Afro e-Edition 03-28-2025 by AFRO News

MARCH 29, 2025 - APRIL 4, 2025

George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who became a beloved champion, dies at 76

By Greg Beacham

George Foreman became the heavyweight champion of the world in his 20s, only to lose his belt to Muhammad Ali in perhaps the most memorable fight in boxing history.

A full 20 years later in 1994, the 45-year-old Foreman became the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship, throwing one perfect combination to steal Michael Moorer’s title in an epic upset.

Few fighters ever had more big moments than Big George Foreman — and even after he finally left the ring, he was only getting started.

The fearsome heavyweight, who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Ali before his inspiring second act as a surprising champion and a successful businessman, died the night of March 21. Foreman was 76.

Foreman’s family announced his death on social media, not saying how or where he died.

“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,” his family wrote. “A humanitarian, an Olympian and twotime heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name—for his family.”

A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear and awe as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt.

Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening.

The middle-aged fighter then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts

in boxing history, flooring Moorer — 19 years his junior — with a surgical right hand and claiming Moorer’s two heavyweight belts. Foreman’s 20 years is easily the longest gap between heavyweight title reigns.

“His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten,” former heavyweight champion of the world, Mike Tyson, said on X, formerly Twitter, as he expressed his condolences.

Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times — finishing 76-5 with 68 knockouts — before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.

Outside the ring, he was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which launched in the same year as his victory over Moorer. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did.

“George was a great

Protests against rollback of rights and protections set for April 5

By Stacy M. Brown

Tens of thousands of people in the United States and around the world are preparing to take to the streets on Saturday, April 5, in what organizers are calling the largest single day of protest since Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term. With more than 600 events planned across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and multiple international cities, the message is unified and urgent: Hands off our rights, our resources, and our democracy.

In London, demonstrators will gather in Trafalgar Square from 3 to 5 p.m. BST, joining the movement alongside Americans, Canadians, Brits and others from around the world.

“They’re threatening to invade Canada, Greenland, and Panama—and daring the world to stop them. Well, this is the world saying ‘NO,’” organizers said. “This is a crisis, and the time to act is now.”

In the United States, the centerpiece protest is scheduled for Washington, D.C., where thousands are expected to convene at the Washington

Monument at noon for a massive rally on the National Mall.

Organizers say the protests are a response to Trump and congressional Republicans’ efforts to gut essential programs like healthcare, Social Security, public education and civil rights protections— moves that have sparked nationwide outrage.

“This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy

One year later: Residents and business owners continue recovery efforts from Key Bridge collapse

By Tashi McQueen

Staff Writer

AFRO

tmcqueen@afro.com and Megan Sayles

AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com

Nearly a year ago, the Dali container ship lost power and struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the structure to plunge into the Patapsco River at 1:29 a.m. on March 26, 2025. At the time of the collision, eight construction workers were filling potholes on the bridge and were sent crashing into the water. Only two survived. The disaster temporarily halted access to the Port of Baltimore, the leading U.S. port for automobiles, farm machinery, sugar and gypsum. For 11 weeks, salvage teams

“I heard it collapse. I didn’t know it was the bridge. I thought it was a bad truck accident on the access road.”

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

A global protest is planned for cities around the world on April 5. In America, unrest has been growing for weeks as funding cuts to programs tied to health, education and more are put into effect. Shown here, protestors speaking up on behalf of veterans in Detroit, Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md-04) (center) standing up for fired federal workers in Washington, D.C., and University of California, Berkeley Professor Ula Taylor (right) as she speaks against decisions recently made by the 47th president of the United States.

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

AFRO Photo / James Fields Baltimoreans like businesswoman Courtney Speed are still feeling the impact of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

AP Photo Heavyweight champion George Foreman responds to cheers of crowd in stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire Oct 26, 1974, during a weigh in for his title defense against Muhammad Ali.

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Could General Lloyd Austin III have survived leaking war plans?

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By Stacy M. Brown

The question being asked all over social media, in homes, offices and even behind closed doors in Washington: If former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had leaked war plans over Signal, would Republicans already be demanding his resignation?

“Imagine the uproar if Lloyd Austin had been discussing war plans over Signal and inadvertently added a journalist,” said political strategist Chris D. Jackson, not mincing words. “We’d be hearing calls for impeachment by now. The double standards are astounding.”

Austin, a Black four-star general and career military leader, was fired by Donald Trump and labeled a “DEI hire.” Now, Trump’s national security team is under scrutiny for something far worse — and the silence from many corners is deafening.

According to The Atlantic, editor-in-chief

Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to an 18-member Signal group chat that included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Vice President JD Vance; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and others. The group, created by Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz, was discussing a pending U.S. military strike against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The White House confirmed the Signal messages reported by The Atlantic appear authentic. The leak may have violated multiple Pentagon security protocols. Defense Department rules prohibit using messaging apps like Signal to transmit, process, or access non-public DoD information.

Vice President Vance, in the chat, questioned the political risk of launching the strike. He worried about “a moderate to severe spike in oil prices” and whether the operation’s timing was a “mistake.” He went further: “I just hate bailing Europe out again.”

Hegseth responded, “I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. It’s PATHETIC. I think we should go.”

Goldberg said he received Waltz’s Signal invite and immediately notified officials. Hegseth’s response wasn’t to explain how such a breach occurred but to attack Goldberg, calling him “a deceitful, discredited so-called journalist.” That attack drew even more criticism.

What is glioblastoma, the aggressive brain cancer that killed former U.S. Rep. Mia Love?

By Hannah Schoenbaum

The death March 23 of former U.S. Rep. Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. House, has brought renewed attention to an aggressive form of brain cancer that killed her at age 49.

The former lawmaker from Utah had undergone treatment for glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor, and received immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial. Her daughter said earlier this month that she was no longer responding to treatment.

Love died at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, according to a statement shared by the family.

Who was Mia Love?

Love, born Ludmya Bourdeau, was a daughter of Haitian immigrants and a pioneering Republican congresswoman who represented Utah on Capitol Hill from 2015 to 2019.

She entered politics in 2003 after winning a seat on the city council in Saratoga Springs, 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City, and later became the city’s mayor. While in that role, Love spoke at the 2012 Republican National Convention and drew rousing cheers with her criticisms of then-President Barack Obama.

That year, she narrowly lost a bid for the House against the Democratic incumbent. She ran again two years later and

“This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor.

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the incident “an egregious failure of operational security and common sense.”

“American lives are on the line,” Reed said. “The carelessness shown by Trump’s Cabinet is stunning and dangerous. I will be seeking answers from the administration immediately.”

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said if a lower-level official had done what’s being reported, “they would likely lose their clearance and be subject to criminal investigation. The American people deserve answers.”

Republicans have also voiced concern. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters, “We’re very concerned about it, and we’ll be looking into it on a bipartisan basis.”

Senate Majority Whip John Thune added, “We’ve got to run it to the ground, figure out what went on there.”

The National Security Council is investigating how Goldberg’s number ended up in the Signal group. Under the Biden administration, officials were allowed to download Signal on government-issued phones but instructed never to use it for classified conversations. Signal is end-to-end encrypted and considered safer than regular texting, but it isn’t secure for national security discussions. Pentagon regulations prohibit it from classified or sensitive content. Google’s threat intelligence team has also warned that Russia’s intelligence services have ramped up attempts to target Signal users in government and military circles.

Gun violence survivor and elected official Brandon Wolf said the response would look very different if the officials involved weren’t White and connected to Trump.

“If it were Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, and Kamala Harris in a sloppy Signal chat,” he said, “[Trump] would be first in line demanding their resignations.”

This article was published by Black Press USA.

defeated a first-time candidate by about 7,500 votes, becoming the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress.

Love was briefly considered a rising star in the GOP, but her power within the party petered out as President Donald Trump took hold. Love kept her distance from Trump and called him out in 2018 for vulgar comments he made about immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and some African nations. Later that year, she lost in the midterm elections as Democrats surged.

How did Love die?

Love was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022. She said her doctors estimated she had only 10-15 months to live, but she surpassed that.

She described during a speaking engagement in Salt Lake City how she discovered the tumor. Love said she was on vacation with her family and developed a bad headache when the plane landed. When she went to the beach, the sun’s reflection on the water made her headache unbearable. Her husband brought her to the hospital, and a series of X-rays revealed a tumor in her brain.

Love rushed home to Utah and had surgery to remove about 95 percent of the tumor. Biopsy results revealed it was cancerous and likely to spread to surrounding brain tissue.

She entered a clinical trial at Duke University’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center in Durham, North Carolina, that involved using her body’s

immune system to attack the tumor. At first, the tumor shrank, but eventually it stopped responding to treatments.

What is glioblastoma?

“Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain tumor that’s known to mankind, and there is no cure for it,” said Dr. Yasmeen Rauf, a neuro-oncologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who treats the disease. “It keeps mutating. No matter what you do, it always comes back.”

A glioblastoma is a fast-growing glioma, a type of tumor that arises from glial cells, which protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

While there is no known cure, aggressive treatments such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and other targeted therapies may slow the growth of the tumor. Even if a surgeon is able to remove all that can be seen, Rauf said there are typically still some tumor cells left in the brain that cannot be seen and will multiply quickly.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File

In this Sept. 16, 2015, photo, U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Lloyd Austin III, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington.

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer Mia Love, the Republican nominee in Utah’s 4th congressional district, smiles after speaking during a rally in Lehi, Utah, Oct. 8, 2014. Love died on March 23 from brain cancer.

Protests

for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies,” organizers in D.C. said. “Alongside Americans across the country, we are marching, rallying, and protesting to demand a stop to the chaos and build an opposition movement against the looting of our country.”

Demonstrations are planned from coast to coast in cities including Buffalo, New York; Columbus, Georgia; Hollywood, Florida; Guilford, Connecticut; York, Pennsylvania; Ames, Iowa; Conroe, Texas; and throughout California, where organizers are uniting for largescale actions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. From early morning rallies to afternoon

Key Bridge

worked to remove roughly 50,000 tons of the structure’s concrete and steel from the channel. On June 10, 2024, access to the shipping channel was fully restored.

Though rebuilding efforts are underway, communities remain disconnected. Arthur Alexander, a resident of Baltimore County’s Turner Station neighborhood, recalled the day the bridge fell.

“I heard it collapse,” said Alexander. “I didn’t know it was the bridge. I thought it was a bad truck accident on the access road.”

Alexander, 73, said he found out what that noise was when a relative called and notified him that the bridge had collapsed. Upon realizing it had collapsed, Alexander said he immediately thought it would be a problem. And it was.

With the structure down, businesses that relied on bridge traffic have been disconnected from their regular customers. With no bridge, truck traffic has been rerouted to the neighboring communities’ streets, including Turner Station, a historically Black neighborhood. Traffic on the major surrounding roads has significantly increased, as big trucks have been forced to join the regular volume of private and commercial traffic through the city.

“Sometimes it takes me almost a half hour to get from the East Avenue ramp to Moravia Road, where it usually takes five minutes,” said Alexander.

Gloria Nelson, president of the Turner Station Conservation Teams, spoke to how Black residents in the area have been impacted.

“It has isolated the community a little more. We don’t have that connection,” said Nelson, as the bridge provided quicker ways to get around the city and county.

Her organization is working to revitalize Turner Station, which is the largest, historic African-American community in Baltimore County. With the attention brought by the disaster, she hopes the community’s concerns are prioritized.

“Hopefully, we can gain some additional partners to help with needs,” said Nelson. The community already has partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Maryland Department of Transportation

marches, the protests will take many forms— town halls, digital campaigns, and street demonstrations—all grounded in a commitment to nonviolent resistance.

“I am welcoming you all to the fight,” said University of California, Berkeley professor of African American studies, Ula Taylor. “It is a fight that can be summed up in five words: academic freedom is under assault.”

Organizers say the April 5 movement builds on growing frustration with the Trump administration’s agenda. The Crowd Counting Consortium reported over 2,085 protests nationwide in February 2025, a sharp rise from the 937 recorded in February 2017. During a recent week-long congressional recess, more than 500 events were held across the country, often in districts where elected officials avoided meeting constituents.

and Tradepoint Atlantic, which owns property across the water from the community.

A legacy at risk

Courtney Speed is the 85-year-old owner of the last remaining African-American owned business in Turner Station. She started her shop, Speed’s Barber and Beauty, with her late husband in the 1960s.

Speed noted that her business faced challenges even before the collapse.

“The detriment for our barber and beauty salon is that the majority of our clients are gone. The styles of hair now are nowhere near the shampoo, press and curl,” said Speed. “Eventually, we want to repurpose the barber and beauty shop as a museum on the day’s that we’re off because right now, we don’t even have a full day of work.”

While the collapse of the Key Bridge illuminated immediate concerns for Turner Station residents, Speed noted that the neighborhood has already been grappling with decades of disinvestment.

Turner Station was once a self-sustaining African-American community. During World Ward I and World Ward II, the community was a thriving steel town as most residents were employed by Bethlehem Steel. It also had its own distinct cluster of businesses that were run by African Americans.

“During that 1800 and 1900 period, money turned over in this community eight times before leaving,” said

At the core of the message is a defense of everyday Americans and the systems they depend on.

“Civil servants and government contractors work for the American people,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.-04), in a statement.

“These patriotic workers do jobs that matter, they protect our water supply, they ensure we have clean air to breathe, they do research to keep our medicines safe and they stave off starvation and disease across the world and in our communities here at home. This administration and its chainsaw approach to trimming perceived government excess is wrong and shortsighted.”

