Texas Metro News 12-9-21

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• Vol. 10 • December 9 - 15, 2021

MY TRUTH

By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER

Letting it go As 2021 rapidly comes to a close, I thought about something weighing heavily on my mind and in my heart.

To move on, however, I need to let it go.

Which brings me to my truth.

In 2020, someone stole my vehicle. I didn’t care about the vehicle. I wanted a new one anyway!

It did bother me that earlier that day we had loaded the car up with the latest editions of Texas Metro News and the Garland Journal, in preparation to make deliveries to over 300 locations.

It was also frustrating because I felt somewhat violated.

A few days later I received a call and was notified that the newspapers and other personal items were left outside of a dumpster by Methodist Charlton Medical Center.

Eventually the car was found and I had to retrieve it.

There was damage to the exterior and two tires were on flat.

Inside, clearly the perpetrators, thieves, or whatever you want to call them, were smokers of both tobacco and weed.

Inside the car there were remnants of their vices, including some clothing and discarded food containers, empty cigarette packs and lots of tobacco.

The car was a mess!

I was wishing for a moment with those who took from me for their own pleasure.

These knuckleheads, in their haste, overlooked several money orders and a few gift cards; items that could be replaced.

Unfortunately for me, they took a small gray lock box that See MY TRUTH, page 17

Former Judge Larry W. Baraka

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Biden Sounds Warning on Omicron Variant

By Stacy M. Brown

The Washington Informer

President Joe Biden cautioned Americans not to panic as Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant, threatens to further stall recovery from the nearly twoyear-old pandemic.

The President called the variant a cause for concern but not panic.

“We have the best vaccine in the world. The best medicines, the best scientists, and we’re learning more every single day,” President Biden asserted. “And we’ll fight this variant with scientific and knowledgeable actions and speed. Not chaos and

NNPA Newswire Contributor

Police killings in the United States have been massively undercounted according to a study by the University of Washington. The study was published on September 27 in the Lancet, peer-reviewed medical journal.

Researchers compared data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) federal data-

By Stacy M. Brown The Biden administration remains hopeful while still embracing the likelihood of omicron in the United States.

Credit: iStockphoto / NNPA

confusion.

“Look, we’re going to fight and beat this new variant as well.”

The White House earlier an-

nounced that the U.S. would restrict travel from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, BoSee OMICRON VARIANT, page 7

base alongside data from three groups tracking deaths in police custody and news reports. The study demonstrated the disproportionate impact of police killings on Black people in America.

Last summer, after the May 25, 2020 killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, there were protests in the streets around the U.S. The moment brought forward even more analysis over

police violence. Over the last five years several high-profile killings of African Americans in the U.S. have been caught on camera and forced legislatures to re-evaluate policing policies.

The study in part read that, “across all races and states in the USA, we estimate 30,800 deaths from police violence between 1980 and 2018; this represents 17,100 more deaths than report-

Dr. Harry Robinson Jr., founder, president and CEO of the African American Museum at Fair Park in Dallas, was adamant.

“It absolutely is not going to happen,” he insisted.

The revered local and national historian and keeper of African-American archives was not about to agree to any effort to rename in his honor the museum that he’d created.

“That is completely out of the picture,” he emphasized.

The 80-year-old scholar and archivist was being interviewed about whether he might soften his well-known stance against turning spotlights on him instead of the museum. As always, he rattled off several names of financial donors who he says are more deserving of such honors.

Naming others is a tactic that See AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, page 11

NNPA Newswire

In an announcement that has provided a jolt to the 2022 midterm elections, Stacey Abrams said she’s running for governor of the Peach State.

The race, which could mean a second dual between Abrams and Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, promises to catapult Democrats into the position of favorites.

See POLICE KILLINGS, page 7

'Out of the picture,' African American Museum head says of renaming Fair Park institution after him

By Norma Adams-Wade

Stacey Abrams’ Governor Run Provides Jolt for 2022 Midterms The race, which could mean a second dual between Abrams and Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, promises to catapult Democrats into the position of favorites.

Study Shows Police Killings Widely Undercounted

By Lauren Victoria Burke

Sources have confirmed reports of the death of Judge Larry W. Baraka, on Monday, after a lengthy illness. Judge Baraka served as a Criminal District Court #2 Judge from 19851997. A graduate of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa; he received his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. A proud, unapologetic Republican, Baraka was the first Black Dallas County prosecutor to represent Texas in felony cases and the first Black district judge elected in Dallas County. He was 71.

Dr. Harry Robinson Jr. founded the African American Museum in 1974 and has been its primary guiding force ever since. Credit: 2008 File Photo / Jim Mahoney

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.

Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams

A Democrat and noted voting rights advocate, Abrams lost to Kemp by just over one percentage point in their controversial 2018 battle.

Her activism helped Democrats claim the majority in the U.S. Senate when Georgia Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff defeated Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in the January 2021 runoff election.

“I’m running because opportunity in our state shouldn’t be determined by zip code, See STACEY ABRAMS, page 10

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• December 9 - 15, 2021

White House Announces the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking health of our communities and transportation netNNPA Newswire works, the security of our Globally, an estimated borders, the strength of our 25 million people are subeconomy, and the rule of jected to human trafficking law.” and forced labor, which is They said the Biden-Harresponsible for an estimatris administration is committed to keeping the fight to end human trafficking at the forefront of America’s Ed Bell Construction Company national security agenda by An Equal Opportunity Employer releasing the new National Ed Bell Construction Company December 2021 An Equal 1, Opportunity Employer Action Plan to Combat HuEd Bell Construction is a Dallas based heavy highway contractor doing business in the North Texas man Trafficking.

December 2021With clients such as TxDOT, Dallas County Public Works, and the Cities of Dallas, market since1,1963.

Fort Worth, Richardson, and Mansfield (plus many others), we have a strong backlog of work in the “Human trafficking dishighway market locally.

Ed Bell Construction is a Dallas based heavy highway contractor doing business in the North Texas proportionately impacts We are currently hiring for the following market since 1963.

With clients such positions: as TxDOT, Dallas County Public Works, and the Cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Richardson, and Mansfield (plus many others), we have a strong backlog of work in the some of the most vulnerable highway market locally.

• Pipelayer (Underground) and underserved members • CDL Drivers (Water Truck) We •are Rough currently hiringCrane for the following positions: Terrain Operator of our society,” the fact sheet • Form Setter (Structures, Paving) • Laborer (Earthwork, Underground) noted.

Pipelayer (Underground) •• Boom Mobile Crane Operator (CDL) •• Motor Grader Operator (Earthwork) The updated National CDL Drivers (Water Truck) •• Work Zone Barricade Servicer-must Rough Terrain Crane Operator have DL and be bilingual with clear English Action Plan to Combat Hu• Form Setter (Structures, Paving) • Laborer Underground) Available: multiple (Earthwork, openings man Trafficking responds Boom Mobile Crane Operator (CDL) Rate:• Negotiable Must• have own transportation Motor Grader Operator (Earthwork) to this predatory behavior Years Experience required will vary, from 6 monthshave to 2 years (depending on position) • of Work Zone Barricade Servicer-must DL and be bilingual with clear English Physical and Drug Screen Required by addressing the needs of Must have a Clear Background Must be at least 18 years old (CDL Driver, 21 yrs) underserved individuals, Available: multiple openings Rate: Negotiable APPLY IN PERSON at 10605 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220 from 7am-11am Mon-Fri. Must families, and communities.

Must have own transportation Please visit our website: www.edbellconstruction.com/careers Or email your to: careers@edbellconstruction.com Years of Experience required will resume vary, from 6 months to 2 years (depending on position) As such, officials said it Physical and Drug Screen Required Must have a Clear Background reflects the administration’s Must be at least 18 years old (CDL Driver, 21 yrs) commitments to gender Must APPLY IN PERSON at 10605 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220 from 7am-11am Mon-Fri. and racial equity by taking Please visit our website: www.edbellconstruction.com/careers Or email your resume to: careers@edbellconstruction.com action against the systemic injustices that communities experience, including underserved populations.

