FEATURE
BILLIONAIRE TILMAN FERTITTA LOOKING FOR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS FOR SERIES P11
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Volume 86 | Number 17
MARCH 2, 2017 |FREE
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NATIONAL TOM PEREZ ready to lead DNC
P3 FEATURE
PRINCESS JACKSON recognized by Steve Harvey
THIRD WARD
P10 FEATURE JAMES BROWN hosts new shows, ministers
The White Invasion
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Derrick Mitchell TSU Chair sued A lawsuit was filed against the Chairman of Texas Southern University alleging fraud and collusion in a real estate deal. The suit focuses on The Palm Apartments and TSU housing.
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Viola Davis is a triple threat
TOP EVENTS
She has a Tony, an Emmy, and now, an Oscar, making her the first Black woman to win all three top honors. Davis was among a number of Blacks recognized at this year’s Academy Awards. Muriel Funches, Janette Cosley, Sharon McCarter attend The Ensemble Theatre’s Heart of the Theater program.
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TSU Board Chairman hit with lawsuit Defender Exclusive
Derrick Mitchell, the chairman of the Texas Southern University Board of Regents, has been hit with a lawsuit alleging collusion (secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others) and fraud (wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain) in a real estate deal. Developer Baljit Gambhir alleges that Mitchell sold him The Palm Apartments complex near TSU, which included stateowned furniture as part of the purchase, and provided an agreement that the university would guarantee student tenants. Gambhir claims Mitchell knew that the agreement was in jeopardy of being terminated by TSU because it had not been properly vetted, yet failed to disclose. By press time, neither TSU nor Mitchell had provided a statement. Gambhir alleges that in 2010, Mitchell conspired with former TSU Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President Gloria Walker, who worked with Mitchell, when both were under contract with Houston Community College. The two entered into a “memoranDerrick Mitchell dum of agreement” regarding the complex owned by Mitchell, without following TSU’s contract procedures. The agreement, according to the lawsuit, stated that TSU would collect rent from the scholarship or financial aid packages of students who signed a lease at The Palm Apartments. “This agreement effectively designated The Palm Apartments as student housing for TSU. (It) virtually guaranteed 100% occupancy of the apartment complex as well as 100% collection rate on rent. It was a sweet deal for Mitchell,” the lawsuit states. When Walker left TSU in 2011, Gambhir claims Mitchell used his position as an attorney for TSU to keep the agreement in place. In 2012, Gambhir alleges Mitchell learned TSU would be building a new dorm. “Mitchell knew that the construction of this dormitory and
TSU’s need to fill the dormitory with TSU students further threatened continued use of The Palm Apartments as student housing. Mitchell figured that the sweet deal of having a steady stream of prepaid tenants supplied by and managed by TSU for The Palm Apartments was soon coming to an end. He decided to sell The Palm Apartments,” the lawsuit continued. Enter Gambhir, who says he paid $200,000 over fair market value because of the existence of the agreement. Gambhir brought the property, along with Mitchell’s company, 5020 Paige Properties, LLC in 2014, and within months discovered the agreement had been terminated “Gambhir was shocked,” the lawsuit states. In 2015, Mitchell was appointed to the Board of Regents for TSU and soon thereafter was elected board chair. Gambhir contacted Mitchell and asked him if he could exert any influence at TSU that would result in a continuation of the agreement. The lawsuit continues: “Mitchell told Gambhir that he could not help, but would be interested in buying the property back at a price much lower than what Gambhir paid to him. Mitchell attempted to capitalize his fraud upon Gambhir by re-purchasing the property for an amount far less than Gambhir had paid.” Gambhir refused the offer and in 2016, says he was told that as board chair, Mitchell had “directed that all housing contracts for students between TSU and outside entities be terminated at the end of this academic/fiscal year.” “Gambhir had lost a material part of the bargain he paid for in purchasing The Palm Apartments, and it was Mitchell who had given the final order to terminate the agreement,” the lawsuit stated. Gambhir added that Mitchell requested the return of TSU furniture that had been illegally moved from TSU premises into The Palm Apartments by Mitchell and Walker, and that the furniture and all other personal property on the premises were part of the sale. Gambhir refused to return the furniture and has since been contacted several times regarding an internal investigation at TSU regarding the furniture. Visit defendernetwork.com to see the lawsuit.
LAWSUIT CHRONOLOGY 2010 – Derrick Mitchell brought The Palm Apartments in 2010 and because of his previous relationship with Gloria Walker, TSU COO, they signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” agreement, which had not been approved by the TSU administration guaranteeing 100% student occupancy. 2012 - Mitchell continued his relationship with TSU as a lawyer and learned about TSU’s plans to build new dorms projected for completion in 2014. Seeing this as a threat, Mitchell decided to sell the Palm Apartments. March 2014 – Mitchell put the apartments up for sale. May 2014 – Baljit Gambhir purchased The Palm Apartments from Mitchell. At Mitchell’s suggestion Gambhir also purchased Mitchell’s company 5020 Paige Properties. October 2015 – Mitchell was appointed to the TSU Board of Regents and elected Chairman. January 2016 – Mitchell offered to buy back The Palm Apartments at a lower price. February 2016 - Mitchell directed that housing contracts be terminated with all outside entities, including The Palm Apartments. March 2016 – Gambhir receive a final letter of termination from TSU ending the relationship with The Palm Apartments. April 2016 – Mitchell asked Gambhir to return the TSU furniture that was a part of the original sale.
localbriefs THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE has ditched its longstanding position that Texas lawmakers purposefully discriminated against minority voters by passing the nation’s strictest voter identification law in 2011. The move came one day before a federal judge was scheduled to hear arguments on that high-stakes voting rights question, and it highlighted yet another instance in which President Donald Trump has dramatically departed from the path of his predecessor. Former President Obama’s Justice Department originally teamed up with civil rights groups against Texas throughout the long-winding legal battle over the ID law, known as Senate Bill 14. But lawyers for new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions told parties that they were dropping a claim that Texas lawmakers intentionally discriminated against Latino
and African-American voters…….CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN WAS AMONG THOSE opting out of attending President Donald Trumps’ recent address to the Joint Session of Congress. Green said his decision was based on the administrator’s decision to withdraw its longstanding claim that the Texas Voter ID law intentionally discriminated against minorities. “My action is more than a refusal to attend the joint session, it is my resistance and protestation to the normalization and legitimization of our President’s harmful behavior,” Green said. “It appears that the Obama Justice Department, which sought to prevent discrimination, has become the Trump Injustice Department which seeks to protect those who discriminate.”……..THE STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Student Heroes Award, which recognizes Texas public school students in prekindergarten through high school who voluntarily work to assist or benefit their fellow Texas students. Anyone may nominate a public school student for the award. Requirements include: The service/assistance or good deed must be voluntary and not part of any curriculum, graduation requirements, class, or community project; must benefit other students in Texas, either individually or collectively. The deadline for nominations is March 27. Nomination forms and program guidelines are available at http://tea.texas.gov/About_ TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Awards/Student_Heroes/ or for more information email heroes@tea.texas.gov.
