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“Addressing
Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
WHY BLACK SONS ARE JUDGED HARDER THAN WHITE ONES
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
The conversation around football’s next generation is heating up, but what stands out is not just who is on the field—it’s how they’re treated once they get there. When the media speaks about Peyton Manning’s sons, the tone is one of destiny fulfilled. Before they’ve thrown a single pass in college, they are already framed as “future stars,” “leaders in the making,” and heirs to the golden legacy of football royalty. Yet when the sons of Deion Sanders, Shed-
eur and Shilo, make headlines, the narrative quickly shifts. Instead of destiny, it’s doubt. Instead of leadership, it’s arrogance. Instead of respect, it’s constant questioning.
This is not simply a difference in sports coverage— it is a difference in how America views Black excellence compared to white tradition. The treatment of the Manning family versus the
By: Fred Smith
JOBS SLASHED IN HALF
The Greater Houston Partnership has cut Houston’s 2025 job growth forecast in half — from more than 70,000 new jobs down to just 35,000. While city leaders say the economy remains “strong,” the reality is more complicated, especially for African Americans who already face higher barriers in employment, wages, and small business ownership. For years, Black Houstonians have battled against uneven hiring practices, lower wages, and limited access to high-paying careers. When job creation slows, these inequalities don’t just stay the same — they deepen. The sectors most likely to tighten hiring — service, retail, hospitality, and construction — are also where African Americans are heavily represented. Fewer job openings could mean more competition, stalled wages, and an increase in underemployment.
The income gap tells the story. Even as Houston grows, African Americans remain more likely to earn less and live in poverty. Census data shows more than one in five Houstonians live at or below the poverty line, with Black households disproportionately affected. In a city where the cost of housing, healthcare, and transportation continues to rise, slower job growth could place more families at risk of falling behind.
For Black entrepreneurs, the Sons on pg. 3
Jobs on pg. 6
A Revival of God Consciousness
Bobby Mills, Ph.D.
God is not a want-to-be Kingly dictator. God is the ultimate loving power of free will choices. However, choices have consequences: good or bad. The U.S. embraces the principle of defending free speech, even if one disagrees, except in cases like falsely shouting fire in a theatre. Therefore, words can inform, but only God can transform the heart of an individual’s mind. No individual has the right to take something that he or she cannot give. President Trump and his MAGACult followers have brought America to a spiritually dark place, because of declining White population statistics. America is becoming a minority-majority nation as it relates to population dynamics. Sadly, this population dynamic scares the hell out of White individuals who have historically defined themselves as being superior solely based upon skin-color rather than equality grounded in the reality of God. Hence, it is easy to abstractly/ religiously talk about the universal reality of God; but much more difficult to socio-economically daily live the reality. God hates racism
(Number 12: 1-12). Racism drives individuals insane, because racism is housed in biological miseducation and intellectual insanity. All males regardless of external skin tone biologically are (99%) the same. Question: why attempt to biologically transform (1%) into (100%)? Of course, biologically the same applies to all females. Hence, attempting to transform (1%) biologically into (100%) superiority socio-economically creates untold societal confusion and social conflicts; especially when we know from high school art classes that all colors in the color-scheme come from black. America is in a very spiritually dark place, because of the bold-brazen-ungodly advent of MAGA-Cult Trumpism in 2016. The bold battle-cry of the MAGA-Cult is “taking our country back”. Take it back from whom? Questions: when was it yours and more importantly who took it from you? Your White European ancestors took the country from Native American Indians, because they had guns, and Native American Indians only had bows and arrows. After annihilating and conquering Native Americans your
Choices on pg. 5
We Must Understand
Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher
AMERICA’S BROKEN MIND
America is standing at a dangerous crossroads—and the shocking murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has ripped open a deeper wound in our nation’s soul.
For some, it’s just another headline in a violent year. But for others, Kirk’s death represents something much bigger: the collapse of reason, dialogue, and the very possibility of persuasion in American life.
Former Education Secretary William J. Bennett recently argued that Kirk’s murder reveals how far we’ve drifted from true debate. In the past, disagreements—even fierce ones—were settled through words, arguments, and persuasion. Today, political differences are treated as matters of identity and survival. Instead of changing minds, too many Americans seek to cancel, silence, or even destroy the people they oppose.
For Black America, this unraveling is not new. We have lived for centuries in a nation that often chose violence over dialogue. From slavery and lynching to Jim Crow and mass incarceration, our communities have long paid the price when the “American mind” turned hateful. History shows that when civil discourse collapses, marginalized communities
bear the brunt of the fallout. Bennett warns that our universities have abandoned their purpose of forming thoughtful citizens. Instead of teaching freedom of thought and resilience, too many institutions encourage fragility, silencing, and ideological conformity. But the real danger goes beyond the campus walls. When society stops listening, it starts breaking apart. When Americans no longer believe they can speak freely, they either retreat into silence or lash out in rage.
