call raised concerns about Biden’s capability and chance of winning reelection, even if they stopped short of saying Biden should step out of the race.

Still other members, including Rep. Maxine Waters of California and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, both leaders in the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke forcefully in support of Biden, as did Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

And several lawmakers appeared frustrated that leadership was not providing direction or a path forward, according to people familiar with the call. One Democratic lawmaker said regardless of the decision, the situation has to “end now,” one of the people said.

Neal said afterward that the bottom line is Biden beat Trump in 2020 and “he’ll do it again in November.”

The upheaval also is testing this generation of leaders, headed by Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Both New Yorkers have refrained from publicly directing lawmakers on a path forward as they balance diverse opinions in their ranks.

Behind the scenes is Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who continues to field calls from lawmakers seeking advice about the situation, and is widely viewed as the one to watch for any ultimate decision on Biden’s future because of her proximity to the president and vote-counting skills in party politics.

Pelosi spoke up last week, saying Biden’s debate performance raised “legitimate” questions he needed to answer, but she has remained supportive of the president. And Biden called her last week when he reached out to other party leaders.

When Biden’s prime-time ABC interview on Friday appeared to do little to calm worried Democrats, and some said made the situation worse, Pelosi stepped forward to publicly praise Biden on social media as a “great President who continues to deliver for America’s kitchen table.” She added, “and we’re not done yet!”

Schumer has kept a lower profile throughout the ordeal but will convene Democratic senators Tuesday for their weekly lunch when senators are certain to air many views.

One Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, had intended to gather senators Monday to discuss Biden privately, but a person familiar with his thinking said those conversations will take place in Tuesday’s regular caucus luncheon with all Democratic senators.

Another Democrat, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, said it was “time to quit the hand-wringing and get back to door knocking.”

Padilla spoke with Biden over the weekend, and urged his campaign to “let Joe be Joe.”

“Given the debate, I think the campaign has no choice,” Padilla said Sunday, explaining that Biden needs to hold town halls and unscripted events to show voters “the Joe Biden that most people in America have come to know and love.”

While some deep-pocketed donors may be showing discomfort, strategists working on House and Senate races said they have posted record fundraising as donors view congressional Democrats as a “firewall” and last line of defense against Trump.

As Democratic candidates campaign alongside Biden, the advice has been to focus on building their own brands and amplifying the way the work that’s done in Congress affects their local districts.

This article was originally published by the Associated Press.

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By D. Kevin McNeir 
Special to the AFRO

Quincy Wilson, 16, becomes youngest male U.S. track Olympian after relay pool selection  

A Bowie, Md., native recently learned he’s going to Paris for the Summer Olympics. 

The 16-year-old track phenom, Quincy Wilson, has been chosen by the U.S. selection committee to be part of the men’s 4×400 relay pool for Team USA’s track and field squad. 

Quincy, who will enter his sophomore year at Bullis High School in Montgomery County this fall, is now a member of the pool and does not have a guaranteed position at a starting line, but his achievement should be celebrated as he becomes the youngest male U.S. track and field Olympian in history following his superb performance at the trials last month in Eugene, Ore. The men’s team will formally be announced on July 8. 

For now, the AFRO only has this to say: “Run, Quincy, run!” 

WMATA increases fare rates systemwide for first time since 2017

In efforts to reduce a $750 million budget gap, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) recently increased fare rates systemwide by 12.5 percent. The increase, which went into effect on June 30 and serves as the first Metro fare hike since 2017, will make fare rates vary from $2.25 to $6.75. Metro said the increases will allow them to maintain services without making any cuts and help them keep up with inflation. 

The new fares include: 

-Base fare for the Metrobus and Metrorail: Increases from $2 to $2.25.

-The maximum fare on weekdays: Increases from $6 to $6.75.

-Weekends and late nights: Ranges from $2.25 to $2.50 depending on the trip.

-Mileage Express bus fares: Increases from $4.25 to $4.80.

-MetroAccess: Increases from $4 to $4.50.

-Parking fees will not change but for those who want to lock up their bike, it will cost customers 5 cents an hour to rent a bike locker. 

Poll shows Alsobrooks leading Hogan by double digits in race for U.S. Senate

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) has a double digit lead over former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in their race for U.S. Senate, according to a poll released on June 24 by Public Policy Polling (PPP). The firm, affiliated with the Democratic Party, independently conducted the poll. The poll has Alsobrooks with an 11-point lead over Hogan in a showdown that also included third-party and independent candidates. In a head-to-head match, Alsobrooks had an 8-point margin over Hogan. 

And in a PPP survey, Alsobrooks garnered a higher percentage of Marylanders’ support than Hogan, 45 percent to 34 percent, respectively, with 5 percent supporting another candidate. When Alsobrooks and Hogan were the only choice, she held a slightly smaller lead of 8 points, 48 percent to 40 percent. 

The race for the Maryland Senate seat opened up in early May when Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced that he would not seek reelection. It secured nationwide attention after Hogan threw his hat into the ring. Many Republicans, including former president Donald Trump who has formally endorsed Hogan, believe the former governor can flip the seat. 

Alsobrooks, who would be only the fourth Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, has shown she can win after defeating Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) in the primaries. Meanwhile, Hogan changed his focus from potentially running for president to making a bid for the Senate. 

Among independents, Hogan has a higher percentage of support than his opponent with 42 percent of the vote. He also has a 15 percent share of Democrats. Voter registration information for the state shows that those with no party affiliation make up nearly 21 percent of the eligible electorate. 

Following the release of the PPP poll, an Alsobrooks spokesperson said the campaign is confident about their chances of winning.

“This race will determine who will have the 51st vote in the U.S. Senate. We are confident that Marylanders want Angela Alsobrooks to be that 51st vote because she shares their vision for the future – one where our freedoms are intact and every Marylander has a true shot at the American dream,” said Gina Ford, spokesperson for Alsobrooks for U.S. Senate.  

Hogan’s camp also responded to the AFRO and indicated that he questions the validity of the poll. 

“This is not a credible poll. It’s from a firm openly and directly affiliated with the Democratic Party. Outlets should not actively mislead their audiences by presenting it as anything but just another partisan messaging tool,” said Blake Kernen, campaign spokesperson for Hogan.

Stay tuned.

The post Hot Off the Press: News impacting the Black community in D.C. area  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced the final phase of a three-part transformation for the Skyland Town Center on June 20. The new development will bring 126 townhomes, 75 affordable housing units for seniors, 10,000 square feet for retail, a public square and a plaza to Ward 7.

“It’s been 10 years since we broke ground here. We’re excited about Skyland,” said Bowser at the live-streamed groundbreaking ceremony. “I want to thank the community for trusting, believing and fighting for this neighborhood. When we all work together we not only get economic development, but we get economic development that enhances the neighborhood and delivers what the people want.”

The residential area’s nearly 90,000 inhabitants will benefit from the complete transformation of the Skyland Town Center. As 83 percent of Ward 7 residents are African-American and 7 percent are White, according to 2022 U.S. Census data, Black residents should largely benefit from this investment.

Bowser acknowledged the delays in the process but emphasized that they are on track now and will get done.

“I have to take a moment just to acknowledge all of the great people in government that make sure projects like this get done,” said Bowser. “This has been over a series of many years. We added to a series of hard projects. These are the projects I like to say were stuck when I became mayor, and we worked really hard to unstick them. Skyland will be like the poster child of unsticking projects over many years.”

Bowser acknowledged that Skyland was one of many community projects held up that is now on its way.

“Last week we were at the McMillan Reservoir to open what will be the first in a series of openings, first the Reservoir Park Recreation Center,” she said. “Last week we were at Sycamore and Oak adding to the entertainment and sports arena, adding to Whitman-Walker Health, adding to affordable housing with a great play space for kids.” 

At-large D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (Ind.) echoed the magnitude of the efforts put into these long-term projects.

“In 2014 the council voted to provide tax increment financing proceeds to support this Skyland Redevelopment. Ten years later, I’m happy to be here getting you all one step closer to the finish line,” said McDuffie. “To the development team, as I mentioned, that is continuing these efforts to complete this worthwhile project, keep pushing. To all the residents, keep pushing. We all look forward to coming back here successfully to take part in a ribbon cutting and a grand opening.”

The post D.C. Mayor Bowser unveils final phase of Skyland Town Center transformation appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tierra Stone
AFRO Intern
tierrastone@afro.com

and

By Mackenzie Williams
AFRO Intern
mwillaims@afro.com

This week the AFRO compiled a list of events happening throughout the month of July in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. Take a look below to see what’s happening near you!

Baltimore

Captain America Movie Marathon

Are there any Marvel fans in the family? If so, the Enoch Pratt Central Library, which sits in the heart of downtown Baltimore is hosting a Captain America movie marathon–perfect for all the superheroes in your life.

Date: July 6

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: Enoch Pratt Central Library (Wheeler Auditorium)
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore MD, 21201

Cost: Free

First Thursdays: Make and Mingle

Make art and mingle is an adults-only event to not only socialize but also unleash creativity with other locals. There will be food and drink vendors available for purchase and art supplies will be provided. If you have a membership with the museum you will receive a complimentary drink on the house, and any college students can show their ID to get a free cup of coffee.

Date: July 11

Time: 6 p.m – 7 p.m.

