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July 11-17, 2007 ™

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Vol. 12 Issue 23

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Houston - Galveston - Texas City - Missouri City - Conroe - Woodlands - Huntsville - Beaumont - Port Arthur - Grove - Orange - Lumberton - Liberty - Cleveland - Livingston - Crockett - San Antonio - Mexia - Gatesville - Bellmead Austin - Brenham - Hempstead - Prairie View - College Station - Bryan - Killeen - Temple - Waco - Dallas - Irving - Fort Worth - Arlington - Waxahachie - Elgin - Round Rock - Harker Heights - Copperas Cove - Ennis - Corsicana

Is AIDS a conspiracy?

Boyd Edward Graves with AIDS flowchart. Very little has been published about his ongoing fight with government officials in the mainstream media.

For sure, his research was compelling enough to convince a U.S. Federal Court to hear his case. To wit: “In a November 20, 2002 letter from the Office of the Secretary of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, AIDS origin researcher, Boyd E. Graves, J.D. has been given sixty days to file suit in the U.S. federal court of his choosing.

Black antagonist avows racist holocaust Persecution of a Pastor Page 10

Roundup from the

Lone Star Hoods

LUBBOCK− When Vollie Blanton was a little girl, she picked cotton in numerous fields surrounding Lubbock. Now at 94, this African American matriarch recalls growth in the town from 4,000 to a bustling metropolis of over 209,000 people. Blanton was honored by Concerned Citizens recently for being one of Lubbock’s residents that are 90 and older. She recalls the days of tumbleweeds and sand and a time when her family was one of about four Black families in Lubbock at the time. In the early days, many of her siblings went to school in a church because there wasn’t a school for Black children.

“Lubbock has really changed,” she said. “We have come a long, long way.”

HOUSTON− For the first time in history, African American Freemasons are recognized by the Regular Grand Lodge of England. This allows men of color to be accepted all over the world as masons. Black freemasons have been blessing our communities since the 1800s and continue to do a good job. Texas has thousands of masons who have never had the same privileges as White masons, until now. The Regular Grand Lodge of Texas is a recognized jurisdiction from England and the Grand Master is a 34year-old old African American, Weston Jarvis, who is very fluent in masonic teachings and is a very powerful speaker and motivator.

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Quote of the Week

“I felt that one had better die fighting against injustice than to die like a dog or rat in a trap.”

Ida B. Wells

BUD JOHNSON

African-American News&Issues

“When this was seen as a primarily gay, White male disease, there was all kind of interest in what was happening in the United States. But See AIDS page 3

Is the hunt back in the dog?

The STOP Campaign is an initiative of the NAACP Youth & College Division that seeks to “STOP” the demeaning images of African Americans in the media, particularly with respect to the portrayal of African American women.

First Black Mayor Sets Sights on Goals for City DARWIN CAMPBELL

African-American News&Issues

PORT ARTHUR- One of her goals when she entered politics was to make a difference in her community. Now, Deloris “Bobbie” Prince has made history and will now get her shot as Port Arthur’s first African-AmerCasey Thomas, Dallas NAACP Delores Prince, ican mayor.

The foris the first Black mayor of Port mer councilwoman is Arthur. taking over the reigns of a city of 57,000 resWith those cuts, many thought idents and has set her sights on the NAACP was past its better completing her goals for the city. days, fizzling and preparing to die Prince defeated Willie Bae Lewis on the vine. Could it be the fight is Jr. in the runoff election after the back in the dog with the Nation’s two were the top two vote-getters oldest civil rights organization tak- among the seven candidates in the ing on a new “lean” and “mean” mayoral election on May 12th.

“The citizens of Port Arthur approach?

The younger more vibrant group have spoken and I am grateful to appears to have awakened suddenly God for this opportunity,” she said See NAACP page 3 recently. “I won’t betray their trust

NAACP latest campaigns may point to Black activism revival DARWIN CAMPBELL

African-American News&Issues

DALLAS–A few months ago, the NAACP scaled back its operations, cutting staff and budgets. It appears that purging has led to the organization coming out of its corner with new blood and a desire to take bold stands on issues.

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t’s been over a year since Roseanna Beatrice GuidryPope passed away peacefully in her home in Houston, Texas on July 7, 2006 at the age of 90. However, precious memories sustain the family and loved ones of “Aunt Bea,” whose long and productive life was celebrated on July 15, 2006 at Greater True Vine MBC, 3010 Fontinot St. An order of service officiated by Pastor Matthew R. Alix, Sr. included: Rev. Tracy Phillips, Rev. Dwayne B. Cook, Andrea Davidson, Rev. Donald Ray Thomas Sr., and Sis. Tammy Benjamin, Deacon Joe Lester Guidry and Sally Guidry of West Tabernacle BC. Active pallbearers were: Jeffery Guidry, Edward Wingate, Joe Lester Guidry II, Prentice Boyd Jr., Randall Guidry, Kevin Bailey and Ricky Vallair Jr. Willie Samuel, Leroy Bailey, Edward James Carter and Vernon, Terry Don, William & Joe Lester Guidry were honorary pallbearers for dear Aunt Bea who was born in Beaumont, Texas on November 15, 1915 to the late Alex and Lucy Guidry. She accepted Christ as her

ROSEANNA POPE

November 15, 1915-July 7, 2006 Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized at West Tabernacle Baptist Church. After graduating from Hebert High School at age 16, Bea became the pianist and organist at Live Oak Baptist Church in Galveston, Texas.

She started playing the piano at the early age of three. In 1954, she married Reverend Hugh Pope, who later became Pastor of Greater True Vine Missionary Baptist Church for 29 years. In this awesome union, Aunt Bea and Uncle

Pope certainly made a “joyful noise unto the Lord” by performing in concerts in Beaumont where they both sang, he preached and she played the organ, ministering together until his death. Aunt Bea was well known in Houston for her musical expertise.

As a young servant of God, she composed her own rendition of” Amazing Grace” and was often requested to perform this version in the various churches she visited. Her priorities and life’s mission were serving God faithfully and loving her husband and family unconditionally. At Greater True Vine, she served in multiple facets of the church, which included teaching Sunday school, serving as secretary for Mission I and also serving as the organist/pianist for the Sunday school, the youth and tile church.

She also served on the Board of the Ministers and Deacons’ wives. The joy of Aunt Bea’s life was her family. Her many nieces and nephews were her children.

She was endearing, talented, vivacious and always humorous. She

in me.”

Before being sworn in as mayor, Prince will have to resign from her current council seat and council members will have to appoint someone to temporarily fill the position until the next election in November. Prince faces the daunting task of dealing with real issues affecting the lives and health of the people of Port Arthur and working to maintain the delicate balance between the issues and melting pot of ethnic, business, religious and racial coalitions that make up the community.

The city is still recovering from the wind and rain and flooding damage caused by Hurricane Rita during September 2005 storm.

The damage was extensive and widespread, including flooding in Port Arthur’s Downtown area.

Prince’s platform includes plans to work with the police department to fight crime, be accessible, help with housing and job opportunities for Port Arthur residents and continue rebuilding and cleanup of the hurricane-ravaged city.

The city also must deal with balancing its delicate economic structure with its health issues.

Air pollution remains a problem that impacts the health of its residents with as many as four large

See PRINCE page 3

was the main attraction of all family gatherings.

In addition to her husband, preceding her in death were her parents; and brothers, Roosevelt, Alex and Joseph Guidry. Cherishing the life and memory of Aunt Bea are her devoted nieces and nephews: Terry & Anita Guidry of Wichita, Kansas; William & Sally Guidry, Joe Lester & Brenda Guidry of Missouri City, Tens; Barbara & Leroy Bailey of Garland, Texas; Clarissa Miller, Vernon & Sally Guidry, Brenda & Willie Samuel, Darlene & Edward Wingate and Karen Vallair of Beaumont, Texas; Rev. E.E. Stafford, Rev. Reginald Pope of Los Angeles and Rev. Luscious Pope of Los Angeles, California; Sister-in-law, Vera Guidry of Beaumont, Texas; Godson, Joe Lester Guidry II of Dallas, Texas and Goddaughter, Darlene Wingate of Beaumont, Texas.

She is also survived by a host of grandnieces and grandnephews, other relatives, devoted friends and her beloved Greater True Vine family.

TX-1

VIEWPOINTS & OPINIONS

2 • African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007 Si 19 nce 94

EDITORIAL

“Our country must abandon all of the habits of racism, because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.”

President George Walker Bush

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nasmuch as African American News&Issues’ corporate home office is located in northwest Houston, Texas’ Acres Home community, it’s understandable that the city’s only daily is the first newspaper that we scrutinize. Admittedly, we primarily are looking for news, issues and data that reflect negatively on Black America that we can challenge. Thus, when there are no glaring issues to address, we oftentimes must result to what our descendents of slave elders referred to as “reading the handwriting on the wall,” or “reading between the lines.” We knew the handwriting adage came from the Bible, but reading between the lines was a different matter. In fact, the true meaning still baffles some of our best and brightest scholars.

We Must Understand, the key to survival essential to all species, e.g., humans, has always been an ability to communicate. History records that our enslaved ancestors found very unique ways to communicate. One being having enough insight into the slave master’s devious minds that often gave them foresight about what their immediate future would be. However, it was the words left unsaid that our ancestors had to pay the most attention to. They realized that the slave owner had left a blank space to be filled later at his discretion. In other words, reading between the lines translates to deductive reasoning and/or logical thinking, which translates to using good, old common sense in the ‘hood. Unfortunately, far too many African Ameri-

HOURS

I

Roy Douglas Malonson

n case you’re having a hard time understanding my column head (just as I had trying to decide the best way to ask an all inclusive question), suffice it to say that what I wanted to use didn’t fit the allotted space. I really wanted to ask the question: Is Black Community a misnomer? Need I explain that Black community has become more of a political cliché than a label for predominately Black neighborhoods?

As you probably know, the dictionary defines community as: social groups of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. If you want to get scholarly, etymologically, “The word ‘community’ has old roots, going back to the Indo-European base mei, meaning ‘change’ or ‘exchange.’

“Apparently this joined with another root, kom, meaning ‘with,’ to produce an Indo-European word kommein: shared by all. We think the idea of ‘change or exchange, shared by all,’ is pretty close to the sense of community in organizations today. Community building is a core strategy for sharing among all its members the burdens and the benefits of change and exchange.”

Based on that explanation, Black community translates to neighbors working together to solve shared problems. In addition, community leaders would be neighbors chosen to coordinate their neighbors’ common efforts. If you’ve got that, let me explain where I’m coming from. I decided to do a little damage control after I got several calls and e-mails from African Americans, who consider themselves the Black community’s leaders.

TX-2

Apparently they took offense to our old African warrior writing, “That’s why there is no shame in my game when I tell the Black community’s elite to kiss my gluteus maximus,” in his April 18-24, 2007 Bud’s Eyeview. Although I understood where he was coming from, I needed his unique spin to better explain to those who don’t understand objectivity and tend to take everything personal. So if you can factor yourself out of the Black community equation, you’ll readily see why the column asked, What Black Community?

Especially from my perspective of a Black community. As founder and chairman emeritus of African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (nee, Acres Home Citizens Chamber of Commerce), I would like to believe that Acres Home is a true Black community.

But, the fact that there are several organizations headed by people living near, but not really in Acres Home, (who proudly joined the City of Houston’s created “Super Neighborhood Coalition”) makes Acres Home community a misnomer. However, I think our commitment to community development puts us closer to becoming the kind of old-fashioned community that we once were. I recently read an interesting article on The Black Commentary that I’ll defer to: “Today, the Black community is composed of various ethnicities, as is the case with the Latino and Asian communities. Ethnic diversity means that terms like, ‘the Latino community’ or ‘the Asian community’ present erroneous monolithic impressions about these groups.

