I Messenger 12-9-22

Trial For Officer Who Killed Atatiana Jefferson Begins

It’s been three years since the murder of Atatiana Koquice Jefferson. A jury, void of any Blacks, was seated after the defense filed a second change of venue motion.

The shooting of Ms. Jefferson by former Fort Worth, TX police officer Aaron Dean led to protests and calls for his firing, along with a number of other demands, specifically coming from the Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight.

On that fateful night officers went to her home in response to a non-emergency call from a neighbor who said Ms. Jefferson’s front door was open and she had not been seen for hours.

Jefferson, 28, who was babysitting her nephew, 8, was playing video games with him in a bedroom around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2019.

According to reports, the two were enjoying the games when they heard a noise in the backyard. The aunt went to the window.

The officer in the back yard did not identify that he was the police but yelled a command and fired through the window, killing the young woman who earned a biology degree from Xavier University in 2014 and was studying Pre-Med, while also caring for her ailing mother.

Atatiana Jefferson

FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

This summer, a childhood friend called me to inform me about the death of a mutual friend. I was stunned. Although I hadn’t seen her in years, I was saddened by the loss. She was known in her community for being so kind, a prayer warrior and so generous with her time and resources.

TO BE EQUAL DEION SANDERS

“History will note she is the most consequential speaker of the House of Representatives in our history. There are countless examples of how she embodies the obligation of elected officials to uphold their oath to God and country to ensure our democracy delivers and remains a beacon to the world. p5 p21 p53

Jackson State, an HBCU in the SWAC Football conference, was rolling in momentum with head coach Deion Sanders at the helm. But the news was just recently dropped that Sanders will be leaving Jackson State for a coaching position at a PWI.

The Heart Condition Hiding in Plain Sight

By Dr. James L. Carlisle, M.D. C.V. Roman Medical Society – Dallas

The health of a community is often about connecting. Connecting with our neighbors, friends, and family to recharge our souls. Connecting with information that empowers us to make positive change.

African American, and Afro-Caribbean communities are disproportionately affected compared to other racial and ethnic groups.* But did you know about three to four percent of African Americans carry a mutation in the TTR gene (V122I) that makes it more likely that they may develop ATTR-CM, however not all carriers develop the disease. ATTR-CM gets worse over time, which is why early diagnosis and management are so important.

ATTR-CM hides in plain sight. That’s where community and connecting come in.

Now we need to get connected and work together to address a serious cause of heart failure called transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, or ATTR-CM.

Many of us may already be aware that when it comes to heart disease in the U.S., Black,

Getting diagnosed with ATTR-CM can often take years. Some signs of ATTR-CM, like carpal tunnel syndrome, extreme tiredness, and swelling in the lower legs and feet, can mimic other conditions. The signs of ATTR-CM may be difficult to connect with a heart condition. ATTR-CM, as a cause of heart

failure can be missed. Family or friends can play an important role in helping you or your doctor determine health issues that you may not notice or talk about. Share all your health information with your doctor so that they can “connect the dots” and make sure health concerns aren’t overlooked.

We are connected by our health histories – sharing health information among relatives is important too. The hereditary type of ATTR-CM is passed down through relatives. If you have relatives with heart-related issues – tell your doctor. If a relative is diagnosed with hereditary ATTR-CM, a doctor may suggest

genetic counseling and testing for relatives. Genetic testing can help relatives understand what potential steps to take.

Getting connected with information about ATTR-CM and learning from experts is also key.

Working together, we can raise awareness of hereditary ATTR-CM and help make sure that our community, friends, and family have the information they need to take charge of their health.

*A 7-year study in London, UK found a gene mutation (ATTR V122I) was the cause of heart failure in 211 out of 1392 Afro-Caribbean patients.

For additional resources on hereditary ATTR-CM, including a discussion guide to help conversations with your doctor or share with a loved one, you can visit yourheartsmessage.com/don.

Content developed by Pfizer in collaboration with C.V. Roman Medical Society – Dallas.

Dr. James L. Carlisle

by Cheryl Smith Publisher

Don’t Believe me? Just Watch!

This was definitely a week of victories and defeats!

Black men were dominating the headlines, which gave many an opportunity to witness how low and how high we can go when taking on or taking out a Black man.

Last year around this time, we were preparing to announce our Person of the Year. I felt then and still today that we made the right choice in selecting Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders of Jackson State University (JSU).

He wasn’t chosen because there was an expectation that he would stay forever, instead it was because during the time he was at that HBCU, he elevated the program and others, addressed a number of systemic issues and called out inequities for the world to see; and he gave many hope and the courage to speak up and do something!

If folks said they had no idea about the disparities or double standards when it comes to HBCUs, Coach Prime ensured that ignorance could no longer be used as a defense!

Now everyone knows!

Years ago someone said gone are the days when coaches would amass the number of victories at one school that Grambling State University’s Coach Eddie Robinson did; and don’t even think that John or Debra will work more than five years in the same job in corporate America or anywhere. If you get one year, you can get mad but you’ve got to get over it!

These are definitely different times and add the after effects of COVID. Wow!

Seeing how passionate folks were about the Coach leaving reminded me of LeBron James and Cleveland Fans.

The arrogance of these Black men to decide their own future! Heck, if Coach Prime lost two games, there are some JSUers that would have been calling for him to be fired!

You know loyalty on the part of fans only goes so far!

Anyway I know one person that slept better on Tuesday night, and that was me!

First I reconciled that no matter what, people were going to be in Coach Prime’s head, heart and pockets;

causing many to avoid dealing with their own actions or inactions.

Secondly, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) was victorious.

And now the work, the real work begins.

Which brings me to my truth.

While Coach Prime is no longer at JSU, JSU will always be a part of him. As an alum of the greatest HBCU, Florida A&M; I know the depth and scope of influence that is forever part of your DNA.

JSU will continue to benefit from his tenure, just as other HBCUs are benefiting from his efforts, and his display of the many possibilities. He showed those who didn’t know and now it is up to them to take the baton (playbook) and go to the next level.

Just as he elevated HBCUs, I expect to see Black coaches benefit from his stint in Colorado. Don’t believe me? Just watch!

I know there are some disappointed folks. Actually there are many disappointed folks.

I challenge those folks to channel that energy into how they can move the

needle because the burden should not fall on one person.

And for those in Georgia. Well, clearly there are some issues that need to be discussed. The election exposed all the dysfunction of politics.

Folks said it is time to get to work, and I agree.

Sen. Warnock has six more years.

We have even less time because everyone should have gotten up today determined and committed to ensure “never again!”

Every elected official should be held accountable and whether you voted for them or not, it is up to you to get up and get involved. A silent voting electorate is almost as deadly as a non-voting electorate.

With the win in Georgia, which gives Democrats a majority in the Senate; Vice President Kamala Harris is freed up to make some strategic moves that are necessary for 2024 victories.

And if you just feel a need to beat up on someone, why don’t you take a look at some other targets ripe for the choosing?

Can you say Brett Favre?

Secrets that are not Safe

FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

BY DR. FROSWA BOOKER-DREW

This summer, a childhood friend called me to inform me about the death of a mutual friend. I was stunned. Although I hadn’t seen her in years, I was saddened by the loss. She was known in her community for being so kind, a prayer warrior and so generous with her time and resources. She was so young—I wondered if something was wrong, if she had been ill—there had to be a reason someone so young passed away.

It was days ago that I discovered that her death was due to suicide. Someone who had been helping others, making sure that everyone was good and was always happy, encouraging and supportive to others felt that she could not go on any further. It was easier for her to take her life than to go through whatever she was experiencing.

The pain and loneliness that one must go through to even contemplate taking their life must be agonizing. It’s easy to talk about why someone shouldn’t do this and that it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Yet, in the midst of the pain, sometimes people need more than our lip service and our prayers. Sometimes

people need to know that we see them, that they are loved and that there are safe spaces for them to be vulnerable and open about what they are going through.

If the church is a hospital for our souls, then there is a disconnect in many congregations across the country. We are not treating people with the care and concern that they need to live life abundantly. It’s like going to the grocery store to purchase food to go home with tires. It might be something worthy and useful, but it isn’t what I need.

We must create the space to check-in with others. It’s more than the small talk but being intentional about listening deeply. It’s allowing spaces that support and sustain instead of offering judgement and condemnation because their issues are not yours.

A recent article in USA Today discusses another secret that many churches will not address either—HIV and AIDS. The article states there were 7,000 women diagnosed with HIV in 2018 and Black women made up more than 4,000 cases, the CDC says. Overall, 1 in 9 women are unaware they have the virus. For many women, when they discover they have the virus, they are embarrassed and ashamed because of the stigma that goes along

with being diagnosed.

Hiding secrets and not having a place to release one’s pain is killing us on so many levels. What would happen if we created spaces for transparency in our homes, relationships, churches and communities? What would happen if people could open up and share what they are feeling, are going through and feel safe in being honest about their struggles? What if we could offer the help that people needed in our congregations and communities instead of ignoring their cries with replies of “just pray about it.”

Secrets keep us in the dark. “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.” (Luke 8:16 ESV) Are our congregations contributing to the darkness? Is it possible that we are not sharing the light of love

with others that they would rather suffer in silence?

We have a real opportunity to love others well so that there are not more situations like the ones I’ve witnessed and experienced. We can embrace others in love so that they don’t feel the need to hide their pain. They can feel heard, get help, and trust that their secrets are safe with us.

