Volume 25 Issue 4

February 16, 2020

PRESIDENT’S DAY EDITION African-American News&Issues

“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”

COMMUNITY STEPS UP Elvin Bethea, Oilers 1968-1983

BLACK HISTORY: LOC CULTURE ON PAGE 5

BARACK & MICHELLE

44th President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama embrace.

of the man struggling to recover after losing his wife to cancer and his foot to diabetes - just days apart- while fighting to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.

Neither the city, the government or the NFL provided any sought assistance for Simon, and his life became a day to day challenge of trying to keep his head above water while keeping his spirit intact.

Simon, a graduate of Grambling State University, was drafted to the Oilers in 1976. He was living out his NFL dream when it all came to an abrupt halt.

The stage was the historic Houston Astrodome and Simon was tackling Dallas Cowboys legend Tony Dorsett when his foot got caught in an old pitching mound. He spent more than a year on the injured reserve list before eventually being released from the team.

BOBBY continued on page 11

OBAMAS continued on page 11

Photo courtesy of KHOU 11 News

Ex-NFL player, Bobby Simon, is overwhelmed by the love and support he’s receiving after his story, which was featured first in African-American News&Issues. He thanks the good Lord up above and the community who’s rushed in to help.

HOUSTON – He thanks the good Lord up above, the community who’s rushed in to help and the reporters who’ve brought his story to light, Bobby Simon has plenty to be thankful for, and he’s expressing it all through a river of “happy” tears.

The ex-NFL player is overwhelmed by the love and support he’s receiving after his story, which was featured first in African-American News&Issues, has touched hearts from all around.

AANI released “Never Giving Up: The Bobby Simon Story” in our print and online publications in December, and afterward, other media outlets reached out, wanting to help.

KHOU 11 News Sports Extra, with our help, connected with “Mr. Bobby” and aired his story on the station’s weekend program.

The combined coverage from AANI and KHOU got things moving -- swiftly.

The story of the former Houston Oilers player is an emotional one, highlighting the ups and downs

OUR FOREVER PRESIDENT & FIRST LADY

BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA are definitely among the most admired couples in the world in terms of #RelationshipGoals, and when it comes to Black America, they are a model we all try to follow for health, wealth, happiness, success and loyalty.

The Obamas made history, becoming the first African-American president and first lady in the United States. Many thought it couldn’t happen, but the Obamas withstood the test of time, shaking off all haters, racists and political adversaries, with our “Forever President” serving for two terms. He is arguably one of the best presidents of all time.

“Barack and I spent eight years trying to operate in complete perfection because we didn’t feel like we had a margin for error,” the first lady told Sarah Jessica Parker in December when her “Becoming” tour stopped at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for a Q&A. “Which we were used to, because oftentimes when you’re the first or the only, the bar shifts a lot. The bar gets set, you meet it, you exceed it, they move the bar.”

The First Family made the “American Dream” attainable for every young black boy and girl looking up to them. And setting the bar high was in both of their DNA. The two were go-getters from the start.

Barack -- or Barry as others called him -- was a 27-year-old Harvard Law School student beginning work as a summer associate at a Chicago firm when he was paired with 25-year-old Michelle Robinson, another Harvard Law graduate, who was to be his mentor.

It is safe to say it was love at first sight for him, not so much for her. She wanted to keep everything professional, thinking it would be “tacky” for the only two black associates at the firm to date each other.

Leslie Larose-Nash, Furniture Store Owner

By N.L. Preston

Vol. 25, Issue 4

LONE STAR SCHOLARSHIP LUNCH ON PAGE 8

TSU FIRESIDE CHAT ON PAGE 9

2 AFRAMNEWS.COM Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman/Publisher Shirley Ann Malonson, President/CEO/Publisher NL Preston: Managing Editor Todd Rogers: Layout Designer Isaiah Robinson: Contributing Writer General: news@aframnews.com Ads: sales@aframnews.com Website: aframnews.com Artwork: prod@aframnews.com African-American News&Issues

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FEBRUARY 16, 2020

OPINION & EDITORIAL

GREATER TEXAS AREA

CANCEL GAYLE EARN THE SACRIFICE Partin’ the Waters

By Omawale Luthuli-Allen

Mrs. King, in your CBS This Morning interview with Lisa Leslie about Kobe Bryant, you violated propriety and good common-sense journalism. Did you forget that his family was grieving and emotionally distressed? Asking for commentary about a youthful extramarital sexual encounter was way out of line. It was bad judgment to sneakily slap his wife and family by ambushing his legacy.

