REMIX - I don’t know the man’s name and probably wouldn’t recognize him if I saw him again because I had temporarily misplaced my glasses.
It was Memorial Day and I had stopped by The Forum Bowl in Grand Prairie on a site visit after feeding veterans at Heroes House in East Dallas.
10 years ago I was at the opening of Heroes House with the Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson. Over the years, we returned to Heroes House to feed the veterans and spend time with them; usually on Memori-
al Day, July 4, Labor Day, or Veterans Day.
There were also times that we stopped by during the Christmas/Hanukkah/ Kwanzaa season to spread some love.
Now back to Forum Bowl. Two men were standing talking and one of them said some choice words you might call “four letter words”or something of that sort.
The brother looked at
See TIME AND PLACE, page 17
METRO SPOTLIGHT
Newy Scruggs
Prioritizing Mental Wellness:
A Call to Action During Mental Health Awareness Month
By Sylvia Powers Correspondent Texas Metro News
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a critical time to uplift the importance of emotional well-being in every community, especially the Black community, where mental health challenges often go unspoken and untreated.
According to a research study from the University of Columbia, the adult Black community is 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems, such as Major Depressive Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Additionally, Black emerging adults (ages
See MENTAL HEALTH, page 11
BLACK PRESS to TARGET: Your Silence Is Loud-and Costly
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Even before Target publicly rolled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, the Black Press of America had requested a meeting with
CEO Brian Cornell. Those requests—from National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and NNPA Chairman Bobby Henry—have gone unan-
Backlash over FAMU President Selection
Johnson called Grossly Underqualified
By Wali Pitt HBCU Gameday
Florida A&M University (FAMU), a leading public HBCU, faces backlash after announcing Marva Johnson as its new president-elect. The decision has sparked strong reactions from alumni, students, and faculty. Many say the process lacked transparency and that Johnson’s political ties raise serious concerns.
Why the Decision Is Controversial
Marva Johnson is a telecommunications executive with a background in public policy. She has served on the Florida State Board of Education and was appointed by Republican governors, including Ron DeSantis. Critics say her close political connections are troubling, especially given recent state policies that impact HB-
CUs and limit educational diversity efforts.
Chelle Luper Wilson named Executive Director of Texas Legislative Black Caucus
to Texas Metro News
Austin, Texas - Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D120) and the Texas Legislative Black Caucus announce Chelle Luper Wilson as Executive Director.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chelle Luper Wilson to the Texas Legislative Black Caucus (TLBC). As a leader focused on effective change, Ms. Wilson is dedicated to assisting the TLBC reach greater heights and fully supporting the TLBC’s top priorities moving forward,” said Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D120).
Ms. Luper Wilson brings to the role a wealth of experience. In addition to her professional experience, she is an extraordinary communicator who brings great passion to this important work. Additionally, her professional background held in some of the nation’s largest advocacy organizations are a big asset to TLBC.
A third-generation HBCU graduate, Ms. Luper Wilson holds a B.A.
See LUPER WILSON, page 7
Cheryl Smith
See FAMU PRESIDENT, page 6
See TARGET, page 3
Special
Chelle Luper Wilson
Marva Johnson
Dr. Kermit A. Crawford has done extensive work in multicultural behavioral health disaster response, trauma and culturallyinformed practices across the nation.
Bobby Henry Sr.
Gang Rule, Political Instability Threaten Haiti’s National Survival
By Mya Trujillo
Amid increased violence and human rights abuses comes a troubling revelation: an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-auPrince, is controlled by gangs.
From killing 1,086 people between February and March to causing a ban on U.S. flights to the capital until September 2025, rising gang activity has proven to be detrimental to the nation’s future, and humanitarian leaders are voicing concerns for what’s next.
“We’ve lost the war against gangs,” Ralph Chevry, a board member of the Haitian Police Force, told The Informer. “If something isn’t done quickly, Port-au-Prince might fall [and] if they fall, Haiti falls.”
International actors like the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) have been in Haiti working toward de-escalating the situation and restoring an efficient democracy, but its personnel of 1,000 are quickly being overpowered by the country’s estimated 300 active criminal groups.
Haitian-American and retired U.S. Army Colonel Dr. Joseph Baptiste believes the armed forces in Haiti must be better trained and equipped to confront the rising violence.
“The police force is not trained to provide security. They are trained to…help the population,” Baptiste told The Informer. “I believe the gangs are able to do whatever they’re doing because they have nobody in front of them.”
To expand their territorial control in Port-au-Prince, the gangs attacked the city’s residential communes of Carrefour and Kenscoff from Jan. 27 to March 27, resulting in 115 civilian deaths, the sexual assault of at least seven women and young girls, and the displacement of more than 3,000 residents.
Members of the Multinational Security Support Mission train to improve their medical skills, should they need to stabilize casualties during combat. The gang violence resulted in at least 5,600 deaths in 2024. Credit: Courtesy of MSSSM Haiti via X
Further, on March 31, criminal groups charged a prison in Mirebalais, freeing 500 inmates.
“The scale and duration of this violence overwhelmed the Haitian National Police despite support from the Armed Forces of Haiti and the MSSM, further obstructing stabilization,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, during the most recent UN Security Council briefing on the nation’s situation.
While these groups have been present in the Caribbean country since the 1950s, the increased frequency of their brutality was catalyzed by the political instability following the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Ariel Henry was appointed Haiti’s interim Prime Minister after Moïse’s death. He was replaced with the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) in April 2024, tasked with facilitating successful presidential elections by early 2026. The council, currently led by Fritz Jean, consists of seven voting and two non-voting members, with its president rotating every five months.
The TPC seemed like a step toward stabilizing the country’s political climate—until
three members were accused of bribing the director of Haiti’s National Bank of Credit in a corruption case in October 2024. The accused—Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire and Louis Gérald Giles—are still voting members of the council, making Haiti even more vulnerable and further harboring distrust from citizens.
“We need to realize that what was designed has failed, but it can be changed. It can be modified,” Chevry said. “There should be more of a proactive effort to get Haiti back on the track to democracy.”
A Call for International Support
Haiti is in dire need of international assistance to effectively restore its political, economic and social stability.
According to the UN’s 2025 Humanitarian and Needs Response Plan, $908.2 million is needed to provide protection and aid to the country’s vulnerable populations, but only $58.7 million has been funded since February.
As the world’s first Black republic, Haiti has been a significant symbol of liberation since it gained independence as the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere in 1804.
The country went on to help other countries gain independence, especially through its support of Simón Bolívar, who led Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela to liberation from the Spanish Empire.
Even before the Haitian Revolution, the nation helped the U.S. in breaking away from British rule during the American Revolutionary War. The French wealth obtained from Haitian
THIS WEEK IN AUSTIN
The 89th Texas Leg ends June 2, but
what have our lawmakers done so far?
By Rita Cook Correspondent Texas Metro News
AUSTIN – In passing among the political chatter I have heard this was not the best legislative session for Texas.
My takeaway highlight so far has been the (ridiculous) bill to criminalize political memes. In other words, violate our First Amendment rights.
We will see if it passes overall since former Texas Speaker Dade Phelan apparently had enough red and blue to get the majority to vote it out of the House and punt it to the Senate.
When I mention that bill is more than fake news people laugh at me like I am joking. Then they realize I am not.
A lot of people simply shake their heads at these last (almost 140 days) that have made up the Texas 89th session.
The only bill Texas lawmakers had to pass, the state’s budget.
The Texas House took 13 hours on their end, but overall, Senate Bill 1 passed with a vote of 118 to 26.
Should I mention our lawmakers had pre-filed 400 amendments to the $337 billion budget bill.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has only signed one bill into the law so far. That is “Texas Doge.”
To be fair, there were more than 8,700 bills filled in the 89th session – a record high. So how do you know where to begin?
I liken it to a closet full of dresses and there are too many to know what to wear, so I will just sit down and drink a glass of wine instead.
You might be thinking what will happen to all these bills? Somebody cared about writing the bills, they must mean something.
A good majority will not see the light of day.
You could say these lawmakers have definitely come a long way, baby what with the 8,700 bills that were written. Back in the early 1900s there were fewer than 1000 bills presented in those sessions.
Fast forward to the 21st Century and last session, the 88th saw 8,616 bills filed
by state lawmakers with only 1,252 passed. For the record, Abbott vetoed 76 bills last session.
As of May 14, there have been 219 bills passed by Texas lawmakers during this session.
With only a week to go, the session ends June 2, let us see what happens. Will there be special sessions called like the four called during the 88th session?
To be sure, no matter what happens, we have a state budget and our very own private DOGE.
The latter, SB14 described in Texas Policy Research is defined as “relating to reforming the procedure by which state agencies adopt rules and impose regulatory requirements and the deference given to the interpretation of laws and rules by state agencies in certain judicial proceedings.”
There were 16 authors, one co-author, five sponsors and 37 co-sponsors of the Texas DOGE bill.
During his signing of the bill into law, Abbott said, “Altogether, what this law is going to do is to make government more efficient and less costly. Texas DOGE will lead to spending cuts, regulation cuts and a more user friendly government.”
Fiscal notes surrounding this bill as stated by the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) estimated “SB 14 will have a negative fiscal impact of $15.7 million on General Revenue funds over the 20262027 biennium, with ongoing annual costs of approximately $7.79 million through 2030.”
The fiscal notes also indicated, “other state agencies such as the Secretary of State (SOS), DIR, and the Office of Court Administration will be absorbed within existing resources.”
It also states SB14 is not likely to have fiscal implications for local governments.
METRO
Fallen Deputy Memorial Service
By Anthony Council
The second and final memorial service took place yesterday morning, honoring over 19 men and women who served as Dallas County Sheriff’s Department deputies. Officers, deputies, and police chiefs from across the region gathered to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
to be with us for this.”
Assistant Chief James Spencer of the Sheriff’s Department also spoke, sharing a powerful message:
“You never forget. Whether it’s been 10 years or 20, the memories always come back. And the best way we honor them is by continuing to tell their stories, so even if they’re not in the room, it feels like they are.”
TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER SERIES
An EO that will drop prescription drugs by up to 80%
By Rita Cook Correspondent Texas Metro News
WASHINGTON DC – If you have ever traveled outside the United States and had a conversation with anyone about pharmaceutical drugs you know what Americans have been paying for years is almost unbelievable.
Enter President Donald Trump and his Executive Order to slash prescription drug prices in the U.S. by putting a cap on the currently overinflated situation.
In a press conference the President explained “For the first time in many years we will slash the cost of prescription drugs. We will bring fairness to America and drug prices will come down.”
He said in comparison if you think that in American the drug has often been 10 times more expensive than anywhere else in the world.
Gov. Greg Abbott
most-favored-nation price targets to pharmaceutical manufacturers” within 30 days of the order. If there isn’t “significant progress” toward reaching those prices, the secretary “shall propose a rulemaking plan to impose most-favored-nation pricing.”