In Buffalo, organizers say it’s time to pull together in defense of all those impacted by the rash decisions coming out of the White House.

Foreman

Continued from A1

friend to not only myself, but to my entire family,” Top Rank president Bob Arum said. “We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.”

In the first chapter of his boxing career, Foreman was nothing like the smiling grandfather who hawked his grills on television to great success.

Foreman dabbled in petty crime while growing up in Houston’s Fifth Ward, but changed his life through boxing. He made the U.S. Olympic team in 1968 and won gold in Mexico City as a teenager, stopping a 29-year-old opponent in a star-making performance.

Foreman rose to the pinnacle of the pro game over the next five years, but was also perceived as an aloof, unfriendly athlete, both through his demeanor and through the skewed racial lenses of the time.

Speed. “There were gas stations, barber shops, beauty salons, funeral homes, dress shops and grocery stores.”

That is no longer the case.

“Investors are taking the homes and land that our ancestors migrated here to work for and repairing them and selling them for prices that we will never be able to afford,” said Speed. “They are not burning us down as they did in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but they are pricing us out.”

In February, Speed said 15 Turner Station families were evicted in the cold. Turner Station has also been facing a food desert, or an area where residents have limited access to affordable, healthy food. According to Speed, the closest full-service grocery store is four to five miles away.

She said her community will not accept gentrification or erasure. She has spearheaded a movement called “Save the Nation of Turner Station,” which calls for one billion people to donate $1 or more to “replicate, repair, repopulate and repurpose” the historical community.

Donations can be mailed to Speed’s shop at 201 Main Street Turner Station, MD 21222 or sent through Zelle to 410-340-4888.

“We are fighting for our life without being employed by Bethlehem Steel, which has gone out of business; General Motors, which was here before and is now out of business; and Lever Brother’s soap company, which has gone out of business also,” said Speed. “How can we survive?”

The Maryland Department of Transportation continues to engage with the Turner Station community, working to address their concerns about how the collapse has impacted their community and how the Key Bridge rebuilding process may affect them.

The bridge is expected to be rebuilt and fully reopened by fall 2028.

“We stand with people of color and all those being stripped of their basic human and civil rights,” Buffalo organizers stated. “We stand with our educational institutions, and the countless faculty, researchers, and students that are being subjected to arbitrary political litmus tests, uncertainty, and censorship in their work.”

From London to Los Angeles, from the National Mall to Niagara Square, April 5 is shaping up to be a defining day of resistance against what demonstrators call an authoritarian power grab that threatens the very fabric of democracy.

“We’re not waiting for someone to save us,” D.C. organizers said. “We’re taking action ourselves.”

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

Exhausted and disillusioned, Foreman stopped fighting in 1977 and largely spent the next decade preaching and working with kids in Houston after his religious awakening. He returned to boxing in 1987 in his late 30s with a plan to defy time through frequent ring appearances, and he racked up a lengthy series of victories before losing to Evander Holyfield in a surprisingly competitive title fight in 1991.

Three years later, Foreman got in the ring with Moorer in Las Vegas, more for his celebrity than for his perceived ability to beat Moorer. The champion appeared to win the first nine rounds rather comfortably, with Foreman unable to land his slower punches. But Foreman came alive in the 10th, hurting Moorer before slipping in the short right hand that sent Moorer to the canvas in earth-shaking fashion.

Jim Lampley, the veteran boxing broadcaster who worked alongside Foreman for many years at HBO, told The Associated Press on March 21 that Foreman’s initial demeanor was an attempt by his camp to emulate Sonny Liston, the glowering heavyweight champ of the 1960s.

“At some point somewhere along the way, he realized that wasn’t him,” Lampley said.

Foreman stopped Frazier in an upset in Jamaica in January 1973 to win the belt, with his knockout inspiring Howard Cosell’s iconic call: “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”

Foreman defended his belt against Ken Norton before accepting the fight with Ali in the now-immortal bout staged in Africa by promoter Don King. Ali put on a tactical masterclass against Foreman, showing off the “rope-a-dope” strategy that frustrated and infuriated the champion. Foreman was eventually knocked down for the first time in his career, and the fight was stopped in the eighth round.

Foreman told the BBC in 2014 that he took the fight almost out of charity to Ali, who he suspected to be broke.

“I said I was going to go out there and kill him, and people said, ‘Please, don’t say you’re going to kill Muhammad,’” Foreman said. “So I said, ‘OK, I’ll just beat him down to the ground.’ That’s how easy I thought the fight would be.”

Lampley, who was calling the fight, named his upcoming autobiography — which includes a prologue about Foreman — after his famous call of that moment: “It Happened!” Foreman quit the ring for good in 1997, although he occasionally discussed a comeback. He settled into a life as a boxing analyst for HBO and as a pitchman for the grills that grew his fame and fortune. Much of the world soon knew Foreman as both a lovable friend and a ferocious fighter.

“He started performing as this pitchman, this product pitchman with the big, ever-present giant grin on his face,” Lampley recalled. “When I was working with him, people would say, ‘George is a big clown.’ And I would say, ‘Well, you can call him a clown, but he’s actually a genius. He may be the greatest genius I’ve ever met.’ And people would say, ‘Well, genius, what do you mean?’ I’d say, ‘Well, check the bank account. If that isn’t proof enough, I don’t know what is.’ So, he was a genius. He was a human genius.”

Foreman briefly starred in a sitcom called “George” in the 1990s, and he even appeared on the reality singing competition “The Masked Singer” in 2022. A biographical movie based on his life was released in 2023.

Foreman had 12 children, including five sons who are all famously named George Edward Foreman.

“Legendary boxing champion, life-changing preacher, husband, father, grand- and great-grandfather and the best friend you could have,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman wrote on social media. “His memory is now eternal, may Big George rest in peace.”

This article was originally published by The Associated Press.

AFRO Photo / Megan Sayles

Communities in Baltimore are still recovering from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024.

COMMENTARY

Stolen valor: Erasing Black stories from Arlington National Cemetery

By Floydetta McAfee

Stolen valor: Erasing Black stories from Arlington National Cemetery

The military is not just a chapter in my life. It’s my bloodline, my inheritance, and my foundation. My father was a career Army officer. My uncles fought in World War II. My younger brother stood guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. My nephew and many cousins also served.

As a teenager, my father, Floyd McAfee, left Tuskegee Institute to enlist in President Harry S. Truman’s newly-desegregated Army. After finishing his hitch and then graduating from college, he chose an officer’s commission over an opportunity to play for the Green Bay Packers. Reared as an Army brat, my family and I lived in a dozen places — Army bases named for Confederate heroes, overseas in Germany, and at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Though I vowed not to marry a military man, my husband served in the Marine Corps.

Yet for all the valor, all the sacrifice to the country by my family and friends, I have never been able to shake the bitter truth: From the Revolutionary War to the war in Afghanistan, Black Americans have fought for this nation, but this nation has not always fought for them.

Often disrespected by their peers and their country while in uniform, Black service members are being dishonored in death at the most sacred resting place in the country: Arlington National Cemetery, where my dad is buried.

Betrayal of service

Recently, authorities at Arlington National Cemetery stripped from its website information about heroic or noteworthy Black, Latino, Indigenous and women service members buried there. Task and Purpose magazine, which covers the military, reported that the cemetery’s website scrubbed “dozens” of pages that told the stories of outstanding service members of color at rest in Arlington’s hallowed ground.

The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s crusade against inclusion, diversity and equity in the federal

Floydetta McAfee leads a strategic communications firm with a cross-cultural focus and commitment to social change, emphasizing climate change and environmental justice. This week, she discusses the current president’s war on equity, diversity and inclusion, which has reached the military’s hallowed burial ground.

government and military. In less than two months, Trump has undone generations of work by Black soldiers, sailors and Marines who fought and changed an unfair system. His purge of the military began at the top, with the living.

Just a month after taking office, Trump fired General Charles Q. Brown Jr. — a decorated fighter pilot and

commander who battled racism in his own squadron between combat missions, and was only the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in its 76-year history.

Trump also dismissed the Navy’s first female secretary, stripped images of women and people of color from military recruiting materials, and banned use of the word “diversity.”

The president’s hand-picked defense secretary — a man who sports prominent tattoos affiliated with white Christian nationalism — declared that the military was too focused on diversity. But history asks a different question: are

diversity and strength mutually exclusive? Weren’t men and women of color who served with distinction — the colored Union soldiers of the Civil War, Harriet Tubman, the Navajo Code Talkers — the definition of strength?

To erase their contributions is not just an insult. It’s a lie.

Atonement, not amnesia I chose government service over military service, and was fortunate enough to work in the White House Office of Public Liaison under President Bill Clinton. While my focus was faith and community engagement, I jumped at any opportunity to work on military events.

On one remarkable occasion, I stood witness to history. I was there in 1997 when seven Black World War II soldiers finally received the military’s highest award, one that had been denied them for half a century: the Medal of Honor. Not one Black WWII veteran had received the medal — not because they lacked bravery, but because the country lacked justice. It took a Shaw University-commissioned study in 1993 to unearth the truth: these men had been robbed of their rightful place in history. But what good is righting history if we allow it to be erased again?

Marylanders deserve equal voting access before it’s too late

By Nehemiah Bester

This session, the Maryland General Assembly has an opportunity to establish Maryland not only as a national leader in voter integrity, but as a defender of the Constitutional rights of its residents before more lacerations to the Voting Rights Act occur and the second Trump administration finishes what the first started.

It is time to pass S.B. 342, H.B. 983, S.B. 685, and H.B. 1043, part of the Maryland Voting Rights Act (MDVRA).

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which sought to end the discriminatory voting practices endorsed by many southern and

Rebuilding

northern states in the aftermath of American hostility born 100 years after the end of the Civil War in 1865. The VRA, along with the Civil Rights Act of 1864, were the most progressive civil rights legislation passed since the 13th, 14th and 15th Reconstruction Amendments, helping put an end to Jim Crow.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby v. Holder to strike Section 4(b) gutted Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act – the important preclearance provision that required jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to obtain federal approval before changing their election laws– is just one example of this need. As several states that were previously covered by preclearance

have most recently seen their maps face legal challenges over the representation of Black voters.

In 2025, the nation again finds itself on the precipice of widespread voter discrimination. Despite the VRA’s longevity, the unfilled promises of fair voting districts, expansion of voter rights, language access, and an accessible electoral system continue to be elusive under a new administration and additional rollbacks of the federal VRA.

Despite popular belief, many states including Maryland, are not immune to these attacks. Regardless of its progressive reputation, Maryland remains among several states that have yet to fully live up to its reputation.

Black wealth: How businesses can still thrive in uncertain times

By Taalib Saber

Black people have a legacy of resilience and economic power. The recent federal rollbacks of diversity, inclusion and equity programs have sent shockwaves through corporate America. While these policy changes may feel like a setback, they present a unique opportunity for Black entrepreneurs to double down on self-sufficiency and community-driven business growth.

A wake-up call for Black business owners Diversity, inclusion and equity initiatives have helped Black

professionals access corporate contracts and funding opportunities, but many provided symbolic representation without tangible economic transformation. With these policies being dismantled, it’s time for Black business owners to rely less on institutional diversity programs and more on collaborative, community-driven economic strategies.

This isn’t a time for despair–it’s a time to reimagine economic power. When systems exclude us, we innovate. When doors close, we build new ones.

From the Freedmen’s Bureau to Black Wall Street, our ancestors created success despite systemic opposition.

Turning setbacks into power plays

Rather than seeing the recent rollbacks as obstacles, Black entrepreneurs should view them as catalysts for collective wealth-building. Today’s success stories prove this approach works.

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty revolutionized the cosmetics industry by creating products for all skin tones when mainstream brands wouldn’t. By focusing first on underserved Black and brown consumers, Fenty Beauty generated $100 million in sales in its first 40 days and has grown into a billion-dollar enterprise that forced the entire beauty industry to become more

inclusive.

Calendly, founded by Nigerian-American Tope Awotona, became a billion-dollar scheduling platform by solving a universal problem. Despite initial struggles to secure venture funding, Awotona bootstrapped his company until its value was undeniable, ultimately raising $350 million and reaching a $3 billion valuation.

The Fifteen Percent Pledge, founded by Aurora James, demonstrates the power of intentional economic redirection. By persuading major retailers like Sephora and Macy’s to dedicate 15 percent of shelf space to Black-owned brands, the initiative has shifted over

Since 2010, the United States Census showed that the state’s population had grown by 7 percent, making Maryland the most diverse state on the East Coast. At the time, the jurisdictions experiencing the largest population incline were Anne Arundel County at 9 percent, Prince George County at 12 percent, Charles County at 13 percent, Howard County at 15 percent, and Frederick County at 16 percent.

These additions to population growth made Maryland more diverse. Those who identify as “Black” and “African American” grew 7 percent, Indigenous and Native populations grew 56 percent, Asian people grew 32 percent, Latino residents grew 55 percent, while multi-racial identifiers

jumped 192 percent. As Maryland continues to diversify, district maps must keep pace with those changing demographics to ensure truly representative government. In late December 2021, despite months of outcry by residents, Baltimore County officials passed a racially discriminatory election plan that unfairly suppressed the voting rights power of BIPOC voters. The County’s BIPOC residents had grown to 47 percent of Baltimore County’s population, an increase from 25 percent in 2000 and 35 percent in 2010. Despite this growth, the Council’s redistricting plan created a racial gerrymander maintaining six out of seven districts as majority White.

within the community through strategic partnerships and shared marketing efforts. Black entrepreneurs can drive revenue by prioritizing Black-owned vendors and service providers. Explore Alternative Capital: While government-backed diversity, inclusion and equity funding may disappear, access capital through angel investors, venture capitalists focused on minority-owned businesses, and crowdfunding. Organizations like the Black Angel Tech Fund and 1863 Ventures are specifically supporting Black entrepreneurs.

