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Vol. 19 Issue 29

Greater Houston

August 11 -17, 2014 | FREE ÂŽ

Aframnews.com ~ The #1 100% Black-Owned Worldwide Digital News Source

The key to education is understanding the knowledge that you acquire & how it affects your life. ~Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher~

The Great Education Debate Houston - The great education debate in Houston Independent School District (HISD) is a long-standing argument about what is best course in educating children. The discussion has taken two tracks with the HISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier and the HISD Board on one side and Community leaders and activists on the other side. Two major schools of thought clashing on how best to use education dollars to bring quality and equitable facilities, books, resources and teachers to all neighborhood schools regardless of race, creed, color or location. The debate rages over the failure of Grier and the community to sit down across the table from one another to dialog and share concerns about decisions being made on school closings, spending and operations in HISD schools. That has triggered animosity and finger pointing on both sides with children and their education caught in the middle. Grier has shared his insights on district unrest, on inequality and his view of community and board relationships and school improvements and discipline. Community leaders are an active part of the debate and have responded with legal action and are sharing what they feel is needed and where they feel the buck needs to stop.

Could Debate Create Education Tsunami in Houston? See DEBATE pg. 7


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African

American News&Issues

L cal & State

Texas - 17, 2014 Texas•August • August11 12-18, 2013

Houston, Nation &World Hold Memorial to Honor Memory of Congressman "Mickey" Leland

Chloe Choudrey sings Amazing Grace to the attendees at the Wreath Laying Ceremony marking the 25th Anniversary of Mickey Leland’s Death

“Come You Blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to see me... insomuch as you did it to the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me...” - Jesus Christ- Matt. 25:34-36, 40. Houston- Even though it has been 25 years since one of

R.D. Malonson Chairman S.A. Malonson President/C.E.O. Darwin Campbell Editor Chandra Jarmon Production/ Sales Ruth Randle Distribution General: news@aframnews.com Ads: sales@aframnews.com Website: www.aframnews.com African-American News&Issues is published by African-American News & Issues, Inc., 6130 Wheatley Street, Houston, Texas 77091, (713) 692-1892. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:15am - 5pm. The entire contents of the paper are copyrighted by African-American News & Issues, Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. African-American News&Issues is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the publisher.

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Houston’s greatest native sons perished in a tragic plane crash, his light today still shines bright and his legacy continues to be an inspiration to those influenced by his compassionate heart and benevolent spirit. Led by 18th District Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, family, officials, dignitaries and friends gathered at Mickey Leland Memorial Park in the 5th Ward to pause for the laying of a wreath and a time for reflection on the service and life of the Honorable George Thomas “Mickey” Leland III. At the same time, solemn and celebratory observances were being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Washington, D.C. “Mickey Leland was humble, but larger than life man who humbled himself to find the most impoverished and neediest and worked to make the pathway of their life better,” Jackson Lee said. “He was a man who sought to make the pathways of those unknown to him better than the misery in which he found them...Congressman Leland left a remarkable footprint not only on Houston and Texas and America, but also on the world.” Leland, the former 18th District Congressman, was know as America’s most effective spokesman for hungry people in the United States and throughout the world. Native Ethiopian Matchash-

Kassa Hattix, know lovingly as “Mamma Africa”, recalled his service in helping the Ethiopian people. She noted that his memory is alive so much that many shops and businesses in Ethiopia are named after Mickey Leland. “Ethiopia Loves Mickey Leland,” she said. “We lost a big brother and in that he gives me a have a reason to go on. We thank you. Let’s keep his torch burning, The people can see it across the ocean.” Early Life and Education George Thomas “Mickey” Leland, III, was born on November 27, 1944, in Lubbock, Texas, to Alice and George Thomas Leland, II. At an early age, he, along with his mother and brother (William Gaston Leland), took up residence in the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas. Growing up in a predominately African American and Hispanic neighborhood, Leland’s first experience with the “public” was in a segregated public school. Ben Reyes, who grew up with Leland on Lyon Avenue, said Leland was real deal - the kind of man who comes around once in a lifetime. “He was a man who understood humanity,” Reyes said. “The 18th Congressional District has been blessed with great men and women who have understand humanity and service to fellow man. Mickey

(Leland) understood it, Barbara Jordan understood it, Craig Washington understood it and now Sheila Jackson Lee works with the same spirit of humanity and compassion.” He graduated in 1964 from Phillis Wheatley High School in Houston, Texas and attended Texas Southern University. While attending TSU (Texas Southern University) in the late sixties, Leland emerged as a vocal leader of the local civil rights movement and brought national leaders of the movement to Houston. He graduated from Texas Southern University’s School of Pharmacy in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. He served as an Instructor of Clinical Pharmacy at his alma mater from 1970-71, and set up a “door to door” outreach campaign in low-income neighborhoods to inform people about their medical care options and to perform preliminary screenings. During the same period Mickey Leland organized and led the Black Citizens Action Teams (“Black Cats”) to protest against police brutality. Longtime friend and comrade David Benson remembered Leland by reminding people of the unselfish fire burning in Leland’s belly to fight for his fellow man no matter what the cost. “He was a man who knew hot

to raise “Holy Hell”,” Benson said. “He wanted the world to pull the world together and he became a great icon because of his love for people. All I can say is Thank you my friend for what you did for mankind and pray we all carry on the legacy.” Leland’s Political Career In 1972, Mickey Leland was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from the 88th District of Houston, Texas. Continue reading “LELAND’ online @ www.aframnews.com StoryCard By: for Darwin Campbell, Business Paper_Layout 1 6/3/14 12:2 African-American News&Issues

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African

Texas • August 11 -17, 2014

Edit rial & Opini n

Police Behavior, James Brown, & the Struggle Continues Rev. Al Sharpton President, National Action Network

