LOCAL

GROUP VISITS HOUSTON TO HELP BLACK FARMERS GET LAWSUIT DOLLARS P2

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Volume 82 | Number 24

APRIL 11, 2013 |FREE

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NEWSTALK SEN. RODNEY ELLIS joins fight for uninsured

2013 State of

P2 ENTERTAINMENT OPINION

VIOLA DAVIS appearing at Texas Southern

P5 SPORTS TERRON ARMSTEAD hopes to duplicate success

Black America H Page 6

P14 CHAG’S PLACE

Bootsy Collins

coming to town

Dr. Bonnie Dunbar and Dr. Reagan Flowers at CSTEM breakfast

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Long-time Bootsy Collins fans remember him as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. The colorful entertainer is still performing after all these years. Find out when he will be in Houston. Read about the other stars coming to town. Discover why downtown is the place to be.

Know the facts

about HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus – better known as HIV – is a critical health issue, and continues to hit the Black community hard. Learn how it damages the body. Find out about breakthroughs in treatment. See the lifesaving steps you can take to keep from getting it and spreading it.

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Campaign reaches out to uninsured “I strongly support the efforts of TOP and will continue to do so,” Garcia said. “They are t is estimated that effectively activating and giving nearly 70 percent a voice to everyday working of working-class Texans who have been silenced Texans are unaware for too long. that they will be “With the 1.5 Campaign, covered under healthcare they are mobilizing low-wage expansion if it comes to earners, many in the service inthe state. In an effort to dustry. These Texans are an esspread the word, the Texas sential component of our strong Organizing Project (TOP) Texas economy, and we owe it is reaching out. to them to make sure they have The statewide nonaccess to healthcare.” profit recently launched a Ellis echoed Garcia’s “Find the 1.5” campaign thoughts. to identify the 1.5 million “Texas ranks near or at the Texans who would benefit bottom of every meaningful edufrom healthcare expansion. cation, healthcare and quality of Volunteers are canlife measurement on the books, State Sens. Rodney Ellis (second from l.) and Sylvia Garcia (center) join supporters of the “Find the 1.5” campaign to benefit vassing neighborhoods in the uninsured. and budget cuts are making Dallas, Houston, San Antous drop even further,” Ellis said. We’re reaching out to people statewide throughout nio and the Rio Grande Valley to inform and organize “Texas is a minority-majority state and minorities April.” those poised for coverage under the expansion. suffer the inequities of this state’s lack of investment TOP has offices in Houston, Dallas and the Rio Why is such a campaign needed? in its people more than any other community. Grande Valley. It works to improve the lives of “Texas has the worst rate of uninsured in the “The Texas Organizing Project is pivotal to shinlow and moderate-income Texas families by buildnation, yet our political leadership doesn’t seem to ing the spotlight on the truth facing Texas families, ing power through community organizing and civic understand the importance of healthcare expansion,” and will help build the coalition necessary to make engagement. said Durrel Douglas, TOP’s statewide communications It provides training, leadership development, and real change.” coordinator. Douglas urges more Texans to get involved. public education, putting organizers on the ground “To date, all of the committee hearings at the “We’re reaching out to everyone,” he said. “Even in low-income and minority communities throughout State Capitol were closed to public testimony. We those who wouldn’t qualify for coverage under the the state. intend to insert the community voice into the conversaexpansion have the opportunity to volunteer their State Sens. Rodney Ellis, Sylvia Garcia and tion. Working, uninsured Texans need to have a say in time and help organize this ambitious effort.” Wendy Davis are among those offering their support one of the most important issues facing our state today. of the 1.5 campaign. For more information visit organizetexas.org. By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

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Black farmers urged to file claims Turner roast benefits TLIP Defender News Services

Members of the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association (BFAA) will visit the greater Houston area for a worthy cause. They will assist Black farmers and their heirs in obtaining and completing paperwork necessary for them to file a claim in one of many class-action lawsuits, in an effort to receive a $50,000 cash award from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their visit is hosted by the Houston Black Heritage Society. Locally, members of BFAA will be available from Saturday, April 13 to Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at CWA Union Hall, 1730 Jefferson. Other locations will be announced, and include Waller, Walker, Fort Bend, Galveston,

Brazoria, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Grimes, Shelby and Jefferson counties. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state of Texas had the greatest number of Black farmers and landowners in the country. Unfortunately, the state’s Black farmers received one of the lowest amount of money paid out in the largest civil rights lawsuit in the history of the United States, the Timothy C. Pigford class-action lawsuit. The suit has made billions of dollars available to Black farmers, sharecroppers and their heirs for racial discrimination against them by the USDA. Billions more have been set aside for victims who were discriminated against but did not have an opportunity to file claims in time. The deadline for filing a claim is May 1. For more information call 901-522-8880.

