October 4, 2020
HOUSTON EDITION
EVERYBODY BLACK AIN’T BLACK
Vol. 25, Issue 36
EARLY VOTING MATTERS
TRUMPS TEST POSITIVE
In a shocking turn of events, the world was Is it time to take a than the KKK. The you are when they Simply put, the dark shocked to learn news deep breath? It seems Blacks who got into need to.” melanin is not the of the inevitable, Presas if we need to that politics after slavery People like Charles single qualifier of ident Donald Trump more these days. Shaquille your “blackness,” your -- who has been and Jim Crow did Barkley, It’s the remake of Terry things to uplift other O’Neil, Daniel Cam- CONSCIOUSNESS against wearing masks McMillan’s “Waiting to Blacks, but not today,” eron, Clarence Thom- and UNDERSTAND- -- and his wife, First Exhale,” but instead said African-Amer- as, Dr. Ben Carson ING of the Black ex- Lady Melania Trump, of being a group of ican News&Issues and (never forget) O.J. perience is what you have both tested positive for the coronaviBlack women who feel publisher Roy Doug- Simpson have come must have. overlooked and unap- las Malonson. “This under fire because The saying has been rus. preciated by the Black new Breed of Black many say they have credited to the great The news was released men in their lives, it folks want to say they not been standing by novelist, essayist, an- shortly after learning is many Black people are for ALL the people Blacks. thropologist and film- that one of his closest (men and women) and forgetting who Have you ever heard maker Zora Neale advisers, Hope Hicks, who are tired of being they are .. you are a the phrase, “all my Hurston, who’s left also tested positive. flat-out disrespected black man first and skinfolk ain’t kin- a cultural legacy of Hicks, the POTUS and disregarded BY foremost! How did folk?” If not, let us Black pride for past and FLOTUS and their son-in-law Jared OUR OWN PEOPLE! you forget that? Trust give you an explanaKushner, had all been “These new negroes me, THEY will let you tion and throw some Black cont’d page 3 traveling together are more dangerous know how BLACK examples your way.
over the last several days. Neither was seen wearing masks as they headed to public events. The president has mocked others who wear masks, including mocking Former Vice President Joe Biden in their first 2020 presidential debate, insinuating that Biden was weak for wearing masks that covered his entire face. Both Biden and Second Lady Jill Biden
Trump cont’d page 7
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October 4, 2020
EDITORIAL
President/Chief Editor
Tristar
Griselda Ramirez: Production
Partin’ the Waters By Omowale Luthuli-Allen
Office: (713) 692-1892 Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HOUSTON EDITION
Never Forget: Last words of Eric Garner “Every time that you see me, you want to mess with me. I’m tired of it. It stops today...Every time that you see me. You want to stop me... selling cigarettes. I’m minding my business. Please just leave me alone. I told you the last time, please just leave me alone. Please don’t touch me. Do not touch me. “Every time that you see me, you want to harass me. “It stops today.” -- Chris Hayes, “A Colony in a Nation” p.77 Eric Garner was selling cigarettes on the cuts because of a lack of income. Acquired Income Deficiency Syndrome is the reason that Mr. Garner became an illegitimate capitalist. As Jesse Jackson said, the only time that black people have had full employment was during slavery. Garner was a hustler, doing what he determined to be necessary to support his family. He needed a meaningful living wage job, not a contact with fearobsessed policemen.
