Black
Texas GOP’s 2024 legislative priorities
The Texas Republican Party finally released its 2024 legislative priorities, which highlight eight pressing issues. Before heading to the polls, Black voters should pay close attention to these priorities to understand their potential effects on their communities.
One major priority is the creation of a Texas Department of Homeland Security to intensify immigration policing. This move could exacerbate racial profiling and increase tensions within diverse communities.
The GOP also aims to restrict mail-in and early voting options, measures that historically benefit Black voters by providing more flexibility to cast their ballots. Limiting these options could reduce voter turnout in marginalized communities, making it harder for Black voters to exercise their rights.
Another priority is monitoring children’s education for sexual content. While ensuring appropriate educational materials is important, such policies often lead to the censorship of comprehensive sex education, which is crucial for the well-being of all students.
Additionally, barring Democrats from chairing legislative committees could further polarize the political landscape. This exclusionary tactic could stifle diverse perspectives and hinder legislative progress that benefits Black Texans.
Hot-button issues like abortion, hemp, and marijuana legislation, and Bible lessons in schools did not make the cut. However, the absence of these topics does not diminish the importance of scrutinizing the GOP’s current priorities.
As the 2024 elections approach, we need Black Texans to engage in the political process, advocate for their rights, and ensure their voices are heard.
Will Smith doesn’t owe us an apology
Will Smith’s slap at the Oscars sparked outrage, but does he owe an apology specifically to Black America? Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith suggested Smith’s box office performance suffered due to a lack of explanation, implying Black audiences were unforgiving.
However, facts paint a different picture. “Bad Boys” did well commercially. While Smith’s actions were wrong, he apologized and reportedly contacted Chris Rock privately.
Public figures deserve scrutiny, but relentless criticism hinders growth. Will Smith acknowledged his mistake and took steps to make amends. Black America likely shares this sentiment. Constant public discussion adds nothing. If Smith needs to make amends with the Black community, it’s likely happening in private conversations, not on award show stages.
Single Motherhood shouldn’t be a stigma anymore
Eboni K. Williams’ decision to pursue motherhood via IVF highlights a growing trend: choosing single parenthood. Should this be viewed negatively? Absolutely not.
For some, waiting for a perfect partner might mean missing the window for having children altogether. Women like Williams and Naomi Campbell demonstrate that a loving, stable home doesn’t require a two-parent dynamic. As long as a woman is financially and emotionally secure, there’s no reason to believe she can’t raise a well-adjusted child.
Single mothers face challenges, but they’re not insurmountable. Our society should celebrate their strength and resilience, not judge their choices. Many single-parent households thrive thanks to strong support networks, family involvement, and access to childcare.
Ultimately, the decision to become a single mother is deeply personal. It requires careful consideration but shouldn’t be seen as a last resort. These women are not giving up on motherhood but embracing it on their own terms. And for their children, a loving, secure single-parent home is far better than an unstable two-parent situation.
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Te battle for a Houston Firefghter’s new contract is heating up afer City Controller Chris Hollins once again refused to certify the agreement. Certifcation is a key step in the protracted negotiations, as it allows the item to be placed on the agenda. Hollins, who must approve fnancial items before they go to the council, did not certify the agreements last week, citing the need for additional time to review them.
Tis scenario repeated itself during the June 12 council meeting with council members battling over details behind the $1.5 billion deal. Even still, council members voted 14-3 to put it on the agenda. (No decision on the agreement had been made by press time).
Te deal aims to end the yearslong legal dispute between the city and frefghters, offering $650 million in backpay for the seven years they worked without a contract. It also provides for 34% raises over the next five years. Hollins has indicated that the city will need to issue a bond to fnance the agreement.
“It would be irresponsible and put the City at significant financial risk to move forward without additional clarity,” Hollins said.
With the new fscal year starting on July 1, if the settlement is not approved by that date, it will return to a judge for further action.
HISD Superintendent Mike Miles is scheduled to meet with Houston City Council members for the frst time following a tumultuous year marked by protests and parents’ concerns about the district’s direction. Tis unprecedented meeting comes afer weeks of tension between the city and the state-controlled school district.
Spurred by vocal district parents, the meeting aims to address various issues plaguing HISD. Many parents have expressed anxieties about Superintendent Miles’ leadership, particularly regarding recent decisions. Tese concerns include:
Forced Principal Resignations: In May, the City Council passed a resolution condemning the administration’s actions, forcing the resignation of several principals.
Sweeping Budget Cuts : The district announced signifcant layofs citing a $450 million budget shortfall. Parents worry these cuts will negatively impact student learning. Lack of Transparency: Council members
Te judge could grant an extension, but if not, the city would have to comply with state law, which mandates paying frefghters at a rate equivalent to the private sector. This would also alter the payout structure in other ways.
Hollins
Te mayor’s ofce warns that this could efectively double the $650 million back pay agreement, raising it to approximately $1.2 billion, not including interest. Tis means interest would be calculated on the $1.2 billion amount instead of the initial $650 million.
Hollins sent a letter with more than 30 questions to the mayor asking for more concrete answers to things like how many frefghters will beneft from the agreement and where will the money actually come from. Te more than 120-page collective bargaining agreement includes more than $1 billion for frefghters’ pay increases and backpay dating back to 2017.
“To be clear, by not certifying this agreement and allowing City Council to conduct their legislative duty you are risking Fire and
EMS operations for all Houstonians as well as jeopardizing the entire negotiated settlement,” Whitmire said in response to Hollins’ statement.
The mayor said the proposed budget has been constructed with the collective bargaining agreement already built into account for its fscal impact
Whitmire initially placed the agreement on the council agenda a week ago, but members were unable to vote on it because the controller, Houston’s independently elected watchdog, had not certifed that the funds were available—a required step before the council can approve any fnancial commitments by the city. Hollins explained that his ofce had received the draf less than two days earlier and had not yet completed a fnancial review.
Hollins has not said whether he is for or against the agreement, only that he wants to do his due diligence and make sure all the questions that constituents may have,
are answered.
“I wouldn’t be doing my job as Houston’s taxpayer watchdog if I allowed this important item – one that will ultimately cost the City more than $1 billion – to move forward without answering critical questions that are relevant to the fscal sustainability of the City and the safety of Houstonians,” Hollins said. “Te Mayor’s letter was not responsive to 90% of my questions – most importantly one that has the potential to impact the City’s fnances by more than $100 million.”
Whitmire said not acting on the settlement could result in the city paying twice as much.
“We’re out of time,” he said.
Councilmember Edward Pollard pressed the mayor on how the settlement amount of $650 million was reached. Whitmire said $400 million was a “ballpark fgure” of what the city initially ofered.
“We’re voting blind,” Pollard said. “No one is asking what’s our number and how did we get there. If you want my support, it would be great to tell me why there’s such a gap. Te City Controller has drastically diferent numbers.”
Pollard and Councilmember Tifany D. Tomas introduced amendments that would put the issue to a referendum for voters to decide, but the city attorney said there are timing and legal issues with that idea.
have expressed a desire for clearer communication from the administration regarding its decision-making process.
While the City Council has no direct authority over HISD, it has a vested interest in the well-being of Houston’s children. Council members hope the meeting will provide much-needed clarity on Superintendent Miles’ plans and address the concerns raised by parents and community members.
“Te biggest thing right now is we don’t have answers. We don’t have justifcation for the moves that have been made. Most people, regardless of whether they agree or disagree with what he has done, at least would like to know why, and I think we are the only elected body that has been able to come forth and get a scheduled meeting with him to understand what’s happening,” said Council Member Edward Pollard. “What are the expectations? What has gone into his decision-making process? What were the metrics that were used to make these decisions and choices? So, without us being able
to ask him these questions, the community may still be in the dark.
HISD currently operates under state control due to prior academic performance issues. However, the meeting signifies a growing desire for collaboration and a unifed approach to improving Houston’s public schools.
