Houston Defender: March 10, 2022

BUN B

Talks making history at the Houston rodeo.

SPORTS

NEWS

BRITTNEY GRINER

BARBARA JORDAN

Is the WNBA star, who remains in a Russian jail, a political pawn?

Volume 91, issue 18 March 10, 2022

The iconic lawmaker gets a highway named in her honor.

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ReShonda Tate Billingsley and her latest book, ‘Miss Pearly’s Girls.’

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BARNES & NO-BULL

Griner’s a sister. Has it made news? Yes. Would it be the top story on every news segment, every day, every second, if she was white? You already know.

So, a successful writer friend of mine, who shall remain nameless (ReShonda), and who has written somewhere between 50 and “50-leven-million” books, had several made into movCOLORBLIND ies and has won every award under the sun, reThe world’s hearts are understandably going cently walked into a local Barnes & Noble. Why? out to Ukrainian refugees. News reports aplenBecause this nameless writer chick (ReShonda) ty have broken down all the negative impacts of heard that folk wanting to buy the book saw being a war-induced refugee, including the psyAswad Walker none on B&N shelves. When nameless asked for chological impact of losing jobs, homes, loved the book, a store attendee went into the back and ones, normalcy, etc. Refugees remain in exile discovered 10 copies buried in a box. Apparently, this is not (away from their homeland) for five years on average, with new — books by Black authors left in backrooms. lengths ranging from two to 20-plus years.

Amazingly, B&N and others say they don’t want to carMedia outlets hit us hourly with refugee tales meant to pull at ry books by Black authors because they don’t sell. I wonder our heartstrings so we feel empathy for their plight. And on this why. The myth that Blackfolk don’t read is just that. A myth. topic, U.S. media and politicians have been what they always B&N needs to do better. But maybe WE need to do better, claim to be — colorblind. Not that they treat all refugees the and spend our dollars at Black-owned bookstores so our au- same regardless of race. Rather, they’ve been blind to the huthors don’t have to be dissed like that. manity of refugees of color. Most recently, when Haitian (Black) refugees fled violence in their country and stood at the Texas/ #GETBRITTNEYGRINERHOME Mexico border, the talk wasn’t about their humanity or trauma, While the U.S. is figuring out how to respond to Russia’s but rather the supposed “evils” they bring, and their personal invasion of the Ukraine, Houston-born pro athlete Brittney moral failing for being in that predicament. See the difference?

Griner of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury has been detained in Russia for several weeks. According to Russian officials, IN THIS WEEK’S DEFENDER Griner was detained on drug charges for having vape car- • Check out the Texas program helping homeowners avoid tridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. But you have foreclosure due to COVID. to remember, Russia has a long history of treating Ameri- • Texas GLO discriminated in flood relief funding. Wow. cans like the U.S. treats Blackfolk: they lock folk up for bo- • See what former Houston Mayor Annise Parker is up to gus, non-existent stuff all the time. But whether she had the these days. vapes or not, there’s more layers here.

Russia is seriously anti-LGBTQ, a team Griner rides with. ON THE WEB And then there’s the reason Griner was playing in Russia’s pro • Who are the local artists you need to know? Visit Defendleague in the first place. As commentator Jeff Johnson pointed erNetwork.com and find out. out on a recent “Rickey Smiley Morning Show” episode, be- • Check the Defender’s mini-publishers: Black Women, cause gender pay inequity is real even for pro athletes, nearly all Under 40 & Community Central.

WNBA players have to support their income by playing over- • Check out the Defender 1-on-1 with ‘Black Mt. Rushmore’ seas during the WNBA off-season. And then there’s the fact that artist Reginald Adams.

March 10, 2022 |

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DN News Mayor kicks off Hire Houston Youth program Defender News Service

Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria on primary election night, March 1, 2022. Longoria’s office has been criticized for delays in unofficial vote counts and failing to count 10,000 mail-in ballots. Houston Public Media

HARRIS COUNTY

ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR RESIGNS PRIMARY ELECTION PROBLEMS OVERWHELMING

Houston Public Media

Harris County Election Administrator Isabel Longoria will resign in July in the wake of a 2022 primary marred by vote-counting delays and thousands of missed ballots.

Longoria told county commissioners she picked the July 1 date in order to have someone in place during the May and June elections, and to allow the county Elections Commission time to find a replacement.

“I remain committed to the office and its mission, and hope to aid in defeating harmful rhetoric to ensure successful elections in the future,” Longoria said.

Longoria’s announcement came as Republican leaders called for the county to reverse changes to the way it administers elections, which the Democratic majority on commissioners court implemented in 2020.

Those calls follow long delays releasing the vote counts on primary election night and the news that the administrator failed to tally some 10,000 mail-in ballots. County Commissioner Tom Ramsey led the effort, with a proposal that Longoria be fired and to disband her office.

“In my opinion, the repetitive dysfunction of the unelected and frankly unaccountable County Elections Administrator Longoria is simply unbelievable,” Ramsey said. “Clearly, she is not qualified, or clearly, does not understand what it takes to run an election of this magnitude, or maybe of any magnitude.”

Ramsey called for responsibility for administering elections be handed back to the County Clerk, as well as for the responsibility for registering voters to revert to the County Tax Assessor-Collector.

The Democratic majority on Commissioners Court created the Elections Commission, which appointed Longoria. Harris County Judge Hidalgo, Longoria and other Democrats have focused much of their criticism on Senate Bill 1, a law passed by Republican legislators that has been blasted as an attempt at voter suppression. Much of Tuesday’s meeting focused on problems with SB 1, and confusion the law may have caused.

But Longoria herself has blamed errors with new voting machines, which require printing and scanning paper ballots.

Ramsey also proposed an audit of the 2022 primary election results, and called

for the Elections Commission to request the Secretary of State appoint a monitor to oversee any solutions the commission proposes in the aftermath of last week’s vote count drama.

Harris County has had long election night waits before, particularly under former Republican Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart. But Ramsey said these problems were nothing compared to what took place under Longoria after polls closed on primary day.

“No one I’ve talked to can ever remember this many problems,” Ramsey said.

