LOCAL UNIVERSITIES EXCELLING IN SPRING SPORTS P10
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NATIONAL MAXINE WATERS among Dems pushing for Trump impeachment
P4 ENTERTAINMENT LORRAINE TOUSSAINT shines in ‘The Village’
Houston’s Leading Black Information Source
Volume 88 | Number 26
APRIL 25, 2019 |FREE
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FINANCIAL EDITION
Advice on cutting costs, saving money H PAGE 4B
P5 FEATURE KAMALA HARRIS turns to HBCUs for support in presidential bid
P7 TOP EVENTS
Joe P. and Darnetta Nelson at the Ensemble’s 8th Annual Drama-Try Poetry Showcase.
P12
James Byrd Jr. gets final justice
A tragic part of Jasper’s history will come to a close as convicted racist killer John William King was executed for the racially motivated dragging death of Byrd Jr. in June 1998. King was considered the ringleader in the horrific crime that thrust the small Texas town into the national spotlight.
Cameron Houston
natural runner
Westbury High School took home first place in the 800m dash at the Class 6A area meet, and that was thanks to the natural prowess of Houston. The Defender spoke with Houston after his victory at the meet about how he became interested in the sport and his overall strategy when approaching his event.
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DEFENDER | APRIL 25 | 2019
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newstalk
Strategist Angela Rye TSU commencement speaker
Jasper reflects on racist dragging death Associated Press
The 1998 death of James Byrd Jr. was one of the most gruesome hate crimes in U.S. history, and now, a piece of the town’s tragic past is being revisited as the convicted ringleader in Byrd’s slaying is scheduled to be executed. John William King, 44, an avowed racist who orchestrated the attack, was slated to be put to death on April 24 as the second man executed in the case. Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed in 2011. The third participant, Shawn Allen Berry, was sentenced to life in prison. Local leaders insist Jasper is a welcoming place that punished Byrd’s killers and will never forget what happened to him. But other townspeople, as well as members of Byrd’s family, believe James Byrd Jr. is Jasper has never fully acremembered as the cepted the crime’s place in victim of a hate crime in Jasper, Texas in its history. They say some 1998. tensions between the white and Black communities remain unresolved. “I think, quite frankly, people in Jasper are tired of talking about it. They want to forget it,” said Mylinda Washington, 66, one of Byrd’s sisters. “It happened here, and we need to always have that in front of us.” In the early morning hours of June 7, 1998, three white men beat Byrd after offering him a ride. They then chained the 49-year-old to the back of a truck and dragged his body for
Defender News Services
nearly three miles along a secluded road in the piney woods outside Jasper. Byrd was alive for at least two miles before his body was ripped to pieces. Prosecutors said he was targeted because he was Black. Before Byrd’s death, the community about 140 miles northeast of Houston, near the Texas-Louisiana border, was known more for the timber industry and for tourism at nearby Sam Rayburn Lake. Back in 1998, the city was “incredibly progressive” as it was led by an African-American mayor and had other AfricanAmericans in local leadership positions, said Cassy Burleson, a researcher at Baylor University who has been studying Jasper since the dragging. The current interim mayor, Gary Gatlin, recalled how community leaders of all races came together and helped the town heal. “It John William certainly doesn’t go away, and King’s scheduled execution brought we certainly remember what the case back into happened,” Gatlin said. the spotlight. But racial tension resurfaced after Jasper’s first Black police chief was fired in 2012 and two of the three Black City Council members who hired the chief were ousted in a recall election. The recall effort was marred by racial slurs. City Councilmember Rashad Lewis is running against Gatlin, hoping to become the second AfricanAmerican mayor in Jasper history. The election is May 4. “As long as we keep a blindfold to the incident, we will never be able to move forward,” he said.
Angela Rye, who brings a unique perspective of strategy and policymaking inside the Beltway of the nation’s capital, will be the speaker at Texas Southern University’s Spring 2019 Commencement. The ceremonies will take place at 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, in the Health & Physical Education (H&PE) Arena. Rye is principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy firm in Washington D.C. The Angela Rye Seattle native and political strategist has been published in media outlets from Ebony to the Washington Post and is a regular on-air personality for BET, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN and TV One. A graduate of the University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law, Rye has over a decade of experience in government contracting, homeland security, civil rights, higher education political fundraising, strategic communications and issue advocacy.
localbriefs STUDENTS AT JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL AREN’T THE only ones now required to follow a dress code. The school has announced a new requirement for parents. School Principal, Carlotta Outley Brown issued the new guidelines in a letter preventing anyone from entering the building or even being on school premises wearing a satin cap or bonnet on their head. The dress code states that shower caps of any kind are not allowed and hair rollers will no longer be permitted. The guidelines were put in place after a news report on a mother earlier this month who wasn’t initially able to enroll her daughter because of what she was wearing and what was on her head…..EIGHT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
recently visited Texas Southern University for a candidate forum. The event was hosted by ‘She The People,’ a network that elevates women of color and voters to have a voice in the national political conversation. The candidates at the forum included Sens. Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren; former Secretary Julian Castro; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke.….TALKS HAVE STALLED BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON and firefighters over Prop B. After a recent meeting with a mediator, Mayor Sylvester Turner said, “Not looking good. Not looking good. That’s as far as I can go.” The talks ordered by Harris County Judge Tanya Garrison between the city and unions for police officers and firefighters
are aimed at resolving a bitter month-long fight over Prop B. The mayor says layoffs are needed to balance the city budget and still pay firefighters the higher salary mandated by voter approved Prop B. ……HOUSTON CITY COUNCILWOMAN AMANDA EDWARDS WILL HOST “An Evening of Women’s Empowerment” on Thurs., May 2 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Houston Chronicle, 4747 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027. This free event, which is in partnership with the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce, The Houston Chapter of The Links Inc. and WatchHerWork, will be an unforgettable evening of panel discussions and empowering talks from some of Houston’s trailblazing and inspirational women.
