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Volume 87 | Number 32 JUNE 7, 2018 |FREE
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NEWSTALK LARENCE SNOWDEN Houston Housing Authority builds affordable housing
P2 NATIONAL BETSY DEVOS sued by NAACP for tossing discrimination claims
Black colleges in
MAYOR TURNER, COMMUNITY FIGHTING H PAGE 8
P3 FEATURE BREAST CANCER breakthrough study could eliminate chemo for patients
GUN VIOLENCE H PAGE 6
P9 TOP EVENTS
Lil Rel
Chris Paul
The comedian stole the show in “Get Out” and now, he’s headlining his own show in a new series on Fox. Find out more about “Rel” and other new shows with Black leads.
The Rockets have wrapped up their season – much earlier than they would’ve liked. But the team is proud of its success, and the contributions of All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who sat out the final two games with a torn hamstring.
Shines in new show
Black Panther and Amari Walker at the Children’s Museum Black Panther Bash.
P12
proud of team
H PAGE 5
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HISD schools among top 10 in annual rankings Defender News Services
Mayor Turner is joined by other city officials at the groundbreaking of Independence Heights.
Affordable apartment project breaks ground Defender News Services
The Houston Housing Authority (HHA) has broken ground on its first new affordable housing project in a decade. Independence Heights Apartments is a mixed-income community on the southeast corner of Crosstimbers and North Main Street in the Independence Heights neighborhood. The garden-style apartments, located at 302 Crosstimbers, will offer 154 subsidized units. The apartments are designated for eligible low-income renters earning at most $41,500 a year and supported by a public housing voucher. Leasing applications are expected to be open to the public by mid-2018. Construction is slated for completion by fall The apartments are designed to be practical. of 2018. projects totaling 1,543 units, according to the Urban Edge, a The HHA has not built any new affordblog from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Reable housing projects in a decade as neighborhood opposition has search. These projects are primarily planned for high-poverty blocked five out of eight proposed projects over the past three neighborhoods like Independence Heights, where the median years. household income hovers around $25,000 a year. “We’ve been waiting to do this for 10 years,” said LaRence While the debate over where to build affordable housing Snowden, Chair of the Houston Housing Authority. “A lot of it is walking through the bureaucracy that exists, and then making sure projects continues, private and nonprofit developers are moving forward on affordable and mixed-income housing projects we had the available dollars. Our waiting list continues to grow. in Houston. Although demand is high for affordable housing We have over a 100,000 people on the waiting list, which shows in Houston, local developers say it’s difficult to build more the need for affordable housing in Houston.” affordable apartments with tax credits. Last year, Mayor Sylvester Turner blocked a proposed afIn mid-December, The NHP Foundation began renovafordable housing development at 2640 Fountain View, located in tion work on Cleme Manor, a 284-unit affordable apartment a “high opportunity” neighborhood in the Briargrove area near the Galleria. The move prompted a federal Housing and Urban Devel- complex in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward neighborhood. The HHA, established in 1938, provides housing assisopment investigation, which found earlier this year that Houston had violated the Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination in tance to more than 58,000 low-income residents and homeless veterans. More than 17,000 families participate in the housing. authority’s voucher program and another 5,700 residents live Amid growing concerns that Houston faces an “affordin 25 public housing and tax-credit communities around the able housing crisis,” the City of Houston and its housing Bayou City. authority are moving forward on 12 new affordable housing
Children at Risk announced its annual list of the top schools in the greater Houston area, and for the eighth consecutive year, HISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions was listed as number one among high schools in the area and the state. Five other HISD high schools were included in the top 10: Eastwood Academy (#2), Carnegie Vanguard High School (#3), East Early College High School (#6), Sharpstown International School (#8), and Challenge Early College High School (#10). Five HISD middle schools also were recognized as top 10 performers: T.H. Rogers School (#1), Project Chrysalis Middle School (#4), Lanier Middle School (#6), Energized for STEM Academy Southwest MS (#6), Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (#9). On the elementary school list, four HISD schools were ranked in the top 10: T.H. Rogers School (#1), Horn Elementary School (#4), River Oaks Elementary School (#5), and West University Elementary School (#6). “These rankings are validation that we’re heading in the right direction in providing a quality public education for our students,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. Also noteworthy this year are 21 HISD campuses that earned the Gold Ribbon distinction. These schools are neither a charter nor a magnet, have a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students, and received an A or B grade by Children at Risk. At the elementary level, 16 HISD campuses earned the award, including Field, Lyons, Park Place, De Chaumes, Ed White, DeAnda, Foster, Southmayd, Hines-Caldwell, Moreno, Osborne, Sutton, Sanchez, Henderson, Ketelsen, and Rodriguez elementary schools. Three HISD middle schools also received Gold Ribbon status: Project Chrysalis, Energized for Excellence Academy Inc. middle schools, and Pilgrim Academy. And two HISD high schools were awarded Gold Ribbon status: Eastwood Academy and Energized for STEM Academy Southwest HS. Children At Risk considered three categories in its ranking methodology: performance on STAAR reading and math tests in 2017 (factoring in percentage of economically disadvantaged students), student progress, and graduation rates and SAT/ACT participation. Each category was weighted evenly. In previous rankings, test scores received more weight than the other two categories.
