May 16, 2024

To the POINT DN

Associate Editor’s Message

Where’s the beef?

With dystopian-level atrocities happening in Te Congo, Te Sudan, Haiti and Palestine, many celebrities moved forward business-as-usual-style and participated in the Met Gala. Turns out, thousands of people were outdone by their seeming indiference to these global injustices. Infuencer Haley Kalil’s Met Gala TikTok video showed her lip-syncing the phrase “Let them eat cake,” the famous French Queen Marie Antoinette’s line that symbolized her indiference to France’s impoverished souls. It was the perfect metaphor for the seeming indiference of big-name stars regarding these global horrors. Te result: several Met Gala attendees lef with far fewer social media followers than they came with. Selena Gomez lost one million on Instagram and 100,000 on X. Zendaya lost 153,000 on Instagram and 40,000 on X. Kim Kardashian (780,000 Instagram), Kylie Jenner (540,000 Instagram; 53,000 X), Billie Eilish (1.1 million Instagram), Rihanna (110,000 X) and even Beyoncé (689,000 Instagram) felt the wrath. But while folk are “casting the frst stones” at these celebs, all of society has been mesmerized by the Kendrick/Drake “beef,” prioritizing it above seemingly everything else. So, we’d all do well to remember the words of the Mighty Mos Def’s classic “What’s Beef”: “Beef is not what Jay said to Nas; Beef is when workin’ ni**as can’t fnd jobs… Beef is not what famous ni**as do on the mic; Beef is what George Bush would do in a fght… Beef is oil prices and geopolitics; Beef is Iraq, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip… Some beef is big and some beef is small; But what y’all call beef is no beef at all.”

Declaration of “End-Dependents”

to be a democracy.” Tat’s the same message being broadcast by Republicans’ Project 2025. For them, democracy was the closest thing to God when they were the majority. But now that the country is on a non-stop path to being a majority-Black-Hispanic-Asian nation, all of a sudden, those lily-white patriots are organizing to end democracy in favor of minority rule – as in rule by white, conservative, evangelical, racist, anti-everybody who’s not a wealthy, hetero-fronting, play “Christian” white male. Amazingly, some Blackfolk are still talking about not voting in November. If the GOP gets their way and wins in November, they’ll not only move to end our ability to vote, they’ll move to end us.

In defense of Amanda Seales

While we’ve been distracted by the Kendrick/Drake “beef,” folk who have real-life beef with Black people and see us as lazy dependents stealing money and opportunities from “hard-working” (read “white”) Americans, are saying the quiet parts out loud. GOP members from Washington State literally wrote a resolution dissing “majority rule,” saying, “We are devolving into a democracy, because congressmen and senators are elected by the same pool… We do not want

I’m not quite sure why so many people have issues with Amanda Seales. I don’t know the sister personally. I own no stock in the Amanda Seales empire, if there even is such a thing. I just know she rubs some Blackfolk the wrong way… And I don’t get it. All I know is, she’s constantly advocating for truth, Black people and humanity. Not too long ago on Instagram, Seales gave a breakdown of Afrmative Action and the history of why it’s needed that was so on point that any racist who tries to argue against what she laid down better just stay down. And for the last seven months, she’s provided a social media play-by-play of what’s happening in Palestine, Haiti, the Congo and the Sudan, putting all cable and local news outlets to shame in comparison. If y’all want to keep on hating on her, you do you. But everything I’ve seen from her – including a clip from her Club Shay Shay interview where her story of racism experienced during childhood was dismissed – says she should be celebrated and supported.

ON THE WEB

• Houston’s job market shows resilience.

• Trump trial lessons and takeaways we better recognize.

• High school hurdlers Lillian Harden and Rylee Hampton show out at 6A state meet.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake. AP Photo.

Aswad Walker

News DN HISD in turmoil?

Budget shortfalls, job cuts plague district

By Tannistha Sinha

Several Houston ISD (HISD) teachers and principals are being let go before the end of the school year. Superintendent Mike Miles has not specifed the exact number of teachers and principals whose contracts will not be renewed, but those impacted by the job cuts have already received notices for Zoom call invites to discuss the future of their employment at HISD.

