It wasn’t the first time. However; it was the first time in my lifetime of voting, that I got to cast my vote for a Black woman.
Now some will say, “you voted for Vice President Kamala Harris because she’s Black!”
So what if I did?
There will also be those who didn’t vote for her for the same reason.
Who would you consider to be in the wrong?
I’m going to stay on this side of history and think about times in the past when support should have been given to a Black person, or a woman but the odds were
See MY TRUTH, page 5
It’s Our Time to Shine – Black Men Must Vote to Move America Forward
Black men, our country needs us now more than ever. On November 5th, we have the power to shape the future of this nation. It’s a moment for us to rise, to make our voices heard, and to lead. This election isn’t just about politics—it’s about ensuring that opportunity, equality, and justice become realities, not just promises.
We’ve been called the backbone of democracy, and for good reason. When we show up, we change the game. Throughout history—from the Civil Rights Movement to today—our votes have driven the victories that bring us closer to justice and equality. Now, it’s time for us to show that same strength, unity, and determination once again.
Why We Must Show Up
This election will decide the
direction of our nation for years to come. Healthcare, economic opportunity, voting rights, education, and criminal justice reform are all on the ballot. These issues directly affect our families, our communities, and our future. If we stay home, we risk
losing the progress we’ve fought hard to achieve—and we can’t afford to let that happen.
Democratic leadership is building a future where Black men and all Americans can thrive. We’ve seen advances in health coverage, small business
investments, job protections, and justice reform. There’s still more to be done, but the progress we’ve made shows that when Democrats are in office, we move forward.
Westwind Condominiums: Residents Voice Concerns Over HOA Management Issues
By Sylvia Powers Correspondent
Residents of Westwind Condominiums, 5913 Lake Hubbard Parkway, Garland, Texas 75043, have been grappling with significant challenges related to their Homeowners Association (HOA), including trash accumulation, an inoperative pool, roofing concerns, and persistent water leakage. These issues have prompted residents to voice their frustrations and demand accountability from the management entities responsible for maintaining their community.
A Homeowners Association (HOA) is typically tasked with managing the upkeep of shared spaces, enforcing community rules, and providing essential services such as trash removal and landscaping. However, the
experience of Westwind residents has highlighted shortcomings in these responsibilities.
Trash Troubles
Cheryl Goode, a condo owner since the summer of 2022, shared her experience with trash management that was so poor it
By John Wiley Price
Join me and VOTE AGAINST Republican Propositions S, T, and U at the bottom for your ballot.. These propositions are a direct assault on the progress we’ve achieved in our lifetimes.
Think about it. Single-member districts? That wasn’t our grandparents’ fight – that was our fight, spanning two decades starting in the 1970s. Many of you stood with me, marched with me, demanded that our voices be heard in every corner of this city. We won that
battle, but now they want to take it away. The desegregation of Dallas ISD? That wasn’t some distant historical event. It was a three-decade fight that began in the 1970s and stretched into the 2000s. Some of us were those children, bused to schools across town, facing hatred and fear, all for the promise of an equal education. And now, with these propositions, we risk sliding backwards.
Let’s break down what’s at stake: Proposition S would let wealthy individuals and corporations sue the city more easily. The non-discrimination ordinances that protect us from prejudice? The equity programs that are finally helping Black businesses grow? The affordable housing programs keep-
prompted the city of Garland to intervene. “My realtor warned me about the trash pickup issues when I moved in. It was so bad that it spilled over into an assigned parking space of another owner,” Goode recalled. After city officials contacted the management company at the time,
Alternative Management Group, some action was taken to address the situation.
Despite this resolution, Goode later discovered water seeping beneath her wood floors. “They had stripped my unit down to the studs and completely rebuilt it before I moved in. I knew the leak wasn’t from inside my unit, but an HOA issue,” she emphasized, citing the complexities of insurance coverage regarding external damage.
Management Changes and Continuing Problems
The ongoing issues led homeowners to vote out Alternative Management Group (which later rebranded to AMGI) and hire Junction Properties Management. However, this change did not bring the hoped-for improvements. Resident Goran Lukic re-
ported additional concerns, stating that management companies often have unfiltered access to financial accounts, leading to unauthorized payments. “We found out that Junction Properties Management made a payment of about $6,000 without our authorization,” he noted.