While the City Council lacks formal authority, a productive dialogue could lead to a more transparent and collaborative approach to managing the district. Parents and educators hope the meeting will lead to solutions to address the budget defcit and ensure a quality education for all students.
“Our constituents do not have elected
representatives at the ISD level to raise their questions and concerns about who can advocate on their behalf, and the city council members are their next closest thing, Pollard said. “When we hear about mass layofs and leadership changes without a lot of prior notice or communication, that leaves a lot of residents and constituents with a lot of worries, which in turn impacts our ofces. The exact date of the meeting hasn’t been announced yet, but Pollard said that he believes it will be at “one of the next economic development committee meetings.” It will be open to the public at City Hall, and all city council members will be welcome to join the discussion.
Shutting down the Department of Education
One of the most striking proposals is the plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. This department not only administers fnancial aid but also enforces civil rights measures in schools. Project 2025 aims to divert education funding to states, claiming higher education has been overtaken by “woke ‘diversicrats.’” This move could severely undermine the educational opportunities and civil rights protections that have been in place since the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Banning the shipping of abortion pills and reversing FDA approvals
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion, Project 2025 calls for the FDA to reverse its approval of abortion pills and to halt their shipping. The project portrays medication abortion as a signifcant threat and seeks to criminalize providers and distributors, potentially penalizing everyday citizens who facilitate access to these medications.
Targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) eforts
Project 2025’s defnition of discrimination aligns with the “reverse-racism” rhetoric ofen used by opponents of racial justice. The project criticizes the Biden Administration’s equity initiatives, describing them as “afrmative discrimination.” This perspective seeks to dismantle fairness and justice measures that consider difering circumstances, threatening the progress made in addressing systemic inequalities.
Ending Criminal Justice reform eforts
Project 2025 dismisses criminal justice reform as misguided, despite the signifcant progress such eforts have made in addressing the injustices of mass incarceration that disproportionately impact Black communities. The project blames these reforms for an increase in violent crime, despite lacking concrete evidence, and advocates for a return to more stringent law enforcement practices.
The project also targets public media, including PBS and NPR, accusing them of liberal bias. Project 2025 proposes using presidential budget authority to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, arguing that taxpayer money should not support what they view as lefist programming. This could endanger educational and cultural staples like “Sesame Street” and “Mister Rogers.”
Expanding presidential power
Perhaps most concerning is Project 2025’s vision for expanding the president’s power. The plan includes strategies to silence critics, remove non-partisan public servants, and install loyal staf, fundamentally altering the checks and balances that are crucial to American democracy.
As the upcoming election approaches, understanding Project 2025 is essential for all American voters, especially Black Americans. Tis nearly 1,000-page document, dubbed a “playbook,” outlines an extensive plan for the frst 180 days of a conservative presidency. Backed by the Heritage Foundation and over 100 conservative organizations, the project is spearheaded by former Trump administration ofcials, aiming to implement sweeping changes across the nation.
Project 2025 is not merely a collection of ideological aspirations or media soundbites. It represents a detailed, actionable strategy intended to reshape America’s landscape dramatically. Te project is also proactive in training and preparing staf through its “Presidential Administration Academy” to ensure immediate implementation of these changes. It aims to dismantle aspects of the federal government and install loyalists for a second Trump term.
Project 2025 proposes a radical transformation of American governance and societal norms. For Black Americans, who have fought long and hard for civil rights and social justice, these changes could have profound and far-reaching consequences. Understanding and critically assessing this plan is vital as we approach the polls, ensuring that the hard-earned progress of past decades is not reversed.
House Democrats have launched a task force to start fghting the proposal and stop it from taking hold if the Republican former president returns to power.
Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California is unveiling Te Stop Project 2025 Task Force, the latest sign that congressional Democrats and outside groups are treating Trump’s campaign seriously in the expected
rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden this fall.
“Te stakes just couldn’t be higher,” Hufman said.
Hufman said the Project 2025 agenda will hit “like a Blitzkrieg” and lawmakers need to be ready.
“If we’re trying to react to it and understand it in real time, it’s too late,” he said. “We need to see it coming well in advance and prepare ourselves accordingly.”
“Project 2025 will not be ‘stopped,’” Kevin Roberts, the president of Te Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America, said in a statement. He said the Democrats fghting Project 2025 are “more than welcome to try. We will not give up and we will win.”
While the Trump campaign has repeatedly said that outside groups do not speak for the former president, Project 2025’s 1,000-page proposal was drafed with input from a long list of former Trump administration ofcials who are poised to fll the top ranks of a potential new administration.
It is not enough for conservatives to win elections. If we are going to rescue the country from the grip of the radical Lef, we need both a governing agenda and the right people in place, ready to carry this agenda out on Day One of the next conservative Administration. This is the goal of the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. The project will build on four pillars that will, collectively, pave the way for an efective conservative Administration.”
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center reveals that a signifcant majority of Black Americans hold deep-seated suspicions about the fairness of U.S. institutions, believing that many systems are designed to hold Black people back.
Conducted in September 2023, the survey highlights the pervasive skepticism among Black adults towards the criminal justice, political, and economic systems, refecting a broader distrust rooted in historical and ongoing racial discrimination.
Some key takeaways from the study:
74%
believe the prison system is designed to hold Black people back 67%
believe the political system is biased against them 65%
hold the same view about the economic system.
Tis distrust is not just limited to these areas;
many Black Americans are also wary of the education and healthcare systems.
82%
of Blacks have heard the conspiracy theory that Black people are more likely to be incarcerated because prisons want to proft from their incarceration.
74%
believe this theory is true, highlighting the depth of suspicion towards the prison system.
Tese beliefs are not baseless; they are rooted in well-documented instances of systemic racism and exploitation, such as the surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, and the Tulsa massacre of 1921.
Historical Awareness
Te survey also shows that nearly 90% of Black adults consider themselves at least somewhat informed about U.S. Black history, with 51% saying they are extremely or very informed. Tis historical awareness contributes to their understanding and belief in racial conspiracy theories.
Te frequent experiences of racial discrimination further reinforce these beliefs. For instance, many Black Americans encounter daily instances of bias and inequality, which shape their perceptions of systemic intentions against them.
Te survey highlights several specifc conspiracy theories that are widely believed among Black Americans:
Political Discrediting
Roughly 76% believe that Black public ofcials are singled out and discredited in ways that do not happen to white ofcials. Tis perception is likely infuenced by high-profle cases and the disproportionate scrutiny faced by Black leaders.
About 67% of Black Americans believe in the conspiracy theory that luxury products are marketed specifcally to Black people to bankrupt them. Tis belief underscores the suspicion of business practices and economic exploitation.
Medical Exploitation
The legacy of medical malpractice,
exemplified by the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, continues to resonate, with 55% of Black adults believing that secret and nonconsensual medical experiments are happening today.
Family Structure
Another 55% believe that the government encourages single motherhood and the elimination of Black men from Black families, refecting deep concerns about social policies and their impact on Black family dynamics.
Population Control
Roughly 51% of Black adults believe that the government promotes birth control and abortion to reduce the Black population, highlighting fears of demographic manipulation.
Defender News Service
Houstonians are mourning the loss of Vernus Swisher Sr., a well-known non-profit CEO, exemplary board member, department store executive and pastor. He died June 3 at age 79. Services will be held Saturday, June 15 at First Lutheran, Houston, 1311 Holman St. Visitation is at 10 a.m. and the funeral is at 11 a.m.
He was the retired CEO of Career and Recovery Resources (1996-2019), which provides employment services, veterans’ assistance and homeless prevention. He was previously executive director at Fifth Ward’s Julia C. Hester House.
He had a lengthy career with Foley’s Department Store (now Macy’s) from 1967 to 1993, serving as store manager at Almeda Mall and Greenspoint Mall and assistant and divisional manager at Sharpstown Mall.
