That’s right. If you even thought about voting in the November 5, 2024 election and you were not registered or had concerns about your address or voter’s registration card; you have missed the deadline.
In the waning hours, I was encouraging folks to get on the good foot and take care of their business.
While I was talking to everyone who would listen across this country and even those abroad, I knew we could wreak havoc in Texas if we had a huge voter turnout.
America Needs Kamala Harris to Win
By Michael A. Grant
Vice President Kamala Harris has the vision, the intellect and the heart to lead a conversation about how to preserve American democracy. As a country, we are still struggling to make this “a more perfect union.” We are an incredibly unique and beautifully diverse nation, blessed in so many ways. However, our history of cultural cleavage and racial unrest still plagues us. At times, the ideological divide seems to be an unbridgeable chasm. There are those who would use political power to exploit our differences and undermine the very democratic institutions that have held us together as a nation. So, America is at the crossroads. What we choose to do between now and election day will determine our destiny. Will we work hard to keep our democracy, or will we
be seduced to accept authoritarian rule? Let there be no doubt about it: The choice is upon us, and we will have to live with the consequences of our collective decision for years to come.
As providence would have it, the American people are now being offered two very different candidates for president: one who is the embodiment of democratic norms, individual liberty and a respect for the rule of law. The other, a candidate who has not sought to hide his vision for America: a welcoming of authoritarian rule. He and his cohorts will work through a master plan (Project 2025) for gutting the federal bureaucracy with its system of meritocracy, replacing it with one that favors cronyism and dictatorial decision-making.
For an example of how Trumpism would fundamentally change the
American political system (with its checks and balances), one need only to observe how he has already transformed the Supreme Court into a vehicle of his power-grabbing. In its recent ruling on presidential immunity, six of the justices, disregarding precedent, placed the
president above the law. These political hacks — parading as jurists sitting on the highest court of the land — broke with 250 years of jurisprudence to give the president powers reserved for a king. So why did we fight the American Revolutionary War? Donald Trump is work-
ing in concert with many others who are prepared to destabilize our sacred democracy in favor of a system that is anathema to what has made America the envy of the world: A system that celebrates the consent of the governed and the rule of law.
Yes, we are at a critical moment in American history not witnessed since the Civil War. The forces of retrenchment are highly organized, well-funded and prepared to do whatever is necessary to impose their minority will on the will of the majority. Donald Trump has publicly stated that he doesn’t need the votes. Is that so?
Then, tell us, Mr. Trump, how do you intend to come back into power?
Thankfully, Vice President Kamala Harris has prepared herself for this moment in our nation’s history. Like Joan of Arc,
Vice President Kamala Harris Photo: Courtesy photo
OCTOBER
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
*** The Vista Bank Academy and incredible partners SDFP Innovation Center and Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast today (and every third Friday) from 8-9am. at the Vista Bank Financial Literacy Center at 3225 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Link to register: https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcPyIWSNU1CLdYJzW7tg11uRFxSZw9aUFjXNY3Q85sZ1g9Tw/ viewform?fce_id=edbf237d-413f-423b-a5ad-d5f-
NOVEMBER
Understanding Mortgages
A mortgage is likely the largest loan that most people will take on during their lifetimes. Most people need a mortgage to finance the purchase of a home. A mortgage works much like any other loan – money is borrowed from lender and paid back over time. The main difference?
The Basics
Once someone takes out a mortgage, they make monthly payments to pay it back. The length of the loan varies depending on the type of loan. Most homeowners go with 15year or 30-year mortgages.
The monthly payment is applied toward paying off several pieces of the mortgage. There is the principal balance, of course. This is the amount of money borrowed. If the initial loan is $250,000, that is the amount of the principal balance.
Some of the payment will be applied toward principal and interest. Property taxes and homeowner insurance premiums may also be deducted, depending on how the mortgage is set up.
Types of Mortgages
There are several specific types of mortgages. The two most popular loan types are 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. As their names suggest, the interest rate attached to these loans never changes, hence the “fixed rate.” The difference between the two loan types is the duration. On a 30-year mortgage, loan payments are made for three decades to pay off the loan. On a 15-year mortgage, payments are made for half that time.
The monthly payment attached to a 30year fixed-rate mortgage is lower than it is with a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage because payments are spread out over a longer number of years. However, 15-year fixed-rate mortgages typically come with lower interest rates, which means homeowners pay less in-
terest over the life of the loan.
