To the POINT DN
Message from the Managing Editor
What’s really going on with Houston kids?
I’ve been thinking about this Texas Children’s Hospital report since the numbers dropped. In one month, April alone, 647 kids came to the ER for behavioral health issues like depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Tat’s 200 more than usual. Tat’s not just alarming—it’s heartbreaking.
Mental health professionals say this isn’t new. It started before COVID and has only gotten worse with the state of the world.
Political unrest. Family tension. Social media. Academic pressure.
Our kids are carrying the weight of a world they didn’t ask to inherit. Te data from HISD is even more sobering: 14% of students said they attempted suicide in the last year. Tat’s above the national average.
And while there was a brief surge in funding for school mental health services during the pandemic, much of that support is gone now. What are we telling our children? Teir healing has an expiration date?
As parents, educators and community members, we have to stop saying “Kids are so emotional these days” and start asking why they feel so unsafe inside their own minds. Know the signs. Ask the questions. Get the help. Normalize the conversation.
And to the policymakers who are pulling funding from schools, libraries and student support, this is what your negligence costs.
Target FAFO’d—and the Culture is done whispering
Well, well, well. Look who messed around and found out. Target just reported a 2.8% drop in sales and missed Wall Street’s forecast by hundreds of millions—yes, Black
customers are part of the reason. Afer rolling back their DEI commitments earlier this year, longtime loyalists stopped showing up. And let’s be honest: Target spent years courting Black consumers—Juneteenth of, Black History Month collections, shelf space for Black authors and small businesses. We showed up for them. Tey folded under pressure the moment it got inconvenient. Now they’re shocked that we noticed? Please. Support is a two-way street—and if Target can’t support us in boardrooms, don’t expect us to support them at checkout.
Nottoway burned down. Where them fans at?
Since May 15, Black folks have been joyfully sharing the news that Nottoway Plantation, the largest antebellum plantation in the South, burned to the ground. And I’ll be the one to say it plainly: We’re not mourning the loss.
Tis plantation-turned-luxury resort erased its past from its brochures. No mention of the enslaved people who built it. No sign of the blood, terror, and exploitation it profted from. Just curated white columns and manicured lawns for weddings and weekend getaways.
Let me say this loud for those in the back: you can’t glamorize genocide and call it hospitality.
Te ashes of Nottoway are a reminder that history has weight, and it won’t be prettied up for tourism forever. What’s gone up in fames is more than wood and brick—it’s the fantasy we would ever forget the pain of our past.
ON THE WEB
• Willie Davis brings City Council to the people.
• Netfix introduces cast to new ‘A Diferent World Spin of”: Are we ready?
• Defender Book Corner: 10 children’s books celebrating Black joy, history and Identity.
A fire destroyed the largest antebellum plantation in the South, bringing Black social media to life! Credit: IG@NikkiFree
ReShonda Tate
News DN George Floyd movement to target economic justice
By Aswad Walker
Commemorations
and conversations have been had surrounding the progress or lack thereof regarding commitments made in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the global protests that followed.
Tis past weekend, members of Floyd’s family convened with National Action Network founder Reverend Al Sharpton, Attorney Ben Crump and various community members to not only share remembrances of Floyd and the years since his death, but share plans for a way forward.
Te plan is to focus on economic equity.
Aug 28 March
Sharpton spoke on the history of this nation’s DEI policies.
“I want to remind you again that DEI started with corporations. Tey came up with DEI and said what they were doing it in the name of George Floyd,” said Sharpton. “Now they’re backing up from what they created… Now they are going to take back what was never given. Now, you are going to do justice.”
And by justice, Sharpton was referring to economic justice.
“If you don’t want diversity in the boardroom and your contracts, then you don’t
need diversity in your consumer base,” said Sharpton. “Tat’s why we’re marching on Wall Street on August 28, for economic justice.
Crump agreed.
“Economic justice impacts our children’s education,” said Crump. “It impacts our children’s access to health, our parents’ access to health.
“It impacts our ability to give generational wealth to our children. Tis is a continuation
of the George Floyd movement. So, if you stood up for justice for George Floyd fve years ago, we need you to recommit and stand up for justice with us in 2025 and come to the march on Wall Street.”
Response to end of consent decrees
Another topic of the memorial gathering was the recent Department of Justice decision to end the consent decrees that held
Minneapolis and Louisville legally accountable for ending their cities’ police departments’ histories of abuse against their citizens.
To that issue, Sharpton reminded attendees that Montgomery Bus Boycott participants (1955) fought for nine years to get the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed.
“And we, fve years later, will not give up. Tey can cancel consent decrees, but they can’t stop us from implementing them. Te mayor of Minneapolis said they are going to abide by it anyway. We’re going to keep the pressure on in George’s name.”
The struggle continues
Though focusing on the future, many individuals present at the memorial could not help but take time to refect on the years since 2020.
“We walked this earth doing everything we were supposed to do,” said George’s brother Philonise Floyd. “We marched. We did everything we could to fght for George. Not just George. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Stephon Clark.
“People did a lot. You had Pamela Turner down in Baytown. People who lost their kids. And we are still here doing the same thing over and over and over again. But we can never give up.”
