Black athletes shine at 2024 Paris Olympic Games
By Mekhi Abbott AFRO Sports Intern
Every four years,
and
year, the Summer Olympic Games are back
Nyjah Huston headline the list of Black Olympic athletes who have earned a medal so far at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.
Simone Manuel has contributed to Team USA by winning a silver medal in the women’s 4x100 meter freestyle relay in swimming.
Fredrick Richard has also led the men’s U.S. gymnastics team to victory, clinching their first Olympic medal since the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Scruggs, currently a rising senior at Harvard University, made history as the first Black American woman to win an Olympic medal in foil fencing. The final bout in women’s fencing turned out to be a historic battle as two American women claimed the
gold and silver medals for the first time in Olympic history. Scruggs claimed the silver medal, while Lee Kiefer took home the gold.
Huston, already regarded
The California native began skateboarding at age five at the request of his father, who also used to skateboard.
Huston cites skating six days a week alongside his
“The atmosphere is great overall in the Olympic village. Within the Team USA building there is a lot of camaraderie and conversation between athletes of all sports and disciplines.”
as the greatest street skateboarder of all time, was able to earn his first Olympic medal after finishing third in the men’s street skateboarding competition on July 29.
brothers and father from early childhood as the reason he has developed amazing skills in the sport. He has described skateboarding as the “family business” in an interview with
NBC Sports. Huston, now 29, has vocalized his intentions to qualify and compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles. In the first week of competition, the threetime All-American athlete, Frederick Richard, added an Olympic bronze medallist to his list of achievements.
The rising junior at the University of Michigan already has an extensive list of accomplishments at only 20 years old. Richard led the way for Team USA in gymnastics, scoring the highest on the team in three of the four events he competed in: parallel bars, horizontal bars and a floor routine.
Manuel continues to add
to her already impressive Olympic résumé. She won two gold medals and two silver medals at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games. It was at the 2016 Rio Games where Manuel set an Olympic and American record in the 100-meter freestyle. She still holds the American record for the event. She also won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Ashleigh Johnson, a twotime Olympic gold medallist, is the goalkeeper for the women’s U.S. Olympic water polo team in Paris. Johnson is widely regarded as the greatest active goalkeeper in the sport of water polo. These athletic accomplishments cannot solely be attributed to the
Trump insults Black journalists at annual conference
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Former President Donald J. Trump, Republican presidential nominee, fueled controversy during a question and answer session at the 2024 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Annual Convention and Career Fair on July 31.
Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News, opened the conversation by asking Trump to explain why Black voters should vote for him, considering previous insulting comments he has made about Black elected officials and other people of color.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” said Trump, in response to the first question.
“Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network. I think it’s a very rude introduction,” he continued.
Trump evaded a response to the first question, instead taking several digs at Scott, the company she works for and NABJ itself for a late start due to technical difficulties.
The conversation with the former president
“It has always been our policy to ensure that candidates know that an invitation is not an endorsement. While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable.”
caused a stir once it was disclosed to the Black journalists that make up NABJ and the general public. NABJ leadership addressed the controversy around the invitation, emphasizing that they spent months in communication with both political parties about participating in the convention.
Trump said NABJ invited him “under false pretense,” claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris (D) would be in attendance for the session as well. Ultimately, she was not on the stage for the conversation at the convention.
“NABJ has been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January. NABJ was in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team for an in-person panel before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July,” said NABJ President Ken Lemon in a statement. “We were advised by her campaign at the time that her schedule could not accommodate this request.”
Lemon said the last word they received from her campaign, earlier this week, was that Harris would not be available in person or virtually during the convention. Less than an hour before the conversation, NABJ announced that they were in conversation with Harris’ campaign for a live or
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris are officially underway as Black athletes from across the globe continue to show off their skill and prowess in a range of disciplines, including Nyjah Huston (left) in street skateboarding, Lauren Scruggs in fencing and Simone Manuel in swimming.
: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
AP Photo/Darron Cummings
WHAT’S TRENDING ON AFRO.COM
House Speaker cracks down on Republicans’ bigoted attacks against VP Harris
By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republican leaders have asked members of their caucus to stop launching racist and misogynistic attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris.
On July 23, Johnson met with Republicans and said that neither Harris’ race nor her gender has anything to do with her running for president.
“This election will be about policies and not personalities,” Johnson told reporters.
Harris over the border crisis and accused her of breaching the public’s trust regarding President Joe Biden’s mental and physical health.
Ogles contended that Harris failed to evoke the 25th amendment to have Biden removed from the White House “when it became apparent that he was…incapable” of fulfilling his presidential duties.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, (D-Texas) condemned Ogles for the filing.
“This election will be about policies and not personalities.”
This comes after Harris accepted President Biden’s nomination to replace him in the 2024 presidential race. Biden announced that he would withdraw from the race on July 21.
Since then, GOP Congress members have lobbed attacks against Harris in an effort to undermine her run for the Oval Office.
On July 23, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, (R-Tenn.) introduced articles of impeachment against
“Andy Ogles needs to focus on making sure that he can be an honorable member that people can trust and believe absolutely deserves his spot here in [Congress] and stop trying to do the bidding of Trump [by] going after the vice president,” Crockett told the AFRO.
The Texas lawmaker added that Ogles does not have a good reason to file articles of impeachment against the vice president.
“These people clearly
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don’t understand what the requirements for an impeachment are in the first place,” said Crockett. “But, that’s their game because they don’t have anything of substance. We have wasted so many tax dollars because they decided that they wanted to go after the president consistently on a bogus impeachment.”
This is Ogles’ second time filing articles of impeachment against Harris. He did the same last year, however, he did not garner enough support from House Republicans to bring it to the floor for a vote. House Democrats believe history will repeat itself.
After Ogles filed articles of impeachment
against Harris, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, (R-Tenn.) called Harris a “DEI hire” in a tweet.
“The incompetency level is at an all-time high in Washington,” said Burchett. “The media propped up [Joe Biden], lied to the American people for three years and then dumped him for our DEI vice president.”
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-N.Y.) told the AFRO that Republicans are threatened by the vice president and will call anyone who has “rightfully earned their place” a DEI hire.
She said this rhetoric comes from a “party of largely one gender and one identity.”
In recent days, House Democrats have reminded Republicans that Harris served as the first Black attorney general in California; she represented California in the U.S. Senate, becoming the second Black woman to serve in the upper chamber after Carol Moseley Braun; and she made history again to become the very first Black vice president.
Harris is expected to be named the Democratic presidential nominee during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.
Livingstone receives $10M donation
By Tierra Stone AFRO Intern tierrastone@afro.com
Livingstone College is receiving a $10 million donation, the school’s president, Dr. Anthony Davis, recently announced during a conference of the AME Zion Church. The news came during a July 22 call from a sponsor who chooses to remain anonymous, he said. The same donor has given a total of seven million in donations in the past several months, bringing the current total to $17 million.
Livingstone College is a private, Christian and historically Black institution in Salisbury, N.C. which has obtained a series of donations primarily focused on amplifying student life and campus establishments.
During the homecoming celebration of the Fall 2023 semester, the college received its very first contribution from the anonymous donor. The money came at an integral moment for the school, and will help fund campus restoration and educational programs. The second donation, showcased in February during the college’s 145th Founders Day event, also helped to strengthen the school’s capacity to train up the next generation of educated professionals. Many of the contributions are solely used toward revamping the school and obtaining
new materials to support the student body. Additionally, Livingstone has strived to use these funds to increase employment opportunities and amplify student enrollment, with the understanding that enhancing present-day facilities can attract future students and cultivate a beneficial learning environment.
Livingstone College is currently in the process of a $30 million regeneration project that has gone through many stages. The first stage has already begun with the creation of new dormitories and a new cafeteria. Both of these
developments are set to be completed by the end of 2024.
Beyond these upgrades, the college has also worked towards launching a biomanufacturing training program. This enterprise is a part of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Initiative, which focuses on investing in underfunded communities. In North Carolina, this means more skills and training programs. One of the $1 million donations is being used for lab equipment to aid training programs. This will help the school prepare each student for jobs in growing career fields and enhance the
economic upsurge within the region. Livingstone College was established in 1879 in Concord, N.C., as the Zion Wesley Institute. The school has had a rich history built on providing African-American students with access to a quality education. The institution moved to Salisbury, N.C. in 1887 after changing its name to honor the great missionary and philanthropist, David Livingstone. Still today, the school continues to oblige the needs of the surrounding community by living up to its mission of academic achievement and social conscience.
AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson
House Republican leaders are calling on conservative lawmakers to stop launching racist and sexist attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris as she runs in the 2024
Livingstone College is now in receipt of another monetary donation, this time of $10 million from an anonymous donor. The school plans to use these funds to enhance the campus buildings and academic life for the student body.
Photo courtesy of Giorgio Trivato
President Joe Biden lays out a plan to reform the U.S. Supreme Court
By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO
President Joe Biden has revealed his plan to reform the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to restore balance and fairness to the court.
The Democratic leader is proposing a “No One is Above the Law Amendment” which will ensure that U.S. presidents are not immune from prosecution for committing crimes while in office.
Biden is also seeking term limits for U.S. Supreme Court justices, contending that the U.S. is the only major constitutional democracy that has given lifetime appointments to justices. He believes Supreme Court judges should be appointed every two years to lessen the chance of a single president being able to appoint several justices to the court, like in the case of former President Donald Trump, who was able to appoint three Supreme Court justices to the bench during his one term in office.
Lastly, the president would like for justices to adopt a binding code of conduct to help restore trust and accountability to the U.S. Supreme Court.
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-4) told the AFRO that he supports Biden’s U.S. Supreme Court reform plan.
“Without a binding and enforceable code of conduct and with lifetime tenure, a power grabbing Supreme Court– while becoming corrupt and unaccountable– has upset the delicate system of checks and balances upon which our democracy rests,” said Johnson. “I look forward to working with the White House to enact meaningful court reform now…to restore trust and faith in our judiciary.”
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas-4) told the AFRO that Biden’s plan includes “commonsense” and “necessary reforms” to the court
Court.
“With term limits for the justices, an ethics code and a constitutional amendment limiting presidential immunity, we can ensure the Court is balanced and not corrupted by billionaires and extremists.”
to protect the civil rights of all U.S. citizens.
“With term limits for the justices, an ethics code and a constitutional amendment limiting presidential immunity, we can ensure the Court is balanced and not corrupted by billionaires and extremists,” said Casar.
The Texas lawmaker added, “Americans deserve a Supreme Court that protects the law
and our freedoms, rather than dismantling our rights and liberties at the behest of corporations and extremists.”
On the Contrary, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his opposition to Biden’s U.S. Supreme Court reform plan.
“[Biden’s plan invites] lawlessness by
undermining SCOTUS,” said Lee.
The Republican lawmaker added, “Biden wants to pack the Supreme Court. His recent proposal is a thinly veiled effort to do that. Packing the Supreme Court would irreparably undermine the independence of the federal courts.”
Biden’s proposed U.S. Supreme Court reform plan comes after several ethical scandals have rocked the court and revealed that several justices have engaged in misconduct. Within the past year, investigations have shown that Chief Justice John Roberts’ wife raked in millions of dollars for assisting high-ranking lawyers who then later had their cases heard before the high court. Justice Clarence Thomas has also come under fire for failing to disclose that he received lavish gifts from a wealthy GOP donor for decades. The justices’ actions have caused some Americans to lose faith in the majority-conservative court.
Biden has also proposed his plan to reform the court after Supreme Court justices handed down a verdict in Trump’s immunity case that shields presidents from prosecution for official acts.
Rep. Johnson stated that “President Biden recognizes the grave danger caused by the Supreme Court’s decision granting near absolute immunity to future presidents.”
He added, “No one is above the law, including the president or justices of the Supreme Court.”
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement saying that they look forward to partnering with Congress to pass legislation to reform the court.
The Biden-Harris administration also hopes to empower “the American people to prevent the abuse of Presidential power, restore faith in the Supreme Court, and strengthen the guardrails of democracy.”
Proposed rent caps could reduce American housing costs
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced new efforts to reduce housing costs for Americans. The proposals include imposing rent caps on corporate landlords and building more affordable housing.
The move comes after the Biden-Harris Administration revealed the Housing Supply Action Plan in May. It is designed to drive down housing expenses over time by increasing the supply of homes across the country.
“Families deserve housing that’s affordable—it’s part of the American Dream,” said Biden in a July 16 statement. “Rent is too high and buying a home is out of reach for too many working families and young Americans, after decades of failure to build enough homes. I’m determined to turn that around.”
According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, 49 percent of renters were cost-burdened in 2021, spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
that the president is also working to remove barriers to homeownership, a means of creating generational wealth for Black Americans. According to the adviser, nearly 250,000 Black adults have purchased a home with the help of a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan
since 2021. He also said Biden’s foreclosure prevention measures have kept more than 160,000 African Americans in their homes.
“People just want a fair shot, an opportunity to do the great things that God has in store for them. They want a level playing field that realizes that oftentimes the system does not work for Black and Brown tenants across this country,” said Benjamin. “The civil rights challenge of the 21st century is, how do I build generational wealth? For many of us, it’ll be through housing.”
If passed by Congress, Biden’s proposal would deny federal tax credits to landlords who increase rent by more than 5 percent each year. The policy would start this year and continue for the next two years. Landlords who control more than 50 units would be subject to the cap, ultimately reaching more than 20 million renters in the U.S.
“Rent’s too high and a home is out of reach for too many working and young Americans. After decades of failure to build enough homes, the president decided that it was time to take action to turn that around,” said Stephen K. Benjamin, senior adviser to the president and public engagement director at the White House. “We’ve
“Families deserve housing that’s affordable— it’s part of the American Dream.”
