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Volume 86 | Number 38
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NEWSTALK AL GREEN hearing residents’ Medicaid concerns
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NATIONAL JEROME ADAMS nominated for U.S. surgeon general
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NEW STATE LAWS
SPORTS BRIENNE MINOR next big tennis star?
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Beyoncé
Jada Pinkett Smith
The singer has teamed up with global humanitarian organization UNICEF to launch BEYGOOD4BURUNDI, an initiative to help supply water to kids in need in the landlocked East African country.
The talented actress is reuniting with Queen Latifah for their first film in 21 years. In “Girls Trip” the duo, along with actresses Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish reconnect over a girl’s weekend at the Essence Festival.
bringing safe water
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TOP EVENTS
returns to the big screen
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Pastor Rudy Rasmus and Karena Poke at the Barrier Breaker Award Luncheon.
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DEFENDER | JULY 6 | 2017
newstalk
Houstonians say save Medicaid do. We need a bipartisan effort of bringing people together.” Houston Congressman Representatives from Al Green hosted a forum non-profits, insurance on the Medicaid cuts that companies and healthcare are part of the U.S. Senate voiced growing national health bill that seeks to discontent over the Senrepeal the Affordable Care ate bill. Act (Obamacare). The “The killing of Medforum showcased real-life icaid programs that are testimonials from a variety life-sustaining for people of constituents regarding with significant disabilithe importance of keeping ties is a death sentence to Medicaid, and, said Green, Congressman Al Green us,” said Maria Palacois, founder of the as a way to “remind Congress that the Houston-based National Women with DisU.S. is a participatory democracy.” abilities Empowerment Forum. “When the people speak, representaJason Jones, born with tumors in both tives listen,” said Green. “But people have eyes, and who has relied on Medicaid to to speak.” cover all related treatments, addressed The people certainly spoke during the forum, as representatives from over 12 the Senate bill’s secretive process, saying “My message to every senator: nothing local groups voiced their displeasure with about us, without us.” the Republican majority-authored legislaChamane Barrow, a healthcare tion slated to decimate Medicaid, which currently covers roughly 4 million Texans, professional whose daughter born with cerebral palsy graduated from college and of which 70 percent are children. lives and works independently because of The other 30 percent covered by a Medicaid-paid attendant, said Medicaid the state-based insurance program are isn’t just about healthcare, but indepenthe disabled, pregnant women and poor dence. seniors, the vast majority of which reside “Without [Medicaid] my daughter in nursing homes. couldn’t get out of bed,” Barrow said. “This bill is bad for the state of Though the Senate’s bill is garnerTexas,” said Ken Janda, president and ing more attention recently, according to CEO of the Houston-based Community the Congressional Budget Office, more Health Choice, an insurance company that manages health care plans catering to than 20 million people will lose coverage under either the Republican Senate or the low-income families. “One party producRepublican House bills. ing a bill in secret is not the right thing to Defender News Services
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Plan would cut new HIV cases in half By JASEMINE KNOWLES Defender
Six months after launching the “Roadmap to Ending HIV In Houston Campaign,” Legacy Community Health (LCH) held a symposium with the multiple stakeholders involved in their plan to look at progress made and what’s needed over the next six months. The campaign parallels plans that “We’ve put out $10 million statewide, have been implemented in other major cities and $3million of it was infused here in Houssuch as New York and San Francisco, and is ton for services like the AIDS Drug Assistance the first of its kind in Texas. Program to help with hiring of workers and “Our goal is to cut all new HIV cases in training of staff so that they are aware of half within five years, taking the diagnoses implicit biases and negative stereotypes,” down from about 1,200 to 600 by expanding Lucas said. access to preventative care and launching mar“We’ve also increased access to medicaketing campaigns to fight stigmas that hinder tion and support for the PrEP pill implementapeople from seeking treatment,” said Venita tion in high morbidity places.” Ray, public policy manager at LCH. Another accomplishment is Data to “However, people will not access care Care (D2C), a new public health strategy if they do not feel that aims to use HIV welcome in the surveillance data to space, or if the seridentify diagnosed vices are delivered Tuesday, July 18, 6-7:30 p.m. individuals not in care, in a culturally inlink them to care, and Legacy Community sensitive manner.” support the HIV care Health Montrose The plan calls continuum, a model on new city, county 1415 California St. that outlines the stages and state funding to of medical care that educate the public people living with HIV and physicians about the disease, train medical go through. providers to create environments that are welMarlene McNeese, bureau chief of the coming and culturally sensitive in collaboraHouston Health Department, said their main tion with members of the key populations, goals over the next six months are partnering increase access to testing and care among poor with initiatives like My Brother’s Keeper and and immigrant populations, and reform the advocating for syringe exchange programs criminal justice system to slow the spread of to “prevent addicts from sharing potentially the virus among the incarcerated. contaminated needles and increasing access Shelley Lucas, manager of HIV/STD to HIV testing by expanding mobile testing Prevention & Care Branch at the Texas Deunits and free community clinics.” partment of State Health Services, noted sevFor more information, visit: eral accomplishments as a result of the plan. endhivhouston.org/
