Volume 30 Issue 33 by AFRAMNEWS.COM

AframNews.com

“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”

BISHOP DAVID ALLEN JR.

By: Roy Douglas Malonson

Faith, resilience, and service — these are the threads woven through the life of Su ragan Bishop David Allen Jr. His story is not just one of personal triumph but of generational purpose, rooted in the history of his family and the church he now leads.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1959, David Jr. came into the world carrying both a legacy and a divine assignment. His father, David Allen Sr., was the only child of a young, orphaned mother who miraculously survived a failed abortion attempt. at miracle of survival planted a seed of faith that would later grow deep into the Allen family and eventually shape David Jr.’s own testimony.

From his earliest days, struggle and strength walked hand in hand. As an infant, David was stricken with polio, leaving him unable to walk until he was just two and a half years old. en, in a moment his family never forgot, he stepped across the doorway of their small two-bedroom home into his father’s astonished arms. at miracle of healing did more than restore his legs; it marked the beginning of a faith that would de ne his life.

Looking back today as a bishop and community leader, he calls that moment a constant reminder that “regardless of the hand that life deals us, we can overcome.” It was the

David Allen Jr. on pg. 3

ONE UNION, ONE VISION: CWA UNITED

By: Claude Cummings

Just a few weeks ago we gathered for our 80th CWA Convention. Our theme was One Union, One Vision: CWA United. Unity doesn’t mean that we agree on every issue. at’s simply not possible in any group, let alone one as large as our union, with members coming from many di erent industries and backgrounds.

What unites us through our disagreements and discussions are our values and our vision for the future. We love our families and our countries. We want everyone in our communities to have the freedom to be themselves, pursue their dreams, and have a good

United on pg. 5

A.J. PATERSON

DAVID ALLEN, SR.

A Revival of God Consciousness

President Trump is attempting to colonize American society based solely upon false assumptions concerning racial identity. In fact, President Trump is colonizing who belongs in America, and what history should be remembered or read; without spiritually understanding that so-called racial identities are socio-economic gments of White imagination. Consequently, attempting to militarize and rewrite American history is a central feature of MAGA-Cult Trumpism. Sadly, White anxiety is on the rise in American society because of shi ing population dynamics and perceived nonWhite socio-economic progress. Even though America’s socio-economic system has been rigged in favor of White Privilege since 1492. Slavery and institutional racism were bad, and no degree of attempting to white-wash-history can erase historical facts, good, bad, or ugly. Facts are facts. Truth is truth, and a lie can never become the truth. Truth and oral history persist, as there are individuals who continue to share accurate accounts. Even if the truth is placed on a Cross, crushed to the ground, and buried in a tomb, it shall rise again. America, wisdom is valuable, but truth is eternal. erefore, will someone please inform President Trump and his MAGA-Christian Right

Evangelical Cult to: “let not mercy and truth forsake thee, bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.” (Proverbs 3: 3). Truthfulness and mercy are very important character traits. Merciful individuals not only show compassion but also pursue justice for all. More importantly, merciful individuals know that: “God does not pervert justice”. Sin and injustice separate individuals from God and truth. erefore, God’s true children know that: “if ye continue in my word, then ye are my disciples; indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8: 31-32).

Understand

Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher

Every Sunday, the pews are lled. Black churches remain a cornerstone of hope and healing, and for generations, faith has sustained our people through trials. But when it comes to mental health, the numbers show that church alone isn’t enough.

tes. Yet when it comes to the mind, we pretend that prayer is enough.

President Trump is known for igniting controversy, such as supporting militarized policing. Soldiers are trained to kill. Policemen are trained to maintain civil law and order. ere is a monumental moral di erence. President Trump is seeking to establish a military dictatorship in an e ort to maintain power and avoid another impeachment. Most of all, President Trump has a devilish mastermind for orchestrating showmanship antics. In fact, President Trump has become a political arsonist, loving to light socio-economic political res. Sadly, in Texas President Trump started an ungodly/ devilish gerrymandering re that will spread. Additionally, President Trump is kicking the behind of democratic mayors over the issue of crime, but for some ungodly reason, he refuses to kick the behind of Putin. Instead, Putin gets red-carpet treatment. e question is: WHY? Godfearing individu-

e National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 1 in 3 Black adults who need mental health care receive it, compared to almost half of White adults. At the same time, suicide among Black youth has climbed at alarming rates, with attempts increasing by nearly 80% in recent decades. Faith may give us strength, but it cannot replace professional care. Too o en, depression, anxiety, or trauma are minimized in our community. People are told to “be strong” or “just pray about it.”