High rents often have a disproportionate impact on Black and Brown families. In 2021, the Pew Research Center found that 58 percent of households led by Black adults are renters. This is compared to 27.9 percent for households led by White adults.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
President Joe Biden hopes to work with Congressional members to restore balance and fairness to the U.S. Supreme
Unsplash / KJRK
Photo courtesy of the White House
Stephen K. Benjamin serves as senior adviser to President Joe Biden and director of public engagement for the White House.
COMMENTARY
It’s time to empower communities by funding violence prevention initiatives
By Bri Tollie
In Pennsylvania, cities like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Allentown are grappling with a grim reality: gun violence is snuffing out lives at an alarming rate. Roughly 557 Pennsylvanians die in gun homicides each year. Of all homicides statewide, 76 percent involve a gun (slightly higher than the national average of 74 percent), highlighting the urgent need for action.
To effectively combat this epidemic, it’s crucial to prioritize community-based solutions. One promising avenue is violence intervention programs featuring trained violence interrupters (VI). These individuals bring invaluable firsthand experience and a deep understanding of the communities they serve. By leveraging their experiences, they are uniquely equipped to mediate conflicts and prevent violence before it escalates. Their expertise lies not only in understanding the complexities of violence but also in offering solutions from personal insight.
Picture them, deeply embedded in the community, traversing the streets and knocking on doors. Having experienced violent situations before, they’ve navigated the legal system or confronted the harsh realities firsthand. However, rather than letting their past dictate their future, they’ve opted for a path of redemption and healing.
When tensions flare, these
interrupters step in. They listen, they empathize and they mediate. Though their work is not easy, it proves effective. By addressing the root causes of violence and fostering trust within the community, they steadily make their neighborhoods safer places to live. Through their dedication, they not only prevent conflicts from escalating but also rewrite the narrative of violence, paving the way for a more peaceful future.
In Scranton, proactive efforts are being taken to address community violence. They are fostering partnerships with both residents and leaders. Their focus on supporting non-profits that reach underserved youth create an environment safer and more supportive, reducing negative behaviors and outcomes. Clearly a comprehensive approach is essential. Relying solely on traditional law enforcement methods falls short in rooting out the causes of violence. To truly address this issue, community-based interventions that foster trust, mediation, and rehabilitation over punitive measures must be prioritized.
Nearby in Allentown is the Promise Neighborhoods program, a violence interruption organization dedicated to violence prevention and health equity programs for children and families. Executive Director Dr. Hasshan Batts is a distinguished Fulbright scholar. He is also formerly incarcerated. As a grassroots organization, Promise Neighborhoods
Bri Tollie is the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s justice reform and election integrity program assistant. She has earned a master’s degree in public administration at Delaware State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and human rights from Southern Methodist University.
prioritizes community healing by employing violence interrupters and clinicians. Their approach intertwines research, policy and community engagement, to prioritize gun violence prevention in the Lehigh Valley. Recognizing safety as a paramount concern and knowing gun violence ranks as the leading cause of death for children, they are actively designing programs to address the issue. For example, in response to a nightclub shooting that left ten people injured, Promise Neighborhoods sprang
The fate of art and soul in Florida
By Fedrick C. Ingram
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t interested in being a leader.
Leaders listen to the people, even those they don’t agree with, in order to foster democracy and empathy for the communities they’ve been elected to serve.
That is what leaders do.
Last year, at the start of Black History Month, DeSantis blocked the country’s first AP Black Studies course for being “too woke.” This year, just in time for Black Music Month in June, DeSantis vetoed $32 million in cultural and museum grants from his state budget. He clearly wasn’t listening to the voices of his constituents, none of whom asked for such an unprecedented attack on art and culture. A principled leader wouldn’t even imagine eliminating the entire arts budget for the third largest state in the country, depriving countless communities of a vital
human endeavor.
That is what autocrats do.
While slashing the entire arts budget for the state is not a legal crime, it is a moral crime. Art is one of the most important things humans create and an outlet for the frustrated and the forgotten. It can also free the soul from place and time so we can experience the sublime.
That is what art and an arts education did for me.
As I have written before, music changed the entire trajectory of my life. From a kid born in the Miami projects with a bad stutter to an accomplished leader in education, I needed art to better understand my own potential.
Learning to sing and then play an instrument before graduating boosted my selfesteem, taught me discipline and stoked my desire to master something on my own steam.
I found new heroes through arts education, too. Names like Branford Marsalis, Prince and
Gerald Albright were just as big to me as Michael Jordan or Eddie Murphy. They not only showed me beauty but revealed my connection to my people’s legacy. Of course, I already knew names like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass or A. Philip Randolph, but to understand the soundtrack of Black America as it strove from slavery to freedom was a new frontier. Understanding the music I was playing connected me to the triumphs of my people, made me puff out my chest a bit more and stand a bit straighter.
Studying the arts can also have tangible academic benefits as well. We know it can have a marked increase on standardized reading scores and reduce the need for teacher discipline — a big deal for Black students who are disproportionately punished for behavior in school. Students engaging with arts education had a nearly 4 percent reduction in discipline, a 13 percent
into action, personally visiting each victim to provide support. Amidst tensions stemming from gang rivalries, they hosted a basketball tournament to promote dialogue and provide an alternative to violence.
Remarkably, a former highranking gang member, now a city employee, champions youth engagement and peace-building efforts.
Working with the governor’s administration, Promise Neighborhood’s innovative approach to violence prevention includes workforce grants, neighborhood beautification, and
increase in standardized writing scores, and an 8 percent increase in compassion for others.
The good news is that most public school children have access to arts education— whether that’s painting, music, writing or many other forms. According to a 2019 report from the Arts Education Data Project, 96% of K-12 students have access to arts education, with 65% participating.
However, that access is not guaranteed for all children, especially in Florida where public schools are being hollowed out by school vouchers at an increasing rate. So what does this mean for low-income and Black children who, according to a 2020 Knight Foundation study, “report lower levels of access to arts and cultural activities than higherincome or White residents.”
Without the arts, there are voices that will go unheard, and their attachment to the community will be diminished.
public health campaigns. With over a million dollars secured in grants, their impact is tangible, emphasizing capacity building and grassroots partnerships. Clearly, the pressing demand for expanded VI funding is undeniable. So it’s crucial cities have the necessary funding to prioritize communitybased initiatives. Congress’s recent fiscal year funding of $50 million for VI falls short in meeting this need. These programs are indispensable at reducing violence and improving community safety but are not receiving the funding
It’s hard for me to think that was not the goal.
The beauty of art, aside from the aesthetics, is that it not only comments on the status quo, but challenges it. Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, and Public Enemy have turned art into social commentary. That commentary spawns action and activism. To undermine that endeavor feels like a calculated move from a governor who has regularly shown his disdain for dissenting voices.
This is the same governor banning books by authors whose stories and identities veer too close to some ugly truths instead of the jingoistic fantasy he has in his head. His rejection of AP Black Studies was partly due to his inability to reconcile how queer experiences related to the Black experience — has he never heard of playwright Lorraine Hansberry, author James Baldwin or dancer Alvin Ailey?
required to address the needs of communities suffering from gun violence. In the latest presidential budget proposal, there is a $1.5 billion provision for mandatory VI funding. This proposed increase is not only significant but vital to addressing community violence. Congress must recognize the importance of this increase and prioritize additional funding. It’s essential not just for Pennsylvania but for the safety of all Americans as we move forward, today and tomorrow.
Journalists shouldn’t just repeat what politicians say–they should investigate it
By Chisom Okorafor
As a student journalist, one of the first things I learned was to double check sources. When politicians mislead us, people need to know.
In my time as a student journalist and editor, I’ve picked up a few lessons about integrity. It’s surprisingly easy to let objectivity slip on some subjects. But as my editor-inchief continuously reminded me, responsible journalism means we need to properly investigate all sides of a story — before publishing things like “the cafeteria food here sucks.” This includes double checking even sources we’re inclined to take at face value, like our taste buds. The free press is the foundation of a flourishing democracy. But when journalists fail to investigate the claims their sources make — especially
our elected officials — the effects can be disastrous. No issue throws this into starker relief than the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s government as it commits crimes against humanity against the Palestinians.
This spring, for example, President Biden announced what he called an “Israeli ceasefire proposal,” calling on Hamas to accept it. Biden said this “Israeli plan” included a release of hostages in exchange for a withdrawal of troops from Gaza and an eventual permanent ceasefire.
But this simply wasn’t true. Not only was the plan not created by Israel, but Israel didn’t even agree to it. While Hamas responded positively to the plan, Israeli leaders categorically rejected it. Yet Biden’s spokespersons repeated the claim that Hamas was blocking
a ceasefire over and over again — and news reports continued calling the proposal an “Israeli plan.”
We need more reporters in the room willing to question these claims. As journalists, our job isn’t simply to regurgitate what those in power say, but to actually investigate those claims and report the truth. If our elected officials are misleading us, people need to know about it.
I may still be a student, but I’m old enough to remember Donald Trump’s time in the Oval Office.
The war between the former president and the press produced some genuinely important developments in government accountability through journalism. The Washington Post, for example, kept a running list of every lie Trump told while in office — a good idea when the leader of the free world tells an
average of 21 lies a day. The lies, mistruths and omissions that Biden tells aren’t as egregious as Trump’s. But like any politician, he needs to be held accountable to the truth.
For instance, Biden repeatedly claimed to have seen photos of beheaded babies from Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. Those photos don’t appear to exist, but the president was generally allowed to repeat this claim without challenge.
Moreover, as campus protests against the war in Gaza sprang up all over the country last semester, student journalists have found ourselves in the unique position of having to counter narratives politicians put out about proPalestinian college protests. Politicians accused students of inciting violence, hate speech and even being funded by Russia. These narratives were often repeated with little scrutiny in the
media, but boots on the ground reporting revealed a much different story: that encampments were largely tolerant, multifaith demonstrations that were more likely to be the targets of violence than the origins.
Journalism is often called the “fourth estate,” or the fourth branch of government, because of its incredible power to speak truth to power. But when journalists misuse that power, or fail to exercise it, it can be incredibly dangerous.
If student journalists are expected to dive deeper on a subject like cafeteria food, then our national journalists need to do the same when it comes to a war that’s been labeled a potential genocide by the International Court of Justice. We need journalists to ask our politicians hard questions — and not just take their answers at face value.
Fedrick C. Ingram is secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Ingram is the immediate past president of the 140,000-member Florida Education Association. He has also served as a vice president for the AFT’s executive council.
Photo courtesy of the South Florida Educators Coalition
Courtesy photo
Chisom Okorafor is a Henry Wallace Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and a student journalist at the San Francisco Foghorn.
Courtesy photo
What the killing of Sonya Massey says about policing and the state of Black people in America
By Dayvon Love Special to the AFRO
What is clear about the killing of Sonya Massey by a police officer in her home? To me, it is the fact that Black people in general—and working-class Black people in particular—are living a life in America that is marked primarily by a disregard for our humanity and the normalization of violence against our community.
Sylvia Wynter, in a letter that she wrote after the Los Angeles riots in 1992, identifies a phrase that LA police officers were using to describe crime scenes where Black people had been killed in poor and working class communities. That phrase was “NHI,” which stands for “No Humans Involved.” This was normally followed by officers having a lack of urgency when it came to figuring out who caused the killing.
Many police officers, particularly those who are policing communities that are not reflective of their own, interact with Black people at our worst. While we meet with law enforcement in emergency situations on a daily basis, far too many are developing deep beliefs and notions of inherent criminality and inferiority, coming to the conclusion that we deserve the oppression and violence that we endure.
I can’t help but think that the relatively cavalier tone in the voice of Sean Grayson as he killed Sonya Massey was a result of his lack of regard for the life of Black people. Instead of a tone typical of someone who just took the life of an innocent person, Grayson’s tone was more reflective of a person who forgot to lock their front door. This societal dehumanization
is lodged deeply into the collective American consciousness and reflected in a variety of arenas of civil society:
- Black women have three times the rate of infant mortality of the national average.
- Sexual abuse at the hands law enforcement in cities around the country is rampant and often unchecked (as documented by various pattern and practice investigations by the Department of Justice).
- Black people disproportionately deal with the structural violence of slumlords who expose their tenants to lead or other environmental hazard.
The examples of structural violence that is normalized against our community are endless. The societal disregard for our humanity is a dominant feature in the lived reality among the masses of Black people in America.
Mainstream political leadership does not take seriously the daily structural violence and societal disregard of the humanity of working-class Black people. This is one of the core reasons the masses of Black people are disengaged from the political landscape. At best, our political leaders offer symbolic gestures and bare minimum sustenance policies in the face of the enormous challenges our community faces. It is only when there are highly visible instances of violence against victims – who this society deems to be legitimately innocent – that major figures even pretend to want to do work to address this problem.
virtual Q and A in September.
“We are in talks about virtual options in the future and are still working to reach an agreement,” continued Lemon.
Throughout the session with Trump, moderators tried to move forward with the Q and A by asking questions on some of the most pressing issues for Black Americans, such as the economy and abortion.
On the topic of abortion, Trump said he is proud of the Supreme Court’s move to overturn Roe v. Wade, leaving the decision to each individual state.
“Right now, it’s an amazing thing. It’s out of the federal government, it’s [up to the] states and people are voting,” he said.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, at least 14 states have criminalized abortions.
During the session, Trump doubled down on criticism of Harris’ actions around the border and expressed concern about “Black jobs” being taken by people who enter the U.S. illegally.
“Coming from the border are millions and millions of people that happen to be taking Black jobs,” said Trump.
When asked to finally answer the question of “What is a ‘Black job?’” Trump stated that “a Black job is
anybody that has a job.”
Trump claimed Harris has allowed millions to flock to the border, referring to her as the “border czar” due to Biden assigning her to address the root causes of Central American migration as vice president.
