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Serving North East Texas
My Truth Publisher Cheryl Smith
What if you asked? NEWSFLASH! For anyone reading this, the world did not begin with you! Huge surprise for many, I bet. Unfortunately, in many relationships, disputes arise because someone believes that no one else could possibly have had the same experience. You’ve heard the arguments from children before. Parents couldn’t possibly know anything, The Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff articulated the premise in their hit record, “Parents Just Don’t Understand.“ Does anyone really understand? Another hit song explains it all to me. Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager sang, “Ain’t Understanding Mellow?” Which brings me to my truth!
First and foremost, I must say, history is important. Years ago I was charged with working with my students at Paul Quinn College to start a newspaper. Now I could have done like so many who don’t do their research, and published our newspaper immediately. Nope. Couldn’t do it. I directed my students to research OUR school and see if there had ever been a newspaper. Guess what? There was. So, as much as we had wonderful names on the drawing board, I went with history and we published The Quinn Quill. It was then and still today a decision I am proud of. A small but important act for what was the right thing to do. So, as we move forward, in this righteous fight, it is imperative that we realize that we are able to do what we do today because of what others did in the past. To negate their efforts and contributions is insulting, disrespectful, and most of all, counterproductive. The focus must be on the real enemy and just like children must realize that most parents are acting in their best interest; in this fight we can learn much about what we need to do today by studying our past, asking questions and being open to the realization that you do NOT have all the answers.
Inside Essential worker gifted van page 2
Symbols, Statues and Substance page 4
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VOL IX ISSUE 21
BROADCAST LEGEND NAMED TO TEXAS RADIO HALL OF FAME
Chris Arnold began career as a young teen
Hall of famer Chris Arnold
“I’m so honored. I was like ‘how, how did this happen’,” Arnold told Texas Metro News. “I mean, going up against country and music DJ legends, rock and roll and pop, legends…throw in general managers; how in the world? I never expected it.” Is it his greatest career achievement? “Yes, I guess it’s the crowning achievement.” Arnold said. “The Texas Radio Hall of Fame; I’ve always admired it. But Texas is such a large state with so many markets and so many different radio stations in it and there are so many genres of radio – music, news, talk, sports - here’s just so many different people that could be eligible or in it.
“It’s a reflective moment where you reflect on your career and I’ve never really reflected a lot. I’ve always just moved forward. This is special. “It’s humbling to think about, but 40 years, wow, time flies. When I first started in radio, Jimmy Carter was president. That’s how long I’ve been on the air in Dallas/Fort Worth,” said Arnold, who was the only journalist inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. Locally he is best known as a member of Skip Murphy & Company; one of DFW’s most popular programs – consistently ranking No. 1 among morning shows in the Metroplex.
see HALL OF FAME, page 3
NASCAR’s Bubba Wallace talks Noose, Confederate Flag and More By Dorothy J. Gentry Bubba Wallace is tired - specifically “wore the hell out” - he said during an online Zoom call with media. The only Black driver facing full-time in NASCAR has been thrust into the spotlight over the past week after NASCAR and the FBI investigated the discovery of a noose in his team’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway on June 21. The FBI and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama said Tuesday that no hate crime charges would be filed because the rope had been tied that way - clearly in the shape of a noose and in Wallace’s garage stall since October. NASCAR completed its own investigation Thursday and released a photo of the noose amid unfounded speculation the whole situation could have been a hoax. “Given the facts presented to us, we would have pursued this with the same sense of urgency and purpose,” NASCAR Presi-
dent Steve Phelps said. “Upon learning of seeing the noose, our initial reaction was to protect our driver. We’re living in a highly charged and emotional time. What we saw was a symbol of hate and was only present in one area of the garage—that of the 43 car of Bubba Wallace.” NASCAR released an image of the garage pull rope tied into a noose that was found in the garage. Wallace said he’s glad it was released but knows it won’t change everyone’s opinion of the incident that came on the heels of continued racial unrest in this country following the murder of several Black citizens by police including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. “It wasn’t directed towards me or my family, but somebody still knows how to tie a noose,” he said. “And whether they did it as a bad joke or not, who knows? But it was good for the public to see. “It still won’t change most, or some people’s mind of me being a hoax, but it is what it is.” He’s ready to move the con-
Bubba Wallace
versation forward after an intense couple of weeks. “Part of my emotion today is one, being wore the hell out; two, is being a little frustrated and three, is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.” He said everyone needs to “get away from what happened at Talladega. Let’s move on from that, put it to bed. As much as it’s tough for me balancing the human being side and racing side, it’s part of it. I accepted that. But we’ll just continue to move on.” The 26-year-old Wallace the son of a Black mother and
see NASCAR, page 5
Garland ISD announces updates for new school year Garland ISD may have more than 55,000 students and 7,500 staff, but the district leadership considers it to be “one big family.” The Texas Education Agency recently released its final guidance for reopening schools, and GISD has some new updates to share for 2020-21, with classes beginning on August 10. Restarting School Transition We realize that students have been out of school since midMarch, and we want to assure they have a smooth readjustment. Our return to school will be phased in over the first three weeks. From August 10 to August 28, students will attend school remotely, get to know
I was just
Thinking Norma Adams-Wade
Change “gonna” or has come?