His ministerial experience included serving as pastor of Galilee Community Baptist Church, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church of Kenedy and St. John Missionary Baptist Church on Dowling.
Swisher held leadership positions with numerous organizations. He was a founder and charter member of Leadership Houston, founder of Project Blueprint, past chair of the College of Biblical Studies Board and past president of Rotary Club of Houston and Houston Food Bank. He served on the advisory boards of the United Negro College Fund and Target Hunger, among others, and was a PrimeWay Federal Credit Union board member. He chaired several committees during his association with the United Way and was named a United Way Texas Gulf Coast Volunteer of the Year. Other honors included Texas Southern University Humanitarian of the Year, Mayor’s Disability Advocate of the Year, Career and Recovery Resources Barrier Breaker Award, Houston Graduate School of Theology Alumnus Award and Houston Defender Citizen of the Month.
Swisher earned a B.A. in Secondary Education and Social Sciences from Huston-Tillotson University and a master’s and Doctor of Ministry Degree from Houston Graduate School of Theology.
REPORT
Only one in three children in the U.S. meets reading standards in the fourth grade, one in four eighth-graders are proficient in math, and 30% of students are “chronically absent,” according to data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “KIDS COUNT Data Book.”
Chronic absenteeism was attributed to causes that have been prevalent since before the pandemic — housing insecurity, poverty, unmet basic needs, health issues, and student disengagement.
The pandemic made these conditions worse for some and caused new challenges, like rising anxiety and other mental health issues.
2
The foundation worries that a lack of readiness may harm the U.S. economy and the country’s youth as they join the workforce.
Another study says that students with low levels of math are 50% more likely to be unemployed than those with higher levels of math.
“The failure of the U.S. to prepare our kids to learn is setting up millions of young people to struggle through adulthood,” the report says. “If leaders don’t make sure students learn what they missed out on during the pandemic, it could cost our children hundreds of billions of dollars in future earnings and the U.S. economy trillions in lost activity.
States are also delaying the spending of $190 billion in allocated federal pandemic funds from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), which could be crucial for student achievement, the report said. States can still allocate, if not spend, this funding by Sept. 30, 2024, although certain districts in some states have requested and received extensions. Should they fail, “tens of billions of dollars set aside for schools will vanish forever.”
What the data says:
• In 2022, only 26% of eighth-grade students were at or above proficient in math, a decline from 33% from before the pandemic.
• 32% of fourth graders were at or above proficient in reading, also declining by 2% from 2019.
• From 2018-2022, 54% of young children (aged 3 and 4) were not in school
• Roughly 14.7 million students were chronically absent, doubling from prepandemic times, from 16% in 2018-2019 to 30% in 2021–22. This means, students missed 10% or more days in the academic year. Such absences partly contribute to a drop in NAEP scores, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Two out of three of all U.S. students attended schools plagued by chronic absence.
•10% of students experienced at least one adverse childhood experience, such as financial hardship, their parents’ divorce, separation, or time in jail.
• 16% of all children in the country live in poverty, 26% of children’s parents lack secure employment, 30% live in households with a high housing cost burden, and 7%
of teenagers are not in school and are also not working
• 5% of children did not have health insurance in 2022, and 33% of children and teens (aged 10 to 17) were overweight or obese.
Such difficulties affected students of color, immigrant children, and kids from low-income families or attending low-income schools. In turn, their educational aspirations are also impacted.
“Kids of all ages and grades must have what they need to learn each day, such as enough food and sleep and a safe way to get to school, as well as the additional resources they might need to perform at their highest potential and thrive, like tutoring and mental health services,” said Lisa Hamilton, president, and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “Our policies and priorities have not focused on these factors in preparing young people for the economy, short-changing a whole generation.”
What
Important things you should know about colorectal cancer
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and here are three things to know about the disease:
Alzheimer’s disease is a serious condition that affects the brain, causing memory loss and problems with thinking clearly. Millions of people around the world have Alzheimer’s, and it can be challenging for families. Taking care of your brain health can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other memory issues.
1. Colorectal cancer is the secondleading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Alzheimer’s in the Black Community
2. Among all racial and ethnic groups, African-Americans have the highest rate of death from this cancer.
3. It’s diagnosed in men and women at about the same rate.
How colorectal cancer develops
FROM THE DOC
Understanding the Risks
In most cases, patients will not exhibit noticeable symptoms until the disease has advanced, so early detection and removal of these polyps is key to avoiding the disease.
your risk include:
Several factors can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s — some you can control and some you can’t:
The screening for preventing colorectal cancer
• Age and Family History: The risk of Alzheimer’s increases as you get older, but it is NOT caused by age. If someone in your family has Alzheimer’s, you are more likely to get it, too.
If your doctor does not find any polyps, we usually recommend repeating the test every 10 years. But every individual is different, and a patient’s overall health and family history factor into how often they should be screened.
• Stay mentally active with activities like reading, puzzles, or learning something new.
• Stay social.
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Manage your overall stress.
Black Americans are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as White Americans. This higher risk is due to a mix of genetics, environment, and access to healthcare. To make matters more difficult, many Black Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at later stages, which makes treatment less effective. This late diagnosis happens because of limited access to healthcare, cultural stigmas, and not knowing the early signs of Alzheimer’s.
Shonte Byrd, MD is a Neurologist caring for patients at Memorial Villages Campus, Main Campus, and Summer Creek Clinic.
Most colorectal cancers start as a polyp, a small growth on the lining of the colon or rectum. When the cells of this polyp burrow into the wall of the colon or rectum, it becomes cancer.
“For years, the recommended age to begin screening the average-risk population was 50. However, 45 is the new recommendation.”
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic doctors recommend beginning with regular colorectal cancer screenings at age 45 or sooner if you have irritable bowel disease or family history of colorectal cancer.
• Health Conditions: Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, which disproportionately affect the Black community, also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Scan to view Dr. Byrd’s online profile.
Dr. McGee is a Gastroenterology specialist at KelseySeybold Clinic.
Making healthy lifestyle choices like exercising and maintaining a healthy diet can help protect your brain. Some other ways to help protect and reduce
The screening technique most preferred by the American College of Gastroenterology and Kelsey-Seybold gastroenterologists is a colonoscopy. This is an outpatient procedure where doctors will find and remove any dangerous polyps, preventing them from becoming cancerous.
To decrease your chances of colorectal cancer, you should exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and include foods high in fiber in your diet 25 to 30 grams a day. While you can’t control all your risk factors for colorectal cancer, you do have the power to reduce your overall risk. And a big part reducing that risk includes scheduling a colorectal screening to prevent polyps from becoming cancerous.
If you or someone in your family is worried about Alzheimer’s, see a doctor. Early diagnosis can lead to better care and a healthier life. And seeing a doctor regularly can help you keep track of health conditions and help manage issues like high blood pressure and diabetes.
It’snevertooearlyortoolatetostart caringforyourbrain.ContactKelseySeyboldtomakeanappointmentand getstartedonaplantokeepyourbrain healthy.
Forappointments,call713-442-0000
By Aswad Walker
Members of the historic community of Freedmen’s Town (located in Fourth Ward) recently celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Houston’s Freedmen’s Town Visitors Center, an initiative that aims to attract more tourists, attention and recognition to the area.
But beyond the community’s iconic hand-laid brick roads, many in the greater Houston area know little about a community that has been called the “child of Juneteenth” for a good reason.
“We’ve all heard the story of Juneteenth. We have the Emancipation Proclamation and then we have actual freedom coming in Texas years later. We have a federal holiday, Juneteenth. What happened to the people who were freed? Where did they go? What life did they build? What did they do next with their freedom? Freedmen’s Town is quite literally the child of Juneteenth. It’s what happened the days following that emancipation in Texas,” said Zion Escobar, former executive director of the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy.
Here are five things you may not have known about Houston’s Freedmen’s Town.