After kicking off “Freedom Summer 2014” and opening National Action Network’s Birmingham, Alabama office last week, I headed home to deal with yet another police case in New York City. Eric Garner, the Staten Island father of six, died after continuously saying ‘I can’t breathe’ as police officers placed him in a chokehold and forced him to the ground according to video footage which captured the horrific incident. On Friday, a medical examiner ruled that Garner’s death was in fact a homicide, and that he was killed by neck compressions from a chokehold. While videotape footage was instrumental in this case, we must now ensure that justice prevails. Garner’s family came to me for assistance, and I will do everything in my power to see to it that those responsible for his death are held accountable. The late great James Brown, a man who was like a father to me, once told me about an instance where police officers almost killed him as they shot his vehicle over 20 times. He never pointed a gun at them or fired towards them. That was when I was just 18 years old; all these years later, we are still dealing with over-zealous cops and excessive force. Across this nation, we need police reform and we need federal intervention because clearly things are out of control at the local level. Enough is enough. For the last 25 years+, I’ve been involved with case after case of police misconduct, abuse and brutality after grieving families have approached me and National Action Network. Whether it was Sean Bell, Ramarley Graham or now Eric Garner, our mission is to not only raise the level of awareness, but to fight for true change. The use of chokeholds by the NYPD was banned in 1993, and yet, here

we are. In order to see fairness and justice in this case, we must demand a federal investigation immediately, and those charged with Garner’s death must be prosecuted in federal court. Local judges and authorities deal with prosecutors they are dependent on. And local judges and authorities can waive a jury trial which leaves a lot of political pressure on a judge. In federal court, a person or persons will be judged by a jury of their peers, not by a judge who may be beholden to certain politics or political forces. We will continue to hold rallies, marches and keep the pressure on because no man or woman should die at the hands of those sworn to serve and protect them. Around the country, movie theaters are currently playing “Get On Up”, the James Brown story. I was fortunate enough to know Brown and eventually develop an extremely close relationship with him that can only be summarized this way: he became the father I was missing, and I became the son he was missing. When I was just 18 years old, his son Teddy was killed in a tragic car accident. Teddy was the same age as me, and he was a member of my civil rights movement in New York. When he died, Brown and I became close; I learned many life lessons from him. And I’ll never forget the time I flew to Augusta, GA after he was arrested following a police chase. I visited him in jail and I remember him repeatedly saying that the cops tried to kill him, that they shot his vehicle over 20 times. If they shot the gas tank, the car would have blown up he continued saying. I never fired at them, or even pointed a gun in their direction, and they still shot at me over and over again he told me. Whether it’s James Brown or Eric Garner, police shouldn’t be trained or allowed to go above the law in the name of enforcing the law. If cops claim Garner was resisting arrest (though the tape leads one to believe that that’s questionable), we must deal with how law enforcement handles that. Source: Huffington Post

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“We MUST never forget slavery, lynching, Jim Crow Laws, the disrespect of the Black race and the first Black president.”

Mis-Education

The Tool That has Trapped Us by Ignorance Part I “When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary”Carter G. Woodson In the Great Education Debates in Houston, Dallas and other cities across America, the age old question since Brown vs. Board of Education has been what is the best way to educate our Black kids. Desegregation of schools did not fix the problem. It made it worse, especially when you focus on drop out rates, crime and incarceration rates and teen pregnancy among young people, it has been a dismal failure. We still grapple with inequality, limited resources, substandard performance scores, school closings and remnants of the era of separate, but equal. In Carter G. Woodson’s book, Miseducation of the Negro, he points out that Black people of his day were being culturally indoctrinated, rather than taught, in American schools. He contended that this crude conditioning caused African Americans to become dependent and to seek out inferior places in the greater society of which they are a part. His great challenges called on Blacks to his readers to be self reliant and “do for themselves”, regardless of what they were taught. Much of Woodson’s book is a self fulfilling prophecy as 2014 reveals the flaws and failures of

an education system that is adrift without an anchor and caught in the whirlpool of foolish thinking and experimentation that is leaving generations of Black children unprepared for life. They know little about how to live or how to make a living. Many of these children grow up and cannot read, can barely write their names legibly and still fewer have the simple social skills needed to function or hold jobs at the bottom of the job and career ladder. Since 1933, not much has changed. Some of the struggles facing African-Americans mentioned in the book still hold true now. Our miseducation and misapplication have led us down the road to the highest unemployment and poverty level percentages and the highest incarceration rates of all ethnic groups. We MUST Understand that it is time to refocus on the things that can start bringing us out of this deadly tailspin that threatens to wipe us out as a people. The education of any people should begin with the people themselves. For years, Black children have been indoctrinated on history focusing on the intellectual heritage that begins with the Greco-Roman tradition, on one hand, and the JudaeoChristian tradition on the other. No where in school curriculums have educators considered the value of teaching Black history or the Black struggle. I have reminded Black America many times about the dangers of not knowing or forgetting what has happened to us as a people. Where there is no knowledge, people perish for lack of pride, lack of knowledge and

- Roy Douglas

We MUST Understand By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman

heritage. That lack of basic training and understanding of ourselves creates a serious role problem and an identity crisis because Blacks go from the cradle to the grave not really understanding their purpose in life - who they are, where they come from or where they are going. History books do not help and are insignificant because of the lack of focus on the Black experience. They fail to tell the whole truth of the Black experience and how Black people shaped the economy, growth and progress in this country with our blood, sweat and tears. Short of a few handpicked heroes, our history and contributions are dismissed and many youth never know or learn how intertwined Black history is with American history. We are taught early that we cannot achieve and that we are inferiors to society, rather than superiors whose forefathers and ancestors were kings and queens. This leaves young Blacks lost, perplexed, looking up and admiring and revering history that is not ours. They also walk through life with an selfish, defeatist attitude that we have not done a damn thing to contribute to this world, except be liabilities, users, spenders and consumers – That is the lie perpetrated on us as a people. The sad part is many of us believe it. We MUST Understand it is time to wake up and take a second look at the misinformation that has misdirected our youth and threatens to lead us back to the chains that once bound us for over 400 years. TX-3


