VOL IX NO 45 JULY 3, 2020
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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.
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Big Mama was right, a bought lesson is better than a told one THE BLACK CARD BY TERRY ALLEN
“A bought lesson is better than a told one,� is a statement that my Big Mama uttered a lot during my childhood. I never understood until much later in life. It was also a lesson that didn’t resonate with any of Big Mama’s kids until we grew older. Now during the Racial and COVID-19 Pandemics, Big Mama-ism is back front and center in my mind. The original statement is: A bought lesson is better than a taught lesson.� For the record the textbook definition is “You will learn more as you experience it, more than anything anyone teaches you.� Big Mama told me when I moved to NYC to stay alert and use my ‘first mind.� I did not listen. My first “bought� lesson came when I moved to New York City and fell in love with the taxi system. I lived in Westchester and I would stop and take the A-train in Manhattan. Mostly, I rode all over NYC taking Manhattan by storm by taxi-riding. I rode North and South as well as the East and West. I hit Harlem and Midtown on a Sunday, Greenwich Village and Upper East Side on Tuesday and then finally on Saturdays, it was Tribeca, SoHo and East Village. I applauded the drivers’ friendly
personalities! They asked me how long I was here? How did I like New York? They were very nice! I bragged to my native New York family about the amazing low cost vs. me driving my car. As I began to boast about the routes, then suddenly my New York family began to laugh at me, not with me. It turns out that every taxi driver overcharged me on purpose because I didn’t understand the geography and they took longer routes. The friendly questions were to assess my level of knowledge and I discovered I spent more on taxis than I should have! I had to pivot and dial back my ego for this lesson. So the advice of Big Mama was right. She would say, “keep your first mind.�So here we are in a second surge of COVID-19 infections making Texas a hot spot again. This time the infected includes those between 18 and 39 years old. We have had our 15th day of record hospitalizations and deaths. Despite expert medical advice, our leadership was among the first to lift restrictions and open up. We created a perfect storm. Now here leadership is dialing back and restricting interaction. This is a classic case of a bought lesson. Big Mama was right. In closing, this takes me to my endgame question: What lessons and words might your Big Mama say right now? Email me with your answer at Terryallenpr@gmail.com and you will get a Texas Metro News gift from me.
Terry Allen is a multi-media journalist and board member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
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INSIDE
MY TRUTH
THE LAST WORD
QUIT PLAYIN’
These are the times that people will be talking about for centuries to come. Just know, these times shall pass but for those who live through them; times will never be the same.
According to the Washington Post, the 45th President told 19,126 lies between his inauguration in 2017 and June 1, 2020. By now, the number has likely edged toward 20,000, as his Tulsa “rally” yielded dozens more.
Protesting is the social movement from emotion to resolve, from sensationalism to realism and rallies to pickets. The Warrior Model was logical, strategic, and built for endurance.
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MY TRUTH by Cheryl Smith, Publisher
Uniting
Against
LULAC President Domingo Garcia
Rep. Toni Rose
Sen. Royce West
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Racism These are the times that people will be talking about for centuries to come. Just know, these times shall pass but for those who live through them; times will never be the same. Some don’t want the times of the past. They aren’t wishing for the “good old times.” And there are some who say, “good riddance!” Which brings me to my truth. I want a better time, a time when we value ourselves and we value one another — a time when racism is not tolerated or accepted. There’s a virtual unity rally on July 2, 2020 at 6p.m. CDT. Now the idea of unity sounds like a nice concept, albeit difficult for a society that can’t seem to unify around the best way to protect everyone from COVID19. Still we have to believe in something so the Texas NAACP, The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Houston Area Urban League will commemorate the anniversary of the signing of theCivil Rights Act of 1964. Joined by Texas StateSen. Royce West, LULAC National President Domingo Garcia, President Texas NAACP, Gary Bledsoe,Houston Area Urban League President, Judson Robinson III and NFL Hall of Famer, Emmitt Smith, this rally will focus on key issues including racism, new legislation, and overcoming barriers
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to voting during the current health and economic crisis. The headliners also includeCongresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Bishop T.D. Jakes and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. Lending their voices to the call for unity are: Olympic Gold Medalist Michelle Carter; former NFLers Derrick Johnson, Greg Ellis and Tim Brown; star ofthe hit TV showBlack-ish,Anthony Anderson and actor/comedianGeorge Lopez. Texas State Reps. Toni Rose and Victoria Neave will join other elected officials. The moderator is radio personalityJamie Goodspeed, 97.9 the Beat (Radio One);Pastor Richie Butler, Senior Pastor of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church will open the rally with prayer, and Lola Wilson will sing the Negro National Anthem. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark of civil rights and labor law that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It prohibits unequal application of voter registration requirements, and racial segregation in schools, employment, and public accommodations. This historical legislation provides hope for the future and a path toward equality that can no longer be denied. We must seize this opportunity and hang on until we achieve our goal. We have to make sure this time is more than just another time! myimessenger.com
Can I Trust White Folks This Time? OUR VOICES BY ASKIA MUHAMMAD
When I was a young journalist, fearful of trusting anyone over 30 years old, there were prolonged clashes going on in the streets over racist police brutality, just like now. The civil rights movement resisted the white law-andorder backlash and morphed into the mushrooming anti-war movement. Then, as now, some radical Black thinkers looked at the pubescent faces of white allies who rushed to the front lines with suspicion. Can these white folks be trusted, or are they just trying to distract some of us? The Hollywood comedy “Undercover Brother” pokes fun at the notion of Blacks being betrayed after putting their trust in white folks. In 1968, I put the question on the front page of my underground campus newspaper, The Son of Jabberwock, at San Jose State. The cover art featured a nearly full-page black panther, with the face of Marlon Brando, asking the question: “Are the Panthers Integrating?” That stunt earned me a visit from a delegation led by Bobby Seale, co-
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founder of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, intent on schooling me about my editorial policies. Needless to say, The Son of Jabberwock continued to publish. Our next edition featured a full-page portrait of Dick Gregory at a speaker’s platform with his back to the camera. Gregory was a presidential candidate that year with the Peace & Freedom Party. He spoke at colleges all over the country, and everywhere he went, he would cheer on “you young people,” whom he said would make a difference and change the world for the better. In our Black Student Union, we were open to white allies, yet suspicious of the longterm commitment the white guys were willing to make. “They’ll just shave and put on a suit, then go to work in Daddy’s law firm,” we would sneer about the hippies who wanted to affiliate with the BSU. And sure enough, unfolding right before our eyes was the infamous Chicago 7 conspiracy trial, which grew out of the radical disruption of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It had originally been the Chicago 8, but after discovering that gagging and tying Bobby Seale to a chair in the courtroom could not prevent him from disrupting the trial, demanding a “jury of his peers,” Seale was separated from his co-defendants into a separate trial. Well, true to form, after the dust cleared,
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Jerry Rubin, one of the defendants and “the chief hippie,” you might say, joined his family’s stock brokerage on Wall Street. Today, tens of thousands of young white people have participated in rallies protesting the murder of George Floyd by a white cop in Minneapolis. Some protests have even taken place in towns where there are few Black residents. Am I wrong for suspecting that the phrase “Black Lives Matter” is the modern version of a Beatles lyric that will be forgotten after the coronavirus pandemic blows over, or after a couple of Grammy Awards shows? Are these young white people today really affected by the words in their creed, “liberty and justice for all?” Or are they just jivin’? Or is it too soon to tell? I can see myself being forgiven for not succumbing to the seduction that almost ruined Eddie Griffin’s character in his “undercover” movie. But it would be a bad, bad day for me to proclaim that Kumbaya is the New National Anthem, and that the Donald Trump Experience was just an ugly nightmare that is being replaced by the New Order, where mutual respect is the Order of the Day … but don’t quote me yet. WPFW News Director Askia Muhammad is also a poet, and a photojournalist. He is Senior Editor for The Final Call newspaper and writes acolumn in The Washington Informer.
