Texas Metro News 7-20-2016 by Cheryl Smith

Week of July 20, 2016

VOL 4 ISSUE 33

Paul Quinn College president honored HBCU Digest recognizes President Michael J. Sorrell’s leadership, again Washington, DC – J Paul Quinn College’s (“Paul Quinn” or “College”) Michael J. Sorrell was named the “HBCU Male President of the Year” for a record-setting second time at the annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (“HBCU”) Awards Ceremony (“Awards”), this past Friday evening in Washington, DC. The Awards, operated by HBCU Digest, were held on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia. Sorrell, who has been nominated five of the six times that the award has been given, has attracted a large following both inside and outside of higher education due to the unconventional manner in which he has led the transformation of Paul Quinn and his dedication to both his students and the surrounding community. During his tenure at the College, Paul Quinn has gone from the brink of closure

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WNBA: Much love for the ladies Week of July 20, 2016

Let’s hear it for the hometown champion! Odyssey Sims

Please see PQC, page 2

Simba brings positive spirit to Dallas

By Dorothy Gentry Contributing Editor/Sports Writer

Justin Anderson is a 22-year-old rising star in the NBA as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. His nickname is Simba – yes from the popular Disney movie “The Lion King” - and he admittedly suffers with time management. Yet a packed house of City of Dallas employees, many of whom took their lunch breaks, filled the Dallas City Hall Flag Room to capacity to learn what keeps the well-spoken athlete inspired to play the part of a servant leader, and

Please see SIMBA, page 3

Please see Odyssey, page 2

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Week of July 20, 2016

Odyssey is the hometown favorite, continued from front page By Dorothy Gentry Contributing Editor and Sports Writer

A young girl named Dorothy in a classic movie said it best: “There’s no place like home.” Just ask LeBron James. And Dwight Howard. And now, Odyssey Sims. The guard for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings (formerly the Tulsa Shock) is a native Dallasite who was born and raised in Irving. She played at Irving MacArthur High School, was recruited by Baylor University (where she helped lead them to the 2012 NCAA Championship) and was drafted No. 2 overall by the Shock in the 2014 WNBA Draft. When the Shock decided to leave Oklahoma for Dallas earlier this year, Sims says she couldn’t believe it. “Is this real? Is this for real, for real? This is happening right now?” Sims recalls when she learned of the team’s move to her hometown. “I was jumping up and down and couldn’t believe it.” Since then, Sims has been delighting Dallas fans along with teammates Skylar Diggins and Glory Johnson with fast action, powerful plays and great fun on the city’s first WNBA franchise. The Wings, who play at College Park Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington, have dubbed themselves “The New Home Team” since arriving in May and have not disappointed. The team regularly holds special theme nights such as Teacher Appreciation and Military Appreciation. Sims, who averages 14.7 points per game, has instantly become a fan favorite. She has over 13,000 followers on Twitter (@Lucky_Lefty0); over 45,000 followers on Instagram (lucky_lefty0) and a growing fan base on Facebook. The former WNBA 2014 All-Rookie Team member, a southpaw, is glad to be home among the familiar. “I live not even two miles from the high school (Irving MacArthur) and go back there to visit all the time,” she said. “I’m happy.” Sims, whose first name means a long journey

that turns into a fortune, has displayed an impressive basketball work ethic and amassed a plethora of awards, accomplishments and kudos ever since high school. While at MacArthur, Sims made the McDonald’s All-America Team, recognized by USA Today – All USA Girl’s Basketball team and was honored with the District 7-5A’s MVP all four years. On May 21, 2010, Sims’ No. 3 MacArthur jersey was retired, marking the first time that any athletic jersey, boys or girls, had been retired in the 47-year history of the school. She was recruited by the Baylor University (Waco) Bears and helped lead their team to the 2012 NCAA Championship with then-teammate Brittney Griner. Sims’ athleticism earned her the coveted Nancy Lieberman Award as well as the Wade Trophy and she was also named Big 12 Player of the Year. And for a record second time, the young basketball player with the infectious smile saw her Baylor jersey – this time #0 – retired earlier this year. She’s grateful for the honors but is quick to deflect any congratulations. “Growing up I was never really big on awards or accolades. I don’t really like talking about myself,” she replied. “I didn’t even tell coach (Wings Head Coach Fred Williams) until like a week after and he was like ‘why didn’t you tell me!?’” But I am thankful and grateful for the honors.” Sims has also played internationally as part of the USA team winning gold medals in the 2011 & 2013 World University Games. In January she was named as a finalist for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team and last month she and teammate Aerial Powers were

named to the 11-member USA Basketball Women’s Select Team. They will train alongside the USA Women’s team and play in a USA Basketball showcase later this month in Los Angeles. In the midst of a busy and packed schedule, which included celebrating her 24th birthday July 13, Sims took time to share her thoughts on current events, her mission and vision in life and what she hopes her legacy will be. On her vision: “My vision is to make a lasting impression on each person I meet, ultimately becoming a household name, known for working extremely hard towards completing my purpose in life. I believe God assigned everyone with a purpose and we fail to execute our purpose with love. My vision is to do everything I can to be a better person and public figure with extraordinary passion and love. I see myself creating powerful lanes for people to fall into and together create a better world.” On her Mission: “My mission is to empower, encourage, and inspire the world through my voice, whether it is though basketball, giving back to communities, public speaking, or any other avenue God sees fit for me. I just want to make an impact, and show people that life is far from perfect, but worth it.” On #blacklivesmatter and NBA players calling for all athletes to support more social issues: “The BLM movement is an important issue for sure. With social media and all, we as professional athletes have to watch what we say about things because all it takes is for one person to misconstrue what you have said. We can speak on issues but it is just our opinions and at the end of the day, you can’t

Paul Quinn College President, continued from front page to (1) establishing institutional records for enrollment gains, fundraising, and budget surpluses; (2) generating national exposure for their response to the food desert conditions of their community by converting their football field into an organic farm; and (3) creating a new model of higher education with their New Urban College Model that allows students to graduate with less than $10,000 of debt via the reduction of tuition and fees and participation in the school’s Work Program (which requires all residential students to work between 10-15 hours per week on- and off-campus). "President Sorrell is an inspiration to the Dallas community for his tireless work to make Paul Quinn College a pivotal influence in the lives of our students," said Don Clevenger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Paul Quinn College. "We are very proud that others are recognizing the President for the effort we see every day." “President Sorrell’s leadership is an example for those who wish to use their platform to transform lives and communities,” writes Student Government Association President

Arielle Clarkson. “He has proven time and time again that nation-building transcends our 140 acres, and the student body is honored to learn from him.” “I am incredibly thankful for what we have at Paul Quinn College,” said Sorrell. “It is a blessing to have a staff committed to the idea of WE over Me, students who believe that they can change their communities and the world, and a supportive Board of Trustees that encourages me to be innovative. Occasions like this one remind me to never take the uniqueness of my circumstances for granted.” Paul Quinn received two other nominations this year. Rising senior Destiny Modeste (Brooklyn, NY) was a finalist for the “HBCU Female Student of the Year” and the College itself was nominated as “HBCU of the Year” for the third time (Paul Quinn won this award in 2011).

be wrong for how you feel.” On the so-called NBA “super teams” sprouting up around the league: “A lot of times a player can’t always control what team they are on or drafted to so in some ways, things don’t seem fair. But it is, what it is. It’s not really unfair. Everyone’s been on a team loaded down with stars but it still doesn’t mean you will win. You still have to play the game.” On former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who won eight NCAA titles and who died last month at the age of 64 of early onset dementia in the form of Alzheimer’s: “I met her and went to her basketball camp when I was a sophomore. She told me I was great and she actually wanted me to come to Tennessee. She was a great coach. When I was being recruited she was nothing but positive. Just to know her, have met her and talked to her is unbelievable. She was a legend. She is a legend. The best coach to ever do it.” On former teammate Brittney Griner, who plays with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and with whom she won the NCAA Championship at Baylor: “We are both busy athletes but we do talk periodically.” When all is said and done with her basketball career, Sims said she wants her legacy to be one of inspiration to all. “My legacy is to inspire women and men alike to use their gift that walks them into a future that impacts the world. “I want to build an empire by inspiring youth to become the best at whatever they want to be, no matter where they come from. I plan to inspire young girls and women around the world with my talent and my voice to leave the biggest impact on the world that they possibly can.” Follow Sims on social media: •Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialodysseysims •Twitter: www.twitter.com/lucky_lefty0 •Instagram: www.instagram.com/lucky_lefty0 Go to: http://wings.wnba.com/ for a schedule of Dallas Wings games.

