Issuu

Rebecca Aguilar President-Elect Society of Professional Journalists Serving North East Texas

www.GarlandJournal.com

VOL X ISSUE 1

JOHNSON AND HINOJOSA

My Truth Publisher Cheryl Smith

Let People Love You Birthdays are special times, for many. Then there are those who are celebrating alone because of COVID-19. During these times when social distancing should be practiced, some are paying heed; while others are doing their own thing like they don’t have a care in the world. Thanks to the video conferencing platform, ZOOM, birthdays and special occasions are being shared around the world. Last week, I thought about my mother as I attended two ZOOM birthday calls. It was especially endearing to hear special stories about Mrs. Jean Mackey, who turned 90, and Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew, who hit the 50 mark. My mother’s date of birth is September 10 and I would really love to be able to look into her eyes, hear her laughter and share precious memories. On those ZOOM calls, there was a lot of laughter, nice stories and some tears. There was dancing, singing and praying. Which brings me to my truth. These are some challenging times. As I listened to folks sharing their love for the women of the hour, it was heartwarming to hear their expressions. In recalling other birthday parties I’ve attended over the years; the ones I have been attending lately have been more emotional and for some reason, it could be COVID-19, people are going deep and revealing more of their inner feelings. What a beautiful scene to witness. COVID-19 is making us realize what has been our reality all along, we just didn’t internalize it. With over 26.6 million infected and 875,000 dead worldwide; we’ve had to do some reckoning. At Dr. Booker-Drew’s ZOOM Party, the Rev. Donald Parish Jr. had a message I hope will also resonate with you. He said, “always check in” and “let people love you.” Are you guilty of closing yourself off from the people who want to check on you or give you love? Rev. Parish said, “When you say no, you’re blocking our blessings.” Let people love you and you in turn, give love.

Inside Kamala Watch

Kamala Harris Selection Represents Unprecedented Moment Of Racial Reckoning

Lawlessness and Disorder p4

KICK OFF SCHOOL YEAR AT NEW SCHOOL

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and DISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa outside at Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School

it comes to all students being enrolled for in-person classes. For many households, a digital divide has been an issue for students not having the accessibility to Wi-Fi or even a computer. “Technology is needed to make sure they do not fall behind,” Johnson, who is chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, DISD Supt. Dr. Michael Hinojosa and Principal Umoja Turner of Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School talk with art teacher Tessa Williams

Technology, said. “I hope every school and every neighborhood will have access. Our rural areas have suffered, even more. I’m hoping we can close that gap.” Hinojosa, who began his career as an educator in 1979, said this year is like no other. The school year was supposed to start three weeks ago and he thought the delay was much needed to adequately prepare for changes necessitated by COVID-19. “We are all learning as we go,” Hinojosa said, adding that, “It’s about managing the cases and implementing strict protocols to limit the spread.” During the visit, music teacher, Nelda Washington sang a popular song, “I Love School,” that she

see SCHOOL, page 3

Sen. Cornyn visits with community members Sen John Cornyn discussed his position on issues while visiting with several African Americans in Dallas on Labor Day, at the invitation of former Dallas ISD board trustee Ron Price and Elite News publisher Darryl Blair. School choice, prison reform and economic opportunities were uppermost on his mind as he spent at least an hour answering questions. While he fielded many questions on helping the formerly incarcerated, the senator stressed the importance of eco-nomic growth and development and he didn’t flinch when told he needed to have Black people working in his office and also when questioned about social unrest across the controversy. Citing George Floyd, who was killed by police officers in Minneapolis, MN. Sen. Cornyn said the “original sin of the United States was to claim to treat

everyone as equal but to treat Black people as less than equal and we’ve been paying a terrible price for that…we are still paying the price.” He also said there was no justification for the looting and vandalism that has occurred in several cities. State Rep. candidate Will Douglas was in attendance and

received the senator’s endorsement. Abilene (Tex) Mayor Anthony Williams, who is doing well af-ter battling COVID-19, spoke during the gathering and shared information about the Senator’s contributions to the growth of Abilene. Senator Cornyn was accompanied by his wife, Sandy.

Latinos to city: Hispanic should lead Police Dept. By ASHLEY MOSS Staff Writer Leaders of two Hispanic organizations – one within Dallas Police and another outside – called Wednesday for city administrators to hire a Hispanic to replace the outgoing chief. Police Chief U. Renee Hall informed city administrators late Tuesday she planned to leave her position by the end of the year. A day later, the president of a Latino officers association, said Hall had failed to galvanize the support of Latinos within the department - and outside of it. “We had some huge concerns about her not being able to meet with a majority of the population,” said George Aranda, president of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the National Latino Law Enforcement Organization. “Our city is suffering. Our community is suffer-

Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/ GarlandJournal Follow us on Twitter@GarlandJournal SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

I was just

Thinking Norma Adams-Wade

Dr. King’s only grandchild picks up torch

By ALLANA J. BAREFIELD Staff Writer Wilmer, TX Class is back in session and the new Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School had two special guests to kick off the school year. U.S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), and Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa visited several classrooms, talked with teachers and viewed the new setups of plexiglass at students’ desk. But not all students will be sitting down in classrooms. Instead some will continue virtual learn-ing at their homes. “I encourage them to keep the interest and I cannot express how different it is for them,” Johnson said. “I have great admiration for the teachers who are willing to be here and teach virtually.” Johnson and Hinojosa are not sure what the future will hold when

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George Aranda, president of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the National Latino Law Enforcement Organization Photo courtesy: LinkedIn

ing. Our citizens are suffering. Crime is at an all-time high. “We have communities that are looking for a chief that can lead,” said Aranda, who is a sergeant and supervisor of the department’s recruiting unit. Outside of Dallas Police Department, the head of a leading Latino civil rights organization, said Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax should hire someone of Latin descent

Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax Photo courtesy: Dallas City Hall Twitter

as Hall’s successor. “I think that it’s time for Dallas to find a qualified Latino. We’ve had African-American chiefs that have been good, but we are 42 percent of the community,” said René Martinez, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens Chapter 100 in Dallas. “I think it’s time for the manager to go select a Latino who can lift morale and focus on

see LATINOS, page 3

The weight of legacy can crush. But that weight also can inspire. I was just thinking of 12-year-old Yolanda Renee King, only grandchild of the monumental civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Already the child is under the microscope and it’s a bit overbearing to speculate about the weight she faces in the future.