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Shingle Mountain protest
Shingle Mountain is a public health crisis
From Staff Reports Calling Shingle Mountain a public health crisis, protestors gathered last week outside of what some have designated as one of, if not the most “unsightly images” in the city of Dallas. More than a year ago Texas Metro News’ Vincent Hall wrote about the atrocity that has developed into a huge, “more than almost 100,000-ton pile of hazardous and toxic waste, towering higher than a four-story building; a definite eyesore in south-east Dallas JULY 3, 2020
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County of South Central Expressway. Marsha Jackson, despite her declining health, continues battling city officials, county officials and anyone who will listen; asking for Shingle Mountain to be removed. Others are joining in as FriendshipWest Baptist Church and Southern Sector Rising stood with Ms. Jackson as she talked about the affect Shingle Mountain is having on the health of residents. According to organizers, it was”racist zoning that may have allowed” Shingle
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Mountain to exist. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III, senior pastor of Friendship-West, surrounded by others who wearing their masks and practicing social distancing, weathered the almost 90 degree weather to implore Dallas City Council members to “support a budget that funds the immediate and full removal of Shingle Mountain.” “This is a toxic waste dump, a public health crisis,” said Dr. Haynes. Last week was not the first time that residents have gathered to express their myimessenger.com
dissatisfaction with Shingle Mountain. Local NAACP leadership, community activists and residents have been vocal about the need to hold businesses accountable. Dallas County Commissioner’s Court issued a resolution calling action from Blue Star Recycling Company and while there appeared to be an effort to begin moving earlier this year, even with the state saying the mountain would be gone by now. “Quit giving them time,” said Ms. Jackson. Sporting a hash tag, #Wecantbreathe Friendship-West leaders and members have been on the frontline of fighting for social and economic justice, eradicating hunger and serving the underserved in Dallas, Texas, for 40 years. Dr. Haynes said this was an issue that would not go away until the mountain is gone.
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The Warrior Model Take a Knee! QUIT PLAYIN’ VINCENT L. HALL
Protesting is the social movement from emotion to resolve, from sensationalism to realism and rallies to pickets. The Warrior Model was logical, strategic, and built for endurance. Tackling racism can’t be a one-day event when you’re 401 years behind. Before beginning a formal protest; pick a target, pack a lunch, and peek at a copy of “How to Protest for Dummies.” Lucky for you, the American Civil Liberties Union has one online. Go to aclu.org and find the section; “Know your Rights.” This suggestion may sound trite, but protesting is as safe or dangerous as you make it. The ACLU provides guidelines for organizing, attending, and taking pictures or videos. The most crucial segment offers suggestions for how to respond if the police stop you during a protest. After years of protesting with John Wiley Price and the Warriors, I can give you a few of my own. Some of these tips may sound silly, but nothing feels as
foolish as being loaded in a police van when you least expect a free trip to Lew Sterrett or another jail. First, handcuff everyone at least once. It sounds strange, but all protesters need to know how it feels. For criminals, it may be routine. However, it can cause the average citizen to become belligerent. Handcuffs on a person who has never experienced it is tantamount to bullriding. Bucking, kicking, and twisting are natural reactions to sudden physical restraints. Secondly, you should force each one to lie face down, with and without the restraints. If you are out of shape, your breathing can quickly become labored and painful. The more you talk, move, or experience anxiety, the more you become exasperated. Next, there should always be a reasonable number of protesters whose prime function is to guard the perimeter. Troublemakers will show up. Good people with the best intentions lose control and can cause trouble. The leaders of the protest ought to have a dossier on all of their participants. The police department andFBI already have data. Trust me! True story. Once, during a picket at the Dallas Police Department in Pleasant
Grove, we had an incident sparked by raw emotions. There was a woman whose scream was so shrill and bloodcurdling, that it moved the picket from calmness to chaos. The Bible speaks of Rachel weeping for her children in the prophetic book of Jeremiah. This must have been Rachel. The police and our protesters overreacted. A visitor we didn’t know was arrested after he waylaid an officer. He was bailed out, and we heard he returned home to Florida. Going forward, we were very cautious about who was there and why. Our goal was to fight the system, not the cops. Police departments are the product of public policy, good or bad! Early on, we instituted a ritual of prayer before and after each protest. It had spiritual value, and it offered us a chance to huddle. Our circle of clasped hands was useful for pre-planning and postassessments. We implored our Muslim brothers and sisters to lead prayers too. Black folks got too many problems to argue over religion. In the end, we all utter the same prayer:“God help us all.” One day after picketing one of the mayors’ homes on the Northeast side, I peeped a curious, well-off looking white woman. She was standing in her yard, staring as we prayed. It made me nervous because the Commissioner always got death threats. Safety was still job #1. We never prayed with our eyes closed for that reason and because of the wisdom imparted to us by Jomo Kenyatta. “When the Missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land, and the Missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land, and we had the Bible.” As it turned out, this woman had a question. Her neighbor came closer, and we overheard her whispers. “What God are they praying to?” Today I would tell her the only God who can get the knees of injustice off our necks. Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and award-winning columnist.
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Looters, Lowlifes, and Liars THE LAST WORD DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX
According to the Washington Post, the 45th President told 19,126 lies between his inauguration in 2017 and June 1, 2020. By now, the number has likely edged toward 20,000, as his Tulsa “rally” yielded dozens more. This President has no allegiance to the truth, but that’s no surprise. Leading up to his ill-timed gathering, amid the coronavirus, he projected more than a million attendees. Instead, the Trump campaign could not even fill the 19,000 seat stadium. And because the Trump campaign ha no one to blame but itself for its’ spotty turnout, 45 instead blamed “bad people,” the media, and others. The President’s bizarre bloviation was more evidence of his instability, but also illustrated his venom toward a sizable portion of the people he purportedly represents. I was especially struck by his constant ridicule of “looters and lowlifes,” wondering if he comprehended the similarities between the behavior he would describe as “looters and lowlifes” with his conduct in office. Not only has he derided “looters and lowlifes,” but he has also threatened the full force of federal law enforcement threaten people’s legal right to protest. As soon as he uttered those threatening words, 45 was a looter who threatened the civil rights and civil liberties of lawful protestors who have legitimate complaints against nationwide police brutality. Who’s looting who? If we carefully examine history, it is clear that Black people have been looted (defined as “stealing good from a place, typically in a war or riot”). From my perspective, Black people have been at war with white supremacy forces as long as we have been on thee hoes. We have been subject to myimessenger.com
violence, exploitation, expropriation of fair compensation of our wags, further exploited through Jim Crow, and other laws. There are documented cases of economically envious looting Black communities (Wilmington, Tulsa, Rosewood) because of economic envy, plundering our homes, and then using the power of the majority media to turn a Massacre into a “riot.” Accounts from Tulsa 1921 survivor document a massacre, not a riot. All it took to light the match was Black men standing to speak up for themselves.
White folks could not stand Black selfdetermination or Black wealth. They destroyed the thriving Greenwood in 1921, but Black men and women are still standing up for ourselves. That’s why folks have taken it to the streets, protesting night after night, wearing shirts that say “Black Lives Matter” and “I Can’t Breathe.” They aren’t just Black folks. If you have a heart, it could not help but shatter just a bit when you saw the inexcusable 8:46 minute knee to George Floyd’s neck.
