I Messenger 2-10-23

I Messenger

Black Press Kicks Off Black History Month with Annual Conference

Dying While Black In America

OUR VOICES

The Last Poets, the original rappers with a message and a purpose, said “It’s alright to die for a cause, but not just because.”

Those words continue to have meaning for us today when it has been proven time and time again that being Black, or just a person of color, can lead to death when encountering police. The unwritten crime appears to be “Living While Black.”

The only ones who appear to know that this is a crime, are the police. Let us remember that for an act to be considered a crime, it must first be a law enacted by some governing body.

Before we had laws enacted by legislative bodies, laws grew out of practice which became known as “Common Law.” This meant that if an act such as stealing a person’s horse occurred and the theft was caught and hung, the hanging of a person under such circumstances became an acceptable law long before laws were written.

Well, it appears today that police have made it a “common law” practice to deal with Black men under what “they” have made a “common law” assumption, that it’s alright to beat, brutalize, and murder Black men on contact.

There are no such laws in any of the states that Black men and women have been murdered under. Yet, we see that the practice is almost universal, based on the location and num-

ber of fatal contact with police when “Living While Black."

Just look at the list of those who have been in contact with police leading to trial and execution, all in one swift act. Most of us want to focus on George Floyd.

But his murder at the hands of police came 30 years after the brutal beating of Rodney King. The difference is that King survived his beating and George Floyd did not.

Now we see that the murder of Black people by police is so deeply instilled in the culture of policing that the conduct is not limited to White police officers, but Black officers as well. But for people like Attorney Ben Crump, we wouldn’t have a record of these atrocities.

Attorney Crump, has not only created a whole legal specialty in the area of “Wrongful Death,” he has also written a book, Open Season, that documents, by name and case, the individuals who have been victims of this unwritten law for more than a decade.

Dr. King once said we can legislate laws but not the hearts of men. Those of us on the endangered list of “Living While Black”, must engage in a collective effort to make “Dying While Black” as unacceptable as cancer.

As a matter of fact, it’s a cancer we must all get concerned about before it happens to us. Dr. King also said, “Injustice anywhere, is injustice everywhere”. We must all work to end “Dying While Black”, whether it be from police or other wrongs against “All of Us.”

DR. JOHN E. WARREN

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

FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

I was recently asked how I celebrate Black History Month. The reality is that I’m a Black woman all year. Who I am and those I am descended from encompass more than twenty eight days. My DNA is rich with so many brilliant, hardworking, caring...

QUIT PLAYIN' BLACK PRESS KICKS OFF

As Salaam-Alaikum It was a moment I will remember for as long as I am Black. It was springtime, and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was on his way to our church in South Dallas. New Hope Baptist Church is probably Dallas's most historic church...

Digital workshops, collaborations and discussions about new ways to do business were all part the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) Mid-Winter Conference in San Juan, PR, last week. Initially scheduled for St. Thomas Virgin Islands...

by Cheryl Smith Publisher

Expressing a Father's Love!

Everyone is not fortunate enough to know or experience the love of a father or father figure.

Sure, we’ve heard the jokes about Father’s Day versus Mother’s Day when there appears to be a clear disparity in the gift giving arena.

Many athletes have smiled for the cameras and said “Hi Mom” or declared that as soon as they became a professional athlete, they were going to “buy Mom a house.”

In times of distress, like in the cases of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin who was beaten and murdered by George Zimmerman, 46-year-old George Floyd who died as Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck, and most recently Tyre Nichols brutally beaten by several officers and later dying from those injuries; they all called out for their mothers.

Fathers are equally important and necessary in our lives. Unfortunately two many children die without ever knowing their fathers or knowing a father’s love.

And sadly too many men die never knowing that they had planted a seed, that they’d helped create another life.

Which brings me to my truth.

I had the benefit of a father’s love. Whether he was stopping by my school to help teachers understand that he was present and accounted for or doling out money to my friends and I because we all wanted to be ready when the ice cream man, Mr. Softee drove down the street; I could count on Daddy.

When I went away to college, he made regular visits to FAMU's campus and he always made sure I was taken care of.

Joe Smith was also good at vetting potential mates. Just imagine a cross between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in “Bad Boys” and "Uncle Bernie" on the Bernie Mac Show. Young brothers had to come correct and they still didn't stand a chance!

at Lewis Funeral Home, starting as a bookkeeper in 1995.

Mr. Hill was born in Lavaca County, TX in 1937 and graduated from Asberry High School of Yoakum, TX in 1954 as the Valedictorian of his class. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Industrial Engineering in 1958 from Prairie View A&M University.

He started his teaching career as a high school mathematics teacher in El Campo, TX in 1958. He later accepted a position as the head of the mathematics and science department of Elgin High School in Elgin, TX in 1966. Mr. Hill moved to San Antonio, TX in 1968 accepting a position in the San Antonio School District as a mathematics teacher at Wheatley High School and retiring from Jefferson High School in 1995.

He was there to uplift and could always brighten my day because he was strong and fearless. He was an astute businessman who was a visionary.

He loved his daughter and he wanted the best for her!

I witnessed a love just as strong between Clarence Hill, Sr. and Clarence Hill, Jr. They shared a father - son love that was an example worthy of showcasing and celebrating. They also shared a love as Omega Psi Phi brothers, as Jr. followed his father into the fraternity.

This week, The Hill family will celebrate the life of their patriarch.

Clarence E. Hill, Sr. was the Business Manager/Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Hill furthered his studies in Mathematics, Science and Education Administration and received a Masters Degree in Education Administration in 1986 from Prairie View A&M University.

He also served as an Adjunct Instructor from 1969 thru 2003.

He was married to Jewel Hill, who preceded him in death and they had two children, Tina and Clarence and five grandchildren. He, like his wife, was a strong HBCU supporter and mentor to many. He will be fondly remembered by relatives, friends, alumni, former students and coworkers, and his fraternity brothers.

I know there are so many other great fathers out there. We must do a better job of sharing their stories so they can be examples for future generations.

The Real Chill Clarence Hill Jr. and Sr.

No Safe Spaces

OUR VOICES

BY MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN

In California recently, hearts, families and lives were broken again by two mass shootings. On Saturday evening, Jan. 21, 11 people were killed and nine more were injured at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, a community outside Los Angeles known as the first suburban Chinatown.

The neighborhood surrounding the ballroom was in the middle of a massive, joyous two-day festival celebrating the Lunar New Year and the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit.

At a time when hate crimes have targeted Asian Americans across the country, the Monterey Park community and gathering spaces like the Star Ballroom have long felt like a safe haven for many people.

But as we have seen again and again, there are no safe spaces from guns in our nation. Instead, a place of fellowship and celebration that was especially beloved by many older community members turned into another site of tragedy.

These two mass shoot-

ings were immediately unusual because both gunmen were older than 65; the man who killed fellow dancers in Monterey Park was 72, one of the oldest mass shooters in modern American history.

But there is no age limit to the way easy access to guns in our nation lethalizes anger and despair. The shooter in Half Moon Bay, who was taken into custody, allegedly told investigators he felt “disrespected” by colleagues. A former tenant of the Monterey Park shooter described him as an isolated person who was “hopeless and desperate.”

These murders in California came just a few days after another mass shooting in the state’s Central Valley that left six people dead, including a 10-month-old baby and his 16-year-old mother.

And the tragedies in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay were also far from the only gun attacks in America in those 48 hours. Early Sunday morning a dozen people were injured at a Baton Rouge nightclub that had advertised a party celebrating the start of the new semester at Louisiana State University and Southern University.

On Monday, the same day as the Half Moon Bay

shootings, an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old were shot and killed at their charter school program for at-risk youths in Iowa and the program’s founder was injured.

Soon afterward, Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, singled out those four attacks as examples in a social media post condemning the regular and relentless toll gun violence takes in our nation: “11 dead in Monterey Park. 12 wounded in Baton Rouge. 7 dead in Half Moon Bay. 2 students dead in Des Moines. 300 shot EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Every time you vote for a lawmaker who opposes gun safety, you’re voting for policies that make it more likely your loved one will be slaughtered.” Her words were followed by a graphic from Moms Demand Action: We don’t have to live like this. We don’t have to die like this.

Just a few days into the new year, America’s gun violence epidemic is back under a harsh spotlight. The Gun Violence Archive, which documents the number of mass shootings in the U.S. in which four or more people are shot or killed in a single incident, counted 40 mass shootings in the first 25 days of 2023.

This was 21% higher than in the previous two years and more than any January on record. Seventy-three people were killed and 165 more were injured in those mass shootings alone.

Every day, on average, more than 100 people are killed and more than 200 others are injured by guns in our nation in assaults, suicides and suicide attempts, unintentional shootings, and police intervention. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in our nation. This is American exceptionalism at its worst.

Will we continue to let these numbers escalate month after month? Will we continue to stand alone in accepting our pervasive culture of gun violence and the insane proliferation of guns by the millions that have no business in civilian hands? Will we keep electing members of Congress who put their perceived political self-interest and gun lobby profits ahead of the safety of our children and communities? Or will this be the year we finally find the courage, decency and will to change course?

Edelman is founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund.

Rep. Crockett assails Fellow Reps Taylor-Greene and Boebert

Texas Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett on Wednesday accused members of the Republican Party of pursuing narrow personal objectives while ignoring the needs of ordinary Americans. The Congresswoman made the remarks during a nationally-televised news show on MSNBC.

She harshly criticized Congresswomen Lauren Boebert (R-Co.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for promoting what she described as personal political agendas that “do little to improve the plight of the average American.”

“They are about conspiracies and nonsense,” Crockett said while appearing on ‘The ReidOut,’ hosted by Joy Reid. “Both of them are are nothing but walking human-beings who would not know the truth if it slapped them in the face.”

