September 12, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 26, Issue 34
BLACK
“Addressing Current & Historical Realties Affecting Our Community”
VOTERS MATTER
Dr. Stacey Jones Reeed
BLACK FAMILIES MATTER
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
During these times of unemployment, racial injustice, and instability within families, the need for fatherhood, especially Black fatherhood, is greater than ever. Millions of children across America live in households without a physically present father, and millions more live in a household with emotionally absent fathers. But why is this? According to Fathers.com, 57.6% of Black children, 31.2% of Hispanic children,
and 20.7% of white children live in homes absent of their biological fathers. The United States Census Bureau reports that 1 in 4 children (18.3 million children) across the country live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home. Children without fathers are four times more likely to be impoverished, seven times more likely to experience teen pregnancy, have a greater likelihood of behavioral issues, are more likely to commit crimes and be in-
carcerated, and face a greater chance of abusing drugs and alcohol. In the Black community specifically, single-parent homes are an epidemic and need to be addressed, but it’s important not to fall prey to misinformation and stereotypes surrounding Black fathers and their involvement in their children’s lives. First, let’s look at how it all began. As Dr. Umar Johnson so poignantly pointed out, the attack of the Black father and destruction of the Black
family was “created by design.” We were married and in holy unions in Africa, remained each other’s rocks during slavery and reconstruction - with the Black man always being head of the household – primarily up until the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After that, the United States government set its site on neutralizing the Black power base which, of course, was the Black family. Independent Black families
Family cont’d page 3
Ms. Jerri
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS! By: Fred Smith
The Family Health and Wellness Center, a staple in the Acres Home community, is proud to celebrate 20 years in service. The health center, which was established on September 17, 2001 by Dr. Stacey Jones-Reed, has provided needed social, mental, and physical services to over 10,000 patients over the last two decades. Dr. Jones-Reed, an Acres Home native, attended Howard University in Washington, DC, where she attained her Bachelor in Science Degree. She then returned to Houston for completion of her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, located in the world renowned Texas Medical Center. After completing her medical training, Dr. Jones-Reed went back to her beloved neighborhood to launch her business. Through the establishment of the Family Health and Wellness Center, Dr. Health cont’d page 5 Jones-Reed has been able
“OUR VOTE AND OUR MONEY ARE THE TWO MOST POWERFUL THINGS WE HAVE. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE THEM TO.” - ROY DOUGLAS MALONSON
2 AFRAMNEWS.COM
President/Chief Editor
Tristar
Griselda Ramirez: Production
September 12, 2021
EDITORIAL A Revival of God
Consciousness Bobby E. Mills, PhD
Office: (713) 692-1892 Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Can GOP Vigilantism Succeed In American Democracy? Republicans are against multi-cultural democracy, and seemingly Christian Right Evangelicals and White Nationalists Terrorists only care about winning elections by any means necessary, and not protecting the democratic oriented voting process. Grievance politics and personalized White victimization have become their battle-cry. America, know this: when any nation state betrays her stated values and governing principles, and openly embraces violent extremism that nation is headed for eternal damnation. Sadly, in the State of Texas, White Nationalists vigilantism has moved into the abortion area, and this is the first-step toward becoming a confused lawless oriented society. Hence,
we must label the White Nationalists/ Supremacists and Domestic Extremists that attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as anti-democratic Terrorists. Democracy is for a spiritually enlightened and morally intelligent citizenry, because democracy is based upon the principles of “rule by the people, for the people, and of the people.” Thus, democracy is the practice or principles of social equality of citizenship, dignity of the individual, legal methods of resolving social conflicts, and most of all, encourages citizenship participation, not citizenship restrictions. This is why voter restriction laws proposed by GOP controlled state legislatures are so ungodly abhorrent. The “Black Lives Matter Movement” grew out of the vigilante mentality of America’s law enforcement constabularies, because laws were not equally being enforced as established by police policies, procedures and standardized practices. Apparently, law enforcement practices are primarily based upon skin tone. Hence, law enforcement officers al-
low their racial/ethnic prejudices and biases to take priority in enforcing laws; not legal statutes and lawful procedures. Professional law enforcement officers have difficulties in enforcing laws without violating the citizen civil rights of Blacks and other ethnic minorities. They are supposed to be trained law enforcement professionals. Question: how then can we expect private citizens to enforce Texas abortion laws without having violent altercations and serious consequences? This is Pandora’s Box to the nth degree! If this can be done in relationship to abortion rights, and precedence is established then there is no limit to the insanity and vigilante mentality. There is something about law and order that should be sacred. Too many manmade laws are not good for soul salvation. For example, the Hebraic Tradition initially had over 6,000 laws. Moses had a spiritual encounter with God on Mt. Sinai. God condensed the Hebraic law tradition into the Ten Commandments.
