SERVING NORTH EAST TEXAS
By Cheryl Smith Publisher
Giving Thanks Season
When you think about it, every season is one to give thanks.
No, I am not celebrating “Thanksgiving Day” and its place in history; however there’s nothing wrong with recognizing and giving thanks for, if nothing else, life, endurance, family, love, and health.
For my native brothers and sisters, I can’t forget your story and I urge you not to forget the story of the Black man in America.
Thanks for those of you who supported Vice President Ka-
See MY TRUTH, page 6
Trump Has Nominated Only One Black American to a Top Position
By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire
For months, Florida Congressman Byron Donalds has been seen on cable news defending Donald Trump. There have even been times when Rep. Donalds has been called out for misrepresenting or glossing over many of Trump’s
assertions that “crime is on the rise in the United States and increasing because of illegal immigration.
“You’re lying. You’re lying, Congressman,” exclaimed CNN political analyst Keith Boykin during an episode of Abby Phillip’s show News Night on Oct. 1 on the question of crime.
“It’s true, I’m not lying,” Donald shot back. The moment was just one of many times the top Trump surrogate defended the President. Surprisingly, Donalds has yet to be chosen for a cabinet-level position in Trump’s Administration. Another dedicated
See NOMINATED, page 3
Garland ISD Opens Security Training Center
GARLAND, TX – In a significant step toward strengthening safety in Garland ISD schools, the district recently announced the launch of the GISD Security Training Center. Housed in a former elementary school, this facility is designed to better prepare law enforcement and emergency responders for real-world school safety challenges.
The center provides a unique, hands-on environment where police officers, fire department personnel, canine and drone units, school resource officers, and active shooter response teams can practice in realistic school settings. By offering this type of training within an actual school environment, the facility ensures that first responders are fully prepared for emergencies where they are most likely to occur.
“This center is more than just a training ground; it’s an
essential resource for building stronger partnerships between GISD Security and local law enforcement,” said Mark Quinn, Director of GISD Security. “We’re able to simulate real-life emergencies and refine our response strategies to ensure the safety of every student and staff member. This facility represents a significant investment in the security of our community and reinforces our commitment to keeping our schools safe.”
GARLAND ISD, page 6
We have plenty of important updates to share about City services, available resources, public safety, Council decisions, upcoming events and more. Make sure you don't miss out! Take the City's 2024 Communications Survey by Monday, Dec. 9, to provide feedback on the best ways to serve our residents, business owners, visitors and more.
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See
My Truth
Dr. Shelley Garrett
Rep. Byron Donalds official photo, 117th Congress / Photo: United States Congress. Official portrait of U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) / Photo: U.S. Senate Photographic Studio-Renee Bouchard. Former Executive Director of the White House Opportunity & Revitalization Council Scott Turner delivers remarks at the 2019 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Conference Tuesday, Sep. 10, 2019/ Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead. Official portrait of US Senator Marco Rubio of Florida/ Photo: US Senate.
They’ve Let the Devil Back In: The Repercussions of Donald Trump’s Re-Election
By A. Scott Bolden
“Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they have done.”
In a stunning turn of events, America has once again found its neck under Donald Trump’s foot—a figure with a history that should make any truly patriotic American pause. Instead, voters have chosen to dance with the devil they know (and, apparently, miss). They’ve chosen to forego their own interests in the name of “change.”
It’s a choice that, maybe this time, we will come to regret.
Trump’s re-election has made it clear that we underestimated the power that economic anxiety has in shaping voter decisions. While many of us assumed that the protection of democracy and the core American values of choice and freedom would take precedence, the stark reality is that the fear of inflation, food, gas, and housing costs won out. People voted with their feelings instead of their minds, and Trump masterfully exploited this, offering hollow promises to “fix” it all without any real plan.
Just as he did before, he leaned into his manufactured, fabricated persona—a successful businessman, a fixer, a man of the people—and even more Americans bought the con again.
But let’s be real: this isn’t a man who knows what he’s doing. He’s not a planner or a visionary; Donald Trump is a liar. He’s a con artist, plain and simple. We saw his inaction on healthcare reform during the pandemic, his disastrous pre-pandemic tariff policies that economists almost universally criticized, and his complete disregard for the truth the entirety of his presidential tenure.
Does character even matter anymore in seeking America’s highest office? America: you voted for him; you now own him. Now what?
Now, he’s back with Project 2025, deputizing loyalists like Stephen Miller to reinforce a conservative agenda that’s dangerously extreme. With fewer guardrails this time around, Trump is poised to impose an agenda that could reshape our Democracy for generations to come— and not for the better.
Another Trump presidency means that Black and Brown communities could once again find themselves marginalized even further, but he somehow made significant inroads in urban centers and among Latino and Black voters—a shocking and sobering fact. It seems the Democratic Party took these communities for granted, assuming their loyalty without taking meaningful steps to address the everyday issues impacting their lives.
Dem strategists wrongfully believed that Trump, with his history of bigotry and divisive rhetoric, would translate into a common sense vote for Harris.
But for voters grappling with soaring living costs and stagnant wages, Trump’s promises, however empty, offered a glimmer of hope that the Democrats, regrettably, failed to provide.
Trump sold himself as the answer to America’s problems, yet he offers only the same lies: he is the only one that can end the wars, fix inflation, bring down food and gas prices, and make life affordable, again.
How, exactly? I don’t know. These are the same promises he made years ago, and we’re still waiting for those results.
This time, he’ll have even more power to push through his agenda without fear of accountability: the House flipped red, the Senate flipped red, and the Supreme Court is already red–coming down with a decision that offers him protection from many criminal prosecutions. The guardrails that once kept him somewhat in check are now gone.
