Tere was a video of an emotional mother expressing her frustration during a breaking news segment on WTVF, a Nashville news station. Te woman posed a question to the news media, saying, “Aren’t you guys tired of covering this? Aren’t you guys tired of having to come here and cover these mass shootings?” Her family survived a mass shooting last July in Highland Park, IL and has lobbied for stronger gun safety legislation. A mass shooting occurred at a Nashville Presbyterian private school where three children and three staf members, including the perpetrator, were killed. Te 28-year-old shooter was armed with assault-style weapons and a handgun.
Laura OnyenehoIt seems that lessons from past school shootings aren’t enough to break the chain of this gun reform paralysis America sufers from. Again, this country has failed its children. Te typical reactions from lawmakers do just enough to make you want to roll your eyes. Politically, there is no common ground for stricter gun laws, and we won’t know what it will take. From the looks of it, not even the deaths of children will move this idea forward.
Newsfash: If you are white and caught using Black memes and gifs to express yourself on social media, you’ll most likely see heat! Did you see how quickly that Mississippi anchor got fred for using Snoop Dogg’s phrase “Fo Shizzle, My Nizzle” on air? Some specifc phrases or digital references used by Black folks will not fy with non-Black people. CNN recently ran a column by John Blake that explained how white people’s use of these Black memes may have “Inadvertently perpetuated one of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism,” which is “digital blackface.” Te column defnes digital blackface as when “White people co-opt online expressions of Black imagery, slang, catchphrases or culture to convey comic relief or express emotions.” Te
CNN story prompted widespread criticism and debate on Twitter.
I direct this question to the readers: Is this a valid argument, or is this another excuse to add the race card into every situation?
Jonathan Majors: Tarnished reputation Will Smith, Christ Brown, Ja Morant, Da Baby… Tese are just a few talented Black men in the sports and entertainment industry whose images have been tarnished by actions that will follow them for the rest of their careers.
Jonathan Majors, a beloved fgure in the flm industry, has now become an example of what many believe to be a woman abuser. He was recently accused of strangling a woman and was subsequently arrested. In good old internet-era form, people made up their minds and prepared to jump on that cancel culture train. Te accuser later recanted her allegations. I can’t say if the woman is lying, considering many victims retract statements in fear for their lives. Full details aren’t available as to what happened (Major’s attorney says video evidence will support his client’s claims of innocence), but regardless of whether he is innocent, this will follow him for the rest of his career. Majors was dropped from a voiceover advertisement he did in partnership with the U.S. Army afer the alleged incident.
Before now, his biggest controversy was questions surrounding his masculinity afer his rather colorful Ebony photoshoot. Te lesson learned here is that it doesn’t matter how infuential the celebrity might be; we don’t know them well enough to put them on a pedestal. And the very people who praise you will be the people who become your executioner.
• Elizabeth Brooks: Young Runner on the Rise.
• Top 20 books every Black woman should have on their shelf.
• Cities that eat your paycheck.
By Aswad Walker
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) revealed on March 25 that she is running for mayor of Houston, confrming a rumor that’s been circulating for months.
Jackson Lee — who has represented Texas’s 18th Congressional District since 1995 — made the announcement at City Cathedral Church in Houston, and is entering a crowded feld of competitors who seek to become Houston’s next mayor when the city’s current CEO, Mayor Sylvester Turner, leaves ofce due to term limits.
Tat feld includes former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards, current Houston City Council Member Robert Gallegos, former Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority Chairman Gilbert Garcia, former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins and State Sen. John Whitmire (D).
Jackson Lee, however, seems undeterred, yet aware that winning will take work.
“I hope I’ve been a humble servant for you for 28 years, many of you are in my district.
Sheila Jackson Lee wants to come home to be your mayor for the city of Houston,” she said. “I will not be able to do it without each
and every one of you.”
Jackson Lee will not have to leave her congressional seat to run for mayor in the election that is scheduled for Nov. 7.
Still, Jackson Lee’s entry into the race begs many questions only she can answer, like:
1. How will this impact candidates who have already declared? Hollins
has postponed his campaign, which has raised over $3 million thus far. Whitmire has already collected a formidable amount of endorsements as well as a campaign sizeable war chest. Will those endorsers switch teams? Edwards, a force on Houston City Council, looked to be a serious contender for mayor. Does Jackson Lee’s entry into the race change that?
2. Why is Jackson Lee running for a local seat when she has wielded power and influence on a national level for nearly 30 years? Is she tired of the DC grind and congressional gridlock? Does she see herself able to get more done on the local level? Was her decision to throw her hat into the ring infuenced by a fellow former US Representative (Karen Bass) who ran for and won the mayoral position of the city she represented (Los Angeles)?
3. Who will run for Jackson Lee’s seat if she becomes Houston’s next mayor? Could Hollins and Edwards be considering such a run? What other potential candidates might emerge in the next few
days? Could there be a game-changing surprise candidate who could shake things up in the race for US Representative in a fashion similar to the way Jackson Lee seems to be shaking up the race for Houston’s mayor’s ofce?