Yolanda Renee King, Dr. King Jr.’s granddaughter Photo courtesy: Twitter

The youth, Yolanda Renee King, bears the name of her late aunt, Yolanda Denise King – the eldest of Dr. King Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s four children. The elder Yolanda was an actress, motivational speaker, and theater producer. Relatives said she appeared to be in good health but died suddenly, reportedly of a heart ailment, in 2007 at age 51. The younger Yolanda already is drawing much media coverage, usually appearing at public events with her dad, Martin Luther King III. Most recently, the youth spoke at the August 28, 2020 Commitment March on Washington that the Rev. Al Sharpton organized with help from leaders including King III. The march highlighted goals including police reforms to halt killings of unarmed Black men and women and banishing increased racism in the nation. The march also commemorated the 57th anniversary of the Aug. 28, 1963 March on Washington where young Yolanda’s grandfather delivered his historic “I Have A Dream” speech. I also was just thinking of the weight of living up to so many towering figures in history and learning to navigate the cruelties and demands that society can dish out. I thought of Dr. King’s children and how they endured bombings, certain part of society hating their parents, and the uncertainty of not knowing if they would see their father again as he traveled championing racial equality in the face of brutal resistance. The elder Yolanda was the same age that the younger Yolanda is now, 12, when Dr. King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Reports say that the elder Yolanda was a tower of strength throughout that shattering tragedy, doing what she could to console her younger siblings. Another almost forgotten occurrence of history is that Dr. King’s mother Alberta King, the youngest Yolanda’s great-grandmother, also was assassinated. She was playing the organ at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta during a Sunday morning service on June 30, 1974, six years after her famous son was killed. Marcus Wayne Chenault Jr., a 23-year-old Black man who hated Christianity, sprang up from the pew and fatally shot Mama King, 69, and also a deacon, and wounded another female church member. Chenault was given the death penalty but the King family opposed capital punishment so the sentence was changed to life in prison. Chenault died of a stroke in prison in 1995 at age 44. I interviewed Martin Luther King III during one of his visits to

see DR. KING, page 4

2 16

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 2020 MAY 20, 2020

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7/9/20 3:24 PM

SEPTEMBTER 16, 2020

LATINOS, from Page 1

Carlos Quintanilla

DPD Police Chief U. Reneé Hall Photo courtesy: Eva D. Coleman

the crime rate and who knows how to allocate resources,” he said. Hall could not be reached for comment on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Messages left for her in the department’s Media Relations Office were not returned by late Wednesday. Meanwhile, a representa-

tive of the city’s Black law enforcement officers, said it was nearly impossible for Hall to please diverse racial and ethnic groups within the city. The chief came to Dallas in 2017 after working 18 years as an administrator in the Detroit police department. “This is a tough market for

SCHOOL, from Page 1 penned. The song was a staple on radio station K104-FM for decades and encourages students to be the best they can and to continue pursuing an education. Towards the end of the performance, Hinojosa asked Washington if she has all her equipment for the school year and she said, “whoever shows up, I’m ready to go.” Named after the first nurse ever elected to the Texas State House in 1972, the Texas Senate in 1986 and U.S. Congress in 1992; the elemen-

tary school is for grades pre-K3, up to fifth grade. Currently 350 students are registered. The Congresswoman talked about the growth in Wilmer and shared encouraging words with ed-ucators and staff as she talked about the educators in her family and the influence they had on her. She praised teachers for their enthusiasm as they greeted her at the door. Art teacher Tessa Williams said she is thrilled to be back teach-

Rene Martinez Photo courtesy: Facebook

Photo courtesy: North Dallas Bulldog Support League

any new chief whether it was an in-house candidate or an outsider,” said Terrance Hopkins, president of the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas.“The fact that she was an outsider made it even more difficult for her.” Hopkins called Hall’s impending departure “a major loss.” He said the city’s own fractured political environment was challenging for Hall’s leadership and for the department’s effective policing. “A lot of games were played political games with city council, the mayor’s office - different things like that,” he said. “Folks were not on the same team when you look at government structure. This could have easily been worked out and not ended up in the resignation of our chief.” Hall herself cited unspecified hardships in her resignation letter. “It has not been easy,” she wrote. “These past three years have been saturated with a

series of unimaginable events that individually and collectively have never happened in the city of Dallas.” Still, Hall wrote in her resignation letter, she was proud that the department had coped with “an unthinkable series of events…and we have also managed to implement critical reforms that were clearly needed for the Dallas Police Department to meet our 21st Century policing goals.” Aranda said Hall lacked the experience to develop alliances with the city’s huge Mexican American population and other Latino citizens and deserved “an ‘F’” grade in that area. “We had some huge concerns about her not being able to meet with a majority of the population,” Sgt. Aranda said. Martinez, of LULAC, agreed, saying the chief’s departure was “just a matter of time.” “I and a lot of my peers in the Latino community, we are not really surprised,” he said. “Some of us expected it pretty

ing her students. “The administra-tion has been so great,” she said. “I’m excited to work with my colleagues.” While Dallas ISD is starting late, Hinojosa referenced Odessa, TX where students have been back in class for about a month and results have been positive. He understands that some parents are reluctant to enroll their students into school. “We wouldn’t ask you to come back if we didn’t think it was safe, we are learning from other people who are ahead of us,” he said. “Things are only improving because everyone is cooperating.”

soon, based on all the things that were happening, with the lack of a comprehensive crime plan and the loss of confidence by the city council. It was just a matter of time.” Martinez said Hall made a lot of organizational changes within the Dallas Police Department that caused some officers to lose confidence in her administration. The changes, he said, “were not necessarily good within the department, so she lost a lot of support from the rank and file of the police department,” Martinez said. “So the morale really dipped down.” Still, some community residents said Hall’s departure was hastened not by racial divides, but slow responses to unified racial protests over police use of excessive force and outdated policing tactics. Carlos Quintanilla, a Latino who is seeking to represent U.S. House District 33, said he believed Hall did a “fair job” as chief, but made inexperienced mistakes. “She did not have a clear vision of where she wanted to go as the Dallas chief of police,” he said, adding that she underestimated powerful activists seeking immediate changes in community policing. He said the community will move on. “The big challenge now for all of us is who is going to replace her,” he said. “Will he or she be White, Black or Latino?”

