January 12, 2023

MLK Day 2023

How Houstonians are keeping the dream alive

NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

CHERYL JOHNSON

NEW JACK CITY

Meet the Black woman at the center of the Speaker of the House saga.

Volume 92, issue 9 January 12, 2023

The cult classic is coming to the stage at the Hobby Center and reaction is mixed.

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DN To the POINT

Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. celebrate their Founders Day this week. Mario Parks Photography

Message from the Managing Editor Marvel film. Zendaya won Best Television If you’re on social media, you’ve no doubt Actress-Drama Series for Euphoria. And seen your timeline light up with members Eddie Murphy took home the prestigious of Black Greek organizations celebrating Cecille B. deMille Award, which is given to their founders. Every year, members of the artists who have made “outstanding conNational Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), tributions to the world of entertainment.” celebrate Founders Day, the day when their In addition to all the Black winners, respective fraternities and sororities were heavyweight stars from Viola Davis to each originally chartered. This week, three Ryan Coogler to Letitia Wright, to Rihanna of the four NPHC sororities celebrate their and A$AP Rocky, and more were all in ReShonda Tate Founders Days: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, attendance.

Inc. on Jan. 13, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. on Jan. 15, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Jan. 16, and Who wants to be a billionaire? two of the NPHC fraternities: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an estimated $1.35 Inc. on Jan. 6 and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. on Jan. 9. billion – the second-largest in the lottery’s history – after no More often referred to as The Divine Nine, or D9, the first winner snagged the big prize in the Jan. 10 drawing. Needless nine fraternities and sororities founded between 1906 and to say, that means a lot of folks will be looking to become the 1963 were the early foundations of establishing unity and country’s newest billionaire. scholarship through their communities. Founders Day is But huge prizes come with tiny odds. A player who buys a a day to look back over the history of brotherhood/sister- single ticket for the Mega Millions only has a 1 in 302,575,350 hood and service, and to celebrate the achievements of those chance of winning the jackpot. Lottery is a game of chance organizations. and probability, so the best way to increase your odds of winThough the words may be different depending on the fra- ning, assuming you’re getting random numbers, is to buy ternity or sorority, all were founded to provide an avenue of more tickets. If you have a 1 in 300 million chance of winning, service and social enrichment for African-American students buying a second ticket doubles your odds to 2 in 300 million, who were not allowed to join the segregated white Greek another to 3 in 300 million, and so on. organizations. And for Black Greeks, the work continues long Of course, while you’re improving your odds, your chances after college. Check out the full article on DefenderNetwork. of taking home a billion dollars are still infinitesimal. In order com. Just wanted to explain why your timeline is about to be to improve your odds in a really substantial way, you’d have to lit! And oh, yeah, count me among, those doing the most. spend a huge amount of money. Even if you spent a million Thirty-four years strong as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha dollars buying $2 Mega Millions tickets, the odds would still Sorority, Incorporated! be overwhelmingly against you.

So play your lucky number, play an uncommon number, Blacks are back at the Golden Globes play your birth date, whatever. Buy one ticket or buy twenty.

From a Black host (comedian Jerrod Carmichael) to Black It doesn’t really matter winners who shined, this year’s Golden Globes was BlackiThe drawing for the $1.35 billion prize, roughly $707.9 ty-Black. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which million in cash, is scheduled for Jan. 13. Realistically, you have hosts the awards show, had been under fire for its lack of a better chance of being crushed by a meteorite, killed by bees diversity and inclusivity. But not this year. or becoming U.S. President. But hey, if Trump could do the Tyler James Williams won Best Supporting Actor in a latter, I’m gonna believe I can win, so let me go get my ticket!

TV series for Abbott Elementary; Quinta Brunson, won Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary; On the Web and naturally Abbott Elementary won Best Musical/Comedy • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. readies for their International Series (if you haven’t seen this show, you’re missing out!).

Conference in Houston.

Angela Bassett won Best Supporting Actress in a motion pic- • Check out our special reports on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ture for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The win cemented • Sports Reporter Terrence Harris has more on the Texans Bassett’s spot in history as the first actor to win a Globe for a firing of Lovie Smith.

Divine Nine love

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DN News

COUNTY WANTS MORE MONEY FOR BIKE LANES Houston Public Media

Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks at the press conference addressing the cancellation of the Astroworld festival in 2021.

Mayor Turner outlines remainder of term Defender News Service

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is in his final year as mayor, but before he leaves, he said he has some unfinished business.

From affordable housing to public safety, parks, and street infrastructure, Turner said he’s making it a priority in 2023 to finish what he started.

“The focus for 2023 for this administration will be execution and implementation,” he said. “Very simple, execute and implement, that’s what 2023 is all about, that’s what I’m telling my team – it’s about getting things done in 2023.”

