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IMESSENGER VOL XIV NO 35

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MAY 16, 2025

JAMIE MILLER

TANYA DOWNING

Veritex

Executive Director

MELODY SIROOSIAN

LUCY MARROQUIN

Future Doctor

Volunteer Coordinator

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A l i v e i s c r i t i c a1 l FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

METRO SPOTLIGHT

I Messenger

Carol West

An IMM LLC Publication

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Carol West was sworn in as the first African American president of the Texas Senate Ladies Club! She is married to State Senator Royce West, who is serving his 32nd year in the Texas Senate, representing Dis5/2/25, 2:17 PM Criss Cross Puzzle Education Puzzlemaker trict 23. A graduate of | Discovery Dillard | Discovery Education Puzzlemaker University, CarolCrissisCrossaPuzzle member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Links Inc. and Concord Church.

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Established 2011 CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

ACROSS 4. MOMMY DEAREST 5. MOTHER'S DAY OBSERVED 7. THEY ARE THE BEST AT THIS 8. COSBY SHOW MOTHER 10. OFFICIAL MOTHER'S DAY FLOWER 12. LEADER OF THE FAMILY 13. EARLY MEAL 15. GEORGE JEFFERSON'S WIFE 17. NUMBER ONE GIFT 18. COLOR THAT HONORS MOTHERS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY DOWN 1. MOTHER ON GOOD TIMES 2. MOTHERS DO FOR THEIR CHILDREN 3. PERSON WHO IS LIKE A COPARENT 6. MOTHER ON LEAVE IT TO BEAVER 9. ODE TO HIS MOTHER 11. RECORDED I’LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA” 14. ANOTHER NAME FOR A MOTHER 16. DOES EVERYTHING Use the clues to fill in the words above.

Words can go across or down.

ACROSS Letters are shared when the words intersect.

18 of 18 words placed.4. MOMMY DEAREST

5. MOTHER'S DAY OBSERVED 7. THEY ARE THE BEST AT THIS

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8. COSBY SHOW MOTHER

• FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

10. OFFICIAL MOTHER'S DAY FLOWER 12. LEADER OF THE FAMILY

INSIDE

MY TRUTH When I received word that I was being inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame in 2022, I didn’t know what to say, think or feel.

Which brings me to my truth! p4

WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE

KYM WHITLEY

For years, I have been saying, “It is through our struggles that we gain our victories,” but I am beginning to wonder where the struggles end for women...

Kym Whitley, a powerhouse in entertainment, continues to captivate audiences with her infectious humor, heartfelt storytelling, and unapologetic authenticity.

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FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

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MY TRUTH by Cheryl Smith Publisher

All ice is 32 degrees Fahrenheit When I received word that I was being inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame in 2022, I didn’t know what to say, think or feel.

Which brings me to my truth!

I am sharing my acceptance speech again because someone recently said my message remains relevant three years later as we prepare to induct new members. They said people still don’t realize the power, excellence, greatness and more that is what makes supporting Black the right thing to do.

Sharing this message is also a good way to keep me grounded; showing that I don’t have amnesia and know I didn’t get where I am today on my own.

This same message was with me as I joined esteemed educators in the African American Education Archives and History Program Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Sadly some people forget or fail to acknowledge. I never want to forget those whose shoulders I stand on, or those who pushed, pulled, and cheered me on through life.

So here’s my WHY! Thanks NABJ family. To God be the glory. To my soror Valerie Fields Hill, my sis Eva Coleman and esteemed NABJ founder Norma Adams-Wade — thanks for nominating me.

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To this Hall of Fame Class, you’re the best.

Sarah Glover (former NABJ president), The mark of a true leader is the ability to recognize, cultivate, uplift and encourage others. Thanks for seeing that I had so much more to give. Our founders wanted us to embrace every member no matter the age.

I joined NABJ as a junior at THE Florida A&M University.

DFW-ABC’s Dallas Mafia later embraced me. After more than 40 years of service - 10 on the NABJ Board- I stand before you feeling kind of special.

I thank Joseph and Earline.

Just look what Black Love produced! My Godparents Charles and Liz Braswell were always Team Cheryl.

I’m from East Orange NJ, by way of Newark; I grew up loving James Brown. The library was my place of refuge and respite as I read Nikki Giovanni, Dr. Maya Angelou and Iceberg Slim and listened to James Brown.

Jim Washington at the Dallas Weekly gave me a chance and others followed. Teaching at Paul Quinn College and managing DFWABJ’s Urban Journalism Workshop helped make me better.

With resources from my foundation, more than $250,000 in scholarships, internships and fellowships also

helped send students to NABJ conventions.

I wish Arthur E. Teele Jr., who gave me my first job at Capitol Outlook, Chuck Smith who introduced me to radio at Soul 73 KKDA, or my friends Dick Gregory, George Curry, Pius Njawe or Lawrence Young could be here today.

Mentors, mentees and their families. The FAMULY, The Warriors, my Godbrother Richard Moore in Ghana, HBCUs, praying loved ones, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Divine 9 greatly enriched my life.

Yes — Coleman Love is Strong! Just ask Stewart Curet — who is my fire and desire!

Congrats to mi Hermana, SPJ president and NAHJ Hall of Famer Rebecca Aguilar.

I’m proud to have my line sister- the Ace- here. Elusive Ladies Spring 78. We’re the BADST! Thanks to others who traveled to be here and those who are watching on line.

The oldest of my three live crew plus one, my heart, Andre, is here with his wife, my daughter-in-law and love Emma.

Many of you here helped me raise my sister’s 4 children including Alayna, Annya and Ayanna. You all are my family, why I do what I do.

Garry Howard you always have my back. I can’t stop won’t stop.

You see, I chose the Black Press. I chose to go to FAMU, I chose to walk this journey and have never wanted to walk it back.

I am Black. I am Black-ish and I can get Blackity Black as I tell the stories of my people, and elevate the worlds’ muted voices.

Thanks to those at the Dallas Morning News and UNT who said, “let’s do great journalism together’ and I’m excited about The Black News Link and our future.

This year the Black press celebrates 195 years, Thanks National Newspaper Publishers Association and all Black media for being that VOICE, even when those we are speaking for sometimes don’t realize that all ice is 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Speaking truth to power is what I do. The Black Press is here for you. If it is not what you want or need, use what you got to help it become better. Don’t tear it down.

I close by paraphrasing a message from my friend and creative genius, Chuck D of Public Enemy, People will tear you down and try to break your spirit. Faith and fear can’t occupy the same space. Be the leader you are looking for and Whoever you are, Wherever you go, and Whatever you do—Don’t Believe the Hype!

Chaos, Confusion and Delusion — 100 Days of Lies and Insanity THE LAST WORD

BY DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX

Are you better off than you were three months ago, when the current president was sworn into office on Jan. 20? That’s the question President Ronald Reagan posed to voters when he squared off against President Jimmy Carter in 1980. Voters concluded that they were worse off and chose Reagan over Carter.

But the current president is lucky that no election is taking place tomorrow. His approval ratings have tanked. He has the lowest 100-day approval rating of any president since pollsters started asking this question. Are you better off?

Don’t ask the thousands of federal workers who have lost their jobs, including those who used to work at USAID, or the IRS, or the Social Security Administration, among others. Don’t ask the elders who are frightened about the future of Social Security. Don’t ask the university professors who wonder if their free speech rights will be protected. If you ask any of these folks, they are likely to tell you that they are worse off than they were 100 days ago since the president took office, though some will tell you they are patiently hoping for things to get better.

When the current president was elected, he promised to lower prices and inflation.

Prices have not come down, nor has inflation. Instead, this president has behaved like the proverbial bull in a

china closet, wreaking havoc and creating chaos across the board. The president’s basic economic policy is tariffs. His rationale is that U.S.-based manufacturing will grow if imports are more expensive than domestic goods. But the United States has neither the workforce nor the capacity to significantly increase manufacturing in the United States.

No matter. The president is stuck on senseless and can’t seem to make up his mind about economic policy. First unreasonably high tariffs were imposed, then suspended for everyone except China. The

many of the longest-serving workers preferring to retire than deal with the whiplash of trying to figure out what’s next. Recession fears are now at the 1990 level, and consumer confidence is at its lowest level since 1952. Musk’s economic acumen is demonstrated by the precipitous drop — 71%— in his stock since he announced he will cut back on his work with the Department of Government Efficiency.

In his 100-plus days, marked on April 30, this president has issued about 140 executive orders. Though he was elected to manage the economy, few of

When the current president was elected, he promised to lower prices and inflation. Prices have not come down, nor has inflation. Instead, this president has behaved like the proverbial bull in a china closet, wreaking havoc and creating chaos across the board. chaos and confusion make it impossible for businesses and consumers to plan. Planning an automobile purchase?

Would you buy the car now or hold off, given looming tariffs? What about electronics? Initially caught up in the tariff wars, a call from one of the president’s tech bros has suspended, for now, tariffs on electronics. What will happen three months from now?

Co-President Elon Musk, who was allowed to purchase a major role in government, is moving unchecked through the federal organization, clowning with a buzz saw, while workers are apprehensive about their futures. The federal government is experiencing brain drains, with

these executive orders have to do with the economy. Instead, he has leaped into the culture wars, including executive orders specifically targeting some of the Smithsonian Museums, especially the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The executive orders, which are not laws, have introduced an atmosphere of fear and obeisance. Law firms, universities and others are happily kowtowing to this president’s racist, anti-diversity agenda.

Too many, including elected legislators, are operating out of fear, too intimidated to say that the emperor is wearing no clothes.

Our economy is suffering, and so is our international

reputation. Mexico and Canada –among our largest trading partners–are furious with us, so much so that Canadians elected a Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who was trailing in the polls until this president started attacking Canada.

