Texas Metro News 1-12-23

MY TRUTH

By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER

James Honored During Dr. King Program

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro News Correspondent

Well, it’s about that time again. We are about to share who our Person of the Year is.

Some might argue that last year’s recipient should be this year’s recipient. And that is okay. We were proud to step out and call attention to the Life and Times of Coach Prime.

One of the most crucial figures in the American civil and human rights movements, Rev. Rhett H. James, who also helped to pioneer significant desegregation efforts in Texas, will be honored posthumously at the 41st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gala, Saturday, January 14 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dallas.

Rev. James, who included among his confidants notables such as Dr. King and President Lyndon B. Johnson, invited the civil rights leader to speak in Dallas in January of 1963, to an audience of nearly 3,000. It was the first time that Dr King spoke in the city.

The “Trail Blazer Award” will

be presented to his four children, Pamela James Jones, Cedric James, Steven James, and Gregory James.

“Reverend Jones was one of the most brilliant minds that this community has ever known,” said Candace Wicks, a

Jr. Community Center’s advisory board.

The center is supported by the city of Dallas.

“The legacy of Reverend James is important, and proper

recognition of him is long overdue,” Ms. Wicks said. “There are people in our city who do not know the significance of Reverend James. He is one of the most important citizens in the history of Dallas. He is more

Coach Deion Sanders

We felt then and still believe today that HBCUs, as well as predominantly white institutions (PWIs), and so many others benefited from the work that Deion Sanders did at Jackson State University.

He had the bully pulpit and he used it courageously to challenge systems that needed to be challenged and bring attention to injustices, inequities and blatant wrongs.

Of course he is going to have his critics, and so will we.

And life will go on.

As a history buff, I love being on the right side of history. In the long run, if HBCUs and PWIs have not learned anything from Coach Prime’s stint at JSU, well that proves even more that they need help and just weren’t ready for Prime Time and never will be if they don’t make some drastic changes.

As we move on to this year’s

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro News Correspondent

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the new Democratic leader in the United States House of Representatives, is the first African American in the history of Congress to lead a major political party. The New York lawmaker succeeds former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will remain in Congress as Speaker Emerita.

Jeffries was selected to lead his fellow legislators in a private session in November. A seasoned member of Pelosi’s leadership team, he was elected unanimously.

It fell to Jeffries to present the Speaker’s gavel to California Congressman Kevin McCarthy, who realized his dream of lead-

ing the chamber after 14 unsuccessful voting sessions which included shouting matches between those who supported him and others who did not. The contest became so troubling that a physical confrontation nearly took place between

Thompson’s panel recommended criminal charges against Trump

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro News Correspondent

For the first time in the history of the nation Congress has recommended criminal charges be levied against a president and representative Bennie Thompson, a Democratic Congressman from Mississippi, guided the special congressional committee.

After an 18-month investigation that included hundreds of witnesses and nine public hearings, the Thompson-led committee recommended that Trump be charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S government, inciting an insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding and making false statements to government officials.

The final decision as to

whether Trump will be criminally charged is in the hands of Attorney General Merrick Garland. The congressional recommendation, however, is not binding on the Attorney General.

Not since the televised Watergate Hearings in 1973, has a congressional committee and its chair, received the amount of

Dallas native who serves as vice chair of the Martin Luther King

See

With the opening of the 118th Congress Representative Jeffries became the first African American in Congress to lead a major party.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson

Rev. H. Rhett James greets Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson at unidentified event in 1962, photographer unknown. Rev. H. Rhett James papers, gift of Gregory James. Rev. H. Rhett James

2023 Garland Martin Luther King activities

34th Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and March – Garland, Texas

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Garland, Texas Unit will host its 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade & march on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 10:00 A.M.

MLK Parade Route in Garland – January 14, 2023

Parade starts on Dairy Road @ Garden Drive (near Embree Park), Garland, Texas, 75040 It proceeds north on Dairy Road to Highway 66 (Avenue D)

West (Left) on Highway 66 (Avenue D) to First Street

North (Right) on First Street to Highway 66 (Avenue B)

West (Left) on Highway 66 (Avenue B) to Fifth Street

North (Right) on Fifth Street to Austin Street

Parade ends at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth @ Austin Streets, downtown Garland, TX, 75040

2023 MLK Theme/Grand Marshals/“Lift Every Voice and Sing” Musical - January 14

The 2023 MLK theme is “Honoring Two Garland Mayors in

KING Fashion.” Mayor Scott LeMay and former Mayor Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Jones, will serve as grand marshals. The celebration continues following the parade with the 2nd Annual Musical: “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM. It will be held at the Granville Arts Center, 300 N. 5th Street, downtown Garland where the MLK Communitywide Youth Choir joined by students from the Garland ISD Fine Arts Department will perform. Winners of the 2023 MLK Float Contest will be announced at the musical. This event is free and open to the public.

MLK Youth Extravaganza on January 15, 2023 - Granville Arts Center Brownlee Auditorium

Youth groups from area churches and Garland ISD step teams will showcase their spiritual talents in praise dance and step routines on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 300 N. 5th Street, downtown Garland, 75040, beginning at 4:00 P.M. The MLK Youth Extravaganza is free and open to the public.

For more information on

these events, please contact the NAACP Garland Unit at 972.381.5044, voice box #5, or visit the NAACP Garland Unit’s website: www.garlandtxnaacp.org and click on MLK Events.

Corporate/Community Sponsors/Radio Coverage on

KKVI 98.9 FM

Community Radio

The City of Garland; Garland ISD; JP Morgan Chase Bank; Veritex Community Bank; DART; Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins, & Mott, LLP Attorneys at Law; Frost Bank; Dallas Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram; Randall Reed’s Planet Ford 635, Southwest Kia of Mesquite, Sport City Toyota, and Jupiter Chevrolet are sponsors this year.

City of Dallas hosts MLK Celebration Week

The City of Dallas is kicking off its annual MLK Celebration Week on Jan. 10, 2023.

Hosted by the Office of Community Care, HELP, Faith Forward, Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Office of Equity and Inclusion, City of Dallas Youth Commission and other partners, the week designates a time to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK Celebration Week starts with a wreath laying ceremony on Jan. 10 and wraps up with a parade on Jan. 16.

