Texas Metro News 3-30-23

By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER

I said I am Black, Black-ish, Blackity-Black.

I hate to do this but it’s also been a long time coming, and I know that like change, nothing is going to happen if someone doesn’t speak up.

First I will say that if you are not Black, you might think you need to move on, but if you have the sense that God gave you; you’ll keep reading, make the necessary edits and holler when hit!

Now Black folks, get pissed if you will but if you’re feeling a certain way, that too shall pass.

Here goes: STOP BEING CONVENIENTLY BLACK!

Which brings me to my truth!

Years ago, I belonged to an organization of Blacks, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans and it was a very rewarding experience because I was there to learn and I did.

To be authentic and accurate, there were also Anglos involved.

During the entire time we learned about one another and grew together; sometimes having some very tough and revealing conversations.

When it was time to choose menus, not once did we eat at a Soul Food or African Restaurant.

Maybe Drs. Stacia Alexander, Brenda Wall or Greg Carr can analyze that; although I have my theories.

We ate at Thai, Mexican, Italian, Indigenous restaurants, to name a few. And we experimented and at least seemed like we enjoyed the meals; even some delicacies!

Innovative Podcast opens International Doors for Entertainers and Entrepreneurs

By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines Texas Metro News Correspondent

Even though they might seem like an unlikely combination, paralegal, Bella Washington DuPlexis and hiphop artist John Bouka Baptiste are combing their efforts to create an innovative podcast targeting the entertainment industry.

Baptiste, DuPlexis’ fiance, is a native of Congo-Brazzaville and resides in South Africa, and performs as a rapper under the name of Albooby. Although the two are over 9,000 miles apart, they have come together to produce their weekly podcast, Com-

ing Right at You with Albooby Show, which can be streamed on YouTube.

“I decided to start the podcast when my friend, Mark Ayers Jr., who is a gospel artist released a new song. I thought the song was phenomenal, and I wanted the world to hear it. I made a clip and posted it on my personal Facebook page,,” said DuPlexis. “Then something miraculous happened. I continued to push the record with a Facebook live posting. After my postings, I began to get friend requests from around the world. In a few days my followers on Facebook

More allegations of racist acts at Dubiski High

By Ayesha Hana Shaji Texas Metro News Team

In a world where the power of words has never been more potent, a word that has been used to degrade, dehumanize and oppress an entire race of people seems like the norm. But it shouldn’t be.

This is what the new version of the civil rights movement looks like for Black folks in this day and age, said Shavsha Davis, mother

of a John Dubiski Career High School student.

The school has come under scrutiny recently for the lack of action taken against five students who recorded a video chanting racial slurs while holding posters with the word “hate,” in a classroom and posting it on social media.

African American students of the school said this is a common

IABD Receives National Medal of Arts Award

Remembering Randall Robinson

By Ayesha Hana Shaji Texas Metro News Team

Celebrated American lawyer, author, journalist, activist and founder of TransAfrica died on March 24 at the age of 81.

Born on July 6, 1941, in Virginia, Robinson spent his entire life dedicated to fighting for justice and equality for Black folks. He began working as a civil rights attorney before he founded TransAfrica Forum in 1977, which according to their website, is the oldest and largest African human rights and social justice advocacy

organization that serves to promote diversity and equity in the foreign policy arena and justice in Africa and within the African diaspora.

l-r: Lula Washington, Joan Myers Brown, Ann M. Williams, Cleo Parker Robinson, and Debbie Blunden-Diggs.

Randall Robinson

Hip-hop artist, John Bouka Baptiste (Albooby) and Bella DuPlexis are combing their efforts to give new artists international exposure on their Youtube podcast, Coming Right at You with Albooby.

Protesters hold banners outside Grand Prairie ISD building Photo: Ayesha Hana Shaji

A Family Wins its struggle

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro Correspondent

The family of Reeves Henry, an accomplished blacksmith, philanthropist and inventor who lived in Forney, Texas until his death in November of 1930, will get its wish when Forney officials unveil an historical marker recognizing the contributions that their relative made to the city, and its residents.

Jimmy Malone, a great-grandson of Henry’s who was born in Gregg County in 1859, said that members of his family had urged city officials in Forney for more than thirty years to pay tribute to Mr. Henry, whose business interests made him one of the wealthiest residents in Forney during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

“We expect that the marker

will be unveiled this summer,” said Malone, a former supervisor at Dallas Area Rapid System (DART). “We are terribly excited that this struggle is finally coming to an end. There is a marker on the site in downtown Forney that notes that my great-grandfather repaired the first gas powered car in the state. But there is no mention of his same.”

The director of the Spellman Museum of Forney said that the marker would make residents of the city proud of the many contributions that Henry made to the quality of life in their city. Among his inventions was a cotton chopper that separated seeds from the plant.

“Mr. Henry was known throughout Forney as a mechanical genius and a great inventor. An approval notice was

received by the city of Forney in February of this year. Among other accomplishments, Mr. Henry repaired the very first gas powered horseless carriage in Texas in 1899, she said.

“The Henry marker will be

the second in Forney dedicated to the contributions of prominent African Americans,” said Ms. Nobles. “It is very important to our community. Our board of directors is grateful that the Malone family contacted us.”

The other marker dedicated to an African American in Forney tells the story of Mr. William McDonald, an educator, business owner and public official. There are a total of ten historical markers in the city, Ms. Noble added.

Ms. Noble said that the Henry marker was approved under a program created in 2006 by the Texas Historical Commission in Austin to address omissions in the state’s historical marker program, and to include more women and ethnic minorities.

The first person in the Malone family to contact historical

preservation managers in Forney was Mr. Malone’s uncle, Lt. Colonel George H. Jackson, an United States Air Force veteran who earned a degree in electrical engineering from Tuskegee when he was nineteen yearsold.Mr. Jackson made his first request to Forney officials in 1986.

“This has been a very long and important struggle for our family,” said Mr. Malone. “We were always puzzled why his name was not included in Forney’s history, and why he had not been recognized for all that he had done. We always knew that we had to do something to accomplish it.”

Cheryl Polote Williamson Honors Black Women Business Owners

and founder of Erika Salter Law Firm; Michelynn Woodard, president, and CEO, of Texas Women’s Foundation; Dr. Monica Williams, vice president, University Advancement, UNT Dallas; and LaToya Haynes, director, racial

equity, Intuit. The event is sponsored by The Polote Corporation, UNT-Dallas, Kween Bee’s Sugar Scrub, and Williamson Media Group, LLC. A portion of the proceeds will fund grants for women-owned businesses.

In partnership with Soul Reborn, a 501 c (3) non-profit organization that focuses on transforming the lives of women, and Cheryl Magazine, an international information source highlighting the amazing work of powerful women around the world, Dr. Cheryl Polote Williamson will host the inaugural Women of Influence Awards luncheon in Dallas during Women’s History Month – a time dedicated to recognizing the contributions of women to our society. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, March 31, 2023, at the Gleneagles Country Club, 5401 West Park Boulevard, Plano, TX 75093. Tickets range from $100 to $7,500 and are available at the Women of Influence Awards event site.

The Women of Influence award is presented to individuals who have

exhibited extraordinary talent, integrity, and leadership in their respective industries and have shown compassion for causes that elevate women and have helped pave the road for future generations. The luncheon, themed "A Seat at the Table," signifies the importance of women in leadership to create opportunities for other women from all walks of life to have equal opportunities for success.

