12.11.2025_Defender-e-FULL

Can she

WIN? Jasmine Crockett believes she can be the next Texas Senator

OBITS

IN FOCUS

ROD PAIGE

THE STATE E OF TEXAS

The pioneering Texas trailblazing educator, coach dies at age 92.

Volume 95, issue 8 December 11, 2025

Comptroller pushes minority and women businesses out.

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DN To the POINT

Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) are two U.S. Congresswomen known for a highly publicized, fiery clash during a May 2024 House Oversight Committee hearing. Credit: Getty Images

Message from the Reporter way out of Congress, and now she wants to be seen as the truth-teller who dared to push When the Trump administration back. I believe this is an attempt to find her decided to drop both Martin Luther King way back into office one day, even though Jr. Day and Juneteenth from next year’s she says she’s not interested. You don’t get free-entry days at national parks, I told to stir up chaos and then expect applause myself, “What other petty things do they for finding your voice at the eleventh hour. have up their sleeves?” How does this benMeanwhile, leaders like Jasmine Crockett efit the American people? These two dates are doing the steady work of holding people Laura Onyeneho honor Black Americans’ fight for dignity in power responsible. That’s the kind of courand freedom. age our communities need. Not the perforInstead of keeping days that carry real national meaning, mative outrage that shows up only after the damage is done.

Trump added his own birthday, which falls on Flag Day (June 14). It was a self-promotional move. Juneteenth became a Trump’s FIFA Peace Prize is pure ego boosting federal holiday under the Biden administration in 2021, but The new FIFA Peace Prize given to President Trump Black communities in Texas and across the United States have during the 2026 World Cup draw would be funny if it weren’t observed it for more than a century. It marks the moment such an apparent attempt to flatter him. This “award” didn’t when enslaved people in Confederate states finally learned exist until now, and anyone paying attention can see why it they were free. Many families visit public parks on days like suddenly appeared. Trump has chased the Nobel Peace Prize these to reflect, celebrate, and connect with history. for years, mainly because President Barack Obama earned The administration says these changes are aimed at one and Trump wants whatever Obama has touched. The encouraging more Americans to visit national parks and man lives rent-free in his head. Can you blame him? reducing the emphasis on DEI. But removing holidays tied FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been close to Trump to Black liberation suggests that our history is optional, some- for some time. He had a prime seat at Trump’s inauguration. thing to be edited out when it’s politically convenient.

FIFA even opened an office in Trump Tower. So watching Infantino talk about how Trump deserved a Nobel Peace Marjorie Taylor Greene tries to rewrite her story Prize for his role in the Gaza ceasefire felt more like a favor Did you all watch Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent between friends.

“60 Minutes” interview? It’s as if she has finally discovered The timing felt suspicious because the administration her backbone; however, it’s too late. For years, she supported announced faster visa processing for World Cup visitors. It’s Donald Trump without hesitation. She insulted colleagues, hard to ignore how convenient this award becomes when including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, with a confidence she now billions of dollars and global travel are on the line. claims came from party pressure. But now that the political A made-up award doesn’t erase the fact that real peace cost has shifted, Greene suddenly wants to be recognized requires compassion, conflict resolution skills, and a deep for speaking up. commitment to seeking justice through non-violent means.

In the interview, she discussed Republican members who Unfortunately, the president doesn’t possess any of these remain silent because they’re afraid to disagree with Trump. characteristics.

Hello??? How is that a surprise? We’ve watched many GOP leaders flock like sheep when their shepherd is present, rather On the Web than stand for anything substantial these days. Greene was • OpEd: Give the gift of ‘No’ this holiday season. right there with them every step of the way. That tough talk • Dria Thornton builds a powerhouse career in Hip-Hop she had for Jasmine? She didn’t keep that same boldness when and R&B. it came to challenging Trump while it actually mattered.

• Love in every culture: 12 wedding traditions that cross This felt like an attempt to clean up her legacy. She’s on her borders.

Trump removes MLK Day, Juneteenth from free park days

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DN News

Roderick ‘Rod’ Paige

Trailblazing U.S. Secretary of Education, dies at 92

By Aswad Walker

Roderick “Rod” Paige, a longtime Houston-based pioneering educator, coach, and public servant who became the first African American U.S. Secretary of Education, died on Dec. 9, 2025. He was 92.

Born June 17, 1933, in Monticello, Mississippi, to two public school educators, Paige’s life was shaped by the Dr. Rod Paige power of learning and the urgent need to expand opportunity. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University, he completed a master’s and a doctorate of

education at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. Paige began his professional career in the classroom and on the football field, teaching and coaching in Mississippi before becoming head football coach at Jackson State University, where he recruited future NFL Hall of Famer Lem Barney. He later was head football coach at Texas Southern University (TSU) and served as its athletic director, arriving in Houston in the 1970s and quickly becoming a force for community advocacy.