For more visit aframnews.com
Partin’ the Waters By Omowale Luthuli-Allen
Bigger Investments Needed to Build Young Lives Houston is not Chicago or New Orleans. Houston in not Los Angeles or Oakland. One of the reasons that Houston will not become Fort Apache is the swift work of the Houston Police Department and the partnership that exists between the police and community. Almost before we could blink, suspects in the murder of New Orleans police Officer Everett Briscoe were in custody. Sadly, Officer Briscoe’s partner also went on to glory before the third suspect could be apprehended. Even if the first two suspects claim they were not the actual shooters, because of the parties’ provision of the law, even if you didn’t pull the trigger in an assault or murder, you are likely to be equally charged as the killer. These young men will be old as Methuselah
when they are eligible for parole. It is likely they will wish for Hades after the verdict of the “Hanging Judge and Jury.” This tragedy is a teachable moment for young people and citizens. First, it tells us that the grim reaper can come at blinding speed in the circumstances that are calm and serene. Before you can gulp your craft beer and attack your appetizer, the adversary is demanding your soul. How tenuous life is. I will never forget when 15-year-old Marsai Murry was shot at the Hightower vs. Willow Ridge football game. It is true that bullets have no name for Marsai was not a target. I will never forget that the assailant said before his sentencing. “I am not a fiend; the prosecutor has pictured me as a monster, but I am not that guy. I made a mistake, and I will be forever sorry.” Nevertheless, another child and another man has gone. In the Galleria attempted robbery / murder last month, one of the accused robbers accosted another patron at gun point.
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GREATER HOUSTON EDITION Family cont’d were the financial backers of leaders like King, Marcus Garvey and movements like the Freedom Riders, and the government wanted to shut us down. In the 1970’s, Whites (the government) began to deindustrialize the Black communities, shutting down our factories and other independent businesses, and even took programs out of the high schools that taught Black students how to work with their hands or be skilled laborers (plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, welders, carpenters, etc.). Everything became focused on obtaining a college degree, which even after gaining one, Blacks were still grossly underpaid compared to their White counterparts. Without the “skills that paid the bills” Black men began to make less, therefore feeling less valuable and putting a strain on the household. Johnson called it the “economic castration of the Black man.” Add another layer to that. Drugs were introduced to the Black community, and trust me, WE did not bring them there. The drug epidemic killed off our leaders and infiltrated muchneeded parties and causes like the Black Panthers. The
September 12, 2021 decade of the 70’s was the decade of making the Black man “irrelevant” to the Black woman. There is no other culture in the world where the women “outrank” the men financially but in the Black community, women now outearn and out-educate their mates. Do you see now that this was created by design? Then the 1990’s came, and the politicians began making laws that locked up Black men disproportionately for crimes that should have been misdemeanors, at best, or have lesser sentencing. The “three strikes and you’re out” laws took so many Black men away from the children, who have been doomed for decades. Without strong male role models and “guilty” mothers, Black sons and daughters were raised with less structure and more problems for their futures. Sadly, many Black teen boys today can’t tie a tie, nor change a tire, and many Black girls can’t sew or cook, as their great grandmothers could. Why? Because the working moms either can’t or don’t have the know-how nor the time to teach them, and our values are getting further away from what we once knew. In 1965, sociologist and Assistant Secretary of Labor Daniel Patrick Moynihan
published a widely criticized report called The Negro Family: The Case For National Action. This report claimed that increasing rates of “out-of-wedlock” births and single-mother homes among African Americans signaled the coming destruction of Black families and these trends were to blame for many of the issues facing the Black community in America. This report and many other arguments that use the same points as Moynihan’s study perpetuate the idea that racial disparity in education, employment, income, incarceration, and healthcare are not caused by structural racism, but the “absence” of Black fathers. IT IS TIME FOR THE BLACK MEN TO RETURN HOME! Studies show we are getting there, but we have a long way to go. According to
AFRAMNEWS.COM 3 a 2013 report by the CDC, Black dads—whether they live with their children, or not—are more actively involved in their children’s lives today than their counterparts of other races. For example, the CDC reports that Black fathers who live with their children and who don’t live with their children are more likely than fathers of other races to provide physical care (bathe, diaper, feed) for their young children, read to their children, and help their children with their homework—all on a daily basis—than fathers of other races who also cohabitate with their kids. Surveys of low-income mothers of all races echo the results of this report with a 2018 study of non-marital births finding that mothers revealed that Black
fathers “shared responsibilities more frequently and displayed more effective co-parenting than Hispanic and White fathers.” Even with studies revealing that Black fathers have a growing presence in their children’s lives, there is still so much work to be done to decrease the rate of singleparent households within the Black community. There are still an alarming amount of Black children who do not have relationships with their fathers, and an even more alarming amount of children across all races who do not have fathers in their households. And you know what – IT IS OK TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED!