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APRIL 25 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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DEFENDER | APRIL 25 | 2019
national Where Black Democrats stand on impeachment Defender News Services
Although “#ImpeachDonaldTrump” continues to trend on Twitter, most Black Democratic leaders appeared unconvinced that the House should start impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump after the release of a redacted version of the Mueller report. Impeachment was clearly on the president’s mind. “Only high crimes and misdemeanors can lead to impeachment. There were no crimes by me (No Collusion, No Obstruction), so you can’t impeach,” Trump tweeted defensively, falsely claiming again that the report cleared him of obstruction. The report came to no conclusion California Congresswoman Maxine Waters believes President Donald Trump should about obstruction but pointed to several instances in which Trump’s actions could be impeached. ber that the caucus has other priorities in 2019. be seen as trying to thwart investigations, “Impeachment is not going to be top on our agenda,” providing Democrats with a roadmap to impeach him. the California congresswoman said. “It doesn’t mean it’s Unlike some of her Democratic colleagues, Rep. not going to happen. But at this point in time, we really Maxine Waters of California said on MSNBC’s “A.M. think that some of the things our community needs are Joy” that she’s ready to move forward, underscoring that way more important than us going after impeachment she has been ready for a long time. now.” “If the Democrats cannot decide that they are going New York’s Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who serves as the to move forward with impeachment, I guess we are going House Democratic Caucus chairman, said on “PBS News to continue to go on with these investigations,” she said. “How long are they going to go on with them? What more Hour” that “impeachment is still off the table as it relates to how we’re going to proceed.” He added that House do they need to prove?” Black Democrats began the legislative session skepti- leadership wants to “methodically collect the information” to build a strong case for impeachment that cal about calls to impeach Trump. Congressional Black could get bipartisan support. Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass told NewsOne in Decem-
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U.S.briefs THE RACIST NAME OF A GEORGIA CREEK will be changed following a vote by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. Runaway Negro Creek will be renamed Freedom Creek. The move followed the initial proposal for the name change after a 2017 public interest meeting. District residents complained that the name was culturally insensitive. The name dated back to the Civil War when slaves from the Modena Plantation on Skidaway Island attempted escape by crossing the water into coastal islands that were occupied by the Union……..STUDENTS AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY ARE FIGHTING TO keep their campus from being overrun by neighbors looking to use the sprawling green space at the center of campus instilled with decades of Black history and cultural relevance, as a place to go for a run, walk their dogs or plop down for a picnic. Residents’ use of campus has become an issue for the university in recent years and is a direct reflection of the changing demographics of the surrounding neighborhoods, which have seen higher numbers of wealthier, whiter locals. While they don’t necessarily want their campus to be closed, Howard students said they instead want residents to respect their space and the culture of their school……..NEARLY THREE WEEKS AFTER 10-YEAR-OLD RANIYA WRIGHT was knocked unconscious after a fight and died, a South Carolina prosecutor claims her death was due to “natural causes.” Authorities said there’s no evidence the fight contributed to the fifth-grader’s death and that Wright died from a congenital medical condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a condition where the arteries and veins tangle up and hamper the delivery of oxygen to the brain or spinal cord. While the family said they respect the autopsy results, they believe that further investigation is needed. Raniya’s grandfather, Ernest Wright, believes it is all a cover-up because she had been bullied at school.
Cain withdraws from consideration for post Associated Press
Herman Cain is no longer under consideration for a seat on the Federal Reserve’s board amid a focus on past scandals and doubts about his qualifications for the role. Cain is a former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza who dropped out of the 2012 presidential race as he faced allegations of sexual harassment and infidelity. The issues resurfaced after President Donald Trump said he intended to nominate Cain to the central bank’s board of governors. Trump tweeted that “My friend Herman Cain Herman Cain, a truly wonderful man, has asked me not to nominate him for a seat on the Federal
Reserve Board. I will respect his wishes.” Cain’s nomination was all but doomed earlier this month when four Republican senators said they wouldn’t vote to confirm him if he were nominated. The GOP holds just a three-seat majority in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to say 10 days ago whether the chamber would confirm Cain. “There were so many things about [Cain] that were red flags,” including his lack of understanding of monetary policy, said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton.
VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 26 APRIL 25, 2019 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler
Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers
Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison
Editors ReShonda Tate Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Max Edison Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For digital subscriptions, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com/ subscribe. No paper subscriptions are available. All material covered by 2019 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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APRIL 25 | 2019 | DEFENDER
entertainment
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Lorraine Toussaint Veteran actress talks Brooklyn, ‘The Village’ port their makeshift family. Patricia and Ron (Faison) work together to ensure the family remains intact. Lorraine Toussaint has plans. Toussaint is proud to bring this The SAG award-winner and type of relationship to television – NAACP Image-Award nominee has one with older Black people loving an acting career that spans more each other and their neighbors than 30 years, and is starring as unconditionally. Playing Patricia Patricia on NBC’s mid-season regives her an opportunity to show the placement “The Village.” The show complexity of Black women. is about a motley crew of residents “We [Black women] are so living in a building in Brooklyn many things and we aren’t often alwith interconnected lives. lowed to show all of those qualities Filling the time slot of NBC’s on TV,” Toussaint said. “This show mega hit “This Is Us,” “The Vilis different. I play a Black mama lage” features an ensemble cast – but I am allowed to be vulnerable, Dominic Chianese, Frankie Faison, sexy, right, wrong and that’s why Moran Atias, Michaela McManus, she’s interesting. She’s familiar yet Jerod Haynes, Grace Van Dien, different.” Warren Christie and Daren KagasFamiliarity yet difference is off – working together to convey what makes “The Village” special. the story of a “family” supporting Lorraine Toussaint and Frankie Faison star as Patricia and Ron Davis in NBC’s “The Village.” “It feels easy and relatable,” each other as their lives unfold. Toussaint said. When asked what she Toussaint, whose career began wants audiences to get from the show, on the stage, worked for many I actually want to do certain kinds of roles,” said the she said, “I want audiences to wish they lived in this years in television as a guest star on iconic television Trinidadian-born actress. building or in this community. I want people to realize shows like “Law & Order,” “Crossing Jordan” and “You then begin to be brave enough to begin it actually takes small gestures to reach out to some“Ugly Betty.” to say no to certain things. And then there comes a one where they are in order to create a little village of In recent years, Toussaint has moved from the time, when you reach a point in your career where your own.” margins to the center of the drama, most notably as you intuitively choose certain kinds of work. I’m so Toussaint is part of a larger village of Black inmate Vee on Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black” pleased to be at that point and that I’m still relevant,” actresses with staying power and the ability to move and on AMC’s “Into the Badlands.” She played Mor- she added. between television and film in a variety of roles. In ris Chestnut’s mother on Fox’s “Rosewood.” Toussaint brings this perspective into her “The an industry that can be fickle and brutal, particularly In the upcoming film “The Glorias,” she plays Village” character whose life is interconnected with when it comes to women and women of color, Tousfeminist icon and civil rights legend Flo Kennedy. the others in the house including a single mother, a saint’s longevity is remarkable. Toussaint talked about the journey from taking veteran, a law school student and a nurse to name a “I always knew I was going to be a long-distance roles you can actually get to actively deciding to be few. runner in this business,” Toussaint said. “I’m grateful brave and bold in her choices. Their struggles involve everything from PTSD that I’m still here, love to go to work every day and in “You know, there’s a point in your career where to immigration to teen pregnancy, but they manage to the trenches with such creative talent. I’m especially you take whatever you can get. And then, early on get through it. Patricia is one half of an older, Black grateful that you guys still want to see me.” in my career, I realized, oh, I don’t want to do that. couple still in love and still helping to guide and supNNPA Newswire
what’sup JAMIE FOXX and WANDA SYKES have been named the new George and Weezy of “The Jeffersons” in an upcoming prime-time special, which is set to air on ABC in May. Both roles were made famous by SHERMAN HEMSLEY and ISABEL SANFORD. The popular ‘70s sitcom, a spin-off of “All in the Family,” followed the Black couple “who moved on up” to the East Side of Manhattan from Queens after the success of George’s drycleaner chain…….. “Boyz N the Hood” director JOHN SINGLETON is recovering after a stroke and remains
hospitalized in ICU. Singleton’s family announced that the 51-year-old filmmaker was in ICU and “under great medical care” at an undisclosed hospital. Celebrities such as SNOOP DOGG took to social media to send Singleton well wishes……..The memoir PRINCE was working on at the time of his death is coming out Oct. 29. Random House confirmed that “The Beautiful Ones” will combine Prince’s unfinished manuscript with rare photos, scrapbooks and lyrics. First announced just weeks before his 2016 death, the 288-page book is an exclusive partnership with
the Prince estate………After almost a decade of break-ups and make-ups, it looks like the friendship may have finally ended for good between “Real Housewives of Atlanta” costars CYNTHIA BAILEY and NENE LEAKES. Leakes is refusing to forgive Bailey due to what she believes to be a betrayal involving former castmate KENYA MOORE, whom Bailey is alleged to have invited to Leakes’ event without giving her friend a warning first. Bailey swore that despite it looking like a set-up on TV, her actions were innocent and definitely “not a betrayal.”
