Afro American 6.27.26

Volume 134 No. 48

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JUNE 27, 2026 - JULY 3, 2026

We’re Still Here

AMERICA AT 250:

BLACK EXCELLENCE AND THE UNFINISHED FIGHT FOR FREEDOM National National Park Park Service Service // T. T. Payton, Payton, 1997 1997

As America marks 250 years of independence, AFRO News dedicates this special edition to the generations of Black Americans whose labor, ingenuity, courage and sacrifice helped build and strengthen this nation—often while being denied its fullest promises. From the battlefields of the Revolutionary War to the front lines of today’s movements for justice, Black people have continuously shaped the American story through leadership, innovation, service, art, activism and an unwavering commitment to democracy.

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Copyright © 2026 by the Afro-American Company

A2 The Afro-American June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026

OPINION

America’s birth, our nation

By Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead The history of America is written in blood, civil strife, rebellion, resistance, treachery and deception. It is also written in bravery, heroism, sacrifice and slavery. America was built on the backs of our ancestors and through the wombs—that were claimed, owned and enslaved—of our grandmothers. The birth of America did not start with a bang or with a bullet. It started with a petition for redress of grievances.

On June 7, 1776, Richard Lee of Virginia stood up in the Pennsylvania State House to read his resolution. This was a momentous occasion that marked what was already happening in the 13 colonies.

Two years earlier, in May 1775, when King George III failed to respond to the Second Continental Congress’s petition, the colonists began to assume national duties, which included establishing a national currency, a

Continental Army and a post office for the “United Colonies.” At that time, around 2.5 million colonists lived in America. Among them were 500,000 enslaved men, women and children. It is ironic that while White colonists were calling for their independence, they were actively enslaving Black colonists.

They would continue to do so for the next 89 years until the ratification of the 13th Amendment on Dec. 6, 1865.

Before White colonists formally declared their independence in 1776, Black people had been declaring and fighting for theirs since at least 1526, when the first 100-plus enslaved people revolted and escaped from San Miguel de Gualdape, the first European settlement in the continental U.S. This was the first rebellion of enslaved people fighting to be free.

Exactly 118 years later, in 1644, 11 enslaved men and women in the Black community of New Amsterdam, the principal port city and

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capital, petitioned for and won their freedom and land.

They had completed 17 of their 18 years of indentured servitude. They argued that they should be freed and not subject to the 1625 Virginia law spreading across the colonies. This law distinguished between Black servitude and Black slavery. It helped lay the foundation for the harsher slave laws enforced from 1657 onward. Although this was the first documented legal racial protest (that we know of), it was likely not the first ever, and it was certainly not the last. The earliest account of a rebellion by enslaved men and women in the 13 Colonies occurred in 1687 on a Virginia plantation. Although their plan was discovered before it happened, the idea that Black people were organizing back then to aggressively challenge the system is important to note.

There have always been multiple movements and ideas within the Black community around resistance.

This means that protests happened in the streets and in the courtroom. They happened in the schools and in the public square. They happened when we chose to stay, when we chose to run or ride on a train, stow away on a boat or mail ourselves to freedom. Understanding all these realities helps frame the Black American experience not just for the past 250 years but for the past 500 years (San Miguel de Gualdape, or 407 years if you date back to 1619 in Jamestown, Va.). The struggle and desire to be free, write our history and pursue our destiny have always been part of that experience. Despite laws that were crafted to restrict our rights and freedoms, our desire to be free remains central to America’s story. The questions have never been about whether we should join the struggle for civil rights, but when, where

Courtesy photo

Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead is founding executive director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace and Social Justice, a professor of communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland and president of ASALH. and to what extent.

As America advanced from its early beginnings to its position as a world power, Black people have contributed significantly, yet we have not always shared equally in its progress. Our struggles have included not just fighting for land and physical freedom, but also to force this nation to fulfill its promises as outlined in our founding documents. The questions these struggles raise—about liberty and justice—have existed since America’s start and persist today. In the 21st century, these questions may seem simple, but history reveals how deeply they shape our identity and who belongs in the American narrative.

Black history is American history, a fact we strive to affirm within a society constructed on whiteness and upheld by white supremacy.

We commit to these self-evident truths and have consistently shown our willingness to fight and die for them.

As my father once asked, “How can you face the truth of America and not be angry enough to want to burn it all

down?” My mother added, “How do you burn down the house you live in?” For many Black Americans, this is the core experience: fighting to save a burning house while living in it.

Frederick Douglass, in 1851, argued that after 230 years of chains, lashes, bloodhounds and utter insecurity, we learned to live on. We learned to smile through it all. We sang through our pain and laughed through our tears.

Even when we thought we made it, we were reminded again and again that America had never been America to us.

This is the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is the place that at one time claimed to welcome the poor, huddled masses and guaranteed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Yet it has never offered or kept those promises to us.

Although America has been “independent” since 1776, we have not. We have been tormented, enslaved and killed for being Black in America. We watched as our neighborhoods were terrorized, our children frightened, our sisters violated

and our brothers incarcerated. We understood—without always saying it—that the only reason White America stood tall was that they made us kneel so they could stand on our backs. It was that way in the beginning, and in so many instances, it is that way today.

On the eve of the celebration of the Declaration of Independence, while our cries still struggle to be heard above the noise, we must remember that we are the heart and soul of America.

We have always—and will always—matter.

Sit with that for a moment.

And then; Before we celebrate; Before we dance; Before we raise any flags; Before we light fireworks; Before we hear more lies about the truth of the American promise; Before we listen as they spin the horror and terror of our past; Before they conveniently forget our sacrifice and try to make us forget, again.

Take a moment to remember and then share that the birth of America is the birth of our nation too.

‘What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?’

By Frederick Douglass “...At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! had I the ability, and could I reach the nation’s ear, I would, to day, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not a gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced.

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To

Image courtesy of The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint / Dale Stephanos

Though there has been significant progress, Frederick Douglass’s poignant question: “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” still stands in 2026. This article is an excerpt from the speech, given to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, in Rochester, New York at Corinthian Hall on July 5, 1852. him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national

greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your

denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.

There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.

Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the every day practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival…”

June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026 The Afro-American A3

Why should African Americans celebrate America 250?

By Frances “Toni” Draper AFRO CEO and Publisher

John Hopkins University / Will Kirk

AFRO CEO and Publisher Frances “Toni” Draper reflects on the significance of America’s 250th anniversary and calls for an honest accounting of the nation’s history, including both its democratic ideals and its enduring racial injustices.

It is a fair question.

For generations, Black Americans have been asked to celebrate a nation that did not always recognize our humanity, protect our rights or honor our contributions.

Enslavement was not a minor flaw in the American experiment. It was a centuries-long atrocity imposed on an entire race of people who were brought to this country against their will, stripped of their names, families, languages and freedoms, and forced to build wealth they could never claim as their own.

The question is not whether America is perfect—no nation is.

The question is whether America can honestly commemorate 250 years of history while minimizing the reality that for much of those 250 years, millions of Black people were denied the very freedoms being celebrated.

As federal policies reshape museums, educational priorities and workplace diversity initiatives, the AFRO remains committed to its longstanding mission of documenting the full African-American experience. We celebrate our achievements and progress, but we refuse to whitewash or sanitize the pain, injustice and sacrifice that are also part of our nation’s history.

Now more than ever, preserving a complete and honest record of the African-American experience is

essential. That includes the remarkable achievements of African Americans as well as the realities of enslavement, segregation, disenfranchisement and discrimination.

Many of us have good reasons to remain skeptical. Racism remains a reality in far too many places. Voting rights—won through sacrifice, bloodshed and relentless struggle— are once again under assault. These concerns are not relics of the past.

They remind us that the pursuit of equality remains unfinished.

ourselves but for the nation as a whole.

History does not always make us feel good. Nor should it. Honest history forces us to confront uncomfortable truths, challenge convenient myths and better understand both ourselves and the nation we hope to leave to future generations.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the path forward is not amnesia but honesty. This nation embodies both its highest ideals

“Honest history forces us to confront uncomfortable truths, challenge convenient myths and better understand both ourselves and the nation we hope to leave to future generations.”

- Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO CEO and Publisher Yet the story of African Americans is not solely one of oppression. It is also a story of resilience, achievement and contribution. Our ancestors helped build this nation.

Our soldiers fought in every American war. Our churches nurtured hope when laws denied justice.

Our journalists documented truth when others ignored it. Our voters expanded democracy not only for

and its deepest contradictions.

It includes the founders and the enslaved, the promises of liberty and the struggle to make those promises real.

The question is not whether America has something to celebrate after 250 years.

The question is whether America 250 will honor the full American story or a sanitized version of it.

Stories of Black and Indigenous patriots come into focus as U.S. remembers the American Revolution

By Michael Casey Charlie Price says he didn’t learn much about the American Revolution in school. He knew about George Washington, the Battle of Bunker Hill and that the patriots won. It wasn’t until he joined the Lexington Minutemen — a group of Revolutionary War reenactors — that he realized there’s so much more to the story.

The Lexington Minutemen marked the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington in Massachusetts in April 2026, as they do every year. Thousands of people — some in colonial costumes, gathered on the Lexington Green to witness the historic clash, many booing the British troops and cheering on the patriots. The battle, which marked the start of the American Revolution 251 years ago, ended with eight Americans killed and 10 wounded — the dead scattered on the ground as the British marched off.

Among the soldiers represented there was Prince Estabrook, an enslaved man who joined his White neighbors on Lexington Green on April 19, 1775, as British troops approached. He was wounded that day, but went on to serve in multiple deployments throughout the war.

“I wasn’t surprised that we didn’t know about it,” said Price, a 95-yearold Black Korean War veteran who played the role of Estabrook for 50 years. “I was surprised that there was one Black soldier out here.”

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Estabrook and other patriots of color are being celebrated through programs nationwide that aim to tell a more complete story of the birth of the nation.

Telling the whole story

Museum exhibits, documentary films and lectures have traditionally focused on the White leaders of the American Revolution, such as Washington, Benjamin Franklin and

Paul Revere.

Christopher Brown, a British Empire historian at Columbia University, said the Revolution has long been portrayed as a “simple story and a moral story that celebrates American origins and that looks to the American past in a kind of idealized version of what the present is.”

But in recent decades, “a more accurate view of the past” has emerged that showcases the diverse collection of men and women who played critical roles in the fight for freedom.

“There were Black men in the ranks who were fighting in Concord and Lexington and fought on Bunker Hill,” he said. “They knew all of the work that women were doing to support the revolutionary effort. The fact that we didn’t know that is more of a sign of our lack of curiosity and the need for greater research.”

The National Park Service estimates that by the end of the Revolution more than 5,500 patriots of color — including Black and Indigenous people — served on the colonial side, while many runaway slaves fought for the British.