Lukic also highlighted severe maintenance failures, including sewage backup affecting tenant units. “Residents were reaching out to the HOA, but the board never heard about it, which allowed the issue to fester for months,” he said. This lack of communication led to health risks due to exposure to sewage vapors. Only after transitioning to a new management company did residents realize these critical requests had been ignored.
ing our families in place despite rising gentrification? All of these could be undone with the stroke of a pen and the filing of a lawsuit. And more so, our tax dollars would be spent fighting these lawsuits instead of being used to better our communities. Proposition T would give a small, unrepresentative group of 1,400 people the power to terminate the City Manager. This is a direct attack on the single-member districts we fought for just a few decades ago. Many of us remember a Dallas where our communities had no voice in city government. We changed that. We created a system where every neighborhood, including ours, has a seat at the table. Now they want to replace our hard-won representation with a
scam survey of 1,400 people. Proposition U mandates the hiring of 900 additional police officers, regardless of training or preparation. Our police chief has stated that training 900 new recruits is nearly impossible, noting that the department can only hire 250 officers a year. This proposition would flood our streets with underprepared officers, undoing years of progress toward building trust between law enforcement and our neighborhoods. We’ve spent years—decades—working towards a police force that serves and protects all Dallasites. We’ve pushed for better training, community policing, and accountability. Proposition U would undermine all of that progress. The tragedy here—the thing
that should anger every one of us—is that these propositions threaten to undo progress we’ve made in our own lifetimes. Progress that’s so recent, so fragile, that many of us still remember what Dallas was like before. And now, we face the very real possibility that our children and grandchildren could inherit a city that’s moved backwards.
Early voting runs from Oct 21 to Nov 1, and Election Day is Nov 5. VOTE AGAINST Republican Propositions S, T, and U at the bottom for your ballot.
See WESTWIND CONDOMINIMUS,
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
Oversight Democrats’ New Report Proves Trump Illegally Used His D.C. Hotel
Trump Also Accepted Other Corrupt Payments from Federal Job Seekers, and Presidential Pardon Recipients
From Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX30)
WASHINGTON — Friday, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability released a new staff report revealing how, while he was in office, Donald Trump used the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. to unlawfully take hundreds of payments from a federal agency—the U.S. Secret Service— and also to take legally and ethically questionable payments from federal and state officials, federal job seekers, and presidential pardon recipients.
These payments demonstrate how Donald Trump violated the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause as he used the Secret Service as his personal ATM and repeatedly took payments that raise the specter of pay-toplay corruption from individuals who sought and, in many cases obtained, favors from the Commander-in-Chief.
The report is based on a limited set of records—hotel guest logs covering just 11 months at a single one of Donald Trump’s more than 500 business entities—produced by Mr. Trump’s former accounting firm, Mazars USA LLP, before Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, working with attorneys for former President Trump, slammed the door shut and blocked Committee Democrats from obtaining additional records pursuant to a Committee subpoena and court-supervised settlement.
Giving new meaning to the term “petty cash,” most of the payments made in the time frame discussed in this report were small—and their cumulative total is just over $300,000— but these transactions provide a glimpse into the wide array of unlawful and unethical transactions, including flat-out vio-
lations of the Constitution, that characterized Donald Trump’s methodical exploitation of his presidency for moneymaking purposes.
“During the 118th Congress, the Republican-led Oversight Committee systematically obstructed Democrats’ investigation into evidence of unconstitutional wrongdoing and profiteering by former President Trump.
And they tried to hide a mountain of evidence documenting how Trump used his hotel to fleece the American taxpayer to line his own pockets in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause.
The Constitution makes clear: beyond a salary, the president may not receive any additional payments from federal or state governments. This is a non-waivable prohibition against exploiting the office to convert and pocket public funds.
“Despite the tall tale told by Eric Trump that U.S. Secret Service agents ‘stay at our properties for free,’ Donald Trump’s hotel repeatedly fleeced the U.S. Secret Service, charging it far in excess of approved government per diem rates and even many times the rates charged to hundreds of other patrons—including some of the rooms rented by the Qatari royal family and Chinese business interests—for rooms used by agents protecting members of the Trump family.
“Our report also details startling instances in which state and federal officials, as well as individuals actively seeking federal jobs and presidential pardons, used the D.C. hotel as a channel to put money into the Commander-in-Chief’s pocket.
“Mr. Trump has made clear that he will not only refuse to divest from his businesses in a possible future presidency, but he will seek to multiply opportunities to commodify the Oval Office for his personal enrichment by turning thousands of civil service jobs into patronage positions—all with the attendant payoff possibilities from supplicant job-seekers and the prospective blessing of his handpicked Supreme Court justices.
“While we still do not know the full extent of the unconstitutional payments Trump pocketed while fleecing American
taxpayers, one thing is certain: we must put legal barriers in place now to prevent the kind of rip-off corruption our Founding Fathers so strongly opposed.
Given the need to enforce the U.S. Constitution against both foreign and domestic emoluments corruption, in the coming days, I will work with my Democratic Colleagues on a legislative fix and hope that my Republican colleagues will join us in this effort,” said Ranking Member Raskin.
