Black athletes are shining at the 2026 Winter Olympics, currently being held in Cortina and Milan, Italy. Representing America, Africa, the Caribbean and more, Black sports stars from around the world are partaking in the historic event, which features 116 events in a total of eight different sports and 16 disciplines. Shown here, Team USA’s Mystique Ro (left), training on Feb. 11 for her skeleton competition, and speedskater Erin Jackson, as she competes in the women’s 1,000 meters speedskating race on Feb. 9.
History in motion: Black athletes break barriers at Winter Olympics 2026
By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO mabbott@afro.com
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway in Italy and there are Black athletes across many disciplines and nations to note. Here is a look at the athletes who need your support, and others you weren’t aware of that are already extremely accomplished.
Black athletes shine for Team USA
Hockey
Laila Edwards has already made history by becoming the first Black woman to make
the United States women’s ice hockey roster. The 22-yearold senior defender from Cleveland Heights, Ohio currently attends Wisconsin and serves as an alternate captain for the Badgers.
The U.S. women’s ice hockey team is 4-0 at the Olympics, as of Feb. 11. They are winning in dominant fashion, out scoring opponents 20-1, including a win against reigning Olympic champion, Canada. Games can be viewed using the Peacock streaming app. Edwards made history in the matchup against Canada on Feb. 9, becoming the first Black woman to score a goal
for Team USA.
Speed Skating Erin Jackson entered 2026 as the reigning champion in 500m speed skating competition, which made her the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympic Games.
“I’m coming in as the defending champion and with that comes a ton of pressure, but I really like the pressure…” said Jackson in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com. “I’m typically a really laid back and relaxed competitor, so the pressure helps me push to that next level and find that fire.”
Bobsledding
There are a handful of Black athletes competing on the bobsleigh team, highlighted by Elana Meyers Taylor.
Taylor is a five-time Olympic medallist and is currently the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic history. The official bobsledding competition begins on Sun., Feb. 15. Other Black members of Team USA’s bobsledding crew include California’s
Azaria Hall, Pennsylvania’s Jasmine Jones and Kaysha Love, of Utah.
Skeleton Mystique Ro, the 31-yearold athlete from Nokesville, Va. will help represent the U.S. in women’s skeleton. She is joined by Darryl Payne Jr., the lone Black male athlete competing in skeleton for the United States (U.S). Payne is the first African-American
“The pressure helps me push to that next level and find that fire.”
man to compete in skeleton on behalf of the U.S. Black Canadian Athletes Sarah Nurse and Sophie Jaques are two Canadian Black athletes leading a very talented Canadian women’s national ice hockey team. Nurse is a forward playing in her third Winter Games. She currently holds the record for most points scored in a single women’s Olympic hockey tournament. Jaques is making her Olympic debut. The 25-yearold made history in 2023 after winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as a member of the
Governors cancel meeting, dinner at White House after ‘blatant’ disrespect of Gov. Wes Moore
By AFRO Staff
Part of an annual meeting of U.S. governors has been cancelled, according to information released by The Associated Press (AP). The move comes after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the nation’s only Black governor, was disinvited from the upcoming National Governors Association (NGA) dinner, along with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. After Moore sounded the alarm, it was then made public that only Republican governors were invited to the annual NGA business meeting with the sitting president and members of his administration.
Democratic governors protested the move, leading the NGA to cancel the White House dinner and the business session included in their 2026 Winter Meeting, slated for Feb. 19-21.
NGA Chair Kevin Stitt, the Republican
governor from Oklahoma, sent a letter to the state leaders on Feb. 10 about the cancelled Jan. 20 business meeting.
“Because NGA’s mission is to represent all 55 governors, the Association is no longer serving as the facilitator for that event, and it is no longer included in our official program,” Stitt wrote in the letter, later obtained and released by The Associated Press.
Moore, who serves as vice chair of the NGA, deemed the decision to exclude him from the annual dinner as “another example of blatant disrespect.”
“As the nation’s only Black governor, I can’t ignore that being singled out for exclusion from this bipartisan tradition carries an added weight—whether that was the intent or not,” Moore said in a statement.
Maryland GovPics / Pat Siebert
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is the only sitting Black head of state in the United States of America. Moore recently spoke out after his invitation to the annual National Governors Association (NGA) dinner at the White House was rescinded. Now, NGA leaders say the dinner and a business meeting with the 47th president of the United States are cancelled.
AP Photo / AP Photo/Ben Curtis
AP Photo / Aijaz Rahi
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Kenneth Walker III becomes 1st running back to win Super Bowl MVP in 28 years
By Josh Dubow AP Pro Football Writer
SANTA CLARA, Calif.
(AP) — Kenneth Walker III is running into free agency with a Super Bowl MVP.
Walker capped a prolific postseason with another big performance on the ground to help the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 on Feb. 8 for a championship.
While the defense carried Seattle for much of the postseason, Walker was once again the engine of the offense by rushing for 135 yards and adding 26 receiving for his third straight 100-yard game from scrimmage in the postseason. He became the first running back since Terrell Davis 28 years ago to win Super Bowl MVP.
“If I would tell myself as a kid right now I wouldn’t have guessed I would have been the one to win MVP,” Walker said.
“It’s a surreal moment and it doesn’t happen without the guys in the locker room.”
Walker stepped up his game after backfield mate Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending knee injury
and it couldn’t have come at a more important time for the Seahawks or a more opportune time for Walker.
The 25-year-old running back is in the final year of his rookie contract and is slated to become a free agent in 2026. Thanks to his playoff run, Walker figures to be in line for a significant pay bump.
Walker gained 413 yards from scrimmage in the three wins for Seattle this postseason. He became the first player to top 100 yards from scrimmage in every playoff game for a Super Bowl champion since Terrell Davis did it in back-toback seasons in 1997-98 for the Broncos.
“It means a lot,” Walker said. “It means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to my teammates. We went through a lot of adversity throughout the season. To be able to make it this far is a blessing, with the noise really. As a team we know the only thing that matters is what’s talked about in the organization. So all the outside noise we really ignore. We stuck together throughout the season and we won a Super Bowl for that.”
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Making it even sweeter was the fact that his father was in attendance to watch him for the first time in the NFL. Walker said his dad comes to Seattle a lot but doesn’t go to games because of the crowds.
But Walker said his agent convinced his father to come on Super Bowl night and he got to see his son shine.
“I didn’t think he would come,” Walker said. “They ended up miking him up and everything. He got out of his comfort zone.”
While fantasy football owners and Walker were sometimes frustrated that he didn’t carry a bigger load of the offense, especially in the red zone, in the regular season, the job share with Charbonnet did mean Walker was fresh for the playoffs when he was at his best.
Walker averaged less than 15 touches from scrimmage per game in the regular season when he delivered his first 1,000-yard rushing season since his rookie year.
But he averaged nearly 25 touches per game in the playoffs when he showed he’s capable of being a bell-cow back.
“When Charbs goes down everyone was hurting for him
because he’s an instrumental part of this team,” receiver Cooper Kupp said. “For (Walker) to be able to shoulder the load and step up his game to another level, I’m so proud of him.”
Walker started fast with a 10yard run on the opening snap and had 55 yards on the ground on a field-goal drive later in the first half for the most by any player on one drive in the Super Bowl in 20 years.
Welcome back, coach
Meanwhile, for Terrell Williams, coaching at the Super Bowl meant so much after being away from the team during a nearly five-month fight with prostate cancer.
The Patriots welcomed back their defensive coordinator, who hadn’t been traveling or on the sideline during his ordeal.
“It feels good,” Williams said. “Harold Landry made the comment that when I come
in the building, I put a smile on their face because they see how hard I’m working and they know it’s not easy. But my comment to Harold was: You guys are putting a smile on my face.’ So it’s really like we’re all working together. I’m happy to see them, they’re happy to see me. What you realize is that we all struggle.”
AP Sports writer Janie McCauley contributed to this story.
Bad Bunny brings history and culture to Super Bowl performance
By Maria Sherman AP Music Writer
The sun hung low when Bad Bunny emerged in Puerto Rico’s sugar cane fields during his halftime show, surrounded by jíbaros in pavas (rural farmers in traditional straw hats), viejitos playing dominos (an affectionate term for older men) and a piragua stand (shaved ice) — undeniable symbols of Puerto Rico.
From a small Caribbean island with a complicated colonial history, to the world: The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio brought Puerto Rican culture to the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, for his 2026 Super Bowl halftime show in what was always going to be a landmark moment for Latinos.
He started with his huge reggaeton-and-then-some hits, “Tití Me Preguntó” moving into “Yo Perreo Sola,” as he remerged on top of the casita (“little house”) from his Puerto Rican residency — Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, Young Miko, Ronald Acuña Jr., Alix Earle and Dave Grutman were guests at his pari de marquesina (“house party.”)
Then he crashed through the roof—Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” played for a moment, clearly an acknowledgement and celebration of the Puerto Rican artists who laid the path for his career to go global.
“Mi nombre es Benito
Antonio Martínez Ocasio,” he introduced himself to the crowd in Spanish. “Y si hoy estoy aquí en el Super Bowl 60, es porque nunca, nunca dejé de creer en mí y tú también deberías de creer en ti, vales más de lo que piensas.”
In English: “My name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, and if I’m here today at Super Bowl 60 it’s because I
never, ever stopped believing in myself and you should also believe in yourself, you’re worth more than you think.”
The strings of his song “Monaco” played—then, a surprise Lady Gaga emerged at a real wedding scene, singing her portion of the Bruno Mars-duet “Die with a Smile,” joined by the salsa band Los Sobrinos. Her dress featured a maga, Puerto Rico’s national flower.
As they performed, the couple was married and Benito served as their witness and signed their certificate.
It also gave Benito time for a fashion change—rocking a white suit like a classic salsero—for “Baile Inolvidable” and “NuevaYol,” with a block party set where he took a shot with Toñita, owner of one of the last Puerto Rican social clubs in New York City, Brooklyn’s Caribbean Social Club.
Ricky Martin, one of Puerto Rico’s greatest crossover artists, performed Bad Bunny’s “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,” (“What Happened to Hawaii”), a rallying cry for Puerto Rico’s cultural autonomy in an era of neocolonialization. Martin sat in a plastic chair in front of a plantain tree; a scene that mirrored the cover of Bad Bunny’s 2025 album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” Behind Martin, jíbaros in pavas climbed power poles that exploded, symbolic of Puerto Rico’s frequent blackouts and failing power grid. It queued up a moving performance of 2022 song “El Apagón” (“The Blackout”), in reference to Hurricane Maria, its aftermath and the continued anger and frustration over persistent, chronic power outages.
As he sang one of his most political songs, Bad Bunny held a Puerto Rico flag in red, white and baby blue—reflective of the Puerto Rican independence
movement.
For around 13 minutes during the halftime show sponsored by Apple Music and Roc Nation, all eyes on the field— and around the world—were on Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.
Bad Bunny performed entirely in Spanish—as all of his music is recorded in the language, though he has collaborated with English-language artists. The only English singing came from Gaga.
He did speak in English at the end of the set, however, when he said, “God Bless America,” and then named countries in the Americas: “Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil” and so on, including the United States and Canada—a reminder that while it is common to use “America” as a synonym for the U.S. in the U.S., it is the name used across two continents. He also gave a shoutout to Haiti (pronounced the local way, “Ayiti”) and featured flags from countries throughout the Caribbean and the Americas.
“And my motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico, seguimos aquí.” In English, “My homeland, Puerto Rico, we are still here.”
Behind him, a screen read “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” in English text, a direct reference to one of his recent speeches at the 2026 Grammys. He ended with “DtMF” as he walked out of the stadium, joined by musicians with güiros (a percussive instrument made of a hollow gourd) and panderetas (tambourines, a symbol of plena.)
