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VOL 5 ISSUE 51
AUGUST 19, 2016
AUGUST 19, 2016
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S stands for
SING Vocalist Marion Forbes brings dream to Stage
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AUGUST 19, 2016
Just Mercy: One Lawyer’s Fight
VOL 5 ISSUE 51
MY DAY By Dr. J. Ester Davis
Please, buy this book! Do not let the tem that treats you better if you are summer end without reading it. It will rich and guilty than if you are poor and NBUF transform your understanding of mer- innocent.’ pages 14-15 cy, justice and strengthen the need to The book mixes commentary and reexercise your vote. portage, triumph and failure, political What is the title? “Just Mercy: A Story rhetoric and common sense. of Justice and Redemption� by Bryan Not just a book, but for 30 years Stevenson. now, Attorney This is a Stevenson has true story won relief for about an Afscores of conrican Ameridemned priscan attorney oners, exonerfighting for ated a number black boys. of innocent !VAILABLE AT .EWSSTANDS IN Did you ones and conread it? Yes, fronted abuse !VAILABLE AT .EWSSTANDS IN indeed, I of the mentally did. This men Garland,Rowlettill, the summer h andiMesquitet a l l y - has been capped Richardsonchildren and riveted with in & E.Dallas news about black boys. prison. Now along the way, Stevenson One news story after another has has encountered tragic defeats. He been blatantly centered in our midst. points to a specific case involving the Another senseless killing of a black politics of crime, punishment and the Phalconstar.com Garland, Texas Phone (972) 926-8503 Faxit(903) 450-1397 1 Year Subscription $45.00 male. And there is no escape. It does hypocrisy breeds. not matter if you go to college, get The mission is clear and the message good grades, you still need mercy be- is an ancient one all familiar to blacks. cause of the ‘real war on black boys.’ Criminal justice in America seems “Just Mercy� is fiercely compelling. criminal . . . complete with errors, mis“Just Mercy� is a true story for mercy leading quotes and racism. Criminal to redeem us and a cry to fix our bro- justice in America is hardhearted beken system of justice. It is about the liv- cause of its resistance to reform and ing black males who only exist if they learn from the obvious mistakes histojoin the justice club. We know that our ry has unveiled. jails and prisons are filled with African Reform starts with the mighty vote American boys. We find those num- in every state in America. The last day bers repeatedly quoted to us about to register to vote is approaching. populations painful and sad. But this Register, go vote and take your neighbook is about someone doing God’s bor with you. work, fighting for the voiceless, the Stevenson is executive director of outcast, the poor, the oppressed. the Montgomery based Equal Justice I read where Mr. Stevenson told a Initiative. radio host that ‘we have a justice sys-
Call 972-464-1790
Free - Take One
Free - Take One
Garland,Rowlett Mesquite Richardson & E.Dallas
Month 3 August 1-15, 2012
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Published 1st & 15th Each Month Phalconstar.com Garland, Texas Phone (972) 926-8503 Fax (903) 450-1397 1 Year Subscription $45.00
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AUGUST 19, 2016
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HALL: The Trump Train Is On Time!
Given ample time to think critically amidst all of
Quit Playin’
nophobia like a Blood Drop Cross patch on a patented Klan robe. Ain’t no shame in their game! Honestly, Trump as a singular is no major worry for Black folks; he’s just the latest figurehead to mimic segregationists like Barry Goldwater, George Wallace or the soft, covert racism of Ronald Reagan. No, it’s the forty plus million Whites who are mingling and meandering between the dining cars and caboose that cause the torment and terror. It hurts to believe that one in three of your fellow “fantasy football” foes
psyches. America never paused at the intersection, but Trayvon Martin was a crucial crossover in the current culture of race relations. Trayvon was a flashback for Baby Boomers and a flash of reality for every generation younger. Dr. Jeremiah Wright reminded us that rather than follow the wisdom of our Jewish brothers whose call to “zachor” is “Never forget,” we failed to teach Black children about our own liberation story. No story is more integral to our survival. Some Blacks purposely withheld the emasculation, disrespect and dehuman-
think less of you than you thought. It hurts when you have to add an extra layer of consideration into every transaction you have with a friend, neighbor, co-worker or stranger who just happens to be White. It hurts to wonder what American children think of this bullsh*t and how it will affect their
ization in our history. Some Blacks wanted their children to live above this legacy of abuse and humiliation. I didn’t realize until I was 30 that my grandmother fried chickens and baked cakes for family road trips because she faced “White only’ signs traveling as a little girl. Racism and rabid White
by Vincent L. Hall
the senseless police shootings and the resurgence of conspicuous racism, Black America would admit that Donald Trump’s candidacy is personal and very hurtful. Now it’s senseless to utter this publicly because in America whining is a White Male privilege. Everyone else’s cry for justice falls on their deaf ears. Transparently speaking, African-Americans have been emotionally wrecked and socially mangled by the Trump Train. To Trump supporters and the media, these stationed soirees look like large well-attended campaign depots. To Blacks, Browns, Arabs and progressive Whites, Trump disembarks to speak at suburban KKK rallies. Trump is the keynote speaker at “klavern” gatherings where the participants lack the social respect or fear to don hoods. Passengers of the Trump Train wear xe-
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nationalism was palatable when America believed it was cordoned to a centralized orifice which we loosely call “The South.” But the Trump Train is transcontinental and has proven that racists are greater in number than expected, and are proportionately represented in the North and all points East and West. We knew electing Barack Hussein Obama was not a referendum on retiring prejudice, but we did want to believe that the blatant racism we perceived from the GOP was in our heads and not in their hearts. The Trump Train is hurtful because we realize that his passengers who hate Muslims, Mexicans and any other non-White entity, hated Black folks first and never stopped. But Chris Rock’s “Never Scared” brought it home. His comedy is always timely and provides a prophetic destination. “When the Iraq war started, White guys with their flags hats and flag underwear were saying “I’m an American, I’m American. F*ck all these foreigners!” And that was cool. “I’m an American, I’m American. F*ck the French!” That was cool. “I’m an American, I’m American. F*ck these Arabs!” Then they went to “I’m an American, I’m American. F*ck these illegal aliens!” Then I started listening, because I know Niggas and Jews is next. It’s like any day now. That train’s never late. The Trump Train, like America’s “racial exceptionalism” is always on track and always on time and that hurts!
