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MetroNews

Loved this Father!

Over the years, I have enjoyed spending time with Brother Richard “Naba’a Muhammad, editor-in-chief of the Final Call Newspaper.

We had a lot in common. We were journalists, we attended HBCUs --although he wasn’t able to attend the fabulous Florida A&M University-- we were members of the Divine 9 (him Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and me, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority) and so important; —we loved our people.

As members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, we’d gather sometimes once, twice or as many as four times a year and we always made time for one another.

We cheered one another

when we won awards and we always had each other’s back!

It was always great to get tips and discuss how we were going to make journalism better.

Recently it was difficult arriving at meetings and looking around for that Morgan State University alum.

It was great seeing Sister Starla Muhammad’s beautiful smile but having face-toface, and heart-to-hearts with Brother Naba’a was wonderful.

I know he was going

See FATHER, page 8

Fatherhood & Divine Love

By Eva D. Coleman Lifestyle & Culture Editor

Longtime educator Dr. Torrance Brooks has held a few titles across several Houston area school districts.

Over the past 28 years, he’s been a teacher, coach, assistant principal and is currently principal at Jones Middle School in Aldine Independent School District (ISD).

While he’s been instrumental in countless students becoming who they are destined to be, as a newly initiated member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated®, his growth in Greekdom has been rooted from home.

“My wife [Tanika],

DALLAS, TX— Nationally acclaimed actor Samuel L. Smith, known for his powerful presence on screen and in the community, will host the 25th Anniversary of City Men Cook, a Dallas tradition of food, fatherhood, and fellowship, on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16, 2024, at the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) — the former site of the historic Caruth Haven Plantation.

“This is more than an event. This is a gathering of legacy builders,” says Terry

Who would have thought that African Americans were a prime factor in the economic development, population growth, and wealth expansion of the city of Dallas and state of Texas?

That is the well-researched, thought-provoking premise of an exhibit about African Americans and Dallas cotton history at the African American

Museum at Fair Park, 3536 Grand Ave at Robert B. Cullum Blvd in South Dallas/Fair Park. The exhibition is open now through Juneteenth/June 19, 2025.

Opening activities and a reception that featured Black culture dishes were held April 19-20, 2025, a lecture and cotton products were featured on April 27. Various activities will continue through the Juneteenth closing festivities.

“Mama Opal” Lee, known as the Mother of Juneteenth, visited the opening activities. She congratulated exhibit curator Clarence E. Glover Jr., aka “Professor Freedom,” toured the exhibit, and talked with Glover about cotton and its emotional ties to African heritage.

“Her visit was historically and generationally significant,” Glover commented. “At age 98, almost a centenarian, she represents the bridge between our elders who lived

Texas Metro News

A divine family: Dr. Torrance Brooks with wife and three sons

Sam Smith

Nabaa Muhammad Credit: Courtesy

Trump’s Travel Bans Chilling Impact

By April Ryan NNPA White House Correspondent

“Another shameful moment for our nation’s foreign policy” is what ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Greg Meeks calls President Trump’s latest travel ban on 12 countries.

Trump reinstated his first-time travel ban based on national security concerns. Beginning June 9, 2025, at 12:01, citizens of the designated countries are banned from entering the United States.

The entry bans citizens from the following countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

The 12 countries on the travel ban list comprise seven African nations and one Caribbean nation. This ban will impact commerce and possibly diplomatic relations with these countries.

Congressman Meeks says, “Trump’s travel ban is discriminatory from the ground up, and ultimately self-defeating—it even betrays our Afghan allies who supported U.S. troops over our 20-year war and were waiting for their visas to en-

ter the United States.”

President Trump also signed a ban on international students attending Harvard University, a school he has been battling with over issues such as antisemitism on campus and discrimination against white, Asian, male, and straight individuals.

The Trump administration is also concerned with China’s foreign influence and perceived woke ideology. Chioma Chookwoo of American Oversight says, “A quarter of Harvard’s student population is international.”

The latest travel ban has far-reaching implications for higher education in the United States. North Carolina Democratic Congresswoman Alma Adams told Black Press USA, “Nationwide, we have more than 1 million international stu-

dents who contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year.”

In Adam’s home district, she says the University of North Carolina at Charlotte” has 2,000 international students from nearly 100 countries.”

The congresswoman, who also is a member of the House Committee on Education, says, “These students are coming to our country to better their education and consistently give more than they receive.”

“Between this latest travel ban, the freeze on student visa processing, and other chilling actions to deter international students, the Trump administration is creating a self-inflicted brain drain that further damages our economy and undermines U.S. influence and soft power,” offered Meeks.

Texas Majority PAC and the Texas Democratic Party Launch “Blue Texas”

With 2026 shaping up to be the most competitive election cycle in Texas in decades, the Texas Majority PAC (TMP) and the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) today announced the launch of Blue Texas, an ambitious statewide campaign that will invest eight figures to elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2026. The program will mobilize thousands of volunteers, recruit strong Democratic candidates in every region of the state, and deliver critical support to campaigns in all 254 counties.

didates. Texas Democrats have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to elect more Democrats — if they organize early and at scale.

Trump

TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER SERIES

signs

travel ban executive order

part two with support of Supreme Court

By Rita Cook Correspondent Texas Metro News

WASHINGTON D.C. – President

Donald Trump signed an executive order last week that could have consequences for summer travel.

The EO is part two of a travel ban that originally began with his first group of travel ban orders issued on January 20.

This new ban, which became effective Monday of this week, restricts the entry of foreign nationals, “to protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”

The order now bans 12 countries, and in the EO Trump v. Hawaii was cited noting the Supreme Court upheld the President’s authority to use section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to protect the United States through entry restrictions.

Trump said this new ban was related to the recent attack in Boulder, CO. He said the firebombing attack there underscored why the ban has become necessary.

“It underscores the extreme danger to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their VISAs. We don’t want them. In the 21st century we have seen terror attacks carried out by foreign visa overstayers from dangerous places all over the world. And thanks to Biden’s open door policies today there are millions and millions of these illegals who should not be in our country.”

In this speech Trump reiterated the work he did on banning travel during his first term.

“My travel restrictions were one of our most successful policies and were a key part in preventing major foreign terrorist attacks on American soil,” he said. “We will not let what happened in Europe happen to America.”

With support from county parties across Texas, Blue Texas is a direct response to the growing momentum for change: MAGA Republicans have failed working families, the GOP is mired in internal chaos, and presumptive Senate nominee Ken Paxton is weighing down the Republican ticket.

A recent TMP-commissioned poll conducted by Data for Progress found Paxton leading Senator John Cornyn by a stunning 28 points in the GOP Senate primary, a clear sign of the Republican Party’s internal chaos and the electorate’s discontent with both can-

“We’re building on years of work to run the largest Democratic voter mobilization program in Texas history,” said Katherine Fischer, Director of Texas Majority PAC “We’re combining deep experience, local leadership, and significant statewide investment to meet this moment. With Trump back in the White House and Ken Paxton dragging down the GOP ticket, we have a massive opportunity to win in 2026. Our efforts this cycle are aimed at winning in the short-term, and making Texas a true battleground state in the long term.”

“We are excited to partner with TMP on a statewide organizing program that will

ensure Democrats compete everywhere,” said Kendall Scudder, Texas Democratic Party Chairman. “History has shown that when Texas Democrats unite, we win.”

Blue Texas is designed to capitalize on the opportunities Democrats have in 2026 and build for future cycles. The initiative includes:

• Statewide Volunteer Organizing: A field program, run in partnership with the Texas Democratic Party and county parties, to mobilize volunteers through block walking, phone banking, texting, letter writing, and leadership development to run local voter registration and canvas events.

• June Volunteer Rallies: Blue Texas will kick off field operations by organizing

The travel ban fully restricts and limits the entry of nationals from 12 countries “found to be deficient with regards to screening and vetting and determined to pose a very high risk to the United States.”

These countries include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The Proclamation also partially restricts and limits the entry of nationals from seven countries who are said to pose a high level of risk to the United States including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The order excludes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests.

It was stated in the EO explanation that “After evaluating a report submitted by the Secretary of State, in coordination with other cabinet officials, President Trump has determined that the entry of nationals from certain countries must be restricted or limited to protect U.S. national security and public safety interests.”

President Trump is also hoping to identify the number of people from the banned countries who entered the United States during the Biden administration. He would like to look into the possibility of retroactively suspending their visas.

Biden rescinded Trump’s travel ban he had put in place during his first term in office, reversing it on the first day in office in 2021.

For more details, the EO outlines a justification for the full and partial suspension of each country listed in the June 4 travel ban executive order. The Supreme Court also upheld the travel ban, ruling it “is squarely within the scope of Presidential authority” and noting that it is “expressly premised on legitimate purposes.”

Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.

Special to Texas Metro News

Congressman Greg Meeks

Kendall Scudder Texas Democratic Party Chairman

Dallas rally to show solidarity with LA protesters turns tense as crowd takes to street

Protesters gathered in Dallas Monday to express solidarity and support for Los Angeles residents and undocumented immigrants who have been subject to stepped up activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in recent days.

The event, which began at 7 p.m. at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge on the edge of downtown Dallas, started off peacefully but took a turn when marchers hit the streets and were confronted by Dallas police officers. Shortly before 10 p.m., police announced to the crowd that participants had to leave or face arrest.

The gathering in Dallas resulted from the ongoing situation unfolding in Southern California.

