King didn’t dream this
What in the “I Didn’t Dream This” world is going on in Boston, MA? The city recently unveiled a new bronze sculpture commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Maybe I’m not a true art connoisseur, but I need someone to help me understand how this sculpture, titled “The Embrace,” was ever given the green light. I mean, there are levels to this thing. Someone had to pay the $10 MILLION it cost; Someone had to sign off on the sketches; Who stood around and said, “Yeaaaah, this is nicccceeee”???
I’m not alone in my assessment. Backlash ensued soon after the monument meant to honor King and his wife, Coretta Scott King‘s, legacy was unveiled. The 20-foot tall, 40-foot wide monument was unveiled in the spot where King gave a speech on April 23, 1965, to a crowd of 22,000. The statue was inspired by a photograph of King and Scott which captured them hugging after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The art piece, designed by Brooklyn-based conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas, only features the couple’s arms during the embrace and not their heads, which has sparked criticism and mockery online. Some people described it as hideous or disrespectful while others posted memes and said it resembled a sex act. I’m going to agree with the latter. It’s sad that Dr. King’s memory has been regulated to joke status. This is an epic fail.
Jail isn’t supposed to be nice, but it’s not supposed to be a death chamber either. Family members and community activists are among those demanding an investigation into the Harris County Jail in the wake of 29 deaths there in just over a year. Two people have reportedly already died at the jail in 2023. Last year, 27 died there — the highest number in almost two decades — amid concerns of unsafe circumstances at the facility, which has suffered from overcrowding,
a lack of personnel, and charges of abuse and neglect. The Jailhouse Justice Coalition, a neighborhood advocacy group, held a vigil recently, calling for Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg to launch a special investigation into the deaths. The group also wants body cameras for jail staff, an end to the practice of sending inmates to other correctional facilities, and the dismissal of charges in cases older than nine months. The blame game has begun but this one warrants some more answers as to what’s really going on?
If you never heard of Ms. Holla, you missed a treat. The woman who delighted internet users with her enchanting personality and hilarious viral videos, has passed away at age 97. Social media users responded with love and prayers for the family after hearing about the passing of the beloved internet star who spent part of her life working as a special education teacher.
Ms. Holla (also known as Grandma Holla), whose real name is Helen Davis, rose to fame with her blunt commentary (she reminded me of my own grandmother-curse words and all). The viral sensation commented on various topics, including celebrity news, relationships and advice for young people. In one of her final videos, the TikTok star showed off her famous smile and wished her fans a Happy New Year. Google her and prepare to be entertained. And please ignore her family drama online as they beg for contributions to their GoFundMe account. Sigh....
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By Aswad Walker
Te community spoke and the HISD board listened. Tiffany Guillory will remain the principal of Jack Yates High School afer HISD’s board recently voted (63) against fring the embattled leader of the historic Tird Ward school.
This vote came as a surprise to some, as Guillory was “relieved of her duties” last December for reasons that have still not been made known to the general public. As a result of this lack of public reasons given for Guillory being temporarily removed, some have speculated Guillory’s removal was based on Yates’ college and career readiness numbers being low.
Others, however, including Tird Ward residents and Yates advocates, surmised the worst—the purposeful removal of Yates’s leadership to clear the way for the school’s closure.
Though not confirmed, that theory could be heard in some of the public comments during HISD’s board meeting.
And at some point, this board has to understand that Yates will never be what it used to be and what it should be unless you have stable leadership... This community stands behind her. The graduates stand behind her. The students stand behind her.”
“It’s an attack on Black education,” said activist and Yates alum, Gerry Monroe. “Most of our Black high schools and middle schools are being quietly attacked. Our principals are being removed strategically and it’s making the schools unstable, and setting them up basically to be taken over by TEA.”
Monroe said superintendent, Millard House II, believes that HISD will lose the TEA lawsuit and believes Guillory is being ofered up as a “sacrifcial lamb.”
Monroe, like many other Yates advocates, sees the move to terminate Guillory as unfair on multiple levels, especially with regards to race.
“Tifany Guillory has done everything that she’s supposed to do. She didn’t violate policy. She didn’t touch a kid. She didn’t mess with money. Nothing. Tey needed Guillory out of there. Here’s the question: Nick Ozuna, the Bellaire baseball coach, has been sitting in the warehouse for nine months. How you fast-track (Guillory’s termination) in less than three weeks?” asked Monroe.
Nationally revered journalist Roland Martin, a Yates alum (C/O 87), flew in from Washington DC specifically to address the board in defense
of Guillory.