When formerly enslaved African Americans received their freedom, they settled into a place now known as Freedmen’s Town in 1865. They built homes and schools and laid the brick road to create the oldest Black settlement in Houston along Buffalo Bayou in Houston’s Fourth Ward.
Countless individuals central to the history of Houston, Texas and the nation were residents of Freedmen’s Town, including Rev. John “Jack” Yates (neighborhood founding father and namesake of Jack Yates High School), his son Rutherford B.H. Yates, Rev. Ned P. Pullum (pastor of Freedmen’s Town’s Bethel Baptist Church), J. Vance Lewis (famous lawyer and another Freedmen’s Town founding father) and many others.
“The Gregory School was the first institution for African American kids after slavery,” said Miguell Ceasar, manager of the center, formerly known as the African American Library at the Gregory School (1300 Victory St). “The Gregory Institute started in 1870, but the building we’re in today was rebuilt in 1926 and repurposed in 2009 as an archive and research center for African Americans in Houston and surrounding areas.”
Freedmen’s Town joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Yet, gentrification around the city created dramatic changes with less than 30 historic structures out of hundreds remaining, according to the Texas Historical Commission website. The city had plans to dig up the brick road to replace water, sewage and drainage lines, but efforts from the Coalition in 2015 helped preserve the brick road, shared Dorris Ellis, president and founder of Freedmen’s Town Preservation Coalition.
5Fighting Legacy
“Freedmen’s Town is even more important today because of individuals like Lenwood Johnson and Gladys House-El who fought the city and big developers from destroying what is
Freedmen’s Town, Houston’s oldest Black settlement, has a rich history filled with influential residents, significant institutions and a history of fighting to preserve its heritage. Seen here are the historic bricks of Freedmen’s Town, located in Fourth Ward. Credit: Lucio Vasquez: Houston Public Media.
present today in Fourth Ward Freedmen’s Town—Allen Parkway Village, Victory Place Apartments, and the restoration of the historical homes that line Andrews, Gilette and Ruthven St.,” said area activist Perata Bradley.
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t has been three years since Juneteenth became an ofcial U.S. holiday, signed into law by President Joe Biden. Tat June 17 in 2021 was a historic moment, marking the frst new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Many saw this as a signifcant step toward acknowledging America’s original sin of slavery and the long journey toward equality. Yet, the real history of Juneteenth is complex and ofen misunderstood, marked by persistent sabotage of Black freedom for decades.
Tere is no shortage of Black Texans celebrating the holiday, but many people are now questioning what exactly are we celebrating, should we be celebrating it at all, is Juneteenth an indictment of America, a repudiation of the Fourth of July, or both?
The big lie Across America, many people think there were just a bunch of clueless Blacks toiling away on plantations in Texas, with no idea they were free, when Major General Gordon Granger sailed into Galveston in June 1865. In fact, many Blacks already knew about freedom, but were in no position to enforce it. Te general arrived with 2,000 troops to Galveston, which at the time, was the most populous city in Texas, and held a bustling port largely managed by Black workers.
Granger arrived to bring the news that the slaves had been freed, a proclamation that came more than two years afer President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had officially freed slaves
in Confederate states on January 1, 1863. Granger and his staf took over a villa in town and embarked on the daunting mission of imposing order and security in Texas, the largest secession state in the newly restored Union. The atmosphere was tense, with the state still reeling from the Civil War’s devastation.
Peniel E. Joseph, the Barbara Jordan chair in ethics and political values and founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Afairs at the University of Texas at Austin, writes that the truth of what happened that day is actually way more complicated.
“Blacks in Galveston, working on wharves heard news of freedom long before Major General Gordon Granger arrived,” Joseph said. “Confederates feeing cities, towns and states such as Louisiana and Georgia transported thousands of enslaved Black people to Texas, the state where the fnal battles of the Civil War were fought as late as May of 1865, a month afer Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia.”
Te exact manner in which General Order No. 3 was conveyed varies, but it is believed that Granger read it aloud in a public meeting to reach as many people as possible. Te proclamation that “all slaves are free” was a declaration of independence for some and a provocation for others.
The illusion of freedom
General Order No. 3 declared the freedom of the formerly enslaved. However, it
Blacks in Galveston, working on wharves heard news of freedom long before Major General Gordon Granger arrived.”
PENIEL E. JOSEPH
also advised the newly freed people to remain at their present homes and work for wages. Te order’s language suggested a transformation from slavery to a nebulous form of wage labor, without addressing the practicalities of true freedom. Could Black Texans leave the plantations, travel, reunite with family, or become entrepreneurs and landholders? Te order did not provide clear answers.
Te order warned against focking to military posts, where Black men and women had sought refuge, employment and assistance
since 1863. Te sight of Union soldiers ofen symbolized hope and protection for freedmen. Yet, Granger’s warning implied that Black Texans could not rely on federal troops for support, suggesting that they were expected to fend for themselves despite their newly granted freedom.
The romanticized narrative
For too long, the narrative of Juneteenth has been romanticized, both in Black and white communities. Te common story that Black
Sam Collins III, lef, and others celebrate at the Juneteenth historical marker on June 17, 2021, in Galveston, Texas, afer President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Communities all over the country mark Juneteenth, the day that enslaved Black Americans learned they were free.
(Jennifer Reynolds/ The Galveston County Daily News via AP, File)
Texans were unaware of their freedom until Granger’s arrival oversimplifes the reality, Joseph says. Te real issue was the practical enforcement of these new freedoms in a state still controlled by Confederate sympathizers.
Granger’s troops faced a violent, anxious and vengeful white population, including Confederate soldiers and sympathizers who engaged in attacks and looting across Texas.
Texas, being the most remote of the slave states, was a fnal stronghold for those who sought to maintain the institution of slavery.
Te history of Juneteenth is not just about the celebration of freedom but also about the relentless eforts to undermine it. From the vague promises of General Order No. 3 to the systemic racism that followed, Joseph says that Black freedom has been persistently sabotaged.
“The teaching of this history is crucial, especially as it faces contemporary attacks.
Understanding Juneteenth means recognizing both the progress made and the continuous struggle for true equality,” he said.
The signifcance of Juneteenth
Juneteenth represents the end of a brutal chapter in American history, where the fght for freedom and equality was hard-fought and hard-won. It also highlights the resilience and perseverance of African Americans who, despite systemic oppression, continued to strive for freedom and justice.
It also serves as a reminder of the importance of federal action in enforcing civil
rights and the ongoing struggle against racial inequality. Te fact that freedom did not come until Union troops intervened underscores the critical role of governmental enforcement in civil rights progress.
Despite its recognition and celebration, the legacy of Juneteenth is complex. For many, it is a day of joy and pride, but it also serves as a reminder of the persistent inequalities and injustices that African Americans continue to face.
Te systemic issues that delayed the realization of freedom for enslaved people in Texas are refected in modern struggles for racial equity. It is a day to acknowledge the ugliest truths of American history and celebrate the relentless pursuit of a more perfect union.
“Progress is real, and it deserves recognition, but it should not overshadow the
struggles that persist. Juneteenth teaches us that history is not just about triumphs but the relentless eforts to achieve them,” Joseph writes.
Te ongoing fght for justice and equality, from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to the Black Lives Matter movement today, echoes the historical signifcance of Juneteenth. Te holiday prompts refection on how far America has come and how far it still has to go in addressing racial disparities in education, healthcare, criminal justice and economic opportunity.
“Commemorating the lives and legacies of enslaved people who defiantly loved a nation that refused to love them back ofers
General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865 to bring the news that the slaves had been freed, a proclamation that came more than two years afer President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, ofcially freed slaves in Confederate states on January 1, 1863.
us a renewed opportunity to build a new consensus around American citizenship and democracy,” Joseph wrote. “Juneteenth’s deeper history is more inspiring than the story we have been popularly told.