It also means that terms like, ‘Afri-

igrating misinformation. Accordingly, it becomes the duty of a free press to be an intellectual watcher on the wall for the disenfranchised, political naïve needy that are being exploited by the rich and greedy. While African American News&Issues can’t speak for other media outlets, we would be remiss as Texas’ widest circulated and read newspaper with a Black perspective to not tell it like it is. Let’s start with a rather simple example.

Houston’s daily newspaper heralded a White baseball player reaching a milestone with a 100 point headline on June 29.

ON: Casualty of War

Come in or call for more info 713 - 692 - 1195

What Black Community?

Chief Justice John Roberts

BUD’S EYEVIEW

WED-THUR 11 am - 7 pm FRIDAY 11 am - 6 pm SATURDAY 10 am - 3 pm

PUBLISHER’S NEWS ANALYSIS

cans are educated out of their common sense minds. Hence, they’ve lost their ancestors’ survival skills.

Consequently, the plight of Black America is exacerbated when our best and brightest not only depend on the mainstream media (for their major source of information), but lack the ability to read between the lines to discern the difference between edifying news and den-

Bud Johnson: The Old African Warrior

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oebeit I identified with Dexter Johnson in more ways than one, I found myself judging his family when they went berserk after he was sentenced to death (as expected), in District Judge Denise Collins’ court on June 27. I had forgotten how I concluded that there was no way that my precious “Chip” off the old block, would ruin his life by committing a booty butt crime. I wasn’t too different from Dexter’s clan that refused to believe he is a monster. Especially when his mother lamented, “My son is no murderer. He didn’t have it in his blood.”

In hindsight, although I was a trained social scientist/journalist who had expounded on the human condition for over 40 years when my eldest son was arrested for armed robbery, I convinced myself that George Bud Easter Johnson, Jr., couldn’t have that “in his blood.”

Ergo, I not only feel momma Johnson’s pain, but I also grasp the concept of motherly love putting one in The Twilight Zone of denial, which borders on The Outer Limits of self-delusion. On the other hand, I would be remiss not to implore parents to truly Know Thy Self, lest they sho’ nuff can’t know their kids.

There isn’t an iota of shame in my game to admit that it took me over

40 years of doing absolutely foolish things before I finally realized I, indeed, was a fool.

Not only was I a classic fool (i.e., behave foolishly, recklessly, with utter disregard for consequences), but as painful as it was to admit, most of my relatives, including my parents, were fools. In fact, when I angrily ventilated Chip’s foolish decision to not run (when the cops jumped down on him during a sweep through the ‘hood which cost him six years for violating his parole), I knew where he was coming from when he asked, “Would you’ve ran daddy?” Poor Chip didn’t have a chance. Not only was his father figure hero a fool, but his maternal granny didn’t hesitate to pistol whip an adversary, and his momma often slapped me during arguments. Yep, I might say, that recklessness and violence were in Chip’s blood. Hey, I wouldn’t dare indict Johnson’s family, nor denigrate the environment that spawned him.

But I will say that there’s a spiritual war going on in the underserved, crime and drugs infested ‘hoods and our children are caught slap, dab in the middle of it. Hence, they are at risk of becoming casualties of a war that’s being waged by evil in high places. On the other hand, many of our children are warriors.

can American’, (rather than people of African-descent) as popular as it has become, may now be a demographic misnomer.

“There are many people from Haiti, Nigeria, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, and Panama, for example, who will not call themselves African American, but will say they are Black. This kind of ethnic diversity is changing the social agendas that traditionally have been associated with these groups. An issue like bilingual education, for example, traditionally a ‘Latino’ issue in many places, is rapidly becoming a ‘Black’ issue as a result of growing

ethnic diversity within Black urban communities.’” While I agree with Dr. James Jennings, PhD’s assessment, he missed my point. What I’m saying is that the reason the term Black community has become a misnomer, is because Black people no longer have a sense of community.

To make a long story short, I’m saying that you can call a neighborhood full of strangers who don’t know each other’s names a community. In addition, I really have a problem when Black faces in high places are considered “Black community leaders” when they

We Must Understand, sports is big business in 2007 America, therefore we fully understood why that story would be important to White sports fans. Even so, a one column article (at the bottom of the page), concerning a Supreme Court Ruling that threatens Black America’s greatest civil rights victory gave us an opportunity to read between the lines, as well as decipher the handwriting on the wall (FYI: Ruling curbs use of race by schools: With competing blocs of justices claiming the mantle of Brown v.

Board of Education, a bitterly divided Supreme Court declared Thursday that public school systems cannot seek to achieve or maintain integration through measures that take explicit account of a student’s race.

Voting 5-4, the court, in an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, invalidated programs in Seattle and metropolitan Louisville, Ky. that sought to maintain school-byschool diversity by limiting transfers on the basis of race or using race as a “tiebreaker” for admission to particular schools.-Houston Chronicle.) What we read between the lines was that White newspapers embellish news that’s germane to White folks, therefore Black folks are stuck on stupid to continue relying on a racist nation’s media as their major source of information. In addition, the handwriting on the wall portends that Pres.

George W. Bush has put a conservative Supreme Court Chief Justice in place that could bring back segregation.

It’s in their blood. Denial aside, they come from warrior clans whether we want to admit it or not.

Back in the old days Black mothers understood and tried to keep their kids out of harm’s way because they knew that their warrior blood would get them killed.

Especially her man-child, who could get into trouble for looking cross-eyed at a White man. Not to mention ogling a White woman.

Finally, be well advised, most of us don’t even know ourselves, so we certainly don’t know our kids.

Furthermore, conditioning can bring out the good, the bad and the ugly languishing in our kids. It takes the U.S. Military only six weeks to determine whether, or not, it’s in your godly child’s blood to pull a trigger and kill another mother’s child. They must embrace the option of killing, or being killed.

Law of the jungle notwithstanding, the war in the ‘hoods are deadlier than the one in Iraq and our children on the front line are casualties of that war. Meanwhile, I was watching Colin Powell on CNN when I had cause to pause and ponder whether, or not, his momma ever dreamed that making war and killing people was in his blood. I wonder if anybody knows where I’m coming from?

To contact Bud Johnson, please call 281- 847-9929 (8-5- Thurs. & Fri.) or via e-mail at Africanwarrior@aol.com

don’t even live in close proximity to a Black community. And that includes our elected and selected public officials and preaching politicians.

After all community is defined as: A social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.

Read us online at www.aframnews.com

African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007 • 3 NAACP -from Page 1

and is taking strong vocal public positions, speaking boldly with a fiery commitment and calling for a resThe N.A.A.C.P.’s toration of Nelson Linder Black pride and respect for Black history and demanding changes from within the Black community and respect from all ethnic groups.

The latest bark and bite is taking shape surrounding the STOP Campaign. The STOP Campaign is an initiative of the NAACP Youth & College Division that seeks to “STOP” the demeaning images of African Americans in the media, particularly with respect to the portrayal of African American women.

“At the NAACP, we firmly believe that we all have a responsibility to insure that those images and impressions foster respect, and not hate or racism,” according to a statement to AAN&I from the civil rights group. “We must tell the artists and media executives who produce material that fosters a culture of disrespect that by promoting racist ideas and rants, they put their own financial future at risk.”

Incidents like Don Imus referring to Rutgers University Women’s Basketball players as “nappy headed hoes”, or actor Michael Richards going on a tirade using the n-word at a comedy club in LA and most recently the words of D.L. Hughley taunting and belittling his own Black people should never be tolerated. Texas also has a strong link to this campaign because of increasing racial incidents on college campuses statewide including some at key state institutions including, the University of Texas-Austin, Texas A&M University and Tarleton State University in Stephenville and in Houston, where several White students dressed in stereotypical African American images and wore black face makeup, paraded stereotypes and mocked Black culture and history. The initiative has six basic goals that are to: • STOP Defaming Our Women… by respecting all African American Women and not describing them in profane and derogatory terms

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Roy Douglas Malonson-Chairman Shirley Ann Malonson-Pres./CEO Bud Johnson-Mgr. Editor Emeritus Darwin Campbell- DFW Metroplex Mario Salas-San Antonio Marvin D. Cloud-Production Mgr. Lisa Smith - Production Assistant Billy ‘Hollywood’ Groves - Reporter Malik Kenyatta - Reporter Lori Landry - Cont. Writer Oswald J. Scott -Cont. Writer Roger Jackson-Photographer Jesse Simon-Photographer Fred Smith-Advertising/Sales James Johnson-Distribution Allen Carlton-Distribution David Johnson-Distribution • Advertising: 713-692-1178 • Houston: 713-692-1892 • DFW Metroplex : 817-283-7945 • Fax Line: 713-692-1183 • General: news@aframnews.com • Ads: sales@aframnews.com • Web: www.aframnews.com African-American News &Issues is published by African-American News &Issues, Inc., 6130 Wheatley Street Houston, Texas 77091, 713.692.1892.

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•STOP Degrading Our Community… by not supporting hurtful images that portray negative images of the African American community •STOP Denigrating Our History… by not supporting words and media that diminishes our proud history and insults our ancestors •STOP Accepting Disrespect… by not patronizing companies and artists that put forth demeaning and disrespectful images in our community •START Standing Up… by standing up against anyone who diminishes the capacity of young people •START the Diversity… by supporting balance and diversity of content in the entertainment industry to create positive role models for young people and by demanding more African Americans and other people of color in decision making positions in the entertainment industry The targets of the STOP Campaign are the record and television industries, recording artists and the African American community.

National and local state civil rights leaders are on board supporting the stamping out of these negative stereotypes including Gary Bledsoe, president of the Austin-based Texas NAACP, NAACP leader Nelson Linder and Casey Thomas, who is president of the Dallas chapter of the NAACP. Those leaders agree that in today’s culture, nothing is more influential than the images and impressions we receive daily from the mainstream media. What people watch on television, listen to on the radio, see in a movie or on the Internet has a profound impact on how they view the world. Rap industry legends Kurtis Blow and Eric B. have also joined the NAACP in eliminating the use of derogatory terms and images aimed at and used by African Americans.

They will act as pallbearers and be among entertainers, intellectuals and community leaders as the NAACP hosts a funeral for N-word during the 98th NAACP Annual Convention taking place in Detroit July 7-12. “We need to transform the minds of our people,” said rap pioneer and emcee Kurtis Blow. “By reforming our minds we will change society. By changing the way you think of yourself, you will change the way others think of you.”

The effort also hopes to help Blacks recognize the need for bal-

D.L. Ugly is not so funny, anyways This letter is written in response to the article by Darwin Campbell AAN&I vol 12 issue 21, in reference to the not so funny D.L. Ugly.

Once again we are at the forefront of trying to understand what’s going on with certain individuals within our race. Mr. Ugly thought that he was funny and used his comedic platform to showcase that belief. If anyone paid attention to his comments, no one was laughing, but himself. I believe he realized it, but was so deep into his routine, that he either had to finish the comment or suffer with the what ifs. “I wonder what would have happened if I said what I was thinking.” He’s more of a one-subject type comedian. All he’s good for are race jokes - so elementary.

I applaud those who made a combined effort to protest his comments and performance at the Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall. Fort Worth is mostly owned by the Bass family, who couldn’t care less. I’m sure they paid whatever he requested, and made that money back on individuals who couldn’t care less, mostly us. I believe there was a statement about them trying to have more diverse performances come to the hall, if you check their track record it will tell you the facts. I can count on my hands the number of Afri-

ance within the African American community in regards to what the community deems acceptable in music, film, and other media. Images reflected in songs and music videos that show half-dressed African American women being objectified or demeaned by men, or young African American men as thugs must stop. These kinds of images promote hurtful and false stereotypes of young African Americans.

