Founded in 1934 by Frances Louise Murphy, Afro Clean Block originated as a program to keep kids busy during the summer, and to keep our neighborhoods clean. Block captains were nominated to organize their neighbors for hyper-local clean up efforts: washing their stoops, painting the trim around their doors, and planting flowers in planters made of recycled tires. After a judging period, the winning block got a neighborhood party, initially sponsored by the AFRO, and eventually by Afro Charities once it was established in 1963.

In 2019, we celebrated the 85th anniversary of Afro Clean Block. At the event, the late congressman Elijah Cummings spoke about his time as an AFRO paperboy and how that experience shaped his career aspirations and work ethic. Several former “clean blockers” were honored, as well.