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If I could have just 3 minutes with Mr. Trump, I’d like to ask him, “who’s looting who.” Changing the tax code to benefit your friends and the wealthy are looting the rest of us. Taking food from hungry people is another form of looting. Losing tax dollars to support your decrepit lifestyle and multiple golf trips is looting. Taking money from public schools to help your pet private schools is stealing. You see looting when people set fires and break windows. Why don’t you think about the fire that ran people out of Greenwood, the broken windows that destroyed Black presses, the looting that has stolen Black wealth and then there is the term “lowlife.” The dictionary describes such folks as people who have “low social status” or “low moral character.” So what kind of moral character does a man have who brags about grabbing women by their genitals? What kind of moral character does a man have who derides people because of their race or gender? What kind of person calls people he disagrees with “sons of bitches.” He doesn’t know their mamas, but he has insulted them. At 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the House that Enslaved People Built, our tax dollars are housing the Lowlife in Chief. We have endured over three years of this man’s venom, vituperation, name calling, and contempt of the people who are merely exercising First Amendment rights by taking it to the streets. Many of the so-called “looters and lowlives” are descended of enslaved people who have had enough. I stand with the looters and lowlives, the people who, in the shadow of the poet Langston Hughes, ask “what happened to a dream deferred.” It explodes. Since 1619, since 1865, since 1964, it has been exploding. Still? I stand with the looters and lowlives and reject a man whose unfamiliarity with truth is a vexation, abomination, and a despicable affront to decency. Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist, and social commentator.
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NBA Player Slam Dunks Alopecia ABOUT YOUR HAIR BY DR. LINDA AMERSON
Have you ever looked in the mirror, and suddenly noticed a patch of your hair suddenly gone? You are not alone. You can become a Trendsetter in spite of unwelcomed alopecia adversities. This article is to educate on a condition which affects 10% of the American population… alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis. Globally, the stats are much higher. Contributing causes vary per individual. In simplest terms alopecia areata is an unpredictable, noncontagious, autoimmune disease, that causes hair to fall out in round or oval patches. The word alopecia comes from the Greek word alopecia and means “loss of hair,” while areata, derived from the Latin word meaning
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“occurring in patches.” This disease affects approximately 5 million Americans, however, I will not exclude cultures on a global scale. There is no way to predict who might be affected with alopecia areata. Some people who lose scalp hair due to alopecia areata find that their hair re-grows spontaneously in a relatively short time, while for others this condition goes on a steady course, and they continue to have additional patchy bald spots losing all scalp hair—alopecia totalis, then progressing to alopecia universalis. It affects the scalp and other body parts. Charlie Alexander Villanueva is the Son of Roberto Villanueva and Doris Mejia from the Dominican. Charlie was first drafted at the age of 20. How his alopecia journey began. His alopecia began at the age of 10, and he suffers from Alopecia Universalis. He is the spokesperson for NAAF, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Charlie won the NBA’s Community Assist Award
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in February 2006 for his work with the Charlie’s Angels on the Road program, which conducts pre-game meet and greets in visiting NBA arenas with people affected by Alopecia Areata. In addition, Charlie shined as a Trendsetter, starting the Charlie Villanueva Foundation (CVF), which serves as a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating bullying by supporting organizations that maintain programs that provide guidance in creating nonviolent solutions to challenges and problems associated with bullying. He played for four NBA teams, the Raptors, Bucks, Pistons, and Mavericks. After two seasons, the dribble journey of #3 with the Dallas Mavericks ended in 2016… retirement decision in 2016. On and off the court, Charlie has left an advocacy legacy of alopecia awareness to children and adults affected worldwide. Dr. Linda Amerson, Board Certified Trichologist, 817 265 8854. #39yr Veteran Hairandscalpessentials.com
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The Bridge Homeless Recovery initiates new campaign By Allana J. Barefield Texas Metro News The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center is connecting the community and homeless together through their new campaign, #BridgeMeals, which helps raise money to provide meals for the homeless. The nonprofit located in downtown Dallas caters to 85 percent of the homeless population, providing“guests” other services besides meals, such as housing and income placement. The Bridge President and CEO, Dr. David Woody, says it is critical to help their guests, especially because of COVID-19. “Many of our guests find it difficult to trust another; they have been traumatized or otherwise hurt,” he said. “Our
meal service is the entrée we cherish allowing us to begin a guests’ recovery from homelessness and identification of a home of their own.” For June, the goal was to fund 8,700 meals with donations of at least $10. Meals are given 365 days a year and three times a day with breakfast starting at 7 a.m., lunch at noon and dinner beginning at 6p.m. at the Second Chance Café. Only 350 guests are allowed in the café during each mealtime. Due to COVID-19, social distancing, wearing masks, gloves, and fewer volunteers are in place. “COVID-19 has served to create additional cleanliness needs and necessitates [by] extending our meal service time periods,” Woody said. Many people are staying at
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for shelter but once it closes when Dallas is up and running again; The Bridge expects there to be an increase to 900 guests. Devon Welborn, communications and marketing manager at The Bridge says this campaign is an opportunity to raise funds in order for everyone to be served. “A lot of guests rely on these meals to be fed,” she said. “Many people have lost their jobs, lost hours, and that has caused them to lose their homes.” Although The Bridge is a temporary home for their guests because the goal is to move them into a permanent place, all attempts are made to present a “homey” feeling during their stay. Funding is critical and support of #Bridge-
Meals can help so many. “We want to be a place where they can feel confident, and comfortable and continue to grow,” Welborn said. Welborn also said she watches as guests gather before the doors open. In that time, she has observed guests bonding over a simple question, “What’s for lunch today?” “They have an opportunity to build friendships, hopefully in their short time here,” she said. IF YOU GO: What: The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center Free Meals for the Homeless Where: 1818 Corsicana Street Dallas, Texas 75201 When: Daily Breakfast: 7a.m. Lunch: Noon Dinner: 6p.m. To Donate: https://bit. ly/3fEVaDvh
Community College System takes giant step forward By Ashley M. Moss Texas Metro News It’s official. After 54 years, the seven colleges in the Dallas County Community College District will become one. In a final resolution just approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in June, the District, currently comprised of Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland Colleges will be known simply as Dallas College, pending their accreditation. The individual schools will JULY 3, 2020
now be referred to as campuses. District Chancellor Joe May updated the faculty and staff of the impending news in an email: “Many of the barriers to graduation students faced were the result of a structure that allowed for separate processes and administrative systems at each of the seven colleges.” First established in 1965 to provide affordable education, the seven schools in the current community college system enroll a diverse population of more than 80,000 students and offers an associate’s degree as well as career and
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technical certificates. The decision to merge the campuses under one unifying school came after a year of reflection and evaluation on how to best address the challenges facing current students. Dr. May noted. “While this structure served the district well for decades, it was beginning to delay students in completing their degrees, especially those students enrolled at more than one college.” According to Dr. May, the newly-formed Dallas College will also offer a four-year degree. “Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
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Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) awarded our institution with a level change, which allows us to offer the Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education & Teaching, the first four-year degree offered by our institution,” he said. Student Steven Silva is encouraged by the news and says he remains committed to the school system even though he’s completed requirements for his associates degree. “When it comes to school, I’ll take courses at Dallas College until I can transfer (to a 4-year school).” he said. myimessenger.com
Trump more focused on saving statues than protecting Americans from
Coronavirus “One would hope that the president of the United States would rise to the level of leadership that our country needs in confronting the deadly uptick in coronavirus cases in America. Instead, we are left with Donald Trump, an incompetent and heartless man who is more focused on saving statues of slaveholders, Confederate generals, and racists, than protecting the health of living and breathing Americans. “The United States remains the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 2.4 million cases and more than 124,000 deaths. My home state of California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida have seen their coronavirus cases skyrocket in the past two weeks. “On Tuesday, Texas and California set records for having more than 5,000 coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period, and 33 states have reported a spike in their weekly average of coronavirus cases. Instead of using the full power of his office to fight this deadly pandemic, Donald Trump would rather ignore the coronavirus and call in U.S. marshals to confront protestors who are taking down memorials to racist Confederate generals and slaveholders. “For months, my colleagues and I have rung the alarm and done everything in our power to pass legislation that addresses the need for life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE), increases testing capacity, provides ventilators, and supports hospitals, community health centers, and frontline workers. “Instead of bipartisan action, we have been faced with opposition from a president and a Republican party that are hiding their heads in the sand as thousands of Americans die. In the past week, Donald Trump has defied myimessenger.com
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
the guidance of public health experts and held two large public events that placed the lives of his supporters at risk. “Instead of enforcing mask wearing and social distancing in his events, he required attendees to sign waivers to protect his campaign from being sued if attendees contracted the virus. Donald Trump has decried efforts to increase coronavirus testing, and his administration has stripped federal funding for community testing sites in at least 13 states, including Texas, which is enduring a sharp increase in coronavirus cases. “Donald Trump’s negligence and lack of care for the American people is contemptible.
