05.07.2026_Defender-e-FULL

To thePOINT DN

While the office is technically nonpartisan, Quentin Wiltzwas endorsed by the BrazoriaCounty DemocraticParty His opponent, Tony Carbone,was endorsed by several Republicans.

Message from theManaging Editor

AhistoricshiftinPearland signalsmorethanawin

Pearland just made history. Theelection of QuentinWiltz as thecity’sfirst Blackmayor is significantonits face, butthe deeper storyiswhatitrepresents aboutachangingpolitical andcultural landscapeina suburb long considered reliably conservative.Yes, therace was technicallynonpartisan,butlet’snotpretend partybacking didn’t matter.Wiltz, supportedbyDemocrats,edged outhis opponentinacloseracethatdrewnationalattention—not becauseofthe margin,but becauseofthe message.

Buthere’sthe thing: We’venever relied solelyonthesystemtosaveus.Thecallnow is forcollectiveaction—not just showing up at thepolls,but stayingengaged in the processbetweenelections.Thatmeanspayingattention to localraces, understanding redistrictingbattles,supportingadvocacy groups, andyes, usingthe same energy we bringtoeverythingelseinour livesto protectour rights. Becauseifhistory has taughtusanything,it’sthis:rightsaren’tjust taken—they’reoftensurrenderedthrough silence. Andwecan’t afford that

InacountywhereDonaldTrumpcarriedacommanding majorityjustmonthsago,thisoutcomesuggestssomething more nuancedishappening on theground. Voters arenot alwaysmovinginlockstepwithpartyexpectations.They’re respondingtocandidates,tomessaging,towhotheybelieve will actually listen. Andwhile turnoutwas low— just 13% —theimplicationsarehigh.Thiswasn’tjustaboutflipping aseat.Itwasaboutshiftingperception.Pearlanddidn’tjust electamayor;itexpandedtheideaofwhocanleadinspaces thathaven’talwaysreflectedthediversityofthepeoplewho live there. Thequestion nowisn’t just what this meansfor Pearland —it’swhether this signals abroadershift across suburban Texas.

What theSCOTUSrulingmeans forBlack Voting Rights

Let’sbeclear:Whatwe’re witnessingfromthe Supreme Courtisnotjustacourtdecision—it’sacontinuedunraveling. SCOTUS’s 6-3rulingin Louisianav.Callais didn’t happeninavacuum.It’spartofasteadyerosionoftheVotingRightsAct,oneofthemosthard-foughtandhard-won protectionsinthiscountry’shistory.Andonceagain,Black voters areatthe centerofwhat’sbeinglost.

Themajorityopinion,authoredbyJusticeSamuelAlito, reframesfairnessinawaythatignoreslivedreality.Itleans into aversionofconstitutionalinterpretationthatsounds neutralbut hasveryreal, very unequalconsequences.At stakeare themapsthatdeterminerepresentation— who getsavoice,andwhogetsdilutedintopoliticalsilence.We’ve seen this before.Every time protectionsare weakened,the burdenshiftsbacktocommunitiestofight—harder,longer, andwithfewer tools.

What theSpiritAirlinesclosure signals

When amajor airlinelikeSpiritshuts down,it’seasyto thinkofitasjustanotherbusinessstory—acompanythat couldn’t keep up.But formanytravelers, especially those whorelyonlow-costcarriers, this is aboutaccess.For all ofit’snegativity,Spiritwasanoptionformanylow-income flyers.And forsome, it wasthe only option

Theclosureraisesbiggerquestionsaboutaffordabilityin travel andwho gets leftbehindwhenthose optionsdisappear.Budget airlines have long been criticized forfeesand no-frillsservice,but they also opened theskies to people whootherwisecouldn’taffordtofly.Withoutthem,werisk returningtoasystemwheretravelbecomeslessaccessible, more exclusive.

There’salsothe ripple effect —jobslost, routes eliminated, andincreased pressure on otherairlines that may notbeequippedorinclinedtofillthegapatthesameprice point. ForacitylikeHouston,where travel is tied to business,family, andopportunity,thismatters

Atitscore,thisisn’tjustaboutoneairline.It’saboutwhat happenswhenaffordability disappears from essentialservices.Becausewhetherwe’retalkingaboutflights,housing, orhealthcare,thepatternisthesame:Whencostsgoupand optionsgodown, theimpactisn’t felt equally. Andthat’sa conversationweneedtokeephaving—onthegroundand at 30,000 feet.

On theWeb

•OpEd:Canwecareaboutourrightsasmuchaswecare aboutceleb drama?

•FivetrendsthatBlack womencreated

•Terrance’sTakedives into theTexans minicamp.

BRENTWOOD BAPTISTCHURCH

Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff retires after decades of service

ByReShondaTate

Afteryearsofspiritualleadership,communityserviceandunwaveringcommitmentto hiscongregation,BrentwoodBaptistChurch minister Dr Joe Samuel Ratliff is stepping down, marking the end of an era for one of Houston’slongstandingfaithleaders.

HISD bets on AI

ByTannisthaSinha

Superintendent Mike Miles said the Houston Independent School District is improvingrapidly,butthefuturedemands more skill-based transformation

During the Houston ISD Foundation’s 2026 State of the District luncheon, Miles pointed to academic gains over the past two years.

Nearly500communityleadersandpartners raised more than $480,000 to “accelerate student achievement, support and retain outstanding educators, and expand pathways to college and career.”

“Wefundamentallychangedinjusttwo years, ” Miles said, citing that in two years, HISDwentfrom93AandB-ratedschools to 197. “That’s why we have a goal to have onlyAandB-ratedcampusesattheendof thefollowingyear That’snotapipedream.”

Miles framed those gains as part of a broader effort to dismantle what he called a long-standing “zip code destiny” problem,whichexplainsthatachild’sacademic outcomesarepredictedbywheretheylive

Closing the achievement gap for Black and Brown students

Miles also highlighted gains in closing the achievement gap for Black and Hispanic students in HISD, using NWEA (NorthwestEvaluationAssociation)MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) data as an example.

He noted that in 2023, these students were starting well below national averages, but through the state’s intervention efforts, Black students grew by 13% in justtwoyearsinthemedianachievement

percentile in math.