Another option is an adjustable-rate mortgage, which means the interest rate changes during the loan term. Often, the loan will have a fixed rate for the first few years and the rate will then adjust based on economic conditions, meaning the rate can either go up or down.
The benefit of an adjustable-rate loan is that the initial interest rate is usually lower than those attached to traditional fixed-rate loans. The risk? The rate can rise significantly after the fixed period ends.
What is Escrow?
Property taxes and homeowner insurance are two annual expenses associated with owning a home. Homeowners have the choice to either pay these directly or lump them into their monthly mortgage payment and have their lender pay them on their behalf – this is called escrow.
Consider property taxes. If taxes are $6,000 a year, this can be paid in a lump sum or $500 a month can be added to the monthly mortgage payment. This money goes into an escrow account, and payments are made from it to pay the annual insurance premium and property tax bill when they come due. This is the preferred option for many homeowners.
The Bottom Line
Understanding mortgages is the first step in the homebuying journey. Working with a trusted mortgage lender is the best way to determine which mortgage loan and payment options work for you.
America
she has donned her suit of armor and is prepared to confront the enemies of America’s democracy! While she has announced her policy positions on a number of issues — favoring a women’s right to control her own body, protecting the healthcare of millions of Americans, calling major businesses for a summit to discuss price gouging, continuing her decadeslong fight for equality for all Americans, continuing to address global warming and protecting her fellow Americans from the insane proliferation of senseless gun violence — she knows that this election is about more than a civil debate about policy differences. She knows that this election is about protecting our most cherished freedoms as Americans.
We, the people, are being given the choice to continue our march towards a more perfect union, or to accept a new model of governance where some are considered above the law and the masses are subjugated to an injudicious system where revenge, retribution and cronyism are tolerated with impunity.
I think it is interesting that when the American family has become so dysfunctional, a house divided again, that Almighty God would send us a leader who has shown herself to be a proven guardian of what we hold as sacred: Democracy buttressed by the rule of law.
Kamala Harris has been groomed for
cont. from page 1
this moment of greatness. She has walked through the burning sands of a determined opposition for years. She knows the road ahead will be filled with landmines and treachery. She knows hers is the herculean struggle to protect the soul of the country she loves. But she is ready to accept the challenges that lie before her and, yes, she is endowed with true grit.
I believe that those who have observed Harris prosecuting serious criminals, grilling unscrupulous public officials or consoling the families of children murdered by gun violence would agree with this characterization of Kamala Harris — to paraphrase William Shakespeare, her life is so gentle and the elements so mixed in her that nature might stand and say to all the world: This is a woman!
Yes, America, if we are willing to follow, Kamala Harris is ready to lead. And if we do, one day, history will record that America survived another existential threat to the republic because we, the people, were able to join in one grand chorus of “Hail to the Chief.” And that chief was President Kamala Harris.
Needs Harris
The Supremacy of Reason!
By Vincent L. Hall
Republican icon Liz Cheney
cast her lot with VP Kamala Harris as she runs against Donald J. Trump, and people began to question her. It was a Sankofa moment for me though.
When I went to get a Google definition of the famed African Sankofa bird AI spat this one out. Here is what Sankofa looks like to AI technology.
“The Sankofa bird is a mythical bird that symbolizes the Akan people’s belief that the past guides the future. The Bono Adinkra symbol depicts the bird as having its head turned backward while its feet face forward and carrying an egg in its mouth.
The word Sankofa comes from the Twi language of Ghana and literally means “to retrieve” or “to go back and get it”. The symbol is associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi,” which translates to, “It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten”.”
From time to time, I revisit television classics to spur thought and to draw parallels. Unfortunately, we are about as backward and awkward as “one nation under god” could be. And for the record, I only capitalize God when referencing
my God. I don’t know the “god” of MAGA, Trump, or the White Evangelical churchgoers that support Trump’s movement.
During a recent binge of Perry Mason, the 1950s classic, I found the last words in an episode called “The Case of the Impatient Partner.” Perry quotes Judge Learned Hand. Judge Hand well known among jurists and legal experts.
President Franklin Roosevelt snubbed Judge Hand as he sought to be appointed to the Supreme Court. There are many theories as to why Roosevelt didn’t appreciate Hand’s take on the law, but a few of Hand’s quotes could make any president leery.
If you look back to the Great Depression and what Roosevelt was facing, there are two quotes he could have found troubling. Judge Hand once said, “Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible.” Not something you want to hear from a federal judge during The Great Depression.
