I Messenger by Cheryl Smith

I M essenger VOLUME 8

APRIL 26, 2019

ISSUE 36

CLAUDETTE COLVIN’S STORY

Mamie Till Mobley’s Story

TRUTH

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Established 2011 CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

April 26, 2019

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INSIDE

WORDZ OF WILSON

TALKING TO BLACK BOYS

NEWS

Every generation has the opportunity to make the world a little better than they found it; some may say it is obliged to do so. As I reflect on our recent celebration of Earth Day, I began

He had just finished “busting a move,” followed by a flash of his trademark smile, then proceeded to answer questions. My first one: “Why are you so happy?

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What’s your motivation?”

April 26, 2019

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MY TRUTH by Cheryl Smith, Publisher

Celebrating Women

If a story gets told often enough, it becomes truth. It’s so important that those who have information share it because some people will tell a half truth so convincingly that they will have the actual participants doubting what they actually know to be the truth. Which brings me to my truth. I was so excited to hear that THE Ms. Claudette Colvin would be visiting Dallas and would be honored at Friendship-West Baptist Church, along with the Honorable Dr. Zan W. Holmes Jr., this weekend. Senior Pastor Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III is great at recognizing greatness and those are definitely two of the greatest of ours, and any time! I feel fortunate to have met Ms. Colvin and the great Mamie Till Mobley (mother of Emmett Till), and they made sure that I heard their truths!

I have heard numerous stories to the contrary, however, I am going to respect her reality and truth that she shared with me. This is also the position I will take with Ms. Colvin, who I met and visited with in Selma, AL., during the 40th commemoration of Bloody Sunday.

“wasms!” That’s right, it still “is” what it “is” in so many instances. Well there was one glaring “fact” that Ms. Colvin disputed and I will never forget the way she spoke her truth because it saddened me then and today as I think about how sometimes we can be our worse enemies. Yes, there were stark differences in young Claudette and Mrs. Rosa Parks. One, a student, the other, a married woman. There were other differences as well, but I won’t go there for the sake of an uplifting

Whenever the struggle is mentioned, her name should have been and should be mentioned. During a visit to Dallas, and as a guest on my show on radio station KKDA-AM, Mrs. Mobley talked candidly about the brutal murder of her only child, but she also talked about how she prepared him for his trip to visit her relatives in Mississippi; telling him that he couldn’t act the same as he did in the more progressive Chicago where he lived. The chilling part of her narrative came when she talked about having to identify Emmett’s body. Fortunately for her, she had a shoulder to lean on, none other than her husband, Gene Mobley, who happened to be Emmett’s barber and gave her son his last haircut. He also traveled to Dallas with her and I took them to spend time with Rev Holmes and the St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church family in 1995. Mr. Mobley, along with his wife, identified 14-year-old Emmett’s body. She said they went over every inch of Emmett’s body and there was one “fact” that people were espousing as true, and it wasn’t. Mrs. Mobley said her son had not been castrated. Now, he had been brutally beaten and tortured, but his genitalia was intact, she said. myimessenger.com

Claudette Colvin is no stranger to the struggle. At the age of 15, on March 2, 1955, she was arrested in Montgomery for refusing to give up her seat for a white woman. Now this was months before Mrs. Rosa Parks, took a noble stance and refused to stand and give up her seat. The secretary of the local chapter of the NAACP, it was said that she was an ideal person to be the face of the movement that morphed into the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Young Claudette was a member of the NAACP Youth Council. She had dreams, aspirations and she had an activist’s heart. Her story is worth knowing and sharing. When I met her, we talked about that eventful day when she was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace, violating the segregation laws, and assault. Makes you want to shake your head in amazement at what was called assault then, and today; depending on the color of the perpetrator’s skin. Ms. Colvin and I talked about colorism, racism and a lot of other “isms.” Sadly, over half a century later, those “isms” still exist, instead of turning into

and positive narrative. You always have to think about the end game and what is the motivation of your actions. However, I want people to know an important “fact” that Ms. Colvin shared with me. She said she was NOT, and I repeat NOT pregnant. Now I realize that those in a position may have decided on a “better” representative for the struggle, but it was not fair to cast dispersions on that, young, beautiful, ambitious child; who had the guts to stand up— I mean—remain sitting! It’s important to note that she and four others, Aurelia S. Browder, Susie McDonald, Mary Louise Smith, and Jeanetta Reese, were the plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle, challenging bus segregation. Read her story. Whenever the struggle is mentioned, her name should have been and should be mentioned. Talk about a hidden figure. I’m just glad at 80 years of age, she is still with us and we can shower long overdue love! And respect! April 26, 2019

COMMENTARY by Dr. Julianne Malveaux

DON’T MESS WITH MAX:

Who does Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin think he is? Simmering in his putrid privilege, he seemed to think that he was in charge of the House Financial Services Committee. He was rude and rogue when he snapped back at Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the committee chair, because she checked him on his nonsense. The hapless Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, forgot his place and was publicly and unacceptably disrespectful to Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the chair of the House Financial Services Committee. Waters compelled his presence to testify and then summarily dismissed him (“you can leave if you want”) when he got testy and disrespectful with her. Mnuchin is really above his Peter Principle as Treasury Secretary in any administration but 45’s. And those birds of a feather stick together because they share values and shady self-serving morals. Mr. Mnuchin boldly requested government planes to facilitate his honeymoon, is taking his cues from the man who has turned the Presidency into a profit center, operating government on a “pay-to-play” basis with possibly Russians, Saudis and who knows who else. No wonder Mnuchin won’t release 45’s taxes. No wonder he could not answer the direct questions of a congressional committee. No wonder he whined about being the “worst treated” Treasury secretary in history. Was that comment supposed to impress someone? It surely didn’t impress Maxine Waters who handled Mnuchin the same way one might treat a bag of dog poop abandoned by its careless owner. You wouldn’t put your hands on it. You might not even kick it. But you’d sniff at it and turn away. That’s just what Congresswoman Maxine Waters did when she told him that he could leave the April 26, 2019

