To the POINT DN
Message from the Reporter
Texas lawmakers reshape STAAR testing
TheTexasLegislature’sadoptionofHouse Bill8marksapivotalmomentinpubliceducation, aiming to replace the high-stakes STAAR(StateofTexasAssessmentsofAcademic Readiness) exam with three shorter assessments spaced across the school year. First administered in October, January and latespring,thesetestsareintendedtoreduce stressonstudentsandoffereducatorstimely feedback to guide instruction, a shift from the “one-test-does-it-all” accountability
However, critics argue this reform may fall short of its promise. By retaining TEA’s centralized control, including responsibility for writing, administering and scoring the exams, HB 8 risks perpetuating the very distrust and institutional opacity that fueled STAAR’s backlash While Democrats warn that testing burdens may even increase, proponentslikeStateRep.BradBuckleyinsistthatthismodel offers greater transparency and continuity
Ultimately,HB8reflectsbothprogressandperil.Shifting towardamorediagnosticandresponsiveassessmentsystem is commendable, but success hinges on maintaining rigorousoversightandensuringequity Withoutthesesafeguards, reformrisksbecominglittlemorethanrebrandedstandardization The hope now lies in Texas following through with thoughtful implementation, not just a format change
GOP secures wins, Democrats tout symbolic fight
As the curtain fell on Texas’s second special legislative session in early September 2025, the picture that emerged was unmistakable: Republicans, unbowed, secured victory onaslateofconservativepriorities,whileDemocratsbecame increasingly marginalized.
The GOP pushed through redistricting that aims to flip five Democratic U.S. House seats, tightened penalties for lawmakers who flee the state to deny quorum and enacted measuresrangingfromabortion-pillrestrictionstolimitson transgenderrestroomaccess,allunderscoringRepublicans’ legislative dominance
Democrats’quorum-breakingprotest,ahigh-profilefiasco thatcapturednationalattentionandgalvanizedtheirbasebut ultimately failed to alter outcomes. The strategy reinforced messagingoverlegislativeimpact:Itwasasymbolicgesture of resistance rather than a practical deterrent
This special session serves as a cautionarytale WhileTexasDemocratshighlighted concerns about fair representation and ethics,theimbalanceofpowerinthelegislature rendered their actions largely performative For the GOP, it was a showcase of political discipline.
For Democrats, it was a moment of visibilitybutnotvictory.AsTexasheadstoward the 2026 midterms, the real battles may not bewoninAustinchambersbutinthecourt of public opinion and at the ballot box.
Houston launches bin pickup program
Houston’s “Can Blitz,” unveiled in the first week of September, is a pragmatic response to a basic, yet persistent service failure: Residents waiting weeks, or even months, for a simple trash can. This program allows Houstonians to pick up new or replacement black bins at three convenient locations citywide, Monday through Friday (8 am- 4 pm), withadditionalhoursonthe2ndand4thSaturdaysofeach month (9 am - 1 pm).
It’s a step in the right direction, empowering residents, cutting red tape and signaling that the city now recognizes what should have been obvious long ago.
Mayor John Whitmire and Solid Waste Management Director Larius Hassen clearly heard the public: Extended waits are unacceptable. With 1,596 new homes added and more than 7,000 under construction, demand for service is surging.
Residents who had been delayed for weeks, like those livingwithoutabin,resortingtoneighborsorrelatives,can finally breathe easier
Thatsaid,pickingupyourowntrashcannotreplaceaprofessional delivery system; it should complement it The city mustcontinuemodernizingoperations,asHassenpromises, aiming for systemic improvements in six to nine months “CanBlitz”maybeatimelyrelief,butitshouldbeviewedas a temporary fix, not the standard The real measure will be whetherthisbecomesashortcut,ratherthanonesteptoward a smoother, more responsive Houston sanitation service
ON THE WEB
• Black women are choosing safe love And that’s revolutionary
• Black educators, others reimagine future of education.
• Top 5 things to prepare for Houston night life scene.
The latest reforms signal both opportunity and controversy, demanding close attention from communities across the state. Credit: Getty Images
Tannistha Sinha
News DN
‘Born to be criminal’
Trump comment sparks national outrage
By Reasla Teague
President Donald Trump ignited a firestormofcriticismfollowingremarkson Sept.2,2025,regardingindividualsarrested during a federal operation in Washington, D.C. In a press briefing, he described those detained as “hard-core criminals,” declaring: “They were born to be criminals, frankly. They were born to be criminals.”
Though Trump did not explicitly reference any racial group, Maryland Governor Wes Moore interpreted the comment as racially charged. Moore condemned the statement as drawing from an “Archie Bunker mindset,” calling it a harmful dog-whistle Moore has received pushback for his social media post that suggests Trump was speaking directly about Maryland youth. However, with Trump’s talk of sending the same militarized police into Chicago and
other U.S. cities with Black mayors, many contenditisasafeassumptiontomakethat Trump’s words are aimed at Black youth nationally.
“When the president from the Oval Office calls you ‘natural born killers,’ children who are‘borntobeviolent,’Isay this:Irespecttheoffice,but I will never honor ignorance, ” said Moore.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, while not naming Trump directly, countered that “our young people are not born to be criminals. They’re resources to invest in, not problems to be solved.”
Blackpeoplenationwidearecondemning Trump’s comments. This includes Houstonian Maurie Spooner, who said: “Donald Trump’s latest comments aren’t just ‘tough talk on crime.’ They are a dog whistle with
acleartarget:Blackchildren.Whenhesays kidsare‘borntobecriminals,’hestripsaway their innocence, their humanity and their right to simply be kids.”