Location: The Walters Art Museum (Walters Cafe)
600 North Charles Street
Baltimore MD, 21201

Cost: Free

Walk A Mile in My Dreams Performance by Joyce J. Scott

The Baltimore Museum of Art is hosting an event led by musical artist Joyce J. Scott with collaborators Lorraine Whitlessey, and jazzman Derrick Thompson. Space is limited and all attendees must register online. Register at https://checkout.artbma.org/.

Date: July 14

Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Location: Baltimore Museum of Art
10 Art Museum Drive
Baltimore MD, 21218

Cost: Free

Community Briefing: Caring for Maryland’s Children

Maryland public defender, Natasha M. Dartigue is hosting a virtual event that will feature an overview of the youth crime bill—the Yes Act as well as discuss the office of public defender’s community outreach and resources. Link: www.facebook.com/MarylandOPD

Date: July 16

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: Virtually on Zoom

Cost: Free

Summer Sounds at the Square

Make sure to bring your family and friends to historic Belvedere Square and enjoy a live musical performance by the local band The New Romance. The parking lot will be converted into an open-air market where there will be food and drink from local businesses such as Atwater’s, Prigel Family Farm, Sassy Squeeze and so much more.

Date: July 19

Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Location: Belvedere Square
529 East Belvedere Avenue
Baltimore MD, 21212

Cost: Free

Red Cross Blood Drive

The Enoch Pratt Central Library is hosting a blood drive to help those in need. All prospective donors will go through a screening process before their donation and will receive a snack after the procedure. Make sure to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water for the best result possible. All donors are required to register at https://www.redcrossblood.org/.

Date: July 20

Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: Enoch Pratt Central Library (Creative Arts Center)
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore MD, 21201

Cost: Free

Washington, D.C.

Bold & Beautiful: After Dark

The Anacostia Community Museum is showcasing its new after-dark series of 2024 with a viewing of its exhibit, Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, D.C.,1900-2000. Enjoy this summertime theme with glow-in-the-dark art, jams by DJ Farrah Flosscett and a guided art phenomenon by instructor Lex Marie titled “Luminous Landscapes: A Neon Night of Art.” This event is 21+ register at https://www.eventbrite.com and search for Bold & Beautiful: After Dark.

Date: July 25

Time: 7 p.m -10 p.m

Location: Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Place SE
Washington, D.C., 20020

Cost: Free

Jazz in the Garden

The National Gallery of Art will be hosting a jazz music concert every Friday until the first week of August. Come enjoy an outdoor experience with your family and friends with a new artist every week. The museum recommends public transportation and blankets for sitting in the grass, first come first serve. Tickets are placed in a lottery system so make sure you check the website for open time slots to register. For any other questions please contact tickets@nga.gov and register at https://tickets.nga.gov/events/.

Date: Every Friday until August 9th

Time: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m

Location: National Gallery of Art
The Sculpture Garden (located on the north side
of the National Mall between 7th and 9th Streets NW.)
Washington, D.C., 20565

Cost: Free

Asia in the Dark

In light of Bruceploitation weekend, The National Museum of Asian Art is hosting a film screening and after-hour party. The museum will leave exhibits open while you enjoy food, music, and a special screening of The Dragon Lives Again. If you register for the film you must be in line by 6:50 to claim your seat. Registering for the event and film is done so separately, register at eventbrite.com by searching for the event, and register at https://hkclassics.eventive.org/ for the film.

Date: July 13

Time: 5p.m – 8p.m

Location: National Museum of Asian Art
1050 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C., 20004

Cost: Free

PG County

Community Health is Wealth Fair

The V.K. Nyambi Foundation is hosting a community event where attendees can receive free health screenings and testing for vision, kidney, HIV, and Hepatitis B. There will also be resources for mental health, marital counseling, and financial advising. The event will also include free food giveaways as well as light refreshments being served.

Date: July 21

Time: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Location: Hampton Conference Center
207 West Hampton Place
Capitol Heights, MD, 20743

Cost: Free

The post Upcoming meetings and events in the Baltimore and D.C. and Virginia Area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Aleisha Robinson
AFRO Intern
arobinson@afro.com

and

Gabby Howard
AFRO Intern
ghoward@afro.com

As summer kicks into high gear, the D.C, Maryland and Virginia area is quickly becoming the place to be for fun in the sun. This week the AFRO interns compiled a mixture of events that will range from festivals, museum happenings, panel discussions and bike tours. Take a look at the events below to find something that piques your interest and don’t forget to register!

Baltimore

The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum’s 8th Annual “Voices of History” Street Fair

The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Discover Me, Recover Me and T.E.A.C.H will be hosting a free community event to celebrate Black history, culture and community. Music and live performances will be featured, along with local talent, vendors, art, food and more.

Date: July 13

Location: The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum
1601-1649 East North Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21213

Time:11 a.m – 6 p.m

Prince George’s County

U.S. Africa Collaborative

The Pan African City Exposition which is hosted by Bowie State University and sponsored by Wells Fargo will host a series of events to educate people of sustainability and urban development. The event will have plenary sessions with speakers such as Dr. Ernest Khalema, Ph.D, Maria Day Marshall Esq., Dr. Sijekula Mbanga, Ph.D and CEO of York Housing Authority Regina Stone Mitchell.

Date: June 26-29

Time: Sessions are on June 26, June 27 and June 28 are from 10:45 a.m – 5:15 p.m. and June 29 from 10:45 a.m – 5:30 p.m. See schedule for more details.

Location: Bowie State University
National Sciences Building and Student Center
14000 Jericho Park Rd, Bowie, MD, USA.

Cost: Free, (registration link): https://usafricacollaborative.org/registration/

Washington D.C.

NoMa BID: Sunset Concert Series

NoMa BID and DC Fray are hosting a Sunset Concert Series to celebrate a diverse culmination of artists and music ranging from go-go, funk, indie and more. There will be vendors and food trucks.

Date: June 11 to July 30

Time: 6:30 p.m – 8:30 p.m

Location: Alethia Tanner Park
227 Harry Thomas Way Northeast
Washington D.C. 20002

Cost: Free, RSVP on Eventbrite

W.E.B Du Bois Ethiopianism and Black Internationalism | Busboys and Poets Books

Busboys and Poets will host a conversation with Dr. Wayne A. Rose, Ph.D, along with Professor Robbie Shilliam, Ph.D to discuss his research on W.E.B. Du Bois and Black internationalism.

Date: June 30

Location: Busboys and Poets (Takoma)
235 Carroll Ave NW
Washington, DC 20012

Time: 6 p.m – 8 p.m

Cost: Free, RSVP on Eventbrite

A Night of Worship And Prayer
Worship leader and composer John Bolin and the Voices of Praise Choir are hosting “A Night of Worship and Prayer.” This live event features uplifting music, heartfelt prayers, and spiritual reflection of the Museum of the Bible.

Date: July 3 – 6
Time: Doors open at 5:15 p.m and event starts at 6 p.m

Location: World Stage Theatre
400 4th Street Southwest
Washington, DC 20024
Cost: Free, RSVP on Eventbrite

Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women

Visual artist Mary Savig and Curator of Craft Lloyd Herman are hosting the virtual Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women Lecture. This event will immerse listeners in discussions about art by women at SAAM’s Renwick Gallery.

Date: July 11

Location: Zoom

Time: 7 p.m – 8 p.m

Cost: Free, (registration link): https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/fiber-art-by-women

Housing and Urban Development Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Event
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is hosting the 17th Annual Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB) event at the HUD headquarters building. This event will provide businesses with information about the laws, rules, and regulations that govern SDVOSB.

Date: July 11
Time: 10 a.m -1 p.m

Location: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street Southwest
Washington, DC 20410

Cost: Free, RSVP on Eventbrite

Hill Family Biking- Yards Park Ride

A network called Hill Family Biking is organizing a four-mile bike ride around Capitol Hill and adjacent regions of DC. Free Ice Cream will be provided to 200 ride participants starting with kids. Families are encouraged to be 15 minutes early if their bikes need maintenance. The police bike team will be in attendance.

Date: July 20
Time: 4 p.m – 5:30 p.m EDT

Location: Payne Elementary
1445 C Street Southeast Washington D.C, 20003

Entrances on 14th and D
Cost: Free, RSVP on Eventbrite

Virginia

Annual Voter Registration Training

The League of Women Voters of Arlington is holding an annual voter registration training event to inform the public because on July 31 registration and certifications will officially expire in Virginia.

Date: July 14

Location: Unitarian Universalist Church (The Activity Room)
4444 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington VA 22204

Time: 2:30 p.m – 4 p.m

Cost: Free, RSVP on Eventbrite

Black Pride RVA – Day of Purpose Festival

The Greater Richmond Convention center will be hosting a “Day of Purpose Festival.” This event will focus on the strength and diversity of the BIPOC LGBTQIA+ community. The attendees can enjoy live musical performances, art exhibits, and various vendors.

Date: July 20

Location: Greater Richmond Convention Center
403 North 3rd Street
Richmond VA 23219

Time: 11 a.m – 4 p.m

Cost: Free, RSVP on Eventbrite

The post Upcoming meetings and events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Special Release

The William and Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation, an award-winning nonprofit, announces Dr. Frances Murphy Draper, CEO and publisher of the AFRO American Newspapers, as this year’s Featherstone Changemaker Award recipient. This prestigious prize recognizes an influential leader who drives social change and makes a positive impact in the community.

