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MY TRUTH

By Cheryl Smith Publisher

SERVING NORTH EAST TEXAS

THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2020 VOLUME X

McNeal steps down

as president of Garland NAACP BE SMART-NOT FAKE Recently I was privy to two calls where very critical information was shared.

One conversation involved information the world needed to hear regarding COVID-19; even though I had concerns about whether or not many would pay attention and take necessary precautions, regardless of who was speaking.

The other call was a ZOOM call hosted by the Hon. Helen Giddings and moderated by veteran journalist Melanie Lawson. The webinar was hosted by the Western Area of Black Women Empowering Black Women Hon. Helen Giddings and was titled, “Are you Really Ready to Run?” That session, according to the former Texas State Representative, was the second session of Campaign College, sharing very insightful information for women interested in seeking elective office.

Health and public service are two issues that are worthy of paying attention to.

See MY TRUTH, page 2

By Gwendolyn H. Daniels Correspondent

Feeling an “obligation to dig deeper and to support his city in a greater role,” Ricky C. McNeal stepped down from his position as president of the national award-winning NAACP Garland, Texas Unit to fill a vacated position on the Garland City Council.

After the departure of David Gibbons, former District 1 City Councilman, McNeal, referencing decades of volunteer service in Garland, explained, “A group of community leaders encouraged and inspired me to submit my application.”

McNeal was among 11 applicants who interviewed for the position and went through all proper channels of notifying the NAACP Texas State Conference who contacted the NAACP national office on his behalf. The only task left was notifying the faithful NAACP volunteers whom he served as president and whom he “so dearly admires.”

On December 8, 2020, McNeal held a called meeting with members of the Garland NAACP Executive Committee, announced his appointment to the Garland City Council and resigned his position as president, for now!

The saving grace to the NAACP is President McNeal will only serve on the City Council through May

By Norma Adams-Wade

Risk of teaching about slavery; explain or destroy monuments

Long-time civil rights leader to assume seat on Garland City Council 1, 2021, when Garland will hold its general election and fill the District 1 seat with an elected councilperson. It is stipulated in the Garland City Charter that a resident serving temporarily is ineligible to run for the Council seat in the very next election.

A native of Jonesboro, LA, McNeal holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Louisiana Tech in Ruston. He moved to Dallas in 1987 and met his bride while interning as a new hire at Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

In 1994, he and his wife, Najeda Flowers McNeal relocated to Garland, became homeowners, and now, after 30 years of marriage, they have three adult daughters and two sons-in-law: Hillary (Tyler), Hannah (Justin), and their baby girl, Haylea; who is a junior at Midwestern State University.

The McNeals are devoted members of Mt. Hebron Missionary

I Was Just Thinking...

Ricky C. McNeal

Baptist Church where Councilman McNeal serves as a deacon and the superintendent of Sunday School.

Once Governor Greg Abbott approves this new Garland appointment, Councilman McNeal will be officially sworn in to represent District 1. In the meantime, he is serving as an ex officio member of the Garland City Council.

As a result of Councilman McNeal’s new position, the NAACP Garland Unit made several temporary appointments that will remain through April 30, 2021. The Honorable Annie Dickson (former Councilwoman in District 2 and NAACP vice president) moved up to the position of president and Dr. Chonda Williams will serve as vice president and secretary. Larry D. Daniels remains in his elected position as Unit treasurer.

A recent news story lamented the catch-22 of attempting to teach modern day kids about historical slavery.

In the first scenario, the teacher – attempting to made the lesson clear – has the students to act out the characters of slave and master.

But unintentionally, the teacher picks a vulnerable child to be the enslave African. On the surface,

View of Stone Mountain from a distance.

Credit: goodfreephotos.com

the teacher appears to belittle the captive student, subtly suggest they are inferior, and ends up damaging the child’s ego.

Learning about the class project at home, an enraged parent demands the teacher’s head and considers suing school See MY TRUTH, page 2

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GarlandJournal

THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2020

My Truth from page 1

Which brings me to my truth.

Top officials, who are focusing on science over conspiracy theorists and actors playing roles, are concerned about COVID-19.

We must continue to wash our hands, wear our masks and practice social distancing.

Sure doing so is uncomfortable and an inconvenience. If you wear glasses, they may fog up and if you have long hair the mask could become entangled and you might lose a few strands in the process of removing the mask.

Talk to someone who has survived the coronavirus and they’ll tell you that the minor details that you are complaining about are nothing in comparison to what you could experience at varying stages of infection.

And while there are numerous testing sites, too many are operating at full capacity of staff with too few actually coming in to be tested.

Some believe that what they don’t know won’t hurt them.

Fear can be almost as deadly because there are people walking around with the virus but without symptoms; giving them an opportunity to transmit the virus if they are not following safety protocols.

We’ve gone decades without finding cures for numerous ills and we’re looking at a coronavirus vaccine in less than 12 months.

There are optimists and skeptics.

In the meantime and the between-time, we must deal with the inconveniences of protocols that have been proven to be life-saving.

We have to follow the science, as the executive on that all-important Zoom call urged.

Then, we look at the political scene and the dominant role that women continue to play.

Say it with me, “Kamala!”

Rep. Giddings spent 26 years as an elected official. She’s optimistic about the future and the impact that women are having in the electoral arena.

For anyone contemplating seeking elective office, the “Are you Really Ready to Run?” call was very beneficial as the panelists talked about the challenges and responsibilities associated with public service.

Sadly, too often folks step into arenas that they are not adequately prepared for, and maybe that’s why so many operate in the impostor realm of life where they fake the funk. That is what happens when you become so caught up in what you perceive as success — headlines, social media likes and cameras.

Let’s face it.

Some people are successful because of the work they put in; while others fake being successful because social media drives everything they do.

Listening to veteran elected officials on the Zoom call, you couldn’t help but reassess your desire to be an elected office if you think the job is easy or glamorous.

Lesson to the wise and unwise who think they know everything: You have to do your homework, become a student of whatever you aspire to be, BEFORE, you venture out.

On those two calls, there was one message that defies foolishness: as long as you live, you can learn, because you don’t know everything.

Thinking from page 1

administrators. The teacher is fired for harming the child and discrediting the school. This case really happened.

In the second scenario, the teacher is aware that teaching about slavery is a touchy subject. So, they either gloss over the details or hurry through the lesson to the point that the students learn nothing substantive about the subject.

There is still another dilemma that seems to have no clear solution.

What do you do with Confederate monuments, relics and buildings that honor Old South Civil War heroes?

All around the country in recent years, Confederate statues are being pulled down, buildings being renamed, and Old South relics either destroyed or prompting angry street protests. Almost like in the Civil War, people are taking sides and belligerently defending their stance.

I was just thinking...what do you do to calm the divide?

