I Messenger 8-1-21 by Cheryl Smith

I MESSE MESSENGER NGER

VOL X NO 47 AUGUST 13, 2021

Derrick Bell

Dallas thinkers assess Critical Race Theory (CRT)

M. K. Asante Jr.

IMessenger An IMM LLC Publication MAILING ADDRESS

Hailee Hall elected NAACP Region VI Representative

320 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway Suite 220 Dallas, TX 75203 WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM 214-941-0110 Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER - EDITOR news@texasmetronews.com S. Curet GENERAL MANAGER stewartcuret@myimessenger.com Jessica Hayden STAFFWRITER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Marva Sneed EDITORIAL TEAM Anthony Council Chelle Wilson Dareia Tolbert Dr. Felicia N. Shepherd Dorothy J. Gentry Eva Coleman Monique P. Stone Lajuana Barton Rebecca Aguilar Vincent Hall MARKETING TEAM Carlton McConnell Terry Allen PR DESIGN/LAYOUT FzanStudio

Free - Take One

WEB/SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Alana King

.EWSSTANDS IN

Rowlett AT .EWSSTANDS IN esquite d,Rowlett ardson Mesquite chardson .Dallas

Free - Take One MB Distribution CIRCULATION/DISTRIBUTION

Editorial submissions

editor@texasmetronews.com

& E.Dallas

450-13971 Year 1 Year Subscription $45.00 3)(903) 450-1397 Subscription $45.00

IMessenger

Established 2011 CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back. August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

Hailee Hall

The 112th NAACP National Convention, held virtually, took place last month and resulted in the election of Dallas NAACP Juanita Craft Youth Council secretary, Hailee Hall, to the position of Region VI National Youth Work Representative and Regional Secretary. Hailee is a senior at the School of Science and Engineering at Yvonne Ewell Townview Center. Her new duties include: recommending to the Board of Directors policy, advocacy, and programmatic activities pertaining to the civil rights concerns of African American and other young people; providing oversight of the implementation of these programs and policies; recommending policies to increase the advocacy capacity of the Association’s youth units; and, consulting with the President and CEO to recommend annual work plans and re-

sources to effectively implement youth program. “Initially, I was worried about what would be expected of me, especially since I am going into my senior year of high school.,” said Hailee. “Now, I’m excited for the opportunity to represent the young activists that we serve in Region VI.” With her election, there is a passing of the torch. Traelon Rogers, the former youth representative of Region VI, was the person who nominated her for the position. Hailee said she “was really shocked by the nomination simply because it was unexpected, but it was also eye opening because [Traelon] believed that I had the tenacity to be our region’s representative.” Traelon, who spoke of his former experience as the Region VI Youth Representative, said he wanted to get involved on a

national level because he understood “what their impact was on policies and how things were carried out.” At the time of joining the National Youth Works Committee, Traelon said there were veterans on the committee that had a wealth of knowledge that was able to pick up on. Traelon is a former Juanita Craft Youth Council President and now serves on the Board of Directors of the NAACP and as Board Assistant Secretary. According to Traelon, his nomination pick of Hailee was based on her qualities of “leadership” including her “capacity to represent our city, state, and region well.” Linda Lydia, the Juanita Craft Youth Council Advisor said, “Hailee is an incredible young lady who possesses leadership skills and knowledge far beyond our expectations. Her sense of community and commitment to tasks in our council is noteworthy and we are so proud of her being elected to this national position. We feel certain she will go further with the NAACP.” Hailee is not a newcomer to holding prominent positions of activism in the community. She is also an NAACP Vote 4 Me Ambassador, as well as a Youth Leader at Friendship-West Baptist Church, where she and her father, Vincent Hall, are Bothe active members. myimessenger.com

INSIDE

The last word

wake up and stay woke

p12

myimessenger.com

p18

quit playin The South Dallas Government Center (SDGC) has gone from the dream stage to reality. Dallas County posited its first new construction in Southern Dallas in 60 years at the southwest corners of Polk Street and Westmoreland.

p22

August 13, 2021

MY TRUTH by Cheryl Smith Publisher

Allegedly - NO! cams, is there an autopsy, or why did the officer change the story? A lot of criticism has been lodged at the media, and at times, for good reason. There’s always a call for fair, accurate and ethical coverage; but sometimes coverage is all wrong, like the time it was reported as established fact, in a lead suggestion, that police believe Trayvon Martin hit George Zimmerman “with a single punch” before Zimmerman shot the young man to death.

Money Mitch 223

Last week, I told you about the murder of Money Mitch 223. Yes, he was a rapper and people talked about his lifestyle. Still everyone, and I don’t care who you are, deserves just treatment. The stories surrounding his death are numerous. It was reported: there was a shootout, the suspect ran, police followed a blood trail and found a deceased “suspect.” Frank DeMario from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office said, “We followed him to a building, and on the second floor, we noticed some blood droppings on the first floor. We thought he was wounded. We didn’t have any involvement in the shooting.” Then the story later changed and there was no blood! Wouldn’t that make you ask questions, like: were there body August 13, 2021

Police Badge

Trayvon Martin

Police: 2 UO football players facing charges for allegedly shooting people with airsoft gun. The two suspects were cited in lieu of being taken into custody for three counts each of reckless endangering, assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm and disorderly conduct, the EPD spokesperson said. DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSION! Houston police said officers shot and killed a man who allegedly opened fire on them as they conducted a traffic stop.

Use of “alleged” in stories: Members of a regional church community are mourning after news that a 29-year-old pastor had allegedly been shot to death by his wife in Lemon Grove early on Monday evening. SHE TOLD POLICE SHE ‘ACCIDENTALLY’ SHOT HER HUSBAND

Reports on Money Mitch all before an autopsy: Aspiring Florida rapper Money Mitch died from a self-inflicted gunshot after a shootout with Palm Beach sheriff’s deputies. Rapper Money Mitch died on Friday, July 23 from a self-inflicted gunshot after a shootout with Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies.

I MESSENGER

However, The Mirror reported: Rapper Money Mitch allegedly turned his gun on himself after opening fire on police officers during a traffic stop in Florida last month. There’s more to the story of Money Mitch 223 and questions need to be asked and answered. Which brings me to my truth. Doing the right thing is important, regardless of who or what is involved. Unfortunately we are in a world where you need to have a camera on at all times. There was a time we didn’t have cameras, but now that we do, USE THEM! Don’t demonstrate selective journalism. Do the right thing, all the time. It is imperative that we wrap our heads around the word “alleged” and do the reporting we need to do. We owe it to our audiences and everyone. And yes, we owe it to Money Mitch 223.

Reporter’s Note Pad

myimessenger.com

MORIAL: Vernon Jordan on Whitney M. Young Jr. — One Visionary Warrior Pays Tribute to Another TO BE EQUAL MARC MORIAL

July 31, we remembered and celebrated Whitney Moore Young Jr., on the centennial of his birth. Young served at the helm of the National Urban League during the turbulent decade from 1961 to 1971, overseeing the greatest expansion of scope and mission our organization has seen in more than a century. As the activism of the Civil Rights Movement expanded from the courts to mass-action, nonviolent demonstrations in the streets of both Southern and Northern communities, Young forcefully and publicly projected the League’s tenets of social work and civil rights as never before. During our Equal Opportunity Dinner in November 2019, the National Urban League honored three other former leaders — Vernon Jordan, John Jacob and Hugh Price — with the “Visionary Warriors” award for their years of unwavering leadership. Vernon Jordan, due to illness, was unable to attend, but shared prepared remarks in which he paid tribute to Whitney Young. We lost Jordan in March of this year. In honor of these giants of civil rights, we commemorate Young’s centennial year by sharing Jordan’s tribute: Good evening. It is an honor to be here, to be alongside myimessenger.com

two great leaders of the Urban League, my successor John Jacob, and his successor, Hugh Price. Of course, I, too, was a successor. And so tonight I’d like to thank my predecessor, the great Whitney Young, for this award — and dedicate it to him. You see, I would not be here without Whitney. He was my mentor and guardian, my inspiration and dear friend. And for about as long as I knew him, he was trying to recruit me for the Urban League. I remember many years ago, in 1966, he gave me a ride from LaGuardia Airport and asked me to come work for him. But I was not ready to leave the South. A few years later, in 1969, he asked me about becoming his deputy — and then rescinded the offer! He said I was more suited to a different job — one he was not ready to vacate anytime soon. And not long after that, when I was offered the job as the Executive Director of the United Negro College Fund, I sought out his wise counsel. And he encouraged me to accept. So I moved to Manhattan, into the office just below his, and soon he became my greatest advisor and ally in this city, showing me the way forward as only he could. I learned so much from him. His loss was tragic, and his impact was tremendous. Of course, his impact was not limited to me alone. In his near-decade of leadership, he transformed the Urban

