Garland Journal by Cheryl Smith

VOL XVIII ISSUE 20 MAY 15, 2019

MY TRUTH Cheryl Smith Publisher

Celebrating Women

I talked to one of my mother’s best friends over the weekend. I always check on her and a few others because they now get the Mother’s Day calls that I can’t make to my mother. Virginia is really sweet. While there are other friends I can recall who Mother had known since she was a teenager, Virginia is someone she met and they would hang out together for decades until my mother’s passing in 2014. My mother and Virginia went to church at the historic New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. They attended events with other senior citizens, were active in the National Council of Negro Women and the NAACP branches, and they had their regular “therapy” sessions in Atlantic City. Virginia even traveled with my mother to Dallas for the Don’t Believe the Hype Celebrity Bowl-a-thon around 2000. Then after Mother relocated to Dallas in 2012, Virginia returned to Dallas to spend quality time with her. They were friends til the end. I thank Virginia for being a friend to my mother and I will cherish and respect her forever. You see, I’m so glad that I have friends of my mother who I respect and can talk to. Her friends help me, especially during those times when all I can do is breathe heavily and say a prayer. Which brings me to my truth. About 29 years ago, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price introduced me to Vera English. A very stylish woman, Vera was an entrepreneur. The owner of Pink Palace, a beauty salon in Oak Cliff, Vera has won

Virginia Magee

QUIT PLAYIN’

By Vincent L. Hall

An abundance of hope

Hope is a rare and rich commodity these days. With “Deranged Donald” in the White House and with solid evidence that the Republicans have just been using “Law and Order” as a branding strategy, dystopia seems much closer than America ever thought it could be. Former President Barack Hussein Obama made a ton on

Hope. “The Audacity of Hope” was published by then-Senator-elect Obama and skyrocketed. Not only was it a bestseller, it sold us on his acumen and his ability. Hope ain’t no joke. Obama probably borrowed the book title and the idea from his former pastor; Jeremiah Wright Jr., whose 1990 sermon of the same title, was published

in full text and transcript, after Obama’s book hit. Listen to the beauty of “Daddy J.” “And that is what the audacity to hope will do for you. The apostle Paul said the same thing. “You have troubles? Glory in your trouble. We glory in tribulation.” We glory in tribulation See QUIT PLAYIN, page 5

Call him “DOCTOR”

Once considered at-risk, former Texas charter school student receives Doctorate Degree and returns to high school to deliver graduation address

Dr. George Lewis, a 2008 graduate of Evolution Academy Charter, will return to inspire current graduates at the 2019 graduation ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 7 p.m. at Curtis Culwell Center, 4999 Naaman Forest Blvd, Garland, TX 75040. When George Lewis first walked through the doors at Evolution Academy, he was just

Dr. George Lewis

16 years old and in search of an alternative to the traditional high school setting that would allow him the flexibility to complete

his high school education, while also working to help provide for See DOCTOR, page 3

Paul Quinn College

CLASS of 2019 Story and Photos By Dorothy J. Gentry

Vera English numerous hair competitions and when I need my hair/scalp taken care of, I go see her. But then again, I go see her for more than hair treatment. Vera, much like my mother’s friend, Virginia, is a source of inspiration, support, guidance and love. She speaks truth to power, and more importantly, truth to my heart. I don’t worry about whether or not she is telling the truth or whether she has a hidden agenda, or an ulterior motive. I know that Vera is the real deal. Like my mother and Virginia, Vera loves to dress! She loves to be color-coordinated and yes, she can top off the most stylish outfit with a hat. That hat or headpiece notwithstanding, Vera always made sure that should it blow off See MY TRUTH, page 5

focus on STEM initiatives and helping underserved youth. “Paul Quinn College has given me valuable work experience and helped me to learn new and different lessons in life.”

of short time was filled to capacity. Those in attendance waited to hear the names of Victoria Bryant booked her their loved ones called and plane ticket, packed her bags to hear the commencement and came all the way from speaker, Beto O’Rourke. California to Paul Quinn O’Rourke, 2020 College so she could Presidential Candidate gain the experience of and former U.S. attending an HBCU. Congressman, is no “The value of stranger to the HBCU. attending an HBCU is Saturday was his third trip in its roots, the culture, to the Paul Quinn campus it’s background and how over the last two years. the colleges began back He spoke at the opening in the 1800s,” she said. of Paul Quinn’s Summer “Students attending Bridge Program last them learn how to rely year and returned to the on themselves, but also campus six months later how to uplift their peers to hold a town hall with that surround them – no students and the southern matter the race - on a Dallas community. daily basis so they’ll be “It is an all-time honor more ready to enter the to return to the Paul President Michael Sorrell and Presidential real world and network.” Quinn College and join Candidate Beto O'Rourke Bryant was one of the inspiring graduating 60 graduating as part of the Early morning class who continues to be our Class of 2019 at Saturday’s thunderstorms threatened example of the leadership, 143rd Commencement to rain on their parade, but power and joy we see in young Convocation of Paul Quinn couldn’t. The festivities, which people across America who are College. She graduated with were slated to be held outdoors, already guiding us on every a Bachelor of Arts in Business were quickly relocated to the See PAUL QUINN, page 6 Administration and plans to gymnasium, which in a matter

WORDZ OF WILSON By Chelle Luper Wilson

More Pain than Joy for Black Mothers

EDITOR’S NOTE: Although Mother’s Day has passed, this piece by Ms. Luper Wilson is so poignant and relevant, we had to share it with our Garland Journal readers! The pages of history are flooded with the tears of Black mothers. Another Mother’s Day. I keep thinking about the mothers for whom this year’s celebration was a tragic reminder of life lost too soon. I remember Ashley Wright and Mamie Jackson, mothers of Raniya Wright and Kashala Francis, respectively. Both girls died following fights at their schools. Both girls were jumped by another, or as in Kashala’s case others (plural). Neither was the aggressor. Raniya was just 10 and Kashala 13. Somehow, both deaths were determined to be the result of natural causes—one an undiagnosed brain tumor and the other a ruptured blood vessel inside the brain. I have so many questions. So many. How can no connection be made between their death and the fights, especially considering the brutality of it all? Those who watched describe these girls getting stomped in the head… having their head slammed into a wall and a metal bookcase. Why did so many watch? Why didn’t anyone help? I remember Camika Shelby. “Nigel was the sweetest child,” Shelby said as news of her son’s death went viral. “He was sunshine. He was just a great spirit to have around and it just breaks my heart because I feel like he had so much more love to give.” In every picture that I’ve seen of Nigel, I could see the sunshine radiating from his big, bright, and beautiful smile. His mother said he was bullied for being gay which presumably led to Nigel taking his own life. She doesn’t want him remembered as “a kid that was bullied,” she said. “He was sunshine.” What will Mother’s Day be like this year for Ashley Wright, Mamie Jackson, and Camika Shelby? Each saw their child as they truly were—beautiful, kind, and filled with potential. To their mothers, their lives were valuable and precious, but seemingly to society our children’s lives are worthless and disposable. No one was held accountable in any of their deaths. Not those who attacked Raniya and Kashala. Not those who bullied Nigel. Not those who stood and watched. Not those who saw the teasing, taunts, the psychological and physical bullying; yet said and did nothing. I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman? Sojourner Truth The pages of history are flooded with the tears of Black mothers. Recently, attention has been brought to the disparities in Black maternal health. Not only are Black mothers dying at three to four times the rate of white mothers, the infant mortality rate of Black babies is higher now than it was in 1850. So far, numerous studies have shown that race is not the factor in these disparities; however, studies do show that racism is. Black women live within an unrelenting matrix of systems, people, and policies designed to support the violent domination of Black bodies. Without leaving our own backyards, we see the effects right here. The images of L’Daijohnique Lee being viciously beaten by a white man repeating every hour on the news for weeks. Then, the attempted charge on Lee for, I’m not even sure of what, perhaps because she’s a Black woman who fought back? In the recent release of the 911 call made by See WORDZ, page 6

GARLAND JOURNAL - MAY 15, 2019

Thursday, May 16, 2019 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Ride DART to the Older Americans Month Information & Health Fair

OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

CO N N E C T, CR E AT E , C O N T R I B UT E MAY

Centennial Hall in Fair Park Green Line to Fair Park Station

2019

GET REWARDED FOR RIDING.

Plus, health screenings, entertainment, giveaways and more!

Simply present your valid DART pass to receive a special prize. Plus, DART will recognize the center or organization that brings the most seniors on DART.

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CONNECT, CREATE, CONTRIBUTE

GRADUATION CEREMONIES

Around GARLAND

shine, Alternative location in the event of bad weather will be held at Divine Peace Church. Info email: downtownrwa@gmail.com

May 16 & 23

Jazz in The Square at Downtown Square Garland 502 W. State St. 7pm. -FREE- 2 Night Event: Thursday May 16 & 23 Music, Arts & Coffee - Downtown Garland Square**May 16: Garland High School & Sachse High School - Jazz Ensembles **May 23: Texas Instruments Jazz Band Experience a laid back, relaxing evening in beautiful Downtown Garland while soaking in the soothing sounds of Jazz. There is no admission fee. You don’t want to miss it! This is a free event, fun for the whole family! Bring your chairs and blankets for this cool jazz series in the square. Contact Info Special Events Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts 634 Apollo Road Garland.

May 17 -18 Food Pantry Weekend/Almacen De Comida at Sonja’s Helping Hands of Garland 10am. Not only do we serve Garland Community but all DFW. Know a family in need or yourself? We will be providing Food until we run out. No need to bring any documents, we ask for basic household information. Volunteers and Donations are always accepted. Want to make a difference? Bring in as many can goods that you can. No families’ deserve to go hungry. God bless!