Kicking off the mayor’s focus of “execution and implementation” the city is unveiling two new multi-service centers in Alief and Sunnyside this month. The projects are part of Turner’s Complete Communities initiative that aims to provide equitable opportunities in 10 underserved Houston

neighborhoods. Other projects coming are free childcare facilities and the Bethune Empowerment Center in Acres Homes.

The mayor has said on numerous occasions that public safety is the city’s top priority. Houston murders were down in 2022 compared to 2021 and Turner said he wants to continue to reduce violent crime in the city this year.

“So we’re into another year and the goal now is to beat ‘22, beat ‘21, and beat ‘20,” he said. “So it’s to drive the numbers down and so we will continue to place a great deal of emphasis on public safety, working with our community messengers, programs and other mental health crisis intervention, all of that.”

Turner’s $55 million One safe Houston Initiative was started last year to reduce violent crime across all platforms, provide resources for mental health, domestic

violence, the Gun Buyback Initiative, overtime for HPD and other areas relating to crime.

The mayor also set other goals to build 3,000 single family homes, 7,000 apartment complexes, and build on the city’s reputation as a leader in decreasing homelessness with the Homeless Navigation Center opening this quarter. He also wants improvements to streets and parks, and to address illegal dumping and make Houston a more resilient city.

Turner said while no city is perfect, Houston has made a lot of progress over the years.

“No administration is going to solve all the city’s problems. Impossible. But I do think already, we have done some substantial work,” he said.

Turner said his focus in 2023 will be completing projects currently in the works, with no major new initiatives planned.

The county commissioner behind a controversial bike lane project in Houston’s Third Ward is willing to pause the ongoing work and retool the plan – if the city increases its financial commitment by several million dollars.

Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, in a Jan. 6 letter written to Houston City Council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and shared with Houston Public Media, said he is open to amending a $12.1 million road reconstruction project that calls for drainage improvements, wider sidewalks, the addition of bicycle lanes and the reduction of vehicular lanes on a stretch of Blodgett Street that runs alongside Texas Southern University.

But because construction began nearly a year ago and the county already has paid more than $4 million for the work, according to Ellis, he said suspending and redesigning the project as requested by some concerned community members would add at least a year to its timeline while increasing the overall cost by at least $4 million.

So Ellis said he and the county would be willing to go down that road only if the city – which initially agreed to cover about $400,000 of the project total, with Ellis’ office covering the remainder – commits to splitting the overall cost evenly. That would up the city’s share to an estimated $8-$9 million, according to Ellis.

“Given that the city approved the current design and allowed construction to begin, it’s appropriate that the city share costs for pausing and redesigning,” Ellis wrote in his letter. “Under this option, we ask that the city secure these funds up front and work quickly to pass a renegotiated interlocal agreement as soon as possible.”

That is unlikely to happen, according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who was copied on Ellis’ letter. Turner said in a Tuesday afternoon statement to Houston Public Media that the city doesn’t have $8-$9 million to spend on the project.

“The project, already under construction, should move forward,” Turner said.

Ellis’ offer comes about one month after Evans-Shabazz, who represents the Third Ward as part of District D, held a townhall meeting in which some residents expressed concerns about the potential for increased traffic congestion and reduced street parking as well as the necessity of bike lanes.

Some also said they were not adequately engaged about the initiative, which is part of a 2018 agreement between the city, county and Texas Southern University to make transportation and drainage improvements in the area.

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DN News

Cheryl Johnson: At the center of the House speaker saga

By ReShonda Tate

For the millions of people who watched a leaderless House of Representatives convene for the first week of the new year, the true legend to many was a Black woman named Cheryl Johnson. As factions of Republicans, newly in the majority, fought savagely to appoint a new speaker, the House seemed to buckle. Enter The Honorable Johnson, clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Johnson, a Capitol Hill veteran and mother, has long been a powerhouse in the U.S. House of Representatives.

She was tasked with the seemingly impossible - keeping the House in order so a Speaker could be elected and the new Congress could finally begin. Johnson’s calm demeanor and poise during the multiple rounds of voting was impressive, especially in light of the bleak outlook to a successful outcome.

Johnson, 62, became the second Black woman to serve as House Clerk in February of 2019. Her steady hand last week has won praise from both parties. Through 15 votes, she rapped the gavel as the essential leader of the nation’s larger representative body. She led the speakerless House through four days of chaos, and where there could not be nonpartisan common ground, there would be order.

She constantly reminded the members of the rules that still bound them. To most who saw her on C-SPAN or Twitter, she was a new face. To those who knew her best,

Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson speaks in the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. AP

she was the most important thing they saw.

Johnson attended the University of Iowa, where she majored in journalism and communications. She earned a law degree from Howard University, and completed the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government senior management program. She worked for the Smithsonian Institution, playing a key role in the 2016 opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and also serving as a leader in government relations, said Linda St. Thomas, chief Smithsonian spokesperson who worked with her.

That often meant working closely with members of Congress.

