Vol. 19 Issue 35
Greater Houston
September 22 - 28, 2014 | FREE ®
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PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR HISTORY! FORGETTING WHAT HAPPENED TO US CAN DESTROY US! ~Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman~
Abusing Versus Disciplining Your Child
Community Sounds Off on the Recent Controversy & It’s Historical Connection
See CHILD pg. 4
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African
American News&Issues
Yates Alumni & Third Ward Rise To Fight Jack Yates with City Wide Support By: Jesse Muhammad, Contributing Writer
Fighting for a First Class New Yates for future generations
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The study of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses by American students is crucial to our country’s economy and our standing in the world as a global innovator. Students who master one of those disciplines are likely to find high-paying jobs when they complete their undergraduate and graduate education. Financially, they will do much better than students who pursued non-STEM related degrees, according to most economic forecasters. There was once a time when our country ranked at the very top of the list of nations whose students were proficient in the hard sciences. Today, however, we rank 21st in math proficiency and 25TH in the hard sciences. Once we also led the world in the annual number of college graduates. Today, however, there are 17 countries that graduate more students each year than we do from colleges and universities. The future for our students revolves around technology. And we must insist that they receive
Local & State On September 16, alumni of Jack Yates High School, residents of Third Ward and concerned citizens from throughout the city let their voices be heard during a protest outside the campus despite the rain. They were protesting preliminary plans for a new multi-million dollar Jack Yates building and what they call the district’s failure to reach out to the community and to take care of the present school population. Spearhead by Kofi Taharka, Chairman of the National Black United Front, they chanted “We Are Jack Yates!” in between hearing from multiple speakers. One alumni said to the
STEM and The Future the academic training that will ensure their financial futures, and allow our country to regain its preeminence in science and technology. Earlier this year President Obama stated that America must move from the middle to the very top in STEM education. He challenged our nation’s educators to produce 100,000 STEM instructors during a ten-year period, who will teach science, technology, engineering and math. I fully support the position taken by our president. I believe that our institutions of higher learning must get involved in the efforts to train and graduate more STEM educators, and help us to locate those 100,000 teachers that the president has requested. Parents of young people play a critical role as their children are taught STEM related disciplines. At home, students must receive encouragement that they can be successful studying courses that some students perceive as too difficult and boring. Our students must be taught
TexasTexas • September - 28, 2014 • August22 12-18, 2013
crowd said, “I’m mad as hell at the principal too. You’re not trying to kill the band; you’re trying to kill fine arts. They have not put a dollar into fine arts.” “Once you destroy the schools, you destroy the community,” said Krystle Muhammad, National Chairwoman of New Black Panther Party. “We need to get some new blood in office who is not afraid and stop putting these same bootlickers in front of us to distract us! Let’s stay united!” Nation of Islam student minister Robert Muhammad said, “It’s time for us to go on the offense and not just be on the defense!”
that everything in life that brings rewards will necessitate hard work and discipline. The journey that they embark upon will not be easy in the beginning, but it will bear much fruit in their futures. In addition to federal efforts, a number of states are promoting STEM education to ensure that they have work forces that are capable of meeting the challenges of our ever-changing technological environment. In Texas, for instance, 91 public and private institutions have been designated by the state as T-STEM academies, which are middle and senior high schools that concentrate on preparing students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The academies, which are located throughout the state- including the 30th Congressional District-, are dedicated to increasing the number of students that excel in STEM subjects, and who pursue careers in a related field. It goes without saying that STEM related study and profi-
“It can’t just be a few of us fighting, it must be all of us!” said Jeffrey L. Boney, a local radio show host and a 1991 graduate of Yates. “Most of the time it’s not comfortable to do certain things, but I don’t have to be comfortable, I don’t have to be popular and I don’t have to be anybody’s fan. But what I will always be is a proud Jack Yates alumni,” said woman who heads the schools booster program. Following the rally, HISD representatives presented a rendering of the proposed $59 million building that would be facing Alabama street. People took to the microphone to voice their concerns.
Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson TX 30th Dist.
ciency will be greatly needed in the future. It is necessary for our children and our country. Technology touches all of our lives. Our school systems must encourage students to pursue STEM coursework. If we do not, the futureCard willfornot be as bright Business Paper_Layout 1 as 6/9/14 it could have been.
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Edit rial & Opini n
Limiting Voter Participation in the Middle of Crisis Rev. Al Sharpton President, National Action Network
In less than two months, Americans will once again head to the polls to participate in the allimportant midterm elections. But unfortunately, not everyone will be able to cast a vote. On Friday, a federal appeal’s court reinstated Wisconsin’s harsh voter ID law that will in effect disenfranchise thousands of minority and poor voters from the upcoming election. Wisconsin is just the latest state to join dozens of others with new draconian voting laws already on the books. If this summer has taught us anything, it’s to remind us of the significance of elections as the leaders we choose will make decisions that impact us directly on a daily basis. Whether it’s policing tactics, public education, legislation to combat domestic violence, access to quality health care and more, who we elect will greatly determine key issues that matter to us all. The question is, if we are in a crisis with so many things hanging in the balance, why limit participation in the process? The answer is pretty obvious. Georgia State Senator Fran Millar recently made shocking and outrageous statements in response to early voting in Dekalb County, specifically at the South Dekalb Mall. He stated: “This location is dominated by African American shoppers and it is near several large African American mega churches ... Is it possible church buses will be used to transport people directly to the mall since the poll will open when the mall opens?” He was also quoted as saying that he would prefer “more educated voters than a greater increase in the number of voters.” His glaringly partisan and discriminatory words are indicative of many so-called elected officials who would rather shut
citizens out of the electoral process because they know that the power rests in the hands of the people. Even when tremendous amounts of money are poured into election campaigns, the people have the final say when they walk into that voting booth. They know it and we know it. And that’s exactly why they have been working so diligently to keep many away. When we look at the situation in Ferguson, Missouri and the tragic death of Michael Brown, we are reminded of the importance of who we elect to our city councils, who sits on our local board of education committees, who we pick to represent us in Congress, in the Senate and more. The horrific cases in Ferguson, in Staten Island with the death of Eric Garner, and all across the country serve as stark reminders that we must have a say in who polices us, and how that policing is done. We must, we must, let our voices be heard on Election Day. We cannot reform institutional racism or systemic policies if we are not actively engaged. It’s not enough to simply complain about injustice; the only way to prevent future injustice is to create the society we would like to see, one where we are all equal under the law. Back in 1990, Joe Biden (who was a Senator at the time), introduced the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in Congress. Though it took a few years for the Act to be signed into law, it transformed the way in which we investigate and prosecute crimes against women. According to the White House itself: the VAWA changed law enforcement practices, improved the criminal justice system, and created a network of services for victims. The bill established new federal crimes of interstate domestic violence and stalking, doubled penalties for repeat sex offenders, and sparked the passage of laws at the state level to protect victims. Since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, rates of domestic violence have decreased by over 50%. 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.”
