FEATURE
OLDEST LIVING MAN TURNS 112, LIVES IN TEXAS P8
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Volume 87 | Number 30 MAY 24, 2018 |FREE
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NEWSTALK DR. GRENITA LATHAN tackles the safety issue in HISD
things grads should know
P2 NATIONAL STACEY ABRAMS wins primary for GA Governor’s race
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FEATURE MEGHAN MARKLE brings Blackness to the royal wedding
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Ruth Carter
comes to Comicpalooza She’s become a sought-after costume designer after her amazing designs on the blockbuster movie, “Black Panther.” Now, Carter is bringing her talent to the George R. Brown Convention Center. H PAGE 5
TSU Tigers win baseball title
TOP EVENTS
The Texas Southern University Tigers baseball team flexed their muscles at the SWAC baseball championship tournament in New Orleans. When the dust settled Mike Robertson’s Tigers had won their second consecutive conference championship. H PAGE
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Nailah Nelson and Deric Muhammad at the Smart’n Up Black Male Summit
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DEFENDER | MAY 24 | 2018
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HISD superintendent says school safety top priority Defender News Services
In light of the deadly shooting at Santa Fe High School, HISD interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita F. Lathan said student and staff safety is a top priority at the district. Ten people – including eight students and two teachers – were killed and 13 injured during the May 18 shooting in Santa Fe, located about 35 miles southeast of Houston. The suspect arrested in the case, 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, was a student at Dr. Grenita Lathan visits with HISD students. the school. The attack renewed calls year to increase safety procedures and prepare staff and for answers to gun violence on American campuses. students in case of an emergency, including: “Our district is in mourning today following the tragic • Increasing the number of active emergency drills at loss of lives in our neighboring community of Santa Fe,” HISD campuses and facilities. Lathan said. “We have reached out to Santa Fe ISD to of• Selecting, training, and activating a standing emerfer our full support during this difficult time, and we will gency response team to respond to threats districtwide. do whatever we can to help them move forward after this • Conducting realistic, hands-on officer training on how senseless attack.” to react to an armed assailant. Lathan noted that the HISD Police Department is the • Providing offices with additional safety equipment to only accredited public school district police department be used in the event of an emergency situation. in the nation and has more than 200 officers assigned to “In addition, we work closely with our law enforceschools and facilities. ment partners, such as the Houston Police Department, the “Each has been trained to respond immediately and Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Metro Police Departeffectively – with or without backup – to eliminate delays in ment, as well as area school district police and university police stopping threats,” she said. “They work diligently every day departments,” Lathan said. to keep HISD students and staff safe. She added that a tragedy “so close to home” can cause “In the aftermath of the Santa Fe attack, the HISD Poemotional distress for students and staff. Crisis counselors are lice Department is operating on high alert, and all available available on campuses upon request and staff in need of support officers were placed on patrol. The number of officers on can call the Employee Assistance Program hotline at 855patrol during school hours will also be maximized.” 574-HISD. Bullying can be reported to HISD PD Dispatch at Lathan said the district has taken several steps this 713-892-7777.
4th Ward activist Johnson dies Defender News Services
Lenwood Johnson, a longtime Fourth Ward activist who fought for public housing residents and community preservation, died May 18 at age 75. Johnson was a tenant leader at Allen Parkway Village in the 1980s and ‘90s. The sprawling complex was comprised of nearly 1,000 units and Johnson led a campaign to prevent its demolition. In 1994 he traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros about the complex. Part of it was eventually demolished and redeveloped as the Historic Oaks of Allen Parkway. Johnson later focused Lenwood Johnson on preserving the history of Freedmen’s Town and preventing the destruction of streets paved with bricks laid by freed slaves. “Lenwood Johnson was one of boldest fighters for public housing that Houston has ever known,” said Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “His service on the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing and his fight to save Freedman’s Town will not be forgotten. May he rest in power.”
May 22 runoff results Defender News Services
Here are the results of races with Black candidates. Winners will be on the November ballot. U.S. Representative – Tawana Walter-Cadien (District 10) and Letitia Plummer (District 22) lost. State Senator – Fran Watson (District 17) lost. Fort Bend County – For Justice of the Peace (JP), Precinct 2, Joel Clouser Sr. defeated Tanisha Green. Harris County – Roslyn “Rozzy” Shorter lost her bid for district clerk and Gayle Young Mitchell lost her bid for county clerk. Danyahel (Danny) Norris defeated Prince E. Bryant II for Harris County School Trustee Position 6, Precinct 1. Sharon Burney defeated Cheryl Elliott Thornton for JP, Precinct 7, Place 2 race.