“The anti-trafficking efforts outlined in the National Action Plan are directly linked to our broader efforts to address inequities for

By Stacy M. Brown

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

ed $150 billion annually in illicit profits.

In a fact sheet released by the White House on Friday, December 3, administration officials said human trafficking and forced labor “erodes the safety and

marginalized groups,” the administration officials stated further.

These communities often experience overlapping social and economic inequities, and individuals may suffer multiple forms of abuse.

As a result, individuals from these communities may be more vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking.

President Joe Biden

The fact sheet noted that the National Action Plan also reflects the administration’s commitment to workers’ rights and ending forced labor in global supply chains, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated due, in part, to job insecurity, supply chain disruptions, and exponential demand for essential medical supplies and services.

The National Action Plan also serves as an important component of advancing

the administration’s priority of ensuring safe, orderly, and humane migration.

“As we continue to address the acute and longterm drivers of irregular migration, we must ensure our legal immigration pathways provide safe alternatives,” the White House stated.

“We must also reaffirm trust in the U.S. government’s commitment to protect individuals who have experienced human trafficking, including noncitizens.”

Administration officials said the National Action Plan retains a central focus on the foundational pillars of U.S. and global anti-trafficking efforts – prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships.

It contains strategic prevention programs which are wide-ranging, from educating vulnerable populations and mitigating risk factors to seeking to prevent goods produced with forced labor from entering U.S. markets.

It also serves to accomplish the following: • Enhance education and outreach efforts, including for at-risk populations.

See ACTION PLAN, page 15

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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• Vol-10

Founder of South Dallas Ministry Uses Her Experiences To Guide Others

By Sriya Reddy Aelicia Watson, affectionately known as Chocolate, says that there is no story she hears at her nonprofit Redeemed Women that she can’t understand Domestic abuse, generational poverty, teen pregnancy.

She’s been through it all herself.

Today, Watson is the founder and executive director of Redeemed Women, a ministry that focuses on women’s issues. She said that everything she’s been through has led her to this point.

She remembers living in cars as a child, changing the diaper of her little brother at 4 years old, and eating food straight from the can.

“I grew up in what I like to call extreme absolute poverty,” Watson said. “I grew up on food stamps, in the housing projects, and government cheese. I saw all kinds of violence. I saw all kinds of generational poverty.”

Watson has these memories of absolute poverty more as a child than as an adult. She said that she remembers her mother selling the food in their home to feed the addiction.

“I was angry,” she said as her voice broke. “Yeah, I was so angry. I was angry because I was like, what kind of [expletive] mom would choose drugs over her kids? What kind of God says he loves me and lets me sit through this.”

At 10 years old she was diagnosed with bone cancer and moved back to Texas from Southern California because of the lack of medical care.

It was during that time that a close family member raped her.

“And so after that hap-

Redeemed Women Founder Aelicia “Chocolate” Watson in the South Dallas community she serves on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

Credit: Lawrence Jenkins/Special Contributor

pened, I ran away from home,” Watson said.

“Think about the women here, you know, there are so many women that get raped by their dads, uncles, cousins, even brothers,” she said. “A lot of people don’t talk about it. I just

son’s water broke in the middle of class. That’s when she learned that she was pregnant. A few years later, Watson graduated high school and married her high school sweetheart. Watson says the marriage ended after

Aelicia “Chocolate” Watson’s nonprofit Redeemed Women helps South Dallas women to lead independent alives. have the opportunity to be bold enough to talk about it.”

Eventually Watson came home to her grandparents where she had a support system for the first time in her life.

“I started being surrounded by people who loved me — the doctors at the hospital, my grandparents, who were very instrumental in my life since my parents didn’t raise me,” Watson said. “And you know, that brought a lot of hope into my life.”

Watson’s experiences meant that she has been able to identify with the women who come to her for help in South Dallas, where she’s lived for the last 10 years. At 14, Wat-

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a friend from work noticed her black eye and offered her a place to stay.

“I can identify with this neighborhood because I know what it is to go to school with dirty clothes on,” Watson said. “I know what it is to be sitting next to your mom who’s shooting up drugs next to you.”

She said she sees a little bit of herself in every woman that walks through her door. Her mission through Redeemed Women is to transform women to lead independent lives. As the founder of Redeemed Women, she serves about 30 women a month and about 300 to 400 women a year, a number that increased during the pandemic.

During the decade that Watson lived in South Dallas, she realized that there are no resources solely for women.

“When I asked women here what do you need, they said we need something just for us,” Watson said. “These women, they’re caregivers, they’re single parents, but they need a place to let their hair down. They need a place to breathe for themselves.”

That is what Watson set out to create.

At Redeemed Women, Watson looks at the spiritual, vocational and physical needs of the women that come in. She offers Bible study, connections to other resources, and teaches classes — all while building relationships.

Through the work that she’s done, Watson is proud of not being a victim anymore, of breaking out of generational poverty, and leading others to do the same.

“I’m not a victim.” she said. “I’m victorious, and I’m fearfully, beautifully, wonderfully made. And even though I struggle with my own shame and insecurity sometimes, I do know that God has called me for such a time as this.”

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.

• December 9 - 15, 2021

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My Truth cont. from page 1 my mother gave to me before she transitioned.

I can still recall how anxious I was when Mother told me she had something for me. I had no idea what it was. As she handed me the box, I wondered, did she hit the jackpot during one of her many trips to Atlantic City, or Winstar once she moved to Dallas?

Had she saved a copy of my favorite book or written a love letter just for me?

I opened the box only once and surveyed the contents before locking it and thanking her.

Then I put the box away with the intention of using its contents should I ever find myself at a total loss. It was to be my ace in the hole; a reminder that my mother was always with me and here was something only I knew about.

I placed it under the driver’s seat in my car, always near.

Until the car was stolen.

What makes the situation even more painful is the lack of an adequate response from the person assigned to my case from the Dallas Police Department.

Now I know I am not the only one who has run into someone who has used COVID-19 as an excuse for inadequate work, performance or results. The excuses and lack of work ethic just adds to the devastating effects of the pandemic.

Even after a call from City Hall, this officer tried to act as though he was pursuing justice, but he could have vanished from the face of the earth, although I hope and pray that is not the case; and my file could be just languishing in the cold case stack.

Admittedly I have watched too many law shows; from Perry Mason and Mod Squad to Shaft and Law and Order SVU. So, forgive me for thinking that since the car was stolen from an Oak Cliff gas station/convenience store with cameras and there were plenty of items to get DNA from; possibly the investigation could have produced favorable results.

Could have, if someone had worked it!

I started to name the officer who provided lackluster service. It seemed the right thing to do, to call out the bad apple so we can stop letting them get away with assaulting, robbing; and yes, murdering our community.

Then I thought about that officer’s mother, who would only be hurt reading about her trifling son.

My mother did not raise me to transfer my hurt onto someone else.

I’ve tried to be a daughter Mother could be proud of so I won’t say the Detective’s name.

I know it would have made me feel so much better if he had done his job.

It would have been great to have the perpetrators caught and punished; hopefully deterring them from a life of crime and imprisonment.

I know that gift from Mother will never be returned; however I am grateful for the many gifts and blessings from her, beginning with our two hearts beating as one!

So, I will do as we’re encouraged to do in the hit song by Mase featuring P. Diddy, “Breathe, Stretch, Shake, let it go.”

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• December 9 - 15, 2021

QUIT PLAYIN’

By Vincent L. Hall My friend Ina looked at me as if she was in a state of complete disbelief. I didn’t think what I said was coded or subliminal, but she had never heard the term. If you are Black and been to "the country” to see Big Mama n’em more than thrice, you’ve heard that old adage “it must be a dead cat on the line.”

Ina, a bona fide "city girl," doesn't know many old people, and I would bet that she rarely ventures down the road to visit Black folks in rural communities.

Let me give you the example I gave her. It's one that I heard after 11:00 worship while sitting next to my Grandmother Figures at a three o" clock Church Tea. Even at age six, curiosity was a staple for me.

"Chile, she and that boy just got married last June if my mind is serving me right. So, here it is in the middle of January and she done had a healthy 10-pound baby boy.

WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE

By Dr. E. Faye Williams Recently, most of us have been consumed with conversations surrounding the “Build Back Better” budget plan that President Joe Biden campaigned on. His is a much-needed plan that will cut taxes and lower costs for working families, create much-needed jobs and address income inequality. His proposal centers on restructured tax codes that oblige the wealthy to pay their fair share.

Although the potential outcomes of President Biden’s plan are ambitious, it seemed so simple that even the 1% would accept a serious effort to lower the costs of housing, health care, higher education, prescription drugs and child care.

Even if they had to learn to live on a few dollars less, who could complain about contributing to the “general welfare” in proportion to the benefits this country affords them?

Obviously, the 1% could! For them, earning more money than

Are You A Dead Cat on the Line?

Ain’t nobody no fool. There must be a dead cat on the line.”

There are plenty of books and literary forensic specialists, and they tie several different things to the origination of dead cat on the line.

All of them agree that the adage infers that something is suspicious or something is not quite right.

There are several speculations about the origin, and each seems to have its level of believability.

Here are just a couple.

It was common in Louisiana to fish for catfish by leaving a rod with several lines and hooks in the water. This "trotline" was checked by fishermen daily. If your neighbor found a dead catfish on the line, they assumed that you were slacking. So naturally, this led to further suspicion that something was wrong with the person who owned the line.

Another posits that unwanted litters of kittens were often tied into a bag and drowned in the days before PETA. In hopes of snagging the "big one," Anglers were crestfallen after learning that all they caught

Mitch McConnell

was a bag filled with dead kittens.

A 1982 New York Times article by famed editorialist William Safire delved deeper into the subject.

Safire produced a repeating feature called “On Language” where he discussed popular etymology, new or unusual usages, and other language-related topics.

“Ronald Foreman Jr., director of the Afro-American Studies Program at the University of Florida, has unearthed a series of recorded sermons made between 1926 and 1942 by the Rev. J.M. Gates. A 1929 sermon has this to say: ''I want to preach from this subject: If a child is no way like his fa-

ther, there's a dead cat on the line.

They tell me that once upon a time, they had some trouble trying to get a message over the telegram wire. The company sent a man out to inspect the line. In making his report, he said that a cat had gone up the telegraph post and died on the line. That was the reason why they couldn't get the message over the line. Now, if a child doesn't favor his father in no way, there's a dead cat on the line.''

Professor Foreman concludes that ''in practice, the expression is extended to outcomes, behaviors, products and so on which are not what they should be.''

Let me give you my last-ditch attempt to explain dead cat on the line to Ina. She caught it early on, but I wanted to pour some more cement in the frame.

Five rights and freedoms are protected by the original U. S Constitution, covering speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.

In addition, it gave Americans the right to bear arms, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, protection from self-incrimination, due process of law, the right to a trial by jury for criminal charges, and equal protection.

Do you know what line got left out when those White cats wrote the Constitution? The right to vote.

“Curiosity killed the cat, but ask yourself why these same cats still try to limit your voting rights.

Think about that the next time Election Day rolls around and you sit on your “Blessed Ass-surance.”

Don’t be a dead cat, voter suppression is real!

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

Them That’s Got Shall Get can be spent in a lifetime is not enough. They resist the sacrifice of a small portion that would benefit us all.

Undoubtedly, the need for reform exists. The singular or combined impact of those limiting circumstances severely affects the potential for improved quality of life and/or upward social mobility.

Too often, the cost of child care is equal to or greater than the earning potential of an indigent parent leaving the choice as “Do I work to pay child care, or do I care for my child?”

President Biden’s plan offers that no middle-class family would pay more than 7% of their income for quality child care up to age 5. Working families most in need of child care would pay nothing. Universal preschool would increase the potential for social success.

Unlike the past, a high school diploma no longer guarantees a middle-class lifestyle. Without a near-miracle, there is no “good” job to be found without post-high school studies. Under the Biden Plan, students would universally

**FILE** President Joe Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, delivers remarks on the passing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Tuesday, August 10, 2021, in the East Room of the White House.

qualify for tuition for two years of community college studies.

Additionally, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions have historically operated on shoestring budgets.

The president’s plan includes strategies to strengthen completion and retention rates at these institutions which serve low-income students. Appearances suggest that some of the wealthier members of Congress need assistance with their “higher education” since they don’t seem to understand the relationship be-

tween education and the achievement of personal success. They most certainly are NOT using their education wisely!

Congresswoman Cori Bush recently slept outside the U.S. Capitol to draw attention to the crisis of homelessness and increasing housing costs. Regrettably, we are forced to stand witness to increasing numbers of people sleeping on the streets — not because they choose to — because increasing costs reduce the availability of affordable housing.

Over 10 million renters are paying over one-half of their earnings for rent. Even then,

many of the buildings in which they live and for which they pay so much are substandard, needing rehabilitation or rebuilding!

Under “Build Back Better,” nearly 40 million households would realize assistance for ending child poverty. This program includes workforce training, the development of clean energy and other jobs, tax cuts for childless workers and investments in teachers and schools. Most importantly, it includes expanded health care benefits.

While most Democrats seem to understand, most Republicans only understand when benefits work for “them that’s got” already. There is no end to their desire to help large corporations and the wealthy, or sink billions of dollars into endless, destructive wars.

They demonstrate their “Christian compassion” by allowing almost anything else to take priority over assisting the less fortunate of God’s children!

Dr. E. Faye Williams is national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Contact her via www.nationalcongressbw.org.

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Christmas is forgiveness FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

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"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

–Luke 6:35 (NIV)

Our culture is quick to dismiss others. Social media is filled with ‘cancel culture.’ If someone does something unacceptable, social media becomes enraged and the demands to end the individual’s career ensues. This boycott includes shaming individuals, slamming their reputation, and negating anything they have ever done that may have been positive.

As Christians, we have a responsibility to speak out and address those societal ills that plague our communities, but we must not forget to forgive and remember our own shortcomings, faults and failures. In essence, when we deny forgiveness, we deny them the opportunity to receive love. I am so glad we serve a God who forgives us repeatedly.

In Matthew 18:21-35, Peter asks how many times he should forgive. Christ answers with a parable of a man in a position of power who forgave his servant. Yet, when the servant was given the opportunity to do the same for someone else, he forgot how he had been forgiven previously. Jesus answered Peter, “I tell you, not just seven times, but 77 times!”

Forgiveness is ongoing and rooted in love. It is accepting we all fall short of the glory of God and that as long as we are on this Earth, we will make mistakes.

Forgiveness is about loving others even when they do not deserve it. Forgiveness is about loving ourselves enough to be freed from the chains of anger and hatred. Forgiveness is about obedience to God and loving him through our actions because he continues to give us another chance.

As we go through this season, I hope we are extending the love, grace and mercy Christ has given us to one another. If we are to show the world the love of Christ, it begins in how we love one another (John 13:35) and our willingness to forgive others as he has forgiven us.

From the 2020 Buckner International Advent guide. To download, visit https://www.buckner. org/blog/the-2020-buckner-advent-guide-has-arrived/ Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.

• December 9 - 15, 2021

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Ensuring Racial Equity by Expanding Internet Access OUR VOICES

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew

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By Jose Marquez

With protests having erupted in cities across the country over police violence targeting Black men and women, the civil rights and social justice movements have shot to forefront of U.S. politics in a way not seen since the 1960s.

While much of the conversation rightly has centered on police brutality and the role law enforcement plays in American society, communities of color also are discriminated against in numerous other ways.

Many Black Americans, Latinos and other people of color are given substandard educational opportunities, lack avenues to workforce training and advancement and, arguably most important in today’s tech-driven world, face a dearth of access to reliable, affordable broadband internet.

Congress made a good first step in ameliorating this dire situation when it passed President Biden’s infrastructure bill, but the $65 billion allocation in broadband for all is hardly enough to close the digital divide.

The gap in digital access is particularly wide in communities of color, where one in three families with children lack a high-speed internet connection at home — a rate of disconnection more than 50 percent higher than that of white families. The problem is exacerbated in areas across the South from Atlanta to Houston where 35 percent of Black adults lack any access to broadband at home.

