I Messenger

I M essenger VOLUME 8

JUNE 21, 2019

ISSUE 44

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Established 2011 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.

JUNE 7, 2019

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INSIDE

FROM CONGRESS

BLACK FOLK

QUIT PLAYIN’

One thing is for certain, the 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, knows little about the true function of government, the history of our democracy and the fundamental importance of our Constitution, the document that guides our nation.

Many know them as the Central Park Five, but filmmaker Ava DuVernay forces to us see the five wrongfully convicted men as individuals.

Stop the music! June is Black Music Month, but the sovereign State of Texas is always offbeat. The Bluebonnet State was late getting the word to free the slaves and is always the last to the liberation party.

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JUNE 7, 2019

MY TRUTH

by Cheryl Smith, Publisher

Mentors SPECIAL REPORT

Davante D. Peters, aka Brotha SHAWT is a man on a mission with a heart for justice, equality and liberation.

He is an artist, an activist, and a visionary who desires to bring change to his community in Dallas, Texas, and ultimately the world.

Brotha SHAWT’s live debut performance of his ode to a Dallas County Commissioner will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the Cheryl Smith, “25th Annual Don’t Believe the Hype Bowl-A-Thon,” at USA Bowl, 10920 Composite Drive, Dallas.

Titled, “Like John Wiley Price,” catches the essence of the fiery, intense spirit of the Commissioner.

Brotha SHAWT, like so many in his generation has aspired to be more than a common statistic of his demographic. He has chosen to parlay his Godgiven talents and abilities in JUNE 7, 2019

the realm of art and music, and use them as a vehicle of positive social mobilization.

At 25, he is an active mentor who strives to be mentored by the political and social sages in his midst.

He is an older brother, an uncle, and a father figure to many of the youth that he has had the pleasure of molding and guiding.

Brotha Shawt has found a mentor in Mr. Price.

“Recently, I was approached by a young artist/political activist, and asked if I would give my blessings to a recording project,” said the Commissioner. “Brotha SHAWT has impressed me as a passionate young brother, who above all advocates for social justice in Dallas County.”

Saying that he is honored to be chosen as a role model and mentor, Mr. Price said he has three outcomes specifically for Black and minority millennials: 1. Encourage young people to learn and engage 4

in the framework of public service in order to better understand or eventually enter the forum of elective politics for the sake of lifting and liberating our people.

2. Reinforce the principles of self-discipline that are required to keep all of us healthy; mind, body and spirit.

Looking ‘fly’ whether ‘suited and booted’ or in “street clothes” require that you are responsible and accountable to love yourself so that you can adequately love and serve others in this community 3. Use this creative entrepreneurial spirit to encourage others and forge a climate of supporting the regeneration of the Black dollar where we live and a massive increase in the use of minority vendors, contractors and professionals.

Brotha Shawt has been a consistent example for myimessenger.com

community activism and was single, is an anthem designed celebrity, said Mr. Price. “It is noted among the peaceful to engage and empower important because the recent protesters arrested in young people to get involved spate of senseless murders September 2018 outside of in local politics. in our midst can be tied to the Dallas Cowboys stadium Additionally he supports feelings of hopelessness and (The Dallas 9 and Guerrilla the idea of the youth frustration. America has Mainframe). learning from their elders given us the gift of protest He has grown and dissent. and gleaned from We have a right to his own conflicts stand against any and challenges as systems where we a youth to become feel undervalued, a #woke and underrepresented or conscious man under attack. whose principle “Peace and concern is Power to Brotha personal liberation SHAWT and to this and social justice community who has for youth in humbled me with underserved the mantra; ‘Our and neglected Man Downtown.’” neighborhoods.

Brotha Shawt has While most become a leader Dallasites were within the Highland shocked and Dallas County Commissioner John Hills Community and immobilized by the Wiley Price and Brotha Shawt can be found any day senseless deaths of the week, engaging of his contemporaries; and challenging the notion the community there from Botham Jean and O`Shea that community organizing his base.

Terry, Davante went to and politics is an “older He was unsuccessful in his work organizing to expose person’s ballgame.” bid for a seat at the Dallas City contradictions in filed police His project will be released Council for District Three, reports. soon on Spotify and other but he will surely be a fixture He continues to fight for outlets, along with an in the Dallas community for just causes that make a accompanying video will years to come.

AND THAT’S THE difference. follow.

Like Commissioner Price, But the project is not TRUTH! Brotha SHAWT’S pending important for the sake of myimessenger.com

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JUNE 7, 2019

SPOTLIGHT

Eric Johnson sworn in as 60th Mayor of Dallas As he made history, Dallas’ 60th mayor spoke of a better Dallas for his two sons, William and George, and future generations.

For the second time, Dallas has elected an African American as Mayor and on Monday, U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsey conducted the swearing in of Eric Johnson, as he moved from State Representative to Mayor.

Eliciting applause from the thousands in attendance at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, Mayor Johnson talked about a vision for Dallas.

“Dallas voters did more than cast a vote on June 8th, they cast a vision,” he said. “They made a clear choice about who they want to be and where they want to go.

“Our mission in the coming years will be to fulfill this vision for our city. To create a brighter future and to build an even better Dallas: a Dallas that works for every person, in every neighborhood.”

Acknowledging the many issues facing the city, Mayor Johnson said that his agenda was ambitious but not impossible, “Institutionalize civility and a culture of respect at City Hall; Eradicate corruption in all its forms; Increase the use of data to foster greater innovation; Develop a workforce that is recognized as one of JUNE 7, 2019

Photos: Irish Watson

the most skilled in the nation; And ensure that Dallas remains one of the safest large cities in America.”

City Council representatives of Districts 1-14 are: Chad West, Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano, Casey Thomas II, Carolyn King Arnold, Jaime Resendez, Omar Narvaez, Bazaldua, Tennell Atkins, Paula Blackmon, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam McGough, Lee Kleinman, Cara Mendelsohn, Jennifer Staubach Gates and David Blewett.

“I look forward to working with Mayor Johnson and the new Council to realize their vision for the City of Dallas,” said City Manager T.C. Broadnax, “My hope is their fresh ideas and optimism permeate City Hall and that we can challenge each other to improve the lives of Dallas residents.”

The new Council met at City Hall in Council Chambers for their first meeting, following the program and elected Council Member Adam Medrano as Mayor Pro Tem and B. Adam McGough as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor Johnson’s message: Thank you. Thank you very much. What a wonderful day. Thank you so much for being here.

Mayor Rawlings, Members of the City Council, City

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Manager Broadnax, city staff, distinguished guests, family, friends, and my fellow Dallasites: I am honored, beyond all possible description, to serve as the 60th elected Mayor of the City of Dallas, Texas.

I thank God for this incredible opportunity. I have known for a long time that public service would be my life’s work, and I am grateful to the people of Dallas for allowing me to serve as their mayor.

And speaking of service, I would like to thank Mayor Mike Rawlings and his lovely wife, Micki, for the past eight years. Mayor Rawlings, you’ve been a good friend to me. But you’ve been an even better friend to Dallas.

Thank you so much for your leadership. Because of it, we are a better city than we were eight years ago and I know that everyone here deeply appreciates you and your family for that.

I also want to say “thank you” to my family. I am truly blessed to have the love and support of my wife and best friend, Nikki. Nikki you are my rock, my partner, and quite often, my reality check. None of this would be possible without you. Thank you, Nikki. I love you so much.

And to our two boys, William and George: I am so proud of both of you! Today I will be taking on a new job title. But I want you boys to know that my two most important job titles will always be “husband” and “dad.”

My friends, as with all ceremonies such as this, today represents a new beginning, not just for me and the City Council members seated behind me, but for our entire city. myimessenger.com

Dallas voters did more than cast a vote on June 8th, they cast a vision. They made a clear choice about who they want to be and where they want to go.

Our mission in the coming years will be to fulfill this vision for our city. To create a brighter future and to build an even better Dallas: a Dallas that works for every person, in every neighborhood.

