Houston Style Magazine vol 30 No 16

Apr. 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication

Volume 30 | Number 16

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson Wall Street’s Addiction to Crime

Macy’s

Prom Season 2019 Last Minute Tips

Teacher Turn Comedian Eddie B

By Jo-Carolyn Goode Follow Us #TeamStyleMag

Judge Carlton W. Reeves

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6th Lyons Avenue Renaissance Festival

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Comcast’s Distracted Driving

Meet the Judge Who Took On Donald Trump

Houston’s Future

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08 Publisher Francis Page, Jr. Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez

First Black Woman Nominated to Facebook’s Board Of Directors

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Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com

NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

The Court of Public Opinion

PHOTOGRAPHERS Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com

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William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com

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Apr. 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

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COMMENTARY

Wall Street’s Addiction to Crime

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer the case not just before the 2008 crash, but also during and after the crash and their lifesaving bailouts. ... In fact, the number of cases against the banks has actually increased relative to the pre-crash era.”

Rep. Maxine Waters

Last week, as Rep. Maxine Waters (DCA) convened a House Financial Services Committee hearing, featuring the CEOs of Wall Street’s biggest banks, the financial watchdog group released a stunning report on their criminal records: Wall Street’s Six Biggest Bailed-Out Banks: Their RAP Sheets and Their Ongoing Crime Spree.

The report profiled the records of Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. Detailing the staggering $8.2 trillion that was committed to bail out these banks when their excesses blew up the economy in 2008, the report laid out what it called their RAP sheets -- the record of illegal activity for which they have been fined a cumulative total of $181 billion in over 350 major legal actions.

The report concludes that these big banks “have engaged in -- and continue to engage in -- a crime spree that spans the violation of almost every law and rule imaginable. (emphasis added). ...That was

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POLITICAL

The Honorable Carlton W. Reeves

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he Honorable Carlton W. Reeves, a 55-year-old judge in Mississippi, did something last week no other federal judge has done in the Trump era.

Evoking the history of segregation in the South, Reeves publicly lambasted the President for his attacks on judges, questioned Trump’s commitment to diversity on the federal bench and called upon judges to do

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Apr 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

The scope of the illegal activity is breathtaking -- overcharging soldiers on their mortgages, conspiring to fix the price of credit card fees, massive improper foreclosure practices, billing customers for services never provided, rigging interest rates, violating sanctions against countries like Iran, and more. The large fines are, for these mega-banks, merely a cost of doing business. And so the crime wave continues.

The banks particularly prey on the vulnerable, regularly pleading guilty of discriminating against African Americans and Latinos. Long after the bailout, for example, JPMorgan Chase paid $53 million to settle charges that it had discriminated against minority borrowers by charging them more for a mortgage than white customers.

The banks were at the center of the housing bubble and its collapse. About 10 million people were displaced from over 4 million homes across the country. Minority neighborhoods were hit the hardest.

For decades, the banks red-lined minority areas, depriving residents of access to mortgages or loans for small business development. Then, when the banks inflated the housing bubble, they targeted minority neighborhoods, peddling predatory mortgages to customers who they knew

could not afford them. As one former Wells Fargo mortgage broker explained in a sworn affidavit, “The company put ‘bounties’ on minority borrowers. By this I mean that loan officers received cash incentives to aggressively market subprime loans in minority communities.” At the height of the rapacious lending boom, nearly 50 percent of all loans given to African-American families were deemed “subprime.” The New York Times described these contracts as “a financial time-bomb.”

When housing prices cratered, the bomb exploded. Mass evictions left entire neighborhoods scarred by empty houses. The banks then failed their legal duty to keep the homes up, with neighborhoods turning into waste pits. With homeowners evicted, local revenues declined. Stores were shuttered; schools closed; local services decimated.

Those victimized were most often those who did the right thing: working steadily, putting together the money for a down payment on a home for their children. A rising African-American middle class was eviscerated. In 2012, the National Fair Housing Alliance reported, that African Americans suffered “the largest loss of wealth for these communities in modern history.” Between 2009 and 2012 African Americans lost just under $200 billion in wealth, bringing the gap between white and black wealth to a staggering 20:1 ratio.

According to the Better Markets report,

the six biggest banks have paid over $181 billion in fines and settlements for their criminal activity. This money generally goes back into the general fund, unless the settlement agreement provides for some relief to those injured.

That too often leaves those most injured by the illegal practices out in the cold. What would make sense is that any fines that aren’t used to recompense the direct victims be put into a fund to rebuild the communities most injured. Supplement that with revenues from sensible taxes on the banks -- like Elizabeth Warren’s call for a simple corporate tax on the profits they report -- and a multi-billion fund could be created to help repair the communities most impacted by the bankers’ crimes. Use that money not to line the pockets of the big banks again, but to seed community banks and cooperatives, to support nonprofit affordable housing development, to create postal banking services that could liberate the poor from the usurious charges of payday lenders.

That might not end Wall Street’s addiction to crime, but it would help repair the communities that they have devastated.

One would think that law-and-order conservatives might support this act of simple justice.

(You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this newspaper or by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org. Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson.)

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Meet the Judge Who Took On Donald Trump

By Ariane de Vogue, CNN Supreme Court Reporter

more to defend the judiciary.

While sitting Supreme Court justices, notably Chief Justice John Roberts, have pushed back on Trump’s attacks at times, saying there are no Democratic judges or Republican judges, and some judges in federal courts have used harsh language to block some of his more controversial policies, no other federal judge has launched

such a broad assault.

Reeves did so during a speech Thursday at the University of Virginia without ever mentioning Trump’s name.

The speech also represented a rare, and some would say unwelcome, entry into the political arena from the federal bench, where judges publicly attempt to stay away from partisanship, regardless of their policy views.

In what could be an unprecedented move, Reeves publicly criticized the lack of diversity of the President’s judicial nominees, using the speech as an entreaty to examine the role of diversity on the bench.

Trump’s two Supreme Court nominees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, both attended the same elite high school in the suburbs of Washington, for instance.

“We have as many justices who have graduated from Georgetown Prep as we have justices who have lived as a non-white person,” Reeves said, referring to Justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reeves is more than a bystander on diversity on the bench. He is the second African-American to be appointed as a federal judge in Mississippi and has spoken about the hate mail he has received since

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becoming a judge.

He was among the first full class to enter an integrated first-grade classroom at a public school in Yazoo City, Mississippi.

He graduated from Jackson State University and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989 and was nominated to the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi by President Barack Obama.

At his confirmation hearing in 2010, Sen. Richard Durbin noted that Reeves’ nomination was historic.

“You are the first African-American nominated for a federal judgeship in the State of Mississippi in 25 years, since Judge Henry Wingate was nominated by President Reagan in 1985,” Durbin said.

Durbin asked Reeves to talk about the fact that Mississippi at the time had the highest percentage of African-Americans of any state and what the nomination meant.

“People need to see that they have a chance,” Reeves said, “ that they, too, can one day come to the great hall of the Senate and be nominated by a president to be a judge.”

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Offer ends 4/21/19. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to X1 Saver Pro Double Play with Digital Starter TV and Performance Select 100 Mbps Internet. Early termination fee applies if all Xfinity services are cancelled during the agreement term.

Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including Broadcast TV Fee (up to $10.00/mo.) and Regional Sports Fee (up to $8.00/mo.), and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after agreement term. After term agreement, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. Comcast’s service charge for the X1 Saver Pro Double Play is $100.00/mo. (subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Access to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on Xfinity X1 requires an eligible set-top box with Xfinity TV and Internet service. Netflix streaming membership and Prime Video subscription required. Netflix and Prime Video use your Internet service and will count against any Xfinity data plan. Call for restrictions and complete details. © 2019 Comcast. All rights reserved. NPA222870-0005

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Apr.11 18 ––Apr. Apr.17, 24,2019 2019 Apr.

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LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS

Money, Racism Major Factors in Death Among Houston Black Mothers

vFire Union and Mayor Leave Meeting Without Prop B Deal

KHOU.com eath in childbirth is killing African-American mothers and babies in 10 Houston-area zip codes more than others, according to University of Houston researchers. They blame a mix of money and racism. However, UH researchers will use a $4.8 million federal grant to deliver treatment through the Healthy Start Initiative. Mother and infant mortality rates in Sunnyside are five times higher than those of moms and babies in River Oaks, according to UH associate professor McClain Sampson, whose proposal won the federal grant.

In the 10 Houston-area zip codes with the highest death and complication rates around childbirth, researchers found significant numbers of African-American women with less than adequate insurance being treated less than great. It is why the university intends to use the grant to flood all 10 zip codes identified with people paid to link at-risk women with clinics that take Medicaid.

ABC13.com merging from a meeting that surpassed an hour with Mayor Sylvester Turner and senior members of his administration Monday afternoon, firefighter union president Marty Lancton said simply, “We don’t have an agreement.” There was some hope. Monday’s meeting was the second in four days. In the hours before Monday’s meeting, the union sent the mayor a fill-in-the-blank chart asking for details on what firefighters would be paid under the mayor’s proposal. It is a similar request to one made by the union on Friday and several times before. While the mayor did turn over some financial data in the Monday session, the union says it did not include details they’ve asked for, nor include incentive pay, which makes up a substantial part of police officer pay. The entire point of Prop B is to bring parity or equality to pay between Houston police officers and firefighters.

Democrats Set Up Shop in Texas Suburbs Early for 2020 Push

Texas Police Union Calls for Dallas DA’s Removal

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ExpressNews.com emocrats plan to open a regional headquarters in Austin this spring and dispatch organizers to Texas suburbs in an unusual early step to prepare challenges against Republican members of Congress believed to be vulnerable because of rapid demographic change.

The moves by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are intended to back up House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s vow to secure House victories in the 2020 election “by this November” — a year ahead of the actual vote. The effort focuses on Texas districts that have been unwinnable for Democats for years. New polling in several Texas districts coupled with a surge in minorities on voter rolls have House Democrats believing that Texas offers some of the most fertile ground in the country for Democratic pick-ups in 2020.

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DallasNews.com statewide police ==union, one of Texas’ largest, called Wednesday for the removal of Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot, who last week announced plans not to prosecute certain low-level crimes. Sgt. Todd Harrison, president of the Combined Law Enforcement Ass a`ociations of Texas, said in a written statement that Creuzot’s plan was “unacceptable.”

“When he was campaigning for the office, we don’t remember not prosecuting crime as part of his platform,” Harrison said in the statement. Creuzot, a Democrat who took the post in January, has said his office would no longer prosecute most first-time marijuana offenses and theft of personal items worth less than $750, unless the theft was for financial gain. The district attorney also intends to lessen the use of excessive bail and probation periods, he wrote in an open letter to the public.

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A Mexican Media Giant Wants ‘R’ Texas Stations

RBR.com n February 2017, a husband and wife who are not U.S. citizens but have been living in Alaska since 2006 became the first foreigners to obtain FCC approval for 100% ownership of an AM or FM radio station. Then came the Commission’s August 2018 OK for a citizen of the United Kingdom and his Polish wife living in the U.S. since 2015 on E-2 investor visas to become the new owners of an Upstate New York radio station left for dead by its financially strapped seller.

Now, one of the most significant foreign ownership petitions to arrive at the FCC could see a Mexican multimedia giant gain full control of four stations once a part of Border Media Partners’ 33-station stable and for the past seven years have been owned by the company doing business as R Communications.

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$4.4 Million Seized From Houston Charter School Fraudsters

CourthouseNews.com he husband and wife founders of a Houston charter school amassed a fortune preying on their students’ parents. The duo pocketed fees they charged students to go on field trips and to wear street clothes on Fridays instead of school uniforms. Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday they had recovered over $4.4 million in restitution payments from the couple, who are now behind bars, and $604,000 of that will be distributed to more than 4,000 parents. Marian Annette Cluff, 70, and Alsie Cluff Jr., 69, founded the Varnett school in 1984, because they wanted to give their son a quality education. With the Texas State Board of Education’s permission, they turned the private school into a taxpayer-funded charter school in 1998. The Varnett Public School expanded to four campuses and had an enrollment of more than 1,000.

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Houston’s First CBD-Obsessed Coffee Shop Will Of Course Open On 4/20

Houston.Eater.com he Smoking Pot, a new coffee shop serving up3+33 CBD-infused beverages, is set to open this week in Spring Branch. The new shop at 8510 Longpoint Road announced on Instagram that it will open its doors on — of course — April 20, also known as “international weed day.” Owner and native Houstonian Erick Resendez tells Eater that the shop will serve drinks and breakfast pastries, many of which will be infused with cannabidiol, or CBD oil. The shop occupies a pretty small little space at the address, and signage painted by the artist behind Houston’s famous “Be Someone” mural announces its arrival, complete with cannabis leaves and coffee beans to drive home the shop’s weed-andcaffeine theme. As far as the drinks on offer are concerned, caffeine enthusiasts can look forward to nitro cold brewed coffee and espresso drinks, along with canned, CBD-infused cold brew coffees from Austin’s Cuvee Coffee.

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San Antonio Punk Festival Receives Cease and Desist Letter From Afropunk

SoectrumLocalNews.com Afropunk, the organization that puts on the festival by the same name, has threatened legal action against a San Antonio group over the use of the word Afropunk. On March 30, do-ityourselfers Xingonas in the Pit put on San Antonio’s first black punk festival, Afropunk in the Pit. The festival featured performances by Texas-based, black-fronted punk bands as well as a screening of the 2003 film Afro-Punk.

The film’s director Jeff Spooner also did a Q&A following the movie screening.

Spooner co-founded the Afropunk Festival, but left in 2007. After the event, Xingonas in the Pit received a letter from Afropunk dated April 4, demanding that they stop using the trademark Afropunk.

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS

Ava DuVernay.jpg

Ava DuVernay’s Array to Open Independent Movie Theater, Offer Grants for Film Festivals

GoodBlackNews.org ccording to Tambay Obenson‘s article on indiewire.com, filmmaker Ava DuVernay‘s distribution company ARRAY is building a state-ofthe-art, 50-set movie theater, which will be able to screen independent movies as well as be available for rental. To qu ote the article: “Located west of downtown Los Angeles — a part of the city that doesn’t house many media moguls — it’s also the area’s only independent theater.

And it comes at a time when exhibitors are apoplectic over the impact of Netflix and other major streaming companies.

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LeBron James “I Promise” School Showing Early Signs of Success

GoodBlackNews.org his week, reporter Erica L. Green wrote an encouraging feature in the New York Times about the “I Promise” public school NBA superstar LeBron James opened last year through the LeBron James Family Foundation in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. To quote the article: “This time last year, the students at the school — Mr. James’s biggest foray into educational philanthropy — were identified as the worst performers in the Akron public schools and branded with behavioral problems. Some as young as 8 were considered at risk of not graduating. Now, they are helping close the achievement gap in Akron.