Millions of black people and marginalized citizens have unnecessary contact with law enforcement because of low level- petty offenses that barely rise to the level of a misdemeanor. If you take a squeegee and hustle by cleaning windshields at the corner of Shepherd and Kirby, you will be tagged by the police. This is the entrance way to one of the richest communities in the country - River Oaks. Freddie Gray, wo was unarmed and killed by police officers in Baltimore, is alleged to have been involved with drugs. He is not alive to defend his reputation, but we do know that drugs are an employing industry, it puts people to work. Part I of this article speaks to the fact that there is something wrong when one person, Billionaire Bill Gates of Microsoft, has more income that 40 million black people. This includes Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan, plus LeBron James. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of the need to solve the puzzle of surplus wealth and abject poverty in this land of plenty. Part II of this article speaks to the need to minimize contact between law enforcement and citizens. Law enforcement has broken the trust and legitimacy set up by their pact with citizens. They do not have humility and
grace, and thus are unable to apologize for their abusive and deadly behavior. The next part speaks to the criminalization of Black and marginalized men. Often, we think of police as the core of the problem of mass incarceration. Chris Hayes of MSNBC pulverizes the ball when he argues that the number of people becoming part of the system through arrests and prosecutions is to be blamed on prosecutors and not just cops. Prosecutors like Harris County DA Kim Ogg have tremendous discretion on whether to slap the wrist of activate the electronic sliding doors of jail. It is an interlocking system with no unifying center. Many of the law enforcement personnel are psychopaths, incapable of guilt, obsessed by fear and devoted to themselves and their union, not the public. However, most officers are interested in the public good. Initiatives by Mayor Sylvester Turner and Councilmember Edward Pollard point the way forward. Cite and Release will reduce mass incarceration. Ignore the greedy bail bondsmen. Stopping me for foolishness? IT SHOULD STOP TODAY!
- AANI
A Revival of God
Consciousness Bobby E. Mills, PhD
America is an idea about spiritualmoral values President Trump is attempting to make America solely about monetary values; not spiritual- moral values. On November 3, God-fearing Americans can demonstrate to themselves, and the entire world through their vote, that they FEAR God, and America honors the sacred words of the Constitution, because: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Thus, if President Trump had been a Godly presidential leader and told the American people the truth about how the COVID-19 virus was transmitted, a lot of lives could have been saved, because: “Death and life
are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Now, over 201,000 Americans are dead, and an untold number could have been saved. The Constitution requires Godly creative communal living based upon human rights values and moral principles as prescribed in the Constitution. America, let’s pray that God grants US the time to get it right with Him, and constitutionally with each other. President Trump has popularized the Old Southern strategy of “divide and conquer,” and taken the demonic concept of OTHERIZING to a higher dimension. Now, the strategy of “them versus us” is functioning extremely well on spiritually disenchanted Americans who feel that they have nothing to lose materially, and everything to gain. America, you cannot run with foxes and bait with the hounds, because there will come a time when individuals must render under unto God what is God’s, and render unto Caesar (Trump) that what is Caesar’s (Trump’s). Choices
HOUSTON EDITION
October 4, 2020
AFRAMNEWS.COM 3
EDITORIAL
must be made, and there are life and death consequences in choice decision making: judgment. The flesh is weak, and: “We all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that
he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Choices have real life and death consequences. The Holy Spirit (TRUTH) frees us from sin. Mankind makes laws that his spiritual mind/ heart cannot keep/ obey, and which are
against God’s spiritual and moral laws. God makes laws that are weak through the flesh, and a classicspiritual example is the current political confusion over the Supreme Court. Human beings politicize everything toward selfish aggrandizement.
Mankind can change the Supreme Court in the light of time. God can change everything in the light of eternity in the twinkling of an eye. This scriptural verse speaks to the relevance of all of the ungodly confusion, and spiritual misunderstanding of
it all, that is running rampant in American society. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sin-
ful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” (Romans 8: 2-3). Americans, “Isn’t That Good News!”
