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Cultural District Planned for Freedmen’s Town Area

Fourth Ward - With much of the city’s African American history ignored or taken for granted by past city leaders, Mayor Sylvester Turner has stepped forward to bring the urgency of African American Historic Preservation to new stage - with a plan for a cultural district in the Freedmen’s Town.

“This area holds so much historic significance for Houston’s African American community,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “These brick streets were laid by freed slaves and it made me sick to learn they had been disturbed in this unauthorized manner.

We cannot undo what has been done, but we can move forward to repair the damage.”

He is convening a group of stakeholders to work with the City to develop a plan for a cultural district in the Freedmen’s Town area and is putting together a road map for achieving this goal in about six months.

Freedman’s Town see Pg. 11

African

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American News&Issues

The Property Tax Calendar Property Value Matters

By Roland Altinger

Chief Appraiser of HCAD

Since we are coming up on the beginning of a new year, I thought this would be a good time to discuss the property tax calendar.

The tax calendar is a schedule of property tax actions for you, the property owner, and for the appraisal district. Some actions are tied to dates: other actions are tied to

Editorial & Opinion

events. All of the actions are fixed by state law.

The actions listed in the calendar happen every year at approximately the same time of year. If you know what these actions are and when they occur, then it is easier to remember what your responsibilities are so you don’t miss an opportunity to benefit from an exemption or file a protest on your property value.

We are coming up on a good example of an action tied to a date - - January 1. This is an action for appraisal districts, but it is also good information for you to know.

Appraisal districts are required

by Texas law to appraise property

according to its value on January 1. So when you get your property value notice in April, it will have been based on your home’s value on January 1.

An example of a an action tied to an event is the chief appraiser’s responsibility to notify property owners in writing of an increase in the property value so the owner has a chance to file a protest if they do not think the new value is correct.

Here in Harris County, the appraisal district notifies every property owner of the value of their property each year, whether the value has increased, decreased or stayed the same. The property value notices are usually mailed at the end of March.

TRUMP: MADMAN OF THE YEAR 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.

The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the publisher.

African-American News&Issues assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other material, unless accompanied by a self-address stamped envelope.

Letter to the Editor

W

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.

Charles M. Blow Author, Political & Social Analystv

So, Time magazine, ever in search of buzz, this week named Donald Trump Person of the Year.

But they did so with a headline that read, “President of the Divided States of America.”

The demi-fascist of Fifth Avenue wasn’t flattered by that wording.

In an interview with the “Today” show, Trump huffed, “When you say divided states of America, I didn’t divide them. They’re divided now.” He added later, “I think putting divided is snarky, but again, it’s divided. I’m not president yet. So I didn’t do anything to divide.”

Donald, thy name is division. You and your cam-

paign of toxicity and intolerance have not only divided this country but also ripped it to tatters.

This comports with an extremely disturbing tendency of Trump’s: Denying responsibility for things of which he is fully culpable, while claiming full praise for things in which he was only partly involved.

As my mother used to say: Don’t try to throw a rock and hide your hand. Own your odiousness.

But Trump delivered the lie with an ease and innocuousness that bespoke a childish innocence and naïveté. In fact, his words disguised cold calculation.

That is the thing about demagogy: It can be charming, even dazzling, and that is what makes it all the more dangerous.

Demagogues can flatter and whisper and chuckle. They can remind us of the good in the world because they have an acute awareness of the ways of the world. They can also love and be loved.

They can reflect our own humanity because they are human, but their ambitions do not bend toward the good.

Their ultimate end is distraction,

Another example of an action tied to a date is the protest deadline.

May 31 is the protest deadline and this is a very important date for you to remember. If you do not file your property value protest by May 31, you have missed your opportunity to contest the value of your property for that year.

If you file a protest, you will have several ways to resolve the value with the appraisal district. I will discuss these ways as we get closer to that time of year so they will be fresh in your mind.

However once the value is set, the taxing units, such as the city, county and school district, set the tax rate, and the tax assessor-collector’s office mails tax bills at the end of which allows domination, which leads to destruction.

Trump is running two postcampaign campaigns: one high and one low, one of frivolity and one of enormous consequence.

One is a campaign of bread and circuses — tweets, rallies, bombast about random issues of the moment, all meant to distract and excite — and the other is the constant assemblage of a cabinet full of fat cats and “mad dog” generals, a virtual aviary of vultures and hawks.

On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Trump had “settled on Gen. John F. Kelly, a retired four-star Marine general whose son was killed in combat in Afghanistan, as his choice for secretary of Homeland Security.”

They also pointed out that Kelly had “dismissed one argument cited by those who advocate closing the military prison at Guantánamo, saying it had not proved to be an inspiration for militants.” The prison fell under his command.

Make no mistake: the prison at Guantánamo is one of the most glaring and enduring moral blights remaining from our humanitarianism-be-damned reaction to the attacks of 9/11.

Trump said of the prison last month: “This morning, I watched President Obama talking about Gitmo, right, Guantánamo Bay, which by the way, which by the way,

TEXAS • DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2016

October or early November. Again, this is an important time to watch your mailbox. While these bills are due immediately upon receipt, the payment is not considered late until February 1 of the next year. Paying your bill on time helps you avoid costly penalties.

The property tax calendar is posted on our web site at www.hcad. org under “Resources > General Information.” If you have any questions about the property tax calendar or the tax process, I encourage you to please call us at 713.957.7800 or email us at help@hcad.org.

Roland Altinger is the Chief Appraiser of the Harris County Appraisal District we are keeping open. Which we are keeping open ... and we’re gonna load it up with some bad dudes, believe me, we’re gonna load it up.”

The Times also said that Kelly “questioned the Obama administration’s plans to open all combat jobs to women, saying the military would have to lower its physical standards to bring women into some roles.

This is disturbing, but Kelly isn’t the only one of Trump’s military picks who has a disturbing attitude toward women.

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TEXAS • DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2016

Editorial & Opinion

BET Founder Bob Johnson Urges AfricanAmericans to Give Trump a Chance...

Earl Ofari Hutchinson Author & Political Analyst

There was fury when former BET founder and financial mogul Bob Johnson urged African-Americans to give President-Elect Trump a “shot” and “the benefit of the doubt.” Johnson was lambasted with a slew of printable and unprintable epitaphs from many blacks who raged at him for daring to say such a thing. Johnson didn’t damp down the anger when he claimed that that he turned down a Trump offer of an administration post. The check list of anti-Trump reasons for their rage at

Johnson for his “benefit of the doubt” admonition is by now well known.