An Unforgettable History of Abused People
“If you can control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do. If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one.” – Carter G. Woodson, The Mis-Education of The Negro When it comes to the history and tragedies of other races, we hear the saying “We will never forget.” However, when it comes to the history of what was done to Black people, we are told to “move on.” We MUST Understand that we can never forget and we can never just move on because we are still feeling the affects of what was done to us during chattel slavery. We as elders should not hesitate in sharing this history with the new generations. It will give them insight into why we are still being treated a certain way, why racism is still alive and well and why we are doing certain things to one another. We suffered the worst oppres-
sion and abuse of any people on the Earth. We were broken down mentality, told our skin was curse and sold as property to the highest bidder. We were treated less than animals and dehumanized in such a way that would make a brass monkey shed tears. Long before football and basketball, lynchings of Blacks were considered sporting events for adult White spectators and their children. Our corpses were burned at the stake and photographed for printing in the local newspapers. Strange fruit was found hanging from countless trees. Being abused at the hands of the slavemaster’s whip was a daily regiment. He would beat us and leave permanent scars on our bodies. He would punish those who tried to escape the plantation with many lashes. Beating after beating. Whipping after whipping. What effect this have of the psychology of the Black slaves? Is whipping truly apart of Black culture? Is it truly learned behavior that we are now doing to one another on many levels? The slavemaster would take a pregnant Black woman, tie her to a tree upside down, cut open her womb, watch the unborn baby fall to the ground and then stomp the baby’s head. The slavemaster would also take a Black man, tie
- Roy Douglas
We MUST Understand By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman
him to two horses, hit both of the horses at the same time causing them to run in opposite directions to rip that Black man in half. We MUST Understand that we are still being abused and oppressed as a people. We are still victims of racism, shot down unjustly, and treated like secondclass citizens; or no citizens at all. We also have to be honest with ourselves that we are abusing one another. We have issues within our community that cannot be sugarcoated. Yet at the same time we cannot ignore the historical dynamics that aided in shaping abusive actions we take on one another. We MUST Understand that all that we see going on is connected to our history. We are doing certain things to ourselves based upon things our ancestors experienced at the hands of our oppressors. We have been programmed and are being programmed to abuse ourselves and many of us don’t even recognized it’s happening. This is not by accident, it’s by design. We should and can never forget. And we should not try to merely move on. Why? Because the struggle continues.
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CHILD from pg. 1
The recent controversy surrounding NFL football star Adrian Peterson has sparked a serious discussion and debate on how far can a parent go in disciplining their child. Many feel this is nothing new, while others feel this has brought a necessary conversation to the forefront. “I’m sorry, but although my mother and grandmother thoroughly whipped by behind, some of the things they did then I now see as a abuse,” says Barbara White, a family counselor in Dallas. “I think we have to set limits because we as parents can go to far. And in today’s climate, there is only so much you can do before you end of facing legal matter. I’m not pointing fingers at Adrian Peterson or any of the celebrities because in truth this goes on every day in our community. It sadden me to see the images of his son, but I see a lot more than you could imagine,” said White. Peterson was indicted on September 11 by a Montgomery County, Texas, grand jury on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child that occurred in May of this year. He is accused of beating his four-year-old son repeatedly with a tree branch, causing severe welts and bleeding on the child’s back, legs, buttocks, genitals and ankles. In their initial response, the Vikings deactivated Peterson for a single game but have now been banned
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from any team activities until the legal matter is resolved. “I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child. I never wanted to be a distraction to the Vikings organization, the Minnesota community or to my teammates. I never imagined being in a position where the world is judging my parenting skills or calling me a child abuser because of the discipline I administered to my son,” said Peterson in a recent statement. He continued, “I have learned a lot and have had to reevaluate how I discipline my son going forward. But deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives. I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man. I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make. I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser.” “This is nonsense to me the way Peterson has become somewhat of a poster child for child abuse when we no good and well people have done worse. And Black people have been getting spankings for a long
C ver St ry
time. I got plenty of them and I didn’t see it as abuse,” said Chris Franklin, a father of three sons in Houston. Franklin, whose sons are now teenagers, believes that spanking is very necessary and that a parent has a right to discipline their children how they see fit. “We don’t know everyone’s circumstances and some people are doing the best they can. I think it’s unfair how society can now limit the rights of the parents in disciplining they child and even send them to jail,” he said. “I’m a single mother of two boys. I’m far from being a perfect mother but I refused to let my sons run over me. So sometimes it took going upside their heads to get their attention. Was it right? Some may say, “no” but what’s worse: Me getting on them or the police busting them in the head?” asks Jennifer Reed, who resides in New Orleans. “I spanked all of my children but I think Adrian Peterson went to far. I never spanked my children when I was real angry because I knew I could potentially hurt. We have to know limits and not abuse our children. But we have a right to discipline our children as parents,” said Harry Granger, who resides in Southwest Houston. Even former pro athletes have weighed in and are divided in their thoughts about the controversy. “I’m from the South. Whipping, we do that all the time. Every Black parent in the south is going to be in jail under those circumstances. We have to be careful letting people dictate,” observed former NBA great Charles Barkley. NFL Hall of Famer Chris Carter, who played for the Minnesota Vikings, said, “My mom did the best job she could do raising seven kids by herself, but there are thousands of things that I have
