African-American New&Issues

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VOL. 21 ISSUE 44

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EXCLUSIVE INTRVIEW WITH MR. SEBASTIAN EVANS II

MEET THE COMPOSER OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES! Donald Trump is YOUR President-Elect and there’s nothing you can change about that!

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American News&Issues

Editorial & Opinion

Thanksgiving Day

“...It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union…”

Thanksgiving Proclamation By President Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863 Anthony B. Pinn, Lectionary Team Cultural Resource Commentator, shared some timeless thoughts and appreciations about Thanksgiving from 2009 that are worthy of appreciation and true for

Roy Douglas Malonson Chairman Shirley Ann Malonson President/C.E.O. Chandra Jarmon

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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.

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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.

any year.

PINN’S THOUGHTS & CONSIDERATIONS For Christians, Thanksgiving is not shorthand for the story of a shared meal between Europeans and Native Americas, reenacted November of each year, according to Pinn.

Rather, there is a depth to the term and its meaning that cuts across the centuries and speaks to humanity’s basic connection to God and this changing world.

Thanksgiving provides the basic posture of humans toward the Divine.

That is to say, thanksgiving involves celebration of the ultimate logic of life made possible through the workings of a God concerned with justice.

It is not shortsighted; it is not concerned only with the present moment but, instead, thanksgiving allows recognition of the ultimate value of what is to come. It is a tenacious hold on the possibility of goodness and justice in spite of current circumstances… … The African American Christian tradition in general terms entails this thanksgiving even in the face of socio-economic, political and cultural oppression. Through its rituals, teachings, and the best of its practices, African American Christianity offers a way to recognize, speak about, and live out our relationship to God in ways that promote a good life...

THANKSGIVING IS REALLY ABOUT FAMILY Pinn also shared strong feelings and thoughts on the real meaning of Thanksgiving: FAMILY. The stories of African American families gathered on Thanksgiving Day around dining room tables, kitchen tables, on floors, grass and even dirt are legendary. Who among

us can’t roll off the list of what was on the table on Thanksgiving?

Did your table contain turkey or was it ham or both with chicken thrown in for good measure? Were there candied yams, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake, potato salad, dressing with cranberry sauce and even more vegetables? Yes, we can all go on about the food.

However, much more important than the food, Thanksgiving was the time when everyone tried to come together. Some would drive home and others would fly home. It was about family being together. And unlike Easter, no new clothes were required.

Unlike Christmas, you did not have to bring a gift. If dinner was potluck, you had to make a contribution, and that was what made the time great, too. So many gave of themselves and shared their culinary talents.

Thanksgiving was also one of those rare times that people actually sat down and talked. You heard stories, some over and over each year and some brand new, that gave you information about your family that you appreciated having later in life.

Children heard the stories and participated in the day’s festivities, too.

If a child could play an instrument, they were asked to do so right on the spot. If they could recite the Bible or a famous oration, this was the time to have them do it. Recipes were handed down and so much was learned about cooking on Thanksgiving.

But Thanksgiving was not only about one’s personal family, it was about all the families that were part of the human family.

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TEXAS • NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2016

Notice To Trump: We’re Ready Rev. Al Sharpton

O

President, National Action Network

n January 14, thousands will converge in Washington, D.C. as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday begins — just six days before Donald Trump’s inauguration. We will rally and put him (and the nation) on notice that there are some things that will not be changed no matter who is president and what party dominates the House and Senate.

Protecting the civil rights of citizens and the voting rights of people that have been excluded, providing health care for all Americans and equal opportunity should supersede any of the beltway partisan fights that we are inevitably headed into.

Some have given their lives and others dedicated their lives to try to make Dr. King’s dream a reality, and now they have added to that mission by preserving the legacy of President Obama. Groups come and go, elections come and go, but some things must remain constant and non-negotiable.

Next month, the family of Michael Griffith will mark the 30th anniversary of the racially charged killing of their 23-year-old son who was hit by a car as he ran from a group of white teens wielding bats and other weapons in the white ethnic neighborhood of Howard Beach, Queens. I was among the leadership mobilizing and bringing justice in that horrific incident that led to the imprisonment for those responsible, and began a series of high profile cases for justice that I and National Action Network (NAN) have been involved with for over a quarter of a century. But at the same time that we were marching for accountability for Griffith’s death, and later for Yusef Hawkins’ death (killed by a White mob in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn), Donald Trump was fighting and ultimately

settling with the federal government over charges that he and his father were discriminating/excluding certain groups from their buildings and properties — precisely what we were talking about and fighting against.

In the late ‘80s, while we were working to ensure the presumption of innocence of five Black and Latino men falsely accused of the rape of a white female jogger in Central Park, Trump was busy buying full-page ads in several major newspapers calling for their execution. Over the years, I’ve seen him try to befriend us, but we never forget and never will let him forget that we saw his core beliefs and his capacity to play to the worst elements in his home borough, in his home city. I don’t know what Trump really believes, but I do know his record. I’ve said to my fellow activists — from millennials to NAN members to the elders in Black ministry — that we are uniquely positioned to deal with this urban/business/entertainment New York persona who will now be President of the United States because we’ve had to deal with him and that persona our entire lives.