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national
U.S.briefs THE NAACP BOARD OF DIRECTORS announced a resolution calling for an international economic boycott of the state of North Carolina in response to actions of an all-white legislative caucus. The caucus designed racially-discriminatory gerrymandered districts, enacted a monster voter suppression law, passed Senate Bill 4 stripping the incoming governor of power and passed House Bill 2, which is anti-transgender, antiworker and anti-access to the state court for employment discrimination.…..DYLANN ROOF DROVE TO ANOTHER BLACK CHURCH after killing nine Black parishioners in Charleston, S.C., a sign he intended to carry out more racially-motivated attacks, U.S. prosecutors said in newly unsealed court documents. Roof was sentenced to death in federal court in January after being found guilty of charges connected to the June 17, 2015, massacre at a Bible study meeting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Federal prosecutors said that after the mass shooting, Roof fled the church with his gun and drove about 20 miles to Branch AME Church in Summerville. Roof told FBI officials after his arrest that he was “worn out” by the Emanuel shooting and did not plan to commit more killings after he fled Charleston. Prosecutors did not discuss the second church during Roof’s trial……..THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE in D.C. has reached its 1 millionth visitor. The museum opened on Sept. 24, 2016, so it is an incredible milestone for a museum that has only been open for a little over five months……. FAMINE HAS BEEN DECLARED in South Sudan, the result of prolonged civil war and an entrenched economic crisis that has devastated the war-torn East African nation. 100,000 people are experiencing famine and there are fears that the famine will spread as an additional 1 million South Sudanese are on the brink of starvation.
VOLUME 86 • NUMBER 17 MARCH 2, 2017 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Digital Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Proofer Maia Shelby
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Jasemine Knowles Amber Vernon Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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Chicago police say requests for help went unanswered Defender News Services
Despite President Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of Chicago’s rising homicide rate, the city’s police department says multiple requests for federal assistance have gone unanswered so far. The city’s superintendent of police, Eddie Johnson, called out the White House and Department of Justice recently after Trump tweeted “Chicago needs help” in light of several fatal shootings. Johnson said violence in some Chicago neighborhoods was “unacceptable” but Chicago Superintendent of Police Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel Trump’s administration had yet to provide welcome help combating the city’s murder rate. support. “We’ve made requests to the White House and the Justice Department for them in the feds” if Chicago didn’t “fix the horrible ‘carto support our work – from increasing federal gun nage.’ ” The city’s mayor, Rahm Emanuel, respondprosecution to more FBI, DEA and ATF agents ed by saying he would welcome the help. to more funding for mentoring, job training and “Send more FBI, DEA, ATF agents,” Emanuel more,” Johnson said in a statement. “We are still said during a news conference. “We don’t have to waiting for the administration’s response to our talk about it anymore. Just send them.” request.” While crime continues to drop across most of Trump brought up Chicago again during his the country, 2016 was Chicago’s deadliest year in keynote address at the Conservative Political Action nearly two decades. The city’s murder rate is now Conference in Maryland, but failed to mention what higher than that of Los Angeles and New York comspecific federal resources he would make available bined. Police officials point to gang-related shootto the city’s police. ings and ease of access to illegal firearms as the Trump tweeted last month that he would “send main culprits behind Chicago’s homicide problem.
New Democratic leadership looks to future Defender News Services
The Democratic Party elected Tom Perez, a civil rights attorney and former labor secretary under President Barack Obama, to lead the party out of its lowest position in 75 years. Democrats lost 64 house seats in the 2010 midterms and Tom Perez have gone downhill since, losing governor’s mansions, the majority of state assemblies and the White House. Perez is the first Latino elected Democratic National Committee chair. While Perez’s campaign leadership abilities have yet to be tested, his political instincts are on point. After winning a close race for DNC leader,
he chose his closest competitor Keith Ellison (D-MN), an African-American Muslim and multiterm congressman, to become his deputy chair, a move some say may be the smartest thing Democrats have done in the last two campaign cycles Keith Ellison and a huge boost for African-Americans in the party. Ellison lost to Perez in a close 235 to 200 vote in the second round, and soon after Perez created the position of deputy Democratic Party chair and appointed Ellison to the spot. Perez said he and Ellison will fight voter suppression in the Midwest, continue gains in Arizona and Texas and pay more attention to the South.
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Stars will shine at Livestock Show & Rodeo The annual Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo runs March 7-26 at NRG-Park. Twenty-one acts will provide entertainment in the areas of soul/R&B, pop, Tejano and country music. Singer, songwriter and pianist Alicia Keys will be the featured performer during Black Heritage Day on Friday, March 10. Keys has won 15 Grammy Awards, beginning in 2001 when she won five Grammys, including Best New Artist, Best R&B Album (“Songs in a Minor) and Song of the Year (“Falling”). Her other hits include “If I Ain’t Got You,” “Superwoman,” “Empire State of Mind” and “Girl on Fire.” She has sold more than 30 million albums. As an activist and philanthropist, Keys is the co-founder of Keep a Child Alive, a nonprofit that partners with grassroots organizations to combat the impact of HIV on children in Africa and India. Keys is currently a judge on NBC’s music competition “The Voice.” Other performers include Fifth Harmony, a contemporary R&B vocal group formed in 2012 while competing on the second season of Fox’s “The X Factor.” The group, which began with five members, now features four: Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane and Lauren Jauregui. The group’s debut album, “Reflection,” included the singles “Bo$$,” “Sledgehammer” and “Worth It,” and reached gold status. Visit rodeohouston.com for more information.
