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JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE CITY P13

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Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

Volume 88 | Number 33

JUNE 13, 2019 |FREE

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NEWSTALK Executive Director Deloyd Parker

ERIC JOHNSON wins Dallas mayoral race.

P2 ENTERTAINMENT SAMUEL L. JACKSON brings his wit to “Shaft”

The

lies

about

SPORTS AMERE LATTIN

shines with UH track team

Black dads

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Scarface

to run for District D

O.J. Simpson living ‘just fine’

The rapper, born Brad Jordan, has announced that he’s running for Houston City Council’s District D, which is being vacated by Dwight Boykins. With a slogan “Of the People, For the People,” Scarface says he wants to make a super impact in the community.

After 25 years living under the shadow of one of the nation’s most notorious murder cases, O.J. Simpson says his life has entered a phase he calls the “no negative zone.” The 71-year-old said he is healthy and happy living in Las Vegas. Read the exclusive story.

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TOP EVENTS

Sonny Messiah Jiles, Jenita Boleware and Helen Shaffer at the Third Ward Appreciation Breakfast.

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DEFENDER | JUNE 13 | 2019

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Eric Johnson elected mayor of Dallas Johnson obtained bipartisan backing from a who’s who of political donors on both sides of the aisle. After a month-long Mayor-elect Johnson and a rerunoff race and final voting constituted City Council believe they on June 8, State Rep. Eric now have the opportunity to tackle Johnson, a Democrat, is the systemic Dallas problems without benew mayor of Dallas. ing saddled with warring factions and Johnson replaces outgowedge issues. ing Mayor Mike Rawlings “I’m optimistic about this new with his win, sounding an term and this new council,” said alarm to progressives on the Mayor Pro Tem Casey Thomas, who council that voters may be is returning to the council. “The looking for a new leadership Mayor-elect Eric Johnson citizens of Dallas want to see us work style at City Hall. together, when we can, and they want to see us Johnson secured 55 percent of the vote move the city forward with an agenda that includes (41,000 votes) to beat outgoing City Councilmemreal progress.” ber Scott Griggs in a two-candidate runoff race. Defender News Service

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Abbott deploys DPS to combat Dallas crime Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to send officers to Dallas to help the city’s police respond to a recent spike in violent crime. The state agency will send troopers, special agents and communication specialists, among other resources, Abbott’s office said. The Texas Rangers will also be available to assist with homicide investigations. “The Dallas Police Department is committed to doing all they can to crack down on criminal activity, and Texas will dedicate whatever resources are needed to help keep our communities safe,” Abbott said. The action comes after Dallas had 40 homicides in May, the highest monthly total since the 1990s, according the Dallas Morning News. The city has also seen increases in other violent crimes – such as robberies and assaults – and its police department’s response times have slowed as its staff has shrunk. Police Chief U. Renée Hall, who has come under fire for the understaffed department and rise in homicides, requested the help from the state, Abbott’s office said. The city has 13 homicide detectives on staff. Crime in Dallas has garnered national attention, including for a string of recent killings and violent attacks on Black transgender women. In May, 22-yearold Muhlaysia Booker, was shot and killed in Dallas just a month after a cellphone video showing her being brutally beaten went viral. Chynal Lindsey, a 26-year-old Black transgender woman who was found on June 1 with “obvious signs of homicidal violence,” was the second Black transgender woman to be killed in Dallas in 2019. Abbott said he will make sure Dallas has access to “every resource and tool they need to address this challenge and to quell any increase in murders in Dallas.” “Any type of murder is bad and unacceptable,” Abbot said. “Period.”

Safe Streets initiative

As part of the Safe Streets initiative, Mayor Sylvester Turner dedicated street safety work to the memory of Jesus “Jesse” Perez and Lesha Adams, who were struck and killed as Adams helped Perez across a Heights area street. With Turner are Perez’s and Adams’ family members. Adams was driving with her daughters on March 30 when she saw Perez struggling to cross the intersection in a wheelchair. She pulled over and was helping Perez when another vehicle struck the pair. “Just because [Houston Public Works] upgraded this intersection does not mean we will forget Lesha Adams and Jesus Perez,” Turner said. “And just because we made this intersection safer for pedestrians and everyone else does not mean we need another horrific accident to take place before we improve other intersections.”

localbriefs MONEY THAT WAS PAID TO FIREFIGHTERS BEFORE Proposition B was struck down last month must be repaid, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has said.The announcement came after a unanimous vote by the Houston City Council to restore the 220 firefighters and 66 cadets that were cut as the city was implementing the measure. The vote also voided more than 450 planned demotions. The voterapproved ordinance, which requires the city’s firefighters to be paid the same as their police department counterparts, was ruled unconstitutional last month. Turner said that the money that was paid to firefighters on May 7 in order comply with Proposition B will eventually need to be repaid because the city cannot make gifts of money. He added that while the city has the right to take the money back immediately, he’s

hoping the money will act as a credit on future negotiations with the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association.….A SWEEPING OVERHAUL OF TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. House Bill 3 is designed to increase per-student funding by 20 percent, give teachers raises, fund free full-day pre-K for eligible 4-year-olds and decrease the state’s reliance on “Robin Hood” payments from wealthier districts to subsidize poor districts through the recapture program.……..THE ANNUAL DAY OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BLACK FATHERS will be held Sunday, June 16, at 3 p.m. at the Pop Up Place, 4302 Almeda. The free event is hosted by Deric Muhammad, other activists and organizations, and is an opportunity for the community to celebrate great fathers while encouraging those who may have fallen short. It will include activities for dads and

kids, motivational speakers, entertainment, food and resources for struggling fathers. “Negative stereotypes, discrediting images and sometimes, real unaddressed pain makes Fathers’ Day a difficult day for some in the Black community, unlike Mothers’ Day,” said Muhammad. Call 513-628-1438 or email encourageblackfathers@gmail.com........THE 2019 WORLD VITILIGO DAY CONFERENCE will be held Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23 at the Marriott Sugar Land Town Square, 16090 City Walk. The theme is “The Mental and Medical Journey of Living with Vitiligo: Healing Starts With ME.” The conference is presented annually by the Global Vitiligo Foundation, a physician-led organization, and is hosted by the Houston Vitiligo Awareness Movement. For more information visit www.houstonvitiligoawareness.com or email wvd2019houston@gmail.com.

