Dallas South’s Top 7 of ’07

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Shawn Williams

Craig Watkins

You can read the recent post below outlining what Texas Monthly says about Craig Watkins, naming the Dallas Co. District Attorney "Impact Player of the Year ." I remember Watkins campaigning for DA 5 years ago when no one, including myself, thought he had much of a chance. He had a good showing against incumbent Bill Hill, and eventually defeated Hill's handpicked successor Toby Shook.

Watkins' commitment to justice is changing the culture of the Dallas County Courthouse.

Robert Gates

Dr. Robert Gates has brought stability and sensibility back to the Pentagon in his role as Secretary of Defense. His pragmatic approach to leadership is a trait that was non-existent when Rumsfield and Cheney were running amuck in the White House.

It's way to early to say that the tide has turned in the war in Iraq, but there seems to at least be more credibility now that Gates is at the helm.

Mike Davis

What can I say? Mike Davis is a brother's brother and a blogger's blogger. Not only has he achieved tons of local accolades for his website, but Mike also helped Dwaine Caraway get elected to the city council and was appointed to the Dallas City Plan Commission.

If every city had a Mike Davis, the U.S. would be a much better place.

Gina McCauley

Gina McCauley burst on the scene this year as a major player in the blogosphere. Gina was the driving force behind BET changing the name of one of their shows from 'Hot Ghetto Mess' to 'We Got to do Better.'

Gina was named by Essence Magazine as one of the 25 Most Influential African-Americans. She continues her work at her website What About Our Daughters.

Tom Leppert

Tom Leppert in my opinion is a guy who always seems like an outsider who finds a way to become an insider. Dallas' new mayor isn't flashy, but he gets the job done.

Since taking office, Leppert has shown a willingness to work with people from all over the city for the betterment of Dallas. His only agenda seems to be pushing the city forward and doing what he can to help Dallas realize its potential.

Barack Obama

Many forget that Jesse Jackson's '88 presidential campaign won 13 primaries and caucuses and 29 percent of the total primary vote." It was the highest total ever for a runner-up.

Barack Obama's campaign is attracting a wide base of support, and who knows what will happen between now and March. The junior Senator from Illinois has run an extremely positive and effective campaign so far and I look forward to what the new year will bring.

Jill Scott

Jill Scott is nominated for 3 Grammy Awards for her 2007 release The Real Thing. The album has been a hit with fans as well as critics. Her openness and vulnerability displayed in song answers the question posed by her first album, Who Is Jill Scott?

Though she had personal issues to deal with in '07, Jill Scott had a successful year and told us all how do deal with our detractors in Hate On Me.

Aldi headed to Dallas? Who is Aldi?

Posted on December 30, 2007 by Shawn Williams

All accounts say that grocery chain Aldi is locating a store in Dallas – Oak Cliff to be exact. The new store is said to be part of a shopping center that is coming up off I-20 near Wheatland and Hampton. The retail center is anchored by a Target store that is expected to open in March.

Whenever I talk to people about this, the first thing they say is "what is Aldi?" I never have a good answer, so I went to the company website and here's what I found.

(From the Aldi Website)

ALDI entered the U.S. market in 1976, with a handful of stores in southeastern Iowa. Now, more than 850 U.S. ALDI stores are spreading the savings from Kansas to the East Coast. In its 2007 report, Supermarket News ranked ALDI 24th in U.S. grocery chains in terms of gross sales—a considerable accomplishment given our limited assortment and low prices.

We concentrate purchasing power, carrying only 1,300 or so of your most frequently purchased grocery and household items, nearly all under our own private labels. As a result, we get the lowest prices from our suppliers—and pass the savings on to you.

We adhere to stringent quality standards. Every product we sell must match or exceed the leading national brand in taste, appearance, and/or performance. Our premium produce is shipped faster and smarter, so it comes to your table fresher and cheaper.

Smarter shoppers know better than to pay extra at stores where baggers bag groceries and employees chase carts in the parking lot, or the cost of national brand marketing raises prices. They know where to buy private label brands that actually exceed the quality of national brands at a fraction of the cost.

So smarter shoppers shop where select inventory increases buying power and lowers prices, saving them up to 50% over supermarket prices. That's a smart cartful whether you're a growing family, a working single, a senior on a fixed income, or a baby boomer socking it away for retirement.

Interesting concept they've got going here. In light of recent talk about the lack of grocery stores in areas populated by African-Americans, Aldi would be a welcome addition.