A few examples of unconstitutional, illegal and corrupt expenditures revealed in the report:
U.S. Secret Service:
Then-President Trump turned the U.S. Secret Service into an ATM for his personal enrichment, frequently charging the agency room rates far above approved government per diem rates and far above the rates charged to hundreds of other private patrons when Secret Service agents were protecting members of the Trump family. For example:
On November 8, 2017, when Donald Trump Jr. stayed at former President Trump’s D.C. hotel, the Secret Service under President Trump approved a room rate of $1,185—more than five times the approved government per diem rate of $201. The room records provided to the Committee by Mazars show that the Secret Service was indeed charged the astounding rate of $1,185 for two rooms that evening. Amazingly, that same night, the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., rented out more than 200 rooms to private parties at just $125 or $170 each.
On November 28, 2017, in conjunction with an apparent stay by Eric Trump and his wife, Lara Trump, the Secret Service approved a waiver for a room rate of $600 when the official per diem for that month was just $201. The room records Mazars produced to the Committee show that, on that very night, the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. rented out more than 80 rooms at rates less than $600 per room, including renting a dozen rooms to the Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal Co., Ltd.—a private corporation headquartered in China—for $338.85 each.
During a February 22, 2018, visit by Eric Trump, then-President Trump’s D.C. hotel charged the Secret Service $895 for at least one room—more than four times the per diem rate of $201. That same night, four of the rooms charged at the D.C. hotel that evening to the “Sheikh Al Thani Family Extended Stay”— Al Thani being the name of the royal family of Qatar—were charged at rates less than $895. As such, Trump charged the taxpayers considerably more for some of his unlawful domestic emoluments that night than he charged foreign royals for some of his unlawful foreign emoluments.
Trump Family: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner—former President Trump’s daughter and son-in-law who were then serving as senior White House advisors in the Trump Administration—were apparently charged for their Trump hotel stays while Eric Trump, Lara Trump, and Donald Trump Jr.— Trump children not working for the government, were—were apparently not charged at all for their stays. The Committee has been unable to determine whether Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner used taxpayer funds to pay the Trump Hotel for their stays or to obtain an explanation for this discrepancy between members of Trump’s family who served in government and those who did not. But, given everything else we have learned about Trump practices, it seems logical to conclude that this may have been another opportunity to cash in on taxpayer dollars.
Ambassadors: Eight of President Trump’s Ambassadors stayed at his D.C. hotel during their time in office, often while on official business, meaning any payments they made using taxpayer funds directly violated the constitutional prohibition on domestic emoluments. Some of these ambassadors even took it upon themselves to actively steer additional business to their boss’s hotel.
State and Local Government Officials: Two state officials and one delegation of state legislators stayed at Trump’s D.C. hotel while on official or political business, likely violating the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause, which forbids the President to take money from
state governments.
Judgeships: The report identifies four examples of individuals nominated by former President Trump to serve as federal judges who stayed at Trump’s D.C. hotel before they were nominated to their posts or during key steps in their confirmation processes. The Senate confirmed all four of these individuals who now hold lifetime positions. Three of these judges spent money at the President’s hotel while they were sitting state or magistrate judges.
Pardons: At least five people who received pardons from President Trump stayed at his D.C. hotel in just the 11 months for which Committee Democrats were able to obtain records. For example:
Elliott Broidy: Mr. Broidy spent approximately $15,000 on stays at former President Trump’s D.C. hotel in the fall and winter of 2017 and in early 2018. During the Trump Administration, Mr. Broidy violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act for his un-registered lobbying to try to persuade the Administration to drop the DOJ’s prosecutions regarding Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. Mr. Broidy even stayed at former President Trump’s hotel the day he reportedly lobbied the former President on behalf of the United Arab Emirates to fire Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. President Trump pardoned this repeat customer days before leaving office.
Albert Pirro: Mr. Pirro stayed at then-President Trump’s D.C. hotel for at least four nights in 2018, spending more than $2,000. On his final day in office, Mr. Trump would grant Mr. Pirro, a real-estate lawyer whom Mr. Trump had previously kept on retainer, a pardon for his 2000 conviction on conspiracy and tax evasion charges.
This new report follows the Oversight Democrats’ report detailing former President Trump’s violation of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause after pocketing at least $7.8 million from at least 20 foreign governments which sought and often obtained favorable treatment from the Trump Administration while spending money at just four of Mr. Trump’s properties over a twoyear period.
Hometown Girls Raise Money for Breast Cancer
To celebrate the 2025 Hooters Calendar and help raise money for breast cancer research, Hooters hosted a local calendar signing at the Hooters Garland location. For every calendar sold, Hooters donated $1 toward its Give A Hoot fundraising effort benefiting the V Foundation for Cancer Research – one of the nation’s leading cancer research funding organizations – and other local beneficiaries through the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund. To date, Hooters has raised over $9.4 million for this organization.
The event featured photos and autographs from Hooters Girls gracing the 2025 Hooters Calendar, including featured ladies from the Garland store and Miss Hooters International 2024.
