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African-American News and Issues Newspaper
VOL. 22 ISSUE 26
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Did you know?
MONROE ALPHEUS MAJORS, (1864–1960)
The First Black Doctor in Texas
Greater Houston Area
Voting Voting Power Power & & Rights Rights On On the the Line Line
Photograph shows Dr. Monroe A. Majors, first African-American physician in Texas, with his wife and young daughter.
Dr. Monroe A. Majors is the first African-American physician in Texas, and the second African-American physician in Dallas. He also holds the distinction of being the first Black physician to practice medicine west of the Rocky Mountains. Background Majors not only served as a Black physician, but also was a civil rights leader, and writer. He was born to Andrew Jackson and Jane (Barringer) Majors on October 12, 1864, in Waco, Texas. At the age of ten he worked as a page in the Texas legislature. He attended Tillotson College (now Huston-Tillotson College) and normal school in Austin from 1878 to 1883; he also worked for the post office. After graduating from Central Tennessee College, Nashville, with a bachelor of science degree, in 1883 he enrolled at Meharry Medical College at Nashville, from which he graduated as salutatorian of his class in 1886. In college he worked as a reporter for several local newspapers. In 1886 Majors began practicing medicine in Brenham, Texas. During that year he became the principal guiding spirit and one of the fourteen founders of the Lone Star State Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association. Faced Stiff Racism in Texas
SEE PAGE 4
Gerrymandering Gerrymandering –– Fighting Fighting The The Hidden Hidden Weapon Weapon of of Disenfranchisement Disenfranchisement
Shortly afterward his name appeared on a list, prepared by a group of racists, of influential Blacks who were to be uprooted from their positions of importance in the community. Dr. Majors received advance warning about this threat and left his practice in Brenham for Calvert and then Dallas. He ended up teaching in a small country school for a year (1887–88). TO CONT. READING SEE PAGE 11
African
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American News&Issues
The Appraisal Review Board Property Value Matters By Roland Altinger In the last column I talked about the protest process – the meeting with an appraiser and a bit about the hearing with the Appraisal Review Board. Now I’d like to describe the hearing process in a little more detail so you know what to expect. Some people may be nervous about having a hearing. Don’t be. Even though it’s more structured than the meeting with the appraiser, the
Roy Douglas Malonson Chairman Shirley Ann Malonson President/C.E.O. Chandra Jarmon
Production/Editor
Kimberly Taylor
Production Asst.
Darwin Campbell
Senior Journalist
Chelsea Davis-Bibb
Journalist
Rebecca S. Jones
Contributing Writer
Mark Spivey
Contributing Writer
Lorenzo Tolbert
Contributing Writer
Jadarrius West
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, 9am - 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. African-American News&Issues assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other material, unless accompanied by a self-address stamped envelope.
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e welcome all original responses from our readers to content found in the African-American News&Issues. Letters to the Publisher may be sent via e-mail to news@aframnews.com. Please keep all letters under 300 words. Be sure to include the author’s name, area of residence. All letters and articles may be verified before they are published. All letters are subjected to editing or being cut for spacing purposes. Thank you in advance for your submission.
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review board members try to make the property owner feel comfortable. The first thing to remember is that the Appraisal Review Board is separate from the appraisal district. The Appraisal Review Board was created to resolve disputes between the appraisal district and the property owner. Appraisal district employees and ARB members are allowed very little interaction. In fact, ARB members are prohibited from discussing a property owner protest with anyone outside the hearing. The ARB hearings are held in the HCAD building but the members of the ARB are Harris County citizens chosen by a state administrative judge. There is a short 3-minute video on our website at www.hcad.org that talks about the “Role of the Appraisal Review Board” and could provide some helpful insight for you. At the hearing, you and the appraisal district staff are required to exchange evidence. You will present your evidence before a three-member ARB panel. The appraisal district then presents its evidence. The ARB panel will then make a decision based on the issues protested. That decision then must be approved before the full ARB at its monthly meeting before the decision becomes final.
Editorial & Opinion Are You Offended?
Some Folks Take Ignorance and Stupidity to New Heights
The Black Whisperer Darwin Campbell, Senior Journalist
Baseball History In this day in age, anyone can be offended by anything, but being “offended” is being taken to levels of ignorance and stupidity that no even altimeters can measure. Case in point, recently before the All-Star Break a woman attended a Major League Baseball game and gave us the lastest example of taking offended licenses too far. A Braves fan sent out a tweet during an Atlanta Braves game stating the “K” signs she saw on a banner showing strikouts was offensive and that the banner in question promoted the KKK. Here is what she said in her Tweet before the firestorm and deletion of her account.
Sania Kay @Sania90. “Really disappointed with this sign at the new #BravesStadium Definitely NOT ok.”
