Tis year is a critical year for Nigerians worldwide. On Feb. 25, all eyes were glued to the Nigerian presidential election as millions of registered voters head to the polls to cast their ballots for a new president.
You might be asking yourself, “Why does this concern us?” Houston is home to one of the largest Nigerian immigrant populations in the United States. Whoever is elected into ofce will impact Nigerian residents and their families with ties to the African nation. Tis is the most historic election to date because this is the frst election where a third-party candidate stands as an unprecedented threat to the twoparty system that has had a frm hold on Nigerian politics for several years.
Laura Onyenehohear arguments over President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan. Republican-appointed judges have kept this plan from going into efect, and currently, the court will decide the plan’s fate. Tis is a high-stakes case for the Biden Administration as the promises of relief for millions of Americans hang in the balance. I’ve said this multiple times before: if student loan relief isn’t possible, they should indefnitely extend the freeze on interest rates.
Te third party candidate is an underdog in the race and represents for most Nigerians a glimmer of hope for a democracy the nation has long desired due to years of corruption, socio-economic instability, lack of primary education and healthcare structure other challenges.
Widespread voting delays and rigging at the polls resulted in the ruling party’s candidate winning as president-elect this week, a tough pill to swallow for many Nigerians at this time. Te fght still continues and the people’s eforts will not be in vein.
What about them student loans again?
I’m not sure if you all feel the same way as I do, but if the government wants to pause my federal student loan debt until they can get their acts together, I don’t mind it. Te topic returns as the Supreme Court prepares to
You’ve heard that cautionary saying about how everything you post or delete on the internet stays there forever? Tere is a new online tool to help teens take down explicit photos and videos of themselves from the internet. Teenagers sometimes ignore the consequences of what happens when they aren’t careful online. Te tool is called “Take It Down,” operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and funded by Meta. Te service is free, and it lets minors or their parents anonymously send photos or videos they fear might be uploaded to the internet or have been published online. It is just one solution to the problem of “sextortion, “ or blackmailing someone using explicit images as leverage for fnancial gain.
It’s a good step in the right direction. Only time will tell how successful this will all play out on the internet beast.
• Celebrating the long history of Black resistance.
• Only 7% of teacher in the U.S are Black. Why?
• Five flms that capture Black joy.
Te frst Black legislator in Texas history is being remembered as part of the creation of a new African-American Memorial at a park in Kendleton, southwest of Rosenberg. Te community was one the frst freedmen’s towns in Texas – founded by freed slaves in the 1860s.
Benjamin Franklin Williams was a former slave-turned State Representative, one of 10 Black constitutional delegates during Reconstruction, and one of the forefathers of Kendleton, Texas. He died 136 years ago and now, Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy has announced a landmark $4 million investment into the very same community Williams helped establish.
“Kendleton, one of the very frst freedmen’s communities established afer Emancipation, is home to a breadth of important, yet underrecognized Texas history,” McCoy said.
Te money will be used to redevelop part of Bates Allen Park, including the preservation of two historic Black cemeteries and a memorial to honor Fort Bend County’s sometimes-forgotten African-American History. Te site will include a series of trails, one that will connect the two Black historic cemeteries, Newman Chapel Cemetery and Oak Hill Cemetery to a Juneteenth Plaza refection pond, a 3-story tall monument, and potentially a learning center.
A rich history
Fort Bend County is one of three counties in Texas with ofcial records of lynching and
African-American history that range from accounts of lynching, slavery, convict-leasing and the establishment of Freedmen’s Town and the frst-ever Black elected ofcials.
McCoy said creating the memorial allows people to learn about untold history in Fort Bend County.
“We have a really unique opportunity here in Fort Bend to tell the full story about the Black experience in this country,” he said.
Kendleton’s descendants also include Barbara Jordan, the legendary Houston Congresswoman whose father preached to the community, as well as Walter Moses Burton, the frst African-American Sherif in Fort Bend County history.
“Tis memorial will commemorate the Black experience, not only in Fort Bend County, but in Texas, and really be refective of the stories from Kendleton all the way to
Congress and beyond,” McCoy said.
Investing in the community
Commissioner McCoy was joined by a bipartisan medley of local ofcials, refecting the apolitical, unifying nature of this solemn project.
Former Republican Congressman Pete Olson recently found Williams’s tombstone buried face-down in the mud while conducting a research project, and has since led a months-long community service efort to restore the dilapidated burial sites.
“I was surprised, angry, disgusted, and hurt by what happened to his grave, and every grave in this park,” he said.
Local organizations were on hand for the recent memorial announcent, including direct descendants and family members of those buried here.
McCoy says they will host community engagement sessions to help imagine the programmatic aspects of the memorial, including subsequent additions and next steps.
“Tis is going to be a multi-phase project which will require a great deal of community support.”
McCoy envisions the memorial being in line with some of the most prominent African-American memorials across the country, but admits more funding would be needed.
“Tis is going to be something that people will travel the world to see if we do this correctly,” he said.
Te frst phase of construction is expected to get underway this year.
A grassroots organization says it won’t stop feeding the homeless downtown afer being warned by the city of Houston to stop. Te group called, Food Not Bombs has been handing out food downtown for nearly two decades, but the latest warning from the city feels more like a threat than a warning.