“Te cracks in our national history, the divides in our attempts to recount this story to our children and our children’s children, tell the story of a democratic experiment that Black Texans helped progress through unenviable circumstances in the afermath of a catastrophic civil war. And in doing so they bequeathed a legacy of Black Texans celebrating a kind of freedom beyond emancipation, one that could usher in a new era of multiracial democracy.”
When it comes to Juneteenth, world-renowned University of Houston history professor Dr. Gerald Horne wants to not only correct a few errors in the story’s telling but share something even more explosive – a second Juneteenth that is arguably just as impactful as the first.
All enslaved declared free
All enslaved persons in the U.S. were declared free via U.S. General Gordon Granger’s June 19, 1865 reading of General Order No. 3 in Galveston, saying, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
This is important because the Emancipation Proclamation, read Jan. 1, 1863, specifically only freed those enslaved by the Confederacy. And technically, it didn’t even free them as the states of the Confederacy had broken away from the U.S. and did not consider themselves bound by U.S. laws or proclamations.
So, Granger’s words on June 19, 1865, after the Civil War was over, carried even more weight. But Horne says it wasn’t just Granger’s words that did the trick; it was Black troops with guns.
Black troops made freedom real
In Horne’s book “The Counter Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery & Jim Crow and the Roots of American Fascism,” he identifies the oft-ignored “war” Granger’s roughly 2,000 predominantly Black troops waged against enslavers in Texas and Louisiana who refused to acknowledge the new law of the land that made freedom possible. Horne reveals that Black troops engaged in numerous bloody battles with white enslavers and their armed forces, defeating them on plantations turned battlefields on America soil, and thus making Juneteenth quite literally a Black Liberation holiday.
But wait; the story gets even Blacker!
World-renowned UH history professor contends there’s a second Juneteenth that may be just as significant as the original. Artist Reginald Adams’ ‘Absolute Equality’ Juneteenth mural (at the African American Research Center, 1300 Victor St., Houston, TX 77019, Freedmen’s Town).
Credit: Aswad Walker
These same Black troops that accompanied Granger and went to war in 1865 to enforce the original Juneteenth’s proclamation, saving America from its anti-democratic and enslaving ways, again saved the nation two years later, on June 19, 1867.
Yes, there was a second Juneteenth.
Juneteenth –Blacks save America… again
Granger’s Black troops put down an insurrection led by ex-Confederate soldiers working with the French, who moved their base of operations to Mexico with plans of re-taking Texas for the Confederacy as step one in restarting the Civil War.
“The Confederates would surrender in April 1865. Many of them were headed to Mexico where they planned to continue
enslavement. In fact, some made it to Mexico with some of our ancestors in tow… And what happens is General Granger was accompanied by thousands of Negro troops. It was part of an effort to keep the Confederates from continuing slavery south of the border, which was the plan, and continuing to wage war against the United States from
Mexico. And our ancestors who were armed helped to squash that particular plan.
“In fact… it’s not only June 19, 1865, that we should mark, but also June 19, 1867, because that’s when the French leader Maximillian was killed, which marks the end of the attempt to continue our enslavement in Mexico,” said Horne.
In essence, Black troops made the first Juneteenth real and tangible by going to war with enslavers who refused to let Black people go. Those same troops, in 1867, ventured into Mexico to destroy the Confederacy’s attempt to restart the Civil War and re-institute slavery.
It’s no stretch of the imagination to say that without the victory of that second Juneteenth, the impact of the first one would have been squashed in 1867, and the history of this nation might have looked drastically different.
Dr. Gerald Horne.
Credit: UH.
Texas-made movie deserves support, discussionBy Aswad Walker
When people discuss the filmmaking prowess of Spike Lee, they mention works like “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “Mo Better Blues” or “She’s Gotta Have It.”
Very few people beyond serious movie nerds (like me) know anything about Lee’s flm that kick-started his Oscar-winning career –“Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads.”
Developed while he was a flm student, “Joe’s” was Lee’s NYU Tisch Film graduate school thesis flm. And though it doesn’t get the love and attention of a “Jungle Fever” or “School Daze,” without “Joe’s” those Lee classics conceivably never get made.
And that would be a crime.
So, too, would it be a sin and shame if Houston’s Black community (and anyone else interested in good cinema) doesn’t show up and show out for a local flmmaker on the rise as she debuts her frst fick.
Te flmmaker – Holly Charles-Pearson.
Te movie – “If Tey Took Us Back.”
A must-see
I had the honor of previewing this flm which is roughly 30 minutes in length. It absolutely left me wanting more – and I mean that in the best possible way.
As a longtime movie-head and a Pan-African history professor who cares deeply about our relationships as a people, whether we’re American-born, from the continent or from another part of the diaspora, this flm spoke to me on so many levels.
And speaking of levels, “If Tey Took Us Back” comes with more than enough. Te flm grapples with the issue of reparations, alternate history, Pan-African relations and the beefs that exist therein, the practice of “passing,” imposter syndrome and so much more.
The little things
But what really impressed me was the fact that if I hadn’t known Charles-Pearson was a frst-time screenwriter/director, nothing in her debut work would have given me a clue. Unlike Lee’s “Joe’s,” which, even for its brilliance, is obviously the director’s maiden voyage, “If They Took Us Back” could easily be mistaken for a piece of art created and produced by someone who’s been in the business for years.
screen – something rarely done right before “Insecure” – the lighting and presentation of Blackfolk alone in “If Tey Took Us Back” will have you hooked.
But being the movie nerd that I am, I noticed the little things while watching Charles-Pearson’s movie – the movement from scene to scene (edits and cuts), the pace of the story, the acting, wardrobe, etc. Yo, everything was beyond on point, and accentuated a complicated and layered story worth telling, worth seeing and worth discussing.
Can we talk?
Listen, if you’ve been blown away by the absolute eye-popping beauty with which Issa Rae and crew portrayed Black skin on
To that last point, I’m trying my best not to share the entire story of this flm and knock you upside the head with spoilers because I want so badly to be in conversation with someone, anyone, about the issues addressed and questions raised by this movie. But I can share what Charles-Pearson has already released to the media:
“If Tey Took Us Back” is inspired by a hypothetical exodus of formerly enslaved people back to Africa following the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. More than a century later, a descendant of the ‘Black Returns’ decides to break the 160-year exile and return to the U.S. in exchange for overdue reparations from a remorseful, sympathetic and Black-obsessed America.
Charles-Pearson, who was born and raised right outside of Chicago, is no stranger to the Houston scene, she lived here for years and made her mark as an educator, PR maven and formidable, award-winning playwright who brings Blackness unapologetically. She’s a storyteller by nature, and used that gif in her teaching, PR work and play production. And she sho-nuf brought it with this, her frst flm.
Houston, pull up Houston, we have a problem if we don’t show up for the H-Town debut of Charles-Pearson’s movie on Saturday, June 22 at Emancipation Park Conservancy (3018
[Holly CharlesPearson is] a storyteller by nature, and used that gif in her teaching, PR work and play production. And she shonuf brought it with this, her frst flm.”
Emancipation Ave., Houston, 77004) for two showings (3p.m. and 7p.m.). But for those who want to be in the house for the Texas debut, Fourth Industrial Pictures, Charles-Pearson’s production company, will debut the movie in Austin (her second home) on Juneteenth (Wednesday, June 19) at 2024 Stateside at Te Paramount Teater (719 Congress Ave., Austin).
Links to purchase tickets are available now by visiting @iftheytookusback on Instagram.
“If Tey Took Us Back,” worthy of acclaim in its own right, could be her “Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads.” Who knows how many classic cinema moments await Charles-Pearson if enough eyes see this movie and recognize the meteoric talent that she possesses?
Will she be the next Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay or John Singleton? Tat’s impossible to say. But as members of Houston’s Black community, we can provide the support needed so soul sister can be the best Holly Charles-Pearson she can be. And by the looks of her frst flm, aspiring moviemakers generations from now will be pointing to her as their inspiration.
