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VOL. 20 ISSUE 52

~Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman

UNEARTHING THE REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

I

must admit that one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented individual’s in American History is also one of the most popular; the person that I am alluding to is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now I am absolutely certain that many readers are questioning how is one of the most well known figure’s in American history ‘misunderstood and misrepresented’?

If you are one of those who are questioning the validity of my statement that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is ‘misunderstood and misrepresented’ you have made a typical error of associating an individual’s fame with the world understanding their message. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is quite possibly the greatest victim one could find in regards to his true message, particularly the post-March on Washington period, not being heard by the masses of people, including those who proclaim to follow his teachings.

Unfortunately for King, the most important aspects of his activism have been ignored by the very people who most vociferously champion his positions of integration and non-violent civil disobedience. According to historian Anthony Quinn, “Dr. King is remembered as ‘The Dreamer’

whose greatest goal was the ending of racial discrimination.

That is only part of his story, so that makes it a partial lie.”

Unfortunately for Dr. King, he, and more importantly his message, has been frozen on August 28, 1963; the date that he delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech at the March on Washington in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The primary problem with freezing Dr. King at this particular moment is that it causes people to ignore the last five years of King’s public political career that saw the Civil Rights Leaders mature into a radical political leader and theoretician who finally realized what droves of other leaders eventually realize; that being, in America it is always about the money.

Ironically, the celebrated Civil Rights icon that most people remember in their minds today would neither be recognized nor supported the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that was not assassinated until 1968. Despite supporters most desperate attempts to refute this reality, the false memories that so many have created about King is an inaccurate and dishonest representation of the Civil Rights Leaders final belief systems and political goals.

According to Mike Hinton,

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Exemption Verification Cards Property Value Matters

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Edit rial & Opini n

By Sands Stiefer Chief Appraiser of HCAD

ast month I discussed the property tax calendar and how property tax activities happen annually at approximately the same time of year.

I’ve also recently discussed homestead exemptions and additional exemptions for property owners who are age 65 or more.

An exemption is important because it excludes all or part of a property’s value from taxation, which can significantly lower tax bills for some people.

So now I am using what you learned from those two columns to talk about exemp-

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tion verification cards. I hope you are starting to see how all of these topics tie together.

This is the time of year that the appraisal district verifies that you are still entitled to the exemptions you have on your property. These would include a homestead exemption, over-65 exemption or a disability exemption.

You either have received or soon will receive a post card in early January listing the exemption you have. We send these postcards out to make sure that you still own and occupy the property in order to confirm you are entitled to the exemption on that property.

If nothing has changed and you still own and occupy the property, then you should just check that the exemptions listed at the top of the card are correct. If they are, you do not have to do anything. Your exemption will be automatically renewed for 2016.

But you should read the card carefully because if you have recently turned 65 or have become disabled, you may qualify for an additional exemption. If you believe you qualify and the exemption is not shown on the card, then you should contact the appraisal district. Contact information will be listed on the card.

If the postcard is returned to us, then by law, we have to cancel the exemption. If we do, we will send you a letter saying your exemption was cancelled, and we will provide a new application to fill out and return. However if you are over 65 years old, the Texas Legislature passed new legislation giving you

more time and warning before we remove the exemption.

If you are over 65, we will first send a written notice by certified mail of a pending cancellation and include a prepaid return envelope with a form to complete if the owner believes they are still qualified. If we have not heard back within 60 days, the district must then make a reasonable effort to locate the person and send a second over-65 exemption notice, which then gives the property owner another 30 days before the exemption is cancelled.

If you still own the home but are not currently living there, you may still qualify for the exemption if you can show that you are only away temporarily. For example, if you were in the hospital or even living with a relative because of illness, yet you still planned to return to your home within two years, then you may still qualify. Or if you were absent because you were serving in the U.S. military or living in a facility related to health, infirmity or aging, you may still qualify.

The state tax code is very specific about qualifications for these exemptions, but if you plan to return to your home within two years, you may still qualify. So if you do get a letter that we have cancelled your homestead, over-65 or disability exemption, it’s best to contact the appraisal district as soon as possible so we can get the issue resolved.

You can call us at 713.957.7800 or email us at help@hcad.org.

Sands Stiefer is the Chief Appraiser of the Harris County Appraisal District

Texas • January 18 - 24, 2016

“I Can’t Believe I’m Sitting Behind this Nigger” Before I Lay it Down...

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By “Coach” Mark Spivey, M.Ed

resident Barack Obama gave his final State of the Union Address Tuesday night on Capitol Hill. His message to the American populace centered on the economic gains and unquestioned military might that our country has enjoyed during his tenure as POTUS. President Obama also took jabs at GOP front runner, Donald Trump, reminding Americans that our great country “has been through big changes before.

Wars and Depression, the influx of immigrants, workers fighting for a fair deal, and movements to expand civil rights. Each time, there has been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control.”

President Obama, for all the good his administration has done, will probably go down as one of the most hated presidents of all time.

But, that’s okay. In that group are former presidents whose last name are Roosevelt and Lincoln; two fellers who fought through adversity and hate to save America from calamity and collapse. With gasoline prices below $1.80 per gallon alone, every working American should be kissing the president’s ass instead of throwing rocks at him.

As I watched the Address I couldn’t help but notice the backdrop of the American flag

along with Vice President, Joe Biden and House Speaker, Paul Ryan. Ryan is a member of the House of Representatives. He’s a Republican from Wisconsin.

There aren’t too many Black people in Wisconsin; the majority of them play for the Green Bay Packers. I like the Packers, though. They’re a team full of winners and not whiners. They have a “team FIRST” attitude and all their players seem to have bought into that concept. They’ve won many championships that way.

