09.11.2025_Defender-e-FULL

CONGRESSIONAL

The th th 18 & 9 Districts The same for now, changes in 2026.

NEWS

PROFILE

DEXTER MC CCOY

D. SIMMONS

The Fort Bend County Commissioner brings spry leadership to his role.

The Houston designer debuts at New York Fashion Week.

Volume 94, issue 47 September 11, 2025

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DN To the POINT

The latest reforms signal both opportunity and controversy, demanding close attention from communities across the state. Credit: Getty Images

Message from the Reporter Texas lawmakers reshape STAAR testing

This special session serves as a cautionary tale. While Texas Democrats highlighted concerns about fair representation and ethics, the imbalance of power in the legislature rendered their actions largely performative.

For the GOP, it was a showcase of political discipline.

For Democrats, it was a moment of visibility but not victory. As Texas heads toward the 2026 midterms, the real battles may not be won in Austin chambers but in the court of public opinion and at the ballot box.

The Texas Legislature’s adoption of House Bill 8 marks a pivotal moment in public education, aiming to replace the high-stakes STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) exam with three shorter assessments spaced across the school year.

First administered in October, January and late spring, these tests are intended to reduce stress on students and offer educators timely feedback to guide instruction, a shift from Tannistha Sinha the “one-test-does-it-all” accountability.

However, critics argue this reform may fall short of its Houston launches bin pickup program promise. By retaining TEA’s centralized control, includHouston’s “Can Blitz,” unveiled in the first week of Seping responsibility for writing, administering and scoring tember, is a pragmatic response to a basic, yet persistent the exams, HB 8 risks perpetuating the very distrust and service failure: Residents waiting weeks, or even months, institutional opacity that fueled STAAR’s backlash. While for a simple trash can. This program allows Houstonians to Democrats warn that testing burdens may even increase, pick up new or replacement black bins at three convenient proponents like State Rep. Brad Buckley insist that this model locations citywide, Monday through Friday (8 am- 4 pm), offers greater transparency and continuity. with additional hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each Ultimately, HB 8 reflects both progress and peril. Shifting month (9 am - 1 pm). toward a more diagnostic and responsive assessment system It’s a step in the right direction, empowering residents, is commendable, but success hinges on maintaining rigor- cutting red tape and signaling that the city now recognizes ous oversight and ensuring equity. Without these safeguards, what should have been obvious long ago. reform risks becoming little more than rebranded standardMayor John Whitmire and Solid Waste Management ization. The hope now lies in Texas following through with Director Larius Hassen clearly heard the public: Extended thoughtful implementation, not just a format change. waits are unacceptable. With 1,596 new homes added and more than 7,000 under construction, demand for service GOP secures wins, Democrats tout is surging. symbolic fight Residents who had been delayed for weeks, like those As the curtain fell on Texas’s second special legislative living without a bin, resorting to neighbors or relatives, can session in early September 2025, the picture that emerged finally breathe easier. was unmistakable: Republicans, unbowed, secured victory That said, picking up your own trash cannot replace a proon a slate of conservative priorities, while Democrats became fessional delivery system; it should complement it. The city increasingly marginalized. must continue modernizing operations, as Hassen promises, The GOP pushed through redistricting that aims to flip aiming for systemic improvements in six to nine months. five Democratic U.S. House seats, tightened penalties for “Can Blitz” may be a timely relief, but it should be viewed as lawmakers who flee the state to deny quorum and enacted a temporary fix, not the standard. The real measure will be measures ranging from abortion-pill restrictions to limits on whether this becomes a shortcut, rather than one step toward transgender restroom access, all underscoring Republicans’ a smoother, more responsive Houston sanitation service. legislative dominance.

Democrats’ quorum-breaking protest, a high-profile fiasco ON THE WEB that captured national attention and galvanized their base but • Black women are choosing safe love — And that’s ultimately failed to alter outcomes. The strategy reinforced revolutionary. messaging over legislative impact: It was a symbolic gesture • Black educators, others reimagine future of education. of resistance rather than a practical deterrent.

• Top 5 things to prepare for Houston night life scene.

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DN News

‘Born to be criminal’ Trump comment sparks national outrage

other U.S. cities with Black mayors, many President Donald Trump ignited a contend it is a safe assumption to make that firestorm of criticism following remarks on Trump’s words are aimed at Black youth Sept. 2, 2025, regarding individuals arrested nationally. during a federal operation in Wash“When the president from the ington, D.C. In a press briefing, Oval Office calls you ‘natural he described those detained as born killers,’ children who “hard-core criminals,” declarare ‘born to be violent,’ I say ing: “They were born to be this: I respect the office, but criminals, frankly. … They I will never honor ignowere born to be criminals.” rance,” said Moore.

Though Trump did not Baltimore Mayor Branexplicitly reference any racial don Scott, while not group, Maryland Governor naming Trump directly, Wes Moore interpreted the Gov. Wes Moore countered that “our young comment as racially charged. people are not born to Moore condemned the statebe criminals. They’re ment as drawing from an “Archie Bunker resources to invest in, not problems to be mindset,” calling it a harmful dog-whistle. solved.”

Moore has received pushback for his Black people nationwide are condemning social media post that suggests Trump was Trump’s comments. This includes Houstospeaking directly about Maryland youth. nian Maurie Spooner, who said: “Donald However, with Trump’s talk of sending the Trump’s latest comments aren’t just ‘tough same militarized police into Chicago and talk on crime.’ They are a dog whistle with

By Reasla Teague

a clear target: Black children. When he says kids are ‘born to be criminals,’ he strips away their innocence, their humanity and their right to simply be kids.”

Lawrence Ware, co-director of the Oklahoma State University Africana Studies Program, asserts Trump’s words reflect an embrace of “racial essentialism,” the belief that racial groups have inherent, unchanging biological characteristics.