He irked scores of members in Congress with a quote in his opinion written to vindicate a taxpayer. “In America, there are two tax systems: one for the informed and one for the uninformed. Both are legal.”
He wasn’t lying, but lawmakers don’t want everyone to know it!
Hand was as judge by day and philosopher by night. He was unhinged, unpredictable, and, in many cases, downright
esoteric. However, anyone who studies his opinions concludes that he was a justifiably unorthodox thinker and sophist.
Hand offered an opinion in one case that caught the eye of writers from the Perry Mason show. Mason used Hand’s analogy during that patented legal briefing that came at the end of every episode. “I have faith in the eventual supremacy of reason.” Damn!
As we gaze over the American landscape that has resorted to reliving some of its most vile forms of hatred and discrimination, we must keep faith in the eventual supremacy of reason.
As we remain mired in the worst political climate since those of the mid-1800s that produced the Civil War, Americans must cling to the notion that faith in the eventual supremacy in reason is not far-fetched.
As we watch “bombs bursting in air” and the lives of the most oppressed people in the Middle East being salvaged to assuage the fears of the most powerful in the region, we must believe that the eventual supremacy of reason will prevail. Real talk. Serious business. What we see now in America and globally makes no sense. But if we look at the social and
military uprisings of the past, we have no option other than to believe in the eventual supremacy of reason.
The possibility of re-electing Trump, the most damaging chaos agent in American history, makes no sense. But thank God that Liz Cheney and a few real patriots like her are willing to sacrifice power and position to manifest the eventual supremacy of reason. Her Sankofa Bird moment produced a decision based on reason!
Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, award-winning columnist and a lifelong Drapetomaniac!
HBCU Football Fans Are Fired Up
America has a fixation and obsession when it comes to football. It is without much debate that we can say football is in our front mirror all year round.
Each August, our proclamations and predictions turn to football. We cannot wait for our favorite team to take the field. Some of us have more than one favorite team so we are constantly on edge. We have our football gear ready to wear.
Football at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) is back for another exciting season. Each of the HBCU conferences has an exciting lineup of games and of course, homecoming games as well.
Attending an HBCU football game means having fun and a good time. It’s not only the game itself, but it’s the fellowship as well. When I was an undergraduate student at Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU located in Charlotte NC, football Saturdays were a big deal. Some of the players were our roommates so that gave us an extra reason to cheer.
Upon reflection, the football team was a part of us. We ate together in the same cafeteria, went to the same chapel services, attended the same lyceum programs and went to the same dances.
The football coaches were also a part of our daily campus life. They were our teachers and our advisers. Wearing the title coach meant being totally invested in the life of the college.
Historical records show that the first HBCU football game was played on December 27, 1892, between Biddle College,
now Johnson C. Smith University and Livingstone College located in Salisbury NC. These schools compete today in the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association).
Back in the day, HBCU games were not televised. Today they are. Just recently, Florida A&M University played Norfolk State University on ABC television. There will be more HBCU games on television over the season.
Beginning August 31st, HBCU Go Sports started to televise games from the SWAC, CIAA and SIAC each Saturday. For example, on August 31st, Virginia Union University competed against Kentucky State University in Frankfort KY. Another match-up on September 7th saw Tuskegee University taking on Grambling State University in Grambling LA.
The Allen Media Group says there will be 8 games from the CIAA, 9 games from the SIAC
and 14 games from the SWAC. This will include the Southern Heritage Classic, 6 homecoming games and the CIAA Football Championship. Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of HBCU parent company, Allen Media Group says, “As we enter HBCU Go’s third football season, we are proud to showcase the very best HBCU match-ups. Now is the time for HBCUs, and HBCU Go is the true destination for coverage of Black college sports and culture.”
If you want to see some fantastic college football, check out the entire HBCU Go line up. Many of us travel to these games and tailgate with our family and friends. They will have your favorite chicken, ribs, potato salad, mac and cheese. Don’t forget the chocolate cake and bread pudding.
I believe it is vitally important that we support this media outlet as much as possible. Never have
we had this kind of exposure for Black College sports. The era of Black College sports is growing each year. We are receiving the applause and the acclaim that is long overdue. We have writers that are tuned in to Black College sports. Be sure to read columns by Kyle T. Mosley and Steven Gaither as you will see their indepth analysis and interviews. Listen to sports announcers like Charlie Neal who is the first African American to receive the National Football Foundation Chris Schenkel Award. His commentary will make you feel like you are in the stands.
I know you are ready for some football so get ready for some first downs and some touchdowns. HBCU football will bring it all to you.
