07.10.2025_Defender-e-FULL

Black Church Business Does it make dollars and spiritual sense?

SPORTS

PROFILE

NAOMI PARKER

MELAYNE PRICE

The talented track star strikes gold at the Southwest Classic.

The PVAMU professor is documenting Black history for systemic change.

Volume 94, issue 38 July 10, 2025

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DN To the POINT DEFENDER ROUNDTABLE

Search and recovery workers dig through debris looking for any survivors or remains of people swept up in the flash flooding near Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas. Credit: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

Message from the Managing Editor the jaw-dropping stage production to the As a mother, the thought of sending my electrifying energy to the (I’m sure now-unchild off to camp and never seeing them employed car crane operator), Beyoncé again is heartbreaking. The recent tragedy proved once again why she remains one in Hunt, Texas, where several young girls of the most influential artists in the world. and adults were swept away by flash floods This concert is a celebration of Black excelat Camp Mystic, has shaken us all. The loss lence, empowerment and the sheer force of of these young lives - of all the lives - is an her artistry. Houston’s energy was electric, unspeakable tragedy, and our hearts go out and her fans didn’t miss a beat. But more to the families grappling with the unimagthan anything, word on the street is that the inable pain of their children being taken two-night tour made $36 million, making ReShonda Tate from them so suddenly. The flooding that it the highest-grossing concert ever by a occurred on the Gaudalupe River serves as a stark reminder woman and a Black artist. Yep, Queen Bey is still at the top of of the unpredictability and severity of nature’s power. We her game. must demand greater accountability in emergency response efforts and question the safety measures that allowed such a Carnival Cruises revises rules disaster to occur in the first place.

I’m going to be honest, I stopped taking Carnival Cruises years ago because I’m past the partying era of my life, and Race has no place in this tragedy that’s what Carnival became known for—the “fun.” But their In the aftermath of this disaster, the last thing we need new rules? Well, it feels like they meant “white fun.” The is race seeping into the conversation. You may have heard cruise line has now implemented new policies banning hipabout Sade Perkins, the former Houston Food Insecurity hop and rap music, Bluetooth speakers, dancing in public Board member, who posted a TikTok video that has sparked areas and—get this—fans. No more “pop, pop, popping” outrage. In the video, she described Camp Mystic as a “white while you put your boots on the ground. I’m torn over these girls’ camp,” citing a lack of diversity in a way that distracts changes. On one hand, I understand they have to address from the tragedy itself. Her comments have been deemed the rowdy behavior that sometimes gets out of hand—trust inappropriate by officials, including Houston Mayor John me, Google “cruise fights” and you’ll see that bad behavior Whitmire, and we agree the issue here should not be about a doesn’t discriminate by race. camp’s racial makeup. The focus should remain on the grievBut here’s where things get complicated. Carnival is known ing families and the ongoing search efforts for the missing. for its diverse audience, and let’s be real, out of all their cruise But we’re not writing off Ms. Perkins, who has a history of options, it’s the least premium brand, often attracting demostanding up for marginalized communities, though we do graphics prone to poor behavior. However, these new rules say if you begin your post saying, “I’m probably going to get seem more like an attempt to “remove Black culture” than canceled for this…”, you probably should just press delete. a genuine effort to police everyone’s actions equally. The brand has struggled with a reputation for chaos, and now Beyoncé proves she’s queen they’re trying to clean that up. If these rules are enough to In other news, Beyoncé’s recent Cowboy Carter tour stop make you rethink booking a cruise, then I’d say Carnival in Houston wasn’t just another show—it was an unforgettable has already achieved a major part of what they set out to testament to her reign as the queen of pop culture. From do. But at what cost?

Flooding victims at Camp Mystic

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DN News THE ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’

What’s at stake for Black communities

By ReShonda Tate

Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” – a sweeping piece of legislation promising reforms to the nation’s economy, healthcare and social services – has become a hot topic of debate.

Supporters hail it as a necessary overhaul of the system, but critics warn that its provisions could deepen existing disparities, especially for Black communities.

Among its far-reaching changes, the bill cuts Medicaid, slashes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and limits access to federal student loans. These measures could disproportionately burden Black Americans, who rely on these services at higher rates.

The bill is expected to increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion. A Yale University Budget Lab analysis found that households in the bottom 10% of incomes would see an average reduction of 6.5% of their income, while those at the top would see an almost 1.5% increase.

“Republicans made their priorities clear: Greed over good, cruelty over care and billionaires over Black lives,” said Kristin Powell, executive director at Black to the Future Action Fund. “This devastating bill is a direct assault on Black communities and the basic rights we fight for 24/7.”

Here’s a closer look at how many analysts say the bill may impact Black Americans.

Healthcare

For years, Black Americans have faced higher rates of chronic health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, often worsened by limited access to quality healthcare. Trump’s bill includes cuts to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and grants states more power to implement their health policies.