Texas Lawyer names Dallas County DA Craig Watkins “Impact Player of the Year”

Posted on December 28, 2007 by Shawn Williams

Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins continues to receive accolades for the fresh approach he has brought to the Frank Crowley Courthouse. This time he's been recognized by Texas Lawyer as the Impact Player of the Year.

See the Texas Lawyer article here .

Some excerpts from Texas Lawyer's extensive article detailing Watkins' first year on the job:

…Watkins has every intention of breaking with tradition. He is the first African-American elected district attorney in Texas history, the first Democrat elected Dallas County DA in 20 years, and the first Dallas County district attorney who, in less than a year, has radically altered the traditional law-and-order role of the prosecution.

Watkins' focus is as much on preventing crime as it is on prosecuting it. Taking a more holistic approach to his job, he speaks of re-entry programs for ex-inmates and drug treatment programs, as well as garnering the social-service energies of the community to prevent small-time crooks from becoming big-time crooks and to prevent citizens from becoming victims in the first place.

Also in January, says (Eric) Mountin, prosecutors found mounted on the walls of their workrooms a large, black-framed blowup of Article 2.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, with only one sentence highlighted: "It shall be the duty of all prosecuting attorneys, including any special prosecutors, not to convict but to see that justice is done." "Every one of the prosecutors that I spoke with was offended by it," Mountin says. "It was clearly an in-your-face message."

On Jan. 4, just three days after Watkins took office, he appeared in court to shake the hand of Andrew Gossett, the 11th man in five years to be exonerated in Dallas County through DNA testing. Gossett had been arrested seven years earlier, and Watkins played no role in his conviction or his exoneration, other than to offer an apology for the mistakes of his predecessors. "By apologizing, I was acknowledging that a mistake was made, and I am letting the public know that I am going to do whatever I can to make sure it doesn't happen in the future," Watkins says.

Watkins says he is not accusing any one prosecutor. "I am just accusing the conviction-at-any-cost mentality of the office. Let's be honest with each other. Just ask any defense attorney who used to be a prosecutor — they will tell you, that was the tone."

Though his is not a household name (yet), Craig Watkins is one of the most powerful African-American elected officials in the country. He has shown that his obligation is to upholding the law, and to the just prosecution of Dallas County defendants.

To say that the majority of the folks in the D.A.'s office supported the other guy in the election is an understatement. Many of them were at Toby Shook's victory party that was neither a victory or a party. Can you blame Watkins for wanting to surround himself with people who had his back?

All this and you still bump into the guy at his son's basketball practice, bringing his family to church, and at numerous city & county meetings. The article also states that Watkins will be featured on 60 minutes early next year. If Watkins' way -true convictions, holistic crime reduction- proves successful, a model for justice could spread from Dallas County throughout the nation.

Dallas South Blog Top 10 Posts of 2007

Posted on December 28, 2007 by Shawn Williams

Since this seems to be the time for countdowns and lists, I thought I'd throw one in as well. Here is a look at my Top 10 posts from 2007.

10. Dear 7-11; could you please fix your sign in Oak Cliff June 17th

On May 2, a severe thunderstorm passed through Oak Cliff knocking down trees with 100 mph winds. A local 7/11 sign was left in the storm's wake, and 6 weeks later it still had not been fixed. Soon after this post was written, as new sign replaced the broken one.

9. Trenton Doyle Hancock’s work part of ‘Fast Forward’ exhibit at Dallas Museum of Art March 28

It's pretty special watching a childhood friend grow up and become a world famous artist. It's also special to have an outlet to share that friends gifts with those who may not be familiar with his work. Trenton provided a glimpse into the mind of a master in this post.

8. 10 Places to go in Dallas July 4

This post was a personal indulgence, forcing me to contemplate what I like about the city I live in. The list one part my favorites, one part suggestions for visitors. With that formula, Brooklyn came out on top.

7. 15 year-old shot and killed by DART police officer; departments 1st ever fatal shooting May 7

This is the sad story of a boy shot by DART police early one morning at a rail station. I questioned whether the officers could have possibly restrained the young man without the use of deadly force. My post inspired 56 comments at Pegasus News, many of whom were put off by the mere suggestion.

6. Don Imus calls Rutgers Women's Basketball Team "nappy headed hos" April 6

There isn't much to say about this one. Man calls women hos. Women are angered. Man is suspended. Women hold press conference. Man is fired. Man gets another job. Man hires black sidekicks. Man gets paid.