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Nipsey Hussle.jpeg

Intersection of Crenshaw and Slauson in South L.A. to Be Named Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom Square

GoodBlackNews.org ccording to Ashley K. Thomas, Communications Director for South Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Harris-Dawson just announced that the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and West Slauson Avenue would be named in honor of one of its own, Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom. The rapper, entrepreneur and champion for the South LA historic “Destination Crenshaw” project was recently murdered at his flagship Marathon Clothing Store located adjacent to the intersection.

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Charleston Church Shooting Documentary “Emanuel,” Exeutive Produced By Davis, Curry, and Hartigay

GoodBlackNews.org une 2019 marks the fourth anniversary of the Charleston, South Carolina tragedy at Emanuel A.M.E. Church.

The feature-length documentary “EMANUEL,” opens in movie theaters nationwide as a limited release event with Fathom Events on June 17 and 19 only. The new trailer, released today, gives a glimpse into the emotional documentary that recalls the events of June 17, 2015 and examines how faith, hope and forgiveness healed a devastated community after the heinous church shooting, carried out by white supremacist Dylann Roof.

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Apr. 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

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BUSINESS AND NATIONAL BRIEFS

Why Carl’s Jr. Is Testing Out a CBD Burger

CNN/StyleMagazine.com Newswire arl’s Jr. is testing out a cannabis burger to stay at the forefront of the CBD trend. The chain said on Wednesday that it would sell the Rocky Mountain High: CheeseBurger Delight burger at one location in Denver, Colorado for just one day (April 20th, of course).

The burger features a sauce infused with CBD, or cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive hemp derivative. Though the promotion is limited, it’s not a stunt. The burger chain is using the test to determine whether a CBD burger belongs on its permanent menu, said Patty Trevino, senior vice president of brand marketing for Carl’s Jr. Food, beverage and other consumer goods companies have been trying to figure out how to capitalize on growing interest in ingredients like CBD. Consumers are increasingly seeking products that offer an extra something, like increased energy or better gut health.

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Georgetown Students Vote In Favor of $27 Fee for Slavery Reparations

ABCNews.Go.Com eorgetown University could become the first college in the nation to mandate a fee to benefit descendants of slaves sold by the university nearly 200 years ago -- a debate that takes place against the backdrop of a broader political conversation unfolding on the 2020 presidential campaign trail about reparations. By almost a 2-to-1 margin, students approved the measure, which still must be approved by the university to go into effect. The school’s undergraduates voted on the referendum, which would increase tuition by $27.20 per semester to create a fund benefiting descendants of the 272 slaves sold to pay off the Georgetown Jesuits’ debt -- a move that saved the university financially. Todd Olson, vice president for student affairs at Georgetown University, in a statement issued after the vote, lauded the students’ efforts.

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First Black Woman Nominated to Facebook’s Board Of Directors

Trump’s 2020 Budget Is a Recipe for Disaster for Black Businesses

Critical Role of Hispanics in U.S. Economic Growth

NewsOne.com lthough tech companies have been stagnant with moving the needle on racial and gender diversity, there are many individuals who are rising up the ranks and breaking barriers in the industry. According to USA Today, Facebook has nominated PayPal executive Peggy Alford to its board of directors.

The nomination is historic as Alford will become the first Black woman and the second Black person to join the board. The tech industry veteran—who is a graduate of the University of Dayton—has served in leadership positions at eBay and Rent. com. She took on the role of Senior Vice President of Core Markets at PayPal this year. Prior to joining the PayPal team, she was the Chief Financial Officer and Head of Operations for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; an organization designed to use technology as a solution to better education and change the criminal justice system.

Black Enterprise.com mall black-owned businesses, among the nation’s most rapidly growing firms in recent years, could be hindered by President Trump’s budget cuts, entrepreneur advocates say. U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) recently stated that the Trump Administration’s fiscal 2020 budget could cost small businesses millions in additional loan fees owed to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and reduce critical business counseling. He and organizations like the U.S. Black Chambers (USBC) are concerned that the proposed budget will burden the SBA, which black and other minority-owned firms often turn to for capital and support to help grow their businesses. For instance, the uptick of black-women owned businesses helped the SBA achieve double-digit dollar gains in 2018 in loan approvals for those firms, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported.

A senior administration official stated the

PRWeb.com he Hispanic Wealth Project® (HWP), in collaboration with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP), today released the annual 2019State of Hispanic Wealth Report, confirming trends that underscore the critical role of Hispanics in the economic growth of the United States. The report found that Latinos have experienced four consecutive years of homeownership growth, three straight years of income growth, and the lowest poverty rate since estimates were first published by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1972. The report also breaks down the key drivers behind the $150,400 wealth gap between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white households and provides context on how homeownership, entrepreneurship, savings, and investments can contribute to closing the wealth divide. \

Wilson Sticks With Seahawks, Becomes Highest P com

Sunken Place Demon Candace Owens Calls ‘Antifa’ The New KKK

Notre Dame Probe Ramps Up As Investigators Question Workers

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ussell Wilson is sticking around with the Seattle Seahawks as the highest paid player in the NFL. Wilson posted a video on social media early Tuesday saying, “Seattle, we got a deal,” shortly after agreeing to a $140 million, four-year extension with the Seahawks, his agent Mark Rodgers told The Associated Press. Wilson’s new deal runs through the 2023 season and includes a $65 million signing bonus, a no-trade clause and $107 million in guaranteed money. Wilson’s per year average of $35 million tops Aaron Rodgers’ average annual salary of $33.5 million as part of the $134 million extension he signed last year with the Green Bay Packers. Wilson’s current $87.6 million, four-year deal was signed at the beginning of training camp in 2015 and was set to expire after next season.

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NewsOne.com andace Owens’ distorted conservative opinions reared their ugly heads on Monday after the Black Republican with extreme political and social views was confronted in Philadelphia.

The episode captured on video showed Owens inexplicably characterizing apparent anti-fascist (“antifa”) protesters as being “the new KKK.” Owens, of course, is the same person who once said the NRA is “the nation’s oldest civil rights organization” and was founded “to train Black Americans to use guns to defend themselves against the Ku Klux Klan, a Democrat terrorist group.” The communications director for Talking Points USA was set to speak at an event on Monday hosted by the conservative groups College Republicans and The Statesman at the University of Pennsylvania and it was to no surprise that her visit was met with counter-protests.

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CNN/StyleMagazine.com Newswire rosecutors investigating the causes of the inferno that tore through Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris have interviewed construction workers and security staff, as more details emerged about the effort to contain the blaze. Ten people were interviewed by criminal investigators on Wednesday, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office said, adding that interviews would continue on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office had said 30 employees at the Paris landmark had been questioned. “Tomorrow new witnesses will be heard as well as people already interviewed for further information,” the prosecutor’s office said. The prosecutor’s office said that in addition to interviews, forensics teams and the central laboratory for the police department had been able to access some areas of the site and begin inspections.