May 17

May 23

Above and Beyond Productions presents “Leola Gross’ Forget Me Not” at Plaza Theater 521 W. State St. Garland 4-6pm. Back by popular DEMAND, Above & Beyond Productions presents “Leola Gross’ Forget Me Not” one of the most anticipating stage plays in Dallas/Garland. This story will keep you entertained from the beginning to the end. Joy and Brenda are sisters whose mother is dealing with the deadly disease, ALZHEIMER’S. As we all know, Alzheimer’s is no laughing matter but this play will have you laughing, crying, getting upset and hopefully praying for the family. This story isn’t just about Alzheimer’s. After the show be prepared to meet the writer and the talented actors of this great and exciting play. We’ll even sign your playbill. The Stem Workshop at Dymensions Educations 8105 Rasor Blvd. Ste. #273 Plano. 2-4pm. Come join the world of engineering as we journey into Electromagnetics. You as an engineer will design and build your own personal speaker to play your favorite song. Tickets: Eventbrite.com

May 19

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Experience at Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront 2025 Summer Tree Dr. 6-9pm. Enjoy an evening of craft beers and exceptional BBQ - prepared by visiting chefs from around the country! The Hilton Rockwall is proud to present its inaugural Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Weekend Experience. The weekend begins with a casual tasting of over 20 craft beers and BBQ prepared by some of the country’s finest chefs - including Chef Gregory Barnhill previously of the AAA Five Diamond Boulders Resort, Chef Jeffrey Ault of the AAA Four Diamond Bavarian Inn & Lodge in Shepherdstown, WV and Rockwall’s own Award-Winning Josh Deaton of Sideways BBQ. Also joining us will be Chef Brent Wertz one of the nation’s Top Chef’s and a recognized expert in beer pairing and cooking with beer! A live country band will ensure a lip-smacking good time! VIP Ticket Holders will have access to a unique flight of Craft Bourbons, seating in the Heirloom Kitchen and BBQ prepared by Hilton Chef Gabriel Robles.Eventbrite.com.

May 18

Mardi Gras in May Block Party at The Shops at Willow Bend 6121 W. Park Blvd. Plano. 7:30-10pm. Who says Mardi Gras season is over?? It’s never too late to party Louisiana-style. Join Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau and Plano Magazine at The District at The Shops at Willow Bend. This free, family-friendly, outdoor event will bring Louisiana vibes with live music by Shreveport jazz band Alter Ego, beads and King Cake for everyone, plenty of dancing, a chance to win door prizes, plus a cash bar. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of summer. The Mardi Gras in May Block Party happens the same night as the Plano Magazine Beer Walk inside The Shops at Willow Bend. So if you want to get the party started a little early, you can buy a $14 ticket to the Beer Walk at planobeerwalk.com. The Beer Walk is a craft beer sampling event with over 30 different craft brews, and guests under the age of 21 are also welcome to visit the shops alongside those participating in the Beer Walk.

May 26

H.A.T.S. Off Hair Attachment Training Systems at Hair by Jimmie salon & Spa 425 W. I 30, Garland. 10-4pm. Learn the techniques of hair replacement. How to measure, create, order, fit, apply, repair, remove, cut and paste or puzzle to the needs of the client. Filing with insurance, starter kit included and a unit and Certificate of Mastery to display. Tickets: www. schedulicity.com.

Summer Daze at Holford Recreation Center2314 Homestead Pl. 6-8pm. Join us for Summer Daze at Holford Recreation Center, 2314 Homestead Place, for a chance to see program demonstrations, meet with instructors, play games, enjoy refreshments, and take home program information. Stay for the Lawn chair Theater movie in the park, featuring “The Greatest Showman” beginning at dusk. For more information Holford Recreation Center 972-205-2772.

Women of Excellence – Creating Generational Wealth at Garland Convention & Recreation Center 1931 Centerville Rd. 3-8pm. Tickets: www. cacgrowth.ticketspice. com. Women learning to be excellent in all aspects of their life starting with becoming financial literate and stable. This event that will ignite future and current women entrepreneurs to their highest potential featuring dynamic speakers with incredible personal and professional stories that will inspire, empower, uplift and educate you. LEARN how to GROW, PROTECT, BRAND, NETWORK and get the RESULTS you’re looking for as future or current women entrepreneurs. LEARN How To:Generate New Streams of Income Eliminate Debt Effectively Start A Business Effectively Brand Your Future or Current Business Protect Your Family and Business.

Hometown Farm to Feast at Downtown Rockwall Hwy 205 & Hwy 66 7-9pm. Join us for the 7th Hometown Farm to Feast event. Dine under the stars in the Plaza. Farm to Feast event held by the Downtown Rockwall Association. Produce provided by our infamous Farmers Market vendors and prepared by our talented Chefs of our local downtown restaurants. Menu will be seasonal and is to be determined. Water, Tea and Coffee will be provided, BYOB. Tickets are $75 per person, limited seating, and tickets can be purchased in downtown Rockwall at either Enjoy (kitchen shop) or The Mint Julep both located in downtown Rockwall on San Jacinto St & Goliad St. Ticket sales go directly to benefit downtown. The funds raised will be used for events and other wish list items including music, building lighting, and more. This event will take place rain or

Lemonade Lounge Soulful Sunday Brunch at Lemonade Lounge 1411 E. Campbell Rd. #1200 Richardson 124pm. Enjoy a delicious SOUL FOOD STYLED BRUNCH while jamming to your favorite tunes & live entertainment and sipping on mimosas. The brunch menu alternates weekly. Weekly taste all of the different SOULFUL menu options. Arrive early to taste all the menu options. https://www.thelemonadelounge.com/brunchandevents

Memorial Pathway Academy Lakeview Centennial High School Naaman Forest High School North Garland High School Sachse High School Rowlett High School South Garland High School Garland High School

05/30/2019 05/30/2019 05/31/2019 05/31/2019 05/31/2019 06/01/2019 06/01/2019 06/01/2019

4 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 a.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 9 a.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m.

Graduation ceremonies will be held at the Curtis Culwell Center for all GISD high schools.

Directions: -From North Garland Avenue, turn east onto Naaman Forest Blvd, one block south of George Bush Turnpike. -From Lavon Drive (Hwy 78), turn west onto Naaman Forest Blvd. Parking will be available at the Curtis Culwell Center and Naaman Forest High School. For your convenience, there will be a shuttle from the Naaman Forest High School parking lot to the Curtis Culwell Center entrance. Rules for entry: Tickets are required for admission. Graduation tickets are distributed to seniors at their home campus. Appropriate dress is required. Come dressed for the ceremony. No changing facilities No outside food or drink will be allowed. Water, soda and light snacks will be available through the Curtis Culwell Center concessions. To ensure guest safety and a quicker entry into the facility, the Curtis Culwell Center has implemented a bag policy limiting the size and type allowed at ceremonies. Bag searches All bags/purses will be inspected for safety purposes. Only bring items you are willing to have checked. Types of allowed bags - While the CCC encourages guests not to bring bags if possible, the following are permissible: Clear tote - plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" Plastic storage bag - Clear one (1) gallon, re-sealable Small clutch size - approximately the size of a hand with or without a handle or strap. No larger than 6.5" and 4.5" with or without a handle or strap Medically necessary items Clear bags measuring 7" x 5" x 8" will be provided at the front entrance for guests who need them. Do not bring items such as: Food or Beverages, Weapons of any kind (including pocket knives), Tobacco, Alcohol, Fireworks, Monopods and tripods, Flowers purchased outside of the Curtis Culwell Center, Gift bags, balloons, beach balls, Frisbees, bubbles, silly string, glitter, confetti, or laser pens, Pets/Animals, Posters, signs, banners, placards, or mortarboards, Bullhorns, air horns, or any artificial noisemakers, Glitter, confetti, rice or birdseed, Wrapped gifts, Umbrellas, Smoking The Curtis Culwell Center is a drug and alcohol-free facility

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Lupus Month Older Americans Month May 20-26 Restaurant Week

Recurring Events

Older Americans Month Health Fair at Centennial Hall in Fair Park 10am-1pm. Register: www.Dart.org/seniors. Questions call 214-749-2582. Judge Dominique Collins Re-Election Kickoff Criminal District Court 4 Host: Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. at Park City Club 6956 Sherry Ln. Ste. #1700, Dallas. 5-7:30pm. Forum with Dallas Mayoral Runoff Candidates at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church5144 Dolphin Rd. Tickets: Eventbrite.com. 6-8pm. All New Thursdays Ladies Night Soulful Soundz at Vinetti’s –14833 Midway Rd. Addison 5pm-12am. Free Cover.

Wordspace: Africa Diaspora – Roger Reeves at South Dallas Cultural Center 3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave. 7:30pm. Free

May 17-18

May 18 IHCC Hora De Poder at Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 135 S. Jefferson St. Irving. 9-11am. www.IrvingHCC.com. Women Winning Emerging at Ft. Worth Botanic Gardens 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. 9:30am. Tickets: Eventbrite.com. Malcolm X Fest, We Who Believe In Liberation/Unfinished Business at Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 Wheatland Rd. 11am-7pm. Tickets: Eventbrite. Trap Daiq & Bounce Party at Tipsy Tuesday Daiquiri Shoppe 247 N. Hampton Rd. DeSoto. 7-10pm. Tickets: 214-296-7355. To The Bridge All White at To The Bridge Dance Series 109 Continental Ave. Dallas. 4-7pm. For The Love Of Neo Soul Open Mic Dallas Edition at Sway’s Room 921 W. Belt Line Rd. DeSoto. 8pm. Elephant Room Day Brunch Dance at Daytime Event Venue 4791 S. Buckner Blvd. Dallas. 2-6pm. Info: 214-245-6241.