George Floyd mural demolished in Third Ward
By ReShonda Tate
On the corner of Elgin and Ennis streets in Tird Ward, where bricks once bore the bold, aching faces of George Floyd, Sandra Bland and Breonna Taylor, now stands a pile of dust and silence.
For nearly five years, a vibrant mural stretched across the wall of a long-abandoned laundromat — a sacred street monument in honor of Floyd, a Third Ward native whose murder in 2020 ignited a global movement. Tat mural — and the building that held it — was recently quietly demolished.
“I’m more homeless now than I was before,” said a man who calls himself Bobby, sitting quietly among the debris. Bobby, who had been living inside the crumbling structure, watched both his shelter and a powerful symbol of community grief and resilience reduced to rubble. “I had all my things in there,” he said. “Tey gave me like a week’s warning, but I didn’t think they were serious.”
Bobby, who once worked at the laundromat before it closed over a decade ago, declined to give his last name due to his housing insecurity and history of squatting. His makeshif home, he says, held not only
his belongings but also a link to a man he admired. “Tey did such a fantastic job with that mural,” he said. “Now it’s gone.”
Te mural, painted shortly afer Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020, became a landmark — not just for Floyd’s legacy but as a canvas of collective sorrow and protest. Alongside Floyd were tributes to Breonna Taylor, killed in her Kentucky apartment by police, and Sandra Bland, who died in custody in Waller County. It was art born of outrage and remembrance.
Its demolition came just days before the ffh anniversary of Floyd’s death.
Dr. Raúl Ramos, a University of Houston history professor, called the destruction “tragic.”
“I think that it’s about an organic expression of grief and community,” Ramos told Houston Matters. “Te mural had provided that kind of anchor. You don’t have to preserve the whole building — you can preserve a wall.”
Te land was privately owned, and the property’s latest sale dates back to January 2020. Attempts to reach the current owner for comment were unsuccessful.
Philonise Floyd (center), flanked by family members and Rev. Al Sharpton and Attorney Ben Crump, speaks during the recent memorial honoring the memory of his brother, George Floyd, who was murdered on May 25, 2020. Credit: Aswad Walker.
A man salutes at a mural dedicated to George Floyd, across the street from the Cuney Homes housing project in Houston’s Third Ward, where Floyd grew up and later mentored young men, on June 10, 2020 in Houston, Texas.
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
TEXAS STATE LEADERS SERIES
Charles Cunningham
Files bills on education, safety, flood relief in state house
By Tannistha Sinha
State Rep. Charles Cunningham’s path to the Texas Legislature did not begin with politics, it began with his seat on a homeowners’ association board.
It launched decades of public service — 12 years of volunteering in the local school district, 12 more on the school board, including a term as board president and a four-year-long stint on the Humble City Council. Tat grassroots experience, he says, grounds his work at the Capitol as a Republican representative serving House District 127.
Prior to his 2022 election to the Texas legislature, the pro-life representative graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University with a Bachelor of Science and Arts degree, served in the United States Army and worked for CenterPoint Energy as a Distribution Account Consultant.
In his first term representing House District 127, which includes parts of northeast Harris County, he has filed more than 40 bills during this legislative session.
Cunningham anticipates most of his bills to fail despite being in a Republican-majority House.
Education
“Education is the key,” Cunningham told the Defender. “Tat was one of the reasons I got involved with the school board [Humble ISD]...there’s no perfect system. We’re trying to educate and provide opportunities for parents because each child is diferent.”
grant program for public schools and service centers to cater to students with autism) and HB 3096 (designating March 17 as Profound Autism Awareness Day) — are among his proudest eforts. Tey focus on an issue that hits home as one of his grandchildren is on the autism spectrum and he has seen frsthand the barriers families face when seeking services.
“Special needs is really tough here in Texas, with trying to serve that population,” Cunningham stated. “A parent should have the right to provide the best education for their child, be it public, private, homeschool and charter schools.”
A staunch supporter of education savings accounts, commonly known as school vouchers, Cunning
signed into law.
“Call it whatever you want to call it: school vouchers, ESAs, or whatever. The big fight now is that we’re trying to give parents an opportunity at the K-12 level,” Cunningham said. “The fight is not against the parents. Parents are being misinformed.”
Public safety
Cunningham’s focus on public safety stems from a harrowing personal experience. In December 2021, a truck crashed into his home at 4 a.m.
“I didn’t know if someone was breaking in,” he recalled. Later, he learned the suspects had been released on a bond.
Te incident fueled HB 1167, which proposes stricter bail conditions for felony defendants and repeat offenders and limits eligibility for release. Te bill has not advanced, but Cunningham says parts of it were incorporated
into a Senate bill led by Sen. Joan Hufman.
Housing
Successful in moving bills like HB 3753, which deals with the allocation of low-income housing tax credits with school quality metrics, Cunningham and his co-authors aim to help both housing developers and low-income seniors and teachers.
He is also hopeful about HB 1532, which would create a dredging and maintenance district for Lake Houston. The measure
addresses sediment buildup that contributes to fooding, a major concern for his constituents.
