REDESIGN OF PUBLIC SAFETY SERIES
POLICE VICTIMS DEMAND REFORM Family members offer their recommendations for change.
SPOTLIGHT
IKECHI OJORE A renaissance man pursuing his passions in a number of fields reveals how you can work on multiple levels.
Volume 90, issue 5 November 26, 2020
SPORTS
RUFUS SCOTT The Willowridge QB is showcasing his veratility heading into the playoffs. Find out why he is a special weapon.
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DN On the web
FIT & FINE Chrisheena Williamson Age: 37 Occupation: Risk Manager/ Fitness Athlete Education: Colorado State University Major: Sociology Motto: “Do you for you.”
“Throw away excuses and make a commitment to yourself.”
It’s no secret that President Barack Obama didn’t like Donald Trump, but he still invited the President-Elect to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. Now, Trump is trying to rewrite history saying he wasn’t given an orderly transition.
Message from the Managing Editor neys led by Rudy Guilliani and he is literally trying to burn America down on his way For many, the year 2020 was so bad, it beout the door. But this latest claim has us came a verb. ‘Girl, that was so 2020’. Between ready to rent a U-Haul and to go to D.C. to deaths of some of our favorite celebrities to help him pack. Trump and his team are now the non-stop upheaval from the Commandsaying they’re justified in blocking the traner-in-Chief, to the thing that has reshaped sition because they weren’t given an orderly the lives of millions - COVID-19....2020 has transition. What alternative world do these left a lot to be desired. But as we enter the people live in???? Four years ago, as much season where gratitude takes center stage, as her loss hurt, Democrat Hillary Clinton it’s important to look not at what we’ve conceded the day after the election. The day lost, but the small blessings that have been ReShonda after that President Barack Obama, who had bestowed on us, in spite of. It’s especially Tate Billingsley portrayed Trump as an existential threat to hard this year when many of us are forced the nation, invited the president-elect to to spend the holidays away from loved ones the White House and visited with him in the Oval Office. as we try to beat this deadly disease. But take this time to Obama’s aides off ered help to Trump’s incoming staffers. focus on the half-full glass. During his inaugural address, Trump thanked Obama and his wife, Michelle, “for their gracious aid throughout this COVID-19 is still here As the United States prepares for this week’s Thanks- transition” and called them “magnificent.” But now, they’re giving holiday, two million people passed through TSA rewriting the story. Sigh. Lies on top of lies on top of lies.... checkpoints between Thursday, Nov. 19 and Saturday, Nov. 21. The holiday travel is happening as the United IN THIS WEEK’S DEFENDER States has hit a record 20 straight days of 100,000 new • We’re spotlighting local renaissance man, Ikechi Ojore, a coronavirus infections. This is despite the fact that the millennial who lets spirit lead him. CDC asked folks to stay at home. Y’all, I know a vaccine • President-elect Biden is showing love for the sisters, apis on the way, but the virus doesn’t know that yet. And pointing two more to key administration positions. in the meantime, it’s wrecking havoc every which way it • Sports reporters Terrance Harris and Jodie B. Jiles have can. So please, for the love of God, mask up, stay socially some awesome profiles worth checking out. distant, and if you can, just stay inside. We’re almost at • Family members of police violence victims, including the light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s make sure we all George Floyd’s brother Philonise, share their thoughts on get there. the reforms needed in policing. Thankful
@damnsheena @will2befitness Read more on Friday about Chrisheena Williamson at defendernetwork.com If you are Fit & Fine Direct Message our Instagram page @DefenderNetwork
You ain’t got to go home....but you “gots to go”
When I say I have never been ready to see someone vacate a position....Donald Trump is trying everything under the sun to overturn the will of the people. He rage-tweets from his bunker about voter fraud, yet has produced ZERO evidence. He’s assembled a crackpot team of attor-
ON THE WEB
• Let the People Be Heard! Check out the video clips of Houstonians Denise Hamilton, Jeri Brooks and Madd Hatta speaking on the impact of George Floyd. • Madison High School’s Paula Ceaser named Texas Health Education Teacher of the Year.