To me, the answer seems stunningly simple. I suggest to the world that remaining statues, monuments, maybe even building be used as teaching tools about the way things were -- but should not have been.

A strategically placed plaque, mural, well-illustrated sign board or even a video and recording booth could set

WWW.GARLANDJOURNAL.COM the record straight, retain the old symbol, and remind the public that this was wrong and must not happen again. These booths where visitors could step up, view and listen could pack a wallop of information, explaining what was wrong about the old way and why it no longer exists.

Close up view of the Stone Mountain sculpture.

Credit: publicdomainpictures.net

Argue with me if you must. But you will not convince me that this solution will not work. To me, this is the way to avoid the headache and expense of tearing down or destroying. and could foster teaching opportunities that otherwise would not be available.

In some cases, I can agree with relocating divisive statues and monuments to a museum.

Advocates of those art pieces and the negative history they produce could visit at their will without disturbing the rest of us.

As I see it, both sides could have their cake and eat it too.

Researchers tell us about one controversial monument that has sparked recent protests. It would be physically dangerous

and time-consuming to get rid of and would cost well over $1million. The massive Stone Mountain sculpture in Dekalb County, just outside Atlanta, Georgia, took almost 60 years to complete. It has been called a monument to white supremacy.

Stone Mountain was a longtime sacred site for Ku Klux Klan members for about 50 years beginning in the early 1900s.

Members met regularly at the dome mountain of granite and quartz and burned crosses there as part of their meeting rituals.

The sculpture replicates the giant images of Confederate heroes – Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson riding on horseback.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is noted for mentioning Stone Mountain in his “I Have A Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington.

“Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia; let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee...

From every mountain side, let freedom ring.”

So, whether its resolving conflicts about Confederate monuments or navigating the slippery slope of teaching about slavery, know that you cannot please everyone, but finding middle ground is useful.

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.

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GarlandJournal

THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2020

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South Garland vs Little Elm, TEXAS High School Basketball LIVE Watch LIVE Game : http://fblive.livesports-today.com/ hs-basketball.php The Little Elm (TX) varsity basketball team has a home non-conference game vs. South Garland (Garland, TX) on Friday, December 18 @ 7pm.

GARLAND

N o w -J a n u a r y 3 1 75 miles Get Out & Walk Garland Enjoy and experience Garland Your Race Your Pace by Garland Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts. REGISTER: http://bit.ly/walkgarland WHEN Dec. - Jan. 31 (Complete and record your miles by Feb 28). DISTANCE 75 Miles Total - log your total when you have completed them!

Get Out & Walk, Enjoy, and Experience Garland. This is your race at your pace. Complete the 75-mile goal as a family, with a friend or co-worker, or take some ‘me’ time while enjoying the fresh winter air. Visit our website, GarlandParks.com, to find parks and trails to explore.

D e ce m b e r 17 Fall Virtual Employee Wellness Yoga Classes, Event by Garland ISD Employee Wellness 5:30 pm CST – 6:30 pm CST. Ticket: us02web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/tZcqcemgqj0oHdUzZ9SrJMA3Mrs..LfwrcTjx. Employee Class is open to Garland ISD employees only. You can attend classes as long as they occur outside of your contracted work hours.

Required Forms The Live Free Yoga and GISD forms must be completed and on file with the Employee Wellness Department before you may attend a class. These can be found on the Employee Wellness Intranet page.

Thursday Nights, event by Westlake Skate Center, 413 S Yale Dr. 7 pm CST–9:30 pm CST. Garland’s premiere roller skating facility. We have been family owned and operated for over 40 years. Every Thursday night for $3 includes admission and regular skates! Great for a family night or a meet up with friends!

D e c e m b e r 1 7 -1 9 Scavenger Hunt at Garland’s Landmark Museum, Heritage Crossing, 393 N. Sixth St. is hosting a scavenger hunt three times a week. Through Dec. 19, the holiday-themed scavenger hunt will be held each Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10 am-2 pm. Participants start by visiting the museum, which is located 393 N. Sixth St, and picking up a lanyard, a list of clues and a first holiday pin. “Head to the business you think is the correct answer,” the city said on its website https://www.

garlandtx.gov/. If you’ve arrived at the right business, you’ll be awarded with another “holiday pin.” Collect 10 pins to receive a prize from the museum. Opened in 1974, the Landmark Museum sits in the old Santa Fe Railroad depot, and has a host of historical documents and artifacts that speak to the city’s history.

Earlier this year, the Landmark Museum held another scavenger hunt that aimed to educate participants about the downtown area’s history, while also directing them to local businesses. The museum also recently promoted a self-guided historical tour of the city’s historic cemeteries.

D e ce m b e r 18 Granville Arts Center, Holiday Concert, with Ricardo Garcia, Tenor Garland Symphony Orchestra. Garland Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Concert features the Annual Carol Sing-Along, holiday classics and Ricardo Garcia, tenor. Tickets: GarlandArtsBoxOffice.com or 972205-2790. 7:30 pm.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker Stream Event by Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. A holiday mash-up for the whole family, directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber, The Hip Hop Nutcracker recorded live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center is a contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music. A unique and joyful event, this evening-length production is performed by a supercharged cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. Upon completion of purchase, you will receive an email with instructions on how to login to the performance. On the day of the show, follow those instructions and you will be allowed entry when the performance is ready to begin. General Admission must view at scheduled time of 7 pm on Friday, December 18. 7 pm CST. Tickets www.stellartickets.com/events/ hhn-and-eisemann-cpa/hip-hop-nutcracker-richardson.

Lights at The Leaves Event by The Leaves, Inc. Driving a loop on our nonprofit’s property while enjoying our Christmas lights.

The drive thru is free but feel free to donate to our box. Our display will be up the whole month of December and includes a 30’ Christmas tree flagpole and lights animated to music. Tune to FM 88.9. 1230 W Spring Valley Rd, Richardson. 5 pm CST–9 pm CST.

D e ce m b e r 19 Photos with the Grin**! Shh don’t say his name! By Dallas Harley-Davidson, 1334 W. Centerville Rd. at 11am CST – 4 pm CST. It’s back! The Grumpy guy is ready to find his heart again this year! Dallas H-D is so happy to announce our 3rd Annual Photos with GRIIIINCH!!! This year there will be photos from 12:00pm-3:00pm- make sure and make an appointment with marketing@dallashd.com. Dress warm lines will be outside due to social distancing protocols. **Please wear mask. Please stay home if you or your children are sick or running a temperature.

Harley-Davidson reserves the right to refuse any customer who does not follow the rules.

Parkland Free flu shots available at Parkland’s Neighborhood Clinic, Garland Health Center 802 Hopkins St., Garland. With flu season well underway medical professionals at Parkland Health & Hospital System are reminding people it’s not too late to get their flu vaccination. And, in an effort to make it easier to do so, flu shots are available at three of Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care health centers during weekend clinics. Saturdays: from 8 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m.

