AframNews.com
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
WHEN THE SHOTS RING OUT HATE
e image of Charlie Kirk collapsing on stage at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, has already become one of the most replayed videos in America. A sniper’s bullet ended his life in front of thousands of stunned students, echoing an era that many believed was long behind us. For Black Americans, the moment doesn’t feel new. It feels like history repeating itself—the kind of public violence that silenced Medgar Evers in 1963, gunned down Malcolm X in 1965, and ended the life of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. It also recalls the deadly attacks
By: Fred Smith
Why the hell do white folks hate Black folks? at question echoes across our history, and the answer always leads back to the lies they built to protect their power. From the beginning, slavery needed a justi cation. ey told the world we were less than human, that our bodies were property, that our freedom was a threat. at hate wasn’t born from us—it was created and passed down to preserve white supremacy.
When slavery ended, hate didn’t die. It put on new uniforms: Jim Crow laws, lynching mobs, and police badges. It blocked our children from schools, denied us loans, and jailed us for existing in the wrong place at the wrong time. Hate became a tradition, a system, and a strategy. And generation a er generation, white America found new ways to recycle the same fear.
on members of the Black Panther Party, who were hunted by both white supremacists and government forces for daring to defend Black communities and demand justice.
e violence of that decade did not stop with Black leaders. White allies who stood with the movement also paid the ultimate price. Viola Liuzzo, a mother of ve, was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan for helping transport marchers a er Selma’s Bloody Sunday. Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, two young
Shots on pg. 3
But here’s the most dangerous part: the fear they created spreads so far that it seeps into our own minds. When I turn on the news and see how they portray us, I feel it. I see endless mugshots of Black men, stories of violence in Black neighborhoods, images carefully chosen to make us look like predators instead of people. And if I’m honest, sometimes even I start to feel the fear they planted. If I didn’t know better, I would be scared of Black folks too. at’s how powerful their system of hate is—it teaches us to be afraid of ourselves.
White folks hate us because our equality threatens their privilege. ey hate us because our excellence exposes the lie. ey hate us because if Black people ever stood fully free, the old order would crumble. Fear is their weapon. Hate is their shield. But no matter how many times they replay those images, the truth still rises: we are not who they say we are. We are more. And that truth is what they fear most.
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
FRED HAMPTON
A Revival of God Consciousness
e Trump Administration has emphasized displays of federal authority and increased militarization, rather than focusing on addressing/ resolving socio-economic issues. For example, seeking to militarize policing and public safety and attempting to unilaterally change the name of the Defense Department to e War Department is proof in the pudding. Another bold and blatant example is bombing an alleged drug cartel boat in international waters killing eleven individuals. America’s greatness is not housed in military might, but constitutional declaration and civility based upon law and order, not my way or the highway. Unfortunately, President Trump was elected to the Ofce of the Presidency because
American culture has become too ungodly, too materialistic, and too vanity oriented. e primary cause of growing authoritarianism in American society is the weakening of family structures. Family units are the basic institutional foundation of every society. Additionally, far too many GOP politicians are so closely aligned with President Trump’s personalized agenda that they fail to address their constituents’ socio-economic needs. What an ungodly shame! e Trump Administration has been characterized by a focus on individualized Presidential leadership rather than traditional collective problem-solving approaches. Presidential cabinet meetings are classic examples. Once again, American culture has become overly external and too materialistic reverting backwards toward America’s materialistic racialized slavery approach to human interaction. Hence, the foundational basis of crime, violence, and devilish thievery in American society is materialism as a way of life. is is precisely why the Bible declares
that: ce of the Presidency because Government on pg. 5
Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher
All too o en in America, when political violence erupts—or when authorities respond to unrest—Black communities and those already struggling economically pay the steepest price.
Just look at recent decisions in cities like Memphis, where leaders faced pressure to bring in the National Guard despite overall violent crime trending downward. Instead of directing resources toward mental health, housing, and jobs, the response leaned on military force. e message is clear: direct confrontation is chosen more readily than meaningful reform in places where Black people live.
