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.

The post Violence prevention services eligible for Medicaid reimbursement nationwide appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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.”

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor 
dbailey@afro.com

So, you’re cleaning up your diet, your exercise routine is finally consistent and you’re thinking now is the time to start adding nutritional supplements, natural herbs and products to take your healthy lifestyle goals to the next level. 

But where do you start?

The Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area (DMV) hosts a wide range of natural health food stores and herbal shops to get started on a natural wellness journey that is right for you. 

The first thing to think about is the kind of store you feel most comfortable exploring. Smaller shops, like D.C.’s Dynamic Health and Wellness, can offer specialized service and an individual connection with experienced staff, who are linked with both the community and herbal health. People like Evette H., one of the specialists at the small store on its H Street location. 

“We’re headed into the cold and flu season. Everybody’s starting to move inside and not getting enough vitamin D3,” said Evette. “So that’s a good place to start, along with the right magnesium.

“Elderberry and vitamin C are also good places to begin,” Evette added. “Most of us are always in need to strengthen the immune system, and good quality, basic supplements offer a good start.”

Evette is a fan of sea moss, a plant she says is one of the healthiest for overall health. 

“People from the Caribbean and other nations have always known about sea moss, but during the Covid-19 pandemic, it began to be more popular with Americans,” she said. Dynamic Health and Wellness has sold the raw plant for more than 15 years but sells the supplements as well. 

The nationally regarded Cleveland Clinic indicates that although sea moss and its supplements have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they are safe for consumption. The Cleveland Clinic considers sea moss as a “superfood,” helpful with immunity, gut health and blood sugar management. 

Blue Nile, located on Georgia Avenue near Howard University, is another dependable Black-owned herbal shop serving D.C.’s Shaw community with natural remedies for close to 50 years. The unassuming yellow and blue sign outside the small row house belies the abundance of herbs, remedies, teas and tinctures inside.  

Blue Nile staff member and health enthusiast Ramon Thompson is especially concerned about lower levels of immunity against illness affecting many Black people.  Like Evette, Thompson agrees that Black Americans usually need higher levels of B3.  He also has other helpful hints for everyone using natural remedies to remain in optimal health while getting ahead of cold and flu season.  

“I normally tell my clients to get started in August, before cold and flu season has set in. But if you are just getting started, supplements or teas like echinacea and pine needles can boost your immune system,” Thompson said.

Thompson also recommends that clients brand new to medicinal herbs stop by between 4-6 p.m. to discuss specific health concerns and wellness goals. 

“There’s a natural way to address most of our health issues. We just need to take the time to prioritize wellness,” he added. 

The DMV is also a great place for health food co-ops, stores owned by members instead of corporate investors. GLUT, a health food co-op in Mt. Rainier, Maryland, just blocks from the northeast D.C. border, is the granddaddy of DMV health food co-ops. 

Anyone who has ever walked up 34th street in tiny Mt. Rainier has seen the huge carrot outside of GLUT’s building. 

“Many people come to us looking for herbal remedies. We want all our co-op members to start their search for herbal remedies by being informed,” said Steve Smallwood, GLUT staffer. Smallwood has been part of the GLUT community for 15 years.  

Smallwood recommends the book “Prescription for Herbal Healing” by Phyllis Balch to co-op members as they begin to explore the world of herbal remedies.  

Although Smallwood is not a licensed herbalist, his years with GLUT have given him experience with many common wellness concerns people come searching for herbal cures to address, including organ cleansing, prostate issues for men and hormone balance for women. 

‘’If you are interested in an organ cleanse, start with the colon,’ Smallwood says to customers asking about cleansing other organs such as the liver and kidney. “A basic colon cleanse will help other cleanses to be more effective.

He added, “Learning to fast is also a basic healthy practice for persons seeking to take their wellness journey to the next level.”

The co-op employee’s final advice was that not all cures fit all.

“Every remedy is individual, based on the client’s health profile,’’ he said. 

The post Growing your health with herbs 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.

The post Rev. Sharpton, Al B. Sure! partner to reverse Medicare coverage denial for essential post transplant test appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com

First Lady of Maryland Dawn Moore returned to her alma mater, the University of Maryland, College Park on Sept. 24 to speak about her vision of public service and her critical priorities as Maryland’s first lady. 

Moore spoke to a sold-out crowd at UMD’s Clarice Performing Arts Center in a forum hosted by Stephanie Shonekan, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, Susan Rivera, dean of the College of Behavioral Sciences, and Kimberly Griffin, dean of the College of Education. 

The three women are affectionately called “sister deans” across the campus. 

Moore holds a bachelor’s degree in government and politics and a certificate in women’s studies from UMD. The event served as a homecoming for Moore and an opportunity for the “sister deans” to connect the work of their colleges and Moore’s priorities. 

“One of the many reasons my fellow deans and I invited First Lady Moore to join us, is that she is passionate about children’s mental health, women’s economic empowerment, supporting Maryland’s military families and championing the arts – all pillars that are important to the work going on in each of our colleges,” said Rivera.

Moore spoke as Maryland’s first lady, but also as a wife, mother and Marylander. 

Her approach to dealing with the mental health crisis faced by children across Maryland was laced with basic parental concern for her own and other children, sound social policy fundamentals and her own style as a connector of people and ideas. 

Moore said that “the mental health crisis we are living in is the crisis of a generation,” and that as a parent, she “felt the need to take the lead on this.”

Moore added that she wants to hear directly from youth about their concerns and announced a Back-to-School Night on Oct. 6, where she hopes to meet and talk with young people about the issues they are facing. 

“We are bringing students together to talk about real issues. The most important thing is to have young people at the table,” said Moore.

The event with Rivera, Shonekan and Griffin was conducted in a conversational style, and turned often to the diverse voices needed to make Maryland the state Moore now calls home.

In response to Shonekan’s question about the Harriet Tubman bust at the Governor’s mansion, Moore’s response confirmed Tubman’s role in history while connecting it to what she called “our mission for Maryland.”  

“You know Tubman was the first woman in the U.S. Army,” Moore responded, referring to Tubman’s service for the Union Army as an armed scout, spy, and nurse, often sent behind Confederate lines. 

“She was the embodiment of what it means to ‘leave no one behind,’” Moore added, connecting Tubman’s loyalty to the Union Army and her own people with Governor Moore’s 2023 inauguration pledge to  “leave no Marylander behind.”

Jordan Embrack, May 2024 Theatre graduate, ended the evening with a musical tribute to Moore. The mezzo-soprano performed “Home,” the epic theme song of the 1970s musical, “The Wiz.” It was a reminder that Moore always has a place and platform at UMD’s campus.

Moore encouraged the students gathered to make their time in college count.

“When you have the opportunity, figure out something bigger than yourself and how you can be a part of it,” she said. “My husband and I want to make Maryland known as the state that serves, and to do that, we need your help. Life is more than just the moment that you are in.

“It is a big arc”, she concluded.
.

The post Dawn Moore “Comes Home” to UMD sharing Maryland’s Priorities  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com

Eli Lilly pharmaceuticals has announced a significant price reduction for the lowest dose of Zepbound, one of its high demand medications approved for weight loss. The announcement came Aug. 29, as the rate of obesity is skyrocketing in America. Most insurance companies still refuse to cover obesity medications 

Under Lilly’s discounted price plan, patients who pay for Zepbound out of pocket can now obtain a four-week supply of the 2.5 mg single-dose vial for $399 ($99.75 per vial). A four-week supply of the 5 mg dose has been reduced to $549 ($137.25 per vial). The monthly list price for Zepbound was previously $1059, regardless of the dose. 

“This is a welcome first step for American families struggling to access these drugs,” said President Joseph Biden in a statement responding to the price reduction. “But it is critical that drug companies lower their prices across the board,” Biden added. 

Health advocates and physicians’ groups warn patients that the price reduction for Zepbound only applies to the two “starter” doses of the drug. Patients must pay for the drug out of pocket and persons opting for the lower cost drugs, will need to opt out of Eli Lilly’s coupon program available to lower the cost for other weight loss medications. 

To receive the discounted price, patients must have a prescription and use LillyDirect, the pharmaceutical firm’s telehealth platform. The medications will come packaged in single dose vials that must be used with a syringe. Vials with the auto-injector pen are also available for a higher price. 

Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Co., said the price reduction gives patients living with obesity options. In a statement announcing the Zepbound price reduction, Jonsson said the new program gives patients options. 

“Despite obesity being recognized as a serious chronic illness with long-term consequences, it’s often misclassified as a lifestyle choice, resulting in many employers and the federal government excluding medications like Zepbound from insurance coverage,” said Jonsson.

U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FLA) is a sponsor of congressional legislation to expand Medicare coverage for obesity treatments. Cherfilus-McCormick and Karry Buchson, M.D. (R-IN) are bi-partisan co-sponsors of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (T.R.O.A.) H.R. 4818 & D. 2407. If passed, T.R.O.A. would potentially extend obesity treatment access to more than 67.2 million recipients nationwide, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

“Every person living with obesity deserves access to comprehensive care to improve their health and wellbeing, just as they would receive for any other chronic disease,” Cherfilus-McCormick stated at a Congressional Briefing on Obesity held last month. 

Forty percent of Americans are now classified as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control with half of all Black Americans meeting obesity guidelines. Obesity is related to many chronic diseases and conditions including type II diabetes, heart diseases and certain cancers, including breast cancer according to the World Health Organization. 

Obesity has been classified as a chronic disease for more than a decade. The American Medical Association voted to classify obesity as a disease in 2013 to focus on prevention and treatment and to end a history of bias and discrimination both from the public as well as the medical profession itself. 
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.

The post Eli Lilly lowers price on popular obesity medication appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com

The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities has announced the 2024 class of scholars, marking the 10^th anniversary of this program that has highlighted the scholarship, talent and rigor of America’s HBCUs. 

This year, 110 exemplary students hailing from 77 of America’s HBCUs have been selected for their outstanding academic achievement, prospective leadership  and contribution to their communities. 

The 2024 cohort includes students from all HBCUs in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, displaying the strong and diverse educational experiences students receive in the nation’s capital and its neighboring state. 

“For 10 years the HBCU Scholars program has celebrated the exceptional academic talent and achievements of students at our Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This is a recognition that reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s determination to fight for our nation’s HBCUs and their immense contributions to black excellence and diversity in higher education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

The six White House HBCU scholars hailing from District and Maryland schools come to their institutions from cities across the nation, the Caribbean and South America, making them the most geographically diverse scholars named in the 10-year history of the program. 

“I am very honored to be selected as a White House HBCU scholar. This recognition validates the hard work and dedication I’ve poured into my studies and extracurricular activities,” said Sara Amanda Owusu, a bioinformatics junior at Bowie State University. 

Throughout the year, White House HBCU scholars will participate in a series of workshops, leadership development programs and networking events to boost their skills and expand their horizons. Honorees will be invited to the 2024 HBCU Week National Annual Conference to ne held Sept.15-19 in Philadelphia, Pa.

During the conference, which will bear the theme “Raising the Bar,” students will be invited to participate in sessions, engage professionals and peers and connect with policymakers, industry leaders and alumni of the 10-year program. 

Students in the White House HBCU scholars program are given these opportunities to give back, said Deidra Trent, executive director of the White House initiative. Trent said the White House HBCU conference in Philadelphia will kick off a series of ongoing monthly sessions for the fellows. 

“These students exemplify the excellence and leadership that is characteristic of the HBCU community,” Trent said. 

The 2024 White House fellows representing D.C. and Maryland institutions are (each student’s name is followed by their school and hometown): 

-Ashley Anderson: Howard University; Upper Marlboro, Md.

-Jalen Gourrier: University of Maryland Eastern Shore;  Princess Anne, Md. 

-Michaela Hart : Morgan State University; Baltimore, Md. 

-Mellany Menendez: Coppin State University; Chiquimula, Guatemala

-Sarah Owusu: Bowie State University, Suitland, Md. 

-Kayleah Shelton: University of the District of Columbia; Washington D.C. 

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com

It’s not your imagination. You really have been seeing more health prevention ads in your social media feed. 

If you live in one of Maryland’s high health risk areas for diabetes, heart attack, stroke or other chronic diseases, Maryland’s Department of Health is actively looking for you. 

More than one-third of Marylanders are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that can lead to diabetes. Baltimore City, Prince George’s County and Somerset County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore are three areas where Black Marylanders have particularly elevated levels of diabetes and other chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Now, health officials are seeking to halt diabetes before it starts in high-risk communities across the state by identifying people who have a high likelihood of developing pre-diabetes and getting them connected with health prevention efforts. 

“We’ve been doing diabetes outreach for the past three years. We are promoting prevention activities Marylanders can engage in to avert a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes,” Williams said. 

Obesity is a risk factor that accompanies diabetes, according to health experts. In Baltimore, Prince George’s County and Somerset, more than one-third of each county’s adult residents are obese, according to the most recent data from the Maryland Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRSFF). 

Black Americans are more than twice as likely as White people to develop Type 2 diabetes with the racial gap rising, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

“People who participate in pre-diabetes screening and prevention activities have a 58 percent chance of not progressing to the full disease,” said Williams. 

Pre-diabetes occurs in individuals with elevated blood sugar levels, but not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Most people with pre-diabetes don’t know they have it because there are no obvious symptoms, according to NIH officials. 

“Don’t think pre-diabetes is something to be taken lightly,” said Williams, who cautioned that pre-diabetes can also put you at higher risk for more serious health problems like heart disease and stroke. 

Williams urged all adults and teens in Baltimore, Prince George’s County and Somerset County to get evaluated for pre-diabetes and enroll in one of the many support programs offered by the Maryland Department of Public Health. 

“Pre-diabetes is a warning to change your diet and lifestyle,” said Tobias Arnold of Silver Spring, Md. who was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in 2016. 

“I really didn’t know what that was,” Arnold added. “I thought I just needed to eat less sugar– you know, cut out the candy bars. I didn’t know about carbohydrates.  My doctor used generalities and assumed that I would know how to change my diet.” 

Williams said there are both on-line and in-person pre-diabetes programs in each county that offer hands-on support to help participants make changes in diet, exercise and other lifestyle decisions needed to avert diabetes.

Williams urges Black Americans to see the onset of diabetes as more than just “a little sugar.” 

Complications from diabetes can affect many of the body’s systems and can lead to heart disease, vision loss, kidney disease, stroke, nerve damage, foot damage and amputation and other complications.

“This is a serious disease,” Williams said. “The Maryland Department of Health realizes a diagnosis of pre-diabetes may call for a complete lifestyle change for people. That takes time, support, and community support.”

    A-1C Test for Diabetes:  diagnosed at an A1C of greater than or equal to 6.5 percent*

Fasting Blood Glucose test: Diabetes is diagnosed at fasting blood glucose of greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl 
 

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

The post Md. Health Department using targeted outreach to tackle pre-diabetes 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 Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com

It’s not your imagination. You really have been seeing more health prevention ads in your social media feed. 

If you live in one of Maryland’s high health risk areas for diabetes, heart attack, stroke or other chronic diseases, Maryland’s Department of Health is actively looking for you. 

More than one-third of Marylanders are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that can lead to diabetes. Baltimore City, Prince George’s County and Somerset County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore are three areas where Black Marylanders have particularly elevated levels of diabetes and other chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.

So health officials are seeking to halt diabetes before it starts in high-risk communities across the state by identifying people who have a high likelihood of developing pre-diabetes and getting them connected with health prevention efforts. 

“We’ve been doing diabetes outreach for the past three years. We are promoting prevention activities Marylanders can engage in to avert a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes,” Williams said. 

Obesity is a risk factor that accompanies diabetes, according to health experts. In Baltimore, Prince George’s County and Somerset, more than one-third of each county’s adult residents are obese, according to the most recent data from the Maryland Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRSFF). 

    A-1C Test for Diabetes:  diagnosed at an A1C of greater than or equal to 6.5%*

Black Americans are more than twice as likely as Whites to develop type 2 diabetes with the racial gap rising, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

“People who participate in pre-diabetes screening and prevention activities have a 58 percent chance of not progressing to the full disease,” said Williams. 

Pre-diabetes occurs in individuals with elevated blood sugar levels, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Most people with pre-diabetes don’t know they have it because there are no obvious symptoms, according to NIH officials. 

“Don’t think pre-diabetes is something to be taken lightly,” said Williams who cautioned that pre-diabetes can also put you at higher risk for more serious health problems like heart disease and stroke. 

Fasting Blood Glucose test: Diabetes is diagnosed at fasting blood glucose of greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl 
 

Williams urged all adults and teens in Baltimore, Prince George’s County and Somerset County to get evaluated for pre-diabetes and enroll in one of the many support programs offered by the Maryland Department of Public Health. 

“Pre-diabetes is a warning to change your diet and lifestyle,” said Tobias Arnold of Silver Spring, who was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in 2016. 

“I really didn’t know what that was,” Arnold added. “I thought I just needed to eat less sugar; you know, cut out the candy bars. I didn’t know about carbohydrates.  My doctor used generalities and assumed that I would know how to change my diet.” 

Williams said there are both on-line and in-person pre-diabetes programs in each county that offer hands-on support to help participants make changes in diet, exercise and other lifestyle decisions needed to avert diabetes.

“This is a serious disease,” Williams said, urging Black Americans especially to see the onset of diabetes as more than just “a little sugar.” Complications from diabetes can affect many of the body’s systems and can lead to heart disease, vision loss, kidney disease, stroke, nerve damage, foot damage and amputation and other complications.

 “The Maryland Department of Health realizes a diagnosis of pre-diabetes may call for a complete lifestyle change for people. That takes time, support, and community support,” she added.

Reporting for this story is done 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 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 Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

Members of the Maryland General Assembly’s Prince George’s County delegation kicked off the summer celebrating hard fought victories won in the Annapolis Statehouse with a town hall session held at Bowie State University on June 11. 

County residents came to the state’s oldest HBCU to hear the most significant legislative successes of the county’s 31 state legislators and the impact these new laws will have on close to 950,000 residents living in Maryland’s second most populous county. 

“Collectively, the senators and delegates of Prince George’s County sponsored 350 bills with 120 signed into law by our governor,” said State Sen. Ron Watson (D-23) of the record number of legislative advances made by the county’s legislative team. 

Watson explained to the audience that significant legislation was passed in a tough year for the state of Maryland. 

“What this delegation was able to achieve was nothing short of amazing,” said Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County executive and candidate for U.S. Senate. 

“We knew that we were facing significant budgetary challenges,” Alsobrooks said, and explained to the audience that the delegation was able to secure funding for $198 million of capital requests for the county.  

“Every single project that we sought funding for received some level of funding,” Alsobrooks added. New capital funding projects secured by the Prince George’s County delegation include $16.8 million for a corridor pavilion in Lottsford, $5 million for a new film studio and soundstage in Fairmont Heights,  and $7.5 million for a redevelopment project for the Prince George’s County Hospital in Cheverly, Md. 

Funding has also been secured for the continued expansion of the transit hub in New Carrollton, as well as the controversial Blue Line Corridor project that will extend Metro service to Oxon Hill and National Harbor. The project has caused concern among some residents, who have expressed dismay that execution of the Blue Line Project is being done without ongoing community input. 

Lawmakers could only highlight a small portion of the more than 100 bills that were signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore. Among the legislative highlights discussed are the following initiatives:  

Housing: HB 538 increases housing density and allows multi-family homes to be built in communities that have been previously reserved for single-family dwellings. HB 599 is a renter’s rights bill limiting security deposits to one-month’s rent and providing other rights to rental tenants.

Transportation: Local governments in Prince George’s County only will have electronic enforcement of stop signs near schools and a prohibition against exhibition driving. 

Education: HB 1441 creates easier access for pre-K teachers to enter the profession. HB 945 simplifies requirements for teacher certification. In higher education, the delegation passed legislation to ensure legacy preferences were not allowed in public higher education, and the “Freedom to Read Act” will combat book banning in state libraries. 

Cannabis: Legislation requiring Prince George’s County’s 22 licensing dispensaries. “If we did not create this requirement in legislation, we would have a proliferation of criminal activity and operators in the county,” said Del. Kris Valderrama (D-26). 

“The key after today is for Prince George’s County residents to stay involved,” said  Del. Nicole Williams (D-22), chair of the Prince George’s County delegation, reflecting on the town hall meeting. 

“It’s really the public’s input that we need,” Williams said, noting that  the Maryland General Assembly has retained on-line participation in hearings after the end of the Covid 19 pandemic.  She added, “It makes a difference when Prince George’s County residents sign up for hearings and tell us publicly what you need.” 

Williams said her only wish is for more time to highlight the delegate and senatorial scholarships available to Maryland students for post-secondary study in every Prince George’s County district. Maryland residents who plan to pursue full-time (12 or more undergraduate credits or nine graduate credit hours per semester) or part-time (six to 11 undergraduate or six to eight graduate credit hours) are eligible to apply and can contact their state delegate or senator.   

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the retired and first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, used the pulpit of The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., to render a searing sermon calling the faithful to “put feet to our prayers” as she set the stage for America’s celebration of Juneteenth on June 19. 

McKenzie, president of the National Churches of Christ, delivered the morning message at the Cathedral on June 16, and went straight into dissecting the rationale behind America’s cultural wars in the form of book banning, and laws passed restricting how history is taught in schools across the U.S. 

According to the Black Education Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, 18 states have imposed restrictions and bans on teaching race and gender since 2021.  At least 32 states have jurisdictions that have passed some form of book ban.     

“If we are a truly great nation, the truth cannot destroy us,” McKenzie said, quoting from Nicole Hannah Jones’ Pulitzer Prize winning 1619 Project. She then asked the congregation: “If you could change the narrative to your liking, what would your truth look like? “

McKenzie led the audience on a whirlwind historical “roll call” of efforts to revise the narrative of cultural events around the globe, including in Hungary, China, and the United States. She reminded the audience of efforts to ban books and restrict the rights of Jews. 

 “Are you breathing?” she stopped and asked the congregation before reeling off a second roll call of U.S. riots, rebellions and mass shootings from 1863 to today, designed to restrict and destroy Black American institutions and communities. 

“Here in the home of the brave and the land of the free, the New York City assacre, The Memphis Massacre, the Camila Massacre, The Opelousas Massacre, The Danville Riot, Springfield Massacre, Tulsa Black Wall Street Massacre, The Orangeburg Massacre, Charleston South Carolina Mother Bethel Massacre, Massacre at Tops Market, the Jacksonville, Dollar Store Massacre…,” McKenzie said in the space of two minutes.  

“That’s here,” she added as the audience became silent. 

“Are you breathing? Are you still in the room?” McKenzie asked as she moved on quickly to share more.

“Remembering Juneteenth serves as a historical reminder of what did happen,” she said before taking the audience through a vivid tour of brutal historical events characterizing slavery and the disenfranchisement of Black people.

 Reflections from the audience were varied. 

Longtime parishioner Jim Fulton thought McKenzie’s sermon was needed at the National Cathedral. 

“This is the kind of message I want to hear, and I want other people to hear,” he said. 

Others added that the sermon was so packed with information, they needed to do a second take. 

“For some of our audience, people may be hearing the historical references for the first time. But this is an audience that will listen carefully to the sermon, go back, study the transcript, and ask questions,” said the Rev. Jo Owens, pastor for digital ministry.

Owens said National Cathedral is considering an online community for people who want to ask follow-up questions and reflect more deeply after messages like McKenzie’s. 

Grace Matthews was one of those parishioners who was ready to ask the deeper questions right away. Matthews admits she has political positions on most issues and wants to ensure her views are consistent with her faith and values. 

As she listened to McKenzie’s description of the often bloody and brutal history leading up to Juneteenth and continuing today, she has questions about how America moves forward with its troubling past and present divisions. 

“Where is the line between forgiving and forgetting when you’ve turned the cheek so many times that you’ve run out of cheeks?” Matthews reflected after the sermon.

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By Deborah Bailey
Contributing Editor

Bowie State University’s 659 spring graduates got a relatable boost of encouragement from hometown heroine and philanthropic champion for underserved communities, Wanda Durant during commencement ceremonies, May 24.   

Durant, known affectionately locally as “Mama” Durant, serves as president of the Durant Family Charitable Foundation and is the mother of Phoenix Suns basketball star Kevin Durant.  Mama Durant treated the audience to a heartfelt exchange, sharing passages from her life’s journey.         

“OK. Let me just be Mama Durant,” she said after pausing from prepared remarks and transitioning flawlessly to an extemporaneous, transparent conversation with Bowie’s graduates.

The audience roared its approval as Durant spent the next 10 minutes in an unscripted dialogue about life as a young single mother, and her raw determination to create a life for her sons that supported success.    

“When I stand here and look at you graduates, I see myself, I see my sons,” Durant said. 

“See, I know what it takes to persevere. I came from the streets of Capitol Heights, Maryland. At the time it was the drug capital of the world,” she said to cheering members of the audience, referencing the small Maryland community bordering northeast and southeast D.C. where she raised her children as a single mother. 

“I had to raise two sons on my own when I was fearful and not knowing who I was or what I had to offer the world.  I had to do what you did and continue to strive on,” Durant said. “I made a promise to them that we were going to have a plan. Not just dreams but a plan attached to it.” 

Durant then transitioned from her family’s story to admonish graduates to live for more than their own success.  

“All of your success is not just for your glory. It’s for you to look back to those coming behind you. Continue to pave the way for them” Durant said.  

Liera Ford from Suitland, Maryland, reflected on her own parents as Durant spoke about the determination needed to encourage her children to succeed.     

“I totally connect with Ms. Durant,” said the newly minted business management bachelor’s degree recipient.  

“I know what it feels like to receive that level of support from your parents. My mom and dad stood up for me every step of the way. I was due to graduate last year, but here I am today and my parents and siblings are here with me. This is a big milestone for me,” said Ford with tears in her eyes. 

Small but significant touches make HBCU graduations unique events. Bowie State graduates were treated to congratulatory messages by both Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Wes Moore. 

Finally, someone is going to make sure graduates are camera ready for their moment to walk across the stage.  At Bowie State, that person is Shinzira Shomade, College of Education retention coordinator and double Bowie State University graduate. 

Shomade straightened collars, buttoned shirts and told graduates to lift their heads high just before they walked on stage to receive their degrees from President Aminta H. Breaux and University Provost Guy Alain Ammousou. 

“It brings me immense pleasure, honor and gratification to participate in the commencement ceremony, preparing our visionaries and change agents for this exciting moment,” Shomade said. 

Breaux announced several major initiatives, scholarships and recognitions received by the campus, including a ribbon cutting this summer of the new Martin Luther King Jr. Communication Arts & Humanities Building. The $159 million facility is scheduled to replace a 50-year-old academic building that currently bears the civil rights leader’s name.    

“If you don’t remember anything else this president said, go out and vote,” Breaux said emphatically. “Go out and vote.”

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com

Connecting to the internet is something many families take for granted. But for some, including seniors who depend on broadband connections to contact the outside world, the cost is out of reach without the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), scheduled to close out at the end of April. 

“The program started a wind down in February,” said Geoffrey Starks, of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

“April is the last fully funded month and May will be the last month that any partial funding will be allocated to the program,” unless Congress acts to extend the ACP, Starks added. 

The Affordable Connectivity Program helps 23 million American households save up to $75 per month on internet bills according to the FCC. In 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Congress allocated $3.2 billion for the FCC to establish the Emergency Broadband Benefit program to help families who were struggling with the cost of broadband services. 

 As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, Congress approved more than $14 billion, extending the Emergency Broadband funding. The name was changed to the Affordable Connectivity Program in 2022. 

Denis McDonough, secretary of veterans affairs, said veterans and their families will be significantly impacted if the broadband program is not refunded. 

“For so many veterans and their families ACP means access to world class health care at the click of a button on their computers,” McDonough said. “The ACP is the best thing to do for families, for veterans and for their health.”

During the pandemic, veterans  and their families were among the millions who accessed medical care through telehealth technology and continue to use the telehealth services offered by VA hospitals across the nation. 

Giselle Day, health science specialist at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, conducted a study about Black veterans’ use of telehealth mental health services and found younger, urban and female Black veterans were among the subgroups who especially relied on online medical technology.

For millions of families across the United States, the help offered through ACP with the monthly broadband bill means students can do homework, employees can remain connected to their jobs as well as healthcare and a range of other services that have remained online after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

”I’ve met with a parent who was moved to tears thinking about how help getting a home internet connection meant her daughter could do school assignments from home,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in support of continued funding for the program. 

“I’ve met people who used a new internet connection to land a job. I’ve met with people who are using their connectivity to access medical assistance that was previously out of reach,” Rosenworcel said.

When Martine Jacques said goodbye to her husband one rainy morning in February, she had no idea that he was not going to be returning home that day. Neither did many other Haitian husbands, wives, children, family members and friends.  

It’s an election year in the Dominican Republic and political candidates are staking out their positions to secure the presidential office they so covet. They try to make clear lines of distinction among the many issues of the day. It’s all about who has done nothing, who is doing little and who would do most for the people. It’s about employment, social services, infrastructural development, eradicating poverty, economic equality, crime and culture. Their proposals are as expansive as they are varied. 

But, no issue can get them closer to that goal than the race issue. It’s the one issue that stands out among them all; one thing they all agree that must be done: stem the seeming tide of Haitian immigrants and get rid of as many of those currently in the country as possible. Make no mistake, in the Dominican Republic, the term “Haitian” is merely a euphemism for “Black,” and the language of anti-Haitianismo is resonating well with the people. It is populism at its very best—or worst. If they could agree on nothing else, they could agree on that. 

The three major presidential candidates, Luis Abinader, Abel Martínez and Leonel Fernández, lead their political parties the PRM, the PLD and the FP in the charge dominated by overt racism, and the people shout and rejoice at rallies and automobile parades  in the thought of ridding themselves of so many Haitians who have invaded their communities and invaded their lives. These candidates understand that the road to political success has to follow a path of anti-Haitianismo if success is to be achieved. And the candidate who could demonstrate not just maximum intolerance of these “undesirables” but the one who can show that by action already taken, would doubtlessly be the one to lay claim to that mantle of political power. 

It is not enough to talk about providing jobs, or rooting out corruption or increasing health care, the most important thing is cleansing the nation of the infection of Blackness which for them represents a hundred years-plus stain on the purity of the nation. Never mind that the people of the Dominican Republic are anything but “ethnically pure.” What’s important is that they don’t relish any association of Blackness in their blood. The hysteria is real and requires the constant demonization and criminalization of anything Black. Abinader, the current president and leading candidate, is not failing them.

Others might be tough if they won office, but Abinader — already in office for the last four years — has, on a  daily basis, proved his lack of appetite for anything suggestive of Haitian culture in his midst, and continues to stoke the embers of anti-Black nationalism. Already he had embarked on building a 250-mile wall along the border to seal them off in a way that could still assure benefits from their selected presence. After all, it’s the labor of these Blacks that keep the cherished tourism, sugar and agricultural industries alive and that are responsible for the wealth of the republic. Set aside this opportunity to exploit Black labor while denying them rights and opportunities, denying them access to social services, the Dominicans could not boast the standards of living they now enjoy. Set aside the groups of Black labor that clean the streets, that haul the trash, that keep the grasses cut along the highways, that lift buckets of concrete by hand in the booming construction industry, they could not boast the infrastructure that they have. And, make no mistake, that labor is all Black. 

Abinader has made an issue of a canal being dug on the Haitian side, which he suggests is an act of Haitian theft depriving Dominican agriculture of water. He suspended and then ended all visas to Haitians for any reason and forced a diplomatic row to provide a nationalist rallying cry in the wake of an election that has presented stronger opposition than he imagined he would have or would have liked. 

And now, his signature executive act is empowering and mandating the police arms of the state to round up and investigate any Haitian or Haitian-looking person (dark-skinned) for possible detention and deportation. In the Dominican Republic, there is no shortage of police units all seemingly geared toward saving the state from the “darkening” of their culture.

On the streets of the capital, Santo Domingo, in La Romana, in Punta Cana and in cities across the country, the round-up of black-skinned people is going on unabated. Now, with the election just months away, it has reached a fever pitch. Since the start of 2024, just in the last three months, an estimated 25,000 Haitians have been netted and forcibly relocated across the borders. In the frontier areas of Jimani, Elias Pina and Djabon, wagon loads of ethnic Haitians are carted off every day, just as often including those who are lawfully in the country and many who were born there but fail to have with them the correct papers to show. There is no judicial process to determine their status or to whom they are allowed to appeal. The policy is “snatch and deport.”

Throughout the day and night, officers from the Migration Control constantly and routinely board cross-country highway buses. Traveling between Punta Cana and La Romana, between La Romana and Santo Domingo,  they come on board at almost every stop. But it is most fierce leaving the border towns, where two or three armed enforcers have roadblocks set up every half a mile or so along the way. It’s possible to be stopped 10 to 15 times on one trip from Elias Pina to Santo Domingo. It’s not that harassment of dark-skinned people in the Dominican Republic is anything new—it isn’t. Nowadays, however, it’s a lot more ferocious as the president has issued special enhanced enforcement orders.

As a Black person, you’re always under the constant gaze of the law enforcers. On the buses, they board at will, scanning their gaze for anyone of dark complexion or close to it. “Pasaporte,” they shout, assuming that the individual cannot be Dominican and knowing that it is what is required for legitimate stay. They’re looking for a visa which when issued requires a $20 a month fee to maintain from people who often earn $20 or less a week. Often the people look scared. They know what is about to happen. They rummage through their bags and produce what they could: an expired passport, an expired work permit, a Dominican cedula (identification card). Sometimes, nothing at all. It’s what the officers expect and seemingly what they hope for as with physical gusto they eject anyone unable to produce “legitimate” documents. It’s an impressive display of power and force and leaves the accosted visibly deflated. The scenes are surreal and unsympathetic; grabbed like common criminals, jacked-up at the back of the trousers, arms secured and hurried off the bus into parked, waiting wagons. 

On the streets, Black people are faring no better,  subjected to unceremonious, insulting, demeaning stop, search and arrest as if they were fugitives on the run and now caught, that need to be handled with maximum caution on the assumption that they are armed and dangerous. Many a dark-skinned tourist is caught-up in the sting because the suspicion is of any dark-skinned person; their color is grounds for suspicion and the crime is blackness itself. Not too long ago, in 2023, the U.S. embassy in Santo Domingo issued a caution to Black American would-be vacationers here to be mindful of race-based mistreatment, but did little beyond this paper warning. 

The policy here is to assume that every dark-skinned person is likely an undocumented ethnic Haitian migrant who is contributing to the demise of the society. The international community half-heartedly complains but it’s all falling on deaf ears. The United Nations has warned about the extreme deportation of people at a time when Haiti is itself in political turmoil and poses a security risk to all. Regional organizations in the Americas have noted the mistreatment as illegal. Even civil society and human rights groups in the Dominican Republic have expressed their disdain. None of this seems to matter. What matters to the dominant Dominican society is ridding itself of a “scourge,” which they perceive as posing a threat to the purity and longevity of their nation. 

Now, in the run-up to presidential elections, the government speaks of ethnic Haitians as representing an existential threat to the security of the nation. The candidates are all singing the same tune. All major contestants are on the bandwagon of anti-Haitianismo. 

There are no less than 16 active political parties in the Dominican Republic but no more than six can be considered competitive and only three have a viable chance of gaining the presidency. Of these three, the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM/ Modern Revolutionary Party) is currently the strongest. Its leader and presidential candidate, the millionaire businessman Luis Abinader is the current president and running for his second consecutive term.  In the last election of 2020, he ran on a winning platform of anti-corruption and succeeded in unseating a heretofore entrenched party. Now, he has found another political winner. Since taking office, he picked up on the defeated party program of denying ethnic Haitians residency and citizenship rights. But he has gone further. It was thought that the government  before him was harsh on Black residents, now ethnic Haitians are in disbelief that times have actually worsened. 

Abinader’s signature programs and policies have been to first suspend and then end visas for Haitians, close the border between the two countries and initiate the building of a wall. In a recent address before the UN Security Council, he has sought to defend his policies as “a fight to protect the DR.”  In this view he enjoys broad support.

His closest rival, Leonel Fernández of the Fuerza del Pueblo (FP/ People’s Force), himself representing a splinter group of the old ruling party, has lost little time in spewing the same anti-Black, anti-immigrant vitriol that Abinader has. His political platform has chosen to place its emphasis on “containing illegal migration.” 

In the Dominican Republic, only Black migrants from the Caribbean are viewed by definition as “illegals or irregulars.” It’s a term set aside for Blacks only; all others are welcomed. The hordes of Venezuelan and South-East Asian migrants that are present are not seen as representing a threat to the nation and are readily and summarily integrated legally into the society with all rights, privileges and opportunities attached thereto. Special instructions are pasted large on the walls of the immigration offices, instructing them on the process for permanent residency. 

Fernández was once with the Partido de la Liberacion Dominicana (PLD), with whose company he parted but whose ideologies he retained.

The PLD represents the third major political force and the other major threat to Abinader retaining office. Its presidential candidate, Abel Martínez, like Abinader and Fernandez, understands well the sentiments of the voting public at large. He has called for “increased migration control” and “stricter immigration policies” to reduce and limit the ethnic Haitian presence which he has labeled “an overflowing invasion.” 

The public is overjoyed with the policies of their would-be presidential leaders. A Gallup-RC Media Poll indicated the top issues on the public’s mind to be crime, high cost of living and job opportunities, all of which the leading candidates have managed to convince voters are tied to the negative influence of a Black and ethnic Haitian presence there. It’s not altogether new; these negative outlooks on Blacks and ethnic Haitians in the Dominican Republic, and the restrictions and mistreatment that they face daily have existed for some time. The 2013 judicial ruling that stripped ethnic Haitians of constitutional rights and which met with some international criticism, forcing a change of policy was quickly followed up by policies designed to make near impossible the ability of Blacks to have equal treatment or equal opportunities. Some policies were reflective of Pass Book Laws in Apartheid Era South Africa. In 2021, ethnic Haitians were required to register their whereabouts inside the country; it was argued that this was to protect the society from “gang violence.” And ordinary Dominicans seem to have no issue with this whatsoever.

The survey in 2022 by the Instituto de Investigacion Social para el Desarrollo (Institute of Social Research for Development) found that more than two-thirds of Dominicans reject rights for “illegal” Haitian immigrants including civic rights. The way the system works, it’s not difficult for the majority of Blacks to be classified as “illegal” at some point or the other. Almost half of the population surveyed opposed access to social services such as health care, education, or housing. While they felt that this community represents a threat to jobs, an overwhelming majority favored work permits for jobs locals won’t do and at least half felt that there was little or no discrimination. The Dominican public sees what it wants and wants what it sees. Reality is very different.

What is real is that the presidential elections in the Dominican Republic have placed anti-Blackness front and center. What is real is that presidential candidates are going to all lengths to demonstrate their intolerance of  the “undesirable” Black migrants in their presence and that this has become the signature issue for their success. What is real is that every day, hundreds of Black and ethnic Haitians going about their business are routinely snatched off the streets, doggedly pursued by surveillance police vehicles, hunted and put in caged wagons to be eventually taken over the border. 

For Martine Jacques, as for many others, they are victims of a presidential election season where opposition to their presence is the road to political power.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Leave it to an HBCU to transform the 2024 solar eclipse viewing into a family reunion, homecoming- style celebration of Black excellence– all rolled into one event. 

That’s exactly what Bowie State University did on April 8 as hundreds of students, faculty and staff, alumni and community members gathered at Bulldog Football Stadium to witness the 2024 solar eclipse on a Monday afternoon. 

The brass section of the Bowie State band was turning up the volume and the cheering squad was on hand to greet students and guests piling into the football arena armed with solar viewing glasses.

They came in tee shirts and jeans, divine nine fraternity and sorority colors, and one mother and daughter team even came in matching astronaut gear. Melissa Duchene-Kelly, BSU faculty member and her daughter, Marley Kelly, celebrated the occasion in matching space suits. 

“It’s not going to happen for another 20 years and in 20 years she’ll be in college,” Duchene-Kelly said about Marlene, her elementary school-aged daughter. Scientists predict that North Americans will have to wait until 2044 to see the next full solar eclipse– and they will have to travel to North Dakota or Montana to see it.

“She really loves astronomy–anything that has to do with outer space.  She’s been asking every day, ‘Is this solar eclipse day?’ so we’re here and we’re ready,” said Duchene-Kelly. 

More than 200 eclipse enthusiasts filled the stadium bleachers including music-tech senior, Grace Wilson, and Jasmine Elliot, a business administration junior. 

“I’ve been into astronomy since elementary school so I thought it would be cool to see the solar eclipse,” said Wilson. 

“I have to say this is an experience, it doesn’t happen a lot. I never want to take an experience like this for granted. I don’t know where I’ll be in 20 years when another eclipse comes to North America,” said Elliott. 

Students like Wilson and Elliott were joined by scores of community members who joined the campus in eclipse viewing like Mayelle Guilliame, a 15-year-old from Northwestern High School who came with her brother and father for the experience. 

“I thought it was very cool, and yes I was a little excited about it,” said the self-contained student who let out an audible gasp as the sky began to darken shortly after 3:00 p.m. Maryland was not in the path of “totality,” however the eclipse did cover up to 85 percent of the sun, according to NASA scientists who experienced the event with the Bowie State community. 

NASA’s Kenneth Harris II, one of NASA’s youngest Senior Satellite Engineers, and Chidilim Okonkwo, director of NASA Financial Systems, joined the eclipse experience at Bowie State and offered students a complete history of the earth’s eclipses, a rundown of NASA’s current eclipse research projects and comprehensive safety guidance. They also took the opportunity to offer a pep talk and encouragement to students.   

 “You can impact someone else’s life just by your love of science. You never know what you’re going to spark in the next generation,” Harris said to the group just before the eclipse began. 

“I was advised to drop out of engineering at one point in my journey,” said Harris, who went on to earn his Ph.D. in engineering and now works with his mentors, Alphonso Stewart, leader of Deployment Systems for NASA’s James Webb telescope. 

Harris’ other mentor and co-worker is Kenneth Harris Sr., his father, who is also an engineer at NASA and the younger Harris’ lifelong role model. Both Stewart and Harris Sr. are Bowie State alumni, and the solar eclipse served as a sort of homecoming for those returning to the campus.  

“This event is a bridge to connect Bowie State University and the community together,” Provost Guy-Alain Amoussou said to the crowd of students, family, friends and faculty gathered underneath the afternoon sky.  

And with every gasp and hush of the crowd,  a connection was indeed made.

Okonkwo, who travels the nation representing her agency at sites where  NASA’s research and space flight projects are located, encouraged students to be proud of their identity. The Nigerian American, told students when she first came to NASA, many co-workers couldn’t even pronounce her name. Still, she persevered and arrived at Bowie on the day of the eclipse to deliver a message: “Be authentic to who you are.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

Diabetes remains at the top of the list as the White House and members of Congress fight to lower prescription drug costs for all diabetic patients. For the second year in a row, President Joseph Biden used this month’s State of The Union address to emphasize his administration’s vow to cap insulin prices at $35 per month.  

Staunch advocates ranging from long established advocacy organizations like the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Endocrine Society to grassroots patient advocates have drawn attention to a frightening rise in insulin prices, and have championed the fight to lower drug prices for all prescription drugs. 

“Spending on insulin in the US rose astronomically in the past decade, from $8 billion in 2012 to $22.3 billion in 2022,” said Charles “Chuck” Henderson, CEO of the ADA. “The cost for insulin is simply unsustainable for many people; particularly patients of color in our most underserved communities.”

Professional policy advocates like Henderson have combined forces with patient advocates and everyday citizens on social media with hashtags like #diabetes and #insulin4all. Together, they have pushed the Biden administration and Congress to move toward insulin affordability for the 8.4 million Americans who need it each day to survive.   

Within the first 20 minutes of the president’s address to Congress this month, Biden hit hard on lowering prescription drug prices using the cost of insulin as the example of drug prices that Biden was using legislation and collaboration with major pharmaceuticals to reign in.  

“Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin, seniors with diabetes only have to pay $35 a month. And now I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it,” Biden said, referring to the $35-a-month cap made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  “For years people have talked about it but I finally got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs just like the VA does for our veterans.”

Last year, the IRA capped insulin prices at $35 per month for Medicare part D enrollees in January 2023. Medicare Part B enrollees began receiving the benefit in July 2023. 

Pharmaceutical corporations began stepping up as well to announce their own price caps on insulin. In March 2023, Eli Lilly was the first major pharmaceutical firm to announce a program to reduce the listing price for insulin and expand a $35 price cap. 

In January 2024, Novo Nordisk reduced the price of four of their legacy brands, Novolin and Levemir, by 65 percent per vial and NovoLog and NovoLog Mix by 75 percent per vial.   Sanofi, the last major pharmaceutical to announce price caps, reduced its most popular insulin brands, Lantus by 78 percent and Apidra, a short-acting insulin, by 70 percent for each vial.

Patients will still pay more than the $35-a-month price cap without insurance reductions or other discounts.   

More than 38 million Americans are diabetic with 90 percent of those cases being Type 2 Diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  This is one in 10 Americans. 

The situation is even more urgent for Black Americans. Black adults develop diabetes at nearly twice the rate of our White counterparts with the greatest disparity being between Black women and White women who develop Type 2 Diabetes. 

“Type 2 Diabetes has become America’s quiet epidemic,” said Erika Walker Williams, assistant professor and diabetes specialist in the department of internal medicine at University of Texas, Southwestern in Dallas.

Black adults are hospitalized due to complications with diabetes at more than twice the rate of Whites; three times more likely to be diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, and twice as likely to die from the illness as our White Counterparts, based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. 

These grim statistics raise the same kinds of concerns the medical community expressed during the Covid-19 epidemic that ended less than a year ago. 

In fact, Walker Williams said, diabetes has already been declared an epidemic by the CDC in 1994 – 30 years ago. Since then, the rate of persons diagnosed with diabetes has accelerated in the US. Add to that, the 90 million Americans living with pre-diabetes, and the magnitude of diabetes on the American landscape comes more clearly into view.   

This article is the first of a five-part Spring 2024 series on Black health. This series highlights diabetes as a doorway to systemic illness, as well as the solutions that are underway in communities across America. The next piece in this five- part series will present a report from the Collaboration for Equitable Health, a partnership between the American Diabetes Association, The American Heart Association and the University of Michigan School of Public Health to improve health outcomes for persons of color in some of the highest health risk communities across the U.S. for Black Americans and other persons of color.  The article is written 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 Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is on a mission to spread the news about Medicaid postpartum coverage expansion, a topic of discussion at the agency’s second annual Black Health Forum.

The Feb. 27 meeting was a check-in for health care providers, advocates, policy makers and citizens with HHS leadership on major health issues facing Black Americans. The annual gathering also serves as a platform to call out the major problems in Black health outcomes and delivery that persist.

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), hailed the fact that 44 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted the new expansion of postpartum coverage. The Medicaid extension extends benefits for pregnant women for 12 months after pregnancy, a sizable increase from the previous coverage of only 60 days after pregnancy. LaSure said the new expansion covers post pregnancy issues like postpartum depression, what she called “the fourth trimester.”

In the U.S., Black women are more than three times more likely to die from a pregnancy related issue than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  Black infants one year or less die at more than twice the rate of White infants in the U.S.

