Houston Style Magazine vol 27 No 41

Houston Style Magazine Oct 6 - Oct 12, 2016

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication

Volume 27 | Number 41

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson

Counting My Blessings

James Harden

Papa John’s Houston Announces Partnership with NBA Superstar

TOWANDA BRAXTON TALKS DIVORCE, NEW OPPORTUNITIES, AND HANGING WITH THE PRESIDENT Mike Colter

Story by Jo-Carolyn Goode | Photo: wetv.com

Follow Us #TeamStyleMag

Twitter @HoustonStyle

HABJ Happy Hour Honoring Chauncy Glover

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Poindexter Dental 60th Anniversary

Marvel’s Luke Cage Debuts

Texans Defeat Titans by 7

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Volume 27 | Number 41 | Oct 6 - Oct 12, 2016 EDITORIAL

FEATURE WRITERS Rebecca Briscoe Francis Page, Jr. National Entertainment Publisher and Editor Susie Stillwell - Entertainment fpagejr@stylemagazine.com Brandon Caldwell Feature Writer/Entertainment Lisa Valadez Mical Roy – Feature Associate Publisher Yolanda Pope – Culinary lisa@stylemagazine.com Dr. Lovell Jones – Health Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode Kim Davis – Sports Managing Editor Erick Cork - Feature editorial@stylemagazine.com Aiaina Mayes – Blogger Demez White – Feature Burt Levine – Political DESIGN/WEB Eric Ford – Fashion Writer De’Neisha Bell – Feature Trevor G. Piper Keandra Scott – Entertainment Creative Director/Graphics trevor@tpipermedia.com Cecilia Smith - Entertainment

Raegan Boutte - Arts Kermit Williams Dr. Abimbola Farinde - Health Web Master webmaster@stylemagazine.com Jessica Crawford - Feature Franceli Chapman - Entertainment Jeffery T. Crump, Jr. Dr. Kimberly McLeod - Education Chief Designer webmaster@stylemagazine.com Erica Ponder - Feature Parish Blair - Feature Writer Lan– Arts Willie Grace Web/Graphics Brionna Rivers - Feature Writer

NATIONAL WRITERS JESSE JACKSON jjackson@rainbowpush.org ROLAND MARTIN www.rolandmartin.com JUDGE GREG MATHIS www.askjudgemathis.com PHOTOGRAPHERS Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com 281.857.7635 Roswitha Vogler photosbyrovo@gmail.com 832.876.9541 William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com

CIRCULATION Martin Troupe Distribution Manager 832.884.6716 Willie D. Scott, Jr. Distribution Team 832.343.2992 Jay Weber Distribution Team 312.330.3866 Burt Levine Distribution Team 832.496.0003 Vernon Nelson Distribution Team 832.665.0979

Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin

VIDEOGRAPHY Reginald Dominique – Video/Social Media reggiedominique@me.com 225.802.1593 Dale Lemar - Editing ADVERTISING/SALES Lisa Valadez advertising@stylemagazine.com 713-748-6300

Minority Print Media, L.L.C.

dba Houston Style Magazine and StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035

©2015 Houston Style Magazine, a Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Company. All Right Reserved.

Reproduction in whole or within part without permission is prohibited. Houston Style Magazine has a 2007 audit by Circulation Verification Council (CVC). Houston Style Magazine is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA), Texas Community Newspaper Association (TCNA), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Independent Free Paper of America (IFPA), Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP). National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP, Inc.), Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latin Women’s Initiative (LWI), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)

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COMMENTARY

Jesse Jackson

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National Writer

lessed are those who plant seeds in the faith that others might enjoy the forest. This Saturday is my 75th birthday. I have been blessed to see how many of the seeds we planted have taken root and turned to sturdy trees.

I was born in Greenville, S.C., to an unwed teenage mother. I grew in a home poor in resources but rich in love, supported by a loving family, a tight community and a strong church.

Yet we quickly learned that we were like birds in a cage, caught in the bars of segregation. I went to segregated schools with double shifts. Often we had one book for six of us. Public spaces -- bathrooms, water fountains, pools -were closed to us. We sat at the back of the bus. We saw no black police officers or firefighters, no black car dealers. We were expected to adjust our hopes down

POLITICAL

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By Burt

Levine, Political Writer

to fit our circumstances.

But change was in the air and we rattled the bars of that cage. My parents, classmates, teachers and minister instilled high hopes and expectations.

My classmates and I chafed at the limitations. Sit-ins began to take place across the South. As a college student in Greensboro, N.C., I helped lead demonstrations to desegregate the theater and local cafeterias. After being arrested in 1960 for the first time for trying to use a public library in my hometown of Greenville, I lost my fear of jail, experiencing the dignity that comes from standing up -- or sitting in -- for a cause that is just. I was joined by a partner for life and children to nurture.

I met Dr. King, and was honored to learn at his side. We grew close at Selma. We suffered the sting of de facto segregation in Chicago and its suburbs.

We marched, confronting injustice with nonviolent protest. Nonviolence demanded discipline in the face of provocation, love in the face of hate.

Many were injured; some gave their lives. The blood of the martyrs haunted us but propelled us. And that movement transformed America.

After Dr. King was taken from us, I fought to make his dream real.

But the war on poverty was lost in the rice paddies of Vietnam. Our agenda

couldn’t get a hearing. We began a drive to register African-Americans to vote.

After seeking out other candidates, I decided to take our case to the American people, running for president in 1984 and 1988. We registered millions, and helped change the national agenda.

And 20 years later, I was blessed to be in Grant Park celebrating the election of Barack Obama.

I imagine sometimes the struggle for equal rights as a symphony.

The first movement -- with the clash of chains and the cannons of war -- was to end slavery, culminating in the Civil War, the Civil Rights Amendments to the Constitution and a Reconstruction that showed the potential of multiracial coalition politics. The second movement began with the drums of reaction -- the Klan, the Supreme Court legalizing apartheid, to its shame, 100 years of segregation. But the symphony ends with trumpets hailing the triumph of the civil rights movement -- the Supreme Court outlawing segregated schools, the opening of public accommodations, the Voting Rights Act.

Dr. King left us, and the third movement -- the movement for equal opportunity and for economic justice -- remains unfinished. The racial wealth gap yawns at record levels. Poverty disproportionately blights the lives of

too many black mothers and babies.

The systemic bias of our criminal justice systems literally takes lives, as we’ve witnessed over and over again. We have a long way to go.

At 75, I see how far we have come. Our progress has always come from struggle and sacrifice. The powerful do not dispense change; the people must demand it. And now, I am buoyed by the movements that are stirring -by Black Lives Matter, the Dreamers, the Fight for $15, and the Democracy movement pushing back against attacks on voting rights and the poison of big money.

In my lifetime, the civil rights movement has made America better.

Our diversity is now our strength. Doors once locked have been forced open.

We reject those who would divide us along lines of race or religion or region.

And we continue to work, to march, to demonstrate and to push for a more perfect union. At 75, I celebrate my blessings.

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.

Share this story online at www. stylemagazine.com.

Voter Registration Deadline is Approaching

uesday, October 11th is the deadline to register to vote for the Tuesday, November 8th General Election across Harris and Fort Bend Counties and all over Texas. Voter registration is up to record numbers for what is the first open race for President without an incumbent in eight years.

“It’s critical Texans know they have through Oct. 11 to register to vote in the fall general election,” said Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos.