“So, the reason why Black men are put in prison at alarming rates is because… we are born into a world that undereducates and over-surveils Black people,” wrote Ware in a recent Roots.com article. “Instead, it is because… we were born with a genetic predisposition for criminality.”

Though Ware stopped short of accusing Trump of calling for a genocide against Black people, he suggested Trump’s language came close.

“What [Trump] said adheres to a long history of people using words like this to justify engaging in genocide,” Ware added.

President Donald Trump is coming under fire for his recent ‘born to be criminal’ remarks, many believe are dog whistles, further denigrating Black people, and Black youth, in particular. Credit: Annie Spratt/ Unsplash.

Redistricting battle engulfs Ft. Bend

“With a Republican majority, the time for The Fort Bend County political drama action is now,” said Fort Bend County GOP would be comical if not for its serious Chair Bobby Eberle. “That includes estabimplications. lishing fair and balanced voting maps and In April, Fort Bend County Judge KP correcting the obscenely gerrymandered George was arrested on two felony counts of lines forced on the county by Democrats money laundering tied to alleged wire fraud in 2021.” and tampering with a campaign finance But Commissioner Dexter McCoy sees report. Last fall, he was indicted on a misit differently. demeanor for allegedly staging rac“The whole process in and of ist attacks against his campaign. itself is illegitimate. We redraw Democrats condemned lines after a census, which only George’s actions. He responded happens every 10 years. We’re by switching parties. in the middle of a decade,” “The Democratic Party has said McCoy. “Their aim is to become one of corruption, try to make this a red county, radical political ideology and which it no longer is.” positions that do not reflect my values,” George said in a Fort Bend County Wrong focus statement. “Like President KP George.

McCoy says the drama Trump, I will stand up and Credit: Fort Bend distracts from residents’ fight against the radical leftCounty. needs. ists who seek to tear down “These are sad times. the values we hold close to People are putting their own our heart.” interest over the good of our community,” he said. “Now our county judge, Why it matters in an act of desperation, has decided to switch As County Judge, George presides over parties and wreak havoc. It’s unacceptable.”

Fort Bend’s five-member Commissioners He also believes George is being used.

Court, which oversees operations and the “We saw the general counsel for the state budget. Before his switch, Democrats held Republican Party say, ‘Application rejected; a 3-2 advantage. Now Republicans hold the the party will not be a safe haven for someedge—critical to GOP hopes of redrawing one trying to escape prosecution.’ The chairvoting maps in their favor. man reiterated the same thing,” McCoy said,

By Aswad Walker

noting that George’s seat is now a GOP target.

“KP George has made a political deciS ome Republicans echo ed that sion to switch parties and weaponize his skepticism. position to punish the very constitu“I was one of the people tarents who voted him into office,” geted in [George’s] smear Garner said. “He is enduring campaign,” said Trever a fall from grace, hoping Nehls, who ran for county that doing the bidding judge in 2022. “This isn’t of Commissioner Andy a shift in beliefs. It’s a calMeyers will save an already culated move to escape dead career. A teachable accountability.” moment for us all.”

McCoy said Republicans initially called for George Moving forward to resign, but “it stopped in Fort Bend County McCoy argues demoFebruary. Their tone shifted Justice of the graphics are against the to, ‘We need to take back Peace Roderick GOP. our county.’ And when he Garner doesn’t “Our community is announced he was switchmince words about not what it used to be 10, ing, there was no outright his thoughts of KP 15 years ago. It’s tremenrejection—just a ‘prove it.’”

George’s partydously diverse, well-eduswitching. Credit: cated, and far more blue,” Lessons Fort Bend County. he said. “I believe it will be Republicans, Democrats impossible for my GOP and independents alike critcolleagues to draw maps icize George for lacking integrity. that produce a Republican majority.”

“The Republican Party stands for Despite frustrations, McCoy sees hope accountability, transparency and service,” in residents. said Daniel Wong, a former Sugar Land city “I’m proud of what our residents have council member running against George been doing. They’ve been showing up in the GOP primary. “It is not a refuge for to Commissioners Court and raising career politicians looking to escape the con- their voices in opposition,” he said. “The sequences of their actions.” overwhelming majority are opposed to Justice of the Peace Roderick Garner said this—Democrats, Independents and George is sabotaging himself.

Republicans.”

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DN News FORT BEND LEADER SERIES

Dexter McCoy Brings spry leadership to Fort Bend County

By Tannistha Sinha

Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy now stands at the intersection of the county’s past and future.

As the youngest commissioner, now in his late 30s, serving one of Texas’ most diverse counties since January 2023, McCoy brings with him a politics that is shaped by lived experience experience.

Raised in rural Louisiana by his grandparents, McCoy grew up in abject poverty. His mother gave birth to him at 15 and his father spent much of his life incarcerated. When his family moved to Fort Bend, the contrast was stark.

For the first time, he experienced a community rich in resources and diversity. That shift drives his political mission today: To ensure no family in Fort Bend lives as his did in Louisiana.

Approach to governance Before becoming commissioner, McCoy served as chief of staff to Fort Bend County Judge KP Geoorge, where he first grasped the coun nty’s sweeping responsibilities, from m flood control to emergency servicess.

“What I learned iin that role is the critical nature of o the county’s business,” McCoy saiid. “We are the people who keep flood waters out of people’s homes, m make sure that our emergency medical services are appropriately funded an nd that we have ambulances that can n respond.”

The experien nce sharpened his undeerstanding of how w disparities in loccal government in nvestment perppetuateinequali t y. R o a d s riddled with potholes in his own Mission

Bend neighborhood, while other areas thrived, showed him that leadership at the county level could mean the difference between neglect and responsive service.