“Today Americans spend 70% more for prescription drugs than we spent in the year 2000,” Trump outlined. “Our country has the highest drug prices of anywhere in the world.”
Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown opened the ceremony with heartfelt remarks:
“Thank you to those who took time out of your schedule today
This memorial followed a similar ceremony held over a week ago for fallen detention officers. Families, friends, and fellow officers stood solemnly in attendance, honoring the legacy and courage of the fallen.
Black Press Target cont. from page 1
swered for nearly a year.
Cornell has not spoken to either Chavis or Henry, who represent the more than 250 Black-owned newspapers and media companies that make up the NNPA.
Just recently, a lower-level Target employee acknowledged via email that the company is aware of the request for a meeting—but no such meeting has been scheduled. Meanwhile, Cornell met with Rev. Al Sharpton, who stated publicly that he was not participating in a boycott of Target and really didn’t have a dog in the fight. That meeting—and the snub of the Black Press—has deepened frustration
within the Black media community and reinforced what NNPA members say is a longstanding pattern of corporate disrespect.
Target has not yet responded to the Black Press for this article.
“The Black Press of America is concerned about our continued public education and selective buying campaign directed toward Target,”
Chavis said. “While we heard from some of the staff of Target, we’ve not had direct communication with Target’s CEO, Brian Cornell.
We intend to intensify our efforts to get this issue resolved in the interest of 50 million African American consumers across the nation.”
As each name of the fallen deputies was read aloud, fellow officers stood at attention and saluted. A table at the front displayed their photos, and in a moving tribute, a Three-Volley Salute was performed in their honor.
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, is located near Target’s Minneapolis headquarters, and Tracey Williams-Dillard, publisher and CEO said the company’s continued silence “sends the message that Target does not value us as consumer-based dollars.”
She noted reports of more than 13 consecutive weeks of declining foot traffic at stores and criticized the company’s decision to dismantle its DEI initiatives just before Black History Month. “The timing was disturbing,” Williams-Dillard said. “It was a slap in the face.”
Henry, publisher of the Westside Gazette in Ft. Lauderdale and chairman of the NNPA, didn’t hold
In fact, the United States is home to only 4% of the world’s population, but pharmaceutical companies make more than two-thirds of their profits in America.
“Think of that,” Trump added. “With just 4% of the population the pharmaceutical companies make most of their money, most of their profits from America.”
And while he said he had a great respect for these drug companies, he also postulated “they did a good job of convincing people this was a fair system.”
In a Rand Report on the International Drug Price Comparisons it was said based on 2022 data that “Across all drugs, U.S. prices were 278 percent of other countries’ prices and U.S. gross prices for brand-name originator drugs were 422 percent of prices in comparison countries.”
Some Trump naysayers have said Trump’s EO on lowered drug prices is too vague.
Either way, he was clear when he mentioned the “most favored nation” drug pricing policy.
This also calls for the Health and Human Services secretary to “communicate
The EO also tasks the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to take action against “unreasonable and discriminatory” policies in foreign countries that will block Americans from lower pharmaceutical costs.
And, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be setting price reduction stipulations on drugs trying to make his changes within 30 days.
Along the same line is the Executive Order signed to reduce regulatory barriers to domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Through this, the plan is the EO will have the (HHS) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration review and eliminate duplicative regulations that hinder domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
In short, as the EO confirms Trump’s Golden Age maneuvers, “President Trump is clearing bureaucratic obstacles to critical domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing in order to usher in America’s new Golden Age by ensuring access to the medicine Americans need.”
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
Officers stand at attention to honor the fallen deputies during the Fallen Deputy Memorial Service Credit: Anthony Council, Texas Metro News
Assistant Chief James Spencer of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department shares heartfelt remarks during the Fallen Deputy Memorial Service. Credit: Anthony Council, Texas Metro News
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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.
The BLACK Academy of Arts and Letters
Curtis King
The statement below is a response that I sent a gentleman in retort to his comment . . . “get rid of the word black!” The comment came as a result of our institution’s name, The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, and our promo of Black Music and the Civil Rights Movement concert program. We periodically receive statements from people regarding removing the word “black” from our name. Since it came via our various communication platforms, I felt the need to share an important perspective.
RESPONSE TO MR. DAVIS
Hello Mr. Davis, I generally don’t respond to social media comments. However, as the founder and president of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), I felt the need to respond to your comment, “get rid of the word black!” When I read your comment, I asked myself the question, “why would this gentlemen suggest that we “get rid of the word black?”
To suggest that we do so is like asking a group of people to trash their history, commit their own suicide, and move aimlessly in America or in the world, for that matter, as if we never existed.
Would you ask the Jewish people, the Russians, the Chinese to get rid of their name?
Every nation and ethnic group with a very homogeneous population and history have gone through some form of assimilation, but have also maintained their own identity and uniqueness because of their historical experiences in the world.
Let’s look at Japan and Korea.
These two countries have been able to create a single modern race due to their smaller sizes and/ or populations, and they have maintained their diverse, idiosyncratic, genetic makeup because of their place in their own history and culture.
We, as Black People,
have been asked and begged to disassemble and disassociate ourselves from who we are as human beings in America.
Many have accommodated the request simply because we wanted to be inclusive, and it has yielded us little-to-nothing in return! Being Black connects us to the core of who we are and who we are proud to be.
We use it not to batter or insult other races, but to rightfully demand respect for the work and contribution we’ve made to culturally identify our distinctive existence in America, which has emerged out of our history as “Black” people. So, I beg to differ with you that we should “get rid of the word black!” At this point, it’s a bit too late, for we are the hue of God’s creation!
Curtis King is the founder and director of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters and for the past 40 years he has shaped the Performing Arts landscape in Dallas.
I assume that the word “black” offends you, makes you feel alienated from a group of people, questions your own human guilt, reminds you of an ugly past-history between American Blacks and Whites, or you simply don’t understand, or are unwilling to accept that “Black” people have carved out a unique place and presence in America and around the world, in spite of our human atrocities.
Enough is Enough-“I’m Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired”
Bobby Henry, Sr.
OUR VOICES
In the spirit of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who has emerged as a powerful voice in defense of justice, equity, and truth. One of her standout statements — “The math ain’t mathin’” — has become a rallying cry for many frustrated with the hypocrisy and injustice in American politics today. There comes a time in the life of a person when survival demands more than patience and self, it demands protest. That time is now. And like Fannie Lou Hamer said decades ago, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Those words, soaked in pain and power, speak for millions of Americans today.
We are tired of being told to wait while injustice burns like a blowtorch to our souls. Tired of the cruelty using us like puppets with policy. Tired of watching the rich get richer while working families get broker. Enough is enough.
In a disturbing ruling, a federal judge just gave Donald Trump the green light to use the Alien Enemies Act a centuries-old law rooted in fear to target and expel migrants. These are not enemies. These are mothers, fathers, and children fleeing violence, looking for hope. Instead of reform, we get rejection. Instead of compassion, cruelty.On different soil, Trump proudly announces a $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia a regime with blood on its hands. “I like him too much,” he says of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sal-
man, even as that regime crushes dissent and dismembers journalists. Our foreign policy shouldn’t be for sale, but here we are again.
Back at home, the pain is more familiar. Grocery bills soar. Prescription costs skyrocket. And who do Americans blame? A majority now point the finger at Trump’s erratic trade wars and reckless economic mismanagement. They’re not wrong.
But what are Republicans doing in response? Cutting food assistance. The largest-ever cuts to food aid, just to hand more tax breaks to the already ultra-wealthy. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett put it plainly: “The math ain’t mathin’.” How can we justify taking meals from children to line the pockets of billionaires?
They want us to believe this is normal that this is
how government should work. But as Rep. Crockett said during a recent floor speech, “You cannot preach to me about law and order while lawlessness is reigning from your party.” The hypocrisy is as blatant as it is shameful.
Thankfully, voices like Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Crockett are fighting back. Sanders is mobilizing grassroots organizers across swing districts, saying plainly: “It must be defeated.” He’s talking about the GOP’s budget bill, but he could be talking about this whole backwards agenda.
This isn’t about partisanship. This is about survival. About dignity. About the soul of a nation teetering on the edge of moral bankruptcy.
So, let’s say it clearly: We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Sick of the hunger, the hate, the hypocrisy. Tired of leaders who sell us out, again and again.
And we’re done pretending things are fine when they’re not.
Rep. Crockett is right, “The math ain’t mathin’.” The lies don’t add up. The cruelty doesn’t balance out. And the people are waking up.
If those in power won’t do better, then it’s time to replace them with those who will. We don’t need more empty speeches. We need bold action.
Enough is no longer enough. It’s too much. And it’s time to fight back. Ain’t a damn thang funny!
Bobby Henry, Sr. is the publisher of the Westside Gazette and chair of the National Newspaper Publishers Association-NNPA
OPINION
Alexis Herman — Grace, Grit and Glue
THE LAST WORD
May we take a moment to mourn the transition of the Honorable Alexis Margaret Herman (1946-2025), the first African American woman who served our nation as secretary of labor?
Nominated by President Bill Clinton, her confirmation was no easy feat. During her hearings, members of our sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, crowded the Senate chambers in our unmistakable red and white. We made a point: Black women are here, and we have her back. Ultimately, the Senate succumbed to our presence, with 85 of them voting in her favor.
Alexis was a southern belle, a velvet hammer. She was full of grace, with graceful ways, but anyone who encountered
Mother’s
OUR VOICES
America celebrated Happy Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11th. This has been a longstanding and glorious tradition.
Flowers, candy, dinner and cards were given to our moms on this special occasion.
History will tell us that Mother’s Day was originally celebrated on May 10, 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church. Since that time, it has become a treasured custom.
Mother’s Day has many spiritual and social components to it. Observing it is both heart-felt and filled with thanksgiving.
In my hometown of Winston-Salem, NC, everyone dressed in their Sunday best. I can
her should know that grace was not to be confused with weakness. She was grace and she was grit, because who, without grit, could manage a strike between UPS and its unionized workers. Package delivery was hobbled for 15 days, only settled when Secretary Herman moved into the same hotel that Teamsters leaders and UPS management stayed. She shuttled between conference rooms, not trying to be graceful, but simply direct. Yet she was graceful, because she carried herself that way, and a 1997 commerce-crippling strike was settled.
Alexis was grace, always grace, often administered with a bit of a southern twang. “It’s not fay-ar,” she sometimes drawled when losing a card game. “It ain’t riiight,” she sometimes said, when losing. Win or lose, she was always gracious, always ready with the pat on the shoulder, the generous hug. She was, indeed, the perfect daughter of her mentor,
Dorothy Irene Height, the longest-serving president of the National Council of Negro Women. Alexis took her Height legacy seriously. After leaving government service, she created consulting firms that dealt with diversity and minority hiring issues. She served on Fortune 500 boards, including Coca-Cola and Exelon. She mentored hundreds of young people and helped place them in impactful positions. And she was the glue that brought people together.
