I Messenger 5-28-21 by Cheryl Smith

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p 20-21

Finding Your Place

Pe nge lh li am a

VOL X NO 37 MAY 28, 2021

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

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Established 2011 CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back. May 28, 2021

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INSIDE

Our Voices

To Be Equal

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The Last Word As of this writing, more than 200 Palestinians and 10 Israelis have been killed in the conflict in Gaza. A few days before the conflict began, the Biden Administration approved a $735 million weapons sale to Israel. With this power waning, Israel’s scandal-plagued prime minister is likely to say that Israel needs weapons to defend itself against Hamas.

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May 28, 2021

MY TRUTH by Cheryl Smith Publisher

Next meeting: Look at your ZOOM Screen Director, Producer, Writer, Professor Spike Lee Credit: 40acres.com

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Credit: chicago.gov

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price Credit: johnwileyprice.com

What do director, producer, writer, professor Spike Lee, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price have in common? There are many similarities but let’s focus on one specific issue. Recently Mayor Lightfoot called the media out on the diversity issue.

In the early 1990s, Commissioner Price told Texas media outlets that he was only speaking to Black journalists. Talk about a mad scramble. Talk about some mad people! Then too, there were some very happy people, who looked or thought like me! Yes, it was an interesting time because previously Mr. Price picketed news organi-

zations, calling attention not only to the paltry number of Black people in newsrooms, but also minority procurement; community involvement/engagement/support; and, the retaining, hiring and promoting of Blacks. News execs looked around their newsrooms and they had to listen to the commissioner because he was being

May 28, 2021

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elected by close to 70 percent of the electorate. In 1992, when the blockbuster film, Malcolm X, was released, Mr. Lee in asking for Black journalists to interview him, said he “has never said he only wants Black journalists to interview him. What I’m doing is using whatever clout I have to get qualified African-Americans assignments. The real crime is white publications don’t have Black writers, that’s the crime.” What was admirable was commentary from white journalists, like then-editor of Premiere Magazine Susan Lyne, who admitted there was a problem. Sadly, almost 30 years later, we are still dealing with this issue. Can you say Kerner Commission? So now folks are dogging Mayor Lightfoot out because she said what others overlook, disregard or are just too darned stupid to face. If there’s another reason, please tell me because for the life of me I can’t understand why more people don’t realize the issue is just, the cause righteous, and, they should be speaking out. Believe me those arrogant/ unenlightened folks have no problem questioning the relevance or need for organizations like the NAACP, National Black Police Association (NBPA) and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ); or HBCUs, Black businesses and the Black Church. myimessenger.com

The Brady Bunch was a family so no surprise here, but at work, you need diversity.

Which brings me to my truth. Look around the room, wherever you are. Survey the landscape. Even further, go back and read, I mean really read about the history of this country. My prayer is that you will experience a revolution of the mind. Saying Mr. Lee’s declaration was not a publicity stunt, Sidmel Estes-Sumpter, president of the NABJ said, “NABJ has been fighting for opportunities for Black journalists for the past 17 years. Spike Lee is not a `Johnny-come-lately’ to this cause. The request is not new. It’s new now because Spike Lee has visibility and power.” Many of the journalists who were working in Dallas newsrooms, during Mr. Price’s declaration, have since moved on, but back then, and in private conversations they were cheering myimessenger.com

and singing his praises. NABJ actually presented him with the Community Service Award. Unfortunately folks are majoring in the minors with the recent declaration by Mayor Lightfoot. What they should be addressing is disparity. Newsroom execs are on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bandwagon; but here’s an opportunity to practice what they are preaching. Instead, some are acting like petulant children, talking about reverse racism. Really? So that means you’re finally acknowledging racist practices of the past? Get a grip! I applaud Mayor Lightfoot and praise her efforts. Last week NABJ released a statement calling the mayor’s comments a “bold move” that serves to “underscore her desire to draw attention to the racial disparities in local

newsrooms and political coverage.” The statement pointed to the diverse population of Chicago and the lack of fair representation of communities of color in its local press corps. If we’re going to move forward with any attempts to be on the right side of history, you absolutely have to acknowledge and correct; not continue the madness. I like what the mayor’s deputy communications director, Ryan Johnson, tweeted: “Chicago’s Mayor picked one day out of 365 to exclusively provide one-on-one interviews with journalists of color ahead of her two-year anniversary. That shouldn’t be controversial. The lack of diversity in the media is.” And as usual with any situation you are going to find those you’re trying to help being the most vocal with their outrage.

Credit: Promo

A more diverse newsroom is good for everyone. So while there are those protesting; you will be a beneficiary. If you just understood maybe you would stop trying to gain favor by attacking your advocates. Sometimes silence can be golden. At least your descendants won’t be reading about you in the future and seeing how totally you were on the wrong side of history with the likes of Carolyn Bryant, Alabama Governor George Wallace, and J. Edgar Hoover. If you didn’t have a problem with anything being all white, instead I am saying dig deep and you might learn something about yourself. Next time you’re in a ZOOM meeting, look at the screen. Enough said! This is a time of growth and there will be growing pains for many. Resistance will only make the process more painful. May 28, 2021

May 28, 2021

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What’s Really Going On? WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ.

Recently, I had the opportunity to again listen to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” album. His scores are soul-stirring, and his lyrics touch the highs and lows of the human experience. What is more, there’s no debate that Marvin was and, through his music, IS a modern prophet. Listening to “What’s Going On,” including “Mercy Me (The Ecology)” and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler),” one wonders if Marvin had a crystal ball or whether humankind is so deeply entrenched in dysfunction that there’s no end to it. Although his music reflects the ’70s, his lyrics outline our current dysfunction. “What’s going on?” is a question that needs to be asked often. It questions our own conduct and motivations, and those of others. We need it to ascertain whether the conduct we engage in or the conduct of others is consistent with rational behavior. The rise in official misconduct which can only be classified as “rogue policing” causes one to wonder, “What’s going on?” A series of “murders by police” and aggressive police-civilian confrontations seem to be the answer following the conviction of Derek Chauvin. One only wonders how these rogue cops rationalize their myimessenger.com

actions in the face of growing scrutiny to the propriety of their official conduct. Those with a historical perspective understand that the design of modern policing is the care and protection of whites, and control and management of persons of color. The we/they perception by police of those they encoun-

When police officers, military members, teachers and politicians attempted to convince their respective audiences that the Jan. 6 insurrection wasn’t what they saw with their own eyes, we need to ask, “What’s going on?” I was shocked when I heard a sitting congressman describe that insurrection as

ter determines whether they are treated with courtesy and receive a measured response or whether they are automatically determined to be adversarial and treated with overwhelming force. These are the determinations that saw Dylann Roof (white) receive a fast-food meal after murdering nine people while Andrew Brown (Black) received a bullet to the back of the head during a so-called warrant service.

