Everyone is not fortunate enough to know or experience the love of a father or father figure.
Sure, we’ve heard the jokes about Father’s Day versus Mother’s Day when there appears to be a clear disparity in the gift giving arena.
out of control,” said Goode.
According to Goode the condominiums have a Homeowners Association (HOA) fee of an average of $380 a month. This fee is scheduled to go up 20 percent and includes additional fees for large pick-up items and an extra assessment.
“Many of the residents were complaining regarding the additional charges. Most of us were concerned that they are not picking up the items now, it doesn’t make sense to pay more for this service,” she explained.
By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines News Correspondent
is also experiencing their issues with waste management in her local condominium complex.
Many athletes have smiled for the cameras and said “Hi Mom” or declared that as soon as they became a professional athlete, they were going to “buy Mom a house.”
In times of distress, like in the cases of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin who was beaten and murdered by George Zimmerman, 46-year-old George Floyd who died as Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck, and most recently Tyre Nichols brutally beaten by several officers and later dying from those injuries; they all called out for their mothers.
Fathers are equally important and necessary in our lives. Unfortunately two many children die without ever knowing their fathers or knowing a father’s love.
And sadly too many men die never knowing that they had planted a seed, that they’d helped create another life.
Which brings me to my truth.
I had the benefit of a father’s love. Whether he was stopping by my school to help teachers understand that he was present and accounted for or doling out money to my friends and I because we all wanted to be ready when the ice cream man, Mr. Softee drove down the street; I could count on Daddy.
When I went away to college, he made regular visits to FAMU’s campus and he always made sure I was taken care of.
Joe Smith was also good at vetting potential mates. Just imagine a cross between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in “Bad Boys” and “Uncle Bernie” on the Bernie Mac Show. Young brothers had to come correct and they still didn’t stand a chance!
He was there to uplift and could always brighten my day because he was strong and fearless. He was an astute businessman who was a visionary.
He loved his daughter and he wanted the best for her!
I witnessed a love just as strong between Clarence Hill, Sr. and Clarence Hill, Jr. They shared a father - son love that was an example worthy of showcasing and celebrating. They also shared a love as Omega Psi Phi brothers, as Jr. followed his father into the fraternity.
As people are buying gifts and celebrating loved ones during the month of February, Cheryl Goode is just hoping to end her on-going trash pickup issue In Garland, Texas.
Over a month ago, Dallas was swamped with issues about trash pickup. Goode admits Garland
“There is one bin in our condominium that is routinely overflowing into a nearby parking space of one of the residents. There has also been a couch and a desk sitting behind one of the bins for over a month,” said Goode.
Goodes’ concerns about trash
By
San Juan, PR - It was a moment in history that ironically happened on the second day of Black History Month.
Two leaders of organizations gathered to discuss how their missions were similar and they needed to work together to better serve Black communities, journalists and the industry.
The discussion laid the groundwork for future moments as Black Journalists and Black Publishers under the leadership of Presidents Dorothy Tucker of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and Dr. Ben Chavis of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) made a commitment to work together.
During a fireside chat at the NNPA’s mid-winter conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the two leaders, joined by NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards, discussed a decades old issue where publishers felt that Black journalists working for the so-called mainstream media, or white press, acted as though they were better than those in the “Negro Press.”
Tucker read from a letter from NNPA addressed to founding NABJ president Chuck Stone in 1977, outlining perceived slights by the newly-established NABJ.
Members of NNPA said they felt snubbed by Black journalists who received their jobs in the “mainstream” through the efforts of Black publishers and activists who advocated on their behalf only for them to get jobs and look down on them.
Now 46 years later, the two organizations’ leadership says the time is now to heal, to focus on their missions and discuss the impor-
tance of and value that each brings to the industry and their communities.
“Our voices have to be unified” said Chavis, who was a political prisoner when the letter was written. “We’re bringing justice, equality and equity.”
Noting that it has been years since the two officially attended one another’s convention, Chavis committed to being in Birmingham for NABJ’s Convention in August and NABJ will be represented at NNPA’s convention in June.
The two presidents also discussed collaborating on programming at respective conventions and regional conferences.
Tucker suggested holding joint webinars to discuss issues and share information.
NABJ has a Black Press Task Force and Tucker said members would be getting involved to iden-
pick up at the Westwind Condominiums in Garland began shortly after she moved in last July. The complex, which is less than a mile from Lake Ray Hubbard, has 63 units and two trash bins.
“I am not sure what the resolution for this issue is. With 63 units, we might need more trash bins, larger bins, or there may need to be more frequent pickups to keep the issue from getting
Garland Mayor Scott LeMay said that he was unaware of the trash issue. However; he did admit the City of Garland was behind on trash pickups for three days due to the recent ice storm. He also stated that he would elevate this matter to the city’s sanitation department.
“This is more than an ice storm issue. I am not someone that is going to complain because of a one time thing,” said Goode. “This is becoming a habit. I know that I am not the only one complaining at the HOA meeting in January. One of the major consistent complaints was the lack of trash pickups.
“They finally picked up the trash after a month, but I noticed there are still trash bags down in the drainage ditch and under the bins. It’s like the issue is not being taken seriously.”
We recognize the history and cultural significance of African Americans and value their contributions to our vibrant community.
