KRIS O’NEAL: AAU POINT GUARD MAKES MAJOR MOVES P15
HS SPORTS
facebook.com/DefenderNetwork
Houston’s Leading Black Information Source
Volume 88 | Number 32
JUNE 6, 2019 |FREE
twitter.com/DefenderNetwork
NEWSTALK
Executive Director Deloyd Parker
SHENAEDRA TATUM elected UHD first Black female SGA president.
P2 NATIONAL DEWAYNE CRADDOCK identified as mass shooter in Virginia
P3 ENTERTAINMENT OCTAVIA SPENCER steps outside the box with new role
P5 TOP EVENTS
City mourns
Maleah Davis H PAGE 2
Children at Risk
releases school rankings The nonprofit group has released its annual list of the top schools in the Houston area. The analyst covers more than 1,400 public schools in Houston and beyond and ranks schools by using several factors. Rosalind Brewer, U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee and Winell Herron at the Game Changers: Women of Power & Presence Awards Luncheon.
P16
H PAGE 8
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for 88 years
Jermall Charlo defends title
Championship boxing returns to H-Town. Unbeaten Houstonian and WBC interim middleweight champion Jermall “the Hitman” Charlo (28-021 KOs) defends his title against top contender Brandon “the Cannon” Adams (21-2-13 KOs) on June 29.
H PAGE 14
2
DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2019
newstalk
City mourns tragic loss of Maleah Davis Maleah’s favorite color. The search for Maleah began when she was reported missing on May 4. Maleah’s mother’s ex-fiance, Houston is mourning the tragic loss of 4-year-old Derion Vence, who was caring for Maleah while her Maleah Davis, whose remains were found in Arkansas mother was away, told police the little girl was abducted nearly one month after she went missing. by three men, including one who knocked him out during “Maleah was a sweet, beautiful, and innocent little girl who deserved a chance to enjoy life,” Houston May- a carjacking. Houston Police Chief Art or Sylvester Turner said in Acevedo, however, quickly a statement. “She belonged said detectives didn’t believe to our community, and we his story. Investigators found share a collective grief.” the family’s car and authoriThe remains were ties said cadaver-sniffing dogs found in Arkansas on May detected the scent of human 31 and were confirmed remains inside. to belong to Maleah, said Vence was arrested on officials. May 11 and charged with “It’s been a whole tampering with evidence. month but it feels like it all Community activist happened today,” Maleah’s Quanell X, who previbiological father, Craig ously advocated for Maleah’s Davis, told KTRK. “It’s so mother, said Vence confessed painful.” to dumping the 4-year-old’s Turner encouraged body in Arkansas. Houston residents to pay A memorial sprung up it forward in Maleah’s at the Arkansas site, while the memory. suspected cause and manner “As we learn more of her death are pending. about her death and disapAcevedo vowed that pearance, I ask people The remains of 4-year-old Maleah Davis were found May police and prosecutors will to focus their energy on 31 in Arkansas. Her May 4 disappearance made national work “to ensure the person(s) creating lasting changes in headlines. responsible for her death, and Maleah’s honor,” Turner said. the attempted cover-up of her death, are held accountable “Love your child and hold them close, volunteer at a to the fullest extent of the law.” shelter for women and children, support foster organiHarris County District Attorney’s Office spokesman zations or make a donation to your favorite charity in Dane Schiller said that “additional charges would be filed Maleah’s name.” as the evidence supports doing so.” Turner said City Hall’s lights would turn pink, Defender News Service
defendernetwork.com
UHD elects first Black female SGA president By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
When Shenaedra “Shay” Tatum was officially inaugurated as the first Black female Student Government Association president at the University of Houston Downtown, it was a dream come true, especially because she and fellow student Jason Lillie are the first African-American president and vice president to serve UHD’s students. “That’s one of the things that made me run,” Tatum said. “I wanted to make sure we could be represented. I did the work, worked my way up in the organization and it was time.” Tatum has big plans for her tenure at UHD. She hopes to work on book affordability and fair pricing, so that students can afford to get books for their classes. “We are also working with accessibility as we have a lot of new buildings with limited parking, so I’m working with local businesses to get parking. I’m also working Shenaedra Tatum with the mayor on a few initiatives that would make some of the lots free,” she said. Tatum, who works as a sign language interpreter at The Church Without Walls, is also working with deaf and blind students who have to cross streets to get to the university. “We want to make sure they have proper lights and sound, so accessibility and sustainability is huge for me,” she added. Her tenure as president is preparing the mother of three for her goals after graduation. “I’m currently in the Nonprofit Master’s program. I want to run for City Council in 2022,” she said. “And my ultimate goal is to get my nonprofit Pretty Girls Rock, where we mentor young girls 11-18, chartered all over the country.”
localbriefs THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING four killings of AfricanAmerican transgender women, all since 2017. Reports indicate there have been other killings of transgender women in the city dating back to 2015, though some are not classified as murder investigations. Activists and civil rights groups note the pattern of violence is not unique to Dallas, and said the number of homicides might be higher than the official tally because police sometimes misreport victims’ genders…….HISD NUTRITION SERVICES HAS KICKED OFF its Summer Meals Program at more than 250 area schools. Children ages 1 to 18 can enjoy a healthy breakfast
and lunch at no charge through July 3. Children do not need to be enrolled in summer school to participate in the program, and no paperwork, registration, or proof of income is required. Adults can also participate by purchasing breakfast for $2.75 and lunch for $4. Parents can contact Nutrition Services at 713-491-5944 for more information. A list of summer meal site locations is also available at http://www.houstonisd.org/ summermeals..…..THE HOUSTON VITILIGO AWARNESS MOVEMENT will host the 2019 World Vitiligo Day Conference, themed “The Mental and Medical Journey of Living with Vitiligo: Healing Starts With ME.” The conference
will take place beginning on Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23 at the Marriott Sugar Land Town Square located at 16090 City Walk in Sugar Land. The conference will focus on the mental and medical journey of vitiligo. The event will include medical research and treatment updates, mental and emotional health sessions, and a panel discussion promoting open dialogue about the social impact of vitiligo. It is an autoimmune disease that causes a loss of pigmentation (color), resulting in white patches on the body. Vitiligo can affect any gender, age, or ethnicity. Currently, there is no cure. For more information visit www. houstonvitiligoawareness.com.
