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My Truth By Cheryl Smith Publisher

Can we get 10 million? Well, if you were planning on voting and you haven’t checked to make sure all your paperwork is in order, you could find yourself stuck and out of luck, especially if you are among the many who have been stricken from lists across the country. Should you be concerned? Maybe. Should you care? Heck yes! But I understand. We don’t realize how painful a situation can be until we stub our toe, or hit our funny bone. Ain’t a darned thing funny then! Well, millions of dollars are being spent to either get you to vote a certain way, or stay at home. Instead of waiting in a line to vote, you can go fishing, to a party or go shopping. You say you don’t want to have to choose between the “lesser of two evils.” Well, some might say that considering what is at stake, those who opt out of voting are the biggest evil. Which brings me to my truth. Too much is at stake. This year’s midterm election is about more than one issue, one individual or one community. Every election is important and there are consequences and repercussions for every action and inaction. You go out to the polls and cast a vote because of the way someone looks, talks or because of their party affiliation. And let’s not forget voting for someone because they played a sport. Makes me think about those folks who walk along us today and are confronted by reminders of the racist acts of their ancestors. What goes through their heads? Are they embarrassed, apologetic or do they try to silence the messengers? As we prepare to view the movie, Till, how do the descendants of Carolyn Bryant feel? How does she feel about the actions that led to the brutal murder of young Emmett. When I visited with Mamie Till Mobley during her threeday visit to Dallas in 1995, we talked extensively about her son and the events 40 years prior. To her credit, this beautiful, smart, resourceful and focused woman was not filled with hate. Instead she had a spirit of love and compassion, and so did other family members I talked to then and later. Will the families of vicious racists feel the same, once confronted with the evil acts of those whose blood flows through their veins? Let’s come a little closer and think about your descendants. Will you be trying to stop stories from being told in the classrooms of your grands and great grands because you don’t want them to find out that your actions were just as detrimental, if not more than the Ku Klux Klan or others who savagely enacted their own laws or forms of justice to eventually find See MY TRUTH, page 5

SERVING NORTH EAST TEXAS

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2022

Popular Democratic Strategist Implores Black Voters ‘You Make the Difference’ By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire The 2022 midterm elections are just a few weeks away, and both sides of the aisle have long acknowledged it’s the most consequential in years. Each of the seats in Congress is up, and 35 U.S. Senate chairs could flip. Further, 36 governors’ races will occur, as would several down-ballot battles for posts like attorney general and state legislatures. Polling suggests that while Democrats have emerged as favorites to at least hold its slim Senate majority, the GOP could sweep the U.S. House, where it takes 218 seats to win control of that chamber. Also, Republicans need just a net gain of one seat to turn control of the Senate, where polling suggests that at least ten contests are tossups. “When you think about what’s at stake, it’s very clear in terms of the GOP candidates who emerged,” longtime Democratic Strategist Karen Finney said during an appearance on the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s live morning news program, Let It Be Known. “That tells you a lot about their agenda if they win.”

Finney, a CNN political commentator, served as senior advisor to Stacey Abrams during the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race. She also served as senior advisor for communications and political outreach and senior spokesperson for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016.

Democratic Strategist Karen Finney

Finney also counts as the first and only African American spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, where she helped lead the DNC’s communications and media strategy for Howard Dean’s “50 State Strategy,” re-branding the Democratic Party, and the successful 2006 Congressional elections and DNC communications efforts during 2008 presidential campaign. “We turned out in record num-

bers in 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, and not only defeated Trump, but we also took back the House and the Senate,” Finney insisted. “Democrats have been working hard to keep their promises, the promises made to voters and the things voters said they wanted.” She also mentioned the progress Democrats have made under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Finney wondered why Biden’s approval ratings have sunk despite keeping his campaign promises and moving the needle forward, particularly for Black America. “We’ve got the infrastructure bill down. We got COVID Relief done,” Finney stated. “So, we got vaccines. We’re getting kids back in school, getting people back to work. We got our first Black female Supreme Court Justice, so promises are being kept.” Finney said messaging is paramount and agreed it hadn’t been a strength for Democrats. “There’s more that needs to get done, and the thing standing in our way is we got to elect more Democrats,” she insisted. “I think it’s vital that we remind voters, particularly Black voters, that they have the power and the See POPULAR DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST, page 2

VOLUME X

Top 10 things to do at the State Fair of Texas By Kendall Gayle Washington 1.

