Houston Defender: October 21, 2010

Page 1

Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

Volume 79 Number 52

October 21 - 28, 2010 | FREE

www.defendernetwork.com

Number 47

Status of women C tackles report mployment issued

September 16 – 22, 2010 | FREE

Needed:

www.defendernetwork.com

Black voter turnout

Special to the NNPA from the Joint Center of Political and Economic Studies

By Odochi Ibe

Less than three weeks be-

Defender News Service NNPA SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

A report released by the Nafore Election Day, a new analysis tional -Economic Council revealed Black Caucus is ON (NNPA) The Congressional shows that African American the impactjoblessness of the recessioninonthe Black community ent debilitating voters are strategically located in women on and how Obama adminveral sessions the the connection between education states and districts where, if they istration’s economic policies benefit at its 40th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). turn out in substantial numbers, American women. The laid will be September 15-18 atreport the Walter E. Washington they could make a difference in out the economic landscape facing er. who controls the House, the Senwomen and details somea panel on “Exploring W. Burris (DIll)today recently hosted ate, and up to 14 governorships. of the many ways the administrass Opportunities with the Federal Government.” Sen. The report, In Anticipation tion is committed to making sure advocate of looking toward the future when it comes of November 2: Black Voters the government is working for all believes Americans should devote time into learning and Candidates and the 2010 Americans especially American s and becoming aware of new jobs in the emerging Midterm Elections, was released women. by the Joint Center for Political An executive summary of ★CBC Page 3 and Economic Studies, a leading the report contended that since President Obama’s first days his authority on the black electorate By ReShonda Tate Billingsley policies have that has consistently surveyed DEFENDER helped stave and reported on the opinions of off a second African Americans since 1970. www.tsu.edu/giving exas Southern University’s president has come up Great DepresThe analysis was conducted or contact Wendy Adair with aAfrican-Americans plan he hopes will Community leaders from across the city and state received expert reports on issues confronting in put an end to a controsion and gott University Advancement surrounding the to painting hisHouston to determine where we are now. The next meeting will be held in February 2011 versy to discuss best practices bring over ofHsome our economy VOTER TURNOUT, Page 3 Adair@tsu.edu solutions to those issues. toric murals on the campus of the historically Black unigrowing again, versity. But some students and community members job growth EWS SERVICE tionsbut against his relative, who’s not fastthe age of 65. wonder if his contribution of $50,000 for a Preservation olderis still than enough.faces charges of False plan is enough to undo the damage. University officials of financial Harrison Barack Obama Looking say they know it’s not enough, but it’s a first step. rris County has Statement to Obtain Credit, at theand economicTampering landscape facing “We know $50,000 isn’t enough for the whole project. for theft with a women today and the findings It’s just enough to bring in a conservator to analyze the tments recently Governmental Record, Theft, against were: Edwin and Misapplication of ★MURALS, Page 7 Women are aFiduciary growing share of from •allegaProperty. Three of our workforce, our entrepreneurs, le from an eld- the charges are first degree and our innovators. As the majority ecile Harrison felonies that expose Harrison of college graduates and nearly 50 defendernetwork.comBy Brian Stimson sponsible for a up to 99 years or life in prison. Special to the NNPA from percent of the workforce, women elated issues in The fourth is a state jail felony The Skanner Group Let us know what you think adout the Mural Preservation are in a position to drive our 21st his indictments on Friday @ defendernetwork.com. We want to hear from you! century economy. om the •allegaThe International Association of An increasing number of ★INDICTED, women Page 3 are breadwinners for their families. Black Professional Fire FightIn almost two-thirds of families led ers launched the “No Child Left by single mothers or two parents, Alone Fire Safety Campaign” women are either the primary or during Fire Prevention Week, last co-breadwinner. In two-parent week, in order to educate Black families, with the wage gap and the people everywhere about the risk “We operated under the premise that By Aswad Walker loss of jobs traditionally held by of fire in their communities. Article for the Houston Defender “We have to ask ourselves the if the Black community and Black leadermen in this economy, reliance on