March 2023
VOL XII NO 31 April 7, 2023
IMessenger
SUPERB WOMAN
Reese Angel
’Black ‘Unapologetically
(903) 450-1397 Garland,Rowlett (903) 450-1397
Published by Legacy on Apr. 3, 2023.
Mrs. Mary Luckey
FAITHFUL UTTERANCES
Change is something that we all experience. For most of us, we like the idea of security. Even when things are not going the way we want, it’s easier to adapt to the familiar. Change forces us to recognize that we aren’t in control.
UNPRECEDENTED INDICTMENT THE LAST WORD
Attorneys for former President Donald J. Trump say that the charges of falsifying business records levied against their client are unwarranted and he will be vindicated. Meanwhile the nation has been in a frenzy regarding what the next steps will be and what the unsealed documents...
The 45th President is in the news again, facing indictments in New York and Georgia for criminal behavior regarding illegally paying a porn star (New York) and election tampering (Georgia). While the former President has not yet been indicted, he has already wallowed in his victimhood...
HIV-AIDS advocate found dead in office
By The Texas Metro News Team
Abounding Prosperity (AP) founder and CEO Kirk Myers-Hill was found dead in his office at Abounding Prosperity Inc. on Tuesday morning, April 4, 2023.
Known for offering a variety of healthcare and wellness services specializing in HIV care in South Dallas, especially for the Black community; Myers-Hill’s impact in the African American LGBTQ community was –to use a familiar word: abounding.
Myers-Hill, was the unstoppable founder and chief executive officer of the nonprofit.
One could say that AP put the issue of alternative lifestyle on the map in Dallas’s African American community, particularly among LGBTQ Black males; while also calling attention to the treatment of the transgender community.
He is also known for his familiar and inspirational quote:
“We can’t wait for others to save our community,” Myers-Hill said often.
When he founded AP, 18 years ago in 2005, his efforts lifted many heads that had been bowed in secret shame, living undercover because of their gender reversal – either a choice or compulsion to live as the other gender, the one different from their birth.
Myers-Hill proudly led numerous public service efforts, in and around the South Dallas/Fair Park commu-
nity and throughout Dallas for the marginalized community that greatly respected him. He battled health disparities and lacking social services for the Black male LGBTQ community.
He helped increase care for individuals with HIV/AIDS who previously had struggled to find health care and made available educational and outreach services.
Myers-Hill and co-sponsors offered entertainment venues annually and periodically that drew audiences from throughout the city, state and region.
Researchers say that Black males living with HIV/AIDS are said to be 25 percent of the population in several zip codes that AP serves: 75215, 75216, 75231, and 75243.
Myers-Hill’s AP headquarters made the corner of South Central Expressway and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard a familiar landmark for the community he serviced.
News of Myers-Hill’s death spread quickly in the community, with many expressing shock and disbelief.
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com INSIDE 3
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“It is up to us to save ourselves.”
Kirk Myers-Hill
by Cheryl Smith Publisher
Because it is what it is!
For those who subscribe to Texas Metro News, the goal of the I Messenger Media team is to provide you with up-to-themoment accurate and reliable information; while also providing news, entertainment and commentary.
We’re working tirelessly to provide you with the Black Experience, in America and around the world.
We actually have team members on two other continents and believe me, they’re working to ensure that we are inclusive and enlightening, as well.
And yes, we do it for the culture.
Which brings me to my truth.
We’ve heard so many discussions about Critical Race Theory. We’ve also heard about the theory of erasing. That’s right, just make things disappear like they never occurred or reframe the narrative. Actually, let’s be frank. To LIE!
I heard Rev. Al Sharpton say the hardest eulogy to perform is the one of someone who hasn’t done anything with their lives because you have to hallucinate.
Sadly, there are too many who don’t put to use the blessings they were gifted from the moment they took their first breath; however there are so many who have made significant contributions that they weren’t aware they were mak-
ing.
It is imperative that historians reflect so it’ll be “the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.”
That is also our job, our mission, as journalists.
Ethically speaking, it would seem that erasing, rewriting, or even hallucinating is morally wrong.
I have to believe that my ethics professor and then-dean of the Florida A&M University School of Journalism would have to agree with me!
Dean Robert Ruggles, can you hear me?
I know he knows that I got the message because he taught it to me twice!
And on college campuses,
it has been one of my favorite courses to teach because everyone should want to learn about doing the right thing and I sure know how to live it and teach it!
So, as I hear the continuous debates around the wild hallucinations; I can’t help but think that future generations will think that our elected officials and the people who voted for them are on some serious drugs!
The thought that people are actually rewriting history to make it more palatable and to ease the consciences of those related to those despicable acts of the past is unconscionable and downright pathetic.
Therefore, I Messenger Me-
dia is taking a proactive approach to the asinine antics of the revisionist historians.
Every week, in print and through our digital platforms, we are going to tell it like it was; and therefore it is and will always be!
When someone is reading through our pages long after I have said my last goodbye, they will read the truth!
After all, how many of you know what the officers who beat Rodney King look like? But you remember his face, bloody and puffy.
How many of you know the men and the woman behind the savage murder of Emmett Till?
But thanks to that heroic
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com MY TRUTH
4
Murderers-J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant
mother, Mamie Till Mobley, the world got to see the results of the torture her son mercilessly suffered. I know revisionists probably curse Jet Magazine for running the pictures, but I praise them.
I am grateful that in 1995 Mrs. Mobley Bradley and her husband (who was Emmett’s barber and helped to identify his ravaged body) came to Dallas and spent time with me discussing her son’s murder.
And if you didn’t see the pictures of what was done to her son, we’re bringing them and others to you; along with the truth, unfiltered, like award-winning journalist Roland Martin!
Now, truth be told, I understand why folks want to rewrite history. I wouldn’t want people to know that I was a descendant of a person who chained another person to the back of a truck and pulled his body until he was nothing but Exhibit number this and Exhibit number that; because he was in bits and pieces.
I would hate to think that someone I love or whose memory I cherish could be so savage.
But we’re talking about the truth.
So hopefully you will take this journey with us. Sign up for the newsletter, at www.texasmetronews.com. or you can send me an email to editor@ texasmetronews.com.
You can also check Metro News and our other publications out on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and Facebook. Click, Like, Share and also, you can contribute. We’d love to hear your ideas and information. And we also encourage you to Subscribe, invite others to Subscribe, and also Advertise.
Help us continue doing the right thing.
Together we can make sure the truth is told and we can make a difference.
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 5
Mexican Officials Search for Killers
By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro Correspondent
The mother of one of two survivors in a group of four close friends, from South Carolina kidnapped on February 3rd in a Mexican border town, warned her daughter that the intended destination in the central American country was not safe.
Barbara Burgess said she told her daughter, Latavia McGee, that the trip should be cancelled, according to statements made by Mrs. Burgess during an interview.
Ms. McGee, the only person in the group who was not shot by the kidnappers, and Eric Williams were treated in a Brownsville, TX hospital. The bodies of Mr. Shaeed Woodward, 33, and Mr. Zindel Brown, 28, remained in a Mexican morgue while authorities searched for the killers.
The four friends, from Lake City, SC, arrived Friday, at the start of the business day, in the border town of Matamoros after a 20-hour trip. One of them had chosen Matamoros as the place to undergo a cosmetic medical procedure because prices were much lower than those in the United States. The others helped to share the driving during the 1400-mile trip.
Minutes after their arrival they were caught in a fierce gun battle between two rival drug gangs, according to witnesses and Mexican law enforcement officials, during which a Mexican citizen was also killed. Matamoros is located across the border between Mexico and the United States, about two miles from Brownsville, TX.
“There was confusion,” Irving Barrios, a Mexican law enforcement official
said during a news conference held in Matamoros. “It was not a targeted attack. That’s the line that we have right now as the most viable.”
A video released on the internet captured the shooting. At its conclusion armed men, reportedly members of a drug cartel, are seen dragging the four Americans from the pavement and placing them in the back of a pickup truck.
The bodies of the two slain men and the survivors were found four days later in a small house near the location where they were attacked. A 24-year-old man guarding the house was arrested.
Mexican authorities are fearful that the death of the two South Carolinians and other Americans in Mexico will lead to anger. Of particular concern to them is legislation that would label members of Mexican drug
cartels as terrorists. That could lead to an American military presence in their country, suggested the Mexican president, Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Mexico would not permit “foreign countries to get involved in their internal problems, President Lopez Obrador said during a press conference after the shooting. “We are sad that this incident took place. We send our condolences to the victim’s families and to the American people.”
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said that he was prepared to introduce legislation in Congress that would allow the presence of U.S. military forces in America’s neighbor on its southern border.
New study suggests Melatonin use eases risk
In a recent study, Melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, could potentially reduce risk of self-harm behaviors in adolescents.
The study by Leone et al., published in the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health’s Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, analyzed 25,575 Swedish youth who began melatonin treatment between ages 6 and 18 and found that while the rates
of body injuries, falls and transport accidents were similar before and after the Melatonin initiation, the risk of self-harm was highest in the months immediately prior to medication and decreased thereafter.
This was especially true for female adolescents with depression and or anxiety.
The study concludes that sleep interventions could be considered in an effort to reduce the risk of self-harm in this population.
While the findings of the study are promising, it is important to note that the study was conducted in Sweden and may not necessarily apply to other countries or populations.