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Family demands answers in death of jailed veteran Defender News Services

said, adding, “We don’t believe that happened.” On July 28, 2018, the York County Coroner’s Office updated Palmer’s autopsy report to include a manner of death, listed as “undetermined.” The office has promised to update the report as more information becomes available. The report notes that Palmer was unresponsive when he was rushed to a medical clinic. He was later transferred to York Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The family said it was only after the body was returned that they hired an independent pathologist, who informed them Palmer was missing a few of his body parts. According to Merritt, “It’s not unusual to take organs out of a body during an autopsy, especially if you believe they were subject to trauma. “The highly unusual part is to misplace them,” he added. Palmer’s family remains in the dark following their loved one’s mysterious death and is calling on others to help them to get to the bottom of it all.

It has been just over a year, and a Delaware family is still begging for answers after Army veteran Everett Palmer Jr. died in police custody and was returned to relatives with some of his organs missing. Palmer’s family has spent the past year trying to track down the 41-year-old’s throat, heart and brain — all of which were missing from his body, according to CNN. The grieving family said they haven’t a clue what happened to their loved one and say officials have been stingy with answers. “This entire case smacks of a cover-up,” attorney S. Lee Merritt, who’s representing the Palmers, said. The coroner in York County, Penn., defended her handling of case. Pam Gay issued a statement saying Palmer’s missing organs are being held by Forensic Pathology Associates in Lehigh County, Penn., which is in line with guidelines from the National Association of Medical Examiners for deaths in custody that warrant further investigation. Palmer died in police custody at the York County Prison on April 9, 2018. His brother, Dwayne Palmer, said Everett was headed to visit their sick mother in New York, but first wanted to resolve an outstanding DUI warrant from a 2016 incident in Pennsylvania to ensure his license was still good. That was the last time they would speak. An autopsy performed by the York County Coroner’s Office determined Palmer had died “following an excited state” where he began “hitting his head against the inside of his cell door and he was held back.” The report also noted that Palmer had become frustrated as a result of “methamphetamine toxicity.” Palmer’s relatives said the father of two didn’t have any health issues prior to his demise and called the autopsy report’s claims of him hitting himself completely “out of character.” They acknowledged Palmer had a history of drug use, but never meth. “We don’t believe anything [officials] are telling us at this point,” Dwayne Palmer said. “It’s a tremendous loss for our family. We are devastated.” Processing records from the jail also showed Palmer had no drug paraphernalia on his person, nor was he under the influence when he was booked, leading the family’s attorney to suspect Palmer was given drugs while behind bars. “He would have had to receive [the alleged meth] in the jail itself,” Merritt Everett Palmer died in April 2018 while in police custody in York County, Penn.

THE GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE GRANTED FULL CLEMENCY to Cyntoia Brown, who is due to be released on Aug. 7. She will be 31 years old by then. She has lived behind bars since she was 16 after being sentenced to life in prison in 2006 after she fatally shot a man in the back of the head while he was in bed beside her. Brown said that she was a human trafficking victim. She said Johnny Michael Allen paid her to have sex with him, and that she feared for her life during their encounter. Gov. Bill Haslam said her rehabilitation behind bars, combined with her youth at the time of the crime, warranted mercy……..OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS, 726 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED in Shreveport, La., for sagging pants. A new report reveals Black men account for 96 percent of those arrests. After a city law was passed in 2007 that prohibited people from wearing their pants below their waistline and exposing their skin or underwear, 699 Black men were arrested for violating the ordinance. By comparison, 12 white men were detained for doing the same...….. THE ADMINISTRATIVE NYPD TRIAL TO DETERMINE the fate of the officer who used an illegal chokehold to kill Eric Garner nearly five years ago has come to an end. It is unknown when, or if, the trial’s verdict, let alone any punishments for Daniel Pantaleo, would be announced. The Civil Complaint Review Board repeated its stance to get Pantaleo fired as the trial wrapped up, but that was the worst that could happen to the officer on Staten Island, where the 2014 killing that was captured on video took place. One seemingly damning fact revealed from the trial was that an NYPD officer admitted that he trumped up the charges against Garner in an effort to justify his chokehold death.

VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 33 JUNE 13, 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).

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NATURAL GAS POWERS COMMUNITIES

Jeness Sherrell, president of the Gamma Phi Sigma (GPS) Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, promotes water safety with Katie Rosinke of Weekly Family YMCA and sorors Cassie Johnson and Sada Okolo-Miles.

Sigma Gamma Rho, YMCA teaming up for water safety Defender News Service

Flanked by his 5-year-old daughter, Karem Greene was one of many parents who spent the afternoon at the Weekly Family YMCA on Stella Link for a free water safety event. “I wanted to make sure she is water safe. I wanted to get a sense of where she is with water and see what you guys can provide her in terms of safety,” he said. Greene’s daughter is in a high-risk group when it relates to drownings. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the fatal-drowning rate of AfricanAmerican children is three times higher than white children. Greene registered his daughter after seeing the promotion for the water safety event, hosted by the YMCA and Sigma Gamma

Rho Sorority, Inc.’s Gamma Phi Sigma (GPS) chapter of Houston. The organizations promote water safety and encourage teaching children how to swim at an early age. In addition to partnering with the Y, Sigma Gamma Rho is part of a unique and historic partnership with USA Swimming. The Swim 1922 initiative is focused on decreasing the drowning rates in the African-American community by increasing swim participation. GPS’ Swim 1922 co-chair, Sada OkoloMiles, said it was a delight to find a local partner that shares the sorority’s goal as it relates to Swim 1922. “Teaming up with the Y meant our chapter’s reach was wider, and together we could help more people,” she said. For more information visit www. Sgrho1922.org

NATURAL GAS: THE

SOURCE

OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN AMERICA

DECREASE IN CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS (2007–2017)

NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION IS

UP MORE THAN (1990–2017)

14%

57%

TEA official receives award Defender News Services

The Education Commission of the States (ECS) announced that A.J. Crabill, deputy commissioner of governance at the Texas Education Agency, is the 2019 recipient of the James Bryant Conant Award, one of the most prestigious honors in the educaA.J. Crabill tion community. Crabill was chosen for his leadership and guidance in helping local school boards implement practices with proven positive impacts on student outcomes. In his role at the

TEA, Crabill led the creation of Lone Star Governance, a system that distills national research on student achievement for local school board action. “A.J.’s work is far-reaching, exemplifying the ability of state leaders to inform and replicate best practices at the local level,” said ECS President Jeremy Anderson. “His commitment to getting it right – encouraging buy-in from local boards, providing personalized training and assisting boards with tracking their progress – is what has made this approach to governance successful.”