Miles said that although a number of teachers will not receive a renewed contract, the teacher positions will remain intact. HISD is hiring replacements for these teachers and aims to have a similar teacher-to-class size ratio in the 2024-25 school year. Te district made “several hundred ofers” at a recent job fair, where nearly 2,000 applied for 800 positions, he said, adding 500 positions at Miles’ New Education System (NES) schools will be flled by the end of May.

“The recent abrupt layoffs at

the Houston Independent School District, involving hundreds of dedicated employees, are deeply troubling,” Council Member Edward Pollard (District J), who attended Lovett, Johnston, and Lamar schools at HISD and then attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA on a basketball scholarship, told the Defender in a statement. “As a product of HISD, I am profoundly disappointed by the lack of foresight and sensitivity shown in handling these layofs… Te method by which these individuals were notified—grouped together, with little to no prior warning or explanation—falls far below the standard of respect and decency that we owe our educators and staf.”

WHY TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE BEING LET GO

In March, Miles reversed his decision to use principal proficiency ratings to determine whether principals will be fred from their jobs in the coming school year. However, teacher profciency screenings remain. Te data decides who gets to

keep teaching at HISD.

Miles said during a press conference that the district was looking at data for the frst time, and principals are analyzing not just “anecdotal information” but also “data of all sorts.”

“As a profession, we need to look at data to assess a teacher’s performance and other

things, not just spreadsheets,” Miles said. “We need to look at how well they have been responding to the feedback, do they have a continuous improvement mindset, even if they are progressing, are they in a position to move forward.”

Miles added that principals have begun making decisions by analyzing data to evaluate teacher performance and determine the fate of these teachers’ jobs in the next year. Tis data is based on the profciency screening’s several criteria, including quality of instruction as measured on spot observations, student achievement outcomes from district, state, or national assessments, the school action plan, and performance on the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS).

“Te spot observation does not give the full scope of special ed. We got six of them the whole year,” Arnetta Murray, a special education teacher at a non-NES school at HISD who has been with the district for fve years and has been an educator for 17, told the Defender. “It’s stressful.”

FBISD changes valedictorian policy

By ReShonda Tate

An outcry over the ranking of “zoned” students above those who physically attend Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) high schools has led to the restoration of valedictorian and salutatorian rankings for some seniors. Te Defender frst brought you the story that had many in the district outraged.

Te reversal is being implemented at Marshall and Willowridge high schools, where initially, students zoned to the school were awarded the top two academic rankings based on their GPAs earned at other schools. Te district announced adjustments to ranks at these schools afer conducting a thorough assessment.

“Te current policy establishes class rank for high school students based on the campus where a student is zoned. Starting with the high school students in the class of 2028 and beyond, class rank will be determined by the campus where the student received instruction,” stated the district.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FBISD’s class ranking policy has sparked controversy as students found themselves ranked alongside peers from diferent schools, raising concerns about fairness and equity. Community advocates worry about its impact on college admissions and scholarship opportunities. According to FBISD FAQ, students in the

classes of 2024 to 2027 will be ranked based on their home address zoning, while those in the class of 2028 and beyond will be ranked according to their attending campus.

“It’s very sad, unfair and disappointing,” said 17-year-old Naomi Groghue, the top-ranked senior at Marshall who will now graduate ranked No. 48 at Elkins High School, the school she was zoned for but never attended.

Naomi Groguhe

Community and student reactions were strong upon learning their rankings, especially when valedictorians from their own schools were displaced by zoned students who didn’t physically attend.

The board implemented the changes in 2019 and the policy went into efect this year. It allows students who have never attended a particular campus to be ranked according to the school they are zoned to based on their home address. Tat means if a student chooses to attend one of the district’s nine programs of choice at the high school level, their class rank will be calculated by comparing them to students that attend the campus they are zoned to attend, rather than comparing them to students at the school or program where they actually take classes. District leaders started to notice that some high school seniors from schools with very competitive rankings would transfer to another school where they could be ranked higher — even in the top 10, said community advocate and Marshall PTO president Stephanie Brown.