“She’s done a horrible job,” criticized Trump.
Before the Q and A, NABJ convention co-chair Karen Attiah announced her resignation via X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I have decided to step down as co-chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago,” she said. “While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format.”
Lemon backed NABJ’s decision to move forward with Trump’s invitation stating that it was in line with their usual practices concerning political candidates
“It has always been our policy to ensure that candidates know that an invitation is not an endorsement,” said Lemon. “While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly
from candidates and hold them accountable.”
The convention included a live fact-checking option on the NABJ website, which attendees applauded at the event.
Ahead of the session, the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA) issued a strong statement against the invitation, demanding that it be rescinded.
“I strongly oppose Trump’s participation in the NABJ annual convention and career fair,” declared NNPA National Chair Bobby Henry, via the NNPA Newswire.
“The NNPA represents over 250 African American-owned newspapers and media companies and has been a pillar of the Black Press of America for 197 years.”
Henry said Trump’s “divisive rhetoric and actions have harmed marginalized communities, particularly the Black community.”
“Allowing him a platform at this event undermines the NABJ’s values of inclusion and solidarity and risks normalizing his damaging behavior.”
NABJ was founded on Dec. 12, 1975 by a group of 44 individuals with a focus on providing “quality programs and services to and advocacy for Black journalists worldwide.”
Many of the mainstream pundits who are expressing concern about the police killing of Sonya Massey have raised the fact that Congress has failed to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This has been their call to action in the wake of this tragedy. However, I have to say that centering this bill as the call to action is another example of the hustle that the Democratic Party is running on Black people.
What Black people need is legislative action that gives us the ability to exercise legitimate institutional power over law enforcement. Law enforcement will only be discouraged from committing violence against our community if we are equipped with the institutional power to levy consequences against officers that harm our people.
What is needed is community control of law enforcement so that the community can punish members of law enforcement who violate people in our community.
Law enforcement policy is the providence of state and local law. There is no federal government policy that can result in community control of law enforcement.
See more on afro.com
athletes proving themselves in the Olympic pools, on the courts and in the fields of competition. Anthony Nesty was named the first Black swimming head coach of Team USA. Nesty was the first Black swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Peter Westbrook, the first Black man to win an Olympic medal in fencing, at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, served as a mentor for Scruggs.
“The atmosphere is great overall in the Olympic village. Within the Team USA
building there is a lot of camaraderie and conversation between athletes of all sports and disciplines,” said Danielle Siebert, women’s head manager of U.S. track and field at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Track and field events at the 2024 Paris Olympics began on Aug. 1. Each year, the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles and the 4x400 meter relays are typically some of the most high profile and highly anticipated events at the Olympics. See more on afro.com
Photo courtesy of Meta (Facebook) Family members, activists and elected officials continue to seek justice for Sonya Massey, who was shot and killed in her Illinois home on July 6.
The ladies of Team USA celebrate their Olympic gold status in the team final for gymnastics on July 30. Shown here from left to right, Jordan Chiles (left); Hezly Rivera; Simone Biles; Jade Carey and Sunisa Lee.
AP Photo / Natacha Pisarenko
From the AFRO Archives: Bridging the gap between Liberia and Baltimore
By Bilphena Decontee Yahwon Special to the AFRO
In August 2023, I joined Afro Charities as an intern.
I came as someone who had spent considerable time immersed in archives, deeply revering the processing archivists whose hands, eyes, feet and backs make these archives possible. I too wanted to contribute to this labor and effort, both in service to Afro Charities, the rich history of the AFRO-American Newspaper and in service to my homeland of Liberia.
I was also conspiring. While browsing the pages of the AFRO-American Newspapers, via the Enoch Pratt Library’s ProQuest, I found an ongoing conversation across the Atlantic between Liberia and Baltimore. This dialogue reflected the migration history of free Black people from Baltimore to Cape Palmas, Liberia, in the 1830s as part of the Maryland Colonization Society. It extended further to AFRO’s
editor William N. Jones’ 1933 trip to Liberia, which he detailed in his “Day by Day” column, and continued with Carl J. Murphy’s journey to Liberia for William V.S. Tubman’s 1952 inauguration as president.
I began to wonder: What would it take to make Afro Charities a central site of study and research for Liberians in Baltimore–and beyond– who yearn to access archives about our country? Furthermore, how can this archive serve as a means of facilitating a sort of remembrance between Black people in Baltimore with lineage connected to this migration to Liberia? These are the questions that animates my work here.
Given that much of Liberia’s archives were destroyed during our civil wars or are housed in museums, libraries and universities in the U.S. and Europe, I imagine Afro Charities as a place where this transatlantic dialogue can become more than just a historical anecdote within the collection. Instead, it can reframe the understanding of the AFRO-American
Newspaper’s reach, highlighting its global impact and coverage of everyday Black life beyond the United States. What began as a two-month internship has evolved into an almost two-year fellowship. It seems that my conspiring has paid off, as I now spend July and August (and hopefully for years to come) helping to organize records related to
Liberia and also to answer the questions that brought me here in the first place.
Bilphena Decontee Yahwon was born in Suakoko, Bong County, Liberia. She is the steward of Archive Liberia, an invitation and site for recovering, holding, and organizing the collective memory of Liberia.
Carl Murphy, then president of the AFRO waves goodbye to his wife as he boards a plane for the inauguration of Liberian President William Tubman in 1952.
AFRO Archives
Afro Charities Processing Fellow Bilphena Yahwon examines an old edition of the AFRO American Newspaper.
Photo courtesy of SHAN Wallace
WASHINGTON-AREA
Commentary
Community engagement and connectivity can make our streets safer
By Angelo Consoli
These are concerning times for Prince George’s County. Violent crime is up 11 percent from last year, which includes 998 assault offenses—a 14 percent increase.
Jayda Medrano-Moore, who was shot and killed outside of DuVal High School in Sept. 2023, and the five teens shot and wounded in open fire at Greenbelt’s Schrom Hills Park are more than statistics– they represent a crisis that is tearing at the fabric of our community.
Leaders in Prince George’s County have acted swiftly and decisively to deal with increases in violent crime. Actions like the Juvenile Justice Reform and gun safety measures passed this session in Annapolis underscore the urgency of our situation. However, beyond reforms, we must also focus on what additional steps will make public safety stronger.
One of the key areas where we can make a significant impact is through improving
Angelo Consoli is president of Prince George’s County’s Lodge 89. connectivity and the fiber and small cells infrastructure that supports it. While not a standalone solution, it is a critical component of a multifaceted approach to public safety. It amplifies the effectiveness of legislative reforms, community engagement, and proactive policing.
Surveillance and Response
A robust network of cameras and sensors strategically placed throughout our neighborhoods can significantly enhance our ability to monitor and
Mayor Bowser achieves housing milestone, delivering 36,000 new homes to the District
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
Washington, D.C. has exceeded its goal of creating 36,000 new homes by 2025, an objective Mayor Murial Bowser established at the outset of her second term in 2019. Bowser announced that a total of 36,216 housing units have been built as of July 29 during a press conference at the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in Ward 8. The announcement comes as the District continues to battle its affordable housing crisis. In 2023, Urban Institute, a D.C.-based think tank, discovered that 12 percent of Washingtonians, or 82,452 people, were experiencing housing insecurity. The shortage of housing and high
costs have disproportionately affected Black and Brown residents.
“There’s a lot that goes into the equation of driving down the cost of housing. One piece is very simple, you need more housing— especially in cities like D.C. where people want to live here, we have good-paying jobs, great transportation and incredible amenities,” said Bowser. “When you have all of those things, the demand for housing is high.”
“As we’ve added 36,000 new homes over the past years, the cost of housing in D.C. has grown at half the rate of housing nationwide.”
Since 2019, the mayor has doubled the District’s investment in the Housing Production Trust Fund, committing more than $1.3 billion to the reserve. The fund is D.C.’s leading tool for producing and maintaining affordable housing.
Bowser also noted that she maximized federal relief funding deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic
D.C. area under drought watch as heat rises
By Alexis Taylor AFRO Managing Editor Ataylor@afro.com
Residents in the D.C. area are now under a drought watch, according to an alert issued by the Drought Coordination Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).
The notice came on July 29, and will impact nearly roughly six million people.
Residents are asked to take a variety of measures to cut down water usage, including reducing showers to five minutes, using garbage disposals as little as possible and holding off on watering lawns and plants unless absolutely necessary.
Officials say they are following the regional drought response plan by initiating the drought watch. Even though COG officials say there is currently “an adequate supply of water in the Potomac River and backup reservoirs,” DC Water representatives report the water levels are low enough to cause concern. At this point in time, COG says “implementing voluntary water conservation practices across the region will help complement measures already in place and reduce water demand and environmental needs of the river.”
While residents should be on alert, they should not panic.
“A drought watch
Hot off the press: News impacting the Black community in D.C., Maryland and Virginia area
By D. Kevin McNeir Special
to
the AFRO
Silver Spring, Md. salutes its own:
Olympic icon
Dominique Dawes
Joined by loved ones, including her four children and fans, Silver Spring, Md. native Dominique Dawes was recently honored for her contributions to the sport of gymnastics, her community and to the nation.
On Tuesday, July 23, the three-time Olympian who was the first African American to win an individual gold medal in gymnastics, witnessed the unveiling of a new statue at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center (SSRAC).
During the ceremony,
week,
Dawes expressed her gratitude and highlighted the importance of inspiring future generations.
“I came from humble beginnings and I have
never lost sight of what matters most and that is the ability to impact future generations,” she said during the unveiling. “This statue is part of my legacy
and I hope each time a young boy or girl walks by, they too realize that anything is possible when you choose to work hard and never give up striving to be the best that you can be.”
Dawes, who said her family is more important than any Olympic accolade, also expressed pride in being able to make gymnastics more accessible – a feat she and her husband accomplished after open-
ing the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academies in Montgomery County where she serves as the president, CEO and co-founder.
“Dominique Dawes has not only made history in the world of gymnastics but also left an indelible mark on our community and it is fitting that we honor her with this statue at our new Silver Spring
Courtesy photo
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbroug
Mayor Muriel Bowser is celebrating the creation of 36,216 new housing units in D.C., surpassing the 2019 goal to produce 36,000 new homes by 2025.
Unsplash/ Bank Phrom
This
D. Kevin McNeir gives updates on Dominique Dawes, the Olympian from Silver Spring, Md., protests for Sonya Massey in D.C. and the MoCo Fair, which turns 75 years old this year.
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to construct new housing. Dwellings have been constructed across all eight wards. In total, more than 65,000 Washingtonians have secured new homes.
“By increasing our housing supply, we’ve been able to blunt what happened to the price of housing nationwide over the last 15 years,” said Bowser. “As we’ve added 36,000 new homes over the past years, the cost of housing in D.C. has grown at half the rate of housing nationwide.”
During the press conference, D.C.
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resident Ciara Williams recounted her experience with housing. The single mother of two encountered homelessness from 2020 to 2022. While living in a District shelter, the father of Williams’ children was murdered.
Today, she lives in an affordable housing unit at the Spring Flats in Ward 4, one of the District’s developments that have led to the city reaching its housing goal.
“We did not know where to turn. But, thankfully my case manager referred us
respond to criminal activities—and can even be eligible for rebate through the Private Security Camera Incentive Program. Modern surveillance technology can help deter crime and when, coupled with real-time data analytics, enables law enforcement to act swiftly, ensuring interventions that could potentially prevent crimes before they escalate and providing situational awareness to keep first responders safe.
Community Engagement
Effective policing relies on community trust and cooperation. Connectivity infrastructure can bridge gaps between law enforcement and residents. Through mobile apps like Prince George’s County Crime Solvers residents can anonymously report suspicious activities promptly to police. This direct communication is essential to building a united front against crime.
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Recreation and Aquatic Center,” said County Executive Marc Elrich.
“Her achievements as an Olympic athlete are extraordinary but what truly sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to giving back to our community. This statue stands as a testament to her dedication, integrity and the positive impact she continues to have on young people in Montgomery County,” Elrich said.
Montgomery County Agricultural Fair to celebrate 75 Years of fun and tradition
The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, Maryland’s largest and most beloved annual event, returns this year, much to the delight of children and adults alike, from Aug. 9 through Aug. 17. This year will mark the fair’s 75th anniversary and promises to come alive with a spectacular line-up of entertainment, attractions and family-friendly activities.
Since 1949, the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair has been a cherished tradition, bringing together the community for a week of agricultural education, entertainment and fun. Key events and attractions this year include:
Rodeo Spectacular: Saddle up for an adrenalinepumping rodeo experience featuring skilled cowboys and cowgirls competing in fun events. It’s an exciting display of Western culture and athleticism that you won’t want to miss.
Demolition Derby: Get ready for the crunch and crash of metal as cars go head-to-head in the ultimate test of endurance. The demolition derby is a fan favorite, promising thrilling action and suspense.
Monster Trucks: Feel the ground shake as monster
to Spring Flats and let me know that I would be able to afford the rent in the absence of a subsidy,” said Williams. “Living in the Spring Flats has been a true blessing. We have a spacious threebedroom unit, and I am so grateful to remain in D.C. with my children.”
The District is still working to reach its sub-goal of producing 12,000 new affordable housing units to families earning below 80 percent of the median family income (MFI). As of July 29, the city has constructed 9,845, just 18
percent shy of the target. Bowser said she expects to complete the objective by the end of 2025. “Still, we know we have more work to do. More people want to live in our great city, and that’s what happens when you’re a world-class city,” said Bowser. “We want to make sure that Washingtoninans who already live here can afford to stay here, like Ciara and her family, and that our children grow up and know that they can live and raise their family in Washington, D.C.”
Public Safety During Emergencies
In the event of incidents like Greenbelt’s Schrom Hills Park shooting, rapid dissemination of information is crucial. A well-connected infrastructure ensures the Alert Prince George’s system warnings reach residents quickly, keeping them safe and informed.