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TEXAS • NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2016

Editorial & Opinion

Why So Many Blacks Backed Trump Earl Ofari Hutchinson Author & Political Analyst

Back in July, there was great laughter and knowing nods when some polls showed that then-GOP presidential contender Donald Trump would get 0 percent of the Black vote. This seemed about right. Trump seemingly earned and deserved the goose egg with his horrendous record of slamming the door on blacks in his apartment rentals, his relentless birther savaging of President Obama, his non-stop trash of the Central Park Five, wild enthusiasm for stop and frisk, and his thinly disguised race-tinged cracks and digs at his rallies. But a funny thing happened between the near gag line 0 percent Trump supposedly would get if the election were held in July, and the actual election. That 0 percent of the Black vote, magically transformed into some real numbers that actually had some significance for the election, and maybe beyond.

The 8 percent of the Black vote he got which numbers wise factors out to roughly a half million votes topped the total that GOP presidential contenders Romney in 2012 and McCain in 2008 got. Another 4 percent of Black voters did not support Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

This factors out together to over 1 million Black votes lost to Clinton.

This does and should raise eyebrows.

The drop off in the Black vote for Clinton from what Obama got is easy to explain. One, she’s not Obama.

He’s Black and his campaign became a virtual holy crusade by blacks to make history and put one of their own in the White House. No White Democrat could hope to match that spine-tingling exuberance. A lot more blacks repeatedly ripped and nagged at Clinton for hubby Bill’s alleged racial sins as president, those being his shove through of the draconian omnibus crime bill that soared the numbers of blacks in federal and by extension state pens, and a welfare reform bill that seemed more punitive

than helpful, and Hillary’s own one-time offensive branding of Black lawbreakers as “super predators.”

This also hurt.

However, the brutal reality is that thousands of blacks did vote for Trump. Their reasons are just as easy to explain. Trump touched a tiny nerve with his shout that poor, underserved Black neighborhoods are supposedly a mess with lousy public schools, high crime and violence, and chronic joblessness and poverty.

And he dumped the blame for that squarely on the Democrats who run and have run most of these cities for decades. Trump doubled down on that slam with a handful of carefully choreographed appearances with high-profile Black preachers, at name Black churches. This was just enough to take the hard and sharp edge for some blacks off the almost-set-instone image of Trump as a guy with a White sheet under his suit.

There was more. As far back as the 2004 presidential election, there was a sign that more than a few blacks, most notably Black conservative evangelicals, were deeply susceptible to GOP conservative pitches on some issues. A considerable number of them voted for Bush that year and that was enough to give him the cushion he needed to bag Ohio and win the White House. The same polls that election that showed black’s prime concern was with bread and butter issues—and that Bush’s rival Democrat rival John Kerry was viewed as the candidate who could deliver on those issues—also revealed that a sizable number of blacks ranked abortion, gay marriage and school prayer as priority issues.

Their concern for these issues didn’t come anywhere close to that of White evangelicals, but it was still higher than that of the general voting public.

In 2008 and 2012, Black GOP advocacy groups ran ads hammering the Democrats again for their alleged indifference to and outright aid and abet of Black suffering in the inner cities, and touting the GOP’s emphasis on small business, school choice, and family values as the best path to Black advancement.

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African

American News&Issues

THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS

PART ONE

often say that History is just what the words say, “History”. The African-American history that many have come to know is not necessarily the History that accurately documents and records the intensity of the struggle that Black folks endured throughout our existence in the United States of America. This is in part, because it is someone else’s documented version of our history. It is hard to tell or write someone’s history if you are not a part of that culture. So here we are in 2016 and the sad reality is that many of our youth are unaware of the things that our ancestors and even many of us endured over the years to arrive at the present state that we are in. Because the truth is, Blacks have a shameful story as it relates to these United States.

Majority of everything that was built and invented in this nation was built or created by Blacks, at an attempt to make their lives easier back then. It was our White counterparts who took those inventions and capitalized off of them and used it for propaganda. So do you think that these type of things would actually be reflected in His-tory of what happened? Of course, not! So in this edition of African-American News&Issues, I will be dealing with getting down to the root of the destruction of our neighborhoods and communities.

Ed Smith, once alluded to a thought that I wholeheartedly agree with. In it he said, “One of the prices that we pay for integration was the disintegration of the Black community.” In the root of destroying our neighborhoods and communities there were many elements involved. However, I have chosen one that I will be highlighting in this editorial. I will save the other for the next edition.

We MUST Understand that everything that our parents, our parents-parents and other ancestors worked so hard to build, was destroyed when integration came.

When integration was placed into effect many people do not realize that we as Blacks just gave it (hard work and sacrifice) away, to our counterparts. Because when integration came in, it closed all of our schools in the neighborhoods down. You see… Our schools were not good enough for the White folks to go to school in and as such we lost many of our schools and many of their schools became ours and they ended up leaving, once we got there.

For the mis-educated and ignorant folk who may not get where I am coming from, I’m going to break it down just as clear as day so that a child could understand this editorial. As a child, when your parents placed you on punishment and told you that you could not leave outside of the yard or out of the house, what was there to do? I hate to pose a rhetorical question, but if you had parents like mine, then 10 times out of 10, if your parents punished you and limited your dwelling scope to the perimeters of your home. Then it would be safe to say that you would spend as much time as you could occupying yourself with things to do in and around your home to pass time.

Since of course, that was the only place you were allowed to roam.

Thereby, segregation was similar to this example but on a much larger scale. During the times of segregation, Black folks were only allowed to be around Black folks, unless they were somewhere working for White folks. That was of course, about the only exception. My point is….

When a person’s dwelling scope is limited, then common sense would persuade them to make the best out of the situation with the means readily available. With that being stated, it is because Black folks could not: go to school, shop, eat, swim, play, live, socialize or anything else with other races; it made us co-dependent on one another.

