KING KINDN ESS
RESPECT
TRANSPARENCY
LOVE (AGAPE)
EMPATHY
INCLUSION
TRUTH
DIGNITY
IT STARTS WITH
HOPE
COOPERATION
HUMILITY
EMPOWERMENT
HOPE
NONVIOLENCE TRUST
RECONCILIATION
EQUITY
TRANSFORMATION
SHARING TRUST
LOVE
SUSTAINABILITY TRANSPARENCY RECONCILIATION
COMPASSION
JUSTICE
MLK DAY 2022 The Dream Lives On
Black America’s fight continues... Volume 91, issue 10 January 13, 2022
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DN On Point
FIT & FINE Brei Richardson Age: 35 Occupation: CEO of Savvy B Boutique, LLC. Education: Columbia Southern University Major: Occupational Safety and Health Motto: “Always get up more times than you fall.”
The 2022 American Women quarters will feature incredible women, including Maya Angelou.
Message from the Managing Editor
whether white people would come to their senses Democrats are pushing voting rights legislation and change their ways. We took it…through through Congress, with no help from the GOP. showing up at the polls and showing out with That’s why there’s been talk of using a process known our vote. Let’s keep taking what they keep trying as the “nuclear option” to get the vote through. It to deny us. basically means changing Senate rules to pass legislation with a simple majority. Senators need 60 votes Maya on the money to do just about anything in the Senate but change I’m going to be one of the first in line when the ReShonda Tate the rules through a filibuster, it would only take 51 U.S. Mint rolls out its new quarters featuring votes. President Joe Biden has been lukewarm on the famous writer, poet, and activist, Maya Angelou. issue because it opens a Pandora’s box. You best believe when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the newest coins celethe Republicans get in control, they’ll do the same thing. But brate the contributions of some of America’s most remarkable Biden finally decided to get off the high road, and do whatever women, including Maya Angelou. This quarter is included it takes when it comes to voting rights. as part of the American Women Quarters Program, passed through Congress in 2020. Up to five quarters will be released It’s about time. per year until the end of 2025. Along with Angelou, the series The fact that we have ZERO Republicans supporting vot- will feature Anna May Wong, widely considered the first ing rights means it’s time out for that bipartisan approach to Chinese American movie star, Sally Ride, the first Amerimaking stuff happen. Pass voting rights through a filibuster can woman to fly to space, and Wilma Mankiller, the first “I like and let the chips fall where they may. Hey, maybe by the woman to be principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Each challenging time Republicans regain control, sensible, non-scared-of- 2022 quarter is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of myself and Trump Republicans will return and we can have amicable accomplishments being celebrated throughout this historic advancing on discussions on important issues. For now, break that olive coin program. Maya Angelou, featured on the reverse of this a personal level.” branch in half and let’s pass voting rights. first coin in the series, used words to inspire and uplift. Maya is one of my faves, so I’m excited! (But don’t think I’m Jim Crow 2.0 not missing the irony that Maya is on the back of a coin that I hear a lot of people blaming Biden for the current stale- has a slaveowner on the front ***serious side-eye***) Now give mate on voting rights. Outside of getting rid of the filibuster, us Harriet on that $20! people need to realize Biden may be the most powerful man in America, but he cannot fix democracy. He cannot end Black RIP, Sir @iamsavvyb (personal) voter suppression. The John Lewis Voting Rights Act can’t do And finally, a long bow to a legend. Actor Sidney Poitier @savvybofficial (business) it nor can grassroots organizers. Black people have success- died this month at the age of 90. Head over to DefendernetRead more on Friday about Brei fully made it through slavery, reconstruction, Jim Crow, the work.com and see how the actor is being remembered. Rest at defendernetwork.com Civil Rights Movement. Our resilience is getting us through in paradise, Sir. If you are Fit & Fine email: current racial and social injustices and Karens at every turn. clyde@defendernetwork.com White people have always had their foot on our necks when it ON THE WEB came to voting — either by law or in practice. We might not be • More MLK stories, including the minister’s relationship with facing church bombings, police beatings and death sentences Africa, the mentors in his life and books and films about MLK while trying to vote. But we’re waiting longer in lines to vote, you’ll want to check out. are more likely to be removed from voter rolls and face polling • The Missouri City - Sugar Land Chapter of Jack and Jill of place closures more often. America, Inc. presented 25 young men in the 2022 BeautilBut as we showed them in 2020, our Black National lion, check out the amazing video. Anthem should be McFadden & Whiteheads, “Ain’t No • In sports, Jodie B. Jile profiles some of Houston’s top high Stoppin’ Us Now.” The Black vote was never dependent on school players. Going nuclear
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DN News
Dr. Kwabena Mensah The educator has been named as the Chief of Schools for the Fort Bend Independent School District.