Founded by Dallas-based philanthropist, best-selling author, and filmmaker Dr. Cheryl Polote Williamson, Soul Reborn and Cheryl Magazine underscore Dr. Polote Williamson’s efforts to help women realize and embrace their full potential. Soul Reborn is dedicated to transforming the lives of disadvantaged, disenfranchised, and previous-

ly incarcerated women. During its 5year tenure, the organization has donated over $475,000 and helped thousands of businesses globally. Notably, during the coronavirus pandemic, Soul Reborn fed over 8,000 essential workers and awarded grants to 177 college women and 216 women-owned businesses – five of which are based in Dallas.

Cheryl Magazine further supports these efforts by highlighting the work of powerful women from around the country. It serves to inspire the “everyday woman” to be true to themselves and to pursue their dreams and desires unapologetically.

“It is an honor to celebrate these phenomenal women, many who have stepped out on faith with no backup plan and many who have overcome un-

thinkable odds to fulfill their purpose,” said Dr. Polote Williamson. "I hope that each of their stories will - in turn - inspire the next lady to do the same.”

The lack of access to capital has been a major factor preventing Black women from starting their businesses. With educational, financial, and inspirational resources like those made available via Dr. Polote Williamson and Soul Reborn, Black women are at the forefront of business ownership, making up the fastest-growing group of business owners.

“A Seat at the Table” will include music, awards, performances, networking, and a catered lunch. Honorees include Alexis Kerr, vice president of Hallmark Mahogany; Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, deputy city manager of Dallas; Erika Salter, CEO

Jimmy Malone

Joseph Green-Bishop is a long-time journalist who has published newspapers in America and Africa. Currently he is a news correspondent for Texas Metro News.

Democracy WHAT –who will define it?!!!

ger if they protested.

Harvard Scholar, Governor, Academics oppose Governor DeSantis

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

Democracy as we once knew and hoped for is on life support and nearly dead!

Democracy was never absolute. It was a dream. A vision on the horizon that we continuously strived for. As I see politicians and people put their personal and individual needs and wants at the forefront of the greater good of democracy, I am sad to conclude that democracy is no longer understood to be our common dream for the U.S. and the world.

People woke up and realized that democracy meant they would have to give up some stuff so that others could have, and they threw the baby out with the bath water. It ain’t just White folk I am referring to. No. Nope. Negative. It is Black folk. It is Black Americans, Caribbean Americans. Black Hispanic Americans, all of us.

We have put our personal agendas and progress ahead of the greater good. The campaign promises made to the people are empty vessels once these politrickans get into office.

Meanwhile, the house is burning down around us and we are none the wiser.

There are over 40 Black elected officials in Broward County. Our Black Greek lettered organizations (BGLOs) have never had more chapters and members as we have today. Yet, we have grown silent in the wake of a war on our existence. House Bill 999 (turned upside down is 666 – bibically speaking the mark of the BEAST) threatens to change HBCUs as we know very well, to abolish the existence of the Divine 9 on all Florida college campuses.

Where is the outrage? When and where are the marches? Where is the national statement from each of the presidents of the Divine Nine? Where is the joint statement from each of the presidents of the Divine Nine? Where are all the presidents of the D9 chapters in Florida? When will they galvanize a joint effort to raise awareness and resist this foolishness?

Black folk have more education, finances, and opportunities today than our fathers and grandfathers ever had. Our ancestors’ lives were in dan-

Yet, Rosa stood firm and refused to give up her seat on that bus. The parents of the Little Rock Nine insisted that their children go to school despite knowing they would be spit on, hit with rocks, and called ungodly names. The Bridges agreed to let their six-year daughter, Ruby, walk through a mob of hateful rhetoric daily to attend school. Jackie Robinson endured much of the same as he integrated baseball.

Yet, we are afraid. We are too cowardly or too selfish to pay it back and pay it forward to continue the legacy our parents and grandparents paved for us.

We are already behind the eight ball with the War on Woke. How much longer can we afford to remain asleep at the wheel?

Has the Fort Lauderdale NAACP become dormant. Are the BGLOs walking zombies tied to our colors and not the cause.

The Westside Gazette has been sounding this alarm for years and more vigorously most recently.

Must we repeat the debacle of the race for the late Congressman Alcee L. Hastings seat? I know it is a sore spot for many, but is it enough pain for us to move into action together?

Wake Up! It’s time to get to work or there may be no work left.

Pastor Martin Niemoller penned a poem titled, First They Came… read it, juxtapose it to your actions in today’s climate: First, they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew.

I would add this as an addendum: Then they came for the Blacks And I did not speak out Because I was not Black. Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me.

Wake Up! It’s time to get to work or there may be no us left.

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro News Correspondent

Harvard Scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. and New Jersey Democratic Governor Philip D. Murphy are among the growing number of academics, elected officials and educators who are harshly critical of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Department of Education officials for their opposition to the contents of a high school Advance Placement course in African American history.

Governor DeSantis is not an expert in African American history, Professor Gates wrote in a recently published editorial. The governor “seems to be gleefully embarked on an effort to censor scholarship about the complexities of the Black past,” wrote Professor Gates, who was a consultant to the College Board, the nonprofit organization that developed the AP course.

“Enough already of this nonsense coming out of Florida,” said New Jersey Governor Murphy.

“This begins with Governor Ron DeSantis,” he said of the Florida governor who is expected to announce his bid for the White House in the spring. “And it is unacceptable and frankly shameful. We are Americans standing up. We have got to tell the whole story of our country.”

Murphy, a Democrat, said that the AP course without revisions would be available in 25 high schools in New Jersey once it is released.

Farmers Branch bookstore owner Nia-Taylor Clark, whose business sells and promotes books written about African American history and life, said that politicians should not be involved in the selection or exclusion of materials used by students in American high schools.

“Political leaders should allow educators to decide which books and materials to use in classrooms. They should leave the selection of materials to academic experts, and trust

their professional judgement,” said Ms. Clark who earned a Master’s degree in education from Texas A M University in Commerce.

A former public school teacher who founded the bookstore “BLACKLIT,” Taylor-Clark said sometimes history reveals stories that are painful but the whole truth

in a letter to DeSantis. “This is censorship, and an attack on academic freedom.”

The AP course, designed by the College Board, a non-profit educational organization, is currently being piloted in less than 100 high schools throughout the country. The course will be taught in about 700 American high schools during the next academic year. High School students that take advance placement courses receive college credit for their work.

must be told through the study of history

“The sooner elected officials learn that lesson the better things will be for students,” she added.

Governor DeSantis and Florida state education officials said the AP course would not be offered in Florida schools because it “ indoctrinated” students and promoted political agendas; accusations that Gates, Murphy, Taylor-Clark and growing numbers disagree with.

“We reject DeSantis’s autocratic claim to knowing what materials should be available in AP African American Studies programs,” wrote 200 college and university professors from across the nation

MATTIE

The College Board revised the course after a draft was criticized by Governor DeSantis. Topics such as Black Lives Matter, Black Queer Life, Reparations and Affirmative Action were removed after the criticism. The removed topics can now be used for special projects, according to College Board CEO David Coleman, who said that political pressure had no role in the decision to change the course materials.

In addition to certain topics, noted African American authors bell hooks, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Angela Davis and Kimberle Crenshaw were removed from the AP course after the criticism and a section on “Black Conservatism” was added.

Feb. 1, 1929 — Mar 24, 2023

WAKE Friday, March 31, 2023

6:00 - 8:00pm (Central time)

TRUE LEE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 3907 Bertrand Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210

Funeral for MATTIE BEATRICE CARAWAY

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Starts at 11:00am (Central time)

TRUE LEE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 3907 Bertrand Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Bobby R. Henry Sr. is the publisher of the Westside Gazette in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was the recipient of the National

Joseph Green-Bishop is a long-time journalist who has published newspapers in America and Africa. Currently he is a news correspondent for Texas Metro News.