In the weeks since his election Trump’s done absolutely nothing to change the perception that his administration will be a relentless foe of civil rights, public education and expanded health programs. He’s nominated a sworn enemy of civil and voting rights to the Attorney General post, an avowed foe of public education to the education post, and has only slightly backed away from his plan to repeal Obamacare. So, what then what possesses Johnson to say Trump deserves a chance? Start with Johnson, he gave lots of money to Clinton. He made it clear that he backed her for president.

But he’s rich, influential and corporate and politically well-connected. He’s among the one percent of businesspersons who Trump feels comfortable with, and surrounds himself with. He has the kind of access to Trump that few blacks or anyone else not in the

mogul’s class could even in their wildest dreams imagine.

The proof was Johnson’s face to face with Trump and a purported offer of a job in his administration. It’s easy for Johnson to imagine that since Trump was willing to meet and talk with him he might be willing to do the same with other Blacks. While that’s not exactly anyone’s idea of a diverse administration, it at least seems to hold out for Johnson anyway that future possibility.

Johnson didn’t say it, but Trump did put on the policy table during the campaign what he brands a ten-point plan for blacks promising greater job creation, safe communities, business investment, and equal justice. Whether Trump means any of this is less important than that he put it on paper.

This gives the appearance that he’s at least thinking about the problems of the inner cities and poses what he considers solutions to those problems.

There’s just enough there for Johnson and an undetermined number of other African-American, particularly businesspersons, professionals, and ministers, to take a step back and wait and see if Trump goes anywhere with this plan. This is even more plausible considering that Trump made a better showing among black voters than Romney or McCain in their presidential bids. Legions of other blacks either didn’t vote for or raged at Clinton for her alleged political sins.

The far bigger reason that Johnson’s wants blacks to go easy on Trump for now is the brutal political reality. He’s the President. He will be in the Oval Office for at least four years.

To continue reading online visit Source: huffingtonpost.com

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“Freedom is never given. It is won.” We cannot expect them to stop treating us as second class citizens until and unless we stop believing that we are second class citizens and until we stop behaving as second class citizens. - A Philip Randolph

BLACK FOLKS ARE ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE RACES YET, THE MOST PERSECUTED!

Peter Wagner, Executive Director of the Prison Policy Initiative informs that, “Prison gerrymandering gives extra political power to legislators who have prisons in their districts.” I agree with Wagner and have spoken and written about this element many times before. I have done my best to convey to our faithful and loyal readers that we put people in office who have the ability to bring about change within our communities but many of them fail to do so. As a result, our present state continues like it’s just, “another walk in the park.”

We MUST Understand, that history has shown time and time again that the only race that really cares about other people is the Black race. But when the tables are turned, we cannot say the same for our counterparts. From slavery and oppression, to segregation and Jim Crow laws to mass incarceration and imprisonment; Black folks have definitely had their unfair share of injustice. Yet and still as I always say, it is us as Blacks that have built this country. Our forefathers built these United States with their bare hands, sweat, blood, tears and even their own lives. There is just something about this Blackness that has always been misunderstood. History has shown repeatedly that we have been and are the most persecuted race in this nation, even though we have been one of the most productive races in the country since its inception.

As it is, Texas puts more African-Americans in the criminal system than most of the population of third world countries.

Referring back to Wagner, in his Prison Policy Initiative report he revealed that, “Even when ignoring counties with small Black populations, 17 Texas counties have half of their Black population behind bars.”

Continuing he showed that, “Most of the counties shown by the Census Bureau to have the fastest growing Black populations, are counties with new prisons with large incarcerated

Black populations.” This comes as no surprise to me, because they have no plans to change this man-made epidemic that they have engineered for African-Americans.

We MUST Understand that, new prisons equals new inmates – some who have not even been born yet. It is a sad reality but they are building new prisons with our hard earned money only to imprison our future. It bothers me that members from our communities choose to ignore these elements until they are directly impacted by it. But the thing is, whatever affects one Black person, certainly has the potential to affect all Black people!

Some people may not believe that the struggle is real and that it continues. We have some of our mis-educated African-Americans that downright feel that the struggle doesn’t even apply to them. But I am not asking anybody to take my word. Just look at the numbers and statistics on the situation. In a briefing, (Breaking Down Mass Incarceration) by Leah Sakala of the Prison Policy Initiative, interesting facts were found and reported. Sakala showed the numbers from the year 2010 according to the United States Census, which I am sure this number has drastically increased since then.

In the research it was found that, Non-Hispanic Wvhites accounted for 64% of the United States population, with a representation of 39% of their population incarcerated this accounted for 450 White persons out of 100,000 members. In HispanicAmericans, they were found to account for 16% of the US population, with a representation of 19% of their population incarcerated, leaving a rate of 831 Hispanic-Americans out of every 100,000 people. And then there is the African-American community which equals about 12-13% of the US population. Out of that percentage 40% of our population remained incarcerated, which accounts for a rate of 2,306 people per 100,000 persons.

We MUST Understand

By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman

Now I have never considered myself as a Math genius, but even a six-grade student can see that something is wrong with this equation. So, in the Home of the Brave and the land of the free; why is it that the lowest population of individuals within one particular ethnic group (African-Americans) accounts for the highest number of the United States’ incarcerated? I’ll let you figure it out…

To further prove my point, I will include findings from Michelle Alexander, the law school professor who directed Stanford Law School’s Civil Rights Clinic. She also served as law clerk for Justice Harry Blackmun at the U. S. Supreme Court. In an article entitled, “Blacks Possess Drugs Less Frequently than Whites, But Are Put in Prison Much More Frequently – And For Much Longer – Than Whites” she highlighted the following four factors.

(1) The United States incarcerates a higher percentage of Black men than South Africa did at the height of apartheid.

(2) Primarily because of these significant incarceration rates, the level of Black youth poverty is higher today than it was in 1968.

(3) An African-American male is sentenced an average of a 20 to 50 times longer prison term then a White male convicted of the same drug crime.

(4) Over 2.3 million men in America are in prison — about half for drug crimes. Seventy percent of all men imprisoned are Black or Hispanic. Thirty years ago, before the “War on Drugs” was implemented, there were only 300,000 people in the American prison system. I rest my case!