Whitney Young

League and had a profound impact. He was the original “Visionary” for this institution — imagining what it would be and could become for Black people in this country. And he pushed that vision closer to reality. He also was an original “Warrior,” a soldier in the army for civil rights … alongside so many whom we still celebrate and others we have nearly forgotten. And he set the standard for what it means to combine the two — to be a “voice for the voiceless,” and to fight tirelessly towards a vision of equality. Indeed, 48 years ago, almost to the day, at my first Equal Opportunity Day Dinner, as the designated Executive Director, I reflected on the incredible impact of Whitney Young. And I will say tonight what I said then, because it remains true, almost half a century later: “Whitney has left us the instrumentality for change, an agency with a

proven record of effectiveness, a vehicle with the blueprint for getting the job done. Thus, we have a charge to keep, a constituency to serve, a people to lead.” I am grateful to John and Hugh and Marc for being such stewards of the Urban League of this living legacy of Whitney Young. And today, its work would not be more vital — for families and communities across the country. We still have our charge to keep, our constituency to serve, our people to lead. And we must continue to live by Whitney’s example. So, before I go, perhaps even more than this award, I want to thank Whitney for the honor of a lifetime — the best job I’ve ever had. It has been an honor to be a soldier in Whitney’s army, a warrior for a vision we must all keep fighting for. Marc Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.

August 13, 2021

Wear the masks, wash your hands and show love!

Your Ad belongs here, Contact: 214-941-0110 August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

Dallas thinkers assess Critical Race Theory (CRT) or unwitting racial overtones in the nation’s laws; such as the Dred Scott case, redlining by banks, and voter suppression following Reconstruction. 2. Contrary to many beliefs, CRT is not taught in grade schools or high schools. 3. The argument that institutional racism was eliminated with the 1960s civil rights law, does not negate the charge that residue of that racism still hampers underprivileged communities where largely people of color live. 4. CRT exploration is justified considering that within the last decade, African-Americans and Hispanics were about 30 percent of the nation’s population but almost 60 percent of the prison population. 5. CRT makes it clear that the lofty wording in the nation’s founding documents (all men… have unalienable rights) do not pan out in real time; considering inequities that include segregation laws, the era of lynching, and tragedies such as the 1921 Black Wall Street massacre. Some Dallas local African-American thinkers also express thoughts about the CRT brawl. Robert Edison is a veteran Dallas educator and African-American history and culture authority. He said his profession of teaching students about the Ameri-

Derrick Bell, the late Harvard law professor and a prime CRT founder

I WAS JUST THINKING... NORMA ADAMS-WADE

Allow me to weigh in on the incendiary debate about Critical Race Theory, also known as CRT. Yes, I know. I stand to lose a lot of friends. But here goes. CRT is not easily explained or understood. The confusion is a big part of the problem. The debate’s pro and con sides have drawn a line in the sand and are wearing earplugs to drown out each other. So, what is CRT? A drybone definition could be that the theory critically examines existing laws and governmental and corporate policies to see how those subjective concepts exclude and/or negatively impact individuals based mainly on their race -and more recently also their August 13, 2021

gender, economic status and sexual orientation. More and more parents and leaders are resisting including these explorations into educational systems, preferring to stick with traditional textbooks that CRT proponents say are more myth that reality and presented from an Anglo and privileged view. Opponents say teaching CRT in schools could make Anglo students feel that they are being blamed for what some might call the sins of their fathers, their ancestors – many presumably who owned enslaved Africans[cq and African descendants, as long ago as the 17th and 18th Centuries. Seeking to lower the heat, some analysts attempt clarifications including these: 1. Harvard Law scholar Derrick Bell, one of the theory’s prime creators, meant to offer it only in college law classes; those that would examine deliberate

I MESSENGER

M. K. Asante Jr., poet, author, educator, filmmaker

can experience obligates him to “tell the truth, the whole truth.” But history text books often make that goal difficult because all are written by humans with their own perspectives on past events. Edison cited the provocative, much-read and sometimes denounced book by National Merit Scholar, college professor and author James Loewen, “Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong.” Loewen critiqued a dozen history text book and debunked much of the books’ narratives as embellished, distorted, misleading, and being fixated on heroes. Liberals and conservatives take sides for and against the book. “If there is no truth in history, then there is no real myimessenger.com

over to the educational system and municipalities… and that was not what it was for at this time. It was an inappropriate appropriation of something that was never meant to do what they are trying to make it do,” Dr. Adkins said. “That’s going to be full of problems.” Educator Edison said more twisted opinions about CRT assert that Anglo students will be made uncomfortable or forced to feel guilty about their ancestors, particularly those in the South where slavery thrived. He said he clearly remembers no one seeming to care about his feelings as a young student when literature considered racist was discussed in his classes, including the controversial 1899 children’s book “Little Black Sambo,” later illustrated by various artists. A popular 1940s cover depicts a cartoon illustration of a Black

One of the early covers of book “Little Black Sambo”

history. All you are doing is teaching myths,” Edison said. Vincent Hall, a corporate and Dallas County manager and Black community advocate, suggests that CRT largely seeks to help underserved racial groups gain more power and equity from longstanding governmental and corporate systems and their exclusionary policies, while largely Anglo groups that are in power seek to maintain their upper hand. He said that many fierce clashes result from individuals and groups that know little about CRT’s origin in the mid-1970s and its growth spurt that began in 1989. Misinformed opponents spout fallacies, he said, proving that they know little or nothing about the motives of existence of scholar Derrick Bell, one of CRT’s prime founders. “If you can’t get to the root, you can’t get to the tree at all,” myimessenger.com

Hall concludes. Educator, minister and historian Dr. LaTrese Adkins agreed that news media rolls out regular CRT updates to a general public that still understands little about the issue. CRT was formulated for and by academicians who have their own lexicon and culture, said Dr. Adkins who is a Black Republican. She said humanities academicians like herself explore social theories by writing exploratory theses back and forth with each other, not bound by restrictions of pure scientists such as chemists who must base their studies on quantitative data. CRT’s bust onto the public arena was premature before academicians had decided where and how to use the theory, she said. “All of a sudden it became mainstream … got handed

child with stereotypical Black features of big lips, buck eyes and nappy hair. Perhaps the solution to all this is one that poet, author, filmmaker, educator M. K. Asante Jr. devised when in 2008 he wrote the poem “Two Sets of Note” in chapter 10 of his book “It’s Bigger than Hip Hop.” The then 26-year-old said the poem is for Black students who suspect that teachers, Anglo and Black, are force-feeding myths about history from text books with distorted and personalized perspectives. Rather than argue with the instructors, the young poet offers his solution in the attached sidebar that features brief excerpts from his poem: Norma Adams-Wade is a veteran, award-winning journalist, Graduate of UT- Austin and Dallas native. One of the founders of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), she was inducted into the NABJ Hall of Fame

Two Sets of Notes – by M. K. Asante Jr. They label me militant and Black national radical Trying to put my learning process on sabbatical … They even try to get me to see Their point of view from a brother that looks like me … I always take two sets of notes, One set to ace the test and One set I call the truth … Their history is built on high-rise lies The pyramids were completed Before Greece or Rome were conceptualized … Black children…don’t let them fool you With selective memory… Always take two sets of notes.”