“When it takes more than 30 hours just to count the votes in this particular primary election, and you compare that to the 2010, 2014, and 2018 (midterm elections), where it averaged seven hours. People when they look at this and they say, something that goes that long, there’s got to be something wrong.”

This is not the first issue Ramsey has had with elections in Harris County. In November, he was the sole commissioner to vote against certifying the results of the Nov. 2 election. At the time, he cited concerns about election night delays and requested an independent audit of the process.

Mayor Sylvester Turner helped kick off the seventh year of the Hire Houston Youth program. Turner was joined by city leaders, private industry and nonprofit organizations at a recent press conference to announce the program.

The program will provide summer “earn and learn” opportunities for people ages 16-24.

“Employment plays a pivotal role in reducing gender, ethnic, racial and other social inequalities,” Turner said. “Therefore, providing meaningful employment experiences for our youth is in the best interest of all, including young people, their communities and Houston as a whole.”

Turner announced that he has extended the application period until April 8.

This year, Turner said he has set a goal of offering 12,000 job and internship opportunities, with a stretch goal of 15,000.

Houston was awarded a $150,000 grant by the National League of Cities that will be used for the Hire Houston Youth initiative. In addition to the monetary award, the city will receive specialized assistance from the National League of Cities staff and other national experts to advance the city’s efforts to expand STEM career pathways for marginalized young people. This initiative also aligns with the Mayor’s One Safe Houston campaign.

Mayor Sylvester Turner APPLICATION DEADLINE April 8 APPLY AT https://hirehoustonyouth.force. com/s/youth-registration

4 | March 10, 2022 |

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DN News

Misha McClure The exec will lead Comcast Houston region’s digital equity and community impact programs as the new Director of External Affairs.

HUD: Texas agency discriminated in flood relief funding Associated Press

COVID-19

Program helps Texas homeowners avoid foreclosure The Texas Tribune

Texas is launching an $842 million fund aimed at helping homeowners avoid foreclosure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — a year after U.S. lawmakers allocated the funds.

The program — called the Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund — is aimed at homeowners who have struggled to pay their mortgage, property taxes, home insurance and home-related fees because of economic hardships caused by the pandemic. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the state agency that oversees the program, began taking applications this week.

“We take the financial hardships of our fellow Texans very seriously,” Bobby Wilkinson, TDHCA executive director, said in a statement.

It took Texas nearly a year to get the program off the ground — slower than it took many other states. President Joe Biden signed

WHAT’S COVERED? • Up to $40,000 in overdue mortgage payments • Up to $25,000 for overdue payments on property taxes, property insurance and association fees

the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill, last March — which set aside more than $10 billion intended to help homeowners stay in their homes.

Twenty-five states including California and New York got their programs up and running before Texas, according to the National Council of State Housing Agencies.

Ten states including Texas have run pilot programs. To date, Texas has distributed about $5 million to more than 600 households to help homeowners make mortgage payments through two pilot programs, according to TDHCA. The program required “extensive

planning with outside stakeholders and analysis” before Treasury approved TDHCA’s plan, agency spokeswoman Kristina Tirloni said.

The Treasury Department issued guidelines for state-level homeowner assistance programs last April — and TDHCA aimed to send its plan to Treasury by the end of September after getting public input on the program, according to the agency’s website. The state’s plan received federal approval in January and launched “a little more than 30 days later,” Tirloni said.

Homeowners have to prove they suffered financial hardship caused by the pandemic in order to qualify for assistance.

The new program, which aims to assist 55,000 and 70,000 households, signals a shift at TDHCA from assisting renters hit hard by the pandemic to helping homeowners. The agency stopped taking applications for its federally funded rent relief program in November, citing dwindling funds.

Texas’ administration of flood relief money from Hurricane Harvey broke federal law by discriminating against Black and Hispanic residents in the Houston area, according to a decision by the federal housing agency that could channel millions of dollars of aid to communities battered by the 2017 storm.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that the Texas General Land Office’s distribution process for more than $2 billion in flood mitigation funds “caused there to be disproportionately less Harris County funding available to benefit was ground minority residents than was available to benefit white zero for the heartbreakresidents.”

The state agency drew ing impacts bipartisan outrage from of Hurricane officials and residents in the Harvey, and nation’s fourth-largest city continues to last year when it announced that Houston and Harris be exceedingCounty would be getting ly vulnerable.” only a small portion of the -Harris County money Texas was awarding Judge Lina Hidalgo as part of an initial distribution of federal funding, despite the area having suffered the brunt of Harvey’s estimated $125 billion in damage.

In a Friday letter, HUD warned Land Commissioner George P. Bush that if his office does not voluntarily comply with federal law it may “initiate administrative proceedings” or refer the matter to the U.S. Justice Department. The letter was released recently by a housing advocacy group that filed a complaint against the state agency last year.

Spokesperson Brittany Eck said that the Texas General Land Office is considering litigation against HUD and accused the federal agency of “politicizing” flood mitigation efforts. Bush, a Republican grandson of former President George H.W. Bush, is running for Texas attorney general.

VOLUME 91 - NUMBER 18 - MARCH 10, 2022 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Chief Development Officer Emelda Douglas

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Creative Director Michael Grant

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Administrative Asst.

Stacey Palmer

Photographers Jimmie Aggison

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2020 copyright.

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

March 10, 2022 |

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DN News

U.S. Senate passes anti-lynching bill

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., speaks during a news conference about the “Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act” on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Defender News Service

The United States Senate has passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act of 2022 by unanimous consent, and it will now head to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

The bill, which makes lynching a federal hate crime, passed the House of Representatives last week 422-3, with all but three Republican Congress members — Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Chip Roy of Texas and Andrew S. Clyde of Georgia — voting for it.

The bill was introduced by Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush in 2019. Senators Cory Booker and Tim Scott were co-sponsors of the Senate legislation, along with Sen. Rand Paul, per NPR; Paul had previously opposed a prior version of the bill. In a statement after the passage, he wrote, “I’m pleased to

have worked with Senators Cory Booker and Tim Scott to strengthen the language of this bill, which will ensure that federal law will define lynching as the absolutely heinous crime that it is. I’m glad to cosponsor this bipartisan effort and I applaud the Senate for quickly passing this important legislation.”