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Dallas Black Dance Theatre celebrates 40th season Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) announces its 40th anniversary during the 2016-2017 season, 40 Years Forward, from history to innovation. The season's theme reflects the trajectory of the company that has maintained its excellence in artistry as it has developed into a world-renowned dance organization. This season includes three world premieres, including a commissioned work that reflects the legacy of the organization and another utilizing technology to create a unique audience experience. New this season, DBDT is offering an innovative initiative, group season subscriptions. DBDT celebrates its fourth decade with some nostalgic dance themes. Matthew Rushing, of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, is choreographing Tribute, a dance that chronicles 100 years of Black dance masters. It will be a world premiere during the Director's Choice series, November 4-6, 2016, at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. Mr. Rushing's choreography has been selected as a recipient of a grant from the TACA Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund. The 40-year evolution of Dallas Black Dance Theatre unfolds in the world premiere of Interpretations by DBDT company member Sean J. Smith. Interpretations makes its world premiere during the Cultural Awareness series, February 17-19, 2017, at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. Interpretations is supported in part by an award from the Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. "Dallas Black Dance Theatre is rich with history and we are excited to tell the story of our 40-year legacy through dance," said Ann Williams, founder of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. "We are grateful to all of our patrons and sponsors over the decades. We could not have reached this mile-
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stone without their support." Dallas Black Dance Theatre is the largest minority arts organization in Dallas and the tenth largest in the country. In addition to historical pieces, DBDT will be using innovation so members of the audience can create their own experience in Tiffany Rea-Fisher's, The B Side. Headphones will allow them to select from three original music scores as they view the dance. The world premiere of The B Side reinvents the concert dance experience during the Director's Choice series. DBDT company members Hana Delong and Sean J. Smith on Ron Kirk Bridge. The season finale during Photograph by The Dallas Dance Project. the Spring Celebration series at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theson Subscription for the 2016-2017 Season Sponsors: Office of Culatre includes both choreography and season. The new process will allow tural Affairs - City of Dallas, Texas dancers from Ballet Austin. Ballet Aus- groups of at least 10 people to book Instruments, NBC 5, Yellow Cab, The tin's Artistic Director, Stephen Mills, multiple performances, through a Downtown Business News, I Messenwill premiere a contemporary piece in group season subscription, and re- ger, American Airlines and The Dallas Dallas with DBDT company members. ceive a 30% discount on performance Weekly. In addition, the performance will also tickets. 2016 - 2017 | Season Supporters feature special guest artists from BalSeason Supporters: Northpark, "The group season subscriptions let Austin. allow educational institutions, univer- Texas Commission on the Arts, Art Other performances include the sities, and other groups to streamline Works, National Endowment for the October season opener, DanceAfrica, their requisition and approval pro- Arts, Lexus, OverseeMyIT, The Dallas during the tenth annual DanceAfrica cess for payment. This will make it Examiner, The Dallas Post Tribune, festival at the Annette Strauss Square easier for them to plan group activi- Elite News, and AT&T Performing Arts and performances October 7-8, 2016, ties over a year," said Zenetta Drew, Center. at the Dallas City Performance Hall. Dallas Black Dance Theatre Executive 2016 - 2017 | Performance SponDancing Beyond Borders features Director. "This group subscription has sors both DBDT and DBDT: Encore! (for- a deep discount, the largest one that DanceAfrica presented by AT&T merly DBDT II) in Metroplex perfor- we offer." Co-sponsors: Union Bank, The mances in Richardson and Fort Worth Both group season and regular Dallas Arts District during March 2017. The Rising Excel- season subscriptions are on sale now. Director's Choice presented by lence series showcases DBDT: Encore!, Not only are subscription ticket prices Texas Instruments the next generation of professional less but also do not include conveChoreography sponsor: TACA dancers, April 7-8, 2017, at the Dallas nience fees. Co-sponsor: Silent Events City Performance Hall. For group season subscriptions Cultural Awareness presented by The 2016-2017 touring season of and group sales, call (214) 871-2390. Wells Fargo Dallas Black Dance Theatre includes Individual subscriber benefits inChoreography sponsor: international performances in Dance clude a 15% discount on ticket prices. Mid-America Arts Alliance X BZ 2016 in Belize City, Belize in No- To select individual season packages, Dancing Beyond Borders is supvember 2016 and the Fintdaz Festival visit the AT&T Performing Arts Center ported by Texas Instruments in Iquique, Chile in May 2017. Rising Excellence presented by at www.attpac.org. SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ON Single tickets go on sale Septem- Macy's SALE NOW, INCLUDING INNOVATIVE ber 1, 2016, at www.attpac.org. Spring Celebration GROUP SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS Choreography sponsor: North2016-2017 | Season Sponsors Dallas Black Dance Theatre has Legacy Sponsor: Harold Simmons park developed an innovative Group Sea- Foundation
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Children of Color need to see themselves in books
and has since Do your children CHILD WATCH written more love the books on than two dozen their summer read- by DR. MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN books on faing lists? Are your mous and less children reading President, Children’s Defense well known about diverse culFund historical figtures and books that ures and events. His latest graphic nonreflect their experience or history? Children of color are now a majority fiction book, Drowned City, is about of all public school students and will Hurricane Katrina. Poet and author Carole Boston soon be a majority of all children in America yet children’s books and the Weatherford approaches history from publishing industry have failed to keep another angle: she said she “mine[s] up with the rainbow of our children’s the past for family stories, fading traditions, and forgotten struggles” in orfaces and cultures and needs. Children of color need to be able to der to help fill in the gaps of the stosee themselves in the books they read. ries being told. Many of her books are Just as importantly, all children need to based on historical events spanning be exposed to a wide range of books the African American experience from that reflect the true diversity of our na- slavery through the Civil Rights Movement, and she said children are often tion and world as they really are. Doreen Rappaport writes fiction and amazed to learn the stories she writes nonfiction that celebrate diverse his- about are true: “It never fails, one of tories and biographies such as her the first questions is, ‘Did that really Caldecott Medal winner Martin’s Big happen?’ Well, you know, that’s exactWords: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther ly the reaction that I want from the kids - because they can’t fathom that some King, Jr. illustrated by Bryan Collier. Her curiosity about one kind of un- of the inhumanities and injustices that told story left her wanting to know were part of legalized segregation and more and more: “I got into it because part of America’s history of institutionwhen I was a teenager there were no alized racism really happened.” Rita Williams-Garcia has won nubooks about women. Maybe there was Eleanor Roosevelt and Jane Adams - merous awards for her historical fiction those were the only two books. There trilogy that begins with the Newbery wasn’t much of a place for young girls Honor novel One Crazy Summer - she with a curiosity, and maybe even an began telling stories that were very deambition, and actually we were told not liberately not historical. She was writing contemporary fiction to be ambitious.” Author and illustrator Don Brown about girls like herself whom she had started out on the very same hunt as never seen in novels, and the girls in Doreen Rappaport: “I had two little her audience responded with an immegirls, and I wanted to read to them sto- diate hunger for more. “My first novel had just been pubries about real women who were brave and heroic. I couldn’t find books like lished, and I went out to a library in that.” He too decided to write his own, Long Island, and it was nothing but an-
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gry girls . . . ‘Don’t write about slavery, don’t write about the water fountains and the civil rights . . . I want you to follow this girl and then write about her friend.’ They wanted to see - they were saying, ‘I need to see myself in the here and now.’” Jason Reynolds, the author of When I Was the Greatest, The Boy in the Black Suit, and All American Boys, shared similar feelings. When he was in school no one ever showed him books that featured his voice or story, and so he didn’t like to read at all. He now very deliberately writes books for other young people: “Right now what we see in our communities, we see that the young people of color are hyper-visible, yet terribly invisible at the same time, and that puts them in a really complicated spot, and I think all I really want to do is say, ‘I see you.’” He added: “This doesn’t have to be your entire literary lineage. What this is, is your springboard into the world of letters . . . Show them them first. Then you can give them Shakespeare, you can give them Harper Lee, we can run the gamut of things we can give them - but let’s give them them, and then we can move out. That’s my personal opinion.” Children everywhere thrive when they see excellent books that give them them and open up their worlds to all kinds of excellent stories about others. We should seek out diverse books for all children - for summer reading, in school curricula, at library story times, bedtime, and all the time. Are you seeking out books like these for your children and grandchildren? How well are schools and libraries in your community doing in providing them? Find out and ask for more.
