African-American News&Issue by AFRAMNEWS.COM

Vol. 19 Issue 36

Greater Houston

September 29 - October 5, 2014 | ®

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Ovide Duncantell’s Dream

Ben Hall

Harry Johnson

vide Duncantell was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana on August 7, 1936. Once he graduated from high school in 1955, he went into the U.S. Air Force. Duncantell was honorably discharged from service in 1959. Duncantell returned home soon after leaving the military and got married. After getting married, Duncantell and his wife left for Los Angeles, but they decided to stop in Houston to visit his wife’s family. The Duncantells’ short visit turned into a permanent stay because Ovide envisioned that he could make a difference in the community here in Houston. In 1969, Duncantell started working for the Anti-Poverty Program-Houston Community Action Association where he helped young people and senior citizens work together to improve their communities. Working for the Anti-Poverty Program encouraged Duncantell to create his own organization called The Central Committee for the Protection of Poor People.

Attorney Ben & Wife, Saundra Hall Paid $64,000 for the MLK Statue See DREAM pg. 4

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ARLINGTON - A Taste of Nigeria is an all day event to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence (October 1, 1960) and showcase her Culture through the Art & History, Food, Music, Dance, Comedy, Soccer, Fashion, and Market. Nigeria has never been closer as ARISPOP brings Nigeria to YOU. This outdoor event will be held October 4, 2014 at Knights of Columbus (Outdoors/Field) 2625 S Cooper St, Arlington, TX 76015. It will start with the Market Opening for sales at 10am. A friendly soccer game will follow at 11am; between 1pm and 7pm the event will feature a mix of dance performances, dance lessons, fashion show with several designers and tribal attires, comedy performance, and a talk session on the issues facing Nigeria. From 7pm to event close at 10pm will be a variety of Live Music Performances by singers, band and disc jockey. Admission is Free; however bring pocket money to purchase Food, Drinks, Art, Clothes, and other items from the Market. A Taste of Nigeria is an Annual event produced by Arispop for the Nigerian Community and other nationalities that have an interest in Nigeria and/or the African Culture. Approximately 5% of the Dallas Fort Worth population is Nigerian; also, facts state that Nigerians have the highest level of education of any ethnic community in the United States. Stop by the Information and History booths for information and facts about Nigeria.

R.D. Malonson Chairman S.A. Malonson President/C.E.O. Chandra Jarmon Production/ Sales Ruth Randle Distribution General: news@aframnews.com Ads: sales@aframnews.com Website: www.aframnews.com African-American News&Issues is published by African-American News & Issues, Inc., 6130 Wheatley Street, Houston, Texas 77091, (713) 692-1892. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm. The entire contents of the paper are copyrighted by African-American News & Issues, Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. African-American News&Issues is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the publisher.

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COLLEGE STATION (AP) Gov. Rick Perry will join other dignitaries in College Station at the dedication of what’s described as a national pandemic influenza vaccine facility.The center being dedicated Thursday is a key part of a $91 million vaccine manufacturing plant at Texas A&M University. Proponents hope the complex will create thousands of jobs while protecting the country against future biological threats and influenza pandemics. The project is a private-public partnership between the state, the university, global pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and the federal government. Perry has said the facility will anchor a larger development and manufacturing complex expected to generate $41 billion in expenditures in the state over the next 25 years.

www.aframnews.com DALLAS - The Dallas Independent School District has earned the state’s highest rating for fiscal accountability. To learn more, visit The Hub, the new source for Dallas ISD news, at thehub.dallasisd.org. FORT BEND - Please join us for a ‘media-only’ event from 1:00pm— 3:00pm to tour Westpark Springs Hospital at 6902 S. Peek Road, Richmond. This is a prelude to our Open House event on October 13th which will begin with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 4:00pm and conclude at 7:00pm. This will be an excellent opportunity to interview key staff members, shoot footage of the facility and take a private tour. FORT BEND - At the September 15 Fort Bend ISD Board Meeting, the Board approved community engagement services to facilitate a process to analyze and develop long-term District-wide feeder patterns and work on school boundaries during the school year. The District expects to seek Board approval of newly aligned district feeder patterns in January, as well as boundaries for two new elementary schools – Elementary School 46 in the Aliana community and Elementary School 47 in the Riverstone community.

Texas R und-Up

FORT WORTH - On National Voter Registration Day, with less than two weeks until the voter registration deadline, Battleground Texas is ramping up efforts to register as many Texas voters as possible. Volunteers will be holding more than 75 events across the state focused on registering voters today, and nearly 300 total this week. Battleground Texas has more than 8,200 volunteers, deputized in 98 counties across Texas, who have been registering voters every chance they get. These volunteers will continue to throw hundreds of voter registration events every week until the October 6 deadline. The push is accompanied by bilingual educational videos teaching Texans how to register to vote, and an informational website walking Texas voters exactly how and where to acquire and mail in their registration forms. “Texans have until October 6 to make sure they’re registered,” said Brown. “Remember -- if you don’t register, you can’t cast a ballot. And if you can’t cast a ballot, how can you make sure we have elected officials who have your best interests at heart?”

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HARRIS - Harris County Department of Education Head Start hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 9 from 2-4 p.m. at its new Sheffield Head Start, 14300 Wallisville Road, Houston, Texas 77049. The center officially opened its doors to the Sheffield community Sept. 15. HCDE Head Start Director Venetia Peacock said the center serves 128 children and their families. Head Start promotes social and academic school readiness for children 3-5. Low-income families and families of children with special needs benefit from services.

Texas • September - October 5, 2013 2014 Texas •29 August 12-18,

HOUSTON - The Lone Star College Small Business Development Center Advisory Council has named 18 finalists for its 28th Annual Small Business of the Year awards. BBVA Compass, a leading U.S. banking franchise who has been recognized as one of the nation's leading Small Business Administration (SBA) lenders, is the title sponsor of this event for the second year in a row. Members of the LSCS SBDC Advisory Council select and recognize successful small businesses that make an impact in the local community and on the economy each year. Nominees were gathered from the community, business leaders and civic organizations. Three finalists were selected from each of the six Lone Star College service areas, on the basis of leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, business growth and contribution to the community. All 18 finalists will be recognized at a luncheon Oct. 23. The winners will be announced at the 2014 28th Annual Small Business of the Year awards banquet Nov. 20. Both events will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. SAN ANTONIO - A traffic stop in San Antonio has yielded a gun stolen from a federal agent's vehicle and about $40,000 worth of methamphetamine San Antonio police say formal charges are pending against the driver who was detained Tuesday. Sgt. Javier Salazar says the firearm was stolen several months ago during a vehicle burglary. Further details on the agent weren't immediately released Police say the 28-year-old suspect had the gun on the passenger's seat when he was followed after a traffic violation, arrived at a residence and was detained. Investigators also seized cash — about $7,000. Authorities say the suspect will face charges including parole violation, being a felon in possession of a firearm and drug charges. His name and information on his criminal record weren't immediately available.