Defender News Services

A roast and toast of State Rep. Sylvester Turner was recently held to benefit the Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP). Political, educational and community leaders from across the state attended the event. Among those roasting Turner were Gov. Rick Perry, Texas Southern University President Dr. John Rudley, Speaker of the House Joe Straus, University of Texas President William Powers Jr. and State Reps. Harold Dutton and Helen Giddings. TLIP, established in 1990, is an educational internship program sponsored by State Sen. Rodney

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APRIL 11 | 2013 | DEFENDER

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national

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Presidents discuss Africa’s future

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NNPA News service

t is customary for the evening news and other media outlets to characterize Africa in a negative and derisive manner. Droughts, coups, famine, civil unrest and poverty often take center stage while any number of success stories and the many positive developments occurring among the continent’s 54 nations are often ignored. So a panel discussion with three presidents and a prime minister at the United States Institute of Peace was a breath of fresh air because an audience of several hundred heard the leaders talk about their efforts to institute and strengthen good governance, the rule of law, and transparency. “The Africa of today is far from the clichés of war, famines and coups,” said Senegalese President Macky Sall. “We’re moving toward democracy and growth. We’re the cradle of mankind, a magical continent with diversity and resources. Africa today is a continent on the march.” Sall was joined by President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, President Joyce Banda of Malawi and Prime Minister José Maria Pereira Neves of Cape Verde. Each detailed their governments’ roles in fostering the social and economic upswings of their respective countries, the seemingly intractable challenges and their vision of an independent, self-sufficient and transformed Africa. The quartet was also invited to the White House by President Barack Obama because of what Obama said was recognition of the fact that each leader had “undertaken significant efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, protect and expand human rights and civil liberties, and increase economic opportunities for their people.” Since taking office, Sall has instituted eco-

President Barack Obama meets with the heads of four African countries.

nomic reforms, worked to reduce conflict, unrest and tension in the southern Casamance region. In fact, Senegal’s economy is expected to grow by 5 percent this year. Sall prompted laughter when he said he was putting one of the two presidential jets up for sale but with no takers, may have to offer it to a museum. Both he and Banda said they have scaled back on ministerial perks and she has gotten rid of fleets of vehicles as well. Banda, who has been involved in women’s issues for 30 years, said a number of austerity measures and policy proposals that she’s enacted

have been deeply disliked but vowed to continue even if it costs her personally. Koroma is guiding a country that still bears the scars of a brutal civil war that ended in 2002. Despite challenges, he said he’s pleased with progress that has been made. “What we take pride in is that we’re committed to moving forward,” he said. “We have peace and a rapidly developing country…we’ve built on the peace and positioned ourselves for growth. This is why we believe that Sierra Leone is no longer a country of blood diamonds… I believe that Sierra Leone is on the move.”

Unemployment drops for all the wrong reasons VOLUME 82 • NUMBER 24 - APRIL 11, 2013 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Advertising/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alliance Manager Clyde Jiles Multimedia Manager Tiffany Williams Online Editor ReShonda Billingsley

Print Editor Marilyn Marshall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila People Editor Yvette Chargois Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing Writer Aswad Walker

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2013 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

By FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA Washington Correspondent

There wasn’t much good news for any of the worker groups in the March jobs report recently released. Even though the unemployment rate fell to 7.6 percent, most economists agree that the drop is attributable to nearly half a million

workers exiting the labor force. “The unemployment numbers look good on the surface, but the real reason is that people left the labor force,” said Steven Pitts, labor economist at the University of California at Berkeley. The Black unemployment rate decreased from 13.8 percent in February to 13.3 percent in March. The white un-

employment rate also declined from 6.8 percent to 6.7 percent over the same period. The unemployment rate for Black men declined from 12.9 percent in February to 12.7 percent in March. The jobless rate for White men dipped from 6.3 percent to 6.1 percent over the same period. The jobless rate for Black women over 20 years old slid

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entertainment

International Festival begins April 20

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he 2013 Houston International Festival will celebrate the art, music and cuisine of Brazil, and takes place April 20-21 and April 27-28 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Downtown Houston. This year’s musical lineup includes Los Lobos, Bootsy Collins, Diogo Nogueira, The Wailers and Aaron Neville. Collins, a colorful singer and musician, rose to prominence with Parliament-Funkadelic in the ‘70s. He performs on Saturday, April 20. Nogueira, an award-winning singer and songwriter from Brazil, performs April 20 and 21. The Wailers, a reggae band formed by the remaining members of Bob Marley & The Wailers, following Marley’s death, perform on April 21. Neville, a New Orleans native, is a Grammy Award-winning singer 1and0 musician 0 B L with A four C Kplatinum-selling M E N Malbums. E T R O P O L I T A N H O U S He performs on Sunday, April 28. Other festival highlights include a global village, international markets, a kids’ world and the Chevron Brazil Living Museum. Festival admission is $18 for adults, $5 for children 3 to 12 and free for children under 3 years old. For more informaollins tion, call 713-654-8808 or visit www.ifest.org. Bootsy C