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African

August

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Email Your Event to news@aframnews.com

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Tuesday Windsor Houston Networking Breakfast 6920 TC Jester Blvd Houston, TX 77091 From 9:30am - 10:30am For more info contact: (281)224-0280 Friday Garden City Back to School Festival *DONATIONS NEEDED* 9601 W. Montgomery Rd Houston, TX 77088 From 11am - 4pm For more info contact: (832)971-4190

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Library at the Gregory School School Prep Info Session 1300 Victor St Houston, TX 77019 From 2pm- 3:30pm For more info contact: (832) 393-1440

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Friends Reception 2121 Kirby Dr Houston, TX 77019 From 6pm - 8pm For more info contact: (713) 747-4745

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September

African-American Friday News&Issues now offers Prairie View A&M E-Blast to over 20,000 Summer’s Evening Celebration business professionals and *Honoree Dr. E. Joahanne community subcribers for a Thomas-Smith very low price. 1600 Lamar St Let us promote Houston, TX 77010 your next event! Beginning at 6pm For more information For more info contact: contact (713) 692-1892 (936) 261-1550 or visit www.pvamu.edu www.aframnews.com Saturday Acres Home Chamber Saturday for Bus. & Eco. Dev, Inc. The Upper Room Digital Computer Class Prayer Ministry 6112 Wheatley St Prayer Breakfast Houston, TX 77091 12801 NW Frwy From 11am -12:30pm Houston, TX 77040 For more info contact: From 9:45am - 12pm (713) 692-7161 For more info contact: info@acreshomecenter.org 713-825-2340 September Saturday G.W. Carver HS of Ensemble Theatre AISD class of 1964 Black Tie Gala Big 5-0 Class Reunion Mtg 1200 Louisiana St 6822 Arabella St Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77091 Beginning at 6:30pm From 4pm - 5:30pm For more info contact: For more info visit: (713) 520-0055 (713) 851-7741 Sunday First Baptist Tuesday Church of Lincoln City Windsor Houston FBC Praise Dancers Networking Breakfast 844 Fortune St 6920 TC Jester Blvd Houston, TX 77088 Houston, TX 77091 Beginning at 11:30am From 9:30am - 10:30am For more info contact: For more info contact: (832) 892-5078 (281)224-0280

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Texas• •August August11 12-18, Texas - 17, 2013 2014

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Sept 19 - Sept 20

Friday - Saturday G.W. Carver HS of AISD class of 1964 Big 5-0 Class Reunion 15700 JFK Blvd Houston, TX 77032 9/19 From 6pm - 12am 9/20 From 8pm - 2am For more info contact: (713) 526-1015

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Church of Lincoln City FBC Praise Dancers 844 Fortune St Houston, TX 77088 Beginning at 11:30am For more info contact: (832) 892-5078 Sunday New Life Tabernacle Pastor & Wife’s Anniversary 3021 DeSoto St Houston, TX 77091 Beginning at 11am For more info contact: (713) 263-9700 Tuesday Mother of Mercy Parish Civil Rights Classes 4000 Sumpter Houston, TX 77002 From 7pm - 8pm For more info contact: (281) 704-6655

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C mmunity

Texas • August 11 -17, 2014

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Citizens Only Get One-Minute to Tell Council to Save Freedman’s Town Historic Bricks

HOUSTON - Taxpayers spend thousands of dollars in property taxes, but when it comes to facing elected officials and have them listen seriously to issues important to the community, “You have 1-minute and 1-minute only” to state your business in the Land of Oz. Speakers came forward, but it became obvious and fully clear that 1-minute was simply not enough time for any taxpaying citizen to state his or her case or express reasons or concerns for protecting decades of Black history that is now in danger of being erased by Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston City Council. The legacy of what took years of labor and sweat to build and that was constructed with hard earned money and by the hands sons and

daughters of slaves is being rudely trampled on by officials in the name of Anglo-American greed and progress. The Freedmen’s Town Coalition is petitioning the City of Houston to use preservative rather than restorative methods when revamping historic Andrews and Wilson Streets in Freedman’s Town/ Fourth Ward – a request that appears to fall on deaf ears, especially since citizens only have 1-minute to talk about why it is important to preserve African-American history. “We hope you consider the work and sweat of ex-slaves who put together their nickels, dimes and quarters together the do this,” said New Zion Temple Pastor John Tate. “This is a forgotten part of our history and we hope you care enough

to preserve and restore it.” It appears that preserving Black history is just not the priority of the elected officials on this council. District C Ellen Cohen let citizens know of her lack of compassion for Black history by blaming residents about street decay and reminding the groups how insignificant it is to her – an it is her own district she represents. “The streets are in deplorable condition...people are even taking the bricks,” she said. “...We also have storm sewers, water piping and electrical lines, roads and sidewalks to repair. That's the balance we face.” To freedom fighters working on the issues, nothing is more important than saving Black history and the group means business when it comes to telling the city and officials about saving the remaining elements of the Black settlement that has been slowly taken and is vanishing. The push is for the public to know the truth and join preservation efforts and help the community by making its history a prioritysomething that Houston has failed miserably in doing in the past. The coalition’s goal is to: 1. Stop the removal of the undisturbed historic bricks and the remaining trolley rails, from all of