The bill “establishes a new criminal civil rights violation for lynching. Specifically, a person who conspires to commit certain civil rights offenses (e.g., a hate crime act) is subject to criminal penalties.”

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made remarks from the Senate floor after the bill passed, saying, “After more than 200 failed attempts to outlaw lynching, Congress is finally succeeding

Hwy 288 renamed Barbara Jordan Memorial Parkway State Rep. Shawn Thierry (in green) is joined by family members in front of the newly unveiled signage marking the Barbara Jordan Memorial Parkway which runs on Highway 288 from Cleburne St. to Beltway 8. The signage was unveiled on March 8, 2022, International Women’s Day, during an event held on the Southmore St. Bridge over Hwy 288. Aswad Walker

in taking the long-overdue action by passing the Emmett Till Antilynching Act. Hallelujah. It’s long overdue.”

Schumer said the bill is “an important step forward as we continue the work of confronting our nation’s past in pursuit of a brighter and more just future.”

The legislation was named in honor of 14-year-old Chicago resident Till, who was brutally murdered in Money, Mississippi, in 1955 while visiting family. The teenager’s killing, after allegedly whistling at a white woman, drew national attention and has been called the spark for America’s Civil Rights Movement.

Rep. Rush represents the Chicago district where Till and his family once lived.

After so long, the Senate has now finally addressed one of the most shameful elements of this nation’s past by making lynching a federal crime.”

- Chuck Schumer

March 10, 2022 |

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DN News FORMER HOUSTON MAYOR ANNISE PARKER SPEAKS Voter suppression, LGBTQ members in politics tops the list The 2022 primary election was the first major election under Texas’ new strict voting laws. Republicans argued that the move is necessary to ensure a fair election process, while Democrats believe the law adds another layer of voter suppression.

People of color and other marginalized communities have faced various obstacles. Thousands of absentee voters learned that their ballots were rejected due to the state’s new voter ID requirements scrambling to make their votes count on time for the recent primaries.

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, the president and CEO of the Victory Fund, had her fair share of navigating confusing ID requirements before the primary. Though she no longer is running for office, the former councilmember and city controller stands firm on her desire to increase the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government through her organization.

Parker spoke with the Defender for more insight to her work, and the current state of Texas politics post-primary.

Defender: How has the political discourse between Democrats and Republicans changed since your time in office?

Annise Parker: All of my time in of-

fice was at the local level and it was in a nonpartisan position. At the local level, people want to get in and get the work done. It’s much more about gamesmanship. Since I work around the country, I’m seeing two convergent trends. One is that Donald Trump has destroyed the Republican Party as it used to be and at the same time you see people of extraordinary dedication and courage standing up in their communities and fighting for the future they want. It’s exciting and inspirational.

Defender: What grade do you give Texas politicians and their handling of the state’s major issues?

Parker: We’ve had one-party rule for

more than 25 years. I would say Glenn Hegar does a pretty good job as state controller. He focuses on running a really large

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Former Mayor of Houston, Annise Parker Photo: LGBTQ Victory Fund

bureaucracy that does some important work for the state of Texas. But then you go over to a Ken Paxton, who is a crook.

He’s been indicted for security fraud for his entire time he’s in office. His entire senior staff has resigned and accused him of manipulating investigations, lying to steer verdicts for campaign supporters.

Then we have Dan Patrick…it’s all political theater, whether it’s critical race theory, trans kids, or whatever flavor of the week it is he can use to bash Democrats and try to build a strong base in the far right. He vows to have legislation passed next session to strip tenure away from any professor in Texas who doesn’t teach what Dan Patrick thinks he or she ought to teach. The brain drain of scholars would be immediate and detrimental to the state.

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DN InFocus

STATE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

IN HOUSTON-AREA HIGH SCHOOLS

By Aswad Walker

In the wake of the Texas Board of Education okaying African American Studies (AAS) to be taught as an elective in state high schools in April 2020, exactly how many Houston-area school districts are offering such courses is unclear.

Just months after AAS classes were cleared to be offered to Texas high schoolers, such courses seemed to be in danger of ever being taught.

As pushback to the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1619 Project and calls during the “Summer of George Floyd” protests to end white supremacy in criminal justice, politics and education, any efforts to teach Black history or provide a Black perspective on contemporary issues were slapped with the erroneous label of “critical race theory” and vehemently attacked by conservative organizations, parents and politicians.

Katy ISD cancelled a scheduled Oct. 4 presentation from author Jerry Craft, winner of the 2020 Newberry Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award and the Kirkus Prize, because his books “New Kid” and “Class Act” chronicled elementary school life for Black children attending predominantly white schools.

Katy ISD also removed Craft’s books from school libraries at the behest of some district parents fearful their children would feel uncomfortable reading books chronicling the Black experience.

Though Katy ISD reversed its book

removal, State Rep. Matt Krause (Republican) launched an investigation into Texas school districts over the type of books they have, particularly those that pertain to race or sexuality or “make students feel discomfort.”

DISTRICTS OFFERING AAS Thus, with both local and national attacks on all things Black in Texas schools, the Defender reached out to six area districts to see which had high schools offering AAS classes. Of those, three responded to Defender inquiries. Two of the three, HISD and Ft. Bend ISD, have high schools offering the course, while Alief has zero.

Of HISD’s 52 high schools, 14 offer AAS courses. Those 14 schools offer 25 sections (separate classes) on the subject. Five HISD high schools have more than one section of AAS, with Sterling leading the way with four.

FBISD did not provide the number of sections their five AAS-teaching schools offer, but is serving a total of 345 students.

“As a diverse community, FBISD is proud to offer ethnic studies courses including African American Studies to our students,” said FBISD Coordinator of Community and

Civic Engagement Chassidy Olainu-Alade.

“There is great value in learning about history from a variety of viewpoints and narratives, and the African American studies course is designed to do just that.”

Alief ISD said in a statement, “We have been working with our regional partners to develop curriculum and resources to offer the course in the near future.”

Katy, Cy-Fair and Aldine school districts have yet to respond.