Why can’t the paparazzi let the Bryants mourn in peace? Perhaps this is a “fair game” for living powerful people facing down a jury of their peers, but how is this fair game for someone who has died? Kobe had his day in the courts and now he is unable to defend himself. Would you take the same liberties with Harvey Weinstein’s or Jeffrey Epstein’s legacy? Oprah’s superstar status can’t rescue you from this journalistic folly.

Snoop Dog is mad and tens of millions of fans are dismayed.

Snoop is channeling and echoing the righteous outrage of the masses, not just the hip hop community when he says

LEAVE the HELL alone with KOBE, but many of us are dismayed at why SNOOP referenced Gayle with the B I T – H word in his Instagram post. If SNOOP had waited until the cool of the evening and lowered the temperature, the response would have been tempered and reasoned. Most of us know that you don’t deserve death threats, but you will probably create more resentment by explaining yourself into a cul de sac. Just issue an apology, or at a minimum, say that you regret the harm that you caused to Vanessa and Kobe’s family and legacy. Say that you didn’t feel the electricity in the air and that your intent was not to call pain.

I am not calling on Snoop Dogg to issue a forceful mea culpa for targeting you and your comments because Snoop will probably tell me to go and get blessed real good.

A rapper should not have a license to spray misogynistic invectives into the public discourse because mass anger is one step from danger.

This dispute does not need to escalate and further divide us into polarizing camps. Let’s be firm with the opposition, flexible with friends and uncompromising with ourselves and how we practice our craft. We will be unable to lift ourselves by unprincipled attacks on others.

News Wit Attitude By Miss News Wit Attitude

@NewsWitAttitude

We do it for our New Year’s Resolutions, we do it when a shocking death rocks the nation, and we do it when experiencing a personal health crisis or when something hits “too close to home” -- we vow to ourselves that we are going to “live our best lives” and “make every moment count,” and we try to stick to our “new ways” for a while before falling back into our old patterns.

Why must tragedy strike for us to “get it?”

Why is it so hard for us to realize that EVERY DAY we wake up above ground and not below it, we must LIVE LIFE WITH PURPOSE! HOW we live in this world and whose lives we impact along the way matters; not how much money we make, how cute our “baby hair” is, what cars we drive and how fat our backsides are.

I hate to slap a few of you in the face – nah, I quite enjoy it sometimes -- but some of the things you are foolishly patting yourselves on the back for (like how many followers you have on Instagram) mean absolutely NOTHING to the people you think you are impressing.

My favorite poem as a child was about a man named Richard Cory, a rich man whom people admired. The poem began, “Whenever Richard Cory went downtown, We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim.”

What left my 5th grade mind in a daze was the end of the poem. After speaking about how rich Cory was, in fact it said he was “richer than a king,” the poem ends by telling us, “And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head.”

What in the hell? I mean, how could the man who had everything kill himself? Because riches do not equate to happiness.

All rich people are not singing and dancing every night and not all poor people are singing the blues.

Think about our ancestors, enslaved Africans who learned to turn scraps into soul food, became medicine men and women by learning how to mend the lashes on their backs and who figured out the North Star was a path to freedom. Our ancestors turned pockets of New York into a Harlem Renaissance, a preacher-led bus boycott into a civil rights movement, and a street hustler into one of the most “by any means necessary” prolific leaders of all time.

How do we repay their sacrifices? By sagging our

pants, beefing on social media, throwing subliminal slugs in online memes and crying every five minutes that someone is “hating” on us?

What about giving back? What about volunteering at a soup kitchen, visiting your elderly loved ones and cutting the grass, cleaning out the garage or just spending a day with them to listen to them “talk for a spell.” Have you paid attention to the kids in your neighborhood? Do you know their names? If some of you got to know the children around you, actually practicing the “it takes a village to raise a child” mentality, Little Johnny from next door might be inspired to do something positive instead of climbing through your window when you are away, and ultimately, becoming another spin number in the INJUSTICE system.

