GarlandJournal
WWW.GARLANDJOURNAL.COM
MY TRUTH
By Cheryl Smith Publisher
Next meeting: Look at your ZOOM screen What do director, producer, writer, professor Spike Lee, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price have in common? There are many similarities but let’s focus on one specific issue. Recently Mayor Lightfoot called the media out on the diversity issue. In the early 1990s, Commissioner Price told Texas media outlets that he was only speaking to Black journalists. Talk about a mad scramble. Talk about some mad people! Then too, there were some very happy people, who looked or thought like me! Yes, it was an interesting time because previously Mr. Price picketed news organizations, calling attention not only to the paltry number of Black people in newsrooms, but also minority procurement; community involvement/ See MY TRUTH page 7
SERVING NORTH EAST TEXAS
Rising from the Ashes
Black Wall Street reflects the Story of a Resilient People
After a hundred years, the souls of Black Wall Street are rising up to show a resilient people as Tulsa celebrates the centennial of the Greenwood community massacre. “There is an absolute through line between the past and the present not just for Tulsa but for America in general,” said Hannibal B. Johnson author of Black Wall Street 100: An American City Grapples with Its Historic Racial Trauma. “What happened to Tulsa in terms of the massacre is symbolic of the racial history of America. We know that in the run up for 1921, the year for the incident in Tulsa, we had the summer of 1919. This was called the red summer. Red which was indicative of the blood that was shed from Black people as the result of racial violence in America.” Last weekend Tulsa commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Black Wall
Rev. Danielle Ayers Rev. Danielle Ayers has a bio that when you read it, makes you feel like you just aren’t doing enough! Just saying her title “Minister of Justice” at the Friendship-West Baptist Church is enough to let you know the sister is bad! Rev. Ayers is a “justice seeker, author, preacher, and teacher.” She provides leadership to the following impact areas: economic justice, food justice gender justice, environmental justice, legal clinic, racial reconciliation, voter engagement, and immigration and also leads the church’s public policy and justice initiatives through education, mobilization and organization. Rev. Ayers serves as the coconvener of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. and as a delegate to the Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race. She serves on President Jimmy Carter’s New Baptist Covenant Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the Faith Cooperative
By Gwendolyn H. Daniels
Marc Anthony Abernathy Elaine Bradley Scholarship Highest NAACP Scholar
A main attraction is the Black Wall Street mural
Street Massacre which took place May 31 and June 1, 1921, when an angry white mob, which deputized by city officials, attacked Black residents and businesses of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They burned the entire 35 square block area killing over 300 people and leaving thousands of people homeless. “The Black Wall Street Massacre stands out because
of the magnitude of the destruction. Greenwood was a well-developed commercial community. There were mom and pop type shops, operations and service providers. The Greenwood District consisted of things like movie theatres, dance halls, hotels, barber shops, beauty salons, pool halls, rooming houses and restaurants. There was also a group of profession business such:
May 2021
Dr. Thalia Matherson is an educator who skillfully bridged the worlds of education and community service. She spent more than two decades as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and district administrator in the Dallas ISD. Dr. Matherson served as President of the Dallas School Administrators Association and also took early retirement to become a sought after civic leader. With over 50 years as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., some civic service milestones include: Trustee - SMU; Huston Tillotson University alumni association; President, Dallas Retired Teachers Association and in 2015 she was inducted into the African American Education Archives and History Program’s Hall of Fame. A very active member of the Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Dr. Matherson is also a realtor; was named Woman of Year by the Interdenominational Ministers Alliance, 1978; and was also a member of the National Elementary Principals Association, Texas State Teachers Association and Phi Delta Kappa. She is also member of the Trinity Chapter of Links, Inc. We’re going to celebrate a special year this year on October 4, for this woman who has done so much for so many! Dr. Matherson leads with grace, charm, intellect and common sense -- the epitome of womanhood, sisterhood, service and love -- yes she is!
