It was a night to remember as Megan Tee Stallion, the “Savage” herself, took her place alongside Queen Bey during the highly anticipated Houston leg of the “Renaissance World Tour” on Sept. 23 and 24.
Beyoncé had a thrilling surprise in store for her fans – a live performance of the iconic “Savage Remix” featuring none other than Megan Tee Stallion herself. Te electric atmosphere in their shared hometown reached unprecedented heights as these two powerhouses shared the stage for the very frst time. She graced the stage in an eye-catching camoufage ensemble, delivering her verses with trademark swagger. Megan took to her Instagram, where she has over 31 million followers, to share glimpses of her show-stopping look.
Laura Onyeneho
the sparks are fying as the show delves into the lives and love stories of these Houstonians.
As we all know, the Bayou City is a melting pot of cultures, and this season promises to showcase the unique blend of romance and resilience that makes Houston such a dynamic and passionate city. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to witness the action. I know Black folks are the frst ones to see if Black love will prevail on this series.
Usher to headline NFL Super Bowl in 2024
Usher has another “Confession.” Te Grammy-winning music sensation is all set to dazzle fans as the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl Halfime Show in Las Vegas.
Her journey to this extraordinary collaboration has not been without its challenges. She temporarily stepped out of the limelight in the afermath of the Tory Lanez trial, where Lanez was found guilty of three felony counts for his role in injuring Megan. Despite facing unwarranted backlash and hate, Megan’s resilience and undeniable talent have continued to shine through.
Plus, when you have Beyoncé telling the world that she loves and supports you in front of millions, that pretty must cancels out all the negative comments, don’t you think?
Love is in the air as Netfix’s hit reality dating show, “Love Is Blind,” returns with Season 5. Tis time, the spotlight is on the diverse and hopeful singles of Space City, where the intrigue lies in making heartfelt connections without laying eyes on their potential soulmates.
Tis season, Houston is the backdrop for a fresh batch of singles from all walks of life, bringing together an exciting mix of personalities, backgrounds, and, of course, chemistry.
Love, drama and suspense are in the air as our local stars navigate their way through the thrilling experiment. Already,
In a statement, the 44-year-old music legend said, “It’s an honor of a lifetime to fnally check a Super Bowl performance of my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before.”
Usher is currently in the middle of his hugely successful “Usher: My Way” residency in Las Vegas. Te residency has had sold-out shows and rave reviews showcasing his unmatched talent and showmanship. Te Las Vegas stint is expected to culminate in early December, paving the way for his highly anticipated Super Bowl halfime appearance just a few months later.
Since the 90s, Usher has consistently delivered hit afer hit, solidifying his status as a true music icon. His upcoming Super Bowl performance is not only a testament to his enduring popularity but also a well-deserved recognition of his immense talent and contribution to the music industry. Tis is another win for the OGs this year!
On the Web
• All the fashions from Beyonce’s Renaissance tour
• Survey: Has racism impacted your health?
• Sports Reporter Jimmie Aggison highlights two volleyball players who went from friends to staunch competitors.
In a rallying cry for education reform, State Representative Jolanda “Jo” Jones, has taken the reins in confronting the pressing education crisis gripping the Houston Independent School District (HISD). Amidst growing concerns and escalating challenges, an emergency education summit took place at the Historic St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
This gathering served as an immediate response to the recent intervention by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in the management of HISD, a move that has sent shockwaves through the community.
Jones says the time is ripe for teachers, students, parents, and HISD employees to unite in candid discourse. Te summit sought to dissect the current educational landscape and shed light on the barriers that TEA has imposed within the largest school district in Texas.
Dialogue began with open statements from HISD’s elected board of trustees, Dr. Patricia K Allen, District IV, Myrna Guidry Esq., District IX, Kathy Blueford-Daniels, District II, and Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers.
“Te purpose of this summit is to fnd out what the problems are directly from the people who are afected and to provide a safe space to do so,” said Jones. “We can’t start of with an action plan without understanding the issues and do the information gathering.” While the state-appointed Board of
Managers hosted multiple community meetings this month, some residents found these interactions to be unproductive, citing a lack of infuence in the face of massive changes being implemented by HISD superintendent Mike Miles.
“It is my responsibility to my constituents, to the people in my community, to be on the battlefeld,” said Blueford-Daniels. “We are not just rolling over.”
Allen echoed this sentiment.