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“We have a real, deadly public health crisis on our hands, and Donald Trump is more concerned about statues and relics of the Confederacy and slavery than he is the survival of the American people. “He’s already had protestors in front of the White House forcibly remowwwved and tear-gassed for a photo-op, now he is poised to do it again with protestors who are calling for the removal of statues and monuments to slaveholders and Confederate generals who withdrew from the United States and fought against the Union in the Civil War. All patriots who love this country and care about the well-being of its citizens must unite and hold Donald Trump accountable.” JULY 3, 2020
Don’t let Congressional Black Caucus off the Hook THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES BY THOMAS MUHAMMAD
Yep you damn skippy! Here I go again! Seeing majority Black neighborhoods across America stalled in decades of squaller conditions grossly due to poverty, you’d be pissed off to the max too! Sadly, a large part of this blame can easily be laid at the feet of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). The living conditions many of these communities are finding themselves in should actually be in much greater shape if their Black Congressional District Representatives would have been working just as harder for them as they have been for other non-Black outside lobby groups! There already is an Hispanic Caucus, an Asian Caucus, a Native American Caucus.There’s even a Women’s Caucus. So why does the CBC still run full speed at trying to represent all of these caucuses in meetings designed to get community economic benefits? I’m quite damn sure that these groups are capable of representing themselves! In fact from what I hear when these other caucus reps meet with corporations for meaningful jobs, contracts and other private/government goodies they NEVER mention Black folks. But it seems our reps just can’t wait to get in similar meetings and advocate for stuff like diversity, people of color, minority, WBE or set asides! It’s my firm belief that when we advocate for ourselves we’ll find that old saying is really true that the tide that lifts one boat lifts ALLboats! JULY 3, 2020
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Mayor Sylvester Turner illustrated it best during his speech at Brother George Floyd’s funeral in Houston. He said, “But I want you to know that it goes well beyond policing. I have been talking with business owners and CEOs over the last couple of weeks. And what I’ve said to them that when we invest in communities that have been underserved and under invested in. When we haven’t done the investing, then you don’t have to spend as much on the policing. If you can take the necessary funds and invest in our communities!” That’s solid on! I’ll sum it up this way just imagine the CBC being the leading example showing local Black leadership across America how to stand together unified on how successful it can be in getting Black businesses huge lumps of their share of America’s economic pie. The thousands of great jobs Black owned businesses could have produced and thereby created beautiful and stable Black neighborhoods and predominately Black attended schools! Imagine that! As one brother pointed out in a tv news interview, “It’s a damn shame that you can buy a six pack of beer or a pack of cigarettes, but you can’t buy a head of lettuce or an apple!” Chew on that for a minute, and reflect on how many years you’ve witnessed this fact in most of our hoods? And the doggone CBC keeps reminding us of all that stuff they’ve gone through during the 1960s civil rights movement on trying to remind us of how Black they are. Please tell them that ain’t going to cut it cause today we gone be like singer Janet Jackson, “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” Year after year we witnessed the massive racial disparities between Blacks and whites and this COVI19 thing has
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really shined a spotlight on how the national Black leadership in Congress has been MIA for decades! Let’s face it, it’s time for some new younger Black blood. And thankfully, there appears to be some youthful energy on the horizon like Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cameron Webb a physician in the state of Virginia. Add them to newcomers Ayanna Pressley and Ilhan Omar, we might have a fighting chance. I’m sorry, but after seeing members like Bobby Rush, Maxine Waters, John Lewis and some others, I’m more convinced that the CBC is long overdue for an overhaul. It’s time to say “thank you for your many years of service, here’s your retirement honor pin,” our future must be refueled! And they should want to move out of the way as well and stop thinking no one else can get the job done except them. As for me I’m putting a lot of my hopes in the new Black Business Empowerment Commission (BBEC). In fact they’ve just launched a website to get more info on them at www.bbecommission.org. As a Malcolmite, much like the awesome former NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, we are persons who largely have been influenced by the spirit of Brother Malcolm X. It’s wonderful to finally see that spirit moving throughout the globe today. Everyone is taking a knee! Just think, the next thing you know even the CBC will be saying, “Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you’re a man, you take it.” MalcolmX. Until then The Struggle Continues... Thomas Muhammad is Chairman of the National Black United Front(NBUF)- Dallas Texas Chapter
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Coleman recognized by Duke Gifted Program
Evana Coleman
Evana Gabrielle Coleman, a 7thgrade student at Scoggins Middle School in McKinney, was recently honored for achieving an exceptional score on the ACT, the same test taken by college bound high school students. Evana took this above-gradelevel test as a participant in the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). Duke TIP is a nonprofit organization that recognizes academically talented students and provides advanced learning opportunities that foster their intellectual and social growth. Each year, Duke TIP identifies a select group of students as academical-
ly gifted, based on their standardized test scores. Those students are invited to take the ACT or SAT, which can provide crucial insight into a gifted student’s strengths and abilities. The highest scorers among these students are invited to a special recognition ceremony, typically hosted at one of over two dozen colleges and universities. While the in-person ceremonies were postponed this year, Duke TIP celebrated these students’ academic achievements by providing their families an at-home ceremony toolkit. For more on Duke TIP, including qualification requirements for its Talent Search Program, visit tip.duke. edu.
Fund supports local business Guns and Roses Boutique has been a staple in Dallas, TX for more than eight years. On Friday, May 29, 2020 the boutique was destroyed by selfish looters who took advantage of the protest. The restoration of Guns and Roses Boutique starts NOW! Princess Pope, owner and leader has been a prominent pillar in the community, and often praised for her support. As a fashion industry leader, she provides education and mentorship to aspiring myimessenger.com
fashion designers and entrepreneurs. A donation campaign was started to help cover damages to Guns and Roses Boutique. The donations will be spent to cover any expenses the insurance does not cover, including but not limited to: inventory, property damage, merchandise and loss of use for the business. The GoFundMe link is https://gf.me/u/x5qxji for Rebuild Guns and Roses Boutique.
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Princess Pope stands in front of her boutique shortly after fending off looters JULY 3, 2020
www.grandpasecret.com
Please wear your mask and wash your hands! JULY 3, 2020
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July 4th: Taking our cue from Frederick Douglass OUR VOICES BY BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS, JR.