“She’s unflappable,” St. Thomas said. “And she’s got a great sense of humor. But I don’t think she can show that up on that podium.”

When she’s not on the House floor, she’s honoring John Lewis, the late civil rights icon and longtime Georgia congressman.

Through the Washington, D.C.-based Faith & Politics Institude, she works to achieve the goal of building a nationwide network of emerging, civic-minded individuals – undergraduate and graduate students and young corporate leaders – who will create change through Martin Luther King Jr.’s and Lewis’s principles of nonviolence and community-oriented activism.

NUL, Wells Fargo confront housing challenges

By Aswad Walker

and Hispanic homeowners, which, in turn, can support According to a recent report on housing by the National more equitable homeownership outcomes.

Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the gap The NUL/Wells Fargo grant offered as a corrective to between Black and white homeownership is widening. this issue, seeks to certify up to 260 diverse appraisers.

However, NAREB’s 2022 State of Housing in Black America In addition to supporting the certification of trainees, the (SHIBA) Report does offer solutions, including one being initiative includes entrepreneurship and small business enacted by a collaboration between the National Urban development components with a focus on creating 130 League and Well Fargo. potential new businesses.

In December 2022, the NUL and Wells Fargo announced This NUL initiative is scheduled to begin in early 2023 a $5 million grant to create the Diverse Appraiser Initia- in Houston, Atlanta and Charlotte. tive, a program aimed at increasing diversity and reducing “Racial discrimination in the home appraisal industry is barriers to entry in the home appraisal indusa significant barrier to economic equity,” said try—which was one of the six recommended NUL President and CEO Marc H. Morial.

SHIBA Report solutions.

“We’re proud to partner with Wells Fargo on 44.7% Due to the legacy and current reality of this innovative project to open the doors of redlining, Blacks have for generations been Black homeownership opportunity and bring a much-needed new rate in first quarter at a disadvantage when it comes to building approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion of 2022, down from wealth in the form of equity via homeownerthat we hope will serve as inspiration to oth45.3% in 2020. ship. A Brookings Institute study found that ers in the field and beyond.” neighborhoods that were at least 50% Black “We are delighted to continue working 7.2% had homes that on average were valued at with the National Urban League to creIncrease in 23% less than comparable homes in “white” ate more opportunities for underserved Black/white neighborhoods (with less than 1% Blacks). communities,” said Kristy Fercho, who homeownership That means homes in Black neighborhoods was recently named Wells Fargo Head of disparity from 1970 to 2022 are undervalued on average by $48,000 Diverse Segments, Representation, and which equates to a collective loss for Black Source: 2022 SHIBA Report Inclusion and continues to lead the Home people of $156 billion.

Lending business. “We’re excited to mobilize So, even though several other factors contribute to the the combined resources at Wells Fargo and the National racial homeownership gap, the damage done by home Urban League to help address core barriers in appraiser appraisals means that with less wealth and equity, banks certification and increase the number of diverse-owned and independent mortgage companies can claim to be jus- appraisal businesses. This relationship will help to diversify tified in their loan denial rates that turn down Black appli- the industry and improve customer confidence in home cants at a much higher rate than their white counterparts. valuations.”

According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, the Learn more about “Housing in home appraisal industry is 97% white. The Urban Institute Black America” solutions and and others content that increased diversity in the appraiser HAUL housing initiatives.

ONLINE profession can improve the current valuation bias for Black

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VOLUME 92, NUMBER 9 - JANUARY 12, 2023 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Creative Director Michael Grant Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Photographers Jimmie Aggison Social Media Manager Tia Alphonse Intern Alania Bookman

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2023 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288

January 12, 2023 |

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DN InFocus LOCAL LEADERS WEIGH IN ON 2023 THEME

‘It Starts with Me’ CULTIVATING A BELOVED COMMUNITY MINDSET TO TRANSFORM UNJUST SYSTEMS

By ReShonda Tate

The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance is a time that the country celebrates, commemorates and honors the life, legacy and impact of the beloved Civil Rights Leader. As nations around the world continue to struggle under the weight of violence, hate and poverty, today’s social, political and economic landscape reveals the urgent necessity of Dr. King’s philosophy and methodology of nonviolence.

The 2023 theme from The King Center is ‘It Starts with Me: Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems’. This theme defines the 2023 King Holiday Observance events and programming while serving as a compass for all the work that is yet to be done.

“The pioneering work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrated that Kingian Nonviolence is the sustainable solution to injustice and violence in our world, ultimately leading to the creation of the Beloved Community, where injustice ceases and love prevails,” the Center said in a statement.

This year’s observation comes as the nation continues to grapple with transforming unjust systems, and Dr. King’s family and The King Center in Atlanta are using the 2023 holiday to highlight the struggle for justice through nonviolence.

Dr. King’s words about justice, equality, change, helping others and love inform the work of people across the world. We asked local leaders to weigh in on what the theme means to them.