Speaking about her fellow House members who sit with her on the powerful House Committee on Oversight and Government Accountability, she continued. “They do not care about the truth.”

Rebutting Crockett’s charges, a statement from Boebert ‘s office stated, “the Congresswoman is focused exclusively on legislation that will benefit the people of Colorado’s Third District. She

is a leader on issues important to the people of Colorado, like combating western drought and fighting inflation.”

Phones calls to Greene’s Washington and district offices were not returned.

of the former employees of unlawful censorship because they banned tweets that she and other conservatives had written.

“You censored my right to free speech by removing me from Twitter,“ Greene said, directing her remarks to the witnesses. “You did not ban my Democratic opponent. Banning my tweets was not in the best interests of the American people.”

Greene was banned in January of 2022. Boebert was banned in January of 2021.

The Oversight Committee met on Capitol Hill Wednesday to hear testimony from former employees of Twitter identify regulations that determined whether or not a tweet or individual was removed from the social media platform.

During her questioning of the former Twitter employees, Greene said it pleased her that they had been fired when new management purchased the company. She accused some

During the hearing some Republicans accused the former Twitter employees of favoring President Biden during the 2020 president election. They also charged that Twitter officials wrongly demonstrated support for Hunter Biden, the president’s son who was accused of corrupt business practices by Republican members of the House and Senate.

“They were upset by what occurred with their personal twitter accounts,” Congresswoman Crockett said of Congresswomen Boebert and Greene. “They showed the American people who they really are,” she said. “We should not be using federal time and federal funds like that.”

They do not want to talk about real issues, the first term Congresswoman added.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett

I am because of Them

FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

BY DR. FROSWA BOOKER-DREW

I was recently asked how I celebrate Black History Month. The reality is that I’m a Black woman all year. Who I am and those I am descended from encompass more than twenty eight days. My DNA is rich with so many brilliant, hardworking, caring individuals who made a path despite so much opposition. Despite the racism, sexism, violence, unequal opportunities and so many other barriers, they preserved. They dreamed that we would overcome and there have been so many advancements. Yet, there is so much more that has to be accomplished. Until we have a society that is equitable, just, and inclusive for ALL, we still have work to do. This means everyone in our community.

We have such a rich history of individuals in our culture. There is no way to surmise our contributions, struggles, moments and movements in a short, concise way. Our history begins well before slavery and even before the arrival to the Americas. This is my feeble attempt of exploring some of the richness of those who came before, whose shoulders we stand on. This week’s column is dedicated to my sheroes. So often, I think society

tends to focus on just a few of the well-known leaders of our history but I want to highlight those who may not be on your radar, one national and three DFW sheroes.

1. Ida B. Wells-Barnett. I love Ida B. Wells because of her tenacity and brilliance. She not only dealt with losing her parents and infant brother so young but having to take care of her siblings as well. She took a job in Memphis as a teacher to keep her family together. “After the lynching of one of her friends, Wells-Bar-

2. Juanita Craft. In the 30s, Juanita Jewel Shanks Craft, risked her life establishing NAACP chapters across the state of Texas. In eleven years, she organized over 180 chapters. “In 1955, she organized a protest of the State Fair of Texas against its policy of admitting blacks only on "Negro Achievement Day." She later served for two terms on the Dallas City Council. Although I never met Mrs. Craft, I was honored to work with her home in my 20s when I was Assistant Di-

nett turned her attention to white mob violence. She became skeptical about the reasons black men were lynched and set out to investigate several cases. She published her findings in a pamphlet and wrote several columns in local newspapers. Her expose about an 1892 lynching enraged locals, who burned her press and drove her from Memphis. After a few months, the threats became so bad she was forced to move to Chicago, Illinois.” She was a founder of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs which focused on suffrage (voting).

rector at the South Dallas Cultural Center and ultimately serving as VP of Community Affairs at the State Fair of Texas.

3. Kathlyn Joy Gilliam. I met Mrs. Gilliam as she led ‘Clean South Dallas’, early in my career. The mentoring I received was invaluable. Mrs. Gilliam is most notably remembered for her 23 years as a trustee of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). Upon her election in 1974, she became the first African-American female trustee and was the first African-American to lead as Board President during the 1980-1982 term.

4. Dr. Mamie McKnight. I met Dr. McKnight early in my career as well and she was always so kind, warm and approachable. She, too, made such an impression on me. She was the founder of Black Dallas Remembered, Inc., a nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation of the Dallas Black community and was responsible for leading the investigation and preservation of Freedman’s Cemetery. It is the burial site of thousands of early Black Dallas settlers that would have been destroyed by the expansion of Central Expressway. I was blessed to work on this project in its early stages. They are not the only ones who have made an impact in my life. It was important to remember and pay homage to those who came before. The Bible encourages us to remember. In Isaiah 46:9 the Lord commands, “Remember your history, your long and rich history.” It is important for us to use this month to remember, celebrate, and not forget the vast journey of our experiences. I am because of them.

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.

your history, your long and rich history.

Black Love Day Set for Feb. 13

The African American Holiday Association said the annual Black Love Day will take place on Feb. 13 with the theme of “Black Love Heals 365.”

Black Love Day, the brainchild of D.C. resident Ayo Handy-Kendi, was conceived from a spiritual inspiration in 1993 in the District amid the crack cocaine crisis that caused havoc in many cities.

The day is designed to encourage the use of love as a higher vibration and re-connection solution to heal relationships, increase peace and stop violence, as Black and

white communities are experiencing a resurgence of unrest in their communities due to the fentanyl epidemic, fears of white supremacy/racism terrorism, coronavirus isolation, economic and climate disaster anxiety, the association said. Additionally, mental health will serve as one of the sub-themes this year.

Handy-Kendi wrote a book, “Black Love,” on the subject.

For more information, contact avonmeansjoy@ yahoo.com, call 202-6672577 or go to www.AfricanAmericanHolidays. org. Love,” on the subject.

May 11th - A National Day of Respect!

QUIT PLAYIN’

BY VINCENT L. HALL

As Salaam-Alaikum

It was a moment I will remember for as long as I am Black. It was springtime, and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was on his way to our church in South Dallas. New Hope Baptist Church is probably Dallas's most historic church, but on this day, it was about the upcoming Million Man March.

Dr. Derrick Harkins was allowed to have a few deacons on the premises, and I felt "blessed and highly favored" to be there. We, along with the late activist Thomas Muhammad and former DISD School Board member Ron Price, were standing at the ready with no idea what would happen.

All at once, there was a battalion of well-suited, well-booted, and well-armed Black men carefully combing the campus. New Hope lay in the apex of what used to be called the "dead man's curve.” New construction has wiped out the intersections of the old Central Expressway and US-175.

The Fruit of Islam (FOI) might not have ever known they were standing a mere 500 yards NE from the "dead man's curve," but they were intent that their primary subject would leave there alive and thriving.

We exchanged pleasantries with all due caution. Finally, the former Louis Eugene Wal-

cott walked in with his security team. The serene stone walls that encased the church suddenly felt fortified. The FOI took every precaution you would expect from the U.S. Secret Service.

If you understand that most Black pastors in Dallas were none too excited to see Dr. Martin Luther King when he arrived in 1963, you can imagine Dr.

Louis Farrakhan preached “Jesus and Him Crucified.” If he had “opened the doors of the church," half of us would have joined. His aura and anointing were palpable. If you have ever been within reaching distance of someone famous and God-inspired, you know what I mean.

I have only felt that level of spiritual presence three times

words that fell effortlessly from his lips.

“Sir, a prudent man consumes everything like fish; “Eat the meat and spit out the bones.”

OMG! That was not just a pearl of wisdom but a prescriptive for living. What he said to the four of us in a 200-square-foot room would have been better told to men and women worldwide.

Our problem in America and around the globe is that we don't separate the good from the bad in people. Instead, we sentence our opponents to live in the confines of our narrow minds and shallow understandings. It takes grace to admit that everything about your enemy is not evil. There is something salvageable in every human word and deed.

Harkins’ plight. This visit was controversial.

A few Baptist and Methodist ministers in Dallas publicly welcomed the Minister. However, Farrakhan’s rhetoric and bombastic pronouncements made him “dangerous.” Moreover, his menacing melodies created disharmony for local Negro preachers who enjoyed singing Kumbaya and pretending all was well.

At any rate, the brick walls of the fellowship hall were suddenly sweating with the searing anticipation for what might be said. All the Reverends therein were reverent and waiting to hear the Minister’s invitation to the MMM.

I was flabbergasted. Minister

before. Only former Governor Ann Richards, then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton, and Pastor T. D. Jakes emotionally moved me the way Farrakhan did that day. But the best was yet to come.

The Minister joined me, Thomas, and Ron in Dr. Harkins' study. He was the most soft-spoken, humble man I have sat with in close quarters. He had the demeanor of an introverted genius. The evidence of his devout insight was looming.

He floored me when we asked his opinion about someone or something political. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan made a statement I may have heard previously, but the weight of his convictions preceded the

My children have heard me say that you can teach from bad examples as well as from good ones. That revelation came partly from the ten golden moments I spent in the presence of a legend, an icon, and a fearless leader.

In just 90 days, the Honorable Louis Farrakhan will turn 90. Hopefully, this editorial will spark some inspiration for a widespread National Day of Respect on May 11th. And if there were any parts of this message you didn't care for, spit it out but receive in the spirit of love for which it was written.

Happy 90th, Minister Farrakhan!

Allahu Akbar!

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

Minister Louis Farrakhan plays violin.

