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BLACK PROFESSOR SAYS BLACK WOMEN SHOULD DATE WHITE MEN P8
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Volume 87 | Number 38
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JULY 19, 2018 |FREE
NEWSTALK MAYOR TURNER decides on MLK parade
P2 NATIONAL BARACK OBAMA favorite president in poll
P4 SPORTS FINAL FOUR comes to Houston in 2023
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P10 TOP EVENTS
Sonny Messiah Jiles and C. Alicia Georges at the AARP reception.
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Queen Latifah helps filmmakers
The multi-talented actress, singer, rapper and producer is launching the Queen Collective to help women make films and ensure “that the queens have an opportunity.” Hear what she says about stereotypes and the Black experience.
Serena Williams sends message
Tennis superstar Serena Williams, a wife and mother, had a special message for other moms after her recent loss at Wimbledon: “I was playing out there for you today and I tried,” she said. See why Williams’ young daughter is her priority.
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Bodies at site believed to be freed slaves City supports one
Houston’s Black Heritage Society Parade, one of two celebrating the MLK Holiday, has the support of Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Defender News Services
Researchers in Fort Bend County now believe the 95 bodies found at a construction site are those of freed slaves forced to work in convict labor camps. “It’s huge. It’s unprecedented,” said Reign Clark, the site’s archaeological project manager. “This will change our understanding of the convict labor system that was used all over the state.” Fort Bend ISD crews came across the burial site in April while building a new technical school. Archaeologists have now found 95 bodies, each buried in its own wooden casket. Out of the 48 that have been analyzed so far, 47 are male and one is female. They are aged 14 to 60 years old. More than 100 years after they were buried, experts can still find signs of malnutrition and stress. “When you do activity over and over and over again, and
you’re doing heavy labor, it will actually stress the attachments where the muscles are attached to the bone. It will actually leave marks and actually change the shape of the bone,” explained bioarchaeologist Katrina Banks-Whitley. “We’re seeing a lot of [evidence] that shows they were doing very heavy labor from probably a very young age.” Convict labor camps were widespread after the Civil War. Freed slaves were arrested, then taken from state prisons and forced to work manual labor in places like Sugar Land, where sugar production drove the local economy. “It had the worst reputation of all the prison farms in Texas,” said sociologist Richard Vogel. Fort Bend ISD officials are currently working with the Texas Historical Commission to find an appropriate location to rebury the bodies. They believe all bodies will be exhumed in the next three months.
MLK Day parade Defender News Services
After years of two parades in Houston honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mayor Sylvester Turner has thrown the city’s support behind the parade hosted by the Black Heritage Society. “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” Turner said in making the announcement. Houston has long celebrated King with separate parades. One is called “The Original” MLK Jr. Day Parade and Holiday Celebration, which has been around for 40 years. It is sponsored by the Black Heritage Society and takes place in downtown Houston. The other celebration is called the MLK Grande Parade, which has been marching for 24 years and takes place in midtown. Turner said he chose the Black Heritage Society parade because it was the first in the country and is officially licensed by the King Center in Atlanta. He added that the city should only have one, unified annual parade to honor Dr. King’s legacy. “It was an act of courage that [the
mayor] decided to begin to try to pull these two MLK Day celebrations together and I was very proud of him,” said Rev. William Lawson. The date for Black Heritage Society’s parade has been set for Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in front of Minute Maid Park. “We’re excited. We are glad,” said Sylvester Brown, executive director of Black Heritage Society. Charles Stamps, CEO of the MLK Grande Parade, said it is still scheduled for Jan. 21. “We have constructed a working framework for the unification of the MLK parades in Houston,” Stamps wrote in a statement. “Our organization’s legal team is presently looking into whether government has any role other than support for any expressive activity (First Amendment U.S. Constitution), and the validity and authenticity of the supposedly licensing agreement that is in possession of the other parade. Once we have clarity on those two components, we will move (forward) with the unification framework that has been a work in progress for more than three years.”
localbriefs FUTURE DOCTORS GOING TO SCHOOL AT the University of Houston’s new College of Medicine will have a little less of a financial burden looming over them. An anonymous donation of $3 million will pay the full tuition for the college’s first class when students begin in the fall of 2020, according to school leaders.“Student debt is the number one deterrent for students when applying to medical school,” said UH President Renu Khator. “This generous gift will allow such students an opportunity to attend and ultimately lead the future medical workforce.”The school’s goal is to graduate at least 50 percent of students to specialize in primary care, officials said….A DENTAL FESTIVAL
WILL PROVIDE free dental exams, dental cleanings, oral cancer screenings, and nutritional teachings, to children in the Houston community. The Dental Festival 2018 will take place on Saturday, July 21st at St. Joseph Medical Plaza 2101 Crawford, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dr. Ka-Ron Wade established the event in 2016 to help educate and instill the importance of maintaining excellent oral health. During Dental Fest 2018, attendees will also receive free vision screenings, diabetes checks, cholesterol checks, HIV screenings, chiropractic examinations, immunization information, self-breast exam teachings, prescription drug consultation by licensed pharmacist and much more.……..