Moreover, the study can not prove Melatonin caused the reduced rates of self-harm, only that there is a correlation. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of melatonin use for self-harm be -
haviors in youths.
It is crucial for parents and healthcare providers to be aware of the warning signs of self-harm and to seek appropriate help for affected children and adolescents. If you, or anybody you know, are suffering from self harm, reach out to mental health crisis services here.
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Ayesha Hana Shaji is a 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she was on The Shorthorn staff.
Joseph Green-Bishop is a long-time journalist who has published newspapers in America and Africa. Currently he is a news correspondent for Texas Metro News.
White Wokeness: The Truth About the “Stop Woke” Movement
OUR VOICES
BY BOBBY R. HENRY, SR.
Governor Ron Desantis professes that Florida is where woke goes to die. He is adamant. He is passing laws to ensure that courses such as AP Black American History are not taught in schools and teachers who teach kindergarteners all the way through to college graduate students face harsh consequences for teaching anything dealing with a semblance of diversity, equity, inclusion, white privilege, white fragility or critical race theory (CRT).
Even while attempting to be cognizant of the law, HB 999 is broad enough to swoop any well-meaning person into a heap of trouble if someone wants to make it an issue of indoctrination.
A professor at the private Palm Beach Atlantic University found himself terminated from his job after more than 18 years when he taught a unit on racial injustice as a segment of his course. Interestingly, he had taught this part of the course with no challenge for over ten years. Once reported, the professor was removed from class pending the outcome of an investigation.
Once concluded, university officials found that the English Professor had been “indoctrinating students” and subsequently terminated his employment. Bear in mind that these students are in college. They are adults. The main purpose of college study is for the exchange of ideas and diversity of thought among students from all walks of life.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) just canceled a screening and panel discussion among faculty and students on a racial injustice documentary, The Poison Garden. The documentary accounts three separate lynching stories of Black men at the hands of angry White men in Fort Lauderdale. In one of the cases, the documentary details the lynching of 37-year-old, Rubin Stacey.
Stacey was accused of knocking on a door to ask for a drink of water which frightened a White woman. He was later tortured and
lynched by an angry mob of White men.
As his body hung from a tree, onlookers including children as young as eight years old, were summoned to gather around to gawk at Stacey’s battered, bruised and lifeless body. The Poison Garden also focuses on the killings of other Black men in South Florida and the inequality in the court system that has sent hundreds of innocent Black men and women to prison.
Hear me clearly. This war on wokeness is not about Black folk having access to their history and deeply understanding diversity, equity, inclusion, white fragility, white privilege and how critical race theory plays out in the fabric of American society.
Stay Woke, People!
DeSantis’ “War on Woke” is about White people getting a clear understanding of these things.
Black wokeness is not at the forefront of Governor DeSantis’ mind, but White Wokeness is. As good, decent, well-meaning, well-intended White folk begin to deeply understand the aforementioned concepts and how the aftermath of slavery has affected the mental and economic status of a race of people, there has been a shift that the not-so-good, not-so-decent, not-sowell meaning, not-so-well-intended White folk are very uncomfortable with.
To demonstrate my point, consider how the George Floyd demonstrations evolved from the Trayvon Martin protests. The media and people took notice that there were more White protestors than there were Blacks in some of the Floyd demonstrations across the country. In one demonstration, White protesters created a human chain with their own bodies in front of Black protestors to protect them from police brutality. This has made the not-so-good, not-so-decent, not-so-well meaning, notso-well-intended White folk concerned and angry. Stay Woke.
The War on Woke is about keeping the truth from conscious White folk, not conscious Black folk.
This consciousness of White people has led to a sense of desperation and at this point, anything goes and anyone of any race is a target.
As conscious White people begin to
speak out about the injustices, they, too, have become targets of White on White revenge. Be reminded that even Whites were beaten and killed in Selma for crossing the line over to the “dark side.” Reverend James Reeb, a White pastor and social worker traveled to Selma to participate in the Civil Rights Movement after Bloody Sunday. He was beaten on March 9, 1965 by a group of White men as he participated in protests.
The father of four succumbed to his injuries two days later and died. Selma’s Bloody Sunday was televised nationally and became the turning point in the Civil Rights Movement in much of the same way that the 9 minute, 29 second knee of the neck video of George Floyd’s slow and merciless killing became the turning point of the Black Lives Matter movement.
We saw White protestors beat with police batons during the George Floyd protests in the same way James Reeb was beaten. Instead of savage beatings, we are now seeing White teachers and educators being charged and losing their jobs for violating these very unjust laws aimed at undoing the progress made over the last decade to expose white privilege and encourage diversity, equity and inclusion.
I say, “Wake Up and Stay Woke”, my brothers and sisters. We are in the thick of a second Civil Rights Movement. Our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and our Black Greek Lettered Organizations (BGLOs) are in danger of being lumped into HB999. Do not allow DeSantis to redefine wokeness with his warped agenda. When you hear “woke”, “wokeness”, “stay woke” in any venue or context it must always be about the awareness of social and political issues affecting African Americans. While wokeness is about the Black agenda, it becomes a threat to some when it becomes a serious line item on the White agenda.
Stay woke!
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Bobby R. Henry Sr. is the publisher of the Westside Gazette in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was the recipient of the National Newspaper Publishers Association's 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2019 he received the National Association of Black Journalists Angelo Henderson Community Service Award.
Growing Up in Our Faith Journey
FAITHFUL UTTERANCES
BY DR. FROSWA BOOKER-DREW
Change is something that we all experience. For most of us, we like the idea of security. Even when things are not going the way we want, it’s easier to adapt to the familiar. Change forces us to recognize that we aren’t in control. Even when the change is for the best, it’s the uncertainty and at the core, loss. It’s the loss of what we’ve become accustomed to even if it’s for something so much better.
I remember when my daughter was a baby and I couldn’t wait for her to get potty trained. It seemed that we were always going to another level with her growth. I couldn’t wait for her to walk. With every age, there was something new to deal with and adjust to. No matter how I wanted her to grow from one phase to the next, it was always something new and different to experience. The night she graduated from high school, it hit me hard. All of
those levels and phases were preparing her for something greater. I was not raising a child, I was raising a child to become an adult.
Even when she left to go to college, I remember crying before she left home. Knowing that so much of who I was as a person was connected to being her mother. Being an empty nester is not only difficult in watching your children move into their identity as an adult but it’s challenging for parents on so many levels. The relationship with your child changes to some degree. I found myself becoming more of a coach and consultant while also redirecting my focus to the leading of God in this new and next season.
It's been a gift to watch her grow. Our relationship has changed once again. She’s a college graduate and a woman doing some amazing work with me. We are still mother and daughter but it’s different now. She’s matured and so have I. It helps me to understand through the transitions we’ve both experienced in our lives mirrors
the changes that we go through in our faith journey. Through it all, God has been there.
Just as our children grow and mature, we as adults should continue evolving and growing.
Muhammad Ali said “The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” Time goes by so quickly and what we do with it is important. Too many of us are holding on to the past, wasting time and not growing up or growing in God.
1 Corinthians 3:17 provides a glimpse of the importance of growth in our faith walk. “ I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans…as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes
things grow.”
Our views and actions should also change over time. Just as we age and hopefully grow up, our faith walk should also grow. In the midst of all the changes we experience, we should know that God never has left or forsaken us (Deuteronomy 31:6) We should also know that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). We should also understand that we all have roles in life in different seasons. Apollos had a role to play and so did Paul. Ultimately, we should know that God is responsible for us and with us in these seasons. Despite the changes we see in our lives, we can rest in knowing that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) His love for us never changes and carries us through all of the transitions we face.
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Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the Founder and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, specializing as a Partnership Broker and Leadership Expert for companies and organizations to thrive with measurable and meaningful impact. She also is the VP of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances for the State Fair of Texas.
Legal Voodoo?
BY VINCENT L. HALL
Trump is in trouble, and the “Keebler Krowd” is feelin’ the funk. His minions trotted out one at a time to kiss his derriere for good measure and to gain political points.
The same group of racist white folks who want to "get tough on crime” wants the New York City district attorney to ignore the past six years of Donald Trump’s lawless actions.
For my millennials, "get tough on crime" was the hue and cry that created mass incarceration through mandatory sentencing laws and three-strike rules. That was the crux of Trump's public statement refuting the indictment and the grand jury that issued it.
“Never before in our Nation’s history has this been done. The Democrats have cheated countless times over the decades, including spying on my campaign, but weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President, has never happened before. Ever.
"Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who was hand-picked and funded by George Soros, is a disgrace. Rather than stopping the unprecedented crime wave taking over New York City, he's doing Joe Biden's dirty work, ignoring the murders and burglaries, and assaults he should be focused on. This is how Bragg spends his time!
In other words, DA Bragg should send a posse to corral the lawless non-whites in New York and leave him alone. We know what Trump thinks. Urban crime waves in his lexicon translate to young Black and Hispanic men. So rather than harassing rich tax-avoiding White men, Trump implies that Bragg should be looking for the next Central Park Five.
In the recently published book, “The People vs. Trump,” former assistant DA Mark Pomerantz likened Trump to a “mafia crime boss.” Pomerantz resigned in defiance because Bragg would not sign off on the indictment last year.
But at least Trump attempted to veil his racism. Lindsay Graham, “the grand Senator and “spinster-in-waiting," was bare-knuckled and brazen with his racist attack. The Yahoo News statement was brief in characters but heavy in meaning.