Miles said Hispanic students showed comparable growth

“Theinterventionhasnothurt,despite some people out there, our highest performing kids,” he said “Our highest performing kids are doing even better But we have a long way to go Not only do we havetoclosetheachievementgap,butwe have to get kids ready for the year 2035.”

Milesaddedthateducationtodayneeds more than the ability to read and write. He argued that the need is driven by the rise of artificial intelligence and the shift in workforce demands.

Tobuildthoseskills,HISDhasalready introduced new instructional models

“If you’re in my circles with former superintendents and other educators, a lot of people are talking about…It’s great that we’re transforming the school system. What are we doing to get ready for an AI-enabled world?” he said “What is our responsibility for the kids? Is it just reading, writing, math, science? Is that our charge?”

AI-drivenlearning

To prepare students for an AI-driven world, he said HISD is expanding career and technical education (CTE) programs, including new investments in fields like cybersecurity, drones, and healthcare, as well as new CTE campuses set to break ground in the coming months

A part of that effort is what Miles describedasthe“nextevolution”ofthedistrict’scontroversialreformmodel,theNew Education System, into Future 2 schools.

Thesecampuseswillpairacademicinstruction in the morning with hands-on, realworldlearningexperiencesintheafternoon Twoschools,GreggandClementeMartinezelementaryschools,willbeconverted to Future 2, K-8 campuses in the 2026-27 school year, as part of HISD’s consolidation plan Students here will take courses focused on AI tools.

Miles acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead.

Despiteacademicgains,onlyabout17% of HISD graduates are currently earning a living wage, which he said underscores theurgencyofpreparingstudentsforlongterm economic success.

“Meetingthismomenttakesmorethan publicfundingalone,”saidMiles,thanking thepartnershipwiththeHISDFoundation Healsowarnedthatbroadertrends,like theexpansionofprivateschooloptionsand homeschooling, could further fragment public education and widen inequality, particularly for underserved students.

“More than 80% of students in this country attend traditional public schools and about 10% attend private schools, and the rest attend charter schools,” said HISD Foundation CEO Janicca Garcia “Yet, when you look at the outcomes, studentswhoattendprivateschoolsaremore likely to enroll in college, complete it, and ultimately earn more over their lifetimes And that raises an important question for us all. If the vast majority of students attend public schools, why weren’t public schoolsdesignedtoprovideeverystudent withthesameopportunities,supports,and resourcestoachievethesameoutcomes?”

Ratliff, who has served as a guiding presence at Brentwood Baptist Church for decades, announcedhisretirement to the congregation in recent weeks. His departure comes after a ministry defined not only by preaching, but by outreach, mentorship and a deep investment in the surrounding community.

“After prayerful reflection and consultation with our leadership, I have decided to retire as Senior Pastor During my time of illnessoverthepastfourteenmonths,Ihave experiencedGod’sgraceinprofoundways I amdeeplygratefulforyourprayers,love,and unwavering support. The church stands on thefirmfoundationofJesusChrist,andIam confidentBrentwoodwillcontinuetogrowin unity and purpose. May the Lord bless you, keepyou,andguideusforward.Brentwood will always remain the church where Christ isthemainattraction,”hesaidinastatement.

Throughout his tenure, Ratliff became knownforhissteadyleadershipandhisability to connect faith with real-life challenges facing families in the community. From counseling parishioners through personal hardshipstoleadinginitiativesthataddressed social and economic needs, his ministry extendedfarbeyondthepulpit Churchmemberssayhisimpacthasbeen bothpersonalandlasting.

“Dr. Ratliff has been a fantastic generous leader at Brentwood. His legacy will live on and I’m grateful to have been a part of it for 44 incredible years, ” said longtime member JackieFitzpatrick.

Under Ratliff’s leadership, Brentwood Baptist Church expanded its role as a communityanchor,hostingprogramsfocusedon youthdevelopment,educationandoutreach

News DN What U.S. Dist. 18 voters want

ByAswadWalker

Local andnationalattention is fixed on theDemocraticPrimary runofffor U.S. CongressionalDistrict18,whereCongressmanChristianMenefeefacesCongressman AlGreen.Regardlessofwhowinstheright to face Republican Ronald Whitfield in November,residents aresignalingthatthis race is aboutmore than personalities— it is aboutpriorities andaccountability in acommunity facing urgent challenges.

Shaped by history—and redistricting

Therace follows aunique trajectory: Menefeerecently wonaspecialelection to completethe term of thelateSylvester Turner.Henow faces Green, along-time representativeofDistrict9who wasredrawn into District 18, whereamajorityofhisconstituentsreside thanks to Republican-initiatedstate redistricting.While therunoff is amajor political signal, voters arefocused on whether thewinnerwillfinallyconfrontlong-standinglocal issues.

Infrastructureandflooding

Infrastructure remainsthe most pressing concern.TravisMcGee,anactivistinSunnysideand SouthPark, identifieddrainage asatoppriority

“Voters… want more fundingfor drainage,”McGeesaid,notingthatfloodingoccurs “everyotherday…notjustfromstorms.”He emphasizedthat“prehistoricinfrastructure…duetodecadesofneglect…hastobe updated.”

JoselynThomasofthe Museum Park Neighborhood Associationagreed,noting that rapiddevelopment hasdangerously alteredwaterflow.

“Onceitrains,our wholelives are impacted,”saidThomas.

Environmentaljustice andpublichealth

Environmentalhazardsfurtherburdenthe district.McGeepointedtoanoverconcentrationoflandfillsandconcreteplantscontributingtopoorairquality.Residentsarecalling forstricterfederalregulationandlong-term planningtoprotectthehealthofhistorically Blackandworking-classneighborhoods.

Crimepreventionandhousing

Onpublicsafety,thecallisfor“prevention beforedetention.”

McGeeadvocatesforvocationalandtrade programs to providecommunity stability. Similarly, housingremains aflashpoint as gentrification intensifies.Residents are

Source:https://dvr.capitol.texas.gov/Congress/0/PLANC2308 Source:https://dvr.capitol.texas.gov/Congress/0/PLANC2308.

demanding“real affordable housingprograms” anddevelopment that includes currentresidentsratherthandisplacingthem.