Remember to bring at least four copies of your evidence; one for each member of the ARB panel and one for the HCAD appraiser. Know what you’re going to say beforehand and don’t get stuck on a single point because the hearings go very quickly – many are less than 15 minutes. Examples of evidence that you could bring include problems with your house, such as a damaged roof or a cracked slab, or problems with your property such as frequent flooding or a fault line through the middle of your lot. Try to compare your home to other similar homes in your neighborhood. To continue reading visit us online @ www.aframnews.com Roland Altinger is the Chief Appraiser of
the Harris County Appraisal District
The offended woman wanted action including for MLB to remove the strike signal “K” from the game completely — because after three strikeouts the letters match those of the Ku Klux Klan. The “K” symbol was adopted in the 1860s by Henry Chadwick, who is considered the “father of baseball score keeping.” Chadwick used the “K” for a swinging strikeout and a backward “K” for a strikeout looking. The “S” was already being used to score a sacrifice. For history buffs, the letter “K” has been used to represent a strikeout since the days of Abraham Lincoln and well before the KKK was founded and established in the small town of Pulaski, Tennessee in 1865. Every major league park keeps a strikeout counter, and whenever a strikeout is recorded by the home pitcher, a “K” gets added to the board. The tradition has become a fan favorite as fans hold up giant letters symbolizing the meaning. One of the greatest Black pitchers in all of baseball was St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. Facing him struck fear in all opposing batters. As a pitcher, he rang up a lot of K’s in his career, striking out a combination of 3,117 batters in 17 seasons. Gibson went 251-174 for the Cardinals and had a 2.91 ERA for his career. Lee Smith was one of the most dominant closers of all-time. He held the record for most saves for 13 years until 2006 As one of the game’s best game late inning closers, Smith, who spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs, had 1,251 K’s of batters and finished his career with 478 saves and a 3.03 ERA.
The Tweet included a snapshot picture of three sheets marked “KKK” hanging over the wall as the game progressed and the home team pitcher pitched to batters.
Great Black players of the game from Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey and others understood the strikeout and the concept of the “K” - no racial puns included. Jackie Robinson hit for career average of .311 but had 291 K’s etched by his name by scorekeepers and in
TEXAS • JULY 17 - 23, 2017 record books. Willie Mays hit 660 Home Runs but but had 1,526 K’s etched by his name by scorekeepers and in record books. Hank Aaron the true Home Run King hit 755 Home Run but had 1,383 K’s written by his name by scorekeepers and in record books. Ken Griffey Jr. hit 630 career Home Runs but had 1,779 K’s written by his name in record books. My Take I am a huge baseball fan. Not only that I played the game on every level except the Majors and the letter “K” has always been part of the game representing the strikeouts from the scoring book to the fans who have fun keeping tabs on pitcher strikeouts. It is part of the tradition and fabric of the game. On a lighter note, on more than one occasion, there were three K’s beside my name on the scorecard. It had absolutely nothing to do with the KuKluxKlan and was not offensive on the part of the schools, the leagues or coaches I played for. It’s part of the game and to be offended or to read something into the use of “K” to symbolize the strikeout is not ,only stupid, but totally ludicrous. There was already moves to change the Washington Redskins name because some were allegedly offended because of Native Americans. What’s next? The Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians for smiling or proud looking Native American mascot or tomahawk element or the San Diego Padres because it spoofs priests. Or, perhaps be offended by the Milwaukee Brewers because the name promotes drinking, beer and alcoholism and DUI’s. Or, even more, let’s get offended by the Pittsburgh Pirates because pirates have a colored history of robbery, raping, pillaging and killing on the high seas. and that’s just talking baseball. “K” collections of strikeouts at baseball games is neither racist nor offensive. Continue reading online @ www.aframnews.com
Editorial & Opinion
TEXAS • JULY 17 - 23, 2017
The Story For Far Too Many Other Blacks Earl Ofari Hutchinson
F
Author & Political Analyst
ormer standout Utah State college football star, and for a short time NFL hopeful, De’Von Hall stands accused of the murder of his mother. The story of Hall’s alleged murder of his mother did not make national news until it was revealed that he was a star college football player and an NFL prospect. This was the hook. It elevated Hall’s story from just another of the routine run of the mill incidences of mayhem and violence in Black communities that get a line or two on the back page of a local newspaper and then are quickly forgotten. Long before news of the murder hit, Hall was more than just another anonymous Black guy accused of murder. I would watch Hall each day walk down the middle of the street in front of my house slowly, in a silent, seeming perpetual daze. He always wore the same clothes and many in the neighborhood was fearful of him. I remember the horror of that night last April when a squad of sheriff deputies, ambulances and paramedics blocked off my street the night of the murder. I stood on the front porch and watched as the paramedics wheeled his mother into the ambulance. I did not know she was a victim of violence, nor her medical/physical condition. Only later did I learn that she had been murdered. It was brutal, shocking and a jolt to us in the neighborhood. Hall clearly had severe mental health challenges that cried out for help; help that is often beyond the specialized training and resources of families who must cope with the challenge of a family member with a mental disorder the best they can. Hall, however, was no different than thousands of other Black men and women who face chronic mental health challenges and desperately need help; help that’s often not forthcoming. Instead they confront an agonizing checklist of barriers: the
gross lack of mental health facilities, paltry funding of treatment facilities and programs, law enforcement and courts whose hands are tied from a referral and confinement of a mentally challenged to treatment facilities, the wall of fear and denial about mental health, and even the stigma shame attached to it. The stark figures tell the depressing tale of the magnitude of mental illness among Americans. According to The National Alliance for Mental Health, one in five have mild to severe mental challenges each year; also, one in five teens experience a severe mental disorder. The tale is grimmer for African-Americans. According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population. The signs of trouble are almost always there. The most extreme is suicide. More than 40,000 who suffer from mental disorders kill themselves annually. However, there are many other signs, such as chronic depression, marked personality change, excessive anxieties, prolonged depression, excessive anger, hostility, and the almost standard abuse of alcohol or drugs. These are the same warning signs among African-Americans and cause much hand wringing and major stress and frictions in African-American families trying to cope with a family member who has a severe mental disorder. In Hall’s case, the signs were there during his college football playing days, during his stints in the pros, and the years he spent aimlessly on the streets in L.A. and when he walked past my door. His family obviously did the best they could to help this deeply troubled young man. Yet, these questions still beg answers: •
Why did Hall’s coaches and agents not raise the warning bell about Hall and alert authorities that he needed medical and mental health treatment? Continue reading online @ www.huffingtonpost.com
African
American News&Issues
What if Donald Trump was BLACK?