For years, Bad Bunny has been one of the most-streamed artists on the planet. And on Feb. 8, he made it clear that his global popularity translates seamlessly to the biggest stage in the U.S. (Though he is no stranger to it. He previously appeared during the halftime show at Super Bowl LIV in 2020 alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. He sang in Spanish alongside two artists whose bilingual hits helped usher in a crossover era for Latin music in the ‘00s.)
Consider Bad Bunny’s 2026 halftime performance the cherry on top of a huge moment for the 31-year-old global superstar, who just 10 years ago was working at an Econo supermarket in Puerto Rico.
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (center) and quarterback Sam Darnold, left, celebrate after defeating the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. Walker was named the game’s most valuable player.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Bad Bunny performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif.
NABJ Town Hall condemns arrests of Black journalists, defends First Amendment
By Dr. Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) teamed up with veteran journalist Roland Martin, founder of Black Star Network, to host a two-hour, live-streamed event on Feb. 2 titled “Not On Our Watch: A National Town Hall on Press Freedom.”
The session was prompted by the recent arrests of independent Black journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort and other members of the media, who were covering the unrest created by the brutal immigration raids in Minnesota.
Martin, currently a vice president of NABJ, co-hosted the virtual national town hall with Errin Haines, NABJ president. With several hundred NABJ members in attendance, the audience heard from Los Angeles
Mayor Karen Bass and representatives from several of the national organizations who co-signed a Jan. 30 statement issued by NABJ.
The Jan. 30 letter expresses unequivocal support for the First Amendment, and the ability to do their jobs as journalists–even when questionable governmental actions are exposed.
“This moment is bigger than two journalists. It is about whether the First Amendment has meaning when reporting is inconvenient to those in power. The selective targeting of journalists— especially, Black and LGBTQIA journalists— raises urgent concerns about unequal enforcement and retaliatory policing of the press,” stated the letter.
Martin set the tone for the discussion, stating that the country’s “media institutions
“Journalists, particularly Black journalists, are facing escalating threats simply for doing our jobs.”
are really seen as the enemy of this administration,” he said.
Haines agreed with the sentiment.
“Journalists–particularly Black journalists–are facing escalating threats simply for doing our jobs,” she said. “Press freedom is not just a professional perk; it is a democratic infrastructure. When it is weakened, democracy itself is at risk.”
Lemon was in Los Angeles when he was arrested on Jan. 29. Fort was arrested at her home in Minneapolis on Jan. 30. Jerome Deangelo Richardson, a student journalist from Temple University and assistant to Lemon, was also named in a federal indictment. He turned himself in based on the federal indictment issued Jan. 29.
Multiple activists have been arrested for the “good trouble” made inside of Cities Church on Jan. 18, but Lemon, Fort and Richardson are Black independent journalists.
“Just when you think you’ve seen it all from this administration, you see something like this,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, referring to the arrests of Lemon, Fort and the others.
“How is it in Minnesota–a state that is overwhelmingly
Leaders of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) are speaking out against the recent arrests of Black journalists who covered a Minnesota protest at a church on Jan. 18. During a Feb. 2 NABJ call to action titled, “Not On Our Watch: A National Town Hall on Press Freedom,” NABJ leaders, media professionals, activists and elected officials warned of a turbulent future for journalists covering controversial issues. The conversation included President Errin Haines (left) and Roland Martin (right), who serves the organization as vice president of all things related to digital content.
White– you get two Black journalists arrested, and in total, there were four.”
Bass said she worries about all Black journalists, but especially freelancers who may not have the support and backing of a major news organization.
Representatives from the Society of Professional Journalists, Freedom of the Press Foundation, International Women’s Media Foundation, Committee to Protect Journalists and a host of other organizations offered support and echoed concern about the disproportionate threat faced by Black journalists reporting on controversial government issues.
Rashaud Robinson, representing the Committee for the First Amendment, appealed to the general public to speak up against violations of free speech and warned the audience that life in America
has already become more repressive and restrictive.
“It’s our responsibility to not just be passive observers, but to do things in our own spaces and places to…hold the institutions accountable that we may give our money to or be engaged with,” Robinson said, calling on Black Americans to get involved in opposing the violent immigration enforcement tactics being used and free speech violations taking place.
Martin spoke to the case against Temple University senior Jerome DeAngelo Richardson, who was targeted for arrest for assisting Lemon in Minnesota. Richardson has expressed both pride in the reporting from Minnesota and concerns about his future.
“With an indictment looming, I fear for my safety and the threat of public doxing,” the student journalist said in an online appeal. “I ask that
you support three actions: pray for my safety and peace of mind; do not stop fighting against this oppressive system, and please support my legal defense fund because I am in dire need of your financial support, emotional support, as well as prayers.” In a separate statement issued Feb. 2, Ben Chavis, president of the National Newspapers Publishers Association which represents more than 200 Black newspapers, condemned the federal arrests of Black journalists.
”We, the NNPA, stand with Georgia Fort, Don Lemon, and all those arrested,” said Chavis. “We demand these charges be dropped immediately. We close with Du Bois’s eternal warning: “If the government thinks it can silence our complaints, it is making a mistake. And we shall not be moved.”
NAACP condemns racist social media post shared by president
By Alexis Taylor AFRO Managing Editor
On the fifth day of Black History Month the 47th president of the United States promoted racist content to millions using social media.
Appearing late on the night of Feb. 5, the video shared by the president included debunked information about the 2020 election, before concluding with images of the former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. In the video, the two are briefly seen as monkeys dancing to the song, “The Lions Sleep Tonight,” the song popularized in the 1960s by The Tokens, but originally sang in 1939 as “Mbube” by Solomon Linda, a South African artist.
Within hours, the video made its way around the globe. Garnering likes, shares, comments and a whirlwind of criticism.
“Trump posting this video—especially during Black History Month— is a stark reminder of how Trump and his followers truly view people. And we’ll remember that in November,” said The National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People (NAACP), in a brief statement posted to their own social media accounts.
The video from the president’s account clearly repeats and publicly broadcasts racist imagery of two of the world’s most prominent, influential and beloved African-American leaders. Officials in the White House want the masses to believe the monkeys in the video had another meaning.
“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters,” said White House Press Secretary Kaaroline Leavitt, in a statement on the matter to The Associated Press (AP). Leavitt noted that the clip was part of a longer video that showed several Democrats – even White leaders – as animals.
While it was initially defended, according to AP, the White House has changed course and now blames the posting of the video on a staffer. Trump says he didn’t see the last few seconds of the video, only the beginning. The video has since been deleted, even though the president said in an
at the 2026 Winter Olympics as a valuable hockey player for Team USA.
Olympics
Continued from A1
is awarded to the top female collegiate ice hockey player in the U.S. The Canadian women’s ice hockey team is currently 2-1 at the Olympics, with their only loss being to the U.S., by the score 1-5.
Caribbean and African Nations Jamaica will be making their 10th Winter Olympic appearance as both the men’s and women’s bobsleigh teams will be competing between Feb. 15-22. Mica Moore was the flag bearer for Jamaica. The former Great Britain athlete will be competing in the monobob, or the solo bobsleigh competition.
Samuel Ikpefan will make history as the first Nigerian to compete in two different cross-country skiing events. He is joined in the sport by 21-year-old Nathan Tchibozo of Benin, who makes history as the first competitor from the African nation to take on alpine skiing in the Winter Olympics.
Mialitiana Clerc and Mathieu Neumuller of Madagascar will both represent their country in Alpine skiing. Clerc is the first African woman to compete in three Winter Games.
Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda of Eritrea and Issa Laborde of Kenya round off the list of Black Africans competing in alpine skiing at the 2026 Olympic Games. Alpine skiing for men began on Feb. 11 and concludes on Feb. 16. Alpine skiing began on Feb. 12 for women and ends Feb. 18.
interview with reporters on Air Force One that the post was “not a mistake.”
Still, even Republicans in Congress noted the racist nature of the content shared.
“It’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” said a reaction posted to social media by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Scott’s use of the term “most racist” stands out, as it implies there have been other incidents from the leader he helped rise to power.
Baltimore County NAACP President Roland Patterson said Trump and people like him are “foolish people in adult clothes” who seek to “put down Black people for their own elevation.”
“It is beyond disappointing and beyond embarrassing that the president of this country and the reported ‘leader of the free world’ would stoop to a 19th–or before–century tactic,” Patterson said, of Trump. “We recognize that he is a White nationalist and thereby a White supremacist.”
Ultimately, Patterson said the decision to post the racist content was much more of an indictment of “Donald John Trump and his unfitness for the office” than it was an insult to the Obama family.
Governors meeting
Continued from A1
He further said Trump’s decision was “especially confounding” since he visited the White House in January with a bipartisan delegation of governors to work with the administration on reforms to lower energy costs and strengthen grid reliability.
“We proved in that moment what’s possible when we stay focused on outcomes over politics,” he said.
Interim National Governors Association CEO Brandon Tatum said the move by the 47 president will only hurt efforts to improve the relationship between leaders on the state and federal level.
“We are disappointed in the administration’s decision to make it a partisan occasion this
year,” said Tatum, in a statement. “To disinvite individual governors to the White House sessions undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration.”
Moore, the nation’s third Black governor, has butted heads with Trump over his immigration policies and his decision to deploy the National Guard into Democratic-run cities to “combat crime.” He is also one of the Democratic governors pursuing redistricting in response to Trump’s prompting of Republican-led states to redraw their district maps to give the GOP an advantage in the midterm elections.
In a statement to Politico, the White House would not specify why Moore and Polis were specifically targeted.
“Many Democrats were invited to dinner at the White House, and others were not,” a White House official told POLITICO. “These are White House events and the President reserves the right to invite whomever he wants.”
For his part, Moore said he is willing to work with the White House for the good of his constituents despite the differences of opinion and this most recent snub–but he’s not going to cave into presidential pressure in the process.
“My approach will never change: I’m ready to work with the administration anywhere we can deliver results,” he said. “Yet, I promised the people of my state I will work with anybody but will bow down to nobody. And I guess the President doesn’t like that.”
“As the nation’s only Black governor, I can’t ignore that being singled out for exclusion from this bipartisan tradition carries an added weight—whether that was the intent or not.”
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File
A video of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama depicted as animals is no longer available on the 47th president’s official Truth Social account. The president has received backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike after a Feb. 5 social media post that depicted the former leaders as monkeys.
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki Laila Edwards is in Italy
COMMENTARY
A hard lesson from history for the president’s allies of color
By Roger House Word in Black
During the presidential election, Trump made inroads with minority voters that impressed the Republican Party. But today, as Minneapolis becomes a frontline of resistance against Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics and White nationalism ideology, Republicans of color may want to reconsider their loyalty.
Historical parallels between Minneapolis and Depression-Era Germany
The battle in Minneapolis against the normalization of repression and White nationalism fears has parallels in Depression-era Germany. And just as loyalists of color placed hopes in the MAGA movement, so too a segment of the Jewish population had placed hopes in the authoritarian Nazi Party, until it was too late.
week,
discusses similarities between Jews
sided with the Nazi regime of the 1930s and ‘40s and Black people who are currently supporting the 47th president of the United States and his policies.
Once in power, the Nazis pursued a program of perfecting “Aryan” White nationalism by targeting gays and the disabled, Roma and Black people, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Poles, and, most intensely, Jews. It weaponized the legal and justice systems to investigate, prosecute and eliminate political enemies, asserted national control through the SS (a paramilitary organization of the Party), the Gestapo (a brutal secret police) and the Army that pledged loyalty to Hitler.
