FEATURE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLLEGE LOAN DEBT AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH P8
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BLACKS IN AMERICA Observing 400 years H PAGE 6
Volume 88 | Number 48 SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 |FREE
LOCAL LINA HIDALGO leads county Imelda recovery
P2 NATIONAL ROBERT SMITH expands student loan gift to parents
P4 Angela Bassett
H.S. SPORTS TREVON NEAL all speed at Wheatley
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Jharrel Jerome wins first Emmy
The young actor took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie at the 71st annual Emmy Awards for his role as Korey Wise in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series “When They See Us.”
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Clarence McKinney talks recruiting
The Texas Southern University coach is hoping the SWAC and MEAC can attract the elite African-American football and basketball talent as the schools did prior to the mid-1960s when Black athletes had no place else to go.
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Zinetta Burney and Judge Sharon Burney at the 2019 Houston jazz Festival.
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019
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Amber Guyger is on trial for killing Botham Jean.
Jury seated in trial of former Dallas cop Defender News Services Tropical Storm Imelda slammed Southeast Texas with rain, leaving five dead, numerous houses flooded and more than 10,000 vehicles damaged.
Five Black jurors, four Hispanic jurors, two white jurors and one Asian juror will see who will decide the fate of a white Dallas police officer on trial in the shooting death of a Black neighbor. Prosecutors contend that Amber Guyger was distracted by a phone conversation. Guyger’s attorneys argued that she fired in self-defense based on the mistaken belief that she was in her home and that Botham Jean was a burglar. Jean was in his living room on Sept. 6, 2018, when Guyger entered the apartment, which was one floor directly above her apartment, Hermus said. The shooting attracted intense national scrutiny for the strange circumstances and because it was one in a chain of shootings of unarmed Black men by white police officers. The trial’s outcome may hang on whether the jury believes that Guyger’s mistake was reasonable, according to legal experts. The jury will have to decide whether Guyger committed murder, a lesser offense such as manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide, or no crime at all.
Centers open for Imelda survivors Defender News Services
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that recovery resources are available to survivors of Tropical Storm Imelda. Two Local Recovery Centers (LRCs) are now open to help residents learn about various programs that can assist them. The centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at two locations: Kingwood United Methodist Church, 1799 Woodland Hills Drive, Room K 105 in Kingwood, and Grayson Community Center, 13828 Corpus Christi St. in Houston. Residents can find information on access to food and temporary housing, support for cleanup and debris removal, legal services and guidance on how to file insurance claims. The centers will be staffed by representatives of the Harris County
Community Services Department and various non-profit organizations, including the Red Cross and Baker Ripley. “As we begin our recovery from Tropical Storm Imelda, we want to make sure survivors have all the information they need to recover as quickly as possible,” said Hidalgo. “We know recovering from disasters is never easy, but what we can do is make sure we’re doing everything possible to help residents navigate the wide array of resources being made available by our community.” Residents who need cleanup assistance are encouraged to register their home with Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-451-1954. An Imelda Assistance Fund has also been established for residents who want to help the recovery effort. For more information on the fund and recovery resources visit ReadyHarris.org.
Award for Excellence
The University of Texas MD Anderson Center awarded Sheryl Harris, C.N.A. (center), the Julie and Ben Rogers Award for Excellence in Patient Care. She received a $15,000 check, and was joined by Peter W.T. Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson (left) and Regina Rogers, MD Anderson Board of Visitors member. The annual award recognizes employees who consistently demonstrate excellence in their work and dedication to MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer. Harris is a nursing assistant in Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson West Houston. “We all make a difference, even in the smallest ways,” said Harris. “I find that my first interaction with the patient is the beginning of this process. I ensure them that we are here to help them. I smile, offer comfort and laugh with them as we go through the journey together.” (Photo by Thomas Campbell)
localbriefs HISD PARENTS CAN BEGIN APPLYING FOR THEIR children to enter a school choice program for the 2020-2021 school year. HISD offers a comprehensive selection of magnet programs at 112 schools to meet students’ academic needs and interests, as well as program transfer options to every school in HISD. Upcoming School Choice Fairs are: Sept. 28, 9 a.m. to noon at Sterling Aviation ECHS, 11625 Martindale Road; Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to noon at Washington High School, 119 E. 39th St.; Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to noon at Sharpstown High School, 7504 Bissonnet St.; Nov. 16, 9 a.m. to noon at Milby High School, 1601 Broadway St.; and Feb. 15, 9 a.m.