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

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SANTA CLAUS MISSION FROM PAGE 1

Cover Story

TEXAS Texas • DECEMBER 1212-18, - 18, 2016 • August 2013

Brings Kindness and Promotes Happiness and History in the Hood’ HOUSTON - After a long trip from the North Pole, Santa Claus is back in town and he has brought a dab of his hip-hop spirit and good cheer to the “44” at the Acres Home Chamber for Business & Economic Development.

He and Mrs. Claus both chose to make appearances in this season of joy to set the stage for a campaign of outreach to little girls and boys from the hood and spread the message for adults to know their history and take the Kindness Challenge as 2017 approaches.

“For me, it is the most wonderful time of the year,” Black Santa Claus told the African American News&Issues. “We are here to see the children and to spread some holiday cheer.”

Santa and Mrs. Claus are making two visits to the chamber on Dec. 10th and Dec. 17th from 12 p.m to 4 p.m. at the Acres Home Chamber offices at 6112 Wheatley Street, Houston.

Santa and Mrs Claus will be meeting the children, offering Christmas cheer and providing an opportunity to take a free picture with Santa.

The event is sponsored by the Acres Home Chamber for Business & Economic Development, African-American News&Issues, Shirley Ann’s Black Kollectibles & Flowers, RS Deer Ranch, State Representative Jarvis Johnson, District 139, Acres Homes SuperNeighborhood #6, Harris County Constable Alan Rosen Precinct 1, Parents Against Predators, Sonya Parker, The Hit Cartel, June The Jenius and Family Health and Wellness Center, Dr. Stacy Jones.

The event is back because of the high demand and numerous requests from the community to have a Black Santa experience and for their children to be exposed to the real truth about St Nicholas.

“We know many children have never seen or met Black Santa Claus,” he said. “We are here to bring smiles to children’s faces, wish them Merry Christmas and let them know who Santa is and what he is all about.”

Mrs. Claus said she not only supports her husband’s mission, but also wants AfricanAmerican children to learn and know more about their own history.

She said history is important and vital and now is the time for African-American kids to know the truth about their past and how that past links to greatness are key to future success.

“This sets a great example for the children,” Mrs Claus said. “We are giving them positive memories and a historical keepsakes that will last for a lifetime.”

History of Santa Claus

The history of African people — Black

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people — is rich and comprehensive, inspiring and, often, little known. Nowhere is this more the case than the African presence in Medieval and Renaissance Europe.

St. Nicholas was a Moor Christian bishop who provided for the poor and sick, and is the basis for the popular character of Santa Claus.

Earlier portraits of Nicholas from Russia portray Nicholas as a Black man with a much darker complexion than today’s conventional version of Santa Claus.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the Moors, as early as the Middle Ages and as late as the 17th century, were “commonly supposed to be black or very swarthy, and hence the word is often used for Negro.”

The St. Nicholas Center is dedicated to discovering the truth about Santa Claus and through its research reveals that the true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara.

At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young.

Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.

He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man.

Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love

for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned.

The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325.

He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic called manna formed in his grave.

This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas.

The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (December 19 on the Julian Calendar).

Widely celebrated in Europe, St. Nicholas’ feast day, December 6th, kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity Simple gift-giving helped to preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

According to Biography.com, In America, St. Nicholas went through many transformations and eventually Sinterklaas became Santa Claus.

Instead of giving gifts on December 6, he became a part of the Christmas holiday.

In the 1820 poem “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, he is described as a jolly, heavy man who comes down the chimney to leave presents for deserving children and drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer.

St. Nicholas “Americanized” to Santa The Protestant Reformation and the emigration of European traditions to America morphed that pious figure into the red-suited character that is now one of the most famous images in the world In December 2009, Heather Whipps, who wrote about history, anthropology and health for Live Science at the time, noted some key historical observations about Santa Claus in an article entitled, “Santa Claus : The Real Man Behind The Myth”. In it she noted that Sinterklaas came to America with the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries, and it was in the new colonies that he really evolved.

The anglicizing of the name – from Sinterklaas to Santa Claus – happened by 1773, when the latter was referenced for the first time, in a New York City newspaper. Santa’s waistline expanded in 1809 with the publication of author Washington Irving’s book “A History of New York,” in which the big man is described as portly and smoking a pipe instead of as a lanky bishop.

In an 1822 poem entitled “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” – more commonly called “Twas the Night Before Christmas” – by Clement Moore, Santa is further imagined with a magic sleigh powered by reindeer, a sack full of toys, and a round stomach, “like a bowl full of jelly.”

The cartoonist Thomas Nast added to the St. Nicholas legend with an 1881 drawing of Santa as wearing a red suit with white fur trim.

By the late 1800s, most depictions of Santa Claus followed this imagery, but the final cog in the Claus legend was provided by Coca-Cola ad illustrator Haddon Sundblom, whose 1930s red-suited Santa, complete with white-fur trim and leather boots, became the iconic standard recognizable today.

Once a kind, charitable bishop, St. Nicholas has become the Santa Claus we know today.

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” he said, ‘We want to give children a taste of history, a memorable experience and a picture to remember it by.”

Despite historical inaccuracies about St. Nicholas, Black Santa is full of optimism about the future and all the children he meets.

He said his greatest rewards are seeing the smiles and eyes of multitudes of children starstruck seeing the plump man in red.

“It’s about the children. Seeing the kids reaction to me is priceless,” he said. “They teach us so much if we would pause long enough to see and learn from them.”

He said so many are full of love, demonstrate humble spirits, are thankful and appreciate all the kindness, gifts and love shown to them during the appearances – a lesson many adults still have yet to learn or practice with one another.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa’s Challenge Back in Acres Homes, Santa is trying to start a new tradition – Calling African-Americans to get back in touch with their history and challenging all to get to know and start living the real meaning of Christmas everyday of life.

“When we understand where we have come from and the challenges we have overcome, we appreciate where we are and can motivate us to lead our communities to greater heights and our youth to achieve greater things,” he said.

Santa said one his main missions during this visit this year is to challenge everyone from ages

1 to 92 to use each day to spread happiness, kindness and joy to neighbors and into the lives of others.