This shift could harm millions of Black Americans who rely on the ACA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black Americans are disproportionately uninsured, and cuts to the ACA could push even more people out of coverage, worsening health outcomes. The bill also proposes reducing Medicaid expansion, a lifeline for many Black families. Black Americans represent about 20% of Medicaid enrollees, even though they make up only 14% of the U.S. population.

Work requirements are expected to begin

by Dec. 31, 2026, though states can start sooner.

Education

Education is a crucial driver of economic mobility, but Trump’s bill proposes billions in cuts to federal funding for public schools.

Many Black children attend underfunded schools with overcrowded classrooms and limited access to college preparation

SEE SOME OF THE SPECIFICS OF THE BILL. President Donald Trump, joined by Republican lawmakers, signs the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act into law during an Independence Day military family picnic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 04, 2025. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

programs. These cuts would only exacerbate existing educational disparities, leaving Black students with fewer opportunities to succeed.

The bill also caps federal student loan borrowing at $100,000 for graduate students and $200,000 for students pursuing law or medical degrees, restricting the amount parents can borrow to help cover tuition. Additionally, the legislation removes the option to defer repayment if borrowers face economic hardship or unemployment.

These changes could push Black students toward private loans with higher interest rates, further burdening them with debt. And for many, it will make advanced degrees even less attainable. Even before the bill, Black Americans already owed a disproportionate share of the national student loan debt, and they are more likely to struggle with repayment.

The bill also cuts funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which play a vital role in educating Black students. These institutions are already under financial pressure, and further cuts could threaten their existence.

Changes are expected to take effect in July 2026.

Housing

The bill also proposes changes to housing policies that could disproportionately affect Black families. One of the bill’s most contentious provisions is its plan to reduce funding

for affordable housing programs. Black Americans are more likely to rent than own homes, and with rising rents and stagnant wages, affordable housing is increasingly out of reach for many.

Additionally, the bill’s proposal to scale back efforts to combat housing discrimination could pave the way for more redlining and other forms of discriminatory practices, which have long barred Black families from accessing homeownership and building generational wealth. The effect on Black communities could be devastating, further entrenching the racial wealth gap.

Social Safety Nets

The bill also reduces funding for essential social safety nets like food assistance, unemployment insurance and housing subsidies.

Black Americans are more likely to rely on these programs due to systemic inequalities in employment, wages and education.

Cutting access to these programs would not only push many Black families deeper into poverty but would also harm the most vulnerable, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities. In line with Medicaid cuts, the bill ties eligibility for SNAP (formerly food stamps) to 80 hours a month of work. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 3 million people could lose their food assistance eligibility. Black Americans make up roughly 27% of SNAP recipients, according to the Pew Research Center.

The bill includes changes to Social

Security and Medicare, which could affect millions of Black retirees who rely on these programs for financial stability. With a growing Black senior population, the potential loss of these benefits would be devastating for the community’s economic security.

“This bill is a direct attack on Black families. It’s a cruel repeat of the past, prioritizing the wealthy and powerful over the health, safety, and dignity of our communities,” said Monifa Bandele, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at MomsRising.

A Call to Action

Now that Trump has signed the bill, Democrats are preparing to use the “Big Beautiful Bill” to rally voters in the upcoming special elections and the 2026 midterms.

“After Project 2025 comes Project 2026,” said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who made history with a nearly 9-hour speech decrying the bill.

“The so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ isn’t just a policy choice; it’s an act of neglect,” Bandele added. “Once again, lawmakers are putting political games and tax cuts for billionaires and businesses ahead of the lives of our children, our elders and our communities. And once again, Black women will be expected to hold it all together and carry the burden of a failing system on our backs, with fewer resources and more obstacles than ever before. We will not be quiet. We won’t be put on the back burner. And we won’t let the rich few make money off of our families’ deaths.”

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DN News

Lesley Briones HARRIS COUNTY LEADERS SERIES

Pushes for community investment in first term

By Tannistha Sinha

Lesley Briones fulfilled a historic feat when she assumed office in 2023 as the Harris County Commissioner for Precinct 4.

She was not just the first mother to serve on the Commissioners Court in the third-largest county in the nation, but she was also a Latina woman, former teacher, civil court judge and daughter of educators from South Texas who never expected to enter politics.

Briones, who grew up on the U.S.-Mexico border, credits her educator parents for her passion for education, which has carried her from public school classrooms to graduating with honors from Harvard University and Yale Law School. Before becoming a lawyer, she returned to her hometown of Laredo to teach 8th and 10th-grade students before settling in Houston, a city she describes as resilient, diverse and full of opportunity.

“The education system, the juvenile justice system, the immigration system, the child welfare system were disserving my students,” she told the Defender. “I don’t even like politics, but what moves me is people and community and public policy and service.”

Now, Briones is shaping policy, keeping her children in mind, especially in education and child care.

“I never thought I’d run for office,” she said. “I love it now that I’m here, because every day we get to serve people…my goal every single day is to give it everything I have and I have a tremendous sense of urgency because the people deserve that the government is working for them.”