Pictures with Santa, Fotos con Santa Claus... Pictures with Santa. Free!! Gratis!!! 1 per family. Plaza Dr, Garland. 2 pm CST–5 pm CST.

D e ce m b e r 20 YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR JINGLE JAM HOLIDAY EXPO. Event by The Business Circle Plug, 1655 N Central Expy, Richardson. This is a Young Entrepreneur Holiday Expo. This is an opportunity for our Young Entrepreneurs to setup shop to showcase and sell their products and services. This is a #FREE Event. There will be Food, Beverages, Music, Raffles, and Giveaways also there will be a setup for all Vendors and Guest to take a picture with Santa. #MASKISREQUIRED. 2 pm CST. Info: thebusinesscircleplug@ gmail.com

D e ce m b e r 21 Parkland offers drive-through flu shots and COVID-19 testing Monday – Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eastfield College Campus, 3737 Motley Drive, Mesquite 75150.

D e ce m b e r 24 & 25 Made Fresh & Local: A Garland Christmas - Featuring Bobby Orozco – 60 min musical presentation by Garland Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Online: christmasonthesquare.com While we cannot gather together to celebrate this year, the City of Garland is pleased to bring you a special treat for the holiday season, “Made Fresh & Local: A Garland Christmas.” This holiday season will feature virtual programs streaming on three different evenings for the whole family to enjoy. Remember, Garland is open this holiday season, so enjoy the lights at our Downtown Garland Square, 520 W State St. dine in restaurants and shop for those last-minute holiday gifts for the whole family. Be safe and enjoy the holiday season. DATES & TIMES: Dec. 24 - 60-minute piano presentation featuring Bobby Orozco at 7 p.m. Dec. 25 encore presentations of both - 60-minute (8 a.m.) and 30-minute (7 p.m.) STREAMING LOCATIONS: The programs will be streaming on CGTV, Facebook and YouTube channels. A post will be created with the link to watch. Stay tuned for details. For more details, visit ChristmasontheSquare.com.

D e ce m b e r 27 Ladies & Pearls Facebook Live.

Event by JB’s Tea Room, LLC. End of the year Tea Bash with Lady Jay of JB’s Tea Room. 6 pm CST. The tea room is a place to relax and unwind from the stress of the day, with a fresh cup of tea. Tea Room is a Party Entertainment Service.

Info: info@jbstearoom.com.

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THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2020

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“Real American or Blacker?”

Quit Playin’

By Vincent L. Hall

Alison, my middle daughter, introduced me to this great young brother and a writer after my own heart. The book she bought is, “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker.” As a result, I follow him everywhere. Often in the New York Times, but recently online at “The Root.”

Damon Young took the time to identify 55 “Nickel slick” ways that White folks in the media infer “White people” without saying so. For some, this list was well known, but it’s a useful tool for those of us who don’t always recognize code-switching. Or what I call “literary duplicity.”

According to the Hall Dictionary, “literary duplicity” has been fashioned over the few years to imply race and/or stature without directly calling it out. For example, urban tends to describe minorities, White Liberals, and chaos.

“Rurals” don’t mind driving to town or working elbow-toelbow with “urban” to make a decent living. “City” paychecks can buy you a five-acre spread at the corner of Nowhere Lane and Nobody Avenue. That’s where most of our urban police and fire professionals live.

Urban politicians make the mistake of offering millions in tax abatements to cash-rich companies when monetary incentives could create better communities. They would rather go half on a billion-dollar stadium with Jerry Jones than fortify our neighborhoods’ public safety.

Much of this happens right under our noses. You listen to the news religiously but decipher the code words sporadically. Here are most of the terms Damon noted in his column. Remember, all of these stereotypically refer to

Whites, whether minorities fall into the category or not.

“Americans, Real Americans, Middle America, Working-class Americans, Europeans Patriots, Southerners, Midwesterners, Christians, Evangelicals, Redstate voters, Rust Belt voters, Conservatives, Republicans, Families, Veterans and Law enforcement.

Soccer moms, Hardworking Americans, The middle class, Citizens, Taxpayers, Homeowners, The military, The Troops, Legal voters, Regular/ simple/decent/rural/normal Americans, Trump supporters, The silent majority, and Lawabiding citizens.

Small business owners, Bluecollar workers, White-collar workers, Essential workers, Gun owners, Bernie Bro(s) and Constitutional originalists.” This is a partial list.

Go back in your memory and consider how often Donald Trump and Fox News overuse these terms. Go even further back and recall that the Republican Party is rooted in their use. The Civil Rights era ended blatant

public displays of racism. So they went underground.

“55 Ways White People say “White People” without actually saying “White People” is a timely reminder. More and more Americans will become more

conscious of current events and politics in the future. If Donald Trump did nothing else, he taught young people why elections have consequences.

However, none of us can digest news or social media-driven diatribes without understanding that literary duplicity is at work.

You can learn from TV, but

you can’t always glean the whole truth on television.

Listening is insufficient alone, Google ain’t the end-all, and the major networks are a cesspool of opinion and bias. National Public Radio has managed to maintain its purity, but it teeters on financial ruin nationally and on the local level.

There was once a famous saying,” Words don’t mean… people mean!” It was a caveat.

It instructed you to listen past the words to get the messenger’s meaning. Damon Young pulled the covers on how white people refer to themselves without using white.

We won’t go into the code words they use for Black folks.

But rest assured that Malcolm X was right. ““What do you call a Black man with a Ph.D.? You call him a ‘nigger’.”

Red-State Voters, Evangelicals, and Trumpsters continue to buoy Malcolm’s assertion. However, Damon was right, we just get Blacker!

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

DISTORTION, DISTRACTIONS AND DELUSIONS

The Last Word

By Dr. Julianne Malveaux The right Reverend Raphael Warnock, senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Dr. Martin Luther King’s church, is running for the U.S. Senate from Georgia.

Warnock is a man of God, a humble man, with one of these both booming and melodious voices that pulls us up on our feet and inspires choruses of “Amen,” “Tell it, brother,” and “No, you didn’t.”

Warnock, who weaves his biblical reflections with a message of social justice, preaches in the

spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Warnock also reminds me of Rev. William Barber, Rev. Freddy Haynes, and my own pastor, Rev. William Lamar of Metropolitan AME Church in DC. These men don’t think the Bible is a book we should put on a shelf and cherry-pick. Instead, they claim the Bible as a guide to Christian living and Christian obligation.

Warnock and Jon Osoff are Democrats running in Georgia’s runoff election, and both are in tight races. The rhetoric that has bandied about is laden with untruths. These two races are so important that the candidates are expected to spend $150 million on them. Why? Because the current Senate composition is 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats. If both Warnock and Osoff win their races, Democrats will control the Senate, with VP-elect Harris as the tie-breaker.

