Volume 25 Issue 30

August 16, 2020

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

EDUCATION By: N.L. Preston

HEALTH

HOUSTON -- For generations, the fight when it comes to our children and schools have been about integration, better resources, bridging the educational gaps between whites and minority students and, over the last few years, conquering the digital divide when

it comes to students in underserved communities. NEVER in a million years, would many of us have ever believed there would be a fight to keep students AWAY from the campuses, that is, until a little-known virus called COVID-19/ Coronavirus crept upon us.

Many students were

excited when Spring Break 2020 was extended due to the uncertainty surrounding the virus. The excitement then turned to disappointment for many seniors who found themselves not able to graduate with their friends and stripped of the 13-year dream from Pre-K to 12th grade to walk

across the stage, toss a cap in the air and bust an “I did it” dance while proud family members scream “That’s my baby!”

But now, with more than five million Americans being infected with coronavirus and the nationwide death Education cont’d page 4

Vol. 25, Issue 30

BLACK VOTES MATTER

KAMALA HARRIS MAKES HISTORY

WASHINGTON - California Sen. Kamala Harris has made history after former Vice President Joe Biden selected her to be his running mate in the 2020 election against President Donald Trump.

The selection makes Harris the first African American and South Asian woman to be on a major presidential ticket, and local politicians are weighing in. Her mixed heritage is creating a sense of inclusion for many Ameri-

cans.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George, who grew up in India, spoke of Harris’ significance.

“I am really excited about this choice,” George said. “She’ll become the first woman, woman of color and woman of some kind of Indian origin to be the vice president of this nation.”

Harris was one of 11 women being considered to join the race Harris cont’d page 6

2 AFRAMNEWS.COM

August 16, 2020

EDITORIAL

President/Chief Editor

Tristar

Griselda Ramirez: Production

A Revival of God

Consciousness Bobby E. Mills, PhD

Office: (713) 692-1892 Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Yes She Can: Senator Kamala Harris

President Trump derogatorily refers to Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe.” However, with the selection of Kamala Harris as his vice presidential running mate, Sleepy Joe has awakened a formidable political giant that will with the blessings of God redeem the soul of America. Biden has a phenomenal wife, but in Senator Harris, Biden has an excellent governing partner. God said it is not good for a man to be alone. God put man into a deep sleep, and took a lower rib from his side, and from the dust of the Earth he formed and shaped her. God blew the breath of life into her nostrils, and she became a living being.

God awakened man to name her, and the man said to God and her, “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, and because she had a womb named her woman”: one-man.

Thank You Lord! And, God said to man and woman, she is your helpmate. Maya Angelou in a poem talks about the characteristics of a phenomenal woman. Biden has chosen a phenomenal woman as his running mate: obligatory helpmate! Every man needs a woman in order to be spirituallycomplete, because every man is missing a rib.

The Biden/Harris governing team is a heavenly match for Earthly times such as these, because America is on the brink of spiritual-moralcollapse. The Trump governing team has torn down the spiritual-moral-walls, and now they must be spiritually and democratically rebuilt. Jesus taught us concerning the preservative value of salt and light. Salt makes things taste better, and light purifies. The Biden/Harris governing team is salt and light for such a time like this.

America has always been one of the bright lights of the world, but Trump has hidden America’s light in lies, deceit and ungodliness. Now, America has an opportunity to let her little lights shine, shine, and shine brightly; therefore: vote, vote, vote

and: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The opportunity has come: what shall we do with it is the question? Democracy as a political governing philosophy has universal democratic codes of ethics, codified values and spiritual-moral laws, and the Trump Administration has violated/ trampled/ignored all of them. On November 3rd, 2020, we have an opportunity to restore and repair the ungodly breach.

Therefore: “Lift every voice and sing. Till earth and heaven ring.

Ring with the harmonies of liberty; let our rejoicing rise. High as the listening skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea, sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope the present has brought us. Facing the rising sun of our new day begun. Let us march on till victory is won.” James Weldon Johnson. The Trump Administration is an immoral-blight on the American-Experience, but the Biden Administration will be an antidote. Selah!

- AANI

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

Partin’ the Waters

By Omowale Luthuli-Allen

Progress for Black America begins with our youth

“Don’t cry your way out, sweat your way out, work your way out...

