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Serving North East Texas
My Truth Publisher Cheryl Smith
Social distancing/ healing dinner Have you ever second-guessed yourself and then found you had the best time of your life?
Chef Cassondra with Trey, who was celebrating his 50th birthday!
Sometimes you just don’t know what’s down that road, around that corner or over that mountain. You just have to have faith. Well, we’ve been social distancing for the past five months and in addition to the experience being challenging and frustrating; it can also be frightening and depressing. So, when you find yourself in an uplifting situation, it’s worth celebrating. Which brings me to my truth. Even as I got dressed for this special birthday dinner I had reservations. Sure I had been looking forward to visiting Diane at her new home, and the thought of being served a fivecourse meal by Chef Cassondra; was definitely a positive one because I have eaten her food for almost 30 years, with nary a complaint. But we’re in the midst of COVID-19 and folks have not been taking precautions. I had concerns about leaving the comfort and safety of my castle. After all, leadership has failed us and the Karens are running rampant.
You may ask yourself, Who should I listen to?” Now if there is one time you want to be on the right side of history, during your life time; this is it. Diane assured us that social distancing was in full effect, and it was. Trey was celebrating his 50th birthday and I was celebrating key moments in histo-
see MY TRUTH, page 3
Inside No Economic Victory Lap page 4
THE OLD GUARD page 6
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TWO GIANTS REMEMBERED By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News
At a time when the country is in a state of pandemonium with the increase of COVID-19 related deaths; many are mourning the deaths of two civil rights icons. First news spread of the death of venerable activist, Rev. Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian on Friday, July 17. Later in the day it was announced that longtime U.S. Congressman John Lewis had also transitioned. President Barack Obama, upon hearing of Dr. Vivian’s passing, said, “I have to imagine that seeing the largest protest movement in history unfold over his final months gave the reverend a final dose of hope
Cong. John Lewis
Information on services for Congressman John Lewis not available at press time. before his long and well-deserved rest.” It was last December when Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) urged the nation and world to pray for her colleague who had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. “Congressman Lewis has been an elegant rose in Congress, providing his colleagues and his nation with wisdom, grace and strength,” she wrote. “He has prayed for others when many could not pray for themselves. Now it is our time to pray for him.” When the congressman shared his diagnosis, he said he would continue his “fight in the halls of government for policies and laws that lift the American people” and that embolden the American Democracy. “We have many bridges to cross,” he said. “With God’s grace I will be
VOL IX ISSUE 22
I was just
Thinking Norma Adams-Wade
Race rears its head in odd police twist
Services for Dr. C.T. Vivian will be Thursday, July 23, 2020, 11 a.m. at Providence Missionary Baptist. The service will be live-streamed and private. back on the front lines soon.” And he stayed on the frontlines until the very end. The son of sharecroppers, the Alabama native helped organize sit-ins and protests as a student at Fisk University. A Freedom Rider, tales of the brutal beatings he received are legendary and the topic of history classes on the struggle for justice and equality. Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa, Vice Chair Carla Brailey, Finance Chair Chris Hollins, Treasurer Mike Floyd, and Secretary Lee Forbes issued the following statement: “… the world lost two of its greatest giants, John Lewis and CT Vivian. John Lewis was everything that is good about this country and everything that we, as Texas Democrats, strive to be. John Lewis taught us that it doesn’t matter where you come from or how comfortable you are -- if you possess true bravery, profound humanity, and a willingness to sacrifice, you too can change the course of history. “Lewis was a profound man who lived an extraordinary, resilient life. A rebel and a changemaker, Lewis was the youngest leader at the historic march to Washington. He knew that with every step he took to challenge the status quo, his life would be filled, at times, with pain and anguish, but lived it every day with the joy, grace, and courage that some of us can only dream of. .” Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson shared his expressions, upon hearing of the Congressman’s passing. “Congressman John Lewis was a true civil rights icon and an American hero. His commitment to the fight for justice, fairness, and equality was universally admired. He will be sorely missed. My heart goes
Minnesota police officer J. Alexander “Alex” Kueng is caught in an unimagined racial bind. Kueng (pronounced “King”) is one of the less-known, four cops accused in the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd – a handcuffed, unarmed Black man whose death in a Minnesota neighborhood is now sadly legendary. Rookie officer Kueng, 26, is in a bind because he himself is half-Black. National media reports that his mother is White. His father is Nigerian. Kueng has four adopted, African-American siblings.