learned since then that my mom was wrong. It’s the 21st century – my mom was wrong. She did the best she could but she was wrong about some of that stuff she taught me and I promised my kids I won’t teach that mess to them.” Some people are even saying the culture of spanking in the Black community is rooted in what we experienced during slavery. “For me as an AfricanAmerican, the question is where did you learn that from? Is that learned from the slave master? Getting the switch? Being beaten?” CNN host Don Lemon asked during a recent segment. “The belief is that Black people began whipping their children out of fear that the overseers and masters would whip them worse. If so, it’s easy to empathize with parents who made that choice. But if those parents inflicted the same punishment that the slave master would have inflicted, how is that punishment a good thing? Is there a difference between a hateful beating and a loving one?” wrote a columnist for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “Does the latter feel less painful than the former? Does the skin heal differently? Were the slave masters wrong when they desired to whip young children? If they were, how could it have been right to do what those slave masters would have done?” “I think to try and connect this to what Blacks went through in slavery is pointless. Just because they whipped the hell out of us on the plantation does not excuse us from the abuse we’re doing to our own children,” opined Rebecca Wilson, a married mother of four. “I’ve done much harm to my babies and much harm was done to me when I was little. I just think we need some mental health counseling across the board instead of trying to blame slavery.” “We as a people suffer from Post-Traumatic Slavery Syndrome and a lot of our behaviors we learned from the slave master. So the fact that we connect whippings to Black culture bears witness that we are acting out another learned behavior,” said Vince Granger, a history professor at community
• August22 12-18, 2013 TexasTexas • September - 28, 2014
college. “Let’s not pretend like we’re not still a sick people in need of a mental cleansing from the trauma of what the slave master did to us. We’re sick and abusing one another because were abused. Plain and simple.” THE STATISTICS CANNOT BE IGNORED According to the non-profit, Child Help: • A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds • More than four children die every day as a result of child abuse. • It is estimated that between 50-60% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates. • Approximately 70% of children that die from abuse are under the age of 4. • More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way. • Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. • About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse. • In at least one study, about 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder. • The estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2008 is $124 billion. According to more statistics, of the 702,000 cases of substantiated child abuse in 2009, 44 percent involved White children and 22.3 percent involved Black children. Latinos made up 20.7 percent of the total population of abused children. The rate of abuse among Latinos children was proportionately higher than that of Whites but lower than that of Blacks. To continue reading visit us online @ www.aframnews.com Story By: Jesse Muhammad Contributing Writer
Texas • September 22-28, 2014
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Is It Right? ~ The Community Weighs In on Discipline vs. Abuse
"I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man," - Adrain Peterson During Slavery Black people whooped their children to correct them because if the masters would whip them for their wrong doings, it would be worse. Nothing has changed People, modern day slavery is PRISON --- We whoop our kids to teach them right from wrong because if we don’t correct them, the system is going to abuse them worse!!! When I was little I lived at the dead end of my sidewalk in Garden City . If I did something wrong I got beat by at least four neighbors before I made it home to my Mom and Grandmother which was two additional whoopings coming. I truly believe that it takes a village to raise a child and I am thankful for those beatings because I could have been another statistic and prime example as a product of my environment. ~ Patrice Johnson I believe in whooping a child but I believe discipline should be to a certain extent. If they are not listening and have to be corrected several times then they will get popped or flicked. I don’t believe in whooping with an extension cord or the wrong end of the belt. Parents should know how far to go. However, I believe that parents should be able to police their children before the police - police their children. ~ A. Stewart "I'm not for abusing children but I think the Adrian Peterson situation is being exploited by the media. Although he has personal responsibility, we should not be so quick to judge people and make it seem like he's the only one or that this is something new. Give me a break people! Wake up and let's focus on the bigger picture and stop being caught up in the sensationalism of limited news cycle" ~ Alicia Givens "I firmly believe that we must spank our children at some point. But I have also witnessed that you can discipline your children WITHOUT spanking and they can still get the message. It's all about what the parent chooses to do and I don't think we should be trying to tell people how to run their households when many of us can barely keep our own in order." ~ Gregg Holmes "People overacting as usual. Whippings been around for centuries so that's not the point. The point is what is excessive and based upon the alleged pictures, Adrian Peterson went overboard. But that doesn't make him a child abuser, it makes him a parent who made a mistake. There is no such thing as a PERFECT parent. If you think you are, you're lying. Some of us verbally abuse our children and that can be more damaging than physical abuse." ~ Heather Francis
