Houston Defender: November 10, 2022

The esteemed jazz musician brings his time and talent to Houston students.

To the POINTDN

Message from the Managing Editor

Texas, we have a problem

I try real hard not to be a jaded con spiracy theorist, but I can’t help but give a serious side-eye when there are voting machine issues, but mostly in predomi nately Black areas. Tat’s exactly what hap pened this past Election Day. In Fort Bend and Harris Counties, voters who were at the polls when they opened, found them selves being told to wait or turned away because the machines were down. Harris County Elections Administrator Cliford Tatum said some of it has to do with the manner in which the machines were set up, some of it has to do with the printers not doing what they were supposed to do, and some of it was the clerks assigned to work at that location who decided not to work that day. Because Tatum is Black, I like to lean on the side of these all being an unfortunate series of events. But I have questions. Why does this type of thing mostly happen in communities of color? Who’s deciding which machines go where? Was the plan always to make this hard so it could go to the Texas Supreme Court, which is GOP-led even though they should really be non-partisan? Like I said, I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but these are things that make you go hmmmmm.

Whether anything was malicious or not, the bottom line is participating in democracy shouldn’t be this hard.

Knock, knock, it’s COVID.

I was so proud watching the tens of thousands of people who turned out to celebrate the Astros win. But I’m gonna be honest, I was looking at that crowd and I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Do these folks know COVID is still here?’ Don’t get me wrong, I’m a frm believer that life has to return to normal, and they were outside. But it’s some thing about seeing those kind of crowds that still gives me the heebie jeebies.

I’ll admit, I’m a little extreme, but this is your friendly reminder that just because we’re now (grudgingly) back

to our morning commutes doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. As new Omicron sub-variants continue to swirl around the country alongside typically seasonal illnesses, like the fu, the Centers for Dis ease Control and Prevention is urging Americans to take precautions ahead of this holiday season. Getting vaccinated and boosted remains one of the best ways to protect yourself against COVID-19 and serious illness. However, the uptake for the new COVID-19 booster is still really low. As of now, boosters are still free, so if you haven’t already, run to your local clinic to get one, now is the time. And oh, yeah, GO ‘STROS!

Freedom of speech, freedom of consequences

I’ve been loosely watching the case of Kyrie Irving and the ensuing fallout afer the Brooklyn Nets guard tweeted a link to a flm containing antisemitic material. Nike has suspended its relationship with the NBA player, canceled its plans to release his next signature shoe, the Brooklyn Nets suspended him and banned him without pay for at least fve games. It’s a sad result from someone who says he was just voicing his opinion.

I hear the debate coming to the defense of Irving (who has since apologized), but I think folks have to understand that you’re free to say whatever you want in this country, but even forgiven sins have consequences. You can’t badmouth your boss, then act confused when they fre you.

ON THE WEB

• Check out Associate Editor Aswad Walker’s Op-Ed: Election 2022: We Not Only Failed History, We Failed the Future.

• What’s on your bucket list? See what our readers had to say.

• Sports Reporter Jodie Jiles has all the high school highlights.

Voting at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center near downtown Houston.

ReShonda Tate

NewsDN Texas Election 2022

Wins, losses and what’s next for the Black community

By ReShonda Tate

The Texas midterm election has come and gone and while many Democrats are disappointed that the state is pretty much remaining status quo, many vow that the fight to turn Texas blue will continue. Here are some takeaways for the Nov. 8 election and a look at what’s next.

Harris County ballot fight: The Texas Supreme Court has set the stage for a legal fight over whether to count ballots Harris County voters cast during an extended hour of voting ordered by a lower court, which had ordered several polling places stay open until 8pm because they were delayed in opening. e state’s highest civil court blocked that ruling and ordered Harris County to separate ballots cast by voters who were not in line by 7 p.m., the normal cutoff for voting in Texas. The Supreme Court’s order followed a request by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to reverse the lower court’s order. It’s unclear how many votes were cast during the extra hour of voting, but Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee raised the prospect that the state would ask for those votes to be thrown out.

Abbott wins, Beto loses – again: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott was reelected, in what was the most competitive race of his political career. Abbott, who will now serve a third term, beat former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, arguably the most well-known Democrat in Texas. Abbott’s victory is not a surprise — poll a er poll showed the Republican leading O’Rourke by about one to eleven points. He also had the advantage of having more money than O’Rourke. e last Democrat to win a Texas gubernatorial race was Ann Richards in 1990. Still, O’Rourke made a significant push in the election cycle, campaigning hard on gun control and reproductive health. But Abbott focused most of his campaign on the state’s economy. He blamed President Joe Biden for high inflation in the U.S. is is the third major loss for O’Rourke in nearly six years — in 2016 he lost against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for a U.S. Senate seat. In 2018 he unsuccessfully ran for president.

