I Messenger VOL 6 ISSUE 18
DECEMBER 30, 2016
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DECEMBER 30, 2016
2016 In Memoriam
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DECEMBER 30, 2016
FAITH JOHNSON TO BE SWORN IN AS DALLAS COUNTY’S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office is pleased to announce the swearing-in ceremony for the Honorable Faith Johnson as Dallas County District Attorney. The event will be held Monday, January 2, 2017 at 11:00am in the Central Jury Room of the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas, Texas. Judge Faith Johnson was appointed in December of 2016 to serve as Dallas County District Attorney by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, until December 2018. The Honorable Carolyn Wright, Chief Justice of the Fifth District
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Court of Appeals, will administer the oath first to Judge Faith Johnson, and then to the approximately 350 Prosecutors and Investigators, who will serve under her administration. “I am truly humbled, honored and Hidden Figures excited to serve as the District Attor16 ney of Dallas County. While I am the head of the office, it is the attorneys, investigators and support staff, who are the arms and legs that keep us moving towards seeking justice for our heart—the Dallas County community. It is because of them, that our fire for justice burns bright,� Judge Johnson said. “We are all in this together, and I look forward to beginning this journey with the entire Dallas County community, in January.� !VAILABLE AT .EWSSTANDS IN The historic swearing-in ceremoPierre Jackson ny!VAILABLE of Dallas County’s AT .EWSSTANDS IN first Afri- Garland,Rowlett 21 Mesquite can-American female District AttorGarland,Rowlett ney, will Mesquite be followed by a brief press Richardson conference on the 10th floor of the Richardson & E.Dallas Frank Crowley Courts Building as & E.Dallas well as a reception in the 11th floor atrium.
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Wishing you a great 2017!
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DECEMBER 30, 2016
I often say in my speaking engagements that the news is a major diversion to the public. It is designed to move your attention to something else. . . away from the elephantin-the-room, the situations-at-home. Our motto to our audiences is ‘battles that matter’. Butt injections are a battle that matter. Butt injections are a real profitable, in demand popular procedure in our society today. The cost ranges from $500 to $9,499. And believe it or not, African American women are direct contributors. This article gained momentum over several weeks as I attended a round of events, parties and dinners in and out of the city. In addition, I attend my grandson’s high school football games; one in Katy, Texas and the other in Arlington. As an astute seasoned student of the” high fashion” world, I noticed some “irregularies” watching the fashions shows at these gatherings. I am familiar with couture, ready-to-wear, and casual chic in both men and women. At one event, I sat with a
Butt Injections My Day
By Dr. J. Ester Davis
dear friend. “Jimmie” and I caught up on world events and then I mentioned the extended ‘bodies’ on the rear of some younger women. She was quite amused at my naïveness about today’s fashions,
graduated to the ‘famous tummy tuck”, exclusively for $9,499. The demands grew to the facelift, Botox, the minifacelift. These procedures were using your own fat cells, in a doctor’s office
spandex and silicone. Butt injections or some form of plastic surgery are on the Christmas list of many women. The Brazilian Buttock Lift started this rage supposedly to install confidence in women. “If you feel your bottom is not full and shapely, you can do something about it,” advertised one surgeon. It
with health and safety as the primary premise. Then we entered into the world of implants with everything. Breasts implants, eyelid implants, chin and cheeks implants. Oh, I forgot the nose jobs. So, where are we now? Glad you asked. This crazy phenomenon has moved onto the black market, a very dark place of shady services
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I Messenger starting at $500-to-$800 in a hotel room called “pumping parties.” Kimberly Smedley, African American, known as the “Queen of the Butt Injections” has written a book entitled “The Backside of the Story.” She cites a very sad, regrettable statement as to why she wrote the book. In the story is this statement. . . in a club of 100 women “you want an edge? This battle matters because the percentage of black women is now rising using the illegal methods. The illegal solutions are mixed with ingredients (super glue in some reports) that are harmful and causing serious medical conditions, death in many cases. In the new year, set and master your goals with all natural ole fashioned deliberate determination. You can do it and you are worth it. Recognize and delete the artificial adjectives. Get high on education, while redesigning your talents to meet these new challenges. Happy New Year. Ester Davis is a celebrated writer, speaker, television and internet host. She can be reached@www.esterday.com
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DECEMBER 30, 2016
Hope for the Mentally Ill and Families after passage of the 21st Century Cures Act
The sight in many urban communities, Dallas for me, is painfully common – a person talking to him or herself on a street corner, perhaps looking unkempt. Ordinary people drive and walk by, thinking nothing of the situation, calling the individual “crazy” or “nuts” under their breath. What the passersby don’t know is that this individual is possibly struggling with severe mental illness. The individual deserves compassion and treatment, not harsh judgment. As the former Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the VA Hospital in Dallas, Texas, I have witnessed the unintended consequences of the deinstitutionalization process. Many of my own patients diagnosed with severe mental illnesses were discharged with 30 days of prescription drugs and did not have stable housing. Once they ran out of their prescriptions, their conditions worsened, they suffered psychotic breaks, and many became homeless or incarcerated. Individuals with untreated psychiatric illness now make up one-third of the nation’s estimated homeless population that totals 600,000.