What’s Happenin’ around Texas? Submit your news to news@aframnews.com

TEXAS - Wedding planning is hard, but marriage can be harder. Thanks to a program sponsored by the Health and Human Services Commission, couples approaching marriage can build a solid foundation and save the $60 marriage license fee as well. The Twogether in Texas program offers premarital education to engaged couples across the state through a network of providers. Couples who go through a class can have their marriage license fee reduced by $60 and waive the 72-hour waiting period after they get their license. Couples can find organizations and churches that offer the classes by searching online at TwogetherInTexas.com or calling 2-1-1. Contact the organization of your choice to check on class times and register to attend. Some organizations charge a small fee to cover the costs of the classes, and others offer free classes. Couples who complete a class get a certificate that they can take to their county clerk when they apply for their marriage license. The certificate is good for one year and serves as proof that the couple is eligible for the discounted marriage license fee. Program facts: (a) The marriage education classes and discount for a marriage license were authorized by House Bill 2685 from the 2007 Texas legislative session. (b) 29,000 people statewide completed the classes in FY 2014. (c) There are 2,600 organizations in Texas that provide marriage education classes that qualify forfor thePaper_Layout marriage license Business Card 1 6/9/14 discount.

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Edit rial & Opini n

Would a Body Camera Have Saved Michael Brown? Earl Ofari Hutchinson Author & Political Analyst

The clamor for police departments to fully outfit all their officers with body cameras was loud long before Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson gunned down Michael Brown. But when Wilson shot Brown, some said that if he had been wearing a body cam, the shooting may not have happened. The presumption is that Wilson would have known that his action in stopping Brown would have been video documented and therefore that would have made him far less inclined to be quick on the trigger knowing there was this kind of scrutiny. Maybe yes, maybe no; there's far more to the use of body cams than just simply clamping one on the lapel or collar of an officer. There's the matter of what a body cam can and can't do, or even should be expected to do. Body cams are not the panacea that will end real or alleged police misconduct. Contrary to widespread belief, only a minuscule number of police-citizen encounters involve the use of force. Only a small fraction of police calls involve felony stops or arrests. Most of the encounters are garden variety stuff such as mediating disputes, providing referrals, and assisting the injured, or ill, or accident investigation. In short many of the encounters are quasi social service work. A body camera has little practical value here. Its main function then is to document encounters that involve the potential use of force. That is to provide a neutral, objective picture of what went on during that encounter, to avoid the almost certain -- he said, she said -- about how and why a use of force tragedy happened. But that may not be the case. In the state trial of the four LAPD officers who beat Black

motorist Rodney King in 1991, their defense attorneys skillfully pounded away that the video of the beating did not give the complete picture of what happened. They successfully argued that the camera didn't show King's alleged aggressive behavior toward the officers before the beating commenced, and that the amount of force that they used was reasonable and necessary to subdue the supposedly combative King. The jury in the state trial bought their argument and they were acquitted of most charges. In the trial of other police officers since the King case who have been charged with the over use of force in which there was videotape evidence that appeared to show the officer did commit the acts, their defense attorneys have also argued that the camera captured only part of the picture, not the whole picture. A body camera has a similar hitch, in this case, technologically. It records only what's in front of the officer. If the officer turns his body, is walking or running, and there are different angles in the encounter, it won't give an accurate picture of the full encounter. Whether Brown would not have been killed if Wilson had worn a body cam, and assuming that it was turned on, will never be known. However, what is known is that the wearing of body cameras may not be a fail-safe instrument for improving police work. Studies have found that a body cam may serve as an impediment to some crime victims relating honestly and objectively what precipitated the assault, robbery, or other violent act to them. This could skew the officer's report and the investigation in the case. Then there's the question of will the use of body cameras make officers cross all their "T"s and dot all their "I" s in doing their job. In a study of Mesa, Arizona police, 50 officers wore body cams, 50 officers didn't. The officers that didn't wear them made significantly more stop-andfrisk searches than the officers that wore them. Source: Huffington Post

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“We MUST never forget slavery, lynching, Jim Crow Laws, the disrespect of the Black race and the first Black president.”

A People Not Rooted In Their History Is Lifeless

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.— Marcus Garvey In light of what we are witnessing on a daily basis in our community, I was reflecting on the above quote by the great Marcus Garvey. We have been robbed of our history and we have allowed ourselves to become comfortable with being uneducated about our past greatness and suffering. We MUST Understand that our children will never have a full comprehensive knowledge and understanding of what is going on now, if they do not know what happened yesterday. Nor can we properly prepare for what is ahead in the future. We thought integration was “Heaven on Earth” and it lulled us to sleep to the reality that our struggle was far from over. In fact, it was just beginning. We somehow quickly forgot about the fire hoses, the brutal beatings while crossing bridges for civil rights, the dogs, the lynchings, the public humiliation we faced while trying to integrate lunch counters and much more. We thought we had “arrived” when we could go to school with Whites and share the same restroom with them, when just a few years prior we could not even be buried in the same cemetery as them. Past generations have to take responsibility for our young people not knowing the full history because we took our eyes off of the prize. We got comfortable and thought our open enemy was no longer our enemy so we did not pass on to our children the non watered-downed

horrors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the non romanticized abuse on the cotton fields, or the infiltration of our organizations at the hands of COINTELPRO. And maybe most importantly, we did not tell them that our history goes beyond inventing a streetlight or a hot comb, but that we built unmatched civilizations pre-slavery, that are buried under the sands of Africa. We foolishly thought that they would get this knowledge inside the classrooms of America, but received a rude awakening. Our children continue to be robbed of their true history in the public school system and are being force fed lies and misinformation that makes them think less of themselves and the history of their own people. We cannot blame the schools. They are doing exactly what they are designed to do. We have to teach our babies the real history and it cannot just happen in February during what is called Black History Month. Black History needs to be a year-round comprehensive curriculum that first starts in the home. Our history is more than just the “I Have A Dream” speech and sound bites from other past great civil rights leaders. Who will stand today and teach our children the true history? Who among us is taking the time out of their day to have children gather around them to hear stories of the struggles of Black people? And who among the young generation is eager to sit at the feet of their elders and learn this history? Real education is not equated with just obtaining a high school diploma or a college degree. Carter Godwin Woodson began Negro History Week, later Black

- Roy Douglas

We MUST Understand By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman

History Month in February, in 1926, earning him the nickname “The Father of Black History.” He was the leader of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History based in Chicago. Woodson was a strong advocate for the study of Black history and he would spread his stance throughout the pages of The Journal of Negro History. He would later publish a book titled, “The Mis-Education of The Negro.” In the book his writes, “Philosophers have long conceded, however, that every man has two educators: ‘that which is given to him, and the other that which he gives himself. Of the two kinds the latter is by far the more desirable. Indeed all that is most worthy in man he must work out and conquer for himself. It is that which constitutes our real and best nourishment. What we are merely taught seldom nourishes the mind like that which we teach ourselves.” Woodson further writes, “If you teach the Negro that he has accomplished as much good as any other race he will aspire to equality and justice without regard to race. Such an effort would upset the program of the oppressor in Africa and America.” We MUST Understand that education and preserving one’s history is serious warfare. When we are cut off from our history we will continue to be like a tree without roots: DEAD!

e welcome all original responses Letter to the Editor W from our readers to content found in the African-American News&Issues.