Week of July 20, 2016

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Simba talks leadership, continued from front page

to hear his advice and tips on how they, too, can set themselves up for greater leadership. Anderson was the keynote speaker for the City of Dallas Black Employees Support Team (BEST) Breaking the 4th Wall Leadership Lecture Series. BEST is an employee-run organization that facilitates career development and events to enhance employees potential within the city. It offers professional development, career planning, networking, volunteer opportunities and special events. BEST members are City of Dallas employees who are actively committed to the betterment of municipal government. Danielle McClelland, a City of Dallas employee for over 20 years, is first vice president for the organization that seeks to encourage its members and work as advocates for African American employees, who make up about 1/3 of the city’s workforce, to move into leadership positions within the city. “We want to encourage those who have chosen the public sector as a profession that there is great honor in what we do,” she explained. “This is a calling (working for the city.) We think it is important that the city be strong and it is important to have a strong employee base.” Anderson’s biggest advice to those gathered: Be a servant leader, know yourself and what you bring to the table and stand on it. “One thing I want to challenge you all on… and you all are probably going ‘Who is this 22-year-old guy trying to challenge me to do something?’ I get it. I’m sorry,” he said to warm laughter flowing throughout the room. “I want you to challenge yourself to go home and think about who you are. Where you at in life? Why should we ask for more? “Look at where we are and look at the world we live in,” he continued “At what point are we going to humble ourselves?” Anderson recalled dropping in the basketball rankings as he went through high school at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland, but relied on his knowledge of self to stay focused. “I had this internal strength that I knew I’m bigger than anyone here, than basketball. I knew who I was and what I could bring to any university, to any team,” he said. “I was a smart, educated, respectful young man and I could always hang my hat on that.” Anderson said he “started to grow and get to know myself. I had a coach at Virginia who always used to say, know who you are. And I think the way we measure success today is where am I ranked, where am I at in the business world, where am I at in my office… We tend to forget that that is not necessarily what success is.“ Success he said, can be defined as taking advantage of opportunities that come your way. Anderson told engaging and funny tales of growing up in Montross, Virginia, a town of about 350 people where “everybody was your cousin and your uncle and I talked to deer sometimes because you don’t have anyone else around,” and how he was prepared for the opportunity when it came knocking. “It took a lot for me to get to this point in basketball and to Dallas, Texas. Growing up, the Mavs were my favorite team, Dirk was

Justin “Simba” Anderson discusses leadership at Dallas City Hall

my favorite player and Texas was my favorite state,” he said. “But I never got to meet Dirk, never got to go to a Mavs game and had never been to Texas and it just all worked out. “It has been awesome for me to play here in Dallas. Here I am in 2016, passing the ball to Dirk for a 3 and he’s the 6th all time scorer in the NBA,” Anderson said. “What did I do to deserve to get here and I think I know what it is.”

The answer, he said, was knowing who he was. “I knew who I was. I think I understood that what I brought wasn’t trying to be the best player, I wasn’t trying to come in and showboat or whatever the case may be. “I came in and I wanted to serve my teammates. I wanted to serve the veterans who were already there I just wanted to play my little part even if it was that little,” he said with a gesture of the hands. “Sometimes I didn’t dress out. There were times they sent me to Frisco (Texas Legends D-League team) and ya’ll know how bad that ride is,” he said as the audience laughed in agreement. “The Dallas North Tollway. 30 minutes. And we (the Mavs and the Legends) were playing at the same time. Ugh. But I had to serve. I had to do what was best for the organization. Whatever they asked me to do I would respectfully do it to the best of my ability because we never know where oppor-

tunities may take you.” Anderson, who humbly calls himself an open-book, dialogued with city employees answered questions and offered his thoughts on different topics: On basketball: This game has always been my passion, my escape. When things were going wrong at home, I had that to hold on to. Whenever I got emotional, I would always turn to the game. And if you love what you do, use it as your escape, it gives you that much more juice, that much more energy. What contributes to my success, whenever something went wrong or hurt me, I would go outside and shoot baskets and play basketball On his nickname “Simba”: What can I say? The Lion King. Simba. Relentless. Family. Smart. Quick. Heady. Watch the movie. Watch that little rascal. There was a line from a J. Cole song that said, “I was like a young Simba, couldn't wait to be the king.” Right now I’m just a prince. I’m still trying to be hungry and I’m still fighting to be the best I can be. To protect mine. To feed mine. Don’t get me going. Watch the movie, I’m telling you. On his failures: I had some abuse in my family that I felt it held me back emotionally my whole life. Now I am in a position because my voice can be heard to share with others. I am also not good with time management. But there are a ton of failures in everyone’s life but how can you make those failures your successes? Every inch along the way, try to figure out how to make that failure a success. Role Models: I love Michael Jackson. When you talk about someone who had a pure heart even though it didn’t come out that way sometimes. When you talk about someone trying to make a change. He was different. I love to work with youth. I love them. They are our future. We make mistakes and we are supposed to put them in position to not make same mistakes as us. He showed me, his documentary, how to enjoy life. He made mistakes and had failures. But I look up to him and also my brother (Edward). He was always the soundboard in our family. He is very calm. His wisdom and knowledge is great. He is one of my heroes for sure. But I also take tidbits from everybody On NBA Super Teams: I think it’s just basketball. Our whole lives we play against super teams. In AAU ball they would have the five best in the state and we have to go against them. What it has done is make things more competitive. I don’t think it’s bad at all. I like challenges. On the future: One thing they always say is you are the CEO of your own company This – pointing to himself - is my brand. This is who I am. My interests have changed from 18 to 22 and will change from 22 to end of my career. I have dabbled in different fields to see what I like. I want to continue to know myself. I have always lived by that and just knowing who I am. And I think who I am will carry me thru. If I had to pick an occupation right now if I were to retire, it would be working with youth either coaching, mentoring or teaching. But as of now, one thing I will continue to do is make myself a better person.”

What all motorists need to know!

Some months ago, in the aftermath of the events that would result in the untimely and needless death of Sandra Bland, my thoughts began to ponder the things that could be done to possibly prevent similar incidents from happening again. The wheels to this were placed in motion long before America was stunned by the tragedy that took place in a St. Paul, Minnesota suburb a few days ago.

The quest would lead to me contacting the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). My inquiry of them was on how we could develop instructions to Texas drivers on how they should respond to officers in instances when a vehicle stop takes place. It sounds so simple. It sounds like something that we as experienced drivers should already know. But it is a situation that has resulted in unfortunate tragedy when these routine occurrences somehow quickly spiral out of control. While this happens hundreds, even thousands of times across America daily without incident, each encounter also produces the anxiety of the unknown for those charged with protecting the public safety. One more harmful incident is one too many. I have asked DPS to draft language that would be placed in its Texas Driver Handbook, the instruction manual that is given to driver license applicants. These same instructions should also be a component of training materials for all cadets who seek to join the ranks of the 59,000 licensed Texas Peace Officers. In developing this language, we would assemble a workgroup comprised of stakeholders

Sen Royce West that includes not only the input of law enforcement, but that of community members and advocates, as well as academics and other related governmental entities. It has been suggested that these instructions may need to be incorporated into high school curriculum. Additional instructions should also be included in the driver license manual for concealed handgun license (CHL) holders. While word of this type instruction that Black parents have preached, particularly to their sons for years has filtered out to mainstream America recently, some - fed up over too many fatal interactions - have questioned why we need to give special instructions to our kids? My answer to them is that this issue, these instructions, are for everyone; they have no age limits, they are gender and even race neutral. They can help drivers in Dallas, Amarillo, Laredo or Texarkana. They could ease anxieties in Ohio or Georgia or Maine if the idea catches on. We cannot afford to not pursue the greater good, while wringing our hands to try to find the perfect. We've all been witness that mistakes can and do happen. I repeat, one more harmful incident is one too many.

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When a nation has no conscience? Even as the country is grappling with the fact that two Black men were killed by White police officers within 48 hours of each other, so many people in positions of power have said little, if anything. As some were trying to deal with the tragic shooting death of Alton Sterling, we were jolted yet another time as we watched the Facebook â&#x20AC;&#x153;Liveâ&#x20AC;? account of the shooting death of Philando Castile in Minnesota. Police stopped this manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car because he had a broken taillight and Castile, trying to conform to expectations of police when stopped, apparently did everything right, yet a police officer shot him multiple times. As he moaned, his body bloodied and his arm severely mangled, his girlfriend â&#x20AC;&#x153;told the storyâ&#x20AC;? of what happened. To make matters worse, the girlfriend was ordered out of the car, told to keep her hands up, was handcuffed and put into a police car, and her 4-year-old daughter was taken away in a separate patrol car. In the case of Sterling, his 15-year-old son broke down as his mother tried to give an account to the media of what happened. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cry. He sobbed. Audibly. His anguish was palpable. And the powers that be have said little, if anything. They are more concerned about Hillary Clintonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emails than they are about the lives of two people snuffed out by what looks to be reckless police behavior. There has been no outpouring of concern or compassion by political leaders.