“Today there are more than 14 million Texans registered to vote.

As Texas’ Secretary of State, it’s my responsibility to ensure all qualified Texans, which means those who are United States Citizens who have had their 18th birthday, are not currently in the criminal justice system, and who want to vote, have all the necessary information available to them to register to vote,” Cascos said.

Cascos is the first Mexican native in modern times to serve as Texas Secretary of State. He is a former three times elected Cameron County Judge that served before 4

Counting My Blessings

that on the Texas Public Safety Commission and as a Cameron County Commissioner. In January 2014, he was Gov. Greg Abbott’s first appointment.

“To register to vote in Texas, applicants are required to complete a voter registration form. A form to fill out, print, sign and mail is available at VoteTexas.gov. Applications must be turned in or postmarked on or before October 11th,” he said.

In Harris County the duty of voter registration is held by Tax Assessor Mike Sullivan because in the past a poll tax was required to register to vote and the tax assessor collected the poll tax.

“Currently, Harris County has 2.2 million registered voters.

Citizens can register to vote here by visiting a Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office or by picking up a voter registration application at a local library or post office. Citizens are encouraged to easily check their voter registration status at www. hctax.net to find out from which address in Harris County they are registered to vote and then know which precinct to vote if they wait to vote election day and which of the

Oct 6 - Oct 12 , 2016

Cascos

elected officials they are eligible to vote for or against,” said Sullivan, who was elected to his position in 2008 and re-elected in 2012 after serving in Humble ISD School Board and Houston City Council.

Fort Bend County Voter Registration and Elections is run

by John Oldham, who is one of 100 Texas elections administrators that are not political. He was hired from Illinois by the Fort Bend County Judge and Fort Bend County

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Commissioners Court.

“New voters may register in person at the Election Office located in the Rosenberg Annex on 4520 Reading Road. Voters may also register by mail using forms readily available at all post offices, city halls, and libraries in Fort Bend County. The registration form may also be downloaded from the County’s Election website www. fortbendvotes.org,” Oldham said.

“Voters who have moved may also update their address via the website or by completing the official registration form. Forms are accepted by mail, but must be postmarked Oct. 11th. There are presently 399,978 registered voters in Fort Bend for the November 8th Election in which early voting runs from Monday, October 24th through to Friday, November 4th,” he said.

Keep in the know on Houston area politics and Houston area election issues with Burt Levine.

Share this story online at www. stylemagazine.com.

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LOCAL BRIEFS

ouston Texans Duane Brown is one of many players that are showing solidarity with those fighting injustices and he want his city to get behind.

Brown spearheaded a meeting between a delegation from the Houston Texans with owner Bob McNair and Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo and others to discuss the police’s relationship with the African American community and local solutions to avoid problems of other cities.

Mayor Turner is committed to helping Houston be better and the Houston Texans have an equal interest in advancing that positivity.

Houston Gets Ready for Super Bowl LI Houston Public Media

its declining. From the 2009-10 school year to 201516, black undergraduate enrollment declined by 745 students to 3,644, according to university numbers.

That’s a 17 percent drop in black students at the same time as an 18 percent rise in students overall — a troubling trend to some in the historically black neighborhood that UH calls home. UH plans to step up their recruitment of black high schools in the city.

Turner

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ayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Super Bowl host committee discuss the city’s preparations for Super Bowl 51, which takes place at NRG Stadium on February 5th. METRO has three new rail lines and the Houston Police Department has visited other cities to study security measures.

In a way to bring the Super Bowl to all Houstonians, Touchdown Houston will have 11 neighborhoods events over two day over the weekends leading up to the big game.

Houston Texans Meet with Mayor Turner About Police Interactions with Public Fox 26 Houston

University of Houston Grows As Black Enrollment Declines Texas Tribune

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niversity of Houston is a powerhouse with its massive growth, university records and new building. However, Black enrollment is not growing,

STATE BRIEFS

African-American Monument Installed at Texas Capitol Texas Tribune

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fter more than two decades of effort by lawmakers to install a monument at the Capitol celebrating AfricanAmericans, the main components of a bronze and granite memorial have been installed on the south lawn. Denver-based sculptor Ed Dwight proposed the memorial to celebrate more than 400 years of achievements by Black Texans. The sculpture, which will be 27 feet high and be 32 feet long when completed, stands near the Capitol’s main entrance. One side of the monument, which will be completely installed by mid-October, depicts 48 slaves and marks the moment that slaves were emancipated in Texas. The other points to the state’s abundant cattle, cotton and oil resources and the contributions black Texans made to those industries. A public dedication and unveiling of the monument will occur this fall after its completion, according to a spokesman for the State Preservation Board.

Quanell X Faces Suit From Beaumont Group KHOU

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o stranger to a good fight, Quanell X will have to gear up to against a Beaumont group that plans to file a class action X lawsuit against him according to KHOU. The groups said

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Oct 6 - Oct 12 , 2016

Turner, McNair, Brown

Quanell X took their money but provided no legal representation for their cases. In a statement Quanell X in summary stated that his office welcomes work from anyone just tell them the entire story and the truth. His office will. “Just because you retained my office to work for you that doesn’t mean we will lie for you,” the statement said.

Black Inmate Seems Likely to Win at Supreme Court ABC News

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any agree that Black Texas Inmate Duane Buck needs a new court hearing due to his first one being tainted by Buck commentary from the opposing attorney. It was said that Buck would more likely be a future danger because he was black by the attorney.

This was a clear violation of his right and tainted the jury during sentencing. It is likely that Buck will get a new trial. What is unknown is whether Buck’s current sentence will be thrown or will a new punishment hearing be schedule? Buck had admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend, another man and shooting his stepsister.

Statewide Conference Sites Goal on Preserving African America Communities Houston Chronicle

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ouston will play host to a group of community leaders coming to Houston to solve the problems facing minority

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Houston Black Lives Matter Group Slams Democrat’s Police Education Proposal for Teens Texas Observer

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exas Black Lives Matter activists are speaking out against a Democratic state senator’s proposal to teach Texas ninth-graders how to interact with police when they’re stopped for traffic violations or otherwise detained. Senator John Whitmire, D-Houston, announced last week that he plans to introduce a bill requiring the State Senator John Whitmire, D-Houston, announced that he plans to introduce a bill requiring the State Board of Education to develop the curriculum, with the goal of reducing confrontations between citizens and officers.

He has the support of the NAACP Houston, several law enforcement groups and some African American pastors. However, Black Lives Matter Houston is not in support calling the proposal an “insult.” Whitmire said the curriculum would stress the rights of people detained by law enforcement.

communities. The Preserving Communities of Colored People Conference has the goal of preserving the heritage of African American communities.

According to the Houston Chronicle, more than 50 speakers from around the country will discuss the challenges and opportunities to “create a sustainable agenda for preserving places that embody the AfricanAmerican experience of place, culture and heritage in America.”

Sonic Drive-In Fires Employee Over Offensive Comments On Customer Receipt Fox News

Sonic

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Sonic Drive-In employee from Fort Worth, Texas has been fired after two customers complained to management that their receipts included offensive language. According to FOX 4, customers usually give their name when placing orders at walk up window.

