Volume 31 Issue 4

February 27, 2026

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

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Vol.31, Issue 4

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African-American News&Issues

“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”

COMMISSIONER EL FRANCO LEE By: David Ellison

USA’S RACIAL HALF By: Roy Douglas Malonson

In the opening days of Black History Month, a social media post from President Donald Trump ignited a firestorm of national backlash after he shared a video that included a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates—imagery rooted in one of the most dehumanizing traditions in American history.

Though the post was later deleted, screenshots and screen recordings spread rapidly, triggering outrage across civil rights organizations, faith leaders, elected officials, and Black communities nationwide.

For many African Americans, the incident was

not shocking—it was exhausting. The imagery of comparing Black people to apes has been used for centuries to justify slavery, segregation, violence, and systemic discrimination. To see that trope amplified again—this time from the social media account of a sitting U.S. president—felt less like a surprise and more like confirmation of fears long voiced within the community.

Civil rights advocates were swift in their condemnation, calling the post “deeply offensive,” “historically violent,” and “dangerous rhetoric that normalizes racism Office on pg. 3

Today, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, State Sen. Borris Miles and State Rep. Harold Dutton paid tribute to the legacy of late Commissioner El Franco Lee during the centennial Black History Month, recognizing the El Franco Lee Statue at the Harris County Jury Plaza and unveiling a sign naming part of U.S. 59 after the late Commissioner.

“In this 100th year of celebrating Black History Month, we gather to honor a leader whose life shaped Harris County,” said Commissioner Ellis, who succeeded Commissioner Lee in 2017. “To me, he was a friend and a mentor. I turned to him when I faced major decisions. His counsel was grounded in experience and in love for this community.”

“This plaza is just the most breathtaking thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Having my Dad honored in this way, I just want the public to be able to enjoy it and be aware of it. And may it be a staple in Downtown Houston,” said El Franco Lee II, the son of Commissioner Lee. Sen. Miles, who helped Rep. Dutton pass the bill to rename a portion of U.S. 59, said Commissioner Lee was one of our most prolific leaders.

“El Franco is one of our greats,” Sen. Miles said.

“He was a giant among men, and this memorial highway will always remind us of El Franco Lee’s presence.”

Rep. Dutton called the event a “wonderful occasion” for his best friend.

“Thanks to my commissioner and everyone who has been a part of this because we couldn’t have done this for a better public servant and a better friend,” Rep. Dutton said.

Commissioner Lee—who served more than 30 years in office before passing away on Jan. 3, 2016—was recognized for championing senior services, youth programming, and community-based Read more at health initiatives. aframnews.com

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February 27, 2026

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EDITORIAL

President/Chief Editor Contributing Writers Dr. Bobby Mills Travis McGee Rachel Thompson Jazz Pazz Dr. Shelley McKinley Meeko Graphics Social Media Houston Minority business marketing website JG Design Layout Design Blue Star Web Printing Printer

A Revival of God Consciousness Bobby Mills, Ph.D.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

STORIES, PICTURES, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, EMAIL TO

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We are looking for historical writers That can produce stories that address current and historical realities affecting our community.

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GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

The role of immigration is becoming increasingly important and vital to American sustainability and economic prosperity. In 2025, (1.8) million Americans were born, but (3) million died.

The birthrate was (12.7) per (1,000) adults in 2025, a record low. Therefore, in 2080 at the current rate of births to deaths America’s population will be roughly (380) million.

Consequently, in 2030, deaths will outnumber births. Thus, immigration is essential to counteract falling birth rates and increasing deaths. Immigration is vital to the socio-economic wellbeing of American society as a driver of population growth. Remember President Trump’s bold/racist statement: “I don’t have a problem with immigration if the immigrants are coming from Scandinavian countries (White Countries)”.

Immigration to America is largely coming from nonWhite countries, especially from Spanish speaking Latin American countries. Minority Americans, we should never forget how welcoming The Trump Administration was to a plane load of White South Africans who received the red-carpet treatment. South Africa demonized racism to the nth degree. President Trump’s MAGA Cult knows that we need immigration, but they desire White Privilege Immigration, not multi-

cultural democracy. America’s fertility rates, migration patterns, and life expectancy are slowing future economic growth. America, know this international immigration was the primary driver of economic growth in 2025, not White Privilege MAGA Autocracy.

The fertility rates of White women between the ages of (15-44) declined reaching a record low in 2024. Now, we all know why all the legalistic public rancor concerning birth-control and abortion rights by White males.