Fifth Harmony
Concert line up Tuesday, March 7– Aaron Watson Wednesday, March 8 – Old Dominion Thursday, March 9 – Chris Stapleton Friday, March 10 – Alicia Keys Saturday, March 11 – Alan Jackson Sunday, March 12 – The Chainsmokers Monday, March 13 – Sam Hunt Tuesday, March 14 – Demi Lovato Wednesday, March 15 – Thomas Rhett Thursday, March 16 – Luke Bryan Friday, March 17 – Fifth Harmony
Saturday, March 18 – Willie Nelson Sunday, March 19 – Banda El Recodo & Siggno Monday, March 20 – Florida Georgia Line
Tuesday, March 21 – ZZ Top Wednesday, March 22 – Chris Young Thursday, March 23 – Blink 182 Friday, March 24 – Dierks Bentley Saturday, March 25 – Brad Paisley Sunday, March 26 – Zac Brown Band
Alicia Keys
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Oscars so Black
entertainment
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Record-breaking wins make history
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Defender News Services
hile the mix-up over Best Picture dominated the news after the recent 2017 Academy Awards, the night will go down in history because of a record number of wins by Black stars, and, ultimately by awarding the most diverse group of Oscar winners since the show began in 1929. History was not only made by the number of collective wins among stars of color but also by shattered records within many individual categories. Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney won for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Moonlight,” which also won for Best Picture (after the presenters initially erroneously gave the honor to “LaLa Land”). Viola Davis took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal in “Fences” becoming the first Black woman to win an Oscar, Tony and Emmy award for acting. Mahershela Ali became the first Black Muslim actor to win an Oscar when he took home the award for Best Supporting Actor for his stunning role in “Moonlight.” Director Ezra Edelman won alongside filmmaker Caroline Waterlow for Best Documentary Feature for “O.J.: Made in America.” Of course, it helps if you have diverse nominees. The Academy announced the most diverse lineup of Oscar nominees in January, including actors Denzel Washington and Dev Patel, actresses Ruth Negga, Naomie Harris and Octavia Spencer, cinematographer Bradford Young and director Raoul Peck. While the Oscars were less white this year, this doesn’t ― and shouldn’t mean ― that Hollywood is off the hook when it comes to issues of race and diversity. The 2017 Hollywood Diversity Report was recently released, and while it showed that Hollywood has gotten better, there is still a long way to go. The study found that people of color have made gains relative to their white counterparts in front-of-camera roles but lost ground in four areas that reflected mostly behind-the-camera roles. While success in the number of front-of-camera roles is important in regard to representation and visibility, having people of color hired for positions behind-the-camera is also
Mahershela Ali
Viola Davis
imperative and can help to determine the types of stories and experiences that are told through film in the first place. All of this is most visibly evident when viewers look beyond Black and white representation to note the glaring lack of inclusion when it comes to Asian, Arab, Native American and Latino stars at the awards show and in nominated films. Patel is only the third actor of Indian descent to ever land an acting nomination and of the more than 1,500 Oscar acting nominations over the years, only 16 have gone to Asian actors, which equates to a whopping 1 percent.
Yet American viewers, who themselves are becoming increasingly diverse, prefer to consume film and TV content with diverse casts. The study confirmed that diverse films and TV shows are pretty profitable, which shows that diversity does sell. It’s made clear, for instance, through the domestic success of films like “Hidden Figures,” which told the story of three remarkable Black women who worked at NASA. The movie, which has grossed $152,815,804 thus far, earned more money in the U.S. than Academy darling “LaLa Land.”
what’sup “Get Out,” the low-budget horror flick about race relations, took home the top spot at the recent box office. The film not only brought in the most money at theaters, but it also propelled writer-director JORDAN PEELE to the top of Hollywood’s A-list. The movie is getting great word of mouth from fans and critics alike, earning an extremely rare 100 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes…….JAY-Z has become the first rapper ever to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Songwriters are eligible for induction when they’ve written hit tracks for two decades. Other songwriters to be inducted this year include KENNETH
“BABYFACE” EDMONDS and JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS..…..In an April issue preview of Good Housekeeping U.K., OPRAH WINFREY opened up about her decision not to have children, saying that it was just not the path for her because she doesn’t have the patience. Instead, she said, she is focused on other initiatives, such as her Leadership Academy boarding school in Johannesburg, South Africa…….RACHEL DOLEZAL, the white woman who passed as Black, is now reportedly unemployed, on the verge of homelessness and relying on food stamps. While promoting her upcoming memoir, “In
Full Color,” Dolezal stated that despite her current situation, she was “not going to stoop and apologize and grovel” for the events that led up to her being fired from her job at the NAACP. In her memoir, which was turned down by 30 publishing houses before she finally found one that was willing to print it, Dolezal said that she hopes to “set the record straight” about her past and her upbringing…….The latest cast of characters for ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” will include Olympic gymnast SIMONE BILES from Spring and actor MR. T. Season 24 will premiere on ABC on March 20 at 7 p.m.
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Five tips on starting your own food business Small Business Administration
Starting a food business has to be one of the most challenging enterprises. The harsh reality is that most fail within the first year. The restaurant business is notoriously tough and competitive, but where there is a will there is often a way. Turning ambition into success requires research, planning, capital, business acumen and perseverance. Here are five tips.
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Do your research – Conduct research before getting started. Networking events (such as those operated by small business development centers, SCORE and chambers of commerce) offer a great venue for picking the brains of fellow business people. Try to find out what works, what doesn’t, and what they would do differently. If you are aware of restaurants that have failed, try to identify why. Online community forums are a great way of gauging market need and customer opinion.
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Consider starting small – Test your idea before you go all out with a popup location. It will give you an opportunity to run through your idea without all the risk. Many food businesses began as a hobby at home and once they outgrew the space they moved on to something bigger. You can rent a food truck for a month or
try a local market just to see how things go. Fast-food franchises might be another option.
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Build a business plan – It doesn’t have to be an overly formalized document, but building and constantly tweaking your plan will help you match the strengths of your business to the opportunities the market presents. It can also help you better deal with threats as they emerge. A business plan is essential when it comes to communicating with customers, partners and investors. If you want them to believe in you, convince them that you know what you are talking about.
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Obtain financing – There are ranges of options, from microloans to more comprehensive small business loans such as the SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs. Use your business plan and the knowledge you’ve gained from your pop-up test as the basis for a loan proposal or investment plan. Also, be realistic about how much money you need.