Community Forum
localbriefs A GRAND JURY HAS DECLINED TO INDICT two Houston police officers for the fatal shooting of an armed Black man they said had pointed a gun at them in the middle of a street. Shortly after the July 2016 shooting of Alva Braziel, officials released video footage of the incident in order to dispel claims on social media that Braziel had been unarmed. But in separate surveillance video, it was difficult to clearly see if Braziel had pointed his weapon in the moments before officers fired. Body-cam videos from the two responding officers only showed the aftermath of the shooting as the officers didn’t activate the
cameras before the shooting.…..THE FAMILY OF SANDRA BLAND IS FURIOUS after the former Texas state trooper who arrested Bland during a 2015 traffic stop had charges against him dropped. Brian Encinia agreed never to work again in law enforcement in exchange for having a misdemeanor perjury charge against him dismissed. Encinia was the only officer to face criminal charges in connection with Bland’s death while in police custody. Bland’s family said the special prosecutor promised them that he would take the case to trial…….A REPORT SHOWS JORDAN EDWARDS NEVER HAD
A REASON to be fatally shot by a police officer as authorities had no evidence he was drinking or doing illicit drugs at a house party in suburban Dallas where Edwards, 15, was killed on April 29. The report also showed Edwards was not under the influence when officer Roy Oliver shot him. The officer was responding to a report that teens had been drinking at a party. Oliver, 37, was fired and then charged with murder within a week of the shooting. Initially, police said Oliver opened fire on the vehicle Edwards was sitting in because the driver was aggressively backing up toward him. Video evidence later disputed that claim.
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U.S.briefs A WHITE PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED in a road rage incident that left a Black teenager dead. Twenty-eightyear-old David Desper turned himself in to authorities. He is charged with first- and thirddegree murder, possession of an instrument of crime and reckless endangering. Desper allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Bianca Roberson, 18, in the head after the two jockeyed for position at a point where the road moved from two lanes to one lane. The bullet that killed Roberson matched a semiautomatic gun belonging to Desper found in his home…….THE NEW YORK DOCTOR WHO WENT ON a shooting rampage promised to seek revenge on his former hospital co-workers two years ago. Dr. Henry Bello, 45, was forced to resign due to sexual harassment allegations, prompting him to vow to get back at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital. He recently showed up at the New York hospital armed with an assault rifle and gunned down seven people, killing one doctor before turning the gun on himself…….A MISSISSIPPI MOTHER IS TAKING LEGAL ACTION against her daughter’s school district after her child was allegedly forced to share her high school’s valedictorian title with a white student who earned a lower GPA. Eighteen-year-old Jasmine Shepherd, who is the first Black student in Cleveland High School’s history to be given the valedictorian honor, was named “co-valedictorian” with a white student. Her mother, Sherry Shepherd said the school has never had a Black valedictorian, which is why they made the move. She says her daughter was forced to deliver her valedictorian speech after the white student during the graduation ceremony. A lawyer for the Cleveland School District says that the two students had the same GPA, though others have disputed that. Shepherd is suing the school district and asking that her daughter be named the “sole valedictorian.”
Black motorists stopped, ticketed, arrested more Defender News Services
It’s no secret that the rash of police stops and the seeming criminalization of simply driving have created an erosion of trust in the police. This is particularly true among Black communities, and a study shows that Blacks have reason to be concerned. In 2015, the Stanford Computational Journalism Lab and the Stanford School of Engineering collected and analyzed traffic stop data from 31 states in an attempt to discover bias patterns in the way the police conduct stops based on reasonable suspicion. The result of an analysis of patrol stops found significant racial disparities. While some of these disparities can be explained through circumstances such as extensive police presence in Black neighborhoods and differences in driving patterns, evidence was found that bias was a major factor. “Implicit bias certainly plays a role in policing and disparate outcomes based on race, but it is not the only cause. Law, policy and practice play a significant role in the negative outcomes on communities of color,” said Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward: the
Center for Racial Justice Innovation. On a typical day, more than 50,000 U.S. drivers are pulled over by the police. It is more likely you will interact with a police officer while you are behind your steering wheel than in any other scenario. This is why cases like Philando Castile and Sandra Bland continue to be troubling. For African-Americans, there is the very real threat that a police stop may escalate into something more than a ticket. “The reasons behind the discrepancies [between African-American and white drivers] can be a combination of personal or individual bias on the part of individual officers and/or institutional racism or bias that manifests itself in traffic stops, tickets, arrests,” said Ronnie Dunn, associate professor of urban studies at Cleveland State University. “Under aggressive, proactive policing, the police often run the license plates of Blacks and Hispanics with the expectation that it will turn up a warrant or suggestion the driver is somehow otherwise legally encumbered, which then justifies a stop and further investigation for drugs, guns or some other type of contraband.”