“I’ve met with the last four superintendents dealing with what’s happening at Yates, and finally, we’ve had stable leadership at Jack Yates,” said Martin. “I go back to 2009 dealing with these various superintendents. Te reason I gave a $25,000 scholarship (to Yates) was because fnally, we have a leader who is putting the necessary things into place to improve Jack Yates.”
Martin, who has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the halls of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists, shared with the board that he has put his money where his mouth is regarding supporting Yates.
“I was going to have an event here in Houston celebrating that (his most recent hall of fame inductions), and I called (Guillory) and said I want to have it at Yates because I wanted those students to understand that you can go from Jack Yates to being one of the top journalists in the country. And at that event, I planned to announce a $50,000 (gif) to the School of Communications. But if this board chooses to fre Tifany Guillory, I will pull every dollar I have given,” said Martin.
And by meeting’s end, the votes stood behind Guillory, as well, with board members voting 6-3 against terminating Guillory. No word yet on when Guillory will return to campus.
The decision for the potential takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is back on the table.
Te state’s highest court overruled an appellate court’s decision that blocked TEA from taking over the district. State education ofcials say the district’s elected school board mismanagement, its inability to appropriately govern, and low academic performances at one of its high schools are reasons for this action.
Te attempt to seize control of the HISD school board began in 2019 when the TEA responded to allegations of misconduct by trustees and years of poor academic performances at Phillis Wheatley High School.
In 2015, state lawmakers passed a measure, HB 1842, that states if a public school fails state standards for five or more years, the Education Commissioner must either close the school or replace the district’s entire school board with outside managers.
A few changes were made while the takeover was stalled. All but two elected HISD board members departed, the board hired a new superintendent, Trustee Judith Cruz was elected the same week that the takeover push was announced in 2019, and Wheatley High School received a passing grade from the agency.
HISD sued in 2020 and was granted a temporary injunction by the Travis County District, but TEA took the case to the state’s supreme court, where it ultimately decided to side with the agency due to a new law passed by Texas Legislature in 2021 called Senate Bill 136 which TEA lawyers argued gave them the authority to move forward with the takeover.
“As Superintendent for the last 18 months, my team has been laser-focused on giving each one of our students the academic experience they deserve,” HISD Superintendent Millard House II said in a statement released on Jan. 13. “Guided by community input, the district developed and is executing its fve-year strategic plan. Tere is still much more work to be done, but we are excited about the progress we have made as a district and are looking forward to the work ahead.”
TEA has yet to comment publicly on the decision.
Houston U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced a bill to broaden the definition of hate crimes, with the goal of preventing and prosecuting crimes motivated by white supremacy and conspiracy to commit such crimes.
House Resolution 61, which would amend Title 18 of the United States Code, says: “A person commits a white supremacy inspired hate crime when white supremacist ideology has motivated the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of actions that constituted a crime or were undertaken in furtherance of activity that, if efectuated, would have constituted a crime.”
With respect to any information or evidence obtained by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of any unlawful action specifed in Jackson Lee’s bill, the DOJ shall have the authority to conduct operations and activities pursuant to such crimes.
Te DOJ would also be authorized to conduct investigations, intervene and take any other measures it deems necessary and appropriate to prevent, mitigate, or stop any potentially violent action. Te DOJ’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program would keep track of white supremacist-inspired hate crimes and other related actions, and department ofcials would have the authority
to prosecute those responsible for them.
Jackson Lee requested that the DOJ report its fndings annually to the relevant Congressional committees. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, claimed the legislation “makes a mockery of the First Amendment.” While Boebert, a right-wing leader, misrepresented the legislation afer reading a misleading news article, Jackson Lee schooled her on Twitter.
“First of all, it took me about 32 seconds of reading the article you cited to understand that none of you know what you are talking about,” Jackson Lee said. To be convicted of a hate crime in some jurisdictions, “H.R. 61 simply deals with adding white supremacy to a list of reasons,” the Texas Democrat explained.
“So, when the article states that ‘only white people can be charged with’ this crime, that’s fagrantly false,’ Jackson Lee said. “Your
argument assumes that only white people can hold white supremacist views and that only certain groups of people can perpetrate violence motivated by white supremacy.
“I would hope now that your argument would not shif to ‘why is white supremacy being added to this law?’ Tat would be egregious. “Yes, white supremacy should be added to this law. Why? Because as [FBI Director Christopher] Wray testifed, it’s a major domestic terrorist threat.”
Te family of Tyre Nichols is continuing their quest for answers afer the death of Nichols following a confrontation with police ofcers during a trafc stop.
A service for Nichols, 29, was recently held in Memphis. Before that, residents had gathered for protests at the National Civil Rights Museum and in front of a police station.
