07.02.2026_Defender-e-FULL

America at 250 Black Houstonians reflect

PROFILE

ENTERTAINMENT

KAREN TILLMAN

MATHEW W KNOWLE ES

Jamba entrepreneur talks about balancing faith, family, and franchises.

The music mogul is b bringing a Destiny’s Child trib bute back to Houston.

Volume 95, issue 37 July 2, 2026

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2 | July 2, 2026 |

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DN To the POINT

Folarin Balogun is a star player on the USA National football team and is of Nigerian descent. Credit: Getty.

Message from the Reporter The Black diaspora is showing out at the World Cup

Nigeria, was picked by the Houston Rockets. Zuby Ejiofor, born Chukwuebuka Ejiofor in Dallas to Nigerian parents, swept the Big East Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the same season. I’m happy to see more parents open to encouraging their children to explore their options and being part of the process.

The FIFA World Cup looks to be the Blackest sports tournament, at least for me.

I absolutely enjoy living in the World Cup bubble, learning about different countries, and talking to people from various countries who came to Houston to support their teams. Watch parties blended soccer with music, food, fashion, and pride in ways no corporate sponsor could manufacture. It’s Student loans are bleeding us dry, Laura Onyeneho a good break from White House shenaniand it’s by design gans. My favorite pastime during the tournament is learnIf this doesn’t pertain to you, then this message doesn’t ing about the Black players playing for all those European apply. For the last several weeks, I’ve been down a rabbit countries. Let me tell you, there are so many! Don’t get me hole of Thread conversations and TikTok clips debating started about the African countries. They are coming in how steep these new changes to the federal loan repayment strong, like Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Ghana. Then there programs are under Trump’s policies. Some people who was DR Congo’s team arriving in sharp black suits with have managed payments are now having to pay upwards leopard-print panels, the internet declared them the real of $400, $500, or even more under these changes. There winners before they played a single game. And did you all are so many Black borrowers who’ve had to take out more see the underdogs like Haiti and Curacao making history than they needed and then owe more than they originally for their countries? It’s fun to see how everyone is so unified, borrowed, not because they were irresponsible, but because even if it’s just for a month. I wish it were longer. we’re entering the same job market with less inherited wealth, an economic rollercoaster, stagnant wages, inflation, The NBA draft 2026 is the most diverse yet and everything else in between. The American Dream was There’s a conversation that happens in African immigrant sold on a payment plan that people couldn’t afford. That’s a households across America, especially when it comes to predatory system. And it’s time we called it exactly what it is. careers. Stability first, dreams second. I grew up hearing it.

You probably did too. But the 2026 NBA Draft just added On the Web an amazing element to this conversation: 11 players of Afri• Black Houston artists discuss music, AI technology. can heritage were drafted, the deepest class in history. AJ • The sound of Houston: How Black music shapes the Dybantsa, son of a Congolese father who came to the U.S. soul of the city. in 1989 and a Jamaican mother, went No. 1 overall to the • Houston rapper BuddieRoe talks HipHop, Fatherhood.

Washington Wizards. Ugonna Onyenso, born in Owerri,

July 2, 2026 |

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| 3

DN News TSU POLL

Texas voters split on election integrity, ballot access

or higher favor ballot access, while those with lower levels of education are more evenly divided.

Geography tells a similar story: Rural and semi-rural voters favor election integrity, while voters in urban, suburban, and regional-hub counties are more evenly split.

By Tannistha Sinha

A new survey from the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University offers a revealing snapshot of how Texans think about voter fraud and the tradeoffs between securing elections and expanding access to the ballot.

The poll, which surveyed 1,706 registered Texas voters between April 22 and May 6, 2026, with a margin of error of 2.37%, found that the views on these issues are shaped almost entirely by partisanship.

Michael O. Adams, a political science professor at Texas Southern University, argues that while the split is striking, the demographic breakdowns carry more weight, particularly among Black and Latino Texans. “These are the same communities, I believe, for whom the right to vote was guaranteed on paper long before it was protected in practice,” Adams said.

How big a problem is voter fraud?

When asked how much voter fraud occurs in U.S. elections, Texans gave a mixed verdict.

About 24% said they believe there is “a great deal” of fraud, 35% said “some,” 30% said “very little,” and 11% said “none”.

The overall split, however, masks a stark partisan chasm.

More than eight out of 10 Texas Republicans believe there is either a “great deal” or “some” voter fraud, compared with 30% of

Belief drives priority

Credit: JJ Gouin.

Democrats who hold the same view.

Conversely, seven out of 10 Democrats say fraud is very rare or doesn’t happen at all, compared with 17% of Republicans.

Few other demographic factors, such as race, gender, generation, education, or geography, produced gaps nearly as wide, underscoring how perceptions of election fraud have become partisan rather than a demographic phenomenon.

An even split

The survey’s central question asked voters to choose between two competing values: Doing “everything possible to stop voter fraud and illegal immigrants from voting” versus ensuring that “eligible citizens are not denied the ability to vote.” The

result was a precise 50-50 tie statewide.

Moreover, 80% of Republicans prioritize election integrity, while 88% of Democrats prioritize ballot access. Independents land between the two.

Racial and generational patterns echo this divide in revealing ways.

White voters favor election integrity by 58 to 42%, while Black voters favor ballot access by 72 to 28%, the widest gap of any subgroup in the survey.