For Those Who Still Can’t Decide Whether To Vote
By
With the November 5th General Election just a few days away, it appears that some people are still trying to decide if they should even bother to vote. This message is for Black people, in particular, who are experiencing that particular indecisiveness. Let’s remember that
Publisher: Cheryl Smith
Deputy Publisher: Stewart Curet
other Black people before you, in too many cases, died that you might have the right to vote.
Let’s remember that it took the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, guaranteeing and protecting our right to vote; that people were beaten and killed to stop us from voting; that in this century the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; that since 2020, we have seen a number of states try to institute Voter I.D. requirements when many of our older citizens who value the privilege
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Phone:214-941-0110
Website: www.garlandjournal.com
Editor: editor@myimessenger.com
of voting can not produce copies of birth certificates which often were not provided for them; let us not forget that ballot drop boxes have been removed in some states making it harder to return a ballot and that in some places the hours for voting at polling sites have been reduced to create and inconvenience voting times for working people. Some of us might be homeless or unsheltered and say that because you don’t have a physical street address, you don’t want to vote and that your vote
won’t count. Not so. Every vote counts and you can vote without a street address. Your right to vote is not attached to where you live. In addition to our national elections, we do have local elections which will affect all of us directly. We have three seats on the County Board of Supervisors on the ballot and a City Attorney position for the City of San Diego. I am retracting our support for Brian Maienschein for that position and switching our support to Heather Ferbert, who
currently serves as a City Attorney. Just as we are supporting LaShae Sharp-Collins for the 79th Assembly District seat, it’s time to look at each position and make your vote count. If you have not registered to vote, there is still a small window. Remember, although we can’t know who you vote for, we can know whether or not you bothered to vote. Make a decision and stay in the game. Your very existence depends on it.
Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. is a longtime educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of
By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
Dr. John E. Warren
Dr. John E. Warren is publisher of The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.
Vice President Kamala Harris is greeted by Republican former Rep. Liz Cheney during a campaign event at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin on October 3, 2024.
Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP
By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew
It’s wild to watch people tear one another to shreds who believe they are fighting for God. Jesus calls us to this truth: “And the time will come when people will kill you and think they are doing God a favor. They will do these things because they don’t know either the Father or me.
I am saying this to you now, so that when the time comes, you will remember what I have said.”
(John 16:1-5)
I’m often amazed that people believe God needs them to fight for His honor. I am witnessing multiple Christian YouTube commentors who feels a sense of superiority by condemning others with harsh and lewd comments that are not rooted in love.
You Surprised?
Too many lately have a stance to criticize everyone they disagree with, and judgements are made about people that are often rooted in mean-spiritedness and arrogance based on twenty second clips. They take scripture out of context to confirm their belief. If we are not careful, we can believe that the church is in disarray when the reality is that this is not a surprise to God and it shouldn’t be for us, either. As much as we act as if the Pharisees are a figment of the past, the truth is that we are surrounded by modern day Pharisees and Sadducees. These religious leaders that wore scriptures had Jesus in their midst and missed His presence seeking a sign. Is it possible that many of us are missing what God is doing in our midst because we are too busy trying to prove we are right?
They saw the good deeds of Jesus and found fault believing that He was from the devil. “Now when the Pharisees heard it they
said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?”
(Matthew 12:24-30) These religious leaders who felt that they were representing God were the ones who were instrumental in the crucifixion of Christ. In their minds they felt, they were doing God a favor.
We are witnessing a world in which many feel a sense of entitlement to call out the behavior of others without examining their own shortcomings. We live in a world that has created a rating system on what is forgivable and what is unfathomable. “Judge
not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-5) I do not believe that we sit by and idly witness abuse and harm. Too many will protect the bad behavior of those in power because of their ability to benefit from it.
God commands us to go to our brothers and sisters to tell them when there is an offense (Matthew 18:15-17). Sadly, the repercussions and hatefulness that many will experience in the confrontation is usually more frightening than creating a video or hiding behind a keyboard. People either are not in relationship with folks, so they make judgements based on brief observations or if they are proximate, the fear outweighs telling someone the truth.
At the core, we have a relational problem. Instead of seeking God through prayer and conse-
cration about a person or situation, too many find it their responsibility to do something in their power. Instead of going to someone directly about an issue, they instead choose to slaughter them through words to strangers to look more righteous and relevant. As an observer, it’s all messed up.
Everyone who says the name of God doesn’t know God (Matthew 7:21-23) “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies….” (2 Peter 2:1-22)
Don’t get caught up in the foolishness. God is not surprised, and you shouldn’t be either.
Dallas County Democratic Party Is Turning Out the Vote
“Hope is making a comeback.”
The crowd cheered at Michelle Obama’s words as she took the stage Democratic National Convention–myself, and the rest of the Texas delegation, the loudest among them.
The last few months have proven that hope is alive and well in Dallas County as people from every background, walk of life,
race, and religion have shown up ready to do the work to create change in our state.
As one volunteer pointed out, when you walk into our doors, the Dallas County Democratic Party “looks like America.”
Because of this broad coalition, we have been able to achieve record-breaking wins. Heading into this election cycle, we set an ambitious goal: to write 20,000 postcards to infrequent voters and canvas neighbors in low turnout precincts.
Since January, we have shattered that goal and others, writing nearly 70,000 letters and postcards, knocking on an in-
credible 523,313 doors, sending 624,923 texts, and making 52,385 phone calls - and counting. Every conversation we have, every postcard we write, brings us closer to our goal of record turnout from Democratic voters this election.
Through it all, the Dallas County Democratic Party has not lost sight of what our work is truly about. Upholding our democracy, creating a more just and equitable society, and returning power back into the hands of the people: these are cornerstones of our work. But we can’t do it alone.
The Dallas County Democrat-
ic Party is tasked with staffing our elections, ensuring free and fair access to the ballot box. In a county of 2.6 million people, this is no small task. Every election, DCDP recruits thousands of election workers–everyday people like you and me–to step up to work our polls and facilitate the electoral process. I cannot emphasize this enough: without them, we would not have a democracy. This year, we especially need Spanish and Vietnamese speakers who provide language justice for voters. We encourage interested parties to apply at DallasDemocrats.org/action/
election-worker. We are proud of our progress, but our work is far from over. Informing voters and ensuring that every voice is not only heard, but amplified, is urgent and important work. But it is also rewarding, unifying, and a joyful reminder of the incredible democracy we live in. This is a moment in time that will be remembered by history books, and everything that we do from now until November 5 will be part of our legacy as Texans. Forward Together, Kardal Coleman
The Right to Vote is Protective of all Other Rights
Voting is one of our most fundamental rights. It’s not just about having a say in the future of our country—it’s about honoring the legacy of those who fought and sacrificed so that we could have a voice.
As a voting rights lawyer, I’ve seen the impacts of voter suppression firsthand, and how deeply un-American it is when folks cannot vote because of arbitrary barriers put in place to make it harder.
I became a voting rights attorney because I believe the right to vote is preservative of all other rights. That’s why we cannot
afford to sit on the sidelines. In Congress, I’ve been working to reinstate and modernize the Voting Rights Act to stop harmful voter suppression laws here in Texas and across the country.
To give more Texans a chance to participate in our democracy, we must expand early voting, make Election Day a federal holiday and take steps like same day voter registration that make voting more accessible, not create barriers that are harmful to our democracy.
I’ve introduced legislation that would ensure integrity in our elections and protect our election workers. I stand by the words of my hero, Congressman John Lewis who said “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.”
Despite these efforts, laws like S.B. 1 in Texas make it harder for
To give more Texans a chance to participate in our democracy, we must expand early voting, make Election Day a federal holiday and take steps like same day voter registration that make voting more accessible, not create barriers that are harmful to our democracy.
Texans to vote by mail, limit the hours of early voting and have burdensome voter registration and voter ID provisions. This isn’t who we are as Texans. The Voting Rights Act, championed by the civil rights movement, was signed into law by a great Texan, President Lyndon B. Johnson.
I think about other Texas icons like the late, great Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, who fought fearlessly for our democracy. She never shied away from challenging those who wanted to silence our communities and take away folks’ voices in our de-
mocracy. She said it best: “What the people want is very simple— they want an America as good as its promise.”
To live up to that promise, we must do better.
Ted Cruz wants to take our democracy backward, as we all saw on January 6 when he tried to overturn a free and fair election and disregard the will of the American people.
Ted Cruz supports restrictive laws based on fear tactics about widespread voter fraud. He doesn’t understand and doesn’t care that voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, and he is try-
ing to strip away our hard-won rights.
History has shown us that elections can be decided by just a handful of votes.
Yet in Texas, only 42 percent of eligible voters turned out in 2022 and Texas sadly consistently ranks towards the bottom in the country in turnout numbers. We have less than a month to turn out our family and friends and ensure every eligible Texan casts their ballot. It’s time to make a plan to vote, especially at a moment where folks like Ted Cruz want to threaten the principles our country was founded on.