Foodaccessandsustainability

Chef Aubrey McCoyofVilla Kitchen highlightedthe district’s struggle with food insecurity

“A lotofpeoplehere… go hungry,and there’salotoffoodwaste,”McCoysaid

He called forcommunity-rootednetworksandurbangrowingspacestoestablish self-sufficiency

Transparencyandtrust

Across everyissue lies ademandfor responsiveleadership

“Wewould like transparency…and responsiveness,” notedThomas,regarding basicservices.

ArtistAnthonySuberechoedthis,stating, “Peoplewantsomeonetheycantrust.There aresomanypromises… andthenitdoesn’t getdone.”

Powerandpotential

CD 18 is amultiracial district,containingsizeable Black(45.4%)and Latino (33.1%) populations. CD 18 is also made up of Anglo(13.5%) andAsian (8.6%) residents.CD18holdsamassiveBlackpolitical

legacy, encompassing theThirdWard, Fifth Ward,KashmereGardens, Sunnyside,and SouthPark. NewneighborhoodsinCD18 include HiramClarke andpartsofFortBend County,including Briargateand Chasewood.Acres Homes, alongtimeCD18 stronghold,isnolongerpartofthedistrict Thedistrictrepresents oneofthe largestecosystemsofBlackentrepreneurship in Texas, yetcapital accessgaps persist, andbusiness survival rateslag due tosystemicbarriers.

City,county, andfederal roles

McGeenoted that many of theissues listedbyCD18residents(flooding,housing, etc.) arefirsttackled at thecityand county level.Still,hecontendsthatalargeportionof thefundingforsuchissues,includingpublic safety initiatives, came from fundssecured bypastCD18representatives.

Feature DN Black mothers

Bear burden of Postpartum Depression

By Laura Onyeneho

CarmenKnightMylesdidnotrecognize herselfafterhersonwasborn TheHouston socialinnovatoranddigitalcreator,already adjusting to new motherhood alone in a new city during the height of the COVID19 pandemic, found herself staring at a closet full of clothes that no longer fit a body, or a self she no longer recognized.

“I was really struggling with figuring out who this new person was. I felt like I didn’t know myself,” said Myles, founder of Mama Khronicles and a certified postpartum doula. “But I did not know how to explain that to anyone.”

Her silence was not weakness For Black mothers in Houston and across the country, that silence is a symptom of culturalstigma,systemic neglect, and a health care system that has long failed to see them fully.

Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbirth, affecting approximately one in eight women in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Yet close to 60% never receive treatment. Research from the Maternal Mental Health LeadershipAllianceandthe Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai states that Black women are twice as likelyaswhitewomentoexperience postpartum mental health conditions,andhalfaslikelyto receive care

What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a moderate-to-severemooddisorderthatcanoccur immediately following delivery or up to a yearaftergivingbirth.Itssymptomsextend far beyond sadness and can include persistent irritability, withdrawal from family, obsessive anxiety, difficulty bonding with a newborn, and in serious cases, suicidal ideation

Dawnestel Fodeibou, an international board-certified lactation consultant and a certified public health professional with the Harris County Public Health Maternal and Child Health Program, has spent 12 andahalfyearsworkingattheintersecon of infant feeding and maternal well-being She knows that postpartum depression does not always announce itself clearly, and that for Black mothers, it rarely looks the way popular culture suggests.

“It can show up in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s detachment. Sometimes it’s obsessive behaviors,” Fodeibou said “We’re looking at body language, the willingnesstoparticipateinthecareofoneself and in the care of the baby It’s not so muchthepresenceofstress It’show it’s being managed.”

In Harris County, the crisis is not a statistical abstraction Public health data show the county’s Black maternal mortality rate reached 83.4 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births between 2016 and 2020, a figurethathasdrawnnational attentionandplacedHouston atthecenterofanurgentandlong-overdue conversation

Fodeibou personally experiencedalatepregnancylossand a premature delivery during her first year in the field She described how her own grief deepened her resolve and her clinicalsensitivity.Sherecallspreparingtoreturntoworkafterlosing hersonandwrestlingwithwhethershe couldfacenewmotherswhilemanaging her own grief. Her faith, her family, and a determination to prevent other moths from suffering alone carried her forward.

The weight of the cape Carleigh Joseph-Olivas entered this space almost by accident. A licensed clinical social worker, doula, and mentalhealththerapistspecializingin mothers in recovery, she describes herselfashavingbeencalledtoperinatalworksincechildhood.Therecovery space, however, found her. What she sees in her practice confirms that the “strong Black woman” trope is a clinical obstacle

“We are strong, we are Black women, we can overcome anything We handle thehardthings,”Joseph-Olivassaid “Andweoftenhandle them alone. It’s almost like a badge of honor to wear the superhero cape all thetime Andthenpostpartum, I am like, take it off. Take it off.”

She teaches her clients about postpartum care traditionsfromothercultures, inparticularthefirst40days observed in several countriesacrossAfricaandAsia, during which a new mother’s feet are not expected to touchtheground Mealsare prepared, the baby is held, and the mother is restored in body and spirit

“It blows their minds,” Joseph-Olivassaid “They’re like, well, that is not what it is here I got six weeks to getittogether,andIhaveto go back to work Because if I don’t pay these bills, who else is going to pay them?”

A 2024 Health Affairs study found that even after controlling for clinical factors, Black women consistently faced disparities in diagnosis and treatment access for perinatal mood disorders.

Joseph-Olivasurgedfamilies and community members to recognize the red flags that do not look like sadness.Neglecte Amotherconsum for taking an hour hair done A woma among loved ones feels nothing.

“Sometimes ignore the void she said “She’s no crying, so there’s no postpartum depression there. But sometimes it’s justlikeIdon’t feel anything. So let’s pay

BY THE NUMBERS

1 in 8 women experience postpartum depression

60% of women with PPD never receive treatment

2x more likely Black women vs. white women to experience postpartum mental health conditions

50% less likely Black women to receive treatment compared to white women

attentiontothewiderange of signs that come.”

When there is no village Myles,nowninemonths postpartum with her second child, launched a maternity support group called Mama Khronicles. She had begun sharing herstrugglesonInstagram stories, the breast engorgement from a long commute back to work, the tears she could not explain to friends who did not yet have children.