Charlie Kirk’s murder, Bennett suggests, is a symptom of a nation that has lost its ability to argue without hatred. Whether one agreed with Kirk’s politics or not, his death should raise alarm bells about where America is headed.
And here is the urgent truth: democracy cannot survive without debate. Elections alone are not enough. A healthy democracy depends on citizens being able to talk, disagree, and even clash without fear of violence. When that foundation collapses, the consequences fall hardest on communities that have always fought the longest for freedom—African Americans.
So the question becomes unavoidable: Will America rediscover the courage to argue with words, not weapons, or will we watch as the sickness of the American mind spreads unchecked?
Charlie Kirk’s murder is more than tragedy—it is a warning. And if we ignore it, history tells us exactly who will pay the highest price.
Sanders family has become a mirror reflecting our racial double standards. Deion Sanders’ sons are asked to prove themselves at every turn, while Peyton Manning’s sons are given praise simply for carrying a name. It is legacy versus legitimacy, and the rules are not the same.
The data backs this up.
A 2022 Pew Research Center survey revealed that nearly 60 percent of Black athletes believe the media holds them to a harsher standard than their white peers, while fewer than a quarter of white athletes felt the same way. And a University of Missouri study analyzing more than 4,000 sports articles found that Black athletes were twice as likely to be described with words like “arrogant” or “flashy,” while white athletes were more often praised as “intelligent,” “hardworking,” or “leaders.” These patterns play out every Saturday on national television, and nowhere is it more obvious than in the comparisons between these two famous families.
Consider Shedeur Sanders’ performance. Last season, he threw for more than 3,200 yards and 27 touchdowns at Colorado. He played through injuries, led comeback drives, and produced highlight reels that cemented him as one of the most talented quarterbacks in the nation. And yet, the coverage was filled with doubt—was he too Hollywood? Too focused on himself? Meanwhile, Peyton Manning’s sons—who have yet to play a meaningful college down—are being packaged by the media as the continuation of a dynasty, praised not for stats but for bloodline.
deals—they are about who America believes deserves to shine.
POLITICAL
This is the same scrutiny Deion Sanders himself endured. As “Prime Time,” he was one of the most dominant athletes of his era, but his flash and style were constantly criticized. His children are carrying that same burden, with the added weight of today’s social media spotlight. The double standard extends off the field as well. With the rise of NIL deals, money and image are now front and center. When Shedeur Sanders signed major endorsement deals, critics warned that he was “too distracted by fame.”
Yet Arch Manning, Peyton’s nephew, was valued at $3.2 million in NIL money before he even played a full college season, and the response was celebration, not skepticism. Corporate America trusts the Manning brand without hesitation, while questioning whether the Sanders brand is “too much.”
The same dollar amount becomes privilege when white and a problem when Black.
Even something as small as fashion becomes a flashpoint. Shedeur Sanders wearing designer clothes to a press conference is ridiculed online as arrogance, but if Peyton’s sons appear in tailored suits, it will be praised as professionalism. These narratives are not about clothes, watches, or
The truth is this story goes far beyond sports. It speaks to how Black families, even at the top of their game, must fight for legitimacy in ways their white counterparts never have to. The Manning sons are celebrated for potential. The Sanders sons are judged despite performance. The Mannings are the picture of tradition. The Sanders are asked to prove if they belong. It is a tale of two Americas, written on the gridiron but rooted in history.
Sports are supposed to be the great equalizer. Yet the coverage of these two families shows that equality is still a myth. The message this sends to young Black athletes is dangerous: no matter how much you achieve, society may still find a way to question your worth. Excellence alone is not enough.
The question for us as a community is whether we will accept this narrative or challenge it. Because until Black excellence is allowed to be celebrated without asterisk or suspicion, the game will remain tilted.
Shedeur Sanders has already proven he belongs. Shilo has already shown he can compete. But the larger battle is not theirs alone—it belongs to all of us watching, reading, and deciding whose story we choose to believe.
THE POLITICAL POWER GRAB AGAINST BLACK HOUSTON
By: Fred Smith
In Houston, the new Texas redistricting map is more than a reshuffling of district lines—it is a direct blow to Black political representation. For decades, Houston’s Black communities have fought to gain even a sliver of influence in
Congress. Now, with the stroke of a pen, those hard-won gains are being stripped away. By consolidating majorityBlack areas into fewer districts, the state has diluted our voice and our vote, making it harder for Black candidates to rise and
for our issues to reach Washington. Supporters of the map call it “fair representation.” But fair for whom? Certainly not for the Black families in Fifth Ward, Third Ward,
THROUGH THE LENS OF TIME: BLACK HISTORY IS 24/7/365
1909 1918 1921 1941 1920 1932 1916
1909. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded.