In Conversation with special guest THE HONORABLE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON Moderated by AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST CHERYL SMITH St. Luke “Community” United MethodistChurch 5710 E. R. L. Thornton Fwy, Dallas Fri., 7pm Join In Person or Virtually for Free bit.ly/InConversation2023
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The Dallas Black Dance Theatre present “Cultural Awareness” in honor of Black History Month Fri., 7:30 pm Wyly Theatre 2400 Flora St, Dallas, TX
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Join us for a 1970s Soul Train Celebration live music by Soulful Soundz, performances by Dallas Black Dance Theater’s Fri., 7 pm at The Sanctuary Event Center 6633 Virginia Blvd. McKinney, TX. www.Mckinney BHM.com
The Soul II Soul Tour: KEM, Ledisi Musiq Soulchild Sat. Feb. 18, 8pm Texas Trust CU Theatre, 1001
Performance Place Grand Prairie, TX 75050 (972) 854-5050
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Frost Fest Levy Event Plaza Feb.18,10am 501 E. Las Colinas Blvd. Irving, TX, 75039
Cost: Free admission Ages: All ages Website: https://www.cityofirving.org/ 20
Event by Young Professionals Division find out about what’s happening in DFW; looking for social or business connections
6:30 pm 1601 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75201
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Fort Worth Operais is hosting a concert. Listen to celebrated opera singers and artists, The event will also feature a special tribute to Opal Lee, a social impact leader in Fort Worth who is considered the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” 2 pm. 1411 I M Terrell Circle S., Fort Worth. 817-731-0726. 20-24
Announcing Inaugural BrainHealth Week Feb. 20-24 Celebrates Brain’s Ability to Get Stronger. Call for info. (972) 883-3007
Educational First Steps proudly announces the benefit, “An Evening with the Great Nowitzki,” Tues., 6:30 pm at The Ritz Carlton, 2121 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 25
Lincoln Butler Sr.’s “Book Signing” for “My Journey” at the African American Museum in Solarium Sat., Feb. 25, at 1pm. 3536 Grand Ave · In Fair Park, Dallas, TX. (214) 565-9026
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Southwest Suburban Dallas Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, invites you to the 20th Anniversary Foundation Fundraising Gala Feb. 25, VIP Reception at 6:30 pm and General Admission 7:30 pm Midlothian Conference Center, 1 Community Dr, Midlothian, TX 76065 ***
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Texas Coalition Of Black Democrats - Collin County -Join the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats to network, discuss the 118th Congress, 88th Texas Legislature and upcoming elections. Tue, 6:30 pm Common Desk - Granite Park, 5830 Granite Parkway #100 Granite Park, Building 5 Plano
Join us for a conversation with Indra Nooyi, business executive and former CEO and chairperson at PepsiCo, at UTA’s Texas Hall Tuesday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m., as part of UTA’s Maverick Speaker Series. For event details, go to https:// www.uta.edu/maverick-speakers
Black History Month Community Celebration
The Frisco Arts Foundation and Oasis Accents will feature a food truck, face painting, art exhibits, live music, etc. All ages are welcome to celebrate- Sat. 5 pm. Nack Theater, 6711 Oak Street, Frisco. Free.
When Republicans like Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Green and Utah’s Mike Lee interrupted President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address to call him a liar, they may have forgotten their own words.
Worse, Lee doubled down on his own lie, claiming that “no Republican had made such a suggestion” of cutting or changing Social Security and Medicaid.
The White House exposed Lee and others on Thursday, just two days after their arrogant behavior during the globally televised event.
“Half of Sen. Lee’s statement is an admission that he did indeed call for eliminating Social Security outright,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates told reporters.
“But in terms of his claims that he’s aware of ‘no Republican – in either House of Congress – who has suggested any modification to Social Security as a condition for raising the debt ceiling,’ we can help.”
The White House then provided several news articles in which Republican members expressed a desire to cut or modify Social Security and Medicaid.
The articles were published by Fox News, the Washington Post, Reuters, and Bloomberg News.
The White House also noted that Biden has taken steps to protect Social Security and strengthen Medicare, two foundational programs on which tens of millions of seniors rely for a living.
“Congressional Republicans, however, have a different record.
For years, Republican members of Congress have repeatedly tried to cut Medicare and Social Security, move toward privatizing one or both programs, and raise
the Social Security retirement age and Medicare eligibility age,” White House officials wrote in a Fact Sheet.
Earlier, House Republicans introduced legislation to repeal Biden’s inflation-reduction bill, a move that would raise prescription drug prices for seniors, raise taxes on an estimated 14.5 million people, and give Big Pharma tens of billions of dollars.
On Feb. 9, Biden visited Florida to highlight the work his administration is doing to protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security.
According to the White House, Republican members of Con-
gress have continued to push plans that would jeopardize the economic security of millions of people. To back that claim, administration officials presented receipts detailing congressional Republicans’ long history of working to reduce Medicare and Social Security.
• Senator Mike Lee said, “One thing that you probably haven’t ever heard from a politician: it will be my objective to phase out Social Security. To pull it up by the roots and get rid of it.”
• In November, John Thune, the number two Senate Republican in leadership, declared that
Social Security and Medicare benefits should be slashed.
• Florida Senator Rick Scott is championing a plan to put Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security on the chopping block every five years, which would put the health and economic security of 63 million Medicare beneficiaries, 69 million Medicaid beneficiaries and 65 million Social Security beneficiaries at risk.
• Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin proposed sunsetting these laws every year.
According to Politico, the Republican Study Committee, which includes most House Re-
publicans, released a budget plan that would raise the entry age.
The GOP would also raise taxes on some people who retire early or have a certain income, and they would privatize Social Security.
In addition, in 2015, the majority of House Republicans, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, and a slew of others in current leadership, voted to raise the retirement age to 70.
That move would reduce Social Security benefits for tens of millions of seniors who had paid into the system for years.
Republicans in the House also proposed repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, including its provisions on health care.
Working families across the country, including in Florida, where Biden recently traveled, would see their insurance premiums rise by $7,000 per year as a result of such actions.
Approximately 14.5 million Americans would face higher health-care premiums and a tax increase.
If Medicare is unable to negotiate drug prices, everyone with Medicare will face higher drug prices, and the deficit will grow as tens of billions of dollars are returned to Big Pharma.
More than 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who use insulin will no longer have the peace of mind of knowing that their insulin is capped at $35, and drug companies may resume increasing drug prices faster than inflation with no accountability, as happened last year for 1,200 prescription drugs.
“In his State of the Union address, President Biden vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare while building on our progress in lowering health-care costs for millions of seniors and American families,” officials said.
The 118th Congress didn’t begin as many anticipated in January, 2023.
Airline tickets were purchased, hotel rooms reserved and it was off to the nation’s capital for the swearing of the 118th Class.
For Jasmine Crockett, this would be her second ceremony as a representative after serving in the Texas House the previous two years.
