Vol 27 Issue 41

God has a side. The devil has a side. Every human being has a spiritual choice in choosing sides. Therefore, the eternal spiritual question is “who’s on the Lord’s side?” In short, who is on the side of truth and justice, and who is on the side of lies and injustice? No doubt about it, MAGA Republicans tend not to be on God’s side. For after all, God’s mercy on America is spiritually clear, because: “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11: 5).

White Entitlement Power is a dangerous proposition in a multi-cultural democratic society, because it stifles competition of ideas concerning inclusion. Consequently, GOP Groupthinkers have created unbelievable hypocrisy. Hypocrisy creates leadership conditions of the blind leading the blind. Therefore, Jesus told his disciples to leave the Pharisees alone, because they were blind to God’s truth: “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall in the ditch” (Matthew 15:

14). America it is dangerous to accept favors from the devil or the devil’s imps, because: “Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly” (Proverbs 13: 15-16).

Individuals cannot kill the truth, burn the truth by burning books, nor destroy the truth by telling lies. Truth is eternal in the heavens, and in the spiritual hearts and minds of human beings. Most of all, you cannot make right wrong, and wrong right, because of the existence of an eternal spiritual truth. Therefore: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6: 7). Politics is about practical wisdom designed to assist individuals in achieving a good spiritual understanding. Politics is not warfare. However, Christian Right Evangelicals, The GOP, White Nationalists, Fox “FAKE” News, and some spiritually misguided Blacks and other minorities have torn this spiritual definition of politics asunder.

The truth of the matter in multi-cultural American society is that too many Whites desire Power, Privilege and Pleasure at the expense of other Americans.

Reality Check

By Billy “Hollywood” Groves

Amazing Regeneration

As I observe, daily, how we as the country of America are handling all the negative activities around the world and within our nation these days; I can only describe the approach we are taking as an “Amazing Regeneration” toward our battle against evil. Having lived on this planet and in America for a long time, I’m very proud of American and how, as a nation, it has fought and won many battles against the evil forces and sins that have attacked and plagued us. I truly believe and know that God created America as a God-fearing nation with an assignment to combat evil and expand Godly behavior

over the planet. I know that God has strengthened his people both males and females to accomplish this work.

It has been an “Amazing Regeneration”, by true Americans of all colors and backgrounds, working together and winning. They are genuinely faithful and true team members for God.

FOR

Although I often hear “Fake News” people and other haters telling their lies about violence, deadly gun behavior, that we are seeing and hearing about across our nation, mostly with the intend of improving their financial status and political positions. We know the real fact is, most of the weapons that are being used in these violent and deadly attacks are often related to the evil people who speak so strongly against these attacks.

more visit

AND BLACK HISTORY WRITERS

and all other Black communities) that can produce stories that address current and historical realities affecting our community. Please send your inquiries to news@aframnews.com.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.

Born and raised in Houston, Texas in the historic Fifth Ward, JaCola Caldwell, who goes by the name Difernt, has overcome many challenges in her life. She had a “pretty good” childhood and life was good for Difernt until she was 11 years old when she and her family became homeless. “We stayed that way for about three years, literally living two pillows to post, sleeping everywhere from cars, parks, bus stops, and shelters. At one point, we even slept at a crack house. It wasn’t until I was 14, I was secretly placed in foster care by a relative of mine.”

For the first six months of foster care, none of her family knew where she was, and she tried her hardest to get back home. She mentioned that when you’re in the system you don’t have an identify, just a number. Difernt was placed in good foster homes, but because she wasn’t used to being in that environment it caused her to spiral out of control and sabotage anything good that came her way. This behavior would spill from her childhood years to her teen-

age, college, and even young adult years. “It got to the point where it just pushed me or forced me to look into the mirror and face the ugly truth about myself,” she reflected. One of the good things that came from her being in the system was the fact that her college tuition would be paid for if she aged out of the system, and that’s what she did.

She learned that whatever mental anguish and traumatic experiences she went through as a child, it

wasn’t her fault due to it being out of her control. With this in mind, she knew she had to change things around. She ended up graduating from Sam Houston State University (SHSU) with her Bachelor’s in International Business.

She also obtained two minors in business communication and economics. While she was at SHSU, she was able to start her own student organization called Pay It Forward. The organization was tailored to volunteer-

ing, mentoring, and educating kids that were in foster care as well as high school kids. This is where her love for motivational speaking began as she would go speak at various high schools about the importance of education. She would help many kids who were in similar situations like she was as a child.

running out of time. VOTE NOW

The stakes in this election are way too high for you to sit on the sidelines. Early voting has already begun.

Please join me: Vote for Democrats up and down the ballot—and be sure to go near the end of your ballot and vote for these three outstanding Democrats:

BETO O’ROURKE

fiGHT FOR US

For more visit aframnews.com

EVERYTHING IS ON THE LINE

TO VOTE

Elect Democrat

LESLEY BRIONES

Harris

LINA

ADRIAN

Hollins,

HEALTH

LIFE AFTER BREAST CANCER

By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.

It has been 29 years since Mary Fisher was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time of her diagnosis, she was an X-ray technologist who was doing mammograms for other women. One day, a lady who was scheduled for her mammogram missed her appointment, so Fisher and another tech decided to do their own mammograms during that appointment time. One unplanned mammogram changed her life as it showed she had breast cancer. The radiologist who worked with her reviewed it and told her that she needed to see a doctor right away.

With that information, she went to see a doctor who was also a surgeon to develop a game plan on what needed to be done. “Did I get upset? Of course, I did. Did I cry? I cried like a little baby that wanted a bottle, but I didn’t cry in front of my family.” She didn’t want her family to see her in pain and decided to remain strong. The doctor wanted to perform a lumpectomy, but Fisher wanted them to remove the entire breast. Since she was done having children and wasn’t nursing anyone, she did not see a reason to keep it, so they removed it. She mentioned that she was fearful for other Black women because she had seen how a lot of them “had cancer and they didn’t want to do anything.” With wanting to help other women, Fisher and her sisters set up a foundation to help women get mammograms. “We didn’t have a lot of money, but we were giving mammograms to women that didn’t have any

insurance.” They money on their these women. “Some years ago, when so expensive, we’d have a big crawfish boil in my raise money,” she recalled. The foundation would pay the hospital a the radiologist who worked

mammograms

money or insurance.” They would raise the money on their own to help support these women. “Some years ago, when crawfish wasn’t so expensive, we’d have a big crawfish boil in my backyard and raise money,” she recalled. The foundation would pay the hospital a portion but the radiologist who worked there would read the mammograms at no fee.

Through the foundation, Fisher was able to help a lot of women take control of their health, get them set up through MD Anderson where they would receive treatments for breast cancer. This included her sister who found a lump in her breast six years after Fisher’s diagnosis. The doctors performed a lumpectomy, which Fisher regrets not pushing the doctors to remove her

Through the foundation, able to help a lot of women take control of their health, get them set up through MD Anderson where they would receive included her sister who found a lump in her breast six years after Fisher’s diagnosis. The doctors performed a lumpectomy, which Fisher regrets not pushing the doctors

sister’s breast, but she want

years later, the cancer breast. Fisher felt in and given her chemotherapy, would have been sister’s a different turn years cancer had moved to her up having radiation in very hard for Fisher to watch she didn’t want her to go through what with chemotherapy and stay nauseated all

sister’s breast, but she didn’t want to argue with the doctors. Sadly, five years later, the cancer came back in the same breast. Fisher felt in her heart that if they had taken the breast off and given her chemotherapy, then maybe the outcome have been different. Her sister’s cancer took a different turn years later when they found out the cancer had moved brain. Her sister ended up having radiation in her breast and her brain. It was very hard for Fisher to watch her sister go through this process because she didn’t want her to go through what she went through. Fisher reflected on her experience with chemotherapy saying, “You get sick, you get nauseated, and stay nauseated all

the time. It got to where I couldn’t eat certain foods. Even to this day, the smell of peppermint makes me nauseated.”

For every woman out there, Fisher wants women to know that there is not a particular age that breast cancer comes to you. She has seen women who were 18 and 19 end up with breast cancer. Fisher stated, “Examine your breasts. If you see the shape of your breasts changing, go to the doctor. Learn how to examine your breasts and what to look for. If you see your nipple drooping and if you see your nipple sucking in, that’s a sign right there.”

In addition, she wants people to know that men are not exempt from this as she has had some first cousins who were men that had breast cancer. “We used to just think breast cancer was for women, but it’s not, it’s for men too.”

Through it all, Fisher is blessed to have gone through everything she did because it allowed her to help other women. “I thank God for what he’s done for me because having breast cancer gave me the opportunity to help other women understand that breast cancer is not a death sentence. This is just a beginning of a new life that God has given you.”

Mary Fisher

BUSINESS LOSING GROUND

By: Cynthia Swain-Tibbs

This article is the introduction and first of a series of essays and media on this and other subjects relevant to the economic development of native African-American (A-A) people. In this first of a series, my intent is to describe the cycle of economic strategies and decline that have taken place in traditional A-A urban communities in major U.S. cities causing loss of land and decline in homeownership of thousands of A-A families. I really want you to know and understand what I’m saying about historical wealth loss, especially in communities where descendants of slaves, have lived for the last 157 years of “freedom”.

DEFINITIONS:

• Land: the surface of the earth; starts at the center/core of the earth, passes through the earth’s surface, and continues on into space.

• Real Estate: land and its improvements (houses, buildings, etc.) in a physical sense, as well as the right to own or use the land

• Real Property: ownership rights in land and its improvements

• Colonization: foreign control over target territories (or peoples) for the purpose of taking over political control and re-cultivation often by establishing and settling colonies.

• Social Integration: process by which separate groups are combined into a unified society, especially when this is pursued as a deliberate policy.

• Assimilation: process whereby individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society.

Former site of the 150-year old Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in battle over land.

Losing Ground cont’d Pg.7

NOTICE

The Houston Independent School District Purchasing Services Department located at 4400 West 18th Street, Houston, TX 77092 is soliciting Request for Proposals (RFP) via the District’s electronic bidding portal. Proposers may login to view specifications and submit their responses at the following link https://houstonisd.ionwave.net/ Login.aspx until 11:00 a.m. (CST) Tuesday, November 29, 2022 for the following solicitation:

• RFP 23-10-04 Dedicated Internet Access – 4400 W 18th St., Houston, TX 77092 (E-Rate Eligible)

• RFP 23-10-05 Dedicated Internet Access – 22000 Franz Rd., Katy, TX 77449 (E-Rate Eligible)

Pre-proposal conferences via Microsoft Teams will be held in conjunction with these RFPs. Information regarding dates, times, and instructions to receive a link to join the meeting can be located within the electronic bidding portal under the “Event Details” tab specific to these solicitations.

Losing

• Gentrification: process, either planned or unplanned, where wealthy or affluent middle-class and college-educated individuals begin to move into undervalued or traditionally workingclass communities, to displace less-affluent individuals by purchasing and improving or upgrading property through new construction, renovation, and modernization.

In the real estate profession, we use the term under-valued, when a property is not accurately

appraised according to its highest and best use, location, market conditions and/or similar sales within the same community.

Under-valuation is a very wellknown and documented problem in A-A urban communities across the country.

The problem of colonization has continually existed in communities of color on every continent. In Houston, its effect can be seen in the declining rates of A-A homeownership and real estate investments in communities like Third, Fourth, and Fifth Wards, Kashmere Gardens,

Pleasantville, Acres Homes, Settegast, and Sunnyside. Colonization has now been renamed to give the term a more acceptable and different meaning than its historical record implies. When other people recognize the value of our property based on location and affordability, then those wealthy enough to take advantage of the lower valued properties begin to buy, develop, and settle there. Eventually they grow in numbers, take control of the political climate, and erode the original culture of that community. The

colonization process is now known as gentrification.

Just 30 years ago, Houston’s largest A-A communities included low and high-income as well as blue and white-collar residents and businesses.

Their common denominator was “the segregation of the Negro in the United States.”

Currently the A-A population of these communities is rapidly declining.

For more visit aframnews.com

Introducing