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“Addressing
VOTING RIGHTS ACT
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
e 1965 Voting Rights Act is one of the most important laws in American history. Signed during the Civil Rights Movement, it was created to make sure that Black Americans could safely exercise their constitutional right to vote, especially in places where they had faced unfair obstacles for decades. For a long time, this law worked like a shield, protecting voters and helping minority communities elect leaders who truly represented them.
However, in recent years, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) made major decisions that weakened, or “gutted,” this historic law. e biggest change happened in 2013 with a case called Shelby County v. Holder. e Supreme Court got
rid of a key rule that forced states with a history of discrimination to get approval from the federal government before changing their voting laws. e Court argued that the country had changed and these protections were no longer needed. But almost immediately a er the ruling, several states passed new, stricter voting laws that made it harder for people to vote.
Another big shi involves “dismantling” Black congressional districts. Congressional districts are areas drawn on a map that determine who represents a community in government. To give minority voters a fair voice, mapmakers sometimes Voting Rights on pg. 3
By: TSU
On June 19, 2026, Texas Southern University (TSU) announced the establishment of the Nora B. Wilson Endowment and Health Clinic, a transformative gi from Dr. Ruth J. Simmons created to honor her late sister. Nora B. Wilson, a breast cancer survivor who passed away in May 2026, was a person of profound resilience. Starting full-time work at age een to support her siblings, her life exempli ed the unsung dedication found within working-class communities. By tethering her sister’s memory to TSU, Dr. Simmons has created a living legacy that translates personal grief into a permanent instrument for community survival and medical equity.
e endowment directly funds the TSU Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Center, targeting deep-seated healthcare disparities across nine Southeast Texas counties: Harris, Brazoria, Galveston, Walker, Grimes, Matagorda, Wharton, Trinity, and Polk. Rather than focusing strictly on traditional academic scholarships, this initiative recognizes that educational opportunity cannot be separated from physical well-being. By providing critical public outreach, screening awareness, and community-focused research, the endowment confronts the systemic barriers that frequently delay early cancer detection in vulnerable populations.
Operating temporarily out of the TSU Institute of Urban Public Health and Housing inside the newly renovated W.R. Banks Building, the clinic provides comprehensive preventative care. Beyond breast cancer outreach, its services include vital screenings for blood pressure, A1C, and cholesterol,
EDITORIAL
A Revival of God Consciousness
Bobby Mills, Ph.D.
WHAT’S IN A NAME
e Bible says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches, and favor is better than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). ose who chase power, money, and sex should remember that God is not mocked; people reap what they sow. Solomon teaches that life, as God intended it, applies to everyone, regardless of social or economic standing, because life is brief and uncertain. A person may be here today and face eternal judgment the same day. Sadly, President Trump and his MAGA supporters seem to embrace the idea that “might makes right,” seeking self-glori cation rather than the glory of God, who is Eternal Truth. So, what is in a name? e spiritually profound answer is character and reputation. Sadly, for President Trump and his MAGA movement, the focus appears to be on him—dividing “us” from “them.” As individuals and as a nation, we cannot live without faith: faith in God, faith in ourselves, and faith in others. Faith is not merely an abstract belief in God; it touches every part of life. at is why, without faith, it is impossible to please God. By contrast, the faith of President Trump and his MAGA supporters appears one-sided and zero-sum, centered on division and societal confusion. As a result, the American Dream has become, in the author’s view, a Trump MAGACult Nightmare, with many
people unlikely to be better o socioeconomically than their parents. Hence, many young adults today may struggle to buy a home and can barely a ord a car, not to mention gas. e Trump GOP-MAGA Cult know absolutely nothing about Faith, Love, Charity, and Honesty. However, they do know an awful lot about gangsterism, racism, classism, and sexism masquerading as GOP conservatism.
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND BIAS
2.
Institutional Feedback Loops
Because our societal systems are interconnected, a disadvantage in one area automatically triggers a disadvantage in another. is creates a self-perpetuating loop:
To understand systemic racism and bias, it helps to look at them not just as individual prejudices, but as a network of historical rules, institutional practices, and cultural habits that combine to create unequal outcomes.