We MUST Understand,

3

We MUST Understand Your Money

Your Vote

ARE THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS YOU HAVE; BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE THEM TO. ~Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher~

before integration Black folks were dependent on themselves and the Black community. We did not go out supporting and buying from other races, simply because we couldn’t. There was a time, if a Black person went into certain stores, segments of the city or otherwise they faced the danger of being locked up or killed. I write these statements with no exaggeration either. Every week in some shape, fashion or form we are constantly, trying to persuade our readers to support Black-owned businesses. Back when I was coming up, there was no need to encourage Blacks to support Blacks because that was damn near the only people we could support. We didn’t have a choice but to go to Black schools, because we wasn’t allowed no-where else. We didn’t have choice but to support the local “mom and pop” stores because we couldn’t go to nobody else stores. We had no choice but to patronage our Black seamstresses, because nobody else certainly was going to sew clothes for us.

We had our own banks then and I’m sure you can figure out why.

My point in stating all of this is that we threw our Black communities into the path of others when integration came in. I guess many people were just so excited to finally be included amongst the majority that they forgot they were still the minority. As a result, our communities have suffered the cost and the loss.

Read More We MUST Understand online Today @ AframNews.com!

TX-3

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African

American News&Issues

TMNT FROM PAGE 1

Cover Story

movies while I was watching them. I really became annoying when I learned to whistle. My elementary school friends came to know me as a human jukebox of TV show theme songs. I don’t know if that proves that I was passionate about music or that my parents let me watch too much TV, but, for the sake of this interview, let’s go with the former. It wasn’t until my dad took me to see “Return of the Jedi” when I was about 7 that I understood that this was a career that you could do for a living.

(AANI) 2. What’s a fear you constantly work to overcome that yields towards your success in this industry?

“If you don’t know, now you know” -Biggie Smalls.

Meet Sebatstian Evans aka “Donatello”.

Sebastian is the musical genius (kung fu ninja) kicking and punching out the symphonic tracks for the cartoon series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! He took a sip of the green ooze at an early age, on his long musical journey to be the musical embodiment of the cartoon franchise. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you may have noticed, demonstrates a survival of African musical traditions.

Delve into the past, and you will find out how classical musical instruments and sounds used by Evans to create the backdrop beats of the Turtles, are African in origin.

Learn how the Moors of northern Africa, traveled to Europe spreading harmonic melodies, culture and art. The harp and the horn are examples of those instruments born of Africa that would later become the piano and the trumpet. That’s just the tipping point of our musical ancestry still with us today in American popular culture.

But now, lets jump straight into our interview, April O’ Neil style with Evans, and catch up with the masterful genius to share his insights and journey on the road to inspire the next generation of artists.

(AANI) 1. Have you always had a passion for music, and at what point did you discover composing music was the avenue to express your creativity?

(S.E.) I’ve always had a passion for music, according to my parents. They remember me as a toddler humming commercial jingles and TV show theme songs constantly. I’d also hum background music motifs of TX- 4

(S.E.)As a composer, my job is to bury myself in my studio and create. While I do enjoy this isolation at times, it can also draw me away from the other aspects of the industry that involve getting out and networking. I suppose what I fear is not finding the time to do both effectively.

Finding the proper balance can be challenging to achieve, but it’s ultimately one of the most important tools for success.

(AANI) 3. What has been your greatest sense of achievement in your musical career?

(S.E.) I guess my greatest sense of achievement is that I have a career in music at all.

The competition for work can be pretty stiff.

It’s hard to stand out in a sea of talented, driven composers – some of whom are just as good, if not better than I am. I’m just grateful that I get to wake up everyday and do what I love most for a living.

(AANI) 4. In what ways have you evolved musically since starting your career? Where do you see yourself 10 years from now musically?

(S.E.) Composing music for a visual medium really forces you to evolve in many ways. I’ve gotten better at knowing the limitations of my equipment and manipulating instruments to replicate what I’m creating in my mind. I’ve gotten a whole lot better at mixing. I’m much more confident at delivering for a deadline. I’ve also learned how powerful subtleness can be in conveying emotion or leading the audience in a scene.

In 10 years I hope to be one of the “go to” composers in the industry like Jeff Beal, Bear McCreary, or even Thomas Newman.

That may be a bit presumptuous but I don’t see any point in limiting future potential.

(AANI) 5. What inspires your sound?

(S.E.) My inspiration usually comes from the project I’m working on. The story, character relationships and environment really inform the direction of how the score will sound. I will say that growing up listening to hip-hop as well as classical music has deeply influenced my work, and I feel it gives my sound a unique spin in that aspect.

(AANI) 6. What advice would you offer to upcoming musicians and composers looking to create for film/TV, but don’t know where to start? Do they need to move to LA? (S.E.) Well, I’d definitely recommend moving to where the jobs are. A lot of being a composer in the entertainment industry revolves around networking and relationships, just like anything else. But before doing that, I’d recommend learning the fundamentals of music theory and instrumentation. It also wouldn’t hurt to become fairly proficient in an instrument. I believe a firm grasp of these 3 things will give you a great head start on your path.

(AANI) 7. What one piece of advice that has been pivotal to your success do you wish you had known sooner?

(S.E.) Besides don’t write/record on the same drive your samples are stored? Man, I learned that the hard way when I got my first setup, and I DEFINITELY wish I knew it sooner. Other than that, I guess don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in what you make. Chances are, that’s what got you working in the first place. I wish I knew that sooner. When I moved to LA, I spent a lot of time and energy trying to prove through demos that I could duplicate all these styles of established composers. It wasn’t until I put together a demo of stuff that was just me that I really started to get some traction.

