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My Truth By Cheryl Smith Publisher
About those Academy Awards I’m trying to walk right. I’m trying to do the right thing, all the time and sometimes I miss the mark! I also try not to let diversions take me off my game. Weapons of mass distraction are all around us. Sure attention is focused on drama and the Social Media College of Psychology experts but so much is Will Packer going on that needs our attention; including Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, homelessness, health disparities, maternal morbidity rates, redlining, gentrification, food deserts, racism, crime, COVID and more. Those issues are going to still be with us, after all the rhetoric has subsided. It may be hard to remain focused, but you have to keep your eyes on the prize. Which brings me to my truth! There were several recipients of prizes during the recent Academy Awards. It was important for me to watch the program Sunday eveSee MY TRUTH, Page 3
THURSDAY APRIL 7, 2022
Supreme Court Nomination Moves to Full Senate for Vote By Stacy M. Brown The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday voted along party lines in an 11-11 split for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. The vote, briefly held up because of a rerouted aircraft carrying Democratic California Sen. Alex Padilla, is just the initial step in the process to confirm Jackson as the first Black woman to sit on the nation’s highest court. Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) now expects to move to discharge the nomination and send it to the Senate floor for a full vote later this week. With all Senate Democrats and now at least three Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah — seemingly in favor of Jackson, it appears the nominee will obtain the 51 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster and discharge the nomination.
the newspaper’s belief is that the most potent tool with which to face the challenges and opportunities of this new century is the dissemination of information. As Broward County’s oldest and largest African American-owned and operated newspaper, Henry said it’s the newspaper’s responsibility to inform, education, and reinvest in the Black community. In observing the 195th anniversary of the Black Press of America in 2022, Henry described the mission of his newspaper and the Black Press as a spiritual one.
Donnie F. Wilson won an Academy Award on Sunday night, but the Dallas artist and writer wasn’t there to accept it. Wilson, an executive producer of the documentary “The Queen of Basketball,” had given his tickets to the family of the film’s subject, Lusia “Lucy” Harris. “I felt excited with just the thought of where this could lead,” Wilson said about the nomination. “Her story is a Donnie F. Wilson great one and we’d hoped that she would be able to attend the ceremony.” Harris, 66, died unexpectedly in January in Mississippi, just as plans were underway for her to hit the media circuit. After decades of relative anonymity, Harris was finally getting the recognition she deserved for her pioneering efforts in basketball thanks to the documentary. She was the first and only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team, the New Orleans Jazz in 1977, and she became the first Black woman inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. Basketball greats Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry, along with
See BOBBY HENRY, page 7
See DONNIE F. WILSON, page 2
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks as Vice President Kamala Harris stands by, after President Joe Biden’s nomination of her to serve as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, at The White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 25, 2022. Credit: Cheriss May/The Washington Informer
Since the first issue rolled off the press in 1971, the Westside Gazette newspaper has maintained the professional, insightful and reader sensitive reporting that has gained the trust and respect of South Florida’s African American community. In its relenting effort to empower the community with information, the Westside Gazette newspaper has remained sensitive to the special needs of its readers. Publisher Bobby Henry said
Superb Women Our Superb Women! By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News
2021 was the "Year of the Woman," especially the Black Woman! For 10 months we dedicated this space to uplifting Black Cheryl Smith women and spreading a message that we need to show love and empower people with love instead of destroying them with hate and disrespect. We celebrate Black Women and call them SUPERB! AND WE ARE KEEPING THE CELEBRATION GOING IN 2022! DEAN FELECIA EPPS Felecia Epps is UNT Dallas College of Law Dean and Professor of Law and she served as Professor of Law at (FAMU) College of Law and as Dean. In 1980 she received a BA from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska in 1983 she attended The Basic School in Quantico Virginia followed by Naval Justice School (NJS) in Newport Rhode Island. Epps graduated with honors from NJS and was certified as a Judge Advocate in the United States Navy. She served 10 years on active duty holding a variety of positions including Defense Counsel, Trial Counsel, Chief Military Justice Officer, Chief Civil Law Officer and Chief Legal Assistance Officer. VONCIEL JONES HILL The honorable Vonciel Jones Hill has a voice that makes you sit up and pay attention! A strong mediator, she has also served as a municipal judge. Former Dallas City Councilwoman Vonciel Jones Hill has plenty of receipts. Not only is this Alpha Kappa Alpha woman heavily degreed, with enough degrees to share; she is eloquent, conscientious, compassionate and no-nonsense. She has a Doctor of Humane Letters Paul Quinn College; Master of Divinity Perkins School of Theology at Southern
TANDY CARAWAY Tandy Caraway is just the person anyone contemplating college needs in their lives. Tandy Caraway is a Dallas native who attended Lincoln Humanities and Communications Magnet and graduated from Skyline High School. She is a leading educational consulting expert, speaker, and author who helps communities reduce the wealth gap by empowering families and organizations to help students attend college, debt-free. Tandy attended the University of Texas at Dallas and she has a Master’s degree in educational/ Instructional Technology from Nova Southeastern University. The author of “The 30-Day Full Ride Scholarship Guide,” she taught school in the Miami-Dade system and is now an expert debt-free college strategist. Through her business, CollegeMode Academy, she has helped students secure over $20 million dollars in scholarships, grants, and fellowships. KENNEISHA THOMPSON Hailing from Arlington, TX, Kenneisha Thompson graduated from James W. Martin High School and earned a BA degree in broadcast journalism at Hampton University. Also a producer, she made her acting debut as a radio personality and has appeared in more than 30 film, television and theatre productions. She was also a national spokesperson for Long John Silver’s and Eyemart Express. In 2015 Kenneisha was honored with Broadwayworld.com’s Best Supporting Actress award for her role as “Dussie Mae” in a regional theater production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Kenneisha is the voice of “Lady Aurelia Hammerlock” in the Borderlands series. She’s taught acting and created an inspirational coaching company, Christ & The Craft. BARBARA PARKS HAWKINS Barbara Parks Hawkins does the work and makes a difference. She spent 32 years in corporate America before bringing her talents to help HBCUs. For decades Barbara Parks Hawkins was “something special in the air’ as she helped American Airlines have a presence in communities
Skyline High School’s Donnie F. Wilson wins Oscar Texas Metro News
By NNPA Newswire
Methodist University, with Honors; Juris Doctorate University of Texas at Austin School of Law; Master of Arts Rice University, History; Master of Library Science Atlanta University; and Bachelor of Arts University of Texas at Austin, History and English! In addition to serving on the Dallas City Council, she was elected to the AME Church Judicial Council and been member of the NAACP since 1958!