to noon at Northside High School, 1101 Quitman St. To learn about testing qualifications and dates, visit HoustonISD.org/Vanguard or call Advanced Academics at 713-556-6954……..THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUING a partnership with Fresh Hub, a student-led program that provides people fresh nutritious produce, bread and other foods at no charge. The distribution events, held at Kashmere and Sunnyside Multi-service centers, target food deserts, areas with low-access to healthy food options. Fresh Hub, a project of Bellaire High School’s Future Problem Solvers Club, collects quality excess food from grocery stores and bakeries
and offers it free of charge through a collaboration with Second Servings. For more information visit freshhubhouston.com.……..THE PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY College of Agriculture and Human Sciences is hosting a College 101 Prep event, an informative workshop that will focus on multiple ways to secure scholarships and funding to help pay for college. The information is geared toward educators, parents and students. The workshop is free and open to the public but reservations are required. The event takes place, Saturday Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. For additional information call 936-2615165 or email jokankam@pvamu.edu.
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SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019
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Morehouse donation will also cover loans by parents lead and serve the community and to remember the spirit of the gift given to them by paying it forward to Robert F. Smith, the billionaire who famously support the education of future classes of Morehouse Men.” stated that he would pay off the student loans of In addition to the gift for the class of 2019, Morehouse’s graduating class of 2019, has also Smith is creating the Student Success Program, vowed to cover the debt the parents took on to designed to reduce help pay for their the adverse effects of children’s educasignificant student loan tion as well. debt of Morehouse In a letter students and alumni sent to parents, through donations to a Morehouse entire classes and indispokesperson said viduals. that Smith’s $34 Smith, the richest million donation Black man in America to the students of with a fortune of nearly Morehouse will $6 billion, has spent also cover the loans decades donating milparents took out in lions to schools and their behalf. charities. The gift will During his comcover the educamencement speech, tional expenses of Smith said, “Now, I about 400 students. know my class will In a statement, make sure they pay Morehouse said this forward. I want that 70 percent of Billionaire Robert F. Smith, CEO of Vista Equity Partners, is paying off the my class to look at its students took student loans of 2019 Morehouse grads. these [alumni] – these out loans in order to pay for school. The average student graduates with beautiful Morehouse brothers – and let’s make sure every class has the same opportunity going forward, $40,000 in debt. because we are enough to take care of our own comMorehouse president David Thomas said, “It is munity. We are enough to ensure we have all the our hope that our graduates will use their newfound opportunities of the American dream.” financial freedom to pursue their career goals, to Defender News Services
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU acknowledged that he let down his supporters – and Canadians of color – by appearing years ago in brownface and blackface. Yet the scandal’s fallout may be limited in a country without the harsh and still-divisive racial history of the neighboring United States. Trudeau, 47, is seeking a second term as prime minister in an Oct. 21 election. His leading opponent, Andrew Scheer of the Conservative Party, has assailed him as “not fit to govern” because of the revelations. But key figures in the prime minister’s Liberal Party have stuck by him. Many minority Canadians, increasingly active in politics and government, also seem ready to forgive Trudeau……… BEN CARSON IS UNDER FIRE FOR COMMENTS he made regarding transgenders. According to a number of sources who work closely with Carson, the Housing and Urban Development secretary made “dismissive” comments. Reportedly, at a recent internal meeting, three people said Carson expressed concern about “big, hairy men” trying to infiltrate women’s homeless shelters. They interpreted the comment as an attack on transgender women. Carson also reportedly vented that society doesn’t seem to understand the difference between men and women, according to two of the agency staffers. He reportedly went on a nostalgic spiel, reminiscing on a time when there were “just women and just men,” although one staffer reportedly debunked his views. His remarks visibly upset many of the roughly 50 HUD staffers who were present, and it caused at least one woman to exit in protest. Carson sent out an agency-wide email explaining his position and denied making “hateful statements” toward transgenders…….CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR CANDACE OWENS IS facing social media criticism after she testified before a congressional subcommittee that white supremacy would not make her list of 100 things impacting minority Americans. Hours later, a Department of Homeland Security report declared white supremacist violence a top threat.
Supreme court case examines teen sentences Associated Press
Lee Boyd Malvo, who terrorized the Washington, D.C. area in 2002 as one-half of a sniper team, is at the center of a case the Supreme Court will hear this fall. The justices’ eventual ruling probably will mean less for him than for a dozen other inmates who, like the now-34-year-old Malvo, were sentenced to life without parole for murders they committed as teens. At issue is whether Malvo Lee Boyd Malvo should be resentenced in Virginia in light of Supreme Court rulings restricting lifewithout-parole sentences for crimes committed by
juveniles. Regardless of the case’s outcome, Malvo isn’t leaving prison anytime soon. He’s serving four life-without-parole sentences in Virginia. He was sentenced to another six lifewithout-parole terms for shootings in Maryland. An appeals court ruled last year that Malvo should be resentenced in Virginia, the decision the Supreme Court will review. Malvo was 17 when he and John Allen Muhammad went on their sniper spree, killing 10 people. Muhammad was executed in 2009.
VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 48 SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler
Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers
Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison
Editors ReShonda Tate Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For digital subscriptions, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com/ subscribe. No paper subscriptions are available. All material covered by 2019 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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Jharrel Jerome honors Exonerated 5 at Emmys
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Defender News Services
harrel Jerome took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie at the 71st annual Emmy Awards for his role in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series, “When They See Us.” The 21-year-old portrayed a teenage and adult Korey Wise in the series, which told the story of the five Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly convicted of raping a white 28-year-old female jogger in New York City’s Central Park in 1989. An emotional Jerome accepted the award – his first Emmy win and his first nomination –by sharing his gratitude for a number of people, including his mother and DuVernay. He then honored the men who spent years behind bars before their convictions were vacated in 2002, after DNA evidence and a confession linked a convicted murderer and serial rapist to the crime. “This is for the men that we know as the Exonerated Five,” he said, before acknowledging Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana Jr., Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray and “King Korey Wise.” Wise, the oldest of the five, spent nearly 13 years behind bars. He has worked to raise awareness of wrongful convictions and institutional injustices. In 2015 he funded the Korey Wise Innocence Project at the University of Colorado Law School, a student-led volunteer program that investigates claims of wrongful convictions. DuVernay’s stunning four-part drama became the most-watched series on Netflix after its May 31 premiere. It earned 16 Emmy nominations, the highest number for any Netflix show this year. DuVernay said she was inspired to make “When They See Us” after Santana reached out to her on Twitter. “I’d known about these brothers’ case,” she said. “I was a teenager in Compton when they were teenagers in Harlem when they were going through what they were going through, so I felt connected.” “It’s a blessing,” added Wise. “It was all a dream to become a reality.” Jerome previously starred as Kevin in 2016’s Oscar-winning “Moonlight,” directed by Barry Jenkins. Actor Billy Porter was also honored as the first openly gay man to win an Emmy for “Pose,” an FX series about New York City’s nonconforming ballroom
Jerome (left) portrayed Korey Wise, one of the wrongly convicted Central Park 5, who later became known as the Exonerated 5.
Actor Jharrel Jerome won an Emmy Award for his role in “When They See Us.”
Director and co-writer Ava DuVernay was accompanied to the Emmy Awards by the real-life Exonerated 5.
Things to know about Jerome Defender News Services
Here are seven things to know about rising star Jharrel Jerome, a 21-year-old New York native of Afro-Dominican descent. 1. Attended LaGuardia High School in Manhattan. Like Omar Epps, Marlon Wayans, Wesley Snipes, Nicki Minaj and others, Jharrel attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he honed his craft as an entertainer. 2. Has an amazing relationship with his mother. Radoyka Jerome is Jharrel’s biggest fan. She attended the Emmy Awards with him, was one of the first he thanked during his acceptance speech and even has an Instagram account dedicated largely to celebrating all of his wins. 3. Landed his breakout role in “Moonlight” while still in college. When he landed his critically-acclaimed role of teenager Kevin in “Moonlight,” he was a student at Ithaca College pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
4. Wasn’t sure how the real Korey Wise would respond to his portrayal. Jerome recently revealed that he watched “When They See Us” for the first time with Wise and the rest of the exonerated men. While he admitted that he wasn’t sure how Wise would respond to his performance, he was humbled when Wise turned to him in tears and said “you’re Korey Wise now,” before the two embraced. 5. He also raps. During a recent radio interview, Jerome revealed that his love for the arts began with a love for hip hop and lyricism. He even did an acapella freestyle and a promise of music to come in the future. 6. Originally auditioned to play only teenage Korey Wise. After Jerome landed the role as young Wise in “When They See Us,” director Ava DuVernay was so impressed that she asked him to also read for the role of adult Wise. 7. Recently finished filming a project with Idris Elba. Jerome recently wrapped filming for a production with Idris Elba titled “Concrete Cowboys.” The film will make its festival debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020.