“I am a man! Tyre was a man!” people chanted outside the museum amid a large line to get into the facility on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Family members called for the release of body camera recordings and for the ofcers to be fred and charged.
“It’s just a nightmare,” said Nichols’ sister Keyana Dixson. “I just want justice for my brother. Please.”
The death has also gained the attention of civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who said in a statement that he is representing Nichols’ family.
Relatives have accused police of beating him and causing him to have a heart attack. Authorities said Nichols, who was Black, experienced
a medical emergency.
Nichols was arrested Jan. 7 afer officers stopped him for reckless driving, police said. Tere was a confrontation as ofcers approached the driver, and he ran before he was confronted again by the pursuing ofcers, who arrested him, authorities said. He complained of shortness of breath and was hospitalized. Ofcials said a cause of death has not yet been determined.
Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis
said that the department was serving notice to the ofcers involved concerning policy violations.
“Afer reviewing various sources of information involving this incident, I have found that it is necessary to take immediate and appropriation action,” Davis said in a statement.
Te statement did not indicate how many ofcers were involved but the bureau is conducting a use-of-force investigation.
Relatives told news outlets that the officers who pulled over Nichols were in an unmarked vehicle and that he experienced cardiac arrest
and kidney failure because of a beating by ofcers. Memphis police referred questions to the state bureau, which said it was still investigating.
Community forums regarding the redistricting of the Houston Community College System will be held in each Trustee District at the following locations and times:
• Monday, January 9, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Southwest College – West Loop Campus, 5601 West Loop South, Room C108, Houston, Texas 77081 (District 5)
• Tuesday, January 10, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Northeast College - North Forest Campus, 6010 Little York Road, Houston, Texas 77016 (District 2)
• Tursday, January 12, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Central College – Dr. William W. Harmon Building, 1300 Holman Street, Room 100, Houston, Texas 77004 (District 3)
• Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Emancipation Cultural Center, 3018 Emancipation Avenue, Houston, Texas 77004 (District 4)
• Tursday, January 19, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Northeast College –Northline Campus, 8001 Fulton Street, Houston, Texas 77022 (District 1)
Texas is one of 10 states that has a Confederate memorial state holiday, and sometimes it also lands on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Now, Houston area Rep. Jarvis Johnson wants to pass a bill to get rid of the holiday altogether. Confederate Heroes’ Day is not a well-known holiday, but it’s been on the state books since 1973. It’s on Jan. 19, Confederate General Robert E Lee’s birthday, ofen falling on MLK Day, the third Monday in January. It was established to honor the more than a quarter million Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. Tis is the third time, Johnson of Harris County has fled HB 51 to abolish the state holiday and says he’s certain that this legislative session he will get the bill passed.
“I think it’s high time that we embrace that there may have been an ugly past in this state – that there have been things in this state, in this country that have harmed and hurt a lot of people, but at no point should we be sympathizers with them. To say that they did something noble and honorable when they actually were very vile to people of color,” Rep. Johnson says, calling the day divisive. He adds some may defend it in the name of heritage, but they are embracing “racism and segregation.”
For the frst time since 2018, the Houston Housing Authority’s afordable housing program waitlist is accepting applications. The HHA’s Public Housing program provides rental apartments for eligible low-moderate-income individuals, families, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Tere are a variety of housing options available, including a range of unit sizes and building types, such as single-story, mid-rise, and senior high-rise apartments, according to the HHA. You can apply online at https://housingforhouston.com/ residents/public-housing/public-housing-waitlist/ or go in person to their ofce for a paper application.
2023
Te Houston Independent School District Board of Education has elected new ofcers for 2023, selecting District III Trustee Dani Hernandez as Board President. Outgoing Board President Judith Cruz transferred the gavel to Hernandez, signifying the change in ofce. Remaining ofcers elected for 2023 are: First Vice President Myrna Guidry, Second Vice President Bridget Wade, Secretary Kendall Baker, and Assistant Secretary Kathy Blueford-Daniels.
•Monday, January 23, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Northwest College – West Houston Institute, 2811 Hayes Rd, Room 194, Houston, Texas 77082 (District 6)
• Monday, January 30, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Southwest College – Missouri City Campus, Building Lobby, 1600 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas 77489 (District 7)
• Tuesday, January 31, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Southeast College – Fraga Campus, 301 North Drennan Street, Houston, Texas 77003 (District 8)
• Tursday, February 2, 2023, 6:30 p.m. at Central College – South Campus, Willie Lee Gay Hall Building, 1990 Airport Blvd., Room 100, Houston, Texas 77051 (District 9)
A formal public hearing will be held at the following location and time:
• Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Houston Community College System Administration Building, Second Floor Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas 77002
Te community forums and public hearing are intended to gain public input into the process of redrawing the single-member district boundary lines for the Houston Community College System Trustee Districts as a result of the 2020 Census. Public comment is welcomed and solicited. Current single member district maps, proposed redistricting maps, and 2020 census data will be available at the meetings, and are available now on HCC’s website (https://www.hccs. edu/about-hcc/board-of-trustees/hcc-redistricting-information/).
