Texas Metro News 7-15-21

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• Vol. 9 • July 15 - 21, 2021

MY TRUTH

By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER

The Real Dick Gregory

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Messing with the Wrong

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More than Most Qualified!

Mayor Cornelious’ life experiences shape leadership

By Eva D. Coleman

Lifestyle & Culture Editor

By Valerie Fields Hill News Editor

Dr. E. Faye Williams

To be recognized during your lifetime has to be a great feeling. If folks didn’t learn anything as a result of COVID-19, showing love and appreciation should have been on the list.

Sadly, however; so many missed the memo and therefore grace is not in their vocabularies.

To Dr. E. Faye Williams’ credit, it didn’t take a pandemic for her to realize how precious life and friends are. She had a friend in Dick Gregory and while he is no longer here to be showered with love, when he was alive Mr. Gregory knew he had a friend in her.

And that is so important!

Actually it is powerful.

And, Mr. Gregory said that information was power!

The author of several books, Dick Gregory was about sharing information. Get him talking and you were in for a treat, because it was like having your own personal lecturer.

Rapper and businessman Killer Mike said that when Mr. Gregory died, it was like an entire library burned down.

See MY TRUTH, page 6

North Texas civic and community leaders applauded Democratic state legislators yesterday after at least 50 members of the House of Representatives left Texas in protest of two Republican-backed bills they said suppress minorities’ voting rights.

“I stand in solidarity with the Texas House legislators who are fighting to empower the voices of Americans, so we continue to have basic constitutional rights,” said Glenn Heights City Councilwoman Shaunte L. Allen. “This bill disenfranchises a very specific demographic and is steeped in the hatred of the Jim Crow era.”

Allen made the statement Tuesday afternoon, shortly after news reports that more than 50 Democratic representatives left the state ahead of an expected vote on the Republican-supported bills making their way through this week’s special Legislative session. The lawmakers’ absence ensured the House of Representatives could not reach a quorum to vote on the proposed bills.

The representatives boarded a pair of planes bound for Washington, D.C. where they later held a press conference at the Capitol building detailing their opposition to Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3.

Allen said the boycott was necessary to protect her constituents’ and others’ rights to vote.

“For Governor (Greg) Abbott to call this extra Legislative session to push through personal agendas is deplorable,” Allen said. “We know that not voting

Mayor Curtis J. Cornelious Credit: Eva D. Coleman

State Rep. Carl O. Sherman leaves Texas to take case against voter suppression to the White House.

Courtesy photo

Legislators decry suppressive voter bills, head to D.C. means not having a voice in the communities in which we live.”

She was not alone in her support.

Allen was among a bevy of North Texas African American and Latino leaders who favored Democratic legislators’ tactics –

specifically their use of a boycott - to stymie efforts to pass Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3.

The two pieces of legislation prohibit the opening of drivethrough and 24-hour voter locations and add new requirements See WRONG TEXANS!, page 3

He has come a long way from the farm in what is now known as Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. Curtis J. Cornelious has not strayed from the values his upbringing instilled and carries them into his new role as mayor of the Town of Little Elm, Texas.

“My dad always farmed, my mom, always a full-time nurse, so we had the best of both worlds,” Cornelious said. “We were either out helping on the farm, or we were out learning something about helping people healthcare wise.”

Next to the youngest of eight children, which he laughed as he fondly invoked a well-known country term as being the “knee baby,” Cornelious has a high regard for his father and mother and their sense of care.

“Both of our parents were just heartfelt and that’s how they raised us to be,” he said.

Growing up, Cornelious shared that they didn’t have a lot, yet their home was often a shelter for others in need.

“It’s a three bed, one bath house on the hill. The water ran slow, and at any given time, we always had a cousin from each family living with us,” Cornelious said. “It was nothing to have the 10 of us plus four or five others, but it was a family thing.”

He emphasized that with hard work, they had fun. The family togetherness with the minimum yielded lessons he’ll never forget in foreSee MOST QUALIFIED, page 12

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• Vol-9

• July 15 - 21, 2021

BRIEFS

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Ida B. Wells honored with monument in Bronzeville

By Tammy Gibson Chicago Defender

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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.

WASH HANDS WEAR MASK

The Ida B. Wells Monument was unveiled Wednesday at 37th & Langley among a crowd of spectators, public officials, Bronzeville, and former Ida B. Wells Home residents.

The 20-foot-tall sculpture “Light of Truth” was designed by Chicago artist and sculptor Richard Hunt.

The monument has three bronze columns, with spirals, coils, Ida B. Wells biographical facts, and one of her famous quotes, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”

The monument is the first in the City of Chicago to honor a Black woman.

The monument was commissioned by the Ida B. Wells Commemorative Committee. Michelle Duster, the great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, had to let the ceremony sink in that after 13 years of support from donors and hard work, the monument has become a reality.

“After working on this project for over a decade, the reality that it is finished is still sinking in. I realized the other day that if the project were a child, it would be graduating from 8th grade now.

I truly hope that the monument will be a source of pride for the Bronzeville neighborhood where my great-grandmother lived for over 35 years, as well as the whole city, state, and nation.

“Ida B. Wells spent her entire adult life fighting for justice and equality. This awe-inspiring monument, created by world-renowned Chicago native Richard Hunt, should inspire people to see their own power and continue her work,” said Michelle Duster.

At the Ida B. Wells Dedication Ceremony, violinist Windy Indie open the program with her performance of the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Bryan Stevenson, of the Equal Justice Initiative, actress Tika Sumpter and Mariame Kaba, organizer & author, paid virtual tributes and congratulations on the historic moment.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, 4th Ward Alderwoman Sophia King, and journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones made remarks about the life and legacy of Ida B. Wells and the lack of monuments and statues honoring Black women.

“It’s important who we celebrate and who we choose to celebrate. I feel Ida B. Wells’ spirit here today,” said Ald. King.

“We are all standing on her shoulders. The ground that she walked on, the legacy, and the history that she carved into this country. We are the beneficiaries of her life and legacy, and we dare not forget that” said Mayor Lightfoot.

“What’s troubling in this country is the extent to which we honor not just a very small segment of our population, white men, but white men who were slaveholders,” said Preckwinkle. “You know if you think about Washington Park and Jackson Park, they’re named after presidents of the United States, for sure. But slaveholding presidents of the United States, which I would argue is an affront to all of us.

What is this? Why are we lifting up slaveholders? So, I’m very grateful to be part of a celebration that lifts up a fighter for justice.”

“We are about to unveil a monument to a Black woman who actually did believe in the ideas of this

The Ida B. Wells Monument was unveiled Wednesday at 37th & Langley among a crowd of spectators, public officials, Bronzeville, and former Ida B. Wells Home residents. The 20-foot-tall sculpture “Light of Truth” was designed by Chicago artist and sculptor Richard Hunt.

country,” said Hannah-Jones. “We create monuments because we want monuments to tell us publicly how we see ourselves as a nation. So, the fact that across this country we don’t have monuments to the enslaved, but we have monuments to those that enslaved them. Monuments to enslavers, bigots and colonizers are coming down all across the country.

We have to not leave an empty space there. We have fill in those spaces with the spaces of the true Americans who actually fought for the ideas of liberty and freedom, and that’s what we are doing today with the Ida B. Wells monument.”

The great-grandchildren of Ida B. Wells, Dan, and Michelle Duster, were emotional about the overwhelmed turn-out for the dedication ceremony for their great-grandmother.

“We are all here to celebrate her HERstoric moment,” said Michelle Duster.

“Rosa Parks was the mother of the Civil Rights Movement, Fannie Lou Hamer, Sojourner Truth were the grandmothers, Ida B. Wells was the great-grandmother, and it goes on and on. To have a monument that can tell people her story and not just her name is powerful,” said Dan Duster.

Wells was born in Holly Springs, MS, in 1862.

Wells and two of her siblings moved to Memphis after their parents died from the Yellow Fever Epidemic in 1878.

Wells became part owner of the Memphis newspaper Free Speech and Headlight to denounce racial injustice. Wells began her anti-lynching crusade when three of her friends were beaten and lynched for defending their Memphis grocery store on March 9, 1892.

Wells left Memphis and moved to Chicago. In 1895, Wells married journalist Ferdinand Lee Bartnett. From 1919 to 1929, the couple lived at 3624 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago. The Ida B. Wells-Barnett House is a National Historic Landmark.

Wells died on March 25, 1931, and is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.

Tammy Gibson is a Black history traveler and author. Find her on social media at @SankofaTravelHr.

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• Vol-9

Wrong Texans! from page 1

“Certainly, we believe in being law-abiding and so the actions now being taken show desperate times calls for desperate measures; and, so we certainly hope that everyone is able to get to one accord and do what’s necessary. We hope that everyone is able to come together and govern appropriately and accordingly to allow everyone to exercise their fundamental right as a U.S. citizen.”

************** “Texas has a long history of voter suppression dating back to the end of the Civil War. Once the Supreme Court overturned Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act in 2013, people of color were no longer protected from suppressive Republican attempts to deny our vote.”

Texas Legislators with Sen. Cory Booker in D. C.

ads and bulletins that called for the return of runaway enslaved Africans to their “Massas.”

Sen. West shrugged off threats of jail saying the governor’s remarks were just for media consumption.

For both West and Rep. Carl O. Sherman Sr., they said they recognized the correlation between the Fugitive Slave Act signed by President George Washington in 1793 and Abbott’s efforts today. Sherman said he and his colleagues saw no alternative to their decision.