THE CURRICULUM Andre Muata Richardson lobbied to become Sterling Aviation High School’s AAS teacher because he knew personally the impact exposure to history, literature and other subjects from a Black perspective can have on a person’s sense of self.

His favorite part of the AAS curriculum is the religious/spiritual contributions of the ancient African nation, Egypt. That curriculum was based off one developed for

Dallas ISD by Jamilia Thomas, senior vice president of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Dallas, state board trustees Aicha Davis and Lawrence Allen, various Texas university scholars, and groups like the NAACP, League of United Latin American Citizens and Houston’s Hermann Park Rotary Club.

Christina Frascino, Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men’s AAS teacher, appreciates the fact that the curriculum covers everything, including the arts, history, science, architecture and more.

STUDENT IMPACT According to the National Education Association’s (NEA) 2020 report What the Research Says About Ethnic Studies, “Students who participate in ethnic studies (i.e. AAS) are more academically engaged, develop a stronger sense of self-efficacy and personal empowerment, perform better academically and graduate at higher rates.”

Frascino sees this firsthand.

“Our AAS students have really deep, advanced-level discussions, even when they’re outside of the class or in the class, and they’re taking more pride in themselves, which is fun to watch. When they’re learning about themselves as pharaohs and queens of Egypt, instead of slaves of America, it shows a different part of their history that they haven’t seen before.”

Ft. Bend ISD AAS teacher Tanya Samuels echoed those sentiments.

“Students come into my class with prior knowledge, but there is so much history about African Americans that they have not

had access to,” she said. “A class like African American studies fills in gaps of information that they don’t get in a traditional U.S. History class.”

According education company Kaplan’s website, taking AAS courses helps students gain a wide range of transferable skills, including critical thinking, research, persuasive argument construction, effective public speaking and more. AAS courses are said to also help students appreciate social and global diversity rather than seeing it as a threat.

CHALLENGES Still, the threat of parents and politicians who have equated AAS with critical race theory, and demonized them both, has teachers worried.

“I don’t really know what critical race theory is, but I do know that they’re trying to say anything that makes white people feel uncomfortable is critical race theory,” said Richardson. “But, anytime we talk about what happened to us, we’ve been made to feel we shouldn’t talk about it because it’s going to make them uncomfortable. But, in order for us to heal ourselves, we have to

acknowledge the truth and we have to deal with the truth.”

Regarding fears of reprisals for teaching AAS, Frascino said, “I tell my students, what we talk about in class was almost made illegal. The content itself was almost completely outlawed in 2021.

“So, what we’re talking about in class is not completely detached from what’s happening now. So, it’s a fear of mine, but my motto is to always teach the truth, no matter what that truth is or what those feelings are. I want to teach the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

HISD

FBISD

Alief ISD

Cy Fair ISD

Aldine ISD

Katy ISD

Total Number of HSs

52

17

6

10

9

9

Number of HSs w/ AAS

14

5

0

?

?

?

Number of sections (students)

25

(345)

0

?

?

?

School District

10 | March 10, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Education OTHER TEXAS HBCUS THAT RECEIVED FUNDING

$70,663,484 ST PHILIP’S COLLEGE

$12,378,810 TEXAS COLLEGE

$11,360,349

TSU, PVAMU receive $174 mil in federal funding Defender News Service

About 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) shared more than $2.7 billion in funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, the White House recently announced. Included in that list were two Houston-area universities — Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University. TSU received $90,104,029 in funding and Prairie View

received $84,101,911.

The White House said the funding, which is among the largest ever put toward America’s HBCUs, is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to shared prosperity and equity for all Americans.

Vice President Kamala Harris is a graduate of Howard University, an HBCU. “HBCUs create pathways to opportunity for Black students and foster academic

excellence throughout our nation,” said the White House.

The funds were provided through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) over the past year. The American Rescue Plan requires half of the funds to be used to provide direct financial relief to students, though the Department of Education expects far more will ultimately be used for that purpose.

HUSTON-TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY

$10,982,554 JARVIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

$9,934,742 WILEY COLLEGE

$8,089,525 PAUL QUINN COLLEGE

$6,085,111 SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

TSU named among top HBCU research institutions with new VP at helm Defender News Service

of Research of Innovation was a top Texas Southern University is making its priority of my first-year strategic plan mark in research. The University recently as the 13th president of Texas Southern kicked off its fi rst week of the new divi- University,” said TSU President, Lesia sion of Research and Innovation, led by L. Crumpton-Young. “My previous nationally acclaimed researcher, Dr. work as a provost, vice president of Michelle Penn-Marshall. The Research, and program offilaunch, coupled with the cer for the National Scirecent reaffirmation by ence Foundation has the Carnegie Clasgiven me first-hand sification of Instiknowledge of leadtutions of Higher ing institutions to Education of its elevated levels of status as a Doctoral research and I am University of High confident that our Research Activity outstanding Texas (R2), is transformS out her n Un iing the university’s versity faculty will capabilities and investenhance our efforts ment in research. with VP Penn-Marshall Penn-Marshall comes to at the helm. Maintaining Dr. Michelle the newly created position of Vice our R2 status on the road to President for Research and Inno- Penn-Marshall R1 along with bringing in top vation from Hampton University, talent for our new division will where she most recently served as Vice fortify our commitment to providing President for Research, Associate Provost, data-driven solutions for urban comand Dean of the Graduate College. munities and beyond.”

“Establishing the inaugural Division Penn-Marshall has been successful in

HBCUs WITH CARNEGIE R2 DESIGNATION Clark Atlanta University Florida A&M University Howard University Jackson State University Morgan State University North Carolina A&T University Prairie View A&M University Southern University and A&M College Tennessee State University Texas Southern University University of Maryland Eastern Shore

all aspects of research and innovation, securing and expanding external funding, partnering with top-tier agencies, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the research process. All are critical qualities to the Texas Southern research

growth initiatives.

“Texas Southern University is a leading institution with a reputation that commands respect throughout the research community, said Penn-Marshall. “The cutting-edge research that the faculty, staff and students conduct is designed to resolve many of society’s major challenges.

