I Messenger 12-16-22

I Messenger Jury Finds Aaron Dean GUILTY of Manslaughter Atatiana

Jury Finds Aaron Dean GUILTY Of Manslaughter

It was a unanimous decision by the members of a Tarrant County jury in the fatal police shooting of Atatiana Jefferson three years ago, Former police officer Aaron Dean was found guilty of manslaughter. Thursday afternoon Dean stood motionless during the reading of the verdict that

comes with a 2-20 year sentence. He fired a fatal bullet that killed Ms. Jefferson, 29, who was inside of her home babysitting her eight-year-old nephew.

Ms. Jefferson, a graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans was a salesperson for a medical supply company.

Atatiana Jefferson

QUIT PLAYIN’

We lost a dear friend the other day. I say we because those who want to “Remember Black Dallas” lost a giant. Dr. George Keaton Jr. led the bulk of recent Black history discoveries. But, unfortunately, he lost a battle to cancer – a cancer not directly associated with racism.

OUR VOICES TO BE EQUAL

It has been said that Hell has no fury like an idea whose time has come. Clearly in the State of Georgia, the idea of overcoming “voter suppression” has truly come and it has been victorious. Again, let us look and learn from this great victory.

Karen Bass has a long history of always being on the side of the people, fighting for the people, fighting for the people whose voices aren’t in the room but must be present. That’s who Karen Bass has always been. It’s who she will always be.

WNBA Star Brittney Griner Released from Russian Prison in Prisoner Exchange

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

Brittney Griner is being flown to a military medical facility in San Antonio as she begins preparation to return home, according to reports.

The WNBA star and Houston native was freed Thursday in a prisoner swap with the U.S. releasing Russian arms deal -

er Viktor Bout. She had been detained in Russia for 294 days since her arrest in February on drug charges.

News station CNBC

was the first to report on Griner’s expected arrival at Brooke Army Medical Center’s reintegration facility.

Per reports, a State De -

partment spokesman said Thursday afternoon: “The U.S government is focused on ensuring Brittney Griner’s and her See STAR BRITTNEY GRINER, page 54

Joe Biden and Cherelle Griner speak on the phone with Brittney Griner after her release by Russia, as VicePresident Kamala Harris and the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, look on. Photograph: White House/Reuters

Brittney Griner

Photo: Lorie Shaull/MGN

by Cheryl Smith Publisher

Just bring some LOVE!

Surely we know we are still living through a pandemic. There are challenges, obstacles and roadblocks that will cause us to face, overcome and pivot.

We also know that in spite of what is going on in life, we must continue to live until we take that last breath.

You’ve heard people say before, “I don’t know how I can live without _________.”

Well, guess what, although there are painful days ahead and some are tough, we still manage to live on; until it is our time to transition.

We have definitely had some tough times over the past two years and in order to navigate through all the drama, we have to do the time and not let the time do us!

Which brings me to my truth. Prior to COVID -19, the Don’t Believe the Hype foundation, along with other sponsors, began hosting the Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo. Initially held in December and featuring the incomparable Dick Gregory as the headliner, the event was moved to Dr. Martin Luther King Day and partnered with the annual parade commemorating the Drum Major for Justice’s life!

This year presenting sponsor, Comerica Bank, along with WAITT (We Are In This Together) is joining with the Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation, in conjunction with I Messenger Media LLC (Texas Metro News,

Garland Journal and I Messenger), African American Museum, the city of Dallas, MOCCA Cosmetics, Heroes House and others, to host the Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo — because together we want to build stronger communities.

The 6th Annual Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo is scheduled for Monday, January 16, 2022, at the African American Museum in beautiful Sunny South Dallas. This family-oriented, fun and message-filled event is a wonderful way to pay homage to the man who worked to make this world a better place.

Dr. King had a dream and he wanted a better world. In order to live in a better world, we must be healthy in a number of ways: mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, socially and holistically.

Through the Healthy Living Expo, we will be addressing all of those areas. We will have vendors, speakers and programming geared toward building stronger families and communities. There will be community activists, educators, advisors, and just like in the past, we will also have entertainment, screenings and opportunities to assist attendees in bettering their lives. There will be college representatives, insurance and financial planning advisors, voter registration and education booths and much more.

According to Dr. King, “Life’s

most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

He also said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”

The Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation and other partners will be filling a void on January 16th. Thousands and thousands come out annually for the Parade. Meanwhile people want to get out and experience some form of normalcy, whatever that is.

Many are looking for places to eat and something else to do on this national holiday and we’re providing the venue, the information, food, entertainment and programming that will engage the masses.

In previous years, the Expo featured inside and outside vendors, the MAVS MAANIACS, health screenings, giveaways and fun and excitement for the entire family. The food vendors served everything from gumbo and fried fish to monkey bread and vegan dishes. There were several workshops dealing with health, finance, social issues and more. To top it off, several attendees won DNA kits!

Then there were the cooking competitions for best sweet potato pies and macaroni and cheese.

Now because of COVID-19, we have a different cooking competition, amongst business-

es — we’re looking for the best cobbler!

Also, please know that there will be plenty of safety measures in place and this is important because we still remember when Dr. Phil Huang, Director of Dallas County Health and Human Services addressed Dallas City Councilman Casey Thomas II and members of the Black COVID Task Force and discussed the importance of getting vaccinated, wearing masks and keeping safe distances.

Just last weekend I received reports of new cases of COVID.

And while we know that there are still those who are concerned about whether they should take the vaccine, Dr. Huang pointed out that 100s of millions of doses have been administered.

Yes, people are concerned and so, in addition to financial literacy, food deserts, employment opportunities, healthy eating, CBD and more; the Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo will provide answers, support and opportunities.

Plan to join us!

WHAT: Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo

WHEN: Monday, January 16, 202310am-5pm

WHERE: African American Museum in Fair Park

Admission: LOVE See Registration form on page 2 Or Log on to www.healthylivingexpo.com or call 214-941-0110.

Hiawatha Williams’ Name Unveiled at Ceremony

Hiawatha Williams is no stranger to the neighborhood as hundreds gathered in inclement weather on Friday to attend the naming ceremony for the Hiawatha Williams Recreation Center, in Oak Cliff.

Everyone from elected officials,

the clergy and representatives of the business community lauded the founder of Williams Chicken as they talked about his character, faith and commitment to excellence.

A graduate of Paul Quinn College, Williams has long been heralded for

his community service and leadership as well as his mentoring of youth and entrepreneurs.

For the past 35 years, Williams Chicken has been a stalwart across Texas and parts of Louisiana. At one time, Mr. Williams, addressing the

Harrison Blair, Commissioner John Wiley Price, Hon. Helen Giddings, Hon, Tennell Atkins, Hon. Toni Rose, Hiawatha Williams, Hon. Carolyn King Arnold, Pastor Richie Butler, Hon Carl Sherman and Roland Parrish

food desert in Oak Cliff, opened a supermarket.

Located at 2976 Cummings Street, the recreation center was formerly known as Cummings, and according to the center’s website, the property for the park land where the recreation center was built was purchased by the Recreation department in 1964 from Agnes V. Cummings for $13,500.00.

On January 22, 1970 an additional 19,376 sq. ft. of adjoining land was purchased by the Recreation depart-

ment from James Oliver LaFayette. There were two additional land purchases in 1971 to complete the land acquisitions which then became the Cummings Recreation Center which was dedicated 50 years ago on Sunday, February 6, 1972.

According to Harrison Blair, president of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, the decision to rename the center was very significant, especially when you consider the contributions the Williams Family has made to the growth and develop-

ment of the City, State and Country.

Blair, who sits on the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, expressed pride as he talked about the service of the Board members who were charged with making the decision.

“There was no one who could deny that Mr. Williams is more than worthy and I’m just happy that we are bestowing honors such as this when the person is here to receive them,” he said.

Williams is known for his philanthropy as much as he is for his fried

Hon. Carolyn King Arnold

Rev. Richie Butler Hon. John Wiley Price

Hon. Carl Sherman

Roland Parrish

Hon. Tennell Atkins

chicken. He will culminate his company’s 35th anniversary with the naming of the Hiawatha Williams Recreation Center, located blocks from where the first Williams Chicken opened at Ledbetter and Sunnyvale streets, and tomorrow almost 500 families will receive blessings for the holidays.

Today there are more than 50 locations, and Mr. Williams said he takes pride in not only giving young students their first job, but also helping grow owners.

“I am truly humbled that the City of Dallas leaders and this community would bestow such an amazing honor on me and my family,” Williams said, in a statement. “This recognition is for those who paved the way for me and I hope the children and youth of this community can look at the building and be inspired to do for others as God has done for us. I am grateful.”