Whitmire, viewed by some as the “dean of the state Senate,” has represented parts of Harris County and north Houston for roughly the same amount of time that Jackson Lee has been in Congress.
Hollins became a national hero/celebrity for his role in making the Nov. 2020 election one of the most successful in terms of voter turnout and voter poll access, with his push of mail-in ballots, 24-hour voting and drive-thru voting, all amid the then raging COVID-19 pandemic.
Edwards ran for US Senate in 2020 but fell short in the primary to M.J. Hegar, who ultimately lost to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). Still, Edwards retains her position as a rising political star.
How will the presence of Jackson Lee in the Houston mayor’s race impact these three, and the rest of the candidates?
Stay tuned.
Te Houston chapter of the NAACP is calling on Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath to come to Houston on April 2 and speak directly to the community about the state’s takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
“We believe our public ofcials owe us a public appearance. And if you can’t go public with the conversation, there must be something to hide,” said NAACP Houston’s President, Rev. James Dixon during a March 26 community meeting to discuss the state’s takeover.
Te request came afer Morath sent his deputy commissioner to face the crowds at two TEA community information sessions last week.
Community members and district administrators have held a series of meetings to discuss what possible outcomes may take place now that TEA is calling the shots.
At the last community meeting, some attendees attempted to get their points across by shouting over one another and using a megaphone. Te meeting was supposed to explain the hiring process per TEA’s guidelines for a new board of managers. Parents with students in the district say they still don’t have the proper answers to their questions.
“It is more than far-fetched. It is hard to
imagine that this kind of defnitive action has taken place where there has not been community discussion, we have not had community engagement and interaction. In fact, clearly they have sidestepped and evaded and avoided having conversation with the parents in HISD. Tey’ve had conversations with parents in other places, but
not with the parents of HISD,” Dixon said.
Dixon also blasted a weekend meeting with Morath in Houston at Hester House.
“Tere was a handful of selected people; that meeting was a sham or disgrace. And those people do not represent the people in this room and the parents and children of HISD… And we wanna say to those
who would meet with them behind closed doors in so-called secrecy, shame on you for holding secret meetings with public ofcials about the destiny of 194,000 students and leaving everyone else outta the room. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want anybody speaking for my children and I’m not there,” Dixon said.
In attendance at the NAACP Houston meeting were Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congressman Al Green, and other elected local ofcials.
Neither Abbott nor Morath have responded as to whether they will attend the April 2 meeting, which takes place at 3pm.
We are adamantly, unequivocally, unapologetically, unashamedly opposed to a takeover."
Rev. James Dixon NAACP presidentSheila Jackson Lee
Children at Risk is highlighting the key issues afecting the lives of Houston children in a new report. President and CEO Dr. Bob Sanborn along with health and education experts discussed the findings in the bi-annual publication Growing Up In Houston.
“I think what’s interesting as we look purely at the data, and we take feeling out of it, is that we’re not doing so well when it comes to our kids. And so that’s what Growing Up In Houston, sort of the theme this year, is that we’re just not doing as well as we should be doing by our children in the state of Texas and certainly in the city of Houston,” Sanborn said.
According to Sanborn, of the close to two million children in the Greater Houston area, about 70% qualify for free or reduced lunch.
And what we’re fnding is that it’s dire for 70% of the children.”
One of the aspects the report examines is diversity and immigration in the area.
GREATER HOUSTON AREA CHILDREN
70% Qualify for free/reduced lunch
*Based on 2 million children
633,000+ Enrolled in Medicaid
“When we look at a state that doesn’t want to talk about diversity, we look at our own city and we understand that we’re talking about the majority of our kids,” Sanborn says. “Moreover, when we look at immigration in our city, over half of the kids in our city are immigrants or children of immigrants, with at least one parent who was born outside of this country.”
44,000 Enrolled in CHIP UNINSURED 15% Harris County 11% Texas
“While sometimes we look at that federal poverty rate of 27% in our state, and we say well, that’s how many poor kids we have, the reality is we have many more families than that that are struggling to make ends meet,” Sanborn said. “And it’s real appropriate that we look at those numbers as we looked at the status of our children, because one of the key things that you ofen look at as researchers to see how kids are doing is what is the income level of their family, where do they stand economically.
According to the report, children with at least one parent who was born outside of the country make up more than half of the children living in extreme poverty – defned as income more than two times below the poverty rate.
Another issue is mental health among children. Dr. Jamie Freeny, Director for Center for School Behavioral Health with Mental Health
America of Greater Houston, says rates of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, suicidal behavior, and substance use among youth in the greater Houston area have risen.
“Te number of children and adolescents presenting in emergency rooms with mental health crisis has increased roughly from 50 a month to 400 a month,” Dr. Freeny says.