2023 marks the 41st MLK Celebration Week.

“The 2023 MLK Celebration Theme Daring to Dream: The Radical Imagination of a New Generation causes us to remember the words of Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr. which are befitting for today and will propel our sons, daughters and heirs into the future,” said Candace Wicks, vice chair of the MLK Community Center Advisory Board. “He stated: ‘one of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. Every society has its protectors of the status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. But today our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.’”

Clara Brown-Trimble, chair of the MLK Community Center Advisory Board, added: “It's 2023 and it still Starts with me, Life's most persistent and ur-

Reverend Rhett James cont. from page 1

than worthy of being honored.”

Rev. James, who died in 2004, became the pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church in Dallas in 1958. Three years later he became the first African American awarded a Master of Theology degree from Texas Christian University. Twenty years later he earned a doctorate degree from the University of Texas in

Arlington, where he later became the first Black professor on the school’s teaching staff.

He was president of the Dallas Chapter of the NAACP and frequented the White House for policy exchanges while his friend, President Johnson, was president.

An ardent proponent of education, Rev. James received his

The full list of events is below:

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tuesday. Jan. 10: Wreath Laying Ceremony

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11: Job Fair

• 12 to 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 12: Youth Summit

• 2 to 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 12: Day of Prayer and Reflection

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday Jan. 13: Equity Symposium

• 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13: Candle Lighting Ceremony

• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14: MLK Fest – Community Clean Up

• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14: Scholarships and Awards Gala

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 16: MLK Day Parade

gent question is "What are you doing for others?"

A longstanding tradition of Celebration Week, the MLK Scholarship and Awards Gala will take place on Jan. 14. Its goal is to support educational aspirations for City of Dallas students and honor residents whose contributions to their community reflect the legacy of Dr. Martin

bachelor’s degree from Virginia Union University in Richmond. He worked with others to relocate Bishop College from Marshall, Texas to Dallas. He also served as a teaching recruiter, and administrator for the Dallas Independent School District.

“Reverend James was a brilliant civic leader and pastor,” said Rev. Ronald E. Jones, a former Garland, Texas mayor who, like Rev. James, pastored at

Luther King, Jr. This year’s event is made possible with support from Platinum Sponsor, AT&T. This year’s keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd. Originally from Montgomery, Ala., Boyd graduated summa cum laude from Alabama State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and double minor in physics

New Hope. “He was a giant as a pastor and a giant as a leader and human being.”

Rev. James retired from New Hope in 1986. Rev. Jones was among the younger members of the clergy who learned principles of faith and responsibility from Rev. James while he pastored at the church.

Ms. Wicks said Saturday’s event will be the first in-person gala in two years.

“We were halted by

and music. She attended Yale University for graduate school, where she was the first African American woman to earn a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering. She later received a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Howard University.

Boyd is nationally recognized for her work in STEM education and was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2009 to serve as a trustee to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. She also served on the president’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans during Obama’s presidency.

COVID-19,” she said, adding that proceeds from the event will help seed academic scholarships for college students and will contribute towards the operating budget of the King Center. “The work that we do in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, financial assistance and so many others is consistent with the life and work of Dr. James. Like him, The King Center is committed to assisting others.”

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Jan 16: Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo at African American Museum

Mayor Scott LeMay

Mayor Ron Jones

Damar Hamlin Shows Signs of Recovery

By Joseph Green-Bishop

The injured Buffalo Bills football player, Damar Hamlin, who some believed had little chance of survival after a violent collision during a game last Monday night, has spoken for the first time with members of his family, his football team and with doctors who are treating him at the University of Cincinnati Hospital.

Millions of television viewers watched the game, and those in the stadium were in utter silence as an ambulance removed the motionless player from the field.

The breathing tubes that were keeping the second-year player alive were removed Thursday night, and he communicated with family members, his doctors, and his teammates on Friday morning, according to Sean McDermott, the head coach of the Bills football team.

Hamlin, a University of Pitts-

burgh graduate, known for his financial support of people and causes, communicated with members of his team via video chat, the coach said.

They gave him a standing ovation when he appeared on the video screen, the coach added.

Doctors are uncertain if Hamlin will recover fully.

During the brief video with his team, Hamlin formed his hands to make a heart, flexed his mus-

cles and said, “I love you boys,” as his surprised teammates applauded and wept.

“He continues to progress remarkably in his recovery,” the Bills said in a statement.

Coach McDermott said that Hamlin’s video lifted the spirits of all his team members, coaches, and assistants.

Retired NFL player Dante Wesley, who played the same position as Hamlin while a member of three NFL teams, said that he and his wife, Renetta, were grateful that Hamlin was doing so well. “God is on his side,” said Wesley, who resides in Cedar Hill with his wife and two children.

“We were watching the game and saw the play when he was injured,” Wesley, who played for the Carolina Panthers, the Chicago Bears, and the Detroit Lions, said. “Most people do not realize how physically violent the game of football can be. Players never

know what will happen when they walk on the field. All of us should continue to pray for him, his teammates and for all of those who play professional football.”

According to medical personnel who treated him after the collision, Hamlin’s heart stopped beating for 10 minutes. He was

He said that they were eager to see Hamlin in person again so that could express to him how much they cared for, and about him. “We intend to love up on him,” said Allen, who held a team prayer meeting at his home earlier in the week to pray for Hamlin.

One of Hamlin’s teammates, Dane Jackson, who played football with Hamlin at the University of Pittsburgh, said that the two players prayed before each game. Jackson said that they would exchange the words, “I love you,” before they went on the field.

administered CPR on the field and taken to the hospital. Coaches and NFL personnel decided to postpone the game indefinitely.

During a news conference on Friday, the quarterback of the Bills, Josh Allen, said that the video with Hamlin had lifted the spirits of his worried teammates.

Like his fallen teammate, Jackson had to be carried from the field in an ambulance earlier this season because of a severe neck injury. As he was being loaded into the ambulance, he heard someone say, “I love you.”

He said he was not surprised that the greeting during his time of peril came from the lips of his friend, Darmar Hamlin.

Message from the Dallas Mayor

First of all, hope your new year is off to a great start.

As you know, Dallas is beginning 2023 as a city on the move and on the rise.

The biggest news to report today is that Dallas has officially recorded a second-consecutive year of violent crime reduction — an extraordinary achievement in the face of rising crime in cities across the nation.