Family cont’d page 7
THE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUND IS A GRANT PROGRAM FUNDED BY HARRIS COUNTY AND ADMINISTERED BY LIFTFUND. Small business owners may apply for financial support up to $25,000 from September 20 thru October 4. Visit www.harriscountybusinessrelief.org to learn more.
4 AFRAMNEWS.COM
September 12, 2021
COMMUNITY
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
NO VACCINES, NO EMPLOYMENT!
By: By: N.L. Preston
In the spirit of the “no shoes, no shirt, no service” policy we have historically seen displayed on many businesses, many employers are making it clear to their vaccine hesitant staff that “no vaccine” can and will equate to “no jobs.” From hospitals, to airlines and, most recently, to the city of Houston, employers are letting staff know that it is imperative to be vaccinated in order to remain on the roster. And despite the pushback and lawsuits, businesses are not budging. The first local hospital system to take a stand was the Houston Methodist system, requiring all of its employees to get vaccinated or face termination. After that, others followed, including Baylor College of Medicine, recently announcing that faculty and staff were required to be COVID-19 vaccinated by Sept. 15 or face disciplinary action. Hospital officials said there will be exceptions, however, for certain medical and religious beliefs.
As for those helping us to safely fly the friendly skies, Delta Air Lines will charge employees on the company health plan $200 a month if they fail to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a policy the airline’s top executive says is necessary because the average hospital stay for the virus is costing the airline $40,000. CEO Ed Bastian said that all employees who have been hospitalized for the virus in recent weeks were not fully vaccinated. Bastian said that 75% of Delta employees are vaccinated, up from 72% in mid-July. He said the aggressiveness of the leading strain of the virus “means we need to get many more of our people vaccinated, and as close to 100% as possible.” The airline also announced that it also will stop extending pay protection to unvaccinated workers who contract COVID-19 on Sept. 30 and will require unvaccinated workers to be tested weekly beginning Sept. 12, and employees will have to wear masks in all
indoor company settings effective immediately. United Airlines will require employees to be vaccinated starting Sept. 27 or face termination. Mayor Sylvester Turner signed this week Executive Order (EO 1-71) COVID-19 Mitigation Safety Measures requiring City of Houston employees to test for the COVID-19 virus twice monthly unless they have proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. The announcement follows the recent deaths of two City em-
ployees from complications linked to the virus. The requirement becomes effective October 8. Employees must report testing results to the City of Houston Office of Human Resources on the 1st and 15th of each month. “I cannot stand by and watch employees continue to get sick, and in some cases die, from a disease that we know how to manage. The virus is having an impact on our workforce and the City’s ability to provide services directly to the public,” said Mayor Turner. “Overall, the City continues to see hundreds of new
COVID-19 patients being admitted to the hospitals in the Texas Medical Center each day. While there are breakthrough cases, full vaccination is the best defense against COVID-19 and its variants, like Delta. The vaccine protects our first responders, our emergency care workers, and the hospital system as a whole.” As of September 7, a total of 342 City of Houston employees have reported testing positive for the virus. Houston continues to have uncontrolled COVID-19 spread, much like the rest of the county. COVID-19 cases in Houston and
Harris County have surged since mid-July, in large part due to the more contagious Delta variant. Houston’s 14-day average positivity rate is now at 19.3%. Employees who do not comply with the new requirements may face corrective action up to and including termination or indefinite suspension. Simply stated, employers are making it plain and clear. Don’t want to get the vaccine? Find somewhere else to work. You decide. - AANI
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
September 12, 2021 Health cont’d to direct resources toward empowering its patients to pursue healthier lifestyles all while balancing day to day life commitments. She also has been integral in addressing the many health dis-
parities that plague its residents. Dr. Jones-Reed continues to serve her community with the aid of her own family. Ms. Evelyn Washington, Dr. Jones-Reed’s mother, serves as office manager and oversees the day to