“Lindsey Graham made the bizarre claim that the indictment of Donald Trump is ‘Legal Voodoo.’ ‘They’re trying to take cases that nobody else would take and resurrect them,’ he said.”
Did you get that? Did you see him gaslight us again? Now if you know, you know. But if you don’t know, let me tell you what he meant by “Legal Voodoo.”
Here is a generally accepted definition of the term that should clue you in.
"Voodoo is a religion involving ancestor worship, animal sacrifice, and belief in communication with deities by trance. Voodoo originated in Haiti by combining Catholicism with the belief in African gods. The term may also refer to a charm, fetish, spell, or curse holding magic power for adherents of Voodoo."
Graham has always been hard to nail down. He switched his allegiance from a man of character to a man of corruption overnight. America is still perplexed.
How do you go from being John McCain's pal and messenger boy to Donald John Trump's pawn and mistress?
Legal Voodoo was an explicit and colorized message of racism and defiance. Graham’s two-word description was a blatant dog whistle and ‘sleight of hand.”
Meanwhile, the matching eunuch and second senator from South Carolina, Tim Scott, followed the Trump line. MSNBC dropped this blurb.
“Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., taking steps toward a presidential campaign, criticized Bragg as a "pro-criminal New York DA" who has "weaponized the law against political enemies."
Nothing surprising in Scott's statement. He is and will always be the bootlicking, weak-backed, fail-safe, self-loathing handkerchief-head Uncle Tom that Graham loves to claim as his one Black comrade.
Wake up! I have said for two years that White folks are in the opening stages of their civil war. The racism and rhetoric are boiling up. The cultural caution and racial restraint that once governed the Republican Party is gone.
The Keebler Krowd has been emboldened and encouraged.
No one knows what type of Voodoo Trump has over his imps, but it can't be legal.
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 9
PLAYIN’
QUIT
Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and award-winning columnist.
UNT Dallas partners with Texas Capital Bank to diversify banking talent pool
By Ayesha Hana Shaji Texas Metro News Team
UNT Dallas and Texas Capital Bank have teamed up to offer students a Commercial Lending Certificate Program, providing a pathway for diverse students to find career paths in the financial services industry.
Students will also have the opportunity to network with Texas Capital Bank officers, including their talent development and university recruiting teams.
On Thursday, March 30, UNT Dallas welcomed Texas Capital Bank to their campus, officially launching their partnership and the program. UNT Dallas President Bob Mong, Effie Dennison, Managing Director of Texas Capital Bank, along with other executive members spoke at the event.
With the program already underway, the partnership aims to equip students with the tools and skills necessary to compete in a highly competitive field while exposing them to Texas Capital Bank's culture and career options, said Marci MacKay, executive director of talent management at Texas Capital Bank.
The program is an opportunity for students to obtain American Banker Association’s Commercial Lending Certificate at UNT Dallas.
It targets students and sets them up for success. A student who is in the program will have access to resume reviews and interview tips as well, MacKay said.
Students who take the program will also be taken into consideration for internships with TCB.
Effie Dennison, managing director of corporate responsibility at Texas Capital Bank said, the program targets diverse students and makes banking arenas more accessible to BIPOC students. TCB is currently present in three other HBCUs.
“When you look at this composition of [UNT Dallas] campus and their ability to want to incorporate this into their overall educational curriculum, it was just a no-brainer for us,” she said, adding that in typical HBCUs, careers in banking are void and students don’t know what it looks like.
“We didn't grow up with commercial bankers sitting next to us as a family friend, I can talk to us about it,” she said. “We're planting the seeds for them to be able to not just be a banker, but to
have a career path to excel in banking by having the tools this is the foundation right here…early in their careers.”
The program has been under the pipeline for two years and has 22 students enrolled currently.
Mujtaba Zia, assistant professor and finance programs coordinator at UNT Dallas said, the Credit Analysis Program is available to UNT students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and can be completed as a track within finance, business and accounting majors.
Zia said it covers fundamentals of banking, technical writing in banking, financial statement analysis, credit analysis, commercial lending and many more skills.
The program aims to level the playing field for students who are competing with universities that have schools of banking programs, Dennison said. This collaboration will provide students with the tools they need to compete
on the same level, including the ABA certification that is highly recognized in the industry.
Mireya Cortez, a senior majoring in Finance and a program participant, said the program is helping her grow into the financial field, showing her all the possibilities of her degree.
She said she’s grateful for the opportunity and being able to represent her school in a positive light.
"I like to learn new things every day,” Cortez said. “It's so interesting to learn, you know, all these new things related to banking.”
Every bank is looking to scout top talent but being able to help cultivate, invest and grow that particularly diverse talent is even better, McKay said.
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Ayesha Hana Shaji is a 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she was on The Shorthorn staff.
Pictured: Marci McKay, executive director of talent management at Texas Capital Bank; Mujtaba Zia, assistant professor at UNT Dallas; UNT Dallas Provost Betty Stewart, Mireya Cortez, student; Darnell Hartford, student; Effie Dennison, Managing Director of TCB; Bill Ingram, assistant dean at UNT Dallas; UNT Dallas President Bob Mong and Brent Cox, university alliance director at Texas Banker’s Association.
Photo: Ayesha Hana Shaji/ TMN
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UNPRECEDENTED INDICTMENT
By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines Texas Metro News Correspondent
Attorneys for former President Donald J. Trump say that the charges of falsifying business records levied against their client are unwarranted and he will be vindicated.
Meanwhile the nation has been in a frenzy regarding what the next steps will be and what the unsealed documents show, as well as how citizens will react.
The judge has warned against public comments that might incite violence and has set the next appearance date for December 2023.
Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg asked, why did Donald Trump continue to make false statements about a “catch and kill scheme” that could help Trump win the election, by keeping negative information about the presidential candidate from the public.
Trump, who is currently facing more than 34 counts related to business fraud, was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, making this the first time in American history that a current or former president has faced criminal charges.
Appearing in court on Tuesday, Trump called the indictment a “witch hunt,” and the level of outrage regarding this case is still split along party lines.
“This is not about former President Trump,” said Allen West, former chairperson of the Texas Republican Party. “This is about destroying the rule of law in America thereby threatening the existence of our constitutional republic and representative democracy. The hypocrisy is blatant, and the intent is simple. Political opposition will not be tolerated.”
Although some Republicans are following Trump’s lead, referring to the charges being brought against him as “political prosecution,” many Democrats were waiting for the documents to be unsealed after Trump is arraigned, to get more clarity on this case.
The New York district attorney’s office has been investigating Trump’s alleged role in a hush money payment scheme involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that dates back to the 2016 presidential election.
“Many Americans are glad to see
decision to move forward with the case an important step for the criminal justice system.
“This just means everyone including the president and former presidents can be held accountable for the law if they are accused of violating a law.”
According to Wilson, the charges are conduct-based, and the investigation would be the same if it were a Republican or Democrat who engaged in similar conduct.
Even this indictment has not been enough to diminish Trump’s faithful followers. According to reports, his 2024 Presidential campaign has earned an additional $7 million since he became the first former president to be charged with a crime.
Taft Thompson, a member of the Dallas County Republican Party, said there are two stories to every story.
“From the grassroots level, we are going to embolden because of the indictment,” he said. “This case is going to mobilize people to support former President Trump even more. We already think he is innocent regarding this witch hunt.
Trump be indicted. And there may still be more cases brought against him that go to his subversion of democracy and fair elections,” said Jeff Dalton, a Dallas-based Democratic strategist. “We will have to wait and see what the political impact of these events will be. This is unprecedented, just like so much else about the Trump story.”
For those that are in the legal system, political affiliations are not enough to ignore the facts of this case.
Russell Wilson, a criminal defense attorney in Dallas called the
“Everything that he has done has been under the microscope and been criticized. From the Russian Gate to you name it, then stealing the election. He will be redeemed from this in the eyes of people in the Republican party. However, you still have those who are not Trump supporters who are members of the Republican party. This is just one of tactics being used to break him down.”
Although the indictment is unprecedented, many are still pondering the issue of whether a former president is protected from such charges.
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Donald Trump
Eric Puente, a Dallas attorney, who does not have affiliation with either party.
“I am not sure if there has ever been any unwritten rule that a prosecutor could not indict a former or sitting president,” he said. “In our lifetime there has not been a former president that has been accused and had evidence that has been presented to a grand jury that he has broken the law. In my mind, anyone, even a former or sitting president, still must be held accountable and should be subject to the criminal laws of our country.
“In this case a grand jury in New York was presented with enough evidence that they believed that there was probable cause to indict
Dallas weighs in on former president Trump’s case
former President Trump. I believe a former president should be subject to the laws just as any other citizen would be,”
Due to the outrage of Trump’s loyal supporters, law enforcement officials from several agencies have been preparing for possible protests.
“I think that there are many people on the left that are excited about this,” said Nathan Davis, former
Republican candidate for United States Representative -District 32. “But this is going to be used against them in ways that they cannot see. It will be wheeled back on them many times more. This is unprecedented in US politics and there is a reason why.
“This issue is not going to be left alone with no response. The response is coming, and it is going to be ruthless.”
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 15
‘Unapologetically Black’ Angel Reese Got Her Ring and the World Got Another Dose of Racism
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
LSU’s Angel Reese’s post-game gesture has sparked a conversation about double standards in basketball.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock in LSU’s dominating 102-85 victory over Iowa, Reese waved her hand in front of her face, stared at Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, and pointed towards her ring finger.