Sheorganizedameetup Four mothers at a park, no agenda, just conversation. Fromthatgatheringgrewa communityofmeetups,virtual events, and play dates. Shebecameacertifiedpostpartum doula because her community kept asking questions she did not yet have the answers to Today,MamaKhronicles fills a gap the health care system leaves wide open.

“Community is importantbecausemotherhoodis very isolating,” Myles said “And just by having other women to talk to who live in the same timeline as you, it makes so much of a difference.”

Check out these Houston-based

InFocus DN

ByReShondaTate

Inmany Blackhouseholds, motherhood hasnever been confinedtobiology.Itis alegacy—shapedin kitchens,carried throughconversations,and passeddowninlessonsthatguidegenerations longafterchildhoodends

Manywomensaythoselessons—taughtby mothers,grandmothers,aunties,andmentors —continuetoshapehowtheylive,parent,and movethroughtheworld.

“Mymothertaught me that God’snot going to hold youresponsiblefor howpeopletreat you, butHe’sgoing to hold youresponsible for howyoutreatotherpeople,”saidRubyLarry.“So whateveryoudo,tryand treateveryoneright.”

Those teachings, often rooted in faithand accountability,reflect abroader traditionin Blackcommunities wheremothers serveas both caregivers andculturalanchors—often doingsowhilenavigatingsystemicchallenges thatshapehowthoselessonsareformedinthe firstplace.

Lessonsinsurvivaland independence

Formany, theguidancewas practical, centeredondiscipline, financialstability,and self-sufficiency

“Never spendall your money.Ifyou only hadadollar,saveadime,”saidMauriceAurelle.

“Pay your billsfirst. There’s no play money if youowe on your billsthatare necessaryfor yourwell-being,”saidJocelynDillard

VanessaPowellPinnock said hermother’s exampleshapedherunderstandingoffinancia responsibility

“She always livedbelow hermeans,saved andnever seemed to runout of funds,”Pinnocksaid

Othersrecalledlessonsaboutindependence thatextendedbeyondfinances.

“Getyourownbeforeyougetitwithaman,” said JayStrand, describing advice hermother gaveherearlyinlife.

CynthiaSmallssaidhermotheremphasized educationanddiscipline.

“The importance of educationand the unmitigatedvalueofindependence,”shesaid. “Bothrequirediscipline.”

Thoselessonsareoftenshapedbynecessity.

Accordingtothe StateofMotherhood: Black Mothering in America report,Black mothers aremorelikelytobeheads of householdand areabout 20% less likely than whitemothers to have apartner to shareparenting responsibilities.Among youngermothers,the gap narrows—87%ofBlackmomsreporthaving partners compared to 96% of whitemoms— butdisparitiesremain.

Even so,researchers andadvocates caution againstframingsinglemotherhoodassynonymouswithstruggle.

As oneanalysisinthe report notes, of the

Mama’s Lessons What OurMothersTaught Us

When you’ve gained wisdom,it’s your responsibility to pass it on — whetherpeopleare readytohearitor not.”

TAMI ALLEN

Houstontherapist, AllenCounselingGroup,PLLC.

roughly8 millionsingle-motherhouseholds in theU.S., aboutone-third face povertyor foodinsecurity—butthatstillleavesmillions of womensuccessfullynavigatingparenting careers,andhouseholdsontheirownterms

Theroleof“othermothers”

In many cases, thoselessons didnot come fromasinglesource.

InBlackcommunities,extendedfamilyand communityfiguresoftenplaya centralrolein raisingchildren, atradition sometimescalled “othermothering.”

“Raiseyourchildrensootherpeoplewillbe able to love them too,”saidStephanie Bullock Ferguson,recallinghermother’sadvice.

VanessaPowellPinnock said hermother’s exampleshapedherunderstandingoffinancial responsibility

“Shealwayslivedbelow hermeans,saved and neverseemedtorun out offunds,”Pinnocksaid

That communal approach is oftennot just cultural—it’spractical. The StateofMotherhoodreportalsofound that Blackmothers are less likely to rely on outsidechildcarethanwhite mothers(66%compared to 83%), andwhenthey do,theyare less likely to receiveenoughcoveragetosupport full-time work

Asaresult,manyfamiliesleanmoreheavilyon informal networks relatives, neighbors, andtrusted community members—tofillthegaps.

Identity,boundaries, andself-worth

Many womensaidthe most lastinglessons centeredonidentityandself-worth

MilikaMcCoysaidhermotherencouraged hertoremainauthentic during herteenage years.

“IfI felt Ihad to change whoI wastobe friends with someone, they weren’tworthyof myfriendship,”McCoysaid DeborahLewis said hermothertaughther tobecautiousinrelationships.

“Trust shouldbeearned, notfreelygiven,” Lewissaid. “Observe howpeopleact instead offallingfortheirwords.”

Otherlessons focusedonnavigatingsocial spaces

“Moveinsilence.Silencespeakslouderthan words,”saidSabrenaHarold

“There’sareasonGodgaveyoutwoearsand onemouth,soyou canlistenmorethanyou speak,”saidKayFord

JamesE.Hudsonsaidhis mother warned himaboutgossip

“A dogthatwillbring abonewillcarry one back,”hesaid

Evolvinglessonsacross generations

Whilemanyoftheseteachingsremainconsistent,somewomensaytheyareadaptingwhat theylearnedtobetterreflecttheirownexperiencesandpriorities.

Houstontherapist Tami Allensaidmany Blackfamilieshistoricallyreliedonunspoken, survival-basedlessons—guidancerootedmore innecessitythanopenconversation.

“Therewerejustunspokenthingsthatgot passeddown—like,makesureyoukeepsome moneyontheside,”saidAllen,whorunsAllen Counseling Group, PLLC “But when it came to thebiggerconversations —how to enter womanhood, howtoprepare foryourfinancial future,yourcareer, relationships—those weren’talwaystalkedabout.”

ForAllen,thatgap meantlearningmany lessonsthehardway.

“I honestly didn’t getalot of lessons,”she said.“It’sbeenaschoolofhardknocks.”

Today, shebelievesthatsilence is exactly whatneedstochange

“I thinkitstartswithgetting uncomfortable andhavingthe conversations,”Allen said.“We have to acknowledgethatthere’s agap in communication—and then take responsibility forclosing it.”