“This is not just about burying the N-word,” said deejay Eric B., who along with rap partner Rakim generated a string of hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s. “This is more importantly about burying the attitude and behaviors that cause you to act like or be called that word. It’s time to take a stand.” The NAACP has been at the forefront of the battle against negative stereotypes of African Americans starting with protest of D.W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation” in 1915. The late C. Delores Tucker, an NAACP Special Contribution Fund Trustee, and others in the 1990s, picketed and sued to remove sexually explicit lyrics from rap and hip-hop tracks, citing a concern that the lyrics were misogynistic and threatened the moral foundation of the African American community. Now in 2007, the sleeping giant has awakened and once again taking on a warrior stance fighting for fairness, respect and justice.

Some are already hearing the call to change direction. In April, Roberts Broadcasting Companies implemented a new policy designed to ban the airing of all music and content that degrades women and/or is violent, racist or sexist in nature at its TV and radio stations. Master P and his son Romeo are breaking from the pack and starting Take A Stand Records - a record label that will feature only those artists who have pledged to be role models, with proceeds going toward scholarship funds for underprivileged kids.

“The N-Word is the most vicious of all racial insults and the most well known example of racist language and self-hatred by African Americans,” said NAACP Chief Operating Officer Nelson B. Rivers III. He continued, “The NAACP believes the time has come to celebrate the end of its wretched, destructive life. There is international interest in this powerful and symbolic action and we are calling on others of goodwill to march with us against this word that hurts and diminishes us everyday.”

AIDS -from Page 1 now that most of those contracting HIV/AIDS are Black, no one seems to care. More than 5,000 presentations at the conference – 445 oral presentations and 5,232 posters – only 10 were related to AfricanAmericans. Whether it’s intentional or not, it definitely sends a message that AIDS does not impact Black people. It undermines our efforts for prevention and it undermines our effort to get people into treatment. At the most important HIV scientific conference in the world and Blacks were absent.

“When I asked one of the conference organizers about the dearth of information concerning AfricanAmericans, I was reminded that the Black epidemic is a domestic one and told this is a global conference.

There is no global epidemic; all epidemics are domestic and the African American one is no less legitimate than any other. You can drive through parts of Washington, D.C., or Detroit or East St. Louis and see images that remind you of Johannesburg, Harare or Nairobi. In fact, some African-American sub-populations, the AIDS rate rival those of sub-Saharan Africa. Blacks are caught between two major perceptions. Structurally, when people think of prevention, they think about it in a geographic paradigm.

The United States means rich and, quite frankly, to the rest of the world, it means White.

“Africa means poor and it means crime. For African-Americans, we get left out completely. There are so few African-Americans who are in leadership roles around fighting HIV and AIDS that that limits our ability to impact HIV policy.”

Inasmuch as, African American News & Issues was called out by an irate reader (who alleged that our misguided propensity to buy into the “Man made AIDS to control Black population conspiracy” factored into our failure to properly promote National HIV Testing Day on June 27, 2007), we find the prefacing excerpt from NNPA columnist George E. Curry’s July 16, 2004 article (Blacks Are the Invisible Man Woman at AIDS Conference) apropos to “plea our own cause.” Meanwhile, there is a raging controversy among scientists that suggests that AIDS isn’t exactly what it seems to be.

Alas, like most politically-correct agendas, media coverage focuses on the popular view. Consequently, very little has been published

about Boyd Edward Graves’s ongoing fight with government officials in the mainstream media. For sure, his research was compelling enough to convince a US Federal Court to hear his case. To wit: “In a November 20, 2002 letter from the Office of the Secretary of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, AIDS ORIGIN researcher, Boyd E. Graves, J.D. has been given sixty days to file suit in the U.S. federal court of his choosing.

‘The people have forced the right to sue the United States over their ‘creation’, ‘production’ and ‘proliferation’ of HIV/AIDS through the secret, federal virus development program, the US Special (AIDS) Virus program (1948 - 1978).’ said Graves.

“The yearly progress reports of the secret program provide the irrefutable narrative proof of the linkage of experiment to the flowchart, ‘research logic’ of the African Holocaust. This best explains how Black people account for 13% of the population and 50% of all new AIDS cases.’ Graves, a civil rights lawyer and decorated US Navy veteran filed a similar complaint with Ohio’s federal courts in 1998. After his 33 month legal battle and appeal to the US Supreme Court in 2001, Graves’ lawsuit prompted Congress to request an investigation into the missing appropriations of the secret federal virus development program Special Virus through the US General Accounting Office.

The US government’s official report was made public following the terrorist attacks of September 11th and was highly criticized as a ‘total white-wash’ by many independent investigators, including Professor Robert Lee and Harvard’s Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz.

“Graves said he is hopeful people support his efforts by downloading the 1971 flow chart document from his website, www.boydgraves. com, and by writing to elected and appointed health officials. ‘We have found the well-spring of the genesis of AIDS,’ said Graves. ‘It is our nation, state, it is us.’” Naturally, AAN&I fulfilled our obligation to report all news and issues without fear or favor by publishing several objective articles on Graves that can be found in our 2003 archives www.aframnews.com. Even so, the fact that Graves allegedly has been unfairly harassed by authorities for the past five years should give citizens of good consciences cause to pause and ponder whether, or not, AIDS is a conspiracy.

can American performances presented since is opening.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us not to judge an individual by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I judge Mr. Hughley’s character, UGLY. Adrian Smith Ft. Worth, TX

Port Arthur was founded by Arthur Edward Stilwell in the late 19th century, and was once the center of the largest oil refinery network in the world. Since the 1940s, there has been an influx of middle class African Americans which led to what is often referred to as White flight where many Whites moved to neighboring towns such as Nederland, Port Neches, and Groves.

By the late 1950s, the city was segregated. The African Americans were forced to the west part of town. There, the city built the Carver Terrace housing unit for low income Blacks. By the 1970s, Blacks were able to purchase homes on the other side of the KCS Railroad and many Black families expanded through other parts of the city. By 2006 census, population changes and shifts made the city 60 percent Black. Today, Port Arthur has a diverse population, including Black and White populations, Cajun culture and a thriving Vietnamese community and growing

Hispanic population.

Prince, who has been in the council Place 7 seat for three years, is well aware of the community makeup and has vowed to go to work on the platform she laid out while campaigning that she feels will work for every citizen. She also plans to work to increase the city’s work force and meet the unions for the city employees, police and firefighters.

Prince has not said whether she would work on or adopt some of her former opponent’s platform that included improving police coverage across the city; bringing technical training programs to high school students, the unemployed and underemployed; working better with the housing authority and putting a beach on Pleasure Island’s north end. She said forming a “citizen’s advisory committee,” would be one of the best ways to get the public involved in finding, formulating and helping solve issues affecting the community.

PRINCE-from Page 1

industrial complexes in the southern part of the city. These factories can have incidents where a dangerous situation at the plant necessitates the release of thousands of pounds of gases and air toxins and other dangers that are considered harmful to health.

Prince has the challenge of fighting to keep environmental, health and safety issues on top of her to do list. The idea of a Black mayor running the city is a far cry from the historical roots that built the city.

According to the city’s history,

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TX-3

POLITICAL NEWS

4 • African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007

Jolanda Jones kicks off campaign for Houston City Council HOUSTON- Jolanda Jones kicked off her campaign last night for Houston City Council, AtLarge Position 5 with a crowd of more than 100 enthusiastic supporters who share her vision of Houston as the best place in America for families.

Promising to fight for safer neighborhoods, a stronger economy, and a more efficient city government, Jones also pledged to make sure the City does everything in its power to support the education of our children.

“We’re here tonight because all of us believe in a Houston where a kid like me can grow up to be a lawyer, a businesswoman, a homeowner, a candidate for City Council and – most importantly – a mom who can afford to give her son the opportunity for a bright future,” said Jones, surrounded by family and friends.

From a childhood of poverty to the Academic All American Hall of Fame, then on to a successful career as an attorney fighting to reform our criminal justice system, Jolan-

da Jones’ personal story sheds light on the kind of leadership, commitment, and teamwork she will bring to Houston’s City Council.

“I know our city government can make a real difference in the life of every Houston child – because it did for me,” said Jones.

State Representative Borris Miles told the crowd he’s known Jones for a long time and supports her because her campaign “is about the people and what’s important for the people.”

Houston City Council Member Sue Lovell introduced Jones. “Jolanda Jones’ story is the Houston story,” said Lovell. “Jolanda overcame adversity because of her intelligence, incredible athletic talent, sheer determination and strong work ethic. I want her next to me at the Council table because of her integrity and unique perspective on what makes Houston a city of opportunity.”

Houston’s young Hip Hop star J Xavier debuted a new song to educate youth about HIV, inspired by Jones’ committment to the issue.

S A L A S’ P O I N T Political conflict, control & manipulation Mario Marcel Salas

T

he definition of a politician or politics is not an easy one.

If one accepts the premise that every thing you do is political, then even going up to the restroom is political. Human beings are political animals. They make simple and complex agendas and decisions.

Something as simple as going to kill something to eat in ancient times, and bringing it home is a political act, especially if you are going to decide who gets the best cuts of meat.

It can also be complicated as in the election for governor. But let’s look at some formal definitions and then play around in the real world.

According to the Merriam-Webster, and online dictionaries, a politician is “a person experienced in the art or science of government . . . a person engaged in party politics as a profession,” or a “person primarily interested in political office for selfish or other narrow usually shortsighted reasons.” These formal definitions only hint at the broadest sense of the term, since group-decision makers are people that are actively involved in setting agendas and manipulating the outcome of desired action. This might include a manipulative husband or wife in the decision-making outcomes of family life. Manipulation, control, or orchestration, may be good or evil, but it is still manipulation for a desired outcome.

This does not mean that society can do without manipulation, or if it is even possible to do without it. This is one irony of the way people think. All of us have engaged in some level of manipulation, but at the same time many people have poor opinions of politicians and political manipulations in general.

There is the manipulation of votes and the charges that tend to give politics an aura of negativity.

Some are guilty of these offenses, but not all politicians unjustly manipulate votes, or, are even guilty just because some charges have been leveled. Historically, politicians have mainly been White, educated, wealthy men. The more education one has, the more likely one will vote. The poor rarely vote because they often believe that their situation is hopeless.

Lobbyists and political action committees (PACs) spend tons of money trying to influence public policy and the setting of the agen-

da. Their reasons may be political or economic, but the result is still political. Lobbying is not always a bad thing, but even with constraints placed on lobbyists corruption still takes place, and sometimes politically motivated charges are filed in an attempt to change the political dynamics of a society. Before minorities could vote, there were more than enough law breaking going on by the elite.

However, law enforcement officials have often used their power to unjustly target, or file charges, against African American political office holders in order to disrupt their influence. One could say that the government has used the law to hold some individuals more accountable than others.

In this case, the application of the law has been political. Going after African American politicians has been a favorite tactic of government agencies over the course of years, and many feel it was the case in the arrest of City Councilmembers, congressmen, and other elected minority officials.

Politicians can base their use of power on several theories. They can listen to the majority of the people, or the most organized portion of that majority, and use it to decide public policy, or they can take an elitist position by becoming well positioned, thinking mostly about themselves, and manipulate political outcomes and the political process. This is often done at City Hall, where because of term limits, politicians are seeking political friendships that will get them some promise of economic advancement after they are out of office.

There are also those that use political power to distort the truth. For example, there are those who are saying Barack Obama is not “Black.”

This racist charge, sometimes made

by Uncle Toms is without merit, for the Black Panthers often said that “blackness” was a state of mind and not a skin color. Obama has never claimed to be solely “Black,” but to their credit neither has Art Hall or Tiger Woods.