“We had no choice but to bring this to Washington,” he told Texas Metro News. “The only way we have a chance is if we fight. We demand that President Biden be the Lincoln (President Abe) of our time!”

Decrying the partisan efforts to disenfranchise voters, he invoked the name of Fannie Lou Hamer and others who fought for voter and civil rights.

“We’ve really got it easy,” he continued. “We can’t be delusional about the spirit of these laws. I believe in the resurrection and we have demons of our past trying to run things today.”

Democratic lawmakers released a statement through the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

“Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led Legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans’ freedom to vote,” the statement read.

See WRONG TEXANS!, page 7

• July 15 - 21, 2021

3

On Voting Rights

-- Dallas attorney Vicki Blanton, who chairs the Connection Committee, a non-partisan arm of the Omicron Mu Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

to mail-in voting, among other mandates.

“Unfortunately, now we are forced to fight against these measures in a court of law,” said Jane Hope Hamilton, co-founder of the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute. “Our most sacred right to vote is under attack and legislators must employ drastic means to fend off such efforts.

“We must use any measure we have, including abolishing the filibuster, to protect our right to vote,” Hamilton said. “The time to act is now.”

Earlier Tuesday, the Texas Senate passed its version of the voting legislation; but the House of Representatives could not reach a quorum due to the exit of the Democratic legislators.

Although a vote had been taken by the 31 member Senate, Texas State Sen. Royce West traveled to Washington to support his colleagues, in “our effort to stop the passage of these laws in Texas.”

“We’re resolved to do what we were elected to do,” he said, adding that it was important to be in Washington to share their message with not only the President and Vice President, but the entire country.

Gov. Abbott moved to have the lawmakers arrested when they return to Texas. This move, said critics, was nothing more than a publicity stunt because Texas has no jurisdiction in the nation’s capital.

It was also pointed out that efforts to “track” the legislators down and bring them back to Texas brought back memories of

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-- Jane Hope Hamilton, co-founder of the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute

************* “Although the 15th amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or condition, House Bill 3 is doing exactly that! To limit voting-by-mail obstructs those who may not have transportation to the polls or are sick or disabled.”

– Glenn Heights City Councilwoman Shaunte Allen

************* “Y’all, this law is Jim Crow 2.0, all because of the Big Lie and because some think that Donald Trump is the President.”

-- Rep. Victoria Neave

******************* Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Rafael Anchía, Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair Nicole Collier, Legislative Study Group Caucus Chair Garnet Coleman and Dean Senfronia Thompson released the following statement on the decision to break quorum: “Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republicanled legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans’ freedom to vote.

“We are now taking the fight to our nation’s Capitol. We are living on borrowed time in Texas. We need Congress to act now to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to protect Texans — and all Americans — from the Trump Republicans’ nationwide war on democracy.” ********* Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner released the following statement: “Early this morning, Republicans voted to advance a bill to ban 24-hour voting, following an overnight committee hearing that lasted nearly 24 hours. You just can’t make this up: Republicans are passing anti-voter legislation overnight to prohibit Texans from casting a ballot overnight.

“Republican leaders want to restrict your freedom to vote, all because of the ‘Big Lie’ they keep repeating. Just yesterday, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told

CPAC he was ‘convinced’ the election was stolen from the disgraced former president, Donald Trump.

“Until Republicans are willing to tell their supporters the truth – the last election wasn’t stolen and our elections are safe, smooth and secure – they are going to continue to push these anti-voter bills.

“Thank you to the Democratic Members of the House Select Committee who worked all day and all night. They asked tough questions and tried to improve the bill, even though their amendments were rejected along party lines. I thank all of them for fighting for the rights of all Texans.” ****** Texas Freedom Network Executive Director Val Benavidez: “This is a historical day for Texas. Advocates, voters, and friendly legislators have spoken out for months against the voter suppression efforts of the Republican Party, and this second walkout is an example of how much we will all fight to protect our democratic right to vote.

“Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Patrick have proven willing to take extreme measures to advance an agenda that attacks Texans’ rights and diminishes Texas’ democracy.

And extreme measures call for an extraordinary response.

Today’s action by more than 50 Democratic lawmakers rejects their patently corrupt special legislative session, and is a critical step toward blocking this assault on Texans’ rights in its tracks.

“By denying a quorum to a blatant attempt at a power grab by Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick, these Democratic lawmakers are listening to Texans and taking a critical stand for the future of our state’s democracy. The Texas Freedom Network applauds them, and will similarly not rest until our lawmakers once again focus on the issues actually facing Texans today, like our crumbling power grid.” ************* State Sen. Jose Menendez: “Many of us have stories of immigrant parents or grandparents, but few of us get to hear of the time when your father and mother had recently been married, and your father’s painting the house in Mission, Texas, and the Border Patrol rolls up and by the time Mama comes out with the limonada que le traía a papá, ya casi lo -- they had him in the back of the car. All because his wallet was inside. The reason I share this story is because as soon as my parents could become naturalized citizens, they never missed an election….As they got older, they needed more help [to go vote]. There’s a reason why MALDEF and the NAACP testified that there is a federal assister law in place today -- and the [Republican] bill that’s being proposed breaks federal law….We are here to represent the millions who may have their right to vote be infringed upon….We ask, how many people are you willing to rob of their vote?”

Rep. Vikki Goodwin: “The rights of voting Texans live on borrowed time under Texas Republicans. We are here to implore Congress to pass sweeping voting rights legislation. We heard from over 400 constituents back in Texas who came to testify about the elections bill….We are doing everything in our power to fight back. We’re not going to allow Abbott to corral and cabin us. We are here to fight.”

Follow the conversation, by following these hashtags: #ForthePeopleAct #JohnLewisVotingRightsAct #ProtectOurDemocracy #quorumbreak #democrats #txlege

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• July 15 - 21, 2021

The Road to Recovery has Potholes THE LAST WORD

By Dr. Julianne Malveaux There is lots of great news in the June Employment Situation report (https://www.bls.gov/news. release/empsit.nr0.htm).

Eight hundred and fifty thousand jobs were created! And while the unemployment rate remained essentially unchanged at 5.9 percent, the labor market is showing signs of life.

The Biden-Harris administration doesn’t mind crowing about it, either, noting that the three million jobs that have been created since they took office in late January is the best running start that any administration has experienced in modern history.

The legislation that has pumped money into the economy and quickened the pace of COVID vaccinations is working, even though the vaccination pace has slowed and the

administration has missed its July 4 goal of two million vaccinations.

A careful look at the data, though, show that a rising tide doesn’t lift all boats, and in the boat called this economy, some folks are riding and some are rowing. Some are enjoying the benefits of economic recovery, while others are waiting for the benefits to trickle down. The pace of recovery, not unsurprisingly, has been more rapid for whites than for African Americans.

The unemployment rate for whites dropped from 10.1 percent a year ago to 5.2 percent last month, a reduction by almost half. In contrast, the Black unemployment rate was 15.3 percent in June of 2020, and it dropped to 9.2 percent last month – a less steep drop than the white rate.

White women’s unemployment rate more than halved from 10.7 percent to 5 percent, while Black women’s rate dropped from 14.1 percent to 8.5 percent, a reduction of 65 percent, which is much lower than the 114 percent reduction white women experienced.

The uneven rate of recovery is a pothole that the Biden-Harris team must acknowledge. It isn’t enough to talk about equity. Solid proposals to both close the unemployment rate gap and to increase the pace of recovery among African Americans is imperative.

We haven’t fully studied the ways COVID affected Black people, but the fact that fully half of all African Americans were not working in June 2020 is illustrative (45 percent of whites were not working).

How does one recover from long-term unemployment. To its credit, Congress put money in people’s pockets last year, and the Biden-Harris administration has followed up with significant legislation to assist those economically

affected by the pandemic.

Some of the protections are expiring, though, including the protection against eviction. People are simply camping out on the street because housing has become unaffordable and they have nowhere to go. This problem will get worse before it gets better.

Meanwhile parsimonious members of Congress raise the possibility of inflation as a reason to offer less relief to those who are in economic distress. It is delightfully true that wages are rising, up by more than 3 percent last month.

But the myth of labor shortages is exactly that, a myth. The reality is that the pandemic forced people to reevaluate their work and family choices, with many women choosing to stay home instead of returning to work because of limited child care options.

Others are rethinking work, especially when their old jobs required 60 or 80 hour workweeks.

The Biden-Harris focus on caregiving jobs and the human infrastructure is most welcome now.

Inflation is certainly real, especially in some sectors. That’s partly because of pandemic uncertainty and poor forecasting. Who knew that the Biden-Harris team could get shots in arms so quickly that the nation is opening back up?

Who knew, American Airlines, that passengers were so eager to get out of their homes and into the unfriendly skies that they’d fill seats on planes to the brim? I think inflation will shake out in a few months as people, in some cases motivated by incentives, return to work.

The Biden-Harris team has much to celebrate. Unfortunately, the uneven pace of recovery means that Black America has less to rejoice about. President Biden says he has Black America’s back. Now is the time to prove that by closing gaps, and increasing the pace of recovery for those who elected him.

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.

