"It’s about listening. It’s about letting Black people lead you in the ways in which you can help them."
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It's difficult to think about much else. Maybe that's what compels so many Texans to reach out with expressions of compassion and solidarity with people demanding change in the name of racial justice and equality. But as I am learning, it's not enough. This week, it was an honor to speak with filmmaker Ya'ke Smith , the first Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UT's Moody College of Communication . As he spoke about what it really meant to be an ally, his words seemed to reach out to my heart, mind and soul all at once. "Don’t try to put yourself in the center," Smith told me. "It’s about listening. It’s about letting Black people lead you in the ways in which you can help them. But it’s also about doing some real, real hard work in checking your own biases at the door and really understanding this: A good ally looks themselves in the mirror and asks themselves the question, 'How have I acted in a racist way? How have I been impartial to people of color? How have I tried to center my narrative by taking agency away from them?' And then, 'What can I do to check all of those privileges that I have in order to help that demographic of people?'" If you missed his call to action, I invite you and your friends to experience it below and to share it with others. For as much as this is an historic social movement, it is also an opportunity for individual renewal and change. It’s a time for all of us to listen to others, and, perhaps, more closely to our inner selves. To allow our own conscience to be stirred: to feel, and to learn. There’s so much to learn from the voices we’re sharing with you in our newsletter this week. Until next Wednesday, we’ll see you on the radio.
- David Brown
Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Want To Be A Good Ally? It’s About Listening.


First, you need to know your history. It goes beyond this moment. "Because this dehumanization of black people has been going on forever."
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Houston Chief Art Acevedo Wants A National Conversation On Policing


Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo recently walked in solidarity with those protesting the police killing of George Floyd.
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Don’t Blame New Coronavirus Cases On Protests


"We need to be careful about how we draw conclusions about what we see in the next two weeks."
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Coronavirus Relief Funding Comes With Strings Attached


Wichita Falls' city manager says some of the money his city is due may go unspent if certain CARES Act restrictions aren’t relaxed.
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  • 'We Will Get Justice': Thousands Of Mourners Attend Public Viewing For George Floyd In Houston (Houston Public Media)
  • Commissioners Demand Williamson County Sheriff's Resignation After Death Of Black Man In Custody (KUT Austin)
  • Gun Rights Activists Protest Ector County’s Sheriff’s Arrests at West Odessa Bar (Marfa Public Radio)
  • Brown Berets Lead George Floyd Protest In El Paso (KTEP)
Howdy, Texas Standard Fans! Hady Mawajdeh here. I'm a native Texan who works as a reporter at KERA in North Texas. Normally, I cover guns and guns culture for the national reporting outfit Guns & America . But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I've become a utility player for the KERA newsroom. That means from day-to-day, my job looks very different. Take the past 10 days for example. I've been monitoring the Dallas protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. My coverage has had me delve into the city's police oversight committee, connect with first-time protesters to hear their experiences with racism, and even get caught up in a standoff with police. (I was on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge when police attacked peaceful protesters.) It's been a rush to be out in the community sharing stories and helping inform people. I've also been reporting on the coronavirus’ impact on business owners in the hospitality industry. There, I saw men and women struggling to make ends meet and trying to come up with creative ways to keep their businesses alive. Next, I am working on a Humans of New York -style project where I'll be profiling people who've lost their jobs because of COVID-19. It's a multimedia project featuring photos, videos and audio. And I’m very much looking forward to highlighting all of the struggles fellow Texans are dealing with right now in hopes of sparking change and empathy.
- Hady Mawajdeh
@hadysauce
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