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ARE BLACK PEOPLE EXPERIENCING ‘RACIAL BATTLE’ FATIGUE? P11

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Volume 86 | Number 4

NOVEMBER 24, 2016 | FREE

LOCAL ART ACEVEDO named new HPD chief

NATIONAL G.K. BUTTERFIELD CBC leader looks to the future

GET YOUR

CREDIT IN CHECK

OPINION FEATURE JACQUELINE WOODSON

children’s author fights bigotry

r PAGE 8 P7 TOP EVENTS

Rhonda Skillern Jones, Bo Porter, and Caleen Allen at the SELF breakfast.

P15

AJ Bouye proves his worth

Forest Whitaker takes on aliens

The Texans cornerback is in his fourth season and has emerged as a playmaker in the secondary, despite not being a starter. Find out why he’s proven himself as a big league player.

In his latest film, the awardwinning actor gets extraterrestrial as Colonel Weber in “Arrival,” an alien invasion adventure. Whitaker talks about the movie’s message and why this is no ordinary alien story.

r PAGE 12

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Houston gets new chiefs Defender News Service

Two new chiefs will take the lead in Houston with Mayor Sylvester Turner appointing Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo as the new Houston Police Chief, and El Paso Fire Department Chief Sam Peña as the new Houston Fire Department Chief. “This is the leadership team that will carry us into 2017 and beyond. We are going to build upon the successes of 2016 and be more transformative, innovative, smart and responsive,” stated Mayor Turner. Acevedo, who is the first Latino to head the Houston Police Department, fills the void left by the retirement in February of former Chief Charles McClelland. Acting Chief Martha Montalvo has led the department in the interim. Acevedo, who immigrated to the United States in 1968 from Cuba, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of La Verne in Calif., and began his life in law enforcement as a field patrol officer. Peña, who is highly regarded in the fire and rescue services, has served as El Paso Fire Department chief for the last three years, and was the youngest fire chief in the 133- year history of the department. “Sam has served well as a member of the City of

El Paso’s leadership team, and he certainly will be missed. We want to thank him for his service and commitment to our community,” said City Manager, Tommy Gonzalez. “I will be working with the Chief on a transition plan and looking Art Acevedo to our exceptional leadership within the Fire Department executive team to help continue to lead the department.” Peña, who was born in Los Angeles, replaced former chief Terry Garrison who retired late last year. Peña began his career as a firefighter in 1995 after serving Samuel Peña four years in the U.S. Air Force. He worked his way up the ranks from firefighter to Acting Assistant Chief and worked in several divisions within the El Paso Fire Department, before assuming leadership of the El Paso Fire Department in March 2013. Peña will retire from the El Paso Fire Department on Dec. 10. Excerpts compiled from Texas Tribune.

African-American memorial unveiled Defender News Service

The story of African-American’s successes and struggles throughout Texas history is now prominently displayed in a powerful monument on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. The Texas African American History Memorial was recently unveiled on the Capitol’s south lawn. Mayor Sylvester Turner, the former Chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, was honored at the event for his fundraising efforts, which helped guarantee the project’s completion. Mayor Turner said he hopes the memorial will teach future generations about African American’s significant contributions to the state. “It captures as best as one can our sacrifices, our struggles, our pains, our triumphs, our victories, and successes,” Mayor Turner said. “All of that from the beginning - the first time an African American set foot in Texas, all the way to astronauts contributing to space, and everything in between. For those people who are unnamed and unsung, anonymous African Americans, it’s a monument to them and a tribute to them.” The 27-foot monument was created by artist Ed

Dwight of Denver, who also created the memorial to Congressman Mickey Leland at Houston’s Intercontinental Airport. Former State Rep. Al Edwards is widely credited with conceiving the idea for a monument, while Senator Rodney Ellis (D-13) and State Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-147) in the 1990’s were instrumental getting state money allocated for the memorial’s construction. The images embedded within the monument depict many eras of achievement, including slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation, and show the contributions of African Americans who fought in wars, and made an impact on the cotton and oil industries that Helped grow the state’s economy. “May this monument be a reminder of the profound way that Texas has been advanced by African Americans, “Gov. Greg Abbot said. As the event ended, a small group of “white lives matter” protesters held signs decrying hate crime laws. They were surrounded by hundreds of counterprotesters who drowned out the other group’s voices with chants like “Black lives matter” and “no Trump, no KKK, no fascists, USA.”

