Educating the homeless With evictions on the rise, Houston public school districts offer support to students.
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
GABRIELLE UNION
DE’MYA ROBINSON
The actress visited Houston to promote her new, deeply personal book.
Volume 90, issue 47 September 23, 2021
The talented volleyball player is leading the Bellaire Cardinals.
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DN To The POINT
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Message from the Managing Editor met with willful indifference or outright scorn and Let me be clear. The story of Gabrielle Petito is condemnation for “race-baiting.” heartbreaking. And I am so glad her family can This line of thinking would be laughable if it get a semblance of closure now that her body has wasn’t so damaging. You want to know why we been found. But I would be lying if I didn’t say I make so much about race—because virtually felt some kind of way about the around-the-clock everything is affected by race. And no amount of media coverage dedicated to this missing woman. white-washing can change that. Just ask the families If you’re not aware of the story of the blonde of the missing Black women who are begging for ReShonda Tate haired, blue-eyed Petito, the woman who left New coverage. Billingsley York on July 2 for a months-long, cross-country trip full of sightseeing and camping with her fiancée, 23-year-old Black to the past Brian Laundrie, simply Google her name and see her name, face Bet you didn’t know that Texas had gotten into the slave and story pop up everywhere. And I do mean EVERYWHERE. patrol business. At least that’s the way it appeared to the world Any compassionate person hoped for Petito’s safe return, and if as we saw the disturbing video of the rabid Border Patrol agents you’re white, that’s where it ends. But for Black people, we imme- on horseback tracking down Haitians in graphic photos that diately notice there isn’t anything abnormal about Petito’s story to evoke haunting images of slave patrols. warrant around-the-clock coverage. It’s hard not to wonder why We’re years removed from American slavery. But images of this story is receiving so much national coverage with some net- white men on horseback rustling up desperate Black people works publishing live updates on the case’s progress. tragically reminds us of one of the nation’s deepest shames. When a Black woman goes missing, it doesn’t even get a menNo surprise that Republicans now claim that they should’ve tion on the nightly news. According to the Black and Missing built a wall and that our lives would’ve been better with the Foundation, 64,000-75,000 Black women and girls are currently orange man in office. And they’ve already thrown their hands missing in the U.S. Where’s the outrage? Where are the press up and let the chaos ensue because “it’s a federal issue.” While conferences from law enforcement and city officials to say ‘we’re I don’t condone making this a political issue, the Biden admingonna find the roots of this? istration does need to step up. NOW! Those rouge overseers Activists such as Black and Missing Foundation, Inc., docu- need to lose their job and whoever signed off on that madness ments and brings awareness to missing Black women. Despite needs to go too. But the bottom line is folks need to realize their unique vulnerability, Black women are often too easily this is a humanitarian crisis…not a security crisis. You, know, erased when people talk about the missing. The stories of hun- kinda like we do Afghans….and any other group that’s not dreds and thousands of women and girls of color get blacked Black or brown. out by the news media. Since most of them barely get local coverage, the chances of them ever being found are as limited IN THIS WEEK’S DEFENDER as the reporting on their stories have been. How small businesses can get financial relief. Gabrielle Union opens up in her new book. Not playing the race card In sports, Terrance Harris talks about the high expectations When we complain about things like the Gabrielle Petito case, for the Texans. many people, i.e., white folks, automatically feel like we’re we’re playing the race card. They don’t understand marginalization. ON THE WEB During any given situation —whether it be a case of police brutality, See a gallery of the Haitian migration. an unjust murder, discrimination at a restaurant, a mass shooting, MacKenzie Scott dominates donations to racial equity. etc.— Black people often wonder out loud how things would be Black principal swept into a “critical race theory” storm in different if the people involved were Black. That thinking is often mostly white Texas suburb. Black and missing
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DN News CENSUS
Texas Growth: 95% People of Color Texas Tribune