I often say if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. Voting is our power and our voice. Let’s use it.
Striking While the Iron Is Hot
Lucille “Big Mama” Allen was the bedrock of wisdom and faith in our family, always offering guidance with the perfect balance of practicality and spiritual insight.
Her favorite saying, “Strike while the iron is hot,” resonates in today’s world as much as it did when she first shared it with us.
They knew that opportunities don’t linger forever, and when a moment of potential arises, we must act—because the iron cools quickly, and the chance
may never return.
One need look no further than our nation’s political landscape to see this lesson in action.
Consider the massive fundraising success that Vice President Kamala Harris achieved, driven largely by timely and strategic moves. Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has pulled in over $200 million, much of it through online efforts.
This didn’t happen by chance—her team and supporters capitalized on the exact moment her candidacy was elevated, energizing her grassroots base and riding the wave of momentum.
Similarly, grassroots organizations supporting Harris seized this moment, raising millions of dollars within weeks.
They understood Big Mama’s wisdom: when the conditions are right, you must act swiftly.
The floodgates opened, and support poured in from every corner of the country.
The opportunity to make a significant impact was there, and they didn’t hesitate to strike.
Big Mama’s words echo through moments like these: “Strike while the iron is hot.” It’s a reminder that while faith and patience are essential, there are times when we must meet opportunity with action, without delay.
Big Mama quoted to me Proverbs 10:5 reminds us, “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.” Success in the physical world often de-
pends on recognizing the right moment to act, without waiting for divine intervention to do the heavy lifting. Now Register to Vote! Take Big Mama’s lesson with you, and be ready for your moment.
If you’ve struck while the iron was hot, write me at terryallen-
pr@gmail.com to share how preparation met opportunity in your life.
By Kardal Coleman
Our Voices
By Colin Allred Our Voices
By Terry Allen Big Mama Said
Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall to retire at year’s end
By Brad Townsend Sports enterprise reporter Mavericks and NBA
Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall, a transformative figure who reshaped and energized the franchise during one of its darkest periods, is retiring effective Dec. 31.
Marshall finalized her decision late Monday and informed Mavericks staff members Tuesday morning. Although she turns 65 on Dec. 15, her decision comes as a surprise, just three weeks before the start of the season.
A few days ago, according a person familiar with her thinking, Marshall was in contract-extension negotiations with Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont, whose family last December purchased the franchise’s majority interest from Mark Cuban.
Marshall’s husband, Kenneth, has battled cancer for two years and Marshall herself is a stage 3 colon cancer survivor, but it’s unclear whether Kenneth’s health was a determining factor.
“Cynt Marshall is a force of nature,” Dumont said in a news release announcing the decision. “I like to say her superpower is bringing people together, but the truth is she has many superpowers.
“Cynt has always gone above and beyond in everything she
has done, and her leadership of the Dallas Mavericks is no exception. She is an indelible fixture in the history of this franchise, and we are eternally grateful. The positive impact she has had here will be felt for a very long time.”
When Cuban hired Marshall in March 2018 as the first Black female CEO in NBA history, the franchise was reeling from allegations of two decades of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct within its business operations.
Nine months before taking over the Mavericks’ business operations, Marshall had retired from a 36-year career as an AT&T executive and had founded a consulting firm.
“I’m honored to have been asked by Mark to join him in addressing some very serious issues,” Marshall said upon her hiring on Feb. 26, 2018, initially as interim CEO.
“I’m saddened, and I’ll say that again: I’m very saddened that issues of domestic violence and sexual harassment are so prominent in our society and allegations have surfaced once again in our organization.”
A subsequent independent seven-month investigation confirmed “numerous instances” of sexual harassment and other improper conduct, resulting in multiple Mavericks employee dismissals and Marshall imple-
menting sweeping changes.
What resulted, many longtime employees told The News on the one-year anniversary of Marshall’s arrival, was a culture of inclusion and diversity and a zero-tolerance policy regarding improper conduct.
When Marshall arrived, none of the Mavericks’ business-side executives were women or people of color. Within a year, half of the executives were women and 43% were people of color.
Before Marshall, 74% of the franchise’s business-side employees were white and 68% were men. Within that first year, 40% were people of color; and 43 percent were women.