Lawmakers need to make sure that they include a broadband policy that guarantees no American is stranded on the wrong side of the digital divide. The private sector is already doing this with a little-known but ambitious effort like the Southern Communities Initiative. It is seeking to address the socio-economic challenges that African Americans face throughout the region. And among the goals of this partnership is to expand broadband access across six metro areas throughout the South: Atlanta,

Birmingham, Charlotte, Houston, Memphis, and New Orleans. The effort has the backing of some of the most powerful individuals in corporate America, including PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, Vista CEO Robert F. Smith and BCG CEO Rich Lesser.

We are not too late to bridge the digital divide, and the Southern Communities Initiative will almost certainly play an important role in helping accomplish that in communities like my hometown of Atlanta. But this important work cannot be left to private individuals and organizations alone. Lawmakers must do their part to ensure that high-speed internet is available and affordable to every American, no matter where in the country they live.

While policymakers in Washington have focused on getting broadband access to rural areas, we must also make sure that urban areas are not overlooked. Census data has shown that while there are approximately 5 million rural households without broadband access, this problem is three times as large in urban areas—with around 15 million urban or metro households without broadband.

Affordable and ubiquitous access

to high-speed internet, however, is just the starting point. We also must expand access to the hardware and software people need to take full advantage of all the internet has to offer and maintain an ecosystem of digital educators, repair workers, designers and other tech specialists who can keep improvements going long into the future.

Guaranteeing that all Americans have broadband access would not only help close the digital divide but would also give the United States an edge in global competitiveness as it would bring millions of people more fully into the digital economy. One study from last year found that only about 30 percent of African Americans had access to broadband compared with about 60 percent of whites.

There is a broad consensus from civil rights leaders to corporate heads to policymakers inside the Washington Beltway that broadband access is a right of every American. Lawmakers must take note and ensure that all Americans have the ability to log on.

Jose Marquez is the national President and CEO of TechLatino: Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA).

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BIG MAMA TAUGHT ME:

"WISH IN ONE HAND, SPIT IN THE OTHER. SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST!" BLACK CARD

By Terry Allen As a child, my Big Mama had other women in the community that would often say this to their children.

Oftentimes, when I would ask for something, state an ambition I had, or state a goal I wanted to achieve, Mama, would say that to me. Immediately after, Big Mama would stand, hands on hips, and speak to Mama and the other women, “You better hush, Now!” I never quite understood what it meant; but now I know.

In my earlier years, my

best friend explained to me what it meant was all wants and needs are invisible, so that they wouldn't fill up your hand, but that your spit, a solid matter, would quickly fill it up.

It's the statement that I don't understand... If you place want in one hand, spit in the other and see which hand is full first regardless of when it happened, does it mean anything? What's the point? When I was younger as a child, I would say to Bug Mama "I want that bicycle"--- I'd like to know how telling me to "put want in one hand, spit in the other, and see which hand is full first meets the claim?

For me, as an adult, this was just a phrase to have me wondering what is it

that the women were actually telling us, because they would ALSO say. “People in hell wanted ice water, “when many of the young children asked for something. What did this mean?

Was it just said to eventually shut us up. I am reminded of Clay Fishers book, Return of the Tall Men, where on page 126, he says, “*Wish in one hand, urinate in the other — see which fills up first.”

I think so, but as I aged, I became open to other explanations for the statement. My experience with my son opened my eyes to these three things: 1. If you do not have the means bring your wishes to life, you might as well wish in one hand and ---t

in the other. Which says to a “po' person, your wishes have about as much value as body waste.

2. You must help others help themselves because everyone has different needs and wants.

3. Allow your tribe to have realistic expectations, promises and outcomes so the balance is real.

Endgame: Your desire for something may not be realistic if you do not have a way to make it happen. In closing, do you have a Big Mama blessing? Email me today @ terryallenpr@gmail.com

WHAT’S ON MILES’ MIND

By Miles Jaye Religion brings out the best in man and the very worst in man. There are those who seek a connection to a higher being for solace, worship, and the possibility of ascension to higher manifestations of themselves.

Then there are those who, at every turn, seek to exploit the spiritual disposition of others. Charlatans and false prophets deceive and steal in the name of the Lord. 2 Timothy 3:13 says: “But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.”

Holidays also bring out the best and very worst in people. There are those who view holidays as a time to congregate and celebrate with friends and loved ones.

Then, there are those who anticipate holidays as the

happy by satisfying and making someone else happy because of your ability and willingness to materialize joy.

Gratitude is now a by-product of a warped, twisted, misguided act of feeding someone’s material possession addiction.

When I was a kid, this time of year was all about making a list and checking it twice.

Santa was going to find out who was naughty and who was nice and reward the latter.

Would I get what I wanted?

Probably not, but ‘wanting’ is what actually generated the initial sense of excitement-the anticipation gave rise to the exhilaration. TV commercials for Mattel’s, RockEm-Sock-Em Robots didn’t make matters better.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, or Eid Al-Fitr, enjoy good food, good music and good company, but try not to overdo it. Holidays are a time of remembrance yet, far too often we forget those who are alone.

We forget those who have

OUR VOICES

By Sen. Royce West

That’s what’s on my mind!

As we absorbed the events of past weeks and the day before we prepared for Thanksgiving and a holiday weekend, the verdict was announced in the case involving the senseless murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

The souls of any who do not agree with the numerous counts of murder levied on the three defendants should also be on trial. I can be thankful that justice was served, but not happy.

Because it was the second Thanksgiving that Ahmaud’s seat at the family table was empty.

I cannot be happy, because the life of a 25year old was tragically and inhumanely ended because three, self-appointed, vigilantes took it upon themselves to investigate, charge and administer capital punishment for an offense that was never committed.

I can be thankful that Georgia Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley did not order the deceased Arbery to not be referred to as a victim and did allow the sequences leading up to the moment his life was extinguished to be admitted into evidence.

And I was relieved when the judge called the tactics used by a particular defense attorney “reprehensible." But I cannot be happy.

I cannot be happy, because although the particulars were different, 23 years ago, three other White men riding in a pickup truck in Jasper, Texas took it upon themselves to make sport of an innocent James Byrd. Jr. I can be thankful, that they too were all found guilty, but happiness eludes me because, due to their race, neither Byrd nor Arbery were afforded the basic respect due another human being.

I can be thankful for the verdict, the 23 count conviction handed collectively to the three, now -convicted murderers. But I cannot exhale until sentencing is pronounced. If the gavel were mine, the only air they would breathe for the remainder of their lives would come from inside prison walls.

I can be thankful, that following the verdict, residual anger did not spill out onto America’s streets.

But I cannot take comfort, because in too many states across this country, too many laws allow individuals to believe that they are empowered to take matters of policing and justice into their own hands.

And too many times, we have gasped, wishing not to witness the traumatic and numbing outcomes. Equality and justice demand better!

Website: www.milesjaye.net Podcast: https://bit.ly/2zkhSRv Email: milesjaye360@gmail.com

Royce West was first elected to the Texas Senate in November 1992. He represents the 23rd Senatorial District on behalf of the citizens of Dallas County.

Terry Allen is an awardwinning media professional, journalist, and entrepreneur. He is also the founder of City Men Cook and 1016 Media. Reach him at terryalllenpr@gmail.com

Be a blessing this holiday season perfect time of year to rob others of their hard-earned money and possessions by means as time-tested as stick-ups and as technologically advanced as online hacking of bank and credit card accounts.

Religious holidays, traditional observances of special occasions as prescribed in Holy doctrine-- the Torah, Koran, the Holy Bible, are an interesting combination of the two. False prophets teach and preach messages of paganism and unholy practices to unsuspecting congregations, populated with the naïve and the vulnerable, unwilling to accept the responsibility of study and truth-seeking. Then comes the offering.

To compound matters, the advertising industry saturates the airwaves and social media, filling consumers’ minds with messages of immediate and fallacious gratification.

Amazon to Jared, new cars and cruises, fill the marketplace with goodies. Goodies that promise to make you

Thankful that justice was served

no gifts, no family, no home, no joy. We forget those whose homes went up in flames earlier this year. The noise of holiday cheer drowns out the sobbing from the loss of loved ones, lost to divorce, gun violence, disease and other natural causes, or the Covid-19 virus. It’s easy to forget the incarcerated, and those on watch and at war in our defense.