I read reports about leaves being stuffed in the little boy’s mouth and yes parents do have the right to discipline their kids but if this is true, then he possibly went over board. I do believe in spanking kids but I also feel that most kids these days are advantaged and have so much valuable and prized possessions, like phones and video games, I feel that if you take it away from them that is enough discipline. ~ K. Keene Don’t hit your kids it is abuse- It causes them to have psychological issues -- NO what causes them to have psychological issues is counting dots that are not on the wall of the corner that you have placed your child in...TIME OUT -- Time out? Really? Let them know why they are getting spanked, they can think about it while they are getting spanked. Correct the issue at that time. Placing a child in time out is putting them in solitary confinement making them think about what they did and if they are not strong enough, they will claim they started hearing voices and will start thinking about how they gone kill you. Perfect example of the Instagram post of the little White kid who’s parents put him in Time out. If anything a spanking will get you in line and the next time you will think about it and the consequences that you received so if that is more psychological than hallucination then something is terribly wrong with one’s judgement. I received both types of discipline when I was growing up and today I am thankful for those spankings because I agree with Adrian Peterson, I believe that it had a great deal to do with my success. Thinking back I’d prefer whippings over time out any day~ La’Nette H. Open Letter to Adrian Peterson’s Attorney and the Harris County D.A. Re: Concerning Beating Your Children; Proverbs 24: 12-14 Verse 12. Apply thine heart into instruction, and thine ears to words of knowledge. Verse 13. Withhold not correction from the child: for thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die. Verse14. Thou shall beat him with the rod and shall deliver his soul from hell. Mr. Peterson is correct to beat his sons. There are over two million inmates in the prison system in the country. Over 35% are young Black men between the ages of 18 and 35, and another 20% between the ages of 18 - 24. Do we really want to prosecute Mr. Peterson for doing what God said to do? Respectfully, ~ Rabbi Tommy Parker The African-American Unified Umbrella Corp. www.theaauuc.com - website
I believe that people should mind their own business and parents have the right to discipline their kids. I think parents need to know who to involve and how to handle these types of situations. People want to say that he had a child that died from abuse, but that child did not die at his hands and that has nothing to do with anything at all. This incident happened months ago, why bring it to light now? One thing is for sure, If I take care of my child and give him the finer things in life, he will respect me and do as he is told or I will whoop him. If anything, I feel that the mother set her son up for interrogation and has painted and made the child’s father out to be a monster, before this was a man he loved and now a man he hates. ~ Star Williams
Had he not addressed the situation and handled it like he did disciplined his son for scratching his daughter in the face - as the years go by, you will find yourself dealing with another Ray Rice case. Not to attack Ray, but simply to say teach them while they young (boy or girl) to keep their hands to themselves. Especially with him being a Black boy and the son of a professional athlete, the criminal justice system is itching for him to mess up and blow it out of proportion so they can relate back to this incident. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Every parent has the right to discipline their child(ren) especially when they are supporting them. If this is the way he needed to get his point across then he had every right too. Ok, so he was four years old and got a good old fashion whooping with a switch. The scars will heal and I bet he will not hit another girl especially his sister. He now knows right from wrong. These modern day mothers need to stop raising these boys to be cry babies. ~ Lola Gene Know your strength, do not kill your child. Discipline your child to teach them a lesson. Do not beat your child just because you are having issues and simply want a punching bag to take it out on. That is when it is over the boundaries. That is when it is abuse. You can beat your child because you love them and you want them to make the right decisions in life. The minute they mess up the finger points back at you saying you were a bad parent or you did not discipline your child. All is mixed emotions when it comes to this topic. Adrian Peterson had reasoning behind whipping his son. Had it been the other way around, I am sure that he would have disciplined his daughter too. Children these days have to be taught and some disciplined to a certain extent. Did he go to far? I can’t answer that but he used his best judgement and he whooped his child for an inappropriate action. So do I think he was wrong, No cause I would have did the same. ~ Rio H.
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SUNDAY 7411 Wheatley St. 8:00 a.m.Houston, WorshipTX 77088 10:00 a.m. Bible Class 11:15 a.m. Worship 6:00 p.m. Worship MONDAY 713-747-9604 10:00 a.m. 5730 Calhoun Rd. Gary Smith Ladies Bible Class
Johnson Funeral Home
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LOCKWOOD Website www.fthwardcoc.org
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“GIVING, GROWING, & GAINING” 4308 Stonewall St. Hou. Tx 77020
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"Committed to the Future" 9402 713-672-2654
Lockwood Dr. In addition to their other activities, the Fifth WardHouston, COCTexas also77016 holds a Bible Class for non-members on Thursday nights at 7:30 PM. For more information on the various special events or activities you really should visit their website, it is very well done, informative and worth a visit even if you have anoth-
Please sign for approval and fax back to 713-692-1183 by 12 NOON Wednesday the week before Monday publication or the ad will not run.
Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs.edu/district/departments/procurement.
looking for Sealed proposals will be • Part Time Florist received in Procurement • Part Time Delivery Driver Operations (3100 Main Street, **Requirements** Room No. 11A06 Houston DL & Auto InsurancePO#101750 Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (loMust have GPS and/or cal time) on Monday, October Keymap Knowledge 20, 2014.