Policies rooted in access McCoy has advanced initiatives that reflect his values. He championed paid parental leave for county employees, inspired by his own time at home after the birth of his two young daughters. He also launched “Fit Fort Bend” in partnership with Fit Houston, a program promoting health and wellness among residents, particularly seniors.

Another signature project is the African American Heritage Monument, which he sees as a lasting investment in representation and history. And for young people, McCoy has prioritized expanding paid internships, emphasizing that unpaid opportunities often exclude those who cannot afford to work for free.

Fort Bend’s rapid population growth, projected to surpass one million residents by next year, poses challenges of affordability, infrastructure and equity. McCoy points to the county’s imbalance between residential development and commercial investment, which places a disproportionate tax burden on homeowners.

“We’ve been trying to make sure that we work with our development community…that

A lot of folks who don’t like that and are actually angry with that because it is a threat to their power. People are trying to turn back the hands of time and redistrict, change the rules of the game.”

DEXTER McCOY

VOLUME 94, NUMBER 47 - SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender News- paper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

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they’re also building new homes, investing in commercial real estate, bringing jobs here,” he said.

McCoy’s vision includes expanded transportation: Dedicated bus rapid transit lanes along toll roads, transit-oriented developments in commercial hubs and leveraging the county’s three major rail connectors to attract industry.

Navigating redistricting McCoy’s tenure comes at a politically charged time. Commissioners Court has become a microcosm of Texas’ broader polarization, with debates over spending and redistricting fueling division.

“We have some recalcitrant members, for whom no amount of reason is gonna work,” he explained. “They are hell bent on exacting revenge. The county judge is trying to save himself from being sent to jail. And so he’s gonna do whatever he can to position himself for a pardon from the governor. It’s hard to reason with that.”

He argues that the redistricting battle in Fort Bend is part of a broader effort to dilute the political power of communities of color.

“We live in among the most diverse communities in the country and our leadership is starting to reflect that diversity,” McCoy said.

“A lot of folks who don’t like that and are actually angry with that because it is a threat to their power. People are trying to turn back the hands of time and redistrict, change the rules of the game.”

Legacy Describing his leadership style as collaborative and rooted in humility, McCoy says he embraces what he doesn’t know, asking questions and seeking mentors. His time in the Barack Obama administration influenced him deeply, as did guidance from the late Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

“I want my legacy to be that there were people who did not have access to the tools that they needed to determine their own level of success and they got it,” he said.

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Content Manager Terrance Harris

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho

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

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DN News Voting Rights Act faces extinction at 60

By Aswad Walker

The Voting Rights Act (VRA), signed in 1965, is often called the most effective piece of legislation in U.S. history. Yet, as the nation marks its 60th anniversary, the landmark law may not live to see 61.

Once thought untouchable, the VRA is now under assault from conservative lawmakers, right-wing billionaires and a U.S. Supreme Court increasingly hostile to voting protections.

Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, put it plainly.

“The Voting Rights Act is in grave danger…

It’s on the verge of being killed, murdered, whatever verb you want to use,” said Albright.

“There have been people, ever since it was passed 60 years ago, trying to do away with it.

One of those people is actually John Roberts, who’s currently the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.”

For many, the thought of the VRA’s demise once seemed impossible—just as Roe v. Wade and Affirmative Action once seemed permanent. Today, both are gone. The VRA could be next.

Under attack since Day 1

The VRA was never universally accepted.

As Albright noted, “The reason why it’s been

under attack since 1965 is the same reason that it took so long to even get the act passed…

There have been people who never felt that democracy should extend to Black folks in this country.”

The Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County v.

Holder decision gutted the VRA’s preclearance provision, which required states with histories of racial discrimination to get federal approval before changing election laws. That opened the door to a wave of restrictive laws in Texas and other Southern states.

“Now they’re looking at getting rid of the parts of the Voting Rights Act that basically

give any kind of teeth to the ability to deal with racial gerrymandering,” Albright explained.

“We could be looking at the last days and weeks of what many have called the most effective legislation this country has passed.”

NAACP leaders Derrick Johnson and Gary Bledsoe warned in a joint statement: “Alabama authorities blatantly ignored the Supreme Court’s directive to create a minority opportunity district. Across the nation, including Texas, efforts to dismantle minority-held electoral seats have emerged in Baytown, Galveston, Tarrant County, Fort Bend County, and even the Texas Legislature.”

Apathy not the issue

Some argue voting rights rollbacks are compounded by voter apathy. Albright rejects that narrative.

“We at Black Voters Matter don’t refer to it as apathy,” stated Albright. “Because apathy presumes the absence of passion. And in our experience, even when folks aren’t voting, it’s not because they’re not passionate. They’re frustrated because they don’t see the system producing the things they’re passionate about.”

That frustration, however, strengthens suppression efforts like gerrymandering, voter roll purges, and restrictive ID laws.

Dr. Carla Brailey, senior fellow at Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan Institute, added, “I really think that we have never really arrived at experiencing full democracy.

But the Voting Rights Act was creating a path for us… If the Voting Rights Act just disappears, I don’t even want to really think about that.”

Implications

NAACP national president Derrick Johnson at the podium with Texas NAACP president Gary Bledsoe (right) during a Sept. 2017 visit to the NAACP Houston Branch’s headquarters. Photo by Aswad Walker.

Nowhere are the stakes clearer than in Texas. The state operates under a discriminatory congressional map, as Johnson and Bledsoe explained.

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DN News HOUSTON CONGRESSIONAL LANDSCAPE

Congressman Al Green vows to fight “cracking and packing” that he says weakens Black and Latino representation.

Credit: Jimmie Aggison/ Houston Defender

The th th 18 & 9 Districts The same for now, changes in 2026.