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years
defendernetwork.com
JUNE 6 | 2019 | DEFENDER
national
U.S.briefs AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING FLINT’S water crisis used search warrants to seize from storage the state-owned mobile devices of former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and 65 other current or former officials. The warrants were sought two weeks ago by the attorney general’s office and signed by a Flint judge. Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, who is helping with the probe, confirmed they executed a series of search warrants related to the criminal investigation of Flint’s lead-contaminated water in 2014-15 and an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. They declined further comment…….A WEST VIRGINIA OFFICIAL WHO LOST HER JOB after penning a defamatory social media post about former First Lady Michelle Obama was sentenced to federal jail time after prosecutors say she swindled FEMA out of thousands of dollars in disaster relief benefits. Pamela Taylor, former head of the Clay County Development Corporation, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, along with two months of house arrest. She was also hit with a $10,000 fine. The disgraced county official pleaded guilty in February to embezzling more than $18,000 in FEMA benefits intended for residents impacted by the devastating floods that ravaged homes along the Elk River in July 2016. The disaster claimed 23 lives and left a trail of destruction in its path…….NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT STATES that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act eliminated racial differences in being able to quickly start on treatment after a diagnosis of advanced cancer. “Obamacare” let states expand Medicaid eligibility and offer subsidies to help people buy health insurance. Yale University researchers used electronic health records on 36,000 patients across the United States to gauge its impact. Before the law, 5 percent fewer African-Americans were starting treatment within a month of their cancer diagnoses. In states that expanded Medicaid, that difference went away.
VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 32 JUNE 6, 2019 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler
Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers
Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison
Editors ReShonda Tate Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Max Edison Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For digital subscriptions, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com/ subscribe. No paper subscriptions are available. All material covered by 2019 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
3
The 12 people killed by Craddock included engineers, an accounting clerk, administrative assistant and a visiting contractor.
More details emerge on Black mass shooter
Cervera said investigators are retracing the gunman’s activities on the day of the attack, using his electronic keycard to track his movements through secure areas of the building. They are also The gunman who attacked his colleagues at a Virginia reviewing his personal and professional lives trying to find a Beach government office building resigned by email hours motive. before the shooting, as authorities continue seeking a motive in “Right now we do not have anything glaring,” he said. the assault that killed 12 people. “There’s nothing that hits you right between the eyes. But we are Officials gave no indication why 40-year-old DeWayne working on it.” Craddock had notified a superior of his intention to leave his job Craddock appeared to have had no felony record, making as a civil engineer in the utilities department. He was an employee him eligible to purchase “in good standing” guns. Government investigaand showed “satisfactors identified two .45-calitory” job perforber pistols used in the attack, mance, City Manager and all indicators were that Dave Hansen said. he purchased them legally in Police Chief 2016 and 2018, said Ashan James Cervera Benedict, the regional described a chaotic special agent for the Bureau scene as officers enof Alcohol, Tobacco and tered the building and Firearms. The police chief pursued the assailant said at least one had a noise through a tightly suppressor. packed warren of Officers found victims offices that the chief throughout the building, on likened to a maze or DeWayne Craddock fatally shot a dozen people in Virginia Beach, Va. on May three floors. Among the dead a honeycomb. They 31 and later died after a confrontation with police. were four other engineers exchanged fire in a who worked to maintain streets and protect wetlands and three protracted gunbattle. Cervera did not know how many rounds right-of-way agents who reviewed property lines. Others included were fired but said it was “well into the double digits.” an account clerk, a technician, an administrative assistant and At one point, the suspect fired at officers through a door a special projects coordinator. In all, they had served the city of and a wall and hit one officer, who was saved by a bulletproof vest. Then the firing stopped, and police realized the gunman was Virginia Beach for more than 150 years. The 12th fatality was a contractor who was in the building holed up in an office. seeking a permit. When they got into the office, they took the wounded At least four other people who were wounded remained shooter into custody and gave him first aid, Cervera said. He hospitalized in critical condition. was taken from the scene by ambulance 36 minutes after officers A handwritten note was posted at the suspect’s home arrived and died at a hospital. A medical examiner will determine expressing condolences to the shooting victims on behalf of whether he was killed by an officer’s bullet or his own, the chief his family. Co-workers described him as quiet, nice and polite, said. and neighbors said he was into cars and bodybuilding. There was no indication he targeted anyone specifically. Associated Press
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years
4
DEFENDER | JUNE 6| 2019
defendernetwork.com
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
Ashanna smoked for 2 years, and switched to JUUL in 2018. “It doesn’t smell like cigarettes. The worst thing about smoking was the smell.”
Make the Switch Designed for adult smokers. Not for sale to minors. NOT FOR SALE TO MINORS: This is an age-restricted product and age verification is required at sale. CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65: This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. © and TM 2019 JUUL Labs Inc. All rights reserved.