NATURAL GAS AFFORDABLY POWERS OUR COMMUNITIES & PROGRESS

MORE ENERGY – LESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

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Restrictions apply. Requires Xfinity TV and On Demand. ©2019 Comcast. All rights reserved. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS company. You must be a subscriber of SHOWTIME to get SHOWTIME On Demand and to watch SHOWTIME programs online. Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men ©Endeavor Content and Mass Appeal. All rights reserved. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. HBO® subscription required. FOX™ and © 2019 Fox and its related entities. All Rights Reserved. BEAT SHAZAM™ © 2019 Fox Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved.

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Samuel L. Jackson returns in ‘Shaft’ Defender News Services

Samuel L. Jackson is known as Hollywood’s most bankable star and with good reason. He has starred in more than 100 movies which have earned nearly $6 billion at the box office. Jackson stars in the new action comedy “Shaft,” which hits theaters on June 14. He reprises his role of NYPD detective John Shaft II from the 2000 film of the same name. Jessie T. Usher plays his son, John “J.J.” Shaft Jr., and Richard Roundtree plays his uncle, the original John Shaft. The 2019 version of “Shaft” also stars Regina Hall, Alexandra Shipp, Matt Lauria and Cliff “Method Man” Smith. In the new film, J.J. may be a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, he needs an education only his dad can provide. Shaft II also has an agenda of his own and a score to settle. “Shaft” is written by Kenya Barris (“Girls Trip,” TV’s “Blackish”) and Alex Barnow (TV’s “The Goldbergs.”) Jackson’s first “Shaft” movie was directed by the late John Singleton and starred Vanessa Williams and Jeffrey Wright. He talked about the current movie’s time frame. “So, this is another time,” Jackson said. “I had that kid, yes. But I had that kid in another time and space of the first movie. And, she’s left me, and now the kid is back. In fact, in the first movie, I kept trying to find out, when do I get to be a sex machine with all the ladies? And, they were like, ‘Don’t worry, we got you.’ And I’m like, ‘No, you don’t. It’s not happening. Where is it?’ I guess, somewhere offscreen, I was a sex machine [at least once]. And [Regina Hall] had my baby.” Jackson also revealed that the first script was “a little too funny.” “I had to convince them, number one, that there’s a level of mythology and respect that goes along with the John Shaft character, that you can’t make him a buffoon of any sort,” Jackson said. “He can be funny, and he can be righteous because he’s aging and times have changed. So, he can be a little bit of an anachronism, in that respect. Maybe he’s not as wily with his online skills and all that other stuff. “But, you have Richard being from the generation he’s from, me being from the generation I’m from, and now you got this new kid who’s a millennial, who’s all digital and not street. Raised in private schools and all this other stuff. So, we gotta teach him how to be a Shaft.”

Jessie T. Usher, Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Roundtree represent three generations in “Shaft.”

Jackson Background: • Born Dec. 21, 1948, in Washington, D.C. and raised in Chattanooga, Tenn., under his grandmother’s strict guidance. • Attended Morehouse College and became involved in the Black Power movement. In 1969, he protested the absence of Blacks on the board of trustees by locking several board members in a building and was expelled from the college. • Worked as a social worker for two years in Los Angeles, returned to Morehouse to pursue acting and received his degree in 1972. • Joined the Black Image Theatre

Company with his future wife, LaTanya Richardson. • Moved with Richardson to New York City and began to act in off-Broadway productions. • Met film student Spike Lee in 1981 and eventually acted in several of Lee’s films, including “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo’ Better Blues” and “Jungle Fever.” • Went on to star in such films as “Pulp Fiction,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” “Eve’s Bayou,” “Changing Lanes,” “Star Wars,” “Kill Bill,” “Coach Carter,” “Iron Man II,” “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “Captain Marvel.”

what’sup NICOLE CURRAN, the wife of Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, felt the wrath of the “Beyhive”and she is not happy. She has reportedly been cyberbullied by BEYONCÉ’S fans after she appeared to be too talkative with JAY-Z during Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Oakland. Curran was reportedly in tears and receiving death threats. She came under fire for leaning over Beyoncé to talk to Jay-Z. Curran said she was simply asking if the couple wanted drinks. Beyoncé’s publicist asked fans to stop harassing Curran…….Though director JOHN SINGLETON died after having

a stroke, his family still has questions that they want answered and hired a private investigator to find out. His family reportedly has no idea how he made it to the hospital or who he was with. There are no records of him taking an Uber or Lyft to the hospital and none of his friends took him there. Singleton was hospitalized on April 17 after returning from a trip to Costa Rica and experiencing weakness in his leg. He fell into a coma and died on April 29..…..OPRAH WINFREY has never remained tight-lipped about her struggles with her weight throughout the years. As the face of Weight

Watchers, she has served as a national inspiration to people who have also battled with weight gain and have had a hard time making healthier choices. Winfrey has now revealed that before she joined Weight Watchers, her health had begun to take a turn for the worse due to her own poor choices in food. The media said she was pre-diabetic and had high blood pressure. Since her mother Vernita, who died last November, was diabetic and dependent on insulin it was important to Winfrey to get her blood sugar under control. Since joining Weight Watchers Winfrey has lost 42 pounds.