DEMOLTION AT BRAEBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS UNDERWAY, with site work and paving soon to follow as crews begin the process of rebuilding the flood-ravaged campus. The campus is one of four HISD elementary schools – Braeburn, Mitchell, Scarborough and Kolter – being rebuilt as a result of damages sustained last year during Hurricane Harvey. Braeburn’s $30 million facility will accommodate about 1,000 students. The two-story 106,700-square-footbuilding will feature open, brightly colored learning spaces, large windows, abundant natural light and extended learning spaces throughout the building for individual and group collaboration.
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Chicago police were under fire from protesters after the fatal shooting of Harith Augustus on July 14.
Chicago activist demands all footage from shooting Associated Press
A community activist who has pushed for more police transparency said that he has asked Chicago police for the body camera footage from all the officers at the scene where one of them fatally shot a Black man, 37-year-old Harith Augustus. William Calloway said a brief video released by police showing the view from one officer’s body camera does not answer crucial questions, starting with the reasons the officers approached Augustus just before he was shot. Calloway also said that a police spokesman’s explanation that Augustus was “exhibiting characteristics of an armed person” doesn’t justify stopping someone in a city and state where it is legal to carry a concealed weapon. Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said that detectives have found no documentation that Augustus had a concealed carry permit, but Calloway said there is no way officers at the scene could have known that when
they approached him. The video released by police did not include sound so it is impossible to hear what was said by either Augustus or any of the four officers at the scene. It shows one of the officers trying to grab the arm of Augustus, who spins and runs away with a clearly visible holstered gun on his hip. “He was having a civil conversation with the Black cop at first so we need to know what he and that officer were saying,” Calloway said. “There needs to be [footage] from four police officers with audio.” The police department did not immediately return a call for comment about Calloway’s request. At a news conference to announce the release of the 51-second video, Johnson said the way the technology works is that there is a “30-second buffer period” in which there is no audio before the sound is activated. It is unclear why there is no sound throughout the entire video. Calloway said he wants to give the police department a chance to release the rest of the videos, complete with audio.
CVS FIRED TWO PEOPLE WHO CALLED THE police over an argument about a coupon. Camilla Hudson posted the video to Facebook after she said managers at a CVS in Chicago claimed her coupon for a free product was “fraudulent.” She also posted a photo of the coupon and the address of the store. Hudson said two managers refused to honor the coupon, which she received in the mail, and became agitated, slamming a door in her face, telling her to leave the store and ultimately, calling police twice. Hudson recorded the manager, who appeared nervous and shaking……..THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WILL proceed with disciplinary action against the officers involved in the killing of Eric Garner. The department is impatient at the slow pace of the federal government’s civil rights investigation into the death of Garner in July 2014.The police department, acting one day before the fourth anniversary of Garner’s death on Staten Island, said it would no longer hold off on disciplinary proceedings if the Justice Department had not announced by Aug. 31 whether it will file criminal charges…….PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS BEING BLASTED from all sides after he openly questioned his own intelligence agencies’ finding that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election. Trump seemed to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s insistence that Moscow’s hands were clean. The reaction back home was immediate and visceral, among fellow Republicans as well as usual Trump critics. “Shameful,” “disgraceful” and “weak” were a few of the comments. GOP Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said Trump’s remarks make the U.S. “look like a pushover.” Trump’s meeting with Putin in Helsinki was his first time sharing the international stage with a man he has described as an important U.S. competitor, but whom he has also praised as a strong, effective leader.
Obama wins over Trump as best president Defender News Services
Millennials are down for Barack Obama. A sizable percentage of the age group, including those who range from 22 to 37 years old, have chosen Obama as the best president, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Overall, when asked which president has done the best job in their lifetimes, more Americans (44 percent) named Obama than any other compared with Bill Clinton (33 percent) or Ronald Reagan (32 percent). Forty-six percent of millennials believe Obama is the best, as compared to only 12 percent for Trump, the survey found.
A smaller group of 19 percent of Americans named Trump as best or second-best president despite what some critics view as his constant trash talking and racist rhetoric. Obama’s relevance hasn’t decreased either since he left the top U.S. post. Obama still has a strong base on Twitter with 101 million. The number makes the former president the third mostfollowed person on the social network behind Katy Perry and Justin Bieber. While Obama lost 3 million followers as a result of Twitter removing locked or inactive accounts from follower counts, he is still miles ahead of Trump who is the 18th most-followed person.