I am honored to have the opportunity to work with such esteemed colleagues and to serve as the inaugural Vice President for Research and Innovation. Together we will soar to new heights and solidify our University as an R1 institution that disrupts the status quo while transforming nations.”

TSU’s R2 status as one of the nation’s top research and teaching universities was initially acknowledged by Carnegie in 2018 and reaffirmed during the most recent cycle of evaluation and assessment. Texas Southern University is one of 11 HBCUs with the coveted R2 status.

To learn more about The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, go to http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu.

March 10, 2022 |

| 11

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature SHAPE Elders Institute of Wisdom empowers entire community

By Aswad Walker

SHAPE Community Center is known for many things: being an iconic Third Ward center, its award-winning after school program, its Parenting Workshop, the annual Pan-African Festival, its leadership in annual city-wide Kwanzaa festivities and much more.

One powerful aspect of that “much more” is SHAPE’s Elders Institute of Wisdom (EIW). “The EIW is a formal network of elders whose collective wisdom is drawn upon to educate and guide our community,” said SHAPE’s director Deloyd Parker.

The EIW meets at SHAPE every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 3815 Live Oak location. There, participants are served a nutritious meal often prepared by Parker himself. They also exercise, dance share their personal stories and histories and encourage one another via the fellowship.

But seniors come together for more than just the food and fellowship. Parker says they have responsibilities that come with their role as an elder, which is not a title bestowed upon an individual simply because they reach a certain age.

“Their duties and responsibilities are to advise and give guidance about activities of the village and share information that is beneficial to elder communities. They share ‘the story’ of our community and culture,” stated Parker.

According to Parker, there has always existed an informal

Deloyd Parker with members of SHAPE’s after school program. Photo by Aswad Walker.

network of elders through SHAPE, founded in 1969. It’s hard to pinpoint an exact date when the EIW was founded, however, the EIW “is a formal network of elders whose collective wisdom is drawn upon to educate, guide, direct, and/or lead our community.”

In a 2016 interview for the Civil Rights in Black & Brown Oral History Project, Peggy Fontenette-Yates said that one of her favorite times of year for EIW participation is the summer, when elders are paired with youth in SHAPE’s summer program.

“You’d be surprised how the children listen intently to us elders,” said Fontenette-Yates. “They listen to us closer than they do the younger adults.”

Fontenette-Yates takes that responsibility seriously, as she believes she and other EIW members have information critical to children and teens.

“I have a quote that I always tell everybody: this generation knows how to die. We must teach them how to live. Things are killing them, whether it’s worry, whether it’s drugs, whether it’s their way of living. They know how to die, let’s teach them how to live. That’s wisdom.”

Nationally-known author and activist Perry McCary said the EIW positively impacts not only youth and other community members, but the EIW participants, as well.

“The primary purpose and mission of the Elders Institute of Wisdom is to capture and instill the wisdom of those who have gone before us, or ancestors, as well as those who are still here with us, meaning the living elders,” said McCary.

“The EIW exists to support these valued elders because we think sometimes, they get to be seniors and they should just kind of disappear or sit in a wheelchair over there in the corner. It turns out that they’ve got some great minds and some of them are in their eighties and their nineties. And they’re just remarkable.”

SAVE A LIFE LOCK UP YOUR GUNS

12 | March 10, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature Calling all Black Women breaking barriers It’s Women’s History Month and the Houston Defender is looking to highlight women breaking barriers. Do you know someone excelling in their respective fields? Or someone who is destined for greatness? Let us know about them at Reshonda@defendernetwork.com.

CLASSIFIED The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting proposals for the following:

MARKETING AND CONSULTING – HEALTHY MINDS, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center, Purchasing Services located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7281, The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state. tx.us/ beginning Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Proposals must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 7, 2022 in a sealed envelope marked “PROPOSAL - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022, Marketing and Consulting – Healthy Minds, Healthy Communities”. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Frances Otto, CTCD, Buyer II and Sharon Brauner, C.P.M., Purchasing Manager, via E-mail to frances.otto@theharriscenter.org cc: sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org or fax at (713) 970-7682. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The Harris Center reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

The HARRIS CENTER For Mental Health and IDD (formally known as Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County) will be accepting Request for Proposal for the following:

REPLACEMENT OF WINDOWS FOR SIX AGENCY PROPERTIES Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER, Purchasing Department located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7116 and/or via The HARRIS CENTER website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/, beginning Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Friday, March 25, 2022. Solicitation documents must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 11 A.M., Tuesday, April 5, 2022 in a sealed envelope marked “RFP FOR REPLACEMENT OF WINDOWS FOR SIX AGENCY PROPERTIES” - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022 AT 11:00 A.M. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to James Blunt, Buyer II or E-mail questions to james.blunt@theharriscenter.org cc: sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org., or via fax at (713) 970-7682. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses, are encouraged to participate. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

RFP for Social Housing Partner The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (“CFTH”) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to seek and select a social housing partner to support, manage, and operate a 100+ unit residence known as the Navigation Center located at 2903 Jensen in Houston. The Center will provide approximately 100 semi-private “bridge beds,” with an additional overflow bunk space for approximately 26 individuals.

The Center will be open 24/7 and will operate 7 days a week, providing access to housing and employment programs as well as supportive services. We welcome proposals that include innovative operation and support models that improve the long-term stability of tenants and contribute to creating a balanced community of tenants within the building and in the area.

The focus will be on short- to long-term low-barrier residence for individuals experiencing homelessness, with the ultimate outcome of moving them out of the Navigation Center and into permanent housing.

This provider will bring the experience of running a large housing operation while supporting a very vulnerable population.

The selected agency will work closely with leadership of CFTH and The Way Home Continuum of Care. The agency will be able to provide input while the Center is being built out, with the expectation of beginning operations in the Center by August 2022. The term for proposed services will be a two-year period, subject to negotiation of a final agreement.

This project is contingent upon funding. In addition to 2 CFR 200 rules, the selected partner is subject to compliance requirements (i.e., monitoring, insurance, etc.).

If interested in applying, contact Sarah Holmes or Ryan Clay for a full version of this RFP at contracts@homelesshouston.org. All questions regarding any aspect of this RFP should follow the same process.