Who can trust us or plan to do business with us after our vacillating policies have left them confused? Who will lend us money when they can’t trust our stability? Can the European Union use this uncertainty to strengthen the euro? Will the euro supplant the dollar as the world’s default currency?

In addition to the chaos and confusion, there is also the delusion that this president continues to embrace — that he won the 2020 election. This delusion fuels much of his decision-making, as many who investigated him have now been threatened with investigation. This administration seems to revel in delusions, including delusions about history, delusions about prices (the president keeps saying grocery prices have dropped — they have not), and delusions about reality.

If I had to grade this president on his 100-day performance, I’d give him lower than a failing grade, call it a F minus. He is wrecking both the national and the international economy. He has ushered in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. And he has the nerve to say he’s “having fun” in the process.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author and dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Los Angeles.

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What Else Could Possibly Go Wrong for Women?

WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE

BY E. FAYE WILLIAMS

For years, I have been saying, “It is through our struggles that we gain our victories,” but I am beginning to wonder where the struggles end for women. The same is true for Black women, but I am on women in general today!

A short time back, people pretended to excuse everything the orange man said.

Sen. John Thune said when he was saying crazy things, “He’s having some fun with it. He was just joking.” His tongue must be tied lately — especially when he talked about being a dictator only on Day One. We are now in the second 100 days — long past Day One, and he hasn’t stopped being a dictator.

He’s not stopped praising the communist dictator of Russia. Well, he gets credit for pausing while at the pope’s funeral — but not for long! I think he was greatly outnumbered there. And at least one person, jokingly or not, said, “The pope had survived a lot — 35 days in the hospital with pneumonia, to be exact — until the vice president went near him and shook his hand while leaning over to him. The pope died just hours thereafter! Don’t you have to just wonder what happened during that encounter? I am told it wasn’t positive!”

Well, let’s get caught up with the orange man’s recent activities. You’ll remember how

**FILE** Abortion rights rally at the Supreme Court, Jackson Women’s Health v. Dobbs.

Credit: Shala W. Graham

he told his friends during the 2024 campaign that he could end the war of Russia against Ukraine immediately once he was back in office. He’s back, and he began praising his good friend Putin to give him some help. When he decided to run over to the Vatican to attend the pope’s funeral, where he was surrounded by a lot of other powerful world leaders, he changed his tune!

While there, he actually said he didn’t think his friend Putin was serious about ending the war! You think some of that religious stuff got through to him?

Let’s move to another area.

I pray that our white sisters are listening to what they voted for in 2024. Lately, the MAGA group’s leader has been urging women to have more babies — even talking about putting that in the budget! Even though we know the orange man didn’t mean that women with melanin should

have more babies, it was a tragedy no matter who the woman was who suffered a miscarriage recently. And in the midst of it all, she was arrested and taken to jail!

That’s right. A 24-year-old woman in Georgia is currently being put through an unimaginable situation. After a tragic miscarriage 19 weeks into her pregnancy, she was arrested!

Georgia authorities are claiming that the woman who lost her pregnancy naturally is a criminal because of how she dealt with the aftermath of the fetus. You see, the Georgia state lawmakers have a law that allows that to be done. Citizens are protesting it and calling for the law to be repealed. It’s a law that police are using to arrest women who are already grieving the loss of their child. Georgia has been using this law since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The law in effect bans abor-

tions after six weeks, before most people even know they are pregnant. Part of that law includes language that could be interpreted as granting fetal personhood — and that is the part of the law that authorities are using to charge this woman.

After she suffered the miscarriage, she disposed of the fetal tissue before she passed out. There is absolutely no law in Georgia that dictates how a person must handle a nonviable fetus after a natural miscarriage, and yet authorities are claiming that she broke the law by throwing the remains away. Georgia has no law for the disposal, but Georgia finds that she broke the law! Amazing!

The coroner confirmed that there was absolutely no injury or trauma to the fetus. At 19 weeks, the fetus would not have been able to survive outside the womb, defining it as nonviable.

The arrest of this woman is downright evil and unjust.

So, in addition to all the other crazy and insensitive behavior of people who aren’t even doctors, we must work to have the Georgia legislature (Georgia General Assembly) to overturn this brutal law for women in the state, or it’s just around the corner for women in others.

What else could possibly go wrong for women who are continuously losing the right to control their own bodies?

Dr. E. Faye Williams is national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Contact her via www.nationalcongressbw.org.

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

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Black America Celebrates African Descent Heritage of Pope Leo XIV

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent Black America is taking pride in a truth shaking up the Vatican and resonating through the streets of New Orleans: Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago—has Black and Creole roots. The Pope’s factual anthropological roots are not just symbolic. According to genealogist Jari Honora, his maternal lineage traces directly to the Black community of New Orleans’ 7th Ward, with family ties to Haiti, and census records identifying his ancestors as “Black” or “Mulatto.” “By the Europeans’ own ‘1/8th’ rules, we have a Black Pope,” noted author Elie Mystal declared.

“Anyway, Pope’s grandfather is Haitian. We kind of got a Black Pope. ‘End Woke’ is not gonna be happy about this.”

Further, New Orleans historian Jari Christopher Honora also speaking to the National Catholic Reporter and Black Catholic Messenger, detailed how the pope’s grandparents married in 1887 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church on Annette Street in New Orleans before migrating north. His mother, Mildred Martínez, was the first child in the family born in Chicago.

“The Holy Father’s ancestors are identified as either Black or Mulatto,” Honora said.

The Chicago Tribune and New York Times also reported on Pope Leo’s mixed-race background and Creole lineage, noting that his election marks a defining moment in the Church’s evolving identity. “As a Black man, a proud

Pope Leo XIV

son of New Orleans, and the U.S. Congressman representing the very 7th Ward neighborhood where our new Pope’s family hails from, I am bursting with pride today,” said Rep. Troy Carter. “This is history! The first American Pope, with Creole and Haitian roots, rising from the streets of New Orleans to the Vatican.

As a Xavier University alum, I know how deeply faith and resilience run in our community. We celebrate this moment—with joy, with prayers, and with pride.” Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial called Leo XIV’s background “universal,” saying, “Here’s an American whose ministry was in Peru, who has roots in the American South and also ancestry in the American Black community.” Leo XIV is a member of the Augustinian Order, named after the African theologian St. Augustine of Hippo. His election came from a conclave in which two other leading contend-

Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Photo by Vatican Media

ers—Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo—were also men of African descent.

But Leo XIV stood apart— not just as the first pope from the U.S. but as one known for his outspokenness on racial justice, immigrant rights, gun reform, and the abolition of the death penalty.

TIME Magazine reported that his selection represented a Vatican rebuke of efforts by wealthy Americans and political operatives aligned with Donald Trump to influence the papal outcome. Known in Rome as “The Latin Yankee,” Leo XIV used his verified X account (@drprevost) to amplify criticism of Trump-era immigration policies, often reposting commentary from respected Catholic figures.

The New York Post reported that his last post before his election was a retweet of Catholic journalist Rocco

Palmo slamming Trump’s alliance with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele over migrant deportations. Back in 2017, the Roman Catholic leader also reposted a message quoting Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, calling Trump’s refugee bans “a dark hour of US history.”

Though Trump offered lukewarm congratulations from the White House driveway, his far-right allies were quick to lash out. Laura Loomer tweeted, “WOKE MARXIST POPE,” calling Pope Leo “just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.”But outside the MAGA echo chamber, in Black communities across the globe, the emotion is pride. “The pope is Black,” journalist Clarence Hill Jr. said bluntly. And that means something in the Black neighborhoods of Chicago and the Creole corridors of New Orleans. Many said it means representation, resilience, and the reshaping of history at the highest level of the Catholic Church. “We celebrate this moment—not because it erases the struggles of our past, but because it affirms that our faith, our heritage, and our presence matter,” Rep. Carter said.

“This is history, and it belongs to all of us.” The. Reverend Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. affirmed, “On behalf of the Black Press of America as the authentic voice of 50 million African Americans and millions more throughout the African diaspora, we join to celebrate Pope Leo XVI, a world leader of African descent who speaks truth to power with courage and grace.”

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

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Sherri Shepherd:

Redefining Motherhood While Keeping It Real

By Sylvia Powers Correspondent

Sherri Shepherd wears many hats—comedian, actress, and talk show host—but her most treasured title remains “Mom.” In an era when motherhood is often portrayed as a perfectly curated journey, Shepherd’s story stands out for its honesty, humor, and heartfelt resilience.

Her parenting journey with her son, Jeffrey Charles Tarpley, Jr., is one she navigates with tempered love and unapologetic transparency.

Jeffrey, born prematurely and living with developmental delays, has been the driving force behind Shepherd’s growth as a mother and as a woman. She says that rather than allowing his challenges to define his potential, she has become his greatest advocate and protector.

Through laughter and tears, Shepherd says it’s her village—including longtime friend and fellow comedian Kym Whitley—that helps her navigate the ups and downs of motherhood. There are times she calls Whitley, who is also a mom and says, “Being a mom of an autistic son is rough.”

Often times she shares key highlights and milestones of their lives. The two share birthdates, April 22, which is also during Autistic Acceptance Month, and she considers him a blessing. When Jeffrey was born at a mere one pound and 10 ounces, he joined a growing number of autism-diagnosed Americans. According to recent National Autism Association

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numbers, 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which a bio-neurological developmental disability found primarily in males.

“I have to accept who my son is and not who I want him to be,” Shepherd shares candidly. “I’m very bubbly. I’m a morning person. My son is not. He doesn’t show his feelings like I do. And sometimes, that’s hard—but I’m his advocate no matter what.”

Now 20, Jeffrey’s growing independence brings new challenges. Shepherd has turned down significant career opportunities to prioritize her son.