$10 billion to Black businesses since 2020.

How Black businesses can thrive Leverage Group Economics: Focus on Business-to-Business (B2B) relationships

Master Digital Marketing: Without diversity, inclusion and equity mandates, securing contracts will be more competitive. A strong digital presence, SEO-optimized websites, social media dominance and powerful branding are non-negotiable.

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Taalib Saber is an attorney and owner of The Saber Firm. This week, he discusses innovation and opportunity for Black business owners in the current political and social climate.

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Nehemiah Bester is a communications strategist for the ACLU of Maryland. This week, he discusses the Voting Rights Act and how, despite its legacy, voter suppression and racial gerrymandering continue to threaten fair representation, including in Maryland, where recent redistricting efforts diluted Black political power.

Affordable Care Act marks 15 years

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com

It’s officially been fifteen years since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed and signed into law by former President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The statute aimed to reform health care coverage by expanding Medicaid eligibility, prohibiting insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and creating health insurance marketplaces.

Today, nearly 45 million Americans have health insurance coverage as a result of the ACA. Since its passing, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has found that the uninsured rate has dropped from 16 percent to 7.7 percent.

Though the act has remained largely intact over the years, the ACA has been the center of legal scrutiny before and after implementation. With an administration who previously sought to abolish the ACA in the White House, some health advocates are uncertain about the act’s future.

“When Donald Trump was elected in 2016, he made repealing the Affordable Care Act the top priority. It actually passed the House and almost passed the Senate. That would have been an untold disaster,” said Vincent DeMarco, president of Maryland Health Care

for All. “But that did not happen, and I guarantee they won’t try it again. The Affordable Care Act is an integral part of the American health, economic and political system.”

DeMarco’s organization comprises a coalition of labor, faith, business and community groups striving to ensure access to quality, affordable health care for all Maryland residents.

Though he doesn’t think there will be attempts to revoke the ACA, he does believe there will be efforts to weaken it.

“However, they unfortunately will try to undermine it by reducing the funds, changing the proportion of federal contribution on Medicaid and things like that,” said DeMarco. “We don’t know what exactly they’re going to do.”

If cuts to Medicaid related to the ACA are made, DeMarco asserted that the financial fallout will be borne by the public. He explained that when a person who is not insured goes to the emergency room it creates uncompensated care costs for hospitals. This can then be passed on to insured patients through higher premiums as hospitals try to recoup the costs.

In Maryland, the ACA helped to bring the uninsured rate down from 14 to 6 percent, according to DeMarco.

“When we went from 14 percent uninsured to 6 percent, that saved $460 million in uncompensated care in Maryland. Had that not happened, our premiums would have been

For 15 years, the Affordable Care Act has reshaped the U.S. health care system, expanding coverage to millions and cutting the uninsured rate nearly in half. Yet, as political battles continue, health advocates warn that efforts to weaken the law could shift financial burdens back onto the public.

higher,” said DeMarco. “We all benefit from everybody having health care coverage.”

Baltimore City resident Melanie Townsend Diggs has long been an advocate of the ACA since having to temporarily enroll in Medicaid herself. The library professional is a mother of four.

Back in 2006, she was preparing to have her third child and decided to quit her job to stay home with the kids. Her husband had a job that provided health insurance for the family at the time and OK’d her choice.

But, soon after Diggs left her job, her husband lost his job. She said she was

devastated.

“Fear sets in because you start thinking you’re not going to be able to do the things you thought you were going to be able to do,” said Diggs. “It was like: ‘What do we do now? What’s our next step? Where can we go? Who can help us?’”

The husband and wife’s top concern was getting coverage for their children, and they did through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. This became crucial after her new baby began to experience severe eczema, which caused many sleepless nights. She said her baby would scratch until she was bleeding at times.

The coverage enabled her to see a family doctor and eventually a dermatologist who provided her with a regimen to manage the skin condition.

“Her skin started clearing up. We could sleep at night. Her hair began to grow,” said Diggs. “It affected everything, and it was such a relief for me.”

In 2008, in the midst of the Great Recession, Diggs became pregnant again. Her family was still struggling to make ends meet.

“We were having another baby being born in a time of famine. We were just making it. We were trying to keep our home out of foreclosure,” said Diggs. “Like so many other

Preparing Financially for Future Emergencies: Building Resilience and Readiness

D.C. leaders work to tackle housing and eviction issues

By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) recently announced legislation that, if passed, would help maintain current affordable housing units in the District and encourage more affordable housing initiatives.

Bowser said last month that D.C. has invested $1.5 billion in affordable housing over the past decade. Additionally, the District has created more than 15,000 affordable housing units, housing 32,000 more D.C. residents in affordable units than 10 years ago.

But Bowser warned, “We are at risk of losing affordable units because too many people aren’t paying their rent.”

“The financial strain on housing providers threatens property maintenance, security and sustainability,” she said. “Most of the tenants in these properties are paying rent, and because of the people who aren’t paying rent, we see an inability for property owners to invest

“We are at risk of losing affordable units because too many people aren’t paying their rent.”

in those properties.”

The Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants and Landlords (RENTAL) Act of 2025 was introduced by Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) on March 3 and referred to the Committee on Housing, the Committee on Human Services and the Committee of the Whole on March 18, where it awaits further action.

Provisions of the bill include allowing landlords to evict tenants arrested for a violent offense near or in the rental unit and increasing eligibility for the Local Rent Supplement Program from 30 percent of area median income (AMI) to 50 percent AMI, aiming to bring the District’s eviction process back to pre-pandemic standards.

Mendelson spoke on the outlook of

the bill among council members.

“I have had some conversations with some colleagues about the bill, ensuring that the legislation is attended to quickly, but I suspect that aspects of it will be very controversial,” Mendelson said.

Mendelson also said the bill may face delays. He said he expects the bill to be addressed after the budget, but before the summer recess.

“On April 2, we get the budget,”

Mendelson told the AFRO. “The council committees are not going to have a lot of time to spend on legislation, especially complex legislation. I think it’s going to be very difficult for the council to deal with that full legislation until we’re done with the (fiscal year) FY26 budget.”

How to access D.C.’s paid family leave benefits

By Hannah Parker The 51st

The program is funded by a tax paid by participating D.C. businesses and nonprofits. First, check with your employer to see if they pay into it.

After 15 months of debate in 2016, D.C. became one of just a handful of jurisdictions nationwide to offer paid time off to care for a family member or oneself.

Proponents of the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act said the program — which is funded by a tax paid by participating D.C. businesses and nonprofits — would help small organizations offer similar paid time off to that of some larger companies, as well as allow part-time and contract workers access to the benefit.

“[This legislation] puts workers in a better position to care for their families while providing a benefit that is not available anywhere else,” former Councilmember David Grosso said at the time.“That is something we should be very proud to vote for.”

Detractors, including

Nappy.co/ Nappy Stock

D.C.’s Universal Paid Leave program is funded by a tax on participating businesses and nonprofits, offering up to 14 weeks of paid leave for eligible workers. Check with your employer to see if they contribute.

business groups and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, accused the program of being too expensive. Some residents who support the program have criticized what they say is a low cap.

“The maximum benefit we get is less than what we earn if we were working,” said Ward 4 resident Gavin Baker during a six-month review of the program by the D.C. Council in 2021.

“It doesn’t help us with infant care. It costs $24,000 a year in D.C. to pay for infant care. You are hit with

a double whammy of paying for infant care and having reduced pay to take care of your children.”

The U.S. is one of few countries without a national paid family leave program.

In 2017, only 14 percent of non-federal workers had access to paid leave through their work. By 2023, it increased to 27 percent, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. But that number drops to just 6 percent for low income workers. While several more states

To be young, gifted and…healthy: The new face of colon cancer survivors

By Dr. Deborah Bailey AFRO Contributing Editor

Cancer.

Many fear the word, and some can’t even utter it.

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a time to turn fear into knowledge of the facts and meet the people who are living full lives after a colon cancer diagnosis.

First, colon cancer impacts the Black community at higher rates than any other ethnic group. Black people are 20 percent more likely to get colon cancer and 40 percent more likely to die from it.

and cities have implemented paid family leave programs in recent years, putting the total number of such programs at 14 nationwide, District residents enjoy some of the most comprehensive benefits.

D.C. began collecting taxes to fund the program in 2019, and eligible D.C. workers began receiving benefits the following year. In the program’s first few years, it only offered up to eight weeks of paid time off. In 2022, that number increased to 12 weeks.

If you work in the District, here’s what you need to know about the program and your eligibility.

What does D.C.’s paid leave policy entail?

Four types of leave are covered under its paid family leave policy: family, medical, parental, and prenatal. You can take up to 12 weeks of combined leave in a year or 14 weeks if you’re pregnant. You are not allowed to work on the days you are receiving benefits.

Medical leave gives you up to 12 weeks off if you’re

“Early detection makes this one of the most preventable and treatable cancers,” said Dr. Marcus Noel, medical oncologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University.

According to the American Cancer Society, the incidence of colon cancer has decreased among older populations, whereas rates have shown an increase in individuals under the age of 50.

Colon cancer is a long road for any patient, but with new treatments, many people are able to make adjustments and resume robust lives, mentioned Dr. Noel.

Juggling motherhood and work….but don’t ignore the symptoms

“I was 39 when I got

diagnosed, “ said Rachel Mull, now in her mid-40’s. I had two young kids and was working full time.”

The busy mom had been diagnosed with kidney stones but was still having abdominal pain. “It was really the kidney stones that got me to the doctor and then they found the tumor,” she said.

Today’s colon cancer survivors are focusing on living their lives while raising children, working in and outside the home, and connecting to their renewed reasons to thrive after diagnosis. They are not afraid to speak out loud about their cancer experience and the road ahead.

“The symptoms can easily be ignored,” Mull said, particularly for a woman. Mull had light bleeding that she first thought could be hemorrhoids, a common post-pregnancy condition.

“People don’t always like to talk about what’s in their stool, so getting screenings is important,” she advised.

Understand your “why” Frederick “Rick” Rivers has experienced major illness throughout his life, beginning with liver disease at age 18 and undergoing a liver transplant at age 28. With an added family history of colon cancer, he knew he was at greater risk for gastrointestinal illness. After his colon cancer in 2012 at 31, he was set back again with kidney cancer in 2019 at 37.

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Diane Nathaniel is living her best life as a colon cancer survivor and patient advocate serving on the American Cancer Society’s Greater New York City area board.

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Restoring D.C.’s eviction process to pre-pandemic standards and preserving affordable housing are top priorities for Mayor Muriel Bowser (D).

Fallout from cuts to federal government felt in the Virginia governor’s race

By Olivia Diaz

The Trump administration’s aggressive push to cut government jobs is reverberating in the early stages of this year’s race for governor in Virginia.

The fast-moving efforts to overhaul the federal workforce could have a sweeping impact in the state, home to some 145,000 federal employees and many more government contractors.

Virginia, which along with New Jersey is picking a new governor in 2025, is already regarded as something of an early indicator of voter attitudes between presidential elections and seems certain to attract closer attention as the contest takes shape.

“Government workers are struggling all across the country — and there’s a large density of federal workers in Virginia,” said Kevin Cooper, political director with the American Federation of Government Employees, in a statement. “These folks are dedicated civil servants who are being put out of work, and I have no doubt that they’ll be looking to the upcoming elections to see who speaks out in their defense and is willing to champion pro-worker, prounion issues.”

Whether that view is widely shared will be tested in Virginia, where a former

Democratic congresswoman, Abigail Spanberger, and the Republican lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, are the leading contenders for governor. The primaries are in June.

Earle-Sears said taxpayers do not want to pay more than is needed for their government, and that what Trump is doing should come as no surprise.

“The president was elected fully explaining what he was going to do,” she said.

“He didn’t hide anything from anyone.”

The new administration has offered financial incentives to

centers and other essential services in Virginia.

In Richmond, Democrat Don Scott, the state House of Delegates speaker, said a new bipartisan House committee will size up the impact on the federal workforce. He said political leaders should use “every tool in our toolbox to combat this chaos and protect Virginians’ livelihoods.”

Earle-Sears, meanwhile, said she backed Trump’s effort to take inventory of federal spending.

“The president, if I’m understanding right, what he’s doing is he’s assessing,” she said in an interview. “He’s

“Government workers are struggling all across the country — and there’s a large density of federal workers in Virginia.”

federal workers as part of a deferred resignation program orchestrated by Trump adviser Elon Musk. It has begun layoffs around the world and, only after court intervention, rescinded a plan for a broad pause on federal grants and loans. Legal challenges continue to changes that have affected community health

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dealing with a serious health condition, such as a chronic or incurable condition, preventative treatments, or pregnancy complications. Family leave lets you take that time to care for a family member with a serious health condition, including a child, parent, spouse, grandparent, or sibling. They don’t have to be your biological family members for you to be eligible. However, you will have to provide a medical certification from your family member’s medical provider that must state that you are caring for them and fill out a form that describes your relationship. The second form is optional if you have other proof of your relationship, like a birth certificate.