We’re about to see Trump unhinged and unleashed: backed by a court that’s aligned with his vision and a Congress ready to do his bidding, ready to turn back the clock on progress under the guise of “saving” America. Plus, expect another round of conservative federal judicial appointments blessed by the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation.
Why do people vote against their own interests? Why do they ignore the acute, undeniable flaws in a man like Donald Trump?
It comes down to ignorance and despair, plain and simple.
When people feel disempowered, when they see no real improvement in their lives despite positive economic indicators, they gravitate towards strong, unfiltered rhetoric. Trump presents himself as a man outside the system, a disruptor who will fight for the average American. And so, many Americans—jaded and desperate for change—chose to embrace
Trump Has Nominated Only One Black
cont. from page 1
Black surrogate, U.S. Senator Tim Scott, has yet to be selected by Trump to join the Administration.
Both Donalds and Scott may be looking at other positions. Rep. Donalds is said to be weighing the possibility of running for governor of Florida as current governor Ron DeSantis’ term is limited. Senator Scott would have to resign from the U.S. Senate to serve in Trump’s Administration. If his history is a guide, Scott would likely be aware that the level of turnover during Trump’s first four-year term from 2017 to 2021 was filled with cabinet departures and short stints marked by controversy and, at times, chaos.
“Guess y’all were on the campaign trail betraying your people for NOTHING… Not even an opportunity Byron Donalds and Tim Scott. Y’all are the WEAKEST LINKS in the Black community,” wrote Nikki Barnes on the situation.
But it’s not just that Donalds and Scott have been so far passed over. Trump has only chosen three Black or Hispanic nominees for his cabinet or senior staff: Former Texas state lawmaker and motivational speaker Scott Turner, who is Black, for Housing and Urban Development; Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), who is Hispanic, for Labor and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is likely to
be confirmed as the first-ever Hispanic secretary of State.
Several of the selections have been highly controversial. The resumes of Trump’s selection for Department of Defense and Attorney General, Fox News Host Pete Hegseth and Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, have been questioned. Both men have reportedly been investigated for sexual assault-related allegations.
The lack of qualifications has won the attention of many because many MAGA Republicans have railed against what they believe is a problem regarding diversity in hiring. But the recent hires of Fox News host Hegseth, who has no management experience, and Gaetz, who has no experience as a Judge or a prosecutor cited as another reason why the Trump Administration is expected to be damaging to federal employees, democracy and the rule of law.
“When your Attorney General pick couldn’t even pass an FBI background check to be a field agent, you know you’ve completely sacrificed merit. I don’t ever want to hear another word about “unqualified” Black people getting a damned thing. Not ever,” wrote Tim Wise, an expert on racism in America, on Trump’s recent appointees.
the “devil” they know, believing that maybe, just maybe, this time he’ll be different. But he won’t be different. Donald Trump was never the man that they thought he was, and he never will be.
This is the same man who suffers from deep narcissism, chronic business failure, who’s been found liable for fraud and sexual abuse, and who stoked the flames of division and discord to further his own agenda. This is the man who led America to one of its darkest moments on January 6th, 2021.
This is a convicted felon 34 times over. And somehow America still voted for him. In a strange way, this says more about America than it could ever say about Trump. We know who Trump is—is this really who America is and wants to be today and has always been?
To believe that he’s somehow learned his lesson or will suddenly care about the quality of life for all Americans is to ignore the mountain of evidence to the contrary. America is not getting a new and improved Trump; it’s getting a more experienced version of the same divisive, self-serving con man.
The repercussions of this election will be felt deeply in the coming years. America will see a reversal of healthcare reform, human rights, civil rights, climate regulation and other constitutional safeguards as Trump and his cronies take over. The marginalized communities that once looked to the government as a bulwark may now find it to be an assailant, with policies that prioritize corporate interests and the wealthy at the expense of the working class.
This election has exposed a painful truth about America: we are willing to overlook character and competence, even racism and sexism when we feel desperate for change. But be clear—this is not the kind of change we need.
Those who voted for Trump may/will come to regret their decision, that he never cared about the average American and that he was always in it for himself. But the realization will have been too late. The damage will have been irreparably completed. Policies, once enacted, can take decades to reverse, and the scars left on our democracy will take generations to heal, if at all.
Choosing Trump means that America has placed its faith in a man who trafficks in chaos, corruption, and crime. He is not the solution to our problems; he is a reflection of the underbelly of this country—a society so fractured and jaded that it’s willing to entrust its future to a man it would never let babysit their own children.
As I write this, I hope I’m wrong. I sincerely, deeply hope that Trump proves me and every critic wrong, that he somehow rises to the occasion and becomes the leader we need. But history tells a different story, and I can’t help but brace myself for what’s to come.
May God Bless America, especially for the next four (4) years.
A. Scott Bolden is the former Chair of the DC Democratic Party and a NewsNation political contributor.
Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA
No melody, No steps, No morals!!
By Vincent L. Hall
I’ve got a song, I ain’t got no melody, I’m gonna sing it to my friends
Will it go ‘round in circles, or will it fly high like a bird up in the sky?
Billy Preston’s 1973 Billboard Hit
When it comes to Donald Trump choosing a team, there seems to be no rhyme, reason, or regrets. His choices so far are an abysmal attempt to make America great again for all the people who reminisce on the “olden days.”
You know those days of old when women knew their place, N!gg3rs bowed at the sight of a White male approaching, and Mexicans stayed in Mexico.
Apparently, that was the “Great America!”
This group of knuckleheads Trump has announced so far is odd at best. Here are just a few names that caught my eye.