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation events include a Concert in the Park on June 14 at 5 p.m. and June 15 at 7 p.m. at Hunters Glen Park, 1340 Independence Blvd. Performers include Step Rideau, Alexander O’Neal, Lil Keke and musicians Gina Payne, Yo Jonesy Jones and Teresa Grayson. A One Mile of Smiles Parade is 7-9 p.m. June 15 at 2440 Texas Pkwy. Other events include a gala, symposium and golf tournament. Info: mcjcf.com
Wells Fargo presents Juneteenth: A Musical Journey Trough Eras, Part I & II, at 8 p.m. June 14-15 at Miller Outdoor Teatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive. It will explore R&B, blues, inspirational, hip hop and more. Admission is free. Reservations required for covered seating. Info: milleroutdoortheatre.com
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Beauty’s Community Garden hosts a Let Freedom Ring Juneteenth Celebration from 9-11 a.m. at 3201 Airline Drive. Enjoy food, games and special guests. Admission is free but reservations are required. Info: https://bit.ly/3WXGg4b
Te Heritage Society hosts a free Juneteenth Celebration from 9:30 a.m.-noon at 1100 Bagby. It features a teacake reception, Black cowboy experiences, gospel choir and historical refections. Info: heritagesociety.org Sylvester Turner and the Black Heritage Society present the annual Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade at 10 a.m. at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, 6719 W.
Montgomery Road. Info: blackheritagesociety.net
BLCK Market hosts its annual Juneteenth Celebration from noon -5 p.m. June 15-16 at 1201 Main St., Suite 101. It includes music, vendors, food and family activities. Tickets are $5-$10. Info: blckmarket.com
Emancipation Park Conservancy hosts a Freedom Walk & Run from 7-11 a.m. at Emancipation Park, 3018 Emancipation Ave. Registration is free. Info: epconservancy.org
HTX Cultural Dance Community presents a Juneteenth Jubilee! Cultural Dance Workshop from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Judson Robinson Jr. Community Center, 2020 Hermann Drive. Fees range from $10 to $25. Info: juneteenthhouston.org
A free Juneteenth Celebration Festival is noon-7 p.m. at Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center, 4410 Reed Rd. Te family-friendly event includes music, dance and food. Info: allevents.in/houston/ juneteenth-celebration-2024/
Emancipation Park Conservancy presents a free Juneteenth Music Celebration from 4-9 p.m. at Emancipation Park, 3018 Emancipation Ave. It includes performances by the Juneteenth Community Gospel Choir, Roi Anthony and Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers, plus vendors and food. Info: epconservancy.org
SUNDAY, JUNE 16
Te Children’s Museum Houston presents a Juneteenth Freedom Fest from 9 a.m-5 p.m. at 1500 Binz St. Activities include music by DJ Ferbidden, a community mural, art exhibit, story time and children’s theater. Admission is $19.95 and free for children under 1. Info: cmhouston.org
Avenida Houston and Discovery Green present a free Juneteenth Culture Fest & Celebration of Freedom from 4-9 p.m. at 1500 McKinney. It includes art, games, BLCK Market vendors, health and ftness, food, fireworks and music by Rhonda McLemore & Friends, the Tina Turnup Xperience featuring Myra Washington, Mallory, Neesha Cortez, Skylar Bliss and the C.I.T.Y. Band. Info: avenidahouston.com/news/
TUESDAY, JUNE 18
A Juneteenth Community Health Fair is Tuesday, June 18 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Emancipation Park, 3018 Emancipation Ave. It includes screenings and panel discussions on mental and maternal health.
Ion and Microsoft + Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) in partnership with Emancipation Park Conservancy and the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum present “Juneteenth Journey: Bridging Past + Present Through Technology” from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Ion Houston, 4201 Main St. Admission is free but registration is required. Info: iondistrict.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
Emancipation Park Conservancy presents a free Juneteenth Family Fun Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Emancipation Park. It includes vendors, food and music. Info: epconservancy.org
Te HUBB (Helping Us Become Better) of Missouri City hosts a Juneteenth Family Celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Hunters Glen Park, 1340 Independence Blvd. It features music, dance, games, food and open
mic performances. Info: thehubbmocity.org
Pride Houston hosts a free Juneteenth Summit at noon at Montrose Grace Place, 2515 Waugh Dr. It features a panel discussion with Black leaders of local non-profts. Info: pridehouston365.org
Te annual Acres Homes Cultural Arts Festival is 4-9 p.m. at 6112 Wheatley. It features moonwalks, food, bingo with prizes, vendors and music by Keyun and the Zydeco Masters, Bayou City Brass Band, the Keeshea Pratt Band and AJ McQueen. Info: acreshomechamber.com
THURSDAY, JUNE 20
Te Heritage Society presents a Lunch & Learn: Texas Slave Narratives with Dr. Ronald Goodwin of Prairie View A&M University at noon at 1100 Bagby. Bring your own lunch or order lunch when purchasing a ticket online by June 18. Admission is free for Heritage Society members and $10 for non-members. Info: heritagesociety.org
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
The National Black MBA Association Houston Chapter hosts a screening of “If Tey Took Us Back” at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Emancipation Park Cultural Center. It includes a performance by soundtrack artist Daniel Fears and a cast Q&A. Tickets start at $35. Info: https://tinyurl. com/4b5h3pta
A free screening of the 1984 flm “A Soldier’s Story” is 6-8 p.m. at the Bufalo Soldiers National Museum, 3816 Caroline St. An audience Q&A will follow. Admission is free but registration is required. Info: bufalosoldiersmuseum.org/visit/events/
Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, carries a profound weight, particularly in Houston, a city with a rich Black history and vibrant Juneteenth traditions. But beyond the barbecues, parades, and community gatherings lies a powerful symbol – the Juneteenth flag. This vibrant tri-colored banner isn’t just decorative; it represents freedom, struggle, and resilience.
“There are national conversations now,” said Dr. Tara Green, Chair of the Department of African American Studies at the University of Houston. “Children can learn about Juneteenth and that we don’t have to become adults and learn about it sort of serendipitously,” she continues, referencing the recent progress in Juneteenth education. “But that there’s an effort for people to know. So, it becomes national knowledge. And also that there are more books and more attention given to it.”
Texas was the first state to declare Juneteenth a state holiday in 1979; other states soon followed. The countrywide Black Lives Matter rallies following the 2020 deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery gave new life to the years-long drive
to have Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday. On June 15, 2021, a long-awaited bill unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate, then signed into law two days later by President Joe Biden, made Juneteenth the eleventh American federal holiday
The National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation’s founder, activist Ben Haith, collaborated with illustrator Lisa Jeanna Graf to create the Juneteenth flag in 1997. Although Juneteenth became a federal holiday only recently, the Norwich, CT resident, along with other Black members in the Boston area, knew about its history for decades. In an interview with the Norwich Bulletin, he
said the holiday is much larger than him. The flag is about humanity.
“I also want to restore peace to African Americans,” said Haith. “I grew up when we didn’t have the kinds of behavior we’re experiencing now. “We’re a people that used to love and care for each other. Just enough of us have lost our way where we have to do something about it.”
He has dedicated his life to promoting Juneteenth’s acknowledgment and commemoration throughout the country. Haith organized public protests, educational initiatives, and activities to draw attention to its significance. Additionally, he worked with legislators and decision-makers to promote the official recognition of the occasion.
Every component of the flag has a significant symbolic meaning that connects to the history and goals of African Americans. As per the National Juneteenth Observation Foundation, the flag underwent revisions in 2000 to become the current version.
The Burst: As the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation describes, the burst surrounding the star is a symbol imbued
with astronomical meaning. A nova, a newly formed star, signifies a new beginning for Black Americans.
