Kamala Harris for president
A
look
at the leading lady vying to become leader of the free world
Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks at the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Grand Boule Convention on July 24 as she picks up support from voters and other elected
upcoming presidential election. Harris’ move to run for president came after Joe Biden officially withdrew from the race on July 21.
By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO
Vice President Kamala Harris could soon be the first Black and South Asian woman to lead the United States of America as president.
On Sunday, July 21, President Joe Biden announced that he would withdraw from the presidential race. The decision came after mounting pressure from Democratic Congressional members called for Biden to step off the campaign trail.
“While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best
interest of my party and the country for me to stand down,” said Biden.
“Let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected.”
The Democratic president then went on to immediately nominate Harris as his replacement, which she quickly accepted.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my vice president.
And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” said Biden. “I want to offer
“Women practically
already run this country, they run the electorate…[they] might as well be running it at the top.”
my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats, it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”
Democratic Congressional members, state and local politicians and celebrities across the nation have rallied behind Harris.
Both House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, (D-N.Y.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-N.Y.) who were both vocal with their request for Biden to step aside, have endorsed Harris.
Jeffries believes that Harris is “ready, willing and able to lead” the nation.
Schumer stated that he spoke with Harris over the weekend and revealed that Harris wants to work for her nomination.
“She said she wanted the opportunity to win the nomination on her own and to do so from the grassroots up, not top-down,” said Schumer. “Now that the process has played out from the grassroots,
Biles, Richardson and Osaka return to spotlight, highlighting issues facing Black women
By Alanis Thames The Associate Press
When Naomi Osaka lifts her racket on the red clay courts at Roland Garros during the Paris Olympics, it’ll represent more than a high-stakes competition for the tennis star.
For Osaka, a four-time grand slam champion, it’s an important step in her journey after returning to tennis earlier this year, after stepping away to prioritize her mental health and give birth to her daughter. Osaka will join gymnastics icon Simone Biles and track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson on the Olympic stage. These Black women athletes at the height of their careers have been vocal about mental health, public critique and other personal struggles. Osaka and Biles needed time away from
their respective sports to prioritize mental health. Richardson returned to competition after a highly scrutinized ban from track and field.
They’ve all bounced back to the world’s biggest stage while displaying different levels of vulnerability. Their stories, different yet similar, give viewers a unique image of Black women.
“I always think about this: We weren’t born
AP Photo/Darron Cummings
officials in the
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Simone Biles looks to become the most accomplished U.S. gymnast in Olympic history during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Sha’Carri Richardson, currently the fastest woman in the world in the 100-meter dash, is in search of a first place finish for Team USA. The feat would make Richardson the nation’s first female Olympic 100-meter champion since 1996.
WHAT’S TRENDING ON AFRO.COM
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee dies at 74
By ReShonda Tate
The Defender
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee died at 74, her family announced Friday night (July 19). An apologetic champion for her constituents, the longtime Congresswoman served the public for more than 30 years.
“A local, national and international humanitarian, she was acknowledged
worldwide for her courageous fights for racial justice, criminal justice and human rights, with a special emphasis on women and children,” a statement from her family said.
Last month, Jackson Lee announced she was fighting pancreatic cancer. In a statement, Jackson Lee said she was undergoing treatment to battle the disease “that impacts tens of thousands of Americans
every year.”
“She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in freedom, justice and democracy. God bless you Congresswoman and God bless the United States of America,” Jackson Lee’s family said.
This article was reprinted with permission from The Houston Defender.
Apollo Theater makes history with Kennedy Center Honors
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
The Apollo Theater, Harlem’s legendary cultural institution has made history by earning a rare Kennedy Center Honors, one of the highest accolades in the arts. For 90 years, the Apollo has been the heart of American culture, nurturing emerging artists, launching legends and serving as a center of innovation for Harlem, N.Y. and the world. As the largest performing arts institution dedicated to Black culture and creativity, the Apollo has significantly influenced popular culture globally.
The Kennedy Center’s recognition marks the first time a venue, rather than an individual performer, has received this prestigious award.
“We are thrilled to be the first organization honored in the history of the Kennedy Center Awards, emphasizing The Apollo’s impact on the past, present and future of American culture and the performing arts,” stated Michelle Ebanks, president and CEO of The Apollo.
The 47th Kennedy Center Honors will also celebrate the lifetime achievements of director and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola; blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval and the surviving members of the countercultural rock band the Grateful Dead.
“I am profoundly humbled and deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors,” Sandoval
said. “This recognition is an extraordinary milestone in my career.”
Raitt said she’s “deeply honored and thrilled to have been chosen to receive one of this year’s Center Honors. There is no higher level of esteem nor as delightful a celebration.”
Frances Ford Coppola reflected on his career and the honor, stating, “There’s no greater honor than to be included along with those who inspired me, who I looked up to and who gave me encouragement when times were dim.”
The Grateful Dead has always been about community, creativity and exploration in music and presentation stated the band’s Bob Weir. “We’ve always felt that the music we make embodies and imparts something beyond the notes and phrases being played—and that is something we are privileged to share with all who are drawn to what we do—so it also must be said that our music belongs as much to our fans, the Dead Heads, as it does to us,” he continued. “This honor, then, is as much theirs as ours.”
The Kennedy Center Honors, which raises funds for the Kennedy Center in Northwest Washington, D.C., will be held on Dec. 8 and aired on CBS on Dec. 23.
Meanwhile, for 90 years, the Apollo has served as a testing ground for new artists working across various art forms and ushering in the emergence of musical genres, including jazz,
swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul and hip hop. The countless legendary artists who launched their careers at The Apollo’s “Amateur Night,” the original, largescale talent show and one of the longest-running continuous events in New York City, include Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly and Miri Ben Ari.
The Apollo’s forwardlooking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. During its 90th anniversary season, the organization opened The Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater, marking the institution’s firstever major expansion and renovation. It also began plans to restore and renovate its historic theater. Officials said this will allow The Apollo to increase performances and educational and community programs and expand its support for artists and other cultural organizations.
“From the longestrunning talent show in America with, Amateur Night at The Apollo, which launched the careers of icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill, to performances from beloved legends like Smokey Robinson and Lil’ Kim and today’s biggest stars like Drake, The Apollo has always been a home for artists to create and a home for audiences to see incredible music and art from legendary artists,” Ebanks said.
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
Friends and family of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, D-Texas, are mourning her death at age 74.
The Apollo Theater continues to be a staple of American culture, with the talent and ingenuity of Black artists on full display each week. Now, 90 years after inception, The Apollo Theater is a recipient of Kennedy Center Honors.
Photo courtesy of NNPA Newswire
Randolph E. Abrams, retired Social Security Administration executive, dies at 74
By Kenny Abrams
Randolph Edwin Abrams passed away peacefully on June 14, 2024 at age 74.
“Randy,” as he was affectionately called, was born on October 31, 1949 in Baltimore City to James Abrams Sr. and his wife, Irene Abrams (née Barber). He was the second son in a family of five children.
Abrams received his early education in the Baltimore City Public Schools graduating from Edmondson High School in 1967. He also attended Baltimore Community College where he received statistical analysis and communications skill training.
In 1968, he was drafted into the United States Army and completed two years stationed in Korea before being honorably discharged. When he returned from his military service, he quickly found work at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point, but was soon laid off. It was while he was laid off that a letter came that would change the course of his life - from blue collar, to white collar and ultimately to senior executive service within the federal government. Abrams said he could never have imagined what lay ahead for him that fateful day in 1970 when he received a letter telling him that he had been hired by the Social Secu-
Biles, Richardson
playing our sport,” Osaka recently told The Associated Press. “We were born the same way as everyone else. I wasn’t born holding a racket. We’re humans first, and we’re athletes as a profession.”
That idea is often overlooked when it comes to Black female athletes, who sit in the shadowed intersection of racism and sexism, said
Ketra Armstrong, a professor of sport management and director of the Center for Race and Ethnicity in Sport at the University of Michigan.
“It is critically important that they’re elevated in this way,” Armstrong said, “because I think it’s helping people to reimagine what Black women are and who they are.”
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rity Administration (SSA).
Hired by SSA as a GS-4 file clerk in the Office of Central Operations, Abrams learned the job quickly and thoroughly, leading to one promotion after another and eventually landing him in a claims processing position. While working as a GS-11 claims authorizer, he was surprised to learn that he was being considered to fill a vacant supervisory position.
Abrams had a natural instinct for leadership and employees found his style both unique and endearing. He brought to the job his genuine love and concern for people. His wry, quick wit resulted in some legendary quotes that former employees still recall today. He treated everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of their position. Abrams cared about employees’ lives in and outside the office and would donate many hours of his usually unused annual leave to employees in need.
Over the years, he was moved from one part of central operations to another. It seemed that wherever there was a trouble spot, Abrams was deployed to handle it. His hard work continued to be rewarded with promotions as he served in progressively more responsible positions. Ultimately, he became the deputy associate commissioner for
Biles, Osaka create space for women like them
Biles withdrew from the all-around gymnastics competition at the Tokyo Games to focus on her wellbeing after what she described as feeling the “weight of the world” on her shoulders.
After a two-year hiatus, Biles, 27, proved to be just as dominant in her 2023 return to the international stage as she was at her first Olympics in 2016. She won the individual all-around title at the gymnastics world championships in October and breezed through last month’s U.S. Olympic trials.
“Most athletes are wired to win,” Armstrong said. “They’ve been winning all of their lives. And so oftentimes in their sport, they know how to take a day off. And I think what we’re seeing is they’re realizing that even as life intersects with sport, it’s OK to take a time out.”
Osaka and Biles returns to the Olympics is important in creating space for women who look like them to be just as vulnerable, said Victoria Jackson, a sports historian and clinical associate professor of history at Arizona State University, while “also kind of forcing broader culture to accept” them for who they are beyond what they do in their sport.
Jackson said the trio’s journeys show a leadership quality that’s innate for Black women, who are often seen as invincible. As a result, they take on added pressure and adopt missions “bigger than them.”
“They shouldn’t be in a
Harris
central operations responsible for thousands of employees. Abrams retired in 2011 from SSA after over 40 years of exemplary service to the public.
Professional success was not the only thing that he found at SSA, he also found the love of his life– Mary Catherine Carmichael. They were happily married for 30 years until her death in 2013.
Abrams was an integral and indispensable member of the Rising Sun First Baptist Church Catonsville. In his role as deacon, he led devotions during the worship service, and, of course, he wore many other hats as well. He served as liaison between the pastor and the Catonsville Church, security officer, sexton, assistant to the church administrator, substitute trustee and auditor, church photographer and was the chairman of the 10th Anniversary Journal Committee.
A public viewing was held on Thursday, July 11 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the ChatmanHarris Funeral Home West, Baltimore, Md., 5024-44 Reisterstown Road. A graveside service and interment took place at the Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery in Owings Mills on July 12 at 1 p.m.
A celebration of Abram’s life will be held at a later date.
situation where they should feel like it’s expected of them,” she said. “I think that’s a part of this, too. How many generations of Black women have to...recognize that they’re taking on something to make the world a better place for people like them and for everyone else, too?”
“It feels like there should be an endpoint. We’re still asking a lot of Black women athletes,” said Jackson.
This phenomenon isn’t limited to athletes.
