Thanks for hanging with me through my time off. As I read through the paper this morning, I went through my normal routine of scanning the front page, checking out the editorials, and catching up on sports.  I took a second look through the paper, and obviously the news out of Lebanon dominated much of Section A.  However, on page 6A, there was a one-paragraph news brief that grabbed my attention.  The headline read: Wal-Mart workers in China form union  This seemed very strange and out of place to me, so I then read the brief article.  Indeed it stated, "Workers at Wal-Mart Stores have formed their first trade union in China..."  Yes, workers in China, Communist China, have a union, while Wal-Mart associates (the company refuses to refer to them as employees) are thwarted at every turn in their attempts to organize.  I won't go into how Wal-Mart get's over on these associates, nor the conditions that they work in so that we can save a nickel on a package of cheese.  But check out the work at WakeUp Wal-Mart.com .  As I did a quick internet search, I realized this news was not a surprise.  The Washington Post had reported as early as December 2004 that Wal-Mart would ...

Dallas South Blog was officially launched one month ago today. How will I celebrate?  By taking a couple of days off, of course. But don't worry, I've got you covered.  I lined up a guest blogger for the rest of the week, so make sure to check in throughout the week. I'm interested to see what this brother has to say myself.  Thanks for your continued support of DALLAS SOUTH BLOG!!!

If you look at the front page of the Metro section of today's Dallas Morning News, you would think that black folks were the only ones watching "The Chase."  We see one sister with binoculars, two on a cell phone, while another stands mouth agape.  The brothers on the photo look like they could be watching the Oak Cliff Super Bowl.  The paper lists their location as the Spur 408/I-20 overpass.   Everyone I spoke with on my rounds at work yesterday said they watched the 3 county pursuit of Samuel Scott Jones on yesterday - not one of them black.  These are instances not of racism, but the media outlets have to be mindful of their unintended inferences.   That picture just doesn’t sit well with me, and it does a disservice to Ms. Floyd’s article.   In regards to the situation itself, we are seeing a number of instances of young black men making poor choices of late.  The desperate state of the Black Man in America will see the problem get worse before it gets better.  In Peter Edelman et. al’s book Reconnecting Disadvantaged Young Men; the authors assert “Young black men, are the least popular group in ...

As the terms of four Dallas City Council Members expire, and Mayor Laura Miller rides into the sunset, I think about the difference in Southern Dallas now verses 6 to 8 years ago.  Most any candidate runs on a platform of change, when seeking to be elected to a city post.  The candidates for the city council seats will promise more economic development for their districts, and the mayoral candidates will ALL promise a new commitment to the Southern Sector.  I'm going to focus on the status of some of these promises, and contrast them with activity in other areas of town; beginning with local highways. In my W-2 job, I drive around Dallas all day everyday.  I get to watch new building projects from start to finish, as I pass them during my drive about the city.  It makes me wonder if the council members ever leave Dallas City Hall, or their own council districts to see that the disparity amongst the north and south are real, not just the tired cliché that it has become. As you travel the main highways of the south, Interstates 35 and 20, and Highway 67, the freeways have changed little themselves, with the exception of HOV lanes ...

Two shooting events that occured early last Sunday morning have dominated the headlines this week. One involved an apparent carjacking attempt where Dallas Cowboy safety Keith Davis was shot twice as he drove his Impala along 635. The other was a fatal shooting that occured at Club Angel in downtown Dallas. Two people died and 4 were hurt in what apparently ended up as a beef between rival gangs. Throughout the week media outlets have speculated on both incidents. In the case of Davis, some have found it odd that anyone would attempt a carjacking speeding down LBJ Freeway. The sports talk shows have been skeptical, in part because Davis was shot outside of a Dallas strip club in 2003. Though Davis was hospitalized due to the injuries suffered in shooting, he is expected to be ready to go for Cowboys Training Camp. Sunday mornings shooting at Club Angel has spawned a number of debates. On Radio Station "Heaven 97", 970 AM, I heard two former gang members discussing why so many young men choose to be part of the gang life. They speculated that whoever did the shooting considers it a game, and probably went to the playground laughing about the ...