Remember Bridget “Biddy Mason!”

don't last always." Dr. E. K Bailey often mused, "That the devil always outplays his hand."

QUIT PLAYIN’

By Vincent L. Hall

The field trip to Austin, Texas, to lobby the lamest legislature in American history seemed wasted. It was deflating to hear from our state representatives and senators who can only warn how bad proposed legislative bills are for our community.

However, as long as 248 of the 254 counties in Texas vote 90% Republican, we are doomed. This present reign of ignorance, insolence, and intolerance will last at least a few cycles. Thanks be to God that I made it to church the following Sunday.

Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes III wrapped a parable with a slave testimony that gave us hope. It reminded me of sermons in the past.

Dr. Manuel Scott often said, “White folks made a mistake when they let the enslaved go to church.” My grandfather, Rev Z. R. Figures, used to say, "trouble

They are gone now, but their words and testimonies live in vibrance and validity. Dr. Haynes preached all three of those points in one sermon, but his insertion of a formerly enslaved woman called Biddy accentuated Bailey's assertion that the devil is crafty but always takes it a “step too far.”

There is an informative website called "Gold Chains, the hidden history of slavery in California, which offers the best summation.

“Born enslaved in Georgia, Bridget "Biddy" Mason walked more than 2,000 miles through rugged terrain to California, where she eventually won her freedom in a landmark court case and became a celebrated philanthropist.

Mason was forced to travel West with Robert and Rebecca Smith, slaveholders who had joined the Mormon migration to Utah. The Smiths eventually took Mason and her three children to San Bernardino in California. While California was supposedly a “free state,”

Smith continued to hold them captive. Mason and her children befriended free blacks who alerted the local sheriff when the Smiths made plans to take Biddy and her daughters

laws that prevented blacks from testifying against whites by interviewing Mason in his chambers. There, she said that she did not want to go back to the South with the Smiths.

to Texas with them. The sheriff took Mason and her family into protective custody under a writ of habeas corpus.”

OK. Did you get it so far? The enslavers made Biddy Mason and the others walk more than 2000 miles. But they messed up when they walked outside the bounds of legalized slavery. So here is the rest of the shout!

“Judge Benjamin Hayes circumvented racist testimony

As a result, in 1856, Hayes ruled that Mason, and her children were "free forever." Mason became a doctor's assistant and ran a midwifing business. She accumulated a fortune worth about $7.5 million in today's dollars, making her one of the richest women in Los Angeles. She established a homestead in what became downtown, Los Angeles. Mason used her wealth to establish a daycare center for working parents and created an account at a store where families who lost their homes in flooding could get supplies.

She also co-founded and financed the First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church, which is still going strong. Known as Grandma Mason, she died in 1891 and is honored through the Biddy Mason monument in downtown Los Angeles.”

I love beautiful endings, but Biddy's story probably wreaked

havoc on another enslaved American. Legal scholars conjecture that the testimony laws that Judge Hayes "circumvented" had a play in the "Dred Scott decision that came 13 ½ months later.

The essence of Dred Scott was that “people of African descent cannot be, nor were ever intended to be citizens under the U.S. Constitution.” It further stated that the “Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment prohibits the federal government from freeing slaves brought into federal territories. Dred Scott is known as the worst decision ever. However, it should remind us in 2023 that the fight is only lost if we stop fighting. We know the value of the Black Church. We know that trouble don't last always. We know that no weapon the devil forms against us can prosper.

We know all those things but learning about Bridget Biddy Mason reminds us that the devils in Austin can't do me no harm. Thank you, Biddy!

The Black Press, Business and Public Policy

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

By Dr. John E. Warren

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.

To advertise, call: 214-941-0110

The Black Press has existed for 196 years because it understands service to our communities, and the business of how we pay for it is a part of our survival.

A perfect example of how business and public policy come together can be found in the recent notices concerning the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank and its impact on the public’s perception on the safety of small banks around the country.

The President’s statement on the commitment of the Federal Government to all depositors is newsworthy and should

be published by all media as a service affecting national confidence. However, the statement by Trade Associations to their membership is done as a matter of business. Trade Associations benefit from the President’s reaffirmation of the government’s policy concerning the nation’s financial system. Because of the importance of Minority Deposit Insurance, which is not necessarily covered to the same extent as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), there exists a greater need to assure public confidence beyond the President’s statement and actions.

Hence, a general letter from an association holding the membership not only of small banks, but also minority banking institutions and their clients, should be a “paid” statement, just as other orga-

nizations have done in such papers as USA Today and the New York Times. These are large dailies that have made the distinction between a policy statement by the President and/or an organization’s effort to get a business message to the public and its membership.

The statement from the National Banker Association, which can afford to pay for the distribution of such notices should be doing so as a matter of demonstrating its fiduciary responsibility to the Comptroller of the Currency as the watchdog over all banking.

The NNPA leadership must also come to understand this point so that even as we provide coverage of news items, we still remind people that we are businesses engaged in serving our population, in particular, and the broader public in general. We in the Black media industry must come to understand the difference between a guest commentary and a message that is an advertisement. We live and serve in changing times, we must also change even as we serve.

Bridget “Biddy” Mason

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

Dr. John E. Warren is publisher of The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.

"We live and serve in changing times, we must also change even as we serve."

- Dr. John E. Warren

Insecure Leadership

FAITHFUL UTTERANCES

Lately, I’ve been bombarded in conversations about leaders lately. People sharing experiences of ‘supposed’ leaders that belittle, bully, isolate, and demoralize. These dominating authority figures create toxic work environments of fear, guilt, and shame. I hear stories of abuse in the workplace of individuals who begin to doubt and question their abilities. Supervisors who have caused tears, created chaos, or criticized everything but offered no solution. They are arrogant, deflect, blame others and take no responsibility. Often, these toxic leaders are insecure, and their internal issues tend to have repercussions externally.

Insecure leaders are often masking their feelings of inadequacy and need for affirmation and validation through arrogance and entitlement. King Saul in the Bible illustrates what happens when you allow insecurity to cloud your judgement. “When David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, playing songs of

joy on timbrels. The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Then Saul became very angry. This saying did not please him. He said, “They have given David honor for ten thousands, but for me only thousands. Now what more can he have but to be king?” And Saul was jealous and did not trust David from that day on.” (1 Samuel 18: 6-9 NLV) David saved Saul’s life by killing Goliath. Instead of paying attention to the move of God and reveling in the victory, he is threatened by what others are saying. He lost sight of God appointing him King

and instead of trusting God, he began to doubt. He was more concerned with what others thought than what God said. He was unable to celebrate David. Insecurity will make you minimize the success of others to feel better about yourself.

As God’s Hand continued to bless David, Saul’s jealousy grew. Saul saw God was with David. Instead of being grateful for the blessings David received, Saul became more disgruntled which further distanced him from God.

Saul’s fear of David escalated into multiple murder attempts on David by Saul.

Insecurity is dangerous. Saul’s focus on David damaged his leadership and his judgement. He failed to follow God’s instructions several times which had far reaching consequences. He allowed his insecurities to take his focus off

of the vision and God’s leading to losing it all. His team lost faith in his abilities. It caused him to make rash decisions and disobey God. Saul made excuses, which allowed him to deflect responsibility for his actions.

Completely opposite, David’s rise was a result of his focus on God. He grew his faith instead of his fear. David was kind and compassionate. He was focused on the people instead of a need for praise.