Being a coach, I too, understand how important it is for my players to be supportive of our team’s philosophy, especially when it’s working.

It’s evident that Paul Ryan and the rest of GOP isn’t clear on what “team” is when it comes to what’s best for America as a whole.

Their agenda is to distort, deny, and destroy all of the positive gains of the Obama Administration by being disruptive and quite frankly delirious.

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aSK dr. JoneS IS the BlaCK ChUrCh poSItIve for the BlaCK CommUnItY? Manhood, Race & Culture

By Dr. James Thomas Jones III

I am always arguing with my mother regarding church. I personally think that Black people go to too much church as it is. Do you think that the Black Church is a positive element in the Black community?

L

(A Frustrated Brother)

et me first say thank you for your question, it is one that seems to becoming more and more of an issue among our people, especially when it appears that preachers are doing well financially and mega-churches are sprouting up everywhere one looks, however, many of their most ardent followers continue to be mired in socioeconomic poverty.

Let me forthrightly state that the Black church has historically been the greatest institution that the Black community has ever had, for decades it served as the hub of the community where those in need --- financial, spiritual, political --- could congregate together and either have their needs addressed immediately or join with like-minded individuals willing to work with them toward a solution.

One must remember that the Black church often served as the refuge from the perils of the outside world for believers and provided ‘soul food’ for current storms and the trying times that lay ahead. The optimist in me hopes that the aforementioned church is still in existence. However, that is not to say that today’s church has not shifted and left behind many of its better qualities in the process.

I know of many individuals who absolutely refuse to listen to Black preachers today for reasons that run the gamut from they are preaching the White man’s religion to assertions that preachers and pastors are simply padding their pockets. Although I am most certainly not going to use a widebrush when discussing the Black church and the preachers/pastors that stand in the pulpit on a weekly basis, the truth of the matter is that they are not maximizing the millions of dollars that they are receiving from congregants.

As previously stated, the Black church is usually the largest and most financially stable institution in any Black community; of course, that status is directly attributable to its congregation. The diligent support of Black congregants must be reciprocated by using the aforementioned money to not only help the poor, but also bring economic vibrancy to the community. Think of what could be accomplished if the Black Church issued loans to aspiring Black businesspersons who may not be able to get loans via traditional means, not only would this seed money pave the way for additional Black-owned businesses, it would also benefit the church as they would receive some form of interest for loaning the money. Put simply, it is morally questionable and financially haphazard for Black churches, of course this does not apply to all of them, to stand on the sidelines increasing their financial resources while the community around them falls apart.

They must use the tithes and offerings to put the community to work.

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! 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 ~ Calvin Coolidge of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

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refaShIon mlK daY?

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t has occurred to me that we have fallen into a routine in regards to Martin Luther King Jr., Day. For far too many of us it is merely another day that we use to: (a) escape from school/work, (b) attend a MLK breakfast/ parade, or (c) go about our normal business as if it were a normal day. In recent years, we have seen campaigns about keeping Jesus in Christmas; it may be time for us to start a similar campaign about keeping the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s activist legacy and commitment to racial equality as the reason for MLK day.

As you well know, the school system can not be relied upon to teach our children about neither their rich cultural legacy nor history.

Unfortunately for AfricanAmericans, too many of our people, particularly our young people know far too little about King’s legacy. I must relate that it saddens me when I encounter young people, regardless of their race, and all that they know about Dr. King can be summed up in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech during the March on Washington. There is quite possibly no more efficient means of cheapening King’s legacy of being a ‘drum major’ for social justice than to allow the remembering of general facts about his legacy pass as an honoring of his unprecedented work on the American frontier of racial

matters.

As previously mentioned, we can rely upon neither the schools nor an external entity to shape this day for our community. It is time that Black communities reclaim Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and repurposes it for something much grander and useful than its current use of strolling down a rather brief memory lane with footage of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington.

There is quite possibly no greater means of honoring Dr. King than to use the date that he is remembered on to teach all Americans about his philosophical positions on diverse issues such as: poverty, social justice, racial equality, Black Power, Affirmative Action, and racial justice. At the end of each MLK day, our people should know who the following figures and organizations are: W.E.B. Du Bois, Asa Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, Ella Baker, SNCC, CORE, SCLC, MFDP, WPC, Stokely Carmichael, Emmett Till, Mickey Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, Fannie Lou Hamer, Huey P. Newton, James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, and Joanne Robinson.

It may prove beneficial to the entire nation if we abandoned the typical MLK Day parades and breakfast events and committed ourselves to what can be best termed ‘teach-ins’ where

We MUST Understand

By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman

our entire community would come together to learn and study about Dr. King and the innumerable other Civil Rights and Black Power stalwarts that have given their life for the upliftment of our community.

It is only through studying Dr. King’s words that we will be able to finally remove him from the safe spot that many people, particularly those who today are resisting Black progress with every fiber of their being, have placed him in. Only after we diligently study King’s words and put them into action will we understand that King spoke about Affirmative Action, poverty in America, racial justice, lynching, and the nation’s duty to AfricanAmericans. Most people do not realize that it is Dr. King, the man whose words they use to rationalize helping African-Americans out of what has been an economic poverty that has its roots in slavery that stated in one of his texts that, “it would seem to me that a nation that has done so much against the Negro would not, at least for a period of time, be so against doing something for him.” Unfortunately, such genius calls for racial justice have fallen silent because we have chosen a parade and pancakes over King’s much

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. From pg. 1

“The Dr. King that was speaking out against poverty and the Vietnam-War is a figure that would disturb the vast majority of Americans. It is one of the reasons why we don’t deal with it. We prefer to portray Dr. King as an accommodating, self-sacrificing, and eternally optimistic figure who never tired of the economic equality occurring throughout this nation. And that is simply a lie, a lie of major proportions.”