Kelly Loffler, a multimillionai-

President-elect Joe Biden

re Barbie look-alike who uses her hair as punctuation, seems to have had her Republican operatives comb through several of Warnock’s sermons. Without evidence, she describes him as anti-police; anti-Israel; anti-Semitic (it is possible to be critical of Israel without being anti-Semitic); anti-jobs (what Black pastor do you know who is anti-jobs); pro

socialized medicine; pro-communist.

Indeed, her condemnations illustrate how out of step she is with many of the African Americans she hopes to represent and her insular reality and cultural disconnect. She partly owns Atlanta’s Women’s National Basketball Association team but has been openly critical when the players on that team wear Black Lives Matter t-shirts. She has said she thinks the Black Lives Matter movement has Marxist roots.

I don’t believe Loeffler knows a Marxist from a telephone pole.

Republicans bandy about terms they believe will alienate voters.

To let them tell it, President-elect Joe Biden is a “socialist” (not), Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris is a “far-left liberal,” and Rev. Raphael is “pro-communist.” Joe Biden is about as moderate as they come. He has not yet said that he supports “Medicare for All,” but

he supports protections for those with pre-existing conditions, just like 70 percent of all Americans do.

VP-elect Harris has been so frequently mischaracterized that refuting baseless claims is futile.

Here is what we know – she is a savvy attorney who has increasing responsibility in the Democratic Party. She brings enthusiasm and energy (not to mention diversity) to the ticket. The attempts to disparage her are at best mean-spirited and anti-black (attack her on the issues, don’t call her a “monster”).

Warnock has described Loeffler’s attacks on him as “division and distraction.” I might add “delusional” to the alliteration. Extracting a passage from a sermon in which Warnock reminded us that God comes first, Loeffler attempted to spin his sermon into an attack on the military. The BiSee LAST WORD, page 6

WILLIAMS: What Is Still Needed?

Wake Up and Stay Woke

By Dr. E. Faye Williams Comments for the week must be preceded by congratulations for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Compared with most elections I have experienced, the wait for confirmation of their electoral victory seemed interminable. The wait was at times painful, but the outcome exquisite! As expressed during many television interviews, when the Biden-Harris ticket was declared victorious, I felt that our long political night-

mare had ended.

Whether relief is realized or not, their victory portends a reawakening of a movement toward national unity. At noon on Jan. 20, 2021, the fractious, divisiveness of the #45 administration will come to an end. I am not suggesting that one-on-one hostilities will immediately end, but I know that the bully pulpit of the presidency will no longer promote cross-cultural animus.

The never-ending expression of grievance politics will come to an end and I hope we’ll then focus on what should be our commonalities.

True to promise, the first act of the Biden-Harris administration is a program to bring control to the Coronavirus Pandemic in the U.S. Nationally and for inhabitants of the rest of the world, COVID-19 has reshaped our respective cultures, methods of social interactions, and economies.

Through words (encouraging COVID-19 best practices), actions (exemplary wearing of face

Publisher: Cheryl Smith Address: 320 South R.L. Thornton Freeway Suite 100 Dallas, TX 75203 Phone:214-941-0110 Website: www.garlandjournal.com Editor: editor@myimessenger.com

masks), and a proposed national plan to control/end COVID-19, the Biden-Harris administration has articulated an intelligent and viable approach to reducing the effect of or eliminating this disease.

Unfortunately, my sense of relief lasted little more than 24 hours. I guess it was foolish for me to expect expressions of familiar norms or propriety from #45’s campaign or the Republican Party. No congratulations! No concession! The presentation of contrived non-evidentiary, legal objections to election outcomes came! Firing of the secretary of defense came and poses an immediate and existential threat to national security! Then came a challenge to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) before the Supreme Court, which could remove health insurance coverage for over 20 million citizens and for over one million citizens with preexisting conditions! The nightmare continues!

It’s a nightmare of negativ-

GarlandJournal

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ity promulgated by maniacal, ego-driven psyche of insecurity.

Like a petulant child, #45 has established handicaps that retard the ability of Biden-Harris to engage in the transition process as established by law. Through an agent of discord, General Services Administration Commissioner Emily Murphy, the Letter of Ascertainment that provides legal authority for the Biden-Harris transition team hasn’t been issued.

With the post-election behavior of #45 and his Republican supporters, there’s nothing that gives reason to believe that they have taken a more reasoned or conciliatory approach to governance. The remedy available to us requires that we reject conditioning that allows us to believe that we only have a right to challenge issues unique to our specific jurisdictions. Contemporary logic dictates that we understand our broader requirement for engagement.

If we endorse the Biden-Harris

agenda, we must work to eliminate impediments established by their opposition. Mitch McConnell and the majority-Republican Senate pose the greatest threat to a successful Biden-Harris administration. Just as they frustrated the efforts of the Obama/Biden administration and tried to make it a one-term administration, it’s likely that they’ll do the same for Biden-Harris.

The most logical way for us then is to eliminate the Republican majority in the Senate. We can do that by supporting the Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in their Georgia Senate run-off elections. If we are not Georgia residents, we can donate to their campaigns and call every eligible voter we know in Georgia to encourage them to vote. Once more, we must vote as though our lives depend on it — they do!

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

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, fearing 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.

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THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2020

E.G.O. - Edging God Out

Faithful Utterances

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew Years ago, I remember encountering this lady who was so bitter. I had done nothing to her but say hello and her attitude toward me was demeaning. I asked a dear friend who was in the room witnessing the behavior to shed some light.

This woman’s husband left her and since that time, her pain turned into rage and ultimately, bitterness.

Life is not easy, but it is interesting to watch how all of us deal with situations that cause harm. We can choose to either allow those experiences to define us or we can decide to deal with it.

Many families and friendships are broken because of bitterness. Incidents that happened years ago still have a grip, impacting our freedom and minds. Bondage is real. As I reflect on the lady I encountered, she did not realize that her pain was keeping her confined from experiencing true happiness.

Her ex-husband had moved on to another relationship and was living his life. She on the other hand, was barely surviving. She had every right to be hurt, angry, and even fearful. However, she allowed those emotions to become companions and occupy space that they did not deserve access.

Our minds and bodies are powerful tools that God gave us to accomplish our destiny. What happens when we allow those

tools to become contaminated by poor thinking, bad decisions, and toxic relationships?

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were brought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”

(Corinthians 6:19-20) For many of us, this scripture is only about our body, but it is also about our hearts.

I remember growing up hearing the expression, “garbage in, garbage out.”

When we allow ourselves to be contaminated with emotions, experiences or even excuses, we are diminishing the temple that God has given us to cherish and care for… we are to be stewards of this gift. I, like many, have not always seen it this way.