“There are some who believe that if we leave the world alone, the world will leave us alone. I am not one of them. It is not enough to live and let live, we must live and help live. For a community to progress in unity, transform unjust systems, and metamorphose into a beloved community, it must not ignore the needs of its neighbors.

A beloved community cannot be isolated.

It cannot bear witness to, yet ignore, the needs of its neighbors. It cannot thrive in the shadows of its neighbors that are struggling to survive. A beloved community extends the hand of friendship to neighbors during their time of need. A beloved community is rooted in the righteous belief of but for the grace of God there go I. Communities need to understand each other’s differences, respect those differences, and speak up when hatred, the insidious enemy of the beloved

American minister and civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr (1929 - 1968) waves to the crowd of more than 200,000 people gathered on the Mall after delivering his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington DC, 28th August 1963. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

HOUSTON LEADERS SPEAK ON MLK’S ECONOMIC EQUITY FOCUS.

community, is weaponized against those differences. Speaking up against weaponized hate in all of its invidious forms—including xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia, racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism—is the collective responsibility of the beloved community. Only when each of us practices the live and help live philosophy can we transform unjust systems into a beloved

community.” -Congressman Al Green “This is a powerful theme that means to me that we have a collective responsibility to reach back to our communities to fight against injustice. We all stand on the shoulders of those like Dr. King and others that paved the way for our freedoms and its imperative that we do our part as well.” -State Rep. Ron Reynolds

“I believe it’s important that we serve where we live. Communities thrive when members engage with each other and their local government. We must work together to protect our communities and ensure residents have opportunities for employment, attainable housing, and the ability for their voices to be heard.” -Martha Castex Tatum, Mayor Pro Tem.

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DN InFocus DR. TIMOTHY W. SLOAN

THE LUKE CHURCH, Houston, TX

WHAT

local churches ARE DOING TO CONTINUE MLK’S WORK

W

By Aswad Walker

heatley High School alum Rev. Eric Wilson Sr., pastor of Spring Antioch Baptist Church (Spring, TX), and child of the 1950s and ‘60s, views the work and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as invaluable yet very much in danger.

“MLK’s legacy is priceless, bedrock, foundational, and in my opinion, tremendously abandoned,” said Wilson. “I’m a child of the ‘50s, so, my

whole foundational development had King in the middle of it. And, of course, that was saturated with Christian values, with moral values, with economic values. I consider it priceless. You can’t buy it.”

REV. ERIC WILSON SR.

SPRING ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH, Spring, TX

Wilson was a 17-year-old junior when King was assassinated. Up to that point, his entire educational experience had been segregated. So, MLK’s morals-based movement and push for integration were personal for Wilson.

“When Dr. King was assassinated, our

whole community just galvanized, came together, and realized that we couldn’t stop.

We had to keep going. But at that point, we had been equipped. I got 17 years of these values downloaded in me,” he said.

Today, as a pastor, Wilson is leading his congregation to transmit King’s values into a new generation.

“We’re very strong on Christian values: faith, forgiveness, unconditional love, sacrifice, fellowship, friendship, family. These are core principles that we at Spring Antioch are always promoting,” said Wilson.

Wilson said because “the whole church community was dismantled by COVID,” his congregation’s 2022 theme was “Reconstruction,” focusing their energy on rebuilding, and

keeping King’s Christian values front and center as they continue the work into this new year.

“Our theme for 2023 is ‘Reconstruction 2.0.’ I wanted to make sure I was relevant to the young adult crowd and their children, because that’s who’s really at risk right now; our young people — young adults and their children.”

Wilson said the Christian values King promoted infected a generation, and that it is on him, his congregation and others to pass those values on to young people.

“That’s what we’re doing in Spring Antioch.”

Here’s what other local congregations are doing to keep the work and legacy of MLK alive:

The initiative received national attention when it partnered with Washington D.C.based Footsteps2Brillance, a leader in early childhood literacy that impacts thousands of youth and families around the nation and across the globe.

“As an alum of Morehouse College, continuing Dr. King’s work is extremely important to me and The Luke Church (2380 S. Houston Ave. in DR. D.Z. COFIELD Hu mbl e ) ,” s ai d SENIOR PASTOR, Sloan. “Dr. King GOOD HOPE believed deeply that MISSIONARY the church played a BAPTIST crucial and prophetic role CHURCH, in racial reconciliation. The church has a Houston, TX responsibility to address the evils of racism.”

