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• Vol. 9 • Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
MY TRUTH By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER
Staying on this journey It’s going to take a while for me to get Pookie out of my system. Actually, I may not ever be able to forget him because of the lives he devastated. Before I knew his government name, I dubbed Jeffery Wheat, Pookie, the serial rapist. Maybe you heard of the case of the man who was terrorizing women in North Texas. As he continued to violate women, there appeared to be a common thread; several of the victims were members of the now 108-year-old Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and they were in their 50s and 60s. Almost a decade later, Pookie was arrested recently after his DNA was a match. Calls, emails and texts from across the country have kept me busy. Many expressed relief that Pookie was about to begin paying for his heinous acts. I know that my heart rate increases significantly every time I hear a “Pookie story.” People tell me how they would pick up the paper just to see if they would find the notice asking for information that would lead to his arrest. Some said they couldn’t believe that for almost a decade I gave up valuable real estate in not one, two, but three publications: Texas Metro News, Garland Journal and I Messenger. After all, it’s not like I couldn’t have used the ad revenue. Yet, it was more important to catch a rapist, before he raped someone else. You see, we know about a few assaults, but, do you really believe Pookie hasn’t raped since the last reported incident? You can’t have a 10-day memory or become forgetful because it isn’t about you. Which brings me to my truth. If you believe in something, you must live for a cause and not just BECAUSE!
see coverage at www.texasmetronews.com
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Man faces 2nd sexual-assault charge linked to string of attacks on North Texas sorority alumnae
THE GRAY AREA
By Tom Steele
By Ed Gray
Insurrection at the Capitol
The Dallas Morning News The Dallas Morning News has a collaborative partnership with Texas Metro News, that seeks to boost coverage of communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.
A man already in custody in one sexual assault case that was part of a string of four attacks on women in 2010 and 2011 now faces a charge in another one of the assaults. Coppell police said Monday that they obtained an arrest warrant last week for 48-year-old Jeffery Lemor Wheat. Wheat was booked into the Collin County jail Jan. 15 after his arrest several days earlier in Arkansas in connection with a 2011 Plano case. Police have said they believe the same man attacked four wom-
Jeffery “Pookie” Wheat
en — all alumnae of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., who were in their 50s or 60s — and authorities now say Wheat’s DNA links him to those cases. On Nov. 11, 2010, the attacker tried to sexually assault a woman in Plano. On April 2, 2011, he sexually assaulted a woman in Plano.
On Sept. 15, 2011, he sexually assaulted a woman in Coppell. And on Oct. 14, 2011, he sexually assaulted a woman in Shady Shores. DNA evidence conclusively connected the three 2011 attacks, police have said, but no DNA was collected in the first case because See ASSAULT, page 3
America is in a state of an internal political war that has never been seen since the Civil War. The failed coup by the supporters of President Donald Trump exposed America. America can no longer be holier than thou and say that our elected norms are sacred. We can no longer brag about a peaceful transition of power. The demon in chief, also known as Donald Trump, encouraged his minions of MAGA supporters to violently See INSURRECTION, page 6
Police to pursue racist assault on Garland NAACP
By Ashley M. Moss Staff writer
A man who left a voicemail message on a business phone line of a local NAACP branch that referred to Dr. Martin Luther King by a racial epithet may be prosecuted, Garland police said Friday afternoon. “Police referred the case to the Dallas County District Attorney’s office for consideration,” said Garland
Police Lt. Pedro Barineau, the agency’s public information officer. “We are pursuing the charge of harassment and the case is being referred to the Dallas County grand jury,” Lt. Barineau wrote in an exclusive email to Texas Metro News Friday afternoon. Police declined to name the suspect. Meanwhile, Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot
said he was familiar with the case after reading about it in a local newspaper. However, he said late Friday that he was out of his office, away from his computer and could not confirm whether his staff had received the complaint. “If it was referred to my office, I don’t know about it,” he said during a brief telephone interview from his home. “I just can’t help you right now.” Calls and an email sent to
Dallas County District Attorney Public Information Officer Kimberlee Leach were not returned late Friday. The escalation of the case came three days after Garland NAACP branch leaders complained to police that they had received an eight-second recorded message on the branch’s telephone line that they considered hateful and intimidating. See NAACP, page 11
National Youth Poet Laureate burst forth as “a supernova being born.” I WAS JUST THINKING... By Norma Adams-Wade Add me to the swell of folk heaping accolades on Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old who is the youngest poet in U. S. history to present her poem at a presidential inauguration – in this
case, the January 20, 2021 swearing-in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. By the time you read this writing -- if there is any fairness in life -- Ms. Gorman’s name will be well secured as the sensational, smash-hit star she has become. CNN media commentator Van Jones described her as “a supernova being born.” Gorman’s celebrity burst forth after she read her inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb,” on
the steps of the U. S. Capitol. Her eager smile further accented her brilliant yellow coat she wore and bright-red, silk cloth that adorned her neatly-braided hair. African-American’s can be proud to claim her among our ranks, and as one who identifies herself as a voice for the African diaspora, issues of oppression, marginalization and race. She was born and raised in Los Angeles by her mother Joan See THINKING, page 6
Smash-hit poet Amanda Gorman at the Biden-Harris inauguration. Credit: Facebook
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• Vol-9
• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
BRIEFS WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM Michael Hinojosa on the riot at the U.S. Capitol
By Michael Hinojosa “As Americans welcomed the new year with relief at the close of a contentious election and anticipation that the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine signaled a longed-for return to normal life, we were utterly shocked and our optimism shattered by the events that transpired at the U.S. Capitol. The attack of the angry mob that stormed the country’s most revered institution and disrupted Congress as it sought to finally resolve a national election will be remembered as a sad chapter in American history. The brazen and disturbing assault on our democracy has shaken
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Publisher : Cheryl Smith Editor: editor@myimessenger.com Address: 320 S.R.L. Thornton Freeway Suite 100 Dallas, Tx 75203 Website: www.texasmetronews.com Phone: 214-941-0110
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.
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Michael Hinojosa
Americans to their very core and raised serious questions about the health of our democratic system. The rioters’ disrespectful and dangerous display is a striking contrast to the important work educators strive to do each day to teach students about the
sacred democratic principles that define this country-principles that include respect and lawfulness. The attempt to overthrow a free and fair election, as determined by multiple courts, and discard the will of the people who voted in the election, is unacceptable and a damaging example to young learners. Many were left troubled and turning to teachers and parents for explanations of the frightening events of January 6. My hope is that teachers and all responsible adults will use this tragedy as a teachable moment to help students understand how our democracy works and how easily it can be threatened
when the hunger for power overshadows principled and ethical behavior and decisionmaking. To the extent this event prompts frank conversations as a community about fairness, racism, public service and the impact of decisions, we may find a silver lining in this dangerous moment. As work proceeds to recover from this debacle, there are many challenges ahead. Perhaps one of the most crucial is taking the time to show students the real meaning of patriotism and to demonstrate how to heal, rebuild, and come together for the greater good.” Michael Hinojosa is the Superintendent of Dallas Independent School District.
Congrats to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris NEW TOWNHOMES 2231 Dorian Place MLS #14379965
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• Vol-9
Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee
• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
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Tuesdays 11AM
Derrick Johnson
Keke Palmer
James Clyburn
(SELMA, ALA.) In its biggest undertaking yet, the historic Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee is extending its reach even further beyond the city of Selma, Alabama. This year’s event on March 5-7 will take place virtually, allowing anyone in the world to join in on the commemoration of equity and justice. The Jubilee honors the fight for voting rights -- including “Bloody Sunday, ” the murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson and the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. More than 550 people gathered at Brown Chapel AME Church on March 7, 1965, to protest Jackson’s death and participate in a
nonviolent march for Black Americans’ right to vote. When they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, state troopers brutally beat them while a horrified nation watched on television, leaving 17 demonstrators hospitalized and 40 injured. Two weeks after this “Bloody Sunday,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and 3,200 civil rights protesters marched 49 miles from Selma to Montgomery — prompting Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. “Though the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee is virtual this year, it will be as important and impactful as ever, especially after the calls for racial justice in 2020,” explained Drew
Glover, the Jubilee’s principal coordinator. “Alabamians and others stood up and peacefully fought for the right to vote 56 years ago, but history is still in the making. We invite everyone around the world to join us in remembering a pivotal time in the civil rights movement.” Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee activities will be educational, inspirational and entertaining for people of all ages. Preregister for free at www.selma50. com. Help finance the Jubilee’s global reach by donating at spot. fund/selmajubilee. Email Drew Glover at drew@selmajubilee. com for media inquiries, advertising and sponsorship information.
