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™ Vol. 13 Issue 26
TEXAS’ Widest Circulated and Read Newspaper with a Black Perspective
July 30-August 5, 2008 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
Prophecy or educated guess See page 2
First Black Chaplain’s passion is stirred by Young Men of Valor MARVIN D. CLOUD
African-American News&Issues
HOUSTON- Everyday, the media department at the Houston Police Department sends out several news releases to media outlets, detailing tragic crimes in the area, such as one titled, “Fatal Home Invasion at 8100 Lenore.” It goes on to state, “Houston police are investigating the death of a man at 8100 Lenore about 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday (July
George E. Burrell, the first Black Staff Chaplain in the history of the Harris County Jail, leads the Third Young Men of Valor Conference.
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Quote of the Week ““What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child. Any fool can have a child. That doesn’t make you a father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.” -Barack Obama
22). The victim, Javier Cortez, 37, suffered blunt trauma to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. HPD Homicide Division Sergeants L. A. Flores and P. C. Motard and Senior Police Officer C. P. Abbondandolo reported: Patrol officers responded to a dead on arrival call at 8100 Lenore and found Mr. Cortez in his bedroom deceased. Further investigation determined Cortez’s brother had arrived home earlier and found him in the bedroom and his mother in a second bedroom. The rear door was found forcibly opened and the residence was in disarray. Cortez’s mother stated to investigators a loud noise woke her and her son, then several unknown suspects rushed in the bedroom and repeatedly struck Cortez. The suspects then went through the residence and took unknown items.” Although the ages of the suspects are unknown at the time of the
“Spreading Hope In An Uncertain World” report, the violence enacted is symptommatic of the turbulence facing young males today. Many teen-age boys and young adult men find themselves trapped in tragic situations of gang violence, hip-hop culture, self-identity crisis, poor family relationships and incarceration. To combat this, “A Day of Discussion, A Day of Acceptance, A Day for Change” a conference that reaches out to teen boys and young adult men ages 11 through 35, will be held at the Blueridge United Methodist Church, 2929 Reed Road, where Rev. Rodney L, Graves, is pastor. This is the third “Young Men of Valor” conference and this year, it’s held Saturday, August 2, 2008 from 8:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. (Registration and Continental Breakfast begin at 8:15 a.m.). Pastor George E. Burrell, Sr., the pastor of a Friendswoodbased ministry, Internal Hope Fellowship Church, aka “The Fellowship of Hope,” gave birth to this conference. See CHAPLAIN page 6
Bennie Bass Jr. personified the courageous Black men of the “Roaring Twenties” that set the standards for future entrepreneurs that became the backbone of descendants of slaves who defied the odds against them and took on the responsibility of leadership in their communities throughout the land of the free. Thus, the accomplishments of those uncommon men were revisited when the history maker’s life was celebrated at Ross Mortuary Chapel, 3618 Lyons Ave, on July 31, 2007. Pastor C. L. Harvey officiated an order of service that included: Rosalee Taylor, Millicent James, and Elsie JonesWashington. In addition, Larry Young, Spelvin Jackson, Albert Womack Jr., Jeffrey Williams, Donny Sherman and Fredrick Jones Sr. were active pallbearers. Kevin Bass, Kerry Bass Sr., Xavion James, DeMarcus Perry, Edward Schasa and Matthew Jackson were honorary pallbearers for Bennie, the second of Bennie and Irene Jeffrey Bass Sr.’s four children who was born on March 10, 1924. He accepted Christ at an
America’s Responsibility
Are Black males unfairly ostracized? BUD JOHNSON
African-American News&Issues
Denial notwithstanding, one should have cause to pause and ponder, whether or not Black America’s anointed leaders live in a parallel universe from disenfranchised descendants of slaves who are trapped in underserved, crime and drug infested urban jungles indigenous to the land of the free. Then again, unless one has the wherewithal to separate political rhetoric from reality, a failure to communicate is enviable. Hence, as Black America’s editorial voice, African-American News&Issues dares to suggest that responsible people should objectively explore the nettlesome appellation “responsibility” that’s used ad nauseam to unfairly ostracize Black males. Although responsibility is defined simple enough, i.e., the state of being responsible, or a person or thing for which one is responsible, if taken in the context of a reprimand it can easily become a racial slur. Perhaps, unwittingly, Sen. Barack Obama
R. Kelly: Free to do what? DERIC MUHAMMAD
African-American News&Issues
R. Kelly is free. Now the question that looms largest in the minds of Black folks is… “FREE TO DO WHAT?” Some say he is now free to pursue his music making career and continue to supply us with the songs we love to sing without the dark cloud of the justice system hanging over his head. Others say that he is free to do to some other young schoolgirl, the same thing that is alleged in the infamous tape that spread through the hood like a California wildfire.