Secretary of State: Marco Rubio, Attorney General: Matt Gaetz, HHS Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.N. Ambassador: Elise Stefan-
ik; “Border Czar”: Tom Homan, Defense Secretary: Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Homeland Security: Tulsi Gabbard, and the newly-minted Department of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy!
After viewing the candidate list CBS News published, all that came to mind was a 1973 Billy Preston hit titled “Will It Go Round in Circles.”
Preston, who made his fame playing and touring with the Beatles, left a few things for us to ponder about Trump’s “cabinet in waiting.”
The words of the song are self-explanatory. “I’ve got a song; I ain’t got no melody, I’m gonna sing it to my friends. I’ve got a dance that ain’t got no steps, I’m gonna let the music move me around. I’ve got a story that ain’t got no morals; let the bad guy win
With the holiday season approaching, it seems our country could not be more divided. That division has been perhaps the main overarching topic of our national conversation in recent years. And it has taken root within many of our own families.
Blood may be thicker than water, but for many American families, it seems like it is not as thick as politics. Or, if not politics specifically, then the cultural rifts that have been widened and inflamed within our political debate.
Maybe our national healing can start with our families, around the holiday table.
There are mixed views within my own family, just like there are in millions of American families. And within my family there are stories of division and stories of healing.
My family traces its roots in
Lucille “Big Mama” Allen, the guiding light of wisdom and faith in our family, often reminded us that every blessing begins with preparation.
“Opportunity is just preparation’s thanksgiving, happening in your face.”
Big Mama believed in the power of preparation, reminding us that success is not about luck—it’s about being ready
Publisher: Cheryl Smith
Deputy Publisher: Stewart Curet
America on my dad’s side back 400 years to Massachusetts — the home of the first Thanksgiving. My mom’s family has also been here the better part of 400 years, but in Virginia and Maryland, tracing back to that area’s earliest white settlers and their African slaves.
When my parents fell in love as young civil rights activists in Baltimore and got married, their marriage was illegal in Maryland. Their relationship was taboo at the time. My father’s family disowned him for marrying a Black woman, and he lost his inheritance.
So I grew up on America’s racial fault line. And learning about my own family’s history has provided an important perspective on the nature of division both within the family itself and the country — our big, messy American family.
Using DNA research to trace my own family’s origins, I discovered that like President Barack Obama, I am distant cousins with former Vice President Dick Cheney. That revelation was interesting. But the revelation that I am also distant cousins with Rob-
every once in a while.”
And those lyrics, my friends and compatriots, are where we stand in the history of this nation. Will America go around in circles? Will America fly high like a bird up in the sky?
Hmmm, let’s see!
Marco Rubio was a promising prognosticator who allowed Trump to reduce him to the token and “Little man” that he obviously always was. Rubio was considered a priceless DEI pick to the old guard of the Republican Party. He was the Latino who could bring others into their tent.
NOT!
Matt Gaetz has been alleged to have some tendencies that point to pedophilia and sexual abuse. If Gaetz passes the Senate confirmation process, the whole world will
go round in circles. America will be seen as spinning out of control and into pandemonium.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a dance but can’t choreograph the steps necessary to get it past Congress. Robert Jr., who has shamed, sickened, and sullied the Kennedy name and dynasty, is a conspiracy theorist par excellent and little more. He wants to stop vaccines and fluoride in water and whatever else his feeble mind can concoct. “Robot Hr. is an idiot with or without his meds.
Pete Hegseth has already been tagged with some sexual misconduct allegations. Tulsi Gabbard and Elise Stefanik can only dance to the tune that brought them into Trump’s parade. So far, they have proven to be nothing more than sycophants who parrot Trump.
Tom Homan as the Border Czar will be center stage and the feature of Trump’s Traveling Sh!t Show! The whole idea of mass deportations is unfounded and would kill the U.S. economy in record time. Not to mention the humanitarian crisis it would cause.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are ill-suited to cut waste and excess in government and social programs. Would you allow a doctor to perform a heart transplant on you if he didn’t understand how the heart works?
Hell naw!
Wealth and intellect have little to do with one another.
Trump is always fond of telling the story of the snake that talked his way into a woman’s car, bit her, and then reminded the victim that she picked up the snake. This nest of vipers he has chosen is bound to do the same.
Will it go round in circles? Will it fly high like a bird up in the sky? Who knows.
However, we know that Trump has no melody, steps, or morals. We let this bad guy win, and now we have to wait to see what we lose.
Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, award-winning columnist and a lifelong Drapetomaniac!
America’s Healing Can Start with Family Around the Holidays
ert E. Lee was a little harder to swallow. I was the youngest-ever national president of the NAACP. He was the Confederate general who essentially fought to preserve the institution of slavery.
The Civil War itself was a conflict that famously divided families. “Brother against brother” is a phrase commonly used to describe those divisions that emerged within many American families, especially in the border states like my home state of Maryland.
And after the Civil War, America’s divisions certainly did not go away. But there are inspiring stories of coming together as well that simply have not been told as much as the stories of division and oppression.
My grandmother’s grandfather was at the center of one of those stories. In the years immediately following Reconstruction, Edward David Bland — who had been born into slavery — led Virginia’s Black Republicans into coalition with former white Confederate soldiers to form a third party that took over the Virginia state government.
Opportunity
when opportunity knocks. She knew that being prepared for an opportunity, even when one doesn’t seem to be in sight, is the true key to unlocking the future.