To continue reading visit www.aframnews.com By:Darwin Campbell African-American News&Issues

TEXAS • DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2016

Entertainment

HOUSTON - Breaking into the acting and film industry is never easy, but for the Dirden brothers, they have broken in, and are there to stay. Jason Dirden and Brandon Dirden are from Houston, Texas, and attended Booker T. Washington High School, and are graduates from Morehouse College, and the University of Illinois, where they both received Master degrees.

THE DIRDEN BROTHERS

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that brings other actors, writers, and directors together, and try to bring them opportunities as well. He believes that “art is communal”, and he wants to be able to help other people showcase what their creative minds can do. In addition, Brandon has learned so much thus far on his journey, and he would also like to encourage, motivate, and assist others in making their dreams come true.

Brandon stated, “Every moment that I have been on this journey…every single moment has been full of lessons and full of growth.”

Growing up, Jason and Brandon had parents who had and still have a strong love for the fine arts. Their mom has taught drama and directed plays as a teacher, and their father was an actor, and has been in many plays in Houston. When their father saw that Jason and Brandon took an interest in the arts, he became their first acting coach, and is now coaching many other actors around the city of Houston.

Jason is currently working on the show Greenleaf, and plays the character Basie Skanks. He described working on the set as a very great and warm experience. He also described his character as having ulterior motives for everything that he does, but you don’t know what they are for. Jason is currently working on the set for season two, and he can’t wait for the audience to see what his character is going to do next.

Their father treated his sons like professionals and tried to instill in them the foundation and principles of the craft. He wanted the best for his sons and lived by the statement,

“If you’re going to do it, then you got to know how to do it right.”

He was hard on them, but he knew what they had to learn in order to give Jason and Brandon a head start in the acting business. In addition to, their drama teacher at Booker T. Washington played a major role in developing them into the actors that they are today, as he introduced them to many African American plays and playwrights.

you discover the logic in this character…. there is reason for it all.

Jason also made this comparison to reality as many people tend to judge others before they really can understand why a person is the way they are.”

One of the playwrights they learned in school was August Wilson, who was an award winning African American playwright who documented the African American experience in the 20th century through the writing of his plays. He wrote a series of ten plays, and ironically, both Jason and Brandon were able to play the same role, which was the character Levee in Wilson’s play, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, but they were in different states.

Jason also made it known that, “I don’t love acting as much as I love storytelling. Acting right now is the foundation of which I have to tell stories.” Jason wants to eventually get into acting and producing, and expressed, “Storytelling is so crucial and so important to progress the world and cultures around the world. You learn so much from story telling when it’s done right and done with intention.”

Throughout the month of September and October, Jason was playing the character in Los Angeles that was directed by the beautiful Phylicia Rashad, and Brandon was playing the same character in New Jersey that was directed by Ruben SanitagoHudson. “Our artistic paths, career wise, have just happened like that.

We’ve never really been up for the same role, but we’ve often times have the same opportunity,” expressed Jason.

Brandon illustrated the experience as being surreal. He expressed, “To be working on the same play at the same time on both coast…it blows my mind…that both of us have managed to reach this level…its more than I could have dreamed of.”

When Brandon described what acting is like for him, he quoted Shakespeare and stated, “It’s like holding a mirror up to nature.”

He elaborated on how people need a mirror to see themselves, or else, they don’t know who they are.

When it comes to acting, Jason loves being forced to be sensitive and non-objective to different characters. He expressed, “You get an opportunity to play people that may not be very well liked in the play or film by the audience…but you as the actor have to advocate for the character…in order to do that, you can’t judge this character because you have to understand why he is doing what he is doing…and when

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The Dirden Brothers star in Top Dog Under Dog

“I think the mirror that has been held up as Black people in the country has been so distorted and so inaccurate, and a lot of us don’t see ourselves when we watch these T.V. shows, movies, and plays.”

He further expressed, “I’m so driven to hold up an accurate mirror of who we are as black people in this country.” Brandon knows how beautiful the Black race is, but he also knows that that same beauty is not always reflective of whom we really are. “My challenge every time is how do I give as much humanity…how do I make a complete picture of a human being that you recognize and see yourself in?” Brandon is very passionate and very determined to paint a true picture of humanity through his acting.

“Myself and my brother have been really blessed with some really great opportunities,” Jason stated. Because of these blessings, he would like to get to a point where he can create a foundation

Brandon is currently on a television show called The Americans, playing FBI agent Aderholt, and they are filming the fifth season of the show.

You can also find Brandon on Edward Burns’ show Public Morals, and Baz Luhrmann’s new Netflix series The Get Down. He will soon start working on another August Wilson play called Jitney.

The advice that Jason wants to give to others that want to break into the business is to “make sure you love it.” This isn’t an easy field to work in, but you have to make sure you love it in order to endure the opportunities that may or may not come. He also made it known that people must know who they are as a person. “If you don’t know who you are, or are aware of who you are, then there is a very little chance that you can tell the truth in another character because you’re starting with yourself in the first place,” expressed Jason.

In addition to, there are many people that are aspiring to be actors and actresses, and the advice that Brandon has for them is to stop aspiring and just do it. Brandon proposed the question, “What’s the difference between doing it and aspiring to do it?”

He then answered it by stating, “Nothing but you. Just because you aren’t getting paid, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t doing it,” Brandon emphasized. Many people want to be famous, but Brandon wants them to know that you don’t have control over that so “just work your art.”

Overall, Jason and Brandon really love what they do, and they take pride in where they come from, and how far they have come.

They are very humble, grateful, and appreciative to those who have supported them along their journey. They both know that success is not given, it is earned, and they have both worked hard, and are still working hard to go as far as this journey will take them.

By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, M.Ed. MORE STORIES AVAILABLE ONLINE WWW.AFRAMNEWS.COM TX- 5

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The Eagle’s Nest Newspaper Eagle Chat With Former Eagle, Kelsey Hillis

By: Jeffrey Bonilla, BTW Student

I had the pleasure of speaking to the next generation of Booker T. Washington educators. One of which is an alumni, Kelsey Hillis, who also had the honor of being crowned Miss Washington 2010-2011. She decided to begin her career by returning to the place where she excelled as a student.

She is motivated and ready to influence the young minds of tomorrow.

Jeffrey: How would you describe your high school experience at Washington High School? How was it transformational?

Ms. Hillis: “It was fun, tbut yet, I had meaningful and interesting life experiences here. At Washington, I enjoyed the fact that student-teacher bonds were strong. Those relationships gave me the confidence to grow and thrive.”

Jeffrey: What kept you focused and on the right track?