Reese made it clear; she was the one going home with the championship ring.
For all the trash-talking and lack of sportsmanship on Clark’s part, Reese received the backlash.
Commentators including longtime sportscaster and former MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann, the response was telling.
Olbermann called Reese a “f-ing idiot,” while others called her a "hood rat."
Shaquille O’Neil, the NBA hall of famer who played for LSU’s men’s basketball team in the 1990s, told Olbermann to shut up.
Reese, the Black superstar, was taking to task on social media for lacking grace in victory.
After the game, and to her credit, Reese remained unapologetic.
“All year, I was critiqued for who I was. I don’t fit the narrative,” Reese explained.
“I’m too ‘hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year.”
As many have noted, there remains a divide between white and African American women over opportunities and perception.
White players are considered tough and fundamentally sound, while Black players are seen as flashy brawlers, noted sports columnist William Rhoden observed.
In this case, the focus was on double standards.
Black players are vilified for doing the
same things white players are praised for doing.
Caitlin Clark’s trash talk gestures had been lauded throughout the NCAA tournament, Rhoden continued.
Clark repeatedly made the “you can’t see me” gesture during Iowa’s win over Louisville in the Elite Eight.
She was heralded as confident and brash.
Clark followed up her “you can’t see me” gesture Friday against South Carolina freshman guard Raven Johnson.
Rhoden noted that Clark finally got her comeuppance when Reese lit her
up for 15 points and 10 boards, eventually earning the women’s NCAA tournament’s most outstanding player.
Reese played brilliantly in an overall team effort that frustrated Clark, who was called at least twice for pushing off the ball and picked up four fouls.
Clark claimed afterward that she didn’t see Reese’s gesture, and Iowa’s head coach Lisa Bluder gave a near muted response, saying “We’re all different people, and we all have different ways to show our emotion.”
In other words, it was fine when her player – a white athlete – gestured, but
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 16
Angel Reese
not-so-cool when the winning player – a Black champion – gave a little back.
“Ultimately, the conversation around Reese’s gesture is not just about trash talk; it’s about how Black players are perceived differently than white players,” Rhoden stated. “Reese’s gesture was an unapologetic response to the criticism she has faced all year.”
And, as white commentators like Olbermann continued their rhetoric and race-baiting, Black sportscasters like Rhoden, ESPN’S Stephen A. Smith, and FS1’s Shannon Sharpe, stepped up to back Reese.
“We see it two different ways… when Caitlin Clark did the John Cena it was considered ‘swag,’” Sharpe remarked.
“Angel Reese does the same gesture
it’s considered ‘classless.’ “It’s funny how America – society sees black and white.” Sharpe wasn’t done.
“Angel Reese said ‘unapologetically me.’ She meant unapologetically Black. It’s … it’s so obvious what this is. This is not about anything other than race.”
He continued:
“One is a celebration and is celebrated. The other is condemned. And why? Only because a Black did the exact same gesture that a white female did 48 hours earlier.
“Trash talk is a part of the game. But white trash talk and black trash talk is viewed entirely different and we know why.”
On his First Take show, Smith also went in on the race issue.
“We all know that there’s a white-black issue here, because the fact of that matter is when Caitlin did it, people were celebrating it. And they were talking about nothing but her greatness,” Smith railed.
“But, the second a sister stepped up and threw it back in her face, now you’ve got half the basketball world saying ‘Well, you know what, that’s not the classiest thing to do.”
Smith continued:
“Clark kind of instigated this and the fact that hasn’t been brought up tells us a lot about our society as a whole. You know exactly what the hell you’re doing as people when you want to bring up how Angel Reese acted, but you don’t want to bring up how Caitlin Clark acted. That’s the inconsistency. That’s the story.”
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 17
Acknowledging Black Women In Particular During Women’s History Month
OUR VOICES
DR. JOHN E. WARREN
It is fitting and proper that we have a Women’s History Month. Just as Black History Month precedes it, there is an opportunity to acknowledge another group that history often has omitted and, in many cases, continues to do so.
But while all women have had struggles, none have been as great as the Black woman, unless there was the condition of slavery attached to their life struggles. Black women achieved in spite of slavery, rape, murdered husbands and
children taken from them and sold as property.
While we call to the world’s attention the accomplishment of just a few Black women on these pages, it is especially important that the Black man makes these same acknowledgments without a sense of insecurity or fear.
She is strong because she had to be in order for our species to survive. She is as diverse, as these pages demonstrate, as she is beautiful and she is the very fabric of this great nation built on her
back and struggles.
In these pages, we are limited in our recognition of the numbers and contributions of Black women past and present. We invite you to continue the research and the recognition wherever possible. We have included some local heroes recently deceased and currently with us. We invite you to join us in honoring them and their achievements.
You see, “Our struggle continues”.
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Dr. John E. Warren is publisher of The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.
"But while all women have had struggles, none have been as great as the Black woman..."
- Dr. John E. Warren
The Unequal Cost of Protesting
THE LAST WORD
BY DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX
The 45th President is in the news again, facing indictments in New York and Georgia for criminal behavior regarding illegally paying a porn star (New York) and election tampering (Georgia). While the former President has not yet been indicted, he has already wallowed in his victimhood, describing the legal proceedings as "political" and biased. His attorneys have attempted to slow the process in Georgia by lobbing accusations against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who happens to be a Black woman. She is biased, they say, incapable of prosecuting. As usual, the 45th President and his ilk have it all wrong. And as he has done for the past 50 years, the Orange Man attempts to wiggle out of his legal challenges.
The former President has attempted to rally his troops, just as he did on January 6, 2021. Fewer may be inclined to take it to the streets, given that about a thousand insurrectionists have been charged for disorderly and disruptive conduct and more. The average sentence for these miscreants was 16 months, but so far, at least five have been sentenced to more than seven years. Some were found not guilty, and many received minor sentences.
Contrast the treatment of traitorous criminals witH the treatment of Brittany Martin, a South Carolina woman who participated in a May 2020 protest against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd. She was
vocal with a police officer, shouting "no justice, no peace," and, allegedly, "I'm willing to die for the Black, are you willing to die for the Blue? This is just a job for you; this is my life."
Her comments were perceived as “threats” (she had no weapon), and she was charged with aggravated breach of peace, instigating a riot, and five counts of threatening police officers. She was grossly overcharged for her verbal reaction to police violence and was sentenced, in May 2022, to four years in jail. Appeals to shorten her sentence were unsuccessful, and there is evidence that she was brutally treated in jail. She was disciplined because she refused to cut her dreadlocks for religious reasons.
Brittany Martin got a sentence of four years for yelling at a police officer. Most insurrectionists on January 6 got less than a year and a half. If everyone who shouted "no justice, no peace" at a rally were sent to jail, the jails would overflow. Why was she electively prosecuted?
Brittany Martin was harshly treated and given an unfairly lengthy sentence because she was a Black woman who chose to stand up for her rights, including her right to protest. Perhaps the judge in the case decided to make an example of her. But as the former President attempts to get the misguided morons who support him out to protest, I am reminded of the unequal ways "justice" (or should we call it just-us) is meted out. Rabid white men assaulted capitol police officers. Many escaped judgment. Others were given a slap on the wrist. A Black woman fighting for Black people gets an unreasonably long sentence, and her preg-
nancy is imperiled. She gave birth in November 2022 while incarcerated, receiving neither justice nor mercy.
Brittany Martin has given birth to seven children, losing one to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and another to gun violence. Before her latest birth, there were four surviving children, and now five children are missing their mother, including an infant who has had no time to bond with her. South Carolina incarcerated a mother for four long years for yelling at a police officer. Federal courts are sentencing insurrectionists to much less time. In some ways, comparing federal courts to state ones is like comparing apples to oranges. Still, the contrast between Brittany's sentence and those who have done far worse is instructive.
The prior President may or may not get indicted or convicted, and he may or may not be forced to don a jumpsuit the same color as his hair used to be. But those of us who watch the so-called justice system are almost certain that he'll get a break, just like his supporters, the January 6 insurrectionists are getting.
Yelling is not the same as breaking into a federal building, assaulting Capitol police officers, breaking windows, and busting into Speaker Pelosi's office. The insurrectionists excuse their lawlessness by leaning on "free speech" rights. Where are the rights of Brittany Martin and the other fearless freedom fighters treated shabbily by the courts?
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 19
Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA. She is also President of PUSH Excel, the education arm of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. You may reach her at juliannemalveaux.com
South Dallas gem named Exec Director of New England Foundation for the Arts
(Boston, MA) The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) has announced that Harold Steward will join the organization as the next executive director.
Steward, a philosopher, strategist, and educator, is currently the executive director & cultural strategist at The Theatre Offensive (TTO), a Boston-based nonprofit organization that presents liberating art by, for, and about queer and trans people of color that transcends artistic boundaries, celebrates cultural abundance, and dismantles oppression. Previously Steward as manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center, which provides instruction and enrichment in the arts with an emphasis on the African contribution to world culture and will officially join NEFA on July 10, 2023.
“We are delighted to have Harold join NEFA in this role,” said NEFA board chair John Henry. “Their wealth of experience in the arts, cultural equity, leadership, strategy, and fundraising is essential to further NEFA’s mission to invest in artists and communities and foster equitable access to the arts. We are excited for the vision and energy that Harold will bring to our programs and services.”