“Finding this out, I was very proud,” said Jason Roomes, a descendant of three formerly enslaved men from Rhode Island, Cato, Pero and Ceasar Rome. Roomes learned in his 40s all three Black men fought in the American Revolution for the colonial side.

“Proud that my family has been here and fought for the creation of the United States,” he said.

The stories of Black patriots cannot be told without mentioning slavery, which was legal at the time in all 13 Colonies. Some Blacks who fought were enslaved and others fought in the hopes of gaining freedom. Indigenous soldiers made similar calculations, even as tribes fought for their very survival.

But despite the documented military diversity of that time, efforts to promote such stories are under pressure. The Trump administration has

Some of their descendants will attend the opening of the exhibition.

“By telling these lesser known stories, we want to highlight that ordinary people made a tremendous difference in the arc of the country’s history,” Ryan Woods, president and CEO of American Ancestors, said.

The details of Estabrook’s life

AP Photo / Charles Krupa

Revolutionary War re-enactor Charles Price, 95, who for decades portrayed enslaved Minuteman Prince Estabrook, poses for a portrait near the Minute Man statue in Lexington, Mass. ordered the removal or censorship of some exhibits highlighting the history of slavery and enslaved people, the Civil Rights Movement and the mistreatment of Indigenous people.

Roger Davidson, Jr. an associate professor of history at Bowie State University, said failure to recognize that important part of history can impact communities of color today.

“If you’re not seen as having contributed to society, to the military, to any of it, then people can sort of overlook you,” Davidson said. “It plays into, and I hate to put it this way, but it plays into some people’s biases.

Why should we pay any attention to you in the present day, politically, socially, economically, if you have not contributed?”

Remembering patriots of color MA250 has handed out millions of dollars in grants to commemorate the battles across Massachusetts that helped lead to America’s independence. Among the beneficiaries is the Black Heritage Trail in Concord that

highlights the lives of Black residents in the town during the Revolution.

Museum exhibitions celebrating Black patriots have also received grants.

Among those highlighted is Crispus Attucks, a sailor of African and Indigenous ancestry who died on March 5, 1770, when British troops fired on a crowd in what is known as the Boston Massacre. Another, Salem Poor, was born enslaved but purchased his freedom before fighting at Bunker Hill.

American Ancestors, a nonprofit history and heritage center in Boston that also received MA250 funding, opens its “Patriots of Color” exhibit next week, throwing a spotlight on the lives of 26 Black and Indigenous men and women who played a role in the American Revolution. They include: Prince Ames, a Black and Narragansett man from Andover, who was forced to join the Continental Army in place of his enslaver; and Paul Cuffe, a Black and Wampanoag businessman, who petitioned the Massachusetts government to reject taxation without representation.

Records about Prince Estabrook’s life are scant, but according to the National Park Service, he was likely born in the Lexington area around 1740. His father was enslaved by landowner Benjamin Estabrook, so Prince was born into slavery.

It is unclear what his life was like before he trained as a soldier in the Lexington militia. The Park Service says he was serving under the command of Colonel John Parker on April 19, 1775, when his left shoulder was struck by a musket ball. He recovered from that injury and went on to serve eight years with the militia and the Continental Army.

After the Revolution, he was granted freedom and returned to Lexington, where tax records from 1790 indicate he joined Benjamin Estabrook’s payroll as ‘a non-white freeman.’ It is unclear if he ever married, had children or owned property.

According to family records, he died in 1830, around the age of 90, and was buried in the same cemetery as Benjamin’s son, Nathan, in Ashby, Massachusetts.

Price, who has handed reenactment duties to a younger colleague but still attends the early morning reenactment every year, says it is important to know about the soldier’s life.

“Keep the story alive to make sure that everybody knows, everybody that we can get in touch with, everybody knows that Prince Estabrook was here,” Price said.

“He was a viable person. He did his role, he did his part in fighting for the country.”

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

A4 The Afro-American June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026

As U.S. marks 250 years, Black America still faces barriers

By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO As the United States marks its 250th anniversary in 2026, the nation reflects on a complex history defined by both profound institutional shifts and the persistence of systemic inequality. For the Black community, this milestone is a study in contrasts, the evolution of civil rights protections versus the continued, shifting mechanisms of marginalization.

Over two and a half centuries, the U.S. transitioned from an economy built on chattel slavery to a society governed by constitutional protections intended to guarantee equality.

The passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments represented a pivotal, if incomplete, structural shift.

In the modern era, the codification of Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021 was viewed as a significant step toward national recognition of the emancipation of enslaved people.

However, the fragility of such gains is currently being tested. While Juneteenth remains a federal holiday in 2026, administrative actions have sparked debate over its priority. Notably, the Department of the Interior’s 2026 calendar for “fee-free” days at national parks excluded Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, opting instead to include days like Flag Day. In response, U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37) introduced the Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act. This legislation seeks to codify Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day as mandatory fee-free days, aiming to prevent future administrations from unilaterally altering the recognition of these milestones through policy shifts.

Kamlager-Dove told the AFRO that honoring Juneteenth and Martin

AP 26174510626834/Ryan Murphy

Despite two and a half centuries of institutional evolution, structural inequities in employment, housing and civil rights remain deeply embedded within the modern American social framework.

Luther King Jr. “should never be a partisan issue.”

“The decision to eliminate Juneteenth and MLK Day as free admission days at National Parks is a slap in the face to the history, struggle, and resilience of Black Americans,” said the congresswoman.

“While these holidays may not fit this administration’s definition of ‘patriotic,’ there is nothing more patriotic than honoring milestones that reflect our nation’s progress toward fulfilling its promise of liberty and justice for all,” the California Democrat added.

“Now more than ever, we must commemorate these days to remember where we’ve been as a nation and how much work remains to ensure that the rights and freedoms of every American are fully realized.”

While formal disenfranchisement, such as literacy tests or poll taxes, have been outlawed, modern practices continue to impact the political power of the Black community. Legal analysts and civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, point to

the current landscape as a period of significant challenge.

The Supreme Court’s 2026 decision in Louisiana v. Callais serves as a primary example of this shift. By limiting the use of the Voting Rights Act to challenge redistricting maps, the ruling has effectively made it more difficult for minority groups to contest gerrymandered districts that dilute their voting power. This decision follows a trajectory of judicial skepticism toward federal oversight of state election laws, which began with the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision.

Today, tactics such as complex redistricting, strict voter ID requirements, and the removal of federal preclearance protections are frequently cited as the contemporary tools that maintain racial disparities in political participation.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04) told the AFRO that lawmakers need to do “everything” in their power to “make sure” Black Americans have the proper resources to vote in the

midterm elections. “[Republicans] are really trying to undermine our ability to do that with these redistricting stunts that they’ve pulled, especially in certain states like Texas and North Carolina,” said the Maryland lawmaker. “But, we are going to beat them in the polling places anyway.”

The landscape for Black workers has also faced a major shift. The recent federal rollbacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have left many professionals in a vulnerable position. In addition, Black women, who have historically relied on public-sector jobs as a bridge to the middle class, are experiencing some of the sharpest employment losses in 25 years, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Furthermore, discriminatory practices in the workplace have manifested in both systemic and interpersonal ways. Despite the passage of the CROWN Act in states like Pennsylvania, which prohibits employment

discrimination based on hairstyles historically associated with race, such as locs, braids and afros, reports of workplace bias persist. Documentation from labor and civil rights advocates indicates that Black employees continue to face risks of termination or missed career advancement opportunities due to bias against natural hair textures and protective styles, illustrating the ongoing challenges in achieving consistent enforcement of anti-discrimination protections in professional environments.

Despite decades of talk about progress, the economic divide remains stark. Today, for every dollar of wealth held by white families, Black families hold roughly 15 cents, according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. This is the result of policies like redlining, which systematically blocked Black families from buying homes, which serves as the primary engine of generational wealth in this country.

Mortgage data also shows that Black applicants are still rejected at significantly higher rates than white applicants, even when they have similar income levels, according to a 2025 report from LendingTree.

At the 250-year mark of the United States, historical analysis of the Black experience reveals a pattern where the acquisition of legal rights is frequently followed by procedural or legislative efforts to limit their application. From the persistent wealth gap rooted in historical redlining to ongoing disparities in mortgage approval rates and the scaling back of corporate diversity and equity initiatives, structural barriers remain a documented reality. As of 2026, the intersection of economic policy, employment practices, and civil rights continues to demonstrate that while there has been some progress, systemic disparities continue to exist.

Mississippi reveals its full history for America’s anniversary

By Gary Fields and Sophie Bates The glass panels of the Lynching Victims Monolith are simple, etched with the names of more than 600 victims of documented racial killings in Mississippi, along with the attackers’ motives.

One man, Malcolm Wright, was beaten to death in front of his family in 1949. His offense? “Hogging the road.” Further research revealed that his mule-drawn wagon was, to his killers, moving too slowly.

The panels are among thousands of exhibits and artifacts inside the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the adjoining Museum of Mississippi History. Called the Two Mississippi Museums, the massive complex in sight of the state Capitol is a central part of the state’s America 250 celebration.

“That’s just the people that we know about,” Kiama Johnson, who was visiting from Monroe, Louisiana, said of the victim panels as she sat beyond the display and fought back tears. “Just imagine the ones that we don’t. Imagine the ones that’s never going to be written in history books.”

Mississippi’s warts-and-all approach to reflecting its history as part of the state’s official commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary is a stark contrast with what has taken place at the national level since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

Easing the discomfort of a sometimes brutal American history has been a central theme of Trump’s administration. He signed an executive order his first day back in office eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion efforts

AP Photo/Sophie Bates

Jackson Strong, 9, plays with an interactive section of the “Mississippi Made” exhibit on March 27, 2026, in Jackson, Miss. in the federal government. That, along with a March 2025 executive order, ” Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” have led to signs being changed at federal parks, exhibits being altered or in some cases removed, and military bases being renamed.

Part of the Republican administration’s preparations to celebrate the 250th anniversary have included putting pressure on federal institutions, including the Smithsonian, to tell a version of history that is less focused on discrimination and episodes of racial violence.

In Mississippi, a temporary exhibit created specifically for the commemoration — Mississippi Made — fills a space that is routinely changed to entice visitors to return. But it is housed in a space where achievement is intertwined with the state’s

dark past involving Native Americans, enslaved people and the Civil Rights era.

Nan Prince, director of collections for the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, said the instructions were simple from scholars, politicians, staff members, and civic and civil rights groups when the museums were being conceived and built.

“Don’t brush over anything, don’t whitewash anything,” she said. “Just tell the absolute truth.”

‘We weren’t going to hide anything’

Jackson Mayor John Horhn was a state senator when he began pushing for the Civil Rights Museum in 1999. His efforts finally got a boost when Haley Barbour, a former Republican National Committee chairman, became governor.