Williams Chicken Founder

At the unveiling, speakers included Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold, Dallas City Council members Tennell Atkins and Casey Thomas; Texas State Reps. Toni Rose and Carl Sherman; Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, Pastor Richie Butler of St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church; and Roland Parrish, of Parrish McDonald Restaurants.

Honored with Naming of Oak Cliff Community Center

philanthropy as a servant leader.

Other dignitaries in attendance included former State Rep. Helen Giddings; Taylor Toynes, Executive Director of For Oak Cliff; and faculty, administrators, students and athletes from Paul Quinn College.

Earlier this year, the Dallas Park and Recreation Board approved the renaming of Cummings. It is rare, said park officials, that the department has an opportunity to rename a recreation center.

John D. Jenkins, the city’s park director, said the board’s action recognizes Williams’ keen business insight, community service and

“His life and career of service have impacted youth in this city and community,” said Jenkins. “Dallas Park and Recreation looks forward to a lifelong partnership with Hiawatha Williams and Williams Chicken as we work together to give youth who come to the center diverse programs, activities and events to build their minds, bodies and spirits.”

Following the unveiling, the Williams Family had a surprise for attendees. While some acknowledged that their palates were prepared for a lunch that would include Williams Chicken and possibly their famous corn fritters; Tim Williams, said they decided to “bless” another Blackowned business; using Carol Hampton of The Date.

Mr. Williams shares a special moment.

Doris and Hiawatha Williams with long-time friend former State Rep. Helen Giddings.

It’s Black History by George!

QUIT PLAYIN’

BY VINCENT L. HALL

We lost a dear friend the other day. I say we because those who want to “Remember Black Dallas” lost a giant. Dr. George Keaton Jr. led the bulk of recent Black history discoveries. But, unfortunately, he lost a battle to cancer – a cancer not directly associated with racism.

George was the master historian. But let me tell you my story about him and how we knew each other.

For the first five years of the school’s existence, hundreds of Black students’ arrival at Skyline High was chaotic and historic. In most cases, it was the first time they had seen or sat next to White studentsmuch less in a setting where White students represented a majority.

Brown v. Board of Education was decided in 1954, but like Juneteenth, freedom didn’t ring immediately after the ruling for Dallas school children. Unfortunately, that 50 years of history is too broad and deep for this rendering. So instead, read up on Tasby v. Estes or the orders of Judge Harold “Barefoot” Sanders. There’s a school at Townview in his honor.

And so here we all were. We had migrated and ridden long yellow buses from Oak Cliff, South Dallas, Mill Place in East Dallas, and the Pinkston campus in West Dallas. For many of us, it was not nearly the “dystopian” experience Aldous Huxley portrayed in

his epic, “Brave New World,” but we had some “difficult days” ahead of us.

Dallas ISD was accomplishing forced bussing through Majority-Minority (M&M) transfers. Black students at Skyline, though, were there primarily due to their academic merit. In other words, Black kids had to have credentials that other “privileged” students lacked in many cases.

care. You could learn about different cultures in the “smoking area.” “Goat ropers and shit-kickers smoked Marlboro. Rockers puffed on Alpines. Soul brothers and sisters took their drags on Kool and Salem. But they all talked in their own vernacular.

By the time George arrived in 1972, the dust of disunity had still not settled. Everything in the school was

myths and held us up during our worst bouts.

George Keaton Jr. was one of us. He was tall, handsome, and sported an afro that was “tight and right.” George was asked a million times whether he was on the basketball team. His long, lanky frame at 6 foot 5 probably warranted the question. However, his passion was learning and teaching, and he did it all his life.

George Keaton Jr. took a page right out of his father’s playbook. George Keaton Sr. graces the pages of history as one of the most prolific photographers of “Dallas’ Black Life.” From nightclub Polaroid snapshots at $2 a pop to random impromptu poses around Dallas’ Black enclaves, he left a time capsule of our history.

Skyline was a grand experiment that became the educational petri dish of future professionals of every discipline. Skyline’s alumnae have significantly contributed to this city since opening its doors to instruction in 1971. However, the most significant benefit was that we gleaned the good, the bad, and the ugly about race and public policy.

Skyline High was the epitome and forerunner of the “magnet school” design and pedagogy. As a tour guide in the 10th grade, I led visitors from Chicago to China throughout the 77-acre complex, armed with talking points and deep knowledge of all 32 “Clusters.”

Visitors posed questions about every school, from Horticulture and Aviation to Fashion Design and Child-

about race. It was customary to witness racial protests and fights. Scuffles and food fights stretched from the sprawling student center to the cafeteria. As a result, Black students learned how to fight for themselves and one another.

With the help of some courageous educators, we began to understand politics and how they sometimes superseded talent and ability. These educators pushed us headlong into student government and other areas where we were skeptical but capable.

My lifelong mentor/favorite teacher, Mr. Robert Edison, and other stalwarts were adamant. Edison openly rejected all that talk about White superiority in intelligence. Black inferiority was wildly unfounded. He dispelled

George Keaton Jr. assumed the mantle of Black history by succeeding Dr. Mamie McKnight, who, among other things, saved Dallas’ Freedmen’s Cemetery. George founded Remembering Black Dallas and has been the major curator and cultivator of Black history, landmarks, and legacies for the past 20 years.

George made his mark by pulling Dallas’ racial history inside out. He forced White Dallas to accept it and Black Dallas to confront it. He took his high school lessons on race and society from a hurtful place to a helpful place. And by George, Black history will continue to be respected, regarded, and recorded in Dallas, Texas!

Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and award-winning columnist.

Dr. George Keaton Jr.

Real Lessons From the Georgia Victory

E. WARREN

It has been said that Hell has no fury like an idea whose time has come. Clearly in the State of Georgia, the idea of overcoming “voter suppression” has truly come and it has been victorious. Again, let us look and learn from this great victory.

We saw after the 2020 election, a rush of bills in more than 25 states to reduce ballot boxes, polling sites, and a reduction in the amount of time available for early voting resulting in longer lines with prohibitions against giving people food or water while waiting in line to vote.

Question: How many of us in contrast didn’t bother to vote in the recent general election?

The real lesson is to use our time for organizing, planning and collective action without concern for the efforts of others working

against our interest.

The people of Georgia: Black, White and other, understood that patience is as important as money in all battles; that the support of an idea has to be created out of the pains of the issues being fought against; that human and moral issues have no color and that one of the greatest rules for all struggles is that when the laws of man go against the laws of God, the laws of God must prevail.

The Declaration of Independence states that “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The right to vote without fear

and interference is such a right. When was the last time that we took a look at our rights from God’s perspective?

The right to live outside of homlessness with food and shelter is such a right. Landlords, developers and local governments should not be allowed to abridge that right.

So let’s look at our situations as if we were in Georgia and decide how to organize and achieve desired results as the people of Georgia did, even though it took four elections to get one man, Senator Warnock, into a full term office.

OUR VOICES

DR. JOHN

Dr. John E. Warren is publisher of The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.

"Question: How many of us in contrast didn’t bother to vote in the recent general election?"

- Dr. John E. Warren

Mayor Salutes Distinguished Group

Mayor Johnson honors five Dallas leaders with first-ever Mayor’s Distinguished Service Awards

Mayor Eric Johnson on Thursday honored five Dallas residents by presenting them with the first-ever Mayor’s Distinguished Awards.

The Mayor’s Distinguished Service Award honors the notable service and significant contributions of Dallas residents to the City of Dallas. The award now becomes the highest honor — other than the Key to the City — that can be awarded to civilians by the mayor, who is the “official head of city government” under the Dallas City Charter.

Mayor Eric Johnson during interview

Chief David Kunkle, Lyda Hill, Mayor Eric Johnson, Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and Dr. Harry Robinson

Congresswoman Johnson and Ambassador Hutchison

The five honorees are:

Honorees gathered following program Congresswoman Johnson and Ambassador Hutchison

Congresswoman Johnson and Ambassador Hutchison during interview

United States Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Lyda Hill, Dallas philanthropist Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison, former United States Senator and Permanent Representative to NATO, David Kunkle, former Dallas police chief, and Dr. Harry Robinson Jr., founder of the African American Museum of Dallas.

Growing up Pandemic, how to live in a post-COVID world and take education seriously

By La Lonnie Denice Moore

Think of kids in congregate care like petals on a flower. Once the flower ceases to bloom, you run the risk of losing a bright young mind forever.

Mix in the complications of contracting and transmitting the Coronavirus to children in group homes, foster care placements, residential treatment facilities, and psychiatric hospitals, and you have a recipe for disaster.

COVID-19 hit hard and fast. The country was not ready, especially urban cities. COVID made it that much easier for inner city youth to simply ignore their education: their petals shivered, withered away, and died.

Populations from the foster care and group home settings already experience issues with truancy and a lack of desire to attend school regularly. Couple that with hopping around from place-toplace, school stability is not the number one priority.