“NEFA plays an important role in the cultural landscape of New England and nationally,” said Harold Steward. “It is exciting to have this opportunity to lead an organization of this scale whose values align with my own, and where I can bring my experience to bear alongside the dedicated NEFA staff and board.”
Steward’s appointment follows an
extensive nationwide search led by a search committee, co-chaired by NEFA board members Carrie Zaslow and Michael Bobbitt, working with Arts Consulting Group. Steward will succeed Cathy Edwards, who held the role from January 2015 until she stepped down in May 2022. Since
serves as executive director & cultural strategist and oversees all operational and artistic functions of the organization. Steward most recently served as manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center, a division of the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, which provides instruction and enrichment in the arts with an emphasis on the African contribution to world culture.
In 2009, Steward founded Fahari Arts Institute in Dallas after recognizing a gap in the landscape for local LGBTQ artists of color in Dallas. Fahari Arts Institute celebrated, displayed, and produced the work of queer artists from the African Diaspora.
then, NEFA has been led by interim executive director/COO Jug Chokshi in partnership with deputy director, programs Jane Preston and in collaboration with other senior staff.
“NEFA has known Harold as a grantee, an arts practitioner, and a cultural equity advisor for a number of years, and we welcome Harold’s leadership,” said Jug Chokshi, interim executive director/COO. “We are ready to embark on the next chapter of NEFA’s work.”
Steward is a cultural strategist from Dallas, TX who joined The Theater Offensive in Boston as the managing director in June of 2017 and currently
Steward is a member of the board of directors of Theater Communications Group where they are the co-chair of the equity, diversity and inclusion committee. Harold is also the board treasurer for the National Performance Network and serves as the board clerk for MassCreative. Also a steering committee member of the Black Theater Commons. Steward is also a founding member of NextGen National Arts Network and founding partner of Steward Cultural Development Group
Steward served as a cultural equity facilitator with Equity Quotient and an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Theater Studies at Emerson College where current research interests include The Queer Trap Aesthetic in American Theatre and Identity Reclamation-The process in which oppressed individuals reclaim agency over their identity through cultural production.
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Harold Steward
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Call issued to Support Black Businesses
Buy Black!
By Cheryl Smith
When Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, of Friendship-West Baptist Church, announced 100 Days of Buying Black in acknowledging the 100th Commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we joined the movement. December 31, 2021 marked 100 days of featuring Black Businesses. and we decided that the struggle continues and we must also. So enjoy reading about more Black-owned businesses and please support.
CARL’S KITCHEN
Carl’s Kitchen is a Dallas Food Truck, that provides catering, Korean “BBQ” Barbecue, Cajun, and Mexican Food for all of DFW, downtown & surrounding areas. Their food truck caters weddings, private parties, festivals & company events. They serve a great Plant Base Menu Items, Classic Burgers & Wings, Street Tacos. The owner, Carl Hall, is also a part of the 3 Dimensional Catering team. For your next event check them out.
Visit the website: carlskitchen.biz or stop by the food truck at 1401 E ARAPAHO RD Suite D, 469-504-8793 or email: carlskitchen@gmail.com
DOMINIQUE RANSOM
When you think of a tattoo and piercing shop, most people wouldn’t think of it being completely woman-owned and operated. The Lilac Tattoo Studio’s owner Dominique Ransom is changing that perception and the industry all together right
here in Dallas with a new location coming to Fort Worth in May. Lilac Tattoo Studio is for girls in a space for girls and the artist are girls.
Visit the website: https://www.lilactattoo. com/ 4409 Belmont Ave. Dallas, 214-272-3009. Open at 12:00 pm daily and closed on Monday.
AUTISM IN BLACK
Meet Maria DavisPierre, President and CEO of Autism In Black, Inc. As a licensed mental health therapist, Maria primarily works with Black parents to provide support through education and advocacy training. Her passion comes from her personal journey when her daughter received the diagnosis. Maria’s unique approach to coaching and counseling exemplifies her drive and motivation toward greater acceptance and overcoming the barriers and personal struggles associated with raising a Black autistic child. Cultivating the Black Family Experience Virtual Conference is April 28-30, 2023.
To find out more and register visit the website: https://www.autisminblack.org/
SASSY2 CLOSET
Sassy2 Closet is a stylish collection for the woman who isn't afraid to be Fearless, to go against the grain, do something different, to stand out. She walks with confidence in herself and her abilities. She is an awesome extraordinary woman. Are you that woman? Sassy2 is the #1 boutique for affordable women's clothing. Free Shipping Sitewide.
Find your style visit the website: https://www.sassy2.com/
THE COOKOUT KITCHEN & CATERING
The Cookout Kitchen specializes in southern comfort
cooking. Their dishes are inspired by the flavors and traditions of the southern states. Whether you’re looking for a backyard BBQ, a corporate event, or a fancy dinner party, they have a variety of dishes to choose from. Stop by the Frisco Fresh Market and indulge in some mouth-watering Fish and Chicken and Waffles. Their Chicken and Waffles are served in a waffle cone and a waffle bowl. There are more flavors on the menu. Catering is available.
Visit the website: https://www.thecookoutkitchen.biz/ 432955-7978 or thecookoutkitchen@gmail.com
MY SECRET SCENT
My Secret Scent is a brand of skincare, body care, and candle essentials that you can count on to transform your space and upgrade your beauty routine.
Shakirah Brightly is the founder of My-Secret Scent and My-Secret Skin. (MSS) All products are cruelty free, vegan, luxury candles are free of phthalates, fragrances, soaps and other skin care products. Shop for your favorite sent. Each customer will receive a free gift with their order.
https://www.my-secretscent.com/
LATARA THOMPKINS CONSULTING
Are you looking to
Let establish a nonprofit or LLC. L. Thompkins Consulting has a 100% success rate. The services include consulting to shape your vision and ideas, and then take the baton and complete your business filings. It is all virtual…anywhere in the United States! If you’re ready to make your dream a reality, LaTara Thompkins is ready to work for you.
Visit the website: https://www.latarathompkins.com/, 972322-5413 or email lthompkinsconsulting@gmail.com
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Dr. Frederick D.Haynes III
Texas Metro News
Superb Women
March 2023
Our Superb Women!
to 2017 and she is an award winning author and writer. An attorney, she is the most respected and admired woman in the world. She’s a wife and mother, a voice of reason in a world full of chaos. Born in Chicago, IL, she graduated from Whitney Young High School where she was an honor student and student council treasurer. She went on to major in sociology with a minor in African American studies at Princeton and then graduated from Harvard Law School. She is an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She is grace at all times!
attended Dallas College. She is committed to serving the community and sharing blessings. So many have benefited from her generous heart and spirit. A mother and a grandmother, this year she commemorates her 50th wedding anniversary. She is also a member of the Garland Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC).
2021 was the "Year of the Woman," especially the Black Woman! For 10 months we dedicated this space to uplifting Black women and spreading a message that we need to show love and empower people with love instead of destroying them with hate and disrespect. We celebrate Black Women and call them SUPERB! AND WE ARE KEEPING THE CELEBRATION GOING IN 2022!
MICHELLE OBAMA
A managing member at SFDF LLC, she is co-founder of the non-profit Bands of Hope, providing social and financial services to underprivileged single mothers and children. A managing member of SFDF LLC, she has worked as a realtor at Caldwell Banker Apex and a Pre-Needs Burial Insurance Agent. She also operates an Airbnb, Pinetree Crest in Avinger, TX. A native of Fort Worth, Tx, Gilda graduated from Polytechnic High School and
Vickie Gunnells-Hodge is the founder and CEO of Empower You/Empower Me, LLC and Founder of one in Abundance, Inc. She has also enjoyed stints at Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church Clothes Closet, United States Postal Service, Grocers Supply and Continental Airlines. A graduate of Forest Brook High School, this writer and author has degrees from Texas School of Business, North Harris College and Houston Christian University.
SHERRY BRONSON
Sherry Bronson is the founder of Sherry Bronson Television Network. A talk show
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 23
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama served as the first lady of the United States from 2009
GILDA SMITH
VICKIE GUNNELLS-HODGE
Cheryl Smith
By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News
host, producer, author, speaker and certified women empowerment coach. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Jackson State University. Sherry is a member of The Professional Woman, Women Speakers Association and Christian Media Association. Through television, speaking, and writing, Sherry aims to empower women to work towards realizing their dreams.
ANDREA DURHAM
from Rhodes College with a Bachelor’s in Urban Studies and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of North Texas. Durham is also a servant leader who volunteers for different causes in the DFW community.
DIONE SIMS
Andrea Durham is a clinical research expert, and the founder and owner of Durham Research Collaborative, a firm that aims to diversify the clinical research industry at the sponsor, investigator and patient levels. Durham was named one of the Dallas Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40. She graduated
Dione Sims is the founding executive director of the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. She is also the founder of Unity Unlimited. She continues to work relentlessly to eliminate racial and gender disparities by promoting diversity opportunities in the community. Sims is a board member of the Fort Worth Association of Federated Women’s Clubs. Sims has been instrumental in helping to promote and spread awareness about Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the US. Sims attended Southwest High School and graduated from Texas Wesleyan University in 1989 with a BBA in Information Resource Management.