Prairie View A&M University welcomes Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson as its 20222023 Activist-in-Residence. Henderson, a long-time community organizer and the frst Black woman to serve as co-executive director of the Highlander Research and Education Center (a social justice leadership training school and cultural center in Tennessee), brings a unique perspective on the needs of rural Black communities. She’s earned a reputation as a highly respected thought leader and changemaker. As a proud, working-class Afrilachian (Black Appalachian) woman born and raised in the south, she’s an avid opponent of mountaintop removal mining and environmental racism in central and southern Appalachia.
Te forums and public hearing will be live streamed. Please visit HCC’s Redistricting Page at www.hccs.edu for the link to the live streams. Sign language and language translation services will be available at each meeting. If you require translation services in a language other than Spanish, please register at hcc.redistricting@hccs. edu. For additional information, please call HCC Board Services at 713.718.8398; email: hcc.redistricting@hccs.edu or visit HCC’s website (https://www.hccs.edu/about-hcc/board-of-trustees/hcc-redistrictinginformation/community-events/)
Hustle culture has been an essential part of being Black in America. It’s not unusual to see Black people work multiple jobs to survive, as they fight an uphill battle for access to the middle class. The grind might seem like it eventually pays dividends but research shows it can have an adverse effect on mental health.
Hustle culture is the idea that in order to achieve success, one must continuously prioritize work. The internet era has glamorized the lifestyle, and is often used by social media influencers to feed into the necessity of grinding tirelessly now to reap the benefits later. Countless Black people are overworked and underpaid, and over time the hustling can cause burnout.
Bankrate reports that 45% [an estimated 70 million people] of working Americans report having a side hustle along with a fulltime job. Among millennials, that statistic rises to 50%. Reasons include needing to make more money to make ends meet or using the extra money for savings or additional disposable income.
In 2019, the World Health Organization chartered workplace burnout as an occupational phenomenon, describing burnout as a “syndrome” resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed.
Research conducted in 2018 by Current Cardiology reported that people who worked more than 50 hours per week have increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. It also can cause high blood pressure due to excessive psychological activation and stress.
That is why the viral trend “quiet quitting” or “acting your wage”(doing only what
you are paid to do and nothing extra) is what some younger workers are doing today to address their mental health concerns.
More and more, younger workers are putting self-care first and declining additional responsibilities outside their pay grade.
Employees of all ages regularly prioritize productivity, but more and more younger workers are asking themselves when is it absolutely necessary to prioritize physical and mental health without jeopardizing the means by which an individual makes a living?
Former First Lady Michelle Obama once said that Black people had to “work twice as hard to get half as far.” Black people continue to face several financial and economic challenges due to the country’s history of systemic racism and discrimination.
The term has transformed as years pass and technology advances. A passage from Malcolm X’s 1965 autobiography reflects on this thinking: “Everyone in Harlem needed some kind of hustle to survive, or anything that could help the poor Black man make ends meet whether it be selling drugs or illegal gambling.”
Fast-forward to the early years of hip-hop (late ‘70s) all the way up to present day, and
this same “hustle mentality” still exists.
Influential artists like Jay-Z, Rick Ross and Ace Hood have all produced anthems that talk about hustling to survive and be successful in a system built against Black people. These concepts are seen in corporate America and in the gig economy. Some people are working longer, taking on more tasks and accepting multiple jobs that pay low wages which force individuals to take on side gigs to survive.
Ja’Vonnie Partlow is an Austin HR professional and entrepreneur. Originally from Boston, she said her journey to becoming a six-figure earner was both rewarding and challenging.
Growing up in extreme poverty meant that she had to work harder for a comfortable lifestyle. Her efforts ultimately
led to burnout.
“With hustle culture I always felt like I wasn’t doing enough with just one stream of income,” Partlow said. “I would see people making money and having a bunch of businesses and it became overwhelming. I felt guilt,” she said. “I started venturing into different things, got a second job, traded stocks. It got overwhelming. I told myself that I had to focus less on hustling and more on moving effectively and efficiently.”
She recalled a period during the COVID-19 pandemic when she experienced daily bouts of anxiety working a job that she outgrew professionally.