nothing more than an average day of tourism or another suggest that a law enforcement official tasked with the protection of the members of our highest legislature used inappropriate lethal force against an assailant attempting to breach the security of the Senate chamber. Maybe these two congressmen, and others, reject maintaining the democracy we have been able to “squeeze out of the tube,” but I and millions

like me prefer what we have over the autocracy promoted by #45 and those who follow him blindly. I’m disappointed in my president, who blithely justified the killing of Palestinian women and children by saying that the Israelis had the right to defend themselves in the current Middle East conflict. I’m quite familiar with the generational conflict between Jews and Palestinians. For those who’ve not made the connection, Palestinians are the Philistines you may remember reading about in the Bible. Their conflict has been long-held, but the conventions of modern warfare are specific. The indiscriminate use of lethal force against non-combatants (women and children) is strictly forbidden. I ask of him, “What’s going on?” Could it be that the current violence is being used as cover for Netanyahu’s political problems? I hate war by or against anybody and I would never so callously choose the side that’s killing women and children. The question “What’s going on?” serves to bring balance to our judgment and gives pause to evaluate how closely to TRUTH our motives are planted. We must demand REAL answers to that question and not reject the answers out of a sense of discomfort. The TRUTH will prevail! Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women and Host of “Wake Up and Stay Woke” on WPFW-FM 89.3.

May 28, 2021

What Must Be Done with White Reconstruction OUR VOICES DR. JOHN E. WARREN

While many are watching 47 out of the 50 States propose and enact Voter Suppression Laws, the question becomes one of what can we as individuals do to counter such attacks against us? First we must acknowledge the real agenda of those hiding behind the Republican Party’s control of state legislatures, embracing Donald Trump’s lie that the election was stolen. The reality is that conservative white republicans are engaged in attempts to recreate the conditions that existed by 1901 when all Black elected officials were removed from office at both the national and state level. This was the result of the deal made with the South to have no national interference with State’s Rights. The result was there were no Blacks elected to Congress between 1901 (John Roy Lynch from Mis-

sissippi) and 1928 (Oscar De Priest from Chicago). Today in 2021, it is the Republican Party (GOP), under the out-of-office leadership of Donald Trump, that is using voter suppression laws in 47 states and the soon-to-be redistricting of congressional districts under the 2020 Census, as required by the

they don’t like voter’s choices. With state courts and the U.S. Supreme Court stacked with judges appointed by a Republican Senate, clearly the stage has been set for court decisions that will further solidify the suppression of civil rights decisions at all levels. Unlike one hundred years

“With state courts and the U.S. Supreme Court stacked with judges appointed by a Republican Senate, clearly the stage has been set for court decisions that will further solidify the suppression of civil rights decisions at all levels.” U.S. Constitution every ten years, that will seek to usher in a modern day “Reconstruction”. This modern day reconstruction will once again have limited voting by people of color and election officials in state offices that can change voting results and select Electoral College delegates when

ago, we know what’s coming and what we can do to stop such actions. We know that from the increase in hate crimes and racism, much of it fueled by the actions of our former President, that racism on the part of conservative and right wing whites is fear of the “browning” of Ameri-

ca. This “browning” exists in an America in which Whites are a minority among other ethnic groups such as Blacks, Latinos and Asians. Blacks, Whites and all people of color who believe in our democratic form of government for what it does mean under a Constitution that guarantees human and civil rights, must come together to help each other. We can do this by registering to vote, selecting and funding people to run for office against the Republican “Reconstruction” program described here. We must replicate the state of Georgia’s experience in both voter turnout and election of the right people at all levels of government. We must not lose sight of the real plan behind voter suppression and the Republican Party. Let’s call the Republican Party’s agenda for what it is, The New Reconstruction 2021, and let’s get busy dealing with it at all levels. Dr. John E. Warren is publisher of The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Community Events Helping our neighbors get vaccinated against COVID-19

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May 28, 2021

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May 28, 2021

Three is a Crowd ASK ALMA BY ALMA GILL

Dear Alma, My friend of over 15 years recently made the decision it was time for her and her mother to live together again. After her father died, her mom never could really handle remaining in the childhood home and all the responsibilities that go along with it, so they decided it would be best for financial and health reasons if they sold the house and moved in together. A little over a year ago, she and her mom purchased a beautiful home and as far as she is concerned, all is well. But if you asked me, I’d have to disagree. The problem is, now her mother goes everywhere with us. When we go on a girls’ getaway weekend, to a friend’s weddings or to a baby shower and even to the club. She even went with us to go see Charlie Wilson! Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends’ mother, but I don’t want to party with her or always have her around. I’ve become hesitant when making plans with my friend as she always assumes our plans include her mother. What can I do? How can I explain to her, her mother is not “always” invited? Signed, Three’s a crowd Dear Three’s a crowd, Heavens to Hezekiah, girl, say it ain’t so! When ya’ll hanging out, her mama can’t go! From what I’ve read, here’s my take: when it comes to her mama, that’s not really your choice or decision to make. Stay with me now and hear me out. I think this situation is on overload, because it gives them both an opportunity to reconnect at a different phase of life. Two grown up women forming an adult-to-adult friendship as opposed to the

May 28, 2021

usual “I’m the mother, you’re the child” relationship. Be that as it may, I don’t anticipate it will last forever. Her father has died, both are grieving and serving as the rock each one needs at this time. Sooner or later her mother will settle into a more independent space. Does your friend have family in the area, any siblings? Maybe you could encourage her to make plans for her mom to visit extended family for the weekend, alone. Maybe she can spend time with a sister, cousin or childhood friend in a neighboring city. It sounds like her mom was used to having someone around, probably her deceased husband, and now she needs her daughter to fill that void. Your friend, obviously operating to be the best daughter she can, is ready, willing and able to do what’s necessary to make her mother happy. There’s nothing wrong with that. I can say for sure, your friend will never regret it. Any time we take or commitments we make, devoted to our parents at any age, is priceless. You miss your BFF, Sweetpea and I totally understand. But she’s the one experiencing this life change, you should cut her a break. Try to understand how her life has been rearranged. As much as this irritates you right now, the best part about it is – it ain’t your mama, LOL. Don’t make her pick, don’t make her choose. When it comes to her mama, you’re sure to lose. It’s not your place to dismantle this threesome, pull up a chair and rest in it. I’m sure your friend has enough room in her heart and space on her plate for the both of you. Alma

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Alma Gill’s newsroom experience spans more than 25 years, including various roles at USA Today, Newsday and the Washington Post. Email questions to: alwaysaskalma@ gmail.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and twitter @almaaskalma.