Joining the calendar signing event included the following Hooters Girls:
• Miss Hooters International and Centerfold: Cassidy Welch (Grand Prairie, Texas)
• Miss January: Sarah Magda (Sarasota, Florida)
• Miss May: Sophia Zullo (Mason, Ohio)
• Miss June: Jah’Zahria Iverson (Douglasville, Georgia)
• December 2024 Feature Girl: Jules Turner (Addison, Texas)
• Gracie Garrison (Garland, Texas)
• Astryn Wilson (Garland, Texas)
Rep. Jasmine Crockett
The White Man’s Last Stand?
By Vincent L. Hall
“To see those, those monkeys from those African countries— damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes!” Nixon gave a huge laugh.
– Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon discussing Africa voting against the U.S. at the United Nations in 1971.
When it comes to giving up the advantages assigned with “White Privilege,” you can be certain of one thing: they never will.
General George Armstrong Custer was killed on June 25, 1876, in a battle with Sitting Bull and his Indian warriors at the Little Big Horn. This massacre has been called Custer’s Last Stand, but in many ways, it was Red Man’s last stand.
Today, Donald Trump represents the White man’s last stand, and the MAGA-dominated Republican Party is waging the battle against the browning of America, and the world!
The Republicans already had a lot of weapons in their arsenal. They mastered tactics like systematic gerrymandering of
voting districts, reducing the hours and number of polling places.
They champion the tough talk on crime, immigration and government intervention. If you don’t think removing straight-party ticket voting in Texas helped them, you don’t understand electoral politics.
They talk about immigration, but they never tax or punish the employers of the same people who are “taking jobs away from “Amuri-cans.”
They always have a hate campaign, but it is always pointed at non-White peoples.
Despite these and other tactics, America survived and flourished under its first Black president, and the Black woman who may succeed Biden shows signs of social promise.
All the aforementioned leads us to one crucial question: Could the “Trump/Shay’D Vance” campaign be the latest White man’s last stand?”
MAGA is not new. It has some roots in the movement sparked under Nixon in the 1970s.
However, an article printed a few years ago in the N.Y. Times posed a scary proposition for White Nationalists; “Fewer Births Than Deaths Among Whites in Majority of U.S. States.” It went on to unpack several
“To see those, those monkeys from those African countries—damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes!” Nixon gave a huge laugh.
– Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon discussing Africa voting against the U.S. at the United Nations in 1971.
salient points while it unravels a sudden social paranoia.
“The pattern started nearly two decades ago in a handful of states with aging White populations like Pennsylvania and West Virginia. But fertility rates dropped drastically after the Great Recession, and mortality rates for whites who are not of Hispanic origin have been rising, driven partly by drug overdoses. That has put demographic change on a faster track. The list of states where white deaths outnumber births now includes North Carolina and Ohio.”
The study that generated these headlines also pointed to the high number of deaths among Whites from drug overdoses. This is right out of the White Nationalists textbook. Trumpism is a rearmed leftover dish that mixes hatred and racism with White grievance to form a toxic mix.
Just two years ago, a September 15, 2022, article appeared in the Texas Tribune. The shocking results of a population study didn’t get picked up by any of the major news outlets in Texas.
“Hispanic Texans may now be the state’s largest demographic group, new census data shows. For years, the state’s Hispanic population has grown significantly faster than the white population.
The new census data is the first to reflect Texas passing a milestone in its cultural and political evolution.”
Caucasians throughout the world believe they are superior to all darker-skinned people. They have invested heavily in faulty research that supports their insecurity.
But the pathology of privilege shared by most White Americans far exceeds anything the
Europeans can muster.
Trump won a technical electoral victory by inferring that he could take America back to the racial paradise it once had.
MAGA understands that a growing immigrant population coupled with an inability to grow the GOP could result in the need to share power.
They know that it requires having White’s in power to keep White Power! And suddenly, their world is growing darker quicker than they can keep up with.
Custer and company fared well with the systematic destruction of the Native Americans.
MAGA, with Donald Trump, is the White Man’s Last Stand, and they don’t take it lightly!
Hope Vance Demeanor didn’t Fool You at VP Debate
By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
Grinning and smiling are tactics used by some to create an illusion. It is kind of like the devil in sheep’s clothing. You know it’s the devil, but he just changed his image.
I watched some of the debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz on last week. Each time I tuned in, I saw Vance smiling and agreeing with Walz. When I saw that posture, I knew something was up.
The JD Vance America knows makes inappropriate and hurtful statements about women. The JD Vance the country knows is one who cannot come to grips with the fact that his running mate lost the 2020 presidential election.
I think JD is still shell shocked that Kamala Harris is the Democratic presidential candidate.
Further stressing him out is the fact that his vice-presidential rival, Tim Walz is a former governor and is both well liked and
If you are still undecided, listen to two things. First, listen to the many false statements made by Donald Trump every time he opens his mouth. Second, listen to a few of the lyrics of the song, Smiling Faces Sometimes. It goes, “smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend. Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within”.
well respected. Going into the debate, his Republican Party suggested that Vance would hit a homerun in the square off against Mr. Vance. That prognostication did not happen. In baseball terms, he only hit a single. Polls from major sources said there was no clear winner. At best, JD Vance had a one-point advantage.