“I remember saying out loud how much I hated what I do. I was a high performer, but I started to avoid doing easy tasks because I was so burnned out. I felt stuck,” Partlow said. “There were hiring freezes everywhere and I
hadn’t tried to learn any new skills. Not only was I stagnant, but I wasn’t qualified for doing anything but the job I was doing. I developed insomnia, gained weight, stopped exercising and didn’t have the tools to get through it.”
Research has shown that increased stress levels can lead to reduced professional productivity. Your body is wired to react to stress. When your body faces demands each day, it can treat such minor hassles as threats.
Dr. Jessica Jackson, PhD, a Houston licensed psychologist, said burnout can lead to other health complications.
“There is a hidden curriculum in the workplace for first gen Black [people]. There
is this expectation that we should know how to navigate these spaces when we are the first ones to uplift our families out of financial struggles,” she said. “Feeling hyper-vigilant, low mood, hypertension and headaches slowly manifest psychologically too. Your body is in a constant fight, flight or freeze mode.”
need to be more strategic and intentional with their purpose in order to improve their quality of life.
“It comes down to people sacrificing their value to chase money and opportunity. Hustling isn’t always connected with enjoyment,” she said. “When you focus on the things you love and the skills you do well, it doesn’t feel like grunt work. That is why I can’t stay in spaces where I’m overworked and not progressing. I do understand some don’t have a choice,” she said.
Jessica Jackson, Ph.D. Licensed PsychologistAs a millennial, Partlow is happy that many young Black professionals are in tune with prioritizing their self-care. With “quiet quitting” being a viral trend in corporate America, Black professionals
Dr. Bettina M. Beech, a clinical professor of population health at the University of Houston, said that young people should bridge the gap of understanding between how they cope with mental health challenges versus older generations.
“Young people are bold with setting
boundaries while my generation had to keep pushing through the burnout; however, the world isn’t going to change as quickly as maybe their generation has established,” said Beech.
“We don’t want young people to lose out on great opportunities that could help them advance in their careers. People will always have to unlearn and relearn. What is meaningful work for you? What does a good quality of life look like? Decide what those are and pursue them.”
Jackson said experiencing burnout doesn’t need to be dealt with alone.
“Get connected with a therapist. Find someone to help you develop a framework to get you focused and back on track,” she said. “Also, learn to check in with yourself and don’t ignore the signs. It’s a mind/body connection. Take a few minutes to breathe and check in with what’s going on with your body. Give yourself compassion.”
By Aswad Walker
Te Edison Arts Foundation in partnership with Performing Arts Houston recently hosted the legendary and world-renowned Dance Teatre of Harlem (DTH), along with their artistic director, Ms. Virginia Johnson, to two Missouri City institutions: Willowridge High School and Fort Bend Academy of Arts and Dance.
Charity Carter, founder and executive director of Edison Arts Foundation, was beyond excited about ofering these opportunities to local young people.
“Edison Arts Foundation advocates for and creates opportunities for our youth to witness Black excellence and train with acclaimed organizations like Dance Teatre of Harlem,” said Carter. “Seeing yourself refected in Black excellence is priceless.”
According to Carter, cultural renaissances have historically been born from the arts and creative ingenuity, the perfect avenues to communicate thousands of ideas without ever uttering a word.
“What if we can show them more? What if we can support historically impactful and highly skilled arts organizations like Dance Teatre of Harlem to meet our youth and ofer unforgettable experiences? In truth we ask ourselves, why not,” added Carter.
And “why not,” indeed.
Dance Teatre of Harlem, an American
professional ballet company based in Harlem, New York, was founded in 1969 under the directorship of Arthur Mitchell. DTH is the frst Black classical ballet company and the frst major ballet company to prioritize Black dancers. Johnson is a founding member and former principal dancer of the company.
“It was not about making a ‘Black ballet company,” said Johnson about the company’s founding. “It was to make people aware of the fact that this beautiful art form actually belongs to and can be done by anyone. Arthur Mitchell created this space for a lot of people who had been told, ‘You can’t do this,’ to give
them a chance to do what they dreamed of doing.”
Dance Theatre of Harlem continues to produce high-quality works and encourages its dancers to be activists and role models to the communities in which they travel. Tis was accomplished at the two free educational dance masterclass workshops sponsored by Edison Arts Foundation and Performing Arts Houston.
Te frst was held at Willowridge (16301 Chimney Rock Rd., Houston, TX 77053) and was led by DTH instructors Delaney Washington and Kamala Saara, with Edison Arts
Foundation instructor Lauren Burke lending her expertise.
When asked why Carter chose Willowridge to host the DTH, she stressed the power and importance of representation.
“Understanding that representation matters, we have reached out to Willowridge High School because we feel they will most beneft from this opportunity. Willowridge is minutes away from our address. Te school’s demographic is primarily Black and Brown students in the lower-middle class income region with more than 80% of students in the Free Lunch Program.”