“Throughout To that end, for over a year, The Luke Dr. King’s career, he Church has partnered with Kingwood talked about the need Christian Church in Kingwood, a pre- to have a church be more dominantly white congregation, in an effort than a Sunday gathering of good people, titled “Be the Bridge.” but rather a group of people who embody “Approximately 30 individuals selected love in action for all people, a church that from each congregation have met monthly, has a faith that manifests itself in word alternating locations, to openly discuss and deed, putting faith into action,” said racism and its present-day evils. It follows Cofield, host of KTSU’s “Real World, the model of a national program Real Talk.” developed by Latarsha Morrison Cofield shared the followto respond to racial brokenness ing Good Hope initiatives that and systemic injustice in our embody MLK’s work: world. The effort has increased awareness and a commitment Hope For Families/ to addressing racism in the Good Hope MBC northeast part of the greater Food Pantry Read Houston area.

“Dr. King devoted a tremore The project’s success is primendous amount of his work MLK marily due to the pastoral to the poor and working poor. stories cooperation of Sloan and Pastor The ability to go beyond the Chad Mattingly of Kingwood four walls of the church and Christian, according to Sloan, into the community is what who also listed the church’s makes ministry real. We are bi-annual Black Business Expo committed to fighting poverty Sunday, Economic Empowerment and in all forms, including generational and Social Justice ministries and more as addi- situational poverty. For example, our tional ways The Luke Church continues food pantry distributes over one million MLK’s work. pounds of food a year. Our participation in addressing food insecurities is rooted REV. RAY MACKEY in a belief that we should love our neighGREATER GALILEE MISSIONARY bor as we love ourselves.”

BAPTIST CHURCH, Houston, TX

Mackey, who also ser ves as founding and executive pastor of Higher Impact Ministries (H.I.M.), founded “Lifting through Literacy,” an initiative that seeks to empower families with children by expanding access to literacy resources and founded in 2015 as a pilot program in HISD with support from Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation Chairman Neil Bush.

The ministry expanded to serve youth in additional school districts, early childhood centers, non-profits and churches.

Project Hope Diversionary Program “There is no greater threat to our young people than the school-toprison pipeline. Sadly, that pipeline often starts in our very own communities. By engaging family, youth and other community stakeholders, Project Hope is investing in tomorrow today.

That investment starts with encouraging our children to be their best and their brightest. King believed in the children back then, and we believe in our children and their families now.”

Good Hope also continues MLK’s work via their Racial Reconciliation Conversations, Legal Aid and Social Justice Ministry and more.

Lifting Through Literacy program

Rev. Ray Mackey at Building Family Literacy Annual Summit

See what other local faith institutions are doing to honor MLK’s legacy at DefenderNetwork.com

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DN InFocus

MLK’S GUARANTEED INCOME: WOULD THE IDEA WORK TODAY?

By Aswad Walker

Though the last months of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life were spent organizing for the Poor People’s March on Washington, a movement meant to unite America’s economically disenfranchised of all races, few MLK Day events focus on the solution King supported to address poverty — the guaranteed income.

Dr. King believed economic inequality led to housing discrimination, educational inequalities, employment issues and other challenges Blacks faced. Thus, he pushed for a guaranteed income as a way to address them all.

The Defender asked Houston-area residents if they thought the concept would work today. Here’s what they said: ON MLK’S GUARANTEED INCOME

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Economic Equity plan is spot on. He was ahead of his time and misunderstood by many. His concept of a guaranteed income also came with an education of what the income could and should be used for. As a financial educator of young adults, I often share with parents that we can’t expect our young adults to do better without seeing and experiencing better habits early on. Dr. King’s plan was to make a crooked path straight and put us on the same selfgrowth path experienced by all of our counterparts.”

Teeba Rose

financial educator

I think it’s a plan that will work. First and foremost, it will pull people out of poverty, just like the child tax credit did during COVID. It will help to somewhat start to close the wealth gap.

But on a larger scale, if you’re giving people money, then they have more money to pump into the economy.”

Adrianne Walker accountant

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Aug. 28, 1963’s March on Washington. Screen Shot.

The guaranteed income idea has merit.

When children come into this world, they don’t have any control over what conditions they’re born into. I think if you are able to have some type of floor where there’s a guaranteed income, and we saw this for a short time again during the pandemic to help these families, this will go over into the schools, school funding and all these things should be part and parcel of a discussion of helping people come out of generations of poverty. I define the proper role of government as one designed to help the people who cannot help themselves. And not to help the people who are always on top, because the gap will widen in a capitalist society.

Dr. Michael O. Adams

TSU professor

WHO WOULD BE FOR/ AGAINST IT TODAY

I believe Democrats, African Americans, reparations groups and advocacy organizations would support this plan. These groups understand that the desire to do better is there, and with the right financial education and support, we can and will fix our problems. The parties that would vote against this plan are the conservatives

who believe you should pull yourself up by your bootstraps, not realizing that boots are required for that to happen.

Teeba Rose Some people would call it socialism, but I think it’s because people don’t understand the way our country works. Our roads, our libraries, all of that is funded by citizens’ money. It’s socialism, but people don’t call it that because it helps them. When they want to bring up the word “socialism” it’s because they’re protesting giving something to a certain group of people. Conservatives are going to fight MLK’s idea tooth and nail because they don’t want to pass anything that’s going to benefit Black people, even if it’s going to benefit them too.