Naomi said she thought she would cap her four years at Marshall with a valedictorian’s speech, only to learn that a student who never attended Marshall would be given the honor.

“Tese kids never walk the halls of a school for four years and can come back and claim valedictorian at a school where kids have worked hard for four years,” Brown said.

In Texas, students graduating in the top 10% of their high school class are guaranteed admission to any public university in the state.

MOVING FORWARD

Naomi plans to study business at the University of Texas at Austin, and said being valedictorian could have boosted her scholarship prospects. She said the Fort Bend ISD community has a history of rallying for various causes and urged residents to keep opposing the policy in hopes it can be changed for other students in high school now.

“People have to continuously advocate so no upcoming classes have to deal with this,” she said.

Brown doesn’t plan to let this issue die and says she will continue the fght to bring awareness so the policy can be permanently changed.

“Tis policy will push a lot of our students out of their top 10 positions for the next three years. It is going to be mentally detrimental to our students, and it is very disheartening,” Brown said.

HISD Superintendent Mike Miles

Activists want input on next police chief

Defender News Service

Houston activists are demanding ‘a seat at the table’ as Mayor John Whitmire prepares to select the next police chief following the sudden retirement of Troy Finner from the Houston Police Department.

Earlier this year, an internal investigation was launched afer Finner revealed that over 260,000 unreviewed incident reports had been shelved over the past eight years. Finner claimed these reports were suspended due to a lack of personnel, but questions arose about his prior knowledge of this practice when an internal email suggested he was aware of it as far back as 2018, contrary to his assertion that he only learned of it in November 2021. Shortly thereafer, Finner announced his retirement, and Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite assumed the role of acting chief.

Now, Whitmire faces the task of appointing a permanent replacement, and local activists, including Hai Bui, are demanding inclusion in the selection process. Bui, who founded We Te People Organize afer the controversial Harding Street raid in 2019 resulting in the deaths of two innocent individuals, advocates for an external candidate to lead the department, questioning how many high-ranking HPD ofcials were aware of the issue over the years.

“My gut feeling is that all the assistant chiefs must’ve known,” Bui stated. “Hopefully, a new chief can come in and just set a new tone, new leadership, and make our city proud to have these ofcers.”

According to Whitmire, HPD’s internal investigation has not implicated Satterwhite in the code controversy, although Satterwhite himself admits uncertainty about when he frst

became aware of it. Other activists are calling for a more democratic appointment process at City Hall. Christopher Rivera, outreach coordinator for the Texas Civil Rights Project’s Criminal Injustice Program, stresses the importance of transparency and addressing racial disparities in policing.

“We’ve seen countless chiefs appointed by the mayor, and each of them have always

maintained these racial disparities,” Rivera remarked. “We just really hope that Mayor Whitmire involves the public’s voice as well as other advocates who are on the ground and working with communities who are most impacted by over-policing.”

Katya Abazajian, an organizer with the Houston Abolitionist Collective, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for a chief who listens to the community’s concerns about diferent approaches to public safety.

“Whoever is selected needs to be somebody who’s actually going to listen to the community,” Abazajian emphasized. “There are so many communities that are speaking up right now about wanting to see diferent forms of community safety.”

Last week, Whitmire expressed his view of the city’s search for a new chief as “an opportunity to come together.” However, he stated that he does not intend to establish an advisory committee. Instead, Whitmire intends to rely on his “52 years of experience” and “realtime contact with Houstonians” to identify and appoint a suitable candidate to lead the department.

“I would hope this tough decision is not used to divide the city,” Whitmire asserted. “I won’t play a role in that.”

$5.5 bil awarded for housing, homelessness

NNPA

A housing crisis is gripping tens of millions of families nationwide, driving the price of homes up by approximately 60%. Te staggering increase has lef many families struggling to aford rent or homeownership. According to recent data, around a quarter of renters, equivalent to roughly 12 million households, are spending more than half of their income on housing costs, far exceeding the recommended one-third threshold for fnancial health. Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled a signifcant funding boost to address the pressing issues of afordable housing and homelessness across the United States.