localbriefs THE LEGAL FIGHT OVER TEXAS’ VOTER ID LAWS continues, with some assistance from the Obama administration’s Justice Department. Now, with Republican Donald Trump set to ascend to the Oval Office, the law’s future is more uncertain than ever. Among the questions up in the air: Whom will Trump nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court seat left vacant by Antonin Scalia’s death, and how will a Trump-led Justice Department operate compared to the current administration? The NAACP is vowing to continue the fight against the law, deemed one of the strictest Voter ID laws in the country…..A BAYTOWN CHEER COACH AT STERLING HIGH SCHOOL IS UNDER FIRE after a student accused him of discrimination because of her hair. Kemirah Jn-Marie, 15, is a flyer on the varsity cheerleading team. She had braids done this year to meet cheerleading requirements that hair must be pulled back in a secure ponytail and must not distract from the cheer environment. According to Kemirah’s mother, Mayra Jn-Marie, the coach told her daughter last week that if she showed up at Saturday’s game with braids, she wouldn’t participate. Kemirah is the only African American on her team, and she and her mother say they believe the coach singles her out…..A KRIV NEWS ANCHOR SAYS SHE WAS FIRED FOR PRAISING DONALD TRUMP. Scarlett Fakhar, 25, said she was fired from Fox 26 for expressing her “conservative views” on Facebook. Fakhar said that our current POTUS has made the country more “violent and racist” and she was “happy and relieved” that Trump won. She also blamed the Obama administration for the murder of police officers—“by both Blacks and whites.” Fakhar later apologized and said that she had breached her journalistic responsibility to be objective. She also claimed she was not racist because she is herself multiracial—though she stressed that immigrants must “do it the right way” like her Iranian father.

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NOVEMBER 24 | 2016 | DEFENDER

DEFENDER | NOVEMBER 24 | 2016

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U.S.briefs

CBC faces future with Trump Defender News Services

ith the fewest Democratic congressional seats since 1938, the Congressional Black Caucus is looking for opportunities to find common ground with President Elect Donald Trump, as well as focus on rebuilding and rebranding. After losing 63 seats in the House in 2010, Democrats are again dazed and confused, this time over losing the White House to real estate mogul Donald Trump, who shockingly defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a final electoral vote count that no one, not even the victor, it seemed, saw coming. Ironically, there will be a record number of African-Americans serving in Congress—52— next year, but 50 of them will serve in the minority party in the House. Can the Congressional Black Caucus find a way forward against the largest group of Republicans in the House since 1929? “Perhaps there can be some common ground on infrastructure; it creates jobs,” said CBC Chairman G.K. Butterfield. “But that’s the top line, not the bottom line. … I think there is opportunity for the Congressional Black Caucus to have common ground with the new administration.” Though Butterfield went on to say that Trump’s appointment of Steve Bannon as a White House senior adviser was “disgusting” and “not a good way to start his administration,” the CBC chairman did attempt to be open to

The CBC is trying to determine the best way to work with a Trump administration.

what may come next. In a Nov. 13 email to fellow Democrats, Rep. Jim Clyburn (DS.C.) stated, “Our party’s infrastructure has been decimated and our brand denigrated. We must rebuild and rebrand, and we must start now.” Members of the CBC met for dinner at a downtown restaurant in Washington, D.C., recently to discuss what’s next. “We need to take an assessment about why we are in the place we are in today. I think it is important that we have all hands on deck to make sure that we get this thing corrected. A lot of us know what the problem is. I believe in order to do it, we need to have a DNC chair who is there 24-7. We need a full-time DNC chair,” Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) said. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) emphatically spoke about what the Democratic Party could have done

better to get out Black voters. Hastings was asked whether the party will ever listen to strategic advice from Black elected officials on the ground. “That’s a good question,” he said. “I hope so. They did make a course correction in my congressional district about six days before the election because I raised so much sand about it. I still think that disproportionately, money was spent on television—$67 million by the Clinton campaign—and a pittance on the ground by comparison. “I would have had a considerable amount more money in the African-American and Latino communities being utilized by the people who live in those communities,” Hastings added. The DNC is notorious for “airdropping” in staff that aren’t local to the community they’re campaigning in.

Philando Castile’s family relieved after cop charged Defender News Service

On Dec. 19, the officer charged with killing Philando Castile will go before a judge to profess his innocence. Castile was shot by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez while reaching for his driver’s license during a traffic stop. Yanez was recently charged with manslaughter, instead of a more serious charge for the July

6th shooting. It’s a decision Castile’s family and loved ones are in full support of. Glenda Hatchett, an attorney for Castile’s family, said that from a legal perspective, she supports the manslaughter charge, pointing out that Minnesota statues dictate what prosecutors can pursue. “Certainly, if I had my druthers, the penalty would be more severe. But we have to be realistic.

This is what the law says and this is the charge they brought,” Hatchett said. “The worst thing that could happen is that the officer is overcharged and is found not to be responsible for the charges.” In the meantime, Castile’s mother is urging people to let the legal process run its course and to keep protests peaceful. “We want peace,” Valerie Castile said. “We don’t want any protests to get outrageous.”