According to Dr. Freeny, factors contributing to a rise in mental illness in young people include “natural disasters, abuse, neglect, safety at home, safety at school, safety during out of school times when they’re in the community, social media, cyberbullying, racial and ethnic discrimination, and the many barriers that make it difcult to access mental and behavioral health services.”
“We must continue to advocate for policies and practices in all of these areas that reduce risk factors and increase protective factors so that our children can develop into mentally healthy adults,” Dr. Freeny says.
Another issue the report examines is schools
and education. According to the report, there were 72 Gold Ribbon Schools in the Houston area in 2022, down from 82, the year before. Gold Ribbon Schools, chosen by Children at Risk, must be made up of more than 75% of low-income students and receive an A or B in the organization’s annual school rankings. According to the report, Houston ISD had 24 Gold Ribbon Schools, up from 17 in 2019. Te lengthy report delves deeper into each of these issues.
See the full report.
NNPA
Te U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced awards totaling $5.5 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to conduct housing and community development research, and Texas Southern University will get the bulk of that.
Te announcement came during a Black Media Roundtable hosted by HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge.
“HBCUs create economic opportunity both for their students and throughout the communities they serve,” Fudge stated. “At HUD, we are proud to partner with HBCUs to expand the voices in the housing research space to support strong communities, build afordable housing, create job opportunities, revitalize neighborhoods, and promote homeownership.”
HUD will provide the funding to Texas Southern University ($3 million) and North Carolina AT&T University ($2.5 million) to establish or bolster their existing Centers of Excellence that conduct housing and community development research.
At Texas Southern, the school’s research will focus on individual and community wealth building, and housing security and stability. It also will focus on planning and infrastructure inequity that afects underserved communities.
At North Carolina AT&T, the funds will allow the university to establish a center with research that would focus on the
production of afordable housing, homeownership, renewable energy, sustainable communities, and post-disaster recovery.
“Tis funding will bolster eforts HBCUs are making to expand opportunities for underserved communities and strengthen community development,” Fudge stated.
Under Fudge, HUD has worked to advance racial equity and ensure steps to make homeownership more accessible for Black Americans. In a Fact Sheet, HUD ofcials noted that through the Federal Housing Administration, the agency has implemented major reductions to the annual premiums it charges homebuyers for mortgage insurance.
Ofcials said the action will help Black low-and-moderate income residents save an estimated $600 million in the next
year, and billions over the next decade. Additionally, HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity issued a policy statement in 2021 about making way for lenders to resolve inequities in homeownership that individuals of color face.
VOLUME 92, NUMBER 20 - MARCH 30, 2023
Publisher | CEO
Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Strategic Alllance
Clyde Jiles
Digital Content Manager Get Current Studios
Managing Editor
ReShonda Tate
Associate Editor
Aswad Walker
Education Reporter
Laura Onyeneho
Sports Terrance Harris
Jodie B. Jiles
Photographer Jimmie Aggison
Social Media Manager
Tia Alphonse
Jordan Hockett
Police in Mississippi are under investigation afer being accused of violating the civil rights of multiple Black men in at least four violent encounters since 2019. Multiple white police ofcers in Brandon, Mississippi falsely accused two Black men of selling drugs and “dating white women” before handcufing and brutally torturing them, including shooting one of them in the mouth.
Michael C. Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker were in a private residence in the village of Braxton on Jan. 24 when the location was raided by six white ofcers without a warrant, Black Lawyers for Justice said in a press release. Afer they were restrained, the ofcers allegedly “repeatedly” brutally beat and kicked the men while using a Taser on both and threatening to kill them. A witness even described the ofcers participating in something of a Taser contest with Jenkins and Parker being the targets, Jenkins’ mother said. Tey also forced the two men to lie on their backs while ofcers poured milk over their faces. One ofcer would eventually put a gun in Jenkins’ mouth pulling the trigger, leaving him with a broken jaw and with wounds that required parts of his tongue to be sewn back together.
Harris County will soon launch a program to provide free legal counseling to residents facing eviction. Te Eviction Defense Program will give qualifying Harris County residents free legal counseling related to their eviction case and the opportunity to meet with an attorney or legal representative at the court where their eviction case is held. To qualify, a Harris County household’s income must be at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Guideline — for reference, that’s $90,000 for a family of four. Residents can also qualify if their household
income is 65% of Harris County’s Area Median Income. According to data from January Advisors, 167,842 eviction cases have been fled in Houston since January 2020. Residents can apply for assistance with Neighborhood Defender Services or Lone Star Legal Aid starting April 10. For program enrollment, contact Neighborhood Defender Services at 210-952-9259 or Lone Star Legal Aid at 713-652-0077.
Spring Branch
ISD school board members have voted 4-3 to drop multiple points of review from its book review process. The vote removes the frst two of three layers from the district’s review process, maintaining only the fnal checkpoint in which board members provide input on titles brought forth for consideration. Te move, some claim, essentially fast-tracks book banning and takes much of the process out of the hands of school librarians and other interested parties. Te district’s vote follows its decision last fall to ban “Te Breakaways,” a graphic novel about a group of 8th-grade soccer players that features a transgender character. Across the state, school districts and public libraries continue to implement reviews of titles brought forward by parents and residents, many of which feature LGBTQ characters or themes concerning race.