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DEFENDER | JUNE 13 | 2019

Rapper Bushwick Bill of Geto Boys dead at 52 Associated Press

Bushwick Bill, the diminutive, one-eyed rapper who with the Geto Boys helped put the South’s stamp on rap with hits like “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” and “Six Feet Deep,” died on June 9 at the age of 52. The rapper, whose legal name is Richard Shaw, Bushwick Bill was surrounded by family when he died. His Dallas-based business manager, Pete Marrero, said the rapper was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in February. He had been planning to go on tour around the time he was hospitalized. In an interview with TMZ, Bushwick Bill said he wasn’t afraid of dying, referencing one of his songs, “Ever So Clear,” from his 1992 solo album, where he talks about shooting himself in the head and losing an eye when he was high

on drugs. “I died and came back already on June 19, 1991 so I know what it’s like on the other side,” he said. The Houston-based Geto Boys was a trio consisting of Bushwick Bill, Scarface and Willie D that launched in the late 1980s. Their gritty verses punctuated by tales of violence, misogyny and hustling made them platinum sensations and showed that rap had strength outside the strongholds of New York, where it got its start, and later Los Angeles.

Scarface to run for City Council Defender News Services

Brad Jordan, better known as the rapper Scarface, announced that he’s running for Houston City Council. He first teased plans to transition to politics on social media. “Should I run for Houston City Council?” he wrote on Instagram. He later Scarface made it official. In a post to his 240K followers on IG, he wrote, “It’s official. I’m offering myself for service as the next Houston City Council member for District D. Join our movement! More details to come. www.bradfordistrictd.com” Scarface’s slogan is: “Of the People, For the People.” In 2018, the Geto Boys rap star was honored with his own day in Houston by Mayor Sylvester Turner and Councilman Dwight Boykins, who currently represents District D. “You know me as Scarface, but now you get the opportunity to meet Brad Jordan,” he told the crowd at the time. “I’ve done a lot of music, you know. I’ve done a lot of speaking of social [issues] that take place in our community. That Scarface has turned into Brad Jordan. I really want to let y’all know that I’m getting ready to make a super impact in the community because that’s the most important thing to me right now.”

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DEFENDER | JUNE 13 | 2019

Father’s Day is Jun

Dispelling myths abou

By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender

t’s a statistic many might be surprised to know. When it comes to involvement in their children’s lives, Black men lead the pack. Black men, compared to white and Hispanic fathers, were the most involved in their children’s daily lives – from talking to their kids to helping them with homework – according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. About 2.5 million Black fathers live with their children, while approximately 1.7 million of them don’t live under the same roof with their kids. Though Black children are disproportionately born to single mothers, that does not mean fathers aren’t involved. The CDC study showed that Black fathers spend more time bathing, diapering, taking their kids to activities and helping them with their homework. “It is a dangerous distortion to Black families to incorrectly depict Black fathers as uninvolved or not present in the lives of their children, thereby, inaccurately suggesting that Black fathers are absent and abandon their children, especially given there is a lack of evidence to support those claims,” said Dr. Travis Dixon, who authored a study on Black fathers. Cable and network news shows, national and local newspaper articles, and online opinion sites continue to proliferate the false claims of the 1965 Moynihan Report, which depicted Black families as “crumbling” because the fathers were not present. The report made egregious assumptions and failed to empirically take into consideration the legacy of slavery, the generational wealth gap and the migration of Black fathers that left homes to provide for their families. Subsequently, the Moynihan Report left in its wake, particularly among partisan political media pundits and their constituents, the myth that “there is no one to blame for the plight of Black families but themselves. “We’re by no means trying to romanticize the notion that Black fathers don’t have problems and challenges navigating the multiple somehow place less value on parenting. An equal number of Black responsibilities of their lives. But Black men are not the absentee dads dads and white dads tend to agree that it’s important to be a father that the media portrays,” said family therapist Dr. Derrick Jones. “It’s who provides emotional support, discipline, and moral guidance. past time for us to work diligently to dispel that myth.” There’s one area of divergence in the way the two groups approach In honor of Father’s Day, here are more myths we should stop telltheir parental responsibilities: Black dads are even more likely to ing about Black fatherhood. think it’s important to financially provide for their children. Myth 1: Black fathers don’t talk to their kids “Even though Black dads may be less likely to marry their kids’ In preparing their children for adulthood, African-American famothers, they typically remain involved in thers are having serious conversations with their raising their children,” said Dr. Roberta L. kids about how to navigate the pitfalls of being www.DefenderNetwork.com Black in America. In conversations with their * Like father, like son: Memorable moments Coles, a sociology professor at Marquette University, who has researched Black fathers sons, many Black fathers are instructing them * Fantastic Father’s Day gift ideas for nearly a decade. on how to manage encounters with law enforceMyth 3: The presence of a fament officers. They often emphasize to their ther will end Black woes sons at an early age that some cops will view Growing up, most of us heard the familiar refrain – most of the them as suspicious and dangerous for no other reason than the color of Black community problems would be solved if fathers simply stuck their skin. It’s a hard thing to tell one’s child, but their survival could around. While that fact can’t be negated, author, Mychal Denzel depend on realizing that truth. Smith argues that responsible fatherhood only goes so far in a world Myth 2: Black men don’t value parenting plagued by institutionalized oppression. There’s compelling evidence that the number of Black fathers “For Black children, the presence of fathers would not alter living apart from their kids stems from structural systems of inequality racist drug laws, prosecutorial protection of police officers who kill, and poverty, not the unfounded assumption that African-American men mass school closures or the poisoning of their water. By focusing

on the supposed absence of Black f pretend this oppression is not real, w Black men for America’s societal il ible Man”, says. Smith believes the damage isn but from the feeling of abandonme “If Black children were raise cused not on bemoaning their lack lives with the nurturing love we a ence would an absent father make “If they woke up in homes w and food were never scarce, went counselors who provided everythi went home to caretakers of any ge ed to sit and talk and do homewor said their lives were incomplete b ther, would they hold on to the pa “This isn’t an argument in fav a call to detach ourselves from the way to raise a child depends on th father.” Myth 4: Single-parent

defendernetwork.com • Serving th

ne 16

ut Black dads

fathers, we allow ourselves to while also further scapegoating lls,” Smith, author of “The Invis-

n’t done by the absence of a father ent. ed in an environment that fok of fathers but on filling their all need to thrive, what differe? where electricity, running water t to schools with teachers and ing they needed to learn, then ender who weren’t too exhaustrk with them, and no one ever because they didn’t have a faain of lack well into adulthood? vor of deadbeat fathers, but e myth that the only and best he presence of a man we call a households are exclu-

sively a Black problem The increase in number of single-parent homes has repeatedly been painted as a problem exclusively rooted in the Black community. However, that fact couldn’t be further from the truth. The number of single-parent American households has tripled in number since 1960, and while an overwhelming majority of these households are likely to be led by Black or Hispanic women, the number of Black, single-father households is also on the rise. Myth 5: Fatherless men won’t make good fathers There’s no disputing the effect fatherlessness has on children’s lives. Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor, and being raised without a father raises the risk of teen pregnancy, marrying with less than a high school degree, and forming a marriage where both partners have less than a high school degree. However, men who didn’t grow up with their fathers are not incapable of being good fathers themselves – an assumption disproportionately assigned to Black men who are more likely to be raised by single mothers.

