African American News 5/28

FREE • May 28 - June 3, 2018

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Vol. 23, Issue 19

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Continued on Page 4

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The Motivation of Evil

A

lthough the sick murderer of the recent Santa Fe High School massacre is in custody, there is without doubt the motivation of evil behind these shootings occurring in America. These crimes are not just limited to schools; people are opening fire everywhere, from churches, night clubs, hotels, on the streets and other places.

It appears America’s lack of gun control, the evil popularity of so many people having guns – not for the right purpose, but to live out their bizarre fantasies – is becoming an all too real problem. A week or so before the Santa Fe tragedy, President Trump spoke at the NRA (National Rifle Association) convention in Dallas, Texas where he was highly praised. In my mind, both bear responsibility for yet another shooting disaster.

Mass shootings were not discussed. What I observed was Trump and NRA angry white men bragging about gun selling rights. I’ve written about these deadly shootings before and offered solutions, along with other concerned Americans. We’ve all known there is a dangerous gun culture being promoted by the NRA and our current president.

I am certain the Santa Fe High School shooter was aware of the president’s position on certain issues. Remember, he had Nazi, communist, racist symbols on his internet site, the same symbols other mass killers on their websites before they committed their crimes. Many of them seem to be motivated by Trump and the NRA. The NRA opposes any intervention with guns being sold, regardless of their mental health or criminal background. Unfortunately, Trump’s popularity and the NRA allows these tragedies to continue.

A few months ago, after

Texas • May 28 - June 3, 2018

The Standard View

By Billy “Hollywood” Groves

the Florida school massacre, young students protested across America. We all know the government and President Trump promised to make the needed changes to our gun laws. I guess it’s like the Bible said, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” The money continues to rule the gun control laws decisions.

The NRA and Trump have done nothing but add more guns to the problem, which means they are making more money despite the pain they are causing.

“The Motivation of Evil” is here to stay! I know the division of America (which at times looks like the Civil War era) is by design. However, we can win this war like we won the Civil War, if we all come together for the right purpose. Whether President Trump is impeached after November 2018 or if he serves out his 2020 term and runs again, at some point Trump will not be America’s president, but his legacy of evil motivation will still live on.

“We the people” are clearly aware of what is happening and I’m certain our American democracy will prevail. We must not forget Trump did not become president by receiving the most votes. He lost the popular American vote by over three million votes.

Also we must not forget that although slavery wasn’t a popular American policy it survived a long time, but “it” was eventually dismantled.

Likewise, I believe the same thing is going to happen to Trump and the NRA, they may prevail for a little while, but they too will be defeated!

God Bless America! - AANI

I

IMHOTEP

t isn’t hidden knowledge.

But for some reason whenever you bring up past artifacts that predate Biblical knowledge, Black people become defensive in their mental psychosis predisposition.

For decades we’ve been stuck in this matrix of knowledge because of FEAR. Black people have this deep rooted fear of mentally traveling to places that may challenge what they currently to know what is true.

Now who is IMHOTEP? In Egyptian hieroglyphics the word simply means, “to come in peace.” IMHOTEP was an Egyptian chancellor to the pharaoh Djoser and a high priest of Ra-Amen at Heliopolis. He reigned in AFRICA in case some of you Negroes forgot where Egypt is. Pop culture and mainstream media will have you thinking Egypt is in the Middle East and that Africa is a small city. Insanity at its best but I digress.

IMHOTEP was one of the first recorded geniuses and referred to as a poly mathematician, which simply means versed in different aspects of scholarship. He could do magic, do yo taxes and map out the molecular structure of an atom before you even finished reading your first book.

This is true Black Power, a multi genius coming from Kemet, aka Africa.

Africanus is where Africa gets is name, stemming from the Romans calling it “the Land of Afri” after its reign through religious wars.

Afru-ika comes from origins of the Egyptian culture and Kemet was located where modern day Egypt is today.