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AUGUST 19, 2016
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AUGUST 19, 2016
y a D r Labo
d n e k e We
PRE SALE $15
AT GATE $20
Sunday, September 04, 2016 6pm - 11pm P URCHASE
ON THE LAWN AT THE A FRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM TICKETS WWW . EVENTBRITE . COM OR AT THE A FRICAN A MERICAN M USEUM
Presented by the African American Museum R ADIO ONE D ALLAS M ARK M C C RAY
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For more information 214-565-9026 Ext. 304 www.aamdallas.org
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Community
Free Job Training: WorkPaths @CitySquare Ongoing. Free information sessions held the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month; CitySquare; 1610 S. Malcolm X, Dallas 75226. Five-week Food Service & Hospitality course began August 1, 2016. Contact: 214-823-4409; dbranch@citysquare.org. ******* Free Reading Tutoring Dallas Public Library; 1515 Young, Dallas 75201. Learn to read better program for adults. Contact: 214-671-8291; http://www.dallaslibrary.org/literacy ********** Community Lawyering Center Open for Business - Mondays – Saturdays; days and evenings by appointment. 4716 Elsie Faye Heggins, Dallas, 75210. Eligible citizens may seek free legal services at this UNT Dallas College of Law Community Center about such issues as: disability, veterans, and social security claims; rental agreements; wills and probate; minor criminal offenses; record expunctions; mediations; and immigration. For info, call: 469-351-0024 or x0025 Dallas Black Dance Academy Fall Classes Early Bird Registration Ends August 27, 2016 Dallas Black Dance Academy is offering 50 dance classes in the fall beginning September 6, 2016. Modern, Jazz,
D/M/W/SBE business owners who want to work with NTTA or who wish to promote their businesses are encouraged to attend monthly Business Chat Sessions in the NTTA Boardroom. North Texas Tollway Authority, 5900 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, TX ***** The Family Night Community Basketball Game will take place from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the MLK Recreation Center, located at 2901 Pennsylvania Avenue. This is your chance to meet new staff members and learn about programs and events going on at the MLK Center. It is one game- the MLK Center staff versus community members! May the best team win! For more information, please contact a staff member at (214) 670-8363. ***** Council District 4’s upcoming Town Hall Budget meetings. Please feel free to contact office at 214-671-9347 or send an email to e.lopezaguirre@dallascityhall.com if you have any questions or concerns. 6:30pm-8:30pm at Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary School 5640 S Marsalis Ave, Dallas,
August 18
Southwest Center Mall, Dallas
Ballet, Pointe, Horton, African, Tap, Hip Hop, and Mommy & Me dance classes are available. The academy also provides Zumba and Stretch & Tone fitness classes. Registration is underway. There will be an Academy Registration Day/Open House on Saturday August 27, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Parents can register their children, meet the teachers, tour the facility, and purchase dance apparel. August 27th is the last day for early-bird registration where you save $10 off of the registration fee. For details on the Fall classes visit www. dbdt.com/academy or email academy@dbdt.com. ***** Community Health Worker Certificate Training Now thru early September. Become a certified community health worker. Enroll now for the fall class (Sept. 13 – Dec. 1, 2016). Weekday classes: 6 – 9 pm. Some Saturday training. Cost: $700 (scholarships available). Location: UT Southwestern. Contact: Lori Millner; 214-648-8338. Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ FALLCHWCOURSE. **** Dallas Theater Center Announces World Premiere Musical, Bella: An American Tall Tale, produced in Association with New York’s Playwrights Horizons Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre • 2400 Flora Street in the AT&T Performing Arts Center Full Run: Sept. 22 – Oct. 22, 2016 • Press Night: Fri., Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets: 214-880-0202 or www.DallasTheaterCenter.org
August 17
Women’s Council of Dallas County’s 61st Annual Awards Luncheon honoring Woman of the Year, Dr. Jennifer Wimbish, Distinguished Individual Member Marlene Cohen and Inspiring Young Women Scholarship Awardees — Lakewood Country Club, 1912 Abrams Rd. www. dallaswomenscouncil.org ******* Manuel & Kellee Pruitt, owners of Designs By Cake Daddy, will be featured panel speakers at the Oak Cliff Chamber’s Small Business Expo, Mountain View College - Performance Hall, (4849 West Illinois Ave., Dallas, Tx 75211) When: Thursday, August 18, 2016 7:30 AM - Noon Cost: $10.00 per person $100.00 vendor table (Breakfast provided) Contact the Chamber for more information at 214-943-4567 ******* Open house for the first P-Tech school in Texas Parents and community members are invited to an open house for the state’s first Pathways to Technology (P-Tech) campus, located at Seagoville High School. When: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Aug. 18 Where: Seagoville P-Tech Early College High School, 15920 Seagoville Road Dallas, TX 75253 **** Fiesta Fundraiser benefiting the Lancaster Education Foundation7-10 pm at the Clarion Hotel, 1515 N. I-35E, Desoto, TX ***** The Arlington Black Chamber of Commerce General Meeting at Jamaica Gates Restaurant, 1020 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, at 6pm. *****
ATTEND A SECOND WEDNESDAY BUSINESS CHAT
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AUGUST 19, 2016
(NTTC) North Texas Transit Constructors: MWBE Outreach Event 4 pm; Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel, 4440 W. John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, 75063. Hear about design, supply, and construction opportunities available through DART’s upcoming Cotton Belt Commuter Rail Project.