Setting the stage for what is expected to be a bruising battle over political representation, the results of the recently released 2020 census showed that Texas’ explosive growth over the past decade was again powered by people of color. And it is the state’s cities and suburbs that are booming, with Texas home to three of the country’s 10 largest cities and four of the fastest-growing. Texas gained the most residents of any state since 2010, and its Hispanic population is now nearly as large as the non-Hispanic white population, with just half a percentage point separating them. Texas gained nearly 11 Hispanic residents for every additional white resident since 2010. Texans of color accounted for 95% of the state’s population growth. The Hispanic
population’s approach to becoming Texas’ largest demographic group marks a significant milestone ahead of this year’s redistricting, during which state lawmakers will draw new political maps divvying up seats in Congress and the state House and Senate in what will no doubt be an intense and protracted fight over political control of the state for the next decade. Texas Republicans hold every lever of power to try to lock in or even expand their majorities at the state Capitol and in Congress. But they will be working to redraw the state’s political maps while confronting the demographic reality that the state is growing in ways that put the party’s stranglehold in question. The sluggish growth among white Texans could also complicate Republican efforts to cement their power, which relies
HISPANIC TEXANS ARE ALMOST THE STATE’S LARGEST DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP
44%
of the state’s growth took place in Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and Travis Counties. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Credit: Jason Kao
on a political base much more likely to be white and rural. The Hispanic population saw the biggest
growth, with nearly 2 million additional Hispanic people now calling Texas home. The state’s growth has been concentrated in diverse urban centers that serve as Democratic strongholds and suburban communities, several of which have either already turned blue or are trending in that direction. The growth driven by people of color easily surpassed the growth captured in the 2010 census, which showed people of color accounted for 89% of the total increase in population that decade. The 2020 census shows there are nearly 2 million more Texans who identify as Hispanic than in 2010. Note: The white, Asian and Black categories include individuals who indicated they were not Hispanic and selected only one race on the 2020 census. The Hispanic category includes individuals of any race.
UH study finds disparity in produce quality,safety Houston Public Media
Researchers from the University of Houston said Houstonians living in low-income and urban neighborhoods are at a higher risk of contracting gastrointestinal illnesses, possibly linked to the lettuce they purchase from grocery stores in their community. The findings, published recently in the Journal of Food Protection, focus on looseleaf romaine lettuce. According to the study, loose-leaf romaine lettuce, when purchased from supermarkets in low-income communities in Houston, was found to be contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms. Researchers said the discovery raises questions about quality and safety. “Looking at all these empirical studies, there are a few questions we can ask. At what point do these disparities arise?” asked Sujata Sirsat, an associate professor at the University of Houston - Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management and lead researcher for the study. “So for example, we look at the food supply chain. Is it different in any way? And if it’s not different in any way, what are the changes in, say time and temperature or potential cross-contamination that occurs, and what stage do they occur?” Researchers at the University of Houston endeavored to identify whether microbial differences existed between produce in low-income grocery stores vs. high-income grocery stores. Sirsat said the study does not provide a solution, but rather, it establishes a problem by providing a data-based correlation between access to nutrient-rich, quality produce and health disparities based on socioeconomic status. “I think there are a lot of things to
Brittany Randle and Jeremy Peaches. FLO
LOW-INCOME STORES STAPH SALMONELLA LISTERIA E COLI
87% 53% 13% 4%
investigate to provide some historical context. There have been studies that demonstrate nutritional disparities, but there have been
HIGH-INCOME STORES
38% 0% 0% 0%
very few studies that identify the food safety and quality disparities in low versus high-income neighborhoods,” Sirsat said.