Drawingfrombothpersonalexperience andher professional work,Allen said mentorshipacrossgenerations is critical “One principleIlivebyisthatolder womenare supposed to teachthe younger women,”she said.“Andwehavetoget more comfortablenot worrying abouthow it’s received.Whenyou’vegainedwisdom, it’s

your responsibility to pass it on —whether people areready to hear it or not.” That shift—fromsilentendurance to intentionalteaching— reflects abroader generational evolution.

“Whatwe’reseeingnowiswomentryingto bemoreintentional,”Allensaid.“Notjustabout survival,butaboutpreparation—emotionally, financially,andrelationally—inwaysprevious generationsdidn’talwayshavethespacetodo.”

Thatshiftisreflectedinbroader data.The StateofMotherhoodreportfoundthatyounger Blackmothersaremorelikelythantheirwhite

counterpartstodescribebalancingcareerand motherhood as “empowering” and“optimistic,”andareslightlylesslikelytoreportburnout. At thesametime, olderBlack mothers aresignificantlymorelikelytodescribethat balanceas“frustrating,”highlightinggenerational differencesinexperience.

Theemotionaltoll,however,remains.

“Evenwhenwetalkabout legacy and strength,wealsohavetoacknowledge the costofthatstrength,”Allensaid.“That’swhy this generation is trying to redefinewhatit lookslike.”

Alegacythatendures

Formany,thelessonspasseddownbytheir motherscontinuetoshape theirdaily lives. LisaDejoiesaidhermother’sguidancewas rooted in faith.

“Mamaalwayssaid, give it to God,”she said

Forothers, thelessons remain asourceof motivation

BestsellingauthorWilliamFredrickCoopersaidhis mother’s final wordscontinueto guidehim

“One of my mother’s biggestlessons was: Greatnessisinyou Butyou gottafigure it out,”hesaid.

Across generations, thoselessons remain both personal andcollective—aquiet inheritancecarried into careers, relationships, andcommunities Manywomensaythelegacyisn’tjustwhat theyweretaught.It’swhattheychoosetopass on next

“Mymothermay notbeherephysically, buteverythingshe poured into me still is,” saidDionneBlacknell.“Icarryherintheway Ilove, theway Ilead, andthe wayI raisemy daughters. Everylessonshe gave me didn’t endwithme— it livesonthrough them That’show legacy works. It doesn’tstop. It continues.”

DATING,DOMESTICVIOLENCE

Feature DN RED FLAGS

By Laura Onyeneho

New Year’s Day is supposed to be a fresh start.

TrivaStarksexperiencedatraumaticincidentwhenherhusbandassaultedherwhile shewasillwiththeflu

Shehadnotgoneout.Shehadnotstarted an argument Starks asked one question “Where have you been?” and that question putherlifeindanger.Hebeather.

SherecentlypostedthesurveillancefootageoftheassaultonInstagram,uneditedand unfiltered.Theinternetwatchedinshock.

The Houston-area hairstylist, entrepreneur, and mother who goes by Nikki had been with viral sketch comedian Uncle StanleyJoesinceshewas12.Theyhadbeen marriedfor20years.Sheknewhisanger.She had learned to read his moods, to time her questions,toshrinkherselftokeepthepeace. Noneofitwasenoughthatnight.

“IalwaysknewthatIwasgoingtoeventuallypostthevideotoexposehim,”Nikkisaid inaninterviewwiththeDefenderNetwork. “Anditwasjustnottoexposehim,itwasalso tohelpotherswhoaredealingwithdomestic violence, and also to hold my feet to the firetonevergoback.”

The video Nikki posted was not even the worst of it It was one of the “mildest” experiences of abuse that she shared withthepublic.

Herstorylandedinthemiddle of a month that has stunned thecountry.

In April 2026 alone, Dr Cerina WanzerFairfax,aVirginiadentistand mother of two, was killed by her estranged partnerdaysafterbeingawardedfullcustody of their children In Shreveport, La., a man shotandkilledeightchildren,sevenofthem his own, in what police called an entirely domesticincident.CoralSpringsViceMayor NancyMetayerwastragicallyfoundshotto death by her partner in her home And the bodycountscontinuetoincrease Black women across this country and right here in Houston are being killed by themenwhosharetheirbeds,theirchildren, and their last names. And in most of those cases, the signs were there long before the triggerwaspulled

According to the Institute for Women’s PolicyResearch(IWPR),over40%ofBlack womenexperienceintimatepartnerviolence (IPV) in their lifetime, a rate significantly higher than the roughly 31.5% for women overall. This includes physical violence, sexualviolence,andstalkingbyanintimate partner.

“Intimate partner violence, for many years, has typically disproportionately impacted Black women more than any other demographic,” said Chanica Brown, chief client servicesofficerattheHouston AreaWomen’sCenter(HAWC).

“This is just historically what we seehereatourresidentialcampus.”

In 2024, HAWC answered more than 35,000 calls and more than 3,000 live chats.Thecenterhousedmorethan900survivors,includingmorethan400children

Thewarning signs mostwomen miss

Experts say most fatal relationships have identifiable warning signs. Most survivors werenevertaughttorecognizethemorwere conditionedtoexcusethem

“The red flags that we most commonly see, the ones that are missed, really are surrounding power and control,” Brown said “Isolation is a big one. Isolation from family and friends, and that really tends to be a gradualprogression.”

Brown described other hallmark behaviors, including constant criticism, financial control,technologysurveillance,andthreats, whetherdirectedatimmigrationstatus,children,orasurvivor’semployment

“And a lot of times we’ve seen too where thesurvivorhasanincomeoftheirown,and

they’rerequiredtoturnovertheirincometo theabuser,”Brownsaid “So,justreallyexercising power and control over the survivor Someoftheseareoverlooked.”

Safe Horizon Vice President of Community and Digital Services Michele Richard saidphysicalescalationindicatorsareamong the most dangerous and most overlooked Sheidentifiedstalkingasalethalityescalator, includingtrackingdeviceshiddeninvehicles or bags, shared passwords, and monitored phoneactivity

“If two or more of these things are happening at the same time, we urge survivors to reach out to a service provider to talk throughsafetyplanning,especiallyifsomeone is considering leaving the relationship withkids.”