While individual bias is about personal attitudes, systemic (or structural) racism is about how institutions—like housing, banking, employment, education, and the justice system— multiply those biases across generations, even without any single person acting out of malice.
Here is a breakdown of how these forces operate and reinforce one another.
1. e Wealth Gap & Housing ( e Foundation) e massive wealth gap between Black and white families today isn’t an accident; it is heavily rooted in 20th-century housing policies.
Redlining: Starting in the 1930s, the federal government drew red lines on maps around Black neighborhoods, labeling them “hazardous” for investment. Banks refused to give mortgages in these areas.
President Trump is, in the author’s view, reshaping America from a thriving multicultural democracy into what he describes as a “Shit-Hole White Privilege South African Style ird-World Country.” Shame on us. Hatred, racism, and self-centeredness are not patriotism or nationalism; they are a path to self-destruction. In the past, America was seen as great because it was good and benevolent toward the global community. Now, under the leadership of Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE unit, the author argues that America is increasingly viewed as self-centered, selfserving, and arrogant. Withholding essential foreign aid from developing countries is neither wise nor humane. Ultimately, the issue is not only President Trump, but also the (77) million Americans who voted for him. Some voters, the author contends, claim to support Trump because he is a successful businessman, using that false argument to justify or conceal racist beliefs. Of course, few would argue that they voted for Donald J. Trump because they believed him to be a moral man. In the author’s view, the global community does not see President Trump as conser-
e Wealth Cascade: Because homeownership is the primary way Americans build wealth and pass it to their children, blocking Black families from buying homes in appreciating areas permanently stunted generational wealth building. Today, the median net worth of a white family is signi cantly higher than that of a Black family.
Education Funding: Because public schools are largely funded by local property taxes, neighborhoods with lower home values (due to historical redlining) have underfunded schools.
Employment & Biased Hiring: Studies consistently show that resumes with Blacksounding names receive signi cantly fewer callbacks than identical resumes with white-sounding names. When hired, Black workers o en face a “promotion gap,” staying at entry-level positions longer.
3. e Justice System & Implicit Bias
Systemic bias in the legal system o en stems from a mix of historical policy and implicit bias—the unconscious stereotypes that a ect everyone’s actions.
Implicit Bias in Action: Psychological studies show that people across all backgrounds routinely perceive Black faces as more “threatening” or older than they actually are. In split-second situations, this unconscious association changes how police o cers, teachers, and employers react.
Disproportionate Sentencing: Black Americans are o en arrested and convicted at higher rates for the exact same behaviors as white Americans (such as drug possession). Furthermore, federal data shows that Black men re-
Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher
create “majorityminority” districts, where Black voters make up the largest group. is ensures they can elect a leader who understands their speci c needs.
like the diverse country it represents. Defenders of the rulings believe states should have more freedom to run their own elections without Washington, D.C., stepping in. Ultimately, how we draw districts and protect voting rights shapes who gets a seat at the table to make rules for everyone.
hotels, theaters, and pools to refuse service to people or separate them based on race.
Targeted Workplace Discrimination: e law created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which protects workers from being red, passed over for promotions, or denied jobs because of who they are.
Recently, some state lawmakers have redrawn these maps to break up these districts. By splitting Black communities across several di erent areas, their voting power is watered down. is makes it much harder for Black voters to elect
their preferred candidates. When the Supreme Court allows these redrawn maps to stand, it essentially reduces Black representation in Congress. ese decisions have sparked a massive debate across the nation. Critics argue that rolling back the Voting Rights Act and taking apart these voting districts undoes the hard-fought progress of the Civil Rights Movement, making it harder for government to look
e Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark law that completely transformed American society. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, it was designed to end segregation and strike down discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
While the 1965 Voting Rights Act focused speci cally on the ballot box, the 1964 Civil Rights Act tackled discrimination in daily public life, employment, and education. What the 1964 Act Accomplished Banned Segregation in Public Places: It made it illegal for businesses like restaurants,
Desegregated Schools: It gave the federal government the power to force public schools to integrate, speeding up the process started by the Brown v. Board of Education ruling a decade earlier.