When the customer wasn’t asked his name, he looked at his receipt and saw why. The customer saw the description on his receipt for customer info was a variation of the n-word and “Mexican” on his friend’s tab. The employee has since been fired.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Beyoncé Expands Business Portfolio as a Tech Startup Investor The Grio

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he Grio is reporting that Beyoncé is investing in tech startups with her new company, Parkwood Entertainment. Currently on Queen Bey’s list for investing is a startup called Sidestep, an app that can be used Beyonce to purchase merchandise and skip the lines to pick it up at events. Parkwood Entertainment has already invested $150,000 in the app. Beyoncé‘s attention was drawn to Sidestep when they began selling merchandise during her Formation World Tour.

Papa John’s Houston Announces Partnership with NBA Superstar James Harden CW39.com

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apa John’s Pizza partnership with Houston Rockets’ James Harden marries Harden’s love of Harden pizza with giving back to youth.

During the 2016-2017 basketball season, Houstonians can enjoy fifty-percent discounts on all large, one topping pizzas whenever Harden plays on a Wednesday night. The “Harden Wednesdays” campaign will help support Harden’s Amateur Athletic Union Boys Basketball team, basketball camps and other charitable endeavors through pizza donations.

Carnival Corporation to Donate $2 Million to Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture

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arnival Corporation, parent company to the Carnival Cruise Lines run by Chief Executive Officer Arnold W. Donald, is donating Donald $2 million to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History & Culture through its philanthropic arm, Carnival Foundation. Eleven years in the making and built at a cost of $540 million, the museum opened Sept. 24 on the National Mall with a dedication ceremony featuring remarks by President Barack Obama and a three-day music and spoken-word festival called “Freedom Sounds: A Community Celebration.” In recognition of the gift, NMAAHC has designated Carnival Corporation a Founding Donor of the museum.

African Americans are Paid Less Than Whites at Every Education Level Style Newswire

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hile the economy continues to improve and wages are finally beginning to inch up for most Americans, African Americans are still being paid less than whites at every education level. African Americans are still earning less than whites at every level of educational attainment. A recent EPI report, Black-white wage gaps expand with rising wage inequality, shows that this gap persists even after controlling for years of experience, region of the country, and whether one lives in an urban or rural area. Closing this part of the racial pay gap begins with consistent enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in the hiring, promotion, and pay of women and minority workers, as well as greater transparency around within-firm pay by race, ethnicity, and gender.

Entrepreneurs Andrew Colom and David Alade Work to Rebuild Detroit One House at a Time Good Black News

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ndrew Colom, 33, and David Alade, 29, ditched jobs in real estate and banking to start Century Partners, a development Colom, Alade firm aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods in the Motor City. The duo also uses the biz to help Detroit’s Black residents build wealth. The pair does this by purchasing historic, abandoned homes and letting neighbors invest in the rehabilitation of those homes and recoup their investment from the fund consisting of rent paid by new neighbors. Investors can also sell their homes to Century for cash and inclusion in the investment pool.

Green Mountain Energy Sun Club Donates $300,000 to SEARCH Homeless Services Style Newswire

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exas sunshine and rain are now helping SEARCH Homeless Services power their facilities and conserve water thanks to a $300,000 donation from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. SEARCH is a Houstonbased nonprofit dedicated to providing hope, creating opportunity and transforming the lives of homeless men, women and children. TheSun Club® donation equipped the nonprofit with solar panels, a rainwater cistern and other sustainable energy solutions.

PROTECT OUR LEGACY After the economy crashed, Barack Obama stood with us.

We’ve created over 15 million new jobs since 2010, expanded health care to 20 million Americans, and defended our right to vote.

Barack Obama accomplished a lot, but more needs to be done so we can keep moving forward.

The Republicans have fought Barack Obama since Day One and have promised to destroy his legacy and move our country backwards.

We’ve all fought too hard to let that happen.

The next president will either build on Barack Obama’s legacy or tear it apart.

On November 8th, vote for Democrats so we can keep this country moving forward.

www.IWillVote.com

TAKE A STAND

VOTE DEMOCRATIC N O V E M B E R 8 TH PAID FOR BY THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS.ORG NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATES’S COMMITTEE

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HISPANIC/LATINO COMMUNITY BRIEFS Houston Taco Truck Wants Voters to ‘Guac’ the Vote’ ABC13

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Houston food truck is dishing out more than tacos, they are distributing voter registration forms to get voters to ‘Guac’ the Vote.’ The campaign is part of a national effort by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that began a few weeks ago after negative comments by a supporter of Presidential Guac the Vote candidate Donald Trump. Houstonian Thomas Hull created the drive with Mi Familia Vota. Eight trucks in Houston have since joined the movement.

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Four Latina Lesbians Battle for Exoneration in Southwest of Salem Style Newswire

n 1994, four Latina lesbians were wrongfully convicted of aggravated sexual assault and indecency against two young girls in San Antonio, TX. In 2012 and 2013, after one of the accusers recanted and the forensic evidence used in the trial was debunked, Elizabeth Ramirez, Anna Vasquez, Kristie Mayhugh and Cassandra Rivera were released from prison … but they are still without freedom. Waging an ongoing fight for their exoneration, the documentary Southwest of Salem follows documentarian Deborah S. Esquenazi as she captures the nightmarish persecution and impact on the “San Antonio Four” and their families. Calling upon viewers to help #FreeTheSA4, Investigation Discovery will air the world television premiere of Southwest of Salem on Saturday, October 15 from 8-10 PM ET.

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New Reports Reflect Steady Hold for Unauthorized Immigrants Latino Loop

ccording to new reports from the Pew Research Center, the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population has held steady since 2009, with an estimated 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. in 2014. Between 2009 and 2014 this population increased in Washington, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, while it declined in California, Nevada, Kansas, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

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Hispanics Now Have Their Very Own Superhero Fox News Latino

reated by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, the first Hispanic superhero allows children of Hispanic origin to have a superhero that looks like them. La Borinqueña is the first Latina superwoman and was influenced by the history of the U.S. territory and the ongoing financial struggles currently plaguing it. Her name comes from Puerto Rico’s national anthem of the same title and she is from the Isla del Encanto. Miranda-Rodriguez took inspiration from the 1868 revolutionary version of the song by Lola Rodriguez de Tio for the character.

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“Straight Outta Compton” Ranks High Amongst Latino Viewers Latino Loop

he Holmes Report selected H+M Communications’ campaign for Universal Pictures “Straight Outta Compton” as the 2016 Global SABRE Award winner. The campaign is also a finalist in three categories for the Hispanic Public Relations Association’s (HPRA) National ¡Bravo! Awards. Hispanics accounted for 21% of the opening weekend audience for the film, an unprecedented turnout for an African-American film or musical biopic.

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Big Papi Will Become 10th Red Sox Legend to Retire a Number NBC News

o other Red Sox player will wear the number 34; David Oritz is going down in history as his number is being retired. The Dominican baseball legend’s number will hang in Fenway amongst nine other retired numbers. The announcement was made during a recent pregame ceremony that was attend Papis’s World Series Ortiz championships teammates, Red Sox legends, Big Papi’s father, Major League Baseball Commissioner, and Dominican Republic President. Ortiz announced his retirement last November.

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Oct 6 - Oct 12 , 2016

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POLITICAL

Texas Voters: Get the Facts About Voter ID Law

By Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos

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oting helps determine the future of our cities, counties, state, and nation. As the Texas Secretary of State, I am the state’s chief election officer charged with ensuring all eligible Texans know what they need to do to cast their ballots.