“Most Black women you talk to, we all feel that similar weight on our shoulders because we feel like we are the most overlooked and disrespected people in this country,” said Shaneka Stanley, a senior human resources consultant based near Chicago.
Stanley also juggles caring for her young son, step daughter, aging parents and
Continued from A1 bottom-up, we are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Harris stated that she is “honored” to have the president’s endorsement and that it has been an “honor” to serve under him for the past four years.
On July 23, she hit the campaign trail and made her first stop in Milwaukee. While speaking with voters she told them that the campaign is not just about beating Trump.
“This campaign is about who we fight for,” said Harris. “We have doors to knock on. We have phone calls to make, we have voters to register and we have an election to win.”
Harris’ campaign has raised more than $230 million in just a few days and polls show that she has enough Democratic delegates to become the
brother, who has a mental disability.
“I am every woman for all people in my life,” Stanley said. “I get tired, but I put that cape on every single day.”
Conditions for Brown and Black women much harder
Richardson was expected to be a breakout star in Tokyo before a positive test for marijuana at the 2021 Olympic trials. Afterward, Richardson said she smoked marijuana to cope with her mother’s recent death, but that didn’t stop the ridicule that followed the sprinter’s 30-day suspension from the sport.
Richardson’s name was suddenly mentioned in wideranging debates on race, fairness and longstanding anti-doping rules.
Tarlan Chahardovali, an assistant professor in the University of South Carolina’s Department of
Democratic presidential nominee.
However, following Harris’ nomination, she has received criticism from Republican politicians and conservative voters.
U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, (R-Tenn.) recently referred to Harris as a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) hire.
“The media propped up this president, lied to the American people for three years and then dumped him for our DEI vice president,” said Burchett.
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, (D-Pa.) stated that she “isn’t surprised” by Burchett’s remarks which have been echoed by other Republican politicians and voters.
“We all recognize what people mean when they say DEI now. It has become a safe way of basically using a racial
Sport and Entertainment Management, said she has wondered if the criticism that Richardson faced would be applied to a White runner in her position.
“I think the condition for Brown and Black women is much harder,” Chahardovali said.
Now, Richardson gets a second chance at Olympic glory after one of the most dominant seasons in track and field this year. She’ll be a favorite in the 100 meters after winning the race in 10.71 seconds at the U.S. track trials last month.
During her comeback, Richardson has repeatedly talked about resiliency.
“The message is basically understanding and having a deeper love and a deeper care for the talent that I’ve been given,” Richardson said. “And I take advantage of it, nurture it ... and that way I can compete and execute when I show up on the track.”
When Biles, Osaka and Richardson took a step back in their careers, “I was so proud of them for living in their truth,” said Marisa Tatum-Taylor, a DEI manager for a large data company. “ … I hope that women across the world receive that message that sometimes in order to show up, you have to put yourself first.”
Associated Press writer Claire Savage and AP Sports Writers Howard Fendrich and Eddie Pells contributed to this report.
This article was originally published by the Associated Press.
slur against Black folks,” said Lee. “We have seen this type of rhetoric from [Republicans] for some time. Obviously dating back to [former President Barack] Obama and the very unfair things that they’ve said about him.”
Some have also cast doubt that Harris could win the presidency due to her gender.
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-N.Y.) disagreed with anyone who believes that a woman is unfit to lead the nation.
“Women practically already run this country, they run the electorate…[they] might as well be running it at the top.”
In August, the Democratic Party will host its Democratic National Convention in Chicago where it is presumed that Harris will be named the Democratic presidential nominee.
Courtesy photo
Family and friends mourning the death of Randolph E. Abrams, a former executive with the Social Security Administration.
AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
Naomi Osaka, 26, aims to win Olympic gold in tennis while representing Team Japan. Osaka is already a fourtime Grand Slam champion.
COMMENTARY
A time for change: Kamala Harris for president
By Keith Boykin
“There are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen.”
That’s what it felt like this week when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race for re-election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s new nominee.
Now the party must unite behind Kamala Harris, allow her to pick a new running mate and move on to defeat Donald Trump.
After weeks of Democratic in-fighting, Biden’s historic withdrawal shifts the momentum away from the Republican Party and back toward the Democrats heading into their convention in Chicago next month.
The great stunt queen, Donald Trump, thought he won the publicity wars last week when he dramatically announced his new running mate, the inexperienced freshman Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, and told the world the story of surviving an assassination attempt in his rambling 90-minute convention speech.
Now that’s old news, and we have a fundamentally different race. Instead of a contest between two unpopular, old white guys, the new race pits a 59-year-old Black woman against a 78-yearold convicted felon.
It’s the past versus the future.
An all-White-male Republican ticket or a Democratic ticket led by an accomplished Black woman. A party that carries the heavy baggage of scandals, impeachments, indictments and 34 felony convictions from Donald Trump or a party that has an opportunity to reinvent itself with Kamala Harris.
I’ve said all along that I will support the Democratic nominee for president, but I’ve publicly worried about the donor class and wondered if they would accept Harris as the new nominee.
Some floated ideas of an open primary or a “blitz primary” with candidate forums moderated by Republicans like Condoleezza Rice. And TV producer Aaron Sorkin even suggested the ridiculous idea that Democrats should nominate Republican Mitt Romney for president.
No, no and no.
All those Democratic donors and party insiders who spent the past few weeks pushing Biden out of the race better pony up their money, time and energy and start contributing to Kamala Harris’s campaign and the Democratic Party. This is the new Plan B.
We’ve heard a lot of Democratic names floated for president in the past few weeks: Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Andy
Keith Boykin is a New York Times–bestselling author, TV and film producer and former CNN political commentator. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Keith served in the White House, co-founded the National Black Justice Coalition, co-hosted the BET talk show My Two Cents and taught at the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University in New York. He’s a Lambda Literary Award-winning author and editor of seven books. He lives in Los Angeles.
Beshear and Mark Kelly. But now that President Biden has endorsed Vice President Harris, I hope and expect those leaders will stand down and support her, if for no other reason than loyalty to President Biden.
But also because there are financial obstacles if Democrats nominate someone other than Harris. Harris was Biden’s running mate, so she can tap
The chickens are ‘coming home to roost’
By Art Jones
There was an attempted assassination of Donald Trump at an outdoor rally on the afternoon of July 13. All of the national television coverage the next day featured Republican and Democratic politicians–along with political pundits–expressing shock and surprise that such a horrific act could happen here in America.
Television news reporters chimed in, saying, “It is almost unthinkable that something like this would happen at such an event.” President Biden made a national announcement condemning the shooting and stating that “we cannot, we must not go down this road in America.” But if we step back for just a moment and look at this matter with clear eyes, no one should be all that surprised that a man who spent nearly a
decade stirring the cauldron of divisiveness and hate should be the victim of his own rhetoric.
America is a violent nation. Violence is as American and natural as vanilla ice cream melting down a hot apple pie.
America is a nation born in violence. From the American Revolution to the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the incessant annihilation of Native Americans, World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the 20-year war in Afghanistan– and now–the conflict in Ukraine, America has proven itself to be a warrior nation.
From its inception to this very day, America has been actively engaged in no fewer than 108 serious military conflicts. When America is not busy trying to take land from Native Americans or Mexicans, it hones its nefarious
creed by terrorizing African Americans. After Emancipation, African Americans had to endure over one hundred years of Jim Crow lynchings. It is documented that over 6,000 lynchings of black Americans occurred, individuals who were just trying to live their lives as decent human beings. Not one of these culprits has ever been brought to justice.
The United States is a little over 248 years old. Since the founding of this nation in 1776 to this very day in 2024, this country has only known a colossal 17 years of peace. That is less than one out of over 13 generations.
America is a warrior nation.
So let’s take a look at Trump. He has yet to concede the 2020 election to Joe Biden. On Jan. 6, 2021, he incited an angry mob to launch an insurrection to end the U.S. governmental system.
It cost the lives of five Capitol Hill police officers. Trump was never arrested for creating such a human tragedy.
Let it be clearly noted that if his predecessor had attempted anything like this he would be in prison today, serving a lengthy sentence for sedition and trying to overthrow the American government. At rallies, Trump urged attendees to commit violence on those who voiced opposition to his position.
Trump has said that if he loses the 2024 election, there would be a “bloodbath.”
During the last debate, he made it clear that the only way he would accept the results of this year’s election would be if he won.
John Kennedy never uttered such inflammatory words against Nixon in his run for the presidency in 1960. Yet, he was assassinated. His brother Robert
into the $96 million Biden has in the bank. Any new candidate may have to start from scratch.
Let’s not make this any more complicated than it needs to be.
Now is the time for the Democratic Party to step up.
You say you are an inclusive party of women and people of color. It’s time to prove it and get behind Kamala Harris. The Congressional Black Caucus quickly announced its support for Harris.
never came close to spewing such highly bombastic rhetoric in 1968– yet, he too lost his life to gun violence. So, when are the politicians, news casters, and pundits voicing such shock and surprise that the cheerleader of violence in this country should be within the crosshairs of a wouldbe assassin?
Violence is in the DNA of the American nation. This maniacal desire to rape, plunder, subjugate and dominate all others has brought us to the events of Saturday. It is time this country acknowledged this fact about its history. Mr. Trump has provoked an intense climate of hate, a hatred far more potent than that which existed at the time of the tragic assassination of John Kennedy in November 1963. And as Malcolm X said of Kennedy’s death then, the same can be said to characterize the events surrounding the attempted
Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. He must be defeated. We have the power to stop Project 2025 and Agenda 47. The wind is finally at our backs. Let’s get to work.
This article was originally published by Word In Black.
Project 2025: The 900-page guide to snuffing out American democracy
By Ben Jealous
What if there was a blueprint for a future presidential administration to unilaterally lay waste to our constitutional order and turn America from a democracy into an autocracy in one fell swoop?
That is what one far-right think tank and its contributors created. And more than a hundred other far-right organizations have now signed on to support that blueprint. What could possibly go wrong? Maybe you have heard about Project 2025. It was cooked up by the far-right Heritage Foundation. That organization’s leader says we are in a “second American Revolution” that he suggests could turn violent if those who oppose their disastrous plan to kill our democracy do not get in line behind it. For its 51-year history, the Heritage Foundation has always been an instrument of the Far Right. Around 2016, it started to become dangerously extreme. Project 2025, and its 900page guidebook for ending the American experiment, is perhaps its most extreme – and dangerous
– initiative yet.
The premise behind Project 2025 is that our constitutional system of checks and balances somehow is skewed against the American people based on their politics. It is an argument that itself exposes the extremity of those making it.
Our Constitution provides a framework, as do our democratic institutions, for political debate and disagreement within the natural parameters of our system of government. Although our country has too often bucked the very principles of our founding, we used to be able to agree that, generally, America is a Republic that elects its leaders through representative democracy. And that for our government to serve the best interests of all its people, we must protect debate and a free exchange of ideas, as well as the mechanisms of democracy itself and the separation of powers among the three branches of government.
Project 2025 wants to throw all that out the window. It attacks democratic institutions that separate nonpolitical civil service from loyalty to any particular party or leader. It prescribes
purging the federal government of anyone who might be considered disloyal to the ruling party. It allows the president to usurp power from other branches of government, like Congress’s power of the purse. Project 2025 endorses presidential powers that include ignoring how Congress appropriates spending, where the president has the unquestioned authority to redirect congressionally passed spending at will.