Though the keynote address was delivered 163 years ago in Rochester, N.Y. on the significance of the 4th of July celebration in the United States, the roaring eloquence and penetrating clarity of Frederick Douglass’ speech still rings true today. Slavery and its lingering aftermath in America continues to be the albatross around the neck of our democracy that chokes the quality of life for millions of African Americans and others who cry out freedom, justice, equality and prosperity. History captures both transformative events and the evolution of impactful epochs of the long journey of humankind. Yet, the history of the times and outspoken courage of leaders such as Frederick Douglass challenges all of us not just to remember the past, but to learn from it and be determined to fight for a better future for all who have been denied basic fairness and respect. As our nation prepares for its annual celebration of Independence Day, I reread Frederick Douglass’ Fourth of July speech with a specific eye toward what we can learn from it in the wake of the recent tragedies of Charleston and North Charleston, S.C.; Cleveland; New York City; Ferguson, Mo. and Sanford, Fla. Frederick Douglass observed, “Oppression makes a wise man mad. With brave men there is always a remedy for oppression…The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. The 4thof July is the first great fact in your nation’s history – the very ringbolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny…Pride and patriotism, not less than gratitude, prompt you to celebrate and to hold it in perpetual remembrance. “I have said that the Declaration of Independence is the ringbolt to the chain of your nation’s destiny; so, indeed, I regard it. The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and myimessenger.com
at whatever cost. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn…What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” A little more than a week ago we were still mourning. This time, in Charleston, S.C. for the racially motivated murders of Rev. Clementa Pinckney and eight others at Emanuel A.M.E. Church. But our spirit and our determination to be free will not be broken even after centuries of cruelty and oppression. Giving up out of fear or
Frederick Douglass
giving in to injustice are not and will not be in our menu of options. The spirits of David Walker, Denmark Vesey, and of Frederick Douglass live on within us. Douglass’ intellectual imperatives are quite appropriate to reject the contemporary tolerance of poverty, injustice and ignorance. We have to move beyond removing the “symbols” of racism and oppression, such as the Confederate flag, to removing the substantive structures and policies that deny equal opportunity to advance and improve the quality of life of all Americans. The issue today is not what the Confederate flag represents. The real issue should be what does the American flag represent to African Americans and others who yearn for freedom? How are American businesses and institutions of higher learning making a difference for millions of people throughout the country who aspire to prosper and to make our world a better place for all people?
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An appropriate response to Douglass’ admonitions would be: 1. Education – maximizing high quality equal education for all without discrimination or restriction because of race, color, gender, creed or any other form of social exclusion. 2. Criminal justice reform and overcriminalization – there are simply too many people imprisoned in America, more than 1 million disproportionately African American and Latino American. 3. Principled entrepreneurial development – with a particular emphasis on economic equality and inclusiveness in the global marketplace. In his eulogy of Rev. Pinckney, President Obama set the right tone when talk about removing the nation’s blindness to poverty and racial injustice. Let’s raise up the next generation of “amazing” young gifted and talented genius who are currently entrapped in the ghettos and barrios of America’s impoverished neighborhoods. Let’s flood our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other universities with scholarships and career opportunities to prepare a new generation of young leaders to carry America forward in STEM fields of study and research. Let’s give the million or more prisoners in American jails and prisons a chance to redeem their lives and families with advanced training and academic preparation. Combine, all of this would constitute an “Amazing Grace.” The words of Frederick Douglass reverberate today with a renewed sense of urgency and commitment to organize and mobilize a new, bi-partisan coalition to bring about real change in America. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government now appear poised to finally to begin to work together in the interest of empowering of all the people. But we must not be silent witnesses. We must be vocal. We must stand without fear. It is time once again, in the spirit of Douglass, to speak truth to power to empower! Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)
JULY 3, 2020
“DON”
MILES’ MUSINGS BY MILES JAYE
High-level gangsters, mobsters, drug dealers, who earn the rank of “Boss,”“Kingpin,” or“Don”(as in Don Corleone—the Godfather), do so with the fear-driven support of legions of loyal, lower-level compatriots and the love and allegiance of local “civilians” who see the Don as a Robin Hood figure. Dons establish headquarters and operate out of poor rural towns or urban ghettos, where people are historically underserved by local officials-- the government. Dons then fill the needs of the poor. They pay rents and utilities and provide groceries for the residents. They bankroll holiday celebrations for entire neighborhoods and buy gifts for the children of the community. Dons will pay for weddings, funerals and medical care, but their benevolence comes at a price. It’s understood that undying loyalty is the price for the Don’spatronage, protection and generosity. Dons do for the disenfranchised what they cannot do for themselves, and the disenfranchised, in turn, celebrate the lavish lifestyle that the Don displays. The twisted rationale is, were it not for the Don’s successful enterprise, albeit criminal, who would look after them and see to their needs? No one. Figures like Mexico’s infamous “El Chapo,” Jamaica’s Chris “Dudus” Coke, and Columbia’s Pablo Escobar were revered in their communities. Harlem’s “Bumpy” Johnson, Nicky Barnes, and Frank LuJULY 3, 2020
cas were hailed as heroes and celebrities in their day. The downtrodden, underserved and underprivileged are always in search of a hero. Politicians and preachers bank onthat dependence which is why campaigns promise more rewarding, satisfying lives and ministries promise prosperity from the pulpit. They also bank on the instinctive inclination of a Don to feign legitimacy or to wield influence over those who are assumed to have it, so they willingly form unholy alliances-- most often by the exchange of money, favors or both. The rich typically have two priorities, remain rich, and, get richer. To further satisfy those priorities, they may make deals with the “devil.” Therefore, their availability to a Don is only a matter of power and influence and whether the risk is worthwhile. If, for example, the Don is properly vested with public officials, local Judges and Prosecutors for example, it may very well be an assumable and worthwhile risk.
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The current administration perfectly fits the criminal business model I’ve described-- it’s a Kleptocracy. This Don speaks to the hearts and minds of a specific underserved electorate who faithfully populate his MAGA rallies. They would vote for him if he shot someone in broad daylight. They forgo donning masks at his rallies as a sign of faithful fidelity, in spite of a pandemic. They love that he is anti-establishment and cheer the insults he hurls at Congressmen, Governors, Mayors and World Leaders. They love the manner in which he demeans the media. His attacks on the FBI are priceless, second only to telling U.S. Congresswomen to go back to where they came from. They can’t get enough of his tweets and retweets. The Don has been underwriting politicians of both parties for decades. He holds an impressive collection of them in his hip pocket. They know it and they fear it. Public officials like Barr, McConnell, Graham and all but a
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few Senate Republicans are shameless sycophants of the Don. Their careers depend on it, as they rely on him to keep his base engaged. Evangelical ministers like Paula White, Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland, to name a few, have a vested interest in his success. He has such an unshakable, unbreakable stronghold on his loyal base, a base they share. Race bating, xenophobia; however un-Christian, in no way disqualifies him when unrepentant greed is the ultimate qualifier. The wealthy love him. His tax breaks favor them. He enriches them without exposing them. They know him intimately. He’s partied and traded women with them. They know and share his twisted humor. They subscribe to the very same eugenic principles and will stop at nothing to funnel millions to his campaign funds, legally and illegally. They are grateful for his judicial appointments and they want Russia, Ukraine and China in their investment portfolios. Don is the risk taker and they know he will deliver…or will he? The Don’s portfolio now includes well over 120,000 COVID-19 deaths in less than six months-- all onhis watch. Most attribute the inflated death toll to his administration’s mismanagement of the crisis. Making matters worse, he seems impenetrable to the messaging of public safety and the advice of medical experts. He is on a schedule of public appearances, where he is certain to make racist remarks about the“Kung Flu.” The Don’s portfolio now includes massive worldwide protests of police killings of Black men, as well as civil see DON, page 22
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214-421-5387
Two Podners Bar-B-Que & Seafood 1441 Robert B Cullum Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75210 myimessenger.com
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EARLY VOTING JULY 1-JULY-10
Virtual and liVe Community Calendar July 3, 2020
From Marva with Love with Marva Sneed 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Guests: Curtis Ferguson The Painting Guitarist and Educator. We will hear his story and Chef Duke from Dreamerz Cafe’ Good and healthy food. BlogTalkRadio.com and Facebook Live/TexasMetroNews. Join the coversation 646-200-0459.