“I’ve had to trust that if I say no to something, God will bring it back around at the right time,” she said, during a recent interview with Texas Metro News. “Jeffrey is my first assignment.”

But Shepherd’s greatest struggle, she confesses, has not been motherhood—it has been believing in herself.

“My biggest challenge has always been me,” she says.

“Getting past fear. Asking for what I’m worth. Believing that I deserve what I dream of.

It’s taken years, but I’m finally competing against the best version of myself.”

Discipline is the cornerstone of her daily routine— from 4:30 a.m. workouts to managing Type 2 diabetes.

“I don’t go to the gym to get into a new outfit,” she emphasized. “I do it because I want to be healthy. Not tomorrow—today. There’s an urgency to it now.”

In 2022, Shepherd launched her own nationally-syndicated daytime talk show, Sherri.

Now entering its fourth sea-

At 58, Sherri Shepherd isn’t trying to look younger, she’s focused on living healthier and proving to other women that anything is possible.

son, the show is a dream realized in a time when many thought it would be impossible.

“I really want to show my sisters that it can be done. I’ve been working in this business a long time, but now I’m really getting to live my dream.

I’m hosting my own talk show in a season when people told me it would never happen because I was too old,” Shepherd admitted.

She turned 58 last month and says she’s embracing everything that comes with it.

A firm believer in self-care, Shepherd often speaks out about how women—especially Black women—must prioritize themselves.

“We’re always caring for somebody,” she said. “If it’s not our kids, it’s a cousin, a parent, or somebody moving back in with us. But we’ve got to start with ourselves, or the whole house can fall apart.”

Faith is also a core part of Shepherd’s life. Raised a Jehovah’s Witness and now an active Christian, she refuses to tone down her commitment to Christ.

“I’m not here to beat anyone

over the head with a Bible,” she explained. “But I have to tell people why I smile, why I have joy. That’s my job—to love people as they are and let God do the rest.”

It helps, she said, to have good friends along the journey.

Shepherd and Whitley continue to blend their friendship into the successful podcast Two Funny Mamas, where they discuss culture, sisterhood, motherhood, and life as working women.

“We started the podcast right before COVID hit.

During the pandemic, we were doing it for ourselves, but we found out that it was really for other people. They look to us to take them away from all of the stuff they were going through—the anxiety, the fear, the boredom.”

Five years and three NAACP Image Awards later, Shepherd says, “We really see how it touches people—being able to just forget about their worries for an hour.”

With her faith as her compass and her son as her motivation, Shepherd continues to break barriers. Her upcoming Netflix film Straw, written and directed by media mogul Tyler Perry, and her children’s book The Sunshine Queen—a celebration of sisterhood— are just a few projects on her horizon.

And she’s already dreaming about writing and directing a comedy based on the behindthe-scenes craziness of a daytime talk show.

Whether she’s on-screen or on-stage, Sherri Shepherd is living proof that motherhood isn’t about perfection—it’s about purpose, persistence, and keeping it real.

Is The United States Of America Headed In The Right Direction?

OUR VOICES

BY JAMES B. EWERS JR. ED.D.

There are a lot of people asking that question these days. Your friends and my friends are wondering what’s happening. Is Old Glory up or down?

In recent months, some would say that America is in a tailspin. Those in control are out of control.

Because they have lost control many of our venerable institutions are tossing and turning. Executive orders are being written by the hour.

Keeping up with them is confusing. Is that on purpose?

There are people asking about the need for these orders which seem to be extreme and wrongly placed.

It is being said by some that we are living in nightmarish conditions. The headlines are never favorable for most of us.

They always say that programs are being cut, and funding is being reduced.

Is this good for America?

Doom and gloom are never good, always bad.

The wealthy are guiding the country now and they are unfeeling and unfazed by the

increased cost of goods and services.

We the people go to the store, so we know the cost of things. Our budgets are stretched, and our pocketbooks are lighter. Do they care? You know the answer to that question.

I heard someone talking recently about toys and that girls should limit the number of dolls they get. It was a bit sarcastic as the economy is worsening and the analogy was about toys.

Recent reports say, “Seventy-six percent of workers expect layoffs to increase in 2025, while 63% expect more business closures compared to 2024. Additionally, 53% anticipate a rise in the unemployment rate.”

We already know that food insecurity is rampant in America. How can food insecurity occur in the richest nation in the world? It would be safe to assume that people would not go hungry here, but they do.

A related report says, “The USDA cut over $1 billion in funding for food programs impacting food banks and school lunch programs across the country. The cuts could affect millions of students and families.”

What these cuts mean is that

some children won’t be eating on a regular basis. Those in charge should be ashamed and embarrassed as they are taking food out of the mouths of kids.

Organizations receiving grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities are in danger. Recently the White House announced they are freezing all monies.

If you are a dance company or a company that produces plays, then your budget will be compromised.

Another move by this current administration has caused concern among military personnel. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth plans to eliminate 20% of four-star general positions. According to those who follow this news, it will mean the early forced retirement of approximately 150 senior officers.

There are 38 active duty four-star positions in the U.S. military. Some are saying we are at a tipping point in the U.S. Armed Services.

Will this have reverberations for new recruits and for seasoned officers looking for promotions? I believe it will. Recruiters will have their work cut out for them as they try to reach their recruitment goals.

Veterans are also getting bad

news from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It has been reported by FoxNews.com that 80,000 workers will lose their jobs with the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a result, there will be a 15% drop in their workforce.

Democratic Representative Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania said, “There are real-life dangerous impacts for veterans.”

ProPublica reported last week that roughly 9 million veterans will be affected. The scenario being painted is that a soldier who has served in the United States Armed Services returns home to inadequate healthcare.

Food being taken away, jobs being eliminated and services being cut are all signs of demoralization. Our America must fasten our seatbelts as those in power attempt to rip the moral lining from our souls.

America, stay afloat and don’t bolt. Our democracy and its bearings are too strong for a temporary windstorm to unravel 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 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

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Harris Slams Trump’s Agenda as ‘Decades in the Making’

By Stacy M. Brown

BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

In her first major speech since leaving the White House, Kamala Harris called on Americans to resist what she described as President Trump’s assault on truth, democracy, and the economy. Speaking at the annual Emerge gala — an organization focused on training Democratic women to run for office — the former vice president delivered a fiery critique of Trump’s leadership, warning that the country is heading into what she called a “man-made economic crisis.” “We all know, President Trump, his administration, and their allies are counting on the notion that fear can

Former Vice President Kamala Harris

be contagious,” Harris told the crowd. “But what they’ve overlooked is that fear isn’t the only thing that’s contagious. Courage is contagious.”

Harris said the administration is abandoning the nation’s core values, operating not in chaos, but with deliberate speed. “A vessel is being

used for the swift implementation of an agenda that has been decades in the making,” she said. “An agenda to slash public education. An agenda to shrink the government and then privatize its services. All while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest among us.” A day after Trump reached 100 days in office, Harris accused him of betraying his promise to cut costs. She said working families and small businesses are being punished instead.

“Some people are describing what’s been happening in recent months as absolute chaos. And of course, I understand why,” Harris said.

“It’s certainly true of those tariffs. Tariffs that — as I predicted — are clearly inviting a recession.”

She called Trump’s tariff

policy the “greatest manmade economic crisis in modern presidential history,” warning that the trade war is driving up costs, damaging retirement accounts, and crippling small businesses. “Instead of an administration working to advance America’s highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals,” she said. While Harris said she wasn’t offering all the answers, she insisted that Americans must keep fighting. “The one check, the one balance, the one power that must not fail is the voice of the people,” she said. And she ended with a blunt message.

“Things are probably going to get worse before they get better,” Harris said. “But we are ready for it.”

Representative Davis congratulates Ms. Berna Dean Steptoe on her retirement from WFAA State Representative Yvonne Davis (District 111) recently honored and congratulated Ms. Berna Dean Steptoe on her retirement from WFAA - Channel 8, concluding a noteworthy career spanning 33 years with the television station.

Ms. Steptoe was recognized on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives

by Representative Davis with House Resolution Number 987 on Wednesday, May, 8, 2025 at the State Capitol.

Berna Dean Steptoe and Rep. Yvonne Davis

12 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

13

A Closed Mouth Doesn’t Get Fed— and a Silent Voter Gets Starved BIG MAMA SAID BY TERRY ALLEN

Big Mama Lucille Allen was more than just a matriarch— she was a moral compass, a front-porch philosopher, and a fierce believer in the power of voice. She survived Jim Crow, marched during the Civil Rights Movement, and raised generations who learned that silence, especially in the face of injustice, is a dangerous accomplice. Her advice was “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” But she’d always add, “Baby, a silent voice will just get starved.”

Look at our history. The Montgomery Bus Boycott didn’t begin with silence— it started with a voice, with Rosa Parks’ bold “No.” That

14 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

simple act—refusing to be silent—rippled through a city and birthed a movement. The power came not just from protest, but from participation.

Black folks chose to walk, organize, vote, and demand better. They fed the future by speaking up.

Fast forward to today. How many opportunities have slipped through our fingers because we stayed silent at the ballot box? How many school boards, city councils, and state legislatures make decisions about our communities without us because we don’t show up or speak up?

Take City Men Cook, for example. What started as a small

cultural tasting fhas grown into a impactul platform for mentoring and empowering young Black men, infusing mental and physical wellness impacting the lives of man —because a few people had the audacity to speak up and organize. Our men stopped dying so fast as we reduced our Mortality rate from 22% to 4%! Programs like these don’t flourish in silence; they grow because folks showed up, donated time & resources, and demanded corporate investment.

Globally, mentoring models we built here are being replicated from Chicago to Ghana. That only happens when people decide that their voice matters.