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FROM THE HILL by
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
In Texas, there are 35,000 incarcerated individuals with a severe mental illness, but only 4,500 psychiatric beds are available in all Texas hospitals combined. Because of my firsthand experience I know these numbers are more than statistics. I have worked for years in Congress to increase the number of beds available to treat individuals with serious mental illness by reforming Medicaid. In response to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) approached me to work on a bill for mental health reform. We joined together, a former psychologist and a non-practicing registered psychiatric nurse, committed to contribute our firsthand expertise on this issue. Our goal was to positively impact patients with severe mental illness. We sought to increase patient access to treatment, fund grant programs that were working and take a close look at programs that were not working, elevate mental health to a higher status within the
federal government and promote inter-agency coordination, allow family members and caregivers to gain vital health and safety information, and increase the number of psychiatric beds available for treatment. After years of working on the mental health issue the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act in July of 2016. Later the Senate included portions of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act into the bipartisan and bicameral 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 7, 2016. As a cosponsor of the original 21st Century Cures Act, I believe this bill has the opportunity to provide hope and healing to individuals and family members of those with a mental illness or battling an opioid addiction. And I am proud of the investment that will be made in cancer research, innovation and treatments. With the 21st Century Cures Act, I am hopeful that the individual on the street corner labeled as “crazy” will not only be able to receive the treatment he deserves, but also empathy and kindness from a stranger.
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DECEMBER 30, 2016
As President Obama departs, We Owe Him Our Thanks
The final days of the Obama presidency are upon us. His popularity is rising with the economy, and with the increasingly stark contrasts to his successor. It is worth being clear about the legacy that he leaves behind. Obama came to office facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The global financial system teetered on collapse; the auto industry faced bankruptcy; the economy was shedding 400,000 jobs a day. He also inherited the catastrophe George Bush had created with the debacle in Iraq and government misrule dramatized by the shame of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, La. Now, eight years later, the economy nears full employment, with more than 15 million jobs created and private sector job growth at a record 81 consecutive months and counting. Wages are beginning to rise, after long years of stagnation or worse. The auto industry has enjoyed some of its most prosperous years. This isn’t an accident. Obama helped rescue the economy by passing the largest stimulus in history, the most ambitious financial reform since the 1930s, and daring and direct intervention to save the auto industry. Economic growth helped lower the annual budget deficit to less than half the level he inherited. Obama also passed the largest health care reforms in six decades, providing health insurance for 20 million Americans. His reforms saved those with pre-existing conditions, provided the young with protection under their parents’ programs and, although most Americans don’t realize it, slowed the rise of health care costs dramatically. Running for re-election in 2012, Obama recognized that income inequality had become “the defining issue of our time.” With
his progressive tax reformsSPEAKING both in his health care planTRUTH and in the partial repeal of the top-end TO POWER Bush tax cuts, and with by REV. JESSE expanded tax credits for JACKSON,workers SR low-income
and families with children, Obama made a significant beginning in addressing that inequality. Abroad, Obama struggled against great opposition to reduce America’s exposure in the wars without end in the Middle East. His nuclear agreement with Iran, not only dismantled its nuclear weapons capable facilities, it also provided the most comprehensive and aggressive verification mechanisms in the history of arms control. In opening relations with Cuba, he helped reduce America’s isolation in our own hemisphere and made the historic turn from a policy of embargo that had failed for five decades. His most historic contribution was to understand the clear and present danger of catastrophic climate change. The agreement with China and subsequent Paris Accord cemented a global consensus on the need for bolder action on global warming. On his watch, America began to reduce its reliance on coal and its greenhouse gas emissions. Obama won a majority of the votes in both his election and re-election, something neither his predecessor nor successor achieved. He governed with grace and dignity, despite grotesque and too often racist provocations. His family provided a model for all Americans, with Michelle winning hearts across the country. He and his administration were remarkably free of scandal. His administration demonstrated once more that competence could be valued in