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U.S.briefs A FEDERAL JURY DETERMINED that the family of a Black man killed in his home in Florida by a sheriff’s deputy after being called for a noise complaint would receive only 1 percent of the $4 awarded in damages. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office was found partly liable in the 2014 shooting of Gregory Hill Jr. The jury awarded $1 to his mother to cover funeral expenses and $1 to each of his three children. Because Hill was found to be 99 percent responsible for his own death, the court reduced the final award to 4 cents. Deputies arrived to investigate a complaint about noise coming from Hill’s garage. Hill was shot three times after deputies said he had a gun, which is still in dispute. His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2016…….A GEORGIA TEEN WAS SENTENCED TO five years in prison and 10 years probation for stealing a pair of Nikes. Dayonn Davis, 18, contacted the owner of the shoes on Facebook after seeing them listed for sale. At the meet-up point in Columbus, Davis stole the shoes and shot the seller. Davis’ lawyers argued that he had no juvenile record. He was tried as an adult despite committing the crime while he was still 15…….MORE CONTROVERSIAL POSTS FROM MSNBC HOST Joy Reid’s now-defunct blog from the mid-2000s have been found. The posts include criticism of CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and accuse him of not hiding “his affinity for his Israeli guests or his partisanship for their cause.” In another post, she included a photoshopped image of Sen. John McCain’s head on the body of the shooter who carried out the mass shooting at Virginia Tech that killed 32 people. Reid apologized for the posts and MSNBC said the network is standing by her because she “has evolved.”
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NAACP files suit against DeVos, Dept. of Education Defender News Services
The NAACP has filed a federal lawsuit against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education. The lawsuit accuses DeVos and her department of abandoning civil rights enforcement regulations and “dismissing hundreds of complaints.” The NAACP filed the suit along with the National Federation of the Blind and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates to the U.S. District Court of Maryland. “Betsy DeVos and the Betsy DeVos Department of Education have determined that civil rights no longer matter. They’ve decided to abandon DOE’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) responsibility to investigate racial, gender or disability discrimination complaints,” said NAACP spokesperson Malik Russell. The organization claims that the DOE has undermined the Office of Civil Rights’ ability to enforce discrimination laws by making “illegal changes to its case procedure manual.” “In March 2018, DOE’s Office of Civil Rights revised its Case Processing Manual thereby altering the rights of complainants to have their discrimination
allegations reviewed or appeal decisions made by OCR,” said the NAACP. “These changes, made without the legally required notice and comment, prevented the NAACP and other organizations from voicing our opinions about how the proposed rule changes would affect students of color, students with disabilities and low-income students, and thereby violates the federal Administrative Procedures Act.” NAACP General Counsel Bradford M. Berry added, “By summarily changing policies to allow for the dismissal of civil rights complaints and the ability of organizations to appeal their rulings, DeVos is basically saying protecting civil rights and the rights of those with disabilities no longer matter at the Department of Education.” DeVos is a billionaire with no prior experience in education. She was handpicked by President Donald Trump, who the NAACP claims is responsible for setting the climate of these new negative practices. “It’s important for people to realize how the racism and rhetoric emanating from the White House is seeping its way into law and policy, and this arbitrary change is just one more example of where Trump is taking the nation,” Russell said.
