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MetroNews DELIVERING NEWS YOU NEED
• Vol. 9 • Feb. 18-24, 2021
MY TRUTH By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER
It was all a dream As a lover of history, I enjoy reading about what happened and who did what. I enjoy trying to imagine what each person is thinking in any scenario. Usually I ask myself if there are those being silent because they don’t have the strength, desire or guts to speak out OR, are they in complete agreement with whatever is going on? I also think about what their descendants are thinking about their actions or inactions.
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Dallas’ own Amber Pickens is Black History
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
Amber Pickens is celebrating Black History Month in a big way. The dancer, actress, and singer has added author to her long list of titles with the release of “Blooming in Motion,” a coloring book that celebrates Black history in the performing arts through dance. Pickens’ original illustrations honor nearly two dozen dance legends, including dancers and entertainers Alvin Ailey, Eartha Kitt, and Debbie Allen, whom she met as a fourth grader. “When I met her, my eyes were opened to the world of dance and so much more,”
Amber Pickens
Pickens told NNPA Newswire. “She planted other seeds like choreographing and producing and making sure to build our communities,” Pickens added. Allen, the famed dancer, choreographer, and actress, released a statement expressing her delight over being included
in Pickens’ book. “I am so proud to be included in Amber’s coloring book,” Allen wrote. “It is very important that young black and brown girls see images of themselves that they can celebrate.” Pickens said Allen often reminded her and other students to find ways to give back to their community. She remarked that Allen opened a new world for her and others. “She introduced us to teachers from all around the world,” Pickens recalled. “It was life-changing, it was powerful.” A Juilliard School graduate, Pickens made her choreography directing debut in January at the Sundance Film Festival. Her film, “Passing,” is based
on Harlem, New York, in the 1920s. Originally, the “Passing” role was intended for a friend who thought Pickens would be better suited. “Someone approached one of my friends and asked him if he was interested in a small project. He didn’t have any idea what it was,” Pickens recalled. “They did describe the type of dancer they wanted, and he pointed them to me.” Written by Nella Larsen, “Passing” takes a close look at racial identity, racism, and white privilege. Netflix has picked up the film, and it is expected to air in the coming months. Pickens grew up in Dallas, See AMBER PICKENS, page 13
Rotating Power Outages a cause for concern
Sen. Mitch McConnell
And that is the case with the recent vote on the impeachment of this country’s 45th president. According to the impeachment papers, Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States. While the Impeachment Managers presented a very compelling case, especially the Honorable Stacey Plaskett; three things make the case a travesty: 1. Mediocre attorneys representing the defendant can boast a victory that was a foregone conclusion because it was clear from the onset that there were not enough senators willing to go up against Trump. 2. Since there was a farce of a hearing, the opportunity See MY TRUTH, page 10
Temperatures as low as -2 degrees By Cheryl Smith
People were cold, tired and frustrated. At times the dialogue felt eerily like a civil war of sorts. It was the South v. the North and who was suffering the most with power outages during the
coldest weather surge in Texas since 1949. Disparity seemed to be a major concern for citizens who have been flooding elected officials and utility provider phone lines as Texans faced “unprecedented weather conditions,” resulting in power outages and fingerpointing. Some say that governance is an issue and there’s plenty of blame to go around. Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said, “Greg Abbott (Texas
Sen. Royce West
Governor) killed Texans. Plain and simple. Abbott’s failure to prepare, respond, and end this
catastrophic crisis in Texas is just the latest example of how Republicans cannot manage government and instead try to deflect blame onto others. “Texans deserve to know when Greg Abbott knew about this crisis, what his government did to prevent it, and why the response was inadequate.” Hinojosa referenced the governor’s comments regarding President Biden’s green energy expansion plan and said it was a threat to Texans. See POWER OUTAGE, page 15
Dallas Black protest and planning sites—Part II I WAS JUST THINKING... By Norma Adams-Wade We reviewed last week some sites where Dallas Black citizens traditionally gathered for protests, planning and strategizing to advance civil rights causes.
In part II of the discussion, we again recall that in Black history, our people gathered at the river or in dense woods to plan ways to seek freedom and fight inequities. Here are additional Dallas sites where Black citizens and local and national Black leaders carried on that tradition in more modern settings. We continue with #4. 4. Pythian Temple, home of the “Colored” Knights of Pyth-
ias grand lodge, 2551 Elm St. in Deep Ellum. This historic building opened in 1916 as headquarters for one of the nation’s leading Black secret societies. It also housed retail storefronts and offices for prominent businesses and physicians. A 4thfloor ballroom was the go-to place for Black social events including parties and fund-raising banquets for Black organiSee THINKING, page 3
Pythian Temple, headquarters of the Knights of Pythias.