March 19, 2023
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 28, Issue 9
African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
Renee Goldsberry and Goddaughter Cortlandt Barrett
Houston Arts Family Legacy By: Crystal LaShan
Cortlandt Barrett, remember her name because soon you won’t forget it. She has dynamic talent with an array of theatrical experiences from Dreamgirls to The Wiz. Cortlandt has taken advantage of all the extraordinary acting opportunities that Houston has to offer and will be graduating from HSPVA this Spring to By: Roy Douglas Malonson make her mark on the acting scene. We were excited to ask Cortlandt a few questions about as a quality education campus? Protesting shares her arts experience in Houston. Houston, Tx – March 16, 2023. I have heard this your views, but what do we want done? How have your art experiences in Housloud protest about the Texas Education Agency What issues should we be focused on? The ton helped you on your journey to being an (TEA) Taking over HISD. With a 2019-2020 Department of Education (DOE) painted a grim HSPVA senior approaching graduation? enrollment of 209,309 students, we should be picture for students of color in Houston-area As a young child, my family made sure concerned. My question is very basic with the public schools. They contend that there is severe I was always in a theatre, whether it was HISD takeover. Are we protesting for the right inequity in discipline, which means Black and The Ensemble, TUTS, Wildfish Theater, or purpose? Should we ensure a quality education Stages. HITS Theatre, specifically, became has afforded our children, or should we condemn Hispanic kids are more likely to be suspended than white students. Suspension can have a big my sanctuary. There, I became the TEA assuming its statutory role as the agency impact on achievement. In fact, time spent on task confident in, not only my voice that oversees primary and secondary public learning in the classroom is critical to a student’s but my love for theatre. education. I am also concerned whether those What did it mean to have your appointed to “right” the system will have the intent success. DOE found a quarter of the students in God Mom, Renee Goldsberry and design to really improve the education system HISD are Black, but they’re about seven times come to see your show and give or to relegate certain demographics to a place their more likely to end up suspended upbringing has taught they belong. We should ask compared to white students. For more visit Purpose on encouragement and advice to how many of our schools are failing or functioning aframnews.com pg. 3 your fellow artist friends?
Are We Protesting for The Right Purpose
BLACK HISTORY IS 24/7/365, NOT 28–29 days
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