Time to show your heart some love

February is Heart Month. And heart disease is the leading cause of death in our community and across the country. So, let’s do something about it, together. Every week during Heart Month we’ll be sharing heart healthy tips, from early warning signs to recipes and exercise ideas. Caring for the heart health of our friends and neighbors. That’s community and why so many people Trust Methodist.

Sign up for Heart Month emails with tips, recipes, exercise ideas, info on events, and more at:

MethodistHealthSystem.org/HeartMonth

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical sta are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System. Methodist Health System compiles with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Representative Carl O. Sherman's Appointment to Corrections and Land & Resource Management Committees - 88th Legislature

Austin, Texas - State Representative Carl O. Sherman has been appointed to the Corrections and Land & Resource Management Committees for the 88th Texas Legislature.

Rep. Sherman released the following statement:

"I am grateful to be reappointed to the Corrections committee for the third consecutive term to advocate for humane criminal justice reforms and I am also excited to serve on a new committee, Land & Resource management during this session. I will continue to ensure that the more than 30 million citizens across our great state have what

they need to realize the American Dream. I look forward to collaborating with each Chairman and

committee member to ensure that dream is accessible for every Texan."

Representative Sherman's experience as a City Manager and Mayor enables him to understand the value of local control more intimately. Local leaders are closest to the citizens and are best equipped to know what is needed most in their community. During his tenure as the first African American Mayor of the City of DeSoto, Texas he focused on cultivating smart economically sound solutions that provided access to quality, affordable housing and safe neighborhoods.

Rep. Carl O. Sherman

Game Night Held in Dallas with Urban Trivia Live

By Eva D. Coleman

It was definitely game night in Dallas, Texas with a few hundred friends! The creators of the Urban Trivia Game, Darren Anderson (DJ Almost Famous), Brandon Romas (Stanley Newcomer), Marcus Chappell and Jason DeWitt, delivered their vision in action during Urban Trivia Live on February 5 at Headquarters off of Walnut Hill Lane near Composite Drive. They definitely know how to entertain! While the competition was fierce, the music and dancing were fire! Their card game is available online or in stores and will test your skills while forcing you to reminisce. It’s fun for a variety of ages. Their live shows sell out, so when they come to your city, get your tickets quickly.

Comerica Bank to Collect Prom Dresses for Dallas CASA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas Teens During February

Comerica Bank will host its annual North Texas Prom Dress Drive, benefitting Dallas CASA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, during the month of February. Six Dallas-area Comerica banking centers will serve as drop-off locations for new or gently used, cleaned formal dresses and accessories.

Donations will benefit local teens, who otherwise may not be able to afford formal attire and experience the high school tradition of prom. Comerica has donated close to 5,600 dresses to Dallas CASA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas over the last seven years.

For more information, visit comerica.com/promdress.

WHAT: Comerica Bank Prom Dress Drive benefitting

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas & Dallas CASA

WHO: Comerica Bank colleagues, customers and individual donors

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 1– Tuesday, Feb. 28

WHERE: Participating Comerica Banking Centers

Cole-Fitzhugh (3202 North Fitzhugh; Dallas)

Forest-Inwood (5200 Forest Lane; Dallas)

Lovers Lane-Devonshire (5647 W. Lovers Lane; Dallas)

NorthPark (8850 Boedeker Street; Dallas)

Parker-Premier (3310 Premier Road; Plano)

Preston Center (8225 Preston Road; Dallas)

Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $85.4 billion as of Dec. 31, 2022.

For over 57 years Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas has provided life-changing services to more than a quarter of a million youth in Dallas and surrounding areas. BGCD's mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Programming in three core areas meets the diverse needs and interests of their 4,000 Club members, ages 6-18. These core areas include academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. For more information, please visit bgcdallas.org.

Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) trains and supervises community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who have been removed from unsafe homes. Supported by professional staff, volunteers gather information and make recommendations to help judges decide the services each child needs to heal from trauma and the best outcome for a safe and permanent home. For many foster children, a CASA volunteer is the only consistent, caring adult during a frightening, uncertain time. Now in its 43rd year, Dallas CASA serves more children than any of the more than 900 CASA programs nationwide. In 2022, 1,324 Dallas CASA volunteers were assigned to advocate for 2,611 children in protective care. CASA depends on the community's generosity and commitment to make sure every child in need has a CASA volunteer advocate. To learn more, visit dallascasa.org.

Luncheon celebrates friendship, family and community

In celebration of Galentines’ Day, the JV McRae Foundation will host its inaugural “Heart for Others Ladies Luncheon” at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Sixty Vines located in Dallas, TX.

Influential author, filmmaker and producer, Dr. Cheryl Polote Williamson, will be the motivational keynote speaker and award-winning communications and community leader, Tiffaney Dale Hunter will serve as the luncheon emcee.

“I am extremely excited about our inaugural luncheon that will celebrate the love of friendship, family and the community, while recognizing those who truly have a heart for others,” said Velena L. McRae, founder of the JV McRae Foundation. “I encourage women from all backgrounds and experiences to put on their fabulous pink or red attire and come out for an exciting afternoon of love, light and sisterhood.”

A Galentines’ Day event, the “Heart for Others Ladies Luncheon” is a swanky affair that will feature an array of highlights including inspiring speakers, delectable bites, signature cocktails and exciting giveaways. Polote Williamson will entertain and inspire guests with her words of wisdom and motivation.

In addition, Danielle Carty, founder of the “Say it With Your Chest” organization will be presented with the inaugural “Heart for Others” award for the work she and her organization does daily to support the homeless community.

Tickets are $125 and can be purchased

by visiting www.JVMcRaeFoundation. com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact the JV McCrae Foundation at ContactUS@JVMcRaeFoundation.com. Proceeds raised from the event will be applied to the foundation’s many programs that benefit those in the local Dallas/ Fort Worth community.

Founded by Velena L. McRae as a way to honor her late husband Jesse C. McRae, III and her late grandmother, Vera Peoples Bailey, the JV McRae Foundation is a 501 (3)(c) organization that actively serves the community by providing resources to

support education, health, financial, and family stability initiatives.

The Foundation provides four annual scholarships and has programming designed to highlight and appreciate educators working in underserved communities throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Among the many ways that appreciation is shown is by providing meals for the Teachers’ Lounge, donating teaching supplies, issuing gift cards, and assisting with additional items necessary for teachers to be successful. Learn more at www. JVMcRaeFoundation.com.

Velena L. McRae

Jerry L. Sr. and Pam Roach 32 years

Leroy Jr. and Dian Marie Hyter 7 years

Gary Anthony and Emly Just Ramsay

Morris and Pam Byse Chestnut 27 years

Ross M. R. and Dandy Ruth Cullins 31 years

Richard Claxton Gregory and Lillian Estelle Smith Gregory 64th Heavenly Anniversary

Horace and Sharon Glasper Lenior 25 years

Katie and Kevin Alfonso 2 years

Mr. and Mrs. Bell 25 years

Jason and Connie Loren Comer 3 years

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Kilpatrick 10 years

Pastor and First Lady Washington 3 years

Metro Community Calendar powered by

Black History Tour at Old City Park honoring the park’s commitment to emphasize Black History every month, our Black History Tour is now offered every Sun, starting Feb 12, 5 pm 1515 S Harwood St, Dallas, TX info@oldcityparkdallas.org

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14th Annual Weekend Festival of Black Dance Rhythm and Soul of a People an electrifying evening of African, contemporary and modern dance Thurs. 8 pm $10 Naomi Bruton Theatre 727 S Lamar St, Dallas, TX 10

Sweetheart Concert: Rick Bernard James at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Buy Sweetheart Concert tickets at Clarence Muse Cafe Theater Fri, 3 pm 650 S Griffin St Dallas, TX 11

FREE, fun, story time with award-winning author Sharon Jones-Scaife! She will be reading her book, “Kindness, It’s In You” Sunday, Feb.12, at 11am at The Shed located at 1010 S. Pearl Expy., in Dallas

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The African American Holiday Association said the Annual Black Love Day will take place on Feb. 13, with the theme of “Black Love Heals 365.” Black Love Day is the brainchild of Ayo Handy-Kendi. It was conceived from a spiritual inspiration in 1993

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The Dallas Black Dance Theatre present “Cultural Awareness” in honor of Black History Month Fri., 7:30 pm Wyly Theatre 2400 Flora St, Dallas, TX

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Announcing Inaugural BrainHealth Week Feb. 20-24 Celebrates Brain’s Ability to Get Stronger. Call for info. (972) 883-3007

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Event by Young Professionals Division find out about what’s happening in DFW; looking for social or business connections 6:30 pm 1601 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75201 21

Zion Chapel Economic Development Learn about how genes differ in relation to nutrition for the African American community. Sat, 10 am 1004 N Jefferson St, Lancaster, TX

Valentine’s Day Senior Lunch/Learn session with Mayor Pro Tem/ Councilwoman, Carolyn King Arnold. Tues., Feb.14 at 11 am RSVP to Phil Foster at: phil.foster@dallas.gov

In Conversation with special guest THE HONORABLE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON Moderated by AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST CHERYL SMITH St. Luke “Community” United MethodistChurch 5710 E. R. L. Thornton Fwy, Dallas Fri., 7pm Join In Person or Virtually for Free bit.ly/InConversation2023 18

Educational First Steps proudly announces the benefit, “An Evening with the Great Nowitzki,” Tues., 6:30 pm at The Ritz Carlton, 2121 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 25

The Soul II Soul Tour: KEM, Ledisi Musiq Soulchild Sat. Feb. 18, 8pm Texas Trust CU Theatre, 1001 Performance Place Grand Prairie, TX 75050 (972) 854-5050

Frost Fest Levy Event Plaza Feb.18,10am 501 E. Las Colinas Blvd. Irving, TX, 75039 Cost: Free admission Ages: All ages Website: https:// www.cityofirving.org/

Lincoln Butler Sr.’s “Book Signing” for “My Journey” at the African American Museum in Solarium Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1pm. 3536 Grand Ave · In Fair Park, Dallas, TX. (214) 565-9026

Southwest Suburban Dallas Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, invites you to the 20th Anniversary Foundation Fundraising Gala Feb. 25, VIP Reception at 6:30 pm and General Admission 7:30 pm Midlothian Conference Center, 1 Community Dr, Midlothian, TX 76065

Omega Psi Phi severs ties with Memphis Police Officers

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro News Correspondent

Three of the former Memphis, TN police officers charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 29-year-old resident of that city have been dismissed from the international fraternity in which they were members, according to a letter received by Texas Metro News.