1916. The Great Migration begins, where more than six million African Americans move from the rural South to various urban metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia.
1918. The Dyer Antilynching Bill is first introduced, intending to establish lynching as a federal crime.
1920. The Harlem Renaissance marks the first time that mainstream publishers and critics turned their attention seriously to African American literature, music, art, and politics.
1921. The Greenwood massacre occurs, where mobs of white residents attacked black residents and businesses in the wealthy Black Wall Street district in Tulsa,
1932. The Tuskegee Institute collaborates with the U.S. government to conduct syphilis experiments on African American men.
HOUSTON
AUSTIN
TEXAS TAKEAWAY
The recent discovery of multiple bodies in Houston’s bayous has sparked widespread unease and intense online speculation, driven by both genuine concern and a fascination with true crime. With five bodies found in five days across different waterways, social media users are drawing connections and voicing fears of a possible serial killer.
FREDERICKSBURG
Celebrating 45 years of festivities, Oktoberfest is back in Fredericksburg, honoring the Hill Country’s German heritage with traditional food, lively polka music, and plenty of beer.
LUBBOCK
Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas and its Career Resource Center in Lubbock are launching a financial literacy series called “Financial Foundations.”
On September 18, the Texas Office of the Attorney General filed its response to a First Amendment lawsuit brought by students from UT Austin and UT Dallas against University of Texas System leaders, urging the U.S. District Court to dismiss the case.
CORPUS CHRISTI
Longtime political and community advocate Ray Madrigal has died at the age of 83. According to family members, Madrigal died Monday, Sept. 22, after losing his battle with leukemia.
Marcus Garvey was a influential Jamaican-born Black nationalist and Pan-Africanist leader in the early 20th century, best known for founding the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and promoting the idea of a self-sufficient Black nation, with his \”Back-to-Africa\” movement providing hope and pride to millions of marginalized Black people globally. Despite his positive influence on many, Garvey remains a controversial figure, admired for fostering Black pride but criticized for his racism, anticommunism, and a controversial partnership with the Ku Klux Klan.
1941. The Tuskegee Airmen become the first graduates from an all-African American pilot training program to subsequently fight in World War II.
Oklahoma.
MARCUS GARVEY
Choices
Cont.
ancestors went to Africa, captured, conquered, and enslaved Black Africans for free labor to physically build America’s societal infrastructure. Now, in the twenty first century, Blacks and most nonWhites are no longer needed for physical labor, because of industrialization (machines), AI, and technological scientific advances and inventions. America is a country conquered by Whites and socioeconomically and institutionally structured for White success and non-white failure. Therefore, defining individuals by their skin color presents significant challenges, because White individuals simply have no excuse (s) for socio-economic failures. This is precisely why we have the ungodly bold blaming of the victims by far too many Whites. Black and Brown individuals are not America’s problem. Racism and greed are the problems. This is precisely why, the rise of Political violence in American society mainly relates to demographic population shifts. Whites fear becoming the physical minority in American society, because they wrong headedly think that what they have done to permanent-tan minorities will be done in return to them. No Way Hosea, because Blacks and Browns have a God conscience. Individuals reap what they sow. Therefore: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of his flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6: 7-9). Hallelujah.
BODIES IN OUR BAYOUS LOCAL
By: Travis McGee
My deepest condolences to all 14 individuals and their families that have been pulled from our area bayous this year. We don’t know all of their names just like we don’t know what happened to them, but we hope and pray that all 14 victims will be treated with the upmost respect and dignity vs just another dead body. We also Pray that if someone is Preying on Houstonians that the right person or persons are held accountable vs just anyone. Houston, we have a problem and the first step to dealing with a problem is admitting we have a problem. In 2024 it was a total of 24 bodies found in our area bayous which is very alarming and so far in 2025 it has been 14 bodies
as many as 5 in a 5-day span with only two of them being identified thus far.
In this political climate and crime stats of Houston, Tx / Harris County you would think this would have made national news by now, however this hasn’t even occupied every news station locally.
Rumors and speculation arrive from the lack of communication with the general public. Lack of thorough investigations of each and every incident vs assumption. Thinking Houston is safe is an opinion, just as thinking Houston has a serial killer can be considered an opinion, however nothing really can be ruled out considering 14 bodies were found this year and 24 were found last year.
We can’t assume everyone was homeless, died of natural causes, drowned, or suicide, but what we know for sure is all of them were/are human beings.
