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January 23-29, 2008 ™ Vol. 12 Issue 51
TEXAS’ Widest Circulated and Read Newspaper with a Black Perspective
www.aframnews.com
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
Obama on chamber’s menu
Kirbyjon Caldwell preaches politics at AACCGH’s luncheon BUD JOHNSON
African-American News&Issues
“Obama ain’t our Black’’ PAGE 2
Inner-Beauty Scholarship Pageant seeks participants MARVIN D. CLOUD
African-American News&Issues
DALLAS- The recent Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, reminded us of his words in his worldfamous “I Have A Dream,” speech. Although King dreamed of a world where “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they See PAGEANT page 3
Although the nation has been served a steady diet of Sen. Barack Obama (since he revealed his decision to seek the office of president of the United States of America on Feb. 10, 2007, standing before the Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois), the “Lunch Bunch” at the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston’s Jan. 10 business network luncheon was delighted when Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell put him on their menu. “Not only is the Obama campaign historical, it’s also history-making,” Windsor Village Church’s senior pastor explained. “Regardless who you’re going to vote for, you can not deny the fact that it is a history making moment.” Reaction from the capacity audience attending the monthly luncheon (normally held each
first Thursday of the month at the Beulah Ann Shepard Building, 6112 Wheatley, suggested that Caldwell’s remarks resonated. However, Caldwell, tonguein-cheek, launched into his topic saying, “Here’s the part you might not like. But since I got the mike I’m going to say it anyway. At the risk of sounding like a preacher ... whenever you have…let’s say a blessing-- for instance--on the move ... you can rest assured that a messing on the blessing is not far behind.” Caldwell, nationally recognized for his relationship with President George W. Bush, then revisited Team Obama’s strategy to overcome his racist adversary’s strategy that has historically rendered Black politicians unelectable. “What I want to do is share with you my perspective of the Barack Obama campaign and what the Chamber and Black businesses in general can learn from the campaign,” he continued. “The key ini-
tiative that any successful business must have is strategy. You can dream and vision and revision all you want to, but at some point the rubber has to hit the road.” After interjecting the historical aspects of Obama’s bid for the presidency, the éclat pastor explained that Obama’s opponent’s strategy is to first attack his ethnicity. Using humor to make his point, he touched on the ridiculous double-barrel indictment that he’s too Black for White bigots (see Editorial), but not Black enough for “Black Power” pretenders. The very engaging pulpiteer brought the house down using facial expressions to enhance the quip, “Black enough for what?” Levity aside, Caldwell’s appearance delighted the Lunch Bunch, that was able to break bread with his entourage that included his iconic 85-year-old father, a living historian and urban legend in his own right. (FYI: Booker T. Caldwell was one of the first
Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell likens Senator Barack Obama’s campaign to that of successful business owners. Photo by Roger Jackson
Black tailors to own his own shop in Houston, Texas.) In fact, the See OBAMA page 3
H-E-B leads the way in children’s health & fitness MARVIN D. CLOUD
African-American News&Issues
Keisha Howard, founder of P.E.A.R.L. Girls.
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Quote of the Week
“Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul.” -Coretta Scott King
HOUSTON – “Many American children and adolescents do not exercise enough because physical education requirements are lax, they ride to school instead of walking or bicycling, they spend major amounts of time on television and the Internet, and competitive team sports exclude the less athletically talented. American children and adolescents often aren’t active enough in their leisure time because they spend a great deal of time with electronic media and lack opportunities for outdoor free play. Free play is a time children need for their physical and social development. Many parents deprive their children of free play by scheduling them in an endSee CHILDREN’S HEALTH page 3
If there was irony in the fact that a recent complimentary Black History Memoriam featured a lady whose funeral date was one day after her birthday, it certainly must be noted when one is born, died and memorized in the same month. Thus, Shirley Ann’s Black Arts & Kollectibles Showroom (see ad on page two) proudly sponsors a tribute to Groveton Adams, whose long and productive life was celebrated on January 23, 2007 at Ross Mortuary Chapel, 3618 Lyons Avenue. Rev. Rory Murphy, of Pure Light Baptist Church, officiated the order of service and active pallbearers were: Kenneth Moffett, Donald Hensley, James Moffett, Alton Louis and Gregory Brown. Lawrence Turner, Jerone Austin and Robert Hensley, Jr. were honorary pallbearers for Groveton, who was the fifth child born to Levi and Tora Adams on January 10, 1925 in Jasper, Texas, a small hamlet off U.S. highways 96 and 190, State Highway 63, and Sandy Creek in north central Jasper County. Although Jasper is
From the left: Garnet F. Coleman, Texas State Representative, Judy Anderson Texas Collaborative Marketing Manager for Kraft Foods, Marian Davenport President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters, James Harris Director, Supplier Diversity for H-E-B, Kelva Kelly Account Business Manager, for Colgate-Palmolive and Terry Williams Vice President, East Urban Region for H-E-B .
Groveton adams
January 10, 1925-January 14, 2007 best known for a brutal hate crime that shocked the nation, historically in 1844, Jasper became the county seat of Jasper County that’s situated in the Deep East Texas sub region, 110 miles (180 km) northeast of Houston. The area was settled around 1824 by John R. Bevel. Thirty families occupied the settlement as early as 1830, when it was known as Snow River or Bevil’s Settlement after Bevil, one of the earliest European-American settlers. In 1835 it was renamed
for William Jasper. Jasper was a hero of the American Revolution who was killed attempting to plant the American colors at the storming of Savannah in 1779. During the Civil War the town housed a Confederate quartermaster depot. Antebellum educational institutions included the Jasper Male and Female High School, which operated until 1878, when it became the Southeast Texas Male and Female College, and Jasper Collegiate Institute, which operated from 1851 until 1874. With the arrival of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway early in the twentieth century, Jasper grew into a center for the manufacture of timber products. Lumber from two sawmills, with a daily capacity of 125,000 board feet (295 m), goods from basket and stave factories, logs, ties, poles, and pulpwood were shipped in 200 cars per month. History notwithstanding, Groveton was reared in Jasper and attended school there. Afterwards, he attended a local trade school. Upon reaching maturity, he enlist-
ed in the military and retired after 25 years of service. Meanwhile, he was united in holy matrimony to Clementine Rackmore, who preceded him in death after 53 years. They owned and operated Adams Community Residential Facility in Washington, DC (an adjunct of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital) for over 15 years. They moved to Dale City, Virginia in 1967. He was a faithful member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church where he sang with the Male Chorus and choir. He was a prayer leader in the senior Bible class and served in many other areas of the church until moving to Houston six months before his death. He passed from this life on January 14, 2007. Left in God’s care is his son, Ricky Adams of Keyser West, Virginia; two sisters, Doris Moffett and Alpha Hensley; one brother, Willie Adams of Houston; two sisters-in-law, Martillo Adams and Elayne Adams; and a host of nieces, and nephews, and many family members. Adams’s interment was at Houston National Cemetery. TX-1