“Under the Biden-Harris administration, we’ve built a firm foundation to support the health and wellbeing of women and families. That foundation now forms the bedrock for a growing majority of states that are prioritizing maternal health improvements, and advancing care for our communities as a result,” Brooks-Lasure stated. “Medicaid supports 40 percent of all births in this country. It also provides an opportunity to implement changes that can ripple across all the states and localities – all across the nation.”

Dora Hughes, the acting chief medical officer and acting director of CMS’ Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, added the Medicaid postpartum expansion comes as a result of focusing on equity as a primary healthcare goal.

Hughes said Medicaid has expanded the types of pre and post-birth health care models that pregnant persons are able to access as they listened to the real life experiences of pregnant persons.

“We all understand that we have an all-hands-on-deck situation,” Hughes added, referencing the current grim birth outcomes for Black women and all women in the United States.  

Dr. Rachel Villanueva, a board-certified OB-GYN specialist and past-president of the National Medical Association, said that her daily medical practice has given her years of first- hand experience with Black women who come to her in search of a Black physician to guide their pregnancy experience. 

“I have seen a dramatic increase of women of color coming to get care. Women who thanked me for listening to them, believing them,” Villanueva said.  

The women who seek out Villanueva say they have felt ignored by other providers who minimized their symptoms and experiences or didn’t simply believe them, Villanueva said.

Alexia Doumbouya, a certified doula and president of CocoLife, a community-support organization for pregnant moms and new mothers based in Philadelphia, said her own post-birth mental health challenges helped her understand the helplessness many Black pregnant women and new mothers experience.

“I didn’t have the language of postpartum depression,” said Doumbouya as she explained the experience that impacts between 29 and 44 percent of Black women, according to the CDC. “I just knew that I felt like a horrible mother. I knew I was struggling, I knew I could not figure out why I could not connect with this person that I just carried for nine months.”

“I felt alone. I was terrified that someone was going to take my child. I knew I needed help, but where do you go,” said Doumbouya, who started CocoLife in 2019.

At the end of the day, participants agreed dangerous disparities continue to exist for pregnant and postpartum Black women. The federal agency is still in early stages of centering equity-based approaches. But H.H.S. is awake, listening and responding, said Rev. Que English, the director of HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

“We are not ostriches in the sand,” said English, acknowledging her colleagues at H.H.S. are fully aware of the grim statistics Black women currently face during pregnancy. 

But, looking toward the work being done to combat maternal health disparities, she declared, “Our collective goal is to see the United States become one of the safest places to give birth.”

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor 
dbailey@afro.com

At the end of the longest day of the Marilyn Mosby vs. the United States at the District Court House in Greenbelt, Md., the former Baltimore State’s Attorney’s fate now rests in the hands of the jury.  

Closing arguments on Feb. 5 extended well into the afternoon with U.S. government prosecutors and Mosby’s public defense attorney painting a striking contrast about Mosby and her motives in the purchase of the two Florida properties she purchased that are at the center of this case.  

“This is a case about lies and responsibility,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky who gave closing arguments for the prosecution.

Zelinsky portrayed Mosby as a skilled professional who knowingly orchestrated a series of alleged lies to secure a home purchased in Kissimmee, Florida and condominium at Longwood Key the following year. 

“This isn’t any regular person we’re talking about filling out those forms,” Zelinsky repeated throughout his closing argument. “This is an educated lawyer who runs a prosecutor’s office,” he said.

After repeating Moby’s education and status as “Baltimore’s top prosecutor” numerous times, he turned to a direct assault on both Marilyn Mosby’s character and that of her ex-husband, Nick Mosby, who testified for the defense last week. 

“Marilyn Mosby is a convicted federal perjurer,” Zelinksy said. “She is not credible because she is convicted of perjury and her story makes no sense,” Zelinsky jabbed. “Mr. Mosby is not exactly credible himself.” 

Maggie Grace, a member of Mosby’s public defense team, approached her description of Mosby and the events surrounding the purchase of the Florida properties with a different lens.

Grace cautioned jurors that it was their responsibility to consider, “the full picture, the full context” and the “evidence of good faith” that Grace said Mosby displayed throughout the process. She added that even though mistakes were made– Mosby was not intentionally misleading officials.

“Even a lawyer, even a state’s attorney, unless you are steeped in real estate would never know how to complete these forms,” Grace said as she held up a notebook-sized folder full of mortgage documents for jurors to see. 

Grace drilled down on the issue of the Mosby’s $45,000 tax debt, displaying evidence that Nick Mosby had entered an installment agreement for the tax bill and adding that, “She (Marilyn) did not knowingly hide the tax debt. Ms. Mosby believed they were on an installment plan,” she said. 

“We trust that you’ll find Ms. Mosby acted in good faith and didn’t knowingly make false statements,” Grace affirmed. 

As she headed out of the courtroom, Mosby was surrounded by more than one hundred supporters and friends, arriving from Baltimore in cars and a bus chartered by New Shiloh Baptist Church.  Her supporters and her two daughters, Aniyah and Nylyn walked Mosby in and out of the courthouse. 

Michael Eugene, lifelong activist, said “I’m here to support the process as well as Marilyn Mosby.  This is nothing more than a high tech lynching.”

“We want to let the federal government know we’re watching. At this point I am confident that she will be acquitted,” Eugene said.  

“I came to support Ms. Mosby because in the face of the government’s attempt to smear her name has happened to too many women in positions of power,” said Baltimorean Ertha Harris, host of the Tight Knit Connection radio program on WOLB. 

Others, like Sheena Smith, from Baltimore, have traveled to the Greenbelt courthouse for the past two weeks to stand guard throughout the trial. 

“I saw they were trying to assassinate her in the media,” said Sheena Smith, who has traveled to the courthouse daily with several friends.    

“This city would have burned down if she didn’t make the decisions she made after Freddie Gray was murdered,” Smith said. “The city would have burned. No other elected official stood up,” she said.

“Our former state’s attorney, Marilyn Mosby, is innocent,” Smith said. “She’s not lying. Marilyn had no knowledge of the tax debt.”

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By Deborah Bailey
Contributing Editor

Marilyn Mosby, a former Baltimore City state’s attorney, will soon face a verdict in the second of two federal trials that will change the trajectory of her life.

The 44-year-old rose to power as the youngest state’s attorney of a major city in 2015.  Just months later, Mosby was thrust into the national spotlight when she led a controversial investigation and ultimately charged six Baltimore City police officers in Freddie Grey’s death.  

Now, the former Baltimore prosecutor is awaiting the verdict in a federal mortgage fraud trial held in the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., that concluded on Feb. 1. Federal prosecutors have charged Mosby with making seven false statements to two mortgage companies during real estate transactions in Florida.

Mosby took the stand to testify in her own defense Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. When her attorney asked why she was willing to testify in the second of two trials about false statements to secure real estate in Florida she responded, “I regret not testifying before and I want this jury to hear my truth,” according to court transcripts.

Mosby was found guilty of two counts of perjury in her first trial before a U.S. District Court in November, for falsely claiming  Covid-19 hardships in making two withdrawals of $40,000 and $50,000 from her deferred compensation fund. 

Mosby’s second trial focuses on real estate fraud charges stemming from purchases of a house in Kissimmee, Florida, in September 2020 and a condominium in Longboat Key, Florida, in February 2021.

Prosecutors claimed Mosby lied on the mortgage application for the Florida properties by saying she had no tax liability, one of seven allegedly false statements made on the applications to secure the Florida home and condo. 

During her testimony, Mosby shared details about her climb to power as one of the youngest state’s attorneys in the nation at the time she won election to office in November 2013, and details of a stormy period in her marriage to City Council President Nick Mosby, who testified for the defense  in the second trial.

Nick Mosby – now the defendant’s ex-husband – testified that he lied about the then-couples’ tax liability, claiming he entered an installment agreement to repay the tax debt. He also made public statements insisting the $45,000 tax lien had been “taken care of” as he did during a press conference after his election as Baltimore City Council chairman in November 2020.

Marilyn Mosby filed for divorce from Nick Mosby in July 2023 after 17 years of marriage. The couple issued a joint statement after the filing saying: “After careful consideration and much prayer we have decided to end our marriage. Our dedication to our family and community remains unwavering.”

The divorce was finalized in November 2023. 

In her second day of testimony, Mosby said that her mortgage broker completed the forms needed to purchase the two homes in Florida. She stated that she was inexperienced in real estate transactions and relied on the mortgage broker to complete the forms. “My Easy Mortgage populated it,” she said about the mortgage documents that prosecutors claim contain several untrue statements, including concealment of the tax debt.

Mosby’s supporters from Baltimore filled the Greenbelt courtroom over the course of the second trial. 

“Spending a few days at the trial was an educational experience for myself and the many supporters,” said Baltimorean Hakki Ammi.

“Marilyn took the stand and expressed that she had been misled by the mortgage broker,” he added. 

The verdict in the second trial is expected next week, and is in all likelihood expected to be handed down on Feb. 5.  

Mosby’s supporters plan to be in the Greenbelt courtroom on Feb. 5 prepared for whatever happens.

Buses will depart from New Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 2100 N. Monroe St. in Baltimore, for the Greenbelt federal courthouse at 8:30 a.m., returning to the church at noon. “Lawyers, churches and civic groups should be present to observe this case. There needed to be a groundswell of supporters showing up,” said Ammi.

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor 
dbailey@afro.com

Seated humbly in a chair on the platform of the Washington National Cathedral, former United Nations Ambassador and Congressman Andrew Young preached extemporaneously Jan. 14. King confidante, friend, collaborator and fellow pastor, Young is among a dwindling number of activists who worked and served full time in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. 

Young knew King from the start of the Civil Rights Movement and was at King’s side as he died in 1968 on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn. As few movement veterans can, Young is still able to offer a first-hand account of times that transformed both him as a man and the world. 

Young’s recollections of King as the young, inexperienced pastor of the conservative Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala.  in 1955, set the tone for the conversation.

“Martin had no time. He received the announcement one hour before the start of the meeting. He rose to the occasion with less than one hour to prepare himself and made one of the better speeches of his career,” Young said, referring to the speech made at Montgomery’s Holt Street Baptist Church, urging the continuation of the bus boycott. 

Young said the Montgomery bus boycott was originally planned to last one day, but persisted for 381 days until November 1956, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation illegal on public transportation systems. 

History changed King’s trajectory as well, said Young, who spoke about his involvement in a series of civil rights campaigns King led in Georgia, Alabama, Washington, D.C  and Alabama. But Young said the campaign in Chicago, Ill. Introduced King to another side of the American cultural dilemma. 

“More and more he began to see the problems we were having in Northern cities were not just social; they were economic,” said Young. “That commitment led him to Memphis,” he added, noting that  sanitation workers were preparing to strike after the accidental deaths of sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker. 

 “I think he knew his days were numbered. I think he had decided if he gave his life had decided if he gave his life, he wanted it to be for the least of these, God’s children. The sanitation workers, the garbage workers were a perfect example of ‘the least of these.’ The garbage workers had no benefits, no retirement,” Young said. “They were still virtual slaves in our modern democracy. I think he knew. Everything about the way he acted in those next several days led us to believe that he knew he was going to his death.”

 “When I heard that shot, I looked up at Martin Luther King and ran to the top of the steps. realized that…the bullet moved faster than his feelings,” said Young. 

The grand sanctuary of the National Cathedral became pin-drop silent. “He probably never felt that bullet,” he said. “I think that’s the reason why, 50 something-odd years later, we’re still gathering all over the world to celebrate him…and the values for which he gave his life,” Young said of King. “He probably never heard that bullet. I thought that maybe it’s true that someone can go straight from this life to heaven on a flaming chariot.”

Randolph Hollerith, dean of the National Cathedral, captured the sentiments of the parishioners and visitors who came to hear Young’s presentation. 

“Sir, you honor us today. Wherever I go and whatever I do I’ll always remember these words and you sitting in this chair offering them,” Hollerith said to Young, before the entire congregation. 

Others attending felt a similar sense of awe following the service.

“I’m so grateful for Rev. Young’s account of MLK’s life, in which he breathed new life,” said Natalie Doyle. 

Georgianne Thomas was also grateful to be in attendance.

“Thank you, Ambassador Young, for your long committed service to our community,” said Thomas. “We live Black – daily. Unless you live it, you will never understand it.”

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

Cable network anchor and Bowie High School graduate Abby Phillip reminded Bowie State University winter graduates Dec. 23 of the power of failure in life.

Phillip, anchor of “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” a Harvard graduate and a member of Bowie High School’s class of 2006, told the 405 graduates that the road to success is filled with redirection, difficulties and unavoidable pain. But even with life’s many obstacles, she assured the graduates, what is meant for you will come. 

“There has been nothing that was meant  for me that I did not receive or was given to someone else,” Phillip declared.  

Phillip cautioned students that “successful people have a high tolerance for adversity, for discomfort, for unhappiness, even,” as she recounted experiences in college and her career that were filled with rejection and experiences where she did not fit in. 

“I wish that someone had told me that bad things are going to happen to you. But the real question is, what do you do when that happens,” Phillip said.  

Phillip shared with graduates of the Maryland HBCU and their parents that it took her years to figure out that rejections are part of life, even when they are based on “unfairness.”  

 “There can be trauma associated with rejection, being left out, especially when you think there is unfairness at play,” Phillip said. 

“We have to start training our minds and our hearts to see the messages in rejection knowing that we can triumph over it. Sometimes we have to hear a loud and resounding ‘no’ in order to fight for yourself.”

The university’s winter graduation included a surprising 2023 fine arts graduate: Myles Frost, who won a Tony in 2022 for his portrayal of music icon Michael Jackson in “MJ the Musical.”  Frost entered the stage shouting out  ”We graduating baby” to his classmates before belting out a rendition of “Enjoy Yourself,” originally performed by the Jackson 5 in 1976. 

Frost ended his graduation appearance with a touching tribute to his 90-year-old grandmother, Hattie Strayhorn, who he said “is still walking and talking with style and grace.” Frost gave his grandmother flowers when she walked to the stage, assisted by his mother, Charmaine Strayhorn. 

Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux said Frost demonstrated “good character to pursue his hopes and dreams (on Broadway) while getting his education and being awarded his degree today.”  

The themes of family and resilience were woven throughout the Bowie State ceremony, which also highlighted five doctoral level graduates in computer science and educational leadership, as the institution is focused on moving toward a Carnegie Research Level II institution. 

Antuan Terrell Jemerson Sr., a newly minted graduate in business administration, personified the theme of resilience.  The Upper Marlboro, Md. business marketing major started his degree program in the 1990s and returned to BSU in 2021 after his son suggested he come back to the college classroom. 

“My kids are here; my son inspired me to come back to school. Today feels great, it’s exhilarating, I’m proud. Overall it feels amazing,” Jemerson said. 

Following the ceremony, Phillip expressed joy at addressing an audience “at home” in Bowie. In many ways, she said, she’d never left.

She also summed up the importance of the day and the occasion of an HBCU graduation ceremony.

“There would not be a Black middle class without HBCUs and this is so important,” she said. “HBCUs carry on the legacy of many in this country.” 

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By Deborah Bailey

AFRO Contributing Editor 

dbailey@afro.com

Veteran Prince George’s County Councilwoman Jolene Ivey (D-Prince George’s County- District 5) is now head of the County Council. Ivey took the gavel with the unanimous support of 11 council members, all of whom were in attendance at the gavel exchange ceremony inside of Largo’s County Council hearing room Dec. 5.  

“As Prince George’s County grows we should make sure that our families thrive along with it. Strong parents lead to great students, a more vibrant economy and safer communities,” Ivey said.

Ivey stated that resources for teachers, support for the local business community,  new housing that minimizes traffic congestion and support for the county’s non-profits were also priorities. 

“We have to stay laser-focused on the budget,” said Ivey, adding that “being able to pay for schools, to pay for police, the fire department” is top priority. 

In her first remarks as council chair for the 2024 session, Ivey lauded the council for their role in advancing the county’s development. She also warned they must stand united to deliver results including prioritization of county resources for vulnerable residents, smart development and increasing staffing of public safety positions to improve Prince George’s County for citizens in 2024.

While Ivey’s selection by her peers for council chair was smooth sailing, a short dispute rose for the vice chair’s spot, as both Sydney Harrison (D-Prince George’s County- District 9) and Walla Blegay (D- Prince George’s County- District 6), were nominated. Harrison ultimately won the post, following a failed vote to affirm Blegay. 

Ivey’s constant refrain and warning was for council members to stand united in serving Prince Georges’ residents in 2024.  

“This is the unity our council requires and the unity our residents deserve,” Ivey said.

She shared that, “We’ve come a long way in Prince George’s County. The FBI Headquarters has found a new home and will relocate from the nation’s capital to Greenbelt.”

Virginia lawmakers have requested a federal investigation into the relocation decision,  stating that Greenbelt was chosen for political reasons, according to a letter sent to the U.S. General Services Administration’s office of the inspector general.  

Many are hopeful that the original decision will be upheld. It would bring in much needed economic growth, as there is a projected $58 million deficit in the fiscal year that begins in July of 2024, according to an October report from the Spending Affordability Committee. Leaders have proposed strict spending cuts to balance the county budget amid the dipping tax revenue in order to fund essential departments with public services. 

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By Deborah Bailey

AFRO Contributing Editor  

dbailey@afro.com

A Prince George’s County Police Officer has been acquitted in the Jan. 27, 2020 death of William Green,  a resident of Southeast D.C. who was shot while in handcuffs. 

Michael Owen Jr. was found not guilty of four charges filed against him in a Prince George’s County Circuit Court jury on Dec. 6. The charges of first degree murder, second degree assault, manslaughter and misconduct in office, were filed following the death of William Green, of Southeast D.C., according to court records. 

In January of 2020 Owen’s became the first police officer in the history of the country to be charged with murder while handling an on-duty case just 24 hours after the shooting. 

Owen has been reprimanded for the use of force against citizens over 9 times in the course of his career. Prior to the killing of Green, he sought workers compensation for psychological trauma caused by another shooting earlier in his career.  Supervisors claimed to be unaware of the other shooting incident. 

Green was shot six times while in the front seat of Owen’s police cruiser. Owen handcuffed Green, who was first found unconscious in Temple Hills, Md. on Jan. 27, 2020, after crashing into multiple vehicles. 

Greene’s family was awarded a $20 million settlement from Prince George’s County months after the incident. The settlement was the largest in history for a police-involved shooting death in Prince George’s County, according to the Murphy, Falcon, Murphy law firm which represents the family. 

“It is our belief that when we are at fault, we take responsibility. And in this case, we are accepting responsibility,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

At a 2020 press conference, Alsobrooks also stated that she did not object to the court charges levied against Owen. “He should not be treated any differently than any other individual who had just shot someone multiple times with no clear justification,” she stated. 

During testimony at the trial, both prosecution and defense agreed upon the facts of the case. Police were called to the scene of the shooting on the night of Jan. 27, 2020 after Green crashed into several vehicles. Both sides say Green was under the influence of illegal narcotics and alcohol at the time of his arrest and placement in the police cruiser. However, that is where the discrepancies begin. The disputed aspects of the case center on whether the men struggled before the shooting and if Owen shot Green in self-defense. 

Joel Patterson, Prince George’s County Assistant State’s Attorney argued that Green was “not a threat” that warranted the use of deadly force while handcuffed in Owen’s cruiser. Nonetheless, Owen’s attorney, Thomas Mooney, successfully argued that Owen acted in self-defense. 

During the trial, Owen took the stand, defending his actions and — for the first time since the incident— explaining his version of what happened while Green was handcuffed in the front seat of his police cruiser.

Maryland law considers self-protection a reasonable defense when facing a homicide charge if the defendant believes they were in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm, and the use of force was reasonable in the moment. 

In State v. Faulkner (Md. 1984) the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled “self-defense operates as a complete defense to either murder or manslaughter.” The burden of proof was on Green’s attorneys, as he was tasked with breaking down Owen’s self-defense argument.

Owen was fired from the Prince George’s Police Department shortly after the incident.  His trial was originally delayed after Prince George’s State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy offered a plea deal that would have reduced the charges against Owen from murder to voluntary manslaughter. Judge Michael R. Pearson rejected the plea agreement and issued a rare rebuke to Braveboys’ team. The judge said Braveboy “dropped the ball” by not exchanging required evidence with the defense needed to start the trial after three years.  

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By  Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor 
dbailey@afro.com

The laughter and fellowship ebbing through a Washington, D.C. hotel ballroom on an afternoon in November conveyed the pleasure expressed by several hundred upscale Black women executives exchanging personal and professional stories, plans and dreams.  

These are Black women who have sacrificed to make it among the leadership ranks in U.S. politics, education, entertainment  and corporate institutions. 

That’s just who Stephanie Tavares-Rance wanted to attract for a three-hour gathering orchestrated in the lavish Black-woman owned hotel overlooking the D.C. waterfront sponsored by Meta.  Rance has designed an experience to support Black women executives who have done well in their organizations. 

 The C-Suite Luncheon series provides a safe setting allowing these women to close the door, take off their heels and authentically connect.  No superficial facades allowed.  

“What we all have in common is that we’re women, and we’re Black and we all have to find a way to navigate,” said Rance, founder of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. She spoke to the audience of some 300 women about success in all aspects of life.  

The Black women attending the Washington, D.C. C-Suite luncheon included  top level names from the White House, financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase,  entertainment giants at Disney, CNN and top administrators at Howard University in addition to other major universities.  

“The difference in this gathering is that many of us hold the bag. We’re the persons at our companies who are responsible for making things happen so we don’t have time to be pretentious,” said one participant. 

The theme for the D.C. C-Suite luncheon was alignment. 

Washington Post writer, Helena Andrews-Dyer, moderated a discussion that explored this theme with a panel that included Alexis McGill Johnson, C.E.O. of Planned Parenthood, Michelle Rice, president of TV-One and Cleo TV, Rahquel Purcell, a senior official at L’Oréal-North America and Michelle Mitchell, top content creator for We The Culture. 

“Are you connected and satisfied in your personal life; in your professional life?  Are you walking in your purpose and passion? Alignment is a moving target. That sounds counterintuitive, but it’s very real,” Purcell noted. 

McGill-Johnson, whose organization, Planned Parenthood, is in the midst of creating options for women in the wake of the U.S.  Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling overturning  the court’s ruling on abortion, added, “When I am truly aligned, I have full access to my power. It allows me to be authentic, unapologetic and unafraid.”  

Panelists continued the discussion with their own thoughts and experiences on the meaning of alignment.

“I think about harmony, finding that North Star.  For me, it’s spiritual and mental well being. It’s physical, take care of the body. But we need to talk about the social aspects as well. We’re always trying to learn as we get to that North Star,” Rice said. 

Others agreed their definition was along the same lines.

“I think when people are in balance across all the quadrants in their lives. Alignment is when you have enough oxygen for all the areas in your life,” Mitchell said.

The C-Suite Luncheon series is a movement geared to support Black and Brown women at top levels in U.S. public and private organizations, along with entrepreneurs and creatives.  The series of events, held in several locations since the inaugural C-Suite luncheon at the 2021 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film  Festival,  targets women of color who find themselves at the crossroads of leadership across a range of disciplines and offers guidance, inspiration and one of a kind experiences.   

“I believe in spoiling Black women,” Rance said, explaining that she became involved in such top-shelf gatherings when she successfully  organized the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.  Rance “spoiled” the D.C. gathering by treating participants to an advanced screening of the 2023 musical drama, The Color Purple, produced by Steven Spielbrg and Quincy Jones. Similar gatherings have been held in Los Angeles, Denver and Atlanta. 

In 2024, Rance said she plans to broaden the concept of bringing successful women of color together into a three-day C-Suite summit in Denver for, “Black and Brown women who personify success, lead with integrity and find meaning in community and strong relationships.” 

“Stephanie is bringing us together to connect, support, remember,” said Gracie Lawson-Borders, dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communication at Howard University. “This gathering has a different taste to it,” Lawson-Borders said about the unassuming ambiance of the event. “These are just phenomenal women from so many different backgrounds. These women too,  need support, friendship and a place to connect.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

D.C. Courts held their 37^th Annual Adoption Day on Nov. 18, marking the official creation of “forever families” in the District. The day was especially sentimental for Benita “Queen” Meadow, 50, and her two children, Mon’Asia (6) and Mon’trell (5). For Meadow, the celebration of adoptive families held at Anacostia’s riverfront in Southwest D.C. was a “full circle” moment in her life. 

Mon’Asia, and Mon’trell’s adoptions were finalized in 2022, but this year on Annual Adoption Day they received official certificates of adoption from Magistrate Judge Janet Albert. The certificates were given during the D.C. Court’s first in-person,  fun filled celebration of adoption since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adoptive families, children, D.C. Court judges and staff from the Department of Family Services celebrated a special taping of veteran journalist Barbara Harrison’s “Wednesday’s Child” television series. Families representing hundreds of children and families with finalized adoptions in 2022 and 2023 received their certificates of adoption.   

Meadow has been an adoptive mom for almost two decades. Her first adopted child, Calista, is now 21 years old. Meadow adopted Calista 17 years ago from the D.C. Department of Child and Family Services.  

“I feel like I’m starting all over again,” she said. 

Life was full for Meadow who raised Calista along with her son, Marquis, who died at 18 in 2014 two weeks after collapsing on Morgan State University’s football field during practice. The freshman was a newly recruited football player at the Baltimore Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).  

“After the passing of my son in 2014, I still had a lot of mothering in me and wanted to love,” Meadow said.

“I started getting really active with the community and kids,” said Meadow, who said she called the D.C. Department of Family Services several years after Marquis’ death.  The agency welcomed her back to the program with open arms and this time around, encouraged her to do double duty.  

She was only expecting one child but made the decision to make sure the siblings were not separated.

“I went through the program again and never imagined I was going to get two,” Meadow exclaimed. “I was asked if I wanted to accept two and it’s just been a double blessing” she said referring to Mon’Asia and Mon’trell who have been together since birth. 

For D.C. Superior Court Chief Justice Anita Josey-Herring, the Adoption Day ceremony is a community celebration and triumph.

“These are amazing families whose lives have been forever changed. These families have opened their homes to children who might otherwise not be adopted and we celebrate them,” Josey-Herring announced to loud cheering as adoptive families were introduced.

“Many difficult things happen in Superior Court,” Josey-Herring said of the D.C. Superior Court system that handles both civil and criminal cases dealing with every kind of issue from landlord-tenant disputes and evictions to domestic violence, cases involving mental health,  assaults and more. 

 “The judges and staff try to keep our spirits up too, in spite of what we deal with on a regular basis,” Josey Herring said. 

“Adoption Day is publicly celebrated because we want to raise public awareness of the children we have in our system who need a permanent home,” she emphasized. 

Meadow and the other “forever family” members who celebrated at Saturday’s Annual Adoption Day ceremony want potential adoptive parents to know adoption is not hard, it just takes love. 

“If you have an open heart and an open home just do it. Don’t second guess it. A lot of kids don’t even have the opportunity to go to foster care, they are just on the streets,” Meadow said. “Everybody can adopt.  It just takes love. Having two makes it more exciting.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dailey@afro.com

Four Landover Hills, Md. residents filed a lawsuit against Prince George’s County police on Nov. 27, seeking $16 million in damages after alleging police unlawfully entered the premises during a 2021 encounter with the residents. The incident included the shooting of a dog. 

Erica Umana, Erika Erazo Sanchez, Dayri Benitez and Brandon Cuevas, represented by attorneys Billy Murphy and Malcolm Ruff, allege police entered the apartment without a warrant in response to a report of a dog bite. The plaintiffs and their attorneys were joined by community supporters, who spoke about the range of concerns that many residents continue to express about the county’s police department.  

“We are seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief— including enhanced Fourth Amendment training of the entire Prince George’s County Police Department (PGCPD),” Ruff said, adding that the officers’ actions —in his estimation—violated his clients’ Constitutional 14th Amendment.

Murphy and Ruff displayed a clip of the body camera footage from police who allegedly entered the home of the roommates June 2, 2021 without a warrant, opening the door with a key police requested from the apartment complex’s maintenance worker, according to court documents.  

Once inside, officers grabbed the occupants, slammed one of the roommates to the floor and shot the roommates’ dog, Hennessey, in the back, according to court documents. The roommates explained the dog, who was like a member of the family, eventually had to be put down. 

Erica Erazo Sanchez spoke on behalf of her roommates. Holding back tears, Sanchez explained the raw trauma she continues to carry from the incident.

“I no longer feel safe in the presence of the Prince George’s County police,” Sanchez said. “I would not wish the pain and suffering we are going through on our worst enemy.”   

“This is not just about us, but about everyone who has suffered at the hands of the Prince George’s County Police Department,” Sanchez continued. 

Police detained the roommates in their cruiser for over an hour before releasing them without filing any charges. 

“We will not be quiet about these abuses our clients suffered. Justice must be served,” said Ruff. 

Jorge Benitez-Perez, lead organizer for the Prince George’s County chapter of CASA of Maryland, led a host of community advocates who pledged to stand by the four roommates while their case proceeds through the court system. 

“Police brutality and police abuse will not be tolerated,” said Benitez-Perez. “We demand full accountability for the injustice of the PGCPD against these young individuals who should have been protecting these young people but instead were harmed by PGCPD,” he said.

NaShona Kess, Esq., speaking on behalf of the NAACP Maryland State Conference, also pledged continuing support of her organization for the case filed by the four roommates. The civil rights expert said she also believes the Constitutional rights of the roommates were violated by the police officers of Prince George’s County. 

“They ignored all Constitutional rights. Police barged into a home they did not own,” said Kess. “Law enforcement officers should be held accountable when they break the law. The County must push the message that bad actors will be held accountable,” said Kess. 

The NAACP Maryland branch is seeking the creation of civilian review boards to oversee police activity throughout the state.  

William “Billy” Murphy, a veteran of civil rights court battles for more than four decades, said excessive force and civil rights violations by the Prince George’s Police Department have become ingrained into the  department’s culture. 

Murphy said that excessive force by police is an affront to residents of Prince George’s County.  

“Knowing they have body cameras that can record what they do and what they say, how can they justify doing something as brazen as they did knowing the public would have full access to the brazen things they did?” Murphy said.  

“They just did it anyway, because they believed they could get away with it— and so far, they have. They will not learn as long as we restrict our reactions to principles, good words and admonitions. The day for that is over,” Murphy said, adding that he will not let up on lawsuits against police misconduct. 

“We won’t stop doing this until they stop,” he concluded.  

In April of this year, Murphy and Ruff represented the family of Demonte Ward-Blake in a $7.5 million settlement. That payout was as a result of police action during a traffic stop by Prince George’s County police that left Blake paralyzed. Today, he is reliant on round- the-clock care and completely dependent on others. The award represented Prince George’s County’s second largest police brutality settlement in history.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

A new class of weight loss medications are bringing hope to the more than 70 percent of Americans who are classified as medically overweight (BMI = 25-29.9) or obese (BMI = 30 or greater).   

The obesity rate of Black Americans clocking in at the highest among U.S. ethnic groups, according to the National Institutes of Health, many are hoping for help in shedding stubborn excess weight.  

Zepbound, just approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is the latest of a series of what the medical field has named GLP-1 medications. The drug has been approved for use as a weight loss treatment for overweight or obese adults with at least one other associated health condition. Manufactured by Eli Lilly, the drug is currently prescribed for diabetes patients under the name Monjouro. 

Zepbound, will be available by the end of this year and joins Wegovy, approved by the FDA for weight loss in 2022, as a new medically prescribed agent in the battle for weight loss.

Both medications are injectable and promise patients can lose a significant percentage of body weight with continued use of the product. 

Physicians like Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, want to make sure potential patients connect with a skilled medical provider and stay away from other sources. Counterfeit versions of the new GLP weight loss drugs have been reported nationwide. 

“These medications should only be administered by those with experience in prescribing these agents,” Cody Stanford said. 

She advises patients to talk with their physician about side effects of the medication, including nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea on the mild side and more significant and even life threatening health complications documented in rare cases.   

The drugs are not for everyone, Cody Stanford says, but for many Black Americans who have struggled with the disease of obesity, she allows that the new GLP-1 medications could be a game changer. 

“The FDA has placed these agents under rigorous testing to determine their safety for the population at large. They can be a useful tool for those with the chronic disease of obesity, and they can particularly be a useful tool with racial and ethnic minority populations, who disproportionately have higher rates of obesity,” Cody Stanford told the AFRO.

Cody Stanford, is one of America’s foremost authorities on obesity. She was one of the first physicians to classify obesity as a chronic disease, rather than a lifestyle or behavioral choice of the person living with obesity.   

Discussion of the new GLP-1 medications to treat weight loss, public policy and the Black community began heating up this summer when Congress introduced The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2023, in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The legislation would allow Medicare to pay for weight-loss drugs including the new GLP-1 medications. 

At this fall’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation meeting in Washington D.C., Cody Stanford participated in a panel discussing the need for the new obesity drugs, sponsored by Wegovy’s manufacturer Novo Nordisk. 

Wegovy has a list price exceeding $1,300 a month without medical coverage.  Zepbound’s press release boasts that it is available at a lower cost than Wegovy, but still lists at more than $1,000 for a one month supply, without insurance. 

According to Eli Lilly’s press release, Zepbound will be introducing a savings card allowing eligible users to pay as little as $25 for a one month or three month prescription, but those savings are temporary. 

Roland Martin, Roland Martin Unfiltered, devoted a March 2023 show to the topic “Obesity in America” sponsored by Novo Nordisk. 

Tiffani Bell Washington, Board certified physician specializing in Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lifestyle Medicine and Obesity Medicine, spoke directly to the issue of Medicare coverage for the new obesity medications on Martin’s show. 

“Medicare is not covering these anti-obese medications,” Bell Washington said. “Many years ago they thought obesity was a lifestyle problem.” she said.

“But the problem is beyond that. It’s a health issue so it really does need to be covered and if Medicare covers it usually other people follow,” Bell Washington said. 

Supporters of Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs defend pushing Congress to support Medicare coverage of the new GLP-1 drugs. 

 “The bipartisan Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, would help seniors who suffer from obesity gain Medicare coverage and access to vital medications and behavioral therapies that would help them live a healthier and longer life,” said Congressman Paul Ruiz, (D-CA-25) an emergency room physician who introduced the legislation this summer. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

The G.I. Restoration Act of 2023, introduced in Congress this year by Assistant Democratic Leader Jim D. Clyburn (D-SC-6) and Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA), aims to change life in America for Black descendants of World War II veterans who were denied the benefits of the original G.I. Bill signed into law in 1944. 

The original G.I Bill of Rights lifted more than 4.3 million veterans and their families into the middle class by making them home owners in the first decade of its passage. More than 16 million World War II veterans took advantage of college or postsecondary training, according to the Department of Defense. 

Yet, a provision in the original G.I bill allowed benefits to be administered by states, thus denying the educational and housing benefits to millions of Black veterans and their families, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). This denial continues to impact income inequality, according to the report. 

Now, 75 years after the G.I. Bill’s original passage, the G.I.Restoration Act’s sponsors say it is time to make the correction.

“I’ve long said that the quickest ways to overcome poverty and build generational wealth in this country are through education and homeownership,” Clyburn expressed to the AFRO.

“It is unconscionable that Black Veterans — returning home from World War II and their descendants — were denied the benefits of the original G.I. Bill that their White counterparts received,” Clyburn explained. 

The GI Restoration Act of 2023 – formally titled the Sgt. Isaac Woodard Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox G.I. Bill Restoration Act of 2023 will:  

• Extend access to the VA Loan Guaranty Program to surviving spouses and certain direct descendants of Black World War II veterans
• Extend access to the Post-911 G.I. Bill educational assistance benefits to surviving spouses and certain direct descendants of Black World War II veterans
• Establish a panel of experts to make recommendations on addressing inequitable access to benefits for female and minority members of the Armed Forces

“Black WWII veterans were robbed of what should have been life-changing opportunities afforded by the G.I. Bill. Not enough Americans realize this – or that surviving veterans and millions of their descendants continue to feel the repercussions today,” said Moulton.

Although the lawmakers realize the chances of passing the G.I Restoration Act might be slim this year, given the current divided House of Representatives, this effort is for the long run. 

“We introduced this bill not because we knew it would be politically or logistically easy to get passed, but because this is a national conversation that is painfully overdue. We’re under no illusions that moving this bill forward will happen overnight — or during this Congress for that matter,” Moulton added. 

Support for the G.I. Restoration Act has made its way past Capitol Hill to the states this summer with 24 state Attorneys Generals signing a letter of support for passage of the bill. 

“The Sgt. Isaac Woodard Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox G.I. Bill Restoration Act of 2023 is a meaningful step toward repairing an historic injustice and honoring the service and sacrifices of our Black World War II veterans and their families,” the letter stated. 

Legislative actions on behalf of the Military usually attract bi-partisan support. Clyburn, Moulton and supporters of the G.I Restoration Act are hoping their Republican allies will join the bill’s 41 Democratic Co-sponsors to support it this Veterans Day.

“Ahead of this Veterans Day, I’m calling on Speaker Johnson to do the right thing and bring this legislation to the floor for an up-or-down vote. While we can never undo the injustices that befell our American heroes, we can certainly make amends for their unfair treatment,” Clyburn said.

“We are working hard to educate our colleagues in Congress about the bill and to pursue realistic avenues to move it forward. In the meantime, I hope it raises awareness on the generations of setbacks these veterans suffered at the hands of the country they fought to protect,” added Moulton.

The G.I Restoration Act is named in honor of Black World War II veterans, Sergeants Isaac Woodard and Joseph Maddox. Sgt. Woodard, was beaten and blinded while in uniform in 1946 when South Carolina Police drug him from a bus. Sgt. Maddox was accepted to Harvard University but denied the right to use his G.I. bill to “avoid setting a precedent” according to Clyburn’s office. 

The post G.I. Restoration Act of 2023: Federal legislation aims to restore benefits denied Black veterans in original G.I. bill appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Montgomery County councilman Will Jawando has exited the race for U.S. Senate and thrown his support behind Democratic Candidate Angela Alsobrooks.

At a rally in Baltimore on Oct. 23, Jawando issued a speech, along with Governor Wes Moore and many other leaders, fully supporting Alsobrooks.

“It’s time now for Democrats to coalesce behind the strongest candidate in the race who I know will fight tirelessly for Marylanders with every bone in her body,”Jawando said.  “And if you haven’t figured that out yet, I believe that candidate is Angela Alsobrooks.”

Jawando’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate came to an end on Oct. 20, as he trailed competitors Alsobrooks and David Trone in fundraising for a highly competitive race to fill the seat of Senator Ben Carson (D-MD) who is retiring at the end of his term in December 2024.

In his announcement on X, Jawando said “After thinking long and hard about this race in particular, I frankly no longer see a path for myself to victory,” he said. 

Because I have so much respect for my loyal supporters, my constituents in Montgomery County, and my wife and my children I cannot remain in a race I do not believe we have a good chance of winning,” Jawando continued.

Congressman David Trone (D-MD-6) released a statement in support of Jawando after the Montgomery County Councilman’s departure from the senate race. 

“Will is a remarkable public servant with a progressive vision and powerful voice. And he gets things done,” Trone said. 

“While his Senate campaign is coming to an end, I know that he’ll continue to be a leader in the fight to expand educational opportunities, ensure that workers have a living wage, and fix our broken criminal justice system. I fully support Will’s fight to create a more just society for all Marylanders, and we will work side by side to make that a reality.”

Jawando has vowed to continue his service to Marylanders and said he will remain involved in issues that mirror the policy statement he recently issued including enacting universal basic income, raising the minimum wage and creating Medicare for all.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Have you heard the news? Federal student loan repayments restarted this month.  

Federal student loans were paused for close to $44 million borrowers on March 13, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loans were reinstated in September 2023, after a Supreme Court ruling.  

While millions have restarted payments – there are still millions more that need to get started, according to the National Credit Union Administration.   

Maybe you are facing one of these very real scenarios.

It’s already late October and you haven’t made a move toward repayment or don’t know what to do.   

Maybe your student loan was already in default before COVID-19, and you need to find out if there is any hope. Perhaps your income took a big hit after the pandemic and you can’t make payments right now.  

There is good news from the U.S. Department of Education. 

“We designed the on-ramp for loan repayment knowing that it will take time for people to figure out repayment plans,” said a spokesman from the Department of Education who spoke with the AFRO, giving background information about the Federal student Student loan  process. 

“We also recognize some borrowers who graduated during the pandemic, and are coming into the loan repayment system for the first time,” said the spokesperson. “The Biden administration wants borrowers to get reconnected to the repayment process without fear of penalties during this initial period.” 

So let’s get started. 

Step One:  Understand the on-ramp period for student loan repayments

 The Biden administration knew it would take time for millions of borrowers to get back into the routine of monthly payments.  Here are some important things to know about your first year of returning to student loan repayment. 

• You will receive your bill 21 days before the payment is due, so there will be no surprises and plenty of time to pay off your loan. (Didn’t receive a bill? Keep reading.)
• If you miss a payment between now and Sept. 30, 2024, your loan won’t become delinquent. Good news for your credit rating. But this is only for the next 12 months.   
• Missed payments during the “on-ramp” period will be added to your loan. Interest will still accrue – but no adverse credit activity should show up on your report.  
• Check your status at www.studentaid.gov (see graphic in pic at top). Go to the restarting payments section of the website and go to the income driven repayment plans.

Step two: Find your loan servicer if you don’t already know them or haven’t received a bill 

• Don’t know who holds your loan? Call 1-800-621-3115 (TTY 1-877-825-9923).

Step three:  Choose a repayment plan 

DOE encourages borrowers to look into the SAVE plan, a new Income-driven repayment plan (IDR) developed by the Department of Education that will help many borrowers reduce their monthly bills. Best news, you may already be enrolled. 

• If you have a direct student loan, and were already making payments in a revised pay as you earn income driven repayment plan, (REPAYE), your loan has already transitioned to the SAVE plan.  
• Married borrowers who file income taxes separately don’t need to include their spouse’s income to determine their repayment calculation. (Your spouse’s income will be considered if you file a joint return).
• Borrowers with undergraduate loans will pay 5 percent of discretionary income each year. (Less than the 10 percent rate on the previous REPAYE plan). 
• Graduate loans are calculated at 10 percent of discretionary income each year.

Step four:  Find out if you have to repay at all based on your income

• Single borrowers earning less than $32,705 a year will not need to repay (67,500 for a family of four) will not need to make repayments now. That changes as your income increases. 

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris promoted the SAVE program on her Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour this month.    

“Monthly payments will be based on income, rather than total student loan balance,” Harris said. “As long as you make the monthly payments required under your plan, your loan balance will no longer grow because of unpaid interest – making sure that you make progress on paying down your debt.”  

Step Five: For defaulters only, connect with the Fresh Start Program for defaulted student loan borrowers.

• Fresh Start is a one-time temporary program offered by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to move your loan out of default status
• Contact your loan holder, if the loan was held by a guaranty use this link to locate the organization: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/default#guaranty-agencies
• If your loan was held by DOE, contact them using the following options:  myeddebt.ed.gov or call 1-800-621-3115. Deaf or hearing impaired call 1-800-621-3115. 

If you have a federal student loan of any kind, the time to act is now.  Don’t freeze and don’t fail to make payments. The on-ramp period and Fresh Start Program are temporary. Credit penalties for missed payments and/or defaults after September 2024 impact career, housing and other major life choices.

The post Federal student loans: Time to get back in the game appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Homecoming weekend posed difficulties for Bowie State University faculty, staff and students due to an unexpected shooting. But on Oct. 9, University president Aminta H. Breaux rallied the campus together to reflect on the incident and provide a forum for the campus community to raise their questions, voice concerns and think about next steps.  

 “This session today is the beginning of a healing process. Today we are coming together because there were individuals on our campus who were armed and who were shot,” said Breaux. “We are coming together as a campus community to make sure this never happens again.”

Breaux said campus administrators are weighing the pros and cons of new security measures including metal detectors in select campus buildings and required IDs for the campus community.  

At approximately 11:45 pm on Oct. 7, shots rang out near the campus’ Center for Business and Graduate Studies. Two 19 year old males were injured and taken to the hospital. The victims were not students at Bowie State and neither teen suffered life threatening injuries.

Mack Cummings, Bowie State University’s chief of police, reiterated that the shootings were the result of outside groups coming on to the Bowie State Campus.

“The groups we were able to see had an argument. There was tension between the groups that were there. Unfortunately two people were tragically shot,” Cummings said. 

As the night went on, parking reached capacity and Cummings said a decision was made to close the gates for additional cars to enter. However, many attending the session said that cars were parked for miles on route 197, just outside of the campus.  Guests continued to walk from the road nearby to enter the school throughout the evening.  Cummings estimated the crowd reached 10,000 persons at its highest point.   

 Cummings and other speakers during the rally, said Bowie State Police were supported by additional uniformed and plainclothes units from the Maryland State Police and Prince George’s County Police department. 

He and other speakers said the campus community must also participate in insisting visitors respect the campus.

“I believe this is our house. And we have to make sure that our guests and visitors have the same decorum that we have. Ensure that they would treat our campus the way that you would treat the campus,” Cummings insisted. 

But several members of the audience pushed back, raising questions about the crowd atmosphere before the shooting started. 

“I know it isn’t possible for the police to be everywhere at every moment. But one of the behaviors I saw that I was mortified by was the number of people walking around with open bottles of alcohol and not hiding it. People were selling mixed drinks in little pouches,” said Januela M. Burt, associate professor of Educational Leadership.  

“I don’t want to see us put up metal detectors; I don’t think we’re quite there, not yet,” Burt countered.  “The campus police need to do a better job in building relationships with our students.  I saw them all on the perimeter, but I really didn’t see them on campus interacting with students.” 

“Campus police were laughing and making derogatory comments while students were trying to shelter in place,” commented a student during the session who asked not to be identified. 

Darren Swain, president of Bowie State University’s alumni association, said that the shooting incidents would not deter Bowie. 

“This is our house; this is our tradition. Homecoming is sacred,” Swain said. “We’re not going to let anyone, anywhere shut us down,” he continued.  

“This is a safe school. Homecoming was a very peaceful event until the shooting happened. I want everyone who’s thinking about coming here, to still come,” said the Baltimore native. 

Senior Jaivien Kendrick, thought the session was a beginning, but therapeutic work needs to be done on campus and in the community, particularly after the pandemic.  

 “Dr. Breaux and a lot of people are trying their best to handle the situation,” Kendrick said. “Will more security fix this? I’m not sure.  We have a lot of healing that needs to happen with our people, that’s the root of the problem.”

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By Deborah Bailey, Ed.D 
Contributing Editor

Bowie State University Police received report of shots fired at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Oct.7 in the area of Henry Circle near the Center for Business and Graduate Studies. Two individuals were reported as injured and taken to the hospital. Their identity and condition are unknown at this time. 

The matter is under investigation by Prince George’s County Police Department.

Maryland State Police have confirmed that the two victims, both male,  age 19, are not students of at the university.  The students were shot in front of the Center for Business and Graduate Studies, according to a Maryland State Police alert issued Oct. 8.  The campus held its homecoming football game on Saturday. 

University officials met shortly after the pre-homecoming shooting at Morgan State University in Baltimore to advance security and prepare for the possibility of disruption. An increased presence of armed and unarmed officers were on campus during the Homecoming festivities and enhanced lighting was installed across campus. 