Draper, known by the nickname “Toni,” will be honored on Aug. 9, 2024 during the Featherstone Awards Ceremony, an annual event that showcases Baltimore’s most promising youth and promotes academic equity in higher education. During the awards ceremony, 27 exceptional students will receive Featherstone College Scholarships to attend Coppin State University, Morgan State University, the University of Baltimore and other institutions.

WJZ-13 CBS News Baltimore Reporter Janay Reece will emcee the awards ceremony. The lineup includes: Pablo Adrián Arrocha Olabuenaga, head of community affairs for the Consular Section of the Embassy of Mexico; Travis E. Mitchell, senior vice president and chief content officer of Maryland Public Television; Kurt L. Schmoke, president of the University of Baltimore, and Kerry R. Watson Jr., executive vice president of public affairs for the Baltimore Orioles.

“Dr. Draper is an iconic Baltimore trailblazer whose professional accomplishments, leadership and influence uphold the highest standards of excellence,” said Tameka Brown, executive director of the William and Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation. “She’s lauded as an influential business leader and a role model for our Featherstone Scholars.”

Earlier this year, Draper received The First Citizen Award, the State of Maryland’s highest honor given by the Maryland Senate. In 2023, The Baltimore Business Journal named Draper a “Power 10 CEO.” For more than 131 years, the AFRO has been on the forefront of bringing vital information to communities.

“I am humbled and honored to receive the Featherstone Foundation’s 2024 Changemaker Award,” said Draper. “Congratulations to the scholarship awardees who are our future leaders and change makers.”

Draper holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Morgan State University where she also served on the university’s Board of Regents for 25 years. She holds a Master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University; a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University Maryland, and a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Baltimore. Draper also holds a doctorate in leadership from the United Theological Seminary.

The event will take place on August 9, 2024 at The University of Baltimore.

The post AFRO CEO and publisher to be honored by William and Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Mekhi Abbott
AFRO Intern
mabott@afro.com

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) researched the fiscal and community impact of sports and entertainment venues in the District with a new report, released on June 13. The report included an analysis of major sports teams potentially relocating to the District, while also including the economic impact that sports and entertainment facilities have had in the city as of date. 

The report showed that major sports have generated significant revenue for the city, including a total of $5 billion in 2022. In 2023, nearly 7.5 million people traveled to the District to watch a major sporting event and 88 percent were non-District residents. 34 percent of visitors travel from Virginia, 30 percent travel from Maryland and an impressive 24 percent of fans travel from outside of the DMV. 

“D.C. is the sports capital. We know how important sports are to our city’s economy and culture,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser in a press release. “They create jobs, generate tax revenue, and spur economic development. But sports also create a lot of pride in our city, they bring people together, and we look forward to continuing to support our teams in ways that benefit our city and residents and help knock D.C.’s comeback out of the park.”

The venues included in the report are Capital One Arena, Audi Field, Nationals Park and the Entertainment and Sports Arena. Capital One Arena is home to the National Basketball League Washington Wizards and the National Hockey League Washington Capitals. Major League Soccer’s DC United play at Audi Field. The Women’s National Basketball League Washington Mystics play games both at the Entertainment and Sports Arena as well as Capital One Arena. Audi Field is also home to the annual Truth and Service Classic, a rivalry game between the city’s own Howard Bison and the Hampton Pirates.

The report also showed that sport outings increase metrorail ridership. Gallery Place station, close to Capital One, has the second highest daily ridership in the city, second only to Union Station. 

A poll showed that 76 percent of D.C. residents would support a Washington Commanders relocation to the city. The Commanders used to call Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Stadium home but they now play at Commanders Field in Prince George’s County, Md. Hosting a National Football League franchise is projected to produce over $1.25 billion in economic revenue, $25 million in tax revenue, $289.8 million in labor income and create 2,095 jobs. The last professional team to play in RFK Stadium was DC United in 2019.

The post Mayor Bowser and DMPED release report showing fiscal impact of D.C. sports teams and facilities appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Mekhi Abbott
AFRO Intern
mabott@afro.com

Legendary D.C. high school basketball coach and sports talk show host James “Butch” McAdams passed away on June 23. The longtime mentor and community leader died in his home, located in northwest D.C.

McAdams was a true pillar of the D.C. sports community. The District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) and Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Famer became one of the most respected names in the DMV sports media scene with his highly celebrated sports radio talk show “In and Out of Sports.”

“We lost an icon and legendary voice of sports and talk radio. Coach McAdams was a voice who wasn’t afraid to say what and how he felt and always stood tall on his outlook and opinions. Coach Butch McAdams will be forever loved and missed throughout the DMV,” said Sean Stinnett, Baltimore native and former director of women’s basketball operations at Bowie State University.

Prior to hosting “In and Out of Sports” in 2011, McAdams’ legacy and impact was first on display as a longtime coach. McAdams began his coaching journey as an assistant coach before he was selected to be the head coach at Maret High School located in northwest D.C. 

Over the span of approximately three decades, McAdams coached the Maret basketball team to heights that proved him to be one of the best high school coaches in the D.C. and Maryland area. His teams were ranked as a top 20 team multiple years and several of his players would go on to play Division One basketball. Some of the schools that his athletes went on to play at include the University of Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech.

“He was a [good] coach because of how he was able to pass through history…his connections within the basketball world. He is able to evaluate talent. He’s able to bring people together and he did that on his radio show,” said Michael Tillery, writer and reporter for The Starting Five.

McAdams’ love for basketball and sports in general was something that he showed from a very young age. He would go to the playground as a young kid just to inform his friends about what was going on in the sports world. He was an avid reader of the newspaper which strengthened his sports knowledge.

The lifelong D.C. resident would go on to play basketball at Mackin High School before graduating and moving on to attend the University of the District of Columbia. When McAdams was in high school, Mackin was a powerhouse basketball program.

McAdams had a profound impact on the athletes he coached, sports enthusiasts that regularly tuned into his radio talk show and the greater DMV community.

“Two weeks prior to his death, I was on his radio show alongside Kevin Blackistone. What I appreciate about Coach McAdams first and foremost is his dedication to making sure that the history of Black people and black athletes is being told. He was very diligent in making sure that history was passed down accordingly by getting certain people on his show to explain their eras, their experience in the sports world as well as life in general,” said Tillery.

McAdams also co-hosted “Coach’s Corner,” alongside T.J. Smith, as well as “Coach’s Game Time Conversation,” broadcast on 1010 AM WOLB. He was a contributor to the Larry Young Morning Show in Baltimore. Guest appearances on “In and Out of Sports” include the late, great Georgetown head coach John Thompson and 2017 National Basketball League first overall draft pick Markelle Fultz.

The radio personality is also remembered for his unique fashion sense. James “Butch” McAdams is survived by his wife, Andrea.

The post D.C. Basketball Hall of Famer James ‘Butch’ McAdams dies appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) – In a ruling that would make it difficult for Americans to dictate what the Supreme Court, those in power or individuals seeking office and the presidency can’t do, the high court issued what could be a devastating ruling in the so-called Chevron decision. 

On June 28, the Supreme Court consigned to history the 1984 ruling known as Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, potentially jeopardizing the safety and rights of consumers and the environment. The decision could lead to skyrocketing phone bills, soaring healthcare costs, and the dismantling of regulations on food safety and consumer protections that have been in place for decades. 

In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority of the court dealt another blow to the power of federal agencies. In writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts declared, “Chevron is overruled. Courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.” 

Liberal Justice Elena Kagan, in her dissent, warned that a “longstanding precedent at the crux of administrative governance thus falls victim to a bald assertion of judicial authority.”

At the time of its decision four decades ago, Chevron was a victory for the Reagan administration’s deregulatory agenda, granting judges the ability to defer to federal agencies in interpreting ambiguous statutes. The flexibility allowed Democratic and Republican presidents to implement new regulations across various issues. However, many Republicans have increasingly criticized Chevron, arguing it gives too much power to agency bureaucrats. Environmental activists and other groups on the left have defended Chevron for its ability to address issues like climate change.

The case that led to this ruling involved a challenge to a federal regulation requiring fishing vessel operators to fund data collection for fishery conservation and management. The National Marine Fisheries Service, which oversees ocean resources, issued a rule in 2020 mandating vessel operators pay up to $710 a day for independent observers to monitor operations. Small owner-operators argued this cost was burdensome, challenging the service’s authority under the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The lower courts had ruled in favor of the federal government.

The Trump administration has supported a campaign by the conservative justices to limit the power of federal agencies, and this decision is the most recent in that series. The court’s conservative majority, including three Trump appointees—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett—has repeatedly struck down agency actions lacking explicit congressional authorization, following the “major questions doctrine.”

Former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal sounded the alarm in an NBC News interview, saying, “The Supreme Court has done an extraordinary thing, an extraordinarily dangerous thing. Most government regulation in this country is not done by Congress. It’s done by administrative agencies… What the Supreme Court did today by a 6–3 vote is overturn Chevron. That is going to make it much more difficult to regulate businesses, to protect consumers, to protect the environment and to protect our healthcare.”

Katyal emphasized the sweeping impact of the ruling, noting that regulations by agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration and Federal Communications Commision, which influence everything from environmental standards to food safety and phone bill costs, will now face greater challenges. He warned, “This decision… is going to change government as we know it.”