Black cont’d
bodies. Black folks don’t have the market cornered on being “woke,” and there is no agreement about how best to actualize the potentiality of the black community.” Sounds about right these days, especially with the foolery we hear coming out of some Black Americans’ mouths in defense of some of the actions or atrocities whites have committed against us. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has come under scrutiny from Blacks after he seemingly made excuses about the lack of charges filed against the police officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor, a young, law abiding EMT who was in her home when police barged in under a no-knock warrant and opened fire. Turns out, Tay-
lor was innocent, and no one is being held responsible in her death. They are treating it like an “oops, my bad” moment. Two of the officers were not charged at all, and the other one was charged with “wanton endangerment” for blindly shooting in the apartments, which could have potentially harmed her neighbors. They totally missed the memo that Taylor DIED... and the Black man that we put our faith in to bring justice for Taylor and her family completely let us down. Both Shaquille O’Neil and Charles Barkley defended the decision, agreeing that there were not significant charges to file against the police and mentioning that Taylor’s boyfriend fired at officers -- disregarding the
fact that the officers allegedly did not announce who they were and Taylor’s boyfriend thought he was shooting at intruders. And in another example, Dr. Ben Carson touts when necessary that he grew up in the ghetto with rats and roaches, and we are not saying that should make him Black -- nope, that made him poor -- but the now rich Republican mentions those childhood bulletpoints when he needs to flash his “Black Card” while endorsing white America and being one of President Donald Trump’s cronies. Knowing that Blacks are disproportionately dying from COVID-19/ coronavirus, Carson was trying to peddle a “snake oil” cure of the experimental botanical ex-
tract, oleandrin, with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. It was dangerous, untested and did not have FDA approval, but investors were looking to make a quick buck. Again. And how can we ever forget O.J. Simpson, who wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Black race until he was charged with the murder of his white wife. All of a sudden after he “made it,” he divorced his Black wife, only dated white women, golfed with white men, and took photos and partied with his elite Brentwood friends until he had to run to a Black attorney (RIP Johnny Cochran) and the forever forgiving race of Black people who publicly rallied around him, if for nothing more than the fact that we just wanted to see a
brother win at something. It was dubbed “the trial of the century” but O.J. was found not guilty after Cochran’s famous “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit” closing arguments show in the courtroom. Will we learn? Will we finally understand? Be loyal to who is loyal to you. Don’t vote for or support someone simply because they are Black, and make them earn your trust and respect. And if you are someone who has been detached from your blackness, don’t turn your back on your people now, then run to us later waving an EXPIRED Black card when needed.
and future generations to enjoy and to educate themselves. Michael Washington wrote in an online essay, “Souls that inhabit white bodies can be allies and accomplices in the fight against oppression, in the same way that Black folks can be agents and accomplices in promoting, promulgating and protecting white supremacy. As my grandmother once said, (like Hurston) ‘All your skin folk ain’t kinfolk.’ Meaning that you can inhabit a black body and be an agent of white supremacy. Just ask Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, or any of the thousands of Black Americans who are more concerned with white feelings than with black lives and
- AANI
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October 4, 2020
HOUSTON EDITION
POLITICAL
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VOTING
Consider this as one of your final calls to action to make your voices heard. It is time to VOTE, as if your life depended on it. In order to change the current state of this declining America, everyone must do their part and vote in the upcoming election in order to get the right people IN… and the wrong people OUT! “We are all watching what is going on right now and it is up to us to help decide the direction of our country, cities and states. If we believe things need to be different, we need to be involved in choosing who is going to lead that change going forward,” Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins
told AfricanAmerican Ne w s&Issues in a previous interview. “Beyond all that, we all know that people of color — our ancestors — fought for our right to vote and we need to honor their legacy by exercising our constitutional right to do so.” Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs is encouraging all Texans to get out and vote. “An active and engaged citizenry plays an essential role in ensuring the continued well-being of our democracy,” said Hughs. “Ahead of the November election, I encourage all eligible Texans who have not already done so to register to vote by October 5th so that they can help shape the future of the Lone Star State.” As of this month, there are 16,617,436 registered voters in Texas — a new state re-