I promised the people of Dallas that I would seek consensus. And I will.

I pledged that our new City Council would unite to find common ground and common-sense solutions to our problems. And we must.

Today, we officially begin the work of unifying our city behind a single, powerful vision: Dallas will be a place where anybody can do anything. Take me, for instance. I grew up in very modest circumstances in West Dallas and Oak Cliff, the son of a working class family.

But with the love and support of a single Dallas ISD teacher, Miss Faris, my world was opened up to endless possibilities and dreams. And because of a family, a neighborhood, a church, and non-profit organizations like the Boys and Girls Club that supported my dreams, I stand before you today doing something that, at one time in my life, even I would have told you was impossible.

We MUST build a Dallas where every child has the tools, including the love and support, they need to dream big dreams and to accomplish what might at first appear to be impossible.

And every single day we must work to transform Dallas from what it is into what it can and ought to be.

Today is a new day for our city. And it is a fresh start for our new City Council and our entire community. It is a day where we must work together, and we must explore new ways of doing things in order to achieve the greatest possible results. Campaign season is officially over and I am hereby extending my hand to every member of our new City Council. I promise to work with each and every one of you to do what is best for Dallas.

A new day for Dallas means a new culture of civility at City Hall. We can attack problems without attacking people. As mayor, that is exactly what I am asking our city leaders to do, whether we are dealing with each other, city staff, or the public. The challenges facing this city are simply too big for us to act small. When we disagree on an issue, we need to do so with a spirit of grace, a tone of civility, and from a posture of friendship. After all, we all want what is best for our city. So, to the members of our new City Council—my door is open. And so is my mind.

Let us work together to build a friendlier and more respectful city government.

A new day for Dallas means a new focus on ethics. I’ve served in elected office for nearly a decade. One principle I have never wavered on, and will never compromise on, is that there is no place in government for corruption. I am committed to working with our new City Council to rewrite our city’s Code of Ethics. We must end the corruption at City Hall immediately, completely, and permanently.

Our city government should be as honest and hardworking as our city. As a husband, a father, a lawyer and an elected official, honesty and integrity have always been my guides and they will continue to be my guides as your mayor. myimessenger.com

Let us work together to build a more honest and ethical city government.

A new day for Dallas means a new focus on data and innovation.

A 21st century city must have a 21st century government. As a legislator, I pushed hard for more datadriven policy making, particularly in the areas of early childhood education and public safety. Data can help our city government become more innovative and efficient by directing taxpayer dollars toward those programs and initiatives that are most likely to yield results. With lower revenue caps being imposed on cities like Dallas by my old friends in the Texas Legislature, it is now more important than ever that we learn to do more with less. We simply cannot afford to fund programs or initiatives whose effectiveness is not, or cannot be, supported by data.

We should also do a better job of harnessing the power of technology to deliver services to the residents of Dallas and to make more data more readily available to the public. We must provide a higher level of customer service, transparency and accountability to our residents if we truly want Dallas to be a 21st century city.

Let us work together to build a more innovative, datadriven city government.

A new day for Dallas means a new emphasis on education and workforce.

The Dallas of tomorrow is being created in the classrooms of today. And so we need to do everything we can to ensure that we are delivering the high-quality education that our children deserve and our parents demand. We will continue to partner with our friends in the education community and support them in their work.

And we will push for common-sense ideas like expanding full-day public Pre-K, aligning our public schools with 21st century workforce needs, and improving access to affordable child care.

I know firsthand the difference a quality education can make in a person’s life. I would not be standing before you today were it not for the incredible education I was so blessed to receive. I am proud to announce that over the next four years, there will be even greater support from the mayor’s office for both improving our public schools and for enhancing our city’s workforce. In the coming weeks, I will be creating a new City Council committee focused on our city’s education and workforce needs and I will also be appointing an Education and Workforce czar or czarina to help Dallas become known as quickly as possible as the “Education and Workforce Capital of Texas”.

Improving our public schools and our workforce is going to take all of us. We definitely need support from City Hall, but we also need support from the business community, neighborhood and community organizations, and of course, the education community -- from our local school districts to our community college district. Supporting our public schools is an investment: an investment that will allow us to reap benefits far into the future in the form of a more skilled workforce that will, in turn, strengthen our economy.

Let us work together to improve our public schools. And let us work together to develop a more skilled workforce to help lift our fellow Dallasites out of poverty and make our city more prosperous and equitable.

Finally, a new day for Dallas means a new approach

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to fighting crime.

Nothing a government does is more important than protecting its residents. Like all major cities, Dallas sometimes faces challenges when it comes to public safety.

We are facing such a challenge right now, and it is a serious one. But, like we have every single time we have faced such a challenge in the past, we will rise to meet the current challenge and we will ensure that Dallas remains one of the safest large cities in the country.

I will encourage our Police Chief to strengthen our partnerships with our friends in law enforcement at the federal, state, and county levels in order to increase the number of licensed peace officers on our streets immediately.

I have been assured by the Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety that his agency stands ready to help Dallas by deploying the same strategies his agency used to help the City of San Antonio reduce its crime rate by nearly 20 percent last year when they were dealing with a similar public safety challenge.

I will also work with our new City Council, our City Manager, and our Police Chief to address, in a sustainable way, our police officer shortage, by tackling the issue of officer salaries and benefits and also the issue of low morale within our police department. And we need to address head-on the fact that we have a long way to go when it comes to police-community relations. We have to work even harder to encourage young men and women from every neighborhood in Dallas to pursue careers in law enforcement and to become Dallas police officers.

Let us work together to build an even safer Dallas.

So, here is my agenda for the next four years: Institutionalize civility and a culture of respect at City Hall.

Eradicate corruption in all its forms.

Increase the use of data to foster greater innovation.

Develop a workforce that is recognized as one of the most skilled in the nation.

And ensure that Dallas remains one of the safest large cities in America.

Is this an ambitious agenda? Yes. Will it be easy? No. But will we get it done? Absolutely.

And get it done, we must. Because our future, and more importantly our children’s future, depends on it.

We can and we will create a brighter future for Dallas.

My friends, today I promise you that we will challenge the status quo and that, when we do, we will change this city.

Those of us seated up here on this stage need help from all of you. This is YOUR city. We are YOUR government.

I am asking each of you to work with us. None of this can happen without you. If you have an idea, call us. If you have a question, come see us. We are a government FOR the people and we want your involvement. No...we NEED your involvement.

The work ahead of us will be challenging, but rewarding. So, let us begin today.

It is indeed a new day in Dallas. And together, we can be... One Dallas, with one vision.

And we can be one people, with one incredibly bright future. That is our mission, and this is our moment.

May God bless you and may God continue to bless the great City of Dallas, Texas.

JUNE 7, 2019

WHO’S WHO

JUNE 7, 2019

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myimessenger.com

COMMENTARY

by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Watching Trump, seeing Nixon

One thing is for certain, the 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, knows little about the true function of government, the history of our democracy and the fundamental importance of our Constitution, the document that guides our nation.

Mr. Trump may understand business and the entertainment industry, but he has proven in the past two years that he has little knowledge of how our democratic society functions, nor the significance of our three independent branches of government. It seems that he is best suited for a 17th century European monarchy.

A ringmaster and bully, Mr. Trumps seems to believe that the Supreme Court is his personal bastion of legal advertisers, and that the Congress is his legislative playground whose members will jump when he says jump, and kiss his ring when he extends his myimessenger.com

hand. Oh how delusional!

Mr. Trump does not seem to understand that one of the functions given to the House of Representatives is oversight of the executive branch of government.

Any historian, if the president were to ask, would correctly inform him that the founders of this nation expressly placed that role in the Constitution so that a chief executive could not do as he or she wished after climbing out of bed in the late morning.

I am not certain if the founders anticipated that one day the leader of the nation would be an individual with the qualities of Mr. Trump, who seems to believe that he has supreme power, and that only his glass will hold water.

A case in point is Mr. Trump’s refusal to allow past and current members of his administration to testify before congressional panels that are seeking answers or explanations that the public have every right to know.

