By Crystal Coache Picture this: after hours of contractions, listening to the sound of multiple beeping heart monitors, the breathless he-he-whhhhooooo’s, and constant poking and prodding from nurses, you finally give birth and your doctor looks up at you and says, “Congratulations! You’ve just been babied!” Actually, you don’t need to use your imagination. Recently, […]
Category: Commentary
Posted inOpinion
Gov. Moore’s veto of SB 459 misses the reality of modern local media
Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the MDDC Press Association, argues that Gov. Wes Moore’s veto of SB 459 undermines Maryland’s local news ecosystem by overlooking the reach, sophistication and community impact of local media outlets. The commentary is accompanied by a statement from AFRO leadership noting that the publication has served as a trusted paper of record for many in the African American community for 134 years and continues to reach audiences through a modern, multi-platform media operation.
Posted inWord In Black
Shame about being abused silenced me–now, I’m speaking up
Survivor of intimate partner violence shares her story to break the shame and silence surrounding IPV. Black women are disproportionately affected.
Posted inCommentary
Church leadership urged to review outdated agreements for legal clarity
A pastor and his senior deacon discovered that an old agreement to provide retirement payments to the former pastor was not legally enforceable, costing the church $180,000 in unnecessary payments over a decade.
Posted inCommentary
Uncovering the legacy of Maj. Charity Adams and her all-Black battalion
By Dante R. Brizill In 2024, many Americans were introduced to the legendary “Six Triple Eight” for the first time through Tyler Perry’s movie of the same name. The inspirational story of these amazing women who sorted the mail during World War II, captured the attention and imagination of millions. Within the story we met […]
Posted inCommentary
The blood that bought the ballot
Before the Voting Rights Act existed, before the Civil Rights Movement had a name, Black Americans were fighting — and dying — for the right to vote. The AFRO was there keeping the record. Here’s what it cost to get to 1965.
Posted inCommentary
They cancelled the election
Portia Wood, an attorney and founder of Legacy Wealth Institute / Black Trust Fund Kids
Posted inWord In Black
Gen X’s grind vs. Gen Z’s boundaries: Who’s right?
By Sharif El-MekkiWord in Black During a recent Freedom Friday podcast, our host, Chris Stewart, pointed out that we are living in a time when four, sometimes five, generations are working side by side, exposing fault lines around toughness, trauma, and what “safety” should mean at work. As a proud member of Generation X, I […]
Posted inOPINION
The emotional economy of social media
By Stacy Sneed How did we get here? And more importantly, where are we going? Will this fast-paced digital way of communicating continue to expand, or will we ever return to more meaningful connections like before? Modern technology has transformed how people think about themselves and one another. Social media platforms offer both opportunity and […]
Posted inCommentary
Overcoming the guilt of a medical diagnosis: My kidney disease journey
After being diagnosed with kidney failure at 31, Sharron Rouse navigated years of uncertainty, dialysis, and ultimately a life-saving transplant before discovering her condition was caused by APOL1-mediated kidney disease, a genetic risk linked to African ancestry. Her journey from confusion and guilt to clarity and advocacy underscores the importance of genetic testing, personalized care, and awareness—especially for communities at higher risk.
Posted inCommentary
Sarcoidosis revisited: What I’ve learned since ‘Sarcoidosis Doesn’t Have to Be a Death Sentence’
By Stacy Sneed Nearly a decade after first writing “Sarcoidosis Doesn’t Have to Be a Death Sentence,” I now understand that the truth is far more complex—but still rooted in hope. When I think about sarcoidosis in 2026, I realize how far we have come in awareness, knowledge and medical advancement. Technology has improved, and […]
Posted inCommentary
Don’t like how our community is being portrayed? Turn it off. Cancel it. Stop giving it power.
This editorial calls on readers to challenge and disengage from media coverage that distorts or diminishes Black communities, emphasizing the power of audiences to shape narratives by withholding attention, support and resources from outlets that fail to provide fair, contextualized reporting.