The announcement through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) marks a crucial step in Harris and President Joe Biden’s eforts to tackle the housing crisis inherited from previous administrations. Harris announced that $5.5 billion in grants would be

distributed to 1,200 communities through more than 2,400 grants to states, cities, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and local organizations nationwide.

“Homeownership is an essential part of the American Dream that represents so much more than a roof over our heads,” Harris stated. “Tat is why President Biden and I are expanding on our historic investments in housing by announcing $5.5 billion that will increase access to afordable housing, invest in economic growth, and address homelessness in communities throughout America.”

Te funding, part of the White House Housing Supply Action Plan and the Blueprint for a Renter’s Bill of Rights, aims to boost the housing supply, lower housing costs, expand rental assistance, enhance renter protections, and invest in more robust, more resilient communities.

“A coordinated whole-of-community approach is crucial to build strong and resilient communities, invest in decent housing, create healthy environments, expand economic opportunities accessible to low-income households, and support aspiring homebuyers and those experiencing homelessness,” Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized in a statement.

Te White House said the allocation of the $5.5 billion in grants would go through various HUD programs, including:

• $1.3 billion to 668 grantees to build afordable housing through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).

• $214 million to every state to increase afordable housing supply via the Housing Trust Fund (HTF).

• $3.3 billion to 1,254 grantees to build stronger communities through the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

• $455 million to 130 grantees to connect

HIV/AIDS to housing and support through the Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) program.

• $290 million to 357 grantees to address homelessness through Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG).

• $30 million to 23 States and the District of Columbia to support recovery from substance use disorder via the Recovery Housing Program (RHP).

Te announcement follows Harris’s recent stops on her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour, where she has been highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s eforts to support communities and improve access to housing while making it more afordable.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire, right, is embraced by Houston Police Chief Troy Finner during happier times. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

REMEMBERING

Bill Lawson

A legacy of service

In the mid-50s, William ‘Bill’ Lawson arrived in Houston bright-eyed and ready to make a diference. Te then27-year-old man with his eyes set on servitude.

He began as the director of the Baptist Student Union at Texas Southern University, then took on the role of Chaplain at the university, where he said he was able to have a hand in the midst of a student community.

Rev. Lawson was a pivotal fgure in the civil rights era, making a name for himself amongst notable other leaders such as John Lewis, Jesse Jackson, and his close friend, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. He was among those organizing Houston’s civil rights movement during the 60s when desegregation was a key goal.

Whether it was fghting for Civil Rights, working in the community, breaking grounds in education, ministering to thousands, or sharing an undeniable love with his late wife, Audrey Lawson, who passed in 2015, Lawson was an icon in the Houston community. Te Defender looks back over his legendary life.

WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

Rev. William Lawson

A legacy of leadership and activism

By ReShonda Tate, Aswad Walker, Laura Oneyeho and Terrance Harris

Houston is mourning the loss of Reverend William “Bill” Alexander Lawson, a towering fgure in the civil rights movement and longtime pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Lawson passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of leadership, activism, and service to the community.

Affectionately known as “Houston’s Pastor,” Lawson arrived in the city in the mid-1950s as a 27-year-old to serve as the director of the Baptist Student Union at Texas Southern University. It was there that his journey as a civil rights leader and community pillar began to take shape.

In 1962, Lawson founded Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston’s Third Ward, starting with just 13 members in a small white church. However, his impact soon extended far beyond the church’s walls as the civil rights movement gained momentum across the nation.

Lawson quickly became a central fgure in Houston’s fght for desegregation and racial equality. He raised funds to bail out students unjustly arrested for participating in lunch counter sit-ins protesting segregation. His leadership and activism also brought him into close collaboration with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whom he hosted in Houston.

Troughout the 1960s and 1970s, Lawson remained at the forefront of the city’s civil rights struggles, organizing eforts to integrate Houston and later campaigning against an initiative aimed at ending afrmative action.

Pastoral legacy

At the heart of Reverend William A. Lawson’s legacy sits his work founding the iconic Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

Afer news broke of Lawson’s passing, the church founded by the local civil rights icon in 1962 posted, “He has completed his time of service here on earth and is now enjoying eternal rest.”

And if the amount of work in this realm correlates to the rest enjoyed in the next, Lawson is certainly resting well.

