June 15, 2023

Juneteenth NEWS

SPORTS

TAKEOFF

DYLAN CAMPBELL

The mother of the late Migos rapper is suing the business where he was killed.

Volume 92, issue 31 June 15, 2023

The Houston baseball prodigy is breaking records at the University of Texas at Austin.

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DN To the POINT

Anita Baker onstage at the 2018 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater. Getty

Reporter’s Message in a high yield savings account, or an emergency Black Music Month is coming in hot with the fund, or used it to pay off other accumulating battle between music industry heavyweights debts like private loans. If you haven’t planned Anita Baker and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. ahead and are wondering where to start paying The Detroit Diva called upon Babyface to interback these loans, start contacting your student vene and address the bullying and threats she has loan advisor and/or go to StudentAid.gov to find been receiving from fans. The conflict arose after a plan that fits your needs. Either way, it’s best to Babyface did not perform during a May show on create a strategy for debt pay off, because at this Baker’s “Songstress” tour, leading some of his fans rate, waiting for the government to solve your Laura Onyeneho to direct hostility towards her. These fans, who problems is only wishful thinking. have been dubbed “Kenny’s Crazies” by Baker, have targeted her due to Babyface’s absence.

Houston Heat Wave The situation prompted a flurry of criticism towards Baker, When it comes to Houston summer weather, it can be with fans and celebrities alike expressing their disappointment. scorching. What else would the “H” in Houston stand for?

Many had assumed that Babyface, with his extensive catalog HOT of course!!! Southeast Texas is preparing for record spanning a 40-year career, would co-headline with her. She’s breaking heat this week. Be expected to see it hit triple digits. asked Babyface to call his fans off, but you know how social Typically, Houston doesn’t reach the 100s until July. So, I’m media goes. I saw one comment from someone on Instagram calling out to all of my Black folks in the area to take proactive who said that social media have reduced the aura of the celeb- steps to protect yourself this season. rity, and I agree to an extent. Aren’t there any PR teams, or 1. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the advisors to these celebrities these days? There is a reason why day.

Beyonce’ is the celebrity among the celebrities. Not everything 2. Dress appropriately. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting needs to be on the internet. I still got love for both of them and light-colored outfits to stay cool.

I hope they can nip this in the bud.

3. Stay in the shade and or an air-conditioned space. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, especially if you are Student loans pandemic freeze will end at the beach!

For all of my fellow federal student loan borrowers, empty 4. USE SUNSCREEN! If you don’t want the Black to crack out the cobwebs from your online accounts because the three- down the line, use that high SPF to protect you skin from year loan payment pause from the COVID-19 pandemic is UV rays. coming to an end 60 days after June 30, regardless of how the 5. Limit your outdoor activities. Try working out from Supreme Court rules on the White House plan to forgive the home, and if you must go outside, pace yourself and take debt. breaks.

We huffed and puffed and hoped that Biden’s plans to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt would alleviate some stress but it ON THE WEB has faced legal challenges every step of the way. Three years have • Dallas leaders reflect on Mike Miles tenure gone by, and as the saying goes “All good things must come to • Check out Jimmie’s Journey: Rally Against Illegal Dumping an end.” My hope is that you borrowers have put the extra cash • What dad’s really want for Father’s Day Anita Baker vs Baby Face??

June 15, 2023 |

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DN News

Harris County unveils childcare program

By Tannistha Sinha

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has announced the Early REACH (Raising Educational Access for Children in Harris County) program, an early childhood program that will create 800-1,000 new childcare spaces for children up to four years old.

The applications for the program are now open. Multiple children from the same family can be eligible. A child who qualifies for it can be in a childcare space by early July.

The $26 million for the program came from the American Rescue Plan funds, a $1.9 trillion project signed by President Joe Biden in 2022.

The funding will run for three years.

Who is eligible?

Families must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for the free childcare: *Demonstrate financial need (Family must make under $75,468 a year for a family of four) *Live in an area of high need according to the Social Vulnerability Index or experiencing homelessness *Be in foster care or receive benefits like WIC, SNAP, TANF, free or reduced lunch, or SSI income.

The families who apply will know if they are eligible within two weeks. Then, they will be paired with an eligibility specialist who will

work with them to find a childcare center for their needs.

According to Hidalgo, both children and childcare centers can apply to this program.

“Apply now, it is a first-come first-served system,” she said.

ensuring that they get paid at least $15 an hour.

The speakers also added the benefits of early childhood programs like higher rates of employment as adults, a reduction in the likelihood of contact with the criminal justice system, and a rise in graduation rates and academic performance.

How will community leaders help?

In attendance at a recent press conference discussing the new program were Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones; Amanda McMillian, president and CEO United Way of Greater Houston; Rene Solis, chief program officer at BakerRipley, and Sandra Heath-Taylor, owner and director of Tiny Toes Academy.

“It’s not about quantity but quality,” Heath-Taylor said. “We need more quality centers, where teachers are getting paid. This program is so needed in the community.”

Hidalgo said this program is not meant to “solve the entire problem” but she believes the new additions will increase the availability of high-quality childcare by 10%.

“What makes the early REACH program different is it also seeks to address the inequities that exist in our county as it relates to the delivery of early care and education for neighbors,” Solis said. “By seeking to increase the number of high-quality classrooms, and spaces for infants and toddlers and by specifically targeting childcare deserts within Harris County, the early

Ensuring diversity in applications

Judge Lina Hidalgo talks about the new childcare program at a press conference. Tannistha Sinh

VISIT

earlyreach.org/families/

REACH program can aim to improve access to early care and education for everyone.”