Before becoming a commissioner, she served as the judge of Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 4, the general counsel and chief operations officer for a national nonprofit organization, an adjunct law school professor at the University of Houston Law Center and an associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Reforms Under her leadership, Briones’ precinct started a pilot early childhood education and healthcare program across Harris County in June 2023, thanks to federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The program aimed to provide free child care to families in high-need areas.

“Childcare costs are incredibly expensive and there are not enough slots or high-quality slots,” said Briones, while highlighting another initiative for teenagers and young adults to access free mental and reproductive health services at the Baylor College of Medicine’s Teen Health Clinic at the Bayland Community Center in Sharpstown.

The precinct also adopted the county’s first climate justice action plan, pledging a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030. Briones expressed concerns about residents’ lack of access to health care, calling the reluctance to expand Medicaid “unconscionable.”

“We know in many of our Black and Brown communities, our neighbors don’t have access,” she observed. “We’ve taken various steps in investing federal ARPA dollars, focusing on Black maternal mortality in particular.”

Briones says she has taken a similar urgency in addressing systemic failures in Harris County’s criminal justice system, highlighting that the Harris County Sheriff ’s Office is the largest mental health facility in Texas, a reality she finds unacceptable.

She also pointed to support for domestic violence (DV) services, including the “I’m ok. Are you ok?” campaign; funding for children exposed to DV; $5 million in the

Domestic Violence Assistance Fund; and $1 million to the Houston Area Women’s Center.

Responding to growing statewide restrictions on reproductive care, Briones’ precinct invested $6 million to expand access to contraception and essential health services across Harris County. Additionally, through the “Places 4 People” initiative, Precinct 4 invested $48 million in infrastructure, with roughly 80% of the 2023 and 2024 projects targeting high Social Vulnerability Index communities, which are often left out of public investment.

As Houston enters hurricane season and federal support through FEMA faces budget cuts, Briones said she is preparing her precinct with cooling centers, disaster response trainings and community-based partnerships. She also launched a portable A/C unit giveaway to support vulnerable residents during extreme heat.

Legacy Briones’ legacy, she hopes, is to occupy the “people’s seat,” going into communities, listening and delivering what they asked for.

“I hope my legacy is showing that the government can work, especially for communities that have long been not listened to, or are underserved,” she said, advising young girls of color never to say ‘no’ to themselves. “There’ll be many people in the world who will want to tell you no. But, you should not be one of them.”

Lesley Briones is the first Latina and mother elected to the Harris County Commissioners Court.

Credit: Briones

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Content Manager Terrance Harris

Education Reporter Tannistha Sinha

VOLUME 94, NUMBER 38 - JULY 10, 2025

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

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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DN Education

| 5

Will TX House Bill 6 fail vulnerable students?

By Tannistha Sinha

A new Texas bill could spell trouble for the state’s most vulnerable students, once shielded by law from the most extreme discipline.

Lawmakers, through House Bill (HB) 6, have allowed suspensions from pre-K to second-grade students. That’s not all. The bill will also allow the suspension of homeless students who cause “disruption” in the classroom, overturning Texas laws that previously protected them.

Now, they can be suspended and even expelled under a wider range of justifications. HB 6 is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk, awaiting his signature to become law.

However, Texans might have a snippet of what the outcome might be.

“It’s common sense to give teachers the authority to remove disruptive students from classrooms. We must restore discipline in our schools,” he wrote on X when it passed the House.

Like all bills, this one also raises the question: Who will it impact the most?

Texas State Representative Jeff Leach from Plano, who proposed the bill, has named it the “teachers’ bill of rights.” He said the aim of HB 6 is to “strengthen the authority of our

Critics warn HB 6 may disproportionately harm Black and Brown children, reinforcing the school-to-prison pipeline, while supporters say it restores teacher authority. Credit: Getty Images

educators in managing classroom discipline, while ensuring that all students across the state of Texas receive a structured and supportive educational experience.”

What does this bill say?

HB 6 removes the three-day cap on in-school suspensions, which keeps a student at school but isolates them from regular

classes and activities. It sets no limit on the duration of suspension, with reviews every 10 days.

It also reverses previous laws (from 2017 and 2019) that limited the use of out-ofschool suspensions (OSS) for K-2 students and homeless students. Under HB 6, those protections are rolled back, allowing suspensions and even expulsions under certain

conduct and reinstating OSS for students as young as kindergarten, allowing virtual or in-person placements in alternative schools.

Under the bill, punishment extends to students whose conduct contains “the elements of an offense related to weapons,” “threatens the immediate health and safety” of other students, and those who cause “repeated or significant disruption to the classroom” or are found handling marijuana, a controlled substance, or a “dangerous” drug or alcohol. It would make it easier to suspend K-2 and homeless students if they are proven to engage in these activities.

Opponents of the bill say that for Black students in Texas, HB 6 could be disastrous.

This concern is backed by data. Per USA Facts, Black children are more likely to be disciplined than their white peers across all ages and all forms of discipline. Critics worry that “repeated or significant disruption to the classroom” is a vague standard that will likely be interpreted differently depending on a student’s race, zip code, or how well their teachers understand their cultural norms.

