T E X A S
MetroNews DELIVERING NEWS YOU NEED
• Vol-9 • 22-28 October 2020
My Truth
By Cheryl Smith Publisher
United we stand I was so happy when I received Alayna’s text message. I was already planning to call her and her sisters, Annya and Ayanna, because even though I brought them up understanding the importance of voting; I felt the need to encourage, inspire, urge and give that last little push, if needed, to the polls. Which brings me to my truth.
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I always vote but I haven’t always been happy with the choices. For numerous reasons, there have been times when I have had to hold my nose, say a prayer and even shake my head as I cast that oh so important vote. And for years I have written about elections; my first was the presidential election that pitted President Jimmy Carter and Republican nominee Ronald Reagan. I remember one election I was writing about involved a mother who told voters she was running See MY TRUTH, page 3
Mamie Till still speaks for Black mothers I WAS JUST THINKING By Norma Adams-Wade
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AVOIDING A TWINDEMIC
Local leaders recommend Flu vaccine to combat illness By Ashley Moss Staff Writer With plenty of activity in and around Dallas, area residents may be surprised to learn what Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson was doing Friday afternoon around lunchtime. “I got a flu shot today and I get a flu shot every year,” said Mayor Johnson. “But, it was absolutely critical to get one this year to send the message to folks that we need everyone to get a flu shot.” It’s the beginning of flu season, a period which generally lasts from October until March
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson gets flu shot
and local health officials generally point to the vaccine as a way to prevent the spread of the common but sometimes serious ailment.
Chavis launches new show
Alayna Smith
Andrea Cruz named Miss Paul Quinn College
With a soulful sound the executive director of the Law completed by thumping bass Enforcement Action Partnership and a picturesque view of the (LEAP) and House Majority wind blowing the American flag Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC). over the White House, civil rights Sporting a dark blue suit with a icon and National Newspaper slick necktie and with his NNPA Publishers Association lapel pin for his millions (NNPA) President and of television viewers, CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis chronicled the Chavis, Jr., kicked off current Black Lives a brand-new public Matter movement, television show, “The police brutality, the Chavis Chronicles.” battle for equality, and Chavis, a student health disparities in his Dr. Ben Chavis and disciple of the debut. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The program counts as an and a member of the famous extension of his duties as NNPA Wilmington 10 civil rights group, president, one which provides began his new show on Oct. 4, heightened and needed featuring Major Neil Franklin, See CHAVIS, page 11 Images of Black men and women killed mainly by police scroll across the screen. Percussion and stringed instruments smoothly croon plaintive jazz music in the background. Rev. Dr. Sheron Patterson’s words pierce the sound as she boldly states the case for Black mothers. God made us mothers of a people who are othered. In the land of the free and the brave, it’s our kids winding up in graves.
The vaccine is recommended especially for anyone at high risk of serious complications including young children, pregnant women, people with
See VACCINE, page 11
Cake Daddy opens storefront By Hollywood Hernandez Texas Metro News Critic Saturday, October 17, Designs by Cake Daddy opened its first storefront location in Dallas. Manuel Pruitt, known as Cake Daddy, and his wife Kellee have been featured on The Cooking Network, Lifetime Network’s Little Women of Atlanta and other programs including Good Morning Texas on Channel 8/ WFAA TV. After baking in their home for several years the couple made a critical decision, “We decided to step out on faith and open a bakery to the public,” said Manuel. It was Manuel’s mother who
Two months ago I had a nice apartment in Chicago. I had a good job. I had a son. When something happened to the Negroes in the South I said, “That’s their business, not mine.”Now I know how wrong, I was. The murder of my son shown me that what happenes to any of us, anywhere in the world, had better be the business of us all. -------Mamie Till-------
Rev. Dr. Sheron Patterson is known for her passionate delivery of a Sunday sermon. This senior pastor of Hamilton Park United Methodist Church
chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years of age and older. Texas tends to have high levels of flu activity according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local health officials say that the threat of COVID-19 makes the recommendation to get the shot even more critical. “If ever there was a year to get your flu shot, this is it,” said Joseph Chang, MD, Parkland’s Chief Medical Officer “Get your shot as soon as possible, because it takes about two weeks
in North Dallas is known for rallying the public when there’s a social cause that needs attention and for being a “first” in many arenas.
Hollywood and the Pruitts
got him into baking. She had a two-for-one Groupon for a cake decorating class and invited her son to come along. Manuel, who had just been laid off from his job, decided to take her up on her invitation and enjoyed the See CAKE DADDY, page 14
But the trailblazing woman of the cloth faced a recent motherly concern that she says stopped her cold. The experience forced this author of nine books to pen a poetic spoken-word message for all mothers of Black sons, and even Black daughters, who are forced to live in today’s world where she says their “pigmentation leads to criminalization.” The spoken-word poem is “Concerned Black Mothers’ Anthem.” The Charlotte, N. C. naSee THINKING, page 11