JUUL.com
CAMPAIGN: JUUL_US_Q2Testimonials_MPPrint_04231929
defendernetwork.com
JUNE 6 | 2019 | DEFENDER
entertainment
5
Octavia Spencer steps outside the box in ‘Ma’ Associated Press
Octavia Spencer is a movie star. She has been for almost a decade since audiences and Oscar voters fell in love with her as Minnie in “The Help.” Since then she’s received two more supporting actress Oscar nominations, one of which was for a film that became another “surprise” blockbuster (“Hidden Figures”), ramped up her production company, acted consistently and written children’s books. She even executive-produced this year’s best picture winner, “Green Book.” But there was one thing she hadn’t yet done in her nearly 25 years in the business – starred in
who also has been Spencer’s friend since they were production assistants together on “A Time to Kill” in 1995. The script Taylor saw was written for a white woman, but he thought of Spencer nonetheless. “She had expressed to me she was frustrated,” Taylor said. “She’s grateful for her career but she was being offered the same thing and never the lead…” So, he called his former roommate (they lived together in a mid-city Los Angeles duplex for seven years) and proposed the semi-deranged film that would be a departure for both of them. “I said, ‘Well, usually Black people get killed in the first 15 minutes of a horror film,’” Spencer said. “And he said, ‘Not only do you not die within the first 15 minutes, but you actually do all the killing.’ I thought, ‘Okay, I’m interested.’” Ask Spencer what her dream role is and the answer might surprise you. “I always say, the part of producer,” she said. “Not only do I get to create opportunities for myself but for other people. I still live by that. And Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer is a sinister character in the new movie “Ma,” which is now in if there is something that I’m dying to do, if it’s theaters. not written, as a producer, I have an option now to her own film. Until now. create it for myself.” The film that righted that wrong is “Ma,” a Blumhouse She had been optioning books going back to her time on Productions horror movie in which she plays a small-town woman “The Help,” but her first executive- producing credit actually came who buys beer for some local high school students and lets them about by accident when Ryan Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station” lost party in her basement, before things take a sinister turn. It’s unlike $150,000 of its $900,000 budget. anything audiences have seen Spencer do before. “I put in some money and then I started making some calls “There are only a couple of archetypes people are comfortto people... I don’t even know that I had the resources. I just knew able seeing me in. And for me, it’s like, you know you might that it was important for me to do,” Spencer said. “We were not only be comfortable seeing me this way, but there are so many going to let it die on the vine, and I had just worked with people colors in this crayon box,” Spencer, 47, said. “I want to play who I knew had the resources and so I called.” everything that you don’t think I can do.” She has a lot on her plate right now. She’s jet-lagged, for one, She’d found herself, despite all the success, being having just gotten off a plane from London where she’s filming considered for only “nurturer” or “sage” roles. She wanted the remake of “The Witches.” She’s also teamed up with LeBron to stretch. James to produce and star in a Netflix series about entrepreneur The only reason “Ma” came to her was because of Madam C.J. Walker, as well as an AppleTV+ crime drama, Tate Taylor, who wrote and directed “The Help,” and “Truth Be Told.”
what’sup Many STEVE HARVEY fans were outraged when it was announced that his popular daytime talk show was being cancelled. In the fall-out, former staffers and insiders are venting about what led to the show’s demise, and how the 62-year-old TV giant is handling the transition. “Steve is the king of being not grateful,” a source said. “He filmed his last show on Thursday and by Friday he had already moved on.” It’s customary for a show of that run to have a final goodbye party or parting words of appreciation, but it seems that courtesy wasn’t extended to his team of five years……. After the cancellation of LEE DANIELS’ Fox series
“Star,” the internet called for Daniels to shop the show to the other networks, and he listened, reportedly pitching the show to BET, OWN and Amazon. His calls have gone unanswered. He revealed on social media that he was unable to persuade another major network to pick up the series. “Star” maintained adequate ratings but viewership fell 11 percent during the last season. The cancellation was reportedly related to FOX wanting to prioritize “Empire” since it is heading into its last season……..LINDA FAIRSTEIN, the lead prosecutor in the Central Park Five case, in the Central Park Five case, has
been forced to close all of her social media accounts following the backlash from the critically-acclaimed Netflix series When They See Us. Since the AVA DUVERNAY series, which focuses on the 1989 case and its botched investigation, dropped, viewers have been consistently calling for Fairstein’s comeuppance for her role in the case. Fairstein, who is played by FELICITY HUFFMAN in the series, stands by the initial verdicts. Many view her as having been instrumental in obtaining the boys’ coerced statements of guilt, and they have taken to using the #CancelLindaFairstein hashtag to make their point.
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years
6
DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2019
defendernetwork.com
Houston theater groups promote diversity behind both national and local numbers. Ten percent of authors produced by those companies are authors of color, Live theater in Houston is starting to compared with last year’s 5 percent. look more like the diverse city in which it These numbers do not include Houston’s resides. historically Black theater company, the Local companies are producing more Ensemble Theatre. women and people of color than in previAurin Squire, an American playous years, mirroring a national trend in the wright and a writer for the TV series industry, according demographic data of “This is Us” and “The Good Fight,” playwrights among seven Houston theater said theater companies struggle to companies. become more inclusive because they These changes arrive at a time when have cultivated audiences who are some theater companies are financially comfortable with the “white male strapped, due to a convergence of rising canon.” rental prices, the loss of space, plateau“They are not going to be ready ing ticket sales and a limited donor pool to take in something new without in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which explaining the paradigm you’re trying hit in August 2017 and swamped parts of to shift,” he said. Houston. “If you want to bring your audiHouston’s two largest professional Bryan Kaplin, Mara McGhee and Xzavien Hollins play guitars with members of the upcoming rock ences along with you, then you have theater companies, Alley Theatre and opera “Speeding Motorcycle” during rehearsal at the Catastrophic Theater at Midtown Arts and to sell a new narrative. Your theater comTheatre Under the Stars, have undergone Theater Center Houston (MATCH). pany has to be more than a warehouse of major changes in leadership in recent years of the answer to staying relevant in digital age. classics that you reanimate every season. – changes that have brought issues of inclu“It’s a matter of survival for the art form,” said CataYou have to sell a new vision to people for what you sion to the fore. strophic Theatre managing director, Shayna Schlosberg. want to be in your community.” And theater companies large and small, in Houston A look at the 2019-20 seasons of the Alley Theatre, The changes are still short of reflecting the and nationally, are treating the mission of producing more Theatre Under the Stars, Stages Repertory Theatre, Main national population, and white male playwrights still female and minority playwrights as a major selling point for new audiences –and as evidence that the organizations Street Theater, Catastrophic Theatre, 4th Wall Theatre and make up a vast majority of authorship on the AmeriA.D. Players showed that some companies are producing can theater stage. But small, incremental changes apare adapting to the modern era. Some local leaders say pear to be occurring both nationally and in Houston. producing plays written from different perspectives is part more female and nonwhite playwrights, while others lag Associated Press
defendernetwork.com
JUNE 6 | 2019 | DEFENDER
7
PBS will explore history of slave trade NNPA Newswire
a grasp of the transatlantic slave trade. The business of buying and selling human beings shaped economic, social and political institutions; established racial and geographic hierarchies; and entrenched wealth disparities,” Nelson said.