Watch the opening day parade: each year the fair begins with the annual parade through downtown Dallas Say Howdy to Big Tex!: Go ahead and get a picture with the face of the State Fair of Texas; he’s been there since 1952. Grab a corndog: Before you go on a ride the first item that you need to grab is a Fletcher’s corn dog. Ride the Ferris Wheel:The Ferris wheel also known as the Texas Star is 216 feet tall and can carry up to 264 passengers. Not only does the ride give you a view of Fair Park you get to see the Dallas skyline! Catch a Live Show: The fair has many live shows, you can find family friendly entertainment in the children’s area. One of the most popular shows is the Lone Star Stampede, a live horse show! Explore Fair Park: The Texas State Fair is an astronomical sight to me. It is held at Fair Park, a Historic Landmark. Fried Everything: Grab some fried oreos, funnel cakes, fried chicken, and more! See TOP 10 THINGS, page 2

Breast Cancer event continues to enlighten and inspire From Staff Reports It was a packed house with almost a thousand who turned out and turned it up at the 21st Annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival at the Alan E. Sims Cedar Hill Recreation Center, recently. The four-and-a-half-hour event which is hosted by the Celebrating Life Foundation was filled with activities that included a 5k walk/ run, mammography screenings, health screenings, and various vendors. “This was an amazing way to kick-off Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Kim McBrayer, president of the Celebrating Life Foundation. The event was kicked off by Marsha Smith Hill, the sister of NFL Hall of Famer, Emmitt Smith, who shared her 10-year breast cancer survivorship testimony and encouraged women to be screened for breast cancer. Recent statistics show that Black women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer as compared to white women. Overall Black women have a

more than 41 percent higher mortality rate from breast cancer than any other ethnic group. Guests for the event were greeted by Girls Scout Unit 213 and received hot chocolate, coffee and croissants provided by La Madeleine.

ger and better. This was the largest event that we have had at the Alan E. Sims Cedar Hill Recreation Center.” said McBrayer, who awarded a scholarship training session to a senior of the DeSoto Volleyball Team. “We’ve already started plans for next year.”

Breast cancer survivor Ragina Ireland gives Marsha Smith Hill a sisterly hug. Marsha is also a 10-year breast cancer Tashara Parker, of WFAA presents two survivor and the sister of NFL Hall of airline tickets from Spirit Airlines to Mark Clark picture Famer, Emmitt Smith.

KRNB 105.7’s Lynne Haze and WFAA-TV’s Tashara Parker, kept the crowd energized as they introduced acts from baton twirling Miss Teen Richardson to the senior dance sensation, Divas and Dudes. “Each year this event gets big-

Proceeds from this event will help the Celebrating Life Foundation with their outreach efforts which include scholarships for those students impacted by breast cancer, a Journey Fund, Chemo Day, the Pink Spoon Campaign

and Hope for the Holidays. Some of 67 breast cancer survivors in attendance received personalized gift bags that included skincare products from the signature collection of Antionette Alexander valued at $250. One survivor received a spa package to the Grand Spa in North Dallas. The highlight of the event was a drawing for two tickets from Spirit Airlines to travel anywhere they fly. The recipient was an employee of the Alan E. Sims Cedar Hill Recreation Center. The Celebrating Life Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to making cancer powerless by educating, encouraging, and empowering those most impacted by breast cancer. The event was sponsored by Garland Journal, Texas Metro News, KRNB, WFAA, La Madeleine, Charlton Methodist Medical Center, AARP-Texas, Alan E. Sims Cedar Hill Recreation Center, Herbal Goodness, Antoinette Alexander Signature Collection, State Fair Classic, DeSoto Park & Recreation Center and Spirit Airlines.

Women’s Leadership Summit

Jessica Armstead, new host committee member and student at UNT Dallas and Cynthia Mickens Ross at the recent WLS appreciation reception. The two women are symbolic of the organization's desire to mentor young women with the expertise of seasoned women in leadership from the community.

Former State Representative Helen Giddings hosted a thank you celebration for influential women who participated in the 5th Annual Women's Leadership Summit.

Sophia Johnson, with Alpha Business Images and WLS Chair Helen Giddings