Letters to the Publisher may be sent via e-mail to news@aframnews.com. Please keep all letters under 300 words. Be sure to include the author’s name, area of residence. All letters and articles may be verified before they are published. All letters are subjected to editing or being cut for spacing purposes. Thank you in advance for your submission.

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DREAM from pg. 1

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Through his organization he wanted to help people in need obtain social services. He did not only want to help people in his local community, but he wanted to help people all over Houston. He ran for Mayor and County Commissioner in the early 1970s. He did not win either election, but that did not discourage him from pursuing his mission. From 1973-1977 he worked for County Commissioner Tom Bass where he assisted Bass in appointing new candidates for county positions. By working for Bass, Duncantell was able to pave the way for African-Americans who wanted to work in public service. He appointed the ﬁrst Black Harris County Constable A.B. Chambers. While working, Duncantell went to Texas Southern University and earned both Bachelor and Master degrees in Sociology In 1974, Duncantell created the Black Heritage Society and became the organization’s Founder and Executive Director. Duncantell’s ﬁrst project as the new Founder was to name a major Houston street after the late Martin Luther King Jr. At one time, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd was called South Park Blvd. Duncantell was able to get the community to support the name change and South Park Blvd became Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. “The Black Heritage Society and I had to jump through a lot of hoops with the City of Houston to get the street name changed,” said Duncantell. “The Black Heritage Society worked day and night to get the name changed.” “We had to get several petitions signed by homeowners and businesses and go through the long process of getting all address numbers changed. The City also didn’t support the name change because they claimed that there was another street named after Martin Luther King in Houston.” He continued, “This street was a small street that only had three houses on it. I don’t exactly remember where this street is located, but I believe that it is in northeast Houston near Wallisville.” “I wanted Houston to have a major street named in honor of Martin Luther King and I don’t think it was fair for the City to not support the name change because a small street in another community was named after Martin Luther King,” said Ducantell. After a lot of hard work, the Black Heritage Society was able to

officially get the name changed in 1978. Martin Luther King Jr.’s father Martin Luther King Sr. attended the official name change ceremony and he served as the Grand Marshal at the first Martin Luther King Jr. parade held by the Black Heritage Society on January 21, 1978. The Black Heritage Society’s next major project was to plant a tree in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on the esplanade near the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd and Old Spanish Trail. The Black Heritage Society planted the tree in response to the City’s rejection of a proposal to erect a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on the esplanade. The tree stood proudly for over 30 years until Houston’s Metro threatened to destroy it because it was in the way of a Metro light rail expansion project. Metro eventually agreed not to destroy the tree under certain conditions; which included a negotiation to help build a Martin Luther King Memorial Plaza in MacGregor park. Duncantell was not satisfied with the agreement, because it was not in writing. Duncantell wanted him and the Black Heritage Society to retain some control over relocation of the tree and the design for the memorial plaza. On May 1, 2012, Duncantell chained himself to the tree to stop Metro from uprooting the tree. He stayed tied to the tree for over 12 hours (from 8am 10:20pm), he did not eat anything but drunk water and juice, and he had colleagues fill in for him during restroom breaks. At the risk of going to jail, he was willing to stand by the tree the next day if Metro didn’t come up with a written agreement. Eventually, Duncantell was able to get a written agreement signed by the Mayor and Metro and he is now satisfied about the tree’s position in MacGregor Park. The Unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Plaza at MacGregor Park Earlier this year, the Black Heritage Society unveiled the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Statue at MacGregor Park. The taxpayers donated the space and land for the monument. However, $64,000 was needed to finalize the plaza. Attorney Ben Hall, 2013 Mayoral Candidate and Advisory Board Member of the Martin Luther King Memorial Project- Houston and wife, Mrs. Saundra Hall stepped up and changed Black History in Houston by cutting the check. This is the first noted time that an African-American couple has taken the initiative to contribute that amount of money to pay for a Historical project.

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C ver St ry

The Black Heritage Society hosted a number of events during the weekend of April 4-6 including a candle light vigil for Martin Luther King Jr., a parade, a community festival and citywide worship services. Several key people witnessed the unveiling of the statute including: Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, Martin Luther King’s son Martin Luther King III, and Martin Luther King’s nephew Reverend Derek King. “He came and spoke here in 1964 at St. John’s Baptist Church; then he came back unfortunately during some very difficult times and was forced out of speaking. So we think this is in essence a reunion,” says Shelia Jackson Lee. Martin Luther King III, a keynote speaker at the ceremony said “I could have easily embraced hatred, but what I’m thankful for is the spirit of love that teaches you to dislike the evil act but still love the individual. That’s what we’ve got to do in America, to forgive and move forward.” Reverend Derek King was among several dignitaries who were present at the event. He says, “Don’t get stuck on the statute -- We have a long way to go.” He continued, “We don’t need another Martin Luther King. We need another you.” The Black Heritage Society and the Martin Luther King Memorial Project- Houston organized the ceremony. “This memorial is very important for teaching future generations about the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Duncantell “Children are our future and I would give my life to protect the future. I hope they pick up the mantel and carry it with the same determination as we did.” In an interview with African-American News&Issues, Attorney Ben Hall said, “We wanted the memorial to emulate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” The statute depicts Martin Luther King Jr. wearing a clerical robe and holding a bible. “The look of the statute demonstrates the courage Dr. King showed when he gave his speeches.” Ben Hall is a personal injury lawyer and has been board certified in civil trial law and personal injury law since 2005. He is famous for serving as Chad Holley’s attorney in 2010 after the suspected teenage burglar was beaten by Houston police officers. Hall is a member of the Houston Bar Association, American Bar Association, National Bar Association and Houston Lawyer Association. Throughout his career, Hall has received many professional honors including the Martindale-Hubbell award, Texas Super Lawyer recognition, and he was named Houston’s Top Lawyers for the People by H Texas Magazine. Before Hall founded his law firm, The Hall Law Firm, in 2000, he served as City of Houston attorney under Mayor Bob Lanier’s

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administration from 1992-1994. Hall earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and went on to earn a Ph.D from Duke University. He earned his law degree at Harvard University. Ben and Saundra Hall have two sons, Benjamin IV and Zachary Hall. Ben Hall is also good friends with Ovide Duncantell and said a few words of kindness about Mr. Duncantell. “Mr. Duncantell is the most unrecognized hero in Houston and he has been plagued with many hardships. It is not easy to stand alone to protect the legacy of Dr. King, but Mr. Duncantell has done a great job at handling this difﬁcult task. He is a very humble man with a spirit that is youthful and overpowering and I’m thankful to meet someone like him.” The Foundation’s Origin The Board of Directors and Harry E. Johnson, Sr., President and CEO of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation maintained the vision that the King Memorial would be more than simply a monument, but rather a living memorial and space where people from all walks of life can visit and be inspired to live a life based on the principles of Democracy, Justice, Love and Hope. Not soon after the completion of the King Memorial, the leadership of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation began to think of the best way to ensure that their vision would continue.