By Tannistha Sinha

T

he death of Houston Congressman Sylvester Turner in March this year set in motion a political reshuffling that triggered a special election in November.

Congressional District 18, long considered a pillar of Black political power in Texas, is entering a period of transition shaped not only by Turner’s passing but also by mid-decade redistricting that has redrawn the lines of representation.

Gov. Greg Abbott called an unusual offyear special election for Nov. 4 to fill Turner’s unexpired term until January 2027.

Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, the county’s chief election official, says the immediate task is ensuring voters understand the distinction between the “current” and “new” versions of District 18.

“The congressional district, as it stands

today, remains the same didn’t move my house,” and will remain the same if Green said. “It would not LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO there is a runoff,” Hudspeth make sense for me to run VOTE told the Defender. in this new Ninth ConShe outlined the critical gressional District. I have deadlines, which started no relationships politically with a Sept. 3 filing deadline with the people in the new and will be followed by early Ninth. The new 18th is voting from Oct. 20-31. The where I have my home and EARLY VOTING last day to register to vote is my constituents.”

Oct. 6.

The redistricting also Hudspeth added that weakened Latino voting her office works with comstrength in District 29 by munity groups like the shifting large portions League of Women Voters northward, a maneuver and Houston Area Urban Green described as unlawLeague, social media, high schools, colleges, ful “cracking and packing” that diminishes and local media to inform voters, hold bal- representation for both African Americans lot-demonstration events and prepare sam- and Latinos. He has vowed to continue ple ballots by late September. challenging the maps in court under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, although he The redistricting battle acknowledged litigation could take years.

What complicates the future of District 18 is the new congressional map, drawn in Al Green’s calculations a special session at the urging of President Green, who has represented the Ninth Donald Trump.

Congressional District since 2005, has faced Under the new map, which Abbott speculation that he would jump into this signed into law in late August, District 9, year’s special election to succeed Turner. He historically represented by Congressman has ruled that out.

Al Green, was carved up and overlaid with For context, the new 18th congressional portions of District 18. Green’s home and seat will not technically exist until the 2026 much of his base in Sunnyside, South Park, elections, but the decision for candidates Hiram Clarke and parts of Fort Bend and comes later this year.

Brazoria Counties were shifted into the “Should I choose to run for Congress and newly numbered CD 18.

I’m telling you my name will be on the bal“They didn’t move my constituents, they lot, it will be in November that I will get into

Oct. 6 Oct. 20-31

The th New 9

By ReShonda Tate

For decades, Houston’s 9th Congressional District has been a beacon of Black political influence — a majority-Black seat reliably represented by U.S. Rep. Al Green. But the redrawing of Texas’s political map paints a very different future, raising urgent questions over representation, justice and democracy.

A district transformed

the race as I always have,” Green explained.

Remembering a legacy

The transition has stirred debate over the legacies of Turner’s and the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Lee represented District 18 for nearly three decades before her passing last year. Green cautioned against voices that diminish their impact.

“Anybody who knows Sheila Jackson Lee knows that she worked until she took her last breath,” Green said. “He [Turner] was on the job working…you are denying Black history when you start to demean them. We cannot destroy Black history.”

That history raises the stakes of who will next represent Houston’s historic Black congressional seat, which Barbara Jordan first carried into national prominence in 1972.

What voters should expect

For voters, the short-term focus is on the November special election to complete Turner’s term. The winner will serve until January 2027. A runoff will be held in early 2026 if no candidate secures a majority.

In the longer term, the electorate will face a reconfigured landscape. CD 18 will absorb much of Green’s old CD 9, while CD 9 shifts eastward into Liberty County, an area with little prior political connection to Houston’s African American base.

Hudspeth emphasized that voter access remains stable under the countywide voting center system adopted in 2019, allowing residents to cast ballots at any polling place.

The new 9th has shifted from southern Houston and its suburbs to east Harris County and into heavily Republican Liberty County.

Almost 70% of Green’s district has shifted to the 18th. What was once a district that backed Democrat Kamala Harris by a 44-point margin is now one that supported Republican Donald Trump by 20 points.

In late August, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a mid-decade redistricting plan that critics say is designed to shift multiple U.S. House seats from Democrats to Republicans. The map dramatically reshapes urban districts such as those in Houston, with lawsuits already filed in federal court arguing that the changes dilute minority representation.

The real change, she said, will be in representation once new lines take effect.

“The biggest impact that voters will experience is getting that updated voter registration card,” she warned. “If they are in a congressional district that has been changed, finding out who represents them is what’s going to be new, not necessarily that you have to go to a certain poll in your district.”

What changed

What lies ahead

Green has urged supporters not to lose faith. The question remains if litigation is a feasible way forward.

“Litigation is important in this process,” Green told the Defender. “Even if it doesn’t help you today, you do it because it can help you tomorrow. There’s a future.

There’s posterity…Litigation, protestation and also education.”

For him, the fight is about more than district numbers. It is about protecting the ability of communic ties of color to choose theiir leaders.

With voter registratio on deadlines approaching and a crowded field expected, the next ch hapter of CD 18 remains uncertain.. What is clear is that Houston’s B Black political power, rooted in decades of hardfought representation, faces one of its most consequential elections yet.

Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth reminded that voter registration for the CD-18 special election closes on Oct. 6, 2025. Credit: Teneshia Hudspeth’s office

The land that made up the 9th hasn’t disappeared. Its designation has.

Much of the territory has been absorbed into the 18th District. The reconfigured 9th now gives Republicans a clear advantage.

“My home and the people that I’ve been representing are still in the same place. They just put 18 on that land area,” Green said. “The land area has not changed. So I’m still there.”

Green was blunt in his assessment: “What they’ve done to the Ninth Congressional District is racist. And I guarantee you this — the one person that President Trump doesn’t want in Congress to deal with this is this guy Al Green, because he knows I’ll stand up to it.”