Texas was well represented to witness Rep. Crockett become only the second person to represent the 30th Congressional District, following in the footsteps of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson who retired in 2022, after serving since the District was established 30 years ago.
The historic moment was scheduled to happen immediately following the installation of the House Speaker on January 3; however that moment was de-
layed until January 7.
Going into the process, no one could imagine that it would take days and 15 votes before U.S. Rep.
Kevin McCarthy received the necessary votes. By then, many family friends and constituents had returned home, so it was only fitting that a “Community” ceremony was held in Dallas, at the Hall of State. House Minority Leader Ha-
keem Jeffries and Whip Katherine Clark joined several dignitaries from across the country, including Congressman Marc Veasey, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III of Friendship-West Baptist Church and Johnson, at the standing room only event.
It was a humble Crockett who addressed the cheering crowd.
“It was an honor to be sworn-in to the 118th Congress surrounded by loved ones and this beautiful community I am blessed to serve in Washington,” said Rep. Crockett. “Each member of our community has a role in not only my success, but in making this community stronger.
“Each day I am fueled by this community’s support and genuine care for the common-good. I am proud of our movement and am committed to doing the good work to bring equity back to Texas’ 30th Congressional District.”
During remarks, Clark, Johnson and Jeffries praised the freshman
congresswoman, who was tapped by Johnson as her successor. Jeffries and Clark talked about the energetic, well-prepared young attorney who has already gained the respect of her peers.
It is a position that Rep. Crockett does not take lightly. During her remarks she introduced her staff and talked about priorities at home and in Washington, like immigration and transportation; while also serving on the House Oversight Committee.
Rep. Crockett also took time out to meet with Mayors of District 30. She represents portions of Dallas and Tarrant Counties —the cities of Dallas, Grand Prairie, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Glenn Heights, Hutchins, Wilmer, Arlington, Ovilla, and Seagoville.
She said, “I remain steadfast in my dedication to ensuring the needs of this community are at the forefront of my work. This is only the beginning.”
An announcement by California Congresswoman Barbara Lee that she will seek a seat in the United States Senate has rallied progressives and women who believe that the chamber’s membership should include an African American woman.
If elected, Congresswoman Lee, who represents the 12th Congressional District of California, which includes the city of Oakland, would become the only Black female in the 100-member U.S. Senate.
Currently there are three Black male senators in the body that has been without a Black female presence since former California Sen-
ator Kamala Harris resigned her seat after being elected the country’s vice-president in 2020.
“Currently there are no Black women in the U.S. Senate,” Congresswoman Lee, who was born in El Paso, TX, said in a statement received Friday by Texas Metro News. “And there have only been two Black Women senators in our almost 250-year history.”
Congresswoman Lee, who has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1998, said that her life has been devoted to creating a more equitable society for people of color, women, residents of underserved communities and others who exist on the economic margins of American life.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Veteran political consultant, Lauren Harper, said that Congresswoman Lee’s long list of impressive political credentials and experiences made her a very attractive Senate candidate.
“If elected I am certain that Congresswoman Lee will continue to govern in a manner that brings equity and integrity to the people of California, and our nation,” said Ms. Harper, the Dallas- based co-founder of ‘Welcome Party’ and ‘Welcome PAC,’ two organizations that work with elected officials and candidates in Texas and throughout the United States.
Stella Grace, the owner of a tax preparation business in Irving, said that Representative Lee’s life and political accomplishments inspired young African American women, and others.
“Her journey is one of the reasons that young Black women like me are encouraged to dream big dreams and believe that we can
accomplish anything in life that we set our minds to,” added Ms. Grace, of Grace Tax Services.
Diane Feinstein, one of two Democrats who represent California in the Senate, has not said whether or not she will seek re-election in 2024. Two Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation, Representatives Katie Porter and Adam B. Schiff, have announced that they will be candidates in the senatorial race.
“Black women have been the backbone of the Democratic Party,” said Tracey Falon King, who leads Collective Pac, an organization that promotes African American women in political races. “We need a seat at the table.”
In celebration of Black History Month, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) is engaging in multiple events throughout DFW to expand the Health & Aging Brain Study, previously known as the Black Alzheimer’s (ALZ) Brain Study, launched in 2021 to address why Alzheimer’s disproportionately impacts Black families. In continuing the study, HSC seeks to increase awareness for women and families, of not only the disproportional impact of Alzheimer’s on the Black community but also of the research surrounding it.
In Fort Worth, on February 18, 2023, from 10 AM to 4 PM, HSC is hosting the Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit (BMWCx) in celebration of Black History Month. The interactive summit will take place at the HSC’s Medical Education and Training Building (1000 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107). The event is free and open to elementary, middle and high school students (grades 3-12), parents, students from two- and four-year colleges and universities and pre-health advisors.
On the same day in Fort Worth, at 7:30 PM, HSC’s Health & Aging Brain Study will be a featured partner at the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum (121 E Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76164). The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo celebrates and honors Black cowboys and cowgirls and their contributions to building the west. With two performances, one at 1:30 PM CST and the other at 7:30 PM CST, tickets can be purchased at pbr. com or cowtowncoliseum.com.
Additionally, viral TikTok sensations The BoykinZ will be present at both events to bring additional awareness to HSC’s
leading health disparity research study. The emerging African American country music group will record social media content for Instagram and TikTok while at the Black Men in White Coats event and give a “half-time” performance during the 7:30 PM performance of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. The group is made of four sisters, one of whom is a STEM student and two of whom are currently in college.
In addition to The BoykinZ social media recordings on HSC’s campus, elementary and middle school students attending the Black Men in White Coats event will participate in a mini medical school and other activities in HSC’s osteology and anatomy labs. High school and undergraduate students will learn more about careers in health care and take part in clinical activities such as suturing and intubation in the university’s state-of-the-art simulation lab.
This is the first year that HSC will host Black Men in White Coats and the need for this event in Fort Worth has never been more urgent. A 2020 New England Journal of Science study found that the number of Black men applying to medical school has dropped over the past four decades. While Black male medical students accounted for 3.1% of the national medical student body in 1978, they accounted for just 2.9% by 2019; without the contribution of historically Black medical schools, this number would drop even lower to just 2.4%. Studies also show that access to care and health outcomes improve when physicians more closely represent the patients they care for, partly because of increased trust.