Across the country, political violence is rising at levels not seen in decades. Analysts have tracked a sharp increase in politically motivated attacks, with hundreds of incidents already reported this year. From armed confrontations at rallies to targeted killings, America is seeing echoes of the turbulence that shook the nation in the 1960s. And, as history shows, when violence escalates, it does not strike evenly. It lands hardest in neighborhoods already burdened by segregation, poverty, and underfunded schools, clinics, and housing.
Data shows this clearly. Communities with the highest poverty levels have faced the greatest spikes in gun vio-
lence, while majority-Black neighborhoods have seen fatal shootings rise at rates far higher than wealthier or whiter areas. is isn’t coincidence—it’s the cost of systemic neglect. When political leaders choose force over investment, when society normalizes violent rhetoric over solutions, Black communities pay rst and most.
And the cost isn’t just immediate loss of life. Violence reverberates across generations. It shows up in untreated trauma, in children forced to grow up too fast, in families broken apart by incarceration or premature death. It becomes another barrier to opportunity, another way America keeps Black people in a cycle of survival rather than prosperity.
If this nation truly wants to break the cycle, it cannot continue to meet unrest with guns and guards. What Black communities need is investment: a ordable housing, mental health treatment, educational opportunity, and economic policy that upli s rather than criminalizes. Violence has always been America’s easy choice. But until this country chooses a di erent path, Black families will remain the rst to su er.
Bobby Mills, Ph.D.
Cont.
white activists, were killed alongside James Chaney in Mississippi for registering Black voters. e message of the 1960s was clear: whether Black or white, anyone who challenged the racial order risked being silenced by violence.
More than sixty years later, the cycle feels unbroken. Kirk was no civil rights leader—indeed, he built his platform on criticizing the legacy of civil rights—but his assassination forces us to ask whether America has ever truly moved beyond its reliance on violence to settle its deepest con icts. His words o en targeted Black people, and his death at the hands of a gunman underscores a truth we already know: once hate takes hold, it spares no one.
Charlie Kirk did not simply disagree with civil rights; he attacked them at their roots. At a December 2023 speech, he called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 a “huge mistake,” claiming it created permanent government structures that should never have existed. For African Americans, that law was not a mistake—it was a hard-won triumph carved out through marches, jail cells, and spilled blood. To call it an error was to dismiss the sacri ces of a generation. Kirk also described Martin Luther King Jr. as “awful” and “not a good person,” an attack on one of the most revered gures in American history.
King’s dream was never perfect, but to deny his role as a moral compass for justice was to spit on a cornerstone of Black progress.
Kirk’s rhetoric cut deeper when he cast suspicion on Black professionals. On his program, he said that if he saw a Black pilot, his rst thought would be whether that person was truly quali ed. at single remark tapped into centuries of doubt Black people have faced in classrooms, workplaces, and boardrooms—the belief that no matter how hard we work or how much we achieve, our success will always be questioned. He went further, portraying Black neighborhoods as violent places where young people “prowl” for entertainment and mocking Black women in positions of in uence by suggesting they were there because of a rmative action, not ability. Again and again, Kirk chose to frame Blackness as a liability, a danger, or a fraud. When he embraced the so-called “Great Replacement” theory, insisting it was not a theory but a reality, he added his voice to a chorus of white nationalist propaganda. is conspiracy suggests that demographic change is a plot to erase white Americans, painting communities of color as the enemy. In the 1960s, segregationists warned that integration would ruin the nation. In 2025, Kirk repackaged the same fear in language
tailored for viral clips and social media outrage.
e larger question is not only what Kirk said, but why so many white Americans still nd comfort in this kind of rhetoric. e answer is rooted in history. Black progress has always been met with backlash from those who see equality as a threat to privilege. Every gain—from emancipation, to voting rights, to a rmative action— has been followed by a wave of resistance. e myths endure because they serve a purpose: they protect power. Kirk gave voice to these myths, and millions applauded him for saying out loud what many still whisper.
None of this excuses his assassination. Violence, whether in 1968 or 2025, cannot be the answer. But it reveals a sobering reality: hate, once unleashed, does not discriminate. Kirk may have targeted us with his words, but in the end, violence consumed him too.