Author Richelle E. Goodrich made a quote in regards to leadership that I wholeheartedly believe is true. She said,
“
The sign of a good leader is easy to recognize, though it is hardly ever seen. For the greatest leaders are those who share as equals in the trials and struggles, the demands and expectations, the hills and trenches, the laws and punishments placed upon the backs of those governed. A great leader is motivated not by power but by compassion. Therefore he can do nothing but make himself a servant to those whom he rules. Such a leader is unequivocally respected, and loved for loving.” Though I do agree with the author here, it is blatantly obvious that the American people definitely have a leader who demonstrates the total opposite of the virtues listed here that establishes a man or woman as a, “good leader”.
In reference to the title of this editorial, I don’t want to come across as being impartial by no means. But as the Publisher of a publication that seeks to highlight current and historical realities that affect our communities; I felt compelled to address this never-ending issue, in regards to our current President. First of all, anyone that knows me is aware of the fact that I am a fair person. I have always tried to at least give folk the benefit of doubt. Thus this particular presidential administration is no different. At first glance, I wrote several editorials beckoning our faithful and loyal readers to give Donald Trump a chance
as Commander-in-Chief. Despite all of the rhetoric surrounding the election process in regards to him inheriting the highest office in the nation that any man can. I did this even against my own discontent of Trump’s continual, non-stop bashing against the first “recorded” Black POTUS; I still did my best to try to sway our audience to consider the beneficial assets that this man could possibly produce. However, after all that has transpired throughout the course of this past year it has caused me to ask myself one question. That question as the title states,
‘What if President Donald Trump was a Black?’
Picture By: Artist Carlos Walker
Room would not allow for me to divulge all of the controversy that this POTUS has stirred up in less than one year of operating within his executive power. But anyone that has a television is quite aware that this is one of the most ruthless presidents that the United States has ever had. Not to mention the most notorious liar that has ever graced the walkway of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. People already label politicians as liars, but this guy brings a whole new definition to the meaning of the word, “liar”. Although I ask the question, ‘What if Donald Trump was a Black’; I truly, as most of our readers are aware of, know that his name would have never even made it on the ballot for consideration. I often reference the effect that the Black buying power has
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We MUST Understand By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman
on our communities. But, I’m certain even if a Black man had the magnitude of money that Trump has, he still would have never made it to the White House with all of the daggers that this President has. While there are many elements pertinent to the character of Donald Trump’s behavior that would be totally unacceptable if he was Black, I would like to list a few of the obvious. As it is, this president is one that aroused enormous confusion about the birth certificate of former President Barack Obama, but here we are over half a year into his administration and he has yet to produce his required tax returns. For nearly half a century, every POTUS has submitted their tax returns with no issue. But, somehow Trump adamantly feels that he is the exception to the rule. His reason for not producing his tax returns stems from his excuse of being under an audit by the Internal Revenue Service. Then there is the fact that his wife Melania has posed nude more than once and yet still holds the distinguished title of, “First Lady”. Something is totally wrong with this picture, because this definitely would not be accepted is she was a Black woman expecting to be the nations, “First Lady”. For the record, I can bring this topic a little closer to home. Right here in our city, former Vice Chair of the Houston Community College system’s board of trustees, Chris Oliver was indicted and reprimanded with the quickness. Oliver pled guilty, “to accepting cash payments in exchange for helping a company get HCC contracts”. While I am not making excuses for his actions, my point is there was no delay in charging this 21year, Black veteran for his deeds. But yet we have a con artist, renowned liar and traitor of the nation occupying the highest seat in the nation in office and it’s just business as usual. As I always state, there is just something about this Blackness…. - END
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African
American News&Issues
Voting Power from pg. 1
SAN ANTONIO - One of the most basic and important rights African Americans enjoy in the United States is the right to vote and elect its own representatives to be their voices in Austin and Washington D.C. In an effort to preserve White Power in local and state and federal governments, the secret constitutional weapon to suppress and control Black and Brown voting power has been gerrymandering or redistricting.
“People are worried about the demographic changes in our country so they are actively trying to turn back the clock to a time when we were under political control,”
said the Honorable Gary Bledsoe, leader and President of the Texas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). “White votes are worth 3 times what Black or Brown votes are worth in Texas because of an egregious racial gerrymander. And with the voter ID law, even the one just passed, we know it is more difficult to vote today that it was in 2010.”
house to statehouses and Congress, there has been a concerted effort to dwarf Black power and voices or silence them altogether using a method of drawing representative districts that reduce or prevent the election of Black and Brown candidates to political offices. Gerrymandering Gerrymandering, the practice of drawing self-serving political boundaries, is as old as the country itself. Its impetus, one could argue, is even older and deeper-seated, grounded in the fundamentals of human nature. In the United States, it has been practiced since the founding of the country to strengthen the power of particular political interests within legislative bodies. Partisan gerrymandering commonly used to increase the power of a political party. In some instances, political parties collude to protect incumbents by engaging in bipartisan gerrymandering. After racial minorities were enfranchised, some jurisdictions engaged in racial gerrymandering to weaken the political power of racial minority voters, while others engaged in racial gerrymandering to strengthen the power of minority voters.
“Negative racial gerrymandering” refers to a process in which district lines are drawn to prevent racial minorities from electing their preferred candidates. Between the Reconstruction Era and mid-20th century, white Southern Democrats effectively controlled redistricting ADVERTISE in the throughout the southern United States.