Te Houston Public Library is hosting a Career Online High School. It is dedicated to helping individuals 21 and older who have completed a minimum of eighth grade, earn a high school diploma and prepare for the workforce. Te program is grant funded and applicants are supported at every turn, from enrollment to graduation. Participants can graduate faster with transfer credits from previous high schools/GED. Tey can also earn a career certifcate with their diploma and take courses 100% online. Visit houston. careeronlinehs.org.
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, TX (METRO), will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. to receive public comment on the proposed June 2023 changes to METRO service. The public is invited to attend the hearing and provide comments in person.
The public may also join the hearing and provide comments virtually on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82688443733 or by dialing: 346-248-7799 or 888-475-4499 (toll free), meeting ID: 826 8844 3733. Additionally, if you do not want to provide comments during the public hearing, visit RideMETRO.org/Pages/BoardStreamingVideo.aspx to view a livestream of the public hearing. A video recording of the meeting will also be archived on METRO’s website at RideMETRO.org for review.
The proposed service changes could include:
The discontinuation of the 311 Bayou City Event Shuttle; route changes to routes 3, 9, 52, 88, 309, 310; implementation of the Lone Star College Connector; and schedule changes to routes 2, 3, 5, 9, 20, 30, 44, 52, 54, 63, 65, 76, 77, 78. 82, 84, 85, 87, 102, 137, 151, 153, 309, 310, and Park & Ride corridors serving Downtown. METRO will continue to make temporary service adjustments in response to changing ridership and workforce availability.
Copies of proposed route maps and available timetables will be available beginning on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, for public review online and in the lobby of the METRO RideStore, located in the Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building located at 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.
The public hearing on April 4, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. will be held in the 2nd floor Board Room at 1900 Main Street, Houston, TX (served by METRO routes 6, 11, 32, 44, 51, 52, 54, 82, 85, 102, 137, 160, 161, 162, and METRORail).
If you would like to make public comments in person or virtually, please register as a public speaker with the METRO Board Office at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing. Call 713-739-4834 or send an email to BoardOffice@RideMETRO.org and provide your name, address and telephone number. As explained above, you may attend the public hearing in person or virtually on April 4, 2023, to provide comments. If you pre-register, your comments will be heard first at the public hearing. Your name will be called at the appropriate time for you to make your comments.
You may also provide comments by:
• Writing to us at METRO, ATTN: June 2023 Service Changes, 1900 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
• Faxing comments with a subject line referencing "June 2023 Service Changes" to 713-652-7956
• Calling or texting METRO's Customer Service at 713-635-4000
• Submitting comments on the METRO website – RideMETRO.org
All comments should be submitted to METRO by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
For individuals with disabilities, assistive services or copies of public documents in an alternate format can be provided. Individuals with impairments may call 713-750-4271 a minimum of five (5) working days prior to the public hearing.
Upon request, METRO provides free language assistance to help patrons who have a limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English, in accordance with its language assistance plan. Please call 713-739-4018 or email METROPublicAffairs@RideMETRO.org to request language assistance or other accommodations at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.
OTHER
1. This Public Hearing conforms to requirements described in the Federal Transit Administration's Circular 9030.1E, published January 16, 2014, page VI-7.
2. METRO does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or in treatment or employment in, its services, programs, and activities.
3. METRO is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its transit services on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Rep of Congressional District 18, is officially in the Houston mayor’s race and the local political arena is buzzing. Could the congresswoman who has served over 25 years follow in the footsteps of her former congressional colleague Karen Bass, who is now mayor of Los Angeles?
The Houston Defender has covered the poor performance of predominately Black schools in HISD for decades. Where were the parents and community leaders speaking out as our kids continued to fall through the cracks? There were some who spoke up. We emphasized the need for someone to step up and address the needs of Black schools failing. State Rep. Harold Dutton was one of the few elected officials constantly challenging the status quo to address the school district’s shortcomings from his bills to break up HISD into smaller districts, to his final victory with the passage of House Bill 1842. In 2015, recognizing the importance of this legislation to address the poor-performing schools, 18 lawmakers voted against the bill and 125 folks voted for it including local Black State legislators Alma Allen, Senfronia Thompson, Sylvester Turner and of course Harold Dutton. Black legislators voting against the legislation were State Rep. Garnet Coleman. Absent was Texas Senator (then a state rep) Borris Miles.
This is not about one school… Remember, the takeover was triggered by the school per formance and the board management/conflicts.
Let’s look forward, not backward.
• YES, TEA Commissioner Michael Morath should talk to the community about the plans going forward.
• Let’s recommend the best candidate for the Board of Managers to apply by June 1, 2023.
“Sheila Jackson Lee wants to come home to be your mayor for the city of Houston. I will not be able to do it without each and every one of you. Let the fire start now.”