LawrenceWare,co-directoroftheOklahoma State University Africana Studies Program, asserts Trump’s words reflect an embrace of “racial essentialism,” the belief thatracialgroupshaveinherent,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 Blackpeople,hesuggestedTrump’slanguage 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
By Aswad Walker
The Fort Bend County political drama would be comical if not for its serious implications
In April, Fort Bend County Judge KP Georgewasarrestedontwofelonycountsof money laundering tied to alleged wire fraud and tampering with a campaign finance report Lastfall,hewasindictedonamisdemeanorforallegedlystagingrac istattacksagainsthiscampaign
Democrats condemned George’sactions.Heresponded byswitchingparties.
“TheDemocraticPartyhas become one of corruption, radicalpoliticalideologyand positions that do not reflect my values,” George said in a statement. “Like President Trump, I will stand up and fight against the radical leftists who seek to tear down the values we hold close to ourheart.”
Whyitmatters
“WithaRepublicanmajority,thetimefor actionisnow,”saidFortBendCountyGOP Chair Bobby Eberle “That includes establishing fair and balanced voting maps and correcting the obscenely gerrymandered lines forced on the county by Democrats in 2021.”
But Commissioner Dexter McCoy sees it differently
“The whole process in and of itself is illegitimate We redraw linesafteracensus,whichonly happensevery10years.We’re in the middle of a decade,” said McCoy. “Their aim is to try to make this a red county, which it no longer is.”
Wrong focus
McCoy says the drama distracts from residents’ needs.
notingthatGeorge’sseatisnowaGOPtarget.
Some Republicans echoed that skepticism.
“I was one of the people targeted in [George’s] smear campaign,” said Trever Nehls, who ran for county judge in 2022 “This isn’t a shift in beliefs. It’s a calculated move to escape accountability.”
McCoysaidRepublicans initially called for George toresign,but“itstoppedin February Theirtoneshifted to, ‘We need to take back our county.’ And when he announced he was switching, there was no outright rejection—just a ‘prove it.’”
Lessons
“KP George has made a political decision to switch parties and weaponize his position to punish the very constituents who voted him into office,” Garner said “He is enduring a fall from grace, hoping that doing the bidding of Commissioner Andy Meyerswillsaveanalready dead career A teachable moment for us all.”
Moving forward
Fort Bend County
Justice of the Peace Roderick Garner doesn’t mince words about his thoughts of KP George’s partyswitching. Credit: Fort Bend County.
McCoy argues demographics are against the GOP.
As County Judge, George presides over Fort Bend’s five-member Commissioners Court, which oversees operations and the budget. Before his switch, Democrats held a 3-2 advantage. Now Republicans hold the edge—critical to GOP hopes of redrawing votingmapsintheirfavor.
“These are sad times. Peopleareputtingtheirown interestoverthegoodofour community,”hesaid “Nowourcountyjudge, inanactofdesperation,hasdecidedtoswitch parties and wreak havoc. It’s unacceptable.”
He also believes George is being used
“We saw the general counsel for the state Republican Party say, ‘Application rejected; the party will not be a safe haven for someonetryingtoescapeprosecution.’Thechairmanreiteratedthesamething,”McCoysaid,
Republicans, Democrats andindependentsalikecriticize George for lacking integrity.
“The Republican Party stands for accountability, transparency and service,” saidDanielWong,aformerSugarLandcity council member running against George in the GOP primary. “It is not a refuge for careerpoliticianslookingtoescapetheconsequences of their actions.”
JusticeofthePeaceRoderickGarnersaid George is sabotaging himself.
“Our community is not what it used to be 10, 15 years ago. It’s tremendously diverse, well-educated, and far more blue,” hesaid “Ibelieveitwillbe impossible for my GOP colleagues to draw maps that produce a Republican majority.”
Despite frustrations, McCoy sees hope in residents.
“I’m proud of what our residents have been doing. They’ve been showing up to Commissioners Court and raising their voices in opposition,” he said “The overwhelming majority are opposed to this—Democrats, Independents and Republicans.”
Fort Bend County KP George Credit: Fort Bend County.
Gov. Wes Moore
Dexter McCoy
Brings spry leadershiptoFortBendCounty
ByTannisthaSinha
FortBendCountyCommissionerDexterL. McCoynow stands at theintersectionofthe county’spastandfuture.
Astheyoungestcommissioner,nowinhis late 30s, servingone of Texas’ most diverse counties sinceJanuary 2023, McCoybrings withhimapoliticsthatisshapedbylived 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,thecontrastwasstark
Forthe firsttime, he experiencedacommunity rich in resourcesand diversity. That shiftdriveshis politicalmission today: To ensurenofamilyinFortBendlivesashisdid inLouisiana.
Approachtogovernance
Before becoming commissioner,McCoy served as chiefofstaff to Fort Bend orge,where he nty’ssweeping mflood control s. in that role is of thecounty’s id.“Wearethe od waters out make sure that al services are ndthatwehave nrespond.” ncesharpened erstandingof wdisparities in calgovernment nvestmentperpetuateinequality. Roads riddledwith potholesinhis ownMission
Bendneighborhood,whileotherareasthrived, showedhimthatleadershipatthecountylevel couldmeanthedifferencebetweenneglectand responsiveservice.