Assault from page 1
it was an attempted rape. The victims did not know one another, but police said their attacker made clear that he knew information about them during the assaults. Several days after the 2011 Plano assault, the attacker called the victim from a pay phone at a convenience store in Mesquite and police obtained surveillance footage of the man who made the call. Police spoke to Wheat’s ex-wife last year after their investigation led them to Wheat, and she said that he was the man in the footage because she recognized “the walk, his shoulders, his height and that he had glasses,” KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported.
Authorities also said in an affidavit that the DNA from the 2011 assaults matched DNA evidence from a 2003 Arlington sexual assault case. Wheat remained in jail Monday, with total bail of $1 million. He did not have an attorney listed in court records. Tom Steele, Breaking News Producer. Tom has covered breaking news for The Dallas Morning News since 2016. He has worked in a number of other capacities for The News since 2007, and he was previously a copy editor at The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla. He has degrees in journalism and economics from Lehigh University.
Closing the Gap on Disparities in Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine in South Dallas The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Dallas Metropolitan Chapter (NCBW) is concerned with disparities in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and the dissemination of information to communities of color in the southern sector of Dallas, more specifically women of color in these areas. We believe addressing these disparities should be among the city’s top health priorities. In support of these communities, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Dallas Metropolitan Chapter will continue to advocate for policies that provide for
education and awareness about COVID-19 and access to the vaccine in these areas. We recognize that there is distrust amongst the Black community as it relates to the COVID-19 vaccine and there is a need for city officials and the community to work collaboratively to address these concerns while almost simultaneously working toward a solution for the disparities in the distribution of the vaccine. We implore city and county officials to work collaboratively with trusted sources including local community and religious leaders, area black-owned
Sonya Irby
businesses, minority media outlets, and organizations such as ours to help disseminate
factual information regarding the science and safety protocols behind the creation of the vaccine to residents of South Dallas. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Dallas Metropolitan Chapter stands ready to assist in helping to close the gap on these disparities by lending our voice in the community and extending our public platforms to provide information. We will continue to educate and empower our communities while engaging our civic, political, religious, and business leaders and organizations to effectuate
public policy changes and access to resources in the fight against COVID-19. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Dallas Metropolitan Chapter is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization whose mission is to advocate on behalf of black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education, and economic empowerment. To learn more about the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.’s cause and programs, visit – www.ncbw. org or www.ncbwdallas.org
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• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
DC must have Statehood THE LAST WORD By Dr. Julianne Malveaux
A Biden (pun) Imagination! QUIT PLAYIN’ By Vincent L. Hall “The prophet does not ask if the vision can be implemented, for questions of implementation are of no consequence until the vision can be imagined. The imagination must come before the implementation. Our culture is competent to implement almost anything and to imagine almost nothing.” – Walter Brueggemann Walter Brueggemann is a celebrated Old Testament scholar and theologian known by seminarians as a Master teacher. He exegetes and elucidates scripture in a way that brings “social justice” ministers to their feet. My friend, Pastor Damien Durr, speaks of him often. I never want to plagiarize, but Durr is always on point. They say it’s ok to be a copycat as long as you are copying the right cat. So yeah, I kinda stole this line of thought. Brueggemann promotes the notion that we ought to pray for imagination. Black Baptists religiously pray for a “reasonable portion of health and strength’, but we also need to ask God to grant us healthy imaginations. Lord, give us new dreams! As I watched Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.’s inauguration, I could not help but believe that the near octogenarian is still imagining. After four years of malaise and melancholy brought on by a twobit, toy-gun wielding wannabee
gangster we know as Donald Trump, America, and the world needs to heed Brueggermann’ s prescriptive. We need imagination. We need to imagine a future of freedom and good fortunes that all humankind has a reasonable opportunity to achieve. James Brown said it best. “I don’t want nobody giving me nothing, open up the door, and I’ll get it myself.” Good God! Let us imagine creating opportunities for the poor and marginalized. The unspoken “caste system” that exists in every nation must be confronted. We don’t have a trade imbalance with all of China, just the rich bastards who control 90% of their wealth. They trade with America’s rich bastards who have no empathy for the lesser-thans. If empathy were a commodity, Biden would be worth billions of dollars. Biden doesn’t exude that syrupy sorrowfulness that has known no pain or strife. He has survived more major calamities than most could imagine or endure. Empathy ought to invoke vision and imagination. Biden stuttered and stammered as a child. He was the object of constant ridicule by his classmates and at least one nun. Stuttering is no great plague today. In his generation, it was a sign of low intelligence. Biden kept imagining straight through law school. Biden’s firstborn daughter, Naomi, died in 1972, after a fatal car accident that also took his young bride. Biden became one of the most celebrated single parents in America. His son “Beau” died in 2015 af-
ter suffering from brain cancer in a very public way. Biden used his imagination to expedite the cure for cancer. Biden ran twice for President and lost badly. Joe imagined that if he helped a young Black dude from Chicago, he could get closer to his own vision. He imagined becoming wingman to America’s first Black President, and vision became reality. Biden was politically DOA early on in the 2020 election. He had to answer charges surrounding his support of the 1994 Crime Bill. Although that legislation had lots of support from the Black community, he became the latest culprit. The bill was horrible, but so were the district attorneys, judges, and the prison system. The clear majority of Blacks and minorities who refused jury service were also to blame. And oh yeah, some of the criminals that went to jail really were criminals. In every case, a sitting judge had the last word and built reputations and long-lasting careers by being “tough on crime.” Biden felt the full backlash for a “criminal injustice system” for which all of America was complicit. He kept imagining. If Brueggemann is right, then Biden’s biding imagination is what we need. The question is whether our culture, rife and replete with opinionated arrogance, unrelenting judgment, and unforgiving condemnations, can concoct a vision of justice for America and the world. Pray for imagination! Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and an award-winning columnist.
The District of Columbia has 715,000 residents, more than the states of Wyoming and Vermont. We pay taxes, just like citizens in all 50 states. But our citizens are second-class citizens. We have no voting representation in the House of Representatives or the United States Senate. We have taxation without representation. Nonvoting Congressional representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) has served in Congress since xxx. She has tirelessly fought for DC statehood, most recently introducing HR 51 on the very first day of the 117th Congress, on January 3. She has 202 cosponsors of the legislation, all Democrats. Not a single Republican thinks that the residents of the District of Columbia deserve equal rights. Norton has introduced legislation to establish DC statehood since 1991. Republicans don’t support this because they think Democrats get an edge if a voting representative and two senators are Dems. Would they disenfranchise California because Democrats do better there? The insurrection on January 6 illustrates one of the many reasons that DC deserves statehood. Mayor Muriel Bowser cannot assemble the DC national guard on her own. She has to ask for federal government “permission” to get our national guard, made up of DC residents, to protect our citizens and our streets. Any other governor can ask for National Guard assistance, but the DC Mayor has to go, hat in hand, to the feds, who have been traditionally hostile to DC. This is the most recent attack on DC sovereignty. In past years, Congress has passed laws that directly contradict laws the DC City Council has passed. Congress has offered scant respect
for DC leaders. But DC voters, through charter amendment, made the DC Attorney General an elected position. Karl Racine was elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018. He has aggressively challenged the status quo, suing the current administration of its chicanery. He has also defended DC independence and pushed back on attacks to DC sovereignty. The blessing of having an independent Attorney General (as opposed to someone appointed by the Mayor) is that the AG can play a different kind of politics than the Mayor must. This DC statehood issue affects you whether you live in DC or not. When you hear voter suppression, think DC. A few years ago, DC was majority Black (now it’s at least 45 percent). Republicans weren’t about to put a congressional voting seat and two senate seats to Black folks. Just like they will scheme and connive to keep Black voters away from the polls in North Carolina, Georgia, and other states. You can’t talk about equal rights unless you are interested in the rights of DC residents. It’s not a local issue; it’s a national issue.