“A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.” (Proverbs 11:13)

Check on those you love, especially the strong ones. Sometimes the weight is too heavy in carrying everyone else’s secrets.

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.

We have a real opportunity to love others well so that there are not more situations like the ones I’ve witnessed and experienced. We can embrace others in love so that they don’t feel the need to hide their pain. They can feel heard, get help, and trust that their secrets are safe with us.

Thanks to the Biden Administration and everyone who worked to get her home and also had positive thoughts and prayers to that end.

American Court Injustice

- A Long Dirty History!

QUIT PLAYIN’

BY VINCENT L. HALL

“Turning Ahmaud Arbery into a victim after the choices that he made does not reflect the reality of what brought Ahmaud Arbery to Satilla Shores in his khaki shorts with no socks to cover his long, dirty toenails,”

Laura Hogue told jurors.

Being shocked has become a daily ritual ever since Donald Trump announced his presidency. Trump didn’t invent racism; he just created a safe place for public expression. Racial ignorance comes covert, overt, often, and unsolicited.

But the quote mentioned above entered into the eternal transcripts of the Ahmaud Arbery trial surpassed shock and entered the realm of stupor.

The idea that any “officer of the court” holding a bar license would stoop as low as to excavate the dirtiest of racial tropes was appalling on several levels.

WJCL, a local television affiliate in Savannah, Georgia, reported how the legal community perceived defense attorney Laura Hogue’s comments.

“In that moment, Hogue took the opportunity to portray Arbery as a “runaway slave,” said Charles Coleman Jr., a civil rights attorney, and former prosecutor.

“Her word choice was intentional, her descriptions were unnecessary. And the description ultimately is inflammatory,” Coleman told CNN.

It was an “attempt to sort of really trigger some of the racial tropes and stereotypes that may be deeply embedded in the psyche of some of the jurors,” he continued.

Glynn County, where the trial is being held, is made up of 69% White residents and 27% Black. Just one of the 12 jurors is Black.”

But as far as race-laden and unjust trial cases go, this case was par for America’s course.

In the Viola Liuzzo trial, Thomas Eaton and Collie Leroy Wilkins Jr. were acquitted by state trials and convicted under federal charges.

Ms. Liuzzo, a White woman, dismissed the warnings of the local NAACP

inhalation trying to defend his home. Dahmer was guilty of enticing African Americans to register to vote. He offered to help pay for their poll. Klan Wizard Sam Bowers won several acquittals while Dahmer’s wife and family watched from the “cheap seats” aka the “old colored section.”

1973, Thomas Shea, a plainclothes New York City cop, shot 10-year-old Clifford Glover in the back as they ran. Glover and his dad, Add Armstead, ran as police approached them in an unmarked police car. The father and son thought they were about to be robbed.

Shea was found not guilty by 11 White men and one Black woman after testifying that the boy had a weapon. That weapon supposedly seen with the boy was never found.

The Arbery trial makes you wonder what zealous attorneys said before a jury in untelevised trials.

With judges like “Injustice” Bruce Schroeder in the Rittenhouse case’ there is no telling. Schroeder’s discriminating court demeanor possibly led the jury to find the young shooter not guilty.

president and was killed by Montgomery, Alabama Klan members for shuttling Negro men after a civil rights march.

Bernhard Goetz was declared not guilty after shooting four Black teenagers, and one was left paralyzed. Goetz spent eight months in jail, but only because he was not authorized to carry the weapon. Gun lobbyists have been thriving ever since. Under today’s “carry laws” in most states, Goetz would have left the courtroom for home.

On January 10, 1966, Ku Klux Klan members firebombed the house and country store of local NAACP leader Vernon Dahmer who died of smoke

There is an age-old admonishment in Black America that Schroder et al could learn from. Black mothers have for centuries told their children to always leave home in clean underwear and clothes. Just in case you die before you make it home, atleast you will look decent.

I guess we have to add a fresh pedicure and a pair of socks of the defense attorney’s choosing to that list. However, the toes of injustice on the feet of America’s judicial system are long, dirty, and unfit for inspection.

The remarks of Laura Hogue proved that, and no jury could refute that charge. Well…unless Schroder sat for the case!

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

Laura Hogue

How We Can Influence the Courts That Influence Our Lives?

BY BEN JEALOUS

As I write this, the final few races are being called in the midterm elections that were held weeks ago. It’s clear that the House will be closely divided, with Republicans holding a very small majority. History shows that in midterm elections, the party that doesn’t hold the presidency typically gains a lot of seats in Congress — oftentimes in a wipeout of the party in power. Republicans’ gains were comparatively tiny this year — but they probably should have been even tinier.

The reason is the far-right Supreme Court, and two rulings that hurt Black voters this cycle.

Two Deep South states, Alabama and Louisiana, redrew congressional maps months before the midterms. Incredibly, given the high proportion of Black voters in those states, the maps allowed for only one majority-Black congressional district in each state. That is almost certainly a violation of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits states from packing minority voters into fewer districts in a way that reduces their power. And you don’t have to take my word for it; federal courts said the same thing and ordered both states to redraw their maps.

But state officials opposed to Black voting power fought

back. And in both instances, the Supreme Court allowed them to go ahead with this year’s midterm elections with maps that just happened to preserve “safe” Republican seats.

It’s infuriating. And those are only two of the infuriating decisions that have come out of this Court since Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell

realize it or not. The Supreme Court’s impact on the House majority is just one example. Those actions by the Court will affect what business gets done in Congress and what laws get passed — or not passed — that impact how we live and what rights we have.

Judges get their seats in different ways, especially at the state level. If you live in a place

The same goes for the presidential election, which we will face again in less than two years. In 2016, Donald Trump ran on a platform to name farright judges to the Supreme Court who would ultimately overturn Roe v. Wade. That’s exactly what happened when he won, and now the Court is moving on to do other damage, too — like denying Black voters fair representation in Congress.

succeeded in stacking it with enough ultraconservative justices to make a supermajority.

I know that the inner workings of the courts, especially the Supreme Court, can seem really remote in our day-today lives. Most people don’t know any judges, and if they meet one in court it’s probably happening on a very unpleasant day. In fact, my guess is that a lot of people would rather not think much about the courts at all. But we have to.

We need to pay attention to who sits on our courts and how they get there, because there is such an enormous impact on our lives, whether we

where state-level judges are elected, it’s critically important to get informed and vote in those judicial elections. When it comes to federal judges, the Senate decides who will be confirmed. So every time you cast a vote for a senator, it should be for the candidate who will vote to confirm fair-minded judges with a commitment to civil rights. The Biden administration has been doing a very good job nominating diverse, highly qualified judges who have this commitment. I believe in supporting senators who have voted to confirm these judges and withholding support from those who haven’t.

So what do we do? We get informed, we organize, and we vote in the next election — the same thing we do to confront so many issues this country faces. Next election seems too far away? There is something you can do in the meantime. Call your senators and tell them to confirm the federal judicial nominees that are still waiting for a Senate vote between now and the end of the year. There are literally dozens of nominees picked by President Biden, including many people of color and nominees with strong civil rights backgrounds, just waiting for Senate action to take their seats on the courts. We can show we care by calling our senators and telling them to confirm these nominees now.

Courts are going to keep showing us how much of an impact they have on our lives. We need to exercise every option we have to impact who sits on them.

OUR VOICES

Jealous is president of People For the American Way.

Photo: EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com

Black People and Black Friday

OUR VOICES

First, let’s remind everyone that “Black Friday” has nothing to do with Black People. “Black” represents the color of money when profits are up, just as “red” represents the color of loss when profits are down. The irony is the degree of participation “Black People” spend their dollars on Black Friday with no benefit other than what appears to be personal bargains.

Let’s be reminded that Black People spend over 3 trillion dollars a year on just about everything. However, our spending is not focused, in spite of efforts from a number of our young people using the internet to talk about economics and wealth building.

Well, let’s just start where we are. Do we really need to jump into Black Friday spending? Do we need the “stuff” many of us are buying?

Could those dollars be used to help with our needs or to help the needs of someone else? Did you know that over 99 percent of the advertising dollars for Black Friday do not go to Black newspapers or Black media outlets?

Why these questions?

Let us remember the Montgomery Bus Boycott which lasted for more than 300 days. Because Rosa Parks would not give up her seat on the bus and all Black people were affected by the same problem, Black people made a decision to walk and not ride the buses. Many were fired from their menial jobs which were bread and life support to a people who already were living on less than enough. Those people created such an economic impact by “focusing” their collective efforts, that they won. Question when will we remember and put to use the lessons of the past since some among us are trying to turn back the clock on civil rights, voting rights, Social Security, and everything else that means life and death to so many of us.

We, the collective, need to move toward creating our own real “Black Fridays” by how we spend dollars every day. Do we need that fast food stop, the junk foods, alcohol, and cigarettes? Those who smoke

would give themselves a pay raise just by quitting. Are we watching the growing trend to reduce all corporate dollars being directed to non-profits which becomes a “write-off” rather than spending corporate “marketing” dollars with us as they do with other consumers?

