Vol 28 Issue 12

By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D.

All Things

Are Possible: CrisPus ATTuCks And Alvin brAgg

By: Bobby Mills, PhD

Possible yes. Impossible hell no. As we survey the socio-economic political landscape of American society, we observe enormous socioeconomic-political challenges. It appears, as though, too many Americans have become bold ungodly deniers of the pressing problems confronting and dividing us. However, thank God for the Preamble to the Constitution as well as the Constitution itself, and as a God-conscience reminder of the documented moral truths, “That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Thus, all the amendments to the Constitution simply spiritually guided the

U.S. toward a more perfect Union. It is a sacred principle in American society that no one is above the laws of this great nation state. Therefore, our fervent prayers ought to be “one nation under God, with liberty, and justice for all”. Just in case some of us have forgotten our history and America’s struggle for freedom and a just society based upon laws, let us remember (1776) the Revolutionary War. Of course, the first recorded death just so happened to be that of Black and Native American ancestry Crispus Attucks. What a historical coincidence because Blacks and Native Americans have never been accorded human dignity and freedom.

Dedicated, passionate, and caring are just a few words to describe the beautiful Helen George, an advocate who has made her impact on society. Born in Keatchie, Louisiana on December 4, 1940, just 35 miles outside of Shreveport, she attended an elementary school called Mission Point and described some of her experiences from having to use the outhouse for a bathroom, and the food that she and her classmates took in. She stayed in Louisiana until the third grade, and then her mom took a job in Houston where she would spend the rest of her childhood. A young Helen did not want to leave Louisiana, but her mom said, “children go with their parents.”

In Houston, she attended Bruce Elementary and then went to E.O. Smith Junior High School. Everything was going well until one day she took out the trash to burn it and accidentally got caught in the flames. A 13-year-old Helen was rushed to Hermann Hospital where she was put in a coma to help her recover. She suffered extensive burns over her

“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”

The AdvocATe

ALvIN BRAGG

cRISPUS ATTUcKS

helen George

Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D. - Editor

Think About it

By Dr. John E. Warren

EDITORIAL straight and to the Point

Fifty-five years ago this week, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated at the age of 39. His death rocked the world and America’s African American community in particular which responded with riots and destruction in our cities and streets. During the years since, we have seen many of his dreams for a better America come to pass. But what Dr. King said he had seen “going to the mountain top” the night before his death, has still not materialized in part.

Yes, we have had our first Black President of the United States and our first Black Vice President who happens to be a talented Black woman who was a United States Senator and former Attorney General of the State of California, but equality still eludes us as Black and African Americans continue to lag behind White America in life expectancy, income, home ownership and just about every other area.

As we celebrate Dr. King’s Birthday each year with what is now a national holiday, let us remember

why and how he died as a sacrifice for all of us and the benefits so many enjoy today. We keep his death from being in vain by continuing the fight against poverty, discrimination and the “Insufficient Fund” check he said Black America had been given instead of equality, freedom from segregation and a second class citizenship so many of us have been forced to live with. Let us remember some of his most important statements like “give us the ballot and we will elect people with a moral righteousness about the fairness we are most concerned about.” But what good is the ballot, if we don’t vote and won’t vote; what good is Civil Rights and Voting Rights Laws if our only concern is about ourselves instead of the collective that Dr. King fought and died for. Today, our cities are not burning as they were 55 years ago when we learned of the death of Dr. King. Instead of crying out in righteous indignation, too many become tranquilized with the wine of “just enough”, no longer having the passion or concern for the struggle we still live with 55 years after his death. Let’s remind ourselves and others that Dr. King did not die in vain.

By: Georgia Provost

TEA/HISD

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) was created in l949 to oversee primary and secondary public education. It was to provide leadership, guidance, and support to school systems. No Resources? Why is Texas ranked #40 in Education?

First, we must acknowledge that education was never designed for Colored/Negro people. It was a law prohibiting Colored/ Negro people to read. Has the Commissioner met with Superintendent Millard House ll to review his magnificent five (5) year plan for HISD, celebrating

l00 years as of March 23, 2023, established in l923?

TEA took over 15 school districts, students who were Black and Brown like HISD, and 93% are Black and Brown students, and not one of the 15 school districts’ academic ratings improved.

