African-American News&Issues

DEANNE GROUP PAGE 8

AUDREY HOFFMAN LAWSON PAGE 11

WE MUST UNDERSTAND PAGE 3

! NOTHING IN THIS WORLD CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF PERSISTENCE. TALENT WILL NOT: NOTHING IS MORE COMMON THAN UNSUCCESSFUL MEN WITH TALENT. GENIUS WILL NOT; UNREWARDED GENIUS IS ALMOST A PROVERB. EDUCATION WILL NOT: THE WORLD IS FULL OF EDUCATED DERELICTS. PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION ALONE ARE OMNIPOTENT.

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~Calvin Coolidge

VOL. 20 ISSUE 49

“Work hard and stay in the game, and tomorrow will be better than today” Ruby Mae Turner told her son Mayor Elect Sylvester Turner

ACREAGE HOME PROUD

SEE

‘TURNER’

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Photo Credit: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle

“Life is not always fair but you still have to navigate it and believe tomorrow is going to be better than today - I’ve found that to be true more often than not. -When you no longer believe that, you have pretty much lost all hope and things certainly won’t get better.” ~ Sylvester Turner

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African

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Reflecti ns

TEXAS • DECEMBER 28, 2015 - JANUARY 3, 2016

“When we reflect on 2015, let us never forget the events and occurrences that had an impact on our society, communities, and our personal households. Surely, the year of 2015 was an eventful one:

SANDRA BLAND - Tempers flared in Waller County (Prairie View) and beyond after Sandra Bland’s death inside of the Waller County Jail.

African-American News&Issues writer, Dan Freeman expounded on the matter with these words: One of the first “rules” of activism that those of us who have consciously decided to dedicate significant portions of our lives toward “the liberation and salvation of the Black Nation” learn is the following: Negroes will break your heart at every turn. Accordingly, there was a plan to rename Prairie View’s “University Drive” as “Sandra Bland Parkway” , but people presented a petition against it. Regarding the PETITION AGAINST PRAIRIE VIEW NAME CHANGE, Freeman wrote: There is most certainly no easy way to address the levels of ignorance, confusion, and backwardness flowing through this document. The wording and goals of this document quite simply reeks of petty Negro minds.

The type of minds that this document represents would resist any and every liberation effort… It is truly unfathomable that an African-American com-

Roy Douglas Malonson Chairman Shirley Ann Malonson

President/C.E.O.

Chandra Jarmon

Production/Editor

Sandra Davis

Production Asst

James Jones III, Ph.D

Staff Writer

Shelondra Peavy

Staff Writer

Mark Spivey

Contributing Writer

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by African-American News & Issues, Inc., 6130 Wheatley Street, Houston, Texas 77091, (713) 692-1892. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm. The entire contents of the paper are copyrighted by African-American News & Issues, Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. African-American News&Issues is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers.

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munity possessing the political clout to control the entire county would have failed for such an extended period of time to issue a significant challenge to what could be comfortably termed a tyrannical White populace.

Unfortunately, it appears as if Prairie View A & M University students are uncommonly confused regarding the role.

Read the full article at http://www. aframnews.com/what-in-the-hell-arethey-growing-politically-confusednegros-at-prairie-view/ Recently, a Texas grand jury returned no indictments in the jailhouse death of Sandra Bland.

“I was deeply saddened by the death of Sandra Bland, a 28 year old woman who died in Waller County Jail in Hempstead, Texas. The facts and circumstances of Ms. Bland’s death shocked the nation, warranting independent investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice. Too many questions remain surrounding the death of this young, vital and dynamic woman, who was stopped for allegedly failing to signal a lane change, arrested for allegedly being uncooperative, and is then found hanging in her jail cell three days later.

“It is disappointing that the local officials have not produced answers that Ms. Bland’ family and the rest of this country expect and deserve. The Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation must take a closer look. At a minimum, the practices and policies that have led to the deaths of multiple persons in custody at Waller County Jail call for immediate and thorough corrective action.

“Additionally, we cannot forget the deep racial divides that exist in Hempstead, Texas and the continued

concern over racially discriminatory practices that may exist in the Waller County Sherriff’s Office. In particular, I am urging the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough and vigilant investigation into the operations of the Waller County Sherriff’s Office.

Racism has no place in law enforcement and should not be tolerated at any level or under any circumstances.

“We have an obligation to the American people to maintain transparency in our federal system and to respond appropriately when citizens raise questions. I remain hopeful that justice will prevail in exposing and uprooting any and all bad actors, policies, practices, or cases that have resulted in unlawful and unjust loss of liberty and life. I continue to express my condolences to the family and will continue to keep them in my thoughts during this very difficult time.”

LETTER TO THE HONORABLE LORETTA LYNCH, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES Dear Attorney General Lynch: As Ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, I am writing to renew my request that the Department of Justice conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action in connection with the death of Sandra Bland, a 28-year old African American female who was arrested after a traffic stop just outside of Houston, Texas, and found dead in a Waller County jail cell three days later.

This past summer, our nation was awakened to the tragic and disturbing facts that surrounded her arrest and suspicious death. The fateful stop on July 10, 2015, by a Texas State Trooper with a history of misconduct raised many questions and concerns about our nation’s failure to appropriately and timely respond to police misconduct and accountability. The violent verbal and physical assaults Ms. Bland endured have been met with little action and slow responses by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Waller County District Attorney’s Office. In fact, the State Trooper was merely put on desk duty and then temporary administrative leave, and only after the death of Ms. Bland. It

“NO” to H.E.R.O! – Houston shot down a very controversial ordinance called the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). The main supporters of this ordinance claimed that the only reason there was such a fuss over the ordinance was due to misinformation and misunderstandings. One writer even wrote the following for the AfricanAmerican News&Issues paper: “I admit I used to be opposed to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). But I’ve looked into it and realized I was misinformed. All that stuff we’ve been hearing about bathrooms isn’t true. HERO does not allow any man into women and girls’ restrooms. What the equal rights law, or Proposition 1, really is about is protecting Black people — and many other folks, like women and the disabled, from discrimination.”

The writer went on to say “Most of us know firsthand that discrimination is a real problem – even in 2015. The three Black attorneys who went to the Gaslamp nightclub on Washington were charged a $20 cover while the white patrons got in

is also disconcerting that the District Attorney took more than a month to empanel a grand jury and only at the heels of swelling public outrage and calls for action.

In a community with deeply rooted racial divides and a history of racially discriminatory practices, many residents of Waller County are deeply disturbed about the lack of both transparency and impartiality in the investigative and prosecutorial practices and processes employed in Ms. Bland’s case. Further undermining the public’s trust in the investigatory process, this week the Waller County grand jury failed to return indictments against anyone connected to the arrest and death of Ms. Bland.

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for free. Or how the police profile our men and boys and women like Sandra Bland, all day everyday and kill us and give us cases for breathing while Black. This is our reality. And it’s not just in the criminal injustice system, it is everywhere from housing to education to employment and everywhere in between.”