So what is on your plate: If you’re tired of being overlooked, outvoted, and underserved, it’s time to stop

starving yourself. Open your mouth. Register. Vote. Run. Organize. Join the City Men Cook Movement today.

Big Mama didn’t raise a quiet voice —she raised disruptive soldiers. send me an email to Terryallenpr@gmaii. com and let me know if you see that “noyse” in me..

Join the City Men Cook movement today, email me Terry Allen is an awardwinning media professional, journalist, and entrepreneur.

He is also the founder of City Men Cook and 1016 Media.

Reach him at terryallenpr@ gmail.com

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

15

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FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

17

Study buddies: Mother, son walk the stage together Friday at TCU graduation

By Maria Salette Ontiveros Trending Reporter

There were many nights Kyle Fields, 22, would come home from work or after a long day and not want to do homework. He was a graduate student at Texas Christian University with a busy schedule.

Then he would see his mom reading a case study late at night, writing an essay, and handling all her schoolwork after a full day of work and cooking dinner.

“Watching her do that was inspirational because it pushed me to want to be just like her,” he said.

Brandi Fields, 50, and her son Kyle walked the stage together at Texas Christian University on Friday, each receiving a graduate degree in a ceremony ahead of Mother’s Day on Sunday.

While Brandi completed the executive master’s of business administration program at TCU Neeley School of Business, Kyle earned a master’s degree in liberal arts from the AddRan College of Liberal Arts.

The Fields family’s journey at TCU began when Kyle chose the university for his undergraduate studies. The family moved from California to Fort Worth to join him.

“I was an empty nester with my sons off at college, and we had just moved to Fort Worth.

I saw it as a good opportunity to focus on myself, make new friends, and network since we were new to the area,” Brandi said.

When Kyle learned his mom had decided to pursue her MBA, he said he felt hap-

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py with the idea of creating memories with her.

“I think it was cool having my mom go through the same experiences I was, because she can keep me on track,” he said.

Although they were not on campus simultaneously, Brandi and Kyle often supported each other through their studies.

“We often did homework together. He was my little tech support,” Brandi said. “It was a motivator for both of us to be able to sit together and do homework.”

Mother’s Day present early Graduating together on Mother’s Day weekend brought a mix of emotions for the family of four.

“It’s very emotional. I’m happy and excited for Kyle.

I’m sad that his time living at home and attending school is over,” Brandi said. “But it’s very emotional to be going through it with my son at the same time.

The timing of their graduation, just before Mother’s Day, made the occasion even more memorable for Brandi.

“It’s going to go down as one of the most memorable Mother’s Days, for sure,” Brandi said. “I’m just looking forward to being at home with my boys and dogs and doing nothing on Mother’s Day.” Brandi and her husband are both military veterans: She served in the Navy, while he was in the Marine Corps.

In addition to Kyle, the couple has a younger son, who is 19 years old and a sopho-

Mom, Brandi, and son, Kyle Fields, graduate together from Texas Christian University.(Photo courtesy of TCU Neeley Sch)

more at Texas Tech University.

The Fields family planned to celebrate with friends and relatives on Saturday.

Brandi’s experience spurred her to encourage others, especially mothers, who are considering more education.

“Moms often get caught up in caring for their children

and their families,” she said.

“I would gently remind you to do something for yourself as well.”

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.

Kym Whitley: Balancing Laughter, Legacy, and Love through Comedy and Motherhood

By Sylvia Powers Correspondent

Kym Whitley, a powerhouse in entertainment, continues to captivate audiences with her infectious humor, heartfelt storytelling, and unapologetic authenticity.

From her early days in stand-up to her standout roles on screen, Whitley’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of laughter—and the strength it takes to balance it all with motherhood.

“I come from a funny family,” she said. “Everybody’s probably funnier than me. My mama was funny, my daddy was funny, and my brothers are extremely funny.”

Hailing from Shaker Heights, OH, Whitley attended Fisk University where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She said it was comedian, actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg inspired her.

“At a time when not many women were doing stand-up, I started writing jokes,” she recalled. “Then Redd Foxx saw me being funny one day and said, ‘You should be a standup comic.’ That gave me the push I needed.”

A Life-Changing Call to Motherhood In 2011, Whitley’s life shifted in the most unexpected way. A young woman she had once mentored left her newborn at the hospital with only Whitley’s contact information.

With no time to prepare and everything on the line, she made the bold decision to adopt the baby boy—her son, Joshua.

Although Kym Whitley admits that balancing comedy and motherhood hasn’t been easy, she’s found strength and peace in building a supportive village to help raise her son, Joshua.

Credit: Courtesy

Whitley’s story of sudden motherhood resonated deeply with audiences through her reality series Raising Whitley, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network from 2013 to 2016.

The show offered an unfiltered glimpse into her world, chronicling both the hilarious and heartfelt moments of parenting as a single mother.

“Comedy has always been tough for women, especially mothers,” Whitley explained.

“Stand-up is a night job, and during the day, many women are working or taking care of their families. I saw a lot of women fall off because they couldn’t keep up. But things are changing. People are realizing it takes a village.”

That “village” has been key to Whitley’s success—both on stage and at home.

“I built a village around me.

It’s not just what people saw on the show—it’s true in my real life. Stephanie has been caring for Joshua since he was three. Her entire family is like Joshua’s second home. He

also has two godparents,” she said, adding that it is important to have people around who you can trust. “Motherhood is expensive and demanding, but with the right people, it becomes possible.”

Championing Health, Wellness, and Self-Care During the pandemic, Whitley took her health seriously—not just for herself, but for her son.

“I joined Weight Watchers and lost 35 pounds during the pandemic. I knew I had to feel good to be good—for work, for my son, for me. I just came back from a walk I didn’t want to take—but I did it. Sometimes you need a partner to keep you accountable.

“We women pour so much into our families and careers that we forget to pour into ourselves. Lately, I started getting facials—something I never used to do. Self-care matters.

I can’t show up for my child or my work if I’m not taking care of myself,” said Whitley, who is the recipient of numerous awards.

A Legacy in the Making Today, Whitley is focused on building the next chapter of her career—one that includes producing, directing, and creating original content.

“I’m entering the second, maybe third, chapter of my career. I’m writing, producing, and developing projects that speak to who I am now.”

In addition to her onscreen and behind-thescenes work, Whitley has made a lasting mark in voiceover acting with shows like The Boondocks and Black Dynamite. Her award-winning podcast Two Funny Mamas, co-hosted with fellow comedian Sherri Shepherd, won the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Arts & Entertainment Podcast, showing her continued relevance and impact.

For Mother’s Day, she and Shepherd performed before a sold-out audience at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, in Dallas.

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

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Target CEO Attempts Damage Control After Weeks of Silence and Mounting Backlash

By Stacy M. Brown

Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Target CEO Brian Cornell acknowledged in an email to employees this week that a months-long lapse in communication has created uncertainty. The retailer is grappling with falling foot traffic, public boycotts, and criticism over its retreat from diversity goals.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Cornell’s message to staff admitted it has been “a tough few months.” It said media coverage, social media chatter, and internal conversations “may have left you wondering.”

He insisted, however, that Target’s values have not shifted. “I recognize that silence from us has created uncertainty, so I want to be very clear: We are still the Target you know and believe in,” Cornell wrote.

Since the beginning of the year, the retail giant has faced a storm of challenges. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on global imports have squeezed the company’s margins.

Target’s decision to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives prompted widespread backlash from Black leaders and organizations. “Black consumers helped build Target into a retail giant, and now they are making their voices heard,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

The NNPA is a trade association representing the

20 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

Ross Township, USA. December 23, 2024 Target store on McKnight Road in Ross Township. Ross Township is adjacent to Pittsburgh’s northern border. Target Corporation is an American retail corporation that operates a chain of discount department stores. (Photo by Bg Walker)

198-year-old Black Press of America. Earlier this year, the Black Press began a public education and selective buying campaign in response to Target abandoning its commitment to Black America.

“If corporations believe they can roll back diversity commitments without consequence, they are mistaken,” Chavis stated.

In an email to Black Press USA, a Target spokesperson said “Target’s team members are the foundation of our success—they support our guests, strengthen the 2,000 communities we serve, and impact millions of lives nationwide.

As we continue to run our business, it’s more important than ever to keep our team aligned on who we are and what we can achieve together.”

Target has lost a reported more than $15 billion in revenue this year, seen its stock price fall by as much as $27.27 per share, and is facing multiple lawsuits tied to its DEI policy changes.

Cornell’s email still struck

a tone of reassurance, calling the company’s values of “inclusivity, connection, drive” non-negotiable.

“We’re committed to sharing more of that impact with you and our guests because it reinforces our values and shows the real heart of our team,” he wrote.

Still, retail analysts were sharply critical. Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail, said the email fails to address the root causes of public concern.

“They say, ‘Our products and experience are second to none.’ Well, actually, no, they’re not. That’s not true anymore,” he said. According to data from Placer.ai, foot traffic to Target stores has dropped for 11 straight weeks, with only a slight uptick during the weeks of April 14 and April 21. Overall, foot traffic declined 3.3% in April.

In recent weeks, Cornell met with Rev. Al Sharpton and leaders of the boycott movement to discuss Target’s DEI pullback. He also

met with Trump to outline the damaging impact of tariffs on retailers.

Neither meeting was believed to have been mentioned in his message to employees. Rev. Jamal Bryant, who launched a national Target Fast to protest the company’s direction, has called for continued mobilization and accountability.

Retail consultant Carol Spieckerman said the CEO’s email failed to take responsibility. “His email acknowledges but doesn’t take responsibility for any of the concerns and controversies surrounding the company,” she said. “The tone implies that things are happening around and to Target that are out of its control.”