FUNERAL HOME OFFICE: 713/674-5131 140 Fidelity Rd. Houston Tx 77029
Marketplace Heading: ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Public Notice CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-AT-RISK Sterling Aviation High School HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (HISD) Cadence McShane Construction as Construction Manager-at-Risk for HISD, in accordance with Texas Government Code 2269, will receive bids or proposals from Contact Information all qualified subcontractors for the All-Trade Packages. Name: Jennifer Chiu A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held 10:00am Friday, October 3, 2014, at Phone: (713) 718-5138 Sterling High School Cafeteria located at 11625 Martindale, Houston, TX 77048. A Site-Visit walkthrough of the project will be held immediately following the preFax: proposal conference. Email: hua.chiu@hccs.edu Bids or proposals are due Wednesday, October 22, at 2:00pm, and bids or proposals Address for Tearsheet/Copies: should be emailed to houstonbids@cadencemcshane.com or mailed/delivered to the Street Cadence McShane Construction,3100 7701 W. Main Little York, Suite 400, Houston, TX Houston, Texas 77002 77040. Late bids will not be accepted. There will be no public opening of bids or proposals. All bids or proposals shall be available after award of contract, or the 7th day after final selection of bids or AD COST proposals, whichever is later. After receipt of bids or proposals, Cadence McShane, will conduct its evaluation of the subcontractor bids or proposals in relation to the project requirements and will selectTOTAL the bid(s) or proposal(s) offers the best $180.00 NETthatCOST: value to HISD. Marketplace Heading: Cadence McShane, is committed to meeting the M/WBE goals setPublic for this project. Notice M/WBE forms, schedules and statements, as required by the package documents, shall accompany each bid or proposal that is submitted. Bids or proposals submitted without all required information, and in the order and manner specified, may Contact Information result in the bid or proposal being considered non-responsive. Jennifer Chiu HISD, the Owner, reserves the right to waive Name: any informality and/or to reject any, or all bids, or proposals. Phone: (713) 718-5138 Contact Eddie Smith at esmith@cadencemcshane.com Fax: or Wm. Earl Finley, C.P.M., A.P.P. at wfinley@houstonisd.org for additional information on this project Email: hua.chiu@hccs.edu Drawings and specifications are available on iSQFT (www.isqft.com) and in the CaAddress forHouston, Tearsheet/Copies: dence McShane office located at 7701 W. Little York, Suite 400, TX 77040. 3100 Main Street Drawings and Specifications may also be reviewed at: Associated General Contractors, 3825 Dacoma Street, Houston, TX 77092,Houston, (713) 843-3700Texas 77002 McGraw Hill Construction/Dodge, www.construction.com Virtual Builders Exchange, 3910 Kirby, #131, Houston, TX 77098, (832) 613-0201AD COST
Rate and size of Ad to run in AAN&I’s Greater Houston September 22-28, 2014 (Vol. 19 Issu EDITION DATE: September 29 - October 5, 2014 (Vol. 19 713-692-1195 Texas 77002) until 2:00 PM
Shirley Ann’s Sealed qualifications will be received in Procurement Black Kollectibles EDITION DATE: Operations (3100 Main Street, & Flowers Room No. 11A06 Houston
Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church 713-806-9889 Call 979-921-9908 Enrollment Management members will endeavor to provide a (8am-4pm) P.O. Box 551056 strong foundation of love; we will stand Services Please sign for approval and fax back to 713-692-1183 on Biblical Truths; and we will equip Houston, Tx 77055 Project No. 15-02 another to spread the Gospel of Je713-697-1758 HELP WANTED by 12 NOON Wednesdayone the week before Monday publication or the ad will not run. sus Christ in our community and in our world.6616 D.S. Bailey Lane BEAUTY SHOP
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talented writers to showcase Signature their skills andby touch with 12base NOON Wednesday the Media Kit Available at the African-American www.aframnews.com community through current Online Advertisment and historical realities affeting available NOW! our community from the PO#101750 For more info call African American perspective (713) 692-1892 Categories Number
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American News&Issues
Pastor Ralph G. Holiday, Jr. (New Covenant Christian Tabernacle) Story By: Rebecca S. Jones
Pastor Ralph G. Holiday
HOUSTON - African-American News&Issues presents, Pastor Ralph G. Holiday of New Covenant Christian Tabernacle as our ‘Religion Profile’ of the week. After receiving a call from the Holy Spirit to minister and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ over a decade ago, Holiday made haste to that beckon. On January 31, 1999, he accepted that call at Berean Missionary Baptist Church. He was licensed into the ministry on March 21st of that same year. The next year on October 20th he became an ordained minister. He served faithfully at Berean MBC for seven years. Two of those years he was entrusted to be Youth Pastor and remained an Associate Minister for five years. In October of 2007, still on fire for the Lord with the allegory that the Prophet Jeremiah would refer to as, “fire shut up in his bones;” Holiday moved his membership to Fellowship MBC. Under the leadership of Pastor Nelson LaFleur, he assisted with the building of the youth ministry. While there, he served as Youth Pastor for two years and as an Associate Minister for three years. Following those years the Lord saw fit to assign him to a higher level of stewardship. Thus, he was elected pastor at New Garden Oaks MBC, on May 6, 2012. As many leaders face various challenges starting out TX-8
within the body of a pre-established administration; Pastor Holiday’s experience was no different. During an interview he recalled that his first and most significant mission as the newly elected pastor was to face, “the challenges of teaching people of God to be obedient to the Word of God.” He continued, “We had crucial financial problems from the old regime, a lack of stability, which was not a conducive environment for church growth.” It was from this experience that, His Heavenly Father bestowed upon him the vision to establish New Covenant Christian Tabernacle. Acting upon faith, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the help of the board of directors, New Covenant Christian Tabernacle was birthed into existence, May 19, 2013. New Covenant adheres to a mission which is, “to develop the people of God to disciple to people of God.” Biblically based and spiritually ordained New Covenant’s vision was drawn from Ephesians 4:12, “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” As true disciples of Christ, Pastor Holiday and the New Covenant believers “endeavor to mature the people of God, for the work of God, for the continued building of the kingdom of God.” Since its establishment the ministry has taken off into full throttle. Currently, they are feeding the hungry, clothing the ill-clothed, regenerating the spirit of the people in the community. Other efforts that are in the making rest in the form of, seeking to enhance the community through revitalization efforts. As such New Covenant has a desire to establish a transitional living center for ex-offenders and veterans, as well as creating partnerships with local churches in regards to youth programs. When asked, Pastor Holiday revealed that one of his primary
