'Friday' actor-comedian John Witherspoon dies
Actor-comedian John Witherspoon, who memorably played Ice Cube’s father in the “Friday” films, has died. He was 77.
New rule would allow foster care, adoption agencies to exclude on religious grounds
The Trump administration is proposing a new rule that would allow adoption, foster care agencies and other social service providers receiving taxpayer funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to refuse to serve people based on religion, …
Former Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving black lawmaker in U.S. House of Representatives, dies at 90
Former Rep. John Conyers, a liberal Democrat who was the longest-serving African- American member of the U.S. House of Representatives at more than half a century, died on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at the age of 90.
Rep. Cummings remembered as ‘fierce champion’
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings was eulogized as a leader with the fiery moral conviction of an Old Testament prophet at a funeral last Friday that brought former presidents and ordinary people alike to the Baltimore church where the congressman worshipped …
Chicago churches join growing movement of congregations paying off medical debt
This Thanksgiving, 5,888 families in Cook County, Ill., will receive a card with the names of several congregations belonging to different Protestant Christian denominations throughout the city of Chicago and these words: “Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We want you to …
Funeral service Friday for Rep. Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland
Tributes continue to pour in for Congressman Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, a moral voice of conscience who fought for civil rights and took on the White House as a prominent figure in the impeachment inquiry of President Trump as …
Interfaith group works to repair historic black church
Inside a small Woodside Avenue church set amongst the trees, the oldest African-American congregation in the northern Pioneer Valley has made its home for more than a century.
New interfaith group targeting predatory lenders
As pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, the Rev. Rodney Hunter weekly hears stories of financial distress from members and non-members who seek help from his church.
Women's healing and deliverance conference Oct. 25 and 26
Dr. Khaalida Forbes, pastor of Truth City in Washington, and Bishop S. Teri Smith of Love Ministries Fellowship Church in Houston will be among the speakers at Fashioned for the Kingdom Healing and Deliverance Women’s Conference, a two-day event in …
Donnie McClurkin: 'I'm at a time now I sing when I want to'
Two decades ago, gospel singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin stepped on a London stage to record his second album. Now, he’s returning to the United Kingdom for 20th anniversary concerts on Oct. 18 and 19 to reprise the music of …
Meditation apps don't always provide enlightenment
Search your smartphone’s app store for “meditation” and you’ll get more than 1,000 results.
Margaret Rodgers, retired teacher and tech guru for RPS, dies at 75
Margaret Aurelia “Rea” Rodgers was a teacher’s teacher in Richmond Public Schools when it came to computers and technology.
Trailblazing actress Diahann Carroll succumbs to cancer at 84
Diahann Carroll, a versatile singer and stage actress who quietly blazed a trail for African-American women on American television in the late 1960s by playing a widowed nurse and single mother in “Julia,” died Friday, Oct. 4, 2019.
Friends of East End Cemetery wins $25,000 grant
Volunteers who have worked since 2013 to reclaim one of Richmond’s historic and formerly neglected African-American cem- eteries are in high spirits after getting a new financial boost to their efforts to restore and archive a part of black history.
Architect for black history museum in D.C. wins another big commission
The project was an architect’s dream and a potential nightmare: Design a tripartite worship space — to include a Catholic church, a synagogue and a mosque — in the heart of the conflict-ridden Middle East, in order to promote tolerance …