Acclaimed filmmaker Stanley Nelson and his production company Firelight Films announced that “Creating the New World: The Transatlantic Slave Trade” will air on PBS in 2021. The four-part documentary will be the final installment in Firelight’s three-part series for Independent Lens, called America Revisited, which began with “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution,” the first comprehensive historical documentary on the iconic organization, and “Tell Them We are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities,” which chronicled the 150-year history and impact of HBCUs. Both films garnered the highest African-American viewership for any Independent Lens broadcast. The announcement comes as the country begins to mark the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans to colonial Virginia in August 1619. The date commemorates the deep impact the transatlantic slave trade would have upon the founding of the United States. Filmmaker Stanley Nelson’s slave trade documentary will air in 2021. “The transatlantic slave trade was a crime against humanity that took place across centuries In four one-hour programs, each covering a defined and reached every corner of the globe,” said Nelson whose historical period and featuring a specific voyage as its narramost recent work included, “The Black Press: Soldiers Withtive spine, the series explores the demographic, economic and out Swords.” “It’s impossible to understand the modern world without moral transformations wrought by the slave trade, African par-
THERE IS NO GREATER SACRIFICE.
ticipation and resistance to the trade, the business of the trade and the experience of enslaved people at the heart of the trade. Leveraging the latest scholarship, forensic science and recently unearthed archival material found across four continents, the series will challenge widespread popular misconceptions about the slave trade. The documentary will serve as centerpiece of an ambitious audience engagement and educational campaign beginning this year and continuing through the broadcast in 2021 on the public television series, Independent Lens. The campaign aims to catalyze a new conversation about race; the enduring legacy of centuries of forced migration, enslavement and subjugation and the wealth that was created – and denied to African-Americans – as a result of the trade. The engagement campaign will create ongoing opportunities for education, reflection and engagement through public programming, in high school classrooms and online through a robust interactive website. “In the United States, current debates about Confederate monuments, reparations for descendants of enslaved people, and systemic racial inequality can be traced to enduring fault lines around the legacy of slavery,” Nelson said. “In order to grapple with this painful legacy, we must first understand it.”
AARP salutes those who have served and still serve. We support our veterans and their families with information on career support, caregiving resources, community connections and more. Learn more at aarp.org/houston.
Visit aarp.org/veterans for information on what we’re doing in your local community and get more on how AARP helps veterans discover their Real Possibilities. Real Possibilities is a trademark of AARP.
8
DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2019
Children at Risk grades schools Annual report reveals excellence, room for improvement
T
By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
he quality of public education is improving in Texas and some school districts in the Houston region continue to stand out, but other schools in HISD still lack progress. Those are some of the takeaways of the 2019 school rankings recently released by the non-profit Children at Risk, and some of the biggest schools at risk are in historically Black communities. Robert Sanborn “Several HISD high schools are still underperforming,” said Robert Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk. “Kashmere, Worthing, Madison are still [high] schools that should be doing a lot better.” Despite that, Sanborn commended interim HISD Superintendent Grenita Lathan for doing “an extraordinary job with a not very good school board.” “I think she is holding the fort down but I think she needs a lot more Dr. Grenita Lathan tools at her disposal to really get things going,” Sanborn added. For the 11th consecutive year, DeBakey High School for Health Professions topped the Children’s at Risk 2019 list of best public schools in the Houston area. HISD’s Eastwood Academy ranked third in the Houston area, Carnegie Vanguard came in fourth, East Early College was sixth among local public high schools, and Challenge Early College ranked eighth regionally. “We thank Children at Risk for recognizing the work done by HISD and our neighboring districts to ensure academic equity for all students,” Lathan said. “Our city helps drive the nation’s economy and our public schools are the engine.” Children at Risk has also designated several HISD campuses as Gold Ribbon Schools for having high
achievement levels despite having a high population of students living in poverty. The top five elementary Gold Ribbon schools in Houston are all in HISD. Field Elementary received the top ranking, followed by Park Place, Lyons, De Chaumes and DeAnda elementary schools. Pilgrim Academy, which serves grades PK8, also earned a Gold Ribbon distinction for its middle school. Four HISD schools placed in the top 10 in overall rankings for Houston-area middle schools. T.H. Rogers ranked third and Project Chrysalis Middle School ranked fourth in the area. Mandarin Immersion Magnet School ranked fifth and Lanier Middle School ranked seventh regionally. Three HISD schools placed in the top 10 in overall rankings among area elementary schools, including T.H. Rogers in sixth place, Horn Elementary in seventh, and West University Elementary in ninth place regionally. Since 2005, Children at Risk has compiled the annual report to rank public schools using criteria like test scores, demographics and graduation rates. The report ranks schools using A to F grades, with A being the highest and F the lowest. The Houston region schools analyzed in the report are located in Harris County as well as in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties. Sanborn summarized public schools in the Houston region: • Fourteen percent of the 905 elementary schools analyzed in the region got an A grade, while 8 percent received an F. Twenty-eight percent of the elementary schools got a B grade, 26 percent received a C, and 24 percent got a D. • As for middle schools located in the region,
the report analyzed 322. Nineteen percent got an A grade, while 6 percent received an F. The breakdown of the remaining grades is: 30 percent of middle schools receiving a B and a C, and 15 percent getting a D. • High schools in the Houston region received the best rankings, with 23 percent getting an A grade and 28 percent receiving a B. The rest of the grades for high schools are: 20 percent getting a C grade, while 19 percent received a D and 10 percent got an F. • Katy and Fort Bend, two of the regional school districts that traditionally get good rankings in the Children at Risk report, also stand out in the 2019 edition. Sanborn said that’s partly because they are located in more affluent areas of greater Houston but, at the same time, there are other more modest regional school districts like Galena Park and Channelview that are also showing improvement. The report also ranks magnet and charter schools. Sanborn underscored that the HISD magnets DeBakey High School for Health Professions and the Carnegie Vanguard High School are excellent schools “that can measure up to really any private school in the nation.” Sanborn also praised Kerr, another magnet high school that is part of the Alief Independent School District, and the KIPP and YES charter schools in Houston. As for the immediate future of public education in Texas, Sanborn said laws approved this year by the state legislature such as funding for full-day Pre-K education and teacher raises “are really going to help a lot.”