Ms. Hillis: “I was involved in and invested in Washington. I participated in many activities and truly loved Washington.”

Jeffrey: Who was the most influential person who directed your educational or professional career? How did they chal-

TEXAS • DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2016 MISSION STATEMENT

lenge or inspire you?

Ms. Hillis: “My former teacher, Ms. Miller, was that person for me. Although she was a young teacher, her level of professionalism really had an impact on me. I saw myself in Ms. Miller and I carried that inspiration with me. She always expected more and that improved my work ethic.”

Jeffrey: What drove you to become a teacher?

Ms. HIllis: “My love of people, specifically young people led me toward this career path. I have a ‘social side’ that always seeks to interact with others. I believe that developing this type of relationship with students will encourage them to achieve bigger and better things than I have and hopefully also to avoid making some of the same mistakes as I did.”

Jeffrey: Why was it important to teach at Washington High?

What impact do you wish to have?

Ms. Hillis: “I see it as a form of repayment. Because the school invested in me, I wanted to start my teaching career

My Experience at the Cinderella Performance

By: Desiree Johson, BTW Student

The Booker T. Washington Oceanettes, Silk Waves, and Leadership Academy members were invited to a Cinderella performance starring Misty Copeland on November 11, 2016. This performance was held the Hobby Center in downtown Houston.

As soon as we walked into the facility, I knew we were in for an amazing performance. As we stood in the lobby, pic-

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tures were being taken and words were being exchanged that had a tone of sure excitement. After receiving our tickets, we headed upstairs not knowing what great things we were about to see.

We took our seats along with one hundred other people and waited for show time.

While we were waiting, we met a lot of people who attended various colleges. They talked to us about what we should prepare for in our near future. Soon, the music started to play. It was time for the show! The curtains opened and everyone was in place. Now if you ever seen

Cinderella how unmistakable her bleak plight was at the start of the fable. The dancers seemed to float across the stage in the elaborate costumes illuminated even more by the grand stage and theatrical lights. The stepsisters were decked in flared green dresses and Cinderella herself was downtrodden but fabulously portrayed was dressed in pink. The sight was simply beautiful.

I worried at the thought of understanding a ballet that had no dialogue. How would I understand what was going on? I thought. In reality, it was light actually reading the story straight from my childhood book. It was surprisingly easily to understandable and relatable.

“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.”

in this place, teaching the students who are sitting in the very desks where I once sat. The impact I wish to have is to set a good example of hard work and professionalism and be the role model that inspired me. I want to give the kids a positive mindset about their future.”

Jeffrey: What legacy would you wish to leave behind?

Ms. HIllis: “I always see the good in people. I always remain positive to keep hopes up. When students come to me, I want them to remember me for always showing them that thinking positively will help them see that no problem is too big. I would love for my legacy to be one of cheery optimism.”

Jeffrey: What advice would you give to students who are struggling or afraid of new challenges in life?

Ms. HIllis: “Students who are struggling to find their way in life should know that change is an inevitable process. You will never find your true potential unless you get out there and engage in the activities that you are interested in. Even if you aren’t good at what you thought you wanted to do, you could find that you are even better at something else.”

The stepsisters started their performance with their toes pointed in an angle to the ground, which was very appealing to me. They started

Jeffrey: What else would you want the world to know about Kelsey Hillis?

Ms. Hillis: They should know that I have a love for everyone, and that I am continually seeking to improve myself. cast also made an impression were, most of the answers on me. It was refreshing were similar. Most, agreed to see more people of color that it was uplifting seeing in such a predominantly an African American woman white genre of dance. This being the lead in a ballet

to do turns and leaps across the floor along with another character, the step mother.

Again, who could have predicted that throughout all of the on stage movement, I could tell what going on. I was surprised and impressed at the same time. Every move showed a part of the story. The leaps and turns were gracefully done and the show was absolutely flawless. The diversity of the

performance was truly an eye opener for me. It showed me that I could do anything I set my mind to do. Misty Copeland is an amazing African American woman who was the star of the show. She is also a great ballet dancer and one of the best contemporary African American ballet dancers in the country. After talking to a few of my peers after the show on what their opinions

performance. They felt that this performance broadened their minds to strive for better in their lives. Most said that it was an amazing performance it was synchronized and the telling of the story was very understandable. I felt that this was a big opportunity for my peers and me for us to see this live was a wonderful experience that we will never forget.

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ATLANTA - Gwennetta Wright hails from Columbus, Georgia. From as early as she can remember, she has always been independent and driven. With a high school diploma, a portion of college experience and a mountain of faith she was able to teach herself how to engineer multiple businesses. She first established Xpert Tax Service, LLC in 2006. From there she opened other locations. As time progressed, she added Xpert Business Solution and is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reach 4 Your Dream, Inc.,., a non-profit organization. She is also a realtor with Prestige Property Broker.. In past, she partnered with her best friend and they owned and operated a fashion boutique, for four years.

Business strategist, tax professional, author, realtor and serial entrepreneur are amongst a few key positions that Wright functions in.

She has dominated the corporate landscape with self-taught and God-given talents and resources. As a result of her tireless efforts to help others, Wright has been regarded as, “a heavily relied upon business resource within the national landscape of both small and large professional entities looking to plan financial expansion while also increasing brand visibility.” Unlike other business owners, Wright was not privileged to have a mentor to help guide her through certain bumps and obstacles. Nevertheless, this element was not one that served to hinder her from attaining her dream of being a business owner. During an interview, Wright shared with me that she pioneered her businesses from teaching herself and trial and error. Having effectively operated her company for over a decade, she strongly believes that she can provide valuable insight to teach others how to, “build a business from scratch”.

From the very beginning of Wright’s establishments’ she made a vow to operate her business differently from others, consequently she has inherited an abundance of favor. Although, she has the skills and “know-how” to operate a traditional business, she has chosen to govern her companies off of faith-based principles. As such, Wright feels that this aspect has contributed to her being able to be in business for ten years. She said, “My foundation was built by God and I built a system of doing the ugly work that others don’t want to.” She continued, “In being an entrepreneur it’s all about having a gift or craft and a product that people want. But in order to be successful, it starts with your mind. You have to think different and strategically plan - not short-term but long-term.”