Many believe that luck is all about being prepared to accept opportunities. The famous saying, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” reveals that success doesn’t come by chance. Instead, it’s about the work we put in when no one is watching. Take, for example, LeBron James, who has not only prepared himself as one of basketball’s greatest players but has also influenced opportunities
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How many of us grew up learning that freedmen and the same Confederates who had fought to keep them enslaved actually came together to form a winning political party based on the common desire to save their state’s public schools?
Known as the Readjusters, the bipartisan, multiracial movement won all statewide elected offices and controlled the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1881 to 1885. In that time, they abolished the poll tax and the whipping post, radically expanded Virginia Tech and created Virginia State University, and readjusted the terms of the Civil War debt to save the free public schools and take the state from a financial deficit into a surplus.
That is just one story that illustrates how as a country we have managed to work through our divisions and move forward. We have common ground. We just need to look for it. And it should not be that difficult to search for and find that common ground within our own families.
Families can be great composites of many different back-
just Preparation
for others—especially his own family. Recently, his influence helped pave the way for his son, Bronny James, to secure a spot with the Lakers. This moment underscores the
importance of preparation, not just for yourself, but for creating opportunities for those you care about. LeBron’s vision and determination show how preparation can transform potential into reality.
Furthermore, the incredible journey of Tyler Perry—from homelessness to becoming a billionaire—serves as another shining example of preparation meeting opportunity. Perry’s relentless work ethic and unshakable belief in his craft positioned him to seize opportunities that have now made him a powerhouse in entertainment and philanthropy. His story is a testament to the
grounds and experiences, just like America itself. And just like America, there can also be room for different viewpoints within families.
Most of us want the same things: a better life for our children, safe communities, good schools, freedom. That we might have different perspectives on what some of these things mean does not make for insurmountable differences. Instead, it begs for conversation and ultimately understanding of why we see things differently. Because whether our ancestors arrived as settlers or immigrants, were enslaved or were among this land’s Indigenous peoples, what we have in common is we are all in the same boat now. Whether we sink or float, it will be together. And to truly thrive, we must heal our divisions. Within our own families is as good a place as any to start.
resilience and readiness needed to overcome life’s obstacles and achieve greatness.
Lucille “Big Mama” Allen taught us that life is full of opportunities, but they mean little if we’re not prepared to seize them. I challenge you: be ready for the opportunity that is right in front of you. Write to me at terryallenpr@gmail.com and share your stories of how you were prepared when the moment arrived.
Terry Allen is an award-winning media professional, journalist, and entrepreneur. He is also the founder of City Men Cook and 1016 Media. Reach him at terryallenpr@gmail.com Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. is a
By Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Our Voices
By Terry Allen Big Mama Said
is
Bronny and Lebron James Photo: Christian Petersen
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Senator Marco Rubio Former US Rep. Matt Gaetz
GIVING THANKS Dallas Black Dance Theatre is the gift that keeps giving
By Norma Adams-Wade Senior Correspondent
When two generations clash, you get the public discord that is broiling at Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT), a revered local treasure that onlookers suggest does not deserve controversy.
In a nutshell, 10 dancers, the entire staff, were fired. Part of the friction is a disagreement over why they were fired. Dancers say it was because they want to form a union. Management says it was because the dancers violated policy and the company’s traditional decorum.
But the firing is not the story. The story is how did we get to this point and why? And also, what’s in the mind of Ann Williams – the legendary DBDT founder who is witnessing the rumble as she looks back in order to move forward.
A recent interview with Williams gives insight into her mindset as she reviewed the company’s 48 years of existence. It seems obvious that a weaker founder likely would have folded under the obstacles that the iconic Ann Williams overcame. Thus, we would not have her commendable legacy of trial and triumph.
“Since we’ve been in operation, we’ve never had to close or miss a payroll,” Williams recalled in the interview with I Messenger Media that includes Texas Metro News and Garland Journal.
Life values learned while growing up Williams is one of 12 close-knit children – six boys, six girls -- of her parents, Lloyd Ferrell, a farmer in Coolidge, Texas, and Izora Ferrell, a homemaker and county home demonstration agent for gardening and homemaking.
Williams says she grew up in a safe, loving environment and learned many life lessons.
“I always knew I was Black,” Williams recalls. “I came up like that, from a big family and I knew who I was. Some people want to become what they see. Later on, they learn they are still Black.”
Williams called off a slew of names of powerful Dallas leaders from whom she learned business techniques by being around them and watching them operate.
These included former Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss, and the families of prominent commercial real estate developers Henry S. Miller and Raymond Nasher, the latter being a renowned sculpture art collector.
Williams also rubbed shoulders with national headliners including Maya Angelou, Alex Haley, Lou Rawls, and iconic choreographers and dance company founders Alvin Ailey and Arthur Mitchell.
She said she often was the lone Black person or one of the few present among powerful White leaders. Concerning that
dynamic she said: “I never wanted to be them, but I learned from them,” she said. “They admired me for staying in the community…for providing opportunities for minority kids ...things they were interested in doing but were not going to do themselves.”
Career path through the years
Modern education has gone through phases of devaluing exposure to the arts in public education. But that exact exposure during her childhood lit the flame that created the Napoleonic Ann Williams we know today – small in body, powerful in impact.
To hear her describe her childhood reaction to seeing her first opera performance is gripping. A school field trip to a local opera performance at Fair Park mesmerized her mainly because of the eye popping staging – music, dance, costumes, scenery, lighting. She remembers wanting to be a part of that.
Williams graduated from St. Anthony’s Catholic School and Lincoln High School in Dallas, Prairie View A&M University, Texas Woman’s University, did post-graduate studies, received two honorary doctorate degrees, and has numerous outstanding awards. She was also a high school cheerleader and became infatuated with a dance class. At PVAMU, she pursued dance. After graduation she choreographed dance at different schools in the Houston area before moving to Dallas where she taught dance in elementary school and formed a youth dance group that performed around Dallas.