he Houston area for over 88 years

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Words of wisdo m from fathers

As Father ’s Day ap proaches, we aske d sons and daug share their best w hters to ords of wisdom fro m their fathers. Jelando Johnson – “Don’t be afraid to fail.” Tangie O’Neal Ge neral – “When a man tells you who believe him. If he he is, ’s not looking for a commitment, be If he doesn’t wan lieve him. t kids, believe him . If you’re not the believe him…” only one, Bobby W. Scott – “Want to unders tand your wife? W mother? She’s go atch her ing to be just like her or just the op Renita Wilson – posite.” “Always have a ba ck door plan!” Michelle Stephens – “The boss puts his pants on one time, just like you leg at a do.” Cristi Williams – “Three things yo u have in life: Go and your word. M d, your name ake sure you keep all three.” Pamela Bethel-L eDuff – “Don’t w aste time with a doesn’t court you. man who ” Shalonda Renee Davis – “There’s no such thing as Learn to do things a man’s job! yourself and you won’t need to re man. What he br ly on a ings to the table will be a bonus no sity.” t a necesAngela Reed – “M ake sure the man in your life is an not a liability.” asset and Crystal Brown-Ta tum – “There will always be someo richer and smarte ne prettier, r than you so focu s on being the be of yourself and no st version t competing.” Arburn Semena M organ Cain – “Wat ch CNN every ev global news and ening for current events. Yo u should be able to an intelligent conv have ersation with anyo ne in the room re worldly events.” garding Toni Scott – “All yo u have in your lif e is your name. Pr all costs, because, otect it at if you get a bad na me, it’s almost im to restore.” possible Faren DaPerform er Larry – “Try no t to be too hard Remember it’s yo on yourself. ur first time livin g. ” LaKenya Robertso n-Smith – “There is only one you. Do change you to m n’t ake someone else fe el better.” Karen Maxwell – “Nothing in life is free. It will cost yo thing.” u some-

health

A Defender and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Alliance

Alzheimer’s is a growing problem BY EVETTE KINGCAID, M.D.

lzheimer’s is a rising health concern among AfricanAmericans, who are twice as likely as Caucasians to develop the disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. It’s the most common cause of EVETTE KINGCAID, M.D. dementia, causing changes in speech, judgment, personality, and overall cognitive functioning. This steady decline disrupts a person’s ability to function independently.

Warning signs The early signs of the disease may start with memory problems such as forgetting recent events or conversations. As the disease advances, memory as well as the ability to carry out daily tasks will usually become severely impaired. Other signs may include: • Repeating statements and questions over and over

• Difficulty finding the right words to express thoughts • Regularly misplacing belongings • Getting lost in familiar places • Forgetting the names of family members and everyday objects Brain changes that occur with Alzheimer’s can also affect moods and behaviors. Problems may include: • Depression • Social withdrawal • Mood swings • Distrust, irritability, and aggressiveness • Changes in sleeping habits and wandering • Loss of inhibitions • Delusions The exact causes of Alzheimer’s aren’t fully understood, but it’s believed that abnormally functioning brain proteins disrupt the work of brain cells (neurons), and release a series of toxic events. Neurons are damaged, lose connections to each other, and eventually die. The damage most often starts in the region of the brain that controls memory, but the process begins years before the first symptoms.

Age is biggest risk factor Age is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s isn’t part of normal aging, but as you grow older the likelihood of developing it increases. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. But if you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s, there are treatments that can make a difference. Some therapies ease the symptoms.

How to help lower your risk While there’s no proven way to prevent Alzheimer’s, there’s a lot you can do to help lower your chance of getting it. You can’t control aging or your genes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything: • Manage your numbers: blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol • Lose weight if you need to • Exercise to increase blood flow to the brain • Stimulate your mind • Avoid head injury Dr. Evette Kingcaid is a board-certified Family Medicine physician at Kelsey-Seybold’s Summer Creek Clinic in Humble. To schedule an appointment, call 713-442-0000.

Get KelseyConnected

Healthcare that Revolves Around You. KelseyConnected is a smarter approach to your healthcare – because it revolves around you. As a Kelsey-Seybold patient, you have an entire healthcare team that can share your medical history through one electronic medical record and collaborate on medical care that’s right for you. Being KelseyConnected makes your experience with us easy and convenient with: n

Locations close to home and work. Choose the location most convenient for you at kelsey-seybold.com/locations. 24-Hour Nurse Hotline. Speak with a Kelsey-Seybold nurse after 5 p.m. and on holidays and weekends.

MyKelseyOnline. Email your doctor’s office, make appointments, refill prescriptions, view test results, and more.

Appointments today! Book a Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Pediatrics appointment online at kelsey-seybold.com/NOW.

24-Hour Appointment Scheduling: 713-442-0000 | kelsey-seybold.com

Juneteenth

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JUNE 13 | 2019 | DEFENDER

19 things to know about Juneteenth Defender News Services

Juneteenth declined in popularity again in the early 1960s as the Civil Rights Movement focused on desegregation.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in slaveholding lands and commemorates the day on June 19, 1865, when Union Major-General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston that African-Americans were free.

In the 1970s AfricanAmericans’ renewed interest in celebrating their cultural heritage led to the revitalization of Juneteenth.

There were more than 182,000 slaves in Texas according to the 1860 Census, comprising more than 30 percent of the state’s total population.

President Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862 and it became effective on January 1, 1863. The proclamation declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” It also announced the acceptance of Black men into the Union Army and Navy, enabling the liberated to become liberators.

