Strapped & Black Will more African Americans get hurt because Texas law allows permitless carry?
NEWS
SPOTLIGHT
EVERETT BRISCOE
MASTER P
The rapper offers advice on how to build generational wealth by thinking outside the box.
Suspects give their reasons for killing beloved New Orleans police officer.
Volume 90, issue 44 September 02, 2021
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Message from the Associate Editor recently honored local media for giving love and coverage to the school and nary a DeFull disclosure, I’m vaccinated. I was slow fender sports editor was listed. I still love you, to make that move, but after seeing the numTSU. But in the words of longtime Defender bers and the lack of negative side effects, and sports editor, the late Max Edison, “Y’all need after weighing the fact that I wouldn’t be able to go sit down!” to see in person my 80-plus-year-old father if I didn’t get vaccinated, it just made sense for me to do it. I’m not even trying to convince GIRD YOUR LOINS Aswad Walker folk who’ve decided otherwise. But what I While we’re breaking our necks doing the can’t understand for the life of me is being milk crate challenge, other folk are literally anti-mask; anti-something that could shield us from calling for war. GOP U.S. congressman Madison Cawnastiness. I mean, we’re the same people who avoid of- thorn is calling for violence if future elections don’t go the fice pot lucks because we don’t trust Karen the cat lady’s Republicans’ way, and saying there are plans for multiple cooking habits. We’re so anti-germ, our aunties and big Jan 6-style insurrections. Another anti-mask, anti-everymamas put plastic on all the furniture, then won’t let us one but angry white men dude was videoed calling for “20 sit on’em. We’re so afraid of catching something we won’t strong men” to violently remove school board members sit next to Sister Eunice at church, because even though who voted to protect children and adult school workers by we want to catch the Holy Spirit, we don’t want to catch it requiring masks. Just weeks ago, a Trumpite threatened to like her… hopping up, doing laps around the sanctuary blow up the entire U.S. Capitol. Not to mention the Jan. 6 and convulsing uncontrollably, yet still able to keep her insurrection and the white domestic terrorists who plotted wig from falling off. We don’t want to catch anything, yet to kidnap and kill the governor of Michigan. Every day, we won’t mask up? Somebody make it make sense. Becky, Todd and ‘nem are preparing, like Cawthorn, “to take up arms against fellow Americans” (i.e. Black and C’MON TSU Brown folk). They’ve already proven how serious they are. I have crazy love for TSU. Not only did I attend sum- Hello Texas open carry! So, while we’re fixated on Kanye’s mer programs there as a youth, not only did I work “Donda,” let’s do what scripture and old folk say a people there for a decade, my wife graduated from TSU. I made should do when threatened. Let’s “gird our loins,” i.e. do lifelong friends there. TSU has one of the most beau- something to be prepared. tiful college campuses (not just most beautiful HBCU campuses) in the nation, and some incredible programs, IN THIS WEEK’S DEFENDER students and faculty too often slept on by “mainstream” Exclusive interview with Master P rapping about our media outlets who are still in the habit of connecting need for generational wealth. anything negative in Houston with TSU (ex: a couple Texas is now a permitless carry state. What does that was murdered in the Woodlands, across the street from mean for Blacks? TSU). The Defender doesn’t ignore newsworthy stories Cypress Park HS has a linebacking dynamic duo ready about TSU that may be negative, but we “sho-nuff ” go to wreak havoc on opponents. out of our way to shine a light on all the positive (as we do with PVAMU). And that includes sports. Our sports ON THE WEB editors cover and shout-out every achievement com- Go to DefenderNetwork.com for the latest news, sports ing out of TSU, including and especially the sports that and entertainment stories impacting our people locally, don’t get the bigtime exposure: volleyball, golf, softball, nationally and abroad, and the best opinion pieces anybowling, etc. So, imagine my surprise when I hear TSU where from a Black perspective.
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DN News
Why?
Suspects reveal reason behind murder of New Orleans officer
Defender News Service
One of the two men charged with killing an off-duty New Orleans police detective at a Houston restaurant told investigators the officer was shot because it looked like one of the victims during the attempted robbery was pulling a weapon, according to court records. The detail was revealed during one of the court appearances on August 30 for suspects Frederick Jackson and Anthony Jenkins, who are both charged with capital murder in the death of Det. Everett Briscoe. Jackson and Jenkins appeared separately in Harris County’s 337th District Court. Both have criminal records and were out on bond at the time of the shooting. During Jenkins’ appearance, charging documents read in court stated the 21-year-old identified himself as the getaway driver in the Aug. 21 incident at Grotto restaurant on Westheimer near the West Loop. According to the documents, Jenkins told investigators that the 19-year-old Jackson and a third suspect committed the armed robbery that led to Briscoe’s death and the wounding of Briscoe’s friend, Dyrin Riculfy, who remains in critical condition at a hospital. After court, attorneys of both Jackson and Jenkins insisted that neither one of them pulled the trigger.