Democracy Forward, a prodemocracy legal organization, refers to Project 2025 as “among the most profound threats to the American people.” That is due to the plan’s clear harm to the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of countless millions of Americans – “from attacking overtime pay, student loans and reproductive rights, to allowing more discrimination, pollution and price gouging,” according to Democracy Forward.
It is no wonder that when Americans learn about the Project 2025 roadmap, they reject its policy prescriptions overwhelmingly.
A recent survey by Navigator Polling found strong opposition
to Project 2025’s possible impacts on healthcare: “83 percent oppose removing protections for people with preexisting conditions, 81 percent oppose putting a new tax on health insurance for people who get coverage through their employer and 80 percent oppose banning Medicare from negotiating lower prices and eliminating the $35 monthly insulin cap.”
Project 2025 also calls for defunding public education and eliminating Head Start, the early education program that serves a million primarily low-income children. It lights the path for actions that could reduce food assistance for 40 million people and cost hundreds of thousands of people their jobs.
Project 2025 also supports the defunding or dismantling of key federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is vital in tracking hurricanes and the impacts of climate change. Rather than acknowledging the urgent need for climate action, Project 2025 accuses NOAA of being “one of the main drivers
of the climate change alarm industry.” That is a level of climate denialism not even seen among fossil fuel companies and petrostate governments these days.
How could anyone in their right mind think eliminating agencies on the frontlines of climate science is a good idea at a time like this?? Our cities are cooking under extreme heat. Forests are burning. And experts say Hurricane Beryl, which just slammed Texas – the strongest tropical storm ever recorded this early in the season – indicates we could be facing one of the most devastating hurricane seasons ever. In Texas alone, Beryl killed at least eight people and caused power outages for more than 2.5 million in this summer’s extreme heat. And, again, the season is just getting started.
We have big problems to solve. An authoritarian power grab that guts checks and balances is no way to solve them. A strong democracy that is responsive to its people is the only way we will create a rising tide of opportunity that lifts all boats. It is the only way we will protect people’s fundamental
rights and survive the climate crisis. We have seen enough examples of dictatorships around the world to know it is a road to failure and misery. Project 2025 emphasizes consolidating power, punishing political opponents, and making the government work for the powerful few over the many. That is not the country Americans want or deserve.
Art Jones weighs in on the connection between violent political rhetoric and actual physical violence being used on the political scene.
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club and a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania. This week, he discusses the dangers of the right-wing plan, titled “Project 2025.”
Courtesy photo
assassination of Donald Trump in 2024: “The chickens have come home to roost.”
Family, friends and activists speak out against murder of Sonya Massey
By Tierra Stone AFRO Intern tierrastone@afro.com
Protests across the country are increasing after the death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman from Sangamon,Ill. The mother of two was fatally shot by Sheriff Deputy Sean Grayson inside of her home on July 6.
The disturbing footage sparked national outrage after its release on July 22. During a press conference on July 21 members of Massey’s family, attorney Ben Crump and president of the Illinois Chapter of the NAACP, Teresa Haley, shed light on the case.
“This is a tragic event for us here in Springfield, we’ve had a lot of tragedies lately, but we’re used to it in the Black community— but we’re here to say enough is enough,” said Haley, during the conference that was broadcast by local news stations.
Ben Crump pointed out that Massey also struggled with mental health issues.
“She was dealing with some issues and she needed a helping hand, she didn’t need a bullet to the face,’’ said Crump.
Massey’s family and friends spoke about her life and how they hope legislation will come into effect to prevent these actions from happening.
According to the Center for Policing Equity, a research center, law enforcement officers often interact with people who are dealing with mental illness.
Following his arrest, the Sangamon County Police Department released a statement via Facebook on behalf of Sheriff Jack Campbell.
“The body worn camera footage has now been released, and the public can see what we saw: Sonya Massey lost her life due to an unjustifiable and reckless decision by former Deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson had other options available that he should have used. His actions were inexcusable and do not reflect the values or actions of our training office. He will now face judgment by the criminal justice system and will never again work in law enforcement.”
The body cam footage released on July 22 shows two Sangamon County Police Department deputies responding to a call for help at the residence of Sonya Massey in the early morning hours of July 6.
Upon arriving, the deputies check the property for trespassers and, finding no one, proceed to make contact with the 911 caller. The two knock for several minutes with no answer, becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of response. The officers wonder out loud if she is dead or hiding drugs, before Massey finally opens the door praying to God that the officers don’t hurt her.
“She was dealing with some issues and she needed a helping hand, she didn’t need a bullet to the face.”
“It is estimated that 7 to 10 percent of all police encounters involve a person who has a mental illness. Most of these encounters do not involve any violence, and some don’t involve a crime at all,” according to information released by the organization.
“People with mental illness are no more likely than anyone else to act violently. Despite this, police arrest, injure and kill people with mental illness at higher rates than people without mental illness.”
Grayson has entered a plea of not guilty after being indicted on multiple charges, including first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.
She is obviously disoriented– and scared.
While one officer continues to check out the property, the other enters the home. Massey calmly sits on the couch and tries to answer the officers questions. Ultimately, while both officers are inside of the home, a pot of water begins to boil, prompting them to ask Massey to tend to the stove.
“We don’t need a fire while we’re here,” says one of the deputies.
A faucet can be heard and it appears that Massey is pouring the water down the sink. As she handles the pot, one officer backs up, prompting Massey to ask where he is going.
The deputy responds from the living room area, telling Massey he’s moving “away from your hot, steaming water.”
To this, Massey says “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
What happens next in the video has shocked a nation.
Grayson questions Massey’s phrase. “Huh?” he says.
“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Massey repeats, unmoved from her spot in the kitchen.
“You better f****** not or I swear to God I’ll f****** shoot you in the f****** face,” Grayson aggressively yells, drawing his gun to combat the soft rebuke.
Massey apologizes and immediately crouches by the sink in fear. As she tries to stand back up with the pot Grayson follows through with his threat and shoots Massey in the face, exactly as he said he would just seconds before.
Grayson then proceeds to tell his partner not to render aid, leaving Massey to gurgle her own blood on her kitchen floor. Eventually, the second officer disregards Grayson’s suggestion and begins to apply pressure to the gunshot wound.
Grayson can also be heard telling other officers that he was in fear of “taking boiling water to the face,” and admits there was no threat of a gun. As Massey bleeds to death, Grayson stands feet away and says he doesn’t want to “waste” his medical kit on her.
He steps outside and can be heard describing her as a “crazy b****” to other officers.
Majority of the encounter was caught on the second officer’s body camera, as Grayson did
not turn his body camera on until after Massey had been shot.
After the death of Geroge Floyd in 2022, many cities and states began to ramp up efforts to have officers wear body cameras. Subsequently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that same year, but it has since been halted by members of the U.S. Senate.
Massey’s father, James Wilburn, shared his frustrations with the police and the U.S. Senate regarding their failure to address police brutality and weed out bad cops.
“In 2020 I had quadruple heart bypass surgery. I’ve wondered why God left me here in this world—and maybe it was so that I could tell this whole country that in order to honor my daughter we need to pass the George Floyd Policing Act,’’ said Wilburn.
Wilburn said that he didn’t care if there weren’t enough votes to pass it, he wanted to make sure no one else has to experience what
the Massey family is going through.
President Joe Biden released a statement on White House website, sharing his condolences, but also urging Congress to pass the George Floyd Policing Act.
“Sonya’s family deserves justice. I am heartbroken for her children and her entire family as they face this unthinkable and senseless loss. Jill and I mourn with the rest of the country and our prayers are with Sonya’s family, loved ones and community during this devastating time. I commend the swift actions that were taken by the Springfield’s State’s Attorney’s office,” said Biden. “While we wait for the case to be prosecuted, let us pray to comfort the grieving. Congress must pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act now. Our fundamental commitment to justice is at stake.”
The AFRO reached out to the offices of Illinois State’s Attorney John Milhiser and Springfield Defense Attorney Daniel Fultz but they did not immediately respond to AFRO requests for comment.
AP Photo/John O’Connor
James Wilburn, father of Sonya Massey, speaks to reporters in Springfield, Ill. on Monday, July 22. A former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with murder after shooting Massey inside her home while responding to a 911 call on July 6.
Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office
Sean Grayson is charged with multiple counts of first degree murder, along with other criminal charges for his actions on July 6 inside of the home of Sonya Massey.
Photo courtesy of Ben Crump Law via AP Shown here, Sonya Massey, in an undated photo with her son, Malachi Hill Massey, now 17 years old.
BALTIMORE-AREA
Why do they really dislike Kamala Harris - race and gender the real reason
By Ryan Coleman
The vice presidency was described by the first man to hold the office, John Adams, as “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.”
Originally, the runnerup in the presidential vote — to be carried out by the decidedly un-democratic Electoral College — was to be named vice president.
The idea of a distinguished politician being vice president for nearly two hundred years, and a series of hacks and non-entities occupying
Ryan Coleman, president of the Randallstown NAACP, speaks on the deluge of negative opinions lodged at the new Democratic 2024 presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Gov. Wes Moore celebrates graduation of first cohort in state service year program
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) spoke at the commencement for the first cohort of the Maryland Corps Service Year Option, the fulfillment of a promise made by Moore during his campaign.
“Keep
“Keep doing you, keep serving, keep protecting each other. This is going to be a moment that people will remember for generations to come and they are going to remember you,” said Moore to the large group of graduates gathered at Camden Yards in Baltimore on July 16. “I want to thank you for being leaders and making your entire state proud.”
doing you, keep serving, keep protecting each other. This is going to be a moment that people will remember for generations to come
“The work all of us have done was not just to fulfill our duties, but to make a real difference in the lives of those around us,” said graduate Courtnei Wright, to her peers on the sweltering hot day. “I especially want to extend my thanks to Governor Wes Moore and to the state of Maryland for providing us with this opportunity and experience like no other.”
and they are going to remember you.”
The program, which began in 2023, offers recent high school graduates, GED recipients or those with a school completion certificate an opportunity to get exposed to different career paths and serve their community while earning at least $15 an hour. The first year of the program saw around 240 corps members graduate.
Paul Monteiro, secretary of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation emphasized the diversity among the cohort and how they were able to work together despite those differences.
“I am proud to say there are Republicans in this concourse, there are Democrats in this concourse and there are independents in this concourse,” said Monteiro. “I’m proud to say that we have almost every jurisdiction in this state in this concourse right now, and over 80 percent of this cohort started the race and finished it together.”
About 500 people are expected to be in the 20242025 cohort. This new class will begin on Sept. 11 and conclude in summer 2025.
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel spoke on plans to expand internet connectivity in Baltimore on July 22.
“Last month, when the emergency connectivity fund expired, we were faced with an impossible situation. We had to either turn off the data to those hotspots for over 2,000 families or find the hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep the program running,” said Darcell Graham, interim CEO of Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL), during a press conference at the EPFL Walbrook Branch in West Baltimore. “As a library, we knew we could not leave our families disconnected. We found the funding to keep them on, knowing that the program may not be financially sustainable for us in the future.”
The Enoch Pratt Free Library currently has about 2,000 hotspots in circulation. According to Meghan McCorkell, Enoch Pratt Free Library’s chief of marketing, communications and strategy, about 969 people are waiting for a hotspot.