T O N6 T HA N

N U A L

G A L A

Diogo Nog

ueira Aaron Neville

1 0 0 B L A C K M E N M E T R O P O L I TA N H O U S T O N 6 T H A N N U A L G A L A

investing in ourselves

building our future saturday, april 20, 2013

hilton hotel post oak 2001 Post Oak Blvd

honoring Health & Wellness Dr. Baxter Montgomery Economic Development Mr. James Davis Education Attorney Terry Bruner Mentoring Chief Charles McClelland Phenomenal Woman Dr. Heather Brown

ForFor more information, go go to to http://www.100blackmenhou.org/ oror call (713)723-1618 more information, http://www.100blackmenhou.org/ call (713)723-1618

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APRIL 11 | 2013 | DEFENDER

what’sup HALLE BERRY says her pregnancy at age 46 is a surprise. “This has been the biggest surprise of my life, to tell you the truth,” she said. “I thought I was kind of past the point where this could be a reality for me. So it’s been a big surprise and the most wonderful.” Berry, who is three months pregnant, is expecting a son with her fiancé, actor Olivier Martinez. She has a 5-yearold daughter, Nahla, by model Gabriel Aubry…….. BEYONCÉ & JAY-Z are being criticized for celebrating their fifth anniversary in Cuba. The executive director of Cuba Democracy Advocates in Washington, D.C., said the superstars should have educated themselves on Cuba’s human rights violations before making the trip. “There are women getting beaten on a daily basis, women who are being jailed for no reason ... people are fighting for their freedom,” said Mauricio Claver-Carone. America’s embargo makes it illegal for U.S.

citizens to travel to Cuba solely for tourism. The couple declined to speak to reporters on the subject……..Jay-Z and WILL & JADA PINKETT SMITH are among the executive producers of a new documentary on political activist and professor ANGELA DAVIS. The film, titled “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners,” is the work of Shola Lynch, who first encountered Davis 20 years ago while she was a student at the University of Texas. Lynch now lives in New York and won a Peabody Award in 2006 for her PBS documentary on the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Her film on Davis recently opened in nine U.S. cities. Those who want the film to come to Houston can visit www. tugg.com……..WESLEY SNIPES is under home confinement until July 19. Snipes was released from a Pennsylvania federal prison after serving 28 months for failure to file income tax returns.

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Viola Davis visits TSU Defender News Services

Academy Award nominee Viola Davis will visit Texas Southern University on Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. in Sawyer Auditorium. Known for her roles in such films as “Doubt” and “The Help,” Davis is coming to TSU for an up-close-and-personal conversation with students, alumni and community members. Davis is currently preparing to star in and produce the life story of the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, a Texas Southern University alumna and political pioneer. “A Conversation with Viola Davis” is part of TSU’s Legends and Leaders Series. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Visit tsuvioladavis. eventbrite.com.

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2013 State of

Black America Economic disparities persist

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By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

n its annual State of Black America report, the National Urban League took a retrospective look at racial equality in light of the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. The good news is, increased access to educational and employment opportunities have significantly raised the standard of living for Black Americans over the last 50 years. The bad news is, an economic gap still exists between Black and white America. “The sad fact is while the African-American condition has improved, these improvements have occurred largely within our own community,” said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League (NUL).

“Economic disparities with whites persist and cast doubt on what we thought of as real and meaningful change.” Morial said there is a solution to the problem – “meaningful and lasting economic empowerment, and policies that drive development in communities that have been passed over for too long.” This year’s State of Black America report is titled “Redeem the Dream: Jobs Rebuild America.” It marks the milestones that have occurred since the height of the Civil Rights Movement, and looks at the work left to be done as African-Americans pursue full equality. “Since 1963, the biggest gains for Black people have been in education,” Morial said. There are more than triple the number of Blacks today enrolled in college than in 1963, and for every

single Black college graduate in 1963, there are now five.” Morial said that anti-poverty efforts that have taken place since 1963 have also benefitted African-Americans. “The percentage of Blacks living in poverty has declined by 23 percentage points. The percentage of Blacks has increased by 14 percent with respect to home ownership.”

