KwanzaaFest has something for everyone

Mammogram anyone? How about a flu shot? Or you may want to bring the children out for some family fun with entertainment for all ages and good food.   Read more >>

Ladies of Trin-i-tee are back!

When you think of top female groups in the music industry, this group might not be the first you think of, but the best-selling... Read more >>

A Cultural Experience
The New South Dallas Cultural Center

The long awaited day is finally here and visitors to the new-and-improved South Dallas Cultural Center are in for a definite treat. Read more >>

Angels in the Dust: A story of love and hope

The headlines constantly scream about a world where it is the norm to take from those who have. Why buy a car when you can take one from someone who has worked hard to afford one? Why pay for jewelry when you can just snatch it off someone’s neck or wrist? Read more >>

Smith cites deterrents to cancer during visit

When internationally acclaimed jazz musician Jeanette Brantley was alive she dazzled audiences and was a permanent fixture in the area— having also operated a restaurant in Sunny South Dallas. She died from ovarian cancer in 2006. Read more >>

’Cracking’ down on sagging

Sagging pants are an issue that is worthy of attention, says Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and others who are speaking out on what they deem to be an issue of decency. Read more >>

Earthquake brings comedy home

When Earthquake hits Dallas for his latest appearance at the Addison Improv, it will be like returning home for the DC native. Known for his candid approach to issues and... Read more >>

Healthy African Americans a priority for NAHSE and Dr. Ian

African Americans are not getting the same quality treatment and the National Association of Health Services Executives is working to make a change. Read more >>

CFD found to impact Blacks more

When the traveling photo exhibit, “The Faces of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,” opens in Dallas on September 24 at the J. Erik Jonsson Branch of the Dallas Public Library viewers will be introduced to an illness many are unfamiliar with. Read more >>

Sorrell brings message of hope to students

In his first formal address to the student body this school term, President Michael Sorrell shared his vision for Paul Quinn College. Read more >>

Black colleges celebrate legacy

Twenty years ago historically Black College and university alumni gathered at the then-historic hot spot, Smokey John’s Barbecue Restaurant, to talk about building a coalition. Read more >>

Smith: To know the victim

I’ve been to hundreds of news conferences over the span of my career, but none like the one I attended last Wednesday.

I received a call from the district attorneyís office about a news conference to discuss the shooting that occurred over the weekend outside of a restaurant in Sunny South Dallas. Read more >>

The Measure of a Man

The satin-finish, ebonystretch bowed to the crimson carpet curb with a single open port. It's precious cargo emerged, ascending like a Genie from Aladdin's lamp in a perfect nimbus cloud....Read more >>

Just in time for Mother’s Day
Child N’ Play to provide hourly rate

Some athletes go off to play a professional sport and after retirement never make it back home, but that’s not the case for David W. Carter graduate, Gregory Lamonte’ Hill....Read more >>

Wal-Mart hiring practices, wages, benefits blasted
Clinics in stores could provide some relief

In an effort to hold the world’s largest retailer accountable, several representatives of organizations in about 30 cities...Read more >>

Brandon lauded as a servant

Most will agree that with the passing of Carol A. Brandon on Monday, Dallas lost one of its most committed volunteers. Read more >>

Rev. Jackson calls for help

In a conference call earlier this week, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and Louisiana State Sen. Cleo Fields said they would be leading a march into New Orleans’ Ninth Ward to address “still unfulfilled promises to displaced New Orleans residents.” Read more >>

Congressman says Iraq war must end

U.S. Rep Keith Ellison (D-MN) makes it clear to anyone who will listen, he does not favor the War in Iraq. Read more >>

Journalist praised at annual program

Greensboro, N.C. - Betty Baye is no joke. Sure she's fun loving and full of joy, but there's also that level of intensity, of fire, that is sure to bring any audience to its feet. Read more >>