“The beauty about it is that the lake is an asset to the city of Houston,” he said. “It’s a gold mine. Te sand can be sold to contractors for housing development and construction. Te city of Houston can have a revenue stream.”
As the 89th Legislature nears its end, Cunningham says the most pressing issues for his district remain consistent: food mitigation, a stable electric grid and public safety.
Despite being in a Republican-majority House, State Rep. Charles Cunningham (right) faced challenges to passing his bills. Credit: State Rep. Charles Cunningham’s office
Trump HBCU executive order
What does it say?
By Tannistha Sinha
President Donald Trump has issued a fresh executive order to “elevate the value and impact of our nation’s HBCUs as beacons of educational excellence and economic opportunity that serve as some of the best cultivators of tomorrow’s leaders in business, government, academia and the military.”
While some hail it as a welcoming move amidst Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) rollbacks in public universities, others called it a “public relations stunt.”
Trump’s new order reestablishes a White House Initiative and advisory board focused on supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Te order emphasizes private-sector partnerships, institutional development and student success.
Te group will give Trump guidance. It will be led by a president-appointed executive director and an advisory board composed of people from philanthropy, education, business, and current HBCU presidents.
Te initiative revokes former President Joe Biden’s 2021 executive order, which aimed to advance educational equity and economic opportunity through HBCUs. Trump’s directive also echoes elements of former President Barack Obama’s 2010 executive order, which created similar funding eforts, a board of advisors and hosted HBCU summits on Black college campuses instead of the White House.
How the order was received
“It [the executive order] is about optics— positioning himself as an ally to Black colleges while openly gutting DEI programs,” said Keith Major Sr., a United States Air Force Contract Specialist. “Let’s not get fooled by the theatrics. Trump’s E.O. [executive order] is window dressing—photo ops with HBCU presidents, not a policy revolution. Trump’s E.O. is about one thing: saying “Look what I did for the Blacks.
“Tis HBCU play is smoke and mirrors—
designed to sofen criticism, not strengthen Black institutions. So the next time someone says ‘Trump did more for HBCUs,’ ask them to show you the receipts. Symbolism without strategy is not progress. Black America deserves more than soundbites and slogans.”
Dr. Alveda King, a former Republican State Representative for the 28th District in the Georgia House of Representatives and niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., extended her support for the order.
“President Trump’s executive order benefts HBCUs,” King said. “Tis new order delivers service without duty to special interest groups, actually with a focus on opportunities for everyone. Rather than the former separation tendencies of DEI and other policies, there is hope for a bright future.”
Some took to social media to point out that after announcing the initiative, the Trump administration proposed not renewing a $64 million payment to Howard University, an HBCU, citing that the money, which was paid to build the Howard University Hospital, is complete.
Howard, however, welcomed the move.
“For nearly two centuries, Howard and the collective of HBCUs have cultivated talent, unlocked opportunity, and contributed mightily to every sector of American life,” the school said in a statement. “Tis executive order afrms the vital and visionary necessity of our work.”
The bottom line
While executive orders are not legislation, they are instrumental in shaping federal agency policies and signaling political direction.
For HBCU leaders, students and alumni, the order ofers both opportunity and scrutiny. How efectively it’s implemented and how much federal and private sector support it truly unlocks will determine whether this is a symbolic gesture or a transformative plan for the future of Black higher education in America.
Responses to the move are split, with supporters praising it and critics warning of hollow symbolism. Credit: AP
President Donald Trump’s executive order outlines a renewed federal focus on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Credit: AP
InFocus
Q. Who qualifies for the Best of Black Houston nomination?
A. Only Black-owned and operated businesses are eligible for nomination.
Q. Is there a fee to participate in Best of Black Houston?
A. No, there is no fee to nominate a business or to vote. To maximize your exposure, you can purchase free and paid promotional packages.
Q. What is the timeline of the Best of Black Houston?
A. The timeline is a follows:
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Best of Black Houston nominations kick-off.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Best of Black Houston nominations close at 11:59 p.m.
Initiates a Celebration of Excellence
By Von Jiles
For over nine decades, the
has stood as a cornerstone of the city’s Black community, amplifying voices, sharing stories and fostering connection. As the Defender approaches its 95th anniversary, it proudly announces a significant evolution in its celebratory tradition: launching the “Best of Black Houston” campaign. This dynamic initiative expands the Defender’s long-standing commitment to the community by creating a platform to honor and showcase the exceptional individuals, thriving businesses and vibrant culture that define Black Houston.
Rather than a traditional anniversary event, the “Best of Black Houston” will be a comprehensive campaign encompassing nominations, community voting and ultimately, recognition of the best across various categories. This exciting endeavor aims to foster community pride, increase visibility for Black achievements, encourage widespread support for Black-owned enterprises and serve as an inspiring resource for the entire city. Houstonians can nominate
Houston” boosts visibility and credibility. It’s free advertising that reaches a targeted audience. Votes translate to trust and customer interest. Promoting your nomination amplifies your brand, potentially increasing sales and community recognition. In short, it’s a powerful tool for growth.