Responses to this RFP should be submitted electronically to contracts@homelesshouston.org no later than 12PM CDT on March 13, 2022.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is planning to issue the procurement documents listed in this advertisement.

IFB No. 4022000071: Rehabilitation of The Travel Lanes at North Shepherd Park and Ride. Solicitation will be available on or about 03/08/2022.

STATE OF INDIANA) COUNTY OF MARION )

IN THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT) SS: CAUSE NUMBER: 49D10-2109-JC-008185

IN THE MATTER OF: ZB - DOB 7/14/2005 A CHILD ALLEGED TO BE A CHILD IN NEED OF SERVICES AND CHARLIE BROOKS (FATHER) MICHELE COX (MOTHER) AND ANY UNKNOWN ALLEGED FATHERS SUMMONS FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION & NOTICE OF CHILD IN NEED OF SERVICES HEARING TO: Michele Cox and Any Unknown Alleged Father Whereabouts unknown NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the above noted parent whose whereabouts are unknown, as well as Any Unknown Alleged Fathers, whose whereabouts are also unknown, that the Indiana Department of Child Services has filed its Verified Petition Alleging the child to be in Need of Services, in accordance with I.C. 31-34-9-3, and that an adjudication hearing has been scheduled with the Court.

YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to appear before the Judge of the Marion Superior Court, for a(n) Default Hearing on 5/4/2022 at 2:00 PM. If the cause number listed above for your case starts with D09 or D15, the location for your hearing is 2451 N. Keystone Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46218, (317) 327-8300. If the cause number listed above for your case starts with D10, D14, or D16, the location for your hearing is 200 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204, (317) 327-4740. Most hearings in Marion County are being held virtually at this time. If virtual hearing information is included below you should follow the instructions to attend your hearing virtually and should not go to the Court’s address.

At said hearing, the Court will consider the Petition and evidence thereon and will render its decision as to whether the above named minor child is child in need of services and shall enter adjudication accordingly.

Your failure to appear after lawful notice will be deemed as your default and waiver to be present at said hearing.

UPON ENTRY OF SAID ADJUDICATION, A DISPOSITIONAL HEARING will be held in which the Court will consider (1) Alternatives for the care, treatment, or rehabilitation for the child; (2) The necessity, nature, and extent of your participation in the program of care, treatment, or rehabilitation for the child; and (3) Your financial responsibility for any services provided for the parent, guardian or custodian of the child including child support.

YOU MUST RESPOND by appearing in person or by an attorney within thirty (30) days after the last publication of this notice, and in the event you fail to do so, an adjudication on said petition, judgment by default may be entered against you, or the court may proceed in your absence, without further notice.

Clerk Emily Gruener, 30336-49 Attorney, Indiana Department of Child Services

SIGN UP TODAY! Defender Newsletters TOP FIVE: Black Headlines of the Day https://defendernetwork.com/sign-up/

March 10, 2022 |

| 13

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

BRITTNEY GRINER

Russia arrest adds to escalating conflict The Texas Tribune and ProPublica

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensifies, the former Soviet power announced that it detained an American basketball player from Houston last month, the latest in the quickly worsening relations between Russia and the United States.

Brittney Griner, a Baylor University graduate and seven-time WNBA AllStar center for the Phoenix Mercury, was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow after arriving from New York in February with what Russian officials said were vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.

The Russian Federal Customs Service said it had filed the drug charge, which can carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

The Russian news agency TASS identified Griner as the person who had been arrested. Many WNBA players compete in Russia, where salaries are higher, during the American league’s off-season. Griner has played for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg since at least 2014.

The WNBA could not be reached Saturday and neither could Griner’s family. But her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, told CBS News that they are aware of her case.

The agent added: “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern.”

The move by President Vladimir Putin’s administration likely escalates the ongoing conflict between Russia and the West. On Saturday, the State Department issued a travel advisory urging Americans in Russia to leave “immediately,” citing “arbitrary enforcement of local laws. The advisory warned that “the U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens” who stay.

Asked about Griner’s detention, the State Department said it was aware, but did not detail what it has done to help since she was first detained three weeks ago, or why the arrest only now came to light.

“Whenever a U.S. citizen is arrested overseas, we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular services,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement.

Russia raised global alarm as its troops moved into Ukraine last month in the largest military attack in Europe since World War II. Putin said the goal was to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine, which has about double the population of Texas, but a similar landmass.

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) looks to pass as Chicago Sky center Candace Parker defends during the first half of game 1 of the WNBA basketball Finals in 2021. AP

Experts said Russia’s announcement of Griner’s arrest might not only serve as a distraction from its failing military attacks in Ukraine, but also send a message that Americans are not above the law.

They cited concerns about whether Griner actually committed the crimes of which she stands accused. Even if she did, experts said, the relatively minor drug offenses hardly called for a 10-year sentence. It was not clear what law would justify that potential sentence; Russia’s criminal justice system, much like China’s, is very opaque.

“What this person did is such a small thing compared to what we’re seeing in the Ukraine,” said Richard Stoll, who specializes in international conflict at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston.

“There’s no equivalence at all here.”

Griner’s chances of being freed quickly seem slim, Stoll said, describing her as a pawn “of the power structure.”

From the perspective of Russian officials,

he said, “it’s like, well, it’s unfortunate for this person, but this is a card we can play against the United States.”

Griner’s likely penalty in this context is almost certainly “unwarranted,” Barnes added.

“It’s terrible,” he said. “But I think it’s about number 500 on President Biden’s list of priorities,” given Washington’s debate over no-fly zones in Ukraine and possibilities of oil sanctions. It has added to a global crisis that promises to impact Texans by increasing prices at the pump and potentially stoking heightened activity in the state’s oil fields as the world searches for alternatives to tainted Russian supply.

Griner, who graduated from Nimitz High School in Houston, attended Baylor University in Waco on a basketball scholarship. As a freshman, her 223 blocked shots set the all-time single-season record, establishing her as one of the greatest shot blockers in women’s basketball history.