(AANI) 8. When it’s said and done, what names would you like to share a space with in the hall of musical composers?

(S.E.) If there’s ever a hall dedicated to composers somewhere, and I receive the honor of my name being thrown into said hall, who ever I’m sharing it with is fine by me. All of them!

(AANI) 9. Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to share? Special events or upcoming performances?

(S.E.) Well, new episodes of TMNT begin airing on Nickelodeon November 6th at 9am. The next string of episodes is awesome and pretty intense. Other than that, people can keep an eye on what I’m doing on my Facebook and Twitter pages. People can also

Texas Texas • November 2112-18, - 27, 2016 • August 2013

check out some of my TMNT score tracks on Soundcloud.

SOUNDCLOUD LINK https://soundcloud.com/user726764988/sets/nickelodeonsteenage-mutant-ninja-turtlesmp3/s-QpKfA FACEBOOK LINK https://www.facebook.com/ SEvansComposer/ TWITTER LINK https://twitter.com/ SEvansComposer

(AANI) 10. What are your challenges as an African American tapping into the industry of composing for film/TV? (S.E.) Actually, I have not had any specific challenges that I’m aware of being African American. Not in the industry, at least. I’ve never felt judged or treated differently because of the color of my skin in any way. I’ll admit that growing up as a kid and learning that almost every classical composer you’re into happens to be white is a little intimidating, considering the inequalities built into our society. I imagine that same tinge of intimidation exists for women, as well. Most composers are also men. But yeah, no one cares.

(AANI) 11. How did you prepare to compose for TMNT? (S.E.) Well, I did go back and watch all the old TMNT movies. I also revisited some of the old TMNT cartoon episodes. I had a lot of conversations and meetings with Ciro Nieli (executive producer), who is a genius, by the way. He really understands and loves the TMNT franchise thoroughly. His emphasis on the family, brotherhood and devotion themes inherent of the Turtles franchise really pointed me in the right direction.

(AANI) 12. If you were a Ninja Turtle which one would you be?

(S.E.) Donatello, definitely. He’s awkward, nerdy and finds interest in things that no one else cares about.

(AANI) 13. Which TMNT movies are your favorites: Old school or reboot?

(S.E.) My favorite is the 1st TMNT movie.

Still! Maybe it’s because I used to watch it over and over again as a kid. My kids watch the 1st reboot “TMNT (2014)” over and over again.

By: LaToya Hamer & Chandra Jarmon

Texas • November 21 - 27, 2016

Feature

Read us online! www. aframnews. com

5

How The Democrats Turned Harris County “Blue”?

Senior Power, Suburban Outreach and Blue-Collar Campaign Work Ethic Made All the Difference

“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” - Winston Churchill HOUSTON - Everything may be BIG in TEXAS, but nothing bigger than the largest political spoils for Election 2016 – that belongs to the Harris County Democratic Party.

The shake up in turning the county from “Red” to “Blues” not only has caused a political earthquake, but also has put Harris County in the state and national spotlight shining as bright as a “Super Moon.”

“We are truly excited about the outcome in Harris County,” said Lane Lewis, Chair of the Harris County Democratic Party. “Democrats are unstoppable when we all work together in a team effort.”

Democrats literally swept Harris County winning key offices including the offices of District Attorney, Sheriff, Tax Assessor and numerous other Judge positions.

Democrats rolled to the polls in numbers that stunned Republicans who saw the wands of power removed from their hands after years of political dominance in the county.

Harris County has about 2.1 million registered voters in the county. Of those, 61.25-percent of about 1.3 million turned out at the polls in 2016.

Of those voters, 53.2-percent or about 471,296 voters were cast for Democrats and only 45.29-percent or about 401,255 were cast for Republicans.

HOW THEY WON Lewis gave African-American News&Issues a brief peek into the Democrats playbook for the November contest stating the upset was sealed by focusing on a combination of areas that included the Senior Citizen vote, use of a suburban outreach plan and a united effort to get out the vote with some local pastors.

“This was a good win. The plan did not happen overnight, but was was years in the making,” he said. “It did not happen in a vacuum. It was everyone coming together, pulling their weight and doing their part and it makes me very optimistic about what is going to happen in the future, especially looking ahead to 2018.”

On the Seniors vote, Lewis said Democrats stressed the importance of not only participation, but educated seniors who ordinarily would have a difficult time getting to polls to vote early using the mail ballot option.

“It was obvious to us that many Seniors wanted a voice and wanted to participate,” he said.

“It is never too late and no one should give up on our Seniors, who are still have a great deal to offer and contribute to our community and society.”

Mail ballots allow you to vote early by-mail, if you are registered to vote and meet one of the following criteria, according to County Clerk Stan Stanart: You must be • Away from the county of residence on Election Day and during the early voting period; • Sick or disabled; • 65 years of age or older on Election Day; • or Confined in jail, but eligible to vote.

Without that option available, many applicants who were 65 years of age or older or are disabled qualified for this option who normally would vote, would have missed the opportunity to vote in the election.

“Many of our seniors took advantage of this,” he said. “We believe it is something great and we will continue to help seniors and feel that will continue to grow.”

On the suburban vote, perhaps the for first time Harris Democrats aggressively reached out beyond its base to more affluent areas of the county to place like Pasadena, Kingwood, Tomball and other fringe tiers of the county that are traditionally “Red” during an election cycle.