“Te mayor is the one who heads the police department so whatever he says goes and what concerns me most as on this sign, in comparison to all the other signs in the past, this sign says ‘if we continue to share food out here, we are in violation of the law’; this is why we are taking things a little bit more serious,” said Food Not Bombs member Shere Dore.
The group also claims this goes against
their constitutionals right and says this isn’t the frst time the city has tried to shut them down. Dore explained how back in 2012, Mayor Anise Parker and city council passed an anti-food sharing ordinance that bans serving charitable meals on properties, public or private, without consent from the Mayor’s ofce.
Te group gathers for a food sharing at least four times a week, except on Tursdays and Dore says they aren’t going to stop.
“We are going to continue to serve. Tis is a tax funded property. We’ve been doing this forever, and there is not a reason for us to move for the sake of the mayor out of downtown and because of the Final Four that’s coming next month.”
Te city of Houston released a statement on
the charitable public feeding rules and regulations. In the statement, they said:
“Once again, the City is providing a dedicated location with the appropriate, needed space, and infrastructure/amenities to serve Houstonians with the dignity they deserve. Tese updated rules and regulations do not apply to charitable food service on private property. It is illegal to provide charitable food service events in a public place in Houston without permission from the City.”
“Te pressure is going to come down,” Dore said. “We don’t know if the cops are going to come out here. But if they do, like I said all groups that come out here to serve six nights a week are prepared for tickets or to even get arrested if that’s what it comes down to.”
“How do you take over the largest school district in Texas?”
Tat’s the question Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is asking as he learned the Texas Education Agency may take over the Houston Independent School District any day now.
Te Houston mayor made the announcement during the latest City Council meeting. Turner cited legislators as sources for the news.
“Te state is overreaching on this issue,” he said.
Turner said the takeover will obliterate local control and both the HISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Millard House II could be replaced as part of the takeover.
In January, the Supreme Court of Texas issued an opinion ruling that the TEA can continue its plan to remediate underperforming high schools in HISD.
House has said that he understands the challenges, referring to fxing them as opportunities.
“It’s going to take some serious work. It’s going to take some bold decision-making.
It’s going to take money as well, it’s going to take cuts at the same time, but it’s necessary,” House said.
House II issued the following statement in response to the opinion:
“When I frst came into this role, I was clear-eyed about the challenges that faced us as a district. I also knew that if we did the right work and kept students at the center of every decision we make, we could move the district in the right direction for our community.
“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. Guided by community input, the district developed and is executing on its fveyear 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.”
In August 2022, the district celebrated Wheatley High School’s turnaround. Wheatley High School was the school that prompted TEA to try and appoint a board of managers.
In the 2021-2022 school year, Wheatley improved its rating from unacceptable to a C.
“Te message to the state is what some thought might be impossible is possible,” House II said at the time. “Our kids are capable of doing everything we want, everything we expect.”
A new legislation proposal hopes to address the backlog of court cases statewide by prioritizing murder and capital murder cases. If passed, the law would mandate judges to take up those cases frst.
Families are frustrated as they wait for their cases to
move through the Harris County Criminal Courts. District Attorney Kim Ogg said the wait can sometimes last years.
“We look at the rate of murders occurring,” Ogg said. “We look at the rate of murders being fled, and we look at the rate of murders being fnally resolved, and when your resolved rate is a lot lower than your intake rate, that’s a backlog. And Harris County doesn’t need a backlog of murders. Right now, with over 1,800 cases pending, there’s a city full of murderers inside of our city awaiting fnality on their cases.”
At the Harris County jail, a sherif spokesperson says there are 244 people with capital murder charges and 549 charged with murder waiting for trial.
“It is extremely difcult for the family to understand and live with. Tey’re stuck in the moment while the defendant, if he’s on bond, has gone on with his life. It’s just unfair,” Ogg said. “So, we need our legislators to prioritize these cases in Harris County so we can move the backlog of our most violent ofenders through the system and on to the penitentiary or if they’re innocent, not guilty.”
State Senator John Whitmire, chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and author of SB 402, said - if passed and signed into law - it would mandate judges prioritize murder and capital murder cases.
“We have a serious backlog of cases,” Whitmire said. “It’s creating a huge problem at our jail, which is overcrowded and dangerous.”
Next week, the legislature’s criminal justice committee will take up the bill.
“It helps victims. It helps the defendant resolve his or her case,” Whitmire said. “It will help public safety. Many of them are out on the streets of Houston waiting to go to trial.”
VOLUME 92, NUMBER 16 - MARCH 2, 2023
Publisher | CEO
Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles
Digital Content Manager Michael Grant
Managing Editor ReShonda Tate
Associate Editor
Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho
Sports Terrance Harris
Jodie B. Jiles
Photographer Jimmie Aggison
Social Media Manager Tia Alphonse Intern
Alania Bookman The
Aswad Walker
Our dedicated employees volunteer their time to deliver our Better Money Habits® financial education program — helping people in the communities we serve move ahead with financial tips, tools and resources.
We’re committed to helping people in Houston improve their lives through financial education. In the past 10 years, we’ve donated millions in national and local grants to help people learn the ins and outs of budgeting, saving and reducing debt.
Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in an April 4 runoff runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago afer voters denied incumbent Lori Lightfoot a second term, issuing a rebuke to a leader who made history as head of the nation’s third-largest city.