While Wright continues to thrive as a business owner, she appreciates and respects the struggles that she has been confronted with over the years. She identified one of those challenges as having the appropriate people in place to assist with comprising a solid team. She stated that, “A lot of times as a business owner you have to wear all the different hats in order to maneuver to the next level; so identifying and having the key people that you will need is very important.”

Having adequate finances to stretch and cover the necessary items is a crucial part of operating a business and in times past this element has presented itself as a challenge.

However, she has remained committed to God and steadfast in her aspirations, insomuch that she has been able to overcome.

A major facet of Wright’s organization is committed to doing community outreach. She assumes the role of a philanthropist, community-based liaison, motivational speaker and mentor for many in the Georgia area. Wright’s biography boasts that she “has helped lay the foundation for a variety of small businesses, as well as dedicating her time and attention to various issues for at-risk youth.”

Additionally, “she is a vocal asset for every social issue campaign that she lends her time, talent and financial attention to.” She says, “One part of entrepreneurship is being able to give back – because you have to give in order to receive.” She operates off of the belief system that, “God blesses her to be able to bless others.”

Accordingly, she is dedicating her time to aid aspiring entrepreneurs with their ventures to build solid businesses. She does this by teaching basic principles of entrepreneurship, branding concepts and providing an over view of the system; which will allow interested individuals the opportunity to create and manage a successful business.

Furthermore she has written a book, Entrepreneurship the Wright Way. Entrepreneurship the Wright Way is a guide in which, Wright provides various methods that will assist the business owner with building a strong business, in a simplified dialogue.

In reference to her book, Wright says, “Now days, everybody wants to be an entrepreneur, but it’s not a microwave type of situation.” She continued, “Everybody wants the glory, but not everyone is willing to build the foundation.”

Wright encourages aspiring business owners to, “not allow people to put you inside a box.” She says, “God put talent and purpose in each and every last one of us and it does not matter what your age, preference or gender is; if you believe it, know you can achieve it and you trust in God that you can do it, then there is no limit to reaching your dream.” “All you have to do is take the steps and God will do the rest - when you do get into living your dream, just make sure you do the research, study and continue to learn,”

TO CONTINUE READING VISIT US ONLINE @ AFRAMNEWS.COM REBECCA S. JONES

TEXAS • DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2016

Community

Raegan’s Shoe Repair FIFTH WARD - Throughout the history of Houston, various communities have seen a lot of changes. However, the notorious Fifth Ward segment of the city houses one location that has not moved nor swayed from serving residents of Houston since 1962. Originally founded in 1959,

Reagan Shoe Repair was established by Mark Reagan. During an interview, his wife, Mary Reagan delivered the history of the spot that has remained unmoved for over five decades.

Mark Reagan was born in Marshall. As a young man, Reagan would work for his uncle at a shoe repair shop, while in high school. While, Mary was born in Marshall, she was sent to live with her Aunt in Houston. After some time, she moved back to Marshall. It was at that time that she and Mark met and began courting one another. She explained that after High School, he was drafted into the United States Armed Forces. After being honorably discharged, they married and he enrolled at Prairie View A&M University. Not long afterwards, he earned his Teacher’s certification and began teaching at the University. Mrs. Reagan explained that he would still shine shoes, but he had a desire internally to go into business for himself. In addition to teaching, he began to pioneer his own business.

From this experience, Reagan Shoe Repair was established in 1959. It was moved to its current location in 1962 which sits at 4209 Lyons Avenue, 77020.

Reagan Shoe Repair is a family-owned business. Although Mark Reagan continued his career teaching at Prairie View, he later began teaching for the Houston Community College System. He and Mary worked together for years, maintaining and keeping the doors open. She explained that it was, “a profitable business for us – we enjoyed it and our children grew up

there.” Mrs. Reagan continued to state that they would alternate shifts at the shop. When Mr. Reagan worked during the day she would work at night and vice versa. She expressed that they kept their schedules that way until he retired from the school district with a fruitful career as an educator.

At a point in the history of Reagan Shoe Repair, Mrs. Reagan informed that she’d had an accident and bumped her head and was not able to be at the shop as much as she had been in former years. As a result, their grandson Larry Hamilton, Jr. stepped up to the plate.

While he was in high school, he would come in, sit around, watch, learn and help with the business. Ultimately, growing up around his grandparents and being privileged to having exposure to the family business created an interest in Larry for the shoe repair business. As time went on, he would continue to work alongside his grandparents making note of the trade.

After the passing of his grandfather, he took the lead with his grandmother and another facet of Reagan Shoe Repair, Mr. Michael Perry.

Perry had been the “Shine Man” at the shop for over a decade. He passed away in November of 2014. That same year, Larry officially, began operating Reagan Shoe Repair as a business himself. Determined to keep one of the only original Black owned businesses on Lyons Avenue open, he holds the shop dear to his heart. He expressed that, “It’s a legacy in the neighborhood and I wanted to continue it and keep it going.”

To Continue reading visit us online @ aframnews.com By: Rebecca S. Jones | Photographer of Houston Chronicle staff Gary Coronado

Read us online! www. aframnews. com

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Winfreys Financial Services

ACRES HOME CHAMBER - Before she became an entrepreneur, Ms. Winfrey has worked in the sales world for over thirty eight years. For a very short tenure she started out in car sales, but was introduced to the insurance business very early the year was 1978, the company was Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company.

She found her niche and soared becoming the first African American female to achieve every goal in the company her 1st year. This was not a stroll in the park, it was a dirty job but someone had to do it. Most of her earlier clients worked for the City of Houston’s Sanitation Department, she could only meet with most of them at the end of their shifts right there on sight on site, but she was steadfast and hung in there till there was no other workers to sign in that department. I’m glad to say she moved on to work with other employees in the Water Department as well as others. She was only one of 5 women that worked for Colonial Life but she also was the only black women. She focused on selling small life insurance policies and small accident policies, non of which

was very popular in the Black community and she had to educate as she went along.

She had some major accomplishments, including $200K in policies written that 1st year. Receiving Rookie of the Year Award 1978, the Cadillac Award where she was presented with the real deal to name a few. She remained on top of her game as # 3 in the Nation from 1979 to till 1980.

“You have to take care of your clients and follow-up.

Everyone is not cut out for sales,” says Winfrey. After winning that Cadillac we talked about earlier, she added burial policies to her menu, working with another stapler in the Black community, Carl Barnes Funeral Homes.