While studying to receive her master’s degree in dance from TWU, Williams interacted with noted professional choreographers and dancers from around the nation. She was hired at Bishop College, started its dance
a nonprofit, formed a board of directors, and became increasingly recognized around Dallas and the nation.
Through grants, the company attracted choreographers and dancers from prominent dance companies from around the nation to come give workshops and performances through the early 1980s.
“Nobody else in Dallas was doing that, getting New York and Los Angeles professionals to come,” Williams said. “I say the 1980s were Dallas Black’s second level of growth.”
Meanwhile, Williams was successfully networking with prominent Dallas leaders in the arts and business. The company eventually acquired the old Moorland YMCA in the Dallas Arts District as its permanent home.
efforts to uphold the company’s integrity, legacy, and theme of “relentless excellence.”
Settles permanently at historic Moorland Branch Y Dallas Black stayed at Bishop College until a few years before the college closed permanently in 1988.
Providentially, the building the company occupied near downtown Dallas was across the street from the historic Moorland Branch YMCA that was steeped in local Black history and where Williams had fond memories of attending activities there as a youth and young adult.
Moorland closed its original 1930 building and moved to Oak Cliff in 1970. Then other businesses purchased the Moorland building.
To say that the firing of DBDT’s full staff of dancers took the public by surprise is a clear understatement. Here are examples of reactions from various community people who keep an eye on what’s going on in Dallas and its African American community. All say that although they were astonished, they still hold DBDT in high regard.
C. W. Whitaker is a civic leader, former corporate manager, and founder/CEO of DFWBAM (Dallas-Fort Worth Business, Advertising and Marketing) consulting firm. He has worked with arts groups in Dallas and served on various civic and municipal boards.
He said: “Of course, when I first heard, it shocked me. I know the value of culture in our community. If they were having problems, I would have hoped they could have solved them before it reached this point. I would tell Ann Williams I’m proud of her, to keep fighting and feel free to call me any time for assistance.”
Marilyn Clark is a community advocate, archivist, and elder-in-residence with the community research and innovation lab Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation.
department, and brought various prominent performing arts personalities to campus.
She and two arts cohorts wrote and received a $1million, three-year Ford Foundation grant for their campus and community programs. In 1973, she formed the Dallas Black Dance Academy for college students and community youth.
“It was fantastic!” Williams said of the grant. “We were elated.”
DBDT moves around before permanent home
When the grant ended, Bishop College also had begun to struggle with financial and legal problems. Meanwhile, Williams had 300 dance academy students from the community still under her belt.
So, she started a private dance training program on the old Hatcher Street in South Dallas/Fair Park. The company later moved back to Bishop College and operated again as a private dance program using space under a special arrangement with the college.
That is where Dallas Black Dance Theatre was born in 1976, the same year that the DISD Arts Magnet started in the old Book er T. Washing ton High School near down town.
Williams maintained an ongoing pro fessional rela tionship with a number of young dancers who enrolled at the Magnet School, and the dancers contin ued to dance in performances with students at Williams dance academy.
DBDT re mained in a fa cility at Bishop College for 10 years, became
The Street outside the facility was named Ann Williams Way in honor of the legendary founder and the company’s prominence soared to heights Williams once dreamed of as a youth.
The company performed in more than a dozen countries, at various national sites including Broadway and the Kennedy Center, and twice at the international Olympics in 1996 and 2012.
Overcoming serious car accident
Toughness has always been a trait of Ann Williams. That trait came in handy when she broke both legs in a serious car accident in 1986. She said that was the closest she ever came to despair. The accident came right at the juncture of an important performance funded by a new grant. Friends and associates stepped in to fill her role.
“At that point, yes, I was ready to give up,” Williams recalls. “But I didn’t.”
Zenetta Drew, a former corporate manager and SMU adjunct professor in arts planning, stepped in and became Dallas Black’s executive director and a loyal right arm for founder Williams who was artistic director.
In various media reports about the recent
Williams began toying with the idea of purchasing Moorland but encountered multiple barriers. The indomitable Williams kept plugging away, finally got financing to purchase, and moved the company into Moorland Y in 2007. That move became a landmark feat with much media coverage and community celebration.
Generation gap, lawsuit, where to from here?
Shock pretty well describes the public reaction when news broke that Dallas Black had fired its entire staff of 10 dancers -- first one, then nine -- on August 9 this year. Ongoing media reports continue. Underlying the dispute is strong indications of a generation gap between the two sides.
The controversy comes across as the company, holding on to tradition vs the dancers seeking to modernize and loosen up the company. If a settlement is not reached soon, the dispute will be forced to go to court in Fort Worth on December 9.
The Dance company’s season opened with a Nov 8-9 performance. A free event is set for Nov. 25-26 at the DBDT site. A holiday performance is set for December 14 at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas. To
She said: “Ann Williams has been in the vineyard many, many years and even trained football players to dance to attract other students and let them know that the classics were for them too. Other arts groups view her as a model. She taught boys and girls not just dance but discipline and confidence and to love their natural bodies of various forms. That you can dance and still go and become an engineer or whatever. I would say to the organization that we have to listen to the young and those who have concerns. We can’t bury our heads. I would want the community to rally and support the Theatre, and to give honest feedback, continue to buy tickets and send our kids there.”
Charles O’Neal is a communications consultant, board chair of U. S. Black Chambers, president of Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce, and former president of Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce.