BUILDING WHEELER AVENUE

Te Texas transplant by way of Kansas City literally built Wheeler out of his work at Texas Southern University (TSU). But Lawson was clear to let the world know that the tenor and character of Wheeler was inspired by the fre that burned in the

heart of his wife, Audrey, who passed away in 2015.

“‘Honey, you cannot have a church with just preaching and singing. You’re going to have to reach out into the neighborhood and somehow be involved with the problems of people in the neighborhoods,’” shared Lawson, recounting his wife’s words.

“So, I thought of this new church as being a church that was going to be both religion and social movement.”

And what better place to locate this new church than a stone’s throw away from where Lawson served as leader of TSU’s Baptist Student Union?

and the hearts of its residents. Te Defender takes a look at the legacy of this Houston icon.

Rev. Bill Lawson was an iconic spiritual leader who was the moral conscience for justice in our city. Every advancement of oppressed and marginalized people in Houston can be traced back to him. I will cherish his legacy.”

BISHOP JOHN D. OGLETREE JR., PASTOR, FIRST METROPOLITAN CHURCH

The church Lawson founded with 13 members now boasts a congregation of 12,000. Still, Lawson’s ministerial impact stretched far beyond Wheeler’s walls. He became known as the “Father of Houston’s civil rights movement” because he literally ofered support and leadership to those TSU students who struck the frst blow of protest with their sit-in at the Almeda Rd.

Weingarten’s.

Tere was hardly a justice and equality-related issue between Lawson’s ministry founding in the early 1960s until his passing that he was not intimately involved with. And when Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Houston and no churches would open their doors to him, it was Lawson who welcomed MLK and provided him with a speaking venue.

Despite Lawson’s retirement from the pastorate in 2004 and his recent passing, his impact continues to permeate Houston via the countless pastors he counseled. Some local ministers spoke out about Rev. Lawson’s impact on their lives personally and upon the city of Houston:

“Pastor Lawson was an early mentor and one of the few leaders who consistently practiced what he preached throughout his life and ministry.”

Dr. Rudy Rasmus, Pastor Emeritus, St. John’s Downtown

“Rev. William A. Lawson was a man who brought class, elegance, integrity and excellence to ministry. His commitment to the cause of Christ, the Houston community and the entire world was unrivaled. He was a light that shined for justice for all people, setting an example for all of us who were privileged to know and be mentored by him. As ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ we stand on his shoulders with the responsibility to make sure his legacy of loving all people lives on. God bless the Lawson family and the Wheeler Ave. Baptist Church.”

Dr. D. Z. Cofeld, Senior Pastor, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Lawson (c) pictured with Wheeler Pastor Marcus Cosby and Congressional Reps Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green.Wheeler

Rev. Lawson and his family

Audrey and Rev. William Lawson were married 62 years.

Rev. William “Bill” Lawson, pastor emeritus of Wheeler Baptist Church, speaks during the private funeral for George Floyd in June 9, 2020. Getty

InFocus DN REMEMBERING

BILL

LAWSON Education legacy

William Lawson dedicated his life to the empowerment of marginalized communities and leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.

“My father truly believed that education was the key to unlocking potential,” shared Cheryl Lawson, Reverend Lawson’s daughter and current superintendent of Te Lawson Academy. “He saw education not just as a means to a good job, but as a path to self-discovery, social mobility, and building a more just world.”

Lawson’s impact on education began early in his career. In 1955, he joined the faculty of the then-young Texas Southern University (TSU) as the director of the Baptist Student Union and Professor of Bible. His infuence extended beyond the classroom walls as he became the director of Upward Bound, a program that prepared pre-college students for higher education.

“Reverend Lawson was a pioneer at TSU,” shared a spokesperson for Texas Southern University. “He not only nurtured the spiritual lives of students but also recognized the critical need for academic preparation and opportunity. His work with Upward Bound helped countless students bridge the gap between high school and the demands of a university education.”