The real hoax; Claims of widespread voter fraud OUR VOICES

By Sen. Royce West A former U.S. Commanderin-Chief has made it his habit to immediately label any claims, no matter how factual, not aligned with his branding of information as “a witch hunt” or “a hoax.” But a bill that will if passed - create confusion for voters and reject ballots for reasons now legal under law under the guise of ensuring voting integrity, that’s the real hoax.

The Texas Attorney General’s website says that since 2005, the office has successfully prosecuted 534 offenses related to election fraud involving 155 persons. A tally of the number of votes cast in statewide elections over the same period totaled 83,933,740.

Finding widespread voter fraud in Texas can possibly, if not rightfully, be called a witch hunt.

I’d bet more than 534 people

claim to have seen Bigfoot!

Longstanding claims of voting improprieties were breathed new life by a Presidential candidate who lost the popular vote in the last two elections. They can be seen as the impetus for nearly 400 bills filed in state legislatures in 2021, including SB7, which was thwarted by my colleagues in the Texas House during the final hours of the 87th Regular Legislative Session. By the end of May, 14 states had passed new laws that place more restrictions on voters.

During the pandemic, some Texas jurisdictions passed rules that helped voters feel safe, such as creating mobile or temporary voting locations and expanding provisions that allow curbside voting. SB7 and its Special Session successor will eliminate “drivethrough voting” by banning the use of “moveable” structures or tents or parking lots or garages as voting locations. No known reports indicate fraud.

Voters who are mobilitychallenged are able under current state law, to vote from their cars or the vehicle they are riding in. The

Personal Message from Senator Royce West

“The battle against voter suppression starts anew this week and I encourage every citizen, every Texan, to get involved by testifying, calling and emailing elected officials to protest the proposed elections legislation and ask them to vote against these JIM CROW bills.”

— Sen. Royce West

proposed legislation would allow only the voter or an accompanying child to remain inside the vehicle while their ballot is being cast.

Even the driver, must get out.

Over the years, civic-minded Texans have helped their neighbors, including seniors and others who do not drive, by giving them a ride to polling places.

Churches and other organizations across the country have helped get voters to the polls. SB7’s heir will discourage citizenship and kindness by forcing good neighbors to complete a form that must be submitted to election officials if they carry three or more people to a voting site.

I’m glad that a provision in an early version of the elections bill that could have created chaos at voting sites by allowing poll watchers to record voters was

removed. But the bill still gives poll watchers near unfettered ability to have too much of a presence at polling places, with only their pledge that they will not disrupt voting activities. The bill creates a Class B Misdemeanor for election workers who deny poll watchers free movement at a voting site.

This week, reports emerged that two more bad policy choices will not be part of the new voting bill.

One provision would have allowed a judge to overturn the results of an election based on assertions that the votes were illegally cast, without actually counting the votes.

And bill supporters and the Lt. Governor say language that would have not opened polls on the last Sunday of early voting until 1:00 p.m. will not be included this time. Shouts raised the roof

at the thought of limiting “Souls to the Polls” efforts historically supported by Black churches.

But another part of the bill may likely remain. It calls for the Secretary of State to monitor county voter rolls to determine if the number of voters registered in a county exceeds the number of voters who are eligible to vote in that county. The problem is that from year-to-year, there is not an official instrument that tabulates how many persons are eligible to vote in a particular county.

Officially, how many people moved to Dallas, Bexar, Harris or Travis or Tarrant counties last year?

When the departing Secretary of State’s office said the 2020 Election was “smooth and secure” and turnout in Texas was higher than it had been since the 1992 Election, any talk of widespread voter fraud sounds suspicious, at least to me. You might call it fake news.

Royce West was first elected to the Texas Senate in November 1992. He represents the 23rd Senatorial District on behalf of the citizens of Dallas County.

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Toxic Leaders Need to Take a Seat FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew A friend of mine recently shared her struggles at work with dominating, manipulative, and mean-spirited leaders.

I was stunned that a leader would be concerned with such insignificant details.

Micromanaging is more about the leader’s self-confidence, fear of being exposed for what they don’t know and feeling a sense of control.

Because of the lack of identity and control they often experience in their personal lives, work becomes a place to command others.

Their importance is rooted in position—not who they are without the title. It’s sad to say I’ve had my share of bad bosses whose insecurities created toxic work environments.

They saw leadership as an opportunity to control, manipulate and dictate using power as a weapon instead of an instrument to cultivate talent, mentor, and guide.

In one of my favorite books, “Leadership for the Disillusioned: Moving Beyond Myths and Heroes to Leading That Liberates” author Amanda Sinclair, discusses the leaders of Enron and WorldCom, two major corporations that fell because of unethical and powerhungry leadership.

Sinclair documents the difficult childhoods of the leaders and demonstrates that because they did not deal with the wounds of their past, they recreated a narrative that hurt others. This happens all the time.

Toxic leadership is detrimental on so many levels. According to Gallup, “active disengagement from a toxic boss costs the U.S. $450 billion to $550 billion per year. A Harvard Business School study discovered that avoiding

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a toxic hire, or letting one go quickly, will save you $12,500 in cost.”

The cost of toxic leadership has psychological, emotional, and physical implications.

It’s even worse when toxic leaders are in professions that are designed to help others like healthcare, nonprofit management and the church.

Places that are designed for healing become battlegrounds of depressed individuals who suffer with a deflated selfimage, devastated aspirations, and destroyed dreams.

Leadership is not to be taken lightly. I think we fail to realize that we will be held accountable

by God for the way we steward relationships not just in

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. It is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another.”

— (Psalm 75:6)

our homes but even in the workplace. We must recognize that leadership is something God is interested in and as we are elevated into roles, we must know that God will hold us accountable and there are consequences.

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. It is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another.”

(Psalm 75:6) As Believers, the model for leadership must be Christ. “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26–28). As leaders, the responsibility is great and the requirement for how we care for others that we are leading is not to be taken lightly: “Everyone to whom much was given, of him

much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” (Luke 12:48) Leadership requires humility.

We often hear the expression, “There is no ‘I’ in team. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have expectations of others or there is no accountability, but it does mean that we recognize the gift of those who we work with. We see their value. They are not below us—we are in partnership. When we study and pour into our teams, set a vision with clear, measurable directives with open, two-way communication, the possibilities for success are unlimited.

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

(John 13:13–17) Jesus understood his role as leader and the power of the position. He did not use it to harm but to edify and encourage others to fulfill their Godgiven abilities. I think for many people, we don’t want to see others shine and our inability to see who we are because of unprocessed and unresolved pain jades our vision to fully see others the way God created them.

Great followers are not cultivated under poor leadership. If your team isn’t thriving, maybe it’s time to examine your leadership, the way you view your team and your understanding of power.

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.

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5

Doubting Thomas QUIT PLAYIN’

By Vincent L. Hall I love me some Dr. Julianne Malvaeux and it ain’t hard to get me to tell you why. Dr. Julianne Malvaeux had been unbought and unbossed for all of her life. She ain’t knew to the liberation party, she threw the party.

Her name and reputation has been attacked lately. Dr. Malveaux made a statement to the public that many black activists have made in private. She intimated that she would not be hurt if Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas added a lot of eggs and other unhealthy staples to his daily regimen.

Fox News gave a pretty good background on their website a couple of weeks ago.

Malveux issued an apology for the remark in 2011, clarifying that her comment was a “wisecrack” misconstrued as hate speech after Thomas said he would live to 120 to stay on the court to “frustrate liberals.”

“I replied that the average black man had a life expectancy of about 65, and that if his wife fed him lots of butter and eggs, ingredients for high cholesterol and heart trouble, he’d die an early death,” she explained.

This matter cropped up again this week as Dr. Malveaux earned a new job. She is the incoming dean of Cal State University Los Angeles’ newly created College of Ethnic Studies.

Dr. Malveaux is more than qualified and her detractors are left with dew arguments against her except that statement about Injustice Clarence Thomas.

Malveaux entered Boston College after the 11th grade and within three years she earned two Economics degrees, a Bachelor’s and a Master’s.

She went on to secure a Ph.D. in economics from MIT and has a few honorary degrees to boot.

But they had the nerve to, and holds honorary degrees from Benedict College, SojournerDouglass College and the University of the District of Columbia.

As a standing Supreme Court Justice, Thomas is by far the least popular in history and for good reason. The jury of nine is now

overrepresented with Conservative extremists and Thomas is among the worst. Thomas never met a law that favored White Privilege that he did not like. He is the portrait of Black self-hate and self-loathing.

Supreme Court Justices are granted a lifetime appointment and are to be apolitical in their carriage of justice. SCOTUS decisions over the past decade have proved that the court is more political now than ever.

When you read articles about Supreme Court decisions they rarely even mention Clearance Thomas. He never writes a significant opinion for the Court, never speaks publicly, and is notorious as the least likely to proffer an independent thought.

Injustice Thomas made a decision early on that he would whatever it took to be accepted by the powerful and elite in the Republican Party.

Dr. Malveaux will not accommodate or acquiesce and that’s what I love about her. She admitted that her comments may have been meanspirited, but she stood by the context of her comments.

“While acknowledging that the comment was in “poor taste,” she said that the apology “does not mitigate or reduce my contempt for Clarence Thomas and for his arrogant dismissal of liberals and for the African American community.”

She also claimed that her words were distorted by conservatives who have “both fingerprints and footprints in the poisoned language that poses as free speech.”

Dr. Malveaux is picture perfect for Cal-State’s newest mission. She will develop leaders “who will engage in rigorous, self-reflexive study that motivates critical engagement, self-determination and decolonial understandings of the world.” And we need them now.