Voting At The West, Friendship West Baptist Church is a voting precinct 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. Dallas. 8 am – 7 pm. Dallas County residents can cast their ballot at any voting precinct in the county.
JULY 1-JULY 3 Social Media Pro Presents: Social Media Day Summit 2020. Panel guests: Jesse Jameson, Kate Buck, Kate Paine, Rob Ainbinder, Matthew Hughes, Dorien Morin-Van Dam, Sherrod Washington. Register: socialmediadaysummit.com.
Live Music - The Warehouse Lounge Who DAQ Daiquiri’s, host Jim Austin, 1125 E. Berry St. FW, 8-11:00 pm. Grand opening featuring Natural Change Band. www. jimaustinonline.com.
JULY 1 Meet A Black Mental Health Professional: We Are Here, hosted by Dr. Tanisha Guy. 7 pm – 9 pm. A 2-hour event will introduce you to 20 Black mental health professionals. Register: Eventbite.com. Virtual Community Conversation-North, Texas. 7:30 pm. Join Senator Royce West on a Virtual Community Conversation across Texas by attending this virtual town hall! This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Sen. West’s experience, his vision for Texas, and ask questions. Register: www.mobilize.com. Hollywood Live! With Michael “Hollywood” Hernandez and Cohost Shavonda w/ a “V” Fields, Guests: Cedar Hill ISD Police Chief, James Hawthorne and C&W Singer, Kimberly Montgomery, on Hollywoodlive.com. 2- 4 pm.
JULY 8
Meet A Black Mental Health Professional: We Are Here, hosted by Dr. Tanisha Guy. 7 pm – 9 pm. A 2-hour event will introduce you to 20 Black mental health professionals. Register: Eventbite.com. Virtual Community Conversation-Southeast, Texas. 7 pm. Join Senator Royce West on a Virtual Community Conversation across Texas. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Senator West’s experience, his vision for Texas, and ask questions. Register: www.mobilize.com
JULY 4
Hollywood Live! With Michael “Hollywood” Hernandez and Co-host Shavonda with a “V” Fields, on Hollywoodlive.com. From 2 pm – 4 pm.
Live Music at The Warehouse Lounge Who DAQ Daiquiri’s host Jim Austin 1125 E. Berry St. Ft. Worth 8:00-11:00 pm. Featuring Joseph Vincelli. Tickets: www.jimaustinonline.com.
JULY 9
JULY 6-23 Math & Reading Summer Bridge Camps. On-line classes with designated class times will be offered to help kids stay current during the summer. Classes feature live teacher assistance, virtual field trips, arts projects, Google Classroom, and more. Classes and locations vary. Sponsor: Beacon Hill Preparatory Institute. Contact: 972-329-7779. Website: www. beaconhillprep.org.
JULY 6
Ask Dr. Amerson at 11am CST - #PerformingArtsEdition with music spotlights on Katlin Hill, Sandra Dubose and Legendary Curtis King. Healthy hair and scalp talk, alopecia talk, our 2020 scholarship on FB Live and DfwiRadio.com. #7yrhost #ScalpDoctor.
DCDP Virtual Town Hall: Criminal Court 3 Run-Off Candidates Q&A, The Town Hall will also be streamed on Facebook Live. 4 pm-5pm. Register: Zoom https://bit.ly/2YAnilt
Virtual Community Conversation-West, Texas. 7 pm. Join Senator Royce West on a Virtual Community Conversation across Texas by attending this virtual town hall! This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Senator West’s experience, his vision for Texas, and ask questions. Register: www. mobilize.com.
Happy Birthday Betty “Boo” Smith and Happy 40th Deltaversary
Live Music Concert Thursday Night. Hosted by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters Inc. 7 pm – 8 pm. Online Event at http://www.facebook.com/tbaaldallas. LH Chamber ZOOM Conversation with U.S. House Rep Colin Allred. Zoom call RSVP: https://www. lhchamber.net/calendar.html 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.
JULY 7 JULY 14
Happy Birthday to: team member and great lady, SHONEDRA REDD, ANDRE’ SMITH and DOREEN HILBURN
JULY 2
Happy Birthday
Mayor’s Milk Initiative: S. Dallas at Paul Dunbar Learning Center 4200 Metropolitan Ave. Dallas. 3 pm. No ID required anyone is welcome.
STEWART CURET
Live Music at The Warehouse Lounge Who DAQ Daiquiri’s host Jim Austin 1125 E. Berry St. Ft. Worth 7:00-10:00 pm. Featuring Linny Nance Trio, Emerald Khan. Tickets: www.jimaustinonline.com.
JULY 3, 2020
Black Brother, I Love You. CALLING ALL BLACK MEN! CALLING ALL BLACK MEN!!! Come out and be reminded of how important you are to our families and communities. 6:30-9:00 pm. at Park South YMCA 2500 Romine Ave. Tickets Eventbrite.com
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BLACK LIVES MATTER #NationBuilding w/ Michael Sorrell, at 12:30 pm. CDT, Wednesdays on Facebook & Twitter. Follow Paul Quinn College’s President, Michael Sorrell on all social media platforms. @MichaelSorrell on Twitter & Instagram and @Michael J. Sorrell on Facebook. A Message For You, with Anthony Council Morehouse student and I Messenger Media intern. Tuesdays at 11am Anthony brings that perspective from those born in this century. Live on Facebook/@TexasMetroNews & Blog Talk Radio.com Join the conversation. Andrew’s World with host Andrew Whigham III on BlogTalkRadio.com 8 am.-10 am. Sundays Tune in for thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news and commentary. Join the call at 646-200-0459 The Stimulus Show, hosted by Cheryl Smith publisher of Texas Metro News, Garland Journal and I Messenger. She is a FAMU grad and secretary of the National Association of Black Journalists. Join in on Facebook/@CherylSmith and BlogTalkRadio.com at 11 am Mondays. Call 646-200-0459. SIP and Eat with LaShante’ “The Lifestyle Chef.” LaShante Williams, Every Thursday at 7pm CST on FB live and IG live and https://www.instagram.com/ lashante@thelifestylechef/
A Message For You, The Stimulus Show with Marva Sneed from11 am -1 pm. CST, Wednesdays and Fridays on Facebook Live/@TexasMetroNews, and BlogTalkRadio.com. Call in and join the conversation at 646-200-0459.
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Perfect Health God’s Way : Denise Ford On “From Marva with Love,” we recently heard from Denise Ford; a Certified Herbal Health Coach, Minister, and Founder of Perfect Health Holistic Institute, Inc. a 501 non-profit organization. She opened the first Blackowned health food and supplement store in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, previously located in Wynnewood Shopping Center in Dallas, Texas; Perfect Health Nutrition Center. She has educated, motivated, and supported people of all ages to live a healthier, happier life. She is available for one-on-one health coaching and classes offered in her office, churches, schools, businesses, and homes.
