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Celebrating

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH Volume 133 No. 42

THE BLACK MEDIA AUTHORITY • AFRO.COM

$2.00

MAY 17, 2025 - MAY 23, 2025

Photo by Patrick Siebert Photo courtesy of Flickr / Maryland Office of the Governor

A statue of the first Black winner of the Preakness Stakes, George “Spider” Anderson, is unveiled on May 10 in Park Heights, ahead of the 150th running of the race on May 17. Shown here, Maryland’s First Lady Dawn Moore (left), with son, James and Gov. Wes Moore; Baltimore City’s first family Hana and Charm, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Ceron Pugh III; Yolanda E. Jiggetts, CEO of Park Heights Renaissance; Dana Henson, vice president of Henson Development Co.; Geanna Franqui, construction administrator and project management for The NHP Foundation (NHPF); Gabrielle Hapi, development manager, and Mansur Abdul-Malik, senior vice president of development NHPF. See story on A3

First Black Librarian of Congress fired African heritage of Pope Leo XIV celebrated By Lauren Burke

afro.com

President Donald Trump abruptly fired the Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on May 8. Hayden made history in 2016 as the first woman and first African American to run the Library of Congress. Her firing arrived in the form of a short email in the evening hours. There are fears that President Trump may also target a second prominent Black federal official, Smithsonian Chief Lonnie Bunch, for no other reason than the perceived political bias in a position not known for partisan activity. “Carla, on behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective

By Stacy M. Brown

AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File

Outrage is being expressed across the country after the firing of Carla Hayden. The former Librarian of Congress was abruptly relieved of duty with no warning on May 8. She previously served as the longtime chief of the Baltimore library system. immediately. Thank you for your service,” the terse communication to Hayden read. The Library of Congress confirmed that Hayden had been informed she was fired by The White House. According to the Associated Press, Hayden “recently faced criticism from a conservative advocacy group aligned with Trump’s political allies. The group, the American Accountability

Foundation, accused her and other library officials of promoting children’s books with what it called “radical” themes.” Since his return to office Trump’s Administration has been focused on removing anyone who may disagree with their policy agenda. Many of the removals have introduced a Continued on A3

Black America is taking pride in a truth shaking up the Vatican and resonating through the streets of New Orleans: Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago—has Black and Creole roots. The pope’s factual anthropological roots are not just symbolic. According to genealogist Jari Honora, his maternal lineage traces directly to the Black community of New Orleans’ 7th Ward, with family ties to Haiti, and census records identifying his ancestors as “Black” or “Mulatto.” “By the Europeans’ own ‘1/8th’ rules, we have a Black Pope,” noted author Elie Mystal declared, noting that the “Pope’s grandfather is Haitian.” Further, New Orleans historian Jari Christopher Honora, speaking to the National Catholic Reporter and Black Catholic Messenger,

detailed how the pope’s grandparents married in 1887 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church on Annette Street in New Orleans before migrating north. His mother, Mildred Martínez, was the first child in the family born in Chicago. “The Holy Father’s ancestors are identified as either Black or Mulatto,” Honora said. The Chicago Tribune and New York Times also reported on Pope Leo’s mixed-race background and Creole lineage, noting that his election marks a defining moment in the Church’s evolving identity. “As a Black man, a proud son of New Orleans, and the U.S. Congressman representing the very 7th Ward neighborhood where our new Pope’s family hails from, I am bursting with pride today,” said Rep. Troy Carter. “This is history! The first American Pope, with Creole Continued on A3

MDDC PRESS ASSOCIATION CONTEST

AFRO wins over 20 awards in regional competition By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com The AFRO won big at the Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia (MDDC) Press Association Awards on May 9. Team AFRO dominated in

four categories and received 26 awards overall, adding to the rich history and accolades the media company has already acquired over the years. “Receiving more than 20 awards from MDDC this year is a humbling and affirming moment for the AFRO,” said Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher

and CEO of AFRO News, at the award ceremony in Annapolis, Md. “It reflects not only the excellence of our editorial team but also our deep and enduring commitment to truth-telling, community-centered journalism and holding power accountable.” Continued on A9

AFRO Photo / Ericka Alston Buck

The AFRO secured 26 awards at the 2024 Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia Press Association Awards, dominating in four categories. Shown here: Craig Talley (left), AFRO’s media sales consultant; Alexis Taylor, AFRO managing editor; Diane Hocker, AFRO director of community and public relations; Ericka Alston Buck, AFRO freelancer; Andre’ Draper, AFRO Director of Operations; Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher and CEO of AFRO News; Tashi McQueen, AFRO staff writer and James Fields, AFRO photographer.