The Seven Last Words of George Floyd

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

Our

SUPERB WOMAN Yolanda Harper

Yolanda Harper is president of Alpha Discovery Group, LLC, and program manager- worksites for Texas Health Resources - Community Impact. A motivational speaker and author, she's a fitness trainer who established something we all could use, an outdoor fitness boot camp, The Fit&40 Crew®. She attended the University of Houston where she was the Women's Track and Field Team Captain and most valuable female athlete. She received a BA degree in Communication from Dallas Baptist University. Ms. Harper has served on the Board and as Chair of Women's Business Division for the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce and Director of Ministerial Alliance at Bridge Builders International Church. A licensed minister, public speaker, mental health first aid instructor, certified corporate wellness specialist and certified conflict mediator; Ms. Harper's impressive portfolio is extensive, intense and tested. Ms. Harper is committed to improving the lives of others through physical fitness and she is determined to empower you to LOOK better, FEEL better, LIVE better, and BE better! When she walks into a room, you immediately feel the vibe!

GET YOUR VACCINE!

No appointment needed at Parkland’s Ellis Davis Field House vaccine site Specific hours designated at drive-through location DALLAS – Beginning Wednesday, April 7, individuals over the age of 16 can receive a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday – Saturday at Parkland Health & Hospital System’s drive-through location at Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St., Dallas, 75232. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Ellis Davis Field House is open to those with an appointment from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Saturday. The location is closed on Sundays. For additional information about COVID-19, please visit www.parklandhospital.com/covid

Derek Chauvin Murder Trial

Tune in to rolandsmartin.com or #rolandmartinunfiltered

on YouTube

Noted rapper transitions

Earl Simmons, DMX (also known as Dark Man X) was a hard core rapper from the East Coast school, known for his aggressively brutal raps. After his death Friday, The New York Times called him a “muscular and intense” figure, known for a “remarkable and combative stage presence” and “albums that reflected his gritty past and featured a gruff and unmistakable lyrical style.”

DMX’s 1998 single “Get At Me Dog” was a top-40 hit that pushed him into the upper tier of popular rappers and revived the strength of the Def Jam record label. The same year his debut album It’s Dark, and Hell is Hot went to #1 on the Billboard charts. He followed that album with Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1999) and …And Then There Was X (2000), both of which debuted at the no. 1 spot on the charts.

DMX also recorded with the Ruff Ryders, a loose conglomeration of hip-hop all-stars. DMX then veered into acting and appeared in Romeo Must Die (2000, with Jet Li), Exit Wounds (2001, with Steven Seagal) and Never Die Alone (2004, with Michael Ealy). In 2006 DMX (sometimes called “Dog”) was in the spotlight again, with a new album (Year of the Dog, Again, on the SonyBMG label) and a reality series on the BET cable network, DMX: Soul of a Man.

DMX published a memoir, E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX, in 2003.

The Seven Last Words of George Floyd

By John Thomas III

Editor

The Christian Recorder

The commemoration of Good Friday is a solemn and holy event for Christians. We cannot get to the resurrection of Jesus Christ without traversing through the crucifixion, death, and burial of God’s only begotten son. One of the dividing lines among Christian traditions is the context of Jesus’ Passion and death. When we separate Jesus from His worldly environment and circumstances— being persecuted as a Jewish teacher by a foreign empire and betrayed by compatriots who were threatened by His message and witness—we lose sight that Jesus, both fully God and man, was gruesomely murdered. The 9 minutes and 29 seconds that turned the collective stomach of the world have been seared into our shared consciousness and the legacy of this watershed moment is still playing out. In the same way that we cannot allow our faith to be sanitized, we cannot allow the death of Mr. Floyd to be stripped of the circumstances of institutional racism, poverty, and White Supremacy that led to his brutal death at the hands of one who was charged to serve and protect. It is customary on Good Friday to commemorate the seven last words/sayings of Jesus Christ in solemn worship. In that spirit today, I encourage us to reflect upon the seven last words of George Floyd based upon the police body cam transcript.

