Organizers say Independence Day weekend celebrations are a fitting moment to highlight what they see as threats to American democracy. The 47th president’s use of executive orders to target immigrants, nix inclusion, diversity and equity efforts and dismantle federal agencies have sparked months of nationwide protests since Inauguration Day.
By Stacy M. Brown
A sprawling coalition of activists transformed July 4 into a day of protest and civic action, as demonstrators in all 50 states rallied against President Donald Trump’s
second-term agenda.
Billed as “Free America Weekend,” the effort was the latest in a string of large-scale demonstrations, following June’s “No Kings Day” protests that drew crowds nationwide to reject what organizers described as Trump’s push toward authoritarian rule.
The nationwide protests were part of the 50501 Movement—named for the goal of holding 50 protests in 50 states on the same day. The movement emerged in late 2024 through grassroots organizing and quickly gained momentum across social media platforms such as Instagram and Reddit. Organizers say the Fourth of July
was a fitting moment to highlight what they have seen as threats to American democracy, pointing to Trump’s executive orders targeting immigrants, efforts to dismantle federal agencies and the broader influence of Project 2025,
By Stacy M. Brown
At the annual convention of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), held under the theme “The Black Press: Engaging Black America—Empowerment, Justice and Prosperity,” Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant received the NNPA’s prestigious 2025 Newsmaker of the Year Award. Bryant was honored during a ceremony on June 27 where the organization recognized Bryant’s bold leadership in confronting corporate America’s retreat from equity, diversion and inclusion (DEI), most notably through his ongoing boycott of Target.
The NNPA is the trade association representing more than 200 African American-owned newspapers and media companies that comprise the 198-year-old Black Press of America.
Bryant, the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in metro Atlanta, launched a 40-day fast—aligned with Lent—as an economic protest against Target after the company announced in January it would end its DEI initiatives and cancel a $2 billion pledge it made in 2020 to support Black-owned businesses following the murder of George Floyd.
“After the murder of George Floyd, [Target] made a $2 billion
commitment to invest in Black businesses,” Bryant said during an earlier appearance on the Black Press’ Let It Be Known news program. “That commitment was due in December 2025. When they pulled out of the DEI agreement in January, they also canceled that $2 billion commitment.” Target has told Black Press USA that it has exceeded its commitments made after Floyd’s death.
However, Bryant cited the $12 million spent daily by Black consumers at Target as a driving reason to focus the protest on the retailer. Within just one week of launching the petition at targetfast.org, 50,000 people had signed on. “This is just
phase one,” he said. “Amazon and others come right after. America has shown us time and time again: if it doesn’t make dollars, it doesn’t make sense.”
Beyond the restoration of DEI programs, Bryant has called on Target to invest $250 million in Blackowned banks to help scale Black businesses and to partner with HBCUs located near the company’s 10 distribution centers. “White women are the number one beneficiaries of DEI,” he said. “What I am asking for is a quarter of a billion dollars to be invested in Black banks so that our Black businesses can scale.”
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer astevens@afro.com
Trailblazing educator, civic leader and sports pioneer Helen Webb Harris will be recognized during the Deltas on the Fairway National Golf Tournament on July 8 at the University of Maryland Golf Course. The tournament, which kicks off at 9 a.m., serves as one of the official opening events of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.’s 57th National Convention.
Elsie Cooke-Holmes, international president, and chair of the board of directors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., reflected on the organization’s rich legacy and the importance of its upcoming national gathering.
“Washington, D.C. is the perfect backdrop for this year’s
convention,” said Cooke-Holmes. “It is a true homecoming as we travel to the birthplace of our sorority in 1913 on Howard University’s campus, the place where we held our first national convention in 1919.”
“In the spirit of our 22 courageous, trailblazing founders, we are proud to honor Helen Webb Harris at this year’s Deltas on the Fairways National Golf Fundraising Tournament,” continued Cooke-Holmes. “Her leadership, scholarship and advocacy opened doors in academics and athletics, and the funds that we raise will help us to invest in programs and initiatives to support the next generation of changemakers.”
Debra Bunkley, chair of corporate partnerships for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. emphasized the value of the signature event, which will help kick off the convention.
“Deltas on the Fairway is hosting
its second golf tournament and golf clinics as a part of the 57th National Convention. This is a great opportunity for networking, learning and more about golf and careers and fellowship to our members and partners,” Bunkley said.
An alumna of Howard University’s Alpha Chapter, Harris was a lifelong member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her four-decade teaching career in the classrooms of Washington, D.C. was marked by a passion for literature and history.
“We chose to recognize our sorority sister Helen Webb Harris this year because it felt like the perfect convergence of history and purpose,” said Dr. Darryal McCullough, co-chair of Deltas on the Fairway National Golf Fundraising Tournament Member.
By Michael R. Sisak
Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted of two prostitution-related offenses but acquitted July 2 of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put one of hiphop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life.
The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality television star.
What to know about the case:
The charges: Combs pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Seven weeks into the trial, prosecutors dropped theories of attempted arson and kidnapping to streamline their racketeering conspiracy count.
• The arguments: Prosecutors
called 34 witnesses since the trial’s start in early May, including two ex-girlfriends of Combs who testified they felt coerced into marathon sex events with male sex workers that were called “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.” Jurors were shown about 20 minutes of video recordings from the dayslong events. Defense lawyers, though, say they were consensual sexual encounters consistent with the swingers lifestyle.
• The star witness: R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine recounted a turbulent 10year relationship with Combs that she said was consumed by violence and his obsession with a form of voyeurism. Combs chose not to testify.
Cassie’s lawyer says she ‘paved the way’
A lawyer for Cassie, who testified that Combs beat and raped her, lauded her courage despite the verdict.
“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty
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of transportation to engage in prostitution,” Douglas H. Wigdor said in a written statement.
“By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice.”
How long did the jury deliberate?
Overall, the jury deliberated for about 13 and a half hours over the course of three days.
It’s been almost two months since jury selection began on May 5.
The verdict came as the jury faced the prospect of coming into court July 3, while the courthouse is otherwise closed, or waiting until after the long Independence Day weekend to resume deliberating if they didn’t have a decision on July 2.
Here’s how the jury decided on all charges: Count one, racketeering conspiracy- not guilty; Count two, sex trafficking of Casandra Ventura- not guilty; Count three, transportation to engage in prostitution of Casandra Ventura- guilty; Count four, sex trafficking of the woman known
as “Jane”- Not guilty; Count five, transportation to engage in prostitution for the woman known as “Jane” - guilty.
What Combs said to his family as he left the courtroom
As Combs turned toward his family as he left the courtroom, he smiled as they applauded and said: “I’ll be home soon.”
He added: “I love you, baby” and, “I love you, Mom.”
Combs remains in custody as he awaits sentencing. His attorneys wanted him released on a $1 million bond, but Judge Arun Subramanian ruled against that request, saying the applicable law didn’t allow for Combs’ release at this point.
Prosecutors say they will seek to have Combs incarcerated
The charges Combs was convicted of carry a maximum of 10 years behind bars, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey notes.
“Mr. Agnifilo (Combs’ lawyer) tried to downplay the significance” of the charges
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a conservative policy blueprint criticized for seeking to consolidate power in the executive branch.
“There is no real independence to celebrate under this administration,” the Women’s March declared in its call to action for July 4. “This is our chance to stand together and reclaim the meaning of freedom.”
More than 170 events were planned across the country, ranging from rallies at state capitals to block parties, dance protests, banner drops and community art projects. In New York, protests were scheduled both at the state Capitol in Albany and at New York City Hall. Other major gatherings
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The NNPA, in response to widespread corporate rollbacks, also launched a national public education and selective buying campaign.
“We are the trusted voice of Black America, and we will not be silent or nonresponsive to the rapid rise of renewed Jim Crow racist policies in corporate America,” said NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr.
“Black Americans spend $2 trillion annually,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. “We must evaluate and realign to question why we continue to spend our money with companies that do not respect us.”
Bryant has also partnered with Ron Busby, president and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers, to provide consumers with a directory of over 300,000 Black-owned businesses.
“You can’t tell people what not to do without showing them what to do,” Bryant said. “If you’re not going to Target or Walmart but need essentials like toilet paper, soap or detergent, we’ll show you where to get them and reinvest in Black businesses.”
He said the impact has proved major.
“Since Black people have been boycotting Target, the stock has dropped by $11. Stockholders are now suing Target because of the adverse impact this boycott has had on their stock,” Bryant proclaimed.
He also addressed Target’s recent $300,000 agreement with the National Baptist Convention. During a sermon, he accused the convention of allowing the company to sidestep accountability. “You thought you were going to go around me and go to the
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, shown here in a 2007 AP file photo, is breathing easier after avoiding conviction on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Though he was found “not guilty” of the more serious charges, he was convicted on July 2 of two prostitution-related offenses that could still carry up to 10 years in prison.
Combs was convicted of, “but the record says otherwise,” the prosecutor says.
She says the court has heard testimony of years of illegal conduct, transporting sex workers, drug use and attempting to intimidate witnesses.
took place at the California and Texas State Capitols and in cities including Philadelphia, Tampa and Tallahassee.
The Women’s March website encouraged participants to host neighborhood events and create spaces where people “who aren’t going to come to a protest can still dream about freedom with hot dogs and veggie burgers.”
Organizers said the combination of celebration and dissent reflects their conviction that resisting Trump’s policies and building community go hand in hand. In addition to “No Kings Day,” activists have staged numerous demonstrations over the past year condemning what they describe as systemic attacks on civil liberties and democratic
National Baptist Convention and sell out for $300,000?” Bryant demanded. “Are you crazy– to think that [we’re going to] sell out for chump change? You must not know who we are!”
Comey argues there’s a “real risk that he will flagrantly disregard orders from this court, that he will commit new crimes and that he will attempt to flee justice.” This article was originally published by The Associated Press.
norms. Free America Weekend was intended to unify those efforts into a single, coordinated show of resistance.
While organizers emphasized nonviolence, some local groups reported receiving threats and harassment online.
In Illinois, protest leaders said they secured permits to rally at the Capitol grounds to help ensure participants’ safety after threats from pro-Trump groups.
“This movement is about more than just one day,” organizers wrote online. “It’s about standing firm in our beliefs and seeing it through, no matter the challenges we may face.”
This article was originally published by Black Press USA.
For more on this topic, please see Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper’s commentary on A8.
Continued from A1
Rev. Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention, said the denomination is working on a three-year plan with Target that “will be very beneficial to the Black community.”
Bryant has spent decades as a leading voice for justice. From his early work as National Youth and College Director of the NAACP, where he mobilized over 70,000 young people in nonviolent campaigns, to founding Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore—once the fastest-growing church in the AME denomination—to now leading New Birth, supporters said Bryant has never wavered in his commitment to mobilizing faith, economic power, and activism.
A Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and two-time Grammy Award winner, Bryant has established ministries that combat injustice, foster entrepreneurship, and empower economically disadvantaged individuals. He rose from earning a GED to receiving a Ph.D., reaching across generations and building bridges between the Civil Rights era and today’s movements.
Chavis said Bryant’s award at this year’s NNPA convention aligns directly with the event’s theme.
“Dr. Bryant has shown that prophetic voices still matter in the marketplace,” Chavis affirmed. “And the Black Press will always amplify those voices who fight for empowerment, justice, and prosperity.”
This article was originally published by The Black Press USA.