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FASHION Macy’s Prom Trends 2019

By Marisol Vecchini, Macy’s Personal Stylist at Macy’s Houston Gallerivvva

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Juniors’ 2-Pc. Lace-Back Slit Gown, $99.00 Sale $88.99 Sale ends 4/22/19

INC International Concepts

I.N.C. Loryy Embellished Clutch Created for Macy’s, $79.50

inding the perfect dress or suit for such an important event can be stressful for shoppers and their parents, but it doesn’t have to be! With Macy’s Personal Stylist services, prom goers and their parents are able to set up a free consultation with a Macy’s style expert to help find that perfect look and all of the accessories to go with it, including jewelry, hair clips, shoes, handbags, and cosmetics. Our Personal Stylists will curate an extensive selection for customers’ personal style so they’re able to find exactly what’s needed, with a little extra support. Appointments can be scheduled during regular store hours, seven days a week, depending on availability. Currently we have Personal Stylists in many Houston-area locations, including Marisol Vecchini at Macy’s Houston Galleria.

She shares her below thoughts on this season’s prom trends.

Houston Style Magazine: What is new for prom season 2019?

Marisol Vecchini: Glitter and sequins are in full force at Macy’s this season, adding some glam to any look. Illusion dresses are also here to make a statement – these designs let girls show a little skin but still give off a sophisticated and glamorous vibe. The ball gown is a popular style we see year after year.

HSM: What is the hot color or colors this season?

MV: Favorite colors we’re seeing include coastal cool blue; metals like rose gold, gold and ivory; and different hues of pink from pastels to fuchsia.

Emerald Sundae

Juniors’ Lace-Top Asymmetrical-Skirt Gown Created for Macy’s, $89.00

HSM: It seems a lot of girls are in love with two-piece dresses. Are you seeing that as a trend? If not, what trends are you viewing?

MV: My go to dress would be “fit and flair” – it’s a style that works with all body type and is available in so many rich fabrics.

HSM: vWhen shopping for prom dresses, what should girls bring with them?

MV: They should make sure to bring a pair of heels and a variety of undergarments that will help them visualize the final look. Also, come with an open mind and be willing to try on all kinds of styles – you never know what might surprise you!

HSM: What is a good budget to have for a prom dress?

MV: The average budget for a prom dress would be anywhere from $125 to $250, but Macy’s offers styles for any budget or price point.

HSM: What advice would you give girls shopping for prom?

MV: It’s always great to come in with an idea of what you want, but it’s also important to be open-minded and willing to explore a different look.

Sometimes customers become frustrated if they’re not able to find the style they have in mind and will discard other options that look incredible on them.

Say Yes to the Prom

Juniors’ Jewel-Top Ballgown, Created for Macy’s, $169.00

I.N.C. Semra Heart Clutch CreatedZfor Mzacy’s, $79.50 Now $47.70 (until 4/22/19)

HSM: We have been talking a lot about dresses and what girls will wear. Can a guy find his perfect prom look at Macy’s? If so, what do you suggest?

MV: Yes, absolutely! Macy’s is the menswear destination with sharp prom looks for the season from some of the hottest designers, including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Macy’s exclusive brand, Ryan Seacrest. The guys are able to look sleek in suiting that’s tailored to them.

Calvin Klein

One-Shoulder Metallic Gown, $199.00

MV: Two piece dresses are certainly a new trend this year, however, we’re noticing customers gravitating more to the illusion and ball gown style dresses.

HSM: Is there any particular dresses that you are personally crushing on this year?

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Apr. 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

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FEATURE

Teacher Turn Comedian Eddie B Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Edito

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he best stories happen in America’s classrooms and teachers are there for it all. Students provide unlimited content. From the “no, he didn’t,” to the “I thought I had seen it all,” the stories that come out of these various situations are hilarious. Pile on the red tape and hoops teachers have to jump through causing them daily frustrations and you have comedy gold. Cashing in on his pot of gold is teacher turned comedian Eddie Brown aka Eddie B.

demand of fans. “I would hear and see teachers mention that if I wrote a book they would read it! So many asked I felt I had to go through with it,” Eddie explained.

Before he was the official voice of teachers, Eddie B was another one of America’s teachers behind the desk looking at a group of students filling their minds with knowledge. His educational career began as a science teacher at an alternative school. Eleven years later his last day of teaching would end as a fifth-grade teacher at Houston’s Varnett School East. Although teaching was not his first career choice, he eventually fell

of the biggest comedy tours in history.

“I share my personal experiences in the classroom as well as my home life! It all ties into the issues and desires of teachers who want to see better days; the ones who are really passionate about changing the narrative of this profession. We deal with so much!” Eddie B commented.

“I’m Already Professionally Developed: Straight From the Teacher’s Desk,” is a book about Eddie B’s journey as a teacher on the way to the creation of the videos “What Teachers Really Say” and how the idea turned into one

side hustle to pay the bills for Eddie B. Comedy was his love and his full-time Nipsey Hussle

job.

“It (Comedy) was just in me. I was always the life of the party, the class clown, and the center of attention. I couldn’t help it either!” Eddie B said about performing comedy. “A day without being a character was a miserable day for me. It was something that I couldn’t run from, so I didn’t.”

in love with the position and his students.

“I wanted to be everything but!” Eddie B said about being a teacher. “God’s plan for my life was different though! They say you have to bloom where you are planted. If you are planted somewhere long enough, you have no choice but to bloom.”

God definitely had a plan for Eddie. It was while teaching that Eddie B would get his best comedic material. He was teaching by day and making people laugh by night. Teaching was always a

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Apr 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

His light bulb moment came one day at school. He decided to create a video for YouTube about the comments of teachers, “What Would Teachers Say…,” and posted it. He posted it during his lunch break by the end of the day he had 1,000 views; overnight that number grew to 100,000 views. Eddie B had found his comedy niche.

From there Eddie B started making video after video saying the things many teachers were thinking or wanted to say but never did. Nothing was off limits – students’ crazy names, being underpaid, behavior problems, and everything else.

Eddie B felt teachers’ pain because he was one of them. Teachers finally had

someone who understood them.

In the future, Eddie B wants to further expand his brand by interjecting it into

The response to the videos was overwhelming. Fans demanded more so Eddie B gave it to them with the “Teachers Only Tour” where he learn the problems of teachers were universal. Across the country, he brought his brand of teacher theme comedy shows to sold-out crowds full of teachers of course. As his comedy career grew, Eddie B knew he had to give up teaching. Three years ago he left teaching to pursue comedy full time.

Eddie B reflected on his teaching career saying, “I miss the kids and the good relationships that I had with some of my colleagues. What I do not miss are the demands and challenges of teaching like the low pay, the unnecessary testing, the large class sizes, and not being able to teach how we want to teach!”

Although he left teaching, he didn’t leave the classroom. He volunteers from time-to-time at his former schools just to keep connections up. Plus he is always visiting different schools to interact with other teachers getting stories. He uses their stories with his own experiences to create his routines.

Teacher, comedian, and now author, Eddie B debut his first book again at the

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the forms of teachers’ professional development meetings and conferences. It is his hope to transform the way teachers are paid and how they are viewed through the interaction.

“I just want to express my passion for what we go through as educators. This is not about money, fame or stardom to me. I represent all teachers who put it all on the line every day of the week to educate kids while having to endure setbacks from our decision makers. It’s the most important job title in the world,” said Eddie B.