Black unemployment hits record low Defender News Services
VOLUME 87 • NUMBER 32 JUNE 7, 2018 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Videographer
Jodie B. Jiles
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
The Black unemployment rate fell to a record low of 5.9 percent in May, dipping dramatically by more than half a percentage point from April. This new number is the lowest since the government started keeping track in 1972. President Donald Trump will likely take credit for the new numbers. He wrongly boasted at this year’s State of the Union address that his administration had lowered the Black unemployment rate. “And something I’m very proud of, AfricanAmerican unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded,” Trump said. However, the Black unemployment rate has been on a steady decline since 2011, according to Vox. This movement can be attributed to President Barack Obama’s administration. Plus, Trump’s administration hasn’t exactly been clear about which of their policies
or practices are aiding in this decline. The new numbers also indicate that the gap between Black and white unemployment has never been smaller, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The gap shrank to 2.4 percentage points, the first time on record it’s been less than 3 points, CNN reports. “Looking at the trend for African-Americans, it is very clear that their unemployment rate has fallen markedly over the past seven years,” Evan Cunningham, an economist at the BLS,said. “The decline thus far in 2018 looks to be a continuation of this same trend.” There are still some negatives: The rate for Black teens is 19.8 percent, substantially higher than the 11.6 percent unemployment rate for white teens. And the rate for Black men over the age of 20 is 6 percent, compared with just 4.7percent for Black adult women and 3.2 percent for white men over the age of 20.
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Shows with Black leads debut next season high school. We’ll have to wait and see if they’re able to make this tired narrative more than a stereotypical culture clash. “The Neighborhood” (CBS) – It’s another recycled storyline, but you can’t go wrong with Cedric The Entertainer on television. A white Midwestern family moves to a Black L.A. neighborhood (next door to Cedric’s family) and comedy ensues as the families deal with the culture shock. How Black is it? This may be a spinbecause it’s the white family that has to assimilate into a very proud, Black, middle-class neighborhood and not the other way around. Cedric’s character is also peak Black dad and not here for any white antics. There’s a chance the show will come off too gimmicky if they don’t finetune the jokes but Cedric and Tichina Arnold aren’t new to this so this one may be a hit. “The Enemy Within” (NBC) – After the cancellation of “Rosewood,” many thought it would be a long time before we would be able to see Morris Chestnut on our TV screens again. Well that isn’t the case because NBC has ordered “The Enemy Within,” which stars Chestnut as an FBI agent who teams up with a prisoner to capture an elusive criminal. He is forced to enlist the help of a former
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African-American leads will take center stage in upcoming television shows. Here is a look at some of the ones to tune into. “Rel” (Fox) – Not sure if we are buying Sinbad as Lil Rel Howery’s father but Sinbad is back on TV! The legendary comedian is playing Howery’ s dad in this comedy about a man who is picking up the pieces of his life after his wife cheats on him with his barber. Rel relocates to Chicago and tries to move on with the help of his father, brother and friends. How Black is it? His wife had an affair with his barber, one of the most sacred people in a Black man’s life. As if the premise isn’t Black enough, it takes place in the South Side of Chicago and the trailLil Rel Howery stars in “Rel.” er includes a Black pastor who tells his business to the whole congregation during his sermon. “Happy Together” (CBS) – CBS has had very few Black people, let alone Black leads in their TV shows. However, after public Amber Dawn West (center) and Damon Wayans Jr. (right) star in outcry and the suc“Happy Together.” cess of Shemar Moore’s “S.W.A.T” and the two-season run of “Superior Donuts,” it looks like the network is ready to give another Black actor a chance at lead. A celebrity moves in with his Taye Diggs and Daniel Ezra star in “All American.” married accountant (Damon Wayans Jr.) to lay low after a Crenshaw teen who CIA agent/traitor/prisoner. public breakup. heads to Beverly How Black is it? Chestnut is being touted as a lead of a How Black is it? This Hills to play football diverse show vs. a Black show, but that type of representation is definitely seems like one of after a shooting near necessary too, especially with “Scandal” gone. The slight downthose shows where the Black his school. side is that Chestnut is sharing the “lead” with a white woman characters just happens to be How Black is (Jennifer Carpenter) and his character can’t get the job done Black but don’t lean into it it? A Black kid being without her, so the white savior aspect definitely subtracts some much in the script, which is transported from the points. But at least he’s not the prisoner. fine and pretty on brand for Cedric The Entertainer (right) stars in “The Neighborhood.” hood to a lily-white “God Friended Me” (CBS) – God befriends a nonbeliever this particular Wayans famaffluent environment is (Brandon Michael Hall) on social media and somehow turns him ily member whose past work a tale as old as time — See more shows with Black leads at into a hero by connecting him to people who need his help. Yes, includes sitcoms like “Happy or at least as old as “Different www.DefenderNetwork.com. you read that correctly. What is it about Hall that keeps landing Endings” and “New Girl.” Strokes.” This time at least, him in these unrealistic roles (see ABC’s now-canceled sitcom But shout out to Amber Dawn the person who comes to bring “The Mayor.”)