He said: “So many of us have no idea of the value of artistic expression. Ann created something that we could all be proud of and say, ‘I wish I had done it.’ I give her kudos. As a way to avoid the situation we have here, I would have to recommend good communication. To recommend talking to each other without resorting to legal outsiders. I feel this was clearly a failure of communication. We do not know the behind-the-scenes details. Yet this is emblematic of a figure of American society today. And young Black people have become too much a part of that.”
Sylvia Powers (aka Sylvia Dunnavant Hines) is founder of the cancer-survivors’ nonprofit Celebrating Life Foundation, a writer, photographer, and motivational speaker.
She said: “DBDT has had such a huge impact not just on our community but the world. They have been a beacon of lighting showing what is possible for the Black and Brown communities. I would assure Ms. Williams that you have been a woman of elegance and grace, and your legacy will not be tarnished by this. It seems the dancers
Ann Williams at a luncheon event. Credit The Dallas Morning News
Giving Thanks Season
mala Harris’ campaign and I urge you to remain vigilant, join forces, and like with the abuses our people suffered, say never again, about future elections.
Just think, we could be saying thanks about so much more.
With all that is going on in the world today, I know for some it may appear to be challenging and overwhelming however if you
were able to get up, inhale and exhale, eat and release (so important), breathe, enjoy the sun on your face and the sound of music; you have much to be thankful for.
Yes, I’m trying to lighten the mood right now because I know I have been coming hard and heavy.
Many people I know have been hurting since Nov. 5, 2024. Sadly I have a feeling that number is
cont. from page 1
going to grow significantly after January 20, 2025 when the fan gets hit. If you haven’t found a reason to be thankful, then let me give you one. Be thankful you have another day to do the right thing.
Let’s mark November 5, 2024 as the last day you do something that makes future generations question what they should have thanks for.
Shelly
cont. from page 1
Dr. Shelley Garrett, Assistant Superintendent of Safety and Operations, said, “By training within a real school environment, our first responders gain invaluable experience that will make a real difference in times of
This center is key to our ongoing efforts to ensure that Garland ISD remains one of the safest districts in the region.”
Superb Women
Our Superb Women!
By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News
MITCHELL BROWN
Jonda Mitchell Brown describes herself as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and a “worshipper” who understands who God is. A senior Global Talent Advisor at Hewlett-Packard, Jonda attended Skyline High School, studying Media Technology, before going on to Prairie View A&M University and obtaining a BA degree in Management Information Systems. She is a wife, and mother, and is also a digital content creator. Jonda is a community servant with a long history of voluntarism. She has served as a board/commission member for the Martin Luther King Community Center Advisory Board and has volunteered with several nonprofits, including her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta.
VIKISHA T.
Vikisha T. is the Director of Talent Management at RGP and she has extensive experience as a talent acquisition and management manager. She has also worked as a senior corporate recruiter for Sabre Corporation, Talent Acquisition partner for Galderma, Human Resources Specialist for Northrop Grumman and recruiter for Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. A consummate professional, Vikisha is a highly respected HR professional who is self-motivated, an effective communicator and emphasizes the importance of training and recruiting. VIkisha works well with others and she is committed to the highest standards.
CLARA BROWN-TRIMBLE
Clara Brown-Trimble literally lights up a room when she enters, and heads are definitely going to turn. She wears a beautiful smile and people care about her because they know she cares and is sincere about the work she does as a community servant and activist. Clara works for Dallas County as a Chief Executive Officer at a JP Court. A member of the NAACP, Clara also serves on the Martin Luther King Community Center Advisory Board for the City of Dallas. Her volunteer spirit is praised because she gives so much of herself. Clara is the type of person you want on your team because she is a go-getter.
LINDA MONCRIEF
Linda Moncrief is a digital creator and a paralegal at Williams Law Firm. She hails from Grand Prairie, TX, and graduated from Grand
School. Linda went on to study business law at Mountain
View College. She’s loving, confident, self-assured and uplifting, preferring to build others up instead of tearing them down. Spiritually grounded, and family-centered, Linda is no-nonsense and believes strongly in accountability. She’s a sports fan who tries to remain loyal but likes to WIN!
ROSELITA LUCAS
Roselita Lucas is a Real Estate Agent at B21 Realty Group; where she also worked as a salesperson. She has also gained experience as a real estate agent for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. Roselita is a community servant and activist; serving as the membership chair for the Dallas Branch - NAACP. She is organized, and supportive, and folks like working with her. Applauded for her leadership skills, she is also praised for being a team player. Roselita believes in lifting as she climbs and that makes her superb.
CHENAE WASHINGTON
Chenae Washington, M.Ed. is a principal at Golden Rule Schools, where she also worked as a teacher, prior to being an educational aide for DeSoto ISD. She holds a treasured position that is so beneficial to ensuring children get a quality education. A member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, China received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and Teaching. She went on to Lamar University where she earned a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration.
LONITA SHARP
LoNita Sharp is a Senior Workforce Solution Consultant. She gained experience at Workday, UKG, and Kronos, in addition to ADP where she worked as a Human Capital Management Consultant. LoNita received her Bachelor’s Degree in organizational communication from the University of Texas at Arlington where she participated with several organizations, including: Arlington Life Shelter; National Association of Black Journalists; Salvation Army; March of Dimes; Genesis Women’s Shelter; Dallas Childrens Theatre; and Race for the Cure. She later attended Texas Tech University - Rawls School of Business, graduating with honor with an MBA. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, She is also a member of National Black MBA Association and Toastmasters.
LAQUITA LONG, ESQ.