1. Mama, mama, mama! “When George Floyd called for his mother, he was calling for all of us,” said a friend of mine who is the mother of a young Black son. When Jesus was dying on the cross, He looked to His mother, Mary commending her to John’s care. We can only imagine how Mary felt to see the life

slowly leaving her son’s body. In his last moments, Mr. Floyd cried out for the woman who brought him into this world as he realized he was being ripped out of it.

“Quit Playin”

Kill the Trend!

By Vincent L. Hall

Many of my fondest childhood memories were framed at the Church. I had the pleasure of living much of my formative years with my grandparents, specifically the Reverend Zechariah Alexander Peter James John Figures, known to the public and his fellow pulpiteers as Z. R. Living in the Goodwill Baptist Church’s parsonage just 60 feet diagonally from the steps of the sanctuary taught me a lot. Anything I didn’t glean from Papa’s strap, I learned by watching the people who came in and around the perimeter of the Church. Most of the “well-trained” pedestrians who strolled the streets paid strict obeisance to the stature and the church grounds’ sanctity. If a smoker walked by, he extinguished his cigarette and resumed his puff sensation after he was well beyond the front door. Likewise, winos, jickheads and drunks, secured their serum safely in their posterior pockets as they made their sinful procession toward home or some den of ill repute.

A FUNNY

Faithful Utterances

So Why Should I Be Ashamed?

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew

Shame and guilt are two powerful emotions. I think many of us have experiences from our childhood that shape who we are because of those moments of being laughed at, bullied, or even violated by others. If we are not careful, those emotions drive us to cover them up with addictions to food, sex, overspending, or other self-destructive behaviors. Guilt is about behavior. Shame is about how we see ourselves. We can change behavior but what happens when we don’t feel that we can change ourselves? One of the first examples of shame was in the book of Genesis in the Bible. Genesis, 2: 25 states that “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” The serpent comes, twists what God said and based on inaccurate information, they made a decision. They went against God’s command and ate the fruit.

In Chapter 3:7, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me— she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” Shame did not enter the lives of Adam and Eve until they were aware that they were exposed. In their discovery, the immediate response was to hide.

SPOTLIGHT

An African American and Latinx History of the United States. The event is sponsored by, Auburn Avenue Research Library. The Auburn Avenue Research Library in partnership with the Baton Foundation, host Dr. Paul Ortiz who will discuss his latest publication An African American and Latinx History of the United States. Virtual online: tinyurl.com 2 pm. CDT.

Revitalize South Dallas Coalition

UPDATE: FEMA Funeral Reimbursement for COVID-19 Deaths

Applications begin: Monday, April 12, 2021; 8am – 8pm; Mondays – Fridays. If a friend or family member died after January 20, 2020 of COVID-19, FEMA may be able to reimburse funeral expenses up to $7000. Criteria: Death occurred in the US; Death Certificate must indicate death by COVID-19; applicant must be US citizen; the deceased does NOT have to be a US citizen. Keep your funeral documentation.

COVID Assistance Line: 844-684-6333. TTY: 800-462-7585.

Website: https://FEMA.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

Guide to Allen businesses:

Black-owned, women-owned and more

Aanchal Gupta, of Allen, has created a new small business called PANKY Doodle, featuring art on pancakes.(Courtesy Photo/PANKY Doodle)

With time, the guide will include several category lists and hundreds of businesses for Allen residents to support.

By Brandi Addison

Note: This story will be updated periodically to feature new categories of businesses. As people seek ways to support various groups and causes, one of the most impactful efforts is to diversify where they spend their dollars. We’ve created a list of businesses by category to make it easier for local consumers to be socially conscious in their spending. With time, the guide will include several category lists and hundreds of businesses for Allen residents to support. This week highlights local Black-owned and women-owned businesses.

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.