Population growth is at a (0.5) percent rate. Consequently, the negative natural population growth America is experiencing underscores the importance of immigration for sustaining economic development growth. At the same time, Hispanics women are having “Mucho” children.

White women are having one or two children, and some none. Consequently, this is why “Birthright Citizenship” has become such a hot button constitutional issue. President Trump’s MAGA Cult declaration is to constitutionally repeal the issue of Birthright Citizenship. In Texas, you must show proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or passport to get a driver’s license, rather than just proving you’re able to drive. Certification to drive is inextricably tied to voting rights eligibility.

Recently, while renewing my driver’s license I saw a man in a wheelchair renewing his license. America is a nation of immigrant cultures, and she cannot sustain herself Read more at without orderly aframnews.com

We Must Understand Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher

SEGREGATION DIDN’T DIE — IT JUST MOVED INTO OUR ZIP CODES

For many Americans, segregation is something they believe lives safely in the past—locked away in blackand-white photos, history books, and court rulings. But for Black families across this country, segregation never truly disappeared. It simply learned how to disguise itself. Today, it shows up not through “Whites Only” signs, but through zip codes, school boundaries, housing prices, and funding formulas that quietly decide which children will thrive and which will struggle.

When schools were legally segregated, the injustice was obvious. Black children were forced into underfunded buildings with outdated materials, overcrowded classrooms, and limited opportunities. The message was cruel but clear: Black education did not matter.

While laws changed and court victories were celebrated, the systems that created inequality were never fully dismantled. They were restructured.

Modern school segregation is deeply tied to where families live. Decades of redlining, discriminatory lending, and unequal development shaped neighborhoods in ways that still determine school quality today. Because public schools

are largely funded by local property taxes, communities with fewer resources—often Black and Brown—receive less funding. This means fewer counselors, larger class sizes, aging facilities, and limited access to advanced coursework. The cycle repeats itself quietly, generation after generation.

Parents are often told they have “choices,” but those choices come with barriers.

Moving into better-funded districts requires wealth many families were historically denied the chance to build.

Magnet and charter schools offer opportunity for some, but they do not replace a fully funded public school system that serves all children fairly.

Transportation, application processes, and limited seats ensure that many Black families are left behind once again.

The result is a system that looks integrated on paper but remains separate in practice. Schools can sit just miles apart yet feel worlds away in terms of opportunity.

Students notice the difference.

Children understand when their schools lack what others take for granted.

That understanding shapes confidence, expectations, and belief in what is possible.

This is not an accident.

It is the outcome of policy decisions—past and present—that prioritize some communities while neglecting others. When school district lines are drawn, when affordable housing is resisted, when education budgets are cut, the impact falls hardest on Black families.

These choices send a familiar Read more at message: progress aframnews.com

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

February 27, 2026 Office Cont.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR By: Doctor Esquire, dr_e4excel@yahoo.com

I would like to start off by thanking you for all your work and effort within the black community. You have maintained the ability to positively influence our people .

In reading the latest addition of African American News dated Feb 20, there was a vaguely descriptive article about the city of Prairie View. As someone with insight on the subject matter, I feel it would be fulfilling to provide further details .

In January 2026, a half dozen residents complained publicly about inconsistent water billing. Even former mayor David Allen complained about a $11k water bill.

Current Council Woman Barbara Manuel campaigned on fixing inconsistent utility billing. She has complained for years about how the city inappropriately billed her account forcing her to accept a payment plan. Ms Manuel asked to address her utilities account publicly because of the public Complaints. It was listed under a private “Executive Session”.

It was not discussed because she declined to address it in private and wanted it to be discussed in public.

I have been an avid reader of your publication for years. I still have an article from summer 2015 in which you justifiably criticized Prairie View Elected Officials and their response to the Sandra Bland. Marie Herndon being an elected Council member at the time. It was a shock to see that your publication would be willing to accept work from Ms Herndon has she has been a consistently corrupt figure in the City Of Prairie View. She was an elected official that incurred and upheld the inconsistent billing against Ms Manuel in the first place. Then she writes an article criticizing the situation when she was one of the initial culprits. Ms Herndon is a known slumlord facing lawsuits for unsatisfying safety and living conditions in student housing she owns. She too had and has a water billing issue with the city; at one point owing a delinquent $30k bill.

I think its good that you are provided with some background info with all matters so that you can continue to deliver truthful and informative. Thank You for all that you have done.

AA

in the digital age.”