Education, however, became Paige’s defining arena. At TSU, he advanced from professor to dean of the College of Education and established the Center for Excellence in Urban Education.

As a Houston Independent School District trustee, he co-authored the transformative “Declaration of Beliefs and Visions,”

laying the foundation for sweeping reform focused on accountability, decentralization, and instructional quality.

In 1994, Paige became superintendent of HISD, where he implemented innovative programs—including teacher incentive pay, performance-based contracts, expanded charter options, and partnerships with certified private schools to ease overcrowding.

His leadership helped fuel what became known as the “Houston Miracle,” a period of rising test scores that was later scrutinized for dropout underreporting but is still widely credited with reshaping urban education policy.

Paige’s national impact grew when President George W. Bush appointed him U.S. Secretary of Education in 2001. He was at Bush’s side when news of the second plane striking the World Trade Center arrived on

Sept. 11, 2001. Paige played a central role in developing and implementing the No Child Left Behind Act, which pushed nationwide accountability standards and earned three consecutive clean federal audits for the department.

After leaving Washington in 2005, Paige continued contributing to education, including serving as interim president of Jackson State University from 2016 to 2017. His legacy is recognized in schools bearing his name in both Houston and Mississippi.

Paige devoted his life to expanding educational access, demanding excellence, and believing in the transformative potential of every child.

Paige is survived by his wife, Stephanie Nellons-Paige, a business executive and philanthropist, and their daughter, Danielle R. Robinson.

POSITION 4 AT-LARGE RUNOFF

Boykins, Salinas offer contrasting visions

By Tannistha Sinha

With Houston’s City Council At-Large Position 4 heading to a runoff, voters face a sharp choice between two candidates with competing ideas about how to lead a city of 2.3 million people.

Former councilmember Dwight Boykins and attorney Alejandra Salinas were the top finishers in Novemb er’s crowde d election, securing roughly 20% and 21% of the vote, respectively. The Boykins seat opened after Letitia Plummer resigned in July to run for Harris County Judge.

The runoff election is Dec. 13, 2025.

To help Houstonians compare Salinas the candidates, The Defender asked both to respond to the same questions about the city’s biggest challenges, budget constraints, public trust, and what sets them apart as leaders.

Top city issues

BOYKINS: Infrastructure, Water, and Seniors

Boykins says his first priority is tackling the aging East Water Purification Plant, which provides 73% of Houston’s drinking water. He said the city must decide whether to rebuild or renovate—and how to pay for it.

His second priority is protecting funding for ReBuild Houston, the 2011 voter-approved infrastructure program for streets, drainage, and potholes. “I want to establish an ad hoc committee to protect that fund,” he said.

Third, Boykins wants to expand his senior assistance fund, which he says has already repaired more than 600 homes for seniors at no cost. “I want to continue that citywide,” he said.

SALINAS: Basic Services, Infrastructure, and Public Safety

Salinas says her priorities came from “months of listening”—meeting with engineers, business owners, and doing a police ride-along.

Her first concern is restoring affordable, reliable city services, including on-time trash pickup, real recycling, smoother streets, and smarter flood mitigation.

She also points to Houston’s water loss

Candidates talk spending, policing, infrastructure, and transparency.

crisis, citing billions of gallons wasted due to leaky pipes. “We can’t allow our water system to fail like our power grid did,” she said.

On public safety, she supports both better resources for law enforcement and proven community-based models, pointing to Boston programs that pair enforcement with mental health, job training, and drug rehabilitation.

Salinas said major improvements will require new funding—and the city must become far more aggressive about pursuing state, federal, and private grants. She wants to hire dedicated grant writers for departments that currently have none.

Salinas calls illegal dumping both a public safety and community health issue. She says the city must hold contractors accountable for how they handle debris from their projects and consider stricter fines or enforcement for violators.

“If companies aren’t following through, we’ll remember that the next time they come up for a city contract,” she said.

She also emphasized tailoring surveillance and enforcement to community preference: “We can’t go too far, but if communities want additional surveillance, we should support that.”

Candidate priorities

BOYKINS: “Experience Matters”

BOYKINS: Partnering with District council members and federal agencies

Boykins said he would begin by coordinating with district councilmembers, who each oversee a $1 million service fund used for localized problems like illegal dumping.

He also wants to leverage relationships with federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, to bring additional security funding to Houston.

“You must have a balanced budget,” he said, “but you can’t leave out basic services that impact quality of life.”

SALINAS: Using the City’s contracting power and community input

Candidate differences

Boykins points to endorsements from public safety unions, business groups, and former Houston leaders. “Every single industry supports my campaign because they know I can hit the ground running,” he said. While previously on council, he notes securing a new grocery store, multi-service center, and fire station in Sunnyside.