Since I took office in 2019 amid a significant spike in violent crime, public safety has been the top priority. Now, thanks to a commitment to both data-driven policing strategies and community-based solutions, fewer lives have been wrecked by violence in this city.

Take a look at how things have been going over the last two years: Murders are down 16% since 2020.

Aggravated assaults are down 5% since 2020.

Robberies are down 29% since 2020.

There is still significant work ahead, and it's vital to continue to increase police hiring and retention, which can help further reduce crime and provide quicker responses.

But behind the people of Dallas, a resolute Dallas City Council, and the tireless work of the men and women of the Dallas Police Department, this city can continue to make strides toward the goal of making Dallas the safest major city in the United States.

Looking ahead

The last few years haven't been easy for many people. The pandemic, natural disasters, supply chain issues, and high inflation have challenged cities around the world.

But entering 2023, there is a lot to feel good about in this city. Dallas has navigated through all the difficulties and emerged as America’s “Comeback City."

Dallas is the economic engine of the fourth-largest and fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation. This city has attracted major business relocations and added $14 billion in new development over the past four years. And the Dallas City Council finally agreed to cut the property tax rate to its lowest level since 2007.

Voters also recently supported a ballot proposition that will help fund the revitalization of Fair Park,

the modernization of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, and the remaking of a long-dormant section of downtown Dallas.

But even on the issues where this city is enjoying its greatest successes, it's critical to avoid complacency moving forward.

As I wrote in The Dallas Morning News last weekend, this city's residents deserve more than "good enough." Click the headline below to read the column.

"Good enough” is essentially a disease that destroys a city's potential. It's what allowed Fair Park and the convention center to fall into disrepair in the first place. And it's what has allowed some city services to fall short over the years.

To be clear, it's important to celebrate progress and milestones.

And there have been plenty of those. But excellence must be the goal every single day. That's the attitude that this administration will continue to bring into 2023.

Honoring excellence

Being in a job like this, especially with this form of government, is a team sport. No one person can stand alone.

Dallas is a strong city because its people are strong. And to move forward, Dallas needs philanthropists, generous volunteers, elected leaders, public servants, and people who can tell the story of this city.

Thankfully, Dallas is blessed with a mosaic of such people who come through time and time again and help make this city a better place.

And that's why, just before the holidays, I honored five extraordinary Dallas residents with the first-ever Mayor's Distinguished Service Awards.

Previously, Dallas didn’t really have an award for residents who have served and represented the city well and honorably over multiple years. The Key to the City is intended primarily for distinguished

visitors to Dallas and for singular, extraordinary achievements.

This new award instead honors the notable service and significant contributions of Dallas residents to the City of Dallas over several years.

The first five honorees were:

• Lyda Hill, a prominent Dallas philanthropist

• Kay Bailey Hutchison, the former United States Senator and former U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO

• Eddie Bernice Johnson, the long-serving U.S. Congresswoman from Dallas

• David Kunkle, the former Dallas Police Chief

• Harry Robinson, Jr., the founder of the African American Museum at Fair Park

It was an incredible honor to recognize the service of these amazing residents and to discuss all they've done for the city. Be sure to check out NBC5's coverage of the award ceremony by clicking here.

That's all for today. Take care of yourselves and each other, and make 2023 your year!

Until next time,

Damar Hamlin has spoken with his parents, his teammates and his doctors for the first time since his collision on the football field.

Mayor Eric Johnson

He has since been released to a Buffalo-area hospital and according to officials could go home before the week's end.

Chaos or Community, circa 2023!

QUIT

PLAYIN’

By Vincent L. Hall

Thankfully, I have not lost all of my senses. I’m still not talking with inanimate objects. This last week of watching the Republicans fumble the victory they won in November has been mind-blowing. However, as the old Black preacher used to say, I am still "clothed in my right mind!"

That being said, I must admit that ghosts and spirits are still within my purview. From time to time, I “conversate,” kick it and confer with the sages of history. If you follow me, you know Dr. Martin King exchanges ideas with me annually.

This interview is the 2023 version of our never-ending, woe-laden diatribes about these "Yet to be United States of America!

Me: Dr. King. As a monumental character in the history of America, what do you think of Critical Race Theory and those who would deny students to learn America's actual past?

MLK: “A society is always ea-

ger to cover misdeeds with a cloak of forgetfulness, but no society can fully repress an ugly past when the ravages persist into the present.”

Me: The Mis-Education of American history is a problem, and the whole worthless CRT debate points that out. How can we create a new America that lives up to its creed and beyond its misdeeds to characterize one of your sayings?

MLK: “The hard truth is that neither Negro nor white has yet done enough to expect the dawn of a new day. While much has been done, it has been accomplished by too few and on a scale too limited for the breadth of the goal.

Freedom is not won by a passive acceptance of suffering. Freedom is won by a struggle against suffering. By this measure, Negroes have not yet paid the full price for freedom. And whites have not yet faced the full cost of justice.”

Me: I know that you watch MSNBC regularly, and between Joy Reid and Rachel Maddow, I am sure that you recognize that

TEXASMetroNews

Publisher

Black Americans are still in turmoil. What is the most crucial issue that faces Black Folks?

MLK: “In short, the Negroes’ problem cannot be solved unless the whole of American society takes a new turn toward greater economic justice.”

er rate.” Furthermore, unless a “substantial sacrifice is made by the American people,” the nation can expect further deterioration of the cities, increased antagonisms between races and continued disorders in the streets.”

they who live on the outskirts of Hope are brought into the metropolis of daily security. Let us be dissatisfied until slums are cast into the junk heap of history and every family will live in a decent, sanitary home. Let us be dissatisfied until the dark yesterdays of segregated schools will be transformed into the bright tomorrows of quality integrated education.”

Me: Dr. King, where do we go from here?

Me: Economic Justice! That was blunt and to the point. What do you see as an answer to the burgeoning gap between the haves and have-nots? Ten years after you were assassinated, (1978) the top 0.1% owned seven percent of the nation's wealth, and today they own 20%. Today the 50 wealthiest Americans own more than 165 million in the "bottom half" of our society.

MLK: “The poor can stop being poor if the rich are willing to become even richer at a slow-

Me: Wow. Your prophetic words ring truer today than before. America is in a free fall. Can you offer a final and comprehensive prescriptive?