The FCC voted on July 18 to allow schools and libraries to broaden the E-Rate Program, a federal program that makes
Local middle school holds vigil for former student, Cortez Lemon Teen stabbed to death on July 10 honored by teachers and students
By Tierra Stone AFRO Intern
tierrastone@afro.com
As the rain came to a standstill on the afternoon of July 21, family and friends gathered at Leith Walk Elementary and Middle School to celebrate the life of Cortez Lemon. The teen was fatally stabbed on July 10 after a verbal altercation on a Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) bus.
Cortez completed his eighth-grade year in June 2024 at Leith Walk Elementary and Middle
School, which is located in the heart of Northeast Baltimore. He had hopes of attending high school thereafter. Unfortunately, his life ended in the hot summer months that preceded the first day of his freshman year. Leith Walk principal, Ashanti Porter opened the ceremony and had the attendees gather around in a circle as the ceremony began. “As a school leader you pray to God that you never have to do one of these moments,” said Porter. “You pray
that when you bring the community together that we’re doing it for a joyous reason, but today–as the Leith Walk family–we come together to honor and celebrate the life of our Cortez Lemon.”
Throughout the ceremony some of Lemon’s family and friends came up gradually to share their memories of the late 14 year old.
Many people described him as a leader who loved to play football and who Porter endearingly called “our baby” as she
explained the relationship between Lemon and the student body.
“You had him in the evening time, but he was our baby in the daytime—[and] it didn’t matter what he did, he was our baby,” said Porter, as she addressed the Lemon family.
As the vigil drew to a close, the attendees blew bubbles and stood in a moment of silence in remembrance of Lemon.
The AFRO caught up with some of the attendees as they shared some of their fondest
memories with Cortez.
Vonela Lancaster, who works with the IEP department for Leith Walk shared that Lemon was considered a peacemaker around his peers.
“I’ve been here for
28 years. I watched him grow from five all the way to fourteen,” she said.
“When he was in middle school and if his friends would get into
Continued on B3
Special to the AFRO
AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) passionately speaks to the crowd of Maryland Corps Service Year Option graduates, their loved ones and host sites.
Courtesy Photo
Kamala Harris
Continued from B1
The vice presidency became the norm, rather than the exception. If I polled average Americans on three legislative accomplishments directed by the last three vice Presidents, Mike Pence, Joe Biden and Dick Cheney, I feel confident that 90 percent of them would barely be able to name two.
This is for a reason. The vice President’s role is to stand in the background, to be the tie-breaking vote for the Senate, and to be the ambassador to foreign nations, but never to overshadow the President. So what is different about Kamala Harris? Her identity – as the first female, Black vice president – led to an unprecedented level of scrutiny. The fact that a intelligent Black woman is one step away from being the President is too much for some to handle.
Born in Oakland, California, Harris graduated from Howard University and the
Graduation
Continued from B1
Nancy Noriega, an executive assistant at Asian American Center of Frederick, one of the host sites, shared that three of the four Corps members
University of CaliforniaHastings College of the Law. She has held positions in the office of the district attorney of Alameda County, the San Francisco DA’s Office and the City Attorney of San Francisco. In 2003, she was elected DA of San Francisco. She was elected attorney general of California in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Harris served as the junior U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021.
As a senator, Harris advocated for healthcare reform, the DREAM Act, strict gun control laws and tax reform. She gained a national profile with her intelligent questions during the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh.
Harris has shined for fighting the causes of under-represented Americans. Recently, the vice president has emerged as one of the administration’s leading voices pushing Israel to do more to limit Palestinian
casualties in its war against Hamas and to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.
On the campaign trail, Harris is connecting with voters who are less than excited about the Democratic ticket. She has been defending Biden’s mental acuity, calling the special counsel’s depiction “gratuitous, inaccurate and inappropriate.” In a speech on February 2nd at South Carolina State University, a historically Black institution, she spoke of threats to democracy posed by Donald Trump and said that the former President “has stoked the fires of hate and bigotry and racism and xenophobia for his own power and political gain.”
Harris is also the campaign’s strongest voice on abortion, the issue that, since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, in June 2022, has likely galvanized more voters—including women in Republicanled states—than any
other. She began a recent fundraising email by declaring, “I’m furious,” and launched a national tour in Wisconsin on the fifty-first anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. “These extremists want to roll back the clock to a time before women were treated as full citizens,” she said, standing near a big banner that read “TRUST WOMEN.”
Recalling Trump’s comment that he was proud to appoint three Supreme Court Justices whose votes were critical to overturn Roe, she asked, “Proud that women across our nation are suffering? Proud that women have been robbed of a fundamental freedom? Proud that doctors could be thrown in prison for caring for their patients?”
In Republican audiences, though, Harris is readily mocked and dismissed. At a Nikki Haley event at the Thunder Bay Grille, in Davenport, Iowa, —Haley said, “We cannot ever have a
President Kamala Harris. She’d send a chill up your spine.” What, exactly, is so terrifying about Harris wasn’t clear, but Haley hit the note of Biden’s frailty again in a recent CNN interview, seeming to suggest that Trump, if nominated, would lose to Biden and that Biden would not finish a second term. “There will be a female President of the United States,” she said. “It will either be me, or it will be Kamala Harris.”
Some Republicans and others have wild conspiracy theories and racist overtones as a result of her race and as a result of her gender. They lie to themselves to hide their racist and sexist disposition. The truth is they are scared of change. They are scared of the true story — that Black Americans are equal to White Americans. Kamala Harris is an excellent vice President.
Human nature leads us to avert our gaze when confronted with situations
that disturb us. Part of our nation’s ongoing struggle with race is that too many look away and too few look deeply. For those of us who consider ourselves Christian, this shows up in the continued refusal to see the face of God in others and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Racism can never be defeated under such circumstances. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says it best, “Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance. It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the White people of America believe they have so little to learn… resonant resolutions about brotherhood fall pleasantly on the ear, but for the Negro there is a credibility gap he cannot overlook.”
Ryan Coleman can be reached at randallstownnaacp@ gmail.com
at her site will continue with her company after graduating.
“It’s great for us because they know the ins and outs and we’re
Maryland leaders
Continued from B1
internet access more affordable for libraries and schools throughout the U.S. The program specifically permits funds to be used to loan Wi-Fi hotspots to teachers and students so they can use the internet anywhere they go.
“I think all of us know that in this age, in the 21st century, having
“...We were faced with an impossible situation. We had to either turn off the data to those hotspots for over 2,000 families or find the hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep the program running...We found the funding to keep them on...”
access to the internet is as important as it was to have access to electricity in the twentieth century,” said Van
In Memoriam Matthew Marcus,
excited that they want to continue servicing the community,” said Noriega. “We are a nonprofit, and we serve a lot of refugees and immigrant families
that come to the U.S. We help them prepare with citizenship services, also English classes. The members that we have played a really big role
in helping us reach out to the community, doing outreach with us for the different programs that we have.”
Noriega said her
organization had a pleasant overall experience and are looking forward to welcoming the next group of cohort members in September.
Hollen. “Workers need it to develop their skills, people need it to connect with healthcare providers, entrepreneurs need it to help startup and sustain their small businesses and our students need the internet to learn.”
An honorary Memorial Service to be held: Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Ark Church, 1263 E. North Ave. Baltimore, MD 21202, where family will receive friends and guests at 10 am.
Scott emphasized the importance of “closing the digital divide.”
“Baltimore has lagged behind other jurisdictions when it comes to internet connectivity and access
to the technology and devices that we need,” said Scott. “There isn’t a single silver bullet that is going to close the digital divide. It’s going to take every piece, internet access, education and training and access to devices. There needs to be a mosaic of strategies and programs to help close the gap in short and longterm goals.”
Rosenworcel elaborated on how many
families will benefit from the expansion.
“It’s going to depend on the demand of an annual budget for e-rate. That’s roughly $4.9 billion,” said Rosenworcel. “We anticipate more than a billion dollars will be available specifically for hotspots, so it’s gonna make a meaningful difference in a lot of places across the country.”
Darcell Graham (left), interim CEO of Enoch Pratt Free Library celebrates the expansion of WiFi resources for local residents with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) celebrate efforts to expand internet access in Baltimore.
AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen
Celebration of Life Memorial Service Matthew Marcus, Jr., proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, son of the late Rev. Dr. Matthew Marcus, Sr. and Amanda S. Marcus, and retired educator in the Baltimore City School system.
Jr.
Cortez Lemon
Continued from B1
a little situation, he was the person who would say ‘look we’re gonna leave this alone, we’re not fighting and we’re not having all this bad behavior—just let it go man it’s gonna be ok,’ and that’s who he was,” said Lancaster.
Bethany Newsome, the school’s counselor, shared insight into
of being one of the most dangerous cities in America. The vigil served not only as a tribute to Lemons’ life, but some of the attendees wanted this day to be a message of putting a stop to the inner city violence.
Newsome didn’t hold back as she explained what she wanted the vigil to represent to the youth
“Cortez was kind, he was sweet, he was thoughtful, reflective, funny and very polite—he was a gentle soul.”
Lemons’ personality on a daily basis.
“Cortez was kind, he was sweet, he was thoughtful, reflective, funny and very polite— he was a gentle soul,” she said.
Even though Baltimore has been known to have an enriching history, in recent years it has garnered the reputation
that were in attendance.
“It’s an opportunity to reflect and remember to spread love, peace and kindness,” she said.
Porter agreed as she shared what message she wanted the youth to gain from the ceremony and how she wants all of her kids to be safe.
“I just want all my kids to be safe,” she
said. “I want all of my babies to understand that there are some real life consequences for the things we do. We have a huge support community for all of our students right now, and we want them to know that they are loved, they are appreciated, they are honored and we just want them to do their best all the time.”
Eighth grade science teacher Zakiya Kent not only weighed in on the kind of student Lemon was but how she wants him to be remembered.
“I want people to remember that he was still a child,” she said. “He was somebody’s child and he still had a lot to learn and he deserved that time to learn those things, and with him being a child he made mistakes, but he always tried to make them right — and that’s a sign right there that he would have grown up to be a wonderful man.”
Mayor Scott praises grand opening of new S.O.N.S of Phoenix resource hub
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) joined S.O.N.S (Saving Others Never Stops) of Phoenix, a resource hub for Baltimore youth and community-based public
“Building a safer Baltimore together happens every day. That’s really what we’re here to celebrate, this continuation and the growth
of that work.”
safety partner, for its grand opening at 1501 E. Fayette St. on July 17.
“Building a safer Baltimore together happens every day,” said Scott, uplifting the work of the S.O.N.S of Phoenix and other community partners who helped make the relocation happen.
“That’s really what we’re here to celebrate, this continuation and the growth of that work.”
S.O.N.S of Phoenix primarily works with youth and young adults,
the organization’s
ages 8-30, who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, autism spectrum disorder, substance abuse, homelessness and
juvenile delinquency.
Its new location will feature a media room, effectively expanding the organization’s ability to service Baltimore’s
historically underserved communities.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” said Kelly Sparks, CEO and founder of S.O.N.S of
Phoenix. “This building is really not ours, it’s the community’s and all our partners.” Sparks said a focus for his organization is
Members of the Leith Walk Elementary and Middle School community, local residents, friends and family members continue to mourn the death of Cortez Lemon. A vigil was held on July 22 to remember the teen’s life, taken on July 10.
Meta (Facebook) / Leith Walk Elementary
Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) commends S.O.N.S (Saving Others Never Stops) of Phoenix, a non-profit resource hub for Baltimore youth, for its work as
leadership celebrate their grand opening.