The campus sent an alert message to all members of the campus community late last night issuing a shelter in place order that was lifted early this morning.  It is not known at this time if the shooter has been apprehended. 

The post Two shot at Bowie State University appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
Dbailey@afro.com

Ford’s Theatre is bringing in its 2023 fall season with a world premiere from widely acclaimed author, poet and playwright Pearl Cleage. “Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard” will be performed on stage through Oct. 15. 

Cleage was commissioned by Ford’s Theatre to put on the show as part of Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions Initiative. She is the first Legacy Commissions playwright to receive full production. Cleage completed the workshop with the theater in February of this year and had her preview performance on Sept. 22. The program provides an opportunity for Ford’s Theatre to engage Black, and other ethnic playwrights of color as the theater re-imagines its legacy– beyond being the location where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.  

“This is a play about ordinary people doing something extraordinary,” said Seema Sueko, director.  Sueko worked closely with Cleage to take the play from the page to the stage.   

The play is focused on Maynard Jackson who was born on March 23,1938 in Dallas and died on June 23,2003 in Arlington, Va. Jackson served as the first Black Mayor of Atlanta from 1974 to 1982 and again from 1990 to 1994, according to Britannica. But make no mistake, the play is not a nostalgic reflection of the past.

Cleage’s play is set in Atlanta and explores the thoughts of current residents. The dimensions of the city’s multi-ethnic population are on full display, as every day citizens reflect on Jackson’s election as the first Black mayor of the fastest growing metropolitan area in the South. The work provides a point of reference and features the increasingly multi-ethnic diversity of American cities today. 

“I wanted to look at that moment as a time when many different communities in Atlanta came together in a way they never had before to elect this man we all felt was absolutely the right person to lead us,” Cleage said.

The script includes young Latin, Asian, East Indian and American Indian voices , in addition to others, who were not considered at the time of Jackson’s election.  She explores race, class, sexual orientation and gender issues present during Jackson’s lifetime  –  and those that persist today. 

The actors speak their truth about concerns Jackson addressed as well as new issues that have pierced the public policy landscape since his days in office including immigration, the deepening housing crisis and incidents of overt racial discrimination impacting the Asian American community. 

Sheldon Epps, senior artistic director at Ford’s Theatre, said the play is about America. 

“I’m very proud of the fact that it has become a play about America and not just Atlanta,” Epps said at a post show discussion that followed the opening night production.

Epps, former artistic director at Pasadena Playhouse, was first invited to Ford’s Theatre in 2019 as the historic playhouse sought to transform its image and bring in theater depicting more diverse themes and voices. 

The play’s message resonated differently with each individual who attended the evening’s performance.  Dominique Torres, who lives in Maryland and teaches in Alexandria, Va. came to opening night to preview the play for her students, who she will bring next week. Torres said the play will let them know their voices and observations of life’s events matter.  

“Everyone has a story. We become closer by sharing our stories,” Torres said.

Su Rae Stewart of Maryland said the play took her back to the atmosphere in America after President Barack Obama’s first election in 2008. 

“I was in the military and came back for Obama’s election,” said Stewart, who lives in Maryland, but was stationed in Alaska at the time of Obama’s first election.  

“The feelings expressed by the actors in the play  after Maynard Jackson’s election as mayor were the same feelings in America after Obama was elected. There was joy but also resentment,” Stewart reflected.

“After Obama was elected, some people thought we were coming after them. But all we ever wanted was equality, not revenge,” Stewart said, a theme reflected in the play.   

 Epps affirmed the wide range of reactions.  

“A play is supposed to evoke a range of sentiments and emotions from our audience. That’s our job.”  

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Thanks to the Durant Family Foundation, the standout player at Bowie State University’s A.C. Jordan Arena this basketball season is the facility itself. 

Wanda Durant joined Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux and members of the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams at a ribbon cutting to celebrate completion of $500,000 in renovations and upgrades to the facility.  

“I’m grateful that he [Kevin] realized it’s important to give back to an HBCU. Maybe he can be a catalyst for other athletes throughout the country to give back to HBCUs,” Wanda said at the ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Durant said the basketball court at Bowie was always a place where the community was welcome.  She reflected on the court as the place where her son, Kevin Durant, power forward for the Phoenix Suns, and his brother Tony got their start as children. 

“I remember when I brought my sons here to play. Sitting in the bleachers and hollering at the referees. I never thought it would come to this” Wanda reflected.    

President Breaux added that the Durant Family Foundation filled a void space where donors are needed to step up and support public HBCUs. 

“The athletic departments at our public universities must rely on private donors. State funds do not come to our athletic departments,” Breaux said.  

“When you [Wanda] walked in here and saw the renovations for the very first time, I saw the tears in your eyes. Your son was here this summer coaching a pick-up game,” Breaux said admiring the connection the Durant family continues to have with Bowie State University. 

The Durant Family Foundation upgrades are one chapter in a host of upgrades Bowie State University has planned for its athletic complex, according to Clyde Doughty, Athletic Director.

Additional athletic upgrades include replacement of the current football stadium and grandstands, anew softball field, additional track and athletic fields, as well as locker rooms, practice space, according to Bowie State’s Facilities Master Plan.

Members of the women’s and men’s basketball program were beaming at the ribbon cutting. Fans will come out and cheer on the Lady Bulldogs who will play on the new court in November. 

”It means a lot to us (the team) because we work so hard to be where we’re at,” said Saniha Jackson, a junior who will play as the team’s center this year. “Now, everybody will get to see us do what we love on a brand new, bright court.”

 Kyree Freeman Davis, point guard and junior said the upgrades to the facility are right on time for the fabulous year he predicts is coming up for the men’s basketball team. 

“It brings joy to my eyes to see the gym so bright and lightened up,” Freeman Davis said. 

The junior point guard said the new facility motivates the team and looks forward to seeing the fans reaction who will fill the stands in a few weeks.

“I like coming in here now. This space gives you a much better vibe. I’m not going to say too much, but I think it’s going to be a very good year,” Freeman Davis said. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

President Joe Biden spoke on the state of the country’s economy while visiting students at Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) on Sept. 14. While Republican lawmakers wrangled over the appropriations process recently, Biden reached outside Capitol Hill’s fiscal fight and spoke to community college students, faculty and staff less than 20 miles from the White House. Biden discussed his economic vision,  branded as “Bidenomics,” by the media.     

“As many of you know, my wife is a professor at a community college. As a matter of fact, she’s teaching today,” President Biden began to hearty applause from the PGCC audience. “She has an expression, ‘Any country that out-educates us will out-compete us.’ The work you’re doing here in preparing students to compete in the economy of the future is real, it matters.”

Biden’s visit was timely, as Congress is headed into a showdown over passing the federal government’s FY 2024 budget appropriation bill.  He was joined by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD), Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

“Growing economies are built from the middle out and the bottom up instead of the top down,” Biden said.  “When the middle class does well, the poor have a ladder up and the wealthy still do quite well.”

Biden pointed out statistics reflecting the success of his administration noting unemployment under four percent for 19 months which happened for the first time in U.S. history and the 13 million jobs that have been created in the economy since he took office.

Biden laid out a comparison between “Bidenomics” the economic policies and legislation touted by his administration and what he labeled as “MAGAnomics,” the budget plan supported by far-right and fiscally conservative Republicans, Biden said.    

According to the nonpartisan Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, there are more than 4 million jobs in private employment than before the pandemic. 

“You can’t have the strongest economy in the world without the best infrastructure in the world,” Biden said in defense of his landmark legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).   

Biden signed the measure into law in August 2022, providing a wide range of measures to raise revenue from corporations and individuals earning more than $400,000 while supporting the needs of average Americans with measures like reducing the price of prescription drugs.   

Biden said far right Republicans plan to raise the retirement age to 67, preventing one million disabled citizens from receiving Medicare subsidies and cutting Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and The Children’s Insurance Program (CHIP) by more than half.

“Biden’s economic message resonated with people like me who are juggling work, school and raising a family,” said PGCC student Najwah Fairweather, a patient care technician at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Howard County. “I feel like it was God sent for me to be here.”

Fairweather has been attending PGCC while raising eight children, including son Mikael Crier, age 11, who was killed in 2021, after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bike.

“The economic message that was supposed to be heard was definitely received,” Fairweather said.

Dr. Diana Wilkins, PGCC Manager of Experiential Learning, said she attended to see what plans Biden had for students, who face rising costs for school, family and work-related expenses. She liked the ideas Biden expressed, but remains concerned about obstacles on the road ahead for him on Capitol Hill.   

“Joe Biden sincerely cares about young people,” Wilkins said. “He cares about the working class. But he has an uphill battle in fighting with Congress and lawmakers who have a different idea about the economy.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (LBCM) members from Prince George’s county recently came home to Bowie State to reconnect with residents of Prince George’s County at a fall town hall. 

This was an impactful year for the LBCM.  The group represents the largest elected state Black caucus in the nation with 64 members. 

From Brandywine to Beltsville, Prince Georgians filled the meeting room to celebrate legislative victories sponsored and supported by LBCM members in cannabis legalization, education, health, housing and Black business procurement within Maryland. A list of state appropriations passed as a result of LBCM advocacy was presented and explained by the lawmakers who had a hand in crafting the bills. 

“I love the innovation that Chairwoman Wilkins has brought about for the Black Caucus. Prince George’s County is the largest delegation for the Legislative Black Caucus and you can feel the energy in this room,” said Delegate Nick Charles, (D – Prince George’s County-25), chair of the Prince Georges County House Delegation.   

 Senator Melony Griffith (D-Prince George’s County-25) captured the mood of the evening as she explained how LBCM members are working to ensure Black Marylanders will have a seat at the table as the cannabis industry grows. Recreational cannabis was legalized for adults 18 and older in Maryland on July 1. 

^“ We were one state who decided that we wanted minority participation in this industry,” Griffith said. “We (the LBCM) would not let a bill be passed without taking this into consideration.” 

The Prince George’s County Legislative Recap and Town Hall was the final event in a series of four town halls. Other events were held in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Montgomery County. 

Lawmakers cautioned there is much work still left to be done to ensure equity for Black Marylanders and appealed to the audience to partner with the LBCM.      

“When decisions are being made on budget items that affect Black folks, we need to see you in Annapolis,” said Senator Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George’s County-24). “We can’t do it without your support. We are pleading with you to work with us,” Benson implored.   

 LBCM members hope the Town halls serve as a catalyst activating more Black Marylanders to get involved with advocacy.    

“At the end of the day we have so much more to fight for,” Charles said. 

“Before COVID-19, folks would have to leave their jobs and drive out to Annapolis. The beauty of the internet is now you can be in your house, you can be at your job, you can be anywhere in the world and sign up and testify on these bills. At the end of the day, when you look around and see your community right with you, you know you’re fighting for the right issue,” Charles concluded. 

This year, members of the LCBM sponsored or helped along the following pieces of legislation: 

Cannabis Legalization  

• HB 1071/SB 51: Criminal law and procedures cannabis: fines for smoking in public places; conditions for stops and searches.
• HB 556/SB 516: Cannabis reform

Education  

• HB 1219/SB 893: Maryland Educator Shortage Act of 2023
• HB 680: Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit 

Wealth and Black business 

• HB 809/SB 334: State procurement – Minority Business Enterprise Program – Extensions and Reports 

Health

• HB 111/ SB 26: Maryland Medical Assistance Program, Maryland’s Children’s Health Program, and Workgroup on Low Income Utility Assistance. 
• HB214: Commission on Public Health – Establishment
• HB 376/SB 184: Health Insurance – Diagnostic and Supplemental Examinations for Breast Cancer – Cost Sharing 
• HB 815: Cancer Screening – Health Insurance and Assessment of Outreach, Education and Health Disparities 
• HB 1217/SB 805: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance – Required Coverage for Biomarker Testing

Housing   

• HB 669/SB 455: Real Estate Appraisers – Licensing – Qualifications
• HB 826/SB 848: Statewide Rental Assistance Voucher Program- Establishment 
• HB 151: Real Property – Residential Leases – Notification of Rent Increases 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

Vice President Kamala Harris is leading the charge to support underserved Black business across America. From the Sycamore and Oak small business retail incubator in Southwest D.C., Harris recently announced the Capital Readiness Program, a new $125 million federal initiative designed to help underserved entrepreneurs launch and scale small businesses.

“President Biden and I are fighting to ensure that every entrepreneur in America — no matter who they are or where they live — can access the capital to start or grow a business, create jobs, and thrive,” Harris said during the announcement. 

A total of the 43 business accelerators will receive millions from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Capital Readiness Program is the largest Federal government investment in small business incubators and accelerators in history. Forty-three organizations have been selected by the MBDA to receive the funding to supply support to the under-served small business community across the nation.

The organizations, a mix of private, non-profit and university-based entities, will provide “hands on” business incubation and acceleration support.  This kind of up close and personal small business support is especially important.

“For America’s economy to be strong, America’s small business must be strong,” Harris said as she introduced several of the 43 organizations selected for the Capital Readiness program, including The Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC), headquartered in Silver Spring, Md.

CRMSDC will receive $3 million to work with six HBCU and minority serving institutions (MSI’s) across the Maryland and Virginia area, including Bowie State University, Morgan State University and Virginia State University to identify Black and other minority entrepreneurs for specialized business support. 

Many Black entrepreneurs and minority owned businesses were left disappointed after Corporate America made extravagant promises to create access and opportunities after the death of George Floyd in 2022.

“Corporate America has spent billions to diversify supply chains. But promises made at the top of companies aren’t necessarily translating into spending from the bottom,” said Black Chamber of Commerce President Chares DeBow III via his Twitter account in May.  

McKinsey and Company’s Institute for Black Economic Mobility defines a business incubator as an entity that supports entrepreneurs at the startup phases with the goal of nurturing a new business idea.  There is no fixed time that an entrepreneur stays in the “start-up” phase.

Accelerators usually work with entrepreneurs that have already set up a business with a minimum viable product (MVP). An entrepreneur signs on with an accelerator for a specific time period.  

These definitions are not written in stone and each incubator or accelerator works with clients on an individual level.

Even as unprecedented levels of federal funding is allocated to support black businesses, entrepreneurs must still engage in understanding today’s Black community, said Richard Lowery, professor of management at Bowie State University’s College of Business.

“There is no longer a generally accepted understanding of what constitutes the ‘Black community,’ even as we use the language and assumptions of what the Black Community once was, more or less,” Lowery said. “The Black Community is still a social and cultural construct, although with wider, more vague and disparate understandings and expectations.” 

“Black entrepreneurs must still do the work to generate Black support instead of assuming it,” said Lowery. “The presumptive support you think you should have as a Black business owner is not necessarily always there, as presumed.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Phylicia Rashad, dean of Howard University’s Chadwick Boseman College of Fine Arts, is stepping down from her position at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.  

Rashad, appointed by Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick in May 2021, shocked many as her resignation was announced just days before the start of the 2023-2024 academic year.  In a statement to the Howard University community, Frederick recounted the many contributions Rashad has made during her short tenure.  

“During Dean Rashad’s tenure,  contributions to Fine Arts programming at Howard have increased significantly, anchored by a $5.4 million gift from Netflix to establish the Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial Scholarship, which provides incoming theater students with a four-year scholarship to cover the full cost of University tuition,” Frederick wrote  in a letter to the Howard community this month, announcing Rashad’s departure. 

Rashad also championed a number of other significant financial gifts for the Boseman College of Fine Arts including contributions from the Capri Holdings Foundation for the Advancement of Diversity in Fashion, Microsoft Corporation and the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, founded by actress Taraji P. Henson, who is also an alumna of Howard.  

The two-time Tony award winning actress will continue in her final year at Howard as she has throughout her tenure. Rashad will combine her duties at Howard with active participation in theater arts leadership. 

Rashad will direct the world premiere of the play Purpose by Brandon Jacobs Jennings, slated to open in March 2024 at Steppenwolf Theatre.

The play, by the critically acclaimed Jacobs-Jennings, tells the story of an Illinois family at the center of Black Politics. The play is bound to become part of American political discourse in the highly anticipated 2024 presidential election season. 

“Rashad’s resignation may have seemed sudden to some, but resignation of key academic leaders following a presidential departure is not unusual in higher education,” said Debbie Curry, PhD. adjunct professor of organizational design at Bowie State University and Maryland Higher Education professional.  

“It’s not surprising that a dean appointed relatively recently would choose to step down as the President of the University is leaving.  Rashad came to Howard in close consultation with President Frederick.  She made a significant contribution in her short tenure. So if the person who selected you is moving on, it is natural to pursue other opportunities,” Curry stated. 

Frederick, who retires in September wrote, “We deeply appreciate Dean Rashad’s selfless contribution and commitment our alma mater during her leadership of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and the many contributions she has made to Howard University’s students, graduates and global community.”  

Rashad graduated from Howard University in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and went on to as a television and theater actor and director. In 2004, Rashad became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for best actress in a play for her role in Raisin in the Sun. Her second Tony Award came in 2022, for best actress in a play, for her performance as Faye, an automotive plant worker and heroine of The Skeleton Crew. 

Rashad is also widely known for her portrayal of Claire Huxtable, in the 1980’s sitcom, The Cosby Show. Her allegiance to the Cosby Show’s lead actor, Bill Cosby briefly brought her under fire just months after she was hired as Dean.

In July 2021, Rashad defended Cosby’s release from a Pennsylvania prison after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction for sexual assault. 

“FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted – a miscarriage of justice is corrected,” Rashad tweeted in response to the decision to reverse his conviction.  The post received backlash by many on social media including Howard University students who expressed concern about the new Dean’s capacity to lead them. 

By the following year, the apprehension about Rashad died down as she proudly led the fine arts graduating class of 2022, including actor Anthony Anderson, who returned to Howard at the urging of Rashad, to finish his BFA degree at Howard after dropping out of school years earlier. 

Rashad’s most recent acting credits include Creed and Creed II, Just Wright, Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf and many more. The actor is looking to continue her artistic career after her resignation.

The post Phylicia Rashad steps down as Dean of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Montgomery County now joins D.C. and Prince George’s County in passing legislation to cap rapidly rising rental prices across the region.

In late July, the Montgomery (MoCo) County Council, passed a permanent 6 percent rent cap during a grueling eight hour session. Thirty five percent of the county’s population of 946,971 are renters, according to the Montgomery County Planning Commission. Black renters in MoCo make up approximately 60 percent of the total rental population, according to the Planning Commission’s 2023 overview.

The hotly debated bill represented a compromise between lead sponsor, Council member Natali Fani-Gonzalez and Council member Will Jawando, who originally proposed a rent cap of only 3 percent. In the end, Jawando said the compromise bill is still a victory for MoCo and a model for the State to move toward limiting rent increases.   

“Today is a momentous day for tenants and landlords in Montgomery County. We are the first county in Maryland to enact permanent rent stabilization,” Jawando said in a statement following the bill’s passage.

The District of Columbia City Council also rallied this summer to pass new temporary rent control guidelines easing the burden for the District’s renters.  D.C. is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. according to the Urban Institute’s Rental Market Working Crisis Group.

With leadership from At-Large City Council member Robert White and Ward 4 Council member Janesse Lewis George, the measure will be effective for two years, until mid-2025.  The emergency legislation limits rent increases to 6 percent for rent stabilized apartments and most multi-family units built before 1976. D.C.’s senior residents will have rent prices capped at 4 percent this year and a total of 8 percent over the next two years.

D.C.’s previous rent cap was 8.9 percent and 5 percent annually for seniors.  

However, the rent relief did not come without contention. Although the legislation passed the City Council unanimously, White, chair of the council’s Committee on Housing, said things got to the point where something had to be done.

“I introduced this bill because people are struggling under historic inflation. The Council voted unanimously to cap rent increases at 6 percent, and 4 percent for seniors and people with disabilities,” White said in a Tweet.      

D. Willar, unhappy with the rental price caps put in place by White wryly tweeted back to White a sentiment expressed by property owners during the rental cap debate. 

“This is a disincentive for building owners to invest in their properties, you just reduced the quality of housing,” D. Willar tweeted. 

In Prince George’s County, rent increase restrictions are also temporary.  The Rent Stabilization Act of 2023 became effective in April, and limits rent increases to 3 percent “for a 12-month period” according to the legislation. 

The County Council acted earlier this year after rent prices started jumping in price, sometimes by hundreds of dollars resulting in an unprecedented number of eviction notifications going out across the county when many had lost jobs or hours at work due to Covid-19 lock downs in 2022. 

“We passed Rent Stabilization to stop the bleeding and the hurting we were seeing in the community, and I am disappointed that there were some bad actors that still wanted to take advantage of some of the most vulnerable communities,” said Prince George’s County Council member Krystal Oraiadha, lead sponsor of the bill.

Shortly before the Prince George’s County Rent Stabilization Act took effect this spring, The Council had to return to pass emergency legislation preventing landlords from taking advantage of the window between the bill’s passage and its implementation date.

 Residents complained of landlord’s retaliating against renters through lease termination, harassment, and intimidation to get renters to relinquish their lease or sign new leases for higher rates before April’s Rent Stabilization Act Effective Date.

Close to 40 percent of Prince George’s County residents are renters, according to U.S. Census data. County renters who feel they are being treated unfairly, or landlords who have not complied with the temporary rent stabilization legislation can go to the county’s office of Printing, Inspections and Enforcement to file a complaint.

  The Prince George’s County rent cap is in place until April 26, 2024.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

On what would have been Henrietta Lacks 103^rd birthday, Aug. 1, civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced an undisclosed settlement had been reached with Thermo Fisher Scientific, a major biomedical firm headquartered in Waltham, Mass. and the family. 

“I can think of no better present on what would have been Henrietta Lacks’ 103 birthday than to give some measure of respect for Henrietta Lacks,” Crump said at a press conference and celebration to announce that terms for a settlement had been reached. 

The terms of the settlement will remain private, according to a joint statement between Thermo Fisher and attorneys for the Lacks family. Both parties said they were pleased with the way the matter had been settled.

Henrietta Lacks’ cells were taken from her cervix without consent or knowledge by Dr. George Gey at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951.  Gey soon discovered that while other human cells died over a period of time when taken out of the body, Lacks’ cells “miraculously” multiplied. The cells were made available to pharmaceutical firms and researchers. 

Henrietta Lacks’ family was not originally made aware that her cells were kept by Johns Hopkins Hospital or that agreements were made with pharmaceutical companies and researchers for use. Lacks’ family learned of the cells by chance in the mid-70s. 

Thousands of pharmaceutical  companies, universities and research firms own and to this day use “HeLa” cells for a range of major medical and commercial advances. HeLa cells have been used to develop vaccines that eradicate polio. Other uses include genome mapping and the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

But her family has never received a dime for these life changing advances – until now. 

“Any and everybody…benefitted from the HeLa cell,” said Kimberly Lacks, granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks, at the Aug. 1 press conference and celebration.  

The Lacks family, along with Crump, announced the lawsuit against Thermo Fisher in October of 2021, at the federal courthouse in Baltimore. 

All-day, closed door negotiations ensued on July 31 of this year before the two sides announced they had come to an agreement, with the details remaining private. 

“Today on her 103^rd birthday, we got justice,” said Alfred Lacks-Carter Jr., grandson of Henrietta Lacks. “Her legacy is in good hands, our family is standing together in solidarity, to push forward. We’re going to keep making sure Henrietta never dies just as her HeLa cells never die,” said Lacks-Carter. 

Lacks, originally from rural Virginia, was a mother of five when she developed cervical cancer. A bi-partisan bill to posthumously award Lacks the Congressional Gold Medal was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Ben Cardin (D-MD-3) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-7) introduced the measure in the House earlier this summer. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Maryland’s first HBCU, Bowie State University (BSU), is celebrating the conclusion of its fundraising campaign of $50 million dollars. The feat comes almost two years ahead of its scheduled end date, originally set for 2025. The largest campaign in the history of BSU has resulted in an increase in the school’s endowment from $7 million to $50 million.   

 “We are appreciative of all the individuals and organizations who have invested in our historic institution,”  said Aminta H. Breaux, PhD., the University’s first woman president. “Now we’re able to provide more of our students with scholarships.” 

 A record 6,275 students enrolled at BSU in the fall of 2022. BSU was one of two University of Maryland system campuses with increased enrollment during the pandemic.  

“We now bring in students from 40 states and 46 countries internationally,” Breaux beamed.  

Large donations from Adobe, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E), The Blackstone Charitable Foundation, the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, The Maguire Foundation, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, Truist Bank and many others have supported the BSU Campaign for Excellence, which began in December of 2021. 

“We’ve awarded 500 students support from the partners who have stepped up to provide funding during our campaign,” said Brent Swinton, director of institutional advancement at BSU. 

 “Our additional funding has allowed more students to graduate with less debt,” Swinton added. 

According to the College Board, more than 81 percent of Bowie State University students receive financial aid. 

The University announced it will extend its fundraising campaign, “to work closely with our friends and affiliated organizations to generate awareness of the world-class opportunities offered at BSU.” 

 Current campaign funds are also being used for upgrades to the Leonidas S. James Athletic Complex scheduled for completion in September, expansion of academic and student affairs programming and continued expansion of the University’s hallmark entrepreneurship focus.  

“Infrastructure remains a concern for our university and many HBCUs. The University has a $75 million deferred maintenance goal to meet,” Breaux said. 

The campus is also gearing up for new students who may look toward Bowie in the light of recent Supreme Court rulings eliminating race-based affirmative action admissions policies at leading predominantly white institutions (PWIs). 

“In this next phase as we look at the changing landscape of higher education, we may perhaps see an influx of more students coming to Bowie State University as an HBCU seeking that nurturing environment,” Breaux added.  

  The growth of endowment funding at Black colleges is essential to establish a sense of permanence at Bowie State and other HBCUs.

 “Increasing the endowments of HBCUs is not really just about the money, it is about investing in the stability and security of these institutions,” said Denise A. Smith, author of a study by the Century Foundation on endowment funding at HBCUs.

Historic inequities have hampered the ability of HBCUs to establish endowment funding at the rate of their PWIs peers, according to the study. 

 Since the COVID-19 Pandemic and the death of George Floyd in 2020, investments in HBCUs have expanded. Gifts from the philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, given to scores of HBCUs across the nation, including her $25 million to Bowie State in December 2021 have been referenced as “historic.”

Scott gave multi-million dollar gifts to three of the four Maryland HBCUs including Morgan State (MSU) and University of Eastern Shore (UMES), opening the door for new funders to engage these institutions. 

Yet HBCU endowments are miniscule compared to those at leading PWIs. Harvard University reported an endowment of $49.44 billion making them the university with the world’s largest endowment. While the top 10 HBCU endowments have a combined total of  2.5 billion, 69 individual PWI’s with $2 billion dollar enrollments, according to previous AFRO reporting by Sean Yoes.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

Claudine Gay, the 30th President of Harvard University, knew months ago that the Supreme Court would render a decision on Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College close to the end of the term in late June. 

Gay quickly realized that a good deal of her early days in the role would be spent clarifying what the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action would mean for Harvard University going forward.

So, at the start of her presidency– which officially began on July 2– the cool, analytical political scientist and first Black chief administrator of the nation’s oldest university, spoke directly to the Harvard community. Gay addressed Harvard and all who care about moving forward with the mission of education in the face of continuing racial discrimination, with the measured, practical manner that has been her trademark since arriving to teach government in 2006.    

“The Supreme Court’s decision on college and university admissions will change how we pursue the educational benefits of diversity,” Gay in a response to the ruling, live streamed on Youtube.

“But our commitment to that work remains steadfast. It is essential to who we are and the mission we are here to advance.  We will comply with the Court’s decision, but it does not change our values. We continue to believe deeply that a thriving, diverse intellectual community is essential to shaping the next generation of leaders.”

The Coalition for A Diverse Harvard, a group in existence since 2016, has assembled a broad and diverse membership of close to a thousand current students, student organizations and alumni. Alumni supporters of the Coalition date as far back as the 1960’s and the organization is reaching out to new Harvard community supporters who believe the institution is better with a racially diverse student body.

“This case was never just about who goes to Harvard. It’s about who has the freedom to learn and to vote and to thrive in our multiracial democracy,” said Jane Sujen Bock, Harvard 1981 alumnus and Coalition for a Diverse Harvard board member.

Bock and hundreds of Harvard university students and alumni joined NAACP Legal Defense Fund Lawyers for a debriefing of the case on the evening of the Supreme Court decision. The coalition met again on July 6 to discuss next steps and a way forward.

Meanwhile, at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) students have formed the UNC Affirmative Action committee (AAC), a coalition representing many student organizations on campus, including the UNC Black Student Union in support of racial diversity. The North Carolina campus has had a much stormier history of admitting Black students than Harvard. Still, the U.S. Supreme Court said that affirmative action at the institution must come to end after ruling in favor of Students for Fair Admissions in the case against affirmative action at UNC.

In an interview with the AFRO, Julian Taylor, an AAC board member and junior public policy major, said the AAC has a lot of work to do to ensure administrators and students are committed to core principles of a racially diverse student body at UNC.  

“We were bracing for this,” said Taylor, who is Black, and from Chapel Hill , N.C., the home of UNC’s main campus. “While students who are personally affected by the outcome of this case, one of the problems we have on this campus is there are a lot of students for whom this case will not matter,” said Taylor.  

“UNC is the oldest public university in the United States, but our history with racial diversity has been less than exemplary,”  he added. 

UNC was founded in 1789 but did not admit its first Black students until 1951, when Harvey Beech, James Lassiter, J. Kenneth Lee, the late Floyd McKissick and James Robert Walker enrolled in the UNC School of Law. Their admission followed a court order requiring the Law School to admit Black students.

Taylor said one of the main challenges for the North Carolina flagship campus is navigating state politics vs. campus priorities as UNC decides how racial diversity will continue to be implemented in the future.  

“Our chancellor came out with a statement that was pretty positive after the Supreme Court decision,” said Taylor. “But oftentimes, he ends up having to bow to the (NC) state legislature. ”

Both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly are Republican, although the current Governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat. Top  Republican leaders in North Carolina, including Speaker of the House Tim Moore, support the Supreme Court’s recent decision to end affirmative action.

The University of North Carolina System is managed by a board of governors, selected exclusively by the North Carolina General Assembly.  

Both campuses are planning meetings throughout the summer to deepen their understanding of the  Supreme Court decision and plan student and alumni response for the Fall of 2023. Most of all, Taylor and the AAC want students of color who are considering UNC to feel confident and apply. 

For now, the decision means that these two campuses will need to ensure that race is not a factor in admissions decisions for students who are currently in the application process, or looking to start submitting applications this fall. 

The majority opinion of the Supreme Court was issued June 29, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts writing that “the Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the equal protection clause.” The ruling was adopted by a vote of 6-2 in the Harvard case and a 6-3 vote in the UNC Case.  Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recused herself from the Harvard case. 

In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomeyer presented a different understanding of the 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause) writing “Congress enacted a number of race conscious laws to fulfill the Amendment’s promise of equality, leaving no doubt that the Equal Protection Clause permits consideration of race to achieve its goal.”

Attorneys, legal scholars and civil rights organizations are reviewing the case to determine how broadly the mandate to end racial preferences should be interpreted. The AFRO will feature additional coverage on Affirmative Action and related court cases in upcoming editions.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor,
dbailey@afro.com

The Broadway rendition of The Lion King and D.C. Public Library partnered to kick off their Discover Summer Program at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown D.C. 

The D.C. Public Library kicked off their “Discover Summer” with a majestic roar at the rooftop program that started at noon on June 17 with the Lion King cast. The cast will continue to be featured at the Kennedy Center through July 29 while D.C. Library’s “Discover Summer” program won’t conclude until August 31. 

Their goal is to encourage reading and exploration of D.C. using activities that involve different forms of literacy. The object is to challenge book lovers of all ages to read 20 minutes a day. D.C. Public Library will track reading activities on a “Discover Summer” game board and the online platform Beanstack.

The next event will be on July 2 at the Southwest Neighborhood Library. It will include a creative activity for children ages 5-12 years old. Shortly thereafter, libraries across the District will host science, technology, engineering and math programs on July 6. The Deanwood, Parklands-Turner, Capitol View, and Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Libraries will participate in the Mad Science D.C. program. 

More information can be found on https://dclibrary.libnet.info. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Your favorite characters from Disney’s The Lion King are coming to the D.C. Public Library this Saturday!

Join all the characters you and your children love from the inspiring North American tour of the hit  Broadway musical The Lion King as you join the D.C. Public Library to kick off their Discover Summer Program this Saturday June 24, at noon at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown D.C. 

The D.C. Public Library kicks off their “Discover Summer” with a majestic roar with a rooftop program which that starts at noon on Saturday with the Lion King cast. 

You will want to hear the cast sing favorites from The Lion King including of “Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” 

The D.C. Public Library’s “Discover Summer” program runs through August 31. It encourages reading and exploration of DC using activities that involve different forms of literacy. The library is challenging book lovers from birth to adult to read 20 minutes a day and track your reading activities on a Library Discover Summer game board and the online platform Beanstack.

Disney’s The Lion King North American tour will be featured at the Kennedy Center through July 29.  

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

Legislation regarding reparations is still alive on Capitol Hill, but it is nowhere near the big-ticket topic of discussion it has been in the last two summers.  

In June of 2021, as Americans of all backgrounds celebrated Juneteenth as a federal holiday for the first time, backers of federal reparations legislation thought a bill providing for the study of reparations was finally on its way to the U.S. Congress.  

Not so.

Now, three summers after the murder of George Floyd during a Minneapolis traffic stop caused a global cry for social justice in the Black community, reparations legislation still lingers, moving painfully slow as it sojourns through the Halls of Congress, now infused with new blood.  

“Black people in our country cannot wait any longer for our government to begin addressing each and every one of the extraordinary bits of harm it has caused since its founding,” said Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO-1) at a press conference. 

Bush announced her Reparations Now resolution, which calls for $14 trillion in restitution funding to Black Americans, introduced on May 18. The legislation supports the passage of H.R. 40 – a Resolution authorizing a commission to study the impact of slavery and recommend reparations.

Bush, a registered nurse, and community activist, who is the first Black woman to represent Missouri, came to Congress in January 2021 and witnessed in her first year, the hope that many across America felt: reparations legislation was finally within reach.  She saw that hope fade after the summers of 2021 and 2022 passed without a national reparations bill – and no action toward passage by the House of Representatives. 

“Our federal government refuses to acknowledge the lasting harms of slavery and the unjust world it created for Black people,” Bush said in a statement last month.

This year’s House Reparations legislation carries 94 sponsors as we head into another uncertain summer, far less than the close to 200 sponsors who supported reparations in prior years.  Some advocates of reparations believe a bill should have come to the floor while Democrats held the majority in the House of Representatives.

Rev. Ron Daniels, convener of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC), believes President Biden can appoint the Reparations Study Commission called for in HR-40 by executive order, rather than wait for Congress.

Daniels remarked that an ideal time for Biden to issue an executive order calling for a reparations commission came several months ago in December 2022, when the State Department hosted the first US-African Leaders Summit in December.  Biden used his address to African leaders during the 3-day summit held in the nation’s capital to build trade relationships and dismantle the old “aid-based” U.S.-African relationship paradigm. 

During the summit, he apologized to African leaders for America’s role in using Africa to fuel the Transatlantic Slave Trade. 

“We remember the stolen men and women and children were brought to our shores in chains, subjected to unimaginable cruelty,” Biden remarked to delegates of the 48 African Nations.  

“It’s past time to begin the process of  [repairing] the injuries of enslavement and [the] legacies inflicted by [it in] the U.S. Government,”  Daniels said in a statement. “It would have been awesome to apologize to African leaders and then announce your intent to enact HR-40 to study and develop reparations proposals for African Americans,” he continued.

While the slow wheels of federal progress grind, state and local efforts toward reparations show the greatest chance for actualization. Well thought through community-driven efforts are well underway in several places that may create a blue-print for a path forward for reparations on the national level.

Local reparation efforts are also being considered by governments across the nation. 

Evanston, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, is moving forward to establish payout plans for residents who are the descendants of slavery.  Evanston is the first city in the county to develop and fund a $10 million reparations plan with  proceeds from a three percent tax on recreational marijuana sales. The City Council has approved a cash payout plan that would allocate up to $25,000 per eligible resident.

According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, Black and White Americans are still far apart in their views on reparations. According to the Poll, more than 75 percent of Black adults affirm some form of repayment for the descendants of enslaved Americans while only 18 percent of Whites agreed that repayment was justified.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

Graduates with a diverse background graced the stage at Howard University’s (HU) Commencement Convocation at the Capital One Arena in D.C. on May 13. 

President Joe Biden addressed Howard’s 2,000 plus graduates, urging them to recognize they were graduating at an important “inflection point” in history. 

“It’s your generation, more than anyone else’s,” said Biden. “Who will answer the questions for America: Who are we?  What do we stand for?  What do you believe?  What do we believe?  What do we want to be?”

Biden is in the midst of intense negotiations over raising the nation’s debt ceilings, and thus reminding the Howard grads everyone isn’t happy to see their success. 

“Let’s be clear: There are those who don’t see you and don’t want this future. There are those who demonize and pit people against one another.  And there are those who do anything and everything, no matter how desperate or immoral, to hold onto power,” he said.

Biden reminded the graduates that what is at stake is the “soul of America.” He commended the HU audience for handling difficult situations both on campus and in the nation over the past two years, and braced them to get involved with their “voice and vote” in the days ahead.  

“I made it clear that America— Americans of all backgrounds— have an obligation to call out political violence that [has] been unleashed and emboldened,” Biden said, before addressing the “bomb threats to this very university and HBCUs across the country.”

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, HU received multiple bomb threats throughout 2022 and early 2023, including three bomb threats in less than two weeks in late August 2022 as students returned to campus.

Biden continued, “to confront the ongoing assault to subvert our elections and suppress our right to vote. That assault came just as you cast your first ballots in [the elections of] ‘20 and ‘22. Record turnouts. You delivered historic progress,” Biden added. 

Biden rallied the audience with a list of accomplishments and principles from this year’s State of the Union address, mentioning support for a woman’s fundamental right to choose abortion, affordable healthcare and housing, action on gun violence and standing against book bans and the erasure of Black history. 

Howard graduates, Biden said, would be among those with the courage to stand up for the best in America in the midst of the vitriol of America’s most hateful voices.  

In a crucial moment, President Biden said in plain terms that “…the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is White supremacy.”

Biden received a warm reception from most of the more than 15,000 gathered in the Capital One Arena after receiving his address. Others, however, questioned the keynote, saying it too closely resembled a campaign speech. 

A small group of students stood with signs in protest of the recent death of Jordan Neely, a Black man who died in a New York subway, in the fatal chokehold of another passenger, U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny, who is White. 

Howard grad Channing Hill held a sign that read, “A Black man was lynched yesterday! Jordan Neely!”  Another graduate yelled out “It’s not about you Joe!” as the president touted the successes of his administration. 

In addition to Biden’s address, another equally compelling and more subtle storyline came from HU president, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, MD, MBA, using his final address to a Howard’s graduating class, to introduce his successor, Ben Vinson, to the HU community. 

Vinson is currently provost of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and will begin his duties as president of Howard University on September 1.   His appointment as HU president is not without controversy. 

Frederick conjured the prose and imagery of Martin Luther King’s final days and his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech delivered the night before his assassination in Memphis, Tenn. as a signal that something significant was coming.  

Frederick rendered details about an emotional visit to the Lorraine Motel, preparing the Howard community for its own emotional “mountain top” experience.   Even Biden sat all the way up in his seat, hands clenched, intently looking toward Frederick as Vinson’s announcement was made, clothed in King’s words.  

”As Dr. King said it, I pray to have many more days ahead of me and I will always be an active member of the Howard family,” Frederick said pensively. 

“But as Dr. King said, it doesn’t matter with me anymore. Because this university will begin a bright new chapter, under the leadership of Dr. Ben Vinson,” Frederick announced.  

Some HU faculty said Vinson’s appointment came as a surprise. “It happened so quickly,” said one visiting professor who asked not to be identified. Presidential candidates did not visit campus before the board of trustees selected Vinson, according to Dr. Marcus Alford, Chair of the HU Faculty Senate and Associate Professor of Physics.  

Along with caution expressed by faculty, a group called the #HowardU1stBlackWomanPrez’18 Campaign, issued a May 11 statement calling on HU’s Board of Trustees to rescind Vinson’s appointment and appoint a Black woman to the HU presidency.

“Howardites everywhere are outraged, extremely insulted and deeply disappointed by the sudden HU Board of Trustees’ announcement on May 2, 2023, that it hired yet another man to be its 18th President, Dr. Ben Vinson III,” stated the release. 

Frederick admitted rough patches in the transition process but urged the University community to unify.   

“Most transitions come with a hiccup or two, but I trust that we will reach that promised land,” Frederick said.  

“And we will get there not just because of the University President or the faculty or even the students. But as one collective body. And that starts with amplifying humanity and leading with love,” Frederick concluded.  

Other honorary degree recipients include Keith Christopher Rowley, prime minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC-06), Bruce A. Karsh, co-founder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management, Martha L. Karsh, co-founder of architectural and design firm Clark and Karsh, A. Eugene Washington, Chancellor of Health Affairs at Duke University and President & CEO of the Duke University Health System and Benaree Pratt Wiley, Corporate Director and Trustee. 

Bernard L. Richardson, Ph.D., Dean of HU’s Rankin Chapel summed up the tension between hope for the future, and the uncertainty of present conditions articulated by both Biden and Frederick in their remarks. 

Richardson’s simple benediction, one repeated each week after HU’s Rankin Chapel services, offered instructions to graduates, faculty, alumni and families on facing the precariousness of days ahead, both on the HU campus and across the nation. 

“I said to the one who stood at the gate, give me a light so I may go out into the darkness and the unknown,” Richardson prayed. 

“And she replied go out into the darkness; go out into the unknown. But put your hand in the hand of God. And God shall be better than light and safer than a known way,” Richardson concluded.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Bowie State University recently held the fifth annual UMPC Social Justice Alliance Symposium in honor of Second Lt. Richard Collins III, a University of Maryland, College Park student killed in a 2017 hate crime. Collins was posthumously elevated to the rank of first lieutenant. 

The event took place on April 28, and included a panel discussion in front of hundreds gathered to talk about racial and social justice in sports. 

Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes, WNBA star Marissa Coleman, NBA Sports columnist and UMD professor Kevin Blakistone and former Washington Wizards player Eta Thomas joined student athletes Rainelle Jones, a UMC Volleyball player, and Zion Tyler, a Bowie State University track and field star, for the talk. Nothing was off the table, as participants assessed racial justice in the world of collegiate and professional athletics.

Tonia Walker, CIAA Associate Commissioner led the athletes in the hard hitting panel discussion, which brought the heat on a range of topics related to college sports and social justice. One topic discussed was the danger of becoming institutionalized with the new NCAA Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) rules. 

The NIL rules, adopted in June 2021 allows NCAA Division I, II and III student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name, image or likeness whether the state has NIL laws in place or not.  The new NIL rules will not override state, college/university or conference NIL rules. 

But the regulations have been widely criticized for being hastily put together, creating a new class of student athletes and widening the gap between the “have and have nots,” based on who actually receives compensation, according to the panelists. 

Olympian Dominique Dawes dived right into the NIL controversy. 

“The top NIL athlete is not the greatest gymnast that’s out there,” Dawes said without hesitation.  

“I don’t think the powers that be really took the time to investigate how NIL could impact sports. For the female athletes, the ones that are making the most money are the ones that are sexualized, unfortunately,” Dawes offered. “I understand why NIL was developed. Colleges are making an extraordinary amount of money on these athletes. However, I think there needs to be a little more thought about NIL.”

“It’s a little more difficult if your sport is not football or basketball,” said Jones, emphasizing that, outside of the elite NCAA teams, women’s volleyball is not a sport that draws a premium level of endorsements. 

Track and field athlete Zion Tyler, who attends Bowie State, mentioned HBCU athletes are also often left out of the collegiate sports conversation on a variety of levels.”

“There’s three things that are needed right now: equity, inclusion and opportunity,” said Tyler. 

“These three things are lacking at our HBCUs. We may not get the same NIL deals and the extra funding for our athletes and it’s not because of a difference in talent.  There’s plenty of talent at HBCUs–it is the opportunity to show their performance,” he said.  

The athletes spoke on how community support– or lack thereof– can be an additional barrier to Black athletes on Black campuses.

“Here at Bowie State, we’re in the middle of the forest. You go up the street to Ledo’s Pizza (five miles from campus) and they have the UMD gear,” said Tyler, in reference to the lack of support seen from local businesses when it comes to HBCU sports teams. 

The closest restaurants and other businesses to Bowie State’s campus are located 2-3 miles away from the campus itself, restricting the campus-community integration that benefit many PWI’s, including the University of Maryland, with major businesses just a short walk across the street from campus.     

A 2021 report from McKinsey Institute on Black Economic Mobility supports Tyler’s concerns. According to the study, more than 80 percent of HBCUs are located in areas that fail to service Black consumers.  

Frankki Bevins, lead author of the McKinsey Black Economic Mobility Institute study, notes that “82 percent of HBCUs are in broadband deserts; 50 percent are in food deserts; and 35 percent are in areas without superstores that could offer consumers a full range of groceries, furniture and clothing.” 

Later in the program, Dawes and Thomas were awarded the Social Justice Alliance Trailblazer Award.

The Annual Social Justice Alliance Symposium, in honor of the legacy of Lt. Collins, is a collaborative effort between Bowie State University, the University of Maryland College Park and the Second Lt. Richard Collins Foundation. 

Collins had just been commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army, and was days away from graduating with his bachelor’s degree at Bowie State University when he was murdered on the University of Maryland College Park campus on May 20, 2017. 

The Second Lt. Richard Collins III Foundation was created shortly after his death to eradicate intolerance, while confronting individuals and systems that normalize and justify injustice, hate and perpetuate violence. The foundation’s vision is to “command the mission of social justice.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

Yes…Black Maternal Health Week is a “thing.” In fact, 2023 marks the sixth Annual Recognition of Black Maternal Health week, with workshops, events and support sessions across 13 states and the District of Columbia. 

Beginning on April 11, Black women, mothers, fathers and men of all ages will reflect and give voice to the health policies, practices and innovations that can lead the way forward from the gross disparities in Black maternal health outcomes that have plagued Black mothers for decades in the U.S. 

The infant mortality rate for black infants is currently the highest in the United States. According to the March of Dimes, the overall infant mortality rate declined more than 12 percent  between 2009 and 2019, but black infant mortality rates remain at unprecedented high levels, regardless of income levels. 

The Centers for Disease Control indicates black women have more than 3 times the risk of pregnancy related mortality (41.4) compared with white women (13.7 percent) per 100,000 women. 

 This year’s Black Maternal Health Week, will include a special emphasis on reproductive health, according to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), the founding organizational sponsor of Black Maternal Health Week.  

“As we reckon with the upending of Roe V. Wade and the relentless attacks against reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, this year’s Black Maternal Health Week campaign speaks to our strength, power and resilience, and our unassailable right to live freely, safely, and joyfully,” said Angela D. Aina, BMMA Co-Founder and Executive Director.  

Black Maternal Health Week is designed to feature and applaud the agents of positive change in Black maternal health outcomes as well as sound the alarm regarding the risks Black Mothers face daily. 