Rebuilding America

He stressed that those numbers do not tell the complete story. For example, the income gap between Blacks and whites (now 60 percent) has only closed 7 percentage points in the last 50 years. The unemployment rate gap (now 52 percent) has only closed by 6 percentage points. Continued on Page 7

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2013 State...Continued from page 6 Dr. Valerie Rawlston Wilson, vice president of research at the NUL, said that looking at the facts and figures, employment remains the biggest barrier to equality in America. “The first hurdle people have to overcome in economic equality is getting a job,” she said. In an effort to close the economic gap between Blacks and whites, the NUL is launching Jobs Build America, described as a “ground-breaking endeavor” to put urban America back to work. Jobs Rebuild America is a five-year initiative by the NUL and its affiliates funded by public and private investments totaling more than $70 million. Morial said it includes a “programmatic mix,” and will offer special training and development for such groups as teenagers, ex-offenders, entrepreneurs and workers 55 and older. Details of the program will be announced in May.

“Jobs Rebuild America leverages the demonstrated success of our affiliate network in creating economic opportunity and preparing people to take advantage of economic opportunities to spur upward mobility,” Morial said. In addition to the jobs program, the NUL is promoting two pieces of federal legislation introduced in Congress at its request – the Urban Jobs Act and the Project Ready Stem Act. Marc Morial “The Urban Jobs Act provides a stream of funding to provide necessary support to a population that has been largely unreached by current policy strategy,” said Chanelle Hardy, executive director of the NUL Policy Institute. “This is the population between

Read about the Equality Index on

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ages 16 and 24 that is not community-college ready – high school dropouts, adjudicated youth, those aged out of the system and others.” Hardy said the second legislation, the Project Ready Stem Act, is for underserved youth who need exposure to STEM careers. “One of the challenges we’ve seen is that there is a great level of interest in STEM careers in our community but there is a problem in terms of making sure kids are able to take the appropriate coursework. [The act will provide] exposure, preparation and training so students can

How the Houston Area Urban League helps As the National Urban League prepares to unveil the Jobs Rebuild America program, the Houston Area Urban League continues its mission of helping AfricanAmericans and other people of color attain economic self-reliance and parity. Founded in 1968, HAUL offers Houston-area residents a myriad of options through its Workforce Development and Workforce Training Departments. Services range from job placement assistance to job retention services to Microsoft Office certification. Judson W. Robinson III, HAUL’s president and CEO, said gainful employment is essential for economic equality. He said in addition to coping with higher unemployment rates, African-Americans also struggle with low-paying jobs, and the minimum wage has not kept up with the cost of living. “Many of our people have minimum-wage jobs, and they really don’t afford you the luxury of stability. It makes it difficult to pursue the American dream,” Robinson said. “At the same time, our high school dropout rate is high, and we have more single heads of households than ever before. We need to make sure people have the education and credentials they need to get higherpaying jobs.” One program HAUL offers provides training and certification for construction trade helpers, including electricians, carpenters, plumbers and pipe fitters. The curriculum includes preventive maintenance, basic Judson Robinson III safety and construction math. Recently, HAUL formed a partnership with LaneStaffing to promote job readiness and placement. Its presence at HAUL’s Texas Avenue location gives the staffing agency greater accessibility to a broader audience and supplements its offices in Houston, Dallas, Port Arthur, Beaumont and Orlando. “The LaneStaffing and HAUL partnership creates opportunities to strengthen families,” Robinson said. “The program meets people where they are.”

pursue those kind of careers,” Hardy said. Morial summed up the State of Black America by reflecting on the similarities and differences between the past and present. He said in 2013, we are still fighting for economic equality, educational opportunity and other rights, as we did in 1963. “But instead of fighting against discrimination in hiring or for a $2 minimum wage, we’re fighting for job training and wage equity. Instead of calling for an end to school segregation, we’re demanding an end to disparities in educational investment,” Morial said. “Rather than calling for meaningful civil rights legislation, we’re fighting to preserve those very rights our ancestors fought and died for…”

50

years of progress How have Black Americans fared since the historic March on Washington in 2013? The National Urban League offers positive changes that have taken place in the 2013 State of Black America. NUL President and CEO Marc Morial said the biggest gains in the past half-century can be seen in educational attainment, thanks to affirmative action and programs such as Head Start. In addition, anti-poverty measures have been a boon to the Black community. As a result: • Fifty years ago, 75 percent of Black adults had not completed high school. Currently, 85 percent of Black adults have a high school education. • At the college level, there are now 3.5 times more Black 18 to 24-year-olds enrolled, and five times as many Black adults hold a college degree. • Since 1963, the percentage of Blacks living in poverty has fallen by nearly half (45 percent), and the percentage of black children living in poverty is down by more than onethird.