Knowing the tenacity and outgoing personality of Ms. Winfrey she used her Cadillac as the lead car in his funerals and created a different another stream of financial independence to her repertoire.

She moved to California eventually and started working in the aircraft industry on the production line she had a nose for making money. After awhile life insurance was still in her blood, she joined Equitable as a Life Insurance Policy Writer and also became

the top producer among her peers in the market for 9 years.

Not letting any grass grow under feet ! She moved on to Seattle, Washington and worked hard in Sales till she was promoted Sales Manager at a funeral home, worked in the school district during the day, studied a lot and became a Certified Family Counselor for the funeral home industry.

Upon her return to Houston she has worked with Paradise and Carl Barnes again to name a few.

In 2009 Ms. Winfrey started Winfrey’s Financial Services LLC. She said it was a highly recommended that she start her own business and after completing all her classes and again meeting all the qualification requirements she became a full fledge Broker and now Agents write policies for her.

A native Houstonian and the oldest of 8 other family members have followed in her footsteps in owning their own businesses and at the age of 71 years young she’s still thrieving and will receive a lifetime of income from the many policies she has sold over the years! She was recently awarded a major contract AFLAC and she continues to offer Final Expense Burial Products.

She ended the interview by offering advice to young people still deciding on a industry of interest. “The insurance industry is the largest industry in the world.

Everyone is not cut out for insurance sales, but if they are looking for a satisfying career, give it some consideration, but you gotta be able to sale.

Sales is what keeps companies a float and thriving. Working many hours, day and night and after a period of time you are vested and will enjoy the fruits of your labor with residual income for life.”

Continue reading online @ aframnews.com Written By: R. Bea. King

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Law & Politics

Senator Whitmire Files Legislation Requiring 9th Grade Students to Receive Instruction on Law Enforcement Interaction

Austin, Texas - Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston) announced today that he has filed Senate Bill 273 to require all 9th grade students to take a course on interacting with law enforcement. “This course will provide a valuable tool for our young people to have successful interactions with law enforcement,” stated Senator Whitmire.

“Senate Bill 273 is an important part of our efforts to reduce escalated and too often deadly encounters between officers and civilians.”

The legislation will require the State Board of Education to adopt rules to require instruction in the ninth grade on the role of law enforcement and the duties and responsibilities of police officers; a person’s rights concerning interactions with police officers; proper behavior for both civilians and police officers; laws regarding questioning and detention by police officers; and how and where to file a complaint against a police officer.

“As we continue to increase training and standards for law enforcement and hold law enforcement accountable for their actions, we must also provide our young people with the knowledge of how best to respond to law enforcement and just as

Lawsuit Puts Jail & Bail System on Trial Challenges The Jailing Without Determining Legality of Arrest

HOUSTON, TX – The Civil Rights Corps and the Texas Fair Defense Project have filed suit this week against the City of Houston for unconstitutionally jailing hundreds of Texans.

The complaint, Hernandez et al. v. City of Houston, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, claims that the city’s practice of keeping people in jail cells without promptly determining whether there was probable cause for their arrest is unconstitutional.

“It has become routine practice in this country to lock up poor people for days or weeks after arrest,” said Charlie Gerstein, an attorney with Civil Rights Corps.

“Whenever there is any delay in the City’s criminal process, impoverished people, not the City, suffer the consequences of dangerous, overcrowded jail cells.”

Plaintiffs are represented by Charlie Gerstein and Alec Karakatsanis with Civil Rights Corps and Rebecca Bernhardt and Susanne Pringle with the Texas Fair Defense Project.

The lawsuit requests certification of a TX-10

class of individuals harmed by the city’s blatantly unconstitutional actions and compensation for those people who were illegally kept in jail.

The Civil Rights Corps is a nonprofit organization dedicated to challenging systemic injustice in the American legal system.

Accordng to Gerstein, the group works with individuals accused and convicted of crimes, their families and communities, people currently or formerly incarcerated, activists, organizers, judges, and government officials to challenge mass human caging and to create a legal system that promotes equality and human freedom.

The organization engages in advocacy and public education and specializes in innovative, systemic civil rights litigation with the goal of re-sensitizing the legal system and our culture to the injustice and brutality that characterize the contemporary criminal justice system.

Problems with the Process When the Houston Police Department arrests someone who is unable to pay a

TEXAS • DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2016

important provide an understanding of what their rights are when they interact with police officers,” Whitmire said.

Senate Bill 273 has broad-based support from across the state from school officials, community leaders, faith leaders and law enforcement. “There is no home team or visiting team. We must all come together to develop the best strategies to improve relations and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” stated Senator Whitmire. “Increased training and education for both peace officers and our students will help foster positive relations and interactions.”

Submitted By: Doug Clements money bond, that person is taken to the Houston City Jail. Anywhere between 8 hours and several days later, the arrested person is taken to the Harris County Jail, where he is booked and processed.

Only after the person arrives at the Harris County Jail does he receive a probable cause hearing at which a neutral magistrate decides whether there was a legally sufficient basis for his arrest.

During July and August of 2016, as well as at other points in 2016, the Houston City Jail routinely held people for more than three days before transferring them to the Harris County Jail. Booking records for 2016 show that Houston held hundreds people in its jail for longer than three days before transferring them to Harris County in July and August alone.

“The neutral magistrate’s determination that there was a legitimate reason for an arrest is a crucial check on the incredible power of the police to take away the liberty of citizens in our democracy,” said Rebecca Bernhardt, Executive Director of the Texas Fair Defense Project. “The City of Houston’s practice is an affront to the rule of law.”

It has been well-settled law from the United States Supreme Court for decades that the City’s delays in making probable

cause determinations are presumptively unconstitutional. They also violate Texas law and local rules.

“Throughout this past year, the City has simply kept arrestees in jail indefinitely if they cannot pay a predetermined sum of money, even though it is clearly unconstitutional to confine them to a jail cell for more than 48 hours without a probable cause determination,” Gerstein said. “People who have enough money walk right out of the police station; everyone else sits in a jail cell until the City gets around to determining whether there is a legal basis to hold them.”

About Texas Fair Defense Project The Texas Fair Defense Project (TFDP) is a non-profit civil rights law firm whose mission is to improve the fairness of Texas’s criminal courts and ensure that all Texans have access to justice.

TFDP focuses on improving the public defense system and challenging policies that create modern-day debtors’ prisons filled with poor people who cannot afford to pay criminal judgment debts and commercial bond fees.