Sirsat concluded the study allows for a conversation to begin about how to implement change. She said among the suggestions was changing food supply, with a stronger focus on locally-grown produce. Houston is no stranger to local produce. In fact, several local farmers have long echoed what the University of Houston’s research conclude about people who live in low-income neighborhoods not having access to good produce. Jeremy Peaches is also a farmer whose passion stretches back generations. He created Fresh Life Organic in 2016. The program works to build and grow farms in urban communities. Both Peaches and Walls said urban farms should no longer be considered an oddity because they’re necessary. Peaches said supply chain shortages during the pandemic underscore the need. “We see a huge shift in the supply chain on how goods are bought and how it’s sold and how it’s consumed.” However, in order to be successful, local farmers stressed they needed everyone’s support. Peaches and Walls are behind the Black Farmer Box, a wholesale purchase program that sells organic produce grown on local, Black-owned farms. Walls said she’s not sure if there is one solution to bridging the gap, but acknowledged the need for a series of solutions. Peaches, who also builds urban farms throughout the Houston area, said teaching Houstonians how they can grow their own food pushes the conversation forward, as well. “It’s important to show all different types of growing systems to be able to grow food,” he said.
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DN News
A U.S. Border Patrol agent on horseback tries to stop a Haitian migrant from entering an encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande near the Acuña Del Rio International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas. Getty Images
See a gallery of the Haitian migration and crisis at the border.
DHS head says images from border ‘horrified’ him Associated Press
Photos and video of a Border Patrol agent on horseback using his long leather reins to lash at Haitian migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border has prompted outrage from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who sought to explain away the action a day earlier during a visit to South Texas. Mayorkas said he was “horrified” by the images that have spread widely on social media and drawn outrage from members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Some of the mounted agents use their horses to forcibly move and block the migrants, seeming to herd them like animals, and taunt them in at least one instance. “Any mistreatment or abuse of a migrant is unacceptable,” Mayorkas said in an interview with CNN. “The pictures that I’ve observed troubled me profoundly.” Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the incident, DHS said in a statement. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters that she would be discussing the situation with the DHS secretary. “What I saw depicted about those individuals on horseback treating human beings the way they were was horrible,” she said. “And I fully support what is happening right now, which is a thorough investigation into exactly what is going on there. But human beings should never be treated that way. And I’m deeply troubled about it.” The controversy added an additional complication to an already difficult situation for the Biden administration, which is facing criticism from many allies for quickly sending Haitians back to their troubled homeland under a public health order without giving them an opportunity to seek asylum in the United States. The disturbing videos and photos were taken in recent days in and around Del Rio and show Border Patrol
if it’s anything different we will respond accordingly.” Video and photos viewed by The Associated Press appear to confirm that the agents were not using whips when they were encountering migrants along the banks of the Rio Grande. Mayorkas told lawmakers that the issue had been “uppermost in my mind” since he saw them, though it wasn’t clear which he had viewed. “I was horrified to see the images, and we look forward to learning the facts that are adduced from the investigation, and we will take actions that those facts compel,” he said. “We do not tolerate any mistreatment or abuse of a migrant. Period.” Men lift a baby over the waters of the Rio Grande river as migrants, many from Haiti, wade across from Del Rio, Texas, to return to Mexico to avoid deportation from the U.S. AP/Felix Marquez
agents confronting Haitians along the Rio Grande near a border bridge where thousands of migrants have gathered in recent days in hopes of entering the country. Videos by The Associated Press and other news organization show one agent twirling his reins in a menacing way but not actually striking anyone. Ortiz, asked about what some saw as the use of whips on Haitians, said the agents were working in a difficult and chaotic environment and trying to control their horses. “We do not know who are the smugglers or who are the migrants,” he told reporters, insisting that the agency was looking into what happened. Mayorkas then stepped in to explain that the agents weren’t using whips. “To ensure control of the horse, long reins are used, but we are going to investigate the facts to ensure that the situation is as we understand it to be, and
VOLUME 90 - NUMBER 47 - SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Managing Editor ReShonda Tate
Chief Development Officer Emelda Douglas
Associate Editor
Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles
Education Reporter
Creative Director Michael Grant
Sports
Photographers Jimmie Aggison
Aswad Walker Laura Onyeneho Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2021 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288
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DN Health Dr. Joseph Gathe Jr. talks about fourth COVID surge By Von Jiles and Aswad Walker
Nationally-revered, Houston-based physician and healthcare leader, Dr. Joseph Gathe Jr., is committed to spreading expert, credible information on the COVID-19 pandemic. In this third article of a four-part series, Gathe discusses the difference between the current fourth COVID surge and the previous ones we endured. THE FOURTH COVID SURGE
What we have now is the big, mean brother of the original COVID. This guy is worse than anything that we’ve seen. It is 60% more contagious. Once it grows in your body, it grows a thousand times more virus in your system. And rather than being infectious four-to-six days after you get exposed, you’re infectious two-to-three
days before you get sick and twoto-three days after. So, your maximum spreading the virus time is before you even know that you’re sick at all. And, you have a Dr. Joseph Gathe Jr. thousand times more virus floating around in this situation. So, this Delta variant, if you will, or this COVID variant, is far worse than the virus that we saw before. And because of that, we’re seeing more young people get the virus, and they’re bringing the virus to the homes and they’re infecting people within the homes, largely the ones who are unvaccinated. So, that is the major concern about the COVID-19 that we’re seeing.