I have never made that claim either, since I am the child of four different ethnic groups, everyone of which I could claim. Comprende?

(Spanish for do you understand?), or should I say “Hakla?” (Seminole for do you hear?), or “Maf Hoom?”

Jolanda Jones is surrounded by well-wishers. Inset: Jones poses with her grandmother.

Although too young to vote him- er to support Jones because she is self, he asked every Houston vot- “concerned about the future.”

Learn more about Jolanda Jones at www.jolandajones.com

San Antonio civil rights leader remembered MARIO SALAS

African-American News&Issues

SAN ANTONIO-The late Rev. Christopher Griffin will always be remembered by the local civil rights community and veterans of the Civil Rights movement, as a man who stood with the community in time of need. Rev. Griffin was a member of O.U.E.D. (Organizations United for Eastside Development) and Frontline 2000, the successor organization to OUED. Griffin served as the Chaplain for OUED and Frontline 2000 for many years and saw some of the great battles that took place in San Antonio. His legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of those in the local civil rights community.

Griffin was around to see the local civil rights community raise over $10,000 for the freedom of Nelson Mandela. He participated in the struggle against Jam Productions and the hiring of African American youth to work local entertainment events. When the boycott of Jam Productions took place, which was headed up by then OUED President John Sanders, Griffin was there to provide spiritual advice and support the cause. He was there when OUED pulled together a petition to deny the radio license of KBUC Radio that was using the airways to broadcast racist comments and stir up racial hatreds against the poor who lived in the city’s housing projects. He was there when KBUC Radio was using the airways to incite a riot against six Iranian students that (Arabic for do you understand?).

An organized society must have leaders, but knowing what motivates them is important. Just because a politician says they are motivated by helping people doesn’t make it true. Their actions in public are important, but it is more important to know what their actions are when no one is looking. This is why it is important to look at campaign contributions, and check out who they work for when they leave office.

The politics of city hall has been the most interesting in that there are some who would attempt to control and manipulate for selfish reasons. This was the charge against some city council members and others, who were accused of serving or running for their own selfish ambitions.

were protesting the brutal regime of the Shah of Iran.

Griffin was a man of peace, but he was also a fighter for what was right. He was a blessing to my campaign some years back and was present when I signed up to run for City Council. His untiring love for his community was evident when in his later years he tried to make every OUED meeting. Griffin was there when others didn’t bother. I can still remember how he would often refer to those that opposed what we were doing as “jokers and clowns.” He was very clear about those who attempted to discredit the movement in San Antonio.

While looking through my old records, I remembered that Griffin helped to raise money to send Rick Greene and myself to the National Conference in Solidarity with the Liberation Struggles of the People of South Africa in October of 1981. The late Greene is the man credited with coming up with the winning tactic to get Texas to pass a MLK state holiday bill as a member of Frontline 2000. Griffin guided and helped us in our struggle by being just what he was—“a preacher man” dedicated to the cause of human and civil rights.

When Webb Boyd was killed by two law enforcement officers, Griffin stood firm when OUED had to confront the racist tactics of courtroom attorney Fred Semaan who was defending those officers. Boyd, an African American member of SNCC, was killed at a shopping center in San Antonio. When the attorney for the two officers tried

The late Rev. Christopher Griffin will always be remembered by the local civil rights community. to accuse OUED members and the San Antonio Coalition Against Racism of “threatening to bomb the jururs’ homes,” Griffin made it clear that this comment should not go unchecked. Consequently Greene accused Semaan of making up the whole story in order to get a mistrial. Semann lost his bid for a retrial!

Griffin left a remembrance behind in the book of warriors for freedom. History will record that he left a lasting impression on those that remember his spirit to keep on pushing on. Griffin will be remembered for his undying love for his community and his desire to serve those less fortunate. Those of us who fought on the front lines for freedom will not forget his unselfish love that he had for his community and his friends. The memory of Rev. Christopher Griffin lives on.

Jackson Lee introduces amendment for historic African American sites HOUSTON- Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee introduced an amendment to the Interior and Environment appropriations act of 2008, providing provisions to maintain historical landmarks that preserve African American history.

The congress expects the National Historic Preservation Fund and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to redouble their efforts to assist state and local governments and community group in identifying and working to preserve nationally significant sites, structure, and artifacts, particular those relating to communities founded by newly emancipated slaves, such as “Freedmen’s Town in Houston,

Texas.”

“The struggle for justice by community residents and leadership is only one facet of Freedmen’s Town rich and colorful past, which is still home to many significant historical landmarks, and features, which include the rare one of a kind, bricks that line Freedman’s Town road.

The ‘Brick Street Project,’ intends to preserve the original brick pavers of Freedman’s Town along Andrews St. and Wilson St. These streets contain brick pavers’ patterns which may be unique to the Freedmen’s Town area, and are consistent with brick patterns seen on architectural features located in the Historic District.

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TX-4

COMMUNITY & EVENTS

African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007 • 5

East Texas News

Billy “Hollywood” Groves African-American News&Issues

Kudos go out to all the cities and towns across America that held Juneteenth celebrations and festivities.

The Groves Educational Foundation in Crockett in the heart of East Texas was the site of one of the larger Juneteenth festivities in the state. Dr. Ianthia Fisher, her dedicated Juneteenth committee led by Beverly Taylor, Beverly Burleson, Lela Wheeler, Z’Enitta Newman, Karen Ford, Lynda Warfield, Sis. Della Newman, Danny Horton, Chris Price, Leslie Rodgers, Bethany Cobbs along with the Groves Education Foundation Board and staff did a super job.

Crockett legendary educator, John Davis was the Juneteenth Grand Marshall, Brittney Love was Miss Juneteenth and first runner up was Candace Harris, Adrian Wooten was Jr. Miss Juneteenth, and first runner up was Hontrelle Ligon and Miss Congeniality was Tiffany Webb. Avery Cobbs and a host of other little Miss and Little Mr. Juneteenth were some of this year’s Juneteenth Contestants.

Palestine, Texas recently honored Oklahoma University all American football standout Adrian Peterson, a 2003 Palestine High graduate and recent first round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings. Adrian was given a parade, the keys to the city and a whole lot of love from the people of Palestine and Anderson County both Black and White.

Nelson “Cat” Peterson is Adrian’s father and a former Super Star basketball player. He was at the appre-

ciation day for Adrian and had this to say. “This is a great occasion for my son and the people of Palestine.”

Cat was all smiles when he gave this advice for young people and adults, “Youngsters need to hear the truth from adults. They need to be given the right information so that they can get a good understanding about life.” That’s the most important advice you can give them.

Mike “The Hit Man” Powell of Jacksonville, Texas is the lead guitar player for Singer Jessie Wade’s band. “Stay away from drugs, don’t give up, keep pushing and realize that it takes time and hard work to make it” was his advice for young people. Bobby “Blue” Bland, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Taylor and John Lee Hooker were his musical role models.

High fives go out to Harold L. and Johnnie M. White of Houston who had a great time at the Groves Educational Foundation on Juneteenth. The Whites who are originally from Crockett, said they enjoy reading about people in East Texas in AAN&I every week. “Love and support one another, stay in school and don’t hate,” was their advice for young people. Harold told me that his mother, Naomi White, taught school for many years in Crockett.

Huntsville businessman, promoter, Jimmy Spivey held a Juneteenth Gospel Celebration at Greater Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville. Keith “Wonder Boy” Johnson and the Spiritual Voices headlined the successful concert which also featured Nu Focus and the Inspirations of Shiro. Dr. Helen and George King of Huntsville, along with Lillian Marshall of Crockett,

told me that all of the good gospel music and food was provide free by Spivey. Spivey also recently honored the legendary gospel giants, The Zion Jubilees with their 49th Anniversary Celebration concert in Bryan. The new Gospel Keynotes of Tyler, Texas, The Guiding Clouds of Huntsville, Gloria Cook and Just Twins of Bryan, Texas, The Racy Brothers of Dumas, Arkansas and Fantastic Violinaires were also on the gospel concert.

Derrick “ Little Dirty” Sherman of Crockett, is a young “veteran” rapper who says he has been rapping for 11 years. Derrick is a former great football player for Crockett High with speed and power. “Stay positive, believe half of what you see and none of the misinformation that you hear and you will achieve,” was his advice for youngsters. Dirty has a new CD with fellow East Texas rapper George “DBG” Davis titled “Legendary Greatness.”

This week’s East Texas thanks go out to Brandon “Boo” Johnson, Kre’Azmine “Kre Kre” Johnson, Rev. Frank Kennard, Rev. Shannon Harris, Rev. Michael C. Davis, Progressive Women of Huntsville, Reggie Johnson, Dr. Ruth Watson, Rosyln McKnight, Sue Murray, Carolyn Lane, Christi Hollister, Raymond Scott, Broderick Craig and Otis Duren.

Please send your East Texas community events, news, and announcements to news@aframnews.com.

Hardcopy items must be typed and double-spaced. Photos sent by email should be 300dpi or originals may be mailed to: 6130 Wheatley, Houston, TX 77091.

Miss Fort Bend crowned as Miss Texas USA

FORT BEND - A 25-year-old student and model from Fort Bend County was named Miss Texas USA at Sunday night’s pageant. Crystle Stewart, a student of consumer science and merchandising at University of Houston, was chosen from among 121 contestants.

She will represent Texas at next year’s Miss USA pageant. During an interview portion of the contest, Stewart said the field of candidates countered any argument that beauty queens lack substance. “Look at the substance we have here, (We have) beauty, Crystle Stewart intellect and class.”, she said to the crowd and pageant officials. Stewart’s winnings include a new Ford Mustang, jewelry, clothes and the services of a professional photographer as she prepares for the national pageant. Miss Houston, Brooke Daniels, was named first runner-up. Rounding out the top five were Miss Webb County, Ana Rodriguez; Miss Alamo City, Valerie Pro; and Miss River Oaks, Lauren Sapaugh. Congratulations to Miss Crystle Stewart!

Immigration reform not going over well with many grassroots Blacks MALIK KENYATTA

African-American News&Issues

HOUSTON- An estimated 10 percent of Mexico’s 110 million citizens now live in the United States.

The Mexican President Felipe Calderon says that the North American Free Trade Agreement, allows a freer flow of workers between the U.S. and Mexico. Calderon does not refer to the US Constitution, but rather he refers to a Treaty called the North America Free Trade Agreement (N.A.F.T.A.) as his prima facie. Like Vicente Fox, the former president, and many other heads of state, Calderon is nothing more than a C.E.O. working in behalf of U.S. Multinational Corporation.

According to a recent news report “President Felipe Calderon

Texas pageant names first international winner MARVIN D. CLOUD

African-American News&Issues

LAKE WHITNEY- When Staci Shands told her family members that she was entering a pageant, she didn’t quite get the response she was expecting. “No one thought it was a good idea, at first. Every single person that I mentioned it to, thought it was weird, or that I was too old. Once I started to get into it, and they saw all of the wonderful things I was doing, they became proud and happy and supportive.”

Virtue International Pageants, based in Lake Whitney, Texas, announced earlier this year that Shands, of Brooklyn, New York, was crowned Ms. Liberty America International 2007. “I grew up in Queens, but I moved to Brooklyn about six years ago, and I am loving every minute of it,” said the trained dancer and book publicist who in 2006, was named Miss New York for the same pageant system. “You have to be a state delegate first to compete in the National competition.”