AND THE WINNER IS… By Dorothy J. Gentry and Cheryl Smith
195 Years of the Black Press: Westside Gazette Publisher Bobby Henry’s Spiritual Journey
Publisher Bobby Henry said the newspaper’s belief is that the most potent tool with which to face the challenges and opportunities of this new century is the dissemination of information.
VOLUME X
of color as the manager of community relations. She remains something special in the hearts of many as the president of the Texas Association of Developing Colleges. She calls Dallas home and she is a graduate of Lincoln High School. Barbara received a BA Degree in Organizational Management from Paul Quinn College. Graceful and compassionate, Barbara is a joy to be around and she is always supportive of causes centered around education and building stronger communities. AFRA B. COBB Afra B. Cobb established Cobb Professional Services, Inc., a privately held company. Afra is a Director on the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Board, and a member of Black Contractors Association of Texas, Unity Church on Greenville, The Mauzo Group and South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. where she is the Chair of the Economic Development & Employment Committees. She is a member of the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association and American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers. A graduate of Leadership Southwest (Dallas, County), she was appointed to DART’s D-2 Stakeholder Advisory committee. She is a 2010 Quest for Success recipient and a 2010 graduate of the SBA’s Emerging 200 (E-200); a nationwide SBA training initiative for CEOs which immerses participants in an intensive 13 week curriculum to enhance their business knowledge and experience. JADA BURTON Jada Burton is a born leader. Confident, educated, involved, well-prepared and focused, she’s the epitome of womanhood and leadership. Walking into a room, she’s going to turn heads and she will own the room! Jada Burton hails from Port Arthur, TX and graduated from Port Arthur Lincoln High School. She has held senior management positions at FedEx, TMX Finance Family of Companies, Baylor Scott & White Health, Border Media, and Radio One. Jada received her Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Strategic Management from Amberton University after graduating from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), in Accounting/Finance. She has served as president of the North Dallas Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and she’s a member of the National Black MBA Association and Media Financial Management Association.
March 2022 ALICIA BROWN YOUNG Alicia Brown Young believes life is to be lived and celebrated. Any time spent with her is a celebration! Right now Alicia Brown Young is coming into her own, spending some time focusing on time she spent studying Journalism at Mississippi State University. She held numerous jobs as a Digital Remote Territory Manager at Colgate, former senior pharmaceutical rep at Eisai Taiwan, and Eli Lilly and she also served as director of development, fundraising and special events at Sheila B. Ministries. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alicia recently launched her own podcast. Hailing from Columbus, MS., she graduated from S.D. Lee High School. Always impeccably dressed, she is a “social butterfly” with a commitment to service and her faith. LATARA THOMPKINS LaTara Thompkins is known for her commitment to the arts and youth as she provides “productive activities for youth and teens” to help transform their free time from a threat to their safety and security into opportunities to participate in enriching and life-changing programs. LaTara Thompkins, is the founder and artistic director of N.I.A. Kids. She is also a founding member of the local gospel group, “Devotion.” In addition to being a proud alum of Prairie View A&M University, the member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has dual degrees from Texas Woman’s University. This wife and mother implements programs for youth to get formal training in artistic disciplines. A Dallas native, LaTara is committed to NURTURING, INSPIRING and AFFIRMING and our youth, families, schools and communities are better as a result. And, she also is the founder of Soldier Girl Brand, a clothing brand that represents the strength and resilience of the female. She’s a real game changer! CAROL HAMPTON Carol Hampton is a party Stylist. That’s right! If you are having a party, you need a stylist and Carol is the ideal person to ensure that your party is perfect! A graduate of Prairie View A&M University and David W. Carter High School, Carol Hampton is the owner of The Date Catering, an event planning company that manages corporate events, non-profit events, social events and weddings. Carol has enjoyed stints as an events assistant at SMU, Corporate Event Planner at RealPage, Inc. See SUPERB WOMEN page 8