Steve Mnuchin hearing he’d committed to participate in. Then, she icily told him not to presume to instruct her on how to hold a hearing, and how to use a gavel (he said gravel – inarticulate). Maxine Waters took the hapless Mnuchin to Liberation School, but since he graduated from the Klux Academy of White Supremacy, he will probably have to subject himself to further detoxification from his racist behavior. Mnuchin’s behavior toward Congress-woman Waters was his exercise in white supremacy, pure and simple. White supremacy is the belief that the white race is inherently superior to other races, and that white people should have control over people of different races, especially people of African descent. White supremacy manifests itself in public policy that allows white so-called “law and order” officers to kill unarmed Black people because they think they are superior and call tell the lie that they are in fear for their lives. White supremacy manifests itself in the ways that African Americans earn unequal pay for the same work and the ways that supremacists justify it. White supremacy occurs when colonizers come into predominately Black communities and then insist that others play by their rules and kowtow to their desires. They want someone to turn down the go-go music, but readily accept other loud noise. Because they are loud noise. Loud, myopic, uncompromising noise. And Munchkin Mnuchin was the noisiest of all when he presumed to instruct an African American icon on how to use a gavel after she has spent nearly 30 years in Congress. Mnuchin’s performance was a tribute to the

racist capitalist patriarchy that is the foundation of white supremacy. He would not have even slightly presumed to tell a white man, or a Black one for that matter, how to close a hearing. He might have told a white woman, possibly adding the term “honey” in to soften or sharpen the bow. But the only person he’d dare get huffy with, just based on the white supremacist belief of his privilege, was a Black woman. Maxine Waters was the wrong Black woman. Excuse my Ebonics, but Max don’t play. She takes no tea for the fever. She takes back her time, stands up for her rights, and was not about to have a pathetic 45 lackey disrespect her. The House Judiciary Committee held hearings around the same time the House Financial Services Committee was. So while the Treasury Secretary was disrespecting Congresswoman Waters, the House Judiciary Committee was holding a hearing about the dangers of white supremacy. White supremacy was displayed at its most privileged, when an elected member of Congress is inappropriately chided by a Cabinet member, who does not have peer status. White supremacy attempts to reinforce the egregious nature of the Dred Scott decision in which the Supreme Court of these United States declared that the Black man had “no rights that a white man is bound to respect.” For Steven Mnuchin, Congresswoman Maxine Waters had no rights he was bound to respect. For Mnuchin, and too many others in the 45 circle, the Dred Scott decision still stands. Mnuchin may have simmered in his faux white superiority for much of his life, but his simmer turned into a boil when he tangled with the House Judiciary Committee, and his boil was on the hot seat. He learned, I hope, not to mess with Max. I hope he also learned that his white supremacy will not protect him from a band of tenacious Democrats who will continue pushing him for both truths and tax returns. myimessenger.com

COMMENTARY by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Turmoil in Trump’s White House

I was sadly and profoundly disturbed while reading the report by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III detailing the activities of a fragmented and undisciplined White House, a president whose activities boarded on illegality and a presidential campaign whose contacts with the Russian government were dangerous, and potentially harmful to our country, and to global democracy. The condemnation of President Trump’s behavior as reported in the Mueller report is shared not only by Democrats, but by thoughtful and respected members of the Republican Party who believe that President Trump’s reported conduct is unworthy of our nation’s commander-in-chief. Former U.S. Senator Jeff Flake from Arizona recently said during a national radio program that the direction of the nation was perilously uncertain under President Trump’s leadership, myimessenger.com

and that the Republican Party should find another candidate to replace Mr. Trump as the party’s nominee in next year’s presidential election. Senator Mitt Romney, the Republican Party’s presidential nominee in the 2012 presidential election, said that he, too, was deeply disturbed after reading the Mueller report. Senator Romney said that he was “appalled” that members of the Trump campaign associated themselves with Russian government operatives. “I am sickened at the extent and pervasiveness of dishonesty and misdirection by individuals in the highest office of the land, including the president,” Senator Romney said. “Reading the report is a sobering revelation of how far we have strayed from the aspirations and principles of the founders,” Romney concluded. On the issue of obstruction of justice, Special Counsel Mueller’s report demands that Congress

and the people of our nation commence a search for the truth that will determine whether or not conduct occurred that extended beyond the boundaries of the law. In his report, Mr. Mueller wrote that he and his investigators were unable to determine “conclusively” that criminal conduct occurred. The report could have stopped there, but it did not. “While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him,” it continued. Now is the time for Congress to pick up where the Mueller report concluded, and determine whether or not there was conduct that was in fact criminal. We must discover why there was not an exoneration of the president by the Special Counsel. We cannot afford this troubling issue to linger. April 26, 2019

WHO’S WHO in Black Dallas

Rep. Sherman spearheads Diversity Under the Dome

AUSTIN – “Let’s represent the fabric of Texas,” Representative Carl Sherman (D-Dallas) recently said when he invited six other members to assist him in creating what he has coined, “Diversity Under the Dome.” Sherman is joined by Rep. Rhetta Bowers, Rep. John Bucy, III, Rep. Julie Johnson, Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos, Rep. John Rosenthal, and Rep. James Talarico on the committee. Rep. Sherman said, “I was looking around the Capitol noticing the lack of diversity among staff,

April 26, 2019

and I wanted to do something. We often preach diversity, but we do not practice it in our day-to-day close interactions. This goes back to the simple law of attraction, we cannot encourage diversity if our teams are not reflective of such. This committee is purposely comprised of members who understand the importance and value of having a staff that is inclusive of many different ethic and cultural backgrounds, and serve as models to encourage other offices to be more inclusive.