When we recognize that God resides within us, our decisionmaking will look very different.

We will begin to question the food we place in our bodies.

Will this food help or cause problems? When we recognize that God resides within us, we will decide carefully about who we connect to emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!”

(Corinthians 6:15) Most of us would respond that we are not engaging in activities like prostitution but fail to think about those areas in our lives that bring us down. When we make those choices, we are saying to God that this space is occupied and there is no room for God’s presence.

We are literally Edging God Out (EGO), and our egos create this false sense of security that we can do whatever we want.

You can but in doing so, we abuse the temple and dismiss our value. We were purchased at a price.

The lady I referenced wore her anger and bitterness as

a badge of protection. These companions had taken up residence, leaving little room for anything, even God, dominating space in her mind, spirit and body.

God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

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Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is an author of three books and the host of The Tapestry podcast. To listen to episodes of the podcast, visit https://www.spreaker.com/show/ the-tapestry_1 and to learn more about her work, go to https:// drfroswa.com/

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He targeted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. but this is more than about a sorority. We’re talking about a community.

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Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

6

GarlandJournal

THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2020

Last Word from page 1

ble verse Warnock was quoting, Matthew 6:24, remind us that God comes first and should gain our allegiance above money or the military. This is basic Christian doctrine. Many of us believe in the omnipotence of God. Warnock did not attack the military; he asserted that our primary obligation is to God. But words like “socialist” and “left-wing radical” are inflammatory terms, even if those who use them don’t know quite what they mean. If feeding the hungry is socialist, then so was Jesus. If clothing the naked is socialist, so is our Lord. If healing the ill is a socialist initiative, then, of course, Raphael Warnock seems like a socialist to the woman who is worth at least $520 million and has all the health care she can afford. Warnock advocates for expanding the Affordable Care Act, a move anathema to conservatives who want to maximize the profit they can extract from sick people.

Rev. Raphael Warnock, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a Morehouse man. There is an adage – you can always tell a Morehouse man, but you can’t tell him much. Warnock would like us to tell him that we have his back in a pivotal race that may determine how effective President-elect Biden can be. Ignore the racist rhetoric and check out this powerful preacher and civic leader.

At the Movies

By Hollywood Hernandez

Dear Santa

Have you ever wondered what happens with the thousands of letters to Santa that are delivered to the post office each year? DEAR SANTA is a heart warming documentary about how the post office handles those letters each year with a program called Operation Santa.

The film takes us to post offices all over the US and shows how volunteers look through the letters and fulfill the wishes of the kids who write them by actually delivering them their special Christmas wish. It’s a real labor of love making sure the kids, most of them underprivileged, get a gift at Christmas time.

The kids request all kinds of things from a bunny rabbit to a puppy and volunteers from all over the United States do their best to make their dreams come true. Most of the volunteers are regulars who hold fundraisers and hit up fellow employees for donations for the kids.

The best part of the film is the wonder of the kids when the US Post Office delivers their presents.

The requests are wide and varied.

In one kid’s letter he didn’t ask for anything; he just wanted to be loved as a gay child. Another child, who lived in New York City, wanted a limousine ride for him and his family on Christmas day. (He got his wish.)

During this time of so many negative things happening in our world DEAR SANTA is a shining example of what people can do if we work together. The only drawback of the film is it gets a bit monotonous. For me it took too long to get the payoff; which is the kids getting their toys. The movie is available on Prime Video. The movie has not been rated and it has a run time of 1 hour and 24 minutes. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate DEAR SANTA a MEDIUM.

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The Most Important Factor in Your Family’s Education is

YOU Give your family the best chance for success by supporting their education at home and at school.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, sticking to a schedule, partnering with teachers and administrators, utilizing culturally sensitive best practices, and tapping into local resources are just a few of the ways that you can support distance learning at home and keep your family on track for educational success.

LEARN MORE AT WWW.NNPA.ORG/EDUCATION © 2020 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

About the hair

By Dr. Linda Amerson The COVID-19 Pandemic has contributed to many changes.

One requirement is the wearing of face coverings and face masks.

The creativity of designers and seamstresses have been unleashed.

The world has seen a wide variety of creative designs, ranging from logo for business, fundraisers for non-profits, donated masks for 1st responders, personalized masks, to cute superhero designs for kids. Bottom line, money is being made from mask/face coverings.

Consumers wear face coverings/masks from a few hours to many, therefore affecting facial skin.

Esthetician Tomorrow Leigh shares about acne mechanica.

That Celebrity Interview

By Valder Beebe In trying to make sense of today’s hateful events in America, I’ve begun researching what I believe to be the unresolved root of many conditions. I started with 1691, the Civil War, Reconstruction Era, Daughters of the Confederacy, and 40 acres and a mule.

In my research I’ve learned about Nathan Bedford Forrest, a slave trader who was by some accounts one of the richest men in the south before the Civil War, a confederate military general, and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, post-Civil War, I wanted to know more. Then arrived; Along With That Devil’s Bones.

When the author Towne O’Neill first moved to Alabama, as a white Northerner, he felt somewhat

Maskne: Tips to avoid skin outbreaks The dreaded combination of wearing a PPE mask causing skin irritation and break out. Believe it or not there is actually a medical term for this, acne mechanica.

Simply put prolonged wear of facial protective equipment can impose heat causing friction, occlusion and dehydration to the skin. Combine that with a moist environment from talking, breathing or sweating and a perfect recipe for breakouts can occur.

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Commit to maintaining a daily skincare regimen that works for you and use only one of the abovementioned products to help aid with breakout (preferably during your night time cleanse).

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(sunscreen if outdoors) and then with a large brush apply a light amount of Dr. Hauschka’s Silk Body Powder to your face before putting on your mask to create a protective barrier for your skin.

This powder is antibacterial and helps assist with the oil, dryness, irritation and a host of other conditions that occur when wearing a protective mask. If you wear a cloth mask wash after each wear with a gentle detergent and throw away your disposable masks daily. Remember to be kind and gentle with your skin and; love the skin you dwell in.

Dr. Amerson is open to more road trip collaborations with beauty/ barbers industry professionals, as well as women’s church groups, conferences, expos and seminars.

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A Reckoning Monuments removed from the racism Confederate monuments represented.

Then one day in Selma, he stumbled across a group of citizens protecting a monument to Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest, a slave trader and officer who became the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. O’Neill sets off to visit other disputed memorials to Forrest across the South, talking with men and women who believe they are protecting their heritage, and those who have a different view of General Forrest’s poisonous history.

O’Neill’s deeply personal analysis makes it clear that white supremacy is not a regional affliction but is in fact coded into the DNA of the entire country.

Down Along with That Devil’s Bones presents an important and eye-opening account of how we got from Appomattox to Charlottesville, and where, if we can

Connor Towne O’Neill

truly understand and transcend our past, we could be headed next.