The Miss New York pageant was the first ever for Shands, who entered it when she was 40-yearsold. The classically trained dancer who was the recipient of the Dorothy P. Stanley Modern Dance Scholarship, started dancing when she was seven, pageants were the furthest thing from her mind. “I studied tap, jazz, ballet and modern dance. I love dancing and moving with the music. Sometimes, I don’t even have to move, the music moves me. I wasn’t really thinking about pageants. I would from time to time after watching them on television would say, ‘Wow, I would love to do that,’ but nothing ever came of it. I’m a dancer. I have danced all of my life, but I never

seriously thought about entering a pageant.”

“And then one day, when I was 39, I was watching the Mrs. America Pageant on television. I said, ‘Okay this is it.’” Shands then did everything she could to enter a pageant. “There are pageants for babies, toddlers, teens, misses, etc.

There are a variety of pageants. I just had to find one that suited me.

I had so many to choose from.”

She decided upon The Miss Liberty International Pageant which bills itself as “the premiere competition ever to honor women between the ages of 40 to 79.”

Shands is the first national queen to win the crown and title of this new pageant designed to celebrate dynamic and determined women worldwide. On winning her first ever pageant, Shands states, “I was very blessed.”

Some of the doubters thought that it wouldn’t benefit her because of her age, but that has proven to be wrong. “I have met many wonderful people and as a title holder, I have a bigger voice to talk about things that I am passionate about.” The two things that are very important to her are juvenile diabetes and homelessness in America.

The type one diabetic states, “I can use my voice to spread education and awareness of juvenile diabetes. I also want to use my title to increase awareness of the homeless situation.” Shands is a volunteer with DIVAbetic, a non-profit organization which is for the education and empowerment of women with diabetes.

Shands was diagnosed 14 years ago. “It’s something that I have to think about everyday and so that has changed me. I have to think about what to eat and when to eat.

I have to monitor myself so that

Staci Shands there are not any damaging effects later in life.”

Her message to other Type 1 diabetes is to monitor yourself, exercise and eat right, as much as you can. Try to live a healthy life, but don’t let diabetes take control of your life, you control diabetes.

You can still do whatever you want, however you want, when you want to do it even though you are a diabetic.

As advocate for the homeless, “I am on the junior board of Bowery Residents’ Committee, Inc., which is another non-profit in New York City. It helps New York’s homeless, reclaim their lives. It takes in homeless people and make their dreams come true as much as it can. It gets them situated with housing, rehab, education, whatever they need in order to take control of their life.

I’m very proud of that.”

Shands is not new to volunteerism, having spent time volunteering to improve society’s struggles - a pursuit she has sought to make better for several years. In her early years, she served as a member of the Peace Corps, where she spent two years (1990 to 1992) in the Congo (Zaire), as an agricultural volunteer in the Congo. The organization which began in 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship.

As a book publicist, her career goals are to author and publish books for children and young adults. She is also the owner of Icats Publicity, LLC that focuses on publicizing authors, artists, corporations and non-profit organizations. She is also the published author of works for young adults and is a collector of rare and new first-edition hardcover books.

Shands attends Emmanuel Baptist Church and is a member of the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She attended Morgan State university in Baltimore, Maryland where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications.

Shands said she will not only use her national title to challenge activism, but would also promote life with liberty and freedom for all.

As part of her duties, she will also make personal appearances until next year when she crowns the new Ms. Liberty America International. She is available for speaking engagements, interviews and bookings. For more information, call (254)-694-4006.

of Mexico blasted the U.S. Senate rejection of the Immigration Bill on Thursday. Calderon called the Senator’s action ‘a grave error.’

That avoided a sensible Rational and legal solution.”

The question, according to many grass root Black Houstonians is on what moral or legal ground does the President of Mexico rest his case? The Government of Mexico is one of the most corrupt in modern times. There are millions of Mexican people fleeing inhumane and harsh treatment every day, by the corrupt leaders.

Mexico has more billionaires than the country of Saudi Arabia.

Why should the grassroots people of America continue to accept a relationship that is so one-sided, when it comes to their own interests? Some people have charged the Mexican government with being a member of George W. Bush’s “axis of evil.” According to Professor Saleem Rasheed of the Practical Science In statute, “The US government should demand that the Mexican government clean up its inhuman and criminal acts.”

It becomes very clear who benefits from the Immigration Reform Act when we factor in the comments of Mr. Massey Villarreal, president and chief executive officer of Houston based Precision Task Group (PTG). PTG is a Hispanic-owned and managed computer-consulting firm providing data processing solutions to public and private sector firms. In October 2002, Hispanic Business Magazine named him as one of the one hundred most influential Hispanics in the United States. Villarreal said, “The silent majority, the business community of this country, is not being heard.”

When did the business community become the silent majority? The over whelming numbers of rank and file Americans are not a part of the business community.

Villarrea and his business organization are pro immigration reform, because of the benefits of cheap labor. The Multinational corporations don’t mind the breaking of American laws when it is in the interest of their profit motive. Up to 80 percent of the American people are against the Immigration Reform bill. The Precision Task Group said they want politicians to hear the business community over the voices of reform opponents. What he is advocating appears to be a fascist government which means ca government that is controlled by huge corporations.

The “mayor” of Sunnyside, Sandra Massay Hines asks, “What’s in it for us Blacks? As long as I am a tax paying citizen, I have a dog in that fight. Why should we be jumping head over heels about Immigration Reform, when the US government just voted down 50 years of progressive school desegregation?”

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Dallas, TX 75216 (214) 421-5200 Denton Black Chamber of Commerce 602 S. Elm St. Denton, TX 76201 (940) 484-4404 El Paso Black Chamber of Commerce 109 N. Oregon St., Suite 212 El Paso, TX 79901 (915) 534-0570 Ennis Negro Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1036 Ennis, TX 75120 (972) 878-0068 Ft. Worth Chamber of Commerce 1150 South Freeway, RM 211 Fort Worth, TX 76140 (817) 871-6538 Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce 2808 Wheeler St. Houston, TX 77004 (713) 522-9745 Alamo City Chamber of Commerce 600 Hemisfair Plaza Way, Bldg 406-10 San Antonio, Texas 78205 (210) 226-9055

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CHEMICALS Citywide Chemical Janitorial & Commercial Pest Control Company 3521 Jensen St. Houston, TX 77026

713/227-4808 or 4809 Janitorial Supplies Sales-Service-Supplies Wholesale-Retail

We repair buffers, vacuum, shampooers and all other machines.

Charles Dawson

HELP WANTED

WANTED- Class A and B CDL Drivers - Local Haul You must be 21 years old, have six months experience, a clean driving record and be able to pass a DOT drug test.

Thisphysical is theandprice and size of the Ad t APPLY at 430A Airtex, Houston, TX 77073 AAN&I’s Greater Houston Edition May Williams Brothers Construction Co. Inc. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS 281-209-1811

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Lacy’s Cafeteria and

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Citywide Chemical, founded in 1977, is the largest minority-owned chemical company in the southwest. They pride themselves on being customer-oriented offering same day, free delivering, free installation of dispensers and free training on all equipment, rented or bought.

HELP WANTED 2x2” ad for 52 weeks=$2,080 Cooks and +one time set-up Line fee=25.00 Servers Total cost to run ad for 52 weeks= 713-631-3962 $2,105

CIVIL RIGHTS ORG. Coalition For The Advancement Of Civil Rights

Lee Alcorn, Founder and President 5801 Marvin D. Love Fwy. #202 Dallas, TX 75376-3743

Attorneys At Law 440 Louisiana Street 1880 Lyric Centre' Houston, Texas 77022

Date

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texasprobateandwills.com Not certified by theTexas Board of Legal specialization

FAMILY LAW *Child Support *Adoptions *Modifications *Custody *Name Change *All Areas

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713-223-5811 Se habla Espanol Not certified by Texas Board of Legal specialization

IMMIGRATION DEPORTATION

at the African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston’s

Business Networking Luncheon Thursday, August 2, 2007 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Please sign for approval and fax back to 713-692-1 INSURANCE Ad must be approved andL.payment received byGEORGE 12 NOON Tue W. BORRIS MILES leealcorn@dfwcivilrights.com LUNNON, JR. 1” Ad For 4 Weeks= or call 214-232-5138 before Wednesday publication or theAgent ad will not ru Insurance Agency Houston Chapter

SignatureChairman

Kofi Taharka Houston Chapter

America can depend on Farmers

Meetings Monday @ 7:00pm

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Income Tax Preparation Do not talk to the IRS without Representation!!!

Let me handle your IRS Issue and Problems. Generally you will never have to speak with or meet with the IRS if I am your representative.

We accept: American Express, Executive Director of MasterCard, Discover, Visa, ATM/ In Schools, MarketplaceCommunities Heading: Debit, Cash, Checks and Lay-A-Way Inc.-Houston 6130 Wheatley Street AttorneyMembers: $20 Non-Members $25 Houston, Texas 77091 RSVP by July 31, 2007 Come in or Call for more information You can register & pay online.

Rodrick Dow, PC

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713-862-4332 Ask for Rodrick

FUNERAL HOMES

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Memorial Mortuary

5000 Almeda Rd. Houston Texas 77004 713-942-7673

HEARING AIDS

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We Appreciate Our Customers

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Sandi Coe, M.A., CCC-A CLINICAL AUDIOLOGIST

...see more on PAGE 2

Black TAAACC Members

1” Ad For 4 Weeks= $100.00 Increase your +One Timewith Set-up business Fee= an ad in our $25.00 Texas Total Net Amount: Marketplace $125.00 Contact:

713-692-1892

or

adv@aframnews.com

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Email: info@aaccgh.org Website: www.aaccgh.org

Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 3572 Abilene, TX 79604 (325) 676-0138

Borris L. Miles

REGISTERED DISPENSER OF HEARING AIDS

(713) 692-EARS(3277) FAX (713) 697-9410

PARKWAY TOWERS 150 W. PARKER ROAD, SUITE 506 HOUSTON, TX. 77076

www.georgelunnon.com A sign of a good insurance agent that will care about you is one that cares about the community. George W. Lunnon, Jr. is that kind of agent. Among his activities, he is active in Greenspoint Mng. District, Greenspoint Chamber, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and is a charter member & president of 100 Black Men.

Supporting The Community

Ad must be paid

MABRIE Keynote Speaker:

$100.00 +One Time Set-up Auto - Life Date Fee= Home - Health $25.00 Business Ph:281-447-3448 Total Net Amount: Fax:281-447-8822 $125.00

National Black United Front

"Committed to the Community"

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Where you spend your money is IMPORTANT!

Please include resume and written sample to news@aframnews.com

www.Dfwcivilrights.com contact information:

713-692-1195

Since 1974

TX-6

Make some history of your own with the LUNCH BUNCH

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potential customers would be reading it instead of this

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

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THIS AD COULD BE YOURS and ...

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Freelance Writers

Please sign for approval and fax back to 713-692-1183 FINANCIAL Thomas Blackshear’s IRS PROBLEMS & by 12 NOON Friday or the ad will not run.

Barnes & Turner

Hunters Agency Please the ad, Insurance sign and fax to 713 Auto • Homeapprove • Life Scott Hunter, Agent Disability • Annuity in full and this ad sheet MUST be signed by 1 Commercial Auto to ad being to ran.

Health Insurance

Bus. 713-355-8331 Fax: 713-355-8318 Pgr. 713-406-1088

Home Life Flood

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scott@huntersinsuranceagency.com

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PEST CONTROL

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www.raycopest.com Rayco will get rid of or prevent, pest problems, inside and out at your residence or business. Rayco can help with mice, ants, wasps, roaches, spiders, bees, silverfish, termites, fleas, earwigs and much more.

Rayco uses microencapsulated products for a more effective treatment.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Creative Colours By RJ

Outdoor Portraits-Commercial Weddings-Fashion-Advertising Banquets-Special Events

713/734-1442 4925 Richfield Lane Houston, TX 77048

HOUSTON MINORITY Rate and size of Ad to run in AAN&I’s Houston/Galveston edition.