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DEFENDER | APRIL 25 | 2019
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Spring is for new beginnings. And now, an awesome deal. It’s time for a refresh. Why not start by upping your family’s Internet and entertainment game? With the fastest, most reliable Internet powered by Xfinity xFi, everyone can get stellar service in any room of the house. Plus, you can go from live TV to On Demand, or even to your favorite streaming apps, just by speaking into your X1 Voice Remote. Don’t miss the Xfinity Spring Sale! It’s out with the old and in with the simple, easy, awesome.
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Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to X1 Saver Pro Double Play with Digital Starter TV and Performance Select 100 Mbps Internet. Early termination fee applies if all Xfinity services are cancelled during the agreement term. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including Broadcast TV Fee (up to $10.00/mo.) and Regional Sports Fee (up to $8.00/mo.), and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after agreement term. After term agreement, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Access to Netflix and Prime Video on Xfinity X1 requires an eligible set-top box with Xfinity TV and Internet service. Netflix and Prime Video streaming memberships required. Netflix and Prime Video use your Internet service and will count against any Xfinity data plan. Internet: Best Internet service provider claim based on download speeds measured by over 111 million tests taken by consumers at Speedtest.net. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. © 2019 Comcast. All rights reserved. The CN Cartoon Network logo is a trademark of The Cartoon Network, Inc. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved. NPA223170-0004
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FINANCIAL
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APRIL 25 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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Special Edition
‘SHOW ME THE SAVINGS’
How to cut costs at any age F
Defender News Services
inding ways to save money can be a dilemma, especially if you need to count every penny and stretch every dollar. Cutting expenses definitely pays off, whether you’re 25, 45 or 65. Here are some ways to save money for three groups: singles, families and senior citizens.
SINGLES
• Brew your own coffee. If you’re spending $4 a day on your favorite fancy blend five days a week, that adds up to $80 a month. Save money by investing in a quality coffee maker and making your own latte or cappuccino. • Get a bank account that offers the lowest fees. Check out multiple institutions and determine which accounts are best for you. Look at services you are most likely to use and the related fees, including any penalties if the balance drops below a minimum. • Stick with a budget when going out. Decide how much you want to spend on a Friday or Saturday night and carry cash for that amount. When the cash is gone, the spending stops. • Lower your car costs. Save on gas and wear and tear on your car by walking, riding a bike or using public transportation when possible. Consider carpooling with co-workers or neighbors. • Use student discounts. If you’re a student, shop at places that offer discounts with a school ID. Check out what your campus has to offer in terms of free activities rather than spending money on going out.
FAMILIES
• Cut grocery costs. Buy generic, whether food, cleaning supplies or paper products. Always make a grocery list and stick to it. Use coupons and money-saving apps. Save money and the environment by buying a water filter for the sink or filter pitcher and filling a reusable bottle instead of carting home cases of bottled water. • Eat out on the cheap. Use coupons and promos
from your favorite restaurants. Take the surveys at the bottom of your receipts to earn discounts or free food. Choose restaurants that let kids eat free or for 99 cents during certain hours and days. • Comparison-shop for phone and internet plans. See if switching to a prepaid carrier can lower your phone bill and determine how much data you actually need. Consider bundling services to save money.
• Enjoy free family activities – Houston has 380 parks, along with community and fitness centers, skate parks and nature trails. Houston also has libraries in every part of the city offering computers, classes, story times, exhibits and more. The Children’s Museum of Houston is free for members, children under 1 and on Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. • Reduce energy costs – Encourage your kids to be energy-conscious. Turn off the lights, TV and computer when no one is in a room. Use light fixtures and bulbs that promote energy efficiency. Wash only full loads of
dishes and clothes.
SENIORS
• Join an organization or program for seniors – AARP offers discounts, member-exclusive insurance rates and various webinars. Also, ask your health care provider if you are eligible for Silver Sneakers, which offers free gym memberships for those over 65. • Take advantage of other discounts – Various retailers offer discounts to shoppers 55 and older, often on Tuesdays. Many restaurants, museums and movie theaters provide discounts to older adults. Your utility and cell phone provider may have discounts as well. • Save on education – You’re never too old to learn, and more than 50 percent of U.S. colleges and universities let older students take classes at a lower tuition rate or for free. Some groups and foundations offer grants, scholarships and fellowships for seniors. • Cut prescription costs – Shop around for meds since drug prices can vary widely. Save money by using a generic prescription. If that option isn’t available, ask your doctor if there is a lower cost brand-name drug used to treat the same condition. Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for the Extra Help program to cover prescriptions at a savings. Apply at socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp. • Save money on eyeglasses – Purchasing glasses online can be much less expensive, especially if you want reading glasses or have an uncomplicated prescription. Also, “big-box” discount stores may have more affordable prices on glasses. Sources: AARP, americasaves.org, Defender files, Medicare
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FINANCIAL
DEFENDER | APRIL 25 | 2019
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things to know about stocks & bonds
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By SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC)
here are basically two ways to make money. One, you work for money and someone pays you to work for them or you have your own business. Or two, your money works for you and you take your money and save or invest it. When you “invest” you have a greater chance of losing your money than when you “save.” But you also have the opportunity to earn more money. Many companies offer investors the opportunity to buy either stocks or bonds. Here are 10 things to know:
Stocks are a type of security that gives stockholders a share of ownership in a company and also are called “equities.” Investors buy stocks for various reasons, including: Capital appreciation, which occurs when a stock rises in price; dividend payments, which come when the company distributes some of its earnings to stockholders, and the ability to vote shares and influence the company.
face value or par value of the bond, when it “matures” or comes due after a set period of time.
