VOL.8 NO. 50
Please wear your mask and wash your hands!
September 30, 2020
MY TRUTH
By Cheryl Smith
Publisher
Trustee Aubrey Hooper moves on from DeSoto ISD By ASHLEY MOSS Staff Writer
Until I see you again These are the times that will try the strongest of souls. People I know who are introverts or almost recluses who enjoy being alone are having a hard time with social distancing and self-quarantining and some actually want to get out and be with people. Others who are extroverts, and real touchy-feely are trying to cope with having to scale back, not being able to be the life of the party because there are so few parties — well actually, while there are some parties, we really could follow the science and avoid them. Each person is dealing with this COVID-19 pandemic different ways, in their own way; some healthy others not so healthy ways. Which brings me to my truth. Whether it was at the first day of class, virtually with Dallas College, where I am an adjunct professor; or in an editorial meeting with my team or The Dallas Morning News who we are collaborating with; I stress the importance of wellness checks and I share a little bit of me. That’s right, while some might say that women, especially in leadership, must not show any type of vulnerability because it is seen as weakness. Well, I am an “In spite of” person instead of a “because” person. see MY TRUTH, page 11
DeSoto ISD School Board. Trustee Hooper is standing in center. Photo courtesy: DeSoto ISD
Trustee Aubrey Hooper will end his nine-year tenure as a member of the DeSoto ISD School Board this week. Hooper credits his mother’s career under the late Dr. Emmett Conrad, the first African American Dallas ISD trustee, as the fuel that sparked his passion for public service. “I can still recall the many
stories about his legacy and his imprint on Dallas County through his work in the medical field and as the first African-American trustee in the Dallas Independent School District. Dr. Conrad’s service inspired many throughout the county to become invested in education and helped paved the way for me to have the opportunity to serve today.” The Morehouse College honors graduate received a
Master of Arts in Urban Affairs from UT Arlington and has served in leadership capacities with community organizations and non-profit groups including, most recently serving as the NAACP Dallas president, the Second Vice President of the Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches, Assistant Secretary of the NAACP National Board of Directors and the Vice Chairman of see DESOTO, page 3
Parkland: Don’t drink bleach to prevent COVID-19 By MARVA J. SNEED Staff Writer On the season premiere of “From Marva with Love,” safety was of primary concern, especially when drinking bleach has been offered as a cure for coronavirus.Cristina Halloway, the Public Health Educa-tion Manager for the North Texas Poison Center (NTPC) at Parkland Health & Hospital System talked about the warning from NTPC: “Don’t drink bleach to prevent COVID-19.”
I WAS JUST THINKING By Norma Adams-Wade
Right now, I’m weary of current gloom and doom bombarding us from all media. So, as a respite, I’m taking some steps back in time. When this column debuted about 11 months ago, I told readers that occasionally I would
The Center is again reminding residents of the dangers of drinking bleach. The NTPC reports that there have been 46 cases of bleach ingestions in the region since August 1, 2020. Misleading and inaccurate information is circulating online about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While disinfectants like bleach can help control the spread of the virus when used to clean surfaces; ingesting bleach or other cleaning products is downright dangerous and can
lead to serious injury, including burns. Ms. Halloway talked about the safe use of bleach and offered safety tips to prevent severe injuries from disinfectants. MS: What is the first thing you should do if you are exposed to bleach? CH: You should call the North Texas Poison Center. Your local poison centers in Texas are available 24/7 with specially-trained and bilingual nurses, pharmacists, and physicians to help answer questions or concerns. The toll free number is
1-800-222-1222. MS: What are the health risks of using disinfectants in this unauthorized way?CH: You brought up a good tip to never mix cleaners, especially bleach. Bleach should never go with anything else. It is kind of that one special cleaner that when mixed with other cleaners can create dangerous gases. So we want to be careful with that. You mentioned that if we want to be extra clean, we want to use something else — vinesee COVID-19, page 3
Recalling early Dallas Black-owned “jitney” cabs recall slices of early Dallas Black history. Today is such a time. I was just thinking...and remembering a conversation I had more than 30 years ago with a man who was informing me about early Black-owned taxi companies in Dallas called “jitneys.” Before Dallas Area Rapid Transee THINKING, page 5
This historic 1920s photo shows noted Black nationalist Marcus Garvey riding in Harlem in a car similar to the ones that made popular jitneys during that period. Photo courtesy: Getty Images