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February 20-26, 2008 ™ Vol. 13 Issue 3
TEXAS’ Widest Circulated and Read Newspaper with a Black Perspective
www.aframnews.com
Houston - Galveston - Texas City - Missouri City - Conroe - Woodlands - Huntsville - Beaumont - Port Arthur - Grove - Orange - Lumberton - Liberty - Cleveland - Livingston - Crockett - San Antonio - Mexia - Gatesville - Bellmead Austin - Brenham - Hempstead - Prairie View - College Station - Bryan - Killeen - Temple - Waco - Dallas - Irving - Fort Worth - Arlington - Waxahachie - Elgin - Round Rock - Harker Heights - Copperas Cove - Ennis - Corsicana
Racism postdates death
Loche Mortuary clan imbues Black History BUD JOHNSON
African-American News&Issues
Mack’s Black History PAGE 2
Prejudice and discrimination
No place for either in the classroom DR. MARGARET FORD
African-American News&Issues
Many years ago, I taught courses in multicultural education at the university level. On my extensive reading list was an article about prejudice and discrimination. The essence of the article indicated that discriminatory behavior, not prejudicial attitudes, is what damages individuals and society. Prejudice was concluded to be a silent partner with little or no damaging consequences. Over the years, however, I have thought about the assertion and believe today, more so than ever, that the two, prejudice and discrimination, are usually conjoined. I also strongly believe that both, prejudice and discrimination, can be hurtful – both to the carrier/host and to the recipient. It seems that in most instances, prejudice (prejudgmental attitudes without a factual basis) precedes discrimination. Of all places where prejudice and discrimination exist, the educational classroom is no place for either. Students attend school to learn. When they arrive at school, they are intuitively hoping for a wholesome, positive experience where the standard of Veritas will be upheld. When professors or administrators go to their assignments they, too, have expectations, goals, and objectives that See PREJUDICE page 3
BLACK
If you don’t know your past, you don’t know your 24/7/365 future!
HISTORY
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BLACK HISTORY EVERYDAY
Quote of the Week “Acceptance of prevailing standards often means we have no standards of our own..”
-Jean Toomer
Booker T. Washington, speaking to a gathering of the National Negro Business League in 1900, claimed that wherever he had seen “a Black man who was succeeding in business, who was a taxpayer, and who possessed intelligence and high character, that individual was treated with the highest respect by the members of the White race.” And nothing personifies that reality more than a Black family owned mortuary that makes life better by dignifying their community’s dead. Even so, African-American News&Issues would be remiss not to set Black History straight, by sharing the story of racism and discrimination that’s hidden behind the story of Black owned funeral homes. Duke University English professor Karla F.C. Holloway’s book (Passed on: African American Mourning Stories -- A Memorial), masterfully reveals that struggle in a memorial of sorts for the Black funeral industry, which is increasingly under threat from larger, White-owned businesses. In a strange sense, that shift brings Black funeral practices back to where they were in the
Two generations of Loche twins, Ed Jr. Lee, Ed Sr. and Howard. early 20th century. “Whites were segregationist impulses ensured suit all week, became a leading often as disrespectful to Black bod- a thriving Black funeral industry. community figure. And Black mories in death as they were in life,” “African-American embalmers ticians set up burial associations she writes. “Family members were claimed—and still claim—to be and death insurance to cover fancy forced to use the back door to White more skilled than their White peers, funerals, since it was important to mortuaries. But they were discour- because their work often required their often-poor clientele to go out aged—often by the threat of lynch- them to mask the effects of a vio- in style.” ing—from drawing businesses lent death. The neighborhood And nobody wrote an indelaway by setting up their own funer- mortician, often the only man in ible page in the history of Black al homes. By mid-century, though, the neighborhood who wore a See LOCHE page 3
Residents, school officials say TAKS test a farce MARIO SALAS
African-American News&Issues
SAN ANTONIO- Some parents at Highlands High School says that a principal’s letter is racist, and that approval to send it out without some purposeful explanation was a huge mistake. Recently, a letter went out explaining that the reason why scores for Highlands High School were low on the controversial TAKS test in Mathematics was because African-Americans scored low on state indicators. The implication of the letter startled parents, An indelible page in the annals of Houston, Texas’ Black History was written by Floyd Bernard Henson, whose long, productive and Christian life was celebrated on February 24, 2007 at Little Union MBC, 6609 Letcher Dr., therefore a timely complimentary memoriam (sponsored by Shirley Ann’s Black Arts & Kollectibles Showroom) is an appropriate tribute to his legacy of service and love that our courageous ancestors leave to keep hope alive for today’s Black Americans. During an order of service officiated by Pastor Henry Fields, the faithful deacon who was affectionately called “Honey,” was saluted by preachers of the gospel, Reverends: Jimmy R. Jackson, Leonard Keys, Toby Ross and Dr. Ralph West, pastor of The Church Without Walls. Rev. Derrick Jones, associate minister of Mt. Zion MBC, eulogized the faithful “Door Keeper” who was also memorialized by Dorothy Bilton, Sis. Herculine Berry and Theopholus Berry. Active pallbearers were: Archie Jones, Lester
as the wording of it was less than smart coming from school officials. Cora Johns, SAISD Area II Superintendent, approved the controversial letter from the school principal and may ultimately be responsible for the fiasco it created. The TAKS test is the state mandated testing instrument that many parents, teachers, and lawmakers want to see tossed, as it forces teachers to teach to the test and not educate students. Standardized testing has been under fire for many years as a tool to “mechanize education,” and to create a corporate mindset amongst administrators.