localbriefs REV. LEONARD BARKSDALE III, pastor emeritus of Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church and an attorney in private practice, died May 14 at the age of 69. He was a former secretary of the Houston Lawyers Association, a member of several ministerial organizations, and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. Barksdale was a native of Galveston. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Houston and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence Degree from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was also a graduate of the College of Biblical Studies-Houston and Houston Graduate
School of Theology. Survivors include his daughters Lea and Anita and his mother, Joan Barksdale…….. THE FEDERAL RACIAL DISCRIMINATION lawsuit filed against Capital One may signal trouble for the recent buyers of the bank’s mortgage business. Plaintiffs have now added an allegation that Capital One discriminated against Black and Latino individuals in its mortgage business. Lawsuit papers show that Capital One only extended one loan to a Black customer in Houston, and ZERO to non-white Hispanics. Inability to obtain affordable mortgages is widely blamed for the worsening financial plight of Blacks and Latinos in America. Plaintiffs are also asking the federal judge to
enter an order requiring Capital One to submit to judicial oversight of its lending practices for the next 25 years, as well as damages in excess of $22,500,000……..THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY opened the doors of its latest innovative library to date. TECHLink’s grand opening coincided with the reopening of Scenic Woods Library, 10677 Homestead. It is a digital creative space that allows a person’s imagination and creativity to be limitless. It provides free access to state-of-the-art technology for music, video and print production, coding and gaming development, graphic design and digital animation creation, and interactive learning for kids.
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MAY 24 | 2018 | DEFENDER
national
U.S.briefs STARBUCKS ANNOUNCED A NEW POLICY of inclusivity that will permit anyone to sit in its cafes or use the stores’ restrooms, regardless of whether they’ve bought anything. The move comes weeks after one of the coffee chain’s stores in Philadelphia incited outrage for calling the police on two Black men who had not made a purchase while they waited for a friend to arrive. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were arrested for “trespassing” on April 12 after a Starbucks store manager in Philadelphia called the police. Their arrest, captured on camera, quickly became a public relations nightmare for Starbucks. Protests erupted at the Philadelphia store..……THE FUTURE OF THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) remains unclear after conservative Republicans torpedoed a bill that included the Trump administration’s proposed reforms. In a revolt against party leadership, hardline conservatives voted against the Republicans’ sweeping farm bill, a blow against House Speaker Paul Ryan who championed the bill as a giant step toward welfare reform. Farm bills come before Congress every five years and include agricultural subsidies, as well as programs to provide food to low-income families. The Trump administration and Ryan wanted the bill to pass because it included historic new work requirements for food stamp beneficiaries that would require millions of lower-income earning people to work at least 20 hours a week or enroll in a job-training program…….TAMIR RICE’S MOTHER WANTS OTHER CHILDREN to have the future denied to her son, who was shot and killed in 2014 by a Cleveland police officer while the 12-year-old was playing at his local playground. Samaria Rice is establishing a youth center in Tamir’s memory. The Tamir Rice Afrocentric Cultural Center will be a place where children can engage in art, music and drama, while learning how to navigate the political and civic landscape.
VOLUME 87 • NUMBER 30 MAY 24, 2018 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Videographer
Jodie B. Jiles
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison 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 subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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Blacks can make history in elections nationwide with 26 percent, and Jealous was in third place with 14 percent. A lot of eyes are on the race to replace retired Black political candidates are making history Michigan Democratic Congressman John Conyers, with the recent May 22 primary elections and can who was the longest-serving member of Congress also gain political clout with races held later this when he stepped down in December amid a sexual summer. harassment scandal. The 88-year-old former lawmakPerhaps the biggest race was with Stacey Abrams, er endorsed his son the former John Conyers III to Georgia replace him. House miAt least 10 norit leader, candidates jumped who defeated into the race for legislathe Democratic tor Stacey nomination. The Evans in the competition inDemocrati cludes the former primary for congressman’s Georgia govgreat grandnephew ernor. Ian Conyers Abrams and Detroit City will now face Council President either Lt. Brenda Jones. The Gov. Casey congressman’s son, Cagle, the however, may not be top RepubStacey Abrams Rushern Baker among them because lican votethe initial count of signatures on his petition to run for ofgetter Tuesday, or Secretary of State Brian Kemp. fice came up short. Voters will get to make their choice on Mr. Cagle and Mr. Kemp will vie for their party’s Aug. 7. nomination in a July runoff. In Florida, Mayor Andrew Gillum of Tallahassee is An upcoming race to watch is in Maryland, among four major candidates competing for the Demowhere Prince George’s County Executive Rushern cratic Party’s nomination for governor. None of the Baker leads a field of nine Democrats competing candidates has taken control of the race. Gillum is a for governor. One of his opponents in the June 26 progressive and viewed by many as the most charismatic primary is former NAACP chief Ben Jealous. A candidate in the competition. Florida will hold its priFebruary poll indicated that about 32 percent of mary elections on Aug. 28. Democrats are undecided, but Baker led the pack Defender News Services
NAACP wants police to be held accountable Defender News Service
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule a lower court that cleared officers in the Taser killing of an unarmed Black man in 2013. If a filed petition appeal is successful, the officers would face a trial. “Officers responded to an unarmed Black man in mental health crisis by using extreme force that had no purpose other than to inflict pain,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel at LDF. “Using force in this way serves no legitimate law enforcement purpose and clearly violates the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable seizures.”