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Know food laws and regulations – From labor laws to food safety laws, understanding and achieving compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in your city and state can have a big effect on the success of a food operation. Visit www.sba.gov for more information.
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THIRD WARD The White Invasion A
By ASWAD WALKER Defender
Development & Investment Realtors ccording to the U.S. Census says he has seen an influx of wealthier Bureau, the number of African-Americans in the suburbanites moving back within the Greater Third Ward has 610 Loop due to the heavy traffic and shrunk by more than 10 percent over higher gasoline prices. the past decade. At the same time, the “Approximately three years ago, white population has doubled, and both there was a lot pressure being placed education and income levels have risen. on Third Ward, Medical Center, This gentrification - the racial and and downtown area homeowners to economic flipping of a neighborhood sell their homes. Residents began – has many residents of the historic placing signs in their yard saying, African-American neighborhood ‘My home is not for sale.’ As a result, conflicted over the change. developers, recognizing the demand, “I see it in the nannies from began building exclusive loft and Dr. Assata Richards different countries caring for white condominium complexes that the babies, more development, more police average Third Ward resident cannot patrols, and more white people running, afford.” not for their lives but for health and Gentrification, or white flight exercise,” said Melodrama Boutique in reverse, turned Fourth Ward into owner Jackie Adams, who added that Midtown, with demographic changes local stores like Family Dollar and every bit as drastic as those in Fiesta have dramatically improved their Greenwood, Oklahoma after the 1921 product offerings, including organic destruction of Black Wall Street by products, to meet the demands of Third violent white mobs. Richards hopes Ward’s newer residents. “That part Third Ward can avoid a similar fate, of the transition is good. It saves me and seeks to engage supporters from a trip to Montrose to do my grocery across the city. shopping.” “The story of Third Ward is the But the increased convenience, story of Black people in Houston, who property values and city services come Gerald Womack all are connected to it in some way. with a price, according to Dr. Assata Within Third Ward are significant Richards, founding director of the monuments to the trajectory of Blacks Sankofa Research Institute. in this city, including Unity Bank, “Residents are being displaced Riverside Hospital, Emancipation Park, because eventually property values go the El Dorado Ballroom, and TSU. So up, property taxes increase, and this many prominent Blacks came out of puts pressure on low and moderate Third Ward,” said Richards, who also income residents,” said Richards. “The contends Third Ward has benefitted all number of demolitions of existing Houstonians. structures, you don’t see that same “We Black people have always level of development for affordable taken what other folk didn’t want housing.” and made it something great. So it’s Richards points to area lots that not just Blacks who need to have this once housed traditional, single-family conversation and education; everyone or shotgun homes, now standing vacant finds connections to Third Ward.” or containing townhomes priced well Third Ward’s history of Black John Guess III out of the range of current Third Ward ownership stands out to John Guess III, residents who have a median income of under $20,000/ of the Guess Group. year. “Having ownership is important, and we have a lot of Black ownership in Third Ward. It’s critical in anyone’s Gerald Womack, President and CEO of Womack
portfolio,” said Guess, who worries about that ownership slipping away. “Unfortunately, many of these owners are grandchildren of the original owners, and live in other neighborhoods or out of state. Many see their properties as a burden or a drain on their finances rather than a plus. Many are selling these properties as the value goes up.” Guess believes the loss of young Black professionals to other neighborhoods hurts not only residents, but local businesses also. Adams says her shop on Almeda is in Third Ward for the long-haul, and will welcome whatever customers come through her door. Still, she’s not looking forward to the potential exodus of Black-owned businesses. “My only apprehension is how long will [business in Third Ward] be dominated by us? When will white businesses take over?” The vast majority of Third Ward’s Black businesses lease space, leaving them at the mercy of building owners who can increase the rent and price them out at a moment’s notice. Those that remain may find themselves dealing with a drastically different customer base. However, gentrification is not the first challenge faced by Third Ward businesses.
Third Ward’s D with Black economic including Tyler Barb Company and the Do of Eldreway Stearns Houston’s arm of the Professional Amateu and Wolf’s Departme operating, as is KCO from Reggae Hut, Za and Scrappy Brown’ Adams worries they’re not involved Richards worrie that 75 percent of Th are currently being e torn down. “The displaced Park, or the Greenspo exists. Some are stay close as to Third War Richards works Development Counc based organizations
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Dowling Street was once synonymous cs, and home to countless business, ber College, Watchtower Insurance owling Theatre, and the office – the unofficial headquarters of e Civil Rights Movement. The ur Boxing Association (PABA) ent Store and Pawn Shop are still OH on Almeda, just down the street ayd’s Naturally Natural Hair Studio ’s. Black businesses will disappear if in planning Third Ward’s future. es about displaced residents, noting hird Ward dwellers are renters. Many evicted or told their spaces are being
are moving to South Union, South oint area, wherever affordable housing ying with neighbors, wanting to stay as rd as possible.” s with the Emancipation Economic cil (EEDC), a collaborative of faiths, nonprofits, businesses, CDCs,
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Largest Third Ward Black landowners • Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne, 77004 • Unity Bank, 2602 Blodgett, 77004 • Riverside Terrace, bounded by Almeda, North MacGregor, Scott, and Wheeler, 77004 • Project Row Houses, 2521 Holman, 77004 • The Midtown Redevelopment Authority owns 3.5 million square feet (a little over 80 acres) of land in Third Ward • Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler, 77004 • Dr. Edith Irby Jones, MD, 2601 Prospect, 77004 • Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3015 MacGregor Way, 77004 • SHAPE Community Center, 3815 Live Oak, 77004 • Change Happens, 3353 Elgin, 77004 * More than 40 percent of Third Ward land is owned by nonprofits, churches and the City of Houston *Riverside Hospital is no longer Black-owned, as the owners of the lien against that property are not Black
local government entities and other community stakeholders fighting, or rather managing the changes gentrification brings. She encourages all concerned with Third Ward’s legacy and history get engaged and informed by participating in one of the EEDC’s many organizations to develop community-based plans for Third Ward’s future. Womack believes it’s important to recognize the signs of the times. “What happens in Third Ward can happen to any Black community inside the loop.” Guess suggests becoming active in local civic clubs, and pushing to have Third Ward declared an historic district. Richards, who views Third Ward’s history as a testament to the courage and resilience of Blacks in this country, believes the current battle for Third Ward’s future is a defining moment. “We say a lot about individual successes, but what does it mean for us to be a prosperous community? Preserving our vision of Third Ward will be the legacy of our generation; how we take our knowledge, education and resources and bring them to bear on the problems facing our community.”