SALINAS: “Fresh Ideas and a Record of Advocacy”

Salinas says she brings new energy to a council that needs it. As a trial lawyer and advocate, she points to pro bono work defending voters, students, and elected officials. “I’ve taken on big fights and gotten things done,” she said. “I want to bring that advocacy and consensus-building to council.”

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DN News CAN SHE WIN?

Jasmine Crockett Believes she can be the next Texas Senator

has not endorsed any Republican, adding uncertainty to the GOP landscape.

Some Democrats privately worry Crockett’s high-profile clashes with Republicans — especially Trump — could energize the GOP base. Others say she is exactly the kind of candidate needed to shake Texas politics from decades of stalemate.

By ReShonda Tate

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett enters the 2026 U.S. Senate race with the kind of firepower that has made her a nationally recognized figure — and a lightning rod. Her announcement immediately triggered one question across Texas political circles: Can she win?

Crockett thinks she can. And she says anyone doubting her simply misunderstands the electorate.

“A lot of people think this is about policy,” Crockett said in an interview with CNN. “But they can’t explain how you have Mamdani Trump voters, or Obama–Trump voters, or AOC–Trump voters. The reality is, people vote for who they believe is fighting for them.”

A fighter is exactly how she is presenting herself.

“I didn’t come to Congress to play it safe. I came to raise hell for working families, protect our freedoms, and call out extremism wherever it rears its head,” she said during her launch speech. “Now, with the stakes higher than ever, I’m stepping up again — this time to flip a Senate seat Republicans have held for far too long.”

A strategy built on nontraditional voters To win statewide, Democrats must reach millions of voters who historically do not turn out. Crockett says that is her path.

“We don’t need to convert all of Trump’s supporters. That’s not our goal,” she said.

“Our goal is to engage people that historically have not been talked to, because there are so many people that get ignored — specifically in Texas.”

Crockett points to demographics as her greatest opportunity.

“Texas is 61% people of color,” she said.

“We have a lot of good folk that we can talk to.”

She argues Democrats lose statewide not because the electorate is too conservative, but because millions of Democratic-leaning voters, disproportionately Black, Latino, young and urban, don’t believe politics is speaking to them. She insists that she can.

Her pitch: Try something Texas has never tried before Crockett repeated the message that has already become the slogan of her campaign: “Turning Texas blue is what I want to talk to y’all about today,” she said. “Now, some say, ‘Ain’t no way, we done tried this 50 kinds of ways.’ Let me be clear: Y’all ain’t never tried it the JC way.”

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has done the research , which she says supports the fact that she is the candidate that could turn Texas back blue.

Credit: Getty

“When I sign up to go to D.C., it’s always me taking the people with me,” she said. “It’s not ignoring their voices. That’s what moves people.”

Her case: Bold, authentic, and unapologetic Crockett is not moderating her message for Texas.

“The crossover doesn’t come because you decide to sound like a Republican,” she said.

“The crossover comes because you make people believe that you will fight for them.”

Her launch video — featuring Donald Trump’s insults before she stares into the camera and smiles — signals she will not avoid confrontation with the former president.

“We are going to walk that fine line,” she said. “We’re going to be able to get people who potentially have voted for Trump, even though I’m one of his loudest opponents.”

Crockett enters the race as former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred exits, clearing her path in the Democratic primary. But the general election remains daunting.

Sen. John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent, faces a fractured Republican primary with contenders including Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. Trump

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

VOLUME 95, NUMBER 8 - DECEMBER 11, 2025

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender News- paper 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 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

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Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

So… can she win?

The political math is difficult. No Democrat has won the Senate since 1988, when Lloyd Bentsen won. But Crockett’s campaign is built on a theory of change that breaks from traditional Texas playbooks: • Mobilize millions of Black and Latino voters who rarely vote in midterms • Activate young voters energized by cultural and political fights • Turn her national profile into grassroots momentum • Capitalize on GOP infighting and demographic shifts Crockett believes fiercely in her odds.

“I think I’ve got a track record of moving people,” she said. “And the people of Texas know I will fight for them.”

Whether that will be enough to flip a deeply conservative state remains to be seen — but Crockett has already made one thing clear: she’s betting big that Texas voters are ready for something, and someone, entirely different.

See the campaign video that launched the Senate bid.

Content Manager Terrance Harris Community Reporter Aswad Walker Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison Video Editor Bryan Erdy

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DN InFocus

Texas drops Black businesses?

Texas’ Historically Underutilized Business program (HUB) has abruptly stopped after an emergency rule change from the Texas Comptroller’s Office.

N

By ReShonda Tate

ow, thousands of minority and women-owned firms are no longer eligible for the certification that once boosted their competitiveness. Currently, only 11% of state contracts are awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses.

The state replaced HUB with a dramatically narrowed version of the program, now called the Veteran Heroes United in Business program, or VetHUB. Only veterans with a 20% or higher service-connected disability are eligible, according to the Comptroller’s Office.