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and DISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa enter Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School.

SEPTEMBERT 16, 2020

Trump is An Evil Wind QUIT PLAYIN’ Vincent Hall “It’s an evil wind that blows no good.” Aretha Franklin, Share your love with me – 1969 In 2016, Donald John Trump received a stunning 13 percent of the Black male vote. Political wisdom has it, that Black women are the most intelligent voters, and they proved as much. Only four percent of Black women fell for Trump’s lies. In Pennsylvania, he only mustered one percent. Vox Magazine released an article earlier this year that said as much, but it added some info that scares me. “As a general rule, Black Americans do not support Donald Trump. According to a recent Wall Street Journal/

NBC poll, Trump enjoys just a 14 percent approval with black Americans, while roughly eight in 10 Black voters say they’re “uncomfortable” with his 2020 run for reelection. In a poll of roughly 800 Black registered voters conducted by BlackPAC, Trump had a 59 percent net job approval rating. But within those numbers is another story — a stark gender divide. Roughly 24 percent of Black men polled by WSJ/NBC approve of Trump’s efforts while in office (72 percent of Black men disapprove), but that number plummets to 6 percent when Black women are asked the same question.” There is a recent poll stating that one in five Black male college students are voting for Trump. And, while that would be astounding, it is less surprising when you realize how little most of our young people know the history of race, racism, and

public policy. Trump has enhanced the threat to their lives, liberty, and longings. Trump’s lies are too broad and bedeviling to enumerate in this small space. However, one of the lies Trump promulgates about “poorly run Democrat cities” is easily explainable. Since he insists “The Atlantic” is lying about his disrespect of the military, I chose a 2015 article on “White flight.” It doesn’t get much press anymore, but it set the foundation for Demo-

24 Reasons to Vote WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Trice Edney Wire) — For me, like many others, the news that Joe Biden had chosen Senator Kamala Harris as his running-mate in this year’s presidential election was historic, exciting, and motivating. Senator Harris brings the experience and talents necessary to WIN and GOVERN! Realizing my opinion does not create consensus, I listened to local radio to gauge the opinion of others in my community. I know that “THE PERFECT TICKET” does not exist, but I was eager to learn what others thought. My assumption was that most comments would express an understanding that the vote is a demonstration of trust in a can-

didate to act in the best interests of the voter. I was largely disappointed. Many of the reasons I heard for/against the Biden-Harris ticket were based upon previously released opposition research. Many were arguable, but others were as ridiculous as Kanye West being a viable presidential alternative. I found myself wanting to debate with many of the callers. Unexpectedly, I received a list of reasons for voting Biden-Harris that was consistent with my views. This list provides me with the opportunity to “speak to a larger audience.” It was sent without attribution to an author or origin, but I thank whoever took the time to compile this cogent list. The list exceeded my word limit, but, for the greater good, I feel compelled to provide as much of it as possible. 1. YOU’RE NOT JUST VOTING FOR PRESIDENT/VP!

2. You’re voting to prevent a 7-2 dangerously conservative majority on the Supreme Court. (Note: 87-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is single-handedly fighting to hang on until we have a new president. This alone should be enough for historic turnout!) 3. You’re voting for the next Secretaries of Education, Housing and Attorney General. 4. You’re voting to keep the House and gain a Senate majority. 5. You’re voting for federal judges and the rule of law. 6. You’re voting to save Native American lands and national parks. 7. You’re voting for letting kids out of cages. 8. You’re voting for scientists to be heard and protect us from climate change and pandemics. 9. You’re voting for housing rights. 10. You’re voting for former incarcerated persons to be treated with dignity and assisted to be

crats reigning in urban areas. “In the 1960s, white families moved from cities to suburbs when they saw Black neighbors move next door. Now, they move from suburbs to farther-out fringe areas often not counted in academic studies “hunkering down in all-white neighborhoods, affluent gated communities, or unincorporated housing developments at the exurban fringe,” the researchers write. On the flip side, white communities make decisions that keep minorities out. Exclusionary zoning laws make it difficult to build mixed-income housing or apartment buildings in some towns, despite court cases seeking to make cities more diverse. These housing policies mean that cities compete for different types of people, and by banning apartment buildings or affordable housing, cities can better attract affluent white taxpayers.” Dallas, like Houston and so many other major cities, have Black, female or minority mayors. Urban life comes with

urban problems. Rural areas see their share of painful drug addictions, crime, and homelessness. Somehow when it is smaller in scale, we as a society ignore it. News coming out of Dallas County, Texas, population 2,635,516, goes national, but a murder-suicide in Dallas County, Iowa, population 93, 453 won’t get out of the state. Trump plays up urban myths and plays down rural realities. All of America is hurting; he just lies to keep his base in the dank darkness of his personal dystopia. The winds of change are waiting beyond the clouds. The only wind coming out of 1600 Black Lives Matter Plaza is hot, humid, and heretical. Aretha was right. It’s an evil wind that blows no good, and Donald Trump has no love to share with you, especially if you aren’t rich, white, male, and beneficial to his causes.

proud and productive members of society with the right to vote “after paying their debt to society.” 11. You’re voting for DACA Dreamers. 12. You’re voting for the longterm existence of Social Security and Medicare and for your children’s and grandchildren’s future. 13. You’re voting for veteran healthcare. 14. You’re voting for affordable health insurance for everyone. 15. You’re voting for teaching professionals to be paid as the noble heroes they are. 16. You’re voting for sensible gun laws while maintaining your 2nd Amendment rights. 17. You’re voting to curb homelessness and find solutions to affordable housing. 18. You’re voting against systemic racism and income/wealth disparities. 19. You’re voting to defend a woman’s right to make personal health-related decisions and choose personal reproductive rights.

