By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO Kenya’s President William Ruto speaks during a luncheon at the State Department in Washington, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard) Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are blasting House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) after he refused to invite Kenyan President William Ruto to address a joint session of Congress last week, instead extending that invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Speaker Johnson has been incredibly disrespectful to the country of Kenya and to the Kenyan president,” said U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif ..read more

By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is a native of the Ward 4 community and much of her work is focused on addressing the neighborhood’s safety and housing issue. She’s currently campaigning for reelection and is excited to continue fighting and advocating for Ward 4. (Image courtesy Janeese Lewis George) In just four short years, Councilmember Janeese Lewis George has brought a great amount of change to the Ward 4 community. Although she represents a small community, the impact she’s making is being felt all across the Washington, D.C. area. Wit ..read more

By Aria Brent  AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com Rev. Jamal Bryant announces his engagement to fellow pastor Karri Turner on social media via a livestream of his sermon on May 26, 2024. CREDIT: Unsplash.com / Alekon Pictures Congratulations are in order for Rev. Jamal Bryant and Rev. Dr. Karri Turner, as the two are now engaged to be married. The couple announced their engagement on social media via a video that was shot during Sunday service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on May 26, where Bryant currently serves as senior pastor.  In the video, shared by Bryant on Instagram ..read more

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Word in Black On June 2, when thousands of ministers representing all ages, genders, and cultures descend upon Hampton University’s campus in Hampton, Virginia, the convergence will be unlike any other in the world. The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale is the founding and senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, and current president of the Hampton Ministers Conference. (Courtesy photo) For the 110th time, ministers, chaplains, pastors, choir members, organists, musicians and directors will gather with great anticipation of yet another time of worshi ..read more

By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones (D-District 4), shown here, is being discussed as a possible successor to County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski, who is currently pursuing the senate seat in Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District. Photo credit: Courtesy photo With Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski securing the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, consideration has begun on who would finish the rest of his four-year term and potentially succeed him. One potential candidate named ..read more

By Darlene Superville  The Associated Press First lady Michelle Obama, left, and her mother Marian Robinson react as Ret. Navy Admiral John B. Nathman speaks to delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 6, 2012. Robinson, who moved with the first family to the White House when son-in-law Barack Obama was elected president, has died, according to an announcement by Michelle Obama and other family members May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File) WASHINGTON (AP) — On election night 2008, as Barack Obama sat nervously in a Chicago hotel suite and awaite ..read more

By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com The city council is holding budget hearings with city agencies through June 6 to debate, amend and pass the budget by June 26. Photo credit: Unsplash/Sincerely Media As the last leg of Baltimore City’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget process gets underway, the city council hosted its annual Taxpayer’s Night on May 16, providing an opportunity for residents to have their say on what should be included in the budget.  Though not many were in attendance, residents who were there spoke passionately about what they wanted to see in the b ..read more

By Gene Lambey Special to the AFRO “The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout” is being presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from May 26 through June 2. (Courtesy image) The National Black Theatre and the Apollo Theatre collaborated once again for the musical preformance, “The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout” at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from May 26 through June 2.  Director of the program, Jonathan McCrory and composer, Carlos Simon, both born in Washington, D.C., spoke with the AFRO on the significance of “The Gathering” a ..read more

By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com Gov. Wes Moore (D) (left) and Sen. Bill Ferguson (D-Md.-46) sign public safety measures into law on May 16. Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the Maryland Office of the Governor At the fourth and final bill signing ceremony of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly, Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed several much anticipated and controversial public safety measures into law. “When we entered office, we said that public safety was going to be our number one priority. In order to actually get the results we wanted it meant that we were going to have to ..read more

By Wyatte Grantham-Philips AP Business Writer A pair of Bank of America-Merrill Lynch specialists work at their post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Jan. 10, 2011. Merrill Lynch has agreed to pay nearly $20 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accuses the Wall Street brokerage giant of racially discriminating against its Black financial advisors. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) NEW YORK (AP) — Merrill Lynch has agreed to pay nearly $20 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accuses the Wall Street brokerage giant of racially discriminating against its Black financial ..read more