Liberty County and other Republican areas.

Best- and worst-case scenarios

The worst case: The 9th, once a seat of Black political power, becomes a Republican stronghold, silencing voices that have shaped civil rights, housing, health care and voting protections for decades.

The best case, though slimmer, depends on turnout and coalition-building across Greater Houston. Green remains hopeful.

“Sometimes what people do for evil, there’s a God that can transform that into good,” he said.

Gaskin was more direct: “It’s not about registering, it’s about getting people out. The votes are not there.” In 2024, Liberty County voted for Trump over Harris by a margin of 4-to-1.

Republican officials, including Harris County GOP Chair Cindy Siegel, argue that the new 9th will be majority Hispanic. State data attached to the redistricting maps show the district's voting-age population of roughly 58% Hispanic. However, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates Liberty County’s Hispanic population is less than 34%, raising questions about whether the Legislature’s data exaggerates the shift.

What’s next

The new 9th has already drawn Republican contenders. Less than 24 hours after voting to approve the new map in the Texas House, state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, filed to run for the district. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, a METRO board member and former candidate for Harris County Judge, has also thrown her hat into the ring. Observers expect a crowded GOP field.

For advocates, the 9th is a test case in a larger fight.

“We have to look past one district,” Gaskin said. “We have to make sure that we don’t have any more holes in the glass.”

Green said the battle is about more than lines on a map.

“At some point, we have to ask ourselves, where is your sense of fair play? Where’s your sense of justice?” he said. “Those who tolerate injustice perpetuate injustice. We have to take a stand — a noble stand — against this injustice.”

The numbers tell the story

A longtime voting rights advocate, Pam Gaskin said the shift is stark.

“The makeup of the 9th went from approximately 42% African American in population, down to now it is like 14% African American,” she said. “Even if every eligible Black voter voted, they couldn’t outvote the white folks because they made the white population so much more.”

Gaskin said lawmakers virtually assured a GOP pickup by stretching the district into

BY THE NUMBERS

My home and the people that I’ve been representing are still in the same place. They just put 18 on that land area. The land area has not changed. So I’m still there.”

U.S. REP. AL GREEN

8 | September 11, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature FOURTH WARD IDENTITY PUSH

Preserving Freedmen’s Town

By Tannistha Sinha

In the shadow of Houston’s gleaming skyscrapers lies Freedmen’s Town, a historic neighborhood within the city’s Fourth Ward that once stood as a monument to Black self-determination.

The town was born from the labor of formerly enslaved people who settled there after Emancipation. For generations, the neighborhood has fought to keep its story alive in the face of modern development and gentrification during the early decades of the 20th century.

Today, Fourth Ward is within miles of Houston’s Midtown and Downtown areas, bound by high-rises and office towers. Out of its hundreds of historic structures, fewer than 30 remain.

The neighborhood is at a crossroads. Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) funds and the Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority (FWRDA) are pouring dollars into rebuilding streets, restoring historic structures and supporting cultural institutions.

Alongside these improvements remain hard questions about gentrification, displacement and whether economic gains can coexist with cultural preservation.

TIRZs are zones created by the City Council to attract new investment in an area, helping fund costs of redevelopment that would “not attract sufficient market development in a timely manner.” The tax dollars are set aside in a separate fund to finance these improvements within the boundaries of the zone.

A legacy of self-sufficiency

Miguell Ceasar, division manager and archivist at the African American Library, Gregory School, itself a restored landmark in Freedmen’s Town, said the area is known to be

Houston’s oldest African American community. Relying on each other’s acts of survival and pride, forging a safe, self-reliant neighborhood, residents anchored the community spiritually and politically. Schools like the original Gregory Institute educated Black children when segregation barred them elsewhere.

“This was close to the Bayou and wasn’t even part of Houston at the time. The swampy Bayou area was flooding over here and they allowed the Blacks to settle,” Ceasar said.

Ceasar noted the area, once a flood-prone bayou fringe, became a self-contained hub with over 400 Black-owned businesses, doctors, grocers and its first Juneteenth celebrations.

Modern efforts to protect history

Much of this past is preserved thanks to targeted investments by the Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority, which manages the TIRZ funds dedicated to the neighborhood.

Venessa Sampson, the organization’s executive director, described the board’s mission as balancing a complex slate of needs: historic preservation, infrastructure upgrades, parks and affordable housing.

“We kind of do the unsexy (laughs) type of stuff,” Sampson said. “You can’t build a house if the foundation is not right.”

Major initiatives funded by the Fourth Ward TIRZ, which began in 1999, include restoring Bethel Church, rebuilding West Webster and Wiley parks and transforming the Gregory School into a public library and archive.

Wrestling with gentrification and displacement

However, the progress comes with a painful undercurrent. Being close to Downtown,

CLASSIFIED BID NOTICE The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is planning to issue the procurement documents listed in this advertisement.

TIRZ funds help revitalize the area, but cannot erase concerns about affordability and gentrification. Credit: City of Houston

River Oaks and Buffalo Bayou comes with rising property values, pricing out some of the families whose ancestors built Freedmen’s Town.

Jacqueline Bostic, chair of the Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority board and a descendant of Rev. Jack Yates, a formerly enslaved man who helped found Freedmen’s Town and Houston’s Emancipation Park, emphasized this point.

“The Fourth Ward TIRZ has been instrumental in making sure that the area continues to receive tax dollars, which work towards enhancing the community,” Bostic said, adding the TIRZ ensures Fourth Ward now receives tax dollars that once bypassed the neighborhood.

The organization has experimented with affordable housing, including pilot homes built on properties they acquired from the City of Houston. But, Sampson warned against quick fixes.