Free. Contact: Hugh Harrison, MWBE Coordinator, 214941-6885; hugh@legacyresourcegroup.net. Billy Dade Middle School “Back to School Red Carpet Affair” - 4pm – 7pm. Billy Dade Middle School, 2727 Al Lipscomb Way, Dallas 75215. All Dade students and parents should attend. Free backpacks and school supplies sponsored by The Potter’s House. Free haircuts, prizes, refreshments and immunizations. Call: 972-749-3800
August 19
The Taming by Lauren Gunderson Circle Theatre, 230 W. 4th Street Fort Worth, TX 76102, Sundance Square Entertainment District August 18 - September 17, 2016 Opening Night Saturday, August 20, 8:00 pm ($38) School Night Friday, August 26, 8:00 pm ($5 students - $10 faculty & staff) ******* City of Dallas Fair Housing Office Know Your Rights Workshop 9-11am at West Dallas Multipurpose Center, 2828 Fish Trap Road ***** Texas Health Resources Faith Based Community Breakfast, a program of the American Diabetes Association featuring Zachary Thompson, Director of Dallas County Health and Human Services at the Ruthe Jackson Center, 3113 S. Carrier Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX ****
La’Wonda Peoples 55th Birthday and Gratitude Red Carpet Affair Celebration Best Southwest TGIF Legislative Breakfast Series at Methodist Charlton Medical Center at 7:40a.m. Speakers are Zachary Thompson of Dallas County HHS; Judith Hunter MD. Chief Medical Director of MetroCare Services and Stephen L. Mansfield, PhD. FACHE president and CEO of Methodist Health System. LYNCHED: The Urban Ballet 8/19/2016 8/21/2016 South Dallas Cultural Center The Terrance M. Johnson Dance Project will debut “Lynched” - The Urban Ballet, on Friday, August 19th - 21st. Back to School Fair at Martin Luther King Recreation Center 11:30 - 2:00 a.m. - The goal of the Back to School Fair is to serve Dallas-area students with the essential items needed for a successful academic school year. Local vendors will also be present to provide information on education, health, and social services. This event is free and open to the public. ple Barber and Stylist College, and MeMe G. Hair Salon. Shaka Senghor, New York Times Best Selling author of “Writing My Wrongs” on August 19th and 20th. FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAM!- BOOK SIGNING @ THE DOCK BOOKSHOP, 7:30pm 9:00 pm at The Dock Bookshop, 6637 Meadowbrook Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76112, www.empowerseries.com
August 20 EMPOWER SERIES @ THE HIGHLAND HILLS LIBRARY DOORS OPEN: 10:00 am PROGRAM: 10:15 am to 12:00 pm Highland Hills Branch LibraryAuditorium, 6200 Bonnie View Road Dallas, TX 75241 The HeadsUp! Foundation and Athletes4Change will host the “#DallasStrong: HOOPS4HEALING” Basketball Showcase and Celebrity All-Star Game. This event will benefit the surviving families of our fallen officers as well as the youth and families of the communities officers serve and protect each day. ****** 2016 Health Fair and Back-to-School Rally at the Curtis Culwell Center. Students, accompanied by a parent or guardian, will have an opportunity to receive free school supplies, clothes and uniforms, as well as low-cost immunizations. Details and the registration form can be found at: http://www.garlandisd.net/sites/default/files/ english_flier_edit_4.pdf
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Eventfully Yours Event Center Open House, 7640 NE Loop 820 at Boulevard 26, Suite 110, North Richland Hills, 11:30 am-6 pm. and Sunday 1:30-6pm ****Church of the Incarnation hosts free immunization clinic and health fair, 3966 McKinney Avenue, from 1-3pm **** Mid-Cities Chapter of The Links Inc hosts 24th annual Black Tie Gala (dinner and dance), A Knock Out Affair Round XXIV at the Omi Dallas Hotel ****** St. Philips School & Community Center; 1600 Pennsylvania, Dallas, 75215. Join the association as it picks up trash, mows and edges lawns, and trims bushes and trees to beautify the community. 8am Drinks and lunch provided. Contact: LaSheryl Walker or Kim Cox at 214-421-5221.
August 21 Cedar Crest Cathedral Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Back to School Worship Celebration at 10:45 am. Tracie R. Washington, of the Dr. Billy E. Dade Middle School “Principal of the Year Award” will be the featured speaker. There’s also a 9:30 am reception. Back to School BASH Moorland Family YMCA 907 East Ledbetter, 2-5p.m.
August 22 16th Annual William “Bill” Blair Memorial Scholarship Golf Classic at Twin Creeks Golf Course, 501 Twin Creek Drive, Allen, Tx - 12 pm registration 1:00pm Shot Gun Start **** DISD: Start of New School Year Back to School hotline: 972-925-KIDS (5437). Contact your school for dates and times for new student enrollment. Contact: 972-925-5555.On-line enrollment: www.dallasisd.org/onlineenrollment.
August 23 The Dallas Regional Chamber will host four of the most influential Members of Congress at an interactive luncheon on Tuesday from 12PM-1:30PM. Leaders of our North Texas Congressional delegation will discuss important issues that impact our region, including infrastructure, environmental regulations, and federal budget priorities. ***** Council District 4’s upcoming Town Hall Budget meetings. Contact office at 214-671-9347 or send an email to e.lopezaguirre@dallascityhall.com if you have any questions
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AUGUST 19, 2016
Calendar or concerns. 6:30pm-8:30pm John W Carpenter Elementary School, 2121 Tosca Ln, Dallas, TX 75224 ******* The Dallas Independent School District is hosting a community meeting to discuss the proposal for a new early childhood center in Dallas’ Arlington Park neighborhood. 5:30 p.m., Arlington Park Community Center 1505 Record Crossing Road Dallas, TX 75235 ***** The BOSS Network hosts “Ladies That Lead: An Evening with Michelle Williams,” a multi-city event highlighting influential women of color at Pads at The Aloft Hotel Downtown, 1033 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Hosted, by BOSS Founder Cameka Smith, “Ladies that Lead” Dallas will honor Cora Jakes Coleman, executive director of children’s ministry at The Potter’s House. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: www. LadiesThatLeadTour.com.
August 24 2nd Annual EXPAND Business Men's Conference and Awards Luncheon; 11:30a.m. at Hilton Garden Inn, 800 N. Main Street, Duncanville ***** Network After Work at Clutch (2520 Cedar Springs Road) from 6-9 pm where we're expecting hundreds of local professionals to be in attendance.
August 25 Bandan Koro Concert @ The SDCC 8/25/2016 - 8/27/2016 South Dallas Cultural Center- Bandan Koro presents a celebration of life through African Drum, Dance, & Culture. It will be an evening of invigorating performances filled with the rhythms, dances and songs of West Africa.
August 26 Best Southwest TGIF Legislative Breakfast Series at Meth-
odist Charlton Medical Center 7:40a.m. presents a look at Tourism - Our Cleanest Industry with Janie Havel of Texas Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism.
August 27 Marketing Using Social Media DBCC Grow your business with industry-tested tactics and tools. Learn about creating sales funnels, advertising and promoting via social media.10:00 AM thru 11:30 AM **** Free Composting Class - 8:30 a.m. to noon. Environmental Waste Services, 1434 Commerce St. See a hands-on demonstration of how to build and maintain a compost pile. Class is available to Garland residents only *********** Naturally YOU Workshop.. Doing Business with YOU in Mind)!! 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (CDT) - The Grove,- 501 Elm Street #450, Dallas, TX 75202 ***
Kirk Franklin presents Gospel Brunch featuring Robert Hall & Company, 11am-1:30pm at the House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar Street, Dallas
August 30 Business Expo/Taste of Balch Springs 5-7pm,Tickets $4 in Advance $5 at the door Legends, Sept. 1-24 Granville Arts Center Leading ladies of yesteryear are at each other’s throats in the uproarious Legends. Granville Arts Center, Small Theatre, 300 N. Fifth Street, Downtown Garland 972-205-2790
August 31
Westside - The Greater Works Church Denim and Diamonds Women’s Conference 8:30 am-1pm at the Westside Baptist Church Assembly Hall, 900 Bellaire Blvd., Lewisville, TX. Keynote Speaker: Sis. Doris Willis, First Lady, Morse Street Baptist Church, Denton, TX *****
August 28 Project Unity presents Together We Ball - Police and Pastors Basketball Game at P.C. Cobb Field House, Dallas
Alabama vs USC Ultimate Tailgate Party 1 PM - 7 PM 1010 Collins - Entertainment & Event Center 1010 N Collins St, Arlington, Texas 76011
September 4 Fair Park Labor Day Weekend Blues & Jazz Festival 6pm-11pm on the lawn at the African American Museum, 3536 Grand Avenue. Co-hosted by Radio One Dallas’ Mark McCray and WFAA’s Angela Madison. Call 214-565-9026 ext 304 f
Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center Athletic Cookout celebrating Basketball and Baseball participants, 11am2pm, 5150 Mark Trail Way, Dallas **** Henna Tattoo Fundraiser, 1-5pm 2304 W Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington, TX 76013-6028, ladies get your feet, hands or partial arm enhanced! Call to RSVP 817 265 8854
The Theta Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. presents it’s inaugural Martinis and Linen Part, SHAKEN NOT STIRRED, 9pm - 1am in the Orion Ballroom, 400 South Zang Blvd, Dallas. For tickets, call Anthony Brown 214-534-0381. Attire: Linen A Survivor, A Story and A Dream featuring Marion Forbes, 7 PM - 10 PM Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater, 100 N Charles St, Lewisville, Texas 75057 *****
September 6 Texas Coalition of Black Democrats - Dallas Chapter, first General Membership Meeting:, African American Museum 6:00pm-7:00pm
September 3 DeSoto Arts Live! Art and Music Festival 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. DeSoto’s Town Center Outdoor Amphitheater
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Fort Worth Museum Science and HistoryCelebrity Lecture Series commemorating the 15th anniversary of 9/11: An Evening with Michael Hinson 7-8pm. Reservations are required. For more info, visit www.fortworthmuseum.org.