Parental leave gives you paid time off to “bond with a new child.” This could look like welcoming a newborn, foster child, or adopted child. You have one full year from when you welcomed the child to take parental leave.

You can take an additional two weeks off per year for prenatal leave if you’re pregnant. This doesn’t impact the allotted 12 weeks for parental leave after giving birth. Prenatal leave can be used for pregnancy-related doctor’s visits, medical treatment, or bed rest if recommended by your doctor and can be taken in 1-day periods.

How much will I be paid?

If you’re taking full-time leave (meaning you’re taking all 12 weeks at once), you’ll receive either 90 percent of your weekly pay or a maximum of $1,153 per week. If you’re taking part-time leave (meaning you’re taking your leave in stages), your pay will be based on a daily amount taken from your calculated weekly benefit amount.

You’ll get paid on a biweekly basis through direct deposit or a prepaid debit card. Calculate how much your weekly benefits could be here.

Am I eligible for the program?

In order to access benefits, you must be currently employed, experience a qualifying event, and at least half of your total work time must be for a D.C. employer (based on the year prior to needing leave). You can also be self-employed if at least half of your work is in D.C.

Your employer has to report your pay to the city and pay into the paid family leave tax for you to access paid leave benefits. This includes full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers. Remote work done in the District counts. Check with your employer to see if they pay into the program. If you’re self-employed and conduct your work at least half of the time in the District

campaign promises and he was now working to fulfill them.

State Republican lawmakers widely share that sentiment.

In a heated Senate debate after Trump’s temporary spending freeze, Republican Mark Obenshain railed against Trump’s critics.

“Cry me a river if you want, but I am not persuaded that the world is coming to an end or the Earth is going to stop spinning on the axis upon which it is spinning.” Obenshain said.

Democrats are quick to point out that Trump has never carried Virginia in his three runs for the White House.

And dating to 1977, every time a new president has been elected, the following year Virginia has voted in a governor from the opposite party.

Spanberger, who left Congress to run for governor and has built up a fundraising advantage, said Trump had contempt for federal jobs and that will cause damage across the state.

making an audit of who’s doing what, how are they doing it, where are they doing it and how are they supposed to be doing it? Is it according to the law? Can we make some savings?”

That aligns with a recent comment by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin that voters had backed Trump’s

of our Commonwealth’s economy,” Spanberger said in a statement.

“Not only have I heard from federal employees in Virginia who are worried about their livelihoods and their ability to take care of their families, but I’ve also heard from business leaders, contractors and small business owners who are rightfully nervous about what these attacks mean for the stability

Mark J. Rozell, dean of George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, said Republicans’ ability to connect with independent voters may be critical in the governor’s race.

He said Earle-Sears would likely have to win over some voters who do not fully endorse Trump’s vision. See more on afro.com

Only 1 in 5 Workers Has an Employer Who Reports Providing Paid Family Leave

based on the year prior to needing leave, you can only access benefits if you opt into the program in advance. There are two periods when you do so: during open enrollment (every year between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31) and within the first 60 days of becoming self-employed.

You’ll have to make your own contribution to the program — a 0.75 percent tax on income earned from D.C.-based work.

You can calculate potential taxes here and enroll in the program here.

Great, I qualify — how do I apply?

Regardless of your type of employment (full-time, part-time, self-employed, etc.) you will apply for yourself. You have to sign up for an account to submit your claim through the Department of Employment Services’ website. You can do that here.

You’ll need to show proof of your qualifying event to receive benefits. Check out what documents you may need here by clicking on “checklist for benefits application.” Access the benefits forms you’ll need to apply here.

You must wait until your qualifying event happens, then you should apply within 30 days. If you apply after 30 days of the event, you’ll only receive benefits for future time off — not days already taken. Some exceptions may be considered depending on circumstances. It can take up to 10 days to hear back on your claim.

Legally, you must tell your employer at least 10 days before the first date you need leave if you know the qualifying event is happening and plan to apply for benefits. If the qualifying event is an emergency, you must

tell your employer at most two days after the event. Give your notice in writing so there is a written record. Make sure to include your leave schedule and the type of leave you plan to take.

Do I have to take my leave all at once?

No, you can take your leave in chunks of time or all at once as long as it’s in the span of 12 months and taken in full days, regardless of your employer and employment type. You can change your leave schedule at any time.

The Sunday of the first week you start receiving benefits is when your leave year begins. This means you’ll be eligible for another 12-14 weeks (if you still meet the eligibility requirements) 12 months after this day.

My job offers paid family leave, too. Can I still access D.C.’s plan?

Yes, you can access both an employer-sponsored leave policy as well as D.C.’s policy at the same time. Each employer’s policy may differ, so check with your job to see how their plan functions alongside D.C.’s program.

However, the combination of city and employer benefits can be difficult for beneficiaries to navigate, according to Laura Brown. She is the executive director of First Shift Justice Project, which offers legal assistance and resources to low-income caregiver workers in the District.

“The coordination of benefits — paid leave benefits with employer provided vacation,

sick leave, short term disability, and parental leave programs — has a significant impact on employees,” she said. “It would be easier for them just to receive 100 percent income from one source rather than a patchwork of programs/benefits.”

What issues have come up when people apply for benefits?

Some Reddit users expressed confusion about eligibility for the program, specifically for self-employed workers and workers who live in D.C. but work outside of the District (Note: you have to work in the District to receive the benefits.) They also questioned how D.C.’s program coincides with their employer’s paid family leave policy. Some users reported being more confused after speaking with the program’s hotline.

Brown said some of her clients’ most common barriers to accessing the program include the lack of job protection if they take leave, challenges obtaining and submitting required medical documents (due to difficulty scheduling doctors visits and getting forms back from doctors), uploading documents to the online system, and applying within the 30-day window. In 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, more than 24,000 new benefit claims were filed. Out of those claims, nearly 1,500 were denied, according to data from the Department of Employment Services. However, Brown said, “In my opinion, the bigger problem is what can’t be counted: the workers who don’t even apply because of some of the barriers.”

Associated Press writer Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington contributed to this report. Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/ Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. This article was originally published by the Associated Press.

AP Photo/Nathan Howard

AP Photo/Steve Helber

In the wake of cuts to the federal workforce, Democrat Abigail Spanberger (below) warns of economic fallout for Virginia, while Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (above) backs the president’s workforce overhaul.

Uncovering the legacy of Thomas Frazier

By Morghan Manuel

Across the United States, the transformation of former morgues and funeral homes into condos, houses and apartments has become a growing trend, blending the past with new urban development.

The former Frazier Funeral Home, once a cornerstone of LeDroit Park, was founded in 1917 by Thomas Frazier. For years the business was a staple of the Black community in Washington, D.C. Today, the building that once housed the funeral home stands as a repurposed apartment complex. But behind its walls lie the whispers of a storied past, from civic leadership to deep-rooted community impact.

The Frazier legacy is deeply intertwined with the history of Black Washingtonians, yet much of it remains untold. Frazier was more than just a funeral director—he was a civic leader, a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) treasurer, and a man dedicated to service.

The historical daily newspaper, The Evening Star (1852 -1981), published Frazier’s obituary on Dec. 22, 1959,

outlining his impact beyond funeral services.

Originally from Sumter, S.C., he moved to Washington in 1900 to attend Howard University before earning his mortuary science degree in 1912. He was a 33rd-degree Mason, an honorary life member of the National Funeral Directors Association, and a key figure in the NAACP. He also served as treasurer of the LeDroit Park Civic Association and was an active member of the Lincoln Memorial Congregational Temple, where he once served as a trustee.

While the Fraziers’ impact was undeniable, time has ushered in changes to both the building and its purpose.

One intriguing detail about this property is the evolution of its address over time. As the building changed hands over the years, even its address seemed to shift, adding layers to its already complex history.

Frazier’s first funeral home operated in Northwest D.C. at 309 Rhode Island Avenue Northwest. Later, historical records place the second location at 369 Rhode Island Avenue NW before its closure. Today, the building is commonly identified

as 389 Rhode Island Avenue NW, though past records also reference 391 Rhode Island Avenue NW.

Current owner, Thomas Swarm, explained that when he purchased the property, it was listed as 391 Rhode Island Avenue NW. After the permit was processed, D.C. officially changed the address to 389 Rhode Island Avenue NW. The reason for the shift remains unclear.

Swarm said the funeral home used to be two or three different houses, and the man who owned it before the Fraziers was a realtor who combined the properties.

Beyond Frazier’s business and civic leadership, his legacy was also shaped by his lifelong partnership with his wife, Willie Rollins Frazier. A wedding announcement from PULSE magazine by Pearl Belden Cox offers a glimpse into their marriage, capturing a lighthearted yet telling moment from their wedding day.

The article, humorously titled “Does Luck Follow the Groom?,” highlighted how Frazier, eager to wed the accomplished young nurse, grew impatient

during the ceremony, whispering to his best man, “Hand me that ring!”

The piece noted that, despite his many responsibilities, happiness for Frazier was simple—his wife’s homemade biscuits for dinner, ice cream and cake for dessert, and an annual retreat to Hot Springs. Still, it was his civic engagement and charitable work that truly cemented his influence, making the Fraziers a household name in Washington’s Black community.

During their time running the funeral home, Frazier and his wife lived upstairs while embalming bodies on the lower level. Mrs. Frazier, in addition to her work as a funeral director alongside her husband, was also a nurse. A graduate of Freedmen’s Hospital’s second nursing class, she established a nurse’s home to provide care for the sick, demonstrating her commitment to community service.

Frazier’s business grew so significantly that, in 1929, he relocated to the current address at 389 Rhode Island Avenue N.W. By 1959, the funeral home underwent further expansions to accommodate increasing demand. An advertisement from

“We often have a nonsensical approach to death, as if it’s voodoo. But it’s a natural part of life, something we all do. It’s not ugly or horrifying–it’s just the end.”

1961 boasted that Frazier’s Funeral Home employed 14 fulltime staff members, operated a fleet of modern funeral cars and never turned away a deserving case.

At the age of 85, Frazier died from pneumonia. Though Frazier’s life ended on Dec. 19, 1959, within the very walls of his funeral home, his passing is just one of many that occurred within its space. This raises an interesting question—why do people fear places where death has occurred?

David Taylor, the funeral home director of Frazier Mason Memorial Funeral Home on Marion Barry Ave Southeast, reflected on the misconceptions that people may perceive from death, especially surrounding homes where death has occurred.

“People are so incredibly afraid of the dead. Society has

yet to hear about the dead hurting people… What about alive people hurting others? People die every day. More people die in homes than they do in hospitals… do we condemn those homes?,” Taylor said. “We often have a nonsensical approach to death, as if it’s voodoo. But it’s a natural part of life, something we all do. It’s not ugly or horrifying–it’s just the end.”

Although the building has taken on a new identity, the spirit of the Fraziers endures. Their work not only shaped Washington’s Black community in life but continues to echo in history. The farewells once spoken within these walls may have faded, but the legacy they left behind ensures they are never truly forgotten.

This article was originally published by Howard News Service.

But Rivers, now in his 40s, is clear about one thing – his three sons.

“I have a very strong “why,” said the Southern New Jersey martial arts practitioner and stay at home Dad. “I have to be here for my boys,” said Rivers, father of three sons, aged 23, 12 and 13. “Being a dad is the thing I am best at doing.”

“They all live with me,” Rivers mentioned. His children have witnessed both his difficult and strong moments during his cancer journey. He hopes that this experience has imparted valuable life lessons of benefit to his sons.

Fight to get symptoms taken seriously

Diane Nathaniel, a native New Yorker, exhibits a straightforward, no nonsense demeanor at first glance. The engaging elementary school guidance counselor and cancer survivor, is serious about advocating for her own health and others experiencing marginalization by medical professionals.

When her stage III cancer was diagnosed at age 44, Nathaniel was devastated but focused on family.

“It was like my life flashed before my eyes. This was only my second

time meeting the doctor who gave me the news,” Nathaniel said.

“I thought about my family first and said, ‘I’m not ready to leave my kids, I’m just not ready,’” Nathaniel said. “In your mind you must will yourself to live,” she said.

A determined mindset, a solid support system which included

church, family and doctors who had her back were all a part of Nathaniel’s winning team. Even after her cancer diagnosis, Nathaniel contacted hospitals who refused to schedule her for treatment for months. Her oncologist, whom she had just recently met, was able to get her scheduled

right away. The cancer experience has emboldened Nathaniel when giving advice to other Black patients dealing with the medical system.

“You know your own body, We walk away so many times when a medical provider says you don’t need something, ” said Nathaniel.

“If you know something’s not right with your body, do not let anyone turn you away.”

This article is written in memory of my brother, Bryan

who lived his best life after a colon cancer diagnosis. Bryan died in 2012 at the age of 56 living his dream in Washington D.C.

Bailey,

AFRO Archives

Thomas Frazier is remembered in the D.C. community as a man with a heart to serve. The funeral home director, originally from Sumter, S.C., moved to Washington, D.C. in 1900 to attend Howard University.

Photo courtesy of HUNewsService.com/Morghan Manuel

Shown here, the front side of the former Frazier Funeral Home, now an apartment complex on the corner of Rhode Island Ave. NW and Florida Ave. NW in Washington, D.C.