The ICE raids in Los Angeles and a subsequent decision by President Donald Trump to federalize National Guard soldiers over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom ratcheted up tensions in the nation’s second largest city.

An estimated group of up to 400 people gathered at the landmark Dallas bridge to express their unhappiness over the turn of events on the West Coast.

People in the crowd chanted “ICE, ICE, shut it down,” and “unite and fight for immigrant rights,” as they waived signs, including one that said “immigrants built this nation.”

What started out as a mostly peaceful gathering shifted when scattered skirmishes with Dallas police officers occurred as the sun went down.

Around 11 p.m., Dallas

officers had corralled a small group of protesters who remained at the site into the nearby park before the demonstrators ultimately dispersed.

It appeared that at least one person was detained during the rally and there were a handful reports of participants being pepper sprayed.

Clarence Ford, senior pastor at The Christian Chapel Temple of Faith in North Dallas, said he was compelled to attend the Monday protest after seeing the violence that resulted in Los Angeles.

As the rally grew tense and Dallas police began to mobilize with shields for better crowd control, Ford said he tried to get a few individuals to back up, when an officer pepper sprayed him.

“An officer came up, totally out of control, and started pushing and pulled out his baton, his pepper spray,“ Ford said. “I put my hands up (and said) ‘Officer, I’m not a threat.’ And he began to pepper spray.”

Before the confrontations with police, the order of the day at the Dallas rally was showing solidarity with Los

Angeles protesters.

Esperanza Tomeo, 44, of Dallas, is one of the leaders of the local D-FW chapter of Brown Berets, a group that advocates for people of Mexican, indigenous and Chicano descent and one of the organizations participating in the Monday rally.

“Everything that has been happening has foregone the due process, they’ve forgone so many laws,” she said. “This administration has absolutely no problem breaking the laws for them [to] point fingers and criminalize people who they say are breaking the laws.”

Originally from California, Tomeo said what has taken place in LA this past week “hits really hard” for her.

“So I’m really happy that Dallas is able to show up and show out, and support LA,” she said. “Right now, things are pretty rough.”

Carmen Colato, 32, of Dallas, is a U.S. Army veteran who arrived at the protest in uniform and holding a sign that said, “Obey your conscience, the constitution at least.”

Said Colato: “We need to get our service members to

THIS WEEK IN AUSTIN

The saga of the Ellis County Judicial Court that almost never happened

By Rita Cook Correspondent Texas Metro News

ELLIS COUNTY – The new Ellis County 504th Judicial District Court will be official on September 1, 2025.

The bill passed in the house after much wear and tear on Ellis County Rep. Brian Harrison and his efforts to expose what he called the corrupt leadership in the Texas House.

remember to listen to their conscience, because they’re going to be told to do certain things that they should not but we are within our rights to disobey evil orders.”

Colato said she had previously worked at a detention facility in Guantanamo Bay with the belief that if she completed service there she could earn legal immigration status for her mother.

But when Colato returned, she said her mother was denied citizenship.

“Immigrants don’t have it easy,” Colato said, “It doesn’t matter what we do to try to earn our place in this country. We don’t have it easy. We are not accepted. We don’t belong. Even myself in uniform. I don’t belong. I am not the ones that they want to see.”

“Trump has called for the National Guard to be deployed in suppressing the people’s movement for immigrants coming out of LA,” the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of Party for Socialism and Liberation – the organization hosting the rally – said in an Instagram post. “Dallas will not sit by as peo-

See DALLAS RALLY, Page 17

He said the removal of the court from the original bill was his “punishment” because he had “The courage to expose the way the Texas House members are betraying the Republican voters of Texas.”

While proud he saved the court in the end, Harrison said “This was one of the most underhanded things many of the members said they had ever seen in the history of the Texas House.”

When former Ellis County Judge Todd Little left his seat in May the second criminal court in Ellis County was a done deal. He and Harrison had worked hard to make the 504th Judicial Court a reality for the county.

At the last minute and just before HB2878 was in its final stages for a vote the Ellis County Court was removed from the bill by State Representative Jeff Leach. Leach represents Collin County and serves as the chairperson of the Texas House Committee on the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence (JCJ).

Harrison said Leach at the last minute, unbeknownst even to the committee members, deleted the Ellis County court as part of his committee substitute of the bill right before it was voted out. He did not even tell the members of the committee that he did it.

“Jeff did it at the last second and the only reason Ellis Coun-

ty almost did not get that court was because Jeff Leach made a decision to punish Ellis County and make our streets less safe in a vindictive and childish attempt to what they thought would harm me because I refuse to go along with their corruption,” Harrison said.

Leach said during a committee meeting while speaking to Representative Giovanni Capriglione that the Ellis County State Representative had never talked to him about putting this item in the bill.

Harrison said that was an obvious untruth since the item was not only in two senate bills for possible passing, but also in HB2878, which Leach himself had authored.

Harrison later spoke on Leach’s comment before the house leadership body “I think it is of utmost importance when this body conducts business that we are factual and this body deserves the truth.

I am going to read a quote because it was a question to why the 504th judicial district of Ellis County was not in the bill that

Zacharia Washington Breaking News Reporter

Dallas police wrestle a man to the ground along Singleton Boulevard during a protest against immigration policies of the Trump administration on Monday, June 9, 2025, in Dallas. Credit: Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer

Brian Harrison

founded in 2012

Publisher: Cheryl Smith editor@texasmetronews.com

320 So. R.L. Thornton Freeway, Ste. 100 Dallas, TX 75203

www.texasmetronews.com 214-941-0110

Texas Metro News is your premier statewide news source, delivering comprehensive, inclusive, coverage of news, sports, features, opinions, and more. Stay informed with our diverse range of content designed to keep you engaged and informed.

The Texas Metro News’ mission is to inform, educate, enlighten, inspire, entertain, educate and empower, by providing thought-provoking news, photos, stories and commentary.

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In strategically placed bins, you can purchase copies of Texas Metro News for $1 per copy or you can have delivered to your home for $100 annually.

Additionally there are more than 200 sites across the state: including churches, public buildings, libraries, schools, restaurants and businesses where you can secure copies.

We welcome your submissions but do not guarantee publishing, unless submission includes an executed insertion order. We are not responsible for errors in advertising, however we will work to make good on our errors.

We are local and global, for you!

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, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

EDITORIAL

From D.E.I. to Merit, Advancement and Opportunity (M.A.O.)

Dr. Benjamin F Chavis Jr.

OUR VOICES

Words matter. With all of the diversionary and distractive attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.), it is time not to retreat from freedom’s demand for equal justice. In America today it is time to move forward. “Forward ever. Backward never,” was the historic refrain from the Honorable Marcus Garvey.

Recently members of my family gathered together in our hometown of Oxford, North Carolina for an intergenerational family discussion on the periodic dispute over appropriate phraseology that should more accurately focus on increasing opportunity and how to improve the quality of life of all.

The Chavis family has been in Granville County, N.C. for over 200 years. We have witnessed the evolu-

tion of the Freedom Movement in America and the price that has been paid to advance the interests of Black Americans and all others who have cried out and struggled for equality.

We recall the national debate over “affirmative action.” We remember the recent disputes over “critical race theory” by people who could not even define what the phrase means.

In 2025, the issues of merit vs. the matters of societal entitlements resonate with renewed vigor and social division across the nation. In the halls of the U.S. Congress and in state capitals voices and policies are being raised in opposition to Medicaid and Medicare that will affect millions of people.

Many leading corporate executives have also put forth historical justifications to retreat from D.E.I., yet none have offered alternative language or wording that will make good business sense. To demand merit and at the same time

to deny equal opportunity to education, employment and healthcare is a regressive formula for social failure.

The fact is we have always worked hard to attain excellence and respect. Being meritorious is in our D.N.A. Against all possible repressive odds, we continue to strive to overcome the legacies and ignorance of racism and hatred.

Our family discussion did not relent until we all mutually agreed on what we are recommending as today’s alternative language and wording for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We believe that Merit, Advancement, and Opportunity (M.A.O.) should be

universally stated as an achievable goal for corporate America and for all who are decision-makers in the U.S. Congress, state governments, and in local municipalities.

Merit is about recognizing and rewarding based on abilities, skills, and accomplishments. By centering on merit, M.A.O. aims to reward hard work and talent, fostering a culture of excellence.

Advancement is key to M.A.O. to ensure that progress is based on performance and work-related contributions to success and mission fulfillment.

Opportunity in M.A.O. is an outcome that provides equal access to resources,

training, and to increased chances for success, regardless of background.

M.A.O. avoids identity-based preferences and minimizes considerations of race, gender, or other identity factors in decision-making processes.

In other words, M.A.O. promotes a fair, objective, and efficient system where individuals succeed based on their merits. M.A.O. is aspirational without limitations to take advantage of opportunities to advance individual careers and greater societal good for all.

We look forward to continuing the national dialogue and refinement of the conceptual framework of Merit, Advancement and Opportunity (M.A.O.). It is an urgent time to move our democracy forward and to reclaim the oneness of humanity.

The Sound of Silence, the Power of Love

Henry, Sr.

OUR VOICES

As I sit beside my father’s bedside, time seems to bend. Each breath he takes feels sacred, and each moment that passes invites me to listen, not just with my ears, but with my soul. In this silence, there is sound. I hear the quiet truth: life is precious beyond measure.