? West (and the rest of the leads the Black kid to the rich kid school is also Black (Diggs) and the How Black is it? It sounds unrealistic and is sure to offend from “The Carmichael Show”) for landing on a new TV show head coach of the team. Diggs’ character is also from Crenshaw at least half of our mothers’ Bible study groups. However, a so quickly. originally and now lives in Beverly Hills with his white wife, Black man being converted to do right by God is common narra“All American” (CW) – Newcomer Daniel Ezra is ready Latina housekeeper and two biracial children who also attend the tive in our community, right? Joe Morton a.k.a. Papa Pope is in to make a splash alongside Taye Diggs in this story about a
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DEFENDER | JUNE 7 | 2018
CENTE
FIGHTING GUN VIOL Mayor Turner establishes commission in search of solutions
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By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
etween 19 students being gunned down at Parkland High School in Florida…a 3-year-old boy shot in Sunnyside...the drive-by slaying of an 8-year-old in Third Ward…and the 10 students murdered at Santa Fe High School, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is fed up with the gun violence problem and determined to do something about it. By the time Texas students return to school in August, Turner is hopeful the city will have at least one set of recommendations to keep young people safe. It’s a challenge the mayor has set forth as part of a new commission on gun violence, a group of 37 local residents which will develop recommendations for addressing the growing problem in Houston. “How we get there, I can’t give you the answers,” said Turner. “Schools ought to be as safe as our governmental buildings or airports.” Turner said a group of local students who are part of the national March For Our Lives movement against gun violence persuaded him to create the commission. “They were devastated following the Parkland high school shooting in Florida, and they wanted us to do more than just offer our prayers and condolences,” Turner announced. “They demanded gun safety, safe schools, an end to school shootings, and quite frankly, I just don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
A DIVERSE THINK TANK
The 37-member commission is composed of a wide swath of Houstonians, including students, teachers, law enforcement, clergy, city officials, doctors, gun control advocates, gun violence victims and gun owners. Haley Carter, a former Marine Corps officer and Houston Dash goalkeeper, will chair the group. Members from the religious community, local students, and representatives of other prominent organizations such as the NAACP, LULAC and the United Way round out the commission. In addition, Turner asked the panel for yet another recommendation before the new Congress convenes in Washington next January. He urged members to be thorough and pragmatic when vetting ideas. “I am interested in coming up with ideas that can make society safer for our children, irrespective of where they come from, their religious beliefs or languages they speak, because the shooters have demonstrated they do not respect human life,” Turner said. The commission’s charge is to develop and propose specific recommendations to improve gun safety in our schools, neighborhoods and communities through action on the local, state and federal levels
FACING CHALLENGES
Since 2016 the city has averaged 293 murders per year. Most victims are killed by gunfire.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, center, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, far right, join demonstrators during a “Ma
According to statistics compiled by gun violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety, the fatal shooting at Santa Fe High School is the 23rd school incident of 2018 that resulted in injury or death. Texas law largely prohibits cities from passing their own gun regulations. However, cities remain free to regulate where residents without handgun permits can carry a firearm, such as schools, athletic events and other public places, according to the Texas Local Government Code. University of Houston psychologist and professor Dr. Kristin Anderson applauded the commission but said since the gun problem is a federal problem, the commission may be limited in what it can actually do. “The fact that we’re hampered by what the federal government does and doesn’t do is going to be a challenge,” she said. “For example, Chicago has a gun problem, but they also have fairly restrictive gun laws. Municipalities around Chicago and states have pretty liberal gun laws so what happens is guns flood into Chicago. In Texas, they have mandated guns in our classroom (I have to allow students to bring guns in my office when they come to argue about test grades) so there are limitations. The local commission will have to push and lobby the federal government,” Anderson said. “Whatever great ideas we have in Houston, it only matters at the federal level because if surrounding cities don’t implement what we implement especially in regards to guns, it can be futile.”