Dr. Gathe discusses Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s comments blaming the state’s rise in COVID numbers on Blacks.
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DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL
EDUCATING THE HOMELESS With evictions on the rise, Houston public school districts offer support to students
By Laura Onyeneho
Homelessness and children are two words that should never mix. With the impact of COVID-19 the transition to virtual learning, dealing with issues of mental and emotional health, and the struggle to meet academic grading standards, it is safe to say that children are dealing with a handful of challenges. But for some students who experience homelessness, there is a disproportionately higher rate of underachievement in schools. The homeless are a vulnerable population that is often hidden in plain sight. They often go without consistent food, housing or financial stability. With the rise in home evictions, natural disasters and unemployment amidst the pandemic, the increase of student homelessness is inevitable as the pandemic continues to widen the education gap. Blacks and Hispanics faced a number of disparities pre-pandemic and now with Houston school districts diving headfirst into in-person instruction, many homeless students might not be able to return. Sarah Grace, 61, survived Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The storm damaged her house, as she witnessed her ceiling collapse, leaving her and her then 8-year-old daughter to shelter in a garage turned makeshift den to protect them from the environmental elements and exposed pipelines. Grace was unemployed at the time, and was shocked to learn that the damages to her home were an estimated $100,000. For a short period of time, she stayed with her sister until she could figure out her next move. “I was devastated, mostly for my daughter. I felt helpless and she was so worried and I didn’t want the situation to affect her in school. Trying to provide her with a sense of normalcy was hard all while trying to reach out to FEMA for aid that wasn’t enough to cover the damages to my home,” Grace said. “The Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) was my saving grace and were very intentional in learning what my needs were.”
HOMELESS STUDENT CHALLENGES
According to a study by the Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice University (HERC), homeless students attending Houston ISD were: Attending 3.2 fewer days of school per year 18% more likely to drop out of school Slightly more likely to pass the STAAR exam in reading and, to a lesser extent, math. However, less likely to take exams. Students living in shelters were particularly likely to drop out of school.