Bennie Bass Jr.
March 10, 1924-July 23, 2007
early and grew up in Sunlight MBC under the leadership of Pastor A. B. Boylan, and was educated in HISD schools. History records that 1938 was a pivotal year in Houston, Texas insofar as Curt Flood, the man who would be responsible for free agency in pro sports was born on Jan. 18. In the month of April, Carter Wesley launched a shame and blame campaign against Black leaders in his Houston Informer newspaper. Wesley was at odds
Morehouse College has averaged 400 Black grads per year since 1867.
did, indeed, “talk down” to Black males on Father’s Day, when he used general terms. In addition, “change” doesn’t resonate when one says: “If we’re serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives,” insofar as MLK’s dream of racial harmony Watching Kelly walk out of a Chicago courtroom in June provoked conflicting emotions in Black America. While we make up approximately 12% of the population in this country, we make up approximately 60% of the prison population. That being said, it is always a good feeling to see a Black man walk out of a courtroom without handcuffs and shackles on his body. We rejoiced when O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder. We rejoiced in the 70’s when Black Panther, Huey P. Newton, beat his case. However, when a Black man is accused of having several sexual encounters with underage Black girls he gets no parade. The abuse of young girls is a huge problem in our society. Some statistics say that nearly half the females in the Black community were violated
with Black leaders over the Houston Housing Authority’s slum clearing project. Meanwhile, on July 20, President Franklin D. Roosevelt impacted 1938 Black Houston’s history when he signed an order to release the surviving Black soldiers involved in the Camp Logan riot. History also records that on Oct. 21 C.F. Cliff Richardson Sr., Will Green, William Drake and Julius White filed a class action suit against the Democratic Executive Committee, et al, for denying Blacks to vote in their primary. Surely, the court’s ruling against the lawsuit wasn’t the most significant event in Bennie’s young life, since he married Mildred Green during that eventful year. To this union, four beautiful children were born. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted and served two years in the United States Navy and received an honorable discharge in 1945. Some years later he married Lola Fullson. Bennie then became employed with Kelley Steel and Manufacturing Company, where he worked for 37 years. He retired in 1981. During his employment,
began to die a slow death when he was assassinated. Although amen’s encouraged him to add, “There’s nothing wrong with saying that,” his remarks are open to discussion. Sadly, the irresponsible males Black women allude to as “deadbeat dads” See RESPONSIBILITY page 3
R. Kelly sexually as a child. It is seldom discussed which means that it is hardly addressed. So many young See KELLY page 3
he also was an entrepreneur, and owned his business until well after retirement. He retired from his business in 1991. Bennie, who was preceded in death by his parents; first and second wife, Lola Fullson, enjoyed his retirement until his health failed. He was also preceded in death by an infant son, daughter, Jeanette Johnson; his brother, Riley Whitfield; grandchildren, Debra Giles and Lafate Giles; great-grandchildren, Norrita Wynder, Richele Henderson, Michele Henderson, and Tony Sanders, and joined them in heaven on July 23, 2007. He leaves to celebrate his life: sister, Lucille Dukes of Houston, Texas; brother, Willie Bass of Los Angeles, California; children, Mary Bass James Partner (Johnnie); son, Clinton Bass (Shellye); fourteen grandchildren, Larry, Rosalind, Marsha, Lynette, Thea Fantroy (Marcus), Millicent, Kevin, Kerry, Kenya Ernest (Robert), Kim, Clintnisha, and Robert; 34 great-grandchildren, and I4 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends. TX-1