LDF and two law firms are appealing the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision on behalf of Gladis Callwood. A Lee County, Ala. deputy sheriff tasered her 25-year-old son, Khari Illidge, 13 times while he was unarmed, naked, on the ground and in the process of being arrested by multiple officers. Illidge, suspected of trespassing, was having an apparent mental health crisis. After 19 total Tasings, he died from cardiac arrest, according to LDF. The officer violated Taser guidelines and police training, the organization argued. He repeatedly tasered Illidge to make him suffer. However, the circuit court’s three-judge panel disagreed, siding with a lower court ruling that the deputies had qualified immunity.
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DEFENDER | MAY 24 | 2018
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Markle royal wedding shows off Blackness Defender News Services
Viewers were told to expect touches of soul at the wedding of Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle, and there was a definite Black presence. Millions around the world watched as Harry, sixth in line to the British throne, married Markle, the daughter of an African-American woman and white man. Black celebrities in attendance included Oprah Winfrey, actor Idris Elba and tennis queen Serena Williams. Markle rode to the ceremony with her mother, Doria Ragland. Black moments at the wedding included: • A stirring sermon by the Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church and the first African American to serve in that capacity. Curry spoke about love and began by quoting the Song of Solomon from the Bible and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “There’s power in love,” he said. “There’s power in love to help and heal when nothing else can. There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will. There’s power in love to show us the way to live…” • A performance by gospel group Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir. The England-based choir sang “Stand By Me,” the R&B classic made famous by the late Ben E. King. Gibson directed the group, which at one point swayed to the music. • A cello selection by 19-year-old Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the first Black musician to win the BBC Young Musician of the Year Award. Kanneh-Mason played three pieces accompanied by an orchestra.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor Castle on May 19.
Bishop Michael Curry
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason
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MAY 24 | 2018 | DEFENDER
entertainment
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Ruth Carter
‘Black Panther’ designer at Comicpalooza
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Defender News Services
ton.
eteran costume designer Ruth E. Carter is joining the list of talent coming to Comicpalooza 2018, the annual entertainment, comic book, science fiction, gaming and pop culture convention held in Hous-
Carter’s incredible career spans 30 years and includes two Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design with Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” and Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” and an Emmy nomination for the 2016 reboot of “Roots.” She has been credited with more than 40 films, the most recent being the blockbuster hit and visually stunning “Black Panther.” Carter will share accounts from her storied history in film, including behind-the-scene tales from some of the most celebrated movies in the last three decades, and will discuss the process, the collaboration, and the challenges when bringing one of the most important comic book characters to life on the big screen. She talked with the Defender about her motivation. Defender: You have an impressive résumé, but were you still nervous when you got the Marvel call? Ruth Carter: Of course. The idea of entering a world as vast and packed with interconnecting mythologies as the Marvel Cinematic Universe was unfathomable. Then, working with a company like Marvel proved to be a different experience entirely. For one, there’s an entire ecosystem of action figures, videos games, and other licensed products that runs parallel to what Marvel Studios puts out. So, nailing how characters look is of the utmost importance. Defender: Marvel usually has a visual develop-
Defender: One of your most challenging contributions was outfitting the Dora Milaje, the “Black Panther’s” elite team of female bodyguards. What was your goal for the characters? Carter: I wanted to root the costumes Comicpalooza in traditional African Friday, May 25–Sunday, May 27 attire while making George R. Brown Convention Center each piece serve the www.comicpalooza.com story in a specific way. But I needed to get the Dora Milaje armor right not only because they’re fan favorites from the “Black Panther” comics, but also because so often the costumes for women in the superhero realm can go very wrong, very quickly. We didn’t want them to be these sexy girls walking around with a guy in a bulletproof catsuit. We wanted them to be serious fighters. Defender: You didn’t want the costumes to look like “costumes?” Carter: Right. It’s really difficult sometimes to translate the passion behind what you’re asking for to craftspeople who have done brilliant work on many things but may not really understand completely the African diaspora. They want to tell you, “I can do this because I did the Lion King.” And you’re thinking, this isn’t like that. This is something that’s super Ruth E. Carter special to this particular story and this particular costume. ment team for that. Did that force you to adjust your Defender: How did you bring the Wakandan typical approach to a film? fashion to life? Carter: I’m used to coming into a blank slate, but Carter: I selected things from indigenous tribes they definitely have a roadmap. I had to get myself and implemented them in a futuristic model. Because together and get on the road. I felt like whatever they the culture that [director] Ryan Coogler created is gave me to create and make from their model, I was okay with it because there was so much more. We were unique, I could combine elements of many African tribes – including the color red, the triangle shape, creating a universe. I was happy to receive four or five neck rings and beadwork – without worrying about characters kind of already in development, and they cultural appropriation. were open to what I could bring to those sketches.