Harris first Texas county to partner with minority bank
By Aswad Walker
Unity National Bank and Harris County are officially in the history-making business. Recently, Harris County announced a $5 million investment in Unity, the only Blackowned and controlled bank in Texas, to provide services managing county funds and to expand its offerings to its traditional customers. It is the first time any Texas county has partnered with a minority-owned bank for services. “Any time that we are able to come together to create economic opportunities for our communities, especially our communities of color, it is a good day,” said Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “This relationship that we are announcing today is a historical one.” Garcia said that by bringing financial institutions of color into the equation to help manage county-level finances, more personal wealth will be produced at the community level, particularly communities of color. “Unity Bank is such an historic institution in the African American community, the minority community, for people who could not go anywhere else to get a loan,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “So, it’s appropriate for us to do as much as we can to help this bank stay in business.” Ellis noted that there are only 17 Blackowned banks in the nation, only two Hispanic-owned banks in Texas and one recently incorporated female-owned bank in Harris County. “We want to open these doors of
Michael Pearson, CEO of Unity Bank, in center holding check along with various Harris County officials and Unity Bank members. Photo by Aswad Walker.
opportunity as much as we can. We hope this is a signal to our friends in Ft. Bend County, Missouri City, other counties throughout the state of Texas to do what they can to help,” Ellis added. Both Ellis and Garcia gave a lion’s share of the praise for this partnership to County Treasurer Dylan Osborne, calling him the architect and decision-maker who moved
the idea to action. “We’ve taken just a small bit of initiative and invited someone to the table who normally did not get that invite,” said Osborne. “I was simply following the lead of our county commissioners and County Judge Lina Hidalgo as they made equity a priority for the county.” Though Osborne said the partnership
didn’t create a new product, their action of inviting a Black-owned financial institution “to the table” is “game-changing,” and he challenged others to do the same. “All it took was a phone call. Any other city or county out there watching, it was as simple as that — making it a point to invite somebody in that normally doesn’t get that invite.”
Harris County no longer checking criminal histories on job apps By ReShonda Tate
“It will prohibit departments from considJob applicants in Harris County will no ering an applicant’s record of arrest if that longer be asked about their criminal history, arrest did not result in a conviction, or if it did thanks to a new policy. and it was expunged or sealed, or it’s a misCounty Attorney Christian demeanor for which no jail time Menefee — who proposed the can be sentenced,” Menefee said. program — called this “banThe policy will allow departning the box,” a reference to ments to do a criminal backthe box on county employment ground check and consider that applications where applicants check only after a conditional must check whether they have a offer of employment has been criminal record. made. Menefee said that when Menefee said the question of the background check is done a criminal record frequently dislater in the process, potential courages many otherwise-qual- Christian Menefee employers are more likely to ified job seekers from even consider the context of the appliapplying since some potential employers cant’s record, as well as their relevant skills immediately discard candidates with non-vi- and experience. olent criminal records. “The policy will prohibit blanket
disqualification of applicants solely because they have a conviction,” Menefee said. “Instead, what it’s going to call for is an individualized assessment of various factors, including what was the nature of the offense. What is the position that the applicant is applying for?” The policy only applies to departments led by county appointees, not elected officials, though elected officials are free to adopt it within their own offices. It also includes exceptions for jobs in law enforcement and other sensitive areas. County Attorney Menefee stressed that the policy, which he called the Fair Chance Policy, has been adopted by governors of both parties in 37 states and in more than 150 cities and counties around the country. He argued that the policy was ultimately a
public safety measure. “This policy is also about decreasing recidivism,” Menefee said. “We know that the number one factor for decreasing recidivism amongst ex-offenders is ensuring that they are able to obtain and maintain stable employment.” That argument was a hard sell for the court’s two Republican members. Commissioner Tom Ramsey said he understood the spirit of the policy, but emphasized the importance of providing a safe workplace for county employees. “I think of the 15,000-plus Harris County employees that depend on us to provide a safe workplace,” he said. “To say you can’t know or ask that question before you decide to hire (a candidate), I think that could have some unintended consequences.”
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DN News
Rice University accused of conspiring to limit financial aid Defender News Service
A federal lawsuit is accusing 16 private universities — including Rice University— of using a shared formula to calculate the financial needs of student applicants in a way that unfairly limits aid to students who need it. The lawsuit’s plaintiffs are five former students from some of those schools who say the universities are violating antitrust laws, which prohibit competitors from conspiring to set prices. The suit claims that by limiting financial aid, the group of schools engaged in price-fixing, reducing competition and inflating the cost of attendance for those who receive financial aid. The plaintiffs calculated that the scheme affects more than 170,000 financial aid recipients at a cost running into the hundreds of millions of dollars. “In critical respects, elite, private universities like Defendants are gatekeepers to the American Dream,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants’ misconduct is therefore particularly egregious because it has narrowed a critical pathway to upward mobility that admission to their institutions represents.” Universities that do not take into account a student’s financial aid, known as a “needblind policy,” are allowed to collaborate on guidelines to assess a candidate’s financial need, as part of an exemption of antitrust laws provided by Congress in 1994. The schools are known collectively as the “568 Presidents Group.” It was named after Section 568 of the law that allowed them to discuss the guidelines for financial aid.
Rice University is one of 16 Ivy League and elite U.S universities sued in federal court for allegedly illegally conspiring to eliminate competitive financial aid offers to students in a fixed price scheme.
In 2003, the group established a shared methodology to determine a family’s ability to pay for college. Schools were prohibited from favoring wealthier candidates so they could give away less scholarship money. But the lawsuit claims that nine of the schools do consider a student or student’s family’s financial situation at certain points of the admissions process. It says some schools have admitted wealthy students of past or potential donors. It also accuses some schools of giving preference to wealthier students in deciding whom to
admit off the university’s waitlist. Therefore, the lawsuit states, all schools that meet as part of this group have conspired to shrink the amount of funding they provide students, which means they are not exempt from antitrust laws. Rice is not listed as one of the nine schools accused of taking an applicant’s finances into account during admissions. Instead, the lawsuit states that it is one of seven defendants that “may or may not have” considered applicants’ financial need. And it argues those seven schools
should have known the other nine were not abiding by need-blind admissions practices. According to the complaint, Rice joined the group in 1998 and implemented the methodology in 2003. The school then left, but rejoined again in 2017. The lawsuit asks for a permanent end to the collaboration among the schools, as well as damages. The antitrust exemption is set to expire at the end of September unless Congress renews it. A Rice University spokesperson declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.