Everette Briscoe. New Orleans Police Department
Jackson and Jenkins remain behind bars as prosecutors try to keep them locked up without bond.
Meanwhile, police said they are still seeking a third person in the incident, but they consider the individual a per-
son of interest. Jackson and Jenkins claim they were driving the Nissan Altima used to leave the Grotto Ristorante in the GalleFrederick D. ria Area on August Jackson 21, and two other friends committed the attempted robbery and the shooting. Jenkins told investigators the Altima belonged to his girlfriend. Anthony The two victims Rayshard were eating on the Jenkins patio with other friends when prosecutors said two men tried to rob the group and opened fire. Investigators said surveillance video caught the men in robberies at several other locations, targeting victims with expensive jewelry and watches. Jackson’s criminal history, as well as the fact that he was out on the streets, have been called into question by some, Andy Kahan at Crime Stoppers is one of them. “What happened to Officer Briscoe and his friend was a tragedy, from our perspective so utterly preventable because we had Jackson,” said Kahan.
Jury clears cop who shot LaMarque man in back Houston Public Media
A Galveston County grand jury declined to indict a La Marque police officer who shot and killed a 22-year-old Black man last December. At a recent news conference, Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady said the shooting was justified. “I believe the evidence supports that it was justified,” he said. “And I believe that the decision that the grand jury made today was correct and just.” During the conference, Galveston County Sheriff ’s Lt. Mel Villareal went through body camera footage that showed the Dec. 9, 2020 encounter between officer Jose Santos and Joshua Feast. The video shows Santos getting out of his patrol vehicle as Feast was leaving a car on the 1000 block of Pirtle Street around 11:15 p.m.
La Marque police say Joshua Feast, 22, was shot and killed by officer Jose Santos on Dec. 9, 2020. Joshua Feast/Facebook
Feast appeared to be holding a handgun, but immediately took off running. That’s when Santos fired a single shot at Feast, who kept running, but collapsed shortly after on a driveway across the street. He was transported to an emergency room by ambulance and pronounced dead around midnight, according to police. Roady said even though Feast was facing away from the officer, his gun still presented a threat — even if Feast did not mean to point it as he was running. “The hand that held the firearm that officer Santos had already seen was now raised again and pointing in his direction,” Roady said. Police say they found a loaded 9 mm Taurus pistol at the scene, along with a loaded Smith & Wesson Springfield
.45-caliber handgun that fell out of Feast’s clothes in the ambulance. Following the shooting, prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump released an independent autopsy revealing that Feast was shot in the back, prompting community members to take to the streets in protest. Roady cited the community interest as a reason why he held the news conference regarding the grand jury’s decision. “This was a high-profile shooting, it drew a lot of scrutiny and public attention,” he said. “And we wanted to make sure that at the end of this investigation we provided the public with as much information as we could by law provide you and answer any questions as much as we can, so that the public can have confidence that the investigation was thorough and just and the right result happened.”