For Black America, the lesson is both old and urgent. e cycle of violence is not broken, and the prejudice behind it is still alive. e question is not whether another assassination will come—it is whether America will nally confront why so many white people continue to see Black lives as lesser, undeserving, or dangerous. Until that changes, the 1960s will not stay in the past. ey will keep replaying before our eyes, and the sound of gun re will continue to drown out the possibility of peace.
HEALTH
U.S. FATALITY DATA UPDATE
By: Bill King
I have been wanting to update you on the fatality data for the U.S. However, the death certi cates come in so slowly, I did not want to share incomplete data. But there has now been more than enough time for the 2024 data to stabilize.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, slightly over 3 million people died in the U.S. in 2024. at is a fatality rate (fatalities/1,000 population) of just under 9.0. For the y years prior to COVID, the rate had ranged from 7.9 to 9.5. It hit the low of 7.9 in 2009 but steadily increased therea er, reaching 8.7 in 2019.
Of course, the rate soared during the pandemic, averaging about 10 for 2020-2022. ere were about 1.4 million more deaths in those years than would have been expected by the trends in place before COVID. Of course, there is a erce debate (mostly on social media) about whether the excess fatalities were caused by COVID itself or some of the government’s reactions to it. Given the age distribution of fatalities during the pandemic, I think most of the excess fatalities were caused by the disease itself. Still, there were signi cant collateral e ects from the containment policies that also contributed to more people dying. e most common of these were people deferring health screenings, especially for cancer and cardiovascular conditions.
e 2023 rate was slightly elevated, about 9.3, which was about 100,000 more deaths than the trendline. e rate of 9.0 in 2024 is almost exactly in line with the trajectory in place before the pandemic. e early data for 2025 also indicates we may see a modest improvement this year.
e largest component of the upward trend since 2010 (other than COVID) has been the opioid epidemic. According to the CDC, deaths from drug overdoses soared from under 40,000 in 2010 to
over 100,000 during the pandemic. Fortunately, the preliminary numbers indicate that there was a signi cant downturn in 2024, as the danger from fentanyl-laced illicit drugs has become more widely understood. However, the fatality rate will have an underlying upward bias in the future because our country is aging. e Census Bureau projects that by 2050, approximately 82 million Americans will be over 65, which will account for about a quarter of the population at that time.
It is important to keep this larger fatality perspective in mind when you hear the various claims about this or that killing thousands of Americans. For example, I have some friends who have been convinced by social media that thousands of Americans have died from the COVID vaccine. When they tell me this, I have a very simple question for them: Why isn’t it showing up in the total fatalities? e U.S. fatality rate is absolutely higher than it should be. But we do not need to resort to conspiracy theories to explain why. We overeat, drink too much, smoke, do dangerous illicit drugs, don’t exercise enough, and too many people don’t get routine medical check-ups, so serious diseases are not diagnosed while there is still time to do something. MAHA is not complicated; it just takes some common sense, discipline, and good
common sense, discipline, and good primary healthcare.
THROUGH THE LENS OF TIME: BLACK HISTORY IS 24/7/365
1857 1865 1896 1870 1885 1900 1863
1857. In Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court case nds that the U.S. Constitution does not protect or recognize free or enslaved African Americans as citizens.
1863 . Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation goes into e ect, changing the legal status of 3 million slaves in designated areas of the Confederacy from “slave” to “free.”
1865. e thirteenth amendment passed, abolishing slavery throughout the United States.
1885. A majority of Southern states pass individual state laws requiring separate schools for black and white students.
1896. Plessy v. Ferguson legitimizes state laws reestablishing racial segregation in Southern states.
1900. A majority of Southern states pass laws that required African Americans to be separated from white citizens.
1870. e eenth amendment is passed, guaranteeing that a citizen’s right to vote would not be denied on account of race, color, or previous
HOUSTON
AUSTIN
TEXAS TAKEAWAY
Salad and Go, the fast-growing drivethru restaurant chain known for its affordable and healthy menu options, is permanently closing all of its locations in the Houston area, along with several other sites across Texas.
LUBBOCK
The Buddy Holly Center invited the community to join them in celebrating the closing reception of On the Prime Meridian.
DALLAS
Taxing entities across the Austin area have finalized their property tax rates for the upcoming year. Although each entity uses a different average taxable homestead value, the resulting increases or decreases amount to an average of about $257 more per homeowner.