Black man nominated for surgeon general Defender News Services
VOLUME 86 • NUMBER 38 JULY 6, 2017 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Digital Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Proofer Maia Shelby
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Jasemine Knowles Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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The White House has found a candidate to fill the role of the “nation’s doctor,” after firing a holdover from former President Barack Obama’s administration. President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Jerome M. Adams to serve as the next surgeon general. Adams is currently Indiana’s health commissioner and served in that post while Vice President Mike Pence was governor of Indiana. He holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of California at Berkeley, and earned an M.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine, according to the White House. The surgeon general nominee tweeted that he’s “truly honored” that the president selected him for the post. If confirmed, Adams would succeed Vivek Murthy, appointed by President Obama. After firing Murthy, the Trump administration replaced him temporarily with Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, an African-American nurse.
Dr. Jerome Adams
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Black girls thought to need less protection Associated Press
Adults think that Black gir ls are less innocent, less in need of protection and nurturing, and seem older than similarly aged white girls, which could lead to stiffer punishments in school, a new report said. The report also said American adults think Black girls know more about adult topics and about sex than white girls of the same age. Those perceptions are greater when it comes to younger Black girls ages 5-9 and 10-14. The discrepancy continues to a lesser degree with girls ages 15-19. “This new evidence of what we call the ‘adultification’ of Black girls may help explain why Black girls in America are disciplined much more often and more severely than white girls, across our schools and in our juvenile justice system,” said Rebecca Epstein, lead author of the report and execu-
tive director of the Center on Poverty and Inequality at the Georgetown University Law Center. The study surveyed 325 adults from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds and educational levels across the United States to come up with its results.
Beyoncé teams with UNICEF for safe water
The Department of Education said in 2014 that Black girls are suspended at higher rates than girls of any other race or most boys. The data didn’t explain why the disparities exist or why the students were suspended. The new report mirrors one by the American Psychological Association in 2014 that showed that Black boys as young as 10 are more likely to be mistaken as older, be perceived as guilty and face police violence if accused of a crime. The report’s authors called for additional study as well as support for Black girls to combat adults’ negative stereotypes. “These findings show that pervasive stereotypes of Black women as hypersexualized and combative are reaching into our schools and playgrounds and helping rob Black girls of the protections other children enjoy,” said co-author Jamilia Blake, a Texas A&M University professor.
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Beyoncé is giving back in a big way to help better the lives of African children. The singer announced that she has teamed up with global humanitarian organization UNICEF to launch BeyGood4Burundi, has teamed with UNICEF to help bring safe water to an initiative to help supply Beyoncé children in Africa. water to kids in need in the The singer is leading this effort on behalf landlocked East African of her philanthropy-focused brand BeyGOOD, country. which she started in 2013 as a way to give As part of the multi-year partnership, back and pay it forward. Now, in teaming up “Bey” plans to support programs that aim to with UNICEF, she plans to help support the improve the quality of and access to water in construction of new, easy-to-use wells and some of the hardest-to-reach areas of a country, to improve the water and sanitation facilities where nearly half of the population struggles to in schools in four priority regions across the find a supply of safe water. This deeply affects country. children, who not only become more suscep“Addressing the global water crisis is one tible to diseases because of a lack of water but of the defining challenges of our time, and the are also forced to skip school in order to walk children of Burundi are among the most vulnerlong distances in search of it. able,” said Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO “Access to water is a fundamental right,” of UNICEF USA. Beyoncé said in a statement. “When you give “This unique partnership combines UNIchildren clean and safe water, you don’t just CEF’s decades of expertise in providing clean give them life, you give them health, an educawater to children in Burundi and around the tion, and a brighter future. I am committed to world with the power and influence of the enterhelping drive lasting solutions to the water crisis tainment world to bring about social change.” in Burundi.”
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Jada Pinkett Smith
JULY 6 | 2017 | DEFENDER
entertainment
st film reunite for their fir and Queen Latifah
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together in 21 years
“Girls Trip” is set
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in New Orleans.