TEA data also shows Hispanic/Latino and Black students make up most suspensions: over 75% in both in-school (51% and 24%) and out-of-school (50.9% and 31.4%) cases.

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DN InFocus

Black church business Does it make dollars and spiritual sense?

treasure is, there your heart will be also’ Central to the angst of Black people who (Matt.6:21), there is an inescapable correlaleft the church is the issue of the intersection tion between the way funds are expended and of faith and institutional finances—in other the expressed priorities of any business or words, the belief that church funds are used church entity.” less to strengthen congregants’ faith than for other reasons.

All about the money?

Ogletree identified that intersection as Ogletree and Rasmus took two different property management. approaches to answering how they respond “The same thing that the Bible to the point made by some that all teaches us about being good stewchurches care about is money. ards of our money is the same “The institutional church thing that we have to do as a has been its own worst church,” said Ogletree. “We enemy over the years in the look at tithes and offerings, way it has poorly managed and based upon the tithes and branding, and it’s not a new offerings, we make budgets. And phenomenon,” said Rasmus. we do our best to manage the “My dad taught me as a money properly to where we Pastor Johnny Ogletree young person to not trust don’t go over budget. preachers based on his own “And we’re able to do the things that we suspicions of questionable pastoral integrity. have envisioned to do. And every home has “I ultimately became a pastor and spent to do that as well.” my entire career proving to him and othThough that sounds like a list of numbers ers that it can be done with integrity. But to and bottom lines, Ogletree asserts that the answer your question, it’s true, one bad apple presence of the Holy Spirit is also involved. can spoil the bunch,” added Rasmus. “A “There are some things we desire few bad apples (or pastors) have to do that are outside of the scope made it harder on the public of what we can financially see. image of integral leaders in But our faith allows us to be the church industry. An able to continue pressing integral church is no more towards those things that don’t focused on money than any always make financial sense,” other business that has to pay said Ogletree. “Understanding bills.” that we can get close enough to Ogletree said all churches Dr. Rudy Rasmus it from a faith standpoint, where must be concerned with we have expectations that God money to the extent that will provide what’s needed to do the thing money is a tool used for ministry. that’s needed to touch the community in the “There are some things that don’t cost way that the kingdom needs to advance.” money, [like] the heart and those who volRasmus suggested one level of misun- unteer their time to go out and do kingdom derstanding the general public has about work as far as evangelizing or volunteering churches and their finances centers around their time to do kind deeds,” said Ogletree. how he and potentially other pastors view “But almost every aspect of what we do budgets. requires some type of funds. But we depend “Our institutional priorities have always upon the Holy Spirit to be that provider focused on the least empowered persons in to minister to people, to touch people’s our community as our funding priorities,” hearts, to instruct them, and to give them said Rasmus. “Regardless of the size of the the faith enough to desire to be generous, to business, government agency or church, I do the things that are necessary to help the honestly believe budgets are moral docu- community. ments that reflect the heart of the company “But every organization, every business, or institution. even in this economy that we see, has to have “Just as the Bible says, ‘For where your financial resources to do ministry.”

Intersection of faith, finance

I

By Aswad Walker

s the Black Church focused on a spiritual mission or securing more money?

Many Black people asked that question after Pastor Marvin Sapp of The Chosen Vessel Church (Fort Worth) demanded that ushers lock the doors until attendees voluntarily made a collective offering of $40,000.

The Sapp incident raises questions about just how clear the general public is on Black Church finances.

For centuries, Black churches have played a central role in the social, political and economic lives of their congregants and communities. They have been able to do this largely because of the funding given by members.

But with Black church membership or involvement (desirability) declining from 90% in 1996 to 74% today, according to Barna, a national database of spiritual indicators, where will the funds come from for the Black Church to honor its historic spiritual mission?

One reason Black people have left the church is their perceived hypocrisy or disillusionment with church leaders’ teachings and actions. Some contend church funds are being used less for ministry and more for building bigger sanctuaries and/or pastor salaries.

But is that assertion fair?

There is no one definitive number about the collective income Black churches take in from tithes and offerings. Various articles report that the amount ranges from $2 billion to $19 billion.

In 2016, Guardian religion correspondent Harriet Sherwood reported that U.S. religious institutions had a net worth of $1.2 trillion, which did not include a Black Church breakdown of revenue.

Whatever that amount is, like all institutions and households, Black churches have bills to pay and operating expenses to cover.

The Defender spoke with a few Black pastors to answer questions and demystify Black church finances.

What most don’t know

When asked what it is about church finances that most people don’t know or understand, Dr. Rudy Rasmus, didn’t mince words.

Rasmus, co-founder of St. John’s Downtown, said, “Many people wrestle with the fact that the inner workings of a church is actually a business. In other words, revenue is generated from the generosity of the constituents and operating expenses are the same as any other business (utilities, mortgages, etc.).