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DN Section News Madison High School teacher Paula Ceaser has been awarded the 2020 K-12 Health Education Teacher of the Year by the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Joe Biden names Black women to his team Defender News Service
Two Black women are among those named to President-elect Joe Biden’s cabinet. Biden has named veteran diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield as U.N. ambassador to the United Nations and Shuwanza Goff as deputy director of the Office of Legislative Affairs. By choosing two prominent Black women to join his forthcoming administration, Biden is making good on his promise to choose from a diverse pool of candidates. The choice of Thomas-Greenfield was lauded by those who know her. “She understands peacekeeping, she understands the UN, she understands the developing world,” said Wendy Sherman, who served as undersecretary of state for political affairs in the Obama administration. Former congressman Tom Perriello described her as a “powerhouse” in a tweet. “Indeed, she is a diplomatic powerhouse! Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield brings experience, gravitas, relationships and the most valuable of virtues – wisdom,” he tweeted. “As US Ambassador to the UN, Amb @LindaT_G could also play a key role inspiring a new
Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Shuwanza Goff. Credit: U.S Department of State and Getty Images
generation of Americans to consider careers in diplomacy. We need to rebuild our diplomatic corps drawing on every part of our American community.” Thomas-Greenfield, known as “LTG” by the rank and file at the State Department, has a formidable resume. She served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs between 2013 and 2017 under former President Barack Obama. After a 35-year career, she announced her retirement from the Department in 2017. Reema Dodin and Shuwanza Goff were each named to be deputy directors of the Office of Legislative Affairs.
In a first for a Black woman, Goff was previously the floor director for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer helping Democrats set their agenda. Biden stressed the capability and commitment of his choices and that all viewpoints would be represented in his West Wing. “The American people are eager for our Administration to get to work, and today’s appointees will help advance our agenda and ensure every American has a fair shot,” Biden said in a statement. “In a Biden administration, we will have an open door to the Hill and this team will make sure their views are always represented in the White House.”
Missouri City resident and Amherst College student, Jeremy Thomas, has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford.
Mother of Tamir Rice pays tribute to son Defender News Service
On the sixth anniversary of teen, Tamir Rice’s death, his mother, Samaria Rice posted a loving Facebook message honoring the life of the 12-year-old. Tamir Rice was shot and killed by a police officer in Cleveland who mistook his toy gun for a real one. “How I Honor my Son and his Siblings on this day,” she wrote. “This is so difficult but they keep me going.” Rice added that “it never gets easy.” “As we honor Tamir Rice on his 6th death anniversary. I wanted to show how pain is turned into power,” she shared. “By loving my children and grandchildren unconditionally. By sharing pictures of the gazebo located in Chicago now at The Arts Bank.” “Under this gazebo — which was located in Cleveland, Ohio — on Nov. 22, 2014, is where my son was assassinated by law enforcement,” Rice posted. “This is my forever lasting memory of my son, Tamir.” Chicago artist Theaster Gates acquired the gazebo in which the young Tamir Rice was shot and killed and had it installed at his Stony Island Arts Bank in 2019.
Samaria Rice, the mother of slain teen Tamir Rice, posted a loving Facebook message honoring the life of her 12-year-old son, who was shot and killed by Cleveland police six years ago.
Gates has said that he ultimately hopes to return the gazebo to the city of Cleveland. “We recognize that because of the history of violent acts against young Black males in cities by the police, this gazebo is a national memorial, a national testament,” said Gates at the opening of the reconstructed gazebo in June. “It’s a national call.” The painful sixth-year anniversary of Rice’s shooting death was compounded by the news that 17-year-old Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse was released on $2 million bail Saturday after funds were raised by conservative figures, including Mike Lindell of MyPillow and former child actor Ricky Schroeder.