Of all children killed in ship knew how bad we were really doing a woman’s income in their family question, where will we be in home fires, 38 percent were The Houston they’d be doing something different. For community is remembering ith the ascension of Presibudget is even greater. Black according to a 2008 report Imani Evans dation by city staff to extend included significant capital 10 years from now if we keep • Since women are nearly 50 a Ryan longtime example, Yates, Jones and Middle political dent Barack Obama to the by the U.S. Fire Administration. L TO THE NNPA FROM the contracts of Star investments, during a peripercent of the workforce, the receswho died Sept. 11, School are some of theactivist lowest performing most powerful political doing what we’re od doing?” According to the Black FirefightDALLAS EXAMINER Concessions and Hudson of uncertainty following sion’s economic impacts on women Beulah schools in all of HISD,2010. as well as in all Shepard, office in the world, along _ the 9/11 terror attacks ulti- two firms with ers Association: are even more consequential forRetail Sales madejustice her mark both of Texas. Regarding the89, criminal with unprecedented numbers of African Jewmately Don Boney NPA) - The arcanethan world of have ties to prominent failed to carry the the economy they would locally and nationally as a • African Americans face a system, Blacks are incarcerated at five Americans joining the ranks of CEOs ons contracts hasrecessions. been laid Democrats, including State argument. risk of fire death almost twice that been in past As a result times the rate of whitestireless in Texas. fighter Regard- for civil of Fortune 500 companies, many have Institute for Legal and SocialInPolicy its years Rep. Helen Giddings and the and three since me, what of they see isn’tthatpretty. of an individual of another race the recession started in Derights andduring political jusing voter turnout and participation, declared America to be in the midst of a Mickey Leland Center onthe World Hungerfirst embarked council sometimes heated discussion, U.S. Congresswoman Eddie cember of 2007, women have lost • Spanish-speaking children tice. election historic 2008 presidential post-racial society. Yet, the annual findings andEddie Peace, Bernice along with theon Houston Area Fieldthe and seen voted their median ed city jobs council 8-7annual Bernice Johnson - without a its Love modernHelen under services Black voters in will be the age of five years old and discussion points of the National Urban Urban League and the NAACP,” stated Jew 81percent of the registeredFuneral earnings fall.given Further,more women have l that would have competitive bid. ization plan, the concesGiddings Johnson comprised an average of 23 held at percent! 10am at Galilee Houston did not vote. Eighty-one Beaulah League’s State of Black America reports Don Boney, director of the Leland Center. faced increased oncession space in a economic renovat-inse- The essence of the city sions contracts have percent of all Spanish-speaking MBC, 6616 D.S. Bailey Shepard That means in Harris County, 19 percent and the Tavis Smiley-led State of the Black putting thisasevent together, we wanted housing prices declinedstaff recommendation rminal tocurity the as airport’s current that the no-bid contracts “Inemerged by far the most contentious issue, people killed in home fires in the Lane.actually Pastor Edwin of the registered Black voters Union conferences suggest otherwise. to model collaboration, and thus asked the and states and municipalities ut a competitive bid - for a have would be appropriate given the incumbents’ and have led to accusations of political Davis,Black officiating. Interment: Houston voted compared to 66 percent voter Recently, a State of Black Houston League and NAACP H GOAL, Page 3 years. cut back on the provision of social experience, the desirability of minimizing dis- Urban favoritism on the both sides.to come on participation nationally. And in Houston Now town hall meeting was held to focus services. e of some long-time council ruptions during the renovation and the busi- board, which they did.” ★SHEPARD, Page 4 our numbers were at 14 percent for the the discussion African Americans inwhich the • Womenaface a number of ness risks According to Boney, theCONTRACTS, purpose of uncil overruled recommentaken byonthe incumbents, ★AIRPORT Page 4 Bayou City. longer-term challenges such as the the Town Hall was to wake people up to the mayoral election,” added Boney.

nty financial ctor indicted

Save the TSU Murals

T

The State of ★ Black Houston @

Goal:

Reduce fire deaths among Blacks

Building collaboration to address the challenges, opportunities REMEMBERING rport contracts divide Dallas

City Council in Race debate

Beulah Shepard

W

H STATUS, Page 8

“The Town Hall was organized by plight of Houston’s African Americans by Texas Southern University’s Earl CarlINTERVIEW presenting the facts.