20. You’re voting to acknowledge the humanity and protect the safety of our family and friends in the LGBTQ+ community. 21. You’re voting to stop the normalization of white supremacy and dangerous bigotry in the mainstream. 22. You’re voting for the chance to end qualified immunity for police officers who commit murder and other crimes and hide their corruption behind badges. 23. You’re voting to save the USPS. 24. And you’re voting against allowing the USA to become yet another authoritarian regime run by Trump. The Biden-Harris ticket isn’t perfect – no ticket ever will be, but we must consider the alternative!!

Lawlessness and Disorder: America’s mistreatment of its Black citizens THE LAST WORD Dr. Julianne Malveaux When a 17-year-old white boy walks down the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, with a loaded automatic weapon, he is cheered, thanked by police and offered a water bottle. No matter he’d killed two people and wounded another. His attorney says it was self-defense, and Kenosha Sheriff Miskinis said the shootings would not have happened had those killed not broken curfew. Speeches at the RNC painted a wildly inaccurate picture of the Democratic Biden/Harris ticket. It would not be “safe,” said VP Mike Pence. There will be lawlessness, violence, and destruction, said Rudy Guiliani. And count on the Republican presidential nominee to stir the pot during his dystopic 70-minute combination of lying bombast and dire predictions. Black folks are all too familiar with lawlessness. After the aching oppression of enslavement, much of which was lawful, we endured the post-Reconstruction era where laws were made re-reenslave the recently emancipated with Jim Crow “laws” voter suppression, random violence against Black people deemed “insolent” and others. Rabid racists took Black people’s property, raped Black women and girlchildren, and experienced no consequences. Though much of this was against the law, white law enforcement did not enforce the law, so there were few arrests, even fewer trials, and hardly any convictions. A white man was more likely to be convicted of killing an enslaved person

(and usually fined) because they “destroyed someone’s property” than to be tried or convicted because they killed a Black person. Consider the lynching of Anthony P. Crawford, a Black man of considerable property who was lynched on October 21, 1916, in Abbeville, South Carolina. Crawford owned 427 acres of “prime cotton land” and was wealthy enough to lend money to both Black and white farmers. He was a civic-minded AME church member but was described by some whites as “rich for a (N)egro” and insolent. Anthony Crawford, born enslaved, had land worth $20,000 in 1916; $500,000 today. One day Crawford went to the county seat to sell cottonseed and other goods at the county seat. The owner offered him 5 cents a pound less than he offered whites. Crawford, being “insolent” said he would rather dump his cottonseed in the river than be cheated, using colorful language. He was arrested for cursing at a white man. He bailed himself out. He had it like that and attempted to

head home when a white mob attacked, beat and lynched him. The sheriff asked the mob to let the law take its course. How’s that for lawlessness, Trump, Pence, Guiliani? With all the RNC talk of fear, there was no reference to how Black men and women feel when they get behind the wheel of a car and drive in a rural area. We often are told that lynchings occur when Black men “violate” white women. That isn’t the case! Many Black men were killed or lynched because they had too much money, like Anthony Crawford. After the lynching, a newspaper editorialized, “the black must submit to the white, or the white will destroy him.” No one was arrested, tried, or convicted for this lynching. However, a “civic meeting” voted to tell the Crawford family that they had to leave Abbeville within a month, and their property was seized. Two of the mobsters who participated in the lynching were named executors of Crawford’s estate! The tight-knit family was scattered, their wealth appropriated by the

Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and award-winning columnist.

Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women (www. nationalcongressbw.org) and host of “Wake Up and Stay Woke” on WPFW-FM 89.3 radio.

DR. KING, from Page 1

lawless and disordered. Thousands of Black people experienced the same loss of life and property as Anthony Crawford, of people expelled from “sundown towns” on a ruse of Black men and women lynched because they were “insolent.” That Black people could accumulate, even in the face of the history of lynching, intimidation, and property appropriation, is a refutation of the white presumption of Black inferiority. That history is at the root of the contemporary racial wealth gap. Our 45th President waxed eloquent on our nation’s history without mentioning our nation’s foundational flaws because “we build the future, we don’t tear down the past.” He suggests we should “embrace history.” The history of racism, predatory capitalism, and exploitation cannot be embraced. When statues and monuments celebrate that sickness, there are those prepared to tear them down in the name of justice. His name was Anthony Crawford. Say his name. For too many Black people, law and order meant lawlessness and disorder. Nobody at the RNC bothered to mention this history of lawlessness while disparaging peaceful protestors. The double standard of law and order is as clear today as 104 years ago when envious and evil white people lynched Anthony Crawford. And no one can speak of unity until our nation acknowledges its exploitative past.

Dallas in 1999. At the time, all of Dr. King’s children were unmarried adults and there were no King grandchildren. I asked King III for his opinion about the possibility that Dr. King’s legacy would end with his children if his lineage did not continue. “It takes a very special individual to understand your work, to embrace that legacy... That’s probably part of why none of us have families currently beyond just ourselves ...,” King III said. Of course, now, King III has his dad’s only grandchild. His brother Dexter finally married in 2013 but has no children, and remaining sister Rev. Bernice King is an unmarried Baptist minister. The younger Yolanda is carrying her weight and moving forward. At the August 28 march last month, she gave hints of a committed future: “Great challenges produce great generations,” She said, speaking from the Lincoln Memorial where her grandfather spoke 57 years ago. “And I want to ask the young people here to join me in pledging that we have only just begun to fight...We are going to be the generation that dismantles systemic racism once and for all, now and forever.”

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, media contributor and educator. Her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV is available on youtube.com. For booking, wholesale inquiries or for more info visit www.juliannemalveaux.com.

Norma Adams-Wade is a veteran, award-winning journalist, graduate of UT-Austin and Dallas native. One of the founders of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), she was inducted into the NABJ Hall of Fame.