Graced said it took four years for her house to be fully renovated with HAUL’s resources. During that period, she noticed some faults in the way her daughter’s school extended assistance for families. She attended a Houston area public school. “The school asked for families to call the office to get information to receive clothes and non-perishable food items. It turned out to be a chaotic situation because there were so many families in need who showed up to the school and many of them had different concerns that the school couldn’t provide,” she explained. “I needed medication, and the food options for many families I met didn’t meet their dietary standard. Schools in general should be more organized and intentional about what they were providing to families like HAUL. HAUL, for example, provided me with things like gift cards so I can purchase what I truly needed to take care of me and my daughter.” “Our biggest hurdle is trying to stay connected with these families because they are having financial difficulties, their phones are disconnected and they frequently move around,” said Lisa Jackson, senior manager of the HISD Student Assistance Program. “For the upcoming school year, we are trying to develop a student re-engagement center to intercept families on the cusps of homelessness and provide them resources to accommodate their needs.” As part of their Student Assistance Program, HISD will provide Metro passes for students and set up transportation services for students who attend HISD but live outside of the district, a servie critical for homeless stu-
RESOURCES HOUSTON ISD STUDENT
ASSISTANCE Lisa Jackson, Senior Manager ljacks14@houstonisd.org 713-556-6000
dents. They received a community donation of $20,000 to start their housing program helping 20 families struggling to meet housing criteria or to pay basic rental fees including deposits and first month’s rent. “Not only do we normally provide food, uniforms, backpacks and school supplies, but year-round, we are educating our staff and parents on what their rights are and inform families that we’re not going to call CPS on you because you are displaced. We are here to help,” Jackson said. The U.S Department of Education released nearly $600 million in funding under the American Rescue Plan Act’s Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) program to support students experiencing homeless. The Department’s approval of these funds recently gave states and school districts access to this critical funding before the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Texas received more than $81 million in its total ARP Homeless Allocation. States can provide services in light of the impact of the pandemic to help children participate fully in school activities consistent with the McKinney Vento Act, a piece of federal legislation related to the education of children and youth homelessness. Fort Bend ISD participates in a federal program that allows students to receive free breakfast and lunch every school day all year long with or without filling out
the application. The school district also has a program called “Share Dream” that runs out of their Collaborative Communities department to provide school and home necessities. “If a family shares with a school nurse or counselor that they have a lack of clothes, toiletries or school supplies, we have those available not only to our homeless students, but for anyone who may be in need,” said Lisa Coston, director of State and Federal Programs for Fort Bend ISD. “We even have a service directory on our website for families who may not be comfortable coming forward about their situations.” “We’ve opened up our McKinney Vento application earlier. Usually, it’s not available until the first week of school. But due to the federal ban on evictions expiring, we want to help families experiencing homelessness, going to hotels, or doubling up with family and friends to fill out these forms as soon as possible,” said Jennifer Sowells, homeless/foster care liaison for Fort Bend ISD. “They can get it to their campus counselor, get the kids enrolled, coordinate nutrition benefits and transportation with our social workers so that there will be an easier transition for the first days of school.” Laura Onyeneho covers the city’s education system as it relates to Black children for the Defender Network as a Report For America Corps Report For America Corps member. Email her at laura@defendernetwork.com
FT. BEND ISD HOMELESS AND FOSTER STUDENT PROGRAMS Lisa Coston, Director, State/Federal Programs Lisa.Coston@fortbendisd.com 281-634-1000
ALIEF ISD HOMELESS AND UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH SERVICE Ana D. Garcia, Homeless Liaison Asst. Ana.garcia@aliefisd.net 281-498-8110, ext 29072
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DN Business SMALL BUSINESSES
How to apply for relief funds in Harris County Defender News Service
It’s no question that small businesses are an essential and growing part of the economy. In the Houston area alone, nearly 97% of employers qualify as ‘small businesses,’ so Harris County announced it’s working to give back to those businesses in need. County Judge Lina Hidalgo recently discussed the start of the Harris County Small Business Relief Fund application period, where eligible companies can apply for grants between $5,000 and $25,000 until October 4, 2021. The county has approved a $30 million relief fund to support small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Relief Fund was established through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
and administered by LiftFund, a nonprofit that supports small business owners through funds and education. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria: • Located within Harris County • Registered as a business operating in Harris County • Must have 30 or fewer employees (including part-time, contractors, and full-time employees and owners) • In operation before April 2020 • Experienced negative impact on operations due to the pandemic • Annual revenue of less than $500,000 dollars in 2019 and 2020 • Be in good standing with the Texas Comptroller’s office with no outstanding tax obligations or liabilities
To apply, visit www.harriscountybusinessrelief.org.
Mayor Sylvester Turner joins members of Comcast as they announce their $11m commitment to Comcast RISE. Apply between Oct. 1-14 to be one of the next round of Comcast RISE businesses. Quy Tran Photography
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: RFP No. AS-ES 2021, Accounting Services – Employment Service Projects Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries, Inc. (ACAM) received a preliminary contract award from the Houston-Galveston Area Council for Workforce System - Next Generation Youth Services. Accordingly, ACAM hereby solicits proposals from qualified contractors of accounting services, registered to work in the state of Texas. Interested parties may obtain the RFP as of Friday, September 17, 2021 by visiting ACAM’s website (https://acamweb.org/funding-vendor-opportunities/) OR by contacting: Susan Young, via email syoung@acamweb.org, Phone 713-341-5336. For consideration ACAM must receive proposals no later than 12:00 PM CDT on Friday, October 1, 2021. See RFP for submission details. Proposals received late or incomplete will not be considered. ACAM reserves the right to negotiate with any offerors that submit proposals. ACAM complies with 2 CFR Part 200 and all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances for procurement.
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Public officials should not diminish this vital resource. To learn more about how energy helps your community, visit CommunityEnergyCenter.org
The Community Energy Center, a cooperative with the National Newspaper Publishers Association and National Association of Hispanic Publications Media, will provide information and perspectives on the integral role of the energy sector in daily life for American families in a wide range of communities.
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They are a legacy. It’s the place you become, where you’re uplifted by past generations. It’s your family’s history and newfound family’s future. It’s your HBCU. That’s why Xfinity recognizes the legacy, community, and importance of HBCUs. And now that gatherings are a little different, it’s time to reconnect to the culture. Just say, “HBCU,” into your Xfinity Voice Remote to experience more HBCU. Visit xfinity.com/blackexperience to learn more.
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HBCUs are more than an education
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DN Sports Prairie View cornerback Logan Jackson returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown with 3:39 remaining in the game to help the Panthers secure the 37-27 win over Houston Baptist.
Texans safety Justin Reid recorded four tackles, an interception and a forced fumble during the loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Sports Briefs
Houston Texans huddle up before an NFL football against the Cleveland Browns game in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, AP Photo/Rick Osentoski
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TEXANS? By Terrance Harris
Coming into the season, the Texans didn’t have a lot of great expectations put on them. But two games in, perhaps the low expectations were a bit hasty. The Texans (1-1) still aren’t a playoff team in our wildest imagination, but they appear to be a scrappy enough team to make games interesting this season. Let’s take a look at what we’ve found out and what we can expect going forward from the Texans in a few key areas. QUARTERBACK
There seemed to be little hope at the position where the Texans once had a bright future. With star Deshaun Watson presumably permanently out and journeyman Tyrod Taylor in by default, things didn’t look as promising. That is until the first two games where we have seen that Taylor is in fact more than serviceable. He can be a playmaker with both his arm and legs. What to expect going forward:
With Taylor in control, the offense can be effective attacking teams with his versatility. The question is can Taylor stay healthy? He has lost jobs to rookie quarterbacks after he suffered injuries in his last two stops in Cleveland and San Diego and during last weekend’s loss to the Browns
he suffered a hamstring injury that forced the Texans to turn to rookie third-rounder Davis Mills, who clearly isn’t ready. The Texans can win some games with Taylor running the offense. Without him, not so much. DEFENSE
Last season, the Texans couldn’t seem to stop anybody. But through two games the defense looks entirely different under first-year defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. The Texans are swarming to the ball and playing opportunistic football, and the results have been a defense that creates turnovers. After finishing dead last in the NFL in turnovers created last season with just nine, the Texans unit is close to equaling last season’s total with seven created turnovers. And that’s with 15 games still left to play. What to expect going forward:
Smith’s Tampa 2 4-3 defensive scheme is certainly much more fun to watch and creates disruption and confusion for opposing offenses. So look forward to more created turnovers this season. But while turnovers are a big part of the equation, so are tackling and figuring out how to get off the field. The Texans missed way too many tackles in the loss to the Browns and allowed running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to
gash them way too many times. That must be cleaned up quickly. THE RECORD
The Texans were seemingly given a gift with four games on the schedule against rookie quarterbacks. Even better, two of those matchups are in the AFC South against Jacksonville’s No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. You figured the Texans could finish 4-13 this season with the Patriots’ Mac Jones and the Jets Zach Wilson also on the schedule. But after two games, it looks like the Texans are definitely better than a four-win team this season. They seemed to be on an upset bid against the Browns before Taylor’s injury. What to expect going forward:
The outlook for the season changes considerably depending on the availability of Taylor at quarterback. Mills lacks Taylor’s experience and playmaking ability to make things happen when the play breaks down. But with Taylor in the game and the defense continuing to show growth, the Texans should sweep the rookie quarterbacks on the schedule, while also notching two wins against AFC South rival Indianapolis along with victories over Miami and the Cardinals. That will put the Texans at 8-9 for the season and in second place in the division behind Tennessee.
Could Watson play for the Texans? One of the more interesting thoughts that came out of Tyrod Taylor’s first-half hamstring injury in the loss to the Browns, is that the Texans may be Deshaun forced to turn to Watson Deshaun Watson. At this point that doesn’t seem viable, but with trade possibilities looking bleak for this season, could Watson, who is making $10 million this season, be activated at some point? Texans coach David Culley’s response, “We’ll have to see.” Chances are, if the Texans did activate Watson that would force the NFL to put him on the commissioner’s exempt list while the quarterback works through his numerous legal issues. Cunningham disciplined If you missed it, Texans starting linebacker Zach Cunningham was not on the field for the first quarter of the Browns games. David Culley revealed Zach Cunningham was Cunningham benched for disciplinary reasons. But when pressed to elaborate, Culley said, “That’s internal.” Rockets ready to move on from John Wall The Rockets and veteran point guard John Wall have mutually agreed that it is in both parties’ best interest to seek a trade for his services. The problem John Wall with that seems to be the Rockets inherited Wall’s hefty contract during the swap with Washington for Russell Westbrook. Wall is still owed $92 million over the next two seasons. There doesn’t seem to be a huge trade market out there for the 32-year-old veteran who has a knee-injury issue that kept him out of basketball for nearly two years until the Rockets acquired him last November.
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DN Sports
DE’MYA ROBINSON BELLAIRE SENIOR
LEADS THE CARDINALS
By Jodie B. Jiles
Despite maintaining a sub-par .500 record through the beginning of their tough non-district schedule, Bellaire has shown evident growth going undefeated during the first two weeks of district play. A big reason for the Cardinals’ success is none other than returning senior middle blocker/right side hitter De’Mya Robinson. At just under 6 feet, Robinson is a force to be reckoned with at the net as a striker and defender, leading her team in kill shot points. As a leader, Robinson is one of the most vocal on the court, communicating, educating and encouraging her teammates throughout matches, win or lose. The way standings are today, all roads show Robinson leading Bellaire to yet another consecutive Houston Independent School District (HISD) 6A District regular season championship come seasons end. When Bellaire head coach Nicole Blakeman was asked about her senior standout, Blakeman stated, “She always has so much spirit. She is the one leading cheers when our sub-varsity teams are playing. And she brings so much enthusiasm to the court.” The Defender spoke with Robinson about her playing style, leadership, net play and keys to success. STYLE OF PLAY “Competitive, passionate and passive aggressive.” LEADERSHIP “I bring the hype to the team. I get everyone excited with my play and personality.” NET PLAY “I try to work around the ball. I try to move the ball around a lot to help our team get the kills so that we can all perform together.” KEYS TO SUCCESS MOVING FORWARD “Our aggressiveness, our competitiveness and our working together as a team.” ABOUT DE’MYA ROBINSON IG: @demyaa_ Players She Studies: Asjia O’Neal (University of Texas) and Lauren Stivrins (University of Nebraska) Favorite Musicians: Drake, Brent Faiyaz and Bryson Tiller World Problem You Would Solve: Poverty Shoutouts: “My mom, coaches and my teammates.”