Three former Beaumont ISD Employees Indicted for Fraud

BEAUMONT - Three former Beaumont Independent School District employees have been indicted for embezzling money from a program receiving federal funds in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today. Daryl Glenn Johnson, 44, Erin Gipson Johnson, 38, and Kailyn DeShondra Pete, 25, all of Beaumont, were indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges of conspiracy and fraud upon programs receiving federal funds. According to the indictment,

from July 2009 through June, 2012, Daryl Johnson, who was employed as the warehouse supervisor for the school district, is alleged to have had first his wife, Erin Johnson, and then a friend, Kailyn Pete, placed on the BISD payroll as temporary employees. However, neither Erin Johnson nor Kailyn Pete ever actually worked as a BISD warehouse employee. Daryl Johnson had the autonomy to hire temporary warehouse employees on his own, and the authority to determine how many hours they would be paid, and could do so unilaterally and without

Andrews Street and part of Wilson Street. 2. Engage a qualified microtunneling/trenchless Engineering Design firm to redesign the infrastructure installations for “avoidance of harm to the cultural resources” of the historic streets- NHPAct. 3. Reinstate the Federal 106 Review process for the amended plans and engage the appropriate “Consulting Parties” from the broader community, African Diaspora Archaeologists, Historians, and Anthropologists from the beginning to end of the process. 4. Install all new infrastructures for sani-sewer lines, water, and electric lines under sidewalk easements instead of under the streets with multiple lines and connections that will fail. Installation combinations of micro-tunneling, and other trenchless methods must be used in order to prevent the removal of bricks and trolley rails as well as to remediate flooding due to the high density new construction within Freedmen’s Town. Citizens clearly noted that Parker and the council could be in violation of Federal 106 Reviews and the Historic Preservation Act – another fact when questioned and asked for an officials opinion

by Councilman Jerry Davis and Councilman Dwight Boykins, it was brushed off by City Attorney with a “I think we are alright” on this. The Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum and supporters are also working to try and stop the removal of the bricks. Freedmen’s Town is under the National Historical Preservation and has a marker outside the Yates Museum. The city did not pay for one brick, but now is not listening to historians and wants to step in and dictate to African-Americans how it will treat its history. Doris Ellis Robinson, president of Freedman’s Town group, reminded the council that 106 should not something to take lightly. “We must preserve these streets with the best available technology,” she said. “We have to get it right. Once you destroy it, you do not get a do over.” For citizens who stepped us a tax paying voters of Houston to be heard, it is sheer disrespect for them to be “brushed off” after one minute. It is an insult to citizens and to Democracy to see this happen without someone being smart enough to recognize that citizens, taxpayers, former slaves and Black History deserve better.

Erin Johnson was paid $193,998.37. During the timeframe of June 2010 through May 2012, Kailyn Pete was paid $90,041.05. If convicted, the defendants each face up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the joint task force with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, the Beaumont Police

Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Batte and Christopher T. Tortorice. It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable. doubt.

the authorization or direct knowledge of anyone else. Daryl Johnson is alleged to have used this authority to fraudulently verify that both Erin Johnson and Kailyn Pete worked the hours indicated on their respective timesheets, which included extensive amounts of overtime when he knew that they in fact had not worked any of the hours. Pete is We are available to you 24/7/365 ~ Follow Us! alleged to have paid Daryl Johnson $500.00 The #1 100% Black-Owned Worldwide Digital News Source from each of the BISD payroll checks she received. From July 2009 through May 2011,

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Texas • August 11 - 17, 2014

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Texas • August 11 - 17, 2014

DEBATE from pg. 1

C ver St ry

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Snippets of The Great Education Debate. View DEBATES in their entirety online @ www.aframnews.com

The Time & What Must Be Done ~ Understand: Dr. Terry Grier Is Not the Man Behind the Curtain

Robert S. Muhammad, SW Regional Student Minister of the Nation of Islam, urban planner, & radio talk show host

Contrary to Houston’s current popular urban legend, H.I.S.D. Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier is NOT the man behind the curtain pulling the levers like Wizard of Oz. With all due respect to Dr. Grier, his supporters and detractors, he is merely a temporary functionary of a local and global system of education that is designed to perpetuate the rule of the non-white minority in our city, region, state, nation, and across the globe. Neely Fuller, Jr. wrote “If you do not understand White Supremacy (Racism)-what it is, and how it works-

everything else that you understand, will only confuse you.” This is not “conspiracy theory” or opinion, this is reality. Let’s connect the dots. Did you know that the city of Houston and HoustonGalveston region bzecame a majority Non-White region in the mid 1990’s? Did you know that the demography of Houston-Galveston region is what America is projected to be by 2043 according to An Equity Profile of the Houston-Galveston Region (2011)? Did you know the demographers at Texas A&M predicted the year 2040 rates and sources of population

growth, the age structure of the population, the growth of the non-white population, and the change in composition of Texas households in The New Texas Challenge: Population Change and the Future of Texas (2003)? Did you know what Joel Kotkin (2010) wrote about the majority non-white demographic makeup of the United States in The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050? If non-whites are the majority, and one man one vote means anything, then why are we making little to no political, economic, and social progress?

HISD School Closings is Bad Policy Kofi Taharka- National Black United Front, Houston, Chapter

Terry Grier is a hired gun pushing the agenda of billionaire foundations whose agenda is to dismantle public education in this country under the guise of “school reform”. He should be fired post haste. These foundations include Gates Foundation, Broad Foundation and Arnold Foundation. Some of the guiding principles of these groups include: school choice, busting teachers unions, removing seasoned teachers and replacing them with white recent graduates, replacing

public school with charter schools. The problem with HISD School Closings is primarily with bad policy. The HISD school board members have abdicated there responsibilities and ceded power and control to Grier. HISD school closure policy allows for Grier to recommend closure and the board to vote on the matter in 30 days. These leaves communities scrambling to react. That policy needs to change. Dodson Elementary is the one out of five schools

Common Sense vs. Non Sense Travis McGee Sr.