Too many, though, have been disturbingly silent about the rights of DC residents. Too many seem to think that our rights’ abrogation is a remote issue that shouldn’t matter to them. Too many put this on the back burner, preferring the status quo to providing DC residents with voting rights. See LAST WORD, page 6
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Your Gifts Will Make Room for You FAITHFUL UTTERANCES By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew Social media can make you feel as if you have not accomplished anything. It is so easy to question your abilities and if you are moving in the right direction. Even if you are going in the right direction, you can easily begin to measure yourself against the achievements of others. Comparison is dangerous because you don’t know what others have gone through to get there. You are only seeing a piece of the entire picture. Instead of focusing on what others are doing or getting caught up in what they want you to see, begin to recognize the gifts God has placed within you. Recognize that there is a path for you but until you uncover who you are and why you are here, you will easily find yourself frustrated and looking back at what was or what could have been. You can become misled by what is appealing, has the most likes or comments, but find yourself lost if you seek the path that works for others instead of finding the path God has uniquely for you. The Story of Abraham, Lot, and Lot’s wife is a reminder of what happens when we focus on what glitters but isn’t gold. Genesis 19 is about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was Abraham’s nephew. A little background on Lot: In Genesis 5, Lot and Abraham had to separate because of a dispute between their shepherds. Abraham allowed Lot
to decide which land he wanted. The land Lot chose was near the Jordan River which the Bible states was “well-watered.” Lot was a wealthy man because he benefited from the favor of Abraham, his uncle. Instead of choosing Canaan, which is what God promised, he went for what was the easiest land to occupy. Sodom and Gomorrah were different than Canaan. I would venture that in its freedom and flashiness, Lot was celebrated because of his wealth. He even sat at the city gate which was a place for those in power. Lot’s willingness to abandon what God promised for the flash ultimately cost him…a lot. I wonder if Lot’s confidence was more in his ability and wealth than God who opened the doors for him. Otherwise, his response might have been different. When God decided to destroy the city, Lot was able to grab his family and escape. Yet, once again, Lot was thinking about the immediate and not able to see what God had for him and his family. The angel tells him to flee to the mountains and instead, Lot requested to flee to Zoar. Zoar in Hebrew means “small’. Not only was the town small but also could in fact, represent Lot’s thinking. That morning” …Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19: 26) Even when told not to focus on what was behind them and move toward what was ahead, she got stuck. Lot’s wife is a reminder of what happens when we look back instead of remaining focused on where God is leading us. If we aren’t careful, our desire for immediate gratification is passed on
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through our lineage. The small-minded thinking even went beyond Lot, his wife, but to his children. His daughters, instead of trusting God for a mate also went too far (Genesis 19: 30-38) and took matters into their own hands. The mess that we begin in our quest to be finally accepted can result in quick decisions that have far reaching consequences. We never know what people go through to get what they have but although Lot had accomplished much, he was not able to maintain it because of the decisions he made. Realize that what God has for you is yours. You don’t have to find the quick path, run with the folks who you believe will make it happen for you or sacrifice your sanity to get what belongs to you. Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.” (ESV). You do not have to figure it out or get over on people. Your gift will open doors for you especially when you allow God to guide you and bring the right people into your life. When you try to do it on your own, you end up getting side-tracked and sometimes stuck because it wasn’t for you. There is enough out here for all of us. No need to be threatened or jealous. The answer to finding success is “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33). Don’t allow social media to be your gauge on God’s plan for your purpose. Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.
• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
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Celebrating Black Women WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE By Dr. E. Faye Williams Rather than focus on recent violence that ravaged the nation’s capital, I’ll celebrate Black women! It would be easy to join with others who’re still attempting to provide an accurate explanation for the madness. To that subject, for the time being, I’ll only say that because of the current political climate and incessant cultural conflict, I became a sounding board for the expression of legitimate fears for the Inauguration Day safety of Vice President Kamala Harris. While we were rightly concerned with the appropriate security being in place on Inauguration Day, contemporary social violence dictates that we must also be concerned about her safety every day thereafter, along with that of Mr. Biden. We must not, however, allow those concerns to overtake our excitement of the election of Harris and Biden. We Black women know how hard we worked to make Kamala’s election a reality. The benefit of our effort accrued to Kamala and Joe equally. With respect to their present and future security, we must not allow our fears of what might happen overrule the exciting victory that we now experience. The important fact that must remain foremost in our minds is that we Black women have clear evidence of the positive results of our unity and common purpose. From many, we’ve heard laudatory acknowledgment of the exemplary role we’ve played in this most recent, and many other elections. As we congratulate our collective efforts and support the Biden-Harris administration, let us remember other Black women who did monumental things and are worthy of praise. A person receiving great acclaim for her impact on the 2020 presidential election is Stacey Abrams, who came into national prominence during the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. Unable to be acknowledged as winner by 55,000 votes because of an opponent who orchestrated and managed the alleged purge of 1.4 million voters, Stacey turned disappointment into action.
She organized the voter rights organization, Fair Fight, undertook developing a network of attorneys to challenge specious changes to election laws and established voter education and registration initiatives which increased many African American voters and other voters of color. She organized a massive get-outthe-vote effort to strengthen her voter registration efforts. To the regret of many Republicans, she didn’t confine her efforts to the Georgia borders. Her efforts extended to jurisdictions which maintained the same type of legal and extra-legal obstacles that shut her out of the governor’s mansion. Stacey lit a metaphorical fuse that brought explosive excitement to 2020. Another significant effort by a Black woman in 2020 was by LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund. Few need to be told about voter suppression in remote areas of the South. LaTosha and members of BVM addressed this problem by hitting the road in their campaign bus. Clocking thousands of miles, they crisscrossed highways throughout the south educating and registering voters who would’ve otherwise missed the opportunity to vote. Looking forward, we can extend congratulations to the Black women who’ve been appointed to serve in the Biden-Harris administration. We must be equally proud of Marcia Fudge as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Linda Thomas-Greenfield as ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice as leader of the Domestic Policy Council, Cecilia Rouse as chair of the Council of Economic Advisors and many others who’ll serve using the full measure of their skills and experience to “Build Back Better.” Let’s congratulate our sisters for preparing themselves for just such a time as this. We know the truth, but few outside the “Beloved Community” will agree that throughout the history of our nation, Black people, especially Black women, have been found near the center of most struggles and most successes of our nation. Black women have never faltered in meeting our challenges. Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women and host of “Wake Up and Stay Woke” on WPFW-89.3 FM.
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Clarence C. Russeau Jr.
1924-2021 RUSSEAU JR., Clarence C. Clarence C. Russeau Jr., an army veteran, retired Dallas Independent School District (DISD) educator, Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and beloved community leader, died on Jan. 1, 2021. He was 96.
Born on March 19, 1924, to Clarence C. Russeau Sr. and Sara Johnson in Terrell, Texas, Mr. Russeau received his B.S. degree from Wiley College and a Master’s degree from the University of North Texas. During his years in Dallas ISD, he worked as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal at various schools. Mr. Russeau also served in the U.S. Army and worked for years at the U.S. Post Office. In his words, one of his greatest accomplishments was his initiation into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., first as a member of the Alpha Sigma Chapter at Wiley College then as a de-
Thinking from page 1
Wicks, a teacher, and she has two siblings including a twin sister. She studied sociology at Harvard College, the undergraduate program of Harvard University. While at Harvard College in 2017, she was picked as America’s first National Youth Poet Laureate in a program co-sponsored by the Library of Congress. It is unfortunate if you did not hear her read in person her deep-thinking and inspiring poem about our American experience – good, bad, ugly, and hopeful. Her presentation and pose were magnetic. The words on paper do not do justice to her powerful, spoken words. There is no doubt that Maya Angelou, who read her own poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration, would have beamed with pride as most of the nation is now doing. Here are excerpts from Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb”: When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade? The loss we carry, a sea we must wade. We’ve braved the belly of the beast. We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace. In the norms and notions of what just is, isn’t always just-ice. And yet, the dawn is ours … before we knew it. Somehow, we do it. Somehow, we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.
voted Life Member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter in Dallas, TX, in 1949, where he served as chapter president and treasurer. He co-founded and served as Chairman of the Alpha Merit Group Committee and Chairman of Alpha VII. For his efforts, he received the chapter’s meritorious Outstanding Brother of the Year award. Apart from his fraternal and professional endeavors, Mr. Russeau was a pillar in his community with a vibrant family, religious, and social life. He was an early member of Hamilton Park United Methodist Church, which he attended for 63 years.
