Blog — The Black Explosion

Sweet Senior Day victory for Maryland women's basketball

The University of Maryland’s women’s basketball team defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 80-65 on Sunday. This created a five-game winning streak for the Terrapins.

SportsMarkayla BrooksFebruary 8, 2022UMD, Maryland, UMD women's basketball, Senior Day, Big Ten, Brenda Frese, Nebraska

African Student Association hosts its 40th annual Fall Ball

Sophomore pre-nursing major Chelsea Amadi and junior business management major Phrank Aidoo were crowned Mr. and Mrs. ASA on Sunday at the African Student Association’s annual Fall Ball held at the STAMP Grand Ballroom.

Ashley AnkapongDecember 15, 2021

A Maryland woman exchanges her desk for a spatula to open a Black-owned bakery

Nusirat Balogun, known affectionately as Nusi, started an at-home bakery six years ago when she was dissatisfied with being a research assistant. After going to pastry school in Canada, she moved back to Maryland to open her bakery in a two-story house with a functioning kitchen.

Local NewsTaylor EdwardsDecember 13, 2021cake, greenbelt, baker, pastry, cooking, dessert

Maryland’s Head Basketball Coach Mark Turgeon mutually agrees to part ways with UMD

SportsJon DennisDecember 10, 2021sports, turgeon, maryland athletics, basketball, Maryland men's basketball

Nyumburu hosts its annual Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration and Dinner

The event kicked off with Turner leading the audience in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is often referred to as the Black national anthem.

The Pre-Kwanzaa celebration was then followed by a jazz performance from the Nyumburu Jazz Club, spoken word from University of Maryland junior criminal justice major Vivian Ebisike, African drum performances and the lighting of the seven candles.

Local NewsAaron WrightDecember 10, 2021Kwanzaa, Nyumburu, family, holidays, African American, Miss Unity

Experts believe prioritizing police mental health can lead to better officers as the Hyattsville Police Department set to begin mandatory mental health check-ins in December.

The Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) will begin requiring officers and dispatchers to participate in quarterly mental health check-ins as a part of HCPD’s Mental Health and Wellness program in December.

Local NewsErin BurnettDecember 8, 2021Hyattsville, Police, mental health, HCPD, wellness

Senior Paetyn Lewis highlights intersectionality between race, gender and mental health in “Cross” choreography

Senior dance major Paetyn Lewis explores the theme of race, gender and mental health in her debut choreography “Cross,” in the School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies Experimental Performance Series.

Arts + Entertainment, FeaturesErin BurnettDecember 6, 2021Dance, intersectionality, queer, choreography, race

Greenbelt City Council pushes for more food trucks in Greenbelt

Greenbelt City Council members continue to establish more opportunities for food trucks to operate within the city after meeting on Aug.18, while following Prince George’s County food truck regulations.

Local NewsJalyn MathisDecember 6, 2021food trucks, Food, Prin, DPIE, greenbelt

United Students Against Sweatshops holds town hall meeting to share frustrations over pay

The University of Maryland Systems (USM) Board of Regents Committee on Finance announced a recommendation to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour to its board. The announcement came during a United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) town hall meeting at the Stamp Student Union building on Thursday. The university’s chapter of USAS has been advocating for a pay raise to $15 an hour for months. This past month, the organization hung up QR codes around campus to get students to sign a petition to raise the minimum wage.

Local News, NewsTaylor EdwardsDecember 4, 2021USM, USAS, UMD

The State of the Black Terps Townhall highlighted a lack of involvement from UMD’s Black community

At Tuesday night's State of the Black Terps Townhall Meeting, there seemed to be one question on everyone's mind.

Local NewsKayla NazaireDecember 3, 2021town hall, Black Terps, MICA, Black Student Involvement

Council member and UMD alumnus Colin Byrd reflects on his time as former mayor of Greenbelt

Greenbelt council member and former mayor Colin Byrd has been a lifelong resident of the area. He continues to reside not far from the community after graduating from the University of Maryland.

Local News, FeaturesJalyn MathisDecember 2, 2021Colin Byrd, greenbelt, Democratic Party, Republican party, Politics, activism

Black UMD students express concerns about mental health in town hall meeting

About 10 students attended the first-ever Black Mental Health Matters town hall, which took place in the Nyumburu Cultural Center on Monday.

Trial in Ahmaud Arbery's death: closing arguments, verdicts and reactions

The trial for the three men that killed Ahmaud Arbery concluded with felony murder convictions for all three on Wednesday. It was a 14-day trial concluded with 11 hours of jury deliberations over a two-day span.

National News, NewsJohn LittleNovember 26, 2021Ahmaud Arbery, Rev. Al Sharpton, BLM, Murder

After a month-long protest, Howard University protests end as students announce agreement with administration

Howard University students reached an agreement with administration after a month-long protest over housing issues and accountability, announced at a press conference on Monday.

Local News, NewsTaylor EdwardsNovember 21, 2021Howard University, Howard, The Live Movement, protest, HU, DC

Black women need to be included in the conversation on sexual assault

On Oct 10th, I wrote a story on the “Reclaim the Red - Rally for Respect” march, an event that brought awareness to sexual assault happening at the University of Maryland. I noticed that there weren't a lot of Black women among the protesters. I found this telling of something problematic: how Black women are left out of issues that disproportionately affect them.

OpinionAaron WrightNovember 19, 2021opinion

The cast of ‘King Richard’ emphasized the value of family during virtual press conference

World famous tennis star turned executive producer Venus Williams said that the main takeaway from her new movie, ‘King Richard’ is that, “as a family you can achieve anything.”

Arts + EntertainmentErin BurnettNovember 17, 2021King Richard, Serena Williams, Will Smith, tennis, Venus Williams

Hundreds of volunteers show out in support of Good Neighbor Day 2021

Participants in Saturday’s Good Neighbor Day beautified the grounds of Hollywood Elementary School in College Park, Md. UMD students connected with citizens and representatives of the City of College Park in the annual event that typifies service to one’s community.

Local NewsJohn LittleNovember 17, 2021Good Neighbor Day, Volunteer, Darryll Pines, Civicus, Hollywood Elementary