“If you have a need for us and you want us to do something and you know the Board of Managers is not listening, we [elected ofcials] are still listening,” Allen added. “We
do communicate with some of the board of managers, and the superintendent. Even though he doesn’t really listen to anybody, he does try to reach out to us.”
A wide array of issues were addressed during the summit, ranging from the “pay-for-performance” model that ties teacher compensation to student test scores to concerns about charter school vouchers, school funding, and the expanded powers granted to Miles, which include the ability to spend signifcant sums of money without board approval.
“As you can see, they are getting rid of all the board policies. They [Board of
Managers] are rubberstamping whatever Miles is requesting from them and not asking the proper questions and certainly not coming to the community and getting your feedback,” said Guidry. “Tat’s the role of a board member. Miles has an agenda, and he has made it abundantly clear that you don’t follow that agenda then you can go.”
In August, Te Houston Federation of Teachers took legal action against Miles, aiming to halt the implementation of his initial teacher evaluation system. Te union contended that these evaluations were being enforced in violation of the law, as they had been formulated without the necessary input from Shared Decision Making Committees, a legal requirement in the state. Recently, the union decided to withdraw its lawsuit against Miles and the Board of Managers. Tis move came afer the board’s decision to return to the state’s standard teacher evaluations for the remainder of the school year.
“This takeover is about power and money,” said Anderson. “I have my members calling me in agony and despair, afraid and being tormented and harassed. Basically, Miles is making their lives a living hell. Te only time he’s backed up was when we fled the lawsuit.”
As the summit concluded, community members lef with a call to action:
- Write the Department of Justice and Department of Education
- Be present at rallies
- Go vote in your local and state elections
By Aswad Walker
Recently, a block away from the Houston NAACP Branch Headquarters, images of “strange fruit” were hanging from trees. More specifcally, what appeared to be Black bodies, were seen hanging from the tree of a Tird Ward resident. Te display was supposedly Halloween decorations.
“Strange fruit” is the term used to describe Blacks who were tortured, beaten, castrated, mutilated and eventually murdered/lynched. Most, though not all lynchings, ended with a Black person being hung from a tree, light pole, bridge, etc.
Te late Billie Holiday ran afoul of U.S. ofcials because she refused to stop singing her song “Strange Fruit” in her bold attempt to raise awareness of the heinous crime of rampant U.S. lynchings of Black people; a crime that was mostly ignored by local, state and federal authorities from the 1870s to the 1960s. In fact, in most cases, local, state and/or federal authorities, especially law enforcement, were leading members of the lynch mobs guilty of inficting this particular brand of white domestic terrorism upon Black people and Black communities.
According to a statement released by the NAACP Houston Branch, “Tis would be immeasurably insensitive and racist
on anyone’s private property; but the fact that these residents hung the ofensive display on city property was illegal and unacceptable. Tankfully, with the infuence of city ofcials and activists, the nooses have been taken down.”
“Every Houstonian, Texan and American should be outraged by the ‘strange fruit’ displayed in Houston,” added Houston NAACP Branch President Dr. James Dixon.
According to a report issued by the Equal Justice Initiative, between 1877 to 1950, 4,440 lynchings were recorded in the United States. Most historians agree that those numbers grossly underestimate the number of persons murdered during that period by white domestic terrorists.
Te same day the NAACP was made aware of the “decorations,” so too was District D City Councilmember Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who spoke with the homeowner who put up the “decorations.”
According to Evans-Shabazz, afer she explained to the homeowner that those decorations were viewed by most Blacks as ofensive, she said he didn’t seem to care, and was abrasive during their conversation.
When a city ofcial determined the “decorations” were in fact on city property, they were cut down.
Afer a public outcry, community activists removed what they described as “racist Halloween decorations” last Saturday in Third Ward.
Photo courtesy of NAACP Houston.
“Tankfully, with the infuence of city ofcials, including HPD, Councilmember Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and activists, including leadership of the New Black Panther Party, led by Candice Matthews and Quanell X, and calls made by the Houston NAACP, this issue was addressed and the nooses were removed,” said Dixon.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is drawing ire afer announcing that he is switching to the Republican Party, making the city the largest in the U.S. to be led by a GOP mayor. Although mayoral ofces in Texas are nonpartisan, the switch is a boost for Texas Republicans who have been losing ground around the state’s major cities for more than a decade. Johnson was elected mayor in 2019 afer serving more than a decade as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives. Making the announcement in an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Johnson said he was never a favorite of Democrats in the Capitol and called on mayors to champion “law and order” and fscal conservatism.
