AframNews.com
EAGLE COURT OF HONOR
By: Jeannie Coleman
On July 11, 2026, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church’s Boy Scout Troop 242 celebrated an extraordinary milestone as eight Afro-American Scouts were awarded the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout during the same Court of Honor. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout is one of the highest achievements in Scouting, attained by only a small percentage of Scouts nationwide. To have eight young men from one troop reach this milestone together is a remarkable accomplishment worthy of national recognition. e story is even more meaningful because of Troop 242’s rich and inspiring history. e troop
was founded in May 1965 by the late Rev. William A. Lawson, founding pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. As a young man, Rev. Lawson dreamed of becoming a Boy Scout but was denied the opportunity because there were no Black Scout troops in his hometown and he was not allowed to join a white troop. Determined that future generations would have the opportunities he was denied, he established Troop 242 shortly a er founding Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, creating a place where young men could develop leadership, character, citizenship, and a lifelong
DR. LATONYA M. GOFFNEY AS PRESIDENT OF AASA
By: Ashley Brown
Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goney was installed July 7 as the 2026-27 president of AASA, e School Superintendents Association, the nation’s premier organization representing more than 13,000 school system leaders.
e installation took place during AASA’s Legislative Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. Go ney will serve in this volunteer leadership role while continuing to lead Aldine ISD.
Go ney was elected president-elect by AASA’s Governing Board in 2025 and has served on the organization’s Executive Committee. Her installation marks a national leadership milestone for Go ney and re ects her dedication to student opportunity, educator excellence, and the life-changing power of public education. She previously served as president of the Texas Association of School Administrators during the 2023-24 school year.
“ ose of us who work alongside Dr. Go ney see every day that her leadership is grounded in service, hope and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child,” Chief Communications O cer Sheila Adams said. “Her installation as AASA president is a well-deserved national honor, and we are proud that Dr. Go ney will continue leading Aldine ISD while helping advance the future of public education across the nation.”
SAMUEL HERRERA
SEAN MYERS
LANDIN SIMS
GABRIEL HERRERA
LOGAN BOGAR
JOSHUA WILSON
ROBERT WHITFIELD III
BLAKE JARMON
SCOUTMASTER MYERS
A Revival of God Consciousness
Bobby Mills, Ph.D.
aframnews1982@gmail.com
President Donald J. Trump and the MAGA-Cult movement have normalized extremism. ICE was created to manage immigration, customs, and enforcement humanely—not to function as a Gestapo-style police force. e recent fatal ICE shootings in Houston, Texas; Biddeford, Maine; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, re ect what the writer sees as a lawless mentality within ICE. is lawlessness is a clear and present example of the spiritual breakdown of law and order among law enforcement o cials, especially within ICE. We now understand why ICE o cials may resist wearing body cameras: pictures reveal the truth, while individuals can lie. Seemingly and sadly, ICE’s objective is to put certain people “on ice.” We are living in di cult and sinful times in America, and Christian service is not easy in the 21st Century because of greed, envy, and racial jealousy. As Scripture warns: “ is know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall become lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural a ection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, erce despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers
of God; having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1–5). America, e GOP is not a responsible multi-cultural democracy oriented governing political party. erefore, the appropriate response on November 3rd, 2026, is that ole time honored adage: “throw the weak knee-bending bums out”, because: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14: 34).
BLACK TEXAS AT THE CROSSROADS Culture Commission Coalition
By Robert Slater, Community Activist, Chairman of The Culture Commission Coalition
ing. But state Representative Barbara Gervin Hawkins, who chairs the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, said the quiet part out loud: Black Texans are angry, they feel disenfranchised, and they feel used. Two thirds of Black voters currently support him. Compare that to the nearly 90 percent Beto O’Rourke and Colin Allred each pulled from us in their own Senate runs, and the gap stops looking like a rounding error. It looks like a warning shot.
Jesus Christ was the most powerful man ever to walk the earth. Yet, He surrounded Himself with a system of accountability through His twelve disciples. He taught them to love and serve others rather than themselves. Jesus told His disciples that if they did not believe His words, they should believe because of His works: “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake” (John 14:11). rough the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples would continue His work of building the Kingdom of God on earth: “as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Glory hallelujah to the King of all would-be kings. Sadly, the GOP House and Senate majorities have failed to exercise meaningful oversight of President Trump’s policy decisions. MAGA-Cult GOP members should remember: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become
ere are elections, and then there are hinges. Moments where a state does not simply choose a senator, it chooses whether an entire people gets to keep a seat at the table for the next decade or gets locked out of the room entirely. November is one of those hinges for Black Texas. And I will not pretend otherwise to make anyone comfortable. Start with what the numbers already told us. In the March primary, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett swept the ten counties with the largest Black populations in this state by roughly 24 points. In Je erson County, nearly 60 points. at was not noise. at was a verdict. Black voters looked at the choices in front of them and rendered judgment with the only tool no one can take from us at the ballot box, our own hand on our own vote.