Try to remember them!

Over this and other holidays, remember prayer. Pray for yourself and for others, loved ones and strangers.

Remember to let go and let God. Whatever God or Allah means to you, let God touch your spirit, and find your joy there, not in stuff in shiny paper under a tree.

Most important, rather than asking for blessings this season, allow yourself to BE a blessing to someone other than yourself. That’s it… Happy Holidays!

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Dallas Wings Foundation Holds Unique “Giving Tuesday” Event

By LE “Lilly” Brown The Dallas Wings Community Foundation, a 501c3 public foundation affiliated with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, recently raised money for the foundation in a very unique way.

In honor of “Giving Tuesday,” along with asking for donations, the Foundation held a shopping soiree in partnership with the popular jewelry brand Kendra Scott, in Uptown Dallas. Twenty percent of purchase proceeds went to the foundation.

“Giving Tuesday,” a global generosity movement where people donate to their favorite charities and nonprofits, is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, in the United States.

Dallas Wings

“I am happy to bring together two great brands,” said LaDondra Watson, the Foundation’s Executive Director and Vice President of Social Responsibility. “The Dallas

Omicron Variant cont. from page 1 tswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, and Mozambique.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has already declared a state of emergency, announcing that while the omicron variant hadn’t arrived, she expects it would soon.

“We continue to see warning signs of spikes this upcoming winter, and while the new omicron variant has yet to be detected in New York State, it’s coming,” Hochul insisted.

Officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) said the Omicron coronavirus variant on Monday carried a “very

high risk of infection surges.”

The WHO reportedly advised its 194 member nations that any infection surge could have severe consequences but said no deaths had yet been linked to the new variant.

“Omicron has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic,” the organization noted in a news release.

“The overall global risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron is assessed as very high,” WHO officials said.

Police Killings cont. from page 1 ed by the NVSS. Over this time period, the age-standardized mortality rate due to police violence was highest in non-Hispanic Black people, followed by Hispanic people of any race. This variation is further affected by the decedent’s sex and shows large discrepancies between states.”

Talks around details on

Credit: www.wings.wnba.com

language in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in Congress ended in late September after a dispute between Republican Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) over what Scott defined as “defunding police.”

Sen. Cory Booker (DNJ) told NNPA that he has not given up on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and is look-

Wings Foundation fundamentally empowers women and girls, and we believe the Kendra Scott brand to do the same thing.”

Attendees at the shopping

South African officials reportedly first detected the new variant a week ago in Botswana, with cases confirmed in Germany, Japan, Canada, and Belgium.

The Biden administration remains hopeful while still embracing the likelihood of Omicron in the United States.

“While we have said that travel restrictions can slow the speed of Omicron, it cannot prevent it,” President Biden stated. “Here’s what it does: it gives us time. It gives us time to take more action. To move quicker, to make sure people understand, you have to get the vaccine. You have to get the shot. You have to get the booster.” ing for a way to revive the conversation and move the legislation forward.

“I am not giving up and I’ve gone over it with my staff and asked: What are our options,” Sen. Booker told NNPA. The study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

soiree expressed joy and enthusiasm over being part of the event. “I absolutely love the jewelry Kendra Scott makes; it is beautiful, and it makes women feel beautiful. LaDondra

threw a fun and empowering event,” said Sahvona Brown, a local philanthropist and Dallas Wings supporter.

Fundraiser attendees enjoyed portable charcuterie and snacks from Krafted By KC as they browsed the uptown store. Guests mingled over their knowledge about the Dallas Wings franchise and beloved support of the Foundation.

The Foundation upholds five key pillars: Women & Girls, Social Justice, Youth Sports, Health & Wellness, and Education. The foundation’s programs are committed to empowering and celebrating women and girls through community initiatives that advocate and promote equitable and fair treatment across genders.

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Derrick James Family Charity

Help DART Stuff A Bus!

At DART, it’s a holiday tradition to stuff a bus with new and unwrapped toys, blankets and adult socks.

The donations go to seniors and families in need.

This year, the drive is virtual.

PLEASE DONATE BY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10!

S TO D Y A W O TW

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1. Bring donations to DARTMart, 1401 Pacific Ave. (Akard Station), Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

2. Purchase from our Amazon Wish List.

DART.org/StuffABus

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Coats and Cocktails

Trying to Help Mom

Coats and Cocktails is the signature event for the organization. It's the 8th annual event and it was held at Michaels in Los Colinas. VIPs began the evening with a red carpet introduction and served a complimentary glass of champagne.

Coats & Cocktails collects outerwear for women, men and especially children during the holiday season.

The coats are donated to Dallas Life Foundation, Dallas Independent School District and Austin Street Shelter through the Soup for the Soul Event.

The organization surpassed last year's collection of 650 jackets and coats.

Stacey Abrams cont. from page 1 background, or access to power,” Abrams declared.

“That’s the job of the governor – to fight for one Georgia, our Georgia,” Abrams exclaimed. “And now, it is time to get the job done.”

Abrams’s work since her 2018 loss to Kemp has received praise across the political spectrum. In 2019, she launched Fair Count and Fair Fight Action to encourage voter participation in elections and educate voters about elections and their voting rights.

The PAC brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications.

“Voter suppression, particularly of voters of color and young voters, is a scourge our country faces in states across the nation,” Abrams noted on her website.

She said Georgia’s 2018 elections “shone a bright light on the issue with elections that were rife with mismanagement, irregularities, unbelievably long lines and more, exposing both recent and also decades-long actions and inactions by the state to thwart the right to vote.”

“Fair Fight Action was founded to organize collective efforts to expose, mitigate, and reverse voter suppression. We engage in voter mobilization and education activities and advocate for progressive issues,” Abrams continued.

Fair Fight PAC has initiated programs to support voter protection programs at state parties around the country and is engaging in partnerships to support and elect pro-voting rights progressive leaders.

After serving for 11 years in the Georgia House of Representatives,

ASK ALMA

By Alma Gill Dear Alma, My dad left my mom for another woman. My mother is so sad and I think it’s affecting her health. She was recently on leave from work because she is too sick to go. She told me and my sister it wasn’t serious and we shouldn’t worry. I am worried and I am so mad at my dad. My mom is taking care of us now and she is doing it all by herself.

Although I have a part-time job, I was thinking maybe I should graduate from high school early and start college so I can hurry up and help my mom and my sister. My mom works at a college, so I can take classes for free. Should I hurry up and start college so I can graduate and help my family?

Worried Son

seven as Democratic Leader.

In 2018, Abrams became the Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, winning more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history.

She broke the glass ceiling as the first Black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the United States and as the first Black woman and first Georgian to deliver a Response to the State of the Union.

“It’s a very humbling experience to know that if I win this election, I would have achieved something that Black women as far back as Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm has fought about, not necessarily the same job, but transforming how we think about leadership in America and physically claiming that mantle of leadership and holding it signals that anything is possible, and we can re-define what leadership looks like and who we can lift up,” Abrams said in a 2018 interview with the Black Press of America.

Dear Worried Son, I applaud your efforts to step up to the plate and fill the role your father has left vacant, but you can’t. You aren’t the father, you’re the son. It’s human nature for you to desire to make everything alright, but that’s too much of a load for you to take on. What I want you to do is concentrate and continue on your path of being an exceptional student.

What’s happening now won’t last forever. Your parents will resolve their issues. Don’t overanalyze, try to compensate, correct, or take ownership of what’s happening between your mom and dad. They’re grown folks handling grown folks business. You can step back and take a breather. I know you know most of what’s going on, but trust me, you don’t know all. Promise me you won’t take sides, but you’ll respect them both and continue to do you. I’m sorry to hear of your mother’s health complications. But in the midst of all this turmoil, I’m sure that your mother sees a few silver linings and you,

for sure, are one of them. You can help her in many ways.

This isn’t your only option.

Now, as to your question about graduating from high school early…. Wow! That does sound exciting and as with everything in life comes the pros and the cons, so let’s examine a few.