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible brain disease that
slowly destroys memory skills, thinking skills and eventually the ability to carry out daily activities. A myriad of health disparities surround research into Alzheimer’s disease: Today, an estimated 2.2 million African Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, 1 in 2 Black households is impacted by Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among people 65 and older, African Americans have the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease, followed by Hispanics and non-Latino whites. While there are many theories about why African Americans are at a greater biological risk of Alzheimer’s disease, medical researchers do not yet know exactly why. HSC’s presence at multiple Black History Month celebrations is an opportunity for HSC and guests alike to engage in meaningful, impactful conversations. It is also an opportunity for guests attending the event and across DFW to become familiar with the ground-breaking Alzheimer’s research study being conducted on campus.
blood draw, a brain MRI and a PET scan, and earn compensation for their time. The research study is funded by a grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health. This study targets 30–49- year olds and aims to help identify through research why Alzheimer’s and related dementia severely impacts the Black & Brown community 2-3 times more than their white counterparts. There are more than 2,000 Black and Hispanic participants ages 50+ who have completed the study. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathology in the brain can develop 10-20 years before the disease presents, therefore opening the study to those aged 30-49 is critical; it is important to identify the earliest signs and symptoms to better understand the risk factors over a lifespan.
and Aging Brain Study - Health Disparities. “While the entire month is a celebration of the accomplishments made in Black history, Black Americans still have great strides to make in the arena of health and wellness for future generations. The continued study is an opportunity for research not just for one family or any individual, but for the community as a whole to thrive in all areas.”
The study also aims to bridge the gap and bring attention to a lack of awareness on scientific contributions in Black history, including Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller, an often overlooked neurologist who made incredible contributions to the study of Alzheimer’s disease during his lifetime. “We want to carve out a specific space for Black science history,” continued Bailey. “We want that to be on the forefront of the mind while we’re also discussing the work that needs to be done to address the remaining disparities.”
HSC’s Healthy & Aging Brain Study – Health Disparities, leverages state-of-the-art imaging and robotics to analyze brain protein markers. Led by the preeminent researchers, the study does not require injections nor the administration of prescription drugs. Participants undergo free comprehensive interviews, functional exams,
“Every three seconds someone in the world develops dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most prevalent,” said Dr. Sid O’Bryant, professor at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and Executive Director of the HSC Institute for Translational Research. “With this number set to rise, there has never been a more urgent time to gain a better understanding of this disease, especially its impact on Black families.”
“Black History Month presents a special opportunity for us to engage with and educate the community which is most adversely affected by Alzheimer’s,” said Pat Bailey, President of PBailey Enterprises, the agency of record for the Health
Many Black Americans remain skeptical about medical research, much of which is rooted in history. Through targeted, culturally-sensitive outreach, HSC’s team of doctors, scientists and educators are working to build continued confidence in the groundbreaking study.
Research has shown that factors such as stress, poverty and socioeconomic disadvantages are associated with cognitive problems in midlife and dementia later in life. African Americans also suffer from a high burden of medical risk factors for Alzheimer’s such as high cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
For information, helpful resources and to join the Healthy & Aging Brain study, visit blackalzbrainstudy.com or call 817735-2963.
As Salaam-Alaikum
It was a moment I will remember for as long as I am Black. It was springtime, and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was on his way to our church in South Dallas. New Hope Baptist Church is probably Dallas’s most historic church, but on this day, it was about the upcoming Million Man March.
Dr. Derrick Harkins was allowed to have a few deacons on the premises, and I felt “blessed and highly favored” to be there. We, along with the late activist Thomas Muhammad and former DISD School Board member Ron Price, were standing at the ready with no idea what would happen.
All at once, there was a battalion of well-suited, well-booted, and well-armed Black men carefully combing the campus. New Hope lay in the apex of what used to be called the “dead man’s curve.” New construction has wiped out the intersections of the old Central Expressway and US175.
The Fruit of Islam (FOI) might not have ever known they were standing a mere 500 yards NE from the “dead man’s curve,” but they were intent that their primary subject would leave there alive and thriving.
We exchanged pleasantries with all due caution. Finally, the former Louis Eugene Walcott walked in with his security team. The serene stone walls that encased the church suddenly felt fortified. The FOI took every precaution you would expect from the U.S. Secret Service.
If you understand that most Black pastors in Dallas were none too excited to see Dr. Martin Luther King when he arrived in 1963, you can imagine Dr. Harkins’ plight. This visit was controversial.
A few Baptist and Methodist ministers in Dallas publicly welcomed the Minister. However, Farrakhan’s rhetoric and bombastic pronouncements made him “dangerous.” Moreover, his menacing melodies created disharmony for local Negro preachers who enjoyed singing Kumbaya and pretending all was well.
At any rate, the brick walls of the fellowship hall were suddenly sweating with the searing anticipation for what might be said. All the Reverends there-
in were reverent and waiting to hear the Minister’s invitation to the MMM. I was flabbergasted. Minister Louis Farrakhan preached “Jesus and Him Crucified.” If he had “opened the doors of the church,” half of us would have joined. His aura and anointing were palpable. If you have ever been within reaching distance of someone famous and God-inspired, you know what I mean.
I have only felt that level of spiritual presence three times before. Only former Governor Ann Richards, then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton, and Pastor T. D. Jakes emotionally moved me the way Farrakhan did that day. But the best was yet to come.
The Minister joined me, Thomas, and Ron in Dr. Harkins’ study. He was the most soft-spoken, humble man I have sat with in close quarters. He had the demeanor of an introverted genius. The evidence of his devout insight was looming.
of wisdom but a prescriptive for living. What he said to the four of us in a 200-square-foot room would have been better told to men and women worldwide.
Our problem in America and around the globe is that we don’t separate the good from the bad in people. Instead, we sentence our opponents to live in the confines of our narrow minds and shallow understandings. It takes grace to admit that everything about your enemy is not evil. There is something salvageable in every human word and deed.