The following is a recounting of my thoughts in 2012 concerning the HISD Bond issue of 2012. In retrospect, I would that people would look back and review what I said back then. I hate to say I am not a prophet, but I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.

It should reset thinking of those needing a memory jog about the bond issue. I remain part of the dialog because I refuse to stop fighting for my children and other neighborhood children who are the real victims of this fight. HISD BOND 2012:

initially marked for closure to close for “low enrollment”, yet HISD records show hundreds of applications to the school. When the Dodson closure was placed on the agenda for reconsideration a parliamentary moved was used to table the issue & silence the communities voice. That’s bad policy! Money, real estate are at the core of many decisions, not children’s education. Grier & HISD has run a smoke & mirrors charade on this community for many years.

WHAT MORE CAN HISD DO WITH $1.9 BILLION THAT THEY COULDN’T DO WITH $2.3 BILLION FROM THE LAST THREE BONDS? AS a parent, taxpayer, and community leader I’m very concerned with the past, present, and even future actions of HISD. One year ago HISD stated and reiterated

The Buck Stops Where? Response to Dr. Terry Grier’s interview in African-American News&Issues (July)

Dr. Terry Grier, Superintendent of Houston Independent School District has given us many of his truths upon which we can have a fact based conversation concerning the education of minority children in HISD, in locations both inside and outside the minority community. The following is a response to the interview with Dr. Grier that was published in the African American news on July 20, 2014 . 1) Where is the empirical data to support the allegations Grier has assessed against

Loretta Brock, The People Hold The Purse

those taking the lead in this quest for equity in education?? I have not taken a survey of those who are leading the charge for equity in education to determine who is sending their children to the neighborhood school and who is not. If I did administer such a survey, I would have a section for an explanation as to why the choice for the student was to not attend the neighborhood school. This is not an ad hominem argument, as such, this information is only relevant to the extent that it identifies the deficien-

cies in the neighborhood schools. This information is not sufficient for the purpose of discrediting the argument for equity in education by persons whose children may or may not be attending the neighborhood schools. 2) Dr. Grier documented a profound observation in the referenced article, “I don’t want any child dropping out of school,” he said, “if you are an African American male, and you drop out, there is an 85% chance you will be incarcerated before your 25th birthday.

The Issue is Equity in Education & Resources Charles X White, Freedom Fighter

I am about telling the truth and that is yet to come forward. Superintendent Terry Grier has done nothing to accelerate a resolution to the current education struggle. “The buck stop here”? (referring to the sign in African-American News&Issues article photo) “Grier you are no Harry S. Truman! - Who gets the money now, you?” Fifty years ago on August 28, 1964 Houston ISD was facing a federal order to desegregate however in the following video clip from 1964 you will see the continued difficulty of HISD to do the right several times that student population and enrollment was declining specifically in older, African American communities. However, research has shown quite the opposite. The population has not decreased. Research has also shown the demand for quality education has increased. This is evidenced in the amount of students pursuing and attending

thing without being ord e r e d : h t t p : / / www.texasarchive.org/library/ index. php?title=The_KHOU- T V _ C o l l e c t i o n _ -_News_ Clips,_August_28,_1964 - (copy link to browser) On August 21, 2014 at 7701 Jutland at Greater St. Mathew Baptist Church, myself and a group of freedom fighters and supporters are hosting the first in a series of education hearings. We are inviting CSPAN and victims of the attacks and assaults on taxpayers, students and the communities by discriminatory policies and practices by HISD and Superintendent Terry Grier. We have selected to schools that are not in close proximity to their homes. These parents and students are desperately seeking out schools that have adequate programs that do not exist in their communities. One year later HISD is asking WE The People for $1.9 billion in bonds to put “New Buildings” in the same areas they initially stated did not have sufficient

advance our findings through a research based approach to prove our findings offer a very different picture than the district is presenting to the public on how the districts is justifying school closing. For example: 23 schools in District II closed out of 75 and 19 in District VI schools closed - Both majority black districts, why? Also food for thought is according to HISD from 2001 to 2012, 42 of 74 schools have been closed or repurposed no including schools in District 9, which translates to more than 57% of these actions occuring in Black communities. This is too high! enrollment. Board members suggested current campuses did not have enough children to operate or function on their current campus budgets. They even closed four schools (Grimes, Rhoads, Stevenson, and McDade). Ironically, several of the schools were included in the 2007 Bond. If the schools were included on the bond proposal, why are they closed now? HOU-7


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African

American News&Issues

Religion

Texas • August 11- 17, 2014

ST. LUKE the EVANGELIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Rev. Francene Young

HOUSTON - St. Luke the Evangelist Episcopal Church is located in Houston’s Third Ward. Historically, It was established in 1920 as the first Black Episcopal Church in Houston. St Luke first’s designation means it has over 90 years of African American history in between its walls and many many events and stories to tell about Black history in the city. It is nestled within the expanding campus of Texas Southern University and a few blocks from the University of Houston at 3530 Wheeler Avenue. OUR PASTOR The Reverend Francene Young is the current Rector at St. Luke the Evangelist. While working as a Vice President in Human Resources for a global energy company, she attended the Episcopal Diocese of Texas’ Iona School for Ministry. After successfully completing the three-year program, Francene was ordained a Transitional Deacon in 2011 and a priest in January 2012. She is one of several bi-vocational priests in the Diocese of Texas. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, she attended the Baptist Church until being introduced to the Episcopal Church as a teen. At age seventeen, the Rev. Young joined the Episcopal Church, after participating in a citywide Episcopal youth group in TX-8