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Cover Story According to Bledsoe, three federal judges in San Antonio are examining the issues and could make a ruling in Texas that would determine if the state intentionally weaken voting rights for millions of Texans just because of their skin color. He added that the 1965 Civil Rights Act prohibits racial discrimination in voting. One key piece of that legislation allows for the creation of “majority-minority” districts. The aim of “majority-minority” districts is to avoid or remedy the drawing of redistricting plans that diminish the ability of a racial or language minority to elect its candidates of choice. However, even this bedrock premise of the Act is under attack and being challenged by powers that want to erode Black and Brown voting power and render it ineffective in the elective process, he said. According to the NAACP argument, the state only adopted the court’s interim maps to avoid additional scrutiny and never planned to fix the discrimination that’s “deeply steeped” in the maps. “Texas puts a premium on non minority votes and we are trying to bring it back in line with the Constitution,” Blesoe said. “White voters control the outcome in 25 of 36 Congressional Districts even though they are less than 45 percent of the population. What we are hoping is to gain a fairer map for minorities through litigation. We are proud to be fighting with groups like LULAC.” How Did We Get Here?
In areas where some AfricanAmerican and other minorities succeeded in registering, some states created districts that were gerrymandered to reduce the voting impact of minorities. Minorities were effectively deprived of their franchise into the 1960s.
After fresh census data came out in 2010, the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature drafted new political boundaries. Minority rights groups immediately raised a red flag, calling the new state and congressional maps discriminatory toward Latino and black voters across Texas.
Throughout the 20th century, courts have grappled with the legality of these types of gerrymandering and have devised different standards for the different types of gerrymandering.
A court drew temporary maps ahead of the 2012 elections in response; lawmakers formally adopted those in 2013 and the state has used them ever since.
The Case In Texas, the controversy is raging and the process is no different from what is done nationally.
TTexas EXAS • JULY 1712-18, - 23, 2017 • August 2013
Then, just last April, the panel ruled that Texas lawmakers intentionally in 2011 undercut the political clout of voters of color with its 2011
Honorable Gary Bledsoe, Leader and President of the Texas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
maps and created House districts that resulted in “even less proportional representation” for minority voters.
They found that Texas lawmakers either violated the U.S. Constitution or the Voting Rights Act by intentionally diluting the strength of minority voters with those House districts — echoing an earlier ruling that some of the congressional districts did the same thing. “After prevailing in the litigation regarding the 2011 maps we are hopeful that we might prevail now on the 2013 maps,” Bledsoe said. “Unwarranted fears of minority voting must be addressed as we see national efforts to focus on the bogus claim of widespread voter fraud.” Bledsoe said for Black and Brown communities, the political stakes are high. A ruling from the court could result in legislative and congressional boundaries that are less ideal for Republican candidates. Some are hoping the legal wrangling could lead to Texas being placed back under federal electoral oversight years after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling freed them from that guardianship. End Game – Less Apathy & More Participation Black people must register to vote, go to the polls on election day and exercise their rights as citizens and demand proper representation.
“Our community and many friendly communities are under assault, as we see bogus claims of voter fraud being used to generate invasive inquiries seeking personal and confidential data from American voters,” he said. “We must support efforts of the NAACP and like minded groups to try and stem this dangerous tide.” According to Bledsoe, it is incumbent on more Black voters to work hard to move from low information voter status to active and loud voices in the Democratic process. No one political party or government holds the key to solving all the problems and issues facing Black America. It is the actions of the people that changes things. The Challenges Ahead After we have secured our most basic and precious right to vote as Americans, the next step is turnout and participation in the process on a regular basis for every seat available in public service and working to ensure that we elect people who will go to Houston City Hall, HISD School Board, State Representatives and Senate in Austin and Representatives and Senators in Washington who will be an unapologetic voice, speak loudly and carry the torch on issues affecting our community. By: Darwin Campbell
TEXAS • JULY 17 - 23, 2017
Suspended!!!
Community
Popular Precinct 7 Justice Loses Fight To Stay on Bench. county’s 7th Precinct, were revealed in a 316-page court filing by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct’s and sent and reviewed by the state’s highest court.
Judge Hillary H. & Former City Controller Ronald Green Photo Credit: Ron Matthews
HOUSTON - She was first sworn in as presiding judge of Harris County Justice of the Peace Court (Precinct 7, Place 1) on June 20, 2007. But... on the 7th day of July, 2017, the rising star and popular Precinct 7 Judge Hilary H. Green fell from grace. Green now finds herself suspended from the bench and out of a job after months of being on the hot seat for alleged misconduct and or personal and questionable behaviors in some past “off-the-bench” activities – some of which involved alleged drug use, alleged infidelities and a messy breakup from former husband Ronald Green. In an interview with The Washington Post, Hilary H. Green’s lawyer called the ruling by the state Supreme Court “frustrating and surprising.” He pointed out that many of the accusations had long been public, and yet voters overwhelmingly reelected Green as a Harris County justice of the peace. “She’s very popular in the precinct,” Chip Babcock said in the newspaper interview. “Lots of communication in the community is about how horrible this is.” The State Commission on Judicial Conduct first asked the Texas Supreme Court to suspend her from the bench over the misconduct accusations. However it should be noted that Green has not been charged with a crime. The accusations against Judge Green, Justice of the Peace in the
According to a court document from the Supreme Court of Texas, an order of suspension was issued to Green detailing that pursuant to Article 5, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution and Rule 15(b) of the Texas procedural Rules for the Removal or Retirement of Judges, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct has recommended the immediate suspension, without pay, of Hilary H. Green, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 7, Place 1, Houston, Harris County, Texas. The document went on to state that it is the order of the Supreme Court of Texas that Green be suspended immediately and without pay effective on July 7, 2017. The documents contain some vivid and colorful descriptions of alleged questionable behavior and at least four separate judicial misconduct complaints against Green made between 2012 and 2016. Leading up to the review and triggering the suspension according to court documents were allegations that revealed a more darker side to Green’s personal life. According to the documents, the Harris County justice of the peace is accused of misusing illegal drugs, “sexting” a court employee and lying about her relationship with a convicted conman. Also included in the accusations are alleged abused prescription pain killers, the use of hard drugs, like Ecstasy and cocaine, the alleged hiring and use of prostitutes and using her bailiff to buy illegal substances. About Judge Green Green was undoubtedly qualified to hold the position and shined in her ability to serve and understand the community where she worked in Precinct 7. On the job, Judge Green brings to the bench a wealth of knowledge and experience in civil and criminal matters.