In a CBS poll, Vance was viewed attacking Kamala Harris. On the other side, Walz was seen as explaining his positions on the issues. In my opinion that is not surprising. Since the GOP started with Trump and Vance, they have been long on fear and attacks. That is pretty much their go to move.
The Republican operatives told JD Vance to be more agree-
able and show some compassion. Unlike former president Trump, Vance followed their advice. The CBS and CNN polls showed that to be true. Did JD Vance move the political needle in any way? I don’t think so. Here’s why. It is a classic case of bait and switch. JD Vance baited the American people into thinking he was kind and empathetic. The day after the debate, he returned to his bland and insensitive self. Vance is simply an unfeeling character now.
I say now because I believe at one point in his life, he was a kinder and gentler person. Mr. Trump gave him a script and a persona to follow. He has followed it to a “T’’. Because Mr. Vance tried to
hoodwink America in the debate, it begs the question, can he be trusted? The answer of course is no. Would you vote for someone that you can’t trust?
Character really does count in leadership. JD Vance wants to lead, but he’s only being led by Donald Trump.
Like you, I have watched enough of his television interviews to gain a perspective about him. He is inexperienced and not an effective communicator. America, can you see JD Vance being the vice president of our nation? Of course, you can’t.
The weeks are drawing near as we approach the election day of November 5th. This will be a test of our democratic ideals. Will we uphold our democ-
racy or succumb to tyranny?
The Democratic Party has an increasing number of action groups. One of them is Republicans for Harris. One of those Republicans is Liz Cheney. She said, “I don’t believe that we have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names, particularly in swing states. As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this. And because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.”
If you are still undecided, listen to two things. First, listen to the many false statements made by Donald Trump every time he opens his mouth. Second, listen to a few of the lyrics of the song, Smiling Faces Sometimes. It goes, “smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend. Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within”.
We Can’t Normalize the Demonization of Haitians
By Bobby Henry
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing more than 200 Blackowned print and online media outlets, is outraged by the demo-
nization and blatant lies being spread about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
This purposeful defamation and dehumanization of people legally seeking a better life, like so many immigrants before them, has no place in a country that built its success on the backs of enslaved people and immigrants.
We strongly embrace and respect the diversity and positive contributions of everyone who calls the United States home.
This is a core tenet of our values.
Let’s be clear — what Donald Trump and JD Vance have done by sanctioning and attempting to normalize assaults on immigrants has provided fertile ground for breeding a new generation of hate-mongers.
The NNPA will join forces
with, and add our voice to, any organization that denounces and takes action against this kind of open bigotry, hate, and violence.
Today, in a country whose foundation rests on a system of true democracy, we must never vote for those whose self-interests conflict with the greater good. Our most powerful weapon to eradicate this behavior is our
vote. We must vote them out, or better yet, not vote for them in the first place.
VOTE like your life depends on it — because it does.
Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, award-winning columnist and a lifelong Drapetomaniac!
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 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Our Voices
Bobby R. Henry Sr. is the
In Her Words
By Cheryl Gillespie
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and statistics indicate that one-third of Texas women will experience the trauma of being involved in a domestic violence relationship. I stand witness to that statistic because I am a survivor.
Survivors do not celebrate this month. We acknowledge that
I Survived
many sisters suffer or will needlessly endure this trauma.
Trauma is a word that is often used and abused, like many women who suffer in disgrace and silence at the countless beatings, psychological abuse, and shame.
Perhaps it’s asking how I got myself into this and how can I get out of this situation safely.
I got out, but yet I live in a prison of despair that creeps into my psychic memory every so often.
October is more than that for me; it is triumph over tragedy.
It may be tragic that I was an unwilling prisoner of domestic violence., but yet I triumphed.
I have triumphed to tell my story today, and though it is painful for me to share the memories of the past, I do so because when you look at me, you will see an inner strength that all survivors have.
It is the strength that Maya Angelou once said, “Still I Rise.” American culture has conditioned us to believe that abusing women is acceptable.
Whether it was Ralph Kramden who threatened to knock out Alice
Kramden in every episode of The Honeymooners comedy show in the 1950s, or present-day rappers like Sean Combs who brutally assaulted Cassie, this behavior has not disappeared.
Domestic violence is not funny or cool. We must put an end to it.
They are considering passing legislation such as Representative Colin Allred, (the current United States Senatorial candidate) Skills Against Violence Act that supports skills training and workforce development for survivors of gender-based violence.
This legislation includes survivors of domestic violence. The
Skills Against Violence Act is essential as women are often alone, and jobless, as they rise from the ashes to a better tomorrow.
There are indeed better tomorrows. These tomorrows mean relying on the hands of an unshakeable God who has me.
I have God, and he has me, and yes, I have a dog named Khloe (smile).
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I am a survivor.