September 10 J. Spivey Productions presents Gigantic Gospel Concert 2016 featuring Tasha Cobbs, CeCe Godbolt, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Pastor Kim BUrrell, Jessica Reedy, Kathy Taylor & Favor, Casey J. Doors open 3p.m.
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AUGUST 19, 2016
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S Stands for Sing
Vocalist Marion Forbes brings dream to Stage By Eva D. Coleman Entertainment Editor
Marion Forbes is a singer. Her voice has been heard in
many places, beginning with her roots in Chicago. She’s a
recording artist, having had her first vinyl pressed in the 80’s with an all-girls group known as Serenade. The late comedian Bernie Mac was a supporter and friend whom she shared venue billing back in the day. She and her family have lived in Texas since 2006. There’s one word that starts with an S that she dares not say out loud, however, others get it loud and clear. Stroke. On January 15, 2014, Forbes suffered a stroke as she exited the stage after performing with her church Praise Team during their visit at another local church. “In a split second, I could have been out of here and all of my dreams could have been gone too,” Forbes said. Since arriving in Texas, Forbes has dreamed of being on stage in a self-directed performance, showcasing her God-given talent and entertaining friends. Another long-standing platform has been her work as a Master Stylist, bringing out beauty in others through hair, makeup and fashion for more than 34 years in Chicago and Dallas. She has been a successful entrepreneur for 29 years and currently owns
Forbes Co. Hair Salon in McKinney, Texas. Marion Forbes is a survivor. The incident, as she prefers to call it, pushed her to act on fulfilling goals in all aspects of her life. Understanding the miracle of her survival, she is now living out her longtime desire to bring power to the voice she has, which was not taken away. She hopes to inspire others to do the same. “When you look up, you’re older than when you got started, again,” Forbes said, referring to the back and forth cycle many go through with hopes for their lives. “Do not procrastinate in life and live your dream. Stop procrastinating and just do it,” she added. A Survivor, A Story and A Dream. It’s the event title and that simple. Forbes has lined up a few of her friends to share the stage, including Chicago area comedians Toni Gallatin and Diane Corder (THE CHOZEN 1), as they plan to deliver a taste of ChiTown’s finest in entertainment to Texas. The event will also feature Fuzac Band from Houston, Texas and local emcee,
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Chris Jones. A Survivor, A Story and A Dream will be held September, 3, 2016 at the Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater. Tickets are $50 with a portion of the proceeds going to Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital to benefit stroke survivors. Tickets can be purchased by calling 972-984-8829 or by visiting this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asurvivor-a-story-and-a-dream-tickets-26631919789 photo credit: Ronald K. Thomas
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Changing Our Racial Narrative Child Watch By Marian Wright Edelman President, Children’s Defense Fund
via George Curry Media
Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org
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Baltimore Cops routinely violate rights SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER by George E. Curry (George Curry Media Columnist)
After reading the 164-page Justice Department report on the Baltimore Police Department, it is surprising that street rebellions didn’t occur sooner in Baltimore. The report is a stinging assessment of the police department’s policies and practices that concluded: “there is reasonable cause to believe that BPD engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the Constitution or federal law.” It said the Baltimore Police Department “engages in a pattern or practice of: (1) making unconstitutional stops, searches, and arrests; (2) using enforcement strategies that produce severe and unjustified disparities in the rates of stops, searches and arrests of African Americans; (3) using excessive force; and (4) retaliating against people engaging in constitutionally-protected expression.” Furthermore, the report concluded, “BPD’s targeted policing of certain Baltimore neighborhoods with minimal oversight or accountability disproportionately harms African-American residents. Racially disparate impact is present at every stage of BPD’s enforcement actions, from the initial decision to stop individuals on Baltimore streets to searches, arrests, and uses of force. These racial disparities, along with evidence suggesting intentional discrimination, erode the community trust that is critical to effective policing.” As we have seen from similar investigations conducted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, this is probably a portrait of most big city police departments. In this case, the sheer breadth of the documented racial discrimination is mind-boggling. Take the simple matter of being able to walk the streets without being suspected of committing a crime. African Americans were stopped
three times as often as White residents and were 95 percent of the 410 people stopped at least 10 times. “Racial disparities in BPD’s arrests are most pronounced for highly discretionary offenses: African Americans accounted for 91 percent of the 1,800 people charged solely with ‘failure to obey’ or ‘trespassing’; 89 percent of the 1,350 charges for making a false statement to an officer; and 84 percent of the 6,500 people arrested for ‘disorderly conduct,’” the report stated. Prosecutors rejected more than 11,000 charges because they lacked probable cause. “BPD also stops African American drivers at disproportionate rates. African Americans accounted for 82 percent of all BPD vehicle stops, compared to only 60 percent of the driving age population in the City and 27 percent of the driving age population in the greater metropolitan area.” Many of the stops were not justified. “We also found large racial disparities in BPD’s arrests for drug possession. While survey data shows that African Americans use drugs at rates similar to or slightly exceeding other population groups, BPD arrested African Americans for drug possession at five times the rate of others.” It explained, “BPD searched African Americans more frequently during pedestrian and vehicle stops, even though searches of African Americans were less likely to discover contraband. Indeed, BPD officers found contraband twice as often when searching white individuals compared to African Americans during vehicle stops and 50 percent more often during pedestrian stops.” Baltimore police “engages in a pattern or practice of excessive force,” the report found. “Officers frequently resort to physical force when a subject does not immediately respond to verbal commands, even where the subject poses no imminent threat to the officer or others.” Police also engage in humiliating public strip searches. “In one of these incidents - memorialized in a complaint that the Department sustained -officers
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in BPD’s Eastern District publicly strip-searched a woman following a routine traffic stop for a missing headlight,” the report recounted. “Officers ordered the woman to exit her vehicle, remove her clothes, and stand on the sidewalk to be searched. The woman asked the male officer in charge ‘I really gotta take all my clothes off?’ The male officer replied ‘yeah’ and ordered a female officer to strip search the woman. The female officer then put on purple latex gloves, pulled up the woman’s shirt and searched around her bra. Finding no weapons or contraband around the woman’s chest, the officer then pulled down the woman’s underwear and searched her anal cavity. This search again found no evidence of wrongdoing and the officers released the woman without charges.” The Justice Department conducted the 14-month study in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray, 25. He was arrested April 12, 2015 for allegedly possessing an illegal switchblade knife. While being transported for booking, he fell into a coma after suffering neck and spine injuries and died the next day. Relatives attributed Gray’s death to “rough rides” Baltimore police often give to suspects they are transporting to jail. “We also examined BPD’s transportation of detainees, but were unable to make a finding due to a lack of available data,” the study said. “We were unable to secure reliable records from either BPD or the jail regarding injuries sustained during transport or any recordings.” Baltimore police were quick to detain or arrest citizens exercising their First Amendment rights. They frequently took offense if someone used language that was rude or disrespectful, though that does not violate the law. A 1987 Supreme Court decision (City of Houston v. Hill), held: “The freedom of individuals verbally to oppose or challenge police action without thereby risking arrest is one of the principle characteristics by which we distinguish a free nation from a police state.” While no one is accusing the Baltimore Police Department of operating a police state, it clearly needs a major overhaul.