Read us online! www. aframnews. com
NAACP Houston Branch Host Quarterly Conversational SeriesIs num remolupta dolupti
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FBI Special Agnet in Charge Perrye Turner, HPD Chief Art Arcevedo, D.A. Kim Ogg and Sherrid Ed Gonzales
HOUSTON - Law enforcement leaders gathered at Acres Homes Multi-Service Center to discuss criminal justice matters across the city. NAACP Houston Branch recently implemented its Quarterly Conversational Series (QCS) to feature and highlight expert speakers from around the city, region, and country to provide insight and strategies for addressing current political, social, and economic inequalities. This conversation was the second of the year as the first conversation featured Mayor Sylvester Turner, Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Senator Borris Miles and was moderated by NAACP Branch President, Dr. James Douglas. The second conversation featured Chief Art Acevedo, Sheriff Ed Gonzales, District Attorney Kim Ogg, FBI leader, Perrye Turner, and moderator Tracy Clemons from ABC 13. The conversation began by each city official proclaiming that they are all striving to work together to ensure safety, fairness, and justice in the Houston area. That is, each law enforcement official took the time to introduce themselves, and articulate how they were dedicated to serving the Houston community justly. These earnest words spoken by leaders was preceded by a palatable meal that included chicken and waffles, which settled many stomachs and helped open many ears for the discussion. Much of the quarterly conversation was based on tough questions from members of the community looking to get “straight” answers. From the long line of community members looking to hear answers to their questions, matters erected included elder fraud, police brutality, sex trafficking, citizen responsibility, Shapammala Buckner (missing young woman), HISD officer inappropriate relationship with student, immigration, bias in police officers, gang violence, minority community outreach, and bail reform. Law enforcement leaders were prepared to answer questions and were unified in their responses. Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Green has been a resident of Houston, Harris County, Texas since 1989. Her Education includes a Bachelor of Business Administration concentration in Finance from the University of Houston and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. She is licensed
Community activist, Arthur J. Smith, came to the event to speak on the misconduct of a Houston police officer who tazed him, he claimed, unjustly. However, Smith feels that the panel of leaders are qualified to be in charge. When asked about the evening dialogue, Smith stated, “I believe the dialogue was real because anytime you have some elected officials that put themselves in a position to be question on the spot, that let me that they real about what’s going on.” He continued, “I really think this crew right here is our dream team in the city of Houston right now.” Anyone who is a Rocket’s fan- or knows anything about the city’s history-knows that there is no higher honor than to be considered to be a part of a team likened to the “Dream Team” of the 90’s. Traditionally when conversations and dialogues happen in the black community, it does not always equate to action. In many cases, some may agree that these discussions take place to just appease the Black audience. When Chief Art Acevedo was asked if this was a “dog and pony show,” he responded, “there ain’t no dog and pony show- what you see is what you get.” He continued, “I don’t say anything in public that I don’t say behind closed doors.” Acevedo believes that the panel is a “progressive team that understands criminal justice” and “public safety.” It seems that the NAACP is greatly aiding the Black community with the insertion of quarterly conversations in Houston. The forum presents a great opportunity to analyze the city’s leadership and hear from citizens who are truly concerned about matters affecting our communities. If African-Americans are to continue to have a presence- or seat at the table- in society, there must be consistent leadership on behalf of African-Americans in our communities.
by the State Bar of Texas and is a Certified Mediator. Prior to assuming the bench, Judge Green served as managing partner of The Green Firm, LLP. In March of 2008, Judge Green secured her position as presiding judge in a contested primary election. In November 2012, Green once again
Event Recap By: Lorenzo Tolbert Photo Credit: Anthony Stewart
successfully secured her position in an uncontested election. And was soundly reelected in November 2016. She also has worked as a trial attorney for major corporations, as well as represented individuals in matters ranging from complex litigation to small claims.
continue reading @ www.aframnews.com By: Darwin Campbell TX- 5
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African
Entertainment
American News&Issues
TEXAS • JULY 17 - 23, 2017
IT IS FINISHED
give up, you can’t quit. You have to keep going because there is a vision and a purpose behind what you’re doing. There is a calling on your life so you can not give up when things get hard,” Liz stated. In addition, because the play has a huge cast, dealing with different personalities can be challenging as well. She also has to make sure that all aspects of the play are taken care of as far as dancers, singers, band members, actors, costume design and etc. “Its been a challenge, but its been a beautiful challenge.”
Liz Rachelle
“I have been in theater and in entertainment since kindergarten...and for the past 15 years, I have been doing professional theater here in Houston and abroad,” expressed Liz Rachelle, who is the founder and CEO of Glorious Image Productions. Her company is dedicated to helping others reach their dreams, and is known to provide opportunities for new and experienced artists. Liz has performed in over 40 theatrical plays, musicals, and productions across the United States. She has produced two theatrical productions The Christmas Encounter, and It Is Finished. “I have a passion for theater because you’re able to really express a different character. You can embody and live in a different character than who you really are…I love the creativity about theater.”