The rise in youth-involved crimes demands our immediate attention and action. We urge our county leaders to prioritize the expansion of next-generation communications infrastructure by unlocking private investment in small cells and fiber; and streamlining the permitting process. By doing so, we can create a safer, more connected Prince George’s County where our next generation can have the childhood they deserve.
trucks roar into the arena, showcasing their power and agility. Watch as these massive vehicles perform jawdropping stunts and crush anything in their path.
Carnival Rides and Games: From exhilarating rides to classic carnival games, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy the nostalgia of a Ferris wheel ride or try your luck at winning a prize.
Live Entertainment: The fair will feature a diverse lineup of musical performances, local talent shows and entertainment acts that cater to all ages and tastes. Whether you’re a fan of country, rock, or pop, there’s a show for you.
Agricultural Exhibits: Discover the rich agricultural heritage of Montgomery County through educational exhibits, livestock shows, and displays of local produce and crafts. Meet the farmers and artisans who contribute to our community’s vibrant agricultural scene.
Food and Vendors: Savor delicious fair food from a variety of vendors offering everything from classic funnel cakes to unique culinary creations. Browse through stalls featuring handmade crafts, local products and more.
All events and activities take place at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg, Md. For more information including tickets, visit www.mcagfair. com. Stay tuned!
Search for Fawzan Hassan, six, ends tragically at Gaithersburg, Maryland Park
A parent’s worst nightmare was realized after a sixyear-old boy, Fawzan Hassan, was found dead on July 28.
The boy was located in a pond adjacent to a playground where he first went missing at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg, Md.
Fawzan, who was nonverbal and had autism, was last seen on Saturday afternoon July 27 around 3 p.m. Initial reports indicate that he had been in the care of his grandmother whose attention was diverted away from him as she went looking for his younger sibling.
More than 100 volunteers assisted in search efforts for the little boy, while officers from both the Montgomery County police and fire departments searched throughout the night on Saturday and deployed drones with the assistance of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police. Police will share additional information to confirm the cause of the child’s death upon the release of results from a requested complete autopsy.
According to the National Autism Association, children with autism are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than the general population of children. Accidental drowning accounts for 71 percent of deaths and nearly half of wandering incidents happen when a nonparent is supervising the child.
According to a spokesperson for Autism Speaks, an organization committed to doing research for those with autism and their families, autistic individuals are routinely drawn to water but many are unable to comprehend the dangers associated with water.
“Tragically, the leading cause of death among autistic people who wander is drowning,” the spokesperson said.
Suggestions for those who have autistic children include: emphasize the dangers of water; take precautions to prevent wandering; sign up for swim lessons; develop a safety plan; and let your neighbors know about your child’s tendency to wander and his/her attraction to water so they can be on high alert.
While drowning is among the leading causes of death of individuals with autism, a 2017 study by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found that deaths in individuals with autism increased 700 percent in the past 16 years and were three times as likely as in the general population to be caused by injuries. Recent studies also indicate that autistic youth and adults appear to have higher rates of suicidal thoughts, plans, or behaviors than other people do. As a group, their suicide risk may be two to seven times higher than the risk for youth and adults who do not have autism.
D.C. activists lead a protest demanding justice for Sonya Massey, killed by Illinois cop
D.C. activists lead protest demanding justice for Sonya Massey, killed by Illinois cop Outrage continues after the shooting death of Sonya Massey, 36, at the hands of former Deputy Sheriff Sean Grayson. The mother of two was shot and killed in her Illinois home on July 6. As Massey’s family continues to advocate for justice in Illinois, the D.C.- based organizations are doing the same in Washington D.C.
The D.C. Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression led a protest on July 28 at the Freedom Plaza in D.C., demanding justice for Massey and her family and remembering Massey’s life. At the gathering, the group called for the conviction of Grayson, who was fired and indicted by a grand jury shortly after the killing.
Activists also called for the Metropolitan Police Department of D.C. to investigate and fire cops who have killed innocent civilians on duty.
New pedestrian bridge now open in Ward 7
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) joined the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Ward 7 community members on July 25 as she celebrated the grand opening of the new Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge. According to DDOT, the new structure is expected to be used by thousands annually to connect residents with mass transit and different neighborhoods within the ward.
“By investing in projects like the Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge, we are keeping communities connected and creating safer pathways for our residents to walk, bike and commute.”
“The new Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge is another example of how we can work with the federal government to upgrade our infrastructure and build more connected communities,” said Bowser in a news release.
“We’re grateful for the support of the BidenHarris Administration, and we look forward to getting more federal dollars out the door and into projects that help us build safer, more accessible and more sustainable communities.”
The new pedestrian bridge, spanning DC I-295, cost $17 million and was funded by around $14 million in federal dollars and $3.4 million in District funds.
The bridge will bring enhanced pedestrian safety and community connectivity to Ward 7. The Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge includes new quality lighting, access ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards for accessibility and stairs as an alternative route for bridge access.
“By investing in projects like the Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge, we are keeping communities connected and creating safer pathways for our residents
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is the level in the plan before drought warning, when additional water restrictions are requested and could become mandatory should conditions worsen,” reports the COG.
DC Water notes that “a drought watch is the second stage in a fourpart drought awareness plan…the next step, drought warning, calls for additional water restrictions that could be made mandatory should conditions reach a drought emergency.”
David Gadis, CEO of DC Water, said in a statement that “voluntary conservation measures, no matter how small, will go a long way in our efforts to ensure we can continue to provide this critical
resource to the homes and businesses we serve.”
Residents are encouraged to turn off their water while brushing their teeth, address leaky faucets and only wash full loads of clothes to do their part during the drought watch.
Landscapers should use mulch in their yards to conserve moisture and plants should be watered in the morning hours to hold off evaporation that takes place quicker during hotter times of the day.
to walk, bike and commute,” said Sharon Kershbaum, DDOT acting director. “Thanks to Mayor Bowser and our federal partners, projects like the Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge, and the soon to be completed
According to information released by DC Water, “the Potomac River is the main source of water for much of the region, including DC Water customers. Despite recent rainfall, the drought risk remains with hot, dry conditions expected to persist.”
Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded multiple days of high heat. On July 14, a high of 101 degrees fahrenheit was recorded, followed by 102 degrees on July 15 and 104 degree temperatures on July 16.
The drought watch went into effect just days before D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a heat emergency on July 31 and reminded District residents that there are cooling centers throughout the city. The centers are located at a total of 31 recreation centers and 26 libraries. Residents can get a free ride to a cooling center if they are in need of transportation by calling 311.
reconstruction of the Lane Place Bridge, we are making a meaningful impact by supporting communities, improving accessibility and ensuring residents in every ward can utilize safe, multimodal transportation options.”
Unsplash / PAN XIAOZHEN
D.C. area residents are currently under a drought watch, increasing the need for water conservation efforts. The alert came two days before D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser activated a heat emergency on July 31.
Photo courtesy of the District Department of Transportation
The Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge brings a new and improved way for D.C. Ward 7 residents to travel.
Broccoli City Festival returns to D.C.
By Ama Brown AFRO Editorial Assistant
The Broccoli City Festival took place at AUDI field, located at 100 Potomac Ave in Southwest, Washington, D.C. on July 27 and 28. The stadium was packed to capacity from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. with attendees, vendors and artists who came to celebrate Hip-hop in the nation’s capital. The event was presented by Converse shoes and featured an array of Black artists that represent the genre and the culture. Performers included Megan the Stallion, Gunna and Victoria Monet.
AFRO Photos / Patricia McDougall
Katya Soloveva Woodyard (left) and Morgan Fykes enjoy special treatment at the festival.
Nae’ Emah Clark and Jennifer Wallace enjoy the concert from the VIP area.
Trevor Njoiku, of Kurve Lab, displays his designs and networks in the crowd.
Each year, Broccoli City Festival 2024 brings thousands to the D.C. area to enjoy food, music and culture.
American comedian and actor, Desi Banks (left), enjoys the event with Dre “The Mayor” Hopson and Ari Hopson.
Keenashae Pennicooke (left) and BreAsia Calhoun take a moment to enjoy the music.
T’ziah Wood-Smith (left) and celebrity artist Trillian Wood-Smith make an appearance.
Lia Matthews (left) and Mikela Lawrence show their excitement for the concert.
Actor and recording artist, Gunna, closes out the two-day festival. Singer Victoria Monet takes to the stage with a full entourage of dancers.
Children are becoming increasingly at-risk for hypertension
By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a persistent elevation in blood pressure diagnosed when repeated measurements over time exceed normal values. While it is often discussed in the context of adults, childhood hypertension is a serious condition that parents should be aware of, even though it is rarely talked about. In children and adolescents, blood pressure typically increases with age and height, meaning that normal blood pressure values change yearly, much like height and weight. According to medical experts, hypertension in children can be detected as early as three years old.
A child or adolescent is diagnosed with hypertension when their average blood pressure is at or above the 95th percentile for their age, sex and height, measured multiple times over three or more visits.
Dr. Susan Halbach, director of the Hypertension Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital and a pediatric nephrologist, says that parents should pay attention to their child’s blood pressure just as much as their own.
“Pediatric hypertension is on the rise,” says Halbach. “Hypertension is particularly important. Here in our field, we’ve nicknamed hypertension as the silent killer because most children who have high blood pressure do not have any symptoms; they don’t feel sick. So, in most cases, parents are not going to seek out care.”
To detect hypertension, Dr. Halbach advises that children should have their blood pressure measured at least once yearly, ideally at each healthcare encounter. If a child’s blood pressure is at or above the 90th percentile, it should be tested three times, ideally using a stethoscope and a hand-inflated blood pressure cuff. If the average of these three measurements is at or above the 95th percentile, follow-up visits are necessary to confirm high blood pressure.
Children with an average blood pressure between the 90th and 95th percentiles, or those with readings of 120/80 or higher, are considered prehypertensive and should have their blood pressure rechecked in six months. Consistently high readings will indicate hypertension.
“The majority of children and adults with hypertension are diagnosed because they’re screened for it,” Halbach emphasizes. “As pediatricians, most of us are interested in prevention. So, we believe that it’s quite important to screen for hypertension even starting in childhood.”
The increase in pediatric hypertension is not entirely clear, but it is often attributed to the obesity epidemic. Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents has almost tripled, with 32 percent of children in the United States now being overweight or obese. Among this group, 20 percent to 47 percent are estimated to have hypertension.
Research from Johns Hopkins suggests that children who are overweight or obese are more likely to be hypertensive, often due to lifestyle factors. Overweight children are also more likely to
have other risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and left ventricular hypertrophy (abnormal thickening of the heart).
“Pediatric hypertension is on the rise. Hypertension is particularly important. Here in our field, we’ve nicknamed hypertension as the silent killer because most children who have high blood pressure do not have any symptoms; they don’t feel sick. So, in most cases, parents are not going to seek out care.”
“Hypertension is primarily lifestyle-driven,” Halbach says. “The things that we know contribute to a healthy lifestyle in terms of disease prevention are not accessible to people in equal ways, like food deserts and environmental factors.”
“I take care of patients who live in places where convenience foods are really all that’s available or affordable for them. They may know what they need to do, but accessing it is difficult,” continued Green. “Green spaces and safe areas to exercise are also contributing factors.”
Studies show that African American and children from underrepresented communities face a greater risk of having high blood pressure compared to their White counterparts.
A medical essay by Dr. Halbach and Dr. Joseph Flynn highlights that social determinants of health (SDOH) are significant contributors to disease burden and adverse health outcomes in the U.S. population. The essay discusses a study by Nagata et al., which found significant predictors of hypertensiverange blood pressure among early adolescents, including male sex, Black race, household income and parent education level.
“The association between household income level and hypertensive-range BP is not surprising given the well-known lifestyle factors contributing to the development of hypertension such as poor nutrition and lack of regular physical activity. Engaging in health-promoting lifestyle behaviors is the foundation for the prevention and nonpharmacologic treatment of primary hypertension in both children and adults,” the essay notes.
Household income and race play a major role in the disparities, as Black families compared to White families continue to experience higher risks even among high-income earners. The essay concludes that “within lower-income households, there was no significant association between race and hypertensiverange BP, but among higher-income households, Black race was associated with more than three-fold higher odds of hypertensiverange BP compared to White race.”
“There is quite a bit of evidence that there is a lot of disparity in cardiovascular disease occurrence and outcomes in the United States,” says Halbach. “Specifically in adults when you’re talking about things like heart attacks or strokes. But then even among children, the incidence and prevalence of hypertension show disparities, with nonWhite groups having higher rates of hypertension.”
To treat hypertension in children, it is suggested that parents and families focus on the underlying cause and adopt hearthealthy lifestyles. This includes:
• Weight loss if overweight
• Daily aerobic exercise: aim for 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity every day
• Limit activities such as computer/video/tablet games and TV watching to less than two hours per day
• Regular daily intake of fresh vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy
• Eliminate empty calorie drinks like juice, soda and sweet tea. Increase water intake
• Avoid foods high in salt
• Limit cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg each day
• Stop smoking
Halbach advises that some children may require medication, especially those identified with a secondary cause of hypertension, those who are symptomatic, those with diabetes or evidence of organ damage, and those who continue to have hypertension after six months of lifestyle changes.
This article was originally published by The Seattle Medium.
Black women respond to new report on tampon toxicity
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com
A recent study conducted by the University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley) found toxic metals in a variety of tampon brands currently being sold throughout the United States. The report, released by the university’s department of public health, noted lead, arsenic and cadmium in 14 of 30 tampon brands studied.
Few research studies related to chemicals in tampons, despite it being a public concern.