If MLK’s post-March on Washington speeches and writings are examined closely, a rather radical figure emerges. This radicalized King is markedly different from the accommodating, patient, and long-suffering figure that many have popularized for their own selfish reasons. It is this King who took the nation for not having the courage to pursue true racial equality, a process that Dr. King admits would be as lengthy as it was difficult.

With Selma and the Voting Rights Act one phase of development in the civil rights revolution came to an end. A new phase opened, but few observers realized it or were prepared for its implications. For the vast majority of White Americans, the past decade --- the first phase --- had been a struggle to treat the Negro with a degree of decency, not of equality. White America was ready to demand that the Negro should be spared the lash of brutality and coarse degradation, but it had never been truly committed to helping him out of poverty, exploitation or all forms of discrimination. The outraged White citizen had been sincere when he snatched

the whips from the Southern sheriffs and forbade them more cruelties. But when this was to a degree accomplished, the emotions that had momentarily inflamed him melted away, When negroes looked for the second phase, the realization of equality, they found that many of their White allies had quietly disappeared. Negroes felt cheated, especially in the North, while many whites felt that the negroes had gained so much it was virtually impudent and greedy to ask for more so soon.

King feared that since many Americans foolishly considered the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts a magical cure-all for the nation’s race problem, its failure would disappoint many.

Dr. King realized that Lyndon Baines Johnson’s 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act secured equality on the law books of America, a feat that must not be ignored as Blacks had never been equal in the eyes of the law prior to the aforementioned Voting Rights Act, however, this theoretical equality meant little to the average Negroes day-to-day existence as it would never deliver tangible gains. A radicalized King admonished whites by reminding them that legislative acts only secured theoretical equality, however, the subsequent stage, the exercise of equality, had yet to occur.

According to King, “The practical cost of change for the nation up to this point has been cheap.

The limited reforms have been obtained at bargain rates. There are no ex-

C over St ry penses, and no taxes are required, for Negroes to share lunch counters, libraries, parks, hotels, and other facilities with whites.”

There was no equivocating in King’s mind that whites, even so-called liberals, despite their rhetoric and hobnobbing with Blacks, were in no way shape or form prepared for racial equality. According to Dr. King, Naïve Blacks, as they are known to do, …had taken the President, the press and the pulpit at their word when they spoke in broad terms of freedom and justice . . .

The word was broken, and the free-running expectations of the Negro crashed into the stone walls of White resistance.

Whites’ hypocrisy produced a new push among young Blacks that was best expressed with the slogan “Black Power!!!!!” Although the language and imagery behind Black Power politics somewhat saddened King, he realized the disappointment from whence the language came from. King remarked that Many of the young people proclaiming Black Power today were but yesterday the devotees of black-White cooperation and nonviolent direct action.… If they are America’s angry children today, this anger is not congenital. It is a response to the feeling that a real solution is hopelessly distant because of the inconsistencies, resistance and faintheartedness of those in power.

Many have chosen to ignore Dr. King’s post-March on Washington evolution for their own selfish political

reasons; put simply, during the final years of his life the Civil Rights stalwart had abandoned previous hopes that whites would ever do what was morally correct for African-Americans. It was in the years after the March on Washington Movement that King’s philosophy dramatically altered and led to a shift away from persuasive speeches seeking to tap into the morality of the White man, by 1965 this Baptist preacher realized that the White man was woefully deficient when it came to any semblance of morality in regards to racial matters.

King realized that when it came to racial matters, the only path to Black liberation was for African-Americans to begin pooling their political and economic resources.

Although many wish to ignore this fact, however, it is clear that during the latter moments of his life, Dr. King was almost solely focused upon economic inequality in America. Dr. King once posited the following argument in regards to economic inequality.

As long as there is poverty in the world I can never be rich, even if I have a billion dollars. As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people in this world cannot expect to live more than twenty-eight or thirty years, I can never be totally healthy even if I just got a good checkup at Mayo Clinic. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the way our world is made.

No individual or nation can stand out boasting of being independent. We are interdependent.

Texas • January 1812-18, - 24, 2016 Texas • August 2013

As evidenced by his final social movement in America, ‘the Poor People’s Campaign’ and one should not forget that Dr. King was in Memphis, Tennessee, the location where he would unfortunately be assassinated, speaking on behalf of sanitation workers who were striking for increased wages and working conditions.

It is moments such as this that most frustrated Dr. King as they reaffirmed his conclusion that he must continue to tirelessly work to prove that all mankind was “…caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” It was the fact that we are inextricably connected to one another that should cause urgency among those who proclaim love and affinity for Dr. King’s legacy. According to Dr. King, “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

It is this call that best represents Dr. King, however, it will continue to be ignored because it places the onus for activism on the backs of average Americans, the alluded to activist call means that they, particularly those to whom much have been given, may have to loosen their grip upon ‘things’ in favor of enjoying the sweetest things that this world has never experienced: racial equality, gender equity, universal health care, and the ending of hunger throughout the planet.

By: Dr. James Thomas Jones

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Texas • January 18 - 24, 2016

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Is there still a positive message to the communities by naming streets in his honor to overcome adversity?

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OODS:

MARTIN LUTHER

Today we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on what would be his 87th birthday. A visionary and true champion for equality, Dr. King's nonviolent protests, essays and speeches remain an inspiration to all who believe that every person should be treated fairly. As his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, dated April 16, 1963, states: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly… Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outside.”