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Washington. He did all of this while facing unprecedented, unrelenting partisan obstruction, with the Republican leader of the Senate opposing him at every turn, intent on making him a one-term president. In part because of that opposition, much remained undone. The stimulus would have been larger and the recovery stronger except for Republican opposition. The national minimum wage would have been raised. A national infrastructure project to rebuild America would have been launched. Progress on making America the leader of the green revolution, the next global industrial revolution, would have been greater. Guantanamo, the shameful prison in Cuba, would have been closed. The Voting Rights Act would have been revived, and much more. For most Americans, the recovery was slow; for many it was invisible. Donald Trump won election promising working people a better deal. He appealed to our weariness with war, suggesting a less interventionist policy. He played upon divisions, rousing fears about immigrants and Muslims. He pledged to “Make America Great Again,” in part by undoing everything Obama. So it is worth marking what Trump will inherit, as we head into what is already a rocky and tempestuous presidency. Unemployment under 5 percent. Eighty-one months of jobs growth and counting. Average wages rising at 2.4 percent over the last year. Growth at 3.5 percent over the last full quarter. Inflation at 2 percent. 20 million more Americans with health insurance. America, one of the global leaders in the green industrial revolution. A president respected at home and abroad, known for his thoughtfulness and his great eloquence. Let us hope that Trump can build on that legacy, and not lead us into a far deeper hole. Keep up with Rev. Jackson and the work of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at www.rainbowpush.org.
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I Messenger
Community Calendar
Community Lawyering Center Open for Business - Mondays – Saturdays; days and evenings by appointment. 4716 Elsie Faye Heggins, Dallas, 75210. For info, call: 469-351-0024 or x0025
General hours of operation for the Perot Museum are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. On the first Thursday of the month, the Museum is open until 9 p.m. for its First Thursday Late Night public events. Holiday and other special hours. The Perot Museum will close Dec. 25 (Christmas). The Museum will offer extended hours until 7 p.m. Dec. 26-Jan. 1, except for Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) when the Museum will close at 3 p.m. and Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) when the Museum will close at 5 p.m. Member mornings. From 9-10 a.m. every Saturday and 11 a.m.noon every Sunday, members can enjoy exclusive access to the Perot Museum and Birds of Paradise. Bye-bye birdie! In just a few short weeks, Birds of Paradise will make its departure from the Perot Museum of Nature and Science on Jan. 8, 2017. Join The Honorable Carolyn King Arnold, Councilwoman District 4 for the following calendar events: 2017 Bond Town Hall Meetings Tuesday, January 17, 2017 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Kiest Park Recreational Center 3080 South Hampton Road Thursday, January 19, 2017 1 1:30 AM – 1:00 PM Beckley Saner Recreational Center 114 W. Hopson Avenue Dallas, Texas 75224
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January 13
LADIES CHOICE Concert Series featuring Avant, Dru Hill and Jagged Edge Music Hall @ Fair Park 909 1st Ave Dallas, TX, 75210 Ticketmaster: 1-800-745-3000
SHADOWLAND by PILOBOLUS is coming to Dallas on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14, 2017 following four wildly successful years touring Europe and Asia. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.attpac.org. TITAS Presents at Dallas City Performance Hall.
NAACP President/CEO Cornell William Brooks heads to DFW to speak for the Arlington MLK Banquet on January 13, 2017. "Advancing the Dream: A Nation of Justice & Freedom. Reception 6pm | Dinner 6:45pm. Limited tickets for $45/ $360 per table. Get your tickets at utatickets.com. Sponsorships available at 212.920.9147.
January 14
Ring in the New Year to the smooth grooves of AHYONZ featuring KENYA C. at the Austin Event Center (AEC) on Saturday, December 31st! Door open at 8 PM and the party doesn’t stop until 2017!