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health

Know the facts about

HIV & treatment T

Defender News Services

here have been great strides in the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS since AIDS was first recognized in 1981. It remains, however, a critical health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, at the end of 2009, an estimated 1,148,200 persons ages 13 and older were living with HIV infection in the United States, including 207,600 whose infections had not been diagnosed. CDC estimates that approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. are newly infected with HIV each year. In 2010 (the most recent year that data are available), there were an estimated 47,500 new HIV infections. HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus, and can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. HIV damages the body by destroying specific blood cells, called CD4+ T cells, which are crucial to helping fight disease. Although there is no cure for HIV infection, there are treatment options that can help people living with HIV experience long and productive lives. In 1996, the advent of potent combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), sometimes called HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) or cART (effective combination antiretroviral therapy), changed the course of the HIV epidemic. These “cocktails” of three or more antiretroviral drugs used in combination gave patients and scientists new hope for fighting the epidemic, and have significantly improved life expectancy to decades rather than months. For persons living with or at risk for HIV infection, four fundamental safeguards are crucial: • Knowing their HIV status through routine testing • Getting into care soon after HIV diagnosis and starting antiretroviral treatment • Remaining in care and staying on HIV treatment • Modifying behaviors that reduce the probability of getting or spreading HIV, such as using condoms properly and consistently, reducing numbers of partners, and avoiding sharing needles and syringes.

How to prevent HIV

Because the most common ways HIV is transmitted is through anal or vaginal sex or sharing drug injection equipment with a person infected with HIV, it is important to take steps to reduce the risks associated with these. They include: • Know your HIV status. Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should be tested for HIV at least once. If you are at increased risk for HIV, you should be tested for HIV at least once a year. If you have HIV, you can get medical care, treatment, and supportive services to help you stay healthy and reduce your ability to transmit the virus to others. If you are pregnant and find that you have HIV, treatments are available to reduce the chance that your baby will have HIV. • Abstain from sexual activity or be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. • Limit your number of sex partners. The fewer partners you have, the less likely you are to encounter someone who is infected with HIV or another STD. • Use condoms correctly and consistently. Latex condoms are highly effective at preventing transmission of HIV and some other sexually transmitted diseases. “Natural” or lambskin condoms do not provide sufficient protection against HIV infection. • Get tested and treated for STDs and insist that your partners do too. • Do not inject drugs. If you inject drugs, you should get counseling and treatment to stop or reduce your drug use. Source: Centers for Disease Control

HIV and Black Americans • Black Americans accounted for an estimated 44 percent of all new HIV infections among adults and adolescents (ages 13 older) in 2010, despite representing only 12 percent to 14 percent of the U.S. population. • In 2010, Black men accounted for 70 percent (14,700) of the estimated 20,900 new HIV infections among all adult and adolescent Blacks. The estimated rate of new HIV infection for Black men (103.6/100,000 population) was seven times as high as that of white men, twice as high as that of Latino men, and nearly three times as high as among Black women. • In 2010, Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) represented an estimated 72 percent (10,600) of new infections among all Black men and 36 percent of an estimated 29,800 new HIV infections among all MSM. More new HIV infections (4,800) occurred among young Black MSM (ages 13-24) than any other age or racial group of MSM. • In 2010, Black women accounted for 6,100 (29 percent) of the estimated new HIV infections among all adult and adolescent Blacks. This number represents a decrease of 21 percent since 2008. Most HIV infections among black women (87 percent; 5,300) are attributed to heterosexual sex. Source: Centers for Disease Control

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Unemployment... Continued from page 3 from 12.5 percent in February to 12.3 percent in March. The unemployment rate for white women over 20 years old climbed slightly from 6 percent in February to 6.1 percent in March. The employment participation rate, a measure of those either employed or looking for work, fell for all worker groups over 20 years old except for white women, which was the same in February. According to the Labor Department, 496,000 workers left the labor force joining more than 800,000 discouraged workers who have already given up hope of finding work. The federal government shed 14,000 jobs in March, continuing to drag down anemic job gains, raising early concerns about the effects of the sequester, the automatic budget cuts that went into effect last month. “This could be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the larger impact of the sequester,” Pitts said. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Marcia L. Fudge also addressed the sequester. “While the private sector has steadily added jobs for 37 months, the public sector, where many African-Americans are employed, continued to lose them. Last month 385,000 more requests for unemployment benefits were made and by year’s end, sequestration threatens to put an additional 750,000 people with full-time jobs out of work,” Fudge said. “If Congress cannot come to an agreement on the best way to address this country’s fiscal health, these statistics show our economic future remains in jeopardy.”

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Pastor Lloyd Crosby dead at 62

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lain for the Hempstead Police Department. Crosby was born in Houston. He attended Wheatley High School and obtained a data processing degree from San Jacinto College. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in religion from Bishop College and was awarded a scholarship to Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, N.Y. After serving as a hospital chaplain and pastor, he returned to Houston and was ordained at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He later became director of Christian education at Antioch Baptist Church and interim pastor from 1976 to 1979. He was called to Mount Corinth in 1984. He is survived by his wife, Karen, three children, two grandchildren and one sister.