Now that we know that “Black Lives Matter” and that “Black Votes Matter”, let’s really make ”Black Fridays Matter” by looking at and rethinking how we spend our trillions of dollars. Let us remember that there are three things that Corporate America understands: (1) lost profits, (2) bad publicity, and (3) votes cast against their interest. By influencing the last two we can move the needle once again on public policies like Voting Rights, Healthcare and who sits in the U.S. Congress and the U.S. The Senate is affecting our lives. Let us hear from you on this matter.

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

DR. JOHN E. WARREN

"Question when will we remember and put to use the lessons of the past since some among us are trying to turn back the clock on civil rights, voting rights, Social Security, and everything else that means life and death to so many of us."

- Dr. John E. Warren

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.

were created with the consumer in mind. A Blissful Lit Candles gives personality, style, and culture to its candles with a unique experience that will stimulate your sight and senses.

Shop for your scent and inspiration on the website:https://www.ablissfullitcandle.com/ Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, @ ablissfullitcandleco TikTok @blissfullit_candlescents

KIDS@HEART PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

ALLEN ACADEMY

Allen Academy is an Adult Literacy Course. Get help with the GED, STAAR, or Accuplacer exams. Professor Allen can help you gain the confidence and literacy skills you need for work or school in just eight weeks with live lectures every Monday at 7:00pm. Courses are online.

REG: https://buy.stripe.com/7sI028gvR9vx4243cg

GH LEGAL SOLUTIONS, PLLC

Gregory A. Hill, Jr., Esq,

Owner

Created to make estate planning, probate, real estate, and business services affordable, accessible, and easy to understand. Whether it’s a simple will, a complex real estate transaction, or any manner of business formations or transactions, GH Legal Solutions can provide a clear path toward a resolution. Visit the website: https://www.ghlegalsolutions. com/

Phone: 469.679.9884

Email: ghill@GHlegalsolutions.com

Location: 325 N. St. Paul Street., Suite 3149, Dallas, Texas 75201

A BLISSFUL LIT CANDLE SCENTS & CO

A Blissful LIT Candle Scents & Co specializes in small batch, hand poured soy blend candles. The candles

Kids@Heart Pediatric Dentistry is located in Cedar Hill, Although Dr. Ashla Martin is a native of Louisiana, she is officially a proud Texan now! She was awarded Diplomate status by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, which is the highest honor achievable by a pediatric dentist. A pediatric dentist is like a “pediatrician” for your kid’s teeth! Pediatric dentists complete six to seven years of dental training while general or family dentists complete four years. Visit the website: https://kidsatheartdentist.com/ or call for an appointment 972-291-5720 It’s located at 450 N. Hwy 67, Cedar Hill.

ELEVEN86 REAL ARTESIAN WATER

Mr. Marquis Forge – CEO Eleven86 Real Artesian Water has been in the making since the beginning of time. Eleven86 takes pride in knowing that by offering some of the purest water in the world they are also able to give back the community.

The source for Eleven86 Real Artesian Water comes from the small densely populated town of Autaugaville, located in central Alabama. Deep under many layers of rock and earth lies an aquifer that has been protected from the surface contaminants and pollutants, only to be reached by a well. Shop the website to experience this water: https://www. eleven86water.com/ or call (844) 423-1186 to order.

TERESA’S GARDEN OF EDEN KOOL-AID PICKLES & PINEAPPLES

CHRISTMAS TIME and Teresa Mays says put something different for your stocking stuffers! You can order a family tray made any way you want! She specializes in over 25 flavors. Teresa has pop up event throughout the city call Teresa at 817-966-6143 and follow her on Facebook @Teresa’s Garden of Eden Kool-Aid Pickles & Pineapples and on Instagram @teresakoolaid.

EVVON BEAUTY

EVvon Beauty created by Sabrina Fudge to share with the world. Sabrina says, “I wanted something that was made with love, that all hair types would enjoy.” EVvon Beauty is a hair car business that sells all things hair.

Visit the website and shop: https://evvonbeauty.com/ Sing up for the newsletter on the site.

KIM’S CHIC CHATEAU ONLINE BOUTIQUE

Kim, is the Owner of Kim’s Chic Chateau Online Boutique. 1kccob is a fully operated online boutique and is based out of Texas. Kim says, “Don’t be on your Extracurricular, Be Extra Particular, Fabulous and Fashionable!

https://www.1kccob.com/

Dr. Frederick D.Haynes III

Ms. Foundation For Women Issues RFP For Ms. South

The mission of the Ms. Foundation for Womenis to build women’s collective power in the United States to advance equity and justice for all. The foundation works to achieve this mission by investing in and strengthening the capacity of women-led movements to advance meaningful social, cultural, and economic change in women’s lives.

To that end, the foundation invites proposals for its Ms. South program, which aims to support the leadership of Women and Girls of Color (WGOC) and strengthen its ecosystem of leaders. The program provides targeted funding in 14 key states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Through the program, grants totaling $1.5 million will be awarded to support WGOC-led groups in the U.S. South across the spectrum of movement building and organizing. Program goals include strengthening the organizational and financial sustainability of an ecosystem of WGOC-led organizations; increasing connectivity between WGOC-led organizations; and positioning WGOC leaders as key experts and decision-makers in shaping policy and culture change. The strategy also supports the leadership

of Southern WGOC through capacity building, networking, communications to amplify the work of their organizations, and advocacy within the philanthropy community to increase giving to grants of up to 45 WGOC by a significant margin. General operating support of up to $50,000 per year for up to two years will be awarded.

Applicant organizations should be led by Women and/or Girls of Color, i.e., the executive director (or one co-director, for those that use a co-director model) is a Woman and/or Girl of Color; 75100 percent of the financial deci-

sion makers for the organization must be Women and/or Girls of Color; and more than 50 percent of the people on the board (or the people who have fiduciary responsibility for your organization) must be Women and/or Girls of Color. Applicants must be doing work focused in one or more of the 14 states listed, and applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Ms. Foundation for Women website. Deadline: January 13, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET

Lorretta Iwu Ms. Foundation

Like mother, like son

By Norma Adams-Wade

Malaika Warren unexpectedly became a single mom as a 17-year-old high school senior basketball star. Many who admired her athletic prowess worried that her promising journey toward college basketball stardom was over. It was not.

Warren graduated from Lincoln H. S. in Dallas in 1990, earned a four-year basketball scholarship, and went on to set women’s basketball fame on its heels, 19901994, at Langston University, a 125-year-old HBCU in Langston, Oklahoma.

Her son, Willie D. Warren, was born five days before her 18th birthday in 1989. While she practiced on the basketball court at Langston, many friends and fellow players took turns babysitting her son in his stroller on the sidelines. They continued

to help when Willie D. became a toddler on the sidelines, gleefully playing with a ball, copycatting his mother’s moves. Mom Warren set such records as a 6’1” center at Langston that after she graduated, the school held a ceremony, retiring her celebrated #44 jersey number.

Fast forward more than a decade and see son Willie D. as he follows his mother’s stardom. He became a record-setting basketball celebrity at North Crowley H. S. in Fort Worth while his mother worked as a school

coach nearby. Continuing his ascent, the 6’4” point guard made basketball headlines at Oklahoma University and was drafted by the NBA’s LA Clippers in 2010. After a series of injuries, he left the NBA and joined overseas leagues where he continues to play today.

In October this year, mom Warren was joyously sum-

moned back to her college alma mater where she was one of eight athletes inducted into the Langston University Athletic Hall of Fame. The inductees included four member of the 2005 women’s 4X100 Relay Team, two track and field runners, two men’s basketball team members, and mom Warren – the only women’s basketball inductee among the 2022 lineup.

“I tried not to cry, but that was an epic fail,” she commented in a Facebook post. “So many emotions. This was a GREAT event. LU embraced this young mother back then and did not disappoint. …So many people had counted me out.”

Mom Warren’s birthday was exactly seven days after the induction. On Facebook, she reflected the delight of family and friends present, including her son and grandchildren.

“From a Hall of Fame weekend to my …birthday!!” Mom Warren exclaimed. “…33 years ago, on this day,

Malaika Warren

Photo: Linked In

Malaika and son Willie at Christmas 2015

Malaika playing basketball.

Photo: Twitter

I was a fresh and new young mother, and it was the best day of my life. And (now) I’m spending it with the (son) who made me a better person. Our life is NOT perfect, but we are perfect together!!”

Mother and son’s records leave a legacy. At Lincoln in Dallas, mom Malaika set records as All-American with National Association Intercollegiate Athletics. At Langston she held the women’s basketball single-season record for points (23.2) and rebounds (12.6) per game. She was NAIA all-American both as a college freshman and in later years. She was District-9 Player of the Year. She also was second AllTime in Langston’s Women Basketball history in career points (1,954) and rebounds (1,101).

Son Warren’s journey has been impressive but not smooth. He helped lead his high school team to a 38-1 record and the school’s first 5A Boys State Basketball title in 2008. He won All-American and Player of the Year at North Crowley, and sports recruiters listed him as the nation’s No. 4 point guard and No. 10 player. He was Big 12 Freshman of the Year at OU, and later came the NBA draft. The trail of injuries that started at Oklahoma and continued with the Clippers, ultimately lead to him playing with various overseas basketball leagues in locations including Venezuela, Taiwan, Hungary, Italy, China, and Qatar.

When her son was very young, she became Malaika Warren Frazier during a short marriage that did not last, and she reclaimed her maiden name. The closeknit mother-son duo continues to support each other’s sports ventures. For a while, son

Local mother/son duo keeps stellar basketball legacy alive and well

Warren wore the same #32 high school jersey number that his mother had – a symbolic link between them. In

college, mom Warren wore that #44 that later was retired in her honor.