Adrianne Walker

The mayors of Stockton, CA and St. Paul, MN, both Black men, initiated guaranteed incomes. In Stockton, their experimental program took 125 or 150 families and said, we’re going to give them $500/ month guaranteed, for, I think, 18 months. Then, that was expanded to say, “We would not only cover economic necessities, things to survive, we are going to give you a $12,000 payment if you want to go to college.” That’s kind of radical.

But if we look at what MLK was preaching about, he knew that if you are poor, you’re not going to have access to quality education.

Dr. Michael O. Adams

See what Mayor Sylvester Turner and other leaders think about keeping MLK’s economic equity focus alive

CLASSIFIED SAN JACINTO COLLEGE

To view current bid opportunities at San Jacinto College, go to www.sanjac.edu/purchasing – Bidding Opportunities for a list of current and previous bids. Register as a supplier in the College’s electronic bidding and supplier system to receive notice of future bid opportunities.

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DN Health

A DEFENDER AND KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC ALLIANCE

Resolutions for a healthier 2023 and beyond 3. Cut back on alcohol. Drinking too much, too often will negatively affect your health.

Alcoholism can interfere with your job performance, personal relationships, and family life.

By OLETHIA CHISOLM, M.D.

Just checking on your New Year’s resolutions. Oftentimes, wellness-related resolutions are so restrictive they become unsustainable. (That’s why we seem to make the same ones every year.) Break this cycle by making resolutions you can stay with for the long haul.

1.

Exercise. You don’t have to join a gym.

Taking brisk, 30-minute walks most days of the week can help lower blood pressure, control weight gain, and lift your spirits.

2. Forage for fiber. A high-fiber diet helps lower your risk for certain gastrointestinal disorders. Studies suggest that eating 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day may help avert an initial occurrence of colorectal cancer. Fiber is found in most whole grains, fresh fruits, leafy green vegetables, and oldfashioned oatmeal.

4. Water, water everywhere. Try to drink eight glasses each day. Water helps lubricate joints, deliver oxygen throughout the body, and slow the skin’s aging.

FROM THE DOC “Make resolutions you can stay with for the long haul.”

Dr. Chisolm is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.

5. Get adequate sleep. You don’t have to be Sleeping Beauty or Rip Van Winkle. Adults usually need about seven hours a night. Adequate sleep boosts alertness and reduces your risk of causing a car accident.

Learn more at Sleep Center | Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.

6. Put a lid on sugar. Sugar produces empty calories and can generate erratic energy highs and lows throughout your day.

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JJ Moses Former NFL player

7.

Shake the salt habit. Sodium contributes to hypertension, which can increase your risk for a heart attack and stroke.

8. Wear sunscreen: People of color can suffer skin-damaging sunburns.

Apply sun protection with an SPF of 30 or higher on exposed skin when outdoors. Sunglasses are a good idea, too.

9. Quit using nicotine in any form.

(You should already know this.)

Consider calling the Texas Tobacco Quitline at 1-877-YES-QUIT or visit www.yesquit.org to help kick this unhealthy habit.

10. Choose a primary care physician.

Maintaining a good doctor-patient relationship incentivizes you to have regular physical exams, get current on immunizations, and stay informed about your health.

10 | January 12, 2023 |

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Texas Southern freshman shooting guard Micah Gray established a new school record with 41 points during the Tigers’ 89-71 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Prairie View A&M senior guard Diana Rosenthal was named SWAC Impact Player of the Week after averaging 23 points and 6.5 rebounds against Grambling State and Southern.

Sports Briefs Rockets backcourt needs veteran help

The Rockets have one of the most exciting young backcourts with youngsters Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. But Kevin it hasn’t resulted in Porter Jr. wins, which is causing some around the league to question how the duo can grow without some real veteran leadership on the roster.

The only real veteran guard on the roster, Eric Gordon, has recently shown some frustration with how things are going. Perhaps a James Harden return is just what the Rockets need this upcoming offseason.

UH players receive AAC recognition

University of Houston freshman forward Jarace Walker and senior guard Marcus Sasser earned weekly American Athletic Jarace Conference awards Walker this week. Walker was named AAC Freshman of the Week for the third time after guiding the No. 1 Cougars to wins over SMU and Cincinnati by averaging 22 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in those two wins.

Sasser made the Honor Roll for the second time this season after averaging 15 points, 3.5 rebounds along with team-highs 4.5 assists and 4 steals against the Mustangs and Bearcats.

TSU off to slow start

The Texas Southern men’s basketball team hasn’t gotten off to the SWAC start most anticipated the Tigers Johnny would. The defendJones ing league champs and preseason SWAC favorites have started the conference season on a fourgame losing streak after dropping back-to-back home games against Southern and Grambling State and then lost to Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Mississippi Valley State. The Tigers are 4-13 overall and 0-4 in the SWAC after their loss to the Delta Devils.