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Mr. Trump, with the attitude of an heir to a throne, has instructed people to refuse to appear.

He states that their information is privileged, but most astute people know that he simply wants to conceal something unfavorable.

He has also claimed privilege over information that the Congress has requested for review.

In the case of the Census he supports his Labor Secretary who was not forthcoming while appearing before a congressional panel.

Sadly, the 45th president does not seem to understand that his unwillingness to cooperate with Congress has serious consequences.

President Nixon discovered that before he left office. Mr. Trump should learn from Mr. Nixon’s experience!

JUNE 7, 2019

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JUNE 7, 2019

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myimessenger.com

COMMENTARY

by Dr. Julianne Malveaux

Injustice revealed, dramatized Many know them as the Central Park Five, but filmmaker Ava DuVernay forces to us see the five wrongfully convicted men as individuals.

Their names are names we must remember, as individual, courageous, principled Black and Brown men. They are Korey Wise, Raymond Santana, Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, and Kevin Richardson. DuVernay’s new Netflix mini-series, “When They See Us”, ask what “they” see when they see young men of color. They see criminals. They see violence. They don’t see their precious youth, a youth that was snatched away by a racist criminal injustice system that railroaded them.

The 1989 rape of Trisha Meili horrified New York City. But there was no evidence that the five accused young men were the perpetrators. Indeed, much later, another man confessed to her rape. Meanwhile, Raymond, Yusef, Antron, and Kevin were sentenced to five to seven years. Each served at least five. Korey Wise was 16, so he was tried and convicted as an adult.

He served 12 years and was brutalized and beaten throughout his incarceration.

In jail, a rapist is just one step up from a child molester, and the racial dynamics of prison life were such that Korey was a target for abuse.

“When They See Us” is harrowing and humanizing. It digs into the marrow of the bones of the accused men and their families. It reminds us that the cost of unjust incarcerations is felt not only by the incarcerated but also by their families. We see the ways families dealt with the unlawful imprisonment of their loved ones. Some hover and hug, some distance themselves, and all of the lives are complicated by the economic challenges that lower-income families face. Who can pay for a decent lawyer? For visits that may be hundreds of hours, and too many dollars, away from a home base? Who writes? Who can’t write?

How do incarcerated people maintain dignity and equilibrium? myimessenger.com

“When They See Us” is important, not because it tells the story of five young men – Raymond, Yusef, Antron, Kevin, and Korey – who were scapegoated, but because it reminds us that this case is but the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to the Innocence Project and other dedicated people, these men were exonerated, their convictions vacated, and a financial settlement awarded to them, providing them with about a million dollars for every year incarcerated. How many young men of color, though, are unjustly arrested, tried, and convicted. How many have been so railroaded that after of hours of interrogation (as with Raymond, Yusef, Antron, Kevin, and Korey) they choose to confess to crimes they did not commit because they are frightened. Their vacated sentences and their financial settlement is some form of vindication, but as they all have said, nothing can bring those years back. Some are angry, some are depressed, and some have offered themselves as speakers to talk about the flaws in the criminal just-us system. Korey Wise, who got the most substantial financial settlement because of the longest time he spent in jail, generously donated $190,000 to the Colorado Innocence Project.

The ugly underbelly of this story is the white women who insist that these young men must have been guilty of something.

Linda Fairstein, the prosecutor in the case, is depicted as benign of the rules and withholding evidence. Why? Because she could. She is the epitome of Becky, of Miss Ann, of a white woman who was prepared to ruin young lives, even though there was no evidence to tie Raymond, Yusef, Antron, Kevin, and Korey to the rape of Trisha Meili. Fairstein has been spanked in the court of public opinion, being so vilified that she has stepped down from the board of her alma mater, Vassar College.

But she is adamant in her insistence that she did nothing wrong. Even though she lied. Even though there was a weak train

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of evidence, with no DNA. Even though.

But she is a privileged white woman who took her ticket to ride into author stardom.

The Mystery Writers of America chose to rescind her award. Good for them!

And then there is the victim, Trisha Meili. No one should have experienced the brutality that she did. She is entitled to grace, understanding, and compassion.

She is not entitled to accuse young men whose DNA was not on her, whose alleged attack on her was not verified. Even as we applaud her survival, we abhor the ways she supports the corrupt Linda Fairstein and the police officers who coerced false confessions from the accused young men.

I remember 1989. I remember the inflammatory press describing young Black and Brown men as animals off “wilding.” I remember writing and talking about the inhumanity of their descriptions and about the lies the press inflamed. And I remember one Donald Trump who was so outraged that he spent $85,000 to take out full-page ads asking that five young men get the death penalty for a crime they did not commit. He has yet to apologize. He doesn’t do that. He is the one who needs to be incarcerated.

I am grateful to Ava DuVernay for her sensitive production of this story, as well as to Ken Burns for an earlier documentary.

I am mindful that these accused men are the tip of the iceberg. The coercion that they experienced happens every day. And I am thankful that the Innocence Project supports the wrongfully incarcerated. But at the bottom line, y’all, I’m mad as hell.

What can we do about it?

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist, and social commentator.

JUNE 7, 2019

QUIT PLAYIN

by Vincent Hall

The Procrastinators Portmanteau!

Stop the music! June is Black Music Month, but the sovereign State of Texas is always offbeat. The Bluebonnet State was late getting the word to free the slaves and is always the last to the liberation party. If you happen to be anything less than a rich property owner with connections in Texas, everything is a bit behind. Texas is the Lone-Stall State!

Juneteenth is what wordsmiths call a portmanteau (portman’too). A portmanteau, simply put, is a blending of two or more words to create a new word or concept. Blended word concepts are important when you study history because the interpretation of federal and state law is wrought with dubious terms and double entendre.

Take for example the Supreme Court’s instruction to the states after Brown v. Board of Education. The court agreed that segregation violated the Constitution but allowed the states to correct their injustice with “all deliberate speed.” All deliberate speed was legally translated by Segregationists as;”OK to procrastinate, no need to rush.”

Juneteenth is by no means a legal term but was based in legal precedent.

Honest Abe issued the Emancipation Proclamation in the fall of 1862 with an enforcement date of January 1st 1863.

For slaves in Texas the decree was hardly worth the parchment it was scribbled upon because the state remained under the control of the Confederacy.

Texas and especially East Texas fought and resisted the Emancipation Proclamation, and it was not until June nineteenth, 1865, that Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops descended upon Galveston to demand an end to the emancipation procrastination. Maybe we need another federal intervention.

JUNE 7, 2019

154 years post Juneteenth and Texas is still moving with all deliberate speed when it comes to defending the poor and taking care of teachers and a whole range of subjects that social justice activists sink their teeth in.

Governor Greg Abbott is no General Granger and has little compassion for anything that doesn’t keep him in office.

In September of 1986, Abbott was jogging on a windy day through the ritzy River Oaks neighborhood in Houston. A large Oak limb snapped as he ran beneath it. The accident cost him the use of his spine and wreaked havoc on his kidneys. Abbott, an attorney, sued the homeowner and a tree care company and has received nearly $7,000,000 in payments since.

Author and Attorney Mark Bello makes mention of Abbott’s gross hypocrisy in a 2013 “Legal Examiner.”

“Mr. Abbott has been outspoken in his support for the tort reforms. He says tort reform is needed to curb “frivolous lawsuits.” What a hypocrite!

For example, under Abbott’s policies, if a patient is left paralyzed from the waist down due to a doctor’s negligence, tort reform caps non-economic damages at $250,000 with no built-in increases over time, to keep up with the rising cost of living. And, let’s not forget who we are talking about. Abbott has sued the federal government 27 times; (20 since President Obama took office) at the expense of taxpayers. The cost for

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Texas alone is $2.58 million. Of those 27 cases, he has won five. Were these 22 loses frivolous expenditures of taxpayer money?”

