Amplifying The Historic Black Press For #BlackHistoryMonth/ Essay Contest For Prince George's County Teens
Amplifying The Historic Black Press For #BlackHistoryMonth/ Essay Contest For Prince George's County Teens
For Black History Month, I thought it would be great to amplify the trailblazers of the Black press. When I say the Black press — I am talking about the Black-owned media that reported on Black people in America and abroad.
The Intersection’s X (formerly Twitter), tweeted a thread on Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm, Presbyterian ministers and editors of The Freedman’s Journal. The newspaper’s circulation started in 1827.
The Intersection shared information about the Afro News, which has offices in Washington, D.C. Originally, it was founded as the Home Protector in 1889 by Rev. William Alexander.
"With the help of a group of investors, including John R. Cole, Charles H. Richardson, James E. Johnson, and William H. Daly, the Home Protector became the Afro-American on August 13, 1892."
You can read more about it here.
Legislation
District 7 Councilwoman Krystal Oriadha passed legislation that would establish the Black Start-Up Fund.
From the press release:
Council Member Krystal Oriadha has launched her annual #EverythingBlack campaign this Black History Month to focus on highlighting local Black business owners, artists, authors, entrepreneurs and other influencers.
Her interactive “Green Book” pays homage to Victor Green’s publication of the same name, and will serve as a guide to help people eat, shop, read and listen in support of the local Black community. The launch includes new legislation that will create a Black Start-Up Fund to provide capital to allow Black-owned businesses to expand or get off the ground.
Read more here.
Community Notes
Per Email:
We, the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project, are pleased to announce our 2024 Racial Justice Essay and Creative Arts Contest, is open to Prince George’s County students in grades 9-12. Scholarships totaling $5,000 will be awarded to winning participants.
The contest closes on February 29, 2024.
Your help is needed to ensure we have another successful contest and that students get an opportunity to share their perspectives on racial justice and, perhaps more importantly, receive encouragement and support for speaking truth from their perspectives.
Information about the contest and instructions and submission guidelines are available on the attached flyer, on our website here, and at https://forms.gle/4StMsquizdqCisRP8 .
Please continue to help publicize the contest by sharing information about the contest to people in your networks. Post the flyer where you can, and encourage eligible young people (public, private, home-schooled 9th -12th graders in Prince George’s County) to apply.
See our 2023 student winners at the recognition program here.
If you have questions or comments, please contact us at princegeorgescolmp@gmail.com.
Thank you for your support.
Big News
U.S. Senate Fundraising Numbers
Excerpt: The first fundraising numbers of 2024 have come in for the U.S. Senate primary, giving a better glimpse of how the leading candidates will prepare their campaigns for the May 14 primary election.
Rep. David Trone (D-Maryland) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) remain the main contenders to replace outgoing Sen. Ben Cardin (D).
Trone spent $13.7 million between Sept. 1 and the end of 2023, all but roughly $200,000 from his own pocket. Alsobrooks raised $1,783,921.81 over the same period and spent $762,004.60.
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Alsobrooks pitches shifting tax funds to pay for Pr. George’s schools
Excerpt: As local spending required by Maryland’s landmark education law climbs, Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) is asking state legislators for more discretion over how the county pays for schools.
Citing financial pressure, Alsobrooks is taking aim at a law that funnels most money generated by the local telecommunications and energy taxes to county schools under rules set long before the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future law — and its mandates — took effect.
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Expanding the economy is Prince George’s Co.’s No. 1 priority. What’s hindering it?
Excerpt: Leaders in Prince George’s County, Maryland, have been warning that the upcoming budget process is going to involve hard choices that will leave lots of people unhappy. To provide more, the county needs to increase tax revenues.
But unlike most jurisdictions which see commercial tax sources generate a large portion of revenue, the county is overly reliant on its residents.
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Maryland's new juvenile crime bill sparks extensive debate in Annapolis
Excerpt: On Thursday, Maryland Democrat’s new juvenile crime plan was up for debate in Annapolis for the first time since its announcement last week, and lawmakers had a lot to say. During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, discussion surrounding HB814 dragged on for more than six hours.
“I know this bill is going to disappoint both sides and I am comfortable with that reality,” said House Speaker Adrienne Jones, one of the bill’s authors.
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How much taxpayer dollars are used to build sports stadiums in DC, Maryland and Virginia?
Excerpt: From the District of Columbia and Maryland to Virginia, 7News is finding out how much taxpayers are on the hook for sports stadiums, fields and arenas across the DMV.
D.C.’s debt on Nationals Park is $149 million, according to the city. And the District has an outstanding debt on Capital One Arena of more than $34.6 million.
Taxpayers have been on the hook for some time.
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Chesapeake Bay cleanup faces difficult trade-offs with agriculture
Excerpt: Rarely has the future been so clear. At midnight on Dec. 31, 2025, the Chesapeake Bay region will miss its goal for reducing nutrient pollution in the Bay. It will be the third miss, after work toward deadlines in 2000 and 2010 also came up short.
While progress has been made, trends since the most recent Bay cleanup goals were set in 2010 suggest the region might not hit its nutrient reduction target for many decades.
The primary reason for the shortfall is the region’s inability to grapple with the 25% of the Bay watershed that is covered by farms.
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Moore unveils guiding plan during state employee town hall
Excerpt: Nearly 13 months into his administration, Gov. Wes Moore (D) unveiled a white paper Thursday that he said will serve as a guiding set of principles for his administration and a way to judge how he is measuring up to his own goals.
The 40-page document known as the State Plan — sometimes shorthanded as “the plan” by Moore and his aides — is a bureaucratic set of matryoshka dolls with measurements nested within objectives within 10 overarching priorities.