“If we want to continue to thrive, we have to be more inclusive at all levels,” Sherman said. Citing an observation made by fellow committee member, Rep. Talarico, Sherman noted when you have diversity and inclusiveness, the office comes up with better ideas and better deliverables. Sherman further stated, “I believe legislatively, this translates to laws that are more considerate of all people… and that our Capitol should look like the melting pot that our great state and nation represents.”

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COMMENTARY

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April 26, 2019

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Revised December 8, 2018

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April 26, 2019

QUIT PLAYIN by Vincent Hall

Beyond Banning the Box Beyond

Banning

the

Box

(BBTB) is the title of a scholarly conceptual study published in the Human Resource Management Review. BBTB is academically and culturally rich. It speaks to the most damning and deplorable question

United States incarcerates more people, per capita, than any other nation. More than 2.3 million people are conﬁned in 1719 state prisons, 102 federal prisons, 942 juvenile correctional facilities, 3283 local jails, and 79 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers, and prisons in the U.S. territories This translates to about 1 in 35 adults in the U.S. being incarcerated, on parole, or on probation at any given time. More than 600,000 Americans are released from incarceration each year, of which

in our urban setting; what to do after the lockup? For the sake of transparency, the periodical was written by John E. Baur, Shanna R. Daniels, M. Ronald Buckley, Heather J. Anderson and Alison V. Hall-Birch. All of them are college professors; one of them grew up in my house. Quit Playin’— you know how I am about these three girls of mine. Although this runs the risk of seeming partial, the need for this level of information and corrective action is crucial. Commissioner John Wiley Price led Dallas County to “ban the box” years ago, and the results have been more than positive. But this study leans in to encourage more employers to get on the “Ban Wagon.” (Pun intended!) The BBTB introduction strikes the coup de grace. It convicts the American criminal “injustice” system for its lack of effort and concern for the “rehabilitation” part of their job. Getting “tough on crime” was a Republican rouse. Now we are in the tough position of managing a crisis that crosses party lines. “Housing approximately one-fourth of the world’s convicted individuals, the April 26, 2019

approximately 95% seek employment. This group represents a sizable percentage of the total labor force as nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. have a prior criminal conviction, and 16.1 million people have been imprisoned or convicted of a felony. Despite their best eﬀorts, these potential workers frequently face hardships when they attempt to re-enter the workforce due in part to a lack of training while incarcerated, strained personal relationships and unreceptive hiring practices. These issues are further compounded by the exoﬀender stigma they bear upon.” This week, there was a Dallas Morning News article that caught my eye. It featured the CEO of the 9th largest corporation in the United States and his pledge to hire formerly-incarcerated employees. Randall Stephenson, a gentleman that I met several

times during my 26-year-stint at AT&T, made a lot of sense. Stephenson and Bishop T. D. Jakes traded wisdom in the body of the story. “If a guy gets out of prison and he can’t get a place to stay because every application locks him out of a rental, much less ownership, he can’t get a loan and he can’t get a job, where else can he go except back to prison?” Jakes asked. AT&T has hired about a dozen employees who were formerlyincarcerated to work at a Richardson call center as part of a pilot program. Stephenson said the company now plans to expand the program to other cities. “If we truly are going to be a society who wants to ensure that we don’t just have this revolving door to our prison system, then you’ve got to step up,” he said. “You’ve got to be part of the solution.”” Hiring as many of the 600,000 felons released each year makes business sense, because the more gainfully employed in any community, the more customers all companies can compete for. His efforts are logical, because if you convert criminals you reduce crime, and thereby the bottomline dollars spent on security. Jakes is right. Stephenson is right. Price is right. But now as a society we have to get right and stop the cycle of making lepers of those who paid to have their spots cleansed. BBTB calls us to end the stigmas, stereotypes, discrimination and deleterious labels. We must begin the job of training and redeploying all of our human capital. p.s. Happy Birthday Commissioner! Thanks for hiring us! myimessenger.com

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April 26, 2019

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Wordz of Wilson by Chelle Luper Wilson

I Can’t Breathe

Every generation has the opportunity to make the world a little better than they found it; some may say it is obliged to do so. As I reflect on our recent celebration of Earth Day, I began to think about how it’s not just the weather that’s deteriorating our communities; pollution, toxic waste, and other effects of environmental racism also play a role. If you think that was by design, you’re probably right.