MR
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AFRICAN NEWS & ISSUES (HOUSTON)
It Is Finished is a theatrical epic drama, which gives you insight to the life of a man who was hated and loved by many. It also gives you the insight of this man who went into the depths of darkness to change the whole course of history. With this play, you can expect a lot of glitz and glamour, singing, dancing, and it is an interactive play as well. The show has 50 cast members, and it is an all Black cast. In addition, all of the music from the play is original. “It’s exciting and it gives you the opportunity to experience new talent in Houston as well.”
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Some obstacles that Liz has faced is to just keep going and not stop even when things aren’t what they seem like they should be. “When obstacles come up… you can’t
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UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH PERFECT WORLD PICTURES A WILL PACKER PRODUCTIONS PRODUCTION A MALCOLM D. LEE FILM “GIRLS TRIP”REGINA HALL TIFFANY HADDISH LARENZ TATEEXECUTIVEMIKE COLTER KATE WALSH WITH JADA PIPRODUCED NKETT SMITH AND QUEEN LATIFAH MUSICBY DAVID NEWMAN PRODUCERS PRESTON HOLMES JAMES LOPEZ BY WILL PACKER p.g.a. MALCOLM D. LEE p.g.a. STORY SCREENPLAY BY ERICA RIVINOJA AND KENYA BARRIS & TRACY OLIVER BY KENYA BARRIS & TRACY OLIVER DIRECTED A UNIVERSAL PICTURE BY MALCOLM D. LEE
The concept of the play came from Liz Rachelle’s faith. “I have a passion for my faith…with that passion, I wanted to tell the story of Jesus and how he walked on earth.” The vision of this play came to Liz back in 2007 about Him traveling the world in theater production. She wrote the play in 2012, and everything began to manifest itself from there. Since 2012, the production has been performed three times, and has had over 2,000 people see the show. “We all go through battles, and we all have our ups and downs in life…what I want people to take from this play is that there is always hope…if you keep pressing forward and believe that you are not by yourself.”
The advice that Liz has for those who want to step into acting and production is to get trained. Even though she recommends training, she doesn’t mean go spend thousands of dollars at an expensive school. She expressed that people should seek opportunities that are small roles, or gigs that may not offer any forms of payment. “A lot of issues that I see with a lot of young actors is that they always expect to get paid… you have to be willing to get opportunities that will help you build your resume so that you can get to those other opportunities that will pay you.” She recommends that people can participate in Community Theater or even go to different auditions to build experience. More importantly, she made it known that if people are in it for the money, then they are in it for the wrong reason. They must have a passion for what they’re doing. When asking why people should come see the play, Liz expressed that this production exposes a lot of awesome talent in Houston that hasn’t been seen or heard before. People will also be impacted from this play in a positive way, as the message is a strong one. “In the past years that we’ve done it, we have had people in the audience that were sick in their bodies, and they left the production healed…this is a testimony that we have received.” They have also had people who were going through things but after they saw the play, they were transformed by the production. With so much going on in the world, and in our African American community, this play will give everyone hope, and the encouragement to not give up. For more information about the play, you can visit this website www.http://gloriousimageproductions.com/. PLAY INFORMATION: The Living Word Faith Center 7900 W Fuqua Missouri City, TX 77489 July 2017 14th-16th & 21st -23rd 7PM By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, M.Ed.
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Texas • July 17 - 23, 2017
THE CHAMPS ARE HERE
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NICK MEYER MARC SCHABERGJOE NOZEMACKSTEVEN V. SCAVELLI ETHAN SMITHDAVID GUILLODKURT JOHNSTAD PRODUCEDBY ERIC GITTER PETER SCHWERIN KELLY MCCORMICK CHARLIZE THERON A.J. DIX BETH KONOSCREENPLAY BASED ON THE ONI PRESS GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES “THE COLDEST CITY” WRITTEN BY ANTONY JOHNSTON AND ILLUSTRATED BY SAM HART DIRECTED BY KURT JOHNSTAD BY DAVID LEITCH EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
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CONGRATULATIONS to the Houston Eagles for winning the USSSA Little League baseball world series. Let's take a look into the start of this historical team. They are the first Black team from the inter city of Houston Texas to win the USSSA Little League World Series. I'm so proud of these young men and their hard work and the commitment of the coaches Julian Scott, Derrick Porter and Edward Guidry. Did you know the name Houston Eagles came from the negro league team from 1949-1950. The Newark Eagles were a professional Negro league baseball team that played in the second Negro National League from 1935. The Newark Eagles were formed in 1936 when the Newark Dodgers, established in 1933, were merged with the Brooklyn Eagles, established in 1935. Abe Manley and his wife Effa Manley, owners and founders of the Brooklyn Eagles, purchased the Newark Dodgers franchise and combined both teams’ assets and player rosters. Team management was left to Effa, making the Eagles the first professional team owned and operated by a woman. The Eagles shared Ruppert Stadium with the minor-league Newark Bears. The Eagles were to (Black) Newark what the Dodgers were to Brooklyn. In 1948, the Negro National League disbanded after Jackie Robinson’s successful integration of Major League Baseball a year earlier. The Eagles were sold
and moved to Houston, Texas for the 1949 season. The Houston Eagles joined the Negro American League and lasted until 1950. Under Effa Manley’s guidance, the 1946 team won the Negro League World Series, upsetting the Kansas City Monarchs in a 7-game series. The team folded after one year but the ghosts of that team rides with the kids. These kids are special and it shows on the field, the love ,the heart and the desire to be great will continue to follow them as they continue to make history and represent the city of Houston and everyone who supports them. From parents to friends and the whole community of Acres Homes and Studewood this team was built with a dream and limited funds it was a vision that Derrick Porter, Rodrick Maxie and DeAndre Lewis brought to life. Go follow the Houston Eagles on Facebook and read the history of the team that was well written by Rodrick Maxie, this vision has turned success and a great opportunity for young men to grow and to learn to love the game of baseball like I did as a kid. So once again congratulations to the Eagles on this moment in history! "The Champs Are Here". The sports corner with Jay the barber.