Commissioner Mike Morath served as a trustee on the Dallas ISD school board. What was his record? What is TEA’s success record for the past decade? Where was TEA when it was mandatory that Colored/Negro students missed school to pick cotton in Texas? Where was TEA when they closed historical Black high schools in Texas and placed the Black principals on the custodian staff or as bus drivers?

President/Chief Editor

Contributing

Bragg cont.

Today, Blacks are still being threatened and dying for the privilege of being an American, on the homeland as well as foreign soil. Let every American pray that no sacrifice of human life is in vain regardless of skin-tone.

We know that the death of Crispus Attucks was not in vain, because America was able to remove the yoke of oppressive and unfair British taxation.

Crispus Attucks died for freedom for all Americans as a faithful soldier fighting against the tyranny of the British government. What are twenty-first century Americans willing to fight and die for? America let’s hope that it is not like some foolhearty Americans, namely Christian Right Evangelicals, The GOP, White Nationalists, Fox “Fake” News, some Blacks and other minorities who seemingly are only willing to fight for power, privilege, and pleasure. What a waste, because their socio-political support for a chronic habitual lair whose only purpose is to sow discourse at home as well as abroad with our allies is a testament to their selfish White Privilege Exclusionary

Platform.

On January 6, 2021, we beheld the violent nature of their ungodly mentality against God, democracy, and the laws of this great nation. Individuals who do not know The Lawgiver (God) will not obey manmade laws. There are scriptures that warn us to not: “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be a partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5: 22). This spiritual warning seemingly falls on deaf ears, especially GOP so-called Leaders, because they have forgotten the timehonored slogan, “If you do the crime, you must do the time,” and there are no exceptions.

The City of New York (Manhattan) has a duly elected, capable, and highly qualified District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, who is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Many of Bragg’s staunch critics are also Harvard Law School graduates as well. Sadly, a law degree

from Harvard is not an insurance policy against becoming ignorant and having malnutrition of the brain. Bragg’s bold legal indictment of a criminal-minded president who was impeached twice by the House of Representatives and acquitted twice by ungodly

for the freedom for Donald J. Trump to have a fair trial with a jury of his peers (American Citizens). Likewise, the District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, has the legal authority and right to seek an indictment from a Grand Jury against former President Trump for unlawful criminal

all know who they are.

The truth of God frees us from sin, wrong-doing, and death. God’s laws give life eternally, because “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,

shamefully President Trump spiritually, morally, and ethically condemned himself on the Billy Bush Video Tape as one who absolutely disrespects women. What a shame and an absolute disgrace that so many women disrespect God and themselves!

Crispus Attucks died for freedom, even

in the Revolutionary War was a Black man, Crispus Attucks. Likewise, the first individual with the legal authority to indict a President for unlawful criminal behavior is a Black man, Alvin Bragg. Even though, in the past, other Presidents have committed crimes against the nation-state, and we

condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 2-4).

Alvin Bragg spiritually understands these words of inspiration completely and absolutely, because grabbing the crouches of women will get you jail time or death. Moreover, you must give in account to

God because it is spiritually written: “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14: 12). America, based upon socio-economic status, individuals might be able to escape manmade laws, but none of us will escape God’s laws: “So then everyone of us shall give in account of himself to God” (Romans 14: 12). Blacks have paid the ultimate price for being first-class citizens. The question is, has America paid the price for seeking to maintain and keep Blacks in a second-class citizenship position and role? Alvin Bragg is a first-class law enforcement professional, and he is catching hell enforcing the law, not his law, but the laws of the land simply because he is Black. More than anything else in this ole world, America needs a “come to Jesus moment”, because laws are made to be enforced, but always tempered with mercy, and justice for all. Donald J. Trump deserves and has earned a day in court. Hallelujah and Amen.

HBCU CHoral Explosion

By: Crystal LaShan

Extraordinary HBCU Talent, outstanding HBCU Leaders, and an engaging audience are the ingredients for an amazingly successful show. It perfectly describes the HBCU Choral Explosion featuring the Spelman College Glee Club with dynamic HBCU Alumni talent. Every HBCU artist that graced us with their presence on stage was incredible. Every vocalist had beautiful strong vocals that were distinctly their own.