The proclamation was not enforceable in most slaveholding areas until the end of the Civil War (April 9, 1865) and many enslaved AfricanAmericans were freed at different times.

There are several theories as to why it took so long for Texas to receive the news. One theory says that slave owners deliberately withheld the information to maintain the labor force. Another similar version says that federal troops waited to deliver the news so as to allow for one final cotton harvest.

The General Order Number 3 read by Granger said in part, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor…” As news of emancipation spread across the state, some owners angrily told their slaves to leave immediately, but most asked the freedmen, as

In 1979, legislation introduced by Houston State Rep. Al Edwards passed and Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas in 1980.

they soon became known, to stay and work for wages.

The majority of adult slaves had been field hands, but a sizable minority worked as skilled craftsmen, house servants and livestock handlers.

The first broader celebrations of Juneteenth were used as political rallies and to teach freed African-Americans about their voting rights. Some of the early festivities were relegated by city authorities to town outskirts. In time, African-

American groups collected funds to purchase tracts of land for their celebrations, including Juneteenth.

Booker T. Washington Park was acquired in 1926 and at one time, 30,000 AfricanAmericans gathered there to celebrate Juneteenth.

In Houston, Rev. Jack Yates, Rev. Elias Dibble, Richard Brock and Richard Allen raised $800 to purchase park land in 1872 and named it Emancipation Park to honor their freedom. Located in Third Ward, it is the oldest public park in Texas. In Austin, an Emancipation Park was established in the early 1900s. In Mexia, land for

Juneteenth celebrations often included a prayer service, speakers with inspirational messages, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, stories from former slaves, food, red soda water, games, rodeos and dances. Celebrations declined during World War II but were revived in 1950 at the Texas State Fair Grounds in Dallas.

What began as a Texas holiday is now celebrated nationwide, with numerous states officially recognizing the occasion. Some celebrations were started by Black Texans who moved to other states.

Cities outside Texas that hold Juneteenth celebrations include Atlanta, Chicago, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, Oklahoma City, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Sources: Defender Files, Texas State Historical Association, Texas State Library & Archives Commission

Juneteenth

DEFENDER | JUNE 13 | 2019

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Celebrate the holiday in Houston and beyond 5 3 1 Defender News Services

Area residents can choose from an array of activities in observance of Juneteenth. They include: Emancipation Park Conservancy Events (3810 Emancipation Ave.) w Juneteenth Pageant, Friday, June 14, 7 p.m. w Juneteenth Parade, Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m. w Juneteenth Celebration, Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Performers: J. Paul Jr. and the Zydeco Nubreeds, Houston All Stars, B.B. King Band, “American Idol” contestant Uche Ndubizu. Visit emancipationparkconservancy.org Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Annual Juneteenth Parade – Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m., Acres Homes MultiService Center, 6719 West Montgomery. Travels north on West Montgomery and west on Dolly Wright, ending at Greater Zion

LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.

HAVE A HAPPY AND MEANINGFUL JUNETEENTH! M AYO R S Y LV E ST E R T U R N E R

Pol. adv. Sylvester Turner Campaign

Missionary Baptist Church. Call 832-393-0868 Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation Events w Scholarship Golf Tournament, Monday, June 17, 7 a.m., Quail Valley Golf Course, 2880 La Quinta. w Community Service Awards Gala, Thursday, June 20, 6 p.m., City Centre at Quail Valley, 2880 La Quinta. Speaker: Prairie View A&M University President Dr. Ruth Simmons. w Family Fun Day at the Park, Friday, June 21, 4 p.m., Hunters Glen Park, 1340 Independence Blvd. w Festival Under the Stars, Saturday, June 22, 6 p.m., Hunters Glen Park. Performers: Keith Washington, Cherelle. w One Mile of Smiles Parade, Saturday, June 22, 7 p.m., Texas Parkway (FM 2234). Visit www. mcjcf.com Houston Association of Black Psychologists: “Let’s Talk” – Wednes-

day, June 19, 6 p.m., Shine of the Black Madonna Cultural & Event Center, 5309 MLK Jr. Blvd. Features International Day of Drumming and Healing honoring ancestors and 400 years of African-American resilience. Guest speaker: Dr. Wade W. Nobles, noted professor, psychologist and author.

Email Contact@Houstonabpsi.org Miller Outdoor Theatre’s Juneteenth Blues & Creole Music Festival – Wednesday, June 19, 7:30 p.m., Hermann Park. Performers: Soul Rebels brass band, Houston blues-soul singer Annika Chambers. Visit www.milleroutdoortheatre.com

Houston City Controller

Chris B. Brown

Wishing you and yours a very happy Juneteenth 2019!

Paid political ad by Chris Brown for Controller Campaign, James L. Robertson, Treasurer.

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JUNE 13 | 2019 | DEFENDER

25 years after murders, O.J. says ‘life is fine’ Associated Press

After 25 years of living under the shadow of one of the nation’s most notorious murder cases, O.J. Simpson says his life has entered a phase he calls the “no negative zone.” In a telephone interview, the 71-year-old Simpson told the Associated Press he is healthy and happy living in Las Vegas. And neither he nor his children want to look back by talking about June 12, 1994, when his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman were stabbed to death and Simpson was transformed from Hall of Fame football hero to murder suspect. “We don’t need to go back and relive the worst day of our lives,” he said. “The subject of the moment is the subject I will never revisit again. My family and I have moved on to what we Former football star and actor O.J. Simpson is pleased with his life in Las Vegas. (Photo call the ‘no negative zone.’ We plicable when it comes to tragedy and trauma and focus on the positives.” loss of life.” But the pain has not faded for Goldman’s famRon Goldman, then 25, was returning a pair of ily. sunglasses that Nicole Brown Simpson’s mother had “Closure,” said Goldman’s sister Kim, “isn’t a left at a restaurant where he worked when he and word that resonates with me. I don’t think it’s apSimpson’s ex-wife were stabbed and slashed dozens

of times. O.J. Simpson’s televised “Trial of the Century” lasted nearly a year and became a national obsession, fraught with issues of racism, police misconduct, celebrity and domestic violence. Represented by a legal “Dream Team” that included Johnnie Cochran Jr. and F. Lee Bailey, he was acquitted by a jury in 1995 in a verdict that seemed to split the country along racial lines, with many white Americans believing he got away with murder and many Black people considering him innocent. He has continued to declare his innocence. The murder case is officially listed as unsolved. The victims’ families subsequently filed a civil suit against him, and in 1997 he was ordered to pay $33.5 million for the wrongful deaths of his exwife and Goldman. Some of his property was seized and auctioned, but most of the judgment has not been paid. Simpson has generally kept a low profile since his release from prison in October 2017 after serving nine years for a robbery and kidnapping conviction in Las Vegas. He insisted his conviction and sentence for trying to steal back his own memorabilia were unfair but said: “I believe in the legal system and I honored it. I served my time.”