Upcoming Virtual Events in December Ensemble Theater’s Holiday Storytime with Santa, Dec. 5, 12 and 19
The Ensemble Theater will host a series of live events that allow children ages 2 to 9-yrs-old the opportunity to play games and sing songs with Santa’s elves! Additionally, Santa will have a virtual sit down with families and the little ones to ask for children’s Christmas lists. The event fee is $25. For more information, visit www.ensemblehouston.com or call 713-520-0055.
The Dream Corps Tech Town Hall, Dec. 7, 6pm – 8pm
The Dream Corps TECH Town Hall powered by TGS seeks to change the trajectory of the tech industry and communities of color. Featured guests include Van Jones, CNN Contributor and founder of Dream Corps TECH (formerly #YesWeCode), and Maxine Williams, Chief Diversity Officer of Facebook, along with others representing major employers, activists and educators in the tech space. To apply for the #YesWeCode $1,500 Scholarship Giveaway! follow TECH on IG and Twitter and submit proof of enrollment in a coding boot camp or a tech-related degree program. To register for the Town Hall, visit https://act.thedreamcorps.org.
Houston Virtual Small Business Expo 2020, Dec. 8, 10am – 7:30pm
Touted as America’s biggest virtual business networking event, the Houston Virtual Small Business Expo is a business-to-business networking & educational event, trade show & conference for business owners, entrepreneurs or anyone who works for or wants to start a small business. The Expo is free and offers 40+ virtual business webinars, an exhibitor hall, networking meet-ups and more. Register at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/houston-virtual-small-business-expo-2020-registration-89490812429.
VOLUME 90 - NUMBER 5 - NOVEMBER 26, 2020 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler
Associate Editor Aswad Walker
Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles
Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles
Creative Director Michael Grant
Photographers Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2020 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288
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DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE
DEMAND REFORMS
Just like you put on that badge, like you put on that gun, like you put on that suit, you need to put on that camera so that there will be no questions where the public is concerned.”
The Redesign of Public Safety, sponsored by the Solutions Journalism Network, seeks solutions to loved ones killed by violence at the hands of police.
By ASWAD WALKER
Family members of police violence victims have a unique perspective on the redesign of public safety, while the country discusses criminal justice reform. The Defender spoke with Marian Tolan, mother of Robbie Tolan, who in 2008 was racially profiled, pulled over and shot multiple times by City of Bellaire police. Tolan survived. Philonise Floyd’s brother, George Floyd, suffered a different fate. Philonise shared his thoughts on a redesigned public safety, as did the parents of Joshua Johnson. Joshua’s death at the hands of Harris County Sheriff ’s Officer Tu Tran has not made national headlines, though radical inconsistencies between Tran’s explanation of events and facts discovered by the family demands further investigation. Yet, with few eyes on this family’s tragedy, Joshua’s parents, Wilhemina and Richard Beary, along with family spokesperson James Hudson, gladly shared their thoughts on changes needed in policing. FAMILY RECOMMENDATIONS
Family members interviewed offered 10 recommendations for changes related to police that they believe will move society closer to better public safety. REQUIRED BODY CAMS James Hudson: [The use of body cams] protects the
officer and it protects the citizen. So, the question then becomes, why is it they don’t want to wear those cameras? And the answer to that is very simple. It is just common sense. Because they know that it does not benefit them to wear the camera. They rather not have it on because they want to do things they don’t want to be seen on camera. That’s just common sense. We’ve got to stop allowing these officers and the DA to tell us, ‘We didn’t have all the cameras because of XYZ.’ No. You are going to wear that camera. Just like you put on that badge, like you put on that gun, like you put on that suit, you need to put on that camera so that there will be no questions where the public is concerned. If somebody had not videoed the George Floyd thing with the knee in the neck, George Floyd would just be another name, period. Floyd: I think body cams and dash cams need to be on at all times. Because literally, [police] cut them off. It’ll probably take 28-to-30 seconds or something like that before it [the camera] comes back on. So, they may have done something they weren’t supposes to do. My thing is, if your camera goes off, in reality, I think the same way you would prosecute someone else, I think they need to be prosecuted and given time in jail. MONETARY ACCOUNTABILITY Marian Tolan: There has to be some consequences in