“Everywhere I would go, people would say, ‘That’s

Malaika’s son,’ ” Willie D. said in one college media interview. “Hearing how good she was, it made me want to do something…”

He had a tough decision to make in 2010 about whether to give up his final two seasons of eligibility as an OU

Sooner and go pro. He turned to his usual confidant.

“I talked to my Mom extensively the last few weeks,” the son said in a media interview at the time. “And I feel like the best move for me is to make the jump.”

Many hurdles have not stopped mother or son. Mom Warren is a 27-year veteran educator in different DFW school districts and currently is girl’s athletic coordinator at Summer Creek Middle School in the Crowley school district. Aside from his 12 years with the NBA and overseas leagues, son Warren also sometimes coaches with various athletic programs and is a budding entrepreneur with small businesses under Warren Enterprises, LLC.

A few years ago, he paid this poetic birthday tribute to his mother: “I have an angel in disguise who’s with me through thick and thin… been down for me whenever in life I lose or win…”

For her part, mom Malaika says: ‘I’m just a girl who let basketball lead the way to a college degree and career…I would not have wanted to do it any other way.”

Willie D. in No. 32 jersey.

Photo: Facebook

Malaika receiving honor and wearing Hall of Fame jacket

Malaika Warren in blue dress. Photo: Facebook

Buffalo Mass Shooter Gets Life In Prison

A White man who traveled to a Buffalo grocery store in May and killed 10 African Americans, including Black Press writer Katherine Massey, pled guilty to 25 criminal counts on Monday, Nov. 28, and will spend the rest of his life in prison.

A grand jury previously indicted Payton Gendron, 19, on domestic terrorism, first-degree murder, attempted murder, hate crimes, and weapons possession. A single domestic terrorism motivated by hate charge carries an automatic life sentence upon conviction.

Prosecutors said Gendron acknowledged that he committed the heinous crimes “for the future of the White race.” A lawyer for the victims indicated relief that the state’s case didn’t go to trial. “It avoids a lengthy trial that they believe would be very difficult for the families,” said Terrence Connors, an attorney representing the victims’ families. “I think it was pretty clear they had no real defense.”

A self-described White supremacist, Gendron previously pled not guilty to federal hate crime charges. Federal law allows for the death penalty in those cases.

He still faces 27 federal counts, including 10 counts of hate crimes resulting in deaths, three counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill, and 13 counts of using, carrying or discharging a firearm related to a hate crime.

Prosecutors said Gendron possessed a 180-page manifesto that revealed troubling perceptions the self-avowed White supremacist had.

He complained of the dwindling size of the White population and included his fears

of ethnic and cultural replacement of White people.

Gendron described himself as a fascist, a White supremacist, and an anti-Semite.

Unlike the many unarmed Black people killed during encounters with law enforcement, the White racist who live-streamed his shooting spree is alive to plead his case in court.

the organization condemns the White supremacist terrorist attack targeting Black men and women in Buffalo and the racist rhetoric that has sparked such violence.

“The constant repetition of White supremacist conspiracy theories on social media and even mainstream media outlets has led to horrific violence in places as distant as Christ-

Known, that Gendron surveilled both the community and the grocery store as part of the attack’s planning. Brown said the teen surveilled the area for several days and targeted a busy place in an area predominantly populated by Black people.

Gendron’s manifesto noted, “Zip code 14208 in Buffalo has the highest Black percentage that is close enough to where I live.” According to the U.S. Census, the zip code is 78% Black and among the top 2% of zip codes nationwide with the highest percentage of the Black population. In addition, it has the highest rate of the Black population of any zip code in upstate New York.

“Well, this manifesto tells everything to us,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul after the shootings. “And that is what’s so bone-chilling about it is that there is the ability for people to write and subscribe to such philosophies filled with hate.

“While past violent White supremacist attacks seem to have factored into this heinous act, we must acknowledge that extremist rhetoric espoused by some media and political leaders on the right promoting theories that vilify or dehumanize segments of our society, like ‘the great replacement theory,’ is a factor too,” wrote U.S. House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson in an earlier statement.

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell added that

church, El Paso, Oslo and Charleston,” Mitchell asserted earlier.

“Those who promote racism, White supremacy, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bigotry must be held accountable for the violence they inspire.”

Mitchell added that CAIR has often spoken against those who promote the “great replacement” and other racist conspiracy theories.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told National Newspaper Publishers Association’s live daily morning show, Let It Be

“The White supremacist acts of terrorism are being fomented on social media… What this one individual did has been shared with the rest of the world as well as the live-streaming of this military-style execution that occurred in the streets of my hometown,” said Hochul.

Massey, one of Gendron’s victims, spent her life trying to clean up and help her community. While she retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Massey, 72, remained active in her community as the Cherry Street block club president and as a columnist for the Buffalo Challenger, an NNPA member newspaper.

“She was the greatest person you will ever meet in your life,” her nephew, Demetrius Massey, told reporters.

Social media condemned for inciting his hate

Nancy Pelosi: The Most Successful and Effective House Speaker in U.S. History

to sign the Affordable Care Act.

TO BE EQUAL

BY MARC MORIAL

“History will note she is the most consequential speaker of the House of Representatives in our history. There are countless examples of how she embodies the obligation of elected officials to uphold their oath to God and country to ensure our democracy delivers and remains a beacon to the world. In everything she does, she reflects a dignity in her actions and a dignity she sees in the lives of the people of this nation.”

— President Biden

When the National Urban League convened our first in-person conference in three years in July, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi joined us for the opening rally at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

“There’s an assault on our democracy,” she said. “That’s why we have to fight for voting rights, and we will not stop until we achieve voting rights: removing obstacles of participation and the voter suppression laws, doing away with their nullification of elections, removing big special interest money from suffocating our political system, so that everyone’s voices are heard.”

As her historic fourth term as speaker of the House draws to a close, it is nearly impossible to express the full impact of her decades of leadership and the profound legacy she leaves behind

It has been my privilege to know and collaborate with Speaker Pelosi since her earliest days in Congress, when I was a Louisiana state senator, throughout my two terms as mayor of New Orleans and the past two decades with the National Urban League. One of my most treasured mementos is a pen she gave to me that President Obama used

Of all the legislative and policy initiatives on which she and I have worked together, it was the passage of the ACA that demonstrated her unmatched mastery of the legislative process and the power of her determination. When her party’s loss in a Senate special election cost them a filibuster-proof majority, many — including President Obama’s own chief of staff — publicly declared the ACA dead and

House speech, spending eight hours and seven minutes reading the emotional letters of young DREAMers, undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children who aspire to become U.S. citizens Characteristically, she wore her four-inch heels the entire time. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy bested her record by four minutes last year, “but if he wanted to outdo her, he should’ve done it in stilettos,” Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez said.

Whether leading the majority or minority, she has long been a target of misogynistic attacks, false accusations and conspiracy theories, and threats of violence led by members of the opposing party. Tragically, this campaign of demonization culminated in a brutal attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, by a right-wing conspiracy theorist intent on abducting her. Yet she herself has never resorted to personal attacks. She has risen above the rancor and insults leveled at her without responding in kind. She continues to exude grace and is the personification of the iron fist in a velvet glove.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi

advocated for a watered-down, piecemeal approach. Speaker Pelosi derided the proposal as “eensy weensy bill,” telling President Obama, “I know there are some on your staff who want to take the namby-pamby approach. That’s unacceptable.”

The vote-wrangling that Speaker Pelosi employed to bring the bill to meet the pen I now treasure will be the subject of graduate seminars on public policy for generations to come.

But as large as her speakership may loom in the history books, she was no less bold or impressive as minority leader.

In 2018, she broke the record for longest

When she was sworn in as the first female speaker of the House in 2007, she noted that women had waited more than 200 years to shatter the “marble ceiling” of Congress. As she said, “Women weren’t just waiting, women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal.”

Her commitment to that promise never has wavered throughout her illustrious career. She has been steadfast in her support for civil rights and civil liberties. I’m proud to call her my friend. On behalf of the National Urban League and our nationwide network of affiliates, I thank Speaker Pelosi for her years of dedicated service and her friendship to the League.

Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.

Marc

The annual Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) “Stuff a Bus” program has returned to help our North Texas residents in need.

With the holiday season just around the corner, the Stuff a Bus program will deliver socks and blankets to The Senior Source – as well as new and unwrapped toys and canned food for children and families in need throughout the North Texas area.

There are 3 ways to support DART’s Stuff a Bus.

1. You can drop off your donation curbside at SMU/Mockingbird Station on Friday, December 9, from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.

2. Now through December 12, you can donate at the DARTmart (1401 Pacific Avenue, Dallas) or one of these participating transit centers, Mon-

day – Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Addison Transit Center Downtown Garland Station

Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing Station

J.B. Jackson, Jr. Transit Center

Ledbetter Station

Parker Road Station

South Garland Transit Center

CBD East Transfer Center

CBD West Transfer Center (CBD East and West Transfer Centers are also available Saturday and Sunday from 6:00 a.m. –2:00 p.m.)

3. Contribute virtually using DART’s Amazon Wish List.

For more information about the DART Stuff a Bus program, please visit our website at dart.org/ stuffabus.