But mental illness is not a lack of faith—it is a health condition that needs treatment. We don’t tell someone with high blood pressure to skip the doctor. We don’t expect prayer alone to cure diabe-

erapy, counseling, and access to trained professionals are lifesaving. e problem is, only 4% of psychologists in the U.S. are Black, which means most patients won’t nd someone who understands their lived experiences. is lack of representation fuels mistrust and keeps many from seeking help. e solution must be both/ and, not either/or. Our pastors can lead the way by breaking the stigma and encouraging their congregations to seek counseling alongside prayer. Communities can demand more funding for culturally competent care in schools and neighborhoods. Families can normalize talking about therapy as openly as they talk about church. Because the truth is this: our faith is strong, but our people are still su ering. Until mental health care becomes as normal in our community as Sunday service, the crisis will only deepen.

Bobby Mills, Ph.D.

rst of many lessons in perseverance. Growing up as the eldest of ve boys, David learned resilience from his parents. His father modeled what it meant to be both an entrepreneur and a pastor at a time when Black men rarely held such positions. “Most of what I learned from him was caught rather than taught,” Bishop Allen says. “He showed his ve boys how to create our own income streams and pursue our passions.” at example le a lasting imprint. To this day, the Allen brothers each maintain multiple income streams and live free from the fear of layo s or limited opportunities.

e family later moved to Houston, where David Sr. became Assistant Pastor of Christ Temple Apostolic Church. At just 16, David Jr. surrendered his life to Christ and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost — a turning point that gave direction to his future. His father’s passion for the Word and for serving people shaped his own view of ministry long before he o cially accepted his calling.

A er graduating from M.B. Smiley High School in 1977, David attended the University of Houston and then began a 27-year career in civil and structural design. He became a Senior CAD Operator, working on projects across the United States and even spending seven months in Caracas, Venezuela.

Inspired by his father, he bought his rst rental property at 19 and later became a licensed real estate agent in 1994. His career was successful, but his heart remained tied to his faith.

In 1982, David married Regina, his lifelong partner in both family and ministry. Together, they raised three children and dedicated themselves to the CTAC Children’s Ministry. eir marriage became a steady anchor as they weathered house res, hurricanes, and family loss.

In 2004, his mother, Carol Ann Allen, passed away. at same year, he faced a devastating house re, his daughter’s apartment re, Hurricane Ike’s destruction, and his father’s stage four cancer diagnosis. Yet in the middle of loss and devastation, David stepped into the role of Church Administrator and helped lead CTAC through an $800,000 rebuild. It was proof of his guiding principle: When hard times come, don’t run. Lean into them and ght.

On February 20, 2010, his father installed him as Pastor of Christ Temple Apostolic Church. Just six weeks later, David Sr. passed away, leaving David Jr. to carry forward the mantle of leadership. For years, he faithfully led CTAC, carrying the same determination that had de ned his life since childhood. en came the moment that brought his journey full circle. At a national convention, in front of

peers, elders, and saints from across the country, David Allen Jr. was o cially elevated and appointed as Su ragan Bishop. e boy once healed from polio, the young man shaped by storms, now stood a rmed before the world. His appointment was not just a title — it was a divine con rmation that God had chosen him for such a time as this. at leadership has been tested again and again. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey destroyed his home and car, leaving him and Regina displaced for eight months. Even while rebuilding their own lives, they led CTAC in serving hundreds of families in the Kashmere Gardens community. “Harvey was the most trying storm of all,” he recalls. “I had more questions than answers. But God was faithful to bring us through — and to bring us out better than when we went in.” at trial deepened his compassion for others, making his ministry not just one of service, but of true relatability and understanding. Today, Bishop Allen continues to expand his reach. Under his guidance, CTAC launched the L.I.F.E. Organization CDC, a nonpro t serving Houston’s Black community. It operates testing centers for GEDs, teacher certi cations, insurance and real estate licensing, and more.