Q. What promotional tools are available for nominees to make their campaign successful once the voting phase begins?
their favorites – from pioneering entrepreneurs and influential community leaders to outstanding artists and beloved restaurants. The power will then shift to the community to cast their votes, ensuring that the “Best of Black Houston” truly reflects the people’s choice.
The campaign will culminate in a celebration honoring the winners, providing a platform to amplify their successes and inspire future generations. Beyond the accolades, the “Best of Black Houston” promises to be a valuable resource, connecting the community with exceptional Black-owned businesses and highlighting Houston’s rich tapestry of talent.
“For 95 years, the Defender has been a champion for our community,” states Clyde Jiles, COO of the Houston Defender Network.
“The ‘Best of Black Houston’ campaign is a natural progression of our mission. It’s about more than just looking back at our history; it’s about actively celebrating the incredible dynamism and achievements within Black Houston. We believe this initiative will recognize excellence and serve as a catalyst for
further growth and collaboration.”
Sonny Messiah Jiles, CEO of the Houston Defender Network, echoes this sentiment. “This campaign is a testament to the strength, resilience, and innovation within our community,” she affirms. “By shifting our anniversary focus to the ‘Best of Black Houston,’ we create a powerful platform to elevate Black voices, businesses, and culture. This is an investment in our future, a celebration of our present and a tribute to the enduring spirit of Black Houston.”
With the kick-off date set for Juneteenth – June 19, 2025 this initiative promises to be a landmark celebration, uniting the community to honor the best of Black Houston. The Houston community will be asked to nominate and vote for individuals, businesses and organizations in 12 categories: Art & Culture, Business & Professional Services, Church, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, General Services, Health | Medical Professionals, Home & Garde, Lifestyle & Beauty, Sports, Shopping, and Vehicle & Services. Stay tuned for more information about the over 100 sub-categories, including: Best Teacher, Best Lawyer, Best Gumbo, Best Barber, to name a few.
Thursday, June 19, 2025 Best of Black Houston nominations kick-off.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Best of Black
A. The Defender offers free promotional materials, as listed below, but the paid opportunities are customized and cost-effective, giving you more visibility to attract votes.
A. Voting is conducted online through our secure platform.
Q. What happens after the nomination period?
A. Our team verifies all submissions after nominations close on July 31, 2025 to ensure they meet eligibility requirements. There must be three nominees in each sub-category to move to the public voting phase beginning August 25, 2025
Q. How is the voting process conducted?
During the voting period, people can vote once daily in as many categories as they want. We have security measures to prevent fraudulent voting.
Q. What do winners receive?
A. When the voting phase closes, three finalists will be determined. Each finalist will receive an invitation to the Awards Reception and an opportunity to purchase five tickets for guests. The winner in each category will receive the official ‘Best of Black Houston 2025’ digital badge and certificate. The three finalists will be recognized in the Houston Defender print and digital editions, plus secure a listing in the Defender Online Business Directory. Those who paid for the Directory in the promotional package will be credited with a two years listing. Q. How can I attend the Awards Reception?
A. Only winners and finalists will be invited to purchase tickets for the Awards reception after the voting phase ends.
Houston Defender Network
JUNE 19TH LAUNCH
Leads game-changing violence prevention Deric Muhammad
By Aswad Walker
While youth-focused empowerment programs are experiencing funding cuts at both the federal and state levels, longtime Houston activist Deric Muhammad has secured grant funding to engage in much-needed violence prevention work.
If his pilot program, Community Violence Intervention Initiative (CVII), is successful, it could be a game-changer for Houston and cities across the country.
Program aims
“Our program aims to reduce crime by 10% in fve zip codes,” said Muhammad, about the initiative.
Te zip codes that CVII is responsible for are in Acres Homes (77088 and 77091), Greenspoint (77060), Homestead (77016) and Trinity Gardens (77026) – areas the stats say are high-crime areas.
Is It Worth It campaign
A huge part of the initiative is the Is It Worth It? campaign.
“Now, Is It Worth It? is the positive program that we want to program our young people with on the streets,” said Muhammad, who was speaking recently to a crowd at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center (6719 W. Montgomery Rd., Houston 77091) where he officially announced the program’s launch. “Tat means if somebody ofends you and you have it in your mind to want to take a life, we want you to ask the question, ‘Is it worth it?’”
Muhammad and his team of trained confict resolution specialists believe that if enough ‘Is it Worth It?’ seeds are planted,
a growing number of young people will think through potentially violent impulses before they make a fateful decision that not only destroys their life, but also negatively impacts entire communities.
Te overall objective of CVII’s eforts is to “stop the violence in H Town.”
All hands on deck
Muhammad and CVII seek to draf all members of the community on the team to serve as a defense against violence, by getting on the ofensive to drive home the Is It Worth It? message by any means necessary.
One form of action involves residents planting the Is It Worth It? yard signs in yards throughout the fve zip codes and beyond.
“Just by placing the sign in your yard, you will be making a strong statement, a bold statement in your neighborhood. Tis is one of those projects that is not going to work unless we work it,” said Muhammad.
Another action is getting initiative supporters to wear the Is It Worth It? t-shirts. Both the yard signs and the t-shirts have a CVII QR code that takes people to the website for more resources and information, and provides people with the critical CVII phone number (help line), that Muhammad described as the “Hodd 911” (713-807-9121).
