Sherilyn Bennett, compiling author of “boy: Defending Our Black Sons’ Identity in America” is coming to Dallas for a book signing at the Pan-African Connection on Saturday June 12th (Noon-3 PM). As the world watched George Floyd’s life slip away beneath the knee of now-convicted former officer Derek Chauvin, Bennett knew that she needed to do something. After hearing the once again infamous epithet, ‘I Can’t Breathe”, Bennett sprang into action.
What began as a call to action to other mothers on social media morphed into the book project affectionately referred to as “The Boy Book.” Bennett’s two sons were victims of systemic racism and racial profiling on their respective college campuses, so Bennett wants to ensure this behavior doesn’t continue. In the process of hosting conversations with mothers, Bennett discovered that her son had withheld details of what he’d experienced, desiring to protect her from secondhand emotional horror.
Bennett not only included stories from mothers around the country, but she has also included ahistorical perspective from foremost African-American historian and lecturer, the late Dr. Patricia Hilliard Nunn, a mental health perspective from Stephanie Brinkley Wellon, LMHC, and a legal perspective from Najah Adams, ESQ.
“There is a history of black men being sacrificial lambs…it has to stop. The lynching, the shooting, the disregard of their humanity. They are our sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and leaders. They were never American boys.”
Dr. Patricia Hilliard- Nunn
What Ms. Bennett hopes to spread is not only awareness of the pervasiveness of racism but hope to mothers whose children have experienced the degradation of systemic racism and police brutality. Mrs. Gwen Carr (Eric Garner’s mother) has lent her voice to the book as foreword author. Along with Ms. Bennett, Mrs. Carr is traveling the country informing citizens of their power. As a testament to her tenacity, Mrs. Carr along with her family and citizens of New York celebrated the passing of the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act which not only banned the chokehold that killed her son.In a major victory for citizens and perhaps the heftiest point in the legislation, the act made use of the chokehold a felony if not used employed when an officer’s life is not in danger. Ms. Bennett and Mrs. Carr will be in Dallas to not only connect with readers but to hear the stories of survivors, connect with families seeking justice, and galvanize citizens, encouraging them to know that justice can be won and empowering them to get in the fight for justice. It does take tenacity and grit, but most importantly the decision to move as Mrs. Carr says, “from demonstration (protests) to legislation.”
Books can be purchased on Amazon and all other major book retailers.
Dr. Marc Dunbar introduces an innovative chiropractic and wellness clinic to the people of Southern Dallas. With over 10 years as a results-driven medical professional he has coupled his expertise as an entrepreneur and opened the first clinic of its kind in this area.
In-Touch Cryo will highlight therapeutic services that will appeal to a diverse clientele. Offering a full staff of professionals and affordable membership packages athletes, gym enthusiasts and patients will be able to receive upscale services in their own neighborhood. For a full list of services please visit the website at www.intouchcryo.com
The groundbreaking festivities will include a blue carpet, catering by Simply Soul and Fine Foods and an open bar. Attendees will also have the option to enjoy complimentary services.
Gospel Recording Artists and Reality stars David and Tamela Mann along with Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price will be among many honored guests that have confirmed their attendance.
About Dr. Marc Dunbar A native of Shreveport, LA Dr. Dunbar has owned a myriad of businesses’. Settling in Desoto, TX he has built his work ethic on healing and helping. Now filming his second season of the reality show ‘The Dallas Moguls’ the grand opening of In-Touch Cryo is just another stepping stone along his journey.
About Nicole Paradigm Media
Nicole Paradigm Media is a Boutique PR Firm in Dallas, TX that specializes in protecting, enhancing, and building the reputations of its clients through media. Offering a team of
professionals, NPM is striving to sustain leadership in media outreach, planning, marketing
and special communications for all types of businesses.
This weekend, R&B superstar KeKe Wyatt joins the cast of “When My Heart Stopped” co-starring in two amazing shows at Fort Worth’s Scott Theatre. Starring in the play are: Ronald Clemons, Desiree King & Michelle Thomas, which is written, directed and produced by HMPA visionary, Jeanette Greenwood.
Play synopsis:
A Husband & Wife struggles to stay together after the death of their child. After several attempts of counseling and therapy it seems as if they cannot bounce back. When Grief counseling starts to cause grief…what else can you do?
Grief counseling helps but not when new love interests arise… This is an interactive production with 5 of the Top Grief counselors coming to support the project.
About Headline Mentors &Performing Arts
Headline Mentors & Performing Arts is a 501c3 non-profit organization serving Tarrant and surrounding counties. Headline Mentors & Performing Arts was founded by Visionary Jeanette Greenwood in January 2009. Headline Mentors started in 2001 as a tutoring agency. Jeanette Greenwood alone tutored underprivileged youth in reading. She would use her home and libraries to assist youth in reading.
Jeanette dreamed of offering services to the community and assist at-risk communities with any and all communities needs from, hunger, poverty, low-self esteem, lack of self-worth, educational deficiencies and family bonding.
Headline Mentors & Performing Arts currently partner with the Tarrant County Community Youth Development (CYD) Program which consist of 5 agencies HMPA Inc. (Headline Mentors & Performing Arts), Big Brothers & Big Sisters, N.I.C.A,Boys & Girls Club & Girls Inc. All part of a juvenile prevention program aimed atprevented at-risk youth from entering the juvenile system by providing FREE servicesto youth in targeted areas.