August 13, 2021

A continued fight for justice! By Arise Rejoice News Service A former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and a retired member of the United States Congress from New York are among those assiduously working to secure the Medal of Honor for Naval hero Dorie Miller who received the Navy Cross for his heroic acts at Pearl Harbor during the surprise Japanese attack, December 7, 1941. Clarence Davis, a veteran of the U. S. Navy and Joseph DioGuardi, the first CPA to win a congressional seat, believe that evidence contained in an eye witness battle report demonstrates conclusively that Miller’s deeds during the attack surpassed the valor of any other sailor aboard the ship, including those who were awarded the Medal of Honor. “The ship’s battle report clearly demonstrates that Dorie Miller should have received the Medal of Honor,” said Davis, a leader in a Black military veterans organiza-

tion, and a board member of the Congressional Black Caucus Brain Trust. “It is crucial that Dorie Miller be recognized as one of our nation’s great heroes,” said former Congressman DioGuardi. “Like many African American members of the military he did not receive what he earned.” Both DioGuardi and Davis are members of a Congressional Dorie Miller Medal of Honor task force established a number of years ago by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) who, like Dorie Miller, is a native of Waco, Texas. The effort to have Miller awarded the Medal of Honor began shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Black Press insisted that Miller should receive the nation’s highest honor. Congressional efforts to upgrade Miller’s award to the Medal of Honor began in the 1940s when Michigan Congressman John D. Dingell introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Represen-

Former Maryland State Delegate Clarence Davis, right, and former Congressman Joseph DioGuardi are among those urging that Dorie Miller be awarded the Medal of Honor.

tatives, according to Ron Tarburton, one of the nation’s foremost Medal of Honor historians. “There is not a single doubt in my mind that Miller should have received the Medal of Honor,” Tarburton said. “His not receiving it was a grave historical wrong that

must be corrected.” “To honor Dorie Miller by presenting him with the Medal of Honor would be further recognition of the historical role that Black military men and women have played in the promotion and guardianship of American Democracy,” Davis said.

Remembering Nicole Barrett Services:

Celebration of Life:

Celebratory Viewing August 20, 2021 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm Chamberland Funerals & Crematorium 333 West Avenue D Garland, TX 75040

Saturday, August 21, 2021 11:00 am Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church 8350 Forest Lane Dallas, TX 75243

https://www.chamberlandfunerals.com/obituary/Nicole-Barrett Please feel free to post any condolences here. With sympathy and blessings, The Barrett Family

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

REP. CORI BUSH IS MY SHERO THE LAST WORD BY DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX

Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO) was once homeless. She wrote movingly (https://time.com/6085841/ cori-bush-homelessness-crisis/) about sleeping with her babies in her car, with no place to go, nowhere to wash except a McDonald’s restroom, nowhere to exhale. She was homeless and working, and among a group that has coined the term “unhoused” to convey the pain of living without a home, belongings stuffed into garbage bags, hot food an elusive possibility. Imagine that, and imagine that with infants, one just six months old, another not much older. Bush has come a long way from her unhoused days, but she hasn’t forgotten them. That’s why she has spent several nights sleeping on the Capitol steps, joined by fellow members of Congress, Ayanna Pressley, AOC, and others. She is sleeping outside because nothing is going on inside. The eviction moratorium expired on July 31 without Congressional action, and as many as eleven million people may get eviction notices in the next few days unless Congress acts. Typically, Congress does not convene in August. They are on vacation, or they are back in their districts holding constituent meetings. Truth be told, they are mostly on vacation, and Washington DC turns dead. Cori Bush says she could not imagine taking August 13, 2021

a holiday break while people are sleeping in the streets while Congress has taken no action. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the House leadership went home to enjoy their break. Cori Bush and her colleagues are raising issues that have been ignored as we are “recovering” from the economic impact of COVID and its mutations. One in four Floridians and South Carolinians are behind on their rent. Black folks are four times more likely to owe rent than whites are. Elderly Ameri-

because the eviction moratorium has run out? Members of Congress, regardless of party, have unhoused people in their districts. It would be interesting to put them on record about their willingness to help some people who have suffered because of COVID and its aftermath. Notably, economic growth in the second quarter of this year was a high 6.5 percent. That might suggest that relief is not needed for people at the bottom. Robust economic growth, though, has shown the uneven na-

Rep. Cori Bush

cans are disproportionately vulnerable to evictions – they, too, are running behind on their rent. And Congressional leaders have gone home. Congressional leadership is Democratic, which is a frustrating aspect of the Democratic Party approach to economic justice. Speaker Pelosi might say that she did not move to extend the moratorium because she did not think it would pass. But why not try and force people to put their cards on the table. Are you in favor of mass evictions, or are you prepared to support fellow citizens who run the risk of going unhoused

I MESSENGER

ture of economic recovery. Unemployment rates have dropped, but faster for whites than for Black and brown people. People are working, and wages have increased some, but the federal minimum wage is as low as it has been for the past decade, and there are no signs that it will rise soon. While cobbling together an infrastructure bill, Congress is still struggling to pass a budget bill that includes increasing the federal minimum wage. These are challenges that must be dealt with in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, however, a simple piece of legislation to ex-

tend the eviction moratorium until the end of the year could provide relief for millions. Few members of Congress have had the experience that Congresswoman Cori Bush has. Certainly, some have experienced poverty, public assistance, and even public housing. But I’m not aware of another, besides Bush, who has had to sleep in her car with her babies. If others have had such experiences, they’ve not spoken of them because, in our individualistic economy, poverty is an embarrassment, a personal failure. But poverty is not personal; it’s political. Our predatory capitalistic system was designed to generate poverty and inequality. It was designed to create a housing shortage that pushes rents up and people out. It was intended to trigger gentrification that has transformed many “hoods” into hot spots. Predatory capitalism was not designed to allow people to thrive. Cori Bush has gone from being unhoused to working in the House of Representatives. She has not forgotten the days she slept in her car. How can her colleagues forget the millions at risk, running home instead of taking care of the business they were elected to handle. She is a warrior for justice, a courageous champion. She is, indeed, my hero! Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist, and social commentator.

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

Impacting the Health of Black Women: Fibroids and the Facts FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

OUR VOICES

BY DR. FROSWA BOOKER-DREW

BY KAZAI DREW

Uterine fibroids are incredibly common, especially in Black women. I must admit, I was one of those women struggling with this issue in my 30s. I had no idea what to do and because of the amount of pain and other issues I began to experience, I made a decision that was best for me. It is important for Black women to know that options are available. According to Dr. Suzanne Slonim, an expert in the field of interventional radiology, the problem is multifactorial. “Genetics and race play a

role, but their contributions are yet to be fully understood. Cultural differences including diet, exercise habits, environmental exposures, stress levels, and underlying health disparities all contribute as well. In Black women, fibroids begin developing at much younger ages, they grow faster, are more likely to be in multiples, are more likely symptomatic, and more often result in surgery. Black women are seven (7) times more likely to have surgery for fibroids and more than 2x as

And the last thing she mentions is that hair relaxer contains a chemical that mimics estrogen, so for women who used hair relaxers long term, there is an increased risk of fibroids that correlates with how long it has been used and how many times scalp burns occurred from the chemicals.