Vallas, a former schools CEO backed by the police union, and Johnson, a Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, advanced to the April 4 runof afer none of the nine candidates was able to secure over 50% of the vote to win outright.
Lightfoot, the frst Black woman and frst openly gay person to lead the city, won her first term in 2019 after promising to end decades of corruption and backroom dealing
Some 30 million Americans are now facing a signifcant cut in their monthly food assistance. Afer nearly three years, the federal government ended pandemic-era payments this month for low-income families on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Te average household will lose $95 a month for groceries, according to a study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Depending on other factors, including family size and income, some recipients will lose hundreds of dollars a month in food assistance. Te elimination of the extra SNAP benefts comes as wages fail to keep up with stubbornly high infation. Food prices alone are up 10.1% from a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with staples like butter up 31% and breakfast cereals and bread each up 15%.
Senate Bill 2 would make illegal voting an ofense punishable by 2-to-20 years in prison and a fne of up to $10,000. It’s one of several election-related bills before the Texas Legislature, several of which appear squarely aimed at Harris County. A bill to make illegal voting a felony again advanced in the Texas Senate. Under SB 2, illegal voting render a punishment comparable to that for manslaughter. Te bill also establishes the conditions under which a person can be charged with illegal voting. Testimony on SB 2 was mixed. Gary Bledsoe, president of the NAACP of Texas, condemned SB 2 as, “a clear and overt manifestation of racial bias. Te intent of the law is clear: to make it easy to prosecute other Crystal Masons and Hervis Rogers around the state.” Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), a co-author of the bill, denies there is any racial intent of this bill.
at City Hall. But opponents blamed Lightfoot for an increase in crime that occurred in cities across the U.S. during the pandemic and criticized her as being a divisive, overly contentious leader.
She is the frst elected Chicago mayor to lose a reelection bid since 1983, when Jane Byrne, the city’s frst female mayor, lost her Democratic primary.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Lightfoot called being Chicago’s mayor “the honor of a lifetime.”
“Regardless of tonight’s outcome, we fought the right fghts and we put this city on a better path,” Lightfoot said. She told her fellow mayors around the country not to fear being bold.
Families and individuals who earn up to $58,000 annually are eligible for the free tax preparation services, which will be provided through April 15 at 12 mobile sites across Harris County. A Houston nonproft will provide free tax preparation services at roving locations across Harris County.
BakerRipley, which benefts underserved communities throughout the Houston area, is operating 12 mobile tax sites across the region through April 15 – three days before the fling deadline for most Americans. Families and individuals earning up to $58,000 annually are eligible for the free tax preparation services, which will be provided on a walk-in basis, according to BakerRipley.
In addition to taxpayers who receive W-2 or 1099 forms from their employers, those who are paid by cash or check also can use the service. Te efort is in response to a three-year, $2.1 million investment by Harris County Commissioners Court toward BakerRipley’s Neighborhood Tax Centers program, with the goal of expanding the service to more parts of the county.
Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, announced a $50 million investment to support Texas’ only Black-owned banking institution as part of its commitment to supplier diversification and advancement of racial equity through meaningful change across four key values – grow, collaborate, lead and care. The investment, made through a $50 million deposit in J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s Empower share class, will support Unity Bank of Houston, a Minority Depository Institution Program (MDI). The Empower share class, founded in 2021, aims to support institutions such as Unity Bank in delivering ongoing positive change to underserved communities. MDIs help promote the growth of Black-, Hispanic- and Latino-owned small businesses. A Blackowned bank needs customers to thrive; however, due to a lack of assets compared to larger banks, these banks have been on a decline in recent years. Baker Hughes has
held its corporate headquarters in Houston for decades and is proud to support Unity National Bank of Houston, the only Blackowned banking institution in the state.
“We have a responsibility to improve and support the communities in which we live and work,” said Baker Hughes Chief Financial Officer Nancy Buese. “As part of our commitment to increase supplier diversity and create lasting and sustainable change, this investment will enable Unity Bank to increase its offerings and drive meaningful
impact within the communities it serves.”
“Unity National Bank is honored and enthusiastic about our collaborative relationship with Baker Hughes via Empowering Change, facilitated and led by our mentor and shareholder, J.P. Morgan,” said Kwame Nkrumah Cain, head of Strategic Initiatives & General Counsel at Unity National Bank. “I believe that Empowering Change is transformative to Unity National Bank and is indicative of Baker Hughes’ and J.P. Morgan’s commitment to strengthen Unity National Bank’s foundations and scale. I truly believe that J.P. Morgan’s and Baker Hughes’ mentorship, guidance and partnership will assist us in transitioning our community development efforts for the next generation and enable us to enhance and support economic development in low- and moderate-income communities.”
“I’m proud of Baker Hughes for prioritizing supplier diversity and continuously seeking to conduct business with
minority-owned businesses,” said Lynn Buckley, Baker Hughes’ Supplier Diversity & Business Development Sourcing leader. “In 2022, we nearly doubled utilization of small and diverse businesses across the organization, and we hope to continue this trend in 2023.”
In partnership with Baker Hughes’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Treasury, and Supplier Diversity teams, the investment furthers Baker Hughes’ strategy of supporting organizations with shared values, demonstrated leadership, evidence of impact, financial soundness, and the capacity to implement initiatives and evaluate their success. In 2022, the Baker Hughes Foundation announced $1 million in grants to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) for the 2022-23 academic year, part of the company’s long-running mission to promote education and opportunity in the communities where Baker Hughes employees live and work.