David Allen Jr. Cont.

David Allen Jr. on pg. 7

THROUGH THE LENS OF TIME: BLACK HISTORY IS 24/7/365

1799. Richard Allen becomes the rst ordained Black minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

1800. An enslaved man named Gabriel plans the rst major slave rebellion in U.S. history. He gathers about 1,000 armed enslaved people near Richmond, Virginia.

1816. e African Methodist Episcopal Church is formally organized. Richard Allen becomes its rst bishop.

1817. e American Colonization Society is established to transport freeborn Black people and Black people freed from slavery to Africa.

1820. e Missouri Compromise provides for Missouri to be admitted to the Union as a slave state.

1822. Denmark Vesey, who was freed from slavery, plans the largest slave revolt in U.S. history, in Charleston, South Carolina. e rebellion is

1829. African American

Appeal…to the

HOUSTON

AUSTIN

TEXAS TAKEAWAY

Oil giant ConocoPhillips is preparing to cut up to 25% of its workforce— potentially thousands of jobs—as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative.

WACO

Governor Greg Abbott visited the Cameron Park neighborhood on Wednesday to speak with local ﬁrst responders about a new training program aimed at enhancing preparedness for wildﬁres and other threats across Texas.

Student groups from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at Dallas ﬁled a lawsuit Wednesday against their university presidents, UT System Chancellor Dr. John Zerwas, and the system’s Board of Regents, challenging a state law that restricts speech on campus during speciﬁc times.

SAN ANTONIO

San Antonio is weighing the possibility of imposing ﬁnes of up to $2,000 on individuals who abandon dogs, cats, or other animals within the city limits.

DALLAS

A well-known Fort Worth steakhouse, considered a staple along the bustling stretch of restaurants on Magnolia Avenue, is preparing to close its doors. The closure marks the end of an era for the popular dining spot, which has been a longtime favorite among locals and visitors for its classic menu and central location in one of the city’s most vibrant culinary districts.

Lettie June Harden Brewer, known as L. June H. Brewer, was born on September 5, 1925, in Austin, Texas — the daughter of Charleston Powell Harden and Minnie Elizabeth (Bremond) Harden. She graduated with honors from Samuel Huston College (now Huston-Tillotson College) in 1944 and earned her M.A. in English from Howard University in 1946. In a groundbreaking move that followed the Sweatt v. Painter Supreme Court ruling in 1950, Brewer became one of the rst African-American graduate students admitted to the University of Texas at Austin.

abolitionist David Walker publishes the pamphlet

Colored Citizens of the World…, calling for

slave revolt.

LETTIE JUNE HARDEN BREWER

life. We believe in prosperity, justice, and security for all, not just the very rich. is Labor Day, those values and that vision are under threat. A new generation of oligarchs is bent on seizing control of our country and using their obscene wealth to capture and corrupt our government.

Now they have their strongest ally ever in the White House, and leaders in Congress have abandoned their responsibility to stand up for the people they represent. Donald Trump and the billionaires who funded his campaign are ransacking federal programs, shutting down essential services to put more money into their own pockets and throwing millions

of people out of work, including thousands of CWA members.

e unfettered power that Donald Trump and his corporate backers are seeking is extremely dangerous. e rapid progress they have made rolling back the basic democratic system we have spent almost 250 years trying to perfect is alarming. e founders of our country established a government of checks and balances so that no one person could gain full control of the levers of power. Now, we are witnessing something none of us ever thought we’d see in the United States - the rise of an authoritarian regime. When I was elected to lead this union, I promised you that I would never back down from a ght. Today, we are in

an existential ght to protect the core values that make us who we are. And despite the obstacles this administration is throwing at working people, I remain convinced that labor, united, can never be defeated.

As Donald Trump and his band of billionaire bullies attempt to reshape our nation, destroy our values, and upend a century of labor law, we nd ourselves as unionists once again called to defend democracy and our way of life. We will not sit idly by and watch our brothers and sisters be ripped away from their families, their jobs, and their communities. We will not turn a blind eye to our military being deployed against the very people they are sworn to protect, as voter rights, worker rights, and human rights are stripped

from the most vulnerable. And we will not be complacent as workers the world over are put in harm’s way.