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

Rep. Senfronia Thompson

likely as white women to have a hysterectomy.” Slonim began her career as an Interventional Radiologist which is minimally invasive image guided surgeries using cutting edge technologies. After working on staff at Stanford for several years teaching residents and fellows, she moved to Dallas to head up the Interventional Radiology department at Methodist Dallas and Charlton for 16 years. A physician for 32 years, she conducted her first uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) in 1997, the first year they were performed in the USA. In 2016, she left her practice at Methodist and pursued her passion to focus solely on treating uterine fibroids. On a systemic level, structural racism contributes

to disparities in healthcare. Slonim says, “Black women are more likely to have received suboptimal care through the years, have a poorer state of health, or have a delayed diagnosis of fibroids. Their more complex fibroid situation contributes to higher risks and worse outcomes during fibroid surgery than other ethnic groups.” Slonim notes that there are a couple of known risk factors that can be addressed directly in regard to helping prevent or treat uterine fibroids, one being Vitamin D deficiencies. Most American women are vitamin D deficient, but especially Black women. She suggests that: • Black women start taking vitamin D supplements, 2000 units/day. Stress is also myimessenger.com

“Black women are more likely to have received suboptimal care through the years, have a poorer state of health, or have a delayed diagnosis of fibroids. Their more complex fibroid situation contributes to higher risks and worse outcomes during fibroid surgery than other ethnic groups.” Dr. Susan Slonim

a risk factor for fibroids, so obtain and maintain peace in daily life, whether it is from prayer, meditation, connecting with friends, or enjoying a relaxing spa day or hot bath. • Statistics show that women that are a part of an exercise program tend not to form new fibroids. • Eating a lot of red meat is a risk factor and fruits and vegetables are protective. • Being overweight is a risk factor. The bottom line is that fibroids are fed by estrogen, which is made by the ovaries, but estrogen is also made in fat cells. So, if you have a lot of excess fat, you have more estrogen than normal. All that extra estrogen feeds the fibroids and makes them grow. And the last thing she mentions is that hair relaxer contains a chemical that mimics estrogen, so for women who used hair relaxers long term, there is an increased risk of fibroids that correlates with how long it has been used and how many myimessenger.com

times scalp burns occurred from the chemicals. Black women may start their fibroid journey earlier in life with poorer health due to inequities that exist because of inadequate access to healthcare facilities, lack of quality doctors, and mistrust of the medical system. Slonim says, “If you look at the COVID-19 vaccine numbers in Texas as of midJuly 2021, only 33% of Black people have been vaccinated while 44% of Whites have. When I talk to my Black friends who haven’t gotten vaccinated, it’s because they remain suspicious of the vaccine. “That suspicion is well justified given American history, but unfortunately, it’s also dangerous when we’re dealing with a potentially deadly disease like COVID or a widespread problem like fibroids.” She states, “Unfortunately, there is no cure for fibroids. They can be surgically removed, leaving the uterus in place, but if the patient

is more than a few years from menopause, the only way to be sure the fibroids won’t come back is to have a hysterectomy. Fortunately, there are many fibroid treatment options.” Recently, legislative bills in Texas focused on Uterine fibroids--HB1966 and HB1967 were passed due to the behind-the-scenes efforts of Dr. Slonim. In partnership with State Rep. Senfronia Thompson [D], and others, these bills will make every July Uterine Fibroids Awareness Month and provide a database of information about women with uterine fibroids and to uterine fibroid education and research. Dallas County Commissioners Court passed a resolution to promote fibroid awareness as well. Slonim’s hope is that bringing awareness and education to the topic of uterine fibroids will remove the taboo about discussing it and help women make informed decisions about their healthcare. “Uterine fibroids have a significant

impact on the quality of life for women. The need to educate people may appear daunting, but it is not insurmountable. I have seen the impact that my small practice is making, and I know that every year more women’s lives can improve exponentially.” To learn more about fibroids, visit www. fibroidfree.com for more information. HERitage Giving Circle will also host a forum on the topic. To attend this virtual event on August 17 at 7 pm, visit https://www. heritagegivingfund.org/ for more information.

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.

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

Briefs Dallas Live Career Fair

Live Trivia Monday Photo Credit: Marva J. Sneed

Triple Canopy A Constellis Company-Dallas Live Career Fair

VRC Investigations-Dallas Live Career Fair

FedEx-Dallas Live Career Fair

Texas A&M University Commerce-Dallas Live Career Fair

Photo Credit: Marva J. Sneed

National Career Fairs Inc. held the Dallas Live Career Fair and Job Fair last week. The vendors were Triple Canopy a Contellis Company hiring Fixed/Mobile Guard in Kuwait, G2 Secure Staff hiring support services to the airline industry, FedEx Ground hiring Maintenance Technicians, Renewal by Andersen hiring Brand Ambassadors and Lead Generators , and Field Marketing Agents.

G2 Secure Staff-Dallas Live Career Fair

ReNewal by Andersen-Dallas Live Career Fair

Texas A&M Commerce was there for adults wanting to finish their education, offering affordable and flexible Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science Degree. VRC Investigations fighting against fraud, hiring Surveillance Investigators , SIU Investigators, Desktop Investigators, SIU Analyst, Administration Assistants and Call Center. For more information about National Career Fairs visit the website at https://www. nationalcareerfairs.com/

Live Trivia and All Night Happy Hour Mondays at Zoli’s Pizza & Pasta a New York Style Pizza Restaurant located on 14910 Midway Rd. Addison TX. 75001. Monday nights Zoli’s hosts Trivia Night with a DJ and prizes. Here’s a little trivia about Zoli’s. It was founded in 2013 in the Bishop Arts neighborhood in Oak Cliff, by Cane Rosso, and pizza was sold by the slice, jalapeño ranch flowed free, and Meatzilla was the most beloved. Zoli’s moved from Bishop Arts four years ago and rose again in Addison, evolving into a full-service, sit-down East Coast Italian-inspired restaurant. In 2019, Zoli’s headed west to Fort Worth and opened a pizza and ice cream paradise, featuring a walk-up window from sister ice cream shop, Cow Tipping Creamery. Find out morehttps://www.zolispizza.com/

Zoli's Pizza & Pasta in Addison

Zoli's Burger

Zoli's First time vistitors Quen'a and Jessica from Memphis, Tenn

DART holds bus operator hiring event Photo Credit: Marva J. Sneed

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) hosted a Hiring Event for Bus and Rail Gordon Shattles DART Director, External Operators recentRelations ly at the DART Ways, Structures & Amenities - North Division Building at 9717 Abernathy Ave, Dallas. DART is hiring Bus Student Operators and Rail Student Operators in preparation for the planned redesigned bus network scheduled to launch in January of 2022, providing greater frequency and longer hours, as well as better access to jobs. DART offers employees a competitive salary and benefits package, including: • Paid training for CDL licensing • Health, vision, dental, life and AD&D insurance myimessenger.com

DART Holds a Bus Operator Hiring Event

Dallas Area Rapid Transit

• Medical coverage after 30 days • Retirement Plan and 401K • DART paid training begins at $17.60/hour; after successful completion of training, pay will increase to $20.31/hour • Opportunities for advancement The full job description for the DART Bus Student Operator and Rail Student Operator positions can be found on the DART website: https://www.dart.org/

August 13, 2021

Spirit of The Olympics WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ.

With few exceptions, every four years, citizens of the world revel in the pomp, ceremonies and athletic excellence of the Olympic Games. Something in the human spirit admires the competition of the games and, for that moment in time, the emergence of the best athletes. Like many this year, my attention has been primarily focused on gymnastics. I admire the grace, skill and agility of gymnasts and the long-term perseverance required to develop their craft to the level of world competition. I have nieces who are fledgling gymnasts and I know the extent of commitment required for them to compete at the local and state levels. I know of the hours they spend in practice each day while also managing their schoolwork and household responsibilities. I can attest that this is no small or insignificant task. It tests the full measure of their physical and emotional strength. My exposure to their gymnastic experience gives me a degree of insight into the challenge of maintaining the personal “balance” required to compete with regularity. That insight is why I condemn the criticism directed at Simone Biles for prioritizing her mental health ahead of competing in the Tokyo Olympics. I have read that she has August 13, 2021

been criticized for a lack of “toughness.” Some criticism questions her patriotism and commitment to the country that she is supposed to represent. She has been accused of being self-centered and self-indulgent. These unjust critiques are of the same ilk as those used to deride and degrade tennis star Naomi Osaka. Both of these young women have chosen their mental well-being over the expectations for their athletic performance. This choice is just as important as if they had pulled a muscle or broken a bone. (This may not be true for Simone, as she has been known to compete with broken toes.) Their concern for personal mental health and well-being may be a newly expressed reason, but the expected “right” of the external control of “our” performance is nothing new. It harkens back to the control exercised throughout our existence in this nation — from slavery through the civil rights era to today.