Access to quality childcare is critical for parents who are trying to return to the workforce and establish financial stability, added Briones and McMillian. Often, families with lower incomes cannot afford high-quality childcare on their already stretched budgets. The program will also stress the retention of care providers by

Hidalgo told the Defender that one of the ways the program will ensure that underrepresented communities can access the benefits is by targeting who qualifies.

“The way we can reach the most people is really everybody’s help and spreading the word,” she said. “We’ve made it accessible in multiple languages, making sure that it’s online and via phone.”

Solis added that some outreach has already been conducted by analyzing data on where childcare facilities exist, and where low-income parents reside.

“Since then, we’ve also had provider meetings with childcare facilities,” he said. “We sent invitations to childcare providers to come in and have open houses and conversations about the program. We’ve also had parent meetings where we’ve gone into those neighborhoods and we’ll be going more into those neighborhoods to have conversations with the parents who most need the service.”

TSU, League of Women Voters partner to reach young voters

By Aswad Walker

Texas Southern University’s Executive Master of Public Administration Program (eMPA) and the League of Women Voters-Houston have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish cooperative initiatives to support civic engagement programs and events for their respective institutions.

Under this agreement, TSU will support the League’s efforts to uplift youth voters by providing nonpartisan election information, extending an invitation to students to attend networking events, and collaborating with TSU on other programs.

The League, on the other hand, will provide voter registration and education events, as well as collaboration opportunities in other partnerships deemed applicable by both entities. TSU’s eMPA program will be featured in the Voters Guide and serve as a distribution site, recruit students for potential internships with the League as an academic component, also recruit students for the League’s Rising Stars Civic leadership programs,

A young African American woman holding a voting badge. Getty Images

and volunteering opportunities, such as on-site campus voter registration during the academic year, specifically National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) and civic outreach efforts in locations in the historic Third Ward.

“This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain invaluable experience in the political and civic engagement arena while also contributing to the community,” said eMPA program founding director Dr. Michael O. Adams, who is excited about the mix of educational and community service benefits that the partnership will provide TSU students.

“This partnership offers students the chance to engage in voter registration drives, participate in forums and debates, and foster meaningful dialogues on the most pressing issues affecting the community. Such an agreement also serves as a vital bridge between academic learning and the real-world experience needed to drive positive change in our society,” added Adams, who anticipates more collaborative efforts in the future.

For more information, visit tsuempa.com.

4 | June 15, 2023 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News TAKEOFF MURDER

Mother sues Houston business where he died

Defender News Service

The mother of Migos rapper Takeoff, who was shot and killed after a Halloween night party in Houston, is seeking more than $1 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against the downtown business that hosted the event, along with the owner of the property and its operators and managers.

The lawsuit was filed by Georgia resident Titania Davenport, whose son’s real name was Kirsnick Khari Tiquon Ball. The 28-year-old musician died early Nov. 1 after a private party at 810 Billiards & Bowling.

The lawsuit claims the venue and its associated business entities were negligent by failing to provide a safe and secure environment for the

party and allowing criminal activities to occur. The property had been rented out for an “after-hours” party by a “well-known music personality,” according to the lawsuit.

“Defendants were informed that the event required extra security and would draw a large crowd, many of whom could be celebrities, which in itself presents unique and advance security considerations, none of which were taken,” the lawsuit claims. “Despite this knowledge, defendants negligently failed to provide proper and adequate security for the event.”

The lawsuit does not name any individuals associated with the shooting death of Takeoff, including the man who has been

criminally charged with murdering him. Patrick Clark, a 33-year-old Channelview man, was arrested by Houston police in December and indicted last month by a Harris County grand jury.

Houston police have said Takeoff, part of the Atlanta-based rap trio Migos along with relatives Quavo and Offset, was an innocent bystander and unarmed when he was fatally shot in the back and head after the private party. Two other people also were injured at the time and transported to hospitals.

Clark is accused of firing multiple gunshots into a crowd and fatally striking Takeoff, according to documents filed in his criminal case. The civil lawsuit filed

by Davenport claims Takeoff was struck by stray bullets during a shootout between two people or groups of people.

“Mr. Ball sustained pre-death injuries, conscious pain and suffering, and ultimately became aware of his impending death,” the lawsuit states.

Davenport, as a surviving parent of Takeoff and the administer of his estate, requested a trial by jury in the lawsuit and is seeking to be compensated for a variety of damages, including mental anguish, pain and suffering, medical and funeral expenses, loss of companionship and loss of earning capacity.

YALE STUDY

OFF-DUTY POLICE KILL BLACK MEN AT UNACCEPTABLY HIGH RATES their killings, and nearly all were shot.And while only 6.3% of the U.S. population identified as Black men in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 39.3% of those killed by off-duty police officers were Black men, the study found.

“Black men were the most frequent victims of off-duty police violence,” Asabor said. “And that’s consistent with the literature on policing.” The study shows

NNPA

A recent study in Health Services Research found that off-duty police officers commit homicides more often than previously thought, and media coverage of these events is limited. The research analyzed murders by victim race and gender and the context surrounding these incidents.

The study revealed significant disparities in the victims of homicides and the media attention they receive based on their race and gender.

concerning findings and emphasizes the urgent need for clear rules and more investigation into offduty officers’ roles. The researchers emphasized the importance of media outlets reporting on all killings by off-duty police officers, irrespective of the victim’s race.