By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor Think back to when you were 14 years old. For some of you that may be easy, for others – like me - it may take a minute. Chris Arnold was on the radio in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 14. He has worked nonstop in radio ever since. “I’ve been on the radio nonstop for 40 consecutive years in a top five market,” Arnold recalls. “I’ve been on four shows, three different stations and all four of those shows went to No. 1.” Arnold, who turns 62 in September, is a radio legend nationally but is most well-known and beloved in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex where he’s been a household name for four decades. His stints include 30 consecutive years at the venerable K104-FM, serving as sports director and broadcasting the morning show with the legendary Fly Jock Tom Joyner, and the award-winning Skip Murphy & Company. Arnold has also hosted his own #1 sports talk show on 1310 the Ticket and joined 105.3. the Fan in 2011, as part of the Gbag Nation and on-air sports talent. As a result of this illustrious career, the long-time DFW radio, sports, and entertainment icon has landed in the prestigious Texas Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
JULY 15, 2020
their new teachers, readjust to “school hours”, and learn to use a program called Canvas. Canvas will be the new learning platform that all GISD students will use. It allows them to interact during classes, actively engage in assignments, take quizzes, collaborate with peers, communicate with teachers, and more. The return to school transition period will also allow campuses to rehearse and finalize all safety and sanitation protocols with a lower number of students to significantly reduce the risk of viral spread on campus. Some families will need their students to have face-to-face learning during this transition and throughout the school year. Face-to-face learning will
be available for those students effective August 10. Family Choice GISD is a district of choice, and that extends to its learning models. On Monday, July 13, families received an email that contains a commitment form to select the learning option that they feel is best for their child(ren). All families must make a choice, which will go into effect on August 31. GISD will offer two learning options for families, beginning August 31: • Face-to-Face Learning: Faceto-face learning is a “traditional” school model, where students physically attend school daily on campus. All
see SCHOOL, page 5
Songster Sam Cooke promised us in his hopeful lyrics and haunting vocal rendition that “a change is gonna come.” “It’s been a long, a long time coming,” Cooke crooned, “But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will.” By the same uplifting tone, before Barack Obama became our 44th POTUS (President of the United States), he gave the nation and the world a prescription for change and a better America in his best-selling book The Audacity of Hope. After George Floyd’s Memorial Day death under the cruel and heartless knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Floyd’s six-year-old daughter Gianna “Gigi” Floyd gave the world a prophetic and proud declaration with no hint of doubt:
George Floyd
“Daddy changed the world!” Gigi exclaimed as media captured the moment and reported and broadcast it around the world. Gigi was giving her take on the astounding positive, global reactions as protesters took to the streets and individuals, businesses, and people at all levels of power began to reexamine and restructure their deep thoughts and operations related to racial issues. I was just thinking.... what do some of these signs of change look like? Here is just a summary list of untold change that already has occurred in America and the world. 1. People demonstrating in our nation’s streets are far more diverse that ever before. 2. Supportive demonstrations in foreign countries are happening as never before. 3. Police departments are responding to community demands for police policy and procedure reforms – specifically halting choke holds and excessive force. 4. More whites are discussing whether white privilege does or does not exist. 5. Diverse groups, though reluctantly, are opening up to discuss whether systemic racism exists. 6. Entertainers are apologizing for past skits where they wore black-face makeup that they now say they realize was offensive. 7. People generally seem more open to considering race-relation points athlete Colin Kaepernick attempted to make when he consistently knelt during the National Anthem, although still a divisive issue. 8. Kaepernick’s once-vilified take-a-knee gesture has become an accepted rallying symbol, even used in the halls of Congress. 9. Numerous corporations are airing consumer advertisements calling for racial unity. 10. Manufacturers are changing names of products that are
see THINKING, page 6