Lewis said one of the most effective strategies was to place active campaign offices in those areas and utilize them heavily to spread the word about Democrats running in races.

Offices were opened in Pasadena, Webster, Humble and Spring to name a few. Each served as a catalyst to energize Democrats to register and get out to vote in those areas.

“We felt strongly that we could make a big difference in those areas and it did,” he said.

“Much of the success of Democrats can be attributed to the ability of the party to reach out and touch a cross section of people of all colors and gender groups.”

BIG CHANGES OVER THE HORIZON One of the key things the Lewis envisions is changes in the way the county looks at justice.

With Harris County leading the state in convicting young felons, incarcerating Blacks and Hispanics and also has problems and failures with its bails and bonding systems, fees collection scales and other criminal justice issues that Republicans failed to address with the community.

The Sheriffs Department also has the daunting and difficult task of rebuilding trust with a community that has endured scandal after scandal with its jail conditions, inmate treatment and the integrity and questionable “on-duty” actions of some of its deputies.

“I see immediate changes with the election of Kim Ogg as District Attorney and Ed Gonzalez as our new Sheriff,” he said. “There will be a better approach and attitudes about justice for all. The system will not be a rigged system and will be more fair and African-Americans and Hispanics who should experience less “insider”-type justice.”

He is also optimistic that the new judges will bring about a more balanced bails and bonding system and improve the public defender system and offer more counseling and rehabilitation options over just jailing and imprisoning citizens.

NATIONAL VIEW Lewis said although Hillary Clinton and the Democrats did not win the national election, there remains reason for optimism over winning the popular vote in Harris County and nationally.

“With the election of Donald Trump, the nation has become a daily reality show drama,” he said. “We pray for success, but it’s frightening as hell to think about it, but we will be looking to see what happens the first 100 days – that will be critical.”

He also noted that media involvement was a major problem and put a bad taste in the mouths of the electorate.

“Their involvement hurt the process and was complicit in the final election results,” he said.

“The media changed the game of politics forever and certainly not for the better.”

He said the post election protests are an indication that all is not lost and that the outlook is bright for the Democratic Party.

“It is important and healthy for voters to express their anger and frustration over the election results,” he said. “However, the next key thing is for these same protesters to come off the streets and get active, get involved and volunteer and work so that it does not happen again.”

He said the goal will be to harness that energy for the party as it moves toward mid-term elections.

THE NEXT STEP Lewis said the focus will be to maintain the base of the party and seek to reach out to other groups of voters as well.

“We believe in our base,” he said. “We will continue to encourage and communicate with our base.”

Part of that includes encouraging and communicating with African-Americans to register, vote and volunteer to participate in activities as the party starts to focus on the 2018 mid-term elections.

It is common that African-American voter turn-outs are often low during mid-term election.

“We do not want people to drop off or be discouraged,” he said. “This win in Harris County was a good win and demonstrates what can happen when we all work together and stay united.”

However, the next step for Democrats in Harris County is to do a voter review and focus new energy on independents and voters not exactly committed to Trump or the Republican Party.

“We want to examine who voted that does not have a strong party affiliation,” he said. “We seek to win them over, broaden our base and increase and build on the cross section of support we have now.”

He added that after two years, voters will have a better idea or promises made and promises not kept by Trump and the Republicans.

“We look forward to 2018 with great anticipation and optimism,” he said.

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New Police Chief Art Acevedo Brings Fresh Approach to Uniting Houston Police and Community

AUSTIN - If there were two words to describe Art Acevedo – Houston’s next police chief, it would be “In Touch”.

His move from the top police job in Austin after 10 years to Houston is truly Austin’s loss and Houston’s gain.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Austin Mayor Steve Adler made announcements in their respective cities about Acevedo leaving his post as Austin Police Chief and accepting the job as Houston’s top cop.

HIS REPUTATION PRECEDES HIM No one said it better than Acevedo’s old boss – Mayor Adler.

“Houston is getting a world-class police chief,” Adler said in a statement. “Chief Acevedo has made our community safer and closer, and he is trusted and much loved by so many. Austin is losing a moral and joyous leader, and I’m losing a friend.”

MAYOR TURNER’S TALKS Turner called him the right person for the job that fits the city’s needs at this time. He had high praise for Acevedo’s service and said he was chosen after reviewing a short list of very qualified finalists for the job.

“He is a cop’s cop… He recognizes the need for diversity,” Turner said. “He is eager to serve the city of Houston.”

Houston is in the process of working to rebuilds it morale in the department among its rank-and-file officers and restore its image and trust with the community – long maligned because of the reputation and history of policeinvolved shootings and incidents of police brutality.

DECISION HOUSTON In a statement, Acevedo talked about his decision to accept the job in Houston.

“I accepted an offer today from Mayor Sylvester Turner to be the next chief of police for the City of Houston. Serving you and this great city has been the honor of a lifetime… At this juncture in my career, I believe the timing is right for me to take on the opportunity to work for Mayor Turner and lead the men and women of the Houston Police Department and serve the people of Houston,” Acevedo said. “This new chapter in my life is only possible because of the excellence of the Austin Police Department.”Acevedo will lead the nation’s fifth-largest police department with a force of more than 5,000 officers.

He assumes a position formerly held by former Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland who retired after 39 years with the Houston Police Department. He also follow Martha Montalvo, who served as interim chief of the department since February. She was the first Latina police chief and the second women ever to lead the department .