The political dynamic behind the ruling reflects the decreasing productivity of Congress due to partisan divides, leading to a greater reliance on agency rules to achieve regulatory goals, particularly by Democratic presidents. The 1984 Chevron precedent, which called for judicial deference to federal agency interpretations of ambiguous laws, has been a target of conservatives and business interests for years. With the ruling, the Supreme Court has dramatically shifted the landscape of American governance, with opponents arguing that it potentially jeopardizes decades of consumer and environmental protections and ushered in a new era of regulatory challenges.

The post Supreme Court overturns Chevron: Major blow to consumer protections and regulatory power appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com

With the first presidential debate of this election season just days away, Vice President Kamala Harris (D) made a stop in College Park, Md. to recognize the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade., a landmark case that made abortion a constitutional right. 

“Over the past two years, in states across our nation, the extremists have proposed and passed laws that criminalize doctors and punish women. Laws that limit access to contraception and to fertility treatments like IVF. Even some of them, trying to revive laws from the 1800s,” said Harris.

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, a non-profit organization of reproductive rights advocates and lawyers, around 14 states have made abortion illegal.

“Two years ago today, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court majority ripped away the fundamental freedom for women to access the health care they need and deserve. The consequences have been devastating. If given the chance, there is no question he will ban abortion nationwide, with or without the help of Congress,” said Biden in a statement on June 24, acknowledging the day. “I will never let that happen. My message to Americans is this: Kamala and I are fighting like hell to get your freedom back. And we won’t stop until we restore the protections of Roe v. Wade for every woman in every state.”

At the gathering, Harris doubled down on Biden’s sentiments.

“In the case of the stealing of reproductive freedom from the women of America, Donald Trump is guilty,” said Harris, gaining cheers from the crowd.

The lively crowd chanted “four more years” and “restore Roe” several times throughout the event.

Throughout her speech, Harris played up Trump’s part in and lack of remorse for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“When he was in the White House, Donald Trump handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Harris. “As intended, they did.”

There are currently six Republican-nominated justices on the U.S. Supreme Court and three Democrat-nominated justices.

“Today is more than just an anniversary. It’s proof that we should never take for granted our liberties,” said Democratic nominee for U.S Senate and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks at the gathering. “It’s the confirmation that we must be vigilant and fighting for and protecting, with everything we have, our rights.

“Electing Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden means that we will have a country that remains recognizable to us,” said Alsobrooks.

Voters’ perspectives of a candidate’s views on abortion surely matter as a poll by Navigator Research, a project led by pollsters, finds that 68 percent of Americans believe it is important for Biden and Congress to protect abortion access this year. 

In Our Own Voice, a national partnership to uplift Reproductive justice leaders, finds that Black voters are six times more likely to vote for a candidate who supports abortion access than one who opposes it.

The poll by Navigator Research also shows that 80 percent of women are supportive of increasing access to birth control pills, 70 percent for easier access to fertility planning such as IVF, 57 percent for an abortion pill and 56 percent for in-clinic abortions.

Trump did not make any public statements on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. 

Previously Republicans have said the decision restored power to the states concerning abortion and protects the lives of unborn children.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

The Biden-Harris administration and members of Congress applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for upholding a law that temporarily bans domestic abusers from possessing firearms.

“As a result of today’s ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades,” said President Joe Biden.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts penned the 8-1 majority opinion in the United States v. Rahimi case.

“When a restraining order contains a finding that an individual poses a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner, that individual may – consistent with the Second Amendment – be banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect,” wrote Roberts.

Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling will keep “important” protections against domestic violence in place.

“This case is yet another reminder that some want to take our country back to a time when women were not treated as equal to men and were not allowed to vote—and husbands could subject their wives to physical violence without it being considered a crime,” said Harris. “The fight to protect common sense gun safety measures is not over.”

Respondent Zackey Rahimi, a domestic abuser, who was served a restraining order against his girlfriend for threatening her life with a firearm, contended that by being temporarily stripped of his weapon, his Second Amendment rights had been violated.  

However, after the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari to Rahimi’s case and heard oral arguments from both parties, it ruled to keep in place limitations prohibiting temporary gun use for domestic abusers.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, (D-Ga.-4) stated that the majority-conservative court sometimes gets it right.

“In the span of a week, this same Court struck down a bump stock ban and upheld keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers,” said Johnson. “While I agree with today’s decision, we have more work to do to keep Americans safe from gun violence.”

Both Biden and Harris used the verdict to tout their efforts to curb gun violence across the nation and gun violence against women.

The Biden-Harris administration passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which has prevented the sale of nearly 30 thousand firearms to convicted domestic abusers.  

The vice president emphasized that U.S. Citizens need to vote for Biden this November or gun safety legislation could be at “risk” of being rolled back if former President Donald Trump were to be re-elected.

“Trump is a threat to our freedoms and our safety, and we must defeat him in November,” said Harris. “Trump has made clear he believes Americans should ‘get over’ gun violence, and we cannot allow him to roll back commonsense protections or appoint the next generation of Supreme Court justices.”

Following the ruling, President Biden vowed that he and Harris will remain committed to ending gun violence against women.

“We will continue to call on Congress to further strengthen support and protections for survivors and to take action to stop the epidemic of gun violence tearing our communities apart,” said Biden.

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By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO

ATM bandits strike again, this time in Bowie, Md. 

It took less than five minutes for police officers to arrive on the scene after a burglar alarm was triggered at T&T Liquors in Bowie, Md., on Monday morning, June 10. But that was long enough for thieves to get through the metal gate covering the doors, break a heavy padlock and get away with an ATM, scratch-off lottery tickets, alcohol and cigarettes. 

According to police, the getaway vehicle, a red pickup, was found on Route 50 near the exit for Interstate 295 less than one hour after the robbery. 

So far, police have not caught those responsible for the crime, nor have they determined if this latest robbery counts as the efforts of a group of individuals who have been targeting ATMs in Prince George’s County, or if this break-in was committed by copycat thieves. 

Lt. John Knott, commander of investigative services with the Bowie Police Department, said thieves often use a stolen pickup truck that is used to pull the ATM out of the store and then carry it away.

The number of ATM thefts continues to be a major concern for law enforcement officials in Prince George’s County, with 67 ATM robberies or attempted robberies already recorded this year and 140 recorded in 2023. Local officials say they’re working on cracking down on these crimes as legislators consider passing tougher sentences for those found guilty. 

Just a couple weeks ago, on the evening of June 6, an ATM was stolen from The Wayne Curry Sports and Learning Center in Landover, Md. – a facility frequently used by those in the community because of its tracks and fields, especially by seniors. But, one of the biggest “paydays” for these proficient thieves occurred four months ago when a group of bandits targeted 10 locations, most of them 7-Elevens, smashing and grabbing 14 ATMs in four days across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia during overnight hours.  

Officials sound the alarm as HIV infections, STD cases spike in Prince George’s 

Health officials in Prince George’s County are urging residents to get tested and know their status after seeing a spike in rates for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Recent data shows that approximately 7 percent to 8 percent of people with whom the Health Department interacts tests positive for HIV while Prince George’s County is second only to Baltimore in the state of Maryland for HIV and STI rates.

On June 11, officials emphasized the importance of communicating to the public that HIV, which was a death sentence in decades past, is now both preventable and treatable. 

In the U.S., Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized as a new disease in 1981 when young homosexual men began to contract and die from unusual opportunistic infections and rare malignancies, according to the CDC. 

One lesser known fact: after the first cases were detected in the U.S. in 1981, a later study revealed that African people had been infected as early as 1959. Other studies have shown that HIV has been circulating in humans for even longer, probably since the end of the 19^th century. 

In speaking with local reporters, Michael Rice, clinical director for Daydream Sunshine Initiative, a Bowie-based nonprofit that offers testing and treatment for HIV and STIs, said that given the resources and treatments now available, the number of new HIV infections should be zero, not the 2 percent positivity rate which his organization reported in 2023 after testing an estimated 1,100 people. 

Rice added that those populations who represent the most significant increase in recent HIV infections include Black cisgender women (women whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth) and younger adults between the ages of 18 and 34. Capitol Heights, Md. has also been identified as a hotspot for new HIV infections. Health centers and nonprofits throughout Maryland offer free testing to anyone who enters their doors.  

Wendell Felder wins Ward 7 Democratic primary race while Mayor Bowser considers an unprecedented run for a fourth consecutive term in 2026 

Ten candidates were on the ballot for D.C.’s Democratic primary race for Ward 7, which took place on June 4. But it took two more days before The Associated Press projected a winner: 33-year-old Wendell Felder, a local politician and the former chair of the Ward 7 Democrats who currently leads the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC). However, Felder’s victory was far from decisive as two other candidates, Ebony Payne, a Kingsman Park ANC commissioner, and Eboni-Rose Thompson, president of the State Board of Education, were close behind by several hundred votes. 

Felder’s victory presumably occurred, in part, because of his endorsement by Vincent Gray,  the District’s former mayor and council chair who had held the Ward 7 seat since 2005. Gray earlier announced that he would not seek reelection due to health challenges. He suffered a stroke in 2021 and another in April 2024 and continues to receive physical therapy for complications related to mobility and speech. 