Harris, who broke barriers in education and athletics, founded the Wake Robin Golf Club in 1937, recognized as the nation’s first golf organization established by African American women. Her activism helped advance desegregation efforts in public golf, contributing to the creation of Langston Golf Course in Washington, D.C., in 1939, and influencing changes to discriminatory practices within the PGA.
In 1947, she became the first woman to lead the Eastern Golf Association, a milestone in sports leadership at a time when female voices were seldom heard in such roles.
“I lead a team of women from across the country, and together we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this event,” Dr. McCullough said. “We’ve collaborated with Dr. Greta Anderson, a professional golfer and coach, to organize not only the tournament but also clinics and a panel discussion. It’s been a full-circle moment to see so many Black women come together to make this vision a reality.” This special tournament will recognize Harris’ enduring contributions to education, public service and golf, while also commemorating the doors she opened for Black women in sports.
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy selected veteran educator Shawn Joseph to become the district’s interim superintendent on June 13. Joseph most recently served as an assistant professor for Howard University and was previously Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) deputy superintendent for teaching and learning from 2014 to 2016.
His appointment follows the resignation of Millard House II, who reached an agreement with the school board to step down from the post after receiving a vote of no confidence from the county’s teachers union. A major source of Joseph’s excitement about the role is his strong belief in the county’s newly elected leadership, including Braveboy and Prince Geoerge’s County Council Chair Edward Burroughs and the PGCPS’ school board.
“I saw this as a moment in Prince George’s County where all of the powers that be are aligned and willing and committed to working together,” said Joseph. “To be a part of that team at this moment was an opportunity I just couldn’t deny.”
The AFRO recently connected with Joseph to discuss his first 100-days plan and his vision for the future of PGCPS.
AFRO: What are your top priorities in your first 100 days as interim
superintendent?
Shawn Joseph: I’ve identified six areas that we’re going to focus on: strategic alignment, talent, academics, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, community engagement and operations. The work is complex. It starts with the board and I being clear about what we want to do first, second, third and so on and what success would look like in the areas we want
“I saw this as a moment in Prince George’s County where all of the powers that be are aligned and willing and committed to working together.”
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
A new D.C. Council bill aims to separate Washington Commanders stadium discussions from fiscal year 2026 budget discussions. The council wants to discuss a historic deal that was made between D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the Commanders that would bring the team back to the Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.
The nearly $4 billion deal has been settled but the council has yet to approve it, which is required before the deal can move forward.
“In July, we will be getting three reports that are important for the council’s understanding as well as will inform our discussions with the Commanders,” said D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) in a livestreamed media briefing on June 30.
The three reports include an economic impact analysis by the council’s budget office, a consultants report by the Robert Bobb Group and the tax abatement financial analysis (TAFA) by the D.C. Chief Financial Officer.
“The TAFA will be the
last of the three that we get,” he said. “We won’t have the third until probably the third week of July. After that we will be in a better position for members to talk amongst themselves as well as for us to talk to the Commanders about where we have concerns about the deal as presented by the mayor.”
The plan was initially included in the mayor’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which the council is currently reviewing through a series of hearings that began on May 29.
The Robert F. Kennedy Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025, B26-0288, was introduced on June 20, and is set for two public hearings on July 29 and July 30. Mendelson said at this point the negotiations are between the council and the commanders for approval. He also said he believes that the deal can be improved, but he is working with the commanders to ensure it gets passed as soon as possible. He provided an example of where the deal can be improved.
“There’s talk about affordable housing but there’s nothing in the mayor’s
By Kendra Bryant AFRO Intern
Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to tour two historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along with historical monuments and museums.
“It bothers me that Washington, D.C. is so close, but many of our young men have never been to these sites,” said founder and director of Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood, Cameron Miles. “For that reason, I felt it was important that we took this trip.”
For many of the teens, the trip with the program was their first time traveling ever or in quite some time. Fifteen-year-old Ryan Thomas was a first-time traveler with the program.
“I haven’t been to D.C. in a long time— since I was seven or nine,” said Thomas. “I liked it.”
Adding trips to the program’s itinerary isn’t just for fun. The tours serve as a teaching moment for the teens.
“During the trip, we went out to eat at restaurants, so we could teach them about etiquette,” said Miles. “We answered questions on what forks you use and what to do with your napkin. Do you ball it up and put it in your pocket
while eating? Or do you fold it out on your lap so that it catches crumbs?”
The teens visited historical landmarks, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
“I loved the Black History Museum,” said Thomas. “It was nice to see my history.”
The teens also traveled to the historically Black institutions of Bowie State University and Howard University.
“I believe that having the young men in environments of higher learning may just make them want to go to college,” said Miles. “I want their minds to be like sponges and soak it all up, so they can do great things. I don’t want them
to be a statistic.”
Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood has toured several other universities, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Duke, Syracuse, Columbia, Hampton University and more.
“Although I am hopeful that they will consider an opportunity at an HBCU…we don’t only go to HBCUs because I
want them to be exposed to all kinds of learning opportunities– including predominantly White institutions (PWIs).”
A West Baltimore native, Miles started the program 29 years ago after his time in the service. He was troubled by the disruptive behavior among teenagers while working at the Department of Social Services.
“I just remember seeing young people coming in and out of the building, fighting, cursing, disrespecting workers and causing a lot of disruption,” said Miles.
He was later approved for a mentoring program, working with five young men and meeting every first and last Saturday at Coppin State University. The program now meets at the New Shiloh Family Life Center Complex.
“Mentors such as New Shiloh’s former and late pastor, Harold A. Carter, Sr., taught me a lot,” said Miles. “Just watching people, watching how they move, watching how they speak. You want to emulate yourself after people who are movers and shakers and are just doing positive things.”
With some of the males being raised by a single mother, grandmother, or aunt, Miles serves as a mentor and father figure to the young men and boys in his program.
“I like Mr. Miles, he’s very inspiring,” said Thomas. “He cares.”
Mentoring Male Teens assists students ages 8-18 in school work, second language teaching, social skills. The mentors also attend local sporting events and field trips
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proposed legislation or in the term sheet that sets deadlines or gives any other details with regard to requirements about the affordable housing,” said Mendelson.
The mayor’s office estimates the project will produce 5,000 to 6,000 homes, with at least 1,500 to 1,800 allocated for affordable housing.
He mentioned that council members are also concerned about the number of tax abataments.
“There are no taxes from the site like property tax or parking tax or general sales tax that endures to the benefit of the general fund,” said Mendelson.
“We’re not in a position until we get these reports to fully understand those issues and how they compare with other stadiums that have been built,” added Mendelson.
Mendelson said he anticipates the need to use the month of August to work out these issues.
“I have had a number of meetings with the Commander’s leadership and we have agreed
with their mentees.
“At first, I wasn’t excited to be in the program. I don’t really like social things,” said Thomas. “But since being in the program, I’ve been more social. It gives me a reason to go outside. I love the field trips and my friends. It’s good to meet a lot of people who can help me with things for later in life.”
Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood is hosting a summer STEM program at the New Shiloh Baptist Church from July 7 to August 8. Applications are currently open to young men ages 8-18.
“Any substantive delays will jeopardize D.C.’s ability to attract premier concerts, global talent and marquee events—including the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
that we are working diligently to get to a point where the council can approve this as quickly as possible,” said Mendelson.
The Commanders shared their response to this announcement with the AFRO
“The Washington Commanders are committed to working with the council around the clock to keep this project on schedule and deliver a world-class stadium for the District by 2030,” said a Commanders spokesperson in a statement emailed on July 1. “Any substantive delays will jeopardize D.C.’s ability to attract premier concerts, global talent and marquee events—including the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Most importantly, it will slow new jobs at a time when the District needs them the
most. We are hopeful the council will continue to work in an expedited way to approve this deal and deliver a significant win for the people of D.C.”
The stadium is projected to create 2,000 permanent part-time and full-time jobs and 14,000 construction positions, a number of which could benefit Black residents in the District—especially those who live near the stadium in Wards 7 and 8.
According to the D.C. Health Matters, a coalition of hospitals and community health centers that aim to address community needs through collaboration, report that in both Ward 7 and Ward 8, 87 percent of residents are Black.
to tackle this year. As it relates to talent development, we have to ensure that we have great people in our buildings. No organization can exceed the capacity of its people. We have to recruit and retain good people and understand the places in which that has been difficult.
We also have to get clear about our academics. We have to question whether our students are making adequate growth. We have to study where they’re not growing and where they’re excelling. Being clear about where our students are helps us target our resources.
We are blessed to be in Maryland because we have the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, and our state has made significant, historic investments in education. We see that as an opportunity to be creative, dream big for our kids and put resources in the right place to accelerate outcomes. Understanding where Prince George’s County is in relationship to the goals of the blueprint is really important for us right now.
Most importantly, we have to re-engage the community. Nine years ago when I was here, I think there was one ingredient that was missing, and that’s parents actively being partners with the district. There’s a lot to be said about school systems needing to be held accountable, but I think communities need to be held accountable too. We can’t do it alone. In regard to operations, we are one of the largest districts in the country and the second largest district in Maryland. We have a lot of buildings and moving parts. If we’re not on top of our operations, it will kill us. We have to make sure that our over 1,000 bus drivers are ready to go, our buildings are safe and clean and our people get paid on time.
AFRO: From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges facing PGCPS?
SJ: Staffing is one. We’re large and complex. We have to make sure that our compensation keeps pace with not only the regional market, but the national market. It goes beyond teachers for me. It includes food service workers, bus drivers, building service workers and secretaries. We have to be competitive in all of those domains.
Beyond salaries, we also have to respect people and make them feel valued. We have to have people inspired to come to work each day because they understand that we have an awesome responsibility to help children achieve their wildest dreams. Finding talent in a place with 130,000 children and more than 200 schools is not easy.
We also cannot underestimate the need to actively ensure safety in a big district like this, and we have to improve academically. We have to be realistic about what can be accomplished with the resources we have because any organization that has more vision than capacity will fail. As we get capacity, we can continue to push to have greater vision.
In Prince George’s County, we don’t tell our story as well as we can. When I was here nine years ago, for example, I knew for a fact that African-American children did better than Black children across the state and across the nation in many academic areas. But, that story doesn’t really get out.
AFRO: What’s your vision for college and career readiness for Prince George’s County students?
SJ: We have to help children become productive citizens in this world. Some are going to go to college and do it. Some are going to graduate, go into service and do it. Some are going to graduate and go directly into work. We just have to make sure that when they come out, they’re prepared to actively engage. That means we have to teach them how to be critical consumers of knowledge and information because we’re in a knowledge economy now.
For me, it’s expanding internship and apprenticeship opportunities and increasing the amount of kids getting access to dual enrollment and college credits early. College is the thing that everybody talks about— it’s supposed to offer you a better life. We need to demystify it and help students learn that they can be successful in college.
We also have to celebrate and encourage people to serve. In our country, there are many people who have changed the circumstances of their life through service, becoming firefighters, police officers or joining the military.
of Morgan State University’s award-winning team pose on the red carpet after the
Awards, where “History of a National Treasure: The Documentary Story of Morgan State University” earned the university its first individual Emmy. Shown here, Randall Pinkston (left) who served as narrator for the film; Trae Mitchell, the independent digital content producer who also took home an Emmy for her work on “Inside the CIAA: Impact” for Maryland Public Television; School of Global Journalism and Communication Dean Jackie Jones; Director of the Center for New Media and Strategic Initiatives Dewayne Wickham; Maryland Public Television’s Chief Content Officer Travis Mitchell, who also received an Emmy for his work on “Inside the CIAA: Impact,” and Ivery Johnson, who served as the documentary’s editor.