From Marva with BY MARVA SNEED
and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” So it’s very important that we do seek the face of God for healing and direction as far as eating and giving us the strength to do that. The reason why I say that is because we know what to and how to be healthy but, it’s a challenge being healthy and practicing it on a daily bases. It is so important especially now with what we are dealing with. We have to make sure we have a strong MS: Denise, what is it that we immune response. Our immune system is our whole body but we need to do to be healthy? have to have a strong immune reDF: Yes, it is important that we sponse meaning that we can come strive to have perfect health. I al- in contact with diseases but, at the ways say perfect and that’s God’s same time what is your immune way. Because 3rd John verse 2 system like. Are you able to fight it tells us “Beloved I wish above all off how is it going to respond? I’ve things that thou mayest prosper been into holistic health for over
DON from page 18...
and human rights violations; issues about which he struggles to publicly condemn. His racist core is on full display. The economy, his trump card, struggles with inconsistencies and wild fluctuations-on his watch. His threats and bullying tactics fall on deaf ears now, JULY 3, 2020
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as his lieutenants and inner circle jump ship and share a resounding chorus of his incompetence. When a Don begins to appear weak and unstable, their future is predictable. Threats to a dynasty may come from within, or from the competition. In most cases, the law finally catches up with the lawlessness. Dons all have their day, then their days run out. They fail and fall under the weight of their own greed, avarice and megalomania. The collective voices of the nation, and of the world, are finally reaching a crescendo of rejection of this Don’s reckless rhetoric of hate and division. This Don’s insolence has awakened and unleashed a campaign,
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37 years. I specialize in herbology the study of herbs and the benefits of herbs. Herbs are plants that our Heavenly Father has put here on earth to consume as food and nourishment and as we feed our body properly our body is capable of healing itself. We have to learn about these herbs because there is a herb that can heal every disease in our body. We talked about so much more. Denise does a body analysis and can help to determine what the body needs. She talked about eating clean food and drinking alkaline water. To hear the full interview and learn how to strive for perfect health, go to BlogTalkRadio.com Link: https://bit.ly/3dvPc6F. To contact Denise Ford at Perfect Health Holistic Institute, Inc, call 817-690-4637 or visit the site: http://www.perfecthealthholisticinstitute.org. Tune into From Marva with Love” Fridays from 11 am-1 pm. on BlogTalkRadio.com/Cheryl’s World. not just against himself, but against those, family and associates; guilty of shamelessly, brazenly aiding and abetting his criminal enterprise. As he continues to signal empathy, and affinity towards his fellow White Supremacists, the very symbols of that misguided racist coven — statues of Jackson, Lee, and Bragg — to name a few, are being pulled to the streets. These are signs of clarity of purpose and new levels of resolve and determination, signaling the Don’s days as Don are numbered-- 45 must make way for 46. Website: www.milesjaye.net Podcast: https://bit.ly/2zkhSRv Email: milesjaye360@gmail.com
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“We are open for carryout. We care about our customers and our community and we thank you for your business during this difficult time.�
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Dr. Amerson adapts to Temporary Business Closure Dr. Linda Amerson, Board Certified Trichologist, has adapted to the temporary closure of LA's Hair and Scalp Clinic. We continue to offer our award-winning products to consumers. Our exclusive products are manufactured by a facility in Garland, TX. Premium quality natural ingredients are used to assist with dry, oily, itchy, flaky, inflammed scalps, as well as hair breakage, hair thinning and regrowth. Everyone may order from our website, and we will ship your product order to you. http://www.hairandscalpessentials.com We need your support. In addition, we offer Video Consultations globally! We will schedule an appointment, give a diagnosis, them make a recommendation. We are available to serve you in the comfort of your home. Call us today - 817.265.8854 http://www.hairandscalpessentials.com We need your support.
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JULY 3, 2020
Time is Up: Stop Missing Out FAITHFUL UTTERANCES BY DR. FROSWA BOOKER-DREW
Despite being quarantined, it feels as if many of us are busier at home than we expected. I think we are all learning that technology can keep us connected and we can still make things happen. I recognize in this opportunity, I am so blessed because there are those who are on the front lines daily in our hospitals, restaurants, auto shops and other businesses that have been open since the beginning and those who are now returning since many of our cities are opening up. No matter which scenario maybe your reality, please be mindful that we are still in a pandemic. As we struggle with a health crisis globally and another one, racism, in the states, we must stay vigilant in both but using caution to protect ourselves physically, mentally, psychologically, and spiritually. There is power in protesting and demonstrating— what can happen when the collective stands up against evil? Christians are called to stand up against injustice and it is amazing how silent many of our churches are on this issue. I was recently sharing with an audience on Juneteenth the historical context that informs our current reality. Racism has been a common thread throughout America, especially as a part of our existence starting in 1619. The first Africans were brought to this country which resulted in generational enslavement and up until now, there has been this ongoing struggle to be treated not just equally but there is an outcry and demand for equity in every area of our lives. Even during a pandemic, the impact of racism was evident for the African American community. Statistical data demonstrated not only the disparities JULY 3, 2020
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in healthcare, but this has been ongoing as data proves inequities in generational wealth, incarceration, education, poverty and so many areas that impact our community. Racism and discrimination are not new in World History. In Acts 11: 4-10 (MSG), Peter explains a vision that was a sheet filled with animals that were considered unclean. “Recently I was in the town of Joppa praying. I fell into a trance and saw a vision: Something like a huge blanket, lowered by ropes at its four corners, came down out of heaven and settled on the ground in front of me. Milling around on the blanket were farm animals, wild animals, reptiles, birds—you name it, it was there. Fascinated, I took it all in.7-10 “Then I heard a voice: ‘Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.’ I said, ‘Oh, no, Master. I’ve never so much as tasted food that wasn’t kosher.’ The voice spoke again: ‘If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.’ This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky.” Peter’s background taught him that those things in the sheet were not good even though they were created by God. Even in the early church, there were arguments regarding the value of those who were circumcised or not, Jew or Gentile and it was all based on belief systems that were immersed in ideology that calls for one group to be viewed as less than. Ethnocentrism continues to rear its ugly head to justify the mistreat of one group to elevate another with the sole purpose of control and power. It is wild to me when the creation decides to reject what the Creator made. Genesis 1:31 (NIV) sums up the creation story, “31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good...” We are all created in the image of God and God says it is good. At the core of racism is a dignity issue. It is not seeing the humanity in others which goes completely against
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what scripture states. Racism is keeping our cities, our states, our countries from really experiencing the goodness of God by preventing others to exist in the fullness God’s design for their lives. We are missing out on the goodness of what God created. We are missing out on opportunities that could change our lives because of ignorance and understanding that what God created is good. .James Baldwin in The Fire Next Time in 1962 analyzes our current condition in the Church, “In the realm of power, Christianity has operated with an unmitigated arrogance and cruelty—necessarily, since a religion ordinarily imposes on those who have discovered the true faith the spiritual duty of liberating the infidels. This particular true faith, moreover, is more deeply concerned about the soul than it is about the body, to which fact the flesh (and the corpses) of countless infidels bears witness.” I am reminded of a comment of a friend of mine who stated that many of us practice Buffet Christianity. It is time for the church to stop picking and choosing what it believes only to justify its silence or bad behavior. It is time we stop messing up and missing out on what God has for ALL of us. It is time that no more bodies bear witness to the hypocrisy and hate we’ve witnessed throughout history. Please visit drfroswa.com for more information, to sign up for the newsletter or to receive a free copy of chapter one of her latest book, Fly Away. Purchase your copy below as a gift for a recent high school and college graduate or a woman in transition that can benefit from the lessons that offer wisdom and hope in this season. Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the Founder and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, specializing as a Partnership Broker and Leadership Expert for companies and organizations to thrive with measurable and meaningful impact. She also is the VP of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances for the State Fair of Texas.