Michelle Obama pushes voting rights Defender News Service
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is kicking off the new year with more efforts to fight back against voter suppression in 2022. Obama sent out a lengthy letter titled “Fight For Our Vote,” urging Americans to stay focused on democracy ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. “We’ve got to vote like the future of our democracy depends on it,” the message read. “We stand united in our conviction to organize and turn out voters in the 2022 midterm elections and make our democracy work for all of us.” Last year, state lawmakers proposed more than 500 anti-voter bills infringing upon the voting rights of Black, Brown and working-class communities in addition to voters with disabilities. Through When We All Vote, Obama hopes to “recruit and train at least 100,000 volunteers throughout 2022 to register and turn out voters in their communities,” the letter noted. Additionally, the campaign will encourage nearly
VOLUME 91 - NUMBER 10 - JANUARY 13, 2022 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Managing Editor ReShonda Tate
Chief Development Officer Emelda Douglas
Associate Editor Aswad Walker
Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles Creative Director Michael Grant
Former first lady Michelle Obama has launched a push to get 1 million people newly registered to vote ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
100,000 Americans to call on their senators to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, two proposed pieces of legislation that would protect voting rights for all.
Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles Photographers Jimmie Aggison
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 2020 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288
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In 1963, millions started marching down the paths we continue to walk today. Xfinity invites you to listen to the stories of those who helped Dr. King create history told directly from their voices. The Voices of the Civil Rights Movement – a virtual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day from past to present. Unlock your firsthand experience featuring recounts from marchers, Civil Rights pioneers, and civic leaders. Plus, explore articles, photo galleries, and video biographies that forever captured the moment that ignited inspiration in all of us. Visit xfinity.com/blackexperience to learn more.
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All of this was organized without a single tweet
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presents the
Brought to you by State Rep. Garnet Coleman
Saturday, January 15 at 10 am
Program begins @ 1 pm Special Admission Gardere Oratory Speech Winner Peace March | MLK Children’s Video ALL DAY Activities & Live Performances!
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CARYAKID AWARD MUSEUM’S HIGHEST HONOR
DR. MARCUS D. COSBY Senior Pastor Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
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A Community Partnership celebrating the Defender 90 years.
TO REGISTER GO TO https://www.cmhouston.org/events/mlk-day
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DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL CELEBRATING MLK
KING’S POSITION ON BIG ISSUES THEN & NOW By ASWAD WALKER
capitalistic system that profited for centuries from slave Dakota Pipeline protesters. Unknown to many, he also Though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is arguably the labor and the economic and political disenfranchisement supported “Buy Black” efforts, stating “We’ve got to strengthen Black institutions” while calling for a Black most well known figure in African American history, of Blacks.” “Bank-in” during his final speech the night before his Th is ongoing disenfranchisement, even aft er years of few are familiar with his positions on the big issues of his assassination. fi ghting for inclusion into the larger society, led many day beyond a general understanding that he advocated Though universally celebrated today, King was highly Blacks to shift focus to eff orts of self-determinanon-violent protest. Fewer still may realize how criticized while living. tion and a call for Black Power. the public’s response to King while alive was “Part of King’s greatness was his wide support “King understood why some called for vastly different than it is today. Remarkably, abroad. That march in 1963 was duplicated all over Black Power, yet he argued it didn’t undersome of those positions speak loudly to isthe world, from the Congo to Paris. Still, he was criticut moral and ethical damage, ” said Dr. sues today. cized strongly at home, including by certain leaders of Anthony Pinn, founding director of Rice “King was a social democrat, a critic of the NAACP who felt he was veering outside the lane University’s Center for Engaged Research capitalism,” said Dr. Gerald Horne, profesof Black leadership and jeopardizing his relationship and Collaborative Learning. “Instead, he besor of history at the University of Houston. with LBJ,” stated Horne. lieved the call for Black Power simply replaced “He saw racism, militarism and economic inDr. Anthony Pinn Goodwin concurred. one mode of dominance with another. He equality as functions of capitalism.” “White society trots out King every February as a ‘safe’ also believed any strategy that included vioHorne contends that King’s critique of alternative to the Black Nationalism advocated by Mallence was doomed to fail. ” capitalism, though central to everything King colm X. However, history minimizes King’s confrontaIn correspondence dated Oct. 1, 1966, taught, is a King stance that goes unrectional nature and opposition to the Vietnam War and King wrote “Black Power” meant diff erognized by most today. Horne said that a instead focuses on his work up to the 1963 March on ent things to diff erent people, with some major turning point for King toward this approving the use of violence for social Washington.” position occurred when he denounced the change, while others used the slogan as a Vietnam War. call to access political power and endorsed “Though voiced opposition to the war violence only as a means of