According to the statement she released defending her past opinions, she made another brilliant observation.

“Learning about people of color, learning about marginalized people, learning the whole of American history is as important as learning quantum physics or English literature.”

Clarence Thomas should enroll in this class. It’s never too late to learn!

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

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Hate is an illness!

“If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother and sister, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother or sister.” This is the powerful admonition offered in 1 John 4:20-21 regarding love and hate.

WHAT’S ON MILES’ MIND

By Miles Jaye Consider this… If God made man to love one another, why isn’t hate an anomaly, abnormal, a malfunction of the human mind? Imagine, if hate were not accepted as a norm, but a departure or deviation from what is normal, a disorder, a mental illness, it might be treated appropriately, as such.

In this modern, 21st century world, hate is as pervasive as any previous time in human history-- it’s not new, but just as corrosive to a society.

Hate is a thought-born illness, spread by hate-promoting books, hate-slanted media, and charismatic leaders espousing evil, xenophobic, racist, sexist rhetoric about a particular group.

If hate is a loudly accepted psycho-pandemic, impervious to reason, logic or rational thought, why then haven’t the brightest scientific minds at top pharmaceutical firms, Moderna, Astro-Zeneca, J&J, Bristol-Myers Squibb, been deployed to research, discover, and develop a safe and effective cure?

A vaccine to eradicate this monster once and for all-- a vaccine, the sole purpose of which is to save mankind?

Why rely on megalomaniacal, self-serving politicians and ineffective policies for an antidote to this poison-- hate?

As prevalent as hate is throughout America, pitting races against races, and throughout the world, pitting nations against nations, it’s also a very personal matter, a very personal malady.

Just as it creates dangerous, war-torn barriers, borders and territories around the globe, it also creates toxic divides within families, friendships, churches, businesses and neighborhoods.

Envy, anger, jealously, resentment, hostility, indignation, and spite can bring out the worst in any one of us.

We’re all susceptible! Deep within the trenches of intolerance, and the unwillingness or inability to forgive, we fall victim to the infection, the virus, the lethal venom of hate.

Who do you despise? Who do you refuse to forgive? Who will you stubbornly vow to never speak to again? Whose name is it, the very mention of which, invokes a feeling of disgust within you?

It’s that feeling within you should hate, not that person.

When the Word says, there is a time for love, and a time for hate, the reference is not to a person or people, but to their sins, it’s their evil deeds we should despise. Amos 5:15 tells us to “Hate evil, love good,” therefore, it’s the racism we should hate, not the racist. It’s the injustice we should hate, not the perpetrator of injustice. Hate the corruption, not the corrupt cop.

What if there were no reasons for envy, jealously, resentment? John Lennon says in his song “Imagine”, “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can, no need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man.”

Galatians 5:13 says, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free; but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

It can be said of us that we love the wrong things too much, material comfort and possessions, and hate what is deserving of our disdain far too little.

Do you love everything about yourself?

Are there not any qualities or characteristics within you that are deserving of reproach?

God wants me to hate any spirit of anger, resentment, envy, jealously, resentment, or hostility within me. I want to pull the weeds of indignation out of me by the roots.

I hate the hate in me! I pray that He removes it as if it were cancerous tissue caught up in my bones. Only then can I love completely as intended in Genesis 1:26 when God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, and in Our likeness,” but how is that possible?

How could we ever imagine ourselves in the image of God? Through kindness and patience, through a spirit of mercy, grace, and forgiveness-- through love.

That’s what’s on my mind!

Website: www.milesjaye.net Podcast: https://bit.ly/2zkhSRv Email: milesjaye360@gmail.com

My Truth from page 1 Which brings me to my truth.

Dr. Williams is also a library and she is continuing in the same mode as her long-time friend; by writing books, hosting and appearing on radio shows, speaking at lecturns to speak truth to power, and being a voice for the voiceless.

Her latest labor of love is: “Dick Gregory, Wake Up and Stay Woke: Running for Life.”

Believe me when I tell you, you need to read this book!

Much like Mr. Gregory, she candidly discusses issues and provides a history lesson for readers.

This is Black History!

And guess what?

Folks are going to be writing about Dr. Williams also.

Who is she?

She’s all that and more!

The National President of the National Congress of Black Women, Dr. Williams is the president of the Dick Gregory Society and a board member of the World Conference of Mayors. She’s a former Professor of International Law at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge. She previously served as Chief of Staff for the late Mayor Marion Barry and she served President Barack Obama as a member of his Presidential Scholars Commission.

An ordained minister, Dr. Williams served as president of the Grambling State University National Alumni Association and she was inducted into The HistoryMakers and the Grambling State University Hall of Fame.

Armed with numerous degrees and certifications from

WHAT: “Dick Gregory, Wake Up and Stay Woke: Running for Life”

WHO: Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

WHEN: Dick Gregory

Grambling, USC, Howard Univ. School of Law and City University of Los Angeles; as well as, Atlanta Law School, Univ. of Michigan, Pepperdine and George Washington universities.

A proud life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the NAACP, she was one of Mr. Gregory’s “running buddies.”

In her book, Dr. Williams talks about “the real Dick Gregory” who was so much more than his comedy or his fiery speeches. She met him in 1986 when she ran for Congress to represent her

Sunday, July 18, 2021 4-6 pm

WHERE: African American Museum, 3536 Grand Avenue, Dallas

home state, Louisiana.

She didn’t win the race but she was victorious as she walked away with a friend for life.

There’s so much to share about Mr. Gregory and Atty. Williams, but I’d rather you come out and meet her. Join me on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at the African American Museum. Let’s join together in the spirit of staying woke.

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Texas Legislators and Sen. Warren

Wrong Texans!

Continued from page 3 “We are now taking the fight to our nation’s Capitol. We are living on borrowed time in Texas.

We need Congress to act now to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to protect Texans — and all Americans — from the Trump Republicans’ nationwide war on democracy.”

Across the nation, national civil rights organizations and others praised the Texas lawmakers’ stand and pledged support.

National NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson immediately sent an email to media and the civil rights organization’s members saying the NAACP would “bail these lawmakers out of jail, if necessary.”

“The Texas Legislature’s efforts to silence the voices of its own constituents is an assault on our most fundamental values,” Johnson wrote in the email. “We will not stand idly by as partisan politicians dismantle our system, oppress our voices and suppress our votes. People have fought and died for the sacred right to vote.

This is a time of crisis. Our constitution is being tested and we need all hands on deck.”

President of the National Council of Negro Women, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole said that “enough is enough.”

“American Democracy is under attack,” she said, as she criticized

what she called a vicious set of practices and encouraged Black women to move to action; including calling their legislators at 202224-3121.

Texas State Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Mesquite, who represents District 107, posted Monday to her Instagram account, @victoria4texas, that she was aboard one of the reported two planes that carried Democratic lawmakers to Washington.

“I was appointed last week to serve on the Texas House Select Committee on Constitutional

Rights and Remedies which this weekend had a nearly 24-hourlong hearing to, in part, ban 24hour voting, refer potentially hundreds of thousands of people for criminal prosecution, make it harder to vote, among other terrible things,” she wrote in her post. “Witness after witness helped prove the points I and my colleagues tried to raise all day— that Latinos, African Americans, people with disabilities would be detrimentally and disproportionately impacted.

“As a Latina, I can’t let that hap-

pen,” she said. “That’s why we have to do everything we can to use the Rules of the House and urge Congress to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.” Dallas attorney Vicki Blanton, who chairs the Connection Committee, a non-partisan arm of the Omicron Mu Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and who brings educational issues to Black voters, said the voting bills go “against the principles that democracy stands for.”

“Your voice is your vote; your

vote is your voice. You take that away and that is essentially taking your voice away,” she said. Certainly, the efforts that are being made to make it harder to vote shows the importance of it.

“People shouldn’t take it lightly.

When they have the opportunity to vote, no matter what the election is, they should exercise that right because it’s a fundamental right to being a U.S. citizen.”

Texas Metro News Staff writers Eva D. Coleman, Dorothy Gentry, Marva Sneed, Kenedi Houston and Ania Jackson all contributed to this report.

MetroNews

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The Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center offers this evidencebased Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to help meet your weight loss and healthy lifestyle goals.

Join today!

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The Group Lifestyle BalanceTM Program provides education, encouragement and the tools necessary to help individuals reach their healthy lifestyle goals.

For more information: Mayra Avina 214.865.3087 4500 Spring Avenue | Dallas, TX 75210

Mayra.avina@bswhealth.org BSWHealth.com/HealthandWellness

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Virtual and liVe Community Calendar

Minority Mental Health Month UV SAFETY The Black Church Month JULY 15-16

NABSW Annual Conference: Wellness Warriors for Social Work Actions. Host National Assoc. of Black Social Workers.

Online, Reg: bit.ly/2SNK7lF. 8 am. CDT.

JULY 15-17 Business Building – Asset Protection, Conference Workshop. MC: Chris Howell. At The Westin Galleria Hotel. Reg: www.Trustup.biz.

JULY 15 Deep Ellum Wine Walk: Summer in the City! Host Discover Deep Ellum. On 2650 Main St, Dallas, 6-9 pm. Tickets: https:// deep-ellum-wine-walk.square.site/ Real Men Real Talk Virtual, - Our State of Mind. Feat: Royce Da 5’9”. Host The African American Male Wellness Agency. Online: realmenrealtalkvirtual.eventbrite.com 6 pm. CDT. The Connection with Debra Brown-Sturns.