VBS: Connor, can you tell my audience why you wrote Down Along with That Devil’s Bones?

CTO: I had this strange chance encounter a few years ago on the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. I was

there as a journalist to report on this gathering. It’s 50 years later and President Obama was there to mark the occasion with a speech, along with 40,000 other Americans. While there I met a group called the Friends of Forrest. This group told me of a decade long battle of the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest (remember who he was).

VBS: What a dichotomy; you on the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge which symbolizes Civil Rights, the American dream and believers in Nathan Bedford Forrest’s hateful words …….

Connor Towne O’Neill complete interview…… SoundCloud.com/valderbeebeshow: Broadcasting to a national & global audience: ValdeBeebeShow.com ; YouTube.com/valderbeebeshow; KKVI FM Radio, KRER FM, Streaming TV, Social Media, Print Publications IMESSENGER, Texas Metro News, and Garland Journal News.

The Mother Ghost Ask Alma

By Alma Gill Dear Alma, I have a friend and we’ve known each other most of our lives. We’ve spent many years together going on family vacations, dealing with marriages and divorce. We had children around the same time and we’ve always been there for each other. We are now at the stage where you take care of your parents. I’m not taking care of my mom, she’s in a nursing home, but my friend decided to take care of her mom at home. Her mother recently died, but before she died, she told my friend that she would come back and visit her. My friend believes that her mother is back in the house. She told me the lights are blinking on and off in one room and she also

said there’s one step that squeaks now that never did before. I think that’s crazy and she thinks it’s her mother. What’s the best way to explain to her, her mother cannot come back from the grave?

Name withheld Hold up, wait – it could happen…shaking my head, naaawwww, LOL, I don’t think so.

If you’ve followed Ask Alma for half a minute, you’d know I’ve lost my mother, father and one and only big sister Kim, so when it comes to grieving, I’m at the head of the line. I never thought my sister was gonna die, even when she was in a coma. I would talk to her and say, “You can open your eyes now, it’s just me in the room.” After she died, I had to pretend she was in the Bahamas, unreachable for the first six years. I remember telling

my father, I don’t know what I’ll do without you. He lovingly answered, “Yes you will, you’ll know.” When it came to my mama, don’t you dare speak the words. I could not even entertain the thought. My heart broke, I was broken. Some might call it irrational, but you’ll never know until it happens to you.

As far as your friend is concerned, like my mother used to say, if you go looking for it honey, you’ll find it. Well, actually she said, if you keep stirring sh*t, you’ll start to smell it, but we’re a PG publication here, so let’s just keep it moving, LOL. Humans, unlike our furry K-9 friends, don’t go looking for something for the sake of looking. We always have an agenda, an inkling, something that doesn’t sit right in our belly.

You know what I’m saying. She’s looking, so just let her look. Yea, she’s stretching, but that’s her

broken rubber band to bend.

I’m not sure why her mom would tell her something like that, although we’ve all got our “Why did my mama say that?” stories to tell. If she believes her mom can operate her lights from heaven, it’s nothing you or I can say or do to change that.

And why should we? When I see a beautiful red bird, I say hello to my grandmother, she loved birds. I don’t think the red bird is my grandmother, just like if the lights are flickering in my house, my first thought is to change the bulb.

This, my friend, is not a dilemma you should elect yourself to correct. Let her look for her mama in every twinkling star and tri-color rainbow she can find. As long as she’s paying her electric bill and ain’t breaking any laws, l say, let her grieve her mama as she pleeze.

Alma

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THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2020

Virtual and liVe Community Calendar

Human Rights Month December 17 D.O.B. of Deborah Sampson Gannett, who fought in the Revolutionary War as a man.

Reimagining A Safer Glendale Meeting #2. Host Changa Masomakali. Online Event: us02web.zoom.us 6 -7:30 pm CST. Register: https://bit.ly/3oDsDTc. A Night of Elegance A charitable event will support Toys for Tots. Host Next Generation Action Network. 111 Oak Lawn Ave. Dallas. 6 pm CST. Tickets are $15: https://bit.ly/2VV7HLu. Center Table Food Giveaway Mark Cuban Basketball Center; 1800 Bonnie View 9am – 12 pm. Free.

Sponsors: Mark Cuban, Dirk Nowitzki, Heroes Foundation.

Register: https://bit.ly/3qIHFJo Regional Black Contractors Annual Toy Drive RCBA, 2627 MLK, Jr. Blvd 9am–4pm; The RCBA will be collecting toys on the 17th to be distributed to Vogel Alcove. Newborn-17. Toys only. Contact: Brenea, 214-565-8946.

Dec. 18-20 Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting Celebration presented by the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District.

Individual Tree Lighting. A holiday tradition in a safe and socially distanced way. Free. Time: 18-19 at 6 pm. 20th , 7:30 am. and 4 pm.

December 18 In 1989 Robert Robinson Savannah City Alderman was killed by a mail bomb in his office.

Dallas Zoo Lights Presented by Reliant Hosted by Dallas Zoo. Dallas Zoo 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy. 6:30-9:30 pm. Tickets: zoolights.dallaszoo.com/guests.

The Bear Creek Food Distribution, Mon, Wed, & Fri. 11 am-3 pm. 2700 Finley Rd. Irving. Drive-Thru.

Valder Beebe Show KKVIDFW.COM FM 89.9. 12 pm.

28th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS / KWANZAA CONCERT. Host The Black Academy of Arts & Letter Inc. Bruton Theater, 650 S. Griffith St. 10 am. Tickets via: Ticketmaster. com. .December 19

D.O.B. of Carter G. Woodson in 1875

Christmas Jazz Concert Feat: Tom Braxton & Tatiana Mayfield. Host Jim Austin Online, at The Warehouse 1125 E. Berry St. Fort Worth. 8 pm.

Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

Empowering The Masses Disaste Relief Drive Through Food Pantry at 3314 Detonte St. Dallas. 10 am-12 pm. www.empoweringthemasses.org.

Mountain View Church of Christ Distribute Free Groceries, 7979 E. R.L. Thornton Fwy. 9 am-12 pm. Drive-Thru Only.

National Association of Black Journalists 45th Anniversary Celebration Feat: Jennifer Holiday via Zoom. Moderator: Kay Angrum. Honoring Founder, Dewayne Wickham Founders’ Appreciation Award Recipient. Free Tickets RSVP: https://bit.ly/3qqBWrJ Pre-event Reception 6:30 pm CST. Show starts at 7 pm. Post-event after party 9-10 pm. with DJ Andre Mack.