Policiesrootedinaccess
they’realsobuildingnewhomes,investingin commercialrealestate,bringingjobshere,”he said
chief of staff County Judge KP Geo first grasped the coun responsibilities, from toemergencyservices
“What I learned i the critical nature o business,”McCoysai people who keep flo of people’s homes, m our emergency medic appropriatelyfundedan ambulancesthatcan Theexperien his unde how loc in p i
McCoyhasadvancedinitiativesthatreflect hisvalues.Hechampionedpaidparentalleave forcountyemployees,inspiredbyhis own timeathomeafterthebirthofhistwoyoung daughters.Healsolaunched“FitFortBend”in partnershipwithFitHouston,aprogrampromotinghealthandwellnessamongresidents, particularlyseniors.
Anothersignature projectisthe African AmericanHeritageMonument,whichhesees as alasting investment in representation and history.Andforyoungpeople,McCoyhasprioritized expandingpaidinternships,emphasizingthatunpaidopportunitiesoftenexclude thosewhocannotaffordtoworkforfree.
Fort Bend’s rapidpopulation growth,projected to surpassone millionresidentsby next year,poses challenges of affordability, infrastructure andequity. McCoypointsto thecounty’simbalance betweenresidential developmentand commercial investment, whichplacesadisproportionatetax burden onhomeowners
“We’ve been trying to make sure that we workwithourdevelopmentcommunity…that
Alot of folkswho don’tlikethat andare actually angry with that becauseitisathreattotheir power. People aretryingtoturn back thehands of time and redistrict,changethe rulesofthe game.”
DEXTER McCOY
McCoy’svisionincludesexpandedtransportation: Dedicatedbus rapidtransit lanes alongtollroads,transit-orienteddevelopmentsincommercialhubsandleveragingthe county’sthreemajorrailconnectorstoattract industry
Navigatingredistricting
McCoy’stenurecomes at apolitically chargedtime. CommissionersCourt has becomeamicrocosmofTexas’broaderpolarization,withdebatesoverspendingandredistrictingfuelingdivision.
“Wehavesomerecalcitrantmembers,for whom no amount of reason is gonnawork,” heexplained.“Theyarehellbentonexacting revenge. Thecountyjudge is trying to save himselffrombeing sent to jail.And so he’s gonnadowhateverhecantopositionhimself fora pardon from thegovernor. It’s hard to reasonwiththat.”
HearguesthattheredistrictingbattleinFort Bend is part of abroader effort to dilute the politicalpowerofcommunitiesofcolor
“Weliveinamong themostdiverse communitiesinthecountryandourleadershipis startingtoreflectthatdiversity,”McCoysaid. “Alotoffolkswhodon’tlikethatandareactually angrywiththatbecause it is athreatto theirpower.Peoplearetryingtoturnbackthe handsoftimeandredistrict,changetherules ofthegame.”
Legacy
Describing hisleadershipstyle as collaborativeandrootedinhumility,McCoysayshe embraceswhathedoesn’tknow,askingquestionsand seekingmentors.His time in the BarackObamaadministrationinfluencedhim deeply,asdidguidancefromthelateHouston MayorSylvesterTurner
“Iwantmylegacytobethattherewerepeoplewho didnot have access to thetools that they needed to determinetheir ownlevel of successandtheygotit,”hesaid.
News DN Voting Rights Act faces extinction at 60
ByAswadWalker
The Voting Rights Act (VRA), signed in 1965, is often called the most effective piece oflegislationinU.S.history.Yet,asthenation marksits60thanniversary,thelandmarklaw maynotlivetosee61.
Oncethoughtuntouchable,theVRAisnow under assault from conservative lawmakers, right-wing billionaires and a U.S. Supreme Courtincreasinglyhostiletovotingprotections
Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter,putitplainly.
“TheVotingRightsActisingravedanger It’s on the verge of being killed, murdered, whateververbyouwanttouse,”saidAlbright “There have been people, ever since it was passed60yearsago,tryingtodoawaywithit OneofthosepeopleisactuallyJohnRoberts, who’scurrentlytheChiefJusticeoftheSupreme Court.”
Formany,thethoughtoftheVRA’sdemise onceseemedimpossible—justasRoev.Wade and Affirmative Action once seemed permanent Today,botharegone TheVRAcouldbe next.
UnderattacksinceDay1
The VRA was never universally accepted. As Albright noted, “The reason why it’s been
underattacksince1965isthesamereasonthat 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 thiscountry.”
TheSupremeCourt’s2013ShelbyCountyv. HolderdecisionguttedtheVRA’spreclearance provision,whichrequiredstateswithhistories ofracialdiscriminationtogetfederalapproval beforechangingelectionlaws.Thatopenedthe doortoawaveofrestrictivelawsinTexasand otherSouthernstates.
“Now they’re looking at getting rid of the parts of the Voting Rights Act that basically
giveanykindofteethtotheabilitytodealwith racial gerrymandering,” Albright explained. “Wecouldbelookingatthelastdaysandweeks of what many have called the most effective legislationthiscountryhaspassed.”
NAACPleadersDerrickJohnsonandGary Bledsoewarnedinajointstatement:“Alabama authorities blatantly ignored the Supreme Court’s directive to create a minority opportunity district Across the nation, including Texas,effortstodismantleminority-heldelectoralseatshaveemergedinBaytown,Galveston, Tarrant County, Fort Bend County, and eventheTexasLegislature.”
Apathynottheissue
Some argue voting rights rollbacks are compoundedbyvoterapathy Albrightrejects thatnarrative.
“We at Black Voters Matter don’t refer to itasapathy,”statedAlbright “Becauseapathy presumestheabsenceofpassion.Andinour experience,evenwhenfolksaren’tvoting,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.”