AFRAMNEWS.COM 5 day operations. Mrs. Jerri Sams, Dr. Jones-Reed’s grandmother, better known as “Ms. Jerri”, serves as an integral part of the front office staff, where she is known to greet many with a friendly face or hug. Family Health and
Wellness Center, under the direction of Dr. Jones-Reed, is devoted to the Acres Home and surrounding communities and will continue its motto of “Our Family Committed to Caring For Yours.” See Wellness ad on page 6 - AANI
6 AFRAMNEWS.COM
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September 12, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
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PUBLIC NOTICES Notice to Proposers Sealed Request for Proposals will be received by Lone Star College for: • RFP # 761 – Comprehensive Mental Health Counseling Services for Students. Electronic bids due by 11:00AM, Monday, October 4, 2021. Online WebEx pre-proposal meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 10:00 – 11:00AM; call-in number 1-408-792-6300, Meeting #: 2622 816 8980# Contact: Pamela. Johnson@lonestar.edu or (832)8136782. Must Register to Bid: http:// wwwappsdstc.lonestar.edu/istar/ supplier.htm . If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with the online registration process, contact vendors@lonestar.edu.
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AFRAMNEWS.COM African-American News&Issues
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION Family cont’d The DePelchin Children’s Center’s DAD Program aims to help fathers co-parent and provide resources and counseling to promote and support fathers. Q: What does your organization do? A: DePelchin Children’s Center is a nonprofit organization that was founded in the Houston area in 1892. Since that time, the agency has served children and families as an accredited foster care and adoption agency and through programs that focus on child abuse prevention and keeping families together. Q: How did DePelchin Children’s Center begin working with fathers? A: DePelchin has provided general parenting services for over 25 years. Over the last 10 years, we have seen outstanding growth in father engagement in our counseling and parenting programs. Historically, these programs have been tailored to work with a primary parent or main parent contact which is often listed as “the mother.” While the programs encourage father involvement, they have not been set up in a way to fully support, promote, and engage fathers in a way that meets them where they desire to be. Q: What can a father
expect to receive from the program? A: Dads participating in the program will attend a group once a week with other fathers or co-parents. The groups are held virtually through Zoom or face-to-face in the community. Fathers who are interested in improving their relationship with their co-parent can participate together to grow and support the changing dynamics of a family and the parenting relationship. The program recognizes that group support is important, but each father may have their own individual needs. One-on-one case management is also provided to support fathers in their personal growth and goal planning, as well as to provide supportive resources that can improve common stressors that many families face. We provide gift card incentives for completing program mid-points and for graduation from the program. Q: Who can participate in the program? A: Fathers and father figures ages 18 and up. This can include biological fathers, stepfathers, foster-fathers, adoptive fathers, and anyone else who is parenting a child. We also provide a co-parenting group for fathers who would like to participate with a co-parenting partner.
September 12, 2021 Q: Where is the program offered? A: We serve Harris County and the following target areas of Spring Branch, Greenspoint, Sharpstown, Gulfton, and Alief. We are currently providing both virtual and face-to-face group options. If a provider is interested in hosting us for a group class, they can contact the Program Coordinator at 281-773-6704. Q: Is there a cost for the program? A: The program is funded through a grant provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families and is offered at no cost to everyone. So, you know where we are today, you know how we got here… now TAKE CONTROL of where we are going. Black dads, keep moving upward, as the studies show, and keep being proactive in your children’s lives. If you did not have the leadership you needed growing up, remember, community organizations like DePelchins is providing resources to help, and we definitely recommend seeking out a mentor or a “wise father figure” in your community or family to go to for guidance. The battle is not over. We are at war to save our children. - AANI
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September 12, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
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