Latino voters also lean toward ballot access, though by a narrower 55 to 45% margin.

Generationally, the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers favor election integrity, while Gen Z strongly favors ballot access, with Gen X and Millennials roughly split.

Meanwhile, voters with a four-year degree

The extent of fraud a voter believes exists strongly predicts which principle they prioritize.

Among those who think there is a great deal of fraud, 79% prioritize election integrity, and among those who see “some” fraud, that figure is 64%.

Conversely, among voters who believe fraud is very rare or nonexistent, roughly 80% prioritize ballot access.

About one in five voters who believe fraud is rampant still prioritize ballot access over tougher anti-fraud measures, and one in five voters who prioritize election integrity say they believe there is no voter fraud.

The overlap suggests that for a meaningful slice of the electorate, the choice between integrity and access is not purely a matter of how big they think the fraud problem is, but reflects deeper values about the proper balance between security and participation in a democracy. These are values that, for now, leave Texas voters split right down the middle, according to the report.

Karmelo Anthony legal team plans to fight

By ReShonda Tate

Karmelo Anthony’s newly appointed legal team is preparing a rigorous multiyear appeal process, with legal experts predicting a fierce battle centered on allegations of racial discrimination during jury selection. Following Anthony’s recent conviction and 35-year prison sentence for the 2025 murder of 17-yearold Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet, a powerhouse coalition of appellate, civil rights, and criminal defense attorneys has stepped in pro bono to overturn the verdict.

The defense’s immediate next step is a comprehensive, independent review of the extensive trial record to identify legal errors. According to appellate experts, the crux of Anthony’s appeal will likely hinge on a contested “Batson challenge” regarding the total absence of Black jurors on the final 12-person panel. However, insiders warn that the appellate process is a marathon, not a sprint, and could take several years to resolve through the Texas courts.

“Our responsibility is to determine whether a legal error occurred and to ensure that every issue supported by the record is fully and vigorously presented on appeal,” the legal team said in a statement, while also acknowledging the profound loss suffered by Metcalf ’s family.

The Core of the Appeal: The Batson Challenge

Legal analysts, including Dallas criminal appellate lawyer Niles Illich, point to the jury selection process as the primary battleground for the upcoming appeal.

• The Issue: Out of more than 500 potential jurors, not a single Black juror was seated.

• The Conflict: Prosecutors used peremptory strikes to eliminate the final three remaining Black prospective jurors (all educators of schoolaged children). Anthony’s trial lawyers launched a Batson challenge, arguing the strikes were racially motivated.

• The Ruling: State DisNAACP since 1991; National trict Judge Angela Tucker NAACP Board Member; veteran accepted the prosecution’s civil rights litigator admitted to counter-argument—that the U.S. Supreme Court. the prospective jurors Michael L. Ware - 40+ years were struck due to their of experience; Texas Criminal professions, not their Defense Lawyers’ Hall of Fame race—and allowed the inductee (2025); helped estabtrial to proceed. lish the nation’s first conviction Anthony’s new team is Anthony integrity unit. expected to argue that the denial of this Additional team members: Brooke challenge constituted a structural legal error, Cluse (Ben Crump Law); Sean Daredia which could be grounds for a new trial.

(Daredia Law Firm); Justin A. Moore (Stafford Moore PLLC) Who is on Karmelo Anthony’s new legal team?

The pro bono coalition represents some of the most formidable legal minds in Texas, combining extensive experience in wrongful convictions, appellate law, and civil rights.

Russell Wilson - Board-certified in criminal law since 2003; former head of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit.

Gary Bledsoe - President of the Texas

The timeline ahead

Because appellate courts only review the written record and legal briefs rather than hearing new witness testimony, the process moves slowly. Anthony will remain incarcerated while his attorneys draft, file, and argue their briefs before the Texas Court of Appeals—a process that safely guarantees this legal battle will stretch well into the future.

4 | July 2, 2026 |

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DN Feature REPORT

Cost of living Is Americans’ top source of anxiety

By Laura Onyeneho

The price tag on everyday life is taking a toll on more than just bank accounts.

For the third consecutive year, personal finances and the rising cost of living rank as the No. 1 source of anxiety in America, according to Thriveworks’ 2026 Pulse on Mental Health Report.

Based on a nationally representative survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by Wakefield Research in March 2026, 48% of Americans cite financial pressure as their top stressor. Political news and global events ranked second at 38%, followed by workplace stress at 29%.

The same report reveals a record 62% of Americans have now consulted a mental health professional at some point, up from 48% in 2025. Yet only 27% are currently in care, even though 85% of those who have tried therapy report meaningful benefits, including improved confidence, better relationships, and greater overall happiness. Cost remains the leading barrier, a reality that hits many Black Houstonians especially hard.

Vanessa Longoria-Carter, a licensed marriage and family therapist with Thriveworks, has spent five years working alongside clients whose financial stress walks into sessions right alongside them. She said the work begins with one foundational message.

“There is no morality attached to financi a l st r ug g les,”

Alan Pruitt is the founder of the Houstonbased company, Pruitt Prep CPA. Credit: Alan Pruitt/LinkedIn

The conversation about mental health in America is more pronounced and intricate than ever in 2026. Credit: Getty Images.

Longoria-Carter said. “Therapy is a safe space to talk about these things.”