My thoughts wander back seventy years to the soil of North Carolina where I was born. I reflect on the wisdom my father passed down. Of les-

sons rooted in humility, in dignity, and in the quiet strength of living a life of purpose. I now find myself walking some of those same roads he once walked, my feet settling into the footprints of his past.

There’s a sacred clarity that comes in stillness. Life is so precious that if we don’t take time to reflect, to respect, to value life, we can easily get caught up and swept away, as if life’s flood waters were coming down mountains of troubles, and we are caught up in the turbulent forces filled with harmful debris that it has picked up along the way, washing us out into oceans of graveyards. We become

numbed by the callousness of power and hardened by the coldness of ego. Compared to the chaos and corruption that is being created by what appears to be insane humans void of feelings(Trump and his sycophants)caught up in their own personal abyss of grandeur, and yet they are but a minuscule, a speck of dust on what really matters in life.

Emotionally barren, they are loud, but they are not lasting. They are seen, but not significant; not in the ways that truly matter.

What matters is love.

Love, in its quiet and powerful way, is the great redeemer. It teaches. It shelters. It

heals. It reminds us that no matter how dark the world may seem, there is always light somewhere, maybe on a porch in a small Carolina town, maybe in the hand of a stranger, maybe at the bedside where a child holds a parent’s hand one last time.

If there is one lesson I would pass on, one truth I would chisel into stone with a nail if I had to, is this: never take for granted the goodness of love.

In moments of hopelessness, when it seems the world is unraveling, love remains. It is not weak nor is it a chump, it is our strongest force. It can carry us through storms, rebuild what is broken, and remind us

that our shared humanity is still worth believing in.

So today, I honor the silence. I honor my father, who is, “too old of a hog, to be called a pig.” I honor the hope that rises, stubborn and strong, even when the world tries to bury it. And I carry forward the love that made me, sustained me, and will outlive even me.

May we all listen a little more, love a little harder, and never forget how precious this life really is.

Bobby Henry, Sr. is the publisher of the Westside Gazette and chair of the National Newspaper Publishers Association-NNPA

Bobby

Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and BlackPressUSA

Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA

OPINION

Symbolism and Realism in Today’s Role of Being a Father

James B. Ewers Jr. Ed. D.

OUR VOICES

Father’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday, June 15th. The millions of fathers and father figures will rejoice in their special day.

We will enjoy a special dinner, along with an assortment of gifts. Will we get another necktie? That was a must-have gift for old school dads. I can recall buying my dad a fair share of ties for Father’s Day. Of course, today is a lot different. I believe technology has taken the place of ties. Dads receive phones and computers from their children now. However, a loving twist is that grandchildren are writ-

Dr. Julianne Malveaux

ing notes about how much they love us.

That’s cool and makes us feel special. If you are a grandfather like I am, you know what I mean.

Fathers’ roles have always been consistent, whether you are an old school dad or a new school dad. We are and always have been the leaders in our families. We are the protectors and the providers. Has that framework changed? Personally, I don’t think it has. I guess it depends upon who you ask.

I grew up in an African American community in Winston-Salem NC where we had role models who we could emulate. They just went about their work each day, not drawing attention to themselves. However, we always knew

they were there. Their dignity and their diligence were characteristics we saw daily. Fathers back in the day were present and available.

I learned a great deal from my dad. As the time-honored expression goes, “he was cool, calm and collected”.

I know there were times when my dad got upset with me. Being a child, you are prone not to make good decisions. During this period, you just don’t have the emotional makeup to make good judgments.

In a funny way, you think that everything you do is a good decision. The teenage years are the real beginning of figuring out how to make good decisions. It comes with trial and error along with in-

struction by your parents. That instruction part by your parents is vitally important. I went through that trial and error part. Sometimes those outcomes led to sit down lectures by my dad.

My dad could have easily been a college professor as he could certainly hold your attention. While, I didn’t know it at the time, those lectures have made me a better man on all fronts.

Times have changed and, in some respects, so have the roles of fathers. Some would go so far as to say there are some additional responsibilities.

Peer pressure, bullying and technology have played a role in what fathers are having to confront today with their children. Are there other con-

cerns and problems? Yes, yet these three loom large on fathers’ agendas.

Right and wrong yesterday are still right and wrong today. The difference today is there is more peer pressure. Children are more pressured to do wrong. Yielding to temptation has become easier for them.

What that means for fathers today is that the lines of communication must remain open. Talking to children still makes a difference.

Reports show that bullying is happening today in schools at an alarming rate. As parents that means having conversations with school leadership. I believe these engagements with them can help to lower these bullying numbers.

Technology has made many advances over the years. As

a result, these advancements have made it easier for children to access information. We know that all information is not good information. Therefore, safeguards have been put in place to curb unwanted and distasteful information.

Being a dad is a great title as we will receive many rewards and great acclaim. Remember, once a father, always a father. It is not a part-time job. Continue to stay strong and stay involved. I hope that you will enjoy a memorable Father’s Day.

Summer learning loss has long-term implications

THE LAST WORD

When schools let out for summer break, usually between mid-May and midJune, millions of students will be disengaged from learning and will experience significant learning loss.

In math, they may lose as many as three months’ worth of learning, which means when they come back to school in late August or early September, they are back to March in terms of their knowledge base.

Studies suggest students experience the most learning loss in math, but losses in reading acumen are also significant — as many as two months unless students are engaged in supplemental education. Many are enrolled in summer school or other programs, but many of these pro-

grams cost, and those from the lowest-income families don’t have access to them. In some families, older children are charged with minding their younger siblings, preventing them from participating in summer programs.

The attack on the Department of Education and this president’s indifference to education affects some of the programs that the DoE has funded in the past. The socalled “Big Beautiful” (let’s just call it the Big Ugly) eliminates afterschool and summer learning, such as the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which serves 1.4 million children.

Black students are especially vulnerable to learning loss. They have less access to summer enrichment programs because of cost, transportation issues, and availability.

According to the Afterschool Alliance, 2.3 million Black students would have enrolled in a summer program in 2019,

if one were available. That’s pre-COVID data. The need is likely much greater now.

Parents can’t depend on government to prevent learning loss. While one in seven students participated in summer enrichment programs last year 2024) there is significant unmet need. Bloomberg Philanthropies has a Summer Boost program that funded efforts in Baltimore, Memphis, and Washington, among other cities.

Many school districts will have summer school programs, as well as recreation centers, and programs developed by civic organizations. In Washington, the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center has an absorbing summer program that includes reading and athletics.

In Indiana, summer learning labs provided supplemental activities in English and Language Arts, as well as mathematics. Parents — talk to a teacher, get on the inter-

net, and find a program for your child.

There aren’t enough opportunities for every child who needs one, but parents can put programs together for their young ‘uns.

Young people should be exposed to museums, libraries, theater, concerts and reading opportunities. Can’t afford it? Why not come together with other parents to hire a teen or young adult to work with a group of young people one or two days a week? And why not, parents, read with your children, and allow them to read to you?

The learning loss has major equity and civil rights implications. Learning loss widens the achievement gap, and affects high school graduation rates, college attendance rates, and long-term income and wealth.

Another activity Black parents should expose their young people to is water safety. There are reasons why many Black

people don’t swim, many of them historical. White people closed pools (drained them or cemented them over) to prevent Black people from using pools. And some Black women avoided swimming in deference to their hair. But Beverly Iseghohi, an Atlanta-based triathlete and swimming coach, suggests you might prefer your life not to be your coif, and is passionate about getting more Black people to be aware about water safety and to swim. The data buttress her concern. Nearly two-thirds of Black children cannot swim, compared to 40% of white children. Black children 5-9 were 2.6 times more likely to drown than white children. Those 10-14 were 3.6 times more likely to drown. In pools, Black children were 7.6 times more likely to drown than white children. And Iseghohi says there is a connection between swimming and cognition. Perhaps swimming can be an antidote to learning loss.

We must take learning loss seriously, and the entire community must stand in the gap when government education programs drop the ball. Cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mean we will get less data about swimming and drowning.

The Big Ugly Bill means fewer supplemental education activities will be funded. But we know how to educate young people.

The Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools have operated for decades in 26 states, including Washington, D.C. They are combatting learning loss, and we all have a responsibility to do the same.

Find a program or start one. Learning loss has longterm implications for our community.

Dr.

Julianne Malveaux, a former college president, is an economist, author and commentator based in Washington, D.C.

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. He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

EDUCATION

Texas ends in-state tuition for undocumented students

By Milla Surjadi Staff Writer

Dallas Morning News

Undocumented students in Texas are no longer eligible to receive in-state tuition from public universities, reversing a law enacted in 2001.

The Department of Justice sued Texas Wednesday, arguing the state’s law granting undocumented students in-state tuition rates if they can show they have lived in the state for three years before high school graduation “unconstitutionally discriminates against U.S. citizens.”

Hours later, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton agreed with the federal agency and asked a district court to find the practice, known as the Texas Dream Act, unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled it was and blocked state officials from applying the law.

“Today, I entered a joint motion along with the Trump Administration opposing a law that unconstitutionally and unlawfully gave benefits to illegal aliens that were not available to American citizens,” Paxton said in a news release. “Ending this discriminatory and un-American provision is a major victory for Texas.”

Department of Justice officials said the practice conflicts with federal law, which prohibits colleges from offering benefits to undocumented students unless citizens, including out-of-state residents, are also eligible.