The writer of this article pleaded for African-Americans to focus on how the ordinance would benefit us, claiming to be joined with more than 70 local faith leaders, the NAACP Houston Branch, Houston Area Urban League and many others who were to vote Yes on Proposition 1. The leaders agreed that all Houstonians should be treated fairly and equally by the laws of our city, and should have the opportunity to earn a living to provide for themselves and their families, without fear of being legally fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance.

Yet, the portion of the HERO ordinance which would have allowed men to enter into women’s restrooms was the part that overshadowed many (if not all) of the other factors, no matter how beneficial they may have been.

Read the full article at http:// www.aframnews.com/the-miseducation-of-h-e-r-o-why-we-should-voteBusiness Card for Paper 14_Layout 1 12/11/14 for-proposition-1/

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TEXAS • DECEMBER 28, 2015 - JANUARY 3, 2016 Reflections from pg 2

Reflecti ns

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Edit rial & Opini n KEEP ON KEEPIN ON

POLICE BRUTALITY- Across our nation, police brutality against African-Americans has become increasingly vicious. And locally, HPD’s held its “Third Annual Citywide Town Hall Meeting” with this and other “hot topics” as the matters at hand. Chief Charles McClelland and District Attorney Devon Anderson were present to talk about issues such as overcrowded prisons, police body cameras, and grand jury selections. Krishunda Goodman, the host of KTSU’s A Closer Look served as the MC for the town hall meeting.

The town hall meeting also allowed the public to use a police shooting simulator to help the people understand why the police resort to shooting and to clear up some misconceptions people have about the use of guns among police officers. Later, just as John Rudley (President of TSU) was wrapping up his speech, three anti-police protestors stormed into the meeting.

They shouted “hands up, don’t shoot”, the same words uttered by Michael Brown before he was shot to death by Officer Darrin Wilson. The protestors were eventually escorted from the building. Chief McClelland called the town hall meeting a “report card” for HPD where citizens had the chance to judge the actions of the Houston Police Department. Although many people have a lot of negative things to say about the police right now, Chief McClelland wanted to start off the meeting by talking about some of the accomplishments HPD has made over the past year. Also, Houston’s re-entry program was mentioned (a program designed to help ex-offenders re-enter into society). On another note, body cameras have become a hot button issue in the wake of police shootings across the country, and Houston has now elected to bring body cameras on board within HPD. Charles Wright, a student from Lone Star Community College said that the police create an atmosphere of fear in

the community.“When I’m interacting with a police officer, I’m wondering if I’m going to walk away free and alive or not.” “I understand that police officers have to shot some people because they fear that their lives are in danger, but I think officers should be trained not to kill.” “If they have to shot, then they should aim at a non-vital part of the body such as the legs, but don’t aim for the head or some other vital part of the body where you can kill someone instantly.” Wright wrapped up his commit by asking : “Am I asking too much of my police department to protect and serve without fear?”

“This current police system is killing us,” said another young man. “It’s killing young black men, and young Latino men! I’m a victim of police brutality!” “My father is a victim of police brutality! My brother is a victim of police brutality! My friends have been victims of police brutality!” he continued on to say, “Ever since I was 10 years old, my mother would tell me not to sag my pants, not to dress a certain way, and not to act a certain way because the police will say something or do something to you. Over generations, black people, women, and queer people have been fighting for their rights, and the police have been killing and beating them for generations! All we ask is that police officers and politicians stop judging us, stop shooting us, and stop hassling us!”

The large turnout to this meeting showed just how much the community wants to sit down and have a dialogue with the police and try to resolve some major issues impacting our society.

Hopefully, there will be more time for more people to express their concerns during the next town hall meeting. http://www.aframnews.com/ hpd-and-houstonians-discuss-bodycameras-police-brutality-and-other-hotbutton-issues/ For more “2015 African-American News&Issues”, visit: www.AframNews.com

As I pen my final editorial of 2015, I am truly amazed at what this year has wrought in not only my personal life, but also the lives of all Black Houstonians. As an individual who was born and raised in Acres Homes, “the Fo-Fo”, this year most certainly ended on an upswing with the election of Mrs. Amanda Edwards to the Houston City Council At-Large Position four and Sylvester Turner captured Houston’s Mayor’s Office.

Although I most certainly applaud Mrs. Edwards on her historic win, however, it is Sylvester Turner’s victory that has resonated within my soul.

I find it truly ironic that as I reflect upon Sylvester Turner’s Mayoral victory that the words of a nonAfrican-American, Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States of America, are at the forefront of my mind.

President Calvin Coolidge once issued the following remark that has resonated across time for all of those who realize that focus, hard work, diligence, and perseverance are the raw ingredients of success...

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determi-

~ CALVIN COOLIDGE Now I am certain that more than a few readers are thinking, what does the above quote have to do with Sylvester Turner? Thoughts that President Coolidge’s comment has little to do with Sylvester Turner are only natural as he has served as not only a celebrated attorney, but also a State Representative in the Texas Senate for the better part of two decades.

Unbeknownst to many, Turner’s current success was preceded by several earlier political losses.

In 1984, Turner failed at his initial foray into electoral politics when he ran for Harris County Commissioner and lost to El Franco Lee. Additionally, Turner would lose his first two attempts at capturing the Houston Mayoral Office (1991 & 2003). The initial attempt at being Houston’s Mayor ended when he lost a runoff election to Bob Lanier. Turner placed third in his 2003 Mayoral campaign, thereby missing the opportunity to participate in a runoff election.

The best measure of Turner, as is true of all of us, is not in what he has achieved, rather in how many times he has risen from defeat. Turner’s recent Mayoral win should serve as notice to all Black Houstonians, young and old,

JULIAN BOND - Our nation mourned the passing of one of its most prolific civil rights activists, Julian Bond. For more than half a century Julian Bond, helped to shape

American society. He believed in the goodness of people and in the moral arc of justice and freedom. He was one of many people who inspired a generation of elected officials. A son of the civil rights movement, Julian Bond helped to start the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) while attending Morehouse College in 1960. In 1965, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives and served there with grace and distinction for two decades.

He passed legislation that mandated the testing of young people for sickle cell anemia, economic disengagement from Apartheid governed South Africa

nation alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

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We MUST Understand

By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman

that you may be rightfully considered the underdog, especially if you have been repeatedly knocked down by the trials-and-tribulations of life, however, that status does not mean that your dreams are not achievable. President Calvin Coolidge’s admonishment that “Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent” should give each of us reason to believe in what others have told us are beyond our capabilities.

When you hear such talk, just smile, think about the newly elected Mayor, grab your two friends persistence and determination, and work toward your goal as if your life depends upon it.