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019
BLACKS IN AMERICA
Observing 400 years Quad-Centennial: 1619-2019
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Association for the Study of African American Life and History to educate ome 400 years ago, people nationally about Africans first arrived the AAQC and about in America aboard a various aspects about the Dutch ship. Today, 400 years’ worth of hisconcerned citizens tory in the U.S. that literacross the country ally propelled America – including several into a position of global local individuals – have worked to leadership. draw more attention to what some are He even had audicalling the African American Quadence with members of Centennial (AAQC). the Congressional Black Dr. Jawanza Clark Bishop Kimathi Nelson Dr. Alvia Wardlaw In August 1619, approximately Caucus who introduced 20 Africans reached Port Comfort in Hampton, Va. House Resolution 40 to study reparations and the They were the first Africans on record to be forcibly impact of slavery on American life. settled and sold into slavery in what was then the North Dr. Alvia Wardlaw, director of Texas Southern’s American British Colonies. University Museum, sees the value in the AAQC. Though there is ample scholarship suggesting a “Has our journey from 1619 to this day been much older African/Black presence in the Americas, one filled with heartbreak and woe?” Wardlaw asked. 1619 is a date the vast majority of scholars point to as “Certainly. But so too has it been one of achievethe kick-off point for the mass enslavement of African ments of the human spirit – our human spirit – worthy human beings in what eventually became the United of acknowledgement and celebration, and deserving States. of the moniker, ‘miraculous.’” “One of the reasons the AAQC is significant is “Without stolen Black labor, intelligence, because our ancestors were in this land 157 years before creativity, ingenuity and genius the America you America became a country,” said Niara Dorsey, a local see now would not exist,” said Dr. Jawanza Clark, musician and college student. a former local pastor who is currently an associate “The people who tell us to ‘Go back to Africa,’ professor at Manhattan College and Union TheoOmowale Luthuli-Allen Maisha Walker questioning our citizenship, need to check themselves logical Seminary. because more often than not, our ancestors were here decades if not centuries before theirs.” “The fact that our contributions to the building of this country are not taught in schools is According to Kimathi Nelson, presiding bishop of the Shrine of the Black Madonna, 2019 a crime in and of itself, but this ignorance plays out daily in negative attitudes and beliefs about offers Black people a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. Black people. These negative views then become encoded into laws and policies that have “At the 100- and 200-year markers of our presence in America – 1719 and 1819 – the vast deadly consequences for our daily living.” majority of people of African descent were enslaved,” said Nelson. Realizing that the significance of the 400th anniversary of 1619 wasn’t on many commu“At the 300-year marker, Blacks across the nation suffered the ravages of the ‘Red Summer nity and organizational leaders’ radars, Nelson criss-crossed the country visiting organizations, of 1919.’ This year offers us a divine gift for reflection upon the meaning of our 400-year sojourn, institutions, conferences and universities to publicize it. enlightenment regarding our contributions to this nation and advocacy for policies and programs On May 1, 2017, Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) passed HR 1242 in the U.S. that better reflect an acknowledgement of our humanity and our citizenship.” House , and seven months later U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) got the companion bill In a nutshell, Nelson has sought to use the AAQC as a rallying point to marshal the energies passed in the U.S. Senate. The bill in question, 400 Years of African-American History Comof Black people to confront current challenges and spark a new era of consciousness and activism. mission Act, became public law on Jan. 8, 2018. Scott, like Nelson, hoped his efforts would inspire others to commemorate Black people’s contributions to this nation, even amid horrendous hardships. One local group that was THE IMPACT inspired, Sankofa 400 Points of Light, seeks to get Houstonians involved in the national comNelson participated in the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, a national gathering of some memoration. of the nation’s most progressive pastors and religious scholars, the Smithsonian Institute and the By ASWAD WALKER Defender
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Sank United Me also spearh It wa Ceremony Houston’s “The versity of H was inspire Rega and more a “Rais done with past, we sh lives.” Nelso resistance in the 2019 “In th back again workplace Nelson, wh Nelso Allen, that “The community and act as self-genera
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kofa 400 recently held a two-day “400 Years Commemoration” conference at Riverside ethodist Church on day one and at Emancipation Park and the following day. The event headed a movement to get more Blacks tracing their genealogy. as led by Joan Hubert, Texas educator; Ann Chinn, executive director of the Middle Passage y; and Omowale Luthuli-Allen, social activist and community involvement coordinator for My Brother’s Keeper, e event was really moving, especially the presentation by Dr. Chinn and the choir,” said UniHouston freshman Maisha Walker, who with several of her classmates attended the event. “I ed to learn more about my own family history.” arding next steps, Luthuli-Allen believes the 400-year marker should be less about celebration about action and education. sing awareness of our triumphs and tragedies in the past 400 years is only productive if it is the intent to improve upon our future lives,” Luthuli-Allen said. “Thus, as we review our hould be doing so with the intention of developing transformative projects that improve Black
on believes the goals for 2019 and beyond for Black people should be teaching the history of and resilience to our children, honoring our ancestors daily, organizing for and participating 9 and 2020 elections and fighting to protect Black women and girls. his way the AAQC can serve as a catalyst to inspire a new generation of activism to push nst the modern-day domestic terrorism our people face in the streets, in classrooms, at the e and everywhere else our humanity and our citizenship dare be questioned and belittled,” said hose church will convene a national Quad-Centennial Convention in Atlanta Oct. 4-6. on said the AAQC will come to a close during Kwanzaa 2019, but believes, like Luthulit the momentum will continue long after 2019 ends. e endgame has always been to raise the level of consciousness of the African-American ty,” Nelson said. “By making people aware of who we are as a people we can begin to think a people. This is the gift that keeps on giving. Once the consciousness torch is lit, it begins a ating process of personal discovery that leads naturally to group self-determination.”