Any business previously certified based on the race, ethnicity, or sex of its owners will lose its status.

The HUB program was created to give minority-and women-owned businesses a foothold when seeking state contracts. The certification does not guarantee awards, but it helps businesses gain exposure in a competitive marketplace and sets “good-faith effort” goals that state agencies generally strive to meet.

Interim Comptroller Kelly Hancock said the change was necessary to “restore constitutional integrity” and ensure state contracting is “free from gender or race discrimination.”

“Our nation’s veterans have always stepped up for us. VetHUB is Texas’ way of stepping up for them,” Hancock said in a statement. “These emergency rules ensure Texas’ state contracting is free from gender or race discrimination

and keep the program centered on those who earned this support through their service.”

For the women and minority business owners who relied on HUB as a lifeline, the question now is simple — and urgent: What happens next?

message to countless small business owners that their dreams matter less than the comfort of the well-connected,” he said. “Texas cannot claim to be the land of opportunity while stripping opportunity away from those who need it most.”

Businesses face uncertainty, lawmakers cry foul

A push toward legal action

With state leaders unlikely to intervene State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, one of the soon, West said affected businesses and chamarchitects who codified HUB into state law in bers of commerce must consider litigation.

1999, said the comptroller’s move represents “Since the comptroller won’t meet with the an unprecedented rollback. groups, they have no other choice but to seek “Where we are is that the HUB program is a judicial remedy,” West said. threatening to be dismantled,” West said in an He urged business owners to “come interview with The Defender. “I’ve attempted together, establish a legal defense fund, and to get the interim comptroller to sit down and take this matter to court.” visit with me about this. For some strange reaWest acknowledged concerns about cost son, he has been reluctant to do so.” but said unity is essential.

West said he believes the Legislature must “We’ve got to quit saying what we can’t do review whether Hancock overstepped his and do what needs to be done,” West said. authority by effectively repealing and renam- “Ain’t nobody gonna save us but us.” ing a statutory program.

Reynolds echoed that sentiment, invoking “In my tenure, I’ve never seen an executive civil rights leaders. branch agency repeal a statute and rename “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned us that a program specifically designated in law,” injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everyWest said. “This is not how state government where,” he said. “And as John Lewis taught works.” us, there comes a time to get into good State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D– trouble — necessary trouble — for the Missouri City, also blasted the soul of your community. This is one move, calling it “an attack on of those moments.” fairness and equal access.”

State Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, “I am outraged by this reckless said the comptroller’s decision repdecision,” Reynolds said. “The State resents a direct assault on opportunities Ron of Texas has chosen to turn its back for Texas’ diverse business community. on fairness and equal access, and in Reynolds “Let’s call this what it is: an attack on doing so, it has turned its back on our community,” Miles said in a statethe hardworking Texans who make this state ment. “Texas is a majority-minority state, what it is.” but business opportunities do not reflect our Reynolds said stripping away HUB support diverse population. Removing women- and disproportionately harms entrepreneurs who minority-owned businesses from the HUB have historically faced systemic barriers. program will have dire consequences on the “When the state dismantles programs that fabric of our state’s economy.” help level the playing field, it sends a painful Miles, who has long worked with state agencies to strengthen participation of minorityand women-owned firms, said the comptroller must reverse course. “I am calling on Acting Texas State Comptroller Kelly Hancock to reinstate the HUB program and ensure that women- and minority-owned businesses are included,” he said.

How we got here

Black businesses will have to fight even harder to get a piece of state business.

Credit: Getty

The changes follow a months-long freeze on HUB certifications and come amid a national wave of challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. In Texas, the shift accelerated after Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order in January banning DEI programs across state agencies, mirroring federal efforts under the Trump administration.

The comptroller’s Office cited a lawsuit filed

HUB future in limbo Since the comptroller won’t meet with the groups, they have no other choice but to seek a judicial remedy. We’ve got to quit saying what we can’t do and do what needs to be done.

by Aerospace Solutions, a non-HUB company, which argued the program violated equal-protection standards. No court, state, or federal, has ruled the HUB statute unconstitutional.

HUB certification was previously available to businesses majority-owned by women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Native Americans, and service-disabled veterans.

According to the state’s fiscal year 2025 semi-annual report, 2,995 HUB businesses received about 11% of statewide expenditures — a number West warns will plummet.

“It’s not like we were getting an outsized share,” he said. “Now you’re going to see that number go down.”

Real-world economic impact

The freeze affects more than 11,000 HUB-certified businesses across the state.

Julie Irvin Hartman, co-founder of B2G Victory and a HUB certificate holder, said the effects ripple far beyond individual companies.

“This matters because it’s an economic issue,” Irvin Hartman said. Her firm has helped businesses secure more than $4.5 billion in government contracts over 20 years.

“The program freeze and the U.S. government shutdown create different challenges for businesses. It’s slowed down the procurement process for state and county jobs tied to federal dollars.”