My children have heard me say that you can teach from bad examples as well as from good ones. That revelation came partly from the ten golden moments I spent in the presence of a legend, an icon, and a fearless leader.
He floored me when we asked his opinion about someone or something political. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan made a statement I may have heard previously, but the weight of his convictions preceded the words that fell effortlessly from his lips.
“Sir, a prudent man consumes everything like fish; “Eat the meat and spit out the bones.”
OMG! That was not just a pearl
In just 90 days, the Honorable Louis Farrakhan will turn 90. Hopefully, this editorial will spark some inspiration for a widespread National Day of Respect on May 11th. And if there were any parts of this message you didn’t care for, spit it out but receive in the spirit of love for which it was written.
Happy 90th, Minister Farrakhan!
Allahu Akbar!
“Living While Black.”
By Dr. John E. WarrenThe Last Poets, the original rappers with a message and a purpose, said “It’s alright to die for a cause, but not just because.”
Those words continue to have meaning for us today when it has been proven time and time again that being Black, or just a person of color, can lead to death when encountering police. The unwritten crime appears to be
The only ones who appear to know that this is a crime, are the police. Let us remember that for an act to be considered a crime, it must first be a law enacted by some governing body.
Before we had laws enacted by legislative bodies, laws grew out of practice which became known as “Common Law.” This meant that if an act such as stealing a person’s horse occurred and the theft was caught and hung, the hanging of a person under such circumstances became an acceptable law long before laws were written.
Well, it appears today that police have made it a “common law”
practice to deal with Black men under what “they” have made a “common law” assumption, that it’s alright to beat, brutalize, and murder Black men on contact.
There are no such laws in any of the states that Black men and women have been murdered under. Yet, we see that the practice is almost universal, based on the location and number of fatal contact with police when “Living While Black.”
Just look at the list of those who have been in contact with police leading to trial and execution, all in one swift act. Most of us want to focus on George Floyd.
But his murder at the hands of
police came 30 years after the brutal beating of Rodney King. The difference is that King survived his beating and George Floyd did not.
Now we see that the murder of Black people by police is so deeply instilled in the culture of policing that the conduct is not limited to White police officers, but Black officers as well. But for people like Attorney Ben Crump, we wouldn’t have a record of these atrocities.
Attorney Crump, has not only created a whole legal specialty in the area of “Wrongful Death,” he has also written a book, Open Season, that documents, by name and case, the individuals who
have been victims of this unwritten law for more than a decade.
Dr. King once said we can legislate laws but not the hearts of men. Those of us on the endangered list of “Living While Black”, must engage in a collective effort to make “Dying While Black” as unacceptable as cancer. As a matter of fact, it’s a cancer we must all get concerned about before it happens to us. Dr. King also said, “Injustice anywhere, is injustice everywhere”. We must all work to end “Dying While Black”, whether it be from police or other wrongs against “All of Us.”
The savage beating and murder of Tyre Nichols by five Memphis police officers was criminal, and one more incidence of police brutality that too often is unleashed on African American men.
The murders once more trigger demands for reform. The unspeakable shooting of children at Sandy Hook and Parkland led to mass protests, culminating in the March for Life, led by the children themselves.
The police murder of George Floyd, one of too many police murders, fed the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the largest interracial non-violence demonstrations in our history, demanding police reform.
The results feed despair. The killings take place, the demonstrations demand change. Politicians express condolences and promise action. Then the lobbies mobilize to fight against reform. The gun
Publisher: Cheryl Smith
lobby — even with the National Rifle Association scarred by corruption — remains one of the most powerful in Washington and in statehouses across the country. Police unions resist reform and scare off politicians.
Reform gets twisted into a partisan issue, with politicians posturing that opponents want to “take your guns away,” or “disarm the police” or side with the criminals against the citizens. The reforms get watered down, the reformers retreat.
Real change is blocked. The killing goes on.
Some argue that reform won’t make a difference. Laws cannot erase the violence that a person might carry in his or her heart. But they can make it harder to get access to weapons of mass murder.
They can require police reforms that offer training, limit qualified immunity, reorganize forms of policing, and create accountability that changes what is deemed acceptable. As Dr. Martin Luther King taught, “It may be true that the law cannot change the heart, but it can restrain the heartless.”
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After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy in the summer of 1968, Lyndon Johnson pushed to treat guns like cars, licensing all gun owners and registering all weapons. Laws like that in Great Britain have had dramatic effect.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, that passed the House twice but was torpedoed by Republicans in the Senate, would outlaw racial profiling, restrict use of excessive force, and limit qualified immunity. That would help empower mayors to reform police departments across the country.
When the civil rights movement
pushed for equal protection under the law, for voting rights, and for equal access to public accommodations, we knew that changes in the law would not erase the racial hatreds that some carried in their hearts.
But we also knew that reform would change actions even if it couldn’t change hearts. And it would empower those who wanted to do right and disarm those who wanted to continue the repression.
We cannot allow ourselves to accept mass murders, gun violence and police misconduct. We cannot allow ourselves to adjust to them or to accommodate them. In the past three years, there have been across America more than 600 mass shootings in which four or more people were injured or killed. That’s nearly two a day on average.
An average of nearly 53 people a day are killed by a firearm in the US. Seventy-nine percent of homicides in the U.S. are gun related. That compares to 4% in the United Kingdom, or 13% in Australia.
A record 1,176 people were killed by police in the U.S. last year, according to Mapping Police Violence. Only 31 percent were involved in an allegedly violent crime. Nearly as many were cases in which either non-violent offenses or no offense at all were alleged. Nearly one-third were in situations where the person was fleeing from police. African Americans were three times as likely as whites to be killed by police.
There are more guns in America than there are Americans. More die from guns than in any other industrial country. Police brutality turns the law enforcer into the lawless. Yet sensible gun controls and police reform get twisted into partisan posturing. We can demand better. And we cannot fail to make that demand. Reform may seem impossible. Progress may seem an illusion. But accommodating ourselves to the violence offers no hope. Each horror, each crime, each tragedy must goad us toward greater action. This cannot go on.
that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.