FT. BEND MARSHALL QB/ATH JA’KOBY BANKS IS INSTANT OFFENSE By Jodie B. Jiles
Even though Fort Bend Marshall’s junior quarterback/athlete Ja’Koby Banks goes by the nickname “The Joker” on twitter, this young man is no joke when it comes to creating offense on the football field. Whether it is using his arm or legs, Banks
is money for the number two-ranked Texas football team in Class 5A that is now averaging nearly 60 points a game in their first four victories. When Marshall head coach James Williams was asked what his junior quarterback adds to the roster, Williams stated, “He is a
natural leader that works hard every day. He wants to be great and the guys follow him.” The Defender spoke with Banks after his 72-0 victory over Northside to discuss his style of play, instant offense and more. For full story, visit: www.Defendernetwork.com
12 | September 23, 2021 |
DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Entertainment ‘You Got Anything Stronger?’
Gabrielle Union New memoir spills all
Defender News Service
In Gabrielle Union’s first book, We’re Going To Need More Wine, the actress was honest and vulnerable as she opened up about intimate parts of her life and experiences. Now, she’s getting even more candid with, You Got Anything Stronger? Union, who was recently in town for a sold-out stop on her book tour at the Fountain of Praise, discussed the deeply personal book and her stories about being sexually assaulted, colorism, and being Black in Hollywood. And of course, being married to basketball star, Dwayne Wade. In the book, Union reveals some life-changing moments, including when her husband confessed to having an affair with another woman and conceiving a baby with her. “To say I was devastated is to pick a word on a low shelf for convenience,” the 48-yearold wrote. “There are people — strangers who I will never meet — who have been upset that I have not previously talked about that trauma.” Union also wrote about the trauma and embarrassment and learning about it at a time when she was trying to conceive herself. Union said she had 8 or 9 miscarriages and multiple failed rounds of in-vitro fertilization. In 2016, she was diagnosed with adenomyosis, a uterine lining disorder. “It’s maddening. You get so focused on the thing that they’re saying that it is, and there’s not a lot I can do about being my age. When the reality is, it’s something that has nothing to do with that—it’s something that’s been plaguing me for over 25 years, and no one ever got to that issue,” she said in an interview with Health.“By the time I got the answer, it was just like, ‘Are you f---ing kidding me?’ Then, it went from shock to anger. Rage, really—an all-consuming rage. And then relief that it wasn’t me. I felt like there was a thing that I could tag as the problem other than myself. “The experience of Dwyane having a baby so easily while I was unable left my soul not just broken into pieces,” she wrote, “but shattered into fine dust scattering in the wind.” The couple was on a brief split in 2013, prior to their engagement that same year. The
actress confessed they were “not in a good place” at the time the baby was conceived. But she added they were in a “much better one” when he finally told her. “I have not had words, and even after untold amounts of therapy, I am not sure I have them now,” she wrote. “But truth matters.” The couple eventually choose to work through their issues privately and got married in August 2014. The two started dating in 2008. Union wrote that Wade worked to be forgiven every day and she chose to “love him and forgive him.” But she questioned if the woman she is now would have been able to take him back. “The advice I would give myself now is to leave,” she wrote. “The me of today would not have stayed with him, but would I be who I am now without that pain?” Despite the hardships, the couple has grown. Back in June, they launched a baby and diaper line called PROUDLY. In 2018, they welcomed their daughter, Kaavia, via surrogacy. Together they’re raising Zaire, 19, Zaya, 14, and Xavier, 7 from Wade’s previous relationships. “I went into writing this second book with the intention of leaving nothing on the table,” Union said. “So much has happened since We’re Going to Need More Wine, a lot more healing, more therapy, more perspective, and more freedom to be me. When you feel free enough to share in a real way, that’s where the true transformation and evolution happens, that’s where you build community and why I feel empowered to share these stories now. I hope readers are able to see and understand me and through these stories, see and understand parts of themselves.” You Got Anything Stronger is available wherever books are sold.
-Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Getty Images