She recommends that businesses pivot immediately.

“Continue to diversify your business — whether that’s doing business with a K-12 school district, higher education, or one of the 200-plus counties in the state of Texas,” she said.

She also advises close monitoring of existing contracts.

“Read your agreements, reach out to your prime contractor, reach out to the government agency if you’re impacted by the federal shutdown,” she said. “There may even be informal opportunities available, even while the HUB program is frozen.”

potential legal challenges.

“There’s nothing solidified yet,” West said.

“But we need to get in court and get this matter heard, because clearly the comptroller exceeded his authority.”

Reynolds agreed, calling it a defining moment for the state’s identity.

“Texas is strongest when every Texan has the chance to rise,” he said. “This moment The road ahead requires courage. This moment For now, the comptroller’s Office requires action. I am prepared to says existing state contracts held by meet it.” former HUB firms will be honored.

Until then, lawmakers warn But for thousands of businesses that the consequences will be felt whose certifications are expiring or statewide. whose pipeline depends on HUB vis“HUBs strengthened our econibility, the future remains uncertain. Borris L. Miles omy, created jobs, and allowed all Houston-area chambers, legal entrepreneurs a chance to sucorganizations, and minority-business advo- ceed,” Miles said. “Dismantling it sets us cates are exploring next steps, including back decades.”

Ain’t nobody gonna save us but us.”

STATE SEN. ROYCE WEST

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

Laid off ?

What to do next

rate to soar from 6% to 7.5%. Experts point Nnenna Anosike once worked at the top to the chilling effect of mass layoffs across echelon of pharmaceutical research, where corporate giants like Amazon, Microsoft, high-stakes clinical trials were her daily and Intel, coupled with broader systemic currency. shifts, including federal workforce cuts, that For six years, the work was so stable that uniquely harm Black workers. she never had to apply for a job; recruiters Kyra Rènel Hardwick, an award-winning always sought her out. Earlier this year, after business strategist and CEO of The Kyra nine months of unemployment, her reality Company, insists that managing the interinvolved navigating the anxieties of dropping nal shock is the first step toward regaining off food deliveries for DoorDash, while the control. She frames a layoff as a “transition” high salary she once enjoyed ran dry. and a “bridge,” a temporary event leading to Anosike’s abrupt transition from a clini- the next stage, and offers a three-step mental cal research associate to a gig worker is the strategy for the first 30 days: human face of a sudden, brutal layoff crisis Reestablish self-esteem: Do not interthat disproportionately impacts Black pro- nalize the job loss as a reflection of skill or fessionals nationwide. worth. Reiterate that the layoff is a circumThe financial loss was preceded by severe stance beyond personal control. physical and psychological strain. The first Create psychological safety: Maintain red flags at her former employer, which she positive self-talk and communicate honestly noted was struggling with contract losses with your support system (family, friends, and legal troubles, appeared when a wave of partner) about your feelings and plans. superiors was laid off.

Establish a plan (Take five days): Grant The situation escalated when she was yourself at least five days to process before transitioned to a new departjumping into frantic action. Use ment with an impossibly heavy this time to establish control workload, a tactic often referred through routine. to as “quiet firing.” She was Hardwick leveraged a nineassigned more than 50 clinical month career gap to build her sites across eight study protocurrent system, having been cols, far exceeding the industry laid off from her corporate standard of 15 sites and two role before transitioning into MORE protocols. entrepreneurship.

STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE “Everybody just had an “I kept a calendar, a morning, YOUR extremely large load of work,” midday, and evening routine.

SEARCH. she said. “Soon after that, you I still got fully dressed every would see those people either day,” she said. “This regimented being let go or those people resigning schedule prevented idle time and negative abruptly.” mental loops.”

The constant pressure took a severe physThis regimented schedule, including desical toll. Anosike developed plantar fasciitis ignated hours for job applications, resume in her right foot, and, more alarmingly, pul- fine-tuning, and networking, kept her on her satile tinnitus —a condition in which she can toes for when the opportunity arose. hear her own heartbeat in her right ear. The The wave of corporate restructuring stress resulted in chronic anxiety, for which driven by AI and automation confirms that she now takes medication. job loss is less about individual performance The final layoff meeting, disguised as a and more about industry restructuring, “weekly check-in” via Microsoft Teams, demanding a strategic pivot. came as no surprise. An HR representative Esther Olubi is the Director of People at was present, confirming her fate. Anosike Black On The Job. This platform helps Black received no severance pay and immediately professionals build six-figure careers with entered survival mode to attend to personal expert coaching, resume services, and career and financial responsibilities, including strategies to elevate their success. enrolling in online courses to pursue certifiShe said that her community members, cations in Python and Project Management. or “Bees,” are seeking “confidence coaching” and a strategy to move from obsolete roles A systemic crisis into in-demand skills. Olubi states that many Between February and June 2025, professionals, particularly those affected by an alarming 318,000 jobs held by Black cuts to the federal workforce, are now facing women were eliminated in the U.S., driv- acute fear about transitioning back to the ing the African American unemployment corporate world.

