Author: NNPA

The signs were visible to anyone willing to look. Clinics running out of medicine, health workers sent home in silence, and governments bracing for a wave they could no longer afford to stop. Now the evidence is written in hard numbers. For the first time this century, the number of children dying before their 5th birthday is rising. The Gates Foundation’s 2025 Goalkeepers Report states that 4.6 million children died before age 5 in 2024 and projects that the total will reach 4.8 million this year, reversing decades of progress in child survival.

According to Pew Research, in 2022, 66 percent of White families owned stocks directly or indirectly, compared to 39 percent of Black families according to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF).
The post Not just for the rich and wealthy: How to start investing in 2026 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

As credit scoring models continue to evolve, on-time payments and low credit utilization will play an even larger role in shaping scores in 2026. Financial experts warn that common misconceptions, such as opening multiple new credit cards to boost credit, can significantly damage a person’s overall profile.
The post How to protect — and improve — your credit score in 2026 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Black households across Baltimore and beyond say rising costs are reshaping their daily lives from food spending to basic beauty routines. Women like Sydney Robinson and Olivia Dreux describe holding on to hairstyles longer and cooking more at home as inflation outpaces income. Their stories along with those of new parents Rya and Eric Greene reflect a growing sense that even simple comforts have become harder to afford.
The post Rising costs push Black households to cut back on everyday comforts appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Javacia Harris Bowser | For the Birmingham Times At the end of the year, Ashley M. Jones’ time as Alabama’s youngest and first Black poet laureate will come to a close. Over the past four years, Jones has boldly stepped into her role as the state’s ambassador for poetry and helped put both poetry […]