self-defense. hurt King’s relationship with President [LynDr. Gerald Horne Still, King did not condemn Black Power, don B.] Johnson, King felt he couldn’t be a saying the mood that gave birth to it arose consistent apostle of nonviolence unless he from “real, not imaginary causes.” spoke out.” “Millions of Negroes are frustratHorne believes King’s last act revealed ed and angered because extravagant even clearer his stance against capitalism, promises made less than a year ago a position advocated loudly by a sizeable are a shattered mockery today… number of Black millennials. Many Negroes have given up faith “King linked all three – racism, miliin the white majority because ‘white tarism and economic inequality – during power’ with total control has left them his last campaign in Memphis, showing Dr. Ronald Goodwin empty handed. ” support for striking sanitation workers,” Regarding self-defense and SecHorne said. ond Amendment rights, Pinn noted King made this connection, according to that King considered purchasing a Horne, while organizing for the Poor Peogun to protect his family, but decidple’s March on Washington, which carried ed against it. on even after King’s assassination. “King recognized the legal right King’s own economic solution, as outto possess a gun, but he argued those lined in his book “Where Do We Go From committed to the non-violent direct Here: Chaos or Community,” was even less action approach to social change needed popular with U.S. power brokers than his Dr. Marco Robinson to avoid gun ownership,” stated Pinn. stance against Vietnam. Pinn contends King did not adequately “I’m now convinced that the simplest address gender inequalities, and “failed to recognize the approach will prove to be the most effective — the triple threat faced by Black women – race, gender, solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now class. ” PVAMU history Professor Dr. Marco widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income,” Robinson, however, said, “King is on rewrote King. cord making several statements supKing’s critics labeled him a Communist for seeking porting a woman’s right to choose a “radical redistribution of economic power” and challenging a profit motive lacking empathy for working (pro-choice).” Obviously, King supported people. social protest as a tool for in“King believed that unless the American form of capispiring pro-equality legislatalism changed Blacks would continue to suffer in abject tion, leading scholars to sugpoverty in inadequate inner cities throughout the coungest King would have been try,” said Prairie View A&M University history professor American civil rights campaigner strongly supportive of Black Dr. Ronald Goodwin. “This should not be seen as an enMartin Luther King Jr. dorsement of Communism, but rather a rejection of the Lives Matter participants and
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DN InFocus THE DREAM LIVES ON:
WE
BLACK AMERICA’S FIGHT CONTINUES
SHALL
OVERCOME,
BECAUSE THE ARC OF THE MORAL
UNIVERSE
IS LONG,
BUT IT
As the nation celebrates MLK Day, we look at how far we’ve come... and how far we have to go.
BENDS
TOWARD JUSTICE.
By Laura Onyeneho
In an excerpt from Dr. Martin. Luther King Jr.’s “The Other America” speech in 1967, he made a bold claim that it was not just that racism existed, but that America as a whole was a racist country. “We must honestly see and admit that racism is still deeply rooted all over America…Every major institution you could point your finger to has been touched by institutional racism,” he said. King stood before a majority-white audience at Stanford University to speak about poverty, racism, unemployment, segregation and police brutality that seeped into the Black community. Despite the challenges, King remained optimistic about the nation’s future saying,
“We shall overcome, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Fast forward to almost 55 years later. Progress has been made, but Black America continues to fight against injustices on another generational level. The Defender spoke with two educators, Dr. Karen Kossie-Chernyshev, Texas Southern University history professor, and Dr. Ronald E. Goodwin, associate professor of history at Prairie View A&M University, to gain insight on what Dr. King’s perspective would be of Black America today.
Rights Act, and other pieces of legislation during that era. We were living the impact of Dr. King’s dream being fulfilled. So over the course of my life I’ve understood history as Dr. Kossie-Chernyshev: I was only something that is progressive and 11 days old when Martin Luther that people can make positive King gave his “I Have A Dream” change. speech. I was born in Houston’s What we see now, in historic Fifth Ward at St. Elizasome instances, are stepbeth’s Hospital for Negroes. It was ping away from his progresa segregated hospital. I was born sive ideals. This generation in 1963. We were able to see how is experiencing much like society was impacted by Brown ver- Dr. Karen Kossie- my generation, racial and Chernyshev sus Board of Education, the Voting economic inequality, police Defender: What are the similarities and dif-
ferences between the Black American experience in Dr. King’s era versus today?
brutality and use technological advancements and social media as a tool to address these issues. Dr. Ronald Goodwin: There
has been a shift. We have a new generation of folks that are not accustomed to seeing such violence
Dr. Ronald E. Goodwin
and confrontation like the Black community did during Dr. King’s time. The civil rights era was a dangerous time. We think as a community that some of these old attitudes and limitations are behind us, and my fear is that they’re not.
Read the full interview at DefenderNetwork.com
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DN In Focus LET THE PEOPLE BE HEARD
Thoughts on MLK III’s call: ‘No celebration’ without voting rights bill Aswad Walker
We asked community members what their thoughts were on Martin Luther King III’s (Dr. King’s eldest child) call for “no celebration without legislation,” and here’s what they said: “It seems a noble use of the platform, but the people who gather for celebrations on MLK Day are not the people signing legislation.” - Tracie Jae
Bernice King. AP Photo by Robert Ray.