“The debate usually surrounds pastoral compensation and benefits in relation to other industries.”Johnny Ogletree, pastor of First Metropolitan Church (8870 W. Sam

Houston Pkwy North, Houston, 77040), echoed Rasmus’s sentiments.

“What most people don’t understand about church finances is the business aspect of what needs to be done to run a modern ministry,” shared Ogletree. “Of course, we know that there’s a spiritual component to everything that we do. But there are business organization types of things that have to happen.

“Just like every home has income and expenses, churches have those as well. We monitor staff. We also have the responsibility, in this modern age also of property, and being responsible for managing property, and also debt that comes along sometimes with property and owning buildings, as well.”

WHERE FINANCES ARE SPENT

Source: The National Study of Congregations’ Economic Practices

Personnel

49% Facilities

23%

Missions

11%

Programs

11%

Dues

6%

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DN Feature

Shelter offers hope, healing for abuse survivors

By Laura Onyeneho

Antrece Baggett remembers the night in 1974, a year that changed her family dynamic for the rest of her life.

She was in the fifth grade when her father, in a fit of rage, beat her mother with a clothes hanger. The next morning, as her mother tried to cover her bruises with makeup, Baggett was called to the school office, where she learned she could never go home again.

Her father had been calling the school, threatening to kill her mother and her siblings.

With no domestic violence shelters available in Houston at the time, Baggett, her mother and her two brothers were forced to live in different homes for safety. The police devised a plan to ensure they were never in the same car at the same time—an effort to prevent their father from running them off the road. She was only 10-years-old.

“I remember thinking, ‘This is how we have to live now?’ It was terrifying,” Baggett said. “There was no place for us to go. No shelter, no safety net.”

As a student at Texas Southern University in the 90s, Baggett found herself drawn to the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC).

She began volunteering at its first shelter, working with women instead of children because she wanted to understand why her mother kept going back to her abuser.

“Through my research, I learned that women leave abusive relationships an average of seven times before staying away for good,” she said. “Shame, financial constraints, religious beliefs and community pressures often drive them back.”

Now an American History and African American Studies professor at Houston Community College, she is also the founding director of Women and Gender Studies.

Through her work, she educates students about the historical and societal factors that perpetuate cycles of abuse. She also serves on the Adult Death Review Team, analyzing domestic violence cases to identify service

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo emphasizes the importance of HAWC’s support for women, including safety planning, custody battles, mental health support, and children in need. Credit: Harris County Precinct 4

gaps and ways to prevent future tragedies.

Fast-forward to 2025. Witnessing the opening of One Safe Place, the Houston Area Women’s Center’s newest facility, was deeply personal for Baggett.

“Coming here helps heal the little girl in me that didn’t have anywhere to go with her mom and her brothers,” she said.

One Safe Place, a flagship campus which opened this past April, is designed to provide survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking with safe housing and vital support services. The 5.5-acre campus represents the next chapter in HAWC’s 48-year history of empowering survivors.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo addressed the county’s involvement in dealing with domestic violence during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility tour attended by elected officials and stakeholders.

“Since 2020, we’ve invested around $23 million in addressing domestic violence throughout the region,” Hidalgo said. “That’s not just the Houston Area Women’s Center, but various organizations. Since 2022, (investments) were around speeding up the court backlog on domestic violence issues, helping build infrastructure, child care, mental health support for kids and families

The facility will include 135 supportive housing apartments, a 24-hour crisis response and assessment center, and a Survivor Economic Empowerment Hub designed to provide job skills training and financial resources. Credit: Harris County Precinct 4

impacted by domestic violence. We have an ongoing commitment of $1.5 million dollars of flexible financial support to survivors of domestic violence.

The four-story facility includes 135 housing apartments, a 24-hour crisis response

and assessment center, a Survivor Empowerment Hub offering financial literacy, behavioral health, legal services and mental health counseling for adults and children.

Additional resources include a lactation room, teen rooms, child care services and classrooms for a Houston ISD elementary school program.

The Texas Council on Family Violence’s 2023 Honoring Texas Victims report states that over 50% of emergency shelter requests go unmet due to capacity issues. In Houston, one in four homicides in 2024 has been linked to intimate partner violence.

Pam Ellis, Director of Residential Client Services at HAWC, understands firsthand how important spaces like One Safe Place are for survivors. For 38 years, she has worked in prisons, homeless shelters and substance abuse facilities, all with the goal of helping survivors rebuild their lives. She recalls how food plays a crucial role in healing, noting that many survivors have experienced food insecurity as part of their trauma.

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DN Profile

Dr. Melanye Price Documents Black history for systemic change

By Tannistha Sinha

At the heart of Dr. Melanye Price’s life and work lies a question she has pondered on since her childhood: how can a city house inequities within the same zip code?

Born and raised in Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood, Price observed the impacts of systemic exclusion, racist geography and disparities in the public education system, but learned the words for them much later in her life. While traveling home in her school bus with students from all walks of life, Price wondered about the differences in their life experiences and their ripple effects.