DONALD TRUMP CONTINUES TO BUILD HIS CABINENT WITH CONTROVERSIAL PICKS. Republican Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions has been offered the job of Attorney General. Sessions was rejected in 1986 from being a federal judge because of allegedly racist comments that he made. And yet Sessions, who has taken a hardline stance on immigration, would be in charge of law enforcement across the country as well as the enforcement of immigration laws. Former GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson turned down a position in Trump’s cabinet because he doesn’t think he’s qualified…. MICHIGAN IS FIGHTING A JUDGE’S ORDER TO DELIVER WATER to Flint residents who do not have safe drinking water, claiming it would be overly expensive for taxpayers and require a “herculean effort.” A U.S. District Judge ordered the state to deliver four cases of bottled water weekly to each resident who needs it in the wake of the ongoing crisis that has left the city with lead-contaminated water since 2014. Attorneys for the state filed a motion to stay the order, saying it would cost at least $10.5 million monthly to deliver the estimated 400,000 cases of water each week, and warns that using Flint relief money for water delivery could defund other efforts like nutritional assistance programs for kids…..TWO W. VIRGINIA OFFICIALS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AFTER A RACIST FACEBOOK POST. Clay County Development Director Pamela Ramsey Taylor said on Facebook, “It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape in heels” following Trump’s election win. Mayor Beverly Whaling responded, “Just made my day Pam.” The post went viral, and a petition was circulated calling for the women to be fired. Taylor was reportedly “removed” from her post. Whaling offered her resignation. Both women claim they are not racist and the comments “were distorted.”

VOLUME 86 • NUMBER 4 NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Digital Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Marshall A. Latimore Proofer Maia Shelby

Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Jasemine Knowles Amber Vernon Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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Forest Whitaker

The 'Arrival' Interview By KAM WILLIAMS

orest Whitaker made his big screen debut in 1982 in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” en route to delivering memorable performances in “Platoon” and “Good Morning Vietnam.” In 1988, he landed his breakout role as saxophonist Charlie Parker in “Bird,” before subsequently starring in such critically-acclaimed pictures as “The Crying Game,” “Smoke” and “Ghost Dog.” In 2007, Forest won an Academy Award for his chilling impersonation of Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland.” Since then, he’s starred in such box-office hits as “The Great Debaters,” “The Butler,” “Southpaw” and “Taken 3.” And later this year, he’ll play Saw

Gerrera in “Rogue One,” the upcoming episode in the “Star Wars” series. Here, he talks about his latest outing as Colonel Weber opposite Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner in “Arrival,” an alien invasion adventure directed by Denis Villeneuve. Kam Williams: Which movie are you working on next, Burden? Forest Whitaker: No, I already finished Burden. That’s another interesting film, actually. We just wrapped that up about a week ago. I liked the way they did it and I felt that the story was really powerful, so I’m hopeful. KW: What interested you in “Arrival?” FW: I thought it was really an interesting story, first of all, the whole

notion of people coming to the planet and trying to find ways of communicating with them. But I thought the understory of time, and of how time exists in our lives. I also found my character, the cast and the director very interesting. So, it all made sense to give it a try. KW: How would you describe your approach to playing Colonel Weber? Did Denis suggest anything? FW: I’d played military men before, but this felt a little different, maybe because of my task. So, I was trying to understand that, as well as this notion of running a team the way Denis wanted me to do it, by splitting powers. And then it all started falling into place and taking on a reality as I began to embrace

the idea that I was trying to save the world. KW: What would you say was the movie’s message? FW: I think it has several messages. One is about communication, because the film does deal with trying to communicate with these beings. Another message is about how communication can bring us together. And a third is about misconceptions in terms of how we read people and how we read circumstances. From a scientific point-of-view, it raises the question of whether it exists at all. And secondly, if it doesn’t exist, it asks are we nevertheless on this plane of a loop that still holds the universe up? [Laughs] I think it poses that question, too.

what’sup KANYE WEST is on a roll. First, he said he would vote for Trump “if he had voted,” then he walked out of a concert after going on a lengthy tirade against JAY Z and BEYONCÉ. Fans were not impressed after having spent up to $250 on tickets and waiting over an hour for the show to start. When Kanye did get up on the stage, he sang only three songs — one of them was a repeat — before he left the stage for good. In the rant he gave before leaving the stage, he suggested that Beyoncé’s win with “Formation” at the MTV Video Music Awards was rigged…..HALLE BERRY is

celebrating her 50th birthday with a new line of lingerie. The famed superstar took to Instagram to post a teaser image of the new line and to show off the fact that she’s still got it. She can be seen modeling the black lace underwear in the teaser image while wearing a soaking wet white tee shirt, with her back turned to the camera. While the post suggests that the lingerie line will launch in 2017, fans know that she actually launched the line officially in 2015. It’s not yet clear whether this particular teaser is for a re-launch or if Berry is coming out with a whole new line....Because

BILL COSBY expects to be cleared of sexual assault charges, he is reportedly planning to resume his career after the case is over. His attorney argued in the defamation lawsuit that has been filed against the disgraced comedian by several women accusing him of sexual assault, that Cosby’s financial records and the records of his compensation for his performances should be sealed. However, the women filing suit against him argue that he will never work in the entertainment industry again and therefore will not be hurt by sharing that information.