Why some conservative Jews supported Hitler
Yet another was the fear that an influx of poor Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe would exacerbate German anti-Semitism with broader repercussions. As well, there was a bias against the poor, darker-skinned Sephardic Jewish immigrants from the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Echoes of authoritarianism in the present day
Republicans of color and political legitimacy
Republicans of color were prominent in legitimizing the politics of Trump in their respective communities. The Black Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, for instance, was an influential voice promoting the Trump campaign. While Mark Zuckerberg did not formally endorse Trump, he did associate with the administration after the election.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Historical warning: Loyalty did not protect them
How authoritarian power consolidates control
Then, as now, there were anxieties over wealth preservation, economic status, leftist politics and immigration. Most prominent was The Union of German National Jews, an association of affluent, conservative Jews founded during the center-left Weimar government. They supported Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in the early years and did not take its anti-Semitism seriously.
During the depression, the cohort of conservative, assimilationist Jews — comprising about 10 percent of the religious group — remained supportive of Hitler out of various concerns: One was to protect assets and status from the socialists and Bolsheviks of the 1920s Weimar Republic. Another was to demonstrate loyalty as citizens and war veterans in opposition to Zionism advocates and to seek the restoration of pre-World War I German imperialism in Africa.
Today, many U.S. observers are concerned that elements in Trump’s administration and MAGA movement echo the authoritarian trends of Depression-era Germany. This includes the widely felt anxiety over economic status, the promotion of a pure White nationalism, the evolution of a mask-wearing federal police loyal to Trump, the misuse of the National Guard and the threat to invoke the regular Army — all in ways beyond the enforcement of immigration laws. Adding to the fear are demands that Republicans take over national elections.
In Minneapolis, the Hispanic pastor and businessman Sergio Amezcua was an important conservative influencer during the 2024 election. He has since begun to rethink the decision in light of the crackdown on his community, telling a reporter, “A lot of our businesses were like, ‘I think Trump is the answer…Believe me, 100 percent of them regret it.”
As well, Republicans of color are prominent in what critics perceive as politicized investigations of opponents and the dismantling of civil right policies in favor of White preference. They include FBI Director Kash Patel, Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
America’s lies and Europe’s choice to believe them
Europe keeps asking what went wrong in the United States. That question already assumes something false: that the system once worked equally for everyone.
For Black Americans and Indigenous people, democracy in the United States has always been conditional. Temporary. Revocable. What the world is watching now does not feel like collapse to us. It feels like recognition. The mask is off.
A country built on a double crime
The United States was founded on a contradiction so extreme it still shapes everything that followed. Indigenous peoples were nearly wiped out — not by accident, not by “clashes,” but by design. Forced removals, starvation, massacres, broken treaties, cultural erasure. Land was “needed.” Indigenous life was expendable. At the same time, millions of Africans were kidnapped from their countries, shipped across an ocean and enslaved to build the economy that replaced those Indigenous worlds. The original people were killed to take the land. Another people were imported to work it for free. That is not just a tragic beginning. It’s a blueprint.
Attorney
Brown previously served as director of both the Maryland Attorney General’s Legislative Affairs Division and the Civil Rights Department. She was the first woman to lead the Baltimore City Civil Rights Office.
Each preserved the hierarchy. Europe often asks why race still dominates American politics. Because race was the organizing principle of American inequality. Once a system learns that method, it does not let it go without a fight.
Why this is happening now
This moment is not nostalgia. It is panic. The United States is approaching a demographic reality it has resisted since its founding: a future in which White Americans are no longer the uncontested majority. For a country built on ownership — of land, labor and power — that shift feels existential. So the response is not persuasion. It is retrenchment.
Slavery was not a side chapter — it was the system
American capitalism was not built alongside slavery. It was built on it.
Enslaved Africans were assets. They were insured, mortgaged, traded, inherited. Banks, insurance companies and real estate empires grew from this logic. When slavery officially ended, the system did not disappear. It simply changed form. Jim Crow followed. Then redlining. Then mass incarceration. Then voter suppression. Each era promised reform.
Rights are being rolled back not because they failed, but because they worked. Women gained autonomy. Black Americans gained political leverage. Indigenous voices became harder to erase. The reaction to all of this is force dressed up as “order.” This is why comparisons to the early mechanics of Nazi Germany matter — not as moral theater, but as structural warning. Different actors. Less discipline. More chaos. The same instinct: define enemies, hollow institutions, normalize violence, call it necessity. History does not always advance
methodically. Sometimes it accelerates recklessly.
The crisis seen from the bodies it hits first For people of color, this moment is not theoretical. Democratic backsliding always reaches us first — through policing, courts, voting access and bodily autonomy. That has been true for 400 years. When Black Americans pull back politically today, it is not apathy. It is exhaustion. After centuries of fighting for rights that are now being stripped away again, while being recast — once more — as the threat itself.
The world sees the chaos. What it often misses is the continuity. The continual comeback or rebirth of the same, branded differently each time.
Reparations: The unfinished business behind the panic
There is another reason the backlash is so fierce. Reparations are no longer unthinkable. Indigenous nations have received partial reparations — incomplete and insufficient, but acknowledged.
Japanese Americans received reparations for internment. Jewish survivors received reparations after the Holocaust — first from the United States, and then from Germany.
Chinese communities have received compensation and state acknowledgments in multiple countries. Only one group is still told to wait indefinitely: Black Americans.
After four centuries of unpaid labor, legalized terror and exclusion from wealth-building, calling reparations “divisive” is not serious. It is avoidance. Everyone else was paid. Yet this specific bill is way overdue. And accountability — more than diversity, more than symbolism — is what truly terrifies the current political movement as well as those in America’s past.
Why this movement will not work
There is a final reason this authoritarian surge will fail. It is not only ideological. It is desperate.
A significant part of its leadership and financial ecosystem is entangled in documented criminality — corruption, abuse, and long-standing systems of protection that relied on silence. Recent releases of suppressed records related to elite sexual exploitation did not create this crisis; they exposed it. Without that exposure, the desperation driving this movement would not have reached its current intensity.
Desperation turns fear into ideology. It turns loyalty into
Returning to the Nazi era, the conservative German Jews eventually came to learn that loyalty to the Nazi movement did not exempt them from its racial purity project. The regime turned against all Jews during the Holocaust. In 1935, the Gestapo abolished the Union of German National Jews and imprisoned its leader, Max Naumann, a lawyer and veteran of World War I. Some members fled to safety in other countries. After the war, Union members that survived were denounced as “Heil Hitler Jews.”
Today, as Republicans of color remain silent in the face of White nationalism fears and authoritarian policing, they may want to heed the tragic lesson of the Union of German National Jews.
This commentary was originally published by Word in Black.
cult behavior. It turns ordinary people into accomplices. But the truth is harsher: many of the figures driving this movement were never misled. They were protected. For decades. What we are seeing now is not strength, but pre-emptive aggression — the behavior of people who know accountability is no longer hypothetical. Authoritarian movements can survive hypocrisy. They cannot survive exposure.
A project built on moral panic collapses once its own crimes become visible. What follows is not order, but implosion. That is why this movement feels frantic, loud, and accelerating. It is not marching toward the future. It is running from the past.
What Europe needs to understand Europe needs to stop treating the United States as a democracy that lost its way and start recognizing it as what it has always been: an empire built on extraction, racial hierarchy and myth-making — now confronting the consequences of its own design. American power shaped global capitalism, global militarism and global inequality. When the center convulses, the world feels it. The voices that understand this best are not in think tanks. They are in bodies that have been surviving it since the beginning.
Built by us: Why Black institutions need legal infrastructure
By Kisha A. Brown
As Black people, we cannot experience the joy and peace of justice without building our own systems and institutions—designed by us, with our liberation, our lifestyle and our real needs in mind.
From churches doubling as schools to kitchens doubling as boardrooms, we have started from scratch and built up. We have also understood that survival without structure is
temporary.
And so we built right here in Maryland:
Our Voice: The AFROAmerican Newspaper
Our Money: Harbor Bank.
Our Think Tank: Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle.
To name a few… .
But let’s be honest, anything Black owned is often weakened by the sheer labor of holding everything together without adequate support.
Just like a house that holds anything worth protecting
has to be solidly built with the right materials and receive consistent maintenance to withstand the weather and wear and tear of life, so do our systems and institutions. One essential component is having legal guidance— not reserved for only times of trouble but consistently present at the table able to weigh in and offer critical legal insight as ideas, programming, plans and strategy are being devised.
Our Black-led institutions have got to stop acting like
they can handle everything on their own and just do the best they can. Without legal guidance you are one misstep from losing it all and that ripple effect impacts us all.
We need every Black lawyer on every board or in the backroom of every Black organization. It is our duty to step up and stand in the gap as the legal resource our community needs and deserves.
Law is already shaping our lives every day whether we acknowledge it or
not—determining who owns, who inherits, who decides, who bears risk, and who reaps reward. Ignoring it does not make life neutral. Proactively engaging the law makes it useful.
Building infrastructure that fosters justice means weaving legal understanding into our movements, our businesses, our families, and our legacies. Examining it in real time. Revisiting it routinely. Ensuring it protects the fruits of our labor rather than siphoning them away.
Photo courtesy of Emerson College Roger House is professor emeritus of American studies at Emerson College. This
he
who
Courtesy photo
Kisha
By Percival Duke
Courtesy photo Percival Duke is an American singer, composer and author based in Germany. This week, he discusses why the racist history of America cannot be ignored by Europeans seeking to understand “what went wrong in the United States.”
the entire family. Take a look at this month’s community calendar to get an idea of happenings in
Upcoming Black History Month events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area
Army Airfield in Alabama.
Date: Feb. 21
Time: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
This Black History Month, celebrate the beauty of African American art, culture and life with a plethora of events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Check out this calendar of events to get a better understanding of how to celebrate Black History all month long.
Maryland
Baltimore County Baltimore County Public Library Black History Month Events
Movie at Lansdowne Senior Center: The Six Triple Eight
Sit back, relax and enjoy a screening of The Six Triple Eight (2024) at the Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands Senior Center. (PG-13; 2 hours, 7 minutes)
Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen
Join NPR investigative journalist Cheryl W. Thompson as she tells the story of the disappearance of 27 Black pilots who trained at the Tuskegee
Location: Baltimore County Public Library, Randallstown Branch
8604 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD, 21133
Make Gee’s Bend Quilt Art Learn about the African-American women who made Gee’s Bend quilts and create a paper design in the Gee’s Bend style.
Date: Feb. 28
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Baltimore County Public Library, White Marsh Branch 8133 Sandpiper Cir, Baltimore, MD 21236
Baltimore City
Voices in Solidarity: Baltimore’s Black and Jewish Operatic History | Roots and Resonance
A collaborative panel, performance, and recital exploring connections between Black and Jewish musical traditions through history and artistic exchange.
Date: Feb. 14
Time: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture 830 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Myers Maritime Park –Black History Month
Saturdays
Black History Month
Open Tours – Free visits and tours of the historic museum every Saturday in February to celebrate African American maritime history and Frederick Douglass’s legacy.
Date: Feb. 14, Feb. 21 & Feb. 28
Time: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park
1417 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231
D.C.
Baldwin: The Fire of the Mountain:The Life of James Baldwin
The Multi-Media Training Institute (MMTI), in partnership with the DC Black History Celebration Committee, will present the world premiere of BALDWIN: The Fire on the Mountain – The Life of James Baldwin at the historic Lincoln Theatre.
Date: Feb. 23
Time: 5 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St NW, D.C.
Cost: Free
Crafter-noon: Black History Month Crafts
Cleveland Park Library will host a Black History Month Crafter- noon designed for kids ages 5-12. Kids can enjoy an afternoon filled with collage-making crafts and self-guided paper quilts.