Guest: Nikquisa Nunn, Female Professional Bodybuilder. Facebook.com/TexasMetroNews & BlogTalkRadio.com. 7-8 pm. 646-200-0459.

Cardio Dance Party! Main Street Garden Park, 1950 Main St. Dallas. 7-8 pm The Present is Female - Campaign Kickoff Event, CANVAS Dallas, 1325 Botham Jean Blvd. 5 pm. Fundraising event for Judge Kelly, Judge White and Judge Huff.

JULY 16-19 4th Annual Apartment Investor Mastery National Conference. In Person & Online in Dallas. Reg: https://bit.ly/3k4FoqX

JULY 16 Happy Birthday to Becky Lewis Jam to Give - Party Machine presented by Emerald City Bands-Bridges Safe House / Cedar Hill Shares, at Hillside Village, 305 FM 1382 #590. 7-9 pm.

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

Happy Hour Fridays Live DJ. Host Off The Cuff, 2901 Elm St. 5-8 pm. RSVP: offthecuffdallas@gmail.com.

Black Creativity and Mentor-ship. Host Palo Alto Art Center.

Online Event. Reg. Eventbrite.com. 2-3-pm CDT.

DOC TALK // Live Town Hall on Glaucoma at the Cooper Clinic Auditorium 12200 Preston Rd. 2-3 pm. RSVP: Jennifer, 817.269.3254 or cure@cureglaucoma.org.

JULY17 R+B Brunch: Rhythm & Booze at DAQ’s Daq’s Luxury Daiquiri Lounge, 8700 Preston Rd. 12-3 pm. Tickets daqsallfolks.com.

2021 Trap Paint Dallas. Host Green Light Events. The Empire Room,1225 N. Riverfront Blvd. 2 pm. Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

The Dallas Pancakes & Booze Art Show, at Deep Ellum Art Co. 3200 Commerce St. 8 pm. Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

Destiny Pointe Christian Center Monthly Food Pantry, at 2350 East Mayfield Rd. Arlington. 1-2:30 pm. Volunteers are needed send contact info: info@monaheartoutreach.com.

Day Trippin Ft. Worth Rooftop DAY Party @ Seven Lounge, 3017 W. 7th St. 3-8 pm. info: daytrippin2021.Eventbrite.com.

It’s a Democratic Family Reunion! East Dallas Democrats 11 am-3 pm. at Samuel Farm, 100 US-80 E, Mesquite. Reg: https://bit.ly/2Vy5tVl. AMOC Presents: Amplify at Arts Mission Oak Cliff, 410 S. Windomere. 8-9 pm. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3xyS5yp.

Southwest Dallas County Democrats Meeting Guest: Kristy Noble, Dallas County Democratic Chair. At the Ernie Roberts Park, 515 E. Pleasant Run Rd. Pavilion #2, DeSoto. 10 am.

Back to School Supplies Drive!

Host Dallas Harley-Davidson, 1334 Centerville Rd. Garland 10 am-3 pm.

Eventbrite.com.

JULY 18 The World According to Drew, host Andrew Whigham, III on BlogTalkRadio 8-10 am. CDT Thought-provoking, informative news commentary. Call in 646-200-0459.

Dr. E Faye Williams - Book Signing-Dick Gregory at the African American Museum of Dallas, 3536 Grand Ave. 4-6 pm.

2021 Trap Paint Dallas. Host Green Light Events. The Empire Room 1225 N. Riverfront Blvd. 9 pm. Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

BRIO SUMMER JAZZ SERIES presents... “Tatiana Ladymay” Mayfield, Live Concert at Nack Theater, 6500 Preston Rd. #101 Frisco. 6 pm. Tickets: www.brioexecutive.com.

Art Overdose DTX. Host Eye Opener ENT at SANDAGA 813, 813 Exposition Ave. 4-9 pm.

Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

Texas Food Fest DFW, by Elite Events Group Cultural Org. at Mar Thoma,11500 Luna Rd. 1-6 pm. Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

JULY 19-30

AMOC Presents: Amplify at Arts Mission Oak Cliff, 410 S. Windomere. 8-9 pm. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3xyS5yp.

Arts Vision Preforming and Visual Arts Summer Camp. Welcomes youth from 4th-9th grade. Mon-Fri. 8 am-4 pm. Reg: www.artsvisiondfw.org.

JULY 23-24

JULY 19

$300 Poker Tournament at Texas Billiards! Grand Opening!

Texas Billiards Bar & Grill, 6651 Watauga Rd. #117. Watauga.

7-10 pm. Info: ahlpoker.com.

2nd Annual Black Family Home-school Educators & Scholars Virtual Teach-In, Host Black Family Home-school Educators and Scholars. Online. Reg: bit.ly/3k9CotE 11 am CDT. Black Boys Code Technology Summer Camp- Edmonton, Host Black Boys Code Online. Reg: bit.ly/3yEidbc. 10 am. CDT.

JULY 20 Happy Birthday to L. Diane Evans THE DOC SHEP SPEAKS SHOW! From 11 am.

CST on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, @ fnsconsulting, and You Tube @docshepspeaks.

Soul Line Dance Tuesday - LIVE! Host BE Creative Arts Center.

7-8 Pm CDT. Reg: www.becreativeartscenter.com.

Reimagining Resilience 1: Using a Trauma Lens, host Sound Discipline. Online. Reg: https://bit.ly/3k52pKn 11:30 am. CDT.

JULY 21 I Was Just Thinking with Norma Adams-Wade. From 11 am -1 pm. CST On Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio.com. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459.

Desperate For Jesus Women’s Conference, at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Worship Center. 23rd at 7 pm & 24th at 9 am. Reg: Visit ocbfchurch.org/watchparty.

JULY 23 From Marva with Love, with Marva Sneed. 11 am -1 pm. CDT, Fridays on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, and BlogTalkRadio.com. Join the conversation at 646-200-0459.

Happy Hour Fridays Live DJ. Host Off The Cuff, 2901 Elm St. 5-8 pm. RSVP: offthecuffdallas@gmail.com Key’s 50th Chocolate & Champagne Souree. Host Keisha Williams-Lankford at 316 Cooper St, Cedar Hill 7-10 pm.

JULY 24 In Remembrance of Santos Rodriguez 2021, host Santos Vive and Dallas Peace & Justice Center. At Pike Park in the Little Mexico neighborhood. 8:30 am-12 pm.

Love, Dating and Kingdom-Marriage Singles Small Group, host The Temple of Restoration. Online via Zoom. 6-7:30 pm.

CDT. Reg: https://bit.ly/2TRDvn5.

NWHM Presents: The 2021 Summer Educators Institute, host National Women’s History Museum. Online event. Reg: https://bit.ly/36tgRno 8 am. CDT.

JULY 25

Diversity & Inclusion Series Part II: Creating Community within Ourselves. The National Society of Black Wedding & Event Pros. Online: https://bit.ly/3e882ne. 5 pm. CDT.

The World According to Drew, host Andrew Whigham, III on BlogTalkRadio. com 8-10 am. It’s thought-provoking, informative, & entertaining news commentary. Join in at 646-200-0459.

Trans-National Institutes of Health Workshop on Sickle Cell Disease Pain, host National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Online. //bit.ly/3hzq586. 10:30 am CDT.

West End Association Outdoor Market, Host The West End, 607 Corbin St, Dallas. 1 am-5 pm.

JULY 22 Happy Birthday to Jihad Muhammad The Connection with Debra Brown-Sturns.

On Facebook@TexasMetroNews & BlogTalkRadio.com. 7-8 pm. 646-200-0459 Next Level Business Hour. Host LiftFund US (DFW Women’s Bus. Center) at 6-7 pm CDT. Online at: https://bit.ly/2VDXupT. Cardio Dance Party! Main Street Garden Park, 1950 Main St. Dallas. 7-8 pm.

Texas Voter Suppression 101 Forum Facebook Live. Host The DFW Area Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 3-5 pm. CDT. Info: http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/

BLACK LIVES MATTER

T E X A S

MetroNews Black Widow

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AT THE MOVIES

By Hollywood Hernandez In the movie Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson finally gets her turn to shine in the Marvel Comics Universe. The first third of the film features a young Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow and it delves into her family history and her early years, training to be an assassin and super spy.

The movie also features Natasha’s younger sister, Yelena, played by Florence Pugh. The two sisters were separated during their spy training and Yelena still holds a grudge about being left behind by her older sister.

Their first scene together is a huge fight, almost to the death, but Black Widow, who has her sister in a death grip, asks her sister for a truce and allows her to live.

The chemistry between the two sisters is great, with Yelena picking fun at her sister every chance she gets. In one of the funniest scenes in the movie, she makes fun of her sister’s “superhero stance.” There’s even been talk that Pugh will replace Johansson as Black Widow in future Avenger movies.

A lot of time is spent on the dynamics of the family between the two sisters and the two Russian spies who act as their parents.

But there is plenty of action in the movie as well. With plenty of fight scenes, explosions, people falling out of buildings, and helicopters falling out of the sky there is plenty of high-octane excitement for action junkies (like myself).

As with all movies from the Marvel Universe, there is a bonus scene after the movie credits roll, so don’t get up until the very end.

This scene is a real shocker that will affect future Avenger movies.

Black Widow is rated PG-13 and has a run time of 2 hours and 13 minutes. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate this movie a LARGE.

TRAE BODGE THAT CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

By Valder Beebe My featured guest in the Valder Beebe Show studios is Trae Bodge, an accomplished lifestyle journalist and TV commentator who specializes in smart shopping. Trae was in the studio to share Product of the Year, the world’s largest consumer-voted award for product innovation that has changed the game of shopping by awarding brand recognition to the products that deserve it.

Backed by the votes of 40,000 consumers and the familiar red logo, shoppers can cut through the cluttered store shelves and purchase the best products for their family in store or on line. We revealed the 2021 Product of the Year Award winners and share tips on how to bring home these top-rated and most innovative products of 2021.

Trae, an expert of personal finance, parenting, and retail, has appeared on Good Morning America’s GMA3, NBC Nightly News, Inside Edition, The Valder Beebe Show, CNBC, and network affiliates nationwide. She has been named a Top Voice in Retail by LinkedIn and a top personal finance expert by GoBankingRates and FlexJobs. She is a regular contributor at Marketwatch, MSN, Grow

by Acorns / CNBC, and Millie Magazine for Synchrony, and her writing and expert commentary have appeared in Forbes, USNews.com, Kiplinger, Yahoo Finance, and numerous others. Trae Bodge publicists provided text in conjunction with the Valder Beebe Show VBS: Trae, thanks for being here. Are you ready to announce the products of the year? Also give a little

back story on the products of year selection process.

TB: Being a product of the year is so important because it helps consumer’s cuts through to the latest and greatest products in the market place.

VBS: How is the ranking done?

TB: The survey is conducted by Pantar (a global leader in research) and 40,000 consumers get to voice their opinions about products that you and I will buy in the market place. I have five winners here in the studio today.

You can find the other forty winners on-line at productoftheyearusa.com.

VBS: Give my audience a peek at the products of the year 2021.

Trae Bodge

TB: 3M has the incredible product, it’s simply a picture hanger that can hold an incredible amount of weight. I call it gravity defying. Great for heavy frames and heavy mirrors, it’s easy to install and use.

For dishes Dawn power dish wash solution; a really great healthy breakfast option winners comes from Aldi. A really innovative product is the Hum by Colgate, a really smart electric tooth brush with blue tooth capability.

VBS: Do they get an award for being product of the year?

TB: Yes, know to look for the red seal of approval it is indicating………

Trae Bodge complete interview……

SoundCloud.com/valderbeebeshow ; more interviews: YouTube.com/valderbeebeshow: Broadcasting to a national & global audience: ValdeBeebeShow.com ; KKVI FM Radio, KRER FM, 411RadioNetwork, Streaming TV, Social Media, Print Publications I MESSENGER, Texas Metro News, and Garland Journal News.

No Family Affair here ASK ALMA

By Alma Gill Dear Alma, After 26 years of marriage, last year my husband had an affair, divorced me and married his mistress. We have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.

One of our daughters is very close to her father and insists that, despite what has happened, we must all spend special holidays together as a family. She insists the both of us – her parents – come to the family Christmas dinner at her house and remain civil to each other. I am completely devastated by my divorce, and I don’t think my daughter understands the position she’s putting me in. How do I get her to understand?

Mrs. Bowman, Orlando, Fla. Hello Mrs. Bowman, If I recall correctly, life’s commandment goes something like this: Honor thy mother and father, not thy son and daughter.

When and how exactly were these roles reversed?

Experiencing adultery and divorce is devastating, and to compound the pain and humiliation, your husband married his mistress.

I’m stunned that somewhere in your daughter’s Hallmark Family Holiday, she thinks that you should graciously sit across the table from this woman and break bread. Ahhh, I think not.

That request is unconscionable and absolutely insane. At least this year it is. Who knows what future years may bring. Is your daughter really that spoiled to think that providing grandchildren, a turkey and trimmings on a Christmas tree trumps the embarrassment and resentment your broken heart endures? Really!? Who taught her that? If it was you, now’s your chance to make it right.

Tell her, clearly, and in no uncertain terms, that you will not attend a holiday dinner with her father and her new stepmother.

She doesn’t need any further explanation; she knows why.

Because of her father’s choice to leave the family, here’s my

suggestion: Her father and his new wife can host a Christmas Eve brunch for his adult children and grandchildren. You will attend the Christmas Day dinner at your daughter’s house. If one year she’d like to flip the switch, that’s fine with you, but all three of you, at this time, will not celebrate together as a family.

Let me remind you that you are not alone. Many celebrities, athletes, military personnel, out-ofstate college students and service industry professionals are unable to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Day with family. Listen to your heart and determine what your soul will bear. Right now you’re resting in the slumber of a broken heart. You’ll wake up one day. Your spirit grieves for now, but it will grow; I promise. None of us should ever live to lay claim to a love that can’t requite. Just as you wouldn’t wear a pair of shoes that hurt your feet, your heart deserves the same consideration.

Rid yourself from mindmeddling. You know what that is, when you just can’t stop thinking about how it could have been.

What could have been is what it’s not. Stay in the reality. You’ll move through it much quicker. I’m sure you thought you and your husband would be married forever and live happily ever after. That didn’t happen. Life doesn’t always offer us a fair playing field. Put one foot in front of the other and make the best of the rest of your life. This isn’t about how to make things comfortable for your daughter. The focus and consideration should be on you.

I’d also suggest you connect with a DivorceCare Group. Pick up a copy of “Peace From Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through” by Iyanla Vanzant.

Another really good read that will fill your spirit is “Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On” by Stormie Omartian.

Help yourself to help yourself.

Most of life’s storms require more than a raincoat and umbrella. This is one of them.

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

BRIEFS

Dallas Works putting hundreds of young people to work at coveted internships this summer In its second year, Mayor Eric Johnson’s Dallas Works program is putting hundreds of young people to work this summer.

Mayor Johnson launched Dallas Works in February 2020 with the goal of eventually employing thousands of young people each summer. He modeled the program on efforts in other cities such as Houston, Boston, Chicago, and New York, which have long had robust summer jobs programs that help employ thousands of young people annually.

Dallas Works is also meant to improve public safety. One 2017 study showed that New York City’s Summer Youth Employment program participants were 17% less likely to be arrested during the summer and 23% less likely to be arrested for a felony.

In 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout, Dallas Works helped connect 465 kids to job training and summer jobs at businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities. That was more than in any single year of the program’s predecessor, the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program.

This year, Dallas Works expanded its eligibility to include young people ages 15-24. The program is administered by local nonprofit Education is Freedom in partnership with Mayor Johnson’s office.

Here are some updates and highlights on this year’s Dallas Works efforts: CITY HALL INTERNS Through Mayor Johnson’s advocacy for more opportunities for youth in Dallas, $60,000 was included in the city budget for internships for youth at Dallas City Hall. With that funding, more than 30 young people have been employed this summer as interns with various city departments, including in Mayor Johnson’s office.

“Through Dallas Works, we are able to give our young people important on-the-job experience and a window into the high calling of public service,” Mayor Johnson said. “I am grateful that our city departments have taken on these interns, who represent our city’s future. Dallas and our city government will be better for it.”

NAF PARTNERSHIP Dallas Works is also partnering with NAF, a national organization that works with high-need communities to ensure high school students are ready

for college and their careers. The partnership will allow young people in Dallas Works to receive access to STEM-focused and industry-specific curricula that will better equip them for future careers.

In addition, Dallas students who are already part of local NAF academies will receive access to Dallas Works’ training, resources, and network.

“NAF is pleased to join with Dallas Mayor Johnson to support access and meaningful work-based learning experiences for students,” said Lisa Dughi, CEO of NAF. “We appreciate the Mayor’s focus on equity and opportunity for more young people as the program serves to increase talent development and a strong and diverse workforce.”

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson

“The partnership between Dallas Works and NAF is a perfect match that allows both programs to enhance their efforts to prepare our young people for the future,” Mayor Johnson said. “Together, we can ensure that all young people in our city have equitable access to opportunities to grow and learn valuable skills this summer.”

STARTUPS Mayor Johnson is also partnering with JPMorgan Chase to place 31 interns at companies in high-growth and high-demand sectors. Sixteen of these interns will be placed at startup companies across the City of Dallas.

Placing corporate-sponsored interns at startup companies was among the recommendations made by the Mayor’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which submitted its report to Mayor Johnson at the end of April. The Task Force’s goal was to help make Dallas an internationally recognized hub for startups and entrepreneurs.

This newly announced partnership will allow startup companies to receive essential staff support in the

summer and will allow young people in the city to have access to terrific and unique employment opportunities.

“We are not just helping to build startups in Dallas. We are growing a culture of innovation in our city,” Mayor Johnson said. “This partnership with JPMorgan Chase helps our young people learn from the cutting-edge businesses of today so they can develop the insight and skills to become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

“Increasing summer work opportunities for young people is critical, especially for populations that struggle to enter and succeed in the labor market,” said Michelle Thomas, head of philanthropy in DFW for JPMorgan Chase. “JPMorgan Chase is helping more than 20 U.S. cities prepare thousands of young people for the future of work through new approaches to Summer Youth Employment Programs, including this incredible effort in Dallas. We congratulate Mayor Johnson for his leadership in creating more career and learning opportunities for our young people, and for putting them on a path to greater success and prosperity.”

“When I started my company, Kanarys, I learned that for such a strong market, Dallas had more work to do in terms of supporting the startup ecosystem, which is why I was honored to work with the Mayor’s Task Force to support entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Mandy Price, co-founder and CEO of Kanarys and co-chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“I’m thrilled that we’re already putting our recommendation in action by not only providing support for Dallas startups but also placing young talent in a unique business environment to create the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

“The Mayor’s Dallas Works program is a great initiative that provides job training opportunities for students and showcases the opportunities that exist in pursuing entrepreneurship as a career while also providing diverse and innovative young talent to startups companies in need of workers who can contribute to the fundamental elements necessary to help a startup start, build and scale their businesses,” said Trey Bowles, co-founder and chairman emeritus of the DEC Network and co-chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

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ZWHJCOC HEALTH IS WEALTH LUNCH & LEARN TO BE HOSTED IN SOUTHLAKE The Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center, in partnership with Food Saved Me, will host its first in-person event since the start of the pandemic, at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 22 in Southlake. The event is being hosted

by Food Saved Me, which is located at 535 S. Nolen Drive, Ste. 400, in Southlake 76092.

Hosts Katherine Lawrence and Terry Nelson Bell of Food Saved Me will teach principles of eating healthy while preparing a meal for participants. The focus of this session is how healthy cooking and eating contribute to good health.

Food Saved Me is a team of nutritionists

and cooking coaches who teach thousands of individuals annually about how to eat better and prepare their food in a faster, easier and healthier way. They offer several nutrition classes that address various health topics such as Cancer Prevention & Survival, Diabetes Prevention & Reversal and Heart Disease Prevention and Reversal. To learn more about Food Saved Me and their nutrition classes, go to: www.foodsavedme.com.

To register, go to www.zwhjcoc.org and click on Classes. For more information about this session, contact Jasmine Anderson at jasmine. anderson@zwhjcoc.org.

New Mount Zion 75th Church Anniversary The New Mount Zion 75th Church Anniversary 3-Day Celebration will be Friday, July 30; Saturday, July 31; and Sunday, August 1: • Friday, July 30 – 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

– Will feature NMZ Youth groups (Mime, Praise Dancers, and Steppers); Gospel Artists: Stellar Award Nominated Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis and Antwan Jenkins & Campfire Music; Gospel Rap Artist, Herschel Jorden; Spoken Word Artist, Monica Daniels; DJ Warren Brooks; games; food and fun; we will also be featuring a Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities Step Show and Stroll; and locally well-known food trucks.

• Saturday, July 31 – 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

– Will include an old-fashioned picnic on the grounds; Grammy Nominated Gospel Artist, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise; Local

Gospel Artists: Eric Houston & Stronger, Kim Washington, and Pastor Chris Wesley & Undignified Praise; Actress and Spoken Word Artist, Sha Bailey; more food and games; Dominoes, Spades, Bible Bingo; a Rock-Climbing wall and Zip- lining. **Note: Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, tents, grills, fish fryers, and picnic baskets filled with your favorite foods.

• Sunday, August 1 – 10:30 a.m. – Will feature Actress and Spoken Word Artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sha Bailey; Guest Minister, Pastor Chris Wesley, Senior Pastor of Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas; and Gospel Artist, Antwan Jenkins & Campfire Music from Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Mayor learned responsibility at young age from page 1

Little Elm’s First Family - L to R - Christian Cornelious, Stephanie Stevenson, Mayor Curtis J. Cornelious, Charlet Cornelious, Collyn Cornelious Credit: Cornelious Family

seeing maximum rewards.

“What they taught us is, whatever you have, appreciate it; and just because you see others with it, it does not mean you don’t have what you deserve,” Cornelious said. “Use that to drive you to get what you want.”

And drive, he did.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) institution, graduate who holds double degrees in chemistry and agriculture moved from Arkansas to Carrollton, Tex. At that time, he was a chemist with the world’s largest chemical company, BASF. A friend living in The Colony knew that Cornelious and his wife, Charlet, were looking to purchase a home and suggested they check out his city.

“We were literally driving trying to find The Colony and shot straight through it and found Little Elm, Texas,” Cornelious shared with a huge smile.

“Being from Arkansas, country boy, as soon as we hit Little Elm I saw all these cows on the side of the road.

So, I told my wife, ‘Let’s just drive through and look at some houses since we’re out here.’”

They’ve lived in Little Elm since 2004.

Cornelious’ personal drive started long before. He recalled being student council president in eighth grade, and in high school, president of his class, FFA and the debate club. He also received best-all-around honors in sports. He credits his parents for his success and perspective.

“My mom and dad always made sure I was involved,” Cornelious said.

“They just poured into me. So even if things didn’t look a certain way, it didn’t tell me who I was.”

For ages, in society, being a teenage parent has often drawn certain looks and even stares. Cornelious handled that aspect of his life with a strong sense of commitment, having a daughter born when he was 17.

“It was challenging because I didn’t know, but I had my dad there to tell me, ‘Step up, step up.’ And that’s what I did,” Cornelious said. “I knew that she deserved the best. I knew she deserved to have not only a dad, but a father.”

Born premature, Cornelious shared that his daughter Stephanie was about the size of his hand and that he didn’t even hold her until she was around four or five months old.

Presently, standing a little over five feet tall, she dotes on her father who calls her his “little sawed-off shotgun” and “Dad’s girl.”

“My dad has raised so many kids, my mom has poured into so many kids; who am I to just walk away from a responsibility?” Cornelious asked.

“It was never even a second thought for me.”

Cornelious’ leadership lesson from the teen parent experience?

“You don’t leave anyone behind,” he said. “You don’t leave that void for someone to have to try and process themselves when you have the leadership abilities to help.”

The lessons have been transferable, and seemingly always connected in some way. In addition to his parents, Cornelious credits several Black men who molded his leadership, including high school agriculture teacher Gale

Thrower of whom he shared, “You wouldn’t pass his class unless you could beat him tying a tie.”

He added, “He taught you how to balance a checkbook. He taught you everything about money.”

Cornelious also mentioned college mentor Dr. Owen Porter who constantly reminded him, “Curtis you can do it. You can be all you can be.”

“There’s just nothing like a strong man reaching back to pick you up and

said, ‘Cornbread, you be late to my class one more time, I’m flunking you.’”

A side-by-side encounter in the parking lot had him rushing off to be on-time, yet determined to track down the mystery woman who caught his eye.

“I pulled into the parking space right beside her. She was parked there. I’d never seen her a day in my life,” Cornelious recalled. “I looked over, I didn’t know if she had legs, she was sitting in that truck, and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’” Cornelious says he “kind of made eye contact with her and ran to class.”

Pleading his case, Lipman allowed him to return to the parking lot, however, Charlet was gone. His determination led him to put out an “APB” at “UAPB” with full descriptions. It turned out that his fraternity brother, Giles Willis, immediately knew who he was describing; had previously worked with her and connected the two.

“We’re still close and I just thank God for Giles every day for bringing me the wind beneath my wings,” Cornelious said. “I could not be who I am without her.”

Both in their last semester of college, with Charlet focused on graduating school and moving on, she couldn’t help but notice his heart from the very start. His actions at a cookout with his fraternity brothers sparked her interest.

Mayor Curtis J. Cornelious being sworn in on June 15, 2021

guide you and hold you accountable,” Cornelious said. “It’s all about being held accountable.”

The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Spring 1998 initiate and former Gamma Delta chapter president found his love for brotherhood and the love of his life on the UAPB campus. Although his mentor and chemistry professor Dr. Lipman gave a stern warning about being late to class, he allowed Cornelious a chance to chase his destiny.

“He (Lipman) used to call me cornbread because of my last name and

Credit: Eva D. Coleman

“I’ve never met a guy, he was like, ‘Oh no, let me fix your plate,’ before anybody else ate anything,” Charlet said. “And that really sealed the deal.

I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve never experienced this’” “We were pretty young then and for him to do that in front of his boys, I thought that was, ‘Oh yeah, he can get my number now.’ He has a servant’s heart. He was willing to serve my plate then and it continued. He has never wavered and has always been the sweet guy that he is.”

At first, Charlet was hesitant about

dating someone with a child and being so young. She shared that Cornelious’ daughter was almost five years old at the time, and feels she and Stephanie bonded during a trip to the playground. She added, “To see how he was with her melted my heart.”

“You only get a few good women, and God blessed me with one that would push me to be successful, and show me who I am as a husband, as a dad, as a friend.” Cornelious said. “I owe it all to her. I’m not scared to tell nobody. She’s my everything. She’s my Michelle to my Barack.”

The Cornelious’ have been married for 19 years and have sons Christian and Collyn from their union. Charlet hails from Dumas, Arkansas, where her father spent 32 years in politics.

She has been a driving force in their marriage, even the catalyst behind Curtis’ foray into Little Elm politics that began with a council seat.

“In 2009 and years before, you knew whose seat was available on your water bill,” Cornelious said. “So we got the water bill in; my wife was like, ‘There’s an open seat’ and I was like, ‘You should go for it, I’ll support you, you go for it.’ She was like, ‘Nah, I’m talking about you.’”

Cornelious says he “let her talk him into” running and he’s been elected to and serving on the Town Council ever since in multiple terms as a council member, including five times as mayor pro tem. There was however a break from 2015-2017 after an unsuccessful bid for mayor which taught him many things.

“What I learned is I wasn’t ready, but I learned I needed to get ready and God showed me how,” Cornelious said. “He (God) said, ‘Just build your resume, your character has always been clean, your integrity has always been there. Just do the work.’

So in 2015, I learned I needed to do the work.”

Cornelious had served in many roles prior to the first run. He was very active in the community, coached youth sports teams, etc. Doing the work in the meantime was met with mean-spirited opposition.

“When I lost, they booted me off every board, they literally took prayer off of the agenda, because these are things I always interacted with...I did the prayer,” Cornelious said. “It was about, ‘He lost, let’s make him disappear.’ My last post when I lost, my hashtag was, ‘I’ll be back’ and I told them, ‘I meant that,’ and when I come back, I’m coming back twice as strong.”

And come back strong he did.

There’s strength in his DNA. Cornelious was contacted in 2010 cont. page 13

Continued from page 12 by the organization Be the Match and told that he was a potential bone marrow match that could save someone’s life. He had been tested nearly a decade earlier for a cousin who was diagnosed with and ultimately lost their battle with leukemia. Having forgotten he was still in the registry, Cornelious was all-in to help.

“I went in, got the swab and everything. Come to find out, I was like a 99 percent match,” Cornelious said. “Again, God said, ‘Here you go.’ I made the decision, talked to my family, talked to my wife, even though I already had it made up in my mind, if I can help, I’m helping.”

Cornelious has since met his bone marrow recipient, Tina Ford, whom he was originally told lived in Virginia, which he assumes was protocol due to privacy reasons. She actually lives in Houston, and their families have been connected since they met in 2011. He recalled their emotional meeting and confirmation of their intrinsic bond.

“She told me, ‘I guarantee you I can tell you what your favorite foods are.’ I said, ‘What?’ She said, ‘Reese’s peanut butter cups and fried chicken wings.’

She said, ‘Two things I hated all my life’ and she said, ‘Now, I can’t pass ‘em.’ So I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah you definitely got my DNA!’” Life is precious. Cornelious has graciously and generously given the ultimate. He’s dealt with recent personal losses as well. For his family, politics and the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately did mix.

“In October/November, both my parents tested positive for COVID. My mom didn’t have any major symptoms, but my dad, it just… it took him down.” Cornelious said. “And then, it was pneumonia on top of that, and then it just, he never bounced back.”

He shared that his father knew of his plan to once again go for his goal.

“I said, ‘Pops, I’ll do it.’ I said, ‘I’m running for mayor again.’ He said, ‘Son, go get it.’”

His father passed away a weekand-a-half after he jumped into the race.

“That was hard, but every step of the way, he was right there,” Cornelious said. “And he always said, ‘Son, I taught you, do what’s right and right will always come to you.’”

The voice Cornelious heard from every day, multiple times a day for so many years was silenced, however, he found the lesson that spoke loudly through it all.

“It was hard not being able to talk to him, but in a way, God weaned me away from being able to talk to him

every day,” Cornelious said.

Facing the reality of losing one of your biggest influences was challenging for Cornelious, however, he channeled his energy into the future of the city he has been elected to lead.

“I still haven’t processed his death and it still feels like he’s right here, and it’s just… it’s a lot,” he said. “One day I will process it, who knows what that will look like, but right now, I’m just living in the fact that he built a man; and it’s my job to build men, and not just my children.”

The Cornelious family misses another champion as well.

“We also lost my mother-in-law in August, and she was another, just powerful person. I mean, prayer warrior, ‘Brother Curtis, let’s go get it done,’” Cornelious said. “She was a

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I’m a Black man and cover it up by political affiliation, when in actuality, you just wanted to say, ‘This is a Black man,’ we were able to process it and take it because we’ve seen it,” Cornelious said. “I didn’t let it get in my spirit, and they learned not to.”

Election Day was filled with the love of supporters and relatives, including the delegation from Arkansas and others who traveled to be present when results rolled in.

“They came Election Day and it was so emotional to have all of them here,” Cornelious shared as he fought back tears. “I still get choked up. It’s nothing like family, and to know they’re here, for better or worse, regardless how it turned out, they were right here and it was just… Again, I told myself, ‘I can’t lose, I can’t lose.’

Mayor Curtis J. Cornelious and wife Charlet pose with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brothers

planner, so, with her on one shoulder and my dad on another shoulder, I couldn’t let them down.”

Cornelious and his family ran the race with level heads, keeping in mind the lessons they had learned from the previous effort. With racial tensions higher than before, things were a little different and his family had to navigate their reactions.

“It’s tougher on them because, even though they support it, I chose to do it.,” Cornelious said regarding his family watching his name get attacked.

“My dad always said, ‘Your name is all you got.’ For them to have to watch that and not respond, and my wife, she wants to respond, but I’m saying, ‘Don’t. Don’t respond.’ Because once this election is over, we’ll have the respect of the people, however it plays out.”

In this election cycle, it appeared to be more than typical politics.

“So it got really, really ugly this time. It got really ugly, but we’ve seen it, so when they start sending it, trying to divide it and point it out that

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Not only my parents here (mother and father-in-law), not only my dad passing away, not only my motherin-law passing away, Election Day was my wife’s birthday! So, I’m telling myself, ‘No pressure.’”

“I’m stressing out, but at the same time, God is telling me, ‘I got you. I got you. You deserve it. You’ve been faithful, and I’ll give you this win because I know you’re the right person for it,’” Cornelious shared with intense emotion. “And it’s not about politics. This is about building people up. This is about building a community. We set budgets, we do ordinances, that will happen. But my job is to unify a community. I unify the community, and we all go out and help unify people, and that’s servant leadership; and that’s what it’s all about.”

Cornelious was victorious this time around, winning 53.84 percent of the 3,709 votes cast in the June 5, 2021 runoff election against opponent Ken Eaken.

He shared that having his mother and his father-in-law present “was like I had all four.” He said he also felt

his father’s spirit.

“I’m so proud to finish this race and knowing that he’s right there... right there with me,” Cornelious said.

With Little Elm being a town that hugs more than 66 miles of the shoreline of Lake Lewisville, and having grown from over 3600 residents in 2000 to now over 53,000, many of these Denton county constituents wonder about a categorical shift that deals in semantics.

“It comes up probably every year,” Cornelious said of the question asked “When will we say we’re a city?”

The area is officially the Town of Little Elm, not “City of.” The mayor and council members serve on the Town Council, not “City Council.”

Cornelious verified that there is no difference between the two, it’s just

Credit: Eva D. Coleman

whatever is decided by those who lead.

When asked about his personal preference, he responded “I could really care less. I guess it’s somewhat automatic to say ‘City Council’ or ‘City of,’ but I still like to see ‘Town of Little Elm.’” So for now, Town of Little Elm it is!

The senior engineer at Raytheon is grateful for the support of his employer and upper management, sharing that he loves his job and will continue in his role there while serving as mayor. Arriving at work the week following the Saturday, June 5th election had a new feel, however, Cornelious is adamant about keeping things the same.

“I got back to the office Tuesday, now it’s, ‘How can I help you Mr. Mayor?’ I was like, ‘Get out of here.

I’m still Curtis!’”

Curtis J. Cornelious was sworn in as the first African American Mayor of the Town of Little Elm, Texas on June 15, 2021. The council chambers and foyer was packed to witness the historic occasion.

• July 15 - 21, 2021

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Soon after Cornelious was sworn in, his family had a ceremony of their own in which the children placed a crown upon their mother’s head. The crowd cheered and someone yelled out “First Lady.”

Present at the swearing-in ceremony was James A. McClinton, also from Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, who was elected as the first African American Mayor of Topeka, Kansas.

“To see both of us grow up in West Helena and then move away and make history in other places, it just touches my heart to see him do this,” McClinton said. “I’m so proud of him.”

Cornelious’ eldest son, Christian Cornelious, felt good about his father’s second attempt at running for mayor.

“This time, the whole dynamic, everything around it is different,” Christian said. “And then the things that led up to the election, we just knew, we had a feeling that he was going to pull this one off.”

Cornelious’ daughter, Stephanie Stevenson, was all smiles as she watched the crowd that came out to support her dad.

“I am very proud of my dad. This has been a long journey,” Stevenson said. “He ran a few years ago and wasn’t successful but this year, it all worked out in his favor.”

Collyn Cornelious, the youngest of the family, shared the biggest lesson he’s learned from his dad in aspirations beyond what one might physically see.

“Dream big. You can do anything you dream of. You really can,” Collyn said. “Because he came from West Helena, Arkansas, a really small town that looks abandoned almost, if he didn’t have the vision or be able to dream far enough to see himself as a mayor at some point, then he wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

Cornelious’ children echoed lessons he learned, proving that they truly transcend generations.

“Don’t give up. It can be done,” Cornelious said. “A setback is just setting you up for what you really deserve.”

The foundations of being an Alpha man have come to fruition for Cornelious.

“When I decided to run, you would see my fraternity brothers [say], ‘There goes an Alpha man,’ and that means a lot because our teachings was to be a leader,” Cornelious said.

“Our teachings was to always stand out. When others won’t step up, it’s your job. ‘Go be an Alpha man.’ And so, to no surprise, I’m an Alpha man, and I’m the mayor of a city.”

Or should he have said, “Town?”

Congratulations Mayor Curtis J. Cornelious!

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Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

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• Vol-9

• July 15 - 21, 2021

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