Companies issue stock to get money for various things, which may include paying off debt, launching new products, expanding into new markets or regions or enlarging or building facilities.
Companies, governments and municipalities issue bonds to get money for various reasons, which may include providing operating cash flow, financing debt or funding capital investments in schools, highways, hospitals and other projects.
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Investors buy bonds because they provide a predictable income stream. Typically, bonds pay interest twice a year. If the bonds are held to maturity, bondholders get back the entire principal, so bonds are a way to preserve capital while investing.
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move down as well as up. There’s no guarantee that the company whose There are two main kinds of stocks, stock you hold will grow and do well, so you can lose money you invest. common and preferred. Common stock entitles owners to vote at shareBuying and selling stocks entails fees. A direct stock plan or holder meetings and receive dividends. Preferred a dividend reinvestment plan may charge you a fee for that stockholders usually don’t have voting rights but service. Brokers who buy and sell stocks for you charge a comthey receive dividend payments before common mission. A discount brokerage charges lower commissions than what you stockholders do, and have priority over common would pay at a full-service brokerage. stockholders if the company goes bankrupt and its assets are liquidated. A bond is a debt security, similar to an IOU. Borrowers issue bonds to raise money from investors willing to lend them Investors willing to stick with stocks money for a certain amount of time. When you buy a bond, over long periods of time, say 15 you are lending to the issuer, which may be a government, municipality years, generally have been rewarded or corporation. In return, the issuer promises to pay you a specified rate of with strong, positive returns. But stock prices interest during the life of the bond and to repay the principal, also known as
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bonds.
Types of bonds include U.S. Treasuries, municipal bonds, corporate bonds and foreign government
As with any investment, bonds have risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, inflation risk and liquidity risk. The SEC is a federal agency that regulates the U.S. stock market. For information visit www. sec.gov
Message from the Publisher
Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Managing money is a necessity in life, regardless of one’s income. Handling your finances allows you to pay your mortgage or rent every month, keeps your utilities turned on, makes sure your family is fed and lets you take that vacation you look forward to every year. The Defender is looking at money management and more in our annual special financial edition. We list ways to save money at any age, give insight into stocks and bonds and provide millennials with solutions to common money problems. We would also like to thank our special edition partners, Allegiance Bank, Cadence Bank, Chase Bank and Frost Bank. They have shared their expertise as well, and offer content on small
business finances, improving your credit score, customer service expansion and planning for retirement. As African-Americans, it is important that we focus more on financial planning and security if we are to thrive, not just survive. One of the first steps is to start with a plan. Determine your priorities and decide what you want to save or invest in and when you want to obtain it. Once you make a plan, stick with it. Also, keep track of your money, deal with your debt and be better prepared for emergencies. The Defender is pleased to do its part in helping you follow the roadmap to financial freedom.
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FINANCIAL
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APRIL 25 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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Tips to improve your credit score to buy a house By CADENCE BANK
Are you thinking about buying a home? Given the importance of your credit score in the mortgage loan application process, it’s smart to take steps to boost your score before applying for a home loan. Here are five strategies that can help improve your credit score.
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Manage your debt-to-credit ratio. This is the percentage of credit that’s available to you that you’re actually using. For example, if your credit limit on a card is $10,000 and you currently have an outstanding balance of $5,000, your debt-to-credit ratio would be 50 percent. Ideally, you should try to keep your debt-to-credit ratio at 30 percent or lower.
Pay bills on time. Timely payment of bills is one of the biggest factors in the computation of your credit score. According to CreditKarma.com, this single factor may account for 35 percent of your overall score. So, one of the best ways to build and maintain solid credit is to consistently pay your bills on time. Limit the number of credit cards you use. Carrying balances on a number of different credit cards tends to damage your credit score. Therefore, it may be wise to pay off some of these balances as soon as you can and use just one or two credit cards going forward.
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Don’t necessarily close old credit accounts. One common misconception about credit scores is that old accounts should be closed and removed from the credit
report once balances have been paid in full. This is not necessarily so. If you made payments on the account in a timely manner, this will help your credit score. In addition, closing a card that you have had for a long time can also shorten your credit history, which could affect your credit score.
Be consistent in your use of credit. Try not to do anything out of the ordinary from a credit perspective during the months leading up to your mortgage application. This could raise a red flag and possibly indicate additional credit risk.
Visit Cadence Bank at www.cadencehomeloans.com to speak with one of our mortgage advisors. Cadence Bank, N.A. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender NMLS#525022
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FINANCIAL
DEFENDER | APRIL 25 | 2019
Money management
tips for millennials F By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender
inancial fitness can be bittersweet for millennials, the generation born between 1981 and 1996. Households headed by millennials now earn more than most older Americans earned at the same age, driven in part by millennial women, who are working more – and being paid more – than young women were in previous years. Because they came of age during the Great Recession, however, millennials also face a number of financial problems. Many still live with their parents or in another shared living situation and are struggling to build wealth. Here is some money management advice for millennials from Mike Clements, vice president and regional sales manager for Frost Brokerage. Defender: Millennials are often strapped with college debt. What advice do you have for managing and repaying college loans? Clements: Start with a roadmap or budget. I try to shy away from the word budget because that has a bad connotation for some people. With a roadmap you have to understand where you are and where you want to be so you have a way of getting from point A to point B. I would strongly recommend looking into the possibility of refinancing. [Depending on the] type of loan that an individual may have there is an opportunity to refinance it at a lower rate. Also, once you graduate you are given a little bit of a grace period to get established, and after about six months you can start paying the loan back. I would recommend that you don’t take the grace period and start paying that loan back immediately. If you get accustomed to spending that money it’s going to be even harder six months from now coming up with that additional expense. Another thing you could do if you are really anxious or energetic is to earn more money. Perhaps you could work overtime in your current job, get a part-time job or
start a side business to get a little bit more cash flow in order to tackle those college loans. A lot of kids coming out of college may have credit card debt as well, and those interest rates are a lot higher on a credit card than they are on student loans. I would recommend doing a balance transfer on a zero percent credit card to get that interest rate down and that would free up more cash to apply to whatever else is costing you interest. Defender: Millennials are much less likely to own a house than their parents at their age and have to save longer to buy a house. What steps should be taken to prepare for homeownership?