Religion
motivations is, “seeing the people of God grow.” He added, “I love to see babes in Christ eat from the Word of God, mature and then go out and become witnesses to others about the goodness of the Lord.” Holiday also made mention of his sincere desire to grasp the youth of the community at an early age. He commended Youth Pastor, Jamie Grant for working so diligent with the youth of New Covenant. Together they are working fervently at the task of detouring the youth from the pitfalls that many youth are confronted with in the Black community. In tackling the goals and vision set forth by Pastor Holiday, he is not oblivious to the fact that there remain certain obstacles that must be overcome. He passionately expressed that these are major obstacles at the moment he feels are of urgent necessity. These obstacles include: properties that have become noisome, of which city leaders have been made aware and yet there remains no viable resolution; concrete parking, this has stopped the Houston Food Bank from approving New Covenant as a site for the Mobile Unit to feed the abundance of families in need and the church structure itself; which needs a new foundation. Though New Covenant has obtained a 501c3, Pastor Holiday solicits help of knowledgeable individuals and entities that may offer assistance as to how they may utilize it for the betterment of the church. Nevertheless, he remains comforted and encouraged in the fact that, “God is still faithful unto us and we will continue to be faithful unto Him!” Service times for NCCT are as follows: • Sunday, Sunday School 10 a.m. • Sunday, Morning Worship 11:15 a.m. • Wednesday, Bible Study 7 p.m. • Thursday, Choir Rehearsal 6 p.m. To worship at New Covenant Christian Tabernacle stop by, 9049 Brandon St. 77051. For more information regarding upcoming services and events at NCCT call, (713) 734-4431 or visit their website: newcovenantchristiantabernacle.org.
Texas • September 22 - 28, 2014
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Texas • September 22 - 28, 2014
Read us online! w w w. aframnew s. com
9
MMR Vaccinations Linked to Autism in Young Black Males
S
omeone once said, “A man who won’t treat you right won’t teach you right.” This could have never been further from the truth. History has proven over and over again that those in high positions who oversee the health of the general population do not have our best interests in mind when it comes to our health, especially our young Black boys. On August 29th of this year, senior scientist William
Thompson of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) blew the whistle on an epidemiological study conducted in 2004 on the connection between MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccinations and Autism. At the time, there was no connection between the two. However, after ten years, Thompson admitted that key data was removed from the study indicating that African American males who received the vaccination around the age of two had a very high risk of developing autism. So does this story sound somewhat familiar? Let’s go back to the Tuskegee Experiment in 1932 where Black men were told they had bad blood yet the true intention of the scientists at that time was to give these men syphilis and leave them untreated to intermingle among their own people, spread-
Massage Therapy: The Original Anti-Depressant
A
ccording to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Blacks are less likely to suffer from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) than are Whites. However, when it does occur it tends to happen more severe and chronic. During those occasions we are more likely to seek the support and comfort from friends, ministers, recreational outlets or sometimes by way of less healthier self-treatments. Yet, we are less likely to seek professional help from those specialized in treating MDD than our white counterparts who are twice as likely to receive counseling. In a Washington Post article entitled, “ Therapists say African Americans are increasingly seeking help for mental illness”, it was stated that in 2008 whites received mental health treatment or counseling at nearly twice the rate of blacks. Why is that if we’re more likely to suffer from chronic and severe forms of depression? Our “black codes” or cultural belief system may have a lot to do with that, yet, it only further places
us in a higher risk for other ailments. Author and Licensed Social Worker Terrie M. Williams lists Five Reason We Hide Our Pain in her publication, Black Pain: It Only Looks Like We’re Not Hurting, as 1) It would hurt my family, 2) It will ruin my career, 3) Folks will think I’m crazy, 4) I can’t afford to seem weak, and 5) I still have shame about it; I know I shouldn’t, but I do and I can’t help it. In the same publication, David Satcher, MD, PHD and former Surgeon General and Director of the National Center for Primary Care said, “People should understand that depression is not an attitude problem. It’s not a character weakness, it’s not a spiritual weakness. It may reflect in those things, but depression is related to changes in the brain. It’s related to chemical changes in the brain and what people should understand is that you can’t just snap out of it”. I would also like to add that MDD doesn’t just happen out of nowhere. Usually something unexpected and traumatic takes place
ing this dreaded disease to Black women and producing Black babies with congenital syphilis. And to make matters worse, they had in their possession a remedy for it in the form of penicillin yet refused to treat them. Then in 1960, the CDC took over the experimentation and refused to discontinue it until every victim of the original administration of the disease had died and undergone autopsy for research purposes. Now in 2014, ten years and thousands of children later, the CDC is in the spotlight again; this time deliberately removing evidence that demonstrates a significant association between autism and the MMR vaccination in young Black males. In a recent interview Willliam Thompson made the following statement in regards to his participation in this awful cover up, “Oh my God, I did not believe that we did what we did, but we did. It’s