Greg Abbott will not accept the Obamacare Medicaid expansion in Texas causing millions to suffer preventive, physical and psychological treatment. Parkland Hospital of Dallas, one of the leading public health facilities in the world estimates that it loses more than $100,000,000 per year as a result.

And then there’s this other issue that gets lost in the red-state assault of women’s productive rights. The Texas Tribune reported; “The rate of maternal deaths in 2012 among black women was 27.8 per 100,000 live births, compared with 13.6 for white women and 11.5 for Hispanic women.” That is just one casualty of denying Medicare that goes under the radar. There are so many others.

Texas is in a constant state of procrastination, and it keeps all that intact by electing GOP legislatures led by the biggest freedom staller and hypocrite of them all…our “frenemy” Greg Abbott!!! (And yes, frenemy is another portmanteau!) #maketexasblue myimessenger.com

Mobilize millennials and youth

and College Director. “When we come together to share knowledge, FROM THE NAACP new challenge oppressive narratives, and when

BY DERRICK JOHNSON Derrick Johnson is the President and CEO of the National we celebrate Association for the Advancement of Colored People. each other, our movement gains momentum. When we leave –The NAACP prepares to mobilize convention this movement of millenthousands of millennials and youth activists within the black communinials and Generation Z will be reignited to recruit new leaders, lead with ty at the upcoming 110th National solutions, and use their political agenConvention, taking place in Detroit, cy to take America off cruise control.”

Michigan from July 20 to 24. The The Youth and College Division of convention will feature a wide varithe NAACP has been recharged in ety of events and workshops that will the last year since National Director empower the leaders of tomorrow to Loftin has joined the Association. On create a better world for all people to January 19, 2019 hundreds of young thrive.

NAACP men and women joined the “Now more than ever this country national fight for women’s rights and understands and recognizes that there attended the historic Women’s March are consequences to not listening to in the nation’s capital, continuing its young black leaders. Of all the other work to promote sustained advocacy spaces that exist for our movement and protect civil rights in the modern to come together, this one should be era. taken the most seriously,” said Tiffany The youth and college programming Dena Loftin, NAACP National Youth B A LT I M O R E

myimessenger.com

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at the 110th convention will feature a series of captivating and informational workshops and events all leading up to the grand finale, the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Dinner Royal Gala: Black Renaissance, on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at the COBO Center.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet prominent voices in advocacy today. Writer and Civil Rights Activist Shaun King will moderate the Roy Wilkins Luncheon: Democracy In Color. Kid Fury and Crissle West of The Read Podcast, will host the Black Renaissance Royal Gala, and writer and economist Derrick Grace II will lead a workshop on Gun Violence Prevention.

The Youth and College Public Mass meeting will take place on Sunday, July 21. This will be an open, facilitated, discussion on creating the black millennial agenda. The conversation will center on accessibility and defeating all odds with Harvard University’s first blind and deaf graduate, Haben Girma serving as moderator.

JUNE 7, 2019

JUNE 7, 2019

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myimessenger.com

From Marva with

By Marva Sneed

The 9th Anniversary Celebration, “Taste of BSW HWC” was on June 7, 2019 at the Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center, 4500 Spring Ave, in South Dallas.

The Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center (BSW HWC) at Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center offers comprehensive health and wellness services with an emphasis on access to care, health education, nutrition and physical activity.

The Center is a model for population health, community collabora-tion and innovation all aimed at meeting the healthcare needs of our neighbors.

The on-site health clinic has five exam rooms and two providers on staff.

The physician and nurse practitioner work hand in hand with nutritionists, health educators, social workers and other health professionals to provide quality care—all conveniently located in the Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center in South Dallas.

Their Mission Statement: The Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center exists to myimessenger.com

serve all people by providing is about. Traditionally we personalized health and thought about health care wellness through exemplary coming from health care care, education and research professionals, physicians as a Christian ministry of and nurse practitioners. But healing. what we found out is that On my show ‘From this is Medical care. True Marva with Love’ on Health care includes two BlogTalkRadio. other things, com ‘Cheryl’s healthy nutrition World my guest and physical was Dr. Donald activity.

We E. Wesson, MD, don’t like to use MBA, FACP, the ‘four’ letter FASN, currently word exercise.

President of Moving, eating Baylor Scott & well and White Health and Dr. Donald E. Wesson combining Wellness Center medical care is and Professor of Medicine our recipe for Health Care. at Texas A&M University This a partnership with you College of Medicine in and your medical provider.

Dallas, Texas. We talked about the Health and MS: Dr. Wesson you are Wellness Center and how it internationally known and services the Community. recognized for your research of the kidney. What should MS: What can people we be doing to take care of expect when they come to our Kidneys? the event or visit the Health and Wellness Center?

Dr. W: As you know there is a high incident of Dr. W: Thank you for kidney disease in the black having me on your show. community. We can lose a That’s a good question. lot of our kidney function When they come to see and feel fine before we have us people can expect to any symptoms. We should see what real Health Care be doing preventative things

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like good nutrition plant base meals with small amount of meat and physical activity.

The two major causes to kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.

If you have any of those diseases you should work very closely with your provider to control it. For a don’t: Smoking, if you don’t smoke don’t start and if you do get help from your provider.

MS: What impact has the Health and Wellness Center made on the Community over the past nine years?

Dr. W: Good question. I can tell you it’s three things.

1. We have redefined what Health it is good nutrition and increased physical activity. 2. We have had over 600 people in the Community to become Program Member and their health has greatly improved.

3. What the Community can do is Partnership with Medical providers. Improve your nutrition and increase physical activity.

Tune in to From Marva with Love, every Friday at 11am on Blogtalkradio.

JUNE 7, 2019

CHIEF HALL

Citizens, Clergy, elected officials Rally in support after groups give no confidence vote

Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. attend rally in support of Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall

From Staff Reports In response to a press conference where Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall was given a vote of no confidence, the first African American woman to serve in that post received overwhelming support that included statements from Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Dallas City Mayor Pro Tem Casey Thomas, Next Generation Action Network’s (NGAN) Min. Dominique Alexander, members of the clergy and community based groups.

Citing several instances where they felt Chief Hall was not supportive, members of the National Latino Law Enforcement Organization (NLLEO)called for her firing.

Dallas Chapter Pres-ident George Aranda said, “We need a new crime fighter here. She fails to listen to our rank and file. She doesn't want to take any advice from the organiJUNE 7, 2019

zations. We're the pulse of the police department.”

The other police groups have not joined in the call for a replacement and City Manager Broadnax is not bowing to the pressure.

“I am confident that Chief Hall and the dedicated officers of the Dallas Police Department are focused and committed to ensuring that the safety of our residents is a top priority,” said Mr. Broadnax, who has the authority to hire and fire the chief.

“Chief Hall’s strategic approach to restructuring DPD has helped maximize resources and align the department to be more responsive to the needs of our community.

Through her leadership, Chief Hall has worked to improve efficiencies within the department, provide high quality service to every Dallas resident, enhance the department’s community engagement and outreach efforts, and address crime

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more proactively.”

Mr. Broadnax added that the Chief has his “support and full confidence in her ability to continue leading the department.”

In response to NLLEO, Mr. Thomas said, “Let me put some things in context. First, the city manager hires and fires the Police Chief.

The Mayor and City Council hires the city manager. Unless there are at least eight members of the city council who decide to fire the city manager, the city manager is safe.

T.C. Broadnax is the Dallas city manager. He has the support of the incoming Mayor and a majority of the city council. He said as long as he is the city manager, Chief Hall will be the Police Chief. Simply put, regardless of outside noise, only the council can fire the city manager and only the city manager can fire the police chief. Chief Hall is not in danger of being fired and she has myimessenger.com

Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Casey Thomas speaks outside of Dallas Police Department

my full support.”

Min. Alexander, who was mentioned in the press conference, issued a public statement and held a press conference where he reiterated support for the Chief: “NGAN Leadership wants the public to know that the community stands behind Chief Hall. In her short time as police chief she has done so much.”