I hope that the Acres Homes community of which I am a part of, takes a moment to celebrate this historic moment of producing the first home grown African-American Mayor that the city of Houston has ever had; as well as Mrs. Amanda K. Edwards city-wide electoral victory. However, after we have basked in this accomplishment for a moment, it would serve us well to remember Calvin Coolidge’s words and be about the business of moving the agenda of Black Houston forward even more.

Are you ready for the next challenge? I certainly am.

and low interest loans for low-to-moderate-income home buyers. He was a bold and visionary legislator who argued against the War in Vietnam.

As a former chairman of the NAACP board of directors, he guided the civil rights organization into a period of economic prosperity and growth. He was also a highly acclaimed professor.

Our nation and its people are better because of Julian Bond and the life that he lived. His life can be characterized as an unrelenting courageous fight for justice, dignity and freedom.

Read the full article at http://www. aframnews.com/in-remembrance-ofjulian-bond-a-foot-soldier-for-justice/

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PERSISTENCE From Pg. 1

Acres H me Pr ud

TEXAS • DECEMBER 28, 2015 - JANUARY 3, 2016 Texas • August 12-18, 2013

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, TWO CITY GOVERNMENT SEATS WILL BE HELD BY HOME GROWN ACRES HOMES OFFICIALS. HOUSTON - I remember the moment very well when Oprah Winfrey was feted by Essence Magazine at an Awards Show.

It was at that moment that Oprah Winfrey, an individual whose accomplishments are beyond anything anyone could have imagined for a little Black girl born in the United States of America, let alone one who hails from the little town of Kosciusko, Mississippi, lost her composure and related to the overwhelmingly AfricanAmerican audience that of all the accolades that she has received, this one was particularly special because it came from her own. It was one of her finest moments. The rise of Sylvester Turner to Houston’s Mayoral Office is akin to Winfrey’s sterling moment.

In the view of many,

Sylvester Turner’s birth on September 27, 1954 in Acres Homes doomed the young male child to a life on the margins of American society. There is no doubt that such a negative perspective flowed from two primary areas, (a) Sylvester Turner was born into this world as an African-American male and (b) Sylvester Turner would be reared in Acres Homes.

Acres Homes, located in the northwest section of Houston, Texas, is approximately 9-square miles whose boundaries are defined by West Gulf Bank Road (North), Pinemont Drive (South), North Shepherd Drive (East) and Antoine Drive (West). The area, which is commonly referred to as the “Fo-Fo” was initially established during World War I when Houston landowners

began selling home sites that were divided by the acre, not by the traditional means of plots.

In time, the area became a location where African-Americans could own their own homes and purchase parcels of land, a welcome reprieve to traditional overcrowded urban areas. For a period of time, Acres Homes was the largest unincorporated African-American community to be found in the Southeastern portion of this nation.

It was this location that young Sylvester Turner entered the world. Although many outsiders discount individuals born into areas such as Acres Homes, their doubt is exceeded by their failure to understand that the lack of economic resources is most certainly no barometer of an absence of pride, hard work, diligence, and belief in a glori-

Thank You! P o l . a dv. S y lveS t er t u rne r C am Paign. davi d m i nC b er g , tr eaSu re r

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o those who supported our campaign, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the amazing victory we had on Election Night. To those who supported others, thank you for caring about our city and for your dedication to making Houston a better place for everyone.

Now it is time to do what Houstonians do best: bring our city together and move it forward.

Please accept my wishes for a safe and joyous holiday season and I look forward to working together with you in the new year.

Mayor-Elect Sylvester Turner

ous future. Sylvester Turner, the sixth of nine children, was born to parents who moved to Acres Homes in 1954, the same year that he was born. Turner was born into a home where his father worked as a commercial painter and his mother served as a maid at the Rice Hotel.

From the moment that young Sylvester entered school, he shined; as evidenced by his election as Senior Class President and earning the distinction of Valedictorian at Klein High School. From Klein he entered the University of Houston, where he continued his stellar academic record and not only served as the Speaker of the Student Senate, but also graduated Magna Cum Laude from the venerable institution with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. The Acres Homes native would go on to earn a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.

After matriculating from Harvard Law School, an ambitious Turner joined the law firm of Fulbright and Jaworski.

Predictably, it did not take Sylvester long to begin his own law firm, Barnes & Turner, in 1983. Having been incubated within a community that looked at failure to help their neighbor as sinful, Turner bolstered not only the historic Thurgood Marshall School of Law as an adjunct professor, but also had his presence requested by the South Texas College of Law and the University of Houston Law School.

Turner’s most significant contributions would occur as an elected official. The native Houstonian became a member of the Texas House of Representatives in 1989. As with most of Turner’s achievements, the road to success was filled with challenges and a few heart-breaking disappointments that tested the perseverance that he learned in Acres Homes. In

1984, Sylvester Turner ran for Harris County Commissioner (Precinct 1), however, he was defeated in the Democratic Party Primary by El Franco Lee. Four years later, Turner managed to be elected to the Texas House of Representatives (House District 139 --- Harris County).

Turner’s recent Mayoral victory is particularly encouraging to Black Houstonians as he failed to capture the office during two previous attempts.

In 1991, Turner ran for the Mayor’s position, however, he lost in a runoff election to Bob Lanier. In a subsequent attempt (2003), Turner finished third and thereby failed to earn a place in the runoff election.

There is no doubting the fact that Sylvester Turner has historically served admirably in his role as ‘the people’s champion’ as noted by his repeated attempts to increase the number of medical doctors serving in poor, African-American and Hispanic communities. State Representative Turner was also instrumental in increasing funding for mental health services in Harris County from $32 Million to an astounding $200 Million.

It is this attention to the poor that has made Turner revered among his own people, as well as a respected member of the Texas Legislature where he has served for more than 25 years in the following capacities.

• Member of the Legislative Budget Board • Vice-Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee • Chairman of the Subcommittee of Article 1 (General Government) • Chairman of the Subcommittee of Article 4 (Judiciary)

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Chairman of the Subcommittee of Article 5 (Public Safety & Criminal Justice) • Member of the House State Affairs Committee • Chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus • Chair of the Greater Houston Area Legislative Delegation Although one could argue that in light of Turner’s extended service as a State Representative and commitment to the Houston area, that it was only natural for him to assume the Mayoral office, however, one should not be seduced into believing that he was anointed and gifted the position; such an occurrence would have been out of the norm for an individual who has had to fight for each and everything that they have ever obtained.

So it is with great satisfaction that the citizens of Houston, Texas, elected Sylvester Turner (D) as its next mayor in this year’s election.

The sixty-one year old Mayor-elect defeated Bill King (R) in a historically close race by a mere 4,000 votes. Turner’s election continues a thirty year pattern of the Democratic Party controlling Houston’s Mayor’s office.

The Turner campaign received a last-minute boost when President Barack Hussein Obama endorsed Turner less than twenty-four hours before the election.

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BY: JAMES THOMAS JONES, III

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TEXAS • DECEMBER 28, 2015 - JANUARY 3, 2016 EDWARDS From Pg. 1

Acres H me Pr ud

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CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR-ELECT SYLVESTER TURNER & CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE 4 AMANDA EDWARDS!!!