For times like these we need to hear from these presidents:

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A Call for Peace and Unity from Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HBCUs We, the undersigned Presidents Advertising of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Historically Black Colsales@texasmetronews.com leges and Universities (â&#x20AC;&#x153;HBCUsâ&#x20AC;?) remain brokenhearted over the reEditorial submissions editorial@texasmetronews.com cent events that have taken place in Baton Rouge, LA, St. Paul, MN, and Calendar Dallas, TX. Our thoughts and prayers calendar@texasmetronews.com are with the impacted communities at large and the families who have T .EWSSTANDS IN lost their loved ones. These incidents have shaken our nation to its core and caused many people to ques tion our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction. As people of deep faith and a unique sense of history, we know that senseless violence has never been the way forward in America. We are a society where, despite what many would lead you to believe, that which binds us to each other is far CREDO OF THE greater than anything that seeks to divide us. In the words of our PresBLACK PRESS ident Barack Obama, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are one people, we are one nation.â&#x20AC;? The Black Press believes that HBCUs, by virtue of their special America can best lead the world place in this nation, have always away from racial and national understood the hard work and sacrifices that must be made in order antagonisms when it accords for America to live up to its ideals. to every person, regardless From the moment that our doors of race, color or creed, full first opened in 1842, the roles that human and legal rights. Hating our institutions have played were no person, fearing no person, never narrowly confined to educatthe Black Press strives to help ing the men and women who sat in every person in the firm belief our classes and walked our campusthat all are hurt as long as es. Instead, ours was a much broadanyone is held back. er and more vital mission. We were charged with providing a light in the

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MY PERSPECTIVE By Susan K. Smith (NNPA News Wire Columnist) It is curiously painful to me how this nation treats people of color, how the majority population still treats people of African descent, as though they really are only a fraction of a human being. Part of the reason so many Blacks are killed by police as compared to Whites is because Whites operate in a bubble of White supremacy that makes them automatically denounce and denigrate Black people and treat them like objects without feelings. Police didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see 12-year-old Tamir Rice as a young kid, nor did they treat Eric Garner like he was a human being. On the other hand, they took care to take Dylann Roof, who massacred nine people in a church in South Carolina, to a Burger King to get something to eat before they took him to the police station to be booked for murder. Any nation whose majority population can look at a wife or mother tell a heartbreaking story of unfair stop and seizure, which cannot relate to the cries of a young, 4-year-old child trying to comfort her distraught mother, who cannot understand that people of color are in fact human beings with feelings, has no conscience, and a nation without a conscience is bound to ultimately fall and fail. Germans during the Holocaust looked at Jewish

people not as people but as objects, objects that obstructed the will of the Anglo-Saxons. Consequently, Germans were able to indiscriminately kill millions of people. They could do that because they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t consider the Jewish people to be human; they were â&#x20AC;&#x153;things,â&#x20AC;? and things are made to be disposed of. This nation had a conscience problem from the beginning, as it worked to extricate Native Americans from the land that was theirs. Our American ancestors thought nothing of engaging in projects o extermination, not any less abhorrent than that in which the Germans engaged hundreds of years later, and they have never been concerned with what their hatred and bigotry has done to the African American population of America. There is no conscience working in the realm and world of White supremacy. The only way White Americans have been to live as they have, denying American citizens their rights and humane treatment, is by them seeing people of African descent not as people, but objects to be used and manipulated. I do not hear enough remorse or horror at what happened to Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. I have not heard news reports expressing horror

over the pain of the children of these two slain men. I have not felt the outrage, actually that I felt when the gorilla who roughed up a little boy who somehow fell into his pen, had to be killed. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel empathy for the pain Trayvon Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother must have felt, or empathy for the parents and families of Jordan Davis or Rekia Boyd or Tamir Rice ...or any of the others who were slain by police officers. The lack of empathy worries me. It worries me because it is resulting in a nation that is â&#x20AC;&#x153;failing to thrive.â&#x20AC;? When a baby is born, it must be loved, touched, connected with - in order to properly develop. If that connection does not happen, the baby can and often does, die. In this nation, people of color have been ignored, abandoned, shunned, ignored and dehumanized. It is the job of a nation to take care of all of its citizens. America has not done that, and it surely has not embraced African American people, no matter how young they might be. Any nation that is that callous has no conscience, and I am afraid that this very lack of conscience will lead to Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate downfall. Rev. Susan K Smith is an ordained minister who lives in Columbus, Ohio. She is the author of several books, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crazy Faith: Ordinary People; Extraordinary Livesâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Book of Jeremiah: The Life and Ministry of Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. She is available to preach or do keynote addresses. Reach her by emailing revsuekim@sbcglobal.net

SMITH: HBCU presidents issue call

PHOTOGRAPHERS Wallace Faggett Kevin Griffith Richard Manson dgdaphotographer.com

Week of July 20, 2016

ONE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OPINION by CHERYL SMITH darkness for a people who had been constitutionally bound to the dark. Our very creation, existence, and persistence were, and always have been a duality of collaboration and protest. In this respect, Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HBCUs were the birthplace of the idea that Black lives matter to our country. Expressing our support for the idea that Black lives matter is in no way a declaration that other lives do not matter as well. As leaders of some of the most diverse colleges and universities in the country, we are well steeped in the value of open and inclusive communities. It is because of our experience with building strong and diverse communities that we unite, and invite all Americans to join us in the following series of actions that are intended to help propel our country forward to become a more perfect union: 1) The first-ever HBCU National Symposium on Gun Violence. 2) A commitment to raising the awareness of the debilitating impact of trauma on the lives of those who have been exposed to loss as a result of gun violence.

We know that none of these activities will bring back the lives that have been lost. Our hope, however, is that these efforts will foster dialogues that help to accelerate the creation of an environment where all human lives are valued equally and discrimination based on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skin color, gender, and economic standing will become a relic of the past. As we move forward in our endeavors, we will forever remember the lives of those slain and the loss their families have experienced. While we pray that their hearts and minds will one day know peace, we pledge to aggressively continue our efforts so that these types of prayers will one day become unnecessary. With love and in solidarity, Makola Abdullah, Virginia State University Roslyn Clark Artis, Florida Memorial University David L. Beckley, Rust College Juliette B. Bell, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Colette Pierce Burnette, Huston-Tillotson University Mickey L. Burnim, Bowie State University

WHERE THERE IS UNITY, THERE IS STRENGTH

William B. Bynum, Jr., Mississippi Valley State University Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., Spelman College Lady June Cole Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Shaw University George T. French, Jr., Miles College Rosaline Fuse-Hall, Bennett College Cynthia Hammond, Central State University Logan Hampton, Lane College Forrest Harris, Sr., American Baptist College Fitz Hill, Arkansas Baptist College Anthony L. Jenkins, West Virginia State University Brian Johnson, Tuskegee University Paul Jones, Fort Valley State University Walter M. Kimbrough, Dillard University Marsha V. Krotseng, Bluefield State University Elmira Mangum, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Ron Mason, University of District of Columbia Eddie N. Moore, Jr., Norfolk State University Charlie Nelms, Group Mentor and Ret. Chancellor, North Carolina Central University Alfred Rankins, Jr., Alcorn State University Kevin Rome, Lincoln University Kent J. Smith, Jr., Langston University Roderick Smothers, Philander Smith College Michael J. Sorrell, Paul Quinn College Dwaun J. Warmack, Harris-Stowe State University Harry L. Williams, Delaware State University David Wilson, Morgan State University John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., Morehouse College

Week of July 20, 2016

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HALL: What if Micah was white?

Quit Playin’ by Vincent Hall Vincent L. Hall is an author and award winning columnist.

“The individual who carried out the attacks in Dallas, he’s no more representative of African-Americans than the shooter in Charleston was representative of White Americans,” Obama said in reference to Dylann Roof who gunned down nine black churchgoers last year.’ – President Barack Hussein Obama Stereotypes, statistics and the status quo are all that far too many Americans know about other cultures in this nation. Rural America has no idea what’s going on in Urban America. Conservative America has no idea what’s going on in Liberal America, and the list goes ad nauseam. Sadly, what all Americans know far too well is race. Sadder

still is that most portend to be racial experts and don’t have a clue. So let me proffer this question…What if Micah Xavier Johnson had been White? First and foremost, we should add Micah’s mother to the prayer list of Dallas’ victims. If you know anything about Black naming traditions, you know Micah was probably named for a minor Old Testament prophet. Micah’s parents obviously bore great hope for his life. Ironically, Micah 6:8 is my favorite verse and my adopted raison d’être. “He hath shown you O’ Man (Woman) what is good. And what doth the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” When mama christened this bouncing brown bundle of joy she couldn’t have known that his last crusade would contradict the destiny she envisioned. As a father and as a son, I pray God’s peace on her. America has been polluted with the flatulence of foolishness emanating from folks like former New York Mayor, (Rude)

Rudy Gulianni, our twin Texas congressional comedians, Pete Sessions and Louie Gohmert, and of course Texas’ own version of Donald Trump; Lt. Governor and dumb-ass at-large, Daniel Patrick Pugh. Their obdurate attacks on BLM reveals that America is love anemic and languishing in the hospice of hate.

It took a young Sister to echo what I heard from several Brothers to solidify my diagnosis. She said; “I don’t feel bad, these cops are going to get what they deserve.” And before my White family jostles to judge her, real-

ize that her sentiment, when inverted, is used by many of “you people” as justification for killing unarmed Black men. The twisted and oft times accepted logic is that Eric Garner must have deserved execution; “He had a criminal record.” This confluence of thoughts pricked my imagination. So… had Micah X. Johnson been White and killed whites and Dylann Roof had been Black and killed Blacks at Mother Emanuel, would the voluminous outcries of feigned sincerity and selective unity have been lessened? Each of these horrible events allowed Americans to point its racial digits at “them other folks.” America’s “Conservative” coterie want to edit the nomenclature of Black Lives Matter by adding “All” in front or “Too” behind. All too often Conservatives overtly perpetuate the notion that the slaughter of Whites or police are more significant or worthy of outrage than the gangland style murder of an 80 year old Black woman getting her praise on at a Wednesday night prayer meeting. “All lives matter” like “Liberty

and justice for all” is a farce to the African-American experience. Which “all” are y’all talking about this time? When America can’t blame her excessively violent mannerisms on race or terrorism, (Which are both legitimate issues worthy of all effort and economic investment), we are left with one harrowing hologram; we are slowly dying from hate and self inflicted gunshot wounds that will eventually be recorded as a suicide. So step back. The star of BLM is more apt to rise than wane. “Back the Blue”; America’s last public post of unity to protect White supremacy and privilege will continue. But realize that we are all complicit in traumatizing our children. The four year old child in Michigan and the four year old here in Dallas have had the moral deficits of this nation cast as a debt upon their futures. Our children are suffering. Just like Micah and Dylann were. If Micah X. Johnson had been White, he would be no less dead at this moment. Or would he? Sadly, no one can say with surety. Life is Cole-Blooded!!!