David sought God and was called a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 3:22). He trusted God for his abilities and not relied on his strength. David obedience to God, even with mistakes along the way, built a legacy that is remembered even today. As leaders, we all must think of the legacy we will leave.

How will people remember you and your leadership? How did they experience you?

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”

(Hebrews 13:7 (NRSV))

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, will others want to imitate you, your faith and follow in your footsteps? Or will they see your willingness to only deal with those you feel sorry for or beneath you to make you feel better about yourself but flee from opportunities of growth to learn from those who make you feel threatened?

As people of God, our leadership matters, too. It’s so easy to blame the world for its lack of leadership and yet, choose to ignore how a lot of leaders who are Believers are doing the same thing to those in their congregations and community organizations. We are hurting people, too. Saul’s harmful reach was not only to David, his followers but ultimately, his family. Insecurity can ruin lives, organizations, and communities. Lead with Love. Be Led by God.

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the CEO of Soulstice Consultancy and the founder of the Reconciliation and Restoration Foundation (r2fdn. org). She is the author of four books including Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy (Baylor University Press, 2022) and the host of the Tapestry podcast.

Legislative Policy Conference is Key in NUL Fight

By Marc Morial

“Some of the best work that has happened in the ongoing movements for justice, for freedom, for liberty, led by the Urban League, have been fueled by what we all know we do so well when we do it, which is coalition building. Urban League does this so well.”

— Vice President Kamala Harris

The anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches this week shone a spotlight on the es-

calating assault on voting rights. U.S. Department of Justice’s scathing rebuke of the Louisville Police Department underscored the urgent need to redefine public safety. The U.S. Senate overturned criminal justice reform in the District of Columbia, reinforcing the case for D.C statehood.

In the midst of it all, about 500 Urban League leaders, staffers, and volunteers were on the ground in the nation’s capital, advancing our agenda on these issues and others, as part of the National Urban League’s milestone 20th annual Legislative Policy Conference.

Before I became president and CEO of the National Urban League 20 years ago, I served in elective

office, including two terms as mayor of New Orleans and one as a Louisiana state senator. As the first public official to lead the National Urban League, I understood better than most how the proverbial “sausage” of public policy is made and I was determined that the Urban League movement would play a more influential role in making it.

The Legislative Policy Conference became the centerpiece of our redefined role.

One longtime affiliate leader confided in me, “Before you came, we didn’t understand the relationship between politics and policy.” The preeminence of our Legislative Policy Conference, which attracted the top leaders

from Congress, the Cabinet, and even President Biden himself, is evidence of how well we understand it now. The National Urban League’s influence can be seen throughout the most significant and wide-ranging federal initiatives undertaken in recent years, particularly those which impact the five pillars that drive our mission — workforce development, education, housing, health, and social justice. The landmark American Rescue Plan, which helped bring the crippling COVID-19 pandemic under control and hastened a robust economic recovery, was dramatically enhanced by provisions the National Urban League proposed and advocated like the expanded

Child Tax Credit, extended SNAP benefit increases and supplemental unemployment insurance, and a National Urban League-backed community-based vaccination plan to target the hardest-hit neighborhoods.

President Biden’s historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was modeled on the Main Street Marshall Plan, the National Urban League’s comprehensive blueprint for addressing lack of opportunity and economic inequality in America’s urban communities. In addition to once-in-a-generation investments in modernizing the nation’s railways, roads, bridges and airports, the legislation also

An amazing example of servant leadership, community leader, Edna Pemberton. She was honored on March 25, 2023. Mrs. P has always made space for others and I have been grateful for the role she has played in my life.

Although no longer with us, Kathlyn Joy Gilliam was the first Black female elected to Dallas Independent School District. She, too, was a model of a powerful leader who brought others with her. I was blessed to have her play a role in my career as a young woman.

By Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew

BHN to honor Herstory Week featuring Black press women’s forum and powerful businesswomen Friday

By Black Headline News

According to https://www.womenshistory.org, every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. The tradition began local in Santa Rosa, Calif. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week

of March 8th, 1980, as National Women’s History Week.

In 1987 Congress passed Public Law 1009, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamation designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

This year, the National Women's History Month announced the women's history theme for 2023, “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”

Black Headline News (BHN) is honoring “Herstory Month” by celebrating a week of live forums in the BHN Virtual Event Center under its sub theme, “Speaking up about Things.”

Here is the list of live forum events happening in the free virtual from March 24 –31:

Starting on Friday, March 24, 2023, at 4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST; Black women

publishers discussed their truths in a live forum, “Publishing as Black Women,” hosted by the BHN member publishers, Rina Risper—The New Citizens Press, Charlene Rhinehart—Chicago Southsider, Brigitte Jones—The Bay Area Review Newspaper, Gina Wilson

The next live forum to follow was Sunday, March 26, 2023, at 4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST, as publisher host, Dudley Najieb reviews The Wonder Women to Know from Texas, California, Michigan, Iowa & Chicago, sponsored by the BHN Cohort.

Next, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at 5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST, forum host, Dudley Najieb discussed The Wonder Women to Know – National, sponsored by Blended, AMPTV, Black Collab, and St. Jude. Women will be commemorated from the following professions: medical, business, nutrition/ health, sports, athlete, education, finance/ real estate, environment/clean energy, government and law/legal.

Allen, who is the CEO of The Labz.

The BHN launched the virtual event center this past February to cater to its online audiences to connect to Black publishers nationwide through innovative strategies. The platform is available 24/7 and is free to the public; the platform includes virtual technology where people can click on "info eggs" of information about Black historical information or watch live streamed town halls.

Steward –Ecorse Telegram, and Julia Dudley Najieb—ONME News/AMPTV. Call-in number: 559-242-6788 or chat live through the platform.

Finally, the BHN Herstory Month will close with powerful live forum event on Friday, March 31, 2023, at 4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST - Innovative Women Making a Difference hosted by BHN news anchor, Ken McCoy, who will interview featured guests, coach/writer/ speaker, Eleanor (Elle) Oliver-Edmonds, who is the key lead copywriter for Mattel, and successful, media, technology, guru, Farah

The Black Headline News Channel is a 24/7 live stream to inform viewers of the latest news headlines featured in Black news outlets from across the world. These news headlines include breaking news, elections, sports, world, national and regional news, and special feature reports.

The channel also broadcasts docu-stories, talk radio news shows, and trending syndicate shows.

The channel is managed and distributed by Info Media Distribution, a media production and online distribution company that produces and provides original news content and docuseries from a Black perspective.

National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum presents CAF Rise Above Traveling Exhibit

Fort Worth, TX… RISE ABOVE, the traveling exhibit telling the story of the heroic Tuskegee Airmen, will be on display at the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum (NMWHM)located at 2029 North Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76164. The exhibit runs April 4-15, 2023.

RISE ABOVE is a unique, interactive traveling exhibit showcasing the Tuskegee Airmen’s story as an inspirational example of how individuals can reach beyond their grasp to attain to new levels of achievement as the Tuskegee Airmen did. “This is a tremendous coup for the museum,” says NMWHM Co-founder Jim Austin. “The Tuskegee Airmen are such a national treasure.

We are honored to be among the national tour sites for this exceptional historical experience.” The exhibit features a mobile theater where visitors can view RISE ABOVE, an original short film chronicling the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen and the P-51C Mustang airplane!