5. Day of Blogging for Justice – Jena Six deserve Justice August 30th

The AfroSpear collectively blogged about Jena on the same day and soon there after the media began to pick up on the story. Over 40 bloggers participated in the effort.

4. Informal Survey – Dallas Morning News portrays blacks as athletes, homeless, bank robbers, suspect November 30th

I thought this was a throw away post that I did last month. I put this "survey" together in less than an hour, but it became one of the most viewed posts I've ever written. I heard from Dallas City Hall, the Morning News, and many others who were shocked by the images portrayed on the pages of the paper.

3. Ten Opinions/Observations from September 20th rally in Jena, Louisiana September 23rd

This post recapped my experience traveling to Jena, Louisiana for the rally in support of the Jena 6. This was a historic day where black people from all over the country came together on one accord. This site was one of the few who posted on the story from the beginning and attended the rally.

2. Top Ten Misperceptions/Miscalculations relating to the Paris Texas story March 25

Really this represents all of the Paris, Texas stories that you can find links to in the right column of this page. Prior to this Dallas South was a "local blog." Everything about the website changed during this story, including my understanding that there is no such thing as "local" on the internet."

1. Howard Witt/Chicago Tribune expose racial unrest in Jena, Louisiana May 21

On May 21, my blogging colleagues and I posted a Chicago Tribune story written by Howard Witt regarding the plight of six young men in a place called Jena, Louisiana. How could any of us have known what this article, these posts would spur in terms of a "new civil rights movement." Nearly four months to the day, tens of thousands of Americans marched on the premise that every citizen deserves equal justice.

Dallas South was credited with helping to propel the story of the Jena Six into the mainstream media. All I did was post Mr. Witt's article, and subsequent stories that came out of Jena. But that was my part to play, and so it was.

What I've learned this year is that if we all do our part, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. I could never have imagined that God would use this site, and the many that I am affiliated with, to achieve so much this past year. Yobachi Boswell has an excellent recap at at BlackPerspective.net (see Black Blogging Year in Review) of accomplishments black bloggers helped facilitate.

Also the readers of these sites have played an important role as well. Spreading news word of mouth, signing petitions, donating money, and writing letters have all played a part in a successful year. There is much work to be done, but I pray that we can build on the momentum gained in 2007 and go even farther in 2008.

Black Couple Tasered in Madison area Mall while Christmas shopping

Posted on December 27, 2007 by Shawn Williams

Tasered While Black alerts us to another instance of African-Americans tasered by police. This time it was a Madison, Wisconsin couple out doing some Christmas shopping.

See Tasered While Black's full report here.

An officer used a Taser on a man identified as Major T. Lemon, 44, after police said he resisted attempts to escort him from West Towne Mall in Madison. They were looking for a suspect reported to have been carrying a handgun. Police arrived and found a man matching the description (Black) of the person who supposedly had a gun.

Tara Emery-Walls, the general manager at the nearby Arby's, felt that officers overreacted. "I didn't think it was right," she said. "A bunch of people were in here shopping. There were kids in here."

Taser happy cops continue to give good police officers a bad name. Thanks to Tasered While Black for this report.

‘I Am Legend’ star Will Smith’s comments about Hitler twisted, reported outside of original context

Posted on December 27, 2007 by Shawn Williams

Will Smith learned how quickly the tables can turn as recent comments that he made were totally misreported by the same media that was just praising his work in "I Am Legend." Earl Ofari Hutchinson writes an article which asserts that Minister Louis Farrakhan has made the name Adolf Hitler off limits to all African-Americans, including Will Smith.

Here is a portion of Mr. Hutchinson's article.

Mega buck actor Will Smith got the shock of his life when he got word that gossip columnists had twisted and mangled his quip about Adolf Hitler. The celebrity gossip buzz was that Smith praised Hitler as a good guy.

Smith, of course, did no such thing. What he said was that Hitler wasn't inherently obsessed with doing evil; but being the calculating, scheming megalomaniac that he was, he wound up doing the ultimate in evil. Apparently Smith used the Hitler reference to underscore his belief that there's good in everyone. Smith was naive in making reference to Hitler to make any point no matter how well intentioned.

Though Smith is an immensely popular guy on the screen and with much of the public, he's an African-American. While that in no way earns him the designation as an activist or leader, which he isn't, there is a special sensitivity when references to Hitler slip from the lips of a noted African-American. Former Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan can be thanked for that unhappy burden.

The media and public's glare stayed hotly focused on black organizations and leaders. They were put on sharp notice that anything that was said that could even be remotely construed as being anti-Semitic would draw instant heat. The paramount litmus test for that was a Hitler reference. No matter what the context, meaning, or the intention of the speaker, the name Hitler was not to be uttered.