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es c n u o n t an t o b b A . Gov lan p y t e f a school s out a wide-ranging schoolscsahfeootyl pprolantec–tions
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ott laid expanded . Greg Abb screenings, ge – and left the door h lt a e h Texas Gov l ta n r me n usa riorities. rograms fo gulating gu e of those p m including p , narrow measures re so to ss a p I am open stin to few back to Au that could be passed, and even a rs e k a m w s ing la n some law open to call rnor onsensus o c is . id re acked gove e sa -b th tt A o R b “If b N A e ” th n], om tes ecial sessio ovement fr ist in a handful of sta calling [a sp e most surprising m x e t on is a rs th e p s that asure Perhaps th firearms if g laws, me s a l’ a -fl u d id re f iv o d n in issue rily seize a was on the to tempora s e g ed state law d ju g reat. Abbott ask maintaining allowin , th t re n e su a in e m m a “ an im law” while orsing such considered plicitly end of adopting a red flag x e t u o h it W e merits consider th ending that .” makers to “ dards of due process gun storage, recomm g away guns stan e issue of like lockin the highest un addressed th safe storage practices o ls a tt ng them, g o b b A andate Texas amo m s, t te o a n s. st t r u rm e b a ote fire f oth Texas prom ot in use. In dozens o if minors access their anta n le e hools like S b ’r sc ta y e n ” u g th o in c n c e a y rd while a ll a h nce and be held leg vernor’s proposal is “ police prese d se a re o owners can c g in e of th with for arming At the heart oth by guarding them isting state programs targets, b to join ex Fe High as more school districts ing by persuad . ff a st l o scho
Commission members Th e 37 individuals on the Violence represenMayor’s Commission Against Gun t a cross-section of the Houston
arch for Our Lives” protest.
MOVING FORWARD
Criminal justice expert Bill Wells of Sam Houston State University is a bit more optimistic, saying locally, commission members can direct their efforts at things they do have control over. “I think with good research, we’ll end up with a proper understanding and that’s going to put the commission in a position to implement good responses,” he said. “Seattle did this a few years ago. They set up a mechanism where they looked at the problem using multiple data sources. Houston can use that sort of model and look at data from police, community and hospitals to really get an understanding on what the situation looks like.” Turner said ideas such as metal detectors in schools would be a good start. He doesn’t expect the commission to reinvent the wheel – just develop practical solutions that will improve the status quo. Turner would like some immediate solutions before the school year starts and other recommendations before the end of the year. “I’m not asking you to filter anything based on any partisan divide or anything,” he insisted. “I’m not interested in engaging in a political battle or fight against any organization. “But I am interested in coming up with ideas that can make society safer for our children, irrespective of where they come from, their religious beliefs or languages they speak, because the shooters have demonstrated they do not respect human life. If it’s a good idea, it’s a good idea.”
Houston area for over 85 years
• Rev. William Law son (honorary chair ), Wheeler Avenue Ba • Andrew Yoo, Law ptist Church school student • Rabbi Samuel Ka • Ping Sun, Rice Un rff (honorary chair ive rsity, attorney ), Congregation Beth • Aimee Mobley Tu Israel rney, Moms Deman • Archbishop Jose d Action for Gun Sens ph Fiorenza (honor e in America ary chair), Archdioces • Ti ffany Ross, Menta e of Galveston-Ho l Health America & uston Mayor’s • Kendra Willis, 20 LQBTQ Advisory Bo 17 Ms. Wheelchair ard Texas & violence su • Sonia Corrales, Ho rvivor uston Area Women • James Tucker, Ya ’s Center tes Hi ate & family of victim gh School gradu- • Judson Robi nson III, Houston Ar ea • Sam Peña, Hous Urban League ton fire chief • Dr. David Persse • M ar y Ramos, LULAC , chief medical offi cer • Victor Gonzalez • Yolanda Smith, , Mayor’s Anti-Gang NAACP Office • Haley Carter, U.S. Marine Corps • Art Acevedo, Ho • Cornelius Blacks uston police chief hear, United Way • Ed Gonzalez, Ha • Dr. Bindi Naik-M rris County sheriff athuria, Texas • Kim Ogg, Harris Ch ildren’s Hospital & County DA Baylor College of • Paul Cordova, In Medicine terim HISD police ch ief • Vera Bumpers, M • Jerry Ashworth, etro police chief TIRR Memorial He rman • Marcel McClinto • Dr. Peter Stout, Ho n, March for Our Liv uston Forensic Scies student ence Center • Wasiq Javed, M • Johnny Mata, Co arch for Our Lives alition for Justice, student LULAC • Madeline Lake, M • Abbie Kamin, An arch for Our Lives ti-Defamation Leag ue student • Dr. Robert Muham mad, Action CDC • Ariel Hobbs, Mar • Da n Sn are, American Lead ch for Our Lives stu ership Forum dent • Sheryl Ro • Alina Dong, Chair pollo, Wagon Whe , Mayor’s Youth Co el Ranch uncil • Deric M uhammad, activist & author
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DEFENDER | JUNE 7 | 2018
Congratulations Houston Area Urban League
Thank You For Your Leadership “Every man is our brother, and every man’s burden is our own. Where poverty exists, all are poorer. Where hate flourishes, all are corrupted. Where injustice reins, all are unequal.” --Whitney M. Young | Former NUL President | 1961-1971
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DAY GALA “Honoring Our Past…Impacting Our Present… Shaping Our Future”
Dr. Ruth Simmons, President Prairie View A&M University Honoring our Past Legacy Awardee
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, Business Owner and Philanthropist Impacting our Present Living Legend Awardee