THE EVOLUTION OF AMANDA K. EDWARDS

I

am truly grateful to have had the support of the Acres Homes community in my pursuit of becoming the Houston City Council Member for At-Large Pos. 4! I know our campaign was successful in large part thanks to your efforts (whether it be calls, yard signs, block walks, spreading the word or simply voting). With your help, we won in a runoff election, but this is just the beginning. I am looking forward to a continued partnership with the Acres Homes Community so that we can truly move all of Houston forward!

I ran for office in large part because I believe it is my responsibility to empower all our Houston communities and reinvest in communities that invested so much in me. From my early years of community service work at St. Monica Catholic Church as a Jr. Daughter of the Knights of St. Peter Claver Court 151 to my days as class president and as a student athlete at Eisenhower High School, this community has provided me with such a strong foundation. I never forgot the lessons of service and community learned in my youth and knew that

when I attended college and law school, I would eventually return to serve the community. Thank you for helping to propel me to a platform where I can serve in such a far-reaching manner.

I am ready to get to work to help provide fresh ideas and new opportunities so this community may flourish and grow in a manner that enables the residents to benefit from the same.

While our campaign has ended, the next step in this journey begins. It is time to get to work! I thank you for your encouragement and support, and please know that my door at City Hall will always be open to you since it is your office too, after all! Thank you for all of your support! Together, let’s move all of Houston forward!

Amanda K. Edwards

HOUSTON - The great Dottie Peoples sings one of my favorite gospel songs, He’s An on Time God. The chorus of the song goes as follows: Lead: He's an on time God, Yes he is Oh.........

Choir: On time God...... Yes he is Lead: Job said Choir: He may not come when you want him Lead: But He'll Choir: Be there right on time Lead: I'll tell ya he's an Choir: On time God, yes he is.

This song is one of my favorite songs because it conveys a belief that as midnight approaches, believers should never give up hope, because that is when God is going to swoop in with a solution to our most pressing problems.

Throughout the AfricanAmerican experience, one of

our ancestors most consistent hopes and prayers was the arrival of a leadership class that possessed a servants heart and an unshakable courage to ‘speak truth to power’; put simply, to confront those that abused and oppressed us regardless of the situation or location. Although it is a far too infrequent occurrence, the aforementioned “ontime God” has blessed our community with leaders who have been designed by God to fill the prominent leadership vacuum. Amanda K. Edwards is one of the foremost tools that the most high has created to lead the African-American community.

Amanda K. Edwards is a native Houstonian, raised on the outskirts of Acres Homes, who was most certainly born with the necessary tools that all true leaders possess: intelligence, patience, kindness, courage, vision, and a willingness to serve others.

As is so often the case, Amanda’s passion for helping others sprouted from a personal tragedy; in her case it was the untimely passing of her beloved father. It was this incident that opened the teenaged Amanda’s eyes regarding the existence of institutionalized inequalities that would never be addressed via traditional African-American protest tactics such as marching, boycotting, and political rallies. Young Mrs. Edwards recognized that true power emanated from working within the system in some capacity, not by boisterously criticizing the system from the outside.

Many of these lessons were instilled in her as a result of her membership at St. Monica Catholic Church in Acres Homes.

Mrs. Edwards remembers

that it was via her church that she “…spent a lot of time learning about leadership, learning about how to serve others. That is a lot of where that foundation was established, from the many service projects that I was involved in. Quite simply, I learned that helping others was what you did outside of school. From the age of 9 through graduating from high school, I helped people.”

It appears that Amanda was destined to seize the reins of leadership within the African-American community as she served as “Student Body President” at both Eisenhower High School (Aldine ISD) and Emory University (Atlanta, Ga.). While at Emory University, Mrs. Edwards earned the following honors: • Emory Academic Excellence Award • Emory Overall Excellence Award • Inducted into the Emory University Hall of Fame It was during her stint in Atlanta, Georgia, as a Fellow for Community Building and Social Change that Amanda became convinced that an essential tool in reassembling troubled urban communities was legislative policy.

After matriculating from Emory University, Amanda earned a Law degree from Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, this impressive young lady chaired the Harvard Black Law Students Association Spring Conference and was awarded the Elaine Osborne Jacobson Award; a distinction bestowed upon her, for the voluminous work she performed on behalf of underserved populations in the area of healthcare law.

After a stint in New Orleans that was born out of a desire to help the victims

of Hurricane Katrina, Mrs. Edwards finally returned to Houston, Texas. Predictably, Amanda left a positive legacy in “The Big Easy” by founding Project NOW: The New Orleans Writing Project.

Project NOW was designed to not only heal, but also empower residents via the written word. Amanda remembers that many of her peers, realizing that she was an attorney, often presented the following query; “Why do you spend so much time working with these organizations, you don’t get paid to do that. (I would relate) I do get paid in the sense of gratification of empowering other people. Empowering people and empowering communities is something that I love. I became a public servant, not to make political moves, rather to serve those in need people.”

Undoubtedly, Mrs. Edwards’ prior activist experiences had a major impact upon how she not only understood the problems facing her hometown, but also how those problems could be addressed in a methodical policy driven way. Mrs. Edwards currently works as an attorney at Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP, where she solves complex issues relating to tax-exempt bond financings, public-private partnerships, community development projects, and non-profit organizations.

Mrs. Edwards has purposely sought to remain connected to her community via multiple endeavors such as: • President of the Board of Directors for Project Row Houses in the Historical Third Ward • Texas Lyceum • Crisis Intervention of Houston • Texas One Voice: A Health and Human Services

Collaborative The Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. • Graduate of the Center for Houston’s Future Business/Civic Leadership Forum • Leadership Houston, • The United Way’s Project Blueprint.

The newest City Council(wo)man has plans for her position. When asked why she ran for the city wide position, she retored, “I am supposed to be at a place where I have the strongest chance of empowering our communities…From a policy standpoint, you can have further reach across the city.

That is why I ran city-wide, there are several issues that we can get behind via policy to solve them. This position affords me the ability to have the type of impact that I hope to achieve.”

“One issue is economic development. You don’t really hear many discussions regarding how elected officials’ should empower existing communities through new initiatives aimed at revitalization. How do you go about what is best termed, responsibly revitalizing; meaning introducing initiatives that allow for existing residents to access newly introduced resources aimed at improving areas instead of being quite simply run out of neighborhoods that they have lived in across several generations.

Two, infrastructure needs.

Although it is very difficult to accept, many of the amenities in our urban communities, such as parks, are absolutely inaccessible due to the absence of a baseline infrastructure.

•

To Continue Reading “Edwards” see Pg. 6

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se Academy, before school and after school enrichment programs are of713692- 1178 om 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m. and from 4:20-5:45 daily. Reese will be unaffected by the magnet schools.