James Talarico became the nominee anyway. What he does with the community that did not choose him rst is now the whole test of his candidacy. To his credit, he has tried. Black churches, HBCUs, a commencement address at Paul Quinn College, a maternal mortality plan aimed at a crisis that has quietly devastated Black families for generations, endorsements from Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Divine Nine organizations, Barack Obama at his side. None of that is noth-
State Senator Royce West put it in terms I have heard from organizers across this state for years. He sees good faith. He has also seen good faith before that evaporated the moment the votes were counted. at is not bitterness. at is a community that has been asked to trust rst and be rewarded later, again and again, and has learned what usually comes a er the asking. Talarico did not invent that pattern. But he is the one standing in front of it now, and earning our vote, not assuming it, is the only path through. Here is where I have to stop being diplomatic, because diplomacy will not save us from what is actually on the other side of this ballot. If Ken Paxton wins this seat, it will not be a normal loss. It will be the closing of a door that may not open again for a generation. Texas Republicans have already redrawn the congressional map to strip power from Black and Latino communities for the next decade. A federal Voting Rights Act gutted by the courts no longer stands between us and the next wave of restriction. And waiting in Washington is the
ICE
commitment to serving others.
Over the past six decades, Troop 242 has become one of the most distinguished Scout troops in the nation. e troop has produced 229 Eagle Scouts and is recognized for having produced more Eagle Scouts than any other troop in Texas. Its alumni include community leaders, educators, military o cers, physicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, clergy, and public servants who continue to embody the Scout Oath and Law in their professions and communities.
e eight Afro-American newest Eagle Scouts continue this remarkable legacy. Each completed a signi cant community service project, demonstrated exceptional leadership, and dedicated years of hard work to earning Scouting’s highest rank. eir achievements re ect not only their determination but also the unwavering support of their families, Scout leaders, mentors, and the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church community.
At a time when so many stories focus on the challenges facing today’s youth, these young men represent the very best of the next generation. eir accomplishments demonstrate that character, service, discipline, and leadership continue to thrive. eir story is one of hope, perseverance, and the transformative power of mentorship and community investment.
We believe this is exactly the kind of upli ing story that resonates with audiences across Houston and would be honored if you all would consider featuring Troop 242’s historic legacy and its newest class of eight Eagle Scouts and having a couple of the Eagle Scouts highlight their experiences in scouting.
As AASA president, Go ney said she looks forward to working alongside school system leaders across the country to strengthen public education while continuing to champion the work taking place in classrooms throughout Aldine ISD.
“ is is an incredible honor, but more importantly, it is an opportunity to serve,” Go ney said. “Public education is one of the most powerful promises we make to children, families, and communities. Every child deserves access to outstanding educators, meaningful opportunities, and a future lled with possibility. I am honored to serve AASA and to stand alongside superintendents across the country as champions for public education. at work is national, but it is also deeply personal. I carry Aldine with me — our students, our families, our educators and our unwavering belief that hope is not just something we talk about. It is something we build every day.”
Go ney’s presidency comes as AASA advances e Public Education Promise, a national framework focused on ensuring every child in every community has access to a future-ready education that prepares students for college, career, citizenship, and life. e initiative emphasizes student-centered learning, highly e ective educators, community partnerships, and meaningful measures of student success.
at vision re ects work already underway in Aldine ISD, where students bene t from specialized campuses, magnet programs, career and technical education pathways, early college opportunities, leadership experiences and other innovative learning environments designed to help every student discover their strengths, pursue their aspirations and prepare for the future.
LOCAL
9TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH MEETING
By: National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
e National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) proudly announces its 9th Annual Meeting, convening Juneteenth State Directors, community leaders, and stakeholders from across the nation for a powerful and forward-looking gathering dedicated to advancing the mission of Juneteenth.
is year’s Annual Meeting will be held October 16–18, 2026, in the heart of Dallas, Texas, at the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC) @ Shops at Red Bird, located at 3560 W. Camp Wisdom Rd., Suite #200, Dallas, TX 75237.
e event will serve as a dynamic platform for strategic planning and collaboration, of Juneteenth160:
e Wave of Freedom Arriba! an international observance.
Event Overview
e NJOF Ninth Annual Meeting features an agenda designed to strengthen organizational impact, expand partnerships, and reinforce the
cultural and historical signicance of Juneteenth. Attendees can expect engaging discussions, leadership updates, and opportunities to align plans that drive progress in education, economic advancement, and community pride.
Meeting Location
Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC) @ Shops at Red Bird 3560 W. Camp Wisdom Rd. Dallas, TX 75237
For More Information Visit www.AnnualMeeting.
us for registration and accommodations.
Media & Participation
Members of the press, partners, and community leaders are encouraged to attend and cover this important gathering. Additional details regarding programming, speakers, and registration will be released in the coming weeks.
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