all there. This is the lowest point in my career, that I went along with that paper. I have great shame now when I meet families of kids with autism, because I have been part of the problem.” Through the Freedom of Information Act a Dr. Brian Hooker of the Focus Autism Foundation did a re-analysis of all the information from the 2004 study, including the parts that had been hidden from the public with the assistance of William Thompson. In his findings he discovered that African-American boys who received the vaccination at 24 months of age had a 340% higher incidence of autism. He also discovered that Black males had a 25% higher risk of getting autism than White males. “The CDC knew about the relationship between the age of first MMR vaccine and autism incidence in African-American boys as early as 2003,” Hooker
in a person’s life that is the onset of MDD (i.e. the death of a loved one, loss of employment, poor/inadequate living conditions, divorce, homelessness, etc.). The social and economic factors certainly play a role in how one’s mental health manifests. It is important to note that not only do events and circumstances in life trigger chemical imbalances, but our lifestyle including our diet and the food we eat can also create a major imbalance of these important chemicals in the brain. The brain is known to be man’s original pharmacy. The brain produces chemicals such as Serotonin (regulates sleep patterns), Noradrenalin (regulates energy levels) and Dopamine (allows you to experience joy/pleasure). If these chemicals, along with other hormones that are released into the body, can create an imbalance, then it is critical to understand that they can be brought back into harmony balance, naturally. For thousands of years Massage Therapy has been used to treat a number of physical, spiritual as well as emotional ailments. It is the methodical process of using relaxing or stimulating manipula-
tion of muscle tissue to generate blood circulation and the production of harmony and balance. The brain receives messages through various neurotransmitters during massage therapy such as feelings of calm, tranquility, serenity, peace and relief. Both physical and emotional pain is relieved. Massage has been a major part of medicine for at least 5,000 years, according to The Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage by Mark F. Beck. The Chinese have practiced massage as early as 3,000 B.C. The use of plants, exercises and a system of massage was a traditional treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. The Japanese use Shiatsu, which is a technique in which points of stimulation are pressed to affect the circulation of fluids and life force energy. By compression massage, which is the rhythmic pressing movements directed into muscle tissue by the hands, one can experience immediate relief of depression. Interestingly, something as simple as a hug is known to lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol. In a Washington Post article, is was said that a 10-second hug a day can
says, “but chose to cover it up.” With such information becoming public, what does this mean for the African-American community? Should we continue to lay our lives in the hands of those who have clearly emphasized that they don’t care about us? Are we so desperate to place our children in a public school system that requires we put our childrens’ lives on the line for the sake of a fallen education? If history is one of life’s best teachers, then we must understand that we have to educate ourselves on the importance of taking responsibility for our own health instead of placing it in the hands of those who seek to further their experimentation tactics to see how well our people handle concocted diseases. You can follow Shareefah Muhammad on Twitter @ SisterShareefah or on Facebook at Shareefah Muhammad.
Ebony S. Muhammad Massage & Spa Therapist
lead to biochemical and physiological reactions in your body that can significantly improve your health including easing depression. If a 10-second hug can offer such relief, imagine what a 60 minute massage could do for you. (Note: If taking medication, please be sure to consult your physician before receiving massage therapy) Ebony S. Muhammad is a Licensed Massage & Spa Therapist and is the Owner of Origins Massage Spa located in Houston, Texas. You may visit them online at OriginsMassageSpa.com. Feel free to follow her on Twitter @ OriginsDaySpa. Ms. Muhammad is also the Publisher of Hurt2Healing Magazine, the #1 digital publication that features real stories of living through and overcoming trials. Visit Hurt2HealingMag.com. TX-9
10
Educati n/Y uth
Read us online! w w w.a f r a m n e w s .com
Texas • September 22 - 28, 2014
Victory Early College High School Makes ‘Newsweek’ Magazine’s Top 500 List students are scoring at or above average on state assessments. This is Newsweek’s way of recognizing schools that narrow the achievement gap. Victory Early College High School made this list known as “Breaking the Odds 2014 — Top Schools for Low-Income Students.” And Newsweek awarded the campus a star. Victory-Early-CollegeHigh-Newsweek-3Victory Early College High School with a poverty percentage of 72.89 ranked 198 out of 500 listed. The AISD campus scored 86.55 on college readiness preparation. Victory Early College High School has a graduation rate of more than 87%. Victory Early College High School collaborates with Lone Star Community College. According to Patricia
Newsweek recently released its 2014 List of America’s Top High Schools. Aldine ISD’s Victory Early College High School made the rankings for 2014. The rankings highlight schools that do the best job of preparing students for college. This year, the magazine’s method is more stringent than ever with new measures of quality and a higher standard for data. Newsweek also recognized schools that beat the odds. These schools performed better than statistically expected for their level of poverty. The magazine ranked schools based on how well they prepare students for college. The ranking method took students’ socio-economic background into account. A star next to a school’s name means that low-income
Leon-Wade, the campus blends high school and college level courses. Leon-Wade is the assistant superintendent who oversees the campus. She added that Victory Early College students can get a high school diploma while obtaining college credit. They can get an Associate’s in Arts Degree or two years of college credit toward a baccalaureate degree. “I am so proud of our students and staff at Victory Early College High School,” said Leon-Wade. “The campus has a strong academic and instructional focus for all students. The district also has a long partnership with the Lone Star College System. Both Aldine ISD and Lone Star strive to provide a quality education as well as prepare students for college.” Victory-Early-College-
High-Newsweek-6 Overjoyed by the news, Principal Dr. Phyllis Cormier expressed her sentiments. “Victory Early College High School seeks to educate each child holistically,” said
Cormier. “Teachers at each grade level work in crosscurricular teams. Crosscurricular teaching is essential to give students a deeper learning experience. Teachers work together to find common
topics to prepare to teach jointly rather than separately. This makes it much easier for students to see the relevance and connections between content areas.