Whydo survivors stay?

Andwhyleaving is deadly

The question survivors say they dread mostis:“Whydidn’tyoujustleave?”

Theanswerisneithersimplenorsafe “Whenyoutakethestepstoleave,thatis whenyouwillendupmurdered,”Nikkisaid plainly. She knows this firsthand. A cousin ofherswaskilledbyherhusbandinSpring, Texas, after she sought a divorce. “So I’ve seen domestic violence in my family, right infrontofme.”

Herdaughterswerethereasonshestayed, andultimatelythereasonshefoundthecouragetoleave.

“I want my daughters to be proud of me becauseIhaven’tbeenagreatexample,”she said “Theykindofseemeasawomanwho’s not very strong when it comes to walking away from their dad in a very abusive situation and constantly putting them back in a cycle over and over and over again. I just wantthem,firstofall,totrustme.”

Experts say the most dangerous time is when the survivor is leaving or has left. Survivors leave and return to abusive relationships an average of seven times before leavingforgood,witheachdeparturecarryingescalatingrisk Thisisthetimewhenthe personcausingharmislosingpoweroverthe survivor Ifthereisanytimethatapersonis thinkingaboutfollowingthroughwithfemicide,themurderofawoman,itisthattime Financial dependency is one of the most powerfulbarrierskeepingwomentrapped.

“When I had no money, I knew for a fact that I could never leave him,” Nikki said. “What am I going to do? I don’t have the finances to provide for our children or myself.”

Nikki spent years quietly building financialindependenceasanentrepreneur,carefully assembling an exit plan while still in themarriage.

“I knew that I couldn’t leave without an exitplan SoItookyearstobuildmyselfupas anentrepreneurandgetmyownmoney,”she said. “And once I got my own money, I was stillthere.ButIdidn’tknowthatmyhusband wasnotgoingtoletmeleave.”

Her advice to women facing financial dependencyistodevelopaplanforfinancial independence, such as saving money from an allowance or strategically managing bill payments. It is essential to develop an exit strategy,asfinancialdependencecanleadto prolongedconstraints.

Isolation, too, compounds the danger. Nikkidescribedprojectingstrengthpublicly whilehidingabuseprivately.

“Outsideofthehome,I’vealwaystriedto bethisstrong,courageouswoman,”shesaid “People would say she was smiling through allofthis,andwehadnoclue.”

The “strong Black woman” image is itself a barrier to survival There is this stigma of being the strong, matriarchal person who holds the family together Sometimes Black womenfeeltheneedtodefendthefamilyat all costs, which can mean protecting their partner.

Religion plays a significant and often silencingrole Theremightbesomereligious norms that may make it difficult culturally for Black women to feel like they can’t leave thedomesticviolencesituation.

Profile DN

Karla Brown

Born to educate, advocate

By Aswad Walker Refreshing.

That’sthewordthatcomestomindwhen encountering someone whose impact is definednotbynoiseorself-promotion,but by humility, honor, and integrity.

In an era marked by hollow rhetoric and performative leadership, Karla Brown represents something far more enduring: quiet consistency, deep purpose, and service-driven action Making a difference as aneducator,nonprofitleader,andadvocate isn’tsomethingBrownperforms It’ssimply who she is It turns out, she was made for this.

The54-year-oldnativeHoustonianfrom Sunnyside is a graduate of Worthing High School and Texas Southern University (TSU), with more than three decades of experienceineducationasbothaclassroom teacherandschooladministrator.Thisyear, Brownisteachingkindergartenforthefirst time a new assignment, but not a new mission.

For Brown, making a difference in people’s lives has always been the throughline, regardless of role or title.

Education in her blood

“I was born to be an educator,” Brown said “Myparentswereeducators…I’vebeen around education all my life. It was in my blood already.”

Still, education wasn’t her first career choice

“I wanted to go for more money, but my heart told me to go to education,” she said about the decision that laid the

groundworkforacareerdefinedbycourage and conviction

Advocacy vs. administration

Brown has seen the education system frombothsides asateacherandadministrator While she valued both roles, she ultimately found them incompatible with her moral compass.

“Ienjoyedboth,butthepoliticswouldn’t allowmetostayanadministrator,”shesaid “Beinganadvocateandanadministrator… they don’t go together.”

For Brown, advocacy means standing firm, even when it challenges authority.

“If I see something that’s not in the best interest of children, I don’t care who gives the command,” she said “I’m going to do what’s best for children.”

Advocacy beyond the classroom

Thatcommitmentextendsbeyondschool walls. Brown works closely with longtime friend and fellow activist Travis McGee on several initiatives.

“We’veworkedontheRobinHoodProject and Houston and Beyond,” Brown said “Wealsoworkonvoterengagementthrough Real Voters of Harris County.”

McGeealsopartnerswithBrownthrough her nonprofit, Providence on Southmore, Inc., which she founded in 2012 to help college students graduate

“I saw a need for students getting assistance completing college,” she said “Back in2012,TSU’ssix-yearcompletionratewas around 15%. I wanted to do something to make a difference.”

Brown’sserviceworkalsoincludesagrassrootseffortcalledtheRobinHoodProject.

“It’snotevenanofficialorganization,”she said “We’re just a group of friends that get together monthly to feed the unhoused.”

Raised to serve Service, for Brown, is not a slogan but a family legacy.

“My father always said, ‘If you see something that needs to be done, do it,’” said Brown of her guiding principle.

Additionally, her faith, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and close friendships reinforce that ethic.

“As an educator and advocate, I see so muchonadailybasis,”Brownsaid “It’shard to not do anything.”

ThoseclosesttoBrownsayhergenerosity is unmatched.

“Karla is the most generous person I

know,” said her twin sister, Kayla Brown Hogans “She has a true heart for people.”

McGeeechoedthatsentiment.“She’sselfless, dependable, and reliable,” he said

Advice for ‘generation next’

For young people drawn to advocacy, Brown stresses preparation and support.

“First, get you together,” she said. “Then makesureyouhaveatightcircle…support is extremely important.”

Brown’stightcirclewasformedearly.She andhertwinsisterwerebothtopstudentsat Worthing, but chose to stay close to family

“We were in the top 5%,” she said “But TexasSouthernwaslikeanotherbigfamily.”