“WE MUST LIVE LIFE WITH

PURPOSE!”

Fathers, train your sons. Mothers, groom your daughters. Parents, LOVE your children and the kids around you who need love, too.

Blessings truly come to those who bless others.

Stop talking about it or bragging about it, and actually BE about it. A little bit goes a long way. Your ancestors paved the way for you to have a better life. Make them proud.

EARN their sacrifice.

GREATER TEXAS AREA

FEBRUARY 16, 2020

OPINION & EDITORIAL

YOUNG HEADS Truth And Love

By Isaiah Robinson

We’re young and “grown,” but damn we have so much to learn about being grown! It feels good to be free and no one can tell you nothin’ or what to do because you’re an adult. We tend to think we know everything when evidently, we don’t right now.

We young millennials have so many dreams for ourselves and plenty of goals that we’ve set for the future; however, we catch ourselves in webs and traps that we may have heard when we were younger from our parents about the real cold game of LIFE. If we want to learn about the game, we’ve got to learn from those who have a joystick in their hands now or the ones who’ve punched in their last time clock.

The “old heads” before us may come at us foul about how to play this game and what we need to know, but don’t kill the messengers; they know what this game is like and some have been dealt a bad hand and/or even worse.

As we collect the jewels the elders give to us to

hold on to, be attentive to the gems that are given to you.

Some of those who’ve come before us may be jealous of the younger generation because of the path that we’re on that they never took, but now know they should have; so, they give you a tainted jewel to misguide you.

But there are many more who are sincerely trying to guide us.

As we grab those pearls of wisdom from our teachers, we have to collect the diamonds from our own bad mistakes and experiences and learn from them.

Some of our young heads have already felt what life when we take the wrong path, and for others, well, that path is right around the corner.

We’ve seen, heard and --for some--observed what will happen if we take the road that leads to our own destruction; so, it’s up to us to decide if we learn from what the older generation and our parents tell us.

The truth doesn’t feel good, but our predecessors only tell us because they care, and they’ve been down the road we’re walking through.

Our people don’t want us to feel the same pain they did.

We have a lot to learn about “being grown,” and the only person in the way of our dreams is ourselves.

At the end of it all, we just need to LISTEN!

FROM H-TOWN TO HOLLYWOOD

‘HAIR LOVE’ AT OSCARS

AFRAMNEWS.COM 3

HIGHLIGHTING NATURAL BLACK HAIR IN HOLLYWOOD

Whoopi Goldberg

De’Andre’s story grabbed headlines when the Barbers Hill Independent School District told him he could not walk with the graduating class. He was invited to the Academy Awards by former NBA player Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union.

LOS ANGELES, CA. – From being told to remove his dreadlocks or don’t attend graduation, to walking on the red carpet at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards, De’Andre Arnold is proudly showing everyone he will not be bullied into chopping off his hair, which is now the center of national attention.

“It’s like, look at me,” the Texas teen said in an interview with the New York Times. “The little kid with dreads is at the Oscars. While all the people at home are mad? I’m at the Oscars.”

De’Andre was invited to the Academy Awards by former NBA player Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, who were producers of the animated short film “Hair Love,” which took home Oscar gold.

The Wades paid for travel and accommodations for De’Andre and his mom, while Dove paid for their hair, makeup, wardrobe, and tickets.

The touching animated short features a Black father who learns how to do his young daughter’s hair while his wife is in the hospital. The film was written, produced and directed by Matthew A. Cherry, a former pro football player, and co-produced by Karen Rupert Toliver. The film also features the

voice of Issa Rae (“Insecure”).

When asked about what excited him the most about going to the Oscars, De’Andre said, “I’m excited to see all the celebrities, just being close to them you know. Just breathe the same air as them, I guess.”

De’Andre’s story grabbed headlines when the Barbers Hill Independent School District told him he could not walk with the graduating class if he did not change his hair. Even though he has worn his dreadlocks throughout high school, he was suspended in December.

De’Andre, who is African-American with Trinidadian descent, has been growing his dreads for years because of his culture and believes the policy is sexist and a violation of his civil rights.

The teen’s parents removed him from Barbers Hill High School and placed him in another school.