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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 R e a will d u s oton provide l i n ea members endeavor strong of w love;swe. will a f rfoundation amne c ostand m on Biblical Truths; and we will equip one another to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our community and in our world.

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rict administrators looked elimination. Other schools would ately for areas to cut that be Smith, Stovall, Harris and Hill, have the least impact on all based on the same criteria. Stus. Administrators made 12 dents of magnet programs that had nt of their cuts in district been eliminated would return to ments (central office, main- their home campus and given first Wednesday MINISTER: Mid-Week Bible Class ce, operations, and substi- priority for available slots in other Theaster Maloy, Sr. 7:00 p.m.

Although no one was laid off, magnet programs, with the excepGreek Sorority Gifts w! Great OFFICE: 713/674-5131 hose to delete or freeze tion of 4th grade students, who Nesev140 Fidelity Rd. Houston Tx 77029 ISD positions, as they were will be given the option of continu. Reductions were also made ing at Houston Academy. Staff will FIFTH WARD CHURCH OF CHRIST e use of paraprofessionals be placed into vacant positions on ng assistants). The district other campuses.

SUNDAY made several board approved The order would have given the 8:00 a.m. Worship o stipends for educators in magnet program a protected status 10:00 a.m. Bible Class n areas. Incentive plans were and funds from the government 11:15 a.m. Worship ated, class sizes increased would have been provided for their 6:00 p.m. Worship pansion projects frozen. But operation. Also, several events and MONDAY budget changes would not be items were reduced or eliminat10:00 a.m.

Gary Smith ent to secure the future sol- ed, such as the magnet festival and Ladies Bible Class Minister of the district. technology fair. The proposed cuts WEDNESDAY rder to strengthen the bud- were approved by district trust7:30 p.m. Bible Class for all he district would propose ees at the January 25 school board r cuts and it would need the meeting before a packed house of Website N www. fthwardcoc.org ew unities support for them. incensed parents and student. But ! magnet programs were next.alPHa Bamberg warns the cuts may still “GIVING, GROWING, & GAINING” alPHa KaPPa iVY CoVerlet a lPHa K aPPa a lPHa PinK PilloW A A ( Kthe)needs 4308 Stonewall St. Hou. Tx 77020 strict scheduled meetings at not be enough to meet 60 X 48 16 X713-672-2654 16 s academies from December of the nation’s 12th largestNow! district.

Available ugh January 7. Happy In addition to their other activities, the Administrators say they still need Fifth Ward COC also holds a Bible GifttoShop: first magnetNew schoolYear up for $18 million balance 713-692-1195 the budget.

Class for non-members on Thursday nights Fri. at 7:30 PM.Tues.

For more informaation was Carroll Academy’s “The only way we’re going to Holiday Store Hours: Wed. and Thurs 11am - 5pm Closed thru tion on the various special events or et program. It demonstrated get6130 activities you really should visit their additional revenue this pointTexas 77091 Wheatley Streetat| Houston, website, it is very well done, informative ast amount of interest from is to look to the community,” said and worth a visit even if you have anothHOU-6among mager church home. s and students Bamberg, alluding to the need for ograms on the primary level, increased property tax revenue, et, it had the greatest cost. which could be as much as 13 cents

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EDWARDS From Pg. 5

My third initiative addresses the issue of safety for all Houstonians through improved community policing and enhanced opportunities for law enforcement officers to receive better training across the board.”

Although there has seemingly never been a moment that Amanda Edwards has not been a leader for others, that role is not only accentuated by her present political position, but also taken with the utmost seriousness by this city’s newest City Council(wo)man. For those that are viewing her on the heels of her victory she would like to remind them that she worked long and hard for this opportunity. According to Mrs. Edwards, “There is no substitute for preparation.

End of story. You have to be prepared. People are not going to give you something because you want it. You have to work hard and demonstrate that you are capable. You’ve got to be prepared. A lot of the things that are necessary for your preparation are not enjoyable, however, they must be trudged through if you want to have as many opportunities as possible.

You should view such inconveniences as short-term bumps in the road that must be traversed to arrive at joyous long-term benefits.”

According to Edwards, “The worst thing that can happen is that an opportunity presents itself and you are not prepared for it. I desperately want young people to understand that there is no substitution for either hard work or preparation. Young people see

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what it looks like to win an election and when things go well, however, they don’t see the hours upon hours preparing for that one moment. They simply see the end result. I wish that there was a way to show them how long I prepared for that single moment.”

If there were one piece of advice that Mrs. Edwards would share with young Black Houstonians who are seeking a path to success, she would tell them that “They have to be solely focused upon achieving.

You’ve got to have a strong mind. You’ve always have to have that focus drive and determination. You work hard for it.

There is no substitution for hard work or preparation. Trust me, if people can discount you, they will. So you can’t give them reason to discount you.”

One of the most common ingredients in success stories is parental involvement. Having lost her father relatively early in her life, Amanda K. Edwards came to heavily rely upon her mother. While basking in the glory of her electoral victory, Edwards rightfully took the occasion to thank her mother. The following quote is a blueprint for success that Council(wo) man Edwards directed specifically at the droves of AfricanAmerican females, regardless of age who have ever dared to dream, a dream; regardless of its size.

Continue Reading Online @ www.aframnews.com

By: JAMES THoMAS JonES, III

EDITION DATE: December 21 -27, 2015 (Vol. 20 Issue 47) ON DATE: December 28, 2015 - January 3, 2016 (Vol. 20 Issue 48)

What’s Happenin’ Dec 28 - Jan 23 28 Monday 2 Project Row Houses Monday - Saturday

African

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Marketplace Heading: Work Ujima (Collective Houston Museum of African Public Notice & Responsibility) American Culture 2310 Elgin St Abolitionists: Houston, TX 77004 Different Eyes Seeing the Contact Information (Market Opens at 5pm) Same Reality Name: Jennifer Chiu Beginning at 7pm 4807 CarolinePhone: (713) 718-5138 For more indo contact: Documents can be obtained Houston, TX 77004 Fax: at: www.hccs.edu/district/de(713) 526-7662 For more info contact: partments/procurement.

Email: hua.chiu@hccs.edu Tuesday (713) 526-1015Address for Tearsheet/Copies: Nation of Islam (NOI) Sealed qualifications will 3100 MainUjamma Street ( Cooperative be received in Procurement Houston, Texas 77002 Monday - Sunday Economics) Operations (3100 Main Street, SpaceCenter Room No. 11A06, Houston, 4443 Old Spanish Trail AD COST Texas 77002) until 2:00PM Houston Houston, TX 77021 (local time) on Wednesday, Be the Astronaut (Market Opens at 5pm) January 27, 2016.