We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one. … We are striving to forge our union with purpose, to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man. And so, we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. … If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made. That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb if only we dare it. Because being American is more than a pride we inherit; it’s the past we step into and how we repair it. … We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised, but whole; benevolent, but bold; fierce and free. … Norma Adams-Wade, is a proud Dallas native, University of Texas at Austin journalism graduate and retired Dallas Morning News senior staff writer. She is a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists and was its first southwest regional director. She became The News’ first Black full-time reporter in 1974. norma_ adams_wade@yahoo.com
He always enjoyed being in the presence of others and finding ways to help them. He was an avid fisherman who looked for every opportunity to put a hook in the water. Mr. Russeau embodied kindness and humility as a son, husband, father, grandfather, and child of God. His family will forever cherish his laughter, his ability to listen, his sincere counsel, and his willingness to serve. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Odetta S. Russeau; one son, Clarence Keith Russeau, Dallas, Texas; his grandchild, Kingston; and a host of family and friends.
Insurrection from page 1
attempt to subvert American democracy. As these domestic terrorists broke into the citadel of freedom, other seditionist began to tear it down from within., Trump supporters such as Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) waved high the banner of sedition , to not certify the election of the President-Elect Joe Biden. January 06, 2021 will live as a day in infamy. It was America’s electoral Perl Harbor. A sneak attack upon democracy that was committed by legions of Americans, enemies
Last Word from page 4
President-elect Joe Biden has not embraced DC statehood or put it on top of his list. That’s not surprising. When President Barack Obama had both a Democratic House and Senate, the matter was not a priority. When President Bill Clinton led our nation, he somehow did not get around to the statehood issue. Republican resistance to statehood is expected.
Due to Covid, the family will not be receiving any visitors and will hold a private service. In lieu of flowers, the Russeau family requests memorials be made payable to the Alpha Merit Group Committee or Wiley College’s General Scholarships fund. For the Alpha Merit Group, donations should be mailed to P.O. Box 153123, Dallas, Texas. For more information, contact Jabari Jones at dallasalphamerit@gmail.com. Donations to Wiley College can be made at wileyc.edu/donate in Mr. Russeau’s name. Published in Dallas Morning News on Jan. 17, 2021.
from within, supported by White Supremacy. These terrorists scaled the walls of Freedom with the intent of Kidnapping, Killing, and Klanning the electoral college certification. If not for the quick thinking of a Capitol Hill Policeman, Eugene Goodman, then it was quite possible that many of our elected officials would have been killed or hurt. The ringleader of this Insurrection was the President of the United States, and for this high crime and misdemeanor he should be impeached and barred from running for the Presidency. This pardoned the word, trumps anything that any President has done before him.
Instigating a coup to remain in power. This type of behavior is what happen in banana republics. Indeed, we must have been in a banana republic on that day in January, because Trump was bananas. We as Americans were lucky, because the insurrectionists were not as organized to pull it off. They probably did not think they could get as far as they did. We must not let this failure be a platform for others to build upon. We must impeach Donald Trump, Jail the Insurrectionists, and Remove from office all members of the Sedition Caucus of elected representatives that assisted.
Democratic indifference is far more galling. The same party that will challenge voter suppression has never made DC voting a priority issue. Thus, Mayor Muriel Bowser has her hands tied, as prior mayors of DC have. Congress has intruded into DC internal affairs, appointing a “Control” Board (I called it the Out of Control Board) in 1995 to oversee DC financial decisions that should have been the Mayor’s purview. Congress meddles in DC in ways it could not interfere in any
other jurisdiction. DC deserves autonomy, and the debacle with the National Guard on January 6 is the most recent illustration of the reason. If you believe in equal rights, this is an issue for you whether or not you live in DC. The Biden –Harris administration must prioritize this, and you should, too.
I am Ed Gray, and this is Straight Talk.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, media contributor and educator. Her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV is available on youtube. com. For booking, wholesale inquiries or for more info visit www.juliannemalveaux.com.
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Virtual and liVe Community Calendar
Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Human Trafficking Awareness Panel Discussion. Hosted by North Central Texas College. Online: www.facebook.com/ northcentraltexascollege. 7 pm. CST.
January 28-29
January 29
Virtual NNPA 2021 Mid-Winter Training Conference. The Black Press of America: Challenges, Responsibilities, Opportunities & COVID-19 Pandemic 6-8 pm. Free Reg; Eventbrite.com.
January 28–Feb. 1 Virtual Denton Black Film Festival, host Denton Black Film Festival. On line: www. dbff.eventive.org. 10 am.
January 28-Feb. 3 Sundance Film Festival: Dallas [Satellite Screen] Hosted by Sundance Film Festival and Texas Theatre. Tickets: thetexastheatre.com/series/sundace-film-festival-2021. 6:30 am.
Now- Feb. 5 Conquering Cancer Virtual Health Fair. UT Southwestern’s Simmons Cancer Center sponsors this Free, on-line health fair daily – from the comfort of your own home. Reg: http://bit. ly/3ciHz6H. Log On Anytime.
January 28 Ahyonz Feat: Kenya C at The Attaché Cigar, 4099 Camp Wisdom Rd. #101. 9 pm. $10 ticket via Cash App $TheAttache. Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Virtual Networking Mixer 2021. Reg: irvinghcctx.chambermaster.com 5-6 pm. Small Business Webinars. Host Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce. RSVP: www.USBlackChambers.org/webinars. 2 pm. King 2021 Lecture & Series: Where Do We Go From Here? Speaker: Rev. Dr. William Barber, II. Facing 2021 and Beyond. 5-6:30 pm CST. Online: morehouse.zoom.us. The Great Migration, Reconsidered Online Event host: Newberry Library. At 4 pm CST. Register: https://bit.ly/3oWd6ie. Budget & Credit in Uncertain Times Virtual Sessions. Terri Thomas, Chase Bank, “Tools for Your Journey” Reg: http://bit. ly/39ChwnT. 6:30-7:30 pm. CST. Texas Women’s Foundation Presents Virtual Viewpoints: The Essentials-Housing. Sponsored by Capital One. Reg: http://bit. ly/2XXeJjz. 10:30-11:30 am. Building Social Equity: The Election Is Over, Now What? Event by United Way of South Hampton Roads. African American Leadership Society with moderator, April Woodard. 11am-12:30 pm Reg: http:// bit.ly/39RjEbi
Virtual Vision Board Party: Looking Beyond 2020. Online Event by Diamond Hill Community Center at 6 pm. Sign up: Text to 81010 or message: @mallumsd. Online Spiritual Care Sessions Hosted by Friendship-West Baptist Church. 1-2:30 pm. Tickets: https://zoom.us/j/8567036848. Time’s Up: NO More Insecurities Event by Dr Stacia Alexander LPC-S and Karen Anderson. Register at https://forms.gle/Pp2xxAuU8ruTumq19. 7 pm. CST.
January 30 FREE COVID-19 Testing at Paul Quinn College 3837 Simpson Stuart Rd. 10 am-4 pm. Food boxes will be given out for free as well. First come first serve until gone. Eldercare Webinar: Taking Care of Self & Navigating the System. Host Prince George’s County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virtual Reg: tinyurl.com. 9 am-12 pm. Reading As Activism Discusses Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. At 12 pm. Online: us02web.zoom.us. TeamJesus Movement Concert, Hosted by TeamJesus Movement. Online: teamjesusmovement.world at 8 pm. CST. Ramsey Lewis - Love Notes. Online event. Ticket Link: http://bit.ly/2Y6MUp0. 1-2 pm.