“The Justice Department commends Texas leader-

TI Foundation invests $1.7 Million in DeSoto ISD

Special to Texas Metro News

ship and AG Ken Paxton for swiftly working with us to halt a program that was treating Americans like second-class citizens in their own country,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a Thursday release. “Other states should take note that we will continue filing affirmative litigation to remedy unconstitutional state laws that discriminate against American citizens.”

Texas’ law is tied to students’ residency in the state, not their legal immigration status, said former state Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston, who authored the Texas Dream Act. Citizens, permanent residents or international students in some circumstances are eligible for in-state tuition if they have lived in Texas for at least a year, compared to three years for undocumented students.

President Donald Trump has ordered all agencies to ensure no taxpayer-funded benefits go to undocumented immigrants and block state laws that “favor” them.

State lawmakers attempted to repeal the Texas

Dream Act this legislative session. Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, who introduced a bill to do so, argued that any financial aid in Texas colleges and universities should be prioritized for U.S. citizens. That bill did not make it to the Senate floor.

Texas was the first state to extend in-state tuition to undocumented students when former Gov. Rick Perry signed the bipartisan measure into law in 2001. State leaders then highlighted such students’ contributions to the state’s workforce and economy. Now, 23 other states have similar laws.

Noriega said he aimed to “level the playing field” for undocumented high school students who “hit a brick wall, which is the financial wall, to better their education and achieve their dreams.”

“The pathway is still a higher bar [for undocumented students] than any U.S. citizen for the purpose of paying the in-state tuition rate,” Noriega said.

Ending the Texas Dream Act is a “direct attack on the

tuition rates at public universities.

Credit: Ben Torres / Special Contributor

educational aspirations of thousands” of Texas students, Judith Cruz, assistant director for the Houston region for advocacy group EdTrust, said in a statement.

“Dismantling it would not only harm these students but also undermine the economic and social fabric of our state,” she said.

Luis Figueroa, chief of legislative affairs at the advocacy nonprofit Every Texan, said state law does not grant undocumented students any type of benefit that is not available to any other Texas U.S. citizen or Texas legal permanent resident.

“If a U.S. citizen from Nebraska moved to Texas and was here for one year, they would get the in-state rates,” he said.

EDUCATION

Loved this Father

cont. from page 1

through health challenges, but this deeply grounded and focused proud member of the Nation of Islam remained a faithful servant until the end.

He spoke the truth wherever he went and when he started doing a broadcast on WVON Radio in Chicago, I was invited to join him and Brothers BJ Murphy and James Muhammad, to talk about issues of the day.

It was always a joy to join them and other guests as we put our perspectives out to the world to balance all the madness around us.

I was awakened by news of his passing and people around the country were responding quickly. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan issued a statement, a tribute to this dynamic GRIOT.

I can’t help thinking about his children, and all the other children around this world, especially those who are experiencing Father’s Day for the first time without their father. My heart goes out to them because for me every Father’s Day is like the first Father’s Day without my dad just like every day is like the first day. I don’t know how many people told me it would get easier with time.

But they lied!

It hurts even though it’s been two decades.

I just want to comfort all those who are feeling that loss, but I also want to send a plea out to all the men of the world: find your children, find the women you had unprotected sex with, and reunite with those children you are estranged from.

Form that bond, fight for that relationship, and make a difference in their lives and ultimately the world.

You see when you say your last goodbye, what will ensure that you live on will be the seeds you planted.

It doesn’t help to plant a seed if the seed never knows where it came from.

You are needed!

Brother Naba’a was about spreading that knowledge. He will be remembered for his word and his work.

He spoke truth to power; serving loyally, and honorably.

What a legacy!

House for Rent

Two bedroom, 1 Bath single family home for rent.

Rent amount: $1200.00

Location: South Dallas area

For more information please call 972-294-9721

ARLIOUS LAVONE JACKSON

ARLIOUS LAVONE JACKSON, born on June 18, 1939, left this world on June 2, 2025, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished by many.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend. For 37 years, he was a faithful partner to his beloved wife, Loren Parker-Jackson.

Arlious embodied a spirit of resilience and dedication throughout his life. His somewhat dry humor and love for spirited debates were hallmarks of his personality, endearing him to all who knew him.

Arlious was a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a Connecting Link, Trinity Chapter The Links Inc, a testament to his commitment to leadership and service in his community.

An esteemed educator for over 50 years, Arlious influenced countless lives with his wisdom and guidance, leaving a mark that will be felt for generations.

In addition to his role as an educator, he served as a faithful trustee of the Community Missionary Baptist Church, where

IN MEMORIAM

he contributed significantly to the spiritual and communal life of the congregation.

Celebration of Life: Thursday, June 12, 2025 6:30 PM

Community Missionary Baptist Church, 820 East Wintergreen Rd., Cedar Hill, Texas 75104

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations made to the Community Missionary Baptist Church in ARLIOUS LAVONE JACKSON name. You may mail donations to 820 East Wintergreen Road, Cedar Hill, TX 75104

‘Six Triple Eight’ Member Anna Mae Robertson Dies: WWII Hero Was 101

By Milla Surjadi Staff Writer Dallas Morning News

Anna Mae Robertson, one of the final living members of the esteemed “Six Triple Eight” military unit, has died at the age of 101.

The surviving veterans and those who have passed away were able to be celebrated on a global scale thanks to Tyler Perry’s movie, The Six Triple Eight, which premiered on Netflix last year.

As Blavity reported, the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion were the only Black female unit in the armed forces appointed to carry out a duty in Europe during World War II. Although they were given a mission to help organize 17 pieces of mail, it was deemed impossible due to other units that failed

to accomplish the task. To the military’s surprise, they completed the assignment in three months, which was 90 days ahead of the deadline.

What legacy did the women of ‘Six Triple Eight’ leave behind?

In April, the entire group was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal for their outstanding and innovative work during the war, which reconnected soldiers with their families.

“They broke barriers,” the Mississippi native’s granddaughter, Kenya Robertson, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an interview. “It took about 70 or so years for the world to know the role of Anna Robertson and the women of Six Triple Eight played in War World II [sic].”

As a means to survive after her mother died, Roberson joined the army when she was 19.

“I felt as though we were relieving a man who could go over and fight. We could do what the men had been doing,” she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2014.

Following her military service, Robertson traveled to Milwaukee to celebrate a comrade of the Six Triple Eight’s wedding. She eventually settled in the city and became a nurse’s aide at the local Veterans Affairs hospital.

Anna Mae Robertson is being remembered for her service

At 98 years old, Robertson received the Congressional Gold Medal at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center for her contributions to reviving

the mailing system in June 2022, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore expressed her condolences, saying she stands with the community in honoring Robertson’s groundbreaking contributions and grieving her passing.

“I am thankful that my constituent, Ms. Robertson, was able to receive her flowers while she could still smell them,” Moore said in a May 31 statement, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Courier Communications mourns Passing of Founder Dr. Jerrel Jones

(Milwaukee, WI) – It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Jerrel W. Jones, the esteemed CEO of Courier Communications, who departed this life on June 4, 2025. A prominent figure in Wisconsin’s media landscape, Jones was known for his pioneering work as the founder of Courier Communications, which includes both the Milwaukee Courier newspaper and WNOV 860AM/106.5FM radio station. Jones was the first black man, in the nation, to concurrently own both a radio station and newspaper.

In 1964, Jerrel Jones set out to create a platform for underrepresented voices and to serve Milwaukee’s African American community. He credited his mother, Dr. Mary Ellen Strong, who owned the Milwaukee Defender weekly newspaper,

for his interest in print media. His dedication to journalism and community advocacy helped establish the Milwaukee Courier as a trusted source of news and information.

In 1986, Jones further expanded his media influence by launching WNOV 860AM, later adding 106.5FM to reach a broader audience.

The radio station stands as a cornerstone of talk radio in Milwaukee, offering listeners an engaging and diverse space to discuss the important issues of the day. Additionally, the station serves as a destination for music enthusiasts, providing them a rich programming lineup that celebrates the best in R&B, Blues,

Reggae, Gospel and Jazz.

Over the years, Jones held ownership of several enterprises and played pivotal roles in politics. Candidates and elected officials, locally and nationally, frequented his northside office and held court with WNOV talk show hosts over the years. He achieved these accomplishments, despite leaving college before graduation, to manage his flourishing and expanding enterprises.

In 2022, Jones was the recipient of a 2022 honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Cardinal Stritch University.

Mary Ellen Jones, General Manager of WNOV, in reflecting on his

honorary degree and passing said “My father valued education and believed in its power to change your circumstance. It is why he worked so hard to keep the community engaged and informed. He was a mentor, pioneer, and pillar of strength. His legacy is woven into every part of WNOV and The Milwaukee Courier newspaper. Both our family and the Courier Communications team will strive to continue his work”

In his honor, the Milwaukee Courier will publish a special Tribute Edition in July, to commemorate Dr. Jones’ 86th birthday. Community members, business partners, and public officials are invited to share tributes and reflections as part of this special commemorative issue. The family will announce a Life Celebration Service at a later date.

Arlious Lavone Jackson

Jerrel W. Jones

HEALTH

Hollywood Actor Samuel Smith Joins City Men Cook to Celebrate 25th Anniversary at Historic Caruth Haven Site — “The House That

cont. from page 1

Allen, event founder and public relations strategist. “We are honoring the spirit of Pearl C. Anderson and the land she helped transform. This is the house that Pearl C. built — a place of power, purpose, and pride for our people.”