RISE ABOVE is part of a nationally touring educational experience created to impart the Six Guiding Principles of the Tuskegee Airmen to audiences young and old across the country. The CAF Rise Above Squadron is committed to telling the inspirational story of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel. Each student who visits the ex-

hibit receives a free inspirational dog tag featuring the principles of the CAF Rise Above Squadron. The principles reflect how the Tuskegee Airmen rose above all the obstacles they faced in order to fly and fight for America. The dog tags read: Aim High, Believe in Yourself, Never Quit, Be Ready to Go, Use Your Brain and Expect to Win. “This exhibit will both educate and inspire visitors to the museum,” concludes Austin. “These brave soldiers are a shining example of courage and fortitude, and we are proud to share their legacy with North Texas!”

Admission:

Adults - 19 - 64 years - $15.00

Sr. Adults: 65 + years - $12.00 Military: $12.00

Youth: 6 - 18 years - $12.00

Children 5 and under free with paid adult.

Group Admission: $2.00 Off regular admission prices for groups of 10 or more.

For more information, visit www.NMWHM.org or call 817.534.8801.

Leading Sponsors for the CAF RISE ABOVE traveling exhibit include Hillwood, TotalEnergies, and the Garvey Texas Foundation. Details to help sponsor the exhibit, volunteer, or make reservations to view the exhibit for schools and groups may be made by calling the Museum (817) 534-8801; or, email Executive Director Gloria Austin, gaustin@cowboysofcolor.org.

The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum remains committed to its mission of offering visitors a true and complete historical perspective of the people and

activities that built the unique culture of the American West.

Museum hours are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11AM to 4PM. (Last admission tickets sold at 3PM). CLOSED: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

RISE ABOVE is sponsored by the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum, Jim Austin Online, Visit Fort Worth, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson and the Fort Worth Business Press.

Eleanor Oliver-Edmonds

My MIC Sounds Nice, Check One!

By Eva D. Coleman Lifestyle & Culture Editor

It’s a first for a longstanding commitment to dissemination of voter information. The Potter’s House of Dallas held a kickoff event for its United MegaCare Ministry In Civics (MIC) that included education on the legislative process and a panel discussion featuring journalists and community advocates on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at The Place, a fairly-new event space, on its Dallas campus.

The room was filled with leaders from a variety of ministry groups within The Potter’s

House megachurch.

The event began with an overview of the legislative process provided by Matthew Hall, Senior Regional Advocacy Director for Raise Your Hand Texas, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2006 by Charles Butt, Chairman and CEO of H-E-B stores.

Hall’s presentation was followed by an interactive panel discussion, “Fake News or Not?” that included panelists: Leona Allen, Deputy Publisher of The Dallas Morning News, Eva D. Coleman, National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Region III Director and Lifestyle & Culture Editor of Texas Metro News, Jazmyn Ferguson,

Director of Organizing Strategy at Leadership for Educational Equity and Dallas CORE, and Denita Jones, Texas Regional Organizer of Black Voters Matter.

According to media invitation correspondence, the panel was to “kick off a series of community events co-hosted by The Potter's House, All Things Edunia, PEN America, Black Voters Matter, and Raise Your Hand Texas with a focus on civic responsibility, healthy news habits that fight mis/disinformation, and having good faith interactions with family, friends, and neighbors.”

Martina Van Norden, President & CEO of All Things Edun-

ia, shared how her vision for the event came together to combine forces of media and voting information.

“We will not drop the mic,” Van Norden told the audience.

Tiffany Brinkley, Director of United MegaCare shared the purpose and reasoning behind incorporating Ministry In Civics (MIC) into existing offerings of The Potter’s House United MegaCare brand.

PEN America’s U.S. Free Expression Programs Manager, Hannah Waltz, shared how all of the elements were a great fit for her organization’s goal of combatting disinformation/misinformation

in civic engagement.

The audience was pleased to see and hear The Potter’s House Chief Operating Officer, Frank Dyer, who is currently battling blood cancer, share remarks with the audience as well.

At the conclusion of the event, many attendees shared how they were pleased with the information and encouragement received; with plans to incorporate ideas into their ministry work, and looking forward to future events.

More Allegations of racist acts at Dubriski High cont.

from page 1 occurrence and they’re tired of complaining to the teachers and actions not being taken.

On Thursday, March 23, Grand Prairie NAACP Youth Council held a press conference to address the racism happening at the school and the injustices faced by Black staff and students alike.

Angela Luckey, president of the Grand Prairie NAACP said four Dubiski Career High School teachers contacted the Branch saying the school is “toxic” and the African American teachers experience racism just like the students.

The reports were made by the teachers to the principal, Holly Mohler, who they say took no action.

Luckey urged the school officials to expel and remove the students responsible for the video and demanded the principal hand in her resignation.

Arthur Flemming, a former president of NAACP Dallas, said he hopes the GPISD makes the N-word a profanity in the student handbooks and fires the superintendent as well for creating such an atmosphere of hate within the school.

Flemming said this is part of a

greater, statewide problem of racialized education.

Amaia Davis, a freshman at Dubiski High School, said when she saw the video, she wasn’t surprised.

“I've been around it and I've seen people at this school do this; but when I saw the video pop up,

I was just disappointed,” she said. “Like not only are you saying this around [the school], but you decided to go and post it and the whole world can see it now.”

Davis’ mother, Shavsha said, even after their multiple complaints to the principal, not once was it addressed by Mohler that

she is aware of the situation and that she will take action against it.

Davis said she has raised her voice to say that this was not an isolated experience or incident, but the culture at Dubiski, but the administration refused to address the issue.

Initially, Davis said she sent her daughter to Dubiski because it is a very career-oriented school but she doesn’t feel safe sending her child to school anymore and has considered changing schools.

“To move my child because of a culture of oppression and racism at school is something that’s very hard to consider,” she said at the press conference. “I don’t feel that we should have to be making that sort of decision in this day and age.”

Matthew Hall, Hannah Waltz, Eva D. Coleman, Jazmyn Ferguson, Martina Van Norden, Leona Allen and Denita Jones after serving as participants during United MegaCare Ministry In Civics launch at The Potter's House Dallas.

The Potter's House MegaCare Director Tiffany Brinkley and Chief Operating Officer Frank Dyer laugh at podium during Ministry In Civics launch at The Potter's House Dallas

Eva D. Coleman is the Lifestyle and Culture Editor at Texas Metro News.

Ayesha Hana Shaji is a 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she was on The Shorthorn staff.

Angela Luckey, president of Grand Prairie NAACP speaks at the press conference held outside Grand Prairie school district by GP NAACP Youth Council

Photo: Ayesha Hana Shaji

Mr. and Mrs. Gantt 53 years

Mr. and Mrs. Hicks 30 years

Tiffany Smith Clayborne and Michael Clayborne 21 years

Dwight and Deborah Love 29 years

Donald and Trudy Willis 10 years

Bria Murphy and Michael Xavier Just married

Yovanna Montano and Eddie Humphrey Just married

Vandra and Mike Noel 11 years

Tashara TJ Robinson and Derrick Robinson Just married

Mr. and Mrs. Roudley 10 years

Eve and Maximillion Cooper 7 years

Martin calls out agencies for disparity, inequities

By Ayesha Hana Shaji and Valerie Fields Hill Staff Writer and News Editor Texas Metro News

Journalist Roland Martin has stirred the pot, again.

This time the popular podcaster and host of the daily digital show, #RolandMartinUnfiltered, caused staunch disagreement among his own viewers over an accusation he made earlier this month.

The issue is still brewing or, rather, stewing.

On his March 1 show, Martin, who frequently touches some listeners’ nerves over issues of race and equity, accused some white-owned advertising agencies and their corporate clients of being systemically racist.

According to Martin, some ad agencies pay Black-owned media outlets pennies on the dollar when compared with the billions they spend with Esquire, GQ and other national publications.