Further support of the Chief came from the African American Pastors Coalition: “The African American Pastors Coalition stands in support of Chief Hall. We urge all citizens of the City of Dallas to join us in a unified effort to support her continued leadership of the Dallas Police Department.

She has made prominent steps to transform the department to reflect 21st Century Policing. Chief Hall has prioritized community engagement and outreach by connecting with officers in the field, meeting with Dallas community groups, professional leaders and local organizers. myimessenger.com

Under Chief Hall’s leadership, the department has implemented 5 strategic priorities: crime reduction, increased recruitment, advanced officer development, improved organizational effectiveness, and enhanced community relationships. In addition, Chief Hall has engaged the school districts and local colleges to generate a student pipeline and internship program. She has increased internal accessibility to her office and has overseen several General Order and policy changes within the department.”

Councilmember B. Adam McGough, Chairman of the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, releases the following statement: “Throughout my tenure, I have fought hard to support our police officers. The daily sacrifices they make are undeniable, and the challenges they currently face are without question. I will continue to ask questions and urge Chief Hall to provide strategic solutions and measurable outcomes to reduce

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headquarters.

crime across our city and to give our officers the support they have rightfully earned.

Healthy government must allow us to be critical and challenge ideas so that progress can occur, and we need strong leadership in our police department with transparent and objective performance measures. I do not support calling for Chief Hall’s removal.

Dallas, now more than ever, must come together in unity and strength. A leadership transition of this magnitude puts everyone at greater risk. The safety of our neighbors and our community must come first. The City of Dallas will not tolerate crime, and we will work together to make our neighborhoods safe.”

While Chief Hall has not responded to the NLLEO, in attendance at the Women’s Leadership Summit, hosted by former State Rep. Helen Giddings, she did ask for prayers, and had no problem with securing prayer warriors in the room.

JUNE 7, 2019

Featuring UBER EATS

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JUNE 7, 2019

Prevent Long Hot Summer of Violence in America PONDER THIS

BY RUSSELL SIMMONS

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “We should not wait for another one of our heroes to be killed before we stand up to take action to prevent this plague of violence from continuing. Nipsy was a great example of what can happen when a young man from our community puts his head down and transcends the traps that are laid by the enemies of our youth in America.”

Across the nation and throughout the world, millions of people are still morning the tragic and senseless killing of our Brother Nipsy Hussle.

We are again reminded of the terrible sickness of violence in communities across the United States.

We should not wait for another one of our heroes to be killed before we stand up to take action to prevent this plague of violence from continuing. Nipsy was a great example of what can happen when a young man from our JUNE 7, 2019

community puts his head down and transcends the traps that are laid by the enemies of our youth in America.

Let me be clear: All those who have the capacity and opportunity to do their part to end the senseless spiral of violence but do nothing by their omission are aligned with the forces that are against our communities’ safety, resilience and progress.

Complacency with violence directly contributes to its devastating continuance.

There are, however, very successful programs in nearly every hot pocket in our inner cities that are alarmingly underfunded.

Those effective antiviolence programs are in constant need of volunteers.

I have personally witnessed and worked closely with so many extremely productive and amazing programs that in fact prevent violence.

Effective programs like Erica Ford’s “Life Camp” in Queens, New York or Captain Dennis Muhammed’s “Peace Keepers”

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efforts in over 20 cities are in need of additional funding and support from city, state and federal agencies.

Of course, in addition, the private sector and local community support systems must also be summoned to help out. Now is the time to act to prevent future violence.

These two programs are shining examples of how much better and effective local interventions are than the police who in many cases are disconnected, not trusted, brutal and too often fatal.

But despite the results of current research studies on what works, city budgets in too many states are now being turned over to ineffective police containment strategies because of the undue influence of police unions and other conservative political forces.

Violence cannot be contained. It has to be prevented by trusted and effective community-based programs.

Are we prepared to sit back this summer and watch more than 50 of our kids get shot and killed every weekend in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Detroit, Miami, or in St. Louis? Because if we don’t act urgently now, that’s what is gonna happen!

Where is the national debate or priority about our children’s safety from violence? It appears that the hip-hop community is the only authentic and caring voice that is speaking out effectively and consistently on this important issue and “Taking back responsibility.”

Most religious and political figures won’t bring it up publicly or earnestly unless we do it first. I will do my part.

Will you?

No matter how big or small your impact might be, everyone’s input and support is needed now.

Even if you only will just write to your member of the U.S. Congress to urge more funding for community antiviolence programs, that will also be helpful.

The clock is ticking. The summer is coming. Are you prepared to lose a love one or a friend to violence in our communities?

Or are you going to join me and others to help make a lasting difference? Thank you for your response. With great love, all things are possible.

Russell Wendell Simmons is an American entrepreneur, record executive, writer, and film producer. He is chairman and CEO of Rush Communications, co-founded the hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris.

myimessenger.com

“Black” or “African American?

Tackling the sometimes-uncomfortable topic of identifying

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

In a recent televised commentary, Dr. Greg Carr, chair of Howard University’s Department of AfroAmerican Studies kick-started a stirring conversation that has mostly taken place inside the confines of Black communities around the country.

Carr tackled the sometimesuncomfortable topic of identifying as Black versus African-American.

“Despite the dictionary definitions, there is no term that truly describes people that were taken from Africa and forced into slavery,” Carr said during commentary on Washington, D.C.’s WUSA. NNPA Newswire followed up by reaching out to several individuals of color – Blacks, African Americans – in attempt to gain the pulse of just which way many lean.

“Many Africans who live in North America but were born and raised in Africa do not like to be labelled as Black,” said Dr. Tapo Chimbganda, the founder of Future Black Female, an organization that helps create opportunities for Black female youth to participate fully and beneficially in academic, economic and social endeavors.

“Growing up in Africa, where almost everyone is Black makes it difficult for people who grow up in that environment to understand, grasp and identify with Black as a signifier the same way that people born and raised in the West do,” Chimbganda said.

“While Africans dealt with coloni-zation and many of the same oppressive practices of white myimessenger.com

supremacy, they were a majority and once their leaders took over government, for the most part, oppression ceased to be about race and more about tribalism and ethnic rivalry,” Chimbganda said.

Harvard and Yale-trained physician, Dr. Hisla Bates, said race is a social construct and shouldn’t define anyone.

“I don’t like to be called Black or African American because it doesn’t define me and is dismissive of my heritage and ethnic makeup.

I am from the Caribbean and prefer Caribbean American rather than African American,” Bates said.

“There are so many ways to be ‘Black’ and so many mixtures and countries that when we define people by a single color, we miss multiple parts of who they are. That is true for Whites as well,” she said.

Dr. Gail L. Thompson, the founder and CEO of Inspirations

by Gail LLC, said “Black is a general term that includes anyone of African descent, including indigenous Africans, African Americans,

Caribbean Blacks, and immigrants.”

“A Black person can live anywhere in the world,” she said.

Thompson defined African American as a U.S. citizen of African descent whose ancestors lived in America before and during the era of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

“I am an African American who can trace my ancestry in the U.S. for five generations,” Thompson said. “According to my DNA test results, my ancestry is 92 percent African, primarily from the Congo/ Cameroon region and Benin and Togo.”

Further, the term “People of Color” refers to all non-White ethnic/racial groups. It’s a very general term, Thompson said.

Hip Hop Activist and author Sean XLG Mitchell, said there’s a significant difference between the labels of ‘Black,’ ‘African American,’ and ‘People of Color.’

“If we use the term Black, we are doing ourselves a disservice.

Black only identifies with the color of our skin but it has no cultural

connections to who we are as a people,” said Mitchell, the author of “How Do We Build A Real Wakanda?”

“As a result of our slave experience, we don’t understand the power and purpose of culture and we seem to be naive in how we regard and respect the unifying principles of culture,” Mitchell said.

“Other races of people benefit from employing a language, education, religion, names and customs that are centered around their historical experience and we’re the only people who fail to do so,” he said.