Plans for the museum eventually were combined with a parallel effort to move the state history museum from the Capitol grounds, with the complex opening in 2017.

The approach to creating a state history museum was the same — tell the full story, beginning with how Native Americans were removed from the land.

“We said at the beginning we weren’t going to hide anything,” Barbour said in an interview, noting that he grew up in an era of segregation. “We weren’t gonna try to justify what was done. That’s what the people wanted — to say, ‘Look, we’re not proud of this, but we’re not going to deny it.’”

Other states have made sure to highlight their diversity in their presentations for the 250th anniversary. The America 250 description for neighboring Alabama includes milestones in the Civil Rights Movement.

Mississippi takes its history headon. Its “America 250 MS” platform says the state’s history mirrors the American story, with the removal of Native Americans making way for slavery and slavery leading to the Civil War, followed by Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era.

Horhn praised the willingness of Mississippi leaders to use the museums to tell the state’s full story.

“We still have issues, we still have a lot of challenges,” he said. “But it’s a demonstration that progress has been made.”

‘It just made me want to weep’ The History Museum opens into a gallery that explores Mississippi’s first people, the Native Americans.

The entrance is dominated by a 500-year-old canoe, a vivid reminder that Native Americans were here

thousands of years before settlers arrived and forced them out, taking the land to begin growing cotton, which was tended by enslaved people.

Across the lobby sits the Civil Rights Museum. The first audio exhibit is abrupt: “We don’t serve your kind,” a menacing voice tells visitors, triggered when they cross the museum threshold.

It is one of several phrases once commonplace in the nation’s segregated past that bombard visitors at the opening to the gallery.

The museum also does not shy away from presenting one of the state’s most infamous racial killings, that of Emmett Till. The 14-year-old was kidnapped, tortured and killed in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman in a rural Mississippi grocery store.

Till’s murder was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

Thousands came to his funeral in Chicago, and his mother, Mamie Till Mobley, insisted on an open casket so the country could see the gruesome state of her son’s body.

At the end of the narrative, by Oprah Winfrey, visitors can see the .45-caliber pistol used to kill the teenager.

Lindsay Ward, 49, cried in the lobby after touring the Civil Rights Museum. Raised in what she described as a sheltered world in Salt Lake City, she said she had not had any exposure to the topics she encountered during her visit — “this heaviness,” as she put it.

Ward, now living in Denver, said she was troubled by how recent some events were.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press. Read the full story on AFRO.com.

June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026 The Afro-American A5

America at 250: A Black journey through history

By AFRO Interns As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, AFRO News takes a look back at the history of Black people in the nation.

While many believe the story of Black people began in the 1600s, there is evidence of Africans in America long before chattel slavery. Take a look below to learn more about Black contributions, challenges overcome and triumphs made in the past 250 years.

1500s

According to the New York Public Library, “Muslims were among the very first Africans to be introduced into the Americas. They arrived as early as 1503 mostly from Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, and Nigeria. Among them were teachers, students, judges, religious and military leaders, pilgrims to Mecca, and traders.”

The National Museum of African American History and Culture reports that “African Muslims were an integral part of creating America from mapping its borders to fighting against British rule.

Muslims first came to North America in the 1500s as part of colonial expeditions.”

1600s

The 1600s marked a turning point in American history as the institution of slavery became increasingly important to the economy of Britain’s North American colonies. Throughout the century, colonial governments enacted laws that transformed temporary servitude into a hereditary system of racial slavery. By the end of the 1600s, the National Library of Medicine reports that 16,394 enslaved Africans lived and worked in the colonies.

Not all were enslaved, however. Around 101 free Africans and African-Americans lived in Northampton County, Va., 53 of whom were male and 48 female, according to the Encyclopedia

of Virginia. As colonial leaders promoted ideals of liberty and self-government, enslaved Africans remained excluded from those rights, creating contradictions that would shape the nation’s future debates over freedom and equality.

• 1619: A Dutch ship with 20 enslaved Africans arrives in Jamestown, Va. • 1662: Virginia rules that a child’s enslaved status would follow the status of the mother.

• 1669: Passed by the Virginia General Assembly, the Casual Killing Act determined that the murder of a slave by their master was not a felony, further establishing slaves as property.

• 1672: The Royal African Company, which transported more enslaved people to the Americas than any other institution in history, is chartered

by England’s King Charles II.

1700s

During the 1700s, the Black population in the colonies grew as the Transatlantic Slave Trade expanded. Most remained enslaved and worked on plantations, particularly in the Southern colonies.

The American Revolution brought opportunities and uncertainties for Black people. Both the British and colonial forces recruited enslaved men through promising freedom in exchange for military service. Thousands of enslaved people sought liberty by joining British forces after Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation of 1775 offered freedom to enslaved men who escaped rebel owners. Some of those peoples were taken by the British to East Florida, Jamaica and St. Lucia, or directly to the British Isles.

By the century’s end 706,514 Black people were enslaved according to the National Library of Medicine. However, free Black communities developed in cities such as Boston, where some owned businesses, property and skilled trades despite restrictive laws and social barriers. Black literature was also thriving with Briton Hammon and Phillis Wheatley

Photo courtesy of African American Registry

According to the National Park Service, “Juan Garrido a.k.a ‘Handsome John’ was an free African conquistador who worked alongside Ponce de Leon for thirteen years.”

He was born on the African West Coast around 1487 and was an integral part of exploration in Florida in the early 1500s.

Photo courtesy of BlackPressUSA

Estevanico, also known as “Mustafa Zemmouri,” “Black Stephen” or “Esteban the Moor,” is recorded into history as a member of an April 1528 Spanish expedition. Though he was enslaved, he joined a group of 300 men who arrived near what is now called Tampa Bay, Fla. both publishing works.

• 1738: Fort Mose, Fla., is established by freedom seekers, considered to be the first permanent Black American settlement in the Americas.

• 1739: The Stono Rebellion starts near the banks of the Stono River in Charleston, S.C., with 60 slaves having the goal of reaching St. Augustine, Fla., where the Spanish were offering freedom to any fugitive slave.

• 1760: Briton Hammon publishes the first narrative of an enslaved person entitled “A Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings and Surprising Deliverance of Briton Hammon.”

• 1770: Crispus Attucks becomes the first death in the Boston Massacre, a precursor to the American Revolution.

• 1773: Phillis Wheatley with her “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral” becomes the first Black American woman to publish a collection of poetry.

• 1775: Black people are permitted to enlist in the army during the American Revolution.

• 1780: The Free African Union Society is founded as the first cultural organization established by Black people in Rhode Island.

• 1781: James Armistead spies on the British Army for the Marquis de Lafayette, providing intelligence that British Gen. Lord Charles Cornwallis was sending 10,000 troops from Portsmouth, Va., to Yorktown, Va. • 1787: Absalom Jones and Richard Allen establish the Free African Society, a mutual aid society for Black Americans in Philadelphia.

• 1791: The Haitian Revolution begins in Haiti, with enslaved peoples fighting the French for independence.

• 1794: Mother Bethel AME Church is founded by Richard Allen in Philadelphia, becoming the first African Methodist Episcopal church in the country.

1800s

The 19th century was defined by the struggle over slavery and the growing demand for

Library of Congress

Shown here, Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. freedom. By 1860, around 4 million Black people were enslaved and approximately 500,000 were free, according to the National Library of Medicine. Enslaved people resisted through everyday acts of defiance, escapes on the Underground Railroad and organized rebellions, including Nat Turner’s revolt in 1831.

Black people played a crucial role in the Civil War, with nearly 180,000 Black soldiers serving in the Union Army. Following emancipation, Reconstruction brought unprecedented political participation as Black people voted, held public office on the national level and helped rewrite state constitutions. During this period, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like Lincoln University were established and began to expand educational opportunities.

Inventors, such as Elijah McCoy demonstrated the growing contributions of Black Americans to science and industry. According to the Brookings Institution, in Washington, Maine, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Indiana, Black people had a higher rate of obtaining patents than white people during the Golden Age of Invention within the century.

• 1804: The Haitian Revolution ends, becoming the only slave nation to successfully revolt,

leading many to fear the possibility of a successful Black revolution in the United States.

• 1808: Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves is passed by Congress banning slave trading between nations, but not domestically.

• 1811: The German Coast Uprising becomes the largest ever slave revolt in the United States on the northwest coast of New Orleans with approximately 400 to 500 enslaved involved.

• 1827: Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm establish “Freedom’s Journal,” the first African-American owned and operated newspaper in the United States. The publication marks the start of the Black Press in America.

• 1831: Nat Turner and about 75 Black people revolt, killing around 60 white people in two days, leading to the strengthening of Black codes in many states.

• 1837: The Institute for Colored Youth (now Cheyney University) is founded in Cheyney, Penn., becoming the first HBCU. • 1853: The potato chip is invented by George Crum.

• 1847: Frederick Douglass publishes “The North Star,” his first antislavery newspaper Continued on A6

A6 The Afro-American June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026

Black History Continued from A5 • 1856: The first Black owned and operated historically Black college or university (HBCU), Wilberforce University, is established in Ohio.

• 1857: The Dred Scott decision counts enslaved peoples as property, had no rights and were not citizens of the United States.

• 1861-1865: The Civil War breaks out due to issues over slavery, leading to emancipation of enslaved peoples.

• 1863: 54th Massachusetts Regiment, one of the first Black regiments to serve in the U.S. Civil War, rides out to Battery Wagner, S.C., to save the 10th Connecticut Regiment.

• 1865: 13th amendment is passed through Congress, outlawing slavery in the United States.

• 1867: Alabama State University, Barber-Scotia College, Fayetteville State University, Howard University, Johnson C. Smith University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, St. Augustine’s University and Talladega College are all founded.

• 1870: Joseph H. Rainey becomes the first Black congressman in the House of Representatives, elected from South Carolina.

• 1870: Hiram Revels of Mississippi becomes the first African-American elected to serve in Congress as a senator.

• 1871: The Fisk Jubilee Singers are established, introducing

Library of Congress

In this photograph dated between 1863-1865, an unidentified soldier in Union uniform poses with his wife and daughters. In May 1863, U.S. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton issued General Order No. 143 creating the Bureau of U. S. Colored Troops. This image was found in Cecil County, Md. Seven U.S.C.T. regiments raised in Maryland. the world to Negro spirituals. The group often traveled abroad, entertaining European monarchs.

• 1871: Henry Harding, a formerly enslaved man, owns and manages one of the most popular hotels in Nashville Tenn., and has built a net worth of $35,000.

• 1872: Elijah McCoy receives a patent for his invention of the oil-drip cup.

• 1874: Beaufort, S.C., elects Robert Smalls to serve in the United States Congress, where

he would serve five consecutive terms.

• 1881: Tuskegee University is founded in Tuskegee, Ala., with Booker T. Washington named the first president.