Hood 911
Te nuts and bolts of CVII’s eforts are the team of well-trained confict resolution specialists the organization sends out when someone calls the hotline afer recognizing someone they know is on the verge of making a life-altering decision.
“These are brothers who are
trained in settling beefs before the beef turns into bloodshed,” said Muhammad.
If the potential violent beef is between two gangs, CVII will deploy these specialists to both sides. When cooler heads prevail, CVII will facilitate a meeting between the two sides at one of its Confict Resolution Centers.
Te frst center announced will be located in the Acres Homes Chamber of Commerce (6112 Wheatley St., Houston 77091).
“If we could get the leaders of opposite sides of these gangs to calm down, come together and we talk some sense into them, then we have prevented a funeral,” added Muhammad.
Te focus, however, is not only on having conversations with young people about what they shouldn’t do but also on engaging with them about actions they should take, like investing in their talents and passions.
“Standing on the corner is a master architect, but nobody has given him a platform to be able to build his skill to become the great man that he was born to be. We want to do that,” Muhammad said.
Urgency
Muhammad’s team of confict resolution specialists, including Reginald OG-1 Gordon, hammered home the sense of urgency needed to make the CVII initiative successful by making targeted Houston neighborhoods safer.
“Community, we’re going to have to take it up a notch,” said Gordon, who has been doing violence prevention work for 42 years. “If we’re going to save our children, we can’t show up to meetings and go home and do nothing or say nothing, or don’t support the people that tell you we’re on the ground doing the work.” For more information, call 713-807-9121.
JOSE GRIÑÁN Remembering Obits
By ReShonda Tate
Jose Griñán, the trusted face and commanding voice of Houston television news for more than three decades, has died. Te longtime FOX 26 morning anchor and veteran journalist passed away peacefully surrounded by family. He was 70 years old.
Griñán, whose warm presence and deep commitment to community journalism made him a household name across Houston, retired from television in 2021 afer 30 years at KRIV-TV (Fox 26). He leaves behind a powerful legacy of mentorship, integrity and trailblazing representation as one of the few AfroLatino men anchoring major-market news during his time.
A career of firsts
Born in Tampa, Florida, to CubanAmerican parents, Griñán began his career in broadcast journalism after serving in the U.S. Army as a combat correspondent. He brought that discipline and curiosity to the newsroom, working at stations across the country, including Miami, New York, and Los Angeles, before settling in Houston in 1993.
At Fox 26, Griñán quickly became a fxture of the morning news, anchoring with clarity, warmth and occasional humor that endeared him to generations of viewers. Whether reporting breaking news or highlighting community stories, Griñán brought a deep sense of care to every segment. He was known not just for what he reported — but for how he reported it: with compassion, cultural understanding and professionalism.
Funeral services are pending for Griñán
Deric Muhammad shows the ‘Is It Worth It / Stop the Violence’ yard sign. Credit: Aswad Walker.
There’s a new initiative in Houston led by activist Deric Muhammad to reduce violence in some of Houston’s most crime-ridden neighborhoods. Credit: Aswad Walker.
Jose Griñán. Courtesy Fox 26 KRIV-TV.
Veteran Fox 26 News Anchor dies at 70
Brings Eldorado Ballroom series home to Houston SOLANGE KNOWLES
By Laura Onyeneho
The Eldorado Ballroom is bringing a groundbreaking series of performances curated by Houston native and Grammy Award-winning artist Solange Knowles.
Brought to life through a partnership between Performing Arts Houston and Solange’s creative collective, Saint Heron, the revival of this historic venue is more than a musical homecoming; it’s a cultural reawakening.
The project is a celebration of Black creativity that was first conceptualized before the COVID-19 pandemic, when Performing Arts Houston approached Solange about presenting her concert production Witness.
But the vision evolved. During the pandemic, Solange instead launched an Eldorado Ballroom-inspired series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and later in Los Angeles. Now, she brings that vision full circle, grounding it in the community that shaped her.
“The Eldorado Ballroom has given so much, not only to Houstonians and the Third Ward but to the country’s cultural fabric,” said Performing Arts Houston President and CEO Meg Booth. “It was a place where you could celebrate milestones, get your suit tailored and hear Miles Davis or Ella Fitzgerald. It offered access to excellence in Black art, and Solange credits the space as the spark that ignited her artistic journey.”
The June performance series showcases the ballroom’s musical tradition and expands its legacy through curated evenings of classical compositions by Black women, devotional music, sculpture and film.
Among the standout moments is the presentation of Black female classical composers such as Tanya León and Julia Perry, an effort led by Solange, who is also a composer. The legendary Clark Sisters will headline a night of spiritual and gospel revival, reflecting the deep-rooted musical traditions that have shaped generations.
“This isn’t just about bringing music back to the Eldorado,” Booth said. “It’s about highlighting all facets of Black creativity— sound, sculpture, film, dance—and imagining where Black artistry is going next.”
And that future is deeply rooted in place.
Reopened in 2023 after years of reno vation by Project Row Houses and other community partners, the Eldorado Ball room now stands as a restored jewel of the Third Ward.