According to the report, “metals have been found to increase the risk of dementia, infertility, diabetes and cancer. They can damage the liver, kidneys and brain, as well as the
“The vagina is very absorbent and when you’re placing anything into it that’s
a great way to help the body absorb things faster. When you’re putting toxins in the body, they’re also going to be absorbed faster. This could lead to infections, ovarian cysts and I know some people have experienced polyps.”
cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems. In addition, metals can harm maternal health and fetal development.”
Though the report raised concern, researchers noted that “for the moment, it’s unclear if the metals detected by this study are contributing to any negative health effects. Future research will test how much of these metals can leach out of the tampons and be absorbed by the body.”
During the study, 16 different types of metal were found in over 30 tampons from a total of 14 different brands. The amount
Unsplash.com / Maddi Bazzoco
The University of California Berkeley is warning women about menstrual products being used on a monthly basis for hygiene. A recent report found that some tampon brands contain toxic metals like arsenic.
of metal found in the tampons varied based on factors such as the country of origin. Name brand products were also compared to generic offerings. Researchers also looked at products labeled as “organic.”
Overall, it was found that a multitude of metals are in several types of tampons and no specific kind had consistently lower amounts of all or most metals. Notably, the report does not mention any of the brands found to have the toxic metals, leaving consumers in the dark about which brands to avoid.
Olivia Atley, a doula, specializing in care before, during and after pregnancy said that Black women should be vigilant about this report given the high rate of maternal morbidity and
mortality in the Black community.
“It’s a reminder that we need to be very vigilant about the things that we are using in and on our bodies,” she said, speaking of Black women. “The vagina is very absorbent and when you’re placing anything into it that’s a great way to help the body absorb things faster.”
“When you’re putting toxins in the body, they’re also going to be absorbed faster. This could lead to infections, ovarian cysts and I know some people have experienced polyps,” she added.
The report has many women rethinking the menstrual products they use. Some women have sworn off tampons, while others don’t seem to be too concerned with the information found in the report.
“If you read some of the labels on your tampon box– it has a warning about some of the dangers. Tampons have been dangerous, this is just another thing to add to the list of risks and side effects,” said Tonesty Burt, a student-athlete at Missouri Western State University.
As an athlete, Burt said tampons are a necessity. She said other menstrual products either don’t appeal to her or aren’t conducive to her active lifestyle.
“Pads are uncomfortable to wear in general but especially when running. They also aren’t very reliable when you’re constantly moving,” Burt said.
With no desire to have children, Burt noted the risks posed to her maternal health don’t concern her. However, other women told the AFRO that the information presented in the UC Berkeley report has caused concern.
“I started using tampons when my cycle was heavier, but since switch[ing] birth controls my cycle is lighter and doesn’t last as long,” said Destaney Smith, a primary care assistant from Columbus, Ohio.
“I don’t really need them, but I got used to using them,” she said, speaking of the tampons she used to rely on. “Knowing they have metals in them– that’s even more reason to stop using them.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified tampons in the Class II category reserved for medical devices with non-significant risk. Although manufacturers are required to submit detailed risk assessments of the product component, design and test results, there currently aren’t any regulations in place that require manufacturers to test their products for toxic metals.
Kimberly Clark and Proctor and Gamble, well known tampon manufacturers, were contacted for comment, but the AFRO received no response.
Doctors are highlighting the growing number of preadolescent children developing hypertension.
Unsplash/Kristine Wook
Single in the City: How to move from ‘just dating’ to exclusivity
By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO
Let’s discuss dating, exclusivity, and how to navigate that transition smoothly. This week’s article comes from a place of personal experience— yes, I recently ended things with a guy who told me he had a problem with women he’s interested in seeing other people. My response? “We’re both free to see whoever we want because we never had a conversation about exclusivity.” Remember my motto: “Date ‘em ALL, sis!” That means we can openly date as many people as we like until we both decide to commit to just one person.
Let’s dive into how you know when it’s time to have that exclusivity conversation and move dating to the next level.
1. When you both are consistently spending quality time together
If you’re finding that you and your boo are spending more and more time together, and you both enjoy each other’s company without feeling pressured, it might be time to talk. Consistent quality time is a good indicator that you both might be ready to take things to the next level.
2. When you’re prioritizing each other over other dates
You know it’s time to consider exclusivity when you’re starting to prioritize each other over other dates. If you’re finding that you’d rather spend time with him than go out with someone
new, and he feels the same way, it’s a good sign that you’re both ready for that conversation.
3. When you’re sharing more personal details and building a deeper connection
If you find yourself opening up and sharing more intimate details about your life, dreams, and fears, and he’s doing the same, it’s a sign that you’re both invested in building a deeper connection. This mutual
vulnerability often signals that it’s time to discuss the future of your relationship.
4. When there’s mutual respect and understanding
Respect and understanding are key in any relationship. If you both respect each other’s boundaries, opinions, and time, and you’re finding it easy to communicate and resolve conflicts, it might be time to talk about taking your relationship to the next level.
5. When you feel secure and confident about each other
Finally, if you feel secure and confident about where you stand with him, and he’s showing you through his actions that he feels the same way, it’s a strong indicator that you’re both ready for exclusivity. Trust your instincts—if it feels right, it probably is.
Having the conversation
Now, let’s talk about having the exclusivity conversation. It’s important to remember that
this is an intentional discussion that must be had and agreed upon by both parties. As women, we shouldn’t be asking men, “What are we doing?”
Intentions and goals should be discussed early on, and as the relationship naturally progresses, the conversation should happen organically.
When you’re ready to talk about exclusivity, approach it with honesty and openness.
Share how you feel and ask how he feels. If you both agree that you want to date each other exclusively, then congratulations—you’re taking a beautiful step forward together!
If not, remember that it’s okay to continue dating other people until you find someone whose goals align with yours.
Final thoughts
Ladies, dating should be fun and empowering. “Date ‘em ALL, sis!” until you find the one who makes you want to close your little black book. Always communicate openly, respect your feelings and his, and never settle for less than you deserve. You’ve got this! Until next time, stay fabulous and keep loving yourself first.
How internalized racism shapes the Black dating experience
By Apryl Williams Word in Black
Dating while Black can be a fraught experience — especially online. Black daters — particularly Black women — have to navigate apps and algorithms rife with racial bias and sexual racism.
Is it any surprise, then, that dating apps like BLK and BlackPeopleMeet have found an audience?
Black daters turn to these apps because the mainstream alternatives, such as Tinder and Bumble, so often fail them. These community-focused apps allow users like myself to seek romance without having to grapple with sexual racism, harassment, or racial fetishization quite as often as we do on mainstream dating apps.
Community-focused apps reduce some of these issues — but not all.
Despite Match Group owning multiple platforms that cater to diverse communities, such as Hawaya (Muslim dating), Chispa (Latinx daters), and BLK (for Black daters), they often use the same technology created for other mainstream platforms, like Tinder.
Through my experience on Tinder, I know firsthand what it’s like to be Black on one of these mainstream dating apps. Amongst an abundance of matches and swipes and all of the things to discuss in the universe, people were overly interested in talking about my race. It was, at times, a deeply uncomfortable experience.
Colorism, racial bias on Black-focused apps
You might think this dynamic disappears on Black dating apps, but that’s not actually the case. These apps are still built on the biased algorithms that power most consumer technology these days. And they’re definitely not free from the racism that pervades Western society.
As I wrote in my recent book about racism and online dating, “Not My Type”: “Unfortunately, people of color also internalize the ethos of sexual racism, including the stereotypes and cultural biases it produces, contributing to the automating of sexual racism. This can cause racial or ethnic conflict between non-White daters.”
So, what does this look like in practice? Well, the insidious norms that are widespread on mainstream dating apps are present on Black-focused ones, too. The cultural belief that lighter skin is more desirable simply gets ported to a new context.
In “Not My Type,” I explore how lighter skin — no matter the specific app or context — is linked to racial status hierarchies and colorism. “Having a lighter skin tone implies that one’s
bloodline is intermingled with European ancestry and that those with darker skin are less civilized and truer to their “colored” roots.” This notion of assimilation — rooted in European beauty aesthetics and anti-Blackness — can exist across all dating apps.
Of course, this is nothing new to Black daters. Internalized racism has always been a part of the dating experience. However, these apps further codify it.
Challenging bias and building data awareness
It’s not all gloomy news, however. We can push back against these trends. In the final chapter of my book, “All You Need is Love (and Transparency, Trust, and Safety),” I use these three values to explain how dating experiences for Black people can be improved.
Transparency is key for trust to be earned, and dating apps don’t have a great track record there. A study by Mozilla and Consumers International from 2022 found that Tinder used discriminatory pricing measures for their subscriptions, quoting up to 31 unique prices for different users for Tinder Plus. In other countries, users are charged up to five times more for the exact same service. Tinder and other dating apps also collect volumes of personal data, from photos, videos, private messages, and location to make inferences about you.
The process of accessing this data might not be convenient, but I hope it spurs users to think critically about what they ‘’privately” share on dating apps. We also have the power to step outside our dating boxes. By swiping against the default, mainstream matches of what dating apps think you might like, you are disrupting a biased ranking system. And lastly, we also have the power to completely swipe left on dating apps and leave platforms that do not safeguard our safety, though many are reluctant to do so. Others find comfort in returning to traditional ways of dating and meeting potential partners. In either case, daters should know that they are not powerless and, ultimately, that they control how much data they share with dating companies.
Dr. Apryl Williams is a jointly appointed assistant professor at the University of Michigan in the department of communication and media and the Digital Studies Institute. She is also a senior fellow in Trustworthy AI at the Mozilla Foundation 2024 and a faculty associate at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.
The algorithms powering these platforms are mysterious and opaque, but that isn’t an unchangeable fact. Black daters on these apps are consumers, and consumers have power. For starters, you can ask dating companies for your data. Seeing the data Tinder had stored on me provided a chilling reminder that dating apps and social media that collect our data are omnipresent and seemingly all-powerful. Still, it is worthwhile to investigate what your favorite apps know about you via your data.
Racist norms are hard to escape when dating online, even in seemingly safe communities and platforms.
Unsplash / Flure Bunny
This week, Erica Alston Buck discusses dating and how to move from casual to serious in the realm of romantic relationships.
Courtesy photo
COVID-19 devastated teacher morale −
By Lesley Lavery Steve Friess The Conversation
Kansas faces the worst teacher shortfall in its history. The 4,000 teaching vacancies Florida faces as the new school year approaches “is more than the population of teachers in 19 of Florida’s smallest counties combined,” the state’s teachers union says. In Vermont, there are days when whole grades of students are sent home because there’s no teacher or sub available.
The teaching profession faces a morale — and staffing — crisis. A National Education Association survey of members found that, as of late 2022, a staggering 55 percent of educators were thinking of calling it quits.
This is a legacy of COVID-19. Teachers were already unhappy before the pandemic, but the public’s reaction to the education their kids got during that crisis continues to haunt the profession. A Brown University study found teachers’ job satisfaction in 2022 hovered near its lowest level since the 1970s.
As a researcher focused on education policy, along with my colleague Sara Dahill-Brown, we spent the pandemic researching how teachers felt as events unfolded. Between 2020 and 2022, we conducted 164 interviews with a total of 53 leaders of teachers unions and associations from 45 school districts in 14 states. They represented urban, suburban and rural districts and an array of partisan leanings.
The results, published in our new study in Teaching and Teacher Education, show how damaging the pandemic was for K-12 teachers. Thousands subsequently left the profession.
COVID-19 response erodes teachers’ sense of safety
Many teachers were already worried about security because of school shootings. With COVID-19, those fears were compounded by the public’s demand for a fast return to in-person class before public health officials deemed it safe and before money flowed to put best practices in place.
In the summer of 2020, most teacher leaders told us they were “terrified” and “scared to death” because there was “no established criteria or expectations… just jump into the deep and do your best.”
Vaccines and other scientific developments eased that particular anxiety, but as recently as April 2023, nearly 4 in 10 teachers told researchers they were considering looking for another job because they didn’t feel safe at work.
An intense and unrelenting workload
Throughout the 2020-21 school year, parents balanced jobs with children sitting – or running and yelling — alongside them for “Zoom school.” Teachers found themselves with two jobs, thanks to hybrid models in which they taught in person for some students and via videoconference for others.
According to one respondent, they were “expected to teach students in person, but also deliver a meaningful education
and it hasn’t recovered
in school districts across the
are
a
as educators continue to leave the field, citing poor pay and a lack of support.
experience to those same students when they were at home.” Another shared that “teachers were working many, many, many more hours than they had ever put into a face-to-face environment,” clocking “12 to 16 hours a day and weekends” and providing feedback “until 10 o’clock at night.”
The result was exhaustion that one leader described as “June-tired in October.” And that was merely an unusual bump in their already intense workloads; teachers in non-pandemic times typically work 53 hours per week on average. That’s seven more hours than the average working adult.
Lackluster leadership and changing expectations
The pandemic also exacerbated festering dissatisfaction with school and district leadership. Teachers felt misled, ill-informed and unconsidered. They were rarely asked for input and forced to make radical changes to education, respondents told us.
Teachers wanted “consistency,” “straight answers” and to stop “switching on a dime,” they told us. Plans changed so frequently that one said “an email written on Monday” was “stale by Wednesday.” Another said administrators would say “the right things in public” to signal “compassion and care for teachers. But the actions are different. And it’s really taking a toll on teachers.”
One union leader told us: “You see parents’ comments on social media, there are a lot more of ‘You just need to shut up and get back to the classroom. You’re lazy. You’re not doing your job.’”
Another echoed this: “Historically educators have been an underrespected profession. But it’s much, much worse now. It’s not just that they’re disrespected– they’re villainized.”
Jobs and budget cuts raise new fears
The majority (68 percent ) of study respondents were concerned from early in the pandemic about budgets or job security. Forty
percent feared enrollment losses related to COVID-19 would make those worries worse. And many worried that “schools don’t have the budget to do all of the safety procedures that science tells us is necessary.”
