Vol 27 Issue 23

June 26, 2022

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

African-American News&Issues

“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”

Vol. 27, Issue 23 The Civil Rights Bill had too many loop holes in it to really protect your civil rights.

- Roy Douglas Malonson

Superintendent Millard House II

A Passionate and Driven Leader (Photo Credit: HISD)

Cont. on Pg. 3

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June 26, 2022

EDITORIAL

President/Chief Editor

Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.: Associate Editor Nick Jones: Afram TV Tristar: Layout Design

The Overflow

News: By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.

I Didn’t Ask You To Speak For Me Office: (713) 692-1892 Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

When I read the headlines of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, I immediately shook my head in disgust and frustration. Roe v. Wade was a 1973 landmark ruling that gave the constitutional right for women to go through an abortion in the United States.

It has been almost 50 years since the historic ruling, and now the rights of women have once again been set back, 50 years and more to be exact. I am tired of everything being about politics. It is not always about the left and right, but what is right and wrong.

I did not ask you to speak f or me! It is my body, my choice, my right!

It is sad that we have allowed so many people to die by the hands of guns, and how 19 children had to die because politicians want to scream and put up a fight for gun rights.

However, when it comes to women, the decision is final, no conversation.

I did not ask you to speak for me! It is my body, my choice, my right!

This ruling has taken away our power and our

progress. What’s next?

What else do you want to strip away from me?

This ruling is dangerous to the health of so many women. It has been said that the expectation is that many states will now begin to outlaw abortions in their state. For women who may need or want to have an abortion, they will not have many options to do so. This forces them to seek illegal help, travel outside the country for an abortion, or even take matters in their own hands, which can all be deadly.

What do we tell our young daughters who are coming behind us? Do we tell them that the world doesn’t care about your health and well-being? Do we tell them that men are the ones making decisions on the behalf of women because they feel like they know what’s best for us?

Do we tell them their voice and opinions don’t matter? Absolutely not!

We tell them to fight, to speak up, and to always stand up for what they believe in. We empower them to know that no matter what, your voice matters.

We continue to be examples and provide platforms for them to speak out.

For more visit aframnews.com

A Revival of God

Consciousness Bobby Mills, Phd

TSU: A Special Case In 1973, TSU (Texas Southern University) was granted a “Special Purpose Institutional Designation” by the Texas Legislature for urban programming.

This legislative designation afforded TSU avenues and resource acquisition opportunities for creative community development.

However, in 2022 TSU itself has invariably become a “A Special Case”, from a Policy oversight administrative prospective.

Sadly, TSU is missing the mark of the high calling that was in Jesus Christ to love and serve others.

TSU is surrounded by public school failures and educational chaos at both the elementary and high school levels. Yet, TSU has not been able to academically farm a new generation of first-class college ready students. Shameful!

The question is why?

Chaos comes from miseducation (ref: Carter G. Woodson) and misinformation. Thus, TSU has become a “Special Case” without a visionary leadership perspective and community-development purposes. TSU must be

about community institution building, and not just becoming a “paychecksystem” which is not an enduring purpose. Moreover, TSU must establish a more profound working relationship with HISD and its College of Education to provide a quality education at every level.

Taxpayers must insist on a higher level of thinking, quality, and administrative management from TSU. The purpose of this editorial is not too run-down nor talk-down TSU, but to inspire “Excellence in Achievement” at TSU. Recently, a news announcement appeared in the Houston Chronicle concerning a partnership program agreement between TSU’s Airway Science Program and United Airlines. There is a projected nationwide shortage of at least (120,000) airline pilots over the next 20 years. United Airlines on March 9, 2022, announced a 100,000-dollar partnership grant to TSU’s Airway Science Program for scholarship support for students in the Aviation and Technology Programs.

What was puzzling about the high-profile announcement was the fact that of the three students initially shown with the Director of the Aviation Program none were Black.

For more visit aframnews.com

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

June 26, 2022

AFRAMNEWS.COM 3

LOCAL A Passionate and Driven Leader

By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.