Roynell Young, Founder/CEO Pro Vision Academy Shaping Our Future Empowerment Awardee
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Some women with breast cancer can skip chemo gen-blocking drugs along with doses of chemotherapy to lower the risk of recurrence. Black women are two to three times more likely than white women to get an aggressive type of breast cancer called triple negative breast cancer, for which there are still no approved targeted treatments. Women affected by the new findings are estrogen-sensitive, test negative for HER2 and have early stage
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About 70 percent of women diagnosed with the early stages of one of the most common forms of breast cancer might not need chemotherapy as part of treatment, according to the results of a new study from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, analyzed how well a widely used genetic test assessed cancer risk, based on 21 genes linked with breast cancer recurrence. “These data confirm that using a 21-gene expression test to assess the risk of cancer recurrence can spare women unnecessary treatment if the test indicates that chemotherapy is not likely to provide benefit,” said lead author Dr. Joseph A. Sparano, associate director for clinical research at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center. “I’m delighted,” said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical and scien-
tumors below five centimeters that have not spread to lymph nodes. They also have a score between 11 and 25 on the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test. Past research has shown that women with scores between 0 and 10 could skip chemotherapy, while those with scores over 25 benefited from adding chemotherapy to their hormonal treatment plan.
tific officer for the American Cancer Society, who was not part of the study. “I’ve been worried for a long time about unnecessary treatment for cancer, and unnecessary side effects from chemotherapy. “Now with these genomic tests, we are finding that we have multiple types of breast cancer, perhaps several dozen,” said Brawley, “and we are being able to tailor our therapies to the type of breast cancer every woman has.” Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. About 50 percent of all women diagnosed worldwide have hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative, node-negative cancer. Treatment options include estro-
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DEFENDER | JUNE 7 | 2018
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Rockets proud of season despite disappointing end By MAX EDISON Defender
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” is GM Daryl Morey the famous phrase from Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Tale of Two mid-season. He’s optimistic Cities.” It could just as easily that the team’s record and be the opening line of Housseries with the Warriors ton Rockets head coach Mike should attract free agents D’Antoni’s assessment of the who want to compete and 2017-18 season, which saw the win a title. Rockets finish the year with a “With our winning, franchise record 65 wins and the with the stories around the NBA’s best record. league about our players, It was a season that saw our locker room and our them successfully add the coaches, we’re going to services of All-Star point guard have the pick of the free Chris Paul and a season that saw agents out there, whether James Harden put up MVP-style they be the high-end ones numbers, leading or the Luc and Gerald the league in scorGreens of this year,” ” ing (30.4) and third Morey said. in assists (8.8). “We feel like we’re It was also a very well positioned to win Clint Capela is a restricted free agent. season that saw the the free agency battle to Rockets go up three some really good get over the last hump.” games to two in the defensive players Expect the Rockets to be major players in Western Conferand we improved the free agent sweepstakes. First, they have to ence finals against our defense…Confend off poachers who will be sniffing around the defending world firmed that Clint the door of 24-year-old center Clint Capela, a rechampion Golden [Capela] could stricted free agent. He averaged a double double State Warriors. Then get better, did get with just under 14 points and 10 rebounds per the unthinkable hapbetter and now he game. pened: Chris Paul needs to make one Capela also has emerged as one of the NBA’s threw a hamstring more jump. A lot top defensive big men. He’s a shot blocker, rim with less than two of great stuff happrotector and even can guard out on the perimminutes remaining pened all year and eter. He continues to make huge strides every in Game 5, a Rockhopefully that will year. ets home victory. continue.” The biggest name in free agency will be Without Paul LeBron James will be the biggest name in free agency. As the Rockets LeBron James and where he will end up is a the Rockets lost shift their attention question mark. Not only is he the premier NBA Games 6 and 7 and the dream season ended. to the offseason, franchise architect GM Daryl player of this generation, he also plays a position Head coach Mike D’Antoni reflected on his Morey will be tasked to once again tweak the that the Rockets have shown to be vulnerable in, team’s efforts. roster and make the additions that get the Rocksmall forward. “I couldn’t be prouder of our team,” D’Antoni ets to the next level. Morey will have to juggle The opportunity to win a title will be James’ said. “They battled all night (in Game 7). There’s resigning the team’s free agents while casting a No. 1 criteria. No team affords him that chance no quit in them. We