SAN ANTONIO
The San Antonio Public Library is honoring Hispanic Heritage Month with special events and programs.
Nestled within Dallas’ grand Crescent Hotel development, Avra Estiatorio is a sprawling new Greek restaurant so expansive that managers have given names to each of its winding rooms.
AUSTIN
One Shoreline Plaza is set to go up for foreclosure auction in October, according to a notice of sale filed with the Nueces County Clerk. The property, situated at 800 North Shoreline Boulevard, sits along the downtown waterfront.
Althea Gibson was a pioneering American athlete who shattered racial barriers, becoming the rst Black tennis player to compete at the international level, win a Grand Slam title, and win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1957 and 1958. She was also the rst AfricanAmerican woman on the professional golf tour and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971
ALTHEA GIBSON
“For the love of money
is the root of all evil: which while some coveted a er, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timonthy 6: 10). Everything individuals do in life is about FAITH. Faith in the individuals who supply and prepare our food, construct our housing, build our cars, and so on. We do not physically see these individuals, but we have faith in their intellectual integrity, professional honesty, and ethical competence. erefore: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11: 1). As Americans, we must have faithful con dence and certainty in those who are responsible for supplying our basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. It is a faithful certainty that God will do what He says. It is essential that we maintain mutual trust and uphold our commitments to one another, because: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his esh shall of his esh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6: 7-8). America, might does not make right. President Trump claims to be unhappy with Putin’s actions regarding Russia’s war with Ukraine, yet he does absolutely nothing to address his displeasure. Will someone please inform President Trump that words matter. Words de ne who we say we are. When will Putin learn why President Trump changed the Department of Defense to the Department of War? Words matter. Presidents should speak clearly and honestly. Amen!
AA
STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND BETTER PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE EDUCATION
By: HISD Press Office
Today, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) released the results of its 2025 Family Sentiment Survey, capturing the perspectives of families from 259 of 274 campuses. Responses were collected between May 29 and June 30 in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Farsi, and Mandarin. e survey results were weighted to ensure a valid, representative sample of HISD’s community.
HISD, one of the most diverse districts in the nation, serves a student body that is 62% Hispanic, 21% Black, 10% White, 5% Asian, and nearly 3% multi-racial, with less than 1% identifying as American Indian or Native Hawaiian. e sentiment survey re ects the voices of this diverse parent community.
“HISD families are clear: they see progress in classrooms and are con dent that students are learning and being prepared for the future. A majority of families believe their school is doing better than it was a year ago, and that’s a great testament to the transformation and the tremendous work of our educators and sta ,” said Superintendent Mike Miles. “At the same time, we take seriously the areas where families want stronger connections. is survey is another step in improving our schools and our students’ experiences.”
Key Highlights
• 71.5% of families believe HISD is preparing their child for life, career, or continuing education—with three-fourths of economically disadvantaged
families a rming this con dence.
• A majority of families report their child’s school is doing better than it was a year ago—including 62% of Hispanic families and 61.5% of economically disadvantaged families.
• 73.5% of families said their child is learning as much as expected, or mostly so.
• A majority of families across all four District divisions (Central, North, South, West) believe classroom instruction meets their child’s needs.
• Families ranked “believing their child is safe at school” as a top issue—and nearly 8 in 10 families report their child’s school provides a safe and welcoming environment.
• More than 60% of parents would recommend their school to other families, and 78% say they feel well-informed about school activities and events.
Areas for Growth
e survey identi ed several focus areas moving forward:
• Although high school families report positive experiences, their overall sentiment lags behind other grade levels. HISD will continue the use of ParentSquare, family surveys, and principal/counselor o ce hours to strengthen communication.
• White families (70.9%) and economically advantaged families (66.1%) reported HISD is “getting worse”, indicating that sentiment among these groups is negative. HISD looks forward to continuing to gather direct feedback and engaging with
families in conversations to understand this lag and determine if there are actionable solutions that keep students’ academic results at the forefront.
• Black family engagement: While Black and Hispanic student achievement has dramatically increased over the past two years, HISD acknowledges the need to deepen partner-
ships with Black families, as their sentiment lags behind that of other parent groups.
e District thanks families for taking part in the 2025 Family Sentiment Survey as part of HISD’s ongoing commitment to listening to families and identifying opportunities for improvement.