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NBA’S new Social Justice Award honors extraordinary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar “In addition to being one of our greatest players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has devoted much of his life to advocating for equality and social justice. With this new award, we are proud to recognize and celebrate NBA players who are using their influence to make an impact on their communities and our broader society.” — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver TO BE EQUAL MARC MORIAL

Three decades after retiring from the NBA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remains the League’s all-time leading scorer and still holds the record for the most MVP awards, the most field goals, most All-Star selections, and the most minutes played. In the years since, he has found success in a variety of pursuits: coach, cultural ambassador, even reality television contestant. But his greatest achievements off the court have been as a writer and civil rights activist. Now, the NBA has honored him by creating a new award to recognize the player who best embodies his pursuit of social justice and racial equality. The first Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award will be announced during the playoffs. The winner will receive $100,000 to donate to an organization of his choosing. Four additional finalists will receive $25,000. It is my honor to serve on the committee that will select the winner. Throughout his impressive career, Kareem myimessenger.com

Abdul-Jabbar has been an uncompromising example of leadership, excellence and integrity. Abdul-Jabbar – then known as Lew Alcindor – emerged as a basketball phenomenon as a student at Power Memorial Academy in New York City in the early 1960s as the Civil Rights Movement was reaching a crescendo. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963, when he was 16, awoke a deep anger within him. “As I watched the ineffectual moral outrage of the black southern preachers, the cold coverage of the white media, and the posturings of the John F. Kennedy White House, my whole view of the world fell into place,” he wrote in his 1983 autobiography, Giant Steps. “My faith was exploded like church rubble, my anger was shrapnel.” A few months later during a game, he was devastated to hear his trusted coach use the n-word when berating his playing. Determined not to return to the coach’s basketball camp in the summer of 1964, he accepted a summer job as a reporter in the Harlem Youth Action Project’s journalism workshop. Though he later relented and attended the camp in August,

Kareem Abdul Jabbar Credit: Courtesy: Jabbar’s website

he began his summer working out of the 135th Street YMCA Annex and devouring the collections of the Schomburg Center for Research In Black Culture on Lenox Avenue. On July 18, Harlem erupted in rioting in response to the shooting death of a Black teenager by an off-duty police officer. “We interviewed people all over the Harlem streets and got exactly the angry, ghetto-dialect, eyewitness reports that white journalists and newscasters have such a hard time accepting at face value,” he wrote. “Newspapers and TV broadcasts focused on property damage and police injuries, not Harlem’s powerlessness.”

As a student at UCLA, he was among a group of prominent Black athletes inspired by Muhammad Ali who supported a boycott of the 1968 Olympic games to protest racial discrimination. Though no formal boycott was announced, he declined to participate and spent the summer teaching basketball and mentoring children as part of New York City’s Operation Sports Rescue. “I thought then and think now that the pride I instilled in those hundreds of inner city black kids by teaching and paying attention to them was ultimately worth more than whatever I could have contributed to the national morale in the way of an Olympic gold medal,” he wrote. In addition to several autobiographies and mystery novels, Abdul-Jabbar has published books about the Harlem Renaissance, Black inventors, and forgotten Black heroes like the 761st Tank Battalion, belatedly awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in 1978 for extraordinary heroism in World War II, and Bass Reeves, first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. As racial justice protest swept the nation last year, he wrote in the Los Angeles Times, “Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible – even if you’re choking on it – until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands.” Marc Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.

May 28, 2021

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When Church Hurt Happens FAITHFUL UTTERANCES BY DR. FROSWA BOOKER-DREW

No matter how different we believe that people are, I’ve learned that at the core of each of us is a desire to feel a sense of belonging. We all want to feel as if we matter, that we are valued and that we are heard. Belonging is a strong emotion and it’s something that at some point in our lives we’ve sought to fit in. “Belonging refers to an individual sense of acceptance…when belonging is intentionally fostered…feel [ing] accepted and connected with each other around a shared sense of purpose.” We want to feel as if we are accepted at our jobs, in our homes and even with a peer group. As kids, we want to be liked and this doesn’t stop as adults. The desire to be noticed and recognized does not go away. Even if it is no longer by a group on the playground that we seek popularity from, there is something in our lives that we want to be a part of, to feel that people ‘get’ us and that we can be accepted for who we are. For many of us, the church has served that purpose. We have wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than ourselves with others that could empathize with us, who would stand with us and support us. Sometimes, the very place that was to offer a myimessenger.com

haven of support has caused a lot of pain creating wounds that have permeated to the core of who we are. What happens when the hurt we have is from others who are Christians, church folks who were supposed to be different? Church Hurt “refers to the pain sometimes inflicted by religious institutions — a pain that distances sufferers from their communities and from God.” When I was in college, there was a pastor

the church, but I never left my relationship with God. Over time, I was blessed to find a congregation that is not perfect but one that has demonstrated love and a commitment to creating a sense of belonging that I needed. It took time to work through the trauma of church hurt and as I mentioned in my last article, it would have been easy to hide and sedate my pain, but I needed support to get through it. Counseling was critical to

“I’ve seen loved ones dismissed at a time

when they needed consoling by those in leadership positions whose role was to do just that. I know of countless stories of abuse, betrayal and trust broken in the church.” that I trusted. Instead of being someone I thought I could confide in at a time when I needed spiritual direction, I found myself running out of his office to get away from being attacked. I’ve seen loved ones dismissed at a time when they needed consoling by those in leadership positions whose role was to do just that. I know of countless stories of abuse, betrayal and trust broken in the church. Some of my friends who know my journey often ask how I was able to return to a place that caused me such pain. For several years, I left

begin to heal the wounds that if not addressed, would have destroyed my relationships and would have created a wedge between God and myself. There is no excuse for bad behavior and for individuals who abuse their power. That is not the church that Christ created. That is a church built on the egos and insecurities of a human being. So many of us sit by and watch this happen Sunday after Sunday without ever saying a word or doing anything. Know that Jesus spoke up when He witnessed

abuses of power. We, too, need to use our voices and power when we witness injustice even if in the church. It is important to also know the difference in God’s character and the character of humans. Anything that goes against God’s love and God’s nature is not of God. So how do you heal from church hurt? We must address this trauma head-on as well. Matthew 18:14-17 commands us to not keep quiet but tell our truth and seek restoration even if we must bring others into the conversation. We can’t stop believing in God and give up hope: “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying.” (Romans 12:12 NLT) Church hurt is real and is painful. God sees your pain. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) When we go through losses like this, we are grieving the loss of our identity and what is familiar. Allow yourself to grieve, commit to your healing and restoration through prayer and partnership with others that can walk with you. You can reclaim your joy, your peace, and your time.