• 1887: Mound Bayou is founded as an all-Black town and safe haven in the Yazoo Delta in northwest Mississippi by 12 pioneers from Davis Bend.

• 1892: John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man, establishes the AFRO-American Newspaper with $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy.

• 1893: Daniel Hale Williams establishes the first Blackowned hospital in America, and performs the world’s first successful heart surgery.

• 1895: W.E.B. DuBois, becomes the first Black Ph.D. recipient from Harvard.

• 1897: Alfred Cralle receives a patent for the first ice cream scoop.

• 1896: Plessy v. Ferguson decision leads to the legal segregation of Black and white people in the United States.

1900s

Courtesy of National Park Service

Daniel Hale Williams is remembered as the pioneering physician who created the first Black-owned hospital in America and completed the world’s first successful open heart surgery on a human being.

The early 1900s saw Black people organize to challenge segregation, racial violence and economic inequality. Organizations such as the NAACP, founded in 1909, and the National Urban League became leading advocates for civil rights and social advancement.

Photo courtesy of AFRO Archives / Afro Charities

The Fisk Jubilee Singers are known for performing Negro Spirituals all over the world.

The Great Migration brought millions of African-Americans from the rural South to cities in the North and West, reshaping American demographics and creating new political and cultural centers.

The century also birthed the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, which led to landmark victories including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black Americans made significant gains in education, business and government while transforming American culture through the Harlem Renaissance, jazz, literature and sports. Leaders such as Thurgood Marshall helped advance legal and social equality, leaving a lasting impact through legislation.

• 1905: A group of prominent Black intellectuals led by W.E.B. Du Bois meets near Niagara Falls, to form an organization calling for civil and political rights for AfricanAmericans, becoming the Niagara Movement.

• 1906: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. The fraternity, which is the only Black Greek-letter organization established at an Ivy League institution, was created in response to racial segregation and social isolation at Cornell.

• 1908: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is founded at Howard University in Washington D.C. Notable members include Kamala Harris, Coretta Scott King, Alicia Keys and many more.

• 1908: The Springfield Race Riot occurs in Springfield, Ill., when a mob of 5,000 white people attack a thriving Black community, lynching two people and destroying many homes and businesses.

• 1908: Thurgood Marshall is born on July 2 in Baltimore and later becomes the first Black Supreme Court Justice.

• 1909: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is created by a diverse group of activists including W.E.B Du Bois and Ida B. Wells.

• 1910: The First Great Migration begins in which Black people start migrating to northern and midwestern

cities like New York City and Chicago.

• 1911: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is founded at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. Notable members include Colin Kaepernick, Wilt Chamberlain and Cedric The Entertainment.

• 1911: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is founded at Howard University in Washington D.C. Notable members include Jesse Jackson, Michael Jordan and Langston Hughes.

• 1913: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is founded at Howard University in Washington D.C. That same year, on March 13, the women participate in the Women Suffrage Procession of D.C. to fight for women’s right to vote.

• 1914: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is founded at Howard University in Washington D.C. Notable members include John Lewis, Al Roker and Blair Underwood.

• 1914: Garrett Morgan patents the safety hood and gas mask, designed to protect firefighters from inhaling thick smoke.

• 1914: The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) is established

by Marcus Garvey in Kingston, Jamaica, to work for the general uplift of Africans worldwide with a “Back to Africa” campaign for Black Americans.

• 1915: The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH) was founded in Chicago on Sept. 9, 1915, during the National Half Century Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee, as the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) by Carter G. Woodson, William B. Hartgrove, George Cleveland Hall, Alexander L. Jackson and James E. Stamps.

• 1918: The Harlem Renaissance begins, marking a nearly two decade long period of intellectual and cultural movement celebrating African-American art, music and literature.

• 1920: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Notable members include Zora Neale Hurston, Sheryl Underwood and Chaka Khan.

• 1922: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is founded at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. Notable members include MC Lyte, Hattie McDaniel and Fantasia.

• 1923: Garret A. Morgan receives a patent for the traffic light.

• 1925: Malcolm Little, later known as Malcolm X, a prominent civil rights leader, is born on May 19 in Omaha, Neb. • 1926: Carter G. Woodson establishes Negro History Week in the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

• 1936: Jesse Owens wins gold in all four of his events in the 1936 Olympics, breaking world records in the process.

• 1946: Vivien Thomas develops an atrial septectomy to improve blood circulation.

Continued on A7

June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026 The Afro-American A7

Black History Continued from A6 • 1950: Gwendolyn Brooks becomes the first AfricanAmerican Pulitzer winner for “Annie Allen.”

• 1950: Ralph J. Bunche becomes the first Black person to win a Nobel Prize in Peace for his work as mediator in Palestine in 1948-1949.

• 1954: In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.

• 1959: Lorraine Hansberry became the first AfricanAmerican woman to have a show, “A Raisin in the Sun” on Broadway.

• 1963: Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. is founded on the campus of Morgan State College (Now Morgan State University) in Baltimore. Created during the Civil Rights Movement, the fraternity is the youngest Divine Nine organization.

• 1963: The historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom is led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin.

• 1964: Sidney Poitier becomes the first African-American to win an Oscar.

• 1966: The Black Panther Party for Self Defense is founded in Oakland, Calif., by young political activists Huey Newton and Bobby Seale.

• 1968: At the Mexico City Olympic Games, after winning gold and bronze medals in the 200 meter race, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their fists in a Black Power salute to protest racial injustice in America.

• 1969: The Stonewall Uprising, a series of protests by the LGBTQ+ community in response to discrimination and harassment from police in New York City, is headed by Marsha P. Johnson.

• 1969: Gordon Parks releases “The Learning Tree,” becoming the first film directed by a Black American for a well known Hollywood film studio.

• 1969: Marie Van Brittan Brown receives a patent for the modern home security system.

AP Photo

AP Photo

Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos raise their fists in a Black Power salute at 1968 Olympic Games.

• 1970s: Hip Hop music is created in New York, featuring DJs and emcees.

• 1971: The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is founded with 13 founding members to represent the legislative concerns of Black Americans.

• 1983: Alice Walker becomes the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for “The Color Purple.”

• 1989: Lonnie Johnson invents and receives a patent for his invention of the Super Soaker water gun.

• 1990: “Paris Is Burning,” a documentary filmed over seven years about Harlem, N.Y., queer life and ballroom culture is released to the public.

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Toni Morrison, author of books such as “Song of Solomon” and “Beloved,” wins the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

World Telegram & Sun photo by O. Fernandez / Library of Congress

Bayard Rustin, deputy director of the March on Washington (left) and Cleveland Robinson, chairman of the March’s Administrative Committee, pose in front of 170 W 130 St. in Harlem, N.Y., the national headquarters for the historic campaign, on Aug. 7, 1963.

Then-Sen. Barack Obama is selected as the first AfricanAmerican president of the United States in November 2008.

• 1993: Novelist Toni Morrison becomes the first Black American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

2000s

The 2000s have been marked by both historic achievements and continued efforts to address inequality. Black Americans continue to expand their influence in government, business, science and education while advocating for reforms related to voting rights, criminal justice and economic opportunity.

Black excellence has also been evident across sports, arts and entertainment. Athletes such as Venus Williams and Lewis Hamilton have redefined their respective sports. Black Artists with the likes of Halle Berry, filmmakers like Spike Lee and scientists in the form of Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett have shaped global culture and perspectives about Black Americans. At the same time, movements such as Black Lives Matter have brought the issue of racial justice back to the forefront of the American mind.

• 2000: Tennis player Venus Williams is the first AfricanAmerican since Althea Gibson to win the singles championship at Wimbledon since 1958.

• 2000: Spike Lee shifts his cinematography approach by using digital video cameras for his film “Bamboozled.”

• 2001: General Colin Powell becomes the first AfricanAmerican to serve as U.S. Secretary of State.

• 2002: Denzel Washington wins the Academy Award for best leading actor in “Training Day.” • 2002: Halle Berry becomes the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.

• 2002: Vonetta Flowers wins the gold medal in the women’s bobsled event, becoming the first African-American to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

• 2003: The U.S. Supreme court issues ruling on affirmative action in education, upholding the use of race in collegiate admissions policies.

• 2004: Barack Obama becomes the third African-American to be elected to the U.S. senate after Reconstruction.

• 2005: Condoleezza Rice becomes the first AfricanAmerican woman to hold the post as U.S. Secretary of State.

• 2007: Grandmaster Flash and

AP Photo/Evan Agostini

In 2016, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick causes an uproar when he begins taking a knee during the singing of the National Anthem to protest racial injustice. the Furious Five become the first hip hop act inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

• 2008: Barack Obama is elected as president of the United States, becoming the first African-American elected to serve in the role.

• 2009: Eric Holder serves as U.S. Attorney General, marking the first African-American to hold that title.

• 2009: Rapper Jay Z surpasses Elvis Presley’s Billboard magazine record for the most No. 1 albums by a solo artist.

• 2010: Roslyn M. Brock is elected at the age of 44 as chairman of the NAACP following Julian Bond.

• 2013: The Black Lives Matter movement starts due to the verdict of not guilty in the murder of Trayvon Martin.

• 2016: The National Museum of African American History and Culture opens to the public in Washington D.C. • 2016: Colin Kaepernick kneels during the National Anthem in protest of racial injustice and police brutality.

• 2020: Mass protests begin as a

demand to end police brutality due to the murder of George Floyd.

• 2020: Kizzmekia Corbett and her team at the National Institutions of Health design the immunological sequence for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

• 2021: During the Tokyo Olympics, athletes use t-shirts, kneeling and podium gestures to advocate for racial justice.

• 2022: Ketanji Brown Jackson becomes first the Black woman elected to the U.S. Supreme Court.

• 2023: Maryland swears in the state’s first Black governor, Wes Moore.

• 2024: Simone Biles becomes the most decorated gymnast in history at the Paris Olympic Games.

• 2025: Ryan Coogler directs and produces “Sinners,” a film that goes on to become the most Oscar-nominated film of all time.

• 2026: Laila Edwards becomes the first Black woman to represent Team USA in hockey at the Milan Olympic Games, scoring two goals.

AP Photo/Ed Andrieski

Vonetta Flowers is the first African-American to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

A8 The Afro-American June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026

WASHINGTON AREA

Capital Pride Parade draws thousands to D.C. streets

By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO On a beautiful, sun-drenched afternoon in Washington, D.C., thousands of members of the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters filled the streets for the annual Capital Pride Parade.

Hosted by the Capital Pride Alliance, the June 20 event’s message served as a clarion call to those who uplift achievements made by the gay community and seek to improve their visibility in

AFRO Photo / D. Kevin McNeir

George Harris, a young, gay Black man from the District, enjoys the sights and sounds of his first Capital Pride Parade on June 20,2026, in Northwest Washington, D.C.

