For 133 years, the AFRO-American Newspapers—100% Black-owned, family-owned, and unapologetically committed to truth—has endured through wars, recessions, protests, pandemics, and seismic industry shifts.
Founded in 1892 by John H. Murphy Sr., a formerly enslaved man who invested $200 from his wife Martha Howard Murphy, the AFRO was born from a belief that Black people needed their own voice. It was not just a business—it was resistance in the face of systemic exclusion.
A Legacy Built in Crisis
The AFRO’s story mirrors that of other historic Black-owned institutions—The Philadelphia Tribune (est. 1884), The Savannah Tribune (est. 1875), Bynes-Royall Funeral Home (est. 1878), and E.E. Ward Moving & Storage (est. 1881)—all founded in eras of crisis and sustained through resilience.
Today, the challenges have shifted but remain formidable: attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); efforts to erase Black history; and a media ecosystem overrun with disinformation. Earlier this year, a federal executive order dismantled DEI programs, cut funding to public media, and sent a chilling message to truth-telling outlets, especially the Black Press.
Innovation Without Compromise
Despite these headwinds, the AFRO has not only survived—it has led. Under the leadership of Publisher and CEO Frances Murphy Draper, the paper has embraced a digital-first strategy, reaching nearly 675,000 social media followers and delivering news through its Digital Billboard Network on 30+ community screens in Baltimore…