What began as a tribute to strong men and stronger meals has become a beloved institution. This year’s milestone celebration features a star-studded lineup of celebrity cooks and tasters, mouth-watering dishes, youth empowerment activities, and a renewed focus on family, unity, and giving back.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Samuel L. Smith as Celebrity Host

• 25+ Celebrity Cooks & Tasters, from community leaders to surprise guest stars

• Live Performances and DJ-curated vibes

• Youth Zone with activities, mentorship tables, and giveaways

• Voter Registration, wellness screenings, and local vendor pop-ups

• Powerful tributes to father figures and legacy leaders

Smith is known for his roles in critically acclaimed productions such as ‘The Wire’, ‘Treme’, ‘Queen Sugar’, and ‘Greenleaf’. His performances have resonated deeply with audiences for their emotional depth and cultural significance.

City Men Cook isn’t just a food festival — it’s a social movement with soul. Funds raised support educational and mentoring programs across Dallas and beyond. Tickets are going fast. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets by Friday, June 14, to secure their spot and support the cause.

Watch our promo videos:

• https://youtu.be/LtE0JG2bDZY?si=144DQgu5wuno7Eax

• https://youtu.be/4_yAG31goCY?si=GSiLXjIgiXQZP2Ky

Founded 25 years ago, City

Men Cook began with a vision to celebrate positive male role models in the community using the universal language of food. Each year, the event brings together men of influence, heart, and hope to serve the commu-

Pearl C. Built”

nity, highlight youth programs, and honor the legacy of African American excellence.

CFT is one of the largest community foundations in the nation. The event location stands on sacred ground once part of

Caruth Haven Plantation — today, transformed into a beacon of philanthropy through the enduring legacy of Pearl C. Anderson, a businesswoman and philanthropist who uplifted generations.

Miss Jabberwock 2025

for Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Madeline Pearl McShann!

Here are scenes from a brunch at Kanvas by Kevin Kelley on Sunday! Madeline raised more money in the history of the Dallas Alumnae chapter and guess what? She’s going to Howard University!!!

Brunch For Dallas 1st History Makers & Top Influential Men Of Color

Chief Dominique Artis and Mr. C.W. Whittaker

2025 Living Legends

Chief Dominique Artis and Mr. Willis Johnson Chief Dominique Artis and Terry Allen

Federal Judge Sam Lindsay and Senator Royce West

Mr. Travis Wortham Jr. and Mrs. Verna Melton

Mr. Levi Davis and Mr. Ken Carter

Ms. Yvonne Durant and Rev. Arthur Melton

Dewayne Dancer and Verna Melton

Jazz festival in Cowtown wrangles excitement

By Eva D. Coleman Lifestyle & Culture Editor

It was an afternoon and evening of pure artistry on May 31, 2025 with downtown Fort Worth as the backdrop.

Lalah Hathaway, Rick Braun, Kevin Ross, Lindsey Webster, Latin Express and Richmond Punch set the stage ablaze in the Texas heat during Jazz on the Trinity.

Masterfully woven by event emcee Lynne Haze of Smooth R&B 105.7, also featuring a conversation with the Silver Fox Squad, it was a time well spent... outside.

Texas Metro News served as a proud media partner for this event.

Big Mama Said “No”

Big Mama always said, “Sometimes, you’ve got to close the door to nonsense so the truth can walk in.” That’s the power of No. It was the word our people leaned on during the worst of times—Jim Crow, segregation, and the civil rights struggle. It wasn’t said in fear. It was said with clarity and conviction. No to being dehumanized. No to second-class status. No to waiting for permission to be seen.

Today, No still holds weight— maybe even more than ever. In a world where systemic racism keeps reinventing itself, we need to bring that word back with intention. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, recipient of the City Men Cook “Mentor of the Year” award, challenges us not to hide behind the comfort of being “not racist,” but to stand firm and act as antiracists. He reminds us that racism isn’t just about personal behavior— it’s about policy and power. And to disrupt that power, we must speak up, show up, and, when necessary, say No to injustice in any form.

There are examples all around us. Here in the U.S., the return of travel bans targeting Black and brown nations under the guise of “national security” is nothing new—it’s just Jim Crow in new clothes. And globally, the racially motivated murder of a Tunisian man in France underscores how widespread and dangerous

LIFESTYLE/CULTURE

Meet the Black CIA officer fired over a rap song

By EZ Newswire

hate-fueled ideology remains.

But here’s the other side of the story: where we say Yes to change. City Men Cook has done just that. For years, it’s been the highest Nielsen-rated event on Father’s Day weekend, showcasing positive Black male images that counter every tired stereotype. It reshapes the narrative by celebrating Black fatherhood, mentorship, and community. This kind of platform is powerful—it shifts the lens from deficit to dignity, from stereotype to strength. So as we face today’s battles, we carry the wisdom of the past. Big Mama said No, and we should too—No to silence, No to systemic oppression. And then we say Yes—to truth, to power, to standing together. That’s how we win. Come see proof at City Men Cook

Terry Allen is an NABJ awardwinning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and founder of the charity – Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org

BALTIMORE, MD, (EZ Newswire) — Steve Gary Jones Jr., a former CIA employee from Maryland, is speaking out through art, activism and now entertainment. A Black man who served more than a decade in the CIA’s Security Protective Service, Jones alleges he was fired over a rap song that called out systemic racism within the agency.

His new memoir, “Closed Letter: Racism in the CIA,” offers a powerful and personal account of the events leading up to his termination. The book shares its title with his rap song “Closed Letter,” available on major streaming platforms. Far from a simple creative outlet, the track serves as a bold exposé of racial injustice inside one of the country’s most secretive institutions.

Jones, a Baltimore native and graduate of Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

complaint on January 14, 2013, alleging discrimination and racial bias within the CIA. After a year with no resolution, he recorded the rap song that later drew the agency’s attention. Once the CIA’s Office of Public Affairs was notified of the track, Jones was placed on nine months of administrative leave before being terminated in February 2014 by a peer review board.

Although the song was released after the EEOC filing, the agency treated the two matters as sepa-

Credit: Steve Gary Jones Jr (EZ Newswire)

rate. Jones pursued legal appeals and a request for reconsideration, but his case was ultimately dismissed — without his original discrimination claims being addressed. His case is now documented in Westlaw, a legal research database. Jones would have qualified for retirement in 2023 had he not been terminated.

In addition to his government service, Jones is known online as “Stevieweevie,” a comedic alter ego behind viral sketches, stand-up clips

and commercials featured on World Star Hip Hop between 2010 and 2015. Behind the scenes, he was balancing a federal career and his creative pursuits.

In 2024, Jones spent nearly a year in Dubai, where he wrote “Closed Letter: Racism in the CIA.” The book was published September 26, 2024. He now hopes to bring the story to a wider audience through a film or television adaptation.

“I was ignored like most Black people in the workplace,” Jones said.

“My goal now is to turn this untold, extraordinary hip-hop-meets-intelligence story into something that can’t be silenced — a film or TV series that speaks truth to power.” The book is available on Amazon. The song can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music.

For media inquiries, speaking engagements or collaboration opportunities, contact Steve Gary Jones Jr. at stevegjonesjr@ gmail.com or @stevieweevie71 on social media.

TEXAS VIGNETTE’S CALL FOR ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR

DALLAS – Attention Texas women artists! Texas Vignette has announced a call for entries for its seventh-annual Vignette Art Fair, which will take place Oct. 2-4, 2025, at its new Dallas Design District location, On The Levee (1108 Quaker St., Dallas, TX 75207). The three-day juried event showcases works exclusively by Texas women artists, promoting exceptional yet underrepresented regional talent. Maggie Adler, a veteran museum curator and arts advocate with more than 20 years of experience, will serve as curator for the 2025 Vignette Art Fair. The fair is free and open to the public Oct. 3-4, with a ticketed

Veteran curator and arts advocate

Maggie Adler to serve as curator for the seventh-annual juried show, submission deadline is June 27 with selected artists notified by Aug. 1

Preview Benefit on Oct. 2.

The call-for-entries is now open. Deadline to apply is June 27, and selected artists will be notified by Aug. 1. Submission fee is $36. For qualifications/rules, details, and instructions, go to texasvignette.org/call-artists.

The Vignette Art Fair is unique in that it is fully submis-

sion-based, curated in an exhibition-style setting, and solely spotlights the work of women artists. Most significantly, 100% of all sale proceeds go directly to the artists.

“As we continue our mission to elevate and support women artists across Texas, we’re thrilled to partner with Maggie Adler as

curator for the 2025 Vignette Art Fair,” said Jessica Ingle, founder and president of Texas Vignette. “Maggie’s extensive experience and commitment to both historical and contemporary art make her an ideal partner in showcasing the breadth and richness of women’s artistic contributions in our state. We look forward to the dynamic perspectives she will bring to this year’s fair.”

Founded in 2017, Texas Vignette seeks to bridge the gender disparity gap, as female artists continue to be underrepresented in museum exhibitions, acquisitions, and galleries compared to their male counterparts.

BIG MAMA SAID

Terry Allen

Kendi - Terry Allen Credit - Courtesy

Credit - Courtesy

Steve Gary Jones Jr., a former CIA employee from Maryland, is using his memoir, rap music, and entertainment to expose alleged systemic racism within the agency, claiming he was fired over a song that challenged racial injustice.