“Losing Art Acevedo is a huge deal, and replacing him will be a daunting task in part because he gave so much of himself to his job and his community,”Adler said.

EXPERIENCE/ACTIVISM Acevedo has 30 years of law enforcement experience, which began in East Los Angeles. He was selected Austin’s eighth chief of police and the city’s first Hispanic police

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo

chief. - service he began with the Austin Police Department in July 2007.

During his watch, he was a renowned leader who was always in touch with law enforcement issues, his fellow officers and made strong connections to the communities and the people he served.

Acevedo also is know for being outspoken on diversity issues in the department, officer-involved police shootings and police brutality in the department and is well-know for his activism.

He was the face of the Austin Police Department and a very prominent figure in the community, being very active speaking at Austin ISD schools, attending local parades, festivals, charity events and marching in protests in the city.

Prior to coming to Austin and Houston, Acevedo came to the Capital City from California, where he served as division chief with the California Highway Patrol.

OPTIMISTIC GREETINGS/FAREWELLS In his departure, he wished officers in Austin the very best and thanked them for their contributions and asked them to remember how each helped the department be at its best serving the community. “...We have stayed the course in our pursuit of excellence,” he noted. “Thank you for the tremendous honor of being your chief. Although I made many mistakes along the way, I never wavered from my resolve to serve you to the best of my ability. I urge you to remember where we were as an organization in July 2007 and what we’ve accomplished since as a team. We’ve made great strides… and I look forward to the Austin Police Department’s continued success under the leadership of Assistant Chief Brian Manley.”

He also called rank and file officers in Houston to work with him and give him the chance to make the same difference in Houston, If approved by Houston City Council later this month, Acevedo could be on the job as early as December.

BY: DARWIN CAMPBELL

TEXAS • NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT

Fresh Face of Hip-Hop: I AM JUSTIFIED

Houston - I AM Justified is a breath of fresh air as he is bringing his own original style to Hip- Hop music. He is a rapper who has been through a lot, but has never let his hardships get the best of him. Through music and God, he has been able to produce great music that he wants to share with the world.

He grew up with his grandparents in the country close to the Galveston county area. He referred to himself as a true country boy as he rode horses, cleaned horse stalls, and picked up hay just to name a few things from his youth.

His grandparents have been a huge influence in his life as his grandfather was a true father figure to him, and his grandmother showed him a lot of motherly love as well.

Growing up without a father wasn’t easy, and I AM Justified just had a big moment in his life as he saw his dad for the first time in 15 years. “I thought it was going to be weird…but it was cool…It felt good to let him know that there were no hard feelings.” Even though his father was not there for him, he has forgiven him, which is not always an easy thing for most people to do.

Life hasn’t always been easy for I AM Justified as he has battled some of his own demons. He expressed, “I was going through a big season of depression…I was contemplating suicide. I was a person where it really wasn’t what people were saying about me, it was what I was saying about myself.” He went through this season for four years, and he felt like he didn’t have a way out. He tried many outlets, and he even had to be omitted into a mental home. After battling this mental state for years, it wasn’t until a friend told him about the love of God. That reminder helped change his life around for the better. This friend reminded him that no matter what he had gone through, and no matter what he had done, God still loved him.

“When God set me free from that mental depression…he justified me…and that is when he gave me

my gift. My way out had begun to be writing.” He started writing poetry and just writing words. It started out as motivation for himself, but then it turned into him speaking it, then rapping it, then turning what he had written into a song. In spite of everything that he has been through, music has been his way of getting through a lot of his dark seasons. “Music has really set me free through a lot of battles and trial and tribulations that I had within myself,” he expressed.

As an artist, I AM Justified wants people to perceive him and his music as inspirational, motivational, inspiring, transparent and true. He uses his life as his truth, and feels that “when you are truthful in your music, and truthful to yourself, it will set you free, and set others free, who may not be as bold as you to speak out on the truth.” Some artist that he admires is Tupac ,Chance The Rapper, and Drake.

With everything that is going on in the world, I AM Justified feels that music can help solve some of the issues that are nation is currently facing. He stated, “We can have some of the best presidents, the best pastors, the best teachers, but music changes the world.” He further expressed, “Music plays a very powerful role in shifting the mind, because it elevates the mind of our

people. We were started from rhythm and blues and tap and drums, and that was the way of communication to where they could receive it.”

As far as his goals as a person, he wants to continue to be a great father to his son, to be real with himself, stay humble, and to stay hungry. He also wants to be a phenomenal businessman and a true full time successful entrepreneur. As far as music, he wants to tour with a known artist, and would love to obtain a distribution deal.

I AM Justified wants to bring positivity to Hip-Hop, and work with people and artists who understand him, his music, and what he wants to do.

The advice he wants to give to others is to always chase your dreams, don’t give up, and it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. He expressed, “Your time was destined at a certain time. When you find out what God has you to do, your time may be at a certain time …when you have matured and evolved as a person. I believe that with God, nothing is impossible.”

I AM Justified just released his single “Steady Increasin”, which is about going higher in life, and expanding his territory. He is currently on a tour called the It’s My Time Tour, just auditioned for the Super Bowl, and is also doing prison tours and working on his next track.

He is not only a rapper, but he does acting, event hosting, features, and motivational speaking. He is truly a great and talented person, and is making his mark with his music.

He is ready to touch and inspire the world, and he is just getting started.

For more information about this artist, you can view his website at www.iamjustifiedmusic. com.