VOLUME 87 • NUMBER 38 JULY 19, 2018 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Videographer
Jodie B. Jiles
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Editor Max Edison Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard
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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Queen Latifah helping women make movies Defender News Services
Queen Latifah is putting “ladies first” in a new project. The award-winning actress and singer recently announced the Queen Collective to help women make films and ensure “that the queens have an opportunity.” In a partnership with Procter & Gamble, the initiative will find two unknown and diverse female directors, give them all the resources they need to tell their stories “from A to Z,” and then distribute the films. “There are just not enough female directors,” the star of films from “Girls Trip” to “Chicago” said of her push to bolster gender equality in the film business. “This is a small part of what we’d like to do to help change the disparity that we see out there in terms of all the dollars that are given to male directors, all the support that’s given to male directors, and everything we see, yet we’re at least half of who’s watching these movies and buying these products. “So, we want to make sure women have an opportunity… that the queens have an opportunity. The Queen Collective will make sure that happens.” Being a voice for women isn’t new for Latifah, who was among the founders of We Do It Together, the celeb-backed, “femalecentric,” nonprofit production company focusing on female empowerment in films, TV and other media. Her commitment can be traced back to her teen years as a rapper.
Queen Latifah, who wants to assist women filmmakers, starred alongside Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish in “Girls Trip.”
“I try to support anything I can in terms of making sure women have an opportunity,” she said. “That’s just who I am. Before I really knew what a feminist was, I was already helping to promote the feminist cause. “I was just a 15-year-old rapper. I had no idea that the fact that I wanted to be looked at with respect and treated as such – and that I wrote about that in my rhymes and made records about it that people heard – was really pushing that forward, affecting other young girls and women who felt the same way, and giving other women a voice who felt that they were a little voiceless in hip-hop at that time. Finally, there was someone that was speaking their language.”
Since Queen Latifah, 48, started rapping about female issues in the ’80s – “All Hail the Queen” came out in 1989, when she was 19 – she has been committed to see the world represented equally and realistically. “We are fighting to make sure everyone is represented in an equal way and for who they truly are, not some stereotype of who you are,” she said. “You can’t take a slice of the Black experience and say ‘This is all Black people.’ Too many times we’ve seen that. What we want to see is the entire circle, not a slice of the pie. And the whole might not taste good. Everyone is not a Steven Spielberg. For every Spielberg, there are 100 terrible directors, yet they all have an opportunity to make a movie. What we’re asking for is the same opportunity.”
what’sup A record number of Black actors and actresses (29) were nominated for 2018 Emmy Awards, shattering 2017’s record of 19. Among stars nominated for drama, comedy and musical roles are ANTHONY ANDERSON, STERLING K. BROWN, VIOLA DAVIS, DONALD GLOVER, TIFFANY HADDISH, LESLIE JONES, REGINA KING, JOHN LEGEND, ISSA RAE, TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, MAYA RUDOLPH, JEFFREY WRIGHT and LETICIA WRIGHT. “Saturday Night Live’s” MICHAEL CHE (also Black) and COLIN JOST will host the Primetime Emmys on Sept. 17 on NBC……..“Black Panther” stars LUPITA NYONG’O and WINSTON DUKE have lined up
follow-up projects set to hit the big screen next year. Nyong’o and Duke are in the cast of “Us,” the latest movie from “Get Out” filmmaker JORDAN PEELE. Story details are being kept under wraps, but it reportedly centers on two couples, one white and one Black……..JESSICA REID, the woman who accused CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD (born Lenard Larry McKelvey) of rape in 2001 when she was 15, is seeking legal representation and wants to reopen a criminal case. A judge, however, issued a statement saying the dismissed rape charge against McKelvey will not be resurrected and the law presumes him “innocent of the dismissed allegation.” The “Breakfast Club” host is
facing pressure over the allegation with a new petition demanding his firing from the popular iHeartMedia radio show……..Fifth Ward’s St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor JAMES WERLIN GLYNN, will mark its 124th anniversary with an album release concert by its male chorus. Titled “He Loves Me,” the album includes 10 gospel tracks from the 25-member male chorus. Recorded live at St. Mark MBC, the album is comprised of original quartet and traditional gospel music. The tracks were written by St. Mark Minister of Music Rev. ERIC WRIGHT, MELVIN MARSHALL and STEPHANIE WRIGHT and arranged by CAROLYN FIGARO.
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KIDS & MENTAL HEALTH
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By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
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hen it comes to seeking help with mental health, Black children lag far behind their white counterparts despite the fact that the number of mental health issues is disproportionately higher in Black children. A 2016 study from the International Journal of Health Services found that Black and Latino children made 47-58 percent fewer visits to a mental health professional than their white counterparts. This sets Black children up for what Dr. Marva Robinson, a licensed clinical psychologist, calls a “permanent domino effect.” “They usually end up in punitive systems – suspensions, detentions, kicked out of school, expelled or placed in alternative schools,” Robinson said. “That leads to a very negative trajectory from that point forward with higher dropout rates, lower paying jobs, [youth] more likely to end up in the criminal system and it just goes on from there.” There is a way to tackle this disturbing trend, by changing our mindset about mental health. The Defender looks at 10 things to know about dealing with mental health and children.