During a two-hour “special report” that was streamed by more than 40,000 viewers and now can be watched on Martin’s own Black Star Network, YouTube and other digital platforms – the Houston native said, “Black owned media are being starved to death by corporate America and largely white ad agencies.”

“We’re talking about the hoops we have to jump through,” said Martin, referring to his own network and outlets owned by other Black executives, including Byron Allen, who owns, among other media, The Weather Channel; and Earl Graves, Jr. whose father founded Black Enterprise magazine.

In 2021, some companies, including Target, PepsiCo, T-Mobile, Discover, Nestle, No. 7 Beauty company, DoorDash, General Mills, Adidas, WW, MGA Entertainment, and AARP, acknowledged the issue. The corporations agreed to spend at least two percent of their advertising budgets with Blackowned media to rectify the problem, they said in a June 8, 2021 news release.

Martin questioned whether they had done so in the two years since they made the proclamation.

“All these companies have made commitments to spend with Black-owned media, and they’re claiming that they’re meeting or exceeding their goals,” Martin said on the show. “But, where’s our money? Something is not right here.”

Meanwhile, some Dallas-based African American business executives- and Black media owners - agreed with Martin’s assessment.

Harrison Blair, president and CEO of the Dallas Black Chamber of Com-

merce, said white corporate executives often misunderstand Black consumers’ buying decisions, their influence on product creation and their power in the market.

For example, he pointed to a recent cultural war between restaurants Chickfil-A and Popeyes over the chicken sandwich, a product Blair said originated among Black cooks and diners.

Yet, he complained, both restaurants continuously fail to significantly advertise to the very consumers who created and popularized that product.

“It's a shame that there was a battle for the best chicken sandwich,” Blair said in an exclusive interview with Texas Metro News. “…Fried chicken is a staple of Black culture... It comes from the pain and anguish of slavery and having to take what you can get and turn it into something that is a cuisine.”

“Now, it’s in the culture, and everybody profits off that…except not… Black communities,” Blair said. “That's just a vestige of them not feeling like they have to talk to you.”

“You are expected to purchase these big brands – and these big brands don't necessarily feel loyalty to you.”

“…They don’t advertise to us,” Blair told Texas Metro News. “They don’t feel

as though they need to advertise to us…”

Martin expressed a similar sentiment.

“Corporations and ad agencies want you to keep buying their products, to keep driving their market share, but they in turn do not want to reciprocate and invest in Black-owned media, which is a place where you trust your information more than any place else,” he told his viewers.

The problem for Black-owned media, said Martin, a Texas A&M graduate who got his start reporting and writing news in Houston, Austin and Fort Worth, is not limited to corporations and privately-owned ad agencies.

The trend also is seen in federal government advertising expenditures.

Citing a report by the federal government’s General Accounting Office, Martin said, the federal government spent $560 billion on contracts during a recent year. About $1 billion of that was spent annually in advertising.

“Black-owned media got $51 million out of the nearly $1 billion,” Martin said. “That means we are getting Biden and Harris to the White House and yet, the dollars are not coming back to Blackowned media.”

Cheryl Smith, publisher of Dallas-based I Messenger Media, which

owns Texas Metro News, said not only are federal agencies not advertising with Black-owned media, but neither are many political candidates – Black, Latino, Asian, or Caucasian.

“I was in Birmingham talking to a sorority sister who was running for office,” Smith said this week. “I asked her if she was going to be advertising in the Birmingham Times? And she said, ‘Well, I hadn't thought about it’.”

“I was like, ‘Well, you need to’.” Now keep in mind I was not asked to asked… to do that. I was not encouraged and was not getting any benefit out of it. The publisher of the Birmingham Times had no idea I was doing it. For me, it was the right thing to do. Raise a consciousness level.”

When you consider how consistently loyal the Black voter is, you would think that they wouldn’t be taken for granted like they are by the grocery chains that say “they’re going to shop anyway,” or the car dealers that say “we don’t have to advertise to Blacks because we know they are going to buy cars, whether we advertise or not.”

To remedy the problem, Black media executives must continue to elevate the issue, as Martin has, in the public consciousness, said Smith, adding that even the Biden administration has paid attention to the disparity.

Still, some of Martin’s viewers boiled over at the premise that an unfair proportion of advertising dollars were not being spent with Black-owned media.

“Why do you race bait,” wrote viewer Kowaiski Critton, during Martin’s broadcast.

Another viewer, Dave Pirtle, questioned the magnitude of the problem, during the March 1, broadcast.

“Although he is a polarizing figure, I wish Roland would speak with Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks,” Pirtle wrote. “Almost all of the top executives are Black. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.”

According to Smith, Cuban is an exception, not the rule. “There’s a consciousness and business sense, as well as commitment, that Mr. Cuban and Mavs CEO Cynt Marshall have that many don’t.”

In a second post, Pirtle called the problem “unbelievable.”

“I am trying to understand how these ad companies could justify paying almost 90% less to Black media companies without being outright called racist,” he wrote.

“What that means is the same Coke ad on BET, for example, was let's say $100 and the same exact ad on TNT was $900. Unbelievable.”

Innovative Podcast

cont. from page 1

In loving memory of

February 9, 1928 - March 12, 2023

went from around 1,000 to 5,000 people.”

Once DuPlexis realized her success, she joined forces with Baptiste who had already developed a large following among his hip-hop audience in South Africa.

“Originally our goal was to help independent artists that didn’t have a recording label to prompt their projects. As we are finishing our third season we are expanding our vision. We want to help people in the entertainment industry overall gain global exposure,” said DuPlexis.

As they have expanded their vision, they have also broadened their focus for the podcast to include actresses, authors, and models.

According to DuPlexis, the podcast, which can be streamed on YouTube on Wednesday evenings at 8:00 pm went from 200 subscribers to 180,000 viewers in its second season.

“We have worked with artists in Colmbia, Israel, and South Africa, said DuPlexis, adding that due to the fact that Albooby is from South Africa, the bulk of artists are from South Africa. “As a local hip-hop artist, it is easy for him to recruit other artists to participate in

our podcast.”

Taking advantage of their international audience, DuPlexis and Baptiste are confident that their podcast platform will open international exposure opportunities for new artists that may not traditionally have that type of access.

As they are completing their third season they have had as many as 40,000 viewers for one episode. One of their seasons is equivalent to 10 episodes.

Their increased viewership has landed them national sponsorship with major companies which includes Frito Lay, Coca-Cola, and Chanel.

“Due to our large audience, we have a great opportunity to impact the careers of the artists that come on our show. We had two artists on our podcast Adrienne LaShe and Lashae Love, who were both nominated for independent artist of the year for the BET Music Awards,” said DuPlexis. “For us this was a huge success story because these artists did not have a large audience prior to being on our show.”

As their audience increases, DuPlexis said they are expanding their concept to include celebrity guests like Martin Emerson, a cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the

National Football League.

“As artists our platform is to help and support people in different ways by giving them global exposure. We are be coming a change agent in the industry. Once people have done one interview, they want to do a second interview,” said Baptiste.

As a team, Baptiste and Du Plexis are working to make an overall impact in the entertainment industry. They are not just a TV show, they have a distribution and global production company, BW Global productions. Albooby’s music can also be found on their independent music label, Hustle For Money, and all streaming platforms as well.

“As we expand, we want our artists to broaden their scope of impact as well. We currently have connections in America, South Africa, and China, “said DuPlexis.

Artists that are wanting to be featured on their upcoming podcasts can reach out to them on their YouTube Channel at @belladuplexiscomingrightat1366 and their website, www.albellamusic.com.