Clements: One solution is to start saving money. It’s important not only to have six months emergency expenses saved up but you also have to save for moving and closing costs, etcetera. There is also the matter of paying off existing debt. Before I would ever recommend getting into a fixed note like a home mortgage, you have to get your debt under control. You also have to put together a budget to see if [homeownership] is even affordable, and I think that’s where a lot of people make a big mistake. They may say, “I’m paying X number of dollars for an apartment and I can get into a house for the same amount of money a month,” but what they’re not considering are all the additional expenses that go along with homeownership – insurance, taxes, additional expenses that come along, maintenance of the house and yard and bills such as gas and electric. At an apartment you might
have an electric bill, but at a home now you have gas, water and electric. A lot of times when you purchase a home what it is quoted to you is your monthly payment of the house and that’s just principal and interest. That doesn’t include taxes and insurance. It’s very important to [consider] all of those expenses to see if that is realistic for you before you can even think about homeownership. Defender: Some millennials are struggling to build wealth and could age with less financial security. What steps can be taken now to achieve better financial security? Clements: Look at your monthly expenditures, get a picture of where all of your money is being spent…and cut out unnecessary expenses. That is step one to financial security. The second thing is to pay yourself first. If you’re starting a new job and getting into your next chapter in life, partake in the companysponsored 401k or IRA accounts. The biggest mistake you can make is to not participate in the 401k, especially if your company matches, because you’re missing out on free money. Save as much as you can off the top and learn to live on the difference. Whenever you get a raise pretend you didn’t get it and put it toward your 401k. Next, have a rainy-day fund. A lot of times an emergency expense will come up and you might not be prepared for it. Typically, what happens is you use a credit card to pay for it and the next thing you know you’re paying 18 to 21 percent interest on that credit card. The best way to avoid that type of unnecessary expense is to have money set aside in a savings account that is earmarked for emergency expenses. Some individuals with large credit card balances struggle each and every month to pay those credit cards off and they tend to pay the minimum. Again, I recommend the zero percent interest credit card transfer where you can take your current credit card debt, roll it over onto a new card and they will give you zero percent interest for a period of time. If you decide on that strategy, close that existing account that you transferred from. You can’t keep that line of credit open because that will ultimately hurt your credit score and also give you too much access. Continue to pay what you were paying on the old credit card and you will get it paid off quicker because you’re not spinning your wheels paying that high rate of interest every month.
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L EDITION
Five facts about millennials
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More millennial households are in poverty than households headed by any other generation. In 2016, an estimated 5.3 million of the nearly 17 million U.S. households living in poverty were headed by a millennial. In addition, a greater share of millennial households are headed by minorities, who tend to have higher poverty rates. Millennial households dominate the ranks of the nation’s renters, heading 18.4 million households that rent their home. The Great Recession led to a widespread increase in renting across households of all ages, but homeownership declined most among younger households. About half of cohabiting-couple households are headed by a millennial. Since 2011, millennials have headed more households made up of unmarried partners than any other adult generation.
In 2016, millennials for the first time surpassed all other generations in the number of household heads who were single mothers. More than 8 million households were headed by a single mother who lived with a child younger than 18. The incidence of single parenthood has increased markedly. In 1980, 19 percent of children lived in a single-parent family; by 2014, 34 percent did.
Among heads of household, millennials in 2016 became the generation with the largest number identifying as multiracial. Multiracial Americans are among the nation’s youngest racial and ethnic populations, with a median age of only 19 as of 2015. Many of them have yet to form households, but among those who have, millennials are now the most prevalent. Source: Pew Research Center
he Houston area for over 88 years
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Take these 4 steps now and your retired self will thank you By JPMORGAN CHASE
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More than half of Americans say they fear they may not have enough money in retirement, making that the country’s No. 1 financial worry, according to a recent Gallup poll. Instead of living with gnawing uncertainty, take these four steps now to help build your financial confidence: despite having invested the same $30,000 as Courtney.
Make a plan. Sit down with an expert, such as a Certified Financial Planner or a Registered Investment Advisor, to establish long- and shortterm goals. What do you want your career to look like in 2 years? 5? 15? Where you do envision living? What kind of lifestyle do you aspire to? What kind of fun can you afford now?
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Build an emergency fund. Life happens. Death of loved ones, business and career setbacks, economic downturns and health challenges are inevitable parts of life. So are joys like meeting the love of your life, having babies, and achieving professional success. Many financial experts recommend maintaining a cash fund of at least six months’ worth of expenses to keep your family financially buoyant during tough times — and to afford the flexibility to make changes.
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Invest early, consistently and plentifully. A 2012 Blackrock survey found that 36 percent of retirees regret not contributing the maximum amounts to their 401(k) plans, and 32 percent say they wish they’d spent less and saved more. The impact of beginning retirement plans early is stunning. To illustrate the power of early investing, consider these two scenarios: At age 25, Courtney invests $3,000 in a 401(k) each year for 10 years — or a total of $30,000 of her own money. Assuming an average 4 percent annual return, her investment will grow to $121,000 by her 65th birthday, even though she
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doesn’t contribute another penny. Meanwhile, Sarah waits until age 35 to start saving. If she then invests $3,000 each year for 10 years at the same 4 percent return, she will only have $82,000 by age 65 —
Invest in your health. Maintaining a healthy weight and an active lifestyle when you are young doesn’t just increase the chances that you’ll be physically attractive when you’re older. It also means you may have to invest less in health care, freeing you up to spend your retirement savings in other, more pleasurable ways. For more tips and resources on mastering your finances, visit chase.com/financialfitness
We’ll close your mortgage fast and on time or you’ll receive $1,000 cash back. Visit a Chase branch to talk to a Home Lending Advisor.
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APRIL 25 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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Bank financing, resources for
small business owners
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By GARY HENDERSON Allegiance Bank
or Houston area small business owners, access to financial capital is one of the most important requirements for successful small business owner-
ship. If you are not sure where to start, there are free or minimal cost resources available to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking financial advice through the University of Houston Small Business Development Center (UHSBDC) or SCORE. The UHSBDC provides advisors, training and resources (such as business plan assistance) to help small business owners start or expand their business. SCORE consists of former business owners and professionals, who provide free counseling and mentoring for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. Additional information on these services can be found at www.sbdc.uh.edu and www.houston.score.org. Bank financing for the majority of small business owners consists of the following two types: Conventional Loans – Conventional bank financ-
ing is the most popular source of small business financing (working capital, equipment purchases, building purchases and real estate construction). Banks vary as to how long a company needs to have been in business, how strong the owners credit profile needs to be, which industries that they lend to and terms offered. A conventional loan will typically need to be fully collateralized, requires a personal guaranty, may require an equity contribution of 20 percent or more and be on
a term that matches the life of the asset(s) being financed. Due to these requirements, a conventional repayment term may not be the most favorable to some small business owners. SBA Loans – Bank SBA financing is a form of financing supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration with a government guaranty between 50 percent to 85 percent. An SBA loan provides financing not available through conventional or other sources to small businesses. In exchange for the government guaranty, the bank is able to provide the financing with longer payment terms and a lower equity injection than required for a conventional loan. Due to the SBA involvement, there is a fee that must be paid to the SBA for the guaranty, plus additional paperwork which adds time to the process. SBA loans can be used for the same purposes as conventional loans, but can also finance business purchases, partner buyouts, franchises and some startups. For additional information, contact an Allegiance Bank loan officer at 281-894-3200. Gary Henderson is Executive Vice President and Chief SBA Officer with Allegiance Bank.