We only have two identifications from this year in which one is the young lady from U of H by the name of Jade McKissic who was reported missing on September 11,2025 and body was pulled from Braes Bayou September 15,2025.
Thus far details have been very vague, so when experts say there’s been no similarities and the deaths are not related, exactly what does that mean?
The most obvious similarities are that they all are deceased and were pulled from area bayous.
The descriptions for the most part have been very vague simply male or female,
no basic information like we learned in elementary school like: who, what, when, where, how, and in some cases how long. We have 22 bayous stretching 2,500 miles in which all must be searched for more bodies. If all of our government entities whether local, state, or federal does something everything will get done including searching our bayous.
As a husband, father, Papa, son, brother, uncle and even a community leader I would love for our local government to do more than collect taxes, especially when it comes to the safety of all Houstonians and beyond regardless of demographics. If 14 bodies being pulled from local bayous not alarming then what is?
Sunnyside, and Acres Homes who now find themselves pushed to the margins of political power. This is not just about who holds office; it is about whether communities most affected by poverty, environmental injustice, and underfunded schools will ever see policies that address their needs.
History teaches us that when Black voices are silenced, inequality deepens. During the Jim Crow era, districts were gerrymandered to ensure Black communities could not send their own to office. The new map feels like a twenty-first-century version of that same playbook, cloaked in legality but rooted in exclusion.
But erasure is not destiny. Solutions exist if we are willing to fight. First, legal challenges must continue—courts have struck down discriminatory maps before, and they can again. Second, grassroots organizing has to expand. When lines are drawn to weaken us, turnout becomes our weapon. High voter engagement, even in stacked districts, sends a message: we will not disappear. Finally, Black leaders must invest in civic education, training young people to run for office, organize campaigns, and push policies that uplift our neighborhoods no matter how districts are drawn.
]Redistricting may redraw maps, but it cannot redraw our determination. Houston’s Black community has endured far greater battles than this—and every time, we have found a way to rise.
Jobs Cont.
challenge looks different but just as urgent. Slower job growth often translates into fewer customers with disposable income and tighter lending conditions from banks. Without intentional support — through contracts, loans, and mentorship — many Black-owned businesses will find it harder to survive in a cooling labor market.
Yet this forecast should not be taken as a death sentence. It should be taken as a call to action. The fastest-growing sectors — energy, health care, technology, and logistics — are not closing their doors. But they do require specialized training, certification, and access. Without direct investment in workforce development programs that target African Americans, these opportunities will remain out of reach.
Houston’s economy may still be “strong,” but the African American community cannot afford to take a wait-and-see approach. Leaders must demand equity in hiring, hold corporations accountable for diversity, and invest in our young people so they can step into the jobs of tomorrow.
Job growth may be cut in half, but our determination must double. For Black Houstonians, the question isn’t whether jobs exist — it’s whether we will be allowed through the door.
EVERYONE SHOULD LEARN THE SIGNS OF SUICIDE RISK MENTAL HEALTH
By: Leah Enser
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) urges everyone to learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide, know what to do if someone is in a crisis, and understand the mental health resources available in your community.
cause of death in the United States and affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Nearly 50,000 Americans die by suicide annually, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Emergency physicians can help stabilize anyone injured, keep people safe from self-harm, and connect those in distress with psychiatric care and support services.
with trained counselors.
“The more we normalize seeking care for mental health struggles, the more lives we can all work together to save,” said Dr. Cirillo.
“Emergency care is available 24/7 and emergency physicians are a lifeline for people experiencing a mental health crisis,” said L. Anthony Cirillo, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. “However, sometimes the simplest steps can prevent an emergency or even save a life – don’t hesitate to check in with your friends and family and start a conversation about mental health.”
hesitate to check in with your friends and family and start a conversation
Suicide is a leading
Suicide is a leading
It is crucial to recognize signs that someone may be struggling. Warning signs can include talking about wanting to die or feeling hopeless, sudden withdrawal from friends and hobbies, increased use of alcohol or drugs, agitation or extreme mood swings, reckless behavior, insomnia or excessive sleep, or expressions of rage or revenge.
For those showing signs of distress who are not in immediate crisis, it is important to talk with them, listen without judgment, and potentially discuss seeking help from a mental health professional. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 so anyone in distress, or anyone concerned about a loved
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger,
anyone concerned about a loved one, can call or text connect of rage or revenge.
call or text 988 and connect
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Through continuing education, research, public education, and advocacy, ACEP advances emergency care on behalf of its 40,000 emergency physician members, and the more than 150 million people they treat on an annual basis. For more information, visit www.acep.org and www.emergencyphysicians.org.
If you or someone you know is in danger, basis. For more information, visit www.acep.org and www.emergencyphysicians.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.