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NBUF Dallas opens office in South Dallas Family, The Dallas NBUF "Open House" was the bomb, the greatest, awesome or like today's youngsters would say " It was on and poppin G!" People were enjoying themselves, mixin elders with the youth as they reminisced bout the old days of work and trainings by OGs JB Jackson and Al Lipscomb. Sister Shabande Fagbenrow got us started by pouring the Libations calling our Ancestors to join us as Brother Leo Hasan provided a spiritual beating on the drum. It is in Jackson & Lipscomb memories that we dedicated our facility. Joined by NCTEMTS we will get down to educating community members on the art of grassroots organizing and disaster trainings. Organizational leaders were on hand from all quarters of Black Dallas to show their full support. Among many were the Rev. Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr., who during his speech on this most historical occasion did his famous "walk" known to all in Dallas. There was Pastor Michael Bell from Fort Worth ,Texas, along with John Fullenwider who grew up attending the South Dallas Information Center that our office was inspired to reproduce. Imam Khalid Shaheed had a strong presentation as did Student Minister Tyrone Muhammad from the NOI. Arthur Fleming brought greetings from the Dallas NAACP. Our favorite former Dallas City Council members Diane Ragsdale and Carolyn Davis pledged their love and support as well. A few of Dallas Finest from the Southeast Police Division also dropped by to offer support while Aaron Michaels gave history on his group and the importance of the community having disaster plans. There were lots of hugs for our Arlington, Texas warrior Sistah Silk Littlejohn, who surprised many when she made her entrance cause everyone had been wondering how she's doing. Of course the event couldn't have been the success it turned out to be without great weather, lots of cold water, pretty nice scenery and the pleasant Mistress of Ceremonies Cheryl Smith as she kept the event moving along to finish on time, smile. Ase! Thomas Muhammad
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State Fair of Texas announces 2016 Big Tex Choice Awards finalists Fair food fever has officially returned, as concessionaires get ready to debut their most indulgent assortment of dishes yet! Celebrating more than a decade of decadence, the State Fair of Texas is proud to partner with the Dallas Convention & Visitor’s Bureau to present another year of culinary creations at the 12th Annual Big Tex® Choice Awards. For the first time in history, fairgoers were given a behind-the-scenes look into the annual event when the exclusive list of semi-finalist names was revealed. Thirty four concessionaires and their original creations were chosen to continue on to the tasting round, where they were evaluated on four finalist-worthy elements: uniqueness, creativity, presentation, and of course, taste. After a period of delicious deliberation, votes have been cast and the results are in! With an impressive 55 entries to choose from this year, only the eight most decadent dishes have earned the right to go up against the prestigious panel of celebrity judges in hopes of achieving fair food supremacy. Even if your favorite entry didn’t make the final cut, concessionaires can still choose to introduce their creation at their stand as a “new food” during this year’s Fair. The State Fair of Texas is proud to announce the eight finalists who will be competing for the titles of Best Taste and Most Creative in the 2016 Big Tex Choice Awards: Caribbean Pineapple Korn-a-Copia by Stephen Alade Bringing a taste of Caribbean flare to the Fair, this dish stands out among the rest with its profile of fresh flavors. Marinated grilled chicken and shrimp are served over a bed of yellow Caribbean fried rice and topped with a tropical salsa and pineapple rum glaze. Served in a pineapple half shell, this Korn-a-Copia will have you ready for a day at the beach… or a day the Fair! Deep Fried Bacon Burger Dog Slider on a Stick by Brent & Juan Reaves Meat lovers are in for a treat with this tantalizing triple threat. A miniature, handmade seasoned ground beef patty is stuffed with shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, and an all-beef hot dog on a Hawaiian roll. It is then placed
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on a skewer topped with a pickle, dipped in a tempura batter and deep fried to perfection. Every Bacon Burger Dog is served on a bed of shoe string fries with ranch dipping sauce. Deep Fried Pulled Pork “FUNYUN®” Dings by Chris Howard Putting a tasty spin on a pantry staple, the unique combination of flavors in this deep fried dish create the perfect balance of sweet and savory. A “FUNYUN,” the traditional crunchy snack, is stuffed with pulled pork, pepper jack cheese, pineapple slices and bacon. It is then dipped in a flavorful batter and deep fried. Each order is served with a multilayered sweet BBQ sauce. Fernie’s Down Home Chicken Pot Pie Pocket with Mac ‘n Cheese Dip by Christi Erpillo Two classic American comfort foods, one mouth-watering meal! This ultimate taste extravaganza starts with a savory cream sauce chock-full of shredded roasted chicken breast, tender diced white potatoes, sweet carrots, peas, corn and a special blend of herbs and spices. This hearty filling is ladled into fresh, flaky pastry dough and then gently folded “hot pocket” style. Each bite of the deep fried, golden brown, buttery crust is bursting with a savory sauce of chicken and veggies. Pure down-home goodness! Served with a side of mac ‘n cheese-inspired dip, this unique sharp cheddar sauce creates a tantalizing flavor combination. Fried Jell-O® by Ruth Hauntz For the first time in Big Tex Choice Awards history, America’s favorite childhood dessert is given a State Fair of Texas twist! A classic cherry-flavored Jell-O in a panko-crusted breading, flash-fried to perfection, and then dusted with powdered sugar. Prepared with a tasty topping of whipped cream and a cherry garnish, this dish has the perfect amount of crunch to compliment the jiggle. Injectable Great Balls of BBQ by Glen Kusak Smoke-crusted BBQ beef brisket is hand shredded with bock BBQ sauce and molded to form balls. The ball of beef is then breaded with seasoned bread crumbs and deep fried to a crispy perfection. Served on top of a bed of coleslaw, each order comes with its own
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pipette of bock BBQ sauce to be injected into the brisket balls. Guaranteed to be a perfectly succulent bite every time. Southern Fried Chicken & Dumplins by Clint Probst Putting a modern twist on a traditional Deep South favorite, this southern fried dish is a two-in-one hit! Juicy shredded chicken is mixed with bits of signature seasonings, dough and a touch of gravy. This decadent mixture is then rolled into balls, coated with bread crumbs and deep fried golden brown! Served with fried “biscuit bites” and a side of gravy, this dish is truly comfort food heaven! State Fair Cookie Fries by Isaac Rousso A unique play on America’s favorite savory side dish. The cookie fry may look like it needs ketchup, but don’t be fooled by the classic crinkle-cut appearance. Offered in traditional cookie flavors like chocolate chip or sprinkles, these sweet treats are served with your choice of the accompanying strawberry or milk chocolate sauce. Just consider it an undercover cookie in fry-form disguise. Mark your calendar for the 12th Annual Big Tex Choice Awards on Sunday, August 28 at 2:00 p.m. in the historic Tower Building at Fair Park. Get your ticket today and be one of the first people to get a taste of the 2016 food finalists. Tickets are available online for $100, with a limited amount of seats available. Don’t miss out on the fun - buy your ticket now before they’re gone! All proceeds from the Big Tex Choice Awards ceremony will be donated to the State Fair of Texas Youth Scholarship Program. Over its 24 year history, the Youth Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to more than 1,800 students for a total of more than $8.7 million. Eligible recipients include graduating high school seniors from around the state of Texas who have competed in State Fair livestock events, as well as graduating seniors from five Fair Park area schools – Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, James Madison, Lincoln, North Dallas and Woodrow Wilson High Schools. Due to the event’s charitable cause, a portion of each ticket is tax-deductible.
