November 28, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
WHITE AMERIKKKA SAVES ONE, LOSES 3 IN LATEST BLACK LIVES MATTERS TRIALS out what “trapped like One hung his head a rat” really means. On Nov. 24, Travis low, one bit his lip and one just looked like McMichael, his father the world bottomed Greg McMichael and out on him, but one their neighbor Wilthing is for certain, liam “Roddie” Bryan the three men who were all found guilty thought they could of felony murder in the “kill a n$%#@” for cold-blooded killing of sport and get away Ahmaud Arbery. “That to me demwith it will soon find
onstrates what a fair trial ought to look like all of the time. The judge held their feet to the fire, the judge followed the law, the judge admonished them (attorneys) out of the presence of the jury,” said Craig A. Washington, legendary criminal and civil
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, IS IT JUSTICE FOR THEM AND CRIMINAL FOR US?
“Addressing Current & Historical Realties Affecting Our Community”
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
Vol. 26, Issue 45
rights attorney who is also a former US Congressman and State Senator. “There is an old saying, if the law is with you and the facts are against you, then you argue the law. If the law is against you and the facts are
Trials cont’d page 5
THE HONORABLE COLEMAN RETIRING By: Nevaeh Richardson
After more than 30 years serving the Houston area, longtime politician Garnet Fredrick Coleman has decided it’s time to retire. Coleman, who has represented parts of central and southeast Houston in state House District 147 since 1991, said his retirement was based primarily on health reasons. After nearly collapsing on the House floor in early May, Coleman battled a severe illness that eventually led to the amputation of his lower right leg. Coleman cont’d He assured that he still plans page 4
“YOUR VOTE AND YOUR MONEY ARE THE TWO MOST POWERFUL THINGS YOU HAVE. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE THEM TO.” - ROY DOUGLAS MALONSON
2 AFRAMNEWS.COM
November 28, 2021
President/Chief Editor
Tristar
Griselda Ramirez: Production
News:
A Revival of God
Consciousness Bobby E. Mills, PhD
Office: (713) 692-1892 Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Living In Graveyards America has too many citizens living in graveyards: racism, sexism, and classism. Therefore, individuals do not have to be physically dead in order to be in a graveyard of their own making; physically alive, but spiritually and mentally dead. Name the ungodly “ism” (sin) and America can produce a living classical exhibit. A graveyard mentality is a death oriented mindset rather than a more abundant life mentality. Jesus declared: “I come that you might have life, and have life more abundantly”. God is the author of life and peace. The devil comes to bring lies, rob, steal, create confusion, and death. Guns, guns and more guns is the social order of the day in American society; not peace, shame, shame, shame on US. When individuals live in graveyards they invariably become demonic and death oriented; even
commit suicide in order to make the graveyard their final resting place. Question: who wants to be in a graveyard? A graveyard is only a final resting place for your physical remains, because your Spirit is either in heaven or hell! America, it is appointed unto to all individuals once to die, and after death the judgment. Where your soul/spirit ends-up is the real deal based upon the Holy Scriptures of the Bible: heaven or hell. Too many Americans are so busy thinking about death and instruments of death; until they cannot live in peace and harmony with one another, because: “Man that is born of a woman is a few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14: 1). Job spiritually understood that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, and all that dwells therein”. Job understood LIFE, because out of his own mouth and spiritual heart he declared: “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh; blessed be the name of the Lord.” However, Christian Right Evangelicals, The GOP, and White Nationalist Groups in their selfish desire for White Privilege do not understand nor
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
EDITORIAL
desire to understand what Job understood; “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1: 21-22). In all of his trials and tribulations it is Biblically recorded that Job did not sin, nor did he charge God foolishly: (What A Man!). American minorities, we need to pray day and night for Christian Right Evangelicals, The GOP, and White Nationalist Groups that God bring them to themselves, and know God in them, and act accordingly. These groups should cease living in graveyards of their own creation. Therefore, without a mindset change that is oriented toward godly inclusion the whole world is in big trouble, because America is one of the important bright lights of the world. American political discourse is supercharged with a graveyard mentality; especially the GOP with its vile autocratic death orientation: my way or the highway.