Study reveals disparities in mental health care for Texas youth

DALLAS – Young patients from lower-income households in Texas may not be getting the most effective treatment for severe depression and suicidal thoughts, based on findings from researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

According to the study conducted as part of the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN) initiative, these patients are much less likely to receive a combination of psychotherapy and medication, which prior research has shown to be more effective than either treatment alone in improving outcomes for youth with moderate to severe depression. The findings were published in Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice.

“Combination treatment is the recommended option for moderate to severe depression in youth, as it targets both biological and psychological aspects of the disorder,” said senior author Madhukar Trivedi, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Chief of the Mood Disorders Division, and founding Director of the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care (CDRC) at UT Southwestern. “When youth cannot access this treatment, often due to financial or geographic barriers, they may receive care that is less effective, increasing the risk for persistent depression and suicidal behavior.”

The researchers studied patient data collected by the TX-YDSRN for 646 depressed youth ages 8 to 20 from clinical sites across

Madhukar Trivedi, M.D., (left) is Professor of Psychiatry and founding Director of the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care at UT Southwestern. He is also an Investigator in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute and holds the Betty Jo Hay Distinguished Chair in Mental Health and the Julie K. Hersh Chair for Depression Research and Clinical Care. E. Rabia Ayvaci, M.D., is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern.

the state, including Children’s Health. Patients were grouped by the treatment they received during their first month of care: no treatment; therapy only; medication only; or a combination of therapy and medication. Sociodemographic and clinical features were compared across these treatment types.

The most common treatment was combination therapy (52.8%), followed by medication only (34.8%). However, young patients who received medication only were more than three times as likely to come from households earning $25,000 or less annually than those from households earning $200,000 or more (20.5% vs. 6.2%). Young patients from higher-earning households were more likely to receive combination therapy (18.3% vs. 9.3%).

“These findings reinforce the importance of integrating both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy into the treatment of depression in youth based on youth and care-

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Major Systemwide Service and Fare Changes Proposed for January 2026

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors has called for a Public Hearing to engage and receive comments from the community on potential service and fare changes for possible implementation in January 2026.

In March 2025, the DART Board approved a new General Mobility Program, which is a proposed initiative that would redistribute 5% of the agency’s annual sales tax revenue among seven eligible member cities for a period of two years. We have also received requests for new services that are not currently funded. In preparation for this possible reduction in operating revenue, DART is proposing the largest service cuts in agency history, impacting all modes of service. The agency is also proposing to implement Phase 2 of its fare restructure, which was identified in the 2024 Comprehensive Fare Study.

The proposed changes include:

giver preferences. They also highlight the need to remove financial barriers to accessing combination treatment, which could lead to better patient outcomes and reduced suicide risk,” Dr. Trivedi said.

E. Rabia Ayvaci, M.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern and the study’s first author, said that there were no significant differences in treatment by race or sex and that youth with more severe symptoms were more likely to receive combination treatment.

“The goal is to continue examining treatment access and outcomes longitudinally, which will allow for future evaluation of the effectiveness of different treatment approaches over time,” Dr. Ayvaci said.

Dr. Trivedi said a recent initiative from the CDRC and TX-YDSRN, called Activ8, could play a role in improving access to care across Texas.

“Activ8 is a behavioral activation telehealth program for teens that reduces time, financial, and geographic/transportation barriers to care,” he said.

• Major service reductions to bus, rail and GoLink.

• Elimination of nine bus routes and the South Dallas GoLink zone.

• New citywide GoLink zones in Addison and Plano.

• Paratransit fare increases and coverage reductions.

• Changes to Regional and Corporate Annual Pass fares.

• Distanced-based fares for GoLink trips.

Public input on these fare and service changes is vital to the DART Board’s final decision in August. Find a complete list of proposed changes and pre-Public Hearing meetings at DART.org/2026Proposal.

PRE-PUBLIC HEARING COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Monday, June 16, 2025

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Plano City Hall (Inspection Room) 1520 K Ave. Plano, TX 75074

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Singing Hills Recreation Center

6805 Patrol Way Dallas, TX 75241

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Jaycee Zaragoza Recreation Center (Large Room)

3114 Clymer St. Dallas, TX 75212

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

University Park City Hall 3800 University Blvd. Dallas, TX 75205

PUBLIC HEARING

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center

14050 Heartside Pl. Farmers Branch, TX 75234

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 • 6 p.m. DART Boardroom 1401 Pacific Ave. (Akard Station) Dallas, TX 75202

Please submit your comments and questions via email at: DART_TownHall@DART.org

For additional information, call 214-749-3969 or visit DART.org/2026Proposal

BLUE TEXAS

rallies in key counties, including Harris, Dallas, Travis, Bexar, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Brazoria, Williamson, Hidalgo, Cameron, and El Paso.

Aggressive Candidate Recruitment: In July, Blue Texas will launch the Turn Texas Blue Tour, visiting more than two dozen cities, including Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Galveston, Paris, and Port Arthur, to recruit strong candidates and connect them with the TDP - ensuring Republicans face

cont. from page 2

challengers in every district.

Long-Term Capacity Building: This project is built to last beyond 2026, supporting campaigns, training local staff, and strengthening the Democratic Party and progressive politics across Texas.

County parties participating at launch are El Paso, Williamson, Hays, Bexar, Dallas, Cameron, Hidalgo, Brazoria, Collin, and Denton.

For more information about Blue Texas and to get involved, visit bluetx.org.

DALLAS RALLY

ple are punished for standing against the inhumanity of ICE!”

Protests began in Los Angeles on Friday as a result of ICE raids and mass arrests of undocumented immigrants that have been occurring in the city in recent days.

Two days later, the Trump administration deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city to help quell the demonstrations, a move applauded by the Texas governor.

“An organized assault has been waged against federal law enforcement officials,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a post on X. “It’s time to put an end to it, and allow fed officials to fully enforce the laws of the United States.”

The decision, however, only heightened the protest’s intensity.

Demonstrations on Sunday escalated to vandalism, damaged property, burglaries and clashes between protestors and law enforcement officers, other outlets reported. Dozens of people were arrested in relation to the protests.

Dallas police said before the local demonstration

The Color Of Health: The Power Of Early Checkups And Why Black Men Shouldn’t Wait To See A Doctor

By Shannon Dawson

cont. from page 3

that they were aware of the demonstration at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and planned to have patrols there even though they said officers “will not interfere with a lawful and peaceful assembly of any individuals or groups expressing their first amendment rights.”

“Our main priority remains the safety of the people who live, work and visit the city of Dallas,” police said in a statement to The Dallas Morning News.

Monday’s rally in Dallas comes just a few days ahead of the “No Kings” protests scheduled on June 14, which is Trump’s birthday. Thousands are expected to gather in various cities nationwide, including Dallas, to protest against Trump and his administration’s policies.

The Dallas demonstration is scheduled for 12 p.m. Saturday at Dallas City Hall.

Reporter Bianca Rodriguez-Mora contributed to this report.

When it comes to health, early detection often means the difference between life and death. For Black men in particular, routine checkups and annual screenings are more than just good practice—they are critical. Despite ongoing advancements in medicine, Black men continue to face some of the highest rates of chronic illness and early mortality in the United States. Regular health screenings can play a crucial role in closing that gap.

The Reality: A health disparity that can’t be ignored.

Statistically, Black men are more likely to develop and die from conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers, particularly prostate and colorectal cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, Black men have the highest cancer death rate of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S.

Luckily, many of these illnesses are preventable or manageable when caught early. Yet, studies show that Black men are less likely than other groups to get regular medical checkups and their yearly screenings. According to Dr. Samantha Somwaru, a family medicine physician, the reasons range from lack of access to healthcare and financial barriers to systemic racism, mistrust of the medical system, and cultural stigma around showing vulnerability.

“As a family physician, I come across many people who don’t utilize preventive screenings for various reasons, but some of them truly have limited barriers to getting good care,” Dr. Somwaru explained during

a 2023 interview with the Mayo Clinic. “Racial and social disparities are some examples that continue to exist and affect the entire country, especially the Black population. Each must be examined and addressed to reduce health disparities and save lives.”

She also pointed out that accessibility is a major barrier. Scheduling routine screenings isn’t always simple. It often requires reliable transportation, health insurance, health literacy, time off from work, and family support. When these resources are lacking, patients are far less likely to seek preventive care.

Why early checkups matter.

Routine medical visits can help identify risk factors long before symptoms show up. Many chronic conditions and cancers, such as hypertension, diabetes, or prostate cancer, often develop silently in their early stages, making regular screenings and lab tests critical for early detection when treatment is most effective.

Preventative care during these visits also reduces the risk of serious illness, as doctors can offer vaccines, suggest lifestyle changes, and recommend proactive treatments. For those already managing chronic conditions, ongoing medi-

cal attention helps maintain stability and avoid complications.

Regular checkups also provide a safe space to address mental health concerns, something that’s often overlooked, especially among Black men, due to cultural stigma. These appointments can be a gateway to therapy, support services, and broader wellness.

Breaking the cycle: Empowerment through knowledge.

Seeing a doctor early and often shouldn’t be a last resort. It’s a form of self-respect and empowerment. Reframing healthcare as a proactive, strength-based step—rather than a reaction to sickness—can help dismantle generational barriers to care. Thankfully, community health initiatives, Blackled health organizations, and trusted voices in Black communities are increasingly stepping up to encourage regular screenings and doctor visits among Black men.

For example, the Annual Black Men’s Wellness Day, held in various cities, is a community event that focuses on raising awareness about health issues disproportionately affecting Black men and providing free screenings. It’s a huge step forward, but real change also starts on an individual

level with one person deciding their life and well-being are worth prioritizing. What to ask during a checkup?