CLEMONS/TREVIZO:Two millenial perspectives

By Brittni Clemons Blacks being killed by police officers has been going on ever since the civil rights movement. It seems like a wave of shootings just randomly started happening in the past couple of years. However, in actuality, the presence of social media has just been making incidents more public. In an excerpt from The Washington Post, over 500 people have been shot and killed by an on duty police officer this year alone. Although most of the people shot and killed were armed with a weapon, the first three months of 2016; 12 percent of blacks killed were unarmed. In 2015, 990 people were killed by police officers and 93 of those men were unarmed and 46% of those unarmed people were black men. In the past four years, our black men have been dropping like flies. Every other week you see on the news or social media that another unarmed black man has been shot and killed by the hands of a police officer. In 2015 black men are nine times more likely than any other race to be killed by an officer, especially if you’re between the ages

of 15 and 34. It’s sad that our culture still has to go through something like this just because of the color of our skin in 2016. Cops try to explain its not a “race thing,” but that they feel “threatened.” I find it hard to understand how you can be threatened by a 12 year old with a toy gun or how you fear for your life because you asked someone to get their li-

Bottom line, we need to come together and stop the violence. cense and registration and they are in compliance. Yet a gun is pulled and fired four times. Our society is getting worse. The population of our black men is slowly declining because officers are “scared.” Since our police officers let fear cloud their judgement, you get a lot of angry people who want change and bring violence to a peaceful protest. What happened on Thursday, July 7, 2016 was a tragedy and I feel

sorry for those who lost loved ones. My heart is heavy for the loss of the innocent. We can’t fight fire with fire. We need to come together as a community and stand together peacefully. The killing of officers in Dallas who had nothing to do with the incidents only caused more chaos. I feel what needs to happen as a first step of dealing with police brutality is making sure police are held accountable for their actions. They need to serve prison time for the unjustified shootings in our community. I believe since they are not being punished for their actions they don’t think twice about drawing their weapon. Instead of consequences they get a paid suspension. I am sure if all the cops who have killed someone who was unarmed or wasn’t reaching for their weapon went to jail for murder every other cop would think twice before pulling the trigger. They also need to be retrained in deescalation tactics. Bottom line, we need to come together and stop the violence. We need to stop the black on black violence, so our officers can not create stereotypes about how all black people are violent. Brittni Clemons is a junior at Texas Tech University.

By Violeta Trevizo The home of the brave and the land of the free. That is what America is, what it stands for, but what is America becoming? What are we American citizens turning our country into? Sadly, in the past 16 years our country has been flooded with mass shootings, taking innocent lives, stripping families from loved ones, and we have yet to see change. Recent events have been especially resounding for me. As a Dallas native, I am proud to call myself a Texan. You see, we Texans take pride in everything we do, everything we are. We help our neighbors, and celebrate our differences. Unfortunately, the shooting that occurred on July 7 has left our city with a broken heart and it has left our state in pieces. I hope that after too many tragedies like this one it has removed the blindfold from our country’s eyes. This tragedy is not the first, and from what I see it saddens me to believe it will not be the last. I have walked outside the downtown streets of my cherished city, and spoken to those who share my grief, I have seen the faces of despair from a community that mourns more than the five offices we lost. Our people mourn unity,

love, and understanding. The mass killings of past years are not isolated incidents, they all share a common thread, one that is created through ignorance, and has festered through words of hate. The FBI has conducted a study on active shooter incidents, to my understanding it is a way to provide people with statistics of how from 2000 to 2013 there were 160 incidents with 1,043 casualties, and how the number of annual shootings has been steadily rising. Is this important? Perhaps. Are these the answers we need? No. We know we have a problem, but why aren’t we doing anything to fix it? ell I think the answer to that is that we try, but every time we rise up for justice, for betterment, for love, we are shut down with hate, we are told we are being babies, that we need to grow up, that we need to stop complaining because we are privileged, times have changed and we have it easy. Those words are so ignorant and biased that I can’t comprehend how someone can not only say them with such ease, but also believe every piece of them. Our country has progressed, but it has never been a utopian society. Some say it will never be, that we don’t live in a perfect word,

that people need to conform to what they have, but I say to always strive for more, to always reach higher, never believe that improvement is no longer possible. We can always be better. When movements that practice empathy and fight for justice and equality, like Black Lives Matter, are shut down and called oppressive we can’t turn the other cheek. The protest in Dallas, was a peaceful demonstration, one where civilians and offices were united for a cause. They weren’t at opposite ends, they played for the same team, they all wanted justice, but instead they got a tragedy fueled by the desperation of inequality and injustice. That is not to say that the actions of Micah Johnson are justified. We have to understand that we can’t fight hate with more hate. We have to educate young minds, we have to create the change we want to see. We have to understand that love comes naturally, and that hate is taught. Stop teaching hate, stop spreading darkness. With every death I lose faith in humanity, but every time I see the good in the people who are there to rise from the ashes I am reminded that love in fact conquers all. I just hope that one day I am not the only one who sees that. Violeta Trevizo is a senior at Texas Tech University.

WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM

BLACKONOMICS by James Clingman

via George Curry Media Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people. He can be reached through his website, blackonomics.com.

Lorenzo Collins, Michael Carpenter, Roger Owensby Jr., Timothy Thomas, Amadou Diallo, Patrick Dorismond, Kenneth Walker, Sean Bell, Timothy Russell, Kimani Gray, Ezzell Ford, John Crawford, Tamir Rice, Oscar Grant, Eric Garner, Kajieme Powell, Malissa Williams, Vonderitt Myers, Dante Parker, Michael Brown, Tyisha Miller, Trayvon Martin, Dontre Hamilton, Tony Robinon, Jason Harrison, Martin Hall, Bettie Jones, Tanisha Anderson, Yvette Smith, Sandra Bland, Matthewe Ajibade, Eric Harris, Keith Childress, Kevin Matthews, Leroy Browning, Gus Rugley, Ray Smoot, Roy Nelson, Miguel Espinal, Jonny Gammage, Nathaniel Pickett, Cornelius Brown, Tiara Thomas, Chandra Weaver, Jamar Clark, Richard Perkins, Akai Gurley, Stephen Tooson, Michael Lee Marshall, Alonzo

Week of July 20, 2016

CLINGMAN: Requiem for Black People Smith, Anthony Ashford, Lamontez Jones, India Kager, Samuel DuBose, Felix Kumi, Walter Scott, Billie Ray Davis, Darrius Stewart, Albert Davis, Jonathan Sanders, Spencer McCain, Freddie Gray, Eric Harris, Charly “Africa” Keunang, Emerson Clayton, Jr., Tommy Yancy, Jerame C. Reid, Corey Tanner, Zikarious Flint, David Andre Scott, Emmanuel Jean-Baptiste, Victor White III, Matthew Walker, Darrien Nathaniel Hunt, Jeremy Lake, Laquan McDonald, Denzel Ford, Pierre Loury, Cedrick Chatman, Alton Sterling, Philando Castille... I could go on, but I am sure you get the point. “I feared for my life” “He reached for his waistband.” “I saw something shiny.” “He ran.” “He made eye contact with me.” “He fit the description.” “He resisted.” “He threatened me.” “He didn’t comply.” “He would not put the brick down.” “He would not put the knife down.” “He weighed 400 pounds.” “My hand got caught in the steering wheel.” “He dragged me with the car.” “He lunged at me.”

“My gun accidentally went off.” “I thought I was firing my Taser.” “He was acting strangely.” “He was holding a screwdriver when he came to the door.” “He had a broom when he came to the door.” “He was armed with a soup spoon.” “He had a prescription pill bottle in his pocket but I thought it was a gun.” “He had a BB gun.” “He had a toy pellet gun.” “He was obese.” “He kept saying ‘I can’t breathe’ so we knew he was still breathing.” “The stairwell was dark.” “He behaved like a thug.” “He was wearing a hoodie.” “After he survived a car accident, he approached us with empty hands.” “He was running toward us but we shot him in the back.” “He did not comply within 2 seconds.” “He shot himself while being handcuffed behind his back, with a gun that we did not find when we searched him.” “Our hearts go out to the families.” “Our prayers and thoughts are with the family.” “This can never happen again.” “He could have been my son.” “R.I.P.” “Our condolences go out.” “She could have been our daughter.” “It’s a tragic and sad day for our nation.” “We shall overcome.” “This has to stop.” “We cannot rush to judgment.” “We must wait until the investigation is over.” “Let the process work.” “The video does not tell the whole story of what happened.” “We are all saddened by this tragic event.” “Our hearts grieve with this family.” “They don’t get up in the morning saying, ‘I am going to kill a Black man today.’” “They want to go home at night.” “All police officers are not bad.” “The vast majority of officers are good.” “Let’s not indict all officers because of the actions of one or two.” “Black lives matter.” “Blue lives matter.”“All lives matter.” “This is not a Black problem; it’s an American problem.”