Morgan State University is now home to an Emmy Award-winning production team. On June 21, at the 67th National Capital Chesapeake Bay Emmy Awards – or Capital Emmys – the university received its first individual Emmy for the documentary “History of a National Treasure: The Documentary Story of Morgan State University.”
At the helm of the project was Dewayne Wickham, dean emeritus of Morgan’s School of Global Journalism and Communication (SGJC) and founding director of the Center for New Media and Strategic Initiatives, which
“Our Emmy win affirms the vision that President Wilson and I shared in founding the Center: to amplify Black voices and preserve stories that might otherwise go untold.”
produced the Emmy-winning documentary recognized in the Documentary/ Historical category.
“Our Emmy win affirms the vision that President Wilson and I shared in founding the Center: to amplify Black voices and preserve stories that might otherwise go untold. Morgan’s story is one of those stories,” said Wickham.
“This is not just a win for Morgan but for America’s entire Black storytelling tradition.”
Morgan State University wasn’t the only local winner at the 67th Capital Emmys.
Visit Baltimore, the city’s official destination marketing organization, earned an award in the Short Form Content category for its video, “Celebrating Baltimore’s
Civil Rights Legacy.”
The video highlights Baltimore’s rich civil rights legacy, featuring figures like Thurgood Marshall and Lillie Carrol Jackson. The project was led by producer Tracey Johnson and director Bereng Monareng, and featured talent Evita Robinson, with Rev. Alvin
By Elijah Qualls AFRO Intern
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is facing criticism from residents and members of the Maryland Senate Republican Caucus following his June 24 announcement of a hiring freeze for all state government offices. The pause in hiring started on July 1 and will be carried through the 2026 fiscal year.
The AFRO spoke with Moore’s Chief of Staff Fagan Harris, who explained that this decision was in response to alterations made by the General Assembly to the governor’s proposed budget. The revisions called for a $121 million reduction. Harris said the Governor’s Office enacted the hiring freeze with an eye toward reducing the deficit.
“The hiring freeze does not mean that all hiring in the state government stops,” Harris said. “What it does mean is that we raise the bar of what qualifies as a priority hire and that we slow our hiring down to accrue savings so that the state is tightening its belt and being fiscally responsible.”
The hiring freeze was not the
only budget-mending tactic mentioned in Moore’s email to state employees. The Maryland executive branch also stated they plan to implement “Voluntary Separation agreement[s],” elimination of vacant positions and adjustment of various facilities to save on general costs.
Republican Sen. J.B Jennings (District 7) echoed some lawmakers’ criticism of the move.
“Back in February, I questioned the wisdom of expanding state government while facing a $2.8 billion deficit. I said then, and I repeat now: when you’re in a hole, you need to stop digging.”
The rollout of these budgetary measures seem contradictory to Moore’s Federal Workers Hiring Initiative announced on April 18.
The initiative was created to assist federal workers who lost jobs as a result of the Trump administration’s abrupt and widespread firing of federal workers.
Harris responded to Republican backlash about the hiring freeze and the budget cuts.
“The governor cut more than $2 billion out of state government,” he said, adding that Moore is
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com
Associated Black Charities (ABC) convened residents of Turner Station, a historic neighborhood in Baltimore County, in its latest “Community Convo” on June 24. The discussion invited community members to share the challenges they face and the resources they still need— particularly after the March 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
A predominantly Black community located near the Key Bridge, Turner Station
was thrust into the spotlight after the bridge’s collapse. It became a symbol of how infrastructure failures can disproportionately affect underserved neighborhoods and exacerbate long-standing challenges.
Even before the catastrophe, the neighborhood was already grappling with economic disinvestment and population decline.
“We want to make sure we shine a light on the conversation around the aftermath of the Key Bridge’s fall on this specific community and, if
taking action as “responsibly as possible to minimize its impact on Maryland workers and to preserve the excellent level of service that Marylanders have come to expect from this administration and all programs and services.”
Moore has declined any presidential aspirations, but will likely be seeking reelection in the 2026 gubernatorial race.
As the news circulates more on social media, comments seem to reflect a rising disgruntlement with the hiring freeze. Harris encourages Marylanders to learn more into the inner workings of the state government and the annual budget process before passing judgment.
He also accused GOP lawmakers of capitalizing on residents’ ignorance to gain political ground.
“They know that folks don’t know how the process works, and they think this is an opportunity to score cheap political points,” Harris said. “This budget has been long introduced, long debated and has been long put out in the public square. We’re just now implementing the budget. And to act like these are new decisions is just disingenuous.”
By Elijah Qualls
The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum hosted its “Voices of History” Street Fair on June 28. The lively celebration was full of music,art, food and even health and wellness resources for all those in attendance.
AFRO Photos / Stephen Hopkins
By Tavon N. Thomasson AFRO Intern
Between June 17 and June 25, three Baltimore residents died following encounters with law enforcement while reportedly experiencing behavioral health crises, prompting renewed scrutiny of the city’s crisis response systems and a formal call for oversight from the City Council.
Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen announced in a statement on June 27 that he is calling for a hearing in the Council’s Public Safety Committee to examine how the city handles mental health emergencies. He cited the recent deaths as evidence that the current approach may be falling short.
“These tragedies are a heartbreaking reminder that far too many Baltimoreans suffer in silence…as the first city in the nation to implement trauma informed care legislation, Baltimore must continue to lead the way on how we address these issues,” said Cohen in the statement released by the Baltimore City Council. “The City Council has fought for years to increase funding for Baltimore Crisis Response Inc because we know that law enforcement alone can not be expected to solve this problem.”
The first of the three deaths occurred on June 17, with the police-involved shooting of Bilal “B.J.” Abdullah, outside of the Avenue Market in the 1700 of Pennsylvania Ave. One officer was shot in the foot, and Abdullah succumbed to his injuries the same night.
Just days later, on the night of June 24 around 9:40 p.m., an officer stopped a man at a red light near the intersection of West Franklin Street and North Franklintown Road. Officers say the man walked into the middle of the road several times– even after being spoken
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there is to be repair, what should it look like?” said Chrissy Thornton, president and CEO of ABC. “What do you need it to look like, and how can we, as an organization, and those with influence in this room amplify your voices so that what needs to happen here happens? We can’t guarantee it will all happen, but we can guarantee that we’ll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you to make sure your voices are heard.”
Many of the community members who spoke up during the meeting raised concerns about Turner Station’s persistent flooding problems. The issue has not only disrupted daily life— damaging homes and vehicles— but also underscored the critical need for long-promised environmental investment.
The loss of the Key Bridge has intensified Turner Station’s flooding challenges, with increased truck traffic and road strain further burdening its draining systems. Residents expressed frustration with Baltimore County’s lack of urgency in addressing the community’s chronic flooding.
“Every meeting that you go to and talk to Baltimore County, the first thing they say is, ‘We don’t have the money,’” said Derrick Lyons, resident of Turner Station. “It’s been 80 years of this flooding— not eight weeks or eight months.”
Lyons pointed to what he sees as a disparity in how Baltimore County allocates resources. He noted that while the county recently built a new fishing pier and added 400 feet of asphalt to Fleming Park— property it owns—Turner
“These tragedies are a heartbreaking reminder that far too many Baltimoreans
suffer in silence…as the first city in the nation to implement trauma informed care legislation, Baltimore must continue to lead the way on how we address these issues.”
to by them.
The officer initially tried to restrain the man out of concern for his safety.
When backup arrived, additional police secured him in handcuffs and leg restraints, then called for emergency medical help. Before paramedics arrived, he lost consciousness. When EMS still hadn’t arrived by 10:30 p.m., officers placed the man in a police vehicle and drove him to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead on June 25 at 3 a.m.
Less than 24 hours later, on June 25, officers responded to a home in West Baltimore’s 2700 block of Mosher Street, where 70-year-old Pytorcarcha Brooks was reportedly having a behavioral health crisis.
According to the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigation Division, Baltimore Police responded to two 911 calls at 1:35 p.m., one for a welfare check and another reporting that Brooks had tried to stab the caller.
When officers entered her home,
Station continues to go without investment.
“Where did they get money for all of that?” said Lyons. “They get money for their property, but nothing for Turner Station.”
Danielle Gonzalez, a Turner Station resident, operates community gardens that provide free food to people in the area. She described her experience with the floodwaters, noting that the flooding has damaged community gardens in Turner Station—vital spaces residents have created to combat the neighborhood’s ongoing struggle with food insecurity.
“Sometimes I’ve had to take my SUV, which is a pretty large car, and turn it around the other way. The water comes all the way up to my steps,” said Gonzalez.
“I’ve had to chase my plants down the street,” she said.
Gloria Nelson, president of Turner Station Conservation Teams, acknowledged her community’s deep frustration over the flooding. She said that while residents have raised concerns repeatedly, obtaining meaningful support from the county is a slow, ongoing process.
“It’s frustrating because we are one of many communities who are below sea level. Flooding is happening more and more at a level that’s never happened before,” Nelson said. “We have dealt with it for so long, and we have raised a lot of concern with the county. Unfortunately, it’s a process.”
Nelson said that her organization was awarded a $500,000 grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coastal Resilience fund to support climate agility. But the money was only able to be
they encountered Brooks with a knife in her hand and showing signs of distress. Despite the officer’s repeated commands for her to drop the knife, she continued to hold on to the knife.
Following an initial taser deployment by one of the officers, the woman stood up and moved toward the officer, who then began to retreat but fell over a piece of furniture. As she continued toward the officer that fell down with the knife in her hand, a second officer fired his weapon with two shots hitting Brooks. An ambulance was called, while the officers rendered aid to Brooks. The woman was then transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Officer Stephen Colbert, with eight years of service, and Officer Stephen Galewski, a three-year veteran, were identified as the policemen involved. Both cases remain under active investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.
Longtime West Baltimore community leader Dr. Marvin Cheatham says the response to Brooks lacked preparation and compassion.
“They did not handle this appropriately and it’s a history that they had calls here, so they should have come
“Community
“Flooding is happening more and more at a level that’s never happened before.”
used for a study on flooding in the area. The focus now is to raise additional funds to actually implement flood mitigation strategies.
She shared that GreenVest, a partner of Turner Station Conservation Teams, recently entered into an agreement with Baltimore County to have access to the bank of Bear Creek, a waterway near the community. She explained that they will be looking to acquire
grant money for a project that would address erosion and mitigate flooding.
“They are a very aggressive company that believes in putting projects in the ground. They are very interested in partnering with this community and the residents,” said Nelson. “There is a lot more to come, and we hope that by the end of the year they will actually be able to obtain a grant.”
here prepared, knowing they were going to have some challenges. No one deserves to die,” said Cheatham.
Cheatham questioned the delay in providing the community with a clear explanation of the incident and he echoed a similar sentiment that many neighbors had regarding the absence of mental health experts.
“It took them four hours to just come tell us. That means you were making up a story. I hate to put it that way– but why? Why would it take you that long to come tell us what happened?” he said. “They had a history of getting calls here– they said at least 20 calls. So that means you need mental health experts here and they probably could calm her down.”
When mental health challenges arise, residents do have options beyond 911 that can provide immediate support.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis LifelineCall or text: 988 Website: https://988helpline.org/ or https://www.bhsbaltimore.org/crisis-services/ Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc. Phone: 410-433-5175 Website: https://bcresponse.org/ Baltimore County Mobile Crisis TeamPhone: 410-931-2214
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C. Hathaway, who served as its subject matter expert.