saw where the bar is, we alwatchful eye to see which free agents could be the immediately like the Rockets. He would also get most got there this year. I just told James [Hardmissing puzzle pieces to the team’s championship to team up with his good friend Paul, who we en] and Chris it might take us winning 70 next aspirations. know is an outstanding recruiter. OKC small year and coming back busting somebody.” Morey shocked the sports world last season forward Paul George, an unrestricted free agent, D’Antoni said the positive elements of the adding Paul, eventual starter P.J. Tucker and rota- could also be on Morey’s menu. season are building blocks for the future. tion guy Luc Mbah a Moute to the team roster. Expect the Rockets offseason to be as excit“We confirmed that Chris and James are He also added high-energy reserve Gerald Green ing as their playoff run. really good together. Confirmed that we added
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JUNE 7 | 2018 | DEFENDER
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sportsbriefs Williams withdraws Serena Williams, playing in her first Majors tournament since giving birth nine months ago, was forced to withdraw from the French Open because of a pectoral muscle injury. “It’s extremely disappointing,” Williams said. “But also, I made a promise to myself and to my coach and to my team that if I’m not at least 60 percent or 50 percent, then I probably shouldn’t play. The fact that I physically can’t serve at all is a good indication that maybe I should just go back to the drawing board and stay positive,” Williams said, “and try to get better and not get it to a point where it could be a lot worse.”
Wright selected for HOF
Atascocita High School won the Class 6A state softball championship.
Atascocita softball team stands atop mountain here with me,” Lillie said, while holding a framed picture of her dad during the medal ceremony. “The goal has been reached.” AUSTIN – They made their rallying cry come true – Senior Jenika Lombrana was Atascocita’s starting Why not Atascocita? pitcher and lasted one out into the sixth inning before yielding After eliminating the No. 1-ranked Class 6A team to freshman Mikayla Garza, who recorded the final five outs. (Katy) in Texas during the Region III finals, Atascocita didn’t Lombrana, a senior transfer from Kingwood High blink facing the top-ranked team in the U.S. for the 6A state School, is heading to Texas A&M International University softball championship at Red & Charline McCombs Field. after notching 21 wins in the circle during the Lady Eagles’ The 35-7 Lady Eagles came from behind twice to defeat magical season. Comal Canyon 5-3 and secure the first state team title in “I wasn’t really tired but I was a little sore after pitching school history. the semifinal game and I “We have a never quit knew we had Mikayla to attitude. Any time we have come in and shut it down,” DefenderNetwork.com an out left on the scoreLombrana said. “I’ve been Find out what Houston-area schools board, we think we can get working for this ever since I are going to Class 6A state baseball the job done,” said Atascan remember and it finally tournament. cocita coach Ashley Boyd. paid off.” “Everybody did their part. Atascocita defeated Pla“They were hustling no 4-2 in the state semifinals. hard,” Boyd said. “We kept a few of those innings going Center fielder Lauren Bazan was named the 6A title because we out-hustled them and created some outs to play game Most Valuable Player with two singles and two runs with. We found a way to win at the end.” scored in the contest. Atascocita trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth to a “We beat the two top ranked teams in the state to win team that had only lost once previously and was ranked No. this championship,” Bazan said. “We kept fighting through 1 nationally by MaxPreps. Bryanna Bell opened with a walk adversity and sticking together as a team to win. We never and eventually scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch. gave up. This feels so amazing.” Right fielder Lillie Grotenhuis plated the game-winning Canyon, 29-2, took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and run with a sacrifice fly later in the same inning and teammate regained the advantage (3-2) with a pair of runs in the top of Skylar Wilabay scored an insurance run on another wild the sixth on RBI doubles from Sydney Owens and Bailey pitch. Zibelin. “This means the world to me. My dad and I dreamed The Cougarettes threatened again in the top of the of winning a state championship together,” said Grotenhuis, seventh. whose father Jim Grotenhuis was the school’s first softball “Getting a chance to go out there and play in the chamcoach and passed away four years ago from a heart attack. pionship game was unbelievable,” Garza said. “It was all “I’m just glad I could live out that dream and it feels like he’s about having confidence. If you have it, you’re good.” By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
University of Houston Cougar football legend Elmo Wright has been named to the 2019 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Wright, a receiver and consensus All-American in 1970, was Houston’s first NFL draft firstround selection, selected 16th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1971. Wright, a Sweeny, Texas native, was a second-team All-American in 1969 and an honorable mention All-American in 1968. He still holds two NCAA records from his 1968 season – most TD receptions of 50 yards or more in a season with eight and highest average per touchdown catch in a season with an average of 56.1 yards per score. A high performer on and off the field, Wright earned Academic All-America honors in 1969.