I MESSENGER

When Colin Kaepernick took a knee, he was disparaged as lacking a sense of patriotism. He was called a “bastard” by the sitting president. He was accused of being an ingrate who was privileged to be allowed to make the huge sums of money he made for playing a game. His placing principles over dollars was inconsistent with the mindset of those who criticized him. Prospering silently while others suffer under the oppression of systemic racism was not in Colin’s “playbook.” His critics could only focus on money, but his principles caused him to focus on the injustice occurring daily in his community. And who can forget Fox Media personality (not newscaster) Laura Ingraham telling LeBron James to “shut up and dribble.” I have always believed that telling someone to “shut up” was among the greatest insults one could give another human being. It is tantamount to telling

someone he or she is worthless. It is unacceptable to think that LeBron would sit in silence while the so-called leader of the free world practiced the vilest racism. At the peril of their careers and lifestyles, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Jim Brown, John Carlos, Tommie Smith and others have ignored the demand for them to “shut up and perform” or “go along to get along.” Each of them demonstrated their steadfast belief in a purpose higher than just existing as well-paid but muted entertainers. They, and we, are more than performers. Like the spirit of the Olympiad, we will exercise our right to express the full measure of our talents. Williams is president of the National Congress of Black Women. Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women and Host of “Wake Up and Stay Woke” on WPFW-FM 89.3.

myimessenger.com

JUSTICE ?

Briefs CONGRATS to HALL OF FAMER

Drew Pearson

Photo Credit: Clarence Hill

When former Dallas Police officer Amber Guyger was found guilty of murdering businessman Botham Jean in 2018 it was a no-brainer that an appeal would be filed, even though critics felt a 10-year sentence handed down by the jury was too light.

Convicted in 2019, Guyger had yet another day in court. Last week the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court upheld the conviction, although she argued for a conviction of criminally negligent ho-

micide instead of murder. Guyger can have another opportunity should she decide to appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Drew Pearson in Hall of Fame

RESIGNS!

Drew Pearson was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, on August 8, as part of the NFL’s Hall of Fame Weekend. Pictured with other Hall greats, including teammate Roger Staubach, who delivered Pearson's enshrinement speech.

D/FW FAMU ALUMNI raise $52,000 for athletic program Frederick and Vivian Johnson with FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Kortne Gosha at reception at Dallas Black Dance Theater

Andrew Cuomo

Photo Credit: William Volcov/ Shutterstock

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns after being accused of inappropriate behavior by almost a dozen of women. The prospect of an impeachment inquiry and following a report from the state’s attorney general that alleges that almost a dozen women were victims of his inappropriate behavior, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has resigned. With his last day in 14 days, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will become New York’s 57th governor, and first female. myimessenger.com

FAMU VP and Director of Athletics Kortne Gosha

August 13, 2021

Spotlight

Sharing the history of JUNETEENTH!

Frazier Revitalization welcomed Mrs. Opal Lee, for a book reading on Monday. Her great, great grandchildren (D'Erin and D'Ana) live in the Frazier Community on Elsie Faye Heggins Drive in Sunny South Dallas and have attended Frazier Kids Programs for two years! Photos: Chuck - Juliette Bravo

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

Spotlight

Let's get those guns off the streets!!

District Attorney John Creuzot greets DeSoto City Manager Brandon Wright

District Attorney John Creuzot with DeSoto Mayor Rachel Proctor

District Attorney John Creuzot with DeSoto Chief of Police Joseph Costa

myimessenger.com

A partnership between the city of DeSoto, DeSoto Police, and the Dallas County District Attorney’s office led to an overwhelming collection of firearms at the voluntary gun surrender event held this weekend. Those bringing in weapons received $100 Walmart gift cards. Officials say the response was so overwhelming that DeSoto Police Chief Joseph Costa, Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot and our DeSoto City Manager Brandon Wright wrote out IOUs for people dropping off weapons. Those IOUs can be redeemed with DeSoto Police next week.

August 13, 2021

Hurry, Hurry! QUIT PLAYIN’ VINCENT L. HALL Photo Credit: Jesse Hornbuckle

The South Dallas Government Center (SDGC) has gone from the dream stage to reality. Dallas County posited its first new construction in Southern Dallas in 60 years at the southwest corners of Polk Street and Westmoreland. Daryl Martin, the visionary Court Administrator for Dallas County, began the ceremony by introducing the professionals that made it possible. Groups like Sierra Capital, OMS Strategic Advisors, Satterfield and Pontikes, and KAI Designs. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price was peacock proud and honeymoon happy. This project proved again that Black/Minority contractors could get the job done and meet every objective. The SDGC

August 13, 2021

had 41% MWBE participation, 50% General Contractors, 90% Design Firm, and 100% capital financing. Dallas County’s first and only Black commissioner arrived at his desk in 1985 to find a dilemma. Black businesses

I MESSENGER

were scarce, and the best year netted $50K in contracts. Since then, those numbers have skyrocketed in the 100’s of millions, but still far short of his personal goal. What irks JWP and should worry you is that you add up

the budgets at the City, County, School District, Parkland, The North Texas Toll Authority, the Dallas College District, and the airports at DFW and Love Field, it amounts yearly to tens of billions of dollars. Yet, black and minority business owners still get far less than 5% of the total outlays. There is still a “White’s only” sign posted at the door when it comes to taxpayer money. Your tax money is handed to others by a history of injustice. Racism, patriarchy, and greed continue to reign in Dallas, Texas. BTW. The republishing of Jim Schutze’s “The Accommodation is coming soon. Get the book. You can’t solve the mystery if you don’t know the history! (Hey, I just made that up, but it sounds good!) The SDGC is significant for several reasons. First, not only myimessenger.com

did it replace an old retrofitted AT&T operator services unit, but it also houses a wealth of agencies that you need daily.

County Veterans Services. The southern end of the campus is the new home of the Dallas County Training Academy and

The 73,000 square foot facility on the north end houses the Justice of the Peace Courts and Constable’s office in District 1, the Dallas County Sheriff Patrol, the Dallas County Tax office, and Dallas

has 11,000 square feet. The Southern end of the campus is the new home of the Dallas County Training Academy and has 11,000 square feet. Sheriff Marion Brown wants to get her officers

myimessenger.com

closer to the people they serve. You cannot have “community policing” if you have no roots in the community. The well-placed artifacts and exhibits in the building pay tribute to Court officials and Law Enforcement officers who made history by being the “firsts” in Dallas County. In addition, there is a 22-foot mural design that is aesthetically captivating and historically significant. The Dallas Public Library collaborated with the project to showcase photographs that depict the lives and challenges of Black people in this city and county. The Marion Butts collection is extensive, and a small part of it landed on the walls of the SDGC. Visit the library too! If you need a title change, a small claims court, or help with your veteran’s benefits, you can get service in an environment that speaks to the culture and beauty of Southern Dallas. There is also a hanging featuring John Wiley Price. Most of the attendees felt that the SDGC should be named in his honor. Administrator Martin stunned the audience

with the official word that Commissioner Price had 51 years of service with Dallas County. (If I’m dead that long… turn me over!) The “great divide” in quality of life issues, broadband and general services are still plaguing the south side of America’s ninth-largest city. Commissioner Price opined that the average life span south of I-30 is 23 years shorter than our neighbors north of the line are. If you live in the South and you love the South, you had better go soon. Twenty-three years will come before you know it! Hurry Hurry! Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and award-winning columnist.