We must revive our expectations of decency, honor and dignity... I was born in the slum but in no way did I earn the right to do less than my best... The first step in changing your condition is to change your mind. Nothing in the world is more powerful than a made-up mind. “ -- Rev. Jesse Jackson Can BLACK LIVES REALLY MATTER while BLACK People are still killing each other? This question

was posted on a sign in Washington, DC near Marvin Gaye’s Community Garden.

Our government can help, but our government can’t stop the violence.

Citizens strengthening families and communities can help, but cannot stop the violence. Good government has historically launched powerful anti-poverty programs and we know that much violence in the hood is the product of

ignorance and poverty.

Most black poverty following slavery and Jim Crow segregation was a product of institutionalized racism, not an individual racist shouting N – Words. The ghetto in Chicago, New Orleans, Birmingham and Houston, Texas is a child of White America.

The pandemic has taken us back to the conclusions reached by the Kerner Commission after the 1960’s reProgress cont’d page 3

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

August 16, 2020

AFRAMNEWS.COM 3

EDITORIAL The time is very near where black people, bellions in Watts, Chi- their policymakers and leaders will have to cago and Newark.

“Our society is mov- own the “misplaced aging toward two soci- gression” in black cometies, one black, one munities. Flawed social white—separate and policy in Chicago and UNEQUAL. The Ghet- other urban communito, white institutions ties must be examined. created it and white One of the most influinstitutions maintain it ential social scientists, and white society con- a doctor of what ails dones it,” the report the community was Dr. Kenneth Clarke, states.

Progress, cont’d

who authored “Dark Ghetto.” Over 60 years ago, I remembered him focusing his analysis on a “tangled web of pathologies.” Don’t trip on pathology, popular speech seems to prefer dysfunctional.

Unemployment and Underemployment are the objective reasons for drug trafficking in the hood, but the subjective and more pow-

erful reason is psychological slavery through uneducated minds.

Lack of money and the frustration of not having money produces AIDS - Acquired Income Deficiency Syndrome.

We must raise our “aim” and we must temper our expectations. In 1965, over 70% of black children had the support and

protection of two parent families. Today, only about 23% of black families are intact to support and protect their children. Underresourced grandparents have stepped up to stabilize a three-legged stool. About half of white births are out of wedlock. A predictor for success in America is having two-parent families and the strong

family ethos that surrounds the children.

There are credible studies that show that persistent and chronic discord in a marriage can produce worse outcomes than single parenthood. I do ascribe to the ethic that when the conditions are present, couples should marry.

Strengthen the family, strengthen our youth!

- AANI

BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

HOUSTON - As students prepare to head back to school, some families are concerned they will not have the technology needed to help their children succeed in virtual or distance learning. Specifically, in the African American community, many students have not engaged as much in the virtual learning landscape, as we have relied on brick-andmortar institutions.

Will students have the proper resources?

A sweep of all the local school districts’ websites shows most have already started distributing equipment to stu-

dents, with others announcing plans are underway.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan said, based on surveys, the district has about 22,000 devices that it needs to deploy to students who do not have access to laptops or Chromebooks.

HISD also has 16,000 hotspots to distribute to students by Sept. 8.

Fort Bend ISD noted that teachers are busy learning the various tools and systems that will be used to deliver a rigorous online learning experience, as well as the important health

and safety protocols.

They have begun scheduling times for students and parents to pick up equipment.

Earlier this month, Aldine ISD held the first round of device distribution targeting families that had chosen the learning-at-home option. To get technology in the hands of more students, the district hosted another device distribution event on August 14.

Check the website for your child’s school district to request equipment.

Charity organizations are helping as well.

Community Works CDC, the non-profit organization of Free Indeed Church International, has been helping the underserved community of northeast Houston for 15 years.

Volunteers held a Tech Drive to collect the necessary virtual

education tools for students.

Another organization, Comp-U-Dopt, stepped in to provide devices to qualifying students. According to its website, CompU-Dopt has already distributed more than 20,000 devices.

To register for a computer in Houston, your child must attend a K-12 school in Harris County and not have access to a device at home. There is a limit of one device per household, and the students can keep the devices forever.

Contact www.compudopt.org/houston for more information.

It is understood that not all students have access to Wi-Fi/ internet at home, so some districts are also providing hot spots.

For those who may be able to afford discounted service, internet providers such as

AT&T and Comcast have designed programs offering internet plans for as low as $10 a month to help families.