Both Spieckerman and Saunders described the message as unfocused. “It’s a really jumbled email,” Saunders said. “And you know if it’s come from Brian Cornell, it’s probably been through about 30 different people and various PR teams, and it still comes out as this big, jumbled mess.”

Keeping Hope Alive is Critical Garland Clinic has been delivering love, health, and hope since 2001

By Cheryl Smith While then-presidential candidate and activist Rev. Jesse L. Jackson may not have been referring to Hope Clinic of Garland, Inc. when he coined the phrase, “Keep Hope Alive,” Hope Clinic is just the type of place that exudes the spirit of his message.

The citizens of Garland are committed to keeping Hope Clinic alive because they know the city is better off because of it.

Born out of the church, First Baptist Garland, 23 years ago, two members focused on providing healthcare to “indigent and uninsured residents,” and making sure the least did not go without.

Located at 800 S. Sixth Street, Suite 100 in Garland,TX, Hope Clinic’s staff, medical team, and volunteers provide seemingly endless support to underserved eastern Dallas County communities.

It’s their “holistic approach to treating patients, addressing physical, emotional and spiritual health” that makes Hope Clinic such a vital asset to the many who come seeking health and other benefits.

If there’s any institution that deserves support, Hope Clinic has proven time and time again how much it benefits those it was designed to help.

At its recent 2025 Celebration of Hope breakfast, executive director Tanya Downing, and others shared why the clinic was so important to citizens. Some were moved to tears as she talked about facing and overcoming funding challenges.

Tanya Downing

Executive Director

Lucy Marroquin

Volunteer Coordinator

As she talked about its successes and failures, it was clear those who come into contact with the Clinic become committed to keeping it alive.

And there have been challenges, even a time most recently, when the threat of closing appeared to be imminent.

This was not what the community wanted nor needed, especially when citizens need medical attention, as well as information about securing shelter, or other services from agencies like the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Supporters like, Jamie Miller of Vertex Bank serves on the board and is committed to its success.

He summed up the feelings behind those who give to and support.

“Hope Clinic has meant so much to so many,” he said in during th celebration. “It’s a city of need and a city of resource.”

He also applauded the many volunteers who give of their time and services, adding that he was taught that “you can pretend to care but you can’t pretend to show up.“ Spiritually grounded and community-centered, since 2001 Hope Clinic has served with excellence and caring,

Melody Siroosian Future Doctor

according to volunteer coordinator Lucy Marroquin and volunteer Melody Siroosian.

Siroosian not only volunteers; she was recently accepted to medical school and has committed to returning as a doctor She said she wants to continue to serve at the 5,400 square foot clinic, which includes five examination rooms, a triage area, a laboratory, a spiritual care room, a doctor’s office, and a health education room.

While the ministry of Hope Clinic of Garland, Inc. is funded by donations from individuals, churches, foundations, and business leaders concerned about the health and welfare of the uninsured and underserved residents of Dallas County, according to the website, there’s also support from an annual car show, Wheels of Hope.

Thanks to Vertex and other supporters, the car show is an overwhelming success, said Miller, who plays a key role in producing the event.

And others are also noticing the great works of Hope Clinic. In 2024, Hope earned a Gold Rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Quality Standards Program.

Jamie Miller Veritex

Services provided by Hope, include: In-Office Medical Services Physicians, nurses, and volunteer health care professionals of Hope Clinic give unselfishly of their time to provide a high level of quality services to the poor and uninsured residents of Dallas County. Patient education is a key priority in healthcare management. All aspects of well-being: physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological and intellectual are addressed.

For Emergencies: Call 911 Or for an Appointment: Call 469-800-2500 Telehealth Services Sometimes, patients suffer from issues that can be dealt with through telehealth services. Without ever leaving their home, patients can speak face-to-face with their doctor using a computer or smartphone.

Many medical issues can be dealt with through our telehealth services.

These are the same doctors that patients see in our clinic. Telehealth services must be scheduled in advance.

To make a telehealth appointment with doctors, call (469) 800-2500 and ask to schedule doctor/patient virtual visit.

Behavioral Health Services Our Licensed Clinical Social Worker provides emotional support and assists with identifying and practicing healthy ways of dealing with some of life’s biggest challenges. Services are free of charge to patients and are available by phone, secure video, or in person.

Hope Clinic of Garland patients who need help, call at (800) 469-2523 or email Eva.Murillo@BSWHealth.org.

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

21

NCBW fundraiser benefits programming and scholarship The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Dallas Metropolitan Chapter hosted "NCBW Dallas Derby Day, A Crown & Roses Affair," its annual Signature Fundraising Event on May 4, 2025, at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, TX. A day filled with good music, laughter, raffle prizes and contests, all set against a majestic backdrop of horse racing, and held on the iconic Kentucky Derby weekend. This event featured comedian Shed G, DJ Kevy Kev and emcee’d by Majic 94.5’s Queen Indy Bee. NCBW Dallas Derby Day was a day of fellowship and good times, but more importantly, a day of purpose as the organization raised funds to provide scholarships to young Black women and girls pursuing higher education.

The key sponsors for the event were 100 Black Men of Greater Dallas Fort Worth, CR8IVE OUTLET, and Dallas Dinner Society.

Led by President Sonya Irby, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Dallas Metropolitan Chapter’s mission is to advocate on behalf of black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education, and economic empowerment.

22 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

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South Dallas Club welcomes U.S. Cong. Jasmine Crockett, awards $70,500 in Scholarships

By Gwendolyn H. Daniels Special Correspondent

Attendees at the 61st Annual V. Alyce Foster Trailblazer Awards Luncheon South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. (SDBPWC) recently held in the elegant Chantilly Ballroom at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, were in for a real treat with a keynote speech from U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

Thunderous applause greeted her as she praised SDBPWC for their work and shared insight into the work she had been doing to benefit District 30 and Texas.

Last year Crockett was honored at the luncheon but was unable to attend because of congressional duties.

In their 71st year of service in the greater Dallas Community, the Club awarded 10 deserving high school seniors with scholarships totaling $70,500. It was the largest scholarship funding ever donated by SDBPWC.

24 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

An audience of more than 900 guests received the members of the historic Club as they formed a processional in their signature red and entered the ballroom at high noon.

Dr. Lavern J. Holyfield, the 35th president of SDBPWC, was the last to enter the Chantilly, escorted by her husband, Ombudsman Winston Holyfield, to a standing ovation. Immediately prior to the President’s entrance was Dr. Terri O’Neal Ford, National President and CEO of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. “Stony the Road We Trod: Paving the Way for Community Empowerment” was the theme chosen by Jocelyn Medlock Price, SDBPWC’s 2025 luncheon chair who was assisted by Nakisha Lewis-Williams and Gwendolyn H. Daniels, co-chairs of this signature event. Everyone was entertained throughout the luncheon by the dynamic Rob Holbert Group, featuring Rick Bernard James. WFAA

- Channel 8 News Reporter Brittani Moncrease served as the luncheon emcee, and Rev. Dr. Sheron C. Patterson stirred attendees with an electrifying opening prayer.

SDBPWC recognized 11 deserving individuals for their outstanding career and/or service contributions in the community. Awardees included: Dr. Brittany Drake, Sojourner Truth (the highest award presented by the Association); five distinguished Trailblazers: Dr. Cicely Jefferson, Maisha Bankhead, Deseri Kelley, Kimberly Tolbert and Nekeya Webster; Charlotte Berry, Woman of the Year; Michelle Briscoe, Humanitarian Award ; Mary Boyd, RN, Mabel Meshach White Businesswoman Award; Alberta Blair, Professional Woman Award; and Michaiah Joubert, Youth Achiever.

Scholarship recipients of $70,500 included: Zoe Blackburn of Yvonne Ewell Townview Magnet Center ($5,500); Amir Bland of Sachse High School ($6,000); Jaden Saunders of W.T. White High

School ($6,000); Layla Jackson of South Grand Prairie High School ($7,000); Rihanna Sherman of South Oak Cliff High School ($7,000); Ikeoluwa Sowemimo of North Garland High School ($7,000); Evan Straughter of Garland High School ($7,500); Grace Spencer of Lincoln High School ($8,000); Ebonie Zachery of Red Oak High School ($8,500); and Saron Elias of Garland High School ($9,000).

The South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. was founded in the fall of 1954 by Sarah J. Holbert and 15 brilliant African American business and professional women.

SDBPWC has made a profound impact in the greater Dallas community over the past seven decades. For more information on SDBPWC, contact them at: southdallas1954@yahoo.com.

Gwendolyn Daniels is a special correspondent for Garland journal. A true community servant, she is a past president of the South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc.

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

25

DeSoto Lady Eagles play for Championship The DeSoto Lady Eagles have claimed the Southern Region Driven by Bridgestone District Championship and are headed to the Dallas Cowboys Girls Flag Football Championship on May 19, 2025. Competing at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, DeSoto will battle for the title after a stellar season. Meanwhile, the Pinkston Lady Vikings

have also secured the Dallas ISD District Championship, earning their spot in the championship event.

Both teams have showcased exceptional talent, teamwork, and determination throughout the season. They’re ready to prove themselves in one of the year’s most exciting and competitive girls’ flag football events.

Oak Cliff 49ers win Championship

Dallas Wings Season Opener

Left to right: A-Train (22), Head Coach Alex Thomas, Aaron Scofler (0), Carter White (8), and Galvin Huckaby (2) stand proudly as the 7U Champions of the Big Youth League.(Photo courtesy of Head Coach Alex Thomas)

The Oak Cliff 49ers 7U team, led

by Head Coach Alex Thomas, went undefeated this spring to win the Big Youth League Championship with an 8-0 record. They defeated Dallas Elite 19-7 in the title game.