They urged journalists to seek information from diverse sources instead of solely relying on statements provided by the police.

KILLED BY OFF-DUTY OFFICERS

39.3% Black men

25.2% White men

11.2% Hispanic men

9.1%

White women

9.1%

Men of unknown race

4.1%

Black women

VOLUME 92, NUMBER 31 - JUNE 15, 2023

The study also found significant discrepancies in news reporting based on the victim’s race.Incidents involving Black and Hispanic victims were three times more likely to receive news coverage than other cases.Moreover, news reports often identified the perpetrator as an offduty officer when the victim was Black or Hispanic.

“Black men were the most frequent victims of off-duty police violence,” said Emmanuella Asabor, lead author of the study and an M.D.-Ph.D. student at Yale School

of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health.“And that’s consistent with the literature on policing.

Due to the weapons allowances for off-duty police officers and that off-duty and even veteran police officers are imbued with a great degree of power to intervene, we felt that off-duty policing was worthy of investigation,” said Asabor, who reported the findings to Yale University News.

According to the analysis, less than half of the victims allegedly carried a weapon at the time of

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Digital Content Manager Get Current Studios Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Photographer Jimmie Aggison Social Media Manager Tia Alphonse Jordan Hockett

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2023 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288

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Some call us pioneers.

Others call us surgeons. Nurses. Paramedics.

Saving lives in the middle of the night at a nationally renowned trauma center.

Delivering at-risk babies against all odds, from all across the county.

Year after year, training the majority of the doctors who practice in the most famous medical center in the world.

And, day after day, providing essential care and vital resources to those who need it most in every one of our communities.

You might not know our name.

And that’s okay.

YOU’LL KNOW US BY THE WORK WE DO.

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DN Education Board of Managers meeting chaotic

By Laura Onyeneho

Protests continue against the Texas Education Agency’s takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD). A coalition of organizations and concerned residents have vowed to continue protesting outside the HISD Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, at the upcoming board meetings of what they call, the “unelected Board of Managers.”

The first meeting took place June 8 and the room was packed with local teachers, students, parents, and advocates for public schools. Nearly 150 people attended, heckling and booing the Board of Managers as they pushed through the agenda, similar to outbursts during the TEA community meetings in March.

With an array of participants, the coalition seeks to highlight the detrimental effects of the school takeover and call for a more inclusive, community-centered approach in shaping the future of education.

Here were the key takeaways from the June 8 meeting: - Board unanimously voted to approve a temporary contract for newly appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, who did not attend the meeting

- Board approved motion to [temporarily] suspend regular meetings - Miles to be paid $25,000 for relocation expenses and receive $1,473 per day under interim contract - Board voted Audrey Momanaee as board president - Board voted to elect Angela Lemond Flowers as secretary - Approved $3 million in-kind donation from Good Reason Houston to cover some consultation support Kourtney Revels, a resident of North Forest who experienced her second takeover in two years, worried that the current initiatives rolled out by Supt. Miles don’t focus on the holistic aspects of the child, including mental health and cognitive development.

“It’s hurtful because our kids aren’t numbers, they aren’t test scores. They are children,” said Revels. “Our elected officials know that there are multiple factors when it comes to student achievement and student outcomes, instead of focusing on evaluating teachers and principals.”

She is referring to Miles’ performance-based salary structure, which relies on the student success rate on standardized test scores in

order to evaluate teacher and principal performances for pay increases.

Critics argue that the appointment of an unelected Board of Managers only serves as a financial boon for outside consultants, rather than prioritizing the needs and interests of students. Despite claims of improved performance, evidence from past school takeovers in Texas shows a lack of sustained gains for students, raising concerns about the effectiveness and longterm impact of such interventions.

“We are basing the worth of a particular school, on their student outcomes on the test,” said Dr. Patrick Huff, a retired educator. “This is the most inequitable system ever devised because it takes schools located in neighborhoods of poverty and grades it on the same testing program as the more affluent schools in the suburbs.”

Houston Federation of Teachers representative protests at HISD board meeting.

CreditJimmie Aggison

Tidwell

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan A METRONEXT MOVING FORWARD PLAN PROJECT

Developing Places with Purpose METRO’s Tidwell Transit Center will be a key connection point for the upcoming METRORapid University Corridor Project and we want to make it even better.

We’re looking for suggestions on how METRO can unite outstanding transit service with housing, mobility and economic development to help enhance the vibrant Eastex-Jensen community.

Join us at an open house in your area or scan the QR code for more information.

June 22, 2023 6 – 8 p.m.

HTX Art 8321 Jensen Dr. Houston, TX 77093

For more information, go to

RideMETRO.org/TidwellPlan

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DN Juneteenth TOP 10 LITTLE-KNOWN

By Aswad Walker

JUNETEENTH FACTS

1 2

The actions in Galveston and coastal Texas surrounding June 19, 1865 impacted (freed) roughly 250,000 enslaved Black people.

The Emancipation Proclamation only applied to enslaved persons in Confederate states. Even though Juneteenth marks the day that the last remaining enslaved persons in the final Confederate holdout were freed, slavery was not actually abolished as a matter of national policy until the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865.

3

General Gordon Granger’s troops were predominantly Black, with scholars estimating them to make up at least 75% of the soldiers that accompanied Granger to Galveston for the reading of General Order Number 3.