May 19

Feeding The Needy Hosted by: Hollywood Hernandez Live 1698 Corsicana St. Dallas. 3-5pm. Sundays

India Are The Worthy Tour at The Theatre at Grand Prairie 1000 Performance Pl. 6:30pm.

Marvelous Marriage Monday’s at Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. Dallas. 7-8:30pm 1st & 3rd Monday Info: covent@friendshipwest.org. Summer Enrichment Camp at Bishop Arts Theatre 215 Tyler St. Dallas, 7am-5pm. 06-3 - 07-25, 2019, ages 6-12. Enroll: Tiffany Jackson 214-948-0716 ext. 307 education@bishopartstheatre.org Qualified Home- Builders Needed City of Dallas HIPP Contact: City’s Home Repair; 214-670-3644 Bids: housinginspections@dallascityhall.com. Now until Sept. 2019

May 15 Neighborhood Legal Clinic at Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 W Wheatland Rd. Dallas 5:30-7:30pm.

Unmasked Women Presents: Before The Mask Host: Creeping Vines Online at African American Museum 3536 Grand Ave. Dallas, 2pm-6pm. Tickets: Eventbrite.com Jazz at The Muse Café Satin Dolls Concert at TBAAL 1309 Canton St. Fri. & Sat. 9pm. Tickets: 214-743-2400.

May 17- 19 Spring Celebration Dallas Black Dance Theatre at Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre 2400 Flora St. Dallas 7:30pm.

May 17 Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time Tour at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 300 Las Colinas Blvd. Irving. 8pm.

The Ladies of Justice presents a Women2Women & Kids Evening Social Host: Legal Shield at Fairfield Inns & Suites 409 N. Clark Rd. Cedar Hill. 6-8:30pm.

Friendship-West Presents: Friday Night L.I.T. Hosted by: Singles Community 25 & up Location Narthex 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. 7-9pm.

Cardio Hip Hop with JessieMae at LC Fitness 901 N. Polk St. #370. DeSoto. 6:30pm. Mon. & Wed. Info: www.jcfitness.info.

DFW HBCU Skate Night at Southern Skates Roller Rink 2939 E. Ledbetter Dr. 7pm-12am. Tickets: Eventbrite.

The Real James Bond was Dominican Regional Premier at Bishop Arts Theatre 215 S. Tyler St. Info 214-948-0716 & times.

Lunch & Learn Dream; Plan; Act at Meadows Conference Center 2900 Live Oak St. 11:30am-1pm. Tickets: www.event.r20. constantcontact.com.

May 16

90’s & 2000’s Hip-Hop-R&B Party at Foundation Room 2200 N. Lamar St. 10pm-2am. Fridays

Betty Carter born in 1929 - Grammy Jazz Singer “Godmother of Jazz”

Happy Hour with Don Diego at Chocolate Lounge Exclusive 4222 W. Camp Wisdom Rd. 6-8pm. Fridays

Soul Jazz Thursday’s w/ Vandell Andrew at Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave. Dallas. 8pm-12am.

Too Much Woman Host: LeTitia Owens at Granada Theatre 3524 Greenville Ave. Dallas, Fri. 7-10pm. Tickets: www.granadatheatre.com.

Poetry Smash at TBAAL 1309 Canton St. 7:30-9pm. Tickets: 214743-2400.

Maximize Your 501c3 Master Class I at Jefferson Boardwalk Complex 1901 Kingsbridge Rd. (Lakeside Lounge Bldg. 4/Level 2) Farmers Branch. 3-6pm. RSVP Info: at Office 469-730-3621. Arlington Black Chamber’s Diversity Women’s Business Brunch at Brickhouse Lounge 2525 E. Arkansas Ln. 11am-2pm. RSVP at Eventbrite.com

Arlington Regional Connect – Your Business & Finance at Shady Valley Country Club 4001 W. Park Row Dr. 111pm. Tickets: www.events.r20.constantcontact.com.

May 18-19 Dallas Ultimate Women’s Expo at Irving Convention Center Las Colinas 500 Las Colinas Blvd. W. 10am Sat. & 11am. Sun. Tickets: www.dfwwomensexpo.com.

ENO – Entrepreneur’s Night Out at Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott 409 N. Clark, Cedar Hill. www.facebook.com. 6-9pm. Judge Monica Purdy Campaign Kickoff at Veronica & Richard Sayles 3930 Shorecrest Dr. Dallas. 6-8pm. RSVP: JudgePurdyCampaign@gmail.com

May 22 Further Jazz: Peter Brotzmann & Heather Lee at Wild Detectives 314 W. 8th St. 7-10:30pm. Eventbrite.com Community Action Day at South Dallas Cultural Center 3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave. 11am-2pm. Women of Distinction Host: Girls Scout of TX OK Plains Key Note Spkr: Pat Smith at Hurst Conference Center 1601 Campus Dr. 11:30am-1. Tickets: www.interland3.donorperfect.net Wednesdays Swing Dance Class at Allure Jazz & Cigar Lounge 110 S. Cockrell Hill, DeSoto. 7:30pm-9:30pm. Instructor: Lady Champagne. Free before 8pm. Women of the West Bible Study at Friendship West Baptist Church 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. Wednesdays at 7pm.

May 23-24 Women’s Conference 2019 at Believers International Ministries 716 Garza St. Dallas. 7:30pm

May 23 Breakfast at the BAC “Collections…and we’re not talking fashion… at Fort Worth Business Assistance Center 1150 South Fwy. 7:30-9am. RSVP at Eventbrite.com. 410 Line Dancers Thursday Class DFW Sports Garden 1850 E. Beltline Rd. Coppell. 7-9pm. Info: www.410linedancers.com

James “Cool Papa” Bell Base Player born in 1903

Social Media Success 2019 Guide at Bill J. Priest Small Business Innovation Center 1402 Corinth St. #1530B Hoblitzell Auditorium 9:30am. RSVP: Dir. Rose Blair: www.rblair@dcccd.ed.

May 16-19

Unique Visions Bridal Expo 2019 at Upscale Event Center 324 S. Hampton Rd. DeSoto. 3pm-7pm.

Karaoke Night $2 Tuesday’s at Hero’s Lounge 3094 N. 35 Fwy. Dallas. 7pm-2am. Tickets: eventbrite.com.

Wine & Hip Hop Feat: Camille Thompson at Checkered Past Winery 1409 S. Lamar St. #008, Dallas. 7-9pm. Eventbrite.com

May 24 DFW/ABJ Spring Networking Mixer at Butlers Brothers Bar 1710 Young St. Dallas. 2-5pm. RSVP at 214-941-0110.

May 20

Lincoln University Chartered in 1855 1st U.S. Black College in Oxford, PA.

Armed Forces Day

Our Music Fourth Friday Concert Presented by: Lyric Stage at DeSoto Corner Theatre 211 E. Pleasant Run. 7pm.

Willow Grove Baptist Church Grief Counseling at 1222 W. Kiest Blvd. Info, Kim Fincher 214-371-7325. 5:30-7pm.

Head Wraps and Head Shots at Grow DeSoto Market Place. 324 E. Beltline Rd. DeSoto. 6-8pm. www.brandisdiary.com.

Cardio Hip Hop with JessieMae at LC Fitness 901 N. Polk St. Ste. #370. DeSoto. 6:30pm. Info: www.jcfitness.info.

African Liberation Day; An Instrument to help organize our people at Pan African Connection 4466 s. Marsalis Ave. 7-9pm.

Monday Jazz Happy Hour w/ The Willis Duo at The Balcony Club 1825 Abrams Rd. Ste. #B, Dallas 6-8pm. Free

Absolut Power Women Empowering Women Special Guest Speaker: Shavonda Fields at Stemm Studios 1499 Regal Row Ste. #505. 10-2am.

May 21- June 8 Protect Yourself-Defense Class at Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 Wheatland Rd. Tue. & Thur. at 7pm.

May 21 Paul Edward Winfield born 1939 in Los Angles California

The Jazz Jam at Jazz BeCuzz Art Center 9319 LBJ Fwy. Ste. #120. Tickets: via Eventbrite.com. 7pm.

May 25 Bill “Bo jangles” Robinson a Vaudeville dancer Born 1878

Beards & Bowties Fashion Show & After Party at Athletic Zone 423 Singleton Blvd. Dallas. 7-10pm. Tickets: www. instaseats.com Kandi Koated Entertainment Presents: Welcome to the Dungeon at The Bomb Factory 2713 Canton St. 9pm. Tickets: via www.ticketfly.com

GARLAND JOURNAL - MAY 15, 2019

How Good is Trump’s Economy BY HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON CONGRESSWOMAN

President Trump, his supporters and those host of a reality television show. who praise him and his policies are quick to One of the things that are not emphasized by point out that the nation’s jobless rate has fallen the president when he talks about the nation’s to 3.6 percent. economy is that jobs in retail are taking a beating, My answer to their praise of the they are consistently falling. president is not so fast! The jobless They continue to decline rate may be low, but one of the because people are more likely reasons for its current state is that to pay for food and shelter before many people in our society have they go on shopping binges. stopped looking for employment. They simply do not have the These are the forgotten extra cash, and their credit cards Americans who have been pushed are over their limits. beyond the margins of our society, The reality is that if you are whose families have not benefited extraordinarily wealthy in Trump’s President Trump from the Trump tax cuts and world, the economic direction and whose futures are bleak because of policies of this administration are the economic direction that Mr. Trump seems great for you! to favor. But if you are one of the forgotten people, The president prefers a course that promotes which consist of the vast majority of the income inequality and one that leaves the middle American public, you are an afterthought, if class and the poor in economic darkness, forcing that. Your economic realities are simply not a them to travel upstream in boats without engines concern for this administration. while the rich pass them in luxury liners without Yet you are told that the unemployment rate any concern for their condition or their futures. is low, and that is supposed to make you joyous. Those who delight in the history of job growth Well, Mr. President that does not cut it since President Trump was elected need to be if your hourly wage is $8.00 or if you are a reminded that job growth has been on a record college-trained public school teacher who has incline for the past eight years, dating back to to purchase supplies for his or her students with the time when President Obama and his team of funds from your pocket. advisors led our nation. Yes, the jobless rate is low under this So, the Trump supporters need not be so administration. But the compassion rate is even quick in suggesting that the president pulled a lower. rabbit out of his hat. In fact, job growth was And only when the latter is corrected, will the occurring when the current president was the jobless rate will soar!