To continue reading ‘DREAM’ visit us online @ www.aframnews.com Story By: Amanda White Cover Story MLK Photo Credit: Jesse Muhammad

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How to Rear Our Children to Become Potential Gods: MGT and GCC Brunch Series

In light of the recent media blitz of Adrian Peterson and his charge of child abuse, Muhammad Mosque Number 45’s MGT and GCC (Muslim Girls Training and General Civilization Class) hosted its third community brunch with the theme of: How to Rear Our Children to Become Potential Gods! Proper Human Development: The Role of Parents. Initially scheduled for August, it seems that postponing it to this September couldn’t have been more perfect timing considering the topic of domestic violence being heavily discussed these past few weeks. The event took place at Muhammad University of Islam’s school facility at 4443 Old Spanish Trail. A free event, the color scheme was set as sea spray and the room was decorated and adorned with similar colors, candles, decorative vases and a beautiful display of brunch selections. The event kicked off with opening prayer and a most gracious welcoming and introduction of the guest speakers on the program to the participating audience by Sis. Shelia Muhammad. Next she introduced the Nation of Islam’s Southwest Regional MGT and GCC Captain, Sis. Valerie Muhammad, who gave the women the reason for the occasion. “The reason that we are here is to open the MGT class to our community so they can learn and beneﬁt

from the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Each topic being presented should appeal to every parent, brother, sister, auntie, uncle, cousin, grandparent and child. We have a community to build,” she said. The first presenter was none other than one of Houston’s very own top criminal defense attorneys known in the community as Warrior Attorney Sadiyah Evangelista, who spoke on the topic of Breastfeeding. “The breast has been oversexualized; it’s good for sex but not for nourishment”, she mentioned as she highlighted how the act of breastfeeding has become taboo among Black women. Statistics from 2000-2008 by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that Black women’s breastfeeding rate increased from 47.4% to 58.7% while Caucasian women increased from 71.8% to 75.2% and Hispanic women from 77.6% to 80.0%. So there is a great disparity among Black women and breastfeeding. Interesting since during and shortly after slavery, Black women were the predominant breastfeeders for both their children and their masters when they functioned as wet nurses. A full time attorney and mother, Sis. Sadiyah shared how she overcame the obstacles to breastfeeding and empowered the listening audience with the benefits of it to both mother and child. “I wanted to quit but because of the education and support, I didn’t quit,” she said. Some of the benefits for a breast fed baby include and are not limited to protection from various illnesses including; asthma, allergies, eczema, meningitis, obesity, high cholesterol and irritable bowel disease as the child matures into an adult. It even boosts a child’s intelligence and does away with mental and behavioral issues. The benefits to the mother include reduced risks of cancers of the breast,

ovaries and uterus. It even reduces the risks of osteoporosis during menopause and promotes postpartum weight loss and who doesn’t want that! “The more you breastfeed, the baby is sucking ‘fat’ out of you literally,” said Sis. Sadiyah. All in all at the end of her presentation, everyone came to a better understanding of why the breast is best! After the ﬁrst presentation, it was time for food and fellowship. The wonderful culinary team prepared a delightful spread of food items of fruit parfaits, egg salad and salmon salad sandwhiches on various types of breads and croissants along with creamed spinach and chips and crackers for dipping. Many desserts were available from cinnamon cakes, cookies, carrot cake and the famous Muslim bean pie. During the intermission, random drawings of jewelry, accessories, garments and other things were given away to visitors and guests. All of this for the low, low price of FREE!!! Thereafter the program resumed with another phenomenal presentation by Sis. Nadirah Maryam Muhammad, an

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adjunct professor at HCC and a parenting and relationship specialist. Her topic was: Parenting from the Prospective of Children. Highly spirited and very engaging, Sis. Nadirah elicited an interactive discussion on a subject matter that was inspired from a lecture by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan titled: Family… from the Perspective of Children (this article can be found on ﬁnalcall.com). Throughout the activities she covered topics such as: Your child’s perception of you, how to create a strong and stable family bond, identifying your child’s needs and behaviors, identifying stressors (you and your child’s), violating your children’s rights, slavery language and how it hinders growth and development, identifying needs and behaviors, life cycles: re-deﬁning relationships and setting reasonable but Godly expectations for our children. “This discussion is not about blame and shame,” she said. To continue reading visit us online @ www.aframnews.com Shareefah Muhammad

Endorsed by: Harris County Judge Ed Emmett Mayor Annise Parker, City of Houston State Senator John Whitmire State Senator Rodney Ellis State Senator Sylvia Garcia State Senator Dan Patrick State Senator Larry Taylor State Senator Glenn Hegar State Senator Joan Huffman State Representative Sylvester Turner State Representative Garnet Coleman State Representative Carol Alvarado

State Representative Jessica Farrar State Representative Cecil Bell, Jr. State Representative Rick Miller State Representative Ron Reynolds State Representative Ed Thompson State Representative Phil Stephenson State Representative Patricia Harless State Representative Wayne Smith State Representative John Davis State Representative Bill Callegari State Representative Gene Wu State Representative Dwayne Bohac (listing at time of printing)

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*Community *Religion Leonard N. Barksdale, Pastor P.O. Box 10625 *Business Houston, Tx 77206 Fifth Ward Missionary *Law HAY FOR SALE Baptist Church *Youth/Education 4300 Noble Street, Houston TX 77020 G.W. Carver School Horse Quality *Health Ph: 713/675-5111 • Fx: 713/675-1522 Website: www.fwmbc.org Alumni of Aldine ISD Large Round Hay Bales *Energy *Entertainment Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church 713-806-9889 Call 979-921-9908 members will endeavor to provide a *Sports (8am-4pm) P.O. Box 551056 Galilee M.B. strong foundation of love;Church we will stand Please sign for approval and fax back to 713-692-1183 on Biblical Truths; and we will equip *Politics Houston, Tx 77055 another to spread the Gospel of Je713-697-1758 HELP WANTED by 12 NOON Wednesdayone the week before Monday publication or the ad will not*Local/State run. sus Christ in our community and in our

BEAUTY SHOP

NATURAL KREATIONS Signature Melanie Malonson

281-898-4716 er school enrichment programs are of11718 Wilcrest by -5:45 daily. Reese will beSouth unaffected Houston, TX 77099 P.O.#