January 15
Join the Dallas Black Dance Theatre for the 2017 Founder’s Luncheon! Purchase your tickets by contacting the DBDT Development office - development@dbdt.com or (214) 871-2376
January 21 Join The Judges, Prosecutors, Clerks and Defense Attorneys of the Dallas Municipal Court System and the Honorable Judge Dominique Collins C. A. W. Clark Legal Clinic Good Street Baptist Church 3110 Bonnie View Road, Dallas, TX 75216 9:30 am WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURTS **** The National Black Marathoners Association recognized that the one African-American institution, which has the biggest impact on our health, is the church. We go there every week to get spiritually motivated and inspired. We want to use this same platform to make the congregation physically healthy. A healthier congregation is the foundation of a strong church. We received a training grant from the USA Track and Field. We’re proud to host a FREE, one-day workshop for community and faith-based organizations. The health and wellness leaders are taught the proper techniques to start and maintain a year around walking and running program for beginners. This program was in the October 26, 2016 Wall Street Journal. And we shared our vision with the religious leaders at the three largest Black faithbased conferences · National Baptist Convention, USA in Kansas City · National Baptist Convention of America in Cincinnati · Church of God in Christ Convocation in St. Louis The workshop is limited to the first thirty people. To reserve a seat, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/faith-based-walkingrunning-program-dallas-tickets-29630578859 Date: Saturday, January 21, 2017 Time: 9:30AM to 4:00PM (lunch included) Location: Carter Room Cooper Hotel & Conference Center 12200 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75230 For questions, email FaithAndWellness@BlackMarathoners.org
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December 31
BRING IN THE NEW YEAR ON THE MOUNT! Mount Hebron Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1233 Highway 66 in Garland invites you to its NEW YEAR’S EVE/EARLY MORNING SERVICE, December 31st at 10pm, with special guest from THE VOICE SEASON 9, Cassandra Cleveland Robertson! Plus, Comedian Robert Duckworth, the Mount Hebron Mass Choir and Dance Ministries, A Word for a New Beginning from Pastor Leonard O Leach and a “Soul Food” breakfast buffet immediately following the service. For more information call 972-276-5218, or visit www.onthemount.org.
visit www.dallasmlkcenter.com/2017mlkcelebration!
January 16
January 28
It’s not too late to register for the 2017 MLK Day Parade! For more information about The 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration or to register for the parade,
Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebratesFounders Day
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MALVEAUX:
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TECHNOLOGY AND THE EROSION OF COMMUNITY The Last Word By Dr. Julianne Malveaux
NNPA Newswire Columnist
Professor Deva Woodly teaches Political Science at the New School for Social Research in New York. During a recent talk, she shared that trust in our nation’s institutions is at an all time low. That is, perhaps, why that man who currently holds the title of President-elect was able to prevail over someone far more qualified in the November election. Using Gallup Poll data from June 2016, Professor Woodly notes that the military is our nation’s most trusted institution – 73 percent trust them, while our Congress is the least trusted with only 7 percent support. Fifty-six percent of us trust the police, forty-one percent trust the church, just 36 percent support the President, and only 23 percent trust organized labor or the criminal justice system. One in five trusts television news or newspapers. In a nutshell, it does not appear that we trust anybody! This lack of trust results in a lack of involvement in civil society. If you don’t trust the church, how involved will you be in it? If you don’t trust your union, will you do much more than pay your dues? Only two in five trust the medical profession – do you believe your doctors? Just one in four of us trust banks. If we don’t trust institutions, do we trust each other? And if we don’t trust each other, how do we come together to organize, to resist the corrosiveness of the callous, racist, misogynistic leadership that Mr. Trump offers our nation. The man has no regard for the truth, and he has pandered to our collective mistrust by describing everything as “rigged”. Now he is saying that he really won the popular vote
because “millions” of people voted fraudulently. He has no proof of it, and he ought to be ashamed for lying, except for if he had any shame he never would have run for President. Between fake news and mistrust, there are those who believe him, which further erodes institutional trust. Our nation is on a downward spiral, and there is no soft landing unless we rediscover the ways we once connected, and revive them. Professor Woodly and I joined Michael Eric