“No justice no peace.” “Nonviolence is the answer.” “We need a national conversation on police violence.” “I found no evidence to indict the officer(s).”“It’s Ok Mommy; It’s Ok, I’m right here with you.” These acts are heinous, horrific, terrible, irresponsible, immoral, reprehensible, indefensible, unconscionable, unacceptable, horrifying, shocking, frightening, inhumane, uncivilized, animalistic, disgraceful, shameful, inexcusable, insulting, depraved, shameless, cowardly, outrageous, scandalous, dishonorable, discreditable, appalling, dreadful, irrefutable, atrocious, unspeakable, ludicrous, indecent, disreputable, brutal, wicked, offensive, brazen, unabashed, gutless, spineless, odious, awful, revolting, blatant, and sinful. Black people are disgusted, dismayed, outraged, fuming, livid, irate, sickened, revolted, repulsed, repelled, offended, affronted, hurt, scared, tenuous, intimidated, fearful, incensed, enraged, nauseated, injured, disrespected, tired, sick and tired, and angry. After everything is said and done, much is said and little is done. Our words are like a needle on a scratched record - we are stuck, and we keep repeating the same thing over and over again. If you are conscious and conscientious, join the One Million in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 19-21, 2016 and this time let’s take appropriate action to deal with these horrendous times in which we live. www.iamoneofthemillion.com (At press time, five police officers in Dallas were killed and seven were injured by a Black man who was tired of and angry over Black people being killed by police. Pray for their families, too.)

Truth is...It’s time to reorganize

By Dr. Keisha Lankford It’s true, it’s time to re-organize!

I work in Criminal Justice, with offenders! They are important people too! They have so much more to offer than their label. People don’t understand,we judge, condemn, criticize one another and expect others to respect us! We must uplift and encourage one another, especially our young men. Hurt people, hurt people! I teach some of the most focused high school students in Dallas to become Law Enforcement Professionals. I also teach college students about societal impact! All of my students in each arena have experienced hurt! And may have also hurt others! We have to educate that our value is so important, and we must handle ourselves as such and hold ourselves and others ac-

countable! Time to change the conversation, change the culture! We can re-organize at the “Morgan House,” that’s actually what Lankford Avenue does everyday! Just last night my student shared that he accidentally killed his cousin at age nine. He said, he knew more about crime at nine growing up in the Pleasant Grove area, than he does now as an adult. Can you guess which class he was in? Was he a college student or an offender? Well, it wasn’t the offenders’ class! My point is everyone has or will go through struggles. We should take the labels off and treat all as we would like to be treated! My student stated that he was removed from the environment, became an athlete and “focused his anger and energy on the

field.” We should promote their potential! The struggle is real! The most distinct cultural improvements we consider is our thinking, conversations, spirituality, effective involved parenting and accountability! The African American race is strong and talented and resilient! God has given us exactly what we need, that’s why so many people including officers are intimidated! Nevertheless officers must be held accountable, cultural sensitivity training must be reinforced, and all the officers that hate or are afraid of the black race should find another profession, and that is a very nice way of saying, they should take their ... home! #ConvictionsInBatonRougeOfficersUnjustifiedMurder!

WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM

Week of July 20, 2016

Questions from a Black Man

El Centro prepares to reopen Bombed area closed off to employees and students

(Open Letter to America from Royce West)

Why are you afraid ... of ME?

Photographers take photos of second-story hallway where gunman Micah Johnson, took cover during shooting spree. Structural damage was caused by detonated bomb. Story and Photos By Violeta Trevino

Dallas County Community College District Police Chief Joseph Hannigan opened the doors to El Centro College where part of the July 7 Dallas police shootings took place. Before killing five officers and leaving 11 people wounded, it is believed Micah Johnson spoke with two of the Dallas police officers he shot, Hannigan said. “He parked his vehicle on the Lamar Street doors of our college, got out, we believe engaged two Dallas police officers in a short conversation, then pulled his rifle and shot them.” According to the Chief, Micah Johnson made entry into El Centro College through the Elm Street doors. From there he made his way through the college as if he had some knowledge of the layout, ending on a

walkway above the El Centro loading dock where the shooting continued. Johnson was previously a district student at Richland College and would have had access to El Centro, he said. In a brief, but detailed tour of the scene, Chief Hannigan escorted media to see where Johnson hid and was later killed by a robot carrying explosives. The damage, although contained to the small room was extensive. Pieces of drywall, among other things were taken in as evidence by the FBI. “He was in the military, he would know to revert to hard cover,” Hannigan said. “And this was it, it was our building.” Closed since the shooting on July 7, El Centro reopened its doors throughout the week. Although people have been in the building working to repair damages since day one, faculty returned July 20, and students will resume class July 21.

Is it because of the color of my skin? My APPEARance? The way I talk or walk, or dress? Are you set off by my mannerisms? Or have the lessons taught about me at YOUR home, crept outside? Do lessons learned at school, or in some books paint the pictures you see when you see ME? Or is it the awful images of me portrayed by television programs or in videos? In your heart of hearts, what preconceived beliefs do you have about me as I stand before you? What baggage do you arrive with? What about me frightens you? Why is it that when you approach me, you feel a sense of insecurity? And when I approach you, fear shows in your eyes. If I ask you a question and WE disagree, why do you feel disrespected? Is it the tone in my voice? Or my demeanor during our discussions? Is fault found with the words I use? What is it? Does my age not matter? If I respond politely to your inquiry or not, what changes? How is it easier for you to grant men of other ethnicities the regard you deny to me? Why then, is your first response

DAVIS - Tears in the City My Day By Dr. J. Ester Davis

Have you ever wondered why feelings make liquid come out of your eyes? When your feelings have reached the boiling point, and every-nerve-in-your-body is screaming fire, what do you do? Do you fight back tears in public? I don’t know much about tears, but I am familiar with crying. I know even less about the lacrimal gland, which is where

tears come from. I do know that there are days in my life that I simply do not want repeated at all because they were so painful. And each and every time the tears came to my rescue voluntarily. I was in Arlington, Thursday, July 7, picking up grandsons when I received a phone call from a journalist saying that there was a shooting in Downtown Dallas. At first light the message was about one police officer and “a shooting.” For some unknown reason I chose to come back into Dallas on I- 20 versus I-30. Interstate 30 emptying into Downtown instantly became a traffic nightmare. News today travels so rapidly that you hardly have time to comprehend or digest thoughts. By the time I reached Dallas onto to I-35, another phone call asking “where are you?” And in the same breath, “there are snipers downtown, police officers shot.” Selfishly, I thought, not in my city. Not in Dallas. As reality hit on this awful night in Dallas, after shots-ringing out, numbers rising every few minutes, phone calls with screaming voices echo-ing erroneous information, mass confusion, there was the wounded, the dead and no answers. . . again. . . on the streets of America . . . in one of the most prosperous cities in the world. I had to stop, ask my seven-year-old grandson, sitting next to the 15-year-old, to be quiet for five minutes, while I stopped

to my misstep, the label of criminal? No matter my test score or achievement, no level makes me worthy, or successful in your eyes. Why? If I have done the work and earned a place at the table, why is it difficult for you to listen to my recommendations; often discarding them only to agree when someone else restates my idea? And, why am I condemned for wanting the same things you desire? Respect, A family, Access to a first class education, A job where I can make a decent living and a contribution, and To be secure in my home and community. Can you understand why a grown man would not like to be called “boy?” Will you OPEN your HEART to feel what I feel? Can you OPEN up your HAND and reach out for mine? Can you OPEN up your MOUTH and speak the truth? Will you OPEN up your MIND to my experiences and in doing so OPEN your EYES to your reality as ME? Maybe then, you wouldn’t be afraid. We’ve asked these questions for generations. I hope and pray that our sons and grandsons don’t have to ask them again. July 15, 2016

Royce West is a Texas State Senator, representing District 23.

my tears. It was overwhelming news. Police shootings leave families in tears for years. The families of the dead, wearing whatever label you place on them leave loved ones, the living, in unexplainable turmoil. However, I honestly believe that until we have the real conversation about race in this country, you are only saying comforting words, with pomp and circumstance, that are short lived. We have the mentally ill. We all know it. We see them everyday. They are veterans, too. And we know that the military ignores and releases them everyday. There is a serious racial divide in America . . . with deep roots. We know that too. We have great police officers. We also have arrogant ones that do not have a clue. I do not agree that our country thought all of our racial problems were solved when a highly intelligent African American man was voted into the White House and stayed for eight years. I have known “highly intelligent African American men” all of my life. If you want to stop the tears, start the healing by taking care of all these ills we know about. Your actions speak louder. As a Dallasite that has served in this magnificent city, I am sure Dallas can lead the way.

Week of July 20, 2016

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Community

July 18-22 Dallas NFL Alumni Hero Youth Football Camps Warren Sports Complex, 7599 El Dorado Pkwy, Frisco, TX

July 21

2016 album,Climate Change. His concert will be held at American Airlines Center. His concert will start at 7pm.

July 23 Chris Tucker will be live Saturday at 8p.m. @ the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie TX. Go online to purchase your tickets.

Hypochondria’ explores what it is to exist simultaneously and in equal measures inside your head and as a (mostly) functioning member of society. Margo Jones Theatre, 1121 1st Ave, Dallas, TX 75210 Dates: Opening Night: Thursday, July 28 at 8:00 pm Regular Performances: Friday, July 29 at 8:00 pm Saturday, July 30 at 8:00pm Sunday, July 31 at 8:00pm Tickets: Available online at https://the -tribe.ticketleap.com/hypochondria-by-claire-carson/

Granville Arts Center Box Office, open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

July 29 War Room Friday, • Sundown DeSoto’s Town Center Outdoor Amphitheater

Drake & Future with Roy Woods, DVSN, and special guest will be in concert at the American Airlines Center Dallas 8pm.