Because the District is heavily dominated by Democratic voters, Felder will almost assuredly win the general election in November and succeed the retiring Gray in Ward 7. 

On another note, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has been making the rounds, appearing on local TV news stations and holding multiple press conferences addressing topics that include public safety, summer internships for youth and the new budget. She has yet to decide if she will run for an unprecedented fourth consecutive term for mayor in 2026. 

D.C.’s “Mayor for Life,” Marion Barry was elected mayor for four terms but only three of his terms were consecutive. 

Stay tuned.

The post Hot Off the Press: News impacting the Black community in D.C., Maryland appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire) – The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) concluded its 2024 annual summer convention on June 22, leaving its mark on Baltimore and making history as the first trade association with a presidential campaign as an event sponsor. The Biden-Harris campaign also announced a groundbreaking seven-figure advertising and sponsorship deal with the NNPA, which represents 250 Black-owned newspapers and media companies comprising the Black Press of America.

“In August of last year, our campaign announced the earliest and largest investment into Black media for any reelection campaign in history,” said Jasmine Harris, the director of national Black media for Biden-Harris 2024. “This partnership with the NNPA is a continuation of those efforts and will strengthen our work in meeting Black voters where they are, to underscore the stakes of this election for Black America. President Biden and Vice President Harris are responsible for creating millions of new jobs for Black workers and record low Black unemployment. Black America has far too much to lose this election.”

In a letter to publishers, Vice President Harris asserted that the NNPA has remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting Black publishers. “Your work helps ensure that communities gain critical knowledge and have access to accurate information on the pertinent issues impacting our country,” Harris said. “As you know, the freedom of the press is essential to our democracy. I commend the efforts of the NNPA as you continue to be trusted voices of your communities and tell stories that too often go untold.”

NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr. emphasized that “it is extremely important to show support of the business side of the Black Press owned by Black business leaders. Verbal support is good, but financial support is better.”

The 2024 convention began with the unveiling of the “Marylanders Cry Freedom, Civil Rights at Home and Abroad” exhibit at Baltimore City Hall, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of Maryland’s divestment from South Africa’s apartheid regime in 1984.

The unveiling featured remarks from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), Chavis, Henry, AFRO Publisher Dr. Toni Draper, and other dignitaries. Distinguished guests included U.S. Black Chambers President Ron Busby and Dr. Camille Ragin of Fox Chase Cancer Center.

The convention offered a series of insightful panels and discussions. A GenZ panel on voter issues featured journalist Ashleigh Fields, University of Maryland Student journalist Savannah Grooms, North Carolina A&T student journalist Melvin Harris Jr., Huffington Post journalist Phillip Lewis, community organizer Brielle Morton, and Elijah Pittman, an anti-colonial, Afro-diasporic-centered journalist from Howard University. Additional panels, hosted by Wells Fargo, Google News Initiative, General Motors, Pfizer, and Reynolds, aligned with the convention’s theme, “Empowering the Black Press, Communities, Families, and Voter Turnout.”

During the NNPA Fund’s Merit Awards, Baltimore Times Publisher Joy Bramble was honored as Publisher of the Year. The St. Louis American led with 12 awards, including first place in the Armstrong Ellington Entertainment category and the Robert L. Vann Layout & Design Award. Real Times Media publications, the Michigan Chronicle, and the New Pittsburgh Courier collectively garnered eight awards. The Michigan Chronicle won five awards, while the New Pittsburgh Courier earned three.

The Atlanta Voice received six awards for journalistic excellence, including the Emory O. Jackson Award for health coverage and the Ada S. Franklin Award for fashion. The Sacramento Observer, whose publisher Larry Lee won the 2023 Publisher of the Year award, also secured six awards. Other recognized publications included The Washington Informer, Texas Metro News, Houston Forward Times, Houston Defender, Insight News, Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder, Los Angeles Sentinel, New York Amsterdam News, and Seattle Medium.

The NNPA’s daily digital show, “Let It Be Known,” was celebrated with the Black Press of America’s “Black Excellence in Media” award. The NNPA National Legacy Awards, always among the convention highlights, honored Maryland Democratic Congressman Kweisi Mfume. Erica P. Loewe, a White House Office of Public Engagement assistant to the president and chief of staff, and photographer Mel D. Cole received the inaugural “Future Goes Viral” award from “Let It Be Known,” under the direction of Greer Marshall, for their bravery and unwavering resolve during and after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Philadelphia Tribune Publisher Robert Bogle, and Defender Network CEO Sonny Messiah Jiles were also presented with the “Future Goes Viral” award for their tireless advocacy as publishers of Black-owned newspapers and media companies.

The conference formally closed with a dinner cruise presented by Regi Taylor of the Baltimore Times that was titled, “From Shackles to Ownership: A Reflection of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.”

“Gratitude is owed to our sponsors, speakers, awardees and organizers for their unwavering support in making this event possible,” Henry said. “Together, let’s harness this moment to inspire, learn, and collaborate, shaping a brighter future for all through the NNPA and its Black-owned media companies.”

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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! 

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By Mackenzie Williams
AFRO Intern
mwilliams@afro.com

“Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.”

― Coretta Scott King, quote from “My Life With Martin Luther King Jr.”

Juneteenth is a defining moment for when Black people began their journey into freedom.  

This Juneteenth, the AFRO looked at ways the Black community can reclaim their power and liberation by taking the time to honor the meaning of this holiday.

1. Embrace your community 

Juneteenth is an African-American holiday that can be celebrated by all.  Though the date has been celebrated in Texas since 1980, the holiday became a federal holiday in 2021.  Last year, the Pew Research Center reported that “at least 28 states and the District of Columbia” officially “recognized Juneteenth as a public holiday – meaning state government offices are closed and state workers have a paid day off.”

Jo Von McCalester, Ph.D, a political science and Afro American Studies professor at Howard University, weighed in on how to embrace community on June 19.

“I want us to know and acknowledge what we are barbecuing for,” McCalester told the AFRO. “Tap into your community, because there are all kinds of celebrations happening. Individuals don’t have to create their own traditions around Juneteenth–at least not right now. They can join in with other groups that are celebrating. From there, they can get an idea of what is being celebrated.”

2. Know your history 

“While history is what happened, it is also, just as important, how we think about what happened and what we unearth and choose to remember about what happened.”

― Nikole Hannah-Jones, excerpt from “The 1619 Project: A New American Origin Story”

In 2021, Governor Ron De Santis announced the STOP W.O.K.E Act, which “works to combat critical race theory practices and corporate wokeism.” His legislation put forth the narrative that slaves benefited from slavery because it afforded the opportunity to learn “useful skills.” In the past few years the Black community has seen their books banned and their history rewritten. While Juneteenth is a holiday to celebrate freedom–it’s also a time to take advantage of the freedom to gain knowledge and dispel untruths. 

This Juneteenth, take time to examine a part of Black history you are unfamiliar with or revisit an era you know from beginning to end– you may learn something new. The AFRO Archives and “1619 Project,” by Nikole Hannah-Jones, are the perfect places to start!

3. Document your story

The term “slave narrative” gained popularity in the 18th and 19th century as a surge of slaves documented their life experience in oratorical and rhetorical fashion, to the surprise of enslavers and bigoted Americans. The purpose was to not only shed light on the conditions of slave labor, but also on the humanities and capabilities Black people had in comparison to their White counterparts. The words of Frederick Douglas in “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave,” and the book, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” by Harriet Jacobs, shook the country into a space of understanding and rebellion. 

This Juneteenth holiday, take time to record your story and information on the life and times of your living relatives. Experts say journaling can help lower blood pressure, decrease depressive symptoms and improve overall well-being. The ancestors worked tirelessly and even risked their lives to gain the right to read, write, speak their minds and make meaning of their experiences– exercise your right today by recording your story. 

4. Learn about traditional foods 

On Juneteenth, the color red is used as a symbol of resilience and the bloodshed of ancestors. Hibiscus tea, also known as “sorrel” to West African families, is one traditional item to make this year on June 19. 

The recipe for sorrel has been orally passed down, keeping with tradition, and is made up of spices and herbs commonly found in the Caribbean. Good fortune foods, such as black eyed peas or cabbage, also symbolize Black tradition, passed on to instill hope. 

5. Practice health and wellness

Within chattel slavery, inhumane and cruel living conditions and diets made up of nutrient-poor foods significantly impacted the well being and spirit of the Black body. Today, Black people are now actively fighting to improve their collective physical, mental and emotional health. 

Many are using meditation or mindfulness practices to help rebalance themselves. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, while African Americans report higher rates of chronic stress, “the practice of mindfulness meditation is largely underutilized in African American communities despite its potential health benefits.” 

Krista Johnson, Ph.D,  the director for the Center of African studies at Howard University, 

encourages the Black community to engage in wellness practices– especially the younger generation because she says “it hasn’t gotten enough attention.” 

“You can’t underestimate breathing,” Johnson told the AFRO.

This Juneteenth, take time to truly understand how our ancestors survived enslavement and make a point to take better care of yourself. Remember, the healthier you are, the better you are able to live out the wildest dreams of your ancestors.

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By Congressman Kweisi Mfume

This week, I am wishing a Happy Father’s Day to every father, father figure and family. It is the joy of my life to be a father and a grandfather, and I cherish the honor and responsibility every day. 