By Laura Onyeneho

The mass layoffs within several industries, coupled with rising costs, form a dangerous cocktail that threatens worker well-being. Credit: Getty Images

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DN Profile

Jessica Georges

Blends rap, life coaching to empower Black youth

By Laura Onyeneho

When Jessica Georges arrived in Houston from Miami a few years ago with just $700 to her name, she was seeking a fresh start to embracing a new chapter in her life’s purpose.

The Haitian-American artist, life coach and cultural organizer has become vital to Houston’s creative ecosystem, using music, storytelling and workshops to uplift Haitian identity and the city’s broader Black diaspora.

Georges grew up in a climate where her Haitian culture was often ridiculed and misunderstood. In the 1990s, misinformation about Haiti from AIDS stigma to cruel stereotypes, filtered into classrooms and neighborhoods.

“Kids used to say, ‘My mom told me Haitians are dirty, that you carry AIDS,’” Georges recalled. “It was propaganda, misinformation and ignorance. We didn’t have Google then to fact-check. We just had to endure it.”

Those early experiences led her to shy away from her heritage until she began studying Haiti’s revolutionary history.

“When I learned about our independence in 1804, the first Black republic, I realized I had no reason to be ashamed,” she said. “I chose to embrace being Haitian and that gave me confidence to walk in my truth.”

She grew up watching her mother raise eight children in a single-parent home, trying to navigate what the American dream meant for her. Georges used her love for writing aand storytelling to guide herself into creating tthe life she envisioned for herself.

That sense of passion now permeates her h work in Houston, where she balances arta istry with activism. As a rapper (under Jess That Dope) and spoken-word artist, Georgges insists her music is “More Than Muzek,,” a phrase she coined to reflect her music ph hilosophy to her listeners. She even re-speells it, M-U-Z-E-K, to embed her mantra “EA AE: Evolve and Elevate.”

“Words have power,” she said. “The mu usic we consume shapes how we think and w who we become. For me, it’s about creating som mething that pushes people forward.”

Houston has become the perfect canvvas for Georges to merge art and communiity.

Through her collaborations with grou ups like Our African Family, she helps desiign retreats that teach youth emotional intellligence, self-confidence and critical thinkiing skills she believes are often overlooked d in traditional education.

“We tell kids what to think, but rarely show them how to think,” she said. “I want to give them the tools I needed when I was younger.”

Her cultural programming also celebrates Haitian heritage in ways

Jessica Georges celebrates Haitian Culture at a community event. Courtesy: Verne Visuals

the city rarely sees. This year, she hosted her first independent showcase, blending Haitian Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month with a sold-out performance downtown that fused rap, poetry, and storytelling. One of the highlights was her piece Identity, which traced her journey from cultural shame to pride.

“I used to shrink when people cringed at the word ‘Haitian,’” she said. “Now I own it and I use art to teach others to see it differently.”

Georges has also tapped into Houston’s Haitian community through Houston Haitians United, where she once served as vice president and education chair.

Jessica Georges blends rap and life coaching to empower Black youth.

Credit: Jimmie Aggison

Though estimates suggest 35,000 Haitians live in Greater Houston, she notes the population feels scattered. Her events from vision board parties to Haitian-themed sip-andpaint nights draw steady crowds, often serving as rare gathering spaces for the diaspora.

“It’s always a full room,” she said. “It reminds me that we’re here, even if we don’t always see each other.”

Debo Folorunsho, founder and executive director of the SA AiD Institute and board member off the Houston Caribbean Professio onal Association, has worked aalongside her on programs aimed d at youth and professional development.

“She’s one of thee people shaping youth culture in Houston,” Folorunsho said d. “Every year she hosts a vision board session with us in Janu uary, and it’s alw ways a packed hou use. Through tho ose kinds of prrograms, she gets g people tthinking creatively about their future and preparing for life’s journey in a way that goes beyond the cclassroom.”

He also shares how her

artistry ties directly into identity and history.

“She’s a poet, a rapper, a life coach, but what stands out is how she roots her work in culture,” he said. “Jessica creates space for people to know who they are, where they come from and what their responsibility to community looks like. In a time when so much of our history is being cut down, she makes sure it’s honored.”

Georges’ efforts are part of something bigger, building bridges across Houston’s diverse Black communities.

“At SAiD, we work from the spirit of ubuntu, I am because we are,” Folorunsho said. “Jessica embodies that. She brings Haitians, Africans and African Americans together in dialogue. Because at the end of the day, nobody’s coming to save us. We have to recognize the power we already have when we unite.”