By ReShonda Tate
A fight is underway at Hobby Airport. It’s all centered around Pappas, which includes Pappadeaux, Pappasitos and Pappas Bar-B-Q. The chain may no longer be housed at Hobby after a competing company promised tens of millions more in future revenue during a recent bid to earn the concessions contract. Houston City Council members once again delayed the scheduled vote on the contract, putting off a final decision on the matter until next week. Pappas could be out at Hobby in favor of a company called Areas JV. Pappas has launched a petition to stay in the airport - and keep the 10 year contract which could net more than $40 million dollars.
This fight is messy, and the petition makes it seem like they’re being done wrong, and they’re throwing around political and racist undertones. Pappas has had the contract for 20 years and some say it is time for change. Let’s be clear: Pappa’s isn’t being evicted. They are being outbid.
“My advice for white people would be get the hell away from Black people.” - Dilbert comic strip creator, Scott Adams. Dilbert comic strip creator, Scott Adams is under fire for his racist rant on YouTube that has caused newspapers all over the country to drop his syndicated column. His publisher has nixed his book that was coming out in the fall and now Scott is complaining about being “canceled.” Readers agree, this isn’t cancel culture. This is CONSEQUENCE culture. #byedilbert
Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show was too raunchy, according to viewers’ complaints to the FCC. The government agency, known as the Federal Communications Commission, reportedly received a slew of unhappy filings following RiRi’s 13-minute Super Bowl LVII performance.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is underway and one of the big events is Rodeo UnCorked!, an International Wine Competition. Houston transplant, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson went home with the reserve champion wine after bidding $165,000 during the auction following the competition. The rapper has won awards at the event for the last three years, including Reserve Grand Champion in 2021. But this year was special! He added Grand Champion Best of Show to his myriad of accolades for his adult beverage, Le Chemin du Roi Brut champagne, a French vintage the rapper owns and promotes. Jackson’s winning bottle sold for a record-setting $325,000 at auction, beating out 3,071 entries from 18 countries.
Jonathan Majors’ star is shining brightly. He has a number of blockbuster movies out now but it’s his latest cover photo for Ebony that has tongues wagging. Some consider it “emasculating” so we wondered why Majors’ photo would anger so many, but an artist such as Prince would be considered sexy. Readers weighed in.
“The looks are totally different and Prince is Prince. Also, Prince got flack as well he just dgaf.”
-Jeanne
Robertson-Stewart“It’s the lips/pucker for me…even though I don’t think Prince photo is “sexy” either I just don’t like the way Jonathan is holding his mouth.”
-Varsavina Cooper
In one of her first public appearances since being released from Russian prison, WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner spoke at the 54th NAACP Image Awards, thanking people for their support and calling for the return of Americans still detained abroad.
Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner, were welcomed onto the stage by award ceremony host and actress Queen Latifah, who applauded the couple for their resilience.
The FCC amassed 103 complaints in February, most related to the Super Bowl’s halftime show, TMZ reports. Offended viewers argued that Rihanna’s performance was indecent, inappropriate for children and even pornographic. Several complaints grumbled about the “overtly sexual dancing” and explicit content in RiRi’s song setlist. One filing argued that the “Lift Me Up” singer’s background dancers “were patently offensive and completely inappropriate for children.” A Utah resident wrote to the FCC, saying, “This year the halftime show was so indecent I had to turn off the TV because of the pornographic content.”
Michael B. Jordan teased his former classmate who once described him as “corny” while walking the “Creed 3” red carpet. The “Black Panther” star had been chatting with Lore’l, the host of “The Morning Hustle Show,” when she brought up the fact the two of them were classmates in Newark, NJ.
“I was the corny kid, right?” he recalled in a clip going viral on TikTok.
“I did not say that! I was misquoted for sure!” she said in an attempt to defend herself, prompting Jordan to stand firm, responding, “I heard it.”
It feels so good to be here, especially with my beautiful, amazing wife and with all of y’all here today. I want to thank everyone. Let’s keep fighting to bring home every American still detained overseas.”
- Brittney Griner
Where does the history of Blacks in space begin? It depends on who you ask and where you go to get information. If you Google “the frst Black in space,” you’ll see the name Guion Bluford, a Philadelphia-born brother who few among the stars on Aug. 30, 1983.
But three years prior (Sept. 18, 1980), the Soviet Union sent an Afro-Latinx Black man from Cuba into space. His name? Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez.
Others, however, argue that the Black presence in space accompanied those first, all-white, all-male NASA astronauts, who would not have been able to make the trip without those “Hidden Figures,” the hundreds of Black female math and science geniuses whose calculations created the roadmap to not only go to space, but get back home safely.
Still, others contend space travel wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of Ancient African societies, Kemet (ancient Egypt) and the Dogon people of Mali, West Africa, in particular, for giving the world the math and sciences upon which all civilizations have been built. But here, we’ll stick with more contemporary history, beginning with the Space Race of the 1960s.
The years 1960-69 are marked as the period known as the Space Race, the competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to claim the title of top technological power at a time when each nation was vying for an even bigger prize — position as the world’s preeminent superpower.
Being the frst country to “master” space was viewed as a symbolic victory in the overall “superpower” battle. And the winner could then sway the majority of countries on the planet to follow the top dog’s political, economic and social leads, while leaving the loser behind.