If you attended a gathering in her sprawling home in Northern Virginia, you’d not only connect with friends and colleagues, you’d eat well, connect fulfillingly, celebrate milestones like new books, impending births or more, but you’d also observe Alexis taking a person or two aside for a private conversation. She was glue. She brought people together. She was committed to the collective.
I never heard Secretary Herman raise her voice, but I often saw her firm. She was grace, but she didn’t play. She was kind but she didn’t roll over. She attracted a coterie of loyal friends and colleagues, because she was, indeed, loyal and graceful.
I am among the many mourning the loss of the Honorable Alexis Margaret Herman, among the many grateful for her legacy. As labor is being attacked in the graceless shadow of this feckless administration, her voice is missed and her legacy looms
large. She was committed to women’s empowerment, especially Black women’s empowerment. And she was committed to diversity, having worked to convince corporate America that Black women were more than cooks and maids. She passed the baton to Black women leaders, who will lift her up as they do the work of advancing women in the workplace.
Her loss is a national loss, but for me it is also a personal loss. I met her as an undergrad, and she welcomed me to Washington, D.C., when I moved here in 1994. She graced me with her presence when I left Bennett College in 2012. She was present during many of my milestones–gracious, kind, supportive, amazing. She will rest in grace and power, her legacy a blessing and lesson for each of us.
Day is Over However Don’t Ever Stop Thanking Her
remember my mom buying me a pair of Buster Brown shoes.
We went to church and afterwards my mom cooked a special meal. Going out to eat wasn’t the big deal that it is now.
Whatever the differences are, I believe the two constants are respect and love.
I watch a lot of college sports, and you will always hear student-athletes thanking their moms in some way. As we know there is an unspoken and innate connection that mothers have with their children. What that means is going the extra mile and pulling out all the stops to help.
Mothers are never in the way as they are always making a way to help us.
Mothers come to us in traditional and non-traditional ways.
We have been the beneficiaries of their love and support.
If you are old enough and bless-
ed enough to still have your mom living, you have probably become her friend, too. That means going out shopping and having dinner together at your favorite dining spot.
My mother passed away many years ago, so I couldn’t have that experience. Yet I had a strong mother-figure who gave me love and guidance.
You are probably not always going to agree with your mom. She is probably saying something that you don’t want to hear but you need to hear.
The pendulum of wisdom will always swing in the direction of our mothers. We should know that they have forgotten more than we know. Old school wisdom will solve what new school worry won’t.
I believe there are topics such as finances, raising children and relationships that mothers can
provide coaching and counseling.
For example, money and relationships are problems with couples these days. Dollars and cents can spread to a lot of nonsense
According to reports, about 41% of modern-day couples not together now say that money problems led to their breakup. You may know someone who had that problem.
Remember the lyrics from The O’Jays when they sang, “I know that money is the root of all evil. Do funny things to some people. Give me a nickel brother, can you spare a dime? Money can drive some people out of their minds.”
So, listen to your mom who might be able to take you from shame to fame.
Another Happy Mother’s Day tribute won’t come around until May 10, 2026. Don’t wait until that day to honor your mom with a special day. Make time and be
available for her now.
Life is too short to put off tomorrow what you can do today. Visit your mom today, not tomorrow. Call her today and don’t put it off until tomorrow.
Hug her while you can for as long as you can. Life has a way of being unpredictable. We are here today and sometimes in an instant we are gone tomorrow. Don’t live in regret by saying what you could have done, what you would have done and what you should have done. By then, it will be too late. Take advantage of the hours and days that you have with your mother. Celebrate her and hold her high. It will make both of you happy.
Dr. James B. Ewers,
a
James B. Ewers Jr. Ed. D.
Jr. is
long-time 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.
Hon. Alexis Herman
Dr. Julianne Malveaux
Dr. Julianne Malveaux, a former college president, is an economist, author and commentator based in Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
FAMU President cont. from page 1
What makes her selection more controversial is her lack of experience in higher education leadership. Johnson has never served as a college president or in a senior academic role. Many in the FAMU community believe the university needs someone with a proven track record in educational administration.
A Flawed Selection Process?
Concerns over the selection process have added fuel to the fire. According to reports, Johnson was added to the list of finalists late in the process. Some board members questioned how that happened and whether the outcome was predetermined.
This lack of transparency has led many to believe that outside political pressure influenced the decision. Critics argue that such interference risks FAMU’s mission and independence.
Alumni and Student Reactions
The backlash from the FAMU community has been swift and vocal. A petition titled “FAMU Deserves Better” has gained thousands of signatures. Alumni, including notable figures like film producer Will Packer, have used social media to express their frustration.
At campus meetings and online forums, students and faculty are demanding an-
Big Tex Scholars Awarded More Than $1.3 Million in Scholarships
By Anthony Council Correspondent Texas Metro News
The State Fair of Texas has many beloved traditions, from corny dogs to the Cotton Bowl and beyond, but one of its most impactful happens long before the gates even open: helping students who have succeeded in the classroom. Since the late 1990s, the Big Tex Scholarship Program has been a cornerstone of this mission.
swers. Many say they feel excluded from a decision that affects the future of the HBCU. Some have called for the board to reconsider its choice.
What This Means for HBCUs
This controversy highlights a larger issue facing public HBCUs. As state-funded institutions, they must navigate political landscapes while staying true to their mission. Leadership choices influenced by politics can damage trust and morale within the university.
Strong, independent leadership is crucial for HBCUs to thrive. Many fear that Johnson’s appointment could set a dangerous precedent. It raises questions about how much control state leaders should have over HBCU governance.
The Path Forward
As Marva Johnson prepares to take office, FAMU faces a critical moment. The university’s reputation and community trust are on the line, and alumni, students, and faculty are likely to continue voicing their concerns.
Whether Johnson can win over the FAMU community remains to be seen. What is clear is that HBCUs like FAMU must protect their legacy through transparent leadership and strong public engagement.
Yesterday, the State Fair awarded over $1.3 million in new college scholarships to 220 students across Texas for their outstanding accomplishments. The scholarships included the Juanita Craft, Youth Livestock, Seasonal Employee, Benny Clark Memorial, and Peggy Sloan Memorial.
Since its founding in 1992, the Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded more than $20 million to over 3,700 students, staying true to the Fair’s nonprofit mission of supporting agriculture, education, and community involvement.
Among this year’s recipients is Kaliyah Coley, a 17-yearold who graduated early from North Dallas High School and ranks among the top students in
her class. Heading to TCU, she says it’s truly amazing and she is grateful for the opportunity.
“I feel grateful for this opportunity,” she says. “When I come back from working at a top law firm, I plan to give back to these scholars as I go on.”
Kaliyah also credits her mother for her drive and success:
“My mom has been my number one supporter. She’s always cheering the loudest at every event, and I’m just grateful for her.”
This year also brought an exciting new addition: any student attending Texas Woman’s University who is also a Big Tex Scholar will receive a dollar-for-dollar match from TWU,
doubling their total award amount to as much as $12,000. Karissa Condoianis, Senior Vice President of Public Relations for the State Fair of Texas, shared:
“Getting to meet these students whose stories we’ve learned through the review process is incredibly rewarding. As a nonprofit, we’re honored to give back through scholarships. More than $1.3 million this year alone, it’s something our entire State Fair team looks forward to and works toward all year long.”
From fair rides to future dreams, the celebration was more than a fun afternoon—it was a launchpad for the next chapter in these students’ lives.
2025 Big Tex Scholars with Karissa Condoianis, Senior Vice President of Public Relations for the State Fair of Texas, and Mini Big Tex at the Big Tex Scholars celebration. Credit Anthony Council
2025 Big Tex Scholar Kaliyah Coley from North Dallas High School and her mom, Nece Mack, share their thoughts on the scholarship opportunity.
Credit: Anthony Council, Texas Metro News
Karissa Condoianis, Senior Vice President of Public Relations for the State Fair of Texas, delivers remarks at the scholarship ceremony honoring this year’s recipients.
Credit: Anthony Council, Texas Metro News
Ribbon cutting opens traveling exhibit of local African American educators
By Texas Metro News Staff
Noted local educator Dr. Alfred Roberts appeared proud as he welcomed the public to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the African American Education Archives and History Program’s (AAEAHP) touring exhibit, on Monday, February 24 in the Dallas City Hall Flag Room.
Many former educators in the audience looked equally proud as Dr. Roberts, the group’s founder and president, acknowledged why it was importance that they all were there.
The group of Dallas-area African American educators has been annually acknowledging the historical significance of its predecessors who devoted their professional lives to educating Black children, since around the early 1900s, as a way to help them gain a better life.
Dr. Roberts, a Paul Quinn Col-
Morehouse names alumnus Dr. F. DuBois Bowman 13th president
By Melinda Johnson
lege professor emeritus and former Dallas public school assistant superintendent for human resources, gave brief details about the exhibit. He said the display began in 2002 and has been housed for decades at the African American Museum at Fair Park.
The exhibit currently enshrines 183 oral history summaries and photos of honorees from over many decades. The honorees are early and current local Black educators, including a number who now have schools named in their honor.
The group invited the public to witness AAEAHP board members and dignitaries as they cut the ribbon to kick off the exhibit’s touring phase. Touring signals that the exhibit will now be available for schools, churches, and other faith and social organizations to display the exhibit at their various events and special occasions.
Chelle Luper Wilson cont. from page 1
in Broadcast Journalism from HBCU Langston University, and a M.A. in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies from Texas Woman’s University, where she is also a thirdyear doctoral student in the department of Language, Culture and Gender.
A dedicated community advocate and trailblazer, Chelle is a former member of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP, member of the National CROWN Act Collective Strategic Partnership Council, American Heart Association National Diversity Leadership Council, former South Central Regional Director and International Secretary of Alpha Kap-
pa Alpha Sorority, Inc®. She is also an active member of The Links, Inc., Jack & Jill of America, Inc., and the National Association of Black Journalists. Ms. Luper Wilson is the daughter of the late civil rights activist, Clara Luper.
“I have no doubt that the Texas Black Caucus Foundation will be in capable hands under her leadership,” said Senator Royce West (D23), Chairman of the Texas Black Caucus Foundation Board of Directors. “I warmly welcome Chelle Luper Wilson, and I look forward to working with her. She has the full support of the TBCF Board to carry out this critical leadership role.”
The Morehouse College Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, a 1992 Morehouse graduate and nationally recognized public health leader, as the college’s 13th president. Dr. Bowman will begin his tenure on July 15, 2025, succeeding President David A. Thomas.
Dr. Bowman currently serves as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and holds the Roderick J. Little Collegiate Professorship of Biostatistics. His election to the presidency follows a comprehensive national search.
