African-American News&Issues

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™ Vol. 13 Issue 1

TEXAS’ Widest Circulated and Read Newspaper with a Black Perspective

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February 6-12, 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

AAN&I presents Vol.13 No. 1 Black perspectives must survive to thrive BUD JOHNSON

African-American News&Issues

Bud on “Senior Moments” PAGE 2

Perri Jones wins 12th Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition MARVIN D. CLOUD

African-American News&Issues

HOUSTON- Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP presented the 12th Annual Gardere Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition at the historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ, 500 Clay, on Jan. 18, and Perri Jones emerged as the winner among 10 fourth and fifth grade students from Houston-area elementary schools. The See JONES page 3

Perri Jones winner of the 2008 MLK Jr. Oratory Competition and the Hon. Vanessa D. Gilmore.

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“Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.” -Rosa Parks

New jobs for minority journalists are scarce, and at minorityoriented job fairs—down to 8 this year from 12 in 1990—most papers are offering only temporary internships. Brown & Sons surveyed executives at nearly 200 papers regarding their economic expectations, and the findings are hardly encouraging. “The Christmas season is expected to be dreadful,” reported Kenneth T. Berents, who conducted the survey in October. He noted that two-thirds of the newspapers polled expected advertising levels below last year’s. For newspapers, the only silver lining in such glum projections is the belief that the industry will emerge leaner and ready for battle when the economy turns. “As painful as it is right now, the newspaper industry will come out of this period tougher and more

AAN&I might not have been around in the old days, but Publisher Roy D. Malonson (in hat) says its success came by following the newspaper publishing recipe left by yesteryear’s founding fathers and mothers. In this photo, he is receiving the Ida B. Wells, “Tell It Like It Is,” award. competitive than ever,” said Cathleen Black, president of the Amer-

ican Newspaper Publishers Association. But for now, the prospects

of better days at an uncertain time See AAN&I page 3

New scandal surfaces at San Antonio Police Department MARIO SALAS

African-American News&Issues

SAN ANTONIO -Recent revelations again point to the out of control San Antonio Police Department (SAPD). The latest scandal to surface at SAPD is the case of Joseph Anthony Evans, a SAPD officer WHO was indicted not long ago by the U.S. Attorney’s office. According to that indictment, United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that “a federal grand jury has indicted San Antonio police officer Joseph Anthony Evans for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and allowing his residence to be used to facilitate drug distribution activities. In all, Evans is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamAs we embark upon the 32nd observance of Black History Month in 2008 America, fate would have it that our complimentary memoriam that’s sponsored by Shirley Ann’s Black Arts & Kollectibles Showroom (See ads for contact data), will pay tribute to a true history maker. As it often happens, living historians quietly live and die without recognition due to the younger generation’s disconnect from their own community’s history. Hence, many were surprised to learn that Napoleon Brown, Jr. was, indeed, a great man wrote an indelible page in the annuals of Black Houston’s history books, when his long and productive life was celebrated at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 1510 Pannell, on February 17, 2007. Rev. Harvey Clemons, Jr., senior pastor of Pleasant Hill, officiated a homegoing service that featured stirring solos by Vickie Easy, Rev. Michael Pickett and Mildred Crooks. Expressions by the Buffalo Soldiers’ Don James, (a co-worker at Albert Thomas

phetamine; and, maintaining a residence used to facilitate drug trafficking.” As if things were not bad enough it seems that Evans was hired despite his criminal past. According to reports carried by the Express News, Evans had a “drunken driving conviction ... a criminal trespass arrest, a hit and run conviction, and an internal investigation of sexual misconduct as a corrections officer.” All of this was known before he was hired by SAPD, which allowed someone with a character like this to patrol the streets of San Antonio to “serve and protect.” Evans may soon be getting three years in prison for allowing his drug-dealing girl friend safe haven at his home while she engaged in the illegal drug trade. Evans was able to disgrace himself and the SAPD because of a law that was pushed through while the public was not watching, by out of con-

NAPOLEON BROWN, JR.

DEC. 12, 1919-FEB. 22, 2007 Middle School), revealed much of Brown’s great history. Brian Grace, Gerard Smith, Leon Sanders, Michael Tucker and Alton Tucker, Jr. were active pallbearers. Cuney Addison, Sr., Edwardo Dismuke, Larkin Smith, Marcus Tucker and Cuney Addison, Jr. were honorary pallbearers for Napoleon who was born to Viola Harris and Napoleon Brown on December 12, 1919, in Glenmora, Louisiana, an incorporated town located in Rapides Parish.

trol police associations. According to the Express News this law was passed some 20 years ago in the Texas Legislature and has “kept taxpayers in the dark about some of the most important management practices of public institutions in Texas.” This is why the U.S. Justice Department needs to step in and clean up the corrupt police associations and their cronies. The law that allows the hiring process to remain a secret is Section 143.089 of the Local Government Code. This law allows criminal-minded individuals to slip through the rules and be hired as police officers. This law must be repealed and transparency again rule, in order to prevent criminal cops from running our city. SAPD officers have continually been accused of wife and girlfriend beatings, police abuse, drunken driving, sexual assaults, and other crimes, but have managed to duck

However, by the time he was old enough to attend school, his parents had moved to the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas where he graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School in an era when Black Houston was on the move. Obviously Napoleon was also enamored with education, inasmuch as he enrolled at Prairie View A &M University (nee “Alta Vista Agriculture & Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youth”), where he prepared to work in the booming auto industry. His acumen as a mechanic served him well when he entered World War II, where he honorably served for 14 years. Upon returning to civilian life, Napoleon decided to invest in his own business. He wisely opened Brown’s Automotive Service. His success allowed him to indulge in his favorite pastimes, which was boating and fishing. He also loved bowling. Lest we forget, he was also very active with the Buffalo Soldiers. History records, that Napoleon decided to share his skills with the younger generation, therefore he

detection because of this draconian law. In rubbish typical style, SAPOA (San Antonio Police Officers Association) “kicked and forced out” president Teddy Stewart, claimed that the law is “very good,” but most observers view these comments ad being just the same old corrupt, crooked game that the police association is playing. Demands for a FBI investigation of the SAPD continue in the wake of these new allegations. Police misconduct is epidemic in San Antonio and things aren’t getting any better. After years of police corruption that borders on gangsterism, much of what the police have been trying to hide is finally being revealed. These revelations point to a department that continues to be out of control. Police Chief William McManus inherited a cesspool of corruption that See SCANDAL page 3

enrolled in Texas Southern University and later became an Auto Mechanics Teacher at Albert Thomas Middle School. He and his wife Naomi, attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and served its ministry until his health failed. Napoleon was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Oteal and Mary V; three nephews, Cuney Addison Jr., Stephen Grace and Stephen Espree and one niece, Meloneza Ferguson. On February 11, 2007, Napoleon Brown, Jr. joined his beloved family and left precious memories for his loving wife of 63 years; nieces, Gwendolyn Tucker and Wilma Dismuke; grand-nephews, Alton Tucker Jr., Robert Grace Jr., Michael Tucker, Marcus Tucker, and Brian Grace; grand-niece, Yaura Ferguson; great-grandnephew, Robert II “Trey” Grace, III; great-grand-nieces, R’Keyah Grace and Sha’Naria Grant; cousins, Clarence Brown, Lillian Graham, Celestine Brown, Lillie. Singleton, Charles Jones, and Myrtle Ogletree and a host of other relatives and friends. TX-1


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