cord. Texans should begin by checking their registration status on the SOS website on the “Am I Registered?” page. But what about the controversy over the mail-in ballots and voter fraud conspiracies, as claimed by President Donald Trump? Most elected officials are basically dismissing those claims, saying their states are ready and there is no cause for concern. And even the Trump supporters, are seemingly moving forward to assure their constituents that the voting process will be safe, fair and secure. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has been accused of participating in voter suppression after ordering the closure of multiple ballot drop-off sites, issued a proclamation
this week enhancing ballot security protocols for the in-person delivery of marked mail ballots for the November 3rd election. Under the proclamation, beginning on October 2, mail ballots that are delivered in person by voters who are eligible to vote by mail must be delivered to a single early voting clerk’s office location as publicly designated by a county’s early voting clerk. “The State of Texas has a duty to voters to maintain the integrity of our elections,” said Governor Abbott. “As we work to preserve Texans’ ability to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must take extra care to strengthen ballot secu-
rity protocols throughout the state. These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting.” The proclamation also requires early voting clerks to allow poll watchers to observe any activity conducted at the early voting clerk’s office location related to the in-person delivery of a marked mail ballot. This proclamation amends a July 27th proclamation that extended the period in which marked mail-in ballots may be delivered in person. Requests for absentee and mail-in ballots
have increased across the country as states have adjusted their policies to give voters a safe alternative to voting in person amid the COVID-19 pandemic. DO YOU KNOW YOUR RIGHTS? We’ve put together a helpful guide in an effort to help answer any questions you may have. In Texas MAIL-IN BALLOTS Only eligible voters can request a mail-in ballot, with an acceptable excuse. The last day to request one is Oct.
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HOUSTON EDITION
October 4, 2020
POLITICAL
Voting cont’d
and county elections in your county.
ent an acceptable form of photo ID.
23. Your ballot needs to be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 in order to count, and it needs to arrive by Nov. 4.
SAME-DAY REGISTRATION Your application must be received in the Voter Registrar’s office or postmarked at least 30 days before an election.
AC C E P TA B L E FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION Make sure you are ready on Election Day with the appropriate forms of identification, listed below:
EARLY VOTING Early voting by personal appearance for the Nov 3 election begins on Oct 13 and ends on Oct 30. You may vote at any early voting location in your county of registration. You will be able to find early voting locations by using our search site “Am I Registered?”, which will be populated with voting sites a few days before early voting begins. Or you may want to contact the early voting clerk for state
AFRAMNEWS.COM 5
VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS If the voter possesses, but did not bring with them, an acceptable form of photo ID, the voter may cast a provisional ballot at the polls. However, in order to have the provisional ballot counted, the voter will be required to visit the county voter registrar’s office within six calendar days of the date of the election and pres-
FEDERAL • US Military Identification Card • US Citizenship Certificate • US Passport STATE • Texas Driver’s License • Texas Election Identification Certificate • Texas Personal Identification Card • Texas Handgun License
LOCAL/OTHER: Supporting Form of ID: Copy or Original Current Utility Bill Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate, copy of or original bank statement, copy of or original government check, copy of or original paycheck, copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a US state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law that establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document).
P R E C AU T ION S DURING THE PANDEMIC The Texas secretary of state’s office has provided a checklist of health protocols for voters, including: • Maintain six feet of separation from others, especially from individuals age 65 and older. • Self-screen for any new or worsening signs or possible symptoms of COVID-19. • Utilize curbside voting if you’re exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and are eligible. • Bring your own pen, pencil with eraser or stylus and hand sanitizer. • Wash or disinfect hands upon entering and leaving a polling
BUILD BACK BETTER
JOBS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY AGENDA Joe Biden believes we cannot build back better without a major mobilization of effort and resources to advance racial equity across the American economy.