For more visit aframnews.com
Partin’ the Waters By Omowale Luthuli-Allen
New Rules: If you appease the mob, they will destroy the republic. There are certain actions that change the course of history. How we respond to the September 6 insurrection may well determine the viability of a short experiment in representative democracy known as the United States of America. If the response meets the moment, we may add another 250 years of life span to an exceptional experiment. I am one that believes that even if history does not repeat itself, history rhymes. There is historical precedent for the September 6 Commission, SHAY’s rebellion, 1786. Keep in mind that the 13 fledging colonies did not have a real constitution, only the Articles of Confederation. Understanding the underlying reasons for SHAY’s rebellion and the medicine prescribed for the sick patient will help
us emerge from this dangerous and tricky situation. Daniel Shay was a farmer and veteran of the War of Independence from Great Britain and King George. Shay carried a bullet in his leg from the war and he shouldered oppressive debts to the local merchants. Merchants and their class flunkies opposed bankruptcy declarations and debt relief for the backbone of the country. Merchants wanted repayment and when Shaw and thousands of other farmers asked for relief and leniency, they got the same treatment that the Hebrew children received before pharaoh. MAKE BRICKS OUT OF STRAW. The aggrieved farmers ignited a popular revolt by farmers. They seized statehouses and prevented confiscation. This segment ends when the merchants finance and empower a private army to crush the rebellion. George Washington came out of retirement to help form a strong federal government in order to stop internal rebellions and secessions.
New Rules cont’d page 3
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
November 28, 2021
ing our democracy. The loonies, mostly Republicans, are preparing to make the country ungovernable by 2024 by putting legislatures in place that will refuse to certify the vote and decertify state electors. These plans can be defeated if Black people, people of color and the white allies out organize, over perform and out vote those who want
want to fuse District 9 and District 18 in Texas and have ConThere was a rethinkgressman Al Green ing of what is needed and Congresswoman in this moment, mainSheila Jackson Lee to ly new rules to overoppose each other. come weaknesses that Next on the agenda lead to insurgents deis for Biden-Harris stroying the system. to achieve the Build Washington and the Back Better Act. Even federalists realized if there is not one Rethat they would have publican House of to open a can of whip Representative to supass to save the system port BBB. Then, we from collapse. pass the For the PeoThe argument is that ple Act and the insurgents BanJohn Lewis non, Trump, Voter Rights Miller and the Act. white supremaHopefully, cists must enthe Democrats dure the wrath must underof the Justice stand that the Department and wolf is at the the American door, and they people. Their must stop the grave digging self-cannibalactions are unism in order c o n s c i on a b l e . to not become Defecating on a meal for the the hallowed wolves. Rep. floors of the capBennie Thompitol, displaying son, Rep. Adam signage of Camp Schiff and AtAuschwitz and torney General Confederate Merrick Garflags means that land must acthey must be celerate. The thwarted beelection of fore they can 2020 has givfully lock and en permission. load. Many of us Our country can get have not forgotten to turn evolution that 11 million peo- backwards. Specifi- another 250 years by ple are dead because cally, this means that refusing to be divided of a lost cause Nazi everyone who is eli- and opening a can of idea. This cobra can- gible in our family and whip ass against the not be charmed into community to vote anti-unionists. This is its lair. September 6 must lean in and vote the time it will take was a dress rehears- for the forward lean- for Black people and al for Fort Sumpter II. ing. Do I have to be our allies to transSumpter II will ignite explicit? VOTE BLUE! form this country into Beto O’ Rourke for a MORE PERFECT the civil conflict that governor of Texas will UNION. We must they desire if appropriate remedies are stall the anti-democ- seize this opportunity. not adopted. Yes, we racy forces. These are - AANI were that close to los- the lunatic forces that
New Rules cont’d
AFRAMNEWS.COM 3 Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
TALK TO HIS DOCTOR ABOUT COVID VACCINES. BECAUSE HE’S IRREPLACEABLE. COVID hospitalizations of young people have tripled since the start of summer. However, vaccines are highly effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths, even from the Delta variant. Find vaccines near you at vaccines.gov
4 AFRAMNEWS.COM Coleman cont’d to stay “involved in public policy as much as” he can. “I’m proud of the work I’ve done and my office has done,” Coleman told the media. “It’s just time to do something else — I’m 60 years old [and want to] use the rest of my time doing positive things.” Coleman was born on September 8, 1961, in Washington, DC and raised in Houston. His father is John B. Coleman, a Houston doctor. As of 2006, the family of Coleman’s father had lived
November 28, 2021 in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood for over 100 years. Coleman graduated from Jack Yates High School and attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. In 1990, graduated from the University of St. Thomas cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts. He also completed the Harvard University Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government. Coleman was elected to his first term as a state representative in 1991 at age 29. His district includes Downtown Houston,
the Hobby Airport area, Midtown Houston, Sagemont, and the Third Ward. Coleman has been named Texas Monthly Ten Best Legislators List on two occasions. He also received the 2005 Reintegration Award presented by Eli Lilly and Company, a national award given in acknowledgment of efforts to increase services and decrease the stigma associated with mental illness. Regarding Third Ward, Coleman expressed his opposition to gentrification and a desire to keep the original residents
in the neighborhood. Coleman had some control over the Midtown Tax Increment Financing District, which bought land in the Third Ward and enacted deeds restricting what may be done with the land, so that the land could indefinitely be used to house low-income residents. In 2009, Coleman said, “We learned a lot from the debacle in the Fourth Ward so it would be stupid not to respond to the negative byproducts of rapid development. We want to find people who will make this community better by
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION becoming part of its fabric, not by changing its fabric.” Regarding Fourth Ward, in 2009, Coleman said that it cannot recapture the sense of community that it used to have. Coleman added “the residents got pushed to the suburbs, and the businesses got wiped away.” He joins a growing list of lawmakers deciding not to seek reelection. “I’ve enjoyed all 30 years. But it’s very difficult in the environment that we’re in to get much fulfillment out of serving,” he said.
Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner said Coleman’s retirement is a loss for the Democratic Caucus, the Texas House and the entire state of Texas. “While the Texas House will not be the same without him. The impact he has made will be felt for many years to come in his policy accomplishments, as well as through the many colleagues he has mentored and staff he has trained,” Turner expressed. - AANI
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION Trials cont’d with you, then you argue the facts. If they are both against you, then you just argue.” But just as it seems justice will be served for the Arbery family, the families of the two men killed by young alleged White Supremacist Kyle Rittenhouse will not see any form of justice in a system that is, for the most part, stacked against Black America and those in support of it. “One is the example of what trials ought to be like, and the other is an example of what trials should never be. The Kyle Rittenhouse trial was a farce. The judge was not there to be fair and impartial,” Washington said. On Nov. 19, the 18-yearold killer was found not guilty of all charges in the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and was also cleared of charges from the injuries sustained by Gaige Grosskreutz. The three victims were shot by Rittenhouse On Aug. 25, 2020 at a rally for Jacob Blake, a Black man who was left paralyzed after being shot by a
November 28, 2021 police officer. Rittenhouse claimed he went to the site of the protest in Wisconsin in order to protect businesses and provide medical help if needed. His mother dropped him off, knowing the then 17-year-old was armed with an AR-15-style rifle. In the end, he killed two people and severely injured another. The men killed were Whites who supported the Black Lives Matter movement and the jury determined Rittenhouse would not be punished for spilling their blood. After his acquittal, Rittenhouse visited former President Donald Trump at his home at Mar-a-Lago. The two posed for a picture together and Trump called Rittenhouse “a nice kid.” So less than a week later, there was not much confidence that another jury would hold three more White Supremacists accountable for a Black man’s death. But they did……. The McMichaels and Bryan, all arrogantly confident at first, learned that they would not get away with taking a young man away from his fam-
ily far too soon. On Feb. 23, 2020, Arbery, who was only 25 years old at the time, was out for a leisurely jog through a Georgia neighborhood when the three White men saw him in their neighborhood. They grabbed their guns, jumped into their trucks and one of them pulled out his cellphone video to capture them chasing Arbery down, cutting him off and -- in the end -- killing him. Why? The trio said they believed that, instead of jogging, Arbery was a burglar who was stealing from their homes. Arbery had no weapons nor theft or looting materials in his possession and was not committing any crime other than “jogging while Black” in the eyes of racist White America. At first, it seemed as if the McMichaels and Bryan were going to get away with it, until video surfaced two months later showing the heinous stalking and killing. And now, more than a year later, they learned that more people are beginning to understand that Black Lives DO Matter! Greg McMichael probably never thought he would pay a
AFRAMNEWS.COM 5 price. The former Georgia law enforcement officer proudly described cornering the frightened young man to investigators. “He was trapped like a rat,” the elder McMichael told Glynn County police Sgt. Roderic Nohilly after the shooting. “I think he was wanting to flee and he realized that something, you know, he was not going to get away.” Defense attorneys tried to -- unsuccessfully -- prove that the men were justified in chasing and trying to detain Arbery because they “reasonably” thought he was a burglar. Greg McMichael told police Travis McMichael, 35, fired in selfdefense as Arbery attacked with his fists and tried to grab his son’s shotgun. “He had an opportunity to flee further, you know,” Greg McMichael said. “We had chased him around the neighborhood a bit, but he wasn’t winded at all. I mean this guy was, he was in good shape.” Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski has described Arbery as an “avid runner” who lived about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the Satilla Shores neighborhood where the incident
occurred. The men chased Arbery for five minutes before shooting him dead. “The jury got it right. The man who should have been convicted of what they call murder with malice (in Georgia) and what we call first degree murder was convicted and he is going to get an automatic life sentence. They didn’t go for the death penalty. I could tell they (prosecutors) knew where they were going, and they knew what they were doing. The jury charge was right on the law. The guy who filmed it all made it happen. The case might not have ever been indicted, much less tried,” Washington explained. “They had no business in the world following that young man. They killed that little boy’s mother’s son. I want that to sink in on everybody – Black, White, Green, whatever. They killed that mother’s son just because they could, and every one of them got the right verdict and every one of them is going to get the right punishment.” Now the tables will be turned as the new “trapped rats” will be the father, son and neighbor who decided to take an innocent young man away from his family for no other reason than the color of his skin. - AANI