Pinkett Smith, Latifah reunite for ‘Girls Trip’ Defender News Services
Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah will reunite on the silver screen July 21 in their first film together in 21 years. In “Girls Trip,” the duo, along with actresses Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish, play four friends from college who reconnect over a girls’ weekend in New Orleans at the annual Essence Festival. There, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are rediscovered, and there’s enough dancing, drinking, brawling and romancing to make the Big Easy blush. For Pinkett Smith, it was a chance to “cut loose” from some of the roles Black women have been relegated to on screen. “I think we’re getting to a place where we’re afforded the opportunity to kind of cut loose and see all the wonderful colors of who we are,” the actress said. “In this film we are flawed, funny, vulnerable and out of our minds! We go way over the top, just to remind people that it’s comedy.” Producer Will Packer compared the R-rated
comic romp to “The Hangover” and “Bridesmaids.” “I thought it would be fun to see a film in that vein, with chocolate girls,” he said. Added director Malcolm Lee (“The Best Man”), “This film is an opportunity for Black women to see themselves the way they see themselves and not the way other people see them and not in some trumped-up reality show. “Setting it at Essence was huge,” Lee said regarding the effort to depict Black woman in a way that hasn’t been done. “In thinking about what the movie was going to entail, I saw so many different Black women from all different walks in life… I felt like that’s a great thing to put on film.” “There’s a complexity to the imagery of Black women,” Packer said. “What happens is if you don’t have a lot of images, then the few that you have [must] represent the whole of what Black women are.” He added that “Black women, historically in media, have been either over-sexualized, hyperangry, or super-saintly. Those aren’t real people, those are caricatures. The opportunity to show real
people played brilliantly the cast was important.” For Latifah, it was a chance to act again with her longtime friend, Pinkett Smith. Although they have partnered behind the scenes over the years, including on Latifah’s now-cancelled daytime talk show, they haven’t been on screen since co-starring in 1996’s “Set It Off.” “’Are you doing it? If you do it, then I’ll do it,’” Latifah recalled the two of them going back and forth. The 47-year-old actress also reminisced about her favorite girls’ trip. “My best girls’ trip in my 20s was such a turn up, but I think my girls are about ready for another one of those – minus a lot of real debauchery we might have done in our 20s,” she said. “We’re all like adults and in relationships and kids like that. So I don’t think we’d get as wild as we did back then but we’re still capable of getting wild.” Comedian Haddish most recently starred opposite Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key in the comedy film “Keanu.”
what’sup Super producer SHONDA RHIMES is speaking out about her dramatic weight loss. Rhimes said after she shed 150 pounds a few years ago, she noticed she was treated differently by her peers. Rhimes recounted her weight loss revelations and experiences in response to the newly released memoir “Hunger” by ROXANNE GAY, which centers on weight, body image and food. She opened up about how puzzled she was to learn that all of a sudden, she was considered “valuable” all because she lost weight, as if she were viewed as less than before. The “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Mur-
der” creator went on to state why it was so hurtful to her as a woman and why she is so much more than her weight or her image in the eyes of others…….CHANCE THE RAPPER has pledged to donate his 2017 Grammy for Best Rap Album for “Coloring Book” to the DuSable Museum of African American History on Chicago’s South Side. The win was historic in that it was the first Grammy to be awarded for a streaming-only album. Chance made the announcement after being presented with the Trail Blazer Award by the DuSable Museum during its “Night of 100 Stars” gala…….“The Carmichael Show” is calling
it quits after three seasons. The show, which starred JERROD CARMICHAEL, DAVID ALAN GRIER and LORETTA DEVINE, was cancelled after cast options expired. The show generated conversations and controversy after NBC postponed a mass-shooting episode that was scheduled to air, as well as an episode debating the use of the N-word..… …“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is reportedly seeking to have EVA MARCILLE, the winner of the third season of “America’s Next Top Model,” join their cast. Marcille would be the youngest of the cast members if she is hired.
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DEFENDER | JULY 6 | 2017
By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender
T
STATE LEGISLA
he 85th regular Legislative Session has ended, and Texas lawmakers addressed such pressing issues as criminal justice reform, education, healthcare, child welfare and voter ID. The Defender asked the Houston area’s eight African-American legislators to list their top three accomplishments or the top three legislative actions impacting the community. Here are their responses.
ALMA ALLEN
State Rep., District 131 This legislative session, I helped pass three important pieces of legislation that will have an impact on the African-American community in Houston and Texas at large. The first, HB 1426 as passed by the House and Senate, would have provided a certificate from the court allowing people who complete a deferred adjudication sentence to be eligible for an occupational license. This bill, had it been signed by the governor, would have created opportunities for people who may have committed non-violent offenses in the past to correct their mistakes and continue being valuable members of the community. The governor’s unfortunate veto of this bill marks the first bill of mine to be vetoed since I have been a member of the House of Representatives. The second bill I helped pass is SB 1584, which requires probation officers to consider personal circumstances, such as a person’s transportation and work or school schedule, when setting the terms of a defendant’s community supervision. SB 1584 will help prevent people working to get their lives back on track from violating probation. Finally, I helped get SB 195, a bill by State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, through the House of Representatives. SB 195, which was signed by Governor Abbott, establishes in state law funding for programs such as Safe Walk Home-Northside that will keep our kids safe on their walks home from school.
GARNET COLEMAN
State Rep., District 147 “My number one priority this session was passing the Sandra Bland Act. I am proud that with the help of many stakeholders that a version of the Sandra Bland Act passed that will act as a foundation for additional criminal justice reform in the future. The Sandra Bland Act as passed will ensure all officers receive deescalation training, traffic stop data will be more robust and clear, where to make a complaint will be on each traffic ticket, and there will be outside investigation of jail deaths. The Sandra Bland Act also makes several improvements for people suffering from mental illness in the criminal justice system – including improvements to inmate safety in jails, requiring a good faith effort to divert individuals suffering from mental health to treatment instead of jail, and creating Rural Regional Community Collaboratives so that there are places to send individuals to. I helped secure $92.5 million to help fund current Community Collaboratives. I was also a joint sponsor with State Rep. Senfronia Thompson of Senate Bill 30 by State Sen. Royce West, which requires all high school students, future drivers, and law enforcement to learn civilians’ rights, the duties of law enforcement, and proper behavior during interactions.”
