NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

The Baltimore Rhythm Festival returned to Guilford Avenue to celebrate African culture with a day of performances, workshops and food. The event is hosted by Jamaal “Black Root” Collier and features artists such as Park Vibe Drummers and Bele Bele Rhythm Collective. Founded in 1995 and relaunched in 2014, the festival continues the tradition of healing through music.
The post Baltimore Rhythm Festival unites community through African culture, music and dance appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Maryland’s Morgan State University is pushing toward R-1 status, aiming to boost research output, attract investment and strengthen Baltimore’s economy.
The post Morgan State University targets R-1 status to boost innovation, jobs and growth in Baltimore appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Community members are encouraged to share their perspectives on organ donation and transplantation through a new Word In Black survey, which seeks to address disparities affecting Black patients and families.
The post Community views sought on organ donation and transplantation survey appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Gary Fields and Chris Megerian President Donald Trump on Sept. 15 threatened to once again federalize Washington, D.C.’s police force, in what he suggested could come in response to the city’s mayor’s stated refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Trump’s emergency order, which took over the local police force, expired last week. Hours before […]
The post 47th U.S. president threatens to take over D.C. police again over immigration enforcement appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The post Afro e-Edition 9_19_2025 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to highlight one of the most common cancers in men. For Black men, this message carries added urgency. Studies show that Black men […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS  For months, Lila couldn’t explain the strange tingling in her feet. At first, she dismissed it as tiredness, but over time the numbness and burning grew worse, sometimes waking her in […]

By BlackDoctor.org For anyone who’s experienced it, a gout flare feels like punishment—stabbing pain, redness, swelling so intense you can’t wear a sock, let alone walk into work. And just when you think it’s gone, […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Vaccines are among the most closely studied medical interventions in the world, according to Dr. Michael Saag, a professor of medicine and infectious disease expert at the University […]

LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor The top challenge facing teams that got big wins this past week will be how they follow-up those victories. One of the biggest wins saw Edward Walters, a team that just […]

By Ameera Steward | The Birmingham Times Robert Hill still has the images of well-dressed men embedded in his mind from as far back as when he was 10 years old and it’s refreshing to still see that image continuously reflected in men’s clothing, he said. “I remember coming up [as a] child, on weekends, […]

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For The Birmingham Times Growing up in the Westchester neighborhood of Forestdale, Alabama, just outside of Birmingham, Melvin Jefferson, founder and owner of the Ralpheal Renee Inc. menswear brand didn’t have to look far for classic fashionwear. “My dad was a [certified public accountant (CPA)] for Alabama Power, [and] he always […]

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times It was an evening of reflection as The Birmingham Bar Association hosted a forum honoring survivors of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, and marking the 62nd anniversary of the attack that killed four young girls. Held at the Carver Theatre on Tuesday, the event featured Lisa McNair, […]

The Birmingham Times When results from overnight voting were announced on Wednesday’s America’s Got Talent episode the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir was eliminated. The choir wasn’t among 10 acts voted into the finals round, set for Sept. 23-24. But the troupe, directed by Ahkeem Lee, earned plenty of praise and fans throughout Season […]

By Crystal Smitherman (An Opinion) Shards of broken glass are laid out in the yard under a long-forgotten bedroom window, like an ancient mosaic walkway that’s inviting to no one. Through the busted window, charred walls catch the shadows from trees overhead as the sunlight spills in from the collapsed roof. Maybe you heard someone […]

BIRMINGHAM COUNCILWOMAN CAROL CLARKE ON FRIEND CHEF MICHAEL GLENN, WHO PASSED ON SEPT. 16 AT AGE 66; AL.COM, SEPT. 15.