what’sup After a much-needed vacation upon leaving the White House, BARACK and MICHELLE OBAMA have inked a multi-million-dollar book deal, and now they’re taking their talents to Netflix. The streaming giant announced it had reached a groundbreaking agreement with the Obamas to “produce a diverse mix of content, including the potential for scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features.” Additionally, the former president and first lady established Higher Ground Productions to produce content for the screen……..SPIKE LEE’s latest movie, “BlacKkKlansman,” debuted at the Cannes Film Festival recently to a standing
ovation, with attendees reportedly breaking into applause several times throughout the screening. The movie tells the true story of how a Black police detective infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan during the 1970s. Several critics have already hailed “BlacKkKlansman” as Lee’s best effort in years, highlighting its use of satire, humor and sobering racial tension to tell a story very much relevant in 2018. JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON – son of DENZEL WASHINGTON – stars as Ron Stallworth, the real-life detective who responded to an ad in a newspaper recruiting members of the KKK……..MICHAEL JACKSON is being honored in Motown. The King of Pop will have
a street name after him in downtown Detroit. Michael Jackson Avenue will be unveiled on June 15 during Detroit Music Weekend. His brothers JERMAINE, TITO, MARLON and JACKIE, will also be a big part of the festivities. There will be a Jackson 5 Tribute Concert and they will receive a key to the city……..The youngest of the legendary Jackson family, JANET JACKSON, was honored as the first Black woman to receive the Billboard Icon Award in Las Vegas, where she performed a trio of her songs, including “Nasty,” ‘’If” and “Throb.” Surrounded by dozens of dancers and wearing gold thigh-high boots, she showed off her dance skills.
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DEFENDER | MAY 24 | 2018
things grads should know
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By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
t’s graduation season and thousands o people are taking that leap from high college and college to the real world. they’re ready or not, life is about to That’s why the Defender is offering some advi grads should know.
Read more advice at www.DefenderNetwork.com
Community g The Defender asked readers to share advice they’d give to their younger selves upon graduation. Kimberly Tennile – “You’re going to make mistakes, so fail fantastically, forgive yourself and move forward. Failing is a key component of success.” Mary Benton – “Don’t be afraid. But if you’re afraid, do it anyway. Never make the mistake of taking the first offer.” Nina Wilson Jones – “Ignore your inner critic! You are young, beautiful and vibrant. But the ups and downs of your life will add wisdom, confidence and humor to you in direct proportion to the loss of your breast, waist and hip measurements.” Iris Smith – “Stay home! Don’t be in a hurry to move out!” Vonda Jones Dargin –“Take advantage of EVERY educational opportunity available! Seek and learn WHO you are becoming. Never listen to anybody telling you what you cannot do!” Trish Hill-Gougis – “Don’t rush life. Travel, explore, fo-
cus on life. Tr R (I finis Instead summ T trying you tru it at al J correc wealth N risks. H A gene ‘books
defendernetwork.com • Serving t
HIGH SCHOOL GRADS
of young h school to Whether o change. ice that all
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COLLEGE GRADS
Have a written plan. Recent high school grads are full of big dreams for the future. But if they’re not intentional about getting there, dreams will remain dreams. When a dream is written down, it becomes a goal. And achieving that goal requires a plan.
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Avoid debt. When it comes to student loans and credit cards, just say no if possible. It may seem normal to take out student loans or take up the credit card companies on their student offers but acquiring a mountain of debt will only hurt you in the long run. Pursue free money such as grants and scholarships.
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Make smart choices. One bad choice can alter the course of your life so make sure you choose wisely. Whether it’s a major (select something that will actually translate to a good job when you graduate) or social media (colleges and employers are watching and the Internet lives forever – even things you think are private) make sure your choices are smart. Making smart choices includes the people you hang out with. Businessman Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” So, choose your friends wisely. The best friends will hold you accountable and they’ll take their own college years seriously too.
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Forge your own path. Don’t be afraid to follow the path that makes YOU happy – not your parents, your family or your friends. And parents, let your child soar. “African-American parents especially are leery of letting our kids do things outside of the box,” said career coach Vanessa Gregory. “It’s not that they don’t support their children, but many of us were raised to ‘play it safe.’ Let your child forge their own path and if they fail, encourage them to pick themselves up, dust off and keep going,”
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Consider alternatives to traditional college. Is a four-year college or university out of the question? If so, there’s nothing wrong with going a non-traditional route, such as community college, trade school or the military. The first two options can get you an associate’s degree, a certificate or a license at a fraction of the cost of a bachelor’s degree. The military option can also help students afford school in several different ways, from partial tuition assistance to full coverage of all tuition and fees. There are lots of factors involved, but it might be worth checking out!