It’s seen as a place of great knowledge as the Bible itself speaks of so many great men traveling to Egypt.

Over 4700 years ago, IMHOTEP actually designed Kemet’s first pyramid, Pyr-

Speaking to Dysfunction

By Sir Christopher Wayne

amid of Djoser (2630-2611 BCE), and is recognized as the first doctor in the world who performed a variety of surgeries and treated over 200 diseases.

It isn’t a mystery that such greatness existed in ancient Africa. Think about it, everybody of importance we study in the bible traveled to Egypt to again some sort of great spiritual power and hidden knowledge from the Egyptians. They were one of many advanced African civilizations that ruled, but for some reason it is all forgotten, and forbidden knowledge in the Black community.

Interesting enough all Black people missed the biggest hint left from God inside the Bible itself; the last word of the great book gives light into a distant past of greatness that has been skipped over, mistranslated, transcribed, and mistaught for centuries, AMEN. We were mistaught in the Black community that AMEN just means to be in agreement with something but there is so much more to the word. Amen correlates to IMHOTEP as further research will reveal relations between this Egyptian ancestor and the title of an Egyptian deity that is shown as a black figure through its ancient symbolism. Roman documents linked Imhotep to archaic sciences such as astrology, alchemy and even left records of it being known that IMHOTEP was a unique healer with his own methods.

Now the question remains, why isn’t this a part of Black history of Black education?

- AANI

African-American News&Issues • 3

Texas • May 28 - June 3, 2018

Manifest Destiny In Modern America

I

f we give sufficient thought to what race means in America, it is easy to understand why white people always call the cops on Black people. In their minds, all the space around them belongs to them. This goes back to the notion of Manifest Destiny and beyond. It was this way of thinking that allowed the “American” settlers to massacre the Indians and take their land. “American” became a code word for “white,” otherwise “Native” Americans would have as much right to the land as any other Americans.

Many white people, from Christopher Columbus to Donald Trump believe they have a God-given right to claim whatever space they want. And it is in those spaces where they expect to exercise their white privilege. In years past, white spaces were the front seats of Southern buses, movie theatres and railroad cars reserved for whites only.

While some of the vestiges of a meaner time have faded away, the fetid stench of white spaces and white privilege still linger in America.

That stench has wafted into our nostrils each time a Black person is made to feel unwelcome by someone who calls the cops to prevent them from sitting in a Starbucks, playing a round of golf, moving into their apartment, moving out of an Airbnb or riding on the Napa Valley Wine Train.

And the list goes on.

Those people who call the cops do so because their white privilege feels threatened. To them, white space is where white Americans expect to enjoy “the good life” and the bounty of this country. But as with an exclusive country club, most people of color need not apply.

The tragic death of Tray-

Attorney At Law

By Oscar H. Blayton

von Martin can be explained in these terms. George Zimmerman saw Trayvon as someone who did not have permission to be in his gated community, and took it upon himself to enforce that white space.

The truth of the matter is that for some white people, a person of color is not entitled to be anywhere in America; their presence is tolerated only at their discretion.

Those white people who will look into a television camera and declare that America is a “white Christian” country, and there are those white people who will not make such public declarations but will call the police when Black men sit in their Starbucks for less than three minutes without ordering anything.

Once people of color come to understand that many white people believe that the totality of America belongs to them, then we will have a better understanding of why they are so quick to call the police. Ignoring the fact that they are all descended from different groups of immigrants with different cultures, they believe the “other” has no entitlement in this country.

No right to look differently or speak differently. No entitlement to worship differently or to have a different sexual orientation. Our very existence is a discomfort to them and the more prestigious the white space, the more virulent the objection to the presence of people of color. Just as their cultural forefathers before them, these white Americans believe that it is their manifest destiny to have all that is to be had. - AANI

Who Do WE Go To?