Check with your local cable and/or internet providers for deals.

So, once you have the devices, how do you get moving in the right direction?

Do you know the difference between synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning?

Virtual synchronous instruction requires students and teachers to interact in real-time through a computer or electronic device.

In virtual asynchronous instruction, students work independently, and teachers provide daily feedback.

Familiarize yourself with these two formats in order to best assist your child.

Also, make sure your child adopts a normal

routine for learning at home, similar to what they practice at school.

Wake up on time, brush your teeth and wash your face, comb your hair, eat a wellbalanced breakfast and lunch, take a moment to stretch and wiggle for recess and – by all means – DRESS APPROPRIATELY!!!! No pajamas while logging on.

Overall, parents and caregivers just need to be ready, this could last a while. School districts are reporting virtual learning could range from three to six weeks, with some schools delaying the start of inperson learning until after Labor Day weekend, but the COVID-19 crisis has plans changing quickly -- and often.

Our advice? Be ready for the long haul. Be ready for ANYTHING! - AANI

4 AFRAMNEWS.COM

August 16, 2020

Education, cotnt’d toll topping 160,000 (which is expected to climb significantly over the upcoming fall and winter months) parents are left struggling with the decision of whether or

not to send their most prized possessions back to school.

This decision is especially hard for many Black and Hispanic families, as the virus is killing members of their communities at disproportionately higher rates.

On one hand, schools provide more than just academics to children and adolescents.

In addition to reading, writing and math, children learn social and emotional skills, get exercise and access to mental health support and other things that cannot be provided with online learning. For many

families, school is where kids get healthy meals, access to the internet, and other vital services. It is a place of safety while many parents go to work.

But on the downside, is it a big risk sending children into the battlefield when no one can guarantee their safety?

Ideally, local school leaders, public health experts, educators and parents can work together to decide how and when to reopen schools - but no one seems to be able to agree on what is the best method. While some parents and teachers are supporting the brick-and-

mortar methods of face-to-face interaction, others are adamantly against it -- opting for virtual learning instead.

But virtual learning has had its fair share of issues as well.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan recently spoke with MSNBC, sharing that the district has lost contact with more than 7,000 students after school operations changed in March.

“When we switched to virtual learning in March, all of our students have a login based on ID, 7,600 (of) those students

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

were not logging on, so they were not actively engaged. When we conducted home visits or phone calls to their families, they were not answering and so that was concerning,” she said.

HISD, which is the largest school district in Te x a s and

immunizations • Get physical exams from pediatrician • Do not allow students to fill the hallways during passing periods.

• Allow students to eat lunches at their desks or in small groups • Leave classroom doors open to help reduce high touch surfaces such as doorknobs.

• Give bus riders as-

the seventh largest in the nation, has launched a campaign in hopes to reconnect.

The latest American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advice says children learn best when they are in school. However, returning to school in person needs careful steps in place to keep students and staff safe.

AAP advises the following safety measures to keep students and staff safe:

signed seats and require them to wear a mask while on the bus.

• Encourage students who have other ways to get to school to use those options.

• Mark hallways and stairs with one-way arrows on the floor to cut down on crowding in the halls.

• Students should be allowed to use the playground in small groups.

In addition to having plans in place to keep students safe, there are other factors that school communities need to address:

• Physical distancing • Wear cloth face coverings & hand hygiene • Temperature checks and testing • Advanced cleaning and disinfecting • Stay up to date with

Pressure to catch up.

Some students may not have had access to computers and in-

ternet. Schools should be prepared to adjust curricula and not expect to make up all lost progress.

Students with disabilities. The impact of schools being closed may have been greater for students with disabilities. They may have a difficult time transitioning back to school after missing out on instruction time as well as school-based services such as occupational, physical, and speech-language therapy and mental health support counseling. School should review the needs of each child with an Individual Education Program before they return to school and provide services even if they are done virtually.

Behavioral health/ emotional support.

Your child’s school should anticipate and be prepared to address a wide range of mental health needs of students and staff and recognize students who show signs of anxiety or distress.

Remember: Returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic may not feel like normal – at least for a while. But having safety plans – and making sure schools have the resources needed to follow them – can help protect students, teachers, staff and families.

