NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

For more than half a century, Alabama A&M University’s Youth Motivation Task Force has played a quiet but powerful role in preparing students for life beyond the classroom, connecting Bulldogs with professionals who motivate, mentor […]

On Feb. 11, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 694 (SB) 694, also known as the “Veterans Benefit Protection Act,” into law despite pressure from civil rights organizations last week to veto it.

Nine Alabama A&M University Army ROTC cadets put their physical endurance, mental toughness and leadership skills to the test while competing in the Titan Brigade Ranger Challenge  Jan. 23–25 at Fort Benning, Georgia.  The event […]

As a mother of four children, I’ve done A LOT of school shopping. I don’t mean the autumn ritual of purchasing school supplies. I mean shopping for schools – pouring over promotional materials, combing through websites, asking friends and community members for referrals to their favorite schools, attending open houses and orientations, comparing curriculums and educational philosophies, meeting teachers and principals, and students who all claim that their school is the best.

Alabama A&M University will continue its Bulldog Parent University webinar series on Monday, Feb. 23, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Central Time, offering parents and families timely information and tools to support their students’ success […]

On Feb. 11, California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a news conference to sign a $90 million one-time emergency funding bill for Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health care clinics in the state.  The event became tense when questions from reporters veered into unrelated political issues, prompting California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel-Newsom to step in and sharply criticize the press.

BY SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS MONTGOMERY – With the March 31 deadline approaching, Alabama families are being encouraged to apply for the CHOOSE Act program as application portals for the 2026-2027 academic year open in the […]

Republicans keep figuring out ways to suppress votes and kill elections, in a never-ending effort to hold power. By Josh Moon The Alabama Republican Party will tell you what you want. And you’ll like it.  […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS The Madison County Commission is formally calling on Kay Ivey to appoint the county’s next commission chairman from its current members following the retirement announcement of Chairman Mac McCutcheon. McCutcheon announced […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Speaking to a full house in Huntsville on Friday, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt delivered a pointed critique of Senate Democrats over stalled Homeland Security funding, while highlighting federal investments and defense […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville-based PeopleTec has been awarded a $48.1 million contract by the Missile Defense Agency to support advanced capability development for the nation’s missile defense systems. The contract will enable […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Alabama State University announced last week that it will host Montgomery.AI, a free, one-day artificial intelligence summit designed to introduce students, educators, business leaders, and public-sector partners to the rapidly expanding […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Spring is set to arrive a little early in Athens as local businesses prepare to welcome shoppers for the annual Boutique Crawl on March 7 and March 14 in the historic downtown district. The […]

In the heart of Beverly Hills – as America celebrates Black History Month – a Black-owned clothing line, High Risk, took over one of the most expensive streets in the world for the High Risk FW26 Runway Show last Friday.

By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor I never imagined Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. would pick up the phone.  It was 2012.  On June 14 of that year, Adidas, the international shoe and sports apparel company, boldly unveiled a pair of sneakers that came complete with a pair of orange, plastic ankle bracelets. After public backlash to […]
The post On the line with Jesse Jackson: Lessons from a voice that changed history appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS The search for a missing Enterprise toddler has taken a troubling turn as police confirm the child’s mother is being detained for questioning. Genises Nova Reid — also spelled Genesis by authorities […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS An Army sergeant major living in Enterprise, Alabama, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after admitting to secretly recording female family members and houseguests inside his home. Sgt. […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS What began as a festive Mardi Gras weekend in downtown Mobile ended in violence Sunday night, as two separate shootings left seven people wounded and one alleged robbery suspect dead, city officials […]

Claudette Colvin, a 16-year-old civil rights activist, refused to give up her bus seat to a white person in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Rosa Parks did the same, and later joined three other women as plaintiffs in the Browder v. Gayle lawsuit that ended the city’s bus segregation.
The post Keeping it Real: Undertold Stories of Resistance and Courage: The Legacy of Claudette Colvin appeared first on Black Voice News.

The Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) is offering scholarships and grants to American Muslim students pursuing majors in public policy, public interest, law, media, and film to increase American Muslim representation in government and media, and has awarded $3.5 million in scholarships and grants to over 570 students and 900 alumni.
The post The Islamic Scholarship Fund Empowers Muslim American Voices and Gives Them a ‘Seat at the Table’ appeared first on Black Voice News.