defendernetwork.com • Serving th
he Houston area for over 88 years
defendernetwork.com
ary schools t n e m le e l loca Top-ranktaerydSchool – Devers ISD ranch ISD en te – Spring B 1. Devers Elem demic Institu ca A nch ISD ch n ra B ol – Spring Bra o 2. Spring ch S ry ta n e ek Elem mball ISD 3. Rummel Cre ry School – To ta n e m le E st Fore 4. Creekside ISD ress-Fairbanks yp C – l E e p o P 5. ston ISD School – Hou ISD 6. T.H. Rogers ool – Houston ch S ry ta n e m amar CISD 7. Horn Ele ry School – L ta n e m le E ll e b ston ISD 8. Bess Camp School – Hou ry ta n e m le E ISD rsity ol – Fort Bend o ch 9. West Unive S ry ta n e ealth Elem 10. Commonw
Top-ranked lo c
al middle sch 1. Spring Branch ools Academic Institu te – Spring Branch 2.Cornerstone A ISD cademy – Spring Branch ISD 3. T.H. Rogers Sc hool – Houston IS D 4. Project Chrysa lis Middle School – Houston ISD 5. Mandarin Imm ersion Magnet Sc ho ol – Houston ISD 6. Fort Settlemen t Middle -- Fort Be nd ISD 7. Lanier Middle School – Houston ISD 8. Harmony Scho ol of Innovation (Sugar Land) – H 9. Harmony Scho armony schools ol of Innovation (Katy) – Harmon 10. Seven Lakes y schools J.H.– Katy ISD l high schoso–ls a c lo d e on ISD k n a -r Top essional Houst of Pr lth ea H r Fo hool Sc 1. DeBakey High ol – Alief ISD 2. Kerr High Scho ISD demy – Houston 3. Eastwood Aca Houston ISD rd High School – ua ng Va ie eg rn 4. Ca Alief ISD ge High School – 5. Alief Early Colle Houston ISD ge High School – lle Co Creek ISD rly Ea st Ea 6. h School – Clear ig H ge lle Co rly Ea ston ISD 7. Clear Horizons igh School – Hou H ge lle Co rly Ea 8. Challenge g ISD Academy – Sprin ge lle Co rly Ea g hools Inc. 9. Sprin Yes Prep Public Sc – t es hw ut So – 10 Yes Prep
HISD high s chools receiving F ’s
According to Children at • Wheatley Risk’s 2019 Te xas High • Kashmere School Rankin gs of 1,415 • Worthing state schools, 13 HISD • Houston Mat schools receiv h Science ed F’s, & Technology beginning wit h Westbury • Yates (ranked 1334) and end• Washington ing with Sterl ing (ranked • North Forest 1412). The sch ools are: • Sterling • Westbury See the entire • Wisdom hi list at https:// gh school • Sharpstown texa choolguide.org ss/content/ • Madison uploads/2019 /0 • Furr ings_High-Sc 5/2019-Rankhool_S pdf
tatewide.
ools How sch d are ghriladredneat Risk’s ranking
Here is C g y: methodolo nt – How achieveme t n ed e d tu S 1. standardiz o on state students d AR). How a tests (STA poverty – + t n e m e v ores to 2. Achie s in test sc re a p m o c l f poverty. schoo ilar levels o m si h it w ls students schoo wth – How ro g t n e d tests in a 3. Stu eir STAAR th n o e v impro r. ow many school yea adiness – H re ng e g e ll o 4. C re graduati students a l o r o e h th sc o h hig ting in d participa s on time an vities (doe ti c a diness a dle re e id g m e ll d o n c ntary a e m le e e d not inclu schools).
9
10
DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2019
defendernetwork.com
Democrats to have debate moderators of color Defender News Services
The Democratic National Committee said it is committed to having at least one woman and one person of color (sometimes the same person) as moderator at each of its primary debates for the 2020 presidential election – for the first time ever. The DNC, the Democratic Party’s governing body, set a requirement to have at least one woman as moderator for its 12 upcoming debates. A DNC official told HuffPost each of the debates also will have at least one person of color moderating. “The DNC is committed to an inclusive and fair debate process,” DNC senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill said in a statement. “That means that all 12 DNC sanctioned debates will feature a diverse group of moderators and panelists including women and people of color, ensuring that the conversations reflect the concerns of all Americans.” In 2016, PBS’s Judy Woodruff and the late Gwen Ifill made history as the first women to moderate a Democratic primary debate without being accompanied by any male moderators. Several of the 2016 Democratic primary debates were moderated solely by men, including NBC’s Lester Holt and CNN’s Chris Cuomo, Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer.