Photo courtesy of Baltimore City Mayor’s Office /J.J. McQueen
Baltimore Washington One Carnival highlights Caribbean culture for 44th year
By James Fields Special to the AFRO
The parade of the Baltimore Washington One Carnival, a Caribbean festival, was held at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore on July 13. The parade was just one of the offerings included in the three-day festival. The parade began at Park Circle, a neighborhood bordering the park, and then made its way to Druid Hill Park. Mayor Brandon Scott led the procession of bands, dancers and other participants in costume. Vendors lined the streets in tents with native flags, art and food as loudspeakers played soca, calypso and reggae, which are all popular types of Caribbean music. Winding their way through the park, performers from all across the Caribbean displayed their cultural pride for the crowd.
The carnival was organized by the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Baltimore and the D.C. Caribbean Carnival Committee, marking the festival’s 44th year of highlighting Caribbean heritage. This festival aims not only to introduce non-Caribbean people to Caribbean culture, but also to allow Caribbean individuals to feel welcome and celebrated in Baltimore. The festivities attract thousands of attendees each year, and 2024 proved to be no exception.
Resonate becomes Baltimore’s newest creative hub
By Dorothy Boulware AFRO Special Projects Editor
An inspiration station, Resonate Baltimore, recently opened in Parkville, Md. The venue is fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including spaces for music lessons, podcast recording, video production and event rentals. This versatile venue, located at 1713 Amuskai Road, is poised to become a cornerstone for artists, creators and professionals in the Baltimore area.
“Our goal is to provide a supportive and innovative space where the creative community can thrive. We look forward to building lasting relationships and inspiring countless creative projects,” said owners Trevor and Melissa Chin. The Chins also have experience leading other ventures — Melissa with Melissa T Music Lessons and Trevor with T.Chin Solutions — equipping them with the ability to make their vision of Resonate Baltimore come to life.
AFRO Photo / James Fields
Mayor Brandon Scott, a co-sponsor of the festival, leads the Baltimore Washington One Carnival parade on July 13.
Masquerade band member Angela Salvino (left) and Marcia Bennett dance to the music. This year’s Caribbean Carnival featured 25 masquerade bands.
Candice George, owner of Imprint Me Fashions Boutique, shows off one of her own Carnival designs.
Miranda Jones (left), Shannon Grey and Charles Rymer show pride for the U.S. Virgin Islands while encouraging parade participants.
Lakshniee Gosine represents Trinidad and Tobago at the 44th edition of the Baltimore Washington One Carnival.
Attendees indulge in Caribbean food, crafts and music while at the festival.
Shirley and Donald Curtis attend the opening on Saturday, July 13 to show support for the economic growth of local community members.
Dr. Derren Thompson (left), Melissa Chin, Trevor Chin and Dr. Toni Boulware Stackhouse look on as the Chins cut the ribbon on their new family venture.
Cameron “Cam Sounds” Sterrett, of the Cam Sounds Trio, provides live entertainment for the grand opening.
Owner Melissa Chin stands with Tobi Olanyi, an investing associate from Innovation Works Baltimore, in the 2,130 square foot space that aims to serve as a safe space for musicians of all levels of ability to practice their craft.
A look at the 2024 Olympic schedule and the Black athletes competing in Paris
The long jump event begins on Aug. 6 at 5:15
The 2024 Paris Olympics are under way and there are multiple athletes across the 32 sports being contested at the Olympic Games that should be on your radar. Take a look at some of the events and athletes you should keep an eye out for as the 19-day event unfolds. Track and Field - Women
Sha’Carri Richardson Richardson is in search of redemption as she qualifies for the first Olympics of her young, accomplished career. The 2023 World Champion was ruled ineligible to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics due to a positive drug test after winning the 2020 U.S. Olympic trials. She admitted to smoking marijauna to help deal with the death of her mother. Now, after repeating as the U.S. Olympic trials 100-meter dash champion, Richardson will look to claim the gold medal in Paris; something she didn’t even have a chance to do in 2021. As Richardson loves to say, “I’m not back– I’m better.”
Richardson and her two training partners, Melissa Jefferson and TeeTee Terry, made history by becoming the first female training group to sweep an event at an Olympic trial meet. The women were coached by Dennis Mitchell, who will be looking to get the same result in Paris. The only coach to successfully lead his camp in sweeping both the national trials and the Olympics was Jamaican coach Glen Mills. Headlined by track and field legend Usain Bolt, Mills led his camp in sweeping the 200-meter dash at both the Jamaican trials as well as the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The 100-meter dash event begins Aug. 2 at 4:35 a.m. EST, with the event final taking place on Aug. 3 at 3:20 p.m. EST.
The 200-meter dash event begins on Aug. 4 at 4:55 a.m. EST, with the event final taking place on Aug. 6 at 3:40 p.m. EST.
Gabby Thomas Thomas will look to use her Olympic experience to her advantage as she prepares for the trip to Paris. The 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medalist and 2023 World Championship silver medalist in the 200-meter dash will be looking to continue her strong 2024 outdoor campaign after dropping a world-leading time of 21.78 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials.
Veteran Jamaican sprinter and five-time Olympic medalist Shericka Jackson will challenge Thomas for the gold as she attempts the double (winning both the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash). Thomas’ teammate McKenzie Long will also be vying for a spot on the podium. The budding star has captured the hearts of America after the death of her mother. Long was able to channel her grief into motivation, winning the double at the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Outdoor National Championships. She currently has the second fastest 200-meter time in the world right now at 21.83 seconds, according to World Athletics.
The 400-meter hurdles event begins on Aug. 4 at 6:35 a.m. EST, with the event final taking place on Aug. 8 at 3:25 p.m. EST.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
McLaughlin-Levrone looks to continue to be in a class of her own as she prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. McLaughlinLevrone is already the world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, lowering the world record she already held to 50.65 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials. The New Jersey native is already in contention for the best track and field athlete of all time, as she is an Olympic champion and a World champion in the 400 meter hurdles before the age of 25. She also currently has the fastest 400-meter dash time and sixth fastest 200-meter dash time in the world right now, but opted to focus solely on the 400-meter hurdles in Paris.
Vying for a podium finish is Anna Cockrell, who will be competing in her second Olympic Games. She finished seventh in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic 400-meter hurdle final, but
in
Davis-Woodhall
furthest long jump distance in the world at 7.18 meters. DavisWoodhall’s husband, Hunter Woodhall, will also be competing in 2024 at the Paralympic Games.
Former Florida Gator star Jasmine Moore, 23, made her second consecutive U.S. Olympic team and
EST.
Masai Russell Russell, a Maryland native, currently holds the fastest 100-meter hurdles time in the world at 12.25 seconds. The world-leading time was a breakthrough performance for the 24 year old. Russell dropped the blazing time in the 100-meter hurdle final at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials, taking home the gold.
The women’s short hurdles are one of the most competitive events in the world right now. Russell will be looking to continue her winning ways against world record holder and 2022 World Champion Tobi Amusan out of Nigeria and the reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who was born in the United States but competes for Puerto Rico.
Track and Field - Men
Noah Lyles Lyles will be seeking to do something that only nine other men to grace this planet Earth have ever done - win both the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash at the Olympics. The historic Olympic “sprint double” has only been achieved four times since 1984, and three of those were courtesy of one of the greatest sprinters of all time, Usian Bolt. Lyles, the reigning 200-meter World champion, is the favorite in the 200 but the 100-meter dash is very much up for grabs.
Challenging Lyles for gold in the 100-meter dash is Kishane Thompson of Jamaica, reigning Olympic 100-meter champion Lamont Marcel Jacobs and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala.
The 100-meter dash event begins Aug. 3 at 4:35 a.m. EST, with the event final taking place on Aug. 4 at 3:50 p.m. EST.
The 110-meter hurdle event begins on Aug. 4 at 5:50 a.m. EST, with the event final taking place on Aug. 8 at 3:45 p.m. EST.
Grant Holloway Five-time world champion and currently the second fastest man to ever run the short hurdles, Holloway will look to avenge his upset defeat at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Reigning Olympic champion Hansle Parchment will be in the hunt to reclaim his title, while USA’s Daniel Robert will attempt to step out of Holloway’s shadow and have his breakthrough moment in Paris.
The javelin event begins on Aug. 6 at 4:20 a.m. EST, with the event final on Aug. 8 at 2:25 p.m. EST.
Curtis Thompson Thompson, now a two-time Olympian, will be looking to add an Olympic medal to his résumé. Thompson is already a NCAA champion, a three-time American champion and won the Pan American Games in 2023. He was the only javelin
AP Photo/George Walker
AP Photo/Chris Carlson
AP Photo/Petr David Josek
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergal
Courtesy of Facebook
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
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AP Photo/George Walker
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergal
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergal
From the AFRO archives: A look at the Black Olympic athletes
By Mekhi Abbott AFRO Intern mabbott@afro.com
With the July 26 opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games, more than 10,000 of the most competitive athletes across the globe commenced their quest for victory. Though the opening ceremony was held on July 26, soccer, rugby and handball matches were held ahead of the opening ceremony on July 24 and 25. The 19-day event is highly anticipated after the unorthodox 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were affected and postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In preparation of the Olympic Games, the AFRO revisited some major Olympic moments in history. Take a look below at some of the Olympic material housed within the AFRO archives.
Ira Davis was born on Sept. 25, 1936 and attended La Salle University where he was able to set an American record and win the United States (U.S.) Olympic trials as a 19-year old freshman in the triple jump. Davis would go on to become a national champion four times - 1956, 1958, 1960 and 1964. He competed in three Olympics, with his best finish coming 1960 where he finished fourth. He was also the high school teammate of the late great Wilt Chamberlain. They played on both the basketball and track team together.
Jesse Owens is widely regarded as one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time. Owens, an Ohio State University alumnus, once broke three world records and tied another at the 1935 Big Ten track meet in Ann Arbor, Mich. He then won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 4x100 meter relay and the long jump. His success at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany served as a big deterrent to the Aryan Supremacy movement that was being perpetuated by infamous
Mary (Lynch) Van Manen is the first Mississippiborn, Black, deaf woman to graduate from college. Lynch graduated from Galluadet University in Washington, D.C., a private institution intended to educate the deaf and hard of hearing. Lynch was also one of the first two Black women to compete in the 1961 Deaf Olympics for Team USA.
Wilma Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940 prematurely and suffered from a lot of illnesses as an infant, most notably contracting polio which caused her to wear a leg brace until she was 12 years old. Rudolph would go on to overcome her health issues in her early childhood and went on to become one of the most recognizable names in Olympic history. Rudolph would go on to win three gold medals at the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the 4x100 meter relay. Rudolph made her first Olympics as a 16-year-old high school athlete and qualified for the 1960 Olympic Games as a member of the Tennessee State Tigers.
The Helsinki Olympic Stadium of 1952 in Finland was famously known as the Olympics in which the most world records were broken, prior to the 2008 summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Some Helsinki Olympians also consider this the last “real Olympics” that was focused on sporting and non the commercialization of the Olympic Games.
dictator Adolf Hitler.
Ira Davis smiles for a picture at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
Wilma Rudolph flashes a smile as she is awarded the Sullivan Award, which is awarded to the “most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level” in the United States.