Courtesy photo

Frederic Rivers (center) and sons Michael (left), Tre’ and Joshua whether the ups and downs of life together as Rivers recovers from multiple cancer diagnoses.

Black Press Day 2025 highlights need for innovation and resilience in media

By Tashi McQueen

AFRO Staff Writer

tmcqueen@afro.com

Amid the uncertainty and flurry of change under the 47th president’s administration, President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publisher Association (NNPA) Benjamin Chavis spoke at the NNPA Fund’s 2025 Black Press Day event in Washington, D.C.

As a part of Black Press Week, the March 13 event helped recognize 198 years of the Black Press under the theme, “Where History Meets the Future of Black Media.”

There he addressed the State of the Black Press and laid out the necessary next steps for Black publishers and leaders throughout the U.S.

“The Black Press of America remains on the front lines of authentic journalism, reporting factual

news,” said Chavis during the live-streamed event.

“For the past 198 years, since the first publication of Freedom’s Journal on

“The value of the Black Press cannot and should not be understated or underestimated.”

March 16, 1827, the Black Press continues to be an active advocate for freedom, justice, equality, empathy and empowerment.”

NNPA currently consists of 245 print publications and 13 digital and online publications.

During the State of the Black Press, Chavis referenced a quote from the initial publishers of Freedom’s Journal John Brown Russwurm and Rev. Samuel Cornish, which read, “Others for too long have spoken for us. We wish to plead our own cause.”

“That notable call was editorialized two centuries ago,” said Chavis. “What has changed? What is our cause today? What is the enduring mission of the Black Press of America?

“A lot has changed, but a lot has not changed,” continued Chavis. “Black Americans have made tremendous socio-economic and political progress since 1827. American racism has not changed. The pseudo-ideology of White supremacy has not changed, although it has become more digitized in social media and institutionalized in a range of government agencies.”

Chavis pressed that the perseverance and resilience of the Black Press remains intact, but suggested a few things leaders of Black media can implement to ensure they truly stay resilient.

“We need to work on how to best aggregate and distribute our news and advocacy content on all the current and emerging platforms,” said Chavis. “But print is our heart. Print is how we make the impact, even in the digital age.”

Chavis said members of the Black Press should make sure they fully understand what it means to be a part of Black media today and help others understand and appreciate its value.

“The value of the Black Press cannot and should not be understated or underestimated,” he said.

Chavis also suggested that the Black Press and the Black Church need

a revival.

He recommended the Black Press and the Black Church hold mass meetings, a practice that dates back to the civil rights era, where publishers and Black pastors in each city come together to outline progress.

“We’re not going to make progress without our people,” said Chavis. “We have to represent and touch our people, our communities. They have to know that when we are out there on the front line, we represent their interests.”

Chavis pressed that through all that is thrown at Black members of the press in 2025, they should remember that they are the trusted voices of Black America.

“We’re not going to give up that trust for anything,” said Chavis.

AFRO Founder John Henry Murphy Sr. is remembered as a giant of Black Press.

NNPA President and CEO Dr. Ben Chavis (left) joins New York Beacon Publisher Ash Smith, who is holding a plaque honoring his late father, Walter Smith, founder of the publication. Ash Smith was joined by his son and wife, Tyler Smith and Coreen “Ci” Smith, respectively. Also pictured are NNPA Fund Chair Karen Carter Richards and NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr. (right).

Sacramento Observer Publisher Larry Lee (left) continues the work of his father, Dr. William H. Lee, founder of the publication. Shown here, Larry Lee with his brother, William Lee Jr., and NNPA Fund Chair Karen Carter Richards.

Shown here, Howard University Professor Wilson Clint with Omaha Star Publisher Terri Sanders.

Howard University School of Communications Department Chair and associate professor Ingrid Sturgis speaks as Dr. Yanick Lamb looks on.

NNPA Fund Community Board Member Lester Booker takes a moment with NNPA President Dr. Ben Chavis.

NNPA Fund Chair Karen Carter Richards enjoys Black Press Day with NNPA Fund Executive Director and nonprofit consultant, Kelly P. Hodges.

Axing of Deptartment of Education begins

By Quintessa Williams Word in Black

Fulfilling a campaign promise –one that experts say will significantly harm Black students — President Donald Trump on March 20 signed a sweeping executive order that begins dismantling the Department of Education, a cabinet-level agency created in part to ensure all children have equal access to K-12 education.

The order, which directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take “all necessary steps” to wind down the department, comes just days after nearly half of the DOE’s staff, including employees responsible for education policy research, data collection, and statistical analysis, were fired last week.

McMahon, who Trump instructed to “put herself out of a job” at a recent press conference, was confirmed by the Senate earlier this month.

Civil rights groups, state attorneys general and education advocates have already vowed to fight the order, pointing out that only Congress can eliminate a cabinet-level agency it created. The DOE is also tasked with investigating public

school discrimination complaints, protecting students’ civil rights from marginalized groups, and distributing federal money to underfunded public schools.

“Reckless and Dangerous”

Rep. Bobby Scott, a Virginia Democrat and ranking member of the House Education Committee, said March 20 that dismantling the DOE would put “low-income students, students of color, students with disabilities, and rural students at risk.”

National Education Association President Becky Pringle said March 19 that by signing the order Trump “will hurt all students by sending class sizes soaring, cutting job training programs, making higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle class families, taking away special education services for students with disabilities, and gutting student civil rights protections.”

Fedrick Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers, the nation’s largest educators’ union, said the executive order “is directly in line with Trump’s overall effort to erase any gains made by Black folks, women,

the LGBTQ community, and anyone else he seems to dislike.”

From school funding to racially-biased tests to Trump-era restrictions on the teaching of Black history, “Black students have had the chips stacked against them for decades,” Ingram told Word In Black last week. Gutting the department that helped them, he said, is “cruel.”

In a statement, the NAACP called the move “reckless and dangerous for America’s children” and the future of our nation. “What we are witnessing is not only the dismantling of an agency but the unraveling of our democracy.”

The Trump administration has already taken steps to narrow the agency’s authority and significantly cut its workforce while communicating its plans to try to shutter it.

Since its creation in 1979 during the Carter administration, the DOE

has played a pivotal role in ensuring equity in education and enforcing civil rights laws. Its Office for Civil Rights investigated discrimination cases in schools, particularly when states or local districts failed to act.

Racial gap will widen

For Black students, the OCR has been vital in challenging disproportionate punishment of Black students, unfair access to advanced classes and coursework, and racially biased school funding. It also helps administer government loans for college, which a disproportionate number of Black students use to pay for their education.

Without the DOE, advocates warn, stubborn racial disparities in education — already difficult to close — will grow even wider.

A White House fact sheet said the order directs McMahon “to take

Parents need to pay attention to artificial intelligence, too

that we do have power,” Dixon-Romàn says. “We all have the right of refusal,” like the right to opt out of certain assessment or achievement tests.

Advocates say it’s a game-changer in education, a high-tech tool that can reach students where they are. Opponents say it’s flawed and biased, mostly because its designers don’t have black students in mind when they program it. Both sides agree: ready or not, the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution has reached the K-12 classroom, ready or not. Despite what seems to be nationwide attention on AI, it continues to be a topic parents don’t know much about — including the racial disparities bias that comes with it.

Ezekiel Dixon-Romàn, professor of critical race, media, and educational studies at Columbia University Teachers College, is both a father and digital expert who believes parents should not leave the development and distribution of AI materials solely up to their schools.

“We have the right to refuse to be subject to these technologies,” he says.

There’s no doubt the use of AI has exploded in recent years, powering everything from job applications to internet search engines. But the implicit, and sometimes overt, racial bias in the technology has shown up, too, appearing in applications ranging from algorithms used in the criminal justice system to facial recognition identification technology that falsely identifies African-American faces as much as 100 times more than White faces.

In the K-12 space, AI-based grading and testing tools have been found to favor students who write in a certain style, often to the disadvantage of non-native English speakers. In addition, use of AI predictive analytics in schools — such as estimating the percentage of at-risk youth enrolled in that school — can reinforce racial

and socioeconomic stereotypes and outcomes.

The rapid integration of AI in education has prompted calls for developers and policymakers to address the digital divide to ensure all students have equitable access to tools and resources. But Dixon-Roman says trusting them to make it happen is not enough, and existing disparities could widen if families aren’t diligent about what content their students are exposed to.

“Companies can have the capacity to do and try to build technologies and design systems with equity in mind,”Dixon-Roman says. “Whether they feel any pressure from the executive orders or not has nothing to do with whether they want to comply with them.”

Necessity of teacher training

Although organizations like the Gates Foundation and Alphabet, parent company of Google, have pledged to create fair and accessible tools, schools and parents should still make an effort to learn about them.

“Companies have much more leeway to try to work within to build the kind of potential educational technologies that would lead to more equitable learning,” Dixon-Roman says. That, he says, includes technologies that would be informative, culturally responsive, and sustain existing pedagogies for effective education of children of color.

“The concern that I have is how many of them will be out here who are actually going to fill that gap — that is going to be standing in a space that’s quite contentious and might also be lonely, if you will,” Dixon-Roman says.

Teachers are looking for helpful AI-powered tools, like Brisk Teaching, Quizizz, and EdPuzzle, to generate test questions, and help assist with grading.

But effective AI integration requires educators to undergo professional development to help them understand the implications for students, including how they choose to learn. Educators also must recognize, and mitigate, bias

“What we are witnessing is not only the dismantling of an agency but the unraveling of our democracy.”

all necessary steps to facilitate the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

Christopher Nellum, executive director of EdTrust, a nonprofit advocacy organization, also told Word In Black last week that removing federal oversight by dismantling the DOE will unequivocally hurt Black students.

“The Department of Education’s role is to provide oversight, accountability, and protect civil rights,” Nellum says. “There’s no part of dismantling the agency that will make any of this better. It will only make it worse — and Black students will bear the brunt of it.”

This story was originally published by Word in Black.

From personalized tutoring to ethical concerns about privacy and bias, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping education in ways that require parent engagement.

in AI-driven assessments and learning materials before incorporating those tools into the classroom.

Power of the parent voice

Part of the adoption of these technologies is informing parents how and why they are being used — and giving them the option to not use it.

The professor himself practices what he preaches. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when additions to the classroom curriculum, like Classroom Dojo, were adopted.

“When my son’s school adopted it several years ago, I shared articles with the teacher, and I told the teacher I do not want this being used by my son, and she complied,” Dixon-Romàn says. “She was like, ‘I appreciate you also

for sharing this and informing me.’ She actually even changed her own practices on how she started to use it because she didn’t know.”

In addition to an individual’s parental voice, collective voices — like school boards and parent-led organizations — also can influence whether educators deploy AI in the classroom.

Parent-teacher organizations “have tremendous power,” Dixon-Romàn says. “PTAs are powerful organizations for every school, and if the PTAs can organize collectively against it, they can also push back on this — on school adoptions of particular educational technologies.”

This article was originally published by Word in Black.

Unsplash / Sam Balye

White House leaders are praising the signing of an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education. The move fulfills a campaign promise to MAGA supporters, but has sparked backlash from civil rights groups.

Unsplash / Kenny Eliason

Advocates say the recent executive order to dismantle the Department of Education will disproportionately harm Black students and widen the racial gap.

By Aziah Siid Word in Black

Unsplash / Marvin Meyer

George E.

Johnson

speaks on his journey from ‘Afro Sheen’ to ‘Soul Train’ and more

By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO

In a world where business moguls and millionaires often take great pleasure in flaunting their wealth and power, George E. Johnson, early on, decided to assume the role of a compassionate coach.

Johnson, the founder of Johnson Products Co., revolutionized the haircare industry with his signature product, Afro Sheen, tailored exclusively for Black people so they could sport their hair in more “natural” styles.

Now almost 98, he recently spoke with the AFRO about his hot off the press memoirs fittingly titled, “Afro Sheen.” In his tell-all autobiography, he describes the path he has traveled, detailing his meteoric rise to success with God as his guide and the Golden Rule as his mantra.

“I was 17 when I went to work for Samuel B. Fuller in Chicago, who owned a cosmetics firm and started his business in 1936 in the middle of the Great Depression with $25,” said Johnson, who was born in a Mississippi sharecropper’s shack in 1927.

“It took him a while, but S.B. Fuller eventually opened up a store and he took me under his wing,” he said. “I don’t know where I would be had it not been for his mentorship.

I left school while in the middle of the 11th grade so I could work. And Fuller inspired me like no one else ever has.”

Fuller subscribed to the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and Johnson, a willingly student and mentee, said he, too, took on the philosophy as the foundation of his life and the basis of his future business enterprises.

“It’s a sound principle; it’s powerful and, most important, it’s grounded in love,” Johnson said. “When you help others and do unto others, not because you must but because you can, they feel that love and concern and they return it to you.”

Johnson emphasized that the relationship he had with Fuller cannot be overstated.

“Without him, I would have been just another ordinary, high school dropout,” he said. “But with him, I learned more than I would have ever received by earning my diploma. He taught me psychology and religion. He taught me how to be a businessman.”

This is Black Power

In the first chapter of his memoirs, Johnson explains how he got started in business. He needed to secure a loan of $250 so he could start Johnson Products, focusing on the African American male hair care market. Initially, he was denied the loan. But as he says, “God had other plans.”