Photo: Alex Biererens de Haan, Houston Astros

THE FIFTH ANNUAL

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DEFENDER | JUNE 13 | 2019

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sports

Members of the University of Houston track team, coaches and other supporters celebrate their NCAA performance in Austin.

Cougar men place third at NCAA Championships

I’ve planned for my whole entire life. It was a great overall run. I didn’t panic. I knew [North Carolina A&T’s] Trevor Stewart had a lot of speed. I stayed composed, I stayed relaxed, I ran my race. he University of Houston competed at the NCAA “I was able to compete in something I was in for four years,” he Division I Track & Field Championships in Austin and continued. “It was always a dream to win an NCAA title, so to come recorded its out and do it like I did it is an amazing feelbest finish in ing.” team history. Lattin had a stellar performance for the The Cougars notched Cougars with a podium finish in the 400-methe second most team points ter hurdles after posting the sixth best time in in program history on its way the world at 48.72, one of four competitors to to a third-place finish. run sub-48 times in the event. The time marks Senior Kahmari Monta lifetime best, program record and confergomery delivered an NCAA ence record. In the 110-meter hurdles, Lattin title-clinching performance closed out the race in seventh-place at 13.77 by winning the 400 meters. to earn First Team All-American honors. With a podium finish from Mario Burke turned in a pair of Allsenior Amere Lattin and a American performances on the final day of third-place performance from action, beginning with a sixth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay squad, the 100-meter dash at 10.06. In the 200-meter the Cougars notched 40 team dash, Burke clocked a time of 20.11 to take points. fourth-place in the event to earn his second Montgomery, a native All-American accolade of the evening. of Plainfield, Ill., posted the Rounding out the contributions in the eighth fastest collegiate time final event of the evening, Lattin, Montgomever, the fastest time in proery, Jermaine Holt and Igbokwe combined for gram history, an American a time of 3:00.07 in the 4x400-meter relay to Athletic Conference (AAC) shatter the program record in the event. The record and lifetime best in time is the American Athletic Conference the 400-meter dash to clinch Amere Lattin was impressive as a hurdler and relay team member. record and one of the fastest in the collegiate the program’s first title in the ranks. event. Overall, the Cougars racked up eight First Team All-American He crossed the finish line at 44.23 to notch 10 team points for the honors over the course of the meet, including the second-place finish Cougars. Obi Igbokwe closed out the race in eighth place to take home from Trumaine Jefferson in the long jump on the opening day of action. First Team All-American honors. Jefferson’s marks of 26-10 (8.18) was one of five jumpers to post legal “It’s just a blessing to be able to come out and end my senior year marks of eight meters or better for the first time at the NCAA Champiof my collegiate career with a bang.” Montgomery said. “It’s something onships since 2011.

By MAX EDISON Defender

Kahmari Montgomery broke records with his 400-meter run.

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h.s. sports

Peguero also plays with the Texas Elite Lady Warriors 11th and 12th grade AAU team. (Photos by Jimmie Aggison)

JUNE 13 | 2019 | DEFENDER

Brianna Peguero goes for a Jersey Village layup in playoffs against Westside.

Brianna Peguero

Jersey Village guard does it all

Peguero: I like to play fast but when the game is tied, I like to move the ball more to make more plays. Defender: How are you able to break down an opponent in ersey Village High School and Texas Elite Lady Warone-on-one situations? riors guard Brianna “Bre” Peguero has proven to be a Peguero: First, I try to make space between the two of us so key centerpiece for her AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) I can have room to dribble. Then I have to look up the court to team this summer. see where my other teammates are to make plays. In a back-and-forth Primetime Sportz Summer Hoops Defender: What happened on that pull-up three-play you Tour championship game, Peguero’s team turned to her when made that helped your team close out the championship game? they were up one point with less Peguero: I wanted to go on the than two minutes to go. opposite side of the court from where Peguero delivered the goods For game & crowd photos they were moving the ball to try to when she knocked down a huge visit IG: @DefenderHighSchoolSports space out the floor and look for a shot. three-pointer that gave the team Then I looked up and just shot it. the space and confidence needed Defender: What would you say to pull off a victory in the championship game over a physically were your keys to success in winning gold in this tournabigger opponent. ment? Texas Elite Lady Warriors 17 U coach Thaddeus Hackworth Peguero: Some of the goals I focused on were trying to appreciates Peguero’s talents. get everybody involved to get my assists up while also trying “She is a home run hitter and we ask her to do a lot,” Hackto put up more shots, and lower turnovers so that we can have worth said. “She defends the ball. She plays off and on the ball. more offense and execute better. She rebounds great for a guard her size and she is a big shotDefender: How do you plan on successfully taking on maker.” the senior leadership role at Jersey Village after the deparThe Defender spoke with Peguero after her AAU champiture of the Truong twins, Kayleigh and Kaylynn? onship game performance to discuss her approach to the game, Peguero: I plan on being a leader on the floor, talk more leadership style going forward and keys to success in AAU. and be more vocal on the court so that everyone will know Defender: How would you describe your style of play? what we are running and everyone will be on the same page.