Yolanda Denise King, Dr. King Jr.’s late daughter Photo courtesy: Facebook

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

What Legacy Looks Like: Chadwick Boseman FAITHFUL UTTERANCES Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew I was devastated when I learned of his death. I couldn’t believe that the man I had affectionately known as the Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, had passed. In his 40-plus years, he had accomplished more than many. He made multiple films that highlighted strong, iconic Black men: Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, and James Brown. His generosity was also revealed in the days after his death. He contributed millions to provide PPE to hospitals serving Black patients. His life reminded me that all of us will

leave a legacy. Each day, we are building a foundation for our lives and how people will remember us. One of the most impactful activities I have ever done was write my obituary. It was not only humbling, but it helped me to think about how I wanted to live. Death is something we will all face and every single day we are blessed to experience is a gift. I have never been to a funeral in which a person’s wealth, accomplishments or stuff is the sole focus. It is usually memories of how a person made you feel. Are you being intentional in creating a legacy that changes lives so that others are better because you were here? Legacy isn’t just about leaving generational wealth although that is important and

something the Black community lags behind (read Prosperity Now’s report on Racial Wealth Gap), compared to other racial groups. Legacy is about relationships and leaving behind something that is more than stuff that will rot but is about the eternal. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” Dave Ramsey says, “Combining a financial inheritance with wisdom and godliness ensures that the next generation will also manage God’s blessings….” We cannot only focus on just leaving financial wealth. We must consider leaving a legacy that also includes emotional and spiritual wealth as well.

Here are some things you should consider in building a legacy: 1. The Treatment of Others: How do you treat others? Is it more about you than serving others? Read Matthew 23:23 and Micah 6:8. If we were to ask those who didn’t know you, could they say you were just and kind? Could they see your faith reflected in your actions? 2. Using Your Time, Talent and Treasure to Make a Difference: Chadwick Boseman did this. He was committed to using his God-given purpose. Read Matthew 25:1430. Are you hiding your talents, time and treasures or are you multiplying them so that others benefit? 3. Being a person of character: Are you a person that peo-

ple want to be around? Are you trusthworthy, reliable, kind, compassionate? Read 1 Samuel 16:7. You can be the best dressed, make the most money and live in the biggest home. It won’t matter. God sees beyond the exterior. How is your heart? Chadwick Boseman has taught us so much through his life and in his death. I hope that we take note. I hope we are committed to leaving a legacy that changes lives for generations to come. Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the Founder and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, specializing as a Partnership Broker and Leadership Expert for companies and organizations to thrive with measurable and meaningful impact. She also is the VP of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances for the State Fair of Texas.

KAMALA WATCH

Kamala Harris Selection Represents Unprecedented Moment Of Racial Reckoning Marc H. Morial

By MARC H. MORIAL, President and CEO National Urban League “I just sat with that for a minute. I just sat there. And then I found, out of nowhere, just tears coming down — like they are now. I thought about Betty Shabazz. I thought about Coretta Scott King. I thought about Maya Angelou. I thought about Dorothy Height. And I thought about everything that they have poured into us. … It took Joe Biden to say, ‘It’s time to come out from the shadows.’ To say, ‘I see you.’ He saw her. He saw her qualifications despite all the negative stuff that was being thrown at her. He made history, but I think he will never know how much history he has made.” —Political strategist Minyon Moore. The selection of Senator Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee represents many “firsts:” The first Black woman to be nominated on a major party ticket. The first person of South Asian descent. The first HBCU grad. More importantly, though,

her candidacy is emblemannounce legislation that atic of this unprecedented would allow those at risk of moment of racial reckoning eviction to access legal repin America, and the outresentation, and help prosized role that Black women tect their credit. As a memare playing in leading the ber of the Senate Judiciary nation through this period Committee, she famously of crisis. held Supreme Court nomIt’s no surprise that Black inee Brett Kavanaugh and women have emerged Attorney General nominee among the nation’s strongWilliam Barr to account est and most competent during their confirmation leaders. The formidable hearings. challenges that women, Her groundbreaking separticularly women of color, lection to the position of must overcome to achieve vice presidential nominee positions of prominence, has drawn comparison are like the fire that tempers to the legendary Shirley steel. Chisholm, whom she often The National Urban cites as a source of inspiLeague has had a strong ration. In 1968, Chisholm Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris relationship with Senator became the first Black womserve in the U.S. Congress. Harris for many years. We an to serve as a member of While we’ve worked closely Congress, and in 1972 became honored her as one of the first recipients of our “Woman of with her since her election to the first Black woman to seek Power” awards in 2004, just the Senate, her fierce advocacy the nomination of a major party after she was elected District for underserved communities for President. Attorney of San Francisco. In since the onset of the pandemWhen she launched her pres2017, when she assumed office ic has been invaluable. She, idential campaign, Harris chose as California’s third female U.S. along with Sen. Cory Booker of a red and yellow design for her Senator, and the first of Jamai- New Jersey, was a prime spon- logo that resembles Chisholm’s can or Indian ancestry, we hon- sor of the George Floyd Justice campaign buttons. ored her with the Hiram Revels in Policing Act in the Senate. Chisholm faced abhorrent Award for Achievement, named We recently joined her and racial harassment on her camfor the first African American to other members of Congress to paign, and nearly half a century

later, the racist attacks not only have not subsided – they’re amplified through social media. But it’s not just crude slurs hurled on Twitter by anonymous trolls — Within hours of the announcement that she had been selected as Joe Biden’s running mate, a major magazine amplified a racist “birther” conspiracy theory about her. Chisholm was realistic about the obstacles her candidacy faced. “I just want to show it can be done,” she often said. Harris was a child when Chisholm ran for President, just to show it could be done, and now she stands a realistic chance of being the first woman to hold the second-highest office in the land. As Joe Biden said the day after announcing his choice, “This morning, all across the nation, little girls woke up, especially little black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities, but today, today just maybe, they’re seeing themselves for the first time in a new way, as the stuff of presidents and vice presidents.”