And if we don’t trust each other, how do we come together to organize, to resist the corrosiveness of the callous, racist, misogynistic leadership that Mr. Trump offers our nation. Dyson and Columbia University Professor and moderator Fred Harris in a New School-sponsored panel on Obama, Race and Politics. Anyone who has read Dyson or me would not be surprised at our analysis. Fred Harris, too, has written about the Obama presidency in his book, The Price of the Ticket: Barack Obama and the Rise and Fall of Black Politics (Oxford University Press, 2012). Professor Woodly’s analysis stood out for me, though, because she talked about community distrust and ways it disconnects people from politics, the polls, and outcomes. Too many people thought that their actions had no consequences, and that whatever they did had no meaning. Their impressions may
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have been shaped by the smugness many of us saw coming from the Clinton campaign that behaved as if their victory was inevitable. Just 107,000 votes in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania separated Hillary Clinton from victory. Recounts are not likely to sway the election, and the “if I coulda, woulda, shoulda” post-mortem around the resources that should have been used to energize the base makes no difference now. The fact is that Hillary Clinton should have won this election. She didn’t because the village she says it takes to save a child has been fractured. Instead of talking to each other, too many are texting each other. Instead of talking to voters, the Clinton campaign was spending millions on ads that vilified Trump instead of lifting up Clinton. The election is over. Recounts are important for the sake of accountability, but I’m not sure they will make a difference in the electoral outcome. I support the recounts, and also an electoral audit. I support reform that makes it easier, not harder for people to vote. I believe that there are things that can be done in the next two years to take our democracy back. I refuse to wring my hands and dry my eyes about Mr. Trump and his “victory” anymore. What must happen now is a return to community. I was heartened to see so many millennial at the New School panel, young people asking what to do next. The answer – we must rebuild community. We must organize, organize, organize, and agitate, agitate, agitate. The man who calls himself our President-elect is an unabashed liar who some say “deserves a chance”. Give him a chance, if you will, but hold him accountable for his lies, his conflicts of interest, and his racist appointments of Steve Bannon and Senator Sessions (D-AL). Our community, revived, can do no less. Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist. Her latest book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available via www.amazon.com
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DECEMBER 30, 2016
HELP: I am featured in Pastor’s Sermons
Dear Alma: I’m not sure how to handle this problem. My sister in-law is a pastor of the church we, and our family attend. I often confide in her because we’re friends and she’s easy to talk to. She always gives me sound advice and I appreciate that. But the problem is, she’s always using my business in her sermons, and I don’t like that. What should I do? C.B., Milwaukee Hey now C.B: You emailed this to a PK (Preacher’s Kid), for God’s sake. My father, Rev. Ulysses Martin, was a Baptist preacher for more than 30 years.
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Ask Alma: by Alma Gill
NNPA News Wire Columnist 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.
When it came to his sermons, he knew that we were off limits under any and all circumstances; my mother made that clear. I mentioned this to let you know that I have some familiarity with your circumstances. I’ll start by telling the truth and shaming the devil. LOL. My first reaction was:Whaaaat? Ohnoshedidn’t! But since we’re talking about a minister, I should ease up and give her the benefit of the doubt. Is there a possibility that she sees your discussions as casual conversations? She may not know she’s offending you. Where do these discussions take place? Are you at church in the pastor’s study or driving in the car to the mall? Depending on where you are would explain how she comprehends what’s said. Okay, I know I’m stretching it, but stay with me for a minute. She could easily be having a conversation
with her SIL, while you’re having a conversation with your pastor. The roles need to be established. Either way, you’re entitled to your privacy, and you should not be exposed to “shout outs” from the pulpit. It’s time to nip this and bring your concerns to her attention. Don’t do it during the sermon, girl, while you’re sitting in the congregation. LOL. Here’s what you do: The next time yawl are caring and sharing, ask her specifically not to use your situation in her “say no to sins” parable. Tell her you expect her to keep your conversations confidential. Don’t tiptoe through this prickly conversation; be firm. She should understand exactly where you’re coming from. After your discussion, if things don’t change, I’d suggest you seek new pastoral counselor. Alma