Garland NAACP set to present 9 scholarships
Photos and Story By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines
Superb Women Dr. Thalia Matherson
THURSDAY JUNE 3, 2021 VOLUME X
Federal Credit Union. She received a BBA in Marketing and Economics from The University of Memphis and a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School. Rev. Ayers is co-author of To Serve This Present Age: Social Justice Ministries in the Black Church and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In the fight for justice, we feel better having Rev. Ayers on our side. De’Shon Edmond De’Shon Edmond was raised in Greenville, Mississippi, and relocated back home to Dallas, Texas at the age of 10. A graduate of Skyline High School Career and Development Center in Dallas she attended The University of Texas at Dallas and graduated from Northwood University with a BBA in Management before going on to earn MS in Human Resources and Training at Amber University (now Amberton). De’Shon worked as a Human Resources professional for 15 years with the last eight in International HR Consulting Management at Deloitte & Touche LLP, in 2009; she decided to pursue her desire to work with children as an educator. De’Shon went back to school, and completed the Post Accelerated Certification and became a Reading Specialist. The wife and mother attends Concord Church in Dallas and she is a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends. Monica Johnson Admittedly there was concern for Jill Louis in the Monica Johnson is an author, mentor, advocate, educator, motivational speaker, TED presenter and a business professional with vast experience in cost, tax, and operational management with United Parcel Service, a Fortune 100 company. Monica is the author of “Shift from Broken to Breathtaking – Don’t Let What Happens to You Break You. Let it Break Open What is in you.” She is a skilled, credentialed entrepreneur and highly sought-after speaker , with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of North Texas and a Master of Theological Studies from Dallas Baptist University. In 2018, she earned a Certification in Non-Profit Management. Monica is Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of Monica Johnson Enterprises LLC, which includes the
brands “That Girl is S.M.A.R.T”, Reclaim You (www. thatgirlissmart.com), the “OneWordMovement Charities”, a nonprofit organization and Publishing House for mentoring young girls. This wife and mother was recently honored by Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. - Psi Chapter. Dr. Cheryl “Action” Jackson ACTION is a verb, noun, adjective -- all of that when you are referring to Dr. Cheryl “Action” Jackson. When she says she is “busy,” don’t believe her because she is really understating her very existence. This woman is ALWAYS dong something for someone else! People should be calling to help her, not ask for anything because she is doing so much for so many. Minnie’s Pantry is a ministry of love and service to mankind. Dr. Jackson continues to excel in the field of journalism, especially in radio and television. Also a book author, Dr. Jackson is a motivational speaker and philanthropist. Jackson’s humanitarian work and tireless contribution continues to be embraced, supported and celebrated across the country and around the world, including: Ellen DeGeneres awarded the charity with $30,000; Steve Harvey gave Dr. Jackson the Harvey’s Hero award along with a gift of $25,000 from Hillshire Farm; Winner of the local Lady Godiva Fall campaign Profiled in Essence Magazine. Her charity was also featured in The Food Network national documentary called Hunger Hits Home. America fell in love with Dr. Jackson when her team became the first winners on the hit game show series, “The American Bible Challenge” and later as a contestant on Deal or No Deal. The money she makes helps to build Minnie’s Food Pantry. And we know how Oprah feels about her. The Queen of Talk, not only hosted a fundraiser, but she also made a hefty financial contribution. Dr. Jackson is a frequent red carpet host and recipient of numerous awards. Dr. Jackson also received the 2019 National Association of Black Journalists’ Angelo Henderson Community Service Award. She is taking care of communities, one mouth at a time. Yvette Blair-Lavallais Reverend Yvette Blair-Lavallais is the senior pastor of First Christian Methodist Evangelistic Church and her ministry is centered in the social justice narrative of the Gospel. Currently pursuing her doctorate degree, she is a Public Voices Fellow of the OPED Project, a 2018-2020 Fellow of the Vanderbilt Divinity School’s Public Theology and Racial Justice
as doctors, dentist, lawyers, and accounts. This was a well-developed Black business community that faced an economic detour. In other words, the reason that the community was successful was because Black folks could not engage with the white dominated community in downtown Tulsa. They were metaphorically turned away at the gates. See BLACK WALL STREET page 6