Commitment to community. At Allegiance, we believe in the power of local. From marathons to rodeos, our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve is the heart of our business. That’s why we proudly volunteer at and sponsor activities, events, and partnerships that benefit Houston area organizations, schools and residents.
www.AllegianceBank.com | 281.894.3200 27 Houston and surrounding area offices
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Frost expands in Houston,
delivering award-winning service to more customers hoods across the Houston area, both inside the city and in rapidly growing suburban areas. or Frost bankers in the That outreach is part of Frost’s Houston area, this is an culture. Throughout its history, exciting time. While other Frost has emphasized caring for its banks are scaling back opercommunities. Banks – ations, we’re expanding by especially Texas banks opening new, technologically advanced – don’t get to be 150 financial centers that are paired with years old unless they values like being able to greet our cussucceed by helping tomers face-to-face and providing places their customers sucwhere our bankers can get to know you. ceed, and by making In 2018, Frost announced plans to people’s lives better in nearly double its number of financial the areas where they do centers in the Houston region, adding one Trisha Bradley Vice President and business. Community Development Officer. before the end of the year and then 24 Helping customers more over the following 24 months. grow continues with The first of these new branches, the Springwoods Frost’s recently launched Opt for OptiVillage Financial Center, opened in December. The mism campaign. For years, our bankers next, the Cinco Ranch Financial Center in Katy, opens could tell that customers with a more positive attitude this month. In the coming months Frost will continue to toward their finances tended to have more success, and open new, state-of-the-art financial centers in neighborin 2018 Frost began research that would prove that point. By TRISHA BRADLEY Frost Bank
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Through its Opt for Optimism initiative, we found that people who are more optimistic are seven times more likely to achieve financial success than people who are less optimistic. We also learned that optimism is a learned behavior, so we launched our 30-day challenge of small things people can do each day to help them think more positively. You can find out more about the Opt for Optimism initiative at optforoptimism.com. Frost continues to earn customer service recognition from third parties. Earlier this year, Frost received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction in Texas in the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study for the ninth year in a row. We take pride in being part of a great state like Texas and great, vibrant cities like Houston. That’s the way Frost has been doing business in Texas for 150 years, and the way we’ll continue to do business every day. Visit our website, www.frostbank.com.
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We’re in the people business. We just happen to be a bank. Unmatched service. Sound advice. And peace of mind knowing your money is well cared for. Now, how can we help you today?
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APRIL 25 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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Harris campaign focuses on HBCU support Defender News Services
California Sen. Kamala Harris has described her experience as a student at a Black college as “one of the most important aspects” of her life. Now, her Democratic presidential campaign is using that experience to connect with voters. Not only is she one of only two Black candidates in a field that’s expected to grow to more than 20 candidates, she’s also the only candidate who attended a historically Black college or university, commonly called an HBCU. And she’s the first major-party candidate to have graduated from an HBCU – Washington, D.C.’s Howard University – since Rev. Jesse Jackson ran for president in the 1980s. To be sure, she is not the only candidate focusing on such institutions. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke have campaigned at historically Black colleges. So has the other Black candidate in the 2020 race, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. Harris’ campaign has visited more historically Black colleges than any candidate, and she is burnishing her personal ties to the community, not just to current students. “Presidential candidates are recognizing HBCUs as a political and cultural center for the broader Black community,” said Aimee Allison, the founder of the political network She The People, which planned a candidate forum at Texas Southern University. Allison said that holding events at such schools is an “essential part of a long-term strategy to build trust and relationships” with Black voters. Harris’s focus on Black colleges could be particularly important in South Carolina, home to eight HBCUs. Black voters are vital to success for Democratic primary candidates anxious to win the South’s first primary. In Orangeburg, Harris’ town hall was moderated by Bakari Sellers, a former South Carolina state representative who recently endorsed her campaign. Harris talked about the value of attending an HBCU. “At an HBCU, everything you are told is that you can be whatever you want to be, and there will be no barriers to that success,” she said. “And you are told as a young
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris is reaching out to the HBCU network as part of her presidential campaign.
Black student that you do not need to make choices and fit into anyone’s narrow definition of what it means to be a young Black person in America.” Joann Berry, a 66-year-old who worked at South Carolina State for more than two decades, said that historically Black colleges don’t just give diplomas, “they’re more like family.” She said that the fact that Harris had attended an HBCU could give her an advantage with connecting here. While Berry has yet to decide who to support in South Carolina’s primary, she said Harris is among the candidates she’s considering. “I’m proud of her. I have faith in her just like I had faith in Barack Obama,” said Berry. “A lot of people said he couldn’t do it – and he won.” Harris’ campaign has made a number of overt appeals, in South Carolina and elsewhere, to the network of HBCUs. One of Harris’s early congressional backers, California Rep. Barbara Lee, held events at Benedict College in Columbia on her behalf. Harris also waded into the local issue of Denmark Technical College, which primarily serves residents of rural Allendale, Bamberg and Barnwell counties, and has been battling declining enrollment. Her first significant policy rollout, aimed at increasing teacher pay nationwide, specifically calls for the federal government to support programs dedicated to teacher recruitment, training and professional development, particularly at HBCUs. Harris’s first news conference as a presidential candidate was held at her alma mater, with the leaders of the Howard University Student Association on hand. She recalled
that she ran her first political campaign as freshman class representative. “This is where it all began,” she said. On Twitter, her campaign even took note of Beyoncé’s “Homecoming,” which pays homage to the musical legacy of historically Black colleges.
classified Invitation for Bids Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. is soliciting bids for subcontractors and vendors for construction of control no 3538-01-035 on SH 242 at Needham Dr to FM 1314 that bids on May 8, 2019. Mail, fax, or email quotations to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc., 1701 Directors Blvd, Suite 1010, Austin, Texas 78744 fax: (512) 707-0798 email: bbiisw@bbiius.com. DBE/HUB contractors are encouraged to submit bids. Plans and specifications are available to be reviewed at TxDOT Plans On-line: http://bit.do/dBJ5G E.O.E. For information contact Brian Ficzeri at (512) 707-0797
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DEFENDER | APRIL 25 | 2019
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Medicare, Social Security face uncertainty Associated Press
The financial condition of the government’s bedrock retirement programs for middle- and working-class Americans remains shaky, with Medicare pointed toward insolvency by 2026, according to a report by the government’s overseers of Medicare and Social Security. It paints a sobering picture of the programs, though it’s relatively unchanged from last year’s update. Social Security would become insolvent in 2035, one year later than previously estimated. Both programs will need to eventually be addressed to avert automatic cuts should their trust funds run dry. Neither President Donald Trump nor Capitol Hill’s warring factions has put political perilous cost curbs on their to-do list. The report is the latest update of the government’s troubled fiscal picture. Trump has declared benefit cuts to the nation’s signature retirement programs off limits and many Democratic presidential candidates are calling for expanding Medicare benefits rather than addressing the program’s
worsening finances. Many on both sides actually agree that it would be better for Washington to act sooner rather than later to shore up the programs rather than wait until they are on the brink of insolvency and have to weigh more drastic steps. “The programs that millions of Americans pay into and expect to have in the future are going broke – driving up federal spending, growing our deficits, and crowding out other priorities in the process. We cannot afford to ignore this reality any longer,” said Arkansas Rep. Steve Womack, ranking Republican on the Budget Committee. But potential cuts such as curbing inflationary increases for Social Security, hiking payroll taxes, or raising the Medicare retirement age are so politically freighted and toxic that Washington’s power players are mostly ignoring the problem. Later this year, Social Security is expected to declare a 1.8 percent cost-of-living increase for 2020 based on current trends, program officials say.