“We have an opportunity to mitigate displacement,” Sampson admitted. “But how can we do it in a way that is not Section 8 housing, necessarily, and is not rental property?...It

Miguell Ceasar, division manager and archivist at the African American Library, Gregory School, highlighted that the library houses a wealth of resources, including photographs, oral histories and artifacts from the city’s oldest Black schools and churches. Credit: Houston Defender/Tannistha Sinha

doesn’t matter if you are Black, Brown, white or otherwise. If you can afford it, you just displace someone who no longer can afford to be there.”

Family is everything, and so is your home.

Your Home. Your Dream. Your Family.

Commerce Bank is here to help you build the life you imagined. We’ll walk you through the homeownership lending process, because we know your family and your home mean everything.

IFB No. Doc1669887615: 1900 Main Executive Garage Rehabilitation. Solicitation will be available on or about 09/02/2025.

RFP No. Doc1689218650: Resilient Power Solutions for METRO Facilities. Solicitation will be available on or about 09/02/2025.

Prospective bidders/proposers can view and download these solicitations by visiting METRO's website at ridemetro.org/Open Procurements. If you are unable to download the documents or are having difficulty, please contact 713-615-6125 or email Contracts/Property Services at propertyservices@ridemetro.org.

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DEFENDER NETWORK

September 11, 2025 |

| 9

DN Spotlight

D. Simmons HOUSTON DESIGNER

Debuts at New York Fashion Week

By Laura Onyeneho

When Demitric “D.” Simmons walks into a room, he does so in a suit. Long before he became the founder of DCASSO Custom Designs, the Channelview-raised entrepreneur understood the power of presentation.

“Dress how you want to be addressed,” he says and he’s lived by that motto, whether standing behind a barber’s chair or preparing to debut his first collection at New York Fashion Week this September.

Simmons’ relationship with style began early. One of his first childhood photos is with his father, dressed in a tiny suit at just five years old. But it wasn’t until high school that fashion truly clicked. “Something about the way clothes make you feel, it just stuck,” he says. By 11th grade, dressing sharp wasn’t an option; it was part of who he was.

That identity carried him into his first career. Simmons picked up clippers as a teenager after moving in with his father and realizing he needed to cut his own hair. Using a three-way mirror, he became his first client. Soon,

neighbors were knocking on his door for cuts.

By 1998, he was enrolled at Acres Homes Barber College and what he thought might be a temporary hustle became a 26-year career.

“The barbershop has always been a place for fashion,” he told the Defender. “People came to see the latest trends and the barber always dressed sharp.”

Simmons took that to heart. Even while cutting hair, he wore suits, turning heads and sparking curiosity. Clients constantly asked where he bought them.

One of those clients was Jarrod Wilkins, who was first referred to Simmons about a decade ago. He’s stayed with him ever since.

“What stands out most is that he’s personable,” Wilkins says. “He can talk to you about politics, religion and sports. And then he’s precise. Whether it’s an edge-up or the threading on a jacket, he pays attention to every detail. That combination is rare.”

Watch what DCASSO Custom brings to NYFW.

Lacking traditional fashion expertise, Simmons worked closely with manufacturers to perfect fit and structure, researched his own clothing and discovered fabric weights. Credit: Jimmie Aggison

In 2020, DCASSO Custom Designs was born. With no formal training, Simmons dove in. He sourced fabric, took his own measurements and designed his first suit. It was, in his words, “horrible.” But each mistake was a lesson.

“I practiced on myself until I figured out allowances, fit, everything,” he says. Slowly, he began building a line.

The road wasn’t smooth. As a barber-turned-designer, Simmons struggled for credibility. “You start at the bottom and you’re no one,” he says. To prove himself, he gave away suits, lowered prices and even modeled his own designs in photo shoots to show what DCASSO could do. Sometimes influencers never tagged him, sometimes clients doubted he could deliver.

“Consistency builds trust,” he says.

“I had to keep showing up until people believed.”

Five years later, that persistence is paying off.

This fall, Simmons will showcase The

D. Simmons’ career began in Channelview, Texas, where he built a loyal client base as a barber known for his precision cuts and sharp personal style. Credit: Jimmie Aggison

Bespoke Collection at New York Fashion Week. The line features everything from exotic fabrics and tailored overcoats to sleek tuxedos and even four women’s suits.

“Fit is everything,” he says, describing his tweaks to bring back bell-bottoms, elbow patches and a mix of bold and classic looks.

“I want my brand to feel luxury but still be accessible.”

The opportunity came earlier this year, when Simmons tagged along to Fashion Week as a designer’s assistant. As always, dressed in one of his suits, he caught the eye of the show organizers.

“They loved my style and my friend bragged on me,” he says. “They asked if I wanted to showcase in September. I told them, ‘Put me in the game.’”

Rooted in Houston’s cultural melting pot, he sees his success as a reflection of community.

“To see your name in lights, to come from a small town to New York City, it’s like saying, ‘Mama, I made it,’” Simmons says.

His influences range from Steve Harvey to Tom Ford and veteran tailor Terry Corbett. But Simmons’s ultimate vision is owning a Houston-based luxury space combining grooming, fashion and lifestyle.

“One building where you can get your haircut, get fitted for a suit and relax in a lounge,” he says. “That’s what I’m working toward.”

10 | September 11, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports PVAMU COACH

Tremaine Jackson Brings sports show to Third Ward

By Terrance Harris

It was 7 p.m. on a Thursday night and everything was in place at Bar 5015 for the start of The Tremaine Jackson Coaches Show.

Cameras working. Check Bustling crowd. Check Co-hosts Karl “King” Mayes and Jaylyn Cole. Check The only thing or person missing was the show’s star, Tremaine Jackson. It seems that practice in preparation for the home opener against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) had run a little long, and that 45-mile trek from the Prairie View A&M campus to the heart of Third Ward at that time of the evening is no joke, either.