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Mental illness does not equal weakness Many African-Americans have been taught to embody strength no matter what and might misunderstand what a mental health condition is or refuse to talk about the topic. They might believe that a mental health condition is a personal weakness or some sort of punishment from God. African-Americans may be reluctant to seek treatment because of the shame and stigma associated with such conditions. “We’ve got to change our mindset where we shame people who are mentally ill,” said licensed family therapist Alva Baldwin. “We don’t shame people with cancer or diabetes. We shouldn’t do that with mental illness, especially when it comes to children. We have to get people to see there is nothing ‘weak’ about being sick.”
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Silence the shame With our history and what we continue to go through, African-Americans deserve mental health treatment and medication the most. Whether it’s Black families constantly struggling to live above the poverty line or Black men trying to live every day without getting shot by the police, Black people are under a constant barrage of stress. “We need to stop acting like feeling depressed or sad or helpless is something you should be embarrassed about or ashamed of and we definitely need to make sure children know that, so they’ll never have to consider killing themselves. No child should end their life before they’ve even started it,” Baldwin said.
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Suicide is not a “ In African-American c illness are regularly pe ly affect the Anglo populace. Acc suicides among Blacks under 18 r to 2016, compared to 64 percent f
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Don’t rely on just Religion is a large American families and do anything, he gave us doctors a professionals for a reason. Pastor spirituality is an important part of part of your treatment plan and th faith community can provide supp Be aware that sometimes faith co of distress and stigma if they are health or do not know how to sup these conditions.
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Seek help You want to turn to and faith for support, b seek professional help. When chil health care they need, it affects th children in high needs, low resou ly true. In the absence of the abili care, the solutions schools tend to “When students ‘act out’ in w room, and there is no counselor to
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How to talk to your kids
It can be difficu lt to find the w pression, anxiet ords to talk to your kids abou y and other men t detal disorders. B sation early ca ut starting the n give kids a he converalthy head star If you’re feelin t. g a little unsure with your kids about how to br , here are som ing up the topi e tips to get th c Find a conver e conversation sation starter going. from everyday eatures a charac life. A movie th ter with menta l health challe at as had a positi nges or a celebr ve experience ity who could make go ear all sorts of od entry points stereotypes in . Kids the school yard our child or th , so if you over eir friends usin hear g a derogatory te at moment as a rm like “crazy way to start th ,” use e conversation Finding the ri . ght words. Use age-appropriat cussing any to e language whe pic with your ch n ild and try to fin e they can rela d a frame of re te to. ferEncourage qu estions. Remin d the kids that g as a stupid qu there is no such estion. It’s impo rtant to listen to gement, and to refrain from te them without lling them how Use analogies. to feel. Explain to your child that an il o different from lness in the brai one in other pa n rts of the body parison, childr . By making th en may be able is to better unders ber is experien tand how a fam cing their part ily icular illness an ed to get better d how they can . be Tailor to their age. There is no age too young ion but how yo to start the conu talk to your 13-year-old w ou talk to your ill be different toddler. than
white people” issue. culture, suicide and mental erceived as issues that maincording to the CDC however, rose 71 percent from 2006 for all children.
t religion part of many Africand while we know God can and other mental health s aren’t medical experts. If f your life it can be a strong he spiritual leaders and the port and reduce isolation. mmunities can be a source misinformed about mental pport families dealing with
o your family, community but you might also need to ldren don’t get the mental hem for life. In the case of rce schools, this is especiality to provide mental health o fall back on are punitive. ways that disrupt the classo sit them down and dis-
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cover the underlying trauma that caused the behavior, the result is often that the child is given a time out, detention, or suspension,” Robinson added.
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Recognize the signs Many African-Americans have trouble recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions, leading to underestimating the impact. Some may think of depression as “the blues” or something to snap out of. Understanding the signs can help. “The trickle-down effect starts from understanding and recognizing the signs of mental illness,” Robinson continued. “…A child having tantrums is not being seen as maybe depressed, but just acting out for no reason or attention-seeking. It’s that initial stage where they’re told that their symptoms aren’t clinical symptoms, but bad behaviors.”
For example, you may describe bodily aches and pains when talking about depression. A health care provider who is not culturally competent and trained with young people might not recognize these as symptoms of a mental health condition.
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Know the difference between normal teen angst and mental illness Oftentimes, parents may dismiss their child’s mental issues as normal childhood behaviors. But it’s important to know your child’s levels of emotions. If they go to emotional extremes, continue to monitor them. It may not just be hormones. And above all else, listen to your kids. Baldwin said, “Sometimes your child will tell you, ‘Mom, something is wrong.’ As parents, particularly middleclass parents, it’s not unheard of to take the ‘what do you have to be depressed about?’ approach. You think because you have given your child a good life, there’s nothing to have any emotional issues over. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mental illness does not discriminate based on socioeconomic status.”