LaQuita Long is a triple threat on the surfaceBrains, Beauty, and Boldness. But there’s a whole lot more to this Deputy Administrator in the Dallas
County District Attorney’s Office. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections from the University of Houston and her law degree from the Texas Southern University - Thurgood Marshall School of Law. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, celebrating 25 years in 2024, LaQuita is a wife and a mother. You may have seen her in action giving closing arguments during the Amber Guyger murder trial. A skilled prosecutor, she was the epitome of professionalism and skill throughout that trial and others. Highly respected, she is known as an all-around wonderful person with a heart filled with love.
April Caggins Benjamin, M.Ed. is the Assistant Director of Admission for Community, Inclusion, and Belonging and DEIB Coordinator at The Oakridge School. Previously, she was an elementary school teacher for almost two decades. April received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Corrections and Juvenile Services from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has served as President of the Junior League of Arlington and member of the Leadership Arlington Board of Directors; which falls in line with her love of community service.
LORETTA SIMON
Simon is special. She has a loving spirit and engaging personality and she is always willing to do for others. High proficient, organized, and pleasing to be around, Loretta is a consummate professional and dedicated servant. A longtime employee of DISD, serving as Dallas Independent School District, serving as the Executive Director. Loretta always has a kind word and offers of assistance. She is meticulous, very observant, and sees assignments through to completion. Loretta is the type of person you want on your team. She’s creative, and engaging and brings out the best in herself and others.
YOLONDA DAWSON
Dawson is an educator to the core. The principal at Arlington Classics Academy, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Texas in Arlington and her Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Argosy University. Yolonda attended DISD’s W.W. Samuell High School and hailed from Gilmer, TX. A wife and mother, Yolonda spent years in the classroom and she works well with students, faculty, administration, and parents.
of
of
her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Southern University and a Master of Business Administration and Management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She also studied Management at Argosy University. Karmetria is a member of the Board of Advisors - College of Business at Southern University and the Board of Advisors of Clayton State University. The Founder/CEO of Paint Your Lips Red Leadership Foundation, she is also the host of Mind Your Business Podcast.
S’ENCE BURR
Sheree S’ence Burr is a personal/Private Chef at My Gourmet Today Catering Co. Hailing from Dallas, she attended Dillard University. She’s not only stylish in the kitchen, she has this infectious smile and is always impeccably dressed. Sheree is a personal Chef who has built a business that has an impressive clientele and caters for parties and events and she creates healthy and unique menus. She says cooking brings her joy and she has customers who will tell you eating her food brings them joy! Someone should be catering for her today because it’s her birthday!
BIANCA DAVIS
Davis is the Chief Executive Officer of New Friends New Life, a non-profit organization that restores and empowers women and girls who have been trafficked or exploited. She has a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Temple University (Magna Cum Laude) and a Master’s Degree in organizational communication from Dallas Baptist University; and, in 2021, she graduated from the Dallas FBI Citizens Academy. A member of The Links, Inc., Bianca was named Woman of the Year by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club- (Garland Chapter). Hailing from Freeport, Bahamas, she was a 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar and previously worked at Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support and Medical City Dallas Hospital.
JUDGE ASHLEY CLARK STEWART
JONDA
Prairie High
APRIL CAGGINS BENJAMIN
Loretta
Yolonda
KARMETRIA DUNHAM BURTON
Karmetria Dunham Burton is the Senior Director
Global Business Diversity at McDonald’s. A member
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, she received
SHEREE
SUPERB WOMEN
continued from page 7
Defender, three years as a Claim Specialist II for Nationwide Insurance, five years at the Law Office of Ashley Clark, and a year at the Center for Solo Practitioners as a Solo Practitioner. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Houston where she was a member of NABJ, joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and was a staff writer for the Daily Cougar. She received her law degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and this wife and mother is also a graduate of the DFW/ABJ Urban Journalism Workshop.
JENNIFER SANDERS
Jennifer Sanders is an anchor-reporter at KXAN-TV in Austin, TX. An Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist, she is a college professor, podcast host, public speaker, emcee, producer, and documentary filmmaker. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies/Spanish at Texas Lutheran University and a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of North Texas. Jennifer has worked as an adjunct Professor at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, anchor/reporter at Nester Media Group, reporter/host at 12 Media KXII, and associate producer/web producer at Tribune Broadcasting. Jennifer is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and The Links Inc..
LA LONNIE D. MOORE, MS, SOCIAL IMPACT
From direct care to the service industry to cosmetology and cosmetic artistry, La Lonnie D. Moore has done it all but the non-profit world never leaves her. She is skilled in customer service, event planning, fundraising, marketing, and communication. She is currently a Program Specialist with Life Path Inc. After graduating from South Garland High School, La Lonnie received her Associate of Arts Degree in Communications and Liberal Arts from Lehigh Carbon Community College, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Cedar Crest College and recently, her Master of Arts degree from Claremont Lincoln University. Super talented and creative, she is also the operations manager at Michaels Stores.
NARITA ANDERSON, PHD
Dr. NaRita Anderson specializes in Research, Data Analysis, Editing, Classroom Instruction, and Public Speaking. She has been a University of Central Oklahoma faculty member for more than 18 years and she has also taught at Park University and enjoyed stints at Univ. of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Independent Medical Providers Action Coalition and The Schuster Group. Dr. Anderson received her PhD from Kansas State University. The Oklahoma native received her MBA Degree from Oklahoma City University. Published in the Journal of Financial Therapy in 2022 on the intersectionality of race and gender in financial planner use, she was honored by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education and the Department of Economics and International Business.