Her decision to plant roots in Houston came after a personal turning point. Laid off from her oil field job during a difficult moment nationally and personally, Georges listened to what she calls “a small voice” urging her to take a leap.

“I was tired of the hamster wheel, chasing the American dream the way others told me,” she said. “I decided to bet on myself and Houston made room for me.”

Now, as she prepares new projects for 2026, Georges continues to blend her many roles to create space for identity and empowerment.

“This city gave me the freedom to be all parts of myself,” she said. “Through music, coaching, and community, I want people to know they don’t have to shrink who they are.

Houston is where I get to prove that our culture, our voices, our stories, they matter.”

10 | December 11, 2025 |

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DN Sports CRICKET CELEBRATION BOWL

Prairie View

Takes on the world en route to championship

By Terrance Harris

As far as first-year Prairie View head coach Tremaine Jackson is concerned, it’s his team versus everybody else.

First, the Panthers emerged from the predicted middle of the pack in the SWAC Preseason Poll to win the West Division. Then, they unseated the defending SWAC and Black college football national champion Jackson State, 23-21, in the conference championship.

It’s all proof that era has arrived on the Hill.

So Jackson’s players who have earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees won’t be making the graduation on the Hill for the ceremony.

The graduating players will instead have their own graduation ceremony in Atlanta.

“Here is the deal to be quite honest: Our school didn’t think we would be playing for the Celebration Bowl,” Jackson said. “If they did, they would have moved graduation.”

Spoken like a football coach, who always knew he was coaching a team that was on a mission quite different than what most expected.

Pity those who are late to the Panthers’ party.

There has been something special going on on the Hill since Jackson and his staff arrived on campus almost a year ago, with Jackson boldly discussing that he was here to win the SWAC West, the SWAC Championship, and to get his team to the Celebration Bowl while also putting the Panthers on the FCS map.

And it only became clear with every bold step and statement throughout this first season.

First, it emerged from the predicted middle of the pack in the SWAC West to win the division. Then this weekend, to unseat the defending SWAC and national Black college champions, Jackson State, 23-21, in the SWAC Championship Game, is all proof that a new

Some of the lessons that I learned from Valdosta we are carrying over to this year. We made it different a year ago and the way we train our guys, we can’t break their routine.”

TREMAINE JACKSON

era has arrived for Prairie View football.

The Panthers are SWAC champions for the first time since 2009, but this is uncharted territory because this is the first time they are playing in the Celebration Bowl for the national title.

Don’t be disappointed, however, if the Panthers’ demeanor isn’t happy to be in a bowl environment when they arrive in Atlanta this week. The mission is to leave as champions.

“They don’t like the spotlight and all of that. They want to give it to each other,” said Jackson. “They consider themselves a bunch of no-name guys.

“This team right here kind of has a chip on their shoulders about proving themselves right instead of worrying about proving people wrong. They keep it real simple. I’ve been proud of that.”

Jackson is proud because of this collection of players, some holdovers from Bubba McDowell’s coaching regime and about 70 new players who come via the transfer portal, have completely bought into the “it’s them against the world” mantra. Jackson hasn’t allowed his players to speak to the media, except postgame, all season long.

According to Jackson, that’s the decision of the players. And they won’t be breaking any of their routines this week, even in the festive celebration of a bowl game environment.

The team, which arrived in Atlanta on Dec. 8 and began its Celebration Bowl obligations the next day, will do what it has to do. But the fun part will have to wait until Saturday evening after the national championship has been decided.

Jackson learned the pitfalls of breaking routine last year when Valdosta State went bowling on a Thursday night in Dallas ahead of the Division II national championship game and ended up losing.

“We don’t bowl during the week. We play football,” Jackson said. “So this week, we have a couple of things we have to do like dinners and all of that. But all of that fun stuff, we ain’t doing that. We don’t have time to have no fun.”

They also haven’t spent much time looking back at last weekend’s impressive win at Jackson State. It’s about looking forward to the tough task of taking down South Carolina State of the MEAC. The Bulldogs, coached by Cleveland, Ohio native Chennis Berry, are the real deal after posting a 9-3 overall and 5-0 MEAC record while stringing together a seven-game winning streak coming into the Celebration Bowl.

Jackson and Berry know each other, and a couple of years ago came within a game of

Prairie View quarterback Cameron Peters looks to pass against the Jackson State Tigers during the first half of the 2025 SWAC Championship at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Jackson, Mississippi. Credit: Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images

facing each other in the Division II playoffs, but Benedict College lost.

“I’ve always had a lot of respect for them,” Jackson said. “When you cut the tape on, they have some long-body D-linemen, guys that are really active. They do a lot of things on defense. They try to establish a run game on offense, but they are not hesitant to throw it.

That is a little different based on what I know

what he wanted to do.

“They have really good athletes and a championship pedigree. They’ve been here before.”

Respect aside, Jackson is clear about what the goal is.