FLOYD B. HENSON
MARCH 27, 1933 - FEB. 17, 2007 Harris, Alfred Moore, Albert Walton, Jr., J. C. Williams and Larry Moore. Carlton Henson, Darrell Henson, Michael Henson, Larry Henson Jr., Edward Earl Grays, Keith Henson, Randolph Henson, Ricky Henson, Ricky Henson, Lee Andrew Bilton and Jaymin R. Jones were honorary pallbearers for Honey, who was the third of four children to the late Roosevelt and Camilla Henson. He began his life in Coushatta, Louisiana, the parish seat of rural Red
Many college professors believe that the TAKS test is unhealthy and worthless in many college classes, as information in the social sciences is extremely shallow and often outdated. The fact that social sciences classes are still teaching misinformation about Christopher Columbus and the Alamo is “enough to make one sick,” as one local professor was quoted as saying. For example, in reviewing information being taught and tested on the state-mandated instrument, one can still find false information or misinformation as to why the Battle of Alamo was fought. River Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The town was named after indigenous Native Americans whose language belongs to the Muskogean branch of the HokanSiouan linguistic stock. Rich history notwithstanding, the Henson family moved to Houston, Texas’ Fifth Ward community when Floyd, who graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School, was ten. On Dec. 15, 1962 he married Annie L. Braxton of Brookshire, Texas. From their union, they produced five children. Floyd was employed by Watts Pool and worked there until his retirement. Their son, Antonio Bernard preceded them in death February 1994. His beloved Annie died on February 11, 1999. Floyd begat two delightful children from a previous union. A commitment to Christ and the church began for Floyd at a very early age. He joined Mt. Horem Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Dr. T.F. Freeman. He later became a member of Little Union Missionary Baptist Church, under the pas-
In college, one learns that slavery was one of the principal reasons why the slave-owning class of Texas settlers went to war with Mexico. This occurred because the Afro-Mexican president of Mexico abolished slavery in 1829. Still there is not one word about this in most Texas social studies textbooks. The fact that Christopher Columbus enslaved and murdered many Native Americans is also left out. So why do we have a TAKS test? Standardized testing is the brainwork, or lack of brainwork, of conservative educators that were See TAKS page 3
toral leadership of Rev. Bradley. He continued his membership under the late Dr. A. G. Roberson, the late Reverend Larry Sudds, and current pastor, Rev. Henry Fields. He operated in the spiritual gift of service and served faithfully and diligently as an Usher. It was his joy and labor of love to be a “doorkeeper.” Each Sunday morning, he would graciously welcome, and assist worshippers as they entered the sanctuary. Floyd’s memory will be cherished by his six loving children, Larry, Sherri Fletcher (Glenn), Lelia, Rhonda Lee (Caesar), Karen Jones (Derrick), Opal; a brother, Retired Sgt. Charles Henson (Barbara); a sister, Mattie Grays-Runnels (Charles); six grandchildren, Larry Henson Jr., Dan’Yel Barrett, Mialaka Jones, Cha’Vaa Barrett, Kayla Jones, Jaymin Jones; four great grandchildren; sisters-in-law; brothers-inlaw; nieces; nephews; a companion and other relatives and friends.