The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California is hosting a pop-up exhibition, “The Legacy of Clarence Muse,” featuring artifacts from Muse’s life collected by Dr. Norman Towels, showcasing the life of Muse, the first African American to star in a major studio film in 1929, the first Black director of a Broadway show, and the highest-paid Black movie actor of his time.
The post Civil Rights Institute’s New Pop-Up Exhibition Showcases The Legacy of Clarence Muse appeared first on Black Voice News.

By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy DraperAFRO Managing Editor More than forty years ago, in a crowded corridor in Nassau, Bahamas, I watched Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. do something small that revealed something immense: he stopped. My mother, Frances L. Murphy II—then publisher of the AFRO-American Newspaper—and I were attending a conference where he was […]
The post Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.: The man who stopped appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The 46th Annual Riverside Black History Parade & Expo took place on February 14, 2026, featuring marching bands, dance teams, classic cars, and local vendors, and was hosted by the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation.
The post Riverside Black History Parade & Expo Celebrates 46 Years of Culture appeared first on Black Voice News.

The Rev. Dr. Jesse Jackson Sr., civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has died at 84. A protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a two-time presidential candidate, Jackson spent his life fighting for racial, economic and social justice— inspiring generations of leaders and activists.
The post Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. dies at 84 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes and illustrator R. Gregory Christie are the 2026 winners of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, presented by the American Library Association to honor outstanding African American authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult literature. Arriel Vinson received the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award, while additional Author and Illustrator Honor Books recognized works by Derrick Barnes, Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Marie Arnold, Lamont O’Neal and Alexis Franklin.
The post Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes, R. Gregory Christie win 2026 Coretta Scott King Book Awards appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Rev. Stacy Swimp On the night of Feb. 5, 2026, a video shared to President Trump’s Truth Social account depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. This occurred during the first week of Black History Month, just days after a presidential proclamation praising the contributions of Black Americans. This […]
The post Beyond the deletion: Why 47 owes the Obamas and the public the truth  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Sophia Tareen | Associated Press CHICAGO — The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after the revered leader’s assassination, died Tuesday. He was 84. As a young organizer in Chicago, Jackson was called to meet […]

birminghamal.gov Delivering an important additional resource for small-business owners across the Magic City, the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence (EC) formally launched last week at a gathering of the city’s elected leaders and business leaders. The EC is a recipient of funding from the City of Birmingham’s Reinvest Birmingham initiative, Regions Bank, Kresge Foundation, […]

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times Deborah Bowie has returned home. And you can hear it in her voice. “For the 14 years that I’ve been gone,” she said, “my tribe is actually in Birmingham, even though I’m a Florida girl. Birmingham is my home.” Bowie was recently named President and CEO of the […]

From the HBCU Classic and Rising Stars to a competitive All-Star Game and citywide events, Inglewood’s first time hosting NBA All-Star Weekend showcased Black culture, community pride, and the city’s growing national presence.

Michael Eugene Johnson contends that accidental shootings involving children are preventable acts of adult negligence and should be treated as criminal offenses. He calls for stronger accountability and legal consequences to ensure firearms are properly secured and children are protected.
The post Opinion: When a child pulls the trigger, the adult must face the consequences appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Bowie State University community gathered Feb. 13 to honor the life and legacy of Clyde “Cool Mac” Doughty Jr., the university’s vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation and a respected leader within the CIAA. Remembered for his visionary leadership, mentorship and commitment to student-athletes, Doughty’s impact on Bowie State’s athletic success and campus culture was celebrated by colleagues, students and conference partners.
The post Bowie State celebrates legacy of athletic leader Clyde ‘Cool Mac’ Doughty Jr. appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Changes to USPS operations mean a mailpiece’s postmark may not reflect the day it’s collected, raising concerns for time-sensitive documents like ballots, tax returns and bills. Community leaders warn that Black, elderly and other underserved households could face penalties or missed deadlines if mail is delayed.
The post USPS says postmarks haven’t changed, but transportation changes could affect timing appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Federal authorities are investigating two immigration officers accused of making untruthful statements under oath in a January 2026 Minneapolis shooting after video evidence contradicted their account. The case is the latest in a series of at least five incidents in which initial descriptions by immigration officials were later challenged or undermined by video footage, leading to dismissed charges and heightened scrutiny.
The post Video evidence undercuts ICE accounts in multiple recent shootings appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The closure of the Richmond Free Press underscores the fragility of Black-owned newspapers, which provide culturally competent reporting, community accountability, and coverage that mainstream media often misses. The Black Press remains vital for civic engagement, equity, and sustaining local voices.
The post Commentary: When a Black newspaper goes quiet appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.