July 22 The Prayze Factor People’s Choice Awards Inspired Artists Tour is bringing inspired artists to the for front of the gospel music industry with a 40 city tour throughout the U.S., Canada, Jamaica, the Bahamas and will make its next stop in Dallas/Ft Worth and Chandler Texas July 22-24, 2016. Friday July 22nd @ 7pm ~ The official meet and greet media mixer at the Radisson Hotel Ft Worth-Fossil Creek 2540 Meacham Blvd., Ft Worth, ****** Alice in Wonderland Light Show Gaylord Texan Grapevine Resort & Convention Center, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051 Get Directions » 817-778-1000 (phone) ****** Prayze Factor Awards The full schedule of events can be found at www. prayzefactorawards.com Sponsored in part by The International Music Association, Round The Clock Entertainment Group, The Prayzefest Gospel Network, All Nations TV, Centertainment Radio/TV, WPGN Radio Atlanta, and the Prayze Factor People’s Choice Awards. ***** Beneath the Stars Poetry Slam and Concerts 7:00 p.m. DeSoto’s Town Center Outdoor Amphitheater This epic event begins with a poetry slam and continues through the evening with The Funky Knuckles, a jazz/funk fusion band. Concessions provided by Big Tony’s West Philly Cheesesteaks. Pitbull in concert with Prince Royce and special guests Pitbull will bring his The Bad Man Tour to Dallas, also featuring Latin megastar, singer-songwriter Prince Royce and other special guests. Pitbull is touring in support of his

Looking Fortune 500 (Dress for Success in the Workplace) 10:00 AM thru 11:30 AM MLK Community Center 2922 M. L. King, Jr. Blvd.; Room 104 Dallas, TX 75215 For More Information: MonaLisa Cash 214-421-5200 monalisa@dbcc.org ****** The Prayze Factor People’s Choice Awards Free Concert at Kingdom Advancement Ministries 1033 East Annie St., Ft Worth, TX zt 7p.m. *******

War Room explores the family dynamics of a seemingly tight-knit group. Gather at 8:30 p.m., and the movie will start around 9:00 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase.

July 31

Join the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association for a morning of volunteer service at the North Texas Food Bank from 8:45am-11:30am. ****** A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS: A RAW, OPEN AND CANDID DISCUSSION ON THE RECENT ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY AND AGAINST POLICE 7pm at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, The URBAN COMMUNITY CENTER OF NORTH TEXAS invites the DFW community to attend the first in a series of community conversations. Community Activist, Marvin Earle will moderate a panel of comprised of former Judge John Creuzot, Dr. Brian Williams, staff surgeon specializing in trauma surgery at Parkland Memorial Hospital; Sgt. Christie Thomas, of the Dallas Police Department, Minister Dominique Alexander- Next Generation Network and other community guests, a former gang member, several millennial activists, and students.

Vancouver White Caps vs. FC Dallas will be Sunday at 6:00pm held at the Toyota Stadium and Soccer Center.

August 3 Ringling Brothers Circus opens at American Airlines Center - Dallas

August 5 K.Michelle will be performing at the House of Blues in Dallas TX Saturday @ 8:30 PM. Doors open at 7:30 PM. This is an all age event.

July 24 The Prayze Factor People’s Choice Awards ~ Free Concert at Macedonia Baptist Church 615 John Milton St., Chandler, TX 4:30pm

July 28 Texas Rangers play the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Baseball @ 1000 Ballpark Way Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011

Join the citizens of Dallas County and celebrate our community with family fun as we break the Guinness Book of World Records Soul Train Line with over 500 participants held at Southwest Center Mall (3662 West Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, TX 75237) 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

July 30 July 30-31, Plaza Theatre It’s Peter Pan to the rescue when Wendy is taken captive by the dreaded Captain Hook, who has his own sinister plans for our hero. Join Wendy, Michael, John and the Lost Boys in Neverland for CORP’s on-stage production of Disney’s Peter Pan, Jr. Tickets: $12 at GarlandArtsBoxOffice.com, 972205-2790, or in-person through July 29 at the

Best Southwest TGIF Legislative Breakfast Series at Methodist Charlton Medical Center.

August 9 Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosts The 2016 Annual Youth Summit and Diversity Dialogue at the SMU Meadows School of the Arts 6101 Bishop Blvd. Dallas, 8:00 AM-2:30 PM Contact: Harrison Blair at 214-922-8885 to apply

WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM

Week of July 20, 2016

Calendar August 12

Best Southwest TGIF Legislative Breakfast Series at Methodist Charlton Medical Center.

August 13

August 20 The HeadsUp! Foundation and Athletes4Change will host the “#DallasStrong: HOOPS4HEALING” Basketball Showcase and Celebrity All-Star Game. This event will benefit both the surviving families of our fallen officers as well as the youth and families of the communities our 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. Garland ISD students must register by Aug. 1 to take advantage of the free supplies. Details and the registration form can be found here: http://www.garlandisd.net/sites/default/files/english_flier_edit_4.pdf

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly & Chaka Khan with special guest Raheem DeVaughn will be at the Verizon Theatre Saturday at 8p.m. Tickets prices ranges from $34.75-$150.00. ****** AISD back to school kickoff Arlington ISD, churches of Arlington, Arlington NAACP., Junior League of Arlington, Gene and Jerry Jones Family North Texas Youth and many more organizations will be putting a event together at 8:00 am until noon. It will be held on the west outdoor plaza and indoor platform of AT&T Stadium.

August 14 Chrisette Michele will be performing at the Verizon Theatre, at 8pm. Go online to purchase your ticket.

August 17

****** The Taming by Lauren Gunderson Circle Theatre 230 W. 4th Street Fort Worth, TX 76102 Sundance Square Entertainment District When: August 18 - September 17, 2016 Previews: Thursday, August 18, 7:30 pm ($15) Friday, August 19, 8:00 pm ($20) Saturday, August 20, 3:00 pm ($15) Opening Night Saturday, August 20, 8:00 pm ($38) School Night Friday, August 26, 8:00 pm ($5 students - $10 faculty & staff )

August 19 Best Southwest TGIF Legislative Breakfast Series at Methodist Charlton Medical Center.

September 15

Best Southwest TGIF Legislative Breakfast Series at Methodist Charlton Medical Center.

CITY OF FORT WORTH WORKSHOP: RFP, RFQ, ITB AND BEST VALUE Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (CDT) Fort Worth Business Assistance Center 1150 South Fwy Fort Worth, TX 76104

August 27 Marketing Using Social Media Grow your business with industry-tested tactics and tools. Learn about creating sales funnels, advertising and promoting via social media. Devise and implement your own social media strategy from soup to nuts. Create interactive and engaging content for your website and social media profiles. 10:00 AM thru 11:30 AM

August 30 Business Expo/Taste of Balch Springs 5-7pm Tickets $4 in Advance $5 at the door

September 3 DeSoto Arts Live! Art and Music Festival 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. DeSoto’s Town Center Outdoor Amphitheater

August 2 SUPPORTING FAMILIES

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH Moorland Family YMCA 907 E. Ledbetter Rd Dallas 75216 214.375.2583 www.moorlandymca.org

ATTEND A S E CO N D WEDNESDAY BUSINESS CHAT 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. Sessions provide an informal setting for vendors to meet with key decision-makers at NTTA, share information about their companies and allow NTTA staff to present information to vendors in a manner that is tailored to specific industries. North Texas Tollway Authority, 5900 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, TX

August 26

Sunday, August 21st 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian to receive school supplies

Health Fair & Screenings Food, Fun, Activities Various Vendors Haircuts

Giving Guidelines: • Register & Pick Up Ticket day of the Event • 1 bag per ticket • School age child/children must be accompanied by parent or guardian. • There are a limited amount of tickets FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & INCOME-BASED MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE

all.

YMCA Mission: To put Christian values into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for

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. Following a panel discussion, the congressmen will answer questions from the audience.

DeSoto Arts Live! celebrates the visual and performing arts! A Plein Art Show will feature artists painting live at the event. There will also be strolling minstrels, child-friendly activities and food vendors. Plus, The Original Lakeside Band and other musical acts will be keeping the crowd moving! Vendor opportunities are still available. Go to artsdesoto.com for more information!

September 17 Brazos Valley Area Alumnae (BVAA) chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 30th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon at 12:30 PM proceeding a Rededication Ceremony at 11:00 AM at the Phillips Event Center at Briarcrest, 1929 Country Club Dr., Bryan, Texas 77802.

September 24 Live Well-Go Green Expo: Exhibitors Wanted The City of Garland is seeking exhibitors for the Live Well-Go Green Expo (formerly the Healthy Living Expo), scheduled on Saturday,. Those interested may download an Exhibitor Application at GoGreenGarland.org. Contact GoGreenGarland@GarlandTx.gov

October 8 DFW beauty guide will be hosting a free makeup class from 2pm-6pm Saturday at Magnolia Hotel.

October 22 The Kids Ultimate Fitness Challenge is the nations largest mobile fitness event travelling from coastto-coast dedicated to helping keep kids healthy and active. At the Kids Ultimate Fitness Challenge, kids of all ages get the opportunity to flex their physical fitness by participating in a time-based obstacle course that includes sprinting, jump roping, wall crawls, hurdles, jumping jacks, sit ups, and tunnel crawls, before finishing off the course with a 20 foot confidence climb and 60 meter dash to the finish. It will be from 10am until 6pm at the University of Texas at Dallas.