Tuesday's Dallas Morning News had an interesting article entitled: In Dallas, a new era in black politics . The article highlighted the fact that council districts 4, 5, 7, and 8 will all be up for grabs in the March 2007 election. The terms of Maxine Thornton-Reese, Don Hill, Leo Chaney, and James Fantroy are all about to expire. So change is inevitable; or is it? When I look at the list of candidates who will contend for these council seats next spring, there are a number of familiar names who have made a varying levels of contributions to the political scene in Dallas. Names like Dwaine Caraway, Betty Culbreath, Ron Price, and Mr. Al Lipscomb would not be my idea of change. There are however a number of fresh faces in the running including Eric Wilson who sits on the Dallas City Planning Commission. Mr. Wilson will be vying for the District 8 seat being vacated by James Fantroy. The young black populous in Dallas is awakening, and it is high time. The fact that this awakening coincides with the high number of expiring council terms can only be seen as a plus. Michael Davis who publishes the blog ...

I believe that we have lost our sense of struggle. When I say we, I mean my peers, Generation X, and the group older than us that is sometimes referred to as "Tweeners." Our parents, grandparents, their parents, everyone who came before us struggled so that we wouldn't have to. And yet the trials that lie before us call for just that. This country has led us to believe that there is no longer a need for us to "sacrifice for the cause," especially those of us who are able to read an outlet such as this. I recently hadthe opportunity to meet someone who has for years fought the good fight in the battle for justice and equality, and continues to challenge the system today. Someone who is an example of the energy and passion that is lacking in these important times. A few weeks ago, Cheryl Smith hosted a Bowling Fundraiser that benefited students in State Senator Royce West's Dr. Emmett J. Conrad Internship Program. Our church put together a team to bowl in the benefit, and needing someone to fill out the roster I was more than happy to oblige. This was actually an enjoyable event, and ...

Since Laura Miller announced that she will not seek re-election as Mayor of Dallas, a number of potential replacements have surfaced. The Morning News had a lineup of wannabe mayors, ten men who would be mayor of the nation's 9th largest city. I must admit I thought it odd to see so many men without the sign of a female contender. But in the Wednesday paper a list of four women, including the wife of former mayor Ron Kirk, were added. From what I've seen so far: Not impressed This will be the first election that my wife and I will cast our votes as citizens of Dallas. I never felt connected to the Grand Prairie political scene, I can't even tell you who my councilman was. I've attended a number of meetings at Dallas City Hall, including City Planning Commission Meetings, and Trinity River Master Plan Hearings. I've already attended a meeting my councilman, Ed Oakley, held regarding the 1.3 billion dollar bond project Dallas citizens will vote on in November. I'm hoping that other candidates will emerge, or at least I'll be moved by some of these folks who I haven't heard much from thus far. I plan ...

Have you heard of Joppa ? My travels visiting friends and family often take me to the Illinois/Overton portion of town. Upon the completion of said visits, I generally head east on Illinois, and catch Interstate 45 heading south. Sometime last year I began to notice the construction of a bridge just to the east of the interstate, with a sign pointing in that general direction reading Linfield Road. I must admit, I wondered if this was akin to the proverbial Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska. It was upon reading an article in the Dallas Morning News that I understood the significance of the bridge, and the community that it lead into: Joppa. Joppa is one of the few remaining freedman’s towns left in Texas. Recounting the history of Joppa is not my intention today, but rather to recount my first visit to this notable community. I was invited to a house blessing in Joppa by the Byrd Family. The Byrd’s relocated to Dallas from New Orleans with other members of their extended family. It had been nearly a year since I met them on the heels of Hurricane Katrina. That night, they simultaneously sought shelter, and searched for family ...

Yesterday I went downtown with the community at our church which ministers to the homeless, whom we call VIP's. I can't say that I get out there as much as I should, maybe 3-4 times a year. We pulled up to a shelter known as The Bunkhouse, where a line of 70 or so people where waiting for food that was being passed out. The Bunkhouse is located on the Southeast quadrant of downtown, which is the predominate gathering place for the city's homeless population. As I got off the bus and looked into the faces of these individuals, I reflected on the rhetoric I hear whenever the politics of the homeless comes up. The city has a homeless czar who is supposedly charged with helping to remedy "the problem". All I could think was that these are people man, THESE ARE PEOPLE. And what is even worse is that many call the City Hall their residence, as they sleep on the lawn there after hours and on the weekend. So when they ask "what do we do?" my response would be, "you could start by walking out the front door and talking to people." I invited individuals in line ...