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

Don’t do it ALONE! WHAT’S ON MILES’ MIND

MILES JAYE Who can stand all the noise? Who can tolerate all the clamor? What are the short and long-term negative effects of a never-ending, mind-bending, multi-media maelstrom of disquieting mayhem and confusion? Was the human being designed to input and process a constant barrage of voice bombs or is silence a vital element of the human experience? Was the human mind designed to filter out static and incessant white noise or does the brain suffer unrepairable damage from the brutal onslaught of 24hour cycles of thoughts, opinions and lies, and thoughts and opinions about thoughts and opinions and lies? When we are finally confronted with the answers to these questions will it be too late for remedy, cure, or vaccination? For some, the opposite is the danger-- too much silence. For some there is no voice with which to carry on a normal conversation, in person, so, they crave the noise. Cell phones have replaced companionship, family and friends.

In numbers far more than we can imagine, there are those with no family and no friends, whatsoever. More than could possibly make any fair news coverage will live alone and die alone. Surprised? Have you never thought about it? You see them in line at the checkout counter, you encounter them in the parking lot, but you don’t recognize them as islands, isolated, they appear so normal. The homeless have as one of very few advantages, visibility, that is until you turn away from the nagging, unpleasant sight of them-- your guilt is irritating. Those who experience human life alone are invisible to the naked eye. They are veterans, elderly, widowers, ex-cons, and drug addicts, but they are also musicians, lawyers, salesmen, schoolteachers, and accountants. They eat alone every night. They sleep alone every night. They awaken every morning to the sound of silence, so they break the silence with TV voices. They immediately reach for their cell phone to reconnect them to the world of other human beings with whom they have no contact other than through the beloved electronic devices, so they turn up the volume. Part of the required tele-

phone questionnaire on every call to the VA, after “last four of your social” and your “complete date of birth” is, “Do you live alone?”, “Have you had thoughts of harming anyone?” and “Have you had thoughts of harming yourself?” I’m asked these questions, without fail or exception, each and every time I call the VA. Every time I visit for a medical checkup, they follow the same procedure. They know the dangers of existing alone. They can only hope that a caller in crisis will speak his or her truth to power and reveal and acknowledge the depths, darkness and pain of their despair and the urgent need for help. They may save a life. Alone is deadly! Now for the rub, alone is also a state of mind and therefore may not accurately depict the reality of your living conditions. Ever hear someone say they could feel alone in a crowded room? Others may reside at your home, yet you feel isolated, insignificant, invisible, alone. You don’t recognize them as islands, isolated, or at risk, because they appear so normal. I for one have spent far too much of my adult life alone. Then late in life I learn that I am one of several family members suffering from social anxiety and depression. The social anxiety explains why, as unhealthy as

isolation is, I’ve learned to prefer it. The depression explains why I crash after encountering social exposure, which, for an entertainer, could be rather often. Interestingly, much of my youth was spent home alone-latchkey kid before the term latchkey was a thing. In isolation, I find myself prolific with endless energy and virtually no end to what I can accomplish. Then comes the crash, the depression brought on by the isolation. It’s quite the paradox! It’s not bi-polar but it can present itself as such. So, how does one self-diagnose that all that is needed is a friendly voice, a warm smile, a gesture of kindness, a shared laugh? How might a loved one recognize that all that is needed is a friendly voice, a warm smile, an unconditional gesture of kindness, and an occasional shared laugh? It may feel at first like intrusion, but you may save a life! This essay is dedicated to Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, the late Phyllis Hyman, and countless others among us… family and friends, suffering in silence. That’s what’s on my mind! Website: www.milesjaye.net Podcast: https://bit.ly/2zkhSRv Email: milesjaye360@gmail.com

Your Ad belongs here, Contact: 214-941-0110 myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

BECCA EHRLICH THAT CELEBRITY INTERVIEW BY VALDER BEEBE

With the success of Marie Kondo, a new Netflix documentary, and hundreds of blogs and YouTube videos on minimalism, it’s clear that it is more than just a trend. In a time of climate change and a pandemic, people are looking for new ways to live well and more meaningful lives, and minimalism is meeting that need. In the Valder Beebe Show studio, Becca Ehrlich a Christian minimalist practices these principles daily: she and her husband got rid of 60% of their personal possessions, did a year-long shopping fast, and moved into a smaller home. She also took part in the reality show The Lost Resort, which is currently airing. Consuming less may already be an environmental and personal priority, but Becca Ehrlich contends that minimalism can be much more. In her new book, Christian Minimalism: Simple Steps for Abundant Living, Becca Ehrlich explores the direct connection between minimalism and our faith journey. Christian Minimalism cuts through our culture’s insistence about consumerism and challenges basic assumptions about August 13, 2021

our lifestyles, inviting us into a life free of physical, spiritual, and emotional clutter. From prayer, to fellowship and stewardship, to selfcare and the importance of Sabbath rest, Ehrlich offers personal stories and practical steps for ways we can all live a more abundant life. There’s also a 7 Day Christian Minimalism Reading Plan.—Becca Ehrlich publicists provided text in conjunction with

I MESSENGER

the Valder Beebe Show VBS: Becca, welcome to the Valder Beebe Show. To assist my audience, define minimalism as you are seeing it. BE: Most people when they think minimalism they think a room devoid of color with like one piece of furniture and that not it. Minimalism is a focus on the aspects of life that matter most and intentionally removing everything

else. Basically it’s culling down your life to what’s most important and getting rid of those things that are keeping you [me] from focusing on those most important things. VBS: The sub-title to your book is Simple Steps for Abundant Living. Let talk a little bit about why you understand this. BE: I was actually watching a Netflix documentary on minimalism that completely change my life. I heard God was telling me to live a more minimalist lifestyle and connect it to my faith in Jesus. I wanted to connect the two. At the time, it was the end of 2017, not a lot of people were making this connection in-depth. I started writing about minimalism and I started living that way and doing minimalism experiments. I was listening for God and how he was guiding me on my journey. VBS: How is minimalism connected to our faith journey? Because most people see minimalism is about things. BE: Minimalism is about……… Bobbie Thomas complete interview…… YouTube.com/valderbeebeshow; more interviews: Broadcasting to a national & global audience: ValdeBeebeShow. com ; SoundCloud.com/kkvidfw; KKVI FM Radio, KRER FM, 411RadioNetwork, Streaming TV, Social Media, Print Publications I MESSENGER, Texas Metro News, and Garland Journal News.

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

Dr. Amerson adapts to Temporary Business Closure Dr. Linda Amerson, Board Certified Trichologist, has adapted to the temporary closure of LA's Hair and Scalp Clinic. We continue to offer our award-winning products to consumers. Our exclusive products are manufactured by a facility in Garland, TX. Premium quality natural ingredients are used to assist with dry, oily, itchy, flaky, inflammed scalps, as well as hair breakage, hair thinning and regrowth. Everyone may order from our website, and we will ship your product order to you. http://www.hairandscalpessentials.com We need your support. In addition, we offer Video Consultations globally! We will schedule an appointment, give a diagnosis, them make a recommendation. We are available to serve you in the comfort of your home. Call us today - 817.265.8854 http://www.hairandscalpessentials.com We need your support.

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

Nena’s Finds Boutique A Uniquely Stylish, Fashionable Boutique for women of all Sizes! Ranging from Pretti and Petite to Pretti and Plus! Nena likes to be a bit edgy, blingy ... But she keeps it Chic with Sophisticated Style!

Nena’s Finds is your one stop shop for an Eccentric flare!

214.623.7314

nenafinds17@gmail.com Schedule your Sip n Shop, Trunk Show, Girls Nite Out or Wardrobe Revamp with Nena’s Finds today!