The famous letter conveys and reemphasizes the threat of injustice and that every person/community should be treated fairly. To keep hope alive, there are some approximately 900 streets in the United States bearing the name Martin Luther King. From King Drive in Chicago to MLK Way in Oakland, Calif. In zip codes like in Houston 77033, San Antonio 78203, and Austin 78701 bear the name — and more are added every year. The streets and boulevards named after the famed Civil Rights leader are considered by many in the African-American community as Black America's "Main Street."

Is there still a positive message to the communities by naming streets in his honor to overcome

“

adversity?

According to research, Twenty-six years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was first honored with a holiday, his legacy has flourished -- and not just in the annals of history. As stated before, there are more than an estimated 900 streets in America that bear the civil rights leader's name, but even as the memory of King remains at the heart of American discourse, many of his namesake streets are drifting further to the social and economic periphery.

Adversity has a way of defeating Black America and making us feel used up. But somewhere inside, we want to be able to make sense of our difficulties. We want to make them count for something positive, that all the pain we endured wasn't for nothing and the street named Martin Luther King should remind us of that. If you drive through the community where the streets are named... have our communities spent efforts to overcome adversity?

"There tends to be a marginalization of King's name," Derek Alderman, professor of geography at East Carolina University, told AOL Real Estate.

Alderman, who has spent the better part of a decade chronicling the number of streets named after the slain civil rights leader, has encountered the paradox many times before -- beloved as the

man may be, in real estate, some homebuyers and store owners ascribe a kind of stigma to the name.

Some mention driving through such communities and see trash and daily activity of nothing positive for the community and according to research, Realtor.com's database of homes on the market, an analysis of properties on Martin Luther King Jr. streets lends some credence to that view. In 2010, the median list price for homes with "Martin Luther King Jr." in the address was $79,900. By 2011, it had fallen to $69,900, a 12.5 percent decrease and in 2016 will be worse.

In many ways, Alderman said, it's a case of perception becoming reality. Residents and business owners oppose the renaming of thriving streets because of an unfounded fear that the civil rights leader's name may hurt property value. Instead, the commemorations of King, who was assassinated in 1968, are often quite literally pushed to the margins of town, on streets of communities that are already economically challenged.

There are several prominent examples of MLK streets with healthy economies and rich cultural legacies, such as the ones in New York City, Austin and, of course, King's hometown of Atlanta.

But is the community constantly putting effort to overcome adversity.

By: Christina James

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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rict administrators looked ately for areas to cut that have the least impact on s. Administrators made 12 nt of their cuts in district ments (central office, maince, operations, and substiAlthough no one was laid off, hose to delete or freeze sevISD positions, as they were . Reductions were also made e use of paraprofessionals ng assistants). The district made several board approved o stipends for educators in n areas. Incentive plans were ated, class sizes increased pansion projects frozen. But budget changes would not be ent to secure the future solof the district. rder to strengthen the budhe district would propose r cuts and it would need the unities support for them. magnet programs were next. strict scheduled meetings at s academies from December ugh January 7. first magnet school up for ation was Carroll Academy’s et program. It demonstrated ast amount of interest from HOU-6among mags and students ograms on the primary level, et, it had the greatest cost.

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elimination. Other schools would be Smith, Stovall, Harris and Hill, all based on the same criteria. Students of magnet programs that had been eliminated would return to their home campus and given first priority for available slots in other magnet programs, with the exception of 4th grade students, who will be given the option of continuing at Houston Academy. Staff will be placed into vacant positions on other campuses.

The order would have given the magnet program a protected status and funds from the government would have been provided for their operation. Also, several events and items were reduced or eliminated, such as the magnet festival and technology fair. The proposed cuts were approved by district trustees at the January 25 school board meeting before a packed house of incensed parents and student. But Bamberg warns the cuts may still not be enough to meet the needs of the nation’s 12th largest district.

Administrators say they still need $18 million to balance the budget.

“The only way we’re going to get additional revenue at this point is to look to the community,” said Bamberg, alluding to the need for increased property tax revenue, which could be as much as 13 cents

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

(713) 699-4448

Rev. Joseph Baker, Pasor

6719 COHN ST HOUSTON, TX 77091

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Black Owned Business Lands a “City of Houston” Contract Client satisfaction is paramount at Champion Security Agency (CSA).

Champion Security Agency is a reputable security agency which is also owned by an AfricanAmerican man, located on Houston’s North side. CSA is also a fairly new recipient of a “City of Houston Contract”.

Now serving certain City Government establishments, Champion Security Agency’s utmost vow is “to faithfully serve its clients in the Greater Houston Area by protecting their people, their property, and their investments with reliable and trustworthy security services.”

The company is based in Houston, Texas and proud to serve the great metropolitan city as well as its surrounding areas, which include the Woodlands, Spring, the Galleria, and Conroe.

After retiring from the Houston Police department, the founder, Rick Flakes established CSA with a foundation that was built upon integrity, honesty, expertise, and professionalism. In their own words, the foremost goal of this agency is to bring the highest quality of service to their clients.

Mr. Rick Flakes

While boasting of nearly forty years of experience in law enforcement, security guard services, and the security industry in general, CSA offers armed as well as unarmed security to their clients. Historically, their expertise extends to providing corporate security, private investigators, background checks, and special event security. And in keeping with its professional image, CSA uses professionally dedicated officers, including retired police officers and military personnel.

Due to its level of professionalism, Champion Security Agency has been afforded a privilege that very few agencies have the ability to achieve.