In the crowded 2020 presidential race, there are more than 20 Democratic candidates, including several women and people of color, the most diverse group in a presidential race ever. The DNC announced it will host 12 primary debates, with the first in June. In an effort to narrow the field, the DNC detailed certain rules to qualify:
• For the first two debates this summer, candidates have to poll at 1 percent support or more in three party-approved polls or receive donations from 65,000 donors in at least 20 states. • For the third debate, in September, a candidate must poll at least 2 percent support in four party-approved polls and have 130,000 donors in at least 20 states.
Blacks, Latinos at risk of undercount in 2020 census Associated Press
Emily Bonilla is worried her district in metro Orlando will be undercounted during next spring’s once-in-a-decade head count of everybody in the United States because of who lives there: new arrivals, immigrants, the poor, renters and rural residents who sometimes regard government with suspicion. “We’re growing so fast that I know we have more people in the area than the data is stating. This area already is undercounted,” said Bonilla, a county commissioner in one of the fastestgrowing metro areas in the U.S. With the 2020 census count less than a year away, a new report says undercounting certain populations will be likely, despite the best efforts of the U.S. Census Bureau, nonprofits and state and local officials to encourage participation. Nationwide, the decennial census could fail to count anywhere from 900,000 to 4 million people, with Blacks, Hispanics and children younger than 5 most vulnerable to being overlooked, according to estimates released by the
Urban Institute. Florida, California, Georgia, New York, Nevada, Texas and New Mexico have the highest risk for undercounting, according to the Urban Institute, a think tank that conducts social and economic research. Undercounting could diminish power and money in those areas for the next decade. The 2020 census determines the allocation of more than $675 billion in federal spending on schools, transportation and health care, as well which states gain or lose U.S. congressional seats. “A child at age 3, if they’re missed, these decisions matter for the next 10 years. That child is then 13 and their school has missed out on their fair share of funding because of that miscount,” said Diana Elliott, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute. The Urban Institute report said that even if the 2020 census count has the same participation rate as the 2010 count, which was considered successful, communities across the country could still be undercounted because the United States has grown more diverse in the past decade and has more renters.
Also increasing the risk are budget shortfalls that limited tests for the count and the fact that the Census Bureau for the first time is encouraging residents to answer questions online. Adding a question about citizenship could further dampen the response among some populations. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule later this month on whether the form will have a question about whether respondents are citizens. The U.S. Justice Department claims it’s needed to protect the voting rights of minorities who are citizens, but opponents say it will suppress the count of immigrants who fear law enforcement will get the information. States with large Hispanic populations also will be undercounted, opponents say. Hard-to-count populations are less likely to respond via the Internet than groups that have been overcounted in the past, such as homeowners and whites, according to the Urban Institute report. Previous studies “suggest that while the Internet-first approach will be efficient and save costs to the Census Bureau, it won’t necessarily find those people who are hard to count,” Elliott said.
defendernetwork.com
JUNE 6 | 2019 | DEFENDER
11
Black woman leads Bed, Bath & Beyond Defender News Services
Bed, Bath & Beyond has appointed a Black woman, Mary Winston, as interim CEO. Winston previously served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Family Dollar Stores.
“Together with the board, including the members of the Business Transformation and Strategy Review Committee, the leadership team and our more than 60,000 associates, I look forward to building an even stronger future for Bed Bath & Beyond,” Winston said in a
statement. “As we continue to review our business initiatives, we will be focused on driving continued margin improvement, enhancing the in-store and online experience, and accelerating our transformation to the benefit of our shareholders, customers and
Mary Winston
Millennials net worth about $8,000
to the study. The authors of the study wrote that the findings debunk many conventional wisdoms about the generation. “What we learned is that the consumer hasn’t fundamentally changed, but to the extent they are changing is because the environment around them is evolving, characterized by economic constraints and new competitive options,” the study said. “They’re changing because of the financial constraints they find themselves in.” “I have many of my retail clients that say to me, we have to win with the millennial. But what the data really tells me is perhaps it’s the millennial who’s not winning,” said Kasey Lobaugh, one of the study authors.
Defender News Services
Millennials are waiting longer to get married, have kids and become homeowners, and according to a new study, it’s not because they just want to be “different.” Americans between the ages of 18 to 35 have an average net worth of $8,000, a 34 percent decrease since 1996, the consumer study by professional services network Deloitte found. In fact, millennials are “dramatically financially worse off” than previous generations at a similar age, the study states. Homeownership among the generational group declined by more than 4 percent between 2007 and 2017. While there has been a rise in the education level of millennials, student debt has also increased for those under age 30 by 160 percent, according
classifieds BIDS 6/13/2019
CITY OF Houston, TX
Houston Area Urban League
51st Annual Equal Opportunity Day Gala “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now…Celebrating and Honoring Trailblazing Women”
Trailblazer Honorees
Dancie Perugini Ware Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations
Vanessa Wyche
Deputy Director of NASA
Honorable Lina Hidalgo Harris County Judge
Legacy Trailblazers Keynote Speaker
Dr. Charleta Guillory
Drucie Chase
Irma Galvin
Honorary Chairs
Josie Robinson Johnson
Gala Chairs
Director Neonatal-Perinatal Public Health Program at Texas Children’s Hospital
Saturday, June 15, 2019 Hilton Americas Hotel 6:00 pm – Reception
Winell Herron H-E-B
June Deadrick
CenterPoint Energy
Pam McKay Radio One
Dr. Judith Craven
7:00 pm – Dinner & Awards A Tribute to the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin by Ernest Walker Band
12
DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2019
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY School of Public Affairs RM 114A 3100 Cleburne St Houston, TX 77004
defendernetwork.com
City and County government answer:
"WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY?"