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Popular Instagram model murdered Defender News Service
Qiana Gibson-Simms waits for transportation with her twin children Kassydi and Karter after the family was rescued from floodwaters from Hurricane Ida which were surrounding their home on August 30, 2021, in Laplace, Louisiana. Getty Images
FEMA dispels rumors after Hurricane Ida Defender News Service
have been displaced because of Hurricane Ida. HowAmid the usual tsunami of social media misinfor- ever, what is known is that there are definitely people mation that sweeps through a panicked, exhausted in dire need of shelter immediately who seem to be population of survivors, the situation in Louisiana is looking for the government to do more than what no different in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. its offered. One such rumor that quickly gained momentum Evacuation orders were given last week, but those on social media stated that the without the means to do so — Federal Emergency Management including the homeless, low-inAgency (FEMA) was paying for come and/or infirmed — were evacuees’ hotel rooms if they called GET THE FACTS forced to remain to brave Hurricane FEMA’s disaster assistance hotline. https://www.fema.gov/ Ida the best they could on their own. The rumor was so widely spread, disaster/4611/rumor-control One family of six that fled their the agency created a “rumor conhome in suburban New Orleans trol page” on its website to address and debunk fears they will run out of money paying for hotels out of unconfirmed reports about the evacuation process their own pocket before they receive federal assistance in Louisiana, which suffered widespread damage that FEMA’s website makes clear is not guaranteed. to homes and other structures, power outages and With power outages that could linger for weeks and a massive flooding. tree that fell on top of their home making it inhabitIt was not clear how or when the “rumor” began able, they’re unsure how long they can last, ABC News that “FEMA is paying for hotels in Louisiana due to reported. the recent storm,” but the agency tweeted that it was The tweet from FEMA came after the New Orle“false.” Instead, the agency pointed people in need of ans Police Department began deploying anti-looting shelter to its website, where they “may apply for FEMA officers even though it was determined that much of assistance online.” They can also call a toll-free number the so-called looting during Hurricane Katrina came at 1-800-621-3362. because people were displaced and had no other means It was unclear how many families and individuals to feed themselves.
In the wake of Houston Instagram model Miss Mercedes Morr’s murder, her parents are shedding new light on her death. Jenae Gagnier, who was more popularly known by her Instagram handle, Mercedes Morr, was found dead inside her apartment in the city of Richmond, Texas, in an apparent murder-suicide. Police suspect 34-year-old Kevin Alexander Accorto killed the 33-year-old model before killing himself. The influencer’s parents, Mark Gagnier and Jeanetta Grover, spoke out about their beloved daughter in an interview with ABC 13. The couple reiterated how loved the 33-year-old social media star was and reflected on the circumstances surrounding her killing. “I know my daughter and when I got to my daughter’s house and it was locked up and she’s not answering my phone, Mercedes Morr which is not like her, I knew something was up, so I didn’t hesitate to kick the door down,” he told ABC 13. “And what I saw, I wouldn’t want any parent to go through.” He found her on the ground and initially suspected she might have fallen down the stairs accidentally. However, once he saw the body of alleged suspect Kevin Alexander Accorto, Mark realized “it wasn’t an accident.” Mark noted that there was writing all over the walls and that the alleged suspect was “twitching” and “gurgling.” The medical examiner has ruled Kevin Accorto’s death a suicide. Mark insists that Jenae did not know the alleged suspect. “I just knew that it was somebody that my daughter doesn’t associate with,” he said. “We keep her private. Not even her real friends really knew her name.” The Fort Bend County Medical Examiner confirmed her cause of death as homicide by strangulation and traumatic concussion. The alleged suspect’s death was ruled a suicide by multiple sharp force trauma. An investigation into the motive is ongoing. “I don’t know how he found her and I don’t know how all this happened,” Mark said. “That’s the only part that I’m waiting on. I know what happened. I know my daughter’s dead.”
VOLUME 90 - NUMBER 44 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Managing Editor ReShonda Tate
Chief Development Officer Emelda Douglas
Associate Editor
Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles
Education Reporter
Creative Director Michael Grant
Sports
Photographers Jimmie Aggison
Aswad Walker Laura Onyeneho Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2020 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288
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DN InFocus
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Strapped & Black Will permitless carry hurt African Americans?
