(BALTIMORE – August 15, 2025) – If I can convince you that you came here from somewhere else, I can erase any possibility of you finding out your lineage was here all along. That’s exactly what happened to countless Native Black Americans. Through “paper genocide” — changing birth, census, and tribal records — entire families were reclassified. One of the most notorious examples was the Dawes Commission in the late 1800s. They created the Dawes Rolls to register citizens of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole Nations. But if you had African ancestry, you were often forced into the “Freedmen”…

(RANDALLSTOWN – August 14, 2025) – When I wrote earlier this year that Baltimore County seemed to be “getting its act together” on race, I meant it. There were signs of progress — more diverse appointments, long-overdue conversations about equity in leadership, contracting, and representation. But in politics, progress can be fragile. And nothing illustrates that better than the storm now brewing over former Inspector General Kelly Madigan, Council Chair Julian E. Jones Jr., and Councilman Izzy Patoka. Barry O’Connell’s reporting already outlined a disturbing pattern in Madigan’s work — selective scrutiny, exclusion of Black professionals, and even the omission…

(WASHINGTON, DC – August 11, 2025) – If you’ve ever met Carl Brown, you know this much is true — he’s one of the nicest New Yorkers you’ll ever encounter. A proud member of the Howard University family, Carl has spent his career helping entrepreneurs and small business owners turn ideas into thriving enterprises. I should know — I’m one of them. Carl Brown currently serves as the State/Executive Director of the District of Columbia Small Business Development Center (DC SBDC), housed on the historic campus of Howard University. With more than 25 years of experience in small business consulting,…

(BALTIMORE – August 7, 2025) – Baltimore is more than a city. It’s a proving ground. It’s a crucible of grit, grace, and relentless grind. Out of this fire come individuals who don’t just survive—they transcend. Five brothers in particular come to mind: Ben Johnson, David Miller, Akio Evans, Choo Smith, and Mario Armstrong. These men aren’t just success stories. They are Baltimore in motion. Ben Johnson You haven’t truly experienced a circus until you’ve been to the UniverSoul Circus. And you haven’t truly understood the UniverSoul until you’ve heard Ben Johnson’s story. A son of Edmondson Avenue, Ben’s work…

(BALTIMORE – August 2, 2025) – Greetings. 你好. Namaste. Hola. Bonjour. Salaam alaikum. Nomoshkar. Olá. Shalom. Здравствуйте. I write to you today with humility and respect — and with deep concern. Because despite what you may see on your screens, most of the people I know are nothing like President Donald Trump. I imagine the world watches with disbelief as this man — and those who follow him — dismantle civil rights, slash programs like Medicaid, and insult allies without a second thought. It’s disturbing. It’s disgraceful. And it’s dangerous. And yet… here we are. Despite years of warnings, despite his…

BlackUSA.News’ POLITICS ’26, Wednesdays at 6pmStreaming LIVE on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube (RANDALLSTOWN – July 31, 2025) – Now that Johnny Olszewski is a Congressman, Baltimore County braces for what may be one of the most consequential County Executive elections in recent memory. The June 2026 Democratic Primary is shaping up to be even more competitive than 2018, when Olszewski eked out a 17-vote win over political heavyweights Sen. Jim Brochin and Councilwoman Vicki Almond. I was there for the recount, watching as the results came back exactly the same. Unbelievable. Especially coming off the 2016 Baltimore City mayoral race, where…

Baltimore Weekend Recap: Royalty, Legacy, and Love from All Corners of the City (BALTIMORE – July 7, 2025) – There’s simply no other way to explain this. As a Westsider with Eastside roots, I can say with all my heart and soul – I love all of Baltimore. This weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of spending time with Baltimore royalty from all four corners of the city. From former star athletes to loyal community supporters, it was a celebration of history, culture, and unity. The weekend began with a fundraiser for Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. My personal journey includes both…

(BALTIMORE – July 20, 2025) — When I wrote “Fear, Power, and the Price of Reparations” two months ago, I was writing from a place of deep frustration. Governor Wes Moore — America’s only Black governor — had just vetoed a bill that would have established a Maryland state reparations commission. It was a bill crafted with care, shaped by years of work from Black lawmakers. At the time, the veto felt like a retreat. A missed moment. But thanks to new reporting from The Baltimore Banner, we now know there’s more to the story. Governor Moore didn’t just reject…

(BALTIMORE – July 15, 2025) – West Baltimore’s relentless struggle with drugs is no recent development. The roots run deep. Once a vibrant cultural hub that hosted the greatest stars in Black America, Historic Pennsylvania Avenue is now a symbol of decline — plagued by heroin, cocaine, crack, and now, fentanyl. Last week’s deadly outbreak was just the latest chapter in a long, painful story. But this crisis is not just about drugs. It’s about multigenerational trauma — both from addiction and from the economy of dealing. For some, dealing becomes as addictive as using. And the cost? Broken families, blighted…

(BALTIMORE – July 14, 2025) – Baltimore is no stranger to crisis. From ransomware attacks to corruption scandals, from disinvestment to unrest, this city has weathered storms that would flatten others. But in the midst of it all, a new vision is quietly rising — and Mayor Brandon Scott stands at its front line. This isn’t just about policy. It’s about a shift in tone, a change in energy, a long-overdue evolution. It’s what we call the New Baltimore. Yes, we are still plagued by systemic issues — some of them older than the mayor himself. Crime, addiction, poverty, and a…