The Beto Effect: Beto O’Rourke might have lost statewide - his third loss in four years - but there is no denying the impact of his campaign in Harris County, where he garnered 53.94% of the vote to Abbott’s 44.57%. “While the margins for O’Rourke may not have been the same as 2018, they were significant enough to make a difference. His coattails were not as long as they were in 2018, but they were enough to assist in the county election, particularly when you look at how some of those folks won by as little as

three percent,” said Texas Southern University Political scientist Michael Adams.

Harris County: In a race that has been neck and neck for months, Judge Lina Hidalgo, the Democratic incumbent, narrowly defeated her Republican challenger, Alexandra del Moral Mealer. Hidalgo won by 15,957 votes, 50.74% – 49.25%. Hidalgo issued a raw challenge to her rivals in both parties. “To the naysayers, to the naysayers who think I’ll be intimidated by conspiracy theories or by bullying or by political prosecutions – bring it on!” Hidalgo, considered a rising star among Texas Democrats, had a vigorous challenger for her seat overseeing the state’s most populous urban county. She faced a steep fundraising disadvantage, attacks tying her to the county’s high number of homicides and a midterm environment generally unfavorable to Democrats to beat Mealer, a West Point graduate and ex-Army captain, to lead the county for another four

years.

Hidalgo will have a greater Democratic majority on the county’s governing board. Lesley Briones beat out incumbent County Commisser Jack Cagle, essentially flipping the seat from Republican to Democratic. Cagle and fellow Republican Tom Ramsey boycotted court meetings from mid-September through the end of October in order to prevent the Democratic majority from passing their preferred budget and tax rates that could support it. Democrats now hold a 4-1 advantage moving forward. Cagle lost to Briones, former civil court judge in a Harris County Precinct 4 that was dramatically redrawn, shi ing from the county’s northern tier to its western edge and incorporating more non-Anglo voters. e tally was 51.6% for Briones and 48.4% for Cagle. Garcia defeated former Republican Commissioner Jack Morman in Harris County Precinct 2, which had been redrawn to more heavily

Evening voters queue up in a long line before polls close Tuesday at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston. Texas Tribune

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL BLACK WINNERS

U.S. REP, DIST. 18

Sheila Jackson Lee (D) 70.7%

Carmen Maria Montiel (R) 26.3 %

U.S. REP, DIST. 9

Al Green (D) 78.27

Jimmy I Leon (R) 21.73%

U.S. REP, DIST. 38

Wesley Hunt (R) 63.07%

Duncan F. Klussmann (D) 35.40%

Fora complete list,visit www.harrisvotes.com/ Election-Results/Election-Day

favor Garcia. e split was 52.6% for Garcia to 47.4% for Morman.

Democrat incumbent Teneshia Hudspeth was victorious in her re-election bid against Republican challenger Stan Stanart. Both Hudspeth and Stanart have held the county clerk’s position before – Stanart for eight years before Hudspeth bested him in the 2020 election. Hudspeth, who was favored to win, had worked in the office for the last 15 years, before deciding to campaign for the role herself.

What’s next: For many African Americans in Harris and Fort Bend counties, it’s an issue of getting answers to why voting machine issues always seem to happen in communities of color and preparing for the next election. “ e time is now to start organizing,” Adams said.

Lina Hidalgo

Greg Abbott

Beto O’Rourke

Teneshia Hudspeth

Adrian Garcia

Lesley Briones

HOW EARLY VOTING IMPACTED THE ELECTION.

Organizations confront 3rd Ward housing crisis

By Aswad Walker

Te historic Tird Ward may have more fam ilies at risk of losing their homes than any other neighborhood in Houston. Low-income seniors in the area are struggling to repair their aging res idences in an efort to preserve their homes for future generations.

Rebuilding Together Houston (RTH) and Hewl ett-Packard (HP) are launching RTH’s Community Revitalization program to bring hope to families across Tird Ward, a landmark African American community since the 1870s.

“We are excited to bring our mission -- Repairing Homes, Revitalizing Communities, and Rebuilding Lives -- to Tird Ward,” said Rebuilding Together Houston CEO Christine Holland. “Tese families have a deep connection and great love for their community, but they need our help to sustain the American dream of home ownership.”

RTH has serviced over 14,000 homes, and Mary Bank’s home was their frst in Tird Ward.