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

AT THE MOVIES BY HOLLYWOOD HERNANDEZ

THE SUICIDE SQUAD, with the exception of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), has an all new crew of bad guys turned good who are led by Bloodsport, Idris Elba. The rest of the crew are all new characters who set out to defend the world against an interstellar weapon that could destroy the world. My favorite mutant here is a giant, walking shark whose superpower is just being a shark. He snacks on the enemy throughout

myimessenger.com

Movie Review

THE SUICIDE SQUAD

the entire movie. What do you expect? He’s a hungry shark. The other Suicide Squad characters include John Cena as Peacemaker, Polka Dot Man, who throws lethal polka dots from off his body, and a female character who can control rats; lots and lots of rats. This third version of Suicide Squad has a lot more humor in it. The movie was written and directed by James Gunn, who also wrote and directed THE GUARDIANS

OF THE GALAXY movies. So, while bloody and gory, the movie has plenty of laughs to go along with the action. Elba is great in his role as Bloodsport, the leader of the team, and Viola Davis is back as Amander Waller, the head of the government agency that controls THE SUICIDE SQUAD. Her team plants an explosive device at the base of the brain of all of the mis-fits turned mercenaries. Giving her full control of the team to

obey her orders or die. THE SUICIDE SQUAD is the best of the three movies in the DC Comics Universe. Look for more movies in the series as well as a PEACEMAKER spin-off movie starring John Cena. The movie is rated R for some real bloody and gory scenes and it has a run time of 2 hours and 12 minutes. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate THE SUICIDE SQUAD a LARGE.

August 13, 2021

Virtual and liVe Community Calendar

Back to School Month Authors/Poets Month Immunization Awareness Month AUGUST 12

The Connection with Debra BrownSturns. On Facebook.com/TexasMetroNews & BlogTalkRadio.com. 7-8 pm. 646200-0459. Small Business Savvy –Write Your Business Plan, SBA. It’s an online event. Reg: https:// bit.ly/3eDJHWU. 11 am. Animal Bites: Basic Emergency Practices Lecture Series, St Luke Medical Center. Via Zoom, Reg: https://bit.ly/3rLCwkJ 1111:30 am. CDT.

Dallas Black Girl Magic at Black Girl Magic Museum, 2620 Gus Thomasson Rd #116 Mesquite. 3-4 pm. Tickets: bit.ly/3xAsrsi.

AUGUST 14 Taking It To The Streets Back 2 School Bash / Water Purge at J C Phelps Rec. Center, 3030 Tips Blvd. Dallas. 2-5 pm.

Back To School Backpack Festival The Potter’s House of Fort Worth 1270 Woodhaven Blvd. 10 am-12 pm. Must Reg: https://bit.ly/3edImWp.

No Study Without Struggle: Confronting Settler Colonialism in Higher Education, Online Reg: bit.ly/3C63kRh 6:30 pm. SoulJazz Thursdays Feat: Vandell. Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave. 8 pm-12 am. Visit www.sandaga813.com.

Southern Soul Music Fest. Tucka, Pokey Bear, & Calvin Richardson. Tickets: @eventsfromhome2122 6-10:45 pm. CDT.

SHANGO DRUM CIRCLE/Fire Burning Ceremony, Vibe Village, 2324 Ann Arbor Ave. 6-11:45 pm. Info Contact: 214-715-1287

DayTrippin Rooftop Day Party, at Seven Lounge, 3017 W. 7th St. Ft Worth. Tickets: daytrippin2021.eventbrite.com. 3-8 pm.

AT&T Hiring Retail Sales Consultants, 6301 Colwell Blvd, Irving. 10 am–6 pm. Contact: Michelle Bailey; 404-862-8062.

Class 101 College Planning, Free SAT Practice Test, Online or In Person. Class 101 Grand Prairie, 3200 S. Carrier Pkwy. #102. Reg: 972-675-7899 by 8-12-21.

Fort Worth Summer Open Houses. 6-8 pm, Heritage Church of Christ, 4201 Heritage Trace Pkwy. Info: fortworthtexas.gov /2022OpenHouses.

1st Inaugural Back To School, All Dadsagainstbullying, 5105 Brentwood Stair Rd, Fort Worth. 12-5 pm

From Marva with Love, with Marva Sneed.11 am -1 pm. CDT, Fridays on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, and BlogTalkRadio. com. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459. Back 2 School Connect: Teacher Edition, The FRESH Classroom at Pan-African Connection, 4466 S. Marsalis Ave. 4-8 pm.

Fort Worth Summer Open Houses, 10 a.m. to noon, R.D. Evans Community Center Gym, 3242 Lackland Road. Info: fortworthtexas.gov/2022OpenHouses

AUGUST 15 The World According to Drew, with Andrew Whigham, III on BlogTalkRadio.com 8-10 am. It’s thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news commentary. Join the call at 646-200-0459.

2 Parties under 1 Roof, Groove Theory Dallas, at 2155 Ballroom & Events, 2155 Marsh Ln. #144 9 pm-1 am.

Back 2 School Block Party Presented by Bennett Elite Taxes , 700 S. Cockrell Hill Rd. Duncanville. 11 am-3 pm.

Black Star Line Cigars, Smoking Jacket Cigar Lounge, 1435 Hwy 67, Cedar Hill. 6-10 pm.

The Lynching of Black America: Online Presentation. 7-8:30 pm. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3jDAyPF

August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

AUGUST 16 Music Bingo at Guitars and Growlers, 581 West Campbell Rd #101 Richardson. 7-9 pm. Tickets: https://bit. ly/3yFZ5Kf

Job Training: BankWorks Free Training by Dallas College At Mountain View. Contact: Elishima Myles; 214-860-8550; bankworks@dcccd.edu. Apply: https://bit.ly/3xJ5NP2

AUGUST 17 The Doc Shep Speaks Show! 11 am. CST on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, @fnsconsulting, You Tube @docshepspeaks. Sisters From AARP, Live Event With Iyanla Vanzant on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesistersletter 6-6:45 pm CDT. Ladies Wine Down Tuesdays at Lasoa Cigar Lounge, 2150 N. Josey Ln. Carrollton. 5-8 pm. www.lasoacigarlounge.com/

AUGUST 18

Free Shoes at Drive-Thru Event at St Philip’s School & Community Center; 1600 Pennsylvania. 9am -11am. First comefirst served. Contact: Ms Walker; 214-421-5221

All DAQ Jazz: The Perfect Date Night, Daq’s Luxury Daiquiri Lounge, 8700 Preston Rd. Plano. 7-10 pm. CDT. CityLine Night Market by The Boho Market, CityLine DFW, 1251 State St. Richardson. 6-10 pm.

Back 2 School Community Day, by Community Growth Project at Pan African Connection, 4466 S. Marsalis Ave. 3-7 pm. Reg: https://bit.ly/2VAoirp

RIP THE MIC LIVE @ Friends Hookah Lounge, 1936 North Story Rd. Irving. 9 pm-2 am. Tickets: https://bit.ly/37zBDSW.

Back to School Fair 2021, at Mountainview Church of Christ, 7979 E. R.L. Thornton Fwy.8 am-3 pm. Reg: bit.ly/3rN5wsd.

AUGUST 13

Neo-Soul Vendor Experience at Music City Mall Lewisville 2401 South Stemmons Fwy Lewisville, 12-5 pm. Info: Antoine White at 314-630-4465. Eventbrite.com.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, Presents: Drive Thru Festival. MLK Community Center, 2922 MLK Jr. Blvd. 10 am-12 pm. Info: 214-670-8418.

Kem: Live: with Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds at Toyota Music Factory, 300 W. Las Colinas Blvd. Irving. 7 pm. Tickets: https://livemu.sc/3y5dHTf.

FashAZON TV Launch Affair, Feat: Nena Bradford Hayden and Up-and-coming designer entrepreneurs. Online. 6:30-7:30 pm. CDT. Tickets: https://bit.ly/2Vw5pFs

Black by Popular Demand Pop Up Shop, at Son Of Herman Hall, 3414 Elm St. Dallas. 12-5 pm. Tickets: bit.ly/3jXZvFV

I Was Just Thinking with Norma Adams-Wade. From 11 am -1 pm. CST On Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio.com. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459. Ask Dr. Amerson with Dr. Linda Amerson.12 pm. CST @DFWiRadio.com, and Live on Facebook @DrLindaAmerson The Kenny Reeves’ MAGIC SHOW @ Opera Super Club, 2026 Commerce St. 9 pm-2 am. Tickets: https:// bit.ly/3s5Qs9m

AUGUST 19 The Connection with Debra Brown-Sturns. OnFacebook. com/TexasMetroNews & BlogTalkRadio.com. 7-8 pm. Join in at 646-200-0459.