Several leaders pointed out the timing, noting the painful symbolism of such imagery resurfacing during a month meant to honor Black achievement, resilience, and contribution to American history.

Within hours, political leaders weighed in.

Some defended the president, claiming the video was reposted without full review, while others said intent did not erase impact. Critics argued that figures holding the nation’s highest office bear a heightened responsibility to prevent the spread of racially harmful content—intentional or not.

The White House response evolved throughout the day. Initial reactions downplayed the controversy, framing the backlash as politically motivated. But as pressure mounted and media coverage intensified, officials acknowledged the post had been removed and described its sharing as a mistake.

That explanation did little to quiet the anger already ignited across social media platforms, churches, college campuses, and community forums.

For older generations of Black Americans, the imagery reopened historical wounds. Elders who lived through Jim Crow recalled newspapers, advertisements, and cartoons that routinely portrayed Black people as animals to justify unequal treatment. For them, the post was not just offensive—

AFRAMNEWS.COM

it was a chilling echo of propaganda once used to deny their humanity.

Younger generations expressed frustration of a different kind. Many said the controversy reflected a digital era where racism spreads faster, hides behind memes, and is often dismissed as humor or politics rather than recognized as harm.

Activists noted that viral content shapes public perception, particularly among youth, making accountability in leadership com-

versy directly. Pastors spoke about dignity, resilience, and the spiritual responsibility to confront injustice while maintaining moral clarity. Some congregations held prayer vigils, not only for healing but for what they described as “the soul of the nation.”

Community organizers used the moment to call for renewed civic engagement, urging voters not to disengage from politics out of frustration. “Representation, policy, and leadership still mat-

munication more critical than ever.

Scholars of race and media pointed out that political polarization has reshaped how Americans interpret racially charged incidents. Supporters often view criticism as partisan attack, while critics see patterns of racial insensitivity.

This divide, experts say, makes national racial healing increasingly difficult, as communities cannot even agree on what constitutes harm.

Within African American churches, sermons that Sunday reportedly addressed the contro-

ter,” one organizer said during a Houston town hall. “Moments like this remind us why participation is necessary, not optional.”

Meanwhile, social justice groups launched educational campaigns explaining the historical roots of ape imagery in anti-Black racism.

Infographics, teach-ins, and online panels aimed to ensure younger audiences understood why the depiction was not merely offensive—but historically violent.

International reaction also emerged, with global commentators

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questioning how racial imagery of that nature continues to surface in American political discourse decades after the Civil Rights Movement.

For some observers abroad, the controversy reinforced long-standing critiques about the gap between America’s democratic ideals and its racial realities.

Yet amid the outrage, many voices within the Black community emphasized resilience over despair. Commentators highlighted the contrast between racist imagery and the enduring legacy of the Obamas themselves—a presidency and public life that symbolized progress, dignity, and global respect.

In living rooms, barbershops, beauty salons, and online spaces, the conversation ultimately returned to a familiar question: How far has America truly come? The post may have been deleted, but the emotions it stirred remain—anger, fatigue, resolve, and a renewed determination to challenge racism in all its forms, whether overt or disguised behind pixels on a screen.

For African Americans, the controversy was never just about one post. It was about history repeating itself in modern form—and the ongoing fight to ensure that dehumanization, no matter how it appears, never goes unchallenged again.

AA

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February 27, 2026

AFRAMNEWS.COM

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

THROUGH THE LENS OF TIME: BLACK HISTORY IS 24/7/365 1963

1963

1964

1965

1965

1965

August 28, 1963: Approximately 250,000 people take part in The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Martin Luther King gives his “I Have A Dream” speech as the closing address in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

September 15, 1963: A bomb at 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama kills four young girls and injures several other people prior to Sunday services. The bombing fuels angry protests.

July 2, 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, preventing employment discrimination due to race, color, sex, religion or national origin.

February 21, 1965: Black religious leader Malcolm X is assassinated during a rally by members of the Nation of Islam.

March 7, 1965: Bloody Sunday. In the Selma to Montgomery March, around 600 civil rights marchers walk to Selma, Alabama to Montgomery—the state’s capital—in protest of Black voter suppression.

August 6, 1965: President Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prevent the use of literacy tests as a voting requirement.

It also allowed federal examiners to review voter qualifications and federal observers to monitor polling places.

TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI

Houston ISD to Introduce Virtual LaunchPad Online School for 2026– 2027 Academic Year. The district is rolling out a new, districtwide virtual program designed for students who need a more flexible schedule while staying enrolled at their home campus.