risk in that same region from formaldehyde and ethylene oxide levels in the air. Crosby, Texas, which is located in this region, suffers from a poverty rate nearly twice that of the U.S. A few weeks ago residents of southeast Dallas met with city attorneys and other officials to address the growing “Shingle Mountain” problem. The pile of old asphalt shingles has grown so large it can be seen from the highway. It’s not just an eyesore though, the page and a half filing by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Little Miss Flint Mari Copeny When the Commission for Racial Justice studied toxic wastes in America, they found the racial makeup of neighborhoods to be the most significant factor in deciding where hazardous waste sites would be placed. Businesses tend to work with zoning commissions along the “paths of least resistance,” and, therefore; ordinances tend to privilege wealthy communities, while minority and lower income neighborhoods are left dumped on, contaminated, and exposed. You may remember what happened outside Houston last month. Schools were closed and residents were told to stay inside because the chemical plant fires left behind a cloud of toxic smoke in the industrialized areas of Southeast Texas. In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency previously noted an elevated cancer myimessenger.com

lists violations like “discharging one or more air contaminants” that “may tend to be injurious to ... human health.” Or “carrying on trade, business, or occupation within the City that is injurious to the health of those who reside in the vicinity.” Recent research from the University of Minnesota and the University of Washington names poor air quality as the largest environmental health risk in the United States. They looked at what is called fine particulate matter pollution, which is

especially harmful—causing 100,000 plus deaths each year from heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and other diseases. The research shows that Black and Latino communities are most likely to breath in this air, but the least likely to contribute to its cause. If those who are subjected to breathing this polluted air aren’t causing it, then who is? The study found that this devastating type of pollution is disproportionately caused by the consumption of goods and services by white Americans. For the first time, research quantifies the racial gap between who actually causes air pollution and who breathes it. The very air we breathe is killing us. Literally. Black Americans are three times more likely to die from exposure to air pollutants than whites. Toxic air is contributing to increased risks of disease and shortened life expectancies in the African American community. More than half of the 9 million people who live near hazardous waste sites are people of color. We don’t think or talk enough about the destructive nature of environmental racism to our neighborhoods and, as a result, our people. That has to change. If they won’t give us a seat when environmental policies are being discussed, we each must become modern day Shirley Chisolms and bring our own environmentally-friendly and sustainably sourced folding chairs to the table. We can’t sit this one out or pass to the next generation. If we don’t do something now, there may not be a next generation. In case you’re wondering, it’s been 1, 818 days since Flint had clean water! April 26, 2019

April 26, 2019

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Living Legends

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April 26, 2019

Featuring UBER EATS

April 26, 2019

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Bennett pens message to Black boys

Martellus Bennett reads during book signing

Story and Photos By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

The 2016 shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling affected Martellus Bennett intensely. Like the rest of Black America, Bennett was enraged, saddened, disheartened and disgusted. So he put pen to paper and let his emotions out. “I just felt like I needed to write something for the black kids who had to see or were witnessing these things,” Bennet said of the way social media in particular is readily available to show any and all, good and bad, negative and positive. “We didn’t have access to as many things that were happening in the world. Now, you see all these things.” The result was the open letter/ poem: “Dear Black Boy.” The Players Tribune, an on-line publication founded by Derek Jeter that publishes first-person stories directly from athletes, published Bennett’s poem in July 2016. It resonated throughout black America as the NFL veteran spoke directly to young black men and myimessenger.com

boys encouraging them to look deep within themselves and discover the inner strength, grit, determination and more to uplift themselves and their communities. Fast forward to 2019 and that poem has now become a book of the same name and was published by Bennet himself and the agency he founded, The Imagination Agency, a multimedia creative production company focused on children’s literature, entertainment and education. Bennett returned to Dallas recently, where he started his professional football career, to promote the book – his third – and sharing his message of self-esteem and empowerment to your black youth. “I feel like they (black boys) didn’t need another athlete to inspire to be like,” Bennett said during a recent reading of the book at The Wild Detectives Bookstore in Dallas’ Bishop Heights neighborhood. “But if I could continue to write books and be an author and make movies, etc. that would give them more to aspire to.” The book, which is printed in various shades of sepia tones and brown, offers advice to black youth

and hits them where most of them live – the sports world. Bennett said the African American community must encourage its youth to excel in ALL areas of life, not just athletics. “We must lace up our shoes to do more than run another sprint, dunk another ball, catch another pass, or swing at another pitch,” one page in the book reads. “We must lace our shoes and run toward freedom – cheering on those who are training and running our same race, picking up those who get tired or distracted on their way to the finish line. From “Dear Black Boy” “The idea of this book is that everyone in it is in a race,” Bennett explained. “They’re in a maze and they are trying to find freedom. We all have been looking for freedom and what freedom is different for everyone,” he said. “So to get to the finish line, it may be a different journey for each person.” Bennett – who was raised in Houston and played football and basketball at Texas A&M before he was selected in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Cowboys -was also intentional about another aspect of the book and the message

he wanted to send to young black youth. “If you look at the art style in here there are no facial expression on the kids. That’s because when you look at it you should see yourself,” he explains. “And every single kid in here is me and every single kid in here is you. So they are all running but look, they are helping each other to the top,” he said pointing to images in the book. “They are pulling each other along because it’s important to understand that when you play the game of life, you don’t travel alone, you have to help others through it. That’s a big part of this book and what I want to convey,” he said. “I try to tell the black boys that even though they may be competing in certain things like sports, in life they are working together.” Dear Black Boy is available for purchase now via The Imagination Agency and Amazon. For more information on The Imagination Agency and Dear Black Boy, visit The Imagination Agency website or follow @theimaginationagency on Instagram. April 26, 2019

April 26, 2019

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SAVE THE DATE June 22, 2019 6p.m.