“When I got to the loan company, I was sure I would get the money because I had done business with them before and I didn’t owe them anything,” Johnson said. “But I was so excited about the success of our first product, Ultra Wave, which was a hair relaxer for men, that I told the loan officer I needed the money to start a big business and expected to make a lot of money.”

His exuberance did not go over well with the White loan officer who predicted failure and said he was “doing him a favor” by denying the loan.

Johnson said he had gone about half a block when he received an epiphany.

“God whispered in my ear and told me what to do,” Johnson said. “I returned, this time to another branch, and told the loan officer that I needed the money so I could take my wife on a vacation to California. That $250, along with another $250 from a friend, financed my initial venture. When I was done purchasing everything needed to make our first batch of product, I had one dollar left.”

From that point on, Johnson recalls that his bank account was never overdrawn.

“The Lord has had his arms around my shoulders all my life, as early as six years old. I believe he’s never left my side. He’s still here with me–although I have misbehaved from time to time,” he said with a laugh.

imitating White people’s appearance. It was causing me fits.”

Johnson said he listened to King, who even came to visit his headquarters. When Dr. King was asked what he thought about Johnson’s newly built headquarters, Johnson recalls him saying, “This is Black Power.”

But with the times changing, Johnson knew he had to expand his hair care products, particularly for women. After decades of using products to straighten their hair, Black women had begun to sport blowouts, naturals, Afro puffs, cornrows and braids.

“When Dr. King visited us in 1966, Black Power was a phrase that described a new way of thinking about ourselves,” Johnson said.

“But Dr. King used the phrase as a real compliment as he assessed our several floors that were jumping with activity – salesmen, chemists, secretaries – a mostly-Black group of employees who were finding their way into America’s middle class.”

“Soul Train” – the cultural movement that took Johnson Products into unchartered waters

The concept of television, which first took shape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, would enter American households in the early 1950s.

on his journey from humble beginnings in a Mississippi sharecropper’s shack to becoming the first African American to lead a company on Wall Street’s American Stock Exchange. Now nearly 98, Johnson shares his remarkable story of faith, mentorship and business success in his new memoir,

After founding Johnson Products Co. in 1954, and over the next quarter-century, Johnson would introduce a line of products from his Chicago, Illinois headquarters that, in 1971, helped him secure his position as the first African American-owned company to be listed on Wall Street’s American Stock Exchange. Afro Sheen, one of Johnson’s best-known and more popular products, was released in the late 1960s at a time when African Americans first began to embrace their own hairstyles.

Johnson had a decision to make. Fortunately, he chose wisely.

“When he started, our emphasis was on Black men who wanted to straighten their hair, like the finger-waved hairstyles and the pompadour,” he said. “Brothers wanted to look like Cab Calloway, Chubby Checker, Little Richard, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole.

“But in the ‘60s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders began teaching ‘Black is beautiful’ and encouraging our people to stop

Johnson, eager to expand his business and secure a greater share of the market, said he began to consider how Johnson Products Co. could capitalize on the emerging television industry.

“By 1969, I realized that TV had helped those companies who could afford to advertise to multiply their businesses, and I wanted to find a way for TV to do the same for us,” he said.

Johnson said money was not the issue, although that was the assumption which Whites espoused. What he needed to resolve was finding a way for his investment to provide a 100 percent return.

“When you buy a market on TV and pay to sponsor a show, you buy the entire market and its population,” he said. “But our products were aimed at a Black consumer market – maybe only 30 percent of the entire market. I didn’t want to lose 70 percent of my investment. And I wanted to make advertising on television as profitable for Johnson Products as it was for White companies. But all our efforts, including several variety shows that showed great

Urban One Podcast Network announces new show,

‘Altadena:

By Jason Roberts

Urban One, the largest Black-owned and Black-targeted diversified media company, and the newly-formed philanthropic initiative, Urban One Cares, announced March 20 that The Urban One Podcast Network has launched a new podcast, “Altadena: After The Fire.” Original episodes will air twice a month through October 2025, with specials added intermittently, and will be available on The Urban One Podcast Network, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Hosted by

After the Fire’

Colby ‘Colb’ Tyner, senior vice president of programming for Urban One’s Audio Division, “Altadena: After The Fire” will feature on-the-ground reporting, in-depth interviews and real stories of resilience. The podcast series will examine the personal tolls that the disaster has had on residents and businesses, the environmental and political factors at play, and the ongoing efforts to restore Altadena’s rich cultural heritage.

“It is very important that we do not forget this tragedy. As national news coverage has slowly dwindled once the fires were extinguished, we wanted to be a voice for the

promise, were thwarted because of racism.”

Still, Johnson knew he could move product and secure a greater share of the market if given a fair chance. Fortuitously, he received a call about a show that was being broadcast on TV that was similar in content to Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.” Johnson was intrigued.

“I looked at the show called ‘Soul Train,’ and I met its host and writer, Don Cornelius,” Johnson said. “But it was only in black and white. So, I had a 30-minute pilot done in color. I saw what I wanted – the energy, the dancing.

“I was convinced, and I moved forward, setting up an LLC and providing the financing. Don had great ideas, and he was the front man, but he didn’t have any money. We worked out the details with a plan that divided the revenue 50-50. It was a win-win situation.”

“Soul Train,” the first American music variety television show featuring African-American musical acts and dancers, broadcast nationally from 1971 to 2006. It became one of the longest-running syndicated programs in American television history.

“We started in October 1971 when Johnson Products Co.’s sales were reported at $11.2 million,” Johnson said. “In five years, our sales had increased to $37 million. ‘Soul Train’ proved to be an answer to my prayers.”

Johnson explains why he finally wrote his memoir

By all accounts, George E. Johnson has never been one to boast about his success. Rather, he attributes his blessings to God’s grace and relishes in the fact that he has a loving wife, Madeline, to whom he dedicates the book. He also recognizes that he has been blessed with loving children and grandchildren who have followed him into the business world, some finding success with Johnson Products, others founding their own businesses and achieving success.

Through it all, he has never lost the spirit of humility.

“I never intended to write a book, even though people have tried to persuade me for more than 30 years,” he said. “But while my family was gathered at our home in Jamaica, I was asked how I started Johnson Products – how God took me from rags to prosperity. Every time I began to detail my journey, I had to stop. I found myself crying. God has been so good to me that I could not finish the story. That’s when I decided I need to write this book.”

Johnson said he knew he would have to rely on his wife’s support, who read chapters to him as they were completed and commiserated with him about potential changes in the text. But before that, he needed to find a writer whom he believed could accurately tell his story. And before that he needed God to give him a jumpstart.

“On November 21, 2024, I was sitting in my chair in my family room watching TV,” he said. “Suddenly, I couldn’t see the TV. I tried to get up but I couldn’t. Then, I heard five words as clear as day: ‘You must tell your story.’ I knew it was the Lord.

“In less than a week, I told Madeline’s son Chris about my epiphany, and he recommended a writer, Hilary Beard. I wanted someone who was spiritual, talented, smart and Black. Within two weeks, she was in our apartment in Chicago. I guess you could say, the rest is history,” he said.

Johnson said his goal was to inspire others.

“I hope young entrepreneurs, or those who want to be entrepreneurs one day, will read this book,” he said. “And I hope and pray that it will give them the inspiration they need to really go after their dreams, always striving for excellence – excellence in everything they do, in every aspect of their lives.”

residents of Altadena and keep the rest of the world informed of what is happening,” said Tyner. “We welcome you to join us as we document the journey of a community determined to rise from the ashes.”

To further aid efforts, in a previously released statement Urban One announced a partnership with Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization Brotherhood Crusade. The initiative is aimed at helping increase donations to their Wildfire Relief Fund. All donations will go towards assisting survivors of the wildfires to

secure shelter, clothing, food, personal care products and necessities. This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

Photo courtesy of Facebook/ Colby

Colb Tyner

Colby ‘Colb’ Tyner is host of a new podcast, “Altadena: After The Fire,” which will chronicle recovery efforts and feature interviews with elected officials, community leaders, business owners and survivors. The new show is part of the Urban One Podcast Network.

Photo courtesy of Amazon

Photo courtesy of Black Past George E. Johnson, founder of Johnson Products Co. and creator of Afro Sheen, reflects

titled “Afro Sheen.”

copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MARCH 14, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

KARIMAH WARE EDWARDS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000186

NANNIE B. FITZGERALD Name of Decedent DIANN DAWSON 2101 STEUBEN WAY SILVER SPRING, MD 20905 ATTORNEY Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

AUVONETT F. JONES whose address is 12205 ROUND TREE LANE, BOWIE, MD 20715 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of NANNIE B. FITZGERALD who died on FEBRUARY 21, 1993, without a Will and will serve with 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

25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MARCH 21, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

AUVONETT F. JONES Personal Representative TRUE TEST

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000129 WILLIE LESTER, JR Name of Decedent IZU I AHAGHOTU 3724 12TH STREET NE WASHINGTON, DC 20017 ATTORNEY Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs MONICA BATRICE DURHAM whose address is 5901 FEDERAL COURT, UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20772 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of WILLIE LESTER, JR who died on NOVEMBER 02, 1992, without a Will and will serve with 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 SEPTEMBER 14, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MARCH 14, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

MONICA BATRICE DURHAM Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000164

ERIK EUGENE LAWSON Name of Decedent

MITCHELL I. ALKON ESQUIRE 6110 EXECUTIVE BLVD STE 300 ROCKVILLE, MD 20852 ATTORNEY

Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs MARIA LAWSON whose address is 3171 18TH STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20010 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ERIK EUGENE LAWSON who died on JANUARY 1, 2024, without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before SEPTEMBER 21, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MARCH 21, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

MARIA LAWSON Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/21, 3/28, 4/04/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM001359 ELIZABETH WHITLOW Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs TINA FORD whose address is 304 SCHAFFER DR. FREDERICK, MD 21702 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ELIZABETH WHITLOW who died on NOVEMBER 17, 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 SEPTEMBER 28, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: MARCH 28, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers TINA FORD Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/28, 4/4, 4/11/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000140

EDNA L WILLIAMS AKA EDNA LUVENIA WILLIAMS Name of Decedent RONNIE THAXTON 1629 K ST. N.W. #300 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 ATTORNEY Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

JEANETTE WILLIAMS SPRIGGS-CLARK whose address is 7109 SUNRISE DRIVE, LANHAM, MD 20706 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of EDNA L WILLIAMS AKA EDNA LUVENIA WILLIAMS who died on OCTOBER 20, 2024, with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before SEPTEMBER 14, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: MARCH 14, 2025

Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

JEANETTE WILLIAMS SPRIGGS-CLARK Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM001246 MARK IRVING BURTON Name of Decedent WENDELL C. ROBINSON 7600 GEORGIA AVENUE,N.W. SUITE 203 WASHINGTON, DC 20012 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

GAYLE M. PETERSEN whose address is 1320 RITTENHOUSE STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, DC 20011 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARK IRVING BURTON who died on AUGUST 08, 2024, with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before SEPTEMBER 28, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MARCH 28, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

GAYLE M. PETERSEN Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/28, 4/04, 4/11/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM1381 GAIL L. RICHARDS CABELLY Name of Decedent ROY R. MORRIS 8300 BOONE BLVD, SUITE 250 VIENNA, VA 22182 ATTORNEY Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

ROBERT J. CABELLY whose address is 235 9TH ST. SE, WASHINGTON, DC 20003 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of GAIL L. RICHARDS CABELLY who died on

Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before SEPTEMBER 21, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the

of Wills,

HOWARD R. FITZGERALD Name of Decedent DIANN DAWSON 2101 STEUBEN WAY SILVER SPRING, MD 20905 ATTORNEY Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

AUVONETT F. JONES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000216 DOROTHY JEAN HOLLOWAY BROWN Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs LATONYA HOLLOWAY whose address is 1228 RAUM ST. NE WASHINGTON, DC 20020 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DOROTHY JEAN HOLLOWAY BROWN who died on FEBUARY 5, 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.,

address and relationship. Date of first publication: MARCH 21, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers ROBERT J. CABELLY Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/21, 3/28, 4/04/25 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION 2025FEP000024 APRIL 24, 2023 Date of Death WILLIE R. JONES AKA WILLIE ROOSEVELT JONES Name of Decedent NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN

Effective immediately, The Afro

accepted in the form of checks,

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND Annapolis, Maryland ANNOUNCEMENT

REQUEST FOR BIDS

On or after February 17, 2025, Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the Anne Arundel County Web Page at the following address: https:// www.aacounty.org/departments/central-services/purchasing/P.O.R.T./ bids/index.html . Bids will be received until time/date shown below, please submit your bid electronically via the PORT. Bids received after the date and time set will be rejected.

Due by 1:30 p.m. Local Time, Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Project: P588414 – Crownsville Wastewater Treatment Plant Decommissioning Phase 1 Sonication No.: CAP25000254

Contact: Chris Biggerstaff – 410-222-3191

City of Baltimore Department of Finance Bureau of Procurement

Sealed proposals addressed to the Board of Estimates of Baltimore will be Received until, but not later than 11:00 am local time on the following dates for the stated requirements. April 16, 2025

SUPPLY & DELIVERY OF COPPER TUBING RFQ-000655

ENTIRE SOLICITATION CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED BY VISITING THE WEBSITE: https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/supplier/baltimorecity/ SupplierSite

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICAITONS (MULTI-STEP BIDDING) HABC DEMOLITION PROJECTS IFB NUMBER: B-2037-25

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC”) will issue a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) for interested and qualified demolition contractors to submit qualification statements in order to qualify to participate in the bidding phase for several HABC demolition projects.