Quarterback Carter White (8), running back “A-Train” (22), Galvin Huckaby (2), and Aaron Scofler

26 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

(0) were all named game MVPs. A-Train opened with an 80-yard touchdown. White and Huckaby each added two rushing scores, while Scofler led the defense with 10 tackles. “The boys showed grit and growth,” said Coach Thomas.

“All the credit goes to the parents for trusting the process.”

After a strong preseason, the Dallas Wings are set to kick off their 2025 season this Friday against the Minnesota Lynx. The team split their two preseason games, losing to the Las Vegas Aces and defeating the Toyota Antelopes. In the two games combined, Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale totaled 32 points, 12

assists, and nine rebounds. Bueckers contributed 15 points and six assists in the win over the Antelopes, while Ogunbowale scored 14 points in the first half alone.

The duo’s impressive chemistry has sparked excitement as Head Coach Chris Koclanes looks to implement a high-powered offense this season.

‘Sinners’ Hits Home With Deep Dive into Black Roots, Spirituality and the Quest

By Jada Ingleton The Washington Informer When it comes to the search for freedom in African American history, Ryan Coogler’s latest film transcends cinema to say: today is not unlike the realities of Black America during Jim Crow.

Set in 1930s Mississippi, “Sinners” presents an introspective analysis into the ideals of music, faith and identity as a means for liberation – coupled with cultural innuendos, blood-thirsty vampires, and double the Michael B. Jordan.

With the religious division and push to diminish Black history seen today, the twohour film delineates the power of ancestral ties that have shaped generations of culture throughout the diaspora and beyond – from the origins of the blues and Christian practices, to the depth of African spirituals and folklore.

According to Kwesi Hargrove, a senior film student at Morgan State University, that moment of deliverance was felt by simply watching the cinematic masterpiece unfold last Tuesday.

“This is the first movie I’ve seen where it was, like they kept saying in the movie…for us, by us,” Hargrove told The Informer. “The quality of the film and the level of the acting, that in itself just showed the film industry that Black people can do anything.”

“Sinners” hit theaters across the nation on April 18, which was also Good Friday, and is already well on its way to reaching the $200 million mark in box office sales. According to reports, the cine-

Michael B. Jordan and Miles Caton star in “Sinners,” a vampire slasher set in 1932 Delta Mississippi that explores the ancestral ties of music, spirituality and liberation in African Americans.

Credit: Courtesy photo via Instagram

matic project brought in $45 million this past weekend, a mere 6% drop from its opening weekend record of $48 million.

Since its debut, the critically acclaimed film has earned numerous endorsements from social media users, film critics, and household names, including LeBron James, Spike Lee and Tom Cruise.

Meanwhile Maryland film fanatics like Hargrove, who has seen the film twice already, and Montgomery County resident Celine Corbie are also encouraging others to take a bite out of the vampire slasher.

After attending an April 25 show at AMC Wheaton Mall 9, Corbie rated the thriller a 9 out of 10, adding that it was “definitely worth the hype” seen across social media.

As a fan of Coogler’s work – which includes other powerhouse productions with Jordan, such as Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed (2015), and Black Panther (2018) – Aminah Cole of Fort Washington,

commended the directorial vision and thorough research that brought the film to life.

She said she considers the box office hit a “tasteful” exploration of not only cinematic art, but the deep-rooted staples of the African diaspora.

“We’re continuing to evolve, and we’re seeing more and more of our stories being told,” Cole said after a showing in Silver Spring on April 27.

“Since we were in the cotton fields, to now having corporate jobs and these high positions, music, faith, everything that represents Black people overall is a good thing.”

‘Sinners’ Offers D.C. Pride While the film is set in the Mississippi Delta, there’s some D.C. pride throughout “Sinners.”

Cole, a marketing specialist, gave a nod to the breadth of talent on screen, touting her own DMV roots as she spoke fondly of Washingtonian Jayme Lawson, who plays Pearline, love interest

to breakout star Miles Caton’s character, Sammy (affectionately known as “Preacher Boy”). “[The] DMV represents… in Broadway, we represent in movies, singing, from politics on the hill all the way down to being an actor,” Cole lauded.

“We continue to show up and show out. [Lawson] did an amazing job.”

An alumni of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) in Northwest, D.C., Lawson has always proved she’s had what it takes to go far.

“From the moment she walked into Duke Ellington’s School of the Arts, she was a professional, and we knew from day one that she was going to have an extraordinary future,” Ken Johnson, chair of DESA’s Theatre Department, told The Informer. “When she was accepted to Juilliard – into their acting program, nonetheless – we weren’t surprised that out of the 2,500 students that auditioned, she was one of the 20 who got in. We know she had an outstanding time there at Juilliard, and [has] really came right out and stepped into the industry.”

Johnson emphasized Lawson’s ability to bring important roles to the screen, from one of Lawson’s major breakout roles as Bella Reál in “The Batman” (2022), to her portrayal as a young Michelle Obama in “The First Lady” (2022) and Betty Shabazz in the National Geographic and Hulu television series “Genius” (2024).

Read more at www.myimessenger.com

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

27

Five Years after George Floyd, Racial Justice Hopes Fade

By Stacy M. Brown

Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

As the nation approaches the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, a new Pew Research Center study reveals a sobering assessment from Americans: the heightened focus on race and racial inequality following the 2020 protests has largely failed to improve the lives of Black people.

In the immediate aftermath of Floyd’s death at the hands of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murder and manslaughter and sentenced to over 20 years in prison, public attention surged.

Millions joined protests across the country. Support for the Black Lives Matter movement peaked, with 67% of Americans backing the cause, and 52% believed at the time that the national reckoning would result in meaningful change for Black Americans.

Today, only 27% say those changes materialized. Pew’s new survey, conducted February 10–17, 2025, among 5,097 adults, finds that 72% now say the increased focus on racial inequality has not improved life for Black people. Even among Democrats, optimism has waned significantly — just 34% believe the racial reckoning made a difference, down from 70% in 2020.

Support for Black Lives Matter, which surged in 2020, has dropped to 52%. Favorability has remained highest among Black adults (76%), Democrats (84%), and adults under 30 (61%), while only 45% of White adults and 22% of Republicans express support. “The justice system is not fair when it

28 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

George Floyd

“When convicted of crimes, Black people always get heavier sentences than their White counterparts, even when they have no prior convictions.” comes to Black people,” said a Black Republican in their mid40s, one of many respondents offering open-ended reflections.

“When convicted of crimes, Black people always get heavier sentences than their White counterparts, even when they have no prior convictions.” The study also finds that Americans have become more pessimistic about the future of racial equality.

Among those who believe the country hasn’t gone far enough on equal rights, only 51% now say it’s likely that Black people will eventually achieve equality with White people, down from 60% in 2020. Just 32% of Black adults say they believe racial equality is attainable — a stark contrast with 61% of White adults who say the same.

As companies once eager to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) now pull back — a trend accelerated by Donald Trump’s executive order banning DEI efforts across the

federal government and pressuring private employers to follow suit — public sentiment toward such initiatives has soured. Lawsuits and backlash have contributed to the rollback, even before Trump’s intervention.

Americans are split on whether companies should weigh in on political or social issues: 50% say it’s important, while 50% say it’s not. However, among those who remember corporate responses to the 2020 protests, 69% believe those statements were made under pressure rather than out of genuine concern.

Pew’s findings also show how partisan divides color perceptions of race in America. While 82% of Black Americans say the country has not gone far enough on racial equality, only 14% of Republicans agree. A majority of Republicans (66%) say too much attention is paid to racial issues, while 56% of Democrats say there’s too little.

Video footage of police vio-

lence continues to shape opinion. Nearly nine in ten Americans have seen such videos, with 63% saying they help hold officers accountable. Yet 54% say the videos make it harder for police to do their jobs.

Black adults (65%) and Democrats (68%) are most likely to view widespread sharing of the videos as a good thing.

As the 2020 movement fades in visibility, feelings of exhaustion have risen. Half of Americans, including 54% of Democrats and 48% of Republicans, say they feel extremely or very often exhausted when thinking about race in the U.S. Democrats are also more likely to feel angry and fearful, while Republicans are more likely to feel uninterested or satisfied.

In measuring change, the verdict is grim.

Most Americans (54%) say the relationship between Black people and police is no better than it was before Floyd’s killing. A third say it’s worse. Just 11% say it’s better.

Looking ahead to Trump’s second term, 48% of Americans believe he will make racial matters worse, compared to 28% who believe he will improve things. Party affiliation predicts opinion: 82% of Democrats expect conditions to deteriorate, while 53% of Republicans think they’ll improve.

The Pew Research Center’s comprehensive study reveals that what was once hailed as a racial awakening now feels, to many, like a missed opportunity. “[Black people] still are paid less than Whites when both are performing the same job,” said a Black Democrat in their early 70s. “Black people are still looked at as criminals when they haven’t committed any crimes.”

MAY 15

Community Calender MetroNews 1 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

cluding: Timbaland – Game-changing producer and chart-topper, Pretty Ricky – The ultimate 2000s slow jam squad, Soulja Boy – “Crank That” pioneer and viral legend and Trina – The baddest to ever do it

Snow Crab, Shrimp, and Rock-a-Ritas!

By Rockfish Seafood Grill 15th- 18th.

For $24, get one cluster of snow crab, one dozen large easy peel shrimp, corn, and potatoes tossed in your seasoning of choice. 3785 S. Cooper St. Arlington.

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Afrofire! #1 Afrobeat Dance Workout in DFW. Thursdays in Dallas. Dance to Afrobeat, Reggaeton, and Soca.

The ultimate afro workout party.