It is essential to give thanks to all the fathers – biological and otherwise – who are around us and in our lives day in and day out. 

When a child steps into your world, your life changes forever. That new life is yours to oversee, guide, mentor and protect. As all fathers know – there are no limits to the ends that a man will go to ensure his child’s health, safety and security. 

But fatherhood is not without its challenges. With the addition of new life comes unforeseen tests. It is not just the blossoming of a new relationship between father and child, but a new chapter in your relationship with the world around you. We are tested as men and challenged to overcome the day-to-day obstacles of fatherhood. But when we are successful in this pursuit, we become an evolved version of ourselves. 

In the harsh reality of life, situations and circumstances can get out of control. Oftentimes, they will get in the way of our journey through life as fathers. The infamous government “man in the house” rules of the 1960s were a case in point. Those government regulations mandated that a child – who otherwise qualified for public assistance – be rejected if there was a single or married able-bodied man living in the home. That rule hastened the disintegration of Black families during that era and was punitive, mean and short-sighted.

Our government system of public assistance is designed to ensure that all Americans are able to receive basic human needs. Hindering those who rely on these benefits to live, simply because they have a father figure present, was unquestionably wrong. While the U.S. Supreme Court struck down this rule in 1968, I know that this inhumane policy took a toll on those Americans who were subjected to its harsh penalties.

In my capacity as both a father and an elected official, I have worked tirelessly to champion the voices and needs of fathers, mothers, children and families. I have sought to protect the most vulnerable among us and work legislatively to support all fathers and father figures across our nation.

In just this year alone, I successfully worked with others to secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in Community Project Funding to support those purposes. This direct federal funding will expand and improve a number of family-related efforts, such as the LIGHT Rock Children’s Village in Baltimore, allowing for increased enrollment in early childhood education efforts. These investments are a commitment to supporting our children’s futures, which I know is principal in the minds and hearts of fathers across our nation. 

Equally as important were the successful efforts to enhance the Child Tax Credit passed as part of the American Rescue Plan in Congress. Family support measures such as this are the building blocks which bolster fathers and fatherhood by lifting millions of children out of poverty in 2021 alone.

As a community, we must always encourage the roles of both fathers and mothers in a society where unfortunately families face harsh scrutiny and are devalued at times. We know that by supporting fathers and fatherhood we are also guaranteeing a future that is directly opposite of the aforementioned government policy and attempts of the 1960s to tear down that future. 

On this Father’s Day, let us support and continue to encourage all of the dads who have answered the call of being a guardian, leader, teacher, mentor and most of all father to the children of our communities.

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

The Biden-Harris administration held the second annual Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 10.

The event started at 7:30 pm and was hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr., who cracked jokes throughout the night while also emphasizing the importance of celebrating Juneteenth.

The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out that they were free through the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863. 

President Joe Biden gave a speech during the concert and stated that the June 10 celebration was a “fitting tribute” for the holiday. The president also took a moment to discuss recent attacks launched against diversity and equity programs across the nation. 

“Old ghosts in new garments trying to take us back– taking away your freedoms, making it harder for Black people to vote or have your vote counted,” he added. “Our history is not just about the past, it’s about our present and our future…for all of us.” 

In attendance were Congressional members Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30), Ayanna Pressley, (D-Mass-7), Cori Bush (D-Mo-1) Maxine Waters, (D-Calif-43) and Steven Horsford, (D-Nev-4), attorney Ben Crump, MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend and rapper Joey Bada$$. 

“It’s an honor to be invited–especially looking at what this nation faces at this point. Specifically, with what I’d consider essentially a race war,” said Ameshia Cross, a Democratic strategist. “We’re seeing measures to erase curriculum that is reflective of what actually happened in American history.”

Pressley stated she attended the Juneteenth concert to pay tribute to Opal Lee, the advocate who pushed for the holiday to become nationally recognized. 

“She made this possible and many fought to make this holiday real,” said Pressley. “There are a lot of people who bled, who prayed, who paved the way…for me to be involved everyday in the work of Black liberation.”

Over a two-hour period, guests experienced performances from Patti LaBelle, Anthony Hamilton, Kirk Franklin, Raheem DeVaughn, Charlie Wilson, Doug E. Fresh, Gladys Knight and many other talented artists.

LaBelle sang her hit song “Love, Need and Want You,” Hamilton sang his classic “Charlene” and Kirk Franklin gave the audience a show while dancing to his song “Love Theory.” 

“This was a celebration of achievements against a backdrop of people who are trying to erase it and make it harder for Black people to have access points,” said Cross. “President is going against all odds to ensure there’s equity and strength for the Black community.”

In 2021, Biden signed a law that made Juneteenth a federal holiday. This year Juneteenth will be recognized on Wednesday, June 19.

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office and Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, have announced that Washington D.C. received more visitors than ever in 2023. The announcement came via a press conference that the mayor’s office livestreamed on May 29, sharing the good news and its economic impact. 

The D.C. area welcomed a total of 25.95 million visitors last year, which is a 17 percent increase from 2022 that surpasses the pre-pandemic record set in 2019. The new groundbreaking number resulted in a whopping $10.2 billion in visitor spending and helped support 102,366 local jobs.

“This is a major milestone for Washington, D.C. We are seeing the results of our increased marketing and sales efforts thanks to the tourism recovery district legislation, and the city is benefitting from increased tourism,”  said Elliott L. Ferguson II, president and CEO of DDC. “There is still work to do, however, since international travel hasn’t fully recovered. The additional funding allows us to continue to entice international visitors who stay longer and spend more.”

Of the record-setting 25.95 million visitors, 24 million traveled from within the U.S. These numbers mean that domestic visitation has been fully restored to 105 percent in 2019. Meanwhile, international visitation continues to reflect towards pre-pandemic levels. There were a total of 1.95 million international visitors, indicating an 85 percent return, and a 40 percent increase from year to year.

“We are proud to show millions of visitors every year why Washington, D.C. is the most important city in the world,” Bowser said. “Tourism is critical to our city’s vitality, yielding jobs for our residents, dollars for our local businesses, and revenue for our investments in a stronger DC.”

“As we continue to share the story of our city and create fantastic destinations for our visitors, we are grateful to Destination DC and all our hospitality partners for the work they do every day to remind people that there’s only one DC.”

In November of last year DDC launched its award-winning campaign, “There’s Only One DC,” which has helped creatively display the district as a unique tourism location, all the while highlighting the region’s diverse experiences and activities, along with its rich history. Additional funding from the tourism recovery district has allowed DDC to spread their message to all potential travelers. “There’s Only One D.C.,” has the largest reach of any DDC campaign to date.

Hopes are high for visitors and tourists this summer as a series of events and anniversaries will be taking place in our nation’s capital including the reopening of the Folger Shakespeare Library (June 21), a Capitol Hill landmark which holds the world’s largest Shakespeare collection along with a host of other highly anticipated festivals,concerts and sporting events

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By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com

A recent report revealed that Washington D.C. is a leading region for women entrepreneurs. The 2024 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses, commissioned by Wells Fargo, examined the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan statistical area (MSA) among others across the country. D.C. ranked number nine. 

“D.C. was a top 10 metropolitan area,” said Val Jones, women’s segment leader for small business at Wells Fargo. “There’s a moderate firm growth of 9.6 percent, but what they found in the D.C. area in particular is that women-owned businesses contributed a lot to strengthening the region’s economy.” 

The report was inspired by the need for more current data about the state of women-owned businesses. Previously, most people referred to the 2019 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, which was commissioned by American Express. 

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the country, disrupting and, in some cases, eliminating businesses. The long-term effects are still unfolding. As so much has changed for businesses in the past couple of years, Wells Fargo wanted to assess the current landscape. 

Jones said of the top 10 MSAs, including D.C., there were a couple common themes contributing to their regions being suited for women-owned businesses.  

“First, they have a strong economy in general. D.C. definitely has the government there providing a lot of different growth opportunities, and it’s very stable,” said Jones. “Across the board, they also found that there was a highly educated workforce. If you’re needing expertise to get your firm off the ground, you have that workforce around you and you can do that a lot faster.” 

One other common thread is that the regions prioritize providing support to women-owned businesses. 

“These top areas provide focused support for women entrepreneurs,” said Jones. “There are specific programs providing opportunities for bidding on contracts and technical assistance.”

Across the U.S., the report found that there were more than 14 million women-owned businesses, representing 39.1 percent of all firms. They commanded 12.2 million employees, and their revenue was $2.7 trillion.  

Their earnings represent just 5.8 percent of total firm revenue in the U.S., but they have more to give. 

“Still, women could make a greater impact if the gaps between women of color and White women-owned businesses, as well as between women and men, were closed,” wrote the report.

It projected that women entrepreneurs could generate an additional $7.9 trillion if their average revenue was on par with men’s. They could garner an additional $667 billion if minority women-owned businesses and White women-owned businesses had the same average revenue. 

One challenge is that women are more likely to start businesses in sectors that produce modest revenues. 

“Women tend to congregate in industries that have lower revenues, as opposed to their male counterparts, like service, education or personal aides,” said Jones. 

Although this tendency prevails, the report identified a few sectors that women are growing into. 

“There are opportunities for women to consider industries that they might not have thought about before,” said Jones. “Some of the growth industries we’re seeing are finance, insurance and construction.”