In the January 31, 2023 dated letter, the International Grand Basileus (president) of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Ricky L. Lewis, extended the sympathies of the organization to the family and friends of Tyre Nichols who was fatally beaten by the officers, according to body camera footage released by the Memphis Police Department.

“The fraternity has revoked the memberships of the three former officers,” Mr. Lewis wrote in the letter. “The brutality shown in the video violated our moral sensibilities.”

The former officers are: 24-yearold Tadarrius Bean, 30-year old Demetrius Haley, and 30-yearold Emmitt Martin III, Attempts to reach the national headquarters, located in Decatur, GA, were unsuccessful.

The organization Mr. Lewis leads was founded at Howard University in 1911. It has chapters throughout the country, and the world. Its members include academics, lawyers, doctors, educators, business people, athletes and members of the clergy; including Rev. Jesse Jackson, Atty. Ben Crump, NBA greats Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, Comedians Steve Harvey and Rickey Smiley, Media titan Tom Joyner, actors Bill Cosby and Anthony Anderson, U.S. Rep.

James Clyburn, and Kweisi Mfume, TX State Senator Royce West and Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Omega Psi Phi has a number of programs designed to improve living conditions in low-to-moderate income communities, and encourages young people to pursue college educations. Many of the chapters have programs in which members act as advisors for young men. Most of its members join while students at

four-year colleges and universities.

According to Lewis, the organization has been positively involved in the Memphis community.

“We strongly condemn the conduct of the former Memphis police officers,” Mr. Lewis wrote, adding that the actions of the former officers violated the organization’s written code of conduct. “We fervently pray that the Nichols family will obtain justice.”

Ricky L. Lewis Courtesy: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

Demetrius Haley

Tadarrius Bean

Emmitt Martin III

Tyre Nichols' funeral in Memphis brings calls for justice

The funeral for Tyre Nichols was held in Memphis on Wednesday, roughly three weeks after he died following a beating by police that was caught on video and sparked a wave of protests and calls for accountability nationwide.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy, called for justice for Nichols and lamented the fact that the 29-year-old Black man was killed in the same city where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.

"Let me be clear, we understand that there are concerns about public safety. We understand that there are needs to deal with crime," Sharpton said. "But you don't fight crime by becoming criminals yourselves."

The afternoon service began with several musical performances and remarks from religious leaders, as photos of Nichols flashed across a screen.

"We have come to be of comfort and support to this family," said the Rev. J. Lawrence Turner, senior pastor of the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.

"This family has endured the unsolicited, unwarranted, unreasonable, unjustifiable and massive burden of grieving their loved one and at the same time fighting for justice," Turner added.

Several of Nichols' siblings paid tribute to their brother, and his parents — his mother RowVaughn Wells and his stepfather Rodney Wells — also spoke.

"Tyre was a beautiful person, and for this to happen to him is just unimaginable," RowVaughn Wells said through tears.

"I promise you the only thing that's keeping me going is the fact that I really, truly believe my son was sent here on an assignment from God," she said. "And I guess now his assignment is done."

Vice President Kamala Harris praised Nichols' mother and stepfather for "your strength, your courage and your grace" and said people across the U.S. were also grieving the death of their son. "The people of our country mourn with you."

Harris added that Nichols' violent beating by police

wasn't in the pursuit of public safety. "It was not in the interest of keeping the public safe, because one must ask, was not it in the interest of keeping the public safe that Tyre Nichols would be here with us today? Was he not also entitled to the right to be safe?"

Ben Crump, an attorney for Nichols' family, gave a "call to action," organizers said. Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, and Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, were also in attendance.

Harris, Sharpton, Crump and Wells all called on federal lawmakers to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which stalled in the Senate in 2021 and would introduce major changes to policing across the U.S., including the elimination of qualified immunity for officers.

Services at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis were livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.

Nichols died on Jan. 10, three days after he was brutally beaten by police during a traffic stop.

Body-camera video shows officers pull over Nichols on

Jan. 7 on suspicion of reckless driving. They yank Nichols from his car and try to arrest him, but he flees.

When police finally catch up with him at a second location, officers kick him, hit him with a baton and repeatedly punch him in the head in a violent encounter also captured by a surveillance camera nearby.

Five Memphis police officers have been fired and charged with Nichols' murder, and two other officers are facing discipline. The city's fire department fired two EMTs and a lieutenant. The Memphis Police Department also disbanded the specialized unit whose officers beat Nichols.

Nichols' death has garnered national attention and drawn comparisons to other instances in which Black people have been killed at the hands of police, including Taylor and Floyd. President Biden said the video of officers beating Nichols left him "outraged and deeply pained."

An avid skateboarder, Nichols had a 4-year-old son, worked at FedEx with his stepfather and had a tattoo of his mother's name.

RowVaughn Wells speaks alongside her husband Rodney Wells and the Rev. Al Sharpton during the funeral service for her son Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday.

Photo:Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP, Pool

The Rev. Al Sharpton introduces the family of Tyre Nichols during the funeral service.

Photo: Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP, Pool

“I Really Feel Wanted:” New Maverick Kyrie Irving

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

In his first comments since officially becoming a Dallas Maverick on Sunday, Kyrie Irving expressed excitement and gratitude for his new basketball home.

“I am super excited and grateful for this opportunity. I really feel wanted,” Irving said from practice in California where the Mavs are in the midst of a four-game road trip. Irving is expected to make his debut Wednesday night when the Mavs take on the L.A. Clippers.

“I know they had to give up pieces for me to get here; I don’t take that for granted,’ Irving continued. “Shout out to Mr. Cuban; shout out to the whole front office of the Dallas Organization. It’s been a warm embrace and genuine love.”

Irving, an eight-time NBA All-Star, was acquired along with forward/center Markieff Morris from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for guard Spencer Dinwiddie, forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 firstround pick and two future second-round picks.

Irving, 30, won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 alongside longtime teammate LeBron James. He is a perennial All-Star, including being named an All-Star starter for this year’s games in Salt Lake City, Utah. On Friday he requested a trade from the Nets where he has played the last four seasons.

Mavs officials have finally landed a bona fide superstar in Dallas to play alongside their face-of-the-franchise Luka Doncic, the former Rookie of the Year, a four-time NBA All-Star and a current MVP candidate.

“Having two of the top guards in the NBA starting side by side is going to be exciting!” Mavs owner Mark Cuban told Texas Metro News via email. “I think they will be really tough to slow down and makes us far, far better.”

Irving said he is looking forward to his pairing with Doncic and is willing to do whatever is necessary to help the Mavs win a second championship.

“This will be my first time seeing one of those bad Europeans come over here and dominate, up close, and have the opportunity to do it at a pace that I don’t think has ever been seen before,” Irving said. “Other than like Larry Bird or like somebody else that just plays at their own pace, scores a bunch of points and is constantly in the MVP conversation every year just because he commands that much attention.

“So as much as I can alleviate for him, as much as I can lead alongside him…I’m willing to do. There’s no pressure here, nothings forced with me and him,” Irving

mer Olympics in Rio. With the win, Irving became just the fourth member of Team USA to capture the NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year, joining LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen.

Irving’s community work includes his KAI Family Enterprise, which seeks to uplift underrepresented entrepreneurs and businesses that do not have access to proper guidance in the business world. Amongst his philanthropic endeavors, Irving has donated $1.5 million to help cover the salaries of WNBA players who opted out of the 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic, paid off the tuition for nine students at HBCU Lincoln University, gave $323,000 to Feeding America during the COVID-19 pandemic, and partnered with City Harvest to donate 250,000 meals across the New York area.

continued. “I just want to play basketball, and enjoy his talent and enjoy my teammates’ talent and, you know, work toward a championship.”

Irving is one of seven players averaging 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 2022-23. Among 40 players using two-or-more iso possessions/game, Irving’s 1.28 points/possession lead the NBA and are the highest for any player (min. 2.0 iso possessions/game) since the statistic was first tracked in 2015-16.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, while his father was playing professional basketball for the Bulleen Boomers, Irving moved to the United States when he was two years old. He elected to represent the United States national team and helped the Americans win a gold medal at the 2016 Sum-

Irving will wear No. 2 for the Mavericks. Morris (6-9, 250) holds career averages of 10.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 24.3 minutes over 742 games (377 starts) with Phoenix, Washington, Oklahoma City, Detroit, the L.A. Lakers, Miami and Brooklyn. He has shot 44.6% (3,051-6,844 FG) from the field, 34.2% (627-1,831 3FG) from beyond the arc and 77.8% (1,189-1,528 FT) from the free throw line in his career. Morris appeared in 27 games for the Nets in 2022-23 and averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.6 minutes.

Selected 13th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Suns, the University of Kansas product won an NBA Championship in 2020 with the Lakers. He averaged 5.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 18.4 minutes per game in 21 games (2 starts) during the Lakers’ postseason run.

In the community, Markieff and his twin brother, Marcus, started the Family Over Everything Foundation to provide support and guidance that helps alleviate the burdens, financial and otherwise, faced by many single parents, families in underserved communities, and at-risk members of society.