Feel sexy and cool! Sweat! & burn calories. 7 - 8 pm. 4230 Lyndon B. Johnson Fwy, Suite 226. https://bit. ly/44rjHbW

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The DFPS Advisory Committee on Promoting Adoption of Minority Children (ACPAMC) will hold a meeting at 2:00 p.m. CST. Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, TX 77004

16 Donnell Rawlings by Arlington Improv, 16th- 18th vent by Arlington Improv, 309 Curtis Mathes Way, #147, Arlington. Times vary. Tickets: https://improvtx.com/arlington/ comic/donnell+rawlings/

15-17 Divine 9, join the Black Wall Street Rally 2025. Happening May 15 - 17th in the historic Greenwood District, located in Downtown Tulsa, OK. Make a difference by impacting the community through service and volunteer efforts that will soon be announced. Ain't no party like a D9 Party!www.blackwallstreetrally.com

17 4th Annual Tacos & Tequila Festival is rolling into Panther Island Pavilion Presented by Tapatío™ Frozen Meals, Tapatío® Hot Sauce, and Social House Entertainment, this 21+ party is all about epic throwback beats, bold street eats, handcrafted cocktails, and nonstop fun. It’s a one-day-only, flavor-packed explosion of music, food, and culture— 🎤🎤🎤 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤C HIP-HOP + R&B ARTISTS LIVE ON STAGE Bring your crew to the largest lineup that Tacos & Tequila Festival has ever had and relive the golden era of hiphop and R&B with performances in-

T E X A S

WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM

• Vol-12 • August 29 - September 4, 2024

event will celebrate with children’s activities, live cultural entertainment, speakers, food, and fabulous vendors. 12 - 5 pm CDT. Pan-African Connection Bookstore, Art Gallery, and Resource Center 4466 South Marsalis Ave., Dallas. https://bit. ly/4mdNz24

20

Second Annual AmpliFair, hosted by your Dallas Wings LGBTQ+ Champions of Change! Sue Ellen’s (Dallas, TX) 2:00–5:00 PM

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Inaugural Afro Air Festival lands at Fair Park Celebrating Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean, Black American, and African Diaspora Culture

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Boots on the Ground Denim & Boots Day Party, by Antoine White. This is an Epic event. Come dressed in your denim & boots. 12 – 6 pm. Cooper’s Bar & Grill, 3610 South Cooper Street #120, Arlington. Tickets: https://bit. ly/4cNLyoR

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Asian American Pacific Island inaugural Celebration Mini Festival ath the DeSoto Amphitheatre, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road 12-8pm

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Pan-African Connection Film Premiere. A night filled with learning, reflecting, and community. Be the first to experience the film on the big screen! 5:30 - 7 pm CDT. Doors at 5 pm. Angelika Film Center & Café, 5321 East Mockingbird Lane #230, Dallas. https://bit.ly/44x4Htc

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Black Author Book Swap & Market “The Black Book Exchange”. A swap featuring books by Black authors and a Black business market! A fun way to learn about new reads and make friends! 1 - 3:30 pm. Forest Green Branch Library, 9619 Greenville Ave., Dallas. https://bit.ly/4d9mZTD

18 2025 Malcolm X Festival- Ubuntu Farmers Market. This family-friendly

3 E’s: Entrepreneur Highlight & Hiring Expo - Shine Conference 10:00 am - 3:00 pm J. Erik Jonsson Central Library 1st Floor (1515 Young St, Dallas, TX) RSVP: www.3in1trinity.org Event: Small Business Impact Event ( open to all business owners)

24 DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATER 51st Annual Recital @ Majestic Theatre - 3:30pm

African American Museum - Fair Park

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DELIVERING NEWS YOU CAN USE

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Black Mommas & Their Babies: Promoting Infant & Maternal Emotional Health. They will identify the emotional health needs of Black mothers and their babies and describe culture-centered interventions to be used with them. Noon. It’s an online event. Registration: https://bit. ly/3YGloi6

21

Downtown Dallas Democrats May Meeting at 7 - 8 PM, Harwood Tavern 333 S Harwood StDallas, TX 75201 Join the Downtown Dallas Democrats as they kick off their meetings for 2025! They’ll be charting their path forward for the year, and brainstorm how to get more people involved.

22

2nd Annual Arlington Small Business Resource Expo, by Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Connect with 125+ small business resource exhibitors—the businesses that will help you grow your business. 11 am – 4 pm. Texas Live! 1650 East Randol Mill Road Arlington. Registration: https://bit.ly/3YMRrNa

Africa Day 2025 Celebration.

C

elebrate Africa Day 2025 at Aso Rock Market with music, food, and culture! 12 - 4 pm. Doors at noon.

Aso Rock Market – Frankford, 18110 Midway Rd. #208, Dallas. https://bit. ly/4331KxX Afro-Caribbean Explosion: Memorial Weekend Wahala. A night of pure Afro-Caribbean magic. 9 pm - 2 am.

214 North Akard St., Dallas. https:// bit.ly/43djZ3T

26

Elusive Ladies 47th Deltaversary

29

Ensemble Auditions 2025

@ DBDT studios If your student is interested in performing on a regular basis representing Dallas Black Dance Academy, come audition for one of the academy ensembles!

Thursday, May 29, 2025, 6-8:30pm DBDA 2025-2026 Ensemble Auditions

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Summer Enrichment 2025 @ DBDT studios (Ages 9-16 years old) Experience intensive training during the summer with DBDT professional company members.

June 2-13, 2025 (Monday – Friday 8:30am-3:00pm) Dallas Black Dance Academy Summer Enrichment 2025

Duncanville High School’s Class of 2025! Graduation at Globe Life Field, 734 Stadium Dr, Arlington.

6 pm duncanvilleisd.org Poet’s & Jazz #5 by The Black Theatre of Arts and Letters. GEMINI, the mother spoken word artist, rapper, and singer from Houston.

At Clarence Muse Café, 1309 Canton St., at 9 pm. Tickets: https://www. ticketmaster.com/poets-n-jazz-5 Tosin Opaleke - Comedy Special Recording. Tosin Opaleke performs live at the Bishop Arts Theatre – you never know what to expect, but it’ll be a good time! 7 - 11 pm. Bishop

Arts Theatre Center, 215 South Tyler St., Dallas. https://bit.ly/3RZob22

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African American Cemetery Tour in Honor of Memorial Day. Step back in time with us on a moving guided bus tour through Dallas’ African American cemeteries this Memorial Day weekend. 10 am - 2 pm CDT. Doors at 9:30 am. 1408 N Washington Ave. Dallas. https://bit. ly/43jGUvD

31 Fire Truck Pull 2025 in Duncanville, 16th Anniversary by Duncanville Police Department. They team up with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office for an action-packed day of community spirit and friendly competition.

9 am at 100 James Collins Blvd.

Donate: https://bit.ly/42K4QIa Jazz on the Trinity returns with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lalah Hathaway headlining a star-studded lineup. Held at Panther Island Pavilion, this year’s festival features performances by Rick Braun, Kevin Ross, Lindsey Webster, Latin Express, and Richmond Punch, promising an unforgettable blend of jazz, soul, and R&B. In addition to the music, attendees will enjoy curated experiences like: Q&A panel and meet & greet with viral influencer group The SilverFox Squad, Black-owned tasting tent

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RJ Prince at The Arlington Improv.

He stars in a national commercial for Ellen’s Kitchen. He has headlined at the Improv, Hyenas Comedy Club, and The Comedy Arena, and has performed at the Laugh Factory—7:30 pm. 309 Curtis Mathis Way $147 Arlington. https://improvtx.com/ arlington/comic/rj+prince

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Cyber Safety For Good - Avoiding Fraud & Scams and Jugging for our Senior Citizen- 10:00 am - 11:30 am Martin Weiss Recreation Center 1111 Martindell Ave. Dallas, Tx. RSVP: https://events. chase/300063661

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FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

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Inaugural Afro Air Festival lands in Dallas May 17 at Fair Park Celebrating Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean, Black American, and African Diaspora Culture Dallas, TX — A first-of-its-kind cultural experience is preparing for takeoff in Dallas. The Afro Air Festival, a vibrant celebration of the African Diaspora in motion, will transform Fair Park into a pan-African village on Saturday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a day of food, music, dance, visual art, education, and community.

Founded and directed by Dallas-based artist and cultural producer Weyni Kahsay, Afro Air is inspired by Eritrea’s famed EXPO festival and reimagined for a global, diasporic lens.

With immersive experiences that uplift Black cultures across the globe — from Afro-Caribbean to Afro-Latinx, from continental Africa to the Deep South — the festival welcomes everyone to fly with us toward a more connected future.

“Afro Air is where Black cultures land, learn, and lift off,” said Kahsay. “We’re honoring where we come from while celebrating the innovation and creativity that define where we’re going.”

With over 25 performers and artists and more than 40 vendors, there will surely be something for everyone. In partnership with Fair Park First, City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, Green Sahara, The Group DTX, Pan African Connection, Femme DTX, and Friends of Darryl Ratcliff.

Main stage performances include Zimbabwean DJ duo Lex & Answer, Cameroon singer Ginny Worldwide, Nigerian singer David Coast, hip hop artists D-Sensei and Bran Movay, singer and instrumentalist HT Kennedy, international DJ Asa Ace, poet Daylan Burgess, Amapiano DJ DeeDee, and the most exciting female DJ collective in Dallas - Femme DTX! Other performances include the heart-pounding African Village Drummers, a comedy show by FTC (For The City) Comedy, the genre-bending energy of live artist BANWO, and the electrifying moves of CKonpa Dance Co., specializing in Haitian Kompa and Caribbean dance.