When COVID-19 hit, the School District of Philadelphia scrambled to ensure that all children in the district had computers, Chromebooks, tablets, or whatever electronics they needed to be successful during the school year.

It took private companies such as Comcast to step in and donate devices so that the children in the city

La Lonnie Denice Moore

wouldn’t suffer because of their circumstance. They donated $5 Million in devices to lend a helping hand.

According to the Philadelphia Tribune, “A little over $7 million came from donations

from local companies and organizations: $5 million from the Aileen and Brian Roberts Foundation, $2 million from Philadelphia Sixers owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, $100,000 from Bank of Amer-

ica and $25,000 from Crown Castle.” Chanel Hill, 2020.

Parents who dropped out or barely passed and graduated are now full-time instructors. Even parents from the affluent neighborhoods struggled quite a bit to be teachers in their homes simply because learning structures have changed over the years. The use of third-party tutoring has become much more popular because now children are playing catch up. The one absolute is that this is the new norm.

If the children did not want to participate in school in person, they had even less motivation to participate online. Children these days and in this generation have no problem with navigating a cell phone, downloading an app, or even breaking into their parents’ various accounts; but put a computer in front of them and ask ed them to use technologies such as Microsoft office or the Google Drive, sheets,

Parents who dropped out or barely passed and graduated are now full-time instructors. Even parents from the affluent neighborhoods struggled quite a bit to be teachers in their homes simply because learning structures have changed over the years.

Call issued to Support Black Businesses

Buy Black!

By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News

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.

GREENHOUSE SALAD BAR

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MR. C’S BARBER SHOP

Mr. C’s Barber Shop owned by Master Barber Charles Jones is located in Houston. He’s fast, precise, and full service. With over 30 years as a Master Barber his customers are from all over Texas. On your next trip to Houston or maybe you have family or friends, look for a Master Barber call Mr. C. Mr. C. 832-250-7806

SOUTHERN EATS

Create Your Own Salad Bar. First select your Greens: Spring Mix, Spinach or Romaine Lettuce. Talk about www.Facebook.com/Greenhouse salads

“THE ONLINE MATH TUTOR GURU”

BY FREDRICO EVANS

An online math tutor & webpage designer. The Online Math Tutor Guru provides tutoring for Algebra, Algebra Two, Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry,

Southern Eats was born in the heart of Arlington, Texas, founded by Alvertis McClurge in 2019. Our establishment is a place where It’s all about family.

Located at 6407 S Cooper St., Arlington. Phone 817200-6922.

Visit the website: https://southerneatstexas.com/

IMANI’S SUITES PRIVATE BUSINESS SUITES

CEO Carlton McConnell, has created something special and unique in Private Business Suites. Television and Radio advertising included. Upscale privet suites available for beauty, barber, spa services, boutique or executive space. CEO McConnell says, “NOBODY ELSE doing it like Iman’s.

INSURANCE ACCESS FIRMS

Insurance Access Firms, Marcus Egiebor, a Insurance Broker and Published Author Email: marcuse@ insaccessfirm.com phone 469-290-4664 website: insaccessfirm.com

GOTTA BLAST PROFESSIONAL WASHING

Gotta Blast Professional Washing will go to infinity & beyond to clean your home or business.

https://www.gottablastpw.com/ phone 682-702-5913.

Dr. Frederick D.Haynes III

Dallas County Holiday

Hosted by Judges Thomas G. Jones and Valencia Nash, with Constable Tracey L. Gulley

Food Giveaway at Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center

Season’s Greetings and Holiday Wishes... Once again the Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center along with the Foundation, the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, the Center Table, North Florida Texas Food Bank, Porch Swing Iced Tea, The Grinch and many Volunteers and Associates gave out Food Boxes, Staples and Beverages. Dirk Nowitzski, the Bearded Chef along with the Department of Public Safety Officers gave out food supplies...

BHN Live: McCoy reviews Hip Hip

Nutcracker, Harlem performance, Sinbad’s recovery and Jesse Glover

By Black Headline News

The News Stories

Source: Disney+ Drops “Hip-Hop Nutcracker.” Is Colorism Involved? (Sohh. com)

Disney released a trailer for the new original Hip Hop Nutcracker. The trailer has a noticeably diverse cast for a hip hop themed movie. Most actors and extras are from multiple races, but some fans find it hard to not notice the lack of darker skinned actors. There is speculation of colorism, a debatable from the perspective of the trailer. Rev Run from the legendary group RUN DMC will serve as narrator and Rap Pioneer Kurtis Blow will also be featured.

Source: Benedict College band plays in Harlem (Amsterdam News)

Harlem honored the Benedict College Marching Band of Distinction. The 250 person Band who recently performed live for the Macy’s Christmas Parade was honored at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Building. Mayor Eric Adams, Mayor of Harlem, presented a proclamation to Benedict President Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis who thanked the City of Harlem for their support.

Source: Sinbad vows he’s ‘not done’ while recovering from stroke (Black Wall Street Times)

Comedian Sinbad suffered

In this episode, BHN news anchor, Ken McCoy, rates Disney+ Hip Hop

Nutcracker, Benedict College’s Harlem performance, Sinbad’s recovery from a stroke and Bruce Lee’s first black martial arts student Jesse Glover.

a stroke due to a blood clot from his heart to his brain, but vows to get back on stage. His family says he is trying very hard and has a long way to go, but is very resilient

in his recovery. In his own words, “I will not stop until I can walk across the stage again.” He and his family appreciate the love from fans and their continued support.

Feature Story:

Source: Jesse GloverBruce Lee’s first black student

We Are Bruce Lee Exhibit Everyone has heard of Chinese Martial Arts legend Bruce Lee In one way or another. From being “Kato” in The Green Hornet and Kato, while influencing many martials arts styles, such as Jeet Kune Do and staring in several Major films like Fist of Fury, Chinese Connection, Return of the Dragon and Enter the Dragon. But throughout his successful career, Lee was still forced to overcome discrimination. Hearing his story of discrimination, martial artist Jesse Glover asked Lee to train him, becoming Bruce Lee’s first black student and influencing the start of Black Martial Arts in film.

Karen Bass’ Historic Election Ushers in a New Era of Inclusive, More Equitable Civic Leadership

TO BE EQUAL

BY MARC MORIAL

“Karen Bass has a long history of always being on the side of the people, fighting for the people, fighting for the people whose voices aren’t in the room but must be present. That’s who Karen Bass has always been. It’s who she will always be.”

The National Urban League and the civil rights community have had few champions in Congress as tenacious and effective as Rep. Karen Bass of California.

Earlier this year, the National Urban League worked closely with Chairwoman Bass and the Congressional Black Caucus on negotiations that led to President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety. She and I partnered last year to highlight racial equity in COVID vaccines, and she advocated fiercely for the National Urban League’s priorities in the federal COVID relief responses. She has been a mainstay of our annual Legislative Policy Conference.

Now, the House of Representatives’ loss is the City of Los Angeles’ gain. We are proud to congratulate Rep. Bass as she prepares to be sworn in as the first woman to hold the office of mayor of Los Angeles.

Her inauguration on Dec.

12 also will mark the first time in history that the nation’s four largest cities will be led by Black mayors. She joins Eric Adams of New York, Lori Lightfoot of Chicago and Sylvester Turner of Houston.

As a former big-city mayor myself, and a past president of the U.S. Conference of

opponent, and the underhanded scheming revealed by a leaked recording of city council members making crude, racist remarks.

Mayor-elect Bass is the ideal leader to bring together a city struggling to confront rising crime and a homelessness crisis. Her experience as an emergency room

nia State Assembly in 2008. She earned the 2010 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her leadership during the state’s budget crisis, which “put an end to years of government inaction and sidestepping of the difficult decisions.”

When the election of the most ethnically and culturally diverse Congress in United States history swelled the ranks of the Congressional Black Caucus to a historically large membership in 2018, it was Karen Bass they turned to for leadership. With members serving as five full committee chairs, and 28 subcommittee chairs, the CBC under her watch advanced major racial justice priorities including establishing a record of continued voter suppression efforts around the country, laying the foundation for passage of the John Lewis Voting Advancement Act.

Mayors, I am perhaps a little biased but I am convinced that mayors are the most important elected officials in the country. Cities are the economic engines of the nation. They are laboratories of innovation. When a failure of leadership at the federal level crippled the nation’s response to the COVID pandemic, our mayors stepped into the breach.

The election of Rep. Bass, a longtime social justice advocate and coalition-builder, can be seen as a rejection of racially-divisive policies such as the “tough-on-crime” agenda advocated by her

physician assistant treating individuals who were homeless, in the grip of substance abuse, and victims of crime and violence inspired her in 1990 to found the Community Coalition to address the root causes of injustice.