MLK: “Let us be dissatisfied until America will no longer have high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds. Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort from the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the fires of justice.

Let us be dissatisfied until

MLK: "In the days ahead, we must not consider it unpatriotic to raise certain basic questions about our national character. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.”

Me: Thanks, Doctor King. Your wisdom never grows old, and your counsel is never outdated!

(All of Dr. King's responses can be found in his last book, published in 1967, "Where do we go from here…Chaos or Community?")

Negative Impact on Small Minority-Owned Newspapers

matter to them.

The news industry has reached an inflection point, and much work is still needed to secure a bright and sustainable future for minority-owned publications.

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.

In September, lawmakers in Washington rushed through major legislation that would reward massive, legacy media corporations at the expense of smaller community-focused and minority-owned newspapers.

While the Journalism Competition Preservation Act (JCPA) is meant to protect publications like those in the National Newspaper Publishers Association, it would ultimately threaten our ability to inform our communi-

ties, line the pockets of massive media conglomerates and hedge funds, and lead to the proliferation of harmful misinformation. Good intentions sometimes have negative and counterproductive consequences.

The goal to foster quality, local journalism and journalist jobs is well-intentioned. Local news outlets provide Americans with important information about the political, economic and cultural issues that

The top 25 media chains now own a third of all U.S. newspapers. Thousands of newspapers have been acquired by hedge funds and private equity firms like Alden Global Capital or by media behemoths like Gannett, Lee Enterprises and McClatchy. For these media companies, a local newspaper is an asset for profit — not a valuable source of local information.

Big media chains acquire newspapers, lay off journalists and staff, drive down wages and

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

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

The Black Press of America celebrates 195 years of being the voice for the voiceless and the trusted voice for African descendants everywhere.

Casting Your Cares

pare, they don’t always turn out the way I want or even expect.

FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

By Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew

As a child, I remember growing up with so much love. We weren’t rich but I was secure in knowing I was provided for. As a teenager, things were challenging in our home. There were times we had abundance and other times when we struggled. When things were really hard, I remember feeling as if God abandoned me, abandoned us. It was so painful to go through such difficulty.

As an adult, those memories are with me. It’s easy to become fearful because there are situations that happen when I’m not in control. Life happens and there are things that come up that no matter how much I pre-

As a child, I didn’t have much control and the expectation as an adult is that I can make things happen.

We are taught that we have control. There is a term called “locus of control”. “Locus of control is the degree to which people believe that they, as opposed to external forces (beyond their influence), have control over the outcome of events in their lives.” There are two types of loci of control—internal and external. “People who develop an internal locus of control believe that they are responsible for their own success. Those with an external locus of control believe that external forces, like luck, determine their outcomes.”

The reality is that as much as we’d like to believe we have control no matter if it’s external or internal, we don’t always have the

ability to manipulate the variables in our favor. It can be exhausting in trying to make things always happen. Many of us are burned out, filled with anxiety and worry, because we are trying so desperately to make things happen.

Maybe you are like me---in your life there were times of instability and as a result, your go to mode of operation is either to make things happen or to become overcome with frustration and caution. What I have learned to rely upon is that God is in control no matter what is going on or how I feel.

1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for us.” When times were rough as a child, I knew that I couldn’t do it alone. As an adult, I realize that even more. Life is hard. It’s important to know--that the God who made you and I--is there even when it doesn’t feel, look

or seem like it. Don’t shut God out because things are not going your way. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:34 MSG)

We live in a time that we are so driven by our needs and wants. We believe that we can just make things happen. The problem is that when we depend solely upon ourselves to do everything, the weight of the responsibilities can be overwhelming. It also means that we are edging God out (EGO) when we think we are in control.

Often, we make life more difficult because we choose to be the master of our destiny when we move God out. Jesus reminds us that there is a better way: “Come to me, all of you who are weary

and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) To do this requires us to let go and let God.

Worry and anxiety happens, but it doesn’t have to dominate your life. Trust God instead of believing in the havoc and hopelessness that may appear. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6)

Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy and the host of the Tapestry podcast.

MLK Holiday Reflects Our Resilience

THE LAST WORD

By Dr. Julianne Malveaux

Martin Luther King Jr. addresses a crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where he delivered his famous, "I Have a Dream," speech during the Aug. 28, 1963, march on Washington, D.C.

It took 15 years, hundreds of protests, a song and a tour to make Dr. King’s birthday a holiday, and Stevie Wonder’s lyrics, first debuted in his 1980 album “Hotter Than July,” encouraged activists to keep pushing for the holiday after being repeatedly rebuffed.

The Conyers legislation passed the House of Representatives 338-90 with much opposition from conservative white Southerners (primarily Republicans) speciously claiming that the holiday cost too much money.

On the Senate side, the leg-

islation, sponsored by Sen. Ed Brooke (R-Mass.), passed 7822. The process was far from smooth, though. Then-North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms, a Republican, passed out binders full of scurrilous lies about Dr. King, describing him as a communist and worse. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was so outraged that he described the information as “filth” and physically stomped on it.

Still, then-President Ronald Reagan signed the legislation in 1983. It has been 40 years since the bill was passed, and we ought to celebrate.

This legislation was only passed because of Black people’s resilience and persistence. These might be metaphoric for the struggle we must continue to wage.

One of the ways we continue to struggle is to ensure that everyone who sings “the Black Birthday song” realizes that the song is a tribute to Dr. King and was part of the struggle that was waged to make his birthday a national holiday.

Many states refused to em-

brace the national King holiday. Indeed, it was not until 2000, 17 years after the federal legislation passed, that all 50 states had some form of a King holiday. Arizona was the last, and they paid for their resistance.

The National Football League moved the 1995 Super Bowl from Phoenix to Los Angeles when Arizona refused to recognize the holiday. Several, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, boycotted the state and canceled events scheduled there.

Even today, several Southern states, including Alabama and Mississippi, attempt to weaken the meaning of the King holiday by naming it the King-Lee holiday, forcing those who celebrate the King holiday to also implicitly recognize the Confederate traitor, Jefferson Davis.

Utah described Jan. 15 as Human Rights Day rather than Dr. King’s birthday. It was not until 2000 that Utah became one of the last states to make Dr. King’s birthday a state holiday.