More stories pertaining to the “Bail System” online @ www.aframnews.com Reporting: Darwin Campbell

Texas • December 12 - 18, 2016

Law & Politics

Is Harris County Ripe For Bail Reforms?

Changes Could Spell Legal Relief & Releases for Hundreds Too Poor to Pay Harris County - With sweeping changes over the horizon at the Harris County Courthouse, some local civil rights and legislative leaders are patiently waiting to see if the winds of change finally will open the doors to thousands hopelessly locked away in jail cells, just because they were too poor to afford bail.

The election of a new Harris County District Attorney, Harris County Sheriff and host of new judges taking the bench, offers a new approach towards justice and a fresh look at bail reforms.

Changes are already happening is surrounding counties as several cases have brought to attention the plight of the poor who are at the mercy of an unbalanced justice system.

According to Justice Department figures, there are about 500,000 people locked in American jails simply because they are too poor to make a payment for their release.

In Harris County, it is estimated that 120,000

individuals a year are housed in Harris County jail with 70-75% being pre-trial defendants who have been accused; but not yet convict of a crime.

The issue clearly is the disproportionately impacting poor and minority communities in Houston/Harris County.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Houston Branch and Texas Civil Rights Project continues to work in an attempt to solve the many issues related to the criminal justice system in Harris County.

Dr. James Douglas, president of the NAACP Houston Branch, said he is hopeful that the new leaders will make changes to reflect the will of the people.

“The system is definitely broken, but the judges can fix it and I hope these are committed to change,” he said. “Too many of our poor sit in jail with no help. Most are not dangerous

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and it makes no sense for the system to continue to hold them.”

The Texas Civil Rights Project uses legal advocacy to empower Texas communities and create policy change. In its twenty-five year history, TCRP has brought thousands of strategic lawsuits, defending voting rights, fighting institutional discrimination, and reforming systems of criminal justice.

Currently, in Harris County, bail is set before an accused sees a lawyer and although the law requires that one’s ability to pay is a consideration the court is supposed to make before establishing bail, currently Harris County judges do not consider this option. In other words, those who can pay get out on bail and those who can’t pay, remain in jail, according to Douglas.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities.

He said a simple breakdown example of the current situation is that a person that com-

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mits murder can be out on the street in a day or two because they have the resources to pay their bond; where a person who shoplifts a $500 purse may remain in jail for years.

Douglas said the NAACP has spoken out on the issue and has even criticized Harris County for an estimated $170,000 and more being spent on outside counsel to defend the county. They are asking the county court to reject the request by the county judges to hire outside attorneys to represent them in the recent bail litigation.

State Senator Rodney Ellis also has weighed in and maintains his strong views on current justice issues, especially as it relates to holding the poor “hostage” in county jails and as it related to the county attorney spending money to defend the county’s bail practices.

“The fact that the County is spending countless taxpayer dollars to pay outside lawyers to evade reforming an unconstitutional and immoral practice of keeping poor people locked up simply because they are poor and can’t afford Continue “Bail Reforms” online @ aframnews.com Reporting: Darwin Campbell

Mayor Steps Up for African American Historic Preservation in Forgotten District; Step One: Replace Disturbed Street Bricks

“

Freedman’s Town from Pg. 1

The African-American experience is one of the most important threads in the American tapestry.” ~ Bill Frist

The mayor unveiled his plan after an unfortunate incident of some unauthorized work at the intersection of Genesee and Andrews Street.

About two weeks ago, the area was being prepared for the re-installation of some historic bricks in Freedmen’s Town that had previously been removed by hand so the drainage work could proceed, when an employee operating the machinery that day mistakenly disturbed others bricks that had not been part of the hand removal. The city contractor exceeded the authorized limits of a drainage project and is believed that approximately 200 bricks were removed at the time.

Freedmen’s Town History Primer

A brief history on Freedmen’s Town has been provided by Gladys Marie House of the Freedmen’s Town Association, Inc. and updated by Emily Nghiem with input from Darrell Patterson and Lenwood Johnson.

Immediately west of downtown Houston lies the city’s oldest Black community.

This community is commonly known as Fourth Ward, but its original name is Freedmen’s Town, given by freed slaves who settled it.

Initially located where Allen Parkway Village now stands, Freedmen’s Town was established immediately after the Civil

War when many farmers gave or sold their truck farms and property to freed slaves. Freedmen’s Town prospered during the turn of the century. Economic, community, and social development were at a peak until local government became threatened by the Black area’s prosperity. Black businesses, homes, and churches soon became displaced in order to make way for “progress.”

Government buildings, such as City Hall, the Albert Thomas Convention Center, and the Music Hall and Coliseum have replaced that portion of Freedmen’s Mayor addresses community about the disruption of the Town whose boundaries extended east to Historic Bricks laid by slaves Travis Street; west to Taft Street; north to Planning Commission recommended strict segregational Allen Parkway, and south to Sutton Street. zoning of Blacks into the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Wards.

Wards were established in Houston in 1841. Although While this proposal was not accepted, it was implemented on a the “ward” system was officially discontinued in 1906, de facto basis through deed and housing restrictions. With the Houstonians continued to identify the city’s various communicoming of integration, many Freedmen’s Town residents began ties by those political subdivisions. By 1920, Freedmen’s Town to move toward Texas Southern University, in the Third Ward, had grown to represent one-third of Houston’s population. and other areas of the city, such as Studewood, South Park, In the 1920’s , Freedmen’s Town was Houston’s Riverside Terrace, Kashmere Gardens, and Acres Homes.

“Harlem.” The area was filled with many restaurants, jazz There was much construction in the late 1930’s against the spots, and night clubs. These establishments were frequently wishes of Blacks here, which continued to severe this historical visited by Houston’s white citizens as well. West Dallas was neighborhood, divided nearly at midpoint by the addition of the the community’s main commercial strip.

Gulf Freeway. In the early 1940’s, more Black land and busiIn 1929, a survey conducted by the National Urban ness owners were displaced to make way for San Felipe Courts League revealed that city services were not being extended to (now APV), the largest public housing project in Houston.

Houston’s Black citizens. In addition, a pattern of segregation Continue “Freedman’s Town” online @ aframnews.com was preventing Freedmen’s Town residents from moving to Reporting: Darwin Campbell | Photos Submitted By: Janice Evans better jobs. In that same year the official report of the City TX-11

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