Her breakthrough as the first woman and second Black mayor of L.A. is just the latest in her long history of blazing trails for Black women. In 2004, she entered office as the only Black woman serving in the California state legislature. She was the first to lead a state legislative body when she was sworn in as Speaker of the Califor-

She was the primary sponsor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the most transformative legislation on policing to ever pass in a chamber of Congress. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, she was instrumental in includes passing the First Step Act, the most significant criminal justice reform in decades.

While Karen Bass might have won the mayoral election, the real winners are the people of Los Angeles, who have an opportunity to usher in a new era of inclusive, more equitable civic leadership.

Marc Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.

Karen Bass

Photo: Campaign photo

BHN Live: Watch or listen to Black News Link Round-table discussion, ‘Hip-Hop Yesterday Part 1’

By Black Headline News

Congress declared November, National Hip-Hop History Month in 2021. The bill, co-sponsored by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) under the leadership of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was created to recognize and celebrate Hip-Hops lasting influence on American culture.

On Black Headline News as an ode to National Hip-Hop History Month, Black News Link explores the beginnings of hip-hop in two 75-minute parts one and two: Hip-hop is a subculture and an art movement that emerged from the Bronx in New York City during the early 1970s. Its development reflected the negative effects of post-industrial decline, political discourse, and a rap-

Watch the final part two discussion which began December 8

idly changing economy.

Looking back to New York City during this era, we see an economic collapse. The city’s economy was falling apart due to the decline of the manufacturing industry and construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway. Much of the white middle class moved to the suburbs to escape the social and economic challeng-

es. The migration shifted demographics and segregated communities. Conditions worsened in neighborhoods prominently populated by African-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Caribbean immigrants. Urban despair also brought rising crime, gang violence, and poverty.

Watch part one of this in-depth discussion about the humble beginning of the hip-hop era with Black press members a part of Black News Link: Chicago News Weekly managing editor, Danielle Sanders; Steven Samuel, owner of historic hip-hop news website, SOHH. com; publisher, Rina Risper and Mr. Cleveland of The New Citizens Press; Texas Metro News Publisher Cheryl Smith and moderator and AMPTV executive producer, Julia Dudley Najieb.

Stay tuned for part 2 beginning December 8.

STEPHEN “TWITCH” BOSS, dead at 40

Reactions were swift and emotional as word spread that Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the popular DJ for “Ellen DeGeneres Show” and dancer from “So You Think You Can Dance,” has died. According to a medical examiner’s report, the cause of death was an apparent suicide.

Ms DeGeneres posted on social media, “I’m heartbroken. tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family,

and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him. Please send your love and support to Allison and his beautiful children - Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.”

Born in Montgomery, AL, he was an American freestyle hip hop dancer, choreographer, actor, television producer, and television personality.

Mr. Boss was found in a motel room in Los Angeles.

UNCF offers national and regional scholarships and job opportunities that close in December. Apply today!

As of October 17, 2022, UNCF has transitioned from its current scholarship application system to a better, stronger, easier system. Here’s what you need to know.

Check out these UNCF scholarships and internships currently open for applications, and complete your ap -

plication before the deadlines. Look at some of the opportunities UNCF offers high school and college students that can help you get to and through college. Visit UNCF.org/Scholarships any time to see what’s open.

Remember: Complete all steps for the applications!

You will not be considered for a scholarship, internship or program until you submit all the information and essays the application requires.

Fidelity Career Opportunities

The company is offering a variety of career opportuni-

ties to students of color. Complete the interest form. Apply by Dec. 5.

UNCF Toyota Scholars Program

The UNCF Toyota Scholars Program is a professional development initiative for HBCU students. It offers need- and

merit-based scholarships, career-readiness training, summer internship opportunities and other tools for success. Apply by Dec. 7.

EA Madden Scholarship Program

The EA Madden Scholarship Program is a scholarship and professional development program that supports the educational growth and career development training of Black/African American students. Apply by Dec. 9.

Delta Air Lines Massachu

setts Emergency Student Aid Scholarship Program

New Scholarship Application System is Here

-

The Delta Air Lines Massachusetts Emergency Student Aid Scholarship Program was established in collaboration with UNCF to provide emergency student aid to college seniors who are residents of the state of Massachusetts. Apply by Dec. 14.

Delta Air Lines New York Emergency Student Aid Scholarship Program

The Delta Air Lines New York Emergency Student Aid Scholarship Program was established in collaboration with UNCF to provide emergency student aid to college seniors who are residents of the state of New York. Apply by Dec. 14.

UNCF/Old Dominion Scholars Program

The UNCF/Old Dominion Scholars Program, sponsored in partnership with Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., is seeking full-time juniors enrolled in any accredited Col-

lege or University majoring in business, logistics, supply chain management, communications, or industrial engineering, whose college experience demonstrates community service, leadership, and analytical ability during their college career. Candidates will be selected to intern for summer 2023. Apply by Dec. 15.

Oracle Developer Scholars Program

The Oracle Developers Scholars Program seeks to identify students to serve as technical development interns during the summer of 2023. At the conclusion of the internship, interns will have an opportunity to receive a $10,000 scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic school year. This program seeks Black, Hispanic, and Native American students who are currently pursuing a degree in one of the following disciplines: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering/Development.Apply by Dec. 15.

Oracle Corporate Scholars Program

The Oracle Corporate Scholars Program provides extended learning experiences at Oracle headquarters during the summer of 2023. The program includes scholarship support for African American, Hispanics or Native Americans who are currently pursuing a major in one of the following disciplines: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Business, Mathematics, Marketing, Legal, Cybersecurity, Product Development and related majors. Apply by Dec. 15.

VWGoA/UNCF Corporate Scholars

The VWGoA/UNCF Corporate Scholars Program, sponsored in partnership with Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., is seeking full-time enrolled juniors attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) majoring in business, computer science, marketing, information technology and engineering, whose college experience demonstrates community service, leadership and analytical ability during their college career. Apply by Dec. 19.

UNCF K-12 Education Fellowship

The UNCF K-12 Education Fellowship is a leadership and talent development initiative aimed at building a robust

pipeline of high-achieving African Americans engaged in education in America. The program selects undergraduate juniors from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to participate in a 10-

week summer experience that includes leadership development, a paid internship with an innovative K-12 educational organization or school, and participation in an education reform case competition. Apply by Dec. 19.

UNCF General Scholarship Application

The UNCF General Application is used to establish an applicant pool of potentially eligible students for ongoing scholarship opportunities that are unpublished and do not require an online application. Apply by Dec. 21.

Anheuser-Busch Foundation Scholarship

The Anheuser-Busch Foundation Scholarship Program was established by the Anheuser-Busch Foundation in partnership with the United Negro College Fund – UNCF. The program has been designed to provide need-based scholarships to 2022-2023 graduating senior students who are enrolled at UNCF member institutions and who major in business related disciplines, supply chain logistics, mechanical, electrical, chemical, or industrial engineering. Apply by Dec. 22.

Career Opportunities with Kia America

Kia is a great place to start your career and learn, develop, and be your best in the role that best suits you. College seniors, graduates, or Master’s students with a purpose thrive in their unique culture and make a real difference. Be a force for change. Apply by Dec. 29.

Wyndham Career Opportunities

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, is offering opportunities to college graduates and Master’s degree graduates in the company’s legal, marketing and IT departments. Apply by Dec. 29.

THIS TALENTED WOMAN BRAIDING HAIR WHILE BLIND WILL PULL ON YOUR HEARTSTRINGS

By BOTWC Staff

23-year-old Tusa runs a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Malawi that supports orphans, teen moms, and children on the streets. She takes care of about 50 kids, and she’s constantly bringing us along on her daily journeys and adventures with her family.

One of her best videos came from sharing one of the children she supports, whom she calls her daughter Mwai, braiding hair while blind. The mother said Mwai always wanted to learn but was often discouraged because of her disability. Tusa encouraged her and even found someone that could teach her. Now she’s braiding with ease!

Not only can she plait natural hair, but she’s also mastered knotless braids! The young girl hopes to open her own salon one day.

With a little bit of time and effort, you can achieve anything you dream of just like Mwai!

This is just pure talent!

Because Of Them We Can https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/

Briefs

Patti LaBelle To Perform At Abounding Prosperity, Inc. Benefit

Dallas Southern Pride and Abounding Prosperity Inc. will host a holiday gala and gospel brunch to aid in their mission to provide services addressing health, social and economic disparities among Black Americans, particularly gay and bisexual men, cisgender women, transgender people and their families. The events will take place December 17 through December 18, 2022.