4

According to UH history professor Dr. Gerald Horne, the story of Gen. Granger’s reading of General Order

Number 3 alone did not free the roughly 250,000 still enslaved individuals from their captors. The predominantly Black Union soldiers had to wage war against enslavers who refused to give up what they considered their “property,” making the Juneteenth story one of Black people liberating Black people rather than another “white savior” narrative.

5

In his book “The Counter-Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery, Jim Crow & the Roots of US Fascism,” Horne shows that those same Black Union soldiers who freed Blacks after the June 19, 1865 reading of General Order Number 3 helped put down the attempt of Confederate soldiers working out of Mexico in collaboration with French-controlled and occupied Mexico to revive the Civil War and preserve slavery, by capturing the French-controlled “puppet” leader Maximillian who was executed on June 19, 1867.

6

Juneteenth was only possible because the North (Union) won the Civil War. According to award-winning journalist and Howard University professor

Nikole Hannah-Jones, “We have to tell the story of Juneteenth as Black people as actors.

That we don’t see a northern victory without Black soldiers fighting in the Civil War… About 75% of free Black men of age in the North served in the Union [army]. No other group served at a rate like that.”

7

Texans wasted no time beginning the celebration of Juneteenth. The first year anniversary of the original Juneteenth (June 19, 1866) saw the first such celebrations that included community-centric events, such as parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, and musical performances. Over time, communities have developed their own traditions. Some communities purchased land for Juneteenth celebrations, such as Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas. As families emigrated from Texas to other parts of the United States, they carried Juneteenth celebrations with them.

8

On the first anniversary of Juneteenth, white people wasted no time attempting to steal/block Black joy

and Black remembrance ritual via enacting segregation laws to prohibit the use of public places and parks to celebrate the holiday. We found a way to celebrate anyway.

9

On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth officially became a Texas state holiday. Al Edwards, a freshman state representative, put forward the bill, H.B. 1016, making Texas the first state to grant this emancipation celebration. Since then, the federal government, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia have also commemorated or recognized the day.*

10

The first known official movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday began in 1994, and the first congressional resolution recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day was introduced in the 105th Congress in 1997.

The Senate and House of Representatives have since introduced these resolutions recognizing Juneteenth annually.* *Source: “Juneteenth: Fact Sheet,” Congressional Research Service

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DN Juneteenth

Historians share unique perspectives

F

By Aswad Walker

or those who think the Juneteenth story we’ve been taught is all we and our children need to know about June 19, 1865, think again.

Here are some unique perspectives on Juneteenth shared by nationally-acclaimed scholars.

Dancer Prescylia Mae, of Houston, performs during a dedication ceremony for the mural “Absolute Equality” in downtown Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 2021. Recognition of Juneteenth, the effective end of slavery in the U.S., gained traction after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. Stuart Villanueva/The Galveston County Daily News via AP, File

with their allies in Africa… began to transport Black soldiers from Africa to bolster their puppet regime in Mexico City. I speculate that some of the Black soldiers under the French flag who ended up in Mexico probably wind up in Texas. Certainly, many of them wind up staying in Mexico. But in any case, there’s another ‘Juneteenth,’ which is June 19, 1867, when the French puppet Maximillian, he’s captured in a joint process involving progressive Mexicans under the regime of Mexican leader and national hero Benito Juarez and Black troops in the Union blue. And [Maximillian is] executed on June 19, 1867. And that ‘Juneteenth’ actually brings us closer to a truer emancipation than the original Juneteenth, June 19, 1865.”

JUNETEENTH IS NOT THE ONLY JUNETEENTH Dr. Gerald Horne (interview on Activist News Network, Oct 15, 2022) In Horne’s book “The Counter-Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery, Jim Crow & the Roots of US Fascism,” the University of Houston history professor argues that there was a second “Juneteenth” just as important, if not more so, than the original (June 19, 1865).

Horne’s scholarship shows that during the JUNETEENTH: AMERICA’S Civil War (1861 – 1865), Mexico was occu- REAL INDEPENDENCE DAY pied (colonized) by France who installed Kelsey Smoot, Ph.D. candidate (“Junea puppet leader, Maximillian, who teamed teenth – not the Fourth of July – was the with Confederate soldiers seeking, after Rob- real Independence Day,” July 4, 2020) ert E. Lee’s surrender, to re-ignite the Civil Smoot’s original reason for no longer celWar in hopes of preserving slavery. ebrating the 4th of July was not “expressly “Juneteenth (June p o l it i c a l ,” t h ou g h 19, 1865), which by America’s history of CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH the way was enforced imperialism and racFind activities at at gunpoint, includism made that day www.JuneteenthHouston.org ing a compliment of feel for her like “utter Black troops in blue, hypocrisy.”

U.S. military uniforms as well, was not the Then, during the summer of 2020, she end of the story. Because the enslavers were experienced a Juneteenth commemoration/ going to continue the war as noted from the protest, and she has since viewed the day as French-occupied Mexico. In fact, the French, America’s real Independence Day.

“I marched through the streets of the nation’s capital with a crowd of Black folks of all ages. In the rain, I walked until my feet ached and wound up in Black Lives Matter Plaza, the massive yellow letters painted onto the ground creating an implied gathering space. As I looked into the crowd, into the eyes of other celebrators, I saw my joy, and my fears, mirrored back to me.

In that space, one of both celebration and resistance, we moved synchronously. We danced as we marched. I recognized that this was the feeling I had never truly felt on the Fourth of July. A feeling of true belonging. Suddenly, my decision not to celebrate the national independence day felt expressly political.”