DIAMOND (STYLZ) COLLIER
Diamond (Stylz) Collier is the executive director of Black Transwomen Inc. Collier was the first openly trans woman to attend Jackson State University. She produces and co-hosts a weekly podcast called Marsha’s Plate and works tirelessly to nil gender inequalities and to ensure the LGBTQ community is not left behind in the larger Movement of Black Lives. Collier
is also a board member of the Transgender Law Center and the A Call to Men organization. She came in 34th in The Root’s 100 most influential African Americans in 2020. She is originally from Indianapolis. Collier is an avid traveler.
GIGI MCDOWELL
GiGi McDowell is the founder and CEO of Fêtefully, a virtual wedding and event planning platform. As an innovative thinker and a problem solver, McDowell found solutions to modern-day planning troubles for brides through her platform. She has had a passion for event planning ever since she first planned her 6th birthday party. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communications from Texas State University where she was a member of the Black Student Alliance and Texas State Chapter
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 24
of the NAACP. McDowell is also part of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
MARSHA JONES
Judge Amber Givens is the presiding judge of the 282nd Judicial District Court in Dallas County. She received her BA in Political Science from Tuskegee University and earned a Juris Doctor Degree from the Syracuse University College of Law. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, she was featured in many award-winning shows and documentaries including Apple TV’s ‘Dear…’ and ‘True Conviction.’ In addition to her judicial duties, she is also actively involved in several community organizations, including the Dallas County Juvenile Department and the Dallas Women Lawyers Association.
Marsha Jones is the co-founder and executive director of The Afiya Center, a community for Black womxn to seek refuge, education and resources. She is also adept in HIV/AIDS advocacy and not only has been raising awareness but also providing solutions. Jones has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is a graduate of the Black AIDS Institute’s African American HIV University and Tyndale Theology School. She is a part of the board of directors for the Texas Equal Access Fund and is a member of the National Women AIDS Coalition.
JUDGE AMBER GIVENS
Myrtle P. Bell is a distinguished business professor and associate dean for Diversity, Racial Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Business at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is also a faculty affiliate of the university’s Center for African American Studies and the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies. With a passion for diversity and inclusivity, Bell has authored numerous books and papers on the subject. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, her master’s degree from Louisiana State University, and her Ph.D. from UTA.
HEDREICH NICHOLS
Hedreich Nichols is an author and an educational consultant. She also has a blog and podcast called SmallBites. She is currently K-12
EdTech specialist in North Texas. Nichols was also a music educator and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter. She is has authored numerous award-winning books that tackle racism faced by Black America. Two of her novels were on the list of around 850 books that State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, asked the Texas Education Agency, as a part of their book ban. Hedreich received her Master of Education at Texas A&M University.
By Arlisha R. Norwood, NWHM Fellow | 2017
Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a prominent journalist, activist, and researcher, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In her lifetime, she battled sexism, racism, and violence. As a skilled writer, Wells-Barnett also used her skills
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 25
MYRTLE P. BELL
IDA B WELLS BARNETT
as a journalist to shed light on the conditions of African Americans throughout the South. Ida Bell Wells was born in Holly Springs, MI on July 16th, 1862. In 1884, Wells-Barnett filed a lawsuit against a train car company in Memphis for unfair treatment. She had been thrown off a first-class train, despite having a ticket. Although she won the case on the local level, the ruling was eventually overturned in federal court. 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. In 1893, Wells-Barnett, joined other African American leaders in calling for the boycott of the World’s Columbian Exposition. The boycotters accused the exposition committee of locking out African Americans and negatively portraying the Black community. In 1895, Wells-Barnett married famed African American lawyer Ferdinand Barnett. Together, the couple had four children. Throughout her career Wells-Barnett, balanced motherhood with her activism. Wells-Barnett traveled internationally, shedding light on lynching to foreign audiences. Abroad, she openly confronted white women in the suffrage movement who ignored lynching.
EDNA ARTIS SHAMBRY
Edna Artis Shambry is a servant leader. She has served in numerous positions of leadership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for the past 50 years. She is currently a member of the Denton County Alumnae Chapter, having been initiated into the Epsilon Theta Chapter at Norfolk State graduating with a bachelors’ degree in accounting. She loves to travel, line dance, and participate in water sports.
ANITRA GIVENS
Anitra Givens is a counselor at James Bowie High School. A graduate of Alabama State University with a degree in Chemistry, she received her M.Ed in Counseling at Dallas Baptist University. She is celebrating her 25th year as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, initiated into the Beta Eta Chapter, and is currently a member of Arlington Alumnae. Her vision is for each student to realize their full potential and aim to become a better version of themselves as they learn and grow. A servant leader, Anitra is committed to lifting as she climbs.
NIKKI WILSON
Nikki Wilson is the Chief People Officer at TRG agency. She has won many awards for her work including, HR Executive of the Year (medium size company) by DallasHR and Shining Star by American Advertising Federation - Dallas. Nikki graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a BA in
Psychology and an MA in Human Resources and Labor Relations from Ohio State University. She is the secretary for the nonprofit organization, Sisters of Sarai. Nikki also lived in India and Dubai.
SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON
Sha’Carri Richardson is a track and field athlete, specializing in the 100 and 200 meters sprint. The Dallasite was named one of the 10 fastest women in history at just 19 years old. Sha’Carri is known for her vibrant hair and lengthy nails during competitions, which she said are influenced by the style of the legendary Florence Griffith Joyner. She is a graduate of David W. Carter High School. Richardson briefly attended Louisiana State University.
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Margaret Woods Kyle is a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, initiated into the Theta Mu Chapter and currently a member of the North Dallas Suburban Alumnae Chapter; where she has held several leadership position She has also sang in national convention and regional conference choirs. Margaret is a committed community servant and leader.
DANYEL SURRENCY JONES
University. Hailing from Jacksonville, FL, she is on the advisory board for Dallas Sports Commission, North Texas Food Bank, Junior Achievements of Dallas, Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation and The Power to Give Foundation. A wife and mother, Danyel is smart, stylish, intuitive, motivated, beautiful and talented.
Danyel Surrency Jones is the co-founder and former CEO of Powerhandz, a sports and fitness product tech platform. She is the head of Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator. Surrency Jones received her BS in healthcare administration from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from Florida International
Dr. Marina McLean is a keynote speaker, life coach, master coach, worship leader, songwriter and award-winning author and television host. She has released four worship albums: “In the Glory,” “Synchronized,” “Encounter with Worship pt. 1, and pt. 2.” She received her Doctorate in Divinity from Friends International Christian University. She has published two books: “Appetite for Worship” and “The Invitation.” Dr. Marina became a Life Coach and Master Coach, through Kemuel Christian University. She is the Director of ICultiv8 LLC, an online coaching program. She participates in the Sister to Sister Breast Cancer Run annually.
CHRISTIAN NICHOLE
Christin Nichole, known professionally as C. Nichole, is an American singer, songwriter, music executive, and businesswoman. She is known for her mixing of genres, along with melodic songwriting and straightforward lyrics. She was born in Dallas, TX and was raised between Dallas and Pasadena, CA. Of Bantu, West African, Mexican, Cherokee, British and French descent,
she studied abroad in Kensington at Richmond, The American International University in London and throughout Ghana. She graduated from University of Houston, cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and two minors in Journalism and European Studies.
JACQUELINE JOHNSON
Jacqueline Johnson is one of the voices that is being raised up to help others discover their true purpose, passion, and strength. Jacqueline is a 21st Century marketplace prayer leader, author, certified life coach, and ambassador of hope who is making a difference in her own unique way. She is the founder of Adventure & Victory, a mentor, and a Minister of Hope who received her tutelage under Bishop Jakes for 18 years. Jacqueline is proving life skills and community outreach
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 27 MARGARET WOODS KYLE
DR. MARINA MCLEAN
events. Awarded the ‘Unsung Heroes’ award by Ebony magazine and Pine-Sol, Jacqueline’s primary focus is to provide the necessary tools that will establish meaning and purpose and assist individuals in reaching their full potential and becoming contributing members of society. Learn more at adventurevictory.org.
ANTOINETTE ALEXANDER -SARPONG
Antoinette Alexander-Sarpong is the CEO of ANTOINETTE ALEXANDER INC., a luxury brand of fashion and beauty products. She is also an international makeup artist and image consultant with over 20 years of skincare and cosmetics industry sales, marketing and project management experience. Antoinette’s expertise with color as well as being a gifted artist have endowed her with the knowledge to easily work with the many skincare and cosmetics brands in the industry. Antoinette received her B.A. degree with honors in Fashion Design & Human Resources from Spelman College. Antoinette enjoys taking long walks for de-stressing, yoga, and dancing. https://www.antoinettealexander.com/
MARSHA TAPLETT
A native Dallasite, Marsha Taplett is a product of South Oak Cliff High School and Arts Magnet. She attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where she received a BA Degree in Communications and also received a Masters Degree in Christian
Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. A certified fitness specialist, personal trainer, fitness instructor, conference speaker, fitness/wellness retreat facilitator and serious motivator, Marsha specializes in renewing the body, spirit and attitude of women through exercise and lifestyle enhancement. She has several decades of experience and success with weight loss, body sculpting, stress release, behavior modification and positive self image.
Medicine. An engaging speaker, Dr. Newsome is in high demand and widely respected. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Trinity Links, Incorporated.