All of this persisted even as Congress, in April 2020, set aside more than US$13 billion for K-12 emergency relief. By the end of 2020, then-President Donald Trump pledged $50 billion more to help schools reopen.
These funds did hold off catastrophic cuts, but researchers and policymakers both warned of a fiscal cliff facing districts if they didn’t prepare for the point at which that spigot would run dry. And,
“Historically educators have been an under-respected profession. But it’s much, much worse now. It’s not just that they’re disrespected– they’re villainized.”
indeed, examples now abound of just that reality, as seen by mass job cuts in St. Paul, Minnesota, Houston and Ann Arbor, Michigan, among others.
With the worst of the pandemic behind us, resources are being reduced despite ongoing needs. This recipe – burned-out teachers quitting and some who chose to stay being fired – has the entire profession reeling.
Avenues for boosting morale
There are several ways to boost morale, but most require more investment, not less.
Teachers say they need better pay—a minimum starting salary of $60,000 a year—along with stability in health and retirement benefits. The National Education Association says the average starting salary now is $44,530. The NEA is also advocating for better conditions for the paraprofessionals who assist them in the classrooms. Teachers want more say in what they teach.
Short of these changes, we don’t see school systems being able to stop the exodus of educators from the profession — and they will continue to lose their best and brightest as a result.
Lesley Lavery, is a professor of political science at Macalester College and Steve Friess is an independent writer and editor with the University of Michigan.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Equity in math education: More than good grades and test scores
By Megan Staples The Conversation
Math education outcomes in the United States have been unequal for decades. Learners in the top 10 percent socioeconomically tend to be about four grade levels ahead of learners in the bottom 10 percent – a statistic that has remained stubbornly persistent for 50 years.
To advance equity, policymakers and educators often focus on boosting test scores and grades and making advanced courses more widely available. Through this lens, equity means all students earn similar grades and progress to similar levels of math.
With more than three decades of experience as a researcher, math teacher and teacher educator, I advocate for expanding what equity means in mathematics education. I believe policymakers and educators should focus less on test scores and grades and more on developing students’ confidence and ability to use math to make smart personal and professional decisions. This is mathematical power – and true equity.
What is ‘equity’ in math?
To understand the limitations of thinking about equity solely in terms of academic achievements, consider a student whom I interviewed during her freshman year of college.
Jasmine took Algebra 1 in ninth grade, followed by a summer online geometry course. This put her on a pathway to study calculus during her senior year in an AP class in which she earned an A. She graduated high school in the top 20 percent of her class and went to a highly selective liberal arts college. Now in her first year, she plans to study psychology.
Did Jasmine receive an equitable mathematics education? From an equity-as-achievement perspective, yes. But let’s take a closer look.
Jasmine experienced anxiety in her math classes during her junior and senior years in high school. Despite strong grades, she found herself “in a little bit of a panic” when faced with situations that require mathematical analysis. This included deciding the best loan options.
In college, Jasmine’s major required statistics. Her counselor and family encouraged her to take calculus over statistics in high school because calculus “looked better” for college applications. She wishes now she had studied statistics as a foundation for her major and for its usefulness outside of school. In her psychology classes, knowledge of statistics helps her better understand the landscape of disorders and to ask questions like, “How does gender impact this disorder?”
These outcomes suggest Jasmine did not receive an equitable mathematics education, because she did not develop mathematical power. Mathematical power is the know-how and confidence to use math to inform decisions and navigate the demands of daily life – whether personal, professional or civic. An equitable education
Experts say when it comes to teaching math, focusing on students’ identities, interests and goals can make the subject more expansive and equitable.
would help her develop the confidence to use mathematics to make decisions in her personal life and realize her professional goals. Jasmine deserved more from her mathematics education.
The prevalence of inequitable math education
Experiences like Jasmine’s are unfortunately common. According to one large-scale study, only 37 percent of U.S. adults have mathematical skills that are useful for making routine financial and medical decisions.
A National Council on Education and the Economy report found that coursework for nine common majors, including nursing, required relatively few of the mainstream math topics taught in most high schools. A recent study found that teachers and parents perceive math education as “unengaging, outdated and disconnected from the real world.”
Looking at student experiences, national survey results show that large proportions of students experience anxiety about math class, low levels of confidence in math, or both. Students from historically marginalized groups experience this anxiety at higher rates than their peers. This can frustrate their postsecondary pursuits and negatively affect their lives.
How to make math education more equitable
In 2023, I collaborated with other educators from Connecticut’s professional math education associations to author an equity position statement. The position statement, which was endorsed by the Connecticut State Board of Education, outlines three commitments to transform mathematics education.
1. Foster positive math identities: The first commitment is to foster positive math identities, which includes students’ confidence levels and their beliefs about math and their ability to learn it. Many students have a very negative relationship with mathematics. This commitment is particularly important for students of color and language learners to counteract the impact of stereotypes about who can be successful in mathematics.
A growing body of material exists to help teachers and schools promote positive math identities. For example, writing a math autobiography can help students see the role of math in their lives. They can also reflect on their identity as a “math person.” Teachers should also acknowledge students’ strengths and encourage them to share their own ideas as a way to empower them.
2. Modernize math content: The second commitment is to modernize the mathematical content that school districts offer to students. For example, a high school mathematics pathway for students interested in health care professions might include algebra, math for medical professionals and advanced statistics. With these skills, students will be better prepared to calculate drug dosages, communicate results and risk factors to patients, interpret reports and research, and catch potentially life-threatening errors.
3. Align state policies and requirements: The third commitment is to align state policies and school districts in their definition of mathematical proficiency and the requirements for achieving it. In 2018, for instance, eight states had a high school math graduation requirement insufficient for admission to the public universities in the same state. Other states’ requirements exceed the admission requirements. Aligning state and district definitions of math proficiency clears up confusion for students and eliminates unnecessary barriers.
What’s next?
As long as educators and policymakers focus solely on equalizing test scores and enrollment in advanced courses, I believe true equity will remain elusive. Mathematical power – the ability and confidence to use math to make smart personal and professional decisions – needs to be the goal.
No one adjustment to the U.S. math education system will immediately result in students gaining mathematical power. But by focusing on students’ identities and designing math courses that align with their career and life goals, I believe schools, universities and state leaders can create a more expansive and equitable math education system.
Megan Staples, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, University of ConnecticutThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Unsplash / Jeswin Thomas
Classrooms
nation
facing
crisis
Unsplash / Jeffrey Hamilton
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM811 YVONNE H. WHITMON AKA YVONNE WHITMON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
JOHN M. WHITMON, whose address is 205 WIN-
and the trust property unless presented to the Trustee at the address provided herein on or before. January 19, 2025 (6 months after the date of the first publication of this notice): An action to contest the validity of this trust must be commenced by the earliest of (1) April 26, 2025 (one year from date of death of the deceased settlor) or (2) January 19, 2025 (6months from the date of first publication of this notice) or (3) ninety days after the Trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice informing the person of the
TEERBERRY COURT: STOCKBRIDGE GA. 30281, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of YVONNE H. WHITMON AKA YVONNE WHITMON who died on MAY 5, 2022 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY 26, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before JANUARY 26, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: JULY 26, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
JOHN M. WHITMON Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 7/26, 8/02, 8/09/24
each heir and qualified beneficiary of the trust and any other person who would be an interested person within the meaning of D.C. Code, sec. 20-lOl(d).
Date of first publication: July 19, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
Mariellen T. Broolks Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 7/19, 7/26, 8/2/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000816 SANDRA H. COX AKA SANDRA COX Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs LOUIS ALLEN DEFREITAS JR., whose address is 12204 MONTALCINO CIRCLE, WINDERMERE, FL 34786, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of SANDRA H. COX AKA SANDRA COX who died on JUNE 2, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before JANUARY
believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: JULY 26, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM798 BRIAN K. SMITH Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs KRYSTAL SMITH , whose address is 1444 W STREET SE WASHINGTON, DC 20002 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BRIAN K. SMITH who died on MAY 19, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 02, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before FEBRUARY 02, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: AUGUST 02, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
KRYSTAL SMITH Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 8/02, 8/09, 8/16/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000556
ELIZABETH MARY BOLES AKA ELIZABETH BOLES AKA BETH BOLES
Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
PATRICK ANDREW HUGGINS, whose address is 2520 KINCAID DRIVE APT.# 205, COSTA MESA, CA 92626 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ELIZABETH MARY BOLES AKA ELIZABETH BOLES AKA BETH BOLES who died on JANUARY 6, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 02, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before FEBRUARY 02, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.
Date of first publication: AUGUST 02, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
PATRICK ANDREW HUGGINS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 8/02, 8/09, 8/16/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PROBATE DIVISION
ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000840
JOYCE A. HARIS AKA
JOYCE ANN HARRIS Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
LISA D. REID, whose address is 3903 ROSEBORO
STREET ORLANDO FL 32805 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOYCE A. HARIS
AKA JOYCE ANN HARRIS who died on MAY 24, 2019 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 02, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before FEBRUARY 02, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: AUGUST 02, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
LISA D. REID Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 8/02, 8/09, 8/16/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000858 SUZETTE SAMPEUR AKA MARIE-ANGE SUZETTE SAMPEUR Name of Decedent NICKEY EARLINE PATTERSON 6710 OXON HILL ROAD SUITE 210 OXON HILL, MD 20745 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
MIKARL RICHARD SAMPEUR, whose address is 2255 VALENTANO DRIVE, DUBLIN, CA 94568 was appoint ed Personal Representative of the estate of SUZETTE SAMPEUR AKA MARIE-ANGE SUZETTE SAMPEUR who died on DECEMBER 06, 2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, ap pointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before FEBRUARY 02, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the under signed with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before FEBRUARY 02, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the dece dent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Reg ister of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: AUGUST 02, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
MIKARL RICHARD SAMPEUR Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 8/02, 8/09,8/16/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000782 IDA W. BULLOCK Name of Decedent
DONATA EDWARDS 1629 K STREET N.W. SUITE 300 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
EDNA B. BOSTIC, whose address is 3408 23RD PARKWAY, TEMPLE HILLS MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of IDA W. BULLOCK
(ARENA)
Applicant: Volo Buzzard Point, LLC T/a Club Volo - Giuliano A. A. Marcantoni Petition: New Arena license requesting live entertainment and outdoor table service Premises: 300 E. Cromwell Street 21230 (City Council District: 11th; State Legislative
Upcoming events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area
By AFRO Interns
With so many things to do during the summer, keeping up with it all can be difficult. This week, the AFRO curated a list of events happening in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area that are sure to appeal to attendees of all ages.
Baltimore
Free Family Sundays: Make a Wearable Pin
Catherine Mapp, the Family Programs Educator at the Baltimore Museum of Art, will be hosting this family friendly event for kids between the ages of six and nine years old. The attendees will make a pin inspired by Koffi Djereba’s Bedu Masks from the museum’s African art collection.
Date: Aug. 4
Time: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Baltimore Museum of Art (The Joseph Education Center) 10 Art Museum Drive Baltimore, MD 21218
Cost: Free
Writer’s Live: Leonard Pitts Jr.
The Enoch Pratt Central Library is hosting an event with Pulitzer prize winner Leonard Pitts Jr., author of “The Last Thing You Surrender,” “Grant Park” and “Freeman.” Pitts will be showcasing his new work, “54 Miles.”
Date: Aug. 6
Time: 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Enoch Pratt Free Library
400 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Cost: Free
The Walters Art Museum Conservation Window
Have you ever been curious about what the conservation and technical research department does at Walters Art Museum? If so, this event is perfect for anyone that is interested in art, science, history or culture. All ages are welcome.
Date: Aug. 9
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: The Walters Art Museum Center Street Building Level 4 600 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Cost: Free
Summers In The Seventh Block Party
In preparation for the upcoming school year, Infinite Legacy and Councilman James Torrence are hosting their sixth annual block party. The event will include back-to-school giveaways, health and wellness screenings, marching bands and kid-friendly activities. Park for free at the Mondawmin Mall parking lot, and then join in on the festivities outside of the Edenbridge Health building, located at 3201 Tioga Pkwy, Baltimore, MD 21215.
Date: Aug. 10
Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Mondawmin Mall
2401 Liberty Heights Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215
Cost: Free
Washington, D.C.
Black Studies Book Club
This adults-only event hosted by the Black Studies Book Club will meet every first Saturday of the month where attendees will be reading classic literature from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Audrey Lourde, James Badlwin and other contemporary authors. This club encourages its readers to challenge their perception of Blackness while also dissecting the Black struggle as a whole.
Date: Aug. 3
Time: 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 G Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001
Cost: Free
Gordon Parks Gallery
Gordon Parks is a renowned American photographer from the post-World War II era. Visit the National Gallery of Art to see how his trailblazing style highlighted the cultural significance of his portrait subjects. This exhibit will be open until Jan. 12, 2025.
Date: Aug. 3 - 9
Time: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: West Building (6th St and Constitution Ave NW) Constitution Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20565
Cost: Free
The Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area will be bustling with activity from Aug. 3 to Aug. 10, with no shortage of events to attend.
Glenn Kaino: Bridge Exhibit
Come see artist Gleen Kaino’s “Bridge,” a sculpture inspired by Tommie Smith’s stand for human rights at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Visitors can enjoy the display while learning more about Glenn Kaino at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Date: Aug. 3 - 9
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Third floor 8th and G Streets, NW Washington, D.C. 20004
Cost: Free
Black Alumni Hike: Black Greek Festival Weekend
Join members of the Divine Nine and The Hike Crew for a threemile hike around Washington, D.C. to celebrate Black Greek life and engage in a health and fitness event with the community. Participants will meet up at 9:30 a.m. and the hike will begin at 10 a.m. Black Greek Festival Weekend also includes other events on Aug. 9 and 11. Visit the event’s Eventbrite to learn more.