Headline Mentors & Performing Arts provide mentoring to both youth and adults in the performing arts. We take the performing arts and use it to channel negative energy while bringing positive results in the lives of those we mentor.
Headline Mentors & Performing Arts teach life-skills and acting which is now their biggest attention grabber for youth of all demographics and economic status! Acting for A Greater Cause program now serves the 76106/76164 and looking to share our programs with more communities.
Social media lit up last weekend with news that The Rickey Smiley Morning Show would end in Dallas and no longer be heard on 97.9 The Beat. Early reports erroneously reported that the show would be replaced with a revival of sorts for the “Mark in the Morning” (which ended last year) fueling rumors of a format change, but the syndicated show which began in Dallas has been replaced by talent at the Dallas station, Veda Loca. Smiley had no time for bitterness or shade, but set the tone in the video by addressing the change purely as a business decision.
Watch the video, below.
With syndication ruling the airwaves, the move came as a huge shock, though many listeners loathe ‘piped in’ shows which currently dominate the landscape of local radio. Many listen to Smiley’s morning show and watch the show’s segments on “Dish Nation” later in the day, so the unexpected and unprecedented move comes as a shock to listeners who have taken to social media to express their shock, anger and to demand Smiley’s return.
Smiley being the great sport he is returned the favor in kind. In a nearly 10 minute live video, he encouraged listeners to instead of actually support Veda Loca and her new morning show. Recounting her support to the team in its infancy which began at the station, Smiley stated repeatedly how deserving of the prominent time slot (dominated by men) he feels Veda Loca is.
As we’ve grown to expect from Rickey Smiley, he didn’t deliver his message without a little preach to it. Smiley told viewers of the video to understand the importance of letting some things go in order to receive new ones. He let viewers know that he’s currently on a press tour for his newest book “Stand By Your Truth” and has no time for bitterness when he’s actually increasing.
Smiley will no longer be on the air in Dallas- a top five media market in America, but remains on the other markets he is currently heard in. Other rumors speculated that the show would be going away altogether, which is unfounded.
Smiley encouraged everyone to give Veda Loca a chance, which is what he got when Steve Harvey left the market in Dallas. He stands by the station’s decision and encourages listeners to continue supporting the station. That’s how you handle change, embrace it!
You can still see all the team’s antics on “Dish Nation” and follow them on their very active social channels!
In case you turn off your television (or social media) before sundown, you probably missed one of the most interesting news pieces of the day. It’s a rule of thumb that those who report the news should never become the news, but one viewer just couldn’t help it. When Jan Shedd took to Facebook to air out her grievance against Demetria Obilor the new morning traffic anchor, she had no idea she’d join her as a news item! It was a simple post, one of personal opinion and conviction. She just had it wrong. Let’s face it, women in the news have a really hard time. A lot goes into the camera ready look: extensions, lashes, makeup, waist slimmers are all part of the enhancement regimen for many anchors and reporters and to still be criticized for their appearance is insufferable!
If people are wigging out about Obilor’s traffic look, they would spontaneously combust watching the weather in Mexico! Perhaps, this is just another case of people needing to get out more! It’s a lot more common to see attractive women in the news doing traffic and weather in other countries. Shedd’s body shaming post was coldly received by almost every person that saw the post. Support for Obilor poured in from viewers and broadcasting colleagues from everywhere.
Let’s be clear: The problem is not what Obilor wears, it’s the body and skin in the dress. Non-black women wear the same dresses in smaller sizes everyday and the moment a confident woman fills out the same dress with more curves, it’s too much for television! I’m not buying it!
Shedd’s post was a simple one, the replies were not. Before long, Shedd was swatting insults as if she’d been swarmed by gnats. And before sundown, she herself was a news item! People took issue with Shedd’s appearance and labeled her envious of Obilor’s body build, style and even labeled her racist. News magazines like Ebony, Essence, The Root, The Dallas Morning News and others picked up the story and chimed in! It was big news and as Chance the Rapper tweeted in response to the story on twitter, Jan was BIG mad! Everything is truly bigger here in Texas, even stories like this one that would otherwise have flown under the radar and existed in the microcosm of Jan Shedd’s friends list.
Though she is proficient at reporting (and probably stopping) traffic, she is receiving most of the attention about her appearance. She’s a woman of color in the news for all the wrong reasons and we’ve got to be careful here. It’s 2017 and almost daily there’s a new confession or accusation in Hollywood, even Capitol Hill about sexual improprieties or harassment.
Before her arrival, news watchers had their sights set on the morning broadcast at Dallas’ WFAA station. Now that she’s here, she has no doubt garnered her fair share of attention, because she’s actually doing her job well!
Though Obilor is young, vivacious and voluptuous, our defense of her has to toe a line as well. There’s been an uptick on my timeline of men suddenly interested in News 8 Daybreak? That’s the way everything works, I guess. I have yet to personally catch Obilor in action. Though the morning hashtag is #IAMUP, I am NOT up in time to catch Daybreak. I’m working on that, though! (LOL)
So, while we’re defending her let’s make sure we don’t do so by objectifying her. She is smart, she is proficient and she is our sister! Obilor joins the suddenly diversifying landscape of people of color in the news here in the area. WFAA is also home to 2017We love what we’re seeing and we’re glad for this level of on-camera representation!