If it’s been a while since your last visit to the doctor, it’s important to come prepared with key topics to discuss—especially if you want to take a proactive approach to your health. Start by asking about your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar, as these are vital indicators of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions that often go unnoticed in their early stages. If you’re over 40 or have a family history of cancer, be sure to request screenings for prostate and colon cancer, which are more treatable when caught early.

It’s also a good idea to check in on your mental health and share any mood changes, sleep issues, or stress you may be experiencing, as your primary care provider can help connect you with mental health support if needed. Don’t forget to review your vaccine status and ask about any recommended boosters or preventative shots. Lastly, take the opportunity to discuss your daily habits, such as diet, exercise, alcohol use, and smoking. Small lifestyle adjustments can have a big impact on your long-term health.

Black men, don’t wait for a wake-up call. Early checkups aren’t just about avoiding illness, they’re about reclaiming control, protecting families, and breaking cycles. Don’t wait until something feels wrong. Go to the doctor, ask the hard questions, and advocate for your health because your life depends on it.

Could a public discussion reduce polar opinions cont. from page

through Jim Crow and heard the stories of slavery and the hardships of labor from their elders. Now, she has become an ambassador for freedom, culture, cotton, and commerce.”

Dr. Marvin Dulaney, museum deputy director and Chief Operating Officer, attended opening activities. Museum interim director Margie Johnson Reese – a long-time, prominent arts management executive, reviewed and applauded the exhibit earlier.

Reese took the helm when museum founder and director Dr. Harry Robinson Jr. retired after 50 years at the close of 2024.

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert – Dallas’ new city manager and the first African American female to hold that position – visited the exhibit and complimented Glover and wished him success with the exhibit.

Mythe Kirven, a community advocate and prominent member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in Dallas, said that, even as a long-time Dallas resident, the exhibit “was educational. I learned a lot about how... (African Americans contributed to) cotton being king in Dallas, Texas. ...It put some things together for me.”

The exhibit title makes a clear statement that descendants of Africa were the source of Dallas’ cotton wealth: “Big D Cotton: Without Us. A DEI Exhibition.” The exhibit drives home the point that African descendants, bound in slavery, produced the muscle and labor that made Dallas rich. Yet, the enslaved and later newly freed African descendants received no

share of the wealth that their labor produced.

“Cotton built this city,” curator Glover Jr. said, stressing that Dallas “could not have done so without us -- descendants of Africa.” One strong piece of evidence that Glover Jr. cites is the startling 1830s quote about Texas and slavery from entrepreneur and land developer Stephen F. Austin, known as The Father of Texas: “nothing would be more central to establishing a cotton empire in Texas than the institution of slavery,” the Texas State Historical Association quotes Austin saying. “The principal product that would elevate us from poverty is cotton, and we cannot do this without the help of slaves.”

Glover Jr. has long proclaimed the “without us” theme in his lectures, writ-

just outside of Shreveport, Louisiana.

He stresses that while Ft. Worth is known as Cattle Town, technically Dallas should be known as Cotton Town. By 1900, Dallas had become the nation’s largest inland port for cotton.

But by the late 19th Century, Dallas became known more as a leading business and trade center.

Still, many remnants

ings, and previous exhibits. The historian, educator, faith minister, and civil rights protégé of the Martin Luther King Jr. family is a descendant of an African American family that for generations owned and cultivated cotton land in his hometown community

of Dallas’ cotton heydays still exist, and Glover Jr. has spent countless hours researching and documenting his Dallas cotton findings. He displays many of them in the exhibit – showing how descendants of Africa were left out of the financial

1

bounty or received piddling pay for their labor. Historical records fully detail the cotton history of the various remnants. These structural relics include the Dallas Love Field community; in downtown Dallas both the renovated Continental Gin Building and for longtime residents, memories of the 17-story Dallas International Cotton Exchange Building, imploded in 1994, and now occupied by part of First Baptist Church.

In South Dallas/Fair Park there are both the Mill City cotton mill factory neighborhood founded in 1903 with the noble goal to train African Americans in cotton manufacturing and the once Black-owned Bilal Building across from J. J. Rhoads Learning Center on 2nd Avenue near Elsie Faye Heggins St.

Glover Jr. is a graduate of Grambling State University and Perkins School of Theology. He has directed multicultural education at Southern Methodist University and Dallas Inde-

pendent School District. As a civil rights activist, he was coordinator and interviewer for the now classic PBS documentary In Remembrance of Martin. In 2020, he founded the National Association of African American Cotton Pickers (N Triple A CP) and the annual National African American Cotton Pickers’ Day, always the 4th Monday in October – this year Oct. 27, 2025.

He recently founded King Cotton Kreations through which he crafts art pieces with cotton bolls. He also is writing a proposed book whose title conveys the message: Without Us: African American Cotton Pickers and Dallas, Texas.

Versatile is an apt description of “king cotton” that Glover Jr. also calls “white gold” in his lectures. He quotes sources who recite cotton’s various uses. Federal Reserve notes – paper money -are a blend of 25 percent linen and 75 percent cotton, Glover Jr. says.

Farmers federations

say if you hold one $100 bill in your hand, please know that a standard 500-lb bale of cotton will produce 313,600 of those bills, or -- if you choose other products, you get massive numbers of bed sheets, towels, jeans, or T-shirts.

I was just thinking... despite the merits of this visually appealing plant, whose history traces back 6,000 years, cotton remains a polarizing factor. Jews say never forgot their painful history so it will not be repeated.

We descendants of African seek to erase our painful past, thus blocking any lessons that might be learned. How do we overcome? Do we heal ourselves? Need a national apology? Are reparations the answer?

Visit the exhibit and you decide.

Norma Adams-Wade, is a proud Dallas native, University of Texas at Austin journalism graduate and retired Dallas Morning News senior staff writer. She is a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists. norma_adams_wade@ yahoo.com.

Souvenir framed “Bid D Cotton –Without us” logo.

Credit: Clarence Glover Jr.

Glover with other of his cotton souvenirs available to the public at the African American Museum. Credit Clarence Glover Jr.

Art piece “The real cotton bolls in bowl.” Credit Clarence Glover Jr.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

JUNE

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President Barack

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Methodist Richardson Medical Center - Physician's Pavilion

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

Legendary business leader and philanthropist Hiawatha Williams will be the featured keynote speaker at Amplify Dallas as part of the preview to this year’s Disrupt Dallas Summit at 11 a.m. June 19 at The DEC Network at Redbird, 3560 W. Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, Texas 75237. Amplify is a preview to the Disrupt Dallas Summit during DFW Startup Week. The event is combined with the Dallas Collaborative for Capital Access (DCCA) Convening. Free registration is available now.

The DSO is excited to announce a special Pride Night concert, which will be held at the Meyerson during the Dallas Arts District’s annual Pride Block Party!

Taste of Black Mansfield: Food Truck Addition. Step aside, foodies, because Taste of Black Mansfield: Food Truck Edition is about to take the culinary scene by storm. Hosted by

the fabulous ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Alpha Beta Phi Omega Chapter. 11 am – 7 pm at Vernon Newsom Stadium, 3700 E Broad St, Mansfield.

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CLASSIFIED Public Notice

24 Hour Wrecker Serv

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Year/make, VIN, Tag. ALL VEHICLES ARE SOLD AS IS.

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Ram 1500

1998 Ford Ranger

1999 20ft Trailer

2000 Toyota Tacoma

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2001 Toyota Camry

2002 Ford F150

2005 Ford Focus

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2007 Lexus ES 350

2010 Ford F150

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Week in Austin cont.

the body was contemplating today. Again, this was the reason and rationale the 504th judicial district court of Ellis County was not in the bill the body contemplated today with Leach stating to his knowledge there was no legislation filed asking for it [the court] and that is why it was not included.”

Harrison said this is “Demonstrably false. Not only was it filed in legislation it was filed in three separate pieces of legislation.”

from page 3

He went on to explain “It was filed in a bill filed by Senator Bob Hall back in February SB1397. It was filed in March in a legislation filed by Senator Brian Hughes in SB2878. And finally, it was in a third piece of legislation filed in the House and authored by Representative Jeff Leach.

The fact is the only reason that court was not in the bill presented by the body today was because the committee substitute that was voted out deleted that court. These are the facts.”

Harrison said when he spoke “Jeff Leach was so unhinged he went up and tried to get into my personal space to physically make me unable to give the address” to the point the Speaker of the House, Dustin Burrows had Leach removed from the podium by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Texas governor Greg Abbott will now be tasked with appointing a judge to sit in the seat until the next election at which time voters will decide.

Leilani Armenta Makes History Again—First

HBCU Female Kicker Signs Pro Football Contract

By HBCU Editors

The Jackson State University placekicker, who became the first woman to score in an HBCU football game, is now officially going pro. Armenta has signed with the Mississippi Panthers of the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC), marking yet another chapter in her mission to change the game—for women, for athletes, and for HBCUs.

Shattering Barriers at Jackson State

Armenta made headlines in 2023 when she stepped onto the field in a JSU uniform. But it was October 28, 2023, that sealed her name into the HBCU record books. In a matchup against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Armenta converted three extra points—making her the first woman to score in an HBCU football game.

A former standout soccer player from Ventura, California, she brought elite athleticism and fearlessness to the Tigers’ special teams unit. Her presence wasn’t just symbolic; it was strategic. She helped Jackson State secure key wins and was part of the team that captured the 2024 Celebration Bowl title and an HBCU National Championship.