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Don’t let money stand in your way If finances are preventing you from finding help, contact a local health or mental health clinic or your local government to see what services you qualify for. You can find contact information online at findtreatment. samhsa.gov or by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).
Catch it early Advocates and professionals say that catching mental health struggles early and getting kids the support they need is crucial. “Punishing people for mental illness or addiction is both inhumane and ineffective,” Dr. Steffie Woolhandler author of the International Journal study, said. “The lack of care for minority youth is the real crime.” Get the right provider Conscious or unconscious bias from providers and lack of cultural competence can result in misdiagnosis and poorer quality of care for African-Americans.
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Black women hit hard by student loan debt Defender News Services
The nation’s student loan debt crisis has proved more than burdensome for Black women, who have the most outstanding student loan debt after graduating college, a new study reports. Black women have been pegged as the most educated demographic in America yet the acclaim has left many drowning in thousands of dollars worth of debt with no end in sight. A recently released report from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) showed that Black women average about $30,400 in debt by graduation compared to the $22,000 amassed by white women and $19,500 white men owe. The report, titled “Deeper in Debt: Women and Student Loans,” found that women hold nearly twothirds ($890 billion) of the nation’s $1.4-trillion student debt, while men hold $490 billion.
“Student debt levels have reached an all-time high, with women carrying a bigger burden of debt than men,” said Kim Churches, chief executive officer of AAUW.
Black women advised to date outside their race Defender News Services
The chorus of Black female thought leaders and celebrities pushing Black women to date white men has gotten larger. A Northwestern University professor added her name to that list and said she penned her latest book with the hope that Black women will begin to “intentionally seek to broaden their idea of suitable dating and marriage partners.” In her book “Interracial Relationships Between Black Women and White Men,” Professor Cheryl Judice shares the stories of Black women who are dating, married to or divorced from white men. She interviewed 60 men and women to get a feel for their experience in an interracial relationship, asking about the highs and lows, how race factored into it and what led them to date outside their race in the first place. “What I’m bringing up, for many people, is very sensitive,” she said. “They’re like, ‘Why are you putting that out there?’ Because I am tired of people being so miserable, that’s why.” By “miserable,” the sociology professor said she means single when people would rather be in a
committed partnership. She said discussions she had with her Black female friends and students led her to explore the topic of women having difficulty finding “the one.” She also drew inspiration from her time chatting with middle-class Black families in Evanston and other Chicago-area communities Judice stressed that the purpose of her book is NOT to tear down Black men as suitable partners, though that may be the criticism of some. Rather, she said there are just not enough Black men to go around because of factors like higher mortality and high rates of incarceration due to systemic racism. She also noted that Black men are twice as likely to marry outside their race while Black women were the least likely to marry outside their race.
“This debt is an albatross for many women as they embark on careers and work to support their households and families. And, it only gets worse over time when coupled with the gender pay gap.” College-educated Black women fare much worse under this financial burden, however, as they earn 37 percent and 34 percent less, respectively, than white men with degrees due to the growing gender and racial wage gap. Because of this, it often takes them longer to pay back their loans, according to the report. To help reduce the gender gap in student borrowing, the AAUW recommended increasing aid for low-income students, strengthening the Pell Grant program and providing loan forgiveness for students who pursue careers in public service, among other things.
Home ownership wealth gap widens among millennials Defender News Services
A new report shines a light on a generation of millennials who are less likely than previous generations to buy homes. The report comes from digital lender Better Mortgage and the Urban Institute, a nonprofit organization with a focus on social and economic policy. The authors of the report point to a troubling trend – lower homeownership numbers at this rate will exacerbate wealth disparities among white millennials compared to their Black and Latino counterparts, especially among the less educated. For most Americans, owning a home is a major factor in the accumulation of wealth. The overall homeownership rate for millennials ages 25 to 34 was at 37 percent in
2015, which is 8 percentage points lower than the rates for the previous two generations – Gen X and Baby Boomers – when they were the same age. Millennial home ownership rates plummeted across all races and ethnicities in 2015. The Hispanic and Asian-American rates fell to 24.6 percent and 27.2 percent in the same year. The home ownership rate for whites was at nearly 40 percent while for Blacks it was 13.4 percent. Barriers to homeownership include high education debt, high rental costs, tight credit standards for mortgages and a shortage of affordable housing in urban, metropolitan areas. In addition, millennials are delaying marriage and childbearing, two factors that increase the probability of owning a home.