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Children’s authors pledge to combat bigotry Defender News Service

This week, hundreds of children’s book authors and illustrators signed a pledge to use their art to fight bigotry and to make young readers feel safe and accepted. The site The Brown Bookshelf, founded to raise awareness of African-American children’s book writers, posted the statement. The pledge specifically cites the recent presidential election as “a clear indication of the bigotry that is entrenched in this nation.” It received over 400 signatures by the end of the day, including those of the site’s founding authors: Kelly Starling Lyons,Tameka Fryer Brown, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Don Tate, Gwendolyn Hooks, Tracey Baptiste, Crystal Allen, Paula Chase-Hyman, Varian Johnson and Jerry Craft. A note posted under the pledge stated that though signatures were closed, they’d been reopened “because of the many, moving requests we’ve received.” So far, signatories include National Book Award–winning author Jacqueline Woodson, who was awarded the prize for her young adult work Brown Girl Dreaming in 2014. Woodson is a finalist again this year for her adult novel, Another Brooklyn, which also deals with questions of privilege, prejudice and exclusion. Prominent young people’s authors such as Daniel José Older, Jane Yolen and Laurie Halse-Anderson have also signed the pledge.

The pledge reads, in part: “Children’s literature may be the most influential literary genre of all. [...]Therefore we, the undersigned children’s book authors and illustrators, do publicly affirm our commitment to using our talents and varied forms of artistic expression to help eliminate the fear that takes root in the human heart amid lack of familiarity and understanding of others; the type of fear that feeds stereotypes, bitterness, racism and hatred; the type of fear that so often leads to tragic violence and senseless death.

Author Jacqueline Woodson is one of the children’s literature writers who signed a declaration committing to fight various forms of bigotry through their art.

cente

DEFENDER | NOVEMBER 24 | 2016

What is good credit? The very top tier generally starts around 750, however, scores of 700 or greater are generally considered to be indicative of good money management (from around 700 to around 750 would be the second tier). Below the 700 mark, you start getting into the “not necessarily declined, but not the best rate” territory. Anything below 650 or so is no good. But improving your score can literally save you tens of thousands of dollars. “It’s important to note that repairing bad credit is a bit like losing weight: It takes time and there is no quick way to fix a credit score,” White said. “In fact, out of all of the ways to improve a credit score, quick-fix efforts are the most likely to backfire, so beware of any advice that claims to improve your credit score fast.” The best advice for rebuilding credit is to manage it responsibly over time. If you haven’t done that, then you need to repair your credit history before you see credit score improvement. Here are some tips to help you fix your credit once and for all: 1. Pay down your debts. The simplest and quickest credit booster is paying down your credit card balances. One way to make a first dent in the debt is to think of small things that — while enjoyable — are not necessary. Focus on paying off smaller balances first; while it’s not going to save you as much in the long run as the “avalanche,” where you first tackle high-interest debt, it can be more helpful psychologically. That’s because the feeling of reward after paying off one balance can motivate you to pay off the rest. 2. Set Spending Alerts. One of the biggest factors impacting your credit score is how much debt you have. Setting up spending alerts on your credit cards can help you make sure you don’t let your balances wreck your credit. Spending more than 30 percent of your credit limits on revolving accounts, like credit cards, can do major credit score damage. In fact, people with the best scores spend less than 10 percent of their limits. Some credit card companies let you set spending alerts for when you’ve charged more than a certain dollar amount or a certain percentage of your credit line. 3. Get your free Annual Credit Reports. If you don’t know what the problem is, how can you fix it?

That’s why your free, federally-mandated annual credit reports are so important. You can get a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Also, check your credit score. There are a lot of places where you can get your credit scores for free. Checking your credit scores regularly can help you track your progress as you work to improve your scores. 4. Dispute inaccuracies. By law, every major credit reporting agency must have a dispute process in place for correcting errors on consumers’ reports. Just one late payment reported in error can drop your credit score significantly. Whether you do it yourself, or hire a credit repair company to do the tedious work, filing a dispute can be a powerful tool. 5. Pay in cash. A credit problem is often a cash problem as well, but sometimes it isn’t. For example, if you’re recovering from bankruptcy, short sale or other credit disaster, it can be hard to get new credit because your credit score is so low. But, you can get a secured credit card and start rebuilding your credit if you have some cash you can use to “secure” the card. These cards require a cash deposit that generally serves as your credit limit. Treating that account right, paying your bill on time and managing your credit usage, can help you build credit quickly and allow you to eventually access a standard credit card. 6. Check your credit report for common errors. The Federal Trade Commission has determined one in five, or about 40 million consumers, have had an error on one of their credit reports — nearly half of consumers with an error saw a correction of 20 points or more. 7. Prioritize older cards. Credit, if it is managed well, gets better as it ages. Older Americans tend to have the better — higher — credit scores because FICO, the main credit scoring agency, takes into account how long your accounts have been open and how well you’ve paid them over their lifespan. That makes up 15 percent of your score. So if you’re going to shut down a card, try to avoid killing off the oldest one: The history and track record is important and valuable.