Pros: You’re done with high school, ready to start college and looking forward to starting your young adult life.

Cons: You’ll miss your prom, graduating with your friends and the senior year experience.

Honestly, you’re the only one who knows which choice would be best. Have a long, hard conversation with your guidance counselor; that’s a good place to start. They’ll have an enormous amount of information for you to navigate while making your decision. My two cents worth is, if you’re enjoying your life right now, hanging out and socializing with your friends, don’t rush it. If you’re fully active in your high school extracurricular activities, don’t push yourself to leave early, just stay focused. Talk to your mom and let her know of your concerns about her health and your future opportunity to attend college for free. She will share with you what’s best for your family.

Indulge me, as I take a moment to applaud you, young man. In the words of J. Anthony Brown – “Watchoutdehnow!”

Go on with your bad self! Your question fills my heart. Not only are you a super bright and talented young student, you’re compassionate and concerned about your family.

Lawd, have mercy, can every mother join me with a shout of “amen!” Don’t stop believing in yourself. Whatever you decide, I celebrate you sweetheart and pray that all your dreams come true!

Alma 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.

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'Out of the picture,' African American Museum Robinson — an effective but stubbornly quietly behind-thescenes operative — long has used to divert attention from himself. Spotlighting him is counterproductive to museum goals, he argues.

“I always prefer a conservative operating mode,” said Robinson, who has led the museum for 47 years.

Robinson founded the museum at Bishop College in 1974.

The college closed in 1988. After a long and arduous campaign, the museum in 1993 moved into a new state-of the art building at Fair Park, where it has amassed numerous honors.

Despite a challenging shutdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic, museum executives and supporters say the institution has emerged smelling rosy, with enthusiastic, heightened attendance for programs and exhibitions. An array of publications, including D Magazine, Texas Highways and Dallas Observer, have reported on lofty honors the museum has received.

Harry Robinson Jr. Credit: African American Museum

And that’s how Robinson wants to keep it. Always the museum. Never him.

Dr. Vonciel Jones Hill, museum board president, is campaigning for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas’ 30th Congressional District. She could not be reached for comment about the board’s current opinion of a fledgling grassroots effort launched in 2019 to honor Robinson with a lasting project.

But Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney, an author, educator, historian

The African American Museum at Fair Park.

and former museum volunteer, said he isn’t surprised that Robinson stays behind the scenes.

Dulaney stepped forward in early 2020 when Robinson and Hill appointed him deputy director and chief operating officer to run day-to-day museum operations.

Robinson had chosen to concentrate on major fundraising and spearheading the museum’s “Strategic Plan for the Future.” He continually rallies support for ever-changing and permanent projects promoted by the museum, including the popular Texas Black Invitational Rodeo, the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, the Women’s History Month lecture series, the Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra Concert in collaboration with The Black Academy of Arts and Letters and the free upcoming Christmas Music Under the Dome and Christmas Marketplace on Dec. 11–12. (To learn more, visit aamdallas.org.)

Dulaney previously has said Robinson’s contributions in the arena of African American history are unmatched. Still, he said he respects Robinson’s reticence.

“It’s so obvious it [the museum] should be named after him,” Dulaney said recently.

“It’s his museum, his baby, his legacy. Like others, I would like for him to take the honor.”

Dulaney said he understands

Robinson’s hesitance, though, because Dulaney himself had a similar outlook when, in 2018, local historians formed the W. Marvin Dulaney Branch of the 106-year-old Association for the

cont. from page 1

Credit: (Brandon Wade / Special Contributor)

clude Dr. Thalia Matherson, Dr. George Keaton Jr. and Herdercine Nash. All said they will stand back until Robinson is ready to accept a proper tribute.

Nash said she was among sup-

Many in the community hope Dr. Harry Robinson Jr. will change his mind, but he insists that the spotlight be not on him but on the museum he founded nearly 50 years ago.

Study of African American Life and History. A lot of pressure falls on the person whose name draws such honors, Dulaney said.

Other educators and community leaders who have said they want Robinson permanently recognized at the museum in-

11

porters who petitioned to get a street near downtown Dallas named for Dallas Black Dance Theatre founder Ann Williams.

Some community supporters have noted the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit that the African American phy-

Dr. Harry Robinson Jr. was on hand for a "hard hat" party in the rotunda of the thenunfinished new African American Museum building at Fair Park in 1993.Credit: 1993 File Photo

sician founded in 1965. The museum was renamed in his honor in 1998, when he was 79.

He died four years later.

Two local museum supporters express some satisfaction, though, that, after much effort, they persuaded Robinson to sit for an extended, virtual oral history interview during the museum’s pandemic-related shutdown.

Education and nonprofit consultants Linda Dickerson Lamar and Helen Benjamin said their passion for having African-Americans tell their histories compelled them to create and personally finance an oral history project. They relentlessly persisted that Robinson agree to an interview about the museum’s creation and his nearly five decades of work leading it. They are fine-tuning the recordings and hope to make them available online by early 2022.

“Dr. Robinson has so much history in his head. We saw our job as downloading his brain,” said Benjamin, a retired West Coast community college chancellor now living in Dallas.

“We had to grovel, but it was that important to us,” said Lamar, a Bishop College graduate and nonprofit administrator.

“Our African-American history too often gets lost. We have to be more strategic in preserving it.”

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VIRTUAL AND LIVE COMMUNITY

HIV/AIDS Awareness

donations: www.dallasblackchamber.org.

DECEMBER 10

RECURRING

Uptown Night Market at McKinney & Olive, 2021 McKinney Ave. 6 pm. https://www.mckinneyandolive.com/

2021 Fall Exhibitions Ruth Mae McCrane, at the African American Museum, 3536 Grand Ave. 10 am-5 pm. Info: aamdallas.org.

Friday Night Jazz At Nosh And Bottle, 370 W. Las Colinas Blvd. 8-11 pm.

Black Nativity at Bishop Arts Theatre, 215 Tyler St. 8 pm. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3G1hEvL Dates and Times may vary. (Dec. 2-18)

DECEMBER 9 ‘Tis the Season Holiday Concert Feat: Regina Bell. AARP Atlanta Online Event at Facebook. com/ AARP-Georgia. 8 pm CST. The All Ways Black Awards 2021 A free virtual event 6:30-8:00 pm Reg: https://bit.ly/3HGSl3M

Black Ivy League Alumni-Alumnae Panel Discussion. Online--Reg: https://bit.ly/3D6VtCr. 2-3 pm CST.

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Art in Fashion 95th Anniversary Awards Gala. Feat KeKee Wyatt. 6 pm. Tickets and CHERYL’S WORLD Tune in to Cheryl’s World on BlogTalkRadio.com, Facebook Live and Streamyard for thought-provoking, enlightening, informative and entertaining news and commentary. Call 646-200-0459 to join in.

DECEMBER 12

2 Parties under 1 Roof Christmas Toy Drive 2155 Ballroom & Events, 2155 Marsh Ln. #144, Carrollton. 10 pm-2 am.

CHAMPS | Black Women with Kids in K-5 in DFW at Devonshire, 1201 Ravenhill Rd. Forney.

11:15-12 pm Reg: https://bit.ly/3rslDgL.

South Dallas Cultural Center (SDCD): “Arts, Eats, and Beats” 7:30 pm. Music: SoFar Sounds.

Contact: 214-670-0315. Music Lounge Tickets: https://bit.ly/3y0CFUG.

SUNDAY SERVICE at DAQS Daq’s Luxury Daiquiri Lounge, 8700 Preston Rd. Plano. 12-3 pm. Tickets: daqsallfolks. com.

Maze Feat: Frankie Beverly, Winter White Party at The Texas Trust CU Theatre, 1001 Performance Pl. 7:30 pm.

Tickets: bit.ly/3iShJZp..

DECEMBER 11 BPN-Kwanzaa Holiday Gala, at Black Hawk Dining, 4501 Highway 360 Fort Worth. 6:30-10 pm. Tickets: bit.ly/3lnxGYN

ZWHJCOC Community Center End of Year Tax Strategies- New Small Business Owners Frazier House, 4600 Spring Ave. 11 am- 12:30 pm.