- U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
So, what happens to the other Blacks in the race for mayor of Houston: Amanda Edwards and Chris Hollins? To avoid splitting the Black vote, both are being encouraged to get out of the race.
Rumors are flying from recommendations for one of them to run for Controller, to the possibility of one being named City Attorney if Sheila wins, to Sheila endorsing one for her vacant position, among other options. Who knows what will happen?
Another question is what do those who have committed to Hollins and Edwards do now? Will they go to Sheila or Whitmire? Let’s see what happens. To be continued.
In the battle for the 10-year contract for Hobby Airport concessions, Areas USA, a subsidiary of the Spain-based Areas SAU, has emerged victorious over Pappas Restaurants. Pappas has filed a protest, accusing the City of Houston of violating state law.
Out of the 10-scoring criteria metrics, the competitors were close with Areas @ 85.8 and Pappas @ 85.2. According to sources, nine of the metrics were subjective but the deciding factor boiled down to the percent of net profits to go back to the City of Houston. Pappas agreed to 15.5% and Areas agreed to 22.2%. The results –Areas won.
Throwing her hat in the ring is a game changer with political pundits placing Jackson Lee and State Senator John Whitmire in a head-to-head race, projecting a run-off. Houston mayors Lee Brown and Sylvester Turner were successful in the past, building relationships across parties. The race may boil down to who can garner the lion’s share of Hispanics, Asians, white moderate Democrats and white conservative Republicans, because Houston’s mayor’s race has never been won with just Blacks. Whitmire has strong ties in the Black community, from Acres Homes to Kashmere Gardens to Pleasantville, with a legacy of service. One political consultant’s survey claims Whitmire could beat Jackson Lee because of the white and Republican support he would attract. “Can Jackson Lee build that competitive coalition?” Stay tuned.
The reality is Sheila can hold on to her congressional seat while she runs for mayor, so it’s a win/win. In addition, this opens the door for Sheila to raise a lot of money.
perobvi-
• Next, recommend TEA consider keeping current Supt. Millard House II because he obvi ously has made some progress in the district.
• If you have other constructive ideas TEA should consider – share them on Defender social media (facebook, twitter and Instagram).
Granted, the Texas legislators are talking about vouchers, but we don’t think that is the answer. There are not enough private, parochial and charter schools to accommodate the almost 200,000 HISD students. So, we need to fix HISD. Period.
Some say “It was time” if you believe in the spirit of rotation and sharing the wealth. We love Pappas Restaurants and appreciate all Chris Pappas has done for our great city. But look at this like term limits. After 20+ years managing the Hobby Airport concessions with over $900 million in revenue, Pappas can still enjoy other city contracts like the Intercontinental Airport, Pappasito at the Hilton of America hotel and Pappadeaux in the George R. Brown Convention Center. I’m sure it is a big hit on the bottom line, but everything must change.
Serving in the Texas Legislature since 1984 (39 years), Dutton, 78, has canceled his membership in the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, which is celebrating the Legislative Summit’s 50th Anniversary. In a letter addressed to the caucus chairman Ron Reynolds, Dutton stated that after proposing a public education panel for the upcoming summit he was not asked to serve on that panel or any panel during the summit. Dutton wrote, ”Either way, you are engaging in stank leadership which ignores the plight of Black Texans.” The letter then got personal (read the full letter on defendernetwork.com). POSTPONED
50th Anniversary Legislative Summit April 2, 2023 through April 4, 2023 Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, Texas.
Calling all foodies! Mark your calendars for the 8th annual Black Restaurant Week in Houston from April 2-16.
Organizers recently hosted the ‘First Taste’ Media Mixer in the heart of downtown to build momentum ahead of next month’s festivities.
Te event kicked of with a packed room of Black professionals enjoying the grand sample tasting from local participants including ChòpnBlock, Te Greasy Spoon Soul Food Bistro, Jamaica Pon Di Road, Wing Quarter
Daiquiris & Creole Kitchen, Sugar Rush Too OST, and Houston Sauce Pit.
“We ask all of the restaurants to judge us [whether] we drive revenue to the establishment? And do we drive foot trafc to your establishment?” said Black Restaurant Week co-founder Warren Luckett. “If at the end of Black Restaurant Week, we have not done those two things, then we have done you guys a disservice.”
Luckett’s co-founders Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson started Black Restaurant Week in 2016 with the goal to bring more awareness to the diverse African-American, African, and Caribbean cuisines in Houston and beyond through a series of events and promotional campaigns.
“Tis is my frst time participating at this capacity,” said Gareth Powell founder and head chef of Jamaica Pon Di Road. “Tis is a great experience to mix and mingle with other business owners, and show the community the rich tastes of Jamaican food and culture.”
In partnership with Feed the Soul Foundation, Black Restaurant Week’s non-proft arm, they’ve created sustainable culinary businesses through business mentorship, fnancial assistance, and advocacy for food justice.