“From where I lived to Westheimer, it was very unlikely that your parents were gonna come pick you up, you couldn’t do afterschool programs, sports because you had to be on that bus so you could get back home,” she explained.

Today, Price is an Endowed Professor of Political Science at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and the director of the Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice, which investigates race and justice through oral histories, research and public scholarship. Price explained that her role bridges rigorous academics with the lived experiences of the community that raised her, focusing on Black political behavior, systemic inequality and youth civic participation.

“I want them [communities] to have information that is easily accessible and that’s not full of a lot of jargon. My community frankly, has earned it and so I don’t dumb things down,” Price said.

Price graduated from PVAMU magna cum laude in 1995 and returned to the University in 2019 when then-president Ruth Simmons recruited her to lead PVAMU’s African American Studies Initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from the Ohio State University and taught on the East Coast for nearly two decades.

The author of two critically acclaimed books, Dreaming Blackness: Black Nationalism and African American Public Opinion and The Race Whisperer: Barack Obama and the Political Uses of Race, Price is writing her third book based on PVAMU’s fight for voting access since the 1970s.

As an avid researcher, Price was moved by a 1979 Supreme Court case, which ruled that denying residency rights to college students for voting purposes is unconstitutional, guaranteeing the rights of students across the country to vote where they attend college.

Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Melanye Price leads research into race, justice, voter suppression and Black civic history at Prairie View A&M University. Credit: PVAMU Documenting history

Price has also provided commentary for notable media outlets like The New York Times, CNN and Vox and contributed to the documentary on former President Barack Obama, “Through the Fire: The Legacy

of Barack Obama.” But, she does not want to limit herself to merely analyzing injustice, she aims to encourage people to proactively change the status quo.

Her work at the Simmons

It’s not because we outwitted racism or sexism or economic injustice. It’s because we got a nudge, we got a door open that they didn’t get and because of that, we can’t go back to our communities pretending otherwise.”

DR. MELANYE PRICE

Dr. Melanye Price’s work bridges rigorous research with grassroots advocacy across Texas and beyond.

Credit: Tannistha Sinha/Defender

Center reflects that mission. From documenting the work of PVAMU’s voter rights lab to a forthcoming report on the history of slavery at the Alta Vista plantation that preceded the university’s establishment, the center pledges to chronicle the university’s past and present.

Despite being mandated by the state to steer clear of Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) work, Price aims to bring awareness to the systemic headwinds still facing Black scholarship. Navigating DEI mandates, Price explained that the current law “does not change the kinds of research scholars engage in” at her research center, including peer-reviewed courses.

Now, more than two decades into her academic career, Price has no plans of slowing down. She wants her legacy to live on through her students and hopes she helped them do their best work. She reminds them they are not special but have been “given extra,” when there are community members who are smarter than they are.

“It’s not because we outwitted racism or sexism or economic injustice. It’s because we got a nudge,” she said. “We got a door open that they didn’t get and because of that, we can’t go back to our communities pretending otherwise.”

10 | July 10, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

AMOBI OKOYE FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER

Thrives despite medical setbacks

was on the top of his list,” Okoye said. “So when I got drafted, he said, ‘I’m going back home.’”

Houston embraced him. The diversity, energy and connection to African culture all clicked.

“This city has a huge African population,” he said. “The love for their hometown teams is real. Win, lose, or draw, fans here still show up.”

Okoye settled in Katy and has stayed in the Houston area ever since.

By Laura Onyeneho

Amobi Okoye didn’t grow up dreaming of the NFL. In fact, when he moved to the U.S. from Nigeria at age 12, he didn’t even know what football was.

“I saw it maybe once or twice on TV and just thought, ‘Why are they hitting each other like that?’” he said.

But just a few years later, at age 19, Okoye became the youngest first-round draft pick in NFL history. Born in Anambra State, Nigeria and part of the Igbo ethnic group, Okoye arrived in Huntsville, Alabama, with his family in the late ‘90s.

Like many immigrant kids, he was adjusting to a new world. What set him apart wasn’t just his intelligence; it was the speed with which he adapted. After just two weeks in middle school, he tested into ninth grade.

But at that point, he had never played American football. That changed in high school thanks to a coach who spotted Okoye and suggested he try out.

“He looked at me and said, ‘You should come out for football,’” Okoye recalled.

A close friend, already on the team, encouraged the challenge. Okoye was in.

He had no idea how the game actually worked.

“They told me to go play Madden to learn,” he laughed. “I was literally learning football from a video game.”

Okoye was trying to get in shape. He had joined JROTC, but didn’t enjoy it. He enrolled in track and field and leaned on his soccer background to build stamina. Slowly, the athlete in him took over.

“I was getting a little obese eating American food,” he said. “So I got serious.”

Okoye earned All-State honors by his senior year as a defensive and offensive tackle and had offers from top-tier colleges.

In his household, education was non-negotiable.

“It was always, ‘education, education, education,’” he said. “My dad was excited when Harvard showed interest. But I was thinking about football. Louisville had the better program. That’s where I went.”