1601 NASA Pkwy TOTAL NET COST:at$182.20 Beginning 7pm Houston, TX 77058 For more indo contact: From 10am to 5pm (713)Ad 398-2681 Total Cost to Run for 2 Weeks For more info contact: Wednesday $374.40 (281) 244-2100 S.E.H.A.H. Youth & Monday - Wednesday Fitness Center Ensemble Theatre Nia ( Purpose) Monday Sunday A Soulfulsign Christmas Please for approvalDiscovery and fax back to 713-692-1183 Nia Cultural Center Green 3535 Main St. 2627 Ave M by 12 NOON Wednesday the week before Monday Field of Lights Houston, TX 77002 Galveston, TX 77550 1500 McKinney Street Times Vary Beginning at 7pm Houston, TX 77010 For more info contact: For more indo contact: All Day O#107176 (713) 520-0055 (409) 457-8955 For more indo contact: This Should be Your Event www.visithoustontexas.com Wednesday s e n d i n q u i r i e s to S.E.H.A.H. Youth & news@aframnews.com Fitness Center Monday - Wednesday Nia (Purpose) Bayou Bend 5110 MLK Jr. Blvd Christmas Village Monday - Saturday Houston, TX 77021 6003 Memorial Drive Houston Zoo Lights (Market Opens at 5pm) Houston, TX 77007 2015 Women’s Global Beginning at 7pm From 6pm - 9:30pm Leadership Conference For more indo contact: For more indo contact: Date 6200 Hermann Park Dr (713) 747-0241 www.mfah.org Houston, TX 77030 Thursday Beginning at 6pm Monday S.H.A.P.E. For more info contact: Alley Theatre Kuumba (Creativity) www.houstonzoo.org A Christmas Carol - A 3815 Live Oak Ghost Story of Christmas Houston, TX 77550 615 Texas Avenue (Market Opens at 5pm) Monday - Saturday Houston, TX 77002 Beginning at 7pm Houston Museum of African Times Vary For more indo contact: American Culture For more indo contact: (713) 521-0641 As Small as a Giant: (713) 427-5200 A Homeage to Black Lives R e a d us online matter Movement a f r a m news.com 4807 Caroline Friday Houston, TX 77004 The Shrine of the Wednesday For more info contact: Black Madonna Warren Fitzgerald Jr (713) 526-1015 Imani (Faith) JP 1 Campaign 5313 MLK Blvd Kickoff Fundraiser Email Your Upcoming Houston, TX 77021 4212 Almeda Rd Events to: (Market Opens at 5pm) Houston, TX 77004 news@aframnews.com Beginning at 7pm From 5pm to 8pm 4 weeks in advance!

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DeAnne Gr

up

Texas • December 28, 2015 - January 3, 2016

“nothing iS All noboDy cAn Do…”

(l-r) honoreeS MrS. ViViAn hArriS, Mr. WilliAM hAyWooD, MrS. SylViA bolling, Mr. eD bAnKS (For Mr. DeloyD PArKer), reV rAy MArtin

roy DeAn Moore

Vietnam Vet Roy Dean Moore says when asked if his being contributory to his community had long been an attribute of his. “While serving in Vietnam, during rest and recuperation, I would go to the Saigon where the kids were hungry, and I would feed them.

When I got home, I promised myself that I would never go to sleep a day in my life without being able to look back and say, I helped someone” Moore says. This is evident in his and Anne Frederick’s hosting of the Third Ward’s Multipurpose Center’s 4th annual Christmas party. On December 11, 2015 about 300 people congregated in the dining hall where entertainment

georgiA ProVoSt

and other accommodations were provided. A familial atmosphere overtook the room as Moore kicked off the event with this statement, “Hello family”. Moore went on to explain that, “Some people do not have families they can sit down and have a meal with, those individuals can come to the center and know that they have a family. I believe everyone should have that opportunity. Moreover, “everyone” is exactly whom were on hand at this festive event; representatives from the Chinese community center, Sunnyside, Pasadena, 5th Ward, Anglo community, Native American, and the Asian American community

cheryl elliott thornton

were all in attendance. This was no accident according to Moore, “I wanted to bring diversified communities together, if we all come together, we can get more done”. It is no secret that there is work to be done within communities all over the country; however, where does one start? “With the youth” says Moore, “We must take more time with the youth and build better role models. Kids learn what they see, before they learn what they hear. Today is tomorrow’s history, whatever we do today, the kids will learn from.”.

Moore also went onto say that he carries himself as if his mother was watching him; his mother who he says influenced

KeonDrA FeDricK WAlKer PrAiSe DAnceS in tribute to her FAther

he and Anne Frederick to start up the “DeAnne Group”, which sponsored the event.

This organization was birth out of the passing of his mother says Moore, “During the holidays, we always had family dinner at my mother’s house. When she passed, the dinners stopped. I went back to her hometown, where they already had their own luncheons; which I wanted to contribute to. However, our visions did not match”.

Quoted from an old country western song, Moore says, “There was no good guy, there was no bad guy, there was just you and me and we didn’t agree…, However, I support them 100%”. Moore returned

home to the senior center he frequented, and noticed the need in his own community and decided that the Third Ward Multipurpose center would home the continuation of his mother’s legacy. When asked what would be a step in the right direction concerning our community, Moore so candidly stated, “We have to respect our elders, we have to use our veterans. When an athletic team goes to the championship, they always hire on a few veterans to lead the team to victory, I believe we should model our actions after that example.” “Too often we disrespect our elderly, we do not use the knowledge they have to offer and that

will be our downfall” says Moore, “Some think that all these people want to do is eat oatmeal and play bingo when in actuality, many elderly people lead very productive lives”. Moore and Frederick did not only pay homage to the seniors in attendance, but also to a few other individuals who are too making a difference in the community. In addition to food, fun, and family, this annual Christmas party is held in an effort to reward those making moves in the community.

To continue reading visit us online @ www.aframnews.com Photos by: S. Murray & Shelondra Peavy Story By: Taylor Tolbert

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Texas • December 28, 2015 - January 3, 2016

Today is Tomorrow’s History

Recently, the DeAnne Group and Third Ward Multi-Service Center presented their 4th annual Christmas luncheon for Seniors. The theme of the event was “Today is tomorrow’s history”. The event was held at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center, located at 3611 Ennis St.. Upon arrival, the room was set up nicely for its anticipated guests. With centerpieces and programs neatly placed at each of the elegant round-tables, people were filing in and taking their seats while Reverend Yuri Solomon played the piano softly. In the meantime, as soon as the room was filled, the participants had started to simmer down in anticipation for the program to begin.

Honorably, the basic purpose of this 4th annual Christmas luncheon was - to shine the light on the vital importance of living our lives from day to day as the “guideposts” for those who are “looking up to us”, hoping to make a great enough impression on them, whereby, they will be great leaders in the future. As an example, they focused on how we were all influenced by the generation before us. They remembered “grandma’s hands”, they recalled “grandpa’s work ethic”, and they made references to the strong little ladies who used to regularly feed their own households and the neighbor-

hood children as well.