October 21 90th Annual Awards Banquet 2016 The Dallas Black Chamber’s Annual Award Banquet is celebrating 90 years of constructive leadership in the African-American business community. The highlight of the event is the giving of the Thomas L. Houston Community Service Award, established in 1985 to honor individuals who have made significant volunteer contributions to the civic enhancement of Dallas’ African American Community. The keynote speaker for this special event is Antoinette Tuff, an Atlanta educator who saved a school under siege by a gunman. 6:00 PM thru 08:00 PM

November 5 ICDC Kick-off reception for the formal 30th anniversary celebration, Our Journey to Thirty... an exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary of ICDC.

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Ask Alma:

Week of July 20, 2016

Summer @ the Perot

The staycation that takes you places

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, About six months ago, my sister moved back to our hometown with her daughter, who is 10 years old. They don’t live that far from me, its walking distance. I recently noticed when my niece comes by to visit without her mother, after she leaves, a few of my things have been missing. Never any money, mainly jewelry. I’ve never see her steal from me, but I know it has to be her. I’m hoping she isn’t a kleptomaniac and I’m not sure how to bring this to my sister’s attention. I know she misses her Dad, since they moved back and maybe she’s doing this to get attention. How would you suggest I handle this problem? Carla Hey now Carla, Once a thief, always a thief, or so that’s what they say. Yea, right, we both know that ain’t true. This email takes me back to the 1970s. I’m gonna pause a minute to tell the truth and shame the devil. Since we’re all over 50, I’m naming names – lean in close, while I whisper. I remember once Neasy, Andrea and I, got caught stealing earrings from Zayre Department Store. OMGoodness, I was scared to death! All three of us were probably 11 or 12 at the time. The thought of going to jail terrified me. Let’s just say, I never did that again, LOL. You know it’s no secret, I have a

soft spot when it comes to our kids. Don’t run and tell her mama just yet. Take the time to talk to her directly. You’re her Auntie, you got this. Your sister, I’m sure would be appalled and so angry, she’d probably punish her for life. So here’s what I’d suggest, the next time she’s over, fix a light meal and step to her directly. Place a necklace around her neck and say something like this, “Hey potato chip, have you been pilfering through my things? If you wanna borrow some of my jewelry, just ask.” I think it’s important to talk to her and use the word “borrow.” Politely ask her to return your items. Discuss how stealing is wrong and how it invades a person’s privacy. Let her know how that choice of action will not allow you or anyone else to trust her. I’m asking you to take this route because she’s only 10 years old. There’s more to this behavior than meets the eye – she’s clearly calling out for help. I agree with you, that she may be missing her dad. Either way, this is your teachable moment. Become the support she needs right now. It will build an unbreakable bond the two of you will share for a lifetime. If she dives off the deep end, tell her you’ll have no choice but to mention this to her mother. I’m keeping my fingers crossed all’s well that ends well. Be sure to let me know what happens. I can’t wait to hear. Alma

Photos and story By Eva D. Coleman

Travel and see natural wonders throughout the country. Get up close with personal artifacts that are treasured by many. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science in downtown Dallas has global scenes of awe that bring visual delight... all within reasonable distance, and perhaps your budget. The National Parks Adventure 3D film is currently being shown in the Museum’s Hoglund Foundation Theater. While the film lasts 40 minutes, the stunning images are sure to be remembered for a lifetime. Adventurers take viewers around the country, exploring the beauty of natural terrain. The offering is just in time as the United States celebrates the 100 year anniversary of national parks. Another eye-catching exhibit is Eye of the Collector. An elite 15 showcase their collections in the Museum’s first exhibit of this kind. The self-curated series of displays feature a wide variety of items, including Debbie Garrett’s extensive

black doll collection. From traditional fixtures of fossils, brain games and so much more in between, museum-goers can definitely find plenty to explore. The Perot Museum delivers five floors of education and entertainment for all ages. It’s definitely a summer trip worth taking. About the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The top cultural attraction in Dallas/Fort Worth, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a nonprofit educational organization located in the heart of Dallas, Texas, with campuses in Victory Park and Fair Park. With a mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the Perot Museum delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor and outreach experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners. The 180,000-squarefoot facility in Victory Park opened in December 2012 and is now recognized as the symbolic gateway to the Dallas Arts District.

Week of July 20, 2016

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Free at last, free indeed Spiritually Speaking by James A. Washington

The concept of freedom has been rattling around in my brain lately. I am focusing on the freedom afforded all of us who claim salvation through Christ. There is something quite liberating when you know or realize that you have been “set free.”

Week of July 20, 2016

of being without, of being humiliated, ostracized or even the fear of dying. The knowledge of Christ in all of these situations cancels those fears. You are released from them. That’s what I believe people mean when they say “set free.” That’s how I’ve come to understand real joy in the context of spiritual awareness i.e. being blood bought and saved. I have been set free from fear, anger, greed, selfishness, self doubt and even self hatred. Believe it or not, so have you. These things have hopefully been replaced with honesty and integrity, hope and truth, confidence, self worth, the promise of everlasting life and yeah I know, above all love. One of the hardest things to understand in this life, and then act upon, is this love yourself thing. God even commands us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Without Christ in your life, I believe that concept of self love can sometimes be distorted and in many cases become perverted. Love with humility is an awesome thing. When love is set free within you, life takes on a whole new meaning. You no longer have to live in the shadows of pretense; rather, you can now live in the light of truth. I can be who I really am and so can you. Then the world will see you as God sees you and not who you think it ought to see. I am who God made. If that’s good enough for God, then certainly it’s good enough for anyone who wants to deal with me and that includes you. I am free and it is wonderful. Freedom is my gift from God paid for by Jesus Christ. Know the truth and the truth shall set you free. You are not what the world would have you be. You are what God made you to be. Seek Him and you will undoubtedly find the real you. May God bless and keep you always.

Have you ever thought about what that really means? The word release comes to my mind. However you want to describe it, I think the revelation of Jesus as Lord and Savior removes a lot of barriers and obstacles and yes, burdens, that we as human beings place upon ourselves. That’s why I believe as people initially come to Christ, they are overcome by a fresh perspective about life. It’s an enlightened one; one filled with less pressure. I think that’s why folk cry in church when it happens. “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1. The question is what are you a slave to? In a very real sense, this type of freedom provides incredible spiritual insight where addictions are overcome, hurt feelings are healed, guilt is removed and insecurities conquered when Jesus enters the picture. Whatever you have been enslaved by, you become freed from. One of the biggest things that raylcarr@yahoo.com, happens when Christ entersResume: your life is that fears are conquered. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we all have fears. I know I do. It can be the fear of being alone,

James

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Week of July 20, 2016

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UMC elects four Black Women Bishops

Zenitha Prince Senior AFRO Correspondent

(Photos Courtesy of umc.org and neumc.org)

Four African-American women were recently elected as bishops at quadrennial meetings of the United Methodist Church, further removing the glass ceiling for Black women in the denomination. Rev. Sharma Lewis

In a historic election, the Rev. Sharma Lewis was elected bishop by the Southeastern Jurisdiction on July 13, becoming the first African-American women to be elected as prelate in that jurisdiction. “I was called by God and I made myself available, not just to a position, but to follow God’s will,” said the lifelong Methodist in a statement. “I am excited, and I am really humbled. At 52 years old, I am excited that my next phase of life will be as an episcopal leader. I am humbled to the fact that this is historic.” A native of Statesboro, Ga., Lewis is a woman of several “firsts.” She was the first female senior pastor and first African-American pastor of Powers Ferry United Methodist Church. She was the first woman to serve as senior minister of Wesley Chapel UMC, and the first woman to

serve as district superintendent in the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District, her current position. Lewis came to the ministry after a long career as a biologist. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mercer University and the University of West Georgia under her belt, she went on to study at Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, where she earned her master’s of divinity with honors. Since then she has served at various churches and in numerous capacities at the jurisdictional and general conferences.

Rev. Tracy Smith Malone A l s o joining the Council of Bishops is the Rev. Tracy Smith Malone, who hails from the Northern Illinois Conference in the North Central Jurisdiction. Malone was elected on the sixth ballot with 120 votes, becoming Northern Illinois’ first female prelate and the first bishop elected from that conference since 1996. “To God be the glory. Friends, I stand before you as one who feels very blessed. Blessed for the journey, by your prayers and confidence in my leadership. I am a child of a church. You raised me and formed me. I consider it a privilege and an honor to serve the church,” said