Booking photo - WNBA player Britney Griner detained in Russia Credit: Russia State Television

14 | March 10, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports Texas Southern junior outfielder Johnathon Thomas went 3-for-5 at the plate, while also contributing two runs and 3 RBI during the Tigers’ 10-6 loss at Sam Houston State.

Prairie View senior outfielder Tre Turner got the Panthers’ baseball team off to a strong start with a home run blast that paved the way for their 7-6 win over New Mexico State.

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

TIGERS READY FOR MARCH

By Terrance Harris

Texas Southern senior forward John Walker III isn’t shy about what he is looking forward to most this month -- another SWAC Tournament championship.

The Tigers won the league tournament last year and went on to defeat St. Mary’s in a First-Four game to kick off the NCAA Tournament. Walker is all about running it back and it starts with this week’s SWAC Tournament in Birmingham.

“I’m not going to lie, I need another ring,” said Walker, a Thurgood Marshall product who began his college career at Texas A&M. “I got one last year and I’ve got to get another ring. Since last season ended, it’s been about getting back to this month and getting another ring and another championship for my school and my city.”

It has been an interesting journey for the Tigers, who made a splash earlier this season by going into Florida and upsetting the 20th-ranked Gators. They’ve also been at or near the top in the SWAC most of the season with a chance to win the regular-season title before a disappointing home loss to Alcorn State during the last week of the season.

Because of the loss to the Braves, TSU enters the postseason as the No.2 seed in the conference tournament but with the understanding that everything can be made right with another three-game run to the championship. The Tigers drew Jackson State to open postseason play.

“We always give our best, especially for this month,” said senior guard Bryson Etienne, a Fort Bend Bush product. “Statistically, this month is great for us. We are one of the most winning teams in March. Around this time, we most definitely have to all come together. It’s just tweaks and minor issues, but as long as we do we will be fine.”

The Tigers (15-12 overall, 13-5 SWAC) have been an intriguing group this season, if for no other reason than their diversity when it comes to how they play on the court. They had a successful conference season without the benefit of a go-to scorer.

Scoring has been a by-committee venture with not one player averaging in double digits for the season. Joirdon Karl Nicholas leads the team with 9.5 points, followed by Walker’s 9.4 points and Etienne’s 8.4 points.

Forward Brison Gresham, the Tigers’ big addition this season after he transferred from the University of Houston after starting 19 games and averaging 17 minutes for the Cou-

SportsBriefs TSU, PVAMU in women’s SWAC action

The Texas Southern and Prairie View women’s basketball teams both made the SWAC Tournament. The Lady Tigers are the fifth seed and will take on No. 4 Southern in the first round on March 10, while the sixth-seeded Lady Panthers play No. 3 Alabama State in the opening round. The PVAMU men also made it in as an eight seed and face regular-season champ Alcorn State in the first round in Birmingham.

Rockets young trio impressive

TSU forward John Walker III says the Tigers take every month seriously, but they especially take March seriously because of what it has meant to the program in the past.

gars, has averaged 7.2 points and 7.0 rebounds.

But it’s seemed on any given night, any number of players on the floor or coming off the bench can contribute double-digits, as was the case in the regular-season finale against rival Prairie View when A.J. Lawson (the eighth leading scorer) led the way with 16 points and Gresham added two clutch free throws and 14 points in the 78-77 win.

“It’s been a balance,” Walker said. “Guys have hit their strides at different times of the year. Whoever had got it going, that’s who we look to. We trust everybody with the ball.

There is no one we don’t trust. And when they make mistakes, we already know their talent so it’s on to the next play because everybody makes mistakes.

“This year, being able to pass the torch around to everybody has made a good difference on the humility side. Nobody gets too high, nobody gets too low.”

TSU coach Johnny Jones has also kept his veteran squad competitive this season by not allowing anyone to get too comfortable in their roles. He has used over 20 different starting lineups and Justin Hopkins is the only player on the roster who has started at least 20 of the 27 games.

Jones said this approach has not increased the competitiveness on the court, but it has made the team even closer.

“I told them what a special group they are to me,” Jones said. “I’ve coached a lot of teams but I really, really enjoy this group because of the cohesiveness that they have and the chemistry they have among the team.

“People put family out there because of how close they are, but these guys are truly like family. They are like brothers from all different walks of life. And to be able to get along that way it means a lot to me.”

While difficult to watch at times, what has become Jalen more and more Green noticeable is that the future of the Rockets looks bright. The young trio of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Kevin Wood recently Porter Jr. combined to score 81 points in a recent victory over the highly-touted Memphis Grizzlies.

Porter scored 19 points in the Christian critical third quarWood ter, while Wood finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds for his 29th double-double of the season and Green finished with 24 points.

UH headed into March Madness

It wasn’t the ending the 14thranked UH Cougars wanted when Kelvin they suffered a Sampson lopsided 75-61 loss at Memphis in the regular-season finale. But the Cougs still finished as the American Athletic Conference regular-season champs and as the No. 1 seed in this week’s conference tournament. UH has won the regular-season title for the third time in the last four years.

March 10, 2022 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports SHADOW CREEK SF

SHAWN JONES JR. IS ABOVE THE RIM

By Jodie B. Jiles

Shadow Creek senior small forward Shawn Jones Jr., a Texas State commit, is on deck to be an NBA top 10 candidate sooner than later.

With 6-foot-7-inch height and an impressive reach, Jones is a Venus flytrap the way he snags rebounds and blocks balls off the backboard. On offense, Jones can handle the rock and maneuver though most defenses but occasionally struggles with traps and doubles. With time and coaching expect those situations to turn into easy buckets for teammates off screens.

Shadow Creek head coach David President discussed his senior playmaker.

“He fights hard every day, he competes and does everything you can ask for as a coach. I love that dude,” President said.

The Defender spoke with Jones to discuss his style of play, major influencers, scoring abilities, shot blocking and more.

STYLE OF PLAY “My style of play is all-around. I really just play hard and to [affect] the game any way I can offensively and defensively, shot blocking and finishing around the rim getting my teammates involved.”

SCORING ABILITIES “I just let the game come to me; I don’t really force anything. I come off the screens because not too many bigs can guard me coming off the screens and most guards can’t guard me coming off my pull-ups.