University presidents, partners in big law rms, media moguls, CEOs, and even some elected o cials and heads of state have been responding to Donald Trump’s threats by trying to appease him. But it doesn’t work that way. Donald Trump is a bully. And if you give a bully your lunch money on Monday you better believe he’ll be back for more on Tuesday.

At our Convention, with overwhelming support, delegates passed the Fighting the Trump Administration’s Anti-Union Project 2025 Playbook resolution. We will never betray the values that make us a strong, ghting union. We are not the largest

union out there. But because of the work that all of you do, we are one of the most respected and in uential. Let’s make this Labor Day a true workers’ Labor Day by standing up and speaking out against the corporate takeover of our lives and for dignity and respect for ourselves and our co-workers, neighbors and communities. Let’s make sure that every worker knows that when we join together we are more powerful than any boss or any bully, even one in the White House.

Happy Labor Day to you and yours.

In Unity, Claude Cummings Jr. President

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e organization also partners with agencies that serve battered women, children with disabilities, and families in need during the holidays.

Looking ahead, Bishop Allen believes the greatest challenge for the Black church is staying connected to changing communities. Many congregants now live outside the neighborhoods where they worship, and in areas like Kashmere Gardens, the demographics are shi ing from predominantly Black to more Hispanic. Still, he remains committed to teaching and modeling core values: strong Black male leadership, entrepreneurship, family structure, and community support. When asked how he wants to be remembered, Bishop Allen’s answer is simple: “As a man who practiced what he preached — leading my family rst, then my church, and striving to be a living epistle known and read of all men.”

From a little boy healed of polio to a bishop guiding his congregation with courage and compassion, his life is a testament to storms weathered, struggles endured, and miracles received. His journey is a reminder to all: put God rst, ght for what matters, lean into the hard times with courage — and trust that faith and perseverance will always lead to miracles.

HMAAC OPENS THE JOURNEY TO EVERYTHING AND WHO FEELS IT, KNOWS IT LOCAL

By: John Guess

e Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) is delighted to present from August 29- December 15, 2025 Danny Simmons’ e Journey to Everything Curated by John Guess, Jr. and Co-Curated by Danielle Finnerman and Chayse Sampy’s Who Feels It, Knows It, Curated by Danielle Finnerman. In e Journey to Everything Philadelphiabased Neo-African Abstract Expressionist painter, poet, novelist, philanthropist and Tony Award winning producer Danny Simmons explores themes of diaspora, ancestral memory, and Black spirituality in the paintings and works on bark cloth on view.

e title of the exhibition and its painting, e Journey to Everything, is both preface to the show and an enjambed line of poetry, to use a poetic term for an un nished thought that ows into the next line, but that could stand on its own. Simmons is a working poet with ve collections and one on the way. He is inviting you, not to consume the art, but to participate in bringing it to life.

e title prepares us for the plenitude to come: collages on paper and canvas, with juxtaposed dots of paint and Ankara fabric, Bogolan

mud cloth from Mali, paper cutouts of visible and partially visible faces, Congolese bark cloth, neon lace, gestural lines, and splashes of color on single frames and triptychs. From permutations of the song from a civil rights march in “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” to migration in “Take the Long Way Home,” and maps of a rainforest in “Ituri Forest”, Simmons has produced work that re ects his inner life and receptive mien.

Organized by James Cavello and the Westwood Gallery NYC, Curated by John Guess, Jr. and Co-curated by Danielle Finnerman, the exhibition puts Simmons’ multimedia paintings in conversation with a selection of African objects from the artist’s personal collection.

According to Guess, “ is work is a dynamic step forward for Simmons; work that had an impressive exhibition at the Reginald Lewis African American Museum in Baltimore. We were fortunate to get e Journey to Everything scheduled for this year.”

Chayse Sampy’s Who Feels It, Knows It is the perfect comple-

David Allen Jr. Cont.

GREAT EDUCAT RS THE HEART OF LEARNING STARTS WITH

Nominate a deserving teacher, counselor, principal, early childhood learning center, school board or school district.

Created in 2002, the H‑E‑B Excellence in Education Awards was designed to honor and thank outstanding public school professionals. Through this program, H‑E‑B awards over $780,000 annually to deserving educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and communities.