JOYCE ANN ROBINSON
Dr. Donna Ellen Newsome has been practicing medicine for almost 30 years. A board certified neurologist, she is highly rated and sees patients who have conditions of the nervous system, such as ALS or epilepsy. A graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of
Joyce Ann Robinson is a minister, author, and speaker. She is a mentor to many, and her values distinguish her as a virtuous woman. Joyce graduated from Southern Bible Institute in Dallas with a diploma in Biblical studies. She continued to further her education in Biblical studies and graduated from J. Lee Foster School of Biblical Studies/Tyndale Seminary in Dallas, TX. She is a founding member of the Dallas Chapter of Women of Purpose International Ministries, where she served under the leadership of Dr. O. Virginia Phillips, Ph.D. She has also served on the Board of Directors of “Word Walking Wives.” Joyce volunteers her time with various local organizations supporting women and young girls.
GLADYS LEE
Gladys Lee is an LPGA Golf Coach and professional golf instructor. A strong advocate for change, Lee has served in numerous positions, including Roaring Lambs International Junior Golf Academy, Texas Chapter Director, African Americans in Golf Association (AAMIGA), and Golf Instructor for Tarrant County College. Lee was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame in 2003. Currently, she is the site director for the
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 28
DR. DONNA ELLEN NEWSOME
LPGA-USGA Fort Worth/Dallas West Girls Golf, Women’s LPGA Golf 101, and The Golf Club of Dallas. Lee attended elementary and jr. high school at James E. Guinn and then graduated from historical I.M. Terrell Sr. High School. She attended college at Texas Southern University.
lead. She enjoys working on creative ideas and applying her knowledge to implement highly efficient systems.Dr. Okorafor is a passionate social entrepreneur and founder of the 501(c) non-profit Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) Foundation, which promotes STEM education for girls in Africa.
She is deeply passionate about healthy living and sharing her great love for super herbs.
Dr. Unoma Okorafor is the founder and CEO of Herbal Goodness. Born in Asaba,Nigeria, she ws selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Dallas/Fort Worth Office as the District Woman in Business Champion for 2022. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Lagos, her master’s degree from Rice University and her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, all in Computer Engineering. Prior to founding Herbal Goodness, Dr. Okorafor worked as a software engineer and technical
Tanya Stoudermire looks just as good in front of the camera as she makes her subjects look when she is behind the camera. No surprises, she was a runway model! An exceptional photographer, Tanya hails from Belvidere, IL. She is highly respected and says her goal is to capture the very essence of your brilliance, one frame at a time. Beautiful inside/out and talented, Tanya brings a smile to your face as she helps you capture your inner and outer beauty. Check her out at https://www.hauteshotsbytanya.com/
LATOYA HAYNES-PIPER
LaToya Haynes-Piper is a Romantic Getaway Travel Specialist, helping couples ignite and maintain their passion and romance for one another through planning all-inclusive romantic getaways. A graduate of Skyline High School, LaToya received an Associate Degree in Business from Dallas College and studied Healthcare Management at University of North Texas, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied
Arts and Sciences. She is also passionate about service and LaToya is a volunteer and servant leader. She can also help build your business online. Reach this wife and mother at LaToya@TravelRomanticGetaways.com
INGRID WILLIAMS
Ingrid Williams is a principal in Fort Worth ISD with more than 30 years as an educator, with 11 as an English/Journalism teacher; she is a leader in her field! Ingrid graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in broadcast journalism while also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the National Association of Black Journalists. She also received her Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Texas Woman’s University. Principal Williams is an expert in developing effective academic interventions for the most at-risk students.
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 29
DR. UNOMA OKORAFOR
TANYA STOUDERMIRE
LSU Wins First NCAA Title
By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor
It took a new coach two years and nine new players for the LSU Tigers to make history.
Led by Jasmine Carson off the bench, the Tigers won the NCAA women’s basketball national championship in Dallas on Sunday afternoon before a sellout crowd. They did it by shooting 58% from the field in the first half, including 75% from three-point range. Five of LSU’s nine made three-pointers came from Carson who finished the game with a teamhigh 22 points.
“I would definitely say this is the game of my life because I won a National Championship on the biggest stage possible in college,” Carson said. “When I woke up, (this morning) I just wanted to win. I wanted to do anything that my team needed in this game, whether it was defense, rebounding, just anything, supporting them.
“I scored tonight, and that's
what pushed us and got us momentum, and I'm just proud of my teammates.”
It was a history making game all around for the Tigers whose 59 first half points set a new record for most points scored in a half in a women’s championship game.
Additionally, LSU’s 102 total
LSU. This is LSU’s first ever men or women’s basketball championship.
Q. What does it mean to win a title in your home state now and get LSU its first ever men's or women's basketball championship?
“With about 1:30 to go, (in the game) I couldn't hold it. I got
that I am home. I don't know if it was looking across there at my daughter and my grandchildren. I don't know if it was looking across at LSU. I don't know what it was, but I lost it.
So that should tell you what I think about it. Very, very emotional and tears of joy.”
Angel Reese was named Most Outstanding Player for the tournament. Reese set a single season NCCA record this year for most double doubles at 34.
points also set a new record for most points scored by a team in a women’s championship game.
Head Coach Kim Mulkey a Hall of Famer who has won three national championships as coach of the Baylor Bears –is in only her second year at
very emotional,” said the Louisiana native. “That's really not like me until the buzzer goes off, but I knew we were going to hold on and win this game.
“I don't know if it's the mere fact that we're doing this in my second year back home. I don't know if it was the fact
“I'm just -- I'm super happy for the program first, but this is bigger than me. I mean, I had so many goals coming into LSU, but I didn't think I was going to win a National Championship within my first year at LSU,” Reese said.
“I'm just happy for this team. Coach Mulkey, I appreciate you. I can't thank you enough for this opportunity to play under you and get better. I'm just happy right now.”
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 30
Angel Reese, Ashley Morris, Jasmine Carson
LSU National Champs
Photos: LSU
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! April 2023
Stacy Lattisaw Jackson and Kevin Jackson 31 years
Sherrelle Arnold and Mike Arnold 24 years
Mr. and Mrs. Turner 51 years
Mr and Mrs John Daru
Mr. and Mrs. Hill 1 year
James Sandars and Erica Taylor Sanders
Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Jackson 24 years
31
Mr. and Mrs. Cowan 1 year
Just married Just married
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 32
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January
Healthy Living EXPO
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Cervical Cancer Awareness
Birth Defect Prevention/Screening
Blood Donor
Glaucoma Awareness
Healthy Weight
February
Mardi Gras
Black History Month
Children’s Dental Health
Heart Health
Burn Awareness
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia care
Eating disorders Awareness
March
Women’s History Month
Black Press Week
Brain Injury Awareness
Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Kidney Month
Nutrition Month
LGBT Health Awareness Week
Doctors’ Day
Tuberculosis
Major League Baseball
April
Election Guide
National Financial Literacy Month
Community Banking Month
Alcohol Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Month
Donate Life Month
Foot Health Awareness
Humor Month - Black/Brown comics
Religion - Easter
STI Awareness
Public Health Week
Eye Health and Safety
Infant Immunization
May
Cinco de Mayo
Class of 2023
Mother’s Day
National Small Business Month
ALS Awareness
Bike Month
Better Sleep Month
Healthy Vision Month
High Blood Pressure Education Month
Lupus Month
Skin Cancer Awareness
Mental Health Month
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Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Asthma Day - May 1
Food Allergy Awareness
June
Black Music Month
Juneteenth
Father’s Day/Men’s Health Month
Women Veterans Day
PTSD Awareness
Cancer Survivors Day - June 2
Blood Donor Day - 14th
July
Minority Mental Health
The Black Church
UV Safety
Hepatitis Day - July 28
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 33 Editorial/Sales/ Marketing Calendar 2023
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Celebrate Easter in the Park with St. Luke “Community” UMC at Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas, TX 75201 @ 10 am Register at eitp23.eventbrite.com www.slcumc.org
Southwest Dallas County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority presents 2023 MISS Jabberwock Pageant @ Showcase, 5-7pm at the Hilton Garden Inn Duncanville. Masks are required
Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Virtual Orientations to learn how to maximize your chamber investment. https://dallasblacktxcoc.weblinkconnect.com/events
12 p.m. - The Women’s Museum at Fair Park, 3800 Parry Ave, Dallas, TX 75226. Fireside chat luncheon featuring Alex Epstein, author of Fossil Future and The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, and Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, professor of meteorology at Texas A&M and the Texas State Climatologist. The chat will be moderated by Former Texas Gov. and Former Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. Cost: $100, https://earthx2023.eventive. org/schedule/6424ea720eb441002c1f66a3
22
EarthX Business Lunch featuring Van Jones.
12 p.m., The Women’s Museum at Fair Park, 3800 Parry Ave, Dallas, TX 75226.
Description: EarthX welcomes CNN commentator and environmental leader Van Jones to North Texas. The New York Times best-selling author has a long reputation as a world-class change-maker, with a rare track record in the modern world to bring people together on areas such as clean energy solutions and others.
Cost: $100, https://earthx2023. eventive.org/schedule/6424f161dd79cd0040991eb4
25
Fair Housing Act 55th Anniversary Webinar
Featuring Principal Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at HUD, Demetria McCain, 6:30 PM
MAY 7
Miss Jabberwock Scholarship Pageant
5:00 PM
DoubleTree Campbell Centre, 8250 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX 75206 Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc
20
11th annual Tux and Chucks Gala, a charity fundraiser event in support of Fit and Faithful Living’s mission of inspiring hope, vision, and possibilities for youth and families. This year’s event promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience for the whole family, featuring guest speakers Olympians Michael Carter and Michelle Carter, who will share their personal journey and insights on the importance of mental health in families and achieving goals. 6pm - 9pm at The Highland Dallas Hotel. In addition to the guest speakers, the event will include awards, live performances, dinner, silent auction, and more.