H BLACK HOUSTON, Page 3

Kickin’ back with K’Naan Dr. Rice talks about family

Condoleezza Rice was born in Birmingham, Alabama on November 14, 1954, the only child to bless the loving union of John and Angelena Rice. In spite of the considerable disadvantages she encountered just by virtue of growing up Black in The South during the days of Jim Crow, she somehow managed to overachieve, first academically, and then career-wise. In terms of credentials, she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her Master’s from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. Dr. Rice is currently a professor of busi-

butions by the likes of Damian Marley, Mos Def, Chali Kam Williams ness and political science at StanfordBy Univer1984 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Adam Levine of 2na, CONTRIBUTING WRITER00 sity and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Teaching and the 1993 School of Humanities Maroon 5. Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover and Sciences Dean’s Award for Distinguished During his early childhood, the Western music, which Somalia. Thetoname alone conjures Institution. From January 2005 2009, she Teaching. up images of reached K’naan’s ears was pretty much limited to “Bob destruction, and ruthless served as theunbridled 66th Secretary of State of themerciless warlords She has authored and co-authored several Marley and Tracy Chapman,” until at 10, he became terror. A place where nobody is safe from the atrocities United States. Before serving as America’s books, including Germany Unified and Europe fascinated by the hip-hop being emitting from a tiny car of she war, andaswhere olds handleA AK-47s like (1995), chief diplomat, served assistanteight to the year Transformed: Study in Statecraft speaker.Condoleezza “I had heard a rap verse, but I had no idea what When Forbes magazine with recently unveiled president fortoys. national security affairs (national Philip Zelikow; Thetheir Gorbachev Erait was back then,” he recalls. Rice “Most Somalia, above IraqUncertain Alsecurity advisor) fromDangerous January 2001 Destinations,” to 2005. (1986), with Alexander Dallin, At 14, K’naan and his three best friends were attacked andthe Afghanistan, topped the list. ButThe it’sSoviet alsoUnion “Theand the CzechoShe joined Stanford University faculty legiance: by warlords, just one of countless indelible images for Nation of Poets,” where a poem can both inspire peace as a professor of political science in 1981 and slovak Army (1984) and Extraordinary, the impressionable teenager. Having chased them and end wars. provost from served as Stanford University’s Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family through the streets of Mogadishu, eventually cornering Growing up, it was both of these Somalias that 1993 to 1999. She was a senior fellow at the (October 2010). the boys in an alley, the men began shooting. K’naan informed musician/emcee K’naan Warsame, who is Hoover Institution from 1991 to 1993 and Here, the previously-very private avoided injury, but his three friends were brutally forging his own musical path via a unique blend of regreturned to the Hoover Institution after serving Dr. Rice reflects about her life while gunned down. gae, funk, pop, soul and, above all, hip-hop. Recorded as provost until 2001. As a professor, Rice Certain that it was only a matter of time before her primarily in Kingston, Jamaica at Bob Marley’s home won two of the highest teaching honors: the H DR. RICE, Page 4 studio, his second album, “Troubadour,” includes contri★K’NAAN, Page 2

Click on Defendernetwork.com Click on Defendernetwork.com Weekend Marc Morial Harry Alford: Weekend

Is America Marching in Paychecks Not Food Two Different Directions?

Stamps

Weekend Weekend

Monday Monday

Family Health:

Julianne Malveaux Julianne Malveaux:

Raising Fiber Eager KeepsReaders the Doctor

Away

Ron Walters Stalemate Sparks Legislative - A Scholar and a Gentleman

Monetary Action


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.