Access to capital is also a persistent barrier for women entrepreneurs, especially for Black and Brown women. Though the report learned that Black women have similar growth rates to their peers and eclipse them with employment growth rates, they are more likely to be denied loans or encounter higher interest rates from lenders. 

While there’s been a rise in support programs for women-owned businesses since the COVID-19 pandemic to address long-standing disparities, some of these efforts have come under attack. Most recently, a U.S. appeals court suspended a grant program led by Atlanta-based Fearless Fund that targets Black women entrepreneurs

The venture capital fund is part of an ongoing lawsuit lodged by the American Alliance for Equal Rights. The organization is headed by conservative litigant Edward Blum, who championed the eradication of affirmative action. 

“No one is trying to take anything away from anybody that’s already getting capital. No one is trying to take anything away from supports that might be out there for a variety of people,” said Jones. “If we enable women, minorities and any special groups that might be out there to be successful, they’re going to hire employees and put more money into the economy. We all benefit.” 

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By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is calling on the community to help find a suspect in a shooting that took place May 20 in the Southeast section of Washington, D.C.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., on May 20 a shooting took place on the 800 block of Yuma Street, in Southeast, D.C. The victim was walking down the block when the suspect fired a handgun from inside of a moving vehicle, striking the victim before fleeing the scene. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries.

MPD is advising anyone who is able to identify the suspect or who is aware of this incident to take no physical action, but instead call the police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. There is currently a reward of up to $10,000 being offered by The Metropolitan Police Department to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a violent crime committed in the District of Columbia. 

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By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO

This week Washington D.C. voters flocked to the polls to cast their ballots in the city’s primary elections on June 4.

President Joe Biden won the Democratic primary election and earned 87 percent of the vote, which comes as little surprise. However, former President Donald Trump, who is expected to be named the Republican party’s presidential nominee next month, lost the primary election to former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Haley scored 62.8 percent of the vote, while Trump secured 33.3 percent. This comes just days after the former Republican president was found guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records. 

“It’s a good thing that the felon didn’t win,” said U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, (D-Md-4). “But, Nikki has had some strange moments too. I read about her signing her name on bombs that were about to be dropped in [Gaza]. The Republican Party is in a strange place these days and I don’t know how they wander out of it.”

“I think it’s just another sign for Democrats to fight to take control of the House and maintain control of the Senate and the White House,” said the Maryland lawmaker.

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, (R-Texas-38) says Hailey’s win is not a slight to Trump. 

“We have our nominee,” said Hunt. “Trump’s the guy. It’s completely irrelevant to me.”

Despite Hailey’s victory, she announced in March that she would no longer run for president, therefore her primary win does not carry much weight.

U.S. Congressional Race

Washington D.C. voters had their eyes set on another important primary race this week, U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) battled it out with Kelly Mikel Williams. Norton defeated Williams, scoring 81 percent of the vote.

“The District of Columbia can have no greater advocate than delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton,” said U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, (D-Ga-4) “She lives, breathes and bleeds Washington D.C. and what’s best for the people of this great [city].” 

Ivey agreed with Johnson and believes that Holmes has been a staple in the D.C. community.

“She’s an institution. She’s been in Congress for a long time. I was still in school when she was first elected,” said Rep. Ivey. “The people of the district are fortunate to have her and we’re glad to have her in Congress.” 

Norton will face Green Party nominee Kymone Freeman and Republican candidate Myrtle Alexander in November’s general election.

Shadow Senator race

In the shadow representative race, incumbent Oye Owolewa won the Democratic primary election and will face off against Republican challenger Ciprian Ivanof in November.

Voting rights attorney Ankit Jain won the democratic primary for shadow senator and is running unopposed in the general election this fall. A “shadow senator” is a senator recognized by Washington D.C., but not officially sworn in or seated by the U.S. Senate. 

D.C. Council races

At-Large Member of the Council, Robert White won his seat against Democratic challenger Rodney Grant. White secured 83 percent of the vote and will not be challenged by a Republican candidate in the general election. 

Ward 2 Councilwoman Brooke Pinto and Ward 4 Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George secured their seats during the primary election and will run unopposed in November. 

Lastly, incumbent Trayon White won the Democratic primary for Ward 8 and will face off with Republican challenger Nate Derenge in November. 

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By Madeline Seck
AFRO Intern
mseck@afro.com

The Capital Jazz Fest returned to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., entertaining attendees from around the region from June 7 to 9. 

The 2024 Capital Jazz Fest captured the essence of Black music, art and culture, and brought out thousands from around the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area and beyond. The festival featured diverse groups of artists whose genres range from jazz and funk to R&B and soul. Headliners, such as Andra Day, Babyface and Leela James also took the stage. 

Attendees were able to enjoy the  music with family, friends, good food and a festival marketplace filled with Black-owned businesses. Vendors sold art pieces, clothing, bags, accessories and more.

The festival kicked off the night of June 7 with an evening of soul, with podcast producer Laiya St. Clair serving as host. Separated by two genres of jazz and soul, attendees chose between two stages on June 8 and 9 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Symphony Woods Stage, hosted by radio show host Cayman Kelly, held soul performances. The Pavilion Stage was hosted by, Marcellus “The Bassman” Shepard. 

Capital Jazz Festival takes place during the first weekend of June with a goal of celebrating Black Music Month. Founded by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979, Black Music Month was created to express and recognize African-American music.

The event was first hosted at the Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, Va. in 1993. The venue has been at Merriweather Post Pavilion since 2004.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

At a campaign rally at the Kentland Community Center in Landover, Md., Vice President Kamala Harris (D) endorsed the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. 

“I was so proud to support her when she was state’s attorney and to endorse her when she was county executive. Today, I then proudly endorse Angela Alsobrooks for the United States Senate,” said Harris, amidst the cheers of the crowd on June 7. “She was the first assistant state’s attorney in Prince George’s County, Md., to specialize in domestic violence cases. To be here to support her today is to know she will be an experienced leader on this issue.”

The event also addressed National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Throughout the gathering, leaders emphasized that the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. is guns, according to the CDC. Speakers put emphasis on voters to choose those candidates and leaders that will support gun safety regulations on the federal level.

“Together we can break the cycle of gun violence and create a world where safety is given, not a privilege, in every community,” said Isabella Socha Soares, social lead for the Students Demand Action-University of Maryland chapter of Everytown for Gun Safety, a non-profit gun control advocacy organization.  “Students all over the country want to feel safe and not fear that they might go to school and not come home. I fight as a student not because I want to, but because I have to for students across the nation and for future generations.”

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and more top Maryland Democrats were present, supporting Alsobrooks and other Democratic nominees in this year’s general election. 

“Today, tomorrow and all the way through November, we are going to ride with Angela Alsobrooks. We’re going to ride with the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Moore. “We have to have the right leaders in place who are going to fortify our future, who are going to actually use their time and their energy and their power to increase freedoms and not to decrease them.”

Alsobrooks outlined what she would do as senator about crime and gun violence prevention.

“As a senator, I’ll stand for common sense approaches to make sure that firearms don’t end up in the hands of the wrong people, who can’t pass a background check,” she said. “I won’t back down from holding gun manufacturers accountable.” 

Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, former Governor Larry Hogan’s campaign responded to the event via X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

“While Angela Alsobrooks is campaigning today, instead of just offering more platitudes, we urge her to tell voters how she will address the skyrocketing crime on her watch in Prince George’s County, Md.,” reads the statement. “Hogan has put forward a plan to address this out-of-control crime wave by funding law enforcement, taking repeat violent criminals off the streets and getting guns out of the hands of violent criminals and the mentally ill.”

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By Mekhi Abbott
AFRO Sports Intern
mabbott@afro.com

On June 6, Angel Reese registered a double-double and Chennedy Carter scored 25 points off the bench leading the Chicago Sky to a 79-71 victory over the Washington Mystics in Capital One Arena.

This was Reese’s first game in Capital One Arena since becoming a professional. Reese finished the matchup with 16 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Six of her 11 rebounds were offensive boards.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Reese. The Mystics typically play at the Sports and Entertainment Arena but the game was moved to Capital One due to fan demand. 10,000 people were in attendance, including Reese’s brother and collegiate basketball player for the Maryland Terrapins, Julian Reese. Reese’s mother and Kim Mulkey, Reese’s coach at Louisiana State University (LSU), were also in attendance. 

“Being able to come back home and get a win, obviously I love the environment,” said Reese.

Going into halftime the Washington Mystics led 44-35. Mystics rookie Aaliyah Edwards started off hot with 16 points, shooting 7-7 from the field. She finished the game with 23 points and 14 rebounds.

On June 1, the Chicago Sky were narrowly defeated by the Indiana Fever, 71-70. In the matchup, Chennedy Carter was accessed a common, away from the ball after shoulder checking Caitlin Clark with 15.1 seconds left in the third quarter. Upon review, the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 on June 2. A Flagrant foul is a foul in which contact against a player, with or without the ball, is deemed unnecessary.

The play resulted in a media whirlwind, with basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman and Indiana congressman Jim Banks chiming in. Lieberman said she “would’ve punched [Carter] in the face” and Banks went the lengths to pen a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, encouraging her to enforce a stricter punishment on Carter.

Scoring 25 points is an early season high for Carter. Since the Sky’s matchup against the Fever, Carter is leading the Sky in scoring with 20.5 points per game. She scored 19 in the matchup against the Fever.

