By Ashlee Banks | Special to the AFRO Congressional Black Caucus members are putting pressure on the Biden-Harris administration to grant protections to Haitians fleeing to the U.S. amid the unrest in the Caribbean nation. U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told the AFRO the administration needs to stop deporting Haitians who are seeking refuge in the U.S. “To deport anyone to Haiti right now is nothing short of a death sentence. The headlines may have faded, but this humanitarian crisis continues to worsen with every day,” said Pressley. “We’re not waning in our advocacy and in this fight ..read more

By Macy Meinhardt | Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer Mateo Olmos, a San Diego State Graduate student is among the thousands of students right now actively exercising their freedom of speech in opposition to the war in Gaza. “I don’t identify as Middle Eastern or Palestinian, I am Black and Mexican, but I do have friends that identify with both cultures, and I feel strongly about the liberation of people and helping the oppressed be free,” said Olmos, a graduate student in the Public Health Department. Voice & Viewpoint caught up with Mateo last Tuesday as the “Walk out for Palestine” de ..read more

Says it was “the last thing” he wanted to do. By Los Angeles Wave Staff In response to the recent financial decisions, Pastor Robert Shaw from First AME Church has issued a statement in defense of the church’s choice to file for bankruptcy protection for three of its entities: Fame Assistance Corporation, Fame Housing Corporation, and FAME/Good Shepherd Center Housing Development, as of May 1. The move comes in the wake of severe financial difficulties attributed to what has been described as mismanagement and unfair business practices by the church’s leadership following Reverend Cecil Murray ..read more

Would repeal, replace Measure H By City News Service | Our Weekly News A coalition of housing and mental health advocates, among others, submitted more than 410,000 signatures this week to the county in hopes of placing a homeless initiative on the November ballot. The measure, known as the Affordable Housing, Homelessness Solutions and Prevention Now initiative, would repeal and replace Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax approved by county voters in 2017 to create a dedicated stream of revenue to address homelessness. Measure H is expected to expire in 2027, unless renewed. Backers say the n ..read more

By Cyril Josh Barker | AmNews Digital Editor The Harlem-based youth development and social justice organization Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis) honored actor and singer Billy Porter and National Domestic Workers Alliance president Ai-jen Poo at its 2024 Voices gala on Thursday night, where the organization raised $1.9 million. Returning for its 19th year, Voices is the organization’s annual benefit to celebrate its youth members and enrich programming. This year’s event took place at New York City’s Ziegfeld Ballroom, with actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj serving as host for the evening ..read more

By Taalib Saber | the AFRO Historically, non-competes have been used to restrict employees from working in the same industry after leaving their former employer. Though the intention is to protect the intellectual property of businesses, non-competes have often negatively affected competition in product and service markets, especially with Black workers. In what has since created shockwaves across the nation, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 for banning noncompete agreements, which goes into effect 120 days after the rule is officially published in the Federal Register. This decis ..read more

By AFRO Staff Graduation season is upon us! On May 5, Lincoln University, the first degree-granting historically Black college or university (HBCU), proudly held its 165th Commencement Ceremony. Over 400 undergraduate and graduate students were honored, marking the culmination of their academic journey and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. The ceremony, held on Lincoln’s main campus, was a momentous occasion filled with joy, pride, and celebration. Distinguished speakers for the event included Bryan Stevenson, the esteemed founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initi ..read more

By Sam Judy | Dallas Weekly Magazine As the TikTok Ban makes its way to the US Senate, progressive organizations on college campuses advocating for Palestine are targets of a new resolution signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. Generation-Z, with higher rates of diversity, civic engagement, and education, could be the spark that manifests a radical shift in US politics. And that’s precisely why our current political leaders fear them. One thing the United States government hates with a fiery, intense passion – more than terrorism, more than world hunger, and more than homelessness – is a const ..read more

By Blair S. Walker MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA — When Jordan Wallace was a 5-year-old, his grandmother bought him a little, battery-powered Mercedes car. She may have regretted that move because Wallace immediately hopped into his miniature whip and practically drove the wheels off it. Convinced that Upper Marlboro, Maryland, had never produced a racer with his combination of awe-inspiring speed and daring, Wallace began looking for pre-pubescent butts to kick. “I tried to race the girl down the street in her Barbie Corvette, and she whupped me,” Wallace said, still incredulous 31 years later. “An ..read more

By Kristen J. Amundson At this time of year, many preschool parents are worrying about whether their child will be ready for kindergarten. What are the things their child should learn? Do they need to make alphabet flash cards? Invest in worksheets so kids can practice math. I talked with kindergarten teachers to find out what they think kids need to know to be kindergarten-ready. You may be surprised: Readiness for school, teachers say, does not mean that your child will have mastered all the kindergarten skills on Day One. Instead, it means that your child will take pleasure in learning how ..read more