SUMMER
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Harvey consumer issues program launched The University of Houston Law Center has received a community assistance grant to implement a two-pronged program designed to assist area residents still dealing with consumer issues related to Hurricane Harvey and to provide practical information to help people plan better for the next disaster. The Hurricane Consumer Assistance Program was started with a $205,000 grant from the Greater Houston Community Foundation, which was formed in the wake of Hurricane Harvey to assess relief efforts and distribute charitable and government funds to worthwhile programs. “Our goal is to help 1,000 individuals, but one of the main targets is to get the information out there through workshops and community presenta- cording to Marquez. The bulk of complaints now, tions to get people ready before the next disaster he said, concern unscrupulous contractors who strikes,” said Ryan Marquez, are unlicensed, unregulated a professor of practice who and work without performance is heading the project. bonds. UH Law Center students “A lot of people flooded the “There are many and volunteer practitioners market to make quick money people in need of will advise hotline callers and then didn’t do the work,” about their legal rights, rephe said. help who don’t know resent some people in court, Marquez advises storm victheir legal rights or send demand letters in an tims to insist on performance attempt to resolve disputes, insurance – contracting and the means to pursue and provide other legal aspaying for repairs piecemeal them. We plan to sistance. The student lawyers rather than all at once. “Do a can earn clinical credits for little at a time,” he said. “It may provide the help they their efforts. be a bit more expensive, but need to continue “There are many people you can limit damages from a in need of help who don’t con artist.” their recovery know their legal rights or Community workshops process and obtain the means to pursue them,” and presentations will provide said Marquez. “We plan to information on how to head off any legal recourse provide the help they need or limit such problems in the available to them.” to continue their recovery future as well as offer advice on process and obtain any legal other issues including resolving -Ryan Marquez recourse available to them.” gaps in property titles and other The number of landlord/ paperwork required to qualify tenant disputes has tapered for disaster assistance. off somewhat as many storm victims have found To seek assistance with a Hurricane Harveypermanent or temporary housing, reached settlerelated consumer problem call 832-842-4427 or ments on damages, or filed insurance claims, acregister here.
A new UH Law Center program will aid residents still dealing with consumer issues related to Hurricane Harvey.
classifieds The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD
(formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting Request for Qualification for the following:
Jail Diversion Program Medical Doctor/ Physician Assistant Services Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER, Purchasing Department located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7116 and/or via The HARRIS CENTER website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/, beginning Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFQ is Friday, July 27, 2018. Solicitation documents must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2018 in a sealed envelope marked "RFQ FOR JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM MEDICAL DOCTOR/ PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SERVICES” -DO NOT OPEN UNTIL TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2018 AT 2:00 P.M. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to James Blunt, Buyer II or E-mail questions to james.blunt@theharriscenter.org cc: sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org., or via fax at (713) 970-7682. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting responses to a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the following service: THE HARRIS CENTER EHR/RCM PROJECT
Macy’s relief fund designed to help employees in need Defender News Services
Macy’s, Inc. announced the launch of the North Star Relief Fund, which will provide rapid, direct financial assistance to employees during times of natural disaster or personal hardship. The North Star Relief Fund, a designated 501(c)(3) charity, has been established with a seed contribution of $2 million from Macy’s, with on-going support primarily from employee and corporate contributions. “Giving back is one of Macy’s core values,” said Jeff Gennette, Macy’s, Inc. chairman and chief executive officer. “We show up in times of need, and we take care of the communities we’re a part of. When
our Macy’s family is the community that needs support, our employees go above and beyond to care for one another, seeking ways to offer their support. This simple concept, driven by our people, is the inspiration behind our North Star Relief Fund.” The fund is designed to make it easy for employees to give back to each other when help is needed. The fund will begin accepting donations and applications for assistance this month. Any full-time or part-time employees who are actively employed by Macy’s, Inc. are eligible for assistance and can apply on Macy’s internal website or by email. Anyone may donate to the fund. For information or to make a donation visit mygiveback.benevity.org/community.
The Harris Center seeks to implement a comprehensive, integrated system that completely addresses all operational aspects of the agency. This includes clinic and community based services, crisis services, residential, inpatient and long term care all operating and being maintained within the Texas regulatory environment. The system must incorporate an Electronic Health Record (EHR) with revenue cycle management (RCM), support the administrative and business processes of each service area, provide decision support that incorporates accepted best practices and provide a multitude of analytic capabilities to enhance effective management of staff and program resources. Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center, Purchasing Department, located at 9401 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7279/7000 and/or via The Harris Center’s website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/ beginning Monday, July 23, 2018. A non-mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, 2018, 9:00 a.m-12:00 noon, CST, Conference Call details will be provided / Location: 9401 Southwest Freeway. Final Questions due from vendors Monday, August 13, 2018, COB. Reply to Questions on Monday, August 20, 2018, COB. Proposals must be signed and submitted to the Purchasing Department by 10:00 a.m. CST, on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at 9401 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 in a sealed envelope marked "PROPOSAL - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018, THE HARRIS CENTER EHR/RCM PROJECT”. Tentative Demos/Interviews will be scheduled the week of Monday-Friday, September 24-28 / Monday-Wednesday, October 1-3, 2018. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Sharon Brauner, C.P.M., A.P.P., Senior Purchasing Coordinator cc: Nina Cook, MBA, CTPM, CPPB, Director of Purchasing via E-mail Sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org cc: Nina.cook@theharriscenter.org. The Harris Center reserves the rights to reject any and/or all responses to the Request for Proposal deemed to be in its best interests, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents and are not obligated to accept all responses to the Request for Proposal.