Date: Feb. 26
Time: 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Location: Cleveland Park Library 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW. Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Queer Black Broadway Tour
Join off the Mall Tours and the Rainbow History Project as they take you through the U Street Corridor, also known as Black Broadway.
Date: Feb. 28
Time: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: 620 T Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Cost: $30
Virginia
Black History Poetry Slam and Open Mic
Join the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities for a night of Black History Poems and Open Mics. Celebrate 100 years of Black History Month through live poetry performances by talented local artists.
Date: Feb. 21
Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: Charles Houston Recreation Center 901 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314
Fight For the Right to Read: Family Program
Join Jeff Gottesfeld, Michelle Y. Green and Howard University graduate Kim Holt as they discuss their new book, “Fight for
the Right to Read: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and the 1939 Sit-Down Strike for Library Reading Equality.”
Date: Feb. 28
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria VA
Cost: Free
“Path to Freedom” returns The Hurrah Players announce the return of the proclaimed stage production, “Path to Freedom,” as they tell a deeply moving theatrical experience on the evolution of African American Culture
Dates: Feb. 20 - 22
Time(s): Feb. 20 - 7 p.m.
Feb.21 - 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Feb. 22 - 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Location: Hugh R. Copeland Center 112 W. Wilson Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510
Cost: $27
Frederick Douglass–Isaac
By Alexis LaRue
AFRO Intern
alarue@afro.com
Courtesy photo
This Black Month History, the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area is full of events for
your area.
WASHINGTON-AREA
Maryland-based coalition arms parents with more effective tools to keep youth drug free
When the city of Glenarden, located about 10 miles east of Washington, D.C., in Prince George’s County, was granted a charter in 1939, it became the third predominantly Black incorporated town in the state of Maryland.
Since its founding, it has emerged as a suburban enclave popular to both small retail establishments and those who want to secure residential roots, particularly seniors.
However, its youth population cannot be overlooked, as children under the age of 18 living at home make up a sizable amount of the city’s 6,000 residents at 44.8 percent, according to the U.S. Census.
And as many parents and caregivers admit, even sleepy suburban communities like theirs are finding it harder and harder to protect their children from what some erroneously believed
was a “big city problem” – drugs. Now, thanks to a drug-free community grant funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the White House Office of Drug Control Policy, a new organization has taken root in Glenarden: the Teen and Youth Alliance Coalition (TAYAC). The non-profit
organization, led by Executive Director Jon Quinton, was formed to create a safe space for youth and teens. The organization has a goal of shifting current attitudes that condone marijuana and cannabis use among youth.
On Jan. 19, a group of parents, politicians, business owners and religious leaders gathered for TAYAC’s
Student charged in school shooting
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Staff Writer vmejicanos@afro.com
Kahlil White-Villatoro, a 16-year-old from Rockville, Md., has been charged in connection with a Feb. 9 school shooting at Thomas S. Wootton High School. Law enforcement officials say the teen will face attempted second-degree murder charges, along with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and various firearms-related charges after shooting another 16-year-old student. According to a press release from the Rockville City Police Department, White-Villatoro has been charged as an adult in connection with the shooting. He has been transported to the Montgomery County Detention Center’s Central Processing Unit in Rockville where he awaits a bond hearing. The investigation is still ongoing and remains active. The other 16-year-old student who was shot is injured, but remains in stable
condition at a local hospital according to Montgomery County Police. The school remains open following the shooting, according to statements shared by the Montgomery County Board of Education and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), with various resources available for students.
Absences will be excused from Feb. 10-11.
“The safety and well-being of every student and staff member is our highest priority,” wrote school board members and MCPS in a joint statement. “[We] remain unwavering in our commitment to maintaining safe, secure and supportive learning environments in all
Monks conclude ‘Walk for Peace’ in D.C.
By
A group of Buddhist monks reached Washington, D.C., on foot Feb. 10, walking single file across a bridge over the Potomac River to cap a 15week trek from Texas that has captivated the country.
The monks in their saffron robes have become fixtures on social media, along with their rescue dog Aloka. After spending the night of Feb. 9 at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., they crossed over the Chain Bridge into the District of Columbia shortly after 8 a.m.
on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was hit by a truck. Two monks were injured; Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan had his leg amputated.
Phommasan, abbot of a temple in Snellville, Ga., rejoined the monks in Washington and entered American University’s arena in a wheelchair.
The monks also made outdoor appearances at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 10 afternoon and the Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 11.
inaugural MLK Day “Prayer 4 Prevention” brunch, hosted by the American Legion Post 275 and held at their Glenarden facility.
Quinton, along with several members of his staff and a local pastor, spoke with the AFRO about this historic “first” and why they
of our schools. We continue to work closely with law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community partners to protect our students and ensure our schools remain places where students can learn, grow and thrive.”
Gov. Wes Moore has not yet released a full public statement, but did let the public know he was aware of the incident when it occurred Feb. 9.
“Our team is in contact with local authorities and we’re closely monitoring the situation,” Moore wrote on X. “We will share updates with the community as more information becomes available.”
Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González thanked first responders and urged for a plan to address gun violence following the shooting.
“We are shocked and heartbroken by the disturbing shooting at Wootton High School,” said FaniGonzález. “With the police investigation underway, it is paramount that we remain focused on addressing the gun violence in our community. Guns have no place in our schools.”
They walk to advocate for peace. That simple message has resonated across the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political divisions. Thousands gathered along Southern roadsides — often in unusually chilly weather — to watch the monks’ quiet procession that began in late October.
Large crowds greeted them during their two-day stay in Washington. The Metropolitan Police Department issued a traffic advisory announcing there would be “rolling road closures” along the monks’ route to ensure safety for them and spectators.
“My hope is, when this walk ends, the people we met will continue practicing mindfulness and find peace,” said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group’s soft-spoken leader who has taught about mindfulness at stops along the way.
A respectful silence greets the monks
Nearly 3,500 people packed American University’s Bender Arena for the monks’ first public stop in Washington.
But no raucous sports cheers greeted them: Spectators remained silent as they walked into the arena, as a sign of respect for the monks and their quest for peace.
Pannakara walked in with Aloka, a celebrity in his own right, who rested on a blanket that organizers had placed on the basketball court.
The trek has had its perils.
In November outside Houston, the monks were walking
“Their long journey and gentle witness invite us all to deepen our commitment to compassion and the work of peace in our communities,” said Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who helped host an interfaith reception for the monks at the cathedral.
The monks have won devoted followers along the way Nineteen monks began the 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometer) journey from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025. They came from Theravada Buddhist monasteries around the globe, led by Pannakara, who is vice president of the Fort Worth temple.
The monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies. Millions have followed them online, and crowds have greeted them at numerous venues, from a church in Opelika, Alabama, to City Hall in Richmond, Virginia.
Mark Duykers, a retired mechanical engineer who practices mindfulness, said he and his wife drove 550 miles (885 kilometers) from Ann Arbor, Mich., to Washington to see the monks.
“In these divisive times, we saw entire towns in the Bible Belt coming out for these monks — having no idea of what Buddhism is — but being uplifted and moved by it,” he said. “That’s inspirational.” A cherished tradition and ‘a spiritual offering’
Tiffany Stanley and Deepa Bharath
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Buddhist monks push forward on their Walk For Peace. Shown here, the monks as they are escorted by Metropolitan Police officers along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and Potomac River on Feb. 10.
Photo courtesy TAYAC
The Rev. Curtis Thomas III, who was once a gang member in Washington, D.C., uses his knowledge of the streets and past experiences to effectively communicate with youth.
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO
Photo courtesy TAYAC
Keli Goldsborough, a single parent and a member of TAYAC, said she supports the way Rev. Curtis Thomas III and the coalition are creatively connecting with youth.
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana Students at Thomas S. Wootton High School will have access to counseling and other services following a Feb. 9 shooting on campus.
D.C., Virginia officials on alert after confirmed measles cases
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Staff Writer vmejicanos@afro.com
The Washington, D.C. health department confirmed multiple cases of measles in the District on Feb. 8. The announcement came after the Virginia Department of Health on Feb. 6 identified a case of the measles in a patient not older than 4.
According to press releases shared by both health departments, the possible date of exposure ranges from late January to early February.
Below is a list of possible areas and dates of exposure for those in the D.C. area.
• Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located at 400 Michigan Ave. NE
Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 3:30-8 p.m.
National March for Life Rally and Concert
Friday, Jan. 23 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Catholic University of America, Garvey Hall
Saturday, Jan. 24 from 12-3 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 25 from 12-3 p.m.
• Catholic University of America, Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center
Saturday, Jan. 24 from 6-9 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 25 from 6-9 p.m.
Catholic University of America, St. Vincent de Paul Chapel
Sunday, Jan. 25 from 9 p.m.- midnight
• Washington Metro Area
Transit: Red Line Train from Brookland- CUA
station transferring at the Gallery Place- Chinatown station to the Yellow Line Train heading towards the Huntington Station Monday, Jan. 26, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Monday, Jan. 26, 12:3010:30 p.m.
Washington Metro Area
Transit: Yellow Line Train from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station transferring at the Gallery PlaceChinatown station to the Red Line Train heading towards the Glenmont station
Monday, Jan. 26, 8:3010:30 p.m.
Washington Metro Area
Transit: Red Line Train from Brookland- CUA Station heading towards Shady Grove Station
Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 1:15-3:30 p.m.
• Amtrak Concourse, Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1:306:30 p.m.
• Amtrak Northeast
Monks
Continued from A6
While in the U.S. capital, they made plans to submit a request to lawmakers to declare Vesak — Buddha’s birthday — a national holiday. But, Pannakara and others have emphasized that is not the goal of the walk. Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the temple, said the walk is neither a political movement nor is it focused on
think they
Regional Train 176, Northbound from Washington Union Station Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 4:30-8 p.m.
• Children’s National Medical Center, Emergency Department, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20010 Monday, Feb. 2, 11:15 a.m.-1:45 p.m
Listed below are all the possible dates and locations where measles exposure could have taken place in Virginia: Heathcote Health Center, located at 15195 Heathcote Blvd. in Haymarket between 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29.
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Terminal 2, located at 2401 Smith Blvd, Arlington between 12:30 pm and 10:30 pm Monday, Jan. 26.
• Washington Area Metro on Monday, Jan. 26: Red Line Train from Brookland – CUA station transferring at the Gallery Place – Chinatown station to the Yellow Line Train heading towards the Huntington Station between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Yellow Line Train from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station transferring at the Gallery Place
advocacy or legislation.
“It’s a spiritual offering, an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful
safe spaces for youth that are drug free.
Coalition
Continued from A6
believe TAYAC will make a positive difference to the Glenarden community.
– Chinatown station to the Red Line Train heading towards the Glenmont station between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
What to do in the event of possible exposure
Those who may have been exposed and have not been vaccinated should immediately report possible exposure to the appropriate department of health. According to the DC Health’s press release, residents should call their health care provider or DC Health at 844-493-2652 for more guidance.
In Virginia, residents should report their exposure to the Virginia Department of Health by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
What is measles?
According to DC Health, “Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.” The symptoms usually include a fever of more than 101 degrees, a runny nose, watery eyes and a cough. A rash begins to appear on the face and spreads three to five days after symptoms start. Those with measles are contagious before and after the rash appears.
steps and open hearts,” he said. “We believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society.”
“Their long journey and gentle witness invite us all to deepen our commitment to compassion and the work of peace in our communities.”
“The coalition’s primary focus is early age marijuana use and the abuse of non-prescription drugs,” Quinton said. “But we don’t want to lecture youth. We want to facilitate conversation and hope to accomplish our goals by distributing prevention messages through community events and popular youth culture.
was geared toward parents, community members, elected officials and police, rather than youth.