USA BOWL 10920 Composite Drive, Dallas

Cheryl Smith’s

Don’t Believe the HYPE Celebrity Bowl-a-thon Cheryl Smith’s

Hype

Don’t Believe the

6-23-2018

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Celebrity Bowl-a-thon

For vendor or sponsorship opportunities, or to register your team, call 214-941-0110 21

April 26, 2019

AROUND TOWN WITH HOLLYWOOD

BY HOLLYWOOD HERNANDEZ

Tiffany Gilbert-Press Day at Lone Star Park

4. Nanette Lee-Phat Tuesday

2. Legz Paris-Dallas International Film Fest red carpet.

4. Nanette Lee-Phat Tuesday

Teresa Wilson and Shuckey DuckeyPhat Tuesday

Allura-Hollywood Hernandez Live

April 26, 2019

1. Sloane Anderson-Dallas Parks Volunteer Appreciation lunch.

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April 26, 2019

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LIFESTYLE by Valder Beebe

That Celebrity Interview:

Vanessa Lachey

Food is what we all identify with no matter the language, culture or geographical area of the planet. In 2018, I created The Food IQ Girls to inspire, inform and elevate our food IQ. This week, invited into the Valder Beebe Show SATELLITE Studio, Derek Robinson, Co-Founder of Black Restaurant Week as he launched the 2019 tour in Houston, Texas, in advance of Dallas (Oct. 13-27) Black Restaurant Week celebration. Black Restaurant Week was founded in 2016 in Houston and has expanded to eight U.S. cities. The movement currently supports more than 500 minority businesses nationwide and has generated an economic impact of approximately $1.5 million. Black Restaurant Week LLC co-founded by Derek Robinson, an annual, multi-city culinary movement celebrating the flavors of African, African-American and Caribbean cuisine nationwide. Black Restaurant Week partners with black-owned restaurants, chefs, caterers and food trucks to host a selection of culinary experiences aimed to expand awareness and increase support for black culinary myimessenger.com

professionals. The organization was founded in 2016 by entrepreneurs Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson. The experience enticing foodies across the nation with the soulful flavors and tantalizing aromas of Week, for my audience to become Pan-African cuisine, Black Restau- familiar. rant Week LLC will kick-off its DR: Black Restaurant Week is in its fourth year. It celebrates the flavors of African American, African & Caribbean cuisine. We have a restaurant showcase, a panel discussion with an up and coming food entrepreneurs. There is even a pop-up fourth year in April with an eight- restaurant and a pop-up bar. city U.S. tour. This is a mission to VBS: The tour starts in Houston support the entire culinary industry, and winds up in Dallas? including restauranteurs, chefs, ca- DR: Yes, we visit seven different terers, food trucks, bartenders and markets and show the versatility of farmers, the cultural movement has food in diverse locations. We’re expanded to include a special stop coming to Dallas……. go to linktr. in Indianapolis to partner with the ee/blackrestaurantweek National Urban League’s annual conference.-Text provided by Derek Robinson media team

VBS: Derek thank you for joining me on The Valder Beebe Show broadcasting live on FM from Dallas, Texas. Derek Robinson share with us about Black Restaurant

ValderBeebeShow.com, 411RadioNetwork.com, Youtube.com/valderbeebeshow, 411RadioNetwork.com; Podcast audio: Soundcloud.com/valderbeebeshow, Soundcloud.com/kkvidfw, 411RadioNetwork.com, PChatman Streaming TV Network and VBS affiliate broadcasters. Now available on 411RadioNetwork App

April 26, 2019

As an education CEO, Lynn McBee helps young women get to college. As mayor, she’ll be a role model for young women across Dallas. When we empower young women, we strengthen families, we build communities and we re-define our future. I’ll be the mayor who opens doors and unlocks new opportunities for young women, and for all of Dallas. That’s how we strengthen our future. POLITICAL AD PAID FOR BY LYNN MCBEE CAMPAIGN, P.O. BOX 191733, DALLAS, TX 75219

Early voting begins Monday, April 22. April 26, 2019

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NFL star Von Miller returns home to celebrate DeSoto Story and Photos By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

He had just finished “busting a move,” followed by a flash of his trademark smile, then proceeded to answer questions. My first one: “Why are you so happy? What’s your motivation?” Von Miller stepped aside so I could see the hundreds of people milling about Von Miller signs autographs and motioned to them. They are the “It really means a lot. This is reason he’s so happy. They are his me,” he said motioning again motivation. to the large crowd. “We’ve had “When you get the people out a lot of great people come out here. All the people that help of DeSoto and I remember what support you and make you the those guys meant to me when man that you are today… it’s love they came back and I just try to like this and I’m happy. I want to pay it forward with Von Miller dance.” Day and all the stuff we are Mr. Miller, a DeSoto native, doing.” returned home for a day of The free event, which was community engagement during open to the public at large, not the 4th Annual Von Miller Day just those from DeSoto, featured at Zeiger Park in DeSoto. The a buffet serving more than Denver Broncos star, a 7-time pro 600lbs of Crawfish, nearly 1000 bowler and the 2018 NFL Walter boxes of Williams Fried Chicken, Payton Man of the Year finalist, burgers, bar-b-que, tacos, salads mixed and mingled with more and more. than 1,000 people in the city he Attendees received free t-shirts calls home. prizes, tickets to attend a Texas The Super Bowl 50 MVP held Rangers game, meet and greet his annual event at the large park with Von Miler and Friends, across the street from where he autographs and more. played high school football at “This is one of my most DeSoto High School. Giving favorite times of the year, said back and paying it forward is Miller. “I get to come home and what he said he is all about. love on my community and that myimessenger.com

be good.” feels great.” And with that, Miller burst Jean Cooper, 47 and her two sons Jason and Jeremy, said they one more dance move, flashed arrived early just to greet the his smile and walked off to hometown kid and hopefully get greet his family – the hundreds a picture with them; which they gathered to welcome their son did. home. “My kids love him,” she said. “They know he used to live here and they look up to him and know if he can do it, they can do it.” Miller credits his mom and dad for where he is today. “It hasn’t always been easy. I made it extremely hard on them but they’ve always been loving and understanding. They just helped me to become the man that I Toska Medlock Lee and Von Miller am today.” Below: Crowd gathers to see Von Miller As far as advice he would give to young kids today striving to reach their dreams: “You can’t hide talent, whether on the football field or in the business world or wherever, you can’t hide talent as long as you stay true to yourself you’ll