At TSU, Brown joined Alpha Kappa Alpha and further solidified her commitment to service.

“Itwasoneofthebestexperiencesofmy life,” she said

Sports DN

AdversityintoTriumph

TSU baseball thrives under new leadership

ByTerranceHarris

With so much still in front of them, the Texas Southern Tigers are playing some of their best baseball right now.

There are legit aspirations to overtake the dominant Bethune-Cookman squad for the SWAC championship if things fall right in this latter part of the season But how the season is shaping up is nothing like its chaotic start when longtime coach MichaelRobertsonsuddenlyretiredbefore the spring season began.

There was no press release, heart-toheart, or announcement that Robertson had decided to step down after 18 years. It was just a dose of reality that the players had to deal with after returning to school from winter break.

“Itwasabigshock,butatthesametime, last year and the year before, there were rumors because Rob was gone throughout theseason,”saidTSUpitcherJustinMayes.

“So we weren’t really surprised, but at the same time, when we did get a new head coach, all of the pressure just released off the team.”

Enter Ely Gallego, who was brought aboard last year as the volunteer assistant coach and has a backgroundasaDivision III coach, as the Tigers’ interim head coach. Instead of the programtakingastep backandgettingstuckinastagnantspace, TSU has seemed to thrive under the freedomandtrustthathascomewithGallego’s leadership

TheTigers(21-19overall,15-9SWAC)sit in sixth place in the conference standings afterdroppingfourstraightgameswithsix games remaining in the regular season.

“It’s been a huge change going from Coach Rob to Coach Ely,” said infielder Jonathan Trejo, a product of Langham Creek. “Different perspectives, different signs, different on the field.

“But I think it’s going really smooth I think all of the guys are really liking the changes.”

Theresulthasbeenincreasedproduction, especiallyattheplate,wheretheTigerslead theleagueinbatting(.319),homeruns(42), sluggingpercentage(.484),andon-basepercentage (0.440). The offensive production has been led by Christopher Chavez (.393 batting average, 35 RBI, and a .492 slugging percentage), Byron Robins .397 batting average, 9 home runs, league-leading

43RBI,.714sluggingpercentage,33walks),

Miguel Morales (.382 batting average, 32 RBI, and .455 slugging percentage) and Trejo (.368 batting average, 8 HR, and 37 RBI), who all rank in the SWAC’s Top 10 in batting.

They have been solid on the mound with a rotation that includes Mayes (3.23 ERA) with a 5-1 record, a league-leading 69 strikeouts, and a No.2 SWAC ranking, Joshua Pena (4.58 ERA) with a 5-1 season mark, Joshua Prieto (5.40 ERA), and Jose Luccioni (6.00) with a 3-0 record.

If there has been an area of weakness, it hasbeenondefense,wheretheyhavecommitted 50 errors

Gallego, who came aboard with no idea ofRobertson’sretirementplans,saysoverall thatthe35playersheinheritedhavebeena joy to work with

“It helps when you have an older group of kids to be able to handle something like that,”saidGallego,whoplayedatSulRoss, spent some time in the minors, and then served as head coach at Sul Ross prior to coming to TSU. “They’ve adjusted well Not much has changed. Our offense is very similar, so it’s not a huge adjustment offensively.”

The fact that the players have adjusted quickly to Gallego’s more laid-back

approach to baseball and dealing with the ups and downs hasn’t been much of a surprise.Gallegosetthetoneassoonashe learnedfrominterimathleticdirectorPaula JacksonthathewouldbereplacingRobertson for the season

The message was clear about how to proceed.

“Thisistheircareer,thisistheiropportunity to play college baseball,” said Gallego, who isn’t focusing on his future but seems to desire the position permanently. “You only get four years to play this game. So, no matter who is sitting in this position, it’s not really about us It’s about them and what they want out of their careers. ”

The message seemed to sink in with the players.

“Heletsusplayfreely,”saidseniorcatcher Elijah Rodriguez, who transferred to TSU lastyearfromMaryHardin-Baylor.“Wefelt likeateambefore,nottospeakdownonthe previouscoach,butwefeltveryconstricted in what we could do and always nervous.

“Wewerefearingtofailbecausewewere going to be punished one way or another.

But Coach Ely is different. It’s kind of like wecanplaymorefreely Heletsusdomore ofwhatwecandoandnotasrestricted,letting us just play and not holding us back either way. ”

It’s a whole new team going into this season. We definitely have the chemistry outside of the field, and not just in the field. We get together after the field and go have lunch, go have dinner together to keep the chemistry going. I think the brotherhood is very strong here.”

JONATHAN TREJO

TSU INFIELDER

Sports DN

EgyptTyler

The jumpthat savedthe season

By Jimmie Aggison

Sixjumps.Fivescratches.One chance to keepherseasonalive

AsthepressurefortheAreameetmounted, Richmond Randle junior EgyptTyler stood ontherunway,knowinghermarginforerror hadvanished.Afterplacingsecondinthelong jump,she scratchedthree of herfirst four attemptsinthetriplejump,recordingamark onlyonhersecondtry.Thejump,36-feet-10, wasn’therbest.Itdidn’tneedtobe Itwasenoughtosurvive.Moreimportantly, itwasenoughtoadvancetotheRegionalmeet.

“After my firstfew scratches, Iwas frustrated,”saidTyler.“However,IknewIcouldn’t letittakeover. Ikepttellingmyselftostay calmandtrustmytraining.”

ForTyler,the meet quicklyshifted from what went wrongtoresetting forthe next attempt.

Knowingshe needed oneclean jump,she stoppedoverthinkingandfocusedonstaying controlledandconsistent.

“Insteadoftryingtodotoomuch,Itrusted my stepsand aimedtojustget aclean mark ontheboard,”saidTyler.

Afterfinishing thelongjump, shewas excitedtohaveplacedhighenoughtoqualify forregionals.Buttheimmediatetransitionto thetriplejumptookatoll.

“Aftersixjumpsinthelongjump,herlegs andankleswerefatigued,anditshowed,”said Randle High School girls’ head trackcoach Raquel McNeal.“Icould seeher frustration earlyasshe struggledtofindher rhythm in thetriplejump.”