COMMENTARY

The Court of Public Opinion: Where Punishment is Almost Certain, Actual Guilt Not so Much

By Nicole Gray, Style Feature Writer

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o be clear: the court of public opinion is always in session. The court’s docket stays full and public jurists are always ready to decide cases based on ‘evidence’ presented by the media. The call to public jury duty is rarely dodged, unlike its true civic counterpart. As soon as the media deems a case newsworthy, Americans all over this country fill jury boxes around water coolers, dinner tables, and even in church parking lots to determine guilt or innocence of the parties involved. Just as in a court of law, Americans come to divergent conclusions- some are convinced of guilt, others innocence, while the remainder is unconvinced either way. Like those cases tried in a court of law, those tried by public opinion carry real consequences. One big difference, however, is that the court of public opinion offers no protection to the accused which essentially makes everyone guilty until proven innocent, even when the damages to the accused is largely irreparable. In a court of law, defendants are guaranteed, at least, the Constitutional rights to fair and speedy trials given the significance of the consequences faced if found guilty.

Not in the court of public opinion—the accused often die under a cloud of suspicion; they rarely have the opportunity to confront witnesses; and punishments, although a certainty, are often cruel and unusual given the possibilities of actual innocence.

In the court of public opinion, cases can drag on for decades as innocent peo-

ple’s lives hang in the balance under the suspicion of guilt. Take the case of JonBenet Ramsey, for example, where John and Patsy Ramsey, JonBenet’s parents, were considered suspects after finding their 6-year old daughter murdered in the basement of their home in Boulder, Colorado on December 26, 1996. The young beauty queen’s murder attracted national attention so, of course, the court of public opinion was in session.

In December 2017, the Boulder Police Department reported that the parents were “under an umbrella of suspicion,” which served to solidify the growing suspicions of some and raise those of others as the media continued to report on the story throughout the year with no arrests made. As years advanced, more suspected the pair were either responsible for their daughter’s death or were somehow involved. It wasn’t until July 2008, two years after Patsy Ramsey died of ovarian cancer, that the Boulder County District Attorney formally apologized and declared no one in the Ramsey family was a suspect. So, Patsy Ramsey died under the suspicion that she had something to do with the gruesome murder of her 6-year old daughter and John Ramsey is now 75 years old and still searching for his daughter’s killer. He has recently participated in a new A&E Network docu-series “Hunting JonBenet’s Killer,” which aired on Thursday. The Ramsey case is one of the clearest where the court of public opinion erred, further compounding the tragedy of innocent

people with the suspicion of guilt.

In a court of law, defendants have the right to confront witnesses to crimes they are accused of, which includes the right to cross-exam those witnesses to test the veracity of their accusations.

The Michael Jackson and Jussie Smollett cases are two prime examples on the court’s current docket of how the inability to confront witnesses can bolster suspicions of guilt. Jackson’s case is the worst of the two, since Jackson, can’t possibly confront new witnesses. In a court of law, if living, Jackson would have had the opportunity to cross-examine Wade Robson and James Safechuck, the subjects of HBO’s documentary Leaving Neverland. The documentary has recently come under fire for inconsistencies in its timeline and account of events surrounding the decades old sexual abuse Robson and Safechuck, now, accuse Jackson of.

With cross-examination, more lapses of memories and holes in the accusers’ stories may have been revealed, driving reasonable doubt as to whether the acts were committed as alleged. But, Jackson can have no such opportunity. His public image will be further tarnished and his estate incurs further financial damages as the accusations cannot be tested by the accused. Smollett’s is a different case, however, in that he may still get the opportunity to confront the witnesses against him.

As of now, Smollett is being sued by the City of Chicago for damages resul-

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tant of the investigation conducted of Smollett’s report of a violent hate crime in late January of this year. Chicago believes Smollett orchestrated an attack which was carried out by the Osundairo brothers, Ola and Abel, who were acquainted with Smollett through their work as extras on the hit show Empire and who had been hired by Smollett for personal training, as confirmed by Smollett and the brothers. When the Chicago Police Department’s investigation led it to the brothers, they admitted their involvement in the crime, called it a hoax and pointed the finger at Smollett as its mastermind. The Osundario brothers are Chicago’s key witnesses for maintaining that Smollett’s report was false. Without the brother’s testimony to explain how evidence collected in the investigation points back to Smollett, Chicago won’t be able to collect the judgment it seeks for its investigation.

So, Smollett mao88888y actually have an opportunity to cross-exam the brothers when Chicago puts them on the stand in their civil suit. As of today, Smollett hasn’t had an opportunity to cross-exam the brothers since the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office decided to drop all criminal charges against him on March 26, 2019, before the matter made it to the confrontation stage in the prosecution. In the meantime, Smollett, although having his case dismissed with no finding of guilt, is currently unemployed and is being treated as public enemy number one in his own city while his admitted attackers are enjoying new-found success in their personal training business and other endeavors; Abel just won one of the windy city’s preeminent amateur boxing tournaments last Friday night.

So, as you see, when the court of public opinion convenes, from mere accusation many of those accused lose their livelihoods, suffer irreparable damages to their reputations and even die with suspicions of guilt. Bottom-line, the court of public opinion is SAVAGE! It doesn’t matter whether the accused is actually innocent, public punishment is a certainty and in many instances can amount to what can be considered cruel and unusual—like with Patsy Ramsey, an innocent victim of a heinous crime who was vilified until the day she died.

Here’s a thought, it may be time that the court of public opinion adjourns and the civic obligation of jury duty greater revered. Because really what’s at stake when someone is accused of a criminal act and tried in the court of public opinion is often greater than what is at stake in an actual court of law. Since we rightfully hold our constitutional rights dear, which is in place to protect us from ruthless prosecutions and cruel and usual punishments, it may be time to turn over our gavels and jury numbers to those who are actually bound to protect them. Just a thought.

Apr. 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

11

EAT WITH STYLE Crowd-Pleasing Easter Brunch

By Family Features

Find ingredients for these recipes at ALDI, which offers high-quality, fresh and affordable foods to help you put together a vibrant spread. From brunch essentials and beverages to fruits, veggies, snacks and more, you can make Easter pop. Plus, there are chocolates, candy and flowers to add a splash of color to your table or any Easter basket.

Find additional recipes at ALDI.us.

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aster is a time to celebrate with friends and family. You can create a crowd-pleasing brunch with affordable, high-quality ingredients, wine and tablescape decor.

Elevate your holiday brunch beyond an egg casserole with a Spiral Ham with Red Wine and Citrus Glaze as the centerpiece for your table.

Finish the meal with a Mini Blueberry Chocolate Tart for a dessert that’s perfect for spring. Combining sweet and fruity notes, this treat can leave your guests craving more.

Spiral Ham with Red Wine and Citrus Glaze Recipe courtesy of Rebecca Gallop (@adailysomething) on behalf of ALDI Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10-12 minutes per pound of ham Ham: 1 Appleton Farms Spiral Cut Double Glazed Brown Sugar Ham (about 4 pounds), reserving liquid Glaze: 1/2 cup Intermingle Red Blend wine 1/4 cup Nature’s Nectar orange juice

1/4 cup Specially Selected 100% Pure Maple Syrup 1/2 cup Simply Nature Organic Light Brown Sugar 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 dash salt 2 tablespoons Burman’s Dijon Mustard To make ham: Heat oven to 325 F. Place ham in roasting pan on rack. Pour reserved liquid over ham and cover tightly with foil. Bake 10-12 minutes per pound.

To make glaze: In small pan, combine wine, orange juice, syrup, brown sugar, rosemary and salt. Heat to boil then lower to rapid simmer until mixture begins to thicken and reduce, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and whisk in mustard.

When ham is 10 minutes from being done, remove from oven and increase temperature to 400 F. Remove foil and brush ham thoroughly with glaze.

Place ham back in oven, uncovered, about 10 minutes, or until ham reaches internal temperature of 140 F.