- AANI

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

August 16, 2020

AFRAMNEWS.COM 5

EDUCATION

Teachers protest to save their lives in the face of the pandemic Teachers say they are literally “fighting for their lives” as they protest around the country to stay out of the classrooms during this COVID-19 pandemic. As students are already contracting the disease, many teachers feel they are sitting ducks, fearing exposure from the students they are designated to educate.

School districts across the United States planned for hybrid alternatives for instruction, splitting time between in-person and online instruction, but with spikes in cases, many feel face-to-face (even masked) is not worth the risk.

It has been an up and down situation in Texas with Gov. Greg Abbott first ordering schools open, then backing off as infections continued to climb. Local health departments stepped in to bar some districts from opening, but Ab-

bott left the decision up to local school officials. Teachers are saying that is not good enough, and are making sure their voices are heard.

Locally, dozens of parents and teachers gathered outside Cy-Fair ISD’s board meeting last week demanding change before the start of school.

The teachers’ union surveyed members, reporting 60% favored virtual learning and 35% were comfortable with teaching in person.

One teacher held a powerful sign, reading, “I can’t teach from the grave.”

Another was dressed as the grim reaper. The message was clear: teachers don’t want to die.

Over the summer, in Arizona, three teachers who were sharing a classroom for two hours a day teaching online classes all caught coronavirus, despite following protocols

Credit: KHOU-TV

of social distancing, wearing masks and gloves, and using hand sanitizer. A 61-year-old teacher, who had worked for the school district for 38 years , died less than two weeks after she was hospitalized. The other two survived.

As outlined in The Washington Post, Chicago Public Schools announced

last week that it would begin the year online, after planning a hybrid system. Last week, the first week of school in Georgia’s Cherokee County School District, administrators sent 14 letters to parents, each disclosing new coronavirus cases.

That included 13 students, ranging from first to 12th

grades, and a few teachers. More than 300 students who had been in contact with them were directed to self-isolate for 14 days.

Another Georgia high school, in Paulding County, drew national attention after students posted pictures and video of their peers walking

without masks in tightly packed hallways. Now, six students and three staff members there have tested positive for the virus, according to a letter sent to parents over the weekend.

So we ask you, do the teachers have a point?

- AANI

6 AFRAMNEWS.COM

A/C & HEATING

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August 16, 2020

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

Harris, cont’d

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- AANI

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

August 16, 2020

AFRAMNEWS.COM 7

2020-2021 PARENT GUIDE

Reconnect Safely Return Strong reopening timeline September 8: First day of school (Virtual only) October 19: Face-to-face instruction begins subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions across the city of Houston and recommendations from local, state, and federal health officials.

September 8 – January 29: First semester of remote learning for students/parents who choose online-only instruction.

REGISTER FOR CAMP SPARK Get a jump-start on virtual learning at interactive academic enrichment camps!

COURSES TO COMPLETE PARENTS: Don’t forget to take the required Parent Introduction to Virtual Learning course online. This course will outline student expectations, attendance and grading, as well as guide parents on how to best support their students through virtual learning. Deadline is Sept. 4.

Access course at HoustonISD.org/ParentCourse STUDENTS: Take the Student Virtual Learning course on navigating the HUB, submitting assignments, asynchronous learning, digital resources, and more.

Complete the COVID-19 Student Safety course, which will cover topics such as hygiene, virus overview and staying safe.

Access courses at HoustonISD.org/HUB

WHAT: Camp Spark will provide students in grades K-12 with FREE enrichment classes leading up to the first day of school — with engaging activities in science, math, literacy, technology, and art.

WHEN: August 24 – September 4 REGISTER: HoustonISD.org/CampSpark

have questions? call our hotline 713-556-INFO (4636) Monday through Friday from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.

ENROLL YOUR CHILD FOR FALL • Enrollment for K-12 begins on August 17, 2020.

More information: HoustonISD.org/Enroll • PreK registration is underway. More information: HoustonISD.org/PreK

HISD HUB HOW-TO The HUB is a K-12 online teaching and learning platform that provides students and parents access to digital curriculum materials, communications with teachers, digital classwork and more. Access the HUB at HoustonISD.org/HUB

During remote learning, students will use the HISD @ H.O.M.E. learning platform to access classes and resources

HoustonISD.org/Home For a quick how-to guide on the HUB, go to HoustonISD.org/HUBHowTo Student Login to the HUB & Digital Digital Resources

For more information please visit HoustonISD.org/Reopening

8 AFRAMNEWS.COM

August 16, 2020

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

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