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What millennials are saying To get another perspective on the 400th anniversary of Blacks in America, the Defender sought the opinions of three millennials, part of the generation born between 1982 and 2004. MALAIKA JABALI (award-winning writer for The Intercept, The Root, Essence Magazine and more) “Observing the 400 years that we have inhabited this land is a necessary reminder of both the great tragedy and triumphant spirit of Black Americans. We have experienced great loss through enslavement, debt servitude and institutional racism fueled by unfettered, capitalist greed. But this is not just a time to reflect on our tragic circumstances. This is a reminder to embody the spirit of ancestors – our freedom fighters, revolutionaries and dreamers to chart a path forward. “Enslavers captured our bodies, but they could not capture the resilience of Harriet, the boldness of Nat [Turner], the self-determination of Malcolm [X], the clarity of Martin [Luther King Jr.], the intelligence of Angela [Davis] and the organizing of Fred [Hampton]. This is a reminder that it is necessary to embrace a new value system that resists American individualism so that our descendants reading these words can say, in another 400 years, that we not only survived the Maafa [the disaster known as the trans-Atlantic slave trade], but we have thrived.” NIARA DORSEY (University of Houston Student, graphic design) “I see the observance of this 400-year period as a good Rev. Courtney Jones thing. It’s not a waste of time if we use it to gather information about the parts of our story that’s been left out of classrooms and books. Our people, regardless of age, need to know what we’ve done and what we’ve endured. This Quad-Centennial would be a waste of time, however, if we just settle for learning new information but we aren’t then moved to use it to help us make our situation as a people better moving forward.” REV. COURTNEY JONES (social activist) “Dr. Albert Einstein was quoted as saying, ‘Time is relative; it’s only worth depends upon what we do as it is passing.’ As a descendant of African people who were enslaved 400 years ago on this soil that I walk on today with no shackles on my ankles, no shackles on my wrists or neck, I am compelled to speak words of graciousness to my ancestors who died fighting to ensure that I wouldn’t have to. I don’t celebrate my ancestors’ enslavement 400 years ago. I celebrate the spirit of liberation that they walked in while the shackles were on their bodies.”
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019 defendernetwork.com
African-American college loan debt at an all-time high Defender News Service
Black college students are borrowing, owing and defaulting on educational loans more often than any other racial group. Reports say that it is currently at an all-time high. Higher education experts addressed the unfair impact that student loan debt is having on Black students during and after college. Jalil Mustaffa Bishop, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Pennsylvania said, “The problem is that student loans were presented as a false solution for current and future workers enduring racial capitalism, particularly Black people. Black degree earners, however, are uniquely underpaid, underemployed and unprotected.” Believing that the government has some responsibility to help graduates, he also stated, “This is a call for legislation to create good jobs — increase the minimum wage to a living wage, federally guarantee employment, provide universal health care and strengthen workers’ organizing power. We need labor policies that explicitly focus on empowering workers in sectors like care-taking and service work where Black people already are.” Bishop is not the only academician with an idea on what needs to be done. William A. Darity, a professor of economics at the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University conducted a study with Fenaba Addo, who is an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and found that student loan debt disparities are due to racial wealth disparities. They issued a joint statement saying, “We believe that in order to address the Black student debt crisis, we need to eliminate racial wealth inequality. The first approach will tackle the existing debt overhang that disproportionately burdens Black young adults. This can be accomplished via a program of loan forgiveness for all students holding loan debt associated with their college years.”
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110 miles of a Regional
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290 miles of BOOST and
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Former Texas Tech star killed Defender News Service
Andre Emmett, a former basketball player for Texas Tech, the NBA and the BIG3 league, was recently shot and killed in Dallas. Emmett was sitting in his vehicle in front of his home when he was approached by two men who pulled out a gun. An “altercation” began, and Emmett was shot as he tried to run away. He died at the hospital at the age of 37. A 6-foot-5 guard, Emmett was considered a
star at Texas Tech from 2001 to 2004. He was selected by the Seattle Supersonics in the 2004 and also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as the New Jersey Nets. Emmett’s family and friends struggled to make sense of the loss and said the father of two had no enemies. “This is a senseless tragedy, and we do not want it to go unsolved… if anyone knows anything, we’re asking that they reach out to the police,” said Emmett’s Aunt, Karen Oliver.
classifieds ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY / TIRZ NO.3 BAGBY STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The Downtown Redevelopment Authority (the “Authority”) / TIRZ No.3 will receive sealed bids for the Bagby Street Improvement Project, located in Downtown Houston, primarily the 200-1100 blocks of Bagby Street from Franklin to Dallas, then extending southward on West Dallas to Clay Street, plus the 400-500 blocks of Walker Street from Bagby to Smith. Bids will be received until 11:00 AM, local time on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 by the Executive Director, Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Bids received after this time will not be accepted. Bids are to be delivered to 1313 Main Street, Houston, Texas, 77002. Beginning 9:00 AM, Tuesday, October 1, 2019, Bidding Documents will be available at www.civcastusa.com. Any Addenda will be distributed through www.civcastusa.com. Bidding Documents may also be examined at the plan room of the Houston MBDA (Minority Business Development Agency) Business Center at 2302 Fannin Street, #165, Houston, TX 77002 or viewed online at isqft.com. A MANDATORY Pre-bid Conference will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, in the Authority’s Conference Room, 2 Houston Center, 909 Fannin, Suite 1650, Houston, Texas 77010. All bidders (general contractors) are invited to attend. Late arrivals will not be admitted to the Pre-bid Conference. Due to building renovations at 2 Houston Center, attending bidders should allow sufficient time for parking and access to the Authority’s offices. Bids will be ruled non-responsive if received from a bidder who did not attend the Pre-bid Conference. Bidders shall comply with City Ordinance 95-336 (March 29, 1995) and Executive Order No.1‑2 (June 14, 1995), and City of Houston Office for Business Opportunity for Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Procedures (June 1995). The successful Bidder will be required to make good faith efforts to achieve an M/W/S/DBE participation goal of 20 percent.
SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019 | DEFENDER NOTICE TO MISDEMEANOR ARRESTEES ABOUT CONSENT DECREE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN ODONNELL v. HARRIS COUNTY, 16-cv-1414-LHR
ODonnell et al. v. Harris County et al. is a class action lawsuit that was filed in federal court in 2016 claiming that the bail practices for misdemeanor arrestees in Harris County were unconstitutional. The parties have reached a settlement that they believe is fair to both sides. If you are a Class A or Class B misdemeanor arrestee currently subject to Harris County’s bail practices, then you are a member of the class. This notice explains the proposed consent decree and settlement, which are available at https://www.harriscountycao.org/bailsettlement and how you can tell the Court if you think the agreement is unfair. First, the consent decree gets rid of the prior secured bail schedule and requires that Harris County and the other Defendants follow a new local rule that ends the practice of jailing people because they are too poor to pay predetermined amounts of money. The rule makes sure that people charged with most offenses will be released promptly after arrest on a personal bond without having to see a judge. For those people falling into several categories of offenses, the rule ensures that they will have a prompt individualized bail hearing that meets strict constitutional standards. The rule ensures that no class member can be detained prior to trial unless the government makes a determination that such detention is necessary because no alternative conditions are sufficient to serve its interests in public safety or to prevent flight from prosecution. The rule ensures that such a determination can only be made after an adversarial hearing, notice, representation by counsel, the ability to present and confront evidence, and findings on the record by clear and convincing evidence. To read the rest of the provisions of the rule, please see Exhibit 1 to this Notice. Second, the consent decree includes a number of provisions designed to ensure that Harris County invests in support services, logistics, technology, and systems to ensure that the new bail practices function properly and are enduring, and that the system does not revert to unconstitutional customs and practices. These provisions include infrastructure investments to technology systems, investments in lawyers for indigent arrestees, investigative and social work services to assist indigent defense counsel, improved systems on court notification, new policies regarding nonappearance in court, and studying and investing in practices that mitigate nonappearance. Third, the consent decree requires the County to collect and analyze a wide range of data that will enable the public and the court to evaluate the improvements and whether they are protecting the rights of class members. Fourth, the consent decree puts in place a Court Monitor, who will scrutinize the County’s compliance with the terms of the consent decree and report back to the federal court, class counsel, and the public.