January 31 Grandscape Winter Jazz Series. Hosted by Grandscape Texas, 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony. 2-4 pm. CST.
February 1 Building a Career in Banking: Virtual Classes. Classes Start: Friday, February 1, from 9am – 3pm. Dallas College. Free. It’s An 8-week course. Contact: Ms. Myles; 214-860-8550. Reg: http://bit.ly/3bU2gW5. 2021 Free Human Rights Lecture Series host SJSU Human Rights Institute. Feat: Dr. Bettina Aptheker, Watch Party http://go.sjsu.edu/ HRI1. Reg: bit.ly/3oZWaal. 5:30-8:30 pm.
February 2 Facebook Live, Managing Debt So You Can Thrive. AARP Programs, at www.facebook.com/AARPPrograms. 6-6:45 pm.
February 3
Michael “Hollywood” Hernandez Live Podcast on Facebook @HollywoodHernandez, at 2 pm.
February 4 Living with Low Vision ZWHJCOC Lunch & Learn Session, with Dr. Stephanie Fleming, O.D. 11:30 am-12:30 pm. via Zoom at www. zwhjcoc.org. Reimagining “We The People” Hosted by Reimagining We The People National Conference. 9 am- 5 pm. CST. Reg: http:// bit.ly/2Y7YP6b. Civil Rights Legacies: Martin, Malcolm, Gwen, and Julian. Event by Schomburg Center for Research in Black Online: Eventbrite.com. 5:30 pm CST.
February 5 13th Annual DMV Links Red Dress Event. Event by DMV Linksgored. Special guest: JoyAnn Reid of The ReidOut Online: reddress. eventbrite.com. 6-8 pm. CST. Rhythm In Black: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – A Black History Month Event. Event by Andy Street LB. Tickets Online: eventbrite.com. 11 am CST. Pink GOes RED for Heart Health! Virtual Zumba and Yoga Session. Hosted by AKA Gamma Omicron Omega Chapter Tyler, Texas. 6:306:45 pm. Zoom: http://bit.ly/3iIH1b2 ID#: 94828613328 code: 778985
February 6 1st Saturday Harvest Project Food Rescue Free Fruit and Veggies, at the Pan African Connection 4466 S. Marsalis Ave. 10 am-3 pm. Call 214-943-8262. Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s DBDT: Encore! Reminisce reflects on the Civil Rights Era, tribute to the music of Andra Day, Aretha Franklin, and Gladys Knight & The Pips and of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. virtual performance 7 pm CST Tickets: www.DBDT.com. Business Alliance Ball at The Attaché Cigar, 4099 Camp Wisdom Rd. #101. 7 pm. Tickets: www.theattacheclub.com. 2021 Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Dallas. Host Hot Chocolate 15k/5k. Dallas’s sweetest 15k/5k at 7 am-12 pm. CST. Register: http://bit.ly/2GBBIZ8. The LOVE Expo 2021. Event by Boss Hogg Productions and Brianna Hogg at South Oak Cliff High School, 3601 S. Marsalis Ave. 2-6 pm. CST. Info: www. eventbrite.com.
Andrew’s World with host Andrew Whigham III on BlogTalkRadio.com 8 am.-10 am. CST. Sundays Tune in for thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news and commentary. Join the call 646-200-0459. on In The Middle with Ashley Moss. “Talking about topics that Matter” Join in on Facebook/@TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio. com at 11 am-1 pm. CST. Mondays. Join the conversation call 646-2000459.
DFW News & Tings with Jirah Nicole. From 11 am-1 pm. CST Tuesday’s on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio. com. Call in and join the conversation at 646-200-0459. Doc Shep Speaks Show! A fresh perspective, but still entertaining! Welcome to The Doc Shep Speaks Show!!!. Tuesdays at 11 am. CST Live on Facebook/@TexasMetroNews, @ fnsconsulting, and YouTube Live @ docshepspeaks.
I Was Just Thinking with Norma Adams-Wade “History Class is in Session” Join in on Facebook/@ TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio.com at 11 am -1 pm. CST. Wednesdays. Join the conversation call 646-200-0459. From Marva with Love with Marva Sneed from11 am -1 pm. CST, Fridays on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, and BlogTalkRadio.com. Call in and join the conversation at 646-2000459.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
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Celebrating the Biden-Harris Inauguration
How to get a COVID-19 vaccine If you are a Parkland patient: Parkland patients (at least one appointment in the last year) will be contacted by Parkland when it’s their turn to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you are not a Parkland patient: Please follow these steps to register to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
1.
Go to the website of Dallas County Health and Human Services:
www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination.php
2.
Click on the green rectangle to register:
3.
Fill out the form and click Submit. You are now registered.
4.
When it is your turn, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment to get the vaccine at one of the hub sites (such as Parkland, UT Southwestern, Dallas County Health and Human Services, etc.)
Getting the vaccine will protect yourself and the people around you. The vaccine will help stop the spread of the virus in our community and end the pandemic.
Not able to register online? Call the Dallas County Health and Human Services Vaccine Registration Hotline at 469-749-9906, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Registration help is available in English and Spanish.
Until more people are vaccinated, please stay safe.
Wear a mask
Wash your hands
Clean surfaces 01/21/21
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MetroNews 9 NABJ meets with CBS on allegations of racism, calls for firing of two executives WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) met Sunday night with CBS officials regarding disturbing revelations and allegations from the LA Times about the racism and toxic work environment at the company, specifically the CBS Television Stations. Those stations operate under the leadership of Peter Dunn, President of CBS Stations and David Friend, Senior Vice President of News for CBS Stations and VP of News at WCBS-TV New York. Based on the racist comments detailed in the LA Times story as confirmed by two former CBS executives, NABJ is calling for the immediate termination of Dunn and Friend. The troubling issues raised in the story are not just confined to one TV station. NABJ has heard from numerous CBS employees across the country and has been made aware of multiple lawsuits and investigations. It is clear that there is a massive problem among CBS owned-andoperated stations, and in order for the company’s culture to be transformed, it must begin with the firing of Dunn and Friend. The disturbing details that surfaced in Sunday’s LA Times are consistent with multiple workplace concerns currently expressed by CBS employees and brought to the attention of NABJ and to CBS executives in two in-person meetings in the last 18 months. Many of these employees have told us that they are afraid to speak about their concerns out of fear of retaliation from their bosses, including Dunn and Friend. Participants in the Sunday night meeting included NABJ Executive Director Drew Berry; Vice President-Broadcast Ken Lemon; Vice President-Digital Roland S. Martin; CEO of CBSBranded Assets George Cheeks, who heads the CBS Television Network, CBS News, CBS Television Stations; and Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Inclusion. NABJ President Dorothy Tucker has not been involved in any of these discussions with CBS because she is an
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Roland S. Martin
Ken Lemon
Drew Berry
CBS Stations Team – I know these have been a difficult few days. I wanted to reach out tonight with an update on a few important developments. Effective immediately, Stations President Peter Dunn and your Head of News David Friend have been placed on administrative leave pending an independent investigation of issues including those that were published in the recent Los Angeles Times stories. Below is the statement that will be provided to the press.