In the District of Columbia, the National Birth Equity Collaborative will host several events from Wednesday April 12 to Monday April 17.

Wednesday April 12:  Valuing Black Voices [Virtual] | 3:00 pm ET: (Virtual Event) A preview into the concept and plan for the Respectful Maternity Care initiative prior to the formal convening of stakeholders in May 2023. Learn about the tangible ways hospitals can review the performance of clinicians to aid in holding them accountable for less than equitable care.

Thursday April 13: Not Without You: How Can We Learn From Each Other: (Virtual Event) 2PM EDT: A roundtable discussion with mamas from the US and South Africa discussing solutions to the trauma and effects of patriarchy and white supremacy Black women face whether in the US or in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

Monday April 17: The Time Is Now: Lessons from Roe era in Real-time | 3:30 pm ET | Washington, DC: An intergenerational conversation discussing the urgency for sustainable policy changes to advance and protect maternal & reproductive health and create an environment where all, but especially Black families, can thrive.

One of the key features of this year’s national celebration is the NEW Black Doula Directory, developed in collaboration with Sista’ Midwife Productions. BMMA will co-host a virtual panel discussion and launch of the Black Doula Directory on April 13th at 2:30 p.m. EDT with Baby Dove. Register here.

Doulas have a time honored tradition of women serving as a guide while providing support for persons during the labor and delivery process. They have partnered with Black women through the centuries. 

In modern times, the rate of infant mortality in Black communities has skyrocketed, doulas have been credited with facilitating healthy birth outcomes for Black women. 

“They [doulas] work to understand their history, their needs, their birthing preferences,” said Leigh Purry, senior manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Community Health Team, speaking about the success of a pilot program targeted at Black women in Los Angeles, Fresno and Sacramento, California.  

Black Maternal Health Week takes place each year during National Minority Health Month and coincides with the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights on April 11th. The theme for this year’s campaign is, “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy.” Their goal is to capture the spirit behind collective efforts to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black women and birthing people, according to event organizers. Washington D.C. Black Maternal Health Week events can be viewed online here: birthequity.org/BMHW23.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Prince George’s County will pay Rena Ward, mother of Demonte Ward-Blake, a $7.5 million  settlement in connection with a 2019 police traffic stop that left Ward-Blake paralyzed in 2019.

At Greenbelt Federal Courthouse on March 31, Rena Ward, along with attorney’s Billy Murphy and Malcolm Ruff, announced the settlement. The award represents Prince George’s County’s second largest police brutality settlement in history, surpassed only by a $20 million settlement on behalf of the family of William H. Greene in 2020.     

Ward said she will continue to speak out on behalf of families who have been killed and maimed by police violence, in honor of her son.   

“I will never give up the fight,” Ward said emphatically. “I miss my son dearly, but our voices must continue to be heard when things go on like this,” proclaimed Ward.  

During the 2019 traffic stop, police requested Ward-Blake exit his vehicle. Officer Bryant Strong, who assisted during the encounter slammed Ward-Blake to the ground, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.   

Ward-Blake died after sustaining injuries in an unrelated shooting incident in 2021.  

Strong was tried on charges related to the injuries Ward-Blake suffered during the traffic stop and was sentenced to one year in jail followed by three years of probation in July 2022.  

While awaiting Strong’s trial, the law firm of Murphy, Falcon and Murphy filed a $7.5 million Federal Civil Rights lawsuit in February 2022 on behalf of Rena Ward and Ward-Blake’s estate. The lawsuit charged police with using “excessive and unlawful force in connection with seizing, subduing and/or apprehending” Ward-Blake.      

“We filed this lawsuit on behalf of Demonte, because the fundamental problems of policing have not been solved,” said Malcolm Ruff, Ward family attorney.  

“Only recently has our state legislature comprehensively begun to address these problems. Lawsuits still remain the most powerful means to compel governmental agencies to act with urgency to implement adequate reform,” Ruff said.  

Billy Murphy, chief counsel for Murphy, Falcon and Murphy said change is still needed within the Prince George’s County Police Department. 

“We believe it is not anywhere near where it ought to be. We have to make sure the bad cops are eliminated from the department so the good cops can do the right thing,” said Murphy. 

 “Those changes that we all want as a result of these police brutality cases are in the process of being implemented like ensuring police wear body cameras,” a stipulation Murphy said the County agreed to in earlier negotiations with the firm on behalf of the William Green case.  

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks issued a statement about the settlement saying “no individual should be harmed when in the custody of a police officer.” 

“Since that time, we have rolled out meaningful police reforms within our department, equipped all officers who interface with the public with body-worn cameras, and brought in a reform-minded chief,” Alsobrooks said, referring to county Police Chief Malik Aziz.  

Aziz, former Dallas Police Department Deputy Chief, was appointed in 2021 shortly after an unredacted report emerged claiming rampant discrimination and racial profiling within the Prince George’s Police Department.  

The post Prince George’s County to pay family of Demonte Ward-Blake $7.5 million in settlement for civil rights lawsuit appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Bowie State University’s Performing Arts Center (PAC) now bears the name of internationally renowned singer, Dionne Warwick. In a ceremony this past week, the PAC theatre was formally renamed the Dionne Warwick Performing Arts Theatre.  

Hundreds gathered in attendance to celebrate with Warwick and the campus, including Gospel Singer, BeBe Winans, who graced the audience with an “impromptu” performance of Amazing Grace, during the moving tribute in honor of Warwick’s legendary 40-plus year career.   

The six-time Grammy Award winning artist takes her collaboration with Bowie State, the first HBCU in Maryland, seriously.  Warwick told the audience she carefully chooses projects and partnerships.     

“About this theatre bearing my name, you know I do not lend my name to everything,” Warwick said.   

This is something I am incredibly happy and proud to say “yes” to. I feel exceptionally privileged to have my name on those doors out there,” Warwick continued.  

Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux celebrated a partnership that developed over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.   

“This was three years in the making.  Three years ago, we were privileged and honored to welcome Ms. Warwick here,” Breaux said.  

“She embraced the vision.  She didn’t waver. She’s dedicated to our youth, Wilkins their education and the arts,” Breaux said.  

NBC – 4 television investigative reporter Tracee and national radio talk show host Joe Madison “the Black Eagle” Madison served as hosts for a tribute to Warwick featuring students dance, instrumental and choral music from Bowie State University’s fine arts department.  

Tewodross Williams, Chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts Program reflected on the remarkable growth of the BSU Fine Arts program in recent years and thanked the organizations that supported the Theatre dedication including Zeta Phi Beta sorority. The sorority of which Warwick is a member, supported Warwick and the event in large numbers.  

A host of celebrities, which included Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, Tom Selleck and MJ the Musical’s lead actor, Myles Frost, honored Warwick through video messages that were shown during the program. 

Warwick is one of a growing number of Black celebrities, business leaders and political figures who are turning to HBCU’s to invest in legacy projects that will serve future generations of students.  

“To whom much is given, much is expected. I hope I will be able to live up to the expectation you all have of me,” Warwick said.  

“And now all of you are my family,” Warwick said during the last moments of the program. You will be seeing me.”  

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Bill Tompkins, new CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) has a big vision and agenda for the business community in Maryland’s most populous county, with more than 1 million residents.  

Montgomery County’s residents are on the whole, relatively wealthy with a median income upwards of $117,000, according to the U.S. Census.  Many of the county’s major cities from Silver Spring to Gaithersburg, Germantown and Rockville frequently appear on national lists as places among the most diverse locations in the nation and a good place to call home.    

Tompkins wants to take the good and make it great for business in Montgomery County.   

“Montgomery County is home to 30,000 businesses.  Close to half of those are minority owned,” said Tompkins. 

That’s the good news. What comes next is the challenge Tompkins has pledged to transform.   

“The Black business community is very disjointed. Up until six months ago, there was no Black business directory in Montgomery County,” said Tompkins.  Answers to basic questions like the success and turnover rate of Black business have been based on anecdotal data until now.    

“That’s beginning to change, thanks to the work of our partner organizations,” Tompkins said.  

The Black Business Council, (an organization supported by MCEDC) is working on a Black business database so the county can have tangible information on Black-owned businesses – who they are and where they are located.  

Tompkins is taking the lead with the next steps: working closely with those businesses to decide what they need, and the best ways to deliver support to Black-owned businesses.  

Shortly after he was appointed president and CEO of MCEDC, the organization launched a “Be Next” campaign. The initiative was designed to attract business to the county and to ensure that Black businesses “are visible and we support their needs,” he said.  “Most of our Black businesses are small businesses with many in the service sector,” Tompkins said.  

“We know Black businesses need access to capital,” Tompkins said. “But it’s not just the direct access, it’s the preparation for that access to capital that Black businesses need,” emphasized Tompkins.  “[We need] training programs to prepare people to get the money,” he emphasized.  

In addition to the Black Business Council, Tompkins has connected with a variety of collaborators to create the support network for Black business in the county, like the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery NAACP’s Economic Development Council.   

“Bill is laying the groundwork for the growth and development of Black business in Montgomery County,” said Kenneth White, chair of the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce and Senior Vice President of Sandy Springs, a bank in Montgomery County.  “Since he’s come to the table, I can see the impact his vision brings to the table,” White continued.   

White said that vision for the visibility and presence of the Black business community is needed now more than ever as the county and country are appearing from the three year COVID-19 pandemic that had an unprecedented impact on the business community.  

“We know that Black businesses were disproportionately impacted in terms of closing during the pandemic,” White said. But we don’t have a before and after database to tell us how. I hope with the tracking we are putting in place now, that will never happen again,” Tompkins said.  

As Tompkins looks into the future, he looks forward to continuing to grow in the depth and breadth of work with collaborators monitoring the progress of Black business in Montgomery County. 

What would success look like for Tompkins in the next 2 to 5 years for the Black business community? After a long pause, Tomkins reflects on what would bring Montgomery County closer to a “model” community with a thriving, participating Black business community 

• Increased Black business participation in trade associations and chambers of commerce 
• The presence of more Black businesses across key industries  
• Increased Black presence across key industries represented by MCEDC like healthcare, cybersecurity, life sciences, the nonprofit sector, and finance  
• County banks and venture capital firms will show more transactions with Black businesses  
• Neighborhoods within the county will become more diverse with a better dispersion of people of color across neighborhoods 
• More representation of Black business leadership in decision making and leadership roles across the County  

As Tompkins sums up the vision for the County he has called home for many years, he sees a Black business community in Montgomery County that is not only visible and profitable, but a community with leaders at decision tables across Maryland’s most populous and diverse county, supplying guidance and direction far into the future.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

The East Coast debut of playwright Cheryl West’s “Shout Sister Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock and Roll Trailblazer Rosetta Tharpe, is the poignant and jubilant theatrical journey of a Black woman emerging from the deep, Jim Crow South of the early and mid-20^th century to a world-wide stage– all the while keeping her guitar by her side and faith in her heart.   

“I love bringing work to D.C. because audiences are receptive and they can intuit love is embedded in the work,” said the playwright about the warm and vibrant reception the play has received since opening night at Ford’s Theatre, on March 15.   

The play depicts key scenes in Tharpe’s life, played by actress Carrie Compere.  Audiences see Tharpe in her early days of crossing back and forth between faithful service at her local Arkansas Church of God in Christ (COGIC) to hanging out in the juke joints of the rural south, experiencing the rhythm of life during a period in American history when the division between secular and sacred was clearly marked.     

When Tharpe travels to New York for an audition, the world soon discovers what those of us in the church already know: Tharpe and so many artists like her through the years have an amazing talent with a sound that touches audiences.  Whether she sang  “Walk All Over God’s Heaven” at Carnegie Hall or in an Arkansas COGIC church where the denomination was founded,  Tharpe’s gift was unmistakable.  

“This is remarkable, ” commented Debbie Jackson, a patron of the play. “This production is true to the narrative of Tharpe’s life and the talent is amazing.”  

There was clapping, shouting and good old fashioned call and response throughout the night at Ford’s theater as Compere’s commanding talent and contralto range literally channeled Tharpe and left the audience standing on their feet.   The entire cast left the audience no choice but to rise in standing ovations throughout the evening.  

Compere’s joyous yet tenacious depiction of Tharpe’s journey compels the audience to participate in the play.  She demonstrates both a joyful innocence and a tough resilience throughout the scenes that beckons you to find someplace in the evening you can join in.   

 “I am just thrilled to have this particular show at Ford’s Theatre,” West said. “I just love it when the work makes the audience want to say things, makes them want to cry out and sing along. That’s the most wonderful gift to any writer,” West said.  

Today’s Ford’s Theatre has totally transformed – and so have its artistic offerings. The new Ford’s Theatre – yes that Ford’s Theatre, the iconic venue of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, has stepped into the 21st century. It is now the home of productions that are vibrant, transformative and reflective of the culture of new, diverse patrons.  

Sheldon Epps, Ford’s Theatre’s Senior Artistic Advisor, and veteran director and writer for both stage and screen is part of the historic theater’s transformation and the creator of the new energy patrons are experiencing. A separate feature with a focus on Epps’ contributions to Ford’s Theatre, and his artistic journey will be featured later this spring.  

Shout Sister Shout! is the play to attend this Easter Season. If you are looking for that cathartic experience, that reflective journey through joy and pain that reveals the surface contradictions and ultimately leads to the deeper waters of our faith journeys and our lives – whatever faith you practice; this play will take you there.  

While Shout Sister Shout!  has no relation to the holiday, its themes of forgiveness and fortitude; renewal and redemption will encourage you to persevere– like Tharpe did–and hold on to that unique song and sound that you offer to the world.   

Shout Sister Shout is featured at Ford’s Theatre through May 13.

The post Ford’s Theatre debuts dynamic stage play,“Shout SisterShout!: The Untold Story of Rock and Roll Trailblazer Rosetta Tharpe” appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

With rental housing on the rise as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes and evictions in Prince George’s County increasing at an alarming rate, County Council members are aggressively looking toward sustainable solutions for the 40 percent of county residents who are renters.  

The Council is working on adding to its security system of protections for at-risk renters by setting up a County Rental Assistance Program (CB-24-2023) prohibiting  rent gouging (i.e. sudden increases in rent) and aiding modest income Prince George’s County residents. The bill is still in committee after public hearings last week and is expected to come before the full council this spring, said a spokesperson for the Council press office.   

“Residents are suffering because of rent increases, and rent stabilization creates stability so renters know that they are not going to wake up and their rent is doubled,” said Council member Crystal Oriadha (District 7). Oriadha successfully sponsored legislation earlier to help renters on a temporary basis until the County can provide long term solutions. 

Starting April 17, The Temporary Rent Stabilization Act (CB-007-2023), sponsored by Oraidha, will restrict property owners from raising tenant rental rates above three percent over a 12-month period. The law is only temporary and set to expire in a year.  

In the meantime, the Council is hustling to organize a permanent plan to address rising rent rates, inflation, and an increasing eviction rate. The Rent Stabilization Act mandates creation of a working group to study rent control and find permanent solutions for addressing the rising cost of rental housing. 

“We want Prince Georgians to have access to affordable, habitable, and fair housing and this bill gets us closer to that goal,” Oriadha continued. 

An emergency moratorium on evictions and other related protections for renters put in place by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) during the height of the pandemic was lifted by the Supreme Court in late August 2021. 

Emergency rental assistance for Marylanders is no longer taking new applications but County Councilmember Jolene Ivey, (District 5) Committee on Planning, Housing and Economic Development Chair, said funds may still exist.

Ivey, with her spouse, Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-4), are going directly to residents and standing in the gap while the county government lays the groundwork to support the rental community.  

Their recently held Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention workshop at First Baptist Church of Highland Park brought scores of renters and homeowners together to learn what resources are available as federal and state Covid related funding ends. 

Ivey said more than 17,000 Marylanders are at risk of evictions, with the highest percentages of those in Prince George’s County.  

“It turns out there is help available, but people didn’t seem to know about it,” Ivey said. 

“I have never hosted or been at an event where people found such relief. Sometimes residents even found out they were told falsely that they were going to be evicted. People were relieved to be in a setting where they could get some straight answers about their situation,” Ivey concluded

Close to 20 percent of Prince George’s County residents face severe housing problems, according to data from The County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. 

The report defines severe housing problems as “housing inadequacies: overcrowding, high housing costs, lack of kitchen facilities, or lack of plumbing facilities.”  

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said legislation like the Rent Stabilization Act and upcoming legislation establishing the county’s rental assistance support framework will help stop the bleeding as County officials work out long-term solutions to affordable housing for both homeowners and renters.  

“This legislation is extremely important to all of us. We refuse to let any Prince Georgian be priced out of their home, that’s what this is about,” said Alsobrooks at a press conference announcing the county’s plan to get ahead of rapidly rising rental prices.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Corresponding Editor

During the 2023 State of the Union Address, President Joseph Biden called on Congress and America’s pharmaceutical companies to cap the price of insulin at $35 per month for the 30 million Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes and dependent on the drug to control their symptoms. 

“There are millions of other Americans who are not on Medicare, including 200,000 young people with Type I diabetes who need insulin to save their lives,” Biden said.

Let’s finish the job this time. Let’s cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it,” Biden continued. 

The cost of insulin has now been capped for seniors on Medicare, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by Biden in August.  The insulin cost saving cap for Medicare seniors started in January of this year. 

 But with close to 37 million diabetic Americans, according to the CDC, there are still millions of American diabetics paying high out of pocket costs for a life-saving medication.  

While Congress has yet to organize a legislative strategy to pass legislation placing price caps on insulin in 2023, Eli Lilly, one of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies has heeded Biden’s call. 

On March 1, Eli Lilly announced they would lower the price of insulin by 70 percent and cap out of pocket costs for the drug at $35 per month. 

Eli Lilly’s biggest revenue generator is the insulin drug Trulicity, used by more than 2.8 million adults, according to the company’s website.  It is an injectable diabetes medication, and the pharmaceutical company’s highest performer, netting Eli Lilly $7.4 billion dollars in revenue 2022, according to Statista. 

The National Medical Association is America’s largest Medical association representing black doctors and their patients. The organization welcomed the announcement by Eli Lilly, but conceded the announcement was akin to a patch placed over a gaping, open wound.  

“While this is a move in the right direction, let’s be clear, this is a Band-Aid for a situation that requires sutures. The cost of life-saving prescription drugs is skyrocketing at an astronomical pace,” said Garfield Clunie, President of the NMA in a statement.    

The National Medical Association statement said that Americans pay “5 to 10 times more” for insulin than a host of other countries such as Canada, The United Kingdom and Japan.  

The price of insulin has skyrocketed in recent years, causing a crisis for many patients who can’t afford the medication. 

A study published in The Journal of Health Affairs JHA described patient expenditures for insulin as having doubled “posing substantial financial barriers to patients in the US,” according to Baylee Bakkila, Sanjay Basu and Kasia Lipska, the study’s authors.

The JHA study referred to the “catastrophic spending on insulin in the United States,” mentioning more than 1.2 million Americans, most of them Medicare beneficiaries,  were subject to unaffordable and unsustainable insulin costs. 

The Biden administration has also flagged the astronomical rise in prices of insulin in the US vs.other countries. 

“For too long, American families have been crushed by drug costs many times higher than what people in other countries are charged for the same prescriptions,” said Biden.

In 2022, The U.S. House of Representatives proposed The Affordable Insulin Now Act, an unsuccessful attempt to bring down the high cost of diabetes drugs for the nation’s  millions of diabetics of all ages.  

While The Affordable Insulin Now Act passed the House of Representatives in March of last year with the help of 12 Republican Congressman, the legislation failed to reach the required 60 vote threshold needed in the Senate to move forward. 

The measure would have capped prices for insulin at $35 per month for all diabetics who needed it. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control 37 million Americans, or 11 percent of Americans have diabetes. The disease is costing an exorbitant amount in direct medical costs, $237 billion, as well as $90 billion in lost productivity.

The U.S. Office of Minority Health reports 13.4 percent of Black men and 12.7 percent  of Black women have been diagnosed with diabetes. Combined, their rate is 60 percent higher than that of white people.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Barbara Jean Smith has been a faculty member with the Bowie State University School of Education for 50 years. 

That’s fifty years of sharing and shaping the fundamentals of education. 

Fifty years of ensuring Bowie State- trained educators head off to their classrooms with best pedagogy.

Fifty years of the joys and struggles that come with navigating the ever- changing landscape of K-12 education with students, colleagues and the broader Prince George’s county community.  

Colleagues, friends and students walking the journey with Smith thought now was the right time to recognize Smith’s landmark anniversary with the campus community  and “give her flowers now,” said Rosalind Muchiri, director of major gifts for Bowie State University.

“Our committee first came together in August, 2022 at our Faculty Institute,” said Dr. Lynne G. Long, chair of teaching, learning and professional development for Bowie State’s College of Education.  “We pinned the phrase for her 50K for 50 Years of Service,” Long continued.  

Long said the goal of the team recognizing Smith’s contributions was to raise a minimum of $50,000 honoring 50 years of service to teaching students at BSU and enhancing the education profession.   

The first big activity held by the Smith legacy foundation team, was the recently held Barbara Jean Smith Legacy Prayer Breakfast in February. Generations of students, mentees and well-wishers returned to Bowie State University to honor the living legend.

 As one of the campus’ first major in-person events since the start of the pandemic three years ago, admirers were waiting in line to recognize Smith’s many contributions.  Many are still looking to speak a kind word to Smith and reflect on the doors the Bowie State alumnae, veteran instructor and lifelong member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority opened for many. 

“She introduced me to so many people and exposed me to many opportunities. The biggest one was the Bowie State Education Association – where I started as a general member,” reflected Nadia Constanza, Bowie State University alumnae and second grade teacher at Cool Springs Elementary school in Adelphi, Md. 

“Professor Smith believed in me so much that she encouraged me to enter into leadership roles,” Constanza said.”

‘The thing I remember most is that every time I’ve come back home to Bowie, no matter how much it has changed, the one thing that has been constant throughout the years has been Barbara J. Smith,” offered Carolyn Moye, also a Bowie State alum and Smith’s colleague on faculty in the College of Education.  

BSU President Aminta Breaux, who attended the breakfast, said teaching legacies like the one embodied by Professor Smith is one of the many things she enjoys about representing BSU across the state and the nation. 

Breaux reflected on Smith’s immeasurable contribution to students and the life of the campus – serving as both an alum and a veteran educator with a lifetime of wisdom to share with her students.  

And as for the honoree, Barbara Jean Smith?

Smith said she is appreciating every “flower” coming as a gift to the endowment in her name, and affirming words as the College of Education continues to work on future activities for the scholarship fund that will be endowed in her honor.  

“I’m honored to have been blessed to touch the lives of thousands of future teachers, principals, entrepreneurs and other leaders who serve and will serve our country,” Smith said.   

The College of Education is two-thirds of the way to their goal of raising $50,000 in Smith’s honor. “Thirty-eight thousand has been raised so far – and we just started a few months ago,” exclaimed Long. 

Muchiri said the team that organized the Legacy Breakfast for Smith in February is meeting this week to evaluate their efforts and determine next steps to reach and even exceed the original goal of $50,000 to honor the Prince George’s county legend.  

“A dedicated alumna, a legend and the ‘Soul of BSU,’ Professor Barbara Jean Smith has been an exceptional and passionate teacher, who has been committed to her alma mater, Bowie State University, for 50 years strong,” Muchiri said in summary of the events honoring Smith.   

Donations are still accepted via Barbara Jean Smith Endowed Scholarship: www.bowiestate.edu/give memo: Barbara Jean Smith Legacy Endowment

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

D.C. playwright and director Andy Evans wanted contemporary audiences to get reacquainted with the gifted comedic artistry of D.C. resident and international Black comedian, Jackie Moms Mabley. So he wrote a play about Mabley’s years at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.  

As Evans conceptualized the play about Mabley, who was the first female comedian to perform at the Apollo in 1939, he thought of other Black women who were Mabley’s contemporaries during her  50- plus years in show business. Evans decided to include vignettes of famous Black female singers and dancers who also passed through the Apollo on their way to international fame, with multi-talented Sylvia Traymore Morrison as the sole performer. 

“I wrote the play as a tribute to the contribution Black women have made to the performing arts. I wanted to document their struggles, their triumphs, and their magnetism on stage,” said Evans.  “I’ve known Sylvia for many years. She has the talent to bring all of this to the stage, to allow the audience to experience these women from many dimensions.” 

Morrison is the award winning Black female comedian, actor and singer that also has writing credits to her name. Her resume includes time with Saturday Night Live, one of America’s longest running television shows, where she worked as an associate writer  providing a multi-dimensional experience for viewers each week.

Morrison’s comedy has served as opening act for some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, the Temptations and Cher. She proclaims to be the first Black comedienne to be billed as an impressionist.

Morrison transformed Evans’ one-woman show on the life of Jackie Moms Mabley into a walk through the lives of famed Black female entertainers of the 20^th century, including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker, Nancy Wilson, Aretha Franklin and Pearl Bailey. 

For almost two hours on the Bowie Performing Arts Center Stage Morrison did what she has done her entire career – she gave her all. She sang, danced and provided a real impression of each woman portrayed. The performance transported audience members into the life and times of each woman portrayed.

Morrison was humbled by the audience’s reception of her performance, and celebrated the show’s success with friends and family in the reception room after the play’s conclusion. She said the recognition she has received lately has opened a new chapter in her life. 

“After 54 years in the business, the world is starting to recognize that I exist,” said Morrison, who has become more popular after a recent guest appearance on entertainer Sherri Shepherd’s show, “Sherri.” 

“I guess the world is coming around again,” Morrison said.  

The elaborate gowns created to showcase the personal style of the women portrayed in “The Return of Jackie Moms Mabley” were arranged by stylist and fashion show producer Ron Cooke.  

Cooke, a native Southeast Washingtonian attended the play and said he has been preparing Morrison for her engagements for years. When he heard Morrison would be the featured actress in “The Return of Moms Mabley,” Cooke got to work.  

“It means a lot to work with Sylvia. It was my pleasure to be able to dress her and allow her to exhibit the fashion of Black women in the arts through the 20^th century,” Cooke said.   

After the Bowie Performing Arts Center, Evans said he will continue to edit and work with the play. He wants to see colleges and universities audiences have an opportunity to learn from the Black women that were portrayed through the play and hopes to connect with many of the area university fine arts programs as well as regional theaters across the mid-Atlantic.  

The post One-woman show brings brilliance of Pearl Bailey, Moms Mabley and Josephine Baker to spotlight appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Black History Month ends with a rousing knock out as the DMV 48 Men of Power honored boxing great Rahman Ali, only brother of Muhammed Ali at a festive and spirited ceremony Feb. 24. Program host, Dr. Renee Allen, welcomed DMV luminaries and fans from the corporate, philanthropic, sports, entertainment and faith communities to pay tribute to Rahman Ali, the professional boxer, humanitarian and world ambassador for the Ali legacy. 

International tributes from the Embassies of Saudi Arabia and Turkey recognized both Rahman and his brother, boxing heavyweight champion Mohammed Ali, both of whom modeled the spirit of peace and unity through athletics throughout their heavy-weight championship careers. 

Emin Orhan Dereli, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey described the sportsmanship of the Ali brothers and their famous “knockout” bouts as “the punches that break down walls that separate our communities.”   

Senator Chris Van Hollen, Governor Wes Moore and Prince George’ County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy resonated the twin themes of athletic excellence and spreading unity in tributes prepared for Rahman from their offices.

Professional Boxer Franchon Crews-Dezurn, undisputed Female Super MiddleWeight World Champion, spoke about the ongoing significance of the Ali name, on behalf of athletes everywhere. Crews Dezern mentioned all the multi-generational, male and female legacy of the Ali family with her tribute to both the men and women in the Ali family who entered the boxing ring: Mohammed, Rahmad and Laila Ali, daughter of Mohammed Ali, who retired from boxing in 2007 as a two-weight world champion.  

“The Ali legacy stretches so far,” Crews-Dezurn said. “You and your family impacted the world of sports, but not only that – the whole world. Everything you’ve done will continue to impact generations,” she concluded. 

Singer Sylver Logan Sharp, former lead vocalist with Chic, serenaded Ali with an inspirational version of “If I Could Change the World,” followed by a heartwarming and humorous remembrance by comedienne, actress and the first Black female impressionist, Sylvia Traymore Morrison. 

Morrison told the story of how she met Ali as replacement host for the 1979 Muhammed Ali Roast at the Apollo Theatre in New York, taking the place of the iconic Richard Pryor. She said upon first meeting Ali, she immediately knew the connection was more than temporal.  

“I walked into the room and when I greeted Ali, the first impression I got was there is something Godly about this man.” Morrison said. 

Rahmad Ali followed his brother Mohammed into the boxing ring as an amateur boxer at the age of 12, in Louisville, Kentucky. He turned to professional boxing in 1964. With a record of 14 wins and three losses, Rahman said his proudest moments in the sport “were when my brother sat ringside and watched me box,” with that trademark Ali twinkle in his eye.

“I showed him I could both take a punch and give a punch,” Rahman said. Half of his professional bouts as well as one of his losses were knock out decisions.  

Rahman, whose birth name was Rudolph Valentino Clay, also followed his brother into the Muslim faith, becoming a practicing Muslim as a teenager. His faith and the Ali family legacy of service and sport as a platform for spreading good will and unity are the main motivators in his life now. 

A life in which America has become more open to and accepting of the Muslim faith, according to Rahman and his wife Carolyn, who Rahman says, “is one of the most intelligent women I have ever met.”

“The schools are opening up now.  More people are making requests for Rahman to speak” Carolyn said.  She and Rahman both said the gates of understanding the Muslim faith opened after Mohammed Ali’s death and elegant memorial ceremonies watched by an estimated 1 billion viewers world-wide, according to the Mohammed Ali Center.   “God is so wonderful,” said Carolyn. 

“We are here to promote peace. We are here to promote understanding,” said Dr. Bruno Mazali, calling those assembled to the reason for honoring Rahman Ali. 

“This is the beginning. This is the time, this is the moment of bringing the whole world together,” Mazali said.       

For Rahman Ali, that means being a conduit of the love that brought him from the streets of Louisville, Kentucky to the world stage, to remind a world torn asunder with division that the Ali legacy and love of sports, is a vehicle to connect across cultures, countries and continents.     

“I’m here now simply to help people love people,” said Rahman Ali, lifting his eyes, softly.   

“The DMV 48 Men of Power: A Local Guide to Great Black Men in the DMV” was compiled by Bruce W. Branch and Dr. Renee Allen in 2021 and describes the challenges and triumphs of exemplary men of color in the DMV.  

“It doesn’t matter where you come from but it matters where you are going,” said Branch. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

Bowie State University student Kiara Ebron was exuberant upon learning Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Wes Moore would be visiting her campus to encourage home ownership– specifically in the Black community. 

The 22 year-old MBA student also decided attending the Harris appearance would be a wonderful way to celebrate her first anniversary as a homeowner in suburban Maryland.   

The vice president came to Bowie State to unveil  a Department of Housing and Urban Development initiative to reduce the annual mortgage insurance premium for most new borrowers, making Federal Housing Administration-backed (FHA) loans  less expensive for first-time, moderate-income buyers.

“I am proud to announce that on March 20 we are reducing mortgage insurance payments for all new FHA homeowners by nearly 40 percent,” Harris said, to cheers from the audience on Feb. 22.

“We know that when we increase home ownership it strengthens communities and it strengthens our economy,” Harris told a crowd of Bowie State students,   community members and housing advocates.

FHA insured mortgages account for 7.5 percent of all home sales and are targeted at homebuyers who otherwise may not be able to achieve homeownership. Through FHA home purchases are more affordable for lower, middle-income, and first-time homeowners, like Ebron, who bought her three-story townhome in suburban Maryland with an FHA loan. Through the FHA program, her down payment was less than $3,000. 

The mortgage insurance payment reduction announced by Harris will apply to almost all single-family purchases insured by FHA under the agency’s Title II forward mortgage program. 

The reduction will cover all eligible property types, including single-family homes, condominiums, and manufactured homes, all eligible loan-to-value ratios  and all eligible base loan amounts, according to HUD.

Moore, who addressed the gathering shortly before Harris, said that Maryland is ready to partner with the federal government to help   Maryland residents achieve home ownership.  

“We’ve got to have the right partners,” said Moore, underscoring his administration’s home ownership strategy. “It’s great to have our vice president talking about issues of importance to us: work, wages and wealth.” Moore said.  

“The wealth gap is hurting not just one group.  It is hurting all of us.  For our state to win we must become an ownership society,” Moore continued, mentioning the Maryland Mortgage Program, a statewide effort supporting first-time as well as repeat home purchases.

 Maryland ranks as one of the most expensive states in the U.S. for home buyers, according to the World Population Review. The Maryland Realtors Association estimated the average home cost more than $433,000 at the end of 2022.  

Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James said she is encouraged by the announcement and looked forward to support and technical assistance from state and federal partners for smaller communities, especially those nearby large urban centers.   

“There is a critical need here for affordable housing options. Not being priced out of the market is so important to communities of color,” James said. 

More than 40 percent of Bladensburg’s nearly 10,000 residents are renters.   Current home sale averages for this Maryland community bordering Washington, D.C. range from  $380,000 to more than $600,000. 

James said her residents love the convenience of Bladensburg, and she wants to develop more options for affordable housing stock that will transform her renters into homeowners.  

Elizabeth Scott Glenn, chair of the U.S. Africa Collaborative, Inc. and a veteran affordable housing advocate, said the announcement was another step needed to advance Black home ownership.  

“We have got to find every means possible to close this housing gap in America and in cities across the world so black and brown people can build wealth,” she said. 

According to U.S. census data there is close to a 30 percent gap between Blacks and Whites in  home ownership. In 2022, 74.6 percent of White households owned their homes, compared with 45.3 percent of Black households.  

The gap between White and Black homeownership rates is wider now than in 1960, when housing discrimination was rampant and legal, according to Pew Charitable Trusts.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO Contributing Editor

Ben Crump recently became the only practicing Black attorney to have a law school named after him when Miami’s St. Thomas University (STU) named its law school in his honor this month.  

STU President David A. Armstrong reflected on the common values the institution shared with the civil rights attorney as the reason the law school has been renamed the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law. 

“Ben and I couldn’t be more different politically, but we share a passion for justice, and the hope that by working together, we can continue to drive meaningful change,” Armstrong said. 

He continued: “Our faith in God, and our belief in the tenets laid out by our founding fathers in the U.S. Constitution, enable us to go beyond race and politics, and focus on the work necessary to truly make the United States the home of the free and the brave.” 

The STU naming ceremony was held on Feb. 7 at the law school campus. Crump, who lives in Tallahassee, Fla., expressed his hope that the institution bearing his name would produce attorneys who will continue the fight for justice in America.

“We have come such a long way in the journey to equality, but we are not there yet,” Crump said. “The future change makers and civil justice leaders that will matriculate from St.Thomas will soon be passed the torch from today’s civil rights icons, and I have every confidence that they will meet the moment.” 

Only one other law school is named after a Black attorney. The Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University is named after the civil rights attorney and chief legal counsel for the NAACP, who became the first African American to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas Southern, a historically Black university, renamed their school of law in honor of Marshall in 1978, 11 years after he was named a Supreme Court Justice. Marshall died in 1993 and according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, “before his funeral, his flag-draped casket was laid in state in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court. He was only the second justice to be given this honor.”

According to the American Bar Association, African Americans continue to be under-represented in legal education. Only 8 percent of the nation’s law students are African American. 

The STU law school was ranked first in “Greatest Resources for Minority Students” in the 2022 Princeton Review Best Law Schools’ rankings. Pre Law Magazine in 2022 rated the law school among the top-10 Best Schools for Racial Justice in the United States. In 2020, it was rated by Princeton Review in the top-10 for Greatest Resources for Women, and for Most Diverse Faculty. The university’s website describes STU as one of the country’s most diverse law schools.

Crump is the founder and president of Ben Crump Law, which has offices across the United States. In 25 years of practicing civil rights and personal injury law, Crump has become recognized for his representation of the families of victims of police brutality or other highly publicized incidents, including George Floyd, Jacob Blake, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, and most recently, Tyre Nichols, among many others. 

Crump also represents the family of Henrietta Lacks and is the attorney for the National Council of Negro Women’s lawsuit on behalf of black women ovarian cancer victims.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Marion Turner Stubbs Thomas sought a place where her own children could bond with other Black children in Philadelphia’s rapidly expanding, early twentieth century, Black middle class community.  

So in 1938, Thomas did what any Black mother would do – she invited 20 women to her home for a strategy session. The mothers started a social network for their children and in less than 10 years Jack and Jill of America had spread to chapters in 10 cities across the Eastern seaboard, mid-Atlantic, Mid-west, and the South.  

“We started out as a group of friends who wanted to have opportunities for their children to connect. We have grown into more than just a social club,” said Jack and Jill of America National President, Kornisha McGill Brown.  

Many familiar with the Jack and Jill club of past years have vivid memories of ornate debutante ceremonies and other highbrow social activities. While these cultural events are still part of the Jack and Jill program, the organization has expanded its scope. Today, the organization offers leadership training and educational programming. It also addresses the recreational and health needs of Black children and their families. 

This year, Jack and Jill of America celebrates 85 years of service with the grand opening of a newly remodeled national headquarters near DuPont Circle in Washington, D.C. Jack and Jill’s 262 chapters and more than 70,000 family members represent communities across the United States from Anchorage, Alaska to Miami, Fla.  

“Our property was purchased 20 years ago. We realized that it was important to be in Washington, D.C. – the city where legislation happens,” said McGill Brown. “When it comes to legislation we know that we can go over and advocate for our children.  We have been bringing our teens every other year for a national legislative summit so they can learn to be their own advocates.”

Youth involved in the Jack and Jill of America program of today can be found meeting with U.S. senators and Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill, advocating for measures that support young people in communities across the U.S. 

The organization will host its bi-annual “On the Hill Summit” gathering members from hundreds of branches across the nation to meet on Capitol Hill with legislators.  Legislators, lawyers, representatives from the media, political strategists and advocates from the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area and beyond will support the student delegates in workshops and town hall meetings during the week of activities. 

Jack and Jill of America’s newest member, Mayor Muriel Bowser, will welcome youth advocates to the Nation’s Capital. “Everyone realizes the impact of Jack and Jill. We’re grateful to be in Washington, D.C. and have our national headquarters here,” McGill Brown added. 

Today’s local Jack and Jill chapter members are leaders in their communities on issues as varied as combating food insecurity, developing alternatives to homelessness, disaster relief and recovery and advancing literacy education. 

Jack and Jill of America and its affiliates also collaborate with a wide range of national organizations to facilitate progress on issues impacting Black Americans nationwide.  The American Red Cross, Children’s Defense Fund, INROADS,  the National CARES Mentoring Movement and historically Black colleges and universities across the nation are among the scores of organizations to tout long-standing relationships Jack and Jill of America.

In 2023 the organization will celebrate its sixtieth year working in collaboration with March of Dimes, supporting Black maternal health, both through philanthropy and advocacy.  

McGill Brown recently joined Jack and Jill members from across America in front of the newly remodeled national headquarters and reflected on the significance of the building for future generations. 

“We are here for the sustainability of this organization ensuring it will remain for these babies,” McGill Brown said before cutting the pink ribbon and walking up the stairs to the elegant brownstone on 17th street. “When they grow up and have their families, [they] can bring them back here to know where home is in Jack and Jill.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

In the first fully in-person State of the Union address since the COVID-19 epidemic began, President Joe Biden didn’t mince words or shy away from hard topics. Biden placed the issue of police reform and alternatives to police intervention squarely on the American agenda during his Feb. 7 address. 

Biden’s introduction of the RowVaughn Wells, Tyre Nichols’s mother, and her husband, Rodney Wells, Nichols’s stepfather, met a standing ovation by the entire audience.

Nichols died of his injuries on Jan. 10, after being beaten three days earlier by Memphis police officers during a traffic stop that spiraled into a deadly interaction.

Biden called on rogue police officers to be held accountable. 

“I know most cops are good, honorable, decent people. They risk their lives every time they put that shield on. But what happened to Tyre in Memphis happens too often,” Biden said.  

While not naming specific legislation he intended to push, Biden mentioned the executive order he issued in May 2022, banning federal officials from using chokeholds in most cases and limiting the use of no-knock warrants.  

This was his response after the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, approved by the House of Representatives, but stalled in the U.S. Senate.  

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus met with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris after Nichols’ death, imploring Biden to discuss policing in his State of the Union remarks and commit to supporting national legislation.  

Biden did not mention the need for police reform in passing. He squarely used the opportunity to speak to the estimated 40 million Americans watching about “the talk” that most Black and Brown parents and guardians have with their children and adolescents regarding how to behave and survive a police encounter.

“Most of us here have never had to have the talk with our children that so many Black and Brown families have had with their children: ‘If a police officer pulls you over, turn your interior lights on right away. Don’t reach for your license. Keep your hands on the steering wheel,’” he said, repeating the phrases that have been passed down from one Black generation to another for decades.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) wore black lapel pins with the number “1870” representing the year of the first documented incident of an unarmed free Black person being killed by a police officer in the United States. 

CBC member Bonnie Watson, who also serves as chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force, issued the pins and called on Congress to get past both of the issues that stalled the George Floyd Policing Act in 2021.  

“We must end the filibuster, pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the Mental Health Justice Act, and put a stop to this devastation,” Watson echoed.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Kids who find refuge at Brooklyn O’Malley Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore after school now have a new place to regroup and refocus with the launch of the organization’s Calming Center.

The recent rash of January shootings involving Baltimore City Public school children has left many students and their families on edge.

Thanks to a grant from Wellpoint, formerly Amerigroup, a new calming center sits by the window of the facility adjacent to Garrett Park, offering children a safe place to sit and recover from stressful incidents in their day,self-regulate and regain their composure or just slow down. 

“We have been collaborating with Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore to create healthier future generations for several years,” said Lori Hammond, director of marketing for Wellpoint in Maryland. “We are proud to support this latest initiative that provides resources for young people facing challenges. Mental health and emotional wellness play a huge role in building healthy and productive lifestyles.”

Just days before the Brooklyn neighborhood shootings, five students were ambushed outside of a fast food restaurant across the street from Edmonston West Side High School. 

One student died during the incident from injuries and four were hospitalized. Yet another shooting took place on Jan. 25 near Forest Park High School on Northwest Boulevard. That shooting left a 15-year old student dead.

“At some point, it really does get to be too much,” Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises said, in response to the shootings involving Baltimore City youth.

Tiandra Hendricks, Brooklyn O’Malley Boys and Girls Club manager, helps create an oasis for the children and youth who scamper to the small building that sits near the corner of 3rd street and E. Patapsco Ave. after school each day and all weekend long.  

The children and teens huddled at the Boys and Girls Club building are outgoing and ready to engage. Engrossed in homework, watching movies, playing games or just enjoying downtime, Hendricks has created an environment where the neighborhood’s children and youth can laugh, play, explore, and just be themselves in contrast to the violent crime increasingly impacting youth across the city. 

“They really are proud of their club. This is their place,” Hendricks said. The Brooklyn O’Malley club recently added a new Leap technology computer lab, new lighting, fresh paint and fixtures, an outdoor garden and vibrant outdoor murals that match the energy of the children who make the club their home after school.  

“Our young people have really embraced the upgrades. They have stepped up this year. This is their club and they have a determination to take care of it,” Hendricks said. 

“The Calming Center is icing on the cake.” according to Hendricks. “It complements all the great new additions to the Club.”  

The addition of a Calming Center is a crucial tool supporting youth who reported an increase in anxiety, suicide and hopelessness, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) pointing to a youth mental health crisis. CDC data from last year referenced a youth mental health crisis already on the horizon –even prior to Covid-19 pandemic.   

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created traumatic stressors that have the potential to further erode students’ mental wellbeing,” said CDC Acting Principal Deputy Director Dr. Debra Houry.

Calming Centers support students’ social, emotional, behavioral and health needs, according to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Education in 2021. School districts across the U.S. now utilize calming centers, Zen rooms and similar spaces to support student mental wellness.

In addition to the Calming Center installed at the Brooklyn O’Malley Club, Wellpoint will partner with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore to add Calming Centers to the O’Donnell Heights Club, Webster Kendrick Club, and Westport Homes Club in Baltimore.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

President Joe Biden warned the audience who gathered for the National Action Network’s (NAN) annual MLK Day breakfast on Jan. 17, about the Republican-led House of Representatives. Their session began days ago with drastic plans that would negatively affect middle and low-income families in America.  

 “I have your back, but we’ve got to stand together,” Biden said to Rev. Al Sharpton, NAN president, and the hundreds of civic, political, labor and economic stakeholders who commemorated the MLK holiday at Washington, D.C.’s Mayflower Hotel.  

“Like many Americans, I was disappointed to see the very first bill that House Republicans are bringing to the floor.  It would help the wealthy people and big corporations cheat on their taxes at the expense of ordinary middle-class taxpayers,” Biden said.  

Biden continued saying House Republicans plan to cut Social Security and Medicare, and legislation that would introduce a national sales tax.  

“They want to tax thousands of everyday items, because they want to supplant the money lost on taxes from the millionaires and billionaires with a sales tax on virtually everything in the country,” Biden said.  

Biden is referring to the Fair Tax Act, introduced on Jan. 9 in the House of Representatives by Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-Ga.), whose district spans from the south of Savannah to the Georgia state line.  

“They want working class folks to pay another 10 to 20 percent and reduce the taxes on the super-wealthy. That’s how they’re starting their new term,” Biden said. 

House Republicans, led by newly elected Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) also voted earlier this month to rescind $80 billion in funding to the IRS. The funding was allocated by Congress last year to help the agency hire staff trained to go after high-wealth tax avoiders. However, that measure is not likely to pass the Democratic controlled senate.  

“If any of these bills happen to reach my desk, I will veto them,” Biden said.  

Sharpton said Biden was a proven friend to NAN members and supporters. “One of the reasons I have always respected him is that he never changed, whether it was fashionable or not,” Sharpton said.   

“It is our honor today to bring a president who is not here because of his title but because of his commitment, because of his consistency and some of the most legislative transformative things that have changed our lives,” Sharpton continued.  

Sharpton and board members of the National Action Network honored several veteran advocates for their roles in pressing for a change in civic, labor, and public policy issues that improves the lives of Black Americans. Honorees including Andrea Waters King, president of the Drum Major Institute, Ray Curry, president of the United Auto Workers, Minyon Moore, principal strategist at DSG team and assistant to former President Bill Clinton, and Speaker of the House Emerita, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11) received honors and recognition during the event.  

Howard University senior, JaLynn Davis, received NAN’s Youth Award. The sociology major, represents Howard in NAN’s Youth and College Division and interns with the Cochran Firm.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Special to the AFRO

As Rev. Raphael Warnock welcomed President Joe Biden to his pulpit on Jan. 15 – the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta – the historic moment was not lost on him. 

After all, it was Jan. 15, the actual birth date of the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr., who put the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church on display for the world during the U.S. Civil Rights Movement when he was pastor. 

King was, perhaps, the leading voice of the Civil Rights Movement, challenging America to grant basic rights to Black Americans at a time when segregation and second-class citizenship was baked into the structure of American institutions. 