BORRIS MILES
State Sen., District 13 “As a freshman senator, I was able to pass 20 bills to ben are three of my legislative accomplishments. I passed the following to expand the availability of skilled for our youth: • Senate Bill 2105 provides secondary school students wi career education opportunities. • House Bill 2729, which I sponsored and carried in the S tory of industry-based certifications that can be earned by high • House Bill 2790, which I also sponsored and carried in availability of apprenticeship training programs Senate Bill 1599 will improve the data collected regardin mortality rate in the developed world. For Black women, the n practices for investigating pregnancy-related deaths so that the I successfully appropriated $11 million for the Student Su located in disadvantaged communities and have a high percen schools like Wheatley, Worthing and Yates. This initiative is a cally test poorly on state assessments and who rank amongst t help our boys get the assistance they need to graduate and
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ATIVE WRAP-UP
nefit our community. Here
d jobs training, particularly
ith information regarding
Senate, provides an invenh school students. the Senate, expands the
ng pregnancy-related deaths. Texas has the worst maternal numbers are even worse. This legislation will develop best e state can better address this health emergency. uccess Initiative, to provide education assistance to schools ntage of struggling students. This could potentially help aimed toward African-American male youths, who statistithe lowest of all groups to attend college. My goal is to d go to college.”
the Houston area for over 85 years
HAROLD DUTTON
State Rep., District 142 “Let me begin by stating that this was what I called the ‘nasty session’ as it was dominated by those who rejected governance for continued campaigning. Impacting African-Americans most has to be the $1.1 billion dollar reduction in funding to our public schools which represents about a per student decrease of $200 while presupposing that local taxpayers would make up the difference. Also, the unwillingness of the Senate to pass the bill raising the age of criminal responsibility of juveniles from 17 to 18 keeps Texas’ pipeline to prison wide open for more Black youngsters. Finally, Black males in Texas, like they are in 34 other states, dominate the bottom of the public education ladder and my bill did not pass which simply provided that for Texas school districts with at least 1,000 Black males, their entire accountability system would be based upon the progress of Black male students.”
RON REYNOLDS
State Rep., District 27 “SB 1849, the Sandra Bland Act, began as a great criminal justice reform bill, but it has been narrowed into a good mental health and jail reform bill. The legislation will mandate county jails to direct people with mental health crises and substance use disorders into treatment, and ensure inmates are properly monitored. I co-authored HB 67, a bill which will ban out-of-school suspensions for students in pre-K through second grade except in cases involving drugs, weapons, or extreme violence. The school-to-prison pipeline must be addressed in Texas, and this bill helps to shut off that pipeline by requiring the schools to work with some of the most vulnerable kids, rather than labeling them and writing them off. SB 5 upholds the previous Texas voter ID law that was passed in 2011. That law requires voters to present some form of official identification before they are permitted to register to vote, receive a voting ballot, or to actually vote. Texas’ voter ID law is the strictest in the nation leaving more than half a million eligible voters who do not have the requisite forms of ID from fully participating in the democratic process. I fought hard against this discriminatory bill that has a disparate impact upon African-Americans.
SENFRONIA THOMPSON
State Rep., District 141 “This session, I sponsored and supported legislation to help ease the constant injustice and callous disregard of African-Americans. “I also passed legislation to require 3D mammography insurance coverage. I believe that if the technology is available to save more women’s lives from breast cancer then it should be offered as a choice. Cancer strikes indiscriminately.” HB 3016, “Second Chances,” will allow persons convicted of certain offenses to petition for orders of nondisclosure, which seals their criminal records from public view. Law enforcement agencies will be allowed to view records when necessary. This will allow those persons to obtain future employment and housing. SB 30, co-authored with State Sen. Royce West, will require students in grade levels 9 through 12, beginning with the 2018-19 school year to learn how to best interact with police officers during traffic stops. HB 1036, “3D Mammograms,” will ensure that health insurance policies keep up with innovations in breast cancer screening, specifically using breast tomosynthesis. SB 1913, “Debtors’ Prison,” co-authored with State Sen. Judith Zaffirni, will revise the way courts handle low-income defendants who cannot pay court costs and fines so they can be held accountable in a fair way and not become trapped in a cycle of debt, arrest warrants, jail time, license suspension and more. HB 4 Kinship Care, which I co-sponsored, will increase the amount of money given to a relative who takes care of the children placed in their home.
