NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco attended a “Make Heaven Crowded” event organized by Turning Point USA, a far-right organization, raising concerns about the blurring of lines between religion and politics, and the organization’s founder, Greg Laurie, being named in a civil lawsuit related to allegations of child sexual abuse.
The post Keeping it Real: Preachers, Proselytizers, Pedophiles, Politicians and Pipe Dreams appeared first on Black Voice News.

By Tashi McQueenAFRO Staff Writer On Jan. 30 protestors gathered in downtown Baltimore, Minneapolis and cities nationwide to oppose the violent immigration raids and recent deaths at the hands of agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border Patrol and other federal agencies. In Baltimore, the march and rally came as legislators and […]
The post Hundreds protest ICE raids, condition of local federal building used to hold immigrants appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Dr. Zekeh Gbotokuma argues that the 47th president’s attack on diversity, equity and inclusion distorts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision by promoting a false notion of “colorblind” meritocracy. He contends that Executive Order 14173 and related rhetoric recast efforts to remedy historic discrimination as bias against White men, reinforcing a “presumption of incompetence” toward women and minorities. Drawing on Bernice King and other scholars, Gbotokuma maintains that King called for confronting racism—not ignoring it—and warns that dismantling DEI threatens civil-rights gains and deepens inequality.
The post The assault on DEI and the ‘assumption of incompetence’: Reflections on No. 47’s misinterpretation of Dr. King’s dream appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Lynne Keenum | WTVA Birmingham City Schools brought families together this week with its annual “Donuts with Dad” event to encourage fathers to become more involved in their children’s education. More than 150 fathers, stepfathers, brothers, grandparents, and other father figures showed up to share in the events, according to the school system. More […]

birminghamal.gov Clinton “Tiny” Forge, who played catcher for the Detroit Stars of the Negro American League during the 1950s, died January 25 at 90 years old. The Negro Southern League Museum was among those who announced the passing of Forge, a former Negro League and Industrial League baseball player whose life and career are an […]

By Special Press Release Deborah Owens, a nationally recognized financial advisor, author, educator, and champion for women’s financial empowerment, died on Jan. 4 at the age of 66. Her passing marks the loss of a powerful voice in the movement to close the wealth gap and equip women, particularly women of color, with the tools […]
The post Deborah Owens, financial educator, author and advocate for women’s wealth, dies at 66 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Luis Andres HenaoThe Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge on Feb. 2 blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protections that have allowed roughly 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington granted a request to pause the termination of temporary protected status […]
The post Judge blocks 47th president’s administration from ending protections for Haitians appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Bad Bunny made history at the 68th Grammy Awards, winning album of the year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” the first all-Spanish-language project to earn the top prize, while Kendrick Lamar and SZA captured record of the year for “luther.” Lamar also became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history with 26 wins, and British singer Olivia Dean was named best new artist as the ceremony highlighted both musical achievement and social commentary.
The post Bad Bunny makes Grammy history as Lamar, SZA and Olivia Dean lead night of milestones appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Baltimore Gas and Electric BGE announced the launch of a public education campaign designed to help Maryland customers better understand why energy bills are rising. The campaign, which uses non-recoverable funds and is at no cost to customers, explains options for how utilities can support customers while affordability and reliability challenges intensify. The education […]
The post BGE launches customer-focused education campaign on Maryland’s energy crisis and rising electric bills appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore praised the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maryland at the organization’s annual legislative breakfast, highlighting their role in youth development and the state’s strategy to combat child poverty through community-based support. He pointed to increased state funding, expanded club access, and mentorship as critical tools, with Youth of the Year honoree Jared Jefferson’s story illustrating the clubs’ impact in building confidence, opportunity, and leadership for young people across the state.
The post Gov. Moore praises Boys & Girls Clubs in Maryland’s fight against child poverty appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

NNPA President and CEO Dr. Ben Chavis Jr. condemned the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, calling the charges an attack on press freedom and a dangerous misuse of the FACE Act and Ku Klux Klan Act. He compared the prosecutions to historic efforts to silence the Black Press and demanded all charges be dropped, asserting that democracy cannot survive when witnesses are criminalized.
The post Opinion: NNPA Stands With Georgia Fort, Don Lemon and all others arrested, and demands all charges be dropped appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

    ____________________________               MERCHANDISE       ____________________________       _____________________________               EMPLOYMENT       ____________________________        Assistant Director of Finance       BJCC, is recruiting for a 1) Assistant Director of Finance for information & to apply visit https://www.bjcc.org/jobs/ or […]

Four individuals, including independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, were arrested in connection with a coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, sparking outrage among journalists and media organizations who have called for their release.
The post Journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort Arrested appeared first on Black Voice News.

The Zinn Education Project offers free resources to help educators teach Black history with honesty and depth, connecting past struggles to present-day civil rights issues. From virtual workshops and study groups to lesson plans on systemic racism, the Constitution, and the fight for Black education, the project equips teachers to give students a fuller understanding of African American history and resistance.
The post 5 free resources for teaching Black history appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By William J. Barber II and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove We don’t need better training for the men who killed these activists. We need a moral movement to disarm them and reconstruct democracy. From 1920 until 1938, a flag on Fifth Avenue in New York City proclaimed an uncomfortable reality to passers-by on New York’s busy streets: […]
The post Alex Pretti and Renee Good were lynched– how will we respond? appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

wukelacom.com Tuskegee Basketball Head Coach Benjy Taylor has hired national Civil Rights attorney Harry Daniels as well as attorneys Gregory Reynald Williams and Gerald Griggs following an incident Saturday, January 31, in Atlanta where a police officer handcuffed Taylor and escorted him off the court after Tuskegee’s Division II HBCU basketball game against Morehouse College. […]

