T E X A S
MetroNews DELIVERING NEWS YOU NEED
• Vol. 10 • Jan. 5 - Jan. 11, 2023
MY TRUTH
WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM
Swearing-In Ceremonies Held
By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER
Yes We Must Must
Hon. Kenneth Sanders
As I sat in my room this past Sunday morning, I received the news of the passing of Anita Pointer, of the legendary Pointer Sisters.
Judges and Constables during ceremony with Dallas County Commissioners Theresa Daniel and John Wiley Price.
By Valerie Fields Hill Texas Metro News
Hon. Alisa Simmons
A pair of elected officials were installed Sunday in Tar-
rant County during a busy day of inaugural activities. Alisa Simmons, the third African American woman elected to the Tarrant County Com-
missioners Court, was sworn in during ceremonies at noon Sunday at the Tarrant County Sub-Courthouse in Arlington. Longtime family court judge Maryellen Hicks conducted the formal swearing-in. Simmons takes the Precinct 2 seat formerly held by Devan Allen, the second African AmeriSee SWEARING IN CEREMONIES, page 3
126 Granted Ghanaian Citizenship Anita Pointer
I immediately thought back to my high school years and that hit song, “Yes We Can Can.” I recalled how I would sing along with those sisters: Ruth, June, Bonnie and Anita. They had many other chart topping songs and I absolutely loved their energy, talent, beauty and stage presence; as well as their outfits. It’s interesting to note that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop music because some might say that the Pointer Sisters’ “Yes We Can Can” fit right in with some of the greatest rap songs of all time. Just check out the lyrics: Now's the time for all good men To get together with one another We got to iron out our problems And iron out our quarrels And try to live as brothers And try to find peace within Without stepping See MY TRUTH, page 6
Photos and Story By Richard A. Moore For some, just the thought of visiting the Motherland is wishful thinking, but 252 made the trek and on November 28, 2019, 126 from the Diaspora were granted Ghanaian citizenship out of the group. The celebration was bittersweet but then on December 22, 2022 the remaining 126 were finally granted their citizenship and the big celebration took place as people showed up and
showed out dressed and abroad to enin beautiful Kente courage the deCloth and other trascendants of those ditional fabrics. who were forcibly Most of those removed from the granted citizenship Motherland to recame from the U.S. turn home. and now have dual That year, Prescitizenship in both ident Nana Addo the U.S. and Ghana, Dankwa Akufo-AdAfrica; eligible for a do embarked on a Actress A. J. Johnson passport from their five-nation tour of new home, Ghana. the Caribbean to promote the This celebration comes af- citizenship initiative. The year ter 2019 when Ghana hosted 2019 was not the 1st time Diasa series of activities at home poras were granted citizenship.
In December of 2016, President John Mahama “restored” citizenship for 34 Diasporan Africans. Following the ceremony, Vanessa Mixson from Milwaukee, WI who arrived in her 20s said, “It’s strange because I don’t feel the instant joy or build up towards it like I think everybody else did. Leading up to it in 2019, I was excited but when it didn’t happen for me in 2019 because the date kept changing and I was out of town during See 126 GRANTED, page 6
Jazz Legend Jeff Aycock Headlined Youth Arts Org Fundraiser In Killeen By Monique Stone Dallas Jazz legend Jeff Aycock and his Quartet closed out the 2022 Soul Arts Collective Music Fest Fundraiser in Killeen with an unforgettable performance. The Music Fest was held at Endeavors Performing Arts & Special Events Venue at 868 S. Fort Hood Street. Owners, Monique Stone and children Claude McIver and Ursula Cimone showcased on December 10th and 11th two local rap artists and four stellar bands from across Texas in their second music fest event.
Saturday began at 6:30pm with Lul Roccet, an up-and-coming Central Texas rap artist known for his profound lyrical rhymes. At 7pm it was rockin' Reggae with Killeen's Cultural Effect Band that had everyone rockin' in their seats or on the dance floor. Then at 9pm, T.J. Bells and Another Band of Gypsys out of Waco took to the stage and turned it out with their signature backstreet blues. Sunday the audience was blessed at 3pm with a performance by Levallois Hamilton, a well known See JAZZ LEGEND JEFF AYCOCK, Page 6
Jeff Aycock, Eddie Mac, Kenya Keys and Larry Davis.
Photo: M.Stone