“Tis is hardly a red wave. But it is clear that the nation and its cities have reached a time for choosing,” Johnson wrote. “And the overwhelming majority of Americans who call our cities home deserve to have real choices—not ‘progressive’ echo chambers—at city hall.”
Defender News Service
Texas continues to be a hotbed for extremism and antisemitism, driven by the heavy presence of white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ+ groups that are headquartered or active in the state.
Tat’s according to a recent report by the Anti-Defamation League that examined nearly three years of “alarming levels of extremist ideology and activity” in Texas, and suggested a handful of policies to combat the growing problem.
Texas also led the nation in white supremacist propaganda last year; had the most residents charged in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection; and, in March, saw a neo-Nazi and extreme misogynist gunman kill 8 people at an Allen shopping mall.
Other fndings:
*Antisemitic incidents in the state jumped by 89%,
*Six “terrorist plots,” 28 “extremist events” such as training and rallies
*Patriot Front, founded by Texan Tomas Rousseau was responsible for roughly 80% of all white supremacist propaganda incidents nationwide.
Te ADL report also notes the uptick in neo-Nazi activity in the state, specifcally at anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrations. Experts have for years warned that extremist groups are using “groomer” panic as a way to recruit, and neo-Nazis have been a fxture at anti-drag rallies that have been organized by groups with close ties to Texas lawmakers.
Also driving the surge in extremism, the report found, is the heavy presence of anti-immigrant and “vigilante”
groups that have been active on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Te report follows years of warnings that extremist groups have been emboldened by the Republican Party and its amplifcation of things such as “great replacement theory,” a white supremacist conspiracy theory that claims there is an intentional, Jewish-driven efort to destroy white people through immigration, interracial marriage and the LGBTQ+ community.
Tat conspiracy theory — and corresponding violence — has been bolstered by frequent depictions of immigrants as “invaders” by major fgures such as Tucker Carlson and Gov. Greg Abbott.
Te ADL also noted that Texas has hosted numerous conferences on QAnon. Pillars of the conspiracy theory — including the belief in a secret globalist cabal that sacrifces and rapes children — borrow heavily from centuries-old antisemitic tropes that have historically led to bloodshed, including by the Nazis.
Despite the myriad warnings about the conspiracy theory’s dangers, prominent Republicans — including Sen. Ted Cruz, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and former Texas GOP chairman Allen West — have appeared with major QAnon fgures.
Te ADL also suggested “nonpartisan” policies that they said would help stem the growing extremism and violence. Tey include: a commission to study domestic violent extremism, create annual assessments; and provide clear statistics on hate crimes; mandate that law enforcement agencies report hate crimes to the FBI; and “hold social media platforms accountable” by creating a task force to study and address online extremism.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott quickly welcomed Johnson into the party. The mayor of neighboring Fort Worth, Mattie Parker, is also a Republican, giving Texas two of the nation’s largest cities with GOP leaders.
“Texas is getting more Red every day,” Abbott posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Johnson is in his second and fnal term as mayor, which runs through 2027. As a state lawmaker, Johnson made headlines over his successful eforts to remove a plaque in the Texas Capitol that rejected slavery as an underlying cause of the Civil War. His push at the time occasionally put Johnson and Abbott in confict over discussions to remove the marker.
Texas Democratic Party expressed a lack of surprise in the switch.
“But the voters of Dallas deserved to know where he stood before he ran for reelection as Mayor,” the party said in a statement. “He wasn’t honest with his constituents, and knew he would lose to a Democrat if he fipped before the election.”
VOLUME 92, NUMBER 46 - SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
Publisher | CEO
Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Strategic Alllance
Clyde Jiles
Digital Content Manager Get Current Studios
Managing Editor ReShonda Tate
Associate Editor Aswad Walker
Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho
Sports Terrance Harris
Jimmie Aggison
Social Media
Jordan Hockett
Ad Executive
Jodie B. Jiles
used for nonrecurring closing costs including title insurance, recording fees, and in certain situations, discount points may be used to lower the interest rate. The grant cannot be applied toward down payment, prepaid items or recurring costs, such as property taxes and insurance. Borrowers cannot receive program funds as cash back.
3 Additional information about the Down Payment program: Down Payment program is available with one mortgage product. Program funds can be applied toward down payment only. Borrowers cannot receive program funds as cash back in excess of earnest money deposits. Down Payment Grant program may be considered taxable income, a 1099-MISC will
herself. She had the ability to take a dollar and make it work. And I watched her manage a large portion of my life. And the whole thing was for her, ‘I know what I don’t have, but I know what I got, and we gonna make it work.’ So I came to City Hall and applied the same principles, but I’m proud of the fact that we balanced eight budgets.