Corpus Christi has long embraced its identity as a baseball town, and after a four-year wait, the Westside community is preparing to step back up to the plate.

Through the city’s $7 million Bond 2022 initiative, three fields at the Greenwood Sports Complex will undergo major renovations. The upgrades will benefit Westside Pony Baseball, Universal Little League, and Sparkling City Youth Softball. Construction is scheduled to begin next month, bringing new energy and improved facilities to young athletes across the Westside.

AUSTIN City council members are set to review a proposed amendment to city code on Thursday that would allow police officers to ticket drivers for excessive engine noise, particularly in residential neighborhoods. _______________________________

WACO Waco Fire Department celebrates three consecutive years without a fire-related fatality

April 11, 1968: President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act, providing equal housing opportunity.

TAKEAWAY

HOUSTON

_______________________________

1968

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EL PASO Restaurateurs Jeffrey Yarbrough and Camille McDonald are preparing to debut an entirely new dining concept across from Dickies Arena.

HENRY E. BAKER Henry Edwin Baker Jr. (1857–1928) was a pioneering African American patent examiner, lawyer, and historian who dedicated his life to documenting the contributions of Black inventors in the United States. He is often referred to as the “Father of Black Inventor Research” for creating the first comprehensive records of African American innovation during an era of intense racial prejudice.

READ MORE AT AFRAMNEWS.COM

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February 27, 2026

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February 27, 2026

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POLITICAL

TARGETED FOR BEING BLACK AND EXPERIENCED: AL GREEN’S FIGHT By: Crystal Webster

Long-serving African American Democratic lawmakers — figures such as US Rep. Al Green (D-TX), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) — are under unique pressure from both within and outside their party.

Waters, 87, in her 18th House term, is facing challenger Myla Rahman from her party in California’s 43rd District primary. “People are sick and tired of the same old thing,” Rahman, 53, told the California Post in a Feb. 10 article.

In South Carolina, Jim Clyburn, 85, is serving his 17th term. Though he faces no major Democratic challenger, Republicans publicly discussed redrawing the 6th District to make it more conservative.

Fortunately, those proposals were not enacted, and no new congressional map was passed in 2025 ahead of the 2026 election.

Closer to home, Green, who has represented Texas’ 9th Congressional District for 21 years, is confronting both challenges — redistricting and intra-party competition. His 9th District was dramatically redrawn in 2025, and most of it, including his own home, now falls within the 18th District.

The 11-term congressman is running in the Democratic primary for the reshaped 18th District against fellow Black Democrats Christian Menefee, 37, and Gretchen Brown, 55. The winner will face the Republican nominee in November.

“Now they are trying to force us to fight each other,” Green said at his annual legislative breakfast meeting earlier this month. “They are trying to break the bond of unity that we have…We must stand together. We’ve got to stand up against this racism coming from the highest office in the land.”

In Washington, seniority has long been equated with influence, effectiveness and earned authority.

Green, however, faces criticism focused not on his job performance — but on his age. Editorial commentary and political murmurs suggest it is “time for change.” Yet similar scrutiny has been less pronounced for older white incumbents, including John Cornyn.

“The Houston Chronicle is saying now that somehow I have to guarantee people I’m going to live to run for office,” Green said. “This is ridiculous… Really who can guarantee that they’re going to live to see tomorrow? No one knows for whom the bell will toll next. God has a time for all of us. So, they concluded that somehow, I am unfit, because I can’t guarantee that I can live long enough to satisfy the needs of some people.”

Tied to this debate over age is another familiar critique — the assumption that older lawmakers struggle with emerging technology.

Green is also facing a cryptobacked super PAC, Fairshake,

in one of the first major negative ad campaigns of the midterm cycle. Funded by the cryptocurrency industry that supported pro-crypto candidates in the 2024 elections, Fairshake said it plans to spend $1.5 million to try to defeat Green in the Democratic primary.

Fairshake, created in 2023 to represent the interests of the cryptocurrency industry in Washington, claims Green is hostile to American innovation.

“I’m concerned about the impact of cryptocurrency on the dollar’s status as the

world’s premier currency,” Green said at a hearing last year, warning that the growth of crypto could weaken the United States’ ability to enforce financial sanctions on other nations.

Far from a ceremonial figure, Green has been a tireless advocate for housing equity, civil rights, disaster recovery funding, and holding leaders accountable through impeachment. He doesn’t shy away from political risk — famously shouting “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid!” and shaking his cane at President Trump while others remained silent.

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