Social Media @iamjustifiedmusic Contact Info: Bookiamjustified@gmail.com Paradise378.js@gmail.com

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9

Z-RO Releases New Album Legendary

HOUSTON - Z-Ro is the epitome of a hard worker, and someone who is truly passionate for the work that he does. With his album Drankin & Drivin only released a few months ago, he has given his fans yet another great album, which released this past weekend. With both albums so close in their release dates, Z-Ro wanted “to feed his fans” because he felt like that they haven’t had a chance to hear music from him like this in a couple of years.

His new album Legendary is something serious, and in this album one song truly focuses on one of the events that has truly impacted this nation, which is police brutality. The song Skrewed Up speaks about the current world that we live in, and the events that have taken place such as racism, racial profiling, police officers, and the killings of black people.

The song stated, “All we wanna do is keep on breathing. Seems like they murder one more brother every evening… The devil is a lie somebody already told you that.

Black lives don’t matter. The law already showed you that…This world we living in is so Skrewed Up.” The song also included some of the recordings from one of the shootings, which truly brings sadness to your heart. In this song, and in the album as a whole, Z-Ro didn’t sugar code anything, and as always, his fans can expect him to tell the truth and keep it real.

Although he does talk about police officers, how some of them are crooked, and their role in all of the killings that have taken place, he does give a positive shout out to Constable Rosen for all of the great things that he is doing for the community. The song stated, I got a homie that’s the Constable and we always talk… And he ain’t crooked either, straight as how we always walk. Ain’t like some of his coworkers, cause straight ain’t how they always walk…Constable Alan Rosen really tryna bridge the gap. This is a message, you tripping if you think this is a rap.” Despite the fact there are some bad cops out there, Z-Ro still wanted to point out that there are still some good cops who still live up to their badge, which is to serve and protect.

Z-Ro finds a lot of his inspiration from everything around him. He expressed, “Everything is a song. Everything you see around you is a potential song…you should keep a canvas and a paintbrush on hand because there’s always a picture waiting to be painted around you.”

He further stated, “I’ve been blessed to take everyday situations, and make them into bodies of work, and its not something that I try to do, it’s just something that just happens.” He also referred to himself as a reporter. He reports everything that goes on in his life, and in the life around him through his music. Legendary is now available so add it to your list; you won’t be disappointed.

TO READ MORE AMAZING STORIES BY: CHELSEA DAVIS-BIBB, M.ED. VISIT US ONLINE @ WWW.AFRAMNEWS.COM TX-9

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Texas HBCU Corner

TEXAS • NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2016

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TSU alumna Sheryl Victorian promoted to HPD captain Named second African-American female captain in department history

Texas Southern University alumna Sheryl Victorian, Ph.D., is only the second African American woman to join the ranks of Houston Police Department captains.

The official promotion ceremony was held on November 9.

The journey to this achievement began for Victorian years ago.

“When I was nine years old my father passed away, and in order to avoid being overwhelmed by all that was going on during funeral proceedings, I focused on the police who were escorting our family,” Victorian said. “I saw their compassionate side, how they looked out for my family. I saw the respect they received from others and I fell in love.”

Victorian said she had an unexplained fear of police prior to the funeral experience.

“No one in my family had any negative experiences with the police, but for some reason they scared me to death. So much so, that when my mom tried to get me to shake an officer’s hand, I fell out on the floor crying and everything,” Victorian said.

The care and concern from officers caused Victorian to grow up wanting to do the same – to become an officer of the law. Plus, at age nine, she fell in love with law enforcement by becoming a fan of the TV show, Miami Vice. Her direction took a slight turn when she began the first leg (l-r) Interim HPD Police Chief Martha Montalvo, Captain Sheryl of her journey at Texas Southern, earning her B.A. in Administration of Justice in May 1992.

Victorian, Ph.D., and her husband, Aaron Victorian.

She still wanted to go into criminal justice, but set her sights on becoming a probation or parole officer. When that route did not work out, a fortuitous meeting with a former classmate convinced her to submit an application to the Houston Police Department.

“I returned to my original dream and I did it, and 23 years later I’m still doing it,” Victorian said with modesty.

Being named an HPD captain is rare air for an officer of any race or gender, but Victorian is only the second active African-American female captain in HPD history. HPD, as of October 2015, was considered the most diverse big-city police department in the nation with 53 percent of its officers classified as minorities (Hispanic, 24 percent; African-American, 22 percent; Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American and those from countries from all over the world combined, 7 percent). Females are 16 percent of the force, outpacing the national average which hovers between 10-12 percent.

Victorian’s rise to captain is no small feat and she knows it. Her new title and responsibilities are a major milestone.

“It’s definitely an inspiration, especially to younger African-American women, to see that this level is achievable with hard work, compassion, commitment, and dedication. For the community, for people to see a person they know in law enforcement with the community’s best interest at heart, is important. I can bridge that gap between community and police, because yes, I am African American and believe black lives matter and in treating all people with respect. I also believe in working with community for better policing,” she said.

Dorothy Edwards, HPD’s first Black assistant chief, gave Victorian the opportunity to see that HPD leadership was achievable for Black women. But it was her second stint at TSU that provided the credentials necessary to make her appointment possible. Victorian earned her Ph.D. in Administration of Justice in 2013 through the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs.

“My Ph.D. allowed me to become a better communicator and critical thinker, to attain a different level of success professionally and personally, and to become a more competitive candidate for positions like this,” said Victorian, who credited her challenging professors for much of her success, especially TSU’s Dr. Helen Taylor Green.