I was recently asked how I celebrate Black History Month. The reality is that I’m a Black woman all year. Who I am and those I am descended from encompass more than twenty eight days. My DNA is rich with so many brilliant, hardworking, caring individuals who made a path despite so much opposition. Despite the racism, sexism, violence, unequal opportunities and so many other barriers, they preserved. They dreamed that we would overcome and there have been so many advancements. Yet, there is so much more that has to be accomplished. Until we have a society that is equitable, just, and inclusive for ALL, we still have work to do. This means ev-
eryone in our community. We have such a rich history of individuals in our culture. There is no way to surmise our contributions, struggles, moments and movements in a short, concise way. Our history begins well before slavery and even before the arrival to the Americas. This is my feeble attempt of exploring some of the richness of those who came before, whose shoulders we stand on. This week’s column is dedicated to my sheroes. So often, I think society tends to focus on just a few of the well-known leaders of our history but I want to highlight those who may not be on your radar, one national and three DFW sheroes.
1. Ida B. Wells-Barnett. I love Ida B. Wells because of her tenacity and brilliance. She not only dealt with losing her parents and infant brother so young but having to take care of her siblings as well. She took a job in Memphis as a teacher to keep her family together. “After the lynching of one of her friends,
Wells-Barnett turned her attention to white mob violence. She became skeptical about the reasons black men were lynched and set out to investigate several cases. She published her findings in a pamphlet and wrote several columns in local newspapers. Her expose about an 1892 lynching enraged locals, who burned her press and drove her from Memphis. After a few months, the threats became so bad she was forced to move to Chicago, Illinois.” She was a founder of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs which focused on suffrage (voting).
2. Juanita Craft. In the 30s, Juanita Jewel Shanks Craft, risked her life establishing NAACP chapters across the state of Texas. In eleven years, she organized over 180 chapters. “In 1955, she organized a protest of the State Fair of Texas against its policy of admitting blacks only on “Negro Achievement Day.” She later served for two terms on the
Dallas City Council. Although I never met Mrs. Craft, I was honored to work with her home in my 20s when I was Assistant Director at the South Dallas Cultural Center and ultimately serving as VP of Community Affairs at the State Fair of Texas.
3. Kathlyn Joy Gilliam. I met Mrs. Gilliam as she led ‘Clean South Dallas’, early in my career. The mentoring I received was invaluable. Mrs. Gilliam is most notably remembered for her 23 years as a trustee of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). Upon her election in 1974, she became the first African-American female trustee and was the first African-American to lead as Board President during the 1980-1982 term.
4. Dr. Mamie McKnight. I met Dr. McKnight early in my career as well and she was always so kind, warm and approachable. She, too, made such an impression on me. She was the founder of Black Dallas Remembered, Inc., a nonprofit organization de-
voted to the preservation of the Dallas Black community and was responsible for leading the investigation and preservation of Freedman’s Cemetery. It is the burial site of thousands of early Black Dallas settlers that would have been destroyed by the expansion of Central Expressway. I was blessed to work on this project in its early stages. They are not the only ones who have made an impact in my life. It was important to remember and pay homage to those who came before. The Bible encourages us to remember. In Isaiah 46:9 the Lord commands, “Remember your history, your long and rich history.” It is important for us to use this month to remember, celebrate, and not forget the vast journey of our experiences. I am because of them.
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is an author of three books and the host of The Tapestry podcast. To listen to episodes of the podcast, visit https:// www.spreaker.com/show/the-tapestry_1 and to learn more about her work, go to https://drfroswa.com/
Each year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History sets a theme for Black History Month. This year the theme is Black Resistance. It is appropriate for a time such as this because it reflects the work we must do in a climate where there has been active retrenchment of our rights.
The 2022 elections reminded us that voter suppression efforts continue to erode our voting rights. The reduction of our voting rights is taking place as we prepare for the 2024 election. Already the far rights and their allies are attempting to steal the 2024 election by sidelining as many voters as possible. This will pressure our voting rights organi-
cont. from page 1
This week, The Hill family will celebrate the life of their patriarch.
Clarence E. Hill, Sr. was the Business Manager/Chief Financial Officer at Lewis Funeral Home, starting as a bookkeeper in 1995.
Mr. Hill was born in Lavaca County, TX in 1937 and graduated from Asberry High School of Yoakum, TX in 1954 as the Valedictorian of his class. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Industrial Engineering in 1958 from Prairie View A&M University.
He started his teaching career as a high school mathematics teacher in El Campo, TX in 1958. He later accepted a position as the head of the mathematics and science department of Elgin High School in Elgin, TX in 1966. Mr. Hill moved to San Antonio, TX in 1968 accept-
zation, and I know they are equal to the task. Their work to prepare for 2024 is the epitome of Black resistance.
In the academic realm, 36 states have passed laws restricting what can be taught in classrooms. These laws are specious and ignorant. Some say teachers can’t teach “critical race theory,” although no one attempts to introduce a higher-level legal concept to K-12 students. Others vaguely say nothing can be taught to make students “feel uncomfortable” about their origins.
Enslavement was uncomfortable. Lynching was uncomfortable. Undoubtedly, Tyre Nichols felt “uncomfortable” when beasts with badges beat him to death over a traffic stop. What many people do not know about American history is bound to make them uncomfortable. But as my grandma used to say, “ignorance is bliss.”
We in academia must use our resistance to repel these mali-
ing a position in the San Antonio School District as a mathematics teacher at Wheatley High School and retiring from Jefferson High School in 1995.
Mr. Hill furthered his studies in Mathematics, Science and Education Administration and received a Masters Degree in Education Administration in 1986 from Prairie View A&M University.
He also served as an Adjunct Instructor from 1969 thru 2003.
He was married to Jewel Hill, who preceded him in death and they had two children, Tina and Clarence and five grandchildren. He, like his wife, was a strong HBCU supporter and mentor to many. He will be fondly remembered by relatives, friends, alumni, former students and coworkers, and his fraternity brothers.
I know there are so many other great fathers out there. We must do a better job of sharing their stories so they can be examples for future generations.
NABJ and NNPA cont. from page 1
Black Press for students and early career journalists.