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.

May 28, 2021

In the hood they call him ‘Brother’

Minister Alshaheed Muhammad with members of the Nation of Islam

By Texas Metro News Staff Since its founding in 1930, the Nation of Islam (NOI) has a rich history of compelling leadership serving the Black community throughout America. These leaders, or “student ministers” as they are referred to in the NOI, are under the command of an eternal leader, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and now The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan, who governs from the Chicago May 28, 2021

Credit: NOI

Meet Nation of Islam Student Minister Alshaheed Muhammad headquarters which oversees over 120 mosques and study groups. The mosques are the base of operations in each city, where their own schools, businesses, and activities dispatch from. Many notable

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ministers have been pivotal in various chapters of the Black experience historically. Whether it was Malcolm X; Abdul Rahman, who was responsible for recruiting world boxing champ, Muhammad Ali; Louis Farrakhan who rebuilt

the Nation after the departure of its eternal leader, and under his leadership Dr. Khalid Abdul Muhammad, Dr. Ava Muhammad and many more. This legacy is also rich in the Dallas area with names like Isiah Karriem in the 70s, to myimessenger.com

Carl Muhammad and Jeffery Muhammad, the community has benefitted from whomever the student minister of Muhammad Mosque No.48 was. Now at the helm is Brother Alshaheed Muhammad, a youthful and energetic spirit that is the student minister located in South Dallas, on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The mosque is a pillar of the neighborhood and has long been known as beacon of strength for Black Dallas. “My interaction with Brother Shaheed is positive. On an asneeded basis anything I have needed support on he has been there,” said Dallas City Councilman Casey Thomas of Student Min. Muhammad who has been working tirelessly to raise the condition of the people of downtrodden Dallas

Student Min. Muhammad, Commissioner John Wiley Price, and Student Protocol Dir. Julian Muhammad Credit: NOI

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since his appointment as student minister of Mosque 48 four plus years ago. Since the onset of the pandemic, under Bro. Alshaheed’s administration the Mosque has distributed thousands of hot meals, pallets of milk, and water; serving South Dallas and Oak Cliff. Dr. Toney Johnson said he has actively witnessed Muhammad’s work and is so proud of what he is accomplishing. “The education and community programs he and brothers have implemented in the area are to be commended. He has also led efforts to ensure justice while simultaneously working with police departments to improve relationships between communities and officers. I am honored to have him as a friend and brother,” said Dr. Johnson. Muhammad is a graduate of Langston University, and presides over his own business as an educator; teaching children STEM-inspired curriculum at his school, Engineers of Tomorrow, located in DeSoto. One parent said of her son who attends Muhammad’s school, “I saw improvement in his behavior after one week.” Muhammad says the words of his teacher, The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan has kept him focused, balancing his position over Mosque 48, the love and care of his wife and family, and his business. “When I first got on the post, I was at the home of The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan and he asked me to stand up amongst all of his other student ministers that were present and read a scripture. The scripture was Matthew 6:24, “no man can serve two masters for either

Fruit of Islam, Student Min. Muhammad and Robert Ashley at KHVN -AM

he will hate the one or love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other, for you cannot serve God and Mammon, which represents prosperity teaching,” said Muhammad, adding that his ministry is all about people building. Mosque 48’s student protocol director, Julian Muhammad,

bears witness to the student minister’s people-building skills. “He visits the shut-in whether it’s in the hospitals, incarcerated or just a friendly

Credit: NOI

visit to their home. He has a sincere interest for the Black community and people overall wellbeing,” he said. Dr. Derrick Love knows this of his Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity brother. “He has a voice to ignite change, and is a catalyst for so much unity, he brings people together,” said Dr. Lowe. Muhammad has been a major force in the implementation of unity in Dallas, working closely with several churches, and organizations like Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; whose chapter is located next door to Mosque 48. Muhammad is also a hiphop artist working to unite that community as well. For this student minister, he plans to focus on continuing the efforts of growing The Nation of Islam here in Dallas, while serving the community. “We have had 70 new members since my being appointed to this post. We plan to unite with any organization that has a genuine love for our people,” said Muhammad.

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Why does the US support the murder of Palestinians? THE LAST WORD BY DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX

As of this writing, more than 200 Palestinians and 10 Israelis have been killed in the conflict in Gaza. A few days before the conflict began, the Biden Administration approved a $735 million weapons sale to Israel. With this power waning, Israel’s scandal-plagued prime minister is likely to say that Israel needs weapons to defend itself against Hamas. But the imbalance in the casualties suggests that Israel is more likely to have been the aggressor than the victim. Israeli people will say that Hamas started the conflict, but the conflict has its roots in the establishment of Israel in 1948 and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. There will be no peace in the Middle East until the land question is settled, with Palestinians getting justice and respect. But Israel has a lock on US foreign policy, and too many Jewish people say that criticism of Israel makes you anti-Semitic. There is no anti-Semitism

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in wanting justice for Palestinian people, but some, fearful of being called anti-Semitic, are silent in the face of injustice. Of course, there should be a cease-fire, and of course, the United Nations, President Biden, and our State Department should call for a ceasefire. That’s just a short-term solution, though. There has been conflict in the Middle East since Israel was established, and there will likely be conflict until Palestinians feel they have justice. There seems no interest in justice for Palestinians, no interest, even in peaceful co-existence. The discrimination against Palestinian people in Israel is extreme, and even though Israeli Arabs are a significant portion of Israel’s medical workers, saving Israeli lives, they still face discrimination. According to the New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, “Israeli Arab medical workers were essential for enabling Israel’s Jewish citizens to survive the coronavirus. According to official figures, 17 percent of Israel’s physicians, 24 percent of its nurses, and 47 percent of its pharmacists are Arabs.” But they can’t get justice.