So, it is really just playing with pace and playing at my speed.”

SHOT BLOCKING “That is just heart. Not a lot of people have that. And that is what I bring to the court and bring to the game… defensive effort. That is what next-level players do and that is what wins games.”

LEADERSHIP “I have been here for four years and [point guard Cameron Amboree] has been here for three years, and he is going to get on me and I am going to get on him. But at the same time we are going to be leaders to our young guys because they have to be leaders and have a future coming up too.”

ABOUT SHAWN JONES JR.

Instagram: @theshawnjonesjr Players he studies: Kevin Durant, Ja Morant Favorite musician: NBA Youngboy Shout-outs: “My point guard Cameron Amboree.”

16 | March 10, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Profile

BUN B

Talks about historic Rodeo Houston move, rebranding of Black History and more

By Laura Onyeneho

Houston’s iconic hip-hop legend Bun B has been making entertainment history since he entered the rap game nearly 30 years ago.

He is about to do it again as the first Black male hip-hop headliner for Rodeo Houston on March 11 for Black Heritage Day. Bun B played a pivotal role in shaping the Southern hip-hop scene, launching his career as one half of the rap duo UGK alongside late rapper Pimp C. Since then, he has been an integral member of the Houston community as an educator at Rice University, through his restaurant venture Trill Burgers, and charity work providing resources and support to the city’s underserved communities in need.

The “unofficial mayor of Houston” will be on stage alongside such local rap legends as Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Lil’Keke, Big Pokey, H-Town and Toby Nwigwe, singer and actress Letoya Luckett and more.

Bun B spoke with the Defender to give us more insight on what his presence at Rodeo Houston means for the Black community.

Defender: How do you feel being the first Black male hip-hop Rodeo Houston headliner?

Bun B: I can’t even say it’s a dream come

true, because never in my wildest dreams, would I have ever thought that I would’ve headlined the rodeo, right. For one, it’s the rodeo, so it doesn’t really speak to my core demographic. But the reality is that the city of Houston has always supported me in my musical career and my endeavors. I guess it should come as no surprise that they would support me on this as well. It is a big deal. I understand the weight that it carries, but I believe I’m ready for it.

I’m excited about the opportunity as well as the opportunity to bring other people along with me for the ride. There is a limitation in the fact that you’re only given like one hour to perform. I’m trying to incorporate a lot of things in that hour. It’s going to be a lot of different moving parts and they’re going to be moving pretty fast and in sync, hopefully.

Defender: What does Black Heritage Day mean to you?

Bun B: We’re all Houstonians, right?

And so the rodeo is probably the most Houston thing that we have. It’s a place where people from all walks of life, all colors, races, creeds, whatever you identify as, we all go to the rodeo. We all play the games. We ride the rides, we eat the foods and we watched the concerts, but we always did it knowing that the concerts were never necessarily for us. We had to go in, watch the rodeo and all the different events that are happening, and then try to find some country music that we could work with. But the vast majority of the people that go to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, as well as the concerts that go with it, don’t all necessarily listen to country music.

The rodeo could have kept going on for eternity without ever having a Black Heritage Day or Tejano Day or any days that allow for diversity and inclusivity. But they were knowledgeable of the fact that there’s no reason why we shouldn’t at least allow Black people [to have] one day. It’s a start. Black Heritage Day allows us to be acknowledged in this space to be heard and be seen. And we get to do this in the way that we feel comfortable with. Me on stage, as well as the people in the crowd could probably be the most diverse setting of a mass group of Houstonians that have ever been in, in this city, without it being a sporting event. The only place where we all come together as one. I don’t see anyone that comes into the rodeo that night and sits in those stands, who isn’t a fan of some form of Houston hip-hop and R&B. In a time where Americans are as divided as ever, we have a very unique opportunity in Houston with the hip-hop and R&B music scene to [have] at least one day where we can all leave everything that divides us as a city and as a people at the door and come in and just be Houstonians and just enjoy each other’s company and our shared culture. That’s what we hope to show with this concert.

Defender: You’ve lectured students about hip-hop and religion at Rice University. What are your thoughts about the conversations around

WATCH VIDEOS OF THE REST OF THIS INTERVIEW AT DEFENDER NETWORK.COM

critical race theory, book bans, and the mental toll teachers are grappling with in terms of how Black history is taught in schools?

Bun B: There’s a concerted effort to try

to whitewash and do away with any signs in which quite frankly, white Americans can be held accountable and culpable for their actions against Black people and other indigenous people and people of color in this country. It’s been this way for years, but I think never more important than now, based on the national conversations that we’re having not just politically about what we’re more importantly, allowing our children to learn and know.

I don’t think that in the national conversation, people are aware of how substantial the direction and the arguments being made about education here in Texas, within the school boards and the people that make the decisions of what actually goes into a textbook. They don’t understand the mass scale of ramifications that this has across this country. You know, we’re having a very serious conversation about the idea of what Black history is in terms of American history. Black history is seen only as the history of Black people in America, which the reality is, Black history is the history of America.

But it’s not the pretty side of the history of America. There’s a concerted effort to either eliminate or rebrand the idea of what slavery was and the trans-Atlantic slave trade

in itself. And just the idea of, of how Black people got to where they are and whether they’re justified in their social and economical arguments about where we are and how we get away from this. For me as an educator, I’m in a place where I educate where [students] have option of what information they choose to take in. K-12 doesn’t really have an option about what books they’re reading and what classes they get to take.

It’s already structured for them. I encourage everyone that as this voting cycle is going on, I hope that everyone is registered. I hope they’re engaged and educated about who’s running for what, and I hope they know who is on their side in terms of giving, not just our view. But a fair and even view of what this country really is. That’s the only way we can get past these things. You can’t ignore them. You can’t act like it wasn’t what it was. And you can’t keep brushing this stuff under the rug. That’s why it’s getting worse in this country. And it’s not going to get any better if you continue to obscure it, or even worse lie about it.

Rap artist Bun B performs at New Era Cap’s Toronto flagship store on February 12, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images for New Era Cap Co.