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times First James D. Stewart Jr. made history. Now he wants to make a difference. As Irondale’s first African American mayor — elected in November 2020 and in August for a second term — Stewart has his city on the move. “The first term, you’re just trying to feel […]

Associated Press Demond Wilson, who found fame in the 1970s playing Lamont on “Sanford and Son” and went on to become a minister, has died. He was 79. Mark Goldman, a publicist for Wilson, confirmed to The Associated Press that he died following complications from cancer on Friday. “A devoted father, actor, author, and minister, […]

Pharrell Williams was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective event on Jan. 29, 2026, where he called on U.S. leaders to show empathy, grace, and mercy. The evening also celebrated Brandy and Kirk Franklin, featured performances by Justin Timberlake, Tyler, the Creator, John Legend, and Coco Jones, and included a special tribute to Eve for her contributions to The Roots’ hit “You Got Me.”
The post Pharrell calls for empathy from US leaders after being honored at Black Music Collective event appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Beverly MoranThe Conversation More than 6 million Americans receive paper tax refund checks annually. Often, those refunds go to purchase groceries or pay the bills. But this year, those taxpayers may be surprised to learn that the paper check they’re waiting for no longer exists. That’s because of executive order 14247, which President Donald […]
The post Ending tax refunds by check speeds payments, but what about people without bank accounts? appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. This week, he speaks on the recent deaths of American citizens at the hands of federal agents.
The post Subjective threats, fatal outcomes: The deadly gap in federal use-of-force policy appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Prince George’s County, Md., has reduced teacher vacancies by 52 percent, the largest in the state, helping to improve consistency for students and school culture. Recruitment for the next school year is already underway.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Prince George’s County Executive’s Office
The post Prince George’s County sees notable reductions in teacher vacancies as D.C. Council addresses teacher retention appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will produce August Wilson’s “Fences” as part of the citywide Baltimore August Wilson Celebration. The production is the sixth of 10 plays in Wilson’s American Century Cycle, being staged as part of the celebration, and will run Feb. 6–March 1.  Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, “Fences” centers on […]
The post Baltimore August Wilson Celebration continues with ‘Fences’ appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dr. Kaye Whitehead In 1926, during the nadir of Black history, Dr. Carter G. Woodson—the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the son of formerly enslaved parents, a former sharecropper and miner, and the second Black person to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University—launched the first […]
The post Black History Month 2026: We proclaim it! appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Mariah Carey was celebrated as MusiCares Person of the Year on Jan. 30, 2026, in Los Angeles, where an all-star lineup paid tribute to her five decades of genre-spanning hits — including surprise performances from her once-secret 1990s grunge project. Foo Fighters, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Kesha and others reimagined Carey classics, while the singer watched from her table and joined briefly in the finale of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The emotional evening honored both her musical legacy and philanthropy ahead of the Grammy Awards.
The post All-star tribute honors Mariah Carey as MusiCares Person of the Year appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

A new Word In Black survey explores how Black Americans define racial healing and what stands in the way of achieving it, providing a data-driven account of the current state of racial healing in the US.
The post Racial healing in Black America: What the data tells us appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Maryland’s Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) unveiled its 2026 legislative agenda at a Jan. 21 rally in Annapolis, Md., urging reforms to youth charging laws, traffic stops and indigent defense funding. Leaders cited racial disparities and systemic failures harming families and children statewide.
The post MD Public Defender’s Office unveils 2026 legislative priorities appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Earl Teen Center at the Enoch Pratt Free Library offers Baltimore youth a safe, supportive place to explore their interests after school. Through hands-on STEAM programming and dedicated staff support, the center helps young people build skills, confidence and a sense of belonging.
The post Inside the Earl Teen Center: Where Baltimore teens learn, build and belong appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Hundreds of Howard University students walked out of classes on Jan. 30, 2026, marching to the White House to protest what they called the violent and inhumane actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Organizers said the youth-led demonstration, joined by students from other campuses, was meant to defend immigrant communities and demand protection of civil rights.
The post Howard U. students walk out of classes, join peaceful march against ICE’s deadly attacks on Americans appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System generated a $40 billion economic impact across Maryland last year, including supporting 149,000 jobs, with a significant portion of the benefits accruing in Baltimore.
The post As It Turns 150, Johns Hopkins Remains Baltimore’s Top Anchor Institution appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) is a volunteer-based consortium of organizations and individuals working to revitalize the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C., which has faced significant challenges due to gentrification and historical disinvestment.
The post Anacostia Coordinating Council stays true to mission of promoting ‘all things good East of the river’  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

County Executive Aisha Braveboy held three listening sessions across Prince George’s County to gather feedback from residents on the proposed 4.5 billion budget for FY 2027, which will be voted on by the County Council by June 1.
The post Prince George’s County focuses on budget with listening sessions  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The USDA and DHHS released new dietary guidelines for Americans from 2025-2030, which emphasize whole, non-processed foods, but local dietitians are concerned about the affordability, accessibility, and availability of these foods in urban areas like Baltimore.
The post New federal food guidelines clash with food access reality in Baltimore appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

As federal immigration enforcement intensifies, mayors across the country say their cities are facing legal threats, funding risks and growing fear and unrest among immigrant communities. Local leaders are weighing how to protect residents while navigating pressure from the federal government and safeguarding essential resources.
The post How cities are handling immigration in the current climate appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Baltimore boxing star Gervonta “Tank” Davis was arrested in Miami on charges of attempted kidnapping, false imprisonment and battery tied to an alleged October 2025 incident at a Miami Gardens business. Davis bonded out of jail Jan. 29, and his attorney said he plans to challenge the allegations, calling Davis the victim in the case.
The post Baltimore boxer Gervonta Davis arrested on attempted kidnapping and battery charges appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.