This return to the Eldorado is also part of the citywide Fade to Black Festival, which celebrates the contributions of Black cre atives across Houston. Booth emphasized that Performing Arts Houston has long committed to reflecting Houston’s diversity through the arts. But she sees this series as a model for deeper investment in Black-led artistic initiatives.
“We hope this sparks further collabora tions that center Black artists, especially in communities like the Third Ward that have historically carried so much of the city’s creative energy,” she said.
Among the featured artists this year is Houston native and interdisciplinary artist Autumn Knight, who will present a performance-based piece in June called Type of Guest. Known for blending theater, visual art and
The six-programme series will take place across various iconic venues including Jones Hall, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the historic Eldorado Ballroom.
Credit: Performing Arts Houston
social commentary, Knight’s work centers the audience as an integral part of the performance experience.
“It means a lot to be part of a series that centers Black musical traditions in a place like the Third Ward,” she said. “It’s a full circle. I appreciate the way the team has curated a wide range of musical acts—some newer, some overlooked—and brought attention to art forms that deserve more visibility.”
Though Knight
York, she launched her career in Houston around 2011, building momentum as a shy, curious, trained actor who gradually stepped into the interdisciplinary world.
She credited institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts and Project Row Houses for expanding her artistic lens: “Project Row Houses exposed me to many international and avant-garde artists. It’s really where I found my community.”
For the latest details and ticket availability, visit www.performing-
Sports DN
Tai Dillard
By Terrance Harris
Tai Dillard has made many stops along her basketball journey as a player and assistant coach, and along the way, she has taken something from the coaches she has worked for and encountered.
It started when she played for Jody Conradt at the University of Texas and continued with stops as an assistant coach at USC, Ole Miss, UTSA and most recently at the University of Houston. Dillard plans to pull from all of those experiences as she embarks on her first head coaching job at the helm of the Prairie View women’s basketball program.
“Playing for Jody Conradt, not only was she a great coach, there were a lot of things I learned off court,” Dillard said to the Defender when asked about how all of her experiences shaped her for this opportunity with the Panthers. “She was big on etiquette. She introduced us to a lot of important people within Austin and around the country. Just navigating that realm of being influential in basketball.
“Working at UTSA with Coach Rae Blair, I really took away that she was very loving. She was the coach where there was always a dinner at her house. She always welcomed the families, the teens, or anyone to her house. That’s where I pulled in the motherly figure that a lot of players need.
“And at USC and Ole Miss, that’s when I really started my network of coaches because they were bigger conferences and I was able to branch out and meet a lot of different coaches that were going to help me in the recruiting world,” Dillard continued. “Then, of course, at UH that’s where I had my extended amount of time, and that’s where I was really able to hone what I would want to do as a head coach.”
Dillard brings a wealth of experiences and accomplishments to PV, including a threeyear stint in the WNBA with the San Antonio Silver Stars. She believes her vast background as an accomplished defensive player with a decent mid-range jumper and as a long-time assistant coach for some big programs will resonate with recruits and their families.
“Kids and especially parents do take that into account because they do really want to know, `My kid is being mentored by someone who has been there,’” Dillard said. “But the other biggest selling point is going to be that it’s more than about basketball, too.
“We will set our kids up with mentors
outside of basketball who will help develop them into their careers and whatever hobbies they have.”
Prairie View’s Anton Goff sought Dillard’s background, outgoing personality and communications skills after parting ways with Sandy Pugh in March.
“Everything that Tai Dillard is,” Goff said when asked what he was looking for most in his next head women’s basketball coach. “Great communicator, great leader and someone who can rest on her accolades as a player, as coach, someone who can recruit. She has held every position from recruiting coordinator to director of operations, to associate head coach. She is someone who has been surrounded by successful people.”
It just so happened that the timing was perfect. Dillard was in the job market after UH coach Ronald Hughey resigned from his position with the Cougars.
Dillard had some decisions to make because her husband, Brandon Mouton, a former UT men’s basketball standout, has a job coaching high schools that he enjoys. Their two sons, Langston and Caden, are settled into their schools and have a strong core of friends. Dillard didn’t want to disrupt any of that.
Knowing that and starting to give in to the urge to finally step out on faith and pursue a head coaching position added to why the Prairie View opening made so much sense.
“I was like, I don’t want to disrupt that,” she said of making a family-first decision.
“So this was just a blessing.”
It was also just time. Dillard had put in the work as an assistant coach at Big 12, SEC and Pac-12 programs. Then she participated in leadership-prep programs like the Basketball Coaches Academy and the NCAA
Steps out on faith, takes over Prairie View women’s hoop program
After years of working as an assistant basketball coach, Prairie View athletic director Anton Goff is putting the Lady Panthers’ women’s program in the capable hands of Tai Dillard (right).
Courtesy: Prairie View Athletics
Champions Forum, which had prepared her to take over a program. She felt it was time to answer her calling.
“Every year, everyone is like, `Tai, it’s time. You’ve been an assistant coach, it’s time,’” Dillard said. “And every year I was, ‘No.’ But the last couple of years I’ve had an opportunity to go to some forums at the NCAA office.