Morris will wear No. 13 for the Mavericks.

Maverick Kyrie Irving

DALLAS MAVERICKS CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

The Dallas Mavericks celebrate Black History Month with programming, employee engagement activities and on-going investment into the community. This is a time to honor and highlight the legacy and contributions of Black leaders from past to present, while demonstrating the Mavs’ commitment to building a more just, equal and inclusive future. Black History Month activities include:

• Black History Month Art ContestTo honor Black History and inspire future change makers, the Dallas Mavericks and American Airlines present the 2023 Black History Month Art Contest, open through Feb. 16. Texas students, grades 8 –12, are encouraged to create and digitally submit a visual medium that interprets the beliefs of past and present black leaders and how they inspired others to unite and join hands for justice. Finalists will enjoy an all-expenses paid trip, courtesy of American Airlines, to Memphis, TN. They will also be special guests at the Feb. 28 Mavs vs. Indiana home game, where their art will be displayed on the concourse.

• Black Art Exhibits at Mavericks Home Games - The Dallas Mavericks will invite Black artists and art curators to each home game in February to display a pop-up art exhibit on the concourse. Exhibits include the Black Girl Magic Museum and the Daisha Board Art Gallery.

• Upstander Speaker Series – On Feb. 7, Dallas Mavericks Employ-

ees will join the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum as they host a discussion with Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, as a part of the Upstander Speaker Series.

• Girl Scouts Black History Month

Patch powered by the Dallas Mavericks - The Dallas Mavericks have pledged $150,000 over three years to the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas to support their diversity, equity and inclusion programming for women and girls in North Texas. Throughout the month of February,

help develop confident young men who will become leaders to their peers and the community.

• Mavs Gaming Black History Month

Panel: Black to Esports – On Feb. 16, Mavs Gaming will host Paul Quinn Students at Esposure for a Black to Esports panel, addressing the lack of diversity and inclusion for BIPOC in the esports industry. These panelists will share their professional journeys, current socioeconomic challenges in the industry, and inspire the next generation to explore all possibilities in esports.

the Mavs will highlight the Black History Month patch powered by the Dallas Mavericks designed to help Girl Scouts of all backgrounds learn about Black History Month and appreciate the contributions of Black Americans. On Feb. 13, the Dallas Mavericks will host the Girl Scouts for a pre-game Black History Month event.

• Adelle Turner Boys Leadership Program- The Dallas Mavericks team up with the Turn Around Agenda to bring a boys leadership program to Adelle Turner Elementary School, meeting weekly until the conclusion of the school year. This leadership program will lay building blocks to

• African American Museum of Dallas Visit – On Feb. 24, the Dallas Mavericks will join James Madison High School students and Dallas Mavericks Black Employee Network ERG members at the African American Museum of Dallas to view current exhibits.

• Mavs Reading Time Out: BHM edition – On Feb. 27, the Dallas Mavericks will host a Reading Time Out at Adelle Turner Elementary School. The event will feature a player reading a book to the students, as well as a book donation from Melanin Origin for every student. For more information, visit mavs. com/blackhistory.

Dallas Wings Acquire Top WNBA Defensive Star

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

She’s known as “Flash” and is one of the WNBA’s best defensive players.

She’s a three-time WNBA Champion (2017, 2018, 2020), two-time WNBA All-Star (2019, 2022), two-time WNBA All-Defensive Team selection (2018, 2019), the 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and the 2018 WNBA Most Improved Player.

And she’s now a member of the Dallas Wings.

Natasha Howard was acquired by the Wings, along with the playing rights to 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield in a threeteam trade involving the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun. In exchange, the Wings have traded guard Ty Harris to Connecticut and forward Kayla Thornton to New York.

Howard, 31, comes to the Wings from the New York Liberty where she just completed an All-Star season in 2022; starting 35 games and averaging 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

During her 2019 season with the Seattle Storm, the Toledo, Ohio native had a career-year on both ends of the court, posting a high in points (18.1) and rebounds (8.2), earning All-WNBA First Team honors. Defensively, she led the WNBA in steals (74), which was a new single-season franchise high, earning her the nod as the league’s top defensive player.

Howard, who is in her 10th WNBA season, has made playoff appearances in each of her nine seasons, totaling 48 in her career. Howard was

drafted fifth overall by the Indiana Fever in 2014 and has also played in Minnesota, Seattle and New York.

“Natasha is a three-time WNBA Champion who joins the Wings organization with

the court we are adding an all-star caliber player who is one of the premier defenders in the game. Off the court we are adding a veteran who has won on the biggest stage in the biggest moments. Rare-

Crystal Dangerfield Dangerfield, who is entering her fourth season in the WNBA, won the 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 16.2 points per game and nearly four assists for the Minnesota Lynx. In her three-year WNBA career, Dangerfield has appeared in 85 games and averaged nearly nine points and three assists a game.

The Murfreesboro, Tenn. native was drafted in the second round (16th overall) in 2020 out of the University of Connecticut by Minnesota. In her final season as a UCON Husky, Dangerfield earned American Athletic Conference First Team honors, averaging nearly 15 points in 30 games.

“We are excited to obtain the exclusive negotiating rights to Crystal Dangerfield and the prospect of adding her to the Wings roster,” Bibb said. “We look forward to working to sign her to an agreement and having her join the team. She is a player who adds depth and experience to our backcourt and brings the ability to score and distribute the basketball at an elite level.”

The Wings lose Thornton, who spent six seasons with the Wings, and Harris, who was drafted by the Wings in 2020.

an impressive WNBA resume, including both extensive and successful playoff experience,” Wings President & CEO Greg Bibb stated. “On

ly can you address as many needs in one transaction as we do with the addition of Natasha. We are excited to have her join our organization.”

The home games for the Dallas Wings are played at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The Wings, who are entering their eighth season in North Texas, have made the playoffs four of their first seven seasons in Dallas Their tip off the 2023 season on Saturday, May 20 at College Park Center in Arlington.

Natasha Howard

Photo: Dorothy J. Gentry

Crystal Dangerfield

Photo: Dorothy J. Gentry

Presidents Call for Unity Between NABJ and NNPA

San Juan, PR - It was a moment in history that ironically happened on the second day of Black History Month.

Two leaders of organizations gathered to discuss how their missions were similar and they needed to work together to better serve Black communities, journalists and the industry.

The discussion laid the groundwork for future moments as Black Journalists and Black Publishers under the leadership of Presidents Dorothy Tucker of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and Dr. Ben Chavis of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) made a commitment to work together.

During a fireside chat at the NNPA’s mid-winter conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the two leaders, joined by NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards, discussed a decades old issue where publishers felt that Black journalists working for the socalled mainstream media, or white press, acted as though they were better than those in the “Negro Press.”

Tucker read from a letter from NNPA addressed to founding NABJ president Chuck Stone in 1977, outlining perceived slights by the newly-established NABJ.

Members of NNPA said they felt snubbed by Black journalists who received their jobs in the "mainstream" through the efforts of Black publishers and activists who advocated on their behalf only for them to get jobs and look down on

them.

Now 46 years later, the two organizations' leadership says the time is now to heal, to focus on their missions and discuss the importance of and value that each brings to the industry and their communities.

“Our voices have to be unified” said Chavis, who was a political prisoner when the letter was written. “We’re bringing justice, equality and equity.”

Noting that it has been years since the two officially

attended one another’s convention, Chavis committed to being in Birmingham for NABJ’s Convention in August and NABJ will be represented at NNPA’s convention in June.

The two presidents also discussed collaborating on programming at respective conventions and regional conferences.

Tucker suggested holding joint webinars to discuss issues and share information.

NABJ has a Black Press Task Force and Tucker said members would be getting

involved to identify not only digital journalists but also opportunities within the Black Press for students and early career journalists.

She also pointed out that NABJ focuses on preparing journalists to become entrepreneurs and publishers and since NNPA publishers are employers, they could provide much-needed instruction and guidance.

“That's what you offer that we truly need,” she said. “It's important for us because we know in today's age we have members who want to be entrepreneurs, members who want to have their own businesses. They need to know how to increase their advertising and manage a business.”

She continued, “You know, we have a Leadership Academy that I would love to have publishers come and speak to our membership because you have the kind of skills they need.”

Noting that the collaboration called for more than just one meeting, both Tucker and Chavis answered questions from NNPA members and discussed everything from advocacy versus activism and putting an end to a toxic environment that was keeping both organizations from growing together and taking advantage of one another’s resources so that both could be stronger.

“NNPA and the NABJ, we’re going to work together,” said Chavis, to applause. “There is no dissension between the NABJ and NNPA!”

NNPA's Dr. Ben Chavis and NABJ's Dorothy Tucker

Local Winner at the 2023 Grammy's Pamela

Dawson Gram my Music Educa tor of the Year - DeSoto High Schoo l’s Director of Choirs

Black Press Kicks Off Black History Month with Annual Conference

By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines Texas Metro News Correspondent

Digital workshops, collaborations and discussions about new ways to do business were all part the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) Mid-Winter Conference in San Juan, PR, last week.

Initially scheduled for St. Thomas Virgin Islands, due to damage to the host property following the latest hurricane, NNPA leadership operated on a quick turnaround providing attendees what many are calling “one of the best conferences ever.”

Gen Z, Millennials, journalists working for the socalled mainstream media and Black owned media put aside all gaps to have a meaningful exchange regarding keeping the Black Press relevant and true to its mission.

“As we celebrate 196 years of the Black Press, it is very important that we continue moving our organization forward,” said Karen Carter-Richards, NNPA Chairperson and owner of Houston Forward Times. “The Black Press is needed more today than ever before.”