Of course, the previous President didn’t help matters at all, sending his rookie sonin-law to “negotiate” peace and unilaterally deciding the disposition of Jerusalem. The two-state solution, which many embrace, has also been rejected. The previous and his administration were so blatantly pro-Israel that they were adding fuel to any burning fire in the Middle East. The arms sale to Israel is the least of the matter. Israel gets more foreign aid than almost any other country in the world. What could be done with that money to address domestic ills? And are human rights violations in the Middle East egregious enough that President Biden might be tempted to get us involved in some military action? Will we be trading our presence in Afghanistan for that in the Middle East? And what do voters think about this? The good news is that while the political establishment, including President Biden, has tended to embrace Israel, younger Democrats are questioning how our country is so indifferent to Palestinian rights. On May 13, for example, Massachusetts Congress-

woman Ayanna Pressley, a member of “The Squad,” said, “We can’t stand idly by when the United States government sends $3.8 billion of military aid to Israel that is used to demolish Palestinian homes, imprison Palestinian children and displace Palestinian families.” Too bad more members of Congress don’t share her views. Instead, while Congress can object to the proposed weapons sale, they won’t. They’d rather sit idly by and implicitly approve the killing of Palestinian people and Israel’s gradual annexation of Palestinian lands. The United States was founded by the annexation of Native American lands and built with the exploitation of enslaved people’s labor. No wonder we have not objected forcefully to what is happening in the Middle East. In some ways, Israel has taken a page from the US playbook in exploiting Palestinians. No wonder so many are silent in the face of these most recent indignities. There will be no peace in the Middle East until there is justice for Palestinians. Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist, and social commentator.

May 28, 2021

Finding Your Place Longtime HR executive seeks runoff win for Frisco City Council seat Story and Photos By EVA D. COLEMAN Lifestyle & Culture Editor Small in stature. Big on experience. Angelia Pelham’s credentials as a human resources executive speak volumes. As a person who once placed others in significant roles at major corporations, she’s now in a runoff for a position of her own, Frisco City Council Place 3. With Frisco, Texas consistently dubbed as one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, slow to grow has been the diversity among its leadership. The once small town where everyone knew each other, with city council and school district board positions being recycled among a few, no longer exists. Local political races have increasingly seen a rise in competitors. May 28, 2021

Angelia Pelham speaks at Rally at the Rooftop

Angelia Pelham for Frisco City Council Place

“It’s time-out for using yesterday’s qualifications for today’s Frisco,” Pelham said to women gathered during one of her campaign stops. The Pensacola, FL native describes herself as a “corporate transplant.” She arrived in Frisco via employment with Pepsi-Co and has held top HR roles for a number of brands, including The Walt Disney Company, Cin-

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emark and Dave & Buster’s; to name a few. Her savviness and oratorical skills, which she shares were developed in grade school and helped in securing scholarships to fund her education, lend to her concisely conveying her campaign priorities. “I know Frisco is on the last mile and a lot of decisions need to be made,” Pelham shared with Frisco residents during a candidate forum at Stonebriar Country Club. “From my perspective, it’s time for a business leader who can sit in that seat and help identify those long term

business decisions that need to be made.” Born eighth of nine children, Pelham, who grew up impoverished in a mobile home community, often shares stories about “handme-down clothes” and “not knowing about homes that weren’t on wheels.” For her, economic impact is priority number one. “The first area of opportunity for us as a city is to return our tourism back to its preCovid state because tourism has an impact on every aspect of the economy,” she said, adding that her second area myimessenger.com

of focus is balancing the city’s growth with quality of life. The family experience is important to Pelham. She’s married to Pastor Dono Pelham of Life-Changing Faith Christian Fellowship Church of Frisco (do not call her First Lady). They are parents to their daughter and recent high school graduate, Ashley Juliana, who is on her way to study at Columbia University. She said they worked to provide their daughter with the best and they want the same for all children in their fast-growing community. “That’s not an easy feat. That’s a challenge,” Pelham said. “How do you manage growth in these areas that are zoned multifamily with traffic issues?” she asked. The final priority comes simply with Pelham’s being. “Just continuing to ensure that we recognize the diversity that exists within our city; we’re about 40 percent people of color and ensuring that everyone has a voice at the table when it comes to the diversity of our city,” she said. If victorious against her opponent, Frisco veterinarian Dr. Jennifer White, Pelham will be the first African American in the history of Frisco to be elected to the City Council. Pelham has the support and public endorsements of many in current and past leadership positions, including Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney of whom she served as his campaign treasurer. Both he and current Place 1 Frisco City Councilman John Keating host events, and also join her at rallies and campaign stops to further emphasize their commitment and desire to have her serve alongside them. She’s made appearances and held conversations at plenty of local, Frisco businesses as well. myimessenger.com

Angelia Pelham poses with supporters at local business event.

Many on the Frisco Independent School District Board of Trustees have publicly pledged their support as well, including Dynette Davis, who recently earned her place in history as the first African American elected to serve. Upon learning the news of Pelham advancing to a runoff, Davis posted on social media: “Proud is an understatement. You showed up and worked hard in this race. Hold on Sis, just a little further to go. I am excited for you. Let’s get it done.” A Florida State University and Rollins College graduate, Pelham is in her final stretch of this race which could result in a major historic milestone. Foundation matters. Pelham attended private school from first through third grade. While her family could not afford it, she says the opportunity was the result of “a blessing from my father’s client.” An unskilled laborer, Pehlam’s father died from cancer at age 49 when she was 10 years old, but he instilled values in her that remain today. In the Pelham family, connectivity transcends households and is personal. So much so that her mother and

mother-in-law lived together for 17 years; first becoming housemates in Florida and transitioning and residing together during the family’s move to Texas as well. Pelham’s mother died in

Angelia Pelham speaks at campaign event at local business

August of last year and she recalled the conversation they had about a potential run for City Council. Her mother emphatically and emotionally said, “Go for it Angelia!” During a recent Frisco Chamber of Commerce candidate’s forum, Pelham stared straight into the camera and spoke about other parental advice that has stuck with her as well. “One of the very first lessons I learned from my mother was the first act of courage is to simply show up,” she said in response to her opponent, Dr. White, not showing up for

the debate. “You did not show up. You failed the citizens of Frisco.” Dr. White was allowed to share a three-minute recording in place of appearing at the live, virtual event of which candidates were invited to appear in-person. Pelham said she hopes to continue her legacy of being a connector. For the past 11 years, Linking Cultures of Frisco, an organization of which she founded, honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and provides an annual oratory contest and scholarships for area students. “I met Angelia early on during her campaign. Right away I knew that she would be an asset to the council and the City of Frisco,” Frisco ISD School Board Trustee Davis said. “I chose to support her because I believe she has what it takes to help move Frisco forward. I am confident that she will do amazing work, if elected. I am proud to know her and happy to support her.” Pelham’s life experiences and career in managing people ;brings together resources she hopes can help maintain the “economic vibrancy and diversification” of Frisco. “My running, this is bigger than me,” Pelham explained. “This is about the culture and the economic prosperity and the unification of our city.” Early voting takes place May 24th - June 1st. Election day is June 5th. Angelia Pelham was recommended for Frisco City Council Place 3 by our partner publication, The Dallas Morning News, on April 1, 2021. During the DMN sponsored candidate forum, Dr. Jennifer White did not attend nor return a phone call to discuss her candidacy. To learn more visit angeliaforfrisco.com