Biden told the congregation that America again stands at a crossroads – this time, in terms of the basic governing structure of the nation.  

“I stand here at a critical juncture for the U.S. and the world,” Biden began in his address. “We’re at what we call an inflection point. What will happen in the next six or eight ears will determine what the world looks like in the next 30 or 40 years.” 

He continued, “This is the time of choosing: Are we a people who will choose Democracy or autocracy?” 

The President doubled down on a theme he articulated in an early November 2022 speech warning about the fragility of America’s democratic institutions. 

“We have to choose a community over chaos,” Biden said, referencing Dr. King’s classic text, “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?”

“I believe Dr. King’s life and legacy show us how we should pay attention,” Biden added, before continuing to applause, “The power to redeem America lies where it has always laid with we the people.”

For Warnock, it was Biden’s life of service and capacity to transform his personal suffering that led him to invite the president to Sunday morning service and to serve as preacher of the hour. 

“I am inspired by his lifelong commitment to service,” Warnock said, listing Biden’s long-standing service as a U.S. senator from Delaware, where he was first elected at the age of 29 in 1972. 

“We are also inspired by the way in which he has transformed pain into power,” Warnock said as many in the congregation nodded their heads in agreement. 

Biden’s first wife died in an automobile accident in 1972, weeks after he was elected to his first term in the U.S. Senate.  More recently, Biden’s oldest son, Hunter Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015. 

Neither Biden nor Warnock made direct reference to headline news about classified papers being found at Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware garage or residence. However, near the conclusion of the service as the minister stood next to Biden, Warnock thanked Biden and told the congregation, “I want you to continue to pray for the president. It’s not an easy job.”  

Biden is the first sitting U.S. president to deliver the morning message from Ebenezer’s pulpit. Warnock, who just won re-election to the United State Senate for a full six-year term in a run-off vote in early December, is the first Black person elected to the U.S. Senate from Georgia.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser took the oath of office for a third term Jan. 2, unveiling a goal to add thousands of residents to the city’s population by 2028. Bowser also pledged to listen closely to residents’“big ideas” and push relentlessly to make D.C. the 51^st state.  

“We will explore every strategy to get control over our (D.C.) affairs,” said Bowser after being sworn in by Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, chief judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 

“We will not stop until we get two senators and admission as the 51^st state,” Bowser continued, to hearty applause from the audience.  

Bowser, 50, said her third-term victory last November marked a “mandate to be bold, to think big, to push the envelope, and above all else, to win for Washington, D.C.” .  

She said she  wants to reclaim D.C. ‘s downtown, pledging to add thousands of residents to the city’s center, converting unused office space to residential housing.  She called on the Biden administration to either call federal workers back to the office or give up federal “property holdings for use by local government, by nonprofits, by businesses, or by any user willing to revitalize it.” 

The statehood theme was echoed throughout the swearing in ceremony. Baptist Church Pastor Kendrick E. Curry’s invocation asking God’s blessing over “Douglass Commonwealth” to Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s urging of lawmakers to be wary of efforts by a Republican-led House of Representatives to suppress D.C. autonomy. 

“We will fight to defeat every anti-home rule amendment and rider,” she said. 

In addition to Bowser’s swearing in,  new Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb and members of the D.C. Council were sworn in.

Schwalb, the District’s second elected attorney general, said he will follow the agenda set by his predecessor, Karl Racine, to use the office of attorney general to create equity in home ownership opportunities as well as strengthening the District’s approach to reducing violent crime.  

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhoods,” Schwalb said.  

Matthew Frumin, of Ward 3, and Zachary Parker, of Ward 5, were also sworn in as new council members.  

Kenyan McDuffie, former Ward 5 council member, was sworn in as one of four at-large council members serving the District.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor,
Afro American Newspapers

Washington D.C.’s black journalism and communications royalty gathered for a glorious reunion December 10. After a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) gathered in downtown D.C. for a Special Honors Awards Gala, celebrating Black Excellence in Media.     

Multiple rounds of Covid-19 confined W.A.B.J’s membership to an on-line presence that some thought would never end.  But earlier this year, Khorri Atkinson, W.A.B.J. president, and other officers of the organization decided it was time to move forward and renew the chapter, started almost 50 years ago, by Black veteran journalists Maureen Bunyan, George E. Curry, Roland Martin, and others.   

“Despite the physical distance and challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, I am pleased with the tremendous strides our organization has made in building its membership, programming and outreach efforts to meet the needs of the moment and elevate the legacy of those who created WABJ in 1975,” Atkinson said.   

Atkinson and WABJ’s Executive Board got to work, and the result was a stunning in-person reunion of D.C.’s Black Press and communications professionals. The program Awards Gala featured five of Washington D.C.’s media and communications giants, who were honored for exemplary contributions to journalism and mass communication.   

Former Washington Post and Washington Afro Correspondent, Hamil R. Harris (Legacy), Nolan D. McCaskill, (Young Journalist of the Year), Angeles Times Congressional Reporter, Adelle Banks (Lifetime Achievement Award), Projects Editor and National Reporter for the Religion News Service, Lon Walls, (Excellence in Communications Award) President and C.E.O. of Walls Communication, Inc., and Tracee Wilkins, (Journalist of the Year Award) NBC4 Washington, Prince George’s County Bureau Chief were nominated and honored by their peers at the event.     

“I cried when I learned that I would receive this award because it comes from a new generation of reporters, writers and editors who are members of WABJ,” Harris said.    

Harris started his journalism career with the D.C. Bureau of the Washington AFRO in 1986 and was hired by the Washington Post in 1992. Harris continued to contribute to the Afro and is now a correspondent for several local and national publications, including the Washington Informer.   

“I felt that the work I have done over these years has made a difference,” Harris added.   

NBC4 Prince George’s County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins, was honored by her peers as Journalist of the Year. Wilkins’ investigative reporting discriminatory practices in law enforcement as well as her portrayals of everyday residents doing good works, afforded an opportunity to build the station’s Prince George’s County bureau from the ground up.         

Born and raised in Beltsville, Maryland, Wilkins said her greatest honor is when Prince George’s County neighbors thank her for covering a story improving the quality of their lives.   

“To be nominated and supported by this historical organization and my esteemed colleagues is humbling.  It is my mission to tell the stories of my people with dignity, honesty, and truth. I am thankful I get to do this work in the community that raised me,” Wilkins said.     

Mayor Muriel Bowser congratulated the gathering, many of whom have covered her work starting with the years she served as 4th Ward Council woman and during her last two terms as mayor of the District.      

“I know how important it is for the Black Press to have access and to tell our stories in ways that are compelling to the people of the District of Columbia,” Bowser said.  

The evening also included a special guest presentation by Jalyn Hall, the young, upcoming actor who portrays Emmett Till in the acclaimed movie “TILL.”  Hall announced NABJ’s newly expanded commitment to mentoring up and coming young journalists. 

Atkinson surprised Veteran NPR Associate Producer Trina Williams with the President’s Award for her longstanding work as Coordinator of the organization’s Urban Journalism Workshop for high school students.      

Then the room grew silent, and eyes welled as video rolled in a memorial tribute to colleagues who transitioned in 2022, some just months ago.  The evening ended in reflection as those gathered remembered WJLA’s Renee Poussaint, WHUR’s Joe Gorham and Gregory Mosso, WUSA’s Bruce Johnson, WPFW and The Final Call’s Askia Muhammad, Black Radio Exclusive Magazine’s Founder, Sidney Miller, CNN’s Bernard Shaw and Paul Brock, Founding Executive Director of the National Association of Black Journalists.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Congressman Hakeem Sekou Jeffries (D-NY) Jeffries said Nov. 18 he wants to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as the leader of House democrats. He would be the first Black member of Congress to hold a top leadership position in either chamber.

His announcement came a day after Pelosi, House speaker and Baltimore native, said she has decided to step down as Democratic House Leader after nearly two decades at the top of House party leadership. 

Jeffries announced his bid for the leadership position in a letter to House Democrats. 

“Today, I write to humbly ask for your support for the position of House Democratic Leader as we once again prepare to meet the moment, ” Jeffries, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a four-page letter to colleagues. 

The letter noted that, in addition to Pelosi stepping down, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told colleagues that he, too, is stepping down from a leadership post. 

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) announced on Nov. 17 that he wants to remain in the Democratic leadership. He has been the third-ranking House Democrat since 2006.

“As we Democrats set about the work of retaking the majority in 2024 and re-electing our President, I humbly ask for your support to remain at the leadership table as the Assistant Democratic Leader, to work alongside our new generation of Democratic leaders,” he wrote colleagues. 

“Each member from the most junior to the most senior, brings to the table enormous talent, skill, vision and experience. At this moment of transition, we are presented with a once-in-a generation opportunity to further unleash our full potential as a team,” Jeffries said. 

“In this spirit, it will be my mission to make sure that every single Member of the Caucus has an authentic seat at the legislative table and the maximum opportunity to excel. That is my promise to you,” Jeffries continued. 

In his letter, Jeffries noted that the current actions by House leaders signal a time to pick new voices for leadership. 

Jeffiries was an impeachment manager in the first attempt to impeach former President Donald Trump. 

He also was an architect of the FIRST STEP Act (Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed, Safely Transitioning Every Person Act) co-sponsored with Republican Congressman Doug Collins (GA-9). 

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

D.C. Public Schools Teachers walked out of their classrooms in frustration on Nov. 17. as arbitrators and representatives from the Washington Teachers Union still had not come to an agreement over a new teacher’s contract for D.C. Public Schools teachers. 

Thursday’s Day of Action, organized by Washington Teachers Union, urged teachers to walk out of schools across the city in an effort to end the impasse with D.C. Public Schools resulting in teachers working without a pay increase or a contract since October 2019.  Teachers were seen protesting at sites across the city including Alice Deal Middle School, Kramer Middle School, Wheatley-Wales, Tubman Elementary and Whittier Elementary.  

The Washington Teachers Union is intentional about making the voices of the 5,000 educators it represents heard as teachers move into their fourth year without a contract.

The “Tell Mayor Bowser it’s time to end arbitration and settle the Washington Teachers’ Contract,” the Washington Teachers Union urged as teachers prepared for themselves and their students for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holidays without word of a new contract.  

D.C. Teachers’ Union President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons said teachers have been working too long without a contract or a raise. 

“Our teachers haven’t had a contract since 2019. The number one most important thing this city can do to improve teacher retention is to settle the Washington Teachers Union Contract. ,”Lyons said in testimony before the D.C. City Council before Thursday’s action by D.C. Public Schools Teachers. 

A recent survey  of D.C. public school teachers conducted by Hart Research revealed close to 80 percent of the  District’s public school teachers are not satisfied with current conditions at their schools and an even higher number believe they are not treated with respect, nor have District leaders “been honest and fair in negotiations,” according to the survey. 

Contract negotiations moved to arbitration last month, after both sides blamed each other for the lack of progress in moving toward an agreement. 

Louis Ferebee, Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools said he was surprised teachers were planning to protest, suggesting that both sides were moving closer toward settlement.

“Surprised to see this planned protest, given that we and the WTU had already planned to resume contract negotiations this Thursday,” Ferebee tweeted yesterday. 

But parents and supporters of D.C P.S. teachers shot back at Ferebee via Twitter. 

“The way you and @Mayor Bowser treat our DCPS educators is embarrassing,” tweeted T Eastunder.  “You cannot be honestly surprised to see this action. As a parent of 2 DCPS kids, I support our teachers – pay them now, pay them more, and give them what they ask for,” Eastunder Tweeted. 

As of press time, the arbitration which started Thursday has not resulted in a successful contract, although both sides have indicated they are still working toward an agreement. 

“While collective bargaining agreements are confidential pursuant to D.C. Code, we are proud of the offer we made which includes robust compensation increases for educators,” D.C.P.S. officials said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. 

Pogue Lyons issued her own statement in response, saying there was still a lot of work ahead before the two sides could reach agreement. 

“We were at the bargaining table for 12 hours today, but we have a lot of work to do to get what’s fair for teachers and good for students,” said Pogue Lyons.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Maryland voters responded positively to a ballot measure on Nov. 8 that legalized recreational use of marijuana for residents 21 and over. The law reform will go into effect across the state starting July 1, 2023.  

The fourth Maryland ballot question was approved by slightly more than 65 percent of residents. Thirty-five percent of votes cast were in opposition.  

Maryland joins a growing list of states that have decriminalized marijuana use in recent years, choosing instead to cash in on regulating the substance for both medicinal and recreational use.  

Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne Jones has long been an advocate of legalizing cannabis, out of concern for the disproportionate numbers of Black and Brown persons arrested and convicted for low-level drug charges.  

At this week’s pre-election rally at Bowie State University, U.S.  Congressman Anthony Brown (D-Md.) who was elected as Maryland’s first Black attorney general on Election Day, said that marijuana charges have been responsible for creating criminal records for a disproportionate number of Black men for years.  

“Legalization would end the practice of placing Black men in jail for using cannabis,” he said. “No one should be in jail for the mere possession of marijuana. 

In addition to Maryland, Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota also sponsored ballot initiatives seeking legalization of marijuana for recreational use.  

Missouri was the only other state in addition to Maryland where the ballot measure legalizing cannabis passed. Missouri had previously passed legislation decriminalizing cannabis for personal use in 2014, but the November ballot initiative fully legalized cannabis for medical as well as recreational use.  

Ballot measures in Arkansas, North and South Dakota failed.  

The Maryland House of Delegates will now sponsor legislation in January 2023 that spells out regulations for cannabis use.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

The victory party for Maryland Democrats commenced the day before 2022 mid-term elections at the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex on the campus of Bowie State University.

At a rally held the Monday before Election Day, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden, Ed. D, celebrated a strong, diverse Democratic leadership ticket that swept mid-term elections in the state.

Together, Governor Elect Wes Moore, Lt. Governor Elect Aruna Miller, Comptroller Elect Brooke Lierman and Attorney General Elect Anthony Brown are the most diverse state leadership team in the country. This point was not lost on the thousands of exuberant students, and residents from across the region who came to hear from their President and Maryland’s new vision of leadership. 

At the beginning of his speech, Biden almost prophetically reminded the crowd pressed into the stadium that the days ahead are critical for America.  

“Our lifetimes are going to be shaped by what happens the next year to three years.  It’s going to shape what the next couple of decades look like, for real,” Biden said.
 
He added that he’d supported Moore’s campaign from the beginning and bringing the campaign to a close at Maryland’s first HBCU, was symbolic of the future of public leadership in America. 

“Back in August, I came to Rockville to kick off the campaign season with Wes.  And we’re here at Bowie to close it out with Wes and all of you,” Biden continued.  

Moore recounted his roots as a young child growing up without a father, his college days at a two-year institution before entering Johns Hopkins University, and as a US Army paratrooper where he took to heart his campaign slogan “Leave No One Behind.”  

“I love the state of Maryland and I love this country. I am a true and proud patriot as many of you here tonight are true and proud patriots,” Moore said.  

“And starting tomorrow, we are going to leave no one behind.”

Aruna Miller, Moore’s running mate for Lt. Governor and former Maryland State Delegate (D-15) told the audience about her childhood as an immigrant in Maryland.   

“I came to this country from India when I was seven years old. I didn’t know a word of English when I came here.  It was the public school educators who taught me English,” Miller said.   

Miller, who frequently voted with the Maryland Black Caucus when she served as a Delegate from 2010-2018, reminded the audience that the Moore-Miller campaign represented the fight for a new vision for Maryland.  

“It’s about fighting for a Maryland that leaves no one behind. A Maryland that looks like the diversity of our state. Diversity doesn’t look like anyone – it looks like every one of us,” she said.  

Lierman, the first woman elected as Maryland’s Comptroller, said that Tuesday’s election would be consequential for the next generation. 

“This election is not just about the next four years. It’s about the next 40 years to come,” she said.  

Congressman Anthony Brown (D-4) was elected as the first African-American Attorney General in the history of Maryland on Election Day.  

Brown said Maryland had the highest proportion of Black men in prison. “It’s time for this to end.”  

Brown said that having him in the role of Attorney General will make the difference.  

“No one should be in jail for the mere possession of marijuana. There is nothing beyond our capacity if we do this together,” Brown added. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

For many, the much-anticipated Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, opening in movie theaters nation-wide on Nov. 11, is much more than the fictional next chapter in the journey of Wakanda’s fight for survival after the death of the King T’Challah.    

T’Challah was portrayed by the late actor, Chadwick Boseman, who died in August 2020. Marvel Studios remained quiet for months after Bosman’s death about  how the record-breaking Black Panther series would continue. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a euphemism for the struggles faced and overcome for people of color as we move to new chapters in our lives. The film carried meaning for the actors themselves as well. The cast discussed the film and its impact on their own lives at the National African American Museum of History and Culture (NAAMHC) Red Carpet at the Washington, D.C. premiere showing.  

“I was raised by strong, resilient Black women,” said Angela Bassett, who leads the talented cast as Queen Mother Ramonda, a continuation of her role in the first Black Panther film released in 2018.    

“I took examples from strong, resilient men and women in my life,” Bassett added. “I don’t walk this road by myself, in my own strength and bravery and courageousness. I take it from our people. I am inspired, uplifted, enriched by our people and our history.”

The iconic actor has unapologetically starred in acclaimed roles featuring courageous Black women since her Academy Award nominated performance as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”  During her decades’ extensive career in Hollywood, the actor has declined roles requiring gratuitous nudity and stereo-typical portrayals of Black women.

Lupita Nyong’o, (Nakia) said she is grateful to be part of a production portraying Black women as primary characters in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

“I feel extremely grateful to be part of a story like this that has the feminist agenda in its DNA,” said Nyong’o. 

“It makes organic sense that women would be leading this story, that we would see how the women handle the passing of their king,” Nyong’o added. “There’s no muscling, for power in Wakanda for the women.  And that’s something to aspire to in our world.”

Nyong’o believes Hollywood has no choice but to understand and learn from the lessons that the first Black Panther movie and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever offer.  The actor said that each role she plays expands the vision for black talent in  the film industry. 

“We do it one film at a time,” Nyong’o concluded.  

Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta, (Namor) one of the new characters in the Wakanda story said that the Black Panther series was pivotal in creating agency for people of color and representation for the collaborative journey of Blacks and Latin Americans.    

“This movie was the door for representation for many people. There is room for all of us in this world.  Wakanda Forever is the perfect frame to show who we are and embrace Brown and Black power.”  

Huerta said that as the film appears on movie screens throughout the world, it will convey the common roots shared by blacks and Latin Americans.  

“We are the same – we share the same root. It’s time to embrace and recognize each other,” he said.    

“And it’s just good business. It’s a win-win proposition,” he added.   

For actor and Afro-futurist Winston Duke, in the role of M’Baku, both venue and event are part of the Wakanda Forever premier story.  

“A movie like this adds a lot of gas to the tank about what could happen in the future,” Duke said.  

“Being here tonight in a space that’s so full of ancestral narrative that shows the disparate space that we came from. Having this movie about black leads and black imagination really sets up beautifully what tomorrow can be for all of us.”  

The Tobagonian actor said the Black Panther narrative is representative of the journey of Black people throughout the diaspora.  

Large epics have a space. We live in a large epic. Everything that has happened to us (Black people) has been large and epic,” Duke said. “We have a space in science fiction and Afro-futurism. Our ancestors dreamt of this day. Tonight, is a manifestation of the light that our ancestors saw.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor,
dbaileyafro.com

In anticipation of a Covid-19 surge this coming winter, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee recommended Oct. 11 adding most COVID-19 vaccines to the recommended vaccination schedule for children and adults in the United States.  

The action by the CDC’s independent vaccine advisers came a day after  CDC emergency authorization of a Covid-19 booster dose for children five through 11 years old. 

Washington, D.C. is one of a few jurisdictions that added the COVID-19 vaccination to the required vaccination schedule for classes this year. Students aged 12 and older are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine series in addition to regularly required vaccines to attend school. 

But after school administrators reported problems achieving compliance, officials have now moved the date for expulsions for students who are not Covid-19 immunized to Jan. 3.  

“We have heard from many of you about the challenges of tracking enforcement for COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Paul Kihn, D.C. deputy mayor for education, in a letter to public and charter school board officials, who must also comply with the COVID-19 immunization requirement. 

“We hope that the Jan. 3, 2023 date for first exclusions of non-compliant students will give schools  and LEA’s enough time to prepare and for students to get the Covid-19 vaccination,”  Kihn  added.

Non-compliance with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement would impact D.C.’s black students at a much higher rate than their white peers.  Vaccination rates for black D.C. students age 12 and over hover near 65%, while the overall rate for youth vaccinations in that age range is 85%, according to CDC data. 

The D.C. The Health Department is working with Children’s National Hospital to offer vaccinations at five clinics across the city through Nov. 12, with the goal of ensuring all D.C. students receive the COVID-19 vaccination, as well as the entire list of standard vaccinations required for school attendance. 

According to the D.C. State School Superintendent, nearly a quarter of D.C.’s public school students have not yet received standard vaccinations for illnesses such as whooping cough and measles, much less the newly required COVID-19 vaccine. 

The deadline for elementary school students to come into compliance with vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine, was Oct. 11. However a two-week grace period has been granted for students who have doctor’s appointments to get vaccinated or those who can attend one of the free vaccination clinics organized by D.C. Health and Children’s Hospital. 

Sixth through 12^th grade students in D.C. must meet the vaccination requirement by Nov. 4. 

D.C. Heath and Children’s Hospital child vaccination clinics will offer the array of vaccinations for childhood diseases for D.C. public school students, including the COVID-19 vaccination series. 

All children attending public, private and parochial schools within the District are required to meet childhood vaccination requirements. Child vaccinations can be obtained at the following sites:

Special Additional Evening and Weekend Hours at Select Locations:

Childhood vaccination clinics will be closed Veterans Day, November 11.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Are you one of the millions of Black Americans impacted by Alzheimer’s disease? Maybe you are a caregiver, a sibling or a child with questions and concerns– and you’re not alone. 

More than 20 percent of Black Americans will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime–more than twice the rate of White Americans. 

Ironically, the neurologist, Solomon Carter Fuller, an American psychiatrist of African descent, was the first researcher to publish a comprehensive review of Alzheimer’s disease in 1912. The Liberian born doctor and researcher proved the disease was not the result of insanity and instead, represented a distinct disease of the brain.

Two thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women. The disease affects not only those diagnosed, but millions of loved ones and caregivers who are connected to the Alzheimer’s patient.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has put together an education series to inform the country on the disorder and highlight brain health. 

On Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Educating America Tour will make a virtual stop in Washington, D.C. Participants can now register and watch next month via Crowdcast.

After a welcome from President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., residents will hear from Dr. Raymond Scott Turner, MD, Ph.D., a professor of neurology and director of Georgetown University’s Memory Disorders Program. 

Turner’s 45-minute session, “Preserving Brain Health with Aging,” will be followed by a 45-minute forum titled “Legal TE Financial Issues for the Alzheimer’s Patient,” led by Morris Klein, a certified elder law attorney and a member of the Montgomery County Commission on Aging.

A third session, “Trends and Disparities in Risk and Diagnosis of Dementia,” will be held from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET by Melinda C. Power, ScD, an associate professor of epidemiology and the director of the GW Institute for Brain Health and Dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America recently held the Women & Alzheimer’s Empowerment Forum, which featured women who spoke on their journeys in dealing with the disease in both a personal and professional capacity. The speakers talked about caring for loved ones and patients with Alzheimer’s on a daily basis. 

Registration for the event is free and open to everyone. Individuals are encouraged to register in advance by visiting https://www.crowdcast.io/e/afa-washington-dc/register or calling AFA at 866-232-8484.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

You would expect higher income and education levels to relate to longer life spans for Black people in America. 

You might have even assumed correctly that communities with higher levels of Black home ownership and Black business ownership resulted in places where Black people enjoy lives well into their senior years.  

But would you have imagined that being born in a country other than the United States is the most important predictor for life expectancy among Black people?  Aside from income, a college degree, or whether you buy or rent, simply being born Black in America significantly impacts life expectancy. 

Still shocked? I wouldn’t have predicted that either.   

This is an example of the complex information now available to the public through the Black Progress Index, a new research tool that developers at the Brookings Institute say examines the “social factors that influence Black Well Being.”   

The Black Progress Index is the first of several tools developed from a new collaboration between the NAACP and the Brookings Institute, one of the nation’s foremost research institutions. The Black Progress Index examines the Black community’s assets and opportunities in health, business, housing, employment, and education.

The partnership between the NAACP and Brookings Institution will create a series of projects to “address the deep-rooted ills that have plagued our nation for far too long,” said Derrick Johnson, CEO and president of the NAACP. 

The distinction between the Black Progress Index (BPI) rests in the report’s emphasis on the strengths within the nation’s many diverse Black communities.  It also recognizes that everyone from community organizers to public officials need current reliable data to make decisions that advance Black communities.  

Research stemming from this interactive data tool, focuses on areas where the Black community thrives with respect to health, business, housing, employment and education rather than community deficits, too often created out of racism’s devaluation of Black life, according to the report.

“The primary goal of this tool is to empower local leaders with information to excite civic action,” said Brookings Metro Senior Fellow Andre M. Perry, who leads research products produced by the partnership.

“Data and research must be at the core of any strategy designed to make an impact. It is foundational and necessary for success in civic engagement,” Johnson added. 

Each year, the NAACP and Brookings Institute will present A Black Assets Index, a co-branded research report and publicly accessible dashboard, released annually at the NAACP national convention and produced by Brookings Metro Senior Fellow Andre Perry and his team. 

“Truth is the twin sister of justice,” said Perry. “From issues of student debt cancellation and taxation, to healthcare and economic development, we will generate data that will inform important policy decisions,” he said of the report’s value to policy-makers, advocates, community members and funders.   The Brookings Metro Division will house the work of the Brookings and NAACP collaborative. Other work of the collaborative includes. The new interactive Black Progress Index can be viewed here: https://www.brookings.edu/interactives/black-progress-index/

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Are you one of the millions of Black Americans serving as a caregiver for someone impacted by Alzheimer’s disease? The Alzheimer’s Foundation is sponsoring an Educating America Tour-Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Conference Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 am to 1:00 pm (registration opens at 9 am) at Whittemore House (1526 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036)

More than 20% of Black Americans will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime. This is more than twice the rate of White Americans and impacts not only millions of Black Americans living with the disease, but millions of loved ones and caregivers who are connected to the Alzheimer’s patient. 

Moreover, two thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women. Today’s panel, The Women & Alzheimer’s Empowerment Forum, features women who will speak their personal and professional truth about their daily journeys in caring for and loved ones and patients with Alzheimer’s on a daily basis. 

Wednesday, The Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Conference, includes sessions on Preserving Brain Health, Managing Legal and Financial Issues for Alzheimer’s patients and Disparities in Risk and Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Ironically, the neurologist, Solomon Carter Fuller, an American psychiatrist of African descent, was the first researcher to publish a comprehensive review of Alzheimer’s disease in 1912. The Liberian born doctor and researcher proved the disease was not the result of insanity and instead, represented a distinct disease of the brain. 

Registration for both events is free and open to everyone. Individuals are encouraged to register in advance by visiting https://alzfdn.org/dcevents or calling AFA at 866-232-8484.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Planned Parenthood is doing the extra work to make it known that Black women are at the heart of the fight for reproductive freedom.  

Planned Parenthood Federation, whose network of clinics serves 400,000 Black women each year, has organized a “Stand for Black Women” campaign, designed to send a message about the central role of Black women in the struggle for reproductive freedom. 

“The Supreme Court failed this country by stripping away the constitutional right to abortion for millions of people by overturning Roe v. Wade,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation.

“This resulted in unacceptable barriers that keep Black people from the comprehensive health care they need and deserve,” McGill Johnson told the AFRO.

Planned Parenthood, founded in 1916, has traveled a rocky road historically with Black women.   

Margaret Sanger, a leading voice in the reproductive rights movement of the early twentieth century and a founder of the clinics that evolved into the Planned Parenthood of today, was a firm believer in Eugenics, a theory that was condemned by many social scientists as racist. Eugenics hold that the human race can be improved through “planned breeding.”

In a 2014 statement on their website, Planned Parenthood distanced itself from Sanger’s beliefs, saying her views “caused irreparable damage to the health and lives of generations of Black people, Latino people, Indigenous people, immigrants, people with disabilities, people with low incomes, and many others.”

Planned Parenthood has partnered with Women’s March, formed in 2017 in response to former President Trump’s policies.

Today, both the Women’s March and Planned Parenthood say they want to make it clear, Black women represent the core of why reproductive freedom must be maintained in America. 

First term Congresswoman Cori Bush, one of eight honorees recognized by Planned Parenthood during the organization’s special brunch event, “Stand for Black Women,” spoke to the heart of reproductive freedom as a core concern for Black women.

“The decision to overturn Roe this past June was a continuation of this country’s shameful legacy of legislating and politicizing our bodies,” Bush said. 

Bush recently chose to make her own story of abortion public.  Sharing the story of the abortion she had as a teenage woman opened a flood gate for other Black women to emerge from shame to tell their own stories as survivors of sexual violence, commented Bush.

“I publicly shared my abortion story for the first time, one year ago today,” said Bush who is a registered nurse and has introduced four bills affirming reproductive rights since January 2021, when she assumed her role in Congress.  “I know that by sharing my story, that has the potential to help someone else,” Bush said.  

Bush and all of the activists, organizers honored continue to ensure that Black women’s voices are at the center of efforts to push back on women’s rights like the Women’s March event across the nation this weekend. 

Ebonie C. Riley, senior vice president of Policy and Strategic Partnerships with the National Black Action Network, was amongst the Black women honored by Planned Parenthood at the recent “Stand for Black Women” event. 

Riley, hails from a family of organizers and social justice advocates.

“Organizing is not something you do just to post on your social media page,” said Riley. “This is not glamorous work. It is essential work – our necessary business,” she added. 

Other honorees include, Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Marcela Howell, founder and president of the National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice agenda, West Virginia Delegate (WV-51) Danielle Walker, Actress Lynn Whitfield, and Amalgamated Bank, who was honored as a Corporate Champion for Reproductive Health. 

McGill Johnson said Planned Parenthood’s “Stand for Black Women” movement is not only for middle and upper income Black women, who have platforms echo their voices, but for Black women living in underserved circumstances; most impacted by restrictions on abortion.  

“We have advocates in every state who are helping to elect people in every state who support access not just to women’s health but to voting rights and alternatives to gun violence and all the issues that we need to live safe and free lives,” McGill Johnson concluded. 

Women, men and persons who stand for preserving the right to abortion in the United States are gathering to march on the nation’s capital this weekend and in hundreds of cities across the U.S.  

The National Women’s March has been working since the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, on the Women’s Wave marches held the weekend of Oct. 8 across the nation. The group is determined to send a message prior to current political figures as well as those running for governor in November’s state and national elections. 

The Women’s March, formed in 2017 in response to former President Trump’s policies, has had its share of problems including the concerns of Black women in the past.  

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), known across the nation as “The Divine Nine,” are joining forces and ramping up the fight to protect Black women’s lives.

The Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO) recently announced the “Tell Somebody” public service campaign, emphasizing the disproportionate impact of the Supreme Court’s June 24 decision repealing Roe v. Wade, leading to more than 19 states outlawing abortion.

The collective effort by the Divine Nine, meant to empower the community to counteract the potentially disastrous effect of the repeal, urges the Black community to engage the elected officials who can make the most difference.

“We’re calling on the 2.5 million members of the Divine Nine to contact lawmakers to mitigate the impact of this egregious blow to the well-being of 10 million Black women of childbearing age,” said Chris V. Rey, J.D., president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

Rey said it was important for Black fraternities to join sororities in the fight for women’s self-empowerment regarding their bodies, Rey said.

“Overturning Roe v. Wade will not end abortion, it will only end safe abortions and access to healthcare for millions of women—particularly poor women of color—and fuel a full-fledged public health crisis in this country,” he added. 

Planned Parenthood CEO, Alexis McGill Johnson, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, supports the advocacy efforts of the Divine Nine in the fight to counter the Supreme Court’s decision regarding abortion.  

Planned Parenthood joined with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to amplify the reach of the Tell Somebody campaign and honor trailblazers in the protection of reproductive health. 

“Despite the darkness we are living through, we must remember that we have the power to make a difference. As a member of a Divine Nine sorority, I know there is power in our stories and strength in our voices as we continue to push for freedom,” McGill Johnson said in a statement. 

The “Tell Somebody” public service announcement is produced by veteran broadcaster, Sybil Wilkes, “The Voice of Reason” on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and executive producer Yolanda Starks-White through their company YoSy Media. 

 In an exclusive interview with the AFRO, Wilkes said involvement with this issue represented a continuation of the social justice agenda she engaged listeners with as a part of the Tom Joyner Morning Show team.  

“This particular issue of taking away women’s rights represented an immediate threat against all women. Our company knew we had to get out there. When we were approached by Phi Beta Sigma and other members of the Divine Nine we knew we had to represent this effort,” Wilkes said. 

Wilkes is also happy to see Phi Beta Sigma and other Black fraternities take leadership on the issue of abortion rights. 

“This is not just a woman issue, it’s not just a Black-person’s issue, it’s about men, it’s about women, it’s about all people’s rights. It’s a human issue,” Wilkes said. “We have to be engaged and let the stakeholders know we are not going to stand for our rights to be taken away.”

The Divine Nine’s Tell Somebody campaign was planned shortly after the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Reversal was announced, but became even more urgent when U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced a national abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy on Sept. 15.

Marcela Howell, the CEO of the National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, immediately saw Graham’s move as an act to use the government to restrict Black women’s rights to health care.  

“As Black women, our fight has never been about the right to abortion care, it has always been about surmounting the federal and state barriers that prevent us from accessing the full health care that is critical to the wellbeing of our families. We will continue the fight to ensure that every woman has the power and resources to make decisions about her own body,”  Howell said. 

The Tell Somebody Public Service Announcement is narrated by veteran actor Jennifer Lewis, of “Black-ish,” and narrates the situations including sexual violence, that lead Black women to seek abortions close to four times more frequently than White women in America.“The Tell Somebody Campaign must lead the charge to mobilize our extended family—including the churches we attend, the PTAs where our children attend school, the little league and sports organizations where we coach or cheer for our kids, and the myriad other civic organizations we lead—until Congress takes heed of our demand for national legislation to protect women’s reproductive rights,” said Rey.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Dawn Collins fights back tears when she speaks about her son, Richard Collins III.

The proud Bowie State University mom was just days away from watching her son, recently commissioned as an Army 2nd Lieutenant, walk across the commencement stage. 

Lt. Richard Collins III would have been the third generation of his family to join the military. 

His decision to simply visit friends on the University of Maryland campus one fateful night would forever augment the family line.

On May 20, 2017, Lt. Collins was stabbed to death at the hands of Sean Urbanski, who was admitted to life at the Patuxent Institution. 

“I am adamant about speaking my son’s name. There are those who put a name on true patriotism. I stand here to say that my family– we– are patriots,” said Collins to the applause of those gathered at the White House for President Biden’s inaugural United We Stand Summit. “The Almighty has heard my prayers, a change is going to come, and his death is not in vain.” 

Collins spoke to the parents, friends, educators, and advocates fighting for change in the face of an unprecedented surge of hate crimes and divisive activity. She shared the moment at the White House with her husband, Richard Collins Jr.

The Collins family was honored at the United We Stand Summit recently  held at the White House. The parents were recognized as national “Uniters,” or persons engaged in “extraordinary work in their communities to stand together against hate, build bridges, and heal divides,” according to White House sources.

The five-year journey from that horrific day in May 2017 started far from Pennsylvania Avenue. The parents of Lt. Collins have worked tirelessly with local, state, and federal officials to change the designation of hate crime laws in Maryland and on the national level as well.  

In March 2020, the Maryland State Legislature passed the 2nd Lieutenant Richard Collins III Law, strengthening Maryland’s existing hate crime statutes. While Collins’ killer was charged and found guilty of 1st-degree murder, hate crime laws in Maryland at the time did not allow him to be charged with committing a hate crime against Collins.  

According to organizers of the event, the United We Stand Summit at the White House was designed to “put forward a shared vision for a more united America, demonstrating that the vast majority of Americans agree that there is no place for hate-fueled violence in our country.”

The Collins family and several others touched by hate crime were honored as “Uniters” at the White House Summit have a direct relationship with hate-inspired violence. 

Alana Simmons Grant was honored as a “Uniter” for the work she has done since her grandfather, Rev. Daniel Lee Simmons, was killed in the June 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. 

Simmons said that amid the grief surrounding the death of her grandfather and the way he died, she endured “a rough introduction to the judicial system.”  

South Carolina is one of three states that have no hate crime laws in place. 

Dylan Roof was sentenced to death on Jan. 10, 2017 after being convicted of “33 counts of federal hate crimes, obstruction of religious exercise, and firearms charges,” on Dec. 15, 2016, according to information released by the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

During the Summit, President Joseph Biden announced several federal initiatives designed to strengthen the nation’s response to hate-filled violence and advance bonds and civility between Americans.

“There are core values that should bring us together as Americans,” said Biden. “One of them is standing together against hate, racism, bigotry [and] violence that [has] long haunted and plagued our nation.”

New initiatives announced during the White House United We Stand Summit include:  

• $1 billion in new funds through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to support safer and healthier learning environments. 

• Additional funds from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to support student wellbeing and resilience in the face of hate and trauma 

• The White House Initiative on Hate-Motivated Violence, established to strengthen interagency coordination in preventing and responding to hate-motivated violence, leverage federal research and resources, and enhance engagement and consultation with diverse stakeholders– including communities targeted for who they are or what they believe.

• A call from the Department of Education for colleges and universities to strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to hate-based violence on their campuses and in their surrounding communities. In addition, the Department will gather leaders from institutions of higher education in communities that have experienced hate-fueled violence, including HBCUs subjected to recent threats, to spotlight effective practices in prevention and response. 

• The launch of an online resource finder for federal resources to prevent targeted violence in support of the 2021 National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism

• A joint summary from the DOJ, Homeland Security, and the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services for parents, caregivers, and community members, designed to provide information on how to improve incident preparedness; promote and expand programs for secure firearm storage at home; and access trauma-informed services and other resources for children, parents, and communities in the aftermath of an incident.

•  Increased awareness of the The Department of Homeland Security’s  Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps protect houses of worship and nonprofit institutions serving at-risk communities against terrorist attacks and targeted violence. It is available to help safeguard houses of worship including Catholic, Evangelical, or Mainline churches; synagogues; mosques, temples, gurdwaras, and other sacred spaces. 

Anti-hate and extremism efforts by local, private and community sources

• More than 140 mayors have signed a new Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate and Extremism. 

• Leading civic institutions will launch, “A Nation of Bridgebuilders.” Interfaith America, Habitat for Humanity, and the YMCA of the USA are responding to the President’s call to action by engaging tens of thousands of Americans in rural, urban, and suburban communities across the nation in meaningful opportunities to bridge diverse identities and divergent ideologies. Through A Nation of Bridgebuilders, organizations will train 10,000 leaders across the nation in bridge-building skills and host over 1,000 events with a bridge-building focus in over 300 communities.

• New Pluralists will galvanize funders to invest $1 billion toward building a culture of respect, peace, and cooperation

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By Deborah Bailey.
Contributing Editor

Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET)  has been exceptionally busy over the past 10 years.

These days, she can be found serving as founder and C.E.O. of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, a luxury brand of resorts started in Middleburg, Va., an hour from the nation’s capital. 

Johnson’s longtime fans and followers know she is a businesswoman who has long contributed to the Washington, D.C. area, as the first Black woman serving as a principal shareholder in three local professional sports teams: the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League, and the professional basketball teams for men and women, the Washington Wizards, and the Washington Mystics, respectively.

When Salamander Hotels hung its shingle on a property in The District’s newly remodeled Southwest waterfront this month, the crowds came out to welcome Johnson “home.”

“Together with Henderson Park, we will create a gathering place for the community in a relaxing and refined setting,” Johnson said to a crowd of hundreds gathered at the new Salamander Washington, D.C. hotel.  

The former Mandarin Hotel was acquired through a partnership formed between Salamander and Henderson Park, a leading global private equity property firm headquartered in the United Kingdom.  

The Mandarin had operated at a low 30 percent occupancy rate. The sale of the property went for an estimated $139 million, according to Hotel Management.net.   

“Welcome home to Sheila Johnson,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has on hand for the grand opening of the Salamander Hotel, Washington.

“We too are in the hospitality business,” Bowser said about the city. “Hospitality is also about jobs for our Washingtonians. We hope that the Salamander will be a huge and vocal member of our business community.”

“It is important to celebrate this achievement because it is important for people to know that we are 700,000 people –we have great neighborhoods and great destinations,” Bowser continued. 

The mayor concluded by saying visitors to Washington, D.C. generated more than $8.2 billion in revenue for the city and contributed to 80,000 jobs in the hospitality industry. She said she is confident Johnson will add to the life of the city through the acquisition of the Salamander Washington property. 

Johnson is already contributing toward the 80,000 jobs in D.C.’s hospitality industry by announcing that Salamander has decided to retain all employees of the former Mandarin Oriental hotel who wish to remain with Salamander. 

“We are also delighted to welcome the hotel’s employees into the Salamander family and introduce our unique style of service to this exceptional property,” Johnson added during her remarks. 

Jason Wright, president of the Washington Commanders Football team talked about the person behind the business leader as he spoke about her leadership of the hotel. 

“She is a bold visionary. You don’t go buy the Mandarin unless you have a bold vision,” Wright said. 

“Sheila knows her value. It’s that quiet and steady confidence that I wish I had. I try to absorb it from her every chance I can,” he said. 

“She’s led business ventures that feature Black excellence. It’s a special gift she has to create this atmosphere of family and luxury at the same time,” Wright said of what Johnson will bring to Washington, D.C. 

Johnson said she hopes to serve the community by offering a hospitality apprentice program through the resort as well as activate the hotel’s unique outdoor space overlooking D.C.’s waterfront.

“We intend to introduce the warm and inviting feeling that guests enjoy at other Salamander properties,” Johnson said. 

Salamander Washington, D.C. joins the company’s unique collection of iconic properties in storied destinations, including Jamaica and Anguilla.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) returned students to a smaller number of teachers and staff in their buildings this year.

PGCPS C.E.O. Monica Goldson said the school system is experiencing a shortage of roughly 900 teachers and an additional 150 bus drivers in Maryland’s second school district, serving 130,000 students. 

Goldson said PGCPS is starting the year with a shortfall of about 150 bus drivers, forcing existing drivers to be creative by doubling up on bus routes and transporting children to multiple schools. 

“We’re asking parents to be patient and expect delays,” Goldson said. 

The teacher shortage comes in the wake of large numbers of resignations that took place at the end of last academic year. Teachers reported being exhausted due to the demands on their profession during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We still have on average about 4.5 vacant positions per school building,” Goldson said.  “That averages to about 91 percent of our teaching positions filled and 9 percent unfilled. That comes up to about 900,” she said.  

Goldson said plans are underway to fortify substitute teaching roles, with a new campaign underway for retired teachers to return to the classroom and hiring additional substitutes. Extra compensation will be arranged for teachers who cover additional classes. Last year, PGCPS offered new substitutes up to $100 per day to take on the shortage of teachers the system experienced during the height of the pandemic. 

While PGCPS is working hard to overcome its staff shortage, Prince George’s County Schools will lift the mandatory mask mandate, and become “mask optional” on September 6. 

Goldson sighted “declining Covid-19 case counts” as the reason to drop what was one of the only mandatory school mask mandates in the state.  

She still urged families to take whatever precautions they felt were needed for their students to be safe as students transition to the optional masking plan after Labor Day.

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By Deborah Bailey,
Contributing Editor

Students in the D.C. area piled back into classrooms this week, but D.C. administrators are still working out some details of the “welcome back,” as many children arrived at hot facilities and chaos surrounding students COVID-19 vaccination status.  

With the first week of school, temperatures soared into the 90s’ and many of the District’s older school buildings were simply too hot. Staff from at least two District school facilities anonymously reported classroom temperatures soaring to 80 degrees, and more than 180 last-minute work orders to fix work orders to broken air HVAC units went unfilled. 

According to D.C. City Council Chair Phil Mendelson, the Council did not receive a required report on school readiness last week from the D.C. Department of General Services (DCDGS). The Council passed the Back-To-School Safety Emergency Act to prevent the very problems it is facing with school children facing situations of extreme heat in school buildings, said Mendelson.  

“This is unacceptable, and I will press @DCDGS immediately about the lack of accurate and transparent data available to the Council, especially now, at the start of the school year,” Mendelson tweeted.  

 Mayor Muriel Bowser and City administration has also pushed back the date required for Covid-19 vaccination for all students. Under local law, students 12 and older must be fully vaccinated on all scheduled pediatric vaccinations as well as the COVID-19 vaccination to attend class.  

But according to data obtained from D.C. Health Department, more than 25 percent of D.C. Public School students are still not vaccinated. 

Originally, Bowser and School District Chief Lewis Ferebee said all children 12 and older must be vaccinated by the first day of school to attend public or private schools in the District.

But now, the required COVID-19 vaccination date has been pushed back to Jan. 3, when students return to school from winter break.  

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

The Hilltop is open! Classes have started for Howard University students coming from all corners of the globe this week– but did you know the real start of the Howard University School year happens the week before classes?  

This year – as they have for the past several years – incoming Howard University students participated in service and community engagement projects across Washington, D.C. and the surrounding DMV communities to acclimate incoming students to Howard’s motto of “Excellence in Truth and Service.”

More than 1,400 fanned out across the city during Howard University’s ninth annual Howard University Day of Service, organized by the Rev. Bernard L. Richardson, Ph.D., dean of the Howard University chapel.

“Service allows our students to discover and learn about the power of ethical leadership,” Richardson said.

The “back to school” service event is modeled on Howard’s internationally celebrated Alternative Spring Break program that sends students across the world each year, said University officials.

This year, Howard students, faculty and staff participated in service projects at several sites across the DMV.  Howard University will focus on community-building initiatives and start the academic year with an experiential emphasis on poverty reduction, educational enhancement, environmental preparedness, addressing health disparities and housing injustice.

Students conducted projects at the Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation, Anacostia High School in Southeast D.C., and at A Wider Circle, a non-profit organization located in D.C. located in Silver Spring, Md.

Howard University’s commitment to serving the community is one of the five key pillars of “Howard Forward,” the university’s 2019-2024 strategic plan.  

“We will serve our community with collaborative partnerships that transcend Howard’s borders,” said Wayne A. I. Frederick, Howard University’s president.  

Although volunteer service hours at the institution declined slightly in 2020 during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, service hours and impact to the community have rebounded, according to Rashad Young, senior vice president and chief strategy officer.

The University currently estimates the total value of service to the community of more than $350,000 with plans to exceed $1 million in community service value to the University’s neighbors this coming academic year, according to Young.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

President Biden has signed the 730-page Inflation Reduction Act into law. Your senators and congressmen are at home in their districts until Labor Day and not much in the way of legislation is predicted to happen between now and the 2022 mid-term elections in November.  

According to the House Democratic cheat sheet on the benefits of the “historic” Inflation Reduction Act, it is scheduled to make a “historic down payment on deficit reduction to fight inflation.” 