In addition to the consent decree, the parties have agreed to a settlement to resolve the Plaintiffs ’ remaining claims. As part of the settlement agreement, the County agrees not to oppose Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees requests in the amounts provided in the agreement, available at https://www.harriscountycao.org/bailsettlement. The amounts arrived at are $150,424.50 in costs and expenses and $4,540,399.90 in fees, which represents thousands of hours of work over more than four years of investigation and litigation of this important case. Some of the Plaintiffs’ lawyers have agreed to donate their fees, in an amount of $2,161,262, to the County to support implementation of the Consent Decree and provide other services to indigent misdemeanor arrestees. The court will hold a hearing on the fairness of the settlement on October 28, 2019 at 8:30 a.m., at the United States Courthouse, 515 Rusk Street, Houston, TX 77002, Courtroom 11-B. Misdemeanor arrestees can write to the Court about their opinions on the fairness of the proposed consent decree, settlement agreement, or the lawyers’ request for payment. Comments MUST include the case name and number, ODonnell et al. v. Harris County et al., 16-cv-1414-LHR, at the top of the first page. No later than October 11, 2019, comments must be filed with the court at the following address: Clerk of the Court United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, 515 Rusk Street, Houston, TX 77002. If you have questions, want additional information about the case, or want to share your experiences or views on the issues addressed in the case, please write the lawyers for the class at SUSMAN GODFREY L.L.P., 1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5100, Houston, Texas 77002. The proposed consent decree and settlement, are available at https://www.harriscountycao.org/bailsettlement
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019 defendernetwork.com
sports
C O M M E N TA R Y
Can HBCUs compete for Power 5 players?
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By TERRANCE HARRIS Defender
ne of the best high school quarterbacks in the nation – Bryce Young – recently switched his commitment from USC to Alabama. In the grand scheme of things it was a matter of the rich getting richer, but what if Young, an elite dual-threat quarterback recruit out of the Los Angeles area had dropped USC for Eric Dooley’s aerial attack at Prairie View A&M University? Some eyebrows might have been raised and some may have shifted uncomfortably in their seats at the very idea of an elite African-American athlete choosing an HBCU over a Power 5 (Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 or Southeastern Conference) school. That just doesn’t happen in today’s college athletics world. Clarence McKinney But what if the SWAC and MEAC could all of a sudden attract the elite African-American football and McClelland does think basketball talent as the schools did prior to the midHBCUs can compete with 1960s when Black athletes had no place else to go? Power 5 schools for elite “If you got the top guys each year to go athletes on a more fundamental HBCUs you would see the landscape change,” said level in much the same way as Texas Southern University football coach Clarence those institutions win battles for McKinney. The question is – is it realistic? The answer is resoundingly no. The Power 5 schools and their multimillion-dollar facilities and mega million-dollar TV deals have made it impossible for HBCUs to catch up. It is, however, an interesting discussion that was sparked by the Atlantic’s Jemele Hill’s recent story titled, “It’s Time for Black Athletes to Leave White Colleges.” Her premise is that Black athletes bring far more to the predominantly white institutions than they usually get in return. TSU and other HBCUs were once the only options for Black players. SWAC commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland would love to see the migration of Black athletes back to elite African- American students every year. HBCUs but he knows the challenges that are nearly “HBCUs have to continue to do what we have impossible to overcome. done in the SWAC for the past 100 years which is to “I think the reality of that is that with the say, `We are going to love you, from an educational money and the television exposure and all that goes standpoint you are going to have small class sizes. We into participating in a Power 5 with the national are going to treat you as one of us like family, we are championship game and things of that nature, the not going to throw you away if you make a mistake,’” reality of that happening is not that great,” McClelland said McClelland, former athletic director at TSU and said.
Dr. Charles McClelland
PVAMU. “We are going to be there for [them)] and we are going to continue to do the things that we’ve done for the past 100 years in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.” HBCUs have always turned out professional athletes, just not at the same rate as the Power 5. In recent years we have seen players like South Carolina State’s Darius Leonard be drafted in the second round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 and this year the Texans drafted guard Tytus Howard in the first round out of Alabama State. McKinney has a secret when it comes to recruiting elite athletes. “We evaluate them early, start recruiting them and we recruit them until they tell us no,” he said. “We continue a relationship with a lot of those kids because you never know what’s going to happen in a year or two if they decide to go somewhere else.”
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SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019 | DEFENDER
H.S. sports
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Wheatley running backs Buchanan, Neal create thunder, lightning By JODIE B. JILES Defender
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heatley senior running back Trevon Neal and backup running back/outside linebacker Mike Buchanan provide a one-two punch of power and speed in the backfield. During a 56-0 Lockwood Classic win over neighborhood rival Kashmere, the running attack was on full display. Neal rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns and Buchanan matched his teammate’s two scores later in the game. Buchanan also made an impact on the defensive line of scrimmage where he forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Wheatley head coach Cornelius McFarland expressed his admiration of his backfield. “Mike and Tre remind me of the duo that the New York Giants had a while back with Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber,” McFarland said. “One complements the other. Mike will pick up the hard yards and Tre is our home run hitter that will make you miss in open space.” The Defender spoke with the running back duo to discuss their approaches to the game, keys to success in the classic and their next matchup against North Forest. Defender: How would you describe your two very different styles of play at running back? Buchanan: I am just a hard nose runner. When I get the ball I have one mission – to get a touchdown. Neal: I’ve always known how to read the field with cutbacks and everything. So, when I get the ball, I first make sure I protect the ball, then I start scanning while I’m running. Knowing my speed if I can cut back with a little Trevon Neal crease, they’d better rushed for over 100 pray somebody can catch yards in me. the 56-0 Defender: In the open field, fans win against Kashmere had a chance to see your ability to break tackles. How are you able to break down your one-on-one matchups in the open field?