Many Black families grew up in households where money was not discussed openly and where emotional distress was answered with “give it to God”, a cultural norm rooted in faith that can also become

a delay on the road to healing.

Longoria-Carter said she is deliberate about meeting clients where they are, including offering to connect them with a Black therapist when the cultural gap feels too wide to bridge.

“I always try to help them understand that

That financial anxiety gets worse when you don’t have financial clarity. That monster in the closet is scariest if you never look in the closet.”

ALAN PRUITT Certified public accountant (CPA)

VOLUME 95, NUMBER 37 - JULY 2, 2026 The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender News- paper 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 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

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it is such a great thing to let go of those social and cultural stigmas,” she said. “Sometimes just offering that, they understand that I get it.”

She suggests that individuals not ready for therapy should begin with small steps, such as journaling to validate their feelings, listing actionable tasks like negotiating bills, and using affirmations to manage anxiety.

Alan Pruitt, a certified public accountant (CPA) and founder of Houston-based Pruitt Prep CPA, LLC, brings an equally grounded perspective. His firm, with eight professionals, specializes in mental health providers and entrepreneurs, a niche born of helping his wife, a licensed professional counselor, build her private practice on a solid financial footing.

In his work with clients, Pruitt has found that financial anxiety deepens most when people cannot see their full financial picture.

“That financial anxiety gets worse when you don’t have financial clarity,” he said.

“That monster in the closet is scariest if you never look in the closet.”

His first recommendation is a budget, reframed not as a punishment but as a tool. “A budget isn’t a restriction. It’s a map,” Pruitt said. “It’s much harder to be anxious about a road that you can actually see.”

For those trying to make therapy more financially accessible, Pruitt pointed to health savings accounts as an often-overlooked option. The IRS allows individuals to contribute up to $4,400 annually to an HSA in 2026 and up to $8,750 for family coverage.

Contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses, including therapy, carry no tax penalty. He also urged readers to examine the mental health benefits already embedded in their existing health insurance.

“A lot of us are paying for insurance out of our checks but aren’t taking all the benefits of it,” Pruitt said. “Double check with your employer to see what those benefits are.”

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Content Manager Terrance Harris

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison Video Editor Bryan Erdy

July 2, 2026 |

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| 5

DN News

Freedmen’s Town Marks new era of historic preservation

By Laura Onyeneho

Charonda Johnson was born in 1977, the same year filmmaker James Blue released “Who Killed Fourth Ward?,” a documentary warning that Houston’s oldest African American neighborhood had already been marked for erasure.

Nearly five decades later, Johnson, whose family has called Freedmen’s Town home for five generations, stood in the community her ancestors built and delivered a verdict of her own.

“The plan to take my community had already formed before I was born,” she said.

“And the fact that we are still here in 2026, planning and programming, for me, it is the ultimate blessing.”

The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy (HFTC) and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) held a community groundbreaking at Mount Horeb Missionary Baptist Church, 1108 Victor St., launching Phase Two of Rebirth in Action, a multi-year initiative to preserve, protect, and revitalize one of the most historically significant Black communities in the United States.

The ceremony marks the start of construction on a new pavilion designed by artist and cultural strategist Theaster Gates and the rehabilitation of three historic row houses that will house a food pantry, afterschool programming, and senior services. A spring 2027 opening is anticipated.

A community built on freedom

Founded in 1865 by free men and women in the years following Juneteenth, Freedmen’s Town grew from a tent settlement on the south banks of Buffalo Bayou into what residents call Houston’s “Mother Ward.”

By the 1930s, more than 400 Black-owned businesses lined its streets. More than half of those original structures have since been lost to gentrification, new development, and

Community partners have been carefully preserving over 20,000 historic bricks laid by the descendants of formerly enslaved Black Houstonians following Juneteenth, with plans to welcome them back to the community soon. Credit: Hailey Reyes.

the Interstate 45 corridor built through the neighborhood in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Sharon Fletcher, executive director of the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, said the groundbreaking signals years of advocacy.

“It says this community, the oldest African American settlement in Houston postCivil War, deserves the kind of attention it’s getting,” Fletcher said. “And it invites people in, so they are not just spectators but co-owners of this transformative work.”

Phase Two encompasses the rehabilitation of three row houses, one as a community pantry, one as a gathering space for youth programming, and one for senior services, alongside a new open-air pavilion. A third phase covering the full restoration of the neighborhood’s historic brick streets is

expected to begin in spring 2028.

Central to the entire effort are those bricks. Since February 2025, HFTC has cataloged and preserved more than 20,000 historic bricks hand-laid by Freedmen’s Town residents more than a century ago.

Fletcher said the bricks will ultimately be reinstalled on Andrews and Wilson streets.

The brick street project is expected to go before the Houston City Council in July or August 2026.

Ryan N. Dennis, co-director and chief curator of CAMH, said the museum’s role reflects what arts institutions are uniquely built to do. “Museums have a unique opportunity to unpack social, cultural, and socio-political questions with artists in dynamic ways,” she said. “There is a need to ensure we can understand what our path was to look forward to the future.”

The community groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of a new phase of the Rebirth in Action project, aimed at preserving, protecting, and revitalizing Houston’s historic Freedmen’s Town. Courtesy Freedmen’s Town Conservatory.