Lawson’s commitment to social justice extended beyond the walls of TSU. He became a vital voice during the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for desegregation in Houston’s schools and public spaces. He even marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Following the organization of a sit-in by 14 TSU students to denounce segregation at a Weingarten’s grocery lunch counter, Lawson and his spouse became active supporters of civil rights while still working at TSU. Afer the students were taken into custody, the Lawsons set out to acquire the necessary funds to post their bail.

During a one-on-one interview with the Defender in 2018, Lawson shared his thoughts on the importance of Black children learning their history.

“It is vital that in this time we do something by making sure that Black children learn who they are and can have some sense of self-worth,” he said. “Tat’s difcult to come by when Black children are being pushed of into mostly white cultures.”

His advocacy wasn’t limited to protests. He believed in building lasting change through education. In 1962, he established the first

Afro-American Studies Program at the University of Houston. He also taught classes on sociology and the Black Church.

Following his retirement from Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church afer 42 years of service as senior pastor, the community found a new way for him to continue his mission. In 1996, they established the William A. Lawson Institute for

Peace and Prosperity (WALIPP).

Trough WALIPP, Lawson played a key role in establishing Te Lawson Academy, a two single-gender charter school for boys in Houston’s Tird Ward, as well as a school for girls, constructed afordable housing for seniors, and continue to provide a vital voice for Houston’s underserved communities.

Reverend

DN Health

Don’t Let Asthma Go Untreated

By JERECIA WATSON, MD

Don’t Let Asthma Go Untreated

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition affecting more than 25 million people across the United States, including 5 million children. It is characterized by chronic inflammation in the lungs, which results in the swelling and narrowing of the airway. This can lead to serious coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and tightness in the chest. It doesn’t go away with time and requires ongoing medical treatment.

Black People Are More Likely To Be Affected

According to the American Lung Association, Black individuals are 30 — 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with asthma. And not only are members of the Black community more likely to be diagnosed, but they are also almost

Dr. Watson Family Medicine physician at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic –Stafford. Scan to schedule an appointment or call 713-442-7025

three times more likely to die from an asthma-related illness than nonHispanic white individuals.

Limited access to quality healthcare and resources has been a long-standing problem for members of the Black community, and chronic illnesses like asthma are exacerbated when left undertreated. That’s why KelseySeybold doctors emphasize how important it is for patients diagnosed with asthma to have a relationship with a primary care physician and, if necessary, an asthma specialist. What Affects Your Risk Besides Race

Beyond race, other factors can affect you and your family’s risk of developing asthma. Those who have a parent with asthma are three to six times more likely to develop the condition. There’s a link between developing asthma and other allergic

conditions like eczema or hay fever. Respiratory problems during childhood increase the likelihood of developing asthma later in life. Work that comes with exposure to dust, chemicals, and mold can increase the risk of asthma. Smoking, as well as exposure to secondor even third-hand smoke, increases the likelihood of developing asthma.

Managing Asthma To Breathe and Feel Better

In addition to developing a relationship with health professionals, it’s important to identify and avoid triggers (like exposure to pet dander, cleaning products, and even bouts of cold air), take any prescribed medications, and stay active. Be sure to incorporate a healthy diet that will support maintaining a healthy body weight.

Get Care

Sports DN

UH senior Shaun Maswanganyi was named Big 12 High Point Performer after winning three titles during the conference track and field championships.

Sports Briefs

Rockets gain No.3 overall pick in NBA Lottery

While the Rockets didn’t exactly hit the jackpot during the recent NBA Draft Lottery draw, they still came up as big winners. The Rockets drew the third overall pick in next month’s NBA Draft after they were projected to land the No.9. It’s the third time in four years that they have landed a top-three pick. Now, the question is will general manager Rafael Stone keep the pick or trade it for veteran assets to help the Rockets break into the playoffs?

Prairie View softball dominates postseason awards

It came as little surprise that the Prairie View softball team cleaned up on the postseason awards.

Biviana Figueroa takes home SWAC

Hitter of the Year, Mia Nunez is the SWAC Player of the Year and Vernon Bland is Co-Coach of the Year. In addition to the top SWAC awards, the Prairie View softball team has five players on the all-conference squad.

Jaylyn Davis, Breanna Reyna, Figueroa and Nunez made the first team and Audrey Garcia made the second team.