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What about my friend? Did she let me down?
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.
Dear Alma,
My niece is all in love with Gabby Douglas and thinks she can one day tryout for the Olympic team. LOL, now that’s funny. She’s awkward, uncoordinated and too fat to be in the Olympics. Her laugh is so loud it makes my skin crawl and I have never, ever seen her exercise. Her mother is getting on my last nerve. She’s collecting money from the family for her daughter to start gymnastic lessons. She said it’s expensive and she needs help. Help? For what? A teenage fat farm? My niece is not, let me repeat, not Olympic material. I am embarrassed and I’m not trying to give her any of my hard earned money and neither should anyone else in the family. I’m sure I can use Facebook, but how else can I let all our friends and family know they should not contribute to this disaster? Signed Keepin It Real with My Niece Dear Keepin It Real, Oh my, my, girl, I hereby nominate you as runner up for the worst aunt in the world! Why would you speak such negative comments
about your niece? What you think and what you feel are just your opinion and your feelings are note facts. Speaking again of your comments, I just gotta say, they sure do look ugly on you. Your niece has the right, in this country at least, to pursue her dreams without your permission. Passions are personal and grow inside the hearts of each of us, individually. You don’t get to pick which dreams work best for someone else. When a child shows interest, your role is to lead the way. When a young person becomes absorbed in a particular sport, artistic endeavor or reading activity, it’s your responsibility as the adult, to assist them in said particular pursuit – positively! Lookahear Auntie Unlucky, find your path to patience and take a long, long walk. Clear your mind and ponder, not everything that pops in your brain needs to trickle down and spill out of your mouth. Move out of your nieces’ way, and stop trying to block her blessings. If you can’t control your negativity and shush your mouth, just write a check and keep your distance. She doesn’t need your wrong wind beneath her wings to fly to success. Change your attitude or get out of her way. Alma
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Join in the efforts to put an end to Family Violence! Log on to www.iwillrise.org or call (888)230-RISE and see how you can help or get help!
REVOLT INSPIRE SUPPORT EMPOWER WWW.MYIMESSENGER.COM
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The BOSS Network hosts “Ladies That Lead: An Evening with Michelle Williams” Grammy Award-winning Singer and Entrepreneur to Visit DFW The BOSS Network will host the Dallas stop of “Ladies That Lead: An Evening with Michelle Williams,” a multi-city event highlighting influential women of color who can inspire other women by sharing their success strategies. The well-received event will be held Tuesday, August 23 at Pads at The Aloft Hotel Downtown, 1033 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Hosted, by BOSS Founder Cameka
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AUGUST 19, 2016 more than 30,000 members. The eldest daughter of Bishop T.D. and Mrs. Serita Jakes, Cora is also a preacher, best-selling author, wife and mother of two. An additional event feature is a women-in-business panel conversation with:
Smith, the goal of the “Ladies that Lead” tour is to inspire and empower more women of color to pursue business and entrepreneurial goals through peer-conversations and mentor-level interaction. The evening’s keynote speaker is Grammy Award-winning singer and entrepreneur, Michelle Williams, who recently launched her bedding and home-goods line, “Believe at Home”. “Ladies that Lead” Dallas will honor Cora Jakes Coleman, executive director of children’s ministry at The Potter’s House, a Dallas mega-church with
· Michele Meyer-Shipp, VP & Chief Diversity Officer, Prudential Financial, Inc. · Tiffany Fulcher, Mompreneur, CEO & Founder of Momspace · Nikki Woods, CEO, Nikki Woods Media & Chief Publisher of Victoria Street Publishing · Lisa Tenorio, Assistant Vice President of Network Planning at AT&T Prudential Financial Inc., is partnering with The BOSS Network, along with The Limited and Sage Summit, to host the tour and provide the tools and platforms for more women of color to enter and excel in business. The ticketed event is open to the public ($69.00 for BOSS members and $79.00 for non-members).
Call 972-464-1790 He l lo x ! op le r t e M me e se e m o C ! h e re y. c h e l l l o ve t o d a t i M l Ste ve de a l yo u’l a land e at all m c r o e se e m C ome 64 -1790 4 972-
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e h c t i M e Stev
2800 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75235 • lovejeep.net
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Spiritually Speaking
How many of us have an addiction, a weakness, something we are aware of but just cannot shake on our own? It may be a secret, your secret, something you dare not reveal for it goes completely opposite of who you believe yourself to be and counter to the person whom you are truly trying to become. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 says, “To keep me from becoming conceited, there was given by James A. Washington me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” If I’m the only one shouting right now, it’s okay. It should be noted that this is indeed some powerful stuff. You know some things in the bible reverberate over and over again and some of us still don’t get it and that includes me. I don’t mean to infer that we don’t understand the words because most of us do. The point is we do not or cannot incorporate what we’re reading into our daily lives. In this passage Paul lets us know that there is indeed
I Messenger a reason to accept our shortcomings and deal with our flaws and faults with a basic understanding that in doing so, God will invariably show up and then proceed to show out. It is through your warts that God can demonstrate to you and me and the world that He is Lord. Can you imagine experiencing the “perfect power” of the Lord? Apparently it’s as easy as looking into the mirror and making an honest assessment of who you really are and who you should be striving to become. To put it into proper perspective, you are who you are only in relationship to God. And don’t forget to take your imperfections with you. If you know and accept yourself to be a child of God, then you must attempt to be an example of God’s Word and His work. The only thing standing in your way is admitting to yourself, you can’t go it alone. You and I need help and that help comes only from one source. It’s the perfect source and comes with consequences. The consequences begin with recognizing that there is divine purpose in your particular set of weaknesses. That may be hard to believe, but it’s true. Dare I say most of us would reject the notion that sinful could be anything more than just sinful. The text however says it is our duty to understand through spiritual recognition that God chooses your problems to show off His righteousness through you by doing miraculous things. When you get a hand from the Lord to overcome your addictions, your passions, your vanity,
your shortcomings, you get so much more than what you bargained for. According to this part of the bible, you also get Christ’s power to work with. Isn’t that something? No wonder Paul continues by saying, “That is why, for Christ’s sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” By itself, you might wonder how Paul comes up with this conclusion. But when taken in the context of the entire passage, isn’t it true that out of many impossible situations and circumstances, God rescued you? How many testimonies do you need to hear before you give God the praise He deserves? Or is it that you can testify on your own about frailties that have become strengths to be relied upon and give you wisdom to share? All I’m saying is stop denying yourself. Stop denying your insecurities. Accept them and give them also, over to the Lord. Then step back and watch God do His thing with your life. He’ll do things you never could and watch Him revel in those who see His divine work through you. It’s that let go and let God thing. Paul just reminds us that even on your worst day, it’s not about you. Just remember it’s all about Him, your good as well as your bad. May God bless and keep you always.