Nonetheless, 60 minutes later, Jackson appeared and, with his wit and no-holdsbarred honesty, the fast-moving 38-minute show was live.

“It’s not bad,” Jackson said of the drive that’s 1 hour and 13 minutes on a good day. “It’s not bad at all.”

The drive can be debated, but what can’t be debated is the value of Jackson and Prairie View broadcasting the weekly football coach’s show clear across town. The goal was to go somewhere where the alumni and Panthers’ faithful are.

On Thursday nights, Bar 5015 – a popular urban Black-owned sports bar—is the place to be. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s the NFL’s Thursday Night Football and Steak Night.

“When I first got here, people said we didn’t do enough in Houston, where our alums live,” said Jackson, who is in his first season coaching the Panthers. “Getting people out to the Hill during the week was kind of tough, so I said we will come to them. We will come to

Prairie View football coach Tremaine Jackson (left) discusses Panthers football with co-hosts Karl “King” Mayes (middle) and Jaylyn Cole (right) during the taping of The Tremaine Jackson Coaches Show at Bar 5015. Credit: Aswad Walker/Houston Defender

wherever they are.”

And don’t expect Jackson to shy away from the fact his show is being shot just 1.1 miles away from rival Texas Southern’s campus.

While Jackson is deep into enemy territory, the former TSU player and assistant coach quickly reminds us that he also grew up in Third Ward.

“It is where it is. I can’t change the location,” said a shrugging Jackson, who was a few days removed from the season-opening 22-21 win over TSU in the Labor Day Classic. “I think we were trying to find places that people frequent, create an atmosphere for our people. I

Tremaine Jackson (left) and co-host Karl “King” Mayes (right) go way back and their natural connection comes through during the show. Credit: Aswad Walker/Houston Defender

think everybody who went to school some- – even by his mother – as a motivational where comes to 5015, so it really didn’t matter moment for his players. where it was for us. It wasn’t like we did that on “So I said, even when my momma left, purpose. It just worked out that way.” y’all stayed in,” Jackson said. “A lot of people The show itself is a blend of insightfulness, left when TSU scored that touchdown. But rare behind-the-scenes looks at the football this team has had an ‘in spite of ’ mentality program and just an overall good time. While and they stayed together. That’s something The Tremaine Jackson Coaches Show has all that we preach.” of those elements, Jackson’s candor and the In addition to the behind-the-scenes fact that you never know what he might say material, Jackson also has segments where will make this season pop. he talks about the upcoming opponent and The show tapes on Thursdays during the breaks down film of key plays from the football season and can be seen streaming previous week’s game. For Week 3 of the on YouTube on Fridays starting at 12 pm. show, the biggest play was the last, a walk“He is a realist. He doesn’t code switch; he off touchdown pass to receiver Rodny Ojo is always going to be who he is,” said Mayes, from Peters. Peters had noticed a tendency who goes by King and is a PV alum. “He has of the TSU defense when they went with an always wanted to give you the real.” empty backfield, and it held true on the final To that point, Jackson revealed some truths play when Ojo was left uncovered in the end that he had never said either zone for the 17-yard touchbefore or immediately after the down catch as time expired.

Panthers’ win against rival Texas “If you come to the show, or Southern. He told the audience you look at the show, then you that quarterback Cam Peters, will hear something that maybe the star of the season-opening I wouldn’t say during the week win and a holdover from Bubba because we are going to try to McDowell’s team, came real close give you the best insight that we MORE to a forced position change in the can because I think people are ABOUT spring to receiver. really curious about what goes THE He also talked about the one on in the football program,” SHOW. person who exited Shell Energy Jackson said. “I’ve been honStadium when things looked est about it—maybe not at the hopeless for the Panthers after TSU took a beginning of the week, but certainly postfive-point lead with 1:16 left to play. In true game, we will go ahead and give you what coach’s form, Jackson used any hint of a slight it was.”

September 11, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports In an era of flash,

Dylan Waters Chooses fit over hype

By Jimmie Aggison

In today’s recruiting landscape, where flash often overshadows fit, Dylan Waters took a different path.

The 6-foot-3 cornerback and track standout from Fort Bend Marshall High School had blue-and-gold dreams in California and the bright lights of Las Vegas calling. But it was Salt Lake City that won his heart.

By choosing the University of Utah over UCLA and UNLV, Waters didn’t just make a commitment; he made a statement. He went with development, trust and culture matter more than hype.

“Utah felt like the perfect fit because of the combination of a strong athletic program, a genuine family culture and a coaching staff that believed in my potential from the start,” said Waters. “The school offers everything I was looking for: Competitive athletics, strong academics and a support system that goes beyond the game.”

After comparing coaching staffs, campus energy and program vision, Utah rose to the top.

“It stopped being about ‘Where could I go?’ and became ‘Why would I go anywhere else?’” said Waters. “Utah made me feel like a priority, not just another recruit. The coaches were consistent, transparent and truly invested in who I was outside of athletics.”

Unlike other schools that focused on selling their programs, Utah simply showed Waters what they were about.

“They made an effort to get to know my family and talk about my goals on and off the field. That authenticity stood out,” said Waters.

While UCLA and UNLV have strong programs, Utah’s total package sealed the deal.

ABOUT DYLAN WATERS Class: 2026 IG: Dylan25K_ Twitter: @Dy1an_AW Position: Cornerback Height & Weight: 6-feet-3, 180 pounds Favorite artist: NBAYoungboy Favorite subject: History

“The culture at Utah felt more like home,” said Waters. “The connection with the coaching staff, how they develop players and their emphasis on character and accountability, it wasn’t just about playing time or facilities. It was about preparation for long-term success.”