the Diocese of Ohio. When she was a junior in college, she led a parish on Cleveland’s near west side during their transition between rectors. In the Episcopal Church, she has been Senior Warden, Treasurer, Head of Lay Ministries, Verger, Christian Formation instructor, and Lay Eucharistic Minister. In addition to her position as Rector at St. Luke, the Rev. Young is a member of Episcopal Diocesan Commission on Ministry, the Commission on Black Ministry, the Committee on College Ministry and President of the Board of Trustees for Westover School, an all-girls private school in Middlebury, Connecticut. Rev. Young has a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and an undergraduate in Social Services from Cleveland State University. She is married to Kenneth Jones. HISTORY St. Luke the Evangelist Episcopal Church began as a mission under the name, St. Clements Episcopal Church in 1923. The first service held in the organizational stages of the church was on the second Sunday in May 1920, in the basement of the Carnegie Library at Robin and Frederick Streets. The Reverend George Walker, Rector of St. Augustine’s, Galveston, Texas, preached the first sermon. Dr. R. O. Roett is credited with organizational efforts to make this venture possible. From the basement of the Carnegie Library, the church moved to a building at 2409 Hadley Street. On December 2, 1922, the first service was held in the new Chapel with an attendance of seven. The first kindergarten was opened September 17, 1923, with 16 children and the Vicar, The Reverend W. Payne Stanley, as teacher. The organization of this mission represented the third church for African-Americans in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and the

first for African-Americans in Houston following St. Augustine’s Church, Galveston, Texas (1890) and St. John’s Church, Tyler (1892). Although St. Luke’s is listed as being admitted to mission status in 1923, it was not until early 1927 that the recharted church began to grow. This was due, in large part, to the arrival of the Carter Wesley, John D. Epps, Dr. G.P.A. Ford, Donald McClean and Mitchell families. With a grant from The Right Reverend Clinton S. Quinn and with the members of the church raising $1,500, the first permanent building was built in 1931 at the corner of Simmons and Burkett Streets. This facility served the congregation for thirty years. Businessman Lamar Fleming donated two and a quarter acres of land to the church in 1960 and the current structure was erected. A brief interim, St. Luke’s Church met at the YMCA across the street from the present location, while the new church was under construction. The present building was occupied on November 3, 1963, and the mortgage was burned on St. Luke’s Day 1979. This facility seats approximately 300 people and has a marble altar standing parallel to a wall of Colorado river-washed stones. The windows are of irregular designed stained glass that allows the sanctuary to be doused with poetic light. Hanging in front of the wall of stone is a gigantic Red wood cross. The first child to be baptized in the new building was Jewel Doris Cheney on September 27, 1931. The first Confirmation class was presented December 10, 1931. The first marriage ceremony was performed on June 23, 1935. The first burial service was conducted February 24, 1931. Bishop Quinn conducted the first ordination service the spring of 1935 when John D. Epps was ordained to the Deaconate. St .Luke conforms to the beliefs and values of the Episcopal Church. To continue reading visit us online www.aframnews.com

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Texas • August 11- 17, 2014

Energy

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NRG First NFL Stadium To Kick Off Season with LED Lights; First in State to Add Solar Panels

Houston - Whether a Friday night high school game or a Sunday night tailgate, football is king in Texas. Beginning in September, the Houston Texans will not only open up their new season to the roar of crowds and excited fans, but NRG Stadium and football will shine brighter than ever in Texas as NRG Stadium becomes the first professional stadium in the country to illuminate the field with energy-efficient LED lights. NRG is working with the Texans to install hundreds of solar panels in and around the stadium. Not only will NRG Stadium shine brightly with beautifully-efficient lights, but also it will be the first pro football stadium in Texas to be equipped with a solar installation. More than 700 solar panels from NRG Haven Solar Canopies are located throughout NRG Park. What that means is that each day the hot Houston sun that beats down on the stadium, it will serve an even greater purpose —producing renewable energy and empowering fans. According to Elizabeth Killinger, president of NRG Retail and Reliant, turning stadiums into generators of energy is a triple bottom-line proposition: it saves money for teams, helps them appeal to changing attitudes of their fan bases, and protects the environment. “Football is a way to reach people and to show them that solar and LED lighting can work for them,” she said. LEDs or light emitting diodes consume about 80 percent less energy than typical bulbs. NRG, a national energy company that is the parent company of Reliant, rebranded Houston’s football stadium as NRG Stadium

and is turning it into a showcase for the potential of clean energy. When fans park in a covered parking lot, the roof above them will be studded with solar panels. As they proceed over a pair of pedestrian bridges, they’ll likewise be walking under a silent solar plant. The effort will turn the stadium from a net energy consumer to an energy supplier, which is to say the stadium will generate more electricity over the course of a year than it uses during game days. The panels generate positive financial outcomes as well. Electricity is a fixed cost for stadium operators—powering the bright lights and the massive scoreboards require a lot of juice. Instead of pulling energy from the electric grid, which can be expensive, over the course of a year the panels at stadiums can generate up to two and a half times the amount of energy consumed on game days. On weekdays, or during the off-season when the stadium doesn’t draw much power, the electricity it generates is pumped into the grid or used to power neighboring buildings. It will makes a big difference in how the beer is kept cold and the scoreboards are lit. According to David Carter, executive director of the University of Southern California’s Marshall Sports Business Institute, investments can pay off in multiple ways that might not be apparent on game day. He stated that the cities and communities in which football teams operate are themselves seeking high-profile and useful ways to reduce their environmental footprint, and being ahead of the curve on this issue allows sports teams to engage positively on other issues. “The team owners have to deal with municipalities and sponsors, and they want to be well valued by fans,” Carter said. “It’s a smart business decision.”