“Dr. Bowman’s record of visionary leadership, his deep commitment to academic excellence, and his lifelong dedication to Morehouse make him the ideal choice to lead the College into its next era,” said Willie Woods ’85, chairman of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. “He brings an extraordinary blend of intellectual rigor, strategic thinking, and values-driven leadership.”
A member of the National Academy of Medicine and fellow of both the American Statistical Association and American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. Bowman is renowned for his groundbreaking statistical research on neurological and mental health disorders. His work has advanced understanding of conditions including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and schizo-
phrenia, leading to more personalized therapeutic approaches and new insights into environmental impacts on brain function in youth.
At Michigan, Dr. Bowman oversees a premier public health school with more than 1,300 students and an annual research portfolio exceeding $100 million. His leadership has launched innovative initiatives addressing critical challenges such as firearm injury prevention, health equity, and infectious disease control, while fostering an inclusive culture of excellence and service.
“Returning to Morehouse as its 13th president is the honor of a lifetime,” said Dr. Bowman. “This institution shaped who I am— instilling a commitment to excellence, justice, and impact. I am excited to partner with
faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters to build on our legacy and write the next chapter of Morehouse’s transformative story.”
Dr. Bowman’s appointment coincides with Morehouse’s recent dual designation in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications as both a Research College & University (RCU) and Opportunity College & University (OCU), recognizing the institution’s growing research profile and enduring commitment to providing transformative education to students from underrepresented communities.
A proud Morehouse alumnus, Phi Beta Kappa member, and brother of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Dr. Bowman has maintained strong ties to the College as a two-time Morehouse parent and dedicated mentor. He has
facilitated University of Michigan pipeline programs for students from Morehouse and Spelman colleges and was honored with the College’s prestigious Bennie Trailblazer Award in 2019.
Prior to Michigan, Dr. Bowman held leadership positions at Columbia University and Emory University. He earned his M.S. in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan and Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Bowman is married to Cynthia Bowman, a Spelman College graduate who also holds degrees from Georgia Tech and Northwestern. They have four children, including a son who graduated from Morehouse in 2024 and another currently enrolled at the College.
Founded in 1867, Morehouse College has been led by 12 distinguished presidents throughout its history: Joseph Robert, Frank Quarles, George Sale, John Hope (19061936), Samuel H. Archer (1936-1940), Benjamin E. Mays (1940-1967), Hugh M. Gloster (1967-1987), Leroy Keith Jr. (19871994), Walter E. Massey (1995-2007), Robert M. Franklin (2007-2012), John Silvanus Wilson Jr. (2013-2017), and David A. Thomas (2018-2025). Each president has contributed to Morehouse’s legacy of developing leaders committed to service, excellence, and justice. Dr. F. DuBois Bowman will build upon this strong foundation when he becomes the 13th president.
AAEAHP board members and dignitaries cut the ribbon. Credit Staff Photo
13th President Dr. F. DuBois Bowman ‘92 Credit: courtesy of Morehouse College
UPLIFT
DOJ Shakeup May Put Civil Rights Probe of 1970 Jackson State, Mississippi, Killings At Risk
By Daja E. Henry www.themarshallproject.org
Dale Gibbs awoke to banging on the door of her parents’ home in Ripley, Mississippi, in the early hours of May 15, 1970, just three days before her 19th birthday.
Her husband, Phillip, a 21-year-old senior at Jackson State College, was expected to return that night after making the nearly four-hour drive from campus. But he wasn’t banging on the door. It was Phillip’s sister, Nerene, and a neighbor.
Nerene was screaming.
Phillip Gibbs had been shot and killed by police on Jackson State’s campus in a 28-second barrage of more than 400 bullets. The officers had arrived after someone set fire to a dump truck during mounting tensions between students at the Black college and White motorists who drove through it. Firefighters extinguished the fire, but the officers inexplicably turned and marched a couple of blocks deeper into the campus, stopped in front of Alexander Hall, a women’s dormitory, and opened fire. They shot stu-
dents in front of the dorm and others through the dorm’s glass windows.
Phillip Gibbs was one of the onlookers.
James Earl Green, a high school senior, was also shot and killed on the other side of the street while walking home from his job at the Wag-a-Bag corner store. Twelve more people were shot and injured, while countless others were left with physical and psychological trauma.
That terrible night, Dale Gibbs told The Marshall Project - Jackson 55 years later, she was determined to go back to sleep, hoping it was all a dream.
Her husband was gone. Their infant son, Phillip Jr., would grow up without a father. And there would be no justice. No one was ever charged.“
They murdered my husband, and they murdered James Green, and they got away with it,” she said. “After you reach that 30-to40-year mark, you lose hope.”
Unbeknownst to Dale Gibbs, the Department of Justice opened an investigation into the killings under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime
Act, during the first Trump Administration, according to department documents.
But now, the future of that federal investigation is unclear. Though the department has made no public statement about the status of the remaining Till Act cases, policy changes under the second Trump Administration and the mass resignation of attorneys within the Civil Rights Division appear to threaten both the future of this investigation and the division as a whole.
As of the Justice Department’s 2024 annual report, the investigation was one of two that remained open from Mississippi. The other was the death of Jerry Lee Armstrong, a 17-yearold who went missing after a Christmas dance in DeSoto County. His family believes white supremacists killed him.
The Till Act, first passed in 2008, directs the Justice Department to investigate criminal civil rights violations that led to a death before 1980.
Of the 162 victims on the Justice Department’s Till Act list, 56 were killed in Mississippi from 1955 through 1977, including
the law’s namesake, Emmett Till. White men abducted and killed Till, a Black 14-year-old who was visiting family in Money, Mississippi, after a White woman falsely accused him of accosting her in a store. They brutally beat him, shot him and tied a cotton gin fan around his neck with barbed wire before dumping his body in the Tallahatchie River. An all-White jury acquitted the two men charged with his murder. They would later confess in a magazine interview.
John Lewis, a civil rights leader who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia, introduced the Till Act in 2007, “because there are hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of cold cases from the civil rights era that have never been solved,” he told TIME.com. Lewis was a year older than Till, and the murder left a lasting impact on him.
Since the department began investigating civil rights cold cases, at least five have led to convictions.
However, the Trump Administration has instituted sweeping changes that raise questions about the division’s future.
After taking office Jan. 20, President Donald J. Trump ordered the Justice Department to freeze all civil rights litigation. Days later, career attorneys in the Civil Rights Division were reassigned to a working group on sanctuary cities. The department also cut grants that included $1 million to Louisiana’s Orleans Parish District Attorney for investigating cold
U.S. Sen. Walter Mondale, D-Minn., left, student Carl Griffin, center, and U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., right, look at the area where Phillip Gibbs and James Earl Green were shot by police at Jackson State College in May 1970. Associated Press, File
Dale and Phillip Gibbs in an undated photo. Courtesy of Dale Gibbs
Bullet holes from the 1970 shooting are still visible on a door to Alexander Hall. A mural painted on a window of Alexander Hall on the Jackson State campus. Credit: Stephanie Rose Figgins for The Marshall Project
Jackson State, Mississippi, Killings At Risk from page 8
case homicides involving civil rights violations.
Earlier this month, Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General overseeing the Civil Rights Division, issued new mission statements, shifting the division away from protecting marginalized groups and toward some of the president’s priorities, such as anti-transgender measures and preventing voter fraud. The Civil Rights Division has recently seen an exodus of around 70% of its lawyers, according to reporting by The Guardian.“
The division is now focusing on protecting the people who this White House prefers,” said Stacey Young, a former Justice Department lawyer and founder of Justice Connection, a network of agency alumni that provides resources, including legal counsel and mental health services. “Their new enforcement priorities, which they’ve made very clear, are trying to tamp down on antisemitism, on anti-Christian bias and on efforts to advance gun control.”
This division has been the enforcement arm of many of the laws born from the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, in which Black people fought to be treated as equals. The laws also laid the groundwork for an expansive list of protections, including against age and gender discrimination.
Oneshia Herring, former chair of the Department of Justice’s Association of Black Attorneys and a former attorney in the Civil Rights Division, said the administration’s selective enforcement of the law is
“running against the very nature and spirit of which these laws were created.”
Phillip Gibbs and James Earl Green’s names first appeared on a 2019 list of investigations opened under the Till Act, but survivors and people close to the case told The Marshall Project - Jackson that they were unaware of the investigation until recently.
responsible for overseeing the case, resigned ahead of President Trump’s inauguration.
The Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment on the investigation. The Emmett Till law website remains active. Other department web pages were removed after Trump’s inauguration, including its database tracking federal law enforcement misconduct and all state-level hate crime data.
fire near Stewart Hall, the boys’ dorm.
The Jackson Police Department, Mississippi Highway and Safety Patrol and firefighters arrived on campus.
and her roommate, Gloria Mayhorn, got dressed and went outside to check it out.
She joined the crowd of onlookers and tried to figure out what was happening.
She watched and listened to the echoing footsteps of the officers, surprised that they had gone past the boys’ dorm and were headed her way.
Officers commandeered the street and urged students to go back to their dorms. Some students yelled back at the police, but all retreated behind a chain-link fence.
What happened in the seconds before the shooting is heavily disputed.
could not have happened. Then-U.S. Sen. Walter Mondale, D-Minn., bristled at the defense.
“Every time there’s an overreaction, that unfound sniper always gets the blame,” he said while touring the campus in the aftermath of the shootings.
Instead, students and other eyewitnesses reported a glass bottle crashing near the officers before they opened fire on the crowd.“
Jackson State University Professor Robert Luckett, who hosts the university’s annual commemoration of the shooting, learned of the investigation late last year. In January, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, a Biden appointee who was
Lynch Street, a busy thoroughfare that bisected the Jackson State College campus, became a hotbed of racial tension throughout the 1960s. White drivers headed downtown would hurl racial epithets at students and hit at least one student with a car. Black students and “corner boys,” young men who hung around the campus, sometimes threw rocks at the drivers.
After another bout of rock-throwing on May 13, 1970, police closed the street. The next night, the rock-throwing started up again. Around the same time, someone had taken a dump truck, driven it up Lynch Street, and set it on
The officers were heavily armed, with equipment “more suited to warfare than crowd control,” said historian Nancy K. Bristow, author of “Steeped in the Blood of Racism: Black Power, Law and Order, and the 1970 Shootings at Jackson State College.” There were shotguns, officers’ personal weapons, armor-piercing bullets and “Thompson’s Tank,” a truck retrofitted with heavy armor and mounted machine guns.
The firefighters extinguished the dump truck without incident. As the National Guard arrived at Stewart Hall to relieve the officers, the Jackson policemen and the highway patrol inexplicably turned and marched deeper into the campus, stopping in front of Alexander Hall, the women’s dormitory.