Highway Construction Workers Needed ASAP apply today. Go to: www.fscempower.com; Click “Jobs” then text “Highway Construction” to 214560-2558 for an interview.

IHCC 2021 Awards Gala Irving goes Hollywood at the Irving Convention Center, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd. 7 pm. Tickets: www.irivinghcc.com

Stuff A Bus – A DART Holiday Tradition Bring Donations: DARTMart, 1401 Pacific Ave. 7:30 am5:30 pm. Info: DART.org/SruffABus.

Christmas Music Under The Dome at African American Museum, 3536 Grand Ave. Sat 12-4pm Sun. 3-5 pm. Info: aamdallas.org

Representation Matters: Overcoming Bias in Medical Research. Reg: Call 800.272.3900 or visit tinyurl.com/REPMAT21 11 am CST.

Holiday in the Garden at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. 10 am-4 pm.

Sunday Drum Circle. Host

by Pan African Connection, 4466 Marsalis, Dallas. 2:30-4:30 pm. Email: Panafric@airmail.net

DECEMBER 11-12

To Be Young, Gifted and Black- Lorraine Hansberry presented by Essence McDowell and Skyla S. Hearn online. 6:00-7:30 pm CST. Reg: https://bit.ly/32rZy7P.

Private Screening/ Film Premiere: P.O.W.E.R.S. BOOK ONE at Angelika Film Center.5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. #230. Tickets: bit.ly/3o5O9mq.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Espresso Nutcracker. In person. 7 pm at Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3xMTjHe. Empowering The Masses Disaster Relief Food Pantry at 3314 Detonte St. Dallas. 8 am-11 pm.

Info: call 972-460-6316 .

Sundays “The World According to Drew” with Andrew Whigham, III 8-10 am CDT.

Tuesdays “Doc Shep Speaks Show” with Dr. Felicia Shepherd, 11 am CDT,

COVID-19 Vaccination & Booster Event at Friendship West Baptist Church, 2020 W Wheatland Rd. 11 am-2:30 pm.

FREE ACT and SAT Practice Test VIRTUALLY or IN-PERSON, Class 101 Grand Prairie is located at 3200 S. Carrier Pkwy, Suite 102, Grand Prairie 1 5 pm CST. Reg: Call 972.675.7899 First Step International Church ‘Christ’mas Presents for single parents. Must Reg by 12-12 at: https://bit.ly/3xUAIca

DECEMBER 13

Real Conversations with “Best of” Episode @ Facebook Live AARP Black Community. 2pm CST. State Representative Yvonne Davis Holiday Open House at 718 N. Hampton Rd. DeSoto 12-7pm. Donations for blankets for a senior’s holiday.

DECEMBER 15 DFW/ABJ Holiday Mixer, at 4Thirteen Kitchen, 755 TX Hwy 121 #B100, Lewisville. 6-10 pm.

AARP De-cluttering & Downsizing: Part 1 6-6:30 pm. CST. RSVP: https://www.facebook. com/AARPPrograms.

Jim Austin Online Mega Mixer Christmas Edition at Springhill Suites, 2315 N. Main St. Ft. Worth 5:30-8:30 pm Reg: bit.ly/3oso15u.

DECEMBER 16-24 An Oak Cliff Carol at Urban Arts Center, 807 Hutchins Rd. Dallas. 7:30-9:30 pm. Tickets: www. ticketlocity.com/events/AnOakCliffCarol

ZWH Outreach Center Types of Entity Structures at Frazier House, 4600 Spring Ave. Tickets: www.zwhjcoc.org/classes 11 am-12:30 pm.

Arlington Black Chamber Networking Mixer at 1010 Collins Event Center, 1010 N. Collins St. 6-7:30 pm. Tickets: bit.ly/ABCCDec2021.

DECEMBER 14 Oak Cliff Thrives with Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce.6-7:30 pm. Tickets: oakcliffchamber.org/ oak-cliff-thrives

“I was just thinking...” with Norma Adams-Wade, 11 am- 1 pm. CDT.

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce presents Test & Learn Powered by JP Morgan Chase Pt. 3 Online 5:30-7 pm. Reg: www.DallasBlackChamber.org/

DECEMBER 16

Theater Talks: Lynn Nottage with Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Virtual 5:30-7:30 pm. Reg: bit. ly/3opdwzz.

Wednesdays

Infusing Black History & Culture into Your 2021 Holiday Celebrations Webinar. By Dr. CirecieWest-Olatunji Reg: bit.ly/3oax5f7. 12 pm CST.

DECEMBER 17 Friday Night Jazz At Nosh And Bottle, 370 W. Las Colinas Blvd. 8-11 pm.

Thursdays “The Connection” with Debra BrownSturns, 7 pm. CDT.

Fridays “From Marva with Love” with Marva Sneed, 11 am-1 pm CDT.

Center Table Fall Harvest Food Pantry at Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center, 1800 Bonnie View Rd. 9-11 am.

Dr. MLK Jr. Scholarship Essay Contest deadline by 5 pm. Awards announced at MLK Jr. Gala Jan. 15, 2021 Apply: https://bit.ly/3Drf3tn.

NFBPA North Texas & DBCC Holiday Mixer at First United Bank, 1845 Woodall Rodgers Fwy #200. 6:30-9:30 pm. Tickets: bit.ly/2ZVpCXN.

DECEMBER 18 Atatiana Project Gala at Arts District Mansion, 2101 Ross Ave. 6-10 pm. Reg: bit. ly/3liJSdF. A Blue & White Christmas Party at African American Museum, 3536 Grand Ave. 8 pm-12 am. Tickets: $25 bwcp.eventbrite.com.

Empowering The Masses Disaster Relief Drive Through Food Pantry at 3314 Detonte St. Dallas.

8 am-11 pm. Info: call 972-460-6316 2021 Winter Warm-Up Distribution Drive Through 9-11 am at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2922 MLK Jr. Blvd. Reg: https://bit.ly/3DsCkLB.

DECEMBER 19 The W.I.N.O.R. Tour Hosted by Shavonda with a “V” at The Blues Place, 3100 Grand Ave. 8:30 pm Tickets: 214-418-3122.

SUNDAY SERVICE at DAQS Daq’s Luxury Daiquiri Lounge, 8700 Preston Rd. Plano. 12-3 pm. Tickets: daqsallfolks.com.

DECEMBER 20 Chocolate Secrets Open Mic Monday Chocolate Secrets, 3926 Oak Lawn Ave. 7:30-11pm. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3mGIBN2 The Best of MoTown: Live Christmas Tribute Edition at The Wild Detectives 314 W Eighth St. Oak Cliff. 7 pm. https://bit.ly/31xQn5h.

Rhythm & Rhymes Monday at The Living Room - Shisha Lounge, 5449 N. MacArthur Blvd. #B Irving. 9-1 am. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3xihQDO

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Texas Southern dominates no. 20 Florida

By Steven J. Gaither HBCU Gameday

Texas Southern can add a new name to the list of Power Five programs it has taken down — no.

20 Florida.

TSU came into the game winless and left Gainesville, FL with a 6954 victory over the SEC squad.

Florida jumped out to a 13-7 lead with 14:26 left in the first quarter.

From there, Texas Southern got back in the game and ultimately took control just before the 12 minute mark of the first half. TSU Ied 35-25 at halftime and led by as many as 20 in the final minutes.

P.J. Henry led the way with 16 points on 7-for-14 shooting.

Jordan Karl Nicholas added 14 points by hitting all seven of his shot attempts.

SWAC Championship outdraws G5 title games, close to Pac-12, ACC

By Steven J. Gaither HBCU Gameday

The 2021 SWAC Championship Game is in the books — and it was one for the record books.

A total of 50,128 fans filed into Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium to watch Jackson State defeat Prairie View A&M 27-10 in the SWAC Championship Game.

That mark surpassed the entire Group of Five FBS conferences and was within shouting reach of several Power Five title games.