The weekend’s activities will commence with a Christmas Gala Fundraiser featuring special guest, Patti LaBelle, world renowned singer, actress and businesswoman. The blacktie affair will include a host of entertainment for the evening, including a silent auction, raffles, champagne and cash bar, carving stations and heavy appetizers. The Christmas Gala Fundraiser will take place 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. CST, Saturday, December 17, 2022, at the Fairmont Dallas, 1717 Akard Street, Dallas, TX 75201. The evening will continue with the annual Naughty or Nice Christmas Party from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. CST where guests can unwind and enjoy music performed by rapper, Kash Doll.

“We help people year-round, but the holidays are a great time to show appreciation for those who support our cause and the community, as well as encourage continued advocacy and assistance because our job is not done yet,” said Kirk Myers-Hill, president of Dallas Southern Pride. “Contributing to Dallas Southern Pride and Abounding Prosperity allows us to continue to provide services to the community where no one gets turned away.”

Rounding out the weekend is a Gospel Brunch from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the Fairmont Dallas. Brunch will be hosted by R&B and gospel singer Kelly Price, and feature Le’Andria

Johnson, gospel singer, and Yolanda Adams, gospel singer, actress and morning show host.

WHAT: Dallas Southern Pride and Abounding Prosperity Inc. will host a Christmas Gala Fundraiser featuring special guest, Patti LaBelle, world renowned singer, actress and businesswoman. The black-tie affair will include a host of entertainment for the evening, including a silent auction, raffles, champagne and cash bar, carving stations and heavy appetizers.

The evening will continue with the annual Naughty or Nice Christmas Party where guests can unwind and enjoy music performed by rapper, Kash Doll.

Rounding out the weekend is a Gospel Brunch hosted by R&B and gospel singer Kelly Price, and featuring Le’Andria Johnson, gospel singer, and Yolanda Adams, gospel singer, actress and morning show host.

WHO: Abounding Prosperity Inc. and Dallas Southern Pride, the official annual celebration for Black

Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) individuals to come together and celebrate who and what they are. The organization hosts formal parties, events and shows to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ community.

WHEN: Saturday, December 17 to Sunday, December 18, 2022

WHERE: Christmas Gala Fundraiser 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. CST

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Fairmont Dallas, 1717 Akard Street, Dallas, TX 75201

Naughty or Nice Christmas Party 11 p.m. – 1 a.m. CST Saturday, December 17, 2022

Fairmont Dallas, 1717 Akard Street, Dallas, TX 75201

Gospel Brunch

12 p.m. – 3 p.m. CST Sunday, December 18, 2022

Fairmont Dallas, 1717 Akard Street, Dallas, TX 75201

WHY: Dallas Southern Pride and Abounding Prosperity Inc. are hosting these holiday weekend events to aid in their mission to provide services addressing health, social and economic disparities among Black Americans, particularly gay and bisexual men, cisgender women, transgender people and their families.

Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend the holiday weekend celebrations, and all proceeds collected will fund Dallas Southern Pride’s and Abounding Prosperity’s various programs like vaccine clinics, free healthcare screenings and relief assistance funds that help offset the cost of essential services to Black and Brown communities, with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ communities and their families in South Dallas and surrounding areas.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://dallassouthernpride.com/.

While never forgetting his Slovenian roots, Luka expands his holiday celebration and giveback this year to include pediatric patients in both his home country and Dallas

Briefs

Dallas Mavericks Luka Dončić And His Foundation Plan Special Holiday Surprise And Party For More Than 350 Pediatric Patients At Dallas’ Scottish Rite For Children And Two Slovenian Children’s Hospitals

The holidays are typically a joyous time for children, but that’s not always the case for those spending the season in a hospital bed or affected with a serious medical condition.

Last December Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić paid tribute to his roots by devising a special holiday surprise for young patients at a Ljubljana children’s hospital in Slovenia.

With a generous heart and a love to serve others, the three-time All-NBA First Team and All-Star wanted to expand his holiday giving this year beyond Slovenia to also include children from his “second” hometown, Dallas.

Earlier today approximately 200 pediatric patients at Dallas’ Scottish Rite for Children gathered for a fun-filled party – packed with gifts, games and activities – that Luka helped plan and fund through the Luka Dončić Foundation. His foundation’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of children through play.

“I hope this makes them happy and puts a smile on their face,” said Luka. “They are so brave and strong, and I want them to know I’m thinking of them during the holidays and wishing them all the best

in the New Year!”Today’s celebration and party at Scottish Rite included holiday crafts; decorating cookies, ornaments and gingerbread houses; face painting; an interactive photo booth; a hot cocoa and coffee stand; and more.

Gifts, personally chosen by Luka, were

also given to the children from him.

In addition to toys and games, Luka teamed up with a few “elves” at NERF, Jordan Brand and Chess.com. They provided NERF basketball hoops and NERF blasters, Jordan Brand apparel and drawstring bags, ChessKid gifts, and a premium year-long

membership at ChessKid.com or Chess.com (depending on the child’s age).

And Luka didn’t forget the dedicated, hardworking healthcare staff who provide round-the-clock daily care for the young patients. Luka gave 25 Scottish Rite healthcare workers two lower-bowl tickets to watch the Dallas Mavericks play the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day.

“We loved seeing the children’s eyes light up and hearing their excitement when they received these generous gifts from Luka and his foundation,” said Stephanie Brigger, Vice President of Development at Scottish Rite for Children. “Scottish Rite is honored to be a part of Luka’s holiday giving and grateful for his help making the season merry and bright for our patients and staff!”

Never forgetting his homeland, he’s also expanding his involvement in Slovenia. This year he’s arranged special holiday deliveries, gifts and treats on Dec. 21 and 22 for approximately 150 patients at two hospitals – UKC Maribor – Pediatrics and the Hospital for Children, located outside his hometown, Ljubljana.

Follow the Luka Dončić Foundation on Instagram.

Rep. Sherman is UNT-Dallas Commencement Speaker

Lancaster - State Representative Carl O. Sherman, of District 109, is the Keynote Speaker of this year’s University of North Texas at Dallas Fall 2022 Commencement at 11:00 am and 3:00 p.m., December 14 at Texas Trust Credit Union Theatre in Grand Prairie.

Rep. Sherman has been recognized as a visionary leader in faith, business, government, and public admin-

istration. His role in the Texas House encompasses serving on the House Appropriations Committee, Corrections Committee, Democratic Whip, and CoChair of the Friends of Taiwan Caucus. Elected in 2018, Sherman is officially entering his third term in January 2023, while continuing to serve in a Pastoral role, as Senior Minister in the Church of Christ

Rep. Carl O. Sherman

While never forgetting his Slovenian roots, Luka expands his holiday celebration and giveback this year to include pediatric patients in both his home country and Dallas

3rd man arrested in slaying of 14-year-old boy in South Dallas

By Aria Jones

A 19-year-old sought in the September slaying of a 14-year-old boy in South Dallas was arrested Tuesday on a capital murder charge.

Gregory Ellison is the third suspect jailed in the shooting death of Manuel Edwards. His bail had not been set Tuesday

evening, and it was unclear whether he had an attorney.

Dallas police responded to the 2900 block of Al Lipscomb Way about 1:30 p.m. Sept. 25 and found Edwards in a vacant lot with multiple gunshot wounds. He died at a hospital.

Trevion Harris, 22, and Alonzo Simpson, 17, were booked into the Dallas County jail Thursday on charges of capital murder in the case. They also face one count each of evading arrest, and Simpson faces a marijuana possession charge.

They remained in custody Tuesday, with bail at more than $1 million each. Their attorneys did

Houston woman accused of stealing mail, checks from Dallas-Fort Worth churches

By Aria Jones

A Houston woman has been arrested on accusations of stealing numerous checks from churches in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Flower Mound police said.

Flower Mound police said they received multiple reports of mail theft and check forgeries between Nov. 2 and Nov. 10 and identified 30-year-old Graciela Carolina Munoz Paz as a suspect.

Authorities saw her at a Flower Mound church Nov. 17. and initiated a traffic stop, where they discovered she was in possession of checks made out to multiple churches, police said. Munoz was

This

originally published

not named on any of the accounts, police said.

Munoz was booked into the

News, is

as part of a

Photo: Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer

Denton County jail Nov. 18 on charges of mail theft, forgery of a governmental instrument

and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. It is unclear whether she has an attorney.

A follow-up investigation has since linked her to more 50 mail thefts in North Texas, police said Saturday.

Munoz remained in custody Saturday. Her bail was set at $37,500, and she is also being detained on an immigration hold.

Police said the case was forwarded to the United States Postal Inspection Service for further investigation.

not respond to requests for comment.

Photo: Irwin Thompson / The Dallas Morning News

Gregory Ellison, 19, Trevion Harris, 22, and Alonzo Simpson, 17, face capital murder charges.

Graciela Carolina Munoz Paz, 30, is being held at the Denton County jail on charges of mail theft, forgery and fraud.

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.

story,

in The Dallas Morning

reprinted

collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.