Gailya Porter, a sophomore, had been in her room at Alexander Hall when she heard that police were on campus. She
Officers made the unlikely claim of a sniper, which historian Bristow called “laughable.” Porter said that
We weren’t a rowdy group,” Porter recalled. “We weren’t doing anything to cause that kind of reaction to a group of youngsters, especially at the girls’ dormitory… Would that have occurred at some other university at the girls’ dorm?”
Dale Gibbs, 72, at her home in Arizona. Her husband, Phillip, was killed in the Jackson State shooting in 1970, leaving her a widowed mother of two
Credit: Stephanie Rose Figgins for The Marshall Project
Phillip Gibbs, a Jackson State student, left, and James Earl Green, a high school student at center, were shot and killed by police on May 15, 1970. At right, a monument honoring Gibbs and Green erected on the campus.
Credit: Courtesy of Dale Gibbs and Gloria Green McCray; Justin Hardiman for The Marshall Project
Gailya Porter, a Jackson State student in 1970, at the Gibbs-Green Memorial Plaza on the Jackson State campus. Porter was injured by shrapnel, pellets, glass and debris during the police shooting.
Credit: Justin Hardiman for The Marshall Project
HEALTH
Dallas Leaders Awarded for Advancing Adolescent & Women’s Health in Texas
DALLAS – Healthy Futures of Texas, a leading non-partisan, non-profit sexual and reproductive health organization, recognized several Dallas-area organizations and healthcare experts for their contribution to Texas adolescent & women’s health education, medical care, and advocacy.
“We are honored to celebrate those who are driving change, taking action, and shaping the future of adolescent and women’s health in Texas,” shared Gary Ahr, Healthy Futures of Texas board member and Dallas philanthropist. “This year’s awardees are individuals and organizations making an extraordinary impact through their dedication, leadership, and advocacy. Their work is changing lives, and we are excited to see what the future holds as they continue to inspire and lead.”
Community Partner Award: Dallas College Health Services & Promotion
Dallas College Health Services and Promotion was honored for making a significant impact in the promotion of reproductive health and wellness under the leadership of Luz Gonzalez, Associate Dean of Health Services and Promotion.
Dallas College has expanded access to critical health education and resources, equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions and advocate for their own well-being. This work is deeply student-centered and driven by a genuine commitment to care.
This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the strength and power of collaboration. When institutions come together with a shared purpose - to educate, support, and empower young people - the impact
is far greater than what any of us could achieve alone. This award recognizes the dedication and innovation of the Dallas College team and shines a light on the real and lasting difference they are making in students’ lives.
Changemaker Award: The Changemaker Award celebrates individuals who have made remarkable contributions to reproductive health and wellness. Each of the three honorees has gone above and beyond in their commitment to removing barriers, expanding access, and transforming care in their communities.
Changemaker Awardee:
Dr. Taibat Eribo, Women’s Health Medical Director at HHM Health
Dr. Eribo is a dedicated advo-
cate and leader in reproductive healthcare. She’s helped expand contraceptive access and led training efforts to equip providers with the tools they need to deliver high-quality, comprehensive care. Beyond the clinic, Dr. Eribo is a mentor, a role model, and a champion for reproductive health.
Changemaker Awardee:
Kentoria Roberson-White, Prism Health North Texas Nurse Practitioner & Founder of Phoenix Health Alliance
Kentoria Roberson-White is everywhere, literally, always showing up for her community. Through education, advocacy, and presence, she helps young people access the knowledge and resources they need to thrive. She’s genuine, kind, and relentless in her mission to empower
youth and improve health outcomes.
Changemaker Awardee: Micaela Sanchez, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner & Founder of Comadre Health
Michaela Sanchez provides same-day, free contraception in a welcoming and inclusive space. From developing educational resources with Trust Her to delivering care on-site at community events, Sanchez fiercely advocates for patient-centered reproductive healthcare and access for all.
Rising Star Award: Trevon Oliver, Dallas College Program Lead
The Rising Star Award recognizes an exceptional individual, aged 30 or younger, emerging as
a leader in adolescent health in Texas.
Trevon’s commitment to supporting minority male students at Dallas College has been deeply inspiring. Through his work designing trainings, facilitating workshops, and building strategic partnerships, he has directly impacted the lives of more than 10,000 students. His efforts not only advance adolescent health but also foster a culture of inclusion, leadership, and opportunity for young people who need it most.
Trevon’s impact extends beyond his professional role. He currently serves on the Healthy Futures of Texas Board of Directors, bringing a powerful youth perspective to our leadership. His voice, insight, and lived experience have helped ensure that young people are not just the focus of our work but active contributors to its direction and success.
The awardees were announced during Healthy Futures of Texas’ Annual Symposium, from April 28 to April 30, 2025, in Dallas. The event brought together hundreds of professionals from across the state, providing comprehensive training, the latest insights, and optimal approaches in the field of adolescent and women’s sexual and reproductive health.
Healthy Futures of Texas (HFTX) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to improving the well-being of young Texans through access to sexual health education, contraception, and resources. By addressing the increasing barriers that young people in Texas face, HFTX aims to advance access to quality sex education, contraception, and sexual healthcare and expand into related areas of young adult health. Learn more at https:// hftx.org
HEALTH
GOP Medicaid Plans Would Slash Health Coverage for Millions, CBO Confirms
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA
National Correspondent
A newly released analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has confirmed that proposals pushed by Republicans in Congress to slash Medicaid spending would result in millions of Americans losing health coverage. The analysis arrives just days before the House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to vote on several of these drastic policy changes. The CBO report, addressed to Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden and House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr., outlines five Republican-backed Medicaid policy options that would significantly reduce federal spending. The agency estimates that under the proposed changes, as many as 8.6 million people could lose Medicaid coverage, and up to
3.9 million would become uninsured. “This CBO report further confirms what we already knew – that Republicans in Congress are willing to sell out millions of working families to give their billionaire friends another massive tax break,” said Kobie Christian, spokesperson for Unrig Our Economy. “Republicans in Congress have been gaslighting the American public by claiming to be against Medicaid cuts, while actively trying to take away health care from millions of working-class Americans.”
The proposals outlined
in the CBO’s letter are capping federal contributions to Medicaid, reducing the matching rate for states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and repealing enrollment rules designed to streamline access to Medicaid and CHIP. Each of the first four policy options would force states to respond by cutting provider payments, reducing benefits, and slashing enrollment. The fifth option alone—repealing the Eligibility and Enrollment final rule—would eliminate coverage for 2.3 million people, most of whom are low-income se-
Mental Health cont. from page 1
18-25) also experience higher rates of mental health problems and lower rates of mental health service.
Breaking the Silence
Around Mental Health
For generations, many Black families have avoided conversations about mental health, often due to stigma, cultural expectations, and limited access to professional care. Although strength and resilience have been prioritized, rarely has there been space made to discuss emotional pain.
Dr. Kermit A. Crawford, former Director of the Center for Multicultural Mental Health at Boston University
School of Medicine, reminds us that progress is being made, but the work is far from over.
“Mental health care is becoming more accepted in our community,”
Dr. Crawford explains. “My family has used these services, and I’ve encouraged my sons to do the same. It’s essential to normalize therapy for the next generation.”
He also stresses that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Finding the right therapist may take time, but the journey is worth it.
“Just because one therapist isn’t the right fit doesn’t mean therapy can’t help you. Keep looking—your mental health is worth it.”
Dallas College Police receive Life-Saving Donation from Cops Direct
niors and people with disabilities. “Donald Trump and Rubber Stamp Republicans in Congress are lying to the American people about their plans to enact the largest cut to Medicaid in our nation’s history,” warned Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The CBO analysis confirms House Democrats’ warnings that the GOP proposals would force states to raise taxes, cut education spending, or push people off health insurance,” Jeffries said.
Read more at www.texasmetronews.com
Understanding Racial Trauma and Its Effects
The psychological toll of systemic racism continues to weigh heavily on Black individuals. Whether through daily microaggressions, workplace bias, or exposure to racial violence, many endure chronic emotional stress that impacts both mind and body.
A study by the University of Georgia found that Black college students at predominantly white institutions who experienced racial discrimination reported higher levels of sleep disturbances—a clear connection between racial trauma and overall wellness.
Dr. Crawford, who served as a
Donation coincided with National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day
Dallas College Police Department received a donation of more than 150 bleed trauma support kits from Cops Direct, a nonprofit that supplies medical equipment and training to law enforcement agencies at no cost.
This donation aligned with National Police Week, which honors the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers nationwide. It also coincided with Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15. Each kit includes tourniquets, wound bandages and other lifesaving tools. Cops Direct also provides training on bleeding control and injury assessment to help officers save lives—including their own.
Gang
Rule cont. from page 2
plantations aided the colonists’ efforts, and, in the 1779 Siege of Savannah 500 Haitian soldiers supported American and French forces in battle against the British.
Because of these circumstances, Eric Walcott, the director of strategic partnership and corporate development for the Institute of Caribbean Studies, believes the international community is indebted to Haiti and must prioritize assisting the effort against the gang violence plaguing the country.
“The Haitians really need our help, and they’re deserving of it,” Walcott told The Informer.
“They’re one of the old-
est nation states and they have paid a huge price.” Walcott believes that the MSSM, while outnumbered, has positively impacted Haiti’s situation, and that the Kenyan-led mission will help reconnect members of the diaspora in Africa and the Caribbean to each other – something that is crucial for unity and understanding between the global Black community.
“[Haiti] is where we go to claim our freedom. It’s where we go to assert our Africanness,” Walcott said.
“I think if we don’t do anything within the next three months, or the next week or two, there’s going to be carnage over there.”
Page to Stage Literacy Program survives major cuts
After Losing Their Grant to NEA Cuts, Friends Got into the Act to Keep the Lights On
FORT WORTH, TX---
When Executive Artistic Director ShaVonne Davis learned that Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization was receiving a Challenge America grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, she was ecstatic and hopeful. Finalizing the youth acting troupe’s plans for the year went immediately in motion. The $10,000 grant was more than enough to shape the outlook for the year’s two major productions with room to make programmatic improvements throughout the school year and summer.
doing without earmarked funds from the grant put plans for a spring literacy program and summer production in jeopardy.
After sharing her story with local news outlets, the outlook remained grim for ShaVonne Davis and Kids Acting With Purpose. Unknowingly, there was goodness brewing behind the scenes. Thanks to a fellow theatre teaching artist Ehleshea Anderson of Dal-
into its pursuit of its longterm goal, of securing own rehearsal space and performance venue. This will ensure Maroon 9 programming is a year-round pour into the future of young thespians in Tarrant County.
With many grantors disengaging their grants from arts programs and DEI initiatives, Davis looks to publicly fund remaining onstage and extracurricu-
arts. Sharing is caring and caring enough to share is sometimes all people need to reach their goals. To learn more about the ongoing enrichment of Maroon 9, Kids Acting With Purpose and other programs, please visit: www. maroon9.org.