“Bringing Cynt to the Mavericks six years ago was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever
Jackson State football vs. FAMU
made,” said Cuban, who still owns 27% of the franchise. “She has led this organization to new heights with grace and integrity, and her light will continue to shine bright throughout the community. Thank you, Cynt.”
Marshall’s first contract as fulltime CEO was for three years. In 2020 and 2022, the Mavericks received the NBA’s Inclusion Leadership Award for creating and executing programing that promotes inclusion and inclusive practices. In 2020 the franchise created the GEM program -- Girls Empowered by Mavericks -- to inspire girls and young women by using physical activity as a cornerstone for development and success. In 2023, the Dallas Wings joined the program’s efforts and the Mavericks became the first NBA team to become a WNBA franchise’s jersey sponsor, with a GEM logo.
Under Marshall, the Mavericks broadened and strengthened their ties to North Texas communities through philanthropic initiatives, outreach and activism, perhaps most visibly by advocating social justice in the aftermath of George Floyd’s May of 2020 death in Minneapolis.
Forbes in 2021 named Marshall as one of its 15 most inspiring women leaders globally during Women’s History Month.
A year later, Fortune named her one of the world’s 50 most powerful women business leaders.
The Mavericks’ simultaneous hiring of general manager Nico Harrison and coach Jason Kidd in the summer of 2021 led to a Western Conference finals appearance the following spring; and last season’s run to the NBA Finals.
Amid that run, Dumont signed Harrison and Kidd to contract extensions. Noticeably missing was an extension for Marshall, although Dumont at the time told The News:
“Cynt and Nico and Coach Kidd, they’re the leaders who define the culture and the character of the organization. And I think they’ve done a phenomenal job. And so I think it made a lot of sense. We want them all here for the long term.”
Until recent days, indications were that the triumvirate would be intact for at least another season, but now the franchise is searching for a new CEO.
Marshall and the Mavericks have agreed that after her retirement goes into effect Dec. 31, she will remain as a consultant through December 2025.
moved to national TV
By Steven J. Gaither HBCU Game Day
The Florida A&M (FAMU) and Jackson State football rivalry will be featured on national television once again, with the game airing on ESPNU on Oct 19. This marks a significant change, as the game moves from the neutral-site Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens to a home-and-home series for the first time with both teams as members of the SWAC. The game will be played at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson.
FAMU secured a win in last year’s matchup, breaking Jackson State’s previous dominance. As two of the top HBCU programs, this contest will play a major role in determining SWAC supremacy.
Recent encounters between these
HBCU powerhouses have been thrilling. Jackson State’s previous three victories over FAMU dating back to 2018 added excitement to the rivalry, but FAMU’s 2023 win shifted the momentum. The return to campus-based games heightens the stakes as fans anticipate another competitive contest.
This game is not only critical for determining the SWAC East Division leader but also symbolizes the renewed intensity of HBCU football. Jackson State football is currently 4-2 after defeating Alabama A&M on Saturday. Florida A&M is now 3-2 after knocking off preseason SWAC East favorite Alabama State on Saturday. The history between these teams, their SWAC standings, and their passionate fan bases make it a must-watch for HBCU sports followers.
2024 HBCU Homecoming Dates
Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall smiles after the Mavs made their selection during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Dallas.
Photo:(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
I did everything legal to encourage voter participation.
And you know in Texas, if you breathe hard and you are Black, you may find yourself being persecuted and prosecuted; so I didn’t offer anything but my intellectual properties!
According to state records, there are more than 18 million registered voters in Texas.
Texans, we can do this.
We can flip the state and some stomachs. We can start a movement that will benefit this country for the next century.
I know some say, “Right wing or left wing — they come from the same chicken,” but we have an opportunity to make everyone do right if “we, the people,” do right.
The League of Women Voters and so many other groups are working to educate voters and get them to the polls.
While it may be too late for you to vote;
you still have a dog in this fight, so there’s plenty of work you can do. Contact Win With Black Women, Black Lives Matter and like-minded groups who are working to ensure the process is fair and all voices are heard.
Volunteers are needed. Just think, you might not be able to vote but you can be responsible for ensuring that hundreds who can vote, will. Be on the right side of history!
“THE GARLAND MINUTES” by The City Of Garland.
Garland History GeoTour Launch Party
8:30 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19
Granville Arts Center
GeoTour goes LIVE at GeoCaching.com at 10 a.m
Goodies bags and breakfast provided.
Wrap Up Party
4 to 7 p.m.