TEXAS • JULY 17 - 23, 2017 By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb
Sports
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Camp Mike T
(NFL PLAYER MICHAEL THOMAS GIVES BACK TO HIS OWN COMMUNITY) HOUSTON - Paul Stanley stated,
“When you’re in a position to have gotten so much, the gift at this point is giving back.”
NFL player Michael Thomas, who plays for the Miami Dolphins hosted his 3rd annual free football camp in partnership with Apex Academy, which helps kids not only improve their football skills, but their academics as well. The two-day camp was held at W.W. Thorne Stadium, which is located in the Aldine District. Michael Thomas is also a product of Aldine, graduating from Nimitz High School. Day one of the camp was for middle school athletes, and day two was centered on high school athletes. It is truly a blessing when someone leaves home, and they are able to make their dreams come true. However, the blessing is even more beautiful when they come back to their community to help someone else. “It’s great to come back to see these kids, and they get to see someone who has walked the same hallways as them, and who has come from where they’ve come from, and who has made it to where they are trying to go. It’s a great feeling. I love seeing the smiles on their faces and everyone having fun,” expressed Thomas. All athletes get excited when it comes to showing what they are capable of on the field, but Thomas wanted the athletes to know that academics come first, and that their education is very important. All of the participants of the camp received a college panel with representatives from Lone Star College, Texas A &M University, Prairie View A&M University, and Texas Southern University. Students also learned about the SAT/ACT test, and received an SAT study guide. In addition, they were informed about college admissions, and how to apply for college and even scholarships. They also received tips on how to write essays and even reviewed essay topics that are on college applications. In addition, participants learned about the clearinghouse, which is the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA), and how to apply to be able to qualify and receive an athletic scholarship. “I want these kids to take the SAT/ACT prep, and all of the academic components and take the initiative to use all of these resources in the future. They shouldn’t feel behind when it comes to academics…I hope this helps them have a smooth transition from high school to college,” Thomas stated. Last year, the camp was a huge success, but this year was even better, as Thomas wanted to do something different. He added a community development town hall event. The panelist that were a part of the town hall included, Constable Alan Rosen with Harris County Precinct One, Armando Walle from the Texas House of Representatives, Jesse Tyson, who is an entrepreneur and former Exxon Mobil VP, J-Mac from 9.79 The Box, and Richard Delgado, who is the Athletic Director for the Aldine Independent School District. Thomas made it known that “With all of the athlete activism that happened this year and me taking part of it, I thought it was very important that I added the town hall, and I thought it was relevant with everything that is going on. It is very important that these athletes understand that they have a voice. I think Colin Kaepernick did a very great job reminding everyone that we have a voice and a platform, let’s use it.” Everyone on the panel was able to answer different questions that Thomas asked them, as well as questions from the participants. The panelist spoke about different topics that ranged from their careers, to their life, and even about real world events and experiences that are currently taking place. They also offered advice and gave words of encouragement to the participants as well. Every year, the idea is to grow and add more components to the camp. Michael Thomas would love to extend his camp from a one-day experience to a year-long experience for the kids. He would also like to take the kids to a college campus for a week and allow them to receive a college experience. Thomas loves giving back to his community and he is already excited for next year.
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Religion
A Salute to Jewell SimpsonHouston
TEXAS • JULY 17 - 23, 2017
Funeral Arrangements for Jewell S. Houston: Boyd's Funeral Directors of Texas 7411 Wheatley Street Houston, Texas 77088 281-445-0971
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“THREE SCORE AND TEN 2006” A Lady That Walks The Walk and Talks the Talk In living Her Christian Values… I Thank You. You Were There To Encourage Me In MY Storms of Life As A Single Parent... I Thank You. You Included My Children and Me In Various Events That Gave Them Positive Memories of Growing Up in Houston, Texas... I Thank You. When Asked to Write About An Influential Person Who Impresses Her Most In Growing Up, My Daughter Wrote about You… She Thanks You.
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My Son Entered College and Chose to Follow The Path Influenced By God-Dad, Melvon L. Houston, Sr., He Joined The College Gospel Choir... He Thanks You. Your Quiet Spirit Constantly Encourages Us: “Pray Without Ceasing: In Everything, Give Thanks”. I Thessalonians 5:17 My Two Children, Five Grandchildren and I Simply Say Thank You Trasetta L. Terry
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Jewell Simpson Houston was a native Houstonian and graduate of Booker T. Washington High School and Paul Quinn College. She received here Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Houston College for Negroes and began teaching in Aldine in 1951. She later earned a professional lifetime certification for high school instructor, principal, counselor and superintendent. She retired after dedicating 34 years of her life striving to instill a “can-do” attitude in her students.