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sports
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Serena sends message to moms after loss the rest of the day with her, so I don’t get to be with her the full day but a pretty good chunk out Tennis superstar Serena Williams of the day.” had a message for mothers after her Those who want to continue recent loss at Wimbledon: “I was playing pursuing their career after mothfor you today.” erhood can still do it, she said. Germany’s Angelique Kerber won “…I had such a long the finals in London, ending Williams’ struggle to come back and it was bid to win a 24th Grand Slam title and really difficult and honestly I eighth Wimbledon championship. feel like if I can do it, they can In an interview after the game, her do it. I’m just that person, that voice quivering, Williams told mothperson, that vessel that’s saying ers everywhere that she was playing for ‘you can be whatever you want them at Wimbledon and they can achieve to be if you want to go back to whatever they want to if they choose to work.’ “ return to work after having a child. She talked about playing Williams was one victory away freely now that her daughter is a from tying Margaret priority. Court’s record of 24 “And to me, after becoming Grand Slams. It was a mum, I feel like there’s no presher fourth tournament sure to do that because having since the September a child is a completely full-time birth of her daughter, job but those that do want to go Olympia, which was Serena Williams lost to Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon back, you know, you can just do followed by complicaand said it has been a “long struggle” coming back it. You can really do it,” she said. tions and more surgery. after childbirth. Alexis Ohanian, Williams’ Speaking at for you today and I husband, said he “couldn’t be Wimbledon’s Centre tried,” Williams said. “I more proud” in an Instagram post and that she was Court after her defeat, look forward to conjust getting started in her comeback. Williams said she was tinuing to be back out “Days after our baby girl was born, I kissed my happy to get as far as here and do what I do wife goodbye before surgery and neither of us knew she did. best.” if she would be coming back. We just wanted her to “It was obviously In a press confersurvive – 10 months later, she’s in the #Wimbledon disappointing but I ence later, the tennis final,” he wrote. can’t be disappointed, star said her priorities Williams, he added, “will be holding a trophy I have so much to look have changed since her again soon – she’s got the greatest one waiting at forward to. You know Williams gave birth to her daughter Olympia in September 2017. “My priority is my baby,” she said. daughter was born. home for her.” I’m literally just get“Like my priority is Toward the end, a reporter asked Williams how ting started so you know my baby. You know, just being with her and doing she’d turn her defeat into a happy story for her daughI’m looking forward to it,” she said. Asked if she was a “supermom,” Williams said she things with her and spending time with her it’s totally ter. my priority. But it’s weird, I set my schedule so I “Well, I think it was a happy story – I’ll probably was “just me.” have time. Like I train in the morning and I spend change the ending,” Williams said dryly. “To all the moms out there, I was playing out there Defender News Services
Houston to host 2023 men’s basketball Final Four Defender News Services
Mayor Sylvester Turner said he is “overjoyed” by the NCAA announcement that Houston has won a bid to host the Men’s Basketball Final Four in 2023 and thanks everyone who worked hard to make it happen. Turner recently travelled to Boston with representatives from the Harris County-Houston Sports
Authority, Visit Houston, Texas Southern University and others to make a final presentation to the NCAA site selection committee. “Returning the Final Four to Houston in 2023 will be a slam dunk. I’m overjoyed that the NCAA recognized this fact,” Turner said. “From our restaurants, to our convention center, hotels, and retail spaces, Houston is poised to provide a total fan experience.
“The 2016 Final Four in Houston was a huge success,” he said. “We will also host an NCAA Men’s Regional in 2020. So, when the Final Four returns, we will be seasoned veterans in hosting the thrilling Men’s Division I college basketball championship competition.’’ Houston realized approximately $250 million in economic impact from the 2016 event.