Take your online reputation seriously. The Internet is great, but it can also get you into trouble. Posting something questionable online can unravel your whole reputation in an instant. Avoid the urge to post stupid stuff on social media, including profanity, racial slurs or risqué or morbid photos.
Parents don’t always know best. Your parents are probably wonderful people who have your best interests in mind. In many cases, they’ve also got some great advice and insight to share. That being said, you can’t take their word as gospel. “Things have changed since your parents were in your shoes,” said Nick Murphy, founder and CEO of job search engine Mid-America Careers. “With rare exception, even the most well-meaning parents give absolutely horrific career advice.”
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Get ready to “unlearn.” The world is moving to an entrepreneurial and innovation- driven economy. It is projected that by 2020, over 1 billion people will be working from their homes. In the future of work, less people will work for one company as generalists and instead will work for multiple companies as specialists. The world doesn’t need obedient and compliant factory workers anymore. The world needs artists, creatives and innovators.
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Don’t pursue a shadow dream. If you dream of being a novelist, don’t settle for being an English professor. If you want to own a gym don’t become a gym teacher. “Shadow dreams” reflect your dream but are a far less risky version. This reflects a lack of belief that you can do it.
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Consider an “adulting” program. If you played around in school and now find yourself facing “adulting” with no idea of what to do, don’t fret. Programs are springing up to teach resilience and other skills to help young people transition into adulthood. Several colleges have launched programs after administrators noticed a spike in demand for counseling services. The programs focus on resilience, stress management and mindfulness. “Adulting” programs fill a void left behind as classes like home economics have been de-emphasized in recent years.
gives advice for grads
n your education and enjoy this season of your young adult rust your instincts.” Rossana Deadrick – “Take four years to finish college shed in two and a half years). Don’t go to summer school. d, find an interesting job-like working on a cruise ship or mer theater; enjoy the break.” Tennille Madden – “Don’t compromise your future to take the easy way out. Think long and hard about what uly want to do in life (career, family, etc.) and then go for ll.” Jeffrey J. Young – “Protect your credit rating. Use credit ctly. A high FICO score can be the difference between h and poverty.” Nicole Wade – “Live in the moment more. Take more Have more fun. Don’t be afraid to love and be loved. eration of women are single at 40 partly because of the s over boys’ mentality pushed to the extreme.”
he Houston area for over 85 years
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Karen Lanette – “Let your faith and dreams be bigger than your fear, trust yourself, ignore the naysayers, eliminate negative people and remember that everyone that starts a journey with you will not be there when you reach your destination.” Norma Warren – “Give yourself the same amount of time and respect you give others.” Nakecia Bowers – “Drinking water and exercising are important. Your metabolism will not remain the same. Sleeping is not lazy.” Wendy Coakley-Thompson – “Follow your passions, because you only live once. Youth is for making mistakes and learning from them.” Katrina Burton – “Don’t be afraid to take an untraveled path. There is victory in discovery and being the first.” Traci Washington – “Take more risks! Pursue your dreams and don’t let ‘expectations’ or ‘tradition’ shape your decisions.”
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DEFENDER | MAY 24 | 2018
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Oldest living man 112, resides in Texas Defender News Services
The nation’s oldest man lives on a street named after him in Austin, Texas. Richard Overton built his home on Richard Overton Avenue 72 years ago, when it was called Hamilton Avenue. Overton turned 112 on May 11. Born near Austin in 1906, Overton, who is also the oldest World War II veteran, served as a marksman in a segregated unit while stationed in Pearl Harbor and Okinawa. He served in the South Pacific from 1940 through 1945 with stops in Hawaii, Guam and Iwo Jima. Overton’s path to longevity isn’t what most doctors would recommend. He smokes a dozen cigars a day (smoking increases cancer risk). He enjoys whiskey and coke (alcohol is reported to cut life expectancy). And he
Richard Overton is the oldest living man in the U.S.
wakes up with multiple cups of coffee (California is adding cancer warnings to coffee). His favorite foods include catfish and gravy, corn, hamburgers and macaroni and cheese. He has four caregivers who switch between 12-hour shifts. His secret to longevity? “Just keep living, don’t die.” That’s what he told comedian Steve Harvey
over a decade ago. In 2017, a fundraising effort helped to provide Overton with in-home care and raised more than $200,000 through a GoFundMe. Home Depot, Meals on Wheels and Austin Energy also teamed up to renovate his home, fixing the wiring and plumbing, bringing it up to code, and adding heating and air conditioning. The Gerontology Research Group has verified that Overton is, indeed, the oldest living man in the United States. He’s younger, however, than the country’s six oldest women: Lessie Brown (113 years of Ohio), Clara Anderson (112 years of Alaska), Hester Ford (112 years of North Carolina), Iris Westman (112 years of North Dakota), Lucille Treccase (112 years of Pennsylvania) and J. Lillian
GET INTO A CAREER YOU’LL LOVE. NOT DEBT.