Smith scrambled fast to head even more controversy about the Hitler reference off at the celebrity chit chat pass. He denounced Hitler in the strongest terms, as well as those that deliberately distorted his words. Most will accept Smith's "clarification." After all no one will ever confuse him with Farrakhan.

Will probably should have found some other example, but I would hope this is not blown out of proportion. This is by no means a Mel Gibson situation. I think Mr. Smith is smart enough to see what traps the media is trying to lay for high profile African-Americans like he and his wife.

Posted on December 27, 2007 by Shawn Williams

LOST – Season 4 Promo Trailer

Only 35 more days until Season 4 begins.

Howard Witt returns to Paris, Jena, and Linden looking for signs of change

Posted on December 26, 2007 by Shawn Williams

Chicago Tribune senior correspondent Howard Witt has returned to Linden and Paris, Texas, as well as Jena, Louisiana to discover whether the fundamental racial dynamics of the towns were alterned in any meaningful way after the TV cameras departed and the headlines faded away.

Click here for Witt's extensive story.

Some highlights from Witt's Chicago Tribune article:

Plotted on a map, the towns of Paris, Linden and Jena line up neatly along a 300-mile diagonal that falls across the Texas-Louisiana border. But to many African-Americans, that line looks more like a gash across the beneficent face that the New South tries to present to the rest of the nation. In many ways, Linden no longer resembles the starkly divided town where many white residents once closed ranks around the four white youths who in 2003 assaulted a mentally retarded black man and dropped him beside a garbage dump, unconscious and bleeding in his brain. Instead, many here say that over the last year a new spirit of interracial cooperation has infused the town of nearly 2,300 people, 78 percent of whom are white and 20 percent black.

Little has changed in Paris in the nine months since the town was thrust onto the national stage over the case of Shaquanda Cotton, the 14-year-old black girl sent to youth prison for shoving a hall monitor at Paris High School.

Joe McCarthy, a prominent African-American leader, joined a recent lunch with several white businessmen who called on him to endorse their view that there is no racial discrimination in Paris. And to a point, McCarthy agreed.

But then the discussion turned toward allegations of racial profiling by the Paris police. And McCarthy, a middle-age man who drives a luxury car and served on the City Council from 2001 to 2004, suddenly volunteered how he was pulled over while driving through downtown Paris early one morning.

"I was the only one out at that time of morning, there was only one way you could turn, but the police officer said I had failed to use my turn signal," McCarthy recounted. "It just rubbed me wrong. Do I look suspicious? He only stopped me because I was black."

Smack in between the whites-only barber shop and the all-white bank sits Jena's white mayor, Murphy McMillin, behind his desk at City Hall. Yet the retired oil industry executive says he's baffled at why tens of thousands of African-Americans journeyed here in September to protest alleged racial discrimination in the town he's always known as quiet and contented.

"There seems to be harmony among all the races here, so you can see why I've been surprised that the nation doesn't seem to think that's true," McMillin said. "There's a story being told by the national media that says we are very racist. I don't believe that. But I also don't believe we are perfect." Many of the black residents here — they constitute 12 percent of the town's population of about 3,000 people and live mostly clustered in blighted neighborhoods — say they long ago learned to keep their heads low and not ask for much from Jena's dominant whites.

I'd suggest reading the article in its entirety. Although it's a short time frame to expect much in the way of change in Paris or Jena, I think Mr. Witt's points are well taken. Paris, Texas is my hometown, and I think whites there like in most American cities have no understanding of black life.

Their view of whites on top blacks on bottom is their only point of reference. The suggestion that that is a bad thing makes many folks become defensive. Project living, poor educational achievement, and segregated communities are evident there in the same degree as my current home in Dallas. People spend more energy defending their position than searching for out of the box strategies to overcome the realities. Excellent work as always by the ultimate outsider sticking his nose where they say it doesn't belong, Mr. Howard Witt.

Dallas Morning News recommends Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee for Democratic/Republican nominations

Posted on December 24, 2007 by Shawn Williams

As soon as I grabbed my copy of the Dallas Morning News today, I turned straight to the Points opinion section to see who the paper would endorse for the Democratic and Republican nominations. To my surprise, The News recommended Barack Obama on the Democratic side, and Mike Huckabee for the Republicans.