6 AFRAMNEWS.COM
November 28, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
KNOW YOUR HISTORY
WALLACE B. JEFFERSON By: N. L. Preston
Wallace Bernard Jefferson (born July 22, 1963) is a former -- and the first Black -- chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, who served from 2004 until 2013. In October 2013, he joined the law firm Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP as a name partner and now practices appellate law. He sits on the council of the American Law Institute and became its treasurer in May 2014. A member of the Republican Party, Jefferson was the first African American justice to serve on the Texas Supreme Court, the state’s court of last resort for civil and juvenile appeals. Jefferson is a graduate of John Jay High School in San Antonio, Texas, the James Madison College at Michigan State University and the University of Texas School of Law. In 2001, then Texas Governor Rick Perry initially appointed Jefferson to the Texas Supreme Court on April 18, 2001 to fill the vacancy left by Alberto R. Gonzales, who resigned to become White House counsel to U.S. President George W. Bush.
In November 2002, Jefferson stood for election to retain the position to which he had been appointed, and defeated William E. Moody with 56.76% of the vote. He became, together with Dale Wainwright, one of the two first African American Texans ever elected to that court. Before Jefferson could complete his new term as associate justice, however, he was again promoted. On September 20, 2004, Governor Rick Perry selected Jefferson to succeed chief justice Thomas R. Phillips, who had resigned from the court a few weeks earlier, after nearly seventeen years as chief. Jefferson was elected to the position of Chief Justice in November 2006, to serve out the remainder of Phillips’s unexpired term, and was then reelected to a full six-year term. He became the first African American chief justice of that court. In the 2008 general election contest, Jefferson defeated his Democratic Challenger, Dallas District Court Judge Jim Jordan, with 53% of the vote.
Jefferson resigned in 2013 before his sixyear term of office expired. Governor Perry then named long-term associate justice Nathan Hecht of Dallas to succeed Jefferson, and appointed Jeff Brown from Houston to fill the vacancy resulting from Hecht’s promotion to the position of chief. Jefferson is now in private practice and occasionally appears before his former colleagues on petitions for review, briefs, or for oral argument. Jefferson was elected to the American Law Institute (the ALI) in 2001, and was elected to the ALI council in 2011. In May 2014, he was named treasurer of ALI. He also serves as an adviser on the Restatement Third, the law of consumer contracts. Jefferson also chairs the ALI’s regional advisory group, covering Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. During his time on the bench, Jefferson served as president of the Conference of Chief Justices, an association of chief justices from the fifty states and U.S. territories. In 2015, Texas
Governor Greg Abbott appointed Jefferson to the Texas Historical Commission. Before he became a judge, Jefferson successfully argued two cases before the United States Supreme Court: Board of Commissioners of Bryan County, Oklahoma v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397 (1997), and Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 524 U.S. 274 (1998). In 2013, Jefferson was the recipient of the Texas Exes’ Distinguished Alumnus Award. Jefferson is a 1981 graduate of John Jay High School in Northside ISD school district in San Antonio, which paid tribute to his success and rise from humble roots by naming Wallace
B. Jefferson Middle School in his honor. The school opened August 27, 2007 and refers to the former jurist as “our namesake.” Jefferson has three
sons, and married law professor Renee Knake Jefferson on July 4, 2020, in Michigan. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer conducted the nuptials. - AANI
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
November 28, 2021
AFRAMNEWS.COM 7
MARKETPLACE ARTS, GIFTS
CHEMICAL
CHURCH
FLOWERS
MAILING
E-Z MAIL MANAGEMENT
OPEN
Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10am – 4pm
OPEN Wed., Thurs., Fri. 6130 Wheatley St. Houston, Texas 77091
AUTO REPAIR Foreign & Domestic
ASTROS TRANSMISSION Bring ad to get $125 Off
• Free Towing w/Job • Free Diagnostics • Allison Transmission Millitary & First Responders Discount Up to 3 Yrs. 30,000 Mi. • Warranty Avail.