“City Contracts”: It’s a hot topic among many local businesses, especially Black-owned businesses.

Continue Reading Online @ www.aframnews.com By: Shelondra Peavy

January 18 - 24, 2016

18

JAN

Monday The Black Heritage Society’s 37th Annual “Original” MLK Birthday Parade GRAND MARSHALL Mayor Sylvester Turner Starts at Houston Minute Maid Park Beginning at 10am For more info contact: blackheritagesociety.org

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Monday The Black Heritage Society’s MLK, Jr. Post Parade Concert & Entertainment 610 Louisiana St Houston, TX 77002 Beginning at 1pm - 5pm For more info contact: blackheritagesociety.org

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Monday MLK Grande Parade The 22nd Annual MLK Grande Parade PARADE ROUTE: Originate In Mid-Town @ San Jacinto St & Elgin Street N/B On San Jacinto To Webster St Beginning at 10am For more indo contact: mlkgrandeparade.org

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Jan 18 - Jan 30

Monday - Saturday Houston Museum of African American Culture As Small as a Giant: A Homeage to Black Lives Matter Movement 4807 CAROLINE Houston, TX 77004 For more info contact: (713) 526-1015

Jan 18 - Jan 23

Monday - Saturday Houston Museum of African American Culture Abolitionists: Different Eyes Seeing the Same Reality 4807 CAROLINE Houston, TX 77004 For more info contact: (713) 526-1015

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Thursday - Sunday Ensemble Theatre Fences 3535 MAIN ST. Houston, TX 77002 Times Vary For more info contact: (713) 520-0055

Email Your Upcoming Events to: news@aframnews.com 4 weeks in advance!

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Saturday Houston Bar Assoc, Society of Professional Journalist & The Houston Press Club 30th Law & Media Seminar 1303 San Jacinto Houston, TX 77002 Beginning at 8am For more info contact: (713)759-1133

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Sunday Antioch Baptist Church Sesquicentennial Celebration 500 Clay St Houston, TX 77002 Beginning at 10:15am For more indo contact: (713) 652-0739

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American News&Issues

PRAIRIE VIEW’S TLOD CHAPTER SUPPORTS THE CAREER CLOSET

C mmunity

The Prairie View Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. continues to support the Career Closet in the Office of Career Services at Prairie View A&M University. The Career Closet provide professional clothing and shoes for students to participate in Career Fairs and Interviews. The clothing donations will help the students dress for success. The members of the chapter are Lady Denise Roberts, President and Ladies Louise Brown, Renelda Brown, Burnest Carter, Gwendolyn Carter, Sharon Gillum, Patsy Jackson, Shanette Johnson, Dorothy Kirby, Eddie Faye MRS. SHADIA WASHINGTON AND LADY RUTH SMITH, Lewis, and Ruth Smith.

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TEXAS • JANUARY 18 - 24, 2016

TEXAS LEADERS CELEBRATE 25 YEARS DIRECTING THE WORK OF THE DOMESTIC & SEXUAL VIOLENCE MOVEMENTS – DAY 2

AUSTIN – Each year, the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) and the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) convene leaders from the domestic and sexual violence movements in Texas at the Annual Executive Directors’ Conference: Directing the Work. This year marks the Silver Anniversary of this important gathering and, while not all of the attendees are the same, the legacy and impact of the work over the last quarter of a century will very much be present.

“The Texas Council on Family Violence and our member organizations have gathered together for 25 years at an annual conference and diligently work to share strategies to reduce domestic violence in Texas.

While, we have made progress, domestic violence is still a deadly problem. In 2014, over 84,000 Texas women and children sought shelter, counseling or housing services because their home was unsafe and filled with fear. 39% of requests for services went unmet because of lack of resources to meet their needs. And most profoundly, 132 Texas women, ranging in age from 16 to 90, were killed by a male intimate partner.

We look forward bringing together domestic violence and sexual assault leaders to search for solutions to reduce sexual assault and domestic violence in Texas,” said Gloria A. Terry, CEO of the Texas Council on Family Violence.

It is evident that significant strides have

been made over the last 25 years in the anti-domestic and anti-sexual violence movements, yet a great deal of work remains to eradicate these forms of violence in Texas. According to the Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, 2 in 5 women and 1 in 5 men in Texas have experienced sexual assault at some point in their lifetime.

1 Likewise, 38% of Texas women and 27% of Texas men experience domestic violence each year.

2 While these numbers seem to reveal disturbing trends in Texas, they also demonstrate that more and more survivors are coming forward to talk about their experiences and to seek services (despite low numbers of survivors reporting to law enforcement).

This is a direct result of the crucial work being guided by the statewide leaders who attend this conference. The statistics also highlight the need to redouble primary prevention efforts throughout Texas to challenge the causes of these forms of violence at their roots. “It’s essential that Executive Directors have the opportunity to stay current with the most recent trends in victim services and prevention as well as strengthen their skills as non-profit administrators.

Being able to meet both of these professional development needs at one event is value added given the hectic daily schedules of these leaders.” says Annette Burrhus-Clay, TAASA’s Executive Director.

Day 2 of Directing the Work focuses on creating a

space where leaders from across Texas can share strategies for strengthening and sustaining local rape crisis centers and family violence shelters. Attendees will examine and discuss the issues of domestic and sexual violence from primary prevention, advocacy, survivor-centered service provision perspectives, as well as administrative and leadership development.