April 26, 2019

ASK ALMA My trifling brothers and sisters Dear Alma, I need advice about a terrible family situation that involves me and all of my siblings, and it’s breaking us apart. I am one of nine children. We were all born and raised in the South. My parents farmed their land and taught us how to do it, too. We never liked it and couldn’t wait to leave, go up North and go to college. We all attended various colleges and universities and never returned home…all but one of my brothers. He stayed in North Carolina and helped my parents until they died. After they died he moved into the house on the property and has been living there ever since. He has kept up the property and paid the taxes on it. Now my brothers and sisters want to sell the farmland and split the money. My brother who stayed says the house should be his and he doesn’t want to sell it. We are totally divided. Seven of my siblings have decided to take my brother to court and force him to sell the land. Only the one brother says we shouldn’t sell. And I don’t care either way. We’re all in our 60s, distinguished folks with profitable careers. We’re active in our respected churches

April 26, 2019

and ready to retire if not already retired. I love my family, and if you met us, you’d never believe what’s going on behind closed doors. I don’t understand why we can’t talk to each other and just get along. I want us to settle this before one of us dies and we never get to resolve the issue. What should we do? Troubled Dear Troubled: Close your eyes, think back to the time when your daddy was farming his land, mama at the window, both watching their children grow -- chests pressed, full of pride. Your father worked hard to tend the land and leave something to his children. Now everything he worked for is about to be jeopardized, and for what? You and your trifling brothers and sisters -- yes, I said trifling – are fighting each other like you’re on an episode of Law & Order. That is ridiculous and just plain sad. Your mama and daddy gave all they had, and what are ya’ll doing? Trying to give it away for some coins that will be spent in a month’s time. Your brother didn’t take the bus up to the city and try to tell you and your siblings what to do with your space, time and dimes, so don’t try to regulate his life now. Give him the house, period. Take the

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rest of the land and divide it evenly. E a c h person can do w h a t he or she wants with his or her portion. It’s just that simple. You might not like it, but when your brother sacrificed, stayed home and properly maintained and cared for the house, your parents and the land, he earned extra. Your brothers and sisters are so focused on a few grains of sand that they are missing the beach in all its magnificence. There are other ways to make money. Taking your brother to court is not one of them. Grow up and act like mama and daddy are still watching, chest pressed, full of pride. Alma

100 Attorney Street New York, NY 10002 (212) 533-2743

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U FREE AF

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Alma Gill’s newsroom experience spans more than 25 years, including various roles at USA Today, Newsday and the Washington Post. Email questions to:alwaysaskalma@ gmail.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and Twitter @almaaskalma.

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April 26, 2019

SPIRITUAL AND CRYSTAL ADVISER Veronica Perez

FEATURED STAR: PISCES - The Fish - 02/19 - 03/20 Your health is a big deal; make sure you are not neglecting it. Inspiration/Influence: Taking positive steps to keep your body and soul healthy. Lucky Numbers – 22.06.19.44.25.11 ARIES - The RAM - 03/21 - 04/19 Your inner strength is matching your outer; it is much easier to take care of all kinds of business. TAURUS – THE BULL – 04/20 - 05/20 Struggles in family or at work. You need to keep your end; this is not the time to allow them to win. GEMINI – The Twins - 05/21 – 06/20 Your mentality has been sharp lately, it’s a good time to start a new class and gain more knowledge. CANCER – The Crab – 06/21 – 07/22 Spend your money wisely, let it sit and collect . Use this time to re-direct your energy to nature. LEO – The Lion – 07/23 – 08/22 Greater achievements came unexpectedly. You were surprised but ought not be, enjoy the victory. VIRGO – The Virgin – 08/23 – 09/22 Be more flexible with your time, others are counting on you. Make most of your energy, as you have too much to do. LIBRA – The Scales – 09/23 – 10/22 Perfect time to give small token of your affection. Spend time with friends they need you to do right by them. SCORPIO – The Scorpion – 10/23 – 11/21 New challenges are coming, you need them, start your step up “game” now. SAGITTARIUS – The Archer – 11/22 – 12/21 Time to kick back and enjoy good times, parties or casual hangouts. CAPRICORN – The Goat – 12/22 – 01/19 Work issues are worse than ever, make a power play or wait on someone else to do it. Go for it! AQUARIUS – The Water Carrier – 01/20 – 02/18 You need to find compromise with someone important, it very well could be yourself. Daily Oracle Reading: Ask and it is given: Your thoughts about him/her are only an inner self reflection and truest feelings of self.

April 26, 2019

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR COMMUNITY CALENDAR National Minority Health Month Child Abuse Month Early Voting 4-22 to 4-30 Recurring Events

Garden 1850 E. Beltline Rd. Coppell. 7pm-9pm. Info: www.410linedancers.com. All New Thursdays Ladies Night Soulful Soundz at Vinetti’s 14833 Midway Rd. Addison 5pm-12am.

Friendship-West Presents: Justice & Brunch w/ Freddy Haynes at Brickhouse Lounge DeSoto 2021 N. Hampton Rd. Ste. 100 11:30am-1:30pm.

Us-Too Phenomenal Women Art Exhibit at African American Museum 3536 Grand Ave. Dallas 4-20-515-19. 11am-5pm.