Visit joebiden.com/racial-economic-equity to learn more PAID FOR BY BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT
station, as well as after any interaction with people or voting equipment. • Consider wearing a cloth face covering or face mask if available. If you contract COVID-19 or another sickness that prevents you from appearing at the polling place after the deadline to submit an application for a ballot by mail, contact your county election officer. You may be able to submit an “Application for Emergency Early Voting Ballot Due to Sickness or Physical Disability. - AANI
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October 4, 2020
HOUSTON EDITION
COMMUNITY
‘SAY THEIR NAMES’ MEMORIAL IN EMANCIPATION PARK
HOUSTON - The “Say Their Names” memorial exhibit honoring Black Americans whose lives have been lost due to social injustice, police brutality and racism is on display at Emancipation Park. The exhibit will last through October 13. The Houston installment is made possible thanks to local rapper, activist and philanthropist Trae Tha Truth, who reached out to organizers after seeing the display on social media. “It wasn’t getting the recognition it needed but I felt it was dope. I knew there were a lot of people across the world who would love to pay their respects and see something like this,” Trae said during the unveiling event on Monday. Several state and city leaders, including Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, State Representative Ron Reynolds, Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner were also in attendance. “As the mayor of Houston and a person of color, there are so many strong emotions that are evoked from this display of
Memorial Group also exhibit, and DeRonica shares photos and infor- Horn is the Houston mation with individuals exhibit organizer. and communities who - AANI want to create memorials in their own neighborhoods. Emily Clarke is the organizer of the Dallas
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over 200 photos of people who are no longer physically with us. You simply cannot take that walk without feeling their spirit. For the next 15 days, Emancipation Park will be a place of healing and reflection to commemorate the lives of those who were taken away from us too soon. Ramon Manning, board chairman of Emancipation Park Conservancy, said they were honored the exhibit would be on display at the historic park. “It is fitting that this exhibit will have a temporary home at Emancipation Park for the community to experience,” said
Manning. “Amidst the racial unrest and challenges being faced in the African American community, this exhibit provides an opportunity to honor lives lost and start an open dialogue surrounding peaceful social reform in our country.” Created by Emily Proctor, The Say Their Names Memorial is a nationwide grassroots initiative featuring over 200 photos of Black victims whose lives were lost to racial injustice. The exhibition was started in Portland, OR, on Juneteenth 2020, and has been put up in over 25 locations nationwide. The ‘Say Their Names’
ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE? Harris County Voter Registrar encourages you to register to vote, update your address/information and check your status. Deadline to register to vote October 5, 2020 Visit: www.hctx.net/voter/registration Fill out your application Request an application contact us at voters@hctx.net
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AFRAMNEWS.COM 7 disease and whether the President -- who is considered high risk TOURS for serious complications -- was displaying symptoms. The president has • Family Tours • School Tours • Church Tours • Nature Walks come under intense • Education Tours scrutiny, with claims • Deer Breeding Tours • Trophy Deer Hunting of his lack of leader• Cattle Roundups • Nature Photography ship in handling the • Camp Fire • Hayride pandemic and failure • Kayak • Fishing • Day Camp to protect the Ameri• Overnight Camping can public. • Outdoor BBQ • Ranch Breakfast In an interview, Trump told veteran journalist Bob Woodward he “wanted to always play it down” against the advisement of his own health experts. Even as some of his closest global allies, including Brazilian President Jair Bol• Mother’s/Father’s Day • Anniversaries sonaro and British • In Memory Of • Birthdays Prime Minister Boris • Graduations • Weddings etc. Johnson, came down For more information with the disease, and sales@aframnews.com after the COVID-related death of Herman Cain, one of Trump’s Trump cont’d friends, he still did not take the virus seriously. have tested negative. Vice President Mike In a memo released Pence’s press secretary to the public, White confirmed on Twit- House physician Navy ter that Pence and his Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conwife, Karen, tested ley said Trump was negative for COV- “well,” though did not specify whether he ID-19. The president also was displaying sympinsisted he was OK, toms, adding that the tweeting, “We will president and first get through this TO- lady “plan to remain at home within the GETHER!” The first lady wrote, White House during “We are feeling good.” their convalescence.” But sources say there - AANI is a sense of panic inside the White House as they work to determine who else may have contracted the
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