Waters’ father, Antaeus Wilson, echoed the sentiment.

“From the moment we arrived on campus, the University and the Salt Lake City community showed love and support. It’s a tight-knit environment that embraces its student-athletes like family, said Wilson.”

On the field, Utah’s physical, aggressive 4-3 defensive scheme fits Waters’ skill set perfectly.

“They don’t just teach technique. They develop instincts, football IQ and versatility,” said Waters. “Whether I’m lined up on the outside or over the slot, I’m ready to contribute wherever they need me.”

Waters has studied the play styles of former Utah players Jaylon Johnson and Clark Phillips III. Johnson, who now plays with the Chicago Bears and Phillips with the Atlanta Falcons.

“I’ve watched their film and studied how they use patience, ball skills and technique to win matchups,” said Waters.

“Jaylon was the player the coaches compared my game to during our defensive meetings. What I respect most is how those guys developed under Utah’s staff and became NFL-ready. That blueprint is real if you’re willing to work.”

Utah has quietly become a go-to program for developing NFL-caliber defensive backs. For Waters, the results spoke louder than the recruiting pitches.

“They prove it year after year with guys getting drafted and thriving,” said Waters.

“That track record made a big impact on me. I knew if I wanted to develop at the highest level, Utah was the place.”

Football isn’t Waters’ only focus. He’s also considering opportunities in track and field at Utah.

“Track has always been a part of who I am,” said Waters. “It’s helped sharpen my speed, explosiveness and mental toughness. Utah’s track program is strong and I’ve had great conversations with both staff.

If there’s a way to compete in both sports without compromising either, I’m all in.”

Fort Bend Marshall head football coach James Williams believes Waters is built for Utah.

“Dylan’s biggest strengths are his competitiveness, size, football IQ and ball skills,” said Williams.

“Utah is a disciplined, aggressive team and their scheme, especially the man-to-man and Cover 3 coverages, is a perfect match for Dylan’s style.”

While the recruiting process was exciting, it wasn’t always easy. Waters says the toughest part was tuning out distractions and staying true to himself.

“So many people have opinions and the attention can get intense,” said Waters.

“You’re constantly weighing options and it’s hard to know who’s really being genuine.

It’s a blessing, but it’s mentally draining.”

Through it all, Waters stayed grounded with guidance from family, coaches and close friends.

“I know offers don’t mean anything if I’m not working to back them up,” said Waters. “My circle kept me focused. I’ve always been about the grind more than the attention.”

As Waters enters his final high school season, his goals are clear: lead his team, grow as a student-athlete and leave no doubt about his readiness for college football.

“That’s my top priority: lead my team to a state title,” said Waters. “Individually, I want to be the most complete player I’ve ever been, lock down my side of the field, make plays on defense, offense and special teams, lead by example and make AllState. Then show up at Utah ready to make an impact from day one.”

12 | September 11, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

Black Girl White Coat Pushes for greater representation in medicine

Dr. Sandra Coker (Center), a 2020 UTHealth medical school alumna, created a mentoring program for aspiring health professionals.

Credit: Black Girl White Coat

By Laura Onyeneho

The underrepresentation of Black women in medicine is a systemic issue, but for a new generation of healers, Black Girl White Coat (BGWC) is providing a critical solution.

Founded in 2016 by Dr. Sandra Coker, a Houston native and 2020 graduate of McGovern Medical School, the organization was born from a simple yet profound realization that she had not met a physician who looked like her until college.

“I created Black Girl White Coat in 2016 as a first-year medical student for one reason that still rings true today, to be the woman and mentor I needed when I was younger,” she says. “Mentoring Black women on their unique road to a career in healthcare means visibility for the girls who never saw someone who looked like them in the roles they dreamed of. It also means exemplifying excellence in spaces that have historically excluded them.”

What began as a personal YouTube vlog sharing Coker’s journey has since grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit with a powerful online presence and a robust mentorship program. Its mission is to serve as a vital resource for aspiring Black female physicians, providing the support and transparent guidance that was so often missing for its founder.

Only 2.8% of U.S. physicians are Black women, despite Black women making up about 7% of the population.

“That gap is not just a statistic; it means fewer mentors, fewer role models and fewer voices in the rooms where life-changing decisions are made,” Coker explains. “Mentorship is a core pillar of BGWC because I believe the guidance and advocacy a mentor provides can change the trajectory of a student’s career and ultimately, the health of the communities they will one day serve.”

Dr. Joyce Idehen is the BGWC’s Director of Communications. Her path to becoming

a family medicine physician was anything but straightforward. She first worked as a nurse and then faced significant hurdles, including the financial and academic demands of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The high cost of MCAT tutors and test preparation resources can create an unfair advantage for those with greater financial support.

“The MCAT is a beast of its own. The struggle with the exam led me to attend a medical school in the Caribbean,” Idehen says. “This is a less traditional route many students take to circumvent the highly competitive process of American medical schools.”

Resources and accomplishments The organization has awarded over $60,000 in scholarships to help students with application fees, MCAT costs and tuition.

Idehen notes that social media has been

an invaluable tool for BGWC, allowing them to showcase the diversity of Black women in medicine. This powerful representation is a constant reminder that success is achievable, even in a field where Black women make up only a small percentage of the physician workforce.

While progress is being made, Idehen expresses concern that recent political shifts, such as the loss of affirmative action, could threaten these gains. She stresses that organizations like BGWC, which are not government-funded, are more crucial than ever for intentionally recruiting and supporting underrepresented minorities.

“BGWC’s goal is not just to get women into medical school but to ensure they have the resources and support to stay in,” said Idehen. “It is about transforming personal struggles into a collective force, creating a vital pipeline for a new generation of Black female physicians and inspiring a future of healers who reflect their communities.”