Women’s Leadership Summit set for June The Women’s Lead-ership Summit (WLS), a two-day personal and professional development program pre-sented by the University of North Texas at Dallas, will return Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15 at the Statler Hilton Hotel downtown, officials announced recently. Navigating the Path to Success is targeted to African American women. Over 200 people are expected to attend. A Host Committee, chaired by retired State Representative Helen Giddings, is comprised of a cross section of women leaders who have developed a series of interactive workshops and speakers to specifically help women address various personal and professional issues. “Recognizing African American women leaders in the Dallas area, their accomplishments and their struggle are significant. The women attending WLS are leaders in their own right. “They already have a sphere of influence. WLS offers a safe environment to learn, share, grow, and speak our truths and in the process maximize our leadership influence. Sharing thoughts with those who may have similar experiences

Helen Giddings

related to their growth and development is what this summit is all about,” said Giddings, who conceived the idea, recruited the host committee and was able to get the University of North Texas at Dallas to be a partner to the effort last year. Featured speakers include retired NASA Astronaut Joan Higginbotham, Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Dr. Courtney Phillips, Royce Brooks, Executive Director of Annie’s List, BBVA Senior Executive Rosilyn Houston, President and CEO of Excellent Care Management Deavra Daughtry among others will highlight the gathering. A special tribute to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice

Johnson and 100-year-old Mary Factory (our own Hidden Figure), who has been cited by NASA for her work, will take place during the summit. “A most celebrated part of UNT Dallas’ vision is community connectedness, and we could not be more pleased than to co-host this second annual esteemed summit with Helen Giddings and her great Host Committee to illustrate the value of serving key members of our community,” says Dr. Monica Williams, President of the UNT Dallas Foundation and Vice President for University Advancement at UNT Dallas. “Their respective impact on the African-American community closely aligns with our vision to be a pathway to social and economic mobility.” Registration is limited and currently open at a cost of $150 per participant. To register, go online to www.wlsummit.org. The lead sponsors of the summit are BBVA Compass, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Capital Bank, Texas Central Partners, Frost Bank and Methodist Hospital System. Other sponsors include VisitDallas, Comerica Bank and Chase Bank among others.

We Must Be Change Agents The Tri-Cities NAACP is striving to uphold and achieve the mission of the NAACP which is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. We embrace this mission and charge, as we continue to serve the communities of Southern Dallas County. The NAACP has established six Game Changers to address the major areas of inequality facing African Americans that are the focus of the NAACP’s work. Our initiatives for the 21st century are summarized by its six “Game Changers”: Economic Sustainability Education Health Public Safety and Criminal Justice Voting Rights and Political Representation Expanding Youth and Young Adult Engagement Now, in order for the Tri-

TRICITIES NAACP BY JANIS E. DUNN Cities unit of the NAACP to effectively implement the Game Changers, we must have Change Agents. A change agent, or agent of change, is someone who promotes and enables change to happen within any group or organization. It is time for us all to become Change Agents. If we are going to help our communities, fight for justice and social equality we must be Agents of Change. This means we have to advocate for those in our community that need our assistance, it means we are the one's that education the community about mental health and physical wellness, it is our responsibility to raise our youth in our community, and to engage the next generation of leaders. It is up to us to be

Change Agents. Tri-Cities NAACP, we are called to be the Change Agents of the communities we serve. If we are going to make a dynamic impact and positive change in our communities, We must be Vocal, Visible, and Vigilant. One way to ensure this is to increase our membership. Remember that the Members are the lifeforce of the NAACP. We welcome our new members and encourage you to get active within our unit. For those who have not yet join, come out and find your place with us. We can no longer sit and accept the status Quo. We must become Agents of Change. Janis E. Dunn is President of the Tri - Cities NAACP

Doctor returns home continued from front page

his family. He found just that at Evolution Academy. While attending Evolution Academy, he excelled as a dual credit student, taking advantage of the school’s partnership with Richland Community College. Upon graduation, he initially pursued a career in the music industry, but eventually decided to continue his education at Texas Southern University in Houston. Excelling academically in college, he was awarded a full scholarship as a Louis Stokes Association for Minority Participation scholars. He also received awards from NASA as a Center of BioNanotechnology and Research (NASA C-BER) Scholar and The Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program for his oncology research focused on breast cancer. He represented Texas Southern University in several leadership roles, most notably as Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association and as President of Collegiate 100 Black Men. While in college, he became a member of the Delta Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. He went on to graduate from Texas Southern University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. After undergrad, Dr. Lewis was accepted into the number two pharmacy school in the country at the University of Illinois at Chicago to pursue his Doctor of Pharmacy

degree. While at UIC, he served as President and Vice President of his class. He also completed three more research projects, which were magnified in one of the leading industry publications; Journal of American Pharmacist Association. Just this week, Dr. Lewis was awarded his Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is excited to return to his alma mater, to share his journey of overcoming, persistence and success with 120 graduates of the Evolution Academy. “We are so proud of Dr. George Lewis and all that he has accomplished,” said Cynthia Trigg, superintendent and founder of Evolution Academy. “We work hard to provide an environment that meets our students where they are and gives them the resources they need to succeed. Like many of the students who walk through our doors, George just needed an encouraging environment that would allow him to succeed in the classroom and work to earn money at the same time.” Evolution Academy is a public charter high school system and dropout recovery center. Founded in 2002, Evolution Academy offers oneon-one attention with a mix of traditional and computerbased instruction, which enables students to earn 2 or more credit hours every nine weeks, allowing them to catch up or graduate early. The main campus in Richardson includes

a science lab, fitness center and wellness program, piano lab, culinary arts program, fullservice cafeteria and a stateof-the-art music studio where students can write and produce music. The school also offers multiple career and technical education courses that prepare students for certificates in professional fields. Students who enroll also receive DART bus passes provided by Evolution Academy, so they won’t have to worry about how to get to school. At all three campuses, Evolution Academy offers a flexible school day schedule, where students can enroll in a four-hour morning or afternoon session. Since inception, Evolution Academy has taken an innovative approach to educating youth. To date, Evolution Academy has graduated more than 3000 students, many of whom were unsuccessful in traditional school settings. Like Dr. George Lewis, Evolution Academy graduates have gone on to graduate from some of the top colleges and universities in the country, enlist in military service and embark on productive careers in the workforce. Evolution Academy has campuses in Richardson, Beaumont and Houston, Texas and has open enrollment yearround on all three campuses. Students can enroll online at www.evolutionacademy.org or visit one of the campuses to enroll in person.

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THE LAST WORD By DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX Sixty-five years ago, the Supreme Court ruled, in the Brown v. Board of Education case, that the Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) doctrine of â&#x20AC;&#x153;separate but equalâ&#x20AC;? was unconstitutional. That ruling ended legal segregation in public facilities, but it did not necessarily accomplish its goals in terms of school desegregation. Indeed, Richard Rothstein, the historian who is a Distinguished Fellow at the Economic Policy Institute and at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, wrote that in 2014, Black students are â&#x20AC;&#x153;more racially and socioeconomically isolatedâ&#x20AC;? than at any time since 1970, when this data was first available. After Brown passed, there were some integration gains, through bussing and magnet schools, but the South resisted Brown because a second case ordered desegregation â&#x20AC;&#x153;with all deliberate speed,â&#x20AC;? which was a euphemism for taking your sweet time. I attended a segregated school in Moss Point, Mississippi in 1969, fifteen years after the passage of Brown v. Board of Education. In 2016, Cleveland, Mississippi finally closed its segregated Black high school and renamed Cleveland High

School, the white school, Cleveland Central High School. Now, the district is in court because a young Black woman was denied the salutatorian honors she earned so that a young white man, with a lower GPA, could have the honor. Yes, the Brown v. Board of Education case made history, but it was an imperfect tool to tackle racial inequities in the public school system, mainly because these inequities are anchored in residential patterns and funding sources. When schools are funded with property taxes, those who live in wealthier districts will simply have better education, perpetuating inequalities. It has been trendy to blame teachers for unequal education outcomes, even as these teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsibilities expand with increased regulation, test-taking, and unrealistic requirements around engagement with parents and others. A school district in South Carolina, for example, requires that teachers respond to parent emails within 24 hours. The burden of one teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1012-hour days became so onerous that she quit her teaching job in the middle