Fort Worth Summer Open Houses. 6-8 p.m., Doxology Church, 4805 Arborlawn Drive. Info: fortworthtexas.gov /2022OpenHouses

AUGUST 20 From Marva with Love, with Marva Sneed. 11 am -1 pm. CST, Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, and BlogTalkRadio. com. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459. Tom Braxton and Friends Jazz Series, feat: Blake Aaron at The Warehouse, 1125 E. Berry St. Ft. Worth. 7 pm and 10 pm Tickets: thewarehousedfw.com. The ChangHer Connections Monthly Business Networking Mixer. 807 Washington Dr. #A2 Arlington. 7-10 pm. Phenomenal Women’s Ministry Happy Hour at Antioch Christian Church 2043 W. Walnut Hill Ln. Irving, 7-8:30 pm. Reg: https://bit.ly/2VGM6tk

AUGUST 21 A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2021 “An Evening of Enchantment” at Toyota Stadium, 9200 World Cup Way, #202, Frisco. 8 pm-1 am. All White Day Networking Boat Party at Safe Harbor Pier 121, 1481 E. Hill Park Rd. Lewisville, 2-5 pm. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3AvUnPL All Black Beauty And Barber Affair at The Whiskey Spot, 1305 Wycliff Ave. #140. 8:30 pm-1 am. Tickets: https://bit. ly/3jKofky ELITE: White and Gold Affair, Star Banquet and Event Center, LLC, 2722 West Irving Blvd. Irving. 11 pm-5 am. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3iyTAY3

AUGUST 22 The World According to Drew, host Andrew Whigham, III on BlogTalkRadio.com 8-10 am. It’s thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news commentary. Join the call at 646-200-0459. Come Pop With The Best End of Summer Pop Up Shop, 2043 Empire Central Dr. 4-7 pm. Reg: https://bit.ly/3CBFcX5 Brunch and business 2nd Annual Sunday Funday at 4735 E. Lancaster Ave. Fort Worth. 12-5 pm. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3CAdeuK

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Ties Off & Drinks Up: The Fellas Fellowship, by Black Millennial’s of Dallas at Catbird, 1401 Elm St. Reg: bit.ly/3fPChAy August Thirsty Third Thursdays at Mrs. J’s Heav’nly Delights, 612 W. State St. Garland. 4-8 pm. Reg: https://bit.ly/3xCqfAc

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

www.grandpasecret.com August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

Remembering Mary E. Beck Mary E. Beck

Throughout Dr. Mary E. Beck’s life, she enjoyed giving numerous hours of dedication to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. on local, regional, and national levels. The leadership she has gained through Zeta led her to become active in other known organizations throughout the state of Texas. The skills she developed from being a dedicated Zeta for over 66 years allowed her to become a Soror that served with other chapter members that were seeking guidance, knowledge, and leadership skills. In 1957, Dr. Mary E. Beck became a member of the prestigious sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Theta Chapter at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. Her graduate chapter memberships included Kappa Zeta Chapter in Dallas and Upsilon Nu Zeta Chapter in Lancaster. In 2005, she became a charter member of the Upsilon Nu Zeta Chapter, where she served as the Parliamentarian. Upsilon Nu Zeta awards a yearly scholarship of $1,000 in honor of Dr. Mary E. Beck named the “Dr. Mary Beck Scholarship”. Since her initiation 66 years ago, she has served the sisterhood in various capacities, chairing and serving on the following committees: Membership, Blue Revue, Share and Care, Finer Womanhood and Stork’s Nest. She had the honor to be elected to the National Foundation Board where she served for 12 years. During this time, she received the Barbara West Carpenter Volunteerism Award and the Roberta Bell Sims Award presented by August 13, 2021

the Southern Region of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Mary assisted her husband, Frater Kendall Beck, as he chaired the Zeta Male Network on the Regional and National levels during conferences. She often looked forward to Upsilon Nu Zeta’s annual retreat, held at the beginning of each new sorority year, and she served as an advisory to the president of Upsilon Nu Zeta. In addition to serving the community through the Zeta sorority, Dove Mary Beck became a member of several other organizations. Zeta helped Dr. Beck venture off and become an asset in other organizations in the community such as The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. - Minnie H. Page Section, Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. - Trinity West Chapter, and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Alpha Rho Chapter. Dove Beck was also a member of First Methodist Evangelistic Church, Dallas, Texas where she sang in the choir. She became a member of the Dallas Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. in 1977, where she served as President for four years. In 1984, Mary wrote a pamphlet on Common Rules of Protocol. In 1986, she was nominated as “Top Lady of the Year.” In 1988-1990, she received the Lucellestine Wilson Award for Outstanding Chapter President of Area I. In 1989, Lady Beck was listed in “Who’s Who in Area 1, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.’’ She also served with the following committees: Community Beautification, Parliamentarian, Chaplain, and the Social Committee. In 2007, Dr. Beck and 20 Outstanding Ladies in Dallas organized the Trinity West Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction where she previously served as the chapter Chaplain.

I MESSENGER

Establishing her commitment to the community through her work in education with many other organizations, she was the recipient of numerous commendations and honors. Some of these awards included: National Teacher of the Year Award presented by Dallas ISD; Woman of the Year Award; James Gates Award for “Excellence in Education’’ presented by the Black Chamber of Commerce; 48 Years of Service Award (UNCF); and the American Red Cross Award for 45 Years of Service. Dr. Beck was a DISD “Teacher of the Year” finalist in 2000, and she received the ‘Educator of the Year’ Award presented by Paul Quinn College in 2001. She earned the NAACP Award for Education and was recipient of the George H. Chandler Educator’s Award during the Beta Chapter’s Centennial of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Mary E. Beck was a native of Shreveport, Louisiana. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Wiley College and a Master of Arts Degree from Southern Methodist University. She later attended North Texas State University and received a certification in Elementary Education. Dr. Beck also attended Texas Woman’s University and received a teaching certification for students with Intellectual Disabilities for grades Pre-K through 12. To add to her educational accolades, Dr. Beck earned a Master of Administration and Supervision from Prairie View A&M University. After her retirement in 2002, she attended Vision University and received a Doctorate in Ministry. In 2004, she returned to Vision University to earn a Doctorate in Philosophy and Leadership. Dr. Beck continued her professional career as

Memorial Service Tuesday, August 17, 2021@6pm Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home 6449 University Hills Boulevard Dallas, Texas 75241-2522 A Celebration of Life for Dr. Mary E. Beck Wednesday, August 18, 2021 @11am Refreshing Spring Church of God in Christ 1308 Rogers Ave, Lancaster, TX 75134

a substitute in Dallas ISD. Dr. Beck made history in several areas during her life span. She was the first Golden Life Member in Kappa Zeta and first in the “Mighty Southern” Region. She was also the first member to receive a Life Membership in Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. since its inception in 1965. She made history again by becoming the first member in the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. to receive a Ruby Life and Diamond Life Membership. Dr. Beck and her husband, were the first couple from Texas to receive Life Memberships in the Texas Association of Black School Educators. She was also the first Black American woman certified as a Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas. She has had the honor of serving on the following Board of Directors: • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., National Educational FoundationTwelve Years • National Law Enforcement Officers- Memorial Funds- Ten Years • Dallas Post Tribune- Thirty Years • Camp Summit- Soroptimist International of the Americas- Six Years • Creative Services for the ElderlyTen Years • Wiley College, Board of Trustees –Four Years She leaves to cherish her memory two sons, Taff Wilson and Edward J. Wilson; the proud grandmother of five grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends. myimessenger.com

myimessenger.com

August 13, 2021

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 August 13, 2021

I MESSENGER

myimessenger.com