Daybreaker Live: ‘Tis the Season to Dance Presented by AARP Featuring Dionne Warwick & The O’Jays 10 am-12 pm CST. Free you must Reg: https://bit.ly/3oH0uLk St. Philip’s Annual Christmas Store Drive-Thru St Philip’s School, 1600 Pennsylvania, They are accepting gifts, donations, and signing-up volunteers you must register. To donate or volunteer, contact: LaSheryl Walker, 214-421-5221 x140.

Reg: https://bit.ly/3gCdVsZ The Hawkins Boys Christmas Giveaway Enter to win a Free Bike. Register to win a bike at: https://bit.ly/HawkinsBoys. Antioch Fellowship Church, 7550 S Hampton Rd, 10 am-12 pm.

Paul Quinn College COVID-19 Testing every Saturday 3837 Simpson Stuart Rd. Dallas 10 am-4 pm. If you have any questions contact: Ms. Lola Esmieu at pesmieu@pqc.edu.

Candy Cane Lane Drive-Thru Holiday Lights. American Airlines Center 2500 Victory Ave. 6 –9 pm. CST. Tickets: candycanelanedfw.com

December 23

Michael “Hollywood” Hernandez Live Podcast on Facebook @HollywoodHernandez, at 2 pm. Guests

Doc Shep Speaks Show! A fresh perspective, but still entertaining!

Welcome to The Doc Shep Speaks Show!!!. Tuesdays at 11 am. CST Live on Facebook/@TexasMetroNews, @ fnsconsulting, and YouTube Live @ docshepspeaks.

Walk-In Wednesdays Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care health centers offer flu vaccines from 9 am-12 pm and from 1 - 4 pm. Wednesday’s throughout the winter months. Locations, visit www.parklandhospital.com/locations Ask Dr. Amerson Show at 11am CST Alopecia Awareness. Dr. Linda discusses healthy hair and scalp talk, and alopecia talk, on FB Live and DfwiRadio. com.

I Was Just Thinking with Norma Adams-Wade “History Class is in Session” Join in on Facebook/@ TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio.com at 11 am -1 pm. CST. Wednesdays. Join the conversation call 646-200-0459.

Prairie Lights Drive-Thru Holiday Light Experience.

Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie 6-10 pm. Tickets; www.prairielights.org.

In 1959 Berry Gordy, Jr. establishes Motown Records

In 1989 New Orleans, Louisiana’s 1st Black Mayor Ernest Nathan “Dutch” Morial dies

Marvelous Marriage Mondays at Friendship-West Baptist Church Register for Virtual event, online at friendshipwest. zoom.us/.../upcpcOmhqz4rqNU 7-8 pm.

Dallas Zoo Lights Presented by Reliant Hosted by Dallas Zoo. Dallas Zoo 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy. 6:30-9:30 pm. Tickets: zoolights.dallaszoo.com/guests.

Safe Santa! Hosted by Hillside Village Hillside Village, 305 W. FM 1382, Cedar Hill. 10 am-9 pm. Tickets: https://www. shophillsidevillage.com Info: 214-548-0610.

Vitruvian Lights Hosted by Vitruvian Park. Vitruvian Park 3966 Vitruvian Way, Addison. 5-11 pm. FREE PARKING & ENTRY

D.O.B. of Arthur Mitchell First Black elected to Congress

DFW News & Tings with Jirah Nicole. From 11 am-1 pm. CST Tuesday’s on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio. com. Call in and join the conversation at 646-200-0459.

D.O.B. of Madam C.J. Walker first Black millionaire in 1869

December 24

December 22

In The Middle with Ashley Moss.

“Talking about topics that Matter” Join in on Facebook/@TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio. com at 11 am-1 pm. CST. Mondays.

Join the conversation call 646-2000459.

Parkland Free flu shots drive-thru flu and COVID-19 testing Monday – Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 South Polk St., Dallas.

December 21

Prairie Lights Drive-Thru Holiday Light Experience. Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie 6-10 pm. Tickets; https://prairielights.org/tickets/

Andrew’s World with host Andrew Whigham III on BlogTalkRadio.com 8 am.-10 am. CST. Sundays Tune in for thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news and commentary.

Join the call 646-200-0459. on

Kimbell Art Museum Presents: Queen Nefertari’s Egypt.

The One for Whom the Sun Shines. Beautiful Companion. First Royal Spouse. Virtual Tour Tickets: https://www.kimbellart. org/content/tickets.

From Marva with Love with Marva Sneed from11 am -1 pm. CST, Fridays on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, and BlogTalkRadio.com. Call in and join the conversation at 646-2000459.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Safe Santa! Hosted by Hillside Village Hillside Village, 305 W. FM 1382, Cedar Hill. 10 am-9 pm. Tickets: www.shophillsidevillage.com.

Reliant Lights Your Holidays Hosted by AT&T Performing Arts Center. AT&T Performing Arts Center, 2403 Flora St. 5:30-10 pm.

Tickets: bit.ly/32lP017.

Jirah Nicole’s 7 Favorite Things: 2020 Christmas Gifts List

By Jirah Nicole Staff Writer Ugg boots and sweaters And pots for my kitchen Cute winter clothing and Michael Kors Mittens FitBit Versa Smartwatch and Sandals for springs These are a few of my favorite things….

‘Tis the season of giving and we’re only a few weeks away from Christmas, but don’t worry, there’s still time to finish your holiday shopping. There’s plenty of amazing Christmas deals, sales, and discounts to help you save money on gifts this holiday season.

And the best part? They are all on Amazon.com

This fur boot comes in six different colors including black, chocolate, chestnut, gray, navy, and sand and is fully lined with fur and has sheepskin insole. UGGS are made for both men and women and can be worn both indoors and outdoors (in the rain or snow) as UGG boots have a rubber sole and are pretreated to repel moisture and stains. To learn more about this product, click on the link under the picture.

Rating on Amazon: 4.7 out of 5 Stars 2. Gonex Portable Home Gym Workout Equipment with 10 Exercise Accessories, $218

Why I Choose Amazon for Holiday Shopping I love shopping for holiday gifts on Amazon because I can do all of my holiday shopping right from the comfort of my own home. Online shopping provides a safe alternative to buying gifts in stores at a time when a global pandemic threatens the health and safety of others. With that being, it’s important to stay at home and avoid the large holiday shopper’s crowd.

Amazon is the haven of shopping.

It has anything and everything you’re looking for. From home goods to clothing to workout equipment to the latest tech gifts and gadgets, Amazon has it all.

Want to impress your loved ones this holiday season with some great gifts?

I’ve rounded up my 7 ‘2020 Favorite Things’, a gift list for each day of the week, of the best gifts for you to put under your Christmas tree this year.

1. UGG Women’s Classic Short II Boot, $170

The Ugg Women’s Classic Short II Boot is the perfect blend of cute and comfy.