The report by three Cabinet heads and Social Security’s acting commissioner, urges lawmakers to “take action sooner rather than later to address these shortfalls, so that a broader range of solutions can be considered and more time will be available to phase in changes while giving the public adequate time to prepare.” If Congress doesn’t act, both programs would eventually be unable to cover the full cost of promised benefits. With Social Security that could mean automatic benefit cuts for most retirees, many of whom depend on the program to cover basic living costs. For Medicare, it could mean that hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical providers would be paid only part of their agreed-upon fees. In a glimmer of good news, Social Security’s disability program is now estimated to remain solvent for an additional 20 years, through 2052. Overall, however, Social Security would run out of reserves by 2035, one year later than projected in last year’s report.
Need for organ, tissue donors greater than ever NNPA Newswire
Angela Gordon had no known health issues when she ended up in the emergency room with an unbearable headache. It was there that she discovered she had hereditary hypertension. Although she was just 19 years old, her blood pressure had reached stroke level. What shocked her most was learning that her kidneys had already developed scars and she would eventually need a kidney transplant. In 2006, she underwent a procedure at the Methodist Transplant Institute to receive the kidney of a donor who died in a car wreck. Gordon’s body later rejected the organ and, three years ago this month, she underwent a second kidney transplant. Thanks to medical advancements in recent years, she is doing well. She is alive today because two people made the decision to donate their organs. Angela Gordon educates the public about organ donation. Gordon has since become an ambassador for the Mid-South “They let me know that was the wish of Transplant Foundation (MSTF), educating the donor, to help somebody, and that there’s the public about her experience as a two-time no need to feel guilty. It meant a lot just to organ recipient. have a group there who understood and to “MSTF is wonderful because they know there are a lot of other people like showed me I wasn’t the only one dealing me.” with the emotions I had around the fact that According to the United Network for Orsomeone had to lose their life in order to save gan Sharing, there are 113,697 people on the mine,” she said. national waiting list, and 94,913 are waiting
for a kidney. More than 4,000 Mid-Southerners are awaiting organ and tissue donation, and 2,000 of them are African-Americans waiting for kidneys. This is due in part to the significant prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes in the Mid-South community. Despite the need, many people are still not registering to become organ and tissue donors. “One person can save up to 50 lives with their tissue and organs, and many more lives
because you touch the families of people’s loved ones who are waiting. We can do something about it,” Gordon said. According to MSTP, it’s often a lack of knowledge, lack of trust of the medical profession, and a number of common myths that prevent people from registering as organ and tissue donors. Some people believe their religion doesn’t support donation, when, in fact, all major religions support organ and tissue donation and see it as generosity toward others by giving the ultimate gift of life. Learn more at www.midsouthtransplant.org.
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APRIL 25 | 2019| DEFENDER
Fort Worth legend
Film chronicles winningest basketball coach NNPA Newswire
A place called Stop 6, an urban neighborhood of Fort Worth, was not known for much more than economic hardships, illegal drug abuse and gang violence. Sitting in the heart of the community is Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, which has proved to be a beacon of light according to the makers of a new documentary about the life of legendary Dunbar basketball coach Robert Hughes. The film, “5700 Ramsey Ave.,” named after the address of Dunbar High School, reveals that despite the hardships and harsh realities of the neighborhood, the successes of Hughes and the Dunbar basketball team helped to shine a positive light on the residents in the community. Hughes, who’s now 90 and coached Dunbar from 1973 to 2005, compiled an incredible record of 1,333 wins – most of Former coach Robert Hughes won more than 1,300 basketball games at Fort Worth’s Dunbar High School. all time – to only 262 losses in his illustrious career. ships. Coaching at Dunbar for over 30 years, Under Hughes’ tutelage, more than 200 Hughes would only experience one losing men earned college scholarships and, in part season in which the team would still make the because of Hughes’ approach to the game, the playoffs while winning two state championcoach earned the reputation as a mean, no-non-
EVERY SATURDAY
sense man, when those who know him still say he’s nothing more than a gentle giant. Hughes was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. “I spent four of the most incredible years of my life under the tutelage of [Hughes],” said the film’s director Mike Byars, who played basketball at Dunbar under Hughes. “I knew something was terrific about his presence at the age of 14, but I had no idea how to translate what I felt into words.” “I promised myself that if the opportunity ever presented itself, I would do something special to honor his life,” Byars said. Because the opportunity never came in the form of Hollywood documentarians, Byars said he created a documentary on his own – spending about two and a half years making “5700 Ramsey Ave.” “It was the very least I could do to show my gratitude for the life-long lessons he passed along to me,” Byars said. The feature-length documentary is scheduled to debut at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, presented in partnership with the R.E.D.D.Y. Leadership Outreach. “No matter where you go in the United States as far as basketball is concerned, Coach Hughes is well recognized,” Byars said.
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DEFENDER | APRIL 25 | 2019
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sports
The PVAMU men’s golf team won the SWAC championship.