DEFENDER: Is there anything that you were unable to accomplish during your tenure, that you wish you had been able to?
Since taking ofce in 2016, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has managed signifcant challenges facing the nation’s fourth-largest city, including budget defcits, homelessness, police reform and natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 global pandemic.
As the city’s 62nd mayor, Turner is in the fnal months of his second term. He sat down with the Defender to talk about everything from his biggest challenges, accomplishments, legacy and more
DEFENDER: Whatwouldyou sayare yourthreebiggestaccomplishments duringyourtenure?
SYLVESTER TURNER: Tat’s kind of tough. When I frst came in from a fnancial
point of view, pension reform had been plaguing the city for 20-plus years. An unfunded pension liability of $8.2 bil was going in the wrong direction. We tackled that in the frst two years, brought all the unions and business groups together. Now the funding liability is under $2.2 bil, and it’s going down. Also, balancing the eight budgets. I’ll turn over to the next mayor a fund balance that is signifcantly greater than the $160 million defcit I inherited.
So from a fnancial point of view, I’m proud of that. During my term, we have faced seven federally declared disasters, more than any mayor in the city of Houston. And that’s not counting COVID and social civil unrest like the murder of
George Floyd. And in 2023, extreme hot weather and water main leaks. But we’ve managed through all of those events and the city is still standing and moving forward.
I’m proud of that. And then, complete communities, where we identifed 10 communities that have been underserved and under-resourced for decades. And we’re investing in and transforming those communities. Tat includes housing, afordable housing parks, green space, and economic job opportunities.
DEFENDER: What are some ofthe biggest challengesyou faced?
TURNER: Climate change is one. Te reality is storms are coming with greater frequency,
TURNER: Tere are many things. I wish I had more time for complete communities. You don’t reverse decades of disinvestment in eight years. You can start the process of investing and transforming, but that’s not something that will be completed in eight years. So I wish I had more time. From a public safety point of view, we’ve dealt with those issues, but it’s never one and done. I’m looking at 16 to 24 years, primarily brothers of color, that are throwing their lives away. And I don’t want to give up on them, and we shouldn’t, and you gotta fight for them. But when you look at our crime stats, that age group between 16 and 24, primarily brothers, males of color, they’re driving those numbers. Tere are about 20,000 gangs. So what I said to the people in my city, on my team, for every gang member when it comes to hiring and summer internship, we need to be able to provide meaningful summer jobs. When I came in as mayor, the summer internship program was for 450, all working for the city of Houston. Tis summer we got that up to 20,080 paid internships. I’m very proud of that.
In 2024, we are building the largest urban solar farm in that neighborhood. It will be a game changer. Taking a school in Acres Homes and turning it into what we called fnancial empowerment, focused on innovation. I’m very proud of that, seeing what’s happening in those neighborhoods. So, for me, the legacy that should make people’s lives better. And instead of being an incrementalist, you are transformational in your leadership, if that’s the tagline, you know, I’m good.
DEFENDER: How do you feel about how you’re leaving the city for your successor?
TURNER: I feel pretty good about that. We are leaving the city in much better shape than we inherited. I say we because it’s been a team. I have people who have been with me for that full eight years. Te next mayor will come in with a budget surplus of more than $400 million. Hell, I wish I had. The next mayor’s not gonna have to deal with the pension crisis. We will hand the baton to the next mayor and his or her team better than the city that I inherited. And we wish them well.
DEFENDER: What’s next for you?
greater intensity, and costing us more. And no one city can adequately address climate change. Four months into my first term was the tax day flood, 2017 was Harvey, 2019 was a tropical storm, February 2021 was a winter storm, the list goes on and on. So those are the challenges because those are things that you don’t just sit down and plan when you’re creating your priorities. Tose are things that come in addition to all the priorities that you have named, but you can’t just ignore your priorities. So you have to deal with the storms and you have to advance your priorities. Tat’s a major challenge. And then when I walked in day one, $160 mil was saying, fnd me. But I will tell you, in eight years, we never laid of one single city employee. We managed the budget. And I credit my mama, this maid who was the CEO of nine kids, who she raised by
DEFENDER: As you wind down your term,what do you want your legacy to be?