DR. BETTY FORTUNE PRESIDENT OF NORTHEAST COLLEGE FORT BEND ISD WELCOMES FORMER BOARD MEMBER ADDIE HEYLIGER BACK EDUCATION
By: Dwight Daniels
Houston City College (HCC) has announced the appointment of Dr. Betty Fortune as permanent President of Northeast College, following a national search.
outstanding leadership, the Texas Success Center awarded Dr. Fortune the prestigious Cynthia Ferrell Pathways Star of Excellence Award in December.
By: SH-FBISD News
Dr. Fortune was serving as Interim President, where she successfully led enrollment growth and strengthened partnerships with community and business leaders. Her selection ensures continued strong, student-centered leadership at Northeast College.
ensures continued strong, student-centered leadership at Northeast
ing Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Retention and Completion, Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Success, Faculty Department Chair and Executive Dean of Instruction and Student Services. She has also played a central role in advancing initiatives such as Achieving the Dream, the Quality Enhancement Process and the Caring Campus
Initiative.
In recognition of her
Former Fort Bend ISD (FBISD) Board Member Addie Heyliger was sworn into o ce at Monday night’s general board meeting to ll a Position 5 vacancy. Heyliger is a seasoned technology professional with more than 20 years of experience collaborating with senior business executives and techni-
portfolio value delivery. Heyliger is passionate about serving her community. She was elected to FBISD’s Board in 2015 and again in 2018, where she served as president of the Board from November 2020 through May 2021. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,
of Science degree in Computer Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and her Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman’s University. She raised two children in Fort Bend ISD schools and has been a resident of Fort Bend County for more than 20 years.
“Dr. Fortune’s vision, dedication and deep commitment to her the right leader to guide Northeast College into the future,” said HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. “Her proven innovation will continue to bene t our students and commu-
“Dr. Fortune’s vision, dedication and deep commitment to student success make her the right leader to guide Northeast College into the future,” said HCC Chancellor
Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. “Her proven record of innovation and collaboration will continue to bene t our students and community.”
A 25-year veteran of HCC, Dr. Fortune has held a range of key leadership positions includ-
A 25-year
Dr. Fortune earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Southern University, a Master of Education from Prairie View A&M University and a Doctorate in Education from Texas Southern University.
from Texas Southern University.
“I am honored to continue serving Northeast College as its president,”
“I am honored to continue serving Northeast College as its president,” Dr. Fortune said.
“Together with our dedicated faculty, sta and community partners, we will continue building pathways that support student achievement and success.”
Heyliger received a Bachelor cal teams. She currently leads initiatives in business engagement, project management and
e Links Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and e Fort Bend Church.
DR. BETTY FORTUNE
ADDIE HEYLIGER, TRUSTEE - POSITION 5
CITYWIDE CHEMICAL
e Records and Information Management Department of the Houston Independent School District is preparing to destroy personally identi able information which was maintained to provide educational services for qualifying students. is information includes referral data, notice/consent documents, assessment reports with supporting data, ARD committee deliberations and IEP documents. Records are destroyed 5 years a er cessation of services. Cessation of services results when a student graduates, is dismissed from Special Education Services, moves out of district, or drops out of school. Records currently being destroyed are for Special Education students whose services ceased in the 2019- 2020 school year. Parents/Guardians of these students or the adult student (aged 18 or over), may contact the Records and Information Management Department at 713556-6055 before December 5, 2025 should they wish to obtain the record being destroyed. ese records may be needed in the future for Social Security bene ts or other purposes.
Houston ISD Records & Information Management Department 4400 W. 18th Street Building B Houston, Texas 77092 Email: recordsmanagement@houstonisd.org
DIVERSITY
H-E-B’s Supplier Diversity Program works hard to ensure we’re selling goods and utilizing services from a wide variety of Texan businesses. We’re proud that our suppliers are as diverse as the Lone Star State itself.
As a former small business ourselves, we believe in and celebrate the value & strength that working with small businesses, local businesses, and businesses owned by diverse suppliers, women, LGBTQ+, Veterans, and disabled Texans brings to both our business and the communities we serve.