BUSINESS COUNCIL Roger Jackson, Photographer Three Riverway, Suite 555 African-American EDITION DATE: July 11-17, 2007 Our advertisers Houston, Texas 77056 Chamber of Commerce

of Arlington, Inc. P.O. Box 202716 (817) 946-5196

Check Out Our New Business Profile Feature In Our Texas Marketplace

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MORTGAGES

Support our advertisers.

New and Used Home Mortgages New Construction / Refinance 281-546-8837 www.ufstream.com

THEY SUPPORT YOUR BLACK NEWSPAPER!

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Please read us online at www.aframnews.com

and BUSINESS NEWSPAPERS/BLACK African Herald Dr. Richard Nwachukwu 8204 Elmbrook Ste. 217 Dallas, TX 75247 African News Digest Beede Amuka 10103 Fondren Ste. 442 Houston, TX 77096 Cherokee County Informer DBA Texas Informer Walter & Maxine Session P.O. Box 332 Rusk, TX 75785 Corsicana Examiner Rev. Dairy Johnson P.O. Box 1613 Corsicana, TX 75110 Dallas Examiner James & Mollie Belt 1515 Corinth St. Dallas, TX 75215 Dallas Post Tribune Dr. Theodore Lee 2727 Beckley Ave. Dallas, TX 75225 Dallas Weekly Jim Washington 633 Pryor St. Sw, Atlanta Georgia East Texas Review Joycelyne Fadojutimi 517 South Mobberly Longview, TX 75602 Elite News Jordan Blair P.O. Box 397925 Dallas, TX 75339 Garland News Journal Willie Hobdy P.O. Box 24 Greenville, TX 75043 Kuumba Heritage Willie Hobdy P.O. Box 24 Greenville, TX 75043 Our Texas Magazine General E. Berry P.O. Box 4463 Dallas, TX 75208 The Smith County Herald DBA The Herald Stephanie Johnson P.O. Box 8252 Tyler, TX 75701 Houston Style Magazine Francis Page Jr. 2646 South Loop West #375 Houston, TX 77054 Metroplex South Star Willie Hobdy P.O. Box 24 Greenville, TX 75043

RADIO MIN. ROBERT MUHAMMAD

African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007 • 7

Resurrecting The Black Family Convention Brings Participants From Across The Country HOUSTON- The National Black United Front (NBUF) 28th annual National Convention to be held at the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center 3903, Houston Texas July 12 –15, 2007 will bring participants from across the country. The kick-off event is a community forum on the Value of Black Male and Female Relationships to held Thursday, July 12 at 7:00pm is free and open to the public. Some of the local and national representatives who will address different aspects of the convention theme: Resurrecting The Black Family; Revolutionary Tools To Build The African Family, Community and Nation include: Dr. Conrad Worrill (NBUF National Chairman, Chicago, Illinois) has organized around issues facing the Black family such as the “crack cocaine epidemic” and the demand for full and complete reparations.

Dr. Leonard Jeffries (Scholar, Newark, New Jersey) worked on the television epic ROOTS and has traveled and spoken throughout the world on African-centered education.

Other speakers are: Helene Reese (N’COBRA, Dallas, Texas) is the National Secretary of the National Coalition of Blacks For Reparations In America and M. Denise Lovett (Psychologist, Houston, Texas) is the President of the Houston Black Psychologist Association. Malikah Hahmeen (FTP Movement, Jacksonville, Florida) is an activist/artist with a recently released CD entitled “2 Loud 4 The Radio”.Sunni Patterson (Spoken Word Artist, New Orleans, Louisiana) will perform her nationally recognized spiritual and politically motivated poems. Emcee ZIN (S.O.S. Radio, Houston, Texas) is a hip-hop artist, producer and community servant whose popular radio show on Pacifica 90.1fm spotlights positive and revolutionary hiphop. Assata Richards (Sankofa Organization, Pittsburgh, PA) is a native of Houston, Texas experienced in student organizing.

Some of the topics that will be addressed during the convention are: • Black Male and Female Relationships • The “Criminal Justice System” • Drugs In Our Communities • Political Prisoners • African-centered Education • Fathers For Life Initiative • Operation We Are Family • Reparations These are just a few of the local and national participants and topics to be addressed at the national gathering. For a full schedule and costs call NBUF-Houston at (713) 942-0365 or visit the website www.nbufhouston.org.

Fort Worth Business Assistance Center’s 8 week ACORN Project Empress Phile Chionesu (Organizer, Philadelphia, Pa) is the founder and President General of the Million Woman March (MWM) foundation. The historic event brought together hundreds of thousands of women of African descent in 1997.

Sheik Dhoruba Al Mujahid Bin Wahad (Former Black Panther, New York City) was a political prisoner for 19 years a victim of the FBI’s infamous COINTELPRO program designed to destroy the Black Liberation Movement of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.

Attorney Chokwe Lumumba (Lawyer, Jackson, Mississippi) is the Chairman of the New Afrikan People’s Organization and is known as the “People’s Lawyer.

Fort Worth- The energy was high and the dreams of becoming business owners are turning into reality for the graduates of the highly successful ACORN Project. The ACORN Project is an eight week program of the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center (BAC) and was developed to re-educate, motivate and empower those who want to become independent small business owners.

The class covers such important topics as researching their small business idea, creating a business plan, determining cash flow needs, seeking financing and marketing.

This spring’s graduation ceremony included the combined classes of both English and Spanish-speaking students. The program is sponsored in part by State Farm Insurance and the JP Morgan Chase Foundation. The graduation ceremony also served as the perfect opportunity to introduce Binh Tran, the new instructor for ACORN’s Vietnamese class. Ms. Tran is a graduate of the BAC’s Project New and Money Smart programs and manages her own entrepreneur business as a clothes designer.

U of H College of Business wins first place in competition

Quanell X (New Black Panther Nation, Houston. Texas) is a well-known Houston based activist fighting for social justice in many areas.

Connect the Dots 10:30 am-12:00 noon Wed

KPFT 90.1 FM

SCHOOL/CLASSES

FREE

High School Diploma Morning, Evening & Weekend Classes in English & Spanish

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SERVICE STATION/AUTO REPAIR 6960 TC Jester @ Little York

From the left: Deaunsey Alexander, Brittany Webb, Jerrica Lewis, Ayodeji Ebunlomo, Chrystal Osborne, and Brittany Washington.

HOUSTON -The C. T. Bauer College of Business’ National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Chapter took first place at the NABA National Case Study Competition sponsored by KPMG. The contest took place Friday, June 23, as Tune-Ups part of NABA’s Annual Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Brakes Full Service 99 The winning Bauer NABA Chapter team received a cash award of $2,500 and $ Front End Work Oil Change an invitation to the 2008 NABA National KPMG Case Study Competition in Tires - Batteries Atlanta, Georgia. The team included five undergraduate students participating Alignments Up to 5 qts. + EPA + tax in Bauer’s Professional Program in Accounting (PPA) toward earning a BachA/C Work elors in Business Administration degree. Representing Bauer were: Chrystal Check Engine Osborne, NABA President, Jerrica Lewis, Ayodeji Ebunlomo, Brittany WashLights State Inspections ington, and Brittney Webb. Professor George Gamble, Director of Bauer’s InstiCV Joints - Axles tute for Diversity and Cross-Cultural Management, serves as the NABA ChapOriginal Owner is Back! Engine Diagnostics No Credit Check Financing for Repairs ter Faculty Advisor.

Heading: The Bauer NABA Chapter defeated student teams from six other universities: Howard, North Carolina A&T, Chicago State, DePaul, Temple, and Florida SOUL MUSIC Real Estate A&M, the 2006 competition winner.

“NABA has given me the opportunity to lead an organization that truly ‘lifts as we climb,’ said Bauer NABA Chapter President Chrystal Osborne. “The National Case Study first place award proves that Bauer College is a place of excellence and distinction, and that our first-class faculty and motivated students are a winSounds like ning combination.”

Dr. Gamble praised the students’ accomplishment. “Finishing first at the NABA motown baby!

Case Study Competition says to the world of traditional powerhouse historically black schools that Bauer has arrived. NABA’s accomplishment in Philadelphia validates that Bauer should be at the top of the list for all ethnic minority stuFor bookings call (832)256-9992 dents wanting to succeed in today’s complex global economy.”

The Bauer College ranks first in Texas and seventh nationwide for awarding Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees to ethnic minority students. www.myspace.com/cecilshaw For African American students specifically, Bauer ranks third in Texas in awarding BBA degrees.

RAPID LUBE Acres Home Auto Repair

19

e and size of Ad to run in AAN&I’s DFW Metroplex edition. ask for Juan, Xavier or Litisha 713-956-2500 EDITION DATE: June 27-July 18, 2007 e and size of Ad to run in AAN&I’s Houston/Galveston edition.

REAL ESTATE EDITION DATE: VOLUME 12 Issue 13, 2007 VASTINE HIGHTOWER 281-813-2347 or 713-600-2800 x117

Realtor®

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TX-7

TEXAS HBCUs/YOUTH

8 • African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007

Xi Kappa Lambda Chapter holds Nineteenth Annual Scholarship Gala Fundraiser

Missouri City – The Xi Kappa Lambda Chapter (Fort Bend) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is proud to announce its Nineteenth Annual Scholarship Gala Fundraiser, Renaissance on the Bayou. The fundraiser will take place on Saturday, July 28, 2007 from 8:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m., at the Stafford Centre located at 10505 Cash Road, Stafford, Texas. Proceeds from this event will be used to provide college scholarships to graduating seniors from local high schools and support the chapter’s Historically Black Colleges & Universities Tour. Each scholarship recipient will be honored and presented with their scholarship award letter during the pre-gala reception.

“It’s exciting when the community rallies behind its youth. I’m inspired that this year we are goaled to provide more financial resources to local families to help offset the raising costs of higher education.” stated Stephen K. Brown II, Honorary Chair of this year’s gala. Xi Kappa Lambda will be working in collaboration with key corporate partners and local organizations to reach this goal.

Chartered in April 1983, Xi Kappa Lambda services the Fort Bend County/Missouri City community. This nationally recognized chapter supports youth scholastic achievement by awarding annual scholarships to local high school students and promoting their Historically Black Colleges and Universities Tour to expose, encourage, and enlighten area youth to attend college.

TSU receives grant for science and engineering education programs

Houston- Texas Southern University has been awarded a $199,552 grant to help strengthen science and engineering education and to better prepare students for careers in science and technology, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced today. This year, the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) will fund 29 new grants totaling $3.5 million. “In today’s global economy, strong science and technical skills are increasingly in demand. These grants will help prepare more students to excel and succeed in these fields,” Spellings said. Texas Southern University will use its grant to train eight science faculty members over a twelve-month period in web-based technology and delivery systems. Texas Southern plans to incorporate webbased instructional materials into the general academic program in science and technology to enhance how courses are delivered to students. Grants are awarded under the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program to help enhance science and engineering education at predominately minority institutions and to increase the flow of underrepresented ethnic minorities, especially minority women, into scientific and technological careers.

MESIP also supports the administration’s efforts to increase America’s technological and economic competitiveness by expanding the nation’s pool of qualified mathematicians, scientists and engineers for the global workforce.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund 20th anniversary Awards Dinner

Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of the RLJ Companies and Ron Meyer, president and COO, Universal Studios cordially invite you to celebrate 20 years of helping make dreams come true at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund 20th Anniversary Awards Dinner, honoring: Miller Brewing Company with the Corporate Leadership award. Also honored will be, E. Marianna Gabel, with the Community Leadership award, and Dr. N. Joyce Payne, with the Educational Leadership award. The awards will be held on Monday, November 5, 2007, at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers Metropolitan Ballroom 811 Seventh Avenue at 53rd St. in New York City. For additional information contact: Thurgood Marshall College Fund Benefit Office, 95 Madison Avenue, Suite 601, New York, NY 10016, or call (212) 843-1703.