Freshmen Legislators Wrap-up > Page 8
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FRESHMEN LEGISLATORS STATE WRAP-UP
SHAWN THIERRY
JARVIS JOHNSON
State Rep., District 146 “I feel the three most impactful actions that affected the African-American community this session are: maternal mortality, public school financing, and the passage of the Sandra Bland Act. From the beginning of the 85th Session until sine die, I advocated relentlessly to pass legislation to address the pregnancy-related deaths of African-American mothers in our state. Texas has the worst maternal mortality in the nation, with African-American mothers dying at three times the rate of other women. I appealed to the Governor to add this issue as a legislative action item to the Special Session and I am pleased that he agreed. I will continue to work with all legislators who are dedicated to resolving this crisis. Tragically, the 85th Session was unable to pass viable school finance reform. A majority of our children in our communities attend public schools, which are underfunded. I am hopeful that my colleagues will work with me in a bipartisan manner to find a solution to this issue during the next session. Finally, the Sandra Bland Act, by State Rep. Garnet Coleman, requires training for police officers on limiting use of force and understanding bias towards communities of color. I am proud to be a co-author of this historic piece of legislation. I look forward to continuing the fight for our communities and being a voice for the voiceless.”
State Rep., District 139 “As a freshmen representative during the 85th Legislative Session, I authored and passed a wide range of legislation directly impacting the African-American community. My efforts focused primarily on public education, child welfare, and criminal justice reform. My House Bill 374 (Senate Bill 2105) has ensured that career and technical educational opportunities will be more accessible for public school students, and will be tailored to the individual needs of respective communities. This is both reiterated and reinforced through the passage of House Bill 136, joint authored with State Rep. Cecil Bell. I also ensured the passage of House Bill 932, requiring the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to track the percentage of children in their custody with previous involvement with the Department of Family and Protective Services; tracking the foster care to juvenile justice pipeline for the first time in Texas history. Additionally, I fought diligently for criminal justice reform and police accountability throughout the session, and joint-authored House Bill 2619 with State Rep. Helen Giddings. This successful, landmark legislation will create a Mental Health Grant Program for Texas law enforcement officers.” T:9.5”
T:6.5”
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lder white Americans are nearly twice as likely as African-Americans to say they’ve saved enough for retirement, according to a recent poll by the Associated Press–NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey also revealed African-Americans and Latinos have less financial security than whites and will rely on fewer sources of income during retirement, and whites are more likely to inherit money from their families or receive income from selling their home or other assets. Financial expert Lola West, partner at a New York-based, African American-owned financial advisory firm, In Our Corner, wants to make sure Black people understand the importance of investments, retirement planning, and our overall relationship to money. Here she shares no-nonsense tips on what we can do now to assure our futures look bright.
Educate yourself and stay informed One of the biggest issues we face is lack of information, and thinking it’s okay not to know. It’s not. This present generation can’t depend on the government being the same as it was under Obama. Social Security benefits and pensions are not guaranteed, and they are trying to drop Medicaid and Medicare. We live in a world where information is available at our fingertips so take advantage and stay educated on financial matters at all times.
Participate in your employer’s 401K savings plan Participate in the retirement plan offered by your employer, and commit to taking out the maximum percentage of your income. A trick to
signing up for a 401K is to ask your HR department to tell you what your take-home pay will be if you take out $200-$250 a month because it could put you into a lower tax bracket. And since you only get taxed on the money you take home, by saving for retirement, you could be saving more.
So, take into consideration that every month your bills are due and you need to bring home enough to pay them. If you can’t, you are living beyond your means. Develop good habits now instead of when you’re entering retirement and don’t have any money.
Be responsibly self-employed
Stop being an ATM
Being self-employed doesn’t exempt you from a retirement plan. It actually means AARP.com you have to be more vigilant about it since AgingCare.com it is your sole responsibility. Working for Americanadvisorsgroup. yourself means you Lola West com/senior-resources don’t have taxes taken out of your 1099 and you are responsible for paying future taxes. Put at least 30 percent your future. of what you earn away for taxes, and set up an IRA. You can look it up or ask an advisor. It is your responsibility.
Senior retirement resources
A lot of middle class Blacks who went to college and got extraordinary jobs feel they have to take care of their whole family. I have a policy where I give money the first time, and the second time they ask I tell them when you pay back what you borrowed before I can lend you more. Giving all your money to family actually keeps everyone where they are. Don’t let people rob you of
Stay optimistic
Create a budget and stick to it
It is no secret that our community likes to spend and not save. Our history as slaves taught us to simply get by and figure it out as we go along. We weren’t taught to create a budget or develop a habit of spending within our means.
If we do these things we can change the statistics for African-American retirement. We are living longer lives and have a good 10 to 20 years ahead of us after retirement. Plan to have enough. Just regroup, refocus and get to planning and saving. Figure out how much it costs to be you and see if you can afford you.
