June 26, 2026
Vol.31, Issue 21
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African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
TSU ENDOWMENT HONORS DR. SIMMONS’ SISTER By: TSU
VOTING RIGHTS ACT By: Roy Douglas Malonson
The 1965 Voting Rights Act is one of the most important laws in American history. Signed during the Civil Rights Movement, it was created to make sure that Black Americans could safely exercise their constitutional right to vote, especially in places where they had faced unfair obstacles for decades. For a long time, this law worked like a shield, protecting voters and helping minority communities elect leaders who truly represented them. However, in recent years, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) made major decisions that weakened, or “gutted,” this historic law. The biggest change happened in 2013 with a case called Shelby County v. Holder. The Supreme Court got rid of a
key rule that forced states with a history of discrimination to get approval from the federal government before changing their voting laws. The Court argued that the country had changed and these protections were no longer needed. But almost immediately after the ruling, several states passed new, stricter voting laws that made it harder for people to vote. Another big shift involves “dismantling” Black congressional districts. Congressional districts are areas drawn on a map that determine who represents a community in government. To give minority voters a fair voice, mapmakers sometimes create “majorityminority” districts, where Black voters make up the Voting Rights on pg. 3
On June 19, 2026, Texas Southern University (TSU) announced the establishment of the Nora B. Wilson Endowment and Health Clinic, a transformative gift from Dr. Ruth J. Simmons created to honor her late sister. Nora B. Wilson, a breast cancer survivor who passed away in May 2026, was a person of profound resilience. Starting full-time work at age fifteen to support her siblings, her life exemplified the unsung dedication found within working-class communities. By tethering her sister’s memory to TSU, Dr. Simmons has created a living legacy that translates personal grief into a permanent instrument for community survival and medical equity. The endowment directly funds the TSU Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Center, targeting deep-seated healthcare disparities across nine Southeast Texas counties: Harris, Brazoria, Galveston, Walker, Grimes, Matagorda, Wharton, Trinity, and Polk. Rather than focusing strictly on traditional academic scholarships, this initiative recognizes that educational opportunity cannot be separated from physical well-being. By providing critical public outreach, screening awareness, and community-focused research, the endowment confronts the systemic barriers that frequently delay early cancer detection in vulnerable populations. Operating temporarily out of the TSU Institute of Urban Public Health and Housing inside the newly renovated W.R. Banks Building, the clinic provides comprehensive preventative care. Beyond breast cancer outreach, its services include vital screenings for Read more at blood pressure, A1C, and cholesterol, aframnews.com