Breaking down barriers to communication
TAYAC Project Manager
Stephanie Waller said to really connect and communicate with youth, organization staff members have set their sights on securing more fluid access to the six elementary, two middle and two high schools, which serve portions of Glenarden as part of the Prince George’s County Public Schools.
“The major challenge for the coalition is improving
“We don’t want to lecture youth — we want to facilitate conversation and reach them in a simple, engaging way that makes prevention messages real and relatable.”
“We believe the best outreach strategy and the most effective way to reach our constituents is to present information in a laidback atmosphere, in a simple, engaging way, like teaching a third-grade lesson to adults.”
Quinton noted that the event, which was held on the MLK Holiday in commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday, featured several guest speakers, including Dr. Cashenna A. Cross, Glenarden mayor; the Rev. Curtis Thomas III, pastor of Stonehouse Ministry and leader of gospel go-go band, Body of Evidence; and Psalmist Lady K, member of a community-oriented go-go band, Positive Vybz Band.
However, while most of TAYAC’s future sessions will focus on maximizing youth participation, Quinton said the meeting in January
Some of the monks, including Pannakara, walked barefoot or in socks for most of the journey to feel the ground directly and be present in the moment. As they pressed on through snow and cold, they at times donned winter boots.
Peace walks are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Pannakara first encountered Aloka, an Indian Pariah dog whose name means “divine light” in Sanskrit, during a 112-day journey across India in 2022.
The monks practice and
our ability to get into the public schools,” said Waller, who added that significant progress has been made.
“The interest in our coalition’s goals, based on those who attended our inaugural event and [feedback] from the community, confirm that people support our goals and recognize their shared responsibility to our youth.”
Pastor Thomas is a former gang member of the Washington, D.C.-based “Simple City” crew. He grew up in a single-parent home and fought and armed himself to survive on the streets. He said he connected with TAYAC because of their similar objectives.
“Under the platform of my ministry and essential to the message of my go-go band is reaching youth and adults who want to live a positive,
teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha as core to attaining enlightenment. It focuses on the mind-body connection, observing breath and physical sensations to understand reality, impermanence and suffering.
On Feb. 10, the monks completed 108 days of walking. It’s a sacred number in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It represents spiritual completion, cosmic order and the wholeness of existence.
The monks’ return trip was
drug-free life,” said Thomas, whose church also supports a hip-hop group that often accompanies the minister during youth outreach initiatives.
Aside from staying drug free, TAYAC also explores other challenges facing young people, like the dangers of early sexual activity.
“When I look back at my youth, I know that many of us became sexually active in elementary school – that shocks a lot of parents today,” he said. “But that’s reality – my reality in the past, and reality today.”
“Our kids are already exposed to a lot of mature topics, especially through music,” Thomas continued. “But counter to the prevailing rhetoric – based on my own conversations and interactions with youth – more teens do not use drugs and are committed to doing the right thing.”
Keli Goldsborough, a single parent and a member of TAYAC, said she supports the way Thomas and the coalition are creatively connecting with youth.
“If we’re serious about getting our children to listen to prevention messages and then follow our advice, then we need to approach youth on their level,” Goldsborough said. “Parents sometimes find it difficult to connect and communicate with our own children, maybe because we’re too far removed from our own adolescence.That’s why I’m a volunteer with TAYAC.”
“I need to learn new strategies that I can use to better communicate with my daughter, who’s a fifth-grader. But I also need to learn how to value her opinion more,” Goldsborough said. “I need to learn how to listen.”
For more information visit www.teenandyouthalliance.org.
less arduous. After an appearance in Annapolis on Feb. 11, a bus left to take them back to Fort Worth, Texas for a 6 mile walk to the temple where their trip began.
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. This article was originally published by The Associated Press. Bharath reported from Los Angeles.
Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control, via Unsplash
Both the Washington, D.C., and Virginia departments of health are working to inform the public after incidents of possible measles exposure. Those who
may have been exposed and are unvaccinated are encouraged to call the appropriate health department.
Photo courtesy TAYAC
Jon Quinton is the executive director of a new non-profit organization, the Teen and Youth Alliance Coalition (TAYAC), based in Glenarden, Md. The group aims to secure
Hundreds come together for 66th Annual Alpha Omega Mardi Gras Ball
By Patricia
The Alpha Omega Social Action and Scholarship Foundation held its 66th Annual Alpha Omega Mardi Gras Ball on Feb. 7 in Bethesda, Md.
Over 700 people showed up to Bethesda North Marriott and Conference Center to fellowship with each other and support the men of the Alpha Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as they grow their scholarship fund. Attendees arrived in line with the Mardi Gras theme, sporting their
black-tie threads with beads, masks and ornate headdresses.
According to chapter history, the event has been in operation since 1923 and serves as a signature fundraising event that supports the Foundation’s programming in the community. In the past decade, the chapter has reported more than $200,000 in scholarships.
The Alpha Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was chartered in 1922 in Washington, D.C., just 11 years after the organization’s founding. Today, the chapter boasts more than 300 members.
All AFRO Photos / Patricia McDougall
McDougall Special to the AFRO
Brother Nathan Hunter, chairman of the Mardi Gras Committee for the Alpha Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., speaks to those gathered for the annual ball on Feb. 7 in Bethesda, Md.
Daryl Barnes, chairman of the Prince George’s County Planning Board and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), enjoys the evening with his wife, Makeba Barnes.
Shown here, Ondra Dukes (left), Angelica Melendez, Portia Williams, Marcus Moor, Ryan Williams of Seattle, Tiffany Minor and Shun Williams, a member of the host chapter.
Brother Basileus Wendell Bugg (left), Bro. Julian McCormick, James Garrett, Michael Prettyman, Bro. Gregory Boykin, Bro. Eric Johnson and Bro. Eric Carter share a moment at the ball.
Gala attendees dance the night away.
Shown here, from left to right, Howard University Queens of the Mardi Gras Court, escorted by the Omega Men: D’Nyah Jefferson-Philmore and Mark Marotta; Mackenzie Mcintyre and Noah Fitzgerald and Janasia Blake and Baxter Barber.
Alpha Omega Mardi Gras event brings together influential men from all walks of life, including Darryl D. Sims (left), founder and CEO of Sims Publishing Group, and Dr. Steven G. Johnson, executive vice-president for Events DC.
Stacey Dixon (left), Rhea Brooking-Dixon, Phoebe Dixon, Herbert Dixon and Jason Dixon show up in style.
Former Basileus Brother Frank Borris and his wife, Jill Borris get into the spirit of the Alpha Omega Mardi Gras Ball.
BALTIMORE-AREA
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore delivers 2026 State of the State
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) delivered his fourth State of the State address Feb. 11 in Annapolis, Md.
As Maryland’s first Black governor nears the end of his first term, his actions this legislative session are drawing close attention ahead of the June 23 primary and Nov. 3 general election.
During his speech he addressed administrative priorities and wins such as ensuring Maryland’s economy grows, lowering costs for Marylanders and protecting Marylanders in their communities countering wide-sweeping federal actions that are trickling down from the White House.
This annual speech aims to inform residents about the condition of the state and highlights the administration’s priorities.
Moore highlighted his administration’s successes in economic growth, public safety, education and innovation. He cited around 100,000 jobs created, a 50 percent drop in homicides statewide, artificial intelligence initiatives and the new Sphere venue in Prince George’s County, Md. Prince George’s County, Md., a majority Black county, is home to nearly 1 million people. The new Sphere venue, only the second one to be created in the U.S., is expected to bring 2,500 jobs through construction and 4,750 jobs once it’s up and running. The governor’s office projects that it will create $1 billion annually.
“Today, I’m proud to announce that Maryland is investing $4 million to give our workers hands-on training to succeed in the AI economy,” said Moore. “AI will soon be used to help Marylanders navigate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, unemployment insurance and child care subsidies.”
He also used the speech to call on the State Senate to press forward with his mid-cycle redistricting effort.
“A few months ago, I reestablished the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission,” said Moore. “Because at a time when other states are having a discussion about mid-decade redistricting, Maryland needs to be part of that conversation. After months of work, the Commission presented its recommendation.”
“The House of Delegates debated it,” said Moore. “They made adjustments, and then they passed the map. I know there’s disagreement right now between the House and the Senate. My ask is simple: Do not let the democratic process die in the free state. Debate it, discuss it, make adjustments if necessary, and put it to a vote. That’s how we settle our differences in Maryland.”
Some boos were heard in the crowd following his remarks.
The proposal follows efforts in
Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Office of the Mayor Kaeden Edwards, an organizer of the Feb. 5 walkout from Dunbar High School, leads students to Baltimore’s City Hall to protest recent immigration raids in the area.
Students protest ICE raids with walk-out
By Alexis Taylor AFRO Managing Editor
ataylor@afro.com
Moore added. “So in Maryland, we will use this moment to protect, deliver and lead.”
Senate Republican leadership shared their reactions to the governor’s speech.
“It’s telling that, with Marylanders facing skyrocketing energy bills and the highest cost of living they’ve ever seen, he spent the first 30 minutes of the speech before addressing these issues,” said Minority Whip Justin D. Ready (R-Md.-5). “When he did, his comments were tepid, offering warmed-over platitudes about what he’s been doing the past three years.”
According to David Schuhlein, director of communications for Senate President William “Bill” Ferguson (D-Md.-46), the president has echoed similar sentiments of discontent.
other Democratic-led states responding to mid-cycle redistricting moves in Republican-led states that could weaken Democratic-held congressional seats ahead of the midterm elections.
Moore also highlighted several Black educators who are leading education in Maryland as guests at the address, including Danielle Crankfield, the 2026 American School Counselor Association National Counselor of the Year; Dr. Ryan Durr, the 2026 Maryland Principal of the Year; and ALonna Soward-Puryear, the 2026 Maryland Teacher of the Year.
“At a time when the President is tearing apart the Department of Education, Maryland is delivering on our promise to have the public schools the best in the nation,” said Moore. “Dr. Ryan Durr is the Principal of Meade High School in Anne Arundel County. He is committed to academic excellence and has increased English Language Arts scores by 13 points.”
“Danielle Crankfield is a High
School Counselor with Anne Arundel County Public Schools,” added Moore. “She is on the front lines of providing support, guidance and mentorship to students at Crofton High.”
Reflecting on his tenure, Moore acknowledged missteps.
“It’s taken time to build relationships and to learn Annapolis,” he said. “I am an outsider at heart––and I don’t see that changing. I know I haven’t always made life easy for the House or the Senate. I know there are times when you have not made life easy for each other. That’s democracy.”
“It’s messy,” added Moore. “It’s combative. It’s complicated. That’s not a flaw, it’s a feature.”
Moore also took aim at the White House.
“I am more self-aware than the President of the United States,” he said. “I do not give myself an A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.”
“Washington is using this moment to attack and to limit and to retreat,”
Enoch Pratt Library held its annual 38th Black History Month Booklover’s Breakfast on Feb. 7, featuring author and NAACP Image Award finalist Angela Flournoy.
In her novel “The Wilderness,” Flournoy explores the importance of friendship through the lives of five Black women navigating a 20-year friendship.
“Friends are the family you chose, ” said Angela Flournoy. “I have two sisters, but I’ve always been on the hunt for more sisters.”
Flournoy said she was inspired to write the novel while reflecting on the death of her mother and the lifelong friendship her mother shared with a woman Flournoy considered an aunt.
lives as sisters.”