M

alcolm X once said, “I have always felt… that the Black ‘leader’ whom White men consider to be ‘responsible’ is invariably the Black ‘leader’ who never gets any results.” This thought is true on every level and we must consider it in reference to the accountability of the role of Black leadership within our communities. Our leaders, myself included have a charge to do something about what is happening in the various aspects of our culture.

Change will not come as long as we ignore the problems we are faced with. These issues will not fade away, over time they get worst and open up the door for even more unjustifiable mistreatment. We cannot expect for those who do not look like us to be care about the things we and our families endure. We need people acting on our behalf and in our best interest.

So, who do we go to?

African-American News & Issues constantly encourages the Black community to embrace our ancestral history stemming from the loins of kings and queens. We aim to empower members of our culture to stand up and take our rightful place in society.

But how can we effectively advocate this awareness and stand on the motivation, if we are not seeing examples constantly being demonstrated in the Black leadership which has been elected and designated to represent us? Who do we go to? Who do we run to?

We MUST Understand it is simply not enough for Black leaders to be elected in office and used as a decorative ornament. The African-American community has scores of issues which have been deeply rooted and engraved in our culture for centuries.

The authorities are assassinating our Black men at an alarming rate without a second thought. We are losing our communities, historical institutions and landmarks; they are attacking our schools, leaders, politicians and families.

So who do we go to for help when the people who are supposed to help us have become compromised?

As it is, we don’t own anything, but the Black press in our community. Frankly, even with that some of us don’t completely have true ownership.

A good deal of our Black press outlets hide behind the covering of those who do not look like us nor represent us; but they don’t mind using our faces to promote their agendas. We know we can’t rely on mainstream media to act on our behalf, because they are too busy presenting stereotypes and representing us as barbaric animals.

Therefore, there is no longer a constant need for mouthpieces to voice the existent disparities, action is required! Those who receive the benefit of taxpayers’ dollars and inherit offices off of the votes of voters should have an obligation and responsibility to those who entrust them with their money and power.

The indication of power reflects two of the most influential tools that anyone can possess, “our money” and “our vote.”

These assets will go places in which the average American cannot go. So those who we entrust them to should have some sense of accountability to honor and value the worth of, “our money” and “our vote.”

We elect people to be our voice, but, are our voices are not being heard loud and clear? The fact that our culture and communities are still

We MUST Understand

By Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher

in disarray is evidence our voices are not being heard.

So are we operating under a structure which suggests, “Taxation without representation”? Must we continue to sit idle and pay for representation we are not receiving? Has money checkmated some of our Black leadership to the point, where it is ok to collect taxpayer’s dollar on a salary, with no expectation of results?

With the approaching celebration of Juneteenth in the state of Texas, I understand that we began our freedom in this state a couple years behind. But damn, does that mean we have to stay behind? At what point can we expect for things to shift in our favor? Who do we go to, to voice our concerns and get results from those issues that matter to us and affect us most?

On that note, I would like to conclude with the words established through the first African-American publication produced with editors, Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm. “We wish to plead our own cause,” they wrote. “Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentations, in things which concern us dearly.”

- AANI

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Houston’s Ebony Voice

By Rae-Shell D. Fletcher • Photos by D. Forbes Thomas

Houston’s collective sound of great singers has a best-kept secret. A mecca for the seasoned songstress, the capital for a gifted soloist, and the oracle for the magnetism of the African American voice, The Houston Ebony Opera Guild has pledged its purpose to bring light to opera, negro spirituals, and classical music genres. Founded by the late Dr. Robert A. Henry, the HEOG is nationally known for its roster of prodigious singers.

In 1992 the organization acquired its taxexempt status and brought “Porgy and Bess” to the stage for its first production.

I had the pleasure of speaking with a few of the HEOG’s key people and to say the least; I was intrigued by their influence and dedicated involvement.