Why the resistance? Ignorance, arrogance, Caucasity, and racial hatred. And before

anyone suggests that Caucasity isn’t a word that appears in Webster’s dictionary, you don’t need a dictionary to know that Caucasity is the racist behavior of some Caucasians.

In addition to attempting to chip away at the King’s legacy with their resistance to racial justice, Virginia had the audacity to couple the King birthday with those of Jefferson Davis AND Stonewall Jackson, another Confederate traitor. And Mississippi officially celebrates Confederate Heritage Month in April.

Other states recognize the month, but there is no official celebration, although four states celebrate Confederate Memorial Day at the end of April or early May.

Confederates and their descendants spend lots of time and energy propagating lies. They persistently believe they won the Civil War, although an honest history says otherwise.

They continue to chip away at the civil rights legacy, not just with words and Confederate holidays, but with the vot-

er suppression that taints too many of our elections.

The response to the fiction they continue to spin is our resilience and persistence in the face of their warped fantasies.

We must continue to sing the “Black Birthday Song” joyously because joy is a form of resistance. But we must sign it in its historical context. Whether we are singing for Big Mama or a newborn baby, we must never sing Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” without thinking about speaking about Dr. King. The song is a tribute to our resilience and our history.

Thank you, Stevie Wonder, John Conyers, Edward Bush, Coretta Scott King, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Dr. Dorothy I. Height and many other activists for persistence in making Dr. King’s birthday a holiday and for gifting us with the Black birthday song, a constant reminder of Dr. King’s sacrifice and contribution.

Malveaux is an economist, author and dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Los Angeles.

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the CEO of Soulstice Consultancy and the founder of the Reconciliation and Restoration Foundation (r2fdn.org). She is also the author of four books including

St. Philip’s to Hold Legacy Gym Ribbon-Cutting in Honor of

David B. Miller and Family

On Thursday, January 26, 2023, St. Philip’s School and Community Center will unveil the newly renovated Miller Family Legacy Gym.

The ribbon cutting is an invitation-only event to honor the dynamic legacy of athletics at St. Philip’s and Carolyn & David Miller for their million-dol lar contribution to St. Philip’s School and Community Center’s historic We Believe Campaign.

David Miller, co-founder and managing partner of EnCap Invest ments, is a two-time graduate of SMU, and vice chair of SMU’s Board of Trustees. While at SMU, David was the three-year starter and letterman on the varsity basketball team and member of the 1971-72 Southwest Conference Co-Championship.

This Ribbon Cutting and renaming of St. Philip’s legacy gymnasium, constructed in the 1950’s, is a major part of the expansion of the South Dallas organization’s athletics program that serves 700+ children and youth annually. Athletics is an

My Truth

cont. from page 1

POTY, there was a clear choice because of a simple process called “Homework.” You might call it “research,” or “collecting receipts.”

You see, folks are good at talking about what others are doing or not doing or they focus on personalities over issues.

Which brings me to my truth.

We are selecting a Person of the Year for 2022.

Just looking locally I can call the names of several people we lost during 2022 and they were worthy of some type of recognition.

So many are now Black History. The books of their lives have been closed and no chapters will be added; except for those who lived a life that kept giving, that impacted others thus making their lives worthy of sharing for an eternity.

While the deceased have written their last chapters, others will be adding to those chapters because that is what happens when you build a legacy.

extensive program for St. Philip’s, spanning more than 60 years, with notable alumni including Chris Bosh, Larry Johnson, and most recently, Nakeie Montgomery, who will present at the event. Montgomery, deemed one of the top lacrosse players in the country, is a recent graduate of Duke University and was recently drafted to play professional lacrosse with the Redwoods.

St. Philip's School and Community Center is a private Christian school in southern Dallas serving over 260 students in grades PK2 through 7th grade (ages 2-13), and a multi-faceted dynamic community center providing a myriad of vital educational, social services, athletic and neighborhood development programs to over 4,000 children, youth, and adults annually.

The organization has a mission to transform South Dallas, our city, and the world by FAITH, EDUCATION, and SERVICE. Applications for the 2023-2024 school year are open for PK2 through 8th grade students.

But what about YOU and ME?

Are we building legacies? I venture to say that our previous Persons will be remembered and talked about for generations to come and such will be the case with our next POTY.

Meanwhile,we are still here.

Why?

We must ask that question.

Maybe the answer is, “it’s God’s Plan.”

Still you must ask yourself a question or two.

What chapters are we writing and who are we impacting?

Time and time again when someone dies, I have heard folks ask “why?”

I’ve even heard some in their grief, say, ‘I wish it has been me.’”

Well, do you ever ask the question, “Why not me?”

And really consider an answer. Why did that good person who does so much for so many have to die?

Well, give it some thought and you might wake up the next morning with a new attitude about a lot of things, places, people; and more importantly, YOU!

And who knows? You might just be the next Person of the Year!

Black people disproportionately suffered in Buffalo snowstorm

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro National Correspondent

Forty people lost their lives during the recent snow blizzard that paralyzed the city of Buffalo, New York over the Christmas weekend. And while African Americans constitute approximately 15 percent of the population in Erie County where Buffalo is located, they were more than half of the storm-related deaths, according to city residents and public officials.

Some of the deceased were discovered in their homes while others were found in their vehicles, and on the streets. The five feet of snow that struck Buffalo and surrounding areas brought transportation to a halt. Roads were impassable and emergency personnel were unable to reach tens of thousands of people who were in their homes without food, lights, and heat.

A number of Buffalo residents are placing blame for the slow response to the snow emergency at the feet of elected officials, including mayor Byron Brown, who has been in office since 2006.

Myles Carter, a community activist in Buffalo, ventured outside during the storm with his own vehicle to aid people.

The city was ill-prepared,” Mr. Carter said. “I feel like the city was willing-

Negative Impact

shutter publications forever — as they spend millions on executive salaries and stock buybacks.

Now, these same media companies and hedge funds are a step closer to receiving huge payouts — without any accountability or transparency to direct funds to local journalism and journalists. The JCPA would require tech platforms to carry and pay any eligible news publisher for “access” to content.