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I Messenger ACA Marketplace open Enrollment period runs through Jan. 31, 2017 The fourth open enrollment period into the Health Insurance Marketplace begins Nov. 1, 2016 and runs through Jan. 31, 2017. Through the Marketplace, individuals are able to go to one place to search for health coverage options and choose from the health plans available in their area. The best source for information about the Marketplace is the website www.healthcare. gov. The website is available 24/7 and provides information on how the Marketplace works, what the benefits are and key deadlines. Individuals can also call 1.800.318.2596 to speak with trained customer service representatives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For individuals needing further assistance, Parkland Health & Hospital System will have certified application counselors available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday in Parkland’s Business Office to answer questions about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and provide help enrolling in the Marketplace. The Business Office is located on the first floor of the old Parkland OPC, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, 75235. Certified application counselors will not be available at any of Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care health centers. “We will have a limited number of certified application counselors available to assist patients with the enrollment process,” said Rhonda Miller, Parkland’s Senior Vice President of Revenue Cycle. “We encourage those who may qualify for the Marketplace to log into the government’s website or speak to one of the government’s trained customer service representatives.” Most people must have qualifying health coverage or pay a fee for the months they don’t have insurance. Health coverage exemptions are available
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DECEMBER 30, 2016 based on a number of circumstances, including certain hardships, some life events, health coverage or financial status and membership in some groups. Additional information on exemptions is available at www.healthcare.gov. In addition, a special enrollment period (SEP) outside of the yearly open enrollment exists for those with certain life events including losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby or adopting child. If an individual qualifies for an SEP, they usually have up to 60 days following the event to enroll in a plan. If they miss that window, they have to wait until the next open enrollment period to apply. Those who may need assistance can contact Parkland’s Customer Service department at 214.590.4900. For more information about Parkland’s services, visit www.parklandhospital.com.
Calling NABJ Students! Applications for the 2017 Short Courses are now open! Join NABJ and our partner universities for the 2017 Short Courses! During the Short Courses participants will receive instruction from faculty and experienced industry reporters, news directors, producers, videographers and graphic designers. Participants will produce newscasts, webcasts, podcasts, video slide shows and social media sites, as well as learn strategies on how to market their skills to secure a job after graduation. Applicant must be: A current member of NABJ Be currently enrolled in a four-year accredited college or university Majoring in journalism or communication Be a junior, senior or graduate student Possess a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 Applications will be accepted online only. Please the following documents ready to upload before beginning the ap-
plication: Cover Letter A high-quality professional headshot with a white or black background A 200 word summary of your current experience and what you hope to learn Resume (one page) Transcript (Scanned, low resolution PDF or JPG) Contact information for three references (Full name, title, phone number, and email) NABJ membership number Web links to your most-recent work samples
DFW-ABJ URBAN JOURNALISM WORKSHOP APPLICATIONS
The Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists (formerly the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators) will present its 28th annual Urban Journalism Workshop for high school and college students. For more information or to apply, log on to www. dfwabj.com Applications must be returned by December 31, 2016 to: DFW/ABJ c/o Cheryl Smith 320 South RL Thornton Freeway, Suite 220 Dallas, TX 75203
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Spiritually Speaking
James
JAMES
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MOVIE REVIEW
Hidden Figures is a must-see and a must-read By Dorothy Gentry I Messenger
I walked out of the screening of Hidden Figures feeling cheated and robbed. As a 50-year-old middle school educator why did I not know this story? How did I make it through elementary, middle school, high school AND college and NEVER hear the names Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson? They weren’t in a textbook. They weren’t in a history book. They weren’t taught during Black History Month, Women’s History Month or any other month for that matter. They simply weren’t taught. Their story simply wasn’t told. It’s as if they didn’t exist. They were truly Hidden Figures. Until now.
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Thanks to Margot Lee Shetterly, the stories of these three remarkably talented and educated African American women and many more who played key roles in technology and the NASA space program is now being told on the big screen for all to see. And applaud. Shetterly is the author of the
How did I make it through elementary, middle school, high school AND college and NEVER hear the names Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson? must-read book “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race.”