GET YOU

CRE

IN C

By RESHONDA TATE

hether you’re s hold the powe if it’s a $25 col drop their score 100 point that to rebound, or even l and credit counselor.

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suffering from bad credit or no credit, the good news is that you er in your very own hands to get a top tier score. “It doesn’t matter lection or a $5,000 collection, if it hits their credit report, it can ts or more. They get it corrected, it can take months or a year for onger than a year,” said Kimberlee White, a Houston-based realtor

he Houston area for over 85 years

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Do’s & Don’ts • Do pay your bills on time. Delinquent payments, even if only a few days late, and collections can have a major negative impact on your scores. • Stay current. The longer you pay your bills on time after being late, the more your scores should increase. Good scores weigh any credit problems against the positive information that says you’re managing your credit well. • Don’t expect collection accounts to be removed just because you pay. It will stay on your report for seven years. • Do keep balances low on credit cards and other “revolving credit.” High outstanding debt can affect a credit score.

RESOURCES

• • • • • •

AnnualCreditReport.com Myfico.com CreditKarma.com www.Transunion.com www.Experian.com www.Equifax.com

• Pay off debt rather than moving it around. The most effective way to improve your credit scores in this area is by paying down your revolving (credit cards) debt. In fact, owing the same amount but having fewer open accounts may lower your scores. • Don’t close unused credit cards as a short-term strategy to raise your scores. • Don’t open a number of new credit cards that you don’t need. This approach could backfire and actually lower your credit scores. • Do pay for your overdue library books and other “stupid” fees. Easily overlooked fines (including parking tickets, school fees and utility bills) can hurt your score.

DEFENDER | NOVEMBER 24 | 2016

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FBI: U.S. hate crimes are soaring Defender News Service While newly released FBI hate crime statistics don't cover 2016, there have been more than 200 reports of hate-based intimidation and harassment since Election Day, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The civil rights organization said it tallied 201 incidents nationwide between Election Day and now, based on direct submissions and reports on social media as well as in the news. Hate crimes in the United States ticked back up in 2015, after a 20-year low the year before, fueled in part by a 67 percent increase in crimes against Muslims, according to a new FBI report. Crimes against religious groups overall were up by 23 percent since 2014 and anti-Black, white and LGBT incidents were all up last year as well. Most incidents -- nearly 30 percent -- in 2015 were anti-Black crimes, the data shows. Crimes ran the gamut from simple assault to murder and rape. In 2015, there were 257 anti-Muslim hate crimes, compared to 154 the year before, the data show. Overall hate crimes were up just under seven percent, to 5,850 reported incidents. This was the first year that antiArab hate crime was recorded in the FBI numbers. There were 37 incidents and 48 victims. The rise of hate crimes doesn't come as a surprise to former Department of Homeland Security official John Cohen. The numbers validate two trends that have emerged in the past couple of years, said Cohen. First, the country has become increasingly polarized and there has been a rise in the lack of willingness to engage

Vandalism at Hopewell Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi is just one example of the rising hate crimes.

in healthy discussions with people who may have different opinions, said Cohen. This polarization has been along political, racial and religious lines, said Cohen. Hate crimes against Muslims haven't been this high since 2001, when there were 481 incidents. There are usually one to two incidents a month, but in November and December of last year there were 17 incidents each. He attributes this to the "toxic rhetoric coming out of the election campaign." While 2015 was the worst year on record since CAIR began tracking the numbers, 2016 is set to surpass it. Cohen said the overall 2016 FBI numbers will likely reflect an increase as well. Social media is also playing a role in emboldening violent behavior, according to Cohen.

classified

There have always been people with extreme views, but communications used to be limited to the physical world. Now people with extremist views can find like-minded individuals online and seek validation for their violent behavior.

Of the 5,493 known offenders, 48.4 percent were white, and 24.3 percent were Black or African-American, according to the FBI. Race was unknown for 16.2 percent and other races accounted for the remaining known offenders.