Armenta’s rise at Jackson State reflected the bold new direction of HBCU athletics—one that welcomes innovation, representation, and courage.

Choosing Legacy Over Limelight

After a successful sea-

son, Armenta entered the NCAA transfer portal, a move that sparked offers from several schools looking to add her to their roster. But she made a powerful decision—to stay rooted at Jackson State, finish her degree, and pursue her football career professionally.

That journey now con-

me to stay at Jackson State, complete my degree, and continue to play the sport I love at a professional level. As someone who has always been and will always be an advocate for women in sports—especially in football—I am honored to represent both my university and the WNFC.”

Eyes on the Playoffs

Armenta isn’t joining the Panthers just for exposure—she’s jumping straight into postseason action. Her team is scheduled to compete in the WNFC Eastern Conference Semi-Finals on June 7, where they’ll face off against the Chicago Winds at Liberty Creek High School in Gallatin, Tennessee.

It’s a high-stakes moment for the team—and for Armenta, who continues to prove that she belongs in any arena.

Representing a Movement

Leilani Armenta’s journey is bigger than one athlete. She’s become a symbol of what’s possible when HBCUs invest in bold talent, when women are given the platform to perform, and when tradition meets transformation.

tinues with the Mississippi Panthers, a team competing in the Women’s National Football Conference, one of the most competitive platforms for women’s tackle football in the country.

In an announcement shared on social media, Armenta wrote:

“This opportunity allows

Her next chapter, as a professional athlete while still representing JSU and HBCUs across the country, sends a powerful message to young girls who never saw themselves on the gridiron: there is space for you here. And in true HBCU fashion, she’s doing it with purpose, pride, and persistence.

Trailblazer. Champion. History-maker. Leilani Armenta just added another major milestone to her already groundbreaking football journey.

Fatherhood & Divine Love

A family’s joy in representation cont. from page 1

she pledged grad chapter Delta [Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated®]. Then, my oldest son [Jaylen], he pledged Alpha [Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated®] while he was at UTSA [The University of Texas at San Antonio] undergrad. So we’re proud of that.” Brooks said. “Tristan, my middle son, he pledged Omega [Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated®] at Prairie View [Prairie View A&M University] undergrad. And then, the last one, just last year, my youngest son Trace, he pledged Kappa [Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated®].”

Yes, within his immediate family, five of the Divine Nine, the collective moniker given to the nine Black Greek-Letter Organizations (BGLOs), are represented.

Brooks also shared that both his sister Stephanie Barnes Riley and her daughter, his niece Taylor Barnes, are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.

Membership in the Divine Nine is steeped in tradition with many expressing deep pride in the extension of their legacy. “Undergrad” refers to the experience when members are initiated as college students into an undergraduate chapter.

Membership in graduate chapters is afforded to adults who are college graduates. With Brooks and his three sons being members of four different fraternities, he expressed his goal of raising his young men to create legacies of their own.

“I’ve always told them ‘You be you. You know, everything that I do as your father, I’m gonna do the very best that I can to be the best role model that I can be for you and show you and try to lead a positive life,’” Brooks said. “But I always tell them, ‘You don’t necessarily have to do what I do. You gotta be who you are.’”

The selections of different fraternities seem to fit the Brooks men well.

“In my opinion, and everybody says it as well, they are exactly what

they pledged,” Brooks said. “So, my Alpha son [Jaylen Brooks], he’s a true Alpha man. My Omega son [Tristan Brooks], he’s a true Omega man. My Kappa son [Trace Brooks], he’s a true Kappa man, and I’m just so proud that they pledged who they are and their personality and characteristics and are leading their own legacy and track and I’m proud of them.”

As a Mason fraternal organization member since 2009, service is in Brooks’ DNA. Attending events and watching his family increased his desire to go beyond masonry.

“I’m proud of them and going to all their different things, and I’m like, ‘Wow, I want to be a part as well.’ I was already serving as a Mason but I just always want to do more,” Brooks said. “I just always want to be the best person that I can be. So, I was like, ‘Well, if they’re all in the D9, then I want to be a part of the D9 so I can help serve in that capacity as well.’”

Being a two-sport student athlete and traveling with football and baseball during his undergraduate

studies at Prairie View A&M University did not afford Brooks much time to be a part of a fraternity.

Holding both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Prairie View and a doctoral degree in

education from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, choosing to pursue Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated® came from Brooks carefully studying how the

organization was in the “forefront” throughout his travels and attendance at numerous events as a school district administrator.

“I go to things around the district all day and I just support different kids, different schools, different programs that schools put on,”

Brooks said. “Whether it’s my school or just a different school, I go to support the kids and the community, and it was on a few occasions where I went to different things and Sigmas were putting it on. And so, I would just sit back and I was very intrigued about that.”

With the Brooks men all going in different directions for their fraternity affiliations, what remains at the center is the guidance and fatherly love from the elder Brooks who shared the impact of having open discussions with his sons and being clear about who maintains ownership of the decisions they make.

“Always support your kids. Let them be who they are,” he said. “One thing I pride myself in, of course, I instilled in them right and

wrong, but when they were facing options of life and as long as one of the options wasn’t a bad or negative choice that could impact the rest of their life, I allowed them to make the choice.”

Tanika Brooks is overjoyed at the Greek affiliations her husband and sons have made.

“Everybody just kind of carved their own path,” Tanika said. “It was no pressure; we didn’t have any legacies. Jaylen, the oldest one, when he pledged Alpha, we didn’t even know he was going through the process or anything like that, he just came home!”

Tanika loves having a family full of Greeks and said she knew in advance the organizations they would choose.

“I literally could tell you before they pledged what each one of them was going to be,” she said.

“Just based on their mannerisms, their personality, people that they hung out with… I wasn’t surprised.”

Tanika, also an educator as a counselor at Nimitz High School in Aldine ISD, weighed a couple of options for Torrance, yet figured his path would be different from their sons.

“I couldn’t see him as a Kappa. I couldn’t see him as a Que,” Tanika said. “The only thing I could see him as would be an Alpha or a Sigma, and then coupled with all three of your sons that pledged three different fraternities, are you going to be biased and pick one or carve your own path?”

Eldest son Jaylen Brooks, a middle school math teacher in Aldine ISD, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in business administration from UTSA and is currently working on a master’s in business administration from Prairie View A&M University. He shared that he chose to be an Alpha man because the organization stood out to him after doing his research and learning of the “history and brotherhood that

Tristan, Trace, Torrance and Jaylen Brooks

Photos: courtesy of Brooks Family

Dr. Torrance Brooks receives doctoral degree in education from University of Houston-Clear Lake

Fatherhood & Divine Love

A family’s joy in representation cont. from page 23

it brought” and wanting to be of service to the community, especially at UTSA.

His father’s decision was not a surprise, says Jaylen, who said the family’s patriarch talked to him about wanting to pursue being a Sigma.

“I told him it was a great fraternity. Of course I promoted Alpha, but I let him choose where his heart was destined to go,” Jaylen said. “I told him it was a great choice and if that’s where your heart desires, give it your all.”

Tristan Brooks, the son in the middle, received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Prairie View A&M University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education administration.

Tristan added that he is currently going through the hiring process with the Houston Police Department.

During his undergraduate studies, he said that after his research, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity “best fitted me and what I stand for.”

As for his father, Tristan

did not try to sway his decision.

“I feel like everybody has to choose their own path and that’s just the path [Sigma] that he so happened to choose,” Tristan said. “I feel like everybody chose their specific organization and I feel like it’s a pretty cool thing.”

The youngest son of the Brooks family, Trace Brooks, is entering his senior year at Huston-Tillotson University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, he hopes to one day become a principal like his dad.

Trace says he knew he had options with both of his brothers belonging to different organizations. His research and the Kappa motto of “achievement and the way our brothers carry themselves” was the basis for his decision.

“I am really proud of my dad for joining the D9 family and the fact that it was something different than us three is what really makes it interesting and excites me,” Trace said. “I have honestly

never heard of a family going all separate ways like this which makes it funny of course, but it is honestly something great to see and be a part of.”

Brook’s sister, Stephanie Barnes Riley, has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for more than 33 years. Seeing the accomplishments of her brother and his family makes her big sister’s heart happy.

“As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, I take pride in service to all mankind and love the way sororities and fraternities make it their mission to give back,” Barnes Riley said. “When my brother and my nephews became members of the Divine Nine, I had such pride because that is who we are. The brotherhood and sisterhood in fraternities and sororities is the best feeling ever and I am so happy they will all have that experience. I am one proud big sister and aunt!”

The lineage of care and support was passed down to Brooks before he became a

father himself. He reflected on what he learned from his own dad, Curtis Brooks, Jr. “One thing that I’ve learned from him that I try to pass on to my kids and hopefully they’ll do the same for their kids, is just you know, being present,” Brooks said. “Just being present. It’s no money amount… just being present. All my kids’ life, I’ve always just tried to be present and just be active and be supportive.”

Brooks is also a grandfather. When asked about the sorority he thinks his granddaughter would probably choose…

“With my wife being a Delta, I would think she would be a Delta,” Brooks laughed.

In the midst of sharing about a baby Delta and AKA onesie battle between mother, sister and niece, he added “But again, she would have choices and opportunities as well.”

Beyond fraternity and sorority affiliations or colors, the love in this family is divine.