1881 HBCU Blue Legacy should be proud of the awesome success of their first fundraiser. Their goal is to raise funds to distribute scholarships to the Houston area HBCU Scholars. The HBCU Choral Explosion truly celebrated the phenomenal talent that is developed, nurtured, and loved in the HBCU environment. HBCU’s truly make a difference in our Black communities.

For more visit aframnews.com

Howard Grad Xandi sang a beautiful tribute to Nettie Murry, the 1881 HBCU Blue Legacy Acts of Courage Citizen Award.

Texas Southern University Alumni President Corrie Willams was glad to introduce her fellow TSU Alumni Artist.

Spelman Alumni Morgan Mitchell was ready to cheer on the Spelman College Glee Club at the HBCU Choral Explosion.

Prairie View A & M Grad Integra Foxx was accompanied by World Renowned Saxophonist & Texas Southern & Jackson State Grad, Kyle Turner.

Prairie View A & M Alumni President Tramyra Waites Simmons, with Acts of Mentorship Honorees Floretta & Ernest Collins, and Elizabeth Collins.

Morehouse Grad Jeremy J. King sang Georgia on my Mind to perfection.

1881 HBCU Blue Legacy Sisters

( L to R) Lea Rutherford, Jeanine, Rae Greer, Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz with Acts of Courage Citizens Award Homoree Nettie Murry.

Mrs. Jackie Bostic (Center) was presented the 1881 HBCU Blue Legacy Pioneer Award and celebrated with her family.

Marium Echo, Texas Southern Alumni Vocalist, voice was extraordinary. Her rendition of Summertime brought the audience to their feet.

SPOTLIGHT

HBCU all star GamE

By: Crystal LaShan

Texas Southern University’s Health & Physical Education Arena was filled with HBCU pride for the 2023 HBCU All Star Game. The best HBCU Basketball talent was in the house and ready to show out. It was a great night to be an HBCU scholar or graduate. The players were amazing, and the HBCU All Star Dancers were hitting every move, and the bands were battling with big sound and great music. Everyone was excited to see our very own drummer major for Justice Rev. Jesse Jackson who watched the game with several of his fellow political leaders like Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Houston Council members Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and Edward Pollard. What a great night to celebrate the beauty of the HBCU Experience. The HBCU ALL Stars LLC did an outstanding job producing the HBCU All Star Game. We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams!

Rev. Jesse Jackson enjoyed the HBCU All Star Game and everyone was excited to see it. (L to R) Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Council-member Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Howard Grad Adriane Brown, Council-member Edward Pollard, and founder & CEO of the HBCU All Star Game, Travis Williams with his children.

Spelman Grad Prudence Smith Russell repping the original name of Texas Southern University as a proud Thurgood Marshall Law School graduate with her husband Reggie Russell.

Devin Green, Hampton University Class of 2005 repping his HBCU with pride.

Texas Southern University Dancer, Melanie Mays was representing her favorite HBCU as a HBCU ALL Star Dancer.

HBCU All Star Players

L to R-John Walker III of Texas Southern University, Joirdon Nicholas of Texas Southern University, and Gregg Boyd of Tuskegee University

Repping her Alma Mater well was Shonda Below, who is the Tuskegee University Houston Alumni President.

Political powerhouses, Houston Council Member Edward Pollard of District J and Randall L. Woodfin, Mayor of Birmingham just enjoying supporting all of the awesome HBCU talent.

Morehouse Mom Tara Richardson was proud to cheer for her HBCU All Star Kerry Richardson.

SoPhoMoRe cAdeN PRocTeR: A TeNNIS ALL STAR

By: Asia Williams

Sophomore Caden

Taylor Procter, who is a varsity tennis player at Scarborough High School, is one who is passionate about tennis, and makes sure she does what it takes to succeed. Ever since she was as young as six years old, Procter knew that tennis would be the sport that she would fall in love with. When she was in the first grade at Wainwright Elementary School, tennis was introduced to her by her uncle when he played with her for the first time at a local park. Because her elementary school did not have a tennis team, she would practice with him at Highland Park and Memorial Park. Her uncle was quite athletic, so she was able to pick up the basics and learn all

