November 7, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 26, Issue 42
YOUR VOICE
MATTERS
VOTE
“Addressing Current & Historical Realties Affecting Our Community”
HAPPY 74TH BIRTHDAY!
By: N.L. Preston
REPARATIONS VS. SEPARATIONS By: Roy Douglas Malonson
Some people are true fans of the changes, especially when it comes to diversity and inclusion, that President Joe Biden has brought to the White House, but some criticize that his campaign promises, specifically ones made to the Black and Brown communities, were nothing more
than gimmicks to ensure he won the presidency. Recently, many feel a reported proposal from President Biden to pay $450,000 per family to migrants separated at the border under former President Donald Trump’s rule a slap in the face to Black Americans. Under Trump’s “Zero
Tolerance” policy in 2018, more than 5,600 children were separated from their families as the parents were federally prosecuted for illegally crossing the southern border. Because the Trump administration did not have a system in place to reunite the children with their parents, more than
1,000 families remain separated. But Biden has come out disputing that claim, saying those reports were “garbage.” The American Civil Liberties Union, however, said his administration did make commitments. The ACLU in a state-
Reparations cont’d page 3
We would like to send a “Happy 74th Birthday” wish to Deloyd T. Parker Jr., founder of Houston’s historic S.H.A.P.E Center. Parker has been the co-founder and executive director of S.H.A.P.E. since 1969. Growing up in Port Arthur, Texas, his parents, Mrs. Ruby Parker and Mr. Deloyd Parker, Sr., instilled in him a sense of humility, a willingness to help, the courage to face adversity, and the strength to fight injustices whenever and wherever it raises its ugly face. Parker worked in the Ujamaa Villages of East Africa and traveled to many countries in the eastern part of Africa, spreading S.H.A.P.E.’s philosophy. His most recent trip to Africa was in the summer of 2000. He went to The Gambia in West Africa where he met with the President of The Gambia and was able to expand relations with the government as well as grassroot community leaders. The initiation of the SHAPE Birthday cont’d philosophy was embraced by the page 6
“YOUR VOTE AND YOUR MONEY ARE THE TWO MOST POWERFUL THINGS YOU HAVE. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE THEM TO.” - ROY DOUGLAS MALONSON