This all-in-one home gym equipment system is the perfect gift for family and friends who are looking for a variation of workouts. Gonex home fitness equipment can help you exercise your full-body muscle groups and meet the different requirements of machines and equipment like barbells, dumbbells, and suspensions workout. This foldable and portable workout equipment includes: · Ab Roller Wheel · Elastic Resistance Bands · Push-Up Stand · 3-Section Bar · Post Landmine Sleeve · Push-Up Handlebar This home gym equipment system also comes with “Your Exclusive Fitness Coach,” which provides a professional fitness instruction manual and video that has 43 pages of full-body muscle workouts so that you can effectively train wherever you are and whenever you want. To learn more about this product, click on the link under the picture.

Rating on Amazon: 4.6 out of 5 stars 3. Fitbit Versa 3 Health & Fitness Smartwatch with GPS, 24/7 Heart Rate, Alexa Built-in, 6+ Days Battery, $229 This Fitbit Versa 3 Smartwatch is

a must-have this Christmas as it’s loaded with tons of cool features.

Want to check your pace and distance while you run, bike, or hike? The Fitbit Versa 3 can do it. Want to check the weather, set reminders, or control home appliances? The Fitbit Versa 3 can do that too. Want to track your time in light, deep, and REM sleep and have a better understanding of your sleep quality each night? Want to store and play music & podcasts on Deezer or Pandora, plus control Spotify-all from your wrist?

The Fitbit Versa 3 can do it all! The Fitbit Versa 3 comes in 3 main colors: choose from midnight blue and gold, black and black, or pink and gold. To learn more about this product, click on the link under the picture.

Rating on Amazon: 4.4 out of 5 stars

grip handles that makes these pots and pans easy to hold and maneuver. This quality cookware set features aluminum pots and pans that guarantee optimum heat distribution which includes transparent, tempered glass lids that allow you to monitor your food as it cooks without requiring the removal of the lid. To learn more about this product, click the link under the picture.

Rating on Amazon: 4.7 out of 5 Stars

4. Goodful Premium Non-Stick Cookware Set, Dishwasher Safe Pots and Pans, Diamond Reinforced Coating, Made Without PFOA, 12-Piece, Charcoal Gray, $99

This high-quality vest is stylish, comfortable, and perfect for the winter season. The North Face eco-insulated vest comes in ten colors: Blue frost, Blue Wing Teal/TNF black, TNF Black, Marron Purple Matte, TNF Red Distorted Plaid Print/ TNF Black, Vintage White, Tin Grey, Blue Wing Teal Matte, or Deep Garnet Red Matte.

Made with recycled materials, this waterproof is 100% recycled polyester with durable water-repellent (DWR) finish is guaranteed to keep you dry and warm during the cold months of the winter season. Not only is this vest soft and comfy but can even be worn in different types of weather including the rain, sleet, and snow.

This quality vest is a slim fit for a close layer of warmth and has an adjustable hem cinch-cord to adjust to your liking.

It features an internal, secure-zip chest pocket and covered zip hand pockets for you to store your phone, keys, and wallet. To learn more about this product, click the link under the picture.

Felecia Rating on Epps Amazon: 4.6 out of 5 Stars

For the special cook in your life, this 12-piece Charcoal Gray Cookware Set has everything you need to whip up some of your favorite dishes. This quality cookware set includes an 8” fry pan, 10” fry pan, 2-quart saucepan with tempered glass lid, 5-quart Dutch oven with tem-

pered glass lid, stainless steel steamer basket, 4-quart deep sauté pan with tempered glass lid, 10” square griddle pan, bamboo turner, and a bamboo spoon.

The best part about this pot and pan set is it features a durable non-stick coating that allows food to easily slide out of the pan and is manufactured without PFOA, so you can cook all of your delicious meals PFOA-free without worrying about exposure to harmful chemicals.

Not to mention this cookware set is dishwasher safe and easy to clean for a fast and safer clean-up with comfortable

5. The North Face Women’s ThermoBall Eco Insulated Vest

Dean and Professor of Law, UNT Dallas College of Law

6. Michael Kors Women’s Quilted Leather Gloves Black/Gold Keep hands and fingers warm and in style with these Michael Kors Women’s Quilted Leather Gloves that are black with the gold MK logo on them during the cold winter season. These leather clean

gloves are polyester and are completely touchscreen compatible making it easy and convenient for you to send messages and make phone calls without having to take your gloves off. To learn more about this product, click the link under the picture.

Rating on Amazon: 4.5 out of 5 Stars 7. Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling, with Alexa voice control-Black Looking for headphones that will cancel out any outside noise while you listen to your favorite podcast, song, or video?

The Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones provides you with the best listening experience and are an absolute must-have on your holiday list this year. These high-quality headphones have three levels of world-class noise cancellation for a better listening experience in any environment and has a noise-re-

jecting dual-microphone system for clear sound and voice pick-up.

Other features include an Alexa-enabled voice control to access music and information as well as hassle-free Bluetooth pairing and a balanced audio performance at any volume.

Have a gift in mind that’s not on the list, let us know in the comments so we can add it to our list. Interested in more posts like this, check out I-Messenger’s holiday blog.

Jirah Nicole is a Texas Metro News staff writer. A graduate of Xavier University, in New Orleans, Jirah is a multi-media journalist who loves her family.

You have a unique opportunity to be a part of something new at UNT Dallas College of Law. Our law school - which admitted its first students in 2014 - is not bound by the restraints of traditional legal education.

UNT Dallas College of Law is initiating change. Our curriculum stretches far beyond traditional classroom learning. We provide our students with hands on experiences and meaningful opportunities to engage with members of the community, lawyers and legal scholars.

Our mission at UNT Dallas College of Law is to promote justice and advance human potential through the enterprise of legal education.

OUR MISSION HAS FIVE GOALS: ACCESS Expand access to legal education for those who are capable of becoming legal professionals but have lacked realistic access to legal education.

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The all-new Hyundai ELANTRA. Tech-savvy, sleek and seriously dripping.

Designed for the young at heart, this sleek compact sedan offers a fully integrated tech experience with flavor you can savor right at your fingertips. Imagine a Digital Key that locks, unlocks, and starts your ride along with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Mix in Dynamic Voice Recognition that allows you to roll down your windows, pop your trunk, and control the temperature with your voice. Suddenly you have an intuitive, tech-savvy car designed for better living without breaking the bank. Now that’s dripping.

Preproduction model shown with optional features. Near Field Communication (NFC) digital smartphone key requires a compatible Android smartphone and an appropriately equipped 2021 Elantra. Not all Android devices are compatible. The Elantra must be equipped with smart key with push button start, wireless device charging, and Audio Video Navigation System 5.0 (or newer) or Display Audio 2.0. Lock/unlock functionality works on driver’s door only. See your Owner’s Manual for details and limitations. Dynamic Voice Recognition varies by unit. Speak in a normal voice and minimize background noise for best results. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2020 Hyundai Motor America.