Defender News Services

ervices were recently held for Pastor Lloyd Crosby, who died April 3 at the age of 62. Crosby was the pastor of Mount Corinth Baptist Church in Hempstead and the voice of “The Christian Community Today” on Texas Southern University’s KTSU radio station. His radio ministry included programs such as “The Church and Community in Action” and “Teen Talk” on Prairie View A&M University’s KPVU and “Spirit, Soul, and Body” on Praise 92.1. He served as public relations director for Houston Ministers Against Crime and chap-

Turner...

State Rep. Sylvester Turner (seated, center) is roasted by Gov. Rick Perry. The event was a fundraiser for the Texas Legislative Internship Program sponsored by State Sen. Rodney Ellis (seated, right).

Continued from page 3 Ellis and administered by the Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger and Peace at TSU. TLIP provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students attending Texas colleges and universities to serve as interns in the Texas Legislature. Between legislative sessions, interns serve in the offices of elected and appointed officials at the state, county and municipal levels.

classified DENTURES $0 CO-PAY! $200 EYEWEAR ALLOWANCE! Must Have Medicare and Medicaid to Qualify. For Details Call 1-800-704-3307 24 hrs, for Free Report.

Non-Profit EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. is seeking an Executive Director for the National Office in Tuskegee, Alabama. The individual will have extensive experience at the Executive Director’s level with non-profit 501 C (3) responsibilities; will be responsible for implementing strategic goals and objectives of the organization within established guidelines. See job description at WWW.Tuskegeeairmen, org.

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS The Houston Independent School District located in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 West 18 th Street Houston, Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until the stated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1

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Project 13-04-03 RFP – Playground Cushion Fall Surface Materials with a deadline of 10 A.M., April 23, 2013. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be in Room 2NE32 at the above stated address on April 16, 2013 at 10 AM.

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Project 13-02-06 RFP – Bleachers: Inspection, Maintenance, & Repairs with a deadline of 10 A.M., April 24, 2013. The preproposal conference for this project will be in Room 2NE51 at the above stated address on April 17, 2013 at 10 AM.

Proposals are available on the HISD web-site at www.houstonisd.org. The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or, to accept the proposal that is most advantageous to the District.

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sports

Terron Armstead

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Terron Armstead

SWAC star makes a name for himself

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By MAX EDISON Defender

he eyes of the collective pro football world were focused on Indianapolis in late February as the annual NFL combine took

place. A special, invitation-only, meet, greet and workout session featured over 300 of the top collegiate football players all hoping to improve their status for the upcoming NFL draft. The most unlikely athlete causing the biggest buzz was Terron Armstead (6feet-5, 306 pounds), the huge offensive tackle from Arkansas Pine Bluff. A consensus All-SWAC performer at UAPB, Armstead served notice to the NFL talent evaluators when he set a new combine record for olineman in the 40, running a blistering 4.71 seconds at over 300 pounds. Blessed with 34-inch arms and Armstead works out at UAPB pro day before a host of NFL scouts. an 81⅝-inch wingspan, Armstead showed his strength by doing 31 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press, 6 reps more than the combine average of 25 for o-linemen. Terron showed the type of athletic skill set in all of the drills that has NFL scouts drooling as the draft looms in just two short weeks. Armstead wasn’t surprised by his combine performance. “I had a really good feeling heading into the combine,” Armstead said. “I had been training at Athletes Performance down in Pensacola with a group of guys and things had been going really well.” Armstead built momentum rolling into the combine after success in the East-West Shrine game and the senior Bowl. Still, coming from a D1AA, SWAC school, there would always be a stigma about the Armstead, No. 70, prepares to dominate another defensive player. level of competition he faced. guys, to answer those questions. I believe you can “They say the cream rises to the top,” he said. make it from any school at any level.” “They question the level of competition coming from A native of Cahokia, Ill., Armstead explained the SWAC or MEAC or any 1AA school. No matter the circumstances that landed him in Pine Bluff, what team you’re playing on if you can play, you’re Ark. going to stick out and [the NFL] will find you. “I was a late qualifier with the NCAA Clear“It’s a tougher road, that’s why all-star games inghouse; I got my ACT scores really late. My high [post season] are so important for small school school head coach graduated from Arkansas Pine