“It’s one of the highest recognitions you can have. And in television production, it says that our story matters. It says that our community has worth and in an area where people are just knocking the Black community trying to tear down all the work that we’ve done, this sends a signal,” said Hathaway. “This sends a comment on the horizon that says, no, we will not be denied. Our story will be affirmed. We will continue to tell the story of our rich and amazing legacy.”
By Dr. Frances Murphy Draper AFRO CEO and Publisher
Last year, when the U.S. Army renamed Virginia’s Fort Lee to Fort Gregg-Adams, it marked a long-overdue step in the right direction. The base, once named for a Confederate general, now honored two groundbreaking Black military leaders: Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg, a logistics expert who rose to the highest ranks, and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—the only all-Black, all-female unit deployed overseas during World War II. This was more than a name change. It was a long-awaited recognition of service, sacrifice, and excellence in the face of racism and exclusion. For Black America—especially for Black women who’ve long been left out of the spotlight—it felt like something sacred had finally been seen. But on June 16, 2025, that honor was revoked. Under the current administration, the base was quietly renamed Fort Lee once again—this time in honor of Private Fitz Lee, a Black Buffalo Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient. While Fitz Lee’s bravery deserves
Courtesy photo
Attorney Kisha Brown is a member of several local bar associations and serves on the executive board of several nonprofits including Coppin State University Development Foundation and the National Children’s Center. This week, she announces the launch of the first national Black Lawyer Directory aimed at empowering Black communities through culturally competent legal representation.
remembrance, the decision to erase Gregg and Adams—two high-ranking, history-making figures—is not just a reshuffling of military tradition. It’s a signal. A rollback. A retreat. We should not have to choose which Black heroes deserve to be remembered. This should not be an either-or. The fact that it has become one is telling.
The power of a name—and the danger of erasure
In a year when DEI offices are being closed, race-conscious college programs are being dismantled, and books by Black authors are being stripped from school shelves, the Fort Gregg-Adams reversal feels like more than a single decision. It feels like part of a pattern—one aimed at erasing our progress, our power, and our presence. Symbols matter. Names matter. That’s why Confederate monuments were challenged. That’s why we cheered when the names of oppressors were replaced with names of those who served and uplifted. And that’s why this reversal should concern us all.
This isn’t just about military bases—it’s about the soul of the nation’s memory.
What Douglass would remind us
More than 170 years ago, Frederick Douglass—who used his pen and voice like a weapon of truth—asked this powerful question: “What, to the American slave, is
your Fourth of July?”
He did not reject the holiday outright. Instead, he rejected the hollow celebration of freedom in a nation where millions remained unfree. He held up a mirror to America’s contradictions—not to condemn the idea of liberty, but to call the country to live up to it.
Douglass would likely see the events of this year—the dismantling of DEI, the attacks on truth-telling in education, the reversal of progress at places like Fort Gregg-Adams—as a dangerous attempt to sanitize history rather than confront it. He would not be silent. And neither should we.
The women of the 6888th deserve more
Let us not forget: Lt. Col. Charity Adams led over 800 Black women soldiers who processed and delivered millions of pieces of mail during the war—keeping hope alive for soldiers far from home. They worked under extreme pressure, faced discrimination within the military, and still completed their mission in record time.
These women didn’t just sort letters. They built morale. They built legacy.
Removing Adams’s name erases far more than history—it erases dignity earned through service.
The Black Press still matters In this same season, we are also witnessing a troubling retreat from support for the Black press—institutions that
have long served as the conscience of our communities. For more than a century, Black-owned newspapers like the AFRO have documented what mainstream media ignored, challenged injustice, and uplifted voices too often silenced. But today, both public funding and private sector advertising dollars are shifting away from community-based journalism. If this trend continues, we risk losing not just a business— but a vital part of our civic fabric.
This is not about saving an industry. It’s about saving a truth-telling tradition. If the Fourth of July is to mean anything for all Americans, then the platforms that tell our stories must be protected—not erased.
This Independence Day, let’s tell the whole story
At the AFRO, we’ve never been afraid to tell the full truth—not just the parts that make America feel good, but the parts that push it to be better.
So this 4th of July, while the fireworks flash and the flags wave, I invite you to reflect not just on where we’ve been—but on what is being undone right now.
• We must remember why the renaming of Fort Gregg-Adams mattered in the first place.
• We must resist the quiet unraveling of equity under the name of neutrality.
• We must teach our children about Gregg, Adams, and the 6888th, even when their names are removed from the buildings.
By Attorney Kisha A. Brown
In the 20th century, “The Negro Travelers’ Green Book” was more than a directory—it was a lifeline. A community-anchored guide that gave Black families the tools to navigate safely through a country that refused to see our humanity. Today, we honor and continue that legacy through access to justice.
Enter Justis Connection.
This Juneteenth, Justis Connection is launching the first-ever national Black Lawyer Directory, a modern “Green Book” for legal empowerment. Because in every city, every courtroom, and every boardroom, Black people deserve to be represented by lawyers who understand the full weight of our lived experiences and will fight fiercely on our behalf.
Justice is not a luxury. On the contraire, it’s a necessity. But too often, Black America is left vulnerable— underrepresented, overcharged, or entirely shut out of the legal system. Whether it’s estate planning, business contracts, family matters, civil rights
violations, or personal injury, African American lawyers have the magic combination of culture and competence when one is seeking legal help.
That’s why we launched the Road to 1 Million campaign—to connect 1 million Black households with trusted Black attorneys by Juneteenth 2026. It’s not just a marketing goal—it’s a movement. A strategic, collective push to build a sustainable legal infrastructure rooted in our communities. Because the truth is: we have the talent, we just need the tools to find one another.
So if you’re a Black-led organization that believes in community
Doulas can be a lifeline for Black moms–in
By Shiauna Ledbetter
In January 2025, I signed up to join the Birth Companions—a program where nursing students at Johns Hopkins train as doulas and offer services free of cost to people having babies in the greater Baltimore area. But I had no idea what it would feel like to stand in the room as a human being takes their first breath.
My classmate Nathalie and I had just finished our doula training and figured the best way to learn was to jump in headfirst—no overthinking, just show up. We met the mom a couple of days before her due date, and in no time, we went from total strangers to teammates. The first birth I attended was intense, beautiful and chaotic—in the best way possible. We truly were
cost doesn’t have to be a barrier
learning in real time, trying everything we’d read about, everything we practiced. We offered lavender oil for her nausea—she loved that. Tried our first real-life double hip squeeze—she did not love that. So we adjusted. We all figured it out as we went. Before we knew it, the midwife said, “The baby’s crowning—mom, if you want pictures, now’s the time.”
The father handed me the camera and as I captured images of this beautiful moment, I became overwhelmed with emotion. Tears streamed down my face—I couldn’t stop them. I could hardly see what I was taking pictures of. I didn’t even fully understand why I was crying, I just knew something in me had shifted. That moment showed me the power of simply being there—present. And I realized: I want to
do this. I want to be in this space, for real.
After I got back to my apartment, I wrote in my journal, trying to process it all. That day, something clicked. I saw how deep the impact of support can be—how sacred birth is, and how much it matters to be seen and held throughout this time.
What’s wild is, the more I lean into this world, the more I realize it’s always been part of me. My grandmother is a midwife. I grew up watching her serve people with so much love and strength. So much passion. She’s not delivering babies anymore, but she’s still in it—helping rebuild a birth center in Asheville, North Carolina, doing birth-inspired art, always encouraging me. She’s mailed me books about midwifery, nudged me to think about the bigger picture.
She’s always emphasized the importance of representation in this field, especially for Black women.
Doulas and the Black maternal health crisis
As I’ve gone deeper into doula work and my childbearing courses—I’ve also had to confront harsh truths, especially about Black maternal health. Black women in Maryland had a maternal mortality rate of 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 25.5 per 100,000 for white women. Nationwide, they are 1.5 times more likely to experience a preterm birth and 2.5 times more likely to have their infant die in the first year of life. These stats are consistent across income, education and socioeconomic level; they result from systemic racism and bias.
That’s why doulas matter. We’re not medical
and
discusses the reversal of Fort Gregg-Adams’ renaming and why the erasure of Black heroes—especially Black women—threatens to dim the true meaning of Independence Day.
• We must carry on the tradition of Douglass—not just asking hard questions, but demanding better answers.
Freedom must include us all
We are still here. We are still rising. And we are still naming what matters.
Until freedom fully includes Black women, Black immigrants, Black soldiers, Black teachers, Black storytellers, and every Black life across this nation—our independence is unfinished business.
Let this Fourth of July not be a moment of silence—but a moment of renewed commitment.
Because we deserve more than symbols.
We deserve to be seen, heard, remembered—and never erased.
protection, economic strength and legacy building, now is the time to partner with us. Join BuyBlack, the Association of Black Estate Planning Professionals, Black Men Network, the Black Church Food Security Network and dozens of other organizations in ensuring our people have access to legal counsel. Let’s build this modern legal Green Book together. Visit www.justisconnection.com to explore local Black lawyers who care. Reach out if your organization wants to be part of our Road to 1 Million campaign. Because justice—real, accessible, culturally grounded justice—is not just something we hope for. It’s something we build. Together.
staff—we’re there for the birthing person. We work hard to know the birthing parent’s story, their fears, and their goals. We advocate on behalf of the birthing parent to keep their birth safe and special. Medical providers often meet patients for the first time during labor. Doulas have already built that trust—and that kind of connection changes everything.
And I want families—especially Black families—to know this kind of support exists. The Birth Companions program is a free doula service run by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore. Under the leadership of doctorally-prepared nurse faculty, we are dedicated doulas who offer prenatal visits, labor support and postpartum check-ins.
If you’re pregnant in
part of the Birth Companions program. This week, she shares her journey into birth
and the
Baltimore and think you could benefit from extra support—which, honestly, most of us can—we’re here for you. You deserve to feel safe. You deserve to have a voice that is heard. And you deserve to be surrounded by people who care.
By AFRO Staff
This week, the AFRO would like to take the opportunity to introduce the Summer
2025 Interns who have been working hard in the Editorial Department. These young
Kyndal Foster, from Baltimore. She currently attends the University of Southern California, majoring in Journalism at the Annenberg School of Journalism and Communications. She hopes to gain direct experience and knowledge of journalism and newspaper curation through this internship. She also aims to use her writing to advocate for the Black community and give a voice to the unheard and underrepresented.
The Poly Post. She has also recently completed a fellowship with Cal Matters, where she covered infrastructure and Title IX in the state’s higher education systems. She is a proud Latina and a California native who joins the
people are the future of not only the Black Press, but the news media field as a whole. From health and education to politics, the work of the Summer 2025 Interns has been instrumental.
Read more here to learn about the next generation of great media professionals and be sure to check out their work on AFRO.com!
AFRO Photo / Alexis Taylor
Marlee Jones is a rising senior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, majoring in journalism and mass communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in Marketing. Originally from Washington, D.C., she is excited to be a part of the AFRO News internship program. Marlee joins the AFRO as a member of The Fund for American Studies’ Summer 2025 cohort.
AFRO Photo / Alexis Taylor
Ali Halloum, of Harlingen, Texas, is currently a senior at the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a focus in broadcast journalism. His background is in sports journalism and he hopes to learn as much as he can and do the best work possible while he is an intern for the AFRO. Ali was placed with the publication as a member of The Fund for American Studies’ Summer 2025 cohort.