Thatfrustration,however,strengthenssuppression efforts like gerrymandering, voter rollpurges,andrestrictiveIDlaws.
Dr Carla Brailey, senior fellow at Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan Institute,added,“Ireallythinkthatwehavenever reallyarrivedatexperiencingfulldemocracy. ButtheVotingRightsActwascreatingapath for us If the Voting Rights Act just disappears,Idon’tevenwanttoreallythinkabout that.”
Implications
Nowhere are the stakes clearer than in Texas. The state operates under a discriminatory congressional map, as Johnson and Bledsoeexplained.
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 byAswad Walker.
The
By TannisthaSinha
The deathofHouston CongressmanSylvester Turner in Marchthisyearset in motion apolitical reshufflingthattriggeredaspecial election in November
CongressionalDistrict18, long considered apillarofBlack politicalpower in Texas, is entering aperiodoftransition shaped notonlybyTurner’spassing but also by mid-decade redistricting that has redrawnthe linesofrepresentation.
Gov.GregAbbottcalledanunusualoffyearspecialelectionforNov.4tofillTurner’s unexpiredtermuntil January2027.
Harris County ClerkTeneshiaHudspeth, thecounty’schief election official,saysthe immediatetaskisensuringvotersunderstandthedistinctionbetweenthe“current” and“new” versions of District 18
“Thecongressional district,as it stands
Congressman Al Green vows to fight “cracking andpacking” that he says weakens Black and Latino representation.
Credit: Jimmie Aggison/ Houston Defender
today, remainsthe same andwillremainthesameif thereisarunoff,”Hudspeth told theDefender.
Sheoutlinedthe critical deadlines, whichstarted withaSept.3filingdeadline andwillbefollowedbyearly votingfromOct.20-31.The lastdaytoregistertovoteis Oct. 6.
Hudspeth addedthat herofficeworks with community groups like the League of WomenVoters andHouston Area Urban League,socialmedia,highschools,colleges, andlocalmediatoinformvoters,holdballot-demonstrationeventsandpreparesampleballots by late September.
Theredistricting battle
What complicatesthe future of District 18 is thenew congressionalmap,drawn in aspecial sessionatthe urging of President Donald Trump.
Underthe newmap,which Abbott signed into lawinlateAugust, District 9, historically representedbyCongressman AlGreen,wascarvedupandoverlaidwith portions of District 18.Green’s home and muchofhisbaseinSunnyside,SouthPark, HiramClarkeand partsofFortBendand Brazoria Counties were shiftedintothe newlynumberedCD18.
“Theydidn’tmovemyconstituents,they
didn’t move my house,” Greensaid. “Itwould not make sensefor me to run in this newNinth Congressional District.Ihave no relationshipspolitically with thepeopleinthe new Ninth. Thenew 18th is whereIhavemyhomeand my constituents.”
Theredistricting also weakened Latino voting strength in District 29 by shifting largeportions northward, amaneuver Greendescribed as unlawful“crackingandpacking”thatdiminishes representationforbothAfricanAmericans andLatinos.Hehas vowedtocontinue challengingthe maps in courtunder Section2oftheVotingRightsAct,althoughhe acknowledged litigation couldtakeyears
Al Green’scalculations
Green, whohas representedthe Ninth CongressionalDistrictsince2005,hasfaced speculationthathewould jump into this year’sspecialelectiontosucceedTurner.He hasruled that out.
Forcontext,the new18thcongressional seatwillnottechnicallyexistuntilthe2026 elections, butthe decision forcandidates comeslater this year
“ShouldIchoosetorunforCongressand I’mtellingyoumynamewillbeontheballot,itwillbeinNovemberthatIwillgetinto
theraceasIalwayshave,”Greenexplained
Rememberingalegacy
Thetransitionhasstirreddebateoverthe legacies of Turner’s andthe late CongresswomanSheilaJacksonLee.Leerepresented District 18 fornearlythree decadesbefore herpassing last year.Green cautioned againstvoicesthatdiminishtheir impact
“AnybodywhoknowsSheilaJacksonLee knowsthatshe worked untilshe took her last breath,” Greensaid. “He[Turner]was onthejobworking…youaredenyingBlack historywhenyoustarttodemeanthem.We cannot destroyBlack history.”
Thathistoryraisesthestakesofwhowill nextrepresentHouston’shistoricBlackcongressional seat,which BarbaraJordanfirst carriedintonationalprominencein1972.
What voters should expect
For voters,the short-term focusison theNovemberspecialelectiontocomplete Turner’s term.Thewinnerwillserve unti January2027.Arunoffwillbeheldinearly 2026 if no candidatesecures amajority.
Inthelongerterm,theelectoratewillface areconfiguredlandscape.CD18willabsorb muchofGreen’soldCD9,whileCD9shifts eastwardintoLibertyCounty,anareawith littlepriorpoliticalconnectiontoHouston’s AfricanAmericanbase.
Hudspeth emphasized that voteraccess remainsstableunder thecountywidevotingcentersystemadoptedin2019,allowing residentstocastballotsatanypollingplace.
The real change,she said,willbeinrepresentationoncenew linestakeeffect
“The biggestimpactthatvoterswil experience is gettingthatupdated voter registration card,” shewarned. “Ifthey areinacongressionaldistrictthathasbeen changed,findingoutwhorepresentsthem is what’s goingtobenew,not necessarily thatyouhavetogotoacertainpollinyour district.”
What lies ahead
Greenhas urgedsupportersnot to lose faith. The question remainsiflitigationis afeasibleway forward.