Five generations, One fight

Johnson, known as the “Mayor of Freedmen’s Town” and community engagement lead for the HFTC and CAMH partnership, has spent years correcting a narrative she says distorted the neighborhood’s history for generations.

“When I was younger, we were told the slaves did this, and the slaves did that,” she said. “And then to grow up and find out that there is no slave narrative here in Freedmen’s Town, everything that happened here was done by free men and women.”

Johnson said this project has a structural safeguard. The block is owned by Mount Horeb Missionary Baptist Church, with revenues flowing back into the congregation and community. Her next goal is to bring back legacy families pushed out by decades of urban renewal and gentrification.

Archival “None of these footage of are my ideas. I’m Booker T. just carrying the Washington torch,” Johnson said.

High School.

“We have elders who Courtesy: have been fighting African this fight for 50 American years. I want them History to see this before Research they go to glory.

Library.

And the fact that it is happening, it is the ultimate blessing.”

6 | July 2, 2026 |

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| 7

DN InFocus SOCIAL

Black Houstonians reflect: America is celebrating its Semiquincentennial (its 250th birthday).

But today’s mood is far less festive.

America at 250 A national conversation

The views expressed by Black Houstonians echo concerns raised by national voices.

Civil rights leader Al Sharpton questioned whether Black Americans should feel obligated to celebrate a founding moment that excluded them.

“They’re going to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country on July 4th, but that’s not our celebration,” Sharpton said. “We were slaves then.”

Meanwhile, MSNow host Ali Velshi has spoken of his own unease surrounding the anniversary, citing concerns about voting rights and political representation.

“Anniversaries are imperfect records of the thing which is being celebrated,” Velshi noted.

As America “If you’ve got conflicting approaches feelings about America’s 250 years, upcoming anniversary Black ... you’re not alone.”

Houstonians If Black Houston’s share responses reveal anycomplex thing, it’s that America perspectives at 250 isn’t a simple celon pride, ebration. For many, it’s a unfulfilled moment of reckoning— promises, one that inspires pride and the in Black perseverance, ongoing frustration over unfulfight for filled promises, and democratic renewed determination ideals. to continue the strugCredit: gle for a more equitable ChatGPT. nation.

M

but never fully delivered,” said Dr. Candice Matthews, human rights activist and National Minister of Politics of the New Black Panther Nation. “The question is not whether America has reached 250 years. The question is whether America is finally prepared to live up to its own ideals.”

Business leader Sharon Watkins Jones said the milestone should be both celebratory and reflective.

“We have every reason to celebrate what we’ve built, what we’ve fought for, what we’ve made great and to use this opportunity to h ld ou hold ur nation accountable for its pro omises and shortcomings,” saaid Watkins Jones.

Kenneth Rodgers, pres200th vs. 250th: ident of Super NeighDifferent eras, borhood 67, called the familiar tensions anniversary “a mirror” for The Bicentennial is often Black Americans. remembered as a unifying “You can’t celebrate the celebration that helped restore prromise of freedom without national pride after Vietnaaming the price we’ve paid nam and Watergate. But that Sharon Watkins Jones. to make that promise real,” memory overlooks significant Courtesy Sharon Rodgers said. “America at 250 opposition.

Watkins Jones. is pride and pain in the same Groups such as the breath.”

Afro-American Bicentennial Corporation Rev. Ross Adams, pastor of Blueridge and the People’s Bicentennial Commission Methodist Church, framed the moment as challenged what they viewed as a “trium- a spiritual challenge. phalist” version of American history. Pro“African Americans have always lived in testers marched in Philadelphia carrying the tension between disappointment and signs such as “Bicentennial Is a Ruling Class determination,” Adams said. “This anniverRipoff ” and “Bicentennial Is a Racist Pig sary is not simply a marker of national Scheme.” age but a reminder of sacred Marc Stein, president of the reesponsibility.”

Organization of American n Community advocate Historians, noted that many Dolores Rodgers said the counter-Bicentennial activmoment calls for renewed ists argued the nation had activism. repeatedly failed to fulfill its “It’s time to get into a litdemocratic promises. tle good trouble,” she said, “One of the things that’s referencing the late Coninteresting to me,” Stein said d, ggressman John Lewis. “is the regular invocation of the he Educator Mshinda Nyofu E nation’s founding ideals by some Mshinda Nyofu. offered a similar perspective. of the nation’s most powerful Courtesy Mshinda “With our victorious concritics.”

Nyofu. sciousness, Black people have continued the struggle, kept the Pride and pain faith of our honored ancestors, and held the For many Black Houstonians, America line as the moral vanguard of this country,” at 250 is both a celebration of Black resil- said Nyofu. ience and a reminder of promises yet to be fulfilled.

Reminder of unresolved “America at 250 means Black people are contradictions still fighting for rights that were promised Others viewed the 250-year milestone

By Aswad Walker

any historians, activists, and p olit ica l observers argue that the nation is grappling with deep racial, political, and economic divisions, while attacks on democracy, voting rights, and equality continue to intensify. Yet amid the national conversation, few media outlets have asked Black people what this milestone means to them.

The Defender did. And Blackk Houston had plenty to say.

as evidence that many of said. “This anniversary America’s foundational shows how little we know cont radic t ions remain of the full story of America’s unresolved. so-called beginnings.”