Smith Malone after being introduced as a bishop of The United Methodist Church, according to a statement. Daughter of the late Rev. Willie Smith, Smith Malone received her call to ministry at age 13. She earned her bachelor’s degree from United Methodist-related North Central College, her master’s of divinity at United Methodist Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and her doctorate at United Theological Seminary. The former senior pastor of Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton, Ill., has served as the Chicago Southern district superintendent since 2011. She was a delegate to General Conference 2016, where she was chair of the Agenda and Calendar Committee and is a member of the board of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and is a member of Black Methodists for Church Renewal. Rev. Cynthia Moore-Koikoi Closer to home, the Rev. Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, superintendent of the Baltimore-Metropolitan District, was elected bishop on the 11th ballot of the 2016 North-

eastern Jurisdictional Conference. Moore-Koikoi’s husband, the Rev. Rafael Koikoi Jr. pastors the historic Sharp Street Memorial UMC in Baltimore. A preacher’s kid, Moore-Koikoi grew up in the church but officially began her ministry when she was ordained as an elder in 2010. She has served as a student pastor at St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Highlandtown, Md., an associate pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis, Md., and in several other capacities at the district and conference level. The minister was a key voice in the April 2015 unrest that exploded in Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray. She said she sees herself as a “as a bridge-builder,” which is sorely needed in an often discriminatory and divided church and society. “As a woman of color, I have learned the gift of perseverance,” she said in a statement, “being able to hold onto hope in the midst of oppression. Our denomination needs that. As our pews become more empty, as we experience more financial difficulties, we have to hold out hope.” LaTrelle Miller Easterling The Northeastern Jurisdiction elected a second Black woman as bishop. LaTrelle Miller Easterling, an elder in the New England Conference and most-recent superintendent of the Metro Boston Hope District, was elected on July 14 with 119 votes. The 51-year-old Indianapolis na-

tive earned her bachelor’s degree at Indiana University, and her law degree from the university’s School of Law. She worked as a mediator and human resources manager and director before entering full-time ministry. Easterling was ordained as a deacon in 1995 and an elder in 1997. She earned a divinity degree from the Boston University School of Theology in 2004. The new bishop has served as a delegate to General Conference in 2012 and 2016, and served on the Northeastern Jurisdiction’s Multi-Ethnic Center Board. She also served on the conference board of ordained ministry. Easterling was praised as someone who has a “passion for the marginalized.” “I always, always, always stand on the side of justice,” she said, “but I draw the circle wide enough for all of us to be there – and when I say all, I mean all.” The ministers are the first African-American women to be elected as bishops in the United Methodist Church since 2000. The first ever African-American female bishop in the denomination, Bishop Leontine Kelly of Virginia, was elected in 1984.

Health News

ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS DEEMED HIGH PRIORITY The Endometriosis Foundation of America and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists talk collaboration for endometriosis awareness New York, NY — Endometriosis, a disease that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age globally, has prompted the collaboration between two leading non profit organizations dedicated to the improvement of women’s health; the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Tamer Seckin, MD, FACOG, and Founder of Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA), EFA Medical Director, Dr. Harry Reich, a pioneer in minimally invasive surgery for

adolescent education program, The ENdometr iosis: Promoting Outreach and Wide Recognition (ENPOWR™) Project. ImpleTamer Seckin, MD, with EFA co-founder Padma Lakshmi menting m o r e treating endometriosis; Dr. Ray robust Wertheim, endometriosis specialist; efforts to improve the standards of and Theresa Davidson, EFA Manag- diagnosis and care associated with ing Director, met with ACOG’s Vice endometriosis, particularly among President for Practice, Dr. Christo- young adults so as to reduce the pher Zahn, and Director of Federal current delay to diagnosis in the Affairs, Rachel Gandell Tetlow to field of Adolescent Gynecology. discuss: Improving training standards for Collaborating for the full-scale ex- surgeons on the techniques specifpansion across all states of the EFA’s ic to endometriosis, such as proper

recognition and excisional removal of the lesions. Producing updated practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. “I am thrilled about collaborating with ACOG, as it is one of the most influential women’s reproductive health organizations in the nation, with the ability to make a tremendous impact on practice as a whole,” said Seckin. “Early diagnosis is crucial to detecting endometriosis and awareness is key to timely treatment. Working with ACOG, the EFA can expand its awareness campaign nationwide to reach so many more medical professionals and women.” According to the Journal of Human Reproduction, women who suffer from endometriosis have to wait an average of 12 years before getting a proper diagnosis. “This is unacceptable, and it has to change,” said Seckin.

He added, “Misdiagnosis, dump diagnosis and ignoring or dismissing the symptoms of endometriosis, and incomplete and improper surgeries are the main reasons for the long delay in diagnosing, and treating the disease.” In March, EFA co-founder Padma Lakshmi met with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to initiate discussions about more collaborative efforts to facilitate endometriosis awareness. “The collaboration between the EFA and ACOG is the first of what I hope will be many partnerships with the EFA,” said Seckin. “The EFA looks forward to creative partnerships both in the public and private sectors that will help spread the word out about this debilitating disease.” To learn more about endometriosis or to discuss partnership initiatives, visit the EFA website at endofound.org or call 646-854-3309.

Week of July 20, 2016

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Williams: A rising star

TO BE EQUAL BY MARC MORIAL PRESIDENT AND CEO

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE via George Curry Media

"It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am." - Muhammad Ali

“The burden of the brutalized is not to comfort the bystander. That’s not our job, all right, stop with all that. If you have a critique for the resistance, for our resistance, then you better have an established record of critique of our oppression. If you have no interest in equal rights for black people then do not make suggestions to those who do. Sit down.” - Jesse Williams

African-American performing arts celebrities were a driving force behind the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. Lena Horne, who was blacklisted in the 1950s for her activism and political views, performed in the South at rallies for civil rights, participated in the 1963 March on Washington, and supported the work of the National Council for Negro Women. Harry Belafonte, a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., provided financial backing for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Council and emerged as one of the strongest voices of the 20th-Century Civil Rights Movement. Sidney Poitier has been called “the film industry’s living embodiment of the progress generated by the Civil Rights Movement.” Now, a new generation of activist artists is rising to take their place. Chief among them is Jesse Williams, whose powerful acceptance speech at the BET Awards has created a firestorm. Williams has been attacked for his mov-

ing condemnation of racially-motivated police violence, evoking the names of Tamir Rice, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland and Darrien Hunt. Sadly, just days later, two more names have been added to the list: Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. At just 36 years of age, Williams has become a leading voice of the 21st Century civil rights and social justice movement. He is the youngest member of the board of directors at The Advancement Project, a civil rights think tank and advocacy group. This spring, he released the acclaimed documentary “Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement.” Williams also is the executive producer of the website Question Bridge, “an innovative transmedia project that facilitates a dialogue between a critical mass of black men from diverse and contending backgrounds and creates a platform for them to represent and redefine black male identity in America.”

In the turbulent days after the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., Williams was a critical voice of protest. He was among the stars who chose to boycott the 2016 Oscars, which for two years running included no actors of color among the nominees. He and other celebrities instead participated in a fundraiser for the victims of lead poisoning in the water supply in Flint, Mich. Williams’ commitment to social justice is rooted in part in his background as a schoolteacher in struggling low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia. He follows in the footsteps of his parents, both of whom have worked as public school teachers. In response to a petition urging executive producer and showrunner Shonda Rimes to fire Williams from the cast of Gray’s Anatomy, Rimes tweeted: “Um, people? Boo don’t need a petition. #shondalandrules.” We are pleased to live by the rules of ShondaLand, where creative and committed artists of color are empowered to lift up one another and change the world for the better. Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

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Week of July 20, 2016

Car side window may be hurting skin, eyes Parkland physicians say drivers need

to protect exposed skin from UV rays Texas drivers basking in nearly year-round sun may not be aware of a health threat striking them through their car’s side window. Researchers have found that while the windshield of your car adequately shields you from the sun’s ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, the same may not be true for side windows. Prolonged exposure to UVA rays can significantly raise the risk for both skin cancer and cataracts. “Overall, only 14 percent of the cars tested by researchers in a recent study offered a high level of side-window UVA protection. This could contribute to a higher prevalence of skin cancer particularly on exposed skin surfaces such as the face, arms and hands,” said Stephanie Savory, MD, dermatologist at Parkland Health & Hospital System and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. “Exposure to UV radiation from the sun is linked to up to 90 percent of skin cancers.” In addition to skin cancer risk, sunlight can cause damage to our eyes. There appears to be a link between a process called oxidative stress caused by sunlight and increased incidence of cataracts and other eye problems. Healthcare experts see a higher level of both cataracts and skin cancers on the left sides of people. “Cataracts are often considered an inevitable part of the aging process, but there are steps that can be taken to delay or even avoid them,” said Preston H. Blomquist, MD, Chief of the Ophthalmology Service at Parkland and Professor and Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern. “Protecting your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses is highly recommended.” The World Health Organization has designated all ultraviolet radiation as a human carcinogen. Too much exposure to UVA and UVB rays can affect the skin by upsetting delicate processes that affect the skin’s growth and appearance. A recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that while windshields of cars built between 1990

and 2014 blocked an average 96 percent of the UVA rays, only about 71 percent of the side windows blocked those rays. Only 14 percent of the vehicles studied offered a high-level of UV protection. “Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. More than 3 million Americans are diagnosed each year with some type of the disease and one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of their lifetime,” said Dr. Savory. “But many of these cancers can be prevented by minimizing sun exposure.” Dr. Savory advises people of all skin types who are age six months and older to: Minimize sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the hours of peak sun intensity Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirt, pants and wide-brimmed hat Wear sunglasses with 100 percent UV blocking lenses Use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum UVA and UVB blocking sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher Use sunscreen daily. Even on completely overcast days, up to 30 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate through clouds and reach your skin Use enough sunscreen to generously coat all skin that will not be covered by clothing, including face, ears, arms and hands Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, or after swimming or sweating Protect your lips with a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher Wear sunscreen while driving, especially on exposed surfaces such as your face, forearms and hands Consider adding tint that protects against UV rays to your car’s side windows “Remember, there is no safe way to tan,” Dr. Savory said. “And sun damage to your skin is cumulative. Every time you tan or burn, you speed up the aging of your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer.” For more information about services at Parkland, visit www.parklandhospital.com.

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In addition to being elected Asst. Treasurer of the organization, Andre Turner, shown here with members of the Texas delegation, received the President’s Award

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