Superintendent Millard House II talking about Project Safe Start (Photo Credit: HISD) HOUSTON-Growing up in North Tulsa, Oklahoma, Superintendent Millard House II grew up with two educators who loved the profession at its highest level. His mother was a first-grade teacher for 16 years and then spent another 16 years as a high school counselor. His father was a civics teacher for a short period before he moved into administration around the age of 28 as Director of Human Relations. “He was literally handed the desegregation plans in the late sixties and was responsible for executing the desegregation of schools in Tulsa,” Superintendent House mentioned.

Early on, Superintendent House was diagnosed with dyslexia and had a speech impediment; however, living with two

educators in an “enriched environment” was very helpful and important. He made it known that his mother and father worked even harder to provide all the tangibles that were necessary for him to reach his fullest potential. “They knew how to navigate the special education waters, after-school tutoring, and everything I needed to be successful.” He further mentioned how these factors made him so driven and passionate about education. Using his own life as a testament, he stated, “I know that with the right support any kid can do anything.”

Although he has a love for education, and he grew up with educators, he had no idea that he would one day be an educator and noted how he tried to run in the other direction. He

was fortunate to receive an athletic scholarship and played basketball in college. He graduated with a degree in exercise physiology and wanted to move forward by attending physical therapy school.

However, he ended up substitute teaching, and “that’s where I found my niche and found my love,” he stated.

During his time as a substitute teacher, he learned that he had the ability to engage kids, especially kids of color that was interested in some of his same interests. He was able to leverage that and engage those students into the educational experience of doing whatever is necessary to be successful, which is learning as much as you can.

Over the years, education

has evolved, but according to Superintendent House, “There are some tangibles around education that will never change, and every child needs to have the opportunity to understand what it is to gain and develop strong literacy skills.”

He further discussed how all children need a skillset for numeracy, which should be a major part of what they do daily.

In addition, he mentioned how reading, writing, and arithmetic are extremely important to every job, and are what you should see in every school system.

In discussing the shortage of teachers, he mentioned how approximately 45,000 teachers annually are leaving the profession in

the state of Texas, and about one third of the teachers that serve in HISD have stated they had considered at one point leaving the profession. It was also noted how the pandemic has “exacerbated a lot of the issues” they are seeing right now.

One thing HISD plans to focus on is not just expecting talent to come to them, but on recruiting retaining, and hiring teachers. In addition, ensuring that their compensation and culture are extremely strong, and to focus on growing their own talent.

At one time, there were many college students who were pursuing careers in

Leader cont’d pg. 4

Superintendent Millard House II pictured with Jack Yates High School senior Autumn Aaron for receiving a scholars award. (Photo Credit: HISD)

4 AFRAMNEWS.COM education, but that does not seem to be the case anymore. One of the things that HISD will be doing is “developing a grow your own program,” which means they will be going through their own ranks.

“There may be individuals that are out there that don’t necessarily have a degree, but they have the skillset of encouraging students.

Those are important tangibles to ensure kids get to where they need to be on an academic level.”

HISD wants to take those kinds of individuals and pay for their education.

HISD also announced a $5,000 bonus for teachers if they sign and agree to stay with the district for three years. If teachers sign that they will work for the next two years, they will receive a $4,000 stipend, and if teachers only sign for the next school year, they will receive a stipend as well. HISD has also pushed forward a compensation package, which will pay teachers and administrators about 6.7% more than they made in the previous school year. HISD is utilizing many different approaches to show teachers they are valued and appreciated. “We’re looking for the best and brightest to come and support us in some of the highest needs schools that we have in the community.”

As Superintendent of the largest school district in Texas and the eighth largest school district in the United States, the position has not come without its set of challenges.

For Superintendent House, COVID-19 has been difficult.

Because of this, he has had the “unique opportunity” to lead in two different school districts

Leader cont’d

June 26, 2022 during the pandemic, and while it has been challenging, he has felt good about being able “to navigate the waters of COVID and learn all of the nuances that go along with it.” He has done a phenomenal job in leading his district and wants to be an example for others, especially young people who may follow in his footsteps.