Remove ham from oven and let sit 10 minutes. Slice and serve.

Mini Blueberry Chocolate Tart Recipe courtesy of Chef Michelle, ALDI Test Kitchen Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 17 minutes Servings: 12 1 Bake House Creations Pie Crust 1 1/2 tablespoons Sweet Additions Stevia No Calorie Sweetener 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 Choceur Dark Chocolate Bar (2.64 ounces), chopped Heat oven to 400 F. Cut 1-2 sheets of parchment paper into 5-by-5-inch squares. Line each cup of 12-cup muffin pan with one square of parchment paper.

Roll out pie crust and cut 12 circles, 2 inches each, with cookie cutter. Press each circle into lined muffin cup.

In medium bowl, combine sweetener, blueberries and chocolate. Divide mixture among pie crusts.

Bake 17 minutes until chocolate melts. Allow to cool and serve.

Help me lift every voice in Houston.

TURNER

Every voice in Houston matters. That’s what drives me every day to get ready for the next big hurricane, keep our families safe, bring more jobs to our city and find the money to fix the roads we drive on — no matter what part of town you live in.

M AYO R

However big the problem, I’ll give it to you straight — and then work for a solution that helps all of us.

Let’s stand together and work for Houston and its future. Join our campaign today at SylvesterTurner.com.

M AYO R S Y LV E S T E R T U R N E R

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Apr 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

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Pol. adv. Sylvester Turner Campaign

S Y LV E S T E R

ENTERTAINMENT

Beyoncé’s ‘Homecoming’ Doc On Netflix Is Black Excellence Analysis by Lisa Respers France, CNN/StyleMagazine.com Newswire which made her the first black woman to ever headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Beyoncé makes history with Coachella performance And it was one for the ages.

“Beychella” took up the entire stage, complete with an orchestra culled from historically black college and university (HBCU) band members, dancers, themes related to African-American culture and her stirring rendition of the black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

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n April 2018, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter stood in her full goddess glory and drawled, “Coachella, you ready?”

The music festival wasn’t ready, nor was the world, for what the pop star turned out: two nights of performances that were as much about history as they were history in the making.

Thanks to Netflix, we now have some insight into the performance that launched a thousand think pieces.

“Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé,” premiered early Wednesday and it was the fulfillment of all the ancestors’ hopes and dreams. Beyoncé also dropped “Homecoming: The Live Album.”

Written, directed and produced by the singer, and shot over eight months, the Netflix project is part concert film, part documentary with a behind-the-scenes look at the two weekend performances

There were also guest appearances by her fellow Destiny’s Child members, her sister Solange and her husband, rapper Jay-Z. For nearly two hours, Beyoncé reminded us why her fan base, known as the Beyhive, loses it when she so much as posts a photo on Instagram.

But while the uninitiated may have thought they were just enjoying a hell of a Beyoncé concert, “Homecoming” lets it be known how intentionally and lovingly black it all was.

Filled with quotes from famed black intellectuals, as well as snippets of an audio diary in which the superstar shares how and why her Coachella performance came to be, “Homecoming” is a love letter to HBCUs (the title alone is a nod to the importance of homecomings on black campuses with its band and drumline performances, as well as sorority and fraternity events). experience of its kind, is also the largest celebration of global Black culture and continues to reach new heights with a focus on economic inclusion, cultural ownership and community development. Now attracting more than 500,000 attendees each weekend, the ESSENCE Festival surpasses every national music, entertainment, and cultural festival based on average daily attendance and is planning its most extensive programming to date. \

Celebrating 25 Years, ESSENCE Festival Transforms into Platform Advancing Global Black Culture, Economic Ownership & Inclusion

StyleMagazine.com Newswire he ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience, is marking its 25th anniversary July 4-7, 2019 in New Orleans, LA. The Festival, the only

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With a daily line-up of diverse, can’tmiss enrichment and entertainment programming, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will be a safe space where hundreds of thousands of multigenerational attendees gather to be informed, inspired and empowered.

Offering new and elevated experiences, each activation will serve the unmet needs of Black women across the globe and bring the pages of the magazine and online content to life as never before across arts, entertainment, music, beauty, fashion, technology, film, food, wellness, advocacy, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

“For 25 years, the ESSENCE Festival

For that reason, special advance screenings were held for students at some of the venerable HBCUs, including Spelman and Morehouse in Atlanta and Howard University in Washington DC. There was plenty of “swag surfing” (a popular dance done at concerts) by attendees and singing along with the hits.

There was also a plethora of emotion and gratitude that such a superstar would use her celebrity to share the beauty, pain and joy that is the black experience.

Far from shying away, Beyoncé has embraced her blackness and issues of race.

Her 2016 visual album “Lemonade” was critically acclaimed and lauded for its themes of black feminism, love, betrayal, empowerment, tribalism and family.

Weeks before that album’s release, her costume references to the Black Panthers during her Superbowl halftime performance outraged police unions and led to calls to boycott her performances (something that didn’t come to fruition).

It hasn’t stopped either the singer or her husband from continuing to use their influence to shed light on the state of people of color.

launched an organization to try and reform the criminal justice system.

Jay-Z appears in “Homecoming” at points seemingly in awe of his wife as task master.

A perfectionist, she controlled every aspect of the Coachella performance, right down to the beading on the costumes.

It was a struggle, not only because of the multitudes involved in making the performance happen, but also because it occurred months after she had given birth to her twins, Rumi and Sir (daughter Blue Ivy is 7).

In “Homecoming,” Beyoncé shares her desire to be with her growing family, even as she worked diligently to give her audience the show that had been delayed a year because of her pregnancy.

She presents a performance that was so unapologetically black that even her mother, Tina Knowles Lawson, said in an Instagram post at the time that she “was afraid that the predominately white audience at Coachella would be confused by all of the black culture and Black college culture because it was something that they might not get.”

He is the executive producer of “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story,” a six-episode unscripted series devoted to the 2012 killing and subsequent trial of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of the teen.

“Her brave response to me made me feel a-bit selfish and ashamed,” Lawson wrote.

“She said i have worked very hard to get to the point where i have a true voice and At this point in my life and my career i have a responsibility to do whats best for the world and not what is most popular.”

In January, the rapper was part of a group of sports and business leaders who

“Homecoming” is a testament to that hard work.

has embodied the power and purpose of our culture – bringing a total of more than $4 billion in economic impact to the City of New Orleans and state of Louisiana and most importantly, serving as a sacred ground for millions of Black women to engage each other in community, sisterhood, service, family, love, laughter, joy, hope, and empowerment,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications. “Today, the Festival is a full celebration of that culture – what we have achieved, how we honor each other, and where we’re going from here. For us, as a 100% Blackowned company, that includes building from the Festival’s foundation of music, entertainment, and empowerment to also now reclaiming our economics and facilitating more opportunities for ownership of and in the culture that we create, innovate and evolve.”

for Black artists to be uplifted and replenished, for our brightest minds to convene around solutions to critical issues impacting our communities, and for our most creative, bold and passionate selves to be celebrated and renewed.

ESSENCE is that place, and today we say “Welcome home.”