NOT JUST A BLACK HOLIDAY Nikole Hannah-Jones, award-winning journalist & Howard University professor (featured speaker, Schomburg Center’s June 9, 2022, “Freedom Dreams: Juneteenth-Inspired Professional Learning for NYC Educators”) “It’s like most things; complicated. So, I’ve long believed that we should have an Emancipation Day in this country. Many other countries in the Americas that also engaged in chattel slavery make a big deal, they acknowledge the emancipation of slavery.

And the fact that we won’t do it just speaks to the continued cover-up of the role that slavery played in our country and our inability to grapple with it. Because emancipation

is a good story. I mean, this is when we can finally begin to work toward becoming the country of our highest ideals. And it should not be seen as a Black holiday, but an American holiday.

BLACK PEOPLE FREEING BLACK PEOPLE Dr. Gerald Horne (Defender articles) Horne joins other scholars in pushing back against the traditional Juneteenth narrative that places General Gordon Granger and his reading of General Order No. 3 at the story’s center. Horne’s research pushes back against this white savior narrative by showing that Granger’s troops, 75-80% Black, had to go to war with Texas and Louisiana plantation owners to secure our freedom AFTER Granger read that famous order, making Juneteenth a Black Liberation holiday.”

SYMBOLISM OVER SUBSTANCE Nikole Hannah-Jones (“Freedom Dreams”) “If we look at the protests of 2020, literally, that’s all we got. That’s all. There’s been no police reform bill passed. There’s been no voting rights bill passed. Even things like Child Tax Credits, which are race-neutral, not passed, throwing millions of Black children back into poverty. So, the passage of Juneteenth in some ways feels very cynical [and] symbolic. And not to say that symbolism doesn’t matter, but of course, we would like the symbol and the substance.”

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Juneteenth

Reginald Adams Spreads Juneteenth message through murals

By Aswad Walker

The iconic and breathtaking mural “Absolute Equality,” officially presented to the world on June 19, 2021, was for some their introduction to the powerful Houston-based artist Reginald Adams. However, countless Bayou City residents have been blown away by his many public art displays, and are not surprised that Adams is fast becoming known as the nation’s official Juneteenth muralist.

The Defender spoke with Adams about his Juneteenth “mission” and other art projects he’s got going on locally and nationally, including 10 murals in six cities, five of which are in Houston alone.

DEFENDER: Though you were already an acclaimed artist, how has your life changed since the Galveston Juneteenth mural?

REGINALD ADAMS: I’ve become

much more focused on the work, and particularly this work with Juneteenth; almost hyper-focused. And, while I always had intent around my work and doing things in the community, now I’m very, very interested in bringing light to this story, this era of time we know now as Juneteenth. It started in Galveston, Texas, but now it’s a nationwide, happening and largely in part to a lot of freedom fighters and Juneteenth influencers as I call them, that allowed for that moment in Galveston in June 19, 1865, to now be a federal holiday. And so, because I’ve learned so much from this story, I want to help tell the story through the voice of an African-American artist. And, I don’t have to wait for permission to do that. So, my focus around using art to tell the stories of Juneteenth has become priority one for me.

DEFENDER: How did Juneteenth 2021 impact society?

ADAMS: The impact of Juneteenth

2021, on the cusp of the dedication of that wonderful mural with a lot of support from the Juneteenth Legacy Project, a phenomenal committee of community citizens in Galveston who are kind of really the backbone of making it happen, but after the holiday, I realized that this story, while it’s quintessentially anchored in Galveston, this is now a national conversation. People, the next day after declaring this national holiday, woke up around the nation, were like, “What the hell is Juneteenth?” Literally, there were hundreds of millions of people who woke up to a

TO FOLLOW ADAMS Website: ReginaldAdams.com.

Adam’s Juneteenthspecific projects: AbsoluteEquality.org.

Houston-based public artist Reginald C. Adams stands in front of his Juneteenth mural “Absolute Equality” in Galveston, Texas.

Photo by Elizabeth Trovall/Houston Public Media.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADAMS’ OTHER LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS.

new federal holiday and never heard of the word before. And, as I’m watching just the ripple effects of that, I realized that forevermore, for the rest of American history, we’ll be celebrating this holiday and we’ll be able to talk about what does it mean, what does Juneteenth mean?

DEFENDER: Can you speak to the Juneteenth murals you have done outside of Galveston?

ADAMS: I realized through man-

kind’s history, public art has been a very well-used tool to document those historical artifacts. That’s why the hieroglyphs in Egypt still to this day tell about the dynasties of that era. This was thousands of years ago. And this can be found around the world in cultures where art told the story of what was happening.

So, at the freshness of this new holiday, I said, “What better way than to use public

art, open mediums, open galleries, identify artists who are already sensitive and passionate about community-based work, hook up with these artists across the country, and go into cities that have the biggest markets of Black folks and people of color, and tell the story of freedom and emancipation through that localized lens.

And that’s what we’ve done. We have now this year, 10 murals all under production at some stage [in Dallas, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Miami and Houston].

Many of them are done.

June 15, 2023 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

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DN Juneteenth ADVANCING STEM

LAVAILLE LAVETTE Children’s book celebrates Juneteenth

By Aswad Walker

Lavaille Lavette may not be a household name, but there are few Black households that she hasn’t impacted in some way as an author, educator and social entrepreneur.

One of her last collaborations was with superstar Viola Davis. The team produced “Finding Me,” the New York Times bestseller, the audible version of which earned Davis a Grammy and rarified air EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner) status.