The Star: The white star at the flag’s center has two distinct meanings.It symbolizes Texas, the Lone Star State. In 1865, Union soldiers in Galveston told the country’s final enslaved individuals they were free under the terms of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued two years previously.
The Colors: The colors – red, white, and blue – mirror the American flag, which became an intentional choice. The colors are a statement of belonging, a reminder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.
The Arc: The final element is the arc that stretches across the bottom of the flag. “The curve that extends across the width of the flag represents a new horizon,” says the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.
“I feel like the biggest opportunity for Black America is to take ownership in all things Juneteenth,” said Renowned artist Reginald Adams.” He spent around 30 years living in Houston. He only knew about the true history of Juneteenth when a Galveston nonprofit, the Juneteenth Legacy Project, commissioned him to create a mural in dedication to the holiday.
Houston has a long and storied history of jazz influence. In fact, according to KPFT’s “Houston Jazz Spotlight,” “Tere’s no way to tell the story of American jazz without telling the story of Houston, Texas and the artists who have been front and center at every stage of jazz’s development.”
Some of those names are more wellknown than others, but you’d be hardpressed to fnd someone who has had a wider and deeper impact on the global jazz universe from his Houston headquarters than Leonard “Al” Campbell Jr.
The Memphis-born, Houston-loving Campbell has infuenced and/or gigged with some of jazz’s greats, training up generations of future Grammy winners, playing bass with some of the greatest jazz icons ever and directing annual workshops and music festivals to expand his already phenomenal infuence upon the world of jazz.
Campbell, a professional bassist, is also an HISD lecturer at Westbury High School, co-founder and entertainment director for the Willow Waterhole Music Festival, entertainment consultant for the Red Cat Jazz Festival, and co-founding member of the Houston-based jazz group Sea Breeze.
He has performed and recorded with various musicians and vocalists throughout the U.S. and abroad, including Frank Lacy, Conrad Johnson, BB King Blues Band, Robert Glasper, Joe Carmouche and the Jazz Crusaders.
Campbell came to Houston with childhood friend Kirk Whalum to attend Texas Southern University (TSU) on full-ride music scholarships and played in the world-famous Ocean of Soul marching
band. He has since made Houston home and forged an incredible jazz career that’s still going strong.
It’s great being on stage, but when you come of the stage, you have to deal with the business. Stay humble.”
LEONARD “AL” CAMPBELL JR.
“I’m like 6’7” and a half, so I played basketball and I was going to the NBA, like everybody was,” laughed Campbell. “Ten I picked up the bass in junior high school.”
And the rest is a history that’s still being written.
Even with Campbell’s early basketball prowess, life seemed to conspire to set him on the musician’s path.
“My father worked for the post ofce. My mother was a principal and a teacher.
And I have musicians in my family on both sides: on my mother’s side, vocal, and instrumental on my dad’s side,” recalled Campbell, known by many as “Big Al.”
“Growing up in Memphis, I stayed down the street from two incredible musicians. One’s name is James Alexander, the bass player for the Bar-Kays. And the other one was Al Jackson, the drummer for Booker T and the MGs . I had to pass his house every day, and could hear him playing.”
For over 40 years Campbell has worked with the Summer Jazz Workshop founded by Houston icons Conrad Johnson and
George Bubbha Tomas. Working with Craig Green, Campbell currently serves as director of SJW, an entity known for producing jazz greats like Brandon Lee, Robert Glasper, Andre Hayward and more.
“I started working with Brandon Lee at Parker Elementary… he was the person I started the Parker Elementary Jazz Band with. He went on to Johnson Middle School, HSPVA, and got a full-ride undergraduate that extended into the graduate program at Juilliard, where Wynton Marsalis was his instructor. So, man, we, you know, we are so proud of Brandon.
“Robert Glasper, he was so good, by the time he came to the workshop, he was in middle school and could already play anything in church and knew how to play the blues. We just had to kind of like, tell him how to use his superpowers <laughs>,” said Campbell. “I’m gonna tell you somebody else like that: Andre Hayward, one of the top trombone players on this planet.”
As if that weren’t enough, Campbell has been a stalwart at HISD’s Westbury High School teaching music for decades. To many, it may seem out of place for an accomplished jazz musician to spend time in K-12 classrooms teaching jazz to kids. But Campbell points out that such work has been a long tradition in jazz circles, and includes Herman Rankins, Lester Snell (music director for Isaac Hayes), Emerson Able (lead alto for Isaac Hayes), Houston’s Joe Carmouche and the lategreat Conrad Johnson.
“We called Conrad ‘Houston’s Charlie Parker.’ He could have lef Houston, went to New York and had one of the most lucrative careers, but he chose to stay and pass this down to others,” said Campbell.
Campbell isn’t just about music education but training young people for success in life.
“I tell my kids, understand the business. It’s great being on stage, but when you come of the stage, you have to deal with the business. Stay humble. And the best thing you could do is everything our grandparents told us – treat others the same way you want to be treated.”
For more information on this year’s Summer Jazz Workshop call 713-839-7000 or visit jazzeducation.org.
Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) student-athlete Myles McHaney IV recently earned a master’s degree in juvenile justice. As the first Agletics ambassador, McHaney is serious about his faith, ftness and football.
McHaney’s demeanor, achievements and future goals made him an obvious choice to represent a new initiative at PVAMU, a partnership between the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (CAFNR) and the PVAMU Athletics program.
Hailing from Michigan, McHaney came to Texas with one goal in mind, to play football at a Division I Historically Black College and University (HBCU). He earned his undergraduate degree while playing football at Upper Iowa University, majoring in criminal justice. McHaney aims to give back to the PVAMU community, and serving as an Agletics ambassador is his frst step in doing just that.
“Athletic Director Anton Gof, coaches Bubba McDowell, Alvin Fosselman III, and Marlon Watson have all been great,” said McHaney. “I would not have been able to come here and play the game I love without their support.”
As a leader in nutrition programs such as Dietetics and Wellness in Houston (WIH), CAFNR has a mission to serve local communities such as Waller County (where PVAMU is located) and others across Texas. Through various levels of outreach and education, Agletics is where agriculture meets athletics to bring CAFNR research and nutrition support directly to student-athletes to show the correlation of intake and performance.
As a gateway for student-athletes to pursue studies in agriculture and nutrition,
Agletics combines practical knowledge with scientific research to enhance student-athletes’ overall athletic performance in college and contribute to post-graduate success.
Agletics is a multi-faceted collaboration that will soon incorporate precision nutrition, a cutting-edge area of research that will increase awareness and enhance athletic performance, attracting students from other majors to participate in cross-disciplinary research in a high-earning feld.
McHaney is excited to be a part of this initiative, sharing his daily regimen of drinking lemon water with his teammates through a “Motivational Monday with Myles” reel on social media. In the future, McHaney may choose to come back to PVAMU, using his degrees to support the College of Juvenile Justice through CAFNR’s WIH programs.
WIH provides evidence-based research programs across six counties, including Waller.
Te launch of Agletics highlights a new master’s degree in nutrition science, the second new CAFNR graduate program launched within the past two years. Te new MS in Nutrition Science will allow undergraduate nutrition students to seamlessly transition into graduate studies, participating in research with our student-athletes.
CAFNR presented Agletics as a part of the PVAMU Football Mega Camp on Friday, May 31, providing hydration and nutrition support and education to participants. In addition to @pvamucafnr social media features, Agletics will be active this summer across the PVAMU campus and beyond.
For more information, visit www.pvamu. edu/cafnr.