In March, Davis took executives from Maroon 9 and Kids Acting With Purpose to New York to glean from theatre programmers on/off Broadway and in the city. They returned home to reports of action within the NEA that might affect their grant and after months of speculation, Davis finally got the email she had been dreading. The Challenge America grant awarded to Maroon 9 had officially been rescinded. Davis knew this could mean ‘curtains’ for her program despite receiving many other grants throughout the year. Davis’ work is fully grant funded and
las, Texas, Mrs. Davis and her kiddos weren’t hopeless for long. Anderson engaged her online audience and issued a call to action to help a distressed Davis. Anderson added Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization to her Linktree and within 48 hours, Davis’ Page to Stage Literacy Program was funded as donations continue to pour in.
Anderson’s Online Theatre and Voice Academy teaches youth in virtual settings and reaches across the spectrum of the arts online. The kindness of strangers has shifted Kids Acting With Purpose
lar programs for the year. In addition to her work onstage Davis conducts conflict resolution workshops teaching youth how to solve problems without violence by acting out defusive scenes. Davis’ summer literacy program concludes with a culminative performance of “Harriet Tubman: Take My Hand and Follow Me” by Katherine Shultz-Miller on Saturday, June 21st at Theatre Wesleyan. Ticketing information will be available on the Kids Acting With Purpose website.
This overwhelming generosity proves that kindness is at the heart of the
“Nothing Beats a Failure but a Try” - Charles Evers Beat the DIE Pushback in the 60s
Upon returning from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts, ShaVonne Davis realized the potency with which she could reach her students through her love of Theatre Arts. As Executive Artistic Director of Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization, Davis expanded the focus, exposed a need and targeted an underdeveloped demographic deep within the community. With “Acting With Mrs. Davis,” Davis provided the chance for area youth to explore social development, increase educational awareness and gain life skills through theatre.
With “Kids Acting With Purpose,” the Fort Worth based youth acting troupe, many of those children take their talents to the stage to perform in awe-inspiring productions. Davis’ rewarding work has earned several to further Maroon 9’s mission while funding programs, enhancing productions and raising the curtain on new opportunities for the youth it serves.
Lucille “Big Mama” Allen didn’t have a fancy degree or sit in any corporate boardroom — but her wisdom was pure gold. She taught us that “nothing beats a failure but a try,” meaning effort always counts more than excuses. Chef Jeff Henderson stated. “You don’t win every battle, but showing up with your game face will amplify your God-given purpose is the difference between standing tall and standing still.
A young brother recently asked, “Do we have to
code switch or do 500% to succeed in corporate spaces — even when it’s not fair?” The answer is complex, but the short version is: Yes, we must play the game — but on our terms. So bring your excellence to the table, not for applause, but for access. Be functional, not emotional. Strategic, not submissive. Authentic, never a sellout. Look at Medgar Evers — he brought his brilliance and fire to the Civil Rights Movement, knowing the danger. His brother, Charles Evers, turned tragedy into triumph, leading boycotts that forced white-owned businesses in Mississippi to reckon with Black economic power. That was
Jeff Gake and sons Photo credit: City Men Cook
Jeff 5 with Volunters Credit: City Men Cook
Nothing Beats
cont. from page 12
their version of “playing the game” — using strategy to make change without compromising the mission. Several of these business owners shut down.
City Men Cook is a success story because we defied the negative media narratives about Black men by showcasing strength, love, and leadership on Father’s Day — and now, we control the positive media spotlight that uplifts our image, our impact, and our legacy.
As Black men, we’re often given half the credit for twice the work. But we carry the resilience of those before us. Trying doesn’t make you weak — it makes you worthy. We don’t need permission to be great. We show up, suit up, and stay true.
Got a story where you brought your A-game and flipped the script? Email me at terryallenpr@gmaill.com — Big Mama said we’ve got to share the wisdom and the wins.
COMMUNITY/LIFE/CULTURE
Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning 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
Ester Davis and Isis Brantley Credit: City Men Cook
Chalet Nicole Brown Celebration of Life
By Eva D. Coleman Lifestyle Editor
The Celebration of Life for Chalet Nicole Brown was held May 17, 2025 at Lake Bethlehem Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. Brown was a beloved 24-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. She was initiated at Dillard University in 2001 and was instrumental as a charter member for the 10-year-old Omega Alpha Omega chapter of which she served until her death. Over 60 sorority sisters clad in white were in attendance, also taking part in an Ivy Beyond the Wall ceremony before the service began. A surprise announce-
ment by Brown’s actual and sorority sister, Tammy Abernathy, had all attendees clapping at news of Brown posthumously receiving an honorary doctorate in Education Specializing in Organizational Management from Abilene Christian University of which she was enrolled and a few weeks away from defending her dissertation. All enthusiastically saluted Dr. Chalet Nicole Brown.
Omega Alpha Omega chapter members were proud to make the trip from Dallas-Fort Worth to Shreveport to honor Brown. Led by current president, Pamela S. Foster, all former presidents of Omega Alpha Omega chapter were in attendance as well.
LIFESTYLE/CULTURE
Kym Whitley: Balancing Laughter, Legacy, and Love through Comedy and Motherhood
By Sylvia Powers Correspondent
Kym Whitley, a powerhouse in entertainment, continues to captivate audiences with her infectious humor, heartfelt storytelling, and unapologetic authenticity.
From her early days in stand-up to her standout roles on screen, Whitley’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of laughter—and the strength it takes to balance it all with motherhood.
“I come from a funny family,” she said. “Everybody’s probably funnier than me. My mama was funny, my daddy was funny, and my brothers are extremely funny.”
Hailing from Shaker Heights, OH, Whitley attended Fisk University where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She said it was comedian, actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg inspired her.
“At a time when not many women were doing stand-up, I started writing jokes,” she recalled. “Then Redd Foxx saw me being funny one day and said, ‘You should be a stand-up comic.’ That gave me the push I needed.”
A Life-Changing Call to Motherhood
In 2011, Whitley’s life shifted in the most unexpected way. A young woman she had once mentored left her newborn at the hospital with only Whitley’s contact information.
With no time to prepare and everything on the line, she made the bold decision to adopt the baby boy—her son, Joshua.
Whitley’s story of sudden motherhood resonated deeply with audiences through her reality series Raising Whitley, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network from 2013 to 2016.
The show offered an unfiltered glimpse into her world, chronicling both the hilarious and heartfelt moments of parenting as a single mother.
“Comedy has always been tough for women, especially mothers,” Whitley explained. “Stand-up is a night job, and during the day, many women are working or taking care of their families. I saw a lot of women fall off because they couldn’t keep up. But things are changing. People are realizing it takes a village.”
That “village” has been key to Whitley’s success— both on stage and at home.
“I built a village around
me. It’s not just what people saw on the show—it’s true in my real life. Stephanie has been caring for Joshua since he was three. Her entire family is like Joshua’s second home. He also has two godparents,” she said, adding that it is important to have people around who you can trust.
“Motherhood is expensive and demanding, but with the right people, it becomes possible.”
Championing Health, Wellness, and Self-Care
During the pandemic, Whitley took her health seriously—not just for herself, but for her son.
“I joined Weight Watchers and lost 35 pounds during the pandemic. I knew I had to feel good to be good—for work, for my son, for me. I just came back from a walk I didn’t want to take—but I did it. Sometimes you need a partner to keep you accountable.
“We women pour so much into our families
and careers that we forget to pour into ourselves. Lately, I started getting facials—something I never used to do. Self-care matters. I can’t show up for my child or my work if I’m not taking care of myself,” said Whitley, who is the recipient of numerous awards.
A Legacy in the Making
Today, Whitley is focused on building the next chapter of her career—one that includes producing, directing, and creating original content.
“I’m entering the second, maybe third, chapter of my career. I’m writing, producing, and developing projects that speak to who I am now.”
In addition to her onscreen and behind-thescenes work, Whitley has made a lasting mark in voice-over acting with shows like The Boondocks and Black Dynamite. Her award-winning podcast Two Funny Mamas, co-hosted with fellow comedian Sherri Shepherd, won the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Arts & Entertainment Podcast, showing her continued relevance and impact. For Mother’s Day, she and Shepherd performed before a sold-out audience at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, in Dallas.
Sylvia Powers is an award-winning author, accomplished writer, gifted photographer, and nationally recognized breast cancer advocate with a deep passion for empowering others.
Although Kym Whitley admits that balancing comedy and motherhood hasn’t been easy, she’s found strength and peace in building a supportive village to help raise her son, Joshua.
Credit: Sylvia Powers
MAY
23
Winsome Prime—a new, elevated Southern Steakhouse located in Trinity Groves—officially announces its grand opening 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Sultry songstress Dana Harper is slated to perform live throughout the evening, while guests wine and dine. Proper dress code is required.
Memorial Day Weekend at Community, by Community Beer Company. Honoring the spirit of community, celebration, and remembrance with a weekend full of great music, craft drinks, and fun. Plenty of seating is available, but reservations are recommended. Reserve your spot here: https://bit.ly/43kzneK 24
Cedar Hill Farmers Market by Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce. In Historic Downtown, you can enjoy locally grown and handcrafted products. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, canned products, apparel, lotions, art, and more! 9 am – 1 pm in Downtown Cedat Hill. https://bit.ly/44CnlQk More dates are available. ***
Farmers Market @ The Shed – Memorial Day Weekend by Dallas Framers Market. Fire up the grill and kick off summer with local flavor! Come shop with our ranchers for all your Memorial Day essentials, everything you need for the ultimate backyard cookout! 9 am – 5 pm at 920 S. Harwood St., Dallas. www.dallasfarmersmarket.org
For The Love Of R&B Saturday feat. DJ Pharaoh, by Retro Hip World and Pure Social Dallas, Reserved seating is available inside. Reserved tables must be claimed by 10:30 pm. Pure Social Bar and Grill, 401 W George Bush Hwy, Ste 126, Richardson. Tickets: www.Puresocialdallas.com.