Lavette’s latest project is a children’s book she hopes exposes Bl ack chi ldren to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, Juneteenth and more. The Defender spoke with Lavette about the book, “Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise,” the importance of telling Black stories and her future projects.

DEFENDER: Tell us about your latest book project.

LAVETTE: The latest project is a children’s book, “Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise.” The main character is a curious little eight-year-old boy named Jayylen who wants to be an engineer when he grows up. This is the first book in the series, and we hope to do many Jayylen books. It’s a STEM series. It’s about us, through the point-of-view of Jayylen, inspiring kids to get involved with science, math, engineer- the things that were going on in the world ing and technology… introducing kids to that came to the forefront, particularly various professions. We thought it would blatant racism, I was having a conversabe great to introtion with my mom, duce the series Ha z e l , a n d s h e around a holiday started talking and that happens to about her child“JAYYLEN’S be Juneteenth. hood, telling me JUNETEENTH SURPRISE” about Juneteenth available wherever DEFENDER: and how that was books are sold.

H ow d i d t h e a major thing they Get a free teacher’s STEM/holiday did as a child. Her resource and parent’s guide mash-up come father didn’t celeat www.jayylen.com. about? brate the 4th of July.

LAVETTE: Their 4th of July was During the pandemic, with George Floyd Juneteenth. And I sat and I listened to all and all of the newfound renaissance of the stories, and I’m like, “We didn’t celaround, let’s say Black history, with all of ebrate Juneteenth.” I didn’t know anything

about Juneteenth [until I] moved to Texas.

I was shocked that her early childhood was filled with the celebration of Juneteenth… but our family did not. So, I just thought, as I was formulating and writing the Jayylen book, “What if this little boy is learning about it for the first time? What would that be like?” And I imagined if I was a kid and I found out about Juneteenth for the first time living in Louisiana, what would that be like?

DEFENDER: Why is it important to you to expose Black children to the STEM fields?

LAVETTE: It’s the future. When you look at job creation and you look at the needs of our society, of humanity, it’s

STEM. You find that a large percentage of African Americans are not going into those fields, particularly engineering…

Part of me writing this book is, I hope to learn more about engineering as I research and as I write too, in the hopes that I can inspire our young boys and girls to look at that profession and then dig a little deeper.

“What does it take to do that?” But not just engineering, science, technology, all of that. Our tagline happens to be, “Jayylen, future engineer.” But the characters we’ll be introducing in this series will not all want to be engineers. We’re gonna expose kids to a number of opportunities they can get involved in, and what does it take to get to that point to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, scientist, what have you.

12 | June 15, 2023 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature FATHER’S DAY 2023

What Dads REALLY want?

By ReShonda Tate

a braided nylon cable, all while being environmentally conscious. With three charging coils, it’s fast and convenient for up to 10W charging, compatible with iPhone and Galaxy devices.

Despite everything they do, dads tend to get stuck with ties and socks on Father’s Day. In fact, many fathers say they feel like an afterthought on Father’s Day. Since we know that’s not the case, we asked fathers how can we get them a gift they REALLY want.

3

DVD Storage boxes

Yes, DVD. Who do you think is keeping DVD’s in business??? Dads all over the world. These storage boxes are perfect to store that “Juice” DVD that he simply can’t part with.

“Know your father’s interests. If he’s the type to hire a handyman for everything, then you buying him a hammer seems like you put no thought into his gift.

Think about the things he loves to do, and choose accordingly.”

Marcus Brewer

“Ask your father what he wants.

You’d be amazed at how many people don’t do that.”

Jeffery Caradine

“Dads have feelings, too. We like to feel special and appreciated just like moms.”

Emerson Johnson

“While we appreciate handmade cards from the kids, it doesn’t hit the same when you’re 26. Put some sentimental thought into the gift. I never got a picture of my son with my father and the best Father’s Day gift I ever got was my son had photoshopped a picture of all of us together. I burst into tears on sight and still have that photo sitting on my mantle.”

Joseph Davis

“You know how mothers always say they want some peace and just a day to themselves, Dads want those too. I’m just saying...”

Lee Washington

“Don’t wait until Saturday evening to try and find us a gift. That’s why so many of us feel like an afterthought, and how we end up with a pair of golf socks.”

Tatum Christie

4

Running bottle and holder-

Whether it’s for running, walking, hiking, or just commuting to work, this water bottle is a handy gift for any dad looking to stay healthy by getting steps in every day. The bottle holder even holds his phone and other valuables.

5

Cigar and favorite drink

GIFTS THEY’LL LOVE We also went digging for some gifts that dad might actually love this year. These five topped the list.

Most of the dads we talked to say they’re easy. Get them their favorite cigar and favorite drink and they’ll be in heavan.

1

Beard Straightener

Any father rocking a beard, most likely puts a lot of care into it. A beard straighter will give dad a beard all other dads will envy and make him feel 20 years younger.

2

Wireless charging station and valet tray

Dad probably has his phone, earbuds and loose change just sitting on the nightstand. This classic wireless charging station and valet tray is made of premium Italian leather, high-grade aluminum, and features

Getty Images

CLASSIFIED INVITATION FOR BIDS Balfour Beatty is soliciting bids for subcontractors and vendors for construction of control no 0028-01-067, ETC on BU 90-U at IH 610 NE to E of Mesa Rd (Old FM 527), and control no 0598-01-105, ETC on SH 288 at North Macgregor Way to IH 69, bid date is June 27, 2023. Email, mail, or fax quotations to Balfour Beatty, 1114 Lost Creek Blvd, Suite 500, Austin, TX 78746, fax: (512) 707-0798 email: bbiisw@bbus.com. DBE contractors are encouraged to submit bids. Plans and specifications are available to be reviewed at TxDOT Plans Online: https://www.txdot.gov/business/plans-online-bid-lettings.html E.O.E. For information contact Brian Ficzeri at (512) 707-0797.