Choral Director, Dr. Jan Taylor, not only prepares the chorus for HEOG’s concerts, but she has served in many capacities such as accompanist, pianist, vocal coach, and artistic director. Her education stems from her hometown of Houston, TX where she received her Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Houston. She earned her

2

Master of Arts Degree from Prairie View A&M University where she is currently the Director of Choral Music Activities. Dr. Taylor returned to the University of Houston to obtain her Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting. Being involved with the Houston Ebong Opera Guild since its inception allowed Dr. Taylor to participate in the first production of “Porgy and Bess” at The Miller Outdoor Theatre, in Houston, in 1992. Dr. Taylor explains how the HEOG began. “Dr. Henry spent his entire career coaching singers. But when he was at Prairie View, he decided to develop an outlet for his singers. He wanted to provide opportunities for young singers coming out of college to perform on stage as recitalists, be in the opera, and also have a place to train and develop their talent.”

In the beginning, singers across the country were invited to sing with the HEOG. As the organization progressed, the joining process became more structured and required auditions. I asked Dr. Taylor in what other ways has the guild changed. “Now I serve as the chorus master whereas we use to invite people to do it. We use to put on fully staged operas. We have not done that in recent years, but we are in the process of revamping. We use to have guest conductors to come in; now we have Roland Carter.” Dr.

AFRAM NEWS EDITION

WWW.FOTOSHOOTMAGAZINE.COM Taylor is committed to working with the HEOG to help train and prepare singers who aspire to have professional careers as well as those who enjoy being apart of the chorus.

Award-winning master conductor, arranger, composer, and educator, Roland M. Carter served as Principal Guest Choral Conductor from 1995 to 2005 for the Houston Ebony Opera Guild and is currently the conductor. Carter’s impressive musical background began with a foundation in church choirs, followed by master level workshops, oneon-one vocal training, presidential inaugurations, upscale events, to the most impressive and reputable stages worldwide. A lifetime member of the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), and Founder and CEO of MAR-VEL, a music publishing company geared toward African American Composers, Carter was mentored by Robert Henry. “Robert Henry was teaching at Southern University. When I met him, I was teaching at Hampton University. He went to Prairie View, and I remained at Hampton, and we became very good friends. When Mr. Henry became ill in 1995, he asked me to come in. He wanted me to conduct over anybody else. I came in 1995, and I have been there ever since.”

To prepare for a concert, Carter selects the music, and during November, he decides the program. The program focuses on music from African American composers and spirituals.

Carter is a preservationist. “My parents use to bring me home from church, and I would play spirituals at the age of 4. I tried to play what I’d heard. So my 70 plus years experience has made me aware, and I’ve personally known most of the composers of my time and spiritual arrangers. I select the music; I send it to HEOG, the music director, and Jan Taylor.

They approve the program then in January they begin preparing the program. I come in the week before the concert and begin rehearsals.”

20 years, the FHEOG has been in charge of programming and helped develop and maintain an audience. Responsible for the legwork and selling tickets, through the years they have developed a healthy database. Hollins explains “We send out postcards. We e-market. We have a database, so we send out e-blast. We put cards in churches.

We invite fraternities and sororities. We also recruit groups to come because the group rate is the cheapest. We’ve recruited Grambling State University’s choir, neighborhood groups, and The Red Hat Ladies.

We try to make an outing for the organization.”

Over the years Hollins has seen the concerts evolve as it relates to current events in society that affects the African American culture. With each show, different themes revolve around the black composers and arrangers. “There is always a tie to the history. Lifting up the composer brings a lot of information and light to the time that they lived in and the struggle we had to be successful. A lot of times the composers didn’t see success while they were living. They didn’t get a lot of exposure.

The works themselves reflect the time in which they were written.”

Hollins reflects on what inspired her to remain committed to the FHEOG and the HEOG: “I think we enjoy when it’s all said and done. We enjoy all of the legwork from putting it together and seeing the people enjoy the show. It’s a pleasure to be associated with an organization that produces quality music that lifts up African American composers and arrangers.”