Date: Aug. 10
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Park on 14th 920 14th St NW Washington, D.C. 20005
Cost: Free
Anime Rooftop Party
Celebrate Otakon with fellow anime lovers during this rooftop party hosted by Plus Ultra Entertainment. The event will feature music from DJ MorrisCode and cosplay. Food and drink will also be on sale.
Date: Aug. 3
Time: 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Location: The Delegate 901 L Street Northwest Washington, D.C. 20001
Cost: Free
Virginia
Heartfest 2024: Explore Relax and Rejuvenate
There’s always something good about rest and relaxation and this event is perfect for anyone that needs some quality time with meditation and mindfulness to help center their inner being. The indoor activities will consist of breath work and meditations, and the outdoor portion will consist of yoga, live music, vendors and kids’ activities.
Date: Aug. 10
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Heartfulness Meditation Center 2230 East Parham Road Richmond, VA 23228
Cost: Free
Family Dinner and Dive In Movie
As part of their Doc Saffer Summer Series, Middleburg Community Center will be showing the movie “IF” for local families to enjoy. In addition to the movie, enjoy pizza and ice cream at 6:30 p.m. and a swim in the pool until 8 p.m. The movie will begin at 8:15 p.m. Advance registration on Eventbrite is required.
Date: Aug. 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Middleburg Community Center 300 West Washington Street Middleburg, VA 20117
Cost: Free
Slushies and Frozen Drinks Festival Take a break from the heat at this Slushies and Frozen Drinks festival. Events include minute Jenga at 2:30 p.m., water balloon toss
at 3:30 p.m. and a candy chopstick challenge at 4:30 p.m. The festival will also feature dancing, music and much more.
Date: Aug. 10
Time: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Location: Shipgarten 7581 Colshire Drive McLean, VA 22102
Cost: Free
Strong Men and Women in Virginia’s History
This traveling exhibition commemorates African Americans who have made significant contributions to the state of Virginia. Learn some history while picking up books from Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library.
Date: Aug. 3
Time: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library 4701 Seminary Road Alexandria, VA 22304
Cost: Free
Prince George’s County
2024 Back to School Celebration
The Prince Georges Police Department is hosting its annual backto-school celebration and all are welcome to attend. There will be free stuffed backpacks as well as fun activities for the entire family to enjoy such as soccer, obstacle courses, a gaming truck and so much more. The items are first come first serve and all children must be present to receive a backpack.
Date: Aug. 9
Time: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: 7600 Barlowe Road Greater Landover, MD 20785
Cost: Free
Movies at the Potomac
Enjoy free outdoor movies in front of the Potomac River at the National Harbor. Pack your own snack and bring a blanket or chair to lay on the lawn and enjoy the movie “Race.” This event will reoccur weekly with different movies on Sundays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. through September 29, 2024.
Date: Aug. 8
Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: 150 National Plaza National Harbor, MD 20745
Cost: Free
Black Books Matter Day With Mahogany Books
Celebrate Mahogany Book’s annual Black Books Matter Day. Attendees will be able to meet and greet with local authors and do a book swap with other readers.
Date: Aug. 3
Time: 11 a.m - 12 p.m
Location: 121 Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD 20745
Cost: Free
Capital Temple’s Back to School Bash
Join Capital Temple’s Back for a fun day before going back to school. Activities include a game truck, food, a moonbounce and a school supplies giveaway.
Date: Aug. 4
Time: 1 p.m - 4 p.m.
Location: 3105 Hubbard Rd 105 Hubbard Road Hyattsville, MD 20785
Cost: Free
Howard County
Pop-up African Clothing Event
Don’t forget to bring all of your family and friends to shop for beautiful and traditional African attire. There will be many unique and stylish designs for everyone in the family. You don’t want to miss out! Register online on Eventbrite or on-site on the day of the event.
Date: Aug. 11
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Jesus Tabernacle 10176 Baltimore National Pike #STE 117 Ellicott City, MD 21042
Cost: Free
The following AFRO interns contributed to this report: Tierra Stone, Lizzie Suber and Madeline Seck.
See more on afro.com
Unsplash / Maddi Bazzocco
BALTIMORE-AREA
Union workers protest for better wages in downtown Baltimore
By Deborah Jeon
“The past refuses to lie down quietly,” Archbishop Desmond Tutu famously said of the process of racial reconciliation in South Africa following the dismantling of apartheid.
Renowned civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill echoes this sentiment in describing the shadow of past racial violence haunting Maryland’s Eastern Shore:
“The terror visited upon African American communities … lives in the deep wells of distrust between Blacks and Whites in the sense that Blacks still must keep their place and that both Blacks and Whites must remain silent about this history of lynching.” In Wicomico County, site of one horrific lynching chronicled by Professor Ifill, the system of racial subjugation endures through an election plan that makes the votes of Black residents count less than those of their White neighbors.
Challenges to all-White political rule on the Eastern
By Tierra Stone AFRO Intern tierrastone@afro.com
Protestors gathered in downtown Baltimore on July 25 to raise their voices in favor of better wages for hospitality workers.
Attendees came from a variety of organizations, to include Unite Here Local 7; the City Union of Baltimore; the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). The unions joined forces at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, located in the Inner Harbor, to aid hospitality workers in their fight for pay increases.
The protest was orchestrated by Unite Here Local 7, a union for Baltimore’s hospitality workers. Many participants said they worked at either the Hyatt Regency, the Inner Harbor Hilton, or both in the past.
hour,” said Tracey Lingo, president of Unite Here Local 7.
“In Philadelphia, the housekeepers make $22 an hour, but our union housekeepers are making $16.20 at the Hyatt and [at] the Hilton—and obviously that’s not a wage that you can currently live on.”
Lingo went on to say thousands of hotel workers across the country are bargaining for better wages. Since the pandemic, she said hotel corporations have eliminated some roles, such as positions for doormen and room services.
“We know they’re making money and we know they’re profitable— there’s no doubt about it. We’re just asking for those profits to be distributed equally and fairly among everybody that works for the company.”
The picketers assembled outside of the Hyatt’s main entrance and marched in a circle chanting phrases such as “No Justice, No Peace” while holding signs that read, “One Job Should Be Enough” and “Respect Our Guest, Respect Our Work.”
Income raises were at the center of the call for action.
“D.C. housekeepers are currently paid $26 an hour and they just signed a contract that’s going to get them to $33 an
Shantia Devon, who has worked for the Hilton for more than a decade, spoke on how the pandemic affected her job in room services.
“I’ve been there for 11 years. After COVID, when I went back to work, room service was no longer open. I had to start working in the coffee shop as a barista and the money is just not the same,” she said.
Devon obtained a job at the Hilton’s on-site
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf shop, thinking the hotel would gradually bring back their room service employees.
“I was so grateful to be back to work that I didn’t argue, however, the money is still not the same. I’m still struggling,” she said. “The hourly pay is higher than I was getting at room service, but I’m not receiving the same tips that I was getting in room service.”
Baltimore City Health Commissioner terminated
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer
Tmcqueen@afro.com
After seven months as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner, Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga has suddenly been terminated from the position.
Emenuga served as interim commissioner in December 2023 after nomination from Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D). She was sworn in on March 20.
“Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga will no longer serve as the Baltimore City Health
Commissioner and is no longer employed by the City of Baltimore, effective immediately,” said Scott in a statement released the evening of July 29.
Scott did not explain the termination of Emenuga in his statement.
Emenuga is an internal medicine physician operating in various capacities across clinical medicine, academia and healthcare consulting.
According to Big Cities Health Coalition, a forum for leaders of health departments, she started her medical career as
“Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga will no longer serve as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner and is no longer employed by the City of Baltimore, effective immediately.”
courtesy of the Baltimore City Health Department
Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga is no longer the top health official for Baltimore City as of July 29. Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott released a statement on the termination on July 29, saying it was “effective immediately.”
a primary care physician in Cote d’Ivoire and worked as a consultant for the African
Development Bank in Tunisia. When she arrived in Baltimore, she served as the medical director of the Baltimore City Health Department’s Youth Wellness and Community Health Division and for Chase Brexton Health Care.
Several top appointed officials have left their positions during Scott’s first term as mayor. Jason W. Mitchell, who served as director of the Department of Public Works, left the role in January 2023.
Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison resigned in June 2023, along with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement director, Shantay Jackson. Scott has already disclosed who will step into Emenuga’s role, while a permanent replacement is found.
“Effective immediately,
Gov. Wes Moore discusses small business ownership, state of Maryland’s economy at fireside chat
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) spoke at a fireside chat on Maryland’s small businesses community and the future of the state’s economy on July 29.
“We have some of the best entrepreneurs in the country, here in our state. We have
“The racial wealth gap has cost this country $16 trillion in GDP over the past two decades. We have and have had a real focus to say if you actually want to have a growing economy you’ve got to have a participatory economy.”
some of the top institutions of higher education. The problem is we have not had a strategic plan,” said Moore. “We frankly made it far too difficult for a lot of our small businesses to be able to
Deputy City Administrator (DCAO) Simone Johnson will temporarily join the Baltimore City Health Department as interim commissioner of health,” he said. “The City of Baltimore will commence a nationwide search for its next health commissioner.” Scott highlighted that Johnson has more than 20 years of state and local government experience including her previous
roles as chief of staff and chief operating officer at the Baltimore City Health Department. Johnson also served as chief of staff for the State Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Transit Administration.
The AFRO reached out to Emenuga for comment, but did not receive comment by time for print.
AFRO Photo / Tierra Stone
Union workers are calling for better wages in the hospitality industry. Shown here, from left to right, Antoinette RyanJohnson, president of the City Union of Baltimore (left); Tracey Lingo, president of Unite Here Local 7; Councilman Zeke Cohen; Janell Edmonds, AFT Maryland organizer; Courtney Jenkins, president of Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO union, and Witold Skwierczynski, retired labor union president for AFGE.
Courtesy photo
Deborah Jeon, legal director of the ACLU of Maryland, speaks on the growth of Black political power on the Eastern Shore.
Photo
Racial reckoning
Continued from D1
Shore began in the 1980s, when ACLU lawyer Chris Brown and civil rights leader Carl Snowden first engaged with Black voters to pursue a series of Voting Rights Act lawsuits. As a young sidekick to Brown and Snowden, my ACLU career was indelibly inspired by the extraordinary courage I witnessed in Black trailblazers who took on systematic disenfranchisement of Black voters across the Shore. These heroes of yesteryear – Honiss Cane, Fannie Birckhead, James Purnell and Billy Gene Jackson, among others – sparked transformative change that opened doors to Black representation in many Shore communities for the first time ever.
Now, more than three decades after those historic advances, the struggle to overcome racial oppression continues anew amid the Shore’s increasing racial diversification. In the Town of Federalsburg and in Wicomico County, Black voters aligning with the NAACP and Caucus of African American Leaders are rising up to tackle unfinished work of that earlier era.
Discriminatory election structures enable the White majority to dilute votes and silence the voices of Black residents despite – or perhaps because of – their growing numbers. Voting patterns throughout the Shore are strongly polarized by race, meaning election preferences of Black and White voters consistently differ. And in general, White voters favor White candidates and oppose candidates of color, preventing Black candidates from attaining political office.
In Wicomico County, BIPOC residents make up 42 percent of the population, and a clear majority – 62 percent – of children in public schools. But because the election structure combines at-large and district components in a seven-member system, Black candidates are limited to just one majority-Black district in both County Council and School Board elections.
Limiting such a large BIPOC population to a single representative is not only unacceptable, but blatantly illegal.
Veteran activist Mary Ashanti, who came of age amid stark segregation and
racism in Wicomico County, sees this as a calculated means of suppressing Black voices. She says it operates “just as it was designed to – keeping Black people in their place, confined to their one lonely opportunity” notwithstanding Black population growth.
Consequences of this lack of fair representation are “profound,” says Wicomico NAACP President Monica Brooks. The effects include Black schoolchildren taunted by White classmates with racial slurs; Black Lives Matter protesters openly condemned by the local sheriff; NAACP officials refused entry to the County Office Building by the White county executive and the teenaged son of a White school board member posting video of himself with a scoped rifle threatening to shoot Black residents “for sport.”
As a first step toward remedying these frightening injustices, Black Wicomico voters are asking a federal judge to invalidate the County’s discriminatory election system and order reform. A new system is needed that eliminates the atlarge structure and expands Black election opportunities among the seven seats.
Last year, a similar lawsuit in Federalsburg achieved remarkable success after Black voters challenged the all-White municipal government that stayed in place for two centuries even as the community grew to half Black. Through court-ordered reforms, Federalsburg voters made history last September by electing two Black women as the first-ever Black officials in their town’s 200-year existence. What’s more, the Federalsburg plaintiffs went on to secure unprecedented restorative measures –including an official written apology for past racism – as part of their lawsuit’s settlement.
While the Federalsburg and Wicomico activists follow in the footsteps of the bold Eastern Shore voting rights crusaders who came before them, they are also charting a path of their own, highlighting and seizing opportunities for an overdue racial reckoning. Perhaps this can, at long last, bring the reconciliation needed to vanquish the racial injustices of our past.
Union workers
Continued from D1
Although the Hilton has properties in over 126 countries, many of the protesters felt that they don’t distribute their resources fairly. Jeffrey Barner, who has worked at the Hilton for 16 years in bellman guest services, shared what he wants the hotel industry to do for their employees.
“That’s why we’re out here. We know they’re making money and we know they’re profitable—there’s no doubt about it,” said Barner. “We’re just asking for those profits to be distributed equally and fairly among everybody that works for the company.”
Lingo addressed the crowd, in addition to elected officials and leaders from other local unions.