“The year before I went to the Basketball Coaches Academy, and last year I went to
the NCAA Champions Forum facilitated by John Oliver and Craig Littlepage, and that’s where it really ignited a sense that `You can do this. Step out on faith that you can do this. So when the opportunity presents itself, you will be ready for it.’ The opportunity was here and I jumped on it.”
Now, she takes on the tall task of rebuilding the Panthers program to be competitive not just in the SWAC but also in line with Goff’s ultimate vision of having all of his programs be competitive across the entire mid-major landscape.
“I know the way the landscape of basketball is with the NIL and everything, but there are a lot of players who want to play because they want that shot, they want that opportunity to play,” Dillard said. “So really evaluating that and building up a support so that we can compete in that landscape of providing NIL and collectives and all that good stuff.
“My plan is to really develop a base where I can try to get people to support that initiative so that we can compete in that space.”
Dillard
ABOUT LAMAR SMITH JR
Class: 2026
IG: @6.2shifty
Twitter: @Lamarsmithjr3
Events: 800 meters, 400 meters, 4x400-meter relay
Status: Uncommitted
ABOUT KARNESHIA SMITH
Class: 2028
IG: @d1_kk3
Twitter: @d1_kk3
Events: 800 meters, 4x400meter relay
Status: Uncommitted
FAMILY, FOCUS & FINISH LINES
Jack Yates track members, Lamar Smith Jr, Karneshia Smith, Dakota Sweezer and Madison Sweezer all pose after advancing from the HISD district 4A track meet.
Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender
ABOUT DAKOTA SWEEZER Class: 2026
IG: @hername_kota
Twitter: @kotasweezer2026
Events: 100-meter hurdles, triple jump
Status: Uncommitted
ABOUT MADISON SWEEZER Class: 2025
IG: @madiisonbrooke_
Twitter: @maddiesweezer
Events: 100 meters, 400 meters, 300-meter hurdles
Status: Committed to the University of Houston
SWEEZER-SMITH LEGACY
Builds a lineage of excellence at Jack Yates High
By Jimmie Aggison
In previous years, Yates High School senior Madison Sweezer has represented her school solo at the UIL 4A state track meet. This time, however, she was accompanied by a familiar face—her cousin, Lamar Smith, who made his debut in the 800 meters.
“I was extremely happy that I got to share such a proud moment with him and that I wouldn’t be going to Austin alone this time,” said Madison. “Seeing him secure his spot in the 800 meters at the Regional meet motivated me to do the same in my events.”
Madison’s mother, LaKeisha Shunta Bobb-Sweezer and Lamar’s mother, LaKeyshia LaSha Williams Smith, are cousins who also ran track at Yates High School.
“They’re first cousins and we are second cousins,” said Madison. “Both our moms ran track and my mom (LaKeisha Shunta Bobb-Sweezer) also played soccer while attending Yates.”
Although Lamar didn’t medal in his debut, Madison earned her first silver medal in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.69 seconds. This was Madison’s second appearance at the state meet and the first time she returned home with a medal.
“It felt great to have the opportunity to stand on the podium in my final season of high school track, especially after battling injuries for two years,” said Madison.
While Lamar would have liked to have placed, it also meant a lot just making it to state.
“Making it to the state meet this year was an incredible feeling mixed with excitement, pride and nervous energy from the ups and downs throughout the season,” said Lamar. “Racing against the top seven in Texas was intense, much higher than anything I’d experienced before. It pushed me to perform at my absolute best while teaching me how to focus, prepare and stay mentally strong.”
While Madison and Lamar were the only family members to represent Jack Yates at the state track meet, they weren’t the only ones in their family competing this season.
Yates junior Dakota Sweezer, the younger sister of Madison, competed this season in the 100-meter hurdles and the triple jump. Freshman Karneshia Smith, Lamar’s younger sister, represented Yates in the 800 meters and the 4x400-meter relay.
Both Dakota and Karneshia advanced to the regional meet, where they
demonstrated their talent before wrapping up their seasons. At regionals, Dakota recorded a mark of 35 feet, 3.75 inches in the triple jump.
“Seeing the success I’ve had, along with my sister’s accomplishments, inspires me to continue working hard to be the best version of myself while carrying on the legacy,” said Dakota.
“My sister is an incredible athlete with so much potential, but sometimes she struggles with confidence in her own abilities,” said Madison. “I’ve faced my own battles with doubt and negativity, but I hope she sees that in me as a reminder that staying focused pays off. I believe in her.”
Following in her brother’s footsteps, Karnesha ran 2:33.10 in the 800 meters at Regionals.
“Defying the odds, proving my potential and making it to regionals as a freshman is just the beginning,” said Karneshia. “I’ve learned a lot from my brother about running the 800-meter race. He’s taught me the importance of setting a strong pace early and maintaining it before pushing hard in the last 200 meters.”
Karneshia, who also serves as the point guard for the Yates girls’ varsity basketball team, is a standout athlete with exceptional
potential. As a freshman, she earned First Team All-District honors and was named Co-Freshman of the Year in District 20-4A, Region III.