In addition, CBS Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Bryon Rubin will assume interim leadership of the Stations group. Bryon is very familiar with your business and ready to support your efforts. I also wanted you to know that on Sunday evening, Marva Smalls, ViacomCBS’ Head of Global Inclusion, and I met with the leadership of the National Association of Black Journalists. We pledged to continue a dialogue with the NABJ on
our best path forward. Please know that you have my commitment – and that of ViacomCBS’ senior leadership – to foster and maintain a positive, inclusive and equitable workplace at Stations and across CBS. We have important work to do here. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion values, goals and programs are essential to our culture and our business success. -- George Cheeks
employee of the company, and NABJ Board policy prohibits anyone from taking part in discussions about their own company. Cheeks and Smalls agreed with NABJ that there must be an external-led investigation, and pledged to work with NABJ on a path forward. The allegations in the LA Times story include: • Dunn disparaging popular and highly-respected Black male Philadelphia anchor Ukee Washington as “just a jive guy” and seeming to ridicule him for dancing on air; • Dunn and Friend criticizing a young Black female morning anchor’s accent and work, a few days into her new assignment; • The firing of another Black
female anchor of Ethiopian origin because Dunn “hated her face;” • And a complaint was filed by a former CBS manager with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission expressing discriminatory behavior “through the instruction of others,” including pay, based on race, gender and sexual orientation. In addition to information detailed in the LA Times article, during the meeting, the NABJ delegation outlined a number of member complaints including: • WCBS in NYC has just one fulltime Black male reporter hired this year after going more than 5 years without one. • WCBS in NYC has just one Black female full-time reporter. • WCBS has just one Black news
producer. • WCBS has just one Black manager that was promoted in February. • KYW Philadelphia repeatedly passed over Black freelance employees and gave full-time positions to other journalists. “New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world
• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
so there is no excuse not to have sufficient Black representation among the news staff,” said NABJ Vice President- Broadcast Ken Lemon. “The time for change is now.” NABJ will be following up on the results of the investigation and subsequent actions taken by CBS. “It’s a shame that 45 years after NABJ was founded by 44 brave Black journalists, we are still having to contend with racism,” said NABJ Vice President-Digital Roland S. Martin. “It’s a shame that journalists like Brooke Thomas, who was mentioned in the LA Times report, have had their careers stunted because of racism of white media executives. We aren’t satisfied with lip service. We don’t want promises that things will change. We are heartened by our discussion with George and Marva that there will be real, substantial and substantive changes at CBS to ensure that it is a welcoming place for Black and other journalists of color to work, rise and succeed.”
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“N” or Possibly a condition! WHAT’S ON MILES’ MIND By Miles Jaye James Baldwin declared “I Am NOT Your Negro.” He credited the word niggah to White people and suggested the term was devised to satisfy their need for such a word or type. In a 1968 interview, Baldwin told talk show host Dick Cavett and his guest, Paul Weiss, a philosophy professor, “The years I lived in Paris did one thing for me… it released me from a particular social terror that is not the paranoia of my own mind, but a real social danger that is visible on the face of every cop, every boss, everybody.” A particular social terror? A real social danger? Could this be White niggahs? After watching the assault on the Capitol for the twentieth time, it occurred to me that what I was
NAACP from page 1
In the recorded message, which branch leaders provided a copy of to Texas Metro News, the caller said, in part, “MLK is a good (N-word), but that’s because he’s a dead (N-word).” The Garland NAACP uses a telephone answering service which sends notification alerts with voice recordings attached after a caller has left a message. The service identifies the caller by the name in which a phone line is listed and by the caller’s telephone number. Friday, Gwendolyn Daniels, the NAACP member who received the message in her branch voicemail box, said she was pleased at detectives’ work and their decision. “We appreciate that
witnessing were actions typically credited to Black people-- niggahs, but these were White people. Niggahs are known to riot, loot, and vandalize property, but these were White folk. Was I watching White niggahs tearing up the Capitol? I decided to take a trip down the proverbial rabbit hole to see if I could find out more about White niggahs-- that is… if there really is such a thing. Comedian Chris Rock tells a joke suggesting there are two types of Black people, Blacks and niggahs. “Every time Black people get together to have some fun, niggahs eff it up.” Hilarious, and perhaps true to an extent, however, wholly unfair and a disservice to African Americans. After returning from a tour of the Motherland, Richard Pryor announced, somewhat emotionally, there are no niggahs in Africa. That may also be only partially true. Certainly, to the extent that human beings inhabit the Motherland, there is very likely some niggerishness going on. At any
the Garland police took the time to investigate it,” Ms. Daniels said. “The detective assigned to our case said that the accused admitted right up front that he did it and that he still felt the same way.” NAACP Leaders said the incident would not change the branch’s civil rights work, their programming or deter their mission. “We are not going to change the way we handle things,” said Annie Dickson, president of the Garland NAACP. “We’re just going to continue to serve the community and do our best.” “This is just one of many people who have tried to bully us,” Ms. Dickson said. “But, we don’t accept bullying.” “People need to realize that not everyone shares the sentiment of equal rights for all people,” Ms. Daniels added during a telephone interview with both leaders. “There
rate, Pryor was so moved by the experience he pledged to stop using the term. I would offer this for consideration. Perhaps niggah is a condition, a reaction to conditions, a state of mind, rather than a group or individual. There is no niggah, there is only niggah mood or attitude-- a behavior-- nigganess, niggarish. That explained much of what I saw watching the insurrection. Those niggahs were pissed that someone stole their election and threatened to steal their country and they weren’t having it. They were willing to burn the place down or blow it up before they let it be ripped from their grasp. Sound familiar? In the early hours of the riot, newscasters used terms such as protesters, and demonstrators. As the evening wore on, I could sense they were aching to say; “Look at those niggahs.” The behavior of the mob perfectly matched any riot or riotous behavior I had ever seen.
really are people that feel African Americans do not deserve the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as the white community,” Typically, cases that are referred to grand juries are considered by jurists, who then determine whether there is probable cause that a crime has occurred. If jurists believe it is likely that a crime was committed, they return an indictment against a suspect, who then will be arrested, charged and face trial. The members of the Garland NAACP will discuss the incident in their monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be virtual. It is open to all. For more information, click here: https://garlandtxnaacp. org/calendar/. Texas Metro News editor Valerie Fields Hill contributed to this report.
Looting and vandalism is not exclusive to Black people, it’s universal. Vandals, by the way, were early Germanic people. At any rate, revisit protests from around the world, China, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, S. America, and notice what they all have in common-- niggahness. Ever see a soccer stadium riot? Once we understand and accept that there are niggahs everywhere, we’ll find ourselves far less sensitive to the mere sound of the word. Someone tricked us into taking ownership of it-- don’t. When an individual reacts violently or lashes out angrily, and seemingly irrationally, the behavior should be characterized as niggarish with no association to race, creed, nationality or color. It doesn’t make them niggahs, just mad, fed up, angry with their circumstances. Road rage is not a Black thing, but it is niggarish. I admittedly have been guilty of overreacting, behaving in a far less than thought-
ful manner, using far less than sophisticated language, but I’m not now, nor will I ever be a niggah. That was worth the trip down the rabbit hole. I’m satisfied now knowing there are White niggahs! Now let’s make it official. Track them niggahs down and lock their a…. up. We burn down a convenience store and a cop car and the National Guard is deployed. Them, (yes, I said them) niggahs, brought guns and pipe bombs, and were ready to start a war and you couldn’t find a dozen cops standing side by side. I suppose White Supremacy extends to their niggahs too. We’ll talk about them niggahs scaling the walls, hand over hand, like Ninja or Dracula or the Devil himself next time. I think I’ll call it… Demonocracy. That’s what’s on my mind! Website: www.milesjaye.net Podcast: https://bit.ly/2zkhSRv Email: milesjaye360@gmail.com
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NNPA kicks off Midwinter Training Conference by tackling Challenges of COVID-19 By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
The COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted every aspect of Americans’ lives — and people all over the world. However, the impact on African Americans’ health, education, work, and business lives has been disproportionately severe. The pandemic has also changed the way that the world conducts business. This year’s National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Midwinter Training Conference will feature workshops, webinars, and information to help Black Press members manage their business more effectively. The conference’s theme is “Black Press of America: Challenges, Responsibilities, and Opportunities Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.” Open to the public at no charge, the two-day virtual conference kicks off on Thursday, January 28, with greetings from NNPA Chair and Houston Forward Times Publisher Karen Carter Richards. Terry Jones, publisher of Data News Weekly in New Orleans and the NNPA Convention Planning Committee Chair, will follow Carter Richards with remarks. Pluria Marshall Jr., the NNPA Fund Chair and Publisher of The Wave Community Newspapers in California, and Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the NNPA’s president and CEO, also will provide opening comments. A visual exhibition of NNPA member newspapers will follow the opening remarks, and Dr. Chavis, Chair Richards, and others will acknowledge conference partners and sponsors. Among the NNPA Midwinter Training Conference partners are General Motors, Pfizer Rare Disease, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Reynolds American (RAI). The conference sponsors include AARP, Wells Fargo, American Petroleum Institute (API), Facebook, Zillow, Nissan, UAW, and Zenger News.