“I had to put money on the side to try to get it fxed, but I know I couldn’t aford it,” said Banks, widow of the honorary mayor of Tird Ward, Ed Banks. “But when they came over to the Tird Ward Multi-Service Center and lef some fyers over there, I found the paperwork, flled it out and didn’t think it was going to go through. But when they went through, I’m jumping for joy, because they did a lot. And I appreciate what they did for me because if it hadn’t been for them, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Te work was facilitated by volunteers from HP.

“Rebuilding Together Houston was an organiza tion we heard about, I’d say six-plus months ago,” said Jason Ozenne, community outreach chair of HP’s Black Employee Impact Network. “Tey’d been trying to get into Tird Ward and I’m also a resident of Tird Ward. I thought it’d be really great to try and partner with them on this.”

Ozenne said Banks’ home was hopefully the frst of many that will receive the services of RTH and HP volunteers.

“Tere’s been a lot of talk about gentrifcation

and what I see is that no one can stop it. How ever, RTH can give homeowners and families like Ms. Banks a choice,” Holland said. “If your roof is leaking on your bed, you might be very tempted to sell your home even though you really want to live your life out there. And by us putting a new roof on, and doing the stabilization of the structure, and we still have safety upgrades to do inside, it really isn’t a choice that Ms. Banks has to make. She wants to live here the rest of her life, and it’s important for her to pass her home on to the next generation of her family. Ten we do our little part in enabling this, and the volunteers are certainly a very important part of this,” said Holland.

RTH brought in contractors to make licensed repairs, such as roof restoration, stabilizing the structure and plumbing. The project will also include health and safety modifcations to prevent fre and falls, and improve air quality and tempera ture control.

As part of the Tird Ward Showcase, HP vol unteers made exterior repairs and donated HP products to the Banks home. Tird Ward non profts Change Happens, Northern Tird Ward Implementation Project and City Councilwoman Carolyn Evans-Shabazz’s ofce served as commu nity partners.

CITY PROGRAM HELPS HOMELESS

Defender News Service

During his annual State of the City address Wednesday afernoon, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a new program to aid eforts to house indi viduals experiencing homelessness on Houston’s streets.

Te city is partnering with Bread of Life to launch – Dinner to Home – a food program designed to help individ uals experiencing homelessness embark on the path to being housed. Te pilot program will ofer dinner service at a safe, clean, and appropriate location.

Te program is designed to attract individuals who may not normally engage with the homeless housing system by providing food that people want to eat in a respectful, dignifed atmosphere with tables, chairs, trash receptacles, restrooms, and cover (during inclement weather). Above all, an array of services, including housing assessments, will be reoccurring.

“Food alone does not solve home lessness. However, when used with services and housing, food can be an important tool to help train profession als forge vital relationships needed to navigate vulnerable Houstonians into housing with wrap-around services,” said Mayor Turner.

“Houston is on the right path, but we must all do more. Te Dinner to Home program pairs perfectly with all the comprehensive, holistic initiatives the city is currently working on to help our brothers and sister experiencing home lessness, including the largest homeless housing initiative in our city’s history, the opening of the frst Housing Nav igation Center in the entire state, and endeavors with the private sector to secure more supportive housing units.”

The program will provide dinner four nights a week, for three months, with an option to extend for up to 10 months. Te program will be operated and managed by Bread of Life, a local not-for-profit with a track record of successfully working with vulnerable Houstonians.

“Preventing an increase in street homelessness is tough, and reducing homelessness is even harder. However, Houston is showing the world that collaboration, housing resources, and the right tools can be done! Te Din ner to Home program will supplement and boost the extraordinary work out reach teams are already doing to reach out to, connect, and house Houstonians experiencing homelessness,” said Pastor Rudy Rasmus, founder of Bread of Life.

Over the past two years, Houston’s regional, collaborative homeless hous ing program housed a record 10,900 individuals experiencing homelessness, leading to a 19% reduction in home lessness during the pandemic, includ ing a nearly 10% reduction in street homelessness.

Homeowner Mary Banks (giving the thumbs up) is surrounded by city, community and Rebuilding Together Houston representatives. Photo by Aswad Walker.

Mayor Turner speaks at the State of the City.

“There’s been a lot of talk about gentrifcation and what I see is that no one can stop it. However, RTH can give home owners and families like Ms. Banks a choice.”