MLK
King family wants voting right, not parades By Aswad Walker
When Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s eldest son, Martin Luther King III, recently tweeted “No celebration without legislation,” his words were understandably taken by many to mean a call to cancel traditional MLK Day activities, including various celebrations and parades, and instead, use that day to collectively push for passage of federal voting rights. But according to organizers and supporters of Houston’s 44th Original MLK Jr. Day Parade and Celebration, and King III’s sister Bernice King, MLK commemorations are not being cancelled, but in some cases repurposed to lend their voice and energy to the demand for voting rights and other issues important to Blacks and others. Days before the recent City Hall press conference to announce this year’s MLK Jr. Day Parade grand marshal in Houston, King III made national headlines via his social media post that stated, “No celebration without legislation. On January 17, join me to honor my father and the #MLKLegacy as we call on Congress and the White House to eliminate the Jim Crow filibuster and pass voting rights to protect millions of Black and Brown voters.” When asked if this year’s MLK Jr. Day Parade in Houston would be altering its activities to participate in King III’s call, Teresa Brewer, board president of the event’s
founding organization, the “However, if voting rights Black Heritage Society, disis still hanging in the balance agreed that Dr. King’s oldest by the holiday on January 17, child expected the nation to 2022, then we… must collecshut down all MLK holiday tively use our various comactivities. memorations and our plat“They weren’t talking forms on that particular day to about no celebration, but do what Dr. King would do. they meant in fact that if “My father would speak and Martin Luther Congress, the Senate does not act in a way to ensure that this King III sign the voting rights act then nation lives up to its promise of we’re not celebrating that, but democracy by putting pressure we’re still going to carry on the parade on our United States Senate, to bypass the and all of those activities honoring Dr. filibuster. And instead of taking the King King,” said Brewer. “So, they didn’t say holiday off, they should make it a day on to cancel events. They just said that we’re pass the Voting Rights Act,” she said. going to march to Congress and talk to The message was reiterated by several them about the Voting Rights Act.” of the presenters at the press conference Brewer’s words were consistent with at City Hall to share details about the 2022 King III’s sister and youngest child of Dr. version of Houston’s Original MLK Jr. Day King and his wife Coretta Scott King, Rev. Parade. Bernice King, who tweeted a clarifying vid“If there ever was a moment in America’s eo message. history that Martin Luther King parade’s “Let me be clear from the outset that acknowledgement was needed, it is needed we will be commemorating the King hol- now in a divided America,” declared U.S. iday, and we are encouraging all of you Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, referencing the to continue your commemorations, as Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection that seems to still well,” she said. be alive one year later.
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER DIRECTOR VANESSA WYCHE NAMED 2022 ORIGINAL MLK
“Food for thought: Would an actual citizen of the USA need a voting rights act? Would an actual citizen of the USA need hate crime laws? Would an actual citizen of the USA need affirmative action?” - Dr. Abdul Haleem [Robert] Muhammad “I like that the family has called for a day of action on voting rights. That is indeed the spirit of MLKs legacy.” - Sharon Watkins Jones “We are having a Zoom reading by young people of Dr. King’s Speech ‘Two Americas’ with young people from across the U.S.!” - SisterMama Sonya “I would say we’re supposed to be holding out on empowering the economy in every viable way possible until equity is law. Our collective refusal to participate should gradually become an unbearable thorn in this society’s side.” -Sen Olushola “I agree. No show on the physical level as well as energetically.” - Hitaji Aziz “This makes sense to me, specifically because it is an idea initiated by the King family. I think it is important though that it does not lead to invisibility. I don’t think silence alone would help, so much as using all of the normal platforms to make a brief, powerful and urgent statement about voting rights, followed by silence where all the platitudes would normally be.” - PN Kells Let us know your thoughts.
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DEFENDER NETWORK
DN InFocus Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as portrayed in the animated series The Boondocks, season one, episode nine.
BLACK PROGRESS
MLK ON BLACK LIVES MATTER By Aswad Walker
Aaron McGruder’s critically-acclaimed animated series, “The Boondocks,” featured Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in one of the show’s most memorable, and some consider most controversial episodes. Episode nine of season one (2006) was titled “Return of the King.” The premise: when MLK was shot in 1968, rather than die, he went into a coma. The episode centers around King awakening in the 21st century to a society and world much different than the one he knew. In some ways, because of vast changes in the culture, King might seem out of step and understandably behind the times. However, King’s “old-school” principles and positions step in to offer a sharp, pointed and muchneeded critique of the U.S., and more particularly, Black people and the activities in which we are engaged and those in which we have yet to engage. In the spirit of that episode and the questions it demands, we consider where MLK would stand on Black and U.S. reality in 2022. Here are some of MLK’s own words that seem to speak to Black Lives Matter and Black Power/progress. BLACK LIVES MATTER • “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” • “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” • “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for
those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” • “There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.” • “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” • “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed.” • “The time is always right to do what is right.” • “For when people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.” • “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable…Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” • “I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.” • “The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.”
BLACK POWER & PROGRESS “Black Power, in its broad and positive meaning, is a call to Black people to amass the political and economic strength to achieve their legitimate goals…The plantation and the ghetto were created by those who had power both to confine those who had no power and to perpetuate their powerlessness. The problem of transforming the ghetto is, therefore, a problem of power – a confrontation between the forces of power demanding change and the forces of power dedicated to preserving the status quo.”
“Black Power is a call for the pooling of Black financial resources to achieve economic security…If Black Power means the development of this kind of strength within the Negro community, then it is a quest for basic, necessary, legitimate power. Finally, Black Power is a psychological call to manhood.” “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.”