Craig Joseph, CEO of Tis Is It Soul Food in Tird Ward was awarded with a surprise $10,000 grant through the organization’s business development program presented by Mayor Sylvester Turner.
“We are about to open a second location in May, so this grant gives us a better opportunity to build what we’ve done to make it much better,” Joseph said. “My favorite part of this experience is the opportunity to network and expand our knowledge and businesses.”
Currently, more than 90 Black-owned culinary businesses will be in participation in Houston this year.
For more information about the event calendar visit: http://blackrestaurantweeks.com/
Nine students from the Texas Southern University Debate Team spent their spring break competing in the 33rd Annual International Forensic Association (IFA) Speech & Debate Championship Tournament in Tokyo. TSU’s team came in second place out of 30 teams from around the world.
“My teammates and I are overwhelmed with joyful excitement to bring our talents, skills and hard work to the international stage,” said Brynn White, Debate Team president. “We have endured so much as forensic competitors – such as COVID-19 and how it transformed our entire social and competitive landscape.
“We continue to be the only HBCU to compete on these national and international circuits that are dominated by predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and other private colleges. We represent TSU authentically and proudly. Despite some barriers, we stick to our roots, ground ourselves in the legacy of the team and the words of our founding coach Dr. Tomas F. Freeman.”
The tournament was conducted in English and consisted of team debates in
National Parliamentary Debate Association and British Parliamentary formats; individual debates in International Public Debate Association format; fve interpretation of literature events, four platform speaking events, two limited preparation speaking events, two online events, and a nuance event designed to honor the host nation.
In addition to the team placing second overall, Brynn White won frst place in Dramatic Interpretation.
“I am beyond proud of the students who competed in Tokyo,” said Dr. Gloria Batiste Roberts, head debate coach. “Te students work hard to perfect the craf every day, and the opportunity to compete on an international stage is one that we enjoy. Placing second out of 30 teams internationally is no small feat and it’s an experience they will cherish with pride for the rest of their lives.”
Te TSU Debate Team has a history of international competitions with overall sweepstakes wins in 1992 (London), 1994 (Munich), 2002 (Rome), and most recently 2018 (Montreal). The team is planning to compete in the IFA Speech & Debate Championship Tournament in 2024. It will be held in Dublin, Ireland.
The HARRIS CENTER For Mental Health and IDD will be accepting proposals for the following: AGENCY WIDE MULTIFUNCTION DEVICES
Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org beginning Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The Harris Center utilizes Bonfire for their solicitations https://theharriscenter.bonfrehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities. Deadlinefor prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Proposals must be submitted by 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 25, 2023. 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.
Former Houston City Councilmember and well-known activist Ada Edwards is being remembered for her compassion for others and commitment to the community. She died March 23 at the age of 80. A memorial service will be held Friday, March 31, at 11 a.m., at St. John’s Downtown Church, 2019 Crawford.
She was elected to represent District D in 2001 and served six years, chairing three of the Council’s most critical committees: Housing and Community Development, Flooding and Drainage Issues and the State of Emergency HIV/AIDS Task Force. Afer her term ended she became assistant director of the Housing and Community Development Department.
Mayor Sylvester Turner said she never forgot where she came from or who she represented.
“During her time as the District D Council Member, she worked to find solutions without compromising her beliefs and was steadfast in fghting to improve the lives of
all Houstonians,” Turner said. “She advocated for afordable housing, social justice and community empowerment. She cared deeply about people living in historically under-resourced and underserved communities.”
Pastor Rudy Rasmus of St. John’s Downtown said that from the moment he met her, they were connected at the heart because of their desire to see everyone cared for with dignity and respect.
“She sacrifced her life for the oppressed and for those who had lost hope,” Rasmus said. “Many years ago, we dedicated our building as the ‘Ada Edwards Center for Hope’ because we wanted to remind people for years to come that our Sister Ada was a center for hope.
Defender CEO Sonny Messiah Jiles also admired her compassion for others.
“My friend Ada Edwards was a warrior who believed in the power of the people,” she said. “She fought many battles looking out for the interests of Black people. She was a light in the darkness and I celebrate her life and commitment.”
Prior to her election to City Council Ada Edwards was already known as an outspoken activist. She founded and co-chaired of the Ida Delaney/Byron Gillum Justice Committee, the Houston chapter of the Free South Africa Movement and the Student Coalition against Apartheid, and was an organizer for the AFSCME Local 1550. She was involved with numerous other organizations and causes and hosted a weekly news and public afairs program on Praise 92.1.
Survivors include her children Todd, Troy, Tifany and Traci and grandchildren.
There was a hope that when the men’s NCAA Tournament Final Four rolls into Houston this week that it would do so with at least one Texas team representing the state. But that wasn’t to be after No.1 seed University of Houston was defeated by No.5 seed Miami in the Sweet 16 round and then No.2 seed Texas was upended by the Hurricane in the Elite Eight. The Final Four teams coming to Houston are Florida Atlantic, San Diego State, Miami and UConn. No.1 seeded teams made it through and three of the teams – Florida Atlantic, San Diego State and Miami – are playing in the Final Four for the first time.