d
eken e W y
Da
Labor
PRE SALE $15
AT GATE $20
Sunday, September 04, 2016 6pm - 11pm
ON THE LAWN AT THE A FRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM P URCHASE TICKETS WWW . EVENTBRITE . COM OR AT THE A FRICAN A MERICAN M USEUM
Presented by the African American Museum R ADIO ONE D ALLAS M ARK M C C RAY
T HE H ERBIE K AY J OHNSON Q UARTET
C0-Hosted by P ERFORMANCES
AH YONZ F EATURING K ENYA C.
BY :
WFAA’S A NGELA M ADISON
S HEREL R ILEY
D EF TO RADIO
T HE E FFINAYS
F EATURING
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African American Museum 3536 Grand Avenue Dallas, TX 75210
J OYCE L OFTON & M AJIK T OUCH
Food Vendors Onsite
Historic Fair Park
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For more information 214-565-9026 Ext. 304 www.aamdallas.org
I Messenger Built4U Mobile, A New Nationwide Mobile Telephone Company, launches New Service, Sets Out to Recycle Dollars Back to Communities – Built4U Mobile, a telecom start-up, has launched a new nationwide mobiletelephone company with a full suite of products and services that are targeting customers tired of overpaying for their phone services. The company (http://built4umobile.com) also is lining up partnerships with local institutions, such as local school districts, colleges and faith-based groups, to allow them to generate revenue and create opportunities. Darrell Woolen, Built4UMobile’s founder, has more than 35 years in the telecommunications industry, working for such companies AT&T, Sprint, Com Systems and DSC Communication. He started the nationwide full-service mobile telephone company because he, along with so many friends and family, complained about their rising cell phone bills. “Let’s face it,” Woolen said. “We can’t live without our cell phones nowadays. Built4U Mobile has no hidden costs or agendas. You pay for what you want and what you use. It’s easy to sign up, get going and start using your phone without worrying about how much your phone bill will be every month.” Woolen’s team consists of a group of experienced sales, telecommunications and operations executives who joined him to start the company. Convenience and flexibility are among the key components of the Built4Umodel. Customers can sign up for plans online 24/7, contact a local sales agent or call by phone (855-399-2470) to have access to high-quality multi-carrier networks available around the country. The company offers customers a full suite of products, including voice, text, data and cell phones. No contracts for service are required and devices are available with $0 interest for a two-year agreement, with approved credit. Built4U Mobile also is signing up direct sales agents, (built4ucareers.com) avoiding traditional brick-and-mortar stores to keep overhead costs low. The company’s founder, Darrell Woolen is setting out to create a highly profitable company, but wants to make sure he’s also giving back to the community. As part of its social entrepreneurship philosophy, Built4U Mobile is negotiating strategic partnerships with local schools, colleges, and churches so they can raise money from cell phone usage. “We like to think of it as recycling revenues back into the communities we serve,” Woolen said. Recently, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III of Friendship-West Baptist Church, added Built4U Mobile to its West Wall Street Initiative, an effort to empower local businesses and consumers to reinvest in their communities.
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Transitional and Proven Leader for Interim President of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce
Position: Interim President Organization: Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Location: Dallas, TX Type of Employment: Full-time with benefits or Consultant
The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 90th year as an advocate for the creation, growth and general welfare of African America businesses in Dallas and the North Texas region. The Interim President will lead and manage the chamber during an executive search for a permanent President and assist with the transition of leadership. The position will be for at minimum of six months and the Interim President can apply for the permanent President position. Excellent candidates for the Interim President position should possess the following qualifications and experience: Great passion to make a difference in the African American community Day-to-day leadership and management of a major organization and its staff Report to a board of directors and achieving the board's metrics and goals for the organization Success in gaining funding from corporations, government, and grants of at least $25K per transaction Fiduciary responsibility of a major organization including managing an annual budget of $500K and monitoring an organization's financial statements and activity Great credibility and relationships with C-Suite executives, bankers, and leaders in the Dallas area that have lead to major partnerships Success managing and staff development Exemplary writing and presentation skills Develop policies and procedures to flawlessly execute the operations of a major organization Public relations and marketing for a major organization Bachelor's degree in business or related field preferred Please follow the directions below to apply: Send resume to dljames@dbcc.org with job code IP1 in the subject line of email. Within the body of the email, please answer the following questions: Why are you passionate and interested in the position? What proven success (examples) do you have in the qualifications and experience required of the position? What is the greatest accomplishment you can bring to the organization? What positive feedback have you been given by your supervisor or clients at you current or former employer?
Join Big Tex’s Team: State Fair of Texas Seasonal Job Applications Now Available Online! Are you an outgoing, friendly and energetic person who likes to celebrate all things Texan? Join Big Tex’s team for the 2016 State Fair of Texas! Working at the Fair is just as fun as a visit to the annual event. The State Fair provides more than 6,000 seasonal job opportunities every year, with approximately 1,500 to 1,600 people employed directly by the State Fair of Texas. As the annual event is a collection of small businesses, the remaining seasonal positions report to independent contractors including concessionaires, ride operators and vendors. Applications for seasonal positions can now be found online, with opportunities available in the following departments: Coupon Sales, Creative Arts, Special Events, Exhibits, Food Service, Gates, Livestock Operations, Maintenance, Midway Games, Security, Ticket Office and Tram Operations. To apply for a seasonal position at the State Fair of Texas, please visit BigTex.com/Jobs. Don’t have a computer? No problem. Visit your local public library to see if it has computers available for job seekers, or this year the State Fair is partnering with several local computer labs that will allow people to use their facilities to complete the online application process. Please find details on some of the participating locations below: In partnership with the Wilkinson Center: Eastfield College, Pleasant Grove Campus 802 S. Buckner Blvd., Room 222 Dallas, TX 75217 Contact: Myra Collins 214.821.6380 x 214 Friday, July 29, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday, August 5, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday, August 26, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cornerstone Baptist Church 1819 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Dallas, TX 75215 214.426.5468 Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Tuesday & Thursday, open until 6 p.m.)
TR Hoover Community Center 5106 Bexar St. Dallas, TX 75215 214.421.2420 Monday, August 8, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 9, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 10, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Details related to future potential locations will be posted as they become available at BigTex.com/Jobs. The 2016 Fair runs from Friday, September 30 through Sunday, October 23.
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