Wait. Black Women Mathematicians. Space Race? Who? When? Where? How? And more importantly…What? Her book detailed the story of Johnson (played by Taraji P Henson), Vaughan (played by Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (played by singer Janelle Monae) who were hired by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. in the 1940s and 50s. The Center is now the modern-day NASA. As so vividly and sometimes uncomfortably portrayed in the movie, they were treated as though they never even existed. But in the midst of segregation and gender inequality, these women stood tall within themselves despite the odds. Scenes from the movie that drive home how hidden and
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non-existent they were include Henson’s character Johnson running back and forth a mile several times a day to use the “colored women’s restroom,” located in a whole different building; a room full of nothing but her white, male “co-workers” bringing in her own separate coffee pot because they didn’t want her to drink from theirs, and Johnson debating whether to put her name on a report that SHE completed next to her supervisors. Early scenes in the movie show the depth of character and strength these women had in spite of their circumstances. These included Vaughn’s refusal to continue to be overlooked for a supervisor’s position she was so clearly qualified for. Her
reaction: take a book from a library on understanding computers and read it cover to cover to her sons. “Learn all you can and make yourself valuable” she said to them and a room full of equally brilliant black women. Jackson, portrayed with humor, sassiness and a deep level of courage by Monae, made me proud as she stood up to a judge, national guardsman and laws that prevented her from going to school with white people. It was a beautiful sight to see. Jackson died in 2005 and Vaughan in 2008. Johnson, now 98, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and a Langley research building was named in her honor in 2016. Hidden Figures is a long-over-
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due movie parents should take their daughters and sons to see… AFTER they read the book. It is a movie that gives them not only a significant history lesson but gives them tools and hope and courage to learn all they can, keep striving, keep going forward and upward despite the circumstances and the limits others try to put on them. The book, the movie, the lives that are shared and the lessons that are learned are important tools to give our kids. Tools to encourage them to keep working toward their dreams so they won’t become the Hidden Figures of their generation. Hidden Figures is now playing in select theaters. It opens nationwide Friday, Jan. 6, 2017.
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Prayer Is My Daily Weapon of Choice Spiritually Speaking by James A. Washington
The closest person in the world is responsible for this one. It’s all about praying and meditating in the morning. I have watched a personal transformation right before my very eyes. I’ve watched as the quest for the habitual has become the reality of ritual, so much so, that it’s something I am trying to emulate. As a concept, it’s actually pretty easy to do. In the morning, I am not particularly in need of anything, but I understand now that calling upon the Lord is an act of spiritual clarification. From evening prayer to dawn’s affirmation of God’s power, I have definitely taken this time as much for granted as anyone. After some Morning Prayer practice, it’s becoming apparent that I need to thank God for seeing me through the night. I ask Him to order my steps, guide my thoughts and allow me to do something during the course of the day to give indication of a deep appreciation for allowing me to wake up. If you allow yourself to concentrate on what God has done for you on any given day, then it becomes obvious that He is indeed here and working wonders on your behalf. If you do not believe, try this. At the end of today, take a moment and reflect on those things that you can think of that prove God was with you all day. Start with this morning, because you really didn’t have to wake up. If you hadn’t noticed, some people didn’t. If you drove, flew, took a cab somewhere and arrived safely, you
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might want to give God a little credit for your being accident free. You might have even passed one on your way. Can you remember seeing anyone in need of food, clothing, a few dollars, maybe a bath? But it wasn’t you? All “natural disasters” on this day missed your house. No floods? No tornadoes? No hurricanes? No earthquakes? While I’m at it, how’s your family? Are your kids healthy? Are they simply alive and still breathing today? Is someone you know under intense pressure, emotionally, financially or physically? Did you get called about a now deceased dear friend, colleague or relative? Can you
But since God was gracious enough to give me the day, the least I can do is act like I know who the day belongs to. begin to see where I’m coming from? God’s Hand is everywhere in your life, if you just stop being busy and take a good look. I promise you if you just slow down a bit, you’ll see God’s presence time and again in your life; that is, if you can see past your ego or maybe it’s your never thought about it attitude. Once you begin to realize that God is present all the time, then, prayer easily and rapidly becomes praise. I mean once you recognize the real pos-
sibility that God held “my” hand today, then it stands to reason that a genuine thank you is in order. So now out of any sleep I’m awakening from comes a hand palms open with a praise that goes something like this: ‘Thank you Father God for seeing me through the night. Stay with me and remind me during the course of this day of your infinite blessings bestowed upon me. Let me do something. Let me say something today to make you proud and show you my appreciation of your giving me the time and opportunity to demonstrate who I am and whose I am to the world.’ The words might change from time to time, but the intent is the same. I hope to no longer take my consciousness for granted. There’s a reason my eyes were opened and I must acknowledge I had nothing to do with it. As such, I think it prudent to acknowledge the One responsible and look for His purpose after that. The next step for me then is to try and maintain a consistent spiritual posture. I know it’s not easy. The world will test you. But since God was gracious enough to give me the day, the least I can do is act like I know who the day belongs to. From “goodnight” in the evening to “hello” in the morning gives all of us a real opportunity to understand the simple gift of life. That time between sleep and awakening is worth praising God for. Kind of gives new meaning to that “joy comes in the morning” thing. May God bless and keep you always.