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‘Racial Battle Fatigue’ is real Defender News Service

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Black people are experiencing a scientific phenomenon that is not a figment of their collective imagination. It is having an impact on their mental health, and they are not faking or imagining what is happening to them. The condition is known as “racial battle fatigue,” a term which was coined by Dr. William A. Smith of the University of Utah. In his groundbreaking research, Smith examined the impact of racial microaggressions — the subtle indignities, assaults and insults that whites inflict upon marginalized people of color — on Black faculty at predominantly white colleges. In his paper, “Challenging Racial Battle Fatigue,” Smith wrote that “racial microaggressions can be defined as subtle, stunning, cumulative, verbal and non-verbal insults layered with racism, sexism, elitism, and other subordination…. Everyday, People of Color are faced with interpreting the subtleties of microaggressions, deciphering the layers of discrimination included in the insults, and deciding whether or not to respond.” As a result, microaggressions maintain white privilege and create unnecessary stress in Black people. Smith said that the mental and physical stress visited upon people of color as they navigate this racism is not unlike the stress soldiers experience in war. The stress of existing in white spaces is “mentally, emotionally and physically draining” for people of color, Smith argues, and the symptoms often go without being

noticed, diagnosed or treated. As ThinkProgress reported, the recent incidents of police violence and white supremacist terror attacks on African-Americans come at a time when new research delves into the psychological toll of daily microaggressions. The report examined the mental health and racial discrimination experiences of 3,570 AfricanAmericans, 1,438 Afro-Caribbeans and 891 non-Hispanic whites. The study found that over 40 percent of African-Americans experienced racial discrimination, and 4.5 percent suffered from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), while 39 percent of Afro-Caribbeans reported racial discrimination, and only 2.69 percent had developed GAD. Meanwhile, whites experienced higher incidents of GAD, with only 7.79 percent reporting experiences with racial discrimination, and 49 percent saying they have lived with other forms of discrimination. “The results of our study suggest that the notion of racial battle fatigue could be a very real phenomenon that might explain how individuals can go from the experience of racism to the experience of a serious mental health disorder,” said Jose Soto, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Penn State and head researcher in the study, as reported by Penn State News. “While the term is certainly not trying to say that the conditions are exactly what soldiers face on a battlefield, it borrows from the idea that stress is created in chronically unsafe or hostile environments.”

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DEFENDER | NOVEMBER 24 | 2016

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COMING INTO HIS OWN

Texans AJ Bouye By MAX EDISON | Defender

Texan General Manager Rick Smith was a cornerback in college at Purdue, so it’s not surprising that so many of the Texan corners are first round draft picks. The Texans have no less than three first rounds picks in corners Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson and Kevin Johnson. The group has played well, although Johnson is out for the season with a foot injury. However, the biggest contributor so far this season has been the play of undrafted cornerback AJ Bouye. Bouye, in his 4th season as an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida, has emerged as a playmaker in the secondary despite not being a starter. With so many offenses incorporating three receiver packages, Bouye has proven himself as a big league player. According to Pro Football Focus, through the first seven weeks of the season Bouye was rated the league’s #1 cornerback. His 92.8 rating was 2 points higher than 2nd place Aqib Talib and 8 points higher than any other Texan corner. For AJ the improvement in his play starts from the neck up. “It’s a mentality, going out there competing everyday like the coaches say,” Bouye explained. “A different approach in practice on and off the field with preparation and just working hard. That’s what it really comes down to, focusing and working hard.” “When I first came in I had nothing to lose being undrafted. That’s how I looked at it,” AJ continued. “After your first year you hear a lot

with social media and what people think of you, you tend to take it personal. That’s a difference in my approach this year.” Bouye’s improved play in the secondary has not gone unnoticed by the Boss. “He’s a great example of a young man that has taken advantage of and maximized his opportunities,” GM Smith summized. “It’s a tough position to play in this league. He’s honed his skills and worked on his craft. He’s playing at a high level right now and that’s good for our football team.” Bouye believes as a group, the Texan cornerbacks don’t get the credit they deserve. “As a group, I think we’re underrated (DB’s). We don’t have all the big named guys. We do have a lot of veterans,” AJ shared. “People come in and think they’re going to disrespect us. We’re ready to go. At the end of the day that makes me angry and I’m ready to hit them in the mouth. That’s the approach that all of us (DB’s) have.” At 6-feet, AJ is a bigger cornerback and has established a repetition as a complete player, able to not only be active in the passing game, but provide a physical presence against the run as well. Bottom line, Bouye believes in dropping the hammer every chance he gets. “It’s fun to hit. Our whole secondary has that mentality. At the end of the day you might as well take a shot, you got everybody around swarming. I played safety in college, so I always have liked to hit. That’s another way