“America’s 250th anniversary For HR director Pamela F of independence has little mean nWal Walker, current events shape ing for Black people,” said eduPamela Walker. how she marks the occasion. cator and author Marsita Jordan. Courtesy Pamela “Looking at the current adminShe pointed to ongoing battles Walker. istration and where we are today, over voting rights, education, and I’d say America has not lived up political representation, arguing that many to its founding ideals for everyone,” Walker of the Civil Rights Movement’s gains remain said. “To me, I will celebrate on Juneteenth.” under threat.

Scholar Kevin Johnson said the anniverScholar-activist Dr. Andrea Roberts sary reminds him of Gil Scott-Heron’s poem emphasized the complexity of the nation’s Buy-Centennial. founding narrative.

“We need to think beyond the U.S.,” John“Black Americans at the time of the Dec- son said, issuing a call for a focus on the laration of Independence were enslaved, free, worldwide Black family. “We have a global and even some fought for the British,” Roberts interconnected situation to deal with.”

Collective shrug

For many, America at 250 inspires little enthusiasm and instead evokes frustration, disappointment, or indifference.

“The expectation for Black people to celebrate national triumphs before blood debts have been addressed feels less like patriotism and more like Stockholm Syndrome,” said NBUF officer Krista Folade Madzimoyo.

I have mixed feelings about America at 250, like a bad relationship.”

NDEGWA GILLIAM aviation mechanic

Same ole song.”

Nothing.”

Not a thing.”

STEPHANIE NWADIEI Galveston resident

MONIQUE BELL LEWIS mother

America at 250 is 250 years of enslavement.”

This year is just another year of compounded interest on reparations.”

DENNIS MONMOUTH educator

CLAUDELL MBUTU SANFORD retiree

DENNIS BOATWRIGHT II political scientist

America 250 means absolutely nothing to me.”

It means absolutely nothing.”

JAMES SHERROD retiree

ERIC “COACH E” MCWHORTER track coach

8 | July 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

TSU Fashion, Textile resurrects

By Aswad Walker

Texas Southern University is breathing new life into its long-dormant Fashion Design and Textile Technology program, positioning it to meet growing demand for fashion education at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Once among TSU’s most popular Benson academic offerings, the program flourished from the 1970s through the 1990s, when Black pride, cultural expression, and HBCU fashion were on the rise.

“Fashion and textiles used to be one Dokes of the most valuable classes on campus,” said Dr. Michon Benson, assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences (COLABS). “I have been charged with revitalizing the fashion and textile programs.”

Fashion showcase fuels momentum

Recently, TSU’s COLABS hosted Cultural Renaissance 2026, a fashion “experience” to provide support for the TSU Fashion and Textile Program.

True to its nature, the event, held at TSU’s University Museum, featured fashion designers Kameereo Crisp, Brent Law, Nicholas Nguyen, Remy Toh, and multiple TSU student designers.

Among those honored was Dr. Destry Dokes, who said he is encouraged by the program’s future.

“This program is extremely important because it’s another avenue for people interested in fashion to learn and grow creatively,” Dokes said. “I’m excited about what’s happening.”

Benson said the event demonstrated that

The TSU Fashion and Textile program is reclaiming a narrative wherein aesthetics, excellence, and ethical consciousness move together.”

DR. MICHON BENSON

the program’s mission extends beyond teaching technical skills.

“The success of this show confirms that we are doing more than just teaching students how to sew or design,” she said. “We are teaching them that their creativity is a form of stewardship.”

She added that the program aims to blend “aesthetics, excellence, and ethical consciousness” while preparing students to help shape a more sustainable fashion industry.

Student leaders show support

TSU student leaders also embraced the program’s return.

“The theme is Black Renaissance to show up and show out not only for TSU, but for all things fashion,” said Mr. TSU Zyias Richards. “I want the student body to know they can represent well in the class- Richards room and still put on a fly fit.”

Miss TSU Carmon Nelson Grimes was unable to participate in the fashion show due to scheduling conflicts, but said she enjoyed seeing the creativity on display.

Nelson Grimes “I was excited to see the different outfits they brought out and styled,” Grimes said.

Honoring a rich legacy

Benson said the program has deep roots in TSU’s C.S. Lane Building, which also housed programs in dietetics, nutrition, and child development.

The building once featured a clothing closet that provided professional attire to students preparing for job interviews. Fashion students even tailored donated clothing to ensure a proper fit.

The facility’s fashion lab gave students the opportunity to transform sketches into finished garments.

Fashion programs have long been a staple at HBCUs, with institutions such as North Carolina A&T State, Clark Atlanta, and Howard University producing graduates who entered Alexander careers in design, merchandising, and apparel.

Supporters envision TSU’s program stepping into that conversation as a national leader and facilitating graduates’ entry into various careers in the fashion and apparel industry.

TSU student fashion designer Victor Roberson works on a dress that is worn by a TSU student model. Credit: Dr. Michon Benson.

Preparing the next generation

Housed within COLABS, the program offers coursework in clothing construction, textiles, and merchandising while emphasizing both creative design and technical training.

“Students can enroll in certain courses now, as the Fashion Advisory Board hosts workshops in sewing, merchandising, and manufacturing, and we take students on

outings,” Benson said.

Fashion industry veteran Petra Alexander, a member of the advisory board, said mentoring students is central to the program’s mission.

“My role is to revitalize the fashion department by mentoring the students and helping them catapult their future,” Alexander said.