Man indicted on capital murder charge in Dallas

Methodist hospital shooting, records show

By Aria Jones

The man accused of fatally shooting two healthcare workers inside Methodist hospital in October was indicted by a Dallas County grand jury Thursday.

Nestor Oswaldo Hernandez, 30, was charged with capital murder in the killing of Katie Annette Flowers, a 63-year-old nurse, and Jacqueline Ama Pokuaa, a 45-year-old social worker, who died after they were shot Oct. 22 inside the Dallas Methodist hospital in north Oak Cliff.

Hernandez was also indicted on charges of aggravated assault against a public servant and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the court records show. He remains at the Dallas County jail with bail set at $3 million. His attorney declined to comment.

Police have said that Hernandez, a parolee with an active ankle monitor, was inside the hospital’s labor and delivery wing for the birth of his child when he began to act strange and accused his girlfriend of cheating on him. He pulled a gun from his pants and began to hit her with it repeatedly while their newborn was in the room, police said.

Hernandez also declared, “Whoever comes in this room is going to die with us,” according to an arrest-warrant affidavit.

Pokuaa was shot when

she went into the room to provide routine patient services, Dallas police Chief Eddie García has said. Flowers then looked inside the room and Hernandez shot her, he said.

A Methodist police sergeant heard gunfire and saw

Hernandez surrendered after a brief standoff, police said.

Video footage released by Dallas police in November captured a woman barricaded with a gunman and their newborn, pleading for

the footage showed.

The shooting also spurred awareness nationwide about the dangers that medical workers face on the job and prompted criticism from García and the public about the terms of Hernan-

The shooting at the north Oak Cliff hospital killed nurse Katie Annette Flowers and social worker Jacqueline Ama Pokuaa.

him to surrender peacefully and for officers to spare his life.

when Flowers was shot, police have said. Hernandez reloaded his weapon, then began to leave the room. The officer shot Hernandez in the leg and he retreated into the room, police said.

The exchange ensued after gunshots rang out inside Dallas Methodist Medical Center. Police and the mother of his child begged the wounded gunman to end the deadly stalemate,

dez’s parole. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating how he acquired a handgun as both a felon and parolee.

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.

Dallas police respond to an active shooter incident at Methodist Dallas Medical Center on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Two nurses were shot during the incident, according to police.

Photo: (Liesbeth Powers/The Dallas Morning News via AP)(Liesbeth Powers / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Nestor Oswaldo Hernandez

Photo: Dallas County Sheriff’s Departme

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! December 2022

Punkin and Cedric Bailey 15 years

Pastor Therman Sr. and First Lady Melodie Cunningham 17 years

Stacey and Brian Courtney Wilson 22 years

Ricardo P. and Pamela Deveaux 26 years

Mr. and Mrs. Chandler 55 years

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Karen and Willie Carpenter 14 years

Taneise and Kevin Perry 18 years

Lady Stephanie and Marcus Sparks 10 years

H.B. Jr. and CC. Charles Congressman Marc Veasey and Tonya Veasey

Mr. and Mrs. Killebrew

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Hadnot 24 years

Metro Community Calendar powered by

DECEMBER

2022 Black Nativity

Dec 1 – 18

Bishop Arts Theatre Center 215 S Tyler St, Dallas, TX

***

Delicious Christmas 22

Through Dec. 16

1 AM – 12 PM

The Black Academy of Arts and Letters 650 S Griffin St, Dallas, TX

15

St. Second Floor. Hosted by Constable Tracey L. Gulley, Judge Thomas G. Jones and Judge Valencia Nash-- Dallas County Health and Human Services Pop-Up Clinic will be giving out $25 WALMART GIFT CARDS with COVID 19 vaccination or booster shots. Flu shots will also be available

15-17

The African Business Lounge International Trade & Expo at the Plano Event Center, 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway, featuring workshops, vendors, keynote speakers, networking and more.

16

Law Office of Royce West & Associates and Law Office of Domingo Garcia Christmas Party at the Tower Club, 1601 Elm Street, 48th Floor

Admission - unwrapped toy RSVP - Allyson.g@WESTLLP.COM 7PM- MIDNIGHT

17

Christmas in the Park at Fair Park 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Automobile Building, 1010 1st Ave Dallas, TX 18

Cookies and Crafts with Santa 3 – 4 PM Decorator’s Warehouse 3708 W Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington 27

The Servpro First Responder Bowl is back in Dallas, TX on Dec. 27 at the Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Tickets are on sale now. All first responders are eligible for up to four free tickets to this year’s game. https://bit.ly/3NxokH3 #SFRB

#EverydayHeroes

JANUARY

Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists present Read& Black, A Journalist’s Holiday at Ella Bs, 1004 N. Collins, Arlington

Admission - book suitable for 0-18

benefiting Promise House. 6-11 pm

Precinct One Annual Christmas Community Gathering at the South Dallas County Government Center, 8301 South Polk

100 Black Men of Greater Dallas/Fort Worth, Inc. 25 Silver Anniversary Gala, 13340 Dallas Pkwy

Awakening Africa Excellence Awards Gala Night at Plano Event Center, 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway, recognizing emerging businesses and supporting the success of African American businesses.

5pm

***

Snow Day!

Central Library Downtown Branch Floor (1st Floor)

1, 2023

Dallas County Democrats 2023 Swearing-In

Ceremony

Celebrate the New Year and reelected and newly elected Dallas County Officials at the beautiful Tower Club downtown. While statewide elections didn’t go our way, Dallas County voters flipped three county seats red to blue, resulting in a Dallas County government that’s nearly all Democratic (one seat remaining out of more than 40) and more reflective of the county!

Time: 1:00-3:00 PM, Tower Club 1601 Elm St 48th Floor Dallas, TX 75201

16

Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo at Dallas’ African American Muse um, presented by Comerica Bank. 10a-6p Call 214-9410110 for information!

M 3

St. Philip’s School and Community Center will host its 23rd Annual Parrish Family Destiny Award Luncheon featuring a conversation with Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Sterling K. Brown, 11:30 am at the Hilton Anatole. The Student Showcase is from 10:30-11:15 am.

CHECK OUT WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM

Welcome to The Doc Shep Speaks

roNews, @fnsconsulting, and You

Send your calendar items to editor@texasmetronews.com 214-941-0110

The World According to Andrew on BlogTalkRadio.com 8 am.-10 am. CST. Sundays Tune in for thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news and commentary. Join the call 646200-0459 on Andrew’s World.

I Was Just Thinking with Norma Adams-Wade “History Class is in Session” Join in on Facebook/@TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio.com at 11 am -1 pm. CST. Wednesdays. Join the conversation call 646-200-0459.

Lifestyle Metro Calendar powered by

DECEMBER

15

The African Business Lounge International Trade and Expo 10 am Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Plano Event Center 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway, Plano. Info: www. afblounge.org. Reserve a spot: http://bit.ly/3gGLdf9

16

Delicious Christmas ‘22 Date Night Package for 2 The most exclusive party of the year: Delicious Christmas - The All White Party Date Night Package! 8 pm at Dallas Convention CenterBlack Academy of Arts & Letters 650 S. Griffin St. Dallas. Tickets: http://bit.ly/3u5evXU 17

SDS Gents 9th Annual Christmas Party Benefiting the SDS Gents Christmas Outreach Program Your donation will benefit the children in the DFW community. Swingtime Center-Dancing, 5100 SE Loop 820, Forest Hill. Tickets: http://bit.ly/3Xx6eJI

18

20

Swingout and Live Dance Nite Cherry Moon presents Line

Christina Aguilera born 1980

*** Holiday Scholarship Benefit Performance with Rick Bernard James and Robert Holbert Group at 5:30 pm host South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. Purchase Tickets: PayPal: southdallasbpwc.org or Zelle to: southdallas1954@yahoo. com 19

Kwanzaa Lighting and African Celebration a celebration of Kwanzaa and the African heritage with African performances, fashion, art and cuisine. From 6:30 to 9:30 pm at Verona Villa 6591 Dalla Parkway Frisco. Free Event Reservea spot: http://bit.

Dance & Swing Out class. Full kitchen and bar will be open.

Drink specials all night. No cover charge! From 6:30 to 10:30 pm at Cherry Moon Grill and Bar 3610 South Cooper Street Ste. 120 Arlington. Tickets: http:// bit.ly/3ELj6n0

21

22

McKinney Avenue Trolley HOLIDAY EXPRESS board one of the vintage trolleys for the 6th Annual McKinney Avenue M-LINE Trolley Holiday Express. From 6 to 7 pm. at McKinney Avenue Trolley Uptown Station 2700 Cityplace West Boulevard Dallas. Tickets: http://bit.ly/3Vx5D94

25

Sunday Brunch. BRUNCH VIBES

28

Mandatory Wednesdays Each and every Wednesday we at Culture Dallas for happy hour vibes from 6pm-11pm amazing drink and food specials. From 6 to 11 pm at Culture Addison 5076 Addison circle Dallas. http://bit.ly/3F8sCSC

Jordan Sparks Born 1989 23

PAUL CANNON LIVE 9 pm Friday’s at Greedy’s 921 West Belt Line Road ##110 DeSoto. Lady’s Night Tickets: http://bit. ly/3VhrotE 24

Zag Afro Fusion Karaoke Nights.