Kendra Bryant (above) is a mass communications major at Towson University, concentrating in journalism. She serves as the president and editor-inchief of the digital magazine, Her Campus: Towson. She is also the arts and life deputy editor at Towson’s student newspaper, The Towerlight. Kendra has gained experience with Hearst Television’s WBALTV 11 News, The New York Times, CHARM: Voices of Baltimore Youth, iHeartMedia and more. She looks forward to covering business, politics, community concerns and arts and culture in Baltimore City with the AFRO
Courtesy photo
Brian Simpkins(left) hails from Fort Washington, Md. as a 2025 digital media graduate of the University of the District of Columbia. Through this internship, he hopes to merge archival research, perspectives and data journalism to empower his community to move forward. Brian’s previous work was published by USA Lacrosse Magazine, Blaxers Blog and HBCU Gameday. He’s also a proud member of the Baltimore Association of Black Journalists, HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
As the country highlights National Minority Mental Health Month, the AFRO would like to shine a spotlight on the many ways the whole family can help new mothers.
Ensuring a healthy and successful pregnancy is not just the mother’s responsibility–it’s a team effort. Experts say that when family members step up to support a new mother before, during and after her pregnancy, it can make all the difference in her health and overall well-being.
“A healthy body before conception sets a foundation for a healthy pregnancy, which in turn sets a great foundation for postpartum recovery,” said Arija Israel, a mother and maternal mental health advocate. “Frequent check-ins by close support is beneficial, as provider visits are typically infrequent.”
According to the University of California Los Angeles Health, during pregnancy mothers will typically see their doctor every four weeks until they reach 32 weeks. After that time appointments are moved up to every two weeks until 36 weeks in which it will become once a week until the baby is born.
By Quintessa Williams Word in Black
Research shows that suicide rates among Black youth have climbed by nearly 37 percent over the past five years, with Black teens now reporting higher attempt rates than their White and Hispanic peers. At the same time, Black and Native American students are 1.3 times more likely than White students to attend schools with a police officer — but no school mental health counselor.
So educators, families, and education advocates were alarmed when the Trump administration slashed $1 billion in federal funding for school-based mental health programs in May.
The funds, created under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, were intended to help schools address the growing youth mental health crisis. Now with the cut of these supports, Black students, especially, may face the steepest of consequences.
“Just when you think they can’t go lower, they find another way,” says Dr. Sonya Douglass, Professor of Education Leadership and Founding Director of the Black Education Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. “It flies directly in the face of the mental health challenges that this very administration helped create.”
Douglass, a nationally recognized education equity expert, says the White House’s move will at best deepen disparities in support, school safety, and access to wellness-centered learning environments. At worst, she says, it increases Black students’ risk of significant psychological harm — including suicide.
Black students are already at risk Even with counselors present, access remains limited. According to a 2024 USC
“The fact that our children are dying — and still losing access to mental health resources — should be seen as a national crisis.”
study, only 29 percent of Black families report having access to mental health services in their child’s school.
“The fact that our children are dying — and still losing access to mental health resources — should be seen as a national crisis,” Douglass says.
The crisis, however, has been building for years.
Data consistently shows that Black students are routinely exposed to racial discrimination, disproportionate rates of school-based discipline, and school environments that ignore their social-emotional needs. In her research, Douglass has repeatedly pointed out that schools were never designed to meet the needs of Black children in the first place.
“Whether it’s a curriculum that doesn’t reflect who they are or schools that are no longer physically or emotionally safe, the entire environment becomes harmful,” she says. “And if you pile trauma on top of trauma, eventually something breaks.”
Education without care is dangerous
Defenders of the funding cut argue that it
“Before pregnancy, support means ensuring she can access care, not just emotionally but structurally,” said Kavelle Christie, a health policy expert. “That includes helping her find a trusted provider, navigate private insurance or Medicaid and understand her rights and options. Families can walk alongside her through that process, not speak for her, but stand with her.”
Christie said during pregnancy, families should show up in ways that reinforce her autonomy and safety. That looks like respecting the mother’s birth plan, supporting her choices such as getting a doula or midwife care and being ready to advocate in healthcare settings where she may not be taken seriously.
Christie pressed that maternal care needs to continue after birth.
“Families can make sure she’s not overlooked in the rush to care for the baby,” she said. “That includes helping with appointments, encouraging postpartum checkups and watching for signs of physical or emotional distress.”
Foster Wilson, a postpartum doula based in Los Angeles, emphasized the value of friends and family members checking in on mothers postpartum, bringing them warm, nutrient-dense meals such as soups and stews. Bringing healthy meals to stock the new moms
fridge can be a powerful way to help a mom recover after birth.
Wilson said there is a need for “radical rest and healing after birth,” along with “proper nutrition and hydration.”
According to a study by Rennie Negron, administrative director of the Institute for Health Equity Research at Mount Sinai, when new moms do not receive help with daily tasks after birth, it can increase their risk of developing postpartum depression.
If leaning on family is not the best option for a new mother, Heidi McBain, a professional counselor who specializes in maternal mental health, advised hiring a postpartum doula who can help look after the baby and the house while mom rests and recuperates.
Experts highlight that Black mothers could largely benefit from familial support as they navigate pregnancy.
“Black mothers face layers of challenges, from generational trauma, stigma around mental health, systemic racism, lack of access to culturally competent care, financial strains and more,” said Israel. “Black mothers more often than not suffer in silence due to the ‘strong Black woman’ narrative, convincing us that asking for help is a sign of weakness.”
According to a study by Tulane University, Black mothers
are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White mothers, often due to discrimination and bias in health care.
“Their pain is often minimized,” said Christie. “Their concerns are more likely to be dismissed. That means families need to go beyond emotional support and step into advocacy. These systems were not built with Black mothers in mind, so we have to show up with urgency and clarity.”
McBain advised families to truly listen to what the new mother is saying, wanting and needing from them throughout the process.
“What are they asking you for, both verbally and nonverbally?” said McBain. “During my first pregnancy, I used to cry for no discernible reason. My husband would ask in a very concerned voice about what was wrong, and I’d usually cry back that I didn’t know. At which point, he’d simply give me a big hug. Sometimes that’s all you need when hormones are all over the place during pregnancy.”
Israel listed hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, brain fog, body image issues and societal pressures as a part of the ‘invisible load’ of motherhood that families can be on the lookout for and help prevent it from overtaking the new mom.
Unsplash / Element5 Digital
Without school-based support, Black students face greater emotional distress, academic declines, and rising suicide risks.
gives local districts more control over how to allocate resources. But Douglass calls that logic shortsighted — and dangerous.
“President Donald Trump and like-minded conservatives understand the stakes; that’s why they fight so hard over books, curriculum, and control of schools,” she says. “We have to match that energy. We must demand that our children are taught their history, treated with respect, and given the high-quality education they deserve.”
Douglass warns that without public investment in education and mental health, the country risks becoming, in her words, “a Thirdworld country,” where Black children are left without the support they need to thrive.
“When the federal government steps back, it just depends on where you live — and who holds local power,” Douglass adds. “Civil
rights protections have always been needed to ensure that students in marginalized communities aren’t left behind. Without federal oversight, we know those resources won’t reach the children who need them.”
Protecting the mind, body and spirit
Despite the federal rollback, Douglass says Black communities cannot afford to wait for rescue. At the Black Education Research Center, she and her team are working to build a policy and advocacy arm to support educators, parents, and students navigating this moment.
“We cannot put the fate of our children in the hands of the federal government,” she says. “We must protect their minds, bodies, and spirits. That means being thoughtful about how they’re educated, how they’re supported, and how they’re loved. We can’t wait — we have to build now.”
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
Bipolar disorder–a mental health condition often characterized by mood swings between mania and depression–can take a toll on families, especially within the Black community where stigma and limited access to culturally competent care can compound those issues.
“Mental illness is still seen as a weakness in many spaces and places, and it’s still seen as something that fragile people go through, and not something that can affect any and everybody,” said Dr. LaKeita Carter, owner and CEO of the Institute for Healing and a licensed psychologist in Maryland.
Carter said mental health issues impact most people in one way or another.
“Whether it’s them or they are living with someone with mental illness, or caring for someone or loving someone with mental illness, there are very few people that don’t have that as a part of their lives,” said Carter.
According to Mental Health America’s 2024 State of Mental Health in America report, about 60 million adults, 23.08 percent, experienced a mental illness in the past year.
Dr. Alfonso Ferguson, founder and executive director at Goodwerk Counseling, shared how bipolar disorder can impact families.
“I have a few clients that I’ve worked with over years who’ve had siblings who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or another severe mental illness, and what has happened for them
individuals living with bipolar disorder and their loved ones.
is they shrink themselves to create space for that person to get what they need,” said Ferguson. “Sometimes, their needs go untreated. In addition to that, those individuals or family members sometimes become invisible caregivers.”
Bipolar disorder can also impact the parent and child relationship. Adults, unaware of a condition, might resort to often reprimanding children with a mental illness or comparing them to their family members who don’t struggle with their mental health.
“It creates this narrative for the individual who has this untreated diagnosis of ‘being a problem,’ which can also impact attachment issues. [This] can [lead to] psychological and emotional trauma, which we know in their adulthood,
can impact the types of relationships that they engage in,” said Ferguson.
Carter laid out some things families can do to ensure their loved one with bipolar disorder is supported.
“Believe them when they say they’re ‘feeling off,’” said Carter. “When you see that they’re off, say something.”
Carter suggests checking in with loved ones who struggle with their mental health so that they feel supported.
Signs of bipolar disorder that families can look out for include fragmented speech, deep depressive cycles, erratic behavior, avoiding discussion of conduct and limited self-awareness, according to Dr. Brandi Pritchett-Johnson of
By
If there were such a thing as a Black superwoman, she would manage an assisted living facility, hold down a full-time government job and oversee the hospitality ministry of her church.
Sonja Prince-Ward accomplishes all that — and lives her life out loud– even with a bipolar diagnosis.
her marriage with her husband Elliott, better known as Chico, and the rearing of their four children, Brooklyn, Jacole, Malcolm and Victoria.
In fact, anyone who knows Prince-Ward has heard her joyfully and confidently proclaim, “God don’t play about me.” And she wears T-shirts to prove it. In honor of Minority Mental Health Month, she spoke to her about her experiences being bipolar, her writing and how her faith sustains her.
“When I got to the hospital and they gave me a label, I was a little bit relieved. I could finally understand what I had been going through all this time.”
She began experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder when she was a small child, but she didn’t receive a diagnosis until she was 13. Once she settled into the reality of it as an adult, she decided to allow God to use her life to bless others living in the same lane.
Prince-Ward even contributed a chapter, “Supernatural Favor,” to the 2024 anthology “Empowered to Win,” a compilation of stories about how faith has helped women achieve their goals despite life’s challenges. She speaks freely to all who will listen about how her faith has helped her and sustained her throughout
WIB: How does medication help your mental health?
Sonja Prince-Ward: My brain doesn’t produce lithium; I have to take it every day of my life. And even then, internal and external circumstances can throw the levels off, which makes my mind and body react to the imbalance. Then I have to spend time in the hospital until I regain my balance.
WIB: Can you speak to how receiving the diagnosis was a relief.
SPW: I went to the Psychiatric Institute, and I was in there with a bunch of White, rich kids and they were telling me, ‘Oh, you’re definitely
“Mental illness is still seen as a weakness in many spaces and places, and it’s still seen as something that fragile people go through, and not something that can affect any and everybody.”
the Diane Morgan Group. Carter provided a word of advice for individuals living with bipolar disorder or any other mental illnesses whose family may not believe in the diagnosis and getting treatment for it.