“After 30 years in the fashion industry, my duty is to pass along my knowledge and experience to our current students.”

July 2, 2026 |

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| 9

DN Profile

KAREN TILLMAN Balances faith, family, and franchising

would probably suggest I should charge $30.”

Despite those challenges, the business recently celebrated its seventh anniversary.

“We’re grateful to still be open despite it all,” she said.

By ReShonda Tate

On most mornings, Karen Tillman’s day begins long before the first smoothie is blended.

By 5 a.m., she’s already awake, working out, and mapping out the hours ahead. The routine is intentional. It has to be.

Tillman is a wife, mother, corporate professional, active deaconess at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, busy member of several organizations, and co-owner of the largest Jamba location in the Houston area. Somehow, she manages to make each role look seamless.

“The grace of God,” Tillman said when asked how she balances it all. “I’m a meticulous planner, and I’m an early bird. My whole day is planned.”

That discipline has helped Tillman and her husband, Hugh, build more than a successful franchise. In 2019, the couple made history as the first Black Jamba franchise owners in Texas when they opened their Missouri City location near Sienna.

Today, their store stands as both a thriving business and a testament to what can happen when faith, preparation, and opportunity intersect.

From family joke to business reality

The journey began with a running joke.

The Tillmans were frequent Jamba customers, drawn to the brand’s focus on healthy living, fresh ingredients, and balanced nutrition.

“We went to Jamba so often that we would say, ‘We’re here all the time. We need to buy one one day,’” Tillman recalled.

It was just a passing afterthought. Then life changed. After Hugh lost his job in 2018, Karen suggested they seriously explore the idea they had joked about for years.

“I said, ‘You always talk about owning a Jamba Juice one day. Why don’t we look into that instead of pursuing another full-time job?’”

What started as a casual conversation quickly became a business plan. The couple soon learned that franchising requires more than capital.

“People make the mistake of thinking that if you have money, you can get approved,” Tillman said. “At least with Jamba, that’s not how it works.”

Prospective franchisees undergo a rigorous vetting process designed to determine whether they align with the company’s culture and values.

For the Tillmans, their commitment to health and wellness became a key advantage.

A former track athlete who attended both undergraduate and graduate school on athletic scholarships, Tillman still works out six days a week and prioritizes healthy eating.

Faith as a leadership strategy

Tillman talks about the power of community

“We truly embraced that lifestyle from the beginning,” she said.

The reality behind the smoothies

Running a successful franchise isn’t as simple as unlocking the doors each morning. g Tillman said one of the biggest chaallenges has been managing a workforce shaaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of herr employees are high school and college stud dents. Many entered the workforce after spend ding critical developmental years isolated from m classmates, customers, and coworkers.

“Before COVID, people weree willing to work hard and be sociable, particularly in customer service,” Tillman said d. “Now we have to encourage people to talk k to guests, smile, and be more personable.”

She believes many younger workers w are still recovering from the social disruption created by the pandemic. Tillmaan’s business has employed several young people in the community and has become kn nown as a place where many teens get their start in the workforce. Among those em mployees is Karen’s own daughter, Faith, wh ho says she’s learning by example.

“My mom is the best busin ness owner I know. Definitely an insp piration to me. She really does it all and she’s the best role model to me,” Faith said.

Inflation has created another hurdle. The cost of

ingredients, supplies, and operations continues to rise, while customers remain sensitive to price increases.

“I can’t charge $20 for a smoothie,” Tillman said with a laugh. “But my cost of goods

For Tillman, faith is not separate from business. It is the foundation of it. An active member and deaconess at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, she approaches leadership through the lens of service, while never losing sight of her priorities.

“I try to prioritize placing God and family first,” she said. “Then the business. Then my job.”

That perspective helps her avoid burnout while keeping her focus on what matters most. The philosophy also shapes how she interacts with employees and customers.

The Tillmans often describe themselves as being “blessed to be a blessing,” a belief reflected in their commitment to community involvement and mentorship.

As one of the few Black franchise owners within the Jamba system, Tillman understands the importance of creating pathways for others.

In fact, she said she and her husband are currently helping another Black couple navigate the franchise process.

“We were the first in Texas,” she said. “Now we’re seeing others come behind us.”

Karen Tillman, with her husband Hugh and children, Faith, Christian and Mitchel. Courtesy: Karen Tillman.

10 | July 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

Aaron Allen Expands his coaching reach to China

By Terrance Harris

Aaron Allen has had the type of football career most dreamed about.

The former Ridge Point standout quarterback played collegiately at Louisiana Tech and then Alcorn State before getting an opportunity to play professionally in Italy. He now works out kids in the area around his full-time job to help fill the void and hopefully make a difference in a young athlete.

“I’m just trying to find something that gives you that edge outside of playing and being out there on the field,” Allen said in a recent conversation. “Right now, I’m in the oil and gas industry, but I still train kids on the side. I still want to be around the game.”

His continued love and longing for the game have brought about a unique opportunity. Allen has been offered the opportunity to travel to Shanghai, China, this week to serve as the lead quarterback instructor for a four-day camp with participants ages 7 to 29.

Aaron Allen, who was a standout quarterback at Alcorn State, is looking forward to helping develop young quarterbacks in China.

Credit: Alcorn State athletics.

I’m very excited to go to China for this opportunity and cultural experience.

I’m honored to be part of something that builds bridges by using football in such a powerful way.”