“We’re getting better every week. We’re working hard, paying attention to detail and taking the coaching. That’s the thing I like about our defense.” —AJ Bouye, Houston Texans

of establishing respect.” With the Texans sitting atop the AFC South, AJ thinks the defense has a chance to lead the Texans into the playoffs. “We’re getting better every week. We’re working hard, paying attention to detail and taking the coaching,” Bouye observed. “That’s the thing I like about our defense. All our guys are coachable guys, from rookies, to veterans. From an individual stand

point that was one of the things that I wasn’t doing early in my career. I wasn’t really locked in and focused on the coaching. I was more worried about other things.” They say timing is everything. AJ is having his best year as a pro and will be a free agent at the end of the year. Quality cornerbacks make big money in the pass-happy NFL and if his play continues at its present level he will get a huge contract. Will it come from the Texans? “I’m being patient, at the end of the day it’s more than the money to me,” AJ reasoned. “It’s about respect. That’s one thing that I’ve taken the approach of, even if I was to get money in the future. In my mind I want to be the best. I’m doing whatever I can to be that. At the same time I want to be the best teammate and help my team win. I try not to focus on it too much, but I would love to stay.” It’s Thanksgiving weekend and AJ knows he’s got a lot to be thankful for. “First, I’m thankful for my failures; they made me a better person. Even through injuries and stuff, it could have always been worse, but God took care of me. I’m thankful for my Dad who works hard. He goes the extra mile just to make sure I’m good. I’m thankful for my daughter. She’s everything to me. She motivates me, just to see her smile. I’m also thankful for her mother for always being there and for her support taking care of her. I’m thankful for my teammates cause at the end of the day we’re all in this together and they never gave up on me.”

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NOVEMBER 24 | 2016 | DEFENDER

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sportsbriefs

LeBron donates for Ali

NBA champion LeBron James recently announced he will donate $2.5 million to support a Muhammad Ali exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibit includes Ali’s headgear and training robe from Dundee’s Fifth Street Gym. It also celebrates his achievements in community activism, resistance, politics, spirituality and culture. “Muhammad Ali is such a cornerstone of me as an athlete because of what he represented not only in the ring as a champion but more outside the ring, what he stood for, what he spoke for, his demeanor,” James explained. “I am overwhelmed by the incredible generosity LeBron James has shown,” Ali’s wife Lonnie shared.

Astros to waive Singleton

Jon Singleton was once the Astros top minor league prospect. He signed a fiveyear, $10-milion contract when he was promoted to the big leagues in 2014. Now his tenure with the Astros appears to be over. Reports have indicated the team has recently placed Jon on outright waivers. If he clears waivers, he’ll be outrighted to Triple-A and off the 40-man roster. Singleton, 25, spent all of last season at Triple-A Fresno and hit .202 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs. He played parts of the 2014 and ‘15 seasons with Houston, hitting .171 with 14 homers, 15 RBIs and 151 strikeouts in 357 at-bats. Singleton is still owed $2 million in each of the next two seasons, and the deal includes three club options for $2.5 million, $5 million and $13 million.

Heymach, The Woodlands boys repeat

Julia Heymach was triumphant in her return to the Class 6A state cross country meet in Round Rock. The Lamar High School senior successfully defended her state crown with a time of 17 minutes, 12.78 seconds to outdistance runner-up Ashton Endsley (17:16.15) of Abilene. Heymach, a two-time winner in the state mile run and former two-mile state champion, will continue her stellar running career at Stanford University next fall. The Woodlands boys cross country team won a second consecutive Class 6A team title and a state record 19th overall cross country championship. The Woodlands had three runners place in the Top 10, including seniors William Hunsdale (5th/14:57.67) and Noah Wells (9th/15:15.49) along with junior Gavin Hoffpauir (7th/15:11.40). The Highlanders were 72 points better than runner-up Southlake Carroll. The East Bernard girls placed all five runners among the top 25 to win the Class 3A state team title.