My office has undertaken a statewide voter education campaign engaging voters and working to ensure that all qualified voters in Texas understand what they need to bring to the polls in order to vote in ongoing and upcoming elections.

If a voter possesses a form of approved photo ID, the voter must use it to vote. Currently, there are seven forms of acceptable photo ID in Texas:

acceptable form of photo ID and must use it to vote.

If the voter does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, the voter has additional options when casting their ballot in person. As provided by court order, if a voter does not possess and is not reasonably able to obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, the voter may vote by (1) signing a declaration at the polls explaining why the voter is reasonably unable to obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, and (2) providing one of various forms of supporting documentation.

A voter whose photo identification has been lost, stolen, suspended, revoked or expired more than •Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of four years does not possess one of the acceptable Public Safety (DPS) forms of photo ID, and, if the voter cannot reasonably •Texas personal identification card issued by DPS obtain a replacement of the identification that was •Texas License to Carry a Handgun issued by DPS lost, stolen, suspended, revoked or expired or another •Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS form of acceptable photo ID, the voter is eligible to •U.S. passport •U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person’s present a supporting form of identification, execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration, and, assuming photograph •U.S. military identification card containing the person’s they otherwise qualify, vote a regular ballot.

Supporting documentation can be a certified photograph birth certificate (must be an original), a valid voter

With the exception of the U.S. citizenship registration certificate, a copy or original of one of certificate, the approved photo ID must be current or the following: current utility bill, bank statement, have expired no more than four years before being government check, or paycheck, or other government presented for voter qualification at the polling place. document that shows the voter’s name and an address.

If the voter has continued access to their acceptable Government documents that include a photo must be form of photo ID, but, for example, forgets to bring original and cannot be copies. If a voter meets these it to the polling place and/or leaves it, for example, requirements and is otherwise eligible to vote, the voter at home or in their car, the voter still possesses the will be able to cast a regular ballot in the election.

Voters with a disability may continue to apply with the county registrar for a permanent exemption to showing approved photo ID (which now may be expired no more than four years) at the polls. Also, voters who (1) have a consistent religious objections to being photographed or (2) do not present one of the seven forms of approved photo ID because of certain natural disasters as declared by the President of the United States or the Texas Governor, may continue apply for a temporary exemption to showing approved photo ID at the polls. In addition, voters age 65 or older, those with a disability, or those who will be out of the county during both early voting and Election Day may vote by mail. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is Oct. 28.

The General Election is Nov. 8. Early voting runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4. The last day to register for the election is Oct. 11.

I am currently traveling throughout Texas to talk as part of a non-partisan, bilingual voter education campaign called Vote Texas. This campaign seeks to ensure all voters in all communities understand when, where, and how to vote. Vote Texas is reaching, among others, voters in urban and rural communities, senior citizens, first time voters, military members, and minority groups.

My team and I are committed to reaching the voters of our great state. For more information regarding voting requirements and voter ID, please visit VoteTexas.gov or call 1-800-252-VOTE.

In God We Trust KEEP

Commissioner El Franco Lee’s last appointee:

Harris County Civil Court at Law #1

Judge

Clyde

GOP Judge promotes fairness and justice!

Where barbecue and voting facts are served daily.

Show your approved photo ID at the polls.

Leuchtag

Endorsed By: • The Houston Chronicle • Houston Association of Women Attorneys

TEXA S-IS S UE D

Justice with Compassion

• Houston Lawyers Association

Unable to obtain one of these IDs?

Top Rated Civil County Court Judge

• COGICPAC • Baptist Ministers’ Association of Houston and Vicinity

Honorably Serving the Community

KeepClyde.com

The Only African-American County Civil Court Judge Political ad. paid for by Clyde Leuchtag Campaign

HANDGUN LICENSE

DRIVER LICENSE

PERSONAL ID CARD

ELECTION ID CERTIFICATE

(MUST BE AN ORIGINAL)

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FEATURE

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

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Towanda Braxton Talks Divorce, New Opportunities, and Hanging with the President

Towanda Braxton

iddle children will be one of two things either very loud because they trying to get attention since they are not the youngest or oldest or they are extremely shy. Towanda Braxton took on the later personality and felt more comfortable in the background. That is hard to believe living in a house with so many big personalities.

One place she was never shy was on the stage but even there she reverted to the backlight.

Being in the foreground is far from who she is today. Stepping into her Towanda is taking center stage as the star of her hit reality show with her sisters Braxton Family Values; acting and producing and living life with no regrets.

Towanda seems to be an open book. We have seen so much of it played out before eyes.

From her fights with her sisters to her open marriage with Andre, Towanda and America are true friends. And there are no secrets amongst friends, right? So you know one of my first questions was about her divorce from Andre. Easing into the subject I jokingly asked if big sister Trina had given her any advice on navigating through a divorce. Quickly Towanda responded, “No, I ain’t taking nooo advice from Trina. She can’t give me any advice because she kept going back and forth being hot and cold. I don’t want any advice from Trina. Nope!”

Some would assume that contributing to the divorce of Towanda and her husband was the reality show. Andre often complained about the way he was portrayed on the show.

We also know his employment weighed heavily on the marriage. But Towanda ultimately knew when she stopped pretending it was over. When asked if the reality show or their open marriage concept attributed to their divorce, Towanda said, “I think that what 10

Oct 6 - Oct 12 , 2016

happens is, it under covers what is already there. It helps you realize I was pretending. I don’t want this.” And she didn’t want to stand in the way of Andre being happy. “ I just came to the conclusion that I don’t want to stop his growth or happiness. I am not that kind of person. I just think that it would be fair for him to move on and be happy.”

She is making herself happy too.

Following the advice of her mother to start being a little selfish to focus on herself, Towanda has become an actress, producer, brand ambassador, and political advocate.

She already has her first film under her belt in Carl Payne’s Misguided Behavior. Towanda portrays a police officer in the film about bullying and dysfunction in the home and gun violence. Catch her soon on the small screen in a new soap opera. More details will soon be released about this show as well as some projects she finalizing with sister Trina.

Towanda loves politics and has recently joined the campaign of Hillary Clinton. Before our interview, she had just left Ohio where she discussed the importance of getting registered to vote and early voting. She will bring that same message to Houston when she visits selected congregations on October 16th.

Towanda told me that she has been pounding the payment to get people registered to vote. “ This year is most critical,” she said. “ You are voting for more than just your president.

You also have to vote for your local people like your Senators, Congressmen and Judges because they can determine your life as well.”

Claiming this spotlight has allowed to also step in a role that she didn’t see herself as and that is a role model. Because of what she has lived out on Braxton Family Values, women feel connected to her and relate to her www.StyleMagazine.com

situations so they seek her advice. This has made Towanda more aware of who she is.

“Being in this position I know it is my duty to make sure that I am always positive with situations because all eyes are on me,” said Towanda who just tries to lead by example.

She will help Houston women follow her led in an intimate setting called Cocktails and Conversations presented by The Musician Wives and powered by IMPACT Magazine on October 15, 2016, from 6-10pm at Aloft Houston at the Galleria. Towanda will be part of a panel of influential women that includes Emmy Award winner, Kim Gagne of The Steve Harvey TV Show and Kandi Eastman of Majic 102.1. As the drinks flow, the conversation will ignite about the power of women.

I couldn’t let Towanda without finding out a few more details about her personally.