Christine Holland, Rebuilding Together Houston CEO

Family

6719 W. Montgomery Rd., 77091

Mondays, Wednesdays*:

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closes at 11:30 a.m. on second Wednesdays of the month)

Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center

3810 W. Fuqua St., 77045

Tuesdays: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Sunnyside Health Center

4605 Wilmington St., 77051

Mondays: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

NewsBriefs

Supreme Court denies Guyger’s appeal in Botham Jean murder

Te Supreme Court has denied former Dallas police ofcer Amber Guyger’s appeal over her murder conviction in the shoot ing death of Botham Jean in 2018. Guyger’s attorneys had argued in a petition for writ of certiorari that Guyger’s “rights to due process were violated” over a lower court’s interpretation of Guyger’s self-defense and mistake-of-fact claims in the shooting. Guyger, 34, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the shooting death of Jean at his apartment in September 2018. Guyger said she entered Jean’s apartment, thinking it was her own, before shooting him. Guyger lived on the foor below Jean at the South Side Flats apartments. In March, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refused to hear Guyger’s petition to review a lower court’s decision to uphold her conviction and sen tence. While the nine-member court has the fnale appellate jurisdiction in Texas crimi nal cases, Guyger appealed to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to have a lower court review her case again.

$500,000 bond set for stepfather of abused twins

Te stepfather of twin teens who endured horrifc abuse has been returned to Houston

from Louisiana. Jova Terrell, 27, is charged with continuous assault of a family member. He made his frst court appearance recently where the judge set his bond at $500,000. The twins’ mother, 40-year-old Zaikiya Duncan, remains jailed on bonds that total $4.5 million. During her hearing last week, it came out Duncan may have deleted video evidence regarding the case. Ofcials also learned she might be pregnant. Te couple was arrested in October in Baton Rouge. Detectives said Duncan and her husband held their twins captive, tortured them and forced them to live in horrible conditions. Te twins escaped, alerting authorities and setting of a search for Duncan and Terrell and ultimately leading police to Louisiana.

Teen sex trafcking victim could face 20 years afer escape

An 18-year-old sex trafficking victim who killed a man that she says raped her has escaped from a women’s center where she was serving her probation sentence. Pieper Lewis escaped the Fresh Start Women’s Cen ter in Des Moines shortly afer 6:15 a.m. on Nov. 4. Te probation violation report said Lewis cut her GPS monitor of at some point afer she was seen walking out of the facil ity. A warrant has been issued for her arrest. Te report has also asked that her deferred

judgment be revoked and her original sen tence imposed, which means Lewis could face up to 20 years in prison. Lewis was initially charged with frst-degree murder afer she stabbed and killed her 37-year-old accused rapist, Zachary Brooks. Lewis was 15 years old at the time of the June 2020 killing. Lewis was sentenced to fve years of closely supervised probation and ordered to pay $150,000 restitution to Brooks’ family. If Lewis would have completed her fve years of closely supervised probation her entire prison sentence would have been expunged. Now Lewis must start from the beginning and is likely to see the jail time she was orig inally sentenced to before her escape.

Breast Cancer vaccine could be coming soon

Researchers from the University of Wash ington have developed a groundbreaking experimental vaccine that could possibly be used to treat breast cancer disease in the near future. Researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seat tle conducted a clinical trial with the newly developed vaccine. Te study found that the medicine “safely gendered a strong immune response to a key tumor protein,” present in breast cancer cells, the report noted, accord ing to Medical Press. According to the study,

researchers believe that the vaccine showed a positive response because of how the sub stance was designed. Te vaccine used in the experiment contained the DNA instructions responsible for the tumor protein. Once injected, the DNA begins to rapidly copy the protein encoded in the DNA’s instructions. The proteins then travel to the immune system “a process more likely to generate a strong, cytotoxic immune response,” the outlet noted.

AARP is dedicated to help our members and families get the answers and resources they need for Family Caregiving.

We know it can be a challenge, but we’ve done the hard work to help you connect with the other family caregivers and resources close to home. So you can take care of what matters most.

To learn more, visit aarp.org/caregiving

Pieper Lewis gives her allocution during a sentencing hearing, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Des Moines, Iowa.

With Merrill, the bull always has your back.

Merrill believes the future is bullish, even in the most unpredictable of markets, because we’ve been here before. And when you get matched with one of our advisors, you get years of financial planning experience and a goal-oriented plan — all designed to help you through the uncertainty.

Match with an advisor and get your complimentary consultation at ML.com/Bullish

ONE FOR DUSTY BAKER ASTROS WIN

WHAT’S NEXT AS THE GM MAKES HISTORY?

JUST THE FACTS

Dusty Baker becomes just the third African American manager to win a World Series title in MLB history, joining Cito Gaston (Blue Jays, 1992, 1993) and Dave Roberts (Dodgers 2020).

At 73, Baker becomes the oldest manager to win a World Series championship.

By Terrance Harris

e foul ball had barely dropped into the hustling glove of Kyle Tucker and the celebration inside Minute Maid Park was rocking.

ere were pockets of celebration everywhere a er the Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win their second World Series title, in the stands and on the baseball field. But the one that was most heartfelt was taking place in the Astros’ dugout with the players jumping all over their 73-year-old manager Dusty Baker.