May 28, 2021

That Celebrity Interview

Lillian Vasquez THAT CELEBRITY INTERVIEW BY VALDER BEEBE

I invited style expert, and author Lillian Vazquez into the Valder Beebe Show studios. Lilliana is a trailblazing interviewer, style expert and author. The enterprising star has curated a career that began from a small blog, to being seen by millions daily on numerous nationwide platforms and morning talk shows. Lilliana has always been passionate

May 28, 2021

about giving back and actively advocates on issues such as education, health, immigration and economic empowerment. She also embraces and welcomes her responsibility as a role model for others in the Latinx community who aspire to work in television. Lillian also embraces and welcomes her responsibility as a role model for others in the Latinx community who aspire to work in television. Lillian Vazquez text provided with her publicists in conjunction with the Valder Beebe Show VBS: I am excited to talk with you as you have new and creative

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ideas. Let’s talk Nintendo. LV: Thank you for inviting me. Whether mom is looking for some “me” time playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons with friends, staying active with Ring Fit Adventure or enjoying family game nights with classic games with Nintendo Switch Online*, Nintendo has something for everyone. VBS: I’m amazed, as Nintendo has announced new Nintendo makeup and fashion collaborations. LV: Yes Nintendo announced their collaborations with ColourPop and Danielle Nicole. These make great gifts

for Mom’s everywhere. VBS: Mom’s love games also, anything specific for mom and the family. You know so she does not feel left-out? LV: The best games for mom this year, we have a full list starting with a classic………. Lillian Vazquez complete interview…… YouTube.com/valderbeebeshow; more interviews: SoundCloud.com/valderbeebeshow: Broadcasting to a national & global audience: ValdeBeebeShow.com; KKVI FM Radio, KRER FM, 411RadioNetwork, Streaming TV, Social Media, Print Publications I MESSENGER, Texas Metro News and Garland Journal News.

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Dallas COVID-19 Resources

MO’ BETTAH WINGS

COVID-19 Call the hotline The bestHotline way to 24-7 protect yourself and others is to 214-670-INFO (4636) to get information regarding: stay at home. •Current COVID-19 Regulations & Testing Locations •Employment Assistance •Federal Relief Payment Information •Volunteer/Assistance Opportunities •Rental/Mortgage, and Eviction Assistance •Small Business Assistance •Social Services (food pantry, childcare assistance, senior assistance, unsheltered resident assistance and mental health resources) •Utility Payment Assistance

Slow the spread of COVID-19 The best way to protect yourself and others is to stay at home.

Safer at home

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11am-10pm Monday-Saturday 12-8 Sunday

Wash with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.

Keep your mouth and nose covered while out in public.

Visit dallascityhall.com/COVID19 for a list of resources and up-to-date information about COVID-19.

May 28, 2021

MICKLE CAJUN KITCHEN 3203 W. Camp Wisdom Rd. Dallas, Tx 75237 Next Door to Java Lavender / Health & Nutritional Bar & Restaurant micklechickenllc@gmail.com 469.399.0007 Gumbo Ln.

LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for Two Permits 1. (BG) Wine and Beer Retailer's 2. (FB) Food and Beverage Certificate by Mr. Toby Mickle / entity dba: Mickle Chicken LLC Trade Name: Mickle Cajun Kitchen Hours of Operation are: 11am - 7pm (No late hours) To be located at: 3203 W. Camp Wisdom Rd. Dallas Tx 75237 Suite # 3203 Officers of said Corporation are: Mr. Toby Mickle / (No Partners)

May 28, 2021

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May 28, 2021

Paul Mooney... Explained!

Paul Mooney

QUIT PLAYIN’ VINCENT L. HALL The “Creator” speaks subtly to all of us in time and space. Some call it coincidence, others prophecy or signs. Consider that James Brown, a gift to Black America, died on Christmas Day 2006. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died hours apart on July 4, 1826; the 50th anniversary of American independence. Hmmm! However, just yesterday, the God of the Universe fixed it so that Paul Mooney would draw his last breath on the birthdate of Malcolm X. There are plenty of parallels between Paul the Comic and Malcolm the so-called Communist. Both were fiery and unapologetic in their rebuttals of racism and American hypocrisy. Both laughed, albeit cautiously! Paul Gladney, aka Mooney, May 28, 2021

was a comedic genius, but not the type we celebrate today. Comedy is much more than rattling off a litany of wellplaced curse words and discussions on genitalia. When I think of comedy, I think of writing in its most perfect art form. You tether those words and thoughts to well-timed deliveries, and it makes laughter inescapable. Paul Mooney was both writer and actor. One of his most famous jokes appeared on Saturday Night Live, using Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor. Pryor was asked to respond to a word association exercise to see if he was employable. Mooney’s talents as a comedic writer and social critic were fully revealed in the 1975 skit. “Dog – Tree, Fast - Slow, Rain - Snow, White - Black, Negro – Whitey, Tar baby – Ofe, Colored – Redneck, Jungle Bunny - Peckerwood, Porch Monkey – Cracker, Spade – Honky, Nigger - Dead Honkey!” The brilliance was that Mooney uncovered most of

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the racial pejoratives used by and against Black and White people. However, the genius was contrasting the relative calm maintained by the White interviewer to the visible and rising anger of the Black job seeker. By the end of the joke, Chase offered Pryor $5,000 to start. Pryor, still seething about the racial insults, responds to the generous offer with, “Yo mama!” It was equally effective as comedy and social commentary. Paul Mooney had already made his mark by scripting lines for Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson. Sanford and Son, to this day, is viewed as one of the best written Black television shows ever. The show provided a resting place for Black souls and teachable moments for White viewers. Mooney remained relative with the times. Who else could have created “Homey D. Clown” other than another angry Black man? “In Living Color” had many working parts, but Homey D.

Clown made an indelible niche for the variety/comedy show. Homey had enough self-love to survive and enough consciousness to castigate White America for the hatred and disrespect he had to endure as a Brother. Last but not least, Paul Mooney became Negrodamus, a play on the French astrologer, physician, and “seer” Nostrodamus. Moody developed and played the role of Negrodamus as part of the Dave Chappelle Show. As NegroDamus held one of his patented psychic question and answer sessions, a brother in the audience asked him why White people love Wayne Brady so much. Negrodamus replied that White people like Wayne Brady because he makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcolm X. His answer reminds us that most Whites hate Black radicals and activists and loves the “kinder, gentler brands of Blackness!” Conversely, a significant reason pro-Black voices like Dave Chappelle, Paul Mooney, and Malcolm X engender themselves to White liberal audiences is that these Whites want to understand who we are. Paul Mooney was funny, but he told the truth so blatantly that even diehard revolutionaries shuddered. He could be raw and risqué and then dismiss his anger with a smile and a nod. On the day that we remember what should have been “Brother Malcolm’s 96th birthday, we lost Paul Mooney at 79. There is a prophecy or parallel there somewhere. Wish Paul was here to explain! Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and award-winning columnist.