“We must be involved in the lives of our young people and help in shaping their lives,” Mrs. Houston said. “We have a great opportunity to do good and do things right. We must do our part because these young people have so much to offer a world ripe with opportunity for them to move forward.” On behalf of African-American News&Issues We will make sure your legacy lives on ~ AANI Staff
2701 Lee Street Houston, Texas -77026 713-224-0761
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Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to: Mrs. Jewell Simpson Houston's Family 2026 Ferguson Way Houston, Texas - 77088
In lieu of flowers and plants, the family is requesting donations to the following organizations: 1) Elnita McClain Women's Center, Inc. 2223 Arbor Street Houston, Texas - 77004 Memo: Jewell S. Houston 2) North Harris County Association of Retired School Personnel (NHCARSP) P.O. Box 11688 Spring, Texas - 77391 Memo: Scholarship Fund 3) Acres Homes Citizen Council P.O. Box 91032 Houston, Texas - 77291-1032 Memo: Scholarship Fund NOTE: ADDRESSED ENVELOPES WILL BE PROVIDED AT SERVICE.
TEXAS • JULY 17 - 23, 2017 Majors from page 1
He later found out that two of the other persons on the list had been hanged. Pushed West In 1888 he moved to Los Angeles and became the first Black physician to practice medicine west of the Rocky Mountains. He was invited to lecture on medical topics at Los Angeles Medical College; in California race was not a bar to participation in the medical societies. Texas Activist & Medical Trailblazer In 1889 Majors married Georgia A. Green. In 1890, after the birth of their daughter, he moved back to Waco to practice medicine and serve as lecturer in hygiene and sanitation at Paul Quinn College. He was at the college from 1891 to 1894. During this time he built and operated a hospital for blacks in Waco. Between 1893 and 1895 he was editor of Texas Searchlight, a serial publication that addressed issues facing blacks. During 1893 Majors worked in Chicago at the newly established Provident Hospital and with Frederick Douglass for five months. He also published Noted Negro Women (1893), a book of biographies of
African American News&Issues Did You Know Youth/Education
prominent Black women of the period, which he had written in California. In the preface to this book Majors states the motivation for his literary efforts: “The world is full of books yet few of them appeal directly and peculiarly to the Negro race.... [I] commend these pages to the reading world, trusting that they will for long stand out in bold relief, a signification of Negro progress.” Majors moved to Decatur, Illinois, around 1896 and to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1897. In Indiana he served as associate editor of the Indianapolis Freeman (1898–99). He returned to Waco, where he was superintendent of his hospital for two years, but moved back to Chicago in 1901. From 1908 to 1911 he was the editor of the Chicago Conservator, and for two of those years he was on the Chicago Board of Health. During this time he became a close friend of the poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar.
Man For All Seasons Majors was active in civic and political affairs, especially in racial issues, an involvement that no doubt caused some of his frequent moves. Continue reading online @ www.aframnews.com By: Darwin Campbell
The Aldine Noon Optimist Club has been providing bicycles to all the elementary schools in the district for several years. The purpose of these bicycles is to increase and improve reading. They provide a girls and boys bicycle to the boy and girl who reads the most books. The optimist club decided to provide bicycles for the twenty-elementary school that had summer school. Seen in the photograph with the bicycle that were given away is the President of the Optimist club and Aldine school board member Steve Mead.
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HCDE Ecobot Challenge Inspires Next Generation of Female Engineers up of eighth graders Nadia Sadler, Ja’Coria Dean, Serena Hammond and Clareka Bailey, placed second overall during the 6-8 grade challenge.
Robotics Teacher and longtime Ecobot volunteer, Misty Kirkland, believes in addition to inspiring young girls to continue in STEM fields, the annual challenge shows students what they’re capable of and strengthens their skills.
Dream Girls team from Baylor College of Medicine Academy strategize before the robotics competition at Ecobot Challenge 2017 (left: Nadia Sadler, Serena Hammond, Ja’Coria Dean and Clareka Bailey).
Each year, more than 1,000 Harris County students participate in the HCDE All-Earth Ecobot Challenge to show off their STEM skills in an environmental-themed robotics challenge. Noticeable this year was the number of all-female engineering teams in the competition. At a time when women are still underrepresented in the science and engineering workforce, programs like the Ecobot Challenge seek to inspire all students to explore STEM fields. For many of the girls at this year’s event, the challenge was their first taste of engineering. Many were already interested in math and science, but through this challenge they were able to develop their skills in engineering, programming and leadership. Humble ISD 4th grader Courtney Daniel explained how she and her team honed a variety of skills during the challenge.
Daniel appreciates that through the Ecobot Challenge, girls can experiment with their skills in a fun, safe environment. “This is an event for children that is really fun, so if you make a mistake, it’s okay,” said Daniel. Baylor College of Medicine Academy (BCMA)
s Flower for All ons Occasi
In her Computer Science Concepts course, she watched one of her female Ecobot teams, the Dream Girls, figure out their strengths and use them to their advantage. “Once they saw what they were capable of, their team melded,” said Kirkland. “One realized she was best at programming, while another became the team leader and kept the group organized and on track.” The Dream Girls, made
“I think more girls should try engineering. Don’t second guess yourself and underestimate your abilities,” said Sadler, the team’s leader. “You can do anything you put your mind to.” The annual All-Earth Ecobot Challenge is hosted by the Harris County Department of Education’s Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment, or CASE for Kids, and the Education Foundation of Harris County. To learn more about this event, visit http:// www.ecobotchallenge. com/.
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“For engineering, you need to have great math and science skills, and for Ecobot you need to have time management skills, be confident in yourself and be creative,” said Daniel. The challenge also requires teams to be flexible and find different ways of solving problems. This is important for students to learn early on because encountering obstacles and challenging problems is in the nature of work in STEM fields.
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