Te Space Race, however, added another dimension to the overall battle — race. To defeat the USSR, and become the world’s undisputed superpower, the US realized it not only needed to win the Space Race, but had to do so while confronting the nation’s ugly reality of racism, discrimination and violence hurled at Blacks.
Here are some of those “Hidden Figures” beyond those celebrated in the movie (i.e. Katherine Johnson, Mary W. Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn) and more ancient Black/African contributors to space exploration.
Dr. Arthur Bertram Cuthbert Walker II (Aug. 24, 1936-April 29, 2001) was a Black American solar physicist and educator who was instrumental in developing the x-ray and ultraviolet telescopes used to capture the frst detailed photographs of the sun’s outermost atmosphere, the corona, in 1987. Still widely used in cosmology and astrophysics today, the technologies Walker developed are used in NASA’s solar telescopes, and the fabrication of microchips.
Dr. Harvey Washington Banks (Feb. 7, 1923-1979) was an American astronomer and scientist who made history in 1961 when he became the frst Black American scientist to earn a doctorate specifcally in astronomy. His research contributed to advances in the feld of astronomical spectroscopy, the use of light to study the properties of stars, planets, asteroids, and other celestial bodies.
Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. (Oct. 2, 1935-Dec. 8, 1967) was a U.S. Air Force ofcer and the frst Black American astronaut. Tough he died in a flight training accident before he could fy in space, his experience as an Air Force test pilot greatly benefted NASA’s early crewed spaceflight program.
Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. (born Nov. 22, 1942) is an American aerospace engineer, retired U.S. Air Force fghter pilot and former NASA astronaut who in 1983 became the frst Black American to fy in space aboard space shuttle Challenger.
Dr. Ronald E. McNair (Oct. 21, 1950-Jan. 28, 1986) was a NASA astronaut and physicist who died along with the entire crew of seven in an explosion sec onds afer the launch of the space shuttle Challenger on Jan. 28, 1986. Two years before the Challenger disaster, he had fown as a mission specialist on Challenger, becoming the second Black American to fy in space.
Kemet (ancient Egypt), according to some of the world’s most renowned histo rians (contemporary and ancient), literally gave the world the contributions of religion, art, science and “civilization.” Many scholars view the dynamic within Kemet like Har lem during the New Negro Movement (aka Harlem Renaissance) that benefted from Black genius coming from all over America and the world to contribute to the move ment. Evidence continues to be unearthed to suggest that same dynamic is what made Egypt the cradle of civilization, with contri butions made by Africans from all parts of the continent.
Te Dogon People of Mali are believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, though they have stories of traveling from the Mande
kingdom. Te Dogon did have knowledge for centuries that was, until Galileo and his telescope, unknown to the Western world. Tey identifed Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings and knew that the sun was the center of our solar system. Tey have stories about the big bang and other astronomical events. Tey had awareness about an invisible companion star orbiting Sirius that was unidentifed until 1970. It bafes scientists to this day that an ancient race had knowledge of solar systems that cannot be seen without the help of high-powered telescopes.
Benjamin Banneker (Nov. 9, 1731–Oct. 19, 1806) was a free Black American mathematician, author, surveyor, landown
Colorectal cancer – cancer of the colon and rectum – affects men and women equally and is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Sadly, more than half of all colorectal cancer deaths might have been prevented by early detection through colon cancer screening. Getting screened is your best medical defense against colorectal cancer because it’s one of the few cancers detectable in a precancerous state.
New screening guidelines recommend men and women at average risk for colorectal cancer be screened starting at age 45. If you have a close relative with colorectal cancer or you have an inflammatory bowel disease, you may need to start screening at a younger age and be screened more often. At KelseySeybold, we offer a variety of colorectal cancer screening techniques depending on the individual patient’s situation. Colonoscopy is considered the “gold
FROM THE DOC
“For years, the recommended age to begin screening the average-risk population was age 50. However, 45 is the new recommendation.”
Dr. McGee is a Gastroenterology specialist at KelseySeybold Clinic.
standard” as the screening technique most preferred by the American College of Gastroenterology. Colorectal cancer is 90% beatable in the early stages.
The key to beating this disease is through early medical detection. Here’s why: Most colon cancers begin as a benign polyp. If the polyp is detected and removed soon enough, most colon cancers can be prevented from forming – hence the importance of recommended preventive screenings. Don’t wait for symptoms before getting screened.
The most perplexing barrier to early detection of colorectal cancer is the lack of clear symptoms. The primary symptom – rectal bleeding or blood in the stool – might be attributed to hemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis, or inflammatory bowel disease. However, once there’s blood in the stool, cancerous polyps may have been
developing and advancing for 10 years or more.
5 ways to help reduce your risk:
1. Maintain a healthy weight. Excess body fat is linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
2. Exercise regularly. Staying active by getting between 75 and 150 minutes of exercise per week can help reduce your risk.
3. Add more fiber to your diet. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and oatmeal are good sources. Limit red meat. Avoid hot dogs and bacon.
4. Cut back on alcohol. Don’t smoke or use nicotine.
5. Have regular, doctorrecommended colorectal screenings.
Dr.McGeecaresforpatientsatthe FortBendMedicalandDiagnostic CenterinSugarLand.