Carter agrees with the assessment of Project Zero of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, that there are multiple intelligences (musical, bodily-kinesthetic, visual-spatial, linguistic, and others) and fashioned the Edison Arts Foundation to engage its students in ways that highlight their unique strengths and intelligences. Tus, hosting the DTH made perfect sense to her and PAH, an organization that exists to connect audiences with exceptional artists through diverse performances and learning experiences.
Te second masterclass took place at Fort Bend Academy of Arts and Dance (1959 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX 77489), led by DTH instructor Lindsay Donnell and Burke of the Edison Arts Foundation.
United has now opened in Houston its largest Inflight Training Center, a 56,000 sq. ft. facility that includes new classrooms, additional cabin and door trainers and a state-of-the-art aquatic center that features a 125,000-gallon pool and mock fuselage to practice “ditching,” the safe evacuation of the plane in the unlikely event of a water landing.
But the even bigger news is this $32 million expansion project not only more than doubles the available training space, it supports the airline’s plan to hire and train 15,000 people in 2023, including 4,000 flight attendants.
And according to Alexis Bushnell, an IAHbased flight attendant, United is the place to be.
“United is an expanding company, and we value bringing in people from all different cultures, backgrounds and different facets of life,” said Bushnell, who has been with United for almost a year. “Not only do we commute them from one place to the next, but we bring them in and make them family. So, I’d say, working here, we’re truly united.”
During the huge grand opening, with United leaders from across the country present, there was the expected hyper-positive company talk. But for Bushnell, the “rah-rah” talk about United being “family” is very real. And personal.
“My cousin, she works here at the Inflight Training Center. And if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have known about this amazing opportunity to not only experience new people, but experience new cultures, new countries, and even in talent acquisition,” shared Bushnell, who added that she has two additional cousins who are now United employees.
“And we are all women of color—young women of color. So, that’s the best representation I can give you is home. I’m home.”
And she’s not the only one.
Nathan Pickney, an instructor evaluator specialist at the new facility, is literally Houston-born and raised. And fired up about what
the new space offers.
“We have state-of-the-art door trainers. We have a state-of-the-art service trainer where we can really hone in customer service with our new hire trainees, as well as the aquatic center where we didn’t have that for a while, when now they can participate in what’s known as a ditching that in the unlikely event that an aircraft would have to emergency evacuate in the water, our flight attendants are trained to know how to get all of the customers off of the aircraft,” he said.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner joined United CEO Scott Kirby at a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event to officially open the new training center.
“This Global Inflight Training Center is the largest of the seven that (United) has, and that bodes well for the city of Houston,” said Turner, who noted United’s economic impact on the city.
“If not the largest, it’s very close to the largest employer that we have in the city. But in an indirect sense, in terms of the benefits of the city, United supports probably about another 56,000 employees locally. So, the economic impact of United is more than a billion dollars; about $1.2 billion.”
Speaking on United’s positive earnings numbers, Kirby talked about additional impacts.
“What I’ve come to realize recently is that the good numbers really aren’t the story as much as the fact is that what United has done, is (we’re) really the only airline in the world that recognized what the recovery was going to look like, and therefore, used the pandemic to invest in the future,” said Kirby. “This state-of-the-art training center is one shining example of that, as we’re training over 4,000 flight attendants a year through this academy. Just here in Houston, we used the pandemic to build a $360 million baggage facility and built a new maintenance facility, maintenance hanger with all the jobs that go along with that.”
University of Houston senior guard Marcus
scored a career-high 31 points during the No. 1-ranked Cougars’ 83-77 win over South Florida.
Former Texans star linebacker and current San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has had a busy week interviewing for head coaching jobs while preparing the 49ers for a playoff game. He was scheduled to meet with the Texans, Colts, Broncos and Cardinals about their openings.
Rockets players penalized for fight Rockets guard Jalen Green and forward Jae’Sean Tate were both suspended for one game without pay for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation that took place when the Rockets faced the Sacramento Kings. Rockets forward Tari Eason and guard Garrison Mathews were both fined for their parts in the altercation with Kings guard Malik Monk. Mathews was fined $35,000, Eason was fined $30,000 and Monk was fined $25,000.
Former Major League player and bestSelling author C.J. Stewart will be the keynote speaker during the Bo Porter Academy Iron Sharpening Iron Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 20 from 6:45 a.m.-8:15 a.m. The breakfast will take place at the Bo Porter Academy at 15118 Highway 6 in Rosharon. The cost to attend is $30.