“Ultimately, your mental health is your responsibility, and you’re the only person who can do that work,” said Carter. “There’s nobody that can do it for you, and there’s nobody that can stop you from doing it.”
manic.’ And so I remember thinking, they’re calling me a maniac, but they were just saying it wrong, you know? But when the doctor said that you have manic depression, it was a relief because now I can explain why I was going through so much in middle school.
I was depressed, and I thought the teachers were against me, and I was paranoid. Every day I would go to school, and I would be so depressed. I had two friends, a White girl and a Korean girl. And every day Bonnie and Read would be in the bathroom, you know, just counseling — talking and telling me, ‘No, that’s not true. They weren’t talking about you.’ And then something like a freak snowstorm would happen, and it would just be that little break that I need for my mind to reset.
When I got to the hospital and they gave me a label, I was a little bit relieved. I could finally understand what I had been going through all this time.
WIB: You’re a full-time government employee, a business owner with your husband, a minister in training, and fulltime wife and mother. How do you accomplish so much with what is considered by many to be a handicap of sorts?
SPW: Most people with bipolar are geniuses. Look at Ye, we use art, we write books, we write music. It’s how we cope. To tell our story over and
over. My husband is often upset when he hears me telling my story so many times, but it’s how we thrive and survive.
WIB: You had me laughing about having written a chapter in 45 minutes. What?
SPW: I wrote it in like 45 minutes. I just woke up one day, and I said, oh, I forgot to give her the book. Because that’s what bipolar is like when you’re in a manic episode. I actually love it. I just don’t love it for my family, you know, but that’s probably how I had four group homes at one point, you know, I just was doing what I needed to do.
WIB: Were you off your meds?
SPW: No, I’m never off my medicine, never. I never do things that mess with the levels.
WIB: How has your faith sustained you in coping with being bipolar?
SPW: My faith journey began when I was cared for by the local pastor’s wife, who, along with having become my babysitter when I was three months old, eventually became my godmother. Their home was filled with the presence of God, and I sensed it and became aware and familiar even as a child. I always knew I was different. I couldn’t explain the difference, but it complicated my life. I would take medicine until my levels were great, and when I felt really good, I’d start skipping doses. When I heard a term that defined what
I was going through, it was a great relief.
I talk to God on the regular, and I read the Bible because I need to know what it has to say to me. And if I’m entitled to everything in this book, then I need to know what it says. When it’s time to ask God for something, I get to say, ‘Remember what you said in your word?’ WIB: Since God doesn’t play about you, have you ever asked him to heal you?
SPW: I haven’t asked him to heal me. I figure he gave it to me for a reason. And honestly, I couldn’t imagine myself without it.
was
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Intern
Teachers spend each and every day of their lives committed to building the future by educating children across the nation. Oftentimes, their job requires them to be more than teachers. They are communicators, collaborators and evaluators, investing in children’s futures at all times.
But with the growing demands of politicians, parents and administrators, teachers have reported feeling stretched too thin, with many leaving the profession. According to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in D.C, 53 percent of teachers who began teaching in the 2019-2020 school year were no longer teaching by the 2024-2025 school year.
Many teachers cite burnout as the reason they leave the profession. Andrea Young, an associate professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, said that many people may be familiar with the feeling of burnout, but don’t always know the term.
Young described burnout as being intensely fatigued, overwhelmed and apathetic about work. She believes burnout is much more than just someone losing the spark.
“It’s not finding the joy in your work that you once did,” said Young. “It’s struggling to find your ‘why.’”
“Every
Young said that burnout, if unmanaged, can bleed over into a person’s home life and their overall physical health. People experiencing burnout may not getting enough sleep or be preoccupied with work during time with family or other social activities.
Lane,
Minneapolis,
interrupted by COVID-19. In the midst of the global pandemic, she experienced burnout as a teacher for the first time.
“I was doing everything I possibly could…everything that I liked about teaching was gone. And everything that was the worst – which was the adults – was all that was left,” said Lane. “I didn’t have anyone, so ultimately, I quit.”
Young touched on the importance of support given by fellow teachers and administrators. She spoke about the fact that teachers tend to overcommit to tasks, even after they realize they are burnt out. Young’s advice is simple.
“Ask for the help–from your colleagues, from your principal, from the other folks who are there to support you. And ask for help from a mental health professional,” she said.
“The one thing that I always say as someone who struggles sometimes to ask for help myself, is that sometimes help is mutual help, sometimes it’s collaborating, sometimes it’s teamwork and helping each other. There could be mutual sharing of resources.”
Capathia Campbell has been an educator at Hedville Elementary in Baltimore County for 25 years, and shared that the support of her administrators has made all the difference. As a seasoned teacher she knows who she can approach for support, and often goes out of the way to support younger teachers and provide advice. She acknowledged that although she has support, not every teacher does.
“Every day we are struggling with our students. Every day. Some of us struggle more, depending on the ZIP Code And we have more in our back pocket than our lesson plan,” said Campbell.
Young shared steps people can take to prevent and manage burnout. First, she mentioned the importance of being aware of signs before they worsen such as getting more frustrated with students and handling situations differently than normal. Young also said it is important to disconnect from work when not at work. Although difficult, it can help teachers focus on other healthy habits to make them feel rested and connected to themselves.
Campbell said that she practices meditation and prayer and is intentional about exercise, swimming three times a week.
“As a woman of color, I know how we have been told we need to work harder than everybody else, but I now know how it can make us sick, so I set serious work boundaries,” she said.
Campbell doesn’t check her emails on weekends, and she always takes her lunch break.
For Lane, the solution to her burnout was moving out of her environment. After she quit teaching in Minneapolis, she became a teacher in London teaching English. She explained that in London the students, teachers and administrators have a shared goal and responsibility toward success.
“London especially has some of the best
results, because we work extremely hard, and the kids work hard, and we know exactly what we need to do to get them there. I’m much happier,” she said. “I work way harder now than I did in the States, but I actually see a real outcome.”
Campbell touched on the importance of
positivity, especially given everything that has happened in the past five years.
“After this pandemic, make space for fun and joy and laugh with the children,” Campbell said. “Let them see that you’re human also and be present. Enjoy every minute of it because the children are watching.”
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO KMcNeir@afro.com
According to recent data published by the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Maryland Chapter, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. This number leads to another 12 million people, tasked with providing unpaid care while also keeping up with their own daily roles and responsibilities.
The ever-increasing cost of care as well as the unpredictable burdens placed on caregivers, continues to impact the financial, physical, spiritual, and mental well-being of both those suffering from the disease and the family members and close friends who help them through it.
Unfortunately, many families are ill-prepared for the cost associated with caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, which continues to skyrocket and is estimated to total $384 billion in 2025. By mid-century, experts believe the cost will soar to nearly $1 trillion, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
And while the spotlight tends to understandably be on those whose lives are changed forever because of dementia, equal attention should be given to the caregivers who step forward to provide care, safety, love, a semblance of normality and so much more.
Baltimore City resident Shelette Owens, 54, whose husband Steven, 63, was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s in 2016, said the road she has traveled as a caregiver was at first, a lonely one.
“I recently had to put him
in a care facility because I just couldn’t manage things anymore – feeding him, wiping up feces, dealing with his mood swings–including his anger outbursts.
Most of the time, he doesn’t even recognize me anymore,” said Owens. “In the beginning, I was always depressed, anxious, isolated and burned out. I barely slept because I was afraid he might wander outside or fall. Just getting him into the car was a major task.”
Still, Owens said what was most overwhelming in the beginning was feeling so alone.
“Most of our friends stopped coming around,” she said.
“They weren’t even there for me to talk to so I could share my feelings and fears. As his disease progressed, fewer and fewer of our friends came around or even called.”
Soon, she found herself in need of occasional breaks. Owens also longed for a shoulder to cry on. Neither of those things
ever materialized.
“I was forced to push my feelings aside because we had bills to pay,” she said. “We were a middle-class household, so we didn’t qualify for assistance. I knew I needed to take better care of myself but there was so much to do and so many roadblocks.
“I wasn’t running on fumes – I didn’t have any fumes,” she said. “I was a wreck – physically and emotionally. Reaching out for support and joining a local group of other caregivers saved my life.”
Experts and caregivers agree – get help early and often
Marlyn Massey, diversity and inclusion program manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Maryland Chapter, said through consultations and from comments shared by caregivers, she has learned that one thing never changes: caregiving is hard.
Disease diagnosis since his 50s.
“Many caregivers experience bouts with depression which often lead to feelings of stress, guilt, anger, sadness, isolation and then more depression,” Massey said. “It’s tough – very tough.”
She said if a caregiver wants to successfully handle the daily load, they must take care of themselves first.
“We advise people to put on their safety belt first so they can care for others. It’s also important to become educated about the signs of dementia so the disease does not progress before families have sought medical care and become familiar with the resources available in their community. Maybe you don’t feel like you need a therapist or a support group. Still, I say, don’t knock it, just try it.”
It’s the little things that help caregivers make it through the day
In 2017, Etolia Biggs, 59, was enjoying the freedom that comes as a single woman without children. But when her mother, Eva Biggs, 84, who was then living in a small town in North Carolina, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she knew her life would never be the same.
“It was a battle because my mother was used to doing things on her own. But after she became lost one day, we had to take her car keys from her. That was traumatic,” she said.
Etolia moved her mother to live with her in Owings Mills, Md, in December 2021, selling her townhouse and buying a condominium so that they’d be on one level.
She said assuming the task as the primary caregiver was more than surprising – it was a “shocking experience.”
“I have an older sister who lives nearby and helps out, but my mother was living with me, and I simply did not realize what I was getting into,” she said. “My mother had behavioral challenges which was something we had never seen. By the spring, I felt so isolated – like a kid with their face pressed against a window, wanting but unable to go outside and play. I couldn’t do any of the things I once did and which I had taken for granted. Even going for a bike ride was impossible.”
Etolia found the answers she had long sought after she joined a circle of Black women caregivers based in the Baltimore area. She also became an advocate for
By Nyla Adams AFRO Intern
Take a good look around any major urban area– and now, many rural spaces too– and you’ll see signs of drug abuse and addiction.
The Baltimore City Department of Health reports that “In 2023, Baltimore City saw 1,043 drug and alcohol-related deaths, 921 of which were Fentanyl related.” What can’t be seen? The mental health issues that often come before or accompany the deep, dark hole of addiction.
“In many Black communities, people struggling with addiction are also often dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and sometimes bipolar disorder or schizophrenia,” said Akos Antwi, APRN, PMHNP and co-founder of Revive Therapeutic Services. “A lot of times, these mental health issues go undiagnosed or ignored, and people end up using drugs or alcohol just to cope with the pain or stress they’re carrying every day.” Revive Therapeutic Services provide comprehensive mental health services across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maryland. Revive Therapeutic Services has a selection of licensed therapists and psychiatrists to support people and their families through medical management and therapy.
Alexandria D’Angelo is the community engagement manager at Revive Therapeutic Services.
“We offer talk therapy in multiple languages. We offer medication management and we do TMS,” explained D’Angelo.
Transcranimal Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses a magnetic field to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of major depression. It is approved by The FDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“It really helps reverse suicidal ideation. And we’ve had great, great results with it in our practice,” said D’Angelo. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, Black adults living under the poverty line are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress.
Growing research now highlights a link between mental health struggles in the Black community and increased substance use as a means of coping with stress and trauma. As a result of their addiction, many often find themselves coming into contact with the criminal justice system, which can further exacerbate
the Alzheimer’s Association and often goes out to share her story to encourage others.