Mitchell said it’s important that all of African descent find time to read books like the “Autobiography of Malcolm X,” “The Mis-Education of the Negro,” “Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization,” and “Chains and Images of Psychological Slavery.”

“We would [then] have a better insight and understanding of culture,” Mitchell said.

JUNE 7, 2019

SHAFT

BY HOLLYWOOD HERNANDEZ

The new Shaft movie is three times as cool as any Shaft movie before it with Samuel L. Jackson, Jesse T. Usher as Shaft Jr. and Richard Roundtree as the original 1970’s Shaft. Samuel Jackson, at age 60 is still the “black sex machine to all the chicks”, while his son, Shaft Jr. is a “skinny jeans, badminton shoe wearing metrosexual who is a data entry clerk at the FBI (AKA-nerd). However, father and son are brought together when Jr’s best friend dies under mysterious circumstances and the younger Shaft enlists the help of his father to investigate his death.

SHAFT is a “Blaxploitation film” for the new millennium.

Shaft number two has the oldest, most misogynistic attitude ever had by any movie character. But there’s a balancing act with the two lead female characters Regina Hall as Shaft’s ex-wife and Dr. Sasha Arias, JUNE 7, 2019

played by Alexandra Shipp (who also played Storm in the latest X-Men movies).

The movie is hilarious with the contrasting attitudes of all the characters. Samuel L. Jackson is the biggest draw of the movie with his constant humor and his ability to handle any situation that may arise with the bad guys in the movie.

The movie reaches a great climax when Shaft and Shaft 22

Jr reach out to “Grandpa Shaft” for support in the biggest scene in the movie. At the age of 77, “Grandpa Shaft” is still a force to be reckoned with and his scenes are hilarious as well.

Shaft is a move you have to see this summer, with plenty of action, adventure, and non-stop humor. The movie runs 1 hour and 51 minutes and is rated “R” for language, sexual situations, and violence. That Shaft is one bad, shut your mouth...then we can dig it!

On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” this summer blockbuster gets my highest rating; a JUMBO (with extra butter)!

SHAFT, Tim Story, Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, Richard Roundtree, Regina Hall, Warner Bros., New Line Cinema

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LIFESTYLE

by Valder Beebe

That Celebrity Interview:

JENNIFER NOEL TAYLOR Are you spiritual and broke?

Are you doing what you love - yet struggling with money? Are you feeling frustrated with the Law of Attraction? “If you do what you love, the money will come.”

Really? Many reading this column have read the best-selling book, The Secret. If you did not read the book, you watched the movie.

Why? Because we are looking for the answers to life’s conditions outside of ourselves when the answer to all that we seek has been given to all of us; Matthew 7:77:11; “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Law of Attraction proponents suggest that if you think abundant thoughts, use affirmations, and maintain positive emotions, you will attract abundance. But what if you’ve done this and still have a negative net worth? Is the Law of Attraction a hoax? Should you get a “real job?”

Like many of us, Jennifer Noel Taylor, author of Spiritual and Broke, was doing what she loved and yet struggling with money. She was myimessenger.com

$135,000 in debt, and she often felt like a martyr. Everything changed when she had a shocking “Aha!” moment in the back of a police car. Jennifer discovered the real reason she was spiritual and broke and the missing secret we all need to create lasting prosperity while living our purpose. Are you ready to be spiritual and abundant?

Jennifer Noel Taylor has always believed that the Universe is full of magic and miracles and her gift to us has been detailed in Spiritual and Broke. –Text provided

by Jennifer Taylor’s publicist VBS: Thanks for coming to talk your book spiritual and Broke.

What facilitated you to go on the quest to address being a spiritual person while being financially and spiritually broke?

JNT: In the middle of the night someone broke into my house and assaulted me. After calling the police and sitting in the back of the police car, I heard “we are now escorting the victim to the rape trauma center.” I said to myself ‘wow I’m viewed as a victim’. I started to think….I was blaming my bank for being low on cash, I blamed my customers for not buy more of my

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services.

I was blaming everyone, except me. I was focusing on the external world and blaming everyone for my problems.

VBS: You said you were spiritual yet you were broke. You are a believer with credit card debt, a house you could not afford to live in and you consistently lived above your means. Jennifer you are not unique in those spiritual and worldly aspects. You represent a lot of people (including me at one time). Do we [as Believers] just lie to ourselves?

JNT: I think you made a good point, I was definitely in denial that I had problems.

VBS: Let’s talk about the law of attraction. At the time of your assault and before the incident, you were teaching the Law of Attraction principles, yet you were not living these proven principles.

Why should people follow you or anyone who is not doing what they are teaching?.......complete interview SoundCloud.com/ valderbeebeshow ValderBeebeShow.com, 411RadioNetwork.com, Youtube.com/valderbeebeshow, 411RadioNetwork. com; Podcast audio: Soundcloud.com/valderbeebeshow, Soundcloud.com/kkvidfw, 411RadioNetwork.com, PChatman Streaming TV Network

JUNE 7, 2019

Bluster is not strength For Donald Trump, America First is increasingly translating into America alone.

He apparently believes that the United States is so dominant that it needs no friends.

Trump prefers to act alone, often on impulse, in conflicts across the globe. He views allies as a burden, international law as an affront.

He claims that America is back, more respected than ever. In fact, it is becoming more isolated than ever.

The New York Times reports that Trump was ready to impose tariffs on Australia this week, to counter a surge of aluminum imports to the United States to all of 6 percent of total U.S. imports.

Fierce opposition from the military and State Department led the White House to reconsider.

Trump has launched a long overdue challenge to our trading relationship with China.

Our trade deficits with China have been the largest between two countries in recorded history.

The Chinese have been masterful mercantilists, manipulating their currency and conditions to capture jobs, expand exports and build their industries.

The U.S. — with our trade policies defined by global corporations and banks — has been willing to allow U.S. companies to ship jobs abroad to take advantage of suppressed labor and lax environmental and consumer standards, and then ship goods back to the U.S. Profit margins and CEO pay soared; workers and communities in the U.S took it on the chin. The relationship had to change.

Yet instead of enlisting allies in challenging the Chinese practices, Trump slapped tariffs on Canada and Mexico, on Europe, Japan and South Korea. He’s on the verge of alienating Australia, which has been a staunch ally in relation to China.

JUNE 7, 2019

Instead of isolating China, he’s isolating the United States.

Now the Europeans are ignoring U.S. warnings about the Chinese high-tech company Huawei’s 5G

KEEPING HOPE ALIVE

The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. system.

Trump trumpeted his NAFTA 2.0 agreement with Mexico and Canada as a great success.

Yet he suddenly threatens to slap escalating tariffs on Mexican imports unless that country cracks down on the people traveling from Central America to seek asylum in the U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (RIA), the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, warns this could torpedo any possibility of passing the treaty.

Trump isn’t just isolating the U.S., he’s isolating himself.

Trump moved to take the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord that includes virtually every country in the world. He’s repudiated the Iran

26

Nuclear Deal, spurning the pleas of our allies to respect a treaty that ensures Iran cannot revive a nuclear weapons program.

His bellicose bluster and military maneuvers against Iran have earned the rebuke of European allies warning against the threat of hostilities.

Instead of removing us from the endless “stupid wars” that he campaigned against, he’s gone all in with Saudi Arabia, sustaining troops in Afghanistan, Syria, escalating tensions with Iran, and vetoing the bipartisan congressional resolution seeking an end to our shameful complicity in the Saudi assault on Yemen.

His solo act on North Korea blew up in his face in the failed summit leaving South Korea to pick up the pieces, if that’s possible.

He’s ratcheted up the economic sanctions against Venezuela, adding to the miseries of the people there, while the regime-change efforts orchestrated by his aides violate both decency and international law.

The United States is a powerful nation. Our economy represents about one-fourth of the global GDP. Our military is the strongest in the world.

Our network of alliances is unrivaled.

Our culture — movies, language, currency — spread across the world.

But we are not an indispensable nation or all powerful.

Acting sensibly with allies, we can have immense influence. Acting erratically alone, we make ourselves weaker, not stronger.