“We still expect for our guys to go and be competitive at a high level and at the end of the day, we expect to be the national champion,” he said.

December 11, 2025 |

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| 11

DN Sports NORTH FOREST QUARTERBACK

LA’SHUN GRAY rt on final game after injury in Comes up short

By Jimmie Aggison

La’Shun Gray walked off the field one last time as the North Forest Bulldogs’ season ended in a 56–20 playoff loss to Navasota.

Just weeks earlier, he had been sidelined with a broken clavicle, watching from the sidelines as his team fought to earn a playoff spot.

Now, with his high school football career behind him, Gray faces a new challenge: What comes next.

Gray not only led his team in passing yards, but he also set the school’s single-game rushing record during their season opener against Milby with 325 yards, a mark previously held by Jirmail Proctor, who graduated in 2016. North Forest started the year with a promising 3–1 record, but everything changed when Gray suffered a broken clavicle in week 5 against Kashmere, forcing the team to adapt.

“When La’Shun was out because of the shoulder injury, we had to adjust our offensive scheme,” said North Forest head football coach Clifton Terrell.

The Bulldogs had to start freshman quarterback Ezekiel Hadley, which left the offense unbalanced and more reliant on the run. Consequently, opposing defenses started stacking the box, restricting the team’s options.

“When La’Shun was out due to injury, it affected the team’s energy,” said senior tight end Jakolbie Neal. “The team would slack on assignments; we were missing that leadership. His return upped the stakes at all levels.

We understood what they came with, and that included protecting him at all costs.”

Gray’s return restored balance to the offense, providing the Bulldogs with a genuine threat in both the running and passing game, making opponents reconsider their strategies.

Though North Forest fought to reach the playoffs, the stage brought new challenges.

Preparing for postseason football requires athletes to be physically sharp and mentally focused. Gray rejoined the team in Week 10 with one regular-season game left. Four weeks off the field, he was resilient, eager, and determined to support his teammates through his leadership and his play.

“When I broke my clavicle and watched from the sideline, I couldn’t stop thinking about being in my senior season and worried I might be done, not knowing how badly I messed up my shoulder,” said Gray.

Throughout his recovery, Gray relied on his mother and support system to stay focused.

“My mom pllayed a major role in my recovery,” said Gray. “There were times during the recovvery process when I wanted to quit, but my mom m and my support system kept encouragin ng me to keep going every day, stretch, and d stay level-headed.”

After weeks of o rehab and watching from the sidelines, Grray returned to lead North Forest into the p playoffs after the Bulldogs finished 7–1 in 44A-1 Region III District 11.

“After being ou ut for so long and returning, playing in the plaayoffs felt great,” said Gray.

“I was back doin ng what I love.”

Even as he was w returning, Gray played smart, u understanding the need to protectt himself while still pushing to h help his team.

“Returning at the end of the season gave me confidence,” said Gray. “I wan nted to give my all and have no n regrets.

“I think he performed well in the playo off game,” said Terrell. “H He was a little rusty from m missing several gam mes, but in the playoff game against Navasota, he was still the t eam’s leading rusher.”

North Forest ultimately lost 56–112 to a talented Navaasota team, but Gr ay’s l e a d e r s h ip a n d effort propelled the Bulldogs as farr as they could go.

“La’Shun alwaays kept the team m’s hop e up e veen when things wen nt bad on offensse and defense,” saiid Neal.

Gray has three junior college offers and is receiving interest from Georgia State University but remains undecided as he aims to continue his football career at a program

ABOUT LA’SHUN GRAY Class: 2026 IG: @lol1reason Twitter: @ lol1reason Position: Quarterback, wide receiver Height & weight: 5-feet-10, 157 pounds Favorite artist: Rod Wave Status: Uncommitted Favorite subject: History

with a strong coacching staff that can further develop hiis skills. Outside of football, he is focu used on a future in kinesiology.

“I want to play at tthe college level while majoring in kinesiiology and business management,” said G Gray.

“If La’Shun is giveen the chance to play at the collegiate level, he will be a tremendously good athlete forr that program,” said Terrell. “La’Shun will n not back down from hard work because he lo oves playing football.”

As the Friday nigh ht lights fade, Gray’s story of perseverance o offers a blueprint for his next chapter, on or off the field.

“La’Shun will be rem membered for his leadership qualities and ho ow hard he worked to get back on the field aafter his injury,” said Terrell.

Though the final whiistle has blown, Gray’s influence on North Forest football will resonate long after the sccoreboard turns off.

“La’Shun taught m me how to be humble and to never give u up when things aren’t going your w way,” said Neal. “He taught mee to understand my surround dings and learn how to fix th he situation. Through this, I was able to open up abo out certain situations in n my private life. The younger guys looked up to La’Shun and wanted to have his courage and leadership.”

12 | December 11, 2025 |

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