AARON ALLEN

It’s Allen’s first venture over to China.

“I’m looking at it in a similar way as when I went to Italy. It’s a chance to stay around the game and just shine my light on the youth over there,” said Allen, who played in Ferrara, Italy, for a spell. “I’m definitely looking forward to having a great camp and seeing the growth in kids.

“I will put them through some drills, and hopefully we will see improvement, and that will hopefully lead to another opportunity to go there again.”

Allen got this opportunity to work in Shanghai through his connection here with TGBTG Sports, which has operated in China for more than 25 years and facilitates international opportunities for hundreds of American athletes.

Allen has been training Houston Christian wide receiver Jackson White, whose father, Cyril White, is the managing director for TGBTG Sports. White was impressed enough to invite Allen to join the coaching contingency.

“I’ve known him since high school, and I know he is a first-class professional,” White said. “I am happy to help him expand his international reach by taking him to China.”

Cyril has been part of the pipeline to

Aaron Allen began his collegiate career at La Tech, but really came into his own as a quarterback for the Alcorn State Braves under Fred McNair. Credit: Alcorn State athletics.

introduce American football to athletes in China. The June 29-July camp focuses on quarterback play and skill development for receivers and defensive backs, along with game-speed training.

“Football is growing rapidly in China, especially with flag football set for the 2028 Olympics,” White said. “We’re proud to help lead that development and provide opportunities for cultural and athletic exchange.”

For Allen, it’s a chance to keep living in his purpose. Currently, he works full-time in the oil and gas industry as a safety technician.

But his real passion remains in football and helping young people improve.

“I relate well with a lot of younger players, just because, I’m going to tell you exactly how it is,” said Allen, who graduated from Ridge Point in 2018. “We’re very relatable in that sense.

“I can really help just because I’m kind of coming out of it and just went through it.”

Allen never really considered coaching, despite others urging him to, until he came

back from Italy. He was looking for ways to still be in the game when he was approached about conducting private workouts.

Now this opportunity in China has opened more possibilities.

“My parents always said just go coach, and I always thought if I’m going to put that amount of hours in, I’m going to still want to play,” said Allen, who played at La Tech from 2018-21 before transferring to Alcorn State to play for then head coach Fred McNair.

“That’s kind of how I always looked at it.

“I just love being around the game.”

He also takes pleasure in watching young athletes grow under his tutelage.

“It’s been another way to insert myself into the game,” he said. “You see the improvement when you’re coaching and training.

“You can see from one week to the next the progress they make, and it’s even greater from a month to two months to three months later. It’s a really good feeling to be a part of a young person’s growth in the game.”

July 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports MANVEL’S

Esmeralda Salazar Shifts from softball dreams to pediatric nursing

By Jimmie Aggison

For Manvel graduate Esmeralda Salazar, a first baseman, softball has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.

Salazar began playing the sport at age five in the Alvin Girls Softball League before later competing in the Pearland Girls Softball League. By age 10, she had transitioned to travel ball, spending much of her childhood on the diamond. Although she has played every position throughout her career, first base became her favorite because of the constant involvement and the comfort she developed there.

“Softball has helped shape me into the person I am today by fostering a focused mindset, consistency, accountability, discipline, and a great attitude through sportsmanship,” said Salazar. “It has also helped me develop team-building skills, leadership, and social relationships that I use every day to navigate the stresses of everyday high school life.”

Salazar hopes the next chapter of her life will allow her to pursue both of her passions, softball and nursing.

Although she received admission offers from several universities, including Sam Houston State University, Tarleton State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and the University of North Texas at Dallas, Salazar chose to attend Houston Christian University.

“HCU is a great school, and it’s close to home,” said Salazar, who plans to pursue a walk-on opportunity with the softball team.

“I’m not ready to give up on the sport I love and appreciate. A lot of blood, sweat, tears, hard work, late nights, and cheers have gone

Softball has helped shape me into the person I am today by fostering a focused mindset, consistency, accountability, discipline, and a great attitude through sportsmanship.”

ESMERALDA SALAZAR

into this. It’s hard for me to walk away completely without looking back.”

While Salazar hopes softball remains part of her future, she has already decided where her professional future lies: pediatric nursing.

“I’m super excited because not only will I be doing something I love, but I will also be helping people and being someone they can depend on when they are in need,” said Salazar. “I chose pediatric nursing because I love children. I want to become a mom someday, and kids deserve a fighting chance at life and the opportunity to experience it.”

For much of her life, Salazar focused on softball and earning a college opportunity.

But an unexpected experience in a high school choir classroom introduced her to a new passion and helped shape a different vision for her future, one centered on serving others.

Through Choir PALS, a program designed to provide students with disabilities a safe and inclusive environment to experience music, Salazar found a calling that ultimately inspired her to pursue pediatric nursing.

“I love helping, I love singing, Choir PALS allowed me to do both,” said Salazar.

The relationships she built with those students revealed the need for compassionate professionals in the medical field and ultimately inspired her to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse.

“We have a curriculum tailored to our fundamental skills students, and we have students like Esmeralda who are there to help,” said Manvel High School choir director Blythe Hopson.

During one of her first experiences working with the students, Salazar witnessed a moment that would leave a lasting impression.