There will also be curated culinary ex-

30 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

periences from Afro-Diasporic restaurants across DfW. An art marketplace featuring stunning visual work by Herve Habonimana, Inyang Essien, Kganya Mogashoa, Nii Narku Thompson, Tamary Kudita, Thomas Buchanan curated by Indibano Residency Director Buke Dube, alongside local and international vendors and artisans Afro Air is built on principles of inclusivity, education, and joy. It’s a family-friendly, intergenerational space where culture is shared, pride is amplified, and new connections are made.

General admission is ticketed, and tickets can be purchased at afroairfest.com.

“This is more than a festival — it’s a cultural runway for the diaspora,” said Kahsay. “We’re building a space where our communities can be seen, celebrated, and supported.”

The 2025 Afro Air Festival is made possible through generous community partners, sponsors, and a dedicated team of creatives and volunteers.

Details Afro Air Festival Fair Park, Dallas, TX Saturday, May 17, 2025 Gates open at 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tickets available: afroairfest.com

Joke of the Day

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

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32 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

33

Call issued to Support Black Businesses Buy Black!

By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News

When Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, of Friendship-West Baptist Church, announced 100 Days Dr. Frederick D.Haynes III of Buying Black in acknowledging the 100th Commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we joined the movement. December 31, 2021 marked 100 days of featuring Black Businesses. and we decided that the struggle continues and we must also. So enjoy reading about more Black-owned businesses and please support.

LOVE IGUEHI APPAREL Love lguehi is a custom clothing and apparel company. Based in Oakland, California, they are a made-in-America brand that uses strikingly colorful and beautifully bold African Ankara prints curated by founder and designer lguehi James to create fashions that showcase her Oakland roots and Nigerian heritage. The company is focused on the highest quality custom clothing and limited edition ready-to-wear pieces that complement and accentuate the body. Each piece features beautiful textiles and vibrant colors that serve as a one-of-a-kind statement piece for every occasion. Every item is hand-cut, so print placement varies, ensuring that no two items are alike. All love merchandise is handmade with two aspirations: that U love the way you look, love the way you feel.

• https://loveiguehi.com • email: info@loveiguehi.com MR. CAJUN’S DAIQUIRI SHOP Mr. Cajun’s is a full-service daiquiri shop offering an

AT LAST “SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE”

A program that improves students’ performance during the 7 hours they are in school by focusing on the 17 hours they are not. It gives kids from less prosperous families the educational resources and tools enjoyed by kids from more affluent families during the home life portion of a school day. Students who gain admission into AT LAST! are called “Scholars-In-Residence”. AT LAST provides Academic Support, Technology, and Life Skills Instruction. Randy Bowman the founder believes that the AT LAST boarding program promises success for students in poverty. To learn more about the program visit the website.

• https://atlastboarding.com • 405 E. Overton Rd., Dallas • phone: (214) 306-4459 • email: feedback@atlastboarding.com

34 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025

extensive selection of flavors and authentic Cajun cuisine, all served in a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. They have three locations: Forney, Mesquite, and Pleasant Grove. You will experience the finest Cajun flavors the city has to offer.

They have daiquiris by the gallon, your favorite Cajun soul food. You can dine in or take out. Catering is also available.

Check out the website.

• https://www.mrcajunsdaiquiri.com • phone: (972) 357-7743 • email: nikia_mitchell@att.net • 471 Market Place Blvd. #220, Forney RECIPE OAK CLIFF Recipe Oak Cliff opened in 2017 to provide access to healthy food and drinks to food-insecure neighborhoods. Recipe Oak Cliff serves fresh juice, smoothies, tea, and a unique menu of plant-based vegan eats. Plant-based sandwiches, tacos & salads, plus fresh juices & smoothies in a casual, grab-n-go

space. Recipe Oak Cliff also provides shared kitchen/ retail space for emerging health food businesses.

You can see the menu at places. singleplatform.com.

• Owner, Tisha Crear • 1831 S. Ewing Ave, Dallas • email: info@recipeOC.com • phone: 469-930-8284 ROBOTOPIA RoboTopia delivers cuttingedge industrial automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing solutions, alongside comprehensive workforce development training.

Streamline operations, enhance safety, and boost productivity with turnkey robotics designed to tackle the toughest challenges.

Our adaptable, cutting-edge systems empower your business to thrive in a competitive world. Whether reducing risks or optimizing efficiency, RoboTopia delivers seamless integration and ongoing support to future-proof your growth. Experience manufacturing redefined today. For more information on how they can help your business, visit the website.

• Owner: Terrence Southern • https://www.robo-topia.com • Email: info@robo-topia.com ELAINE LAW GROUP Not everything is as it seems, especially in law and business. The power of observation and deduction isn’t just for detectives; it’s how we catch red flags in contracts, spot gaps in estate plans, and prevent intellectual property theft before it happens. If you’re only skimming the surface, you might miss what could cost you everything. Every detail matters. Every clause counts. Every decision shapes your legacy. “At Elaine Law Group, we don’t just review; we read between the lines.”

Says Attorney Lorraine Birabil. Visit the website to learn more about Elaine Law Group.

• Dallas Office: 910 S. Pearl Expy, Dallas, TX 75201 • Phone: 214-432-3113 • Fax: 214-432-3116 • Houston Office: 4008 Chartres St, Houston, TX 77004 • Phone: 713-244-6695 • Email: legal@ elainelawgroup.com

Public Notice

24 Hour Wrecker Serv 24 Hour Wrecker Service Public Notice VSF 0514204 The following vehicles will be sold at public auction on Monday 5/19/2025 if not released to register owners. Any announcements made the day of sale supercede any advertised announcements. The auction will be held at On line at www.jdnewell.com. If you have any questions, please call 972-227-5188.

Year/make, VIN, Tag. ALL VEHICLES ARE SOLD AS IS. AUCTION DATE: 5/19/25 23-Feb-2025 26-Mar-2025 29-Mar-2025 26-Mar-2025 27-Mar-2025 26-Mar-2025 28-Mar-2025 26-Mar-2025 24-Mar-2025 23-Mar-2025 26-Mar-2025 26-Mar-2025 26-Mar-2025 03-Apr-2025 01-Apr-2025 05-Apr-2025 05-Apr-2025 27-Mar-2025 04-Apr-2025 26-Mar-2025 01-Apr-2025 02-Apr-2025 28-Mar-2025 24-Mar-2025 05-Apr-2025 26-Mar-2025 02-Apr-2025 26-Mar-2025 24-Mar-2025 24-Mar-2025

Date

Police

Invoice #

Vehicle

TIMS LPD LPD LPD CHPD LPD CHPD LPD CHPD LPD LPD LPD HUTCHINS PD TIMS TIMS HUTCHINS PD LPD TIMS TIMS LPD LPD LPD CHPD CHPD TIMS LPD TIMS TIMS TIMS TIMS

309526 208546 309944 208545 310008 310006 310210 309937 208539 309932 310108 310253 310004 310229 310121 309985 310136 310113 310023 310106 310118 310064 310211 208540 309982 309938 310122 310251 307948 309691

1970 Chevrolet Silverado (BLACK) 1984 Toyota Corolla Le (BLUE) 1995 TRANSCRAFT TRAILER (BLACK) 1998 Chevrolet C1500 (Gold) 1998 Chevrolet C2500 (Gold) 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (WHITE) 2004 Ford Focus Zx3 (GREY) 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe Gls/Lx (BLUE) 2007 Saturn Vue (SILVER) 2008 Chevrolet Impala Lt (BLACK) 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Gs (BLUE) 2008 Toyota Camry Ce/Le/Xle/Se (SILVER) 2009 NISSAN Cube Base/S/Sl (SILVER) 2010 Chevrolet Malibu Ls (BLACK) 2010 Honda Civic Lx (WHITE) 2011 Kia Soul +/!/Sport (WHITE) 2012 Toyota Camry/Se/Le/Xle (Red) 2013 Chrysler 200 Lx (BLACK) 2013 Chrysler 200 Lx (BLUE) 2013 Hyundai Sonata Gls (GREY) 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Ls (BLACK) 2014 NISSAN Rogue Select S (BLUE) 2014 Toyota Corolla L/Le/Le Plus/Le P (WHITE) 2015 Dodge Dart Sxt (SILVER) 2016 Ford Taurus Limited (SILVER) 2016 Kia Rio Lx (WHITE) 2016 NISSAN Rogue S/Sl/Sv (GREY) 2019 Mercedes-Benz C300 (BLACK) 2021 NISSAN Altima Sr (SILVER) 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ls (GREY)

CS140S137523 JT2AE83EXE3088646 1TTF4520XT1050481 2GCEC19R7W1148258 1GCGC24R8WZ190841 1G1JC52FX37300384 3FAFP31Z84R125439 KM8SC13E64U686701 5GZCZ53477S869206 2G1WT58K389243509 2MEFM74V48X613439 4T1BE46K58U747443 JN8AZ28R49T126760 1G1ZB5EB2A4132785 2HGFA1F5XAH567055 KNDJT2A21B7330604 4T1BF1FKXCU584924 1C3CCBAB0DN646877 1C3CCBAB7DN647699 5NPEB4AC5DH787388 1G1PA5SH5E7122517 JN8AS5MT9EW621603 2T1BURHE7EC140450 1C3CDFBB3FD286290 1FAHP2F83GG103038 KNADM4A35G6557934 KNMAT2MT7GP600060 55SWF8DB7KU301547 1N4BL4CVXMN358395 KL79MMS25PB195686

Department

FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025 •

35

ARRESTED

E F I L HE IS A SERIAL RAPIST

He targeted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. but this is more than about a sorority.

We’re talking about a community.

Come on PEOPLE! Don’t you CARE? Will it matter when it is your sister, mother, aunt or grandmother or maybe YOU?

Crimestoppers 877-373-8477 36 • FRIDAY • MAY 16, 2025