“Dusty has been unbelievable since Day 1,” Astros third baseman Alex Bregman said. “He’s been an unbelievable manager, an unbelievable human being just on a personal level with every person in our clubhouse, he loves the game of baseball, he has dedicated his life to this game and he deserves it. He’s an unbelievable manager and unbelievable man.”

As much as this World Series win was about the club finally distancing itself from the 2017 sign-stealing scandal, this one was about

winning one for baseball lifer Dusty Baker.

A er 25 years of managing, Baker finally won his first world championship.

But most impressive is the circumstance that has all but cemented Baker’s place in Cooperstown. A few years ago, the man who had done nothing but win as a manager seemed to have been basically put into forced retirement. en, the Astros came calling in 2020 saying the franchise needing his dignity and reputation to steady the ship a er the sign-stealing had rocked the club and its reputation.

“I’m tired of hearing it. ‘He doesn’t do this, he doesn’t do that.’

to always get his players to believe in him, too. Baker has won 2,093 games as a manager, led five different clubs to division titles and the postseason and he is a three-time Manager of the Year.

e only thing that had been missing was a World Series title, after falling five outs shorts with the Giants in 2002 and then last season with the Astros, Baker finally has his ring.

WHAT’S ON DECK FOR 2023

It’s official. Dusty Baker has signed on to lead the Astros again in 2023. Owner Jim Crane worked out a contract extension for Baker, whose current deal with the club ended with the World Series title.

Astros must determine which of their free agents are a priority to retain. Set to hit the free agent market are Michael Brantley, Jason Castro, Aledmys Diaz, Yulie Gurriel, Rafael Montero and Christian Vazquez.

The Astros need to sign some U.S. born African American players to their roster. This was the first World Series since 1950, a er Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, that the American League and National League champs met in the Fall Classic and neither side had a U.S. born Black player on its roster.

The odds makers have the Astros back in contention for the World Series title in 2023. But for the second straight year, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites to win it all next year (+500). The Astros are just behind them at +550.

“When he came here in 2020, we had the whole cheating scandal and we had COVID. He was a stabilizing force for us. I wish we could have done it a little bit sooner for him, but he truly deserved this.”

— Astros pitcher

Lance McCullers Jr.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“Today was a very historical day for the African American community. I’ve already met with my president, my board chairman today, to look at giving Dusty an honorary doctor’s degree from TSU this December, in honor of what he’s accomplished for not just for the Astros, but for the whole athletic community.”

— Texas Southern Board of Regent Ron Price

SEE PICS FROM THE PARADE ON PAGE 14.

All I heard about [was] what I can’t do,” said Baker, who first became a manager with the San Francisco Giants in 1993. “But my mom and dad taught me perseverance.

And you gotta persevere, you gotta believe in yourself.”

ere is no doubt Baker has always believed in himself. But the magic has been his ability

“I tried not to dwell on it, but I tried to have faith and perseverance in knowing that with the right team and the right personnel and right everything that this is going to happen,” Baker said of his pursuit for a world championship.

“Had this happened years ago, I might not even be here. So maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen so that I could hopefully influence a few young men’s lives and their families and a number of different people in the country through showing what perseverance and character can do for you in the long run.”

“Dusty Baker has been such a great manager for so long. You just kind of just assume that he had won a World Series and led his team multiple times. But for this to be his first one is pretty special. It couldn’t happen to a better guy. Excited for our Astros.”

— Texans coach Lovie Smith

“He’s put a lot of blood, sweat and tears and the game almost killed him when he had a stroke in 2017. So just to see all of this come together – he’s worked so hard and if anybody earned it…it’s him.”

— Dusty Baker’s wife, Melissa

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker waves during a victory parade for the World Series baseball champions Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

I DON’T THINK ABOUT MY AGE, BUT I DO THINK ABOUT BEING THE THIRD BLACK MANAGER TO WIN A WORLD SERIES.”

– DUSTY BAKER

Wynton Marsalis JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA PERFORM

By Aswad Walker

Tough the threat of rain changed the venue, weather could not stop the group at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), led by nine-time Grammy-award-winning jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, from performing before an eager and engaged crowd at the Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA).

Te JLCO brought its “Spirit of Swing” to the Bayou City and opened its three days of shows at HSPVA, performing and teaching HSPVA students, students from two area elementary schools and seniors from the Julia C. Hester House, all of whom expressed open enjoyment of the performance.

“I liked the solos a lot, and how the musicians went over multiple styles,” said HSPVA music fresh man Amari Walker. “Tat helped me learn more about what I’m currently playing. I also thought it was cool that the legendary Wynton Marsalis said the trum pet, the instrument I play, was the most supreme of all instruments.”