That moment,balancing frustration, pressure,and execution, didn’t come outof nowhere. It wasbuilt over yearsofgrowth, doubt,anddiscovery.

Competitiveasa gymnastfromages5 to 12,Tylerwasencouragedbyherfather,Clay Spears,totry trackinseventh gradeafter he sawhernaturalexplosivenessonthefloor.

“Atfirst,Iwasn’tcompletelysureaboutit,” saidTyler

Hergymnasticsbackgroundquickly became an advantage, helpingher develop body control, coordination,and explosive power.

“Ialreadyhadasenseofhowtomoveinthe airand stay balanced,which made learning jumpsaloteasier,”saidTyler

What beganashesitationsoonbecame steadyprogress

Tyler’sfreshmanand sophomoreseasons focusedonbuildinga foundation.As

afreshman, shejumped37-feet in thetriple jump andplacedfifth at theRegionalmeet. Shealsojumped17-feet-2 in thelongjump butdidn’tadvancebeyondtheArearound

“Myfirst trip to theRegionalmeetwas excitingandmotivating,”saidTyler.“Itpush metorealizethelevelIneededtoreachto more competitive, as everything felt bigg andmorecompetitive.”

As asophomore,she improved to 38-feet-1 in thetriplejumpand placed eighthattheUIL5Astatemeet,aturningpointinherdevelopment.

“I realized thetriplejumpplayed moreintomystrengthswhenIstarted seeingconsistentimprovementandfelt morenaturaldoingitcomparedtoother events,”saidTyler.

That growingcomfort translated into measurableprogress,particularlyinthetec nicalrhythmandtheexecutionofeachphase.

“Fromher freshman to sophomoreyear, themostsignificantimprovementwasinher phases,” said McNeal.“Shemadesignificant stridesinmaintainingproperformandconsistencythroughouteachphaseofherjump.”

Byherjunioryear,thatsteadyprogression culminatedinabreakthrough:A40-footpersonalrecordinthetriplejumpandrankings number11inTexasandnumber26nationally, accordingtoMileSplit

“Duringmyjuniorseason,myconfidence really improved,” said Tyler.“Istarted trustingmytrainingmoreand stoppeddoubting myself during competition. Once that mentalpartclicked,everythingelsestartedfalling intoplace.”

“Herabilitytofinishherjumpiswhattruly separatesher nowfromwhere shewas two yearsago,”saidMcNeal.“She’smuchstronger andmorecontrolledthrougheachphase,and shecarries that powerthrough herlanding TheadditionofCoach Taylor Rambohas also played amajor role in hercontinued development.”

Yetrankingsand personal recordsdon’t guaranteeanythingwhenitmattersmost Atthe5AAreameet,Tylerdidn’tneedperfection; shejustneededtofollowthe sports’ simplestmotto:surviveandadvance.

“Survive andadvance meansdoing whateverittakestomoveon,evenifthingsaren’t perfect,”saidTyler.“It’s aboutstaying composedunder pressure andfinding away to succeednomatterthesituation.”

In trackand field, mental toughnessin high-pressuremoments is everything.After

scratchingthreeoffourjumps,Tylerhadjust onemarktorelyon.

Resettingmentallybecameessential “I take amomenttobreathe,clear my mind,and notdwell on it,” said Tyler. “I remind myself that onejumpdoesn’t define thewholemeet,andIfocusonwhatIcanfix forthenextattempt.”

Lookingahead to regionals, hermindset remainsunchanged.

“Going into theRegionalmeet, Iexpect to competeatmybestand give full effort everyjump,”saidTyler.“Iwanttoimprove my marksand continue advancing, but mostimportantly,Iwanttostayfocusedand confident.”

ForMcNeal, guidingathletesthrough thosemoments is as importantasphysical preparation.

“I focusonreinforcing belief andconfidence,”saidMcNeal.“Iremindthemthey’re capableand prepared forthese moments. I encourage them to stay composed,visualize success,and avoidoverthinking. Everyathlete responds differently,soit’simportant to understandeachathlete’sneedsinthosesituationsandcommunicateinawaythatconnects withthem.”

Atthe5AAreameet,Tylerdidn’tneedher best jump;she just needed one. In asport definedbyinchesand moments, that was enoughtokeepherseasonalive

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Tour de YES Promotes health, wellness, smoothies

ByAswad Walker

On a mild spring day at the YES Prep NorthCentralSecondarycampus,theusual transitionbetweenclassesisinterruptedby a curious sight. Four stationary bikes are stationed outside the cafeteria, surrounded by a team in matching t-shirts. As students approachwithcuriosity,theydiscoverTour de YES, a creative initiative designed to tackle the nutritional and physical activity challenges facing youth today.

The mission of Tour de YES

Developed by YES Prep’s Child Nutrition Operations Department, Tour de YES addressesastarkreality:manystudents,particularly in Black and Brown communities, face significant wellness hurdles.

In Texas, one in four school-aged children is considered obese, and over 1.8 millionchildrendonotconsumeanyvegetables on a typical day. Furthermore, only 23% of Texas youth achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

“We want to incorporate physical activity with nutrition,” explains Maria Carlos, manager of YES Prep’s Child Nutrition Operations Department “A blender bike is astationarybikethathasablenderonitthat

blends smoothies as students ride.”

The concept is simple: students choose from a variety of fresh fruit and vegetable recipes, load the ingredients, and pedal. The speed and duration of their riding

determine the consistency of their drink.

A menu for success

Theprogramoffersseveralnutrient-dense options tailored to student tastes: RedFinishFuel:Strawberries,raspberries, cranapplejuice,andapple.BlueScholarSuccess:Bananas,yogurt,blackberries,andblueberries GreenSuccessBoost:Coconutwater, applejuice,pineapples,mango,andspinach. GeorgiaGeorgacopulos,achildnutrition specialistattheNorthCentralcampus,notes theimportanceoftheseingredients.“Ireally like spinach. It’s a great source of iron,” she says “Forstudentswhoarestillinagrowth period,it’sveryimportantforthemtoenjoy these kinds of nutrients.”

Overcoming hesitation

While some students are initially wary of the “green” ingredients, the interactive natureofthebikesquicklyerasedhesitation, andintroducedmanystudentstofruitsand vegetables they found out they enjoyed.