And, throughout the duration of the event, past generations were revered, while today’s generation was warned to never forget the “power of influence” that’s passed on from one generation to the next. The event was not only meaningful, but it was filled with laughter and excitement, once Ms. Angie White

DeAnne Gr

After the raffle, the Master of the Ceremonies, Mr. Fred Ponder brought up the Lawson Academy musical department to perform (featuring their drumline). Also, as a tribute to her father, Keondra F. Walker performed a dance of praise. Next, a squad of our community’s finest people acted as servers, as they branched out from each of the serving lines and personally served every seated person with cool

Faces of the Scene

(of Neighborhood Centers) began pulling the “winning tickets” for the raffle that took place shortly after the official welcome was extended (by Michael Robertson). Those who were seated at the table reserved for the “J. W. Peavy Seniors Center of 5th Ward” gave a lively roar when Angie acknowledged the group over the loud-speaker. And, keeping with that same energy, that same energetic group cheered loudly again when one of their own, Mr. Elbert Cormier, was the very 1st winner of the day.

drinks and freshly prepared comfort food. Then, while the people ate and interacted, the next voice they heard was that of Mr. Roy Dean Moore. Mr. Moore gave a warm introduction of the “Speaker of the Day” , Mr. Roy Douglas Malonson. In his introduction, Mr. Moore called Roy Malonson “a man who tells it like it is” and he chuckled while he told the audience that they could basically expect to hear a man who speaks with “a lot of truth, a few “cuss” words, and no regrets”.

And once he stepped up to

up

the podium and grabbed the microphone, Mr. Roy Douglas Malonson “did not disappoint”. Essentially, at the very beginning of his speech, he started out with a “hard truth”.

He drew smiles and nods of agreement when he said “Some people don’t want to know the truth”. Then, full laughter came when Mr. Malonson challenged the crowd by saying “If any of y’all don’t want to hear the truth, you mightas-well leave now.”

And from there, the people listened attentively as he continued with his serious, but humorous oral presentation. He told the people “We got a problem!” Later explaining: “We’re almost approaching 2016, and many Black folk are worst off today than our ancestors were (when they had many mouths to feed, earning pennies per hour). He pointed out how, despite having technological advancement and degreed folk abounding, we’re worst off than we were when the average “heads of Black households” were undereducated, yet rich with morals and dignity. Perhaps the pivotal and most powerful portion of Roy Malonson’s speech was when he spoke firmly, saying “Integration is the worst thing that could have ever happened to Black people.”

To continue reading visit us online @ www.aframnews.com Photos by: S. Murray & Shelondra Peavy Story By: Shelondra Peavy

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Shirley Ann & Roy Douglas Malonson

Michael Robertson & Dr. James Douglass

Angie White Fred Ponder

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Reflecti ns

In a long ago forgotten interview, Tupac Amaru Shakur quipped after a recent run-in with the Oakland Police Department that one of the “civil servants” aggressively proclaimed that there was no need for Black people to resist oppression at the hands of law enforcement officers, because the police were the largest gang in America. Considering the consistent stream of African-Americans, regardless of gender, age, or class, who were killed at the hands of local officers, it is difficult to argue against the assertion that they are the nation’s largest gang.

Put simply, America’s legion of civil servants have long resembled a hostile occupying army within the Black community.

Quite possibly the single-greatest fear of African-Americans is for their loved one’s to have a run-in with a rogue officer from which they most likely will not survive. Hence, the footage showing the murder of Eric Garner is not particularly shocking to anyone with any understanding of police/citizen relations within urban America. The vast majorities of African-Americans has had at least one run-in with the police or are at best once removed from such an incident.

In the new millennium, the brutality that African-Americans experience at the hands of law enforcement officers is not only predictable, but also expected. No one should be shocked that Mr. Eric Garner has lost his life at the hands of “law enforcement officers”. The fact that it was caught on camera is the only shocking element of the entire incident.

Within the pantheon of AfricanAmericans, male and female, who have met their demise at this familiar adversary, Eric Garner is nothing special; he joins a lengthy list of victims such as Fred Hampton, Mark Clark, Carl Hampton, Jonathan Jackson, George Jackson, the list stretches across several centuries.

The murder of African-Americans

TEXAS • DECEMBER 28, 2015 - JANUARY 3, 2016

by “law enforcement officers” invariably brings forth the exact same “playbook” by those who proclaim to represent the community, be it preachers, community activists, Black Nationalist leaders, and/or elected officials. This playbook consists of several predictable actions/activities: A. We will decry the murder of an innocent Black person.

B. We will call for an ‘independent investigation’ of the matter.

C. The militants will publicly spew hollow threats at law enforcement agencies that amount to little more than ‘mental masturbation’.

D. We will hold rallies and press conferences to address the pernicious issue of police brutality.

E. We will hold a march to call attention to the issue.

F. We will then bury our dead and return home heartbroken with a righteous indignation that promises ‘never again’; that is until the next time it occurs, and we all know that there will be a next time.

The alluded to reactionary playbook has repeatedly failed us. And as the great saying goes, ‘if you do what you always did, you gon’ get what you always got.” Such is a lesson that “race leaders” have failed to recognize.

Although Mr. Eric Garner is central to this incident, there is a larger lesson to be learned here. It is this realization that drives my belief that it is impossible for African-Americans to honor Mr. Eric Garner by securing anything resembling to justice. Put simply, our reactionary nature, lack of cohesiveness and political disorganization prevent such an occurrence.

When will African-Americans learn that threats, public statements, and wearing out of shoe leather is NOT a winnable strategy for dealing with institutional racism found amongst law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, or even within financial institutions. Antiquated protest activities barely place demands, let alone

a significant threat, upon politically organized entities.

It is only through an already mobilized political force that a significant blow to institutions and those individuals who make up those institutions may be delivered. Put simply, the lack of political currency and cohesion leaves the African-American community completely vulnerable to the repeated attacks of law enforcement agencies.

Unfortunately, the reaction of our “leaders” to the murder of Mr. Eric Garner came out of a centuries old playbook that has yet to work. Such an occurrence is the greatest indicator that not only will there be continuing abuses upon African-Americans by law enforcement officers, but also the African-American community will remain powerless in either preventing or responding to the incident in a significant way. It is only through correcting intra-racial political disorganization and inefficiency that we will ever be positioned to secure justice for future victims of police brutality within our community.

Currently, the brutality of AfricanAmericans at the hands of ‘law enforcement officers’ have become so common that significant sections of this nation are desensitized to the issue. Not even cell phone video recordings have proven sufficient to garner the attention of apathetic Americans. Leaving many African-Americans, as misguided as they may be, to resort to antiquated riotous behavior; activities that they attempt to rhetorically flip into a positive for the African-American community.

The activities of those participating in the riot albeit exhilarating is doomed to not only fail, but also, if history is to be trusted, will ultimately damage the most vulnerable members of their community: women, children, and the elderly.