School Choice Fair aims to highlight diverse options at St. Paul schools

Black Headline News Minnesota Spokesman Recorder https://spokesman-recorder.com/ By Sheletta Brundidge

The St. Paul School District is inviting families to take a look at the educational programs offered at its upcoming School Choice Fair. It will be held on Dec. 10 at the River Centre in downtown St Paul. Free parking and transportation are available.

From pre-K through high school, the district is emphasizing the array of classrooms and academic approaches that parents can choose from.

“We offer a wide variety of programs to keep families engaged in what they believe is the best education for their children,” said St. Paul Public Schools Superintendent Joe Gothard. “There is something for every learner in the St. Paul public schools.”

Many St. Paul school district employees—teachers, principals, and students— will be on hand at the fair on to explain programs and share their experiences.

Cherise Ayers, the principal at Central High School is “so excited” about meeting with parents and students that day.

“School systems can be confusing and difficult to navigate. The beautiful thing about the School Choice Fair is that any question you have can be answered in that room,” she said. “Parents know about the school they attended but they may not know about the amazing, diverse opportunities and options we have as a district.”

Ayers likened the fair to a place where families can “shop” for a program for their individual students, from Montessori classrooms to schools with the rigorous International Baccalaureate curriculum to work-based programs that prepare students for careers as well as for college.

“Some children thrive at a smaller school, others are best served at a larg-

er one,” Ayers said. “We want to have the conversation, what best meets your family’s needs? What program or staff works for your child?”

The district allows St. Paul parents to look beyond their neighborhood schools to many programs that serve students

who enrolls on-site that day will get a free backpack. In addition to learning about St. Paul schools, there will also be free on-site screening for pre-schoolers.

“It’s a proud day for us, to open our doors to the entire community,” said Superintendent Gothard.

from across the district. The School Choice Fair will welcome families who do not live in St. Paul as well as city residents. Through the open enrollment option, families living outside the district boundaries can opt to enroll their children in St. Paul schools.

Ayers and her family live in Maplewood but all three of her own children attend public schools in St. Paul through the open enrollment option. Her youngest is enrolled in the Mandarin Immersion Program at Highland Park Middle School, where she is fluent in the Chinese language.

“She needed this challenge. Learning in another language is such an asset,” Ayers enthused.

The St. Paul district also offers immersion track programs in French, Spanish, and German. Students can learn Russian, Japanese, Hmong, and Ojibway.

Families do not need to sign up to attend the School Choice Fair. Each child

The St. Paul School District School Choice Fair takes place on December 10, from 9:30 am to 2 pm at Saint Paul RiverCentre, located at 175 Kellogg Boulevard West, St. Paul, MN.

Free parking is available until 2:30 pm at the Science Museum of Minnesota Parking Ramp, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St Paul

Free continuous park-and-ride shuttles (starting at 9 am) will be provided at:

• Harding High School – 1540 E. Sixth St. St Paul

• Washington Technology – 1495 Rice St. St Paul

• Humboldt High School – 30 E. Baker St. St Paul

• SPPS Administration – 360 Colborne St. St Paul

Download a free Metro Transit 1-day Ride-Pass

Language interpretation will be available in Hmong, Karen, Spanish, Somali and American Sign Language.

Photo: St. Paul Public Schools

WNBA Star Brittney Griner Arrives Back in Texas

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

A Gulfstream jet carrying WNBA star Brittney Griner landed at about 5:30 a.m. E.T. at San Antonio’s Kelly Air Force Base. She was flown to a military medical facility in San Antonio as she begins recovery, according to reports.

Griner was reported to “be in very good spirits” and “appears to be in good health,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“We’ve talked to our team on the ground who met her there (in San Antonio) as well as the team that traveled overseas with her on that airplane,” Kirby said. “She’s now going to go to the treatment facility, she’s going to get looked after by docs and nurses there, just to make sure everything is OK.”

The Houston native was freed Thursday in a prisoner swap with the U.S. releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. She had been detained in Russia for 294 days since her arrest in February on drug charges.

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

Per reports, a State Department spokesman said Thursday afternoon: “The U.S government is focused on ensuring Brittney Griner’s and her family’s well-being is prioritized and that all assistance available be offered in

Brittney Griner

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

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

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 ten 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.”

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 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 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 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.

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.

Stay tuned to Texas Metro News for more on this breaking, developing story.

San Antonio Awaits Arrival of Freed WNBA Star Brittney Griner

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

New 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-

Harris, Joe Biden, Cherelle Griner

ner, 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 accompanied by Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, and administration officials.

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

partment spokesman said Thursday afternoon: “The U.S government is focused on ensuring Brittney Griner’s and her 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 Gri-

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 ten 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.”

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

played since being drafted No. 1 overall out of Baylor University in 2013, also released a 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.

BG’s strength in this process, her unwavering belief

been helpful. The voices have been helpful.”

Griner’s team, the Phoenix Mercury where she has

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.

Stay tuned to Texas Metro News for more on this breaking, developing story.

Kamal

Cherelle Griner Brittney Griner

CHEER CAPTAIN IN TRAINING: THIS TODDLER CALLING A CHEER FOR A FOOTBALL TEAM WILL MAKE YOUR DAY

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

By BOTWC Staff

SiSi is the mother of two girls and one boy, all participating in football and cheerleading for the Florida youth team Pembroke Pines Bengals.

When her youngest daughter, Tiana, asked to call the next cheer, she was able to capture the moment. Not only did Tiana stand in front of the cheer squad loud and proud, but she knew all the words and the moves.

This cheer squad has snagged numerous superior titles, such as two 2021 grand championships titles and four 2022 grand championship titles. Tiana is certainly a leader in training, and we know she has the support of her mom and big sister.

You go, girl!

Say hello to your new captain!

Briefs

Message From Mayor Eric Johnson

Starting today with three true statements

1. Dallas has become a national leader in developing innovative green spaces.This city has continued to improve its parks and programming for families in recent years. New trails have come on line. Fantastic new parks such as Carpenter Park, West End Plaza, and South Oak Cliff Renaissance Park have replaced the sites of surface parking lots and illegal dumping grounds. More great parks, such as Southern Gateway Park and the Harold Simmons Park, are on the way. And other cities are now looking to try to recreate the success of Klyde Warren Park, which just hosted about 20,000 people for a wonderful Christmas event Saturday that also included some very special friends.

2. Dallas still needs more parks. According to Trust for Public Land, the City of Dallas and its nonprofit partners in recent years have brought new parks and trails

within a 10-minute walk of nearly 300,000 residents. However, more than a quarter of Dallas residents still do not live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The goal must be to ensure 100% of residents have access to green spaces.

3. The City of Dallas owns a bunch

of land, all across town. And it’s time to see whether that land can be turned into parks, playgrounds, sports courts, or other green spaces.

All of that is why, last week, I requested an inventory of all unused, underused, and vacant city-owned land from the city manager. The idea is simple: if there isn’t a feasible development plan for any piece of this existing public land, it ought to be strongly considered for parkland or for affordable housing — pronto.

This is how Dallas can take its park-development efforts to the next level. And any park that comes out of it will make this a project that is worth this city’s time and attention. Creating new public spaces — out of land the City of Dallas already owns — can improve the health and the quality of life of Dallas residents.

It’s time to be proactive and bold on behalf of Dallas neighborhoods. After all, this is a city of dreamers, not speculators. It should also be a city of doers, and not perpetual planners.

Protecting yourself and each other Flu cases are on the rise. RSV has been spreading. COVID-19 remains a threat, especially to immunocompromised and vulnerable populations.

But you can help by getting your seasonal booster shots for the flu and COVID-19.

These vaccines are widely available and can help prevent the spread and the severity of these potentially fatal viruses. It’s quick and easy to get these shots, and it doesn’t hurt (although you might be left with a bit of manageable arm soreness for a day or two).

That’s why I went to an East Dallas CVS last week to get both shots and to encourage others to do so as soon as possible to protect themselves and their loved ones as they gather together this holiday season. Read about this visit by clicking here.

The Ticket

In case you missed it, I went on The Ticket last week with The Musers to talk about holiday festivities, life growing up in West Dallas and Oak Cliff, the progress being made in this city, and the guys’ “complaints” about Dallas.

That’s all for today. More exciting updates next week.

For now, take care of yourselves and each other. And get your Christmas shopping done! (Remember that the sales tax revenue spent here in Dallas helps pay for parks, police, and pothole repairs!)

And let’s go South Oak Cliff Golden Bears!

Until next time,

Briefs

First United Bank launches Financial Literacy Guide

Durant, OK – In partnership with financial technology company Finotta, First United Bank is excited to announce the launch of the Financial Journey Guide, a combination of resources that will help the organization better meet its customers’ needs directly in its mobile banking app.

Finotta empowers financial organizations to deliver customers the right experience, service, or product at the right time by taking a user-first approach to product development powered by user feedback.

The Financial Journey Guide will provide First United’s consumers with the financial tools they want while supporting them through their financial journey to save money, increase

their net worth and improve financial health.

By combining the importance of financial wellness with the fun of gamification, First United’s customers

will experience an interactive and engaging way to improve their financial health regardless of their journey.

“Our partnership with Finotta helps us fulfill our purpose of elevating the lives of our customers and communities we serve,” shared Greg Massey, Chairman, and CEO at First United.