Ebanks continued, “ESSENCE is home, and we know that home is where the heart is. It is where we go to be restored and sustained. No matter where we travel in the world, there’s no place like it. So, the ESSENCE Festival is also a much-anticipated homecoming

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In addition to an epic ‘homecoming’ musical line-up of more than 80 performers at the Louisiana Superdome – including Mary J. Blige, Nas, Missy Elliott, H.E.R., Big Freedia, Davido, Frankie Beverly, Jermaine Dupri, MC Lyte, Pharrell Williams, Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky & Mike (RBRM), Sheila E., Teddy Riley, Teyana Taylor, Timbaland, and more – a 25th anniversary celebration of 1994’s most culturally impactful and transformative albums that redefined pop culture will be curated and performed by the original artists. These include Mary J. Blige’s My Life, Nas’ Illmatic, Brandy’s Brandy, Method Man’s Tical, Scarface’s Diary, Big Daddy Kane’s Daddy’s Home, Da Brat’s Funkdafied, Slick Rick’s Behind Bars and Brownstone’s From the Bottom Up.

Apr. 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

13

HEALTH

What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Too Much Seafood

By BlackDoctor.org

contain much more mercury than the fish it has eaten. This does not necessarily make it better to eat smaller fish, however. It is always essential for a person to check the source of their seafood to avoid contaminated fish and shellfish.

People worried about their exposure to mercury may want to limit their seafood intake, particularly of fish that are high on the food chain, such as swordfish, shark, white tuna, pike, walleye, and bass.

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ating seafood that has been tainted with mercury is one of the most common ways humans accumulate mercury in their bodies. The mercury in seafood is a highly poisonous form of the metal called methylmercury, which forms when mercury dissolves into the water.

Methylmercury can be absorbed from the water by all sea creatures, but it also continues through the food chain.

Small sea creatures, such as shrimp, often ingest methylmercury and are then eaten by other fish. These fish will now have more methylmercury in them than the original shrimp.

This process continues all the way up the food chain, so that a large fish may

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Apr 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

Pregnant or breastfeeding women may want to avoid or restrict their intake of fish and shellfish, as any mercury they contain can pass to the fetus or infant through the umbilical cord or breast milk.

Consuming food that contains mercury is the most common cause of mercury poisoning. Mercury poisoning can cause severe symptoms and put the body at unnecessary risk.

Mercury may affect the nervous system, leading to neurological symptoms such as: – nervousness or anxiety – irritability or mood changes – numbness – memory problems – depression

– physical tremors As the levels of mercury in the body rise, more symptoms will appear. These symptoms may vary depending on a person’s age and exposure levels. Adults with mercury poisoning may experience symptoms such as: – muscle weakness – metallic taste in the mouth – nausea and vomiting – lack of motor skills or feeling uncoordinated – inability to feel in the hands, face, or other areas – changes in vision, hearing, or speech – difficulty breathing – difficulty walking or standing straight Mercury can also affect a child’s early development. Children with mercury poisoning may show symptoms such as: – impaired motor skills – problems thinking or problem-solving – difficulties learning to speak or understanding language – issues with hand-eye coordination – being physically unaware of their surroundings Mercury poisoning tends to develop

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slowly over time if a person comes into frequent contact with mercury. However, in some cases, mercury poisoning comes on quickly and is associated with a specific incident.

Anyone who experiences a sudden onset of mercury poisoning symptoms should call a doctor or poison control.

Exposure to high levels of mercury may also put a person at risk for longterm complications, including neurological damage: – Child doing school work – Mercury poisoning may cause slow reflexes, damaged motor skills, and intelligence disorders.

A study in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health noted that many incidents of mercury poisoning have led to long-term nerve damage, which can cause: – intelligence disorders and low IQ – slow reflexes – damaged motor skills – paralysis – numbness – problems with memory and concentration – symptoms of ADHD

SPORTS

Correcting A Mistake: Rockets Defeat the Jazz 118-98 to Go Up 2-0 In the 2019 NBA Playoffs

By Brian Barefield, Style Sports Editor

both games, the series starts now. You have to go on the road and keep that same energy and intensity, especially on the defensive end. We have been a great offensive team all year, but I think defensively we are locked in, said Harden who finished the game with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. His third triple-double of his playoff career.

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ever let a mistake become a problem. Correct the mistake and you will solve the problem,” is what my late Pastor Steve Crampton from Bissonnet Baptist Church use to tell me all the time. The Rockets learned from their mistake they made last year in a game 2 loss and took care of business this year by defeating the Utah Jazz 118 – 98.

In front of a sellout home crowd of (18,055), the Houston Rockets used a furious first quarter scoring barrage of

39 points to take a commanding 2-0 lead against the Utah Jazz to shift the series back to Salt Lake City, Utah for Game 3. Houston led by as much as 20 points and reigning 2018 MVP James Harden was as the young people like to call it, in his “Bag,” with 17 first quarter points.

That along with great defense led to the Rockets going up by 26 points at the half (70-44) and never looking back.

“When you play a good team like the Jazz and hold them under 100 points in

Houston hit a total of 17 three pointers while holding the Jazz to only eight for the entire game. It is the second game in a row where the Rockets have held Utah to under 30% from long range (26% game 1 and 21% game 2) and they are shooting 23.1% for the series.

Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has been very inefficient. Something that Utah cannot afford for him to be if they want to advance to the next round. He has only hit 12 of 37 shots and has scored a combined 30 points in two games.

“We didn’t show up. Simply put. And that can’t happen,” said Mitchell.

Saturday.

If the Jazz have any chance of getting back in this series, they know that they have to start hitting shots and playing better defense on James Harden. Something that has put an enormous strain on point guard Rick Rubio who has been given the task to stop the 2018-19 NBA scoring leader. He is very aware that Houston starts and stops with Harden.

“It’s hard but I’m not going to quit, and we are not going to quit,” Rubio told a room full of reporters after the game. “The guy (Harden) scores 36 points per game in the regular season and the last one to do that was probably Michael Jordan.”

The Rockets travel to Salt Lake City and play games 3 (Saturday) and 4 (Monday) in Vivint Smart Home Arena. -

One unsung hero for the Rockets in this series has been forward P.J. Tucker. He is averaging 13.5 ppg on 56.3% shooting this series, including 7-of-14 from behind the arc. That, along with his defensive presence will be just what the Rockets need heading into Utah on

www.stylemagazine.com

Apr. 18 – Apr. 24, 2019

15

BOOK

“Queen Bey: A Celebration of the Power and Creativity of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter” Edited by Veronica Chambers ©.2019, St. Martin’s Press $27.99 / $36.50 Canada

By Terri Schlichenmeyer, Book ReviewerStyleMagazine.com Newswire When Beyoncé was first seen (on TV’s Star Search in 1993), viewers recognized her talent. Even then, she was “our generation” and that never changed: these days, she’s “named the pain of… Black women who… love Black men...” Through her actions and music, she’s shown that “Black men’s apologies to Black women matter.”

Writer Ylonda Gault says that there were times when Beyoncé’s life eerily paralleled Gault’s. Meredith Broussard calls Beyoncé “a constant presence in my own life.”

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ou were Crazy in Love.

It happened the first time you heard Beyoncé Knowles, before she won a Grammy, before she added to her life with a man and motherhood.

It happened the first time you saw her, a skinny child with a mispronounced name, and in “Queen Bey,” a book of essays edited by Veronica Chambers, you’ll want to say that name again.

“What might a Black girl be in this world?”

That’s a question Veronica Chambers says she’s spent her lifetime asking.

The answer arrived in the songs of a performer who “has no interest in separating herself from the struggle of being a Black woman…” That singer, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, “is the greatest performer alive,” according to Luvvie Ajayi, one essayist here.