This solicitation follows the multi-step sealed bidding process, which is described in the HUD Procurement Handbook No: 7460.8 Rev 2, Issued: March 2, 2007 as a two-phase process in which bidders submit technical proposals, to be reviewed by HABC and a second phase in which those bidders whose technical proposals have been found to be acceptable during the first phase will be invited to summit sealed bids on projects for HABC consideration.

PROPOSALS WILL BE DUE no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, April 18, 2025.

A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., which will be scheduled as a virtual meeting.

The entire RFQ can be viewed and downloaded by visiting https://habc.bonfirehub.com/projects on or after Monday, March 31, 2025

Questions regarding the RFQ should be directed in writing to the address and individual indicated below and must include the reference: HABC RFQ Number B-2037-25.

Housing Authority of Baltimore City Division of Fiscal Operations, Procurement Department 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 414 Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Attention: John Airey, Senior Vice President of Procurement Tel: 410-396-3261 john.airey@habc.org

CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF LETTING

Sealed Bids or Proposal for the TR-25005 CURB REPAIR CITYWIDE will be received at the Office of the Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland until APRIL 16, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. Board of Estimates employees will be stationed at the Security Unit Counter just inside the Holliday Street entrance to City Hall from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. every Wednesday to receive Bids. Positively no bids will be received after 11:00 A.M. The bids will be publicly opened by the Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall at Noon. As of MARCH 21, 2025, the Contract Documents may be examined, without charge by contacting Brenda Simmons at brenda.simmons@baltimorecity.gov or (443) 865-4423 to arrange for a copy of the bid book labeled “NOT FOR BIDDING PURPOSES” to be emailed to you. Anyone who desires to purchase a bid book to be used for bidding purposes must do so in person and by contacting Brenda Simmons at the email address or phone number above. The non-refundable cost is SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($75.00) to be paid at the Department of Transportation 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 made payable to the Director of Finance. Conditions and requirements of the Bid are found in the bid package. All contractors bidding on this Contract must first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore Contractors’ Qualification Committee. Interested parties should call (410) 396-6883 or contact the Committee at 4 S. Frederick Street, 4 th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid is submitted by a joint venture (“JV”), then in that event, the document that established the JV shall be submitted with the bid for verification purposes. The Prequalification Categories required for bidding on this project are D02620 (Curb, Gutter & Sidewalk. Cost Qualification Range for this project will be from $250,000.00 to $400,000.00. A “Pre-Bidding Information” session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams on April 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. hosted by the Department of Transportation. All Bidders must email your contact information to include your name, company name, phone number and email address to michael.donovan@baltimorecity.gov to receive an invite to the Microsoft Team (video conference meeting. Principle Items of work for this project are Miscellaneous Curb Replacement and Repairs – 4,000 LF; 5 in Concrete Sidewalk – 8,500 SF. The MBE Goal is 20%; The WBE Goal is 11%. APPROVED: Celeste Amato, Board of Estimates

Baltimore Career Corner

Continued from page C3

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

HAROLD Q. ROBINSON AKA

HAROLD QUINTIN ROBINSON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs

HELEN P. COOKE whose address is 12713 BRICKYARD BLVD BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of HAROLD QUINTIN ROBINSON AKA HAROLD Q. ROBINSON who died on DECEMBER 06, 2024, with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before SEPTEMBER 21, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: MARCH 21, 2025

Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

HELEN P. COOKE Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/21, 3/28, 4/04/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM000190

CHRISTABELL THOMAS-CHERRY Name of Decedent

NICKEY EARLINE PATTERSON 6710 OXON HILL ROAD, SUITE 210 OXON HILL, MD 20745

Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs CEDRIC THOMAS whose address is 1810 23RD STREET #32A, WASHINGTON, DC 20020 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CHRISTABELL THOMAS-CHERRY who died on JUNE 11, 2020, 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 SEPTEMBER 21, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: MARCH 21, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

CEDRIC THOMAS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/21, 3/28, 4/04/25

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO.

2024ADM001417

SHIRLEY MAE PITTMAN

Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs RITA EPPS whose addresses is 5932 9TH STREET NW APT 12, WASHINGTON, DC 20011 was appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of SHIRLEY MAE PITTMAN who died on NOVEMBER 23, 2023, with a Will and will serve with 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 SEPTEMBER 21, 2025, Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship.

Date of first publication: MARCH 21, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers

RITA EPPS Personal Representatives

TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 3/21, 3/28, 4/04/25

Black women mobilize large scale ‘Buycott’ at Costco in Arlington, Va.

By The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

On Saturday, March 15, over 100 Black women from across the country who are members of the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) staged a large-scale “buycott” at Costco in Arlington, Va., to deploy the power of their purses in support of corporations who value diversity, equity and inclusion. The effort is the first time Black women have come together as a large group to exercise collective action in support of diversity, equity and inclusion since President Trump signed multiple executive orders aimed at eliminating such initiatives in the public and private sector earlier this year.

The effort was led by civil rights leader Melanie L. Campbell, who is president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable. She said, “The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Black Women’s Roundtable values companies that value diversity, and Costco’s recent actions to

preserve their diversity initiatives prove they care about all of their customers. Corporations and businesses should not ask for Black patrons while failing to support employees of color.”

The Costco “buycott” was a key component of the Black Women’s Roundtable Women of Power National Summit, which focused on developing strategies and organizing tools to empower Black women and girls to overcome systemic barriers and obstacles to

pursue their dreams and live their best lives.

The effort was a powerful demonstration of how much is at stake for companies that choose not to embrace their Black customers. According to a report by Nielsen, Black consumers wield $2 trillion in spending power, and Black women are known for being trendsetters who impact consumer behavior. A recent Harris Poll found that 66 percent of Black consumers, 65 percent of

Black women, and 69 percent of under-35 Black consumers have recently shifted their spending to align with their moral views.

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation is a dedicated advocate for the rights and empowerment of Black communities. Through various initiatives and programs, NCBCP works to ensure equal representation, civic engagement, economic empowerment and the protection of voting rights for all.

Flau’jae Johnson on a mission: LSU star teams up with Experian to relieve debt for Louisianans

By Stacy Brown NNPA Newswire

Flau’jae Johnson is no stranger to pressure.

As a standout junior guard for LSU’s women’s basketball team, she has learned how to manage the intensity of big games, the demands of academics, and the responsibility of being a high-profile athlete in the era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. Now, she’s adding another role to her résumé—helping relieve consumer debt for thousands of African American families in Louisiana.

“I’ve been working with Experian for quite some time now,” Johnson said during an appearance on the Black Press of America’s Let It Be Known News. “We did a lot of things just helping students learn about financial literacy. When this opportunity came about, I was ecstatic. This is really going to help change lives because debt can really hold people back. They’re just fighting to survive instead of learning how to build more finances.”

Experian’s latest initiative will relieve $5 million in consumer debt for 5,000 families in Louisiana, one of the states with the highest percentage of poverty in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The credit organization noted that 50 percent of African Americans over 18 are “very/fairly worried” about getting out of debt, and the state has one of the highest unbanked rates in America at 8.1 percent. Further, 52 percent of African American adults indicated they are working to rebuild their credit, and about 1 in 4 have their mortgage applications denied.

The initiative, which was carried out in partnership with ForgiveCo, a public benefit corporation (PBC), aims to ease the financial burden of those struggling with debt. To further incentivize success, Experian will add $100,000 in additional debt relief for every game LSU wins during the March Madness basketball tournament, up to $500,000.

“This is really going to help change lives because debt can really hold people back.”

“Helping it aligns with the tournament, the more games we win, that’ll be 100K more that we’re adding into the pot,” Johnson said. “Coming to the Louisiana community and trying to help is what I want to do because they poured into me, and they kind of adopted me since I came here.”

The initiative isn’t just about canceling debts. It’s also about giving people the tools to manage their financial future. Beneficiaries will receive a free one-year premium Experian membership, which offers access to credit reports, FICO Scores, credit monitoring and other financial resources.

Johnson understands firsthand how valuable those tools can be, especially for young people navigating newfound financial independence.

“I didn’t know a lot, going into college,” she

said. “I came into college with NIL, and we get paid all these dollars. Thankfully, I had a mom that was into her finances, but everybody doesn’t have that. So, it’s just kind of taking that initiative to do it yourself and learn. A lot of people don’t know about credit, don’t know about finances. You can’t grow that way.”

Johnson has balanced basketball, NIL deals, music and school while ensuring she stays on top of her finances. Time management, she said, is key. “I got to get school out the way before I do anything,” she said. “Top of the week, so I’m not stressing on due dates. If I have to study for an exam, that will take more days. If I have different assignments, I use one day to get everything done. It’s all about scheduling and time management.”

For Johnson, this partnership is about more than just this moment—it’s about helping create long-term financial knowledge that can benefit families and young people alike. “I’m the type of person who says, put your money where your mouth is,” she said. “If you really want to help, do that. And that’s what they’re doing. Five million dollars is a lot of money, and 5,000 families, that’s a lot of people. This is just the start.”

Johnson hopes this partnership and her platform will encourage more young people to take financial literacy seriously. “Learn how to use credit,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know how to use credit. There are so many ways to use credit for what you need, your business and your future.”

Johnson has big plans for the initiative.

“No matter what, when we win, we help more people, more families,” she said.

This article was originally published by NNPA

Courtesy photo

Members of the Black Women’s Roundtable flex their financial muscle in Arlington, Va., spending their dollars at a local Costco, one of a few corporations to ignore the 47th president’s directive to end equity and inclusion initiatives in the interest of diversity.

Newswire.

AP Photo

Louisiana State University star Flau’jae Johnson is working with the credit bureau, Experian, to help those in debt. Experian’s latest initiative will relieve $5 million in consumer debt for 5,000 families in Louisiana, one of the states with the highest percentage of poverty in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

BALTIMORE-AREA

President of federal workers union addresses job cuts

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com

The national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has sounded off about the consequences of sweeping cuts to the federal workforce and federal programs at the direction of the 47th president and his new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Everett Kelley, who became

president in 2020, is using town halls to speak directly to federal employees who have been laid off or worry they could lose their jobs as part of the downsizing.

“What we’re seeing is an illegal permanent shutdown of many agencies from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to the Department of Education, to the Environmental Protection Agency,” said Kelley, in a

Davenport, who serves the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Job and Career Center as manager and event coordinator, takes a moment with honoree Lenora Howze, AFRO executive and advertising director.

Enoch Pratt Free Library honors AFRO Executive Director

Lenora Howze and others at luncheon

By AFRO Staff

The Enoch Pratt Free Library held its second annual “Women in Workforce Luncheon” on March 19, highlighting the work of seven women who have greatly contributed to the community while advancing in their careers. Among those honored were AFRO Executive Director

Lenora Howze, who also serves as AFRO advertising director. In addition to a wonderful breakfast and lunch, the day-long event featured six micro-learning sessions with a range of empowering topics, from “Building Psychologically Safe Workplaces” to “WorkLife Balance,” and more.

Downtown Partnership of Baltimore releases annual ‘State of Downtown’ report

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com

The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) unveiled its 2024 State of Downtown report on March 20. The annual analysis provides updates on key indicators of the health of Baltimore’s Central Business District, including data on employment, tourism, employment, vacancies and public safety

According to DPOB’s president, Shelonda Stokes, downtown is in the midst of a transformation.

“A growing population drives the need for new housing, retail and entertainment options. The adaptive reuse of office space, the steady influx of new businesses and the relocation of 5,000 state employees from State Center into the core of

People across the country are mobilizing to protest mass layoffs of federal workers and sweeping cuts to federal funding under the direction of the 47th president. United States Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) (left) and Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), are working to help federal employees fight back against the decisions made by the current administration in the White House. Maryland

“Building

on Gov. Wes Moore’s declaration that this is Maryland’s decade and Baltimore’s time, we affirm that this is downtown’s moment to redefine what’s possible.”

downtown further reinforce the area’s resurgence,” said Stokes in the report.

“Building on Governor Wes Moore’s declaration that this is Maryland’s decade and Baltimore’s time, we affirm that this is downtown’s moment to redefine what’s possible.”

Examining employment, office space and retail

In 2024, the top five employment sectors in downtown Baltimore were health

care and social assistance; professional, scientific and technical services; public administration; accommodation and food services; and finance and insurance. As a result of Baltimore’s designation as a federal Tech Hub and Governor Wes Moore’s $1 billion “Capital of Quantum” Initiative, jobs in the technology, creative services and life sciences industries are expected to grow in the future.

However, compared to 2023, employment has

declined. In 2024, the employed population amounted to 132,288 people, and in 2023, it was 133,950. In an effort to stimulate downtown, Maryland has been relocating state agencies to the Central Business District since 2023. So far, 1,448 state employees have made the move, filling nearly 300,000 square feet of previously vacant office space. The remaining 3,500 employees will be relocated

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com

The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC) is set to host a two-day public hearing in Baltimore on April 4 and 5 to assess institutional accountability and legal redress for the legacy of racial terror lynchings in the state. Across Maryland, 38 Black citizens were lynched between 1854 and 1933. No one was ever held responsible for the brutal killings.

The April hearing will be the MLTRC’s last before submitting a final report with recommendations for reparations before the end of 2025. It will be streamed live on the

MLTRC’s website and held in person at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.