American society.

Native Washingtonian Monroe Alise, who served as one of the parade’s grand marshals, said the theme of the event, “Exist. Resist.

Have the Audacity!” has long been her personal mantra.

“Because of the current political climate of our country and the world, this year feels different, but that hasn’t stopped us from celebrating pride and protesting even louder for equal rights,” Alise told the AFRO. Alise, a respected transgender advocate known for using storytelling to advance conversations about LGBTQ+ health equity, social justice and self-discovery, has built a digital series, “I’m CLOCKABLE,” that has garnered more than 6 million views in a recent 90-day period.

“We’ve got to get back to our roots and honor our ancestors who paved the way for us today,” Alise said. “As a transgender woman, I know the only way to confront the stereotypes and caricatures about people like me is to confront the hatred and propaganda head on.

People tend to believe what they hear until they have the opportunity to see us, to hear us, to meet and engage with us. It’s all about increasing our visibility.”

Alise emphasized the importance of loving oneself. For her that means embracing both her ethnicity and her identity.

“I’m a Black, transgender woman born and raised in D.C., and I wear each part of me proudly and boldly,” Alise said. “We would be a better nation – a better world – if people would stop trying to

AFRO Photo/ D. Kevin McNeir

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies filled the streets of Washington, D.C., for the festive Capital Pride Parade on June 20. segregate the queer community and instead embrace us and highlight our differences.”

Residents express their thoughts about pride Mother-daughter duo Marla Tate, 52, and Aunjellia Tate, 29, said the Pride Parade illustrates the benefits that come with self-love.

“My mom has been gay all of her life and I’m here to show her, and the world, that I love every part of who she is and who she represents,” Aunjellia Tate said. “I don’t care what color of the rainbow flag she chooses, I’m proud to be her daughter just the same.”

Marla Tate said while she can’t say how many times she’s joined the festivities, she always feels better after attending the parade.

“I’m excited as always, but I’m also glad to see more police officers out here to keep us safe,” she said. “We’ve seen a dangerous surge in violence aimed at members of our community, especially transgenders. We need greater protection and stronger laws so we don’t continue to be victimized simply because of our sexual orientation and the color of our skin.”

George Harris, 35, a gay Black man who lives in the District, said he was initially unaware of the

Pride Parade, but while walking in the vicinity he was compelled to investigate the source of the celebratory sounds.

“This is my first time attending the parade and it’s been more than I could have imagined,” he said. “Just being able to gather together as a community openly and safely to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride proves we’ve come a long way in America. But there’s still a lot more work to be done.”

“I’d feel a lot better if the president would stop acting like he supports gay rights when it’s clear that he doesn’t,” said Harris.

“Talk is cheap.”

Documentary Film Festival returns to D.C. with lineup of untold Black stories

By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO Questions on everything from the story behind the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was murdered in 1968, to what it was like to be a child within the Black Panther Party were addressed June 11–14, during the fourth annual DC/ DOX Film Festival.

Festival co-founder and director Sky Sitney said this year’s festival offered something for everyone, with 64 features and 49 shorts from 32 countries, and 17 premieres.

“At a moment when the world might feel overwhelming and divided, these films offered space to reflect, connect and engage with the urgent questions shaping our lives,” Sitney said.

Sitney said this year’s documentaries were chosen

with an eye toward reminding viewers of the challenges and humanity that they collectively share.

“This year’s slate was as expansive as it was deeply personal with stories of courage, creativity, resilience and truth – hidden gems waiting to be discovered,” Sitney said.

“It was a lineup that reminded us of the singular power of documentary film to bring people together in pursuit of deeper understanding.”

The festival’s screenings included a provocative conversation with Academy Award-winning director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, who directed one of this year’s most talked-about documentaries.

In “Earth, Wind and Fire (To Be Celestial vs That’s the Weight of the World,” Questlove honored and explored

what some believe to be the most beloved and most enigmatic band. Other documentaries that received rave reviews included “The Lorraine,” referring to the historic motel in Memphis, Tenn., where Dr. King was murdered and “Soul Patrol,” a special on the Vietnam War’s first all-Black special operations team.

“Black Zombie,” also received recognition. The film celebrates Haitian Vodou while honoring Haiti as the only nation forged through a successful slave uprising.

“Chocolate,” a lyrical portrait of Black Washington, D.C., showcased the untold stories of those who have fought back against gentrification and “When the Revolution Doesn’t Come,” focused on the trials and triumphs experienced by children of the most well-known leaders of the

Black Panther Party.

Sitney said choosing the documentaries for this year’s festival required the Herculean efforts of a team of directors, producers and others with whom she was honored to work.

“We traveled thousands of miles and put in only a few less hours to find extraordinary films – stories that clearly resonated with everyone and illustrated those characteristics that make us all part of the human family,” Sitney said.

As a bonus, after each documentary was screened, a panel discussion was held which featured many of the directors, each of whom was eager to talk about his or her film.

“We had nearly 95 percent of the directors or someone significant who was either in or related to the documentary,

Photo Courtesy DC/DOX

Children who were born and raised as part of the Black Panther Party in the 1970s are sharing their thoughts, 50 years later, about the challenges and contradictions they faced in a new documentary, “When the Revolution Doesn’t Come.”

The documentary was shown during the DC/DOX Film Festival, June 11 - 14, in Washington, D.C.

Still Courtesy of Michael Ochs Archives

The music of Earth, Wind and Fire continues to uplift fans’ consciousness and inspire people to be their best selves. And in a new documentary, directed by filmmaker and musicologist “Questlove,” their roots and development are explored and shared for all to see. The film was presented to a standing-room-only audience in Washington, D.C., during the recent DC/DOX Film Festival. sometimes both, on hand to discuss their work with selected moderators,” Sitney said.

“Then, we opened the floor for questions. That’s when things really got interesting.”

Sitney said changing algorithms and other trends in society have made it more difficult to access and explore the kinds of documentaries that were showcased this year.

“There was no overarching theme under which this year’s documentaries fell,” Sitney said. “But I believe each film provided an opportunity for viewers to be exposed to things, to issues, to people, that they may have known very little about – stories they may not have known they were missing out on at all until seeing the documentaries we presented.”

7

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Past 7 days

2026 Total as of 6/24

June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026 The Afro-American A9

Various locations host D.C. Black Yacht Fest during Juneteenth weekend

By Patricia McDougall Special to the AFRO The D.C. Black Yacht Fest held a four-day celebration from June 18-21 at various locations in Washington, D.C., including the Wharf DC and Georgetown areas. The event showcased fashion, artists, culture, a black-tie event and closed out with The Afterglow: Poolside Day Party, which was held at The Ven at Embassy Row. The event’s highlight took place in Georgetown at The Yacht Social: Brunch and Day Party, held at Nick’s Riverside Grill, followed by the Yacht Celebration on the Potomac.

All AFRO Photos/ Patricia McDougall

Amari Walton, founder of Rose Bar, gives out roses at the Juneteenth DC Black Yacht Fest.

Brittany McCray shows off on the Blue Carpet at the Juneteenth DC Black Yacht Fest.

Carmen Felder (left) and Santana Moss, former American football player, celebrate Juneteenth at The Gathering Spot in Washington, D.C.

Award-Winning violinist and guitarist, Heru Peacock, entertains the crowd.

Chris Bivens (left) and Warren Morris share a moment.

Danielle Smith (left), Adedoyin Abidoye, Gernae Bingham and Zaria Edmonds serve as models for the event.

Nandi Swinson (left) with Auran Shereef at Nick’s Riverside Grill in Georgetown.

Di-Jae Smith enjoying the party.

Deborah Williams makes an appearance at the Juneteenth D.C. Black Yacht Fest.

Shown here, Gokul Kannan (left), Dr. Bruno Manzali and Nandi Walcott.

Lauren Arnold arrives in her best threads.

Brandon McCray (center), CEO and founder of DC Black Yacht Fest, celebrates the inaugural event with friends Jason Alexander (left), Lexi Lebanon, Kierra Kyle, Brittany Tierra, Kamille Bundy, Cierra Major and Bianca Stacey in the ribbon cutting.

Ms. Universal Petite 2025, Angelic Casheree, enjoys the event.

To purchase this digital photo page or photos contact editor@afro.com

A10 The Afro-American June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026

Courtesy photos

Winners of the 2026 Maryland midterm primary election are thanking voters for taking to the polls on June 23. Shown here, Aisha Braveboy(left) nominee in the race for executive of Prince George’s County, with Julian Jones (center) and Vanessa Atterbeary (right) who also won the nomination for county executive in Baltimore and Howard County, respectively.

AFRO’s endorsed candidates win big in midterm primary election

By Briannia Robinson and Morgan Carpenter AFRO Interns brobinson@afro.com mcarpenter@afro.com Maryland voters had their say in a plethora of political races for the 2026 primary election on June 23.

Many AFRO-endorsed candidates won their races across the state and in Washington, D.C. Primary election day saw low turnout with only 16 percent of eligible voters participating, according to the State Board of Elections.

Take a look below at some of the results for the primary election races.

Maryland Governor

Wes Moore was endorsed by the AFRO for Maryland Governor. He won his primary race for reelection with 117,088 votes during the early voting period and another 205,918 on June 23.

Maryland Attorney General

The Democratic nominee for Maryland Attorney General is incumbent Anthony G. Brown, who was first elected to the office in 2023. Brown earned 372,424 votes, compared to Republican nominee James B. Rutledge, who had earned 135,072 for this race as of 1 p.m. on June 24.

Maryland Comptroller

Comptroller Brooke Elizabeth Lierman has likely secured her reelection, winning the primary race with 368,227 votes.

Congressional Districts House of Representatives

District Two AFRO-endorsed candidate John “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr. won the primary race with 39,644 votes while Clint Spellman Jr. trailed with 7,716 votes.

District Four Glenn F. Ivey won his primary race with 34,918 votes or 76.52 percent of all ballots cast. Jakeya Johnson was the next closest candidate with 5,809 votes.

District Five Candidate Adrian Boafo secured the Democratic nomination in his district after garnering 21,804 votes.

Quincy Bareebe followed behind as the closest competitor with 12,319 votes.

District 7 Longtime Congressman Kweisi

Mfume of District 7 won his race with 38,757 votes, compared to Mark S. Conway Jr. with only 13,617 votes.

Baltimore County State’s Attorney

The Democratic primary for Baltimore County State’s Attorney goes to Sarah David. David earned 28,132 votes, compared to Lauren Lipscomb’s 11,033 and Scott Shellenberger’s 14,460.

Baltimore, Howard and Prince George’s County Executive

Voters selected Julian Jones as the Democratic nominee for Baltimore County executive. Jones earned 22,584 votes, or 40.89 percent of all ballots cast against Izzy Patoka who only garnered 14,640 votes. If Jones wins his race in November, he will be the first Black person to lead Baltimore County as executive.