Classes begin August 27.
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Overton met former President Barack Obama on Veteran’s Day in 2013.
Stubbs (112 years of Virginia). Overton doesn’t worry about dying. “I didn’t know when I came here, and I don’t know when I’m going. That’s God’s work,” he said.
classifieds Invitation for Bids Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. is soliciting bids for subcontractors and vendors for construction of control no. 0500-04-106 on IH 45 at N of FM 517 to S of FM 1764 that bids on June 5, 2018. 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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MAY 24 | 2018 | DEFENDER
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JJ Watts pays for Santa Fe, TX funerals Defender News Services
To those who follow the NFL, the monstrous defensive powerhouse known as J.J. Watt needs no introduction. The Houston Texans star is one of the biggest names in the NFL. Even though he was born and raised in Wisconsin, he has stepped up time and time again to support his adoptive home of Houston. In short, he’s basically a kind of Captain America, if Captain America also played football. Watt recently made news when he offered to pay for the funerals of the eight students and two teachers who were killed in a shooting at Santa Fe High School. His latest offer of comfort Texans defensive end J.J. Watt also helped out after Hurricane Harvey. to the Santa Fe families has netted him widespread support from several major injuries, including a groin tear, a hernifellow celebrities and athletes and echoes a sentiment he tweeted out just days before ated disk and a leg fracture that have kept him off the field for prolonged periods of time. Nonetheless, his the shooting. injuries didn’t stop him from using his wealth and “If you have the power to make someone happy, influence to pursue some serious do-goodery. do it,” he wrote. “The world needs more of that.” After Hurricane Harvey devastated areas around Watt signed with the Texans in the first round of Houston and the rest of the Gulf Coast in August 2017, the 2011 draft. In the last few years, he has suffered T:9.75” Watt embarked on what would be his most career-
defining charitable effort to date. Through a YouCaring campaign and plenty of social media attention and help from some famous friends, Watt raised more than $37 million for victims of the floods and damage Harvey left behind. Because of his fundraising, he was awarded the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which is given to honor the charity and volunteer efforts of NFL players. Watt’s offer to the Santa Fe shooting victims’ families isn’t the first time he has reached out after such a tragedy. After the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, Watt invited some of the children from Sandy Hook Elementary to meet him and participate in a day of football and much-needed fun at the Texans’ stadium. In addition to his support in times of tragedy, he is also the founder of the J.J. Watt Foundation, which funds afterschool athletics programs and organizations. It should be noted that while Watt is an extraordinary force for good in the NFL and in the Houston community, he is far from the only athlete who donates their time, talent and fortune to others.
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DEFENDER | MAY 24 | 2018
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Texas Southern University won the SWAC baseball title again, defeating Grambling 18-3 in New Orleans.
TSU wins back-to-back SWAC baseball crowns was a minor goal and you could say we’ve accomplished that, but the major goal is yet to come.” Robertson has excelled throughout his career as a coach who could give life to dead programs, from Forrest Brook High School to Prairie View A&M University to TSU. It’s taken longer that initially planned, but in his 10th season the
at TSU.,” he said. “The situation here at TSU was probably one of the most difficult situations in all of Division I. The fact that you don’t have your own facility is the biggest chalThe Texas Southern University Tiger baseball team lenge. Not having your own ballpark is a huge hurdle.” flexed their muscles at the SWAC baseball championship Robertson and the Tigers have achieved historic success tournament in New Orleans. When the dust settled coach at TSU despite obstacles. They’ve appeared in four consecuMichael Robertson’s Tigers had won their second tive SWAC championship games, winning three consecutive conference championship and their third of the four titles. in four years. “That’s something that doesn’t happen very The Tigers were a perfect 4-0 in the tournaoften in today’s times in the SWAC. There have ment. They opened the tourney with a convincing only been two programs that have done it in the 10-3 smackdown of Alcorn State. They followed last 20 years. We did it at Prairie View from 2005with an 8-4 beatdown of Jackson State. Their big08 and here at TSU from 2015-18. gest challenge was in the semi-final game, a rematch “It’s an accomplishment in itself to play in against Jackson State. They survived a nail biter four straight because it speaks to the consistency winning 10-9. that we’ve had in our program and the system we TSU made quick work of Grambling in the have in place. I’ve been fortunate to have good championship game winning 18-3. A nine-run third relationships, good assistant coaches and the right inning gave TSU all they needed to be crowned king players in the program that fit the system.” for a second consecutive year. Christian Sanchez Next up for the Tigers is the NCAA Regional went 2-for-4 with five RBI, while O.J. OloruntimiTournament. The Tigers receive an automatic bid lehin drove in four runs as part of a 2-for-6 day for for winning their conference title but will have to Texas Southern (27-26). Aron Solis struck out six wait a