“The Financial Journey Guide is a tool that can help our customers transform their financial lives. We hope this will give them more time to focus on what’s most important and truly enable them to Spend Life Wisely.”

First United’s purpose is to inspire and empower others to Spend Life Wisely, which includes a holistic approach to life that encompasses financial well-being, faith, health and wellness, and personal growth.

Established in 1900, First United has over 95 bank, mortgage, and insurance locations throughout Oklahoma and Texas. It is one of the largest, well-capitalized banking organizations in the Southwest, with assets of more than $14 billion. It is among the largest privately held community banking organizations in the United States. First United provides a full range of financial services, including banking, mortgage, insurance, and investment products and services, and is dedicated to inspiring and empowering others to Spend Life Wisely®. Learn more at FirstUnitedBank.com.

Greg Massey

Fort Worth officer testifies about the night Aaron Dean shot and killed Atatiana Jefferson

By Maggie Prosser and Krista M. Torralva

FORT WORTH — Atatiana Jefferson’s face is burned into Fort Worth police Officer Carol Darch’s memory.

Darch peered over the shoulder of fellow officer Aaron Dean after he fired a bullet into a window from the backyard of a Fort Worth home. Jefferson’s eyes were “as big as saucers” before the 28-yearold dropped to the floor, Darch told jurors Tuesday at Dean’s murder trial.

Prosecutors walked the Tarrant County jury through the moments before the gunfire on the second day of testimony. Jurors will decide whether Dean, 38, was justified as a Fort Worth cop to shoot Jefferson, who grabbed a gun after she heard a noise outside her mother’s home. The officers did not identify themselves as police officers before Dean fired, prosecutors said.

Dean did not say “gun” before shooting or tell Darch he saw a gun as they rushed inside the home, according to Darch’s testimony and his body-camera footage. Prosecutors argue Dean did not see Jefferson’s gun before deciding to shoot, while defense lawyers say he saw a green laser sight pointed toward him through the window.

James Smith, who lived across the street from the East Allen Avenue home, called a nonemergency police number before 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2019 to report the front and side doors were open and the lights were on. Smith said he was concerned because the family did not use the

front door, which was ajar. He walked over to the home, did not see anyone inside, then called police, he said.

“I wasn’t really sure what was going on,” Smith said

see damage on the home’s open doors that would be consistent with forced entry. The exterior doors were open because Jefferson’s nephew, Zion Carr, had burned hamburger

multiple general orders that this defendant was a part of and caused,” prosecutor Ashlea Deener said while questioning Darch.

The night Dean shot Jefferson, Smith waited on a nearby stoop after he called police. He testified he saw two silhouettes approach the home but did not immediately realize they were police officers. He said he didn’t see badges as the pair walked toward the backyard.

Dean’s body camera footage from that night shows him shine a light near cars parked outside the home, then toward a fence. He then opens the fence and focuses his light into the backyard. He turns toward a window, shouts, “Put your hands up, show me your hands” and fires into the home in seconds.

but, “it didn’t appear to be an emergency.”

A call taker coded Smith’s call as an “open structure” — a priority-two call that requires officers to treat it like a “silent alarm,” according to testimony.

Dean and Darch responded to Jefferson’s family home and noticed cabinets open and thought the home had been burglarized, Darch testified. She told jurors they did not announce their presence in case a burglar was still in the home, although she also said the two didn’t talk much and she followed Dean’s lead.

Darch testified she didn’t

patties earlier that evening and wanted to air out the home, according to his testimony on Monday.

Darch admitted they didn’t follow proper procedure. Department policy requires officers to secure entrances and exits before inspecting the rest of the building. Darch and Dean also didn’t call the homeowner, which is required if there aren’t apparent signs of damage or forced entry.

Dean, who wrote on a notepad throughout the day, frowned when a Tarrant County prosecutor pressed Darch on their failures.

“There were violations of

Cries, screams and moans can be heard from inside the home. In the Tarrant County courtroom, Jefferson’s siblings held hands during the body-camera footage. Her sister, Ashley Carr, put a tissue to her mouth.

Jurors did not appear to react to the body camera footage. A few feverishly took notes throughout testimony. Although some of the 12 jurors and two alternates are people of color, none are Black. Dean is white, and Jefferson was Black.

The officers ran inside and Darch saw 8-year-old Zion, who was up late playing video games. Darch testified she wrapped him in a blanket and took him outside. Dean swept his flashlight around the room, picked up Jefferson’s gun, then put a blanket over her gaping wound as other officers ar-

Former Fort Worth police Officer Aaron Dean is shown at his murder trial Tuesday in Fort Worth. Photo: Amanda McCoy / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dean, 38, was responding to a call on Oct. 12, 2019, when he fatally shot the 28-year-old at her mother’s home.

rived.

“I heard the baby and that became my sole focus,” Darch testified. Zion faced away from Jefferson, who was on the floor under the window, the body camera footage showed.

Darch’s eyes welled with tears and her face flushed as she testified.

Zion told a child forensic interviewer hours after the shooting that his aunt heard a noise in the backyard. Jefferson grabbed the gun from her purse and pointed it at the window, he said in a narrow room sitting just feet from the interviewer. At times in the video, he reached for tissues and wiped his face.

Zion said in the interview, recorded about 4:45 a.m. the morning of the shooting, that he didn’t hear anything in the backyard but said he saw a “gun out the window, and I thought I saw a badge,” and a flashlight. He said someone yelled, “Put your hands up!”

In the courtroom Tuesday, Amber Carr, Zion’s mother, dabbed her face with a tissue as Zion, now 11, was heard telling the interviewer he was worried about where he’d live after the shooting. Zion lived with Jefferson and his grandmother, Yolanda Carr, who was in the hospital at the time of the shooting. Yolanda Carr died within three months of Jefferson’s killing. Amber Carr was also in poor health at the time.

On the witness stand Monday, Zion testified Jefferson held the gun at her hip and did not raise it. He also said he didn’t see anything outside. Defense lawyers implied to the judge after jurors were dismissed Monday that they believed Zion was coached to testify differently from what he said immediately after Dean shot Jefferson.

Dean’s lawyers called the

shooting a “tragic accident” and said he “acted accordingly” after perceiving a threat. They argued it was reasonable for the officers to assume the home had been burglarized.

“No one wants to be involved in a shooting,” Darch said. She was not wearing a body camera the morning of the shooting. Darch said after the killing she suffered two strokes that impaired her memory and briefly left Fort Worth police.

Darch said police officers are “trained to stop the threat” using various use-of-force techniques, from physicality, to less-lethal weapons, like Tasers and pepper spray, to deadly force.

“Deadly force is always met with deadly force,” she said while being questioned by the defense.

Darch said the neighborhood in southeast Fort Worth was a target for property and drug-related crimes. Under defense questioning, Smith, who has lived on East Allen Avenue for decades, told jurors his block is relatively safe. Dean’s lawyers said Smith previously told the media he wouldn’t get closer to the home because he didn’t have a weapon.

Dean’s lawyers asked the judge last week to stop Smith from holding up a large, “We want justice!” sign outside the courthouse, the Fort Worth

Star-Telegram reported. Smith testified that he relives the shooting daily and feels somewhat responsible for Jefferson’s killing.

“It was devastating,” Smith said of her death.

Dean was arrested on a murder charge two days after the shooting. Then-interim Fort Worth police Chief Ed Kraus said Dean resigned before the chief was able to fire him. Former Mayor Betsy Price and Kraus have said Jefferson was within her rights to defend herself.

Dean faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder. Before his arrest, no Tarrant County officer had ever faced a murder charge, the district attorney’s office said at the time.

A gag order prohibits Dean, his defense lawyers, Jefferson’s family and prosecutors from speaking before the end of the trial. Dean’s lead defense attorney, Jim Lane, died on the eve of jury selection.

Testimony is expected to continue Wednesday. The trial is expected to last more than a week.

Fort Worth police Officer Carol Darch testified Tuesday during the second day of Aaron Dean’s murder trial in Fort Worth Photo: Amanda McCoy / ASSOCIATED PRESS Atatiana Jefferson’s 11-year-old nephew, Zion Carr, testified Monday.

Photo: Amanda McCoy / ASSOCIATED PRESS

James Smith, who called police to Atatiana Jefferson’s mother’s home after noticing the doors were open late at night, testified Tuesday.

Photo: Amanda McCoy / ASSOCIATED PRESS

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.

The Kirks celebrate 35 Years of Love and Happiness!

Ron and Matrice

Married on December 5, 1987 with stellar careers, two talented and beautiful daughters; the former Mayor of Dallas (TX) and U.S. Trade Ambassador and his brilliant executive search firm CEO wife who is the recipient of numerous awards, including most recently the 93rd Linz Award for decades of service; are servant leaders with a commitment to family, faith and making this world a better place.

They Did!

HistoryMaker

The Family!

The Kirks

Ambassador Ron and Matrice Ellis-Kirk

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! December 2022

Mr. Ray and Mrs. Hazel Jarrett 52 years

Kem and Erica Owens 3 years

Matthew and Tammy Dozier 19 years

Curtis and Renee Harris

Demarcus and Ladi Porter Vow Renewal

Veron and Etta 40 years

Norm Nixon and Debbie Allen 38 years

Majid and Virna Michael 17 years

David and Sharon Tralar 25 years

Metro Community Calendar powered

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 ***

Holiday at the Arboretum 8525 Garland Road 8 NOIR

Home for the Holidays

2 PM

J. Erik Jonsson Central Library 1515 Young St Dallas, TX ***

Ugly Sweater Christmas Party Dallas Harley-Davidson 1334 W Centerville Rd Garland, TX

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.