De’Andre has gained support from Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and Cal. Governor Gavin Newsom. And during the Oscars, he received a shoutout from Cherry during his acceptance speech.

Congratulations De’Andre! Continue to celebrate the beauty, uniqueness, and power of your hair.

Bob Marley

Ava DuVernay

Wale

MIKE GETS IT.

MIKE GETS IT DONE.

THE ENDURING LEGACY OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONTINUES TO STAND IN THE WAY OF CREATING WEALTH IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

9 Creating 1 million new Black homeowners.

CHILDREN WITH A GOOD EDUCATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM. KEEPING KIDS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THE KEY TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.

MIKE’S GREENWOOD INITIATIVE IS A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL APPROACH TO CREATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR BLACK AMERICANS. IT INCLUDES: 9 Supporting the development of 100,000 new Black-owned businesses.

9 Investing $70 billion in neighborhoods that need it most.

DURING HIS TIME AS MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, MIKE: 9 Increased teacher salaries by 43% and Black student graduation rates by 53%.

9 Reduced crime to historic lows by cutting the murder rate in half and reducing juvenile detention by 36%.

MIKE BLOOMBERG IS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITH A PLAN TO BUILD REAL WEALTH FOR BLACK AMERICA AND A TRACK RECORD FOR GETTING THINGS DONE. For more information visit

MikeForBlack America.com

Paid For by Mike Bloomberg 2020

GREATER TEXAS AREA

BLACK HISTORY

FEBRUARY 16, 2020

AFRAMNEWS.COM 5

BLACK HISTORY MONTH HIGHLIGHT

DREADLOCK CULTURE

Dreadlocks – the traditional, yet controversial hairstyle has been around for centuries. Despite the issues we’ve come across in European society, it’s important to understand the reasons and the impact the style has on one’s culture and spirituality.

It is unknown the exact date the hairstyle originated, but, according to the book, “Twisted: My Dreadlock Chronicles” by Dr. Bert Ashe, professor of English and American studies at the University of Richmond, the first written evidence is in what is now India’s Vedic scriptures, which show the deity Shiva wearing the style.

“The word used in the Vedic scriptures is ‘jaTaa,’ which means ‘twisted lock of hair,” he writes.

Others can argue that the first examples of dreadlocks date back to ancient Egypt, where dreadlocks appeared on Egyptian artifacts. Mummified remains of ancient Egyptians with dreadlocks have even been recovered from archaeological sites.

In the Old Testament,

the book recounts the tale of Samson and Delilah, in which his strength was directly linked to ‘the seven locks on his head.’ And Delilah said unto Samson, “Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound.”

And he said unto her, “If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web,” Judges 16:13 King James Version.

Many who grow dreadlocks do so for religious or spiritual reasons.

Most religions embrace dreadlocks as a sign of holiness—of those who are most dedicated to the path—to the point of taking a sacred vow.

Others who grow their locs from different faiths look at their hair as a form of strength and power, plus a disregard of vanity and things of this world.

The hairstyle is also a Rastafarian belief that knotted hair prevents energy from escaping through the top of the head and hair, allowing it to remain in the body

and aid in the strength of mind, body, and spirit.

In the 1980s, stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Marley, and Jean-Michael Basquiat brought dreadlocks to mainstream media, giving Black Americans what could be called “cultural permission” to wear locs, which lead the way for artists in the ‘90s, including Lauryn Hill, Ani DiFranco, Boy George, and Lenny Kravitz to rock the style, too.

In today’s workforce and in public schools, the hairstyle has been through many wars as violating dress code policies and workers arguing that the style is a threat, messy or unprofessional.

Many celebrities and people of other races try to wear the hairstyle, only to only end up misappropriating the style and offending African-Americans, it’s flattering to know that we still influence others’ cultures who may have previously deemed the style as offensive. Keep rockin’ ‘dread heads!

CELEBRATES

BLACK HISTORY MONTH February 2020 LoneStar.edu/BlackHistory

8 AFRAMNEWS.COM

FEBRUARY 16, 2020

EDUCATION

GREATER TEXAS AREA

LONE STAR COLLEGE STUDENTS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS AT CHANCELLOR’S DONOR APPRECIATION LUNCH HOUSTON – Lone Star College students shared personal stories of triumph, overcoming struggles and a commitment to their education at the Chancellor’s Donor Appreciation Lunch hosted by Lone Star College Foundation.