week before they know their opponent and batters over five innings to pick up his second vicwhere they’re headed. tory of the tournament, improving his overall season “It’s very difficult because you know going Coach Michael Robertson (centers) said players are “battle-tested” as they go to the record to 10-3. in you’re going to play a No. 1 seed that’s probNCAA regional tournament. Oloruntimilehin was named the tournament ably in the top 15 nationally,” Robertson said. “The MVP. In addition, TSU’s Christian Sanchez, Gaudkey for us is we’re battle-tested. We play a very encia Lucca and Kamren Dukes were named to the AllTigers are the cream of the crop in SWAC baseball. tough schedule, probably the toughest in the conference. Tournament Team. “We had situations at Forest Brook that were adverse, “Our RPI (rating percentage index) speaks for itself. Our For TSU’s Robertson, the SWAC crown is the accombut we were able to get that program turned around,” Robschedule is really top-heavy. We played Missouri State twice plishment of a small goal, but bigger goals have yet to be ertson said. “It was pretty much the same at Prairie View. We (preseason top 25), Mississippi State, Texas, Baylor, Kansas met. didn’t have a lot to work with and they were the worst team and Oklahoma. We play this type of schedule to prepare our “When they brought me to Texas Southern the goal was in the country before we got it turned around in year number kids for May.” to win in the regional. They figure we could win the SWAC,” two.” Robertson reiterated that, “Our big goal is to win at Robertson recalled. “Charles [McClelland, AD] figured that “It actually took me six years to get things turned around regionals.” Best wishes to the Tigers with their quest. By MAX EDISON Defender
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h.s.zone Clear Springs advances to playoffs with heavy heart was able to maximize three total hits thanks to the aid of 14 walks and four hit batsmen by Kingwood pitchers. A baseball game was played as scheduled. “In the playoffs it really doesn’t matter how Another was postponed until the next day. The lives you score,” Floyd said. “You just want to score of the players on two of those teams will be forever any way you can, grind out at-bats and have intertwined. more in the runs column when the game is over.” Clear Springs took the field at the University of Back-to-back triples by Dylan Byrd and Houston for game two of Trey Luper helped the its best-of-three Class 6A Chargers build a 5-1 regional quarterfinal series advantage in the fifth against state-ranked Kinginning and a sixth run wood with a heavy heart for scored on a wild pitch. their friends at Santa Fe High Kingwood was School. able to climb back into Earlier in the day, the contest and forge 10 lives were lost and 13 a 6-6 tie that sent the others wounded when a game into extra innings student went on a shootbehind a solo home run ing rampage on the Santa from Mason Winn, a Fe campus. Two Santa bases-loaded double Fe baseball players were by Austin Flematti and among the wounded. a three-hit game from Game two of the sophomore shortstop Region III-5A quarterfiTre Richardson. nal series between KingIn the eighth inwood Park and Santa Fe ning Clear Springs put at Deer Park High School the final two markers was postponed due to the on the scoreboard and tragedy. won the game (8-6) on A group of Santa Fe four walks, a hit batter residents, including sevand an infield single. eral members of the base“The triples were ball team, made the trek probably the difference to UH to cheer for their in the game because it friends at Clear Springs. put us up by five runs “First and foremost, and we needed every Members of the Clear Springs baseball team remembered students at Santa Fe High School, where tragedy struck. our thoughts and prayers one of them,” Floyd go out to the folks in San- (Photo by Ray Carrington III) said. ta Fe,” said Clear Springs Clear Springs head coach Chris Floyd. “I advances to the regional didn’t know how we were semifinals by virtue of the going to play today.” Find out what’s happening 2-1 and 8-6 sweep and will “Our kids play with encounter another statein girls’ high school softball. Santa Fe team members all ranked team in Cy-Fair. summer so…they are a part Already trailing 1-0 in of us and we are a part of them. its playoff series, Santa Fe’s season ended the “Knowing they would be playing for somefollowing day when a standing-room-only crowd thing bigger than themselves, I knew there would in Deer Park witnessed Kingwood Park’s 7-0 be a peace over our kids,” Floyd said. victory. Prior to the game there was a moment of “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that we’re silence, the flags were flown at half-mast and the advancing but it’s just a baseball game,” Floyd Clear Springs baseball players released balloons said. “I’m so proud of our kids for being rein the Santa Fe school colors (yellow and green). silient, playing hard and learning from life’s When the game commenced, Clear Springs lessons.” By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
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MAY 24 | 2018 | DEFENDER
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sportsbriefs TSU golfer represents Texas Southern University golfer Amber Kuykendall placed third at the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship. Kuykendall’s three-day total was 243. The competition is the most culturally significant championship in collegiate golf. The tournament is a 54hole, stroke-play championship contested in four-team divisions: NCAA Men’s Division I, Men’s Division II, Men’s NAIA and an overall Women’s Division. In addition, there is an individual division for minority men and women who are listed on the roster of their college team or are part of the PGA of America’s PGA Golf Management University programs.
