May 8, 2026
AframNews.com AframNews .com
Vol.31, Issue 14
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African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
REV. DR. JACARI P. DAVIS SERIOR PASTOR
75 YEARS AS A CORNERSTONE OF INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS By:Pamela Holliman
BLACK WOMEN’S ROLE IN BUILDING AMERICA
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
Throughout American history, many Black women worked as caregivers, nannies, and domestic workers for white families, helping raise children during some of the nation’s most difficult and divided eras. From the days of slavery through segregation and into the mid-20th century, Black women often cared for white children while balancing the responsibilities of their own families. Their work involved feeding, teaching, comforting, and
protecting the children placed in their care, even while they themselves faced discrimination and unequal treatment. During slavery, enslaved Black women were frequently forced to care for the children of slaveholding families. They cooked meals, cleaned homes, and acted as nurses and caretakers, often spending more time with white children Building America on pg. 3
Bella Vista Missionary Baptist Church, a longstanding spiritual anchor in Houston’s Independence Heights—the first Texas municipality founded by African Americans—has begun a five-month celebration honoring its 75th anniversary. The milestone holds deep relevance for the Black community, reflecting a legacy of resilience, cultural pride, and communal support that has shaped generations of families in the historic neighborhood. Founded in the 1950s, Bella Vista grew from humble origins in a former beer tavern where early prayer gatherings evolved into a committed congregation. Pauline Nickerson, wife of founding pastor Rev. G. H. Nickerson, bestowed the name “Bella Vista,” meaning “Beautiful View.” Under Rev. Nickerson’s leadership, early members purchased land at East 36th Street and Cornell for $675 and later acquired reclaimed wood from a church tabernacle auction to build their first structure—an unfinished building without windows, flooring, or a door. A protective cage was constructed around the organ to prevent theft, underscoring both the challenges and determination of the fledgling church. Over the next four decades, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. C. J. Abraham guided Cornerstone on pg. 7 Bella Vista with steadfast