Carter-Richards shared how the historic Houston Forward Times partnered with Nike and artist Jeremy Biggers to create a mural honoring basketball legend

Chelsea Lenora White, singer/writer from the Houston Forward Times, shares information during the Gen Z and Millennial workshop on how to get young people involved with efforts to reach Black communities.

Sheryl Swoopes, who was the first player to be signed in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), where she won three WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards (2000, 2002, and 2005); and four WNBA titles (1997-2000) as a member of the Houston Comets.

This partnership helped the Forward Times to generate $12,000 in revenue and Carter-Richards encouraged publishers to think outside the box as they seek new revenue streams in this challenging financial climate.

Westside Gazette Publisher Bobby Henry, who like Carter-Richards is a second-generation publisher, also

praised the conference, "The sessions were very beneficial and provided information that we can take back to our newsrooms to make our products and businesses stronger."

The four-day conference brought together publishers and journalists from across the country to focus on not only learning more about navigating in a world that is becoming more and more digital-focused, but also keeping Black communities informed and empowered. The underlying message throughout the conference was the power that the publications hold and the need to capitalize on the $1.6 trillion Black spending power.

“This was by far the most impactful ences that I have attended,” Kenneth Miller, owner of Inglewood Today.

sults. We finally allowed for young formation from the tech community was outstanding, and the honoring served Life-Time Achievement Future publisher, Skylar Smith enjoys leisure time on

the beach.

With the power of 230 regional and local newspapers with more than 22 million readers per week, the Mid-Winter Conference attracted corporate support from several major corporations including: Google News Initiative, Reynolds, AARP, Hyundai, Diageo, Nissan, Wells Fargo, API, Zillow, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Pfizer, Reynolds and General Motors.

Speakers presented works shops on: How to Monetize Your Online Presence, Enticing Generation Z and Millennials in Digital Revenue Strategies, and Google Tools for Newsrooms. All sessions had one common theme of how to creatively work together and maximize efforts with limited staff and resources.

Dallas-area papers reresented were: Dallas Examiner, Garland Journal, I Messenger and Texas Metro News.

Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr. receives NNPA Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo: Stacy Brown Media, Marva Sneed and Nina Garcia

National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) President Dorothy Tucker, who had committed early in her first term that she would visit with publishers and work on bettering relationships, pointed out several efforts during her administration where attention has focused on the Black Press.

In addition to awarding more than $250,000 to members of the Black Press, under her administration both the president and executive director, as well as other board members have attended NNPA conferences and program. Also several NNPA members have been the recipients of awards, served on the national board and chaired committees and Tucker said there’s more to

come, including engaging students and younger journalists, which the Chairwoman was pleased to hear.

“One of my favorite moments from the Mid-Winter Conference was the information we all attained from the Gen Z and Millennial panel,” added Carter-Richards, who is serving her second-term as Chair of the NNPA Board. “To be able to work directly with these younger minds who are digital natives is an amazing opportunity. They talked about innovating the wheel rather than re-inventing it, and that is the energy that we need to continue pushing this network forward.”

A major highlight of the conference was a star-studded awards dinner gala celebrating the 10 years of

service by Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis to the NNPA as its President and CEO. In addition to celebrating his 75th birthday, the civil rights activist, author, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, for work that included serving as: youth coordinator and SCLC assistant to Martin Luther King Jr., former Executive Director and CEO of the NAACP, the National Director of the March, the Founder and CEO of the National African American Leadership Summit (NAALS), CEO and Co-Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, which he co-founded with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.

The NNPA 2023 Annual National Convention will be held June 29-July 1 at the JW Marriott in Nashville, TN.

Jayme Cain Casimere and her husband, Dwight, facilitated a presentation on the business of wine and how it became a digital advertising opportunity. The session introduced attendees to various wines and local foods from Puerto Rico.

Marva Sneed of Texas Metro News is amazed by Mentalist

Photo: Sylvia Dunnavant Hines Murphy and Chavis enjoy a quiet moment during celebration.

Photo: Sylvia Dunnavant Hines

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro News Correspondent

When Rihanna, the Barbadian-megastar and successful cosmetics and lingerie executive, takes the Super Bowl LVII stage a week from this Sunday, approximately 100 million television viewers will witness the wealthiest halftime performer in the history of the annual event.

With a net $1.7 billion, Rihanna, who was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, sits at the pinnacle of a Super Bowl list that includes Dolly Parton, Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Beyonce, Madonna, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Gloria

Estefan, Alicia Keys, Bono, Dr. Dre, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks and numerous other world-famous performers, according to Forbes.

Jay-Z, himself a billionaire entertainer, described Rihanna as a “generational talent who has exceeded all expectations in every instance. She is one of the industry’s most prominent artists,” he said.

This year’s Super Bowl will be played on February 12 in Glendale, AZ. The event, held at State Farm Stadium, will be the first time that both teams’ will be led by an African American quarterback.

“It is awesome that Rhianna has accomplished so much at such a young age,”

said Yolanda Frazier Gills, the founder of Frazier Gills, a certified tax resolution firm in Dallas, a former chairperson of the Oak

Rihanna, wealthiest Super Bowl entertainer ever! Firsts in The Super Bowl

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro News Correspondent

Fans throughout North Texas and the country are thrilled about the historical significance of Super Bowl LVII which will be played February 12 in Glendale, AZ. For the first time in history, the starting quarterbacks for both teams will be African American.

In another historical twist, the game will be the first time that two biological brothers will compete against each other in a Super Bowl. Travis Kelce, an All-Pro tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is Mahome’s favorite pass receiver. His older brother, Jason Kelce, plays center for the Philadelphia Eagles. Like his brother, Jason Kelce is considered one of the finest players in the National Football League.

Mahomes is seeking a second Super Bowl victory. His first came in 2020 when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers by the score of 31 to 20. The following year he and his team returned to the Superbowl where they were beaten by the New England Patriots 31 to 9.

“The game is going to be extremely interesting and well played,” said Dedrick Jennings, the owner of Cedar Hill based Sacred Inc., which operates a funeral home, a floral business and a commercial printing concern. “I will be glued to the television set,” said Mr. Jennings, who played football

when he was a student at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas. “It is going to be something to see.”

Hurts was drafted by the Eagles in 2020.

The team won its only Super Bowl Championship in 2018, defeating the San Francisco 49ers by the score of thirty-one to seven. It was the first time that the Eagles won professional football’s most sought after prize.

One hundred million viewers are expected to watch this year’s game, according to television analysts.

In addition to Mr. Mahomes and Doug Williams, a Super Bowl MVP, Russell Wilson is the third African American starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He guided the Seattle Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl

XLVIII, defeating the Denver Broncos by the score of 43 to 8.

Mr. Williams, a graduate of Grambling University, led The Washington Redskins to a 42 to 10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in 1988. His team, a three point underdog before the game, shocked the football world. He threw four touchdowns and passed for 340 yards.

“I am ecstatic to witness this historical moment involving these two young players,” said Anthony Farmer, an attorney who practices in North Texas. “Nearly 77 years after the NFL was integrated we see these two men competing in the Super Bowl. Regardless of who wins, we all win.”

Dante Wesley, a Cedar Hill resident who

Cliff Chamber of Commerce. “She is an example of wealth building, and of controlling her own destiny. We need more role models like her.”

The 57th Super Bowl will take place on February 12th at Stateee Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Apple Music will partner with the National Football League in producing the event, according to league officials.

“Rihanna has been a cultural force throughout her career,” said Seth Dudowsky, an awarding-winning music executive, who is also the director of music for the NFL. “We are thrilled to welcome Rihanna to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime stage” Mr. Dudowsky said.

played for 11 years in the NFL, described the two young men competing against one another as “great for the sport and the culture.” Mr. Wesley played defensive back for the Chicago Bears in 2007. That year the Bears played the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI.

“For these two young quarterbacks to be leading their teams in a Super Bowl demonstrates the depth of their characters and their leadership abilities. It is a wonderful thing,” he added.

History will also be made on that day when Eagles assistant coach Autumn Lockwood becomes the first Black woman to coach in a Super Bowl. She will be the 4th woman ever to coach in the Super Bowl.

Rihanna Courtesy: Album Cover

Patrick Mahomes Photo: people.com Jalen Hurts Photo: people.com

Autumn Lockwood

national origin, age, disability, or sex.

hospitals. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,

practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Health System or any of its a liated

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical sta are independent

Learn about our expanded ER at ChooseCharlton.org

people Trust Methodist.

our friends and neighbors need us most. That’s community and why so many

and trauma rooms, new imaging equipment, and more. Being there when

important emergency departments to 40,000 square feet, with more beds

seeing a need and meeting it. That’s why we expanded one of the area’s most

Methodist Charlton Medical Center knows that being a good neighbor is

As the need has

grown, so has our ER.

Abandoned and forgotten: Dallas journalist reclaims history by restoring Black cemetery

By Galilee Abdullah Dallas Morning News Editorial

Journalist Rodney Hawkins says he didn’t get a full picture of African American history from school

“I grew up in Plano and so I read in the history books in large part about slavery, it wasn’t that long of passages, maybe a chapter if we got that in the book,” he said. “But it never really registered with me that the history I was reading in those books, my direct connection to it.”

Hawkins discovered his own history when his family was one of the first to participate in the Lone Star Slavery Project, which researches records to build an archive of enslaved people in Texas. For Hawkins, that discovery started with an interview with his great-grandmother, Elise Powell Hurd. The conversation was the catalyst for a three year journey, which included the uncovering of his family’s nearly 200-year-old ancestral burial site.