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May 28, 2021

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

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

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Introducing

EAT ZONE Best Food in Town

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Book your trip with the GoPass® app or call 214-515-7272. For information about GoLink – including fares, maps, hours of operation and more – visit

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Virtual and liVe Community Calendar National Foster Care Month Mental Health Month Lupus Month

2nd Annual: Sundress & Sneakers Memorial Day Weekend Staycation. Event by The Socially Astute, at the NYLO Dallas Plano, 8201 Preston Rd. Plano. Eventbrite.com. 6 pm-1 am. DFW Small Business Expo at Music City Mall Lewisville, 2401 S Stemmons Fwy. 11 am-6 pm. Info: Antoine White 314-6304465. Eventbrite.com.

May 27 Racial Healing Book Club, Spring 2021. Event by South Florida PoC, 6-7:30 pm CDT. Event via Eventbrite.com.

Ask a Mental Health Professional. Event by Kiva Harper, LCSW. 11:30 am-1 pm. CDT. Facebook Live event: https://www.facebook.com/ KivaHarperLCSW.

Let’s Talk About Community Safety. Hosted by Cedar Hill Government Center, at 285 Uptown Blvd. 6 pm. CDT. Submit questions here: https://bit.ly/3bj2Nje.

May Flowers Market Event by Hecho Con Amor, 1227 W. Davis St. 5-9 pm.

Life Without A Safety Net: Foster Care. Host Metro Dallas Youth Committee 12-1:30 pm CDT. Reg: www.bit.ly/3ffGGwy.

May 30

From Marva with Love, with Marva Sneed. 11 am -1 pm. CST, on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, & BlogTalkRadio.com. Join in the conversation at 646-200-0459. R&B vs. Everybody w/ Bryan Michael Cox. Event by Follow Ya DJ’ s, DJ Freeze. At Herrera’s Tex-Mex Addison, 4021 Belt Line Rd. #109. 9 pm-2 am. Tickets: APEXRNB.eventbrite.com. George Floyd Week “Toast for the Movement” Event by Next Generation Action Network at African American Museum of Dallas, 3536 Grand Ave. 7-10 pm. RSVP: Eventbrite.

The World According to Drew, host Andrew Whigham, III on BlogTalkRadio.com. 8-10 am. Thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news at 646200-0459. Sunday Drum Circle. Hosted by Pan African Connection, 4466 Marsalis, Dallas. 2:30-4:30 pm. Email: Panafric@airmail.net.

M.A.D.E. Dallas host Dallas Farmers Market, 920 S. Harwood. 4-8 pm.

May 29 “The Connections For Positive Priorities And Common Sense” with Debra BrownSturns. On Facebook.com/Texas Metro News and BlogTalkRadio.com. 12-2 pm. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459. Our Odyssey: The Pan-African Experience Through Black Arts. Event by Bandan Koro African Drum & Dance Ensemble. Annette Strauss Square, AT &T Performing Arts Center, 2403 Flora St. Tickets: attpac.org/on-sale/2021/our-odyssey. 8 pm.

May 28, 2021

A Real Conversation With Chaka Khan Event by AARP Black Community. 4 pm CDT. on facebook. com/AARPBlackCommunity. Dallas Open Mic at The Green Elephant, 5627 Dyer St. Dallas. 8 pm-12 am. Tickets: Eventbrite.com. Burnet Elementary Neighborhood Park Celebration. Event by Texas Trees Foundation. David G Burnet Elementary, 3200 Kincaid Dr. All day activities. 7:30 am-8 pm.

June 2 I Was Just Thinking with Norma Adams-Wade. 11 am -1 pm. Facebook Live/@ TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio.com. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459.

A History of African American Cowboys with Larry Callies. Host Genealogy Adventures & Donya Papoose Williams. Speaker, Larry Callies. 3 pm. CDT. Online: https://bit.ly/3frcxt9.

Ask Dr. Amerson with Dr. Linda Amerson.12 pm. CST @DFWiRadio.com, and Live on Facebook @DrLindaAmerson

Mimosa Festival Dallas TX, AZ Food Festivals and Deep Ellum Art Company, 3200 Commerce St. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3w7mrXB. 11 am-5 pm. Sangria & Art Walk, Event by Bishop Arts District. Event by Bishop Arts District, 401 N Bishop Ave, Dallas. 4-8 pm. Tickets: https://bit. ly/3vjvftw.

All DAQ Jazz: The Perfect Date Night Event by Daq’s Luxury Daiquiri Lounge, 8700 Preston Rd., Plano. 7-10 pm. Tickets:www.opentable.com/restref/client. 4 Ya Soul Band LIVE! at The Freeman Cafe, 2626 Commerce St, Dallas. 10 pm.

Covenant Conversations for Women Pastors & Women in Ministry Only! Host Christian Alliance of Pastors. Feat: Dr. Gina Marcia Stewart. 6 pm. CDT. Reg: www.conta.cc/3fa2TvX.

Happy Birthday to Dorothy J. Gentry

Real Talk About Mental Wellness. Event by AARP Black Community. Feat: Iyanla Vanzant, Dr. Arthur Evans, Jr. and Dr. Rahn Kennedy Bailey. 4 pm. CDT. At www.facebook.com/ AARPBlackCommunity.

May 28

The Jirah Nicole Show with Jirah Nicole Mickle. 11:30 am-1:30 pm. CST. on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews & BlogTalkRadio. com. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459.

Black History Every Month: The History of Black People in America 1619-2021. Event by We Got Now, BR Communications. Tickets: Eventbrite.com. 6-7:30 pm. http://operationgrowth.com/

June 3

Dallas Virtual Job Fair Looking for a job in Dallas? If you are this event is a must attend. 9 am-3 pm. Reg: Eventbrite.com.

May 31

June 4

Memorial Day Memorial Day Celebration and National Moment of Remembrance at The Texas Pool, 901 Springbrook Dr. Plano. 12-2 pm. Tickets: www.texaspool.org.

From Marva with Love, with Marva Sneed. 11 am -1 pm. CST, Fridays on Facebook Live/@ TexasMetroNews, and BlogTalkRadio.com. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459.

CANVAS Dallas Memorial Day Pool Party at CANVAS Dallas, 1325 Botham Jean Blvd. 2-7 pm. Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

Music in the Park Event by Cedar Hill Parks and Recreation Department. Valley Ridge Park, 2850 Parkridge Dr. Cedar Hill 8-9:30 pm. Info: www.cedarhillTX.com/music.