A lot to unpack as you prepare to cast your vote
Wake
We’ve had to do a lot of listening lately about choices we must make about who’ll be our next president when 2025 rolls around. Single women should be having children if we want to have something to do about the future of our nation! That’s what J.D. Vance said! We don’t know what the orange man thinks about that or should we just assume he’ll tell us on his first day in office?
Many believe the orange man was really injured enough to wear that big pad on his ear that could have been covered
by a Band-Aid! I’m still trying to figure out how he really got that little scar! I think he wears the pad for sympathy! It’s hard enough to believe his ear was pierced by a young man who couldn’t shoot straight enough to even get into a gun training session in school! I wasn’t at the Republican convention, but I’m having a hard time believing the same man who was such a bad shooter that he tragically killed one man and injured two others near the orange man was the same one who hit just the tip of his ear. Let’s look at the Secret Service as they tried to protect the orange man while he continued to pop his head up so we could see his fist pump into the air (which, by the way, is a symbol we Black people use to express our determination to fight against racism). I may be
wrong, but I find it hard to believe anyone in his right mind who was just shot would not want to be protected by holding his head down so as not to make it easy for the shooter!
I was impressed by the Secret Service’s quick response as they risked their lives to save the orange man. He should be grateful for the Secret Service woman who rushed up to make him stop popping his head up so they could get him down the stairs to the safety of the limo waiting to take him away.
For those complaining about the women, they’re the ones who quickly took measures to get him into the limo instead of allowing him to showboat further putting himself and them in more danger.
The three female agents stood by the door of the limo risking their lives to save him.
They closed the door as he resisted and kept him safe as the male agents walked away.
I resent criticism of agents just because they are women, but when you consider how orange man and his VP teach people to disrespect women, they should consider themselves lucky the women agents were there, and it’s horrible the way the female director of the Secret Service was treated, causing her to resign before she completed her study of the matter.
Mark Pocan said in essence:
“Selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate is the latest blaring sign that if Trump retakes the White House and has a Republican Congress, he’ll pursue an extreme agenda that leaves Americans with fewer rights, worse healthcare access and a higher cost of living—not
Why Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Said
Our Voices
By Dr. John E. Warren
On May 17, 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was among a number of Civil Rights leaders who gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to speak to a crowd of 20,000 people who gathered for the implementation of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision by the Supreme Court some three years
earlier. In his speech, which was given some eight years before the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Dr. King laid out the importance of “us Black people having the right to vote.” He said:
“Give us the ballot, (the right to vote) and we will no longer have to worry the federal government about our basic rights; Give us the ballot (yes), and we will no longer plead to the federal government for passage of an anti-lynching law, we will by the power of our vote write the law on the status books of the South and bring an end to the dastardly acts of the hooded
perpetrators of violence.
Give us the ballot, and we will transform the salient misdeeds of bloodthirsty mobs into calculated good deeds of orderly citizens;
Give us the ballot, and we will fill our legislative halls with men of goodwill and send to the sacred halls of Congress, men who will not sign a “Southern Manifesto” because of their devotion to the manifesto of justice.
Give us the ballot and we will place judges on the benches of the South (and the North) who will do justly and love mercy, and we will place at the head of
to mention a loss of freedom.”
You know orange man’s positions on issues, but take a look at what JD Vance, Trump’s selection for VP believes in: 1. national abortion ban with no exceptions, 2. stay in abusive marriages for the sake of children, 3. universal child care is a “war against normal people“! Don’t forget his voting record where he failed to stand with striking autoworkers last year and advocated for cuts to Social Security. Consider working for and voting for those who’ve shown they’ll work for your best interests. Next time to do that is November 5, 2024. You know how to vote — so VOTE!
Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women and host of “Wake Up and Stay Woke” on WPFW-89.3 FM
Why We Must Vote
the southern states governors, who have felt not only the tang of the human, but the glow of the divine. And, Give us the ballot, and we will quietly and nonviolently, without rancor or bitterness, implement the Supreme Court Decision of May, 1954.”
Today, we clearly have the ballot in our hands in the form of the votes we can cast on November 5, 2024 in the General Election. Everything Dr. King prophetically said we could do if we have the ballot, we now have both the ballot and the power to do. Our enemy is not those who would oppose or attempt to block our right to vote. We are our own enemy if we allow apathy and indifference to convince us that our vote does not count. The only question before us is, Will we use our vote to protect and improve our lives or will we surrender our rights to those who would set us back to the real days of Jim Crow and slavery? It’s in our hands on November 5th with all the people and propositions on our ballots. What will you do?
is
John E.
I Am Addicted, and I Say Have Joy for Kamala
By Terry Allen
Lucille “Big Mama” Allen, the pillar of faith and wisdom in our family, shared the kind of life advice that cut through confusion and lit the way forward.
In her own joyful spirit, she declared, *“I am addicted, and I say have joy for Kamala,”* echoing the confidence and enthusiasm she felt watching Kamala Harris rise to the Vice Presidency.