Bluff and that’s how they found me,” he recalled. “I was getting interest from a lot of Midwest-area schools – Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri – and I was actually planning on going to Missouri. I always saw myself going big D1. At first in my freshman year, I thought I would come here; get some good stuff on film and then transfer. “After praying about it I decided to stay and I’m really glad I did. Things really worked out well. I started for four years and we won the SWAC title this past season,” he said. Despite coming from a small school, Armstead was blessed to have NFL-quality coaches at the college level. “I don’t think many scouts knew until the start of the season when I started getting heavily scouted that our head coach was former Washington Redskin Monte Coleman,” he said. “My offensive line coach, Damon Nivens, also played in the league. It helped a whole lot to have guys coach you that have been there and done that and know exactly what it takes to make it.” Armstead describes how his outstanding athleticism translates to success at one of football’s most demanding positions. “My ability to get off the ball and in position faster and quicker than other offensive lineman out there is what distinguishes me. That helps me get to the second level and even the third level and mess around with safeties and corners,” he said. “In the pass game I feel because of my athleticism, my feet are quick enough to cut off the defenders who like to speed rush off the edge.” The future really looks bright for Armstead. Most mock drafts place him as a solid secondround draft pick. He hopes to continue the legacy of great HBCU offensive line stars such as Jackie Slater, Erik Williams, Nate Newton, Art Shell and Larry Little. With a wealth of God-given talent the future looks bright for Armstead and in two weeks he’ll know what city will be his new hometown. Here’s hoping it’s Houston.

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APRIL 11 | 2013 | DEFENDER

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sportsbriefs Show tosses no-hitter

Lamar’s Anderson thrives in two sports

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By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

amar High School outfielder Glenn Anderson is having a year to remember. A two-sport performer, Anderson was a key member of the Redskins’ football team that advanced to the Class 5A Division I state-title game. He has been counted on heavily against the likes of baseball heavyweights Bellaire and Westside as Lamar won nine consecutive games to open the District 205A schedule. In a recent 22-0 victory over longtime rival Westbury, Anderson started in right field and went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. “Since Glenn is a two-sport player, we don’t see him during the off-season the way that we see most of our other kids,” said Lamar head coach David Munoz. “Glenn comes on right after football season ends and picks up where he left off in baseball. “He’s a great kid with a good attitude and works really hard,” Munoz said. “I’m happy to see him get the results because he puts the work in and that’s what we’re seeing. We love twosport guys and that’s a good thing. Yet he doesn’t get the repetitions that some of the others get.” Even with a split schedule, Munoz says that Fort Bend Travis boys win the 2013 Region III-5A basketball title.

Anderson has garnered attention from some college baseball recruiters. “There’s no telling what he could do if he played baseball year-around, but we’re happy with the time we have him. We’ve had some inquiries from schools about him,” Munoz said. “Glenn hits the ball really well. He’s got a good eye and can drive the ball,” Munoz said. “Whenever he puts the ball in play, he seems to hit it hard. He’s a competitor, he doesn’t give in and knows how to battle at the plate. More than anything else, he always gives us a chance. “When you call his name, he’s always ready and looking for an opportunity to contribute,” Munoz said. Anderson, a junior, is 16 years old and has played varsity baseball for two years after playing on the sophomore team as a freshman. He started playing organized baseball when he was 3 years old and has played baseball and football ever since. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of relatives that played football at Lamar High School. “Most of my cousins just played football and they told me Lamar was a good place to play,” Anderson said. His favorite professional baseball player is New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. “I like him because he gets the job done and has a good motor for the game,” Anderson said. After excelling at linebacker and special teams on the football field, Anderson lists his best assets on the baseball diamond is his ability to hit, steal bases and utilize his speed in the outfield. He also can pitch on occasion. If it comes down to a choice between a college scholarship in football or baseball, Anderson says that would be a tough call. “I love both sports, but I might have to give an edge to baseball because they play more games,” he said. One of his fondest baseball memories is hitting a walk-off grand slam homerun in a South Post Oak Little League game.

Lamar coach David Munoz and outfielder Glenn Anderson.

In a battle of perennial softball powerhouses, Pearland sophomore Samantha Show pitched a no-hitter to lead the Oilers past rival Alvin 1-0 in District 22-5A. The victory enabled Pearland to maintain a share of first place with Manvel while Alvin dropped two games off the pace. Show struck out 12 and walked three. Alvin advanced a runner to third base with one out in the sixth inning only to watch Show end the threat with a strikeout and a groundout. Pearland improved to 27-2 on the season and 9-1 in district play when Kristen Cuyos led off the top of the seventh inning with a double and scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk. Show nearly notched a no-hitter when the teams met for the first time on March 8. Alvin slips to 24-5 and 7-3.

Alix, Harrison top AGH teams Two standout point guards and four-year starters highlight the 2013 All-Greater Houston high school basketball squads. Bellaire’s A.J. Alix and Andrew Harrison of Fort Bend Travis have capped off stellar prep careers and both will be playing at the collegiate level next fall. In her final game, Alix scored 41 points in the regional semifinals against Clear Springs. She led Bellaire to a 33-4 record and won her third district MVP award. Harrison was named the Class 5A state finals’ MVP after scoring a game-high 16 points in the Tigers’ 46-38 victory over South Grand Prairie. Harrison came up huge in the Region III-5A title game victory over Bush with 32 points.