He enrolled as a 15-year-old biology major, later switched to psychology and graduated in just three and a half years. At 16, he became the youngest player in NCAA Division I football. He entered the NFL Draft when he was 19.

His mother, Edna Okoye, remembers being caught completely off guard by her

His medical battle that changed everything.

Amobi Okoye Foundation community activities. Credit: Amobi Okoye

Amobi Okoye is a former NFL defensive tackle who was diagnosed with antiNMDA receptor encephalitis in 2013 at just 27 years old. Credit: Amobi Okoye

son’s interest in the sport.

“No! We didn’t know anything about football. We only saw it once in a movie, and we didn’t even understand what it was,” she told the Defender. “He always said he wanted to be a doctor, even a pastor at one point. Football? That wasn’t in the picture.”

Okoye was selected 10th overall by the Houston Texans in the 2007 NFL Draft. But even with his rising profile, he didn’t expect to land in Houston.

The moment was surreal for the Okoye family.

“I didn’t even understand what the draft was,” Edna admitted. “People kept asking me questions and calling me, and I didn’t know why. When I realized he got picked, we were happy and thanked God.” “The Texans interviewed me at the combine, but they didn’t show any extra interest,” he recalled. “So when they called my name, it was shocking, but perfect.”

The choice hit especially close to home for his family.

“My dad was the most hyped. When he left Nigeria to come to the U.S., Houston

In 2013, at just 27, Okoye suffered a seizure in his office, his first warning sign of a rare and devastating condition called anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a form of autoimmune encephalitis that causes the body to attack its brain receptors.

Within five months, certain parts of his memory disappeared.

“I thought it was still March 15th, the day of my first seizure, when I woke up in August,” Okoye said. “I couldn’t remember anything.”

Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma to control recurring seizures.

He became the first NFL player diagnosed with the condition and one of the first adult male athletes to publicly survive it. The illness gained more awareness through the book and Netflix film Brain on Fire, which chronicles a Learn similar case. about his “I lost all sense of life after time,” he said. “It’s a football very rare illness. They diagnosed it with a spinal tap and finally got me the treatment I needed.”

Recovery was slow, brutal and uncertain.

He stayed in intensive care for 12 weeks, lost weight and mobility in his body, but Okoye was determined to return to football. So, he retrained his body one step at a time.

After stints with the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. Though he was cleared to play, his body hadn’t fully recovered.

“I gave everything to make it back,” he said. “But it wasn’t going to happen.”

His NFL career was over at the age of 29.

July 10, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports

NAOMI BOOKER Strikes gold at Southwest Classic, proving she’s among nation’s best

By Jimmie Aggison

Tomball High School senior Naomi Booker, already crowned the UIL 6A 100meter and 300-meter hurdle champion, solidified her status as one of the nation’s elite hurdlers by capturing gold at the prestigious Great Southwest Classic, adding another major highlight to an already standout season.

Held June 5–7 at the University of New Mexico’s track and field stadium, the Great Southwest Classic featured top-tier athletes across several states. Booker impressively rose to the occasion. She claimed first in the 100meter hurdles with a time of 13.75, placed first in the shuttle hurdle relay with a 55.80 and took third in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal-best 59.47.

“It felt amazing,” said Booker. “I felt accomplished knowing that I had worked hard to earn first place. In that moment, I knew that all of the sacrifices I had made were worth it. I would have never made it there if it weren’t for my amazing support system. My family, coaches and friends have always been there for me and pushed me to be my best.

Ultimately, I felt grateful to God for blessing me with talent and allowing me to use that for His plan.”

Currently ranked No. 4 nationally under all conditions and No. 5 for wind-legal times in the 100-meter hurdles, Booker faced off against several familiar names from the Texas track scene, including Zoe Williams (Fort Bend Marshall), Kelly Frederick (Humble Summer Creek) and Phoenix Phillips (also from Humble Summer Creek).

“Zoe, Kelly and Phoenix are not only amazing teammates who challenge me every day but are also amazing friends,” said Booker. “I was calm coming into my races and just ready to give my best. I had a lot of fun competing with my teammates at the Great Southwest meet.”

The Great Southwest Classic focuses solely on high school athletes and draws talent from several states, including Texas, Arizona, California, Missouri, Utah, Florida, Colorado and Tennessee.

“Being able to race against tough competition from other states definitely helps with exposure, but also helps me stay grounded in the things I need to improve on,” said Booker.

According to her trainer, Devin Noel, who works with Hurdlenomics Training Group, Booker’s success stems from her natural

Tomball High School senior, Naomi Booker, crosses the finish line with excitement during the 6A UIL State Championship, solidifying herself as the top 100-meter female high school hurdler in the state of Texas. Credit Jimmie Aggison/Defender.

ability and relentless work ethic and attention to detail.

“Naomi is truly a student of the event,” said Noel. “Some athletes are ok with just winning. Naomi truly wants to understand how to win and the why behind it all. Being coachable is her biggest x-factor to pair with so many other natural talents. She truly wants to perfect her craft and will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.”