“Litigationisimportant in this process,” Greentoldthe Defender.“Even if it doesn’thelpyoutoday,youdoitbecauseit canhelpyou tomorrow.There’safuture. There’s posterity…Litigation,protestation andalsoeducation.”
Forhim,the fightis than district numbers. protecting theability of c tiesofcolortochoosethei With voterregistratio linesapproaching anda fieldexpected,thenextch CD18remainsuncertain is clearisthatHouston’s B politicalpower,rooted in decadesofhardfought representation,faces oneofits most consequential electionsyet
HarrisCountyClerkTeneshia
Hudspeth remindedthat voter registration forthe CD-18 special electionclosesonOct 6, 2025. Credit:
LibertyCountyandotherRepublicanareas
Best-andworst-casescenarios
ByReShondaTate
Fordecades,Houston’s 9thCongressional District hasbeenabeaconofBlack political influence— amajority-Blackseatreliably representedbyU.S.Rep.AlGreen.But the redrawingofTexas’spoliticalmappaintsavery differentfuture,raisingurgentquestionsover representation,justiceanddemocracy
Adistricttransformed Thenew 9thhas shiftedfromsouthern HoustonanditssuburbstoeastHarrisCounty andintoheavily Republican LibertyCounty. Almost 70% of Green’sdistricthas shiftedto the18th.Whatwasonceadistrictthatbacked DemocratKamalaHarrisbya44-pointmargin isnowonethatsupportedRepublicanDonald Trumpby20points.
InlateAugust,Gov.GregAbbottsignedinto lawamid-decaderedistricting plan that criticssayisdesignedtoshiftmultipleU.S.House seatsfromDemocratstoRepublicans.Themap dramaticallyreshapesurban districtssuchas thoseinHouston,withlawsuitsalready filed infederalcourtarguingthatthechangesdilute minorityrepresentation
Whatchanged
Thelandthatmadeupthe9thhasn’tdisappeared.Itsdesignationhas
Much of theterritory hasbeenabsorbed into the18thDistrict. Thereconfigured9th nowgivesRepublicansaclearadvantage.
“Myhomeand thepeoplethatI’vebeen representing arestill in thesameplace.They justput18onthatlandarea,”Greensaid.“The landareahasnotchanged.SoI’mstillthere.”
Greenwas bluntinhis assessment:“What they’vedonetotheNinthCongressionalDistrictisracist. AndIguarantee youthis— the onepersonthatPresidentTrumpdoesn’twant in Congress to deal with this is this guyAl Green,becauseheknowsI’llstanduptoit.”
Thenumberstellthestory
Theworst case:The 9th, once aseatof Blackpolitical power, becomesa Republican stronghold,silencingvoicesthathaveshaped civilrights, housing, health care andvoting protectionsfordecades. Thebestcase,thoughslimmer,dependson turnoutandcoalition-buildingacrossGreater Houston.Greenremainshopeful. “Sometimeswhatpeopledoforevil,there’sa Godthatcantransformthatintogood,”hesaid. Gaskinwasmoredirect:“It’snotaboutregistering,it’saboutgettingpeopleout.Thevotes arenot there.”In2024, LibertyCountyvoted forTrumpoverHarrisbyamarginof4-to-1. Republican officials, includingHarris County GOPChair CindySiegel, arguethat thenew 9thwillbemajorityHispanic. State data attached to theredistricting maps show thedistrict'svoting-agepopulationofroughly 58% Hispanic.However,the U.S. Census Bureau estimatesLiberty County’s Hispanic populationislessthan34%,raisingquestions aboutwhether theLegislature’s data exaggeratestheshift
What’snext
Thenew9thhasalreadydrawnRepublican contenders.Lessthan24hoursaftervotingto approvethenewmapintheTexasHouse,state Rep. BriscoeCain, R-Deer Park,filed to run forthedistrict.AlexandradelMoralMealer,a METROboardmemberandformercandidate forHarrisCountyJudge,has also thrown her hatintothering.Observersexpectacrowded GOPfield
Foradvocates,the 9thisatestcaseina largerfight
“Wehavetolookpastonedistrict,”Gaskin said.“Wehavetomakesurethatwedon’thave anymoreholesintheglass.”
Greensaidthe battle is aboutmorethan linesonamap
“Atsomepoint,wehavetoask ourselves, whereisyoursenseoffairplay?Where’syour senseofjustice?”hesaid.“Thosewhotolerate injusticeperpetuateinjustice.Wehavetotakea stand—anoblestand—againstthisinjustice.”
Alongtimevotingrightsadvocate, Pam Gaskinsaidtheshiftisstark.
“Themakeupofthe9thwentfromapproximately42%AfricanAmericaninpopulation, downtonowitislike14%AfricanAmerican,” shesaid. “Evenifevery eligible Blackvoter voted, they couldn’t outvotethe whitefolks becausetheymadethe whitepopulationso muchmore.”
Gaskin said lawmakersvirtually assured aGOP pickup by stretchingthe district into
BY THENUMBERS
Feature DN
FOURTHWARD IDENTITYPUSH
Preserving Freedmen’s Town
By Tannistha Sinha
In theshadowofHouston’s gleaming skyscrapers lies Freedmen’s Town,ahistoric neighborhood within thecity’sFourthWard that once stoodasa monument to Black self-determination
The town wasbornfromthe laborofformerlyenslavedpeoplewhosettledthereafter Emancipation.For generations, theneighborhood has fought to keep itsstory alivein thefaceofmoderndevelopment andgentrificationduringthe earlydecades of the20th century.
Today, Fourth Ward is within milesof Houston’sMidtown andDowntownareas, boundbyhigh-risesand office towers.Out of itshundredsofhistoricstructures, fewer than30remain.