Bird’s eye view of the Olympic stadium built for the 1952 summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.
Shown here, 1961 Deaf Olympics athlete and pioneer, Mary Lynch.
Track and field athlete Jesse Owens signs an autograph for Jeannette Jones, a fan of the sports legend.
Photos Courtesy of AFRO Archives
Feb. 1942
Upcoming National Night Out events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area
By Tierra Stone
AFRO Intern
tierrastone@afro.com
Madeline Seck
AFRO Intern mseck@afro.com and Lizzy Suber
AFRO Intern lizzysuber@afro.com
Every year since 1984, National Night Out (NNO) events give locals and law enforcement time to bridge the gap and come together to make connections with members who serve their communities. 2024 marks NNO’s 40th anniversary, as it is celebrated every first Tuesday in August. The AFRO has compiled a list of NNO events happening in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia and surrounding areas to attend as summer winds down. Take a look to see what’s happening near you!
Baltimore City’s National Night Out
This city-wide event, encouraged by Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore Police Department, will give residents and local law enforcement an opportunity to connect and come together. This event will have free food, games, giveaways and entertainment.
Date: August 6
Time: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Main Event: 1034 North Mount Street Baltimore, MD 21217
Cost: Free
University of Maryland, Baltimore County The University of Maryland Baltimore Police Department, Campus Public Safety and the Community Engagement Center will host a National Night Out event,
Date: August 6
Date:
Location: Delta Community Center 2501 Springhill Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215
Cost: Free NNO at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Join Mt. Sinai Baptist Church for a night of music, a bike raffle, fresh produce giveaways and snowballs to celebrate NNO with local community members.
Date: August 6
Time: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Mt. Sinai Baptist Church 922 E. Preston Street Baltimore, MD 21202
Cost: Free
NNO with the Howard County Police Department The Howard County Police Department will host their NNO event at Clarksville Commons. The occasion will feature police and fire displays, kid-friendly games and live entertainment.
Date: August 6
Time: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Clarksville Commons 12230 and 12250 Clarksville Pike Clarksville, MD 21029
Cost: Free Winter Growth’s Front Porch
On Aug. 6, the Winter Growth Assisted Living and Memory Care will host an NNO event where there will be family games, snacks and refreshments.
Date: August 6
Time: 6 p.m - 8 p.m.
Location: 5460 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, MD 21044
Cost: Free
NNO with the Harper’s Choice Community Association Connect with community members via the Harper’s Choice Community Association. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the activities while also learning about resources available to help the neighborhood.
Date: August 6
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Joseph Square, 5440 Old Tucker Row Columbia, MD 21044
Cost: Free
NNO with Montgomery County Police Come out to downtown Silver Spring for a night of dancing, prizes from restaurants and stores, refreshments and more. Attendees are also encouraged to participate in police and fire safety and awareness activities while at the event.
Date: August 6
Time: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Ellsworth Place 8661 Colesville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20910
Cost: Free
NNO with the Anne Arundel County Police Department
The Anne Arundel County Police Department invites everyone to the National Night Out event that will give visitors the opportunity to enhance their relationship with neighbors and local law enforcement to truly understand the meaning of community.
Date: August 6
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Kinder Farm Park
1001 Kinder Farm Park Road
Millersville, MD, 21108
Cost: Free
NNO with the Old Brooklyn Park Community Association
The Old Brooklyn Park Community Association presents their North County NNO. Along with games, prizes and free food, the event will also feature visits by police officers, firefighters and representatives from other county services such as the Department of Aging and the Office of Emergency Management.
Date: August 6
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: 10th Avenue Ballpark 320 10th Avenue Brooklyn Park, MD 212245
Cost: Free
NNO at the Annapolis Library
Come to the Annapolis Library to enjoy a community-building NNO event as they work to connect neighborhoods with each other and the local police department through giveaways, free food and exciting games.
Date: August 6
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Annapolis Library 1410 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401
Cost: Free
NNO in Olney
The Olney Chamber of Commerce’s NNO event promises fire prevention information, face painting, arts and crafts and police cruisers — something for everyone throughout the day.
Date: August 6
Time:
Location:
NNO with the Metropolitan Police Department
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of the District of Columbia invites D.C. residents and community leaders to come together to advocate for crime and drug prevention and strengthen police and neighborhood relationships. The community will be open to events such as cookouts, block parties, candlelight vigils, athletic events and more.
Date: August 6
Time: 4 p.m - 8 p.m.
Location: Main event Sycamore and Oak 1110 Oak Drive, SE
Cost: Free
Date: August 6
NNO with the MPD - Lansburgh Park
Time: 5 p.m - 8 p.m.
Location: 1098 Delaware Avenue, SW
Cost Free
NNO with the MPD - Guy Mason Recreation Center
Date: August 6
Time: 5 p.m - 8 p.m.
Location: 3600 Calvert Street, NW
Cost: Free
NNO with the MPD - Kennedy Recreation Center
Date: August 6 Time: 5:30 p.m - 8 p.m.
Location: 1401 Seventh Street, NW
Cost: Free
Edgewood Recreation Center
Celebrate NNO at the Edgewood Recreation Center with a block show, cookout and visits with members of the local and police and fire departments
Date: August 6
Time: 4 p.m - 7:30 p.m.
Location: 300 Evarts Street, NE Cost Free
Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church
Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church invites residents young and old to fellowship, network and enjoy all that National Night Out has to offer.
Date: August 6 Time: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Date:
National Night Out Against Crime
Join the Bowie Police Department for NNO to connect with members of the city of Bowie and those who serve to protect the community. At this event, expect to have fun and learn about crime prevention resources.
Date: August 6
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Allen Pond Park 3330 Northview Drive Bowie, MD 20716
Cost: Free
City of Glenarden Police Department for NNO
The City of Glenarden invites residents to spend time outdoors for food, music and family-friendly fun
Date: August 6
Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: Glenarden Municipal Center 8600 Glenarden Parkway Glenarden, MD 20706
Cost: Free
of College Park
The City of College Park, near the University of Maryland welcomes you to their night out celebration to raise awareness to prevent crime and increase safety. The festivities will include moon bounces, refreshments and more outdoor activities.
Date: August 6
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Duvall Field 9100 Rhode Island Ave College Park, MD 20740
Cost: Free
Photo courtesy of NATO.org
WILLIAM UPCHURCH SR. Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs WILLIAM UPCHURCH JR., whose address is 1915 VALLEY TERRACE SE WASHINGTON DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of
CITY OF BALTIMORE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for WATER CONTRACT NO. 1279-Distribution Watermain Replacement and Rehabilitation Sefton Area and Vicinity will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M on September 18, 2024. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. Bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates and can be watched live on CharmTV’s cable channel 25/1085HD; charmtvbaltimore. com/watch-live or listen in at (443) 984-1696 (ACCESS CODE: 0842939) from City Hall at Noon. The Contract Documents may be examined, without charge, at Contract Administration 4 South Frederick Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 on the 3 rd floor (410) 396-4041 as of July 26, 2024 and copies may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of 100.00. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact OBC at 4 S Frederick St., 4 th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is B02551 – Water Mains . Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $15,000,000.01 to $20,000,000.00.
A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Team Meeting. Vendor can call 1-667-228-6519, Phone Conference ID: 377 872 015# on August 7, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. Contractor questions shall be submitted via email to Tarnisha Bailey at Tarnisha.Bailey@baltiorecity.gov. and dpwbidopportunities@baltimorecity.gov by August 14, 2024, at 4:30 P.M. Questions submitted after the deadline may not be responded to and Contractors will be required to submit their bids based on the available information.
To purchase a bid book, please make an electronic request at:https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/dpw-construction-projects-notice-letting and dpwbidopportunities@ baltimorecity.gov. For further inquiries about purchasing bid documents, please contact the assigned Contract Administrator Doreen.Diamond@baltimorecity.gov
Principal items of work for this contract include, but are not limited to: Abandonment and/or removal of existing water mains and installation of various sized new ductile iron pipes, valves, fittings and appurtenances, pipe restraints, replacement/installation of fire hydrants, small (residential meter settings and meter vaults, renew and replacement of existing water services, temporary bypass piping, erosion and sediment control measures, maintenance of traffic measures, sidewalk restoration, curb and gutter, and roadway paving, as required.
The MBE goal is 30%
APPROVED: Clerk, Board of Estimates
The WBE goal is 15%
APPROVED:
Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for WATER CONTRACT NO. 1413R-Lake Montebello and Montebello Washwater Lake Dredging will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M on September
be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is G90013 Dredging. Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $20,000,000.01 to $30,000,000.00
A “Pre-Bidding
Phone Conference ID: 958 213 275#.
A site visit to Lake Montebello and Montebello Washwater Lake will be conducted on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 10:00 am. For any Pre-bid questions, please contact Mr. Ahmad Munir Barae at Ahmad.Barae@baltiorecity.gov. Contractor questions shall be submitted (in writing only) by August 20, 2024 by 4:30 pm.
To purchase a bid book, please make an electronic request at: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/dpw-construction-projects-notice-letting and dpwbidopportunities@baltimorecity.gov. For further inquiries about purchasing bid documents, please contact the assigned Contract Administrator Doreen.Diamond@baltimorecity.gov
Principal items of work for this contract include, but are not limited to: Mobilization and furnishing of all labor, material, equipment, and incidentals necessary for the removal of alum sludge and filter backwash solids from Lake Montebello and the Washwater Lake and final disposal of the sludge and filter backwash solids in an approved disposal site. The solids will need to be removed from the lakes, dewatered on site to reduce the amount of water to be hauled and disposed of, and trucked to a final disposal site. After the work is completed, site restoration of all disturbed areas will be performed.
The MBE goal is 15% APPROVED: Clerk, Board of Estimates
The WBE goal is 8% APPROVED: Khalil Zaied Acting Director Department of Public Works
Payment Policy for legal notice advertisements. Effective immediately, The Afro American Newspapers will require prepayment for publication of all legal notices Payment will be accepted in the form of checks, credit card or money order. Any returned checks will be subject to a $25.00 processing fee and may result in the suspension of any future advertising at our discretion.
LEGAL NOTICES
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION CITY OF BALTIMORE OFFICE OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROJECT # 1389R PLANNING/FEASIBILITY STUDY
WEST BALTIMORE UNITED RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES PROJECT
The City of Baltimore’s Department of Transportation has been authorized to request the Office of Boards and Commission (OBC) to advertise Project No. 1389R Planning/Feasibility Study West Baltimore United Reconnection Communities Project for selected services.
It is the expectation of the City that interested firms providing these services must demonstrate and document the following, to undertake a federally funded planning/feasibility study for the 1.4-mile-long US 40 Expressway corridor in West Baltimore that includes the development of transportation and redevelopment concepts and associated analysis in conjunction with deconstructing or reconfiguring the US 40 expressway.
Consultant services funded in whole, or in part, with Federal-aid highway program funds shall be procured and administered in accordance with the requirements of Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200). In addition, contracts for engineering, planning and design related services which utilize Federal-aid highway program funds and are directly related to a planned construction project must also comply with the requirements established in 23 U.S.C.§112 and 23 CFR 172. Engineering and design related services are defined as program management, construction, management, feasibility studies, preliminary engineering, design, engineering, surveying, mapping or architectural related services, (as specified in 23 U.S.C.§. 112(b)(2)(A) and 23 CFR § 172.3). Many additional Federal laws and regulations apply to the procurement and administration of engineering, planning and design related services including the Brooks Act (40 USC Chapter 11). City personnel will utilize the City of Baltimore Guidelines for the Performance Evaluation of Design Consultants and Construction Contractors for this contract/project.
