T E X A S
MetroNews DELIVERING NEWS YOU NEED
• Vol. 10 • Nov. 24 - Nov. 30, 2022
MY TRUTH By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER
Hard heads make…
PATRIOT WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM
Congresswoman Johnson Photo a First in Science Committee Room By Cheryl Smith The clock is winding down as U.S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) prepares to close out another chapter in American History. It was an emotional day as she awaited the unveiling of her portrait that will hang in the Science Committee Room, along with previous chairmen of the Committee on Science Space and Technology. Words like “great, courageous, powerful, honest and insightful” were used to describe the Gentlewoman from Texas. She was called a “treasure,” and “hard working”… “results-oriented, while very strategic." One speaker said Johnson didn’t have to wave her hands in
As World AIDS Day December 1, approaches, I can’t help to think about how “hard heads make soft behinds.” It just seems human nature for folks to defy directives. Remember Eve?! Well anyway.
It was about 40 years ago when many of us first heard about HIV/AIDS. We were initially told stories about the disease originating in Africa and only impacting gay, white males. Well, you know human nature tells some of us to go on about our business because we are not going nor have we ever been to Africa and we’re not gay, white, or male. Fast forward, others are getting infected and many are dying. Folks are told to use condoms, along with other safeguards deemed appropriate for protecting yourself from contracting the disease. Using condoms, not reusing or sharing needles are just a few measures that were encouraged. Did people listen? Clearly some didn’t as cases increased significantly and especially in certain communities where there were no pre warnings! Actually, according to UNAIDS, 1.5 million [1.1 million–2.0 million] people became newly infected with HIV in 2021. 650,000 [510,000– See MY TRUTH, page 2
Family Members join Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for Unveiling of Portrait.
Photo: C. Smith/TMN
See PATRIOT, Page 7
Witherite Law Group is Committed to Making a Difference through Mentorship By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines Homelessness, homicides, and hopelessness among Black youth are causing corporations and concerned community members to focus on mentorship. According to the US Justice Department, at current levels of incarceration, a Black male in the United States today has greater than a 1 in 4 chance of going to prison during his lifetime. Statistics like this have led the Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck to focus on bringing Black male community leaders together to mentor Black boys. “We have been participating in the mentoring of both school-age and high school kids for years,” said Amy Witherite leader of one of the
The Witherite Law Group is bringing together lawyers and community leaders with the Dads of Dunbar Mentoring Program to change the plight of local Black youth.
largest female-owned personal injury law firms in the country, Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck. “We have
chosen to do that for a number of reasons. We believe that education is the best way to change family circumstances and to
make generational changes.” She elaborated, “Through education, you can go from renting an apartment to the rental of a home to some sort of home ownership. There is no doubt that education is the best way. “We have dedicated ourselves for more than seven years to focus on kids from an educational standpoint. What we have learned as we have had partnerships at a variety of schools. It is also important that kids have the opportunity to learn life lessons. One of our programs, Dads of Dunbar is a breakfast between the male high school students and some of the lawyers and many community lawyers leaders in the Stop 6 area.” The Dads of Dunbar Mentorship Program is a collaboration See WITHERITE LAW GROUP, Page 6