Finally, Lewis goes to the Hall After what seems like an eternity, former University of Houston head basketball coach Guy V. Lewis is to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Lewis’ coaching career spanned 30 years. He assembled a 592-279 record, five NCAA Final Four appearances, including three straight from 1982 to 1984, six Southwest Conference championships, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and 17 postseason berths. Coach Lewis also played a key role in the integration of college basketball in the South. He recruited future All-Americans Elvin Hayes and Don Chaney to UH basketball as the first African-American student-athletes in program history and some of the earliest African-American players in the region. The induction ceremony will be held in Springfield, Mass. on Sept. 8.

Coach Pardee remembered Thoughts and prayers are extended to the family and friends of Jack Pardee, who died April 1. Pardee enjoyed a stellar football career as a player at Texas A&M and in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins. Most notably he will be remembered for his successful head coaching stints with the Houston Gamblers (USFL), University of Houston and the Houston Oilers. “We mourn the passing of a great man who dedicated his life to the game of football and was a true gentleman in every sense of the word,” UH Athletic Director Mack Rhoades said. Pardee is survived by his wife Phyllis, five children and 12 grandchildren.

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DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2013

chag’splace

Mary Evans, Delores Dillard, Johnnie Blackwell and Kendrick Benjamin

Dr. Bonnie Dunbar and Dr. Reagan Flowers

Grace Moolchan and Paulette Wagner

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Willie Taylor, Jackie Pope, Gloria Jackson, Reginald Gould and Betty Haynes

Debra Marshall, Michael Alvarez and Raye White

Laquita Cyprian and Gloria Walker

Angele White and honoree Joyce Rachal

Scholarship recipient Acara Turner and Chapter president Sally Wickers

Edmund Broussard, Cynthia Hurd, Consuela Broussard and Genevieve Rousseve

all Zetas for an exciting afternoon. Congrats!......... MAKING A DIFFERENCE….. Zeta Phi Beta STAKEHOLDER BREAKFAST…..The Stakeholder Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega Zeta Chapter was breakfast was the beginning of an exciting weekend conceived by a group of Zetas in 1947, most of who of events hosted by CSTEM. The CSTEM Challenge were employed at Phillis Wheatley High School, and chartered in the spring of 1948. The and iSTEM Olympiad took place at chapter recently held their annual the George R. Brown Convention Join Yvette Chargois scholarship and fashion luncheon Center for elementary, middle and high school students. The challenge and honored 10 people making a Events of the Week More photos on defendernetwork.com provided a platform for students to difference in society. The honorees compete in communication, science, included Kendrick Benjamin , See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s Crossroads with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 11 a.m. technology, engineering, mathematics Johnie Blackwell, Sharon Callaway, (CSTEM), social studies and art. Minister Delores Dillard, Mary Students competed in the areas Evans, Captain Reginald Gould, of robotics, mural, green geographical, information Betty Hayes, Gloria Jackson, Jackie Pope and systems, sculpture and creative writing. The non-profit Trevor Taylor. Their dedication, untiring service, organization was founded in 2002 by Dr. Reagan talent and kindness was shared with the audience of about 300 supporters. This year’s scholarship recipient Flowers and is dedicated to reducing the achievement was Acara Turner. The meal was delicious and gaps in the areas mentioned above, through focused Callie Lewis Watson & The Forty Plus Models fashion teacher training and experiential learning for show was fabulous. Kudos to chapter president Sally students Pre K through 12th grade, through practical Wickers, luncheon chairperson Hattie Marshall and application. Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, executive director

of the University of Houston STEM Center and retired NASA astronaut, delivered the keynote address at the stakeholder breakfast to an audience of over 100 interested supporters. Other program participants included Dr. Sharon Washington and Michael Alvarez, Shell Oil Company. Continued success!..... JAZZ BRUNCH…….The Houston Chapter of Xavier University of Louisiana Alumni Association hosted their annual “Vincent Rachal Jazz Brunch.” Vince was one of the chapter’s organizers and was extremely dedicated and committed to the university, so in 2010 they named it in his honor. The event was held at Column A in downtown Houston and attended by about 100 members and their friends. Attendees included the chapter’s vice president Angele White, Joyce Rachal, Consuela and Edmund Broussard, Grace Moolchan, Paulette Wagner, Cynthia Hurd, Genevieve Rousseve and Tamara Bourda, to name a few. Fahrenheit Trio jazz group provided the entertainment. Great brunch!.....From Chag’s Place to your place, have a blessed week!

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