TURNER: Impactful. I grew up in the hood. If some kids in communities of color, for example, have been inspired to go beyond what they were thinking, I’m good. Prenatal care for every employee now in City Hall that didn’t have it before. I’m good with that. Every employee, every subcontractor at the city making at least 15 dollars an hour, those are the things that are important. When I came in, what was critically important was investing in communities that have been underserved and under-resourced for decades. And now when you look at the landfll that we are building in Sunnyside, taking a landfll that had shut down that community for 50 years.
TURNER: To be candid, I’m not ready to leave. I told my team we’re working up to Dec. 31. I don’t know what’s next. I’m not running for ofce. I’ve ruled that out. Some people are trying to get me to do something in 2024. I say, no. I need my own break. I am trying to fnish up this book that I’m working on. I do think that there comes a point in time in which you just have to say the seasons are changing. Take a break. So my season is changing, and sometimes, and I’ve come to the reality that sometimes the best time to move away is when people want you to stay. And when you want to stay, that’s the best time to wave goodbye. So, on Dec. 31, I’m waving goodbye. And even now, what I’ve said, God, wherever you want me to be, I’m available. But I do think there comes a point in time when sometimes you just need to sit and just be refective and then say, what’s next? Life has a way of causing you to be more refective and put things in their perspective. I’ve given 35 years of my life to public service. Maybe it’s about time now for me to reclaim a little bit for me.”
See the Mayor’s photo gallery through the years
I’ve given 35 years of my life to public service. Maybe it’s about time now for me to reclaim a little bit for me.”
SYLVESTER TURNER Mayor of Houston
Tink of the phrase “racial healing,” and students sharing plates of tandoori or tikka masala in a college dorm room probably don’t come to mind. Perhaps as unlikely: Tat repairing centuries of trauma involves cadets at a once-segregated Southern military academy or a circle of people discussing their great-grandparents’ birthplaces.
Yet those scenarios, others like them, and the conversations around them, are elements of events happening in Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Centers, a network of facilitators and programs designed to help undo harmful stereotypes, rewrite damaging narratives, and train people to dismantle toxic racial hierarchies at the grassroots level.
Sponsored in part by the American Association of Colleges & Universities, Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Centers host a broad range of programs, workshops, and “healing circles” that tackle racism and the disparities that stem from it, says Dr. Tia Brown McNair, AAC&U vice president for diversity, equity and student success equity and inclusion and TRHT Campus Centers executive director.
“It’s necessary work because the false belief in a hierarchy of human values still exists within our country and within our systems, structures, policies and practices,” McNair says. “As long as that still exists, there is a need for us to continue to do the work.”
Adapted from a fvepoint framework the W.K. Kellogg Foundation developed in 2016 with civic leaders and academics, the program aims to establish a basis for lasting change that pivots from confict and division towards healing through facilitated dialogue, workshops and exercises.
Based on fve main concepts — narrative change, separation, economy, racial healing, and law — campus groups discuss everything from generational trauma to economic disparities and mass incarceration,
according to the foundation’s web page. Setting aside blame and castigation, participants are encouraged to share personal experiences, embrace history and practice empathy through “deep listening,” with an eye on achievable, real-world goals.
“Te THRT efort is not about blaming one identity group as being the reason as to why another group is experiencing harm,” McNair says. “TRHT is about focusing and helping. It’s about healing and listening to one another, and engaging in deep listening and empathy and understanding our interconnectedness and our common humanity.”
According to the Kellogg Foundation, at the heart of TRHT is “community-led collaboration that is cross-racial, intergenerational, and cross-sector.” And although the Kellogg Foundation initially deployed the TRHT framework to civic leaders from Bufalo to Los Angeles, the AAC&U signed on as a partner in 2017 afer hearing that campus conversations around racial confict had taken a disturbing, us-vs-them turn.
Seeing an opportunity amid the crisis, McNair and an AAC&U team, along with Dr. Gail Christopher, an esteemed facilitator, helped design a college-level version of the TRHT framework. It was an important decision: for most students, post-secondary education is a transitional period in life in which they are ofen more open to new ideas and perspectives.
Te Citadel, a military academy in South Carolina, is rewriting its history to include stories of enslaved people working at the school.
that encourage participants to speak about their family ancestry to promote empathy and shared experiences.
With grant money from the Newman’s Own Foundation, the program currently has 70 host institutions serving as partners, each operating off a general framework made unique to each community.