So I ended our convo with a few rapid fire questions just so fans can know a little bit more about what make her tick. She is known as the cook in the family and her best dish is her fried chicken. Her favorite movie tops the list of a lot of people I know, The Color Purple.

Whenever she listens to music, she turns first to Rihanna. Cabo is number one vacation spot.

And the last question will make you laugh out loud. I asked if she had a superpower, what would it be and why. Laughing Towanda told me how she would want to be invisible to go to the White House without Michelle knowing to hang with Barack because he smells amazing. Now who wouldn’t want to hang with President?

Be sure to hang with Towanda when she comes to Houston on October 15 at Aloft Houston at the Galleria.

STATE

H-E-B Buddy League Teaches Kindness, Courage and Inclusion During National Anti-Bullying Awareness Month

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o highlight National Anti-Bullying Awareness Month this October, H-E-B is challenging second-grade students across Texas to be “Crusaders for Kindness” by joining the H-E-B Buddy League.

Inspired by H-E-B’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the H-E-B Buddy League promotes and inspires kindness and respect over negative behaviors such as teasing, exclusion and other forms of bullying.

In recent years, bullying has become a widespread issue, often leading to negative physical, social and mental health issues in children. *According to Stopbullying.gov, children who are bullied are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and feelings of sadness and loneliness. In addition, children who are bullied are more likely to experience decreased academic achievement and school participation and as a result, are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.

Be a Buddy, Not a Bully H-E-B Launches Anti-Bullying Initiative in Texas Elementary Schools

“As a passionate supporter of education, H-E-B understands that children learn best when they have great days at school,” said Sonia Quirino Canales, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, H-E-B. “To further our commitment to the community and to diversity, H-E-B is launching the H-E-B Buddy League to help create a safe learning environment that will positively impact Texas students.”

Throughout October, H-E-Buddy and Partners on H-E-B’s Diversity Leadership Council will visit second-grade classrooms throughout the state to engage students in a variety of activities and conversations that reinforce the message of “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully.” Children will explore ways to respond if they are bullied and how to be an advocate for kindness, respect and inclusion. Teachers will receive an H-E-B Buddy League kit filled with tools and resources to continue the dialogue of kindness and inclusion throughout the school year.

If the school does not have a scheduled visit, second-grade teachers can order the H-E-B Buddy League Kit for free online, while supplies last at www.heb.com/league.

The H-E-B Buddy League Kit is filled with the following tools: A pamphlet explaining what the H-E-B Buddy League is, how to get involved, and information on the H-E-B

Buddy League Student Advocate Award.

A dry-erase board that teachers can use throughout the school year in their classrooms to promote a positive act or recognize a student who exhibits positive behaviors.

H-E-B Buddy League stickers that teachers can use as an incentive for positive behaviors.

Master copies of coloring sheets that are themed around positive behaviors.

Five colorful posters that can be placed in the classroom or other high-traffic areas, such as a hallway or cafeteria, with positive messages.

Teachers can nominate second-grade students for the H-E-B Buddy League Student Advocate Award online at www.heb.com/league now through Feb. 28, 2017. The award recognizes secondgrade students who are leaders in demonstrating acts of kindness, respect, courage and inclusion.

Nominations will be reviewed by members of the H-E-B Diversity Leadership Council and community leaders. Winners will be recognized as their school’s Super Buddy and receive an H-E-B Buddy League Prize Pack at their school’s end-of-year assembly.

Teachers who nominate winning students will be notified during the month of April 2017.

Parents can continue the conversation at home by reading a book to their child that reinforces positive over negative behaviors such as the children’s book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes.

The award-winning book is H-E-B’s Buddy Pick of the Month and is available from Oct. 4 through Nov. 2 at 40 percent off of the retail price.

For more information, visit www.heb.com/ league or contact H-E-B’s Diversity Department at 210-938-8757.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Marvel’s Luke Cage: The Sound, Fury And Complexities Of The Black Experience

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together to the point where excitement radiates off of him. That’s the writer within him, constantly wanting to express every aspect of a scene. When it comes to roping in noted producers in Younge & Muhammad, he surmises it with one word: “providence.” The duo even stopped their own joint album to work on Luke Cage, locking into a project that eventually made their own project better.

The framing of the series, even when it came to pitching it to Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb were based around Gang Starr. Without hesitating, Coker began piecing together the story of Cage, his mindset and temperament around particular Gang Starr tracks such as “Moment Of Truth” and “Soliloquy Of Chaos”. Without the song titles, Coker wasn’t going to pitch Luke Cage to Marvel, especially his vision of the iconic ‘70s hero. It had to be authentic, it had to feel real to him.

It ultimately pays off.

Marvel’s Luke Cage debuted early Friday morning after months of anticipation and teases from multiple platforms. Colter, who plays the titular character first made his Marvel debut last fall with Jessica Jones. There, he was merely the bulletproof hero who played Jones’ love interest. Fans of Jones lauded it for its complex storyline, its human approach to Cage’s backstory and t r a u m a .

When it was announced that Cage would get his own standalone series as part of Marvel’s Defenders l i n e u p , a n t i c i p a t i o n Mike Colter as Luke Cage only grew.

Cage himself was created by Archie Goodwin as Power Man, a 1970s black hero who had blaxploitation worthy one liners such as “Sweet Christmas” and was only interested in saving the day if a check was involved. A literal “Hero For Hire”, he’s gone minor transformations over the years, including a long appearance on Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man program that airs on Disney. The character, much like Daredevil, Jones & Iron Fist were considered “B Heroes”, the guys you call after The Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four are called first.

When it comes to his Netflix adaptation, Luke Cage doesn’t play second fiddle. He immediately jumps above Daredevil in terms of importance in the Marvel universe, mainly because of how the most interesting character tied to the Devil from Hell’s Kitchen was actually its villain, Wilson Fisk.

Colter in particular is a smoldering hero, charismatic enough with Bondlike one liners but morally upstanding to not play in the shadows. When he speaks, especially in going toe-to-toe with Cottonmouth inside of a Harlem church, he turns up the charm and wins everyone over. Colter becomes

By Brandon Caldwell, Feature Writer

he main theme of Marvel’s Luke Cage is uttered within the first fifteen minutes. After sweeping up a barbershop and engaging in playful banter about the New York Knicks, Luke (Mike Colter) gets some sage advice from the shop’s owner, Pop (Frankie Faison). “Always forward, forward always,” the reformed barber tells Cage. Cage nods and agrees with him, still unsure of his new place in Harlem. Unsure of who he is and what he means to people.

Make no mistake, Luke Cage is a black superhero story. The story of a bulletproof black man in a hoodie is not lost on the current consciousness but show runner Cheo Hodari Coker didn’t set out to make Marvel’s Luke Cage the social conscious leg of the Marvel Netflix universe. He made the character as human as possible, as conflicted and morally sound as one could be. The end result is Marvel & Netflix’s finest creation yet, and easily the best comic book property put to the small screen.

The reaction to Luke Cage has been met with both acclaim and scrutiny. It became the first series on the Netflix platform to actually crash the server last Saturday, just as responses from mostly white critics claimed the show was racist. A show built around the scope of Harlem from a black gaze point had offended certain sections of the world - all the while the show’s official Twitter feed joked and took the news in stride.

