May 30, 2025
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
AframNews.com
Vol.30, Issue 19
FREE
African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
CAN REPUBLICANS WIN A FAIR FIGHT?
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
They say if you can’t win fairly, just move the goalposts. In the case of Texas’s 18th Congressional District—once a stronghold for Black political power—that’s exactly what’s happening. And the truth is more disturbing than many voters realize. Let’s not sugarcoat it: Republicans can’t win this district in a fair fight. So instead of changing their message, they changed the map. The Death of a Fair Fight For decades, the 18th Congressional District was a symbol of Black political strength, proudly represented by Barbara Jordan and later Sheila Jackson Lee. It was a district shaped by civil rights battles and powered by Black voters who showed up, organized, and delivered results. But in recent years, the district has become a political battlefield where the real fight isn’t between candidates—but between voters and the map itself. Enter: Gerrymandering. The term “gerrymandering” sounds like something
out of an old textbook, but it’s alive and well—and it’s targeting communities like ours. In 2021, the Republican-led redistricting process sliced and diced Black voting blocs like a political butcher. According to a report from the Brennan Center for Justice, Texas Republicans intentionally manipulated boundaries to “dilute the power of Black and Latino voters,” creating a map where Black political influence is fractured, minimized, or outright erased. In Houston alone, the impact is jarring. The oncecohesive 18th District has been redrawn to tuck in or carve out majority-Black neighborhoods, splitting up communities and muffling the collective voice. The Numbers Don’t Lie Let’s talk data. Before the new maps were drawn: The 18th District was 61% Black and Latino combined. Post-redistricting, it dropped to just under 50%, according to the Texas Civil Rights Project. Fight on pg. 3
JOSÉ GRIÑÁN PASSES AT 72 José Griñán, the cherished former morning news anchor for FOX 26 Houston, has passed away at 72. Over a distinguished career that spanned more than 40 years, Griñán became a respected and familiar figure in Houston journalism, admired for his charm, kindness, and unwavering professionalism. His broadcasting journey began as a documentary cinematographer with the U.S. Army, eventually leading to his first anchor position in El Paso in 1975. In 1993, he made history as FOX 26’s first male morning anchor, a role he held for three decades while reporting on significant events like the Waco siege, major hurricanes, and defining moments in Houston’s story. Griñán retired in 2023, leaving a lasting legacy as a mentor, colleague, and role model to many in the field. He is survived by his wife and children. Serving for 30 years at FOX 26 Houston, Griñán became one of the station’s most enduring and recognizable figures. His presence contributed to the station’s identity and trust with viewers across generations. AA