She discusses the ways in which “chosen family” have shown up to protect many social groups throughout history such as African Americans, immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Who historically has needed to choose their family most? The enslaved whose biological relations might be stolen from them at any moment,” said Flournoy. “If a child’s mother is sold away, that child might be lucky enough for a new mother to step in and raise them. Two motherless children might grow up to look after one another and call each other sisters as a result.”
“We don’t think that the governor’s speech landed, the way that he thinks it landed,” said Schuhlein. Schuhlien shared with reporters that the Senate President’s Office was not expecting for the governor to include redistricting in his speech, especially towards the top of it, appearing to signal it as a top priority.
Despite this tension, his office maintains that Ferguson will remain respectful and will take in what the administration has to say regarding this issue, but will continue forth with the Senate agenda before, as shown by the cordial handshake after the speech.
On the other hand, State Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Md.-45) applauded Moore’s leadership and how he handled the speech.
“We saw what a real leader looks like,” said Smith. “It’s not about being perfect all the time, but being able to acknowledge where you can do more and work with people on all sides of the aisles to make things happen. We don’t see that down the street in D.C., we see a lot of finger pointing.”
promote Black stories have become even more important.
“It’s a major concern for me because [of the] direct impact on people we know, especially in the school system,” said Kaeden Edwards, the student activist who helped organize
Hundreds of students across Baltimore City and Baltimore County Public Schools walked out of class to protest the tactics being used by federal agents conducting immigration raids last week. In Baltimore City, students flooded the streets on Feb. 5 as they left their school desks to speak out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and stand up for the immigrant students within their ranks.
“My mother’s mother died when she was 10,” said Flournoy. “My mother, Francine, was sent to live with her father in Southern California. She started a new school, had to make new friends. One of these friends had four brothers and no sisters. She was outgoing, a big presence, even as a child. My mother Francine was reserved, witty and logical. They were both 11 years old and they chose each other. They would spend the next 51 years living their
According to the Equal Justice Initiative, an organization dedicated to ending racial injustice, this physically brutal and inhumane enterprise devastated Black families. Roughly half of all enslaved people were separated from their spouses and parents; about one in four of those sold were children. Slaveholders threatened separation to maintain control, forcing enslaved people to live with the constant fear of losing a loved one.
As the government continues to make attempts in removing African-American history, the Black authors and bookstores who tell and
“The importance of Black owned bookstores is significant, especially at a time like this,” said Young. “First of all, there are so many institutions trying to ban books. And when you think of Black
bookstores specifically, our history has been one that has always been on the
block.”
During the event, Flournoy read pages from the first chapter of her novel and told
chopping
AFRO Photos / Kendra Bryant
Angela Flournoy is most notable for her novels “The Wilderness” and “The Turner House.” On Feb. 7, her work was spotlighted at the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s 38th Black History Month Booklovers’ Breakfast.
Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor Maryland
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore prepares to deliver his 2026 State of the State address in Annapolis, Md., outlining budget priorities and legislative goals.
Bmore Empowered shuts down after more than eight years of service
By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
Bmore Empowered, a Baltimore-based nonprofit focused on supporting Black girls and women, is closing its doors due to a lack of funding.
Established by Nazaahah Amin and Kieta Iriarte-Amin in 2017, Bmore Empowered sought to uplift girls and women of color through leadership, entrepreneurship, self-esteem building and mindfulness. Ahead of the closure announcement, the organization had temporarily paused its operations in September 2025.
In an interview with the AFRO, Iriarte-Amin explained the capital challenges they faced are common for nonprofits like theirs, particularly amid a presidential administration that has targeted equity, diversity and inclusion efforts.
“This isn’t unique to the funding landscape right now. There are many other Black women-led nonprofits around the country that are coming under attack,” said Iriarte-Amin. “Three hundred thousand Black women have been forced out of the workforce, and there’s been rolling back of anything related to diversity, equity and inclusion. I think this is really par for the course of what the intention of this administration is.”
The founders told the AFRO that their organization had always operated on a slim budget, pumping most of its revenue into programming. Bmore Empowered has also acted as a fiscal sponsor for several Black women-led organizations and as a result, some of the funding it received in recent years was designated
for those sponsored organizations rather than for Bmore Empowered’s own operations.
Once capital sources started to become scarce, Iriarte-Amin said the nonprofit had to make “the responsible decision to end programming.”
The announcement from the organization’s leadership comes amid questions about tax documents and taxpayer-funded grants. As Bmore Empowered has navigated the challenges, questions have been raised about its fiscal responsibility and several grants—some taxpayer-funded— that the organization received in recent years.
Over time, Bmore Empowered faced heightened scrutiny over receiving city-backed grants, particularly because its director of operations was Hana Scott, wife of Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott. In July 2023, Bmore Empowered was selected for the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore’s (DPOB) Black Owned and Operated Storefront Tenancy (BOOST) program. The organization subsequently received $80,000 in grant money to open a storefront at 5 N. Howard St.
This space did not open; however, Amin explained that this was because Bmore Empowered ultimately settled on a different downtown location: 344 N. Charles St., which they moved into in 2024.
“We first visited the 5 N. Howard St. property, which was adjacent to a liquor store, right on the light rail line and had pretty much zero parking there. We realized that that was not sufficient for us as far as safety measures for us as women, as well as our girls and parents,” said Amin. “ We
started to work with Downtown Partnership very closely, as well as some brokers that they were working with, and we located the 344 N. Charles St. property. We were there until the fall of last year when we, unfortunately, had to move out of that space due to lack of funding.”
Gregory Tucker, a spokesperson for DPOB, told the AFRO that DPOB maintains an internal review and monitoring process for all BOOST grantees, ensuring program requirements are met and funds are used appropriately. He also noted that no American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) or city funds were included in Bmore Empowered’s award.
“As a general practice, DPOB does not publicly release detailed expenditure documentation for individual grantees,” said Tucker. “That said, we can confirm that Bmore Empowered utilized the grant funding according to the terms and conditions of the program—namely, lease or rent costs, programming development and related operational expenses.”
According to public records, in fiscal year 2024, Bmore Empowered also received a total of $62,500 in grants from the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF), a quasi-governmental organization that is predominantly backed by taxpayer dollars. Additionally, the city’s Open Checkbook shows that the organization received $25,000 in ARPA funds in 2023, as well as $9,950 from Baltimore City’s youth employment program YouthWorks in 2024.
The founders said the BCYF grant and ARPA money was awarded to organizations
Booklover’s Breakfast
Continued from B1
the story of how she met some of her closest friends, actresses Aja Naomi King and Ashley Nicole Black.
“I went to a school that was a majority minority school in the suburbs in Los Angeles and there were two girls there who were also artsy and nerdy, Ashley and Asia,” said Flournoy. “We wanted artistic lives. We wanted to take the kinds of risks that come with being from a middle class and urban community. We stayed in each other’s lives.”
King and Black went on to participate in the narration of “The Wilderness” audiobook.
Local book clubs include
the Sistah Girl Book Club, Ebony BookEnds, Brown Girls Book Club DMV, Sistas Turning Pages and The African American Literary Guild represented Black women and the push for literacy within the community. Copies of Flournoy’s book were available for purchase through the MahoganyBooks emphasizing the importance of Black people in the literature space.
“No one can control whether our stories have significance or not, and access to those stories,” said Ramunda Young, co-owner of MahoganyBooks. “Black bookstores make access to our stories possible every single day. We are pillars in our community.”
that they fiscally sponsored, rather than for Bmore Empowered’s own programming. The YouthWorks funding was used to host a youth entrepreneurship cohort for 15 Black girls, in which they learned soft skills and participated in a pitch competition at Baltimore Unity Hall.
As of the most recent public records available, Bmore Empowered did not file a tax form for 2024. The founders confirmed they filed an extension with the IRS, which was granted. In its 2023 filing, the organization reported a net income of -$223,866.
The organization’s leadership told the AFRO they believe their financial management has been misrepresented in the media.
“We didn’t go in feet-first, not really thinking or planning things out. We went in thinking this would last for years to come, and it would be that space where Black girls in Baltimore could softly land. It hurts. We’re still processing all of this emotionally, let alone anything any community members or media are saying about us,” said Amin. “This is visceral.”
Since it launched in 2017, Bmore Empowered has served more than 3,000 Baltimore families with quarterly workshops, women’s business cohorts, afterschool programs and empowerment camps. Its programming has covered confidence building; holistic wellness; entrepreneurship; science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM); violence prevention and sexual well-being.
“We started the organization because of our love for Black women and because we know that when we are empowered, we have resources and we are living in ease, the rest of the world is living in ease,” said Amin.
Despite Bmore Empowered’s closing, both women said they have not forsaken their calling. The pair plan to continue their grassroots support of Black women and girls in their day-to-day lives.
“Our legacy is in the fact that we were able to create a physical space— a hub—for our girls and women to let their hair down, take their masks off and just be themselves. That continues.” said Amin. “We will still see our babies and our women throughout the streets, and we’ll still be in the community doing the work that we need to do individually.”
Read the full text of the letter from Bmore Empowered founders Nazaahah
Bmore Empowered Kieta Iriarte-Amin, left, and Nazaahah Amin are closing their Baltimore-based nonprofit, Bmore Empowered, which provided leadership, entrepreneurship and holistic wellness programming to Black women and girls. The organization began in 2017.
Amin and Kieta Iriarte-Amin, announcing the organization’s closure below:
February 2, 2025
Several months ago, we made the decision to temporarily pause operations. After much reflection, we’ve decided to permanently close our doors.
We value the communities we serve and want to share context for our decision.
When we founded Bmore Empowered, our goal was to create a safe and supportive space for Black girls and women. We knew this demographic had unique needs and needed consistent supportive services to help them thrive.
For instance, Black girls are more likely to be seen as less innocent, and less deserving of protection. Black women are more likely to be a victim of domestic violence and to experience Black femicide, with a femicide rate six times higher for Black women than for white women. Black women and girls are at increased risk of intimate partner violence, and sexual abuse and exploitation – over 40% of Black women experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, and over 20% experience sexual violence. This community deserves targeted support from culturally competent providers.
Our mission and goal have not changed. The need has not changed. However, 2025 has been a difficult year, not just for Bmore Empowered, but for many grassroots organizations in Baltimore and beyond. A recent study found that over 81% of nonprofits reported struggles in raising enough money to cover their costs. At the national level, this year has been punctuated by attacks on
programs that advance equity and inclusion.
We are not immune to such challenges. It has been challenging raising capital and navigating the current moment. We are sunsetting the organization for one reason only: a lack of capital sufficient to carry on our operations. And yet, as painful as this season has been for us, we know the people we serve continue to be impacted by an affordability crisis, uncertainty in the political environment, and diminished funding for lifeline programs. The broader environment makes this announcement all the more difficult.
While our organization has been covered extensively in the news, we hope our partners and clients see our hearts and appreciate our intentions. There is no shame in lacking sufficient funds to run an organization. Although there is a narrative that we have been financially irresponsible, this narrative is itself irresponsible. We have worked hard with the resources we’ve had. As a fiscal sponsor for smaller entities, we have absorbed our costs as well as that of the groups we’ve served. We did not want this outcome. We simply lacked the resources to continue in a meaningful way. For persons who value grassroots organizing and place-based work, please know that this work requires your continued support. To those who have supported us, please know that we see and appreciate you.
In Service, Nazaahah Amin, Kieta Iriarte-Amin Bmore Empowered
Photo courtesy of Bmore Empowered
Young women from Baltimore participate in Bmore Empowered’s 2025 summer camp at the organization’s 344 N. Charles St. location. Over the course of its history, the nonprofit has served more than 300 Baltimore families.