“I was never suicidal, but the pressure was immense, and I had tried just about everything,” she said. “It took a while but I eventually found a Black therapist – someone who I felt would understand the nuances and challenges of being a Black woman. I also joined the BINTI Circle – a group founded by a woman who after traveling to Swaziland, returned with many of the strategies women there use to support one another. It’s been fantastic and we’ve grown from 40 women when I joined in 2021 to several hundred today.” Etolia said the circle members talk about everything and share strategies they’ve used as caregivers.
“I realized that I needed to care for myself first if I wanted to care for my mother and handle all the things that she could no longer do on her own. But with other women around me, all of them caregivers, I discovered that there are all kinds of resources out here if we take the time to look for them, to ask for them. You don’t have to do it alone. In fact, if you try, you won’t survive.”
“If you grow up in an environment where trauma is constant, substance use can start to feel normal, even expected as a way to survive.”
mental health issues.
Black Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, but roughly make up 25 percent of all drug related arrests, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
“It usually starts with trying to deal with something: stress, trauma, heartbreak, anxiety or just feeling stuck. If someone doesn’t have support or access to mental health care, they might turn to drugs or alcohol to numb those feelings. That’s what people mean when they talk about ‘self-medicating.’ And once that cycle starts, it’s hard to break without help, especially if the root issue, the mental health part, never gets addressed,” said Antwi. “There’s still this belief in some families and communities that you’re supposed to “tough it out” or pray it away — that going to therapy is only for ‘crazy’ people.”
Antwi said that the issues of mental health and addiction are often compounded by other challenges.
“Add the fear of being judged or misunderstood by a mostly White medical system, and it’s no surprise people hesitate to get help,” said Antwi. “Racism doesn’t just show up in the streets — it’s in healthcare too, where Black people are often dismissed, over policed, or not taken seriously. That kind of environment makes it hard to trust or even reach out for support.”
D’Angelo said that many times Black people hold back when seeking mental health support because they fear being labeled. Sixty-three percent of Black Americans reported experiencing
stigma when seeking mental health care, a study by the American Psychiatric Association concluded.
D’Angelo recalled a time during her community engagement events she heard stories confirming the existence of stigma.
“I heard a lot of different stories that touched me deeply. One of the things that happens to women in this space–in health care in general– is they’re often gaslit, especially women of color and told, ‘Oh, it’s not that bad or that’s not what’s happening to you,’” reports D’Angelo.
She opened up about a personal experience that shapes her perspective.
“Culturally, the prejudice that still exists could be a huge influence in trauma. My son is biracial and we moved to the midwest for a little while. I was shocked at how many racial slurs were still being thrown around in certain communities. I’m from the Northeast. Obviously, racism still exists everywhere, but that’s not happening so much, you know?”
A study conducted by the American Addiction Center found that 9.1 percent of Black Americans are in need of treatment for drug or alcohol abuse.
“If you grow up in an environment where trauma is constant, substance use can start to feel normal, even expected as a way to survive,” said Antwi, who encourages those in need to seek help with a different view of their situation.
“It’s not weakness,” she said. “It’s pain that hasn’t had a chance to heal.”
Finding a therapist is not as easy as receiving a referral from your primary care physician (PCP). It’s a tricky task that places the patient in the driver’s seat– unlike when specialists are needed and come with a doctor’s recommendation.
If your appetite is for a religious practitioner, don’t lose heart, it’s no longer a needle in a haystack. Several communities offer counseling options including Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, Christian and integrative therapy. When faith is central to your life, locating the right therapist becomes critical. For many individuals and families, particularly the faith-based, it’s not just about qualifications and experience. Those seeking a faithbased mental health professionals might consider if the therapist is culturally aware; if they understand the spiritual dimensions of healing; whether or not they offer psychological tools as well as scriptural truths as they travel down the road to wholeness
For Natara Askew, an operating room nurse from Hanover, Md., having a therapist who shares her family’s Christian values for healing and growth is “absolutely essential.”
“The Bible commands us to renew our minds daily and the support of a Christian counselor can only add value to that command.”
The goals were “to address and discuss dysfunctional patterns” in the bloodline, explore “new ways of communicating,” change “the trajectory of family unity,” and “manage conflict” in healthy ways.
Askey said “sound biblical doctrine, the ability to hear from God” and using “scripture to facilitate transforming of our minds” were all key to choosing a faith-based therapist.
“The counselor must have stellar integrity and not compromise spiritual or professional principles,” she said. “The Bible commands us to renew our minds daily and the support of a Christian counselor can only add value to that command.”
Therapists create safe spaces for vulnerability, emotional exploration, transformation and personal growth. They aid clients in navigating life transitions, overcoming obstacles, letting go of the past, reframing unwanted behavior and upgrading the mindset.
Today, a significant percentage of mental health therapists and counselors identify as “religious-based” and integrate their beliefs in treatment. Specifically, a study reported that
41.1 percent of therapists classify themselves as “Christian.” Interestingly, over 89 percent of mental health professionals believe that training in spiritual and religious competencies is vital for licensed clinicians, according to a published study by the BioMed Central Psychology journal.
Dana Lewis, a licensed certified social worker-clinical (LCSW-C) and CEO of Whole Life Center in Baltimore’s Edmondson Village, told the AFRO that “Black families often come with a deep-rooted spiritual heritage and a strong reliance on faith.”
However, there are other “unique stressors” that can plague the family such as “systemic racism, intergenerational trauma, financial insecurity, and stigma around mental health.”
“I integrate biblical wisdom with evidence-based therapeutic approaches—helping families lean into their faith as a source of strength while also giving them practical tools to address life’s complexities,” said Lewis, who leads his clients in exploring scripture, prayer and spiritual disciplines alongside cognitive-behavioral strategies, family systems work and trauma-informed care.
Lewis has been providing family therapy for more than 10 years and is committed to working closely with Black men who have experienced anxiety, trauma, depression and issues of identity. In the last three years, he has honed in on couples, guiding them through their relationship so they can thrive and build stronger foundations.
Although African Americans are embracing therapy, only 25 percent have a consistent habit due to the lack of culturally competent providers according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Lately, celebrities like Simone Biles, Taraji P. Henson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have bravely shared their struggles with anxiety and depression, helping to shine a much-needed light on mental health in the Black community. Their transparency is combating stigma and apprehension.
Dr. Rosemary Cook, is a licensed certified social worker-clinician, founder and CEO of Totally Whole Pastoral Counseling Services,
LLC, located in West Baltimore’s Madison Park, describes the overall impact of counseling on a client’s spiritual well-being.
As an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), Dr. Cook founded and pastored Called and Chosen Ministries in the Sandtown-Winchester area of Baltimore, from 2006 to 2015.
“I have always believed that people can’t grow unless you address their spirit.” Dr. Cook pursued the pastoral counseling degree because it gave her the theology and psychology she desired in her practice to “attract” clinicians interested in
“that type of integration.”
Cook believes “emotional growth and spiritual growth go hand-in-hand.” Her practice is named “Totally Whole,” because “God wants us whole—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.”
Dr. Cook proclaims that wholeness is the opposite of fragmentation, meaning nothing missing and nothing broken. Her premise is “As a person grows psychologically and emotionally, it extends into their spiritual growth” impacting their mental/emotional health and understanding of God and His presence.
For instance, when someone embraces the freedom of forgiveness, they can also embrace God’s forgiveness. “Letting go of the need for control opens the door to spiritual surrender which develops their spiritual growth.”
Overall, Cook is confident that her counseling has a tremendous impact on clients’ “spiritual growth” because we are mind, body, and spirit—and when one area grows, it extends into the others when holistic practices are in place.
Like Cook, many Christian counselors use faith-based therapy and biblical principles in counseling sessions to align with clients’ values. This approach offers a deeper layer of care that weaves faith and therapeutic processes into healing. Spiritual disciplines like prayer and meditation are paired with clinical insights such as self awareness and coping strategies to guide clients on holistic paths to transformation. And they’re doing it right here in Baltimore!
https://wholelifecenterservices.org / https:// www.totallywholepcservices.com
By Farai Mutsaka
It’s before sunrise on a Saturday and a small group has gathered at Socialite Bar in on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital. Instead of nursing hangovers, they sit with eyes closed and bodies in meditative poses on the bare floor.
It’s an unlikely setting for a yoga class. In Zimbabwe, the practice is rare and mostly found in the wealthy suburbs. Yet it is quietly taking root here in a beer tavern in Chitungwiza, a low-income town 30 kilometers (18 miles) outside the capital, Harare.
The initiative is led by Actions Winya, a yoga instructor who saw how economic hardship and social pressures were damaging the mental health of people in his hometown.
“Yoga is expensive … but we also got humans in the ghetto. They need mental wellness,” said Winya, who usually teaches in affluent areas, charging between $30 and $100 a month. That’s an impossible cost for most, especially in a country where many survive through informal jobs.
Since 2023, Winya has been offering free weekend classes to some of those hardest hit by Zimbabwe’s economic problems.
The sessions have become a source of relief for people navigating relentless challenges. Authorities acknowledge a growing societal crisis worsened by drug abuse, domestic violence and poverty, compounded by a shortage of public health services and therapists.
“I am a coach, so they bring the stuff that they face within families (to me). This is where we come in and say, ‘Guys, come and try yoga, it can help somehow,’” Winya said. Yoga, an ancient Indian practice, has become a multibillion-dollar industry and a daily ritual for millions around the world. The United Nations over a decade ago designated June 21 as International Day of Yoga.
In Africa, other countries like Kenya and South Africa are introducing yoga to poorer communities, with the Indian government promoting its spread across the continent.
Inside the tavern in Zimbabwe, mellow music played as about a dozen participants moved through poses. They had no mats, just a cold brick floor, but plenty of determination for inner peace. One mother tried to stay focused as her toddler dashed around, disrupting her poses.
For 47-year-old John Mahwaya, the practice has been transforming. A father of four, he also supports relatives in the countryside, a responsibility he said once weighed heavily on his mental health.
“My head was always spinning. I thought I was
losing my mind, and the stress started causing back pains,” he said. “Yoga helps me relax and clear my mind. I sleep peacefully these days.”
He said many Zimbabwean men bottle up their emotions, afraid to show weakness in a highly patriarchal society that prizes toughness.
“We focus on physical fitness, forgetting the mind,” he said. “We suffer slowly, but what suffers first is the mind, and from there, it becomes a slow death.”
Edinah Makosa, 24, joined the class earlier this year and said it gave her hope.
“I used to be depressed a lot. You know, for people my age, our main stressors are unemployment and relationships,” she said.
“Yoga changed my mindset. I used to think negatively all the time. Now I have started selling beauty products to earn a living. As for romance, well if it works, it works; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I no longer stress about men. I go with the flow.”
As they practiced, the sounds of township life seeped in. Taxi drivers shouted for passengers. Vendors pushed carts, calling out to potential customers.
“We need a proper environment and studio. But we are trying,” Winya said.
For participants like Mahwaya, the location didn’t matter nearly as much as the healing.
“We need to promote yoga in the communities because everyone has a mind. And fitness of the mind is the responsibility of everyone,
“My head was always spinning. I thought I was losing my mind, and the stress started causing back pains. Yoga helps me relax and clear my mind. I sleep peacefully these days.”
regardless of where you live,” he said.
For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse
The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
This article was originally published by The Associated Press.