Aldine ISD BLACKPhoto: CHAMBER elimination. Other schools would Acres Homes be Smith, Stovall, Harris Chamber and Hill, for Business & Eco.StuDev. all based on the same criteria. dents of magnet713-692-7161 programs that had been eliminated 6112 would return to Wheatley St their home campus andTXgiven Houston, 77091 first priority for available slots in other magnet programs, with the excepAdvertise with us! tion of 4th grade students, who will be given the option of continuOnline Advertising ing at Houston Academy. Staff will Available NOW! be placed into vacant positions on other campuses. The order would have given the CHEMICAL magnet program a protected status and funds from the government would have been provided for their operation. Also, several Chemical events and Citywide items wereJanitorial reduced &orCommercial eliminatPest Control Company ed, such as the magnet festival and 3521 Jensen St. technology fair. The proposed cuts Houston, TX 77026 713/227-4808 or 4809 were approved by district trustJanitorial Supplies ees at the January 25 school board Sales-Service-Supplies Wholesale-Retail meeting before a packed house of We repair buffers, incensed parents and vacuum, student. But shampooers Bamberg warns the cuts still and allmay other machines. Charles SAME DAY DELIVERY Dawson not be enough to meet theFREE needs METROlargest Dawson Chemical of the nation’sUSChemical 12th district. Administrators say they still need 713/697-7137 713/633-9019 $18 million to balance the budget. HOU-6 “The only way we’re going to get additional revenue at this point is to look to the community,” said & Janitorial Supply Company & Janitorial Supply Company 6010 Irvington -Hou.,TX 77009 4308 Kelley St. • Hou., TX 77026

Wednesday 7:30PM

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Houston, TX 77091

CHURCH OF CHRIST Date

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FLOWER Morning Bible Class SHOP

9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Evening Bible Class 5:00 p.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Chorus Group Rehearsal 7:30 p.m.

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6130 Wheatley St. Wednesday MINISTER: Mid-Week Bible ClassTX 77091 Houston, Theaster Maloy, Sr.

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looking for • Part Time Florist • Part Time Delivery Driver **Requirements** DL & Auto Insurance Must have GPS and/or Keymap Knowledge For more info call 713-692-1178

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Boyd Funeral Home FIFTH WARD CHURCH OF CHRIST

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Johnson Funeral Home

HELP WANTED

SUNDAY 7411 Wheatley St. 8:00 a.m.Houston, WorshipTX 77088 10:00 a.m. Bible Class 11:15 a.m. Worship 6:00 p.m. Worship MONDAY 713-747-9604 10:00 a.m. 5730 Calhoun Rd. Gary Smith Ladies Bible Class Houston, TX 77021Minister

WEDNESDAY 7:30 p.m. Bible Class for all

Loving Memories Website Norman & Wynn’s www.fthwardcoc.org

281-820-7070

“GIVING, GROWING, & GAINING” 4308 Stonewall St. Hou. Tx 77020 norm_ant@yahoo.com

713-672-2654

8011 W. Montgomery Rd In addition to their other activities, the Houston, 77088 Fifth Ward COC Tx also holds a Bible Class for non-members on Thursday nights at 7:30 PM. For more information on the various special events or activities you really should visit their website, it is very well done, informative and worth a visit even if you have anoth-

Call 713-692-1892 For more information

HUNTING RS DEER & CATTLE RANCH

www.rsdeerranch.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREATIVE COLOURS BY RJ

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4925 Richfield Lane Houston, Tx 77048

P.O.

SHOE REPAIR

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ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-AT-RISK Sterling Aviation High School HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (HISD) Cadence McShane Construction as Construction Manager-at-Risk for HISD, in accordance with Texas Government Code 2269, will receive bids or proposals from all qualified subcontractors for the All-Trade Packages. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held 10:00am Friday, October 3, 2014, at Sterling High School Cafeteria located at 11625 Martindale, Houston, TX 77048. A Site-Visit walkthrough of the project will be held immediately following the preproposal conference. Bids or proposals are due Wednesday, October 22, at 2:00pm, and bids or proposals should be emailed to houstonbids@cadencemcshane.com or mailed/delivered to the Cadence McShane Construction, 7701 W. Little York, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77040. Late bids will not be accepted. There will be no public opening of bids or proposals. All bids or proposals shall be available after award of contract, or the 7th day after final selection of bids or proposals, whichever is later. After receipt of bids or proposals, Cadence McShane, will conduct its evaluation of the subcontractor bids or proposals in relation to the project requirements and will select the bid(s) or proposal(s) that offers the best value to HISD. Cadence McShane, is committed to meeting the M/WBE goals set for this project. M/WBE forms, schedules and statements, as required by the package documents, shall accompany each bid or proposal that is submitted. Bids or proposals submitted without all required information, and in the order and manner specified, may result in the bid or proposal being considered non-responsive. HISD, the Owner, reserves the right to waive any informality and/or to reject any, or all bids, or proposals. Contact Eddie Smith at esmith@cadencemcshane.com or Wm. Earl Finley, C.P.M., A.P.P. at wfinley@houstonisd.org for additional information on this project Drawings and specifications are available on iSQFT (www.isqft.com) and in the Cadence McShane office located at 7701 W. Little York, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77040. Drawings and Specifications may also be reviewed at: Associated General Contractors, 3825 Dacoma Street, Houston, TX 77092, (713) 843-3700 McGraw Hill Construction/Dodge, www.construction.com Virtual Builders Exchange, 3910 Kirby, #131, Houston, TX 77098, (832) 613-0201

The Women’s Financial Security Forum: Challenges and Practical Advice will bring together national and local financial experts to offer practical advice and guidance. It will address the results of a new AARP study that shows a growing number of Texans – and women in particular – are ill prepared to face their financial futures Number for thisand Adare increasingly anxious about it. September 30, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. --Texas Woman’s University 6700 Fannin, Houston, TX

The Assistance League of Houston provides 1,200 uniforms Signature

MIGHTY FINE SHOE REPAIR Men & Ladies - Boots & Shoes Shined, Waxed, Glazed, Dyed & Repaired

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Major Credit Cards ACCEPTED 1400 South Victory Houston, TX 77088

Independent

PUBLIC NOTICE

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for Head Start students attending 15 centers in northeast Harris County. Assistance League members, with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard, deliver the uniforms to families at the HCDE Head Start Dogan (a.m.) and J.D. Walker (p.m.). Children ages 3-5 and parents are each given the bags which include pants or jumper, shirts, a shoe voucher, socks and underwear. Books are included in the packages. Operation School Bell® is a signature philanthropic program started over 50 years ago by the National Assistance League. About Harris County Department of Education’s Head Start: Harris County Department of Education Head Start Area I serves families residing in east and northeast Harris County, providing 16 area centers for over 1,230 children and their families. Head Start is a federally funded program that prepares children ages 3-5 for school. It also supports and promotes strong families through parent participation and training. Low-income families and families of children with special needs benefit from services.