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Election 2020 has given new meaning to ride-or-die THE BLACK CARD Terry Allen I am about to have church today! Big Mama would always tell us how we must have the faith of a mustard seed. She quoted this scripture: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. She stated that you have to believe that you cannot see and make sure that you surround yourself with those who have the same faith and conviction as you who are right in your sight. I call them my ride-or-die tribe. Our power to in this moment to make things permanent is right in our sights. The thoughts of faith of things not seen can also be in plain sight as I think about my ride-or-die tribe. I am driven to reflect on James Baldwin and the work he did on the racial conditions with the police

in Atlanta during the Atlanta Child Murders with his powerful docu-book, The Evidence of Things Not Seen. The Evidence of Things Not Seen is a comprehensive social observation but tells us that even we make good changes and fail to use the FAITH to create the permeance of justice and we are still faces at the bottom of the well. How many men have been killed in plain sight since George Floyd? So here we go, let’s continue with the original request, we must now make this moment a movement so we will not have to revisit this again. So we MUST know we have critical role to play in addressing all these racial issues and we MUST strengthen democracy, ensure our right to vote, push hard for everyone to make it easy to vote and more. So even in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we MUST Vote. With just 67 days left, we can’t stop the momentum now. Let’s add these steps: • Check your voter registration

for you and all your ride-ordie partners • Register to vote and ensure your elders are registered • Create a Plan to vote by mail or in person early or on election day take your tribe with you. Learn from Brother Chadwick Boseman, the King of Wakanda and the last lesson he left; Choose your associations wisely. Surround yourself with good company. Build a strong support system that is loyal and faithful and true. A circle that loves you. So, use your Black Card, join me and get into some Good Trouble by taking our ride-ordie young black men and women to the polls. Those are my thoughts. Now yours? Please email me at the paper and tell me your thoughts. Terryallenpr@gmail.com Terry Allen is an award-winning multi-media journalist and owner of 1016 Media.

Alopecia Month Series:

Animals suffer with alopecia ABOUT THE HAIR

Ask Alma I have cancer and will die soon just like Chadwick Boseman. I come from a large immediate and extended family where everybody knows everybody’s business. When I was first diagnosed, I swore my mother and brother to secrecy. Now that the time is nearing and I’ve become weaker and weaker, my mom has asked me to tell my family. I know how painful this is and I’m sure she feels like she is having to experience it alone, but I don’t want to tell anyone. I just want to live out my final days as happy as I can and not have everyone coming around to be nosey or to bring me pity. I also don’t want to hurt my mother. Do you think I should honor her wishes or make my own decisions on how to handle this? Final Days Dear Final Days, Hello and thanks for emailing me. I know it’s not easy to talk about

Hollywood Hernandez Academy Award winner Hillary Swank is American astronaut Emma Green in the #1 rated show on NETFLIX this week, AWAY. While it’s a good sci-fi thriller about the international crew, who hope to be the first humans to walk on Mars, it also has so many interesting side stories about the crew that really make the mini-series worth watching. Hillary Swank is the leader of the crew and plays a mother who left her husband and teenage daughter behind to complete her two year mission. Josh Charles portrays Astronaut Matt Logan, Emma Green’s husband who suffers a stroke which causes him to be grounded from the life he loves. The rest of the crew have issues of their own. There’s a female Chinese chemist, Vivian Wu, who’s in a loveless marriage and gets involved in a lesbian love affair before leaving for the mission. There’s also a Russian cosmonaut who has personal issues with

cancelled. The Barnum & Bailey Circus ended their 146-year run in May 2017, while the UniverSoul Circus of Atlanta, established in 1994 by Cedric Walker, has rescheduled it’s 2020 tour dates. In addition, there are other cancellations for 2020, which include: Peru Circus, Circus Vargus, and El Riad Shrine to name a few. Professor Dr. Alison Diesel, from Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine, shared great information about small animals, both dogs and cats, as well as large animals the School has seen and serviced. Professor Diesel said pets have personalities. Some personality examples include: happy, laid back, playful, scary and protective. Some of the signs of hair loss and skin issues include: • Does your pet constantly scratch their skin? • Does your pet lick any particular skin area constantly? • Do you notice sudden hair shedding? Hair all over your furniture or floor? • Has your pet developed any sudden smooth patches of hair loss? • Have you noticed any hair thinning of your pet’s fur? • Have you noticed any sudden redness on your pet’s skin?

• Have you noticed any grey or darkened areas anywhere on their skin? • Keep shots current on your beloved pets. • Cats are more common to contract a fungal skin infection on their skin, which is very contagious. • If your pet is kept outside, keep them bathed more often. • Check your outdoor pet for lice and dermatophytosis (ringworm) often. • Some pets DNA include a fine, coat of hair, while other breeds have a thicker, coarser coat of hair. A dog groomer can maintain your pet’s hair length. • Make sure you and your children/grand-children wash their hands after interaction with your pet, for hygiene purposes and to reduce the spread of COVID-19. • If you own larger animals, such as cows, goats, pigs, horses, etc, observe any changes with their coat of hair, and skin changes. If you brush their hair, remember to wash your hands after interaction. Take extra precautions during the current COVID-19 Pandemic. Contact a Veterinary Dermatologist for medical needs.

a deadly diagnosis, I had this experience when my sister Kim died at 38. She was trying to untie all the knots, and correct some wrongs to make sure those she loved knew how much she loved them. When I think back, I didn’t listen. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to hear what she was saying, I just didn’t believe she would die. I thought she’d make it, she had to, she was my big sister and that just couldn’t happen to us. Well, it did. My godmother also comes to mind. In her final months she rejected my visits. Altho, I sent her items in the mail, she wouldn’t allow me to deliver them personally and I had to respect that. I didn’t want to, I didn’t understand it and if I’m honest about it, I was upset for a while after she died. Then my dear, I kept on living as my mama would say. When life sends a softball or even a hardball your way and you just can’t accept it. You’re mad about someone’s de-

cision or a person’s change of mind – so you just be mad, cause you really don’t know all that’s going on. I’m sorry I’ve rambled on. I guess I just wanted you to know when I say I’m sincerely sorry, I really am. I’m so very sorry about your diagnosis, but I don’t think you owe anyone an explanation. Handle your business however you see fit, because as the vegan queen, Tabitha would say, “it’s your business!!” Whatever your decisions are, they are the right decisions. Explain it to your mother exactly the way you explained it to me. Tell her you love her and ask her to find it in her heart to understand. Focus on what makes you feel good, whole and puts you at peace – that’s it! Everyday that you are able to awake on this side of the sun is a blessing. You’re a blessing. I’ll be praying for you. Especially, that you follow your heart. Use your time to fulfill your dreams and not feel obligated to give any more of yourself to your family or friends. How you decide to leave this earth is completely and entirely up to you. Alma

AWAY his daughter after not being there when her mother died. He was in space. Although he’s the most experienced in space, his eyesight and his health are failing him now. It’s something he keeps a secret until he is forced to admit it by the ship’s commander, Emma Green. There’s also an Indian doctor on board and an African botanist on the team that round out the cast. I’ve seen about half of the season’s episodes and each new episode has an interesting twist that not only tells the science fiction aspect of the series but shows a very human side of the characters. For me that’s what makes AWAY such a good series. There’s already talk of a season two of the series. Each episode has danger and perils and also some very adult stories going on. It’s very enjoyable and I plan on doing some binge watching to finish up the series. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate AWAY a LARGE.