George Minnesota rookie police officer J. Alexander “Alex” Kueng.
cal communities. “I am truly excited to join AHF in their efforts to provide the highest quality care to people living with HIV in Texas” Before joining AHF, Mr. Snipes was a municipal executive in different capacities for Dayton, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; Austin, Texas; and Missouri City, Texas. In all four cities, he implemented proactive programs and led innovative initiatives that set a standard for excellence. Early in his career, Snipes worked in the non-profit arena as an Outreach Supervisor and Foster Grandparent Director for the Macon-Bibb County Economic Opportunity Council in Macon, Georgia. He has earned numer-
Some national media also have reported that a few of Kueng’s relatives say that ironically, he became a police officer because he wanted to help protect Black people from abusive officers – having seen such behavior as a younger male. Reports say he thought he could best accomplish change from inside a police force. In a baffling twist of fate, his goal apparently did not work out as planned. In a June 27, 2020 New York Times piece, reporter Kim Barker quoted Kueng’s mother quoting her son: “He said, ‘Don’t you think that that (change) needs to be done from the inside?’” The mother is quoted as saying. The piece said Kueng and his family even volunteered at a Haiti orphanage after the devastating 2010 earthquake. And it said that one of Kueng’s siblings is a devoted Black Lives Matter supporter. So, what happened? Floyd’s death has been described repeatedly as one of the most heartless killings captured on video by a witness and put on social media for all the world to see. Some observers could even construe the Kueng-Floyd clash as Black-on-Black crime. Yet, what observers make of the situation is unpredictable. I was just thinking, ...sociologists say cultures manage best when they learn to live together. But in the Floyd killing, cultures converged for an unfathomable tragedy. The victim and officers were a mixture of misfortune. Kueng is in a bind because he was the youngest and newest officer in the squad, having gone out on only three previous assignments. Of the other three officers, one is Asian (Tou Thao, 34) and two are White (Thomas Lane, 37, and Derek Chauvin, 44). Chauvin, of course, set the tone for the racial carnage. He was older and had a 19-year career wearing the blue uniform. The details are history-book copy by now: The infamous Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck, mashed to the ground, for eight minutes, 46 seconds. Before Floyd died, he repeated many times, “I can’t breathe!” Police records say Kueng
see SNIPES, page 3
see THINKING, page 3
Rev. C.T. Vivian
out to his family.” Born in Boonville, MO; his life-long work as an activist spanning more than seven decades, began in 1947 when he participated in a protest at a lunch counter sit-in. Both Rev. Vivian and the Congressman are recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was presented by President Barack Obama in 2013. An active member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the founder of the C.T. Vivian Leadership Institute was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The Rev. Al Sharpton shared his sentiments in a statement, “The passing of C.T. Vivian should cause us all to pause and celebrate the life and sacrifice of this giant. He made this nation and world a better place. RIP, my friend.” First elected to Atlanta City Council in 1981, the member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., served in Congress for the past 33 years, since his election in
see GIANTS, page 5
Snipes joins AHF to address AIDS Crisis in Texas Special to Texas Metro News AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest, non-profit public health organization addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, is pleased to announce that Anthony J. Snipes, MPA, ICMA-CM, has joined AHF as a part of its southern bureau leadership team. A graduate of Mercer University (BA) and Florida State University (MPA), Mr. Snipes’ career spans more than 24 years and includes achievements in strategic initiatives that involve budgeting and performance management, public/private partnerships and organizational/business development. Given his current role as national
president for the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), and his many years of service to the organ-
Anthony Snipes
ization as public policy chair, Snipes has been a national leader in addressing systemic policy changes that impact lo-
JULY 22, 2020