Attendees will receive a variety of training in the areas of: • Campus and Community Partnerships • Strategies for Building Impactful Teams • Improving Domestic Violence Prosecution • Building Stronger Boards of Directors The Plenary Speaker was Althea Hart from the Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Althea spoke on “Breaking Down the Silos and Building Partnerships.” She has worked over the past 10 years as a technical assistance provider for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Campus Program. In this capacity, she has provided T.A. to colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and its territories. Currently, Althea is the Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for the MSCASA OVW Campus Program, providing training and support to OVW campus grantees on student conduct and to campuses throughout the state of MS. Continue Reading Online @ www.aframnews.com

Read us online @www.aframnews.com The #1 100% Black-owned Worldwide Digital News Source TX-8

TEXAS • JANUARY 18 - 24, 2016

HOUSTON, WE HAVE Houston is one of the world’s largest economic hubs, considering its major presence in the oils and gas industry. It’s also the 4th largest city of our nation, yet, experts say that Houston is on the brink of a financial crisis. So far, it appears that the city has been spending far more cash than it’s been earning or bringing in. It’s true that the city’s revenue is growing.

However, the expenses are growing at a much faster rate. The costs of pensions for City workers are bursting at the seams, and at present, there aren’t any suitable solutions readily available.

Despite these facts, many Houstonians seem to think that everything is “Aok”. After all, Houston has frequently found its place at the top of some global “best of” lists, rapidly becoming known across the nation and abroad as the “# 1” place to live, work, raise a family, obtain success, dine out, shop, and so on.

Yet, the fact is: Houston, we have a problem. The “Bayou City” has weathered many storms, but is currently drowning in debt. This laid back, metropolitan city is billions of dollars in debt, and these troubles have actually been brewing for years, but soon, the kettle top is about to blow (Just in time for it to all appear to be the fault of the new Mayor)!

With his first promises already publicly made to the people, citizens will now be expecting to have pot holes fixed at the drop

A

of a hat. Undoubtedly, this will be the 1st of many bigticket obligations that are sure to send the City into a financial frenzy.

Jim Noteware, former director of Houston’s Department of Housing and Community Development and Houston-based real estate developer said “Cities create the platform for the stage upon which all business is done.” He continued by saying “Cities create the roads, sewers and waterlines, but they also create human infrastructure, and all of those in Houston — like across many cities in the country — are breaking down. It’s been happening in front of all of our eyes, and nobody’s paying attention.”

The staggering degree of Houston’s financial whirl-wind will unfold at a time when people are least expecting it.

Problem #1: Expenses are growing far more rapidly than the Revenue is growing.

According to www.bizjournals.com, in 2011, the city reported $1.84 billion in general fund revenue and $1.9 billion in expenses.

That $60 million gap is the steepest difference reported in recent years. But, between 2017 and 2020, the city predicts a cumulative deficit of $484.6 million, according to a presentation to the city’s budget and fiscal affairs committee.

The city’s general fund is what it sounds like --- it finances some of the city’s most critical services: Houston Police

Law & Politics

PROBLEM!

MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER (PHOTO BY RICHARD CARSON)

Department, Houston Fire Department and other local government employees.

Since these services don’t generate money, the fund relies heavily on property and sales taxes to pay for them – about 80 percent of the general fund’s revenue comes from those two sources.

The fund is vital for a city to keep its pulse.

Without it, you’d have a pothole-ridden city in shambles, with no established unit tasked with preventing crime and a defunct governmental core.

A city in that shape can’t effectively attract new business, retain existing ones or lure professional talent.

Ask Detroit.

That said, there’s no wonder why it’s been said that the city of Houston is following an unsustainable budget path.

One thing that is specifically sucking the life out of the city’s wallet is the $3.3 billion worth of unfunded pension payments (legacy payments).

To continue reading visit www.aframnews.com Story By: Shelondra Peavy

Read us online! w w w. aframnew s. com

9

“BAIL BOND REFORM MAY BE A LASTING LEGACY OF SANDRA BLAND’S DEATH”

Bail bond reform may be a lasting legacy of Sandra Bland's death But the bail bond industry pushes back on increased PR bonds, noting failure to appear could result in a demand to put up the full bond amount The unnecessary death of Sandra Bland in the Waller County Jail last summer has now put the reform of bail bonds in focus as a key criminal justice issue ahead of the next legislative session.

Last month, a Waller County grand jury declined to indict those involved in Bland’s arrest and incarceration, either at the jail or in her widely publicized traffic stop near the Prairie View A&M University campus in July.

The Department of Public Safety trooper who arrested Bland subsequently was fired after being indicted for perjury in connection with the traffic stop.

Many put blame for Bland’s death on her inability to quickly find the $500 for her bond, extending her stay in the county jail into the following week, when she took her life. What Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, sees is a woman charged with a traffic stop who should have been in and out of the county jail within 18 hours of being booked.

“She was offered a bond. She needed $500 to get out,” Whitmire told an audience at a Texas Public Policy Foundation conference last week. “When she

saw the magistrate, she was not able to come up with the $500. They could verify she had a new job at Prairie View A&M. They could verify she had a local address. It would have served them well to offer her a PR bond and let her go on with her life, and then all of our lives would have been different.”

A “PR” bond is a personal recognizance bond, one that bypasses bail and relies on a defendant’s signature as a promise to return to face charges on a court date. It is usually offered to low-level non-violent offenders who do not pose a flight risk.

In the case of Harris County, 60 percent of those in jail fall into that category, yet magistrates offer a fraction of defendants PR bonds as an option, Whitmire said.

Such a decision can often be heartless for people who are living from paycheck to paycheck. The cost of bail ends up outweighing the price of the crime.