Even getting in the room to show off his vision of the Marvel hero took guts. In the initial pitch meeting, Coker pulled out a photo of his grandfather, a Tuskegee Airman as well as a Luke Cage figurine. “I talked about what it was like to be around a black hero, around a man who didn’t get caught up in the hero aspect of it, he just did his job,” Coker said.

“Physics had no color, either you can fly or you can’t. Luke doesn’t want to be a hero but in doing this, he takes on this responsibility and will be judged differently than anyone else.”

To surround Luke Cage with the richness of historical Harlem and the entomology that comes along with it, Coker brought on Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge to serve as the show’s musical supervisors.

In turn, the duo helped give Coker and Luke Cage an aura of invincibility, part Bond epic, part nod to hip-hop’s past and present.

“At 43, I’m part of the last generation to remember a world without hip-hop,” Coker said during a roundtable at Cactus Music. “I remember Songs In The Key Of Life, I remember The Brown Album. When I think of a record like It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, I remember the structure. You take tricks from that in trying to structure a season.

It didn’t really begin with the comics or storylines, it began picking song titles that speak to me thematically.”

When Coker speaks, it’s in a frantic manner; his words running

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Harlem’s hero, even without having to lift a finger in that way. It’s the borough itself; the inhabitants that constantly weigh on him on a daily basis, which ultimately makes the series shine.

For Coker, a Stanford alum, journalist and veteran of TV and film (Notorious, Southland, Ray Donovan), he leaned on some of his own influences for Luke Cage. He lifted Shonda Rhimes’ technique of naming every episode of anything in ShondaLand after a pop song. He alluded to certain homages throughout the series, the Notorious B.I.G. painting in Cottonmouth’s office which originally was supposed to be Basquiat. Picking and choosing when audiences would hear Wu-Tang Clan’s “Bring The Ruckus” for an important scene or Nina Simone, John Lee Hooker, or even Mahalia Jackson.

Naturally, Younge & Muhammad had a say in the needle drops as well.

“What Adrian & Ali did as composers, they made music to fit the individual moments that we had,” Coker says with excitement. “I took the approach of Martin Scorcese in Goodfellas. It’s all needle drops, no score. He basically goes through his record collection, picks 100 songs and drops them where he feels they need be. Adrian, Ali & Soul Perspective told me that we can compose music to the point where you’re not gonna need that many needle drops.

It became a trust thing.”

Tying it all together b e c a m e paramount for Coker and crew. Wanting to show all facets of the black experience and not single on just one, Luke Cage dives deep into the generational tugs of Harlem. The older, more refined class that refuse to let the N-word or even much a curse part their lips verses the wilder, hungrier and raw younger class. The tone and temperature of the cast from Alfre Woodard’s Black Mariah to Mahershala Ali’s Cottonmouth & even Simone Missick’s Misty Knight offer a glimpse into the complexities of right and wrong. Of survival and living strictly off of instinct as opposed to high moral standing.

“When you have that kind of texture, you build a world,” Coker said. “When you get us in the writers room, we’re all different. But we talk a lot, we joke a lot. We reveal moments in our own experiences that get filtered through the prism of these characters.

And with that, the music just got bigger and better.”

Muhammad & Younge wanted Luke Cage to have a signature sound, a vibe to him. If Charles Bronson dug deep into revenge for all of the family members and was scored to such a tone, Cage dips further into the world of a western. Coker alludes to

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him being a man with no name, in a city that doesn’t know him. If you’ve sat through and enjoyed Unforgiven with Gene Hackman, Mahershala Ali’s Cottonmouth could easily be parallel to him.

“There are certain things we did to identify Luke,” Ali Shaheed said.

“We wanted to make sure both Luke & Cottonmouth were equally powerful.”

The backdrops that align Cottonmouth and Cage to Harlem are found within Harlem’s Paradise.

Jidenna’s “Hail To The Chief” operates as a theme for Cottonmouth in a mode of rage and the singer himself guests inside the club. From the first episode, Raphael Saadiq’s “Good Man” underscores Cottonmouth’s demeanor as a business man wanting to seek change. All of those choices, including Faith Evans & Charles Bradley came from Cheo’s ideas.

“With Charles Bradley, we were kinda stressed,” Coker said.

“Marvel head Tom Weaver came to us saying he liked Charles Bradley and asked what did I think of it? And man, Charles Bradley … I saw Chadwick Boseman as James Brown but when you see Charles Bradley… man! That brother is James, greasy too!”

In a way, Harlem’s Paradise represents the clubs of Harlem lore.

The Cotton Club, The Turntable, spots and areas that invoked so many memories and cultural texture. Mixing both elements of Harlem, the endearing side of politicians and activist such as Adam Clayton Powell alongside the gangsters of their era like Nicky Barnes & Frank Lucas is what gives Marvel’s Luke Cage its legitimacy.

To note, it may be the only Marvel property in existence to prominently feature Harlem’s own Dapper Dan as a guest character to give Luke Cage a proper suit.

“I wanted it to be Marvel’s version of The Wire,” Coker admitted.

“The Barksdales, there was an element that really existed. Melvin’s system, all of that came from real things. So we’re doing the same thing in which, the power comes from Marvel but a lot of the lore comes from Harlem. We can mix a fictional reality along with things that happen. Nobody’s expecting to watch Luke Cage around in his hoodie.

Harlem still exists but Hell’s Kitchen?

Like Daredevil’s Hell’s Kitchen? It doesn’t even exist anymore.”

But Luke Cage does. In a time period where Black men are getting cut down in a hail of gunfire, Cage is the hero a lot of people need. He’s icy and cold, witty and personable like the heroes of the ‘70s like Truck Turner, Shaft and the like. He pushes through villains like Marshawn Lynch and often uses very little words when doing so.

Cage gets so offended at getting shot at, he winces only because he refuses to get new clothes. Suave, debonair and constantly fighting forces that could ultimately break him, Cage is not only the hero but that hero. He’s tied to an ugly history and also a beautiful one at the same time.

Luke Cage, a heroic personification of the Black experience.

TRAVEL

By Lisa Valadez, Associate Publisher

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n our series of must visit U.S. cities, St. Louis makes the list with its many family and budget friendly attractions. From breweries and casinos to museums and parks, the city boasts many amusements along with historical sites and a plethora of culinary delights that are sure to satisfy any palette.

Here are a few of some well-known attractions along with a few newly discovered gems that should be visited during your stay in St. Louis

A Tour of U.S. Cities: Things To Do In St. Louis Missouri History Museum

For those that enjoy reveling in a little nostalgia, then the Missouri History Museum is the place for you. While the museum does offer permanent exhibits, it also offers short-term special exhibits such as the “ Route 66: Main Street Through St Louis” exhibit. Take a step back and get your kicks learning about this famous road and its history. And to make this experience an even better one, entry is FREE! Side note: perfect time to mention that St. Louis is home to over 25 free attractions, which include most of the city’s museums along with its zoo.

recommend this culinary and historical tour, especially if you love Italian food as much as we do. So make sure to sign up while visiting St. Louis and let owner Pete Manzo guide you through a three-hour walking tour of the Hill. With six restaurant tastings ranging from St. Louis style pizza (Provel cheese blend) to Gelato Di Riso, said to be the best gelato outside of Italy, this tour is definitely a must for the foodie lovers.

The Gateway Arch

What’s a trip to St. Louis without getting up close and personal with the iconic Gateway Arch.?