Collaborative Cohort, and a 2017 Academic Fellow of Princeton Theological Seminary’s Black Theology and Leadership Institute. A lover of the written word, Rev. Yvette is an award-winning journalist who is also a 2013 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Perkins School of Theology at SMU, where she served as president of the student body. Rev. Yvette was named the 2017 Woman of the Year by I Messenger Media/Texas Metro News, for speaking out and giving voice to the numerous clergywomen who’ve been victims of sexual assault in the Church. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a long time member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists, she received a bachelors degree journalism from the University of North Texas, after graduating from Justin F. Kimball High School. Rev. Yvette has extensive experience in media, corporate communications, public relations and non-profit management. Tengemana Hill Knight Tengemana Hill Knight hails from Harlem and she attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She received her B.S. in Psychology (maybe that is why she is so cool!) and her M.Ed. - Counselor Education from Florida A&M University, where she was initiated into the Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (DST). Currently a counselor at Duncanville High School, Tengemana has a distinguished career as an educator and a community servant. She is a charter member of the Southwest Dallas County Alumnae Chapter of DST. A wife and mother, she is socially conscious and serves as a source of support and inspiration to so many women and children. Many know her from the grace and leadership she displayed as the First Lady of Lancaster, TX. Tengemana is a born leader, and a great team player. Just a few of the reasons why people love her so much! Judge Aiesha Redmond Judge Aiesha Redmond is the Presiding Judge of the 160th Judicial District Court. Previously she served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office in the Civil and Criminal Division, where she prosecuted a variety of felonies, claims, and civil matters. People always talk about her brains and beauty, because she is a scholar who knows the law, and she is gorgeous; but there’s so much more to this dynamic wife and mother who began her legal career as an associate in the Complex Commercial Litigation Division at Baker Botts, L.L.P. A
Quinn Eldridge
Top African American in GISD NAACP District Scholar (Garland H.S)
For the past 22 years, the Garland Unit of the NAACP has provided scholarships to the top graduating African American senior at each of the seven high schools in See SCHOLARSHIPS page 7
graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University; Judge Redmond was a member of the Law Review, graduated 8th out of 210 and earned her law degree with Honors. Judge Redmond has been honored by the National Bar Association and received several awards for excellence in service. She has also earned an Exceptional Women in Justice and Education award and a Humanitarian award. A dedicated public servant, who graduated from Southwest Texas State University, the Dulles High School graduate has a commitment to equal justice for all under the law. Her public service extends beyond the courtroom. She is an active member of the American Bar Association and has assisted and mentored students with college and law school mock trials. Judge Redmond is a member of Disciple Central Community Church, where she spearheaded a female mentoring program. A dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Jack and Jill, Inc., J.L. Turner Legal Association, and the NAACP; she is also the reigning champion of the Don’t Believe the Hype Celebrity Bowl-a-thon! Judge Redmond is respected by her peers and those who face her in the courtroom. And with good reason. She’s superb! Daphne Jackson Hornbuckle Daphne Jackson Hornbuckle is the IT Manager for Charter Communications. She has also owned an IT consulting firm, Diamond Technology Group, LLC. The native New Yorker is committed to public service. A dedicated community leader and past President of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Psi Chapter, she received the Outstanding Chapter President and Outstanding Chapter awards on both regional and national levels from 2014-2017. In 2016, she accepted the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce’s Connie Davis Roseborough Volunteer of the Year award for the chapter’s outstanding service and significant enhancements to the African American community. Daphne was inducted into the Third (2016) and Fourth (2017) Editions of Who’s Who in Black Dallas and has served on several boards. She currently serves on the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Hofstra University’s Women in Leadership Advisory Board. A member of the National Association of Parliamentarians, Women in Cable Telecommunications and the Dallas Society of Women Engineers, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Hofstra University. A team player and born leader, Daphne is loved and respected because she is loving, smart, beautiful, compassionate and honorable. A breast cancer survivor, Daphne is a dedicated woman of her word. See SUPERB WOMEN page 8