Continue Reading Online @ www.aframnews.com BY: JAMES THOMAS JONES, III

all original responses from Letter to the Editor Weourwelcome readers to content found in the

African-American News&Issues. Letters to the Publisher may be sent via e-mail to news@aframnews.com. Please keep all letters under 300 words. Be sure to include the author’s name, area of residence. All letters and articles may be verified before they are published. All letters are subjected to editing or being cut for spacing purposes. Thank you in advance for your submission.

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TEXAS • DECEMBER 28, 2015 - JANUARY 3, 2016

Religion

Reflecti ns

WELCOME BABY ELLISON & BABY ROY!

ELLISON BENNET & ROY III WERE WELCOMED INTO THE WORLD TO ERICA LEECARTER AND ROY CARTER JR. . THESE AMAZING BUNDLE OF JOYS ARE THE FIRST BORN GRANDCHILDREN TO CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND ELWYN LEE. In 2015, we lost several vessels that were instrumental in making a difference in the lives of others. As we approach this year’s end, let us be reminded to live each day to the fullest; yielding ourselves as vessels of love and knowing full well that we may never pass this way again.

Generally, when somebody lives a fruitful life and then passes away, we want to commemorate his or her memories and keep their legacy alive. For this, we use epitaphs, eulogies, or other sorts of inscriptions to express our deepest and most heartfelt sentiments. Basically, we feel the need to pay tribute to those who are now deceased for their contributions, generosity, long-suffering, and so on.

There are some people who will be remembered for their warmth, whereas, others may be remembered more-so for their tenacity and feistiness. Then, there are those whose strength and courage are the attributes that we will never forget.

Also, we may remember a person’s sense of style or perhaps we’ll remember something as simple as an individual’s smile or even their scent. But the bottom line is: We’ll remember them.

Smooth moves on the dance floor, fierce in the arena of politics and activism, kind-natured within the congregation, gentle and compassionate on the street corners and among society’s outcasts, extraordinary at baking; whatever it is that

makes us specifically remember them, we do remember those whose lives have touched the lives of those around them.

And so – we vow to never forget; whether they lived a long life or if they left in an untimely manner and were gone too soon – we will miss them. Whether they left surprisingly and suddenly or if, through illness, we had the time to prepare for the heartbreak – we’ll mourn for losing them. And even if we did not get the opportunity to tell them so, we will speak and display our gratitude for the times we spent with them by paying forward the impact that they had on our lives. If it was their “sweetness” that helped us, then we can assume the duty of being “sweet” to someone else. On the other hand, if it was guidance that they gave us, we can use our own wisdom and knowledge as compasses to guide someone else who may be lost.

Whatever the case may be, when great people leave us, they are undoubtedly missed by family, friends, and loved-ones in general. And, in recalling their finest works, we refer to them as jewels that are gone, but not forgotten. Then we rest in knowing that their eternal rest will be a peaceful one and that their memory will live on in the hearts of all the people that they touched throughout their lives on Earth.

To those who left us in 2015; here’s wishing to you all, a sweet transition and eternal peace.

African

American News&Issues

11

“VERY WELL MY TRUE AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”

There is a common saying regarding God that goes like this; “God is the world’s greatest comedian. It’s just that we are too afraid to laugh.”

There is most certainly no doubt that God was using an active hand when he orchestrated the meeting of Audrey Hoffman and William ‘Bill’ Lawson.

In many ways it is misleading to refer to their ‘meeting’ as an actual meeting as it was not a face-to-face meeting, rather a series of letters, 600 letters in total that have been archived by the Houston City Library in a 3-volume set titled The Lawson Letters, that are one of the obvious manifestations of love that one will ever come across.

Audrey, who knew that Bill had been a pen pal with another young lady living in her dormitory at Tennessee State University, broached the subject of her and the Kansas City, Missouri, located seminarian becoming pen pals in the following manner.

“Dear Bill, I hope you won't think me bold and wrong in writing you.”

Bill Lawson smoothly responded, “Of course I won't think you bold and wrong. Why Lady, you compliment me in every sentence.”

This courtship, which should be considered the quintessential love story, led to a series of meetings, eight in total, before the two HBCU students married on their next visit on January 30, 1954; they would live in marital bliss for the next 61 years.

Audrey Hoffman Lawson was born March 20, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri, to John Henry and Alma Hoffman as one of nine children. One could argue that Audrey Hoffman attended Nashville, Tennessee’s, Tennessee State University at one of the most volatile moments in this nation’s history as the U.S. Supreme Court would soon rule that the 1896 decision handed down in the Plessy v.

Ferguson case that made ‘separate but equal’ the nation’s official position on racial matters was unconstitutional.

Audrey earned her Bachelor of Arts from Tennessee State University in Social Work, a degree that she would make great use of throughout her life.

In the twelve-months following the

Brown v. Board of Education (Topeka, Kansas) case that rendered ‘separate but equal’ unconstitutional, white terrorist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan dug in their heels and refused to cooperate with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, there was no greater expression of their refusal than the brutal murder of Emmett Louis Till in Money, Mississippi. It was Till’s murder that moved the Civil Rights Movement from this nation’s courtrooms to its streets with the Montgomery Bus Boycott and then the sit-in movement. Audrey Hoffman instantaneously found herself in the middle of the most contentious attempt to integrate this nation’s lunch counters, and other facilities, occurring in the nation. The students’ of Tennessee State MRS. AUDREY ANN HOFFMAN- LAWSON University were MARCH 20, 1932 - DECEMBER 12, 2015 instrumental in not church’s first-lady was instrumental only this movement, in starting several initiatives aimed but also the formation of the Student at children from Boy Scout troops Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. through unprecedented educational enBill Lawson recalls Audrey’s critical deavors. During her tenure at Wheeler role during this moment of contenAvenue Baptist Church, Audrey tiousness, “When students got put in Hoffman Lawson created the WALIPP jail, she was the one that had to help (William A. Lawson Institute for Peace me get them out of jail.” and Prosperity) - TSU Preparatory There is most certainly no debatAcademy which she realized was ing that this duo was brought together desperately needed to address not

by God to help the disenfranchised only the academic issues plaguing and listless they found around them. many children within the community, It is such an urge that led the couple but also positively impact prominent to found Wheeler Avenue Baptist social issues among Houston’s urban Church in their home. Considering community. that Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Audrey Hoffman Lawson, 83, currently has 15,000 members, it is somewhat unbelievable that it began in passed on to glory on December 12th in her home, surrounded by her 1962 with a paltry 13 members. family. She is survived by her husband Those who knew Lady Audrey William ‘Bill’ Lawson and their four Hoffman Lawson relate that the children --- Melanie, Cheryl, Eric, phenomenal community outreach proand Roxanne --- and three grandchilgrams that the church became so well known for should be directly attributed dren --- Robyn Troup, Raven Troup, and Alex Koby. to the trained Social Worker. The

Read us online @www.aframnews.com The #1 100% Black-owned Worldwide Digital News Source TX-11

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