Incumbent Aisha Braveboy emerged as the top Democratic nominee for executive of Prince George’s County; Vanessa Atterbeary did the same in Howard County.

Baltimore County Sheriff

Clyde E. Boatwright was endorsed

by AFRO News for Baltimore County Sheriff and won his race to become the Democratic nominee.

Boatwright earned 28,013 votes, William Merrill III earned 9,350 votes and Adam Schuster earned 11,024 votes.

Baltimore City Register of Wills

The AFRO endorsed Belinda Conaway for Baltimore City Register of Wills and she came out on top. Conaway earned 23,816 votes compared to Shanai Dunmore’s 17,407 votes.

Baltimore City Sherriff

The AFRO backed Sabrina TappHarper with an endorsement for Baltimore City Sheriff. Tapp-Harper earned 24,753 votes in the primary election to Sam Cogen who finished with 19,806 of the votes.

Baltimore City State’s Attorney The primary race for Baltimore City State’s Attorney was won by Ivan J. Bates, the incumbent who ran unopposed. Bates earned 39,994 votes.

Judge of the Circuit Court

Anne Arundel County - Circuit 5 The AFRO endorsed two

candidates, Sidney A. Butcher and Ginina A. Jackson-Stevenson for Judge of the Circuit Court in Anne Arundel County. Voters could choose up to two names for this primary race. Ginina A. Jackson-Stevenson won the race earning 22,184 total votes and Sidney A. Butcher followed with 16,741 total votes. All other candidates received fewer than 15,000 votes as of June 24 at 1 p.m.

Montgomery County - Circuit 6 In the primary race for Judge of the Circuit Court in Montgomery County both Democrat and Republican voters could choose up to four candidates. Sharon V. Burrell won with a total of 72,683 votes, Catherine H. McQueen followed with a total of 70,737 votes, Victor M. Del Pino garnered 63,104 votes and James J. Dietrich came in with a total of 61,215 votes as of June 24.

D.C. Mayor

The AFRO endorsed Janeese Lewis George for D.C. Mayor and on June 18 her top opponent, Kenyan McDuffie, conceded to her.

Maryland State Senate

Below is a list of AFRO-endorsed candidates who won nominations in their respective races in the Maryland State Legislature.

This is not a full list of results, but rather a look at the endorsed candidates who successfully crossed the finish line to earn a nomination from Democrats in the state.

District 8

Senate - Carl Jackson House - Kim L. Ross

District 10

Photo courtesy of Flickr / Maryland Office of the Governor, Wes Moore

Democratic voters are looking to see Gov. Wes Moore serve another term, with more than 300,000 votes going to him in the primary election on June 23.

District 20

Senate - Will Smith House - Lorig Charkoudian, David Moon, Jheanelle K. Wilkins

District 39

House - Greg Wims, Gabriel Acevero

District 40

District 21

Senate - Antonio Hayes House - Marlon D. Amprey, Tiffany Welch, Melissa Wells

District 22

District 41

House- Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk Senate - Alonzo T. Washington House - Ashanti Martinez

District 23

Senate - Malcolm Ruff House - S. I. “Sandy” Rosenberg, Sean A. Stinnett

Senate - Ron Watson House - Marvin E. Holmes Jr., Keenon James, Kym Taylor

District 43

District 24

House - Regina T. Boyce, Elizabeth Embry

Senate - Tiffany Alston House - Derrick L. Coley, Andrea Fletcher Harrison

District 25

Senate - Nick Charles

Senate - Mary Washington

District 43A

District 44

Senate - Charles E. Sydnor III

District 44B

House - Aletheia McCaskill, Sheila Ruth

Senate - Ben Brooks House - Jennifer White Holland, Robin Harvey, N. Scott Phillips

District 26

District 11

District 27

Senate - Cory V. McCray House - Jackie Addison, Caylin Young

District 11A

District 27A

District 46

District 12A

District 28

Senate - Shelly L. Hettleman House - Cheryl E. Pasteur

House - Terri Hill, Jessica Feldmark, Matt Post

District 14

Senate - C. Anthony Muse House - Jamila J. Woods House- Kevin M. Harris House - Yonelle Moore Lee

Senate - C. T. Wilson House - Debra Davis, Edith J. Patterson

House - Anne R. Kaiser, Bernice Mireku-North, Matt Post

District 30

District 19

District 32

House - Charlotte Crutchfield, Vaughn Stewart

Senate - Shaneka T. Henson

House - Mike Rogers, Spencer F. Dixon

District 45

Senate - Bill Ferguson House - Luke Clippinger, Mark Edelson, Robbyn Lewis

District 47

Senate - Malcolm Augustine

District 47A

House - Diana M. Fennell, Robert Julian Ivey

District 47B

House - Deni Taveras

June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026 The Afro-American A11

BALTIMORE AREA

Honoring the life and civil rights work of Oliver ‘Pat’ Scott Visual artist and Baltimore Goon Squad member dies at 86

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com

Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Office of the Mayor / J.J. McQueen

Baltimore native Sisqó entertains the crowd on June 21 during Dru Hill’s performance at AFRAM in Druid Hill Park.

AFRAM’s 50th anniversary brings together community, culture and commerce

By Andrew Hall AFRO Intern ahall@afro.com Good vibes, music and food were all highlights of AFRAM’s 50th anniversary celebration. The festival opened on June 19, with Black Baltimoreans and visitors from near and far. Hundreds of thousands of attendees poured into the 745-acre Druid Hill Park on June 19, to not only recognize the Juneteenth holiday but also five decades of Black joy, resilience and creativity.

Crowds flowed through the rows of vendors and food trucks, as some made their way down Community Row and others moved to stake out a spot in front of the main stage.

Attendees enjoyed the shade of trees, or made their own respite from the sun’s rays with tents and umbrellas of every

Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Office of the Mayor / J.J. McQueen

The AFRAM crowd cheers as entertainers hit the main stage. size as they relaxed in lawn chairs and on blankets.

Mecca Verdell told the AFRO that she felt compelled to attend the festival despite the heat.

“The ancestors pulled me out of bed … so I could be out here with my people,” she said. “When I learned that so many families were coming to celebrate their family reunions

here from different cities it made me feel seen because I moved here at 12 and this place really is home and has created so many families for me, so I had to come out here to see who I could find.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he first attended AFRAM when he was a teen and has been to many installments of the event over the years.

“I’ve always found this festival to be a place of love and support, and Baltimore has always represented that for me,” Moore told the AFRO. He likened the three-day festival to a family reunion for Baltimoreans and those from the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.

Continued on A12

Ravens invest in ending local gun violence

By Andrew Hall AFRO Intern ahall@afro.com On June 16, the Ravens announced a $1 million investment to six organizations, locally and nationally, whose mission is to stop gun violence through prevention, crisis response and long-term recovery. The commitment bolsters current infrastructure in Baltimore, while

supporting initiatives that can create widespread solutions.

The announcement coincided with Baltimore Together: A Violence Summit, which was at M&T Bank Stadium and reflects the Ravens’ continued philanthropic efforts.

“Reducing gun violence is some of the most impactful work being done across our nation. It is life-saving work, and the progress here in Baltimore has been simply phenomenal,”

AP Photos / Nick Wass

Sashi Brown serves as president of the Baltimore Ravens.

said Ravens President Sashi Brown in a press release from the team. “The Ravens have a platform and a responsibility to shine a light on the frontline organizations driving meaningful change. We are proud to support partners who are advancing prevention, promoting healing and expanding opportunities for young people and families in Baltimore and beyond.

The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) will use the funding to expand its Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), with technical assistance from the University of Pennsylvania’s crime and justice lab. Backed by research, the model has already seen major success, reducing shootings and homicides by one-third in Baltimore’s western district.

“I want to thank the Ravens for their commitment to Baltimore. This investment will support the Group Violence Reduction Strategy and help us build on the progress we have seen reducing homicides and nonfatal shootings to historic lows,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott stated. “The Ravens truly are Baltimore’s team, and

continue to show up for our city day in and day out.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Healing Through Storytelling plans to use the investment to expand its “This Is My Story (TIMS)” initiative through its trauma units and to create a paid leadership program, “Champions for Change.” The fellowship will use healing practices, storytelling and advocacy to support youth across Baltimore that have been affected by violence.

“Gun violence is a public health crisis, and solving it requires partners willing to invest in prevention, not just respond to the aftermath. The Ravens’ commitment allows us to expand evidence-based, community-centered work that meets this crisis where it begins,” explained Joseph V. Sakran, executive vice chair of surgery for Johns Hopkins Medicine. “This kind of leadership from one of Baltimore’s most beloved institutions sends a powerful message: preventing gun violence is everyone’s responsibility, and it’s work Read more on AFRO.com

One of Robert Scott’s earliest memories of his late father came on a drive home to Edmondson Village after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Outside the car, he and his brother saw looters, fires and the National Guard. Inside, his dad, Oliver Patrick “Pat” Scott, explained what had led to unrest.

Decades later, Robert Scott still sees that moment as emblematic of his father— an artist, educator and civil rights activist who spent his life helping shape Baltimore.

“When people ask me about him, I tell them that my father was a member of a group of civil rights pioneers that desegregated many of the services and facilities in the state of Maryland,” said Robert Scott. “That’s what I say, but he wanted to be remembered as an artist.”

Pat Scott, 86, died peacefully in his Zephyrhills, Fla., home on May 3. The Arkansas native, who grew up in West Baltimore, was the last surviving member of the Goon Squad, an informal collective of pastors, educators, attorneys and community leaders who began fighting for equality in Baltimore during the 1960s. The group included local civil rights giants like Parren J. Mitchell, the first Black member of Congress from Maryland; and Judge Joseph C. Howard, the first Black District Court judge in Maryland.

Robert Scott recalled that one of the Goon Squad’s first efforts involved the integration of Gwynn Oaks Park in 1963.

“By the time I was about 5 years old, I had fond memories of going to Gwynn Oaks Park,” said Robert Scott. “I had no idea that just the year before they were picketing. It was like somewhere in the Deep South right there in the Woodlawn area, where White folks didn’t want Black folks to go to the park. I was raised knowing that I was going to devote my life in service to Black people.”

During his time with the Goon Squad, Pat Scott began working in political organizing, a pursuit he would continue throughout his life. He supported campaign strategy and produced photography, signage and graphic design work for candidates across Maryland’s political landscape, including figures such as Mitchell, Howard, Verna L. Jones-Rodwell and former Baltimore State’s Attorney Patricia Jessamy.

Though his life touched activism, politics, education and mentorship, Pat Scott was known by many as an artist.