Photo courtesy of
students at Dunbar High School. “[There have] been sightings around the outside of our schools, and it’s a school down the block from us that has had ICE sightings. We’ve had people taken by ICE and forcefully subdued by ICE, so it’s definitely hitting closer than we realize and what we want it to be.”
Using social media, the Dunbar students were able to organize a walk-out that culminated with students from multiple schools lifting their voices in front of Baltimore City Hall.
“It was monumental,” said Edwards, 17, “I was really proud of the students that came together.”
Edwards told the AFRO he was inspired after seeing the Jan. 30 protest that took place at the George H. Fallon Federal Building, after a leaked video exposed the harsh conditions faced by immigrants detained at the facility in downtown Baltimore.
Mass demonstrations against the arrests, holding conditions, deportations and shootings have only increased since the Dec. 31, 2025 death of Keith Porter Jr. at the hands of an off-duty ICE agent, and the killings of protestors Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota on Jan. 7 and Jan. 24, respectively.
In Maryland, residents have decried the increased immigration raids, with ICE activity seen in Baltimore County and in the Highlandtown area of Baltimore City.
“It affects the way our
classmates–whose family are being taken– so it affects people currently sitting in the classroom,” said Edwards.
Though they originally planned their walk out for late January, students in Baltimore County held their walk-out for Feb. 6 after heavy snow blanketed the area on Jan. 24.
The students marched against the wishes of local leaders, who publicly denounced the demonstrations being held during school hours.
“This type of activity has no place in the Baltimore County school system,” said Baltimore County Rep. Nino Mangione (R-District 42A), in a Feb. 5 letter to Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers. “People are certainly welcome to protest (misguided or not), express their opinions etc. but these activities should be reserved for outside the school system.”
Schools across Baltimore County began releasing a canned message that said district and school officials “do not organize, sponsor, or grant permission for student walkouts or demonstrations during the school day. At the same time, they recognize that students may choose to exercise their First Amendment rights in ways that are meaningful to them.”
Undeterred, the students moved forward with their plan.
At exactly 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 6, students began to stream out of Owings Mills High School carrying signs that read “Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants” and “ICE is just KKK spelled
differently.”
Chanting slogans of “ICE out,” the students marched onto South Tollgate Road before returning to campus and circling the building.
Police blocked off entrances to the school campus with their squadcars and teachers were stationed at different points around the building to ensure safety.
At other high schools around the county, students took to main arteries of the area, including York Road.
Baltimore County Police Department reported one student arrest during the mass walk-out, which was staggered between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
“I’m so proud of this generation. These students see the wrong in this world and [are] moving to make a change,” said Imani Hawkins, in a social media post sharing footage of the Feb. 6 protest. “I am proud to say that my old high school protested for the greater good and is making their voice heard.”
The students who walked out of class in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County appeared in all colors, representing a multitude of ethnicities and backgrounds.
Edwards spoke on the notion that Black people should not get involved in the protests against the immigration raids and the treatment of those detained. His belief was simple:
“If something was happening to us and we were in their shoes, we would love their support, so we need to show that to them, and show that we stand with them,” he said.
AFRO Photo / Alexis Taylor
Hundreds of students walk out of class at Owings Mills High School on Feb. 6 as part of a mass protest from Baltimore County Public Schools against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Single in the City: Swipe fatigue and choosing yourself this Valentine’s Day
By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO
Valentine’s Day has become the romantic equivalent of matching Christmas pajamas.
Somewhere along the way, having a Valentine stopped being about love and started being about proof—proof that someone chose you, proof that you’re “enough” and desirable, proof that you have something, someone to post about on social media. Flowers by noon, dinner reservations by 8 and a caption by 9. And if you don’t? Society quietly asks, “What went wrong?”
That pressure feels especially heavy in a dating culture shaped by apps and algorithms. Swipe fatigue isn’t just about being tired of online dating; it’s about being tired of the cycle. Reintroducing yourself. Restarting conversations. Feeling hopeful one week and detached the next. Watching effort outpace results while Valentine’s Day looms like a deadline you didn’t agree to.
This year, I chose to step back. I haven’t swiped since November. Not because I’ve given up on real connection or even love, but because I was done forcing connections to meet a moment. Online dating once felt like an opportunity. For many of us now, it feels like emotional labor with inconsistent returns. The abundance of options hasn’t created clarity; it’s created exhaustion. When swipe fatigue collides with Valentine’s pressure, the message becomes distorting, like maybe you’re doing something wrong, so you swipe more. Try harder. Lower standards. Reevaluate your list. Entertain situations we’d normally pass on—all to avoid being alone on the most coupled-centered day of the year. Alone is not the problem. Performing is. Valentine’s Day has quietly shifted from a celebration of connection to a public measure of it. Love now feels like something to display, not just experience, and if you don’t have a dinner date,
a gift or a photo to post, it can feel like you’ve fallen behind.
This year, intentionally, my Valentine’s Day will be solo or it may be dinner with a few of my single friends, sharing stories and good food, for a good ole’ Galentine’s Day! Either way, it’ll be my personal reset and intention is power.
If swipe fatigue has you questioning love, worth or timing consider this your reset, too:
You’re allowed to pause.
Rest is a part of discernment, not a failure.
You don’t owe just anyone access to you.
Clarity will always serve you better than availability.
Dating apps are tools, not truth.
They measure exposure, not compatibility or readiness.
Opt out of performative love.
Real connection doesn’t require an audience.
Choose yourself on purpose. Self-love isn’t avoidance, it’s alignment.
how to change dating habits to
Valentine’s Day will pass.
The noise will quiet down. And when the season shifts, maybe in spring, you’ll be clearer, reset and open in a
way that actually serves you.
Swipe fatigue is your signal to reset, not retreat.
This Valentine’s Day, restore your joy and protect
your peace and trust that when spring arrives, so will a connection aligned with who you are now – unforced, intentional and worth the wait!
What to know about dating and companionship after 60
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Staff Writer vmejicanos@afro.com
Dating can provide renewed confidence and companionship, but as time passes, returning to the dating scene after divorce or widowhood can appear intimidating. Modern dating, online scams and emotional unavailability or stagnancy have created new challenges that experts say should be approached with community, caution and patience.
Lauren Sanders is an elite Black matchmaker and the CEO of the Love Crush Agency. She works with clients in their 60s and beyond to help them adapt to the current dating scene.
“Things have changed so much since the last time they were single,” said Sanders. “They typically do come to us for guidance, for support and prayerfully for a database that has what they’re looking for, but their biggest problem is just not knowing how to navigate dating culture.”
Sanders said social media has encouraged superficial dating habits, even among older adults, and that “swipe culture” now affects dating both online and offline.
In her interview with the AFRO, she gave the following advice: “You don’t want to focus on things that are going to be temporary. It’s nice to have something good to look at, but we’re all going
to change eventually. So I think the individual should focus more on values and personality and character traits and all of that, because that’s what’s going to help sustain your relationship in the long term.”
While dating culture has shifted, health experts say it’s just as important to evaluate emotional readiness and support systems as it is to navigate dating expectations.
Arita McCoy is a nurse practitioner at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, where she works in the Center for Successful Aging.
“People have to mentally process the loss [of their previous partners] first before they move on to trying to find a companion,” said McCoy. “I think we also talk a lot about grief counseling and other things and that doesn’t have to just be from a death, but it
can be from a divorce, or we often see spouses that have to leave the home because they need more care or care in a different way. If they have memory loss or dementia and other things that have changed their ability to be a partner, then that also is a loss that a person experiences. The emotional processing of that is important.”
McCoy also emphasized the importance of
community, as faith and extended family can help people move through loss, but can also be there to support them if needed on their journey to find a companion.
McCoy said others can be helpful in spotting red flags in dating and help people avoid scams.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most recent Elder Fraud Report, more than 6,700 people
over age 60 lost nearly $367 million to “sweetheart scams” in 2023.
Lindsey Eldridge, the chief of public affairs at the Baltimore Police Department, shared advice in an email sent to the AFRO
“First dates should be done in a public place, never at the person’s home or your home,” wrote Eldridge. “Tell someone where you are going and who you’re meeting. Make sure you advise a friend when you arrive at your destination and when you are leaving. Make sure you drive yourself or make your own travel arrangements. Send a photo of the person you are meeting to a friend and advise them where you met him or her. Meet during day[light] hours.” If residents suspect they are being scammed, they should immediately stop contact and file a complaint with the dating app if it occurs online, Eldridge further advised. If banking information has already been shared a police report should be filed.
McCoy said although dating with aging can come with challenges and stigma, it doesn’t mean people should give up.
“It’s just deciding what’s worth your time, what’s worth your energy, what’s worth your heart and your emotions and just prioritizing what’s important to you,” said McCoy. “Knowing that that can and will change over time and that’s OK.”
Courtesy photo
This week, Ericka Alston Buck shares ideas on
avoid overload and fatigue this Valentine’s Day.
Unsplash/Nappy
Experts urge older adults exploring modern dating to move slowly, stay connected to trusted loved ones and remain alert to online scams.
Relationship experts and couples say romance doesn’t need grand gestures to thrive
By Cheyanne Mumphrey
Single in the City: Swipe fatigue and choosing yourself this Valentine’s Day
By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO
Doing something romantic for Valentine’s Day does not need to involve a heart-shaped box of chocolates, roses or an atypically expensive dinner, according to relationship experts.
Valentine’s Day has become the romantic equivalent of matching Christmas pajamas.
In fact, therapists encourage couples craving intimacy and a deeper connection to focus less on grand gestures and more on expressing love with mundane acts that recognize what matters to their partner.
Somewhere along the way, having a Valentine stopped being about love and started being about proof—proof that someone chose you, proof that you’re “enough” and desirable, proof that you have something, someone to post about on social media. Flowers by noon, dinner reservations by 8 and a caption by 9. And if you don’t?
Society quietly asks, “What went wrong?”
That pressure feels especially heavy in a dating culture shaped by apps and algorithms. Swipe fatigue isn’t just about being tired of online dating; it’s about being tired of the cycle. Reintroducing yourself. Restarting conversations. Feeling hopeful one week and detached the next. Watching effort outpace results while Valentine’s Day looms like a deadline you didn’t agree to.
Romance is not one size fits all. For some people, it means holding hands, opening a car door or drawing a bath for their lover. Others respond to receiving a hilarious text, coffee in bed or an offer to run a nagging errand. Either way, demonstrating kindness and care in small ways over time helps to support relationships as they evolve, says Traci Lee, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Dallas.
“The more that early on, you as a couple are able to establish good habits of whatever romance is going to look like for you, the better it is,” Lee said.
Couples counselors and people in relationships share ideas for showing a romantic partner love throughout the year:
This year, I chose to step back. I haven’t swiped since November. Not because I’ve given up on real connection or even love, but because I was done forcing connections to meet a moment. Online dating once felt like an opportunity. For many of us now, it feels like emotional labor with inconsistent returns. The abundance of options hasn’t created clarity; it’s created exhaustion. When swipe fatigue collides with Valentine’s pressure, the message becomes distorting, like maybe you’re doing something wrong, so you swipe more. Try harder. Lower standards. Reevaluate your list. Entertain situations we’d normally pass on—all to avoid being alone on the most coupled-centered day of the year.
Gambrell said. “No matter how busy or what happens in the world, me and my husband have a mandatory date night. And every single date night, we leave the date energized and happy and grateful, and reminded what means the most to us.”
Taking the pressure off Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day carries a heavy burden of social pressures, fantasies from movies and books, and individual desires and expectations that often go unexpressed. All can be managed with planning and communication, experts say.
a gift or a photo to post, it can feel like you’ve fallen behind.
This year, intentionally, my Valentine’s Day will be solo or it may be dinner with a few of my single friends, sharing stories and good food, for a good ole’ Galentine’s Day! Either way, it’ll be my personal reset and intention is power.