place when there’s video of you telling three different sto-
James Hudson Spokesperson for the family of Joshua Johnson
DO THESE REFORMS WORK? • Body Cams: According to research, the impact of officer-worn body cams is inconclusive. Body cams cause officers to use less force at about the same rate as those cams have no impact on officers’ use of force. The biggest difference: When officers were required to have body cams on at all times, they showed the biggest reduction of force. When officers had the personal discretion to turn cameras on and off, there was little-to-no reduction. (https://www. govtech.com/biz/What-Bodycams-Do-BehaviorAccountability-and-Trust.html) • Civilian Review Boards: Though police reform advocates nationally push for civilian review boards, the most consistent complaints about them is their lack of independence and lack of subpoena power, rendering them boards that make recommendations to police departments that are rarely enacted. (The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) provides a listing of all civilian review boards in the country: https://www.nacole.org/ police_oversight_by_jurisdiction_usa). • Suing Police Departments: Countless police reform advocates view suing police officers and/or entire departments as an effective way to curb illegal police violence. However, the cost of the successful lawsuits is paid by taxpayers, not the police departments. Thus, there is no direct consequences for police departments as cities pay out millions in settlements. (see https://abcnews. go.com/US/millions-lawsuit-settlements-hidden-costpolice-misconduct-legal/story?id=70999540)
ries. One of these is a lie… They need to be fired. When I say I want consequences, they need to lose their job. If they’re going on leave, it needs to be without pay. That hurts them. What incentive do they have to make a change to do better? Nothing. Right now, nothing. And so, that includes the supervisors who don’t reprimand them. There’re rules for everybody else. How can they just be the administrators of the law, but they don’t have to follow any? That doesn’t add up. Marian Tolan: And they cannot work in law enforcement again. Think about it. Since Donald Trump has been in office, the white supremacists have come out of the woodwork… A lot of those people are in law enforcement. So, we have got to do better doing background checks. We’ve got to, if the department covers up for them, they have to be held accountable too... Those departments need to be held accountable when they have somebody who has a bad history… because they take the responsibility. They knowingly cover it up. TRANSPARENCY Wilhemina Beary: I feel like [police] should wear
cameras, vest cameras. And also, I feel like they should be
Robbie Tolan (left), Marian Tolan and Benjamin Crump
accountable for what they do. I feel like the public needs to know who this officer is and they need to display [officers] pictures, their records. I feel like it shouldn’t be secretive. Marian Tolan: Another thing that I would like to see when the police have been involved in incidents, misconduct, whether it’s racial profiling, stopping and detaining people for no reason… shootings of unarmed Black men… The first thing [police] do when there’s an incident is they run a background check on the individual. But do we have access to their background checks? Can we do background checks too? Richard Beary: I would like to hear what’s going on. It’s like a secret thing… Seeing how all the officers [who] have done something, you hear [about] it; what’s going on. But with [Joshua’s death], this seems to be a little different, like they are hiding something. And I think it’s unfair the way it’s been done. END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY Floyd: Life is precious. And you want [officers guilty of
unlawful violence] to be held accountable for anything, because [qualified] immunity is major right now. Anything that officers want to say, they can say it. You have good officers. You have bad officers. You shouldn’t have to sort them out. INDEPENDENT REVIEW BOARDS James Hudson: A lot of times people say that the sys-
tem is broken. But this system is not broken. This system is working exactly the way they designed it to work: to favor the police. That’s the way it is designed to work. It’s not broken for them. It works exactly the way they created it, so that whether an officer is right or wrong, the outcome is going to favor the police. That’s the way this system has been designed. And we know that because you have the police policing the police. And that’s the big problem. You need an independent group of people, an independent review when it comes to police shootings. You do not need the Harris County sheriff investigating their own officers. That does not work.
Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd, arrives to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on proposed changes to police practices and accountability on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in Washington. Floyd arrived on Capitol Hill the day after funeral services for his George Floyd, who has become a worldwide symbol in demonstrations over calls for changes to police practices and an end to racial prejudices. Michael Reynolds/Pool via AP MANDATORY DRUG TESTING Marian Tolan: If you were involved in a car accident,
the first thing they do is do a toxicology study on you; a truck driver, a cab driver, anybody on the job involved in anything. It can be the slightest accident. It can be the slightest incident. They have to do drug testing, right? Why can’t we get drug testing on police officers? SUE INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS Marian Tolan: I don’t know who we have to go after,
but I’m going after somebody. The department of justice are administrators of justice. Supposed to be. But Black and Brown people are not getting justice in the courtrooms of America, not just in police involved incidences. The only way we’re going to get their attention is by suing them. Now I haven’t met the attorney that’s going to take it yet. But every time I speak to the National Bar Association, anybody, I let them know this is my intention. And one day I’m going to meet somebody who has the courage. Because to fight it, it takes courage. I mean, when we went to the Supreme Court, I was going all the way because I wanted to be able to look in my son’s eyes and say, I did all I could. And the only way you can do that is to do all you can.
I think [George] is the backbone, the staple of what’s going on right now. And I tell people all the time, Ahmaud Arbery, he was the charcoal. Breonna Taylor was the lighter fluid. And my brother, he was the flame that just set it off.” Philonise Floyd Brother of George Floyd
RE-REVIEW PAST NO-BILLED CASES Marian Tolan: I want some of these cases that they no-
billed to be looked at again, if we’re gonna really change the system. Just like the case of Mike Brown. The officer was not even indicted. He finally was fired after five years. There is a pattern and practice. We’ve got to change the pattern and practices. CHANGE THE WAY CASE JUDGES ARE CHOSEN Marian Tolan: I’ve heard people say that federal judges
are like, God. And I told him, please don’t say that to me because they’re not God, they’re human beings. And they make a lot of dumb mistakes. The judge that had our case, it was not a lottery. It was placed in her court… She didn’t get it accidentally. It was placed in her court for her to do what she did. COURTS RE-ORIENTATION Richard Beary: I think the courts need to be changed.
It’s too much for the police. It’s too much in their favor. I understand that everybody out there is not legal, but the court system is not fair towards the public. It’s just geared towards more of the police, and not everybody is honest. A lot of them are dishonest. A lot of them are out there doing dishonest things. But people are too scared to say anything about it.
The first thing [police] do when there’s an incident is they run a background check on the individual. But do we have access to their background checks? Can we do background checks too?” Marian Tolan Mother of Robbie Tolan
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DN Feature
Coronavirus Things to know
By ReShonda Tate Billingsley County officials issue warnings
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is urging every Houstonian to exercise extra responsibility and caution this holiday season. Since the start of fall, the number of cases that Harris County reports daily on average has increased 250% to 635 cases a day. Hidalgo says that sharp increase is concerning for the hospitals. The positivity rate has also increased now to 8.5%. Right now, the trend in our ICU population is increasing at the same rate at which it was increasing in early June and eventually that led to filling all of our ICU capacity. Although the state took away Hidalgo’s authority to issue shutdowns earlier this year, many holiday festivities won’t be happening anyway. Mattress Mack’s lunch giveaway at Gallery Furniture, the Star of Hope’s annual outing to Hard Rock Cafe and the HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade were all cancelled due to the pandemic. First COVID immunizations could arrive in the U.S. on Dec. 12
The head of the U.S. effort to produce a coronavirus vaccine says the first immunizations could happen on Dec. 12. A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee is set to meet Dec. 10 to discuss Pfizer Inc.’s request for an emergency use authorization for its developing
COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech recently announced that the vaccine appears 95% effective at preventing mild to severe COVID-19 disease in a large, ongoing study. Dr. Moncef Slaoui, head of the Operation Warp Speed, the coronavirus vaccine program, says plans are to ship vaccines to states within 24 hours of expected FDA approval. Pfizer formally asked U.S. regulators Friday to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine, starting the clock on a process that could bring limited first shots as early as next month and eventually an end to the pandemic -- but not until after a long, hard winter. How much vaccine is available and when it’s available is up for debate, but initial supplies will be scarce and rationed. Globally, Pfizer has estimated it could have 50 million doses available by year’s end. Another company announces vaccine