Texas • September 29 - October 5, 2014

October

1 Wednesday Rev. Morel Baker Jr. & Natalie D. Jones The Power to Empower Women Focus Group 790 W. Little York Rd Houston, TX 77091 From 10am -12pm For more info contact: (832) 771-1054

Oct 1 - Oct 4

Wednesday - Saturday Houston Citywide Ushers 87th Citywide Convention 2507 Glasgow St Houston, TX 77026 W-F: Beginning at 7:15pm Sat: Beginning at 5pm For more info contact: (281) 705-7754

Oct 1 - Oct 12

Wednesday - Sunday Ensemble Theatre Women in the Pit 3535 Main St Houston, TX 77002 *Times Vary For more info visit: (713) 520-0055

Thursday

Guest Speaker Dr. Steve Head Lone Star College System Chancellor

Acres Home Chamber for Bus. & Eco. Dev, Inc. Networking Luncheon 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 11am -12:30pm For more info contact: (713) 692-7161 info@acreshomecenter.org

Friday New Life Tabernacle 12 Step & Al Anon 3021 DeSoto St Houston, TX 77091 Beginning at 7:30pm For more info contact: (713) 263-9700

Saturday Free Indeed Church Tools 4 Teens Mentor Orientation Mtg 7111 Homestead Rd Houston, TX 77028 From 10am -12pm For more info contact: (832) 453-6003

jgentry@freeindeedchurch.org

Saturday Acres Home Chamber for Bus. & Eco. Dev, Inc. Digital Computer Class 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 11am -12:30pm For more info contact: (713) 692-7161 info@acreshomecenter.org

7 Tuesday Windsor Houston

Networking Breakfast 6920 TC Jester Blvd Houston, TX 77091 From 9:30am - 10:30am For more info contact: (281)224-0280

Oct 10 - Oct 12

Friday - Sunday Sisters Network Inc. Breast Cancer Conference 2222 W Loop S Fwy Houston, TX 77027 **Times Vary** For more info contact: (713) 781-0255

Friday New Life Tabernacle 12 Step & Al Anon 3021 DeSoto St Houston, TX 77091 Beginning at 7:30pm For more info contact: (713) 263-9700 Saturday Acres Home Chamber for Bus. & Eco. Dev, Inc. Digital Computer Class 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 11am -12:30pm For more info contact: (713) 692-7161

info@acreshomecenter.org

Email Your Event to

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What’s Happenin’ 19 Sunday First Baptist

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Church of Lincoln City FBC Praise Dancers 844 Fortune St Houston, TX 77088 Beginning at 11:30am For more info contact: (832) 892-5078 Friday Texas Southern University 2014 President’s Gala 5060 W Alabama St Houston, TX 77056 Beginning ar 6pm For more info contact: (713) 313-7455

24 Friday Joy Prison Ministry

2014 Celebration Gertha Roger 33rd Anniversary Keynote: Robert Eason 12194 Sleepy Hollow Rd Conroe, TX 77385 Beginning at 7pm For more info contact: (281) 570-8755

27 Monday Keeping Abreast of

Your Health Breast Cancer Walk Tom Bass Park Section III Pavillion 6 15108 Cullen Blvd Houston, TX 77047 From 8am - 10am For more info contact:

www.keepingabreastofyourhealth.org

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African-American News&Issues now offers E-Blast to over 20,000 business professionals and community subcribers for a very low price. Let us promote your next event! For more information contact (713) 692-1892 or visit www.aframnews.com

28 Tuesday Mother of Mercy Parish Civil Rights Classes 4000 Sumpter Houston, TX 77002 From 7pm - 8pm For more info contact: (281) 704-6655

UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES PRESENT A MICHAEL DE LUCA PRODUCTION “DRACULA UNTOLD” LUKE EVANS DOMINIC COOPER SARAH GADON AND CHARLES DANCE EXECUTIVE MUSIC BY RAMIN DJAWADI PRODUCERS ALISSA PHILLIPS JOE CARACCIOLO, JR. THOMAS TULL JON JASHNI SCREENPLAY PRODUCED BY MATT SAZAMA & BURK SHARPLESS BY MICHAEL DE LUCA p.g.a. DIRECTED A UNIVERSAL PICTURE BY GARY SHORE SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC

STARTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

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Educati n/Y uth

Texas • September 29 - October 5, 2014

H-E-B to Honor Educators Once Again

As the 2014-15 school year begins, H-E-B will once again honor the accomplishments of outstanding public schools, teacher, principals, districts, early childhood facilities and school boards across the state through the 14th annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, presented in cooperation with the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). This year, H-E-B will be awarding more than $80,000 throughout its service area. There will be a total of 30 teacher finalists, 10 principal finalists, eight district finalists, five early childhood finalists and up to five school boards that will be chosen and honored at a

special recognition dinner in May. At that time, 11 overall winners will be announced. Based on their years of experience in the classroom, teachers will receive awards ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 plus a matching award of the same amount for their school. Principals will receive $10,000 and a $25,000 grant to their school, an early childhood facility will receive a $25,000 grant, a small school district will receive $50,000,

a large district $100,000 and if selected for a special judge’s prize, a school board will receive $25,000 in the form of a grant to the school district they serve. H-E-B believes that Texas schools are ﬁlled with talented and dedicated professionals who deserve to be recognized and rewarded for the contributions they make each day. Anyone can nominate a teacher, principal, school district, early childhood facility or school board by going online at www.heb.com/education. Educators, school districts, and school boards can bypass the nomination process and simply go online to start the application process.

Walgreens to Offer HISD Pharmacy Students Job Training, Field Experiences

District announces new Walgreens partnership for Futures Academy of Pharmacy Technology

The Houston Independent School District will expand the health sciences career program at Jane Long Academy through a partnership with Walgreens for the school’s Futures Academy of Pharmacy Technology. “Our students and teachers will beneﬁt greatly from learning from one of the largest employers of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists in the world,” said Long Principal Marcela Baez at a press conference Wednesday to announce the academy’s collaboration with Walgreens. “Students will gain valuable knowledge and skills in numerous facets of the pharmacy business. They will be better prepared for the workforce and hopefully gain employment with Walgreens while they complete their educational goals.” The program will offer about 200 Long students in the pharmacy technology academy ﬁeld experiences, facility tours, job shadowing, internships, mentoring and training from Walgreens team members, and exposure TX-8

to Walgreens products and programs. Walgreens will be the pharmacy technology academy’s first business relationship. This is Walgreens first academic partnership with a high school pharmacy program. “The program will give these students a first-hand look at how the role of community pharmacy continues to advance and inspire them to find their passion,” said Roy Armstrong, Walgreens market pharmacy director in Houston. HISD opened five Futures Academies two years ago through a partnership with Houston Community College to allow students to receive college credit, career training, and industry credentials to provide them with options for a promising future after completing high school. The Futures Academies include the Academy of Manufacturing Engineering Technology at Booker T. Washington High School, the Academy of Engineering

Technology at Furr High School, the Academy of Process Technology at Kashmere High School, the Academy of Network & Computer Administration at Scarborough High School, and the Academy of Logistics & Global Supply at Sterling High School. Two additional academies were later opened – the Academy of Construction Technology at Jones High School and the Academy of Health Science Careers at Westside High School, which has a partnership with the University of Texas MD Anderson School of Health Professions. In August, the Futures Academy held its ﬁrst graduation ceremony by recognizing 84 students in the program who graduated with their associate’s degree and work certiﬁcations in programs such as technology, computer administration and engineering.