He earned a bachelor’s degree

3

Last 7 Days

Photo courtesy of Robert Scott

Friends and family are still mourning the May 3 death of Oliver Patrick “Pat” Scott, who was a member of the Baltimore Goon Squad, an informal group of pastors, attorneys, educators and community leaders who played a central role advancing equality and racial justice in the city. in fine arts and art education from then-Morgan State College and pursued additional studies in graphic design, photography and film criticism at The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and Johns Hopkins University. He became known for his sculptures, abstract paintings, portraits and charcoal drawings.

For nearly two decades, Pat Scott served as an art professor, director of the Murphy Fine Arts Center and chair of the Art Department at Morgan State University (MSU).

Burney J. Hollis, Board of Regents member and professor emeritus at Morgan State University, recognized Pat Scott as one of the most important 20th-century leaders of the historically Black university’s art program.

Hollis noted that as Pat Scott’s reputation as an artist grew, he was also instrumental in ushering the school’s art program into a new age, with the major expanding to include concentrations in painting, sculpture, environmental design, art history and photography.

“Pat was a strong and, despite his quiet demeanor, a vocal advocate for faculty rights on campus and, at the state and local levels, a principled political activist and advocate for Morgan’s progress, autonomy and integrity,” said Hollis. “The Art program owes much to his leadership during a critical period in its growth and the university a considerable debt to his unrelenting advocacy of Continued on A12

47 2026 Total as of 6/24

A12 The Afro-American June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026

AFRAM

Oliver ‘Pat’ Scott

Continued from A11

Continued from A11

Day Two

Morgan in the larger community.”

Virlyn Patricia Koger, friend and domestic partner, described Pat Scott as calm, pensive and patient—characteristics that were infused in his art. The pair reconnected 40 years after their first meeting when they were brought back together at an event at MSU’s Murphy Fine Arts Center.

She described their bond through the song “Inseparable” by Natalie Cole, underscoring a relationship that held steady through hardship, joy and the more mundane tasks of life.

“It was good,” said Koger. “It was just the best way to feel, so I think I’m fortunate.”

Koger said one of the most significant moments in Scott’s later career came with his final showing in 2022 at a Delaware Art Museum exhibition that celebrated the legacy of Percy Ricks, a champion of Black artists who were excluded from mainstream institutions. His piece for the show was of a woman leading a march.

“He made references on and off to the fact that there were women who really helped power these protests, marches and demonstrations,” said Koger. “He didn’t say so, but I think he felt that a lot of times women didn’t get their just due for their participation.”

Like Robert Scott, Koger said Pat Scott ultimately saw himself first and foremost as a visual

Day two of the festival’s 2026 celebration in Druid Hill Park offered more of the same – hours of fun, food and music.

Vendors and organizations could be found lining the park’s paths and performers such as Chlöe Bailey, SWV, Normani, J Brown, The Lox, The Vibe and Black Assets entertained the audience.

For Jamaal “Black Root” Collier, day two of AFRAM was an opportunity to commune with his people.

“I’m glad it’s a breezy day. It feels beautiful,” said Collier. “It’s good to see so many people that look like me walking around. I love Black people. We look good, we smell good and we’re having an amazing time here at AFRAM. This is where the people are, and I want to be where the people are.”

Wayne Jones attended day two of AFRAM with his three grandsons.

“We take pride in African-American heritage.

As a lifelong citizen of Baltimore, I’ve watched [AFRAM] grow since its inception when I was a young guy,” Jones said. “Now, we introduce our grandchildren to it. We just want them to understand and be a part of all that the festival has to offer.”

Though an overwhelming majority of the festival was positive and offered a laid-back atmosphere, towards the end of the second day of the festival, a fight broke out amongst a large group of teen visitors. Mayor Scott and the Baltimore Police Department responded after the violence resulted in the assault of two police officers on June 20.

A statement released by City officials stated that on day 3 all persons under the age of 18 attending AFRAM 50 in Druid Hill Park would need to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or a responsible adult at all times.

Day 3

Thousands flocked to day three of the AFRAM Festival’s 50th celebration on June 21, concluding a banner weekend of cultural pride, economic opportunity and community connection.

Despite the restriction, Kimora Bradsher, a 17-year-old experiencing her first AFRAM, still enjoyed herself.

“I saw how fun it was for everyone last year,

AFRO Photo / Andrew Hall

Kay Stephen, founder of So Buttery Skin, shares her products with AFRAM attendees. which made me want to come,” Bradsher said. “I enjoy music and events in general, so being outside in this type of environment is right up my alley. I like the fact that everyone is coming together, with food and music.”

Kennedi Green, who served as a guardian for her younger cousins, explained her stance on the age restriction rules.

“I think it’s a good idea. When you have an event bringing the community together, you want people to be safe,” Green said. “Being able to bring them out and know they’re protected, it made me feel good.”

Read more on AFRO.com

Obituary

Frederick Ford

Photo courtesy of Robert Scott

Oliver Patrick “Pat” Scott’s is remembered as a quiet, attentive man who blended his talent for art, photography and graphic design with civil rights and political organizing. artist. For her, that identity shaped everything about him—from how he moved through the world to how he wanted to be remembered.

“He definitely wanted to be remembered as a visual artist, and I think that’s because he understood the value of art in every aspect of a person’s life,” said Koger. “It happened to be a God-given talent that he had to create images that people could appreciate.”

In Loving Memory

August 23, 1959 - June 8, 2026

Landover — Frederick L. A. Ford of Landover, Md., peacefully entered eternal rest on Monday, June 8, 2026. A devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, relative and friend, Fred leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and cherished memories that will continue to inspire all who knew him.

He is lovingly remembered by his devoted wife and the love of his life, Audrey Ford; his daughters, Denae Ford Robinson (Ryan) and Brianna Ford; his sons, Wayne Jacas (Deidre) and Nicholas Ford; his beloved grandsons, Joshua, Ethann and Matthew Jacas, and Reis Robinson; and his brothers, Ernest Ford and Robert Ford. He also leaves a host of extended family members and dear friends who will forever treasure his warm smile, generous spirit, wisdom, kindness and unwavering love.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Ford Jr. and Chrystine House Ford; his sister, Willa Ford; and his brother, Harold Ford.

While his presence will be deeply missed, his memory will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know and love him.

For those wishing to send flowers, arrangements should be delivered to Ward Memorial AME Church, 241 42nd Street NE, Washington, DC 20019, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in preparation for the funeral service on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 10 a.m.

! u o y k n a h T

A13 The Afro-American June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026

AFRO’s fourth annual Juneteenth Breakfast honors local stalwarts of Black history

By Andrew Hall and Makayla Walker AFRO Interns AFRO News hosted its annual Juneteenth Breakfast June 18 under the theme, “Stewards of Legacy,” at the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

The museum served as a beautiful backdrop as honorees, community members and company leadership joined together to advance the message of preserving Black history.

Led by mistress of ceremonies Deyane Moses, Afro Charities’ director of programs and partnerships, the event opened with tone-setting remarks from AFRO Publisher and CEO Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper.

Preserving history, Dr. Draper said, is a grave and sacred charge, but it requires deliberate action.

“It (history) survives because someone chooses to protect it, to preserve it and pass it on. Every generation stands on the shoulders of those who came before. Every generation has a responsibility to leave something meaningful to those who follow,” Draper said. “Today, during this Juneteenth breakfast, we honor individuals and organizations who have accepted that responsibility through their work. They help ensure that our history is not forgotten, our culture is not diminished, and that the lessons, sacrifices and hard-won freedoms that brought us to this moment are never lost.”

On why the stewardship of Black history and culture remains important, Draper’s answer was simple: “We are not stewards of history because we want to live in the past.

We are stewards of history because we know what happens when people forget. Memory protects progress.

History teaches vigilance. Legacy gives future generations the tools they need to keep moving forward.”

That message resonated throughout the event and was echoed by keynote speaker Savannah G.M. Wood, executive director of Afro Charities.

Wood emphasized the importance of preserving historical records through collective effort, noting that “no one institution holds the full record, but rather our collections form a constellation that guides researchers towards a fuller understanding of the past.”

Together, these remarks underscored a shared commitment to historical preservation—not as an effort to thoughtlessly document stories, but as a means of safeguarding knowledge, strengthening communities and equipping future generations with the context needed to build a more informed future.

Several honorees were recognized for their lasting contributions

to promoting and protecting Black history. The honorees included Asma Naeem, Anita Kassof, Chanel Compton-Johnson, Lisa Mitchell Sennaar, Katie Caljean, Corey Lewis, Esther Armstrong, Jim Clemmer, Terri Freeman, Dr. Joanne Martin and her late husband, Dr. Elmer Martin.

“In the 250th year of this nation, it is more apparent than ever that the history that brought us Juneteenth must never be far from our memory. We know that these institutions are critical to preserving memory because if we don’t have these organizations, trust me, this history will disappear,” said Terri Freeman, president and CEO of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.

“My message to each of you today is never forget, call a lie a lie and let’s keep making progress.”

In accordance with this message, Baltimore Museum of Art’s Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director Asma Naeem said, “When people come into our museum, they should be seeing themselves reflected on the walls, they should be hearing their stories told through those artworks.”

She added, “Black history and Black stories are central to what Baltimore is and to what Maryland is.”

Two powerful musical selections were performed by DeAngelo, an undergraduate student at Towson University. After singing his own rendition of “A Change is Going to Come” by Sam Cooke, DeAngelo explained what performing that song meant to him. “‘A Change is Going to Come’ is one of my grandma’s favorite songs, so learning that song, talking with her and getting to really understand what it means was special to me,” DeAngelo noted in an interview with the AFRO. “Being able to perform that for her and seeing her reaction in the crowd was really good.”

The event was proudly sponsored by Associated Black Charities, BGE, GBMC, Roland Park Place and SECU. James Toby Smith, executive vice president and chief relationship officer for SECU Maryland, explained how important it was for him and the company to serve as sponsors.

“To be out here with these awesome Baltimore stalwarts and Maryland stalwarts of education, access and awareness–it makes my heart incredibly proud to be a part of an organization that supports a cause such as this,” Smith said. “I want this community to understand it’s deeply personal for us as an organization to illuminate predatory practices and lead by example within our industry.”

Photo Credit: AFRO Photos / Patricia McDougall

Shown here, Imam Earl El-Amin (left), Maryland state Sen. Antonio Hayes (D-Md.-40) and Karen Miller.

Shown here, Chanel Compton-Johnson (back left), Deyane Moses, Lisa Mitchell Sennaar, Katie Caljean and Terri Freeman; Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper (front left), Anita Kassof, Dr. Joanne Martin, Asma Naeem and Corey Lewis.

Afro Charities Board Member Beverly Carter (left) and Judge Marcella Holland enjoy a moment together at the AFRO’s Juneteenth Breakfast.

Afro Charities Director of Programs and Partnerships Deyane Moses serves as mistress of ceremonies for the AFRO’s Juneteenth Breakfast.