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns, while kicker Victor Barbosa added three field goals, as Alabama A&M edged Tennessee State 23–21 on Saturday […]

Through her emotional justice framework, Esther Armah offers language for Black thriving across the diaspora. By Aaron Foley Word in Black Esther Armah sought a change of scenery for her own emotional well-being, so she relocated to Accra, Ghana, some years back, and now tends oranges in her backyard. It wouldn’t make sense, she says, […]
The post A new vocabulary for racial healing appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Jaena Mebane  There are countless benefits to exercising and incorporating a regular fitness routine into your life. No matter your age or current fitness level, it’s never too late to start. You don’t need to […]

If you’re a person who lives their life eating a plant-based diet or maintains a lifestyle that doesn’t involve consuming most animal-derived foods, you may have also made the decision to eliminate using everyday beauty […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS MADRID — A framework agreement has been reached between the United States and China to address longstanding national security concerns over TikTok, likely paving the way for the app to remain […]

NEWS RELEASE The Women of West Mastin Lake Baptist Church will host their Annual Women’s Day Brunch on Saturday, September 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Living, Walking, and Serving by Faith” (2 Chronicles 5:7). […]

By John Archibald I counted billboards on the way home from Nashville this week. Coming Soon! – Jesus. Lock and Load! – gun stores. Call Me! – Alexander Shunnarah. I tried to keep score, but […]

BlackNews.com Nationwide — Singer Laurin Talese performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the Philadelphia Eagles’ season opener, sparking backlash from NFL fans who criticized the song, dubbed the Black National Anthem, as divisive and disrespectful […]

On Sept. 13 the fourth annual Baltimore MET Gala (BMG) transformed The HALL at Live! Casino and Hotel into a dazzling celebration of art, fashion, culture and cuisine. With this year’s theme, “TIMELESS — The Evolution of Style: Past. Present. Future,” the evening proved to be nothing short of phenomenal from the moment guests stepped onto the blue carpet to the final applause.
The post Baltimore MET Gala 2025: A timeless celebration of style, culture and community appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Baltimore County Council approved a new redistricting map on Sept. 15, expanding to nine districts for 2026 after heated debate over community representation and majority-minority district concerns.
The post Baltimore County Council finalizes redistricting map amidst tension appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Dr. Ambroise Wonkam, director of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins, has dedicated his career to studying genetic variation in African populations and its impact on conditions like sickle cell disease. He explains how African-specific genetic modifiers could unlock new treatments, not just for sickle cell patients, but for improving healthcare globally.
The post Unlocking sickle cell mysteries: Dr. Ambroise Wonkam speaks on genetic modifiers and patient outcomes appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

AFRO Publisher and CEO, Dr. Frances Murphy Draper, speaks on how democracy’s promise of protecting every voice has fallen short in her latest reflection and call to action. This week, she urges unity among the Black Press, the Black Church and the community to defend free speech and fight for a democracy that truly values every voice.
The post It’s hard to admit it, but I was wrong about democracy  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who has represented D.C. residents in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991, says she plans to raise opposition to four anti-D.C. home rule bills.
The post Norton to challenge multiple bills aimed at giving Congress greater control over D.C.  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dr. Kendrick RobersonWord in Black Although religious freedom and expression are firmly protected in the workplace by the 1964 Civil Rights Act, President Trump’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM)— following the suit of other agencies disregarding standing law and precedent — has issued a memorandum titled, “Protecting Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace,” which […]
The post My boss said my religion was wrong and to join their church– now what? appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Attorney Raven Beach Over 20 million people in the US owe medical debt, with over 3 million owing more than $10,000. It’s a stifling statistic that impacts families from all walks of life.  In […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS If you spot a drone over Big Spring Park, it’s not the Huntsville Police Department spying on you, according to City Councilman Bill Kling. Kling, who represents the central district, recently discussed […]

   SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS For more than four decades, the Huntsville Summit Apartments at 111 Walker Avenue NE have provided 100 units of affordable housing for seniors, minorities, and residents with disabilities in the heart […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Huntsville is looking ahead with the largest operating budget in its history — a $343,723,103 plan for Fiscal Year 2026 that expands services, strengthens neighborhoods, and prepares the city for continued population […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Federal Title III funds remain a critical lifeline for Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), but recent budget debates in Washington have raised concerns about the future of these programs. Title […]