DR. JACQUELINE PIERRE OD FAAO FACHE
Dr. Jacqueline Pierre is a Doctor of Optometry. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the Univ. of Texas at Austin and studied at Nova Southeastern University and Troy University before graduating from the University of Houston with a Doctor of Optometry in 1996. Also a retired US Navy Veteran, she’s enjoying her dream job as an optometrist and business owner. Dr. Pierre honed her skills in the Navy where she also served as the Assistant Director of Medical Services; and also at Sears Optical. She is a community servant, volunteering for numerous programs and organizations. A proud mother. You’ll find her at King Vision in Nacogdoches, Texas.
EITHA BLOUNT-DOUGLAS, MA SOCIAL WORK, LMSW
Keitha Blount-Douglas is an East Texas girl who completed her Masters LMSW Degree at Stephen F. Austin State University, after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration, Human Resources, and Healthcare Administration from Texas Southern University. This mother and wife is the owner of Keimistry Apparel & Design Kustom Printing and Apparel. She is also the Recruitment and Marketing Coordinator for Azleway, Inc.. This faith-based agency provides opportunities to children at risk and in crisis through quality services to children and families.
BARBARA TURKNETT EDWARDS
Barbara Turknett Edwards is the Founder/ Executive Director of Rose M. Turknett Cancer Network Inc. Barbara is a 10-year triple-negative breast cancer survivor. During her cancer treatment at Texas Oncology, Barbara was led toward art as a way to process the emotions of her illness. Now, she uses her art to spread positivity with others undergoing cancer with “The Be Kind Art Collection.” Barbara is also a life coach, public speaker, and event marketing professional. She turned her pain into living her life, sharing with other survivors through her foundation, RMT Cancer Network Inc., her non-profit organization. With a smile on her face, spreading joy wherever she goes, Barbara is a passionate community servant and volunteer.
JASMINE CARTER
Jasmine Carter has been a designer her entire life. As a child, her favorite games were anything that allowed her to design clothing. Creating businesses is her passion, and she has been writing business plans since she was seven. Her first licensed business was Howard County Babysitters, LLC when she was 18. She has started over 15 companies, ranging from cosmetics lines to event spaces. Her record of success makes her Boss in Business.
Her latest business is Balacia, a custom jewelry business. Take a look at all she has to offer at https:// balacia.com/
CARLA RANGER
Carla Ranger was a fierce, firebrand advocate for underserved communities when she was a Dallas Independent School District board trustee for eight years. She also was a longtime administrator for about 20 years with the Dallas County Community College District where she was dean of the DCCCD Communications Division at Eastfield College. Inducted into the African American Education Archives and History Program Hall of Fame, Ranger blogged on education issues. Ranger indeed is a Superb Woman for her dedication, tenacity, intelligence, fortitude, and savvy in knowing what was good for the people she served so diligently during her years of public service and for her love of education and her students.
Chloe McGlover has a Physical and Occupational therapy background, so it was only natural for her to use that knowledge and experience creatively in her massage therapy practice. She started Massage Artz @TheOasis in 2019. Chloe attended the Southern California Health Institute in 2014 and now she’s licensed as a Medical Therapist, by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Chloe studied child development at Los Angeles Valley College. She has enjoyed stints at Bright Star Physical Therapy, Pate Rehabilitation, Stonebridge Bodyworks and Physical Therapy, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, and Elements Massage.
LORA L. WASHINGTON
Lora L. Washington is the President/Owner of LorCo Incorporated dba Washington Realty Group & Associates and Washington Mobile Notary Services. She is also a Managing Partner with JW ED Holdings, LLC. Lora has been in the real estate business for more than 18 years. She is an accomplished Real Estate Broker, Instructor, Consultant, and Developer. Lora serves on the board of several non-profit organizations and is currently the President of the North Texas Association of Realtists, a local chapter of The National Association of Real Estate Brokers.
UNESHA WELLS
Unesha Wells is an early childhood expert, program director, and family advocate. She serves as one of those dynamic community servants on the For Oak Cliff Team, where she is the Director of Out of School Time Programs. Unesha studied Human Biology at Jarvis Christian University where she was a member of the Sparkles, and Pre-Alumni Council. She also served as president of the Theta Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A born leader and team player, Unesha is committed to making a difference in the community and in
the lives of anyone she comes into contact with. Possessing a beautiful smile and spirit, meticulous n thought and execution, Unesha is about taking care of business.
CHERYL LUSTER
Cheryl Luster is a special education resource teacher at Waskom Middle School, in Waskom, Texas. A graduate of Atoka High School, she received her B.S. Degree in Education and Behavioral Science - Intervention/Child Development/Behavioral/ Special Education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She also studied Health Administration at the University of Phoenix and Education K-12 with a Minor in Special Education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Cheryl was named “Friend of the Day” by KHVN Heaven 97AM Radio, and with good reason because she is a true friend who is loved and cherished by her students, co-workers, family and friends. Spiritually grounded, Cheryl is an inspiration to many.
CHARLENE D. AYERS
Charlene D. Ayers is beauty, brains, charm, and more, with a loving spirit. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she is spiritually grounded, community-oriented, and a servant leader who is about social action! Filled with words of inspiration, Charlene lifts as she climbs. Charlene has a voice! A true songbird, she directs the Voices of Christ from the University of Texas at
and
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SHANTA BATES-CHATMAN Shanta Bates-Chatman is a wife, mother and grandmother. A graduate of Waskom High School in Waskom, TX., Shanta is the general manager of Centenary College of Louisiana’s dining service team. She won the 2023 David Woman Leadership Award, where she was praised for her leadership, ability to work across divisional and departmental lines, ability to build bridges and inclusive focus on her customers. Shanta is serving her first term on the Waskom ISD Board of Trustees, currently serving as the secretary.
ROLANDA PRICE
CHLOE MCGLOVER