Savannah G.M. Wood (left), executive director of Afro Charities, gives recognition to honoree Cory Lewis (center), of the Maryland State Archives, alongside AFRO Publisher and CEO Frances “Toni” Draper (right).

Shown here, Lisa Mitchell Sennaar (left), advisor for the Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum, and AFRO Publisher and CEO Frances “Toni” Draper (right).

Shown here, Tiffany Johnson (left)(Baltimore Center Stage), Cleveland Horton (Maryland Commission on Civil Rights), Chrissy Thornton (Associated Black Charities), Shevelle Montgomery (Associated Black Charities) and Craig Powell (Brick and Quill Realty). Cleveland is board president for Associated Black Charities, where Thornton serves as executive director and Powell is a board member.

To purchase this digital photo page or photos contact editor@afro.com

June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026 The Afro-American A14

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BALTIMORE CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES City of Baltimore Department of Finance Bureau of Procurement

BOARD OF LIQUOR LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR BALTIMORE CITY NOTICE—SPECIAL AD – JUNE 17, 2026 Petitions have been filed by the following applicants for licenses to sell alcoholic beverages at the premises set opposite their respective names.

The real property for these applications will be posted on or about June 22, 2026. Written protests concerning any application will be accepted until and including the time of the hearing. Public hearings may be scheduled on or after July 2, 2026 at 10:30 AM in the Liquor Board Hearing Room, located at 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2300, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

Please visit baltimorecity.gov/llb under the link for “Hearing Schedules” for confirmation of the date, time, and place for all matters being heard by the Board.

1. CLASS “B” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE Applicant: Sunday Social Brunch, LLC T/a Sunday Social - Jeffeary Miskiri and Nick Barbera Petition: New restaurant license requesting live entertainment and outdoor table service Premises: 2 E. Wells Street, Suite 116 21230 (City Council District: 10th; State Legislative District: 46th)

City of Baltimore DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Citywide Traffic Signal Reconstruction & Pedestrian Crossing Sector 1 Public Meeting Join us to review proposed citywide traffic and pedestrian safety improvements. This meeting will cover upgrades to traffic signals and pedestrian crossing beacons, enhancements to ADA accessibility, and related sidewalk and roadway modifications.

TR19309, TR17305, TR25301 Citywide Traffic Signal Reconstruction & Pedestrian Crossing PUBLIC MEETING Monday, July 30, 2026 6:00p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Enoch Pratt Free Library Waverly Branch 400 E 33rd St. Baltimore, Maryland 21218 If you have any questions, comments or need special accommodations, please contact dotengagement@baltimorecity.gov subject line Citywide Traffic Signal Sector 1 Or call 410-396-6802 Accommodation requests should be received by Monday, July 20, 2026 Receive regular updates via Facebook, “X” formerly known as Twitter at @BmoreCityDOT.

City of Baltimore DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Citywide Traffic Signal Reconstruction & Pedestrian Crossing Sector 2 Public Meeting Join us to review proposed citywide traffic and pedestrian safety improvements. This meeting will cover upgrades to traffic signals and pedestrian crossing beacons, enhancements to ADA accessibility, and related sidewalk and roadway modifications.

TR19309, TR17305, TR25301 Citywide Traffic Signal Reconstruction & Pedestrian Crossing PUBLIC MEETING Monday, July 27, 2026 6:00p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Enoch Pratt Free Library Walbrook Branch 3203 W North Ave. Baltimore, Maryland 21216 If you have any questions, comments or need special accommodations, please contact dotengagement@baltimorecity.gov subject line Citywide Traffic Signal Sector 2 Or call 410-396-6802 Accommodation requests should be received by Monday, July 17, 2026 Receive regular updates via Facebook, “X” formerly known as Twitter at @BmoreCityDOT.

R M ORE

IN RM

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Veronica McBeth, DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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Sealed proposals addressed to the Board of Estimates of Baltimore will be Received until, but not later than 11:00 am local time on the following dates for the stated requirements.

July 15, 2026 • AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM (ATVES) RFQ-000798 ENTIRE SOLICITATION CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED BY VISITING THE WEBSITE: https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/supplier/ baltimorecity/SupplierSite

City of Baltimore DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Frederick Avenue ADA Improvement Public Meeting Join us to hear how DOT is enhancing safety and accessibility on Frederick Avenue by rebuilding sidewalks and ramps to meet ADA standards.

Project Highlights: • Accessibility: New ADA-compliant ramps and sidewalks for wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers.

• Infrastructure: Added crosswalks and modernized mast-arm traffic signals.

• Streetscape: Updated curbs, gutters, and tree pits were needed.

TR23301 Frederick Ave ADA Improvements PUBLIC MEETING Wednesday, July 15, 2026 6:00p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Bon Secours Community Resource Center 31 S. Payson Street Baltimore, Maryland 21223 If you have any questions, comments or need special accommodations, please contact dotengagement@baltimorecity.gov subject line Frederick Ave ADA Or call 410-396-6802 Accommodation requests should be received by Monday, July 8, 2026

City of Baltimore DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES NOTICE OF LETTING Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate, addressed to the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and marked for PRJ000889 – Harford Senior Renovation & Envelope Upgrades, will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until 11:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2026. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids.

Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. Bid opening proceedings can be also viewed live at https:// www.charmtvbaltimore.com/live-stream at 12:00 noon. Bid tabulation sheets detailing the bids received will be publicly posted to the Comptroller’s website by COB on the date of bid opening.

The Contract Documents may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of $100.00 by contacting Lauren Hoover at lauren.hoover@ baltimorecity.gov as of FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2026.

Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package.

All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be pre-qualified by the City of Baltimore Boards and Commissions. Interested contractors should call 410 396-6883 or contact the Office of Boards and Commissions at 4 South Frederick Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. If a bid is submitted by a Joint Venture (“JV”), then in that event, the documents that establish the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes.

The Prequalification Category required for bidding on this project is E13001 – THREE STORY AND UNDER. The Cost Qualification Range for this work shall be $3,000.000.01 to $4,000,000.00 A “Pre-Bidding information” session will be conducted at 4920 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214 on TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

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Principal Items of work for this project are: 1. Interior Renovation of the Harford Senior Center

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Veronica P. McBeth, DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The MBE goal is 24% The WBE goal is 10%

CONTRACT NO. PRJ000889

APPROVED: APPROVED: M. Celeste Amato Berke Attila Clerk, Board of Estimates Director, Department Stay of General ServicesStay AFR Stay informed. proud.

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June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026 The Afro-American A15

A16 The Afro-American June 27, 2026 - July 3, 2026

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Effective immediately, The Afro AmericanNewspapers will require prepayment for publication of all legal notices. Payment will be accepted in the form of checks, credit card or money order. Any returned checks will be subject to a $25.00 processing fee and may result in the suspension of any future advertising at our discretion.

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LEGAL NOTICES

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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000586 BIRDIE L. FERGUSON Name of Decedent VICKEY A. WRIGHT-SMITH 1629 K. STREET, NW #300 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 Name and Address of Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs MINNIE BARBOUR, whose address is 1512 SPRING PLACE, WASHINGTON, DC 20010 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BIRDIE L. FERGUSON who died on APRIL 7, 2017 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 DECEMBER 12, 2026 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 DECEMBER 12, 2026 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: June 12, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Law Washington Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000541 CECILE ZO’OBO ANGO Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs DANIELLE MONI ZO’OBO & IVAN ULRICH ZO’OBO ANGO, whose addresses are 1130 48TH PL NE WASHINGTON, DC 20019 & 2113 PINE STREET, WILMINGTON, DE 19802; were appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CECILE ZO’OBO ANGO who died on MARCH 12, 2026 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 DECEMBER 12, 2026 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 DECEMBER 12, 2026 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: June 12, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Law Washington Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000552 HEZEKIAH DILLAHUNT, SR. Name of Decedent DIANN DAWSON, ATTORNEY 2101 STEUBEN WAY SILVER SPRING, MD 20905 Name and Address of Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs CASSANDRA DILLAHUNT and MICHELLE DILLAHUNT, whose addresses are 7921 MANDAN RD. #204, GREENBELT, MD 20770 and 7708 KIRKLEE CT., LAUREL, MD 20707; were appointed Personal Representative of the estate of HEZEKIAH DILLAHUNT, SR. who died on MARCH 24, 2026 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 DECEMBER 12, 2026 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 DECEMBER 12, 2026 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: June 12, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Law Washington Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2021ADM001166 Estate of MARGARET JAY PETRIS Deceased NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE (For estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1995) Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by EDWINA DARCELL BURKE-MCINNIS for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. *admit to probate the will dated March 25, 2003 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise * appoint an unsupervised personal representative

MINNIE BARBOUR Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 06.12, 06.19, 06.26.26

DANIELLE MONI ZO’OBO and IVAN ULRICH ZO’OBO ANGO Personal Representative(s) TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 06.12, 06.19, 06.26.26

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 06.12, 06.19, 06.26.26

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000617 LEMUEL R MARBURY aka RONALD LEMUEL MARBURY Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs TIMOTHY D MARBURY whose address is 5019 HANNA PLACE SE, WASHINGTON, DC 20019 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LEMUEL R MARBURY aka RONALD LEMUEL MARBURY who died on MARCH 13, 2026, 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 DECEMBER 26, 2026, 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 DECEMBER 26, 2026 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: June 26, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000629 LOUISE JEAN GILES Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs VANESSA L GILES AND ANDREA CHERRY whose address(es) are 103 DARRINGTON STREET SW WASH DC 20032 / 3312 22ND STREET NE WASH DC 20018 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LOUISE JEAN GILES who died on OCTOBER 30, 2017, 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 DECEMBER 26, 2026, 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 DECEMBER 26, 2026 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: June 26, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: AFRO American Newspapers

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000640 FRANCES GATLING Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs ADONICA MARCHA FRAZIER whose address is 850 XENIA STREET SE, WASHINGTON, DC 20032 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of FRANCES GATLING who died on AUGUST 13, 2025, 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 DECEMBER 26, 2026, 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 DECEMBER 26, 2026 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: June 26, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: AFRO American Newspapers

VANESSA L GILES and ANDREA CHERRY Personal Representative

TIMOTHY D MARBURY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 6/26, 7/03, 7/10/26

CASSANDRA DILLAHUNT and MICHELLE DILLAHUNT Personal Representative(s)

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 6/26, 7/03, 7/10/26

Date of first publication: June 26, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Law Washington Reporter AFRO American Newspapers ROBERT N MAXWELL 300 NEW JERSEY AVENUE NW, SUITE 300 WASHINGTON, DC 20001 202.697.7731 Signature of Petitioner/Attorney ROBERT N MAXWELL Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 06.26, 07.03.26

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ADONICA MARCHA FRAZIER Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 6/26, 7/03, 7/10/26

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