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JULY 19 | 2018 | DEFENDER
h.s.zone
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Young swimmers of all ages and skill levels learn a life-saving lesson at Hester House. Photos by Jodie B. Jiles
Kids learn to swim and more at Hester House two and a level three. Once a lot of the kids pass level three, they have the ability to join the swim team. We will recommend that they join a swim team or we will give them a program certificate. Hester House has served the greater Fifth Ward community Each class is 30 minutes long and lasts for four weeks. Classes are since 1943 and its services include fitness programs designed to taught eight months out of the year. keep the community healthy and active. Defender: What are some things young people learn in As part of its focus on health and wellness for all ages, a addition to swimming? five-lane, 25-meter pool is a place where inner-city minority Rose: Collectively the kids learn through socializing, buildyouth learn a life-saving valuable lesson – how to swim. ing up their confidence, plenty of The Defender spoke exercise and conditioning, teamwith instructor Tessa Rose work, cleaning up, and all types of about the Youth Aquatic discipline. Video: Hester House Program, which is part of Defender: Why should adult program the Harris County Aquatics parents encourage their kids to Program instituted by the late learn to swim? Precinct One County Commissioner El Franco Lee. Rose: The first reason is safety. We have a lot of kids who Defender: What are the components of the aquatic prodie from drowning and are afraid of the water. More kids are gram, including how often do classes meet and what’s the cost? going to waterparks. They don’t know how to swim. Safety is my Rose: The cost is free. The kids meet two days a week: sole purpose of why kids should learn to swim. Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. We have three difDefender: What are the basics for teaching a young ferent levels. We have a level one which is for beginners, a level person to swim and how early do you recommend getting them By JODIE B. JILES Defender
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started? Rose: With the aquatics program we start off at 6 years old, which is a good age because a lot of the kids don’t have that fear instilled in them yet. We start off with level one which is beginners by showing them how to blow bubbles with their head just barely submerged under the water. Then we go from blowing bubbles to submerging their heads under the water to gliding, floating, kicking and strokes. Defender: How do you teach a kid who is afraid of getting in the water to swim? Rose: First it’s a mind thing. I speak calmly with them. I actually just had a kid who came in crying and I just talked to him. I just tell them not to be afraid, they are in good hands. If they are afraid to go under water there are other methods of getting them to go under water, but we don’t give up. We ask the parents please keep bringing them because eventually they’ll get over it. We let the kids play. A lot of times it is up to the kid. Being afraid sometimes comes from them choking on water or falling in the pool and needing help. So sometimes when you get a child that has had those issues it is hard to get them pass that but just don’t give up. You have to be patient.
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 85 years
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DEFENDER | JULY 19 | 2018
defendernetwork.com
Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
AARP RECEPTION……..A reception was held at the Partnership Tower incarceration. HMAAC collaborated with California Lawyers for the Arts and to celebrate AARP’s National Volunteer President-Elect C. Alicia Georges Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts to offer the forum to the public which during the 68th Boule for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In this role, Georges included a keynote address by Kathy Griffin Griñan, breakout sessions and panel is the principal volunteer spokesperson for AARP and a liaison between the discussions featuring Texas State Reps. Garnet Coleman and James White, Alma board and those AARP serves. Georges, a professor and chair of the Department Robinson, John Abodeely, Gary Gibbs, Sandra Guerra Thompson, SaulPaul of Nursing at Lehman College of the City University of New York and lifetime and others. Additional attendees included Dr. Nathaniel Oyinloye, Sammetria member of the National Black Nurses Association, is also Goodson, Jackie Trescott, Dr. Elwyn Lee, Melanie Lawson an AKA. Event attendees included Bob Jackson (state and others……..TSU ALUMNI PICNIC…….. Defender TOP EVENTS (ABC13) director, AARP Texas), Charlene James, Defender CEO Texas Southern University’s Jesse H. Jones School of Business More photos on defendernetwork.com Sonceria “Sonny” Messiah Jiles, Councilmembers Alumni Association recently hosted an Alumni Picnic. Held on Amanda Edwards and Martha Castex-Tatum, Naomi the TSU campus under shady gazebos, old friends and classmates Cox Andrews, Dr. Bettye Davis Lewis, Shani Hosten, gathered to share in food and fellowship while reminiscing Taylor Anderson, Shandenia Piper and many more……..TEXAS ART about their collegiate experiences. JHJ Alumni Association President Verdis Wilson welcomed Deshara Goss, Tiara Willis, Clarence Brooks, Jared Lofton, Whitney FOR JUSTICE FORUM….. John Guess Jr. and the Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) hosted the Texas Art for Justice Forum, Moore, Cherrelle Stokes, Blake Green, Bernika Scott, Ronnie Alexander, Megan a community conversation on ways the arts and artists can use their talents to Martinez, Keeyshia Barnes, Mark Terry on grill duty, Jasmine Belton, Justin Dorsey and scores more. support criminal justice reform and the human rights of individuals impacted by
Sonceria “Sonny” Messiah Jiles, C. Alicia Georges
Kathy Griffin Griñan, John Guess Jr.
Ronnie Alexander, Verdis Wilson
Naomi Cox Andrews, Charlene James
Alissa McCain, SaulPaul
Jared Lofton, Clarence Brooks, Blake Green
Henri Henson, Andreya Henson
Ann Graham, Sammetria Goodson
Deshara Goss, Tiara Willis
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