The HARRIS CENTER For Mental Health and IDD (formally known as Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County) will be accepting Request for Proposal for the following:

LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS / INSPECTION SERVICES Life Safety Systems / Inspection Services RFP may be secured from The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org beginning Wednesday, June 21, 2023. The Harris Center utilizes Bonfire for their solicitations https://theharriscenter.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities. There will be a Non-Mandatory meeting on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. via Lifesize. Lifesize Meeting Link and ID: https://call.lifesizecloud.com/18364681. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Proposals must be submitted by 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The Harris Center reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

June 15, 2023 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 13

DN Health

A DEFENDER AND KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC ALLIANCE

Migraines Are the ‘Godzilla’ of Headaches Causes

By DESIREE B. THOMAS, M.D.

A migraine can cause severe pain, usually on one side of the head, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

Migraines can last for hours or days with pain so severe it interferes with normal daily activities. Fortunately, we have prescription medications that target and reduce migraine-specific pain and lifestyle strategies to help lessen severity and occurrences.

Headache vs. migraine Stress-induced tension headaches usually occur on both sides of the head or neck and are relieved with overthe-counter pain relievers. A migraine, however, tends to occur on only one side of the head, usually lasting between four and 72 hours.

FROM THE DOC “The right medication taken at the right time, combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes, can help prevent some migraine occurrences.”

Dr. Thomas is associate chief of Neurology at Kelsey-Seybold.

Research suggests migraines are related to blood vessels and electrical changes in the brain that we don’t completely understand. Common triggers include dehydration, sudden changes in weather, bright lights, loud noises, strong odors, red wine, and certain food additives such as MSG. About 1-in-10 Americans suffer migraine attacks with women disproportionately susceptible.

Additional migraine triggers: • Stress and anxiety.

• Female hormonal changes.

• Overuse of certain medications.

• Poor sleep habits.

• Jet lag.

• Allergic reactions.

• Nitrate-rich foods such as cured meats and hotdogs.

• Alcohol abuse.

• Fatigue.

Treatments Certain prescription medications can significantly reduce the pain and duration of an acute attack if taken in the early stages of an evolving migraine, and for patients with frequent migraines who meet specific criteria, in-office Botox injections can offer significant relief. The right medication taken at the right time, combined with selfhelp remedies and lifestyle changes, can help prevent some migraine occurrences. Anyone suffering repeat migraines needs a comprehensive evaluation by a neurologist to discuss treatment options and reclaim their quality of life.

Get KelseyConnected

SM

Healthcare That Revolves Around You. Kelsey-Seybold welcomes new patients and accepts more than 50 health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and many more.

We have 36 convenient locations close to home and work – and still growing!

SCHEDULING IS EASY Call 713-442-0000, 24/7, or go online to kelsey-seybold.com/AppointmentsNOW.

1067860837

14 | June 15, 2023 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports University of Houston senior Sydni Townsend earned Second-Team All-American honors after finishing ninth at the NCAA women’s track field championships in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.27.

Miami forward and Houston native Jimmy Butler scored 28 points on 11 of 24 shooting to lead the Heat to a stunning Game 2 win over Denver during the NBA Finals.

Sports Briefs Brittney Griner harassed at Dallas airport

Houston native and WNBA star Brittney Griner was recently harassed by a social media provocateur at the Dallas-Fort Britney Worth Airport. Griner Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were catching a flight when a man approached Griner and started yelling “Merchant of Death.” Griner spent 10 months in a Russian prison before orchestrating a prisoner swap, freeing Griner in exchange for convicted and dangerous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the merchant of death.

WNBA teams are not allowed to fly charter, which has long been a criticism of the league. Griner was not harmed during the incident.

UT sprinter Julien Alfred wins 100 and 200 meters nationals

University of Texas senior women’s track & field star Julien Alfred won the 100 meters, 200 meters and ran the Julien first leg of the 4x100 Alfred meter relay team to help the Longhorns women win their fifth national championship during the NCAA Championships in Austin. Alfred clocked a 10.72 in the 100, and 21.73 in the 200 for the fastest all-conditions mark in collegiate history. She is the first woman to win both the 100 and 200 since 2016 and just the third to do so in the last 25 years.

TSU triple jumper Chadrick Williams makes All-American team

Texas Southern men’s track & field standout triple jumper Chadrick Williams wrapped up his Chadrick season ranked 16th Williams nationally to earn Second Team AllAmerican honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Williams, competing in his first-ever nationals this past week in Austin, logged a length of 50-10¾ to finish in the top 16. He is only the third Tiger to earn a trip to nationals since 2012.

Texas’s Dylan Campbell during an NCAA baseball game on Friday, June 2, 2023 in Coral Gables, Fla. AP Photo/ Doug Murray

DYLAN CAMPBELL Hits the mark for UT baseball

By Terrance Harris

Dylan Campbell fully embraced the history and expectations that come with the University of Texas baseball program when he committed as a junior at Strake Jesuit.

But Campbell, now a junior outfielder for the Longhorns, is finding living the UT baseball experience is far more exciting than knowing its past.