You won’t ever hear Prairie View A&M senior guard Diana Rosenthal admit it but there are nights when opposing teams can’t hold her.
She locks in and is relentless on the basketball court, driving to the basket, pulling up on the perimeter and knocking down shots from mid-range – doing whatever it takes to lead the Lady Panthers to victory. On those nights, it’s like Rosenthal can’t be stopped.
“I try to stay away from the arrogant thing, however, I do feel like I am a hooper and I hold my ground,” Rosenthal said recently to The Defender. “I try my best to be a threat in all possible aspects. I won’t say that nobody can hold me, but I’m a hooper. I am one of those streetball hoopers that’s in the hood. I’m that.”
She honed her skills playing on the rough courts with the guys in St. Petersburg, Fla. Nothing was given. Everything was earned.
Life on the concrete courts wasn’t all that much different than everyday life for Rosenthal, whose father, Charles Edward Rosenthal, raised Diana and her brother by himself. There was a lot of love in the household. There wasn’t a lot of money.
“My dad is my everything, my brother is, too,” she said. “They are pretty much all I’ve got. We’ve been on some hard times.”
But those times are what have shaped Rosenthal and made her the unquestioned leader of the Panthers, who sit in first place in the SWAC.
Rosenthal didn’t have the benefit of playing AAU basketball with other girls her age or going home to be a normal teenager while attending Lakewood High School in St. Pete. As soon as basketball practice ended at 5 p.m., most days she headed straight to her full-time job at McDonald’s where she worked from 6 until 11.
“Then on those days I did not work, I was on the court,” Rosenthal said. “When I got out of practice, I was going to the outside court because I couldn’t afford the inside courts. So I had to hoop on those until the lights went off around 11:30.”
Rosenthal has carried that work ethic to PVAMU where she has grown from a wideeyed freshman four years ago to the Panthers’ star and leader. She leads the SWAC’s top-scoring team in scoring, averaging 16.6 points, which is fourth in the conference.
Thanks to Rosenthal’s leadership and a talented cast around her which includes TaMiracle Taylor, Nyam Thornton, Destiny Jenkins and Gerlyn Smith, the Lady Panthers (8-9 overall, 5-1 SWAC) are off to a surprising start in conference play.
Rosenthal, a preseason All-SWAC FirstTeam player, was recently named SWAC Impact Player of the Week after averaging 23 points and 6.5 rebounds in games against Grambling State and Southern.
But as good as things are going now, Rosenthal admits that it was a process for her to get to this point, especially from a leadership standpoint. She had to learn the subtle differences in how she talked to people on the courts at home versus how to talk to her current teammates so that what she is saying is being received in the right way.
“Being okay with taking criticism from your teammates, from coaches, from outside sources and from your family,” said Rosenthal, who also is averaging 2.2 steals,
2.1 three-pointers and shooting 39% from the field – all top five stats in the SWAC. “Be okay with taking criticism. It’s okay for people to tell you, `Hey, I don’t like how you talk to me. Maybe you can tone it down a little bit.’ Just stuff like that. There are learning lessons.”
Those lessons learned have resulted in better success on the basketball court for the Panthers this season. PVAMU was picked to finish seventh in the SWAC Preseason Poll, but currently sits alone in first place and that shows the Panthers are taking the respect that Rosenthal feels they have been denied for so long.
“I think the thing for me is it’s senior year so it’s more so redemption for me,” she said. “I feel like PV does not get the recognition that we deserve. We have talented women’s basketball players and I’m willing to put Prairie View on the map, St. Petersburg on the map and especially the name Rosenthal on the map. I feel like we have a lot of talent and we don’t get a lot of recognition.”
Jarvis Christian College wrestler Samyra Tomas, a recent graduate of Kashmere High School, has hit the ground running in her freshman year. Afer rising up in the 191-pound classifcation rankings this season, Tomas fnished her frst year ranked No. 13.
Trough hard work and determination, Tomas has worked of nearly 30 pounds in her of-season and has been grinding non-stop ever since.
Te Defender spoke with Tomas over the Christmas break about her journey through her freshman year, keys to success, the road to the Olympics, advice to others and more.
“Doing all the other sports in high school built me up to this moment where when it came to wrestling it just came naturally. And wrestling has brought a side out of me that wants to be and is this unapologetic dog that is willing to go a mile to be great.”
“Once I noticed that basketball was more love and hate and wrestling was all love, I knew that wrestling was where I can compete and commit to. And ever since that point, it has been nothing but a blessing…”
“Consistency, self-motivation, God and determination. Just believe in yourself. Look at it like ‘Hey there is a challenge out there, just go for it.’”