The neighborhood is at acrossroads. Tax IncrementReinvestmentZone(TIRZ)funds andtheFourthWardRedevelopmentAuthority(FWRDA)arepouringdollarsintorebuildingstreets, restoringhistoricstructuresand supportingculturalinstitutions
Alongsidetheseimprovementsremainhard questionsabout gentrification, displacement andwhethereconomicgainscancoexistwith culturalpreservation.
TIRZsarezonescreatedbytheCityCounciltoattractnewinvestmentinanarea,helpingfundcosts of redevelopmentthatwould “notattractsufficientmarketdevelopmentina timelymanner.”Thetaxdollarsaresetasidein aseparatefundtofinancetheseimprovements withintheboundariesofthezone
Alegacyofself-sufficiency
Miguell Ceasar,divisionmanager and archivistatthe AfricanAmericanLibrary, GregorySchool,itselfarestoredlandmarkin Freedmen’sTown,saidtheareaisknowntobe
Houston’soldestAfrican American community.Relying on each other’sactsofsurvival andpride,forging asafe, self-reliant neighborhood,residentsanchoredthecommunity spirituallyandpolitically.SchoolsliketheoriginalGregoryInstituteeducatedBlackchildren whensegregationbarredthemelsewhere.
“This wasclose to theBayou andwasn’t evenpartofHoustonatthetime.Theswampy Bayouareawas floodingoverhereand they allowedtheBlackstosettle,”Ceasarsaid.
Ceasarnotedthearea,onceaflood-prone bayoufringe, became aself-contained hub with over 400 Black-owned businesses, doctors, grocersand itsfirst Juneteenth celebrations
Moderneffortstoprotecthistory
Much of this past is preservedthanksto targeted investmentsbythe Fourth Ward RedevelopmentAuthority,whichmanagesthe TIRZfundsdedicatedtotheneighborhood.
VenessaSampson,theorganization’sexecutivedirector, describedthe board’smission asbalancingacomplexslateofneeds:historic preservation,infrastructureupgrades, parks andaffordablehousing.
“Wekindofdotheunsexy(laughs)typeof stuff,”Sampsonsaid.“Youcan’tbuildahouse ifthefoundationisnotright.”
Majorinitiatives funded by theFourth Ward TIRZ,which beganin1999,include restoringBethelChurch, rebuildingWest Websterand Wileyparks andtransforming theGregory School into apubliclibrary and archive.
Wrestlingwithgentrificationand displacement
However, theprogresscomes with apainfulundercurrent. Beingclose to Downtown,
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TIRZfundshelp revitalizethe area,but cannot eraseconcerns about affordabilityand gentrification. Credit: CityofHouston
RiverOaksand Buffalo Bayoucomes with rising property values,pricing outsomeof thefamilieswhoseancestorsbuiltFreedmen’s Town
JacquelineBostic, chairofthe Fourth Ward RedevelopmentAuthority boardand adescendantofRev.JackYates,a formerly enslaved manwho helped foundFreedmen’s Town andHouston’s Emancipation Park, emphasizedthispoint.
“TheFourthWardTIRZ hasbeeninstrumental in making sure that theareacontinues to receivetax dollars, whichwork towardsenhancing thecommunity,” Bostic said,addingthe TIRZ ensuresFourthWard nowreceivestax dollarsthatoncebypassed theneighborhood.
The organization hasexperimentedwith affordable housing, includingpilot homes builtonpropertiestheyacquired from the CityofHouston.But,Sampsonwarnedagainst quickfixes.
“Wehaveanopportunity to mitigate displacement,”Sampsonadmitted.“Buthowcan we do it in away that is notSection 8housing,necessarily,andisnotrentalproperty?...It
Miguell Ceasar,division manager and archivistatthe African American Library,Gregory School, highlighted that the libraryhouses awealth of resources,including photographs, oral historiesand artifacts from the city’s oldest Black schools and churches Credit: Houston Defender/Tannistha Sinha
doesn’tmatterifyouareBlack,Brown,white orotherwise.Ifyoucanaffordit,youjustdisplacesomeone whonolongercan affordto bethere.”
youbuild the life youimagined. We’llwalk you through the homeownership lending process, because we knowyour family andyour homemeaneverything.
Spotlight DN
HOUSTON DESIGNER
D. Simmons
Debuts at New York Fashion Week
By Laura Onyeneho
WhenDemitric“D.”Simmonswalksinto a room, he does so in a suit Long before he became the founder of DCASSO Custom Designs, the Channelview-raised entrepreneurunderstoodthepowerofpresentation “Dresshowyouwanttobeaddressed,”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 fiveyearsold.Butitwasn’tuntilhighschool that fashion truly clicked. “Something
neighborswereknockingonhisdoorforcuts. By1998,hewasenrolledatAcresHomesBarberCollegeandwhathethoughtmightbea 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 cuttinghair,heworesuits,turningheadsand 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
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 modeledhisowndesignsinphotoshootsto showwhatDCASSOcoulddo.Sometimes influencersnevertaggedhim,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
mmons’ career began in annelview, Texas, where he built a client base as a barber known for precision cuts and sharp personal yle Credit: Jimmie Aggison
Bespoke Collection at New York Fashion Week The line features everything from exoticfabricsandtailoredovercoatstosleek 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, dressedinoneofhissuits,hecaughttheeye 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
“Toseeyournameinlights,tocomefrom asmalltowntoNewYorkCity,it’slikesaying, ‘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 combininggrooming,fashionandlifestyle
“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.”
