VOL IX ISSUE 13 MARCH 4, 2020
MY TRUTH Cheryl Smith Publisher
They need us Heavy sigh. Shaking my head. Feeling the pain. In Dallas, TX, a trial began last week and yet another Black man, Desmond Jones, is a defendant; standing trial for the 2017 vicious murder of 13-year-old Shavon Randle. The case was one that people across this country and around the world were talking about because it involved several elements that capture headlines: drugs, kidnapping, murder, conspiracy, organized crime and some might even say sex, since there were relationships involved. You may recall that members of a group were involved in illegal activities and in attempting to retrieve stolen drugs, someone snuffed out the young life of Shavon; not because of something she did, but because of who they were. I still remember that hot evening, standing outside in front of the reputed drug house where Shavon spent her last moments on earth. Hundreds gathered expressing outrage and calling for the house to be torn down. The tragedy is that a young, innocent female is no longer with us. She didn’t have a chance to live the life that dreams are made of. Instead she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Who knows what her life might have become. Meanwhile, halfway across the country, on the same day that the trial began to find justice for Shavon’s murder, another 13-year-old, Gianna, was remembered at a ceremony for her and her father, Kobe Bryant; in Los Angeles CA. and attorneys for her mom filed a wrongful death suit against Island Express Helicopters, Island Express Holding Corp. and the estate of the pilot, Ara Zobayan. The Bryants and seven others, including the pilot, Mr. Zobayan, perished in the helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. Thousands gathered in the Staples Center in Los Angeles as tribute after tribute focused on the legacy of Mr. Bryant and the devastating loss of young “GiGi” who at such a young age had already touched the lives of many. My heart is heavy as I reflect back on when I was 13. I was innocent and fearless. I knew I had protection and love from my family, so I had nothing to worry about. Looking back, I now know that yes, I could have been a headline too. And it seems like things aren’t getting better. Which brings me to my truth! Shavon and Gianna are the casualties we are talking about today and sadly there are so many others. When you think about the statistics involving women, you can’t help but pause. We have to do something. There are so many areas where we See MY TRUTH, page 7
SUPER TUESDAY
Election 2020 yielded surprising results as the battleground for president narrowed significantly with the exits of Democratic candidates Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and Tom Steyer, just before Super Tuesday. According to unofficial results, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders were the big winners as voters went to the polls in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Democrats Abroad, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia.
Deltas meet about spreading the word about Census 2020
Then on Wednesday morning former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg suspended his campaign and endorsed Mr. Biden. In Texas, all eyes were on the crowded field of Democrats seeking to unseat
Republican Senator John Cornyn. As late as Wednesday at 10:00a.m. there was still one county unreported, and M.J. H e g a r leading, with Cristina Tz i n t z ú n Ramirez and State Sen. Royce West and neck-inneck. For complete election results, go to www. garlandjournal.com.
Coronavirus: Stay informed, be prepared and don’t panic By Rebecca Aguilar I Messenger Media
Crystal Perez has spent about $100 on face masks for her family.
Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Leadership met with U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary Karen Dunn Kelley in the D/FW area recently to discuss their efforts to increase participation in 2020 Census. Organized by DST member
and Census Partnership Sponsor Mythe Y. Kirven, Deltas provided an impressive overview of the outreach the public service sorority has undertaken nationwide. Pictured are Deltas with Sec. Kelley.
Chime Solutions brings almost 1000 jobs to area From Staff Reports Atlanta-based Chime Solutions, a Business Process Outsourcing firm, officially opened their new offices at a Ribbon Cutting Celebration at RedBird Mall, 3662 W. Camp Wisdom Road, 2nd Floor Dallas Texas 75237 last week. “We are excited to continue our commitment to provide exceptional customer care solutions for our clients,” said Mr. Wilson., “And to not only cultivate talent in an underresourced community, but also repurpose former retail space here at RedBird.” Dallas City Councilman Tennell Atkins, who participated in the Ribbon Cutting event cited the various other opportunities
The Wilsons are proud to bring “real responsibilities with real opportunities.” that have arisen at the Mall, including Workforce Solutions, Jarvis Christian College, said, “As Chime Solutions expands its footprint in Dallas their investment in Oak Cliff brings opportunities to this community.” Peter Brodsky of Redbird Mall applauded the leadership of both Councilman Atkins and Mr.
Wilson. “We’re so happy to have the Chime Family here at Redbird,” he said. “They are providing jobs in this community close to where people live.” Mr. Wilson said he is excited about the opportunity, pointing out that he has a goal of creating 10,000 jobs around the country.
While shopping at a Dallas upholstery supply store, Lucy Bocanegra was surprised to see a clerk wearing a respiratory mask. He said he was afraid he would get infected with the coronavirus and that was enough to convince Ms. Bocanegra to start buying disposable masks just in case the coronavirus spreads to Dallas “It’s on my shopping list,” she said, adding “So is bottled water, canned food, and Pedialyte in case we have to hydrate due to fever.” But medical experts in Dallas say there is no need for people to start stockpiling face masks, because of the illness, known as COVID-19. “At this point, Texas is very low-risk for the coronavirus,” said Marisa Gonzalez, Dallas County Health and Human Services (DHHS) public information officer. Currently there are no reported cases of coronavirus in Texas, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed multiple cases of COVID-19 in people under federal quarantine at Lackland Air force base in San Antonio. They were moved to San Antonio from a cruise ship docked in Japan. COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the virus was found in a group suffering from pneumonia. Most worked in the seafood and live animal market in Wuhan. The illness spread to family members and healthcare staff in Wuhan. The World Health Organization said the coronavirus can also be transmitted from animals to humans, which is called a “spillover event.” Saturday, the CDC confirmed the first COVID-19 death in the US. The victim was a 50-year-old man hospitalized in the state of Washington. It’s still not known how he was infected. “This is a respiratory illness just like the flu,” said Ms. Gonzalez, adding that 17 have died of the flu in Dallas County but none so far from COVID-19. She said she is confident the county is prepared to deal with the coronavirus, because of the Ebola crisis in 2014. Health department officials were on the frontlines of the Ebola crisis when a man See CORONAVIRUS, page 3
Democrat, Republican or ...? I WAS JUST THINKING... By Norma Adams-Wade
The dilemma will not be resolved today. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow. Or is there? If you have been paying attention, the age-old debate about which political party is best for Black people appears to be growing louder. The question of whether African Americans would be better off as Republicans, Democrats, Independents or our
best interest of Black America at heart? I talked with some informed proponents on various sides and received provocative history lessons that inspire Vincent Hall Betty Culbreath Dorothy Burton me to have you judge own separate party is being heard for yourselves. more as the country barrels Social commen-tator Vincent forward toward the November 3, Hall, a Democrat, and civil servant 2020 Presidential Election -- with Betty Culbreath, a Republican, U. S. House, Senate and state view the spectrum from opposing officers in tow. positions. Hall says it is logical for Opinions remain strong on all African-Americans to stick with sides. I was just thinking...Is there the Democrats. Culbreath says an ideal party today that has the
African-Americans should give Republicans another chance. “Republicans have not given (African-Americans) any reason to trust them or believe that they have our best interest at heart,” said Hall, who is on hiatus from his popular I Messenger column, “Quit Playin’.” Culbreath, who has a long history as a political and social activist, said she’s tired of Democrats taking the Black vote for granted. “Politicians would pay attention to us and what we want from them if we were not bound to See THINKING, page 4