Prequalification Requirements
All firms listed in the specific proposal for the project, whether prime or subcontractors, must be prequalified by the Office of Boards and Commissions for each discipline in which they propose to perform work at the time of submittal for this project. Any contracting firm listed in this specific proposal to perform work must also be prequalified. A copy of the prime and all subcontracting firm’s current prequalification must be included in the submitted package. Information regarding the prequalification process can be obtained by calling the Office of Boards and Commissions in 410396-6883.
Submittal Process Five (5) copies of the Federal Form 330 and response to the detailed technical proposal (NOTE: DO NOT PROVIDE A COST PROPOSAL) must be submitted on or before 12:00 P.M. (Noon) on 08/9/2024 to the Office of Boards and Commissions 4 South Frederick Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
To obtain a detailed scope of work, please contact Brenda Simmons at Brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov.
Failure to follow directions of this advertisement or the application may cause disqualification of the submittal.
All questions should be submitted to Mr. Brendan Latimer at Brendan.latimer@baltimorecity.gov no later than 7/30/2024 at 11:49 PM. Questions will be compiled, and responses sent on 08/2/2024 to those that have provided e-mail addresses.
DBE Requirements
It is the policy of the City of Baltimore to promote equal business opportunity in the City’s contracting process. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goals apply to this contract. This project is federally funded and is required to comply with 49 CFR, Part 23, as amended.
The DBE goal for this project is 16%
CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for SANITARY CONTRACT NO. 982R-Eastern Avenue Pumping Station Rehabilitation will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M on October 2, 2024. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. Bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates and can be watched live on CharmTV’s cable channel 25/1085HD; charmtvbaltimore.com/watch-live or listen in at (443) 984-1696 (ACCESS CODE: 0842939) from City Hall at Noon. The Contract Documents may be examined, without charge, at Contract Administration 4 South Frederick Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 on the 3 rd floor (410) 396-4041 as of July 26, 2024 and copies may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of 100.00. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396- 6883 or contact OBC at 4 S Frederick St., 4 th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is E13003 Water and/or Sewer Treatment Plants and Pumping Stations. Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $40,000,000.01 to $50,000,000.00
A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. Vendors can call 1 667-228-6519 PASSCODE: 699 018 136# on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM. For any Pre-bid questions please contact Mr. Kevin Cookley at Kevin.Cookley@baltimorecity.gov. Contractor Questions shall be submitted (In Writing Only) by Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 5:00 PM.
To purchase a bid book, please make an electronic request at: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/dpw-construction-projects-notice-letting and dpwbidopportunities@baltimorecity.gov. For further inquiries about purchasing bid documents, please contact the assigned Contract Administrator Torron.Coleman@baltimorecity.gov.
Principal items of work for this contract include, but are not limited to:
The proposed DBE firms must be named and identified as DBEs within the Standard Form (SF) 330 in the spaces provided for identifying outside key consultants/ associates anticipated for utilization for this project.
CITY OF BALTIMORE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
NOTICE OF LETTING
Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for SANITARY CONTRACT NO. 982R-Eastern Avenue Pumping Station Rehabilitation will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204 City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M on October 2, 2024. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. Bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates and can be watched live on CharmTV’s cable channel 25/1085HD; charmtvbaltimore.com/watch-live or listen in at (443) 984-1696
(ACCESS CODE: 0842939) from City Hall at Noon. The Contract Documents may be examined, without charge, at Contract Administration 4 South Frederick Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 on the 3 rd floor (410) 396-4041 as of July 26, 2024 and copies may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of 100.00. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396- 6883 or contact OBC at 4 S Frederick St., 4 th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is E13003 Water and/or Sewer Treatment Plants and Pumping Stations. Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $40,000,000.01 to $50,000,000.00 A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. Vendors can call 1 667-228-6519 PASSCODE: 699 018 136# on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM. For any Pre-bid questions please contact Mr. Kevin Cookley at Kevin.Cookley@baltimorecity.gov. Contractor Questions shall be submitted (In Writing Only) by Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 5:00 PM.
To purchase a bid book, please make an electronic request at:
1. Demolition of pumping systems (1 through 6) and associated existing piping and appurtenances; demolition of existing seal water pump and vacuum prime pumping systems; demolition of existing cone valves; demolition of existing wastewater screening systems; demolition of existing pump power supply and control systems; demolition of miscellaneous power supply and control systems; demolition of miscellaneous HVAC and plumbing systems.
2. Provision and installation of new pumping systems and associated piping and appurtenances; provision and installation of new seal water pump and vacuum prime pumping systems; provision and installation of new pump discharge check valves; provision and installation of new magnetic flow meters; provision and installation of new wastewater screening systems; provision and installation of new pump power supply and control systems; provision and installation of miscellaneous power supply and control systems; provision and installation of miscellaneous new HVAC and plumbing systems.
3. Miscellaneous architectural and structural improvements.
4. Flood protection measures at select doors and outdoor structures.
WASHINGTON-AREA
Purple Line trains unveiled; Communities of Prince George’s County weigh in
By Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor Dbailey@afro.com
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. The Purple Line will end in Bethesda in Montgomery County, Md., 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 percent complete,” announced Maryland
D.C. Board of Education passes resolution in support of nixing legacy admissions
for the removal of legacy and donor preferences in college admissions.
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
The D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) has endorsed a call to cut deference to donor families and halt legacy admissions in the District’s private and public colleges. During a July 14 public meeting, the board voted 8-1 to pass Resolution SR24-16. Testimonies from a number of Georgetown University students were given.
Many of the student advocates argued that the practice stifles diversity, preventing low-income and Black and Brown students from accessing equitable opportunity in higher education, particularly at prestigious institutions. Rising sophomore Darius Wagner dubbed it “affirmative action for the White and wealthy.”
than an average income student with the same exact test score,” said Wagner. “There are more legacy students at Georgetown than Black and Hispanic students, respectively. It’s clear that this pattern of fast-tracking is giving advantages to people who already have advantages.”
The first-generation student contended that legacy students begin amassing privileges from birth. They may have access to tutors and better elementary, middle and high school education. They may be able to participate in more extracurricular activities.
“It’s clear that this pattern of fast-tracking is giving advantages to people who already have advantages.”
“At Georgetown alone, there are more students from the top 1 percent than the bottom 60 percent. Students from the top 1 percent are 2.7 times more likely to attend Georgetown
He also noted that they benefit from having a parent who already attended college.
“All of these benefits are already provided to affluent students, and then they get another added boost in the admission process. We fundamentally think that’s unfair,” said Wagner. “We know that ending legacy admissions is going to be one step, but an important step, in helping us ensure that there’s more fairness in this process and in increasing and protecting the diversity of our
Hot off the press: News impacting the Black community in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO
Montgomery County Police Department expands drone program
If you’re outside at night over the next few months in Montgomery County, Md. – the region located just north of the District – and you hear buzzing above your head, have no fear. It’s not a UFO!
An aggressive program undertaken by the Montgomery County Police Department, in which they are employing about a dozen drones to improve public safety, has officially launched.
The County counts as one of thousands of public safety agencies across the U.S. now using drones for a variety of public safety purposes. Officials in Montgomery County say their program is designed to send out drones to specific scenes when 911 calls are received. The drones arrive ahead of units responding on the ground and are now
The sweltering heat is a topic of concern this week in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area, along with news of another life lost to gun violence.
being referred to as “first responders.”
On July 17, after the public shared mostly positive views in a community meeting about drones inside of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School auditorium, the decision was made to expand the drone program into Bethesda, Md.
The County currently has a pilot drone program
helping police fight crime in “real time” in Silver Spring and Wheaton. Officially, the program is called the “Drone as First Responder” Program – “DFR” for short – and it’s used to make it easier for police to secure real time information on incidents.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D), speaking at the meeting last week, said the drones have made a real difference and
that he’s pleased that the program continues to be expanded throughout the county.
Prince George’s County teacher keeps job in wake of hair braiding TikTok video
When Marquise White shared a TikTok of his students taking his braids out during class on May 5, he could not have
Mayor Bowser celebrates legacy of legendary civil rights leader John Lewis
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
D.C. leaders gathered at the John A. Wilson Building on the evening of July 17 to celebrate the John Lewis National Day of Commemoration and Action. Lewis, who died on July 17, 2020, was well known for his persistent work as an American civil rights leader and legislator.
“We have to be careful that we don’t lose the history. We know that there
“We have to be careful that we don’t lose the history. We have to make sure that our children, our new activists, our voting educators are reminding everyone of the remarkable life of John Lewis.”
is a systematic attempt to erase the history,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) during the live-streamed ceremony. “We have to make sure that our children, our new activists, our voting educators are reminding everyone of the remarkable life of John Lewis.”
anticipated that the video would go viral – garnering more than 7.4 million views and 21,000 comments with mixed reactions.
But the video–and the negative backlash which followed– led to an investigation by school district officials, jeopardizing his job and career.
White told the press in May that the parents of his students are fine with his TikToks. He also said he believed that he was being attacked and accused of impropriety because he is a “a young, handsome, Black man.”
Lewis was largely known for leading the Selma March in 1965 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. The significant event of the civil rights movement was abruptly ended by police violence, which included tear gassing and assaulting unarmed marchers with billy clubs.
“At 23, he became the youngest speaker at the March on Washington. At 25 he was on the Edmund Pettus Bridge,” said Barbara Arnwine, president of the Transformative Justice Coalition. “He didn’t need a doctor’s degree. He didn’t need a law degree. What he needed, as everybody
Photo courtesy of Darius Wagner
D.C. State Board of Education Vice President Jacque Patterson (front, left), stands with Minetre Martin; Maya Feron; Michelle Ramos; Felix Rice; Vincent Johnson; Rachel Zhang; Board Member Eric Goulet; Kyle Myers (back, left); Jon Plummer; Aayush Murarka; William Mead-McCaughan; Darius Wagner; Justin English; Isaiah Hodges; Grayson Parisee and Cesar Toledo during a public school board meeting. The Georgetown University students testified
Unsplash/ Bank Phrom
Purple Line
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.”
Purple Line Alignment
John Lewis Day
Continued from D1
has mentioned, was God-given courage. Afterward, what happened? The president of the United States introduced the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and it passed! For fifty years John Lewis, for the remainder of his life, was a champion of voting rights.”
“He was a dear friend of mine and the last time I saw him it was in the halls of Congress where we had just passed the then-called Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 in December of that year,” said Arnwine. “He gave me a hug and when I felt him I knew something was wrong. I said Lord, protect our brother. We are standing here today not just to celebrate, but we’re standing here today because we know his legacy and we are saying to his spirit, ‘we’re going to finish the job.’” Bowser uplifted the importance of voting in this year’s election, what’s at stake and the ongoing call for D.C.’s statehood. The call for D.C. to be recognized as a state is partly to ensure adequate representation in Congress for the more than 678,000 District residents and reduce Congress’ legislative authority over the D.C. Council.
“What John Lewis fought for, what so many people fought for, we know is on the ballot this year. On Nov. 5, Americans will go – all the states, all of the territories and of course the best city in the world – and cast our ballots for, I believe, how we will save our democracy and our right to vote,” said Bowser. “We are especially concerned in Washington, D.C. We want to ensure our already limited autonomy is not further trampled on.”