This will be done by investing in domestic energy production and manufacturing and by reducing carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030. The bill also includes major provisions for reducing health care costs and changing the tax code to raise revenue from Corporate America.   

But what does the Inflation Reduction Act mean for Black families in our everyday lives?   

The AFRO wanted the view from both the White House – and from “our house.” So, we asked White House Climate Advisor, Gina McCarthy, and LaTanya Brown-Richardson Ed.D., professor of economics and director of the Howard University Honors Program, to weigh in.  

We wanted to know if the White House and our “HBCU House” at Howard were on the same page about this major legislation doing any good for Black Americans– who are bearing the brunt of inflation, according to a recent poll by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.  

 “It’s going to save families money, it will mean more energy jobs,” said McCarthy, regarding the $369 billion dollars of climate and environmental justice provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act.  

“This is about making clean energy affordable for families,” McCarthy said. 

Black communities are more than 1.5 times more likely to be exposed to pollutants in the air, than compared to White communities, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These pollutants lead to costly chronic health problems from asthma and lung disease to cancer and even COVID-19.   

“This will change lives in our environmental justice communities that have been inundated with legacy pollution and heavy-duty vehicles spewing pollution into the atmosphere,” McCarthy continued.  

In an exclusive interview with the AFRO, we asked McCarthy to “get real” about what the major climate provisions mean in the Inflation Reduction Act. As well as what it will really do to put money back in the pockets of African Americans and other communities of color.  

 “This is about making (energy) affordable for families.  We have great electric appliances, terrific heat pumps, and solar systems that can be put into people’s homes,” McCarthy said. “There are significant rebates and tax credits that will make these technologies affordable to a breadth of communities that have never seen this before.”

But it’s not just about placing green energy appliances in Black homes – as healthy as that is for the environment and our own bodies. McCarthy said that the result of going green will be felt in our pocketbooks.  

“What that will mean is hundreds of dollars of savings every single year for decades. These systems will allow you to save money on your electric bill and at the pump,” she said.  

“The technologies are here. The Federal Government will be doing this in a way that allows them to bear the cost,” she said.  

The White House is supposed to get excited about legislation that it has promoted for more than a year. But we wanted to go to one of our HBCU Houses to check whether the White House press on the Inflation Reduction Act and its impact on the Black community was substance – or show. 

Professor Brown-Robinson said the key to the Inflation Reduction Act for Black America is to examine the range of the legislation’s climate and health care provisions.  

“The key components of the Inflation Reduction Act that impact Black Americans directly are the expansion in Medicare benefits, lowering of health care costs, and investment in disadvantaged communities due to environmental injustices,” Brown-Robertson said.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has researched health disparities in the African-American community for more than a generation and has linked higher costs for healthcare for Black Americans as a critical issue, said Brown-Robertson.   

“Regarding Medicare, research has shown that Black Medicare recipients have more healthcare costs related challenges than Whites. The act will help release some of the burdens of health care expenses, which have disproportionately affected Black recipients,” she added. There are other significant financial stressors in the Black Community, such as the cost of college and housing, which the Federal Government can and should address.  

“The Inflation Reduction Act is moving in the right direction by addressing immediate and long-term health care and environmental cost-related issues that have plagued the Black community for years,” said Brown-Robertson.  “However, more needs to be done to assist the overall financial hardships that many Black households face, such as student debt and significant housing costs.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Officials in Prince George’s County have announced that students will start the 2022-2023 school year with masks on. 

The PGCPS website recently notified parents that masking is now required of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS)  students and employees. 

“In light of the highly contagious COVID-19 BA.5 variant, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will return to a mandatory mask policy in all schools and facilities until further notice, effective on Aug. 15,” according to the website. 

According to PGCPS, the guidance comes at the request of the Prince George’s County Health Department. The Centers for Disease Control rate of transmission for the BA.5 variant indicates that the county is experiencing a “low” rate of transmission, but the rate was designated as “high” when the decision was made for PGCPS to restart the masking policy. 

School officials indicate they reserve the right to change the masking mandate at any time. 

“Mask policy is subject to change according to local and state health department guidelines and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations,” according to the PGCPS website. 

Donna Christy, president of Prince George’s County Educators, said Prince George’s County teachers are supportive of returning to a mask mandate if infection rates require it. Prince George’s County infection rates throughout the pandemic have been consistently among the highest rates in Maryland. 

Prince George’s County Public Schools will reopen on Aug. 29.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Today, the Biden Administration announced a targeted student debt relief plan designed to support working- and middle-class families.  

Features of the plan include: 

• Up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers who earn less than $125,000 per year or households earning less than $250,000 are eligible for debt cancellation.
• Extension of the federal student loan pauses a final time through Dec. 31, to provide borrowers a smooth transition back to repayment.
• A more manageable system for current and future borrowers by cutting monthly payments in half for undergraduate loans and holding schools accountable when they hike up prices.
• Temporary changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program so more public service workers can get their debt canceled after 10 years of service. Individuals can now – through Oct. 31 – take advantage of these temporary changes to the PSLF program. Visit PSLF.gov for more information.

“These actions will help borrowers who need it most – with nearly 90 percent of relief dollars going to borrowers earning less than $75,000 per year,” President Biden said in a public announcement on Aug. 24.

According to White House officials, the changes to income-based repayment will save the average borrower more than $1,000 per year on loan payments. The typical college borrower will see their loan payments cut in half. 

The early reaction toward Biden’s targeted student loan debt relief is mixed. The National Parents Union on Student Debt Cancellation said Biden’s plan is a start that doesn’t go far enough, given equity is one of the administration’s priorities. 

“From the standpoint of equity, there is still much work to be done. Canceling $10,000 in student debt when the average White borrower is $12,000 in debt, while Black women hold on average over $52,000 in debt is another example of how equality is not equity and we have much work to do to address the systemic conditions that perpetuate these inequitable conditions,” the organization said in a statement. 

The National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (N.A.A.C.P.) has long been a proponent of the complete cancellation of student loan debt.  At their annual convention this summer in New Jersey, the organization officially called for a minimum of $50,000 in student loan debt cancellation. 

“Canceling just $10,000 of debt is like pouring a bucket of ice water on a forest fire. It hardly achieves anything — only making a mere dent in the problem,” said N.A.A.C.P. president and C.E.O. Derrick Johnson. “Biden must recognize and regard student debt as a racial and economic justice issue.”

“Canceling $50,000 or more per borrower would free millions of Americans, allowing them to become more active participants in the U.S. economy. It would also drastically reduce the racial wealth gap,” he added.

Pell Grants are considered the “Cornerstone of African-American Higher Education,” according to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (JBHE). A special report issued on Aug. 24  by the JBHE indicates that Black undergraduates account for one-quarter of all undergraduate Pell Grant recipients in the U.S. 

Although the new White House loan forgiveness policy will cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for Pell grant recipients, thus relieving some of the burdens for Black students, the National Urban League remains one of many institutions that continue to call for a cancellation of all student debt. 

This is a developing story. The AFRO-American Newspaper will feature additional analysis in next week’s print edition. 

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By Deborah Bailey
AFRO D.C. Editor

The Black community surrounding Lansburg Park in SW D.C. has seen major changes in the 14 years since the Washington Nationals Park opened in 2008. 

Members of Alpha Phi Alpha’s Omicron Eta Lambda Alumni Chapter have walked with residents through the construction of new high-rise residences, buildings, fancy new restaurants and events going on around them – but not necessarily for them.  The men of Alpha Phi Alpha have said they continue to provide programming in the community because they are present for the original members of the Southwest Community that were there when the chapter was founded.    

“We were chartered in the Southwest quadrant. Every year we try to come remember where we came from originally.  Providing service to our community is important. Covid-19 has really been hard on our communities so it’s important for Alpha Phi Alpha to be here supporting this community that represents the area where we were founded,” said Preston Mitchum, president of the Omicron Eta Lambda chapter.  

Each summer for the past 9 years, the fraternity has brought students together in August, to celebrate returning to school and to offer resources and support to scores of residents. Children come to play in the life-sized tents blown up on the park lawn and to get backpacks and school supplies, while their parents visit one of the 20 community partners assembled, providing information about jobs, or voter registration.  This year, the Omicron Eta Chapter gave Washington National Tickets to residents who attended the back-to-school event, offering them a chance to see the local team just blocks away from their homes.  

“There are concentrated areas of this community that are doing very well and areas of the community that are not doing so well. We would like to let those people know that they are not forgotten. We see them. We are going to stand with them and not allow them to be pushed out. While they are here, they are going to have the same opportunities for prosperity as anyone else,” said Jarel Clay, member of the Omicron Eta Chapter.  

This year’s celebration was vibrant and lively, thanks to the presence of Howard University’s WHUR Dee jays at the turntables, and the effervescent Howard University Cheerleaders, outfitted and performing as children watched amazed and parents ran to take pictures of the dancing cheerleaders. 

“This brings the community together,” said Dejona Jackson who came with her four children to enjoy the food, music, time in the park and activities for her children. “I like the activities and the moon bounce,” said Dejona’s Daughter, Dakota, who picked up her backpack and school supplies before joining her siblings for a meal served by the Alpha brothers.       

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By Deborah Bailey, AFRO D.C. Editor and H.R. Harris,
Special for the AFRO

With a flurry of legislative activity on Capitol Hill in the weeks before Congress adjourns, many advocates in the Black Community have asked what progress has been made on U.S. Reparations for African Americans. 

The White House and Congress are preparing major celebrations in August for what has been called a “Historic” Inflation Reduction Act, saving Americans millions in health care, energy costs, and going after corporate interests who have not paid taxes in years. But where is Reparations legislation? 

“I think we have the votes,” said U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume, one of more than 194 Co-sponsors for the Congressional Legislation to form a Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. Mfume emphasized the point of the current legislation is to start the process of examining reparations proposals – “not to issue or decide upon a reparations strategy itself,” he said.  

“The House has advanced this issue for years,” said Mfume who hopes Congress will act before they leave Washington for mid-term elections this fall. When asked whether Congress would move forward with passing legislation authorizing the creation of a Reparations Commission after the mid-term elections, Mfume commented “it all depends on what happens in November,”  

“The Commission aims to study the impact of slavery and continuing discrimination against African-Americans, resulting directly and indirectly from slavery to segregation to the desegregation process and the present day. The commission would also make recommendations concerning any form of apology and compensation to begin the long delayed process of atonement for slavery,” said Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) lead legislative sponsor for the Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals. 

“Though the times and circumstance may change, the principle problem of slavery continues to weigh heavily on this country. A federal commission can help us reach into this dark past and bring us into a brighter future,” Lee said in support of the legislation. 

Rev. Mark Thompson, human rights activist who organized a national press conference and Capitol Hill lobby for Reparations legislation said that despite inaction by the White House and Congress, Reparations advocates across the nation are more committed than ever to pushing for Reparations. 

“With more than 215 committed yes votes, we are pressing forward for either a House floor vote or an Executive Order,” Thomson said in an interview. “This is not only the right thing for Democrats but also the smart thing to do:  to mobilize it’s most loyal constituency to the polls this November.” 

Thompson, who recently spoke to more than 200 church leaders about Reparations at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Black Church Summit in Chicago, said the Church is united in supporting the fight for Reparations Legislation on a national level.  

“I think the Black church is more energized and staying in the fight than ever,” he said. “Obtaining Reparations is the unfinished business of America,” Thompson added.  

“The Democrats need to find the courage to bring this bill to the floor,” Thompson said, pushing back on Lee, Mfume to not allow the issue of reparations to be put on hold for other legislation.  

Thompson also challenged the Biden White House for not doing more because of concerns that might alienate the party’s more conservative wing. 

“They are afraid of turning off independents,” Thompson said. “But the Roe decision has changed the game. The Republicans are wholly radical, and the Democrats need to step up and do what is necessary.  

“Frankly, the White House is not taking its cues from members of the House of Representatives. Biden can create the Commission to start the national conversation on reparations by executive order,” Thompson said.  

National Legislation to create a commission on reparations was first proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives in legislation was first introduced in 1989 by the late Congressman John Conyers (D-M), Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary.  The bill was originally and is currently proposed to “examine the institution of slavery in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present, and, further, to recommend appropriate remedies” according to Rep. Lee.  

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

The 39^th Annual National Night out celebration was a mellow event this year  at the Kennedy Recreation Center in the Shaw Historic District in NW D.C.    

Children played on the Center’s wide-open grass field, tucked amidst the garden apartment buildings and row houses that define the neighborhood. Men and boys worked on their basketball game on the Center’s outdoor courts.  

The only way you could tell there was something special about this first Tuesday night in August at the Kennedy Recreation Center was to come closer.  

Next to the basketball courts, hotdogs and hamburgers seared on the grill. Veteran 4^th District Officers Marcus Thomas and A. I. Harrison flipped burgers and served up plates to children and adults who ate at nearby tables.   

Walking toward the field, a giant moon bounce rocked from side to side, filled with children in the back of the recreation center’s field.  A colorful clown, who doubles by day as 4^th District police officer Evelina Rivera, blew life into countless balloons for a line of waiting children.  

This year’s National Police Night out is unfolding in the wake of a rash of shootings in the District’s N.E. Ward that left the entire city rattled. One person was left dead, and six others injured with gunshot wounds after a man opened fire outside the Azeeze-Bates apartments off 15th St. NE, Monday night.  

Although the shootings happened several miles away from the Shaw neighborhood, for the police gathered at Kennedy Recreation Center for the Shaw community, it brought the lesson home about the need to connect with their residents.  

Rivera, who uses her alter ego as “Evelina the Magical Clown” to connect with residents said the community, needs to know their police officers.  

“Now more than ever residents need to feel connected to law enforcement. The children especially need to know we are here to serve the community, to work with our community,” said the 16-year police officers.  

Residents visited information tables to see the faces behind city services like Danielle Dromgoole one of the voices behind D.C.’s 911 and 311 emergency services. 

“In the District, the police have done an amazing job of making sure they are very present in the community, and we are they are community helpers. As partners with them from D.C. 911, we all work together to make sure the District is safe,” said Dromgoole.   

“We’re here to help. Events like this just reinforce that message,” she added.   

Uniformed police moved effortlessly among their neighbors.  Neighbors brought their children over to connect with, to be served by their neighborhood police. 

There were no speeches, no presentations. Just people and police together. 

Byron Roberson, who lives near Kennedy Recreation Center with his 3-year-old son Bryce, stopped at Evelina the Magical Clown table to get a balloon.  

Roberson believes the burden is on police to keep working with area residents after Police Night Out is over to sustain community connections.     

“The police do a really good job, but it would be much more improved if all of our policemen and women actually lived in the community,” said Roberson.  

“If police officers lived in the neighborhood, they would know the residents from people who come into the community from the outside,” Roberson said.  

Roberson added that crime in the Shaw community comes when people from outside come in and disrupt.   

“But if you don’t live here, you don’t see us from day to day, you don’t know that” Roberson continued.  

Thomas, who has been with D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department for 28 years, took a minute from hot dog duty to add that after a generation of service with the D.C. Police, it’s still important for people to see the police as people.  

“They can see that we’re not all about crime and punishment. We’re about helping and serving. Efforts like this are always important.  

“I think the love is still there,” Thomas said about the relationship between the District’s police and the people of Washington D.C.   

With dusk approaching, the last hot dogs were scooped up by a gaggle of young boys, the Evelina the Clown a.k.a. Officer Rivera handed out the last balloon, and parents walked their children out of the gates of the Kennedy Recreation Center toward home. 

All were thankful for another ordinary night in Shaw.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

August equals Tax Free weeks and weekends across the US. This weekend, Northern Virginia is your destination for tax-free savings.  Virginia’s Tax Free Weekend – or Sales Tax Holiday, officially starts Friday August 5 at 12:01 PM and runs through August 7 at 11:59 pm. 

Virginia’s tax-free bargains are available whether you shop in person, on-line, by mail or phone, as long as you get the job done between the hours listed above, so c’mon everybody, let’s get it! 

According to the Virginia Department of Taxation, here’s the rundown.   

School supplies and clothes

Not ALL school supplies are tax-free (don’t even think about that laptop or smart watch. Yet, there are   many items included in the qualified list below.  

• School supplies: Items must cost $20 or less per item. Gone are the days to get your laptop or I-Pad tax-free.  But here are some of the many items you can pick up this weekend: Binder pockets, binders, blackboard chalk, Book bags, messenger bags, and totes, Calculators – watch the cost on those,  Cellophane tape, compasses, Composition books, Computer storage media, flash drives, crayons, dictionaries, disinfectant wipes, dividers, erasers  and dry erasers, folders, glue and plastic sticks, hand sanitizer soap, highlighters, index cards and boxes, legal pads, lunch boxes and lunch bags, markers, musical instruments, musical instrument accessories, and replacement, instrument supplies, notebooks, art work paint brushes, paints, including (acrylic, tempera, and oil paints, paper, (loose leaf to printer paper,  poster board, and construction paper, pencil boxes, pencils and sharpeners, pens, protractors, reference books, globes and maps, rulers, scissors, sheet music, sketch and drawing pads, textbooks (look up college students), tissues, workbooks and writing tablets. 
• Clothing and footwear: Each item must be $100 or less. We’re talking basic school gear – not designer originals. The items can be new or from your friendly second-sale store. Here are examples of qualified items you can save a few tax dollars in in Virginia this weekend:

Aprons, athletic supporters, Baby clothes, diapers, bibs, baby receiving blankets, but NOT diaper bags, 

Bandanas, bathing suits, cover-ups, swim trunks, beach capes and coats, belts, boots, choir and altar clothing, clerical vestments, clothing in general: shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, coveralls, dresses, jeans, shorts, coats, jackets, and windbreakers, corsets and other shapewear, costumes (sold, not rented), coveralls, footies, formal wear for men or women (sold, not rented), fur coats, stoles, shawls, and wraps (tell me where you find this item under $100), gloves and golf clothes, gym suits, uniforms, hats and caps, hosiery, shoe inserts, jeans, lab coats, leg warmers, tights, lingerie, neckwear, pajamas, religious clothing, choir and alter clothing, clerical robes, raincoats and hats,  ponchos,  bras, garter belts, corsets, hosiery, jogging bras, underwear, .rubber pants, shoes including sandals, steel-toed shoes, flip flops, scarves, socks uniforms and wait for it….wedding apparel purchased – not rented. 

Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Items

With the increase in late summer/early fall severe weather events in the U.S. caused by climate change, Virginia State officials want folks to prepare for the hurricane season. In the northern Virginia, and DC locals, many folks still remember the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Floyd (1999). Heavy rains in the aftermath of that massive hurricane damaged homes and left communities devastated across the entire DMV region. 

Portable generators – $1,000 or less per item

Gas-powered chainsaws – $350 or less per item

Chainsaw accessories – $60 or less per item

Other specified hurricane preparedness items – $60 or less per item 

Items to make your home more energy efficient. 

Now’s the time to stock up on energy star appliances for the home. Check out the Virginia Sales Tax Holiday Web site for more guidance on the Energy Star or WaterSense products you are interested in purchasing. 

Energy Star™ and WaterSense™​ products 

• Qualifying Energy Star™ or WaterSense™ products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use – $2,500 or less per item

Not EVEYTHING Is Tax Free in Virginia This weekend: These items are NOT included in Virginia’s Tax Free Weekend

OK, always someone needs it spelled out to the letter. No tax-free holiday bargains on the following items: 

Clothing and Footwear: No tax reduction for  Cosmetics,  Fabric, thread, buttons,  yarn for making clothing, hair accessories including barrettes, bobby pins, ponytail holders, bows, hair nets; handbags (that’s right, no purses ladies), handkerchiefs, jewelry (c’mon really?), breathing   masks,  ear protectors, face shields, hard hats, helmets, paint respirators, safety glasses and goggles, tool belts, welders gloves, no sports or recreational shoes including ballet, tap, bowling, cleats, glovers or goggles for sports. Goggles, elbow pads or mouth guards, ice or roller skates, shoulder, shin or elbow guards, no life vests, ski boots or ice skates, no wetsuits, water gear. 

Wait for it, there’s more. The tax-free holiday does NOT include:  sunglasses, umbrellas, wallets or watches, no hairpieces, no wigs. 

Tax-free holidays are coming up in Maryland in just a few days. Nevertheless, if you need a head start, or if you’ve got lots of kids to shop for, get your list ready and get over to Northern Virginia for this weekend.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is calling on Black women across America to take an active role in combating climate change and become part of the international green revolution by participating in the organization’s Trees of Hope campaign.  

“The Trees of Hope campaign is borne out of NCNW’s tradition of respect for our shared interconnected global responsibility for the future of Mother Earth, said NCNW President, Dr. Thelma Daley.  

At a ceremony attended by scores of NCNW’s partnering organizations, Daley, said NCNW will work collaboratively with the Arbor Day Foundation to support tree-planting initiatives in Haiti, as well as Mali and Senegal, West Africa. The Trees of Hope campaign will connect local farmers and organizations in the area to plant at least 10,000 trees.  

“This initiative is re-instituting what Dr. Bethune started, and what Dr. Height carried out,” said Daly in an interview with the Afro.  

Daley said the Trees of Hope initiative would serve as the first step in re-instituting the international outreach and footprint NCNW founder Mary McLeod Bethune and Dr. Dorothy Height, who served as president of NCNW from 1958-1990.   

“It is our job now to build on the framework that these great women started. Dr. Bethune said ‘leave no one behind.  Through the Trees of Hope initiative, we are inviting every member to participate. Trees are needed in Haiti, Mali, and Senegal, “Daley said indicating the organization may expand to other countries and/or shade deficit communities in the United States based on the success of the new initiative.  

Dan Lambe, Chief Executive Officer at the Arbor Day Foundation was on hand to affirm the partnership and welcome NCNW partners to the work of providing relief to the world’s environmental crisis through tree planting.  

“NCNW saw planting trees as a tangible multi-benefit way to make a difference on an international scale, said Lambe.  

“The Arbor Day Foundation has a long history of working on international re-forestation Together we found three projects we are going to support. This project is focused on an international footprint NCNW is excited to explore, and so are we,” Lambe added.  

Lambe said that the Arbor Foundation will be ready to start planting trees in the three countries identified for Pilot Hope by next year.” We work with other partnering organizations in the host countries of Haiti, Mali and Senegal who will be ready to do the actual tree planting based on the activity of the NCNW membership,” Lambe said.  

Deforestation contributes to climate change by accelerating the amount of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to the Rainforest Alliance. A recent study conducted by Jonas Schwaab, ETH University in Zurich, Switzerland found that the cooling effect of trees reduced surface temperature areas by up to 12 degrees Celsius. 

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Reporters Notebook: Inclusive civic engagement

By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

The National Association of Counties (NAC) just ended their annual conference on Inclusive Civic Engagement in Colorado this week. County Executives and officials across America are finding out, like all of us who live in counties, that the regions surrounding our major metropolitan cities are more diverse with challenges that require collaboration and a broader lens for problem solving. 

Black America is moving out to the county 

The counties surrounding Washington, D.C. are all prime examples of the diversification of once predominately-White land areas. According to the Pew Research Center, an increasing number of U.S. counties are majority Black counties, like Prince George’s County, a long-standing predominately-Black county. Prince George’s has the second largest population in Maryland and its residents were instrumental in handing Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Wes Moore his recent win. 

Dr. Aminta Breaux, president of Bowie State University in Prince George’s County is our featured Civic Engagement “shero ” for the month, demonstrating both the civic engagement and economic impact of our HBCUs in suburban locations.   

Montgomery County is recognized by many sources including WalletHub, as one of the most diverse counties in the United States. It also has the largest population in Maryland with more than one million residents. 

Resolving civic challenges in “MoCo’s” diverse communities always requires the County’s Black residents to be at the table along with Latino/a, Asian and East Indian voices. 

Moreover, according to recent data, Charles County Maryland is now reported to be the wealthiest Black county in America, surpassing their high-income earning District and Prince George’s County neighbors.   

According to recent US census data, the once sleepy farming communities of Charles County, 18 miles south of Washington, D.C. represent  the perfect places  for current federal workers, recent retirees and others who have amassed wealth to take the short commute from Washington and relax in quiet homes and communities. 

With this change in the Charles County community, new challenges will come where the Black residents who moved out of the city for some peace and quiet will need to show up and “represent” as new neighbors seek common understandings.  

So, I’m going on out to the county too, y’all! 

I will be transitioning from the DMV editor’s role in August to bring you more stories about civic engagement and change in these and other Maryland communities. Black population growth is happening all over Maryland – one of 10 states with the largest Black populations in the nation. 

I will continue to write both national and local stories, as well as ensure our Maryland and D.C. area HBCU stories are told.  But, after covering Prince George’s elections last month and seeing a record number of Black candidates on the ballot from school board to sheriff, I’m looking forward to getting more county coverage in the AFRO – and telling the dynamic stories in Prince Georges, Montgomery and Charles counties and beyond. Where black growth is happening daily. 

Cause I always “wanna’ be where you are” as the late Michel Jackson would say.  

Thanks for a wonderful summer!  See you at the county fair this fall!

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

President Joseph R. Biden kicked off a campaign to ban assault weapons on America’s streets in an address to Black law enforcement officers this week. 

“We send you out to do your jobs on the streets flooded with weapons of war,” Biden said. “If you can’t support banning weapons of war on America’s streets, you are not on the side of the police,” he said, referring to public officials who campaign on supporting the police, yet oppose restrictive gun legislation.

“I believe in the Second Amendment,” said Biden, mentioning his ownership of two shotguns. “But it’s not absolute,” Biden continued.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimated there are currently close to 20 million AR-15 style rifles in the U.S.  This represents an increase from 8.5 million rifles since the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act) expired in 2004. The law originally passed in 1994 after several high profile shootings in American cities left scores of people dead or injured. 

Law enforcement leaders also went to Capitol Hill this week to join the charge, persuading Congress to pass additional gun restrictions. Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison told lawmakers about the growing danger police face on the job due to the wide availability of assault weapons and guns in civilian hands on the streets. 

“In addition to the proliferation and availability of guns, we are severely challenged by today’s offender’s mindset and willingness to use a firearm to enact violence on others.

Sometimes shooting indiscriminately in a crown to shoot one person. Sometimes shooting directly at police officers,” Harrison said. 

“This is an environment in which our police officers work every day,” he said.

Harrison recounted the recent shooting death of Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley for the Senate Judiciary Committee. Holley died on Dec. 23, 2021, just days after she was ambushed while in her patrol vehicle. 

“On the night she was shot she was picking up a voluntary overtime shift in patrol. She was where she was supposed to be providing visibility in a community that had seen a significant uptick in gun violence,” emphasized Harrison.    

Holley’s murder rocked Baltimore, a city that has been gripped by violent gun crime for years. 

Aside from Holley’s death, the committee heard from residents of Uvalde, Texas who were affected by the horrific massacre at Robb Elementary. Survivors and loved ones of victims killed in the mass shooting at the Topps Supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y. were also heard. The hearings were led by Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D–NY–12). 

“With more than 300 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, and gun violence now the leading cause of death of children in America, it is clear that we are in a public health epidemic,” said Chairwoman Maloney.  “It is long past time for the gun industry to be held accountable for the carnage they enable and profit from.”

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By Deborah Bailey, AFRO D.C. Editor

Fresh from celebrating her fifth anniversary as President of Bowie State University in July 2022, Aminta H. Breaux is racing to excellence with her leadership team.

At the top of Breaux’s list is preparing the campus for the start of Fall semester 2022. She hopes this year is the campus’ first completely in-person school year since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. 

Breaux’s characteristic high-energy yet approachable leadership style has taken Bowie State University’s campus from “the best kept secret in Maryland” when she arrived in the Summer 2017, to a thriving HBCU powerhouse with a growing footprint across Maryland, the nation and world. 

Introducing the world to the Bowie Bold brand  

“Bowie State University, the first HBCU in Maryland has this amazing and remarkable legacy,” Breaux said regarding her survey of the campus. When she arrived, Breaux found a beautiful campus, caring campus community and a spirit of excellence.

“We were known when I arrived here as the best kept secret and I said why are we doing that?” 

“If there was anything that I wanted to change – it was simply to let everybody know about this incredible history, the wonderful excellence I see on this campus among our students, our faculty and our staff. 

Breaux said, “there were just so many positive things to tell others about. When I first got here, I would just go to meetings and tell people ‘did you know that Bowie State was the first HBCU in Maryland? And that would start the conversation,” she said. 

The campus has taken notice of Breaux’s capacity to spread the good news about Bowie State University’s assets.  

“She’s focused on making sure the achievements of the students, faculty and the University and staff were visible,” said Ayanna Lynch, assistant professor of Clinical Psychology and immediate past chair of Bowie State University’s faculty senate.  

“We have a new level of recognition in the region and state that we’ve never experienced before and that is to her credit,” Lynch continued. 

Breaux’s ability to spread the good news about Bowie State University to new and existing stakeholders has yielded tangible results: 

• Bowie State University’s undergraduate enrollment has grown close to 4 percent. University enrollment increase persisted even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The university’s endowment expanded from seven million to $36 million since Breaux’s arrival including Bowie’s selection as one of the recipients of a $25 million gift from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.   
• The BSU Living Learning Entrepreneurship Center opened housing up to 500 students, and campus hub for student introduction to entrepreneurship. 
• Groundbreaking on $129 million Martin Luther King Jr. Communications Arts & Humanities Building scheduled to open in fall 2024. 
• Growth in competitive academic programs including Online B.S. degree and MS Degree Programs in computer science, computer technology, criminal justice, management information systems and culturally responsive teacher leadership.  The university is offering a doctoral program in educational leadership (Ed.D.) and new in-person academic programs in cyber operations engineering, data science, applied biotechnology, philosophy, political science and economics and the internet of things. 
• Host University of the CIAA Basketball Tournament.   

As the first day of the fall semester approaches on Aug. 29, Beaux reflects on what she has learned about leadership, her campus and students during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

Collaborative leadership through the pandemic   

“I didn’t get the course on how to lead a campus through a pandemic– no one did,” Breaux said. “But I am a collaborative leader anyway, so I led by collaborating with my team, with faculty, with students.” 

“I formed a task force with faculty, staff and students to hear their voices. We had town halls sometimes several times a month,” Breaux said. “Communication was key. I didn’t have all the answers. No one did,” she said. 

Breaux said that the transformation to a virtual campus in spring 2020 was a team effort.  We transformed this campus to a virtual campus in just a matter of days.  The way we got through it was to collaborate. He helped one another. Everyone stepped up,” she said.

“We just have this family atmosphere at Bowie State,” Breaux continued. “Our faculty and staff were going to make sure our students got their education and nothing was going to stop us,” Breaux said.

Students at the center

Dejane’ Watts was one student who finished her last two years at Bowie State during the pandemic. Watts said she couldn’t be more proud of how Breaux reached out and connected with students, even virtually during what was one of the most challenging times in their own lives. 

“I am just so proud of her,” said Watts, a strategic communication major and December 2021 graduate.  “To see her as a Black woman and watch her take charge of this campus is so inspiring. Her energy and positivity was so motivating especially during the pandemic,” said the young alumnae who hails from Bowie, Md. 

Watts recently moved to Atlanta starting a career in communications within Atlanta’s burgeoning entertainment industry. 

And Breaux, whose love for students is at the core of her 35-year higher education career, returns the admiration and energy expressed by Watts and many of her students. 

“What I’ve learned is how creative and innovative and driven our students are to achieve,” Breaux said. 

“Students have changed. We have to pick up the pace to stay at the forefront in leading and supporting our students where they are today. I get such joy and excitement from talking with our students about their plans for the future,” Breaux continued.  

“In the future, I hope to continue to scale the resources and create the platforms we’ll need to help a new generation of students attain their goals and realize their dreams,” Breaux concluded.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Looking for that next high-quality eatery to add to your “favorites” list. Then of course, it’s time to get out and try one of the Black-owned restaurants in the DMV or Baltimore.  

Black Restaurant Week is happening now through July 31st.  Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell, and Derek Robinson established the concept in 2016, celebrating the rich tastes and aromas of African-American, African, and Caribbean cuisines nationwide.   

Luckett, Ferrell, and Robinson have put their brand on the map, with events running across the country and Canada after just six short years.  In 2021, Black Restaurant Week events garnered support for 1200 Black-owned culinary establishments throughout the U.S. and Canada, boosting sales at these establishments by 15%. 

The organization also sponsors culinary showcases, development grants from their nonprofit, Feed the Soul and an on-line platform featuring Black-owned foods and houseware brands.  

“More than 90,000 restaurants and bars closed nationwide since 2020, said Ferrell, Black Restaurant Week Managing Partner for Operations. 

“It is essential that we create a platform that drives awareness to black-owned culinary platforms in addition to our culinary tour,” Ferrell said.   

This summer represents their third annual event in the DMV region. Black Restaurant Week has expanded way down I-95 into Virginia, where this year, a dozen participating establishments are on board from right across the Potomac River in Alexandria and all the way to Richmond.       

Here in the DMV area, participating restaurants include the upscale yet approachable All Set Restaurant & Bar or the pit smoked taste of Money Muscle Bar-be-que in Silver Spring. In the mood for fish? Head to FishScale on Florida Ave. NW or for that gourmet burger of a lifetime, drive or take metro to K Street NW to Melange.  The place to go Jamaican anytime is the classic Caribbean favorite, Negril, in D.C. Silver Spring, and throughout Prince Georges County, Maryland. In the mood for a taste of the Motherland?  Spice Kitchen West African Grill in Brentwood is your destination.  

Willing to drive for a good meal?  Rev up the engine or take the Marc Train to Baltimore where you can start the morning with Vegan donuts at Cloudy Donut on Federal Hill. Get your fill of more than 40 different varieties of delicious and good for you (yes, these two words are intentionally paired) donuts. Applesauce is the secret that makes the donuts yummy and rich, side stepping the normal fattening fillers.  

Staying for lunch before you head back on I-95?  Get over to Mt. Vernon and stop at Fishnet Baltimore. Everything is good from the Grilled Salmon to the Baltimore Bomber. But if it’s your first visit, you gotta’ try the Real MVP – you’ll walk away like a champ.  

This is just a quick small sampling of more than 100 eateries participating throughout the DMV and Baltimore. So, start your tasting party this weekend, wherever you are in the expanded Metro area. 

And if you’re ready to make a great eating experience part of your late July road show, check out the list in the graphic above, turn on Google Maps and have a great time on your Richmond to D.C. to Baltimore foodie adventure.  

Happy Black Restaurant Week, everybody!

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Angela Alsobrooks soared above her contenders on Primary Election Day to secure the Democratic nomination for a second term as Prince George’s County Executive.  Alsobrooks faced competition from Sherman Hardy, Tonya Sweat, Leigh Bodden and Billy W. Bridges, yet walked away with 90 percent of the total vote. 

Alsobrooks was able to secure the trust of county residents for a second term with promises delivered on bringing new behavioral, cancer and comprehensive critical care facilities to the area. Prince George’s County often outranks all other counties in Maryland in morbidity and mortality rates for major illnesses.  

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney, Aisha Braveboy, is on her way to a second term,  running unopposed.  

County residents chose John D.B. Carr to succeed retiring Prince George’s Sheriff Melvin C. High as  Democratic candidate for their next sheriff.  Carr scored 48 percent of the vote in a crowded field of contenders. 

County Council Races*

Calvin Hawkins, Jr. and Mel Franklin are on their way to securing the Democratic nomination for County Council at Large seats, having both secured more than 30 percent of the total vote in a crowded field of candidates. 

District County Council winners are listed below. Two finalists are listed when candidates are within three percentage points of one another.  The County will tally 28,000 mail-in ballots as the AFRO goes to press.  

District 1 – Tom Dernoga (ran unopposed)

District 2 – Wanika Fisher (49 percent) and Victor Ramirez (46 percent)

District 3 – Eric C. Olsen (53 percent)

District 4 – Ingrid S. Harrison (51 percent)-    

District 5 – Jolene Ivey (ran unopposed) 

District 6 – Wala Blegy (31 percent) and Denise G. Smith (28 percent)

District 7 – Krystal Oriadha (57 percent)

District 8 – Edward Burroughs III (72 percent)

District 9 – Sydney Harrison (68 percent)

*Data retrieved from Maryland State Board of Elections 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

District of Columbia officials reported the highest number of monkeypox cases per capita in the United States this week. The news comes as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and District officials are still grappling with the roll out of testing and vaccination for the virus. 

At a press conference on July 18, Mayor Muriel Bowser and outgoing DC Public Health Public Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt met with the media to provide details on the City’s response to the outbreak. 

This week, District Health Officials reported 122 reported cases, with more than 530 close contacts since the District’s first reported case on June 4.  

The current caseload primarily affects the LGBTQ+ community, but Nesbitt warned District residents the virus could strike anyone. 

Roughly 82 percent of cases are in persons who self-identified as gay and 96% of cases in males in the District, according to D.C. Public Health data. 

“This is extremely important that we do not create stigma at this time, and that we encourage individuals to be on the lookout for symptoms,” Nesbitt said.

According to the CDC website, the virus spreads primarily through the following means: 

• direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
• respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
• touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids
• pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta

Bowser and Nesbitt urged D.C. residents to get vaccinated for the monkeypox virus. Right now, D.C. residents must currently pre-register for the vaccination because the District only has 8,300 doses.  More than 2,600 doses have already been given. 

Bowser said the District needs 100,000 doses to meet the demand. Currently, there are only two vaccination sites open from Friday-Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8 pm. 

Bowser expects an increased number of reported cases as more people get tested. 

The D.C. Public Health Department described the symptoms of monkeypox on their website.  

“Initial symptoms of monkeypox often include flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes followed by a rash and lesions on the skin. The rash can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus,” according to the site. 

“The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks and requires isolation until the lesions/rash scab over, the scabs fall off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed.”

Additional information for D.C. residents about monkeypox transmission, prevention, and symptoms is here:  2022-DCH-OneSheet-MonkeyPox-ENG.pdf – 197.5 KB (pdf)

Pre-register here for the monkeypox vaccine: https://v51r5a21s.dc.gov/en-US/mp-attest/

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

It is going to be HOT this weekend. With anticipated weekend temperatures ranging between 95 and 100 degrees, Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a heat emergency through Monday. District officials do not want you to try and “tough this one out.”     

Cooling Centers and Pools will be open for extended hours, allowing District residents to get relief from the weekend’s extreme heat, according to D.C. Parks and Recreation.  

Cooling centers provide an indoor, air-conditioned space for anyone living without access to air conditioning.  Parks and Recreation officials made a special appeal for senior citizens and persons living with homelessness to find a cooling center this weekend.  

Eleven D.C. pools will also be open for extended hours this weekend. One outdoor pool in each ward will be open from 10 m through 8 pm Friday through Sunday. 

Another alternative to stay cool is Friday night’s late night pool party at the Woody Ward Recreation Center at 5100 Southern Ave. S.E. The pool will remain open until 11 pm. 

Finally, D.C. operates spray parks in each ward of the District. Come for a few minutes to cool off or stay for a while. 

The Afro featured an article on area public pools earlier this month. https://afro.com/jump-in-summers-here-theres-a-pool-near-you-in-the-dmv/ District residents have free access to any of D.C.’s indoor pools this weekend. 

If you don’t have access to any of these facilities and need to get out of the heat, go to a public library, hospital, sheltered park or other public facility.

Heat is the most dangerous weather element to human beings. Once core body temperature rises, heat exhaustion or heat stoke can happen much quicker than scientists originally thought, according to new research from Pennsylvania State University.   

A list of cooling centers, extended hour pool facilities, and spray parks is listed below.  

EXTENDED HOUR POOLS – 10 am – 8 pm Friday through Sunday

• Ward 1: Banneker Pool
• Ward 2: Volta Park Pool
• Ward 3: Hearst Pool
• Ward 4: Upshur Pool
• Ward 5: Langdon Park Pool and Harry Thomas Sr. Pool
• Ward 6: Randall Pool
• Ward 7: Ridge Road Pool and Rosedale Pool
• Ward 8: Fort Stanton Pool and Oxon Run Pool

 D.C. Emergency Cooling Centers  

For Senior Citizens:

• Arthur Capper, 900 5th St. SE, 202-546-1024
• Carroll Apartments, 410 M St. SE, 202-727-4069
• Fort Lincoln, 2855 Bladensburg Road NE, 202-576-6370
• Garfield, 2301 11th St. NW, 202-362-7452
• Horizon House, 1150 12th St. NW, 202-682-9395
• James Apartments, 1425 N St. NW, 202-673-2387
• Knox Hill, 2700 Jasper St. SE, 202-727-4005
• LeDroit, 2125 4th St. NW, 202-238-0483
• Sibley Plaza, 1140 N. Capitol St. NW, 202-289-0095
• Regency House, 5201 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-362-4445

For persons living with homelessness:

• Open Door Shelter for Women, 425 2nd St. NW (North Entrance)
• Catholic Charities 801 East Men’s Shelter, 801 East Building, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE
• New York Avenue Men’s Emergency Shelter, 1355 New York Ave. NE
• Adam’s Place Emergency Shelter (Men) 2210 Adam’s Place NE
• John L. Young Center for Women 425 D St. NW
• DC General Building #9 (Women), 1900 Massachusetts Ave. SE

General Cooling Centers 

• One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St., NW, 202-724-8613
• Frank D. Reeves Center (Lobby), 2000 14th St. NW, 202-671-057
• King Office Building (Lobby), 3720 Martin Luther King Ave. SE, 202-279-1800
• Virginia Williams Shelter for Families 920 Rhode Island Ave. NE

Spray Parks

 The District operates 34 spray parks with multiple choices available in each ward. Most spray parks will be open from 10 am – 8 p this weekend. Find one here: https://dpr.dc.gov/sprayparks

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Election Day in Prince George’s County Maryland is a major affair.  The County is Maryland’s second most populous county with close to a million residents (967,201) and counting. Prince George’s County is also the largest predominantly Black county in Maryland, with close to 60 percent of the population reporting their racial designation as Black on the 2020 U.S. Census. 

To that end, there are Black candidates running for every public office from County Executive to school board member. 

While the AFRO couldn’t feature all the candidate races in Prince George’s County, we did think it significant to feature the candidates for County Executive.  Several former Prince George’s County Executives have eventually become Governor of Maryland, although none in recent years. 

Moreover, Prince George’s County is a large, geographically diverse county – a microcosm of the many ways Black people live across the nation. The county incorporates highly urbanized core communities neighboring the District of Columbia, classic suburban communities and rural communities grouped in the County’s Southern rural tier.     

Much of the Black community that left D.C. due to gentrification –and the rising cost of housing that comes with it– carried their affordable housing concerns across the border with them when they moved. They settled in neighboring border communities, like in Prince George’s County. 

With 27 incorporated municipalities, 56 “census-designated places” and 29 unincorporated communities, Prince George’s County is an important barometer of the State. With the more than 500,000 Black residents, outpacing the 282,066 Black residents of D.C., the AFRO will use the pages reserved for D.C. and surrounding areas to expand coverage in communities where Black people live in Maryland as well as the District. 

Our goal is to include more stories about Prince George’s County on the D.C. and surrounding areas page. Look at some of our other Prince George’s candidates on this week’s Lifestyle page. Moreover, from now on, take a look at our new coverage of what is happening in the many, diverse Black communities of Prince George’s County.  

Primary Election Day is July 19.  And I don’t have to tell you – every Black vote makes the difference.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Vice President Kamala Harris will keynote the 113^th annual National N.A.A.C.P. Convention Monday, in Atlantic City, giving convention delegates both a progress report and a view of the road ahead for the Biden Administration.  

N.A.A.C.P. President, Derrick Johnson announced Harris’ presence at a press conference held at the Atlantic City convention site.  

“We are honored to have the Vice President join us in this critical and pivotal moment for our democracy,” Johnson said.  

“The Vice President has been a steady voice in the fight for voting rights, reproductive rights, and other assaults by the far-right on our freedoms,” Johnson continued.  

Top among the N.A.A.C.P.’s agenda items, are continuing the fight for Congress to pass national voting rights legislation and the recent Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, thus ending federal protection for abortion.  

“Despite enormous wins for representation, our civil rights remain under attack. This year’s convention will convene some of our brightest minds to cement a path forward,” Johnson said.  

In addition to Harris, the N.A.A.C.P. convention will host several other members of the Biden administration as well as members of Congress.  

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge Monday afternoon address participants and answer questions on Racial Equity in Housing and the Racial Wealth Gap. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh will also address the convention at the Monday afternoon session.  

Representative Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina), U.S. Congress Majority Whip will receive the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor given by the N.A.A.C.P. on July 20, at a ceremony on the final day of the Convention. Clyburn, a lifelong member of the N.A.A.C.P., said the organization shaped his understanding of public service.   

“From the moment of being elected president of my NAACP Youth Council (Sumter, SC) at the age of 12, I was taught that we all have roles to play in our nation’s pursuit of perfection,” Clyburn said.  

“I look forward to living long enough and serving well enough to prove myself worthy of joining the ranks of previous Spingarn Medal recipients that include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Justice Thurgood Marshall; and my good friend, Congressman John Lewis,” he added. ​ 

Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) are expected to address the convention, welcoming attendees to their home state. The N.A.A.C.P. convention was last held in New Jersey in 1955.   

More than 8,000 delegates to the N.A.A.C.P. convention will work on agendas to address various issues facing the Black community including race and justice, education innovation, environmental and climate justice, an inclusive economy, health and well-being, the next generation of leaders, advocacy, and litigation 

In addition to hearing from the nation’s political leadership, the convention will host a job fair, continuing legal education and a host of events for youth and young adult leadership. N.A.A.C.P. convention planners estimate attendees will supply an estimated $10 million boost to the Atlantic City resort and Atlantic City itself during the event concluding July 20. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Swim season is in high gear throughout the DMV and pools in the District, Prince George’s, and Montgomery counties are open and ready for you to come on down to enjoy summer pool-side fun. 

The AFRO will be out at pools and recreation centers throughout the DMV this summer. We look forward to seeing YOU enjoying the best of summer.  Whether you like to swim, hike, camp, play pick-up ball, checkers or join an organized team or class, Recreation Centers across the DMV are your ticket for free and low-cost summer for you and your family.  

Washington D.C.

District Mayor Muriel Bowser kicked off the official outdoor pool season with a ribbon-cutting at the newly renovated “Woody Ward” (formerly Benning Park) Recreation Center. The brand spanking new pool at Woody Ward along with District indoor and outdoor pools are now operating six days a week from 10 to 8 p.m. Find a pool here: https://dpr.dc.gov/service/find-pool

D.C.’s Department of Public works includes 18 outdoor pools, 11 indoor pools, 33 spray parks, and 3 children’s pools. 

Admission is free for D.C. residents. Persons outside the District can purchase daily, 30-day, or 90-day swim passes at reasonable rates. Purchase a swim pass at the Deanwood, Takoma Park, Rumsey, or Wilson Aquatic Centers or here: https://dpr.dc.gov/node/539122

Prince George’s County, Md.

Prince George’s County operates 13 aquatic centers, bringing water recreation to all parts of Maryland’s most populous county of close to a million residents. All outdoor pools will feature two sessions, from 12 p.m. to 3:00 pm and from 3:30 to  6:30 p.m.  Pools are cleared 15 minutes before the end of each session. Indoor pools are available for general swimming from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Learn-to-swim classes for toddlers, children, and adults are offered in July and August. There is a fee for swim classes. Hurry if you are interested! Slots are filling fast and many are already waitlisted  

Find a pool here: https://www.pgparks.com/1023/Facilities

Search for swimming lessons here: https://pgparks.com/1036/Swimming-Lessons 

Montgomery County, Md.