“It is my great privilege to host this event, now in its 27th year,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor. “Listening to these students reminds all of us what an important role Lone Star College plays in helping people receive a quality education and enhanced skills so that they can contribute to our community’s economic vitality.”

The Chancellor’s Donor Appreciation Lunch (formally known as the Chancellor’s Breakfast) recognized 14 LSC students for their winning essays. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship made possible due to the generosity of LSC Foundation donors.

Seven of the 14 scholarship winners were selected to read their essays including Adrian Zepeda, LSC-CyFair; Eric Garcia, LSC-Houston North; Karina Pina, LSC-Kingwood; Prisca Mongare, LSC-Montgomery; Martha Rabadan, LSC-North Harris; Angus Penland, LSC-Tomball; and Dylan Garcia, LSC-University Park.

Scholarships were also awarded to Nancy Ortega, LSC-CyFair; Jonathan Monterosa, LSC-Houston North; Raul Peralta, LSC-Kingwood; Adrián Aguirre, LSC-Montgomery; Jesse Alvarez, LSC-North Harris; Dejah Serna, LSC-Tomball; and Thomeka Ramirez, LSC-University Park.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for our donors to hear directly from the students they are helping to support,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSC Foundation executive director.

“The scholarships awarded today will go a long way to strengthen our community thanks to the generous support from the many individuals, families, businesses, and foundations.”

Each year, LSC students are invited to participate in the essay contest to write about “How my Lone Star College experience has influenced my life.” Winners are selected by campus committees before the luncheon, which took place Jan. 30 at the Lone Star Community Building in The Woodlands.

Excerpts from this year’s student essay winners who spoke at the Chancellor’s Donor Appreciation Lunch:

Adrian Zepeda, LSC-CyFair “Lone Star College’s location made it easy to attend to my studies in a welcoming environment that was proximal to my house at a time when everything seemed like a huge obstacle. I have Lone Star College to thank for amazing resources that were available to me in the case that I needed help after not being able to attend a class for a few days due to my younger brother who was involved in a car accident.”

ment and nurturing. It is a story of a father of 4 who, although he was late to show up, he was not judged but was welcomed. He was not discouraged and was demonstrated from everyone at Lone Star College, from the Dean down to the person that welcomes you at the front desk, your education, your experience, and your future is the most important resource in this building.”

that no matter how bad it is, leaving school is not an option. Education is the key to it all but being a good and grateful person along with it is the secret to purpose.”

Pictured (left to right) are Gennifer Kelly, M.B.A., LSC Foundation board member; Prisca Mongare and Adrián Aguirre, LSC-Montgomery students; and Dr. Rebecca L. Riley, LSC-Montgomery president.

Pictured (left to right) are Dr. Alton Smith, LSC Board of Trustees chair and LSC Foundation ex-officio; Eric Garcia and Jonathan Monterosa, LSC-Houston North students; and Dr. Quentin A. Wright, LSC-Houston North president.

Prisca Mongare, LSC-Montgomery “My lifelong dream of attending school and getting the best quality education in the U.S. is now moving forward thanks to generous educational scholarships like these. My goal in life is to become a medical anesthesiologist and use that knowledge to change the health care system of my home country. Through all the great lessons and values, I have learned at Lone Star College, I believe I am well equipped to achieve my goals and be the change that I want to see in this world.”

Pictured (left to right) are Nancy Shortsleeve, LSC Foundation board member; Karina Pina and Raul Peralta, LSC-Kingwood students; and Dr. Katherine Persson, LSC-Kingwood president.

Pictured (left to right) are Fred F. Caldwell, LSC Foundation board member; Adrian Zepeda and Nancy Ortega, LSC-CyFair students; and Dr. Seelpa Keshvala, LSC-CyFair president.