Big Mama’s joy, like that
spoken of by Bebe and CeCe Winans in their song, “Addictive Love,” serves as both a motivator and a reminder of the unique joy that can drive us toward new possibilities just as Harris has stated.
It is Freedom Joy.
The lyrics ring out, “All I wanna do is just explain why we feel the way we do… what a joy to share with you.”
In the same way, Big Mama shared her deep joy for the advancements she witnessed, from her civil rights-era beginnings to today’s monumental steps. This joy crosses generations and compels us toward positive change, giving us a vision of a “new place called Kamalot”—a land where justice,
My Truth cont. from page 1
against them. I didn’t vote for Kamala Harris because she is Black. She’s smart, talented, meticulous, astute, creative, intuitive, and passionate. And there’s more.
Having a woman in the White House is a feat long overdue. While the Hon. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), the Member from the great state of New York, was not successful; she laid the foundation and put forth the notion that we could build better families, homes, communities, nations, and yes; a better world. Now I am not foolish enough to think that men won’t have a say-so in decisions, but what I do know is that having a woman at the table will definitely make a difference. I also believe that she will do what sometimes others have been un-
equity, and community spirit thrive.
Throughout our history, we’ve seen this joy in action, a powerful force uniting people
able to do — find people of color who are qualified to serve.
And more women will be in the room at the table. Sounds scary? Don’t be alarmed. If you use your brain, you see the value in having a woman in a leadership position.
Now, I didn’t avoid voting for Donald Trump because he is white. Actually, I believe if he were Black, with his portfolio, he wouldn’t even be allowed to be on the ballot.
across ages and backgrounds for the common good.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was one such example where, inspired by the collective joy and hope for freedom, multiple generations banded together, paving the way for change. The March on Washington brought young and old alike, each adding strength to the vision of equality and justice.
And, most recently, the Black Lives Matter movement bridged generations, where shared joy for dignity and justice moved people across the nation to demand lasting change.
Big Mama’s legacy, like the love Bebe and CeCe sing about,
Better still, if America was a company/corporation; many have said his children would have seized control and retired him years ago. All eyes are on us. Some have said, “fool me once, shame on you —fool me twice, shame on me!”
Are voters going to take a utilitarian position and vote for what is good for the entire country, and ultimately the world; or will we blindly, selfishly, and recklessly
is uplifting and endless. It calls us to embrace this joy in our own lives, to seek out this “addictive love” and let it fuel us toward change. As Bebe and CeCe sing, “See, I’m lost without it… this love takes me higher.”
Let us be unafraid to sing our own song, carrying Big Mama’s joy forward, and building a brighter, kinder world together and call it Kamalot!
Email me your thoughts at terryallenpr@gmail.com
Terry Allen is an NABJ awardwinning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and founder of the charity – Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org
lead the country down a path of destruction fueled by hatred, and dishonesty?
Your choice could make a difference in how we are viewed decades from now. Folks will be trying to rewrite or erase history just like they are doing today because some of this stuff is downright cray cray!
Reminds me of a line from the great 1970s group, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes: “The whole towns’ laughing at me!”
Cheryl Gillespie is a businesswoman and community servant who is a survivor of domestic violence.
Dr.
Warren
publisher of The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.
By Dr. E. Faye Williams
Up and Stay Woke
Big Mama Said
Dallas Alumnae Deltas celebrate 100 Years of Sisterhood and Service
Jazz Age Soiree and Centennial Exhibit at African American Museum
The Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. proudly announces its Centennial Celebration, commemorating 100 years of sisterhood, scholarship, service and social action to the Dallas community.
As one of the largest and oldest chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Dallas Alumnae Chapter boasts a rich legacy of empowering women and driving social change. Since its establishment in 1924, the Dallas Alumnae Chapter has remained steadfast in its mission of public service, playing a crucial role in advocating for the rights of African Americans and promoting social justice and equality in the Dallas area.
Among its signature programs are the Delta Joy Scott Woodfork Beauty Salon, Teen Town Hall, Frederica Chase Dodd Scholarship, Joy Scott Woodfork Scholarship, and youth initiatives such as Delta Academy, Delta G.E.M.S, EMBODI, and TASPers. Additionally, the Dallas Alumnae Chapter is actively involved in social action initiatives, including Monday Night Politics, the Delta Legal Clinic, and various voter registration and education efforts.
The year-long Centennial Celebration began with the annual Founders Day Public Luncheon, where over 800 attendees gathered to honor the chapter’s “Century of Excellence” and recognize Dallas Alumnae Chapter members celebrating 25- and 50-year milestones of commitment to the sorority. Additionally, chapter members volunteered with the Texas Ramp Project, the chapter’s Centennial Celebration service initiative, to provide free wheelchair ramps for low-income, homebound older adults and people with disabilities identified by local healthcare providers. The ramps were constructed entirely with volunteer labor, minimizing costs and investing sweat equity into the community.