Montgomery County residents, get in on this poolside fun! Montgomery County has four major indoor swim facilities and indoor and outdoor pools in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Olney, and Germantown. Seven large outdoor pools are located throughout the county. Outdoor pools will host two daily swims until August 14: from 1- 4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 3 pm and from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekends. From August 15-28, the outdoor pools will remain open for swimming from noon to 3 pm and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Montgomery County also hosts a range of aquatics classes, and several of the pools feature water slides. Starting in fall 2022, select county facilities will be available for pool party rentals (y-a-a-s)!  

Walk-up swim admission for County residents costs from $5 dollars for children 17 and under to $7 for adults. Non-resident guests pay $15. 

Want to find a pool in Montgomery County? Check here: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/activitiesandprograms/aquatics/

Check here to get ready for your fall pool party rental: 

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/activitiesandprograms/aquatics/partyrentals.html

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

The Women’s March is set to kick a summer of activism into high gear on July 9 as national protests continue to ignite around the country. The 2022 Women’s Convention is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas from Aug. 12 to Aug. 14. 

In the wake of the June 24 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade,  march organizers have filed a permit with the National Park Service for an 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the National Mall, Freedom Plaza, the MLK, and Lincoln Memorial Sites. They expect up to 10,000 protestors to flood the Mall in Downtown Washington, D.C.  

Trigger laws in 13 states have already made abortion illegal or highly restricted in six states with others on a timetable to follow. 

Woman’s March website has posted a website with a call to action request that persons participating in the July 9 March attend additional training if they are willing to risk arrest. 

“We will not be silent. We will not be ignored. And we will not let politicians play games with our lives and our futures,” the local site reads. 

In August, the group will also host The Women’s Convention with co-sponsorship from Planned Parenthood and other major pro-choice organizations. Organizers are planning for thousands of women to set an agenda for their movement going forward.  

Strategy sessions are planned to train conference attendees in campaigning, lobbying public officials, mobilizing, and messaging what the Women’s March organizers hope is a unified strategy with unified voices across many diverse groups and organizations. 

Women’s March organizers said they are hosting their convention in Texas because the state has been one of the most repressive with respect to the rollback of abortion rights.  Laws passed by the Texas legislature before the Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling already severely restricted abortion.

“We have to gather where the fight is, and in the places that women and our allies will be hurt the most,”  march organizers said in response to the choice of Texas for the Women’s Convention 2022. 

“We cannot fear our opposition or their strongholds. We will not leave the women of Texas behind in our struggle,” organizers.

The Women’s Convention costs $350 per person, which organizers have said is necessary to host the event. Scholarships are available to persons who cannot afford to attend. 

The Women’s March is the organization that sponsored the “Bans Off Our Bodies” Day of Action for Abortion Rights on May 14, after a leaked memorandum from Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito laid out the argument for overturning Roe. v. Wade. Politico published the memo on May 2. 

The Day of Action drew thousands to D.C and cities across the nation that held their own marches in support of abortion.  The group also attracted more than 450,000 marchers for a nationwide demonstration after Donald Trump’s Inauguration in 2017. 

Women’s marches were held all over the world in tandem with the 2017 Washington Women’s March protesting Trump’s anti-abortion position and pledge to appoint Supreme court justices who held this viewpoint. 

The original Women’s March organizers became embroiled in conflict over the inclusion of Black and Brown.  Criticisms of the Women’s March Movement said that the early marches were led by “White cisgender women” while the voices of women of color were drowned out. 

Women’s March leadership has not yet responded to the AFRO for comment on plans to ensure a more inclusive agenda this summer.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Tenants of Westgate at Laurel have had enough. Rising rent prices have been a critical concern for the life of the nation’s 2.5 year-old global COVID-19 pandemic.  But the immigrant tenants at the Westgate Properties, owned by Schwab Partners, LLC believe they are being taken advantage of during the pandemic. 

The tenants, supported by CASA of Maryland, said rent has been raised by hundreds of dollars during the pandemic, living conditions at the property are unsanitary and management is unresponsive to requests for repairs. 

The national median price for rental units has hit a record increase for the last 14 months. Rising rent prices have been particularly burdensome for Black and Hispanic Low income earners. 

COVID-19 rental assistance helped close to 2.5 million families and the relief assisted many in paying the bills. However, close to 5 million are still struggling going into the third year of the pandemic.

This is a developing story. Updates on the Westgate Tenants rent strike will be available online at AFRO.com.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

The issues are huge 

Access to voting, access to health care, instruction in our public schools, access to healthy food – or access to any food at all in some neighborhoods, public safety, and the skyrocketing cost of buying a home are major concerns for all of us.  If you are a Black and living, in America – these issues hit close to home – or to the homes of your relatives and friends – no matter what your income profile is.  

You might be “middle class and making it” now, but miss a few paychecks and see how quickly affordable housing and food security rise to the top of your list of concerns. 

According to a June 2022 survey administered by Bloomberg Media, more than 63 percent of millennials earning $100,000 to $150,000 a year are living paycheck to paycheck. 

The figures are similar shockingly similar for earners all the way up to the $250,000 bracket. While some folks walked away from the microaggressions of corporate life and started their own companies, others are still having a real tough time.   

Many who have been standing in COVID-19 pandemic extended food lines haven’t yet hitched their wagon to that new opportunity and “next” in their lives. You remember what that was like?

Well, what can I do about it? 

These “big ticket” issues can seem so large, that everyday people – like you and me– can easily think there isn’t much we can do.  Many are especially concerned that the threat of recession adds an overwhelming burden to an already stressed life. 

But wait – don’t throw your hands in the air.  Level up. Stay steady.     

While we can and must register to vote in the upcoming midterm elections for candidates who understand the issues we face as African  Americans…we must do more. Public officials can only do so much.  

You are the rest of the story. 

“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” wrote the poet June Jordan in her classic, “Poem for South African Women.”  

Did you know that local and state governments handle  the most basic “quality of life” issues that impact us from day to day?  

Last week’s Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade effectively made each state the final voice in decisions about abortions. Whatever your view is on abortion – don’t sleep on the state’s rights argument folded into that decision. 

“Think globally – act locally” in the words of Dr. King,  the battle cry is in this next chapter of our long american journey. The “trouble in the water” will be at your local school, clinic, police station or the state legislature.   

So how can I get involved – Give me some examples

Well, the AFRO plans to do just that. For the rest of the summer, and hopefully longer, the D.C. and national page will feature tangible examples of projects, initiatives, programs, and policies in which you can get involved.  Programs that rely on citizen participation, like the digital public safety tool, open policing, and D.C.’s new Eviction Diversion Program recently launched by the D.C. courts to change the game for those facing pandemic evictions. It’s time for you to get your hands dirty and learn to grow your own food and partner with one of building bridges across the river’s urban farms in Wards 7 and 8.    

Each week we will feature at least one initiative that depends on you and me to be the difference that counts for our communities for our peace of mind and for this next chapter in our lives. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Ph.D is a living example of what civic engagement looks like in action. 

Jeffries Leonard, national president of the Links and The Links Foundation, is a 2022 recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Award. The honor was bestowed on her this spring at the U.S. Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C. 

Jeffries Leonard exemplifies the truth that every voice is needed – every hand involved. She demonstrates through example the value of black women bringing our entire stories forward as we continue creating the best version of America in, for and with our communities. 

“We were elated to facilitate Dr. Jeffries Leonard’s nomination for this award,” said Dr. Cliett Long, executive Director of the Charleston, S.C.- based Lowcountry Rice Project (LCRP).  LCRP was responsible for submitting the President’s Volunteer Service award nominations.  

“Her lifelong commitment to service at the local, state, national, and international levels embodies the spirit and intent of the award. Her leadership in service is influential and will demonstrate to many others the importance of service to our fellow citizens,” Cliett explained.

Jeffries Leonard’s service to the community has included decades of service in the fields of behavioral health and health disparities. She has worked through some of the most challenging public health issues affecting all Americans – particularly Black Americans. 

Leonard has served as deputy director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. She was also chief operating officer of the District of Columbia’s Department of Health.

Prior to her executive level leadership in government health care, Leonard served as senior deputy director of Addiction Prevention Recovery – not a glamor role.  Leonard participated in “on the ground” advocacy for persons and their families struggling with addiction here in the District. 

More than 3,000 people per year seek addiction recovery services in the District. Moreover, the death rate due to drug overdoses is 58 per 100 persons according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  So providing treatment, recovery  and supporting persons, living with addiction through their entire journeys is no one’s dream. 

Jeffries Leonard served as vice president of the Black Women’s Agenda when she was nominated to serve in the role of National President of the Links.  

“As gatekeepers of justice and our communities, we are in a season like no other,” Jeffries Leonard said in remarks following her installation as president. 

In this coming season of life, the community organizations, service organizations like the Links, and others will become extremely important in developing and advocating for initiatives.  Programs and policies will help sustain life and open doors for Black Americans. 

“It is my hope that this incredible recognition from President Biden serves to encourage others and to serve their communities through volunteerism,” Jeffries Leonard said. 

The Links, is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. Members contribute more than one million documented service hours annually. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

While the Federal and District Governments are planning fireworks and parades for downtown Washington D.C., others are preparing to wear black on 4 July in protest of the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 25 decision overturning Roe V. Wade and the right to abortion. 

A movement on social media has quickly erupted urging people to wear black on July 4 to show their aversion for the Supreme Court decision still making headlines. Local activists are weighing in on the possibility of transforming the 4^th of July Holiday into a protest activity. 

“The 4th of July is supposed to be a celebration of our independence as a nation, but our government is doing everything except ruling with legal impartiality. We’re in the midst of a monumental human rights crisis fueled by religious extremism and that lack of independence does not deserve a celebration,” said Jakeya Johnson, Chair, Young Democrats of Maryland Women’s Caucus.    

Hundreds of Twitter users, Instagram and Facebook posts have erupted like Michael Kaufman’s urging visible social action July 4^th.  

“Exactly!!! Wear black on the Fourth of July. 🖤🇺🇸🖤🇺🇸🖤” Kaufman tweeted in agreement.  

The 4^th of July Holiday has always inspired mixed sentiments among Black Americans and other communities of color.  The recent Supreme Court Decision signaling the end of federal protections for abortion have taken distrust in government to a new level. Black women leaders predict that a surge of black women will suffer disproportionately due to the decision to end Federal access to abortion services  

In a letter to the Biden Administration, members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) urged Biden to employ “every tool at your disposal” to afford black women safe measures to access abortion services. 

CBC Chair, Joyce Beatty (D-NY) said the Supreme Court ruling on abortion had the effect of government making rules about women’s bodies. 

“The hands of time have once again been turned back.”

“Let me be very clear: government-mandated pregnancy is not pro-life, it is pro-policing of women’s bodies,” she said in a statement. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Maryland’s four HBCU’s will receive a total of $4 million in scholarships in honor of Ozzie Newsome,  Baltimore Ravens’ longtime personnel executive and Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and his wife, Renee, announced the awards, given through The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation.  Each HBCU will receive a $1 million donation creating the Ozzie Newsome Scholars Program. Each of the students selected for the program that has just announced its inaugural class, has graduated from the Baltimore City Public Schools, and has chosen to attend one of Maryland’s four HBCU’s.  

Students will receive $10,000 per year for four years to defray their costs and other supports while attending school. Sonya Santilesis, Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) CEO considers the scholarship a win-win for Baltimore City Public Schools and Maryland’s HBCU’s.  

“This is a win for Baltimore City and our state HBCUs. My thanks go out to everyone involved in this truly meaningful partnership, “Santelises said.  

Maryland’s HBCU Presidents welcomed the support and the opportunity to connect City Schools with the state’s HBCU’s.   

“As the first HBCU in Maryland, we are honored to have this tremendous and impactful grant recognizing the powerful inspiration of Ozzie Newsome’s life of leadership and purpose while opening the pathway to higher education for the youth in Baltimore,” said Aminta Breaux, President of Bowie State University. 

Starting with the upcoming 2022-23 academic year, 20 incoming first-year students will be chosen every four years, culminating in the education of 80 Ozzie Newsome Scholars for the life of the scholarship program.  

All Ozzie Newsome Scholars will take part in the CollegeBound Foundation’s College Completion Program. The CollegeBound initiative supports students with a college completion advisor, and an upper-class student mentor who assigned to each scholar at their chosen HBCU. Ozzie Newsome scholars will also connect with each other in an overnight “transition to college” workshop this summer in addition to three annual skill-building events.  

“Any positive impact that can be made to help students – especially in the pursuit of a college education and their career goals – only strengthens our community as a whole,” Biscotti said of the program’s “wrap-around” design. 

“The Coppin State University community would like to congratulate Mr. Ozzie Newsome on having this important scholarship carry his name,” said Coppin State University President Anthony L. Jenkins.  

“Our hope is that the Newsome Scholars will take this wonderful gift they have been given and use it to make a better world. UMES looks forward to welcoming Newsome Scholars in 2022 and the following years,” said Heidi M. Anderson, President of University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  

Morgan State University President, David Wilson welcomed his Ozzie Newsome Fellows to the “national treasure” by inspiring them to gain the tools needed to “dance on the world stage with anyone,” he said.  

“We look forward to welcoming them to our beautiful campus and preparing them to be the leaders that they are destined to be,” Wilson continued.  

Ozzie Newsome is one of the few Black Americans who has maintained a long and cherished career in the NFL.  He was pleased to see his name connected to an opportunity for students to matriculate through HBCU’s.  

““I’m excited to see our deserving students embrace this opportunity and take the next step in their academic lives,” he said.  

““I have several family members who attended HBCUs, and my admiration for these special institutions is immense,” Newsome added.  

Ozzie Newsome has been the Executive Vice President for Player Personnel for the Baltimore Ravens since 2019. Wilson was the General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens from 2002-2018. Previously, Newsome held executive positions with the Cleveland Browns from 1991 to 1995, the last season for the Cleveland team. Wilson played with the Cleveland Browns from 1978-1990.  

Newsome was the Cleveland Brown’s Offensive Player of the year in his rookie year. In 1986, Newsome received the Ed Block Courage Ward for playing with injuries, and in 1990, the NFL

Newsome was inducted to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2003, Newsome received the Eagle Award, the highest honor given by the United States Sports Academy for his contribution to international sport. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Mayor Muriel Bowser, the winner of the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington, D.C.  night, is on her way to a history-making third term in office in November 2022. 

The two-term Democrat beat her three rivals, Councilman Robert White (at-large), Trayon White (Ward eight) and James Butler.  Bower walked away from the Democratic primary race with just under 50 percent of the total vote, according to data from the D.C. Board of Elections. 

Her closest rival, Robert White, garnered 38.5 percent of the vote, according to the Board of Elections.   

“For the third time, I stand before you, humbled and grateful that you have chosen me to be your Democratic nominee; today, I stand in the footsteps of Marion Barry,” Bowser said during the acceptance remarks at Franklin Hall in Northwest, D.C.   

Bowser managed to keep a plurality of D.C. voters on board with a traditional strategy to combat violent crime, a major issue during the campaign. While Bowser promoted a moderate, approach focused on investing in additional police resources, her two main opponents encouraged strengthening community-based resources to tackle the violent crime surge gripping the District. 

White pledged to work with Bowser during the next four years. “I want to congratulate Mayor Bowser,” White said during his concession speech. 

“I want to let her know that I am here to work with you,” he added.  However, White left the door open for a run for mayor in 2006 as a crowded room of supporters at Georgia Avenue’s Hook Hall cheered him on.

“For the folks who know me, you all know this isn’t the first time I’ve fallen down,” he said. 

The D.C. mayoral race mirrored the growing sense of the two Washington that have developed during Bowser’s years in the mayor’s chair. While communities in sections of Washington, D.C. have flourished since Bowser took office, other D.C. residents still live in food deserts and inadequate housing.    

Her opponents struck a chord with voters who felt the city’s development comes at the expense of low-wealth and moderate-income communities. Those who can’t afford the new developments, high-rises and high-priced establishments that have developed across the city over the last 8 years. 

The District’s once majority-Black population has dwindled to 46. Many Black families have migrated to neighboring Prince George’s, Montgomery and Charles County, Md., out of necessity, unable to afford housing in the District.  

D.C. is historically a Democratic stronghold, but Bowser’s campaign will need to stay visible in the coming months and deliver on her crime-fighting approach as the District heads into the summer months.  D.C.’s homicide rate of 97 persons represents a 15 percent increase over the 84 violent deaths in the city this time last year.  The District has experienced an 11 percent rise in violent crimes overall, according to data from the Metropolitan Police Department. 

Bowser’s primary win  brings her one step closer to a  third term as mayor of the District of Columbia. She will face Stacia Hall, Republican Mayoral candidate  in November 2022.  Bowser hopes to join  former Mayor Marion Berry (1979 to 1991 and 2005 to 2014) as the second mayor to serve the District for three terms.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

After approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), COVID-19 vaccines are now available for the youngest children throughout the D.C., Maryland, and Virgina (DMV) area and nationwide.

The vaccine will be available at all District COVID Centers, doctors’ offices and health clinics. 

D.C. Health Center staff indicate that the first shipment is limited. Each of the District’s COVID Centers received 150 doses of Pfizer and 150 doses of Moderna to start this week. An additional 60 doses of Pfizer and 140 doses of Moderna were scheduled to arrive following the next day. 

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are two shot doses administered four weeks apart. Parents will need to show proof of D.C. residency for their child to take the pediatric vaccine. Parents need to show an ID card, piece of mail with your name and address on it, or lease, which can all be used for this purpose. 

In Prince George’s Montgomery and Charles counties, the vaccine arrived on June 22 and should be available in pediatric offices, through family practitioners, federally qualified health centers, pharmacies, and local health departments throughout the region. Maryland parents in the DMV are urged to contact their pediatric providers or to schedule an appointment by contacting covidvax.maryland.gov or calling the GoVAX Call Center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX. 

“Everybody who can get vaccinated, should get vaccinated,” said family medicine physician Jarita Hagans. 

Hagans strongly recommends Black parents to get the vaccine for their youngest children and themselves as soon as possible. The D.C. physician and Howard Medical School graduate is a Baltimore native, who has served families across the DMV region for close to 20 years at her Zion Family Practice in Southeast Washington, D.C.  

“I am happy with the safety of the vaccine for young children,” Hagans said. “That’s why it took so long to roll out.” 

Hagans said she is familiar with the concerns that many Black parents have about the vaccine and their young children. She has also heard the suspicions Black parents have about the vaccine.

“I understand why Black people have concerns about vaccinations and medical information in general. We haven’t been listened to and our needs have been overlooked in some cases by the medical establishment,” Hagans said. 

“But that is changing”, she said. Hagans reminded Afro readers we are still in a pandemic and COVID-19 is still highly transmissible for those who are not vaccinated. 

The list of COVID sites for District residents to get their 6 months to 5-year-olds vaccinated is found  below. 

Next week: A deep dive into COVID-19 suspicions that still plague the Black community. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

How do you get Shirley Caesar, Vashti McKenzie, Tony Evans, A.R. Bernard and T.D. Jakes in the same room for three hours?

Blessing of the Elders.  Christian scripture requires adherence to the elders in the Christian Church. 

The Museum of the Bible reached into the heart of the racial divide in Evangelical America. This week, the Museum featured several well-known evangelical leaning pastors and leaders in a star-studded, celebrity-filled event June 23. 

“I’m thrilled that the inaugural event for Blessing of the Elders is being held at Museum of the Bible,” said Museum Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board Steve Green.

“The Black Church has a unique and rich history in our country, leaning on the Bible for strength, courage and perseverance, and this powerful story of faith needs to be told. We are privileged to play a part in this pivotal event,” Green said.

The “Blessing” of Caesar, McKenzie, Evans, Bernard, Jakes and veteran evangelical Christian evangelical leader and speaker John Perkins, at this week’s event was a path forward for the Museum to honor black men and women in America who have made lifetime, significant contributions to the Black church, according Green and the Museum’s Chief Relations Officer, Jon L. Sharpe. 

Museum leadership expressed the need to better connect the Museum with the story of the church in Black communities throughout the U.S. However, the idea of highlighting the “Black Church”, its history and future, elicited a range of responses from the evening’s honorees. 

John Perkins, a traditional evangelical, balked at the idea of the “Black Church” as he accepted the     Gold medallion awarded to each of the “Elders.”

“This ought to be the last night we talk about the Black Church,” Perkins said. 

Other honorees, like A. R. Bernard, envisioned the Black Church as America’s hope. 

“I believe the 21^st Century will see the Black Church bring hope and healing in a deeply divided society,” he stated. 

Vashti McKenzie, Interim President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ, USA and Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, highlighted the role of forgotten women in the church in her acceptance speech. 

 “I accept this award on behalf of women who thought no one would call their name.  I accept this on behalf of women who have been pushed to the edges of church culture,” McKenzie said, standing with her daughter and granddaughter.  

Jakes used the moment to recall the tragic murder of his grandfather and namesake, T.D. Jakes. 

“When my grandfather was 21 years old, the KKK wrapped him in bob wire and put him at the bottom of a lake,” Jakes said. 

Jakes recounting America’s need to assure that a “grandmother going to the grocery store to get dinner won’t get shot in the head” referring to the women murdered in the Buffalo, NY mass shooting, May 14. 

The “Blessing of The Elders” concept evolved quickly after the murder of George Floyd, said Pastor Sharon Ward of Chicago’s Insight Church.  Ward and her spouse, Pastor James E. Ward Jr. served as advisors and prayer partners with Museum leaders during the two-year process leading to the Blessings of the Elders tribute.  

“This is a beginning of great unity with the Black Community,” said Ward of the Museum’s agenda to acknowledge and strengthen its outreach to Black patrons. 

“We know America is in trouble.  The Bible has to now bring us together.” Ward continued.  

The Museum of the Bible, opened its doors in 2017, and like the rest of world, found itself in unchartered territory with the Covid-19 Pandemic and George Floyd’s murder in 2020. 

The Museum’s all-white leadership staff, in discussion with Black pastors and others, assembled a steering committee of African American pastors. The Blessing of the Elders is the first in a series of events for the steering committee.   

The steering committee, consisting of Bishop Claude Alexander, Rev. A. R. Bernard Sr., Bishop Dale Bronner, Dr. Jacqueline Del Rosario, Dr. Tony Evans, Pastor John Jenkins, Pastor Tony Lowden, Mr. Jon Ponder, Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Pastor James Ward, and Mr. Roland Warren started their work with the Blessing of the Elders tribute. 

“We seek to honor Black pastors across the United States who have been committed to their call of preaching the gospel and caring for the souls of humankind. We acknowledge and appreciate their exceptional contribution as vitally important to the development of America’s biblical values,” the group said in a statement. 

Is this marketing?  Is it the beginning of a faith-based movement to unite a fractured nation across ethnic and racial lines? Or, a little bit of both? 

“I would not call this marketing,” said John Hope Bryant, C.E.O of Operation Hope, and financial literacy entrepreneur. “It’s positioning.” 

“It’s a God thing,” remarked Ward.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

Black Lives Matter – three words have galvanized millions of people from all races, religions and cultures around the planet to spontaneously spill into the streets with a demand for true freedom, equality and justice. The words are also the name of an organization founded in 2013 after the murder of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his killer.

Black Lives Matter Plaza – In Washington, D.C.  a street mural stretching across two blocks of 16th Street in Downtown Washington, D.C. Black Lives Matter Plaza is easily identified by the 35-foot-tall sunburst yellow-painted lettering, announcing “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) on the 16th Street pavement. 

“There are people who are craving to be heard and to be seen and to have their humanity recognized. We had that opportunity to send that message loud and clear on a very important street in our city,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in response to renaming the popular downtown area near the White House on June 4, 2020.   

In late May 2020, protestors, engaging in activism after Floyd’s death, swarmed the 16th Street area near the White House daily in Downtown D.C.  On June 1,  protestors and citizens were shocked when they were met with tear gas at the hands of federal officials. Four days later, Bowser changed the 16th Avenue landscape and announced the new plaza to the city and world.  

Reaction to the creation of Black Lives Plaza was mixed two years ago. Some residents exuberantly defended the giant street art symbol. Others, including the Black Lives Matter D.C. organization, called the gesture a distraction from engaging in “real policy change” the group said. 

Two years later – the reaction is still mixed 

The reaction to Black Lives Matter Plaza today is still mixed and as complex as the protests that erupted around the world two years ago.  It appears geographic proximity to the site, prior participation in the George Floyd protests and a comparison of Black Lives Matter – the plaza to  Black Lives Matter the movement all play a role in the relevance people attach to Black Lives Matter Plaza today.   

Carolyn Jones, from McDonough, Ga. and a busload of members from her church and community stopped near the White House on their way up to New York City last weekend. The tourists wanted to take in the sites of the George Floyd protests and came to Black Lives Matter Plaza.  

Jones was resolute in his opinion that Black Lives Matter Plaza is a critically important symbol. 

“Absolutely it does matter. Indeed it does” she insisted. Her 14-year-old granddaughter, Bryla Farland agreed that the “name still has meaning.” 

Henry Jones, who also made the trip from McDonough, said, “It (the plaza) still matters because I know why it was named and what it was named for.” 

However, D.C. resident Salvatore had more conflicting thoughts. Salvatore said he was only 15 two years ago when the protests filled the streets of D.C. He  was one of the regulars who came downtown to march multiple times.

“I marched, protested and everything,” he said.  “However, for some people, Black Lives Matter is more like a trademark. Many people were serious with the protests two years ago, but some came just for the show.”

“It meant different things to different people then,” he said. “And it does now.”

A. Daniels, also a D.C. resident, was not impressed with the city’s Black Lives matter designation then, nor is she now. 

“The Mayor has not done enough to foster equality in her own city, especially in Wards 7 and 8,” Daniels said.

Finally, a D.C. resident who wished to withhold her name from the publication felt the alleged scandal affected the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. This foundation had an impact on everything associated with the name Black Lives Matter.

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the incorporated charity associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, has come under increasing criticism since November 2020.  Then, members of 10 local Black Lives Matter Global Network chapters filed a joint statement requesting the parent organization exhibit greater transparency regarding the organization’s finances. 

In April 2021, New York Magazine reported BLM Global Network Executive Director Patrisse Cullors purchased a $6 million house in Southern California.  Cullors defended the purchase in a May 2022 interview with the Associated Press.  

The organization is currently responding to a host of financial and legal compliance issues in several states including California, Washington State and Indiana that continue to cloud its operating status.  

”I’m still thinking about what all this means,” the young woman said.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

We are less than two weeks away from a major primary election in the District of Columbia. Sadly, D.C.’s favorite age-old game of the “haves and have-nots” has seeped into the D.C. Mayoral campaign.  The “have and have nots,” a staple of District culture, is on full display, compliments of some of the city’s Vanguard media and higher education institutions. 

Washington, D.C. has four official mayoral candidates according to the D.C. Board of Elections. In alphabetical order, they are James Butler, Muriel Bowser, Robert White and Trayon White. 

Some media outlets welcomed all of these candidates and afforded each a chance to articulate their viewpoints to D.C. residents. Hats off to WJLA-News 7 Television and Black-owned media colleagues at the Washington Informer and Radio 1 for joining the Afro-American Newspapers, ensuring citizens connect with mayoral candidates.  

Yet, other media outlets and universities created additional rules in exchange for access and exposure.

Georgetown University and D.C. ‘s Fox-5 Television implemented guidelines preventing one of the official candidates for mayor, James Butler, from participating in their June 1, televised Mayoral Candidates debate. 

Butler filed suit seeking the court to allow him to participate in the debate. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed Butler’s case, stating he “failed to state a cause of action,” according to court documents.   

Georgetown University’s Institute for Politics and Public Service required D.C. Mayoral candidates to meet at least one of the following criteria to participate in the June 1 debate: 

(1) Participate in the District’s Fair Elections Program, or

(2) Secure 1,000 campaign donations by May 10 or 

(3) Poll at 3 percent or greater in an independent public poll sponsored by a media organization. 

The University’s website indicated Bowser, Robert White and Trayon White “met the criteria” for inclusion.

Butler is not using public financing for his campaign. Additionally, he indicated a May 2 poll conducted by the Washington Informer, conducted via Twitter, would have met the 3 percent or greater qualification established by Georgetown University. 

 A Georgetown University official reportedly informed Butler that a Twitter poll would not meet the standard for inclusion. 

Sadly, other media outlets in the city also developed various criteria or simply chose not to invite Butler to debate openly with other mayoral candidates, including WAMU, American University’s public radio station.  

The D.C. Board of Elections is charged among other things with “ensuring the integrity of the electoral process” according to its website. That includes vetting candidates where four candidates met the Board’s criteria. Other aspiring mayoral candidates for the 2022 primary elections were disqualified, or withdrew failing to meet the Board of Elections’ requirements.  

The Georgetown Institute for Politics and Public Service’s website does not say why they developed additional criteria or who developed their standards.  Nor did WAMU, American University’s public radio station. 

Maybe there were good reasons – but we don’t know what they were.   

What has the media learned as we move past the second anniversary of George Floyd’s murder?  

Media’s role with respect to the government is to serve as a watchdog. This included exposing our government which opened doors to ensure people have more access to persons who impact our communities.  

A watchdog is not a gatekeeper. 

Why is the media or an elite higher education institution built on the backs of slaves, deciding who is a “worthy” candidate once the D.C. Board of Elections has done their job?   

Let’s go D.C. media, let’s do our jobs. Present the candidates to the people.  If you take issue with the D.C. Board of Elections’ official mayoral candidate list,  that’s another matter.  But, they are the gatekeeper for District elections. Not you.  

You created a platform, a platform is access.  Use it to include. Let all the candidates speak and offer commentary as needed.     

In the end, the people will decide.  

About the D.C. Democratic candidates for Mayor

The Candidates profiled on this week’s D.C. page represent the four candidates who, on June 21, will appear on the official D.C. Board of Elections Democratic ballot. We have chosen to profile these candidates due to the competitive nature of this race.

The Republican candidate for D.C. Mayor is Stacia Hall and the Statehood Green Party candidate is Corren Brown. Both Hall and Brown are running unopposed in their primary elections. The AFRO will profile these and other additional candidates this summer. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
D.C. Editor

James Butler’s name is not always on the list of candidates for Mayor of Washington, D.C. He has not been included in some of the debates, interviews and media sources that have provided a voice for the candidates running for mayor of the nation’s capital. 

However, Butler is a verified candidate, according to the D.C. Board of Elections. 

According to Butler, he is the only official candidate for the D.C. Mayoral election that is not currently either the Mayor or a Council member.  He is a former lawyer and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) and ran against Bowser previously in 2018, coming in second place. 

Butler said the city needs to “clean house” and he is qualified to be the change that city residents need to transform the pervasive problems that overwhelm some neighborhoods in the city and are a concern for all District residents.

Yet so far, Butler’s campaign, though popular among citizens at the neighborhood level, struggles to gain recognition and exposure.  

Although television station WJLA included Butler in their debate on May 23, WAMU radio, one of D.C.’s public broadcasting stations, declined to invite Butler to their debate. Despite including the current Mayor and D.C. Councilmen Robert White (at large) and Trayon White (Ward 8).   

In late May, Butler sued Georgetown University and Fox-5 D.C. who declined to invite him to a mayoral debate held.  Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service, said that Butler “did not meet the qualifications” established for the debate. 

Butler denies Georgetown’s claim. He vows to challenge what he has called the false claims of legitimacy that have kept him out of some campaign circles and address the city’s pressing issues.  

 “On day one, I will  make D.C. one of the safest cities in America and as an ANC, I get the opportunity to see where all the fault lines lie in the city,” Butler said of his priorities for the District of Columbia. 

Butler has been a District resident for the past 20 years and currently lives in the Trinidad community. He became an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in 2016; Butler believes the current political leadership in the District is complicit in harboring the major problems the city is experiencing right now. 

“After eight years, do you feel safer in D.C.? Do you feel D.C. is a more affordable city? Have we tackled our homeless crisis appropriately? Almost every single problem happened under their watch,” Butler recently said in an appearance on WHUR’s The Daily Drum. 

“They talk about the problems and they distance themselves,” Butler continued. 

  Butler, like all the candidates, said that he would make the District’s current record-breaking wave of violent crime a priority. 

“Our police force is overburdened,” Butler responded when asked about his plan to reduce violent crime. 

According to Butler’s statistics, the current D.C. Police Force has accumulated more than 1 million hours in overtime. He indicated the District could hire 500 additional police officers with the excess funding spent in overtime and would work to make those hires immediately.  

Butler said homelessness has reached a crisis level in the District; with residents choosing to live in open-air encampment communities rather than risk living in one of D.C.’s homeless hotels and shelters. 

“We spend more money to manage the crisis than we do to end the crisis. We will review how we look at our shelters and transitional housing.  We have to end this purgatory of keeping people in these shelters,” Butler said recently on WHUR’s the Daily Drum, one of the forums that allowed Butler an opportunity to air his platform. 

“The city owns lots of properties. We will hire the homeless to build them out to provide long term supportive housing,” Butler said. 

Butler lost his license to practice law in 2009 after complaints were filed against his firm. 

“I was 26 years old when I started my law practice. “When you are in your 20’s are you not the same person that you are in your 40’s. I have run other businesses since that time and oversight is the most important thing,” he said of the lessons he has learned during and after that episode. 

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By Deborah Bailey

Security plans are at the top of the agenda for D.C.  Metropolitan Police as we approach the dates for Something in the Water Festival, happening over Juneteenth weekend. The Festival, originally conceived by artist Pharrell, is scheduled for June 17-19 at the National Mall is expected to draw more than 50,000 fans and is one of a host of activities scheduled to celebrate Juneteenth in the District. 

Disruptions in last weekend’s March for Our Lives Rally as well as the DC Pride Festival have police on high alert to prevent possible disturbances at the three day Something in the Water event. 

DC Police will work in collaboration with private security teams hired by Festival promoters to manage security for the event. LGC Security is the primary contactor supported by Metropolitan Protective Services secured by Festival management. LGC is headquartered in Washington DC while Metropolitan Protective Services is based in Aurora Colorado. 

DC Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Deputy Mayor Chris Geldhart stated that all of his on-duty officers will devote at least part of their shifts to one or more of the District’s schedule of Juneteenth activities, including the Something in the Water Festival. 

Security plans are gearing up now for both the perimeter of the Festival entrance as well as inside the festival platform.  Representatives from Metropolitan Protective Services indicate a security perimeter being built in advance of the festival will prevent access to the event.  To prevent weapons from accessing the festival grounds, all ticket holders will be subject to manometers, similar to airport security protocol. 

Unfounded gun threats caused problems at both the DC Pride and March for Our Lives events last week. 

Festival planners are also aware of the crowd size anticipated for Something in the Water. Extra security measures are planned for the inner perimeter of the event as security experts are mindful of the 8 tragic deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in Houston in November 2021. 

Deputy Mayor Geldhart encouraged festivalgoers to sign up for city alerts ahead of the festival, for immediate notification and instructions in the event of a problem. Attendees are requested to use Metro for transport to and from the event. 

Finally, Geldhart reminded those planning to attend Something in the Water that no marijuana, knives, guns or umbrellas are allowed on festival grounds.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

HBCU’s in the DMV had their best night on Broadway Sunday as Myles Frost and Phylicia Rashad captured Tony Awards Sunday for their performances on Broadway this year.  

Bowie State University Senior Myles Frost received the Tony Award for best leading actor in a musical Sunday, for his role as Michael Jackson in the Broadway musical MJ. The 22-year old actor overcame tough competition from veteran Broadway actors Billy Crystal; nominated for his role in Mr. Saturday Night and Hugh Jackson, nominated for his role in a revival of the Music Man. Frost’s first Tony Award comes as Broadway musicals returned to life after the longest shut down in history due to Covid-19. 

“I am so honored and so blessed and so grateful,” Frost said in his acceptance speech before breaking out in one of the songs from the musical “I just can’t, I just can’t, I just can’t control myself,” he continued in full Michael Jackson impersonation. 

Phylicia Rashad, Dean of Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University, and veteran Broadway and Television actress also brought Tony Award honors to the DMV. Rashad received her second Tony Award Sunday night for her role as Faye in Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew.

Rashad earned her second Tony Awards for Best Performance by an Actress in a featured role in a play. In 2004, Rashad became the first black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Lena Younger in “A Raisin in the Sun.”  “It’s wonderful to present humanity in its fullness and to feel it received,” Rashad said in accepting her second Tony Award. 

Rashad has been a powerhouse in the theatre in both on and off-Broadway roles. She has acted in the musicals “Jelly’s Last Jam, “Into The Woods, “Dreamgirls” and “The Wiz” and starred in dramatic roles in August Osage County (Violet Weston), in Tennessee Williams‘ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Big Mama) and August Wilson‘s Gem Of The Ocean, (Aunt Ester–Tony Award nomination).

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

The DC Afro-Latino festival at Malcolm X Park June 5, offered just the right intro to summertime in the District of Columbia. The new festival, sponsored by the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) Officina Ejecutiva de la Alcaldesa para Asuntos Latinos, this past weekend, honored the District’s large Afro-Latina/o population hailing primarily from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Honduras. 

The crowd was ready and receptive. The estimated 400 persons attending enjoyed the music, the warm day and connection with each other.   MOLA officials were ecstatic about the day and estimate the festival will be back next summer! 

Want to see the complete photo essay of the Afro-Latino Festival on DC’s Social Circle page?  Get a subscription to the AFRO. For assistance contact us at 410-554-8200 or via email at customerservice@afro.com

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

The Maryland State Board of Education voted this past week to take action against the Prince George’s County School board chair Juanita D. Miller after county residents filed a petition to remove her from office. 

After receiving complaints from Prince George’s County School board members for months preceding the “notice of charges” against Miller, the State School Board’s formal action now means the State Board can elect to remove her. 

In an August 2021 letter acknowledging receipt of the complaints against Miller, the State Board issued a letter stating “If the State Board determines that a request to issue charges is factually and legally sufficient, it will send a notice of the charges to the member, who may then file a request for a hearing within 10 days of the date of issuance of the charges.”

Miller has been in bitter conflict with several board members since she was appointed by Prince George’s County in January 2021. 

“Now we can see that the State Board had to read through the facts and make a decision,” said Prince George’s County member Shayla Adams Stafford (District-4). Stafford was one of six board members who brought formal charges against Miller. 

County Councilman and former school board member Edward Burroughs has also called for Miller’s removal. “While every other board was working together to bring back our students safely in the middle of this pandemic, the Prince George’s County School Board was shut down,” he said. 

Miller told news sources she did not know about the State Board of Education vote and would seek an attorney for a hearing that is her right according to State School Board policy. 

The State Board of Education has a high bar for removing school board members. Misconduct in office, neglect of duty, incompetence, immorality or failure to attend meetings are among the actions that can prompt removal. 

In the last decade, the State Board of Education has removed only three board members. 

Starting in December, the country’s school board will choose their own chair and vice chair, positions that were previously appointed by the Prince George’s County Executive.  The Maryland General Assembly passed legislation in their 2022 session removing the board’s four appointed members in July 2024.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

June is LGBTQ Pride Month – a celebration and commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, staged to resist police harassment and general persecution of the LGBTQ community. 

“Pride Month is a celebration of our progress, but must also be an acknowledgement of the work that still needs to be done,” said Former Brookins Policy Director, Kristen Broady in a recent Brookins Institute article about the Black and Brown activists that started the Pride Movement and why activism by the Black queer community continues as a need.

Here in Washington, D.C., the LGBTQ community kicked off the national Pride celebration over the Memorial Day holiday with Black Pride weekend. A host of activities highlighting a range of professional, political action, educational, health, cultural, recreational, and spiritual and entertainment events.  

This year’s offering kicked off May 26, and represented the first time the Black Pride weekend was held in-person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“I laughed, I ate, I drank, I partook in the greenery, I loved, I fellowshipped, I read, I felt pleasure and passion, and I rested. This was a good pride weekend,” Bryanna Jenkins tweeted. 

This year’s event was hosted by a plethora of corporate sponsors including BET Television Verizon, Pepco and the National Education Association. 

“It’s been a good minute since I enjoyed my city and had so much fun the way I did,” D.C. resident, James Padge, tweeted.

Black Pride D.C. began in 1991 by Welmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland and Ernest Hopkins, in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which ravaged the LGBTQ communities in Washington, D.C. and urban centers across the county and world, according to the D.C. Black Pride Website.  

There were 800 people who gathered for the first Black Pride festival in Banneker Field with “Let’s All Come Together.” Since the D.C. celebration started, more than 30 other Black Pride celebrations have started in locations throughout the world.  

The leaders of this year’s festival caution that HIV is still present in the Black community. The African-American community was and still is disproportionately impacted by HIV. The illness is now the nineteenth leading cause of death in developed countries but is still one of the most leading causes of death in developing nations, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

AFRO Reporter Cara Washington will return next week with a run-down of the D.C. Mayoral Candidates. In our May 26 print edition, we featured At-Large City Councilman and Mayoral Candidate Robert White.  Stay tuned for profiles of Current Mayor Muriel Bowser and eighth Ward Councilman Trayvon White, as well as ANC Ward 5 Commissioner James Butler in upcoming editions of the AFRO. 

Just for you, the AFRO has compiled information from the D.C. Board of Elections in one handy place so you can slam-dunk the election process in D.C. 

Now is the time to get your election act together. It’s already June – and Election Day in D.C. is on June 21. It’s right around the corner.  

Now, what offices are we voting for in the upcoming D.C. Primary elections?  

• US Congressional Delegate (no, our delegate does not have the power to vote on behalf of D.C. residents– but residents still vote to send a Delegate to the US Congress). 
• Mayor
• Chairperson of the D.C. City Council 
• One at-large Council representative 
• Ward 1 Council representative
• Ward 3 Council representative
• Ward 5 Council representative
• Ward 6 council representative
• D.C. Attorney General 
• D.C. Shadow Representative 

Key Deadlines to Remember as D.C. Primary Date Approaches

• Change my permanent address Deadline passed MAY 31
• Need an absentee ballot JUNE 6  
• Military and Overseas absentee ballot JUNE 18
• D.C. early voting JUNE 10-19
• Primary Election Day JUNE 21
• Deadline for Board of Election 
• To receive your absentee ballot JUNE 28

Can I place my completed early ballot in a dropbox and where can I find one? 

• Fifty-five mail-in ballot drop boxes are distributed throughout the District. There are several in each ward.  
• If you have a completed mail-in ballot, you can drop it off in any of the drop boxes throughout the city until 8:00 pm on Election Day, June 21. The list of drop boxes is here:  https://dcboe.org/Voters/Where-to-Vote/Mail-Ballot-Drop-Boxes

I want to participate in early voting – but I don’t know where to go? 

• In DC – you can vote at ANY LOCATION! 
• However, just in case you are location-centric, Board of Elections has your back. Try this interactive Search Tool to discover the location of the nearest drop box, early voting center or Election Day polling station. Go ahead – try it.   

Do I have to belong to a political party to vote for candidates in D.C.?

Yes, D.C. Primary elections are “closed” primaries. You have to belong to the Democratic, Republican, Statehood Green or Libertarian Parties to vote in the primary election. However, all voters can participate in referendums.

OK, I am still NOT registered to vote. Can I register when I come for early voting – or what about on Election Day?  

Yes. You must show “acceptable proof of residence. According to the D.C. Board of Elections, acceptable documents include:  

• Current and valid District of Columbia DMV issued ID
• Government check or paycheck*
• Bank statement*
• Current utility bill*
• Student housing statement/tuition bill
• Homeless shelter occupancy statement
• Lease
• Another government document with your name and address

*Paychecks, bank statements and bills must be issued within 90 days of Election Day. 

Can I just peek at a sample ballot and see the names of all of the candidates?  

• Well, I thought you’d never ask. Look here for a comprehensive guide to the June 21 primary, complete with sample ballots. https://dcboe.org/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=86bfc705-32f3-48a2-9780-8f53fb4ad85f

Do you have an election question we did not cover?  Just ask the AFRO at editor@afro.com

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

The long awaited Memorial Day weekend has begun in Washington DC. Nothing represents a traditional Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC like the gathering of the United House of Prayer for All People (UHOPAP) at the Washington Convention Center. The crowning event of the House of Prayer’s Memorial Day Weekend assembly is of course, the annual parade on 6^th Street NW adjacent to the Church’s downtown headquarters. 

“You know there are more than 172 churches represented from all across the country,” said Kina Masons who was sitting on 6^th street along with scores of onlookers waiting for the parade to begin. 

Masons, who traveled to the Memorial Weekend Event from Philadelphia, is a lifelong member of the church started by Charles M. “Daddy” Grace in Wareham, Massachusetts in 1919. “Daddy” Grace is one of three now deceased denominational leaders including Bishop Walter “Sweet Daddy” McCullough, and Bishop Samuel Madison.  Clarence M. “Sweet Daddy” Bailey who assumed leadership in 2008 currently heads the House of Prayer. 

House of Prayer members gather from across the nation at Memorial Day for four days of workshops, educational sessions for the youth to learn about their former Bishops, prayer and worship services. 

“We don’t call it a convention,” said Masons who emphasized the church would gather and have parades in other cities including her native Philadelphia, Norfolk, North Carolina and Georgia. 

This weekend’s House of Prayer parade included bands, choirs, clergy, and cheerleaders, and of course children from across the nation. The parade even featured a white chariot carrying Bishop Bailey up 6^th street, waving to the world.  

This year was the first year since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, that the domination featured an in-person celebration. Washington could not be more ready for the return of the unique event that has become part of the District’s identify.  

“I look forward to working this parade each year, it’s a real highlight and a service to the community,” said one of the local police officers assigned to block off sixth street NW. 

“It’s wonderful to see all the people out and for this tradition to return to the District,” said the officer who choose not to reveal their name.

Now what about that mighty, meaty brass band sound?  What would a House of Prayer event be without trumpets, trombones, tubas and drums? 

Yes, the brass bands were back in full force hailing from Charlotte to Savanah and from Newport News to the world famous HOP hometown brass band in Washington DC. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

D.C. Public Schools officials are accessing options to keep children safe In the aftermath of yet another mass shooting. On May 24, an 18-year-old shot 19 children and two adults dead at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. 

D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis said schools will use the manpower at their disposal to keep children in District Schools safe while assessing options. 

In a statement on Twitter, Ferabee lamented the impact the shootings will have on students and personnel within the D.C. Public Schools system.

“Too often, our city and country must grapple with how to respond to heartbreaking incidents of gun violence,” he said. 

“There are no words that can paper over the work that must be done to ensure students and staff are safe,” Ferabee added 

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 2023 budget proposal calls for restoring funding to keep police in schools. Last year the D.C. City Council voted to phase-out police officers from public schools a year after the death of George Floyd. 

A Police Reform Commission appointed by the D.C. Council in 2021 found that armed officers in schools created an environment of fear rather than safety. A letter signed by 40 community groups accompanied the Police Reform Commission findings pointing to the disproportionate risk for Black children when school police are present. 