DALLAS BLACK
DANCE THEATER
51st Annual Recital @ Majestic Theatre - 3:30pm
Join Skylar Smith and all the talented dancers ***
Africa Day 2025 Celebration - Celebrate Africa Day 2025 at Aso Rock Market with music, food, and culture! 12 - 4 pm. Doors at noon. Aso Rock Market – Frankford, 18110 Midway Rd. #208, Dallas. https://bit. ly/4331KxX
Afro-Caribbean Explosion: Memorial Weekend Wahala. A night of pure Afro-Caribbean magic. 9 pm - 2 am. 214 North Akard St., Dallas. https:// bit.ly/43djZ3T 25
Carry The Load Dallas Memorial March by Frisco VFW Post 8273 and Frisco Post No. 8273, Veterans of Foreign Wars, US. Remember and honor our nation’s heroes by participating in the Dallas Memorial March, 6 – 8 pm. at Reverchon Park, 3434 Maple Ave. Dallas. https://bit.ly/4mjDBfx
Sips & Steps Line Dancing By DivaDance Arlington Metroplex. Line dancing, DJ, lite bites, and a cash bar at Walk-On’s in Arlington! Kick off Memorial Day Weekend. 4 - 6 pm CDT at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux 401 East Interstate 20 Arlington. https:// bit.ly/3Fj1HWT
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Good Surf Beach 317 S Second Ave, Dallas. 3 – 10 pm. Tickets https:// bit.ly/3EYNA9k
28
Free Food, Drive Through Food Distribution. Event by Community MBC. The Food Distribution Ministry will provide FREE FOOD to all who come to the Cedar Hill campus! From 9 – 11 am, 820 E. Wintergreen Rd. Cedar Hill. If you would like to become a volunteer, contact: stephen. jackson@communitymbc.org or call (972)230-4477 EXT 3635.
29
Ensemble Auditions 2025 @ DBDT studios. If your student is interested in performing on a regular basis representing Dallas Black Dance Academy, come audition for one of the academy ensembles! 6-8:30pm DBDA 2025-2026 Ensemble Auditions
***
Summer Enrichment 2025 @ DBDT studios (Ages 9-16 years old)
Experience intensive training during the summer with DBDT professional company members. June 2-13, 2025 (Monday – Friday 8:30am-3:00pm)
Dallas Black Dance Academy Summer Enrichment 2025
Duncanville High School’s Class of 2025! Graduation at Globe Life Field, 734 Stadium Dr, Arlington. 6 pm duncanvilleisd.org
African American Cemetery Tour in Honor of Memorial Day. Step back in time with us on a moving guided bus tour through Dallas’ African American cemeteries this Memorial Day weekend. 10 am - 2 pm CDT. Doors at 9:30 am. 1408 N Washington Ave. Dallas. https://bit.ly/43jGUv
STATE OF FAMU NAA, AWARD & RECOGNITION LUNCHEON
12 noon
www.famualumniconvention.com
In celebration of Women’s Golf Day, the PGA of America and Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa are hosting a Women’s Golf Day event on Friday, May 30, at PGA Frisco for women of all ages and golfing abilities. In recognition of the organization’s 10th year, this event celebrates Women’s Golf Day as a global event that celebrates women and girls playing golf and developing skills to last a lifetime.
16th Anniversary Fire Truck Pull. By Duncanville Police Department, Duncanville Special Events. Pull for a cause! Join us at Fire Truck Pull 2025 in Duncanville as we team up with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office for an action-packed day of community spirit and friendly competition. 9 am at 100 James Collins Blvd, Duncanville. https://www.classy.org/.../ fire-truck-pull-2025.../e666224
***
Fire Truck Pull 2025 in Duncanville, 16th Anniversary by Duncanville Police Department. They team up with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office for an action-packed day of community spirit and friendly competition. 9 am at 100 James Collins Blvd. Donate: https://bit.ly/42K4QIa
***
Jazz on the Trinity returns with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lalah Hathaway headlining a star-studded lineup. Held at Panther Island Pavilion, this year’s festival features performances by Rick Braun, Kevin Ross, Lindsey Webster, Latin Express, and Richmond Punch, promising an unforgettable blend of jazz, soul, and R&B. In addition to the music, attendees will enjoy curated experiences like: Q&A panel and meet & greet with viral influencer group The SilverFox Squad, Black-owned tasting tent (with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Chris Howell Foundation) Cigar lounge experience, and more!
African American Cemetery Tour in Honor of Memorial Day by Remembering Black Dallas, Inc. Step back in time with us on a moving guided bus tour through Dallas’ African American cemeteries this Memorial Day weekend, rain or shine! 10 am –2 pm CDT. Doors at 9:30 am at 1408 N Washington Ave. Dallas. https:// bit.ly/43jGUvD
DALLAS WINGS host CHICAGO SKY at 7p.m. It's Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Night 1
Memorial Day “Baewatch” Pool Party @ Good Surf Beach by The CoOperative Group. Doors open at 3 pm (Swimsuits Are Required). Ladies Free W/RSVP till 5 pm. Pool Party,
Pickleball Tournament, Games, Food, Drinks, and DJs. For info, Call/ Text 469-759-3519
Poet’s & Jazz #5 by The Black Theatre of Arts and Letters. GEMINI, the mother spoken word artist, rapper, and singer from Houston. At Clarence Muse Café, 1309 Canton St., at 9 pm. Tickets: https://www. ticketmaster.com/poets-n-jazz-5
***
Tosin Opaleke - Comedy Special Recording. Tosin Opaleke performs live at the Bishop Arts Theatre – you never know what to expect, but it’ll be a good time! 7 - 11 pm. Bishop Arts Theatre Center, 215 South Tyler St., Dallas. https://bit.ly/3RZob22
BUSINESS
My Truth: Time and place - when is it right? cont. from page 1
me and apologized profusely. He covered his mouth and told me he was “so sorry.”
I thanked him and graciously accepted his apology.
I thought about the many times that I have been places and I heard people of all ages cussing and they never acknowledge that they are out of order.
I think to avoid getting offended I just take it as a sign of the times that this is what people are going to do and I need to get over it.
As a child, in my household, there was no cussing. My mother’s friends weren’t cussing, at least around us, but I did hear stories about some folks “cussing like a sailor.”
Actually, I have stopped cussing so much, because it doesn’t feel as good as it has in the past when I felt I had to cuss just to make sure folks understood and digest-
ed what I was saying to the fullest extent.
Today, I don’t care if you understand or not. You will just have to walk around clueless.
Now when I do cuss, I use a modified tone and I have taken to asking for forgiveness.
It felt so good to hear that apology and show of respect and common decency because too often that’s not the case.
It has become the norm to cuss any and everywhere and to any and everybody. That’s where boundaries come in!
I do believe there is a time and place for everything, and I do take exception with ages and sometimes gender. And then sometimes it’s about the relationship.
For example, while I never wanted my mother to hear me cuss, I really didn’t have a problem when I would hear the great Eddie Levert
Beyond The Gates
of the singing group, The OJays, in conversation with his sons Eddie and Shaun, and they would cuss. It seemed to work in that scenario.
Some people say they can’t help but cuss. It comes out.
I say, “that’s bull!“
Frankly, just like you can control or stifle a fart, and we’ve all done that from
the friends I hung out with wouldn’t think of cussing in front of their parents.
So imagine my disappointment when the best show airing today, Beyond the Gates, one of the characters cussed in front of their grandparents!
I screamed at the television.
NOOOOOOOOOOO! We don’t do that!
ture, the least the adult can say is, “I’m not one of your little friends!”
You see, even when I cuss fluently, I’ve watched my mouth around my elders. We know how to act right! OR the adults knew how to rein us in!
time to time; you can control your language. It doesn’t help when writers, in their portrayals of Black families, resort to scripts that have children of all ages cussing in front of their elders.
Now I know that the Black family is not monolithic and some Black children cuss in front of their parents.
Just know growing up,
I love the show. It won’t matter but I plan on writing to the team and asking them to not normalize that misbehavior. The show is so real and has nuances that make me so proud.
Great writing, acting, dressing, et al. So the cussing doesn’t make or break it. And actually, all the writers who write in cuss words, should at the very least, have the adult character ask for an apology, or check them in some fashion - especially with youth/elder scenes.
Keeping close to our cul-
I considered not cussing in front of elders to be a Black thing because we knew better, and then many of my Latin brothers and sisters told me they watch their mouths especially around elders.
We know about respect. Today, “you don’t respect me, I don’t respect you,” is the mantra of many. I hope that we can get back to those good old days of respecting our elders because watch what I tell you. The main ones who are out here disrespecting their elders are going to want respect when they become elders.
And that is the truth!
Moody’s strips America of its last tripleA credit rating as debt burden surges
By Bloomberg Wire Dallas Morning News
The U.S. was stripped of its last top-tier credit rating Friday after Moody’s Ratings downgraded the nation on an increase in government debt and a higher interest burden.
Moody’s lowered the U.S. credit score to Aa1 from Aaa on Friday, joining Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings in grading the world’s biggest economy below the top, triple-A position. The onenotch cut comes more than a year after Moody’s changed its outlook on the U.S. rating to negative. The credit assessor now has a stable outlook.
“While we recognize the U.S.’ significant economic and financial strengths, we believe these no longer fully counterbalance the decline in fiscal metrics,” Moody’s wrote in a statement.
Treasury futures slid to the day’s lows after the statement, pushing yields on the 10-year note as high as 4.49%. An exchange-traded fund tracking the S&P 500 fell more than 0.5% in post-market trading.
The move comes at a time when the federal budget deficit is running near $2 trillion a year, or more than 6% of gross domestic product. Congress and the Trump administration are negotiating a tax package that includes an extension of provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, amid doubt over slowing the pace of spending.
A weaker U.S. economy in the wake of a global tariff war is set to increase the deficit as government spending typically rises when activity slows.
Higher interest rates over the past several years have also pushed up the cost to service the government’s debt. The overall debt level for the U.S. has surpassed the size of the economy in the wake of profligate borrowing since COVID.
In May, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers that the U.S. was on an unsustainable
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, oversight hearing of the U.S. Department of the Treasury on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
trajectory: “The debt numbers are indeed scary,” and a crisis would involve “a sudden stop in the economy as credit would disappear,” he said. “I’m committed to that not happening.”
The Yale Budget Lab estimates the GOP draft tax plan would add $3.4 trillion to government debt over the next 10 years, and could cost as much as $5 trillion if temporary provisions in the measure — set to expire over the next several years — were extended through 2035. If those provisions became permanent, debt as a share of GDP would hit 200% by 2055, the group said Friday.
Path to downgrade
The Moody’s downgrade has been in the works since November 2023, when the agency lowered the U.S. rating outlook to negative from stable while affirming the nation’s rating at Aaa. Typically, such a change is followed with a rating action over the next 12 to 18 months.
The credit company is the last of three firms to ditch its top rating. Fitch Ratings downgraded the U.S. in August 2023 by one level to AA+, citing concerns about political wrangling over the debt ceiling that took the nation to the brink of a default.
S&P Global Ratings was the first major credit grader to strip the U.S. of its AAA rating back in 2011 and was harshly critiqued by the U.S. Treasury at the time.
BUSINESS
Kendrix named executive director of Dallas Community Land Trust
DALLAS – Ossie Kendrix
has been named executive director of Dallas Community Land Trust (DCLT), a newly established nonprofit dedicated to preserving long-term affordable housing by acquiring and holding land in trust, and allowing individuals to own the homes built on the land at a low cost. In his role at Dallas’ first-ever Community Land Trust, Kendrix will draw on nearly 20 years of fundraising and real estate experience, including most recently with TREC Community Investors (TREC CI), the philanthropic arm of The Real Estate Council (TREC).