The Dallas Alumnae Chapter recently announced the opening of its Centennial Exhibit held at the African American Museum (AAM).
The chapter’s Heritage & Archives and Centennial Celebration-Special Projects committees hosted, “Confection Chronicles:
A Historical Journey” ribbon cutting and dessert reception to honor the grand opening of this special exhibit. Open now through March 2025, the community is invited to visit the AAM to view the chapter’s legacy of service that spans over 100 years and continues today.
To culminate the year-long celebration, a gala event will be held on November 23, 2024, at the prestigious Omni Dallas Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Dallas, and promises to be an unforgettable evening themed “Jazz Age Soiree.”
This gala will feature a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, live entertainment, and a special program that highlights the outstanding contributions of the Dallas Alumnae Chapter over the past century. Guests will be transported back to the glamour and excitement of the 1920s, where they can enjoy live music, vintage-inspired decor, and a celebration of the sorority’s historic
impact through the years.
“We invite the community to join us as we celebrate this incredible milestone,” said Karla McGary, 49th President of the Dallas Alumnae Chapter. “This Centennial Celebration is not just a commemoration of our past, but a look toward the future as we continue our commitment to serving Dallas communities and empowering women through sisterhood and social change.”
The evening will specifically feature reflections on the sorority’s 100-year journey of advocacy and support in the Dallas area, along with entertainment from local Dallas favorites, Saxylisa, Audacity, and DJ Pharoah. The mistress of ceremonies will be the beloved, Tashara Parker, former traffic reporter and anchor for WFAA Daybreak.
Tickets are available for $175 per person or $1,755 for a table of 10 until Thursday, October 31, 2024. Additionally, guests are invited to purchase a commemo-
rative souvenir advertisement to demonstrate your support.
For more information about the event, ticket purchases, or sponsorship opportunities, visit dallasalumnae.org/100 or contact us at dallasalumnae100@ gmail.com.
Join the celebration of a legacy of sisterhood, service, and empowerment, while looking forward to the future of the Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Our Chapter In 1924, the establishment of the Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority marked a significant moment in the city’s history, led by Soror Frederica Chase Dodd, one of the organization’s founding members. Today, the chapter, built upon the contributions of Soror Dodd and other esteemed members, maintains a strong presence, expanding its membership and actively advancing the mission of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to empower and uplift the Dallas community. Click here to learn about our chapter milestones.
2024 HBCU Homecoming Dates
Bethune Cookman University Jackson State University 10/26/2024
Bluefield State University Kentucky Christian University 09/28/2024 Bowie State University Bluefield
Time to Shine
cont. from page 1
Kamala Harris: Leadership That Represents Us
I am proud to support Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States. She’s a leader with the experience, vision, and resolve to address the challenges we face. Her platform is focused on creating opportunities for working families, supporting small businesses, advancing racial equity, and ensuring that justice and fairness are more than ideals—they are lived realities.
With Kamala Harris in the White House, we will have a President who listens, acts, and delivers. She knows the power of community and is committed to a future where every one of us has the chance to succeed.
She supports federal voting rights legislation, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act—because she believes that every American’s voice should be heard and protected.
It’s On Us to Save This Nation
Our time is now. The future of this nation is in our hands. We can’t sit on the sidelines—we must show up, vote, and lead. When we do, we demonstrate that we are not just participants in democracy—we’re leaders in it.
This election isn’t just another vote—it’s a chance to protect our progress and build a future of justice, opportunity, and equality. Together, we can make history. But that only happens if we use our power to vote. On November 5th, let’s vote for progress, unity, and leadership that reflects our values. Let’s vote for Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. This is our moment to shine, and it’s on us to save this great nation. I am a proud Black man, and I am proud to support Kamala Harris for President. Our vote is our power—let’s use it. This is our chance to lead, and together we will.
Along with pictures of exhibit, are the current president Karla McGary and several of the past presidents, and the current Executive Board.
New Management, Ongoing Concerns
Currently, Westwind has hired Accelerated Management based in Flower Mound, but challenges persist. Goode reported that the previous management company, Junction Properties, still owes the community $6,000 for not fulfilling their contract. Moreover, questions remain about AMGI’s incomplete roofing repairs—specifically, that three out of four roofs needing attention were fixed, leaving Building 5909 vulnerable.
Attempts to reach representatives from Junction City Management and AMGI for comments on these issues were unsuccessful.
In the last five months Accelerated Management has taken care of the sewage issue and got the pool up to code and we passed inspection by the City of Garland. They also have started the process of getting a bid to fix the roof issue.
A Call for Action
The residents of Westwind Condominiums are striving for better management practices and improved communication from their HOA.
As they work with their current management company, they remain hopeful for effective resolutions to their ongoing concerns and a commitment to maintaining their community’s standards.
However, path forward will require diligent oversight and a renewed focus on resident needs to restore trust and safety within the Westwind community.