ALL DAY LONG! From 12 pm to 12 am at ESO Mimosa Bar 2150 East Lamar Boulevard #Suite 120 Arlington. Tickets: http:// bit.ly/3iq3ddW 26

Denzel Washington Born 1954

SOUL JAZZ THURSDAYS with Natural Change Band AT SANDAGA at Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave. Dallas. 8PM-12AM. www. sandaga813.com 29

SOUL JAZZ THURSDAYS with Natural Change Band AT SANDAGA at Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave. Dallas. 8PM-12AM. www. sandaga813.com 30

Steppers New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball Step into 2023!

Soul Line Dance Tuesday (Virtual Dance Session) This is a FREE Dance Session via live stream from the BE!

Creative Arts Center YouTube Channel. The live stream begins @ 7:05 PM CST https://www.youtube.com/ BECreativeArtsCenterAtlanta 27

At Crowne Plaza 7050 North Stemmons Freeway Dallas. A two day event. 5pm. Friday to 1 am Sunday New Year’s Day. https://bit.ly/3iyV9YF

JANUARY

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 ***

JEFFERY SMITH New Year’s Eve Party at Ridglea Theater 6025 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 7:30 pm. https://bit.ly/3OXeFtP

Karaoke night every Friday and Saturday in The Colony. From 7 to 11 pm at zag Afro Fusion Cuisine 5000 Main St Suite 214 The Colony. Tickets: http://bit. ly/3OMgcCQ

R&B THE TRAP TUESDAYS at AMORA KITCHEN & ULTRA LOUNGE 12255 Greenville Ave. #130 10 pm to 2 am. https://bit. ly/3P0SSSk

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week. Register at https://bit.ly/2023EquityIndicatorsSymposium.

Samuel Jackson Born 1948

Comerica Bank Creates Collaborative Community Space to Support Small Businesses in Dallas’ Southern Sector

Comerica Bank today revealed plans for Comerica BusinessHQ, a collaborative space that will provide integral services and value to small businesses in the Southern sector of Dallas.

Comerica is transforming idle real estate on the first floor of its R.L. Thornton location into a unique community resource that provides high-need, high-opportunity small businesses with the necessary tools to develop, grow and endure. Through a mix of coworking spaces, incubation fellowships and technical assistance, Comerica BusinessHQ will address the three essential needs of aspiring small businesses: capital, cultivation and connectivity.

project lead, Regional External Affairs Manager Brandon Q. Jones, has secured a growing roster of partners that includes Community Incubation Partner the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC), as well as BCL of Texas, the City of Dallas, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, DreamSpring, Impact Ventures, National Youth Chamber of Commerce powered by Project Still I Rise, Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Texas DFW, SCORE Dallas, and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

•

small businesses that are enrolled in or have completed formal technical assistance training. These entities will have access to private and/or shared office space or open workspace twice a week (subject to availability), one-on-one consultations with small business capital providers and exclusive access to the content creation space.

Community Coworkers

“Comerica has long been invested in the South Dallas community, and we are taking our commitment a step further with the creation of Comerica BusinessHQ,” said Irvin Ashford, Jr., Comerica Bank’s Chief Community Officer. “It is imperative that we help provide solutions to the challenges facing entrepreneurs in this footprint.”

BusinessHQ will function as a part of the Dallas Small Business Ecosystem and serve as an epicenter of vetted, credible community partners to present effective and impactful small business incubation and technical assistance. The

“To ensure this initiative is truly community-driven, we plan to empower our broad network of strategic community partners to facilitate programming and assist in identifying small businesses for BusinessHQ opportunities,” said Jones. “The key findings from our community-based focus groups and meetings with local leaders, stakeholders and small business owners, indicated we should focus on the following areas – technology and connectivity, access and security and membership and exclusivity – to make the most impact as we continue to contribute to the Southern sector’s economic revitalization efforts.”

Essential features

• Technology and connectivity – The space will have free, flexible, temporary workspaces and turnkey access to high-speed, uninterrupted Wi-Fi; information security and privacy; printing; scanning; large scale projection video conferencing rooms; as well as well as space furnished with equipment for small-scale con-

tent creation needs. Technical assistance services also will be offered, which will be open to all small businesses and led by a strategic community partner.

• Access and security – BusinessHQ will be in a secure location and open Monday through Friday with extended hours and some weekend hours to reflect the reality of entrepreneurs.

• Membership and exclusivity – There will be a conscientious registration and vetting process for small businesses to gain access and membership to BusinessHQ.

BusinessHQ membership opportunities

• Incubators – BusinessHQ Community Partner VWEC will select small businesses for membership and administer the program. Incubators will receive dedicated/private office space, one-on-one cultivation support and consultations with small business capital providers, and exclusive access to the content creation studio.

• Coworkers – Strategic community partners will refer

– Any small business operating in a high need, high opportunity area, with revenues less than $1 million, will have the opportunity to take advantage of the space.

A BusinessHQ staff member will meet with a small business that is requesting access to help identify key need areas. Once a membership is confirmed, the community coworker can use shared, open workspaces (subject to availability) and BusinessHQ’s library of resources for six months.

All small businesses utilizing BusinessHQ can grow as members and gain access to more benefits once the initial duration of their membership has ended.

More on BusinessHQ

A Comerica BusinessHQ Success Manager will oversee general operations of the community center, which will include client scheduling, event planning and membership operations.

The approximately 8,000square-foot area, located at 5201 E. R.L. Thornton, is currently undergoing renovations. When it reopens in March 2023, it will have clear, engaging signage illuminated with blue lights at night.

BusinessHQ will empower Comerica’s community partners to deliver critical services to small businesses in high need, high opportunity areas.

Irvin Ashford, Jr.

IN MEMORIAM: Funeral of A. Donald McEachin Includes Tributes by Secretary Marcia Fudge, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Clyburn

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Correspondent

HENRICO, VA — Honoring McEachin: A Virginian From the Old School. Today in Henrico, Va., at St. Paul’s Baptist Church, led by Rev. Dr. Lance Watson, a large number of federal and state leaders from past and present administrations, along with community activists, constituents and countless present and former staff employed in federal and local government connected to Virginia attended the funeral of the Honorable A. Donald McEachin.

Though he had been dealing with health challenges related to colorectal cancer in recent years, his death on Nov. 28 at only 61 years old was met with a surprise and sadness that traveled through Richmond and the political quarters in Virginia as well as north to Capitol Hill in Washington.

With 46 members of Congress sitting at stage right a row behind Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James and Attorney General Jason Miyares, a large crowd of McEachin’s friends, staff and admirers took part in a tribute to McEachin’s life of public service.

McEachin is only the third African American to be elected to Congress in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia behind attorney and abolitionist John Mercer Langston and Congressman Bobby Scott.

The historic and social connections of McEachin’s legacy were heard in the words of many who spoke today. Their personal stories about McEachin provided a roadmap on how one individual can impact so many lives directly and indirectly through public service.

Rev. Tyrone Nelson, McEach-

in’s former law partner Donald Gee, Rev. Stephen Tillett, Del. Lamont Bagby, former Congressman Cedric Richmond, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge and Rev. Dr. John Kinney paid rousing tribute to McEachin today from the stage. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Tim Kaine and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn also spoke.

In one of the most indelible moments of the afternoon, McEachin Constituent Services Director, Rev. Sylvia Copeland spoke on behalf of Team McEach-

remarks. McEachin and Kaine’s relationship dated back to when the two were lawyers in their twenties.

“When I call Donald my good friend it’s not like the way we do sometimes on the floor of the House when you really don’t mean it,” said U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.

“When I call Donald McEachin my good friend I really do mean it,” Clyburn added before relating several personal moments he enjoyed with McEachin.

Del. Bagby, a protege of

but he was most in tune with his family,” Bagby said.

There were many notable attendees among the many members of Congress and others in attendance today in the endless rows of pews at St. Paul’s. We’ll name a few: House Minority Leader Don Scott, State Senator L. Louise Lucas, fmr. Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, State Senator Jennifer McClellan, State Senator Creigh Deeds, State Senator Lionell Spruill, fmr. Del. Jay Jones and his father fmr. Del. Jerrauld Jones, January 6th Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, soon-to-be U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, incoming Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford, State Senator Dick Saslaw, Clerk of the Senate Susan Clarke Schaar and Republican Missouri Congressman Billy Long.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi received a standing ovation from the audience before she spoke after Pastor Watson complimented her leadership. The Virginia Union University Choir sang several songs that were unforgettable.

in about all the special details that made working with the Congressman unique and memorable — from his love of popcorn, Subway’s steak and cheese and Mountain Dew to his devotion to community and family.

“We won’t forget how ADM persistently challenged the team to connect, build and maintain relationships with key community leaders ensuring our district’s performance aligned with his overall goals, we won’t forget,” Copeland said.

McEachin’s office was known for superior constituent service.

“It’s just a blessing to praise the Lord, hallelujah I’m free,” Sen. Tim Kaine sang at the end of his

McEachin’s, who is also Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, told the audience that many of the judges and lawyers present in the room were likely here “because of Donald McEachin.” Bagby also relayed that the passage of a predatory lending bill he passed through the General Assembly was a particular point of pride because McEachin’s law firm assisted many clients on the issue.

“These stories are personal for me. Donald made it personal for each and every one of you here. I know he did something to encourage you and to help you. To give you a leg up. He was a good man, he was a good Delegate…

McEachin is survived by his wife Colette McEachin, who serves as the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond, and their children Joseph “Mac” McEachin, Elizabeth McEachin and Alexandra McEachin.

A. Donald McEachin’s life and legacy were relayed today in striking fashion by his friends and family. We won’t forget.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

Honoring McEachin: A Virginian From the Old School. McEachin is only the third African American to be elected to Congress in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia behind attorney and abolitionist John Mercer Langston and Congressman Bobby Scott

Mavs Host Holiday Shopping Spree For Area Families

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor Photos: Dallas Mavericks

It’s the Season for Giving and the Dallas Mavericks are doing just that.

Several players took families of the Christian Community Action of Lewisville (CCA) on a funfilled holiday shopping spree last week.

Mavericks players Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, JaVale McGee and Tim Hardaway Jr. all accompanied the families shopping for the holidays at SCHEELS, an employee-owned sporting goods and entertainment retailer. Each family was able to shop for gifts for loved ones with a special gift from SCHEELS ($500 per family) and the Mavs for the holiday season.

The Holiday Shopping Spree is part of the Season of Giving – the NBA and Dallas Mavericks commitment to brighten the holiday season for thousands of children and families.

Powell and Hardaway Jr. also both made a $10,000 donation to Pay Away the Layaway, helping 100 families in North Texas pay off their balances for the holidays.

At the register

Maxi Kleber

Tim Hardaway Jr.

McGee paying off layaway

South Oak Cliff, DeSoto, Duncanville All Reach State Football Title Games

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

It was an exciting weekend of football for three local teams who all find themselves in familiar territory.

South Oak Cliff High School, the 2021 5A, Division II Champions, is heading back to the state championship for the second

year in a row after beating Argyle in Fort Worth on Friday night, 14-6 in the state semifinals.

The Golden Bears (12-3) will play for a second straight 5A, Division II state title in the championship game at 7 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium. They will take on Port Neches Grove (13-2).

Across town, the DeSoto High School Eagles are

celebrating their return to the state championship, six years after winning its only title in 2016.

On Saturday the Eagles defeated nationally ranked Denton Guyer 47-28 in the state 6A Division II state semifinals at The Star at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas.

DeSoto (15-0) will play Vandegrift on Saturday,

Dec. 17th at 3 p.m. at AT&T Stadium for the 6A Division 2 title.

And Saturday night, the Duncanville High School Panthers (14-0) manhandled Prosper, defeating them in a blowout 41-0 to reach the 6A Division I championship game. They will play North Shore on Saturday, Dec. 17th at 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium.

JaVale McGee

Searching for toys

Dwight Powell

Growing up Pandemic

documents, slides etc. and the children are even at a greater disadvantage.

We noticed in my area that after the first full year of children going to school online during the height of the pandemic, many districts, depending on whether they were in the green or the yellow zone, went back to school in person even if it was for half a day. The further the district from an urban city such as Philadelphia, the quicker they were back in the building.

Others stayed home by their parents’ choice. Now these same children, in a post-pandemic era are going back to school to try and reacclimate to in-person learning.

Even my daughter said while she spent an entire year in the virtual classroom, “I’m not learning anything, I am just being pushed through.”

Talk about a second-rate solution to a catastrophic problem! Institutionalized children exemplified the phrase “you can only do what you know.”

They followed all foes and detractors, “COVID is a hoax, it’s not real.”

It was much easier for them to accept a peer dying from a gunshot wound. Now all these kids are playing catch up because education to them was just a means to an end. They didn’t care about it before the pandemic, why should they care about it now?

Now, let's talk about colleges and universities. When COVID was prominently on the scene, colleges and universities were evacuating dorms very quickly. Populations such as teens with no

home to return to and international students were even told that they had to leave campus.

There were other extenuating circumstances where certain accommodations were being made for individuals who could not leave but they made things very difficult, and some schools even required students to have the COVID vaccinations before they could reside on campus.

In some scenarios once

els had changed as well.

Many states have instituted colleges that are online only. Once again this is not necessarily a new model because there were places such as University of Phoenix who paved the way for other schools to institute 100% virtual learning for their degree programs.

For example, Claremont Lincoln University in Claremont, CA has a master's degree program. Those individ-

cont. from page 14

master’s degree, seems like a distant memory for many.

Nothing is the same since COVID-19, but those who are committed, intentional and want to see the flowers in their garden flourish, will rise above if they continue to water passion, inspiration, spirituality, and personal development.

These children and young adults are our future. In the richest country in the world, we must stop taking life and

college students were moving back between breaks or in between school semesters, they were told that they had to test prior to moving on campus. Should they have an inconclusive test or a test that is positive, there were entire dormitories that were reserved for quarantining.

These young adults could not leave their dorm rooms. Meals were brought to them, and they were segregated. How’s that for your first college experience? Adult Learners deciding to go back to school to earn their undergraduate or even graduate degrees found that the mod-

uals never have to come to California to complete their coursework and attending graduation in person is optional.

Private institutions have discovered ways to profit because they have an absolute need.

During the time of COVID, private institutions lost money, so much that when they did allow students to come back, their admission processes changed quite a bit.

The SAT and ACT were no longer the standard and requirement to go to school. The GMAT examination for individuals getting their

education for granted.

Stop using things like a pandemic as an excuse or a crutch.

So what things are different, differences are a part of life. If you didn’t finish school, go back. If your child is truant, sit next to them in each and every class. Push success because failure does not exist, it is not an option.

La Lonnie Denice Moore is the Engagement and Opportunités Assistant Education Liaison for Child First Services. La Lonnie’s contact info : La_Lonnie@childfirstservices.org phone : 484-7440676.

This story is part of a project funded from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) to support original and innovative coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the coronavirus vaccine, and how these topics intersect into the nation’s K-12 education system.

family’s well-being is prioritized and that all assistance available be offered in an appropriate manner. Due to privacy reasons, and out of respect for the family, we do not have anything additional to provide.”

Finally Freed – Reaction News broke early Thursday morning of the release of Griner, who plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and has won gold medals as part of the USA Olympic Basketball team.

"She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home," President Joe Biden said from the White House, where he was ac-

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that “BG” – as she is affectionately known – has never been out of their thoughts or minds over the past months.

“There has not been a day over the past 10 months where we all haven’t had Brittney Griner on our minds and in our hearts,” Engelbert said. “That has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, the WNBA player community, and her friends.”

her home,” she said.

“It's a great day and we look forward to BG having her time and space and recovering from this whole ordeal, awful ordeal. She's a star, one of the greatest players ever to play the game. So I

statement on the release of their beloved star player that read in part:

Miraculously, mercifully, the count of days detained has ended at 294, and our friend, our sister is headed back home where she belongs. The emotions for our organization, just like for our fans and so many across the world, are those of joyous celebration, deep gratitude, grief for the time lost, and sincere hope for all families still awaiting the return of a loved one.

companied by Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, and administration officials.

Cherelle Griner also spoke and during the press conference said with a smile: “Today my family is whole again.”

Engelbert also thanked the media and fans for their coverage and relentless support in keeping Griner’s name and story on the forefront.

“I want to thank you, the media, for keeping BG at the top of your coverage because that was helpful. And to the WNBA fans as well who continued to advocate for BG in getting

think the efforts of everybody have been helpful. The support has been helpful. The voices have been helpful.”

Griner’s team, the Phoenix Mercury where she has played since being drafted No. 1 overall out of Baylor University in 2013, also released a

BG's strength in this process, her unwavering belief that resolution would come, and the hope she displayed every day is what kept all of us believing this day would come.

The fight to bring her home has illustrated the power of the WNBA, its players, platform, and mission. We no longer have to Bring BG Home –she’s on her way."

Brittney Griner