Kelsey-Seybold welcomes new patients and accepts more than 50 health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and many more.
We have 35 convenient locations close to home and work –and still growing!
Trinity Dawson is the CEO of Integrated Utility Service (IUS), the largest fully minority-owned energy manufacturing and service company.
The Houston-based company recently reached a milestone by acquiring the assets of the New Jersey Stuart Steel Protection Corporation, a manufacturer, packager and master distributor of corrosion control products . With the acquisition, IUS is positioned to make big strides in the area.
IUS, a full-scale integrated service company
launched in October 2021, serves the energy industry by producing high-quality products, optimizing end user supply strategies and ofering innovative solutions for project needs.
Before transitioning into entrepreneurship, Dawson was a passionate contemporary gospel artist and talented running back for Division 1 college football at the University of Toledo.
The Defender spoke to Dawson about the new acquisition and the latest on IUS.
DEFENDER: Tell our audience about yourself.
TRINITY DAWSON: I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I came from a very musical family. My dad used to play for Rick James and then he ended up playing for a Christian group, and then my mom was a singer. I have a sister on Broadway, another sister sings in New York. My parents eventually split when I was two years old, and we ended up in a tough spot as a family and a single mom with four young children. I believe we were in Cincinnati living in a shelter at the time. A family we knew in Detroit called my mom to encourage her to leave the shelter and move there. Tey adopted our family and looked out for us. Even though it was a tough situation, we still had a community and family.
DEFENDER: Your interest in entrepreneurship started through a communityoutreach program in Detroit?
DAWSON: I attended this community center called Joy of Jesus. It was really one of the frst places outside of my home where you’re being mentored, people encouraged me, and reminded me that I’m not a product of my circumstances. My mom ended up being the executive director. Tere was a man by the name of Eddy Edwards who started the community center. He was an executive at General Motors before taking the leap to launch the center. He had an entrepreneurship program at Joy of Jesus and I anticipated that at some point I was going to start a business and invest in people.
DEFENDER: Didyou have connectionswith Houston priorto owningyourcompany?
DAWSON: I started with a company called Red Man Pipe and Supply. It was a family run business and I know the Ketchum family very well. During college, I was playing a football game on ESPN and one of the big college announcers by the name of Craig James made
a comment saying that if this guy isn’t playing [football] I could see him running a Fortune 500 company one day. So Craig Ketchum the owner of Red Man Pipe and Supply heard that and it stuck with him.
When I came back to Tulsa to visit friends, he said he knew that everything was going well with football and to promise him whenever I’m ready to jump in the business to call him. My focus was the NFL at the time. My junior year of college I had an injury and fgured out how to manage it, but didn’t really fx it so it ended up being degenerative. So the NFL door was ofcially closed.
I went ahead and took Craig up on his word and called him. Te company was based out of Tulsa but Goldman Sachs bought the majority interest in Red Man Pipe and Supply and another called McJunkin Corporation and merged them. We turned it into MRC Global [McJunkin Red Man Corporation], and that is the company that ultimately moved me to Houston. Working in oil and gas is what brought me to Houston.
DEFENDER: What challenges didyou see in the sectorthat encouraged you to launchyourbusiness?
DAWSON: One of the main things that I saw when I moved away as the vice president of Gas Utilities for MRC Global -- I was responsible for all the business development eforts primarily in North America -- [was] that there was a tremendous amount of strain on capacity in the industry. I also saw where the industry wanted to support diverse communities and people and didn’t know how to make that happen. And there wasn’t a lot of organizations or entities of diverse backgrounds that they could partner with. I was intentionally trying to seek out other people to support and it was a challenge. We saw an opportunity to fill in the gaps.
Jack Yates eSports Tryout Competition sponsored by the Amateur Gaming Leagues LLC kicks off Thursday, March 9 at Jack Yates High School (3650 Alabama St., Houston, TX 77004) from 4:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Understanding there are few Blacks and Latinos competing in eSports, the goal is to help identify the most qualified gamers on campus and position them to receive scholarships, job placements and internship opportunities in eSports.
Covering high school sports in the greater Houston area for six years at the Houston Defender, Jodie B. Jiles, has assisted student athletes in securing scholarships to schools across the country. After doing several stories on eSports Jiles started focusing more attention on getting people of color involved.
In June 2022, Jiles launched the Amateur Gaming Leagues LLC to facilitate eSports tryouts, invitational tournaments, leagues and in-school and after school programs.
“The mission of the Amateur Gaming Leagues LLC is to address the
underserved urban youth by giving them unique experiences and access to competitive gaming competitions that offer professional and collegiate eSports placement and career opportunities,” said Jiles. “The vision of the AGL is to build grassroots eSports communities across the city of Houston, that shape the next generation of eSports in Black culture.”
The Defender Network, “Houston’s Leading Black Information Source,” is one of the proud sponsors of these upcoming the Esports events:
Jack Yates Tryout
March 9, 2023
3650 Alabama St. Houston, TX 77004
YWCPA (Middle School) Tryout
March 30, 2023
1906 Cleburne St. Houston, TX 77004
YWCPA (High School) Tryout
April 20, 2023
1906 Cleburne St. Houston, TX 77004
With All-District honors in acting and a G.P.A. that will make any mother proud, Banks is more than just an athlete. Watch the Defender Coming Up series and experience his athletic talent and how the molding of this young man goes beyond the gridiron.