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
PVAMUCOACH
TremaineJackson Brings sports show to Third Ward
ByTerrance Harris
It was 7 p.m. on a Thursday night and everything was in place at Bar 5015 for the startofTheTremaineJacksonCoachesShow Camerasworking.Check Bustlingcrowd.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 that45-miletrekfromthePrairieViewA&M campus to the heart of Third Ward at that timeoftheeveningisnojoke,either
Nonetheless, 60 minutes later, Jackson appeared and, with his wit and no-holdsbarred honesty, the fast-moving 38-minute showwaslive
“It’snotbad,”Jacksonsaidofthedrivethat’s 1 hour and 13 minutes on a good day. “It’s notbadatall.”
The drive can be debated, but what can’t bedebatedisthevalueofJacksonandPrairie Viewbroadcastingtheweeklyfootballcoach’s show clear across town The goal was to go somewhere where the alumni and Panthers’ faithfulare.
OnThursdaynights,Bar5015–apopular urban Black-owned sports bar—is the place to be. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s the NFL’s ThursdayNightFootballandSteakNight.
“WhenIfirstgothere,peoplesaidwedidn’t doenoughinHouston,whereouralumslive,” saidJackson,whoisinhisfirstseasoncoaching 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 wherevertheyare.”
Anddon’texpectJacksontoshyawayfrom 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 ThirdWard
“Itiswhereitis Ican’tchangethelocation,” saidashruggingJackson,whowasafewdays removedfromtheseason-opening22-21win over TSU in the Labor Day Classic. “I think weweretryingtofindplacesthatpeoplefrequent,createanatmosphereforourpeople I
think everybody who went to school somewherecomesto5015,soitreallydidn’tmatter whereitwasforus Itwasn’tlikewedidthaton purpose.Itjustworkedoutthatway.”
Theshowitselfisablendofinsightfulness, rare behind-the-scenes looks at the football programandjustanoverallgoodtime.While TheTremaineJacksonCoachesShowhasall of those elements, Jackson’s candor and the factthatyouneverknowwhathemightsay willmakethisseasonpop.
TheshowtapesonThursdaysduringthe footballseasonandcanbeseenstreaming on YouTube on Fridays starting at 12 pm
“Heisarealist.Hedoesn’tcodeswitch;he isalwaysgoingtobewhoheis,”saidMayes, whogoesbyKingandisaPValum.“Hehas always wanted to give you the real.”
Tothatpoint,Jacksonrevealedsometruths that he had never said either before or immediately after the Panthers’winagainstrivalTexas Southern He told the audience that quarterback Cam Peters, the star of the season-opening win and a holdover from Bubba McDowell’steam,camerealclose toaforcedpositionchangeinthe springtoreceiver
He also talked about the one personwhoexitedShellEnergy Stadium when things looked hopeless for the Panthers after TSU took a five-point lead with 1:16 left to play In true coach’sform,Jacksonusedanyhintofaslight
– even by his mother – as a motivational momentforhisplayers.
“So I said, even when my momma left, y’allstayedin,”Jacksonsaid “Alotofpeople left when TSU scored that touchdown. But this team has had an ‘in spite of’ mentality and they stayed together. That’s something thatwepreach.”
In addition to the behind-the-scenes material, Jackson also has segments where hetalksabouttheupcomingopponentand breaks down film of key plays from the previous week’s game For Week 3 of the show, the biggest play was the last, a walkoff touchdown pass to receiver Rodny Ojo from Peters Peters had noticed a tendency oftheTSUdefensewhentheywentwithan emptybackfield,anditheldtrueonthefinal playwhenOjowasleftuncoveredintheend zone for the 17-yard touchdown catch as time expired.
MORE ABOUT THE SHOW.
“Ifyoucometotheshow,or you look at the show, then you willhearsomethingthatmaybe I wouldn’t say during the week because we are going to try to giveyouthebestinsightthatwe can because I think people are really curious about what goes on in the football program, ” Jackson said “I’ve been honest about it—maybe not at the beginning of the week, but certainly postgame, we will go ahead and give you what it was. ”
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
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
Sports DN
In an eraofflash,
DylanWaters Chooses fit overhype
ByJimmieAggison
In today’srecruitinglandscape,where flashoftenovershadowsfit,DylanWaters took adifferent path
The6-foot-3 cornerbackand track standout from Fort Bend Marshall High Schoolhadblue-and-golddreamsinCaliforniaand thebrightlightsofLas Vegas calling.ButitwasSaltLakeCitythatwon hisheart
By choosingthe University of Utah over UCLAand UNLV, Waters didn’t just make acommitment; he made a statement. He went with development, trustandculturemattermorethanhype.
“Utahfeltlikethe perfectfit because of thecombination of astrongathletic program, agenuinefamilyculture anda coachingstaffthatbelievedinmypotential from thestart,” said Waters.“The schoolofferseverythingIwaslookingfor: Competitiveathletics, strong academics andasupport systemthatgoesbeyond thegame.”
Aftercomparingcoachingstaffs,campusenergyandprogramvision,Utahrose to thetop
“Itstopped beingabout ‘Where could Igo?’and became ‘Why wouldIgoanywhereelse?’” said Waters.“Utah made me feel like apriority, notjustanother recruit.The coacheswereconsistent, transparentand trulyinvestedin whoI wasoutside of athletics.”