TSU adds three to All-SWAC softball team

Texas Southern has a trio of softball players who have made the 2024 All-SWAC Second Team. Maren Berger, Paris Johnson and Madalyn Gonzales all made the all-conference team.

TEXANS ROOKIE

State.

KAMARI LASSITER

ready to do what he does – play football at a high level

By Terrance Harris

When it comes to college football rivalries, it doesn’t get much more heated than SEC powerhouses Georgia and Alabama.

So, imagine Texans second-round draft pick Kamari Lassiter’s surprise when the former Georgia Bulldog first learned that the man who drafted him 42nd overall in last month’s NFL Draft is now his new head coach, DeMeco Ryans, a former star the Alabama Crimson Tide.

“Coach went to Bama? I didn’t know that,” Lassiter said with a serious face. “Those two programs [Alabama and Georgia] – very high-profile programs – have a lot of similarities. The standard that was set at Georgia is super high. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it doesn’t matter how many years you’ve played. The standard is the standard and it’s always going to be that.”

And chances are more than good that the reason the Texans made Lassiter their first pick of the draft is because of that standard. Lassiter was a star cornerback in one of the nation’s elite programs and in the toughest conference.

The hope is there will be a lot of carryover as the Texans look to place Lassiter opposite rising star cornerback Derek Stingley, Jr.

“Lassiter is position flex, has played on the perimeter,” said Texans general manager Nick Caserio. “He plays with a linebacker-type mentality, but he’s a corner.

“He’s tough. He’s physical. He’s not slow. Good football player, one of the top makeup players we identified throughout.”

Versatility is one of the most exciting attributes of the 6-foot, 181-pound defensive back. The Texans drafted him thinking he could play either boundary or field cornerback spots.

But while folks are trying to figure which position to put Lassiter, the blunt-speaking youngster just wants to get on the field.

“I play football,” he said. “I play defense wherever they put me at. It doesn’t matter. I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”

Ryans isn’t concerned with figuring out how many positions Lassiter might be able to play this season. He just wants him to get comfortable on an NFL playing field. The rest will eventually take care of itself.

“With Kamari – again, he’s a very sharp young man,” Ryans said. “He can play inside and he can play outside.

“He did that at Georgia, and whatever that day calls for, we’ll put him out at corner, we’ll put him out at nickel, and we’ll see what happens.”

The expectation is that a lot of great things will happen wherever he lines up on the field. Lassiter was one of the top defensive backs in the SEC, where he earned second-team All-SEC recognition in 2024 after leading the Bulldogs with eight pass breakup. He had 37 tackles and 3.5 stops for loss.

For Lassiter, now it’s about showing what he can do at the highest level of football.

Kamari Lassiter, who was drafted in the second-round (42nd overall) during last month’s NFL Draft, is expected to bring a lot of veracity and flexibility to the Texans secondary. Credit: Getty

He’s tough. He’s physical. He’s not slow. Good football player, one of the top makeup players we identified throughout.”

NICK CASERIO TEXANS GENERAL MANAGER

“I feel like I just always want to prove myself right,” he said. “I never sought out to prove anyone wrong. I just thought that I could always be here. I always thought I could play at the highest level in college and my family always believed that. It’s just always about proving ourselves right.”

The Texans also added ballhawk USC safety Calen Bullock in the third round of drafting, potentially giving them one of the youngest and most exciting secondaries in the league next season.

Bullock and Lassiter have already started to bond in ways that can carry over to the field. The two first met by chance last summer in Miami.

“We didn’t really know each other at first,” Lassiter said. “I just knew he went to

USC, I went to Georgia. I knew he was good at football, he knew I was good, but we kind of chopped it up just a little bit, and then fast forward all the way to draft night and we both get drafted to the same team.

“That just kind of played over into here, so we’ve just kind of been getting a little bit closer and I feel like we’ll end up being real close by the time it’s all said and done.” Lassiter is also getting a feel for the man who in college would have been his rival. And that connection has also been all positive.

“I think Coach Ryans is just a really good guy,” he said. “You can really tell he loves what he does. You can tell his passion for the game, his passion for his players and his passion for his team. That’s somebody who I’d love to play for.”