Fortunate Son
Garland Fire Department Scores Gold at Swift-Water Event
Three members of Garland Fire’s swift-water rescue team earned gold medals for their dominant performance at a training event designed to test rescuers’ skills in dynamic water situations.
The annual Riversport Swiftwater Conference & Championship Games brings rescue teams from around the country to participate in events while learning new strategies and techniques of the craft. The conference goes over numerous swift-water rescue skills, such as boat paddling and raft flips, throw bag and water entries, strainer and blowouts, wade crossing and rescuing foot entrapments, and flat-water boat skills, among others.
Driver Engineer Robert Kilmer, Driver Engineer Lonnie Green and Driver Engineer Jeff Schmitz represented Garland Fire and won gold in the 30-HP and 40-HP swift-water boat competitions at the event in Oklahoma City.
Garland SWAT Scores in Statewide Competition
Members of the Garland Police SWAT team participated in the annual Texas Tactical Police Officers Association SWAT Competition in Conroe, Texas, placing sixth out of 35 teams.
This year’s competition included SWAT teams from all over Texas plus teams from Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico and California. The annual competition consists of nine events requiring both physical tasks and complex shooting from various positions and platforms. Scoring is based on cumulative time, and teams are penalized for misses and procedural violations.
Experience Halloween in Garland!
Trick or Treat on the Square
2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18
Fill your bags with candy and your afternoon with fun! Local businesses will be handing out candy, plus we’ve got craft stations and much more! Start your journey at the Garland Visitor Center, where the first 100 kids will receive a festive candy tote to kick off their sweet adventure. Costumes are highly encouraged.
Downtown Garland Square
Halloween Party at the Walnut Creek Library
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19
Show off your costume and enjoy games, crafts, cookies and more at this library Halloween party! Please NO scary costumes at this family program.
Walnut Creek Library, 3319 Edgewood Dr.
The Garland Graveyard Haunted House
6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25
Prepare to be spooked! Come traipse through our Garland Graveyard where scenes of witches, zombies, and haunted pumpkins may not be the worst of your problems. Wear your costumes and be prepared for some spooky fun.
Bradfield Recreation Center, 1146 Castle Drive
Trunk or Treat
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25
Come for the candy, stay for the fun! Bring the kids out for a safe trick-or-treating experience. There will be games, a kid's costume contest, and more! So wear your costumes and be prepared for some spooky fun.
Bradfield Recreation Center Parking Lot, 1146 Castle Drive
Campfire Tales
6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Enjoy a campfire on the Downtown Garland Square listening to stories of murders, outlaws and tall tales.
Downtown Garland Square
Celebrating Life Foundation’s 23rd Annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival
23rd Annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival led by Executive Director Sylvia Powers. This year’s theme was ‘Keeping In Step with Change.’ The festival kicked off with special guest: Autumn Yarbrough, the Honorary Chairperson, and CEO/Founder of Nu Standard, and the Coaches Manuelita Davila a 2-year survivor, Leslie Williams a 15-year survivor, and Carla Carter a 20year survivor.
The workout leader Cassie Cass of Shake Body Dance got everybody moving and the walk began. There were various fitness activities at the Alan E. Sims Cedar Hill Recreation Center. There was plenty of shopping provided by local vendors and food trucks and it was great fun for the entire family.
This year’s Breast Cancer Survivors Daphne Hornbuckle and Lynne Haze received special recognition and were crowned.
Save the date for next year’s 24th Sister to Sister’s Fitness Festival for October 4, 2025.
Queens Crowned ‘Breast Cancer Survivor’ Daphne Hornbuckle and Lynne Haze at the 23rd Annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival.
Breast Cancer Survivors being honored at the 23rd Annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival
The Celebration is On - Celebrating Life Foundation 23rd Annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival Terry Allen with City Men Cook presents a gift basket to Sylvia Powers the founder of the Celebrating Life Foundation, as Roz Knighten-Wakefiled and Eppie Walker look on. Photo: Sylvia Social Media fitness influencers, Sheila Hicks and her son Tjuan Hicks of i.live.fit kept the crowd at the 23 Sister to Sister Fitness Festival on their feet.
Sylvia presents a Breast Cancer Blanket to a Survivor
Daphne Hornbuckle, Two-Time Breast Cancer Survivor.
Pop Up Photo of Survivors at the 23rd Sister to Sister Fitness Festival
Lynne Haze, Radio Personality 105.7 KRNB, Breast Cancer Survivor and Speaker at the 23rd Annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival.
Celebrating Life Foundation 23rd Annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival
