T E X A S
MetroNews DELIVERING NEWS YOU NEED
• Vol. 9 • June 10 - 16, 2021
MY TRUTH By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER
We deserve your respect Candidates, elected officials, PR Firms, everybody: you need to respect the Black Press. I went to vote the other day. As I walked into the polling location, supporters of candidates expressed their desire for me to cast my vote for their respective candidates. Actually while I thought my mind was made up, I was open to their conversations, if nothing other than being respectful of their desire to deliver a message; just like the Black Press. I went in and cast my vote and much to my chagrin, at 6:50p.m., I was only the 105th person to cast a vote. I remember thinking that I hoped the turn-out was better across town where Deborah Peoples was in a heated race for mayor of Fort Worth, TX. Line for line, side by side; Ms. Peoples was a better, more experienced candidate, but we all know the best does not always win! Anyway, as I walked out of the facility, after casting that oh, so important vote; the same supporters thanked me for my voting. I thanked them for their work and told them to tell their candidates that “whomever wins, they should show more love to the Black Press and don’t just come to us when they want coverage.” Now the response I received was hopeful because guess what? Did you know that some elected officials only look to the Black Press when they have been burned by other outlets? Did you know that See MY TRUTH, page 7
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Runoff yields big wins, upsets
By Valerie Fields Hill News Editor Texas Metro News
Longtime community leader Deborah Peoples, a member of one of Fort Worth’s most prominent Black families, lost her bid to become the city’s first African American mayor. Peoples trailed by roughly 6,000 votes, just after 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the Tarrant County Elections office. All 133 precincts had reported their results, according to the Tarrant County Elections Office. Peoples earned 40,732 votes while Mattie Parker, who is outgoing Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price’s chief of staff, garnered 46,255 votes in the runoff election, according to the Tarrant Elections Office official website late Saturday. Roughly 128,540 county residents – 14.54 percent of registered
In closely watched race, Mattie Parker (r) emerges victorious over Deborah Peoples in Fort Worth mayoral race.
voters - cast ballots in the runoff election, officials said. There are 883,776 registered voters in Tarrant County. “From the beginning, this campaign has been about building One Fort Worth,” Peoples said Saturday night in a post on her campaign’s official Instagram account.
“While one night’s results may not have been what we wanted, the historic turnout sent a clear message that voters are crying out for leaders that accept Texans of all backgrounds, races and walks of life.” Peoples said she planned to continue her civic work.
Kelly Ann Gray
“I will continue the fight to give more communities a seat at the table, expand prosperity to all our neighborhoods, and elect leaders who truly represent all the people.” Saturday’s election results are unofficial. County elections offiSee RUNOFF, page 11
Book called “boy.” gives voice to mothers of Black sons
boy.[cq Defending Our Black Sons’ Identity in America. The I WAS book also is commonly referred to as “The Boy Book.” JUST Compiling author Sherilyn THINKING... Bennett, who collected the mothers’ letters, is an By Norma Adams-Wade entrepreneur, consultant in Eric Garner’s mother Gwen graphic design, branding and Carr knows paralyzing grief first corporate diversity, ordained hands. Other Black mothers minister, and mother of two across the nation say they adult sons, both school football coaches. She was share a similar born in Ocala, mind-numbing Mothers of Black Florida and lives in foreboding: the sons across nation Charlotte, N. C. possibility of fear express fear, anger, Images of or hatred of Black strategies for raciallypeople by police or safe America in book watching media reports of the May racists killing their called “boy.” 25, 2020 murder of Black sons. This palpable emotion – George Floyd by a Minneapolis ranging from distress to defiance police officer would not allow -- is expressed in 48 personal her to rest until she completed letters from Black mothers to the boy. book that she views as America that comprise the book a catalyst for change in America.
Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner
Cover of book “boy.“
Credit: MTE Publishing
Credit: Sherilyn Bennett
The book also includes chapters about (a) what your rights are and how to act if stopped by police, (b) a historical perspective about treatment of Black men and women by police, and (c) a licensed mental health counselor’s assessment of lingering trauma from police brutality and/or racist treatment in various settings. “We must recognize that not
all fights against racial inequality happen in the streets,” Bennett said in a promotional piece. Bennett, Eric Garner’s mother Gwen Carr, and a couple of the mothers who wrote essay letters will be in Dallas this month for a book signing, meet and greet, and to encourage other mothers who have experienced or are experiencing similar traumas of See THINKING, page 7