James
James Washington is a father, husband, Christian and writer. James is also the owner and publisher of the multimedia company The Dallas Weekly. You can follow James on Twitter at @ JAWS_215.
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DECEMBER 30, 2016
Mavs sign former Baylor standout Pierre Jackson By Dorothy Gentry I Messenger News
The 9-23 Dallas Mavericks, looking for some scoring punch, signed free agent guard and former Baylor University standout Pierre Jackson to a reported two-year partially guaranteed deal. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Jackson (5-11, 176) has been playing with the Mavericks’ NBA D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. He started 10 games for the Legends this season, averaging 29.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.9 steals and 35.7 minutes per game in those 10 contests. “A lot of people have been showing me love and hitting me up on social media. My family is real excited,” Jackson said. “I am just cherishing this moment. I am real fortunate to be in this position.” Head Coach Rick Carlisle called Jackson “a pure point guard. This is an opportunity for him and an opportunity for us to look at him and see where it goes.”
Jackson played his first ever NBA game Tuesday night – only hours after he was signed - in front of the home crowd against the Houston Rockets. In 11 fourth-quarter minutes he scored 7 points, one rebound and two assists. “I was extremely nervous but it was a great experience. I’m just tremendously thankful. My family got a chance to see me play in the Mavs jersey. “ Carlisle said he liked “quickness and ability to score. He made a couple of good plays off pick and rolls so I think he’s a guy that can help us a little bit. I like what I saw. I thought he went hard and did some good things.” A native of Las Vegas, Jackson is no stranger to Texas after transferring from College of Southern Idaho to play the final two years of his collegiate career at Baylor University in Waco. While at Baylor, Jackson averaged 16.7 points, 6.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 74 games while earning Second Team All-Big 12 twice and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America in 2012. “Once I signed with the Legends a lot of the Baylor fans reached out to me and made it to some games. Now that I am at the highest level hopefully they will come down and catch some more,” he said. Jackson was drafted in the second round (No. 42 overall) by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2013 NBA Draft and had his draft rights, along with Jrue Holiday, traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Nerlens Noel. Jackson spent the 2013-14 season with ASVEL Basket in France. He re-
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turned from overseas to compete with the Pelicans Summer League squad in the summer of 2014, but suffered a ruptured right Achilles that cost him the season. He battled back from that near career-ending injury with the help of family and friends. “Once I tore my Achilles and did the research, it wasn’t too good. My family and friends kept me confident and above water,” he said. “Once I got back on my training and my physical therapist helped me and kept my confidence up as well. I was able to bounce back pretty fast. “It (the injury) can happen to anyone. I had to work from the bottom. It was definitely one of the hardest times of my life,” Jackson added. “I’m glad I had to go thru that to get to where I am today. Jackson played with the 76ers Summer League team in 2015, but was later waived after appearing in three preseason games for Philadelphia. Jackson, 25, holds career D-League averages of 25.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 36.9 minutes in 49 games (37 starts) with the Idaho Stampede and Texas Legends. On Feb. 4, 2014, he set the D-League single-game scoring record with 58 points against the Legends Jackson was named to the Futures All-Star roster for the 2014 NBA D-League All-Star Game. Jackson will wear No. 55 for the Mavericks. The Mavs requested waivers on Jonathan Gibson to make room for Jackson.
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Season’s Greetings from the I Messenger Family.
Students can still get breakfast and lunch at 11 schools over winter break DALLAS — Even though class won’t be in session, 11 Dallas ISD campuses will still offer a morning snack and lunch for Dallas ISD students. The meals are free to anyone under the age of 18. Breakfast will be served from 8–9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Below is the schedule for the winter break meal program. • A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 2–6 • W.H. Atwell Middle School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6 • W.A. Blair Elementary School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6 • E.B. Comstock Middle School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6 • Fred Florence Middle School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 2–6 • Tom Gooch Elementary School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6 • Elisha Pease Elementary School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6 • Dan D. Rogers Elementary School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6 • W.W. Samuell High School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6
• San Jacinto Elementary School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6 • T.G. Terry Elementary School: Dec. 28–30, Jan. 3–6
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