This magnificent stainless steel monument rises about 630 feet into the city’s beautiful skyline. Although it’s free to view from the ground, we highly suggest traveling up the arch to marvel at the city’s incredible aerial views. We guarantee that both adults and children alike will have loads of fun taking selfies while riding up to the top in the arch’s sci-fi like pods (seats up to 4).

If visiting during warm months, hop aboard a 19th century paddle-wheel boat replica for a one-hour narrated cruise down the mighty Mississippi. This activity is highly recommended for those wanting to photographically capture views of the arch and other inspiring architecture. (Cruises run daily MarchNovember.)

Missouri Botanical Garden

You don’t have to necessarily be a lover of everything flora and fauna to appreciate this particular St. Louis attraction. As a matter of fact, it a perfect destination for some fun with the kids, lots of magical discoveries, and an even more serene atmosphere for an afternoon of walking and self-meditation or perhaps even a picnic lunch date. From the interactive and educational Children’s Garden to a 14 acre Japanese Garden to a real rainforest experience with waterfalls and tropical birds, this 79 acres of lush gardens, stunning landscape, and whimsical sculptures should definitely be on your list during your visit to St. Louis.

If visiting during the winter months, the holiday lights and decorations are sure to be a treat!

City Museum

While this museum isn’t free like most of the St. Louis museums, the City Museum is at the top of our list for children of all ages. (Yes, we guarantee that moms and dads will have just as much fun.)

The museum can best be described as an interactive, eclectic, and creative playground filled with endless fun. From tunnels to ball pits, to a rooftop ferris wheel, this wondrous architectural funhouse will inspire hours of imaginative and explorative fun. Oh, and for our 21 and up readers, you might want to partake in an adult beverage at the museum’s rooftop cantina and enjoy the sunset before taking another adventure down the 10-story spiral slide.

Save room for the Italian Stallion sandwich at John Viviano and Sons (preferably the vegetarian option – we promise you won’t be disappointed!).

Stay tuned for more on St. Louis in next month’s issue

For more information on what to do in St. Louis, visit www.explorestlouis.com.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Can’t visit St. Louis without stopping to snap a photo or two of the world famous Clydesdales.

And for the beer lovers out there, what better place to be at than the AnheuserBusch Brewery? The free 45 minute tour guides you through one of the oldest operating breweries in the country and offers two complimentary drinks for visitors 21 years and older.

Tours tend to fill up fast so make sure to show up early or maybe even consider taking one of the special tours for a small fee.

EAT St. Louis Food Tour

Did we mention that our team loves to eat?

A lot. And this is why we

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STARTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14

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CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

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Hennessy Paradis Imperial: Tasting and Luncheon with Maurice Hennessy By: Lisa Valadez

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rom time to time, the Houston Style team gets to do some pretty cool things and meet some really interesting people.

Recently, we got the opportunity to lunch at the Houston Club overlooking the city’s downtown skyline with Maurice Hennessy, Global Brand Ambassador and 8th generation Hennessy family member.

Our taste buds were in heaven as we sipped on Hennessy Paradis Impérial after a mouth-watering lunch of kobe beef filet, roasted garlic whipped potatoes. While the four-course menu delectable indeed (yes, the vanilla bean creme brulee was devoured) the real treat was the tasting of Paradis Impérial while directly sitting across from Maurice as he shared his stories and history about one of the rarest Cognacs in the world.

Created by Master Yann Fillious, Hennessy Paradis Impérial is the perfect combination of elegance, precision and power. The inspiration for the current product is said to be a cognac blend requested by Tsar Alexander I of Russia’s mother, Maria Dowager Empress of Russia, in 1818 as a birthday gift for her son.

The smooth and subtle Cognac boasts a modern taste with floral notes of jasmine and orange blossom spiced with smoky accents. On average, only 10 of the finest eaux-de-vie from a selection of a vintage 10,000 eauxde-vie are eligible to become part of this particular blend. At this level of excellence, the selection process is elevated to an art. For this reason, the most devout Cognac aficionados recognize Paradis Impérial for its precision and finesse.

Award-winning Baccarat designer, Stephanie Balini, designed the Paradis Impérial bottle. The bottle’s iconic silhouette is an elegant crystal decanter that features an 18-carat gold plated label making it the perfect gift for the upcoming holidays.

Tip: According to Maurice Hennessy, the best way to enjoy Paradis Impérial is at room temperature in a tulip shaped glass.

For more information, visit www.hennessy.com. As always, please drink responsibly.

Want to read more?

Check us out at www.StyleMagazine.com

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Oct 6 - Oct 12 , 2016

Award Winning Documentary, Until 20 Free Premier at Texas Southern University, Friday, October 14th, 12 Noon

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he award winning documentary film Until 20, will premiere on the campus of Texas Southern University Friday, October 14 at noon in the Nabrit Science Center lecture hall on the 1st floor. Until 20 is an independent film produced by CNN Executive Producer and Vice President of Program Development, Diversity and Inclusion Geraldine Moriba. It was created to raise awareness about childhood cancers and stimulate conversations about how today’s youth should strive to live the best life possible.

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BOOK REVIEW

By Terri

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Schichenmeyer, Literary Writer

oday was an ordinary day.

It had its ups and downs; pleasant surprises came between the mundane and the irritating and you’ll look back at it tomorrow with clarity, perhaps, but its details will be sketchy in a decade. It was an ordinary day which, says Gary Younge, also means an average of seven kids in the U.S. lost their lives to a bullet. In “Another Day in the Death of America,” he explains.

On November 23, 2013, most Americans were preparing for Thanksgiving. We were marking the anniversary of JFK’s assassination and watching the weather, the news on Iraq, or the Baylor / Oklahoma State game. We were enjoying our weekend. And on that Saturday, ten random children died of gunshot wounds in this country.

That, says Younge, has become too normal. It barely even registers anymore. For awhile, there were websites that tracked this kind of thing but for the most part, the deaths of these “kids” – coincidentally, all boys on this day; seven African Americans, one white, two Hispanic – are unmarked, except to families and locals.

The youngest, nine-year-old Jaiden Dixon, was a “giving soul” with a “valentine” he thought he might marry someday. Preparing for school on a Friday morning, he opened the door for his mother’s ex-boyfriend, who shot Dixon in the face.

Dixon died the next day.

The girlfriend of Kenneth Miller, who was “just three days shy of his twentieth birthday,” learned of his death through Twitter. Seventeen-year-old Stanley Taylor was killed over “spontaneous drama.”

Legally blind, eighteen-year-old Pedro Dado Cortez worked for his father and dreamed of learning to drive.

Another Day in the Death of America: A Chronicle of Ten Short Lives Eleven-year-old Tyler Dunn was shot by a playmate, while sixteen-year-old Edwin Rajo was accidentally shot in the chest by his best friend. Samuel Brightmon was “conflict averse,” Tyshon Anderson had been shot several times before, Gustin Hinnant was an honorroll student, and Gary Anderson was killed because he wore a red hoodie.

One bullet tore apart a small town. All devastated families and friendships. Some were in areas where “Nobody knows where the next shot is coming from…. But everybody knows it’s coming.”

Before we get any further, there’s this: Britishborn author Gary Younge doesn’t overtly advocate, nor does he denigrate, gun control but astute readers can catch a clue. He also writes about parenting, particularly within the Black community; about gangs; prisons; and about the NRA and its influence.