More Black blood donors urgently needed to help sickle cell patients and help save lives this fall By DONALD LEE

Dr. Linda Amerson Did you know your fur baby, parrot or larger animals are susceptible to hair thinning, patchy alopecia, itchy, flaky and problem skin problems? Yes, both humans and animals may become victims. Statistics reveal 40% of Americans are pet owners and dogs are purchased more than any other pets. When man’s or woman’s best friend shows visible changes of hair loss, take them to a Veterinary Dermatologist. Some pet owners keep their pets indoors, while others keep pets exclusively outdoors. It is the owners person choice, however, be very aware when you have newborns or young children interacting with pets. Sometimes pets become jealous and aggressive. Many elderly consumers love the companionship of a fur baby. Dogs are more protective, and can bark to alert the owner of strangers or danger. Overall, pets are very smart and observant. When a pet owner wants to get their fur babies attention, a treat or food in their dish will get their tails wagging. Do you have a pet with a picky palate? Or does your pet eat anything you feed them? Do you purchase clothes for your fur baby? Pet owners are to blame for spoiling fur babies with stove-cooked meat, table food, delicacies of certain brands of food and then transition them into a four-legged fashion statement. Is this you I am describing? Because animals are very smart and trainable, small and large animals have been trained in obedience schools, competitions and the circus…before they were

HOLLYWOOD’S REVIEW

The American Red Cross is emphasizing the unique role Black blood donors play in the medical treatment of those living with sickle cell disease during Sickle Cell Awareness Month this September. Right now, more Black blood donors are critically needed to help patients battling sickle cell disease as blood drives – especially those at schools, colleges and universities – continue to be canceled at alarming rates. Last spring, more Black blood donors gave at Red Cross blood drives held at educational institutions than at any other blood drive location type. As drives across the country canceled this spring due to coronavirus concerns, the number of Black blood donors giving at these schools decreased from over 15,000 in 2019 to about 2,700 this year. Drives at educational institutions make up the largest percentage of fall blood drive cancellations, so the need for more Black blood donors for sickle cell patients is expected to remain urgent. “Sickle cell disease profoundly impacts the quality of life of those living with this inherited blood disorder, and your blood donation could be the donation that helps a patient keep fighting,” said Dr. Yvette Miller, executive medical director, Red Cross Blood Services. “The pandemic hasn’t stopped the need for transfusions for sickle cell patients. The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to roll up a sleeve and share their strength with patients during Sickle Cell Awareness Month.” More Black blood donors are urged to make a blood donation appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood. org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. How donations from Black blood donors help sickle cell patients About 100,000 people in the U.S., most of whom are of African or Latino descent, are living with sickle cell disease, making it the most common genetic blood disease in the country. Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to be sticky, hard and crescent-shaped instead of soft and round. This makes it difficult for blood to flow smoothly and carry oxygen to the rest of the body, which may lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, acute anemia and even strokes. Blood transfusion helps sickle cell disease patients by increasing the number of normal red blood cells in the body, helping to deliver oxygen and

unblock blood vessels. Patients with sickle cell disease depend on blood that must be matched very closely – beyond the A, B, O and AB blood types – to reduce the risk of complications. Some of these rare blood types are unique to specific racial and ethnic groups, and because of this, sickle cell disease patients are more likely to find a compatible blood match from a blood donor who is Black. More information about blood and diversity is available on the Red Cross website.

Upcoming Blood Donation opportunities Sept. 16-30: Collin Allen • 9/18/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 601 S. Greenville • 9/19/2020: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1404 East Main Street • 9/21/2020: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 205 Central Expressway N McKinney • 9/17/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Medical City McKinney, 4500 medical Center Drive • 9/22/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites McKinney-Fairview, 3220 Craig Drive • 9/26/2020: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Texas RoadHouse Mckinney, 3101 S. CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Plano • 9/16/2020: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Tacodeli, 8442 Parkwood Blvd, #700 • 9/18/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., FUMC Plano, 3160 E Spring Creek Pkwy • 9/23/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., CH Robinson, Worldwide, 8454 Parkwood Blvd, Suite 200 Dallas Carrollton • 9/28/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Crosby Recreation Center, 1610 E Crosby Road Coppell • 9/29/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Coppell ER, 720 N. Denton Tap Rd. Dallas • 9/18/2020: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Energy Transfer, 8111 Westchester Drive • 9/21/2020: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 14740 Meandering Way • 9/21/2020: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Dr. • 9/24/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 10701 E. Lake Highland Dr. • 9/24/2020: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., White Rock Family YMCA, 7112 Gaston Avenue 9/25/2020: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Children’s Health StarCenter, 12700 N Stemmons Fwy 9/26/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Pleasant Grove Community Baptist Church, 7815 Hume Drive see www.GarlandJournal.com to know more