JUNE 4
The Rattlers are taking over DFW! FAMU ALUMNI WEEK 23
ROYAL COMEDY with SOMMORE, BRUCE BRUCE, LAVELL CRAWFORD and Dallas’ own D Ellis
EarthX Business Lunch featuring Rick Perry, Alex Epstein and Dr. John Niel-
Black Music Month
Ivy & Pearl Foundation of Dallas, in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, Alpha Xi Omega Chapter’s
2nd Annual Top Golf Tournament
Scholarship Fundraiser on Sunday, June 4, 2023 2:00 PM at TopGolf in Dallas, TX.
HYPE
w/Cheryl Smith
Weekday mornings on FaceBook
Bringing you hype you can believe!
GET READY to GET REAL
The Real Deal w/ The Reality Coach on BlogTalkRadio.com 11 am.- noon CST. and FaceBook, Mondays. Join the call 646-200-0459 on Cheryl’s World.
The World According to Drew on BlogTalkRadio.com 8 am.-10 am. CST. Sundays Tune in for thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news and commentary. Join Andrew Whigham on the call 646-200-0459
SEND YOUR CALENDAR ITEMS TO
editor@texasmetronews. com
or call
214-941-0110
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 34 APRIL 9
11
Women
22-23
11:30am registration & networking Park City Club
Sherry
Dallas, TX
Join Fellowship of Professional
and friends as they continue
Speaker Series with Laura Butler
5956
Lane #1700
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Lifestyle Metro Calendar
APRIL 6
You’re invited to BonVoyage of Black Cowboys and kickoff for the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo, 6:30 pm at the African American Museum in Fair Park.
6:30-8:30 pm Attire: Western
8
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Psi Chapter, Dallas, TX, presents a Spring & Summer Fashion Show: Featuring Youth Designer Dymecia Daniels, 2023 Youth Entrepreneur Honoree, at the Courtyard Marriott in Midlothian. 12
Doors Award winner Sylvia Komatsu and emcee Jay Warren, Texas Rangers Golf Club, 701 Brown Blvd in Arlington Tickets are $50 Program begins at 6:30pm 22
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Psi Chapter presents the 49th annual Business Month Education and Scholarship Awards Luncheon at 11am at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Dallas Campbell Centre, 8250 North Central Expressway Dallas
ments of Dr. Haynes during his tenure at Friendship-West Baptist Church.
The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Power Breakfast at 7:00am at the Soiree Coffee Bar in Dallas. Register at DallasBlackChamber.org
20
Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Virtual Orientations to learn how to maximize your chamber investment. https://dallasblacktxcoc.weblinkconnect.com/events 21
South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club Inc, 59th V. Alyce Foster Trailblazer Awards Luncheon, 12 noon at the Hilton Anatole 27
5th Annual HBCU College Fair and Scholarship Informational. The National Pan-Hellenic Council-North Dallas Suburbia Chapter has once again partnered with Frisco ISD to host this event.
MAY
Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Business Mix & Mingle 5:30-8:30pm Register at dallasblackchamber.org 28
Celebrating Mothers Congrats to the Class of 2023
SPJ 20th annul First Amendment Awards and Scholarship Banquet. Featuring Keynote speaker, Cynthia Izaguirre, Open
Friendship-West Baptist Church will be hosting a 40th Pastoral Anniversary Gala for Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III. This event will honor all of the hard work and achieve-
6
May 6 and Sunday, May 7 A significant program for the Dallas Arboretum, the Black Heritage Celebration places the spotlight on the unique talents, art, products and services from the local Black community, amidst the beautiful backdrop of the Dallas Arboretum.
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 35
29
The African American Museum- Dallas presents the 35th A. Maceo Smith Community Service Awards Brunch at 10 am at the Dallas Marriott Suites Medical/ Market Center
30
Heritage Celebration
at the Dallas Arboretum 8
Smith
Tune in on Mondays on BlogTalk Radio 646-200-0459 or Texas Metro News Facebook Page. JUNE
Black
Business Expo
Philander
College’s 28th Annual Elijah Pitts Golf Tournament! Infohttps://www.philander.edu/giving/ elijah-pitts-golf-tournament
Send your calendar items to editor@texasmetronews.com 214-941-0110 grown, so has our ER. Methodist Charlton Medical Center knows that being a good neighbor is seeing a need and meeting it. That’s why we expanded one of the area’s most important emergency departments to 40,000 square feet, with more beds and trauma rooms, new imaging equipment, and more. Being there when our friends and neighbors need us most. That’s community and why so many people Trust Methodist. Learn about our expanded ER at ChooseCharlton.org Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical sta are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Health System or any of its a liated hospitals. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. NCNW - g z g d h a o e o A c Am n w me m e n o mu NCNW has some exciting events and opportunities to offer our youth Planned ctivities include, but are not limited to: Job Fairs Social Outings Scholarship Awards Youth Global Initiative Community Health Fair College Fairs/Expos & Tours Volunteer Opportunitie & more Searching for youth ages 12-18 for an outstanding opportunity to join a great organization! For more information, please contact NCNW 3 Vice President LaKendra McAfee Email: tmhvpres3@ mail.com/Phone: 469-404-7235 Remembering January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. HYPE w/Cheryl Smith Weekday mornings on FaceBook Bringing you hype you can believe!
Innovative Podcast opens International Doors for Entertainers and Entrepreneurs
By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines Texas Metro News Correspondent
unlikely combination, paralegal, Bella Washington DuPlexis and hip-hop artist John Bouka Baptiste are combing their efforts to create an innovative podcast targeting the entertainment industry.
Congo-Brazzaville and resides in South Africa, and performs as a rapper under the name of Albooby. Although the two are over 9,000 miles apart, they have come together to produce their weekly podcast, Coming Right at You with Al booby Show, which can be streamed on YouTube.
my friend, Mark Ayers Jr., who is a gospel artist released a new song. I thought the song was phenomenal, and I wanted the world to hear it. I made a clip and post ed it on my personal Facebook page,,” said DuPlexis. “Then something mirac ulous happened. I continued to push the record with a Facebook live posting. After my postings, I began to get friend requests from around the world. In a few days my followers on Facebook went from around 1,000 to 5,000 people.”
she joined forces with Baptiste who
ditionally have that type of access.
As they are completing their third season they have had as many as 40,000 viewers for one episode. One of their seasons is equivalent to 10 episodes.
Their increased viewership has landed them national sponsorship with major companies which includes Frito Lay, Coca-Cola, and Chanel.
“Due to our large audience, we have a great opportunity to impact the careers of the artists that come on our show. We had two artists on our podcast Adrienne LaShe and Lashae Love, who were both nominated for independent artist of the year for the BET Music Awards,” said DuPlexis. “For us this was a huge success story because these artists did not have a large audience prior to being on
As their audience increases, DuPlexis said they are expanding their concept to include celebrity guests like Martin Emerson, a cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League.
“As artists our platform is to help and support people in different ways by giving them global exposure. We are becoming a change agent in the industry. Once people have done one interview, they want to do a second interview,” said
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 36 March 31, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 36
Your Ad belongs here, Contact: 214-941-0110
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 37
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April 4 AP will
a community
and
to celebrate
life and legacy on Saturday, April 8, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Irene
Park,
2215
Kirk Myers-Hill, CEO of Abounding Prosperity (AP) and a leader in the LGBTQ community, died on Tuesday ,
host
vigil
balloon release
Myers-Hill's
at
Trigg-Myers Prosperity
located at
Warren Ave.
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 43
Searching for youth ages 12-18 for an outstanding opportunity to join a great organization!
NCNW has some exciting events and opportunities to offer our youth. Planned activities include, but are not limited to:
• Job Fairs
• Social Outings
• Scholarship Awards
• Youth Global Initiative
• Community Health Fair
• College Fairs/Expos & Tours
• Volunteer Opportunities & more!
For more information, please contact NCNW 3rd Vice President LaKendra McAfee Email: tmhvpres3@gmail.com/Phone: 469-404-7235
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 44
the
a
quality of life
American
n,
c
s
NCNW is a non-profit organizati on, worki ng to ad vance
opportu nities
nd the
for African
wome
their families, and
ommunitie
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 45
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 46 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN , INC NCNW T. Mathis-Hawkins Section Cordially invite you to celebrate 1st Annual Youth Ambassador Cotillion Theme: “Transforming Tomorrow’s Leaders” Romans 12:2 Alan E. Sims Recreation Center 310 E. Parkerville Rd. Cedar Hill, TX 75104 Sunday, April 23, 2023 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. $50 donation For more information contact LaKendra McAfee, NCNW Youth Coord. 214-463-9476
April 7, 2023 myimessenger.com 47
April 7, 2023 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com 48 ARRESTED HE IS A SERIAL RAPIST He targeted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. but this is more than about a sorority. We’re talking about a community. Come on PEOPLE! Don’t you CARE? Will it matter when it is your sister, mother, aunt or grandmother or maybe YOU? Crimestoppers 877-373-8477