By ReShonda Tate
Texans can now carry handguns in public without going through training or having to get permits, thanks to House Bill1927. But the new law has some worried that Blacks will pay a huge price. “This is going to boil down to people using their own discernment to decide who is the bad guy with the gun versus who is the good guy. And chances are the Black dude is going to always be seen as the bad guy,” said gun safety instructor Joseph Stevens. Also known as the “permitless carry” law, HB1927 allows Texans 21 and older to openly carry handguns without a license or training if they are not legally prevented from doing so by state or federal law. The bill was signed into law after a compromise was reached between lawmakers in the Texas House and Senate, which included getting rid of a provision that would have prevented officers from questioning people solely based on their possession of a handgun. Texas joins at least 20 other states with similar laws. Conservative activists have been pushing for such a law in Texas, but those measures got little traction in the previous three legislative sessions. In 2019, a permitless carry bill didn’t even get a committee hearing in the Texas House. Black attack Several years ago, in Dallas, a man named Mark Hughes legally carried his AR-15 rifle to a protest. When someone else committed a crime, the Dallas Police Department circulated a photo of Hughes on social media and referred to him as a “suspect” in the attack. Police later retracted their statement and deleted the photo after determining that Hughes had nothing to do with the attack that killed five police officers, but the move ignited controversy among Black gun owners who say they’re discriminated against for exercising their constitutional right to bear arms. “This is how they treat Black men with guns,” said Babu Omowale, cofounder of the Dallas-based Huey P. Newton Gun Club. “I was actually at the protest. I saw the brother with his gun, and it didn’t alarm me in any type of way because to me, he’s another brother expressing his Second Amendment right. But the police automatically view him as a suspect. But that’s how they view us — as suspects. They view us as possible criminals when we’re only applying our given rights as gun owners.” Black gun owners often shy away from legally carrying firearms because of the negative racial stereotyping by some police officers. There is no specific data about whether officers target minority gun owners at higher rates than white Americans, but Kevin Buckler, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Houston-Downtown, told the Texas Tribune that statistics showing racial disparities in police stops suggest that Black gun owners are at a greater risk. “Transparency about the presence of the gun during the interaction is needed from the citizen, [and] officers need to ensure that they give clear instruction to the citizen on movements and behavior expectations,” Buckler said. “Many [police] depart-
LET THE PEOPLE BE HEARD Readers weigh in on the new Texas law.
It’s gonna be open season on police officers, EMTs, deputies,….. just everybody who tries to help the helpless from a person who thinks they have rights over someone else.”
Ramona Dalton
Firearms instructor Wayne Thomas instructs women on the proper stance in firearms shooting. AP/Carlos Osorio
If you have to get a driver’s license to drive a car…shouldn’t you be able to at least get a permit where you get some type of training? I don’t think it’s a good thing for major cities.”
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner
ments have had success in early warning systems, which is an effort to identify officers early who have a tendency to escalate interactions or overreact and retrain them or terminate employment. It’s an effort to identify the ‘bad apples’ while maintaining trust and confidence in the officers who do their jobs well.” Standing their ground Another concern comes from gun-toting Texans who will use the ‘I felt threatened’ defense when pulling their weapon, particularly on young Black men. “This is going to be a nightmare,” Stevens said. “History has shown us through the likes of people like George Zimmerman, Joseph Dunn, and the countless ‘Karens’ who feel the need to insert themselves in people’s business, that Blacks get the short end of the stick when it comes to situations where a weapon is involved. This is going to empow-
House Bill 1927
House Bill 1927 was part of a slew of progun legislation that lawmakers passed this year. Other measures passed include bills which: Bar government contracts with those who discriminate against the firearm industry as a whole Remove firearm suppressors from the state’s list of prohibited weapons Prohibits state and local governments from enforcing new federal gun regulations.
er people and give them free reign to feel justified in drawing their weapon.” Some critics say minorities are shut out even more with the new law because buyers will still be required to pass a background check at a gun store and felons would not be able to carry. Molly Bursey with Moms Demand Action Texas is concerned that the bill will lead to guns falling into the wrong hands, especially since the background check is only required at federally licensed brick-and-mortar stores. “Many private gun sales are facilitated by meeting online. And folks can go around the background check system that way,” Bursey explained. The bill will still prohibit Texans from carrying without a license in places protected by federal law, which includes schools and airports. The Texas Tribune contributed to this report.
DOWNLOAD TEXAS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY GUIDE 2021
As long as it’s open season on Blacks in this country, it’s needful that we all carry to defend ourselves against the possibility of foul play.”
Bernice Dickey
My whole family got trained when 45 was in office. For me it’s a ‘stay ready so you don’t have to get ready’/ CYA type deal. I don’t trust these Texans.”
Kym Fisher
It’s going to be gunfight at OK Corral every day. Sad state of affairs. We don’t have a lot of choices if we want to protect ourselves, but it’s only going to get worse from here!”
Shirley Prejean Malonson
I see more police murders coming from this.”
Tiffany L. Warren
Stay stapped and have your video on when confronted....”
Lawanda Tillman
I think they should leave the gun carrying to the police officers. There will be a lot of innocent life loss.”
Carol Edmonds
I won’t lie - I’m terrified. But I’m going to train & strap up.”