For young men who may want to be in his shoes one day,

he stated, “we need you.” He stressed the importance of how impactful it is to be able to influence a life, which is an important element to him. “The impact you can provide just as a male, not even as an African American male, but just a male as a whole… because unfortunately, many of our men sometimes are not in the home. So, it is important for a young man to see another man and what that looks like.” He wants young men to consider a career in education and to give it a chance.

When discussing legacy,

Superintendent Millard House II addressing the HISD CLass of 2022 valedictorians and salutatorians. (Photo Credit: HISD)

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION Superintendent House wants to be known as that individual that would go the extra mile to ensure that equity was in place for all children to succeed regardless of their race, their gender, their sexual orientation, etc.

Superintendent House is truly passionate about education and the work he does daily. He wants to be seen as that individual that would do whatever is necessary for success for that community, for that neighborhood, and for that city. He concluded with, “I’m looking forward to continuing to push, and I will leave a portion of that legacy right here in HISD. It has been 27 years and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Superintendent House obtained his Bachelor of Science from the University of Montevallo, Alabama and his Master of Administration in School Administration from Northeastern State University, Oklahoma.

He also graduated from the Fisher School Leadership Program at the Hass School of Business, University of California at Berkeley. He has received numerous awards and accolades and was voted Tulsa Public Schools’ Principal of The Year in 2003, and was the first African American educator to earn this honor. Additionally, he was named Outstanding Administrator of the Year by the Tulsa Area Alliance of Black School Educators. Superintendent House was the first African American Superintendent in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School District and has served on several boards.

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

June 26, 2022

¬22 in 2022 We’ve increased our U.S. minimum hourly wage to ¬22 on the way to ¬25 by 2025.

Since 2017, Bank of America has raised the minimum rate of pay for all U.S. employees by more than 46%, bringing it to an annual rate of more than $45,000 for full-time employees.

It’s part of our commitment to being a great place to work and one way we help employees build a career with us. We’re also encouraging job growth and providing economic security for thousands of individuals who are supporting fellow teammates, our clients and the local communities where we live and work.

Offering competitive pay and benefits to support our employees and their families is critical to attracting and retaining the best talent. We’ll keep leading the way and doing more.

When you have a strong team, you want to take care of them the best way you can. Raising the minimum rate of pay is just one way for us to show that we care and value everyone’s commitment.

Hong Ogle President, Bank of America Houston

What would you like the power to do?® Learn more at bankofamerica.com/houston Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender © 2022 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

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June 26, 2022

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

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GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

June 26, 2022

COMMUNITY

Third Ward Our Home

AFRAMNEWS.COM 7

Gilbert Andrew Garcia

Was proud to celebrate Juneteenth in the Acres Homes Parade

By: Crystal LaShan

THIRD WARD-Despite Mayor Turner’s quick knockdown of the Historic District Ordinance, several residents of Third Ward wanted to express their love of Third Ward and what it truly means to be a citizen of The Tre.’ Councilwoman Dr. Carolyn Evans – Shabazz beamed with pride as her residents, one by one, spoke about the importance of the spirit of Third Ward to remain a mainstay in the heart of District D. This is the district that Councilwoman Carolyn Evans – Shabazz affectionately calls the “District of Destination” because it is the center point of Houston where you can start to access all areas of our great city.

In the 1800s, much of what was Third Ward, the present-day east side of Downtown Houston was what Stephen Fox, an architectural historian who lectured at Rice University, referred to as “the elite neighborhood of late 19th-century Houston.” Ralph Bivins of the Houston Chronicle said in 1837, Houston, Texas, was incorporated and divided into four wards.

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Third Ward, and over time this area became an important center of African American-owned businesses and a hub for Black culture.

Third Ward originally comprised the area east of Main Street and south of Congress Street. After the Civil War ended, formerly enslaved people from Houston areas began to move into Third Ward. At the time, African Americans were forced to live on the outskirts of the ward, but as Whites moved to the suburbs, Blacks began to purchase property in the heart of the community.

In 1872, influential African Americans led by Reverend John Henry “Jack” Yates raised $8,000 to purchase four acres of land that would become Emancipation Park, the first park for Black Houstonians and home to the annual Juneteenth Celebration commemorating the liberation of African Americans from For more visit slavery in Texas. aframnews.com

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June 26, 2022

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