Yearly Archives: 2023

Nope, long probation sentences don’t help students

By Aziah Siid, Word in Black It’s a split-second decision. While browsing the aisles, a kid slips something into her pocket. Or, after school, he throws a punch without thinking about what comes after. But what’s coming are life-altering consequences. Whether it’s a juvenile misdemeanor or offense, students have to face the reality that part

Civil rights icon James Meredith, 90, falls at Mississippi event but has no visible injuries

By Emily Wagster Pettus, The Associated Press JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Civil rights icon James Meredith fell outside the Mississippi Capitol on June 25 at an event marking his 90th birthday, but he suffered no visible injuries and was resting comfortably at home later. Meredith leaned onto an unsecured portable lectern as he stood to

Black women in the south at gravest risk from pregnancy

By Sarah Jane Tribble As maternal mortality skyrockets in the United States, a federal program created to improve rural maternity care has bypassed Black mothers, who are at the highest risk of complications and death related to pregnancy. The grant-funded initiative, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, began rolling out four years ago

In the birthing space: why Black men are needed now more than ever

By Mylika Scatliffe, AFRO Women’s Health Writer, mscatliffe@afro.com Arsalaan Allgood is a self-defined natural birth advocate. When he witnessed the treatment his mother received while giving birth to his siblings in the hospital, he noticed the lack of nurture and care. “I didn’t feel like she was treated with much dignity, and it wasn’t a

D.C. opioid crisis disproportionately affecting Black residents

By Aria Brent, AFRO News Writer, abrent@afro.com In the first six months of 2023, D.C. already leads the nation in the number of overdoses from overall drug use according to the Center for Disease Control. This year, health advocates called for Mayor Muriel Bowser to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency urging her

D.C. Public Library hosts free summer programming

By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com The Broadway rendition of The Lion King and D.C. Public Library partnered to kick off their Discover Summer Program at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown D.C.  The D.C. Public Library kicked off their “Discover Summer” with a majestic roar at the rooftop program that started

Kenyon Glover: meet the former NBA player turned actor-filmmaker working to help Haitians become self-sufficient

By DaQuan Lawrence, Special to the AFRO Actor, filmmaker, minister and motivational speaker, Kenyon Glover, has partnered with an international civil society organization, working to help communities in Haiti become self-sufficient.  Through an international fundraising campaign, the group is attempting to raise $2 million via GoFundMe for programming to help communities in Haiti, which are