Candice Johnson
8 | September 2, 2021 |
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DN InFocus
New Texas laws you should know By NNPA
The Texas Legislature is currently in its second special session, where lawmakers have been working on a number of bills deemed high priority by Gov. Greg Abbott: bail legislation, voting restrictions and teacher retirement pay, among others. The Legislature still has more business in coming weeks: redistricting and the allocation of federal COVID-19 relief money. Even so, there are already 666 new bills passed into law during the legislature’s regular session that went into effect Sept. 1. Here are some you should know. New Voting Laws. (No, Not That One)
While the main focus of this special legislative session has been Senate Bill 1 – a GOPbacked voting bill that would ban things like drive-thru and 24-hour voting – some less talked about voting laws have already passed. Among them: SB 1111, which bans Texas voters from registering using a post office box as their address; SB 1113, which allows the Secretary of State to cut funds for voter registrars who fail to remove certain people from the rolls; and House Bill 3920, which makes it harder to apply for a mail-in ballot for medical reasons. But there’s also other, less controversial legislation. House Bill 1382 is a bipartisan measure that allows people to track mail-in ballots online to make sure they’ve been received. HB 1128, meanwhile, makes it very clear who can be in a polling place during elections: Voters, election workers, poll watchers, election judges and law enforcement are all allowed. Election administrators and staff are, too, but only to drop off materials and provide tech support. Felonies For Protesters Blocking Roads, Hospitals
Texas protesters could face felony charges for blocking a roadway or entrance to a hospital. HB 9 was introduced after a protest in
A protestor holds a Black Lives Matter sign in Houston in May. Houston Public Media
California last year that resulted in anti-police protesters blocking two deputies from entering an emergency room. In Texas, protesters had faced a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail for that offense. The new law increases the penalty to two years. The law will also require 10 days in jail if the alleged offense is committed while a person is out on probation. “As a nurse, who’s worked in the emergency setting, seconds matter,” said state Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth, one of the bill’s authors. “A delay of only a few minutes to emergency care can mean the difference between life and death.” Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso, though, said the punishment is too severe. “What we’re doing here is creating a mandatory minimum that is not congruent to
anything else that we have,” Moody said. “In our law for first offenses, the only place we find something like this is when we have repeat offenders.” Banning ‘Critical Race Theory’
Teachers say they don’t teach it. Educators say most people — including critics — don’t know what it is. Still, this spring, lawmakers in Texas passed laws banning the teaching of critical race theory in school.
DN
Nikki Jones, who teaches African American studies at the University of California, Berkeley, described critical race theory as a way to understand how race has influenced the historical laws of this country — laws that justified everything from slavery to violence. “It’s a way to see race,” Jones said. “To see understandings of race, to see racism, in places where it may not otherwise on the surface of it be apparent.”
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DN Feature COVID-19
Rapper’s anti-mask/vaccine rant draws fire NNPA
In a culture that worships celebrities and amplifies their words and actions, the coronavirus pandemic has presented an opportunity for some to apply and others to confuse. Even after over 635,000 have died in the U.S. as a result of the coronavirus, some celebrities have continued to loudly protest against the advice of doctors and other medical professionals. Over 4.5 million around the world have died as a result of the pandemic. This week, anti-mask and anti-vaxxer celebrity Eric Clapton wrote a song entitled “This Has Got to Stop” to express his dissatisfaction regarding government mandates on masks. “I’m used to being free,” Clapton sings in his new track. A week before Clapton’s song dropped, rapper Busta Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, had something to say on COVID on August 24. “It’s called the God-given right of freedom, right? No human being is supposed to tell you that you can’t even breathe freely. F*** your mask… some of y’all might feel differently, but f*** your mask,” he said. His comments went viral and so did the
Rapper Busta Rhymes drew criticism for speaking out against vaccines and masks. Credit: Getty
reaction against them. On Roland Martin Unfiltered, the daily digital broadcast hosted by Martin, three Black doctors were featured to comment on what the rapper said and anti-vaxxer efforts in general. “A throat doctor later discovered that there were polyps in his throat, restricting 90% of his breathing and he had to have emergency sur-
gery.” <—You’d think Busta Rhymes would be more concerned about a virus that attacks your respiratory system given his history. Dumb ass,” wrote Reecie Colbert from her popular Twitter account @BlackWomenViews. “Confirmed: Busta Rhymes is better when he’s rapping too fast for us to really understand what he’s saying,” wrote Brandon Kyle Scott on
Let’s
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twitter. Then came the medical professionals. “It angers me, and it vexes my soul when I hear entertainers and other people who have mass followings say ignorant things such as Busta Rhymes. I was telling my students today about wearing a mask and getting vaccinated,” said Dr. Kristy McDowell. “If you don’t get the vaccine you are gambling with your life,” she added. Dr. Joseph Graves, Jr. said, “It’s one thing to do stupid things that put your own life at risk… It’s an entirely other thing when you take a public platform, and you use your celebrity to get up there to tell other people that it’s OK in the middle of the deadliest pandemic since 1918. Those are people who die because they listened to a video.” Kellen Squire, a Virginia emergency room nurse, wrote on August 29, “It’s not any easier watching unvaccinated people die. I see people sardonically joke, play stupid games, etc. But they almost all understand the magnitude of their f***up... albeit way too late. The look in their eyes. There’s no peace — it’s just panic until the end.” Despite misinformation, political discord and political policy changes, 51% of the American population is vaccinated.