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90% effective, giving public health officials hope they may soon have access to a vaccine that is cheaper and easier to distribute than some of its rivals. AstraZeneca is the third major drug company to report encouraging news in recent weeks as the world anxiously waits for scientific breakthroughs that will bring an end to a pandemic that has wrought
economic devastation and resulted in nearly 1.4 million confirmed deaths. Who gets the vaccine
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state health department announced who will get the vaccine first. The release didn’t have specifics about when the vaccines would be available, but it did list factors that would guide them on recipients. The states says the first vaccines will be given to people who meet the following criteria, according to the release: Protecting health care workers who fill a critical role in caring for and preserving the lives of COVID-19 patients and maintaining the health care infrastructure for all who need it; Protecting frontline workers who are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the nature of their work providing critical services and preserving the economy; Protecting vulnerable populations who are at greater risk of severe disease and death if they contract COVID-19; and Mitigating health inequities due to factors such as demographics, poverty, insurance status and geography.
Help is on the way. But we need to actually double down on the public health measures as we’re waiting for that help to come.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert
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DN Spotlight
DESZ, a Houston native, is representing on the NBC show "The Voice" and she needs your support. Watch Monday.
HOUSTON RENAISSANCE MAN
Ikechi Ojore pursues his dreams
Guided by spirit, living his passion By Aswad Walker
like to connect people who want to be something to the people that could make it possible, and just pushing people towards their passion… The Bible says that your talent, your gift will make way for you. And that’s literally, wholeheartedly how I live. I try and take every talent, every gift that I have and use it towards living and living my life more abundantly.
In this modern reality of hyper-specialization, there are few Renaissance men and women, individuals who do multiple things at an exceptional Defender: You’ve been a professional musilevel. But in the spirit of a professional athlete, opera cian, high school band director at Worthing singer, actor, activist Paul Robeson and scientist, and Kashmere, author, barber, visual artist, dancer, African American Studies aficionado and photographer and videographer, skateboard astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, millennial Ikechi Ojore designer. What am I leaving off? is living his best life, making his mark in music, eduIkechi: I think you’ve got it, man. I don’t even cation, visual artist, literature and more. pay attention to that stuff… Most of the time the The Defender caught up with world says that we only can be one the TSU alum, licensed barber, thing. And all the things that I told part-time model and globe-trotmyself I wanted to be when I was a ABOUT ting musician who has played with kid, I kinda became those things. IKECHI OJORE the likes of Brian McKnight, Kirk It was like, I want to be an archiBirthplace: Whalum and others, to discuss his tect, but I guess I am in different Atlanta, GA multiple paths and passions. ways. But a lot of people believe Education: that they can only be the thing that TSU, General Studies Defender: Can do describe they’re doing right now. In realPlaces Traveled: what you do for a living? ity, like the way God made us, He Columbia, Jamaica, Ikechi Ojore: Someone asked made us to be so many things at Paris, London, me if my job was related to my one time. But most of us don’t proPrague, Trinidad, Thailand, etc. passion. And I laughed because, mote those other things. We don’t Mantra: “You have in some ways, yes, some ways, talk about other things. So, that’s to let go of what you hell no. I’m an academic advisor really all it is that I’m doing… By can’t keep to gain at HCC. My passion is to introduce any avenue or talent or ability that what you can’t lose.” dope people to dope people. So, in I have, I want to push people into (Marlon Hall) so many ways, everything that I doing what they’re supposed to be do, whether it’s being a musician, doing. photographer or academic advisor, is really to just intertwine or interlock those people Defender: How important is faith to who you from one place to another in order to connect them are and what you do? with what they want to be doing or what they need Ikechi: It’s the backbone of everything that I do. to be doing. I grew up in a church. In that church, it was more about spirituality or connection with God. And from Defender: You had an initiative going on spe- that connection to everything around you. I learned cifically for that. What was it called? how to meditate and how to connect with God on a Ikechi: It was called “Conversations in the channel that was not so seen. And that connection, I Kitchen,” where it was pretty much a way for me to strongly believe that it moves me rather than I move connect people with other people. You’re an editor it. So, the way the energy flows is pretty much where I of a newspaper, you’re a professor and you might go. So, one day I might be heavy into music and that’s want to be an animator. Who knows what you want all I’m doing is music. And the next day it’s a visual to be? But in that room, there were people who were art form. But it’s really the spirit moving through me doctors, lawyers, who needed animators. So, it was in order to get to that next thing.