From groundbreaking NFL solar developments to massive solar and wind farms, NRG has been championing clean and sustainable energy solutions for years. “The innovations we’ve been able to deliver so far – they excite me as I see them breathe new life into our industry and others answer the call to join us,” she said in a statement. “That excitement continues to build, because ultimately, it shows people that sustainable and distributed energy solutions are a reality now – in 2014, in Houston, Texas – and they empower people to choose their energy sources and take control of their energy destiny.” Also, in conjunction with the new energy

revolution, new electric vehicle parking areas will feature eVgo® charging stations. This environmental trend goes beyond just Houston. In several other NFL cities, teams are now helping to convert their fans into more conscientious energy consumers, saving money for their organizations and protecting the environment in the process. The New England Patriots, New York Jets, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles already play their home games under lights powered by the sun, and solar panels are being built into Levi’s Stadium, the future home of the San Francisco 49ers that is currently under construction. The new lights at NRG Stadium are a reminder that we are here to illuminate the energy industry and power the modern lifestyle. NRG considers itself a “standard” energy provider; and partners with consumers and introduce new technology that demonstrates the opportunities clean and sustainable energy solutions make possible. “We are well on our way in this journey and are fully committed to leading us all to a new energy era,” she said. Story By: Darwin Campbell, African-American News&Issues

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Texas • August 11 - 17, 2014

Texas Students Receives $5,000 UNCF Scholarship From Anheuser-Busch

St. Louis – As students prepare to head back to school, 30 collegians from across the country participated in the thirdannual Anheuser-Busch Legends of the Crown leadership symposium in St. Louis and accept $150,000 in scholarships. Legends of the Crown, an Anheuser-Busch program in partnership with UNCF, is an investment in the development of the next generation of leaders. This unique program provides exceptional student leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) $5,000 scholarships and workshops on career planning and leadership development. Both Houston and Ft. Worth, Texas are homes to two of the recipients. Chelsea Clark, Houston, who received $5,000, is using her award toward pursuing a degree in chemistry at Fisk University. Patricia Okwena, Ft. Worth, who also received $5,000, is using hers toward pursuing a degree in computer science at Claflin University. The scholarship program and symposium were inspired by the “Great Kings and Queens of Africa” art collection commissioned by Anheuser-Busch in 1975. Created by 23 unique artists, each piece depicts an African leader and underscores the message of leadership on which the Legends of the Crown educational program was built. “Legends of the Crown is an extension of Anheuser-Busch’s 35-year partnership with UNCF and our commitment to supporting and investing in diverse communities,” said Julio Suárez, Senior Director, Community Affairs, Anheuser-Busch. “The Great Kings and Queens of Africa art collection celebrates the richness of African history and the timeless lessons of

(l-r) Paulette Jackson, Chelsea Clark, Patricia Okwena, & Julio Suarez

leadership each king and queen exemplified.” During the event, which recently took place, the 30 Legends of the Crown scholars will visited area landmarks and worked closely with AnheuserBusch and UNCF executives as well as St. Louis community leaders. Students contributed to a special chalk art installation at Anheuser-Busch that will bring to life select images from the original Great Kings and Queens of Africa art collection. Gian Paul Gonzalez, a motivational speaker best known for his inspirational work with professional athletes, performed the keynote address. Gonzalez shared insights on the commitment students need to follow their dreams and reach their full potential. In addition to Gonzalez’ presentation, students participated in resume workshops and mock interviews with Anheuser-Busch leaders to help them prepare to enter the job market. Additional executives and community leaders will be on-hand to facilitate high-energy panel discussions on leadership development. New this year, previous scholarship recipi-

ents and symposium attendees have been invited back to share words of wisdom and guidance with the 2014 class. The Legends of the Crown symposium culminated with students gathering at Kingdom House on Saturday to help beautify a place where thousands of people achieve self-sufficiency and gain economic independence each year. “The Legends of the Crown scholarship program and leadership symposium have positively impacted the lives of young African-American students for the past three years,” said Jackson. “But we’ve partnered with Anheuser-Busch for decades to help provide students with funds to attain a college education. We count Legends of the Crown as an important part of our work to help make the educational dreams of African-American students come true.” Legends of the Crown scholarships were awarded to eligible student leaders entering their junior year of study at four-year, accredited HBCUs in the 20142015 academic year. Recipients were required to have a 3.2 GPA

or higher, strong leadership skills, and must be pursuing a major in science, technology, engineering, math, business or marketing. For more information about the scholarship program, visit uncf.org. About the Anheuser-Busch “Great Kings and Queens of Africa” Collection First commissioned by Anheuser-Busch in 1975, “The Great Kings and Queens of Africa” is a series of 30 works by 23 African-American artists, many of whom went on to have successful careers in fine art. It features the great leaders and rulers throughout African history, researched by leading African history scholar, Prof. John Henrik Clarke. The paintings became a valued part of teaching African history throughout the country. The collection has been viewed more than 43 million times, including exhibits at the 1982 World’s Fair, 1996 Summer Olympics and on Capitol Hill. The collection’s award-winning artists included Jonathan Knight, Alexander Bostic, Barbara Higgins-Bond, Paul Collins, John Biggers, Lydia Thompson, Jerry Pinkney, Leo Dillon and Carl

Owens. Reprints of the artwork were featured in Anheuser-Busch advertising, calendars and posters. About The Anheuser-Busch Foundation For more than 100 years, Anheuser-Busch and The Anheuser-Busch Foundation have reached out to groups in need, contributing to community organizations across the country and touching countless individual lives. Since 1997, the company and its foundation have donated more than $530 million to charitable organizations, including those that support education, the environment, economic development, disaster preparedness/relief and support of those who serve our country. For more information, visit anheuser-busch.com. About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community, and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Learn more at uncf.org.