Keondre Coburn wreaks havoc for Westfield By Darrell K. Ardison | Defender Keondre Coburn did the simple math and it equated to a positive outcome for his Spring Westfield football team in a second-round playoff game against Round Rock Stony Point at NRG Stadium. The Westfield defense stymied Stony Point with a relentless performance that included six quarterback sacks, holding the Tigers to 61 rushing yards on 40 carries and a big goose egg on the scoreboard. “We wanted to help out our offense and we knew that if they (Stoney Point) didn’t score, we’d win,” said Coburn, a math enthusiast, who registered a team-high two sacks in Westfield’s 24-0 victory that advanced the Mustangs into this week’s Class 6A Division II Region II semifinals. Westfield will take on either Beaumont West Brook or Garland Lakeview Centennial in the next round of the playoffs. “Putting pressure on the quarterback and stopping the run was our game plan and we were able to do that,” said Coburn, a junior 6-foot-2, 308-pound defensive tackle who already has scholarship offers from Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Michigan, TCU, University of Houston, UTSA and Arizona. “It feels awesome to get a shutout in the playoffs and to get one in NGR is amazing,” Coburn said. “Don’t think too far ahead and keep working. That’s our mindset.” Westfield, 9-3, has won nine consecutive games after opening the 2016 season with three consecutive losses to perennial powerhouses Houston Lamar, Euless Trinity and defending state champion North Shore. “We thought we were done when we were 0-3,” Coburn said. “We came back to practice every day and strived to be the best. I think that’s what we’ve been doing lately.” The Westfield defense forced seven Stony Point punts and limited the Tigers to 213 yards total offense. “It all starts up front and we’ve got four explosive defensive linemen,” said Westfield head coach Matt Meekins. “With the bright lights in this stadium, I felt like I was at home sitting on the couch in front of a big-screen television. “I was up-close and personal watching our d-line get after it tonight. All of them did a good job, including Keondre, Azuka Mgbemena and Joshua Carr. They’ve been doing that for us all year.” Westfield is building a reputation for producing top-notch defensive linemen in the mold of

About Keondre Coburn School: Westfield High Birth date: May 23, 2000 Birth sign: Gemini Favorite subject in school: Math Favorite food: Hamburgers Favorite NFL player: Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams

DefenderNetwork.com Find out what Katy understudy became the star.

University of Houston freshman standout Ed Oliver, a Mustangs’ alum. “First of all, it’s great to be included on the best list with an Ed Oliver,” Coburn said. “And to get (scholarship) offers from all these schools is an honor.” Meekins isn’t surprised by his team’s surge following the first month of the season. “We do run a pretty nice little program as far as the off-season goes,” Meekins said. “Our kids work hard and they come back after school and continue working in the weight room. We have a great relationship with our kids and they enjoy being around each other.”

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DEFENDER | NOVEMBER 24 | 2016

Defender News Service

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NOVEMBER 24 | 2016 | DEFENDER

Happening in Houston

For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

topevents

THE SELF FOUNDATION........hosted a breakfast for the State of the SELF raises funds to provide health and social services to underserved families in Foundation at the Westin Hotel. The organization is dedicated to improving Houston. The gala raised $140,000 in support of the recently merged Houston the lives of others through education, physical fitness and spiritual Area Community Services and Bering Omega. Nicole O’Brian Lassiter, enrichment at local middle schools. SELF continues to serve underprivileged Miss Texas USA 2003, and Adrian Perez, chef and owner of Complete Eats, children, proving a bridge to a stronger foundation. Stacey and Bo Porter were Masters of Ceremonies for the evening. Performances included medleys have done an outstanding job touching the lives of so many kids. The guest by Christina Stroup, Aaron Echegaray and Daniel Rosales; dances by speaker for the occasion was HISD School board member Rhonda Skillern Courtney Chilton and Maureen Kelley, plus Michael Blanco and Jessica Jones. Porter provided some complimentary Cubelli; and a special appearance by Camille copies of his book Real Life Empowerment. The Zamora……..FOX SCREENING OF ‘STAR’…….. book cover was done by photographer Vicky Guests got a special first look at the new upcoming More photos on defendernetwork.com FOX show ‘Star’ at the Ensemble Theatre. Before Pink. Save the date for the big Gala luncheon on Thursday, February 2. Some of those attending the the screening, guests were treated to drinks and breakfast were: Caleen Allen, Colin Davis, Tom light refreshments during the cocktail hour. They Perich, Anthony Graves, Versus Swisher, Paula Sutton, Alan Watkins, also got the chance to mingle and take pictures with celebrities like Mr. Gracie Saenz, Thomas Duncan, Jodie Jiles, Michael Harris, Dr. Kathy Steal Your Grandma AKA Irvin Randle. In attendance were Miss Black Flanagan, Erskine Black, David Schaarz, Fred Zeidman, and Shawn and Natural Christian Cardel, Allisa R. Jones, Robbin Jones, Carlos Taylor to name a few……..SING FOR HOPE GALA……..More than 250 guests Wallace, the Musician Wives of Houston, comedian K Way, Wendi J. attended the sold-out Sing for Hope 2016 gala at Hotel Derek, an event that Turner, Margo Jordan, Brian Keith and many more.

Defender TOP EVENTS

Fred Zeidman, Stacey Porter, Bo Porter

Rhonda Skillern Jones, Bo Porter, Caleen Allen

Versus Swisher, Paula Sutton, Alan Watkins

Andrea Richards, Joe Fuentes, Janice Weaver

Misha McClure, Ashley Turner

Patrice Williams, Scott Miller

Allisa R. Jones, Robbin Jones

Irvin Randle, JMac 97.9 The Box

The Musicians’ Wives of Houston

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DEFENDER | NOVEMBER 24 | 2016

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