“The first time I worked with the Choir Pal students was on a Friday during karaoke day,” said Salazar. “When one student sang ‘Girl on Fire’ by Alicia Keys, I cried because watching them sing touched my heart deeply.”

That moment marked the start of a connection that continued to grow throughout the semester.

“Esmeralda was always really kind and supportive of all students,” said Hopson.

“She built strong relationships with them and even took it upon herself to buy each

Manvel High School senior Esmeralda Salazar has played a pivotal role at first base for Manvel High School. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender.

student a Christmas present that reflected their interests. She spent the semester getting to know them, which had a big impact on our students.”

As the semester progressed, Salazar became increasingly invested in her students’ lives.

“I started realizing this class was affecting my life goals when I began putting them before myself,” said Salazar. “I would spend every last dime I had on them, and I would make sure they were always happy to come to choir class. Their happiness was important to me.”

The experience revealed qualities in herself that she had never fully recognized.

“Choir PALS welcomed me with open arms and trusted me to be someone they could depend on when they needed help,” said Salazar. “Not a day goes by without them looking for me in the hallways and showering me with love. I am so grateful to be a part of their lives.”

The relationships she formed through the program helped her realize that caring for others was something she wanted to do long after high school.

“The experiences with the children through Choir PALS ultimately taught me to be selfless,” said Salazar. “It also taught me to have compassion for others, giving me a brief glimpse into their everyday lives.”

12 | July 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Entertainment

‘Destiny’s Child: Iconic Reimagined’ Mathew Knowles brings tribute to Houston

By ReShonda Tate

Destiny’s Child is officially coming home.

Following a string of sold-out performances nationwide, music executive and Music World Entertainment CEO Mathew Knowles is bringing Destiny’s Child: Iconic Reimagined Tribute back to Houston on Friday, July 24, 2026. The immersive, candlelit concert experience will take over the city for two highly anticipated shows at 6:30 pm and 8:45 pm.

The Houston stop kicks off a major Phase 2 national expansion, which also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the group’s groundbreaking Survivor album.

For Knowles, who helped steer the group to global superstardom, bringing the production back to the city where it all began is a full-circle moment.

“We were here Jan. 9, and it was sold out,” Knowles told The Defender. “It’s a way that we give honor to the ladies for their accomplishments... It’s this re-imagined, unique moment in time that everybody that’s been to one has nothing but raving reviews because it’s something that most of us have never had the opportunity to see.”

Flipping the script on classical tributes

The concert transforms beloved hits like “Say My Name,” “Independent Women,” “Bills, Bills, Bills,” and “Survivor” into

TICKET & SHOW INFORMATION Destiny’s Child: Iconic Reimagined Tribute takes place Friday, July 24, 2026.

Showtimes: 6:30 PM & 8:45 PM Tickets: Available at DestinysChild.com

cinematic orchestral arrangements. While candlelight tribute shows have grown in popularity, Knowles reveals that his inspiration for this venture came from dissatisfaction with the standard format.

After attending a different candlelight show in California with his wife, Knowles found the strict, restrictive environment entirely detached from the energy of Black music culture.

“I did not like it at all,” Knowles said frankly. “They open up by saying there will be no singing. There will be no standing, and there will be no on your phones... I looked at my wife, and I was like, that’s crazy. We’re at a show, and we can’t sing, and they don’t want us to turn the phones on. That’s marketing.”

Knowles also felt a traditional string quartet lacked the sonic depth required to

Knowles offers advice for Houston parents raising creative children.

carry the group’s legendary rhythm and blues. He immediately set out to redesign the experience.

“I didn’t like the sound of it because they had a quartet and I was like, you know, I couldn’t rock my head. So mine is a quintet with an upright bass,” Knowles explained.

“So you get that urban Black sound. Immediately, I tell everyone, turn your phones on, sing your hearts out, and it’s a real different experience.”

He notes that the classical arrangements g actually highlight elements already baked into the group p’s original catalog.

“Most peop ple don’t realize that a lot of the Destiny’s Chilld songs have strings,” Knowles shared. “We always viewed that as a beautiful insttrument... These songs get really amp plified because you’re sitting there and you’re like, ‘I never knew that. I played that song a thousan nd times, I never realized it had d strings in it.’”

Untold storries from H-Tow wn

What sets the Housto on performance apart from other national tour stops is Knowles’ personal involvement.

As one of the select cities featuring his liive narration, the hometown crowd will geet an inside look into the making of a global g phenomenon.

Knowles prromises to share rare, never-before-heaard backstories behind the hits—many of o which trace directly back to local Houston H recording studios. Giving a sneak peek, he recalled the chaotic Saaturday morning when a 15-year-old d Beyoncé accidentally discovered her signature, rapid-fire vo ocal style while annoyed with h hip-hop legend Wyclef Jean.

“We needed d a remix for [their very first sin ngle] so that we could extend it at radio,” Knowles reminisced. Wyclef ef was in town and agreed

to do it, but after a late night, he rolled into the studio hours late.

“Beyoncé’s sitting at the soundboard and they’re now 15 years old... and she’s annoyed.

She’s calling herself being smart—a little smart 15-year-old teenager. He walks in, and he says, ‘B, sing that ballad for me.’ And she goes, ‘Boy, I want to love you. See you,’ real fast. It’s fast singing. And he looks at her, and he says, ‘I like that [expletive]!’ And that’s how her fast singing style came about.”

Mathew Knowles