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Morehouse cancels Fall sports due to ongoing pandemic By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor On Friday, Morehouse - the famed, historically Black college in Atlanta - announced that it is canceling its fall sports, including its 2020 football season, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Morehouse also will not compete in cross country, its other fall sport, this year. When he first heard the news, 19-year-old sophomore Mykal Hogue was in disbelief. “At the beginning I was very frustrated when I found out that they had cancelled the fall sports because running is a really important part of my life and it really affects everything I do,” said Hogue, who runs both track and cross country and is on scholarship at Morehouse. “So when I found out I wouldn’t be able to compete, it
was kind of like I got blindsided.” A computer science major from Georgia, took time to think through and sees it both as an unfortunate result of the pandemic and opportunity to rise higher in the sport he loves. “Now my outlook is, okay, I have more time to prepare. I have more time to become the athlete I need to be. So I”m looking at it way more optimistic than I did before,” he said. Morehouse president David A. Thomas revealed the decision to cancel fall sports in an open letter posted to the school’s website. He called the decision “difficult but one that was made with the health and well-being of our students and community in mind.” He also said the school would continue to honor athletic scholarships. Here is the letter in it’s entirety.
Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center presents Juneteenth: Hustle and Flow Coaching | June 15-19, 2020 An array of topics and speakers are on the agenda for the fourth annual Juneteenth event sponsored by the Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center. This year’s event Atled Hustle & Flow will include a series of coaching sessions for what is being termed the “Hustle & Flow Krewe.” Two sessions will be offered each day June 15-19 via Zoom. Hustle & Flow means the way a group of individuals conduct their business. These sessions are primarily for individuals who have a hustle from which they make money. Hustle and Flow Krewe coaching is designed to teach parAcipants who have a hustle basic educaAon on how to make their hustles grow into a business and how to get to the next level in their business pracAces. Ten dynamic speakers are set to share informaAon to that end. Learn more about speakers and their topics at www.zwhjcoc.org. Click on Juneteenth. DAY 1 June 15 (Monday) 10 -11:30 am | Welcome to the New Economy | Frances Smith-Dean 1 – 2:30 pm | You Are More Than a Conqueror: Transforming the Hustle Game | Kerry Reynolds DAY 2 June 16 (Tuesday) 10 – 11:30 am | Innovate Your Business with Market Research | Judith Collins 1 – 2:30 pm | Real Estate: An Old Game for a New Season | Kesha Hall DAY 3 June 17 (Wednesday) 10 – 11:30 am | Tax Strategies for the Self-Employed and Business Owners | Alfred Record 1 – 2:30 pm | Why Should Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Be Important to Me? | Ezra James DAY 4 June 18 (Thursday) 10 – 11:30 am | Grow Your Business with 0 Dollars Using the Power of Social Media | Jasmine Anderson 1– 2:30 pm | PodcasZng—a Great Way to Connect with your Audience | Alexis Williams, Terry Price DAY 5 June 19 | Friday 10 -11:30 am | Types of EnZty Structures | Markeyta Mitchell 1 – 2:30 pm | Understanding the Sales Game | Audrey Brown To register, go to www.zwhjcoc.org and click on Juneteenth. For more informaZon, contact Jasmine Anderson at jasmine.anderson@zwhjcoc.org
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Mykal Hogue
Anthony Council
Hogue’s track teammate, Anthony Council, a 20-year-old Communications major from Dallas, said he, too, was disappointed but understands the decision. Both teammates had to return home from school in March when the pandemic hit, and did not get to participate in track this spring. “I’m disappointed because for myself, COVID has already taken away my track season (in the spring) and now cross country (in the fall),” Council said. “However, from my coach I learned all we can do is trust God and trust in His timetable. “It is disappointing however I know that I’m not going to stop training and working out and getting back in shape.” Institutions of higher education, including PWIs and HBCUs, are having to pivot and make long-term decisions about their athletic programs as the global pandemic COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the nation. Many states that opened up full or partially are now having to scale back capacity limits and openings in response to a new surge in positive cases. ‘This surge has also affected many athletic programs at the collegiate level. According to reports, Morehouse is believed to be the first scholarship football program to cancel its 2020 season. Florida Tech shut down its football program entirely in
May due to the pandemic and Clemson announced Friday that an additional 14 of its football players tested positive for the coronavirus over the past week, bringing the total number of cases on the team over the past month to 37 - roughly one-third of their roster. Additionally, several games featuring HBCU’s have been canceled due to the pandemic including the Southern Heritage Classic between Jackson State and Tennessee State and a fierce rivalry between Southern University and Florida A&M University. Morehouse, a Division II school in NCAA, was scheduled to open their season at home, Sept. 5th, against Edwards Waters College. Hogue said one positive aspect of the pandemic is a newfound respect for family. “It has given me more family time which I appreciate,” he said. “When you go to college, you can lose sight of what’s truly important and COVID really turned the page and brought it back to me.” Morehouse has not announced its plans for students to return to campus in August but both Hogue and Council remain optimistic. “We don’t know anything yet They said they will let us know but who knows,” Hogue said. “At this point it’s just really being prepared for anything.”
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JULY 3, 2020
WE’RE OPEN No More Hugs and Kisses... JUST GOOD FOOD!
FOR BUSINESS!
2536 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Dallas, TX 75215
2120 N St Augustine Suite 100 Dallas, TX 75227
(214) 565-1025
(972) 329-1414
Thanks for your cooperation and continued support of Black Jack Pizza!
JULY 3, 2020
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Hanging with Hollywood
GOLDIE
MOVIE REVIEW BY HOLLYWOOD HERNANDEZ
I
have real mixed emotions after seeing the movie GOLDIE. It’s a character driven movie about an 18-year-old girl, Slick Woods; that is shot in a very creative style using painted backgrounds to animate the live action. It’s a movie filled with emotion with GOLDIE fighting to keep her young sisters out of foster care while pursuing her dream to be a video model/dancer. The problem I had with the movie was that the story just never came together. It was more like a series of dramatic vignettes than an actual feature film. Still the movie was enjoyable. The movie starts out upbeat with Goldie, living the life of a super hip girl in New York, who while disadvantaged, makes moves to get out of a life of poverty. Things start to unravel when her mother, who deals drugs out of the apartment, gets arrested and child protective services want to take custody of the two younger sisters. There’s also a man staying in the apartment, GOLDIE’s mother’s boyfriend, who is the source for the drugs GOLDIE’s mom is dealing. When CPS comes for the two young sisters, GOLDIE goes on the lam without a place to stay and after being denied shelter by their father, the girls end up living myimessenger.com
on the street and struggling to survive. After denying. them a place to stay, a friend keeps the younger sisters overnight so GOLDIE can go on her big video audition that she hopes will change her life. For the audition GOLDIE covets a yellow fur coat that she sees in the store. When she takes her younger sisters to see the coat the store owner won’t even allow her to try it on until he sees the excitement in the two young sisters. Absolutely enthralled with the coat GOLDIE hustles up the money needed to purchase the coat. Proudly draped in her yellow coat, with matching yellow hot pants, GOLDIE heads out to what she hopes will be her life changing audition. However, while at the audition the woman keeping the kids calls protective services and when GOLDIE comes home to pick up the girls a new foster mother was there waiting to take the kids away.It’s a heart-wrenching scene to see the girls taken from their older sister after she fought so hard to keep them together. The movie lasts 90 minutes and is unrated. It’s available on PPV. On my”Hollywood Popcorn Scale,” I rate GOLDIE a LARGE.
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We’re open and ready to serve you!
Elaine’s
Jamaican Kitchen
(214) 565-1008 2717 Martin L. King Jr Blvd, Dallas, TX 75215
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FEBRUARY 8, 2019
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Do you know this man?
POLICE have not apprehended “Pookie” the serial rapist. We know he has attacked members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and there is a $5,000 reward offered by Crime Stoppers.
HE IS A SERIAL RAPIST
He targeted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. but this is more than about a sorority. We’re talking about a community. Come on PEOPLE! Don’t you CARE? Will it matter when it is your sister, mother, aunt or grandmother or maybe YOU?
877-373-8477 JULY 3, 2020
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