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DEFENDER | JULY 6 | 2017
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sports
Brienne Minor could be next big tennis star
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By MAX EDISON Defender
ith Serena Williams out on what amounts to maternity leave and her sister Venus just older (37), you have to wonder who will be the next great American tennis star. The answer to the question could very well reside in Ann Arbor, Mich. in the form of emerging star Brienne Minor. Minor, a sophomore on the University of Michigan tennis team, recently captured the NCAA singles championship. The Mundelein, Ill. native went into the tournament unseeded. All she did was reel off six wins for the title and defeated a trio of top-16 opponents, including No. 6-seeded Belinda Woodcock (University of Florida) in the finals 6-3, 6-3. Her title was Michigan’s first national championship in program history. “It feels amazing, I’m still soaking it all in,” Minor said. “When I threw my racket at the end of the match I just felt this wave of relief because I was just so happy Brienne Minor I could get that win. I was super tired, so I was excited to let that racket go and just be done with the match. “My mindset changed during individuals because my nerves went away,” Minor continued. “During team competition, I just want to get that point on the board for my team, but once I got to individuals I just tried to have fun and play for myself. I never thought I would make it this far, but I took it one match at a time and here we are.” The success was not necessarily a surprise. Minor, 19, was the state champion while going 34-0 as a senior at Carmel Catholic High in Mundelein, a suburb of Chicago. Minor was introduced to the game in kindergarten by her older siblings Kristina, 27, and Jasmine, 23. “My sisters got me into tennis,” Minor Wolverine to win back- to-back All-Amersaid. “Once they started playing ican honors. tennis, they immediately put me “I just feel so honored to represent into it, and I just fell in love with it. NBA free agency takes off such a great school,” Minor said. “I love We always talked about being the Michigan and I’m so glad I committed next Serena and Venus…They’d here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” watched me play my whole life and With a level of success so early in her collegiate career, inquiring really taught me. Once I got into tennis, they coached me.” minds want to know what’s next for Minor. “Bri,” as she’s called, ends her sophomore season with All“I just want to enjoy this,” she said. “I can’t wait to get back to American honors and a 33-6 record. The honors were her second the team next year. I love playing for this team. But right now, I just consecutive achievement. She is one of six Wolverines to have want to enjoy it and take everything in.” multiple 30-win seasons in a career. She also became just the third
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Minor, a University of Michigan sophomore, won the NCAA singles tennis championship.
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JULY 6 | 2017 | DEFENDER
h.s.zone
sportsbriefs
State champs make summer plans ing about situations like this all my life,” Martin said. “To be able to do this is a dream come true.” The 2017 Deer Park team was able to put the disappointdrian Gonzales, Clay Aguilar and Blake Martin ment of losing in the 2016 regional finals behind them and were the backbone of Deer Park’s Class 6A state make an improbable run to the state championship despite championship baseball team. Now following a losing key players to graduation. parade in their hometown, they have a summer to “The whole team used that memory as fuel to make savor those still sizzling memories. another playoff run,” Martin said. “It was a long run with some Gonzales was named the 2017 Class 6A championship rough spots. game Most Valuable Player for his exploits at Dell Diamond in “I believed we could do it even before the season Round Rock last month. started,” Martin said. “We have a great group of guys with unThe senior righthander pitched believable talent. I knew the final 3 1/3 innings in the 3-2 victhat if we put our minds tory over Southlake Carroll in the state into it and our hearts Find out what Deer Park coach Chris semifinals to earn the win. behind it, we could make Rupp had to say about championship The Deer Park closer retired all it happen.” eight batters he faced in the 7-2 win Martin plans to play over San Antonio Reagan that clinched this summer with the the school’s first state baseball championship. Houston Urban Youth Academy in the RBI League and travel Gonzales also finished off the two victories over Fort Bend with the team to New Orleans and hopefully to the national Travis in the Region III-6A finals when the Deer trailed the tournament in Cincinnati. series 1-0 and faced elimination. Clay Aguilar was the winning pitcher in the state title “When it’s the state playoffs you want to be on the field game after logging 4 and 1/3 innings. as much as you can,” said Gonzales, who committed to Alvin Perhaps his most impressive performance came in game Community College. “I was able to throw strikes and it worked two against hard-hitting Travis in the regional finals when he out well for me. tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 win that kept the Deer “This is a big venue and there were a lot of fans that drove Park season alive. all the way from Deer Park, Texas to watch us,” Gonzales said. “I just try to pound the [strike] zone and let my defense “Our fans were with us all the way and we love them.” work for me,” said the senior lefthander who is heading for the Gonzales plans to work out this summer and play with his University of Houston. summer baseball team. “Playing in the state tournament was an awesome experiBlake Martin had two hits in the state semifinal win to ence,” Aguilar said. “It tops anything I’ve ever done before.” go along with a hit, a run scored and a sacrifice fly in the state Aguilar plans to take some time off this summer before title win. The junior plays first base, third base and designated enrolling early at UH. hitter. Gonzales, Martin and Aguilar were all selected to the “I live for the big moments. I’ve been growing up thinkClass 6A all-state tournament team.
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By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
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Five Astros All-Stars The Houston Astros will send five American League players to the MLB All-Star Game, which will be held Tuesday, July 11 in Miami. Starters are Jose Altuve (second base), Carlos Correa (shortstop) and George Springer (outfielder). It’s the first time the Astros have had three starters as a result of fan voting. Astro left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel was elected by player ballot and right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is an MLB choice. Altuve will make his fifth All-Star appearance. “You have to appreciate what the fans do for you to make this dream come true,” he said. The All-Star Game will be televised at 6:30 p.m. on Fox.