10 | September 2, 2021 |
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DN Sports Texans defensive tackle Vincent Taylor recorded three tackles (two solo), a fumble recovery, a quarterback hit, a tackle for loss and a blocked extra-point kick attempt during the team’s preseason finale loss against Tampa Bay.
Texas Southern sophomore volleyball player Thalia Cordero-Moreno had a monster game in a recent win over Southern, coming through with 15 kills and 18 digs to help lead the Tigers to the 3-1 victory.
Sports Briefs Could Watson be on the move? If you believe the reports and rumors, disgruntled Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson may finally be on the verge of being traded. It has been reported that the Texans and Miami Dolphins Deshaun – Watson’s desired Watson trade destination – have been in serious talks, while the Carolina Panthers – the team Watson is willing to settle for – are also in the mix. But there are still so many moving parts. There is still the value concern with Watson still facing nearly two dozen civil lawsuits, a criminal investigation and a likely league suspension stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct with several massage therapists. Watson also has trade veto power. Reid stands in as kicker Texans safety Justin Reid found himself in the most unusual situation during the preseason finale and that was playing kicker after head coach David Culley decided to hold kicker Ka’imi Justin Reid Fairbairn out until the regular season. So Reid also handled kickoff duties and showed that he has quite a leg. “I had the time of my life,” Reid said. “I’ve been looking forward to this moment for so long, I can’t tell you how excited I was when the coaches said, ‘You’re up this game.’ I was like, ‘Really, I get one?’ They said, ‘No, you’re up the whole game.’ I was so excited to be out there. It was a dream come true.” Panthers soccer players honored Prairie View forward Lesa Griffin and defender Andrea Nugent were named SWAC Women’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively. Griffin scored the first goal Lesa Griffin of the season for PV and Nugent played a role in limiting the University of Louisiana-Lafayette to just seven shots on goal.
Head coaches Clarence McKinney (TSU) and Eric Dooley (PVAMU) at a news conference promoting this year’s Labor Day Classic.
MORE THAN TROPHY IS ON THE LINE
TEXAS SOUTHERN, PRAIRIE VIEW MEET IN LABOR DAY CLASSIC By Terrance Harris
Texas Southern football coach Clarence McKinney insists he was in attendance as a fan for the first Labor Day Classic matchup between the Prairie View A&M University Panthers and the Tigers of Texas Southern University at the Astrodome in 1985. But it wasn’t until this past spring when the rivalry game was forced to shift to March due to the pandemic that the Houston native realized in addition to bragging rights and a chance to get an all-important SWAC win, the victor took home the trophy. McKinney had the displeasure of watching the Panthers celebrate with the sizeable trophy on The Hill, commemorating their sixth straight victory in the rivalry. The Prairie View-TSU Labor Day Classic renews for the 36th year and kicks off the football season for both programs on Saturday night (7 p.m.) at BBVA Stadium. “We are excited about having the opportunity to play for the trophy, but not only are we excited about playing for the trophy of the Labor Day Classic, but Coach (Eric) Dooley knows this is our first conference game and it gives you a chance to become a leader within the (West Division) of our conference,” McKinney said during the kickoff luncheon. “So we are playing for a lot. I think it’s going to be a great football game and what better way to start the season than with TSU-Prairie View. Go Tigers.” While the Tigers still own a lead in the series, this rivalry has been all PVAMU in recent years with the Panthers having run off six straight victories. That means McKinney, who is in his second year, hasn’t experienced a win in the series year although his Tigers lost by only a point in a dramatic ending this past spring. “It’s very important because it gives the team a tremendous amount
of confidence going into the next game and the remainder of the season,” said McKinney, who is still looking for his first victory on the field as head coach of the Tigers. “But one game doesn’t make a season.” Having a healthy back and forth, however, does add to a rich rivalry. It seems that TSU is closing in on the divide with PV coach Eric Dooley acknowledging as much. “I do give (TSU) credit, but I like our football team. I like the guys we are bringing back and what we’ve been able to accomplish throughout the fall camp,” Dooley said. Both Dooley and TSU athletic director Kevin Granger agree that the proximity of the two schools has made this rivalry both special and unique. The rivalry often cuts through family and close friend lines. “I always tell people this is probably the greatest rivalry out there because many times husbands and wives, one of them attended Texas Southern and the other attended Prairie View, you have sisters and brothers,” Granger said. “Many times someone has degrees from both universities. So this is a rivalry like no other.” Dooley found himself in one of those divided homes during the recent recruitment of a student-athlete. The mom was a Prairie View graduate. The dad was a graduate of TSU. Dooley successfully landed their son. “My biggest thing to (the dad) was we are going to get you to wear that purple and gold this year because your son is at Prairie View,” said a smiling Dooley. “It’s just a family affair and everyone is going to be around and you know some guys have played against each other in high school as well, or they were teammates and now on opposite teams. It’s just a family affair.”