Councilman Zeke Cohen (Baltimore-District 1), Democratic nominee for Baltimore City Council president, was also in attendance and marched in solidarity with the protesters.
Cohen also gave a shout out to the other unions that were present as he shared encouraging words with the crowd.
“When we stand united we win,” said Cohen. “Baltimore, this is our moment to win.” Courtney Jenkins, who is the president of the Metropolitan Baltimore AFLCIO Union, didn’t hold back as he motivated participants.
“It’s always a pleasure to be on the line with you,” said Jenkins. “I wish it was under better circumstances, but we want to let the Hyatt, the Hilton and any other hospitality [businesses] know that if you’re going to pick a fight with the unions– it’s a fight that you’re going to lose every damn time.” The crowd shouted and cheered with roaring applause as Lingo led the final chant for the evening.
“We’ll be back,” the crowd shouted at the hotel. “We’ll be back.”
Gov. Wes Moore
Continued from D1
succeed. It’s far too difficult in the way that people have to go through the permitting and regulatory process. It’s far too difficult when it comes to basic access to capital.”
Moore spoke on his work to help those striking out into business on their own.
“We’ve tried to put together that strategic plan and level the playing field. One of the first things we started doing was working on procurement reform,” continued Moore. “[We] had significant capital coming from the state, but we never were able to actually come up with real procurement policies.”
Moore highlighted an issue within the state procurement process his administration is currently addressing.
“Oftentimes when [we] come up with procurement goals we allow things like free waivers to go through and allow people to make excuses like ‘well I made a good faith effort to find someone I could work with.’ Good-faith effort is not good enough. You’ve got to work harder.”
According to a 2021 small business profile by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, Maryland
has about 618,000 small businesses, 36 percent of them being minority-owned.
Moore was also asked how his administration is working to build wealth in minority communities.
“The racial wealth gap has cost this country $16 trillion in GDP over the past two decades,” said Moore. “We have and have had a real focus to say if you actually want to have a growing economy, you’ve got to have a participatory economy.”
Moore highlighted the work he’s done in countering the impacts of racial policies that have held minorities back from attaining and maintaining wealth in Maryland. That work includes a massive housing package that he sponsored and signed into law this year and 175,000 pardons for convictions of possession of cannabis postlegalization in Maryland.
He went on to speak about how crucial it is for Maryland to begin receiving federal funds for the costs of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge this year. President Joe Biden (D) pledged that the federal government would cover the full costs of the bridge shortly after the collapse.
“It’s imperative because
the bridge is a crucial artery for the Port of Baltimore, and the Port of Baltimore is an absolute crucial element to our American economy,” said Moore. “If you’re buying spices or sugar or coal, chances are that’s coming through the Port of Baltimore.”
According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, The Port of Baltimore handled about $7 billion worth of trade in April 2023, which was about 4.4 percent of all U.S. imports and 3.3 percent of all U.S. exports that month.
Moore also pointed out that hazmat materials and oil trucks are not able to go through tunnels which is the quickest alternative route for most vehicles right now.
“The sole lane for them to go to the Port of Baltimore is now collapsed,” said Moore.
“We have to get moving now,” said Moore. “If we can get this done with bipartisan support from Congress, we will have that bridge built in 2028. We’re going to do something so spectacular that the entire country is going to see just how Maryland moved and the entire country will be very proud about what Maryland got done.”
Maryland business owners
Teara Strum, CEO of Strum Contracting, and Brendan McCulsky, founder of Trident Builders, commented on Moore’s efforts concerning small businesses in the state.
“The governor has often said that this is going to be Maryland’s decade and I think he’s right,” said McCulsky. “I think the governor’s leadership has been providing the framework to allow people like us to be successful.”
McCulsky continued saying the governor’s work has created an ecosystem where Maryland’s small business owners can feel comfortable leaping into various business ventures.
“Some of the policies and the things that he’s creating at the state level are truly trickling down to the mom and pop small businesses we have here in Maryland today,” said Strum.
She highlighted a project that Strum and Trident are working on together that was made possible in part through a state provided fund, which helps small businesses enter the cannabis industry.
“We have 26 subcontractors. Fifteen of them are minority and women-owned business enterprises,” said Strum.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) answers questions on Maryland’s economy by Jake Sherman (left) and Anna Palmer, founders of Punchbowl News, at a fireside chat on July 29.
AFRO News/Tashi McQueen
Jeffrey Barner marches and chants with protesters who are frustrated about working jobs that do not pay a livable wage.
AFRO Photo / Tierra Stone
A Prosperous Tomorrow: Empowering Baltimore residents with tech skills
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
When Devin Jackson first discovered that 40 percent of Baltimoreans did not have wireline internet service and more than 25 percent lacked a digital device, he was in disbelief.
The East Baltimore native has spent much of his career in e-commerce and social media marketing. As a result, his livelihood hinged on accessing the internet and using a device.
“You can have my house itself because I can buy another house,” said Jackson. “But, if you take my internet away from me, I can’t function. I wouldn’t be able to feed my family because that’s what I do for a living.”
The value of the internet and devices was not only apparent to him but critical to maintain employment.
A few years ago, Jackson experienced a cancer scare after discovering a tumor on his throat. His fear pushed him to turn to prayer to cope with the challenging time. In his reflection, he discerned that his calling was to impact people. The realization led him to leave the marketing world.
Jackson set out to leave his mark on people’s lives by creating A Prosperous Tomorrow, a nonprofit seeking to eradicate digital inequities by empowering communities with digital and technology skills, in 2023.
Although his organization is young, Jackson has already hit the ground running, leading workshops and classes to help people become more comfortable with technology and to equip them with workforce skills.
“The idea is to get people to see the internet and
technology differently while also accepting that people have different barriers,” said Jackson. “One of the barriers is anxiety.”
Jackson explained that, for some people, learning about information technology (IT), cybersecurity or other technology fields can be intimidating. But, once they start, it becomes much more feasible.
A Prosperous Tomorrow’s programming comprises six phases.They include
created are not for us. People are going to migrate to Baltimore,” said Jackson. “All this money is coming in, and you won’t have the skills to get that job. If you don’t scale up, you’re going to be in trouble.”
Currently, Jackson is seeking funding to expand the work of A Prosperous Tomorrow. He recently applied to the second round of the city’s Digital Equity Fund, which will deploy grants to organizations tackling digital
“In my world, if you’re focusing on digital equity and inclusion, you’ll solve a lot of other problems.”
developing the whole person, preparation for technology, certification and skill enhancement, coaching and mentoring, job placement and strategy and program extended services.
The organization runs 12-week cohorts during the school year and six- to 10-week cohorts during the summer for residents ages 16 to 21. The free classes take place at the newly renovated Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center and prepare participants for industryrecognized certifications, like CompTIA and Amazon Web Services.
The nonprofit also regularly hosts workshops at libraries around the city to expose Baltimoreans to technology careers and the avenues to pursue them. Jackson said Baltimore’s recent designation as a Federal Tech Hub has made his efforts even more critical.
“If Baltimore is a Federal Tech Hub destination and Baltimore is also a digitally illiterate city, that means the new jobs that will be
literacy, skill-building and creative careers training to communities most affected by the digital divide.
Jackson submitted proposals for a digital education program aimed at older adults and a content creation class. For him, achieving digital equity will help to mitigate other challenges that residents face in the city, whether health care access, educational disparities or economic inequality.
“The use of artificial intelligence and all of the technologies we have at our disposal are going to help people lead better lives,” said Jackson. “In my world, if you’re focusing on digital equity and inclusion, you’ll solve a lot of other problems.”
For 21-year-old Braelen Cypress, it was his uncle who put him on the path to finding A Prosperous Tomorrow. His uncle works in IT, and Cypress began to become interested in the field after talking to him about it.
He learned about the organization’s work while
scrolling on Instagram and reached out to Jackson last year. Cypress previously tried another tech skills class, but it was conducted online.
“I didn’t really like the online part. I couldn’t focus on it, so I didn’t stick with it,” said Cypress. “But, I still had an interest in IT, so I found the proper program. I passed, and I’m sticking with it.”
While he was drawn to the hands-on nature of the class, a key driver of Cypress’ persistence was Jackson’s support.
“The reason why I stayed was Mr. Devon. He made me more committed to it just by the way he explained things,” said Cypress. “He had people who were actually in IT come in at times to talk to us about how they got into the business. I like the fact that [Mr. Devon] had proof of someone being in it.”
Cypress will also be attending Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) this fall. Right now, he’s 50-50 on whether he should pursue an IT or cybersecurity degree.
“Mr. Devon is definitely a good person to talk to if you need information or help with anything, period,” said Cypress. “He’s a very honest person, and if you need someone to talk to you who’s in the business, he will do that.”
This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBC Universal.
A Prosperous Tomorrow prepared Cypress for the CompTIA Security+ certification, an industry standard for attaining a career in IT security. Soon, he will take the exam.
Sen. McCray provides apprenticeship opportunities for Baltimore youth
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
State Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Md.-45) hosted a two-day apprenticeship program that gave youth the chance to learn about the electrical industry July 23 and July 25.
Around 70 YouthWorks participants, ages 14-19, toured the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker (IBEW) Local 24 Apprenticeship facility in West Baltimore. The youths were able to learn the
partner with a number of different organizations. Every year we do an apprenticeship tour, making sure we bring as many young scholars from our city to this space.”
Throughout the day, McCray talked with students about overcoming obstacles and making the most of life’s opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of perseverance, efficient resource use and time management.
“The only expectations that we have for our apprentices are that they have a good attitude, that they’re
“There’s definitely not a
negative thing I got from today. It helped me figure out what it is that I want to do after college, and that there’s definitely multiple things I could do. It’s not just college or nothing.”
basics of conduit bending and the difference between residential, commercial and industrial electrical work.
“I’m an electrician. I went through a five-year apprenticeship program. I’m also in my second term in the Maryland State Senate,” said McCray, introducing himself to the group and explaining how important the program is to him. “We collectively
ready to show up to work on time and that they are willing to learn,” said McCray. “Every apprentice has a journeyperson that they’re working next to that’s training them on the basic functions of (what they need to know) in this electrical profession.”
Dave Springham, training coordinator at the IBEW Local 24 Apprenticeship facility, explained the
difference between an apprenticeship and an internship.
“Do you get paid as an intern? Sometimes. Traditionally, you’re doing it for academic credit…life experience.
Sometimes you get paid, sometimes you don’t,” said Springham. “Every one of our apprentices, every single minute on the job site are getting paid well.”
“Our first year apprentices with absolutely zero experience, first day on the job, start at over $21 an hour,” Springham continued.
The students were engaged throughout the day, asking questions and volunteering for the demonstrations.
“It was very educational and I really appreciated it,” said Kirsten Tyler, 17.
“There’s definitely not a negative thing I got from today. It helped me figure out what it is that I want to do after college, and that there’s definitely multiple things I could do. It’s not just college or nothing.
“I would love to go to an apprenticeship, but that would be my second option as opposed to me going to school for being a chiropractor – something that I’ve always wanted to do,” she continued. “I’m definitely appreciative of the program for allowing me to be able to experience this because I didn’t know anything about
apprenticeships and I have a lot of knowledge about it now.”
McCray emphasized that the aim of the program was to introduce Baltimore youth to more of the opportunities that are out there for them.
For those hesitant about
apprenticeships, Tyler encouraged other youth to just give it a try and don’t give up.
“There is nothing worse than failing and never trying to do something again. If something doesn’t work out,
the best thing that you can do is continue to try and build and prosper,” she said. “And apprenticeships are one of those opportunities where there’s no downfall. It’s easy work and you’re getting paid.”
State Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Md.-45) leads a two-day youth apprenticeship program at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker (IBEW) Local 24 apprenticeship facility in West Baltimore July 23 and July 25.
Devin Jackson is founder of A Prosperous Tomorrow, an organization fighting against the digital divide in Baltimore. The nonprofit supplies digital literacy and technology career training to city residents.
Photo courtesy of Devin Jackson
Photo courtesy of Meta (Facebook) / Sen. Cory McCray
A Prosperous Tomorrow serves young people ages 16-21 and prepares them for technology certifications, opening the door for future careers in various industries.
Photo courtesy of Devin Jackson
Baltimore City celebrates 295th birthday
By Ama Brown AFRO Editorial Assistant
The event was more than just a party, as all proceeds raised during the event will go to helping Live Baltimore attract and retain residents within the city. The event included food, music by DJ Tanz and beverages by Sagamore Spirit and UNION Craft Brewing.
Bishop Kevia F. Elliott honored with street naming
Courtesy photos
Photos courtesy of the Baltimore City Office of the Mayor / J.J. McQueen
D.J. Tanz keeps the crowd energized as they dance the night away.
Shelonda Stokes (left), president of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, celebrates Baltimore with Hana Pugh, fianceé to Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott.
Annie Milli, CEO of Live Baltimore, speaks to the crowd.
On July 14 community members honored Bishop Kevia F. Elliott with a street sign named in honor of his work and service in the Baltimore community. Bishop K. Elliott Way, formerly the 3200 block of West Garrison Avenue, is now located on the corner of Park Heights Avenue and West Garrison Avenue.
Bishop Elliott, a noted community and church leader, has long served as an advocate of the people. On July 2, he celebrated 35 years as pastor of The Lord’s Church and on Oct. 21 Bishop Elliott will celebrate 40 years of preaching the gospel.
By Craig Talley Special to the AFRO
Bishop Kevia F. Elliot is honored with a street sign after 35 years of serving The Lord’s Church as pastor in the Park Heights area.
Members of the Baltimore community gather together to celebrate Bishop Kevia F. Elliot, shown here with First Lady Elect, Tijuana “Nisey” Elliott.
Located on the 3200 block of West Garrison Avenue, the corner of Park Heights and West Garrison is now officially known as “Bishop K. Elliot Way.”