While this may, again, seem well-intentioned at first look, upon deeper inspection, the law defines “access” so broadly that it will require payment for simply crawling a website or sharing a link. Similarly, while a number of conglomerates are scoped into the bill, true independent or small newspapers are explicitly excluded from the legislation because the bill

ly negligent in how they handled the storm.”

The lesson that we have learned from this experience is that “we cannot depend on City Hall,” said Professor Henry Louis Taylor who teaches urban studies at the University of Buffalo.

Mayor Brown said that city officials did all that they could to prepare for the storm. When the city learned of the potential dangers of the storm, it warned residents. “I don’t put out messages lightly,” Mayor Brown said.

India Watson, who lost a 2022 mayoral election to Mayor Brown, said that the area of the city known as the Eastside experienced the most devastation. She said that the section was not a priority in Buffalo because most residents there were Black and poor. That is a charge that Mayor Brown disputes.

“We are committed to learning from this storm,” Mayor Brown said. “We are committed to improving our delivery of services to our community in extreme weather.”

Mayor Brown said that he would not resign his office because of criticism he had received after the storm.

“The police department and the department of public works feverishly attempted to reach people during the storm,” he added.

cont. from page 4

says that an eligible publisher must earn more than $100,000 per year.

Many African American and other BIPOC news outlets are independently owned. Furthermore, these news outlets have developed and grown their audiences because mainstream media publications excluded the perspectives of minority voices. The Black Press built our own news outlets to support our own voices. As a result, this legislation would only further reinforce harmful racial exclusion trends, rather than actually help smaller local publications like those in the NNPA.

Similarly, recent amendments to the bill requiring non-discrimination would require platforms to carry and pay for hate speech and objectionable content that could be harmful to BIPOC

communities. If passed, the JCPA would boost misinformation and extremist content. News publications from either side of the aisle that support extremist views will not only receive money, but tech platforms will be required to carry them on their services. This will make it even harder for platforms to moderate harmful and false content. We know that communities like ours will suffer most.

Congress and the Senate should reject the current draft of the JCPA and go back to the drawing board on real solutions for America’s local news problems — solutions that benefit all Americans, instead of just giving handouts to the biggest media corporations in the nation.

Chavis is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and executive producer/host of “The Chavis Chronicles” on PBS TV stations across the U.S. He can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org

Carolyn and David Miller

Thompson's Panel

cont. from page 1

newspaper coverage and television exposure as Thompson’s committee which was created in July of 2021. An estimated 20 million television viewers tuned into the first January 6 hearing which aired in July of last year.

Eighteen million people viewed the final televised hearing. The committee made its final report on December 21, 2022.

Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed nine members to the committee and made Congressman Thompson its chair of the committee consisting of seven Democrats and two Republicans.

Congressman Thompson appointed Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney as the committee’s vice chairperson.

Under Thompson’s leadership the committee investigated the circumstances around, and individuals involved in the planning and implementation of the attack on Congress by thousands of armed insurgents on January 6, 2001.

A graduate of Tougaloo College, he is the longest-serving African American elected official in the State of Mississippi; having also served as an alderman and mayor of his hometown, Bolton.

After looking at all the evidence and consulting hundreds of witnesses, Congressman Thompson said that he and members of the committee were convinced that President Trump played a “nefarious role” in the insurrection which resulted in nine deaths, and more than 100 injuries to law enforcement officers who were protecting the Capitol.

“We are convinced that Donald Trump is the reason that January 6 occurred,” said Congressman Thompson, a former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “He invited extremists to Washington whose only role was to stop the orderly transfer of power.”

He added that the committee concluded that Trump had misused the Justice Department and other government assets to intimidate the Congress into ignoring the fact that President Joe Biden was the rightful winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Trump, who lost the election, wanted to remain in power, Congressman Thompson said.

In addition to Congressman Thompson and Congresswoman Cheney, other members of the committee included Congressman Adam Schiff from California, Congressman Jamie Raskin from Maryland, Congresswoman Elaine Luria from Virginia, Congressman Pete Aguilar from California, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren from California, Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy from Florida, and Congressman Adam Kinzinger from Illinois.

Congressman Jeffries cont.

two Republican members.

Prior to introducing Congressman McCarthy, Rep. Jeffries challenged House Republicans to work in the best interests of all Americans and not simply for narrow political and financial interests. He said that under Speaker Pelosi’s leadership Congress improved the lives of American people while Republicans opposed much-needed policies and legislation.

“House Democrats will always put American values over autocracy, benevolence over bigotry, the Constitution over the cult, justice over judicial overreach, freedom over fascism and hopefulness over hatred,” Jeffries

said to joyous applause from Democratic members as Republican members sat stiffly in their seats, mostly silent.

“We will pursue triumph over tyranny, voting rights over voter suppression, reason over racism, quality of life issues over QAnon, working families over the well-connected, and substance over slander.”

In a direct reference to former President Donald Trump and his policies, Jeffries said that Democrats would pursue “maturity over Mar-a-Lago,” the principal residence of the former president in Florida.

Jeffries said that while Democrats were in control of the House of Represen-

from page 1

tatives, they demonstrated strength of character and a united purpose to benefit all Americans.

“During the past two years House Democrats in partnership with President Biden and Democrats in the U.S. Senate passed gun safety legislation, infrastructure improvements and advances in the areas of science and technology. We created jobs for the American people. The (d) in Democrat stands for deliverer,” he said as members of his caucus continued to applaud their new leader.

Jeffries said that the fact that he was now the highest-ranking Democratic member in the House of Representative was illustrative of

the greatness of America.

“Our diversity is our strength,” he said. “We may have come to America in different ships, but we are all in the same boat now,” he said, quoting the late Congressman John Lewis (D-GA).

“We are in a moment of transition,” Jeffries said. “We have moved from a year of accomplishments to a year of ambiguity. Americans who witnessed the vicious infighting among Republicans during the Speaker selection process had numerous reasons to doubt their ability to lead.”

He concluded: “As Democrats we extend a hand of partnership to those on the other side. We intend to find common ground not as Democrats or as Republicans, but as Americans.”