Unlike otherschools that focused on sellingtheir programs,Utahsimply showedWaterswhattheywereabout “Theymadeanefforttoget to know myfamilyandtalkaboutmygoalsonand offthefield.Thatauthenticitystoodout,” said Waters
WhileUCLAand UNLVhavestrong programs,Utah’stotalpackagesealedthe deal
ABOUTDYLANWATERS
Class: 2026
IG: Dylan25K_
Twitter: @Dy1an_AW
Position: Cornerback
Height &Weight: 6-feet-3, 180
pounds
Favoriteartist: NBAYoungboy
Favoritesubject: History
“The cultureatUtahfeltmorelike home,”saidWaters.“Theconnectionwith thecoachingstaff,howtheydevelopplayersand theiremphasisoncharacter and accountability,itwasn’tjustaboutplaying timeorfacilities.Itwasaboutpreparation forlong-term success. ”
Waters’father,AntaeusWilson,echoed thesentiment
“Fromthe moment we arrivedon campus,theUniversityandtheSaltLake City community showed love andsupport. It’s atight-knitenvironment that embraces itsstudent-athletes like family, said Wilson.”
Onthefield,Utah’sphysical,aggressive 4-3defensiveschemefitsWaters’skillset perfectly.
“Theydon’tjustteachtechnique.They developinstincts,footballIQand versatility,”saidWaters.“WhetherI’mlinedup on theoutside or over theslot, I’mready to contribute wherever they need me.”
Waters hasstudiedthe play styles of former Utah playersJaylonJohnson and ClarkPhillipsIII. Johnson, whonow playswiththeChicagoBearsandPhillips with theAtlanta Falcons
“I’vewatched their film andstudied howtheyuse patience,ballskillsand techniquetowinmatchups,”saidWaters. “Jaylonwas theplayerthe coachescomparedmygametoduringour defensive meetings. What Irespect most is how thoseguysdeveloped under Utah’s staff andbecameNFL-ready.Thatblueprintis real if you’re willingtowork.”
Utah has quietlybecomeago-toprogram for developing NFL-caliberdefensive backs. ForWaters, theresults spoke louder than therecruitingpitches
“Theyproveityearafteryearwithguys gettingdraftedandthriving,”saidWaters. “Thattrackrecordmadeabigimpacton me.IknewifIwantedtodevelop at the highestlevel,Utahwas theplace.”
Football isn’tWaters’ only focus. He’s also consideringopportunities in track andfieldatUtah.
“Track hasalwaysbeenapartofwho I am,” said Waters.“It’s helped sharpenmy speed, explosivenessand mental toughness.Utah’strack programisstrongand I’vehadgreatconversationswithbothstaff If there’sa waytocompete in both sports withoutcompromisingeither, I’mall in.”
Fort Bend Marshall head football coachJames WilliamsbelievesWaters is builtfor Utah
“Dylan’s biggeststren hiscompetitiveness,siz IQ andball skills,” said Wi “Utahisadisciplined,a team andtheir scheme,e theman-to-manand coverages, is aperfect ma Dylan’sstyle.”
Whilethe recruiting wasexciting, it wasn’t easy.Waterssaysthe toug part wastuningout dist tionsand stayingtru himself.
“Somanypeopleh opinions andthe attent cangetintense,”saidWat “You’reconstantlyweighin optionsandit’shardtokn who’sreallybeinggenui It’sablessing,butit’smen draining.”
Through it all, Wa stayed grounded with gui from family,coaches an friends
“I know offers don’tm anything if I’mnot work backthemup,”saidWaters circle kept me focused. always been aboutthe gr more than theattention.”
As Waters enters hisf highschoolseason, hisg areclear:leadhis team,g as astudent-athleteand no doubtabout hisreadin forcollegefootball.
“That’smytoppriority my team to astate title,”s Waters.“Individually,Iw tobethemostcompletep I’ve ever been,lockdow side of thefield,makep on defense, offenseand specialteams,leadb example andmakeAllState. Then showup atUtahreadytomake an impact from day one. ”
Black Girl White Coat Pushes for greater representation in medicine
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 realizationthatshehadnotmetaphysician 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 healthcaremeansvisibilityforthegirlswho never saw someone who looked like them in the roles they dreamed of It also means exemplifyingexcellenceinspacesthathave historically excluded them.”
WhatbeganasapersonalYouTubevlog
sharing Coker’s journey has since grown intoanationallyrecognizednonprofitwith 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 andtransparentguidancethatwassooften 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 fewermentors,fewerrolemodelsandfewer voices in the rooms where life-changing decisionsaremade,”Cokerexplains.“Mentorship is a core pillar of BGWC because I believe the guidance and advocacy a mentor provides can change the trajectory of a student’scareerandultimately,thehealthof the communities they will one day serve. ”
Dr JoyceIdehenistheBGWC’sDirector ofCommunications Herpathtobecoming
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 AdmissionTest(MCAT).ThehighcostofMCAT 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 $60,000inscholarshipstohelpstudentswith application fees, MCAT costs and tuition.
Idehennotesthatsocialmediahasbeen
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,suchasthelossofaffirmativeaction, couldthreatenthesegains.Shestressesthat organizations like BGWC, which are not government-funded,aremorecrucialthan ever for intentionally recruiting and supporting underrepresented minorities
“BGWC’s goal is not just to get women intomedicalschoolbuttoensuretheyhave the resources and support to stay in,” said Idehen “It is about transforming personal struggles into a collective force, creating a vitalpipelineforanewgenerationofBlack femalephysiciansandinspiringafutureof healers who reflect their communities.”
Dr Sandra Coker (Center), a 2020 UTHealth medical school alumna, created a mentoring program for aspiring health professionals. Credit: Black Girl White Coat