GARLAND JOURNAL - MAY 15, 2019

To commemorate Brown, support our Teachers

of the school year. Many questioned her commitment to children, but she fought fiercely to maintain her sanity and some semblance of a quality of life. Teaching is not supposed to be trench warfare. It is supposed to be joyful for both students and teachers. There is nothing more gratifying

than to watch children gleefully grasp a concept, read a page, solve a math problem, or give a speech. But that sense of gratification is diminished when bureaucracy chips the joy away, or when a teacher has to take on outside work to pay her bills. Teachers have made national headlines as they seek supplemental income, driving Uber or Lyft, moonlighting as food servers, taking on side jobs as tutors, and living two or three in an apartment meant

for one to save money. Those who teach really have to want to do it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they earn about a quarter less than their counterparts who have the same education, according to the Economic Policy Institute. We have been underpaying teachers for at least the last two decades! So, the nonsense we celebrated during the week of May 6, Teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Appreciation Week, is a charade. If you want to appreciate teachers, pay them! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer folks two for one burritos at Chipotle or other food fringes when what teachers need is fair pay. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give teachers apples and faux appreciation when the teachers who graciously accept your apples and recognition are hustling outside the classroom to make ends meet. Teachers are striking all over the country, even in places like West Virginia where we would least expect it because they are desperate to be valued. Paying them less than they are worth is disrespectful. Offering half price burritos and other nonsense is hypocrisy at its highest! Sixty-five years ago, the Supreme Court tackled the issue of segregation in our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school systems. The

Another Case of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s By Bill Fletcher, Jr.,

NNPA Newswire Contributor

When I looked at my email in-box this afternoon, I encountered one of those messages that I dread: yet another person I know has been institutionalized as a result of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The sadness conveyed by this personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partner was clear in their words. They had been together for decades. I could feel the loss. By coincidence, around the same time that I read this email I found myself looking at commentaries regarding Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget proposals. Drastic cuts in everything except for the military.

Though this may, at first glance, seem to have nothing to do with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, think again. Currently, Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is afflicting at least 6 million people in the USA; it is expected to expand to more than double that by the middle of the 21st century. Yet addressing Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appears to not be a priority of the White House. The implications of the increase in Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patients goes far beyond the personal loss and sadness experienced by families. We are talking about immense healthcare costs. As I have witnessed in my extended family, an individual who is otherwise healthy can suffer a long

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Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the former president of TransAfrica Forum. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and www.billfletcherjr.com. He recently published the mystery The Man Who Fell From the Sky.

and slow decline that can be not only

emotionally intolerable for all involved but immensely expensive, sometimes to the point of personal bankruptcy. Yet, this is not an affliction that the White House, to borrow from a recent article in STAT [â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like Nixonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;war on cancer,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; President Trump should open a war on Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;? https:// www.statnews.com/2019/02/05/ president-trump-should-open-war-onalzheimers/]. Fighting Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s necessitates significant financial investments in order to advance the development of possible treatments. This will not happen on its own and one cannot rely on the private market to invest.

Brown v. Board of education decision changed the law, but not the structure of racial gaps in education. And it did not foresee the many ways that those who deliver the educational product, our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachers, have been disrespected and disadvantaged by the structural indifference to classrooms that serve poor and Black students. Sixty-five years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the achievement gap is persistent. Our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealth gap is a function of that achievement gap, and the treatment of our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachers is connected to the wealth and achievement gap. When we commemorate Brown v. Board of Education, we must embrace the importance of adequately compensating teachers. In embracing our teachers, we support the children they are teaching and guiding. In ignoring issues of fair teacher compensation, we are utterly abandoning our children! Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist. Her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV is available on youtube.com. For booking, wholesale inquiries or for more info visit www.juliannemalveaux.com.

The private market is more often than not cowardly regarding investments until and unless they get a signal from government that there is a genuine interest in a possible direction. Many of my friends over the age of 50 dread the possibility that they may become victims of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. In each case most of us feel on our own in addressing this plague. We have seen it not only destroy individuals but take down entire families. It is well past time that the government make this a priority. Fighting Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vs. another weapon system we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need? Not a difficult choice.

Our Democracy is on the Line, Congress Must Act Now

By Derrick Johnson

NAACP President and CEO

While the debate whether President Trump obstructed justice should be over with the release of Special Counsel Robert Muellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report, unfortunately, it is not. In fact, it has just begun as Congress prepares to conduct exhaustive examinations into these breathtaking revelations. Given the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Attorney General Barrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempt to exonerate Trump is simply stunning. It is crystal clear that Trump interfered with the Mueller investigation. Even the redacted report contains a multitude of actions in which Trump obstructed justice in one of the most consequential investigations ever conducted regarding the state of our democracy. We warned the nation about Attorney General Barr when we opposed his confirmation to the position. We told the Senate that

William Barr â&#x20AC;&#x153;can never overcome the public perception that he endorsed Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to hold himself above the law. William Barr simply cannot serve as the independent leader our country needs at this critical time.â&#x20AC;? We were correct. Barrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lack of independence and Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obstruction raises critical questions about the rule of law. But this is also about the integrity and security of our democracy. Just as important in the Mueller report was the astounding disclosure that our country was subjected to a full-scale attack on our democratic process. Astonishingly, the Mueller report concluded that Russia â&#x20AC;&#x153;interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systemic fashion.â&#x20AC;? Russia intended to benefit and did in fact benefit Trump. We also know that the Trump campaign knew about Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistance and welcomed it with open arms. Russia helped Trump

win the presidency by manipulating voters, fomenting racial division, and targeting the African-American

Our NAACP

Derrick Johnson is the NAACP President and CEO

community to suppress voter turnout. Back in December 2018, we led a boycott of Facebook. We called upon Congress to conduct further investigations into Facebook after a report released for the Senate Intelligence Committee revealed that the Russian influence campaign

â&#x20AC;&#x153;made an extraordinary effort to target African-Americansâ&#x20AC;? using an array of tactics to suppress turnout among Democratic voters. Now, with the results of Robert Muellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report, the outrage should be palpable. Congress must fully investigate, take all appropriate action, and ensure the integrity and security of our democracy. This must be done with the urgency it requires. The 2020 election has already begun. Candidates are making pitches. Voting machines are being purchased. Yet our democracy is not safe from the external forces that want to cause us harm. Congress begins their examination and investigation without a full record, and completion of that record must be a top priority. The redacted report released by Attorney General William Barr falls woefully short of what is owed to Congress and to the American people. It shows that the Trump administration

is intent on hiding facts and covering its tracks. Mr. Barr should immediately release the complete Mueller report in unredacted, unedited, and unvarnished form. The American public deserves the truth. We are also troubled by Special Counsel Muellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision not to press for a subpoena or interview of Trump. Trump has caused infinite damage to the office of the presidency by impeding justice and subverting the rule of law. He should be called to answer and held accountable for his actions to harm our democracy. Our democracy is in a holding pattern. We need answers and we need them fast. The Trump administration has already harmed our civil rights in devastating ways, and it will take us years to recover. But we cannot, and must not, allow the foundations of our democracy to be undermined, knowing full well of the threat. This is our democracy, and we must act to protect it.

Confederate statues are a monument to what? By Sen. Royce West

Among the many discussions that are taking place in Aus-tin during this legislative session, it appears that a history lesson is still necessary for many, as a bill has been presented that would create more stringent guidelines for removing certain landmarks and historical markers. Sen. Royce West A bill authored by Texas State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) would, if approved, make it more difficult to remove Confederate monuments and markers from state-owned or leased property and also work to limit such decisions from being made at the local government level.

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According to Senate Bill 1663, two-thirds of members are needed from both legislative chambers to approve the removal, relocation or alteration of monuments or memorials that have been on state property for more than 25 years, while city or county monuments that have been up for at least 25 years could only be removed, relocated or altered if approved by a supermajority of the governing board. Also, monuments and memorials that have been around for less than 25 years can not be altered without approval from a state agency, state official or local government body, depending on who erected it. While Sen. Creighton seemed sincere in his expressions, I disagree that the removal or destroying of controversial

monuments is a "careless act" that would cause Texans to look back with regret because we are deleting history, rather than learning from it. I submit to you that when you consider the current times and events like what happened at Charlottesville, North Carolina, the Charleston, South Carolina church shooting and the many atrocities that continue to occur, some have not done a good job of learning from history and the heinous acts that were supported, condoned and perpetrated by many who now have monuments erected in their honor. Those who have brought harm to many under the banner of the Confederacy were not just fondly whistling Dixie. I stood proudly with the members of

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the Texas Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legislative Black Caucus, against Senate Bill 1663. I wanted a good faith effort made to involve everyone in the process and I shared those sentiments with Sen. Creighton, because our constituents need to be heard from.Â I also attempted to add an amendment that would have excluded Confederate monuments from Sen. Creightonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stringent bill. Â Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not alone in advocating for removing Confederate and other offensive symbols.Â Cities across the state and around the country are also grappling with this consistently polarizing issue. The debate also extends to the names of schools.Â Unfortunately, as is the case in Dallas, many of the schools named after members of the Confederacy have student

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bodies, the majority of which are the descendants of enslaved Africans. Something is wrong with this picture.Â Why this bill? Why now? What is the intended message? Even our youth speak out about the monuments and the messages that shared by those supporting their presence. While true that they are a painful chapter of our history, those featured on many of the monuments or landmarks should not be immortalized or celebrated.Â Yes, we are mindful of the past, but pray that it shall never be repeated.

Sen. Royce West was first elected to the Texas Senate in November 1992. Since taking office he has represented the 23rd Senatorial District on behalf of the citizens of Dallas County in the Texas Legislature.