Keith H. and Altee G. Burgess 10 years

Jeff and Gail Camble Ervin 4 years

Jeannette and Michael Bowie 26 years

Bryson and Alexia Lewis 9 years

Danesha Nesha and Jatarous J. Flowers

Chilna Joseph-Simelus and Jay Simelus 20 years

Kenneth and Alfreda Gilbert 25 years

Kim and Jimmy Howard 30 years

Marsha and Harold Thornton 19 years

JayLin and Ty-rah Howard 1 year

Job and Angel Noble-Ogamba 19 years

Reba and Ced Mapps 29 years

‘We want three!’: South Oak Cliff celebrates back-to-back champs with hometown parade

By Isabella Volmert

In 2020, a Dallas ISD school had not won a state football championship in more than 60 years. On Saturday morning, the city celebrated its second title in two years thanks to the South Oak Cliff High School Golden Bears.

South Oak Cliff proved its dominance last month by winning the 5A Division II state title game for the second year in a row, becoming the first Dallas ISD school to win back-to-back championships. The two-peat was celebrated with a hometown parade attended by prominent community members, decades of alumni and an entire neighborhood overflowing with pride.

Angela Cole, Class of ‘77, was at the parade with many friends from her years at South Oak Cliff. She described the high school’s alumni, neighborhood and football fans as supportive, strong and involved.

“When everyone comes together, this is what you come out

leaders and horseback riders passed.

Former cheerleading captain Alexis Ivey, who graduated in 2017 and attended the two championship games, yelled as the parade went by: “It’s a good day to be a Bear!”

Hundreds of people lined the parade route to South Oak Cliff High School, home of the state football champion Golden Bears.

Students walked out of school in 2015 to call on Dallas ISD to overhaul their run-down campus. The district completed a $52 million renovation, including a new football field in January 2020, and the team brought home a championship two seasons later.

“This is what equity looks like,” parade marshal and 1977 alumnus Rev. Horace Bradshaw said during the ceremony. “Our kids

deserve nothing less than the best.”

Bradshaw highlighted a history and tradition of athletic prowess at South Oak Cliff, and he praised the students who led the walkout to demand equal opportunity for their school.

The team and coaching staff gathered on the stage behind head coach Jason Todd, who thanked the players’ parents, their teachers and the coach-

ing staff by name for the history-making season. He lauded his players’ academics and character.

“This is something a lot of people said we couldn’t do,” said Todd, who has been head coach since 2015. “Like I said last year, we ain’t finished yet.”

Todd became the first Black coach in state history to win two titles at the same school — and the third to win two titles overall.

“When I was coming down Marsalis in that parade, ain’t no amount of money could ever make me feel the way that made me feel right there,” he said. “You really know the people and the people know you.”

At the end of his speech, Todd asked the crowd, “Y’all want a three-peat?” Met with cheers and shouts of “We want three,” he said, “We’re gonna get your three-peat then.”

‘Always the goal’ Quarterback and offensive MVP of the title game William Little said the players had their eye on the prize from the beginning of the season.

“This was always the goal,” he said. “To make it back to the state championship, that’s our end goal every year.” The rising senior said the team is ready for a threepeat.

Little’s mother, Shannon Little, said when she watched the team win at AT&T Stadium, she was excited to watch her son be a part of history.

with: legendary,” she said.

Tony Mumphrey, Class of ‘82, was ready for the parade early.

“Been a Bear all my life,” he said while waiting for the festivities to begin, just a few streets away from where he grew up. “I hope they can do it again next year.”

Hundreds of people lined the street near South Oak Cliff High School on the cool, sunny morning. The crowd played music and danced as a parade of Corvettes, neighboring sports teams, cheer-

The crowd chanted with pride when the team crested the hill on Marsalis Street. The players carried their trophies and wore 2022 state championship medals — some sported last year’s medal too, with the two clanking together as they walked.

‘Ain’t finished yet’

The championship is about more than sports for South Oak Cliff, which was highlighted during a ceremony on the school’s football field after the parade.

“He got the opportunity to do what he loves to do and lead his team, he’s a humble gentleman on and off the field,” she said. “So I’m very proud of him.”

As school principal Willie Johnson Jr. delivered remarks, someone in the crowd shouted out, asking if the team would win next season’s title.

“Save the date,” he said.

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

South Oak Cliff High players celebrate their back-to-back championships during a parade Saturday in Dallas.

Photo: Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer

The South Oak Cliff High School "Nu Soul of the South" marching band performs during a parade for the Golden Bears Class 5A Division II state championship.

Photo: Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer

De’Arie Jones, 1, watches his grandmother Shenika McNeal, blow a bubble with gum during South Oak Cliff High’s back to back championship parade on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 in Dallas.

Photo:Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer

Photos: South Oak Cliff celebrates back-to-back football state titles

Metro Community Calendar powered by

JANUARY

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Mixer & Reception with the FW

Metropolitan Black National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum- Tue, 5:30 PM 2029 N Main St. Fort Worth, TX

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The Black Academy of Arts & Letters

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Tasting- Experience the intersection of Japanese and African-American cultures with all of your senses. Fri. 7 PM Nasher Sculpture Center 2001 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201 14

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

16

MLK Week’s Good Conversations

& Membership Reception

Mingle with other Black Professionals and find out what’s happening socially and professionally in DFW Thu, 6:30 PM HALL Arts Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton 1717 Leonard Street Dallas, TX 75201

20

Pop at The Muse

Fri, 9 PM The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, 650 S Griffin St Dallas, TX 21

Black Cowboys: An American Story Shining light on the rich history of Black cowboys and their impact on Texas and American history

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration Sat. 14th, 10 AM Mesquite Arts Center 1527 N. Galloway Ave. Mesquite, TX 75149 ***

Three Kings Day Celebration Free Family Event Open to Everyone! Sat. 5 PM Dallas, Latino Cultural Center

Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo at Dallas’ African American Museum, 10 AM Call 214-941-0110 for vendor information, website https://realizingthedreamexpo.com ***

History of the MLK March SATX A Virtual Black History Tour Mon, 7 PM Dallas Market Hall 2200 N Stemmons Fwy. Dallas, TX 17

Sat. 6 PM African American Museum Dallas, 3536 Grand Ave. Dallas, TX

Black Fathers of Soul Music Concert

The Black Academy of Arts & Letters Sat, 8 PM 650 S Griffin St. Dallas, TX

FREE CLASS - African American Nutrition Health & Wellness Programs 2021 N Hampton Rd. DeSoto, TX Tue, 9:30 PM https://www.ci.desoto.tx.us

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27

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The MLK Comedy Kick-Off

Corey Holcomb & Friends hosted by Tony Roberts 8 PM at Majestic Theatre ***

2023 Equity Indicators Symposium

The Symposium will be centered around the recently adopted Racial Equity Plan (REP) addressing disparities found in the Dallas Equity Indicators Report* published in 2019.