UT names Rodney Terry permanent coach
Rodney Terry is the University of Texas’ interim head basketball coach no more. He has been named the Longhorns permanent head coach after leading the team to a No.2 seed and an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance this season after winning the Big 12 Tournament championship. Terry took over in early December after former head coach Chris Beard was accused of domestic violence.
Jarace Walker is one-and-done at UH
In one of the worst kept secrets, University of Houston freshman forward Jarace Walker is declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. Walker, who was named AAC Freshman of Year, has long been considered a one-and-done talent. He averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Cougars this season.
PV and TSU bowlers make All-SWAC
Prairie View and Texas Southern have representation on the ALLSWAC Bowling Team.
Prairie View’s Stephanie Vasquez made First Team, PV’s Jayda Gordon TSU’s Evan Smith and Cassie De La Fuente made Second Team. Gordon is also the Freshman of the Year.
In the backdrop of this weekend’s NCAA Tournament Final Four in Houston, another game will be played that will also carry great significance to its players on the floor.
The HBCU All-Star Game, featuring 24 of the top players in Black College Basketball, has rolled into town for its second-ever showcase game. The All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, April 2 (3 p.m.) at Texas Southern University’s H&PE Arena.
It’s a culmination of a vision founder and former HBCU basketball coach Travis Williams has had to provide players who are often overshadowed with a platform and stage to show their talents.
“To be able to do this in this space and in this moment in history is truly exciting to let individuals know we have some of the best brands of basketball and that our HBCUs matter in this space,” Williams said. “The important message in all of this is we are getting to be able to provide this platform where otherwise we haven’t had it or our HBCUs don’t get that national recognition or the buzz.”
This is the second HBCU All-Star Game after Williams debuted it with great success
during last year’s Final Four in New Orleans. The game is played the same weekend and in the same city as the Final Four to maximize exposure so that the players can participate in an event most have only seen on their televisions.
Additionally, CBS is a partner of HBCU All-Star and will broadcast the game and pregame live on Sunday. In addition to the game there will be some social outreach, panel discussions, seminars and a Black College fair as part of the weekend.
“That’s the natural tie,” Williams said of playing it in the backdrop of the Final Four. “That’s what is so historical about it, is we’ve never had a presence. It was a vision that is long overdue.”
A total of 66 HBCU players are in town for the weekend, which will also feature a Pro Day in front of scouts from the NBA and International leagues. The weekend events will feature players from 49 HBCUs, representing the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA and SIAC along with Independents Tennessee State, Hampton and North Carolina A&T.
Each team will feature 12 players on each side, with Prairie View leading scorer Will Douglas and Texas Southern seniors Joirdon Karl Nicholas and John Walker all playing for Team Willis Reed. Players from the SWAC and CIAA will compete for Team Willis Reed while Team Dick Barnett is comprised of MEAC, SIAC and three Independent HBCUs.
Howard’s Kenneth Blakeney and Virginia Union’s Jay Butler will serve as the head coaches.
Williams says it was important to start the game after he realized that there is only one former HBCU player currently on an NBA roster, Los Angeles Clippers’ veteran forward Robert Covington, who played for Williams at Tennessee State. But 15 players are playing professionally overseas after playing in last year’s HBCU All-Star game.
“When I ask individuals how many HBCU players they think are in the NBA, they will say 10, 20 or 30,” Williams said. “When you say one, they can’t believe it. Being able to have this platform to get to showcase some of the best in Black College Basketball that wouldn’t otherwise get this type of exposure with our CBS Sports partnership and things of that nature.”
Williams says the players were selected after careful scouting throughout the season. The scouting continued through the beginning of March Madness and the conference tournaments. The top 24 players were named on March 13.
They landed in Houston this week and immediately started the process of preparing to play Sunday.
“The best reception is from the players and know we are helping them,” Williams said. “This is a lifetime memory for these players and coaches.”
Te 2022 track season was full of highs and lows for the Jack Yates Lions, and for Jefery LeGrand the season ended sooner than he hoped. However, this season, LeGrand is back with something to prove.
“He’s a hard worker, improving every week. He’s on a mission. He wants a scholarship. I gave him a couple of schools and what they’re looking for. He set goals, and now he’s working towards those standards so he can get a scholarship,” said Yates Lions track coach Jamal Myers.
“Before the gun goes of I’m thinking I need to push, pace, then punish. For the frst 200-meters to 250-meters, I need to get out hard on the back straight away so I can have a good pace. For position, I need to make sure I’m ahead of my competition but not forcing myself too much. Ten, on the last back straight, I need to punish and get away from everybody, walk everybody down,” said LeGrand.
Last season, LeGrand made it to regionals, but an ankle injury kept him from competing.
“I rolled my ankle in that last meet and it blew up like a balloon, so I couldn’t run on it. It hurt, but I was more disappointed than mad that I couldn’t fnish my season. I felt like I let my team down,” said LeGrand.