At 11:18 a.m. on Thursday, Wells Fargo will present an informative session on “How to Adapt and Rebuild Your Small Business During COVID-19.” Andre Jones, the Small Business Strategy and Development Officer, and Camille N. Simpkins, the Business Development Officer of Greater Philadelphia and National Small Business Development, will serve as presenters for Wells Fargo. Following the banking giant’s presentation, Dr. Leandris Liburd, the associated director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will offer a special address to the Black Press of America on the topic, “COVID-19 Pandemic and Black America.” General Motors and AARP will follow that address with messages to the 230-plus member NNPA. A one-hour training workshop begins at 11:45 a.m., titled “Overview of 2021 and the National Advertising Market Demands in the United States: The Trends Toward Digital Advertising.” Michael R. Grant, the founder of “Get Current Studio,” an African American owned digital design and strategic technology development business in Menlo Park, Calif., will serve as a presenter. Grant currently is a teacher and training “Fellow” for the Google News Lab. A virtual lunch break follows before Nissan and Facebook provide messages to the NNPA. The first day also includes Training Workshop B, “The Benefits of Participating in the NNPA Digital Network and the Fundamentals of Digital Advertising.” Norman Rich, the NNPA digital network administrator, and developer, will host the session. Following a reacknowledgment of partners and sponsors, an evening of entertainment will commence at 7 p.m. Day two begins at 11:05 a.m.
with a message from API. A one hour “Training Workshop C” commences at 11:10 a.m., titled “Digital Transformation Revenue Generation: The Washington Post Case Study.” The Washington Post’s digital staff will serve as presenters. Pfizer Rare Disease will then address the NNPA with a presentation titled, “Heart Disease and Black America.” NBA legend and former Houston Rockets and New York Knicks Coach Don Chaney will serve as the Pfizer presenter.
Following a virtual lunch break, a special session public education video on distance learning, presented by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the NNPA Education Public Awareness Program, will occur. At 1:36 p.m. Friday, “Training Workshop D Sales Team Training for Local and National Digital Ad Buy Sales,” will be presented by NNPA Advertising Director Ron Burke, Los Angeles Sentinel Editor Brandon Brooks, and Real Times Media. Wells Fargo and Zillow plan to
follow that session with messages and presentations to the NNPA. Closing acknowledgments of conference partners and sponsors are scheduled at 2:45 p.m., followed by remarks from NNPA’s president and the conference planning committee chair. The conference concludes with entertainment, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Registration is free and open to the public. To register, visit http://www.virtualnnpa2021. com.
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CUT THROAT CITY rates a medium FAITHFUL ON-A APP orders his men to kill the remaining AT gang members. The friends fight THE their way out of MOVIES the jam and look By Hollywood Hernandez for a spot to lay low for a while. Blink, CUT THROAT played by Shamiek CITY, currently sho- Moore, is the lead wing on NETFLIX, character. He recently is about four African married and is conAmerican men who cerned for the safety live in the 9th Ward of his family. of New Orleans. The The movie has a lot four men have been of big name actors in friends since child- small parts, like Wehood and they return sley Snipes, Terrance to the 9th Ward after Howard and Ethan the city is devastated Hawke. The acting by Hurricane Katrina. in the movie is stelThey are out of mo- lar but, until the finey, and out of luck, nal scenes the movie after FEMA denies goes into a lot of the their requests for any character’s philosoptype of federal aid. hies on racism, capiThe movie, produced talism, and their feeby music producer lings on artwork and RZA (Wu Tang Clan), how it effects Black is a dark crime sto- culture. The final 20 ry about the friends minutes of the film accepting an oppor- is the best part of the tunity to follow a 9th movie and that part is
Ward drug lord, played by T.I., who enlists them to pull a broad daylight heist at a casino right in the heart of New Orleans. As the gang tries to get away they are pursued by the cops and one friend is killed. They also run into more trouble when they come up short on the robbery money and the drug lord
filled with graphic, violent scenes, earning the movie a R rating. With the premise of coming home to New Orleans after Katrina, this could have been a better movie; but unfortunately, it’s not. On My “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate CUT THROAT CITY a MEDIUM.
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THAT CELEBRITY INTERVIEW By Valder Beebe Faith at Your Fingertips! Find inspiration in 2021, in Faithful, the First-of-Its Kind Mobile App with original content from prominent spiritual leaders. I interviewed Judah Smith, Pastor and Chaplain of the Seattle Seahawks on how to use Faithful APP. Faithful is a new faith-focused mobile app from Seventh Spark (a tech company who provides digital solutions for faith communities) It delivers Christian sermons and original content from prominent spiritual leaders such as Pastors Judah Smith, Samuel Rodriguez, Chad Veach and Dr. Dharius Daniels and more through on-demand, original and curated content at users’ fingertips. This modern space for faith aims to deepen users’ connection to God and bring positive change through on-demand inspiration and curated content from more than 50 motivational voices around the world. With an easy-to-navigate design, Faithful delivers a highly personalized experience that allows users to select content covering specific themes and topics including confidence, joy, courage, anxiety, depression and even addiction. The platform is designed to enable users to follow their favorite content and also discover new pastors. The new app is a freemium, ad-free service and is available now on the App Store and Google Play for free and paid subscription options at $69.99 annually or $9.99 monthly. All new users will be able to experience the premium content through a seven-day free trial. Prior to becoming Lead Pastor in 2009, Judah Smith
led Generation Church, the youth ministry of The City Church, for 10 years. Judah is known for his fresh, anointed, humorous messages that demystify the Bible and make Christianity real. Judah is also an expert on leadership and motivation. He and his wife, Chelsea, have three children, Zion, Eliott, and Grace..- Judah Smith publicists provided text
Pastor Judah Smith
VBS: First, let me ask, do all football teams engage a Pastor or Chaplain? PJS: Most football teams in the NFL do, but not every team. It’s something I get to do, volunteer and get to be there before every game. VBS: Pastor Judah, I’m excited you are here to give clarity on “faith at our fingertips” please explain. PJS: We are very excited. You get it anywhere you download apps. The APP has an impressive line-up of faith believers with content geared to your struggle. Faith leaders Sadie Robertson from Duck Dynasty, Brian Houston and more. VBS: Are you on the APP? PJS: Yes I am. VBS: What is the core purpose of creating this APP? PJS: A reason we named it Faithful, because when the faith community hears that term, faithful, we want to change the thinking to grow, listen…….. Judah Smith’s complete interview… SoundCloud.com/valderbeebeshow; YouTube.com/valderbeebeshow: Broadcasting to a national & global audience: ValdeBeebeShow.com; KKVI FM Radio, KRER FM, Streaming TV, Social Media, Print - I MESSENGER, Texas Metro News and Garland Journal News.
• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
13
The Voice For The Voiceless FROM MARVA WITH LOVE By Marva J. Sneed Bianca Jackson is the CEO of New Friends New Life, a Dallas-based organization that restores and empowers formerly trafficked teen girls and sexually exploited women and their children. Bianca leads the organization’s strategic development, financial operations, and advocacy work, as well as its program initiatives and staff development and she has made it her life’s work to be a voice for the voiceless. MS: You said that you wanted to be the voice for the voiceless. Tell us about yourself and how you got started on this journey. BJ: I was born and raised in the Bahamas. I moved here when I went to Temple University in Philadelphia. But a story that sticks out with me. Because of our proximity we got all of our news from Florida. A man had beaten his five-year-old to death because he wet the bed. There was something about that story and that little boy that just sat in my heart. And I knew from that moment that if I had the opportunity to have a career where I could mold my passion and my compassion, empathy, my sense of concern for others, and make that a profession; I would consider that the greatest blessing… So that’s how my journey started. I move to Dallas and started in a non-profit in Healthcare. I could see the result of my efforts. I knew that when I went to bed every night I made a difference for a patient.