Eric Garcia, LSC-Houston North “My Lone Star College experience is one of compassion, encourage-

Karina Pina, LSC-Kingwood “Being part of Lone Star College-Kingwood is amazing. I know a better life is hard work so I keep pushing forward. I know someday I will look back at all the struggles and feel proud that I overcame each and every one of them. Someday I can tell anyone who needs advice

Pictured (left to right) are James B. Harrison, III, LSC Foundation board member; Martha Rabadan and Jesse Alvarez, LSC-North Harris students; and Dr. Archie L. Blanson, LSC-North Harris interim president.

GREATER TEXAS AREA

Martha Rabadan, LSC-North Harris “Lone Star has College had a great impact on my life by helping me see the reality around me. As I applied to different universities, I never really thought about how I would pay for it.

I assumed I would receive enough financial aid or my parents would help me pay for it. Lone Star College has impacted my life by having so many resources for me and other students to use and it is a relief.”

FEBRUARY 16, 2020

EDUCATION

that walking into the doors of Lone Star College for that third time was one of my greatest achievements.

My advisors, mentors, and professors all believed in me which in return convinced me to believe in myself.”

Founded in 1991, the Lone Star College Foundation has expanded its initial investment of $20,000 into an extensive portfolio of over $30 million. More than $17 million is currently committed to endowed scholarships and the remainder funds special scholarships and supports academic and workforce programs throughout Lone Star College.

AFRAMNEWS.COM 9

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY NEWS

TSU FIRESIDE CHAT

Photo courtesy of Isaiah Robinson/ AANI

“Getting in the Trenches: Navigating Race Talk during Hostile Times” fireside chat with the University of Houston-Downtown Center for Critical Race Studies, Dr. Tina Harris.

Pictured (left to right) are Saul Valentin, LSC Foundation immediate past chair; Angus Penland and Dejah Serna, LSC-Tomball students; and Dr. Lee Ann Nutt, LSC-Tomball president.

Angus Penland, LSC-Tomball “My new college life has affected my happiness, my friendships, my opportunities and my way of thinking. Even though I have only been enrolled for a mere three months, and graduated from High School in May, the Lone Star College experience has already had a bigger and greater impact on me then High School ever did.”

Pictured (left to right) are Dr. Bob McCallister, LSC Foundation board member; Thomeka Ramirez and Dylan Garcia, LSC-University Park students; and Dr. Shah S. Ardalan, LSC-University Park president.

Dylan Garcia, LSC-University Park “My college education at Lone Star College has changed my life by giving me a chance at a future I can be proud of. In hindsight, I can easily say

LSC Foundation raised $1.7 million and provided nearly $1.5 million in scholarships to 1,500 students, as well as $934,000 awarded in program and emergency support to Lone Star College in 2018-19. The mission of LSC Foundation is to change lives through student scholarships and quality educational programs achieved by excellence in relationship building, fundraising and investment management. Visit LoneStar.edu/Giving for more information.

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.

HOUSTON – Texas Southern University hosted the “Getting in the Trenches: Navigating Race Talk during Hostile Times” fireside chat with the University of Houston-Downtown Center for Critical Race Studies (CCRS) Scholar-in-Resident Dr. Tina Harris and TSU Interim Dean of the School of Communications Dr. Rockell Brown-Burton.

The fireside chat allowed students to ask questions and gain an understanding of dealing with racial conversations in professional situations and how to handle those circumstances.

Harris is a professor at Louisiana State University (LSU) and an internationally renowned interracial communication scholar with particular interests in race, media representations and racial social justice.

“My goal is to equip them not only with the knowledge, but with the skills necessary for them to have effective communication in their relationships outside the classroom, and they can ultimately dismantle racism,” Harris said.

Harris is also the nation’s first chair of race, media, and cultural literacy.

Harris and Brown-Burton spoke about experiencing racism on an international level, educating people and helping them to break down the racial barriers, in addition to discussing situations dealing with students from public white institutions who were resistant toward her teachings and answered questions from the students in the crowd.

“As much as we need to have this conversation with other people of color outside the African-American community, nothing is going to change unless those in dominant cultures accept the knowledge and help move forward,” Brown-Burton said. “For things to move forward, it has to come from those who have the privilege to acknowledge their privilege to help us progress onward.”

“While race is at the center of the problem, there are many forms of oppression that exist in society, Harris said. “If we are going to live in a society where everything is equitable—not just fair, but where everyone has access to resources just like those in power—then we have to dismantle those systems through knowledge and power.”