Serena returns to Open Tennis queen Serena Williams returns to post-maternity Grand Slam play this season at the French Open. There’s one caveat: she won’t be given a seed. This would be Williams’ first major since giving birth to her daughter in December. When Williams left the tour for maternity leave she was ranked No. 1. She currently is ranked 453rd in the world. A three-time French champion, Williams can enter under the WTA’s protected or “special’’ ranking rule. It’s up to Grand Slam organizers to give her a seed. Playing without a seeding, the 23-time Grand Slam champion risks facing highly-ranked players in the early rounds. WTA officials have considered a rule change to add protected seeding for highly-ranked players returning from maternity leave, but the earliest that could take effect is next year.
Yates hurdler wins gold Yates hurdler Ally Henson overcame her fear of falling and won the gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2018 University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school state track and field meet. The event was held at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin and Henson crossed the finish line in 14.00 seconds. Henson’s time would have been a Class 4A state record if not for the wind reading of 2.1 meters per second. Anything 2.0 meters per second and below is allowed. Henson also finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 45.69 seconds. “After I fell, I had to basically start over again,” she said. “My times started dropping instead of going up and I’m almost back to 13 seconds.”
Pitcher fires no-hitter Senior right-hander Jenika Lombrana fired a five-inning no-hitter in Atascocita’s 14-0 victory over Bellaire to open a best-of-three Region III-6A semifinal series against Bellaire at the Butler Sports Complex. Over a span of 68 pitches Lombrana struck out six and walked one with another reaching by an error. She coaxed eight ground-ball outs while being the beneficiary of an Eagles offense that exploded for 17 hits and two innings of five or more runs. “When you no-hit a team this deep into the playoffs, you’re doing something right,” said Atascocita head coach Ashley Boyd. “She didn’t have her real good velocity this game but she did a great job of adjusting to the field conditions.” Atascocita won the second game 2-1 to advance to the regional finals.
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DEFENDER | MAY 24 | 2018
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
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RACE + JUSTICE CONFERENCE……..The Atlantic and John D. and served 5,552 Black women, of which 733 were sponsored and 62 diagnosed Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation sponsored Race + Justice Houston, a with breast cancer. Kim Roxie, owner of LAMIK Beauty, spearheaded the gathering of community leaders and elected officials for a conversation on event that featured guest speaker Dr. Raphael X. Moffett, Texas Southern the state of justice in Houston. The Atlantic chose Houston as the site of this University’s VP of Student Services. Attendees included John Guess Jr., year’s conversation because of its diversity and because Texas is a microcosm Chris Noble, Aisha Moffett, Ashley Small, Chardae Evans, Melanie of national criminal justice trends. Participants included Margaret Low Jackson, Janice Workcuff, Shamaree Hall, BriAnna Gant, Thelma Scott, (president, Atlantic Live), Laurie Garduque (MacArthur Foundation), Alycia Pastor Matthew Davis and more……..SMART’N UP BLACK MALE Miles, Brandi Holmes, Stevens Orozco, State Sen. Sylvia SUMMIT 2018……..Activist Deric Muhammad Garcia, Sharon Watkins Jones (ACLU Texas), Houston Defender TOP EVENTS led the Smart’N Up Black Male Summit 2018 at the D.A. Kim Ogg, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Noel Pinnock, Shrine Cultural and Events Center, an event filled with More photos on defendernetwork.com Ana Yanez-Correa, Juno Okoro and many more…….. motivational presentations, high-energy workshops CELEBRATING BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS…….. and positive interactions designed to address inner-city The Rose, a local health organization that provides high quality breast violence and the importance of education. The Summit also featured a celebrity appearance by rapper Zro. Attendees of the standing-room-only Summit healthcare to all women regardless of their ability to pay, recently brought leaders across Houston together at the HMAAC for “I Will Survive Breast included Pastor E.A. Deckard, Damon Williams, Daylen Williams, Kaleb Cancer,” an evening of awareness and support. Nationally, Black women are Taylor, State Rep. Ron Reynolds, Booker McKenstry, Kameron Williams, Jakari Evans, Jarod Mosley, Nailah Nelson, Chris Whaley, Esmesha 45 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than Caucasian women. In Campbell and others. Houston that rate is even higher, spiking to 60 percent. Last year, The Rose
Noel Pinnock, Sharon Watkins Jones, Elvin Quioto
Ashley Small, Kim Roxie, Melanie Jackson
Nailah Nelson, Deric Muhammad
Alycia Miles, Leah Ganabedian
Chardae Evans, Juli McShay
Kameron Williams, Jakari Evans, Jarod Mosley
Brandi Holmes, Steven Orozco
Crystal Wiggins, Pastor Matthew Davis, Dawn Rudison
Alvin Byrd, Damon Williams
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