September 2, 2021 |
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DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Sports CYPRESS PARK LINEBACKERS
PERKINS, PEWEE WRECKING CREW By Jodie B. Jiles
All roads lead to the greater Houston area for Cy Park High School standout linebackers Harold Perkins and Owen Pewee as they begin their senior campaigns for a title. Perkins, who is a New Orleans native whose family relocated after Hurricane Katrina, has become the number one linebacker prospect in the country for the Class of 2022 according to multiple sources. Some experts even argue that Perkins may be one of the best linebackers to come out of the state in the past decade. At 6-2 ½, 210 pounds Perkins has the strength and sub 4.5 speed necessary to be considered a game changer anywhere you put. Hence the reason “Perk” received all-district honors as a linebacker and running back his junior season.
And if that isn’t enough for opposing quarterbacks to keep an eye on, Perk’s partner in crime in Cy Park’s linebacker, Owen Pewee, comes with it every single snap. The young man is non-stop. Originally hailing from Liberia, this 6-3, 190 pounds uncommitted prospect has moved up the ranks to become the tenth best linebacker in the state according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. In Cy Park’s opening 68-14 victory over Cy Ridge, Pewee made his presence felt throughout the game. One would have thought Pewee converted to a ball-hawking safety this season the way he was literally everywhere on the field. And did I forget to mention Owen can make plays as a receiver and lead blocker if need be.
STYLE OF PLAY (ON DEFENSE)
ABOUT HAROLD PERKINS
Perkins: I’m a dog. Naw, I’m a gorilla. I do everything, dude. Whatever you need, I got you. I love to hit and I love contact because that is what I do.” Pewee: I just do me and play my game.”
RUNNING STYLE
Perkins: “I just be playing and doing my thing, dawg.”
PLAYMAKING
Pewee: “It’s really just about going harder in practice. Then whatever you practice, it will show up in the game. So, I just try to work on my craft and let it do what it do.”
KEYS TO SUCCESS
Perkins: “God, number one; family, number two; and my work ethic. I feel like I work harder than anybody.”
PASS RUSHING
Pewee: “When I hit I just go and make a play.”
Harlold Perkins Owen Pewee
Instagram: @yk.d1perk Current Offers: LSU, Texas A&M , University of Texas (Austin), Florida and 32 others colleges and universities. Players He Studies: Budda Baker, Devin White and Derwin James Notable Awards: District 14-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore, District 16-6A first team all-district selection at linebacker and running back as a junior Shoutouts: “My team, my school, my family and my dawgs.”
ABOUT OWEN PEWEE
Instagram: @im_himd1o Twitter: @owenCertified Current Offers: Washington State, University of Houston, Arizona, Boston College, Colorado State…. Players He Studies: Devin White, Odell Beckam Jr. and a few safeties Notable Awards: District 16-6A first team all-district selection at linebacker, named one of the 12 underrated 2022 prospects worth watching in Texas by “The Athletic” Shoutouts: “God first and my people second.”