And these are interesting subjects but the real power comes in the stories he uncovers in “Another Day in the Death of America.” Younge doesn’t just write about the demises of the ten “kids” he found; he also helps readers understand the men they might’ve become and what we truly lost in losing them. That kind of unflinching journalism packs gut-punching, timely meaning, and you won’t forget it.

“Pick a different day, you get a different book,” says Younge on the randomness of his research, which is perhaps the most poignant sentence you’ll ever read. So pick “Another Day in the Death of America.” It’s no ordinary story.

Share this story online at www.stylemagazine. com.

by Gary Younge

c.2016, Nation Books $25.99 / $33.99 Canada 304 pages

“A NEW LANDMARK IN AMERICAN CINEMA”

“BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL”

DREAMWORKS PICTURES AND RELIANCE ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT A MARC PLATT PRODUCTION A TATE TAYLOR FILM “THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN” RAMIREZ LISA KUDROW EMILYMUSICBLUNT REBECCA FERGUSON HALEY BENNETT JUSTIN THEROUX LUKE EVANS ALLISON JANNEY EDGAR EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BASED ON

BY MARC PLATT p. g.a. JARED LE BOFF p.g.a. THE NOVEL BY PAULA HAWKINS

BY DANNY ELFMAN PRODUCER CELIA COSTAS SCREENPLAY DIRECTED

BY ERIN CRESSIDA WILSON A UNIVERSAL RELEASE

BY TATE TAYLOR SOUNDTRACK ON SONY CLASSICAL

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© 2016 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS AND STORYTELLER DISTRIBUTION CO., LLC

LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 CHECK THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

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NRG STADIUM HOUSTON, TEXAS

Texans Defeat Titans By 7 Photography by Semetra Samuel

T

he Houston Texans bounced back into the win column Sunday afternoon (October 2nd) with a 27-20 win over the Tennessee Titans. Brian Cushing made his return to the lineup after missing 3 weeks with a MCL sprain. The tight ends had a good day of production including a 45 yard by Ryan Griffin and touchdown by C.J. Fiedorowicz.

Former Texan Andre Johnson made his 2nd appearance back to NRG but was held to 3 catches on the day. This victory gives the Texans a 2 game lead in the AFC South. Next on the schedule is a road game against the Minnesota Vikings.

ELIZABETH ANTHONY HOUSTON, TEXAS

Links’ Royal Tea and Fashion Show Kick Off Party Photography by Vicky Pink

I

n commemoration of the Fort Bend County Chapter of The Links, Inc. 20 years of service within the Fort Bend community, the ladies will host a Royal Tea and Fashion Show featuring designs by Elizabeth Anthony and produced by Lenny Matuszewski. As a prelude to the charitable affair, a reception was held for the ladies to mix and mingle.

Proceeds from the event will go towards scholarships to high school seniors and to provide leadership in the creation of innovative healthy eating education and wellness solutions that improve the lives of individuals in Fort Bend County. Some in attendance were Shawntel McWilliams, Carlotta Brown, Dr. Michelle Fennick, Judge Clarease Rankin Yates, Debra Hutchinson, Stephanie Nellons-Paige, Tammara McDonald, LaTonya Smith, and Nicole Walters.

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Oct 6 - Oct 12 , 2016

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POINDEXTER DENTAL HOUSTON, TEXAS

Poindexter Dental 60th Anniversary Photography by Vicky Pink

P

oindexter Dental celebrated their 60th anniversary with the people they love best, the residents of Sunnyside. Known for more than just caring for your teeth, the folks at Poindexter Dental support the community in many facets. Dr. Zeb Poindexter III and his staff hosted a Voter Registration Drive to make sure everyone in Sunnyside’s voice is heard at the polls this November. Other vendors came out to support as well to issue library cards, provide scholarships for college and more.

SEASONS 52 HOUSTON, TEXAS

HABJ Happy Hour Honoring Chauncy Glover Photography by Vicky Pink

H

ouston Association of Black Journalists gathered to toast cheers to ABC 13’s Chauncy Glover. He recently won the Angelo B. Henderson Community Service Award presented by the National Association of Black Journalists at their national convention. Some in attendance were Melanie Lawson, Jerome Solomon, Nakia Cooper, Mary Benton, Tyrone Willis, La’Torria Lemon, Bridgette Joe, and Jolanda Jones.

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India. Arie: Chaos Isn’t Good for Your Health

HEALTH

By Aria Ellise, BlackDoctor.Org

“

I didn’t know if I was going to make music anymore,” says a recently missing-in-action India.Arie. After selling more than 10 million albums worldwide, scoring 21 Grammy nominations, and winning four, India Arie Simpson just stopped doing music.

Four years later, she returned with her longawaited fifth studio album, SongVersation, and the “Brown Skin” and “I Am Not My Hair” singer says that, for the first time, she completely controls the when, where and how her career is written. But the road to get here was hard.

Describing 2009 as “just the worst year I could imagine,” India describes a series of physical setbacks, a broken engagement and a cross-country tour left her exhausted — and at a spiritual crossroads.

The “I Am Not My Hair” singer says that her deep internal struggle took a serious toll on her physically and emotionally. “One of my oldest friends, he calls me ‘sunshine.’ It was a joke because I was so moody,” India.Arie says. “[But] it just looked like I was moody.”

In reality, India.Arie says something much more profound was going on. “I didn’t have a foundation of well-being. I didn’t like my ‘default setting.’ I just didn’t feel good all the time,” she explains. “I felt like I was always recovering from some sort of battle… I was in a constant state of recovery.”

“I was at rock bottom career-wise and healthwise,” explains India. “I was working so hard and getting very little in return. I didn’t know if I was going to make music anymore. I didn’t know anything. I just knew that I wanted to have a life that felt good.”

By applying some of the lessons of self-

love and self-acceptance found in much of her own music, India turned that difficult corner of her life. “I really took the time to look at myself and look at my life and decide who I want to be, and not what anyone else wants,” she explains. “I learned who I am and understand that I am responsible for myself and for my life.”

This new perspective has made aspects of the music India Arie business she once loathed—long hours in the studio, doing press interviews— a lot more pleasurable. She’s even putting out fires, like claims that her image was purposely lightened for the cover art of the album’s first single “Cocoa Butter.”

“Some people were really getting crazy and just being disrespectful and I wanted to snap back [but] I didn’t,” she admits. “If it were true, and it’s not, it would have been a huge betrayal because of my reputation and what I’m about,” she says. “The black community has a certain ownership of me, and it’s beautiful and I’m proud of that.”

Since her self-imposed exile, she’s come to cherish her unique role even more.

“You know, I was in my early twenties when I came out. I was a kid. Now I’m an adult, I’m a woman.

I’m even more committed and more clear about what

my message is, and more empowered to carry that message further.”

Coming full circle, India insists “I don’t sing because I’ve got all the answers and I’ve got it all figured out. I sing because I’m on that journey too, to be the best person I can be. Whoever it resonates with, I’m happy. I know that it’s not for some people, and I’m okay with that, too.”

This time around, she’s making time for self and is expanding her company, SoulBird.

“These past 10 years, I’ve never had any time for other things that I love to do, such as jewelry and clothes. And maybe [I will make time for] a relationship,” she sneaks in. “I can’t see it, but I feel something. I needed time to heal, and now I’m ready.”

Unplanned Pregnancy or Parenting a Young Child?

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