“The way I see it, our previous hearings that were taking place in the counties were focused on the ‘truth’ side of our commission, and the hearing coming up is focused on the ‘reconciliation’ side,” said Michelle Coles, one of the 18 commissioners of the MLTRC. “We have assembled an amazing group of experts and community advocates to help us formulate what the vision of reconciliation should look like.”

The public hearing will feature several panels led by expert witnesses, legal professionals, scholars and

community activists across the two days. They will examine avenues for criminal justice reform, the role of news media in covering the legacy of lynching, the trauma engendered by historical lynching and ways to repair the harm done by the state.

The case for reparations has been a controversial debate across the U.S. Some of the criticism stems from whether current generations should bear responsibility for actions carried out by people of the past. Nicholas Creary, chair of the reconciliation committee for the MLTRC, pointed

Photo courtesy of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) President Shelonda Stokes, left, leads a March 20 panel discussion with Vaki Mawema, principal and co-managing director of Gensler Baltimore; Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Stephen Leeper, president and CEO of Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation. The conversation took place during a breakfast to reveal DPOB’s annual State of Downtown report.

Byrds Eye View Media / John Cassini

Alayna

Courtesy photo Photo courtesy of Facebook/ Everett Kelley

website or in person at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

Hearing

Continued from D1

out that there is no statute of limitations on homicides in Maryland.

“This is not dredging up the past,” said Creary. “It’s an opportunity to provide some kind of closure.”

From his perspective, the 38 victims of racial terror lynchings in Maryland represent open murder cases in the state.

“This is about trying to achieve some measure of accountability for these families and communities and, more broadly, looking at the long sweep of racial injustice,” said Creary. “I know it’s not in vogue to talk about these things these days, but that doesn’t change or obviate the impact and necessity to reckon with this history.”

Report

Continued from D1

nearly 300,000 square feet of previously vacant office space. The remaining 3,500 employees will be relocated between 2025 and 2026. In spite of this effort, the share of vacant office space increased from 2023 to 2024 downtown. In 2023, 19.76 percent of offices were vacant compared to 21.7 percent in 2024. To curb this, DPOB has been pushing the conversion of these empty offices into retail and residential spaces.

Continued from D1 Cuts

town hall organized by Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07).

“Over the next few weeks, everything will be at stake— our jobs, of course, but also our pay; benefits, like health insurance; and our basic rights to unionize and negotiate collective bargaining agreements.”

The AFGE is the largest union for federal employees, representing more than 820,000 workers across the United States.

The union president characterized the path forward as one of legal battles with the administration. He said the AFGE itself has filed several lawsuits to challenge the assault on the civil service. One contests the 47th president’s

“This is about trying to achieve some measure of accountability for these families and communities and, more broadly, looking at the long sweep of racial injustice.”

Though it may appear that the MLTRC is simply investigating the past, its work is also relevant to the present and future. As Coles put it, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

“We’re at an inflection point in our nation’s history where so many of the incidents of the past that we’ve swept under the rug for so

One example of this is the redevelopment of Fidelity and Deposit Building at 210 N. Charles Street, which will revamp the long-vacant property into 231 residential units and integrate 30,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. The project is expected to be completed in September 2025 and will reduce Baltimore’s office vacancy by 240,000 square feet. DPOB characterized downtown’s retail presence as strong with an occupancy rate of 93 percent. Since the pandemic, retailers have experienced a 96 percent recovery. In 2024, downtown retailers

long are resurfacing. We are seeing manifestations again in our present,” said Coles. “For people who truly do want to move forward, it’s absolutely necessary to examine where we fell short of our country’s ideals.”

Those who are interested in attending the MLTRC’s public hearing on April 4 and 5 should register here.

made $908 million, up $8.5 million from 2023.

Boosts from tourism, arts and entertainment

At the heart of downtown is the Bromo Arts District. It features more than 30 creative organizations, including theaters, galleries, artist studios and performance venues.

One of these venues is the CFG Bank Arena. Since its $250 million facelift in 2022, the arena was ranked 4th in North America and 10th in the world by Billboard in 2023.

In 2024, 172 live performances took place in CFG Bank Arena, 37 percent of

“For most of us, we too want to do away with waste, fraud and abuse in our government, but we want to do it strategically, surgically and so that we can validate whatever results we are getting.”

Schedule F plan, which would reclassify numerous federal workers and make them easier to fire.

“It will be months before many of these cases are finally decided, but AFGE is hopeful that we will prevail in the end,” said Kelley. “We

which were sold out. Nearly 1.5 million people attended these shows, generating $105 million in gross ticket sales.

A staple event in downtown’s entertainment scene, The Center Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments brought thousands of visitors to the city in 2024. Its total economic impact in 2024 was $32.5 million with a direct spending of $23.6 million. It also supported more than 1,300 jobs and contributed $3.1 million to state and local tax revenue.

The Baltimore Convention

Anthony Brown expanded on some of the lawsuits disputing the actions of the 47th president and his administration.

In February, Brown joined a coalition of 22 other states fighting to preserve funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) after the White House announced plans to slash $4 billion from the agency. The attorney general explained that this would not only stifle groundbreaking medical research at Maryland’s leading institutions, like Johns Hopkins University, it would also jeopardize Marylanders’ jobs.

also must be realistic though. The bottom line is that the law has made it hard for federal employees to sue the government. This means we can’t count on the courts to save us.”

During the town hall, Maryland Attorney General

As a result of the suit, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order on the cuts.

“While we’re enjoying some wins, we’ve got a long way to go to ensure victory on behalf of the people of Maryland and in this country.” said

Center, another hotspot for tourism downtown, is currently considering renovation. In 2024, the Maryland General Assembly established the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating Authority Task Force to study and recommend ways to revitalize the building.

Public safety strides

As downtown shifts to accommodate more residents, enhancing public safety has become a top priority. DPOB is partnering with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) to create the Strategic

Brown.

The attorney general also has defended against the administration’s efforts to fire federal employees. In March, Brown led a coalition of 20 attorneys general to sue federal agencies that have executed mass layoffs of probationary employees.

He said hundreds, if not thousands, of federal workers in Maryland have been terminated.

“These federal employees who work in agencies –whether it’s the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor or the Environmental Protection Agency – are being terminated or threatened with termination, leaving many Marylanders without their livelihoods,” said Brown.

“But, just yesterday, a federal judge in California blocked the firing of federal probationary workers.”

Operations Center (SOC). The hub will assemble law enforcement, city agencies, business leaders and community organizations to devise proactive and prevention-based strategies to reduce crime. A pilot of the SOC will launch in the fall at UMB’s campus before moving to a permanent location. In 2024, overall crime was down by 6 percent downtown, Stolen vehicles and shootings also decreased by 46 percent and 45 percent respectively. However, larceny, the theft of property not taken by force, increased by 16 percent.

Mfume pointed out that the state of Maryland is one of the states with the largest population of federal workers. He contended that the 47th president’s actions have defied the rule of law and U.S. Constitution.

A ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, Mfume supports eliminating inefficiencies in government. But, he said, it must be done in the right way.

“We all know that when you take a meat cleaver instead of a scalpel to try to root out waste, fraud and abuse, what you do is make the patient worse,” said Mfume. “For most of us, we too want to do away with waste, fraud and abuse in our government, but we want to do it strategically, surgically and so that we can validate whatever results we are getting.”

Byrds Eye View Media / John Cassini

Honorees from l to r: Maggie Villegas (left), CEO and founder of Conjure The Future; Dr. Sharlene Allen, CEO of Honor The Whole You; Kristi Metzger recruitment and examinations manager at Maryland Transportation Authority; AFRO Executive Director Lenora Howze; Erica Pullen and Mackenzie Garvin.

Byrds Eye View Media / John Cassini

Honorees Erica Pullen (left), CEO and founder at W.E. Publishing Company receives recognition alongside Mackenzie Garvin, director of Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, and luncheon host Hennither Gant.

Photo by Mary Kate McKenna Photography

Nicholas Creary (right), commissioner for the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC), addresses the crowd at a public hearing in Frederick, Md., alongside David Fakunle (left), chair of the MLTRC, alongside David Fakunle (left), chair of the MLTRC. The organization is set to host its final public hearing on April 4 and 5 in Baltimore. Community members can attend virtually on the MLTRC’s

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Baltimore Center

Stage brings ‘Akeelah and The Bee’ to Charm City

By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com

Baltimore Center Stage’s (BCS) newest production, “Akeelah and The Bee,” is kicking off a spring celebration of youth programs. Based on the 2006 hit film of the same name, the play follows 11-yearold Akeelah who lives in a rough Chicago neighborhood. With support from her community, Akeelah gets an opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The show runs March 28 to April 13, with performances on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m.

“Akeelah and the Bee” notably makes a young Black girl the center of the story, portraying her as a talented, determined and intelligent protagonist who navigates both personal and societal challenges. It also examines representation in spelling bees.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee was started in 1925, but the holding of spelling competitions dates back to the 1800s. Though

the national spelling bee was never segregated, many local and regional spelling bees were, according to the Tennessee State Museum. Without a chance to compete at them, Black youth could not qualify for nationals.

In 1936, 13-year-old MacNolia Cox became the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio spelling bee. The feat landed her a spot in the national bee that year. Though she made it to the final round, she misspelled the word “nemesis,” according to AFRO reporting at the time. A proper noun, nemesis was not on the approved contest list, but Cox’s chance at victory was shattered.

The first African-American winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee would not come until 2021. That year, 14-yearold Zaila Avant-garde made history after correctly spelling “Murraya.” She followed in the footsteps of Jody-Anne Maxwell, a 12-year-old from Kingston, Jamaica, who became the first Black person and non-American to win the national bee in 1998.

Shown here, MacNolia Cox, as she participates in the 1936 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Cox placed fifth after misspelling “nemesis,” a word that was not approved by the contest.

In May 1955, at 12, Gloria Lockerman(left) won the Maryland statewide spelling bee after successfully spelling “satellite” and “plenipotentiary.” In the fall, Lockerman competed on “The $64,000 Question” television program, walking away with $16,000 (nearly $188k today). She traveled the East Coast giving autographs, opening the AFRO’s Philly Cooking School, and being guest of honor at multiple social club meetings.

Inspiring readers, building leaders: Leith Walk Elementary and Middle School celebrates Read Across America

By Ronald Christian Jr. Special to the

In 1998, the National Education Association started Read Across America, a year-round program designed to inspire students across the country to be avid readers. In honor of one of the most prolific authors of all time, Dr. Seuss, the NEA started their annual weeklong and monthlong celebrations on March 2–Dr. Seuss’ birthday. On March 7, Leith Walk Elementary andMiddle School held a daylong celebration that entailed guest speakers encouraging their students to be the best that they can be.

City Council President Zeke Cohen (D-District 1) and Deputy Chief Academic Officer Dr. Taiisha Swinton-Buck read to eager elementary school students. Baltimore City Police representatives Maj. Joanne Waller, Capt. Scott Swenson, Sgt. Marlon Harry, Officer Monica Cooper and Officer Alexia Davis spoke to students about their commitment to fostering better community relationships and the responsibilities of policing their community. Baltimore’s own Carter Davis – a defensive back for the Boston College Eagles football team – spoke to students about his journey as a student athlete. Associate organizer for Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development Sameka Turner spoke to students about her childhood and the power of one’s voice.

According to the 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress, 37 percent of fourth-graders perform below the basic reading level. The studies show that low-income communities and communities of color experienced the greatest decline in proficiency. While this information can be disheartening, the students in the city are inching towards closing the gap.

Earlier in the school year, City Schools reported that there was a 13 to 16 percentage point increase in middle school literacy since 2016. Deputy Chief Academic Officer Taiisha Swinton-Buck spoke on what has led to the exponential growth students are experiencing, this was her response:

“I think that it is attributed to the high quality instructional materials that we have adopted and the investment in professional learning that we made for our teachers. So we know that the more that we empower our teachers with the resources that they need for what happens in the classroom every day, the better off our students will [be] as far as state testing and different benchmarks,” she said.

There is still plenty more ground to be gained as disparities persist, fueled by a number of factors ranging from structural inequality to socioeconomic conditions. Efforts such as Read Across America inspire the next generation of leaders to commit to their personal growth in meaningful and engaging ways.

Events such as the Read Across America celebration at Leith Walk Elementary and Middle School blend all that is required to support the sustainable growth and development of the future leaders of Baltimore and the nation at large.

AFRO

AFRO Photos/ Ronald Christian Jr.

Read Across America Day runs smoothly at Leith Walk with the help of Dora Cooper (left), Shantay Gaines, Principal Ashanti Porter and Geana Patti.

Sgt. Marlon Harry (left), Officer Monica Cooper, Maj. Joanne Waller and Capt. Scott Swenson speak to the students about the importance of proper policing.

Teacher Anjanette Jacobs (left) prepares her class to hear a story from Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen.

A reminder to students that being a leader will solidify the efforts towards being a Leith Walk Legend.

Shanade Wells-Anderson (left) introduces Carter Davis, a former Mt. St. Joesph student-athlete turned defensive back for Boston College. Davis spoke to the students about the importance of balancing academics and athletics.

Professional soccer players Jonatas Melo (left) and Val Teixeira address the students.

Associate organizer for Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, Sameka Turner, speaks to students about her experience and the power of the voice.

School staff Patricia Faison (left), Racquel Johnson (seated) and Travis Jenkins volunteer on Read Across America Day.

Deputy Chief Academic Officer Dr. Taiisha Swinton-Buck, reads “Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea” to a group of very excited students.