Go to Defender.com to read the entire interview, and learn more about Ikechi’s book, “To my Future #WCW,” his spiritual journey and passions that took him from TSU to traveling the globe.
Ikechi Ojore mentoring students
Ikechi Ojore playing with the Czech National Orchestra
IKECHI OJORE @ikechiojore @ikechiojore
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DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Sports Texans linebacker Zach Cunningham joins DeMeco Ryans as the only player in team history with at least 80 tackles in each of his first four seasons.
The Rockets picked Kenyon Martin, Jr., the son of former NBA star Kenyon Martin, their second-round pick (52nd overall) during last week’s NBA Draft.
SportsBriefs BROTHERS IN ARMS SCHOLARSHIP The Brothers in Arms, which is comprised of accomplished quarterbacks Warren Moon, Andre Ware, Vince Young and Deshaun Watson, in partnership Warren Moon with the Sports Authority, is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2021 Class. To be eligible you must be a student athlete, reside in a single-parent home and carry at least a 3.0 GPA. The scholarship is worth $7,500 and the deadline to apply is Dec. 18. For further information and to apply go to www.BrothersInArmsHouston.com/apply.
SHORT STAY FOR ARIZA John Hopkins
Yahuza Rasas
TSU TIGERS’ UNFINISHED SEASON MOTIVATES TEAM By Terrance Harris
It’s been over eight months, but the Texas Southern men’s basketball team still feels the emptiness of unfinished business they were left with last season. As the No.3 seed in the SWAC Tournament, the Tigers had dismantled Grambling State in the quarterfinals game and had made it to Birmingham as one of the final teams vying for the conference championship and the right to move on to the NCAA Tournament. That’s when it all went left. Fears began to spread about the deadly coronavirus so the SWAC, like all conference tournaments, shutdown and effectively ended the March Madness dreams for college basketball players across the country. That included the Tigers, too. The players found out in a meeting room at the team hotel that the postseason had been canceled and they were headed to their respective homes. “It hurt, I’m not even going to lie,” said TSU junior forward Yahuza Rasas. “I was a sophomore last year and it still struck me hard. So, I can imagine what it did to
our seniors. “I remember being in the hallway of the hotel and that being our banquet, that being our goodbyes to each other. It should never had gone down like that, but it was just some things that we couldn’t control.” The next several months weren’t much of a picnic either as the players were sent home, isolated from their team and coaches and now taking classes online. Their only connection came via Zoom meetings. But fast forward several months later, the Tigers returned to campus and began practicing Oct. 14. Now, they are ready to start the season a few weeks later than normal but feeling optimistic about the 2020-21 campaign. TSU opened the season this week at Washington State, and will play at Oklahoma State on Saturday. There is still quite a bit of concern about the COVID-19 virus and the safety of playing sports, but the Tigers seem excited to be back on the court and with a chance to remove the bitter taste of last season.