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The Mueller Report: Blacks Better Be Careful By Raynard Jackson

NNPA Newswire Contributor

As I always say, “Weak people take strong positions on weak issues.” Exhibit A for this is the recently released Mueller report. Democrats have lost their damned minds over this report. They didn’t get the result they wanted, an indictment of President Trump, so they figured if they keep investigating, they will come up with something they can use to remove Trump from office. Mueller’s report was very clear, on both the accusations of collusion and obstruction, there was NOT sufficient evidence to bring charges in either circumstance! Period. End of sentence. Was there unflattering information about Trump and his aides in the report? Yes. Did Trump and some of his aides walk up to the line between legal and illegal? Yes. But, in our system of justice either you violated the law, or you didn’t, and Mueller clearly concluded that Trump and his aides did not cross the line. So, legally Trump and his aides are in the clear. Politically is where the problem is — for Democrats — especially Black Democrats. Let’s get one thing straight, Democrats don’t have the guts to actually file articles of impeachment against President Trump after Mueller has clearly stated there is not sufficient

evidence for him to bring any charges. Now radical liberal Democrat members of Congress like Maxine Waters and Al Green are running over each other demanding that the president be impeached. Hmmm, do you really want to go down that road? Let me paint a picture for you to consider. Jussie Smollett, the actor who concocted a fake story about being assaulted in Chicago, had all charges dismissed against him. Legally, like Trump, he is in the clear. In all probability, the U.S. Department of Justice is going to file federal charges against Smollett for mail fraud because he mailed a fake letter threatening himself but made it seem as though the letter was mailed by someone else. I can guarantee as clear as day that Waters and Green will be the first to claim that the Justice Department is only doing it because Smollett is Black, with absolutely no evidence to support their claim. But wait. Let me make sure I understand. Mueller found insufficient evidence to bring forward charges of collusion and obstruction against Trump, but Democrats say to hell with Mueller, we want impeachment. But, if and when something similar happens to a Black, then it is racist? I am through. I have a headache! The one takeaway for me in the

Mueller report that no one seems to be talking about is how the report made clear that, in America, we have two systems of justice. One for the rich and well connected (Jussie Smollett and Hillary Clinton),

VIEWPOINT Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF), a federally registered 527 super PAC established to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party.

and one for regular people like Pookie and LaQueesha. Russian intelligence knew how corrupt and vulnerable the Clinton’s were to their intelligence operations. They knew the Clinton’s loyalty was to money, not America. Every country — let me repeat — EVERY country, that has the means, spies and interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. I laid this out in a column I wrote two years ago titled, “Russia is Winning

the War for American Minds.” Americans, for the first time in history, have had a front row seat to a psychological operations campaign live and in living color, in real time. This, indeed, is unprecedented. So, to radical Black liberals, you better be careful! You didn’t like the results of the Mueller report, so you want to treat Trump as though he was indicted. When this happens to someone Black, remember you started it! In liberalism, intent is more important than results. As a matter of fact, that is the sole basis of liberalism not results. So, when white folks hold you to the same standard, please spare me your cries of racism! Democrats are in the process of ensuring the re-election of Donald Trump as president. They have provided absolutely no serious vision of where they want to take America. They have offered nothing but grandiose platitudes to the American people, especially to Blacks: reparations, DC statehood, etc. Have you noticed that not one Democrat candidate for president has mentioned anything about the killings going on in Chicago? Or the stagnant wages of the Black worker despite the phenomenal Trump economy for Blacks? They have spent more time talking about amnesty for the upwards of

30 million illegals because they are too ignorant to realize that when you increase cheap labor in the marketplace wages go down! The reason Democrats are obsessing about the Mueller report is because they have nothing of any substance by way of policy to offer the American people. The reaction by radical Black liberals to the Mueller report should serve as a cautionary tale for the Black community. There will be a “Black” version of Donald Trump and he will be subjected to the same treatment as our current president. When it happens just admit that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander; and it has nothing to do with race. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF), a federally registered 527 Super PAC established to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party. BAFBF focuses on the Black entrepreneur. For more information about BAFBF, visit www.bafbf.org. You can follow Raynard on Twitter @Raynard1223.

GOP, not Russia, is greater threat to free elections BY REVEREND JESSE LOUIS JACKSON, SR We all have heard about WikiLeaks and Russian interference in the 2016 election. The report of Special Counsel Robert Mueller has once more put that on the front pages. Too often lost in the furor, however, is the far more damaging TrikiLeaks — the tricks and laws used to suppress the vote by partisans, largely Republicans here at home. After the Supreme Court’s rightwing gang of five gutted key sections of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby v. Holder, Republican-controlled states immediately ramped up efforts to create obstacles for voting, particularly for people of color. They mandated specific forms of state ID, made it harder for students to vote, eliminated same-day registration, reduced early voting days, closed polling booths in African American neighborhoods leading to long delays, purged voters from the rolls, perfected partisan gerrymandering and more. In some cases, as in North Carolina, their discriminatory intent was so public that the laws were overturned in federal court, but in most places, the new

barriers were in place in 2016. Did it make a difference? Voting rights expert Ari Berman says, “absolutely.” Overall 14 states had new restrictions in place, passed since the Shelby decision. Look at Wisconsin. Trump won by 22,000 votes. In Wisconsin, 300,000 African American voters didn’t have the newly required strict photo ID. Black voter turnout in Milwaukee declined by 51,000 votes from 2012, while as Lawyers Committee President Kristen Clarke noted, voter turnout rates were depressed across the state. Now we’re headed into 2020. Republican bastions like Texas, Tennessee and Arizona witnessed surges of Democratic support in 2018. Not surprisingly, they are launching new efforts to suppress the vote. In Texas, the secretary of state announced a plan to purge 95,000 people from the voter rolls because they weren’t citizens. Independent research then demonstrated that in Harris County, which includes Houston, 60 percent of the 30,000 people on the list had received citizenship long ago. Some of

The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures.

the supposed research was 25 years old. Once more citizens had to go to court to try to stop the suppression. In Texas, state lawmakers are also moving to add criminal penalties for people who improperly fill out voter registration forms, an effort to intimidate nonprofit groups that work to register people to vote. In Arizona, Republicans are making it harder to cast an early ballot. In Tennessee, GOP lawmakers are pushing legislation to fine voter registration groups that submit incomplete forms, even by mistake,

MY TRUTH Continued from page 1

your head, the hairstyle underneath was just as glamorous and appealing. Going to the Pink Palace was an escape for me, a place to go to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world. Sure we would have discussions about the troubles of the world, but it was also a place that gave new meaning to the phrase, “let your hair down.” Some times there would be no talking at all because I would fall asleep as soon as I sat in her chair. And she was fine with that! The Pink Palace was the “no judgement” zone, where women and some men could share thoughts and offer advice, without condemnation or vicious attacks. Sure there were the discussions about politics, education, and world peace. And we talked about raising children, caring for parents, relationships and more. For some reason, the people who came to Pink Palace and engaged in conversations came with a positive spirit and a respectful tongue. Maybe it was because of the leadership of

Vera. Although small in stature, probably standing 4 feet 4 inches in those stiletto heels she loved to strut around in, Vera seemed almost larger than life. Okay I may be exaggerating. But she is short! With a big heart. And her heart and infinite wisdom has kept my head level many a time. You see, Vera is quiet and unassuming. And while she does not appear to carry a big punch, her actions and demeanor command and receive respect and reverence. She doesn’t have to raise her voice to get your attention. A word to the wise should be sufficient and if you don’t take heed with Vera; it’s all on you because you are definitely operating at a deficit and could end up in a very bad situation. I thank Vera for being my friend, my confidante, my light at the end of a sometimes dark tunnel. I’m talking about unconditional love.

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up to $10,000. Tequila Johnson, cofounder of the Equity Alliance that focuses on registering people of color, called them out: “We have never seen a bill like this on the floor, until we dared to register 86,000 black and brown people to vote. This screams racism.” Much, much more attention should be paid to this battle. Happily, the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives has made voting rights a priority. Rep. Elijah Cummings (DMD.), chair of the House Oversight Committee, has launched an investigation of voter suppression in Georgia in 2018, where the victor, Brian Kemp, oversaw the election as secretary state. And, as Cummings detailed, 1.4 million people were purged from the voting rolls from 2012 to 2016, 53,000 — 80 percent of them people of color — had their registrations put on hold; 214 polling places were shuttered, contributing to lines of more than four hours in heavily black precincts. Some states, happily, are moving to make voting easier and more accessible. Florida citizens passed a historic referendum restoring the right to vote for felons who have paid their debt to society. (Now, Republicans in

the legislature are trying to undermine that initiative). Automatic Voting Registration laws have passed in several states. More states are providing longer times for early voting, adding voting booths to reduce long lines and more. Cases to rollback partisan gerrymandering have been successful in federal courts — and now are headed to the Supreme Court. The Brennan Center reports that bills that expand voting rights have seen some movement in 35 states, while those restricting rights have moved in 10 states. What’s clear is that interference with our elections and with the right to vote will come far more from the efforts of domestic politicians than it will come from whatever mischief the Russians plan. It is revealing that the Trump White House has little to say about Russians. It is even more telling that the Justice Department is absent without leave in the fight against voter suppression at home. The right to vote — the most basic right of a democracy — is still contested in too many states — and must be fought, state by state, by citizens of conscience.