And with Marsalis, whose father was a lifelong educator, the teaching he and other JLCO mem bers shared with attendees was just as much about life as it was about music.

“I always try to teach concepts and be very substantive in the concepts that I’m teaching,” said Marsalis. “We punctu ate it with the music. So, whenever we give examples, we show them what the music is and juxtapose the two ideas of the free dom that comes with improvisation and the importance of having that freedom;

Individual rights. But equally important is the responsibility to others that’s repre sented by swinging.”

Marsalis says playing with a group in jazz has the combination of that individual free dom and group responsibility.

“You make up stuf. You’re free. But you have the responsibility to swing and fnd other people’s time and to create space for others and to nurture that space. It’s all fundamental human things that we teach,” added Marsalis.

Several attendees of the HSPVA perfor mance/teach-in said they felt they were not only in a concert, but a class on history, civics and ethics.

“We try to bring a lot of infor mation in there because all of that is a part of the music. Tat’s the significance of music as an art form. It is the art of the invisible and all things like thoughts, feel ings, aspirations, hopes, dreams and disappointments, all are in the province of music. But it’s also a chronicle of your history, the great musicians who’ve played. And it’s a look into the future because the type of collective creativity that’s in jazz means that you could never do the same thing twice. It’s like a good conversation. And it’s important for us to use our education system to teach our kids values that will reinforce the best and richest parts of what it takes to be citizens in a democracy,” said Marsalis.

During their three-day Houston resi dency, JLCO members are scheduled to teach some master classes at HISD and

Sicarria Goodman of Houston, Texas has announced the birth of her daughter, Xahra Aset Swan. Xahra was born

2016, at Magnolia Birth Center in Cypress, Texas. Xahra

The maternal grandparents are Sidney Goodman of Richmond, Texas and Carleen Webb of Alexandria, Louisiana. The paternal grandparents are Donna Swan of Spring, Texas and Roosevelt Swan of Houston, Texas.

Klein ISD schools, including Kashmere High School which was home to a Hous ton-area jazz great, the late “Professor” Con rad Johnson. Tey performed a concert for

the public at the Wortham Teater with an open Soundcheck/Q&A for students. And Marsalis is still teaching both about music and life.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE AT DEFENDERNETWORK.COM

Wynton Marsalis with Defender Associate Editor Aswad Walker. Photo by Councilmember Tifany Thomas.

MEMBER FDIC

Obits

Mattelia Bennett Grays

Former educator and AKA President dies

By ReShonda Tate

Mattelia Bennett Grays, a longtime Houston educator and administrator and the 18th inter national president of Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc., died Nov. 2 at age 91.

She was a former teacher, principal and district superintendent with HISD. In 1968 she became the youngest person ever elected AKA president and led the sorority from 1970 to 1974. Her accomplishments included leading the sorority’s efort to purchase the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and imple menting leadership training and educational grants.

“Te members of Alpha Kappa Alpha are grate ful for her more than 70 years of consistent and active service in the sorority,” said AKA Interna tional President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed.

“We also are grateful for the passion and dedica tion she poured into her family, career and legacy. She soared to great heights of service and sister hood, and as we refect on her life, we are genuinely inspired and aspire to follow her example of service to all mankind.”

She was born in Houston and graduated as salu tatorian from Booker T. Washington High School

in 1948. She received a B.A. degree from Dillard University, an M.A. from the University of Michi gan and doctorate in Educational Administration from Pacifc University.

In addition to teaching in Houston public schools, she served as principal of Rogers Educational Enrich ment Center and HISD District III superintendent.

Her funeral will take place, Mon., Nov. 14 at Te Fountain of Praise, 13950 Hillcrof Ave, Houston, TX 77085.

Unmatched service. Sound advice.

And peace of mind knowing your money is well cared for. Now, how can we help you today?

We’re in the people business. We just happen to be a bank.

The members of Alpha Kappa Alpha are grateful for her more than 70 years of consistent and active service in the sorority.”

Danette Anthony Reed AKA International President & CEO

By Laura Onyeneho

The box office hit “Black Panther” is back with a second film installment, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and Marvel has teamed up with Houston’s own Lanny Smith, a former NBA player and owner of the global sportswear brand Actively Black, for an exclusive merchandise collection.

On Nov. 3, the fashion forward athleisure brand released a unisex collection paying homage to the essence of Black empowerment and strength the film represents.

Smith said Wakanda wasn’t a location; it’s a “mindset, a lifestyle,” and that is what he hopes customers feel when they wear his merchandise.

Smith spoke to the Defender about his journey as a Houston native and athlete who is now working with one of the biggest names in entertainment.