“We’re trying to move forward, but it’s in the back of our minds for sure,” said forward Justin Hopkins. “It adds a little fuel to the fire, but we feel like we are in good position again this year.” The Tigers lost star guard Tyrik Armstrong and Eden Ewing, but return three talented starters in senior guard John Jones, Rasas and Hopkins and a major contributor in Chris Baldwin. TSU has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the SWAC, while Rasas and Hopkins are firstteam preseason all-conference selections and Baldwin made the second team. Additionally, the Tigers have nine letter-winners back from last season’s squad while adding a few new key pieces. TSU third-year coach Johnny Jones hopes this year’s team will carry some motivation from how last season ended into this campaign. “The guys coming back now, they are hungry because they felt like they left something out there last year and now they’ve got a chance to do it again,” he said. “Those guys have a chance to come back now and play for something special.”
The Rockets traded Robert Covington to Portland for the 16th overall pick in last week’s NBA Draft, a first-round pick in 2021 and veteran Trevor Ariza guard Trevor Ariza. But on the night of the draft, the Rockets shipped Ariza and the 16th overall pick to Detroit for a protected first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. It was definitely not the start to the Rafael Stone era as general manager you would have thought, especially with speculation that both James Harden and Russell Westbrook are on the trading block.
TSU PARTNERS TO HELP FAMILIES Texas Southern and Academy Sports + Outdoors partnered to brighten the lives of four local families ahead of this holiday season recently. Student-athletes and staff members met at the Academy Sports + Outdoors location on Kirby Dr. to assist with the distribution of gifts to four local families from the Barbara Jordan International Preschool. Each family was given $500 to go on a virtual shopping spree on Academy.com and picked up their orders curbside.
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DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Sports WILLOWRIDGE QB
RUFUS SCOTT SHOWS STYLE By Jodie B. Jiles
With only a few weeks remaining in this condensed high school football season, Willowridge senior quarterback Rufus Scott has the Eagles flying into the playoffs. Currently, “the Ridge” is tied for second place in Class 5A-2 Region III District 11 division, only trailing Fort Bend Marshall who is the only team to defeat Willowridge this season. Throughout the Eagles’ 2020 season and 6-1 overall team record, Scott has served as the offenses’ centerpiece, using both his arm and athleticism to push his offense down the field. But what stands out about Scott is his ability to make defenders miss tackles. When Willowridge faced Waltrip, Scott delivered a Derrick Henry-esque stiff arm punch that could be heard all the way in Galveston. Just based on the audience’s reactions in the stands, you could feel the defenders’ discomfort. The Defender spoke with Scott after their 16-14 win over Houston-Sterling to discuss his versatility, keys to success and his one-hitter-quitter stiff arm. Style of Play
“Mobile. I can do both. I can throw it and I can run it.”’ Stiff Arm
“Out of school I run my horses a lot. So, I’m just picking up everything. And it is the same thing when they come to me, I just throw them off. It’s just an instinct.”
Yates Center Chuks Isitua Interview By Jodie B. Jiles
Yates center Chuks Isitua is a 6’10” senior currently being recruited by the University of Houston, DePaul, Colorado State, Iona, Tennessee State and Detroit, to name a few. The Defender spoke with the JY big man to discuss his style of play on the basketball court, the team’s record breaking 100-point game streak last season, the 2020 state finals cancellation in San Antonio and more. Visit social media for the interview. Photos by Jimmie Aggison
Scott carries the ball for a first down in the 20-0 win over Waltrip. -Jimmie Agisson
About Rufus Scott
Height: 6’4” Weight: 202 40 Yard Dash: 4.6 IG: @xikidoo Players He Studies: Lamar Jackson and Drew Brees Shoutouts: Willowridge and my family. I got you. Keys to Sterling “W”
“Clock management, playing smart and being a team leader.” Moving Forward
“If we work hard and believe in each other we will be successful.”
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DEFENDER NETWORK
ThankYou! During this time of thanks and giving, we want YOU to know the Defender is grateful for your support. This year has brought many tests and trials to our community especially with the coronavirus. Together we will get through this.
Remember to enjoy your holiday safely.
From our family to yours