QUIT PLAYIN’ Continued from page 1

because, he says, “Tribulation works patience. And patience works experience. And experience works hope. And hope makes us not ashamed. The vertical dimension balances out what is going on in the horizontal dimension.” Jeremiah worked his exegetical Hope from vertical (up to God) to its horizontal axis (across humanity). Jeremiah joined the Apostle Paul, and by their sentiments, this Trumpian era should grant America the patience, experience and hope that it needs to survive to see its tri-centennial. JFK was keen on Hope. “We should not let our fears hold us back from hope. Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope.” Maya Angelou was consistent about Hope. “God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us- in the dreariest and most dreaded moments- can see a possibility of hope!” But my favorite historical ex-

pository on Hope is found in a narrowly known 1967 speech by Dr. Martin Luther King as he spoke to the American Psychological Association. King’s allocution bore the title; “The Role of the Behavioral Scientist in the Civil Rights Movement.” Therein, King etched an imagery of a hopeful Negro race. Black folk have maintained their Hope throughout 400 years of dystopia! “Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny as a people is tied up with the destiny of America. Before the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before Jefferson scratched across the pages of history the great words that I just quoted, we were here. Before the beautiful words of the “Star Spangled Banner” were written, we were here. For more than two centuries, our forebears labored here without wages. They made Cotton King. They built the home of

their masters in the midst of the most humiliating and oppressive conditions. And yet out of a bottomless vitality, they continued to grow and develop. If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition that we now face will surely fail. We shall win our freedom because both the sacred heritage of our nation, and the eternal will of the almighty God, are embodied in our echoing demands. And so I can still sing, although many have stopped singing it, “We shall overcome.” We shall overcome because the arch of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. We shall overcome because Carlysle is right, “No lie can live forever.” We shall overcome because William Cullen Bryant is right, “Truth crushed to earth will rise again.” We shall overcome because James Russell Lowell is right, “Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne, yet that scaffold sways a future.” And so with this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. It’s rough right now, but Black history, which is the hitching post to American history, is tethered to an abundance of Hope. And we must remind our “woke” White brothers and sisters that Deranged Donald ain’t nothing compared to the trouble we’ve seen. #Hope

GARLAND JOURNAL - MAY 15, 2019

Paul Quinn Class of 2019

IN REVIEW:

The Intruder

After watching the preview for The Intruder, I was expecting the same old premise that I’ve seen in similar movies like Lakeview Terrace or a movie called The Neighbor. However, the Intruder has an interesting twist, which I can’t reveal, and a skilled director, Deon Taylor, who leads you around in a realistic story that could actually happen in real life. A successful young couple, Annie and Scott, played by Meagan Good and Michael Ealy move to the country in California’s wine country after purchasing the couples’ dream home from Charlie (Dennis Quaid) for a sweetheart of a deal. This is after he kills a deer

continued from front page

RATED LARGE

BY HOLLYWOOD HERNANDEZ

on the property right in front of them before the couple has even had the opportunity to take a tour of the house. Scott has an odd feeling about Charlie but Annie, who after hearing about his wife dying in the house, develops a fondness for Quaid and doesn’t find it odd at all when he returns a few days later and cuts the new owners grass. Charlie is a master at manipulation and causes friction between the young couple by preying on Annie’s emotions. Meanwhile, Scott increases his hostility against the former homeowner who originally told the couple he had plans to move in with his daughter in Florida, but he never leaves.

After a series of occurrences around the house, Scott does some investigating into Charlie’s background and discovers that, while his wife may have had cancer when she died, she died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Scott tries his best to convince his wife that they are dealing with a potentially psychotic killer. The director skillfully puts the pieces of the puzzle together for you and the end result is a very enjoyable movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat and will have you screaming at the screen; which is exactly what I think he planned when he laid out his story. The movie is rated PG-13 and has a run time of 1 hour and 42 minutes. Give the movie a chance and I think you’ll like it. On my Hollywood Popcorn Scale, I rate The Intruder a LARGE.

THAT CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

Tennell Atkins BY VALDER BEEBE ValderBeebeShow.com

Gratitude……a state (and a statement) that I love. When we place ourselves in a state of gratitude, miracles happen. Doubting me? Sit quiet for 1 minute, close your eyes and listen to your breath, then start with “THANK YOU GOD,” next “I AM GRATEFUL” and any other terms or words of endearment that you want to express to God the creator. Try it! Let me know your experience @facebook.com/ valderbeebeshow. Love to hear your experience with gratitude. Re m e m b e r … … . g r at i t u d e (breathe……). Dallas City Councilmember Tennell Atkins was first elected in June 2007 to represent Dallas City Council District 8, the southernmost district of Dallas. He attended SMU on a four year scholarship and was a part of the first class to graduate from SMU’s Cox School of Business. Mr. Atkins serves as the Chair of Economic Development & Housing Committee and is up for reelection. The Valder Beebe Show invited the Councilman into the studio

to get his vision for Dallas and District 8. VBS: Recently I wrote an article that echoes other media regarding Dallas and North Texas are the fasting growing region in the U.S. Your Dallas district, define the locale of District 8? TA: District 8 we’ve got eight square miles, we got UNT a fouryear public university for the first time in the history of southern Dallas. We have Red Bird Mall being transformed. We have brought new corporations to the area. Yes, the biggest problem we have is so much land in the southern part of Dallas (that a great challenge to have). We have fifty-percent of Dallas’ land mass in the southern part of the City. VBS: You are up for reelection? What do you offer the residents of District 8 and the City of Dallas? TA: First, access to the governing bodies of Dallas. I have an office in the community now. We transitioned the old library that sat

idle for many years into a miniature city hall in southern Dallas. Now you do not have go downtown to see a Councilmember, making it more convenient for the residents of District 8. I’m working on updating zoning to continue to push forward in making southern Dallas a live, work, and conduct business locale. Southern Dallas is beautiful for live, work and add recreation and business, it become perfect. VBS: Mayor Mike Rawlings’ two-terms as mayor have been exhausted. He will not seek reelection. How do you keep Mayor Rawlings’ vision for Dallas, North and South going? TA: One way for is for me to get reelected. I’m claiming it! And I want to grow South Dallas and >>>>>complete interview @SoundCloud.com/ valderbeebeshow Listen On-Demand @ 411RadioNetwork.com and SoundCloud. com/valderbeebeshow.ValderbeebeShow. com, 411RadioNetwork.com, Youtube.com/valderbeebeshow, 411RadioNetwork.com; Podcast audio: Soundcloud.com/valderbeebeshow, Soundcloud.com/kkvidfw,

ASK ALMA House BY ALMA GILL

Dear Alma, My college roommate came to visit my husband and me and our new baby. She lives in another state. My husband has a daughter from a previous relationship, she’s seven. She spends every other weekend at our house. My college roommate is our baby’s new Godmother. We’re all very happy about that, and the fact that she’ll be visiting with us more often. Problem is, her husband came for the weekend with his gun. I saw it on the side table in the guest room. He’s a police officer and I understand he uses it for work, but I wasn’t happy about the gun being in my house. How do I broach the subject without having it out with her husband? J.T.; Baltimore Hey J.T., Allow me a moment to remind you, you are the

architect of your “house rules.” Those of us, including a new godmother, SIL or coworker of your neighbor’s brother, when visiting your house, must abide by your rules. The argument of carrying a weapon off duty has been a lively topic for decades and fortunately we’re not here to resolve that issue. The only answer that you need clarified at this moment is what works in your house. Understandably, you don’t want firearms lying around with little ones in the house, and I feel you on that one. Here’s what you do, call your girlfriend and let her know you noticed the gun during their last visit. Tell her you’re concerned about your stepdaughter’s safety and would prefer they not bring it next time. If it turns out that he has to carry his weapon because he’s a police officer, I’d suggest you invest in a lock box. Put the lock box in the

closet of your guestroom. I get the impression guns are not your thing, and this is a fish you’d prefer not to fry, and again. Let me reiterate: you’re in control of what’s cooking in your house. But since he’s an officer, he may not have a choice. I under-stand your concern, you’re a new mom with a million other things to deal with. He’s not your husband, so you don’t have to live with something that makes you uncomfortable. If you’re so inclined to add some potato salad to this fish fry, ask her how she thinks it would be best to handle the situation. That way, you’ve allowed her some input. I’m sure you two will come up with a solution that satisfies all involved. This my dear, is a situation that can be resolved amicably, with the two of you remaining the best of sister-friends.

Alma

important issue of the day,” O’Rourke said as he to gain a Master’s Degree in Marketing and began his commencement speech. enjoys traveling and mentoring youth. “We are smarter, stronger and better able to Also receiving an honorary degree was Plano meet the challenges ahead of us because of the Mayor Harry LaRosiliere. Receiving President’s bold, innovative, transformAwards were Paul Genender, ational work occurring at partner in Weil, Gotshal & Paul Quinn College and Manges LLP; Nikki Hurst HBCUs across the country.” Gibson, senior counsel at O’Rourke, who received Bell Nunnally & Martin and an honorary degree earlier in Andy Halpern, principal the ceremony from President with Halpern & Associates. Dr. Michael Sorrell, talked All have worked extensively to the graduates about the with and supported Paul importance of powering Quinn College on many through disappointments levels. and despair as they head out Dr. Sorrell ended the into the world. festive occasion with what “We must power through, he told the graduates were find joy in the work before “my prayers for you and us or else we must give up the rest of your life. I pray Co-Valedictorians of the 2019 and that is not an option for that you will live a life that Graduating Class: Hugh L. me and that certainly has not matters, one where history Washington been an option for you. will remember your name. I and Lorenza Najera. “To all the graduates, all pray that you will leave places the hard work, all the sacrifice, better than you found them. all the commitment, to all of your families, I can “I pray that when you lead, you will find a way to only imagine what you are feeling right now,” he lead with love. I pray that you will find something continued. “To every one of you who has made and someone in your life that you can love more this such a special moment, not just for yourselves, than yourself,” he continued. “I pray that you will and your family and for Paul Quinn College, but forever remember that you were built to lead. for this county, I thank you for the inspiration.” “And since you are built to lead, you are not Graduates also heard addresses from the Class built for the sun. Because anyone can lead when of 2019’s Co-Valedictorians Lorenza Najera and the sun comes out. You are built for those moments Hugh L. Washington. Najera, born and raised when it is raining, when it is difficult, when it is in Houston, is a first-generation college student challenging. I pray that in those moments you who will be pursuing a career in neonatal nursing. will remember what we have done here together Washington, a Dallas native who is also an artist, and push yourself forward.” writer, manager, speaker and entrepreneur, plans