She also pointed out that NABJ focuses on preparing journalists to become entrepreneurs and publishers and since NNPA publishers are employers, they could provide much-needed instruction and guidance.
“That’s what you offer that we truly need,” she said. “It’s important for us because we know in today’s age we have members who want to be entrepreneurs, members who want to have their own businesses. They need to know how to increase their advertising and manage a business.”
She continued, “You know, we have a Leadership Academy that I
would love to have publishers come and speak to our membership because you have the kind of skills they need.”
Noting that the collaboration called for more than just one meeting, both Tucker and Chavis answered questions from NNPA members and discussed everything from advocacy versus activism and putting an end to a toxic environment that was keeping both organizations from growing together and taking advantage of one another’s resources so that both could be stronger.
“NNPA and the NABJ, we’re going to work together,” said Chavis, to applause. “There is no dissension between the NABJ and NNPA!”
cious efforts. It is overtime for us to ensure that our collective history is reflective of reality. Nobody wants anybody to “feel bad.” Instead, we want to take the truth and build on it.
There is so much to resist that we must also resist the urge to become “too tired” to fight back.
I’m ashamed to say that, years ago, I said that I was tired of marching. Wrong! We can never be too tired to march, protest, or stand up for what is right.
I am profoundly grateful to the folks in Black Lives Matter who show up and show out in the face of injustice. In Los Angeles, they show up regularly to resist the anti-Blackness that riddles this city. In Washington, DC, people show up to protest land use decisions that push poor and moderate-income people out of the city. In Memphis, folks are showing up to protest the murder of Tyre Nichols. They are resisting, as we all must.
Self-care is also a form of resis-
Black CardThanks to all of you who took a stance, read my column and called me asking me, “Should my organization declare and publish a statement about the death of Tyre?”
My answer is YES.
This is not us and we must create a universal clarity that we want focus and change. I don’t think I will get much disagreement, when I showcase “Big Mama” rules out of her Playbook.
I witnessed an overflowing joy on the back porch or front porch, where my grandmother, Lucille “Big Mama” Allen poured into her three sons and three daughters, 16 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, 38 great-great grandchildren, seven great great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and bonus family members with simple, Bible-based logic for us to use all throughout our lives.
Standing in her “hands on hips stance,” “Honey, you need to be quiet, be still, be focused and get clarity, Amen!”. She left legacies that became part of lifetime lessons. She taught me how to seek knowledge, recognize support and to express gratitude.
Today, I can truly believe that
tance. While we can never be “too tired” to resist, the wise among us will know when it is time to take a break. A leaky vessel can’t carry anybody’s water. When we are broken, we can’t heal anyone, much less our community. When we are healthy and whole, we are effective warriors. When we are not, we must ask ourselves if we are bringing our best selves to the struggle.
Nearly 150 years ago, at the end of Reconstruction, African Americans faced resistance to our post-enslavement gains. Black Codes and Jim Crow laws were passed. Vagrancy laws were passed. Those African Americans who had attained some wealth and status, including elective office, found themselves under attack.
In that context, people like Ida B. Wells began to document lynchings to ensure that we all knew about the many attacks we were facing. This present period is reminiscent of the post-Re-
construction era when obstacles were created to prevent further progress in the face of Black gains.
It is no accident that the presidency of Barack Obama was followed by retrenchment in the subsequent presidency of the Orange Man, and Vice President Harris has been attacked in both racist and sexist terms. White resistance to Black progress must be met by Black resistance to ignorance. That is our challenge this Black History Month.
Our resistance must be structural, but it must also be personal. We must make decisions about how we resist, but we must resist. “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” said Frederick Douglass. What are you demanding, and how far will you go to ensure that our collective social and economic justice demands are met?
Malveaux is an economist, author and dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Los Angeles.
being optimistic and able to find victories in small daily things are skills that can be learned, but it takes conscious effort. Big Mama would say, You will know how God sends you what you ask for (Jeremiah 29:11) if you focus!
What I learned about clarity: Clarity is a deep sense of knowing and recognition that expands beyond yourself. The feeling, the vision, the sense, whatever it may be, you have it in your bones.
If you're clear, you don't, won't, and cannot doubt what you know. So, getting focused for me is a daily thing. I begin to absorb and know that clarity and focus is rooted in being selfaware!
If I seek guidance, understanding, clarity, or peace of mind, I must first master the art of silence. Like Lucille “Big Mama” Allen said “be still, be quiet and go with God to get focused!”
My #BlackHistoryMonth focus is out of another Sisterfriend’s playbook, Iyanla Vanzant. She said,” When we start the day with a spirit of joy, openness, peace and love, we put the universe on alert, we want more of the same.”
Focus is real. In the movie, Book of Eli (Denzel Washington) They were trying to destroy all the Bibles - Denzel had oneWhen they finally took the Bible from him, they found out that it was in Braille. They were angry yet Denzel dictated it from memory. We also discovered he
was blind! He was focused, and I need that kind of focus!
So, readers, I heard you! So yes, we must all make a statement on the death of Tyre Nichols and put in action steps to create system wise change to a systemic issue in our culture; Here are a few steps.
1. Demand and mandate a new, effective reform in our police departments. My mentor Amos F. Wilson called the police, the biggest gang in America who can legally kill you without remorse or repercussions. Reform the culture!
2. Create a public statement confirming the injustice and allow the community to address this incident with “authentic and unapologetic” conversations in churches, town halls and classroomsno disinformation allowed.
3. Protect and invest in moment that address our mental health and resources for our community, and also the same resources for those who are charged to protect and serve our community.
That is a start. So, let’s get focused and get clarity.
Lucille “Big Mama” Allen would get busy, and so should we! If you are ready contact the paper and request a presenter, speaker and facilitator. Or email me at terryallenpr@gmail.com
Before an audience that included among many, his mom Gloria –who raised him as a single motherhis wife Savannah and their three children, music mogul Jay Z, and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James made NBA History – and Black History - in one night.
cord that Abdul-Jabbar – a six-time NBA MVP – had held for 39 years.
James hit the record-breaking points with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter. It was his 36th point of the game and 38,388th of his career. League officials paused the game after the moment as his mom, wife and children came to the court to help celebrate.