University of Houston senior guard Marcus Sasser scored 22 points to lead the No.1 Cougars to a win over East Carolina and secure the outright American Athletic Conference title.
DeMeco Ryans completes first Texans’ staff
New Texans coach
DeMeco Ryans has named his first staff members.
Highlighting his staff are African American assistant coaches Jerrod Johnson (quarterbacks), Jake Moreland (tight ends), Jacques Cesaire (defensive line) and Danny Barrett (running backs). Ryans’ initial staff does not include any African Americans at the offensive, defensive and special teams coordinator positions.
TSU’s Derrick Tucker drafted into USFL
Former Texas Southern safety Derrick Tucker became the third Tiger drafted by the USFL after he was taken by the New Jersey Generals in the sixth round of the 2023 USFL College Draft. This past season, the two-year letterman had 27 tackles, two interceptions and two tackles for loss as the secondary was one of the strongest areas on the defense. Former Tigers, Deandre Johnson and Tim Walton, Jr. were also drafted into the USFL.
Texas Southern administrator receives Lifetime Achievement SWAC award
TSU Operations
Director/ Marketing and Promotions
Manager
Harlan Stefann Robinson has been named a recipient of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award. Robinson, who has been associated with the SWAC for more than 40-plus years as a student and administrator, has been with Texas Southern since 2008 in addition to stints at Prairie View A&M and Southern University.
From the outside, it looks as though Bishop James Dixon lives a very hectic existence with lots of moving parts. But to let him tell it, it’s a very simple life.
Dixon, of course, is the leader of Community of Faith Church in addition to being a hands-on father and a civic leader in the community (head of the NAACP Houston Branch). And as of last June, Dixon added chairman of the board of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation at NRG Park (HCSCC) to his plate.
“There are a lot of moving parts, but I’m not the one that keeps them going,” Dixon said in a recent conversation with The Defender at his church on the Northwest side of Houston. “It really is the Lord. I promise, it’s got to be.”
It was through intense prayer with God that Dixon received the green light to accept the appointment to chairman of the HCSCC this past summer. Dixon had served on the board since 2018 and was content with that appointment when he was approached about being chairman.
It wasn’t an easy decision.
“I second-guessed as to whether or not that was something that I was suited for, because it’s a great responsibility and it has a lot to do with determining the vision and direction of the corporation of the entire NRG Park and Stadium,” said Dixon, who is the first pastor and African American to be appointed to chairman. “I had to pray intensely as to whether or not this was in God’s plan for me. I came to peace with that through prayer that God was opening the door of greater opportunity to serve and help build a legacy along with my colleague’s on the board that will be a benefit to our city, county and region.”
In addition to making certain to keep happy NRG Park’s core tenants -- the Texans and Rodeo Houston -- the board is responsible for the 500 events hosted on the grounds while planning the vision for the next 20-to30 years for the 350-acre complex.
Right now and through most of March, the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is occupying every corner of NRG Park. But the NCAA Men’s Final Four and its massive production with thousands of college basketball fans will take over NRG Stadium and the complex literally within days of the Rodeo shutting down.
It seems like a monumental task, but
Dixon says it’s one that the HCSCC and Houston are prepared for. While it will be Dixon’s first rodeo – no pun intended – it’s far from the first for the complex that has hosted Super Bowls and NCAA Tournaments and Final Fours in the past.
In addition to the Final Four, which runs March 31 - April 3, NRG Park is set to host the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2024 and World Cup Soccer in 2026.
“The preparation has been tedious, but I think people will be proud that we have such a stellar team that entities like the NCAA want to keep coming back. I think people kind of take that for granted. But they have choices. So why do they keep coming back to Houston again and again?
“It’s because The Sports Corp and our team out at NRG are so stellar at hosting these big events that they know Houston is a turnkey operation and they can find the kind of professionalism it takes to do this with as few glitches as possible.”
All the while, the HCSCC board is also tasked with developing the vision for what
NRG Park will or should look like in the next quarter-century. That aspect, Dixon says, is right up his alley.
He envisions NRG Park becoming a global destination point that does business seven days a week, 365 days a per year and will pump even more dollars into the county and city.
“Casting vision is something that I really enjoy doing,” Dixon said. “I’m not a management type of leader, I’m more of an innovative visionary.”
A major part of that vision will be deciding what to do with the Astrodome, which still sits on the grounds serving as little more than sentimental memory of what once was. There seems to be growing support to finally tear it down, but Dixon says the board’s job is to determine what is best for the county and then to develop a gameplan.
“It only makes sense to keep The Dome if the dollars are right. If it doesn’t make sense with dollars then it doesn’t make sense,” Dixon said. “But we want to make sure we are making an intelligent decision.”
By Jimmie Aggison
A positive male role model is vital in a young man’s life, providing guidance, positive reinforcement and structure along the journey of boyhood to manhood. For some, this role model can be found in their father, uncle or a neighbor.
For Christopher Barnett, that guiding light was found in his grandfather.
“My grandfather made an amazing impact on my life, getting me out that Black social norm, just teaching me the stuff that Black people usually don’t do,” said Barnett.
It was his grandfather that at an early age encouraged him to play chess and try sports where Black participant numbers are still low, like swimming, and golf.