Mayor Eric Johnson announces hiring of Chief of Protocol and International Relations

DALLAS — Mayor Eric Johnson on Friday announced the hiring of Beth Huddleston as his office's new Chief of Protocol and International Relations. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Johnson began new efforts to increase the city's international stature. Now, Huddleston will oversee those efforts and advise the mayor on opportunities to strengthen ties to other countries. "I am thrilled to work with Mayor Johnson and his staff in this new role," Huddleston said. "Dallas is well positioned to become a bigger player in international diplomacy and trade, and I look forward to helping the city reach its full potential." Huddleston will be able to draw on three decades of experience in global affairs. Most recently, Huddleston was the executive vice president for the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and was responsible for their public/private partnerships. She had oversight of Dallas Protocol, a partnership between the City of Dallas and the World Affairs Council, and the International Visitor Leadership Program of the U.S. Department of State. Both programs sought to connect Dallas with the world through hosting international leaders, showcasing Dallas to international visitors and planning inbound and outbound trade missions. Prior to joining the World Affairs Council, Huddleston was the director of the International Trade Center SBDC, a partnership program of the then-Dallas County Community College and the Small Business Administration. She was responsible for training Dallas-area small businesses to enter global markets. During that time, she was a member and past chair of the North Texas District Export Council, which was a position appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The organization received the prestigious President's "E" Award for Excellence in Export Service during her tenure. Like Mayor Johnson, Huddleston is a native Dallasite. She earned a B.A. in Spanish and English Literature from Vanderbilt University and a M.A. in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University. She speaks Spanish and receives ongoing training in the art of diplomacy and international protocol. In her new role, Huddleston will report directly to the mayor. She will officially begin work Monday. With COVID-19 vaccinations ramping up and case numbers declining, Mayor Johnson has asked her to work with the Mayor's International Advisory Council (MIAC) to develop plans to attract international businesses and diplomatic outposts. "Beth Huddleston is a highly respected veteran of international affairs," Mayor Johnson said. "She has been an invaluable asset to the City of Dallas for years. She will make an excellent addition to our team as we work to take Dallas to the next level on the international stage."

WNBA celebrates 25th Season

New theme, logo and more highlight landmark season

by Sports Editor Dorothy J. Gentry

There’s a saying that “you can’t be, what you don’t see.” Sydney Colson knew she wanted to be a professional basketball player when she saw women playing on TV. “I grew up in Houston and watching the dynasty that was the (Houston) Comets and seeing those women dominate like that fueled and inspired me to want to keep working to play in the WNBA one day,” said Colson, who plays in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky. The WNBA was founded in 1996 with eight teams and a mission to uplift, encourage and showcase women athletes in the sport of basketball. “Playing with and against some of the best basketball players in the world is obviously going to make you a better athlete, but there’s also much to be said about playing in a league of grown women who are intelligent, outspoken, courageous, and down to ruffle some feathers,” Colson continued. “Not that we all have it figured out, but it’s empowering to be around fearless women who have a grasp on who they are and what they want in this life.” Over the years, despite challenges and setbacks, it remained steady and steadfast. It eventually grew to 12 teams, all while giving young girls dreams and hopes that one day they too, can be a part. Those fearless women who make up the WNBA are now celebrating its landmark 25th season.

Happy Birthday to you! April 11

Summer Walker, David Banner, Percy Julian, Tony Brown, Madison Goodrich, Shelia Jones, Joan Tarpley, Frank Frazier, Lee Alvarez, Jocelyn Rollerson, Karise Allen, Quinn Woods Walker, Ngo Limit, Jason Rudd Sherel Riley, Enda Jean

BLACK HISTORY MOMENT

Benjamin L. Hooks, a Memphis lawyer-minister, becomes the first African American named to the Federal Communications Commission.

National Love Your Pet Day

GET YOUR VACCINE!

Hospital capacity in Dallas on April 9, 2021

DALLAS — Twenty-five hospitals on Wednesday reported ventilator and bed capacity numbers to Mayor Eric Johnson's office. Dallas hospitals are required to report the information pursuant to the City of Dallas emergency regulations enacted by Mayor Johnson during the local state of disaster. The reporting requirements are meant to provide data to decision-makers and information to the public regarding the medical community's capacity to handle COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Here are the aggregate capacity totals for Friday, as reported by the 25 hospitals: