March 27, 2022
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
Vol. 27, Issue 10 Your vote and your money are the two most powerful things you have. Be careful who you give them to. - Roy Douglas Malonson
Jeremy lahar
BrIDGING the GaP cont. on Pg. 3
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March 27, 2022
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Judging Without Prejudice The Founders created an almost perfect governing body document; including the process by which we select judges. However, the Founders could not live within the spiritual framework of the constitutional document themselves, because they owned slaves and they were not going to give them up. Even in the twenty-first century we have GOP Senators who must judge Judges who themselves are not capable of evaluating moral character of Jurists, because many of them are complicit in the events of January 6th, 2021. Thus, their spiritual moral character is not what the Elephant left on the fairgrounds. Moreover, the so-called Red State Republicans who send these types of immoral individuals to the U. S. Senate should be ashamed of themselves! Hence, Christian Right Evangelicals, The GOP and White Nationalists: Shame! Shame! Shame! America’s governing system is called a democracy, but it is not monolithic. The GOP Senatorial mentality selected the last three Supreme
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
EDITORIAL Court Justices under the Presidential leadership of Donald J. Trump whose moral character has always been questionable. What a trio to sit in righteous judgment on moral-societal governmental issues! There is nothing in the judicial impeccable record of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as well as her educational background and judicial experience that is intellectually and morally questionable. Instead of being judged by some of the members of the GOP, they should be in her Federal Courtroom or some other Judges’ Courtroom being judged for their complicity in the immorality and illegalities of the Trump Administration, and above all, their silent consent in the events leading up to and including January 6th, 2021. Judge Jackson will not only be the first Black female; but she will also be the only Black currently serving on the Supreme Court, because Justice Thomas is in the twilight zone. The upcoming Senatorial hearings will be interesting because everyone is anxiously waiting to see how many GOP Senators will vote to confirm the most qualified individual of the last four Jurists.
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The Overflow By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
The CROWN Act It is sad that in the year of 2022, bills and laws must be made to prevent discrimination against the African American race. Discrimination is not a stranger to African Americans as we’ve been dealing with this for many years. One recent bill that was passed was the CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful World for Natural Hair. This bill “prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s texture or style of hair.” Hair has always been an important part of the African American culture. It is deeply rooted in our culture, and we take great pride in the versatility of our hair. I find it ridiculous that a bill has to be made in order for African American women to wear natural hairstyles. Over the years, some women have even been hesitant to wear their natural hair or natural hairstyles in the workplace. I know I have. It was noted that, “A 2019 study conducted by the JOY Collective said Black women were 80% more likely to feel pressure to change their hairstyles in order to fit in at the office.”
I’ve personally experienced hesitation for years about wearing natural hairstyles in the workplace. For many years, I had a relaxer to keep my hair straight, and I was told by different people at a young age to keep it straight for job interviews so I can look “professional.” This notion made me self-conscious about wearing my natural hair and other natural hairstyles. It also made me feel like others would judge me because my hair was not “straight.” The idea of having straight hair was so that we could blend in and conform to what was deemed “acceptable.” It all started with the invention of the hot comb, which is known to be created by Madam C.J. Walker. Then there was the invention of the chemical relaxer by Garret Augustus Morgan Sr., who is known to have discovered his invention by accident. It was tools like these that have made some black women in society feel as if they needed these items to manage their hair and look “professional.” It has been noted that the natural hair movement started with the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s and came back alive during the early For more visit and midaframnews.com 2000s.
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
March 27, 2022
BrIDGING the GaP
Written By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
For many years, police officers have been portrayed in a negative light by the media. This image has caused many to lose faith and trust in the ones who are meant to serve and protect. Despite this, Sergeant (Sgt.) Jeremy Lahar is on a mission to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community through his children’s book “Officer Friendly Takes on Scary Police.” Sergeant Lahar grew up in Studewood with his mom and his sister. His father was not around, and life was rough for him and his family, as they had to endure many obstacles. One of these obstacles was not having a car. “We didn’t have a car, so we were on Metro and there was a lot of walking and riding bikes,” he reflected. He even rode his bike to his first job interview and used the money from that job to buy his first car. Sgt. Lahar knows the importance of hard work and does not take anything that he has learned or gone through for granted. “When you grow up without, it makes you appreciate everything. I take all my experiences growing up and the things I had to learn from the neighborhood as a blessing and it makes me appreciate everything.” Sgt. Lahar graduated from Reagan High School in 2005, Morningside University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications and received his Master’s in Communications from Walden University in 2016. After graduating from Morningside University, he couldn’t find a job. He initially wanted to pursue work in radio, but through an internship, he saw the lack of stability with people getting laid off and that deterred him. With the need for stability, he received his teaching certification and found his
love working with kids. Sgt. Lahar uses his life experiences to help the kids he mentors. He wants them to know that they “do not have to be a victim of their circumstances.” His passion for working with young children inspired him to start his own nonprofit called the “Houston Prestige Project.” The purpose of the nonprofit was to address a certain age group of young men ranging from eight to eighteen years of age. “That’s where I felt like I was most influential and could have been swayed to go left or right,” he reflected.
Jeremy lahar Since he had to figure out a lot of stuff on his own, he wants to be that source of guidance for kids and expose them to things they may not be exposed to in a positive way. He also wants to introduce kids to people that are successful and look like them, so they can identify with them and see past their current circumstance. As a child, his relationship with police wasn’t good. “I was scared of them and the only time I saw them was when they came and took people to jail, sometimes my friends to jail.” It wasn’t until high school when his perception changed towards officers, as one of his high school football coaches
worked as an officer for the Houston Police Department. “He took me under his wing and just taught me a lot about being a young man…pushed me on the field and watched me grow up in four years. I call him my godfather, and I call him pops.” One day, after trying to figure out his next move regarding his career path, he met with his godfather for advice. He godfather mentioned how good he would be as a police officer and stated, “I know why you don’t want to do it because your old man worked in law enforcement and wasn’t around, but I think you would genuinely be good at it because you see people for people, and you know how to talk to people and you like helping people. He listened to his godfather and now Sgt. Lahar has been in law enforcement for ten years. He has “been fortunate and blessed enough to work in the capacity of Community Outreach,” and enjoys talking to kids and people, educating them, relating to them, and just building relationships.” It was his love for law enforcement, his childhood and life experiences and his vision from God that inspired him to write “Officer Friendly Takes on Scary Police.” I feel like a lot of time we take for granted these ideas and dreams that are put in our head. It was an idea that was loud. I tried to ignore it and put it off,” he stated. After going back and forth about the book, he put his ideas on paper and once he started, he couldn’t stop. Another reason why he wanted to write the book was due to the lack of repFor more visit resentation aframnews.com
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March 27, 2022
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
POLITICS
Why Does the Black Vote Matter?
By: Laisha Harris
With the full context and understanding that black people were still enslaved, the thirteen United States of America declared Independence from Great Britain in July of 1776. What distinguishes America from other forms of government is the doctrine of the separation of powers and the division of the three branches of government: executive, judicial, and legislative. The executive branch represents the power for President and his cabinet to enforce laws. The judicial branch represents the power of the elected judges that interpret the language of the law. The legislature, made up of two ‘branches,’ represent the needs/voice of a population to create law. With this doctrine came the question of who will be represented in the legislative branch, and how? The Great Compromise of 1787 created the House of Representatives, membership based on the population of the State, and Senators, two for each State, elected by the people. This means the elected power in each State depends on the free population. The Three-Fifth’s Compromise of 1787 determined that in the southern slave states, the enslaved population would receive 3/5 of the representation provided
to “all other persons.” This remained law until the end of the American Civil War in 1865. The Civil War began when 11 southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Engulfed in these southern states was the culture of abundant profits and inconsequential brutality
and economic growth of the states. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery except as punishment to a crime. Abraham Lincoln wrote a Ten Percent Plan, allowing prewar voters that take an oath of loyalty to form a new state government. This allowed freed populations of black communities to form
teenth Amendment that all citizens, regardless of color or previous status of servitude, would be afforded the right to vote. While Presidential elections are the most publicized, the State and local elections are the most important. In state and local elections, you are choosing the person you want to be your voice at the Capitol.
known as slavery. With ‘free’ land stolen by the Natives and ‘free’ labor stolen from Africa and South America, sold for cheap on the corner of Water and Wall Street, southern whites made up 3/5th of the wealthiest individuals in the county. Needless to say, abolishing slavery threatened the financial stability of slaveowners
democratic governments, calling for the full civil and political rights of former slaves. After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson told the South so long as slavery was abolished and war debts were paid, the government would look the other way when it came to Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws. It wasn’t until 1870 with the Fif-
State and local officials are Constitutionally designed to represent their populations. Through voting power, we can push those representatives to reflect the population. There are many excuses as to why local elections have a low voter turnout. There is also often confusion as to the purpose behind voting. In fact, the
process of learning about the positions of different candidates may sound tedious and overwhelming. It’s not emphasized as much as it should be, but we, citizens, have the right to have a say in the changes that happen in our community. We have the luxury of having the ability to elect and choose an individual of our choosing to protect our property, families, health, job security, education, and domestic safety. With that luxury, we may have to acquire the task of learning about the proposed changes around us and choose a position. In 2022, there are at least 260 positions that depend on our electorate participation. Since 1980, Texas has been a Republican voting state. 60% of the Texas population are people of color. That means 156 candidates that we choose this year ought to reflect the values in our black and brown communities. Our ancestors were not privy to the luxuries that we enjoy today. The fight towards equity and against injustice will not be won until all of the warriors do their part. The registration to vote ends on May 7, 2022. https://www.votetexas. gov/register-to-vote/ See you at the polls!
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
COMMUNITY
March 27, 2022
PrecINct oNe cert
By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.
Precinct One CERT (Commuoffice furniture just to name a few nity Emergency Response Team) items. Since the organization is a is a nonprofit organization that nonprofit, all their resources and provides the community of Infunds are strictly donation based. dependent Heights with different “From that time to this day, we’ve resources they may need. John put in labor material almost 60 to Branch, who is the founder of the $78,000 in the building. It was in organization saw a need for the that bad of shape. So that’s money community and made efforts to out of our pockets, donations, turn his vision into a reality. The wherever we can get it from.” building that currently houses Today, Precinct One Cert proPrecinct One Cert used to be a po- vides different resources to the lice storefront. Branch played an community such as food, COintegral part of getting the police VID testing, hosting educational storefront classes, and in the a handful commuof other nity as he resources. submitted They also a proprovide posal for different the need, services and the during storefront floods, came to hurexistence ricanes, Lto R-John Branch, Congresswoman Sheila in 1995. and other Jackson Lee, Manny Satarain The disasters police who that may occupied arise. the building moved out five years Every person who is involved ago, and Branch then “started an with the organization are strictly initiative with the city council and volunteers. “We’re all volunteers, the mayor” to get the community nobody gets paid. If it was a lovely a multi-service center. He made it job, everybody would be doknown to Mayor Tuner that “We ing it,” Branch mentioned. One don’t have a multi-service center, person who has been working let us provide services to our com- with Branch diligently is Natasha munity. He then “negotiated with Johnson, who is one of the board the city, and in the last year they members. She stated, came up with a deal.” “We have worked This agreement was signed on through this dream, October 4th, 2021. In the agreeand it’s been a rough ment it was noted that the orgafive years, but we’re nization had to pay for and take here and this care of everything themselves, is just the For more visit which included renovations and beginning.” aframnews.com
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGES Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, TX (METRO), will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at 12 noon to receive public comment on its proposed June 2022 changes to METRO service. The public is invited to attend the hearing and provide comments in person. The public may also join the hearing and provide comments virtually on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87455341414 or by dialing: 346-248-7799 or 1-888-475-4499 (toll free), meeting ID: 874-5534-1414. Additionally, if you do not want to provide comments during the public hearing, visit RideMETRO.org/Pages/BoardStreamingVideo.aspx to view a livestream of the public hearing. A video recording of the meeting will also be archived on METRO’s website at RideMETRO.org for review. The proposed service changes may include: Route realignments to routes 3, 29, 36, 108; schedule changes to routes 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 28, 29, 30, 32, 50, 63, 80, 82, 85, 102, 108, 137, 151 and 161; Park & Ride corridors serving downtown, and renumbering of the 170 and 171 routes. METRO will continue to make temporary service adjustments in response to changing ridership and workforce availability. Copies of proposed route maps and available timetables will be available beginning on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 for public review online and in the lobby of the METRO RideStore, located in the Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building at 1900 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77002 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. The public hearing on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at noon will be held in the 2nd floor Board Room at 1900 Main Street, Houston, TX (served by METRO routes 6, 11, 32, 44, 51, 52, 54, 82, 85, 102, 137, 160, 161, 162, and METRORail).
HOW TO COMMENT ABOUT THE SERVICE CHANGES If you would like to make public comments in person or virtually, please register as a public speaker with the METRO Board Office at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing, by calling 713-739-4834 or sending an email to BoardOffice@RideMETRO.org, and providing your name, address and telephone number. As explained above, you may attend the public hearing in-person or virtually on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 to provide comments. If you pre-register, your comments will be heard first at the public hearing. Your name will be called at the appropriate time for you to make your comments. You may also provide comments by: • • • •
Writing to us at METRO, ATTN: June 2022 Service Change, 1900 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002; Faxing comments with a subject line referencing "June 2022 Service Change" to 713-652-7956; Calling METRO's Customer Service at 713-635-4000; Submitting comments on METRO's website – RideMETRO.org
All comments should be submitted to METRO by 12 noon on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES For individuals with disabilities, assistive services or copies of public documents in an alternate format can be provided. Individuals with impairments may call 713-750-4271 a minimum of five (5) working days prior to the public hearing.
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE Upon request, METRO provides free language assistance to help patrons who have a limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English in accordance with its language assistance plan. Request for language assistance and other accommodations should be directed to the Board Office at 713-739-4018, or via email at METROPublicAffairs@RideMETRO.org at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.
OTHER 1. This Public Hearing conforms to requirements described in the Federal Transit Administration's Circular 9030.1E, published January 16, 2014, page VI-7. 2. METRO does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or in treatment or employment in, its services, programs, and activities. 3. METRO is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its transit services on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
RideMETRO.org • 713-635-4000
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March 27, 2022
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
EDUCATION
GrooMING eDUcators
By: Courtney Riley, M.A.
The Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators (HAABSE) has made strides in the realm of education that has impacted Black communities and students across Houston, Texas, and the nation. HAABSE currently boasts a membership of over 200 Black educators committed to excellence in and out of the classroom. HAABSE was founded in the spring of 1986 as an affiliate of the Texas and National organization. HAABSE strives to serve the Black community through its extensive network of educators and stakeholders. Julia Andrews, current President of HAABSE, mentioned that HAABSE is a “find your fit organization, we have something for everyone. You can be as involved as you like without pressure. We are an organization committed to helping likeminded professionals, not just educators but everyone who is invested in our youth. HAABSE’s network creates
an environment focused on improving education arenas for Black educators and students.” Andrews currently works for the Harris County Department of Education as the Director of the Center for Safe and Secure Schools. Andrews joined HAABSE after becoming a HAABSE Teacher of the Year for her campus. After winning 2nd runner up for the organization, Andrews made a commitment to Dr. DuBose and the Late Dr. Bailey to give back to the organization and has not regretted a minute of it. HAABSE has given many black educators a chance to create an outlet solely for black educators. TABSE President Elect, Dr. Chris
Pichon stated, “Having a black organization to me means we have an outlet. An outlet to support each other, network, and have conversations about the challenges we face both personally and professionally without judgment.” Pichon serves as an Executive Director for School Administration and Principal Development. Pichon joined the alliance to grow and develop as an educator and an educational leader to transform the lives of students and their learning communities. The organization’s goals include focusing on the students who are served by black educators. Current HAABSE Historian William Ealy, who serves as a K-8 Dean of Instruction, attributed that the
organization has opened doors for many educators with job and mentoring opportunities and most importantly giving back to our students through scholarships and guidance. During Ealy’s first year as assistant principal, he relied heavily on support from past president Dr. Kwame Mensah, who responded to Ealy’s call for help when he felt like he was failing in connecting with teachers. Ealy was coached by Mensah and that relationship helped Ealy persist in his goal of being an effective educator. HAABSE thrives on its goals of creating a meaningful and effective network of strength, talent, and professional support for students’ education. HAABSE provides support and information
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Row 1: Dr. Marcie Strahan, Lynn Brower, Julia Andrews, Lisa Langston, Ahmesha Graham, Pleashette McMahon, Jessica Walker, Brian Roberson Row 2: Courtney Riley, William Ealy, Bianca Dugas, Dr. Jocelyn McDonald, Row 3: Sherree Johnson, Carla Winfront, Sheree Walker, Dr. Toron Woodard
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
March 27, 2022
AFRAMNEWS.COM 7
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March 27, 2022
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
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