“Black students are more likely to be arrested at school for normal adolescent behavior than their white counterparts,” stated the letter. Police Chief Robert J. Contee III and D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee continue to advocate for police presence in schools citing the increasing number of violent incidents both in schools and communities.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

As residents across the DMV start the Memorial Day holiday weekend, COVID-19 rates are slowly starting to climb in D.C. and in neighboring Prince George’s County. 

Though both locations have seen an uptick in cases, the two jurisdictions have moved in different directions regarding guidance over the increasing infection rates due to new strains of the virus. 

Current COVID-19 infection rates in the District of Columbia are at 447 cases per 100,000 residents. New hospitalizations because of COVID-19 are at a rate of 6.4 percent of overall new hospital admits, according to the Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Tracker website. 

The current infection rate for the District constitutes a “medium” level rating according to the CDC site. In neighboring Prince George’s County, COVID-19 infection rates are also tracking at a medium level, according to the CDC site with 209.72 cases per 100,000 persons in the county. 

“COVID-19 cases have been steadily rising in Prince George’s County and the state over the last six weeks,” said Health Officer for Prince George’s County, Dr. Ernest Carter,  in a recent update for the media. 

Prince George’s County Health Department has reinstated voluntary masking in indoor settings as a result. Masking is still required in Prince George’s County schools, libraries and indoor health settings. 

Although the District is also tracking new COVID-19 cases at a “medium” level according to the CDC, the guidance from health officials has taken a different turn. 

COVID-19 tracking data is once again being reported after a two-week delay in data reporting from the DC Health Department from late April extending to the second week of May. Six members of the DC City Council have called for an investigation about why current COVID-19 data was not reported to the CDC for the late April to early May period. 

“D.C. Health acknowledged that it did not submit COVID-19 case counts, testing data and deaths to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between April 27 and May 8. The agency did not offer an explanation for its failure to do so,” said the letter signed by Councilmembers Charles Allen, Mary Cheh, Janice Lewis George, Brianne Nadueau, Robert C. White and Trayon White, Sr.  

Public Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt responded in a letter saying that COVID-19 reporting to the CDC has now resumed.  

Nesbitt indicated the “Epi-Info” system used to submit reports to the CDC had been suspended “out of an abundance of caution. Data submission resumed on May 8, 2022, after a review of internal data found no substantiation of any issues with the collected and reported data” Nesbitt’s letter stated.

Nesbitt went on to explain that a new system D.C. Public Health is being used to report COVID-19 data to the public. 

“Using best practices and in consultation with the CDC, D.C. Health shifted in early March after two years of daily reporting (which required staff to often work past midnight and weekends) to a weekly summary based on community levels” the letter stated. 

So far, the District has not resumed masking recommendations in public settings. Mask requirements ended in the District in March 2022. Starting March 16, masking was optional for D.C. Public Schools students and personnel. 

Prince George’s County has historically taken a more cautious approach since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. 

“We have to remind everybody that the pandemic is not over,” said Dr. Carter in response to the County’s resumption of voluntary masking in public. “We’re dealing with a really highly contagious omicron sub variant right now.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

After meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland, representatives from the nation’s civil rights community are developing their own action plans to address the spread of White supremacy. 

The plan for a concerted effort to address White supremacy come after the racially motivated attack on Black residents on May 14 in Buffalo, N.Y. A total of ten African Americans were killed in a local shopping center and an additional three victims were injured. 

The N.A.A.C.P. and National Urban League are preparing to take action on their respective plans to fight White supremacy at their conventions this summer. 

“How many more events like the massacre in Buffalo do we need to see before we take action to finally address White supremacy and domestic terrorism in this nation?,” asked NAACP President Derrick Johnson after the meeting with Garland. 

The N.A.A.C.P. has released a “Buffalo Response Plan” this week with specific proposals addressing (1) social and corporate responsibility (2) gun violence prevention and (3) police reform. 

The organization’s convention is scheduled to start July 14 in Atlantic City, N.J. where the plan will be a primary agenda item that organization officials expect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamila Harris to respond to when each addresses the organization this summer. 

Read the plan here:  https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-releases-plan-address-spread-domestic-terrorism

The National Urban League will address a response to the Buffalo shootings at their upcoming National Policy Conference in Washington DC on June 7-8.  Democratic Majority Leader Charles ‘Chuck’ Schumer (D-NY), Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and others will be invited to discuss Congress’ role in moving forward on legislation protecting Black lives.  

The National Urban League has also called on the Biden administration to host a national summit on hate crimes.

“Our commitment is doing something about it, beginning with calling on President Biden to hold a national summit on hate crimes to elevate the national consciousness around the rising danger of White supremacy and online extremism. 

“We need a whole of nation approach,” Morial continued, “to eliminate this threat to our national security.”

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Graduation at the Washington-Baltimore area’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been a standing ovation experience this Spring in the area. All area HBCUs have returned to in-person events this year after many had postponed graduation ceremonies altogether in the early days of Spring 2020.  Most campuses held hybrid celebrations in Spring 2021. 

However, this Spring, nothing can hold our area HBCUs and their students back from joyful face-to-face celebrations spanning the I-495 and I-695 Beltways.  Although all campuses are abiding by some Covid-19 protocols, including masking, social distancing and alternative viewing sites on campus, in-person celebrations have returned to the area. 

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) got the celebration started at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with renowned Civil Rights Attorney, Ben Crump serving as keynote speaker. 

“If you ever get the opportunity to speak truth to power, you do it, baby, you do it,” Crump said, starting his speech with the encouragement his grandmother gave him. 

Our ancestor, you all have to live up to your legacy,” Crump said to the graduates of UDC’s six Schools and Colleges including graduates of the David A. Clarke School of Law. 

Less than 20 minutes away, Academy Award-nominated actress and Howard University Alumnae, Taraji P. Henson came home to the “Hilltop” to address a sea of Blue and Gold clad graduates at Howard University.  Henson, the founder of a foundation advocating for mental health, understood the journey that many of the graduates had survived, graduating in what is now the third year of the Pandemic.

“You don’t like what you’ve been through,” she encouraged the graduates. 

This weekend, HBCU commencement mania continued on May 20 as Bowie State University celebrates its first complete in-person graduation exercises since the start of the pandemic. To celebrate, Bowie State welcomed Jacqueline McWilliams Parker, the first female Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Commissioner as the keynote speaker.  McWilliams Parker is in her ninth season as a CIAA Commissioner, is a member of the NCAA Board of Governors and will address Bowie State’s graduating class of Bulldogs.

 Heading north on I-95, Coppin State University welcomed Baltimore Police Department Deputy Commissioner Sheree Briscoe as Commencement speaker, also on May 20. The well-regarded Briscoe; rose through the ranks in the Police Department’s Western Division and oversees the Operations Bureau within the Baltimore Police Department, including the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, and Data-Driven Strategies Division.      

“It is a privilege to continue the legacy of the many great alumni, from Fanny Jackson Coppin to our city’s first African-American Police Commissioner, Bishop Lee Robinson,” Briscoe said. 

On May 21, Morgan State rounded out the area HBCU Commencement celebrations with a salute to social justice, honoring three “vanguards” of “social justice and the African-American Experience” according to Morgan State’s Commencement Committee. 

The University would bestow honorary degrees to acclaimed Morgan alumnus and filmmaker David E. Talbert, who also served as Commencement Speaker, and Morgan alumnus David Burton, the chief proponent in the landmark Coalition for Excellence and Equity in Maryland Higher Education (HBCUs) vs. the State of Maryland lawsuit; and Super Bowl quarterback and champion for social justice, Colin Kaepernick.

“We are absolutely thrilled to bestow honorary degrees to David E. Talbert, David Burton and Colin Kaepernick for their individual, and collective, contributions to the progression of the Black narrative and pursuit of excellence,” added Wilson.

So, no matter where you travel on the 327-mile journey between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Md., our HBCUs are celebrating a new class of graduates, with living examples of the tenacity, the creativity and the greatness that comes from the Black experience.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Summer is the time to introduce the young person in your life to a (Historically Black College and University) HBCU campus.  Let’s say you attended an HBCU, and want to instill that priceless HBCU love in your offspring.  On the other hand, perhaps, you’ve never stepped foot on one of the nation’s 109 public and private federally designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  Either way, Summer at an HBCU – either in your state – or across the nation represents an incredible time to help the young person in your life learn a new skill, make new friends and experience the rich history, culture and continuing resilience of Black folks in America through an HBCU.   

Most camps have started offering in-person options again, giving you and your young person an opportunity to experience both the campus –and the camp.  Eat in the college cafeteria, explore the college library and visit the classrooms.  Walk across campus and engage college students who will be in summer sessions of their own, when you drop your child off at your chosen HBCU summer camp. Stay close to home or combine an HBCU youth camp experience with a trip to visit relatives out of state.   

Summer is almost here, so if you still don’t have choices nailed down for the child or teen in your life – c’mon, let’s get it.  Spaces for HBCU summer camps across the nation are at a premium now and be sure to check out whether the camp is daytime only, or offers a residential option on campus. The camps below still have open deadlines in fields ranging from general summer enrichment to STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) camps to sports camps.      

Albany State University – Albany Georgia: STEM Pre-College, June 6-17 (ages 15-17); STEM Enrichment June 13- July 1 (Ages 10-18); Music and Visual Arts Summer Camp (ages 11-17) and others.   https://www.asurams.edu/news/2022/summer-camps-2022.php

Bowie State University – Bowie Maryland: Girls Who Will Summer Camp (rising middle and high school) waiting list available; Computer Programming for the Under-Represented (virtual camp) (ages 12-17) Boys only; June 27-July 8;   https://bowiestate.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/technology-and-security/community-outreach-and-camps/

Coppin State University – Baltimore, Maryland – Matheletics Summer Camp (rising 7-9 graders) July 11-29 https://coppinkidsclub.totalcamps.com/About%20Us

Jackson State University – Jackson Mississippi: Coding Academy (age 18) June 6-July 1; hurry deadline soon); Volleyball Skills Camp (Age 11-13); Summer Bridge Program; (graduating seniors) June 6- July 9; https://www.jsums.edu/summercamps/about/ 

Morgan State University – Baltimore, Maryland:  Summer STEM Day Camp 2022 for K-12 (ages 5-18) SESSION 1 July 11th – 15th, SESSION 2 July 18th – 22^nd, SESSION 3 July 25th – July 29^th; https://www.morgan.edu/semaa-program/bmaa-summer-stem-day-camp

Prairie View A&M University –Prairie View, Texas: 4-H Junior Youth Leadership Lab (rising 6-8 graders) July 5-7. Registration starts June 1; Panther STEM Residential High School Career Exploration Camp (Grades 9- 12) July 24-July 30; Summer College Prep for pre-med (rising juniors and seniors) June 27-June 30 hurry deadline approaching;   https://www.pvamu.edu/admissions/spao/camps/

Xavier University – New Orleans: MATHStar I/CHEMStar/PHYStar (rising high school students) Deadline May 27; https://www.xula.edu/pre-college-programs/index.html

University of the District of Columbia; WEAVE Summer Camp (Young Women Exposed Actively to the Value of Engineering) (grades9-12) June 18-22; https://www.udc.edu/2018/05/15/udc-biomedical-engineering-summer-programs/University of Maryland Eastern Shore – Princess Anne, Maryland: HAWKS MUREP Precollege Summer Institute (grades 9-12) July 10-22, contact Dr. Joseph Arumala oarumala@umes.edu; Japanese Summer Language Experience (rising 8-12 grades) July 11-22; Chinese Summer Language Experience (rising 8-12 grades) July 11-22. https://wwwcp.umes.edu/president/summer-camps-2022/

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

On May 14, much of the nation froze in shock and horror as televised replays of the murder of 10 innocent black lives at an East Buffalo New York grocery store. The constant reports still are still unwrapping the story of an intentional mass shooting targeted at black people by an 18-year-old white man who lived more than an hour away.  

Just two days later Dawn and Richard Collins II stood in front of a plaza on the University of Maryland College Park campus honoring their son, Lt. Richard Collins III. Collins III was killed five years ago this week in an apparent hate crime at the front of the College Park Campus. 

The Collins family, civil rights activists, lawmakers, university officials, and students gathered to recognize the fifth anniversary of the shocking stabbing of Lt. Collins, with the dedication  of a plaza in honor of the ROTC officer and Bowie State University honor student who was killed just days before his own graduation. 

“He was prepared to give his life for this country on the battlefield,” said Dawn Collins said about her son at this week’s memorial dedication. “What we didn’t know is that battlefield wouldn’t be overseas, it would be right here at home on US soil.” She continued. 

The similarity in the circumstances between the recent Buffalo New York shootings and Collins III’s stabbing death was on the minds of those who gathered to dedicate the plaza that now permanently bears the name of Lt Richard Collins III. 

“People nationwide have been quick to offer support and prayers,” said University of Maryland College Park president Darryll J. Pines. “But we must also promise action,” he concluded. 

After their son’s murder, Dawn and Richard Collins II got right to work to create change.  Although their son’s killer, Sean Urbanski was found guilty of first-degree murder, hate crime charges against Urbanski were dropped before his sentencing in December 2019. 

The Collins and a cadre of supporters from the community, Collins III classmates at Bowie State University and others lobbied the Maryland General Assembly and secured the passage of a new law expanding the scope of hate crimes in Maryland. The Richard Collins III Act took effect in October 2020 expanding the definition of hate crimes in the state to encompass crimes “motivated either in whole or in part by” bias or hate.  

Bowie State University President, Aminta Breaux also reflected on both Collins III and the Buffalo hate murders in her remarks and urging those gathered to remain vigilant. 

“No, this is not the end. This is the continuation of a fight against racism and violence and injustice in our society,” Breaux said. 

Students from Bowie State University and University of Maryland College Park worked together on a mural permanently embedded in the plaza. The two universities are also engaged in a joint collaboration, the BSU-UMD Social Justice Alliance to offer programs and curricula that advance social justice measures on their respective campuses. 

 Richard Collins II offered something close to a blessing of the plaza that includes a portrait of his son and namesake, and is just across from the bus stop where Collins III was tragically killed. 

“He shall forever be the sentinel that stands watch over this hallowed ground,” said Collins.  

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

Bowie State University’s Department of Fine Arts is showing the world there is a direct route between Highway 197, Broadway, the runway and innovation.

The “little campus” between Laurel and Bowie has become a powerhouse in the arts, science and business and just recently, students are gaining recognition for artistic talent, design and Entrepreneurship.

This week, Bowie State University student Myles Frost has been nominated for Best performance in a leading role in a musical. Frost’s nomination came for his performance as Michael Jackson in the musical “MJ” now performing on Broadway.

Tewodross W. Williams, chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department, said shortly after the announcement, “I am overcome with joy. “When I saw him perform on Broadway in March, I knew he was a special talent,” said Professor Williams.

“The entire Bowie State University family is supporting him and will be watching intently when the Tony Award winners are announced on CBS on June 12.”

A native Washingtonian raised in Southeast, Frost attended Thomas Wootton High School in Montgomery County Maryland where he began his acting career before enrolling at Bowie State University. He is a Music Technology major at the University’s Department of Fine Arts.

While Frost may be the most recognizable student emerging from the Fine Arts Building at Bowie State University, he is far from the only one.

You may have noticed Target Stores nationwide included a line of clothing by black designers during Black History Month this past February. One of those designers was Bowie State University senior, Sharone Townsend.

Townsend, a senior at the University, was named one of three national winners of Target’s HCBU Design Challenge for Black History Month. Townsend, who was a finalist in the competition last year, started his label, Stranger Than Nature at Bowie State University.

“It was just one of those moments that I was so proud of him,” said Danielle Brown, Instructor of Fashion Design in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.

Townsend, like many students at Bowie State, has an opportunity to market his products and services right on campus due to the campus’ new Entrepreneurship Living/Learning Center, which opened to students at the start of the 2022 academic year.

“The new Entrepreneurship Living/Learning Center has enabled the campus to have a home for our entrepreneurial ventures and activities,” said Dr. Johnetta Hardy, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center.

The new 500-bed residence hall and hub for entrepreneurial activity on campus allows students like Townsend to take advantage of a variety of workshops and courses that enable them to take their original ideas from vision to finished product.

Winners in the Center’s signature event, the “Bulldog Pitch” Entrepreneurship Competition, were announced earlier this month, with $12,000 first-place winner Jonathan Gorum, Senior business major.

Gorum’s winning pitch was for Gorum’s Exclusiveekicks LLC., his aftermarket company connecting customers with 100% authentic, limited, sought-after items such as shoes, apparel, gaming consoles, and other popular products.

“We have the Bulldog Pitch Competition to prepare students for the real world,” said Hardy.

Hardy said the goal is to prepare students to understand how to present and leverage their products and services with investors.

“This isn’t ‘Shark Tank’ but we hope our competition will instill in our students the planning and work that is required to be invited to appear on the ABC Network program or present to other potential investors,” she concluded.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

Generations of Howard’s fine arts community demonstrated how the torch is passed at the world-renowned HBCU, both at the podium and in the audience at Howard University’s 154th commencement celebrated on May 7. 

Howard University Alumna, Academy Award-winning actor, producer and director, Taraji P. Henson came home to familiar Georgia Ave. surroundings to deliver the commencement address to shouts and cheers from the audience. 

“Do y’all know the saying you don’t look like what you’ve been through?” Henson started her address to her home Howard University audience. 

“You triumphed over circumstances that would have taken out lesser beings, but you’re still here,” declared Henson who has also been outspoken on erasing the stigma around mental health in the black community. Henson is the founder of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in 2018 in honor of her father who suffered mental health challenges without the benefit of services or support.

Shortly before Henson’s address to the graduates, Howard University President, xc awarded Henson an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters.     

“The breadth of your roles is extraordinary,” Frederick said in introducing Henson to her alma mater.  He went on to list the many roles that Henson has starred in, each one, to a screaming audience of receptive students. 

“Whether it is the infamous Cookie, the lion of Empire; Catherine Johnson in Hidden Figures;  Civil Rights Activist Anne Atwater in the Best of Enemies; Queenie in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for which you received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress…detective Carter in Person of Interest; Shug in Hustle and Flow; Sherry Parker in Karate Kid or Yvette in John Singleton’s Baby Boy, you…give fresh new life to your Swahili first and middle names, hope and love,” Frederick extolled.  

Henson spoke about the special bond Howard students had when she was in school at the “Hilltop” the nickname many students and alumni have for the institution and revealed how the generations of the University’s fine arts community stick together to help each other through. 

“You know I became a mom at Howard. When I was six months pregnant… two Howard Godmothers, Dean Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen who helped me stay in school,” Henson said of the scholarship that she was awarded created by Rashad and Allen in their father’s honor. 

“I would not have graduated without their support. So Howard Bisons, we need each other.” Henson reminded the graduates.  

However, Henson was not the only Black media celebrity attending the May 7 graduation in Howard University’s Gymnasium.  

Rashad was on hand at the end of her first year as Dean to present the graduates under her charge. 

“I present to you the inaugural class of graduates of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts,” she beamed. The College of Fine Arts changed its name to honor the Academy Award-nominated actor and Howard University alum after his death from colon cancer in August 2020. 

Another the torch passed once again as “Black-ish” television actor Anthony Anderson received the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Anderson first attended Howard decades ago and dropped out due to financial reasons. Anderson re-enrolled in 2018 and credits his 22-year-old son, Nathan, who encouraged him to finish. 

“To quote Biggie, ‘IT WAS ALL A DREAM!'” Anderson posted on Instagram regarding completing his studies at Howard University. 

 “Words can’t begin to describe the emotional roller coaster I’m on right now. It’s literally been 30 years in the making,” he wrote. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

“Thy kingdom come” is a familiar phrase that will soon take on a whole new meaning in the upper northwest corner of Prince George’s County.   

Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Prince Georges and Montgomery County elected officials recently joined Kingdom Fellowship Pastor Matthew Watley and board members of the Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation for a groundbreaking ceremony. The celebration was in honor of the commencement of development of the new Kingdom Care Center in Calverton, M.d., scheduled to open in December 2022. 

The new center features a tri-county approach to serving human needs according to Watley, moving beyond the man-made borders of counties and cities to serve needs “where the people are.” 

 The center is located just blocks from the Montgomery County-Prince George’s County border and is less than 10 minutes from the western border of Howard County.   

“We are so excited to break the ground on this new project that will allow us to provide wrap-around services to residents of the Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Howard County region,” Watley said, greeting the crowd gathered in front of the new six-floor tower located beside Kingdom Fellowship Church’s new location on Beltsville Drive. 

The Kingdom Care Center is funded through a $2 million Federal Appropriation shepherded by Senators Van Hollen and Cardin, and $11 million allocated for the wrap-around service center passed by the Maryland General Assembly in keeping with Governor Larry Hogan’s FY 2023 budget.  

“The beauty of this vision and the power of this vision is simple. We don’t live our lives in silos.  We don’t live our lives compartmentalized. The idea behind the Kingdom Care Center is that we provide a holistic approach to the needs of individuals and families,” Van Hollen said. 

The Kingdom Care Center will serve as a “one stop shop” meeting human service needs of citizens across the tri-county communities where Prince Georges, Montgomery and Howard County meet. The Center will offer employment and vocational services, a health and wellness center, clothing, a food center, educational services and supports, housing services and a legal aid center. 

Senator Ben Cardin affirmed the Kingdom Fellowship family for stepping forward to serve both spiritual and physical needs in the tri-county area. 

“There are many elected officials and government officials here because we’re proud of our partnership,” Cardin said. 

“That’s why this groundbreaking is so critically important. These are desperately needed services for the community that we can’t provide at the government level. Only working with you, can we reach people who really need these services. I am so proud to represent you in the United States Senate,” Cardin concluded. 

Former Montgomery County Executive Isaiah “Ike” Leggett, one of the supporters of the Kingdom Care Center effort, simply “made it plain” saying too many factors and participants had to synchronize efforts for the Kingdom Care Center’s groundbreaking to be solely the result of human effort.  

“But for God,” Leggett marveled.   

“All the things that came together to make this happen. But for the grace of God this would not have happened,” Leggett proclaimed as the audience nodded in affirmation.  

Kingdom Fellowship Chief of Staff Sundra Mann said the momentum for finding a place to serve the community came from the experiences church volunteers had while serving during the Pandemic.   

“We just started doing food giveaways in the early days of the Pandemic (Covid-19 Pandemic) at both our Montgomery County locations and here in Prince Georges County,” Mann said. 

“Once we saw the long lines of people waiting for food and the multiple needs besides food people presented, we started to ask ourselves, what more can we do to help lives where the Pandemic hurt?” she concluded.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

Veteran journalist April Ryan was honored April 30 by The GRIOT, Allen Media
Group for 25 years of service as a White House reporter, the longest tenure for a
black woman in the White House press corps. ”A Seat At the Table” was the theme for a star studded event to pay tribute to Ryan held at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. The gala honoring Ryan and celebrating black media was attended by Ryan’s media colleagues across the nation, political figures, entertainers, family and friends, and her supporters from her native Baltimore roots.

Chris Tucker served as emcee for the evening featuring entertainment by Mary J.
Blige and D-Nice.

GRIOT founder Byron Allen said that it was important to celebrate the achievements of black correspondents and black owned media outlets. “It is essential that we recognize our own talent and giftedness if no one else does,” Allen said to the AFRO.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Karine Jean-Pierre has been promoted to White House Press Secretary and Assistant to the President, the White House announced today.  She will replace Jen Psaki, the current White House Press Secretary when Psaki steps down from the position on May 13.

In a White House statement issued May 5, President Joe Biden said “Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people.”  

Jean-Pierre will become the first black person and the first openly gay person to assume the role of lead spokesperson for the White House.    

Jean-Pierre is currently Principal Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant to the President.  Previously she served the current present in the Obama Administration. Jean-Pierre has also been a political analyst on NBC and MS-NBC. Jean-Pierre also served as Chief Public Affairs Officer with Moveon.org. 

Psaki is scheduled to take an on-air role at MSNBC after her departure from the White House. 

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

Black Muslims across the United States and the world are celebrating ‘Eid Al-Fitr, the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan in the Muslim faith at midnight on May 2.
Eid-Al-Fitr, the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ is one of the first of two Eids in the Islamic calendar, and is celebrated to mark the end of the month of Ramadan, a time where Muslims across the world participate in month-long dawn to sunset fast.

“Today, Black people (not including those of Hispanic descent or mixed-race) make up 20 percent of the country’s overall Muslim population,” stated Besheer Mohamed in a Pew Research Center paper on Black Muslims. Mohamed, a senior researcher in religion at Pew, said most Black American Muslims are clustered in urban centers in the nation’s northeast corridor.

The White House hosted a celebration of Eid Al-Fitr on the afternoon of May 2 calling for attention to the plight of the millions of displaced Muslims in countries worldwide.

“This year, as we mark Eid Al-Fitr, we hold in our hearts the millions of displaced persons and refugees around the globe who are spending this sacred holiday separated from their families and unsure of their future, but still hoping for a brighter tomorrow,” said President Joe Biden in a release in advance of the celebration.

The United States is moving toward acknowledgment of Eid Al-Fitr with an increasing number of school districts remaining closed on Monday or Tuesday to celebrate the holiday.

US Congressman Andre Carson (D-Ind.), the nation’s second elected Black Muslim in Congress believes the growing recognition of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr is a positive development.

“I’m pleased to see a growing interest and appreciation for Islam and the global Muslim community. This change is due to the interfaith work and tireless activism of Muslims around the world,” Carson said.

New York City was the first major jurisdiction to announce its public schools would be closed for Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Adha back in 2015, although several smaller districts in New Jersey have recognized the holiday dating back to 2003.

A growing number of school districts in cities and counties large and small have recognized Eid Al-Fitr as the holiday on the school calendar as the percentage of Muslim children in public schools across the US expands.

School Districts in Albany, N.Y., Burlington, Vt, Philadelphia, Baltimore City and County, Detroit, Mich., Prince Georges County in Maryland, Prince William County in Virginia and school districts across Minnesota, with sizable Muslim populations are all closed either May 2 or May 3.

Last week, Boston City Council became one of the first municipalities to pass a resolution urging the city to recognize Eid Al-Fitr as a city holiday commencing in 2023.

“Eid Al-Fitr is a day of enormous meaning to Muslims, both for its historical impact and for the ongoing centrality it has within the faith. The Muslim Population is a growing one at local, national and international levels. There are around 80,000 Muslims in the greater Boston area, and nearly 3.5 Million Muslim Americans in the United States,” the resolution stated.

Carson said that continued efforts by Muslim individuals and organizations on the local level help communities understand and move to support the traditions and observances of their Muslim neighbors.

“I’m passionate about these efforts and will continue working to​ uplift our community. Eid Mubarak to all of my fellow Muslims!” exclaimed Carson.

Eid Al-Fitr takes place during the tenth month of the Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Calendar. The holiday begins after seeing the crescent Moon on the last day of Ramadan, so the start may vary around the world.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. News Editor

Washington D.C. residents are still reeling after four separate shooting incidents during the week beginning on April 25 in a surge of violence spanning several sectors of the city, according to Metropolitan Police.  Four persons were hospitalized and one death occurred due to the spurt of violence that rocked the city. 

The violence started on the evening of April 25, when a man in Ward 8  was taken to the hospital  after being found shot. The victim said men approached him, took his cell phone and shot him. Later that evening a man was found shot on South Dakota Avenue NE, but could not be revived. Less than 30 minutes later, another man was found shot in his vehicle on 22nd street Southeast and was hospitalized. Early in the morning of April 26, a fourth man was shot on the 4400 block of E Street S.E. 

This week’s violence occurred just days after a sniper attack in broad daylight on April 22 in the city’s Van Ness neighborhood in Northwest D.C., near a local private school. All four victims of the shooting are alive, two remain in critical condition as Van Ness neighbors gathered to discuss the shootings on Monday. 

Raymond Spencer, 23, of Fairfax County, Virginia was the alleged shooter in the assault-style ambush in the Van Ness neighborhood incident. He died at the scene of the apartment where shots were fired from an apparent suicide, police confirmed.  Police recovered six weapons in the shooter’s apartment, including handguns, long guns and multiple rounds of ammunition.

On April 25, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metropolitan Police Chief Robert J. Contee announced a new Police Unit that would be focused on violent crime in the District in the wake of the recent surge in violence. 

“We cannot allow people to terrorize our communities with guns,” said Bowser. 

“This is about using a whole-of-government approach, but it’s also about focusing our attention and resources on exactly where we know the problem is. Our message is clear – we will continue to offer people in our city a better path forward, but if people choose to engage in violence, then they will be held accountable,” Bowser said. 

The new collaborative Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force (VCIT), an effort between Metropolitan D.C. Police and federal partners are aimed at removing illegal firearms from the community and apprehending armed criminals. The focus of the VCIT is to reduce violent crime by using more intelligence-driven operations and enhance our investigative abilities through federal agency partnerships.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Making HERstory is what Rev. Dr. Anika Wilson-Brown has been doing quietly for the past two years as Senior Pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast Washington.

Rising out of the shadows of her well known and regarded parents, now the Pastors Emeriti Willie and Mary Wilson, Wilson-Brown transitioned in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic to the role of senior pastor of the church that has lived an Afri-Centric model of Christianity under the Wilson family’s leadership for more than 40 years.  

Wilson’-Brown’s Installation on Saturday made it official. Delayed for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the “W” Street building was filled with pageantry, pomp, and a spirit of love and abiding affection for the pastor’s daughter who grew up before their eyes and has now stepped forward to lead them.

“I’m here to honor you on behalf of 700,000 Washingtonians. I’m here to honor the torch that fathers pass on to their daughters,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, another daughter of the District of Columbia to her friend born and raised across the Anacostia. 

“As long as I’m our mayor, we’re going to walk this walk with you,” Bowser beamed.

Local and international dignitaries filled the pews of the Southeast Church famous for its capacity to connect with and stand up for the rights of citizens of Southeast Washington. Iyanla Vanzant and Former First lady Cora Masters Barry attended the Saturday afternoon service.

Bishop Corletta J. Vaughn, who gave the official homily, as did many women who served as celebrants in the hours-long installation service, stressed the importance of women standing for and with other women.

“This little girl” she said pointing to herself, had to be here for this little girl” motioning toward Wilson-Brown.  “For I am she and she is me,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn continued in her homily to correct church histories that “erased the names of the women” who founded, contributed to, worked to build faith denominations throughout the world.  

“William Seymour was introduced to the Holy Spirit by Lucy Farrow” Vaughn proclaimed as she recited a corrected version of the Azusa Street Movement to include the women who were pivotal to the founding of the American Pentecostal Church.

A host of videotaped congratulations from local, national and international church leaders, dignitaries and friends included Minister Louis Farrakhan.  “When a father as great as the Rev. Willie Wilson wants to let his daughter take his place in a great ministerial post, it reminds me of Jesus looking for someone who would take the standard,” Farrakhan said.

After salutations from Rev. Mary Wilson, Wilson-Brown’s mother, her husband John and children, Brown came to the front of the church and sat face-to face with her father and spiritual leader, Willie Wilson.

The senior Wilson led Wilson-Brown through a teaching homily connecting her installation with the ancestors of their family whose faith influenced Wilson-Brown’s spiritual journey and preparing her for the life she would cross into as senior leader of the historic congregation.  

“You are going to cross in the next few minutes with the seven attributes of aspiration and the seven symbols of life,” he said. “We named you Anika. Anika means bright face; wise, fearless,” Wilson said, looking intently into his daughter’s eyes.  

Wilson-Brown, 46 is a licensed and ordained Baptist Minister. She is a graduate of Spelman College, and Catholic University, where she earned a Masters in Social Work. Wilson-Brown earned her doctorate in counseling education and supervision from Loyola University, Maryland.  She is a trained therapist and serves as chair of the Mayor’s Interfaith Council.  Wilson-Brown is married to retired Metropolitan Police Officer John L. Brown. The couple have three children, Jendayi, Nyela and Naaji.  

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By Deborah Bailey,
D.C. News Editor

The campus of Archbishop Carroll High School shone like a diamond in the midst of a difficult weekend for the District of Columbia.  The young media scholars gathered in the school’s auditorium brought the city a welcome reminder of the talent and giftedness of the city’s youth in spite of disturbing gun violence that rocked the city on the previous day.     

Students, parents, administrators and friends of the Veteran DC journalist, Jim Vance gathered at the high school April 23 for “Simply The Best”; The First Annual Video Showcase of students attending the program created in Vance’s honor.

Vance, who died in 2017, a longtime reporter and anchor of Washington’s WRC television, led the longest-running team in Washington D.C. television, alongside co-anchor and health reporter Doreen Gentzler. Vance won 19 Emmy Awards during his more than 40-year tenure at the Washington DC television station.

Vance’s long-time anchoring partner and friend, Doreen Gentzler, served as Emcee for the glamor-filled student awards program.

“I’m sure Jim’s looking down at all of us tonight and is proud of this evening, the Program and the talented students whose work we will see tonight,” said Getzler in opening remarks.

In the first in-person gathering since the Jim Vance Media Program’s grand opening in March 2020, Vance’s wife, Kathy and daughter Amani expressed pride that Vance’s legacy would be carried forward by the students that emerged from the program, starting with five expected 2022 graduates.  

“At the dedication of the Jim Vance Center I was overwhelmed at the giant painting of my father on the wall of the media center. The artist so beautifully captured him down to the twinkle in his eyes.  I thought what a great representation of my father,” Amani Vance said.  

“Little did I know that years later all of you would represent him just as well,” she continued.

The Jim Vance Media Program’s director and visionary, Dr. Cherie Ward, built the program from the ground up and has steered its success as the program publicly celebrated excellence in student media production and the program’s first graduating class.   

“In the first four years we have built a 5,500 square foot facility with an advanced production studio. I wrote the curriculum of the program and I direct and teach in the program, Ward said. More than $5 million has been invested in the program and its facilities according to Steve Newby, the program’s principal investor.

Newby said that he was impressed with Vance for years before the program’s development. Vance was a speaker and involved in support of the school before his death.

“It’s one thing to have a facility and a curriculum. But this is an opportunity for the public to see the great work and creativity that the students have invested,” Ward continued.

The Awards ceremony included recognition for freshman through senior level students for excellence in media stories in categories including breaking news, sports, and public service announcements.

Five graduating seniors endured the uncertain transition to virtual learning shortly after the program’s grand opening in 2020. On Saturday, they were presented scholarships as they prepare for graduation from both the Program and Archbishop Carroll High School in May of 2022.

Seniors honored for their participation in the Jim Vance Media Program are Ijeoma Okere – Vance Family Scholarship ($5,000); Alaina Wheeler – Step Up to The Plate Scholarship ($2,500); Zenobia Bey-Braye – Most Evolutionary Scholarship ($1,500); Corbin Flaherty – 1st Graduating Class Book Voucher ($500) and Dionna Duncan – 1st Graduating Class Book Voucher ($500).

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By Deborah Bailey,
D.C. News Editor

This week, the Biden Administration celebrated America’s second annual “Second Chance Awareness Month” by announcing White House pardons for three citizens who the president said “have demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation and are striving every day to give back and contribute to their communities” and commutation for 75 additional persons who are currently serving long sentences for non-violent crimes.

Pardons were announced for Abraham W. Bolden, 86, of Chicago, Ill., the first African-American Secret Service Agent assigned to the President’s detail; Betty Jo Bogans, 51 of Houston Texas and Dexter Eugene Jackson, 52 of Athens, Georgia. Biden indicated the three have made exemplary contributions to their communities. Bolden has steadfastly maintained his innocence, indicating he was targeted for prosecution in retaliation for exposing unprofessional and racist behavior within.

Whiter House staffer Angela Perez also announced the 75 persons whose sentences have been commuted by the Biden administration involved persons who are in home confinement because of Covid-19, and many who would have received lower sentences if they were charged today.

The administration is also celebrating Second Chance Awareness Month by announcing an action plan to support formerly incarcerated persons. 

The Incarceration to Employment national strategy focuses on expanding hiring and advancement opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons. The Federal Government is taking the lead by investing $145 million in Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 to provide job training at selected Bureau of Prisons locations and intensive individualized reentry support, along with a host of other agency administrative actions to support employment for formerly incarcerated persons

The federal government is calling on state and local governments, employers, philanthropies and communities to share in this strategy and calls on state and local governments, employers, philanthropies, and communities to advance this strategy. 

An example of the Incarceration to Employment strategy can be found at The Bridge Center at Adams House, a support center for Returning Citizens in Prince George’s County sponsored a job fair in Glen Arden, Md. featuring 30 employers on-site who are ready to hire returning citizens with a felony record. 

“Imagine that you have been away from home for five years, ten years or more,” said Ron Garrett, Director of The Bridge Center. “You would need to obtain an ID, health services, transitional housing, workforce development and a range of services,” he said, adding that returning citizens need the support of the business community to get their lives back on track.  

A recent report from the National Conference of State Legislatures cited one in three Americans as having been convicted of a felony crime. The Brennan Center for Justice reported that the United States houses the same number of people in prison with criminal records as it does in college obtaining four-year degrees. 

Following re-entry, returning citizens are challenged with almost impossible obstacles that make it challenging for them to find housing and work. In 2021 the US Senate officially designated April as Second Chance Awareness Month to bring awareness to communities about strategies to ensure that persons who had served their time could return to their communities and homes with the services and supports needed to get their lives back on track.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

After almost a decade as Howard University’s president, Wayne A. I. Frederick has announced his retirement, effective June 2024. 

Frederick, a triple Howard University graduate, will transition from the world-renowned HBCU in a manner allowing the board ample time to search for his successor. 

“We appreciate that Dr. Frederick has given us ample time to find the next great leader of Howard University and remains committed to fulfilling key components of the Howard Forward Strategic Plan, along with other initiatives on his agenda,” said Dr. Laurance C. Morse, chair of Howard University Board of Trustees. 

“Dr. Frederick will continue to give his undivided attention to advance our collective interests, drive impactful initiatives, and support the people that comprise our growing University community,” More continued. 

Frederick has been a fixture on the Georgia Avenue campus for 34 years. As a student, he stepped onto the campus in 1988 for a dual degree program that would leave him with a Bachelor of Science and a medical degree. 

He met his goal by age 22, earning both degrees by 1994.

Frederick later returned for a Master of Business Administration in 2011.

Frederick served as a member of the medical school faculty and as a university administrator before becoming interim president in 2013 and assuming the role permanently in 2014. 

At his retirement, Frederick will have served as President for a decade marked by the unquestioned growth of the campus both academically and structurally. The university is currently experiencing its highest increase in 4-year enrollment and boasts a total enrollment of more than 11,000 students. 

Howard has always attracted internationally acclaimed Black luminaries to its faculty ranks. Frederick recently appointed Phylicia Rashad as Dean of the School of Fine Arts, Hannah Nicole Jones as inaugural Knight Chair in Race and Journalism, and author Ta-nehesi Coates as writer-in-residence in the College of Arts and Sciences. Coates was also named to the Sterling Brown chair in the English Department.

Frederick also brokered the partnership between Howard University Hospital (HUH) and Adventist HealthCare System that will culminate in building a new 225-bed, state-of-the-art Howard University Hospital on Georgia Avenue NW.

Frederick’s tenure has not been without controversy, however. In Fall 2021, the AFRO covered the student-led Blackburn Center takeover protest waged by Howard University students. 

Students took possession of the Blackburn Center and slept outside in tents on the Howard University quad for 33 days protesting rat-infested residence halls before negotiating an agreement with university officials.

Just last month, Howard University faculty threatened to strike in support of poor working conditions and sub-par pay being given to the school’s non-tenure-track faculty.  More than 500 faculty and students rallied outside of Howard University’s Administration building on March 16, demanding the university improve compensation and conditions for the campus’ adjunct instructors. 

Additionally, on April 11, more than 300 Howard University Hospital nurses, social workers, and other health care personnel held a day-long strike at Howard University Hospital (HUH). The protest sparked over dangerous staffing ratios, pay cuts and other practices the workers claim to place the public and workers at risk. 

Hospital staff has been working without a contract since November, in the midst of a continuing Covid-19 pandemic. Howard University management and workers have been unable to come to an agreement about pay and working conditions during the pandemic. 

The District of Columbia Nurses Association, who helped organize the one-day nurses walk out,  indicated the strike was needed to let the public know the seriousness of health workers’ demands while balancing the need to give primary attention to patients.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

Washington D.C. has experienced a slight increase in Covid-19 rates as the new BA.2 strain takes hold in the District.  At the beginning of April, the Covid-19 threat level increased to medium, the first time the threat level increased from a ranking of low since January. 

BA.2 now accounts for nearly 86 percent of U.S. coronavirus cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.  More than half of US States are currently experiencing a rise in Covid-19 rates as a result of the new BA.2 strain.  

Although individual cases of the BA.2 strain are rising, the rate of hospitalizations and death is not increasing as it did when the original Omicron variant surged in the United States in December 2021 and early 2022. 

An average of 222 cases per day have been reported representing more than a 117 percent increase from March.  But hospitalization rates have fallen and death rates remain static. An estimated 1 in 6 District residents have been infected with Covid-19 since the pandemic started according to the CDC. Close to 70 District residents are fully vaccinated according to the CDC.  

In a recent interview, DC Director of Public Health, Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt said she didn’t see the need for new guidance regarding masking for DC residents in spite of the slight uptick in cases.  

“Right now, we don’t have any indication that people in the District of Columbia are experiencing more severe illness along with that increased weekly case rate,” Nesbitt said.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she tested positive for Covid-19 on April 7 after experiencing “cold-like” symptoms. Bowser reported she will be working at home and self-isolating. Bowser’s older sister, Mercia died of COVID-19 complications in February 2021. 

Philadelphia has reinstated an indoor mask mandate Monday in response to a rise in Covid-19 cases. The total caseload in Philadelphia has risen more than 50 percent prior to April 11, when public health officials called for a return to indoor masking for the City of Brotherly Love. 

More than 988,000 people in the US have died after contracting Covid-19 including 2000 in the past week. Worldwide, there are 503 million confirmed cases of the disease including 5 million new cases in the past week. More than 6.1 million have died from the virus worldwide. 

Close to 66 percent of the US population, approximately 218 million, are fully vaccinated as of   April 15 and 99 million have received a booster shot according to the CDC.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO D.C. Editor

A gunman who shot four persons in Northwest Washington DC Friday has been found dead in an apparent suicide according to DC Police. 

The four victims; one man, two women and a female child are all being treated for their injuries. One of the shooting victims is retired from the DC Police Department. 

Raymond Spencer, 23 of Fairfax County, Virginia was the alleged shooter in the assault-style ambush. He died at the scene of the apartment where shots were fired from an apparent suicide, police confirmed.  Police recovered six weapons in the shooter’s apartment, including hand guns, long guns and multiple rounds of ammunition. The shooter apparently used a tripod according to Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia at a press conference last night. 

The shooting happened near Edmund Burke Elementary School and apparently kept children, where police were called to the scene shortly after 3:00 pm. Children at Burke and several area schools were kept on lockdown for several hours. 

“I am grateful for the residents and school communities who patiently sheltered in place throughout the evening and those who patiently waited to get access to their homes. I am especially grateful for the staff at Edmund Burke who took care of students in the school during this terrifying experience,” Bowser said in a statement. 

Just days ago, Bowser announced a new program aimed at connecting 200 persons at “high risk” for initiating gun violence with a specialized team of active supports like job training, employment and behavioral health treatment in an attempt to quell the gun violence that has surged in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

As of April 22, 52 people in DC have died from gun violence, a slight decrease from the 59 who had died this time last year, according to Metropolitan Police Crime Statistics. 

Metropolitan Police confirmed the investigation is ongoing.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO DC Editor

Longtime WUSA Anchor and fixture in the DC Community, Bruce Johnson, 71 died on April 3 of heart failure at a hospital in Delaware.  

His wife, Lori, posted news of Johnson’s passing on her Facebook page Sunday night, asking the public to respect their request for privacy. 

Johnson anchored the news at WUSA9 for 44 years before retiring in 2020, according to the station. Tributes are pouring in acknowledging Johnson’s outsized role in the Washington DC community he called home. 

 “Like many Washingtonians, he’s been a part of my life since I was a little girl, delivering the news and giving voice to DC residents. I’m heartbroken. Rest In heaven,” tweeted DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.

“Bruce was an icon that touched the lives of many Washingtonians, memories of Bruce’s professionalism and care for the community will be remembered,” tweeted Ward Five Councilmember, Kenyon McDuffie.

“Bruce Johnson was one of the greats! Trusted by all and a leader in local TV news for so many years. He was so respected. He will be so missed!” Paul Strauss, Shadow Senator, said District of Columbia. 

“Bruce Johnson was a wonderful human. The man! He was D.C.! Bruce loved his family, journalism, us, this city,” Lorenzo Hall, tweeted WUSA Anchor. 

Johnson won 22 Emmy awards over his career and the prestigious Ted Yates Award and Board of Governors Award by the DC chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).

He was the author of three books: “Heart to Heart,” “All or Nothing” and his most recently published book “Surviving Deep Waters,” published in February 2022.  

Fans and admirers are already stopping by the image of Johnson at Ben’s Chili Bowl, where his likeness was added to the restaurant’s iconic mural in 2017. 

Johnson is survived by his wife, Lori, three children — Brandon, Kurshanna and Carolyn — and three grandsons.

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO DC Editor

US Rep. James Clyburn (D-S. Carolina) got off of Capitol Hill last week and visited with students on the campus of Bowie State University. During a forum held in the Student Ballroom, Clyburn answered questions from students about the recent rash of HBCU bomb threats reported at Bowie State and more than 57 HBCUs across the nation. The Congressman also discussed funding for HBCU’s, the Maryland HBCU Court Settlement and student mental health during the pandemic.

Referring to the 10-year timeline expected for Maryland HBCU Settlement funds to be dispersed, Clyburn implored students to use their voices saying “you need to ensure your school receives the money from the court settlement sooner rather than later.” Clyburn was accompanied by Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot and Delegate Darryl Barnes (D-PG County) Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.  

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By Deborah Bailey,
AFRO DC Editor

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is currently displaying the work of DC native and world-renowned artist, Elizabeth Catlett (19151-2012). The acclaimed 20th-century sculptor and graphic artist now have three of her best-known depictions of the Black American Experience inside the museum.

Three 5–foot tall sculptures, “Offering Education,” “Offering Life” and “Rejecting Injustice” are now on display at the NMAAHC long term as visitors enter the museum through Heritage Hall.

The installation of these sculptures symbolizes motherhood and the dignity, struggle and uplifting of African Americans. The display of Catlett’s work is just one of many ways in which NMAAHC celebrated the close of Women’s History Month, in addition to amplifying stories through its Hidden Herstory initiative.

The pieces will join a selection of Catlett’s groundbreaking woodcuts currently featured in “Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.” in the Rhimes Family Foundation Galleries on the museum’s fourth floor.

Catlett was a 20th-century African American and Mexican artist whose work crossed the intersections of race and feminism. Shaped by stories her mother and grandmother told her about the hardships Black people faced, Catlett used her art to showcase issues she felt were underrepresented in the mainstream art movement.

Since opening on Sept. 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed more than 7.5 million in-person visitors and millions more through its digital presence. 

Occupying a prominent location next to the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the nearly 400,000-square-foot museum is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history.

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The post Three sculptures from acclaimed artist Elizabeth Catlett coming to the National Museum of African American History and Culture appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.