REGISTER FREE
TO ATTEND THIS ‘FIRST OF ITS KIND’ EVENT Sponsored by:
9:30 a.m12 noon
Hosted by:
Topics: • Rebuilding after Harvey • Community Development • Joint city/county projects • MWBE Disparity Study • Houston Roads • Housing • 2020 Census
FREE REGISTRATION: www.sobh2019.eventbrite.com
defendernetwork.com
JUNE 6 | 2019 | DEFENDER
13
Serena first athlete on Forbes self-made list Defender News Service
Serena Williams just made history again. The superstar athlete with 23 Grand Slam titles under her belt is the first athlete ever to make Forbes’ coveted list of the World’s Richest Self-Made Women. According to the magazine, she’s sitting on an estimated $225 million fortune, thanks in large part to her business savvy. While she’s arguably the best female athlete on the planet, she’s also an accomplished business woman who has quietly invested in 34 startups over the past five years. In April, she announced the launch of her investment entity, Serena Ventures, which will focus on funding companies founded by women and minorities. “I learned you can’t overspend, but I also learned that I love seed investing,” she said. “It’s fun to get in there. I don’t gamble. I don’t jump off buildings…I’m the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like seed was where we wanted to be.” Aside from her investments, she also has multiple clothing lines and endorsement deals bringing in major money. “I want to be in the infrastructure. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face.”
Serena Williams is one of the worlds’ wealthiest self-made women.
Hayde Key Ridge Point pitcher untouchable on the mound By JODIE B. JILES Defender
Missouri City Ridge Point High School pitcher and first baseman Hayde Key has been electric on the mound this season, throwing a top speed 91 mile-per-hour fast ball that batters just can’t make a play on. Throughout this year’s playoffs Key has been on a roll, carrying the Panthers to the state tournament with a 5-0 district record, which includes a game where Key only allowed one hit while striking out 12 batters. Ridge Point head coach Clinton Welch talked about his ace pitcher’s impact on the Panthers playoff run. “He’s our number one guy on the mound and his biggest asset is that he is a competitor,” Welch said. “He wants the ball and wants to get after it.” The Defender spoke with Key after his most recent victory over baseball powerhouse Kingwood to discuss his style of play, keys to his undefeated
playoff winning streak and what it will take to win state come season’s end. Defender: How would you describe your style of play as a pitcher? Key: I like to go right at hitters and pound the zone hard. Defender: What were you seeing out there on the mound in the victory over Kingwood? Key: I knew if I came out and pounded the zone and threw a lot of strikes, we would be good to make plays because I knew the defense would have my back. Defender: What will it take to keep your undefeated playoff streak going? Key: Just throwing strikes and not making errors. Defender: What do you think the keys to success will be going forward to the state tournament? Key: The way we battle. The way we stay in games makes it so we are never out of the game no matter how far down we are.
Hayde Key is a competitive player who never gives up.
About Key
Hayde and the Ridge Point Panthers were 14-2-1 overall. (Photos by Jimmie Aggison)
Class: 2020 College commitment: Texas Tech Twitter: @haydekey Baseball players he studies: Justin Verlander, Michael Brantley Favorite subject: History Hobbies: Hunting and fishing
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years
14
DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2019
sports
defendernetwork.com
Jermall Charlo defends title at home By MAX EDISON Defender
F
or the first time in many a moon, championship boxing returns to H-Town. Unbeaten Houstonian and WBC interim middleweight champion Jermall “the Hitman” Charlo (280-21 KOs) defends his title against top contender Brandon “the Cannon” Adams (21-2-13 KOs). The showdown takes place Saturday, June 29 at NRG Arena and is presented by Premier BoxCharlo is joined by trainer Ronnie Shields (left), opponent Brandon ing Champions. Adams and his trainer Dub Huntley. For Jermall, who one is half of an accomplished duo (his twin brother Jermell is a former light middleweight champ), it will be his first professional bout in his hometown in seven years. “I feel awesome and I’m well prepared. It’s an amazing feeling to be fighting in my hometown,” he said. “To have my own card at this level and on this stage, it shows the support Houston has for me. “I get a lot of juice from the hometown crowd,” Charlo Middleweight champ Jermall Charlo, 29, is defending continued. “Just having my family his title in Houston. there alone is what I really need to get the nerves and excitement Jermall Charlo vs. to where I need them. I’m going to be comfortable and I’m going Brandon Adams to stick to my game plan. I’m not Saturday, June 29, 8 p.m. here to make mistakes. Live at NRG Arena or on Showtime “It’s going to be fireworks,” www.premierboxingchampions.com/ he added. “I’m coming for the Charlo, who is 28-0 in the ring, said he is “well-prepared” for his For Adams, a proud next fight. knockout every time. Houston charlo-vs-adams native of Los Angeles’ is hot and the heat is going to be Watts neighborhood, the Each round [had] quality opponents leading up to the final and there fight night. I’m going to do opportunity to fight for all of that will prepare me for Charlo. He deserves everything what I normally do and give the a title, even in the champion’s backyard, was something he he’s gotten and I respect him as a man, but I’m going to take crowd excitement.” could not pass up. advantage of this opportunity.” Charlo’s trainer, Ronnie Shields, has an impressive “I didn’t expect my road to be easy because it’s never Shields feels it’s important for local fans to support resume featuring champions that he has trained, including been easy for me,” Adams said. “I’m on the road and I underCharlo. Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Pernell Whitaker and Arturo stand that. I’m prepared to pack my bags and go wherever I “Fans should come to the fight and support Jermall Gatti. He explained what makes Charlo such a great young need to, so that I can become what I’m supposed to become. because he’s Houston’s own,” Shields said. “He grew up here, talent. The best man will win on June 29.” fought as an amateur here, turned professional and stayed right “This kid has such a strong work ethic and hunger for Adams, the winner of the 2018 “The Contender” reality here in Houston. He had opportunities to relocate to other the game, and that’s a common theme that you see in great TV elimination tournament, said he feels no additional prescities, train in other locations, but he has remained in Houston. champions,” Shields said. “He’s a tireless worker in the gym. sure fighting in Houston. He’s proud of his Houston heritage and proud to bring his He watches film and he studies his opponents. You never have “It was pressure every time I fought on ‘The Contender.’ championship defense to his hometown.” to worry about him stepping into the ring ill-prepared.”