CLASSIFIED The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting supplemental Request for Qualification responses to add to list of potential awardees for the following:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: ARCHITECTURAL, PLANNING, ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL (HVAC), & ENVIRONMENTAL (ABATEMENT AND MOLD REMOVAL) – PROJECT# 22-0213B Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER, Purchasing Services located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7116, The HARRIS CENTER website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state. tx.us/ beginning Monday, January 10, 2022. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFQ is Wednesday, January 12, 2022. RFQ responses must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 21, 2022, in a sealed envelope marked “RFQ - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES”. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to James Blunt, CPM, Buyer II and Sharon Brauner, C.P.M., Purchasing Manager, via E-mail to james.blunt@theharriscenter.org cc: sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org or fax at (713) 970-7682. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
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DN Opinion
Conservatives, please stop ‘whitesplaining’ MLK to us By Aswad Walker
With January upon us and Black History Month fast approaching, we once again find ourselves in one of the most festive, and seemingly holy seasons for Republicans — their season for “whitesplaining” the words, mission and ministry of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They do it all year, but most fervently on and/or leading up to King’s national holiday. Do they have some deeper insight into MLK’s words that we don’t know about? C’mon son. You already know that’s not what’s up. They’re all about twisting King’s words to promote their agenda of suppressing Black votes, denying healthcare for all, blocking tax dollars from helping the middle class and economically struggling, demonizing the teaching of Black history and Black perspectives on current reality and derailing attempts at criminal justice reform. But hey, why am I trying to “Blacksplain” their nonsense? Read for yourself some of the comments from Republicans. “I’m asking my colleagues to remember the words of the legendary, the great leader in this country, Dr. Martin Luther King, who once said the time is always right to do what is right. We need to recognize, number one, that our words have consequences. That there is violence on both sides of the aisle. We’ve contributed to it. We need to take responsibility for our words and our actions.” (Nancy Mace, congresswoman, S.C., objecting to Trump’s potential second impeachment and inquiry into the Jan. 6 insurrection) “You think about what MLK stood for. He said he didn’t want people judged on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character. You listen to some of these people nowadays, they don’t talk about that…[CRT] puts race as the most important thing. I want content of character to be the most important thing.” (Ron DeSantis, governor, Florida, while proposing his anti-critical race theory “Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act,” or “Stop WOKE Act”) “Critical race theory goes against everything Martin Luther King has ever told us. ‘Don’t judge us by the color of our skin,’ but now they’re (the left) embracing it. They’re going backward.” (Kevin McCarthy, House minority leader) “He was against all policies based on race. The basis of his attack on segregation was ‘judge us by the content of our character, not by the color of our skin.’ That’s a profound moral argument.” (Peter Schramm, conservative historian) “One of my favorite quotes from King was, ‘Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.’ You think of how he changed
President Lyndon B Johnson (1908 - 1973) discusses the Voting Rights Act with civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King Jr (1929 - 1968). Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
America. He inspired us to change through the legislative process, to become a more perfect union.” (Mike Pence, former vice president defending his administration’s xenophobic border wall) “Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a giant of the Civil Rights Movement who called on our nation to live up to the highest ideals of our founding. We pay tribute to the incredible life & accomplishments of Dr. King & his memory will inspire us for generations to come.” (Mike Pence, former vice president, MLK Day tweet) “Across the country, we’ve seen examples of police protecting protesters, and protesters embracing police, and it’s been beautiful to watch. And I just want to leave you with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that, ‘We must learn to live together as brothers or we
will perish together as fools.’” (Kayleigh McEnany, White House press secretary during Trump administration denouncing Summer of George Floyd protesters) “I have a dream…will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Ben Bradley, conservative British member of parliament decrying U.S. affirmative action policies) “I witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King’s March on Washington’s speech as an intern back in 1963. I dreamed about doing big things to help my state and our country.” (Mitch McConnell, minority leader, U.S. Senate) “Think of President Trump as the Martin Luther King of healthcare.” (Jeffrey Lord, former Reagan White House political director) “Martin Luther King, Jr. this MLK Day, ‘I’ve been to the mountain top. And I’ve seen the promised land…we, as a people, will get to the promised land.’” (Tweet by Steve King, former U.S. representative and longstanding avowed white nationalist) “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today. May we always remember his message of freedom and equality for all. #MLKDay with a picture of King at the March on Washington with the quote “Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” (Tweet by Scott Walker, former Wisconsin governor who produced “one of the harshest voter ID laws in the nation, restricting early voting hours, changing the laws regarding absentee ballots, changes to
polling place regulations that inject partisanship into the polling place, and unprecedented partisan redistricting.”) “Today we honor and remember the strongest voice for social justice, Dr. Martin Luther King. #MLKDAY” (Tweet by Lindsey Graham, U.S. senator, S.C., who described the Trump impeachment as “a lynching in every sense” and “un-American,” and compared the FBI’s inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election to the FBI’s 1960s persecution of civil rights leaders…like MLK) “MLK understood the importance & dignity of work, something our policy ‘experts’ have forgotten. He famously said: ‘No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.’” (Tweet from Josh Hawley, U.S. senator, Missouri, who gave the “Black power” fist of solidarity to Jan. 6 insurrectionists and called them “my people”) “On #MLKDay, we honor a hero who defended the moral basis of our founding principles.” (Tom Cotton, U.S. senator, Arkansas, who described slavery as a “necessary evil”) Additionally, California Republicans in 1996 used quotes from King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to rally voters behind a ballot initiative to end most affirmative action programs in California. In 2021, these same California Republicans again used images and quotes from MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech to promote Proposition 209, a ballot initiative to end most affirmative action programs their state. (Sources: independent.co.uk, thedailybeast. com, themarysue.com, huffpost.com, Rick Strom/TYT Sports)
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DN InFocus
The civil rights leader Martin Luther King waves to supporters on August 28, 1963 on the Mall in Washington DC during the “March on Washington”. Getty images
MLK Day celebrations in Houston By Laura Onyeneho
Every year on the third Monday of January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. If you are looking for different things to do to celebrate the holiday, the Defender has you covered. Rothko Chapel 2021 MLK Birthday Celebration Theme: Songs of Justice: A series of concerts and conversations exploring music and social justice movements Date: Saturday, Jan. 15 Location: In-person and livestreamed Rothko Chapel 3900 Yupon St. Learn more at www.rothkochapel.org Greater Houston Frontiers Club MLK Virtual Memorial Scholarship Program Date: Monday, Jan. 17 Learn more at www.ghfrontiers.com, 713-331-0440
MLK Grande Parade Date: Monday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m.-noon Location: Houston Community College – Central Campus 1300 Holman St. Parade will be held in Midtown Houston originating at San Jacinto & Elgin Streets Learn more at www.mlkgrandeparade.org Black Heritage Society 44th MLK Original Parade & Festival Date: Monday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m. Parade location: Downtown Festival location: Hermann Square Park 900 Bagby Learn more at www.blackheritagesociety.net
Children’s Museum of Houston Date: Sat., Jan. 15, 1pm. Location: 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004 MLK Day 5th Ward Meal Giveaway at Pleasant Hill Village Date: Jan. 17, 2pm Location: 12401 South Post Oak, Suite J Lucille’s 1913 Conscious Community Collective families of Fifth Ward to receive free meals at Pleasant Hill Village. Driving recipients should have vehicle trunks open at the site. Walkups and bus-riding guests should observe social distancing guidelines and wear masks. Learn more at http:// lucilles1913.org/
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DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Sports Prairie View junior Diana Rosenthal scored a season-high 29 points and added five rebounds in leading the women’s basketball team to an 84-77 win over Mississippi Valley State.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver and former Episcopal High School standout Jaylen Waddle set the NFL’s rookie singleseason record for receptions (102) and ended the season with 104 catches.