POWER FIVE BENEFITS FROM NFL STADIUMS The SEC topped attendance with more than 78k at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as Alabama defeated the University of Georgia. Next up was the Big Ten title game between Michigan and Iowa at Lucas Oil Stadium — home of the Indianapolis Colts. Coming

in at third was the Big 12 title game — also played at an NFL stadium — as Baylor knocked off Oklahoma State at AT&T Stadium — home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Both the ACC and PAC-12 topped the SWAC attendance numbers — but not by much.

Wake Forest and Pittsburgh fell shy of 58k at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte while Oregon and Utah had about a thousand fewer fans at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP OUTSHINES G5 When it comes to Group of Five conferences, all finished with lower attendance than the SWAC title game. And several weren’t even close.

UTSA had home field advantage against Western Kentucky in the Alamodome — but it tapped out at 41,148 fans for the Conference USA title game. Cincinnati had a capacity crowd at home against

Houston at Nippert Stadium for the American Athletic Conference Championship Game, but its capacity is 37,978.

Louisiana was 10k below its capacity as it hosted the Sunbelt Championship Game.

Capacity is only 27k at Dignity Health Sports Park, but less than half that number filed into Mountain West Conference Championship Game between Utah State and San Diego State.

And then there’s the MAC Championship Game. Held in the cavernous Ford Field in Detroit, only 10,317 fans showed up to watch Kent State take on Illinois.

SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland had stated he hoped the game would draw 55 to 60k fans earlier in the week. It didn’t quite happen, but the SWAC did pull in the largest crowd in a non-NFL Stadium and outperformed one that did by 40k. Not bad for a championship game that was canceled back in 2017 before being brought back.

The Tigers shot a blazing 54.4 percent from the field, while holding the Gators to just over 38 percent. The SWAC champions also doubled their SEC counterparts on the boards with a 46-23 edge.

Known for some of the most difficult schedules in all of college football, Texas Southern has taken down other Power Five programs before. A few years back it beat Baylor Texas A&M, and Oregon when it was ranked no. 18 in the country.

It entered the game with an 0-7 record after taking losses to Oregon, Washington, NC State and BYU, among others.

University of Texas-Rio Grande, Cincinnati and TCU will face Texas Southern before it tips off SWAC play.

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Paul Quinn College - Sticks to the Basics!

By Andrew Whigham, III Texas Metro News

Our society today is dealing with many Social Issues, Covid Cases, Vaccines and killings that are making the headlines.

The forever changing climates, cultures and conditions in this world appears to create cloudy conditions and bring out the turbulence in the lives of so many people.

Dr. Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College (PQC) seems to be the calm in the storm.

He is changing lives of the students at the College.

Last Wednesday, the students got together for a Thanksgiving meal before heading home for the holidays. Dr. Sorrell addressed the crowd of students and staff and provided a state address of hope and forecasted the activities for the upcoming semester.

He continued with an

open forum for the students to ask questions related to various items as it related to the College.

It was really enjoyable to see how the students responded to school President- “Prez.” Prior to presenting their questions.

Each student was asked to state their names, their majors and what they wanted to pursue after graduation.

I am a firm believer that if you repeat your goals,

President Michael J. Sorrell

your chances of reaching those goals are greater. I applaud PQC along with

Paul Quinn College Gymnasium

the administration for having an open forum for their students to present themselves and ideas.

Also, Dr. Sorrell applauded the achievements of student athletes from the Fall Sports.

NOTE: Academic AllAmericans must have at least 27 credit hours with a 3.5 GPA Henry Estrada was named All- American as a player and a student!

Also, the Red River Conference recognized Kannadi Harris as a first team All-Conference awardee.

The future looks bright as we go forward through these turbulent times.

The College has opened a new facility, “The Health and Wellness Building” on campus. Paul Quinn College is definitely creating a great back to the basic recipe for their students to proceed through these turbulent times.

Go Quinnite Nation!!!!!

First the All-Americans on the soccer teams — the Men and Women Teams – Next on Deck was the Volleyball accolades.

Men Soccer

Record: 8-6-3 Highest Rank: 3rd USCAA National Tournament: # 3 Seed, Results: 1 - 1 Paul Quinn 0 Bryant & Stratton – Syracuse 2 Paul Quinn 6 Mississippi University for Women 1 Final Rank: 4th All-Americans: Levyn Benavides (1st Team), Roberto Dominguez (1st Team), Henry Estrada (2nd Team), Jarrett Williams (2nd Team) Academic All Americans: Kirver Benavides, Henry Estrada, Daniel Roa, Jairus Robledo

Women Soccer

Record: 4-12 Highest Rank: 7th Final Rank: 7th All-Americans: Daisy Robledo (1st Team), Asrael Basden (Honorable Mention) Academic All Americans: Priscilla Aguilar, Leslie Barrera, Gianna Faress, Jazlyn Gameros, Eimy Guzman, Kathleen Montenegro, Juanita Roa, Nancy Rodriguez

Volleyball

Record: 7-20 Highest Rank: 8th Final Rank: 9th All-Americans: Kannadi Harris (2nd Team), Symone Carmenar (2nd Team), Ariel DeVault (Honorable Mention) Academic All American: Jayda Trinidad

White House Announces the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking cont. from page 2 • Enhance community-coordinated responses to human trafficking.

• Strengthen efforts to identify, prevent, and address human trafficking in global supply chains.

• Build capacity to prevent the importation of goods produced with forced labor.

• Address aspects of nonimmigrant visa programs that may facilitate the exploitation of visa applicants and visa holders.

Further, the plans protection encompasses the interventions, services, and supports needed to protect and assist victims of human trafficking.

The White House noted that protection starts with robust outreach and proactive identification efforts, and includes providing comprehensive victim services and applying victim-centered, trauma-informed strategies, including the following: • Identify and engage with victims in a victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent manner.

• Support survivor-informed interventions, in which survivors of trafficking are essential partners and help to improve service delivery and inform victim assistance policy decisions.

• Seek to protect victims of human trafficking from incarceration, fines, or penalties for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being subjected to trafficking.

• Improve access to immigration benefits to help provide assistance to victims of human trafficking.

• Expand and improve assistance to victims of human trafficking encountered by law enforcement agencies.

• Seek financial remedies for victims of human trafficking.

• Increase access to social services for victims of human trafficking to increase short- and long-term stability.

They also outlined prosecuting perpetrators, which involves holding individuals and entities engaged in human trafficking accountable and dismantling human

trafficking networks.

Prosecution also would: • Improve coordination among law enforcement to increase accountability for human trafficking.

• Build capacity of Federal, state, local, Tribal and territorial law enforcement to investigate and prosecute human trafficking and its illicit proceeds using a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach.

• Enhance efforts to bring traffickers to justice by deploying a broad range of tools, including, where appropriate, financial sanctions, federal contracting suspension and debarment, and travel restrictions.

• Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute forced labor.

Finally, the White House said effectively combating human trafficking requires collaboration to complement and support the other pillars of prevention, protection, and prosecution.

In doing so, they would also accomplish the following:

• Deepen our understanding of human trafficking networks that primarily impact or operate in the United States.

• Enhance information sharing to inform a strategic outcome.

• Strengthen Federal anti-trafficking efforts through external partnerships, including with the private sector, civil society organizations, and survivor input.

• Cooperate with allies, including trade partners, bilaterally and in regional and multilateral fora to address and combat human trafficking and forced labor.

• Continuously reevaluate the authorities and resources of the U.S. Government to combat human trafficking.

“Human trafficking is an evil practice that contradicts who we are as Americans and the rights we cherish. With this National Action Plan, we reaffirm our commitment to preventing and punishing human trafficking in all its forms and to addressing the social and economic conditions that can create greater vulnerabilities for margin-

alized groups,” said Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall.

“We recognize and express our gratitude to the community leaders, service providers, businesses, grassroots activists, and individuals with lived experience of human trafficking across the United States and around the world who continue to forge innovative anti-trafficking strategies and push various forms of government to improve their response to human trafficking.

“This includes addressing the ways in which policies and actions may have contributed to disparities that marginalize certain communities, jeopardized safe, orderly, and humane migration, or emboldened traffickers.

“This administration will continue to partner with a growing cadre of interagency, civil society, and international partners – to include those who have experienced human trafficking – to improve our collective efforts to comprehensively address human trafficking.”

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