Bluster is not strength. Isolation is not freedom. Lawless impulse is not strategy. Trump’s posturing is making us weaker, not stronger.

(You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org. Follow him on Twitter @ RevJJackson.) myimessenger.com

Epic Show- Creation of Fashion 2019 Keeping Families Connected, a Dallas-based non-pro-fit organization providing transportation and resources to children with incarcerated pa-rents, hosted its 3rd annual Creation of Fas-hion designer show presented by The Securus Foun-dation.

The “Epic” themed spec-tacular was

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hosted by TV personality and author Phaedra Parks (former Real Housewife of Atlanta) and talk show host Michael Molthan (M2 The Rock Show) with appearances

by Scrapp Deleon (VH1’s Love and Hip Hop Atlanta), Jamila T. Davis (CBS’ Pink Collar Crimes), and the Real Housewives of Dallas co-stars LeeAnne Locken and D’Andra Simmons.

A m e r i c a’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru Steve Kemble emceed the show, which featured runway looks

by Bravo TV’s Project Runway Season 17 stars Venny Etienne of Levenity and Lela Orr of Ferrah.

Additionally, Galleria Dallas provided seasonal sportswear, womenswear and menswear looks by Guess, Forever 21, GAP and Banana Republic.

“When I used to work with children at North Dallas High School, a lot of the parents were incarcerated and it’s really important to have people who would minister to them,” said D’Andra Simmons, CEO of Hard Night Good Morning and cast member of Bravo TV’s Real Housewives of Dallas. “I love what Letitia has done because she reaches out to those families when a parent has been taken away.”

VH1’s Scrapp Deleon also

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attended Creation of Fashion after encountering recent incarceration issues and separation from his children.

“When I went to prison my son was three at the time and my baby was only four months old,” Deleon said. “Mrs. Letitia Scott is doing something that I actually haven’t heard about anybody doing, and she’s spending her own money to transport children to go see their mothers and their fathers – and I think it’s things like this that needs to be broadcasted more.”

Through tickets purchases, raffles

and a silent auction, $23,000 was raised to benefit Keeping Families Connected.

Additionally, several criminal justice reform related organizations were honored with the 2019 Awards of Excellence: Award of Excellence: Dawn Freeman with The Securus Foundation Award of Excellence: Tina Naidoo with the Texas Offenders ReEntry Initiative City of Dallas Award and Proclamation: Letitia Scott of Keeping Families Connected

JUNE 7, 2019

ASK ALMA Unfaithful Dear Alma, My BIL has been unfaithful to his wife for years. Everybody knows, and I’m sure she did, too but she never said anything to me about it.

I told my BIL that if she ever asked me, I was gonna tell her everything I knew. Well, she did, and I told her everything. When she confronted him, she told him I told her. That caught me off guard, especially when he called and asked me if I did. I told him no. Later, I guess he said something to my husband, and my husband confirmed that I did tell his wife. I was so mad. I didn’t want to be in the middle of this mess. Now we don’t have the same type of relationship. They don’t come over, and we don’t do things we use to do. My husband said it’s because I snitched. I say he snitched. He shouldn’t have told

SPIRITUAL AND CRYSTAL ADVISER Veronica Perez

his brother anything. He should have been committed to me and had my back. Right? ******* Well, well, yes and no. Yes, I think he has your back, and no, he didn’t have to lie for you. Tell the truth and shame the devil, when your SIL called to find out what was going on with her husband, you couldn’t wait to carry those tales, could you? How long had you been holding all that in? I imagine you told her everything you knew (had heard) and everything you didn’t know (didn’t hear). Now you say you were caught off guard when your BIL called and asked if you had delivered that news hot off the presses.

You’ve got to be kidding me? I think we all can agree that adultery

are not neglecting it.

Inspiration/Influence: Taking positive steps to keep your body and soul healthy.

Lucky Numbers – 22.06.19.44.25.11

LEO – The Lion – 07/23 – 08/22 Greater achievements came unexpectedly. You were surprised but ought not be, enjoy the victory.

VIRGO – The Virgin – 08/23 – 09/22 Be more flexible with your time, others are counting on you. Make most of your energy, as you have too much to do.

TAURUS – THE BULL – 04/20 - 05/20 Struggles in family or at work. You need to keep your end; this is not the time to allow them to win.

STAR: PISCES - The Fish - 02/19 - 03/20 Your health is a big deal; make sure you

JUNE 7, 2019

LIBRA – The Scales – 09/23 – 10/22 Perfect time to give small token of your affection. Spend time with friends they need you to do right by them.

GEMINI – The Twins - 05/21 – 06/20 Your mentality has been sharp lately, it’s a good time to start a new class and gain more knowledge.

CANCER – The Crab – 06/21 – 07/22 Spend your money wisely, let it sit and

Alma Gill’s newsroom experience spans more than 25 years, including various roles at USA Today, Newsday and the Washington Post. Email questions to:alwaysaskalma@ gmail.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and Twitter @almaaskalma.

collect . Use this time to re-direct your energy to nature.

ARIES - The RAM - 03/21 - 04/19 Your inner strength is matching your outer; it is much easier to take care of all kinds of business.

FEATURED

is wrong. But what goes on between a man and his wife is their business.

You have to be careful when you nominate yourself to be the bearer of bad news. If you find joy navigating that position, you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons.

Step back and stop feeding this weed. Your husband didn’t take sides. He simply conveyed the truth.

Slip on your big-girl panties, own what you did and suffer the consequences. Make some apologies and admit you should have handled the situation differently. Start with your husband, and when you’re done, kiss him, sincerely, on the cheek.

SCORPIO – The Scorpion – 10/23 – 11/21 New challenges are coming, you need them, start your step up “game” now.

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SAGITTARIUS – The Archer – 11/22 –

12/21 Time to kick back and enjoy good times, parties or casual hangouts.

CAPRICORN – The Goat – 12/22 – 01/19 Work issues are worse than ever, make a power play or wait on someone else to do it. Go for it!

AQUARIUS – The Water Carrier – 01/20 – 02/18 You need to find compromise with someone important, it very well could be yourself.

Daily Oracle Reading: Ask and it is given: Your thoughts about him/her are only an inner self reflection and truest feelings of self.

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6-22-19 6p.m.

USA BOWL

10920 Composite Dr Dallas

214-941-0110

Cheryl Smith’s

Don’t Believe the Celebrity HYPEBowl-a-thon The Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists invites you to a forum answering a very important question:

SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS Evans Engraving

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

ASSOCIATION OF

BLACK JOURNALISTS

DFW/ABJ

Why is the Black Press necessary?

Darryl Blair, Sr.

mollie Belt

Shirley gray

thurman JoneS

cheryl Smith

Publisher

Publisher

Publisher

Publisher

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Elite News

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Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - 6-9 p.m.

The Black Academy of Arts and Letters 1309 Canton Street, Dallas TX 75201

In loving memory of Mr. Richard Claxton

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Patrick WaShington Publisher

Dallas Weekly

RSVP to: www.dfwabj.org or eventbrite.com

JUNE 7, 2019

JUNE 7, 2019

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR COMMUNITY CALENDAR Black Music Month

June 20-22 Cajokal Entertainment Business Conference, Crown Plaza Dallas-Market Center 7050 N. Stemmons Fwy.1p. Info: www.CaJoKaiConference.com.

Recurring Events Feeding The Needy Hosted by: Michael “Hollywood” Hernandez Live 834 S. Ervay St. Dallas. 3pm5pm. Sundays.

Marvelous Marriage Monday’s, Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. 7-8:30p covent@ friendshipwest.org Split Second, Jubilee Theatre 506 Main St. Fort Worth.

8-10p. www.jubileetheatre.com 5-24-6-23.

June 19 JUNETEENTH EMANCIPATION DAY

Happy Birthday Cheryl Smith Publisher/Editor of I Messenger Media L.L.C. She’s a wonderful Women with a great Vision for her team.