SportsBriefs UH selects all-time starting lineup The University of Houston men’s basketball team celebrated the 75th year of Cougars athletics Clyde Drexler by naming its all-time starting five lineup. The unit includes point guard Rob Williams, shooting guard Otis Birdsong, wing Clyde Drexler, power forward Elvin Hayes and center Hakeem Olajuwon. Kevin Sumlin to coach Houston Gamblers Former UH and Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin is one of four coaches who have been hired by Kevin the USFL. SumSumlin lin will coach the Houston Gamblers. This version of the USFL will have eight teams and will play a 10-game season beginning April 16. Could Rockets trade Christian Wood? It seems that every week, there is a different trade scenario that sends Rockets top player ChrisChristian tian Wood to Wood another team. The latest rumors have Wood headed to either the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns or Portland Trail Blazers. Speculation ramped after Wood was suspended for a game after refusing to go back into a game on January 1 against the Denver Nuggets. Wood is averaging 17.1 points, 10 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season.
TOP 5 QUESTIONS FACING TEXANS IN OFFSEASON clear some cap space while also perhaps getting back some draft capital.
4.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE TEXANS DEFENSE?
Houston Texans center Justin McCray (64), wide receiver Danny Amendola (89) and quarterback Davis Mills (10) run off the field before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex ) By Terrance Harris
It seems almost ridiculous that the Texans entered this offseason with the biggest question being should first-year coach David Culley be fired. The Texans finished 4-13 and with the same amount of wins as they had a year ago with Deshaun Watson as the quarterback. This season, Culley had to make it work with a journeyman quarterback in Tyrod Taylor and up-anddown rookie in Davis Mills and quite frankly two-win talent across the board. Culley isn’t the Texans problem going into the offseason, but there are quite a few things that must change in year two of Nick Caserio-Culley if the franchise is serious about turning things around. Major decisions will have to be made this offseason with the team
sitting on No. 3 overall picking in the 2022 NFL Draft, the uncertain future of their one-time franchise quarterback and 12 starters whose contracts have expired. Here are the Texans’ five top questions to deal with this offseason:
1.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH DESHAUN WATSON?
There is no question, the whole Watson ordeal has been hovering over the Texans like a dark cloud for nearly a year now. The question is how do the Texans move on from Watson, especially now because his four-year, $160 million extension kicks in this upcoming season? The Texans must find a trade partner Watson will accept and the team can live with this offseason.
2.
3.
When you have a franchise that is coming off back-to-back four-win seasons, the needs are numerous. You most often hear that the Texans greatest needs are quarterback, offensive and defensive lines and secondary. Let’s table drafting a quarterback. For one, there doesn’t seem to be a franchise quarterback available in this draft and secondly, Davis Mills showed enough potential that he warrants a longer look. What the Texans could use most at that draft spot is big-time offensive lineman prospect like Alabama’s 6-6, 360pound tackle Evan Neal or North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
The long and short answer is yes. There is a feeling that the premiere left tackle pretty much gave up on the season in October when he elected to have surgery on his thumb instead of playing through the pain and waiting until the offseason. The Texans could have used him this season, instead we got to see Tytus Howard isn’t a bad replacement and he is much cheaper. A year ago, Tunsil signed a three-year, $66 million extension with $50 million guaranteed which is the going rate for a high-end left tackle on a contending team. The Texans are in rebuild mode and Tunsil can help a top team right now. Trading him this offseason could
WHAT SHOULD THE TEXANS DO WITH THE NO. 3 OVERALL DRAFT PICK?
IS IT TIME TO MOVE ON FROM LEFT TACKLE LAREMY TUNSIL?
While statistically, the Texans could have been better, we got to see Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 defense is a great fit for the Texans. As the season went, the defense seemed to get better under Smith. But there is no question he still needs players. The defensive front could use a legit pass rusher to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and an interior defensive lineman to support the run defense. The secondary could use another lockdown cornerback.
5.
HOW CAN THE OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITIONS BE IMPROVED?
Without question, the David Johnson experiment should be over this offseason. Johnson was always fighting an uphill production battle when the running back arrived here a couple of years ago as the major piece in the DeAndre Hopkins trade. But Johnson never came close to justifying trading one of the NFL’s best wide receivers for him. Brandin Cooks continues to prove he is an outstanding wide receiver in this league and rookie Nico Collins showed enough f lashes that it seems with him along with Chris Moore the Texans will have playmakers at receiver.