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years
defendernetwork.com
h.s. sports
JUNE 6 | 2019 | DEFENDER
15
Kris O’Neal
AAU point guard makes moves
K
By JODIE B. JILES Defender
ristopher “Kris” O’Neal, a senior point guard/shooting guard with Hightower High School and the Top Notch 17U Basketball summer league, is a player waiting to be
discovered. In the VYPE/AAS (All American Sports) Super Regional Tournament varsity championship, O’Neal made his presence felt by breezing by opponents with relative ease. He led all scorers in the victory with 19 points. Derrick Ardoin, a Top Notch AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) coach, said O’Neal “displays good senior leadership and takes control of the offense in hectic situations in particular.” The Defender spoke with O’Neal about his style of play, tweaks to his game this AAU season and overall goals going forward into his senior year at Hightower. Defender: When did you fall in love with basketball and how were you able to develop your game to what it is today? O’Neal: At first, I played football, basketball and baseball. I played baseball all summer long so I never got a chance to play AAU basketball. This changed the summer of my sixth-grade year. I O’Neal banks a layup off the glass adding to his 19 points always played in leagues but I decided that if this is in the championship game. what I really wanted to do, I had to play summer basing your game in preparation for when school ball ketball. So that’s what I did. And after a lot of blood, starts? sweat and tears I’ve been able to continue to develop O’Neal: I have just been trying to create a my game stronger inside game because usually I stay around the Defender: How would you describe your style of perimeter because I like to shoot. So, this summer I play as a guard? have been trying to get in the weight room and work on O’Neal: I like to my finishing in the inside. win and do whatever Defender: How For game & crowd photos visit IG: my team needs me has AAU benefited the @DefenderHighSchoolSports to do. For example, chemistry between you I play two different and your Hightower roles in AAU and teammate Cameron Colschool ball. In school ball I am a 3-and-D type of lins in preparation for your senior season? player. In AAU, I play more of a scoring role. Also, I O’Neal: I really enjoy playing with Cam. He is am a very unselfish player and I’m coachable. like a Swiss army knife and we work together to make Defender: What have been your keys to success each other better in practice. I feel that we both are this AAU season? under-the-radar players …We have both stepped up to O’Neal: I’ve been putting in work and thanks play different roles this year in our AAU season from to the Top Notch coaches and teammates I’ve been our high school team and have been really successful able to showcase different aspects of my game this in doing so. Our chemistry has improved tremendously summer. and are looking forward to transitioning to a state Defender: In what ways have you been refinchampionship senior year.
Kris O’Neal (left), coach Derrick Ardoin and Cameron Collins hoist the championship trophy.
O’Neal dribbles down the court to find his spot to make a play. (Photos by Jimmie Aggison)
About O’Neal
Twitter: #EazyBucketKris Favorite basketball player: Kyrie Irving Favorite musician: NBA Youngboy Other sports he plays: Football, defensive back Hobbies: Working out, playing NBA2k World problem he would solve: Racism Shout-outs: God, family, teammates, coach Steven Woods, Hightower coaching staff, Derrick Ardoin, other supporters
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years
16
DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2019
defendernetwork.com
Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
HBLI CLASS VI GRADUATION……..The Houston Black Leadership (HABJ), recently held its third annual Black Male Media Project. The event Institute (HBLI), an intentional development program for the next generation offered a safe space to foster discussions surrounding everything from the need of Houston’s African-American leadership, recently celebrated its Class VI for more diversity and inclusion in newsrooms to the improvement of positive graduation. With the newest 23 members of the HBLI to complete its intense Black male representation. Attendees included Jonathan Martin and Isiah Carey nine-month program, the movement now has over 120 of the city’s young (Fox 26), Brannon Nealy (Digital Media Network), KG Smooth (Majic 102 professionals who are willing to positively affect the social and economic FM), Khambrel Marshall (KPRC Channel 2), Freddie Willis and others…….. challenges facing Black communities. The ceremony took place in the Amegy GAME CHANGERS: WOMEN OF POWER & PRESENCE AWARDS Bank Building and was sponsored by the Greater Houston LUNCHEON……..The Houston chapter of the National Black Chamber. Attendees included Diane Maben Defender TOP EVENTS Alumnae Association of Spelman College recently hosted the Game (Amegy), Carol Guess, Errol Allen II, Erica Hubbard, Changers: Women of Power and Presence Awards Luncheon. The More photos on defendernetwork.com Jevaughn Sterling, Nwamaka Unaka, Amandi Rhett, event’s featured speaker was Global Game Changer honoree and Michelle Johnson, Warren Broadnax, Dr. Melissa Spelman grad Rosalind Brewer, COO of Starbucks. Additionally, Rector, Taylor Miller and many more……..HABJ BLACK MALE MEDIA local Women of Power & Presence were honored: Pastor Mia Wright, Vanessa Wyche, PROJECT……..The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an Gaynell Drexler and Winell Herron. Attendees included Congresswoman Sheila organization committed to combating the negative portrayals of Black men in the Jackson Lee, Tandelyn Weaver, Gayla Gardner, Doug Herron, Mayor Sylvester media. To this end, the local affiliate, the Houston Association of Black Journalists Turner, Dr. Rhea Lawson, Judge Clarease Yates and many more.
Leonard James III, Kathy Allen, Kristan Crapps, Errol Allen II
D Brannon Nealy
Diane Maben, Carl McGowan, Carol Guess
Khambrel Marshall
Rosalind Brewer, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Winell Herron
Mayor Sylvester Turner, Vanessa Wyche
Kerry Willrich, Warren Broadnax, Dr. Melissa Rector, Cameron Brown
KG Smooth
Njeri Mathis Rutledge, Pastor Mia Wright, Porsche Jones
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years