As executive director, Kendrix will define and execute DLCT’s mission, vision and strategic goals. He will oversee its daily operations, community engagement with key stakeholders, partners and funders, and will secure funding for property acquisition, development and other essential projects to ensure DCLT’s longterm sustainability.
TREC CI serves as the catalyst and lead founder of DCLT in partnership with key community organizations, including Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation (CDC), Communities Foundation of Texas, Cornerstone CDC, Frazier Revitalization, Inc., South Dallas Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation (ICDC) and Southfair CDC. Each organization will hold a board seat in the newly formed DCLT. The City of Dallas approved the creation of the Community Land Trust program in 2019. The DCLT aims to submit its municipal application to the City of Dallas this fall.
“I’m honored to be part of DCLT and lead our team in pursuing its mission of providing a long-term solution
to Dallas’ ongoing affordable housing crisis,” said Kendrix. “Strong community partnerships fostered through organizations like TREC CI and continued education have been crucial to the formation of our organization and will play an even more significant role in its long-term success.”
Kendrix most recently served as director of fundraising for TREC CI, where he played an integral role in forming DCLT by securing partnerships with local nonprofit organizations and engaging Grounded Solutions Network, a national leader in establishing CLTs, to raise awareness of CLTs and explore how a CLT could advance Dallas’ affordable housing goals.
“Ossie has been instrumental in ensuring that DCLT can successfully launch with the right resources and partners in place,” said Dominique Pryor-Anderson, senior director of community investment at TREC CI. “Under his proven leadership, I am confident that DCLT will continue to build on TREC CI’s commitment to empowering communities through equitable development that positively impacts our city, its residents and their future.”
TREC CI and its community partners established DCLT through the Dallas Collaborative for Equitable Development (DCED). Founded by TREC CI in partnership with Dallas College and LiftFund, DCED is dedicated to equitable housing and real estate development, jobs and wealth creation, and community ownership and leadership opportunities in Dallas’ most historically underserved neighborhoods. The DCED and its work are made possible through a $6 million investment from JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Partnerships for Raising Opportunity in Neighborhoods (PRO Neighborhoods) program.
“South Dallas Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation is proud to stand alongside TREC CI and all our partners in establishing DCLT, and Ossie’s industry experience and leadership will guide us successfully throughout our launch and well into the future,” said Billy Lane, Dallas CLT board vice president and executive director at ICDC. “I look forward to working with Ossie, our board and the entire DCLT team to provide affordable homebuying options for current and future Dallas residents.”
Throughout his career, Kendrix has also held roles as a Nonprofit Fundraising Strategist for Juniper Services, LLC and as President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his master’s in public administration from Drake University, and he also holds certificates in Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) from Marquette University and Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Ossie Kendrix
Mental Health
forensic psychologist in correctional and legal systems, witnessed firsthand how deeply these inequities impact lives.
“I saw so many people who looked like me come through the system,” he recalled. “It was important to me that they were treated fairly and given a chance to heal.”
Dr. Crawford’s Three Keys to Mental Wellness
1. Be Honest About Your Limits
“Know your triggers,” he advises. “Recognize when you’re approaching your limit, and give yourself permission to step back and reset.”
2. You Can’t Help Others If You’re Drowning
“You can support others, but not at the cost of your own mental health. Sometimes the best help you can offer is a life preserver—not jumping in the water with them.”
3. Remember Your Inner Strength
“We’ve survived so much—give yourself
cont. from page 11
credit for that. Reflect on how far you’ve come, and don’t be afraid to seek support, whether through therapy, community, or faith.”
A Legacy of Resilience and the Path Forward
To truly thrive, the Black community must treat mental wellness with the same urgency and care as physical health. As Dr. Crawford points out:
“We are still here, despite all the barriers that we have had to overcome. That strength—the resilience in our DNA—must now include the courage to seek inner healing.”
Mental Health Is Health
Dr. Crawford reminds us that mental health extends beyond the month of May. He encourages us to commit to breaking the silence, removing the stigma, and embracing the journey toward emotional well-being. Whether through therapy, support groups, prayer, or personal growth.
Target cont. from page 3
back: “Target’s manipulated silence toward the Black Press sends a powerful and troubling message to Black America—that our voices, platforms, and influence are expendable.”
He said Target’s behavior suggests the company’s earlier DEI push was “a shortterm PR strategy” rather than a commitment to real equity. “True diversity requires longterm investment,” Henry said. “When companies pull back, we must pull back too. Black consumers are speaking with their dollars every day.”
In response to Target’s inaction, the NNPA launched a selective buying and consumer education campaign earlier this year.
That effort began as Rev. Jamal Bryant’s “Target Fast” drew nearly 200,000 supporters, and the NAACP issued a formal consumer advisory citing Target’s retreat from its racial justice pledges.
As major organizations, we are in lockstep with our messages to Black consumers. In Omaha, Omaha Star publisher Terri Sanders said the company’s DEI commitment “was never intentional—it was a go-along-withthe-crowd act.”
She called Target’s refusal to invest in Black-owned media “redlining at its best. Target’s ignoring the Black Press indicates that the Black consumer should ignore Tar-
get,” Sanders said. Chicago Defender Managing Editor Tacuma Roeback agreed, describing Target’s failure to support Black media as either “misguided, pigheaded, or simply unwilling to address the needs of a community that helped make them pop in the first place.
And now it’s too late.
The energy once associated with shopping at Target has faded” Seattle Medium publisher Chris Bennett said the lack of foot traffic in local stores is “very noticeable. Target will learn one way or another that Black dollars do matter.” Mississippi Link publisher and NNPA board member Jackie Hampton observed a decline in Black shoppers at her local Target store.
Hampton challenged Target’s leadership to reconsider its direction. “I would hate to see Target die because of hate,” she said.
Across the board, NNPA publishers stressed that visibility in Black-owned media is about far more than advertising dollars.
Cheryl Smith, publisher of Texas Metro News, Garland Journal, and I Messenger Media, called Target’s behavior “economic apartheid. We are the truth-tellers,” Smith, who is the NNPA Treasurer, said. “We stand on integrity, transparency, and the love of our people. If you want our dollars, you better respect our institutions.”
He
Will
By La Juana Barton
Check on the strong one. The one that is always standing. Always smiling.
Always checking on others. They'restrengthexpendedholding everyone else up.
Cryingwithothersandwipingaway massiveamountsoftearsthatthereare none left for them.
Answering every call. No matter the time.
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Aubrey Independent School District (ISD) Night at Riders Field in Frisco, TX took place May 15, 2025. The evening featured an honorary first pitch thrown by Aubrey ISD School Board President Jim Milacek and the singing of the National Anthem by the Aubrey High School Choir. It was an evening of fun, food and community as the Frisco RoughRiders took on the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Dallas Mavericks Land No. 1 Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft
By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor
After a tumultuous season which saw the departure of beloved star Luka Doncic, massive injuries, calls for the GM’s firing and ultimately not making the playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks experienced a reversal of fortune Monday night.
The Mavs landed the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft in the televised NBA Draft Lottery. This is the first time in franchise history Dallas has moved up when in lottery position.
The Mavs follow the Dallas Wings who landed the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. They drafted Paige Bueckers out of the University of Connecticut in last month’s draft.
Dallas entered the night in the 11th slot, and the Mavericks had a 1.80%
chance of landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft, as well as an 8.50% chance at moving into one of the top four positions. This marks the second time that Dallas has held the first-over-
all selection, the first being in the second-ever draft in Mavericks franchise history in 1981 when the team selected Mark Aguirre out of DePaul.
Mavs Four-Time All-Star
Rolando Blackman, the team’s vice president of corporate relations, represented the Mavs at the lottery.
The news marks a renewed hope for a franchise that went from being in the Finals less than a year ago to not making the playoffs and becoming the joke of the league after trading away generational talent Doncic.
NBA Draft 2025 presented by State Farm will take place June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Coverage on both nights will begin at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Stay tuned to Texas Metro News for more on this developing story.
Angel Reese Targeted After Flagrant Foul; WNBA Launches Probe
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
The WNBA has launched an investigation into what it called “hateful fan comments” directed at Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during Saturday’s game against the Indiana Fever—an episode that reignited long-simmering racial tensions surrounding Reese and Fever second-year player Caitlin Clark. The two players, who entered the league together last year after a fiery college rivalry, have become emblematic of a racial divide that continues to shape how fans, media, and the public perceive Black and white women athletes.
Reese, who is Black, has often been vilified for her outspoken confidence and physical play. Clark, who is white, has largely been celebrated, even while displaying similar traits on the court.
“They both are excellent competitors,” ESPN broadcaster Moni-
ca McNutt said. “But if it had been the other way around [Reese shoving Clark], you could imagine how this conversation would go.”
In the third quarter of Indiana’s 93-58 win, tensions boiled over when Clark slapped at the ball after Reese secured an offensive rebound and had a clear path to the basket. Reese fell to the floor and quickly got up to confront Clark before Fever star Aliyah Boston intervened.
Officials reviewed the play, upgraded Clark’s foul to a flagrant 1, and issued technical fouls to both Reese and Boston.
As boos rang out from the largely non-African American crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Reese was targeted more aggressively—particularly during her free throws.
The WNBA said it is investigating “allegations of hateful fan comments” directed at her during the game. “The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society,”
Angel Reese
the league said in a statement. “We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.”
Reese declined to speak to the media after the game and had no comment Sunday through a representative.
The confrontation—and the crowd’s reaction—quickly spilled into online discourse, with some defending Reese while others amplified attacks. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who is married to a white woman, drew fire for a post accusing Reese of creating a hostile environment.
“Angel Reese said she is the villain,
refused to answer questions about Caitlin Clark, and has celebrated flagrant fouls on Caitlin Clark,” the ill-informed Griffin said. “I’m not helping create anything. Angel Reese has fed into this with her actions. She needs to do better.”
Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant fired back at Griffin. “Both girls are good in their own right,” Bryant asserted. “Caitlin Clark is better than Angel Reese, but saying she hates her is wild. You are helping create a negative narrative around Angel Reese.. and I don’t respect it, respectfully. You know this is tied into race.. and the way you’re playing it is wild. We gotta do better.”
Chicago Sky CEO and president Adam Fox fully supported Reese and welcomed the WNBA’s investigation.
“We will do everything in our power to protect Chicago Sky players,” Fox said. “And we encourage the league to continue taking meaningful steps to create a safe environment for all WNBA players.”
Mavs legend Rolando Blackman and NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum at the NBA Draft Lottery Monday night in Chicago Credit: Dorothy J Gentry
Dorothy J. Gentry, a Dallas native, is a freelance writer and educator. She has a degree in Journalism/ Communications from the University of North Texas.
