October 18, 2024
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
Vol. 29, Issue 40
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We the People Your vote and your money are the two most powerful things you have. Be careful who you give them to. - Roy Douglas Malonson
RODNEY ELLIS LIVING LEGEND SERIES
FROM SUNNYSIDE TO LEADERSHIP By: Sharon C. Jenkins
THE PRISON PIPELINE By: Shelley McKinley
We have all heard of the school to prison pipeline, but when and how do students actually enter the pipeline? Working our way backwards, we have to look at the composition of students in correctional facilities. According to the Children’s Defense Fund, 41% of youth in custody (ex. juvenile justice and detention centers, jails and prisons) are Black. Black youth are more likely to be in custody than White youth in every state but Hawaii. The national youth placement rate of 114 per 100,000 masks a massive
racial disparity. Additionally, national reports show that 1 in 3 students in juvenile correctional facilities are receiving special education services. So how can we proactively steer Black students with documented disabilities away from the pipeline to prison? As Asa Hilliard said in 1995, “The knowledge and skills to educate all students already exists. The remaining question Read more at is if educators have the sustained will to aframnews.com
Rodney Ellis, the long-serving Harris County Commissioner, has built a reputation as a tireless advocate for social justice, equity, and community empowerment. In a candid interview, Ellis reflected on his humble beginnings, the values that shaped him, and his contributions to the African American community in Houston. His story is not only about the pursuit of political power but about his dedication to lifting up marginalized communities and ensuring their voices are heard. A Humble Beginning in Sunnyside Ellis grew up in Sunnyside, a historically African American neighborhood in Houston. The youngest of three children, he was raised by workingclass parents who instilled in him the values of hard work, discipline, and organization. “My dad had a 6th-grade education, worked in the cotton fields, and Ellis on pg. 4