If swipe fatigue has you questioning love, worth or timing consider this your reset, too:
You’re allowed to pause.
Alone is not the problem.
“Some people will say, ‘If I have to tell my partner what to do, then it won’t be romantic.’ But I have to remind people that their partner is not a mind reader,” Lee said. “I try to blow up the myth that romance can only happen if it’s created spontaneously out of thin air.”
Performing is. Valentine’s Day has quietly shifted from a celebration of connection to a public measure of it. Love now feels like something to display, not just experience, and if you don’t have a dinner date,
Rest is a part of discernment, not a failure.
You don’t owe just anyone access to you.
Clarity will always serve you better than availability.
Dating apps are tools, not truth.
They measure exposure, not compatibility or readiness.
Romance is constantly evolving
By Victoria Mejicanos
Staff Writer
AFRO
vmejicanos@afro.com
Early in a relationship, it doesn’t take much to show romantic intentions, but that changes as couples learn more about each other as individuals, discover what their partner needs for emotional and physical well-being, and experience life together.
Dating can provide renewed confidence and companionship, but as time passes, returning to the dating scene after divorce or widowhood can appear intimidating. Modern dating, online scams and emotional unavailability or stagnancy have created new challenges that experts say should be approached with community, caution and patience.
Lauren Sanders is an elite Black matchmaker and the CEO of the Love Crush Agency. She works with clients in their 60s and beyond to help them adapt to the current dating scene.
Gambrell, who describes herself as a planner by nature, says she typically starts asking her husband questions about their plans for Feb. 14 days before. Making assumptions about the best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day and comparisons with other couple’s relationships are likely to lead to disappointment, she said.
“Love is not perfect.
“Depending on what stage of the relationship you’re in, romance can mean different things.”
“Depending on what stage of the relationship you’re in, romance can mean different things,” Lee said. For example, couples with parenting and caregiving responsibilities have less time to devote to each other than they did during the honeymoon phases right after they started dating or got married.
“Things have changed so much since the last time they were single,” said Sanders. “They typically do come to us for guidance, for support and prayerfully for a database that has what they’re looking for, but their biggest problem is just not knowing how to navigate dating culture.” Sanders said social media has encouraged superficial dating habits, even among older adults, and that “swipe culture” now affects dating both online and offline.
In her interview with the AFRO, she gave the following advice: “You don’t want to focus on things that are going to be temporary. It’s nice to have something good
Gabrielle Gambrell, who lives in New York with her husband of seven years and their two children, thinks romance “should be an evolution” and therefore takes work. One piece of advice she received before getting married stuck with her: Never stop dating.
“You keep romance alive by continuously dating,”
Opt out of performative love.
Real connection doesn’t require an audience.
Choose yourself on purpose. Self-love isn’t avoidance, it’s alignment.
meaningful holidays, anniversaries and birthdays, others say that creating rituals to mark new seasons or weekends are equally valuable as part of the foundation for merging lifestyles and routines.
your
Lee says she often explains to her clients a popular analogy in the counseling industry: If you get in a fight with your partner and apolo-
adding that in his dating experience some people see his gentlemanly behavior as old-fashioned. “I do little things like that, and they’re looked at as superbly impactful. We don’t do this anymore. But to me, baby, this is basics.”
Express love beyond February
me,” she said.
Smith encourages people to not be afraid of expressing love regardless of how experienced a dating life or how long a relationship they have.
Arita McCoy is a nurse practitioner at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, where she works in the Center for Successful Aging.
“Do not be afraid to love in your own way,” he said. “It’s always worth it. You always win in the end.”
While some relationship experts recommend establishing traditions around
to change eventually. So I think the individual should focus more on values and personality and character traits and all of that, because that’s what’s going to help sustain your relationship in the long term.” While dating culture has shifted, health experts say it’s just as important to evaluate emotional readiness and support systems as it is to
This article was originally published by The Associated Press.
“People have to mentally process the loss [of their previous partners] first before they move on to trying to find a companion,” said McCoy. “I think we also talk a lot about grief counseling and other things and that doesn’t have
– unforced, intentional and worth the wait!
What to know about dating and companionship after 60
over age 60 lost nearly $367 million to “sweetheart scams” in 2023. Lindsey Eldridge, the chief of public affairs at the Baltimore Police Department, shared advice in an email sent to the AFRO
“First dates should be done in a public place, never at the person’s home or your home,” wrote Eldridge. “Tell someone where you are going and who you’re meeting. Make sure you advise a friend when you arrive at your destination and when you are leaving. Make sure you drive yourself or make your own travel arrangements. Send a photo of the person you are meeting to a friend and advise them where you met him or her. Meet during day[light] hours.”
The AFRO Archives are a resource born out of love for our culture, our history and the desire to share this knowledge with the world. What ’s sweeter than that? This Black History Month and Valentine ’s Day, show us some love with a taxdeductible donation to support our work Donate today at afrocharities org /donate
can be from a divorce, or we often see spouses that have to leave the home because they need more care or care in a different way. If they have memory loss or dementia and other things that have changed their ability to be a partner, then that also is a loss that a person experiences. The emotional processing of that is important.” McCoy also empha-
community, as faith and extended family can help people move through loss, but can also be there to support them if needed on their journey to find a companion. McCoy said others can be helpful in spotting red flags in dating and help people avoid scams. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most recent Elder Fraud Re-
If residents suspect they are being scammed, they should immediately stop contact and file a complaint with the dating app if it occurs online, Eldridge further advised. If banking information has already been shared a police report should be filed.
McCoy said although dating with aging can come with challenges and stigma, it doesn’t mean people should give up.
“It’s just deciding what’s worth your time, what’s worth your energy, what’s worth your heart and your emotions and just prioritizing what’s important to you,” said McCoy. “Knowing that that can and will change over
This Valentine’s Day, don’t break the bank with meaningless tokens of love. Experts say engaging in low-cost or free activities that foster deeper connection, show kindness or offer support could be the most romantic move of all.
Valentine’s Day will pass. The noise will quiet down. And when the season shifts, maybe in spring, you’ll be clearer, reset and open in a
way that actually serves you. Swipe fatigue is your signal to reset, not retreat.
This Valentine’s Day, restore your joy and protect
peace and trust that when spring arrives, so will a connection aligned with who you are now
Courtesy photo
This week, Ericka Alston Buck shares ideas on how to change dating habits to avoid overload and fatigue this Valentine’s Day.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
ADMINISTRATION NO.
2024ADM000974
ANN MARIE BROWN Name of Decedent
LEONARD W. JONES, ESQ. 5827 ALLENTOWN ROAD CAMP SPRINGS, MD 20746 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
ANDREA BROWN whose address is 9364 DARCY ROAD, UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20774 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ANN MARIE BROWN who died on SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 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.
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000005 DELOIS GIBSON VANDERHALL Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs MITCHELL VANDERHALL SR. whose address is 5623 8TH ST., NW, WASHINGTON DC, 20011 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DELOIS GIBSON VANDERHALL who died on SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 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 JULY 30, 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 JULY 30, 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: JANUARY 30, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
MITCHELL VANDERHALL SR. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 01.30, 02.06,02.13.26
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM001362 JOHN MAULL HERITAGE Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs JOHN DOWN HERITAGE whose address is 13 E. WASHINGTON ST. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
80907 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHN MAULL HERITAGE who died on MARCH 8, 2022 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 JULY 30, 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 JULY 30, 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: JANUARY 30, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
JOHN DOWN HERITAGE Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 01.30, 02.06,02.13.26
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM000037 RONALD SCOTT WOOD Name of Decedent JUNE CHUN-JU FAN 1300 L STREET NW SUITE 975 WASHINGTON DC 20005 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs LAURA WOOD LOKEY whose address is 11800 CR 563 PRINCETON, TX 75407 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of RONALD SCOTT WOOD who died on MARCH 3,
3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before AUGUST 13, 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
name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: FEBRUARY 13, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers LAURA WOOD LOKEY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 02.13,02.20,
HERBERT L. SAMUELS Name of Decedent RASHIDA I SIMS 1629 K ST. NW, SUITE 300 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs HERBERT W. SAMUELS whose
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM001389 JOSIE MEEKS AKA
JOSIE WINIFRED MEEKS Name of Decedent
CHARLES E. WALTON ESQ. 10905 FORT WASHINGTON ROAD, SUITE 201 FORT WASHINGTON, MD 20744 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs LESLIE BRANSON whose address is 9301 IVANHOE ROAD, FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND 20744 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOSIE MEEKS AKA JOSIE WINIFRED MEEKS who died on APRIL 25, 2022 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 JULY 30, 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 JULY 30, 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: JANUARY 30, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
LESLIE C. BRANSON Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 01.30, 02.06,02.13.26
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2026FEP000010 MARCH 15, 2025 Date of Death
LINDA V. HENDRICKS AKA
LINDA VICTORIA HENDRICKS Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS VANESSA EDWARDS whose address is 5309 1/2 WAKEFIELD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 191442311 was appointecd representative of the estate of LINDA V. HENDRICKS AKA LINDA VICTORIA HENDRICKS deceased by the ORPHAN’S Court for PRINCE GEOREGE’S County, State of MARYLAND, on OCTOBER 15, 2025, Service of process may be made upon DAVID DIXON 336 N. 16TH STREET, NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20002 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property 214 OKLAHOMA AVENUE, NE, WASHINGTON DC 20002.The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills for the District of Columbia, Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.
Date of first publication: FEBRUARY 06, 2026 Name of newspaper, and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO-American
VANESSA EDWARDS Personal Reperesenative TRUE
OF
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM1417 LARRY C. LELAND Name of Decedent NATALIE S.WALKER ESQ
1101 CONNETICUT AVENUE, NW, SUITE 402 WASHINGTON, DC 20036 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
DANIEL LELAND whose address is 7352 THOMAS GRANT DRIVE, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22315 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LARRY C. LELAND who died on JUNE 12, 2013 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 JULY 30, 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 JULY 30, 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: JANUARY 30, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
DANIEL LELAND Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 01.30, 02.06,02.13.26
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM001428 GERTRUDE BENJAMIN Name of Decedent
LEONARD W. JONES, ESQ. 5827 ALLENTOWN ROAD CAMP SPRING, MD 20746 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
GINA BENJAMIN whose address is 1629 E STREET, NE, #1, WASHINGTON, DC 20002 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of GERTRUDE BENJAMIN who died on JUNE 28, 2023 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 JULY 30, 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 JULY 30, 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: JANUARY 30, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers GINA BENJAMIN Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 01.30, 02.06,02.13.26
first publication: FEBRUARY 06, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers INEZ ESTELLE BAKER Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 02.06,02.13,02.20.26
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM001388 LOLA DODSON AKA LOLA MAE DODSON Name of Decedent CHARLES E. WALTON, ESQ 10905 FORT WASHINGTON ROAD, SUITE 201 FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND 20744 Attorney Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs MATTHEW A. RICHBURG whose address is 3921 26TH AVENUE, TEMPLE HILLS, MD 20748 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LOLA DODSON AKA LOLA MAE DODSON who died on JULY 30, 2021 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 JULY 30, 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 JULY 30, 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: JANUARY 30, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
MATTHEW A. RICHBURG Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 01.30, 02.06,02.13.26
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2026ADM00058 RICARDO FEATHERSTONE Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs ERNESTINE FEATHERSTONE whose address is 9911 STONEWOOD CT, UPPER MARLBORO MD 20772 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of RICARDO FEATHERSTONE who died on DECEMBER 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 August 13, 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 August 13, 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: February 13, 2026 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers Ricardo Featherstone Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 02.13, 02.20, 02.27.26