“It’s been absolutely amazing,” Campbell said during a recent interview with The Defender. “Not everybody in their first two years of college gets to go to the College World Series two years in a row. That has been outstanding for me to be a part of. Last year, I was fortunate enough to play in it.

“It’s surreal. You don’t really know what you are getting into until you are in the mix and in it every single day. Then you realize how special it is.”

While Campbell and his teammates weren’t able to make it three CWS trips in a row after losing to Stanford in the NCAA Super Regionals earlier this week, it was still a season for the record books

for Campbell.

He shattered the consecutive hits record for UT and the Big 12 with a 38-game hitting streak that began in March and didn’t end until the first game of last weekend’s Super Regional matchup against Stanford.

But he did manage to extend his on-base streak.

The right-handed batter set the Longhorns’ record with 26 straight games with a hit on May 7 and then broke the Big 12 record with 36 consecutive games during NCAA Regional play against Louisiana.

But Campbell, a First-Team All-Big 12 selection, said his attention this season was on winning and not records.

“Honestly, I feel like the mindset has really been trying not to focus on that or any of my individual accolades and accomplishments,” said Campbell, who led the team with a .339 batting average, 82 hits and 26 stolen bases on the year. “I feel like the most important thing is trying to win for the team. I think it will just take care of itself honestly. Where I’m at, I feel like

I should be able to produce for our team offensively. If I’m not trying to do that it will take care of itself if we are just focused on winning the game.”

What’s next for Campbell seems to be the question quite a few people are asking with the MLB Draft coming up next month.

But it’s not an issue of major consequence for Campbell, who just might opt to remain in school.

“I have thought about it a little, but I try to limit myself to thinking about so far ahead and just worrying about the present because we are at a crucial part of our season right now,” said Campbell, whose father, Donovan, played baseball at Texas Southern and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves organization in 1988. “I really don’t know yet. I haven’t thought too much about it or talked to my family about whether it’s going to be going to the draft or coming back next year or going to play summer ball. We haven’t put too much thought into that. It will all work out however it’s supposed to work out.”

June 15, 2023 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

| 15

ZION STEPHENS & ROBERT ROBINSON JR. Heads to All-Star game

By Jimmie Aggison

At the end of every baseball season, the Houston Coaches Baseball Association collects nominations from fellow coaches to assemble two rosters comprised of the top players in the region. This final showdown on the diamond offers these exceptional athletes a chance to compete before embarking on their collegiate journeys. In class 6A, Zion Stephens & Robert Robinson Jr. were two of those athletes who had the opportunity to showcase their skills.

“I was truly blessed to receive the nomination today. I want to thank God for the opportunity to come out and play with the best of the best,” said Ridge Point High School senior Zion Stephens.

Stephens grew up playing golf but transitioned to baseball at 9 years old.

He played for the Pearland Outlaws in Pearland, Texas before relocating to Georgia where he would join the Georgia Bombers. After returning to Houston, he began playing with Marucci baseball.

“Man, it felt great to get the nomination,” said Heights High School senior Robert Robinson Jr. “I balled during my season and to have coaches notice and nominate me, it is truly a blessing to be out here competing with some of the best in Texas.”

Robinson began playing T-ball in Kingwood, Texas at the age of 3. He joined his father’s select team at the age of six, where he gained experience playing against older opponents..

“We were always playing up in age. When we were 6, we played against 8- and 9-yearolds,” said Robinson.

In middle school, Robinson played with a

ABOUT ROBERT ROBINSON JR. Class: 2023 IG: @Rjunior.0 Twitter: @RJRobinson_23 Position: First base, catcher Height & weight: 6-feet-1, 215 pounds Player he studies: Martín Maldonado (Astros) Status: Committed to Morehouse College Favorite artist: Lil Baby Favorite subject: Calculus Shout-outs: Mom, dad, sister, Coach Petty

team called Wow Factor, participating in major tournaments across Texas and Atlanta. During his junior season, he decided to take the next step and began attending showcases to increase his exposure.

Both Robinson and Stephens agree that playing competitive travel baseball helped them elevate their game and prepared them to walk into high school ready to compete on the varsity level.

“Travel ball really prepared me for my freshman year to have the opportunity to start on varsity and play with the bigger guys,” said Robinson.

“Summer Ball has good competition. Marucci did a good job at getting us to play against the best competition out there. Seeing that level of competition really helped me prepare for the high school level,” said Stephens.

Both Stephens and Robinson Jr. have committed to play baseball at the collegiate level next season. Stephens will be playing at Abilene Christian University, where he plans to major in business management and Robinson will be playing at Morehouse College, where he plans to major in business finance.

“Abilene Christian is a good Christian school. It’s a mid-major that loves to compete, I love the coaching staff, and they have great facilities,” said Stephens.

“Morehouse was a perfect fit for me because it’s an HBCU. The culture’s amazing. I took a visit and stayed in one of the dorms with one of the guys and it felt like a family. I felt like this could really be my home where I could thrive,” said Robinson.

ABOUT ZION STEPHENS Class: 2023 IG: @Zion_Stephens7 Twitter: @ZionStephens6 Position: Shortstop, second base Height & weight: 6-feet0, 175 pounds Players he studies: Justin Vassos, Tim Anderson (White Sox), Jose Altuvè (Astros) Status: Committed to Abilene Christian University Favorite artist: Bryson Tiller Favorite subject: Calculus Shout-outs: Mom, family, God

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DEFENDER NETWORK