Cut Federal Funding for Discrimination: If a state or local program discriminated against Black Americans, the federal government could pull its funding.
Together, the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act formed the one-two punch that legally dismantled the Jim Crow system in the American South.
1799 1816
1820 1829 1817 1822 1800
1799. Richard Allen becomes the rst ordained Black minister of the
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 betrayed before the plan can be carried out.
African American
a
HOUSTON
DALLAS
TEXAS TAKEAWAY
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has announced plans for a new $300 million livestock and agricultural complex along Highway 288, marking the largest facilities investment in the organization’s 95-year history. The more than 1 million-square-foot development is expected to open in time for the 2029 Rodeo season and will serve as a yearround hub for livestock exhibitions, horse competitions, educational programs, auctions, and youth agricultural events.
AUSTIN
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for Lockhart ISD’s new affordable housing development, a project designed to provide educators and school employees with access to quality, below-market-rate housing as the rapidly growing Central Texas region continues to face affordability challenges.
SAN ANTONIO
Dallas favorite Norma’s Cafe is celebrating 70 years of serving homestyle comfort food, marking a remarkable milestone for a restaurant that has been a community staple since opening in Oak Cliff in 1956. To honor the anniversary, the iconic eatery is hosting special celebrations across its locations while continuing its tradition of giving back to the community.
The San Antonio Independent School District has named Dr. Adrian Bustillos as the lone finalist for superintendent, moving the veteran educator one step closer to leading one of the city’s largest school districts. The selection begins the state-required waiting period before the board can officially approve his appointment.
BILL PICKETT
Bill Pickett (Travis County): Born into a formerly enslaved family in Travis County in 1870, Pickett was a pioneering cowboy and rodeo showman who invented the rodeo technique known as bulldogging (steer wrestling). He became the first Black cowboy to achieve widespread recognition, breaking racial barriers and being inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Methodist Episcopal Church.
1829.
abolitionist David Walker publishes the pamphlet Appeal…to the Colored Citizens of the World…, calling for
slave revolt.
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LOCAL
LE PETIT LION: A PARISIAN AFFAIR
By: John Jones
John (son of Shirlee Jones) and Meagan Jones (daughter of Su ragan Bishop
POLITICAL
TWO VERDICTS, EIGHT DAYS APART
By: Robert Slater
David Allen Jr. and Lady Regina Allen) recently celebrated the upcoming arrival of their son, Giovanni Daniel Jones, due in August 2026.
e baby shower, themed Le Petit Lion ( e Little Lion), A Parisian A air, was inspired by the couple’s babymoon trip to Paris this past March. Friends and family came together for a joyful a ernoon in his honor.
Giovanni Daniel is a name close to both of their hearts. Giovanni, the Italian form of John, means “God is gracious.” Daniel, which mirrors Meagan’s middle name Danielle, means “God is my judge.”
Together, Giovanni Daniel carries a simple and powerful statement of faith. eir son carries in his name strength, courage, and the reminder of the One who holds him.
To follow along and celebrate with the family, visit ourbaby. johnlovesmay.com
On June 1, 2026, a jury in Columbia, South Carolina acquitted store owner Rick Chow of murder. ree years earlier, Chow chased 14 year old Cyrus Carmack-Belton more than a football eld from his store and shot the child in the back as he ran. Chow believed Cyrus had stolen four bottles of water. He had not. Video showed the boy put the water back on the shelf, and the coroner conrmed the wound was consistent with a child
running away. Chow claimed self defense and walked free.
Eight days later, a jury in Collin County, Texas convicted 19 year old Karmelo Anthony of murder and sentenced him to 35 years. Karmelo was 17 when he stabbed Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet a er witnesses agreed Metcalf put his hands on him rst. Karmelo claimed self defense too. But before his trial began, every prospective Black juror was struck
from the jury pool, and an all white jury rejected his fear in three hours. Set those verdicts side by side and the message is plain. When a grown man chases a Black child and shoots him in the back, the system nds a way to call it self defense. When a Black child says he was defending himself, Read more at aframnews.com
PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