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DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Sports
CHRIS JOHNSON FT. BEND ELKINS JUNIOR PG
By Jodie B. Jiles
TALENT NON-STOP
Ft. Bend Elkins 6-foot-4 junior combo guard Chris Johnson may be one of the most versatile guards in the 2023 class based on his size and developing skills as a scorer, defender and passer. Johnson is a streaky shooter who may miss a shot here and there but will turn around and hit four or five shots in a row from mid-range and 3-point land. When attacking the basket, he has a collection of acrobatic moves where one would think he is taking a difficult shot until he releases the ball with finesse. Johnson’s stamina and motor allow him to play a complete game non-stop, maintaining a Russell Westbrook run-and-gun pace throughout games for his offensive sets. On defense, his anticipation to intercept passes is steadily improving to match his reach. If that weren’t enough, Johnson is a true student of the game and his work ethic consistently shows it. Anyone who keeps up with AAU basketball can tell you he is putting in that Mamba Mentality work ethic it takes to possibly be a professional someday. Elkins head coach Albert Thomas talked about what makes his star combo guard so special. “He is a mixture of offensive abilities as a scorer but then he is also a guy that can distribute and find players,” Thomas said. “He has a very high IQ where he picks and chooses whether to use one or the other. STYLE OF PLAY “Just going out there and playing as a point guard or scorer when I need to for my team.” SCORING ABILITY “I’m just being a three-level scorer. At the next level going into college I want to be the same player I am in high school by coming in and making great decisions by being a three-level scorer.” WORK ETHIC “It’s about staying consistent and staying in the gym. Even though my jump shot may not be falling early in the game I just stay with it. You have
to keep shooting your shots, keep getting your teammates involved and keep uplifting your teammates and then everything will just fall in place.” LOVE OF THE GAME “I just love basketball. I want to dribble the basketball until the ball don’t bounce.” CHAMPIONSHIP RUN “Staying together and me being poised and not doing too much on the court and the rest is going to fall in place.”
ABOUT CHRIS JOHNSON
IG: @chriisjohnson CURRENT OFFERS: LSU, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Georgia, University of Houston PLAYERS HE STUDIES: Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Steph Curry FAVORITE MUSICIAN: NBA Youngboy FAVORITE VIDEO GAME: “Call of Duty” & NBA2K SHOUT-OUTS: Momma and Dad
SG KAHLAYN BARNES PUTS LAMAR ON THE VERGE By Jodie B. Jiles
Lamar junior shooting guard Kahlayn Barnes has the Texans scratching for a district title as the regular season passes into the second half of district play. Lamar only trails cross town rival Bellaire by one game and the two are set to play again to most likely determine the 6A Region III District 18 champion on Jan. 24 at Delmar Fieldhouse. The Defender spoke with Barnes after Lamar defeated Westside to discuss her style of play, keys to success, advice to others and more. For full article visit www.defendernetwork.com
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DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Obits
LEGENDARY TRACK AND FIELD COACH BARBARA JEAN JACKET DEAD AT 87 Defender News Service
One of the greatest women’s track and field coaches in not only U.S. track and field history but also Prairie View A&M University history has passed away. Barbara Jean Jacket was 87 years old. “Nobody remembers second place,” Jacket often told her Lady Panthers during her 25 years of coaching the women’s track and field team from 1966 to 1991. With that admonition and hours of hard two-a-day workouts, her teams brought home 18 national championships and 23 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships. The SWAC championships included nine for indoor, six for outdoor and eight for cross country. Jacket was named SWAC Coach of the Year on 23 occasions and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Coach of the Year five times. “Barbara Jacket has been a consistent staple in the track and field community,” said PVAMU Head Women’s Track and Field
Coach Angela Williams. During her years of coaching the Lady Panthers, Jacket turned out 57 All-American athletes and five Olympic contenders. Her success with her PVAMU teams brought Coach Jacket national attention, and she was recruited to coach USA teams at international meets beginning in 1975. From 1975 until 1991, her international coaching took her to Russia, Europe, Japan, South America and New Zealand. Jacket retired from coaching the Lady Panthers at age 56 to concentrate on her job as head coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Women’s Track and Field Team. She was the second African American to hold the job, the first having been Dr. Nell Jackson 36 years earlier, in 1956. Dr. Jackson had been one of Jacket’s most important mentors. At the same time Nell Jackson served as Olympic coach, she was Jacket’s track coach at Tuskegee University, her alma mater. Jacket was the head coach of the U.S.
Barbara Jacket was a legendary coach at PVAMU. Credit: PVAMU
Women’s Track team for the 1992 Olympics. She was also the second African-American female to be a head coach for the U.S. Olympic team. Jacket, who graduated from Tuskegee University in 1958, grew up on the West Side
of Port Arthur, Texas, with a single mother and two siblings. Memorabilia from Jacket is displayed at the Museum of the Gulf Coast. Employees at the museum fondly remember Jacket as an amazing woman who never forgot where she came from.
“The time is always right to do what’s right.” Give Back to Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Every Day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s own words remind us of the importance of leadership, hope and service. And at AARP, we believe your experience, skills and passion have the power to inspire others to make a difference. We encourage everyone to continue his legacy by lending a helping hand in your community. And we can help. Join us in making a difference, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and every day.
Go to createthegood.AARP.org to find ways you can volunteer in your community. Please serve your community and others safely by following all CDC COVID-19 guidelines and federal, state and local regulations.