Candidates in District 3 share vision

District 3 is on the move and if the number of candidates seeking to become the next city council representative is any indication, there’s going to be plenty of activity going on in this area. Read more >>

Call for end to poverty

Last year when thousands gathered at Friendship-West Baptist Church, dealing with America’s disenfranchised was the primary focus, as well as finding employment for the unemployed. Read more >>

Russell-McCloud speaks truth

Patricia Russell-McCloud is known around the world for her eloquence, her command of the English language and her ability to captivate and energize an audience. Read more >>

Martin joins CNN

For quite some time, since July 2002, Roland S. Martin has appeared as a guest on several shows on CNN but this week he officially joined the payroll. Read more >>

Director filled with pride

Pride, determination and resilience were instilled in Sunu Gonera as a child growing up in Zimbabwe so it’s no wonder that he ended up directing a movie like Pride. Read more >>

Center opens to assist survivors

The devastation resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are still visible nearly two years later. For many the thought of returning home to New Orleans is something... Read more >>

Hands-on approach works for society

Raising children is about more than donating money is the message E. Tonya Greenwood shares as she travels the.... Read more >>

Smiley focuses on real ‘leaders’

Speaking to over 2,000 in Dallas last week, author, lecturer and me-dia host Tavis Smiley made a distinction between Black leadership and Black leaders, as he brought the Covenant town hall .... Read more >>

Stitt calls for candid dialogue
March is colon cancer awareness month

Going to the bathroom is a very private matter and you find very few people who want to share their experiences.... Read more >>

Workshop alumni go on to bigger and better things

Students are gearing up for the 17th annual Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists Urban Journalism Workshop at Lincoln High School, beginning on February 3.... Read more >>

Way too many sexual assaults go unpunished

Note:  Please be warned that graphic descriptions are included in an attempt to have a candid dialogue about sexual abuse.  I apologize if anyone is offended. Recently during a cab ride that lasted entirely too long, the driver talked a whole lot more than I wanted him to.  He started out talking about his wonderful life and then he told me of his hatred for his father.  I wanted him to reconcile his issues because I can’t imagine not loving your father, especially because I was so close to mine. Read more >>

Real Love Is...

December 17 , 2008

My first column of 2008 talked about the need to celebrate love. We have many ways of describing and displaying love and in the past 50 columns I have tried to highlight...  Read more >>

Real Love Is...

August 13 , 2008

Last Saturday evening, I received a call from a near and dear friend, telling me that a close friend told her that comedian/actor Bernie Mac had died in a hospital in his hometown of Chicago.  Read more >>

Real Love Is...

When media icon Xernona Clayton was in school, the celebration lasted a week. Today celebrating Black or African American History Month is the norm for most school districts.  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: A year of messages to more than my sisters

December 19 , 2007

S isters, over the past year I have attempted to candidly discuss issues that I thought were or should be of importance to you as you travel the journey to womanhood.   Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: I still remember that first kiss

December 5 , 2007

His name was Godrell Lloyd, and he was one of my brother’s friends. I was in the sixth grade; he was in the seventh. Boy was he fine! He had curly hair and a pretty mole.   Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: STDs are painful, smelly and possibly deadly!

November 28, 2007

Thanks to Nurse Glenda Davis at Paul Quinn College, I learned something I had never heard of in my entire lifetime. Nurse Davis’ presence is definitely felt on the campus as numerous health fairs are held each semester... Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: You’d better not curse at or around your parents

November 21, 2007

Sadly we have reduced ourselves to the least common denominator. There was a time when we, Black folks, would have never thought about cussing in front of our parents or grandparents; or actually any adult. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Whatever you call it purse, bag, pocketbook

November 14, 2007

Years ago I was walking in Nashville with veteran journalists DeWayne Dancer and John McCaa. Every few steps I took I would ask them to take a break because my feet were killing me. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Whatever you call it purse, bag, pocketbook

November 7, 2007

Over the years, my purse/pocketbook/ba g has been very special to me. I have used it as a weapon, a lunch box and a source of comfort, among other things. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Don’t even think about putting your hands on me!