Vince Young speaks out Sometimes it takes an extended period of time to get rid of a bitter taste that lingers on your palate. Clearly that’s the case with Madison High School ex and University of Texas AllAmerican and national champion QB Vince Young. Speaking in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated, Young documents some of the high and lows of his professional career and ponders why so many mediocre NFL quarterbacks (such as Ryan Fitzpatrick) seem to get unlimited opportunities and guys that have had success and have taken teams to the playoffs don’t. Young, 34 is attempting a comeback in the CFL. That comeback is currently on hold as Young nurses a hamstring injury. Does V.Y. have anything left in the tank or is he done? Holler back @itsmaxedison on Twitter.
Tennis players win big Several members of the Houston Junior Tennis community fared well at the recent Texas Grand Slam super championship major zone tennis tournament held in Abilene. Kevin Zhu of Pearland teamed with partner Trey Hilderbrand of San Antonio to win the boys 18 doubles championship. Houstonians Jaycer Lyeons and Christopher Muniz were finalists in the same division. Grant Lothringer of The Woodlands combined with Tyler Stewart of Midland to win the boys 14 doubles title. Nicolas Trullenque of Houston won the boys 12 singles championship and paired up with Marko Mesarovic of Austin to claim the boys’ doubles title. Jeanette Mireles of Houston won the girls 14 singles title. Mireles and Emma Staker of Spring won the girls 14 doubles championship. Abhimanyu Ramireddy of Cypress was a finalist in boys 16 doubles. Santiago Muhala of Katy advanced to the finals in boys 12 doubles. Drew Morris of Houston was a finalist in boys 14 doubles. Maria Antonoya of Houston made the finals in girls 12 doubles.
Edwards makes team USA
onzales Adrian G
Former Atascocita High School standout and Purdue University sophomore Carsen Edwards is in Cairo, Egypt participating in the FIBA World Cup basketball tournament for Team USA. Edwards made the 12-member team coached by John Calipari of Kentucky following a week-long training camp with 26 other invitees at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The FIBA tournament ends July 9. Edwards started 21 of 35 games as a freshman at Purdue and averaged 10.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Blake Martin
r Clay Aguila
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DEFENDER | JULY 6 | 2017
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
STATE SEN. BORRIS MILES’ FT. BEND OFFICE OPENING…….State substance abusers turning their lives around by securing employment. Attendees Sen. Borris Miles hosted a large and supportive crowd on hand for the opening included CRR CEO Dr. Vernus Swisher, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, Constable of his Ft. Bend County office. A large contingent from KIPP Gulfton joined the Alan Rosen, Twila Carter, Keshia Harper, Marela Clay, Dr. Tanya Ingram, cheerleading squad from Stafford High School, and many others as attendees Dr. Ralph Devaul, Dr. Kathy Flanagan, Rep. Senfronia Thompson, Rep. enjoyed music, refreshments and words from Congressman Al Green, State Ron Reynolds and many others........ CELEBRATION OF LIFE..... Members Rep. Ron Reynolds, Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen and others. Attendees of Houston’s activist, martial arts and cultural communities came together included Cynthia Ginyard, Tuli Mathew, Missouri recently to celebrate the life of Houston legend and director City Councilmember Don Smith, Ft. Bend County of SEHAH Youth Center, Mwalimu Baba Shango, who Commissioner Grady Prestage, Neeta Sane, Dedra Defender TOP EVENTS died on June 21. Shango was an active part of the growth Davis, Judge Joel Clouser, Regina Gardner, Santos of SHAPE Community Center for years before founding More photos on defendernetwork.com Castillo and more.......... 21st ANNUAL BARRIER SEHAH in 1991. Besides running year-round programs BREAKER AWARD LUNCHEON.......Career and and summer camps, he took youth on educational trips Recovery Resources, Inc. (CRR) hosted its 21st Annual Barrier Breaker Award to countless African and South American countries. Attendees included Ojo Shango, Sundiata Shango, Nzinga Shango, Minister Robert Muhammad, Luncheon, which honored Mayor Sylvester Turner and former Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. Cynthia Cisneros and Spencer Tillman emceed the Kofi Taharka, Deloyd Parker, Aban Shango, Dr. Holland Jones, Mother event, which celebrated the agency’s veterans, hearing impaired and former Dember, Swatara Olushola, Sentwali Olushola and a host of others.
Sandra Rodriguez, State Sen. Borris Miles, Santos Castillo
Mayor Sylvester Turner, Dr. Vernus Swisher, Robert Eckels
Danielle Mason, Nzinga Shango, Ojo Shango
Congressman Al Green, Cynthia Ginyard
Cynthia Cisneros, Spencer Tillman
Ifamibaml Azikiwe, Mother Dember, Jamaymon Bandele
Maelinda Peters, Dedra Davis
Pastor Rudy Rasmus, Karena Poke
Swatara Olushola, Sentwali Olushola
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