She’s a businesswoman who reportedly has a climate-controlled archive of every print and digital bit of press with her name in it. She’s a writer, mother, feminist, actress, and award-winner; a “hard-working professional,” a champion for gay rights, an inspiration for young Black girls, and a comfort for women who’ve miscarried. And she’s a dancer: who among us hasn’t memorized the incredible moves seen in her music videos?

Naysayers and haters might scoff, but for a fan, there’s probably nothing Beyoncé can’t do. Says writer Edward Enninful, “she’s above trends. She can’t be put in a box. Frankly, she can do whatever she wants.”

Let’s stop right here a second: if you

Break Away for a Spring Travel Adventure

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By Family Features

pring is the perfect time of year to break away from everyday life for a journey to a new destination. Across the country, the climate tends to be moderate, so you can take in a wide range of activities for a fun-filled getaway.

One challenge of planning a trip is finding things to do that appeal to everyone’s interests and packing it all into a limited amount of time. One solution is East Texas, where you can find a wide range of museums, outdoor adventures and historical sites that offer adventure and unique experiences for nearly everyone. Get started planning your trip for this spring with these activity ideas.

Learn something new. Museums are a great place to learn more about your favorite topics, see memorabilia and share your passion with your traveling companions. Look for a destination with museums dedicated to a wide range of interests, like the broadcast industry or the path toward freedom in America, for example.

Get immersed in nature. One of the best ways to appreciate the local flora and fauna is inserting yourself right into

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barely know who Beyoncé is and can’t name at least five of her songs, you can put your newspaper down now. Go do something else, because this book is not for you.

Come to think, it’s not a book for mere casual fans, either. No, “Queen Bey” is a book for rabid, die-hard, sing-all-thesongs fans who know what the Hive is, and exist in it. It’s for the readers who’ve listened to Beyoncé’s albums and watched all the videos over and over again, because all the contributors to this book have done that, too. It’s for fans who’ve played the “Michael, Whitney, or Beyoncé?” game.

Just beware: this over-the-edge rhetoric here can get excessively florid, sometimes making Knowles-Carter seem like a deity, and that lack of perspective can mar the messages behind the outpouring of love. Readers with a tendency to roll their eyes might do that here, Beyoncé fan or not.

Keep that in mind when you see this book. If you’re a sometime follower, you’ll probably be happier just taking a pass. If you can’t get enough of “Queen Bey,” you’ll like it and you shoulda put a bookmark in it.

Share this story online at stylemagazine.com. the middle of it. For example, at Caddo Lake State Park in Karnack, Texas, you can paddle waterways dotted with bald cypress trees draped in Span­ish moss that tower over the lake’s maze of bayous, sloughs and ponds. While visiting the park you can also stay in a historic cabin, try your luck fishing, hike, picnic, camp and even experience an adventure within an adventure when you look for a geocache.

Get up close with animals. Zoos across the country may have one thing in common (the animals, of course), but each offers its own special touches that make learning about and interacting with animals a fresh experience. From petting areas to drive-through safaris that put you right in the middle of the animal kingdom, there are plenty of ways to satisfy the animal lover among your group.

Travel through history. If there’s a history buff in your travel party, a destination like the Texas State Railroad takes visitors back in time by allowing them to ride a refurbished train car through a round-trip, four-hour, 25-mile rail journey through the Piney Woods of East Texas. Vintage steam and diesel locomotives take passengers on a trip featuring historic narration, comfortable seating and food and adult beverage services.

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2019

CENTER FOR HOUSTON’S FUTURE 2019 LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON HILTON AMERICASHOUSTON HOTEL

FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON Photography by Vicky Pink

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he Future of Leadership Luncheon celebrated the important role of philanthropy in the Houston community with a conversation with Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, and Laura Arnold, Co-Chair of Arnold Ventures. H-E-B was presented with the 16th annual Eugene H. Vaughan Award for Civic Leadership for their commitment to community investment through their Spirit of Giving philosophy. The Greater Houston Partnership Chair and Center Ex-Officio Member, Scott McClelland accepted the honor. Carrin Patman, Chair of METRO Board of Directors and Fred Zeidman, Chairman of Gordian Group co-chaired the event. Some in attendance were Mayor Sylvester Turner, Sidney Lacy, Janette Cosley, Paula McCann Harris, Dr. Rhea Lawson, Dorothy Ables, Harris County Chief Lina Hildago, Rhonda Arnold, Winell Herron, Gerald Smith, Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Licia Ellis, and Jerome Gray.

2019

6TH LYONS AVENUE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL FIFTH WARD, TEXAS

6TH LYONS AVENUE FESTIVAL Photography by Vicky Pink

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he Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (FWCRC), Houston City Council Member, Jerry Davis (District B) and the City of Houston, through the Houston Arts Alliance honored the Fifth Ward community and legends from the area at the Sixth Annual Lyons Avenue The Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (FWCRC), Houston City Council Member, Jerry Davis (District B) and the City of Houston, through the Houston Arts Alliance honored the Fifth Ward community and legends from the area at the Sixth Annual Lyons Avenue Renaissance Festival. Under the theme “A Blast from the Past: A Look at History, Arts and Culture in Fifth Ward,” nearly 6,000 people enjoyed Houston’s Ultimate Egg Drop with 50,000 goodie-stuffed eggs, Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament, Classic Auto Show, Fifth Ward Cultural Arts Zone, Four Stages of Live Music and Dance, and more. This FREE, family-friendly event was funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Some in attendance were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, entertainer Paul Wall, and Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones.

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enaissance Festival. Under the theme “A Blast from the Past: A Look at History, Arts and Culture in Fifth Ward,” nearly 6,000 people enjoyed Houston’s Ultimate Egg Drop with 50,000 goodie-stuffed eggs, Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament, Classic Auto Show, Fifth Ward Cultural Arts Zone, Four Stages of Live Music and Dance, and more. This FREE, family-friendly event was funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Some in attendance were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, entertainer Paul Wall, and Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones.

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2019

UH’S LIVING THE VISION LUNCHEON HILTON AMERICASHOUSTON HOTEL

UH’S LIVING THE VISION LUNCHEON Photography by Vicky Pink

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nnually the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work honors those whose lives and work exemplify their vision to achieve social, racial, economic, and political justice, local to global at the Living the Vision Scholarship Luncheon. The theme and speaker reflected their commitment to social justice and their emphasis on human rights and equality as we prepare the next generation of social workers to bring about real and lasting change. Houston Chronicle’s Editor of Opinion, Lisa Falkenberg, was the keynote speaker. Barbara Mackey was given the Social Work Excellence Award and Laurie Vignaud was given the Bobbi & Vic Samuels Spirit of Social Work Award. Kudos to the Chair, Co-Chairs, and Honorary Chair Lisa Foronda Harper, Linda Cantu, Kathy Davis, and Mary Beth Arcidiacono.

2019

XFINITY DISTRACTED DRIVING SIMULATOR XFINITY STORE

COMCAST DISTRACTED DRIVING SIMULATOR

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Photography by Vicky Pink

omcast wants to know who are the distracted drivers. During National Distracted Driving Month, Comcast hosted a Distracted Driving Simulator event. Guests were invited to test their attention to the road and the consequences of texting and driving on Comcast’s Distracted Driving simulator, which provides a real-life driving simulation for drivers to experience the dangers of texting and driving. Comcast’s Houston-based Thomas Baker, Workplace Safety Director, created the simulator prototype to educate and empower Comcast employees about the distracted driving at work and beyond.

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