October 31 , 2007

October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This does not mean that in November, or any other month of the year, we won’t have to worry about the issue of domestic abuse. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: What happened to socially acceptable behavior?

October 24 , 2007

Way, way back in the day, the historic Chicago Defender would tell readers what was not appropriate--offensive, classless and lacking in decorum. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Yes he said he loves you, but...

October 17 , 2007

Men can say the sweetest things, and they know just how to mess with our heads. Unfortunately, we know what to do—right from wrong—but we don’t always act accordingly. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: You’re grown when you want to misbehave

October 10 , 2007

Awarning to parents and all responsible thinking adults: Do not tell young people that you can’t wait until they are 18 and grown. For years they hear about that magic number—18. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Surely you aren’t being silent about the WV6

October 3 , 2007

SAVAGES! I can’t think of any other printable word to describe the West Virginians who kidnapped, raped, beat, threatened and subjected Megan Williams to such inhumane treatment as has been reported in recent weeks. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Not looked at as just felons, hoochies, thugs

September 26 , 2007

Sisters, we need to come to a meeting of the minds about a dress code. I am not talking about what looks “cute.” I am talking about what is appropriate. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Members get in and want to burn the bridge

September 19 , 2007

Recently a student asked me why aren’t freshmen allowed to pledge. The question caused me to think back to my college years when so many freshmen were pledging. We had one freshman on my line and she is still active today. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: I was working hard for Delta...

September 12 , 2007

Last week, I talked about why I pledged a sorority. Now I want to talk a little about the pledge process, without revealing anything that we were told was “strictly confidential.” Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: You did it when you were a freshman, but...

August 22 , 2007

So you’re in college now. You’re a big girl and you think you are grown.

Well there are some things that you should understand about...Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: It’s about time for school—sisters get ready

August 15 , 2007

Let’s focus on young ladies going to college. This is no joke. There are several things you need to know before you step on that college campus. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Why the heck are you getting a tattoo?

August 1, 2007

Alayna is back in the news again! She told me that she was going to get a tattoo. She knows how I feel about tattoos, but once again she wants to try my nerves! Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: That internet is going to stay with you for life

July 18, 2007

Time and time again I have been encouraged to get a page on Myspace. After all everyone is doing it. Some of my best friends have their own pages. Even presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is hooked into Myspace. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Thankful for yet another year to live, learn, love

July 4, 2007

History was made in Jasper, recently. Ironically it was the around the same time that many in Jasper, Texas recall with disdain, but it was a time for celebrationin Jasper, Florida. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Thankful for yet another year to live, learn, love

June 20, 2007

Today marks my third birthday without picking up the phone to receive a call from my father.

If you were fortunate, like me, you had a father who was your hero; the man who was badder, smarter, more loving and..... Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: When they’re gone, they really are gone

June 6, 2007
“You’ve got a smile so bright, you know it could have been a candle.”

Dental hygiene is very important and good looking teeth are definitely a..... Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Feet don’t fail me now or ever

May 30, 2007
Every year about this time, since the internet became everyone’s best friend, people have sent emails out with the subject line..... Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Hair, hair everywhere… let’s keep it clean and trim

May 23 , 2007

Some girls are just naturally hairy. They have long hair flowing down their backs, on their legs, from their armpits, on their arms, ears and sometimes chins. Some will have to deal... Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Obesity summit delves into youth issues

May 9 , 2007

This message is for the teenager who is carrying around more weight than is healthy. Unfortunately when you are heavy, overweight or obese; some people will treat you unfairly.  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Prom night is not “give up your virginity night”

May 2 , 2007

I didn’t have to worry about having sex my prom night because my date didn’t even like me!