he Houston area for over 85 years
Third Ward Community Development Organizations • Northern Third Ward Planning Project (NTWNPP) – Helen Stagg, 713-374-1285 • Project Row Houses CDC (www.rowhousecdc.org/) • Houston Southeast Management District (http://houstonsvoice.com/channel/greater-southeast-managementdistrict/) • OST-Almeda TIRZ and Redevelopment Authority (http:// www.ostalmeda.com/site/) • Emancipation Economic Development Council (EEDC) (http://emancipationhouston.org/) • Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation (http://nrcdc.org/site/) • Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church 5C’s (http://wheelera5cs. org/hogg-mental-health/) • Southeast Houston CDC (www.esuvclc.org)
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Local girl shines on ‘Steve Harvey Show’ Defender News Services
Talk show host Steve Harvey is recognizing kids doing great things, and the founder of a local non-profit is among those receiving national recognition. Princess Jackson, founder of Sock Out Poverty, Inc., was recently featured along with three other young people who are doing great things in their community in a segment called Real Good, which spotlights kids who go above and beyond to give back to others. During the segment, the kids received a surprise when talk show host/comedian Harvey gave each one of his young guests a check for $5,000 toward their nonprofit organizations. “It was exciting to meet Mr. Harvey and to receive a check for $5,000 for my organization,” said Jackson. “This will definitely help Sock Out Poverty reach our goal of providing socks to the homeless community on a global level.” Jackson founded Sock Out Poverty in December 2014 to provide socks to the homeless community after seeing many of them having a
Princess Jackson was among several children recognized on “The Steve Harvey Show” for their non-profit work.
need for the small item. Since its inception, Sock Out Poverty has donated close to 11,000 pairs of socks in the Houston, Beaumont, Dallas and San Antonio communities. “My mom and I were downtown handing out blankets to the homeless when I noticed they had shoes and no socks or the shoes had holes in them. I felt bad for them and wanted to give them my socks, but instead we went to the store and
purchased some socks, went back downtown and passed them out,” Jackson said. “Also, people don’t realize how important socks are to the homeless to protect their feet from the weather.” The organization hopes to bring awareness to the public on how significant a pair of socks can be to a person. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to “Sock Out Poverty One Step at a Time.” For more information visit www.sockoutpoverty.org
Black college leaders blast BET show ‘The Quad’ Defender News Services
A new television series about a fictional historically Black university portrays a scandalous campus culture, including a college president’s affair, binge drinking and a corrupt band director. Some Black college presidents are not fans. “The Quad,” which premiered on BET last month, follows the lives of several students and the president of Georgia A&M University. The show was created by people who themselves graduated from HBCUs, but their references to partying and promiscuity on campus have drawn mixed reviews. The longtime president of Hampton University, William Harvey, recently penned an open letter to Debra Lee, the president of BET, calling the show a “bogus representation” of life at an HBCU and comparing its portrayal to fake news. “Devoid of any reference to academics, ‘The Quad’ is about a president who is promiscuous, trustees who are unwilling to deal with a rogue band director, and a band director who condones criminal activity on the part of his drum major,” Harvey wrote in the letter. “ ‘The Quad’ will lead many to believe that HBCUs exist because of their marching bands; that our presidents
are unethical; that our boards are dysfunctional and have misplaced priorities; that our faculty, students and administrators are driven by sex, alcohol, marijuana, low self-esteem, parties and a preoccupation with music; that it is acceptable to disrespect women; that university policy can be set by a band director; and that there are no standards of conduct or penalties for bad behavior. “This depiction seems more analogous to a disgruntled, adolescent and unrealistic point of view that some may have. It also feeds a false narrative about the irrelevance of HBCUs.”
Walter Kimbrough, president of Dillard University in New Orleans, said he has watched the first few episodes of the show and understands where Harvey is coming from. The entertainment industry doesn’t provide many uplifting stories of Black colleges and student life, Kimbrough said. People are nostalgic for the 1980s television show “A Different World” and for the even-handed portrayals seen in movies like “Stomp the Yard” and “Drumline.” “I guess the lesson for me is that if we want positive images of HBCUs, we should be in talks with people to produce those kinds of shows,” Kimbrough said. “I’m not disturbed by the show, and I simply accept it as entertainment like many other shows.” Lee, the BET president, said in an interview with Ebony that she had spoken privately with Harvey and emphasized that “The Quad” is not based in fact, nor is it based on any one college. “Fictional TV has drama, you have good guys and bad guys,” Lee said. “We had a good conversation and I hope students, administrators and parents will take the issues that we’re dealing with on ‘The Quad’ seriously and discuss them during and after the show, because we are dealing with serious issues that happen on all campuses, not just HBCUs.”
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CNBC series looking for entrepreneurs Defender News Services
CNBC’s primetime series “Billion Dollar Buyer” and Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta are searching for entrepreneurs in the Houston area to bring their unique product or service to the George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday, March 9 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for an open casting call. Participants will vie for a chance to be featured on “Billion Dollar Buyer” and potentially strike a deal with one of America’s most successful businessmen. “Houston is my hometown and I want to help those in our community turn their small business into big business,” said Fertitta. “If you think you’ve got what it takes to earn my business, we want to hear from you and possibly feature your product on the show.” Fertitta is scouting the region for the most innovative new products – everything from food and drink for his restaurants and casinos, to furniture and lighting for his hotels. Those interested in bidding for Fertitta’s business who have a product or service that applies to the restaurant, retail, hospitality and gaming industry, will have the opportunity to present to -Tilman Fertitta the show’s producers and top buyers from Landry’s. Since the show’s inception in March 2016, Fertitta has impacted Houston’s own Bravado Spice, serving the company’s artisan hot sauces at all 28 Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. locations nationwide. Another Texas company received the deal of a lifetime when Fertitta made a large investment in Austin’s own Liber & Co., now serving its cocktail syrups in select cocktails at 63 Saltgrass Steak House restaurants and 39 Claim Jumper restaurants nationwide. Cameron, Texas-based beef supplier 44 Farms received the largest deal in the show’s history with a $2 million purchase in season two. In each hour-long episode, Fertitta spends time with two small businesses, samples their goods, gets to know their owners, and assesses their compatibility with Landry’s, Inc. Fertitta oversees more than 500 properties and over 50 leading restaurant, hotel, and entertainment brands. Visit billiondollarbuyercasting.com for more information.