By Dom DiFurio
One of the top concerns facing parents in 2022 was about whether or not their children will experience anxiety or depression, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
According to the survey, the concern about mental well-being in children was extremely or very worrisome for two of every five parents with kids younger than 18 and comes against a backdrop of a mounting mental health crisis for children.
One in six children between the ages of two and eight are diagnosed with a treatable mental health disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders—or developmental disorders addressed by mental health professionals—in kids are behavior disorders, ADHD, anxiety and depression.
Parents and other adults concerned about a child’s mental health should observe changes and note signs and symptoms to share with a health care provider, the Mayo Clinic advises. Northwell Health partnered with Stacker to identify some signs of positive mental health in children by analyzing research and findings from the CDC, various studies, and leading health clinics.
Health care professionals are trained to make actual diagnoses, but parents can watch for and flag certain behaviors. Parents can also note signs of good mental health in children. The ability to show affection, express positivity and show resilience during hardship are some of the most commonly observed signs of positive mental health development in children, according to the CDC. Health officials even track these characterizations based on surveys of parents around the nation each year.
But there are other signs to
watch for in kids as they develop and navigate an often imperfect world. Recognizing these behaviors can help equip parents to foster safe, predictable home environments and mentally healthy lifestyles for children as they grow.
Keep reading to discover some common indicators of positive mental health in children.
Displays of affection
Showing affection to peers, siblings and parents is something most children ages 3-5 can do always or most of the time, according to parents surveyed by the CDC.
Not all children will naturally be as affectionate as a parent might expect. Therapists say one way to foster affection in young children is to set an example by regularly reminding them that you love them.
Resilience in the face of adversity
Resilience in children is a significant indicator of healthy, positive mental health development.
Most children without “ongoing emotional, behavioral or developmental problems for which treatment or counseling is needed” are usually able to stay calm in challenging situations, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The organization’s 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health reported that 1 in 3 children are diagnosed with particular mental health care needs. Children who haven’t developed resiliency against adversity might have frequent temper tantrums, cry often, or show a loss of control.
A demonstrated curiosity about the world
Interest and curiosity are vehicles for exploration and learning in children, driving young people toward experiences that help them develop
more profound emotional capacity and understanding of other humans and the world around them.
A care plan—which might include treatment, counseling, or both—may be recommended by professionals for children who regularly show little interest in learning new things compared to those without treatable mental health disorders.
Regular play with parents or friends
Play and interaction are fundamental to developing kids’ brains and, by extension, their mental well-being. Research shows play can protect children from more significant effects of stress and can also serve as an outlet for parents experiencing stress. However, research performed by child psychologists suggests parents don’t always need to be a part of healthy playtime.
A Florida Atlantic University study published in the Journal of Pediatrics in 2023 underscored the importance of giving children independent playtime away from the supervision or constraints of parents. The same study found that increased concern among guardians for children’s physical safety has the adverse effect of preventing children from engaging in
activities that involve some risk—such as climbing trees—that help prevent phobias and future anxiety over dealing with emergencies while also increasing a child’s self-confidence.
Age-appropriate sleep cycles
Abnormal sleep patterns are a cause of concern for people of all ages, including children. Children ages 6-12 should get between nine and 12 hours of sleep a night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, while teenagers should sleep anywhere from eight to 10 hours. Too little sleep may signal struggles with repetitive or intrusive thinking patterns indicative of anxiety, although it’s important to note that sleep is also difficult for children for reasons unrelated to mental health.
A CDC analysis of a nationally representative survey of high school-aged kids found that 7 in 10 did not feel they got adequate sleep on school nights.
Demonstrated ability to complete tasks
Children in a state of positive mental health generally have an easier time completing tasks, according to the National Survey of Children’s
Health. The overwhelming majority of children without treatable mental illness can usually or always accomplish tasks from beginning to end, compared to fewer than half of those living with mental health issues.
Kids who can’t keep up with to-dos may fall behind in school assignments, experience difficulty completing household responsibilities, or struggle to finish reading books.
Healthy eating behaviors
Diet plays a major role in overall health—and keeping up with meals may also be a reliable indicator of mental well-being.
Children who regularly skip meals may be experiencing a range of mental health disorders, from anxiety to anorexia. Further, the consistent skipping of meals can contribute to low sugar levels, dehydration, and other aspects of malnourishment, which can lead to heightened levels of anxiety in children and adults, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Children in a state of positive mental health have learned (or are actively learning) to manage their behaviors, emotions, and thoughts—in other words, they can self-regulate. This skill is picked up by most children aged 3-7. These individuals are also susceptible to a trusted support person’s redirection from unhealthy thoughts, such as reframing
the problem or emphasizing positive and neutral aspects of an experience.
It’s typical for children to experience unhealthy thoughts as they develop an awareness of and control over their own emotions. Adults can help children self-regulate by working with them to acknowledge and recognize emotions, including ones that are irrational or cause distress.
Connection to a support system
Mentally healthy children have healthy support systems: networks of people who provide emotional and practical support. This support comes in the form of some combination of guardians, teachers, friends, neighbors, extended family, babysitters, or other caregivers. Parents or guardians form the backbone of support systems by setting healthy examples and intervening with words of encouragement when kids fall out of healthy habits.
Without healthy support systems in place, children are at risk of developing unhealthy habits, a lack of connection to and trust in other people, or a sense of being unmoored.
This article was originally by Stacker Media with story editing by Nicole Caldwell and copy editing by Paris Close.
Editor’s note: If you or someone you know are experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 for professional help.
By ReShonda Tate
Over the years, technology has revolutionized the wellness space, offering unprecedented access to health-tracking tools, telemedicine services, and mental health resources. For the Black community, which has long faced disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, the intersection of tech and wellness holds the potential to bridge gaps and foster a more empowered, health-conscious future.
Health tracking apps
One of the most significant advancements in the tech-wellness space is the proliferation of health tracking apps. Tools like Fitbit, Apple Health, and MyFitnessPal allow users to monitor everything from daily steps to heart rate and sleep patterns. For Black individuals, who statistically face higher risks of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, these apps provide a means of taking proactive control over their health.
who understand the unique challenges they face, such as disproportionate maternal mortality rates and inequities in reproductive care. Exhale is an app focused on the emotional well-being of Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color created by women of color. The app offers several categories of resources including meditations, guided imagery, breath work, affirmations, and coach talks.
Telemedicine:
Expanding access to care
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred widespread adoption of telemedicine, breaking down barriers for individuals who may have struggled to access in-person care. For Black communities, where transportation issues, lack of insurance, or distrust in the medical system can deter individuals from seeking timely healthcare, telemedicine offers a viable solution.
Services like Doctor on Demand and Amwell have seen a significant rise in Black users, particularly for mental health consultations and manage-
“Digital spaces create community healing and bring wellness into everyday conversations.”
“We’ve seen an uptick in people from underserved communities using health apps to track their vitals and improve their lifestyles,” says Dr. Jackie Ward, chief nurse practitioner at Texas Children’s Hospital. “These tools help empower individuals to make data-driven decisions, reducing reliance on traditional healthcare models that have historically overlooked them.”
Startups are also focusing on addressing culturally specific needs. For example, apps like Health in Her Hue connect Black women to healthcare professionals
ment of chronic conditions. Telemedicine enables people to consult healthcare providers from the safety of their homes, providing flexibility and confidentiality.
Telehealth has also played a key role in expanding access to culturally competent care.
Platforms such as Therapy for Black Girls, founded by licensed psychologist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, provide Black women and girls with access to mental health professionals who share their lived experiences. The app offers resources, podcast episodes, and a directory of
therapists who specialize in addressing issues such as racial trauma, anxiety, and depression.
Online support networks: Building communities for healing
Beyond individual wellness, technology has created online support networks that foster collective healing within the Black community. Social media platforms, dedicated wellness websites, and online forums provide safe spaces where Black individuals can discuss health challenges, share coping mechanisms, and connect with others.
For example, Instagram pages like @BlackMentalHealthMatters and Facebook groups such as Melanin and Mental Health serve as hubs for information on wellness, mindfulness, and self-care practices tailored to Black experiences. These platforms help break down stigmas around mental health in Black communities, where discussing anxiety, depression, or trauma has historically been taboo.
“There’s been a cultural shift,” says wellness coach Dana James. “People are now openly talking about therapy, burnout, and racial fatigue. These digital spaces create community healing and
bring wellness into everyday conversations.”
Addressing mental health: Tech’s role in therapy and support
Mental health has been a particularly pressing issue in the Black community, as experiences of systemic racism, police violence, and economic disparities contribute to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Yet, access to
mental health resources has long been a challenge. Technology is helping to alleviate some of these barriers.
Apps like Liberate, a meditation app specifically designed for people of color, focus on helping users manage racial trauma through guided meditations and wellness resources. Shine, co-founded by a Black woman, provides daily self-care content and offers a support community that promotes mindfulness and emotional well-being, while targeting marginalized groups.
“These apps are game-changers,” says therapist Nettie Jones, who specializes in mental health within minority communities. “They help Black people understand that their mental health is important, and they provide tools and techniques to cope with the specific stressors they face.”
forward:
As technology continues to evolve, its role in the wellness space will likely grow, offering even more tailored solutions for Black individuals. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used to create personalized wellness plans, and virtual reality (VR) could soon offer immersive meditation experiences or physical therapy sessions.
However, challenges remain. The digital divide, exacerbated by income and educational disparities, means that some Black communities still struggle with access to reliable internet and technology. Additionally, concerns around data privacy and medical bias in algorithms must be addressed to ensure that these innovations truly serve marginalized populations.
For now, the intersection of technology and wellness represents a promising step toward empowering the Black community. As more culturally competent resources become available and digital tools become increasingly accessible, tech-driven wellness could play a pivotal role in reducing health disparities and promoting holistic well-being.
“We’re at the start of a wellness revolution,” says Ward. “Technology is giving Black communities the tools to take charge of their health and reclaim control over their well-being—one app, one click, one session at a time.”
This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship Lab. The Lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.
This article was
published
Moreover, wearable tech, such as continuous glucose monitors and smartwatches, is becoming more affordable, making it easier for people to monitor chronic conditions in real-time.
DANA A. GRIMES Name of Decedent
WILLIAM A. BLAND, ESQUIRE 80 M STREET SE #330 WASHINGTON, DC 20003 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
KEYVONNA A’NEESHA MARSHALL, whose address is, 3104 28TH PARKWAY TEMPLE HILLS, MD 20748 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DANA A. GRIMES who died on DECEMBER 24, 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 DECEMBER 27, 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 DECEMBER 27, 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: JUNE 27, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
KEYVONNA A’NEESHA MARSHALL Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 06/27, 07/04, 07/11/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
ADMINISTRATION NO.
2025ADM00570
EVELYN ISABEL SAMO Name of Decedent
ELIZABETH HUGHES, ESQ 1825 K STREET, NW, SUITE 950 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 Notice of Appointment,
N.E, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20019 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LUCKY TIMOTHY PIANWI who died on APRIL 02, 2022 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts
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 DECEMBER 27, 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: JUNE 27, 2025 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
ZORBARI VICTORIA PIANWI Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 06/27, 07/04, 07/11/25
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2025ADM599 MARIE MAE THOMPSON Name of Decedent THOMAS P. HARTNETT, ESQ. 700 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE SE, SUITE 2006 WASHINGTON, DC 20003 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
PATRICIA GREEN whose address is 1837 T PLACE SE WASHINGTON, DC 20020 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARIE MAE THOMPSON who died on JUNE 15, 2018 with a Will and will serve without Court