At Rutgers University, broader campus discussions began afer three students involved in TRHT work — one white, one Muslim, and one Hindu — shared impromptu meals in their dorm rooms, sampling each other’s traditional foods.
At the University of Maryland-Baltimore campus, TRHT meetings include prompts
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is planning to issue the procurement documents listed in this advertisement.
RFQ No. 4023000226: Pre-Employment Physical Examination Services. Solicitation will be available on or about 09/25/2023. Prospective bidders/proposers can view and download these solicitations by visiting METRO's website at ridemetro.org/Open Procurements. If you are unable to download the documents or are having difculty, please contact 713-615-6125 or email Contracts/Property Services at propertyservices@ridemetro.org.
Notice to Responders
The Houston Independent School District is soliciting Request for Proposals (RFP) via the District’s electronic bidding portal. Proposers may login to view specifcations and submit their responses at the following link https://houstonisd.ionwave.net/Login.aspx until 12:00 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, November 1, 2023, for the following solicitation:
RFP 23-06-12 Horizontal/Vertical Louver Blinds and Installation.
Pre-proposal conferences via Microsoft Teams will be held in conjunction with this RFP. Information regarding dates, times, and instructions to receive a link to join the meeting can be located within the electronic bidding portal under the “Event Details” tab specifc to this solicitation.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is planning to issue the procurement documents listed in this advertisement.
IFB No. 4023000221: Amegy Parking Garage Demolition. Solicitation will be available on or about 09/20/2023.
Prospective bidders/proposers can view and download these solicitations by visiting METRO's website at ridemetro.org/Open Procurements
Tis story was produced in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and originally published by Word in Black. Read
If you are unable to download the documents or are having difculty, please contact 713-615-6125 or email Contracts/Property Services at propertyservices@ridemetro.org.
It’s necessary work because the false belief in a hierarchy of human values still exists within our country and within our systems, structures, policies and practices.
As long as that still exists, there is a need for us to continue to do the work.”
DR. TIA BROWN MCNAIR
Former Houstonian Dr. Demetria “Dee” Shabazz, Ph.D. of Amherst, Mass., died Sept. 11 at age 56. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, Sept. 30 at Most Holy Redeemer in Hadley, Mass. A public celebration of life is planned for Oct. 26.
She is remembered as an educator, community volunteer, social justice advocate, oral historian and videographer who touched countless lives.
Te Galveston native and University of Houston graduate was a student journalist with the Houston Defender. She worked to help preserve the Freedmen’s Town historic district in Fourth Ward and was one of the co-founders of the Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum. She was also actively involved with SHAPE Community Center.
She received a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Alabama. In 2005 she and her husband Dr. Amilcar Shabazz accepted positions at Oklahoma State University. In 2007 she became an assistant professor in the University of Massachusetts Department of Communication. She was a member of the National
Council for Black Studies and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, co-chair of Amherst’s Community Safety and Social Justice Committee and founder/CEO of Seven Generations Movement Collective, LLC.
Survivors include her husband, mother, two children and a brother and sister. In lieu of fowers, donations may be sent to: Sankofa Gumbo, 330 New Africa House, 180 Infrmary Way Amherst, Mass., 01003.
Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of South Africa’s inaugural democratically elected President and global icon Nelson Mandela, recently succumbed to cancer at the age of 43.
Te younger Mandela had garnered recognition for her candid accounts of her battle with cancer, offering a poignant insight into her treatment journey. She was equally forthright about her history of drug addiction, shedding light on issues many faces in silence.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation expressed deep reverence for her work, stating that she inspired cancer awareness and played a pivotal role in dismantling the stigma associated with the disease. Mandela was a champion for cancer awareness, bravely shared her struggles with depression, and disclosed that she had endured childhood sexual abuse. Additionally, she proved at the forefront of the cause of improved road safety afer a tragic car accident claimed the life of her 13-year-old daughter in 2010. Tragically, she also lost a prematurely born son. Mandela leaves behind four children.
]Hailing from the lineage of Nelson Mandela’s second wife, Winnie, Mandela penned her remarkable journey in her autobiography,
When Hope Whispers. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 32, she initially went into remission, only to face a recurrence of the illness. Last year, she revealed the disheartening news of cancer’s presence in her liver and lungs, subsequently spreading to other vital organs. Tough she received outpatient care, Mandela checked into a hospital over a week ago.