Well, he liked me as a friend but he didn’t like me like “that.”  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Love should not hurt...at least not TOO long

April 25 , 2007

Sure you can have disagreements with your mate. It happens in relationships. I told my girls that I look forward to when they are 35 and fall in love. Even the 9 year old rolled her eyes. Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Speak, darnit! It won’t kill you!

April 18 , 2007

When I first arrived on the campus of Florida A&M University, I was warned about the men on campus who would congregate on the “Set,” in front of the two eating places—the Orange Room and the Green Room.  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Building, crossing or burning bridges
Another piercing … what the heck are you thinking?

April 4 , 2007

Sometimes young people are correct.  Older folks can tend to have amnesia at times, forgetting what it was like to be young—a teen or young adult—all-knowing and re-fusing to listen to anyone, who just might know more or better.  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Do I really have to scoot down, open wide and relax?

March 28 , 2007

My sisters, you can’t get past this. There are some sure things, like taxes and death. Well, add pap smears and pelvic examinations to the list.  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: Every dog has its day--and some get two!

March 21 , 2007

Oh the trouble your mouth can cause—especially if you gossip.

Are you one of those young ladies who everyone says is “messy?” Do you keep stuff going and are always in someone’s business?  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters: You don’t have to “inherit” fibroid tumors

March 14 , 2007

I cried the day I was told that I had fibroid tumors. I didn’t have a clue about what they were—just knew that the doctor told me that I needed to have them removed immediately and that I would also have to have a hysterectomy.  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters:
There’s nothing “flyy” about HIV/AIDS

February 28 , 2007

Over the years, it wasn’t enough for me to get tested to see if I had contracted HIV/AIDS, I felt it was equally important that I encouraged others to do so as well. Sometimes people need more than words, they need that physical support and that is what I have...  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters:
Older women should stop trying to be your friends

February 21 , 2007

Now this is a touchy subject because when you make a woman angry she can spend her entire life doing whatever she can to bring you down.  Still the subject must be addressed. Older women need to stop trying to be friends to younger females...  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters:
Sisters, please clean up your assets

February 14 , 2007

Two weeks ago, I talked about sexual abuse. Some said I was pretty graphic, but we live in a visual society and my goal is not to focus so much on my delivery as I would like the focus to be on my message.  Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters:
Teenagers and sex -- it can hurt

February 7 , 2007

Recently, while watching one of my favorite television shows, Grey’s Anatomy, a message that all young girls should hear, whether they are sexually active or not, was delivered by the charmingly bodacious Dr. Miranda Bailey, played by Houston native Chandra Wilson. Read more >>

Curtis excited about Dallas Read-In

January 31, 2007

Christopher Paul Curtis was a good reader growing up as a young child in Flint, Michigan.  In fact, let him tell you, he was a “very good reader” but he didn’t like many of the books that were available for him to read. “They did not reflect my reality,” said Mr. Curtis. “There were not enough books for us about us.” Read more >>

A Message to my young sisters:
Lessons in the strangest places

January 24, 2007

As I continue to talk to my young sisters, I find it hard to follow an outline and go step by step.

Instead, as I feel the urge, or something comes to me, I hope to make my message as poignant as possible. Read more >>

Understanding that first encounter

January 17, 2007

As I continue talking to young sisters, I welcome hearing from other readers about their experiences. One thing I know for sure is that we are not talking with our young girls and if this column is the catalyst for some groundbreaking conversations, then I say, let’s get this party started. Read more >>

A message to my young sisters

January 10, 2007

Dear beautiful young girls, 

Someone has not been truthful to you.  What I have to say may upset the women you know.  Understand that this message is not about them, it is about YOU! Has anyone ever told you that you are beautiful, you have so much potential and your body is a temple? Read more >>

Brown’s death felt locally

January 3, 2007

Nicole Barrett sent out a text message to her special friends on December 25: “Merry Christmas—-in memory of James Brown…Love Nicole B.”

“I was devastated,” said the former Ms. Black Texas, upon learning of his death while on the Internet early that morning. 
Read more >>