“We were able to find out relatives that we didn’t know were relatives, we thought were neighbors, friends,” he said. “But through this cemetery, we’re able to connect so many dots that even looking in ancestry and looking into our history and records, we wouldn’t have been able to if we didn’t have the actual physical piece.”

The Old Mount Gillion Cemetery had been abandoned for over 30 years when Hawkins learned of it. Many historic Black cemeteries in the country have been neglected, which Hawkins says reflects how little our society appreciates Black history.

“All of us African Americans in this country should be able to look back into our history in some shape or form,” he said.

Hawkins, along with 50 family members and volunteers, spent two years restoring the cemetery.

Rodney Hawkins discovered the 200-year-old ancestral burial ground after over 30 years of neglect

Cutting down trees and cleaning gravestones allowed time for his family to reconnect. It was healing for Hawkins to reclaim his history, and the cemetery is now recognized by the Texas Historical Commission.

The piney woods of East Texas,

ily connect with one another, and so it’s impacted me on a personal level,” he said.

The exhibition also features work from Hawkins’ cousin, Dallas-based artist T’Ria Hurd, who recreated her grandmother Ova Curl’s living room

came together for the restoration.

“It almost felt ritualistic in a sense, because we are so in our phones and in our own careers and we don’t see each other,” she said. “We don’t spend time together and so I think like doing labor in nature and like just spending that time with my family, no phones, just completely disconnected, was really just beautiful and fulfilling for me.”

Today, the family continues to visit and clean up the cemetery just like their grandparent’s generation did. Hawkins hopes by sharing his journey more people will be encouraged to connect with relatives to learn about their family tree.

where the cemetery is located, is featured in an immersive display on the walls of AT&T headquarters, as a part of The Mount Experience. The exhibition features photography from Kwesi Yanful, who documented Hawkins’ entire ancestral journey.

for the exhibition.

“I wanted to do something I felt my grandmother would appreciate and I think going with my gut on my choices,” she said. “Whether it was wallpaper, wood, felt, that was really the ode to her, just like being firm, being eccentric, being eclectic

“I hope that with this project I inspire more of my generation, of millennials, Gen Z’ers, a lot of us are interested in our history and building connections in that way, and I just want to empower more of us to continue to do that, let’s talk to our elders more,” he said.

The Mount Experience is up at AT&T Headquarters in the AT&T Discovery District through February 21st.

Arts Access is a partnership between The Dallas Morning News and KERA that expands local arts, music and culture coverage through the lens of access and equity.

“I’ve actually gotten really close with my parents, in part because I’m growing up, but in part also because of how I saw Rodney’s fam-

and just kind of owning it — she was just unapologetic in that way.”

Hurd thinks her grandmother would be proud of how the family

This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA

retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.

The walls of AT&T Headquarters turned into an immersive display of the piney woods of East Texas for the preview of "The Mount Experience." That's where Old Mount Gillion Cemetery, the burial grounds of the family of Rodney Hawkins, is located.

Photo: Galilee Abdullah | Galilee Abdullah

It took around two years for Rodney Hawkins and his family to restore Old Mount Gillion Cemetery, which is located in the piney woods of East Texas.

Photo: Kwesi Yanful / Tiny Hawk Productions

Opal Lee recognized by Texas Legislators

State Senator Royce West

State Senator Royce West

Where Haiti’s sorry lot of leaders went wrong after Duvalier

BY GARRY PIERRE-PIERRE https://haitiantimes.com/

I was a semester away from graduating from college when the news broke that Jean Claude Duvalier had fled in exile after more than 15 years in power. The day was February 7, 1986.

It was a momentous occasion that most Haitian émigrés had dreamed of, but never imagined would come true. The Duvalier brutal dictatorship had begun in 1957 with the election of François “Papa Doc” Duvalier. The elder Duvalier had selected his only son, then a 19-year-old, as president for life after his death in 1971.

With the regime in complete control of the country, the Duvalier era seemed poised to last for life. But a series of domestic faux pas and Marie Antoinette-like actions weakened the dictatorship and Jean Claude left after unrelenting protests led by university students.

I was at school in Tallahassee, Florida, watching the developments on television. I remember the image of a portly Jean-Claude driving, rather stoically. His fashionable wife, Michèle Bennett, was sitting in the front passenger seat as they sped to the airport with their son Nicolas — and a throng of photojournalists in tow, capturing the moment.

I watched the news with a mixture of excitement and dread. I was excited that my parents and their friends dreamed of seeing their tormentor leave the country once and for all. I dreaded the seminal moment, because I thought for sure that this is the only chance I would get to cover a big story out of Haiti.

To me, my opportunity ended with the Duvalier. But it was the first chapter of a story replete with missed opportunities, poor governance and international meddling that has seen the country descend into one crisis after another.

But it wasn’t supposed to be that way.

After Jean-Claude’s golden exile in France, the country’s military junta ruled for a couple of years and handed power to Eartha Pascal Trouillot – the first and only female president. She organized what is widely to be the first free and fair elections that ushered in the presidency of Jean Bertrand Aristide.

With that election, the country was giddy with excitement and continued the banbòch (fiesta) democratic that the military had called the transition period. What began as a celebration quickly turned sour when the military

high command staged a bloody coup, sending Aristide to exile. He would spend three years in the United States before Bill Clinton sent 20,000 troops to “restore democracy.”

And so, as we celebrate the anniversary of Jean Claude’s departure – February 7 – became legally mandated as the date that a new president be sworn into office for a peaceful transfer of power under the constitution.

So much for not covering Haiti.

Haiti’s presidents a sorry lot

Since 1990, I’ve reported on every major and minor development out of Haiti. I’ve interviewed every president and most Prime Ministers, except for Jovenel Moïse and his team. I have a few thoughts about our pres-

the rest of his presidency rather uneventfully.

Rene

Preval I

Preval had been Aristide’s Prime Minister and his political “twin brother” and was elected president through a popular vote. His tenure was unremarkable with everyone knowing that he was warming up the presidential throne for Aristide. International delegates would visit Aristide’s private residence before meeting Preval at the National Palace. Ever the loyal deputy, Preval proposed no major projects so as not raise Aristide’s ire.

Aristide II

If denizens of Washington thought they had cultivated a democratic leader in Aristide,

cusations of sexual abuses of women.

It’s really remarkable when you think that Aristide was overthrown twice.

Preval II

The second go-around for Preval saw a cagey political operative who was steeped in retail politics, promising nothing, and delivering few achievements. He kept the political opposition at bay by outwitting them and neutralizing them in ways that left them scratching their heads.

People voted for him thinking wrongly that he would bring Aristide back to power. He did no such thing. Preval made history by being the first person to serve two completed terms as president.

Michel Martelly

Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly was by far the worst president in Haiti’s modern time. He was completely out of his depth and his shallowness accelerated the country’s spiral to new depth. He spent his tenure pulling the wool over the Haitian people’s eyes. He took credit for projects that began under Preval and left nothing to his hand-picked successor, Moïse.

Jovenel Moïse

FILE –

idents since Aristide. For the most part, these leaders have been either naive, incompetent or corrupt.

Aristide I

Aristide’s first term was aborted just after six months and derailed the democratic train. He failed to transition from an activist fighting the Duvalier regime to a president for all the people. He was a polarizing figure, beloved by the impoverished masses and despised by the tiny elite who saw in him a threat to their hegemony.

After his three-year exile in Washington, Aristide finished his aborted term and carried

the former priest assumed the second term determined not to be toppled again. He began organizing and arming marginalized young men in the various slums into gangs loyal to him. He reneged on pledges he made as conditions for his return to power. He antagonized the elite once more and wrongly assumed his militia could protect him from a second coup.

It wasn’t meant to be. He was toppled yet again and forced to exile in Africa.

Aristide’s forced departure created another transitional government and another international invasion. First, the U.S. sent troops that gave way for a United Nations stabilization force, which brought cholera and credible ac-

Moïse was unknown to most Haitians. By the time his election came around, the Haitian people had lost their appetite for democracy, becoming disenchanted and disillusioned with Washington blatantly interfering when their guy in Port-au-Prince didn’t win.

Moise was elected with about 10 percent of registered voters casting a ballot.

If Martelly was incompetent, Moïse was a political cretin with no base and no support from any segment of Haitian society. A corrupt leader, he picked fights that ultimately led to his assassination on July 7, 2021.

Sadly, I’m certain that the worst is yet to come. The police force, which replaced the Haitian army, is a fractured institution unable to protect and serve the people. It is fighting a losing battle against the gangs that Aristide started, which have become the de facto ruler of today’s Haiti, dictating the terms by which people abide.

Times like this I think back to February 7. It was such a glorious day then, now that date stature has diminished and means precious little to the masses that can’t seem to catch a break from a succession of profoundly bad leaders.

In this Oct. 8, 2019 file photo, entrepreneur and youth leader Pascéus Juvensky St. Fleur, 26, holds up his copy of the Haitian constitution during an interview in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Haiti has unveiled multiple proposed changes to overhaul the country’s Constitution that officials plan to present to voters starting in Feb. 2021 for an upcoming referendum that looms amid growing unrest.

Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File

Call issued to Support Black Businesses

Buy Black!

By Cheryl Smith Texas

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.

MOTIVATING MINDS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

Khiara Mills is the Owner and Therapist of Motivating Minds Mental Health Counseling PLLC located in Dallas, Texas. My specialties are teens(ages 1417) and adults(ages 18 and older) experiencing anxiety, stress, life changes and teen behaviors. I am passionate about working with Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ clients. Want to learn more about Mills and why you can trust in the services.

Visit: https://motivatingmindscounseling.com/

Location: 6500 Greenville Ave. Dallas Phone: 214-233-6427.

SMOKING JACKET CIGAR LOUNGE

Smoking Jacket is an upscale Cigar Lounge. The environment is just right for "The Elite Smokers". The

atmosphere is relaxing and cozy, and customers can bring beverages of their choice. There are relaxing and comfortable chairs to unwind and have a great conversation with good people. They believe smoking cigars is a lifestyle. They are open Mon-Thu 3-10 pm Fri & Sat 3-12 am and Sun 12-10 pm

Location: 1435 N. Hwy 67 Ste. 100 Cedar Hill, Phone: 972-291-2557 or email: admin@smokingjacketcl.com

RJ MATTHEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

RJ Matthews is a product photographer in Arlington Tx. He’s currently looking to do photography work with product based businesses for a super discounted rate and to add to his portfolio. His current niche is skincare but he’s willing to do work with any product. If you have a product based business or know of someone who is in need of updated product photos for their business at a really low rate visit his bio website: https:// bit.ly/3DHiOOd or email: rjshootsphotos@gmail.com

NU STANDARD, FOUNDER AUTUMN YARBROUGH

“When you don’t have any hair, what’s the point of styling... Too many styling methods and products give my busy queens false promises for their crowns."

A quote from the owner of Nu Standard. Autumn Yarbrough was listening to Miles Davis’ “So What” on her way home one day, when she had a moment of clarity. Right then, it dawned on Autumn that she wanted to do for hair what Davis did for jazz. Thus she created a new standard of hair care for women.

Visit her website: https://nustandardhair.com/

IMANI BOUTIQUE DFW

Imani Boutique is designed for women who are seeking a classy or professional look with a unique twist

that will set them apart from the crowd. In addition to its uniqueness, they dedicate themselves to provide the best customer service from start to finish. Men’s Apparel will be added soon to the store. They are located in Mesquite. If you like a little bling check out Imani Boutique DFW 1220 North Towneast Blvd Ste #240, Mesquite, 469-399-0403 imaniboutiquedfw@ yahoo.com & Website: https://imaniboutiquedfw.com/

THE MODEL SOLUTIONS LLC.

Owner Kammilla Burton

The Model Solutions LLC is a full-service virtual income tax preparation company that specializes in the preparation of individual and 1099 tax returns. They are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in their relationship with the client. They help you to receive the maximum refund you deserve. Model Solutions LLC, is committed to getting you the best result quickly and accurately.

Visit the website to schedule an appointment: https:// themodelsolutionsllc.com/the-model-solutions-llc

IN SIGHT ORGANIZER

Insured professional, business & home organizer, and everything is in sight. In Sight Organizer will resolve your organizational frustrations and make your declutter dreams come true. They provide solutions for every room of your home and business. They will organize and clean discussed area. Haul away unwanted items and or donate. Sweep or vacuum floors and remove cobwebs. Provide home staging and decorating. Install closet rails, shelves, bins, and shoe racks.

Contact them with your clutter concerns and design needs today.

https://insightorganizer.com/ or call 817-715-3535.

Dr. Frederick D.Haynes III

Metro News

First United Bank Seeks to Break Kindness Record

Texas - Each year on February 17th, millions of people come together to change the world, one random act of kindness at a time. First United Bank will be sharing this effort for the third year. Their goal is to complete 300,000 acts of kindness in one day.

United Acts of Kindness Day serves as a day for the people in our com-

munity to come together to spread joy, hope, and love to friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors through acts of kindness. Anyone can participate, and no act is too big or too small to elevate a life or make an impact.

With the help and generosity of our employees and partnering organizations like local area business-

es, non-profits, churches, community leaders, and community members, First United hopes to spread hope in the world and spark a kindness revolution.

To learn more about First United’s United Acts of Kindness Day, download a business packet for your place of business, or log your individual acts

of kindness, please visit www.unitedactsofkindness.org. You can share your kindness stories on social media on February 17th using #UnitedActsOfKindness.

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.

About First United Bank: 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 $14.6 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. Member FDIC

IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, HSC PARTNERS TO BRING INCREASED AWARENESS TO ONGOING HEALTH DISPARITIES

In celebration of Black History Month, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) is engaging in multiple events throughout DFW to expand the Health & Aging Brain Study, previously known as the Black Alzheimer’s (ALZ) Brain Study, launched in 2021 to address why Alzheimer’s disproportionately impacts Black families. In continuing the study, HSC seeks to increase awareness for women and families, of not only the disproportional im -

and high school students (grades 3-12), parents, students from two- and four-year colleges and universities and prehealth advisors.

On the same day in Fort Worth, at 7:30 PM, HSC’s Health & Aging Brain Study will be a featured partner at the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum (121 E Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76164). The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo celebrates and honors Black cowboys and cowgirls and their contributions

First of its Kind Healthy & Aging Brain Study Creates Space for Black Science History; TikTok Sensations The BoykinZ

Will Perform at Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit & Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo

pact of Alzheimer’s on the Black community but also of the research surrounding it.

In Fort Worth, on February 18, 2023, from 10 AM to 4 PM, HSC is hosting the Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit (BMWCx) in celebration of Black History Month. The interactive summit will take place at the HSC’s Medical Education and Training Building (1000 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107). The event is free and open to elementary, middle

DART CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY

MONTH

to building the west. With two performances, one at 1:30 PM CST and the other at 7:30 PM CST, tickets can be purchased at pbr. com or cowtowncoliseum.com.

Additionally, viral TikTok sensations The BoykinZ will be present at both events to bring additional awareness to HSC’s leading health disparity research study. The emerging African American country music group will record social media content for Instagram and TikTok while

See IN CELEBRATION, page 48

We recognize the history and cultural significance of African Americans and value their contributions to our vibrant community.

In

Celebration cont. from page 47

at the Black Men in White Coats event and give a “halftime” performance during the 7:30 PM performance of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. The group is made of four sisters, one of whom is a STEM student and two of whom are currently in college.

In addition to The BoykinZ social media recordings on HSC’s campus, elementary and middle school students attending the Black Men in White Coats event will participate in a mini medical school and other activities in HSC’s osteology and anatomy labs. High school and undergraduate students will learn more about careers in health care and take part in clinical activities such as suturing and intubation in the university’s state-of-the-art simulation lab.

This is the first year that HSC will host Black Men in White Coats and the need for this event in Fort Worth has never been more urgent.

A 2020 New England Journal of Science study found that the number of Black men applying to medical school has dropped over the past four decades. While Black male medical students accounted for 3.1% of the national medical student body in 1978, they accounted for just 2.9% by 2019; without the contribution of historically Black medical schools, this number would drop even lower to just 2.4%. Studies also show that access to care and health outcomes improve when physicians more closely represent the patients they care for, partly because of increased trust.

Alzheimer’s disease is an

irreversible brain disease that slowly destroys memory skills, thinking skills and eventually the ability to carry out daily activities. A myriad of health disparities surround research into Alzheimer’s disease: Today, an estimated 2.2 million African Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, 1 in 2 Black households is impacted by Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among people 65 and older, African Americans have the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease, followed by Hispanics and non-Latino whites. While there are many theories about why African Americans are at a greater biological risk of Alzheimer’s disease, medical researchers do not yet know exactly why. HSC’s presence at multiple Black History Month celebrations is an opportunity for HSC and guests alike to engage in meaningful, impactful conversations. It is also an opportunity for guests attending the event and across DFW to become familiar with the ground-breaking Alzheimer’s research study being conducted on campus.

HSC’s Healthy & Aging Brain Study – Health Disparities, leverages state-ofthe-art imaging and robotics to analyze brain protein markers. Led by the preeminent researchers, the study does not require injections nor the administration of prescription drugs. Participants undergo free comprehensive interviews, functional exams, blood draw, a

brain MRI and a PET scan, and earn compensation for their time. The research study is funded by a grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health. This study targets 30–49- year olds and aims to help identify through research why Alzheimer’s and related dementia severely impacts the Black & Brown community 2-3 times more than their white counterparts. There are more than 2,000 Black and Hispanic participants ages 50+ who have completed the study. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathology in the brain can develop 1020 years before the disease presents, therefore opening the study to those aged 3049 is critical; it is important to identify the earliest signs and symptoms to better understand the risk factors over a lifespan.

“Every three seconds someone in the world develops dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most prevalent,” said Dr. Sid O’Bryant, professor at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and Executive Director of the HSC Institute for Translational Research. “With this number set to rise, there has never been a more urgent time to gain a better understanding of this disease, especially its impact on Black families.”

“Black History Month presents a special opportunity for us to engage with and educate the community which is most adversely affected by Alzheimer's,” said Pat Bailey, President of PBailey Enterprises, the agency of record for the Health and Aging Brain Study - Health Disparities. “While the entire month is a celebration of the accomplishments

made in Black history, Black Americans still have great strides to make in the arena of health and wellness for future generations. The continued study is an opportunity for research not just for one family or any individual, but for the community as a whole to thrive in all areas.”

The study also aims to bridge the gap and bring attention to a lack of awareness on scientific contributions in Black history, including Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller, an often overlooked neurologist who made incredible contributions to the study of Alzheimer’s disease during his lifetime. “We want to carve out a specific space for Black science history,” continued Bailey. “We want that to be on the forefront of the mind while we’re also discussing the work that needs to be done to address the remaining disparities.”

Many Black Americans remain skeptical about medical research, much of which is rooted in history. Through targeted, culturally-sensitive outreach, HSC’s team of doctors, scientists and educators are working to build continued confidence in the groundbreaking study.

Research has shown that factors such as stress, poverty and socioeconomic disadvantages are associated with cognitive problems in midlife and dementia later in life. African Americans also suffer from a high burden of medical risk factors for Alzheimer’s such as high cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

For information, helpful resources and to join the Healthy & Aging Brain study, visit blackalzbrainstudy.com or call 817-735-2963.