“I want to help those in our community turn their small business into big business.”
MARCH 2 | 2017 | DEFENDER
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DEFENDER | MARCH 2 | 2017
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opinion
I
By MARC H. MORIAL
Nate Beeler, The Columbus Dispatch
Claims of ‘fake news’ are insult to journalism n 1955, Jet Magazine and the Chicago Defender published photographs of Emmett Till’s mutilated corpse, igniting international interest in the American Civil Rights Movement. Defender reporter Mattie Colin, who covered the return of the teenager’s body to Chicago, captured his mother’s anguish in her poignant articles, one of which read: “Oh, God, Oh God, my only boy,” Mrs. Mamie (Till) Bradley wailed as five men lifted a soiled paper-wrapped bundle from a brown, wooden midVictorian box at the Illinois Central Station in Chicago Friday and put it into a waiting hearse. The bundle was the bruised and bullet-ridden body of little 14-year-old Emmett L. Till of Chicago, who had been lynched down in Money, Mississippi. For many in the north, the brutality of the Jim Crow-era South was an abstract and distant concept. Reporters like Mamie Colin made it horrifyingly real. And no one dared demean it by calling it “fake news.” Friction between the White House and the journalists tasked with holding officials to account is part of a healthy democracy. But recent concerted efforts to delegitimize the news media are destructive and demoralizing. Among the low points of the recent presidential campaign were the vicious attacks on individual reporters which were a regular part of some rallies. White House press conferences, which should be a source of lively give-andtake, have devolved into ad hominem attacks. “The Civil Rights Movement would have been like a bird without wings if it hadn’t been for the news media,” Rep. John Lewis has said. Newspapers and the newly-popular medium of television brought into American homes disturbing scenes of activists in Birmingham and Selma being attacked with dogs and fire hoses, beaten and tear-gassed by state troopers and sheriff’s deputies. A photograph of Selma activist Amelia Boynton, beaten unconscious, ran on the front page of newspapers and news magazines around the world. Among the martyrs of the Civil Rights
Movement is Paul Guihard, a reporter for a French news service, who was shot to death in 1962 during protests over the admission of James Meredith to the University of Mississippi. Newspaper offices were the targets of shootings and bombing attempts. The men and women of the Fourth Estate continue to risk their lives in the performance of their duties. In the last quarter century, at least seven journalists have been killed in the line of duty in the United States, four of them murdered. One of the first important American journalists to face death threats for her reporting was Ida B. Wells, a trailblazing African-American woman who documented the savage practice of lynching in the 1890s. The work of America’s journalists has resulted in some of our nation’s most important reforms. Upton Sinclair’s exposure of unsanitary practices in meatpacking led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and Federal Meat Inspection Act. Seymore Hersh exposed the My Lai massacre and the Army’s subsequent cover-up.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s Watergate reporting led to the indictments of 40 Nixon Administration officials and the eventual resignation of President Nixon. The Washington Post’s publication of Florence Graves’ investigation into sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill led to the passage of the Congressional Accountability Act. Even the staunchest defenders of freedom of the press were not always happy with its results. As a delegate to the Continental Congress, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” As president, Jefferson blasted the press. But he never changed his position: “It is, however, an evil for which there is no remedy; our liberty depends on the freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Mark Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League, a lawyer and former mayor of New Orleans.
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$10k reward set for info on child murderer Defender News Services
Texas’ governor has boosted the reward for information in the case of an 8-year-old Houston girl fatally shot on Feb. 23 after her mother was involved in a car crash. Gov. Greg Abbott announced that his office’s Criminal Justice Division is offering up to $10,000 for information that helps police identify and arrest those who killed De’Maree Adkins. The original Crime Stoppers’ reward was up to $5,000. The child’s mother, Latoyia Thomas,
was involved in a crash about 2 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Beltway 8 and West Fuqua, according to Houston police. Someone pulled out a gun and started shooting at Thomas’ car, striking the girl who had been sleeping in the backseat before the crash. Thomas believes it was a woman who opened fire. “I don’t know who it was and I don’t know why she was shooting,” she said. After shots were fired, the mother didn’t realize her daughter was injured until she tried to take her out of the
car. That’s when she noticed blood on De’Maree’s jacket. “I told her to stay with me, stay with me,” Thomas said, breaking down into tears. “Her body just went limp.” Paramedics transported De’Maree to the hospital, where she later died. Thomas was not injured. Tipsters must send information to Houston Crime Stoppers by calling the hotline at 713-222-8477, texting TIP610 plus the information to 274637, or submitting online at crime-stoppers.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
De’Maree Adkins
Texas Children’s joins Africa initiative The first comprehensive pediatric hematology-oncology initiative has been launched in Africa through public-private partnerships with the governments of Botswana, Uganda and Malawi. Participants in the $100 million initiative include Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers (TXCH), Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children’s Hospital and Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. Joining in the announcement were President Lt. Gen. Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama of the Republic of Botswana and Minister Dorcas Makgato of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The initiative, Global HOPE (HematologyOncology Pediatric Excellence), will build longterm capacity to treat and dramatically improve the prognosis of thousands of children with cancer and blood disorders in southern and eastern Africa. In the U.S., 80 percent of children with cancer survive. In sub-Saharan Africa, the overwhelming majority of pediatric patients do not survive. The mortality rate is estimated to be as high as 90 percent, meaning that thousands of children die from cancer across Africa each year. The problem is in large part due to an inadequate healthcare infrastructure and a significant lack of expert physicians and other healthcare
African officials and American health professionals participate in the groundbreaking for the Botswana Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centre of Excellence.
workers trained to treat children with cancer. The most common types of childhood cancers are blood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. Global HOPE will partner with local governments and ministries of health to build medical capacity to diagnose and treat the disorders. “With only five pediatric oncologists currently in the countries of Botswana, Malawi and
Uganda combined, there are simply not enough expert doctors to treat all the children diagnosed with blood disorders and cancer,” said Dr. David G. Poplack, director of TXCH and professor of pediatric oncology at Baylor College of Medicine. Poplack said Global HOPE will offer “the potential for transformational change in survivorship for these children.” T:4.79”
Mental disorders may increase stroke risk for whatever reason – work, family, work-life balance – contributed to their stroke,” said Jonah P. Zuflacht, a medical student at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. “But the data to support a connection between stress and stroke is limited and often relies on a patient’s subjective recall of distress, which can bias results.” One possible explanation for the findings is that psychological distress may send the body’s fightor-flight response into overdrive, causing increased blood pressure – the No. 1 risk factor for stroke, Zuflacht said.