“Some people couldn’t raise $1,000 to save their lives,” Whitmire said of bail bonds. “We need to get them in and get them out and save the resources for the really bad people. I think that really should be our priority.”

More than half the people sitting in the Harris County Jail today are awaiting a trial, rather than completing a sentence, Whitmire said. The system would be better served if they were released in order

to get back to work to pay court fines.

No surprise, the bail bond industry in Texas is not enthusiastic about PR bonds, noting failure to appear could result in a demand to put up the full bond amount. Last session involved some minor changes to the industry.

E-filing of bail bonds also is considered a major threat to bail agents.

Whitmire, the long-time chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, divides those in the criminal justice system into two categories: people we are afraid of due to major crimes and those criminals we are mad at for other reasons.

“I’m going to suggest we have 300 prostitutes locked up in Gatesville because we’re mad at them. We’re not afraid of them,” Whitmire said. “We just don’t want her and her business in our community, so years ago the legislature went and upped the convictions to make that crime a felony.”

That means prison time for what used to be a minor offense. With no life skills, no drug treatment and no reentry program, the likelihood of a repeat offense is high.

Texas needs to be smart, not tough, on crime, Whitmire said. The state has been able to close three prisons in the last two sessions because criminal justice reform passed in 2007 incorporated that philosophy of being smart about punishment.

To Continue reading visit us online @ www.aframnews.com Credit to Quorum Report Submitted by Senator John Whitmire

Read us online @www.aframnews.com The #1 100% Black-owned Worldwide Digital News Source TX-9

Wh is that money everyth Pr is burie ous ou nearly $10 bil of the fund. T System and En and th sewag that pa Th or so is eral ob was bo expend and co tion pr which, are sp with th peakin Housto over $ An city’s w virtuall of wha monies the city accoun for and spent.

10

HBCU C rner

Read us online! w w w.a f r a m n e w s .com

A NEW EPISODE

AT

TSU

DR. JOHN RUDLEY SPEAKS TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEWS&ISSUES AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS ABOUT FUTURE PLANS

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Back in December of 2015, Dr. John M. Rudley announced his resignation as the 11th president of Texas Southern University.

Nearing the approach of the 2016 spring semester at the controversial HBCU, Rudley bade his farewells during a formal luncheon held recently.

During his 9-year span as president, 2015 proved to be the heaviest of the many loads taken on by the former University of Houston chancellor. With the rise of the #TakeBackTSU movement and multiple campus shootings all within the first couple of months of the Fall semester, Rudley had his plate full. When asked what was the biggest difference he felt he made while at TSU, Rudley replied, “I don’t think there can be a singularity, there has to be multiple. If you’ve got 15 problems, all of them can get you in trouble”. It is no secret that a negative stigma plagues the prominent HBCU; upon his entry to presidency in 2008, Rudley too was aware of this. “When I came here, many people didn’t want to come work for TSU because they had 15 problems that most schools face one of those kind of problems every 10 years”. Rudley was faced with issues ranging from SAC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accreditation, NCAA, not having enough funding to balance the schools budget, threats of closure of the University, and having to rebuild the campus after Hurricane Ike. “We had 10 tough issues we had to face all at once, we had to be multitaskers” says Rudley. Along with these problems, Rudley had hopes to make TSU an oasis of an institution, “I wanted TSU to rise to the occasion and be the University it could be” says Rudley. With so many setbacks, how does one take on such a task? Rudley says, “I wanted to reintroduce and push TSU to be better. I took my experi-

ence from Washington and tried to bring that image over to TSU”.

However, having to fight with the coordinating board, fighting with faculty trying to change their mentality, fighting with students to make sure that they have a responsibility to their education, made this task an uneasy one to complete. “A lot of People did not want TSU to change, a lot of people wanted us to continue to be an open admissions University” says Rudley. “TSU can’t be all things to all people.

It has to decide if we’re gonna be a University, be a university.

If we’re gonna be a University, it starts with having academic standards”. Rudley stated that some students come to TSU with a high school mentality, which is so at many other institutions, but is more prevalent at TSU. “Everyone can’t be successful in college; we were just trying to make sure that TSU fit into an appropriate category instead of appearing to be a University with Community College standards” says Rudley.

Be that as it may, Rudley states that the University has arrived at the place he wants it to be and is proud of the progression TSU has made in his 9 years as president.

“TSU was so unique because we had so many different problems, and I think that when you look now, the fact that we’ve been able to handle all of them, that was my biggest accomplishment” says Rudley. “Going forward we won’t have 15 problems, we’ll only have regular problems, 1 or 2 problems is something an institution should have to deal with”. Rudley’s accomplishments consisted of producing a financial statement (which TSU had not done in 5 years), getting new academic programs (Maritime and Engineering program), and making TSU a doctoral grant institution. “Think about this, we’re giving Black kids and Hispanic kids opportunities

TEXAS • JANUARY 18 - 24, 2016

in the workforce they never had before, all I did was make our kids equal” stated Rudley. When asked what he felt his legacy was and what he felt TSU needed to continue doing, Rudley stated, “I think my legacy was making sure the institution wasn’t closed, my legacy is that TSU is still here, and not only is it still here, it’s very viable. I’ve gotten TSU through the hard dark days, the hard times in every respect”. As far as what he would like to see the new administration do, Rudley states that, “I would like to see the administration do a few things, we’ve gotta grow the enrollment here at TSU. The legislature has not been so inclined to fund TSU because as an HBCU, we do not receive as much support as we should. I feel that’s attributed to the fact that the legislature is now much more Conservative and Republican, and the Democrats are pretty much out voted on everything.