Jerusalem Baptist Church

1300 Billups St. Marshall, TX

Officiant: Rev. Ronnie Jefferey

cation in the Marshall Independent School District.

In his young adulthood, he ventured to Sacramento, CA, marrying Rosye "Pat" Roberts in the 1940s; together, they had four children: Ernestine, Marilynne, Pamela, and Gregory Hicks. He later met and married the love of his life, Hazel Davis, on June 5, 1954, in Carson, NV. They returned to Marshall, Texas, in the 1970s to care for Ernest's parents

Grocery. Hicks Grocery has been more than just a neighborhood market; it has served many generations of families for nearly 80 years. Ernest was passionate about serving the needs of his community; he was best known for providing products and services that kept both families and children happy and coming back for more! His family and friends deeply loved him, as he could be counted on for a good hearty laugh, especially when talking about sports or money.

Baptiste and DuPlexis have secured major sponsors for their innovative podcast, which include: Frito Lay, Coca-Cola and Chanel.

Sylvia Dunnavant Hines is a photographer, journalist and best-seling author, based in the D/FW Metroplex.

IABD Receives National Medal of Arts Award cont.

President Joseph R. Biden presented the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) with the National Medal of Arts, along with 11 other renowned artists and arts organizations. IABD President and CEO Denise Saunders Thompson accepted the award on March 21, 2023, during a ceremony in the East Room of The White House. Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) founder Ann M. Williams attended the ceremony as a founding member of IABD, along with representatives of the four other founding organizations; Joan Myers Brown, founder of The Philadelphia Dance Company, Philadanco!, Cleo Parker Robinson, founder of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Lula Washing-

ton, founder of Lula Washington Dance Theatre and Debbie Blunden-Diggs, Artistic Director of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

The National Medal of Arts is the highest award the federal government gives to artists and arts patrons. The President of the United States awards it to individuals or groups who deserve special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States. Others receiving the award were Judith Francisca Baca, Fred Eychaner, Jose Feliciano, Mindy Kaling, Gladys Knight, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Antonio Martorell-Cardona, Joan Shigekawa, Bruce Springsteen, Vera Wang, and The Billie Holiday Theatre.

Blackity-Black cont. from page 1

But you weren’t seeing anyone picking up a drumstick or scooping up red beans and rice, yams or, clutching my pearls, some collard greens!

I asked about the choice of restaurants and the response is not worthy of ink space because we know how we can get at times.

Black business owners, do you seek out other Black businesses to support?

Those working at HBCUs, when hiring or seeking talent, do you think that those who are from predominantly White institutions (PWI) are better, do you pay attention to alums and potential candidates only after they have been validated by others?

In a nutshell, I am asking all of you, DON’T YOU REALIZE THAT ALL ICE IS 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT?

I am talking about the height of hypocrisy and this madness has to stop. And some might say “Stop Cheryl, before you go another further,” but like I told my friend Garry Howard, “I can’t stop, won’t stop.”

So I’m all in here.

Parents, it is so wonderful that now we can send our children to any college/university in the country. It is a right that we deserve.

Now remember the time when we didn’t have a choice? Well, we proudly went to those “Nor-

In presenting the award, President Biden said the “International Association of Blacks in Dance is driven by the mission to preserve dance by the African diaspora for future generations.” The White House press release noted that “through teaching, training, and performance, the International Association of Blacks in Dance promotes dance by people of African ancestry and origin, explores and exchanges art, spans cultures and generations, and enriches the dance culture of America.”

Dallas Black Dance Theatre Founder Ann Williams attends White House Ceremony as a Founding Member of IABD

African ancestry or origin and assists and increases opportunities for artists in networking, funding, performances, education, audience development, philosophical dialogue, touring, and advocacy.

The Association is committed to documenting and addressing Black aesthetics in dance.

from page 1

Canada attracting dance professionals, donors, foundations, and corporations from Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean.

mal” schools and “Negro” colleges; excelling and going on to become the greatest in so many areas and on so many levels.

Then the doors were opened to other institutions, and let’s not forget there were some serious challenges; but you can walk right in today, especially if you are a superstar athlete!

I applaud any child who wants to go to college. Let’s help get them there.

But, DAMN!

Won’t you even consider an HBCU?

You name off 10 schools and you couldn’t find one Black college. Not one?

Really?

I’m shaking my head even as I write because some will pick an obscure, no name institution with .05 percent people who look like them, poor graduation rates and zero engagement after graduation, before considering an HBCU where people live for those who once only had one choice.

And don’t even talk about, “is it accredited?” Half of those reading this probably have never used the word in their lifetime except to talk about an HBCU.

News flash, PWIs lose accreditation too!

This is not an anti anybody column. It’s a pro YOU column.

There’s nothing wrong with

The 35-year-old IABD preserves and promotes dance by people of

It educates younger generations about the contributions of Black artists in dance through the annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance providing dance workshops and sessions on the business of dance. For the past 33 years, the event has been held nationwide and in

showing your love for your people.

The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Harvey actually encouraged it.

James Brown even had white kids singing, “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.”

As he launched a “Buy Black” campaign, Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III of Friendship-West Baptist Church encouraged his congregants to support Black Businesses.

We can only hope that some of those entrepreneurs had the consciousness and conscience to seek out others in the same boat.

The sad commentary is that with all the efforts across this country encouraging us to support our own, there are many who talk about wanting support and you aren’t giving it.

Many talk about not supporting because the business or school, or church is in a rough neighborhood, but they can say that because they never have to take you home to see where they grew up and still have family living.

Hypocrisy doesn’t look good on anyone.

Take inventory. If you don’t see what you want, see what you can do to get it, make it better or join with someone and BUILD it.

Believe me, we’ve had enough negativity for several lifetimes. If there is any time we need to do better, now is the time.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Dallas Black Dance Theatre has hosted the Conference and Festival eight times to help sustain the cultural legacy of Black dance for our nation. Now in its 46th season, DBDT is the ninth largest contemporary modern dance company in the country, according to Dance Data Project, and the oldest and largest dance company in Dallas. DBDT was a trailblazer when COVID shut down performance venues in 2020, launching the first all-virtual season. Dallas Black Dance Theatre still offers its patrons three ways to view performances providing in-person, streaming, and on-demand options.

Legislative Policy

cont. from page 5 includes the transformational expansion of broadband internet infrastructure for which we advocated in the Lewis Latimer Plan for Digital Equity and Inclusion.

Not only did President Biden heed our call to make the Minority Business Development Agency permanent, but he also appointed National Urban League Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Donald R. Cravins Jr. to lead the agency as the first-ever Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development.

President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing, and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety, incorporates many of the themes of the National Urban League’s comprehensive framework for criminal justice advocacy, “21 Pillars for Redefining Public Safety and Restoring Community Trust.” These include bans on racial profiling, chokeholds, noknock warrants, and shooting at moving vehicles; investigation of police misconduct, revision of use-of-force policies, demilitarization of police, data collection on misconduct and

use of force, mandatory use of dashboard and body cameras strengthening of hiring and training standards, and increased diversity among both leadership and ranks.

The National Urban League’s influence on national policy stretches back through the decades: Executive Director Eugene Kinkle Jones served as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Black Cabinet” in the 1930s. His successor Lester Granger led the effort to desegregate the nation’s armed forces under President Harry Truman. The legendary Whitney M. Young Jr. was integral to the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. And Vernon Jordan rebutted President Ford’s State of the Union Address with the first State of Black America report, the definitive annual benchmark of the economic and social status of African Americans. The Legislative Policy Conference, however, represents a historic expansion and redefinition over the past 20 years of the position our movement now occupies in the nation’s legislative, administrative and political institutions.