The chat helped students have a better understanding of the discipline of communication outside of their major, focus, and race.

“I think this event went pretty good,” said TSU freshman Gerald Sanders. “It was an educational and enlightening experience being around knowledgeable African-Americans who knew what they were talking about and asked the right questions. I believe this is a step to something greater.”

10 AFRAMNEWS.COM

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QUOTES FROM THE OBAMAS

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“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek” - B. Obama

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“There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.” - M. Obama “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress” - B. Obama “I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.”

- M. Obama “We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.” - M. Obama “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”

- B. Obama “When they go low, we go high.”

- M. Obama

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FEBRUARY 16, 2020

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WHATS HAPPENIN’ AROUND HOUSTON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 - MARCH 21

Inspired Visions: The Art of Karl E. Hall FOLTZ GALLERY 2143 Westheimer Rd. Free Admission

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 FEBRUARY 23 “The Green Book” ENSEMBLE THEATRE 3535 Main Street 7:30PM SHOWTIME

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 8

“Fefu and Her Friends” presented by The Catastrophic Theatre MATCH HOUSTON 3400 Main Street 7PM-10PM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Valentine’s with Patti LaBelle and Babyface w/ Special Guest Tamia THE SMART FINANCIAL CENTRE SUGAR LAND 7PM-10PM

BOBBY continued from cover

Fast forward to one of the worst storms Texas has ever seen and the death of his wife, the aging athlete found himself alone – the couple never had children - and in the fight of his life.

Simon bounced around from shelters and temporary homes before eventually finding permanent housing at a senior living apartment community in southwest Houston.

Grateful to have a roof over his head, his focus was on getting mobile.

For the last two years, he has been forced to scoot around in a busted wheelchair, and even though he’s filled out mountains of paperwork and visited multiple doctors, no promises

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

The Sade Experience presented by Channeling Sade - Tiffany Starling CHAPMAN & KIRBY 2118 Lamar Street 7PM-12AM Tickets: $25

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Lenora X Microsoft Black History Concert MICROSOFT Houston Galleria 6:30PM-8:30PM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21

“Black Girl Church” Short Film Screening MOODY CENTER FOR THE ARTS 6100 Main Street 7PM-9PM Free Admission

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 - FEBRUARY 23 Living + Room Powered by Jameson HOUSE OF BLUES FOUNDATION ROOM 1204 Caroline Street 9PM-2AM

have been kept. With his arthritis getting worse by the day, he can barely get around.

Leslie LaroseNash, the owner of Leslie’s Furniture in Missouri City, saw Simon’s story, the tiny mattress he was sleeping on and his clothes stacked neatly on the floor. She knew exactly what he needed.

She handpicked a new queen-sized bedroom suite, with sturdy top-of-the-line mattresses and dressers for his clothing, in addition to giving him a new living room group. The blackowned family operated business then surprised him with a delivery.

“We love putting smiles on people’s faces and Mr. Bobby’s smile

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

February Art Behind Walls Exhibit GYPSY POET 2404 Austin St. 2PM-9PM

s ard it C ted d e Cr ccep ay A -a-w Lay

Wallet, Umbrella, Travel Mug Gifts

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29

Bob Lee, Da Mayor of Fifth Ward Collages MYSTIC LYON 5017 Lyons Ave. 6PM-9PM

OCTOBER 19 FEBRUARY 29 Lee’s Congo Barre, NEW PAINTINGS

by El Franco Lee II MYSTIC LYON 5017 Lyons Ave 11AM-9PM

Keepin’ It Moving

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

The Young Millionaires Mentorship Series POST OAK HOTEL UPTOWN HOUSTON 1600 West Loop South 8AM-5PM www.carterbrothers.com

was priceless. There’s nothing like being a blessing to others,” Larose-Nash said.

Dozens of letters have poured in, offering help to provide food, clothing, supplements, and wheelchairs.

A team, led by Oilers legend Elvin Bethea, is sorting through it all.

While Simon still has a way to go before walking again, his trust is soaring and his Faith in God, which has never left, remains strong.

There still is one void – his wife.

“I miss her,” Simon told AANI. “I wish she was here to enjoy what is happening today.”

AANI will provide more updates as they become available.

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