Health

Texas • August 11 - 17, 2014

African

American News&Issues

11

Black Women Need to Know Values of Breast Feeding

HOUSTON - August is National Breastfeeding Month and health officials are encouraging women to consider the positive health benefits of using the all natural, perfect baby food. Choosing to breastfeed is an investment in the baby’s future. Breastfeeding allows you to make the food that is perfect for your baby. The milk gives the baby the healthy start that will last a lifetime. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial source of nutrition and provides the healthiest start for an infant. In addition to the nutritional benefits, breastfeeding promotes a unique and emotional connection between mother and baby. In the policy statement, “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk,” published in the March 2012 issue of Pediatrics , AAP reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of a baby’s life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby. The information is supported by Womenshealth.gov, which notes that Breastfeeding protects your baby,

Benefits your health ,may make your life easier and benefits society. Yet, despite the value of breastfeeding, there are racial and ethnic differences in breastfeeding initiation (starting) and duration (continuing) rates, the report said. Breastfeeding Among Black Women According to a 2014 report from the Centers for Disease Control, Black infants consistently had the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration across all study years. Even though breastfeeding is now on the rise among AfricanAmerican women, the gap still lags between black and white breastfeeding initiation rates narrowed from 24 percentage points in 2000 to 16 percentage points in 2008. From 2000–2008, the percentage of women who initiated breastfeeding went up from 47.4% to 58.9% for blacks, and 71.8% to 75.2% for whites. Initiation rates for Hispanics went from 77.6% to 80.0%, although this was not a significant increase. The 6-month duration gap also narrowed from 21 percentage points to 17 percentage points during that same time. While 74.6% of infants born in 2008 began breastfeeding, only 23.4% met the recommended

breastfeeding duration of 12 months. This indicates women may need more support to continue breastfeeding. The report confirms that “lowincome women, among whom African-American and Hispanic women are over-represented, are more likely than their higher-income counterparts to return to work earlier,” and often to jobs that make it challenging to breastfeed during the day. It points to the need that Black mothers may also need more, targeted support to start and continue breastfeeding. One program across the United States training and educating African-American women and men about the value of breastfeeding is the African American Breastfeeding Network of Milwaukee. It was formed in 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to address breastfeeding disparities; increasing awareness of the benefits and value of mother’s milk; build community allies; and de-normalize formula use. “We are here to serve because there is a great need.” Program Manager, and Co-Founder, Dalvery Blackwell, who has run that program since 2007. According to Blackwell, her organization promotes breastfeeding as the natural way to provide the best nutrition to babies and accurate information about breastfeeding to ‘normalize’ breastfeeding by bringing pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and their families together with lactation consultants. The program also provides a Peer Father Advocate component, the father peer advocate will work individually with the men, to deliver, key messages that include how to support breastfeeding, how to bond with your breastfed baby and how to continue to support breastfeeding when the mother returns to work and/or school. What health benefits does breastfeeding give my baby? The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk protect babies from illness. This protection is unique and changes to meet your

baby’s needs. Research suggests that breastfed babies have lower risks of: • Asthma • Childhood leukemia • Childhood obesity • Ear infections • Eczema (atopic dermatitis) • Diarrhea and vomiting • Lower respiratory infections • Necrotizing (nek-rohTEYE-zing) enterocolitis (en-TUR-oh-coh-lyt-iss), a disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract in pre-term infants • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) • Type 2 diabetes How does breastfeeding compare to formula-feeding? Formula can be harder for your baby to digest. For most babies, especially premature babies, breastmilk substitutes like formula are harder to digest than breastmilk. Formula is made from cow’s milk, and it often takes time for babies’ stomachs to adjust to digesting it. Life can be easier for you when you breastfeed. Breastfeeding may seem like it takes a little more effort than formula-feeding at first. But breastfeeding can make your life easier once you and your baby settle into a good routine. When you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize. You do not have to buy, measure, and mix formula. And there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night! When you breastfeed, you can satisfy your baby’s hunger right away. Not breastfeeding costs money. Formula and feeding supplies can cost well over $1,500 each year. Breastfed babies may also be sick less often, which can help keep your baby’s health costs lower. Breastfeeding keeps mother and baby close. Physical contact is important to newborns. It helps them feel more secure, warm, and comforted. Mothers also benefit from this closeness. The skin-to-skin contact boosts your oxytocin (OKSee-TOH-suhn) levels. Oxytocin is a hormone that helps breastmilk flow and can calm the mother.

What are the health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers? Breastfeeding helps a mother’s health and healing following childbirth. Breastfeeding leads to a lower risk of these health problems in mothers: Type 2 diabetes Certain types of breast cancer Ovarian cancer How does breastfeeding help in an emergency? During an emergency, such as natural disaster, breastfeeding can save your baby’s life: Breastfeeding protects your baby from the risks of an unclean water supply. Breastfeeding can help protect your baby against respiratory illnesses and diarrhea. Your milk is always at the right temperature for your baby. It helps to keep your baby’s body temperature from dropping too low. Your milk is readily available without needing other supplies. How does breastfeeding benefit society? Society benefits overall when mothers breastfeed. Breastfeeding saves lives. Recent research shows that if 90% of families breastfed exclusively for 6 months, nearly 1,000 deaths among infants could be prevented. Breastfeeding saves money. The United States would also save $2.2 billion per year — medical care costs are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants. Breastfed infants usually need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations. Breastfeeding also helps make a more productive workforce. Mothers who breastfeed miss less work to care for sick infants than mothers who feed their infants formula. Employer medical costs are also lower. Breastfeeding is better for the environment. Formula cans and bottle supplies create more trash and plastic waste. Your milk is a renewable resource that comes packaged and warmed. By: Darwin Campbell, African-American News&Issues TX-11


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