Willie Wright Jr. Ministries, Inc. A Ministry Committed to the Worth of the WORD and Energetic Evangelism “Christ-centered, Bible-based, and Prayer-minded”
www.williewrightjr.com
2810 Rosedale St. Houston, TX 77004
Mon-Fri. 8-6pm Sat. 8-1pm
VINTAGE CARRIAGE COMPANY, LLC
TERENCE J. REED, OWNER
TERENCE J. REED, OWNER
Facebook: Go Vintage, LLC Instagram: govintagellc 713-489-8905/281-901-4966
Facebook: Go Vintage, LLC Instagram: govintagellc 713-489-8905/281-901-4966
PRINTING
COMPANY, LLC
OFFICE FURNITURE
FOR SALE
RPC PRINTING
& DESIGN, INC. “FOR ALL YOUR PRINTING NEEDS”
MON–FRI, 10A–4P 713.244.4067 713.857.0094
LOCAL
RANCH
713.244.4067 LANDSCAPING
Terrence Jelks
AFRAMNEWS.COM African-American News&Issues
SOUL FOOD
MRS. EʼS KITCHEN
MON - SAT 11AM-6PM
soul food onl y sold on saturda y
Services: Mowing, Landscape Renovation, Edging, General Lawn Clean Up, Shrub Trimming and Removal, Brush Clearing, Lawn Fertilization, Flower Bed Installations
FACEBOOK: GO VINTAGE, LLC INSTAGRAM: GOVINTAGELLC
SHOE REPAIR
t
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
TERENCE J. REED, OWNER
Kurz & Co. is bidding on “RFP #2210-02 - Bakery Products and Related Items” for the Houston Independent School District. We are seeking possible M/WBE subcontractors for the following products or services: manufacturing of bakery goods and/or delivery services. Please contact Tanya Kurz at 713-8619955 for information regarding this opportunity.
ezmailhou@aol.com
2201 W. LITTLE YORK RD. HOUSTON, TX 77091
(LOCATED INSIDE: FLOYDʼS PREMIER SERVICE)
832.277.0563
TOURS
REAL ESTATE • Family Tours • School Tours • Church Tours • Nature Walks
Landscaping by the Jelks
VINTAGE CARRIAGE
713.489.8905 281.901.4966
FOR SALE
CALL US TODAY
FOR SALE
301 Sampson
VINTAGE CARRIAGE COMPANY, LLC
713-780-9804
CHURCH
713-236-1307 CARRIAGE RIDE
6130 Wheatley St. Houston, Texas 77091
www.shirleyannflowershop.com
PLEASE WEAR MASKS
713.692.1195
713.692.1100
Services: Direct Mail Consulting, 1st Class Mail, Standard/NonProfit Mail, Mail Merge, Folding/ Tabbing/Inserting, Mailing Lists, Postcards, Political Mail, Bulk Mailing, Courier Services
PLEASE WEAR MASKS
10am – 4pm
WE OFFER QUALITY SERVICE AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
6030 Pebble Ln., Houston, TX 77087
Cell:832.713.0102
jamesbond6030pebble@gmail.com
RECY DUNN
Broker Associate Director of Commercial
WWW.HOMESDUNNRIGHT.COM ASKRECY@KWCOMMERCIAL.COM
C. 832.541.7466 O. 281.444.3900
• Education Tours • Deer Breeding Tours • Trophy Deer Hunting • Cattle Roundups • Nature Photography • Camp Fire • Hayride • Kayak • Fishing • Day Camp • Overnight Camping • Outdoor BBQ • Ranch Breakfast
8 AFRAMNEWS.COM
November 28, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
• Flu Shots • All COVID Vaccines • COVID Boosters *
All COVID Vaccines and Boosters at no cost • Go to heb.com/vaccine to make a Flu or COVID vaccine appointment. • Walk ins 10 am - 2 pm, Monday – Friday Only • Masks required to get a vaccination • Bring CDC COVID vaccine record after 1st dose * Most insurances accepted. Free for Medicare Part B.
For details see:
heb.com/vaccine
©2021 HEB, 21-9303