“I’ve been playing golf for about five years. I used to be in tournaments, competing, just enjoying the time while I was there,” said the Elkins High School senior. “The game of golf taught me patience.”
As he grew taller Barnett began playing basketball competitively in the 7th grade with TJ Ford’s team. However, it was the patience that he learned through the game of golf that allowed him to remain calm and excel while on the basketball court.
Elkins head coach Albert Thomas was more than willing to share what Barnett meant to the team.
“Chris meant a huge amount to us as a leader, off the floor, and on the floor,” said Thomas. “He solidified our defense because he talked to everyone and anchored what was going on behind the scenes.”
At 6’5”, playing down low can be a challenge if asked to guard a stretch post player. However, as the anchor Barnett has the quickness to move his feet and stay vertical.
“I’m an anchor really on the defensive end. I’m the voice that gets everybody in the right position,” said Barnett.
During the 2022 – 2023 season, Elkins High School found themselves in a three-way tie for second going into playoffs with a record of 11-4. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Seven Lakes High School ending their championship run. For some there is still next year. However, for seniors like Barnett, this may have been their final game. With no offers, but hopes to play on the next level, Barnett expressed what he is looking for in a college basketball program.
Class: 2023
IG: @kristhakidd
Twitter: @Kris_Barnett1
Measurements: 6’5” 200lbs
Players he studies: Charles Anderson (Dawson HS), Keyonte George (Baylor), Lebron James (Lakers)
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite Artist: Moneybagg Yo, NBA YoungBoy, Lil Boosie
Favorite Subject in School: Statistics
Shoutouts: Coach Thomas, Coach Blair, Coach Hamilton, Coach Whitaker, Doc, Coach TJ Ford, Mom, Grandpa, Granny, brothers and sisters and my friends
“What I’m looking for on the next level is a team that fits my playing style. A coach that knows what I can do and what I can bring, and one I can trust. A team that’s compassionate about what they do, hardworking, and just motivates me so I can get out there and finish what those guys started.”
While in college Barnett plans to major in business management. When asked why he chose business as a major, Barnett credits advice given to him by one of his early high school teachers.
“My teacher from freshman year, Ms. Smallwood, gave me some advice when I asked her about majors. Her husband was in business. I want to do a podcast based on sports,” said the grounded Barnett.
Only positive things await Barnett on his road ahead, who summed up his approach to his present and future realities with words that sound like “grandfather” wisdom.
“I can’t do anything but try my best and succeed at what God has for me at the next level.”
Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), nationally-recognized leader in higher education and president emerita of Smith College and Brown University, will serve as a senior advisor to the president of Harvard University on engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
President Larry Bacow announced the appointment recently alongside Simmons, during a visit to PVAMU in Prairie View, Texas.
“Almost 20 years ago, Ruth Simmons had the courage to interrogate the history of Brown University as its president. Her leadership in that moment created new a path toward understanding and reckoning, and she has been walking that path ever since, urging all of us in higher education to follow her so that we might do more good in the world,” Bacow said. “I am thrilled that she has agreed to join us at Harvard to enrich our collaborative efforts with her extraordinary experience and unwavering resolve. We are indebted to her yet again.”
In the role, which will begin on June 1, Simmons will advise on efforts to support the recommendations of the Presidential
Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery. Her work will focus on engaging in meaningful and enduring partnerships with the nation’s HBCUs, as laid out in Recommendation 3 of the report.
“I applaud President Bacow’s vision and Harvard’s hopes for a more inclusive future for higher education,” Simmons said. “From his courageous defense of the importance of diversity on our campuses to his support for the work of the Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery initiative, he has led with great wisdom and integrity. I am proud to work
alongside Harvard to shape a new vision for higher education, one which acknowledges the need for institutions with different histories and missions to share expertise and productively collaborate in the interests of a more equitable society. Harvard’s recognition that HBCUs have much to contribute is a welcome and timely message.”
Simmons brings a unique perspective to Harvard’s implementation efforts, having led Brown University’s reckoning with its history of slavery and injustice during her 11-year tenure at the helm of the institution. Simmons formed the Brown University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice to help the community think seriously, deeply, and rigorously about their past, a model that has served as a blueprint for institutions like Harvard who have since also begun to address their own injustices.
Simmons’ work at Harvard will proceed alongside implementation work already underway across Harvard and with external partners under the leadership of Vice Provost Sara Bleich. Collectively, efforts have begun to address the seven recommendations of the Presidential Committee, all of which were accepted by Bacow in April 2022 along with a commitment by the University
of $100 million, mostly endowed, to fund implementation.
As part of the work to strengthen and broaden relationships with HBCUs, Simmons will convene a gathering of HBCU partners in Cambridge in the fall. Plans for the convening will be announced in the coming months. Additionally, Simmons will advise on the development and growth of partnerships outlined in the Presidential Committee report, including faculty and student exchanges between Harvard and HBCU partners. Along with a focus on the direct outcomes and opportunities through these partnerships, the work will seek to establish and model best practices to other institutions that wish to address systemic and enduring educational inequities rooted in slavery and its legacies.
Simmons also has deep roots at Harvard. In 1997, she received the Centennial Medal from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and in 2002, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University. She delivered the principal address at Harvard’s celebration of the Class of 2021 and has testified on Harvard’s behalf in a lawsuit challenging Harvard College’s right to consider race as one among many factors in its admissions process.