2nd Annual Sundresses & Sunglasses Memorial Day Party @ The Woolworth, 1520 Elm St. #201. 3-8 pm. RSVP: www. memorialdayparty21.eventbrite.com.

Painting With a View hosted by Klairty and Khaos @ Lorenzo Hotel 1011 S. Akard St. 7-9 pm. Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

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Crawfish Festival. Event by City of DeSoto Parks & Recreation Department, at Desoto Outdoor Amphitheater Theater, 211 E. Pleasant Run Rd. 6 pm. Info: crawfishfest2021. eventbrite.com. Dallas Black Dance Theatre Fundraiser, at Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St. 8 pm-12 am. For ticket details, visit : www.DallasBigDance.com. Dallas Police Dept. hosts JAZZ IN THE PARK: A FAMILY PICNIC at The African American Museum, 3536 Grand Ave. 10 am-2 pm. Reg: Eventbrite.com. Generate Nation’s Summer Jam concert, feat: Christian Hip Hop sensation, Lecrae & Dallas Lyricist, Shy Speaks at Texas Live! 1650 E. Randol Mill Rd. Arlington 7:30 pm. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3ew9e4F.

June 6 The World According to Drew, host Andrew Whigham, III on BlogTalkRadio. com 8-10 am. It’s thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, & news commentary. Join the call at 646-200-0459. How Did Formerly Enslaved Families Choose Their Surnames? Hosts Genealogy Adventures, Brian Sheffey, & Donya Papoose Williams. Online: bit.ly/3frcxt9. 3 pm. CDT. 5th Anniversary Day Party, Feat: Front Cover and Soulful Soundz Party Band at Smoking Jacket Cigar Lounge, 1435 N. US-67 S Fwy. Cedar Hill. 6 pm. Dallas Virtual Job Fair Dallas Career Fairs. Job Fair Pro will be hosting a Virtual Job Fair online at jobfairpro.com. 9 am-3 pm. CDT. Reg: Eventbrite.com. No More Excuses, Let’s Heal For Real, with Lynn Meyer, MA, LPC. 2-4 pm. CDT. Reg: Eventbrite.com.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

June 5

June 1 THE DOC SHEP SPEAKS SHOW! From 11 am. CST on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, @fnsconsulting, and You Tube @docshepspeaks.

LOUISIANA CAJUN CRAWFISH BOIL. Event by LSU Alumni Association - Dallas Chapter. Maple Landing, 5855 Maple Ave. #190. 2-6 pm.

“The Connections For Positive Priorities And Common Sense” with Debra BrownSturns. On Facebook.com/Texas Metro News BlogTalkRadio.com. 12-2 pm. Join the conversation 646-200-0459.

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JOB FAIR | NOW HIRING JUNE 5TH, NOON - 5:00 PM GLENDALE SHOPPING CENTER Over 100 Positions Available | $12-$30 Hr.

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May 28, 2021

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May 28, 2021

Big Mama Said:

“Don’t let crazy rule you! Break the rains! Breathe and let go!” THE BLACK CARD BY TERRY ALLEN

Sometimes I think I channel the wisdom of my grandmother, Lucille “Big Mama” Allen so deeply that she is most likely smiling in heaven saying to God, “he waited until I was long gone before he learned anything!” This particular wisdom, “Don’t let Crazy rule you,” rang true for my sisters before I even could grasp the lesson. It wasn’t until I was in my senior year at Southern Methodist University that I can say that I learned to breath, pray and then let go of all those emotions that had absolutely no positive effects on my life. She declared a promise to me that everything she told would get me through every rough patch, every trial and every tribulation. She also told me that as I grew I would find God’s promise in her lessons. One day, during my transition from student to graduating senior, she called me to tell me, “You must always be hap-

May 28, 2021

py about what you have because people will have crazy ideas about what you should be based on your success.” Then she shared Philippians 4:11-13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Immediately after reading scripture, Big Mama said, “Do not let unhealed humans make you stray from your purpose. “

I MESSENGER

She explained that I had to find the strength to find contentment during trouble times because it is easy during good times. She directly stated, “Don’t beg God for stuff when you are troubled if you are not praising God for the good things.” I learned through her wisdom to understand while on my journey it will be paved with promising people. People, who promise, yet lack the wherewithal to be inclusive. They intentionally want to dampen your light because they cannot let go of the darkness they are working with.

Individuals without God’s promise are on a journey of disinformation and ill will. Big Mama said they live in a “crazy” that has become normal for them. Big Mama definitely wanted everyone in her family to break the chain and let go of bad but strongly held beliefs. She knew that if we let go of belief systems that were of no good, we could say goodbye to the bad and embrace a Greater Good. Right now, the tide is turning on COVID-19. The numbers are going down. Yet, we still have those who do not believe in vaccinations, masks and social distancing, There are those who believe the election was stolen still! There are also those that believe there is no virus and vaccines do more harm than good. I just want to tell them: “DON’T LET CRAZY RULE YOU! BREATHE AND LET GO!” Say goodbye to 2020 finally! Let me know if you are ready to let go of “Crazy” at terryallenpr@gmail.com Terry Allen is an award-winning multi-media journalist and owner of 1016 Media.

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AT THE MOVIES BY HOLLYWOOD HERNANDEZ

CONFLICTED is a story about a Buffalo gangster who’s released from prison and finds himself drawn back into his old life of guns and drugs. Hunter, played

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by Deuce King, tries to go straight. He gets a straight 9-5 job and meets a beautiful real estate agent, April (Nekaya Griffith) and things seem to be on the right track. Gradually Hunter goes back to his old ways of hanging out with criminals in the hood and getting reacquainted with contacts from his hustling days. Things get worse

when his cousin is killed dealing drugs and he puts his new life on hold to seek revenge. There are several side plots involving other gang members and girlfriends and their connection with the drug dealing world. The movie is hardcore but if you know about life on the streets CONFLICTED rings true with movie fans of this genre of movie.

It’s not BOYZ IN THE HOOD but it is a pretty good hardcore ganster film. CONFLICTED is rated R for violence, language and rape and it has a run time of 2 hours and 10 minutes. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate this movie a MEDIUM.

May 28, 2021

ARRESTED

HE IS A SERIAL RAPIST

He targeted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. but this is more than about a sorority. We’re talking about a community.

Come on PEOPLE! Don’t you CARE? Will it matter when it is your sister, mother, aunt or grandmother or maybe YOU?

Crimestoppers 877-373-8477 May 28, 2021

I MESSENGER

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