About Peguero

Twitter: @brianna_peguero Favorite food: Shrimp Alfredo Players she studies: Stephen Curry, Maya Moore Favorite musical artist: Chris Brown Hobby: Watching movies

By JODIE B. JILES Defender

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DEFENDER | JUNE 13 | 2019

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9:30 a.m12 noon

Hairstyles are causing hair loss in Black women Defender News Services

Researchers at Johns Hopkins say they can confirm a “strong association” between common African-American hairstyles and the development of traction alopecia, which is the gradual loss of hair loss caused by damage to the hair follicle. Prolonged tension on the hair root can trigger the loss of hair. An estimated one-third of African-American women suffer from traction alopecia, making it the most common form of hair loss among that group. In a report on their analysis, dermatologists are urged to better educate themselves about damaging hairstyles such as tight ponytails, braids, knots and buns, and are encouraged to advise patients of risks and alternatives. “Hair is a cornerstone of self-esteem and identity for many people,” says Crystal Aguh, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, “but ironically, some hairstyles meant to improve our self-confidence actually lead to hair and scalp damage.” Traction alopecia, she adds, is entirely preventable, and early intervention can stop or reverse it. ”We have to do better as care providers to offer our patients proper guidance to keep them healthy from head to toe,” she says.

Aguh and her colleagues categorize hair practices into low, moderate and high-risk styles. The highest-risk styles include braids, dreadlocks, weaves (glued or sew-in) and extensions, especially when applied to chemically straightened hair. Such styles are popular among AfricanAmericans because they are low maintenance and many consider them to be protective styles. Moderate risk styles include straightening the hair using heat, permanent waving and use of wigs. Untreated and unprocessed hair, Aguh said, can withstand greater traction, pulling and brushing, and overall decreases the risk of traction alopecia, regardless of styling. In their review, investigators recommend guidelines for dermatologists and haircare providers to prevent and manage hair loss from traction alopecia, The first tip, hair therapy. They also offer alternate styles to allow follicles to recover from stress. “Dermatologists need to be conscious of the fact that many high-and moderate-risk hairstyles greatly improve hair manageability, and simply telling patients to abandon them won’t work for everyone,” Aguh said. “Instead, physicians can educate themselves to speak with patients about making the best hair styling choices to minimize preventable hair loss.”

classifieds Notice of Proposed Goal for the Participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Federal Transit Administration Assisted Contracts As required by Section 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 26, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County has determined a proposed overall goal of 19% for the participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in its FY20 – FY22 contracts which are funded by U.S. Department of Transportation. The proposed goal and its rationale are available for inspection during normal business hours at the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Headquarters, 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002; in Room 2021. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County and the Federal Transit Administration will accept written comments on the proposed goal through July 30, 2019. Written comments may be directed to Metropolitan Transit Authority Office of Small Business, Attention: Karen Hudson, P.O. Box 61429, Houston, Texas 77208-1429 or Federal Transit Administration: Attention: Robert C. Patrick, Regional Administrator, Region VI, Federal Transit Administration, 819 Taylor Street, Room 14A02, Fort Worth, TX 76102.

TO ATTEND THIS ‘FIRST OF ITS KIND’ EVENT City and County government answer:

"WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY?"

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

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JUNE 13 | 2019 | DEFENDER

Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

topevents

UH THIRD WARD SCHOOLS APPRECIATION BREAKFAST……… Marriott Marquis Houston, featuring workshops, networking, a free college fair and The University of Houston’s Third Ward Initiative hosted its Third Ward Schools entertainment by Grammy Award-winner Elle Varner. Luncheon attendees included Appreciation Breakfast, honoring leaders of the six area schools in which the initiative Jerome Love (TBE president), Mayor Sylvester Turner, Tyla-Simone Crayton, has partnered and provided services. The schools are Blackshear, Foster, Hartsfield Khambrel Marshall, Dr. Ka-Ron Wade, Ed Ryland, Councilmembers Amanda and Thompson elementary schools, Cullen Middle School and Yates High School. Edwards and Martha Castex-Tatum, Pastor Rachelle Carson, Carol Guess, Andrea The event also featured table discussions on ways the initiative can better serve the Baudy and more………“IN ALL THY GETTING” PLAY RECEPTION………The represented schools. Attendees included Dr. Elwyn Lee, Wayne Luckett, Defender Emancipation Park Conservancy and Houston Play on Purpose hosted the play “In All Thy Publisher Sonny Messiah-Jiles, Dr. Anne McClellan, Dr. Robert Getting: The Forgotten Story of Freedmen’s Town,” a production McPherson, Alicia Lewis, Jenita Boleware, Traci Lightfoot, the rise and fall of the largest ex-slave settlement in the Defender TOP EVENTS chronicling Tanya Edwards, Johnetta Earnest, Travis Johnson, Kimberly nation, Freedmen’s Town, and enlightening Houstonians about this More photos on defendernetwork.com Daniels, Cheryl Creuzot, Jevaugh Sterling, Helen Shaffer rich, yet forgotten history. Written by Houston playwright Holly and more………16th ANNUAL TEXAS BLACK EXPO Charles, the play and its opening reception kicked off the 147th CORPORATE AWARDS LUNCHEON………The Texas Black Expo recently Annual Juneteenth Celebration. Attendees included Lucy Bremond, Iris Garcia, Ramon held its 16th Annual Corporate Awards Luncheon, honoring leaders for their business Manning, Hellena Stokes, Loretta Hubbard Green, Pastor Marilyn White, Pastor Linda excellence and community empowerment initiatives. The event was part of the Expo’s Davis, HISD Trustee Wanda Adams, Donna Franklin, Juantia Jackson, Patrina annual Summer Celebration held at the George R. Brown Convention Center and Johnson, Iman Garrett-Price, Annette Bracey, Gordon Anderson and many more.

Traci Lightfoot, Tanya Edwards, Dr. Anne McClellan, Alicia Lewis

Dr. Robert McPherson, Travis Johnson, Wayne Luckett, Dr. Elwyn Lee

State Rep. Ron Reynolds, County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Tyla-Simone Crayton, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Jerome Love

Lucy Bremond, Holly Charles, Ramon Manning

Jeremy Baudy, Lou Porter, Andrea Baudy

Crystal Day, Iris Garcia, Ebonee Elder

Sonny Messiah-Jiles, Jenita Boleware, Helen Shaffer

Adraon Greene, Dr. Frazier Wilson

Zharia Montgomery-Venters, Devin Venters, Kinshuner Venters

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DEFENDER | JUNE 13 | 2019

BLAZING A PATH FOR HBCU ACHIEVEMENT

Join six future Black media stars as they begin their journey. Head to www.nnpa.org/chevydtu and be there at the beginning.

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