“When they show you who they are, believe them.” (OWINGS MILLS – June 7, 2026) – One of my favorite politicians of all time is the Mayor for Life. I don’t even have to say his name. If your family lives anywhere along the Baltimore-Washington corridor, you already know who I’m talking about. Before he was a politician, he was known as “the jobs man.” If you were Black and needed work, Marion Barry was the person people called. His efforts helped build a Black professional and business class in Prince George’s County that would later gain national recognition. Another one of my heroes is Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson. Jackson understood a simple truth: political power that doesn’t produce economic power is little more than theater. When Atlanta’s airport expanded, he demanded meaningful participation from Black contractors. He wasn’t interested in symbolic inclusion. He wanted results. And then there is John Brown. He wasn’t Black. But he understood that there comes a moment when talk ends, and choices begin. He chose to fight slavery and paid for that choice with his life. What do these three men have in common? They didn’t talk about helping Black people. They actually did it. They took risks. They paid prices. They used power when it mattered. Which brings me to Izzy Patoka. For years, I gave Izzy the benefit of the doubt. I know him. I’ve played basketball with him. I’ve watched his political rise. I respected his work and considered him a serious public servant. But leadership is not revealed when nothing is at stake. Leadership is revealed when something valuable is on the table. And in Baltimore County, Black political power was on the table. During last year’s redistricting fight, many Black leaders and community advocates pushed for the County Council to expand from seven districts to eleven. They argued that one of Maryland’s most diverse counties deserved fuller representation and more opportunities for historically underrepresented communities. What emerged instead was a compromise. Seven districts became nine. Not eleven. Then came the map. And that’s where the story gets uncomfortable. Critics argued that the final map fractured portions of the historic Black political base centered in the Fourth Councilmanic District, separating communities in Woodlawn, Randallstown, and Lochearn that had long shared political interests and voting strength. Supporters called it compromise. Opponents called it dilution. What is not in dispute is that many Black leaders walked away from the process believing an opportunity had been reduced rather than expanded. And in that moment, choices were made. Today, Izzy Patoka campaigns as a champion of diversity. That is his message. But the people who were in the room during that fight remember something else. They remember the negotiations. They remember the compromise. They remember who stood where when the stakes were real. Which brings us back to the only question that matters: When Black political power was on the table, what side was Izzy Patoka on? Because representation is not measured by campaign…
(MILFORD MILL – June 3, 2026) – There is a particular kind of ambition that doesn’t announce itself. It just…
JOE MANNS BLACK WALL STREET AWARDS WOODLAWN 2026 • JUNE 4, 2026 DERRICK JONES 2026 Honoree | Joe Manns Black Wall Street…
(BALTIMORE – May 19, 2026) – Ashley “Ash” Esposito, candidate for re-election to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, announced today that she will…
Politics
Featured Videos
Welcome to Doni Glover Media — Powered by BMORENews.com BMORENews.com and BlackUSA.News form a multi-platform … Watch full video on YouTube
(BALTIMORE – May 17, 2026) – One year ago, I was preparing to walk across the stage at Morgan State University for a Master’s degree…
(BALTIMORE – May 25, 2026) – I did not watch the Netflix Kevin Hart Roast. I want to be clear about that upfront. But by…
(BALTIMORE – May 3, 2026) – I met Robbie at Morehouse. When you’re 700 miles from home and you run into…
(BALTIMORE – April 29, 2026) – When Bishop John Richard Bryant shows up for your ribbon-cutting, you know you have…
You may have missed
BLACK WALL STREET WOODLAWN — 2026 HONOREE PROFILE From a 9-to-5 to multiple LLCs, Kizzy…
BLACK WALL STREET WOODLAWN — 2026 HONOREE PROFILE For more than two decades, Tony Ross…
BLACK WALL STREET WOODLAWN — 2026 HONOREE PROFILE (BALTIMORE – May 30, 2026) – When Michael…
(BALTIMORE – May 29, 2026) – I heard a preacher say once that you know you…
Trending News
Advertisement
(BALTIMORE – April 30, 2026) — What started five years ago as a cooking competition has evolved into something far more consequential for Baltimore’s next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals.…
Black Wall Street WASHINGTON, DC Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards — 15th Anniversary Homecoming Washington, D.C. | Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 6:00 PM RSVP: blackwallstreetdc.eventbrite.com Ron Busby, Sr.: The National Voice of Black Business Black Wall Street WASHINGTON, DC Honoree | President & CEO, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Some people you meet and quickly forget. And then there are those rare individuals who leave a mark every single time you cross paths. Ron Busby, Sr., is that kind of man. I first met Ron through a mutual friend, the late Mr. Michael Graham — a…
New Imam in Baltimore at historic masjid shares forward-thinking vision for the community. Joined by Rebby Bass, Imam Mustafa … Watch full video on YouTube
SABRINA TAPP-HARPER FOR SHERIFF OF BALTIMORE CITY: Discover the qualities needed for a strong sheriff’s office leader. Watch full video on YouTube
(BALTIMORE – May 23, 2026) – In the world of Baltimore County hospitality, few names carry the kind of weight that Ania Pettiford has earned — not overnight, but over more than a decade of showing up, leveling up, and never settling for anything less than exceptional. It started in 2012, when a young Ania walked through the doors of the Windsor Inn as a server. She was observant, hungry to learn, and already developing the instincts that would define her career. She worked her way up — earning her bartending license from the Maryland Bartending Academy in Glen Burnie —…
(BALTIMORE – May 23, 2026) — There is a woman on West Saratoga Street who has spent the last fifteen years quietly building something beautiful. Her name is Jody Davis. And on Thursday, May 28, 2026, Baltimore will pause to celebrate her. BMORENews.com is proud to present the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards in honor of the 15th Anniversary of Jody Davis Designs, from 6 to 8 pm at 110 W. Saratoga Street in downtown Baltimore. If you have never stepped inside her boutique, let that be the night. Now, if you have been following BMORENews.com and the Joe…
(WOODLAWN – May 23, 2026) – Some people find their calling. Janelle Shorter was born into hers. At just 18 years old, she stepped into the world of hospitality and never looked back — not because the road was easy, but because she understood something that can’t be taught: that great service is, at its core, an act of love. Janelle doesn’t just serve drinks. She curates experiences. From personalizing cocktails to orchestrating private events, she has built a reputation for turning first-time patrons into lifelong family. That’s the standard she has set — and the standard she exceeds, week…
Delegate Ruff spoke to members of the Edmondson Village/Rognell Heights communities last night where he shared his vision … Watch full video on YouTube
(BALTIMORE – May 19, 2026) – My take on the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Voting Rights decision. There is a dangerous illusion growing in American constitutional law that racial discrimination somehow disappears when it is relabeled as politics. It does not. When electoral maps are deliberately designed to weaken the political power of communities that are overwhelmingly Black and overwhelmingly aligned politically, the constitutional injury does not become less real simply because the mechanism used is partisan gerrymandering instead of otherwise open racial exclusion. Our Constitution was designed to protect its citizens, not semantics or “old shell game” tactics. For…
Welcome to the Indigenous Series! Are we raising a generation of warriors — or a generation of wanderers? Tonight on The Doni … Watch full video on YouTube
Another top issue in the 41st. yeah public safety you know one of um a good friend of mine not in the first but close enough and in … Watch full video on YouTube
Recommended