H-E-B executive becomes new Girl Scout Board Member

HOUSTON-Although Winell Herron is a non-traditional adult Girl Scout, meaning one who does not have a daughter in the Girl Scout program, she is committed to the mission of the organization and service to the community.

As a new member of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Board of Directors, Herron brings to the table many years of community service, expertise as a practicing public relations professional and her own personal journey as a Girl Scout. In thinking back on her experiences as a girl, Herron reminisces about all that she learned such as how to fully develop her personal strengths and the value of teamwork to accomplish goals.

“My mom was a troop leader. She knew that Girl Scouts was a leadership organization that would teach me valuable life lessons,” said Herron. Her fondest memory of Girl Scouting was at Camp Tex Lake

in the Austin area, which is where she grew up. The camp was a very primitive camp that did not have tents. The girls slept on a concrete floor in their sleeping bags. “We enjoyed our camp experience, particularly building a camp fire and making S’mores while singing camp songs,” said Herron. “I remember that we were all afraid of lizards, so when anybody moved, we would all scream and then laugh,” she said.

Today, Herron is an executive with H-E-B, a privately held retail company headquartered in San Antonio. They have more than 300 stores throughout Texas and Mexico, making it one of the largest independently owned food retailers. Herron began her career with H-E-B in 1988 in store operations.

She was responsible for successfully managing several retail locations.

After numerous promotions over the years, she is now Group Vice President of Public Affairs and

Diversity where she is responsible for leading the organization’s strategic initiatives in these areas. “It is my job to maintain a pulse on the communities H-E-B serves. It is a priority that we provide nonprofits which serve the community the re-sources they need,” said Herron. H-E-B does a lot of work in the community for disaster relief.

They often arrive on the scene with their mobile kitchen well before the Red Cross. The mobile kitchen is fully staffed and stocked to serve thousands of people per hour. Diversity is another critical area that Herron manages. “We have three main pillars. Those areas are workforce, workplace and marketplace which includes supplier diversity,” said Herron. “Our goal is a workforce that represents the communities we serve.” H-E-B provides consistent support to Girl Scouting.

In addition to hosting Girl Scout troops’ cookie booths at their stores, they are also a sponsor of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council’s annual gala, known as Urban Campout. Herron is equally busy in her personal life as a servant of the community. She volunteers with several organizations, including Houston Area Urban League Board of Directors, Ensemble Theatre Board of Directors and Texans Care for Children Board of Directors, just to name a few.

“I am happy to join the Girl Scout’s Board. When Betsy Kamin approached me, I was touched by her passion and zeal for the organization,” said Herron. “It was an easy decision since I believe in the mission and have personally benefited from its powerful and lasting impact,” she said. Herron is looking forward to having her dreams and aspirations for the organization realized. “I would love for the mem-

bership to continue to grow and thrive,” she said.

“I would also like to see an increase in the organization’s mi- nority memberWinell Herron ship, especially African American and Latina.”

Just as Girl Scouting has made a lasting impression on her life, Herron is looking forward to contributing to our future leaders and community citizens. To this end, she offers this advice to our Council’s girls. “Dream big! Have confidence in your ability to achieve your goals and look for opportunities to hone your leadership skills.

Read us online at www.aframnews.com. To get FREE coverage of your events, activities, news and announcements, please send items to news@aframnews.com.

TX-8

ENTERTAINMENT/AUTOMOBILES Platinum adults cruising the ship channel JESSE SIMON

African-American News&Issues

Houston, Texas

HOUSTON-The Platinum Adults Senior Social Club, N.E. Houston, Texas, accepted the invitation, for “An unforgettable spectacular waterborne tour,” on one of the busiest ports in the world, aboard The Port of Houston Authorities (PHA) Tour Boat, The M/V Sam Houston.”

Named for the legendary military commander who led the fight for Texas independence from Mexico and later statehood, the M/V Sam Houston offers leisurely 90Minutes roundtrip cruises along The Houston Ship Channel. The

M/V Sam Houston has been operating as the Port Authority’s public tour vessel since its inaugural voyage on July. 30, 1958. By 1979, a total of 1 million passengers had taken the tour.

Embarking from the Port’s Sam Houston Pavilion, sightseers can view “mind blowing” International Cargo Vessels and learn first hand about daily operations at various Port Terminals. The tour is free; however reservations are required in advance. Enhanced port security measures require photo identification for passengers ages 18 and older. Interested participants my register online anytime, or call (713)-670-2416, Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 5

African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007 • 9

p.m.

“The Port Delivers via Ship, Truck, Rail and Car. Delivering the goods to market can’t be done without the navigational waterways. Last year, 3,511 vessels and 4, 278 barges called at PHA Terminals. As the dominant container port in the U.S. Gulf with the two most modern container cargo terminals in the region. PHA will be delivering even more with the completion of the planned Panama Canal expansion,” said H.Thomas Kornegay, executive director.

After the exciting tour, the “frisky” seniors, who refuse to let grass grow under their feet, pigged out at The Monument Inn on Battleground Road.

5th Annual Dallas Black Film Festival

The Platinum Adults Senior Social Club of N.E. Houston recently took a tour aboard The Port of Houston Authorities Tour Boat.

DALLAS- The 5th Annual Dallas Black Film Festival, presented by People with a Message Productions Films Works, will be held on Friday, July 27, 2007 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday, July 28, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, July 29: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The festival will feature the best

Black independent film or video.

This year’s location will be the Magnolia Lounge at the Fair Park (next to the African American Museum).

This year’s movie honoree will be Tupac Shakur. For ticket or vending information, please call (972)-2857540 or visit the Website at www. dallasblackfilmfestival.com.

Deals & Wheels Pay me now or pay me later

GWENEVERE M. CLOUD Automotive Correspondent

HOUSTONIf you are leasing a vehicle or planning to change into another newer one before your standard warranty is up, (Dodge has a standard 3 year/36,000 mile warranty) buying an extended warranty is a moot point. However, vehicle repairs can become quite costly, far exceeding the cost of an extended warranty. Since most people don’t think about the cost of repairs until they are needed, here is a list of common repairs and their average associated costs.

Engine Replacement: $2,250 Main Bearings: $780 Oil Pump: $450 Head Gaskets: $1100 Transmission replace: $1,900 Steering Rack: $950 Fuel Injection repair: $450 On-board computer: $875 Alternator: $325 Starter: $305 Heater Blower Switch: $150 A/C - Heater: $637 Ball Joints: (per side) $310 Master Brake Cylinder: $220 Anti-lock Brake Assembly: $1200 A/C Compressor: $750 When I think about everything that could eventually go wrong with a vehicle, I’m reminded of the old car repair slogan, “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.”

Gwenevere M. Cloud is Business Development Manager for Gulfgate Dodge, 7250 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX. For more information, call (281)4776767 ext. 6130 or email her at gcloud@ gulfgatedodge.com.

Read us online at www.aframnews.com. To get FREE coverage of your lifestyle events and news and announcements, please send items.

TX-9

CHURCH/RELIGION NEWS

10 • African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007

Racism and the persecution of a pastor

CHURCHES BROOKHAVEN CHURCH OF CHRIST Sunday

Sunday School 9:45 a.m.

Morning Worship 11 a.m.

Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Class (all ages) 7:00 p.m.

P. E. Stewart, Minister

“TheTruthWill SetYou Free” John 8: 31-32 8630 Southview St, Hou., TX 77051

(713)733-5664

DUNCAN MEMORIAL

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST Pastor Elder Supt Ohmas Edwards (713) 674-5466

2222 Lockwood Dr.

“Preaching The Tx Gospel Houston, 77020Is More Important Than Philosophizing.

SUNDAY Soul Winning Is More Important Than Building Membership Morning Prayer: 9:15 am .”

If youSunday are looking church School: for 9:30aam home, you might want to come Church Services: 11 am fellowship with these folks. Besides Sunday, they meet for prayer on Tuesday morning at 11 am, and on Friday the Bible Band Mission meets from 12 to 1 pm and a Bible

SUNDAY SERVICE

8 AM and 11 AM BIBLE STUDIES Wednesday 7:30PM Leonard N. Barksdale, Pastor

Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church 4300 Noble Street, Houston TX 77020 Ph: 713/675-5111 • Fx: 713/675-1522

Website: www.fwmbc.org

Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church members will endeavor to provide a strong foundation of love; we will stand on Biblical Truths; and we will equip one another to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our community

GREATER FRIENDSHIP MBC Rev. Johnny L. Goff, Sr.,

14055 Dublin

Houston, TX. 77085

Office: 713-7289503

www.gfmbc.com Experience the Friendship! Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church is a church with a mission- “Let Each One, Reach One!” They have been committed to following the Lord’s command to reach out to the lost (Matt. 28: 18-20) since their found-

SHADY ACRES

CHURCH OF CHRIST 730 West 26th St, Houston, TX 77008

713/861-6625

Sunday

Minister Frank Melton Jr. Res.713/733-0868 Off. 713/861-9249 FX 713/861-2744 Assoc. Minister Glen Burgess, Sr. Res.713/734-8983

Early Worship 6 am Sunday School 9:30 am Regular Worship 10:30 am Evening Worship 6 pm

Wednesday General Song Practice

FIFTH WARD CHURCH OF CHRIST SUNDAY 8:00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. Bible Class 11:15 a.m. Worship 6:00 p.m. Worship MONDAY 10:00 a.m.

Gary Smith Ladies Bible Class Minister WEDNESDAY 7:30 p.m. Bible Class for all

Website

HATTIE SMITH

African-American News&Issues

ARLINGTON- Could a prominent Arlington pastor be a victim of religious bigotry and persecution by his own colleagues? Pastor Dwight McKissic stepped down as a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary over a controversy about his position on speaking in tongues.

According to McKissic, the decision was based on his desire to re-focus on his family and church, but in reality it appears to be a case of racism and being dissed by White religious leaders intent on shunning McKissic and teaching him a lesson.

The former trustee is well respected and outspoken on many religious issues, but recently was censored and shut out of Southwestern’s seminary Web site.

The seminary routinely posts chapel sermons on its Web site, but seminary President Paige Patterson chose not to do so with McKissic, contending he didn’t want to suggest that the seminary endorsed McKissic’s views on speaking in tongues.

The move against this African American pastor who today has been no less than loyal and faithful to God, his church and his wife was racist, dishonest, underhanded and ungodly to say the least. How can the Southern Baptist Convention or SWTS call itself godly, inclusive and open armed to preaching the gospel to every creature, when its leadership arms shuns, pressures and casts aside one of its best Black religious patriots whose sincerity and passion for God and pasturing is unmatched in the Metroplex?

Could his persecution be retaliation and revenge for bucking and not bowing to these great White religious powers that run the SBC. It was McKissic that stood up as a vocal proponent of speaking in tongues – a view still not endorsed by SWTS or SBC leaders.

Several months ago in the move to remove him, McKissic refused to

Lone Star Singing presents Unity Love Tour

hold his tongue and fought back efforts to remove him.

Those bold efforts surely increased the will of his detractors to persecute him. In his own words, McKissic described their takeover mentality stating, “I have received word through the media that the chairman of the board of trustees for SWTS Van McClain, intends to consider asking the Southern Baptist Convention to remove me from the board. The reason he has given to the media is his “lost confidence” in me due to his perception that I have breached confidentiality.”

The Southwestern Seminary is a corporation whose sole board member is the Southern Baptist Convention. It is administered by a 40 member Board of Trustees elected by the convention and serving staggered terms of office. The seminary seeks to affirm the intention of its founders and the obligations assigned by the convention to provide education for students who give evidence of a divine call to Christian ministry.