Legacy admissions
Continued from D1 institutions.”
SBOE Representative Eric Goulet, of Ward 3, championed the students’ perspectives. He called D.C. a tale of two cities, where its racial divide between the East and West aligns with a sharp economic opportunity gap.
He cited racial disparities in unemployment, income and child poverty.
“Having a tool that preserves the status quo is something we need to abolish. To be clear, we’re not even fully abolishing it in this resolution,” said Goulet during the meeting. “We are demanding that if universities want to retain the ability to consider legacy preference in their admissions, they’ve got to do better in reaching out and bringing in more students who are eligible for Pell grants. [Then], we can bring in students from lower incomes, diverse backgrounds and bring racial and economic equity to higher education.”
President Eboni-Rose Thompson, of Ward 7, was the only board member who opposed the resolution. She pointed out that a ban on legacy admissions would also inhibit Black and Brown alumni from passing on advantages to their families.
“You have wealthy, White people who have been able to amass not just privilege, but everything else over generations, of generations, of generations, of generations,” said Thompson. “Then, as you start to get people who now could benefit and are Black, Brown and first-generation college students, you say to them you can’t use that to build your family or your community.”
The board’s decision does not mean an automatic end to legacy and donor admission preferences in District colleges. However, it is a signal to the D.C. Council to pass the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, which prohibits the practice.
The bill was introduced in 2022 by New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. States, including Virginia, Maryland and Colorado, have also already banned legacy admissions through state legislation.
“We want the D.C. Council to see that while this did start with just a few students concerned about fairness in education, these concerns have been recognized,” said Wagner. “This is an issue that D.C. should prioritize.”
Photo courtesy of MDOT
The Purple Line will operate throughout 21 stations from New Carrollton to Bethesda, Md.
Photo courtesy of MDOT
Leaders of the Maryland Transportation Department are proud to display the first section of Purple Line light rail cars.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) keeps the memory of John Lewis alive by participating in events on July 17, the National Day of Commemoration and Action in honor of the civil rights leader.
African Diaspora International Film Festival returns to D.C. for 17th year
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com
Since 2006 the African Diaspora International Film Festival D.C., (ADIFF D.C.) has provided the D.C. area with an annual festival that highlights Black films from all across the world. This year’s festival is scheduled to take place Aug. 2-4 at George Washington University, located at 2121 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052.
With a focus on highlighting the experiences, perspectives and issues that affect communities of African descent from around the globe, ADIFF is proud to showcase their lineup of films this year.
the human experience in the African world. When I say the African world, I’m referring to Africa as a continent, but also its diaspora,” said Mwiza Muthali, founder and co-director of Africa World Now. “These are the stories and various experiences of African peoples worldwide on film. You’ll notice in this festival there’ll be new films, but there are a couple of films from the past as well. We want to show those, to remind people how some of the issues that have taken place within the African world are still going on.”
When the festival first started, ADIFF D.C. was
Africa World Now is partnering with the African Diaspora International Film Festival D.C. to present a three-day event aimed at amplifying the work of filmmakers of African descent.
bi-racial woman who dreams of creating a legacy as a woman of color in rhythmic gymnastics.
“The grand opening film is ‘Breaking Boundaries’ and it’s about a young lady who was trying to compete in the 2020 Olympics. She’s one of the few Black people to compete in the rhythmic gymnastics event,” said Muthali.
“She was one of the top rated gymnasts in the USA for that event.
This is a documentary following her journey.”
Following the film’s premiere, there will be a question and answer panel with the star of the film, Stasya Generlova.
audiences across the world due to the festival taking place in different cities.
“When I make a film, I want to share it with the world. This festival is amazing because it doesn’t happen in one place,” said Uwagbai. “They’re really taking the message ahead and doing the work for you in terms of promoting the film and the work that you’ve done.”
With 17 years of experience under their belt, ADIFF D.C., has much more to offer. Muthali explained that although Africa World Now is an activist organization, they began to do the film festival to help provide an outlet for filmmakers of African descent and to help provide a more accurate depiction of Black life.
“It is a celebration of the human experience in the African world. When I say the African world, I’m referring to Africa as a continent but also its diaspora. These are the stories and various experiences of African peoples worldwide on film.”
Event attendees can anticipate topics such as women’s rights, colorism, homosexuality and gender segregation to be the focal point of some of this year’s films.
“It is a celebration of
partnering with Trans Africa but the organizations parted ways in 2014. Since then, Africa World Now has been partnering with ADIFF D.C. to bring the District a lineup of films that are giving depth to the lives of people
Hot off the press
throughout the African diaspora.
ADIFF has four annual festivals that take place throughout the year in Chicago, D.C., Paris and New York. Filmmaker Charles Uwagbai spoke to the AFRO about his film “The Wall Street Boy,” which is due to make its U.S. premiere at the D.C., festival.
“‘The Wall Street Boy’ was a collaboration between Canadians and Kenyans because we shot part of it in Kenya and part of it in Canada. It follows the story of a young boy, he’s a mathematician who created an algorithm that changes the stock market and it shows the whole world coming to steal that
But according to the school district’s code of conduct, teachers must adhere to “personal boundaries by maintaining proper space” and “demonstrate appropriate behaviors.” Furthermore, teachers are discouraged from recording the faces or voices of students unless the class focuses on career technology or the performing arts.
Now, with classes set to resume in just over a month, White’s case has been dismissed and he will be allowed to return to the classroom in August.
Maryland’s highly touted unemployment rate now higher than Virginia’s Maryland’s unemployment rate has risen significantly over the past 12 months. In June 2023, it was just 1.9 percent, but has since increased to 2.8 percent.
Meanwhile, Virginia’s unemployment rate remains unchanged at 2.7 percent, which is lower than Maryland’s for the first time in years.
Still, both Maryland and Virginia have unemployment rates below the national average. The national average rose in June to 4.1 percent, up from 3.6 percent a year earlier.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland counts as one of eight states that reported increases in their unemployment rates.
As for the District, when compared to states, Washington, D.C., in June, had the highest unemployment rate at 5.4 percent, followed by both Nevada and California at 5.2 percent. Hyattsville center among beneficiaries of $2M grant to support Maryland’s homeless youth
Shelters that support youth homelessness in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties have learned that they will receive sorely needed financial assistance. The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently presented a check for $2 million dollars to Maryland’s Youth Homelessness System Improvement.
One beneficiary includes Sasha Bruce Youthwork’s new center, located in Hyattsville, Md., which opened as part of their B-E-Z (be easy) Drop-in Program.
According to Donnell Potts, chief of programs, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, the services offered at the center, which include food, entertainment, basic necessities and case management, are provided with the goal of assisting 250 homeless youth and preventing 50 more from becoming homeless in Prince George’s County.
Each year, an estimated 4.2 million youth and youth adults experience homelessness in the U.S., 700,000 of whom are unaccompanied minors – which means they are not part of a family or accompanied by a parent or guardian. In 2023, one in 30 youth ages 13-17 experienced homelessness over a 12-month period in the U.S.
Based on data from the D.C.-based National Network for Youth, instability in their homes forces many youth out onto the streets with child abuse, domestic violence, parental substance use or family conflict among the factors that often lead to youth homelessness.
Meanwhile, specific subpopulations of youth face a higher risk for homelessness: Black youth face an 83 percent increased risk than their white peers; Hispanic youth face a 33 percent increased risk; LGBTQIA+ youth were more than twice as likely to have experienced homelessness; and youth who do not complete high school are 3.5 times more likely to experience homelessness than peers who completed a high school diploma. Services and shelters throughout Maryland whose primary mission is to assist and support youth who are experiencing homelessness will receive funds from the $2M grant. Stay tuned.
equation from him,” he said. “One thing I really like about this film is the positive message that it carries. A lot of times when we tell African stories it’s always about the suffering but this story carries a very positive message. For once we can see the bright lights shining from a little village in Kenya and the whole world is crawling to get that thing that he has.”
Uwagbai’s film is one of many that will be making their debut in the states.
The grand opening film for this year’s festival is “Breaking Boundaries,” a documentary that follows the journey of a young,
The three-day event is also scheduled to premiere a short film series, “Fighting White Supremacy: The African American Experience.” The three films featured in the series are “Keepers of the Flame,” “Judging Juries” and “How We Get Free.” All of the films focus on the battle against White supremacy throughout the U.S.
The festival’s series of events is truly helping reshape the narrative surrounding Black communities all across the world. Uwagbai explained how much he enjoys being able to share his work with a bunch of different
“We have the film festivals to provide an avenue for filmmakers of African descent to present their stories. In the mainstream distribution system, African stories are not given a space there,” he said “The reason why we started presenting films, even though we’re an activist organization, is to give people a perspective as we’re doing our activism.”
“We want people to have a total understanding of the Black experience because once you have a total understanding of the people and the culture then it’s easier to work on policy related issues.”
Photo courtesy of African Diaspora International Film Festival D.C.
U.S. Black Chambers National Conference and Gala celebrates Black businesses
By Patricia McDougall
On Friday, July 19, The U.S. Black Chambers (USBC) held its 15th Anniversary Celebration at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C. The Gala started with a live performance by the Bowie State Concert Choir, followed by the neo soul duo, Kindred the Family Soul.
USBC is committed to uplifting and supporting Black businesses that are doing great things in the community. Each year the USBC shows their support by giving out several awards. The 2024 Advocate of the Year award was given to Rev.Al Sharpton during the conference portion of the event, which was held in the days leading up to the Gala.
The USBC annual conference, which was held July 17-20, was the talk of the town with key speakers such as Gov. Wes Moore, Stacey
Abrams, Dr. Jamal Bryant, Former Mayor of Sacramento and NBA Legend Kevin Johnson, Secretary Gina Raimondo, Maisha Dellinger,
founder and CEO of CURLS and Huzzy Smart Sips and Alexis McGill Johnson
Some of the major
sponsors included American Airlines,
and
Ron Busby Sr., president and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers (USBC), speaks to the attendees gathered for the 2024 gala.
Awardee Gary Guidry, CEO at G-Squared Events Holdings and Black Promoters Collective, shows off his award.
Tomeeka Morris (left), wife of Stevie Wonder, enjoys the U.S. Black Chambers 15th Annual Celebration with Iyawnanna Milliner.
Kindred the Family Soul members Fatin Dantzler (left) and Aja Graydon perform live at the USBC Gala.
Myles Caggins III, Michelle Gadsden-Williams, Dr. Denise Mitchems and Enrique Young share a moment at the conference.
Founder and CEO of Meta Agency Howard Jean (left), and Kevin Vaughan together at the conference.
Above: Charlie O’Neal (left), Alisa Joseph, Awardee Antwanye Ford and President/CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers (USBC), Ron Busby, Sr.
Nate Gatten, chief government affairs officer American Airlines, shares sentiments at the USBC podium. American Airlines served as one of the key sponsors.
Dominique Carter, Ph.D., and vice president for food and nutrition affairs on the U.S. Black Chambers Gala red carpet.
Nikki Weekly (left), Shona Bell and Carylee Carrington attend the USBC Chambers Gala.
to name a few.
Amazon, Google, Wells Fargo, AT&T, JPMorgan Chase
Co., Walmart and more.
AFRO Photos/Patricia McDougall