Music under the Dome Summer 2019 Feat: Sharnette Hyter & Kee Dallas, African American Museum 3536 Grand Ave. 7:30 &10:30p. Sharon BeeChum 214-414-8893.

Business Women’s Empowerment, Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. 6:30-9p.

Neighborhood Legal Clinic, Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 W Wheatland Rd. Dallas 5:30-7:30pm.

ZWH Community Outreach Center presents: Juneteenth Economic Forum, Frazier House 4600 Spring Ave. Dallas. 9a-3p. Info: email info@zwhjcoc.org.

2019 Juneteenth Celebration at The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center 2922 MLK Blvd. 2-7pm. info: 214-670-8418.

Dallas Job Fair, Hilton Garden Inn Dallas Market Hall 2325 N. Stemmons Fwy. 11a-2p. RSVP Eventbrite.com.

105.7 Rudy Rush Comedy Hour, Arlington Improv 309 Curtis Mathis Way, #147, 6-11:59p. Improvarlington.com.

Night of Worship, Trinity Church 1231 E. Pleasant Run Rd. 7-8:30p.

Pack the House for Emanuel Host: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Cinemark 17, 11819 Webb Chapel Rd. 7-9p. www. fathomevents.com Court of Appeals Reception, Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler, LLP, 3811 Turtle Creek Blvd. #1400, Dallas 5:30-7:30p. www.donorbox.org.

DFW Black Business Professionals “Divine 9” Juneteenth Networking Mixer, Lava Cantina 5805 Grandscape Blvd. The Colony. 6-9p.

Crawfish Boil $4.99 Per Pound, Rockfish Seafood & Grill, 2780 S. Central Exp. McKinney. 11a-10p.

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June 22 Octavia Butler, writer born 1947.

June 20

Men’s Health Month PTSD Awareness Month

Coalition Of Love Breakfast Meeting, The Morgan dr. 3010 Morgan Dr. 10a. Info: Charlie Brown 469-697-4448.

Community Solutions Host: Cajokal, CEBE & Quit Playin Moderator: Vincent L. Hall, Crown Plaza Market Center 7050 N. Stemmons Fwy. 7-10p.

Joanna Cattanach Campaign Launch, Ross&Hall Kitchen & Beer Garten 3300 Ross Ave. 6:30-8:30p. www. form.jotform.us

June 21 CAROL STOKES, POLITICIAN BORN IN 1927

Ole School Party Fish Fry Hole in the Wall Edition at Trinity Elk Lodge #480 2607 MLK Jr. Blvd. 8-2am.

26 Annual Dr. Marion J. Brooks Living Legends Awards at TCC - Trinity River Campus 245 E. Belknap St. Fort Worth 5:30-9pm.

Erykah Badu with Dallas Symphony, Morton H. Myerson Center, 2301 Flora St. Dallas 7:30p.

Music in the Park Concert Series, Valley Ridge Park 2850 Parkridge Dr. Cedar Hill, 8p-11p.

Aladdin, Music Hall Fair Park, 901 First Ave. 7:30p.

June 23 Wilma Rudolph, An Olympic Gold Medalist born in 1940.

2019 Scholarship Debutante Ball Fundraiser, Hilton Garden Inn, 800 N. Main St. Duncanville. 6:30-9:30p. www.memberolanet.com.

Cheryl Smith’s 25th Don’t Believe the Hype Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon, USA Bowl 10920 Composite Dr. 6p. Sponsor or Vendor or Reg. a team call 214-941-0110.

Dallas Desert Super Fest, Skyline Ranch & Event Center, 1801 E. Wheatland Rd. 1-6p. Eventbrite.com.

June 24 It’s My Birthday Focused, Fabulous, Faithful and Fearless.

Sixty It’s my year.

Marva J. Sneed BKA Co’Ka

African American Dallas Lit Book Expo Presented by: Kendra King at Highland Hill Dallas Public Library 6200 Bonnie View Rd. 12-5p. Sign Up at Eventbrite.com.

Que Sino 23rd Annual Scholarship Gala Harlem Night Edition 2019 at Omni Mandalay Hotel 221 E. Las Colinas, Blvd. Irving. 8p-2a. Tickets: www.seeitthru.org.

Reggae Party Cruise Host: Lynne Haze & Lesia Ramsey, Pier 121 Marina 1481 E. Hill Park Rd. 8-11pm.

Monthly Breakfast Councilman Casey Thomas II, Dallas Executive Airport 5303 Challenger Dr. 10am.

Empowering Women Toward Home Ownership Host: 2019 Ladies Home Buyers, Courtyard Marriott 1201 Raiford Rd., 2-5p. Mr. Douglas 214-641-4667.

CeCe Godbolt’s CD Release & Concert, Guest Emcee: Dareia Tolbert-Jacobs Impact Church 2945 Frankford Rd. Dallas 6p. RSVP: https://bit. ly/2WqcTc8.

#IGAL Dallas Monthly Meet-Up #Ourthing, Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave. Dallas. Happy Hour. 6p-7a.

Live Band, 9-12a.

National Black MBA Assoc.- DFW, Ft. Worth & Tarrant Co., Networking Mixer & Membership Drive.

The Social House, 840 Currie St. Ft. Worth, 6:30-9:30p.

34th Annual HP Juneteenth Parade & Festival, Willie B. Johnson Recreation Center 12225 Willowdell Dr. Parade 10a. Festival 1-5p.

Tomorrow’s Purpose: A Reflection of our Petals Carol Barnes, 14666 Midway Rd. #170, Addison. 12p.

Monthly CAW Clark Legal Clinic, Good St. Baptist Church 3110 Bonnieview Rd. 10a-12p.

Stop the Traffick 5K Run, Bachman Park 2750 Bachman Dr. Info/Reg: www.igtbok.org or 469-859-2180.

Reunion Lawn Party 2019, Reunion Tower 300 Reunion Blvd. E, Dallas 6:30-10p. www.reunionlawnparty.com.

UTSW Med. Ctr. & APAA Join Forces/ Moving People to Recovery & Wellness Classes, APAA, 3116 MLK, Jr. Blvd. 11a-12p. or 1-2p. apaarecovery.org.

The One Thing Your Doctor May Not Tell You, Dr. Jewel Pookrum M.D. Friendship-West Baptist Church 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. 10a.

DebraPeekHaynes Sheroes Capes & Converse – Celebration, Metropolitan Dallas Alumnae Ch. 2525 MLK, Jr. Blvd. 12-4p.

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Move it Monday Yoga N Da Hood, Warmack Library 760 W. Bardin Rd. Grand Prairie, 6:30-7:30p. https://www.yogandahood.com/ Cardio Hip Hop with JessieMae, LC Fitness 901 N. Polk St. Ste. #370. DeSoto. 6:30pm. Every Mon. & Wed. Info: www.jcfitness.info.

June 25 - July 12 Summer Learning and Feeding Program, Pathway to Life Center of Hope Church, 302 W. Palestine St. Hutchins. 8a-3:30p. Register call 1-888-419-0957 or email: info@cynthiamickensministries.org.

June 25 Dallas Young Dems Summer Happy Hour, Stoneleigh P 2926 Maple Ave. 6p.

Executive Suite: Business Mastermind Session, FUBU Mobile, 209 E Pleasant Run, DeSoto. 6-7:30p. Eventbrite.com.

June 26 Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Mixern5:30-7p. Visit Website: www.IrvingHCC.com.

Fashion Expo Dallas 2019, Thanksgiving Tower 1601 Elm St. 6-9pm. Tickets: www.universe.com.

Wednesdays Swing Dance Class at Allure Jazz & Cigar Lounge 110 S. Cockrell Hill, DeSoto. 7:30pm-9:30pm

June 27 1st Black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall retires in 1991.

Senior Line Dancing, Latino Cultural Center 2600 Live Oak St. 10am. Free.

Soul Jazz Thursday’s w/Natural Change, Sandaga 813, 813 Exposition Ave. Dallas. 8p-12a.

JUNE 7, 2019

JUNE 7, 2019

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