Although LeGrand began his track journey with Track Houston when he was 7 years old, it would be inspiration found on television that inspired him to run.
“I just wanted to be fast. I saw Usain Bolt and cartoons like Sonic the Hedge hog and I wanted to be fast like that,” said LeGrand.
LeGrand’s times this season have shown his continued growth in the 400meter dash.
“At the TSU Relays, I ran a personal best 52.11 seconds. Last year I ran 55.56 seconds. It felt good. Once I got into my groove I felt like I was fying.”
Afer graduating, LeGrand hopes for an opportunity to continue his track career while majoring in kinesiology.
“I’m looking for a school that can help me grow and where I can feel at home,” said LeGrand.
Class: 2023
Twitter: @JeferyLeGrand
IG: @jefe.05
Races: 400-meter, 200-meter
Height & weight: 5-feet-11, 160 pounds
Runners he studies: Terrance Woods (Houston Washington), Brent Murphy (Houston Furr), Randolph Ross, Jr. (North Carolina A&T), Fred Kerley (pro)
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite artist: NBA YoungBoy
Favorite subject: Science
Shout-outs: Coach Jamal Myers, my teammates, dad and mom
By Aswad Walker University
of Houston Clear Lake’s
(UHCL)
Dr.
Jennifer Grace,an assistant professor and program director in the Department of Leadership and Policy Analysis, is guided by the belief that equity in education is a civil and human right. us, as she works on preparing future school leaders, especially in her role as program director for UHCL’s master’s degree in educational management, Grace not only leans on her vast experiences leading schools in curriculum, instruction and assessment, and in district and school strategic planning, but also critical race theory.
us, Grace, whose research areas include the school-to-prison pipeline, race and racism in education and equity-focused leadership, investigates how educational leaders can disrupt systemic racism and create school environments that help historically underserved students reach their full potential.
e Defender spoke with Grace about her anti-racism research, the upcoming Educational Leaders Without Borders conference in Athens, Greece, where she will be presenting, as well as her thoughts on the mischaracterization of critical race theory.
DEFENDER: What do your antiracism conversations focus on? You mentioned getting people to look at themselves.
JENNIFER GRACE: That’s the first part that has to take place. But then also
looking at the systems. You have to look at outcomes. And like I said, the numbers are the same across the country. Black students lag their white peers, their Asian peers, in academics, in discipline disparities, in graduation rates, all of those things. You have to look at those and get to the root causes of why that’s taking place. So, you start to have to look at curriculum.
You have to look at instructional practices, disciplinary practices that negatively impact these students. Anti-racism is about action. We know the numbers. We’ve known them for decades and decades. It’s been the same. It goes beyond just acknowledging, “Oh, this is a thing. Black students are not graduating at the [same rate as others].” It’s not a reflection of the students, but it’s a reflection on the system that we’re educating them in. So, we need to make some changes.
DEFENDER: What are your thoughts and feelings on the mischaracterization of critical race theory?
GRACE: It is a cross between infuriating to a point where it becomes almost comical. It’s
not a funny situation, but it’s just like, “Have you read a book or one research article about what it is?” It’s never been taught to students. It’s only ever been a legal framework or an academic framework that academics [use to] look at a problem through a lens, no differently than we use a lens of transformational leadership or a lens of feminism. It’s just a lens to look at pervasive issues. When it is constantly conflated with anything related to being Black, including Black people, including intersectional Black identities, including that in the curriculum or any trainings that allow us to look at our biases… it’s infuriating to see that constantly conflated and misconstrued as what it’s not. And it’s like, “Read.” It is very simple to educate yourself.
DEFENDER: What are you most looking forward to about the conference inAthens,Greece?
GRACE: First and foremost, anti-Blackness is global. So, I’m very excited to meet leaders from countries around the world, see how anti-Blackness might be impacting their students in their school systems. And just to broaden my own view. I only
know what I’ve experienced in the US. So, to broaden my own view, but then also to share some experiences of some very brave and courageous leaders that I had the chance to interview, and how they’re attempting to address this thing. And it won’t happen overnight, but I’m hoping that some practice someone is doing in the US might positively impact discrimination and systemic racism that people are facing in other countries. I’m also hoping to learn what they might be doing that could impact us as leaders in the US also.
DEFENDER: Why is your antiracism research needed now more than ever? And how is it going to be heard when folk look at your bio and see you focus on critical race theory and want to cancel you immediately?
GRACE: I’m gonna knock on wood <laughs>. What I found is when you create a safe space for people to be curious, that they’re willing to at least grapple with new information. But why is it important now more than ever? We’re heading in a direction where sometimes it feels like we’re regressing as a society. And we don’t wanna do that. What I envision people to learn when they are looking at topics like critical race theory, is that it is not what some assume; a personal attack. It is not about that. It is about unity. It is about togetherness. It is about belonging. It’s about looking at addressing issues so that we can all belong and live harmoniously.