The seminary is guided by and subject to the Baptist Faith and Message as adopted and amended by the Southern Baptist Convention.

In his personal statements about efforts to remove him as a Trustee at SWTS, McKissic responded to the move by stating, “The effort to remove me as a trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is nothing but a twenty-first century lynching of an independent thinking Black man who has demonstrated strong support for the Southern Baptist Convention. Because I will not join the ‘good old boys club,’ I’m subjected to removal as a trustee.”

Those true and powerful words created such a firestorm and backlash and apparently fed the desire and added to the pressure to get McKissic out as soon as possible.One does not have to look close or far to see the bias, racism and bigotry play out in a way that led to McKissic leaving his trustee post behind.

The controversy with the SWTS and Southern Baptist Convention

HOUSTON-The Groups of the Lone Star Singing Association Presents Unity Love Tour #1, on Saturday, July 29, 2007 at the University of Houston’s Cullen Performance Hall, 4800 Calhoun. Some in attendance will be:Bro. Charles L. Wilson, 5th Sunday Program Chairman, Three Bridges from Nashville, TN, The Jones Family Singers, Endurance, The Disciples of Christ, Chester “D.T.” Baldwin of Austin, TX, and Rev. James Spellmon featuring The Stewart Singers. Doors open at 5 p.m., with a pre-show begins at 5 p.m., and the concert begins at 6 p.m. Pre-sale tickets- are $20.00. At the door, the tickets will be $ 25.00. For students w/ ID, the ticket will be $10.00. Children 5 yrs and under, admission is free. Vendors are welcome. Reserve your space now, because, limited space is available.

For ticket information, please contact the following committee member: Charles L. Wilson at (281) 935-0134.

www.fthwardcoc.org “GIVING, GROWING, & GAINING” 4308 Stonewall St. Hou. Tx 77020

713-672-2654

In addition to their other activities, the Fifth Ward COC also holds a Bible Class for non-members on Thursday nights at 7:30 PM. For more information on the various special events or activities you really should visit their website, it is very well done, informative and worth a visit even if you have

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FIDELITY CHURCH OF CHRIST “ The Church That Cares” Sunday

Morning Bible Class 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:45 a.m.

Evening Bible Class 5:00 p.m.

Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.

Chorus Group Rehearsal 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday

MINISTER: Mid-Week Bible Class Theaster Maloy, Sr. 7:00 p.m.

OFFICE: 713/674-5131

140 Fidelity Rd. Houston Tx 77029

appears to be a direct result of White religious gurus’ lack of understanding or their wholesale refusal to consider or accept African American roots and personal revelations that often link us to our treasured walks with God and deep religious connections to speaking in tongues.

It appears that there is no room in the inn for anyone who differs in opinion or who does not follow traditional “party” lines in the SBC or who demonstrates free independent Black thinking and idealism. Nothing is welcome in that denomination that clashes with their party line. The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary claims to exist to provide theological education for individuals engaging in Christian ministry.

It contends that it strives to provide a community of faith and learning that develops spiritual leaders with a passion for Christ and the Bible, a love for people, and the skills to minister effectively in a rapidly changing world. According to Seminary President Paige Patterson, the goal of SWTS is to “Do the work of an evangelist ... for a new generation of students the historic pledge of Southwestern Seminary to serve both Southern Baptist churches and a lost world by equipping ministers for their God-ordained task.”

How dare these zealots challenge the sincerity of a man of God when other great men of God have also shared the same experiences of how God can touch the heart and move the soul? How honest, how open and how truly spiritual has SWTS been in beating up this brother?

Who has really sinned for persecuting a man by doing a hostile takeover and not following God’s own laws for resolving issues among brethren? We are not talking about a man who has risen up from a cotton field or corn field with a story. We are not talking about someone who walked out of the winds of a tornado and began preaching. We are not talking about a Pastor Terry Hornbuckle here.

This is a well respected pastor and

Daddy’s Little Girl Interactive Session for Women Only HOUSTON-Please join Bishop G. Emerson Scott, Sr. in Daddy’s Little Girl Interactive Session for Women Only, that will be held on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 6 p.m. at Trinity Fellowship Church, 9321 Edgebrook. Bishop Scott’s message is “What Every Father Should Have Told His Little Girls.” He shares the topics that are not talked about amongst male leaders in christiandom. These are subject matters that every daughter should Bishop G. Emerson have received from her father about: men, love, relationships, self-esteem, and limits. For more information, please call Trinity Fellowship Church at (713) 644-5161.

“Women of Prophetic Power Come Forth” WOMEN OF DESTINY CONFERENCE 2007 PEARLAND- Apostle Debra Ford of Faith Christian Church International has received an Apostolic Mandate from the Lord to call forth God’s Women into greater dimensions in the realm of the Spirit. This year’s conference, Thursday through Saturday, July 12-14, 2007 held at Faith Christian Church International, 5517 Broadway, Suite K, Pearland, Texas, has been designed to challenge and encourage you regarding the Prophetic Call that is upon your life. Apostolic speakApostle Debra Ford ers include Apostle Debra Ford, Prophetess Tamara Jones, Pastor Renee Clark and Psalmist/Minstrel Prophet Todd Kelm The fullness of your call will be made manifest! No longer will you walk in fear of the opinions of men or make excuses or focus on limitations. Apostle Ford has been commanded to get you up and move you into the place where God has commanded His blessings for your life. It is your time to be revived, restored, and released! The registration fee is $35.00, this includes Saturday Brunch. RSVP is required. Seating is limited! For more information, please call (281)-997-1151.

Pastor Dwight McKissic and his wife Vera holds to the faith, regardless of how members of the SBC feel about them. a great preacher with solid resume, credentials that this group has chosen to deride, disrespect and turn their backs on. Patterson offered his hypocritical spin on McKissic’s departure stating, “My personal relationship with Pastor McKissic has been a long one and overwhelmingly a happy one,” Patterson said. “I anticipate that that relationship will continue and that Brother McKissic will continue as a faithful supporter of the seminary. It is well known that we have not always agreed, but we are brothers in Christ, and I love this pastor.”

Jesus once spoke of the close-minded hypocrisy and righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. The Apostle John wrote, “All liars shall have their part in the lake of fire.” Christianity today still possesses those same likeminded hard heads that even now deceive the masses, make rules as they go, refuse to recognize real truth or tolerate differences.McKissic either ventured too far off course, or he landed on a runway that was just too Black for the SBC’s taste.

Going Beyond Event with Priscilla Shirer HOUSTON – Priscilla Shirer will be the featured speaker at The Met, 13000 Jones Rd. , in Houston, TX, Friday and Saturday, July 13-14, 2007 as LifeWay Women’s Priscilla Shirer Events presents Going Beyond. Going Beyond is one of the newest and most anticipated of LifeWay’s events for women, which include Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live and Deeper Still, an event in which Shirer teaches alongside Moore and popular author and speaker Kay Arthur. Shirer is an up and coming Bible teacher whose powerful teaching has already inspired women across the nation. Her Bible study, “He Speaks to Me,” focuses on learning to hear the voice of God and is currently being taught in churches across the United States. Her follow up study, Discerning God’s Voice, was released by LifeWay in November of 2006. As the daughter of Dr. Tony Evans, Shirer grew up understanding the responsibility of full time ministry.

“The Word of God is alive, it’s sharper than any two-edged sword, and it can speak to you,” says Shirer. To purchase tickets or for more information about Going Beyond visit www.lifeway.com/women or call 1-800-2542022.

Read us online at www.aframnews.com. To get FREE coverage of your church events, news and announcements, please send items to news@aframnews.com.

TX-10

EDUCATION/COMMUNITY Texas Head Start Association 2007 THSA Annual Training Conference GALVESTON -Texas Head Start Association will host its 2007 THSA annual training conference, Monday through Thursday, July 23-26, 2007 at Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston. There will be over 600 participants in attendance from all over the State of Texas, notable speakers, and many vibrant topics explored.

To register, please visit www.txhsa. org. Registration forms are due July 13th. For more information, contact Venetia L. Peacock at (713) 6729343 or via e-mail at vpeacock@ hcde-texas.org.

African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007 • 11

Griggs Appointed to AISD Board of Education

NHHSB in search of caterers for lunch services

HOUSTON- Merlin Griggs, a local businessman and long time volunteer in Aldine Independent School District (AISD), was appointed to the board to fill the term of former member A.W. Jones, who retired in December. Griggs is a resident of Woodcreek and has been active in Aldine schools for many years.

He has served as a SNAPP (Students Need a Pat and a Push) mentor, the booster club president at Nimitz Senior High School, and served as a member of the Nimitz Peer Review Assessment Team.

He has also been involved in school board elections and served as chairman of the Needs Assess-

HOUSTON-North Houston High School for Business, 455 West Parker Rd., is requesting services from exceptional caterers who will provide breakfast and lunch to the students Monday-Friday’s during the school year.

All food services must be in compliance with the Texas Education Agency. We are asking you to Contact Jewel Hunt, principal of NHHSB, if you are interested in providing these services. For more information, please call (713)691-3123.

ment Committee. The work the committee did, helped determine the need to hold a referendum. He and his wife, Cathy have two sons.

Both are graduates of Nimitz Senior High School.

Griggs is a commercial underwriting specialist with CAN insurance with more than 25 years of experience in the field. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Prairie View A&M University. Board members Rick Ogden, Rose Avalos, and Dr. Alton Smith served on the new board members.

The Committee recommended Griggs for the Position 6 seat.

According to the latest Texas Merlin Griggs Education Agency report, 2004-2005 AEIS report, Aldine welcomed 56,255 students and was the 12th largest school district in Texas.

66th Annual Frontiers International Conference HOUSTON-The 66th Annual Frontiers International, Inc., Convention will be held Monday through Saturday, July 16 July 21, 2007. This year’s theme is “Frontiers: Reflecting, Restructuring, Rebirth.” “The theme calls us to reflect back onto the glorious days of Frontiers and remember what our true mission is,” Eddie Martin, National Chairman.

Frontiers International, Inc., is a nonsectarian service organization with a glorious history. In 1936, Nimrod B. Allen then executive secretary of the Columbus Urban League, organized an African American service club in Columbus, Ohio. Several years later, clubs had appeared in Cincinnati, Akron and Philadelphia, according to Frederick Johnson and Leonard Bethel’s Advancement Through Service: A History of The Frontiers International (University Press of America, 1991).

Conference highlights include release of a national commemorative postage stamp. Framed reproductions of the commemorative postage stamp will go on sale during convention. Events include a Health Fair sponsored by the Frontiers International Foundation, and a Youth Convention with presentations on We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution, and Frontiers Family National Community Service Project, Coordinating Council National Teddy Bear Project.

“The Children Protection Services is the recipient of the Teddy Bears this year,” Ms. Ruth Jefferson, National President of Coordinating Council, said. The Junior Frontiers sees rebirth in the future and is preparing an updated guide to youth group establishment and programming, including helpful guidelines, curriculum modules and sample activities along with incentives. The four core values are configured upon the scale of an Egyptian pyramid: Academic excellence, professional and skilled career development, knowledge of African Diaspora and self-awareness through heritage, service and civic learning.

“Boys and girls learn about cultural diversity, strive for academic excellence, practice good sportsmanship, prepare for skilled and professional careers, take field trips and take part in learning projects to improve the community,’ stated Roland Barksdale-Hall, National Co-Youth Director says.

For more information, visit www. nhfrontiers.com.

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06/29/07 15:30 Read us online at www.aframnews.com.

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12 • African-American News&Issues • Texas • July 11-17, 2007

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