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Texas • September 22 - 28, 2014
Wendell Baker, DVM (Baker Veterinary Clinic)
WALLER - AfricanAmerican News&Issues presents Wendell C. Baker, DVM, owner of Baker Veterinary Clinic. It is no accident that the seasoned veterinary would pursue the profession wherein he has operated in for several decades. Especially considering that, Dr. Baker was raised on a farm in Travis County in a region named, Littg that entails a rich history of being in his family for four generations. As a lad, he worked on the farm with his father and grandfather. Needless to state, the passion of being around animals and the love for them would prove to be very beneficial towards his professional career later on in life. He enrolled at Prairie View A&M University and earned a degree. While attending the university he worked with horses by putting on their shoes and fine-tuning his expertise as a cowboy, in the
rodeo and calf roping. After graduating from Prairie View A&M he further enhanced his studies by becoming a graduate of Tuskegee School of Veterinary Medicine. As if living the life of a farmer and attending universities that served to improved his skill wasn’t enough; Baker received additional experience with animals in the United States Army. It was there that he would serve to care for large animals. Following, he pursued a career at Prairie View A&M as an Associate Professor of Animal Science. He also oversaw the veterinary clinic there. After an early journey of learning how to care for, treat, research and a life full of experience working with animals; eventually Dr. Baker decided to practice his skill full-time within his own practice. Thus, Baker Veterinary Clinic was established. The clinic special-
Bus ness
izes in, working on larger animals on cattle ranches, exotic animals, non-farm animals such as deer and a variety of other pet care services. Truly he has made his mark in Texas history as he is noted as, “one of few veterinarians in the state, specializing in his craft and the only African-American in the region doing equine acupuncture and equine dental on larger animals.” Dr. Baker regards and commends his father and grandfather who he reverences as the two most influential characters in his life. He fervently believes that each of them played a major role in, equipping him with the basic skills and necessities to pioneer a career in the field that he loves and operates in today. In that respect he feels obligated to the old proverbial saying, “Each one, teach one.” This thought has he made reality as far as leading by example. Undoubtedly knowing that, “Children of today, are the future of tomorrow” he spends a great deal of time investing into youth.
African
Accordingly, he revealed his love for teaching youth the fundamentals of farming and working with animals. Therefore, he often offers youth the opportunity to spend time on the farm that he was reared on. There he provides an experience of exposing them to the environment, fishing and the privilege to work with animals. It is his heart’s desire that through his example, it will enlighten some of the youth that he mentors to mirror his steps. He has a theory which entails, “When kids respect wildlife and outdoors, they develop a greater respect for life.” He further believes as told to another reporter that, “It is important to teach youth to appreciate the outdoors and the environment - kids need to get out of the house and we must teach them the way of the great outdoors!” Ultimately, Baker professes that no matter what passion a child has, or career they pursue, it is his hope that they will succeed in life. African-American
American News&Issues
11
Dr. Wendell C. Baker doing what he loves best! Owner of Baker Veterinary Clinic
Photo Credit: James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle
News & Issues salutes, Dr. Wendell C. Baker for the many years of service he has rendered within his profession; for encouraging and consistently keeping the youth of his community and others active, informed and engaged as it relates to
animals and the environment. For more information regarding Baker Veterinary Clinic call, (936) 857-3207. Baker Veterinary Clinic is located at, 21002 Briar Meadow Ln.,77484. By: Rebecca S. Jones
H-E-B’S Read 3 Program Kicks Off 4th Annual Texas-Sized
SAN ANTONIO - In its continued commitment to supporting early childhood literacy across Texas, H-E-B recently asked customers and schools to donate children’s books to in-store bins to be given to families in need until September 30. In addition, H-E-B invited everyone to celebrate reading by taking part in in-store story times, literary cupcake bake-offs and book drive challenges for schools and nonprofits during the two-week event. “It is absolutely critical that parents introduce children to letters and numbers before they get to
school,” said Kate Rogers, H-E-B Vice President of Partner Communication and Engagement. “In Texas, an estimated one in four children is not read to regularly. At H-E-B, we want to turn that statistic around.” H-E-B’s Read 3 campaign is the brainchild of H-E-B CEO and Chairman Charles Butt, who has a strong commitment to education. Over the past three years, H-E-B has collected nearly 3 million books for children as part of its Read 3 early childhood literacy initiative, and aims to collect another 1 million in 2014. H-E-B is asking customers to drop off new and gently used children’s books in special collection bins in its more than 350 stores throughout Texas, and is giving away
free children’s books with 18 Combo Locos and a Meal Deal. This year, H-E-B is encouraging local nonprofit organizations to join in the fun by signing up for the firstever Community Organization Book Drive Challenge. The local nonprofit in each region that collects the most new and gently used books will win a $1,000 grant for their organization. A total of five nonprofit organizations in Texas will be honored as 2014 Read 3 Community Book Drive Challenge Champions. H-E-B is also tapping teachers and students to participate by signing up for the 2nd annual Read 3 Book Drive Challenge. The school in each region that collects the most books will win $1,000 to be used for a literacy initiative or program on that campus. Schools and nonprofit organiza-
tions can find entry forms online at heb.com/read3. To celebrate the annual event, H-E-B is planning a number of costume story times, in-store readings, puppet shows and literary cupcake bake-offs in each region. Check with your local H-E-B for a schedule of events. Books collected in stores will be donated to children in need through schools, libraries, nonprofits and H-E-B’s annual Feast of Sharing dinners. If your organization is in need of books, applications can be found at www.heb.com/read3. To date, H-E-B has given away more than 2.5 million books through donations and even more free books through Combo Locos and Meal Deals. Read 3 encourages parents to read to their children at least three
times a week to build a strong foundation for early literacy. However, access to books can be a significant problem for many low-income families. Thus, H-E-B has increased its book offerings and placed literacy centers in 17 stores statewide to serve as a community hub for story times, character appearances and book signings with popular authors. In many communities, H-E-B has partnered with schools and universities to provide family literacy and nutrition workshops that prepare 3 and 4-year-olds and their parents for kindergarten. To date, those workshops have served more than 2,500 families in Brownsville, Harlingen, Laredo, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Uvalde, Waco, San Marcos, Pasadena, Austin and Killeen.
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