“My sister is an amazing athlete who owns the court and rules the track from fast breaks to the 800 meters,” said Lamar. “She gives her all with strength, heart and unstoppable drive. She is a true athlete in every stride and shot.”
There’s no doubt that athleticism has followed this family, but so has intelligence.
Madison holds a weighted GPA of 4.51 and an unweighted GPA of 3.99. She will attend the University of Houston on both track and academic scholarships, where she plans to study Biology with aspirations of becoming a neurologist. Her sister Dakota has a weighted GPA of 4.3 and an unweighted GPA of 3.8. Both Madison and Dakota are currently ranked first in their class. Lamar carries a weighted GPA of 3.5, while his sister Karneshia has a weighted GPA of 3.6.
The athletic legacy of the Sweezer and Smith families is set to continue for years to come. Karneshia will return as a sophomore next season, while both Lamar and Dakota will be entering their senior years.
Spotlight DN
Empowers youth in and out of the classroom JIMMIE AGGISON
By Aswad Walker
Jimmie Aggison is a living, breathing angel of youth empowerment.
If you doubt that assertion, just ask Michael Cantu, the high schooler with C/D grades who wasn’t allowed entrance into the school’s computer program, who eventually graduated from Texas A&M with a computer science degree and now works for Microsof.
Or check in with Nimitz High School senior and football standout Ke’Lyn Washom, whose powerful story of perseverance was captured in a documentary by Aggison that has garnered nearly 200,000 views online.
Multiply those two students, who are the products of Aggison’s hands-on empowerment work, by a multiple of thousands and you will most likely still come up short when trying to measure the impact Aggison has made—and continues to make—as a presenter with the Council on Recovery (COR).
Council on Recovery
Aggison works in prevention education, a curriculum taught to students before they actually have a substance abuse problem that requires treatment.
“My role as a prevention specialist is to prevent students from dropping out of school and from developing a situation with drugs,” said Aggison, who will celebrate 18 years with COR this July.
In 2024, Aggison was such a standout in his youth empowerment role that he won Prevention Specialist of the Year for the state of Texas. He’s nominated again this year, 2025. And for good reason.
His life-changing efforts never take a break.
Recalling one of his most memorable student encounters, Aggison mentioned an Eastwood Academy junior, Michael Cantu, who was ranked 177 out of 178 students. Tough Cantu’s grades improved during his senior year, the student didn’t have the requisite overall resume to allow him entrance into Eastwood’s computer certifcation class.
But Aggison saw something in the youngster who was fxated on computers, and regularly had Cantu fx his computers when needed.
“I didn’t want to pay Best Buy to work on my computers. I let Michael work on my computers. Tis kid’s grades didn’t refect his abilities,” Aggison said about Cantu, who
didn’t realize that if he enrolled in college, he would have a clean slate to build the GPA and future he desired.
Once he realized that, the student excelled at HCC before eventually graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in computer science.
“So, the same student who missed out
on a lot of opportunities because of what he projected in high school now works at Microsof,” said Aggison.
Defender impact
But Aggison’s youth impact doesn’t stop there. Aggison believes his work as the Defender’s High School sports reporter goes
hand-in-hand with his “day job.”
“When I’m giving presentations at places like Knipple Education Center, the alternative school in Aldine, I’m the guy that’s talking about staying in school, about the dangers of vaping,” said Aggison. “But when some of those same students are at an Aldine, Eisenhower or MacArthur game I’m covering, they’re like, ‘Oh man, that’s the dude that was telling us to stay in school.’”
Film director
Tat level of familiarity opened the door to an unexpected growth opportunity for Aggison, a Wichita, Kansas native.
His close relationships with students and parents led him to cover a game, looking to focus on one athlete, but forced to cover another because of his stellar performance. Tat student athlete, Ke’Lyn Washom, eventually became the main subject of a documentary, Aggison felt compelled to flm (4 Way or No Way) afer hearing the standout wide receiver’s story of perseverance afer recently losing his twin brother.
“When I got to the game, this kid played unbelievable. And I was looking for a story, so I wrote his article afer that game,” said Aggison, who realized one article wouldn’t do Washom’s story justice. “So, I talked with the Defender publisher (Sonny Messiah Jiles), and said, ‘Hey, I got this story. Is it okay if I put something together?’ She saw my vision and my passion and she allowed me to do so. So, I basically followed Ke’Lyn for the next two years to tell his full story.”
“When Jimmie decided to do the documentary, he took a chance because he was doing it on his own, and something he had never done before,” said Ke’Lyn’s mother, Latrice Washom. “He wanted to tell a story of the unknown and he accomplished so much more, putting my son’s story out. He set the bar so high.”
At last count, the documentary has garnered over 190,000 views.
And Aggison is not fnished. He has more documentary ideas he wants to bring to life, more high school sports to cover and more lives to change via the Council on Recovery.
“With the Defender, it’s a job, but it doesn’t really seem like a job. What I get from COR is the fact that it’s a job, but it’s almost like I’m going to school again. Every year, it’s almost like I’m going to school again,” said Aggison. “And the things that I give young people are some of the things I wish people would’ve given me while I was in high school.”
Aggison shows his documentary during a school presentation. Credit: Jimmie Aggison.
Jimmie Aggison