the tips and tricks as they continued to play together. Procter didn’t know a lot of African Americans her age who played tennis, but she pursued the sport because she truly loved it. “I started to play just because I enjoyed it, and it was a different sport that not a lot of my kind of people were playing,” Procter stated. She continued to do this throughout elementary school, and for her first couple of middle school years at Frank Black Middle School. Since Frank Black

did not have a tennis team either, she resumed playing at her local parks until the 8th grade. She then switched from Memorial Park to Lee LeClear Tennis Center Park. Knowing that freshman year was vastly approaching, she trained hard in the summer by practicing at Lee LeClear Tennis Center Park with the Kids N’ Tennis organization with Coach Johnson.

Procter made varsity her freshman year at Scarborough High School in hopes of making the state championships. However, she realized that playing on her own and attending tennis organizations was different from playing for a high school team.

For more visit aframnews.com

body, all of which had to be reconstructed. She missed a year of school because of it and fought hard to get back to being her strong and independent self. After she recovered, she returned to school at E.O. Smith, and then attended Wheatley High School. After graduation, she enrolled at Texas Southern University (TSU) where she became involved with different programs and activities. While at TSU, she started working at Methodist Hospital in the food service department where she made 75 cents an hour. With hard work, she was granted a raise, which took her pay to one dollar an hour. Helen was determined to get a better life as that is what her parents instilled in her and her siblings. She graduated from TSU with a major in history and a minor in psychology. Her journey then took her to education where she became a Head Start teacher. She also became a counselor and then moved to administration and was head of the program where she supervised different individuals.

In 1983, Helen received a great opportunity and

was recruited by the Texas Department of Community Affairs Office of the governor in Austin, Texas, and took the role of an Executive Assistant. While in this role, she was able to learn, grow, and travel all over the United States where she was able to learn about different programs and work with many different people.

In addition, she was selected to the board of KLBJ, a radio station which was owned by Lady Bird Johnson, and had a role in the development and creation of Women in the Public Sector State Agency Liaison Group, which helped give women in state agencies the chance to move up in administrative positions.

The Women in the Public Sector came to Helen because of her attending the manager’s program with the State of Texas and talking to the head of the department. When she would go out and represent her state director, she found very few women in these meetings. “I proposed a problem to be solved when I was mandated to go to the state’s manager’s training program by working with the head of that program, asking why there weren’t more women in

upward management positions like me? From which came the question as to what I would do to look at that situation?”

That’s when Helen recommended to the head of the Top State Managers Training program she would get with the University of Texas School of Social Work to conduct a study to find out where women were in state government, and form a year committee with a representative from those state agencies to look at how the agencies improved within a year, and recognize them for having done so.

In 1987, she made her return to Houston and started a new role as Unit Manager in the Houston Office of the Texas Attorney General, where she played an integral part in launching a campaign for enforcing child support in Texas. In 1989, Helen became the regional director of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) in Houston, where she became a big advocate for our youth. Helen would advocate and fight for the children that may have been neglected or forgotten about and would give her best to help them succeed.

For more visit aframnews.com

Caden Proctor

PuBlic NOTice

Notice to Proposers Request for Proposals will be received by Lone Star College for:

• RFP #869 – Executive Firm Search – Chief Information Officer. Electronic bids due by 3:00PM, Friday, April 21, 2023.

• WebEx pre-proposal meeting: Thursday, April 13, 2:00PM; call-in number 1-408-792-6300, Meeting #2622 280 8282

• Contact: pamela.johnson@lonestar.edu or (832)813-6782.

• Must Register to Bid: http:// wwwappsdstc.lonestar.edu/istar/ supplier.htm .   If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with the online registration process, contact MC-vendors@lonestar.edu.

ShOe rePair

ADVERTISE ONLINE with

LeGAL 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 10:00 a.m. (CST) Tuesday, May 9, 2023, for the following solicitation:

RFP 23-03-03 Fire Extinguisher Purchase, Inspection, Maintenance, Service and Disposal RFP 23-03-04 Intercom and Local Sound Reinforcement Systems Service, Maintenance, Repair, and Installation

Pre-proposal conferences via Microsoft Teams will be held in conjunction with this RFP. 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 this solicitation.