17

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

18

Cookies and Crafts with Santa 3 – 4 PM

Decorator’s Warehouse 3708 W Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington

resulting in a Dallas County government that’s nearly all Democratic (one seat remaining out of more than 40) and more reflective of our 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 Museum, 10a-6p Call 214-941-0110 for vendor information!

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Awards Event

10 Santa is Coming!

11 AM – 5 PM

Jefferson Tower, 351 Jefferson Blvd, Dallas, TX ***

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) ***

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

Automobile Building, 1010 1st Ave Dallas, TX

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

Doc Shep Speaks Show! A fresh perspective, but still entertaining!

Welcome to The Doc Shep Speaks Show!!!. Tuesdays at 11 am. CST Live on Facebook/@TexasMetroNews, @fnsconsulting, and YouTube Live @docshepspeaks.

Send your calendar items to editor@texasmetronews.com or call 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.

Celebrate the New Year and our 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

Lifestyle Metro Calendar powered by

DECEMBER

8

A TASTE OF LOGISTICS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Learn the dos and don’ts of starting a business, banking, credit and more South Dallas Training Center, 4915 Brashear Avenue

ZOOM: Meeting ID: 857 3474 8062 Passcode: 658479 5-7pm

***

Dallas Democratic Forum Battle for the Heart of Texas: Political Change in the Electorate

11:30 AM Registration 12 PM Program

Arts District Mansion 2101 Ross Ave. Dallas, TX 75201

10

Holiday Gathering

11:45-1:15 PM Walnut Hill Recreation Center 10011 Midway Rd. Dallas, TX 75229

10-12

registration & networking

Enjoy lunch, bring a friend, Bible, and pen, and get comfy while you listen to Chrissie’s testimony of faith!

Park City Club 5956 Sherry Lane #1700 Dallas, TX 75225

14

Washington-Lincoln Alumni Association, JINGLE AND MINGLE Christmas Luncheon, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn, 800 North Main St, Duncanville at $35

Contact Veronica Mosley (214)415-7503

15

Purchase Tickets: PayPal: southdallasbpwc.org or Zelle to: southdallas1954@ yahoo.com

JANUARY

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023

13

The MLK Comedy Kick-Off Corey Holcomb & Friends hosted by Tony Roberts at the Majestic Theatre

2023 Equity Indicators Symposium

14

105.7 Smooth Winter VII featuring Fantasia and Joe, with Special Guest RC Gritz at Texas Trust Theater at Grand Prairie 15

The R&B Kick Back featuring TYRESE, Anthony Hamilton and Donell Jones at Texas Trust Theater at Grand Prairie 16

The Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo will be held at the African American Museum. Vendors, entertainment, health screenings and more. Powered by Comerica Bank.

Call to register your booth today at 214-941-0110

DBDT Presents the Espresso Nutcracker In person, On Demand, and Streaming 7 pm. at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Dallas. Tickets: www. dbdt.com

12

Our Iron Sharpens Iron Networking Event, A networking event for creating and sharing your vision board for 2022. Entrepreneurs and business owners looking for a group of #bossfriends WHERE Zoom 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

13

A TASTE OF LOGISTICS

TECH MOVING THE WORLD Technology makes the logistics industry more efficient. In this session, find out what that entails.

South Dallas Training Center, 4915 Brashear Avenue

ZOOM: Meeting ID: 857 3474 8062 Passcode: 658479 5-7pm

13

Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists presents

READ & BLACK

A Journalist’s Holiday Ella B’s , 1004 N. Collins, Arlington. 6-9 pm Partner: NBC5’s Black Employee Network and Just CHILL Sports Admission - Bring a book suitable for 2-18 years old, to benefit homeless youth at The Promise House

18

4th Annual Equity Indicators Symposium. The Symposium will be centered around the recently adopted Racial Equity Plan (REP) aimed at addressing disparities found in the Dallas Equity Indicators Report* pub lished in 2019.

Paul Quinn College from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. as part of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week. Register at https://bit.ly/2023EquityIndi catorsSymposium.

Speaker Series with Chrissie Dunham 11:30am

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.

Christmas Musical by DeSoto Parks and Recreation Dept. from 8 to 10 pm. at DeSoto Corner Theater 211 E. Pleasant Run Rd. DeSoto. Tickets: http://bit.ly/3EM8GEE

The Preston Hollow Democrats

BICA Legacy Weekend - Skyline Ranch

VP Harris Plans to Swear In Los Angeles Mayor Bass

By Stacy M. Brown

America’s history-making vice president plans to swear in Los Angeles’ history-making mayor during an inaugural ceremony scheduled for Sunday.

Kamala Harris, the United States’ first Black and first female vice president, will do the honors for Karen Bass, the first woman to serve as mayor in the city of angels.

Officials said holding the historic ceremony Sunday makes it more convenient for the public to participate while allowing Bass to devote her first day in office to attending to city business.

“Angelenos are so frustrated,” Bass said in a “CBS Mornings” interview this week. “There is so much pent-up urgency to see something hap-

pen immediately. Part of my job is to communicate exactly what I’m doing with Angelenos and the timeline, so I manage expectations. But at the same time, I plan to deliver.”

A spokesperson for Harris said Bass asked the vice president to administer the oath of office “as a nod to their status as two of California’s most powerful Black women.”

Harris and President Biden endorsed Bass in August after she won the June primary by seven percentage points over her rival, billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso, CBS News reported.

Former President Obama also threw his support behind Bass shortly before the November election.

Bass, 69, a six-term congresswoman and a finalist on President Joe Biden’s

short list of potential running mates, drew more votes than any mayoral candidate in Los Angeles’ history.

The former Congressional Black Caucus chair has prioritized tackling the city’s homeless crisis.

She said she wants to work to eradicate the problem immediately.

“Los Angeles has become unaffordable,” Bass declared in a nationally televised interview late last month. “You have to have a comprehensive approach. There’s no magic bullet. So first and foremost, you have to prevent people from falling into homelessness. And clearly, affordability is key to that.

“But you know, people are on the streets for a variety of issues,” she said. “And you have to address why they’re

there. Is it substance abuse? Is it mental illness? Is it just straight-up affordability? We have people who are in tents who actually work full-time.

“We have thousands of children who are in tents,” Bass continued. “Some with mothers who fled domestic violence, some who are teenagers who aged out of foster care. Some people who were formerly incarcerated because they were not able to find housing are in tents.”

The incoming mayor said taking a “comprehensive approach,” is key to addressing the dire challenges facing Los Angeles’ unhoused residents.

“But first and foremost, we have to get people off the streets,” she said. “People are literally dying on the streets in Los Angeles, and this has got to stop.”

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is slated to swear in Los Angeles Mayor-elect Karen Bass. Harris is the first Black woman to serve as vice president of the United States and Bass will be Los Angeles' first Black female mayor.

Photo: Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer

Dallas Filmmakers Receive Multiple Trophies at International Telly Awards

Chris Howell Communications announced this week that its documentary This Wall Must Come Down: The Annie Burns Hicks Story has received both Silver and Bronze Awards in the 43rd Annual Telly Awards. The Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, production companies and including Adobe, Netflix, Dow Jones, Duplass Brothers Productions, Complex Networks, Jennifer Garner, A&E Networks, Hearst

Documentary “This Wall Must Come Down: The Annie Burns Hicks Story” scores big with judges; producers look ahead to unearth more untold stories

Media, Nickelodeon, ESPN Films, RYOT, Partisan and Vimeo.

Executive produced and created by Roland Parrish and Chris Howell Sr., This Wall Must Come Down: The Annie Burns Hicks Story, details for the first time on film the iconic federal court battle sixty years ago, she and other civil rights trailblazers, fought for her to become the first Afri-

can-American teacher in Indiana. The 34-minute documentary also features never-before-seen testimony of one of Hammond’s first Black police officers Paul Walker, school board member Albertine Dent and the attorney who represented Hicks, Richard Hatcher.

“Now, more than ever, it is necessary to celebrate video work that reflects the top tier of our in-

Roland Parrish and Chris Howell Sr.

dustry, such as what Mr. Parrish and Mr. Howell created,” says Telly Awards Executive Director Sabrina Dridje. “This year’s submissions reflect an industry that has returned to the important work of storytelling, one that has returned with a new perspective that values innovation, agility, equity, and tenacious creativity.”

• The public is able to view the documentary by visiting: This Wall Must Come Down

• Additional footage and soundbites from the producers: Producers Soundbites

“Growing up in our community, we all knew the story that Annie Burns Hicks had challenged the system, to become the first African American teacher. It was a personal goal of mine to document the event and share with the Burns family,” said Indiana Native Roland Parrish, the film’s writer and executive producer. “It became apparent that the story was broad-

er than we initially thought, and that it ignited our community to become more engaged in effecting change.”

“It is a great pleasure to share the story of not only Ms. Hicks but the rich legacy other African Americans contributed to the great city of Hammond,” remarked film producer Chris Howell. “I’m hopeful future generations will derive courage, inspiration and will have a blueprint on how to stand up against the systemic inequalities that might arise.”