“The moment she comes in [the game], she brings immediate energy. She’s electric…I don’t think enough people pay attention to her defense,” said coach Teresa Witherspoon. 

Reese, the former Maryland Terrapin and Baltimore native, was overwhelmed by the overall reception and turnout during the game. In December, LSU traveled to Baltimore to play Coppin State and Reese led her team in scoring with 26 points and five steals. Just six months later and two months removed from losing to Iowa in the Elite Eight, Reese is 10 games into her professional career. 

The WNBA season begins in May, giving a lot of the top prospects that are draft eligible not even a full month before they have to transition between playing in college to playing in the pros. 

“It’s been great, I am overwhelmed by all of the love. It’s surreal,” said Reese. “I am trying to take it all in but everything is moving so fast.”

The Mystics next game is against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, also in Capital One Arena due to demand. Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky will be returning to Washington on June 14. They face off a total of four times during the regular season.

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By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

With time steadily winding down in the D.C. budget process, the D.C. Council passed the fiscal year (FY25) 2025 budget to second reading with a majority vote on May 29. If the budget advances from second reading on June 12, then it will go to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s desk to either be signed into law, enacted without a signature or vetoed.

“When the mayor transmitted her proposed budget, many criticized the proposed budget for not being about shared sacrifice and instead hitting low-income citizens the hardest,” said Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) during the budget meeting on May 29. “For instance, cutting the Access to Justice Program by about 60 percent, cutting domestic violence programming, cutting the Emergency Rental Assistance Program by over 50 percent, adding no new vouchers for affordable housing.”

According to Mendelson, the budget that the council advanced restores Access to Justice funds to about $31 million, funds 200 new housing vouchers for qualifying D.C. residents, provides $5 million for the Housing Preservation Fund, and establishes a child tax credit at $15 million.

The D.C. Access to Justice Commission is an initiative created by the D.C. Court of Appeals in 2005 to improve low-to-moderate-income individuals’ access to the criminal justice system. They help prevent evictions, support survivors of domestic violence, services to address employment-related problems and more.

“In 2023, more than 40,000 residents benefited from Access to Justice Services,” said Mendelson.

The council’s budget includes raised taxes for employers and residential property taxes for homes valued over $2.5 million. Under the council’s proposal, the payroll tax employers pay for each of their employees’ wages has increased to 0.75 percent from 0.26 percent to cover costs related to the District’s universal paid leave program.

As well, through the council’s proposal, properties valued at more than $2.5 million will be taxed at the rate of 85 cents per $100 of assessed value for the first $2.5 million. For every $100 above the $2.5 million threshold, the property will be taxed at a rate of $1 per $100 of assessed value.

The council’s proposed budget will increase the mayor’s proposed budget by about $40 million.

According to Mendelson, “the budget that the mayor submitted to the council was roughly a billion dollars more than the current year budget. The council’s actions do not add much to that.”

The bill also permits funding for one additional teaching position in each Ward 7 and 8 elementary school.

“Those are the wards, the schools that have the highest concentration of at-risk students,” said Mendelson.

Councilmembers voted on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Local Budget Act of 2024 and the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Support Act of 2024. Councilmember Trayon White was the singular no vote on both bills, though several councilmembers had reservations about the budget and plan to work on them before the legislation is taken up for a final vote on June 12, the last day for the council to take action on the budget.

In Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed budget, she cut the D.C. circulator due to low ridership to balance the budget. Bowser said they will “go all in on METRO.” D.C. had to deal with balancing a $700 million budget shortfall this fiscal year.

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By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

(NNPA Newswire ) — Just days after Howard University announced it would revoke the honorary degree awarded to Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2014, additional details have emerged about the decision and the mounting legal issues facing the hip-hop mogul.

On June 7, Howard University’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously “to accept the return by Mr. Sean Combs of the honorary degree,” as stated in their official release. The decision, linked to a series of abuse allegations against Combs, has led to the university stripping all associated honors and privileges.

Combs, 54, who attended Howard University from 1987 to 1989 before leaving without graduating, pledged $1 million in 2016 to establish the Sean Combs Scholarship Fund for financially needy students. The university has also terminated this pledge and a 2023 agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation.

The catalyst for this drastic move was a series of disturbing revelations. In November 2023, Casandra Ventura, known professionally as Cassie, filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of rape and physical abuse. The lawsuit was swiftly settled the next day. More recently, in May, CNN published surveillance footage from a Los Angeles hotel showing Combs attacking Ms. Ventura near the building’s elevators.

Combs posted an apology video on Instagram in response to the footage, saying, “I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.”

Howard University, founded in 1867 to educate freed slaves, is a renowned historically Black university. Its notable alumni include Vice President Kamala Harris and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. Last year, the university awarded honorary degrees to U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina and Keith Christopher Rowley, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

“The university is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence,” Howard University’s board wrote. “Mr. Combs’ behavior, as captured in a recently released video, is so fundamentally incompatible with Howard University’s core values and beliefs that he is deemed no longer worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor.” 

The revocation of Combs’ honorary degree comes amid a cascade of legal challenges for the founder of Bad Boy Records. In March, federal agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and the Miami area as part of a human trafficking investigation. Although no charges have been filed, the raids followed lawsuits by four women, including Ventura, accusing Combs of rape and sexual assault. A man has also accused him of unwanted sexual contact. Combs’ lawyers have been actively filing motions to dismiss these lawsuits.

Reportedly, prosecutors have convened a grand jury in New York and may seek sex abuse and other related charges against the mogul.

Adding to his woes, Combs recently sold his majority stake in his media company, Revolt, as his legal issues intensified. Earlier, he sold his half of the liquor brand DeLeón for approximately $200 million after its parent company cited tarnished reputation concerns. Moreover, a New York charter school network that Combs had been instrumental in expanding has severed ties with him.

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By DaQuan Lawrence
AFRO International Writer
DLawrence@afro.com

On May 23, the White House and Biden administration held a state dinner in honor of Kenyan President William Ruto and Her Excellency Rachel Ruto, who visited the U.S. during a recent trip in the interest of diplomacy.

The occasion featured a dynamic ambiance with magnetic views of the nation’s capital, celebrity and political A-listers as well as a splendid menu, designed in the interest of the East African guests of honor. 

The dinner highlighted bilateral relations among Kenya and the U.S. and the 60-year partnership among the two countries as the world has developed from the cold war era into a multipolar, geopolitical landscape that features multiple nations, such as the U.S., Russia and China, vying for global dominance. 

“Mr. President, six decades ago, when Kenya declared its independence, President Lyndon B. Johnson wrote a letter from our nation to yours. And he said, ‘May the responsibilities of freedom wake the best that is in you,’” said President Biden, during a joint press conference held in the East Room of the White House. 

“Today, we mark 60 years of partnership between our democracies, and we’re fulfilling that wish together…Not only in Kenya and America but around the world, it’s had [a] positive impact,” Biden continued. 

Throughout his remarks, Biden mentioned Kenya’s role in joint counterterrorism operations that have diminished the influence of ISIS and al-Shabab across East Africa, the nation’s work in Haiti via the Multinational Security Support Mission, as well as upcoming economic cooperation initiatives. 

“Today, we’re launching what we’re calling the Nairobi-Washington Vision. This initiative is going to bring together international financial institutions and nations from all around the world to mobilize more resources for countries saddled with debt,” Biden said. 

The goals of the new initiative include creating more opportunities for private-sector financing and promoting transparent, sustainable and affordable lending practices for developing nations. 

President Biden also announced that in addition to the U.S.’ $250 million investment for crisis-response, the nation will be providing an additional $21 billion available to the International Monetary Fund and up to $250 billion in new lending capacity from multilateral development banks to invest in lower-income nations. 

In addition to President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the event involved an extensive guest list which featured over 500 esteemed attendees, including 42^nd U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife, the 67^th U.S. Secretary of State the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton. Leaders such as AFRO CEO and publisher, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, were also in attendance with AFRO Director of Operations, Andre Draper. 

“It was a once in a lifetime experience,” said Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper. “Every single detail was addressed and no expense was spared but– most importantly– it was an honor to be in the same room as the President of Kenya, President Rudo; his wife, Her Excellency Rachel Ruto; President Joe Biden and the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.”

Draper noted that, before May 23, a Kenyan leader hadn’t been honored with a White House state dinner since 2003. In addition, the event was significant because there have been no state dinners in honor of an African country and its leader since 2008, when President George W. Bush hosted Ghanaian President John Kufuor.

“We were honored to be there,” said Draper. “It was good to see the president standing strong. Many people have commented about his age– but he is the president of the country and he and Dr. Jill Biden represented us well.”

Aside from the “exquisite” food, Draper said she also enjoyed performances by country star Brad Paisley and the Howard University Choir. Leaders from various industries and prominent civil rights leaders, such as Rev. Al Sharpton, could be seen enjoying the event’s festivities. 

The state dinner was attended by a large group of dignitaries, diplomats and state and municipal leaders from around the nation. U.S. Senator Cory Booker was present, along with Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey, Governor of Maine Janet T. Mills and many others. 

At least six leaders of prominent U.S. cities were also in attendance, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens; Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix; Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago; Mayor of Augusta, Ga, Garnett Johnson; Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Mayor of Charlotte, Vi Lyles. 

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