Al Green at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 300 W. Las Colinas Blvd. Irving. 7:30pm.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Presents A World of Women For World Peace Conference at Thanksgiving Square 1627 Pacific Ave. 9:30am. RSVP at RSVP.TX30@ mail.house.gov

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

IHCC Annual Golf Classic at Bear Creek Golf Club 3500 Bear Creek Ct. Dallas.

Comerica Shred Day DFW 2019! at Mercer Business Park 1212 Stemmons Fwy. 8am.

Marvelous Marriage Monday’s at Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. Dallas. 7pm-8:30pm 1st & 3rd Monday Info: covent@ friendshipwest.org.

Fourth Friday Music Series Inside Gospel Feat: Chadney Christie, E.J. Fields & Reggie Strong at DeSoto Corner Theatre 211 Pleasant Run Rd. 7pm.

April 28

Hamilton in Dallas at Music Hall Fair Park 909 1st Ave. Dallas Dates & times vary. Tickets: allmusicaltickets.info 4-2-5-5-19. Bubbling Brown Sugar at Jubilee Theatre 506 Main St. Ft. Worth. 8pm-10:15pm. Tickets: www.jubileetheatre.com March 22- April 28.

April 24-27 The Message is in the Music Workshop & Concert at St Luke Community UMC 5710 E. R.L. Thornton Fwy. 7pm. Concert 4pm on 27th.

April 24-28 49th Annual USA Film Festival at Angelika Film Center 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. Tickets & Info: www. usafilmfestival.com. BTAC 2019 Conference Journeying Together: Living in Greater Truth & Healing at Wyndham Dallas Suites 7800 Alpha Rd. 9am.

April 24 Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Mixer 5:30pm-7pm. Location: TBA Visit Website: www. IrvingHCC.com Wednesdays Swing Dance Class at Allure Jazz & Cigar Lounge 110 S. Cockrell Hill, DeSoto. 7:30pm9:30pm. Instructor: Lady Champagne. Free before 8pm. Ragge Wednesdays at Aldeez Caribbean Restaurant & Event Center 7879 Spring Valley Rd. #115 9pm2am. Tickets: eventbrite.com

April 25 1944 UNCF was incorporated by Frederick D. Patterson & Mary Bethune

Soul Jazz Thursday’s w/ Natural Change Band at Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave. Dallas. 8pm-12am. For the Love of Poetry- Open Mic at Sway’s Room – Inside American Celebrations 921 W. Belt Line Rd., Ste. #110, DeSoto. 8:30pm11:30pm. Tickets: www.instaseats.com. Arlington Black Chamber of Commerce Meeting & Mixer at Brickhouse Arlington 2525 Arkansas Ln. Ste. #253, 6pm. Open House – New Artist Residency in So. Dallas at Mildred Dunn Recreation Center 3322 Reed Ln. 5:30pm-7pm. 410 Line Dancers Thursday Class at DFW Sports

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April 26 Sarah Boone got the patent for the Iron Board in 1892

NPHC Tarrant County Greek Weekend Kickoff and Scholarship Mixer at Bar Louie 4001 Bagpiper Way Arlington 6pm-10pm. Porgy & Bess at Bass Performance Hall 4th & Calhoun, Ft. Worth 7:30pm-10pm. Tickets: fwopera.secure. force.com. Black Friday-DFW African American Unity Mixer at JC’s Event Center 901 N. Polk St. Ste. #370 DeSoto. 7pm-10pm. Tickets: eventbrite. com Dominique Cares Autism Golf Awareness Tournament at Tierra Verde Golf Club 7005 Golf Club Dr. Arlington 8am. Tickets: eventbrite.com. 9th Annual Ankara Festival at The Vineyard Event Place 2217 W. Jefferson St. Grand Prairie 9pm-3am. Tickets: Eventbrite.com. Meet & Greet with Albert Black for Dallas Mayor at Glen Oaks UMC 4606 S. Polk St. 6:30pm-8:30pm. For more info: (214) 244-7823.

April 27-28 EXPANSE ENTREPRENEUR TRADE SHOW & Expo at Hilton Garden Inn 705 Central Exp. S, Allen 9am4pm both days. Info: 214-500-8448.

April 27

I Love Me: Self Love Summit at Dallas Marriott City Center 650 N. Pearl St. 4pm-6pm. Tickets: Eventbrite. Friendship-west Baptist Church Presents: West Wall Street at Narthex & Mezzanine (2 Levels). 8am-2pm. Info: www.friendshipwest.org/west-wall-street. Tri-Cities NAACP Branch Inaugural Community Brunch at Lancaster Community Park 1700 Veterans Memorial Pkwy. Lancaster. 2pm-4pm. Tickets: http:// conta.cc/2JyJ2Zw. Friendship-West Presents: The 36th Pastoral Anniversary Rev. Dr. Frederick D Haynes, III Sr. Pastor at 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. 8am. & 11am. Speakers: Rev. Damien Durr & Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.

April 29 Edward Kennedy “Duke”Ellington DOB 1899 in Washington D.C.

Dallas City Council Candidates Meet & Greet at Perot Museum 2201 N. Field St. 6:30pm-8:30pm. Tickets: www.ticketdfw.com Fort Worth Mayoral Form at TCU 2901 Stadium Dr. 6pm-7pm. RSVP: officialeventsrsvp@tcu.edu Men’s Huddle Fellowship Host: FWBC at Sankofa Kitchen 3333 W. Camp Wisdom Rd. Ste. #118. 6:30pm-8pm. Men only. Collect it for Culture Art Collecting 101 at South Dallas Cultural Center 3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave. 7pm-9pm.