The announcement caps a year-long celebration of creators producing work with a new POV and a refreshed creativity, reflecting an ever-changing landscape emerging from the difficulties and opportunities from the last few years.

“Whether it’s new ways of remote working, placing purpose at the center of a businesses key values or providing Employee Re-

source Groups for communities to gather and support each internally, says Dridje, “this year’s incredible group of winners perfectly exemplifies the many artful and unique ways video is being used to tackle these timely topics. By introducing our new categories, we’re continuing to deliver on our mission of constantly evolving with the changing industry and the world.”

Last year, The Telly Awards attracted more than 12,000 entries from top video content producers including Netflix, Jennifer Garner, HBO Latin America, Microsoft, RadicalMedia, Condé Nast, Adobe, Nickelodeon, and Partizan.

With the recent wins and wellearned attention from the industry Chris Howell Communications looks to continue telling compelling and untold narratives.

For more information about the documentary visit www.TheWallMustComeDown.com.

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Till’ Tells Untold Story of a Mother’s Love and Determination

By DB Bantino

The film “Till” is a historical biography drama that details the experiences of Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of an African-American 14-year-old boy from Chicago, Illinois, named Emmett.

The two became significant figures in American history when Emmett was kidnapped, beaten, and lynched for allegedly whistling at a white woman in Mississippi in 1955. His body was mutilated and barely recognizable, but his mother decided to have an open casket at his funeral so that the rest of the world would feel her pain and see how inhumanely Black people were being treated in the South.

The film first premiered at New York Film Festival in October 2022. It was directed by Chinonye Chukwu, a Nigerian-American woman whose former most notable work was a film titled Clemency.

In an interview on NPR, Chukwu said, “Mamie and other Black women are often overlooked or erased from history. But Mamie’s decision to hold an open-casket funeral for her son, and to pub-

lish the photos of his mutilated face, served as a catalyst for the civil rights movement.”

Jet Magazine’s photographer David Jackson took the famous photo of Mamie looking down at Emmett. Chukwu also worked with film writer Keith Beauchamp, who conducted 27 years of research on Till’s case. According to IMDB, “His [Beachamp’s] efforts led to the reopening of the case by the United States Department of Justice in 2004.”

Danielle Deadwyler played the role of Mamie Till-Mobley. When asked how she felt about getting the role in an interview with the LA Times, she said, “There was only a split second to be joyful. I have the job and the honor, but also the responsi-

bility. I know that responsibility deeply because I am a child of the South. I was anxious and nervous.”

Deadwyler was supported by a great lineup of actors, including Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Patrick Thomas and Frankie Faison. The role of Carolyn Bryant, the white woman who accused Till, was played by Haley Bennet.

In an interview with Variety magazine, Bennett said, “I don’t want to live in ignorance. If I can learn something about the history of America, then I am not standing still. What I loved about this story was the power of a mother’s love. Her need for justice ignited a revolution, but there still has not been justice for Emmett Till.”

I enjoyed the film and how the story was portrayed from the mother’s

perspective. I connected with her determination to prove to herself that her son did not die for no reason. It was very difficult for her to deal with her pain and mourning, and to turn that energy into something greater was very inspiring.

I learned about Emmett Till when I was younger, but I never understood his mother’s struggle with his death and how she used it to create change.

Mamie Till died in 2003 following a lifetime dedicated to making life better for people of color. This year, the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act was passed by Congress, making lynching a federal hate crime.

This is a must-see movie that teaches a lot about unknown historical figures.

Jalyn Hall as Emmett Till

Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till-Mobley

Ben Crump Brings TheGrio Awards Crowd to Its Feet in MLK-Inspired Speech

By Stacy M. Brown

Byron Allen’s inaugural TheGrio Awards honored comedian Dave Chappelle with the Cultural Icon Award, Allyson Felix with the Sports Icon Award and Patti LaBelle with the Music Icon Award.

And while trailblazers like Tyler Perry and Jennifer Hudson also received honors, the recently televised awards spotlighted the work of “Black America’s Attorney General.”

Ben Crump, the renowned civil rights attorney and freedom fighter, elicited the night’s biggest applause when he accepted the newly minted Justice Icon Award.

“It was an honor to accept the Justice Icon trophy in the company of so many Black leaders in our community,” Crump remarked.

“This award represents our fight for tomorrow’s future – our children’s future,” he asserted. “We will never stop demanding equality and justice.”

Crump’s four-minute acceptance speech brought the crowd of dignitaries to its feet, even prompting LaBelle to remark, “Ben, you sure talking truth, and we all were listening.”

Crump, who has represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Tay -

lor, Ahmaud Arbery and others, said if Black America doesn’t fight for its children’s future, they can’t expect anyone else to go to battle.

Crump also recalled the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to emphasize the need for action.

“We have to be willing to fight for our children’s future until hell freezes over, and then, we have to be ready to fight on the ice,” Crump demanded. “We have to make sure our children believe Black lives matter, where it can’t be lip service, it has to be action.”

“Dr. King concluded that there comes a time when one must take a position that’s neither popular nor politically correct or not even safe,” Crump told the audience, who loudly cheered their affirmation.

“But that being said, there comes a time when we must take a position because their conscience tells them it is

the right thing to do,” he said. “I submit to you at the first annual TheGrio Awards that it is the right thing to do to stand up for our children’s future.”

Broadcast on Saturday, the awards celebrated excellence in film, music, comedy, television, sports, philanthropy, business, fashion, social justice, environmental justice, education, and the cultural icons and innovators whose many contributions positively impact America.

Taped at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, Allen designed the star-studded, black-tie event to pay tribute to and amplify the history makers, change agents, and artists who define and influence the Black world.

“I created theGrio Awards to celebrate and amplify African-American excellence and the incredible champions from other communities who truly support us,” Allen said in a release. “As a child, strong, positive African-American icons such as Berry Gordy Jr., Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King Jr. helped me see myself differently and changed the trajectory of my life. Celebrating and amplifying iconic individuals is something we can never do enough of, especially for our children.”

Attorney Ben Crump

Photo: NNPA Newswire

Deion Sanders, Accepts Head Coaching Position at University of Colorado

By Will Moss

Jackson State, an HBCU in the SWAC Football conference, was rolling in momentum with head coach Deion Sanders at the helm. But the news was just recently dropped that Sanders will be leaving Jackson State for a coaching position at a PWI. Not sure if this is a good or bad move for Sanders,

but the spotlight on Jackson State will likely fade out without the presence of the former NFL superstar as head coach.

Prime Time Deion Sanders just shocked the entire footballing community after announcing his decision to leave the Jackson State University coaching job. Sanders accepted the head coaching position at PAC-12’s bottom

place, the University of Colorado Boulder. This came shortly after the Jackson State Tigers repeated their amazing feat from last year.

JSU beat Southern 43-24 to win their second South Western Athletic Championship in consecutive years for the first time since 1995 and 1996. The 11-0 Jackson State achieved a historic milestone when they set a perfect regu-

Coach Deion Sanders

lar season record for the first time in the school’s history. However, the world wasn’t expecting Prime Time Sanders to leave without winning the SWAC hat-trick. But it has happened.

Jackson State fans and announcers didn’t take lightly to the breaking news that followed their championship success. Sanders and the LSU locker room were robbed mid-game in the 2021 season. So fans might always had it out for the HC. And after the latest announcement, they didn’t hold back. Including the announcers.

Deion Sanders may have left the Tigers fans upset over his decision, but they can’t deny the complete turnaround Prime Time brought with him when he joined his two sons, Shedeur and Shilo Sanders, at JSU in 2020.

QB Shedeur was the league’s Offensive Players of the Year this season and put on a show on Saturday against Southern. And Deion didn’t even have to recruit him.

Deion Sanders can bring Colorado to the level of JSU by recruiting the right talent.

JSU’s back-to-back SWAC titles are a thing of wonder and amazement for the Ti-

gers’ fan base. However, this is not a new feeling for their former head coach, Deion Prime Time Sanders. Sanders went one step ahead and won two back-to-back Super Bowls in 1994 and 1995 with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. So it’s no surprise to see that he has an eye for spotting talent. Some experts and fans agreed.

19 out of Jackson State’s 20 top recruits in the last two championship years came

Prime Time Deion Sanders just shocked the entire footballing community after announcing his decision to leave the Jackson State University coaching job. Sanders accepted the head coaching position at PAC-12’s bottom place, the University of Colorado Boulder. This came shortly after the Jackson State Tigers repeated their amazing feat from last year.

in the Prime Time era. And Deion is expected to carry his recruiting skills over to Colorado, who are currently at their worst numbers in school history with a 1-11 overall record. They have been in only 2 bowl games since 2008 and have been a below .500 team in 15 of their last 17 seasons. Previous CBU coach Mel Tucker left after just one year. However, no challenge is too big for 8x

Pro Bowler Deion Sanders. Deion Sanders’ decision to leave the HBCU came under some criticism from the experts. Many think the 9-3 Florida State Seminoles was the perfect destination for Prime Time, who was an All-American elite cornerback for Florida in his pre-NFL days. However, Neon-Deion wants to see more black coaches representing Power 5 programs. “It’s been four or more African American head coaches at the next level that has been terminated [FBS level]. I haven’t heard not one other than a candidate like myself to replace them. So to me, that’s a problem,” Sanders said in his announcement to his JSU players.

If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email!