Wordz of Wisdom continued from front page

Amber Guyger, you hear her cries about losing to myself. My son William was two at the time. her job, not the life of Botham Jean that she had William loved, and still loves, wearing a hoodie— just taken. It took a long time on that call before zipped up, with the hood on. Dear sweet and she mentioned needing help for Mr. Jean. How beautiful Trayvon was murdered the year before many more times did she mention her job than my William was born. In that moment, as I the innocent man she shot? looked at William, I understood as Sybrina did If you watched Henry Louis Gates’ PBS the reality for Black mothers. Even when you do documentary on Reconstruction, you would’ve everything you think is right, the right “talks,” heard excerpts from historian Heather Andrea the right neighborhoods, the right mentors, right Williams’ book, Help Me Find My People. relationships with fathers—you can’t right the Williams has researched “information wanted” wrong lens others use to view your child. I cried advertisements placed in newspapers after the deep, generational, Black mother tears. In fact, Civil War by African Americans looking to connect it would be years before I could stop those tears with family members separated by the institution every time I watched him get his hoodie, put it on, of slavery. Eliza Handy placed one of those ads zip it up and cover his head. in hopes of reuniting with her three children, Last week William and I were at the library. the first taken from her more than 40 years prior. He wanted to go to the kids play area. The sign Imagine living with the realization that the womb said, “For children five and under.” He had just is the only place you can keep your children safe. turned six a few weeks ago, so I assumed it would Imagine living with the heartbreaking pain of be ok. It was a large space and there were maybe forced and violent family separation. Imagine only two or three kids playing in there. Before we waking up every day wondering about your reached the gate to the play area, the librarian children, not knowing where they are, if they’re catapulted in front of us and rather sharply said, alive, and if so, understanding full well the horrors “This is for little kids, he can’t play here.” To that slavery seeks to inflict upon them. Imagine which I reply, rather surprised by her tone, “He finding the strength is little.” and faith needed She smirked and said, to sustain a hope “He’s so big, what is he that no matter how eight?” impossible it seems, I said, “He just turned someday you will be six a few weeks ago. reunited with your There’s hardly anyone daughters—Mollida, even in there.” Mary, and Ellen. She replied, ”He can’t Trauma is interplay in this area. He generational and inheneeds to go where the big rited, memories are kids are.” passed down through I looked down at my DNA. Studies, kindergartner holding my including one by the hand, looking up at me Journal of Clinical not understanding why Endocrinology and he couldn’t play. I didn’t another by Colombia know what to say. I didn’t University, looked at have the words to explain women and children that the woman didn’t who experienced the see him as my precious 9/11 World Trade little “favorite son” (he’s Center bombings. my only son), but one Researchers doc- Southwestern Christian Advocate, July 22, 1880. who looked almost like a umented various bio- Historic New Orleans Collection/Hill Memorial Library, Louisiana college linebacker. State University Libraries. logical signs of stress This was my first, and passed down from the mothers to their babies. undoubtedly not the last, encounter with William Imagine what 400 years of trauma must look who at six, has apparently reached that age when like. Since 1619, life for Black mothers in America the world starts to see him differently. I read an ain’t been no crystal stair. article once that talked about how mothers of The pages of history are flooded with the tears Black boys, dead or alive, live with an unspoken of Black mothers. sadness due to the loss of their children’s perceived innocence. I understand that sadness. As much as she liked to sit with silence I like to believe the world is positively changing, in the dark every day I’m reminded how for some of us, it sadness is not an unusual state isn’t. Every day a new reminder saddens me. for the black woman On this Mother’s Day, honor your mothers, Nikki Giovanni grandmothers, “other mothers,” and all the women who have meant something in your life. “Other than the anniversary of your child Please don’t forget about those whose day will be being killed, Mother’s Day is one of the hardest different this year. Remember the mothers who days,” Sybrina Fulton said, adding, “and see their children’s faces used as reminders that birthdays. They’re hard, too.” #BlackLivesMatter. Remember the mothers who would prefer I can’t believe it’s been seven years, since Trayvon Martin was murdered. Like Raniya, flowers, a card, a hug, a call, more time with their Kashala, and Nigel, no one was held accountable son or daughter rather than finding themselves for Trayvon’s death either. I think about Sybrina centered in movements they didn’t choose to be in. I encourage you to take time this Mother’s Fulton often, but especially on Mother’s Day. I send prayers and healing thoughts her way, a Day to find ways to become involved in effecting small gesture but I hope in some way, Ms. Fulton change so Black mothers can experience many more tears of joy. knows she and Trayvon are not forgotten. We’ve gone through enough pain. “He looks just like Trayvon Martin,” I thought

GARLAND JOURNAL - MAY 15, 2019

State Fair of Texas awards nearly $1.25 million to Texas students

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Since its establishment in 1992, the Big Jonathan Craig, Haley Crooks, Hunter capital improvements; given as scholarships Tex Scholarship Program has continued to Crooks, Kendall Fagan, Spencer Johnson, to deserving students throughout the uphold the State Fair’s nonprofit mission Tremaine Kemp, and Leslie Tinoco-Ruiz. state of Texas; used to support Fair Park Recipients receive a $6,000 grant, museum facilities and community outreach of supporting agriculture, education, and renewable each semester if the student programs; and used to improve the State community involvement. Looking forward to another year of meets the criteria for renewal. Fair’s operation. Students must attend an accredited supporting Texas students through college Help support the Fair’s mission of scholarships, the State Fair honored its college, university, or trade school within the celebrating all things Texan by promoting Dallas-area 2019 scholarship recipients at state of Texas. In order to qualify for scholarship agriculture, education, and community the annual Big Tex Scholarship Awards renewal, recipients must enroll in, and pass, involvement through quality entertainment Luncheon. New recipients and their families gathered a minimum of 12 hours each semester. in a family-friendly environment at this at the Tower Building in Fair Park for the In addition, recipients must achieve a year’s exposition. The gates will be open for the 2019 event, with Pete Schenkel recipients hailing minimum 2.5 GPA their first semester and from six Dallas Independent School District a 3.0 cumulative GPA for every semester State Fair of Texas starting September (DISD) high schools in the Fair Park area thereafter. 27 through October 20, with the theme The Fair congratulates these deserving “Celebrating Texas Creativity.” and Seasonal Employee recipients hailing students on their accomplishments and from across the DFW metroplex. Awarding a total of nearly $1.25 million is happy to support them in new college scholarships in 2019, the Fair in pursuing their dreams. recognized 85 Pete Schenkel Scholarship The State Fair of Texas recipients from DISD and seven Seasonal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Employee Scholarship recipients, in organization and does not addition to 111 Youth Livestock Scholarship receive any government recipients from around the state who could funding or support. Its nonprofit purpose is funded not be in attendance. Guests heard from Brandon Todd, through the proceeds from an anchor-reporter for Fox4 news, and the annual State Fair of Texas event. presenter of the awards. The net proceeds from Students loved listening to this year’s keynote speaker, Chief Dominique Artis the Fair are reinvested in Fair Park, in the form of of Dallas Fire-Rescue. He is a Dallas native and an alumnus of Roosevelt High School. In addition, Need Help With Your Social Security Disability Claim? attendees enjoyed hearing from Big Tex Scholarship Program alumnus, Marcus Johnson, who is now the assistant principal at his alma mater – James Madison High School. We've Helped Thousands Get the Benefits They Deserve The Big Tex ScholApplications • Hearings • Appeals Start The Process Today! arship Program has (855) 399-1916 awarded scholarships Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. to nearly 2,500 students Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 NW St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County Florida. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states. for a total of more than $12.5 million. To honor its past Chairman Pete Schenkel, each year the State Fair awards college scholarships to selected applicants from six DISD high schools surrounding the Fair Park area – Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Lead00 INCLUDES: $ ership School, Franklin D. Roosevelt, James Madison, Lincoln, No. Dallas, and Woodrow Wilson high schools. CALL NOW and ask about Next In addition, the State Day Installation. 855-425-0562 Fair awards scholarships to selected applicants who have participated in youth livestock competitions at the State Fair of Texas. A total of 85 graduating seniors from six DISD high schools were awarded the State Fair of Texas Pete Schenkel Scholarship. A total ofseven recipients were awarded the State Fair of Texas Seasonal Employee Scholarship at the annual celebration, including:

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Do you know this man?

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Butterfly

I emerge from this darkness changed. Leaving behind so much of what was me; whole but with missing parts. Pushing myself through a realization that does not include you, physically. Your transformation complete.

Mine ... only beginning.

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GARLAND JOURNAL - MAY 15, 2019

Living Legends Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists

Spring Networking Mixer Butler Brothers Bar 1710 Young Street, Dallas, Texas Sunday May 19, 2019 2:00pm-5:00pm

RSVP to 214-941-0110 by Friday, May 17, 2019 Please join the Dallas-Ft Worth Association of Black Journalists and our network partners: NBPRS-Texas, Black Sports Professional Network of North Texas, and the NBC5 Black Employee Network; for an afternoon of networking, drinks, appetizers and giveaways. Take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your fellow journalists and communicators and learn more about our exciting plans and events for the Summer and Fall, along with information about the NABJ 2019 National Convention in Miami. We will have our own VIP section to mingle, eat, and drink within. The purchase of food and drinks is allowed on individual tabs. Come out ready to eat, drink, laugh and network with DFW/ABJ.