Victorian stays busy with other interests outside of law enforcement. She is a Christian playwright, writing and directing a production performed at the Wortham Theater in 2009, and an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University. Victorian is also as an authenticator for Major League Baseball. Now, she is inspiring others, displaying the strong and compassionate side of law enforcement with a foundation laid at Texas Southern University.

Support Texas Southern University at www.tsu.edu/giving.

TSU University Advancement 2016

TX-10 TSU_AANI111716.indd 1

11/17/2016 4:57:30 PM

African

TEXAS • NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2016

The Eagle’s Nest Newspaper

American News&Issues MISSION STATEMENT

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“The faculty and students of Booker T. Washington High School for the Engineering Profession are striving for the successful outcome of its students through learning, companionship, research, and diligence.”

The Houston Texans Acknowledge a “STAR in the Classroom”

My teacher, Mrs. Deborah Stokes, is a star in the classroom, because she is a marvelous teacher in my eyes. Why is that? She is a marvelous teacher because she teaches well, but she is a star because she has done things for me that no other teacher has done. I don’t know what I would do without her. She will go out of her way to help a student if they need help. Even when a student gives her a hard time, she will still be there for them. No matter what the situation may be, she is always there within a blink of an eye. Mrs. Stokes is a star because she never lets you down.

When a student is feeling dejected, she will try to brighten the mood. Her teaching skills are excellent because she helps students understand the lesson. She may even break it down if you need more understanding. To me, it’s the little things that make her a star to me. The work is extensive, but she will help, if needed. Everything that she does is for a reason, and I love that about her. No matter if she is having a bad day, she will never show it in the classroom.

Even when she is sick, she still comes to school to teach us. I guess it’s just her love for us. Mrs. Stokes loves teaching children and helping them to get on the right path, so they will be able to be who they want to be in life. Another thing that I love about her is that she never gives someone negative advice, no matter how bad you want to throw the

in order to excel at the competition. The Bionic Eagles were at a disadvantage from the very start.

They could not attend early competitions due to delays for one such setback was that the basic parts for the robot were not delivered at the designated time. Because of this, the Bionic Eagles were forced to compete in later competitions. Nonetheless, in true Eagle form, the team persevered.

They took the high road and decided to approach this shortcoming with a “glass half full’’ mindset. Instead of sitting idly by, waiting for the robot parts to arrive, the Bionic Eagles decided that this was indeed an advantage because it gave them even more time to accumulate ideas about which strategies to use and what information should or should not be included. Bionic Eagle member, Tyesha Thomas, had this to say, “The hardest part is determining for yourself what works and often times when it doesn’t, you just have to shake it off and move on”.

Furthermore, enduring yet another unexpected twist,

BIONIC EAGLES GO UNDEFEATED!!!

On Saturday, November 12, 2016, the Booker T. Washington’s “Bionic Eagles” brought home a victory, winning every round at the recent robotics tournament held at Hogg Middle School. Given that this was the Bionic Eagles’ very first tournament, it’s safe to say that they did an outstanding job.

There were many challenges the Eagles had to face

towel in. The wonderful Mrs. Stokes will always surround you with positive feedback or advice. I was so honored to nominate her for the “Star in the Classroom Award.” It was a great opportunity and I enjoyed writing about how she has impacted my life. Last but not least, as I come to a close about my teacher, what truly make her special is that she always has a smile on her face. This is why really why my teacher, Mrs. Stokes, is a star in the classroom. On Tuesday November 8, 2016, the Houston Texans and First Community Credit Union came to Booker T. Washington High School to honor Mrs. Stokes and acknowledge her as an official “Star in the Classroom.” Mrs. Stokes and I had a classroom visit by a Houston Texans player by the name of Brian Peters. She received a commemorative custom game ball, two (2) Tickets to a Houston Texans home game complete with parking and sideline passes. She also was awarded a $500 donation to HISD in honor of Mrs. Stokes.

I received an autographed Houston Texans football signed

by Brian Cushing. This has been a wonderful experience for Mrs. Stokes and me. It really made her happy. I was honestly glad to do something like this for Mrs. Stokes because she really needed to be shown some appreciation. I was glad I was the one to do it and it was for a great cause.

BY

JACARIA BROWN, BTW STUDENT

the Eagles had to undergo many processes in regards to making the inanimate object come to life. First, the team had to formulate innovative ideas such as deciding which action will give the team the most points.

These factors played a very important role in determining which parts should be assembled or perfected first.

After building the desired parts, the Bionic Eagle members then had to bring these functions to life, a task mastered by our programming team. What is exceptional is that the Bionic Eagles were the only team with a robot that successfully performed autonomously at last week’s tournament. Quite impressive if you ask me. No other team was able to accomplish creating a fully self –sustaining device! Overall, the Bionic Eagles Robotics Team definitely had a great work ethic that paid off in a magnificent manner, as well as a show of effective teamwork.

The Bionic Eagles’ drive for success and capacity to work with together in a compatible manner just might be their secret ingredient for being undefeated at the recent competition. The experience the Bionic Eagles gained from being involved in the program was indeed very satisfying and transformational. Program director and mentor of the Bionic Eagles, Mr.Sandifer, admits that “ [He] always learns from the kids; they always come up with some pretty awesome ideas”.

All in all, the Booker T. Washington Bionic Eagles did an extraordinary job at the tournament and thank their sponsors for the great food and snacks. Stay tuned for future accomplishments of the Washington Bionic Eagles. Way to go team!

BY: ARMANI SMITH, BTW STUDENT TX-11

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