UH sophomore sprinter Louie Hinchcliffe won the 100-meter dash national championship with a 9.95 time during the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
UH relay teams receive FirstTeam All-American honors
The UH 4 x 400-meter relay team consisting of Sydni Townsend, Kelly-Ann Beckford, Iman Babineaux and Michaela Mouton finished fifth at the NCAA Track & Field Championships to earn First-Team All-American honors. They had a second-best and school-record extending time of 3:24.73. Townsend also earned individual First-Team AllAmerican honors after finishing fifth in the 400-meter hurdles. The Cougars men’s 4 x 100-meter relay team of Ireon Brown, Louie Hinchcliffe, Cayden Broadnax and Shaun Maswanganyi took home bronze and also earned First-Team All-America recognition. The men turned in a season-best time of 38.25, which is the second-fastest in school history.
Kevin Granger
Less than a week after claiming the SWAC’s C.D. Henry Award, the Texas Southern Department of Athletics added an academic milestone as the winner of the SWAC’s 202324 Academic Success Award for the second time in three years. TSU claimed the Academic Success Award finishing with a total of 30 points based upon the point scale system used to determine an institutional winner. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (28.0) and Grambling State (27.5) round out the list of top three finishers within the conference. TSU also won the award following the 2021-22 academic year. The TSU baseball team led the way with 28 student-athletes earning 3.0 or higher GPA’s followed by football (21), soccer (20) and women’s track & field/cross country (19).
recognized Prairie View A&M baseball’s outfielder Michael Burroughs, pitcher Michael Dews, and DH Tyran Norris made the Black College Nine Elite Second Team. Outfielder Michael Smith was named Freshman of the Year by Black College Nine Elite.
UH senior Shaun Maswanganyi made First-Team All-American in the 100-meter (seventh place) and 200-meter (sixth place) during the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
There is no question Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was a phenomenal college basketball player.
The way the Iowa star elevated women’s college basketball while bringing in so many new sets of eyeballs was nothing short of amazing.
Surely, Clark will do the same for the WNBA.
That’s what a certain sector thinks anyway.
But a little over a month into Clark’s professional basketball career, this thing is spinning in ways that could do more harm than good. It’s Black vs. White. It’s the Great White Hope. It’s preferential treatment for a rookie. It’s the pampered princess. It’s jealousy among peers, even Clark’s teammates.
It’s all of these things and with every day it seems less and less about basketball.
And it all makes sense given the deepening racial divide that has a grip on this nation right now thanks to former US President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Everybody is passionately debating whether Clark, averaging a respectable 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists for a 3-9 team in her first 12 games as a pro, is really the savior of the WNBA.
It’s Black folks vs whites because the Iowa-bred Clark is bringing with her a lot of mainstream interest that had all but the WNBA, which is dominated by Black players. It almost feels like the WNBA doesn’t already have some white stars like Breanna Stewart, Diana Tarausi and Kelsey Plumand recently retired WNBA legend Sue Byrd.
But this debate isn’t just Black vs. white. It’s Black-on-Black. Many of us recognize Clark for the baller and incredible talent that she is. Many of us are also concerned that once again we are seeing a white player come into a traditional Black arena and without earning it be tagged “the next coming.”
Some of us – myself included – are standing on both sides of these perspectives at once.
Just last week, we watched ESPN First Take Host Stephen A. Smith and guest
It hasn’t been an easy start to Caitlin Clark’s WNBA career with this heated exchange with the Seattle Storm’s Victoria Vivians (left) serving as an example of what Clark deals with almost every game. Credit: Getty
Monica McNutt go at it on air in a way that got a little uncomfortable during a 41-minute segment that was about the WNBA and Clark. Their disagreement continued well after the show with Stephen A. jumping on his Youtube platform to further his point and take shots at McNutt.
McNutt, who was ready for all of Stephen A.’s smoke, didn’t back down in subsequent talk show appearances last week.
But that’s what the name Caitlin Clark does. It makes us draw lines in the sand.
Last week, the nation was up in arms after Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter delivered a hard and flagrant foul to the rookie. This week’s conversation and debate are about Clark being left off the US Olympic Team in favor of veteran players who are quite frankly much better than Clark.
Clark will surely get her Olympic opportunity in another four years. But right now, an A’ja Wilson she is not.
Today, Clark is a young player with a lot of potential. What that has meant for the WNBA is a potential gold mine. Television viewership is up this season, chartered flights are waiting at the gate
instead of commercial flights, basketball arenas are packed and, for the first time, the conversation is about expansion instead of retraction.
Is this WNBA renaissance all about Clark? Of course not.
For those who are true basketball fans and have been watching for years, we have seen the incremental growth of the WNBA. But there is no denying that the mainstream interest that has attached itself to Clark is having an impact, too.
There is also this antagonizing rivalry between Chicago’s Angel Reese and Clark that began two years ago in college and will be one that’s fun to watch unfold. It’s reminiscent of the Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird rivalry back in the 1980s. You know, the one that started when the two were college stars and continued into their NBA careers. The Magic/Bird rivalry is largely credited with saving the NBA.
Like Magic and Bird, Reese and Clark battled for a national championship in college. Magic and Bird went head-tohead for NBA championships, too.
We can only hope Clark vs. Reese will give us as much excitement in the WNBA.
For the past 20 years, the Bayou Bowl has been one of Texas’s premier All-Star football games. The game played on June 8, at Barbers Hill Stadium in Mont Belvieu, Texas, featured several top players from the Greater Houston and surrounding areas. One of those players was senior Alief Taylor edge rusher, Pierre Yamba.
“The game gives senior football standouts one last time to showcase their talents to their families and college coaches,” said Bayou Bowl director Dick Olin.
“I felt blessed, honored and grateful that someone acknowledged my skills,” said Yamba. Yamba, a two-time 6A Region III District 23 Unanimous 1st team all-district award winner, hopes to show coaches he has something to add to their program.
“I wanted to show I can put pressure on the quarterback no matter what situation I’m in. I have a high motor, but I’m a smaller edge rusher so I didn’t meet the eye test for many schools,” said Yamba.
Yamba is highly active as an edge rusher, showcasing his strength with a 350-pound bench press, a 315-pound power clean, and a 550-pound squat. Last season, he recorded 56 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 11 hurries, 1 pass deflection, 5 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
“Yamba was the strongest man on our team and our team captain. As a great leader with a great work ethic, he helped change not only the culture of how the team approached games and workouts but also how they carried themselves as student-athletes,” said Alief Taylor head football coach Shawn Gray.
Yamba didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school. Unfortunately, the season was heavily impacted by COVID-19. In his sophomore year, he became more familiar with the sport and earned playing time on the junior varsity level. The next season, Yamba became a varsity starter and never looked back.
“My summer of junior year I worked like a maniac in the weight room to earn my spot on varsity,” said Yamba.
“He’s become an instant impact player who
will make a difference, not only off the field but on the field as well,” said Gray.
Yamba has had several schools interested, but passed up offers, making a decision that surprised some, but made sense to him.
“I chose to attend Texas State [University], where I hope to become a walk-on because I want to be a part of the amazing rebuilding program they have,” said Yamba. “I believe I can grow as a student, and they can help me become the best athlete I can be.”
Although last season Alief Taylor didn’t have any players in the 2023 Bayou Bowl All-Star game, Yamba helped to change the narrative in the 2024 Bayou Bowl All-Star.
“Alief has a lot of talented kids, but we’re one of the smallest districts, so we don’t get a lot of recognition. As coaches, we try to do the best we can and get the best from our players. Having players selected for the 2024 Bayou Bowl AllStar game shows the work ethic and goals we’ve set for our players and program,” said Gray.
When looking back to inspire the next group of athletes, Yamba recalls the advice his parents gave him.
“Put God first in everything you do,” said Yamba.
ABOUT PIERRE YAMBA
Class: 2024
IG: @ball0utp
Twitter: @PierreYamba1
Position: Edge rusher
Height & weight: 6-feet, 240 pounds
Player he studies: James Harrison (retired NFL)
Favorite artist: Lil Uzi Vert
Status: Uncommitted, trying to walk on
Favorite subject: Precalculus
Shout-outs: Jesus, family, teammates and coaches