Texas Southern centerfielder Nin Burns II went 3-for-3 at the plate, while recording 2 runs and 4 RBI in a win over Alcorn

Rafael Stone

Mia Nunez Paris Johnson

Sports DN

BRIANNA RIVERS Makes her own mark, leaps for gold

By Jimmie Aggison

To become a great high jumper, athletes must enhance their back’s flexibility and finetune their timing over the bar. Brianna Rivers did just that, adjusting her body angle to compliment her vertical jump as she refined her knee drive to maximize her leap over the bar at the UIL 6A track meet. With a jump of 5-feet-7, Rivers walked away a gold medalist for the first time.

“Brianna, works extremely hard at her craft. She attends all practices at school, weight room, and extra practices after school with a private coach,” said Summer Creek high jump coach Karen Smith.

“Winning felt amazing,” said Rivers, who is no stranger to the UIL 6A state meet.

Her freshman year, Rivers PR’d at Regionals by jumping 5-feet-8 and making it to state. She also PR’d (Personal Record) at the Regionals with a 5-feet-9 jumping during her sophomore season.

“Both years I made it to state with my PR’s but my nerves got the best of me at that state meet and I placed eighth my freshman year and seventh my sophomore year,” said Rivers. At this year’s state meet, Rivers felt that history might repeat itself as she struggled with jumping 5-feet-7.

“Brianna promised me that she would do much better in the State Meet than she had in years past. Even though she is very talented, she sometimes loses her confidence when she has missed jumps,” said Smith.

After missing her last jump, Rivers was visibly shaken.

“I actually cried, but my friend Savanna tried to cheer me up by saying it’s okay and we still have next year which made me feel a little better. However in the moment, I felt that all my practice was wasted especially because I was not jumping like I wanted to that day,” said Rivers.

“She was deflated. While I was consoling her, Coach Roper tallied the total points and noticed that because of her previous cleared jumps, she was the new UIL 6A high jump champion. I told her that she had won but she didn’t believe me. I showed her the results in the UIL app and when she saw the results, we were so excited we cried together,” said Smith.

Rivers began high jumping after watching her big brother, Jalen Rivers, who while in high school at Summer Creek ranked fourth in the nation with a season-best clearance of 7-feet-1.

“I began track when I was 10 years old

with Track Houston. My brother did it, so my parents wanted me to try it with him. I remember running with my teammates Brooke Perry and Laila Payne, and just really enjoying the sport. Because it was fun, I continued with it throughout the years,” said Rivers.

Rivers draws inspiration from watching other high jumpers like Woo Sanghyeok, a professional high jumper and Elena Kulichenko who jumps for the University of Georgia.

“I like to watch Woo Sanghyeok’s walk up and his technique over the bar. I like Elena Kulichenko’s approach and the speed she carries throughout her curve.

With a highly accomplished brother, it can feel overbearing at times, having others compare skill sets and failing to recognize your talent as your talent.

“At times it can be stressful, especially at big meets. But I have learned that he’s my brother and I’m my own person. I can’t focus on trying to live up to his accomplishments all the time, I need to make my own,” said Rivers.

Rivers holds a PR record jump of 5-feet10, tying her for seventh in the United States among high school girls.

“I just have to keep working. I plan to do a lot of weight training and plyometrics so I can try to be more explosive off the ground next year,” said Rivers.

When looking back to inspire the next group of high jumpers, Rivers recalls the advice given to her by coach Tj Fakehinde.

“Just smile and have fun,” said Rivers.

ABOUT BRIANNA RIVERS

Class: 2025

IG: @bri.rivers

Twitter: @BriRivers11

Events: 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, long jump, high jump

Height & weight: 5-feet-8, 118 pounds

Athletes she studies: Woo Sanghyeok (Pro), Elena Kulichenko (The University of Georgia)

Status: Uncommitted

Favorite artist: Stray Kids

Favorite subject: Orchestra, Physics

Shout-outs: TJ Fakenhinde, Margaret Clover, Devin Noel, Ahmad Roper, Jalan Rivers

Summer Creek HS Jumper

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