“I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are one of a kind,” James said. He then asked packed audience at soldout Crypto.com Arena to giive Abdul-Jabbar a standing ovation.
“Everybody that’s ever been a part of this run with me the last … 20-plus years, I just want to say I thank you so much, because I wouldn’t be me without y’all.”
On Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issues a statement congratulating James on his achievement.
On Tuesday night, James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the Lakers’ home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In doing so he surpassed the re-
“Congratulations to LeBron on breaking one of the most hallowed records in all of sports by becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. It’s a towering achievement that speaks to his sustained excellence over 20 seasons in the league. And quite amazingly, LeBron continues to play at an elite level and his basketball history is still being written.”
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak
Prescott won the 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year award, announced Thursday night during the televised NFL Honors ceremony.
Prescott was nominated for his work on his Faith Fight Finish (FFF) Foundation which focuses on colon cancer research, mental health and suicide prevention, bridging the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve and offering assistance to people dealing with hardships.
His Foundation. is named after the three words his mother left him and his brothers before she died of cancer.
The Water Payton NFL Man of the Year Award honors an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field.
Prescott joins Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman and Jason Witten as Cowboys who have won the award.
Waste cont. from page 1
Goode, who has been complaining about this problem for several months, is also concerned about the bigger issues at stake from the overflowing trash bins. She said the overflowing waste bins are breeding grounds for bacteria, insects and rats.
“I realized that people were at home during the ice storm. But nobody wants to keep trash in their house or on their patio areas. But we don’t have a choice when we know it is not going to be picked up,” said Goode, who is committed to a permanent resolution to the trash issue.
While several properties contacted throughout the Metroplex have been dealing with the improper dumping of tras, some have hired trash pickup services.
One property manager, who would not allow the use their name or property said while the trash is a problem, tenants also have a shared responsibility for the disposal of their garbage and some tenants are just “lazy, sloppy and nasty.”
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By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines Texas
Digital workshops, collaborations and discussions about new ways to do business were all part the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) Mid-Winter Conference in San Juan, PR, last week.
Initially scheduled for St. Thomas Virgin Islands, due to damage to the host property following the latest hurricane, NNPA leadership operated on a quick turnaround providing attendees what many are calling “one of the best conferences ever.”
Gen Z, Millennials, journalists working for the so-called mainstream media and Black owned media put aside all gaps to have a meaningful exchange regarding keeping the Black Press relevant and true to its mission.
“As we celebrate 196 years of the Black Press, it is very important that we continue moving our organization forward,” said Karen Carter-Richards, NNPA Chairperson and owner of Houston Forward Times. “The Black Press is needed more today than ever before.”
Carter-Richards shared how the historic Houston Forward Times partnered with Nike and artist Jeremy Biggers to create a mural honoring basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes, who was the first player to be signed in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), where she won three WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards (2000, 2002, and 2005); and four WNBA titles (1997-2000) as a member of the Houston Comets.
This partnership helped the Forward Times to generate $12,000 in revenue and Carter-Richards encouraged publishers to think outside the box as they seek new revenue streams in this challenging financial climate.
Westside Gazette Publisher Bobby Henry, who like Carter-Richards is a second-generation publisher, also praised the conference, “The sessions were very beneficial and provided information that we can take back to our newsrooms to make our products and businesses stronger.”
The four-day conference brought together publishers and journalists from across the country to focus on not only learning more about navigating in a world that is becoming more and more digital-focused, but also keeping Black communities informed and empowered. The underlying message throughout the conference was the power that the publications hold and the need to capitalize on the $1.6 trillion Black spending power.
“This was by far the most impactful and rewarding Mid-Winter Conferences that I have attended,” Kenneth Miller, owner of Inglewood Today. “Each training session was presented with depth and weight that translated into bottom-line business results. We finally allowed for young people to have a platform that displayed the future of the NNPA, information from the tech community was outstanding, and the honoring of Dr. Ben Chavis with a much-deserved Life-Time Achievement Award made for a timeless experience.”
With the power of 230 regional and local newspapers with more than 22 million readers per week, the Mid-Winter Conference attracted corporate support from several major corporations including: Google News Initiative, Reynolds, AARP, Hyundai, Diageo, Nissan, Wells Fargo, API, Zillow, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Pfizer, Reynolds and General Motors.
Speakers presented works shops on: How to Monetize Your Online Presence, Enticing Generation Z and Millennials in Digital Revenue Strategies, and Google Tools for Newsrooms. All sessions had one common theme of how to creatively work together and maximize efforts with lim-
ited staff and resources.
Dallas-area papers reresented were: Dallas Examiner, Garland Journal, I Messenger and Texas Metro News. National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) President Dorothy Tucker, who had committed early in her first term that she would visit with publishers and work on bettering relationships, pointed out several efforts during her administration where attention has focused on the Black Press.
In addition to awarding more than $250,000 to members of the Black Press, under her administration both the president and executive director, as well as other board members have attended NNPA conferences and program.
Also several NNPA members have been the recipients of awards, served on the national board and chaired committees and Tucker said there’s more to come, including engaging students and younger journalists, which the Chairwoman was pleased to hear.
“One of my favorite moments from the Mid-Winter Conference was the information we all attained from the Gen Z and Millennial panel,” added Carter-Rich-
ards, who is serving her second-term as Chair of the NNPA Board. “To be able to work directly with these younger minds who are digital natives is an amazing opportunity. They talked about innovating the wheel rather than re-inventing it, and that is the energy that we need to continue pushing this network forward.”
A major highlight of the conference was a star-studded awards dinner gala celebrating the 10 years of service by Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis to the NNPA as its President and CEO. In addition to celebrating his 75th birthday, the civil rights activist, author, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, for work that included serving as: youth coordinator and SCLC assistant to Martin Luther King Jr., former Executive Director and CEO of the NAACP, the National Director of the March, the Founder and CEO of the National African American Leadership Summit (NAALS), CEO and Co-Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, which he co-founded with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.
The NNPA 2023 Annual National Convention will be held June 29-July 1 at the JW Marriott in Nashville, TN.