“Wake up and...pray to God for waking me up another day. I do an hour or two of morning workouts, I go to about two or three classes before practice, and on certain days I will work out again for about a mile or two. And afer that I do my homework or my study.”
“I have to remind myself ‘Samyra get up! You are literally in college, by yourself and no one is going to hold your hand or tell you to do this or take baby steps with you. You need to start walking on your own.’”
“What I did was start my freshman year writing down realistic goals that only I could do every day and accomplish. Try to give yourself credit even for the little things. I try to pat myself on the back for the little things because I realized in high school I was kind of hard on myself with my weight. And it was unnecessary…When it gets hard and you are fghting with yourself just remember it is all a mental game that is built to both break you and make you.”
Many who grew up in the ‘80s and 90s can agree that the iconic sitcom “A Diferent World” (1987-1993) has had a lasting impact on Black culture, youth and HBCUs. It was one of the frst shows on NBC to address issues such as racism, HIV, apartheid, colorism and date rape.
Tirty-six years later, the show is still relevant and ahead of its time. Charnele Brown, the actress who is best known for her role as Kimberly Reese on the sitcom, couldn’t have imagined it having such a wide reach with a mainstream audience.
Brown, who is based in Houston, continues to pass the torch to a new generation of entertainers in a city she describes as the next entertainment hub through the Charnele Brown Acting School. Te school was established in 2000 and implemented in partnership with the Worksource and Jack Yates High School. It ofers a variety of classes and workshops from beginner courses to business classes.
Te Defender spoke with the multi-talented actress to talk about her experience in the industry and what she’s been up to in Houston.
DEFENDER: Whendidyoufrst discoveryourloveforacting?CHARNELE BROWN: I was in second grade, and we used to go to the pond every Friday to see the ducks. I was actually watching “Lassie” one time and one day [the dog who saved lives] didn’t come back [in the episode] and I started to cry. I said “Oh my God” I can make myself cry by thinking about something sad. I didn’t know that was a technique back in the day. So, what I did was, the class went back to the pond, I thought about Lassie and started crying.
My teacher Ms. White asked me what was wrong. I didn’t think it through. I said my brother died in the pond. Mind you I have no brothers. I have one sister, and they were all distraught. I said, “I got them.” Tey gave
me candy, and called my mom. Tat’s how convincing I was. Meanwhile, I’m coming home…got the spanking of my life. I had to go back and apologize to the entire class for lying. My parents knew at that time either I was going to be a pathological liar or an actress, and they chose the latter. Tat’s how it started.
aworkingactor?
BROWN: I always said acting was my passion. [God] gives us an assignment. I found out early on what I wanted to do. My parents were very supportive and put me in everything. Te [State University of New York at New Paltz] is predominately white, and so being in the theater arts department, we had to fght because they kept saying there was nothing for us because they were doing white pieces.
Tis young lady, her name was Akoua, she decided with the rest of us to create the ensemble theater there. We created it for us to perform. I was so determined. I’m aggressive when it comes to my passion. Other than that, we would have been doing stage craf, like behind the scenes. We wanted to learn and grow like everyone else.
DEFENDER: The arts and entertainment industry is tough, including rejection. What challenges did you experience?
BROWN: Rejection is my middle name. I think because of my upbringing, my parents always taught me that I was great [but] that there is always someone better than you. I had rejection but thought, “It’s your loss that you didn’t take me.” What’s for you [will never miss you]. I teach that to my actors. It’s not that you are not great, it’s just not the part for you. It taught me to have thick skin. It’s not a kind industry.
DEFENDER: Howdidyougettherole ofKim Reese on “ADiferentWorld?”
BROWN: I’m a theater baby. I knew nothing about TV and didn’t care. So, when I got to “Sarafina!” it was amazing. I had the best time of my life on Broadway. We were on our way to Africa to tour for two years. And then God said “No.” “A Different World” came. I didn’t care because I was going to Africa. And lo and behold the next thing I know I’m, flying for my screen test. Then I got [the role]. There were so many actors that were great and better than me.
DEFENDER: What is one of the greatest lessonsyou’ve learned about acting?
BROWN: Be authentic. Be who you are. If they don’t love you for who you are, that’s their loss. A lot of times we change our stripes and then you can’t get it back. I haven’t changed since I was 15. Tis is who I am. I’m quirky, I’m crazy, I’m clumsy and I’m going to remain those things. I don’t know who else to be.
DEFENDER: Whatfairdidyour crafintheaterbringtocommercial television?
BROWN: I brought no fair because I was a theater baby, so I knew nothing about cameras. Jasmine [Guy], I call her my princess, she took me aside and showed me how the camera worked. Tat’s how I got that fair. She saw me struggling, taught me the cameras and the rest is history.