The June summer concert for 2018 focuses on the 50 year anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The pieces will be centered around MLK’s favorite music, always beginning with the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” I encourage anyone that lives in the Houston and surrounding areas to be apart of History and experience the Houston Ebony Opera Guild. §

When Carter enters a room, he commands attention with his mere presence. The atmosphere changes and his choir knows that its time to get to work. A majority of the singers are original members. Therefore, Carter’s expectations are a standard and way of life in the choir stand.

“I need them to pay attention to me. I chose to be a conductor because I like to be in charge, especially in an orchestra. I have to be the one that they follow. It’s important because its called an ensemble. I can’t have 40 people singing any way they want to. They have to sing my way; they have to do what I say. It has to be precisely together.” Carter closed the interview by adding that the HEOG is one of the best instruments that he has ever played. “I consider a choir to be like an organ or an instrument.

I tell them: you are my instrument and I am going to play you.”

With such an enormous amount of talent brewing in one organization, someone has to spearhead the programming. Meet Linda Hollins, President of the Friends of Houston Ebony Opera Guild. For more than

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AFRAM NEWS EDITION

4 • African-American News&Issues

Continued from Page 1

By Roy Douglas Malonson

The Problem

“The government has departments to deal with the special interest groups that make themselves heard and felt. A Department of Agriculture cares for the farmers’ needs. There is a Department of Health, Education and Welfare. There is a Department of the Interior – in which the Indians are included. Is the farmer, the doctor, the Indian, the greatest problem in America today? No – it is the Black man! There ought to be a Pentagon-sized Washington department dealing with every segment of the Black man’s problems.�

Malcolm X, one of the greatest Black leaders of all time, made this observation. Over ďŹ fty years later, the sentiments expressed by Flowers for All Occasions

the inuential martyr remain relevant today. Instead of African-Americans having a specialized political department designated to the many ills which plague us, the issues we continue to face are swept under a rug as if they are nonexistent. Although today’s African-Americans have a stronger political climate, what good is it if communities and people are still in distress?

During the Civil Rights Movement, countless tears and blood were shed, bodies beaten, people jailed and imprisoned and many lives lost: just so African-Americans could have the right to vote. But in 2018, not only do Black people have the right to vote, we are serving in ofďŹ ce. Therefore, it would appear the race should be a lot further ahead, but the truth is

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Texas • May 28 - June 3, 2018

Alma A. Allen

FN Williams, Sr.

Garnet Coleman

Harold Dutton

John Gray

Judson Robinson

Kirbyjon Caldwell

Manson B. Johnson

quite the opposite.

Representation Without Activation

While African-Americans are well represented in the political arena, religious institutions throughout our communities, and organizations/associations which strive to achieve racial equality, the people are still suffering. If a leader or group subscribes to an objective of commitment for representing a group of people and the group continues to suffer, a very likely assumption can be drawn. One may infer such leadership is not fully taking into consideration the best interests of those he or she represents; or perhaps has taken an approach to be reactive, as opposed to proactive. Either way, the question remains, “Where are our Black leaders?�

Texas, the second-largest state, has ďŹ ve African-American United States Representatives: Al Green, Sheila Jackson Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Marc Veasey and Will Hurd; two Black State Senators, Borris Miles and Royce West and ďŹ fteen Black State Representatives: Alma Allen (D-131), Garnet Coleman (D-147), Nicole Collier (D-95), Joe Deshotel (D-22), Dawnna Dukes (D-46), Harold Dutton (D-142), Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-120), Helen Giddings (D-109),

Eric Johnson (D-100), Jarvis Johnson (D-139), Ron Reynolds (D-27), Toni Rose (D110), Senfronia Thompson (D-141), James White (D-19) and Yvonne Davis (D-111).