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T:3.25”
People hospitalized or treated in an emergency room for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health disorders may have an increased risk for stroke, new data suggest. Researchers, who presented their findings at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in Houston, said psychiatric distress leading to a hospital visit increased the odds of stroke 3.48 times within 15 days; 3.11 within 30 days; 2.41 within 90 days; 2.23 within 180 days; and 2.61 within 360 days. “Based on my clinical experience in the hospital, I have noticed that many patients believe that stress
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DEFENDER | MARCH 2 | 2017 defendernetwork.com
sports
Sportscaster James Brown ministering to sports, faith By MAX EDISON Defender
A
s his famous name implies, Emmy-Award winning sports journalist James Brown is the hardest working man in the
James Brown, a well-known sportscaster, is also an ordained minister.
industry. He hosts the “NFL Today on CBS,” “Inside the NFL on Showtime” and “Thursday Night Football.” In addition, it’s not unusual to see Brown anchoring an edition of the “CBS Evening News” or contributing a story as a special correspondent. With so much on his plate, it’s amazing that what Brown enjoys talking about most is not the next sports or news project he’s working on. Brown delights in spreading the word about his faith as an ordained Christian minster. The Defender visited with J.B. when he was in town for Super Bowl LI. In addition to an exhaustive schedule, Brown found time to preach three services at St. John’s UMC Downtown prior to the game. He also brought the message at Brown hosts three shows, including “Inside the NFL.” He is a graduate of First Baptist Church in Pasadena. Harvard University and was an All-Ivy League basketball player. Brown explained his evolution in ministry. beat people over the head with the Bible,” he “Around 2002, my pastor, said. “I try to be a living epistle. I try to walk it. If Bishop Arvel Givens at Rhema Christian Center [in the Brown serves as a guest anchor and correspondent on “CBS Evening people open up the door and inquire then cool, I’ll Washington, D.C. area] asked me and my wife to head News.” go ahead. When I’m on my job, I’m about doing up the youth ministry at the church, which we accepted,” my job. With an active schedule that keeps him busy, Brown is Brown recalled. “When Jesus was approached and asked the question quick to acknowledge the role his wife plays in helping him “Also about that time I was starting to get invitations who we should give our allegiance to, Caesar or Jesus, He stay balanced. to speak at churches. I said, ‘Bishop, people are sending picked up a coin and asked whose picture is on the coin. “My wife Dorothy is so patient with me during the me invitations. I’m still learning the word and I won’t step Then He said render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, football season,” he said. “I’m on the road about 21 or 22 out of the boundaries of what I currently know relating render unto the Lord what belongs to the Lord. On my job consecutive weekends doing not only ‘The NFL Today,’ to the word. I’m not going to pretend or attempt to speak my aim is always to do everything that I do excellently as but this year adding ‘Inside the NFL’ and ‘Thursday Night about things I don’t know or have yet to study. They’re unto to the Lord, as the word says. If I do that my bosses Football,’ in addition to so much of my ministry travel. She extending the invitation thinking I’m going to give them a can’t help but be pleased with the excellence of my work.” is very supportive. It would be impossible to do what I do motivational speech as James Brown, the sportscaster.’ Brown added that many pro players come from families without her.” “He said, ‘You go. They may be expecting that, but of faith. As a minister, Brown knows he automatically will receive you give them Jesus Christ.’ That was the encouragement “They come from a family where grandma, grandpa, scrutiny and at the same time will be considered a role model, I got from him and I’ve been doing it ever since. In 2009 I mom or dad were some praying folk. I remember during a especially to some players. was blessed to be ordained as a minister. I am a minister on Thursday night game in Houston the year before last a player “I’m not saying I’m the best or a perfect example of that, staff at our church and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.” from the Indianapolis Colts came over during warm-ups and but I certainly try,” he said. “Every last one of us is flawed, Brown discussed how his ministry is received in the said, ‘I just want you to know I’m a brother in Christ too, and as the word says, but I try and walk that walk. If I can help macho, testosterone-driven world of professional football. appreciate your stand. Keep me lifted up too.’ ” influence a player on the importance of character it’s fine.” “Among my colleagues, I don’t go around trying to
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h.s.zone Clear Springs girls varsity promotes more than big three Crawford. “Even though our game-plan is to play hard baseline-to-baseline, there was a point in the game where Pearland got the momentum and we anay Redic knows the scouting report on needed to slow it down. the Clear Springs High School girls’ varsity “Our adrenaline was going and we wanted to basketball team is clearly a misrepresentaplay great,” Crawford said. “But it wasn’t happening tion. and we had to regroup. That’s what we did.” The perception is the success of the Robinson converted a three-point play at the state-ranked Lady Chargers revolves around outset of the third quarter to give Clear Springs a the talented trio of Dylead (26-23) it never mond Gladney, Tasharsurrendered. Robinson ian Robinson and Sierra finished with a teamCheatham. high 13 points. A second misnomer Redic had 11 is that Clear Springs alpoints, including a ways pushes the pedal to 3-pointer in the fourth the medal in an attempt quarter that put the to disrupt the opposition Lady Chargers up with tenacious end-to-end 49-39. Gladney and defense. Cheatham chipped in Redic, a senior twowith 10 points apiece. year starter in the post, Audrey Wandji (eight says a closer inspection points) and Taylor of her team will reveal its Singleton (seven true nature. “Those three points, three blocked give a lot to the team,” shots) had crucial roles she insists. “They always in the win. go all out every single “Singleton crashed game. the boards for me “Whenever the rest tonight and Redic hit of us put in 110 percent, some shots that got us we’re a completely difover the hump,” Crawferent team,” Redic said. ford said. “The bench “We go from whatever played well tonight. I they put in to an entire didn’t go that far down team scoring and getting (the bench) but I can go on the boards.” two or three more.” In a regional quarRedic said she terfinal showdown with merely simplified the Pearland at Dawson High moment. School, Clear Springs led “The biggest thing 14-7 to start the second on my mind was that I quarter when momentum wanted to have practice suddenly swung to the tomorrow,” she said. upstart Lady Oilers. Janay Redic is a senior starter on the Clear Springs girls’ “I didn’t want to have basketball team. Led by freshman to go to school with no sensation DeYona Gaston, practice. I didn’t want my Pearland reeled off 14 high school season to be over so I had to play the hardest unanswered points to lead 21-14 midway through I’ve ever played. the second period. Redic ended the Clear Springs “We had a little letdown in the second quarter, but drought with an inside basket and the first half drew once we realized what we had to change, we were able to to a close in a 23-23 stalemate. hype it back up and get our defense back,” Redic said. “When you play at this level you have to adjust Clear Springs (32-4) fell in the regional final to to the situation,” said Clear Springs head coach Pam Cypress Ranch.