About Trevon Neal
Instagram: treway.6x Hobbies: Hanging with family and friends, shopping Shout-outs: “The school, the community that supports us and Boat Nose Rob”
About Mike Buchanan
Instagram: _miiike Favorite food: Mother’s chicken Alfredo Shout-outs: “My whole team, school, Fifth Ward, all my boys”
Neal: When I approach them, I see who it is first. My coaches taught me if they get close enough to wrap you up, swipe their hand down so they won’t get me wrapped up all the way, and I can break the tackle. Defender: After scoring 56 points and holding Kashmere to zero points, what were the keys to the dominant performances on the offensive and defensive side of the ball? Neal: The main thing that had us ready was social media where everyone was going back and forth. Also, we wanted to win because we wanted to bring the trophy back to the ‘hood in Fifth Ward. We focused, executed, and all that. Buchanan: On defense we were thinking we just have to win. We knew we had to do what we had to do to make sure that a win is was possible.” Defender: Both of you were a part of the 4x200m track team that won state last year. How does your experience in track help produce better performances on the gridiron? Buchanan: Every year our coach tells us, “Track is football’s wife. So, if you don’t run track you really don’t want to get better at football.” Defender: With North Forest next on the schedule, how do you foresee winning? Buchanan: Hard work and practice every day. Practice hard, play hard, and that’s all it is to it.
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Manvel receiver Jalen Paxton ‘the chosen one’
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Mike Buchanan forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. (Photos by Jimmie Aggison)
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 26 | 2019
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
HOUSTON JERK FEST……..Houston Jerk Fest, held at Midtown Park, not only Hernandez, Tonesha Borner, Melissa Sugiharto, John and Tisha Fletcher, offered a jerk seasoning cook off competition, but also a concert featuring international Brianna and Jonathan Guerrero and scores more……..2019 HOUSTON reggae artists Spragga Benz and Jahmiel, Soca artist T-Rock Again, and other JAZZ FEST……..The Houston Jazz Festival, a two-day affair, featured an regional live bands. Moreover, a vast array of food, arts & crafts vendors, food trucks impressive lineup of national and local jazz talent headlined by Houston’s own and child-friendly activities created a positive time for entire families. Attendees legendary flutist Hubert Laws and featuring the Houston Jazz Collective (Shelley included Jilian Larkin, Elle Synchronicity, Andrea Dunn, Vivia Beckford, Sandra Carrol, Bobby Sparks, Andre Hayward and Mark Simmons). Many other Beckford, Patricia Wollastan, Odwyer Hampton, Alexa McIntosh, Rita Henry, artists, including Kim Prevost, Doc Loc & the Swangers and the Summer Jazz Anju Gazader and many others……….TACOWORLD Workshop HSPVA Combo mesmerized audiences at the TACO FEST……..Houston’s top taco chefs and restaurants Defender TOP EVENTS Miller Outdoor Theater and Axelrad. To add even more flavor, were on full display recently on Navigation during this year’s the works of acclaimed Houston visual artist Jesse Lott were More photos on defendernetwork.com TacoWorld Taco Fest. Along with the state food of Texas, vendors featured onstage and enjoyed by event organizers Tierney of all kinds were available to patrons along with live musical Malone (Jazz Church of Houston), Sinbad (KPFT) and Chef performances and all-day jams being spun by the dynamic duo of DJ Freddy B and Tim (KTSU), and attendees like Victor and Piere Mitchell, Darryl Richards, Official Fuego. Their sounds created the soundtrack for the day, but it was the out- John Harvey, Greg Sandoval, Beverly and Lawrence Johnson, Vanessa and of-this-world tacos that truly ruled. Attendees included Italo Johnson, Demetrise Maurice Techeira, Zinetta Burney, Judge Sharon Burney, Cora Ledet, Jackie Dunn, Maisha Walker, Shawneea Harrell, Michelle Moreno, Araceli Washington and many, many more.
Elle Synchronicity, Adrianne Walker
DJ Freddy G, Official Fuego 2
Sinbad, Tierney Malone
Keisha Tuitt, Macosa Milliner, Rosie Williams
Tonesha Borner, Melissa Sugiharto
Beverly Johnson, Lawrence Johnson
Rita Henry, Anju Gazader
Quinn Richardson, Dietrick Richardson
Zinetta Burney, Judge Sharon Burney
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