What we’re gonna have to do is be more independent and get the enrollment up, if we’re gonna play the form of the game, we’re gonna have to get students. So the next administration better continue to try to recruit students”. When asked what role does the alumni play in increasing the enrollment, Rudley stated, “Well we had to build an Alumni association back in ’09, when TSU had these budget problems, that eliminated the Alumni relations. Fast forward to today, we have a huge Alumni organization. I have nothing but positive things to say about where we are with the Alumni, but like everything with TSU, there is still some work that needs to be done”. Rudley stated he not only has a message to the Alumni but to the Black entities period, “We have to support Black leadership, you have to support your leaders.

Continue Reading Online @ www.aframnews.com Photo and Story By: Taylor Tolbert

Read us online @www.aframnews.com The #1 100% Black-owned Worldwide Digital News Source TX-10

TEXAS • JANUARY 18 - 24, 2016

Arts & Culture

African

American News&Issues

11

JACK DANIEL’S TENNESSEE HONEY AND GENTLEMAN JACK BRING ART, BEATS & LYRICS BACK TO HOUSTON

“Fight for Fight”, a piece by Dubelyoo, visual artist and co-producer of Art, Beats and Lyrics is featured in the traveling art and music tour presented by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Gentleman Jack. Art Beats and Lyrics recently visited Houston to showcase some of today’s best upcoming artists, along with seasoned veterans in art and music under one roof. For information on upcoming cities and dates, please visit www.JackHoneyABL.com. (Photo by Kat Goduco/Art, Beats and Lyrics)

Pop art inspired pieces by Aniekan Udofia, a featured artist in Art, Beats and Lyrics, display some of today’s top music artists through a unique lens.

Presented by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Gentleman Jack, Art, Beats and Lyrics recently visited Houston to showcase some of today’s best upcoming artists, along with seasoned veterans in art and music under one roof. For more information on upcoming cities and dates, please visit www.

JackHoneyABL.com. (Photo by Kat Goduco/Art, Beats and Lyrics)

HOUSTON - The multi-city tour presented by Jack Dubelyoo,the show was started to give a voice to artist Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, recently kicked off its 11th who weren’t being represented in the main stream art year. The multi-city tour showcases some of today’s community as well as the main stream music commubest upcoming artists, along with seasoned veterans in nity. So far they have toured to six cities with more to art and music under one roof. come in hopes to return next year. The show highlights Hip-hop legend, Twista performed his top hits for a packed What was once a local art show in Atlanta, has hip-hop with b-boys, emcees, djs, graffiti and street art. house at the Art, Beats and Lyrics event in Houston. grown to be one of the largest traveling lifestyle experi- Presented by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Gentleman Over the years the show has grown and expanded due Jack, Art Beats and Lyrics showcases some of today’s best to installations with more photography, bigger pieces ences in the country. upcoming artists, along with seasoned veterans in art and What people find fascinating about Art, Beats and and the chance to tour with a lot of music legends. Be music under one roof. For information on upcoming dates Lyrics is that it combines an affinity for urban contemsure to visit www.aframnews.com - AframTV for event please visit www.JackHoneyABL.com.

(Photo by MeekoTV) porary art with hip-hop, to create a truly one of a kind highlights. lifestyle experience merging the two. The Houston ABOUT JACK DANIELS event featured works of art from the likes of Dubelyoo and Zac2 Murray, along JACK DANIEL’S TENNESSEE HONEY is a trademark of JACK DANIEL with a live performance from a national hip-hop artist Twista. Previous acts PROPERTIES INC. ©2015. Jack Daniel’s. Whiskey Specialty, 35% ALC./ have included Kendrick Lamar, 8Ball and MJG, Pastor Troy and Master P. VOL.(70 proof). Produced and Bottled by JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY, African-American News&Issues exclusively accessed a VIP preview, Lynchburg, TENNESSEE, U.S.A. Be Fly. Drink Responsibly. Visit us at and behind the scenes of the event in partnership with MeekoTV. According to wwwJackHoneyABL.com

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• H-E-B Brown Rice, 1 lb.

• H-E-B Stir Fry Kit

FREE

12 in 5 items!

$

1.73

free! buy

H-E-B Peanut Butter

28 oz. creamy or crunchy

That’s up to

1.98

$

free!

buy

H-E-B Fully Cooked Sausage Biscuits 12 ct.

That’s up to

GET

free! with in-store coupon

Bush’s Best Black Beans

15 oz., regular or reduced sodium

GET Llévatelo

free! ¡gratis! with in-store coupon

H-E-B Bake Shop® Wheat Hamburger Buns, 8 ct. assorted varieties

Llévatelo GET

¡gratis! free! with in-store coupon

H-E-B Crunchy Granola Bars

12 ct. assorted varieties

Llévatelo GET

¡gratis! free! with in-store coupon

Hill Country Fare String Cheese 5 oz. regular or swirls

1.77

$

free! buy

Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips, Fillets, Chunks or Diced 19 - 35 oz.

Prices Good Wednesday, January 20 Thru Tuesday, January 26, 2016 At Your Neighborhood H-E-B Stores.

Some items may not be available in all stores. Items not valid at Central Market. Due to the popularity of our Extra Low Prices Every Day, we reserve the right to limit quantities. Limit Rights Reserved. We Accept Lone Star Card, WIC And Manufacturers’ Coupons. ©2016 HEB, 16-1677 visit www.heb.com

HOU-12

That’s up to

5.98

$

Llévatelo GET

¡gratis!

free! with in-store coupon

H-E-B Chopped Salad Kit 12.75 - 13.4 oz. assorted varieties

free!

Llévatelo

¡gratis!