Coach Noel outlined the team’s focus this season: technique, flat speed and confidence.

“When we started the season, we knew there were some technical things that we wanted to fix in order to truly reach our potential and be efficient through both hurdle races,” said Noel. “Flat speed was something she hadn’t focused on in prior seasons, but she was eager to improve. The last piece was confidence. I knew if I could get her to truly believe in herself and display

confidence at all times, she would be able to reach any goal she set.”

Booker’s off-the-track improvements have played a critical role in her development. By refining her nutrition, committing to weight training and improving her recovery routines, she’s seen major gains, particularly in the 400meter hurdles, where she dropped her time from 1:04.85 to 59.47.

“Previously, I was training with Performance Hurdling, but I wasn’t following any diet plan,” said Booker. “Now I mainly focus on drinking a minimum of 50 ounces of water a day, eating three meals a day, drinking electrolytes before, during and after practice, having protein in every meal, eating fruit, cutting out processed and unhealthy foods and drinks and focusing heavily on meet day nutrition.”

Though she has yet to commit to a college, her resume is making waves across the recruiting landscape.

Whichever university earns her signature will gain not just an elite athlete but a disciplined, driven competitor destined to shine on any stage.

ABOUT NAOMI BOOKER Class: 2026 IG: @naomi.p.booker Events: 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles Height & weight: 5-feet-4, 120 pounds Favorite artist: Rihanna Status: Uncommitted Favorite subjects: History Shout-outs: Mom, Dad, Sister and Coach Devin Noel

12 | July 10, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature Community Music Center

Preserves Black music legacy

By Laura Onyeneho

For over four decades, the Community Music Center of Houston (CMCH) has kept the spirit of Black music alive in classrooms, sanctuaries and performance halls across the city.

CMCH is where legacy meets voice, history is sung and generations come together to learn, perform and pass it on.

Founded in 1979 by Patricia Johnson and Ron Scales as the “Society for the Preservation of Spirituals,” the orgaThe late Ron nization was born out Scales, of the Black church and Co-Founder, the realization that vital Community cultural treasures such Music Center as American Negro of Houston Spirituals were fading.

The effort to reclaim and preserve Black musical heritage took root with support from the music ministry at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, including engaged church members such as the late Reverend William A. Lawson, who soon became a part of the new advisory board.

By 1981, the organization had grown in vision and was renamed the Community Music Center of Houston. It began its first programming at the historic Blue Triangle YWCA in Houston’s Third Ward, where HISD teacher Charles Russ volunteered to teach music to children. The focus on youth instruction and community performance continues to define CMCH’s approach today.

CMCH’s early leadership helped shape its direction. Dorceal Duckens served as the first executive director, followed by Dr. Robert Henry, who introduced opera into the center’s offerings. But it was in 1983 that conductor and violinist Dr. Anne Lundy took the helm, bringing with her a dream of building a Black orchestra.

“I grew up being the only Black kid in orchestras. Even as a child, I was looking at conductors and thinking, ‘I can do that.’ I just never saw anyone who looked like me doing it.” After earning multiple degrees in music, she discovered a world of classical music by Black composers that was never taught in her formal education,” Lundy says. “I had three degrees in music and had never heard of William Dawson, Florence Price, or Margaret Bonds. I had to go dig that history out myself.”

Her chance encounter with Ron Scales around 1981 solidified her place at CMCH. “Ron had this gift for seeing things that others couldn’t. I told him I wanted to build a Black

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The Community Music Center of Houston has been uplifting Black musicians in the Third Ward.

Courtesy: CMCH

orchestra, and instead of brushing it off, he said, ‘That’s a great idea. Who can we call?”

Lundy became executive director and later music director, forming the Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra (SJCO) under CMCH in 1983.

The ensemble, made up primarily of African American musicians, offered three goals: to provide a space for Black instrumentalists to perform, to elevate the work of Black composers and to be a visible, inspirational presence in the community.

“We performed Handel’s Messiah that first year and the support from churches was overwhelming,” Lundy recalls. “Black churches were the lifeblood of this orchestra. Without them, we wouldn’t have survived.”

In 1989, Lundy made history as the first Black woman to conduct the Houston Symphony Orchestra, in a joint concert featuring William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony. “At the time, they had no Black members,” she says.

“That moment was symbolic. It told people that yes, we belong on these stages.”

It wasn’t long before people like Tweed Smith, a powerhouse vocalist and the only female member of the internationally acclaimed band WAR, became part of CMCH’s evolving story as an instructor.

“I had just come off the road, moved back to Houston with my two-year-old son and I was searching for something meaningful,” Smith says. “One day, I was walking and saw the Community Music Center. They were holding auditions. It felt like the universe was calling me in.”

She auditioned and was cast in a show alongside the legendary Jewel Brown, the only living member of Louis Armstrong’s band.

“That moment blew me away,” Smith said.

“I had just come from New York, where Ruth Brown told me, ‘You go back to Houston and find Jewel Brown.’ And there she was, starring in that show. I knew I was meant to be here.”

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