The City of Houston ranks as the fourth largest city in the country and currently has an African-American mayor, Sylvester Turner and four Black city council members: Jerry Davis (DB), Dwight Boykins (D-D), Martha Castex-Tatum (D-K) and Amanda Edwards (AtLarge 4). Additionally, the African-American community has two dominant organizations whose missions were established out of a vision to combat the many racial disparities African-Americans have faced: the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) – Houston and the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL).

The NAACP’s mission is to “ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens of the United States and eliminate race prejudice.�

Moreover, the NAACP seeks to remove all barriers of racial discrimination processes.

Similarly, HAUL’s mission is to “enable African-Americans and other minorities to secure economic, self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.� Collectively, the two organizations have over a

century’s worth of history in the local community. Nevertheless, local Black residents are still being discriminated against and our people have not fully achieved economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. So, where is the current level of agitation and effectiveness of these organizations? Over the years, much has been accomplished through them. But our people cannot afford a timeout, when there are so many pressing issues present in our lives on a daily basis. We need Consistent Black Leadership!

Effective Black Leadership is a MUST

Phil Andrews of Huffpost addressed some of the same key points in an article entitled, “African-American Leadership Development Matters in the New Age.� He wrote, “No community can afford to rest on its laurels, as the need to develop leadership on an ongoing basis is critical to developing sustainable communities.� Andrews continues to expound on the relevance of leadership development within the African-American community in the following excerpt: “Leadership development entails study of leadership principles, application of those principles, analysis of what works and the ability to have a vision. Leadership

African-American News&Issues • 5

Texas • May 28 - June 3, 2018 ce Sin 94 19

Joe Ratliff

James Dixon

James Douglas

Marcus Cosby

Graduation Gifts Ralph West

Jerry W. Macklin

is an ongoing practice which requires the use of sound judgment and skills to accurately access the problem at hand or see the opportunities for potential that a unique situation is presenting to us at a particular moment and space of time. One core principle of leadership is that leaders show up and use their keen sense of hearing, seeing and feeling in all situations that require the use of their leadership skills.�

STEP UP or STEP DOWN!

There are six elements which control the world: politics, health, education, religion, media and economics. Unfortunately, the state of Black America is at the bottom of the totem pole in each one. It appears some of our Black elected ofďŹ cials and leading clergymen have either gotten too old or comfortable in life to “rattle the cage.â€?

Many of our Black preachers y in and out over our heads to gather for worship, and leave the community with their problems to contend with alone. The education department has been mis-educating our children and returning them unďŹ t to function in society. A good number of our children are going to school to be babysat.

They are not being properly informed on history and have

Rodney Ellis

no idea what it takes to make a living or develop a trade to care for themselves. Some of our Black media outlets have been bought out to preview Black faces for the agenda of those who do not look like us. Then, the health department just comes along and throws anything they want to in our community and expect us to accept it. As far as economics, hell we more broke now with fancy education, but, somehow our parents had savings and supplied our fancy knowledge with no education. Where is the Black leadership?

The issues we face are too crucial for us to settle for complacency in our Black leadership. African-Americans are consumed by mass incarceration, poverty, voting rights, high unemployment rates, police proďŹ ling and brutality, and systemic racism. Of course, we have come far, but not far enough.

The time is never right for our Black leadership to get comfortable with the level of mistreatment and racial injustice we endure. Our people need leadership that will agitate, activate and implement initiatives on behalf of the present challenges we and our families are victims of. The late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. expressed it best: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.�

I.V. Hilliard

African-American News & Issues exists to highlight and address current and historical realities affecting our communities. It is not my intention to undermine or belittle the efforts of our Black elected ofďŹ cials, organizations or clergy leaders. Instead, as a publication it is committed to being the watchman on the wall and a voice for our community. We have to charge the local Black leadership: our Black elected ofďŹ cials, clergymen, community activists, minority-based organizations and other leaders, either STEP UP or STEP DOWN! Teach them well‌ Let them lead the way‌ Get out of the Way! The time has come for our senior Black leaders to pass the torch on to our young Black successors. It’s simple‌Teach them well, let them lead the way and then get out of the way. At this point, it is not much they can do to mess things up any worse than those who have come before them. So even if they falter in the midst of trying, it is no reason to trample over them. Instead train, lead, guide and encourage them along the way. That is the only way we will truly begin to see results for our people. So, to our up and coming young Black leaders, it is imperative you step up and become proactive for the generation which follows. - AANI

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6 • African-American News&Issues

Texas • May 28 - June 3, 2018

Still I Rise

L to R- Ashley Breseno, Diana Carbonell Hechavarria , Jonah Brown, Malachi Bush- Hawkins, Hilda Rodriguez, Dulce Lopez, Ms. Maya Imani Watson, London Holmes, Enma Zelaya-Rivera, Christus Gaston, Selassie Kendrick, Jacob Jones Reginald

Art and creativity has gone hand in hand over the years. What started as an art study project evolved into a full art extravaganza including a mural which became a gift for the incoming president at Prairie View A&M University in an art class at Booker T. Washington High School.

Students in Maya Imani Watson’s art class began studying the Black Arts Movement during Black History month. Students examined the art of the Black Arts Movement and worked with Watson to produce large scale paintings. These vibrant paintings echoed the style, bold colors, and textures from renowned AfriCOBRA (African-Commune-of-Bad-Relevant-Artists) members and key ďŹ gures from the Black Arts Movement.

Watson guided her students through discourse on using art to preserve cultural history. Students collaborated to create art on shelving from the art room and library that otherwise would be demolished with the old building to empower future young scholars as the school transitions into their new facility.

Students created eight central pieces consisting of portraits of Malcom X, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, and others. The class also created over 20 smaller works inspired by key artist of the period. The focal piece

being a side portrait of Maya Angelou entitled “Still I Rise�. The works were created primarily from shelves in the library the art room.

The work of Ms. Watson’s creative scholars will be on display at the annual HISD Visual Arts Showcase May 17 and then on to the Houston Public Library for a summer exhibition.

As Watson’s art classes worked on the large-scale paintings, photographs began to circulate on social media of the work in progress. The paintings from these BTW creatives gathered attention from various sources, eventually catching the eye of the HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan. Dr. Lathan petitioned for the work of Watson’s students through Fine Arts Curriculum Specialist Chandel Bonner-Hancock and Fine Arts Director Wenden Sanders. She requested that the Maya Angelou piece be gifted to Simmons, the ďŹ rst female president of Prairie View because it’s message resonated the message of strong African American women.

The project was a way to celebrate the contributions of African Americans in the arts and preserve the spirit of the old school which is being rebuilt as part of the district’s 2012 Bond Program. Bringing these paintings into the new building opening in the fall will continue the legacy of excellence.

- AANI

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Rev. Dr. Edwin A. Davis, Pastor WEEKLY SCHEDULE Sunday School .......................................7:45am Sunday Services ...................................8:45 am Mid-Day Bible Study (Weds.) ..... 12:00 Noon Prayer Meeting, Teachers Meeting & Bible Study (Weds.) ........................ 6:30 pm

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PUBLIC NOTICES THE GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY P. O. BOX 2406 SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31402 The Georgia Ports Authority will receive sealed bids for the ďŹ nal phase of infrastructure to support the Port of Savannah International Multi-Modal Connector project at the Garden City Terminal in Garden City, Georgia. For detailed information, please visit the Georgia Ports Authority website at www.gaports.com/ departments/ engineering/projects.

Lone Star College Bid Request: • RFP #587 Interpreter/Captionist Services for Lone Star College.

RFP Due: 06/20/18 @ 2:00 p.m.