5 Eric Bienemy

By Terrance Harris

DeMeco Ryan

Brian Flores

Byron Leftwich

Leslie Frazier

BLACK COACHING CANDIDATES TEXANS SHOULD CONSIDER

In a move that wasn’t unexpected, the Texans fired head coach Lovie Smith just hours after their regular-season finale win over Indianapolis.

There is a lot of debate about the fairness of firing Smith after just one season, just as there was after his predecessor David Culley was unceremoniously fired after just one season.

It’s certainly not a good look for the Texans to hire back-to-back African American head coaches and fire both after just one season, especially considering the across-the-board lack of talent the franchise has on the roster.

As unprecedented as it is to make two African American men one-and-done NFL coaches in successive seasons, it would also be equally unprecedented to have three straight African American coaches hired by any franchise.

Surely this week you will hear former Saints coach Sean Payton’s name thrown around as the Texans’ dream hire. But Payton will cost the Texans one of their two firstround draft picks and likely Nick Caserio’s job as the general manager because Payton is said to want total control.

In the meantime, there are some interesting African American coaches out there, including former Texans star linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who will be one of the most sought-after head coaching candidates given his accomplishments as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator.

In addition to Ryans, potential names include Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, Buffalo defensive

coordinator Leslie Frazier and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

There is also former Miami head coach Brian Flores, who seemed to be Caserio’s favored candidate last year before his departure with the Dolphins grew messy and turned into a lawsuit against the NFL. Let’s take a look at five African American coaches the Texans should consider. At least one will be interviewed to satisfy the league’s Rooney Rule, which mandates that teams must interview at least one minority candidate for the head coaching opening.

BRIAN FLORES It’s no secret that Texans general manager Nick Caserio coveted Brian Flores for the head coaching job last year after he was unceremoniously fired by the Dolphins. But it became complicated after Flores accused the Dolphins owner of offering him money to tank games, then filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL. Flores spent this season working as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh and as the controversy calmed down some, Caserio could be ready to turn to his former New England Patriots colleague.

ERIC BIENEMY This isn’t the first time Eric Bienemy’s name has come up in a coaching search for the Texans’ head job. In fact, he has been on the short list for the last two years. The Texans could finally pull the trigger this time. It’s almost a given the Texans will use their No. 2 overall pick to take a quarterback. Bienemy, the man who has coached future Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes to elite status, seems ideal to chart the path for top QB prospects Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.

BYRON LEFTWICH All Byron Leftwich has done as a play caller and offensive coordinator during his tenure in Tampa Bay is win a Super Bowl and coach the most accomplished quarterback to play the game. He would come with the benefit of learning under offensive guru Bruce Arians and having coached Tom Brady the past few seasons. The knowledge Leftwich could pass on to a young quarterback like Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud could be invaluable.

DEMECO RYANS While a reunion between the Texans and former linebacker DeMeco Ryans seems like a great story, it likely will not happen because of how things ended when Ryans departed as a player. He blamed the Texans and their poor field conditions for his torn Achilles injury. But if they can somehow get over that, Ryans is expected to be one of the most coveted up-and-coming coaches this offseason and the Texans could benefit from his energy, leadership and stellar defensive scheme.

LESLIE FRAZIER While definitely the elder statesman of the bunch, 63-year-old Leslie Frazier offers invaluable leadership and proven ability as one of the best defensive minds in the game. There will be a lot of attention paid to what the Texans need to do offensively, but fixing the defense is just as much a top priority. Frazier would greatly improve the defense, while also providing overall leadership that will help the offense grow. His defense has been a major reason the Bills have consistently been one of the top AFC teams the past few seasons.

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| 11

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON DUO TO WATCH

KENNETH LEWIS & CHRIS MCDERMOTT

By Jodie B. Jiles

After going undefeated in tournament play over the Christmas break, Booker T. Washington is riding a five-game win streak going into the final leg of district play.

Senior guard Kenneth Lewis, a Prairie View A&M commit, and forward Chris McDermott are both over 6-feet-6 and have made their presences known in a major way this season.

Lewis has raw talent on the offensive end and his athleticism allows him to take the ball to the rim for a dunk at any time in the game. As a shooter, Lewis is streaky, and when he gets hot, watch out. He already posted a 51-point game this season.

McDermott, on the other hand, is the enforcer of the squad doing all the garbage work needed to win a game in the trenches. As the second option in scoring, he shows flashes of his triple-threat game in the post, off the dribble, and as a distributor from the top of the key.

On defense, Lewis and McDermott are shot-blocking machines who use their long arms to their advantage victory after victory.

Washington is currently 5-1 in its district with a 13-7 overall record. The only district opponent that gave the team trouble this season was Furr High School when they defeated Washington by a score of 51-50 in mid-December.

The rematch for what should be the district championship is set for Feb. 4.