April 30

Last Day of Passover

Bishop Arts Theatre’s 25th Year Anniversary Jazz Bash. Feat: Peter White & Euge Groove At Moody Performance Hall 2520 Flora St. Dallas. For the Love of Jazz & Poetry at Athletic Zone 423 Singleton Blvd. Dallas. 9pm-12am. Tickets: www. instaseats.com. Melanin & Mimosas at Bar Louie 2973 W. 7th St. Ft. Worth, 12pm-5pm. Tickets: eventbrite.com. Pumps & Politics: A Social Action Soiree on Women’s Issues at Paul Quinn College 3837 Simpson Stuart. Kids Fishing Day at Briarwood Park 1625 Belt Line Rd. DeSoto, 9am-12pm. Kids ages 16 and under. $5.Register: www.desototexas.gov/register. Tea Party Girl Stay Up Host: First Lady Ebony King Guest Speaker: DeDe McGuire at 9350 Pasadena Dr. Frisco. 1pm-3:30pm.

Women Who Steam Awards Luncheon Host: Dallas Chapter Links at Belo Mansion 2101 Ross Ave. Dallas. 11:30am. Tickets: Eventbrite.com. Arise International Presents: 17th Silent No More Awards Ceremony at TBA info@ariseintl.org. Candidates and Office holders Prayer Breakfast at Meadows Conference Center 2900 Live Oak St. 9:30am-10:45am. Tickets: Eventbrite.com. The Jazz Jam at Jazz BeCuzz Art Center 9319 LBJ Fwy. Ste. #120. Tickets: via Eventbrite.com. Every Tuesdays. Karaoke Night $2 Tuesday’s at Hero’s Lounge 3094 N. 35 Fwy. Dallas. 7pm-2am. Tickets: eventbrite.com.

May 1 2019 National Pan-Hellenic Council of Dallas Meeting at African American Museum 6:30pm-8pm. MEN(tors) Mingle – Following the Leader at City

Square 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. Bldg. #200. 7:30pm9pm. Tickets: Eventbrite.com. Dallas Sales Job Fair at Double Tree Hilton-Galleria 4099 Valley View Ln. 9:30am-1pm. Eventbrite.com. Wednesdays Swing Dance Class at Allure Jazz & Cigar Lounge 110 S. Cockrell Hill, DeSoto. 7:30pm9:30pm. Instructor: Lady Champagne. F

May 2 The 1975 at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 300 Las Colinas Blvd. Irving. 7pm. The Voice Greek Edition by: Sigma Gamma Rho & Alpha Phi Alpha at Southern Classic Daiquiri Factory 6751 Bridge St. Ft. Worth 6pm-11pm. Women of the West Bible Study at Friendship West Baptist Church 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. Wednesdays at 7pm. Ragge Wednesdays at Aldeez Caribbean Restaurant & Event Center 7879 Spring Valley Rd. #115 9pm2am. Tickets: eventbrite.com. 2019 National Day of Prayer at Lancaster Recreation Center Grand Ball Room 1700 Veterans Memorial Pkwy. 9am-10am & 7pm-8pm.

May 3-5

Cinco De Statler at The Statler Hotel 1914 Commerce St. Times of events vary. Info : www.bit.ly.com

May 3 KiKo Pryor & DJ Calie Album Release Party w/ Adina Howard at Cedar Canyon Ranch 4523 N. Houston School Rd. Lancaster. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com. NCBW100 All that Glitters is Gold Scholarship Soiree’ at Noah’s Event Venue 2251 N. Greenville Ave. Richardson. 7pm.-11pm. Tickets: www.eventbrite. com Congressman Marc Veasey Congressional Small Business Update at Brickhouse Lounge 2525 E. Arkansas Ln. Ste. #253 5:30pm 7pm. RSVP: Eventbrite.com. JMBLYA 2019 Concert at Fair Park 1438 Coliseum Dr. Dallas, 12pm 10:30pm. Tickets: www.jmblyadallas2019.frontgatetickets.com

May 4-5 My Daddy’s New Wife Stage Play at Fair Park Hall of State 3939 Grand Ave. 2:30pm-5:30pm. Both dates.

DFW Black Arts at African American Museum Fair Park 3635 Grand Ave. 11am.-5pm. Both dates. Visit www.unityfestdallas.com for more information.

May 4 Book Signing “Renaissance Queen” by author M. P. Stone Meet her and hear about her 50 yr. journey at African American Museum 3536 Grand Ave. 2pm-4pm. TBAAL Presents: Roundtable Writer’s Breakfast Feat: Patrick Riley at TBAAL 1309 Canton St. Dallas. 10am. Funny As Ish Comedy Tour at The Theatre Grand Prairie 1001 Performance Ln. 8:30pm. Taste of Oak Cliff on 10th & Beckley visit: tasteofoakcliff.com for information Avengers: Endgame Private Screening at Studio Movie Grill Technology Blvd. E. Dallas. Tickets: www.squareup.com Nelly Live! At Lava Cantina “Anniversary” 5805 Grandscape Blvd. The Colony, 8pm.11pm. Tickets: www.ticketfly.com Nights to Remember Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra Presented by African American Museum at TBAAL 1309 Canton St. 5pm. 14th Annual Mother & Son Dance at DeSoto Civic Center 211E. Pleasant Run Rd. 7pm. Info: 972-230-9650. Today’s Children/Youth and Privilege Coffee & Politics 101 at African American Museum 3536 Grand Ave. 10am11am. 11th Annual Scholarship, Community Awards and Founders Day Luncheon. Presented by: Greater North Dallas Business & Professional Women’s Club At Hilton Garden Inn 705 Central Exp, Allen. 10:30am-1:30pm.

May 5-11 Small Business Week

April 26, 2019

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