Online WebEx pre-proposal meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.; call–in number 832-813-6702. • Contact margaret.bailey@Lonestar.edu 832-813-6216 For information to register and bid,please visit: http://wwwappsdstc.lonestar.edu/istar/supplier.htm Lone Star College Bid Request: • RFP #590 Promotional Products for Lone Star College. RFP Due: 06/22/18 @ 2:00 p.m. Online WebEx pre-proposal meeting will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2018, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.; call–in number 832-813-6702. • Contact margaret.bailey@Lonestar.edu 832-813-6216 For information to register and bid, please visit: http://wwwappsdstc. lonestar.edu/istar/supplier.htm

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PUBLIC NOTICES Notice to Proposers Sealed electronic proposals will be received by Lone Star College for: • RFP #588 Audio/Visual Systems for LSC-Kingwood Campus Trailers. Electronic bids due by 11:00 a.m., June 13, 2018. WebEx Pre Proposal Meeting May 30, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Contact: sharon.k.ognowski@lonestar.edu 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 on-line registration process, contact donna.e.cottrell@ lonestar.edu or 832-813-6275.

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African-American News&Issues • 7

SATURDAY, JUNE 2 Free Legal Clinic for Veterans 9:00 a.m. until noon, at the Richmond VA Outpatient Clinic, 22001 Southwest Freeway, Suite 200, Richmond, TX 77469.

No appointment is necessary. For more information on the clinic and other services for veterans, contact the Veterans Legal Initiative at 713-759-1133 or visit www.hba.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2 Praise N’Motion Dance Center Free Dance Class 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

2201 Preston Street (Behind Minute Maid Park) Email: info@PraiseNmotion.com or call 713-523-2623

THURSDAY, JUNE 7

HAPPY 100 YEAR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION June 3, 1918

FROM YOUR CHILDREN, BETTY JOE CALDWELL, RACHEL (McBRIDE) DAVIS, DAVID McBRIDE JR., MELISSA McBRIDE, (deceased), JOSEPH McBRIDE, (deceased) CYNTHIA McBRIDE, SYLVIA McBRIDE, GWENDOLYN McBRIDE, SHARON (McBRIDE) MARSHALL (deceased), Marilyn McBRIDE, VIVIAN (McBRIDE) ROUTT AND Michelle (McBRIDE) Shepherd ...WE LOVE YOU AND WE WISH YOU MANY, MANY MORE!!!!

Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development, Inc. Cordially invites you to attend the May Monthly Business Networking Luncheon 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Acres Home Chamber 6112 Wheatley Street (Beulah Ann Shepard Building) Houston, Texas 77091

Guest Speaker Dr. LaTonya Goffney Superintendent Aldine Independent School District UPDATED TICKET PRICES Member Price $30.00 Non Member Price $45.00 For more information contact 713-692-7161

FRIDAY, JUNE 8 – SATURDAY, JUNE 9 Christian Girlfriends Alliance 2018 Boss Men & Boss Ladies Empowerment Tour Embassy Suites Houston Energy Corridor 11730 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77079 Purchase tickets on website event page www.christiangirlfriends.org Contact information 281-803-9052

SATURDAY, JUNE 9 – SUNDAY, JUNE 10 Texas Black Expo’s 15th Annual Summer Celebration Tradeshow & Festival George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall D Free Admission For complete schedule visit texasblackexpo. com

SUNDAY, JUNE 10

St. Paul A.M.E. Church 150th Anniversary 3320 Waverly St. Beaumont, TX 77705 Church Phone: 409-842-1080 11:00 a.m. Service Guest Speakers: Rev. Anthony Daniel and Rev. Vincent Hightower

SATURDAY, JUNE 16 Mayor Sylvester Turner’s 7th Annual Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Contact Kynetta Moore, 832-393-0825 or email Kynetta.

Moore@houstontx.gov www.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 23 - MONDAY, JUNE 25

18th Annual Texas International Hair & Trade Show Mesquite Convention Center www.texashairshow. com 469-751-8820