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON’S KOURTNI COLLIER SETS A TONE By Jodie B. Jiles
Kourtni Collier
Booker T. Washington senior middle-outside, six rotation volleyball player Kourtni Collier is one of the only returning starters on her team this season. And her ability to be a team leader and make plays at the net were on full display in Washington’s first win of the season against Yates. When Washington head coach De’Aundra Thomas was asked
about her returning starter Collier, coach Thomas stated, “She is an all-around player like six rotations defensively and offensively. She brings a lot to the court.” The Defender spoke with Collier after Washington’s victory over Yates to discuss her style of play, leadership and more. Visit www.defendernetwork.com for full story.
12 | September 2, 2021 |
DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Spotlight
MASTER P
FOCUSED ON BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH By ReShonda Tate
Percy Miller, better known as Master P, lives by one creed – underestimate him if you want. That’s been the story of his life and he’s always rose above the naysayers. If you grew up in the ‘90s, chances are you heard of No Limit soldiers. As the founder of No Limit Records, one of the biggest and greatest independent record labels, he forever changed the game and showed the world he’s a brilliant businessman. Disrupting the status quo and laying a path to generational wealth summarizes his trajectory. From clothing to film, real estate and reality TV, food products, mass media, and other business ventures, the rapper has set the example of how to build an empire and have a long career. Now, the New Orleans native, who attended the University of Houston, has his sights set on spreading his message of generational wealth. During a recent visit to Houston for a Chase Bank economic summit, the Defender sat down and talked with the media mogul. Defender: You come from one of the most notorious projects in New Orleans. How did you go from there to this media mogul who refuses to be put in a box and is trying to get our community to focus on generational wealth? Master P: I grew up poor. I realized when I walk into
these stores, there was no products owned by people that looked like me. I knew if we wanted to build economic empowerment, then we needed to put money back into our communities. And I think that that’s what we have to change. I want people to realize when they first see me they may think I’m this stereotype coming from hip hop. But I went to college. I understand the importance of education and the fact that we’ve got to give back. My greatest job now is being a servant. I am focused on the inner city and the elderly. I want to make sure that we protect the wisdom in our communities and our culture, but we also prepare the next generation.
Defender: Our community has traditionally been focused on immediate money and not long-term gains. Changing that mindset seems to be your mission. Master P: Absolutely. Without educating your family
and your kids, then your wealth will stop right there with you. People think it’s about money, but it’s also about all the failures that I’ve been through. When people look at me right now, they say, ‘Percy must be so successful.’ They don’t understand the failures that I’ve been through. And that motivated me to build generational wealth, not just for my family, but others. You have to explain in your home that everything is not going to be perfect but if we educate ourselves, it can make a huge difference. I’m a student of the game. I don’t care how much money I made, how much money I lost. Life was like a seesaw. You lose and get back up. Most of the successful people have lost money. They lost millions to get to billions. We are not programming our families to build generational wealth because we don’t think we can do it. We just want a good job. And I’m saying,
you know what? Everybody can’t be a basketball player or football player. But everybody can be an entrepreneurer. You can have a nice job, but you also could invest some time into something that you love. You have to be passionate about something in order to build generational wealth. It’s not about money. It’s about loving something and being passionate about it and not being afraid to get better. So that’s what I give to my kids and my family. Defender: What do you see as one of the biggest challenges facing the Black community? Master P: We are always consuming
products, but we’re not producing products and to build economic empowerment, we have to change that narrative. We have a lack of education. I want to change that. I want to make sure that we understand that if we educate our community and our culture, we can be better. We don’t have to sit around and wait on other cultures to take care of us, if we empower each other. Defender: Why did you decide to partner with Chase Bank to spread your message? Master P: Chase is trying to edu-
cate the people, help them understand finance and banking, let them understand credit. We don’t understand that. I tell people all the time, the most important thing that you could have is credit, but we need to educate our culture and our people, too. People are building empires over credit and our people, we in underserved markets where we just don’t, it’s a lack of education. We don’t know. When you look at the banking system, people are afraid. Everybody has a business, but they don’t know how to take it to the bank. I remember the frozen cup lady, Mrs. Irene. Everybody would go to her house, spend our 25 cents. Imagine if she had been educated on how to have an LLC or how to do a business plan, her kids could be running a frozen cup conglomerate. I started selling CDs and tapes out the trunk of my car because of the Avon lady. There was a lady in my neighborhood selling Tupperware. She had a legit business. But now we want to take these people and show them how to make LLCs, make corporations, go to the bank. Let’s get some money, and understand this financial business. Doing this can take the people at the bottom and change them and show them how to do this the right way. Read more of Master P’s interview.
Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images