J
By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
MARCH 2 | 2017 | DEFENDER
15
sportsbriefs NFL Combine begins At a time when most hardcore NFL fans start to go into withdrawal, relief is on the way. The NFL Scouting Combine begins Feb. 28 in Indianapolis. The event officially signals the spring season, complete with the free agency signing period and culminating with the NFL draft on April 27. Some 300 college athletes will travel to Lucas Stadium and perform any number of athletic drills for representatives from the 32 NFL teams. Athletes will be poked and prodded by NFL medical staff to accurately determine their actual height, weight and mental acumen. How well athletes perform at the Combine and their subsequent Pro Days will determine if they will be a first, second or third-day selection in the draft.
Antonio Brown is No. 1 The Pittsburgh Steelers and Antonio Brown reached an agreement on a four-year, $68 million deal that makes Brown the highestpaid wide receiver in the NFL. Brown is now under contract to the Steelers through the 2021 season. He will make $18.5 million in the first three years of the contract and $12.5 million in the fourth. Brown is the first player in Steelers history to finish with 1,000 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in three straight seasons. A 2010 sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan, Brown has been to five Pro Bowls and earned three first-team All-Pro nods in his seven seasons. He led the league with 1,698 receiving yards in 2014.
Cinco Ranch celebrates Jay Jay Chandler scored a game-high 30 points, including seven in overtime, to lead the Cinco Ranch boys past Bellaire 66-63 at jam-packed Butler Fieldhouse and advance to the region quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Bellaire had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but couldn’t convert an attempt at the buzzer. Maxwell Evans, a Vanderbilt commit, led the Cardinals with 26 points. With the game tied at 63-63 in overtime, Jaron Presley of Cinco Ranch made a three-pointer that Bellaire was unable to answer. Alonzo Sule (18 points) was a pillar of strength inside for the Cougars and his three-point play in overtime gave Cinco Ranch a brief 62-58 advantage. Chandler, a Texas A&M pledge, combined with Sule and Presley to account for all 13 Cinco Ranch points in overtime. Christopher Brandon finished with 17 points for Bellaire.
History at Cypress Ranch Cypress Ranch is going to its first state basketball tournament. With No. 2 state-ranked Clear Springs back in the regional final for the second year in a row, the Cy Ranch girls had a simple game plan. “We wanted to be ahead at the end of each quarter and we did it,” said Didi Richards, who finished with 12 points and six rebounds, despite missing time with foul troubles. Dymond Gladney (15 points) gave Clear Springs its last lead (56-54) with 1:28 left. Richards tied the game with two free throws and fed Shadiya Thomas for the game-winning layup moments later (59-56). Jala Buster had 17 for Cy Ranch and Ariana Whitfield added 14.
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DEFENDER | MARCH 2 | 2017
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
ROBERT TOWNSEND’S LIVING THE SHUFFLE……..The Ensemble Theatre’s professors Martin Levy and Lupe Salinas, SBA officers Tim Adams and Nekketta Board of Directors and Staff hosted actor/director Robert Townsend and his one-man Archie, and others including Maegen Bradley, Jasmine Yates, Joanne Nwadgu, show “Living the Shuffle,” as part of the Ensemble’s Heart of the Theatre program. The Mischa Montgomery, Mayra Stanton, Julian Jones, Susan Bynam, Derrick Wilson event was a show of appreciation for theater supporters. Attendees included Ensemble and Tatiana Harasim……..CITY CONTROLLER’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH directors Eileen Morris and Janette Cosley, Ensemble board members Muriel PROGRAM……..City Controller Chris Brown recently hosted the City’s 8th Annual Funches, Sharon McCarter, Sharon Murphy and Argentina James, trustee Carl Black History Month Program featuring as panelists former City Council members McGowan, and many others, including Diana Fallis, Fatimar Anthony Hall and Ada Edwards, and NAACP Houston President Jones, Brenda Long, Helen George, Roslyn Rose, Anita Dr. James Douglas. The program, organized by Jackie Pope, was Newby and Elizabeth Campbell……..THE HONORABLE Defender TOP EVENTS moderated by Defender CEO Sonceria Messiah Jiles. Panelists More photos on defendernetwork.com JUDGE KENNETH HOYT LECTURE……..The Thurgood discussed various aspects of Houston history, including the origins Marshall School of Law’s (TMSL) Student Bar Association of the ward system, Black representation in local government and (SBA) hosted a lecture by Judge Kenneth Hoyt as part of more. In attendance were Harry Hayes, Dr. James Ward, Stephen the school’s Black History Month celebration. Hoyt, a TMSL graduate, is the senior Williams, Ronald Lewis, Jesse Boone, Willie Belle Boone, Randy Tims, Irma Reyes, judge in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas, appointed in 1988 Mary Wilson, Vera Parker, Londa Singleton, Charisse Mosely, C.J. Messiah, by President Ronald Reagan. Hoyt shared personal lessons gained over the course of Shannan Nobles, Theresa Watson, Sandra Zeno, Toni Middleton Lewis, Yolanda his 35-year career for achieving success in the face of adversity. On hand were TMSL Brown and many more.
Muriel Funches, Janette Cosley, Sharon McCarter
Tim Adams, Judge Kenneth Hoyt, Nekketta Archie
Ada Edwards, Sonceria Messiah Jiles
Gloria Williams, Irhene Williams
Jasmine Yates, Joanne Nwadgu
Harry Hayes, Jackie Pope, Anthony Hall
Willie Mae Robertson, Michael Robertson
Dr. Martin Levy, Maegen Bradley
Courtney Smith, Jessica Varner
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