Foster falls, Liberty High School wins Foster’s bid to bring home the Class 5A state softball title unraveled in the top of the seventh inning when Forney High School scored three runs to break a 1-1 tie and held on to record a 4-1 victory in the state championship game. Coming off an 8-1 win over Fort Worth Arlington Heights in the 5A state semifinals, Foster stood toe-to-toe with Forney through six innings. Amanda Allen’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning snapped a scoreless tie and gave the Lady Falcons a brief lead. Forney tied it up in the top of the fifth on a leadoff double by Caleigh Cross, who scored from second base on a well-placed bunt single from Hannah Holdbrook. Savanna DesRochers tossed a complete-game eight-hitter with two strikeouts in the win. She also supplied the biggest hit of the game with a two-run double in the seventh followed by Caroline Tedders’ RBI single. DesRochers was named the state title game MVP. Kacie Pryor pitched the distance for Foster and struck out seven after fanning 15 in the state semifinals. “We beat ourselves with errors and a lack of communication,” said Foster coach Keely Shuler. “I think we’re a better program overall and we just beat ourselves. Kacie gave it all she had and left her heart out there on the field. That’s all I could ask in her final high school game.”…..With a starting lineup that included two seniors and seven freshmen, Liberty defeated Vernon 3-1 to claim the Class 4A state softball title.
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DEFENDER | JUNE 7 | 2018
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
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RAW HOUSTON’S MAGNIFY NEW ARTISTS SHOWCASE……..RAW positively affect the social and economic challenges facing our communities. Houston hosted Magnify, an event showcasing up and coming independent The ceremony took place in the Amegy Bank Building and was sponsored artists while providing them with the tools, resources and exposure needed by the Greater Houston Black Chamber. Attendees included Diane Maben to inspire and cultivate creativity. The high energy Magnify shined the (Amegy), Courtney Johnson Rose, Jeffrey Wallace, Errol Allen II, spotlight on talent in visual art, film, fashion design, music, performance art, Carol Hubbard, Ray Shackelford, Jane Udoewa, Amari Jones, Christa hair and makeup artistry and photography. RAW currently operates in over Stoneham, Simone Rixey, Kenneth Lavergne, Leeann Williams and many 60 cities across the United States, Australia, Canada and more ……..BLACK PANTHER BASH @ CHILDREN’S the UK. Attendees included Magnify producer Ryan O. MUSEUM OF HOUSTON……..The Children’s Museum Defender TOP EVENTS of Houston along with sponsor Majic 102.1 FM hosted the Harris, Crystal Jones, Biko Walker, Mike Thompson, More photos on defendernetwork.com Ivey, Jo El, Debi Hutchinson, Kandys Foster, Lazetta Black Panther Bash as part of the museum’s Super Powered Bryant, Neha Sharpe, Nicole Hutchinson, Lorena Summer program. Children and adults were treated to the Mitchell and many others……..HOUSTON BLACK regal presence of King T’Challa (the Black Panther), ruler LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE GRADUATION……..The Houston Black and protector of Wakanda. Participants were able to take photos with Marvel’s greatest Avenger while enjoying an African drumming performance by Joy Leadership Institute (HBLI), an intentional development program for the next generation of Houston’s African-American leadership, recently celebrated its of Djembe Drumming. Attendees included King T’Challa, Jebada Powell, Class V graduation. With the newest 25 members of the HBLI to complete KG Smooth, Tzion Herndon, Britne Williams, Britain Peters, Mason Jefferson, Christopher, Aristea and Andrea Underwood, Amari Walker its intense nine-month program, the movement now has over 100 of the and others. city’s best and brightest young professionals who are capable and willing to
Kyle McClue, Ryan O. Harris, Brandon Anderson
Biko Walker, Lazetta Bryant
Elijan Williams, Carol Hubbard, Ray Shackelford
Michelle Johnson, Diane Maben
Black Panther, Amari Walker
Christopher Underwood, Aristea Underwood, Andrea Underwood
Jada Thomas, Skyy Horton, Crystal Jones, Latrice Rucker
Simone Rixey, Skyra Thomas
Jebada Powell, KG Smooth
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