MS: What is the difference between what you did at Genesis and what you are now doing at New Friends New Life? BJ: So at Genesis Women’s Shelter the service survivors of domestic violence, women and children have experienced violence. I was in development there so leading the efforts that brought resources and money into the organization. Then
Bianca Jackson
I transitioned to New Friends New Life where we specifically served women and girls who have been trafficked or exploited. I was the Chief Development Officer which was similar. It is challenging in these times, but people are talking about human trafficking more than ever before. That is so important that people are paying attention to what’s happening in our backyard. To hear the full interview with Bianca Jackson, go to BlogTalkRadio.com/ Cheryl’sWorld, http://bit. ly/3p31wBT, or Facebook. com/TexasMetroNews to see the video. To learn more about Human Trafficking go to www. newfriendsnewlife.org. Tune into “From Marva with Love” Fridays from 11 am-1 pm. on B l o g Ta l k R a d i o . c o m and Texas Metro News Facebook page. “From Marva with Love” BlogTalkRadio.com/Cheryl’s World Texas Metro News email: marvasneed@myimessenger.com
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• Vol-9
WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM
• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
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WITH EACH NEW YEAR The shadows are parting and the New Year brings me hope. That memories and His grace will help me to cope. With my loss and your absence and all in between. Still not understanding what it all means. Forced into a reality not of my choice. Often finding myself screaming although I don’t hear my voice. Comforted by friends and family who can. Yet, they think my pain should be over because they don’t understand. How deep my sorrow and
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• Vol-9
• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
15
Baseball Icon Henry ‘Hank’ Aaron dies at 86 By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
Baseball’s recognized home run king and an African American hero, Henry “Hank” Aaron, has died at the age of 86. Aaron, who broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record on April 8, 1974, was not just a baseball legend but a hero to superstars. “He’s the one man that I idolize more than myself,” the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali once said about Aaron. While with the Atlanta Braves, Aaron tied Ruth’s mark of 714 homers on April 7. A day later, he slugged No. 715 against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Al Downing. Before and throughout his chase of Ruth’s longstanding record, Aaron was subjected to racism and hate. Death threats were common, and even some teammates and those throughout baseball despised Aaron as he approached their white hero’s record. Despite beefed up security at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium, some fans breached the outfield walls as Aaron trotted around the bases following his record-setting dinger. Legendary footage shows at least two fans were able to physically greet Aaron as he rounded second base and fireworks exploded in the Atlanta night. “A Black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol,” Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who called the game, proclaimed as Aaron’s mother, family, and teammates greeted him at home plate. Born Henry Louis Aaron on February 5, 1934, in a poor Black section of Mobile, Alabama, called “Down the Bay,” Hank Aaron was the third of eight children born to Estella and Herbert Aaron. Aaron’s father made his living as a tavern owner and a dry dock boilermaker’s assistant. According to biography.com, Aaron and his family moved to the middle-class Toulminville neighborhood when he was
Hank Aaron
eight years old. Aaron, who became known as “Hammering Hank,” developed a strong affinity for baseball and football at a young age and focused more heavily on sports than his studies. During his freshman and sophomore years, he attended Central High School,
a segregated high school in Mobile, where he excelled at football and baseball. Aaron first starred in the Negro Leagues in 1952 and again in 1953, batting .366, with five home runs and 33 RBIs in 26 official games. He began his Major League Baseball career in 1954 with the Milwaukee
Braves and spent 23 seasons as an outfielder with Milwaukee – the franchise eventually moved to Atlanta. Aaron finished his career with 755 home runs, a record topped by Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants in 2007. However, many baseball purists recognize Aaron as the true record holder, alleging that Bonds used performance enhancing drugs to bolster his power. Bonds has denied those allegations. Aaron’s biography at the Baseball Hall of Fame, where he earned induction in 1982, noted that he was “a consistent producer both at the plate and in the field, reaching the .300 mark in batting 14 times, 30 home runs 15 times, 90 RBI 16 times and captured three Gold Glove Awards enroute to 25 AllStar Game selections.” The Hall biography notes that 1957 was arguably Aaron’s best season. He hit .322 that year with 44 home runs and 132 RBI, captured the National League MVP Award, and led the Braves to their first World Series Championship since 1914. The U.S. Postal Service once
honored Aaron for receiving nearly 1 million pieces of mail, more than any non-politician. On the 25th anniversary of Aaron’s 715th home run, Major League Baseball created the Hank Aaron Award, given annually to the players with the best overall offensive performances in each league. Aaron received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, from President George W. Bush in 2002. According to the New York Times, the Baseball Hall of Fame opened a permanent exhibit in 2009 chronicling Aaron’s life. His childhood home was moved on a flatbed truck to the grounds of Hank Aaron Stadium, which was the home of the Mobile BayBears, a former minor league team, and opened as a museum in 2010. “Through his long career, Hank Aaron has been a model of humility, dignity, and quiet competence,” former Atlanta Mayor and U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young noted in a statement. “He did not seek the adoration that is accorded to other national athletic heroes, yet he has now earned it.
Ed Bell Construction Company An Equal Opportunity Employer January 4, 2021 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. We are currently hiring for the following positions: • • • • • •
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• Vol-9
WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM
• Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2021
Vice President Kamala Devi Harris, We See You!
By Amelia Ashley-Ward
Publisher, San Francisco Sun-Reporter
I lost a lot of sleep this week, anticipating the Inauguration of Kamala Devi Harris as the most powerful woman in American history. I was anxious and I was happy. I was in disbelief, but also in awe. I was emotional and teary. I was full of praise, love, and respect for the woman and sisterfriend I decided to support and feature in the Sun-Reporter for her San Francisco District Attorney, California Attorney General, and United States Senator campaigns. We also supported her run for President. I rose early Wednesday to take a seat in front of my large television set. I had nervous energy, as I rocked back and forth. I couldn’t wait for the first glimpse of her. I was eager to see what see was wearing. I wanted to see her walking side by side with President Joseph R. Biden. I mean, I kind of felt like this when President Barack Obama was inaugurated back in 2009 as the First Black President. But on this day, the feeling was even
Sun Reporter publisher Amelia Ashley Ward and Vice President Kamala Harris
more magical. It was personal. This was our home girl, a girlfriend, someone with whom I had laughed and cried. She is now the most powerful woman in the country. Another first for the woman who has been the first in every political office she’s held. I guess over all the years, Camelot and Cinderella had only been the fairy tales reserved for others and not meant for us. But with an obsession for
freedom and justice and a spirited heart full of ambition, Kamala flipped the script. After all, female action figures like Wonder Woman and Barbie dolls on display rarely represented us. At last, we have a real Wonder Woman who represents strength and beauty. She’s the real deal: strong, fearless, mighty, brilliant and she looks like us. Her name is Kamala Devi Harris, Madame Vice President of the United States of
America. At last, the day had come. There she stood, regal in purple, after exiting from her official limousine. All eyes were on her. I watched in admiration and cried Hallelujah! as she raised her hand to take the oath of office administered by the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Little Black girls and girls across the country stood with raised hands, too. There’s glass everywhere with openings for them to enter and
reach for the sky. Thank you, Madame Vice President Harris! She is now equal to all the white men who had occupied the seat before her. This moment in time will live forever within me. Her victory is our victory. She stands on the shoulders of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Shirley Chisholm, and Rosa Parks. I must admit, I dedicate the Sun-Reporter to fighting for equal opportunity and the election of Black women. It is my belief that if we work for them, they will also work for us. I plead their cause over and over and time and time again. I guess favoring candidates is not the rule for real journalism, but the rules of this country have never favored us. The election of Vice President Kamala Harris to the second highest office in the land is my vindication. In other words, I raise my right hand and place my left on the Bible and swear to do it again. Vice President Harris said it best: “I may be the first, but I will not be the last.” Next!?