In a poignant Instagram post from August 2022, she refected, “What do I tell my children? How do I tell them that this time around I may not get to live my life as a survivor? How do I tell them everything will be OK when it’s not? I’m dying… I don’t want to die.” During an interview with Kaya FM in April, Mandela shared, “I’m learning to be okay with my eventuality.” Her unvarnished revelations garnered her a substantial following on social media platforms, where heartfelt tributes continue to pour in.
“Utterly tragic loss of a human being in her grandfather’s footsteps. A decent, honest human being in a dishonest, hypocritical world,” lamented one individual on social media. Another wrote on Instagram beneath the Mandela family’s announcement, “You were one of the bravest people I know, and you inspired many people on your life’s journey of hope.”
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO)
At its May 25, 2023 meeting, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) Board of Directors approved the FY2021 and FY2022 Urbanized Area Formula, the FY2021 and FY2022 State of Good Repair, and the FY2021 and FY2022
Bus and Bus Facilities Programs of Projects. These Programs of Projects will be funded with grant support from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Section 5307, Section 5337 and Section 5339 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Visit https://metro.resourcespace.com/pages/ search.php?search=%21collection328418# for a complete listing.
Members of the public may submit comments in writing to METRO Strategy Department, 1900 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002; or requests for a public hearing will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 18, 2023 Further information may be obtained by contacting GrantApplications@RideMETRO.org or 713-739-4697
The approved FY2021 and FY2022 Programs of Projects outlined above will become the final Programs of Projects unless amended by the Board of Directors. This input opportunity meets the federal requirement for public participation in the programs of projects.
Don’t look now, but the two-time defending SWAC West Division champions Prairie View Panthers are sitting at the top of the division with a 2-0 record after narrowly escaping Alcorn State with a 23-20 win last week. The Panthers won on a 46-yard field goal by Guillermo Rodriguez as time expired at Spinks-Casem Stadium. This start is significant because preseason voters predicted Prairie View would finish fifth in the division this season, but so far they appear to be wrong.
Guillermo Rodriguez
Vernon Maxwell knew during his NBA playing days something wasn’t right with his mental health, and privately he was having those issues addressed.
But on the floor and in the Rockets locker room, the man known as Mad Max put up a front as if everything was okay. But it wasn’t.
Maxwell already knew his teammates thought something was a little off about him because of his sometimes erratic behavior, but he was “scared” to confirm it.
“They already thought that so they were going to really think I was crazy,” said Maxwell, who played for the Rockets from 199095 and was a key member of their two NBA championship teams. “I thought if I go to them and I tell them, `Man, I’m talking to somebody about my problems on my mental side;’ I was just too nervous to tell my teammates or tell anybody that.
Jace WilsonTSU star quarterback Andrew Body did not play for a third straight game as the Tigers fell to 0-4 on the season after a 35-23 loss at Grambling State. Sophomore quarterback Jace Wilson made his third straight start and showed improvement after completing 14 of 24 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. The Tigers were picked in the preseason poll to finish third in the SWAC’s West Division, but have started 0-2 in conference play and 0-4 overall.
It’s looking like the Astros American League West and playoff hopes could come down to the wire.
“I was too scared to go do it. And like I said, I lost a lot. And I just want to try to break that narrative and say it’s okay.”
Today, Maxwell is determined to help break down those barriers and change the narrative by taking on athletes and mental health awareness as a cause. He has started the Vernon Maxwell Initiative and recently hosted the non-profit’s inaugural Mental Health Symposium here in Houston.
The symposium included a panel discussion with several speakers, including former NBA star Metta World Peace, aka Ron Artest, as one of the panelists. The two-day event also included a golf tournament.
After initially being reluctant to step out there, Maxwell decided that lending his voice and energy to the important discussions around mental health was necessary and could be helpful to many.
mental health awareness not just among athletes but the Black community as whole. There have been strides made in recent years to provide people a safe space to discuss mental health.
Maxwell’s biggest message that he wants out there is that it’s okay to not be okay, and to seek help. He wants athletes to understand this, too.
Dusty Baker
The defending World Series champions have continued to lose critical late season games. As of last Friday, the Astros had lost 11 of 19 games in September. As of late last week, ESPN Analytics gave the Astros a 92% percent chance to make the postseason, but they held just a 56% chance to clinch the division and only a 36% chance of getting a wild card spot.
“It’s a blessing to be able to do this,” Maxwell said to The Defender. “When my man was telling me to do this and get involved, at first I was like, I don’t know if I want to be talking about how crazy I am.
“But then I broke down the wall and I thought I could help out. If I can help out one or two people, it will be a blessing to me. So to be able to show awareness and let people know it’s okay. If a guy like me, Big Bad Max, can say he needs help then you can, too.”