Marc Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.

Lifestyle Metro Calendar

MARCH

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Brain Injury Awareness

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Kidney Month Nutrition Month

LGBT Health Awareness Week Tuberculosis 30

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce

Business Mix & Mingle 5:30-8:30pm Register at dallasblackchamber.org

APRIL 1

For Women’s History Month, The Writer’s Block, Inc. will host a Facebook Live event 11:00 am, central time Facebook Live event | Facebook 3

Super Saving Sisters Take Control od Your Money, a Financial Fortitude Seminar, 7:00pm. Join Financial Coach Anita O’Neal by registering at dallasalumnae. org/events 4

Invitational Rodeo, 6:30 pm at the African American Museum in Fair Park. 6:30-8:30 pm Attire: Western

22

Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Psi Chapter presents the 49th annual Business Month Education and Scholarship Awards Luncheon at 11am at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Dallas Campbell Centre, 8250 North Central Expressway Dallas

25

Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Psi Chapter, Dallas, TX, presents a Spring & Summer Fashion Show: Featuring Youth Designer Dymecia Daniels, 2023 Youth Entrepreneur Honoree, at the Courtyard Marriott in Midlothian. 12

The African American Museum- Dallas presents the 35th A. Maceo Smith Community Service Awards Brunch at 10 am at the Dallas Marriott Suites Medical/ Market Center

27

The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Power Breakfast at 7:00am at the Soiree Coffee Bar in Dallas. Register at DallasBlackChamber.org

20

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., assassinated in Memphis TN, 1968

RISE ABOVE, the traveling exhibit telling the story of the heroic Tuskegee Airmen, will be on display at the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum (NMWHM)located at 2029 North Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76164. The exhibit runs April 4-15 6

You’re invited to BonVoyage of Black Cowboys and kickoff for the Texas Black

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce

Virtual Orientations to learn how to maximize your chamber investment.

https://dallasblacktxcoc.weblinkconnect.com/events

21

SPJ 20th annul First Amendment Awards and Scholarship Banquet. Featuring Keynote speaker, Cynthia Izaguirre, Open Doors Award winner Sylvia Komatsu and emcee Jay Warren, Texas Rangers Golf Club, 701 Brown Blvd in Arlington Tickets are $50 Program begins at 6:30pm

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Business Mix & Mingle

5:30-8:30pm Register at dallasblackchamber.org

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Friendship-West Baptist Church will be hosting a 40th Pastoral Anniversary Gala for Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III. This event will honor all of the hard work and achievements of Dr. Haynes during his tenure at Friendship-West Baptist Church.

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5th Annual HBCU College Fair and Scholarship Informational. The Nation-

al Pan-Hellenic Council-North Dallas Suburbia Chapter has once again partnered with Frisco ISD to host this event.

MAY

Celebrating Mothers Congrats to the Class of 2023

7

Black Heritage Celebration Business Expo at the Dallas Arboretum

8

Philander Smith College’s 28th Annual Elijah Pitts Golf Tournament! Info -

https://www.philander.edu/giving/ elijah-pitts-golf-tournament

Environmental justice issues addressed by Forward Dallas

By Ayesha Hana Shaji Texas Metro News Team

Forward Dallas, as a part of their public engagement, LunchNLearn sessions, addressed the city’s long-term plans focusing on environmental justice issues.

The comprehensive plan for Dallas - Forward Dallas aims to guide the growth and development of the city in the upcoming years. In existence since 2006 but Andrea Gilles, assistant director of planning and urban design at City of Dallas said significant changes have occurred in the city over the

last 15 years, particularly in the areas of environmental justice and racial equity and they wish to adequately address them.

In the session, Gilles conveyed the updates regarding the plan’s land-use policies to ensure they communicate past racial injustices and inequities.

Forward Dallas proposes future land uses to implement adopted city policies such as CECAP, Housing Policy, Economic Development Policy, and the Racial Equity Plan, Gilles said.

The reason for the update of the plan is because inequities in land use were not addressed, nor was there a clear path for

integrating neighborhood and area plans into the comprehensive plan. Forward Dallas wants to create a future land use map that will guide zoning decisions

and outline a clear path to integrating smaller area plans into the comprehensive plan.

According to Gilles, the plan would incorporate the goals

and visions of smaller neighborhood groups to ensure their perspectives are represented.

Gilles said they’ve been doing a lot of community engagement with property owners about how the city should handle incompatible land use and how they can identify them in the citywide plan.

Throughout the meeting the importance of implementing equitable land-use policies, particularly in addressing the issue of industrial areas next to residential areas, was stressed.

Women’s, Men’s NCAA Final Four Arrives in Texas

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

Dallas and Houston are playing host to the NCAA Final Four women’s and men’s basketball competitions this weekend.

The women’s Final Four –featuring defending champions and this year’s #1 overall seed South Carolina Gamecocks, along with the LSU Tigers, Virginia Tech Hokies and the Iowa Hawkeyes – kicks off Friday at Dallas’ American Airlines Center.

LSU will take on Virginia Tech at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN followed by Iowa vs. South

Carolina at 9:00 p.m. ET, also on ESPN. The winners will play for the Championship on Sunday.

In addition, two of the coaches in the Women’s Final Four are Black; Carolina’s Dawn Staley and Virginia Tech’s Kenny Brooks, the only male coach in the Women’s Final Four.

Staley, whose 36-0 Gamecocks are appearing in its fifth Women's Final Four, are seeking a third national championship. They won the 2017 NCAA Championship in Dallas when the city last hosted the Final Four.

“I just want to say congratulations to all the Final Four

coaches and programs,” Staley said during a call with reporters on Tuesday. “I'm sure we're going to put on, you know, a great couple of games this weekend that hopefully will end in somebody hoisting that national championship trophy and making it a proud moment and memory.

“Dallas, it will be etched in my memory forever,” Staley continued. “I mean, it was the first time that we won a national championship.”

For two of the women’s Final Four teams, it’s been a long road back to the promised land. LSU hasn’t been in the Fina Four in 15 years; Iowa

hasn’t been in three decades.

And for Virginia Tech, it’s their first time in the Final Four.

“I’m extremely proud of this group for what they've accomplished, and just watching them, it starts with the foundation, Elizabeth Kitley, Georgia Amoore, Taylor Geiman, Cayla King,” Brooks said during Tuesday’s call with the media.

“They really transformed the culture of this program, and we've been able to build off of that, and to see the culmination of work come to this, it's just an unbelievable feeling for me because I know how hard they work.

“I am so very happy with this group,” Brooks continued. “We've gone through, we've been playing really good basketball the last couple months, and we just want to continue it on in Dallas.”

Men’s Final Four in Houston

Meanwhile, down 45 South, the men’s Final Four will kick off in Houston on Saturday. In the men's tournament, the San Diego State Aztecs will play the Florida Atlantic Owls and the University of Miami Hurricanes will play the University of Connecticut Huskies.

It will be a history-making event for three of the teams; San Diego State, Florida Atlantic and Miami, are making their first trips to the Final Four in each of their school’s history.

San Diego State University and Florida Athletic will kick off on CBS at 6: 09 p.m. ET followed by Miami and UConn at 8:49 p.m. ET also on CBS.

Stay tuned to Texas Metro News for continuing coverage of the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Final Four.

Ayesha Hana Shaji is a 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she was on The Shorthorn staff.

Photos: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images, Black Coaches Association Twitter @bcaworldwide

Defending Champs South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley Virginia Tech Head Coach Kenny Brooks

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