Local schools excel in spring sports
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By MAX EDISON Defender
hile so much sports focus is on the Rockets’ run in the playoffs, the Astros’ hot start to the season and the upcoming NFL draft, area universities have been quietly stacking up accomplishments in spring sports. On “the Hill,” the Prairie View A&M University men captured their second consecutive conference golf championship at the Oak Wing Country Club in Alexandria, La. PVAMU placed a total of four golfers in the top 10 on their way to claiming back-to-back titles for the first time in decades. Panther Laurence Crea was named the conference Low Medalist, shooting two over par against a highly competitive field. For Panther head coach Kevin Jennings it’s his second title in three years on the job. A strong start was the key to PVAMU’s win. The Panthers’ first-round team score of 299 gave them a seven-stroke lead over Alabama State and a 10-stroke lead over Texas Southern University. The Panthers added five strokes to their final round with a 301 to seal the deal. Alabama State fired a 291 in the final round, but with the strong start PVAMU was able to hold off the Hornets and defend Amber Kuykendall and the TSU Lady Tigers won second place in the women’s competition. their conference title. round of 78 on the first day of competition was the low Crea was named to the All-Conference first team score for the Lady Tigers in the event. Alabama State won while Panther teammates Jordan Stagg, Zane Brooks and the championship with a combined score of 605. Lorenzo Elbert were named second team All-Conference. The University of Houston Cougars continue to outdo While PVAMU was grabbing the men’s title, the themselves on the track. Competing at the prestigious Texas Southern University women were finishing second Mt. SAC Relays in Torrance, Calif., the Cougar men’s in the SWAC conference championship. The Lady Tigers 4x100-meter relay team finished second in the invitational turned in a two-day total of 654. event with a time of 39.17. Travis Collins, Mario Burke, TSU’s Amber Kuykendall turned in rounds of 78 and Terence Ware, and John Lewis III combined for the fastest 82 to lead the Lady Tigers, finishing with a 16-over par collegiate time in the event. 160, good for sixth place in the individual standings. Her
Amere Lattin was a standout for UH at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Burke continued to have a good day on the track, finishing fourth in the men’s 100-meter dash, posting the best collegiate finish of the day at 10.33. Obi Igbokwe finished the 400-meter dash in fourth-place, with the fastest collegiate time of the day at 45.91. In the 400-meter hurdles, Amere Lattin took top honors in his section, and second-overall in the event. The senior concluded the race with a time of 49.98. In the field events, Felipe Valencia took home top honors in the shotput invitational with a throw of 60-6.75 (18.46m). The men’s 4x400-meter relay squad closed out the meet for the Cougars on a high note, finishing in second place with a time of 3:05.05. The squad combined for the fifth fastest time in Cougar history.
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h.s. sports
APRIL 25 | 2019 | DEFENDER
Cameron Houston
Westbury runner is a natural block apart. I would always run over to their house and run back, run around the yard all the time and run around the street. It didn’t trategy is defined as a careful plan or matter as long as it was some type of running. method of achieving a particular goal Defender: How did you begin running usually over a long period of time. competitively? Watching Westbury High School’s Houston: I started into my freshman Cameron Houston in the 800m dash at the year going to AAU with Coach Davis and recent Class 6A area track meet, one couldn’t they sent me over here to Westbury where I tell if he was winning or losing as he let up for have enjoyed it a lot. I’ve had a few friends a moment before recapturing the lead to take over here that have been pushing me and it home the gold. has been really One thing fun. Track is my is certain – favorite sport. I See highlights of Class 6A & 5A meet Houston’s stratlove running and egy throughout I plan to keep the race was running. flawless. Westbury track coach Robert Maxie Defender: Walk us through your stratattributes Houston’s success to his work ethic. egy in the area meet? “Cam is just a worker,” Maxie said. “He Houston: Usually I like to get out in works so hard despite being pretty new to the the front because I hate being in the pack sport. His determination is out of this world. and I hate being in the back. I enjoy being The Defender spoke with Houston after in the front and when I am in the back it his victory at the meet about how he became just doesn’t feel right. Then I start slowing interested in the sport and his overall strategy up after the first 200m and if anyone wants when approaching his event. to run with me I will run right with them. I Defender: How would you describe your don’t want anyone passing me up or leaving style of running in the 800m dash? me, I want to run with them. Houston: I would say I am a strategic, Then I try to go through that first lap fast-pace runner. between 55 and 57 and just hold on. By the Defender: When did you fall in love time that I get to that 300m it should just be with running? a fast stride building up. Then when I get Houston: When I was little we had a to the 200m to 150m it just builds up and couple of acres of land out in Dayton, Texas from the 150m going in it’s just going home and I had some friends who lived about a finishing up.
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By JODIE B. JILES Defender
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About Houston
Cameron Houston of Westbury High School took home first place in the 800m dash at the Class 6A area meet. (Photos by Jimmy Aggison)
Instagram: @cam.fried Personal goal in 800m dash: 1 minute, 50 seconds. Favorite foods: Italian and Chinese World problem he would solve: Violence Shout-outs: All my coaches – Coach Blanks, Davis, Larry, Jackson and Maxie
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DEFENDER | APRIL 25 | 2019
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
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NAACP ACT-SO COMPETITION 2019……..The NAACP Houston Branch local and national vendors were on hand for the most recent event, with customers hosted the first leg of its 2019 ACT-SO competitions at the Hyatt Regency Houston commenting on the high quality of goods as well as the positive, family-friendly Downtown. ACT-SO allows students in grades 9-12 to participate in numerous vibe. Attendees included organizer Nailah Nelson, Carolyn Binkubwa Murry, competitions including dance, biology, oratory, music, singing, entrepreneurship Gregory Stokes, Ayinde Bradshaw, Cam Kuykendall, Kim and Lindberg and more. The culinary arts competition will be held April 27. Participants compete Williams, Akindele X, Mathieu Eugene, Sharon Johnson, Cherie Harding for the chance to advance to the National ACT-SO finals held during the NAACP’s and scores more.……..ENSEMBLE’s 8th ANNUAL DRAMA-TRY POETRY annual convention this year in Detroit. Attendees included event organizer Avelina SHOWCASE……..The Ensemble Theatre’s Act One Young Professionals Holmes, Sophia Emille, Karahn and L.J. Garfield, celebrated National Poetry Month with their 8th Annual Brandee Price, Audrea Holmes, India Crook, Caliph Poetry event, “Drama-try: A DRAMAtic Night of PoeTRY.” Defender TOP EVENTS This year’s showcase featured award winning poetry slam Banks II, Yourz Truly, Sandra and Tim Roseborough More photos on defendernetwork.com and more……..THE SHRINE’S BUY BLACK team Gawd Slam and celebrated and emerging Houston area MARKETPLACE……..The Buy Black Marketplace poets including emcee Joe P., Black Blues, Kodak, Rain at the Shrine Cultural & Events Center again provided an and Self the Poet. Proceeds from the event helped support the opportunity for entrepreneurs and consumers to gather to support and celebrate Ensemble’s Young Performers Program (6-17 years old). Attendees included event Black businesses as it does every first and third Saturday of the month. United organizers Andrea Brown, Mark Martin, Teneshia Babalola, Satrice Morris, under the goal of community empowerment, participants voted with their dollars Kerri Carmouche, A.J. Jennings, Monica Coverson, Ebony Brown, Ameka to steer money away from traditional stores and into Black businesses. Scores of Brown, Michelle Stephenson, David Lane, Yakena Edwards and many others.
Karahn Garfield, L.J. Garfield
Kim Williams, Lindberg Williams
Joe P., Darnetta Nelson
Milton Thibodeaux, Avelina Holmes
Sharon Johnson, Cherie Harding
Andrea Brown, Mark Martin, Teneshia Babalola
Audrea Holmes, Brandee Price
Kaiyan Murry, Yanick Murry, Gainnis Murry, Bimkubwa Murry
A.J. Jennings, Kerri Carmouche
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