Paul Quinn College 9:00 AM Register at https:// bit.ly/2023EquityIndicatorsSymposium. 14

The R&B KickBack Concert with Tyrese, Anthony Hamilton, Donnell Jones & Special Guest

“The City” Sun. 7:30 PM Texas Trust CU Theatre 1001 Performance Place Grand Prairie, TX 75050 16

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Tickets at door $10 ***

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105.7

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

10 AM Powered by Comerica Bank. https://realizingthedreamexpo.com/ 214-941-0110 ***

CHESTER GREGORY: TRIBUTE TO JACKIE WILSON & FRIENDS, by Greenville Ent. Series show: 7:30 PM Greenville Municipal Auditorium 28

Returning to Our Roots Free Community Movie Screening Sat, 2:20 PM Campus Theatre, 214 W Hickory St Denton, TX

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Amon Carter Square Fort Worth, for tickets https://cowboysofcolorrodeo.com 22

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An African American Requiem- first to honor African Americans who have lost their lives due to racial violence. Sat, 6 PM

Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU, 2900 W Lowden St. Fort Worth, TX

A NIGHT OF SOUL Cover Group & Band Gray Skool out of Ft. Worth preforming hits from groups like Ojays, Commodores, & Temptations Sun, 6 PM Plaza Theater 521 W State St. Garland, TX 31

TBAAL ROUNDTABLE BREAKFAST Sat,10 AM 650 S Griffin St Dallas, TX 1309 Canton St. Dallas ***

High Tea & Fashion Show

Benefiting Ranch Hands Rescue & First Refuge Ministries www.cbmai.net

POETRY SLAM Sign Up

Denton Black Film Festival Sat, 8 – 11 PM

Greater Denton Arts Council, 400 E Hickory St. Denton, TX

GloRilla-Anyways, Life’s Great Tour-nominated for “Best Rap Performance” at 65th Annual Grammys- Tue, 7 PM House of Blues 2200 N Lamar St. Dallas TX

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

By La Juana Barton

Left empty by those not realizing they're empty.

Ed Bell Construction Company An Equal Opportunity Employer

January 1, 2023

Ed Bell Construction is a Dallas based heavy highway contractor doing business in the North Texas market since 1963. With clients such as TxDOT, Dallas County Public Works, and the Cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Richardson, and Mansfield (plus many others), we have a strong backlog of work in the highway market locally.

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Must APPLY IN PERSON at 10605 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220 from 7am-11am Mon-Fri. Please visit our website: www.edbellconstruction.com/careers

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Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo Monday, January 16, 2023 10am. African American Museum

YOU HAVE A DO-OVER!

me to stand, before God and recognize who I really am, to accept that I am not God but a creature in need of God's love and mercy! Amen.

Sitting on the back porch with my grandmother, Lucille “Big Mama” Allen as she filled her three sons and three daughters, 16 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, 38 great-great grandchildren, seven great great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and bonus family members with customized “Big Mama” playbooks with her simple, Bible-based logic always gave us a do over moment.

Big Mama stood very proudly with her hands on hips stance, "God is a do-over God giving you A CHANCE FOR A DO-OVER BOYEE!” “Big Mama” left legacies spawned into lifetime lessons. When she identified an error, she would spin a story of knowledge, support and gratitude. Her most important this day was after she saw a visible mistake in her family, she would say, “DO IT OVER, God will be there.” She mandated Do-overs happen immediately! Big Mama would see something in me every time.

Her help with start with, “GOD stopped you with a DO OVER and OVER and OVER.” I learned when you have failed to complete the task that means you are back in SPIRITUAL SPECIAL-ED and you have to repeat the class! I now know for sure is Big Mama speaks to me from Heaven.

One really obvious way that God tries to get your attention is repetition. That is, when something jumps out at you repeatedly. God was preparing you/me for another journey, but you and I cannot see because God is already round the corner we are about to turn!

Today, I can say DO OVER also includes healthy living. In 2023 during the celebration of Martin Luther King’s holiday you have a DO OVER for your goals, resolutions and health. Biblical Flash! - God sends you what you ask for (Jeremiah 29:11) if you ask.

The biblical story of the Good Shepherd is a prime example of a Do-Over. The Good Shepherd said," Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. Zacchaeus was a marker of Do-Over! Humility asks

Fishing was a common trade around the Sea of Galilee, Cuevas said, where Jesus carried out 85 percent of his ministry. It is great to have historical recall but even greater when we look to TODAY and apply, Encounter, Obey and abide in an EGO (Easing God Out) free Do-Over!

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO LIFE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL YOU DO IT – HEALTHY LIVING EXPO IS A DO –OVER PATHWAY SO JOIN US

Many times, I have seen individuals cast their net then and not get their results and give up! Even in my Journalism Family, it has happened. It just recently happened to me when I revived a call being charged with things that were grossly untrue! We have given up good intention feedback, applied built-in default judgements and levied quick criticism of someone who fails is a clear sign that we did not let our E.G.O get out the way.

Eliminating a DO-OVER is a team building killer and it proves once again that choice is a divine teacher. To produce fruit, your trust in the Lord must be more powerful and enduring in a spiritual appetite than your selfish confidence in your own personal feelings, unhealed insight and limited experiences.

Here are my Big Mama talking points

• Realize that although your initial effort may fail, yet God will never fail you. Develop perseverance and never give up! Just DO IT OVER!

• The blessings of God are all over their lives — God’s do -overs are blessing our lives and we are in a good position for God to elevate us in the next DO-Over

Are you ready for your DO-OVER? Don’t forget to rest and breathe, drink water, and explore with your needs. Consider connecting with us at the Healthy Living Expo. Questions, email me at terryallenpr@ gmail.com.

Terry Allen is an award-winning media professional, journalist, and entrepreneur. He is also the founder of City Men Cook and 1016 Media. Reach him at terryallenpr@gmail.com

Big Mama Said By Terry Allen