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Lead Your Life First

Executive coach emphasizes prioritizing self for effective leadership

L. Michelle Smith

By Eva D. Coleman Lifestyle Editor L. Michelle Smith knows strategy. From Fortune-ranked companies to small businesses, she’s served as the adviser, motivator and guide for leaders; helping them build brands and get the most from teams that support them. While being a driven leader is admirable, COVID-19 takes even the best navigators on a detour into territories unknown. Leadership in the coronavirus era is remarkably different, yet some things are the same. Self-care riding alongside you is important. In looking for direction, during the pandemics of COVID-19 and racial unrest, it’s important to understand that leaders are people too. “Most folks are just trying to keep it together from a personal perspective,” Ms. Smith said. Survival is keenly related to the order of things, and the longtime expert on the intersection of technology and culture provides methodology in lining things up. “The hierarchy that I provide starts with self,” Ms. Smith said. “It prioritizes mind, body and spir-it first; and that’s even before we get to the whole life; and then under that, we have career.” The self-care doctrine begins with gaining an understanding that making “self” a priority is not selfish at all, but vital to sustainability in all priorities of life. “You have to start with yourself, and what I’m finding is a lot of leaders, especially women, lead themselves at the end; and so, they’re empty,” the Texas Christian University graduate said. “What can you do for your family and kids if you’re empty? How can you be your best performing self in your career?” Asking those questions while attempting to keep your engine running are compounded when dealing with multiple societal issues. “What we’re finding too is, we are being inundated with bad news every day,” she continued. “There are some glimmers of hope there, that’s for sure, but it’s very easy to get inundated and overwhelmed with the challenges that our society is facing

and also we as Black people.” Ms. Smith has consulted a multitude of leaders across a diverse spectrum; however, she prioritizes familiar groups of which she can also relate to their life experiences. “While I will serve and support anyone, I have a sweet spot in my heart for Black women and women of color and women in general,” Ms. Smith said. Her company, no silos communications llc (NSC), pro-

of something, meaning offload or delegate something that is making us burn the candle on both ends, we most certainly should,” Ms. Smith said. “Many women guilt themselves into thinking because they saw their moms make three meals a day, clean the house themselves, that even though they are an executive at a Fortune 500 company, with the means to actually get help to do those things, that they shouldn’t.” Leading during this era is categorically different; so much so that she has given it a name. “I call it the ‘Three Beasts of the Apocalypse’,” she said. “One being COVID-19, the other one being this civil rights movement that is supposed to be the biggest one in human kind, in history, and then, of course, a catastrophic failure in leadership at the highest levels of our country.” The racial incidents that have resulted in recent protests have existed and been commonplace for Black people, which Ms. Smith says is “generational trauma” that yields other questions. “This is our life, but now suddenly we see the whole world coming to our side, and even that is a little off-putting,” she said. “It’s a glimmer of hope, but then you have to wonder, ‘Why is everybody waking up now?’”

L. Michelle Smith speaking at NABJ Convention

Journalists, the wordplay is no match for change that needs to take place. “So here we are trying to use ‘inclusion’ as a way to stifle out something that’s very, very real, and that’s racism.” Ms. Smith questions the reality of how the burden for ‘see something, say something’ remains and can be riddled with consequences. “Why is it always incumbent upon Black people to call it out, and then when we do, we’re

TIPS FROM L. MICHELLE SMITH Six Ways Black People Can Lead During COVID-19 and The New Civil Rights Movement:

• Ensure that your priorities are in order: Self, Home and Career • Even if you aren’t impacted directly, know that COVID-19 and systemic racism impact you daily. Both can be invisible killers — of our bodies, our careers, our livelihoods. • Corporate Professionals & Small Business Owners: Ask for what you want now. This is a key moment in time. It won’t always be here. • Corporate Professionals: Beware of being too eager to speak on behalf of your company during this time. Are they really doing the best they can for you in your career and your other Black colleagues? • Part of self-care is resisting the urge to explain everything to allies and others; or even taking in the news 24/7. • Find your own way to impact change. Not everyone will be able to get in the streets and march. What can you do? vides many services that propel women forward. Her passion for seeing women succeed is so evident, that some of her sessions are of-fered for free. She’s observed historical roles of women often carried over into their ascent to leadership. “If we have the means to let go

The result is added pressure for Black leaders to respond. “These are things that we already know about, were already weighing on us, but now, we’re burdened with trying to have to explain it on behalf of our companies,” Ms. Smith said. “But this movement is bigger than just police and we understand it to be about systemic racism, and when that’s the issue, you compound what goes on at work and when you just live your life.” While many companies have newly created positions of diversity officers added to their ranks, the core issue remains. “We have companies that have shunned the word ‘Black’ to begin with until now,” Ms. Smith said. “We’re seeing it in statements, but we have companies that have shunned the word ‘racism’ in lieu of fancier words… ‘microaggressions’ or ‘implicit’ or ‘unconscious bias’. They might say ‘conscious bias’, but you rarely hear it. But the thing about unconscious bias is this, we all have it.” For the long-time member of the National Association of Black

made uncomfortable?” She added, “We’re maybe even pushed out. It’s a very, very interesting situation, because all of a sudden, there’s this great awakening of really, a lot of good-hearted people that are speaking up on social media and they’re marching in the streets,

but the question remains, ‘What happens next?’” As leaders grapple with uncertainty in their own lives, executive coach Smith helps them redirect their focus. “Well, I encourage them to read the tea leaves. There are some things that we know to be true. What we do is we first take stock of the things we know,” Ms. Smith said. “When you’re in a situation of uncertainty, what you have to do is assess what could happen, know what is happening and plan accordingly.” As a trainer in helping others create extensive plans, she emphasizes the value of simplicity in approach. “And sometimes the plan isn’t this strategic thing with goals, strategies and tactics,” Ms. Smith said. “Sometimes it’s a list. Sometimes it’s just a checklist of things that you know to be true, and that will allow you to kind of have some control over what could be next.” As society attempts to wrap its arms around a longstanding issue that has been avoided, for Ms. Smith, the leader of this charge is clear. “We can raise our voices, but the way racism is set up, there’s the oppressed and there’s the oppressor; and the oppressed are in no position to right the ship,” she explained. With her sincere love for women leaders, she encourages women to lead their own lives first before attempting to lead someone else, resoundingly saying, “Especially in a world that has deprioritized it.” Ms. Smith is sharing her expertise on a number of levels. She’s an adjunct professor of strategic communications at the TCU Bob Schieffer College of Communications where she also sits on the Board of Visitors, and she is also a member of the International Coaching Federation and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Ms. Smith’s new book, No Thanks, 7 Ways to Say I’ll Just Include Myself: A Guide to Rockstar Leadership for Women of Color in the Workplace, was released August 2020 and is currently available at various retailers and online. To learn more, visit lmichellesmith.com