Defender: You’re from Houston. How did your upbringing here align with your purpose today?

Lanny Smith: I was born in Houston and raised in Missouri City. I went to Hightower High School and basketball was a huge thing for me growing up. I stayed home and played college basketball at the University of Houston and had an incredible career there. Houston is what made me.

Defender: Sports has had a huge influence on your life. What drew you to basketball? And was playing in the big leagues the ultimate goal for you at the time?

Smith: My mother was a basketball player. Basketball is a family thing. It was a part of my household. I loved Michael Jordan and that’s who I wanted to be. I wore number 23 throughout my entire career. We have so much talent in Houston. So I was just playing against the best of the best in Houston which opened doors for me. I was in middle school playing for the Houston Hoops and we traveled across the country playing against the best players. Even around the city, if you could hoop, it gave you a pass no matter where you were from...Now, I get a chance to go back into the community and tell students that they could be way more than just athletes and entertainers. We can be doctors, lawyers and scientists and engineers like what we see in “Black Panther.”

Defender: In 2009, you signed with the Sacramento Kings and a month later endured a career-ending injury. How did you pick yourself back up emotionally?

Smith: It was a process. I went through depression and identity crisis. My whole life all I knew was basketball. I was trying to find what else I offer in this world. I was heavily prayerful in this process and hoping to see where he would lead me. I went to YouTube University, I taught myself how to use Photoshop and Illustrator to figure out how to design things...I tell kids that there is life outside of basketball. Everything could end tomorrow and it happened to me. Try to figure things out while you have certain social capital. You can get certain people to answer

your phone calls while you’re an athlete. When it’s over, those phone calls don’t get answered the same anymore. Basketball, football, baseball, all of these sports are a young man’s game...

Defender: You describe yourself as a child of God, and o en times faith is all you have in hard times. Where were you when you were coming up with the concept of Actively Black?

Smith: I created the mockups of what the collaboration would look like over a year and a half ago. I wrote this down before I launched Actively Black...Fast forward five months ago. My friend reached out and said Daymond John [of “Shark Tank”] wanted to meet with me. He wanted some Actively Black gear and wanted to talk about a possible FUBU collab. It was crazy to me because FUBU was everything to me growing up. I walked into the meeting and Daymond John is wearing an Actively Black hoodie. He asked what else I was working on and I

tial Black Panther and Actively Black collab. He picked up the phone, and called the

vel and Disney. The rest

Defender: Now your brand is collaborating with Marvel ahead of the new “Black Panther” Sequel. How did this happen?

Lanny Smith, Founder of Actively Black.

a fact. Xfnity has the fastest internet and Xfnity Mobile is the fastest mobile service.

Power a house full of connected devices with even faster internet speeds from Xfnity. And, Xfnity Mobile is the fastest mobile service with 5G and millions of WiFi hotspots.

means

get "can't catch me” speeds at home and on the go. You can even save up to $600 a year on your wireless bill.

fastest internet, the fastest mobile service, and major savings? Can’t argue with the facts.

Restrictions apply. Ends 11/20/22. Not available in all areas. New Xfnity Internet residential customers only. Ofer requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing with stored bank account. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10 (or $5 if enrolling with credit or debit card information). The discount will appear on your bill within 45 days of enrolling in automatic payments and paperless billing. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently cancelled, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. Limited to Gigabit Extra Internet with xFi Complete for 24 months. All other equipment, installation, taxes & fees extra, and subj. to change during and afer promo. Afer 24 months, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular charges apply to all services and devices. Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other ofers. Internet: Actual speeds vary and not guaranteed. For factors afecting speed visit www.xfnity.com/networkmanagement. Mobile: Xfnity Mobile requires residential post-pay Xfnity Internet. Line limitations may apply. Equip., intl. and roaming charges, taxes and fees, including reg. recovery fees, and other charges extra, and subj. to change. Pricing subject to change. In times of congestion, your data may be temporarily slower than other trafc. Afer 20 GB monthly data use, speeds reduced to a maximum of 1.5 Mbps download/750 Kbps upload. No rollover data. For Xfnity Mobile Broadband Disclosures visit: www.xfnity.com/mobile/policies/broadband-disclosures. Xfnity Mobile Discount: New Xfnity Mobile Unlimited customers only. Limited to 24 months. Must activate Xfnity Mobile Unlimited within 90 days of Internet order and maintain the line to receive discount. Discount efective within 30 days of Xfnity Mobile activation. To continue receiving the multi-product discount, you must keep Xfnity Mobile with Unlimited data and Superfast Xfnity Internet service or higher for 24 months. If you cancel Xfnity Mobile, switch to a By the Gig plan or cancel Xfnity Internet, or change your Xfnity Internet to a tier below Superfast, you will no longer receive this discount. Call for restrictions and complete details, or visit xfnity.com. NPA243235-0003

It’s

Sports Briefs

Brandin Cooks not pleased to still be a Texan

The Texans and veteran receiver Brandin Cooks appear to be at an impasse that could result in his release and forfeiture of $18 million of guaranteed money still on his contract for the 2023 season. Apparently, Cooks is upset about last week’s trade deadline coming and going without him being moved to a more competitive team. Cooks didn’t attend practice last week and was not suited up for the Thursday Night Game.