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Texas • September 29 - October 5, 2014

Religion

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First Anniversary for Dr. Clarence Talley Sr. & First Lady Carolyn Talley

HEMPSTEAD - Recently, the Mount Corinth Family of Heavenly Hempstead, TX celebrated the 1st Anniversary of Dr. Clarence, Sr. and 1st Lady Carolyn Talley. The grand occasion was standing room only. The community, community churches, and friends as far as Louisiana all turned out to express their appreciation to the Pastor and 1st Lady. With a historically latent Welcome from the honorable Frank D. Jackson, Mayor of Prairie View, the program was off to an arousing start. After the Voices of the Mount praised God in song, Pastor Fred Thomas, III of the Greater Saint Peter’s Baptist Church, Hempstead lifted the spirits of all in attendance with an arousing message of encouragement. The theme Called and Sent focus on God’s man being chosen by Him and sent to His people with divine protection to accomplish his task. Performances by the Praise Dancers and the Drama Team were highlights of the evening. Another special highlight included the newly formed Women of Wisdom dance team. To the Pastor and 1st Lady’s surprise, the group consisted of the middle-age sisters of the church. They were all deck out in their dance apparel pompously ﬂaunting it all for the Lord. Wow! What a show! Mount Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, the 3rd oldest in the state of Texas. Thanks all who made the celebration a success. By: Norma Tompkins & Linda Durham Photo Credit: Mr. Paris Kincade

TX-9

Health

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African-Americans Misconceptions about Flu Vaccines Raises Their Risks of Getting Sick this Flu Season BY: AMANDA WHITE

HOUSTON - Now that it’s Fall, it’s time to start thinking about protecting ourselves from the flu. The flu season will be getting underway soon and will reach its peak between December and February. The flu is an especially dangerous virus because it changes in severity and length from year to year. A new strain of the virus spreads around almost every year and during some years, the flu season can start as early as October and last as late as May. Normally the elderly, young children, and people with serious health problems are at the greatest risk of suffering from the flu and even dying from the flu. Young and

middle aged people are in just as much danger of suffering from dangerous forms of the flu this flu season. According to Flu.gov, nearly 60% of recent flu deaths occurred in people between the ages of 25-64. Dangerous flu outbreaks such as H1N1 (Swine Flu) and H7N9 (Avian Influenza A virus) are perfect examples of why we need to take flu season seriously every year. Dr. Tamisha Jones, a Pediatrician at Legacy Community Health explains why the flu is especially dangerous for African-Americans and provides tips on how we can protect ourselves during flu season. “African-Americans are the largest group of people who do not receive flu vaccines,” says Dr. Jones. “During last year’s flu season, over 100 children died from the flu and 90% of these children did not receive flu vaccines.” “Misconceptions about the flu vaccine is the most common reason why African-Americans do not get vaccinated.” “Some of my patients have told me that their grandparents and other relatives

have told them that flu shots are bad because the shots cause people to get the flu.” “The flu vaccine does not contain the flu virus and so it will not cause people to catch the flu.” “Vaccinations that come in the form of nasal spray contain a weakened form of the flu virus.” “Since the virus is already weakened within the vaccine, it cannot cause any harm once it’s inside the body.” If you’re worried about the flu vaccine harming your health because you have a serious health condition or because you’re taking other medications, then you can put your worries to rest because the flu vaccine will not interfere with health conditions or medications. The flu can actually worsen conditions such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, and asthma. “It is even more important for the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and other high risk groups to get a flu vaccine, because they are more likely to get sick with the flu.” “It is safe for people to get vaccinated as young as 6 months old and I recommend that people get vaccinated as soon

Texas • September 29 - October 5, 2014 as possible.” We hear over and over how important it is to wash our hands before eating, after using the restroom, and after touching germy surfaces, but it has to be said to us over and over again because washing our hands is something that many of us take for granted. The flu virus can spread so quickly and easily because it lives in droplets of saliva. Saliva is in our mouth and noses, so one sneeze, one spit, or one cough can send saliva and the flu virus flying into the world to land on all sorts of objects. Once you touch something that is infected with the virus, you can contract the virus by touching your eyes, mouth, or nose. You can also contract the virus by kissing an infected person or eating or drinking from dishes that an infected person has used. It takes between 1 to 4 days for symptoms to develop once you’ve been infected and you can spread the virus before you feel sick. Since you can be sick with the flu before you realize that you have it, it’s important to always wash your hands to prevent the spread of the flu. If you cannot get to a sink to wash your hands, then you should use hand sanitizer. It is also important for you to stay home if you’re sick and keep your kids at

home if they are sick. How can you figure out if you have the ﬂu? It can be hard to tell whether you have the flu or the common cold because both illnesses comes with similar symptoms. Flu symptoms are much more severe and you will have a high fever over 100 degrees, body aches, and hot flashes and chills. Flu symptoms also come on stronger and quicker than cold symptoms. Although it’s important to maintain good personal hygiene all the time, it is especially important to do so during the wintertime. “More people are indoors and spend more time around others when it’s cold, and this makes it even easier for germs to spread,” says Jones. If you or someone you know needs a flu shot, Dr. Jones invites you to visit a Legacy Community Health clinic near you. You can also receive other services at Legacy Community Health such as: dental care, maternity care and mental health services. Dr. Jones practices at the Lyons location in Fifth Ward. Visit www.legacycommunityhealth.org to set up appointments, find clinics and learn more about other services.

It is Time to Get Serious about Breast Cancer Who gets breast cancer? According to the American Cancer Society excluding cancer of the skin, breast cancer is the most common cancer among US women, accounting for 29% of newly diagnosed cases and men are generally at low risk for developing breast cancer. Doctors cannot usually explain why a woman will develop breast cancer but they do know that certain risks factors can increase their chances of getting breast cancer. According to Cancer Facts and Figures provided by the American Cancer Society for African-Americans 2013-2014, about 94,540 new cancer cases in men and 82,080 in women are expected to be newly diagnosed among African-Americans in 2013. About 32,970 African-American men and TX-10

Story By: Linda Ratliff Davis, RPh

31,910 African-American women are expected to die from cancer in 2013. What are the risk factors? Certain risks just exist and cannot be changed like age, wheter you are a man or a woman, and your family’s health/medical history. There are certain risk factors that you can change on your own, like quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising for at least 30 minutes per day for at least 5 days of the week, cutting back on fatty foods, eating healthy foods like baked,grilled,or broiled food instead of fried food, limiting alcohol use, and avoiding food with a lot of sugars. What is breast cancer? It is a group of cells in your body that are not normal. Most cancers are named for the organ in which

they start. In this case it is in the breast in the ducts or lobules. The best way to detect this type of cancer early is to have the appropriate cancer screenings or tests. Remember the earlier the cancer is found it will be easier to treat it. What are some of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer? Bloody discharge from the nipple, change in the size of the breast, dimpling of the breast, inverted nipples, and a lump or thickening that feels different from surrounding tissues, What can you do about breast cancer? You can perform a BSE (breast self exam) every month and see your doctor for regular breast cancer screenings or tests. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly

mammograms beginning at age 40. Mammograms can find a lump which is very small and can’t even be felt. A mammogram is a x-ray of the breast. Usually 2 sets of pictures are taken of the breast. The procedure only takes a few minutes and you will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist up. The breast is compressed to spread the tissue and give a full clear view. When the breasts are compressed you may feel some discomfort but this usually lasts for a few seconds. Most importantly, know your family history. If there has been a history of cancer in your family your risk for developing breast cancer increases. Researching your family history can be difficult because most families find it difficult to talk about cancer due to the issue of privacy

and you really cannot force them to talk about this unless they are willing to share the information. Keep in mind many generations ago many family members of deceased relatives were not told they died from breast cancer so you may not be able to get the information that you need. Try to explain to your family members that this information is to tell your doctor and he or she will determine how early or often your doctor performs regular breast cancer screenings. Linda Ratliff Davis, RPh has been practicing Pharmacy for more than 30 years. She retired after 28 years of federal service from the VA Hospital in Houston as a Clinical Pharmacist and is now the owner of the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy at 5600 Mykawa in Houston, Texas.