During the panel discussions, the six panelists discussed the need for more
Both Maxwell and Metta World Peace are glad for the gains but would like to see even more.
“It’s very important that we bring it to life and let people know we are here,” said Metta World Peace, who was one of the first athletes to bring his psychiatrist on national television to discuss his mental issues. “We are going to get back to this game, but we are not going to focus on this game right now.
“Years later, I’m getting an overwhelming amount of requests to talk about mental health which is cool. It’s a little much but it’s cool.”
“We sometimes think we don’t need to be worrying about what people think about us if we do go and try to get help,” Maxwell said. “I just want people to know if I’m doing it, so can you. And the Black community itself, we kind of sweep it under the rug and never talk about it. But I think it’s better for us to talk about it and get it out.”
Maxwell and Metta World Peace opened up about their bouts with mental health during their days. It was, of course, taboo back then. The climate, however, has changed considerably with some players now openly discussing their bouts with mental health without fear of reprisal.
The Madison Marlins sit in the middle of the pack in 5A-1 Region III District 9 behind Wisdom, Waltrip and Galveston Ball. However, don’t be fooled by early wins and losses. The Marlins have been given a boost at the quarterback position that is sure to lead this year’s team to more wins and bring out the best in their pivotal players.
Not since Vince Young has Madison had a true quarterback that drew such attention. This year Camben Emanuel is that kind of player.
“He’s an all-around quarterback, a guy that can make all the throws,” said Madison head coach Jason Davis. “He sees the field, he has a connection with all of his receivers. This kid is going to be an outstanding player not only in this district but in this state. He makes our offense more explosive.”
Emanuel began playing football when he was seven years old for the Pearland Patriots in the Bay Area Youth Football League (BAFL).
“I started off as a linebacker, but once my coach saw me throw the ball after practice, I’ve been playing quarterback ever since,” said Emanuel.
Emanuel played for the Patriots until he enrolled at Pearland Junior High South. After middle school, he then attended Pearland for both his freshman and sophomore years.
“At the end of my sophomore year with about a month left in the school year, we moved to Houston so I began attending James Madison,” said Emanuel.
While at Pearland High School, during his freshman year he played on the freshman team. In his sophomore year, Emanuel played on the JV team and halfway through the season was moved to varsity.
“Playing varsity as an underclassman felt good. The game was a lot faster, so I had to get used to the speed, but I adapted quickly,” said Emanuel.
With Emanuel starting at Madison and getting more minutes he is the new guy with a lot to prove. Most teams haven’t heard of him and don’t know what to expect until they see him at quarterback. In the game vs. Austin, he passed for four touchdowns and ran for two.
“It feels great. Every day I have to prove myself
at practice because I’m still the new guy, so they don’t fully know what I’m capable of, but every day I’m working hard,” said Emanuel.
He’s a pocket passer who has scrambling abilities. During the off-season, he worked with Coach Payne to improve his technique.
“We worked on throwing on the run. I’m a pocket passer but I keep my eyes downfield and when someone is open it’s important for me to deliver an accurate throw on the run,” said Emanuel.
Emanuel is a student of the game and has found the benefits of studying those on the next level to help his game.
“I watch Caleb Williams at USC. I love the way he moves in the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield,” said Emanuel. “I also like Spencer Rattler at South Carolina. I feel he has the best arm talent in college football. I like the way he throws the ball.”
As Emanuel continues to improve his game, his advice to others is to never stop working hard.
“Just keep working,” said Emanuel. “Don’t let anybody tell you what you can and cannot do. Every day I’ve been doubted and I have to prove myself every single day. You just have to prove why you’re the guy and why you should be number one.”
Class: 2025
IG: @Camben_Emanuel
Twitter: @Camben_Emanuel
Position: Quarterback
Height & weight: 6-feet-3, 195 pounds
Players he studies: Caleb Williams (USC), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina)
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite artist: NBA YoungBoy, Lil Baby, Gunna
Favorite subject: Physics
Shout-outs: Dad
For nearly two decades, our Student Leaders® program has helped prepare community-minded high school students to become successful in the workforce by connecting them to skills development, service and leadership training. Through paid internships with local nonprofits like Christian Community Service Center and Memorial Assistance Ministries, they gain practical work and life experiences. It’s just one more way we’re working together with our communities to build a better future for all.
Hong Ogle President, Bank of America Houston