Washington head coach Vincent Grayson explained what makes the duo so special.

“Chris McDermott shows up and goes to work every day on the court and in the classroom…He runs fast in sprints and is the first one in practice and is the last one to leave,” Grayson said.

“Kenneth is a scorer that scores in bunches. He may get you 10 points in a minute and a half. But that is what he does because he is a scorer.”

The Defender spoke with Lewis and McDermott about their above-the-rim games, upcoming rematch against Furr, and more.

STYLE OF PLAY McDermott: “I play fast, strong, and aggressive.”

Lewis: “I can shoot three, middies, layups, dunks. I can do everything.”

ABOVE THE RIM GAME McDermott: “I just run the floor, rebound, and take shots when I am open.”

Lewis: “If I see somebody under the basket, I am going to try to dunk the ball over them every time.”

TRIPLE THREAT GAME McDermott: “I can see the floor because I am tall. So, it is easy to see everything.”

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M COMMITMENT Lewis: “The head coach has stayed in contact with me since my sophomore year until now, and I feel like it is a great fit for me because they have a really good program that fits my style.”

REMATCH AGAINST FURR Lewis: “From start to finish we have to blow them out of the water this time.

We should have our point guard in the game because last time we didn’t have him. This game is going to be different.”

McDermott: “We ready.”

ABOUT CHRIS MCDERMOTT Twitter: @superstarchris Players He Studies: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Garnett Favorite artist: Lil Baby Shout-outs: “My mom and family.”

ABOUT KENNETH LEWIS Twitter: @OfficialKenneth1 Players he studies: Paul George and Kevin Durant Hobbies: Playing video games Fortnite, NBA2k and Call of Duty Shout-outs: “My family and all the coaches that have helped me since day one.”

12 | January 12, 2023 |

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‘NEW JACK CITY’ HOUSTON PLAYWRIGHT BRINGS CULT CLASSIC TO THE STAGE

By ReShonda Tate

When “New Jack City” first hit theaters back in 1991, it instantly became a cult classic. And now, more than 30 years later, fans will get to see the action-laden epic about the rise and fall of an inner-city crack dealer come to the stage.

Houston producer and filmmaker Je’Caryous Johnson resurrected the record-grossing crime thriller on stages across the country.

Written, directed and produced by Johnson and presented by Je’Caryous Johnson Entertainment, the touring stage adaptation of the Warner Bros.’ film makes its stop in Houston Jan. 13-15 at the Hobby Center.

Johnson’s adaptation of “New Jack City Live” stars actor Allen Payne, who will be reprising his role from the film as Gee Money, rapper and lead singer of the iconic rap group Naughty By Nature, Treach as Nino Brown, rapper Big Daddy Kane as Stone, actor and star of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” Gary Dourdan as Scotty Appleton and actor and star of “One on One” Flex Alexander as Pookie.

The film “New Jack City” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 17, 1991 and

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was released nationally on March 8, 1991.

Earning more than $47 million domestically, the film was the highest-grossing indie film of the year. The film chronicles the rise and fall of the infamous Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) and the Cash Money Brothers and is based on an original story and screenplay written by Thomas Lee Wright.

With appearances by Ice T as New York City police detective Appleton, Allen Payne as Gee Money and Chris Rock as Pookie, the story not only created a cultural movement, but it also ignited our collective conscience, inspiring generations to come and continuing to influence the culture that made it a success story.

“The stageplay will be a mirror image of the emotion and grit that immediately turned ‘New Jack City’ into instant, movie magic,” Johnson said. “It takes place in the same metropolis in Harlem where drug kingpin Nino Brown takes over a housing project and transforms it into a fortress-like crack house. Nino and his gang, the Cash Money Brothers, will ply their trade with total impunity -- one crime family will still be bonded by blood and forged together through friendship.”

Johnson, who last brought the hit movie “Set it Off ” to the stage, says fans can expect to relive all their favorite, intense, heart-pounding moments from the blockbuster movie.

The stage adaptation will continue to build on the cultural legacy, the musical impact and

Playwright and producer JeCaryous Johnson is joined by Flex Alexander, Ice T, Allen Payne and Gary Dourdan after a performance of “New Jack City.”

JeCaryous Johnson Entertainment

the social relevancy that the movie so boldly brought to life, fusing the captivating thrill-aminute storyline, the memorable lines and the iconic musical soundtrack.

“In bringing ‘New Jack City’ to the stage, I have the privilege of celebrating and paying homage to the Black actors that excelled at their craft and created an unforgettable movie and characters that became classics to Black culture,” Johnson said.

“I am delighted and excited to reunite these unforgettable characters with the fans that they’ve left their indelible mark on, and I am grateful to Warner Bros. for entrusting me to breathe new life into this cultural centerpiece. I look forward to the challenge of updating this classic story with a modern twist,” he said.

Visit www.jecaryous.com for more information.