Deion Sanders wants HBCU team to play FBS opponent in bowl

What Deion Sanders wants he seems to get. He is now proposing an HBCU all-star team play against an FBS program during the postseason bowl season. This ask, however, may be difficult to deliver on anytime soon. “You can sell that,” SWAC commissioner Charles McClelland said. “The problem is the FCS does not qualify for FBS bowls. It would take NCAA legislative change for that to happen. There are certain things you have to be in order to play in those bowl games, part of that is scholarships.”

Panthers HOF gets nine new members

Prairie View A&M has inducted nine new members into its Sports Hall of Fame. The 2022 class includes Cecil Shy (Men’s Track & Field, 1988-91), Lewis Edmondson (Men’s Track & Field, 19972002), Dr. Ronald Nelson, II (Men’s Track & Field, 19972000), Thaddeus Gamble (Men’s Track & Field, 19791983), Dr. Dawn Aycock (Volleyball, 1991-95), Monica Smith (Women’s Basketball 1984-88), Jerome Howard (Football 2011-14), Bobby Perry (Football 2001-02) and Quinton Spears (Football 2007-10).

CELEBRATING THE ASTROS

Deion Sanders

Brandin Cooks

Dawn Aycock

Yordan Alverez smashed a 450-feet three-run homer over the centerfield wall in Game 6 to give the Astros a commanding 3-1 lead to pave the way to their World Series-clinching 4-1 win.

Astros Rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena received the Willie Mays World Series MVP Award, becoming the first rookie position player to be bestowed with the honor.

Everyone from city officials to local celebrities to fans turned out to celebrate the Astros historic win. Check out these photos and see more at www.defendernetwork.com

Dusty Baker shows off the World Series trophy during the Parade, alongside Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Also pictured, Astros 3rd baseman Alex Bregman, owner Jim Crane, Harris County Constable Pct. 1 Alan Rosen, pitcher Justin Verlander and Kate Upton. Photos by Vicki Pink.

A group of Astros fans pose for a picture together at the Parade.

Two Houston Astros fans.

U.S. Representative Shelia Jackson Lee on a Parade float a er the Houston Astros World Series win.

Houston rapper/activist Trae Tha Truth celebrates the Astros’ victory.

YATES QB/DB

BRODERICK BROWN PLAYS AGAINST ALL ODDS

By Jodie B. Jiles

Despite having to operate under a different coaching scheme all four years and recovering from an ACL injury throughout his senior season, Yates quarterback and defensive back Broderick Brown has continued to create offense with his arm and legs, leading the Lions into the playoffs. Brown has a natural baseball arm that can make most of the short and mid-range passes necessary to move an offense down the field. On defense he is a playmaker willing to sacrifice his body to make something happen for his team.

is was evident in the Scott Street Classic victory versus Worthing where Brown started the game by forcing a fumble that set up a score and ended the game with a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Marquise Sattiewhite.

Yates head coach Rafael omas is impressed by Brown.

“He missed the first five games, but we were excited to get him back because he is a guy that opens up our offense. He is dynamic with his arm and we need his senior leadership.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this kid because of the adversity he has overcome,” omas said.

e Defender spoke with Brown about his game, keys to success battling injuries, advice to others and more.

Style of Play

“I’m like Lamar Jackson but I have more [passing] accuracy.”

Passing Game

“My passing game is really easy because most of my routes get the ball out faster. And my linemen help me out by being there and allowing me to stay in the pocket.”

Battling Injuries

“It is a lot of encouragement from my family. My momma kept me going every day. Every day that I’d get up she would say, ‘Go to therapy, go to therapy, go to therapy.’ And then my coach and [team] pushed me to just keep going and don’t ever give up on yourself.”

4 years, 4 coaches

“When you have to be in a different offense every year you just have to pay attention and listen….I had to get a feeling with every different coach. So, it is hard but it’s not because all you need to do is just listen and pay attention.”

College Preferences

“I am looking for a school with a good finance department because I want to know how to manage my money.”

Advice to Others

“Never give up on yourself.”