Texas • September 29 - October 5, 2014

Health

Contradictions of Oral Contraceptives By: Shareefah Muhammad

In 1939 Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, launched an initiative that plagues the Black community on a whole new level and that is birth control. Margaret Sanger went on a crusade with the intent to exterminate the “negro” population through her Negro Project. She believed that Blacks, immigrants and indigents were, “human weeds, reckless breeders…human beings that should have never been born.” During today’s era of women’s liberation and feminism, the greatest (27.5%) form of contraceptive use is oral contraceptives which is a hormone treatment consisting of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. In this 21st century the CDC reports that white women lead in the use of oral contraception (21%) while Black women make up 11% of usage however, Black women lead in the female sterilization category with 22% usage to White women’s 15%. And if this is not disturbing enough, now many young children between the ages of 12-19 are now using oral contraceptives. So what is this doing to their long-term health and the future generations they will eventually bring forth? Nowadays oral contraceptives are not only being administered for birth control purposes but also for skin issues and abnormal menstrual cycle conditions. And with the long-term use of any medication, know that chronic diseases will result with time. For oral contraceptives, key nutrient depletions of vitamins B6 (Pyrodoxine), B9 (Folate) and B12 (Cobalamin) play significant roles in the future

development of illness and diseased conditions. Pyroxidine (B6) is a critical vitamin for production of our red blood cells, metabolism of our carbohydrates, detoxification of the liver and much more. If contraceptives are used consistently for six months or more the decrease in vitamin B6 stores slowly leads to chronic conditions such as premenstrual syndrome, anemia, depression, ADHD and even morning sickness. Foods good in B6 include: bananas, spinach, beef and chicken liver, salmon, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and garlic. If one is suffering from symptoms such as irritability, mental fatigue, forgetfulness, confusion, insomnia, depression or general muscular fatigue, then a folate (B9) deficiency may be the culprit. Folate is responsible for replacing cells in our body such as skin cells and intestinal cells. It also participates in supporting the nervous system. Adolescents with poor diets (a lot of fast and processed foods) are at high risk for folate deficiency. Add oral contraceptives to it and they become a walking time bomb that will eventually experience some form of self-destruction. Low levels of folate causes the body to undergo higher amounts of oxidative stress, meaning a higher level of free radicals are available to wreck havoc on the cells and vital organs of the body. This excess oxidative stress causes inflammation and clotting, which is the most commonly known side effect of oral contraceptive use. Also, lack of sufficient amounts of folate causes a build up of a substance called

homocysteine, which is linked to cardiovascular disease when in excess. Neural tube defects are one of the primary concerns of pregnant women in their first trimester due to inadequate folate stores, this is why supplementation for them is a must. Additionally good food sources of folate are: lentils, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, beets, parsley and cauliflower. A Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) deficiency also causes a rise in homocysteine levels thus more heart disease risk. Most importantly, it is an integral part of the production of our DNA along with B6 and folate. It too plays a significant role in brain and nervous system health. Iron deficiency anemia can sometimes be mistaken for a lack of B12 because they produce similar symptoms. Yet an important factor that must be mentioned is that when all three of the vitamins mentinoned (B6, B9, and B12) are low due to oral contraceptive use, the cells in the body have difficulty differentiating (changing) or maturing as they naturally should. In the reproductive system of the female, this can result in a condition called Cervical dysplasia which is usually detected in Pap Smears. Cervical Dysplasiamay can lead to cervical cancer depending on the type of dysplasia. Also cancers of the uterus, ovaries and breast can become by products of their deficiencies. In 1967 in a book titled How to Eat to Live, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad said these words, “ He (the government) offers you death in a pill for your future generations of children…Once you have swallowed the birth control pill it is death.” With the many contradictions that oral contraception offer than its benefits, it would be wise that we get a better understanding of the human body for it is the most precious gift ever given. Shareefah Muhammad is currently a student of Applied Clinical Nutrition and a blogger at naturesmedicine.wordpress.com. You can follow her on Twitter @ SisterShareefah or @NMCabinet.

African

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How Our Thoughts Can Heal or Destroy Us Physically: An Interview with Safiyya Shabazz, M.D.

Ebony S. Muhammad (EM): I want to begin with words you previously mentioned regarding having poor health as well as how suffering from low self-esteem can lead to a form of self-destructive behavior. Generally when we think of selfesteem, we think about how we feel about ourselves which is a very short definition. Would you mind delving a little bit further into what self esteem is and how we should view it in relation to our health and our behavior? Dr. Safiyya Shabazz (SS): To me, self esteem is how positively you see yourself. In medicine we call it self-efficacy, which is how much you believe you have the ability to improve your health. So it goes with how well you believe the medicine will work but how well you do believe YOU will work. When people commit crimes that are against survival and against nature that is a crime in and of itself. A weed in a yard fights to stay alive by drawing on everything around it. Yet, when we don’t exercise the intelligence of a plant to try to stay alive, there’s something not natural about it. EM: At what point does a person succumb to being anti-survival and self-destructive? SS: I think it happens over time. A child might do things it hasn’t learned are self-destructive, because he cannot see that far into the future. Or they may do something selfdestructive, but in that moment feel that it is survival behavior. My daughter was playing with nail polish. That may be a selfdestructive behavior, because I told her not to. Yet, it made her happy to play with the nail polish at that moment. It spilled on her dresser and that’s another problem. She could expose herself to punishment for playing with the polish or she could try to cover it up or clean it up. Therefore, one thing can lead to another that you’re in so deep and

Safiyya Shabazz, MD

you don’t know how you’re going to get out of it. It can spin out of control in that way. I think for most people it’s like water dripping on a stone where one bad thing happens, another little bad thing happens. You don’t know to be miserable, unhappy or to dislike yourself. These are things you get messages on little by little, and at a certain point it starts to show. You can see it even in young children. If you look at that study with the dolls and children had to pick out the dolls the one they considered were “good” or “bad” based on skin complexion. There was something that happened between the time of their birth and then being tested for that, which has entered their minds to make that think so negatively at this thing that looks very much like themselves. This kind of thing happens constantly. How different people respond varies. EM: How does someone attain love for himself or herself? You mentioned love heals, and I think that’s important to explore with our health condition and even our emotional and mental state. You said, “We have the ability to heal ourselves and heal others, but it first starts with attaining love for self”. What is the first step in attaining that self-love so that it will spill over into our relationships with other people? Continue reading online @ aframnews.com TX-11

African

American News&Issues

Texas • September 29 - October 5, 2014, 2014

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