I'm not sure which was the bigger shock: the endorsement of the young Black U.S. Senator, or the Arkansas Governor who wasn't on the radar screen two months ago. Editorial Page Editor Keven Ann Willey said the early recommendations were necessary because it was likely that both presidential nominations could be decided by January or early February.

Barack Obama Recommendation

I've leaned towards Obama since he announced his bid to become America's first Black President. John Edwards impressed me when I saw him up close and personal at the Young Democrats of America convention (I was present as a member of the media), but I haven't really heard Hillary Clinton's message through the long campaign. Obama

Here are some of the highlights from Obama's Dallas Morning News endorsement.

Mr. Obama is our choice because of his consistently solid judgment, poise under pressure and ability to campaign effectively without resorting to the divisive politics of the past.

We need a motivated leader capable of confronting the problem, and no candidate is better equipped than Mr. Obama. His message isn't about anger and retribution. It's about moving forward.

Mrs. Clinton called Mr. Obama "irresponsible" and "naive" for saying he would talk to leaders of rogue nations like Syria and Iran. Considering the current failed strategy of confrontation and diplomatic isolation, we think Mr. Obama is wise to include direct negotiations among his tools to reduce regional tensions.

Americans are tired of divisive, hard-edged politics. Democrats would inspire a refreshingly new approach by choosing Mr. Obama as their 2008 candidate.

I'm not so sure if America really is tired of "divisive, hard-edged politics." It seems like the country only cares when there are clear lines of demarcation: Black vs. White, Democracy vs. Communism, Liberals vs. Conservatives. Obama seems interested in doing what's right for America, especially those who have been neglected by their own government. If given a chance, Obama can help all Americans feel that greatness is within their grasp.

Mike Huckabee Recommendation

My wife is from Arkansas, so I was familiar with Huckabee before he announced his Presidential aspirations. Not only was I aware of his time as governor of the state, but also his 100 pound weight loss back in 2004.

In discussing Huckabee's time in Little Rock with my in-laws, they were impressed with his term in office. All accounts are that Huckabee could play to both sides of the aisle, but that was one of the things I said about George W. Bush back in 2000.

Here are some of the highlights from the Morning News' endorsement of Mike Huckabee.

Many Republican voters are dissatisfied with the GOP presidential candidates this year. We share that frustration. But one of these men is going to be the party's nominee. Of this field, Mike Huckabee is the best choice.

Mr. Huckabee established a respectable record of fiscal responsibility in Arkansas. Rather than run up deficits, he backed raising taxes to pay for needed infrastructure, health care and education. That's called prudence, and it was once a Republican virtue.

A liberal Arkansas professor told The New York Times Magazine that Mr. Huckabee was a good governor. ''When he first came to office, people like me were worried about the religious aspect," she said. "And he is very orthodox on gays, guns and God. But he knows there's more than just these issues."

And he is one social conservative who's acutely aware of the call to racial healing. In 1997, when Little Rock Central High commemorated integration's 40th anniversary, Gov. Huckabee delivered a magnificent speech about race, justice and reconciliation that left many in the audience weeping.

I'd heard of the accounts of the 1997 speech where Huckabee shared the podium with then President Bill Clinton. However I was unaware of Huckabee's standing as an ordained Baptist minster until I read a recent Newsweek article regarding his faith and the role it plays in his politics. Besides serving as pastor of several churches, Huckabee is a former president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention.

The Dallas Morning News editorial staff says another man from Hope (Arkansas) and a man with the audacity of hope are both fit to be President. I share their opinion, giving the edge to the junior Senator from Illinois because of his demeanor, his intelligence, his voting record, and his life experience.

Renee Hartley announces bid to become Vice President of Dallas County Young Democrats

Posted on December 24, 2007 by Shawn Williams

Renee Hartley has thrown her hat in the ring to become Vice-President of the Dallas County Young Democrats (DCYD). This is great news, as I have admired Renee's work with the party for the last year and a half.

Visit Renee's campaign website by clicking here.

I first became familiar with Renee via her blog, Blue Island, which launched almost two years ago. We traded emails back and forth, as many bloggers do, without ever having met face to face. I finally met Renee last summer at the Young Democrats of America national convention held in Dallas (I covered the event as media).

Renee has served as a board member at-large for the Dallas County Young Democrats for the last two years. According to her campaign site, she wants to turn out young voters for Democrats and utilize the diversity within the community to benefit the party.

Nominations will be offered and accepted at the DCYD meeting held on January 8, 2008. The 2008 Executive Board will then be elected on February 12. Renee Hartley would make a great addition to the executive board of the Dallas County Young Democrats.