November 12, 2023
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 28, Issue 43
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African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
Will the 14th Amendment Protect Us?
By: Jazz Paz
By: Shelley McKinley
Dr. Chandra Richardson
Dr. Chandra Richardson, a Navy Veteran, does her due diligence to connect other female veterans to reputable resources. Texas has the largest military Veteran community in the nation, with 24,000 women veterans in Harris County alone. “You have to be careful when considering programs. Some vets have found ways to make money off other veterans. You also have to look at the fine print,” cautioned Dr. Richardson. For that reason she always makes sure that a program is approved by the State of Texas and the United States. She also utilizes the programs herself before she recommends them.
One of her favorite Houston-based programs that passed Dr. Richardson’s litmus test for legitimacy is the Dress for Success Houston Women Veterans Program. It helps women transition from military life to civilian life through mentorship, resume writing, interview skills, webinars, training, and job placement. They also receive business attire. These women have served their country and joining this group provides connection, comradery, and support. Dr. Richardson’s name is included on the customized USA flag that features Houston veterans who are women.
Richardson on pg. 3
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution expressly denies any person who has participated in a revolt against this country, or anyone who has supported our enemy, from holding the office of President: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.” Clearly, Donald J. Trump intended to seditiously steal the presidential election of 2020. He encouraged his riotous followers to join him in this effort, and he continues to brag about his plans to have his political opponents imprisoned. Shortly after January 6, 2021,
Amendment on pg. 3
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President/Chief Editor
Contributing Writers Dr. Bobby Mills Rachel Thompson Jazz Pazz Asia Williams William Monroe Trotter Jr. Shelley McKinley Tristar Web Graphics - Layout Design/Print Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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November 12, 2023
A Revival of God
Consciousness Bobby Mills, Phd
Let The Dead Bury The Dead America, making a deal with the devil is about spiritual-moral confusion and death, because: “She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” (1 Timothy 5: 6). Hence, know this: “it is ordained that God is the judge of both the living and the dead”. Therefore, let the dead bury the dead. In the twenty-first century, America, we have a whole lot of individuals that are spiritually dead, but physically alive (Zombies). In fact, we have too many Americans who are lifetime card-carrying members of the Walking Dead Club, because their thoughts are not of God, but the vanity of the world. America, we need to learn to pass on God’s spiritual comfort to individuals who are spiritually dead, and who create unnecessary graveyards, because: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4). It appears that Trumpsters are so spiritually dead with a foul odor of death that only God can resurrect them through his mercy and
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
EDITORIAL grace, even though, all of us are graveyard travelers. However, there is hope for some, but others must be interred in order that others might go forth in the will of God loving and serving one another, because: “It is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2: 9). Hallelujah. Graveyard Travelers beware of what you think and say, once it is said, it cannot be retracted, because: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18: 21). This is precisely why judging before you acquire the empirical facts is playing with the devil in the graveyard. America, pray for wisdom, especially those who desire to be an example of leadership for others. Injustice must be confronted with the spiritual eternal truth of God, and sin and evil confronted wherever it exists, because: “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Proverbs 3: 35). An individual with a graveyard mentality is a ticking timebomb. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus confronts a Demonic man chained in the graveyard and asked him what is your name? The Demoniac replied Legion is my name because many devils had entered him. Former President Trump is demon possessed both inside and outside, because (73+ million) Americans voted for his absolute ungodliness and graveyard mentality. For more visit What a shame! aframnews.com
Blacks, Veteran’s Day and Critical Race Theory
By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher
Veterans Day was created as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. It became a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1938. As we honor the memory of those who served in this great conflict, separately and apart from other occasions honoring our War service members, let us not forget the special struggles of Black Veterans, especially during the years following World War I. We have seen from history that African Americans who fought for the freedom of others on distant shores, came home to disenfranchisement, segregation, and subhuman treatment on every front where they should have received respect and equality for having served. We have seen from a historical point that a Black soldier named Charles Lewis, recently discharged from the military, was lynched in uniform in Hichman, Kentucky; in 1944, four Black soldiers after a white store owner claimed they tried to take over his place; in 1947, we repeat how Joe Nathan Roberts, a Black Navy Veteran, studying at Temple University on the G.I. Bill was abducted and shot because he wouldn’t say “Sir” to white men.
What is so important about these stories today is that if “Critical Race Theory’’ is allowed to be implemented on the scale white legislatures and school boards are trying to do, to sanitize all discussion of America’s racist past, these stories will be lost along with the racist history they represent. Let us not forget that we have over 99 African American servicemen who earned and received the Medal of Honor in battle, fighting, and in some cases dying for a country who would only honor them when the flag was draped over their coffins and taps played at their graveside. It is up to us to remember and honor our own, in spite of what this nation does or how it seeks to change or erase the history that we bled and sacrificed to build. Yes, this Veterans Day, let’s remember our own; and not by running out to catch the latest sales. How about reflecting on how we can individually build on what they left? Things like registering to vote, spending money with those who support us, demanding respect for ourselves and our elders, and remembering that we are still “Black” to America whether we are rich, poor, educated, homeless, or ignorant. We must honor ourselves before we can demand that others do so.
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION Richardson Cont.
As an educator at Yates and Worthing High Schools during her 24 year career with the Houston ISD, when she returned to Worthing HS in 2020 before retiring, she was shocked to learn that the Army ROTC program was gone. Leaning on her Navy Medical Corpsman experience from April 1990 to April 1998, Dr. Richardson established the Navy Junior ROTC (NJROTC) at Worthing High School in Fall 2021, that is still up and running today. “It took a year to get all the necessary approvals but I was determined to do it,” said Dr. Richardson. “I am a first generation high school graduate and first generation college graduate, so I did not have anyone to ask what to do or
to show me the way. Life happens, so get what you can while you can,” stated Dr. Richardson. That is why she is so passionate about giving students and women every opportunity. However, she does not sugar-coat her experience in the military. Racial and gender discrimination, as well as sexual trauma through abuse were present. The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, led Dr. Richardson to call in and learn more about her own traumatic experiences while serving her country. It was during that call that Richardson learned the accurate terminology associated with her experience.
November 12, 2023 “That conversation was validating. I realized that I didn’t want to remember. Talk therapy helps,” declared Dr. Richardson. “I would do it again, but I would do things differently. The military is still a good option, especially if the person is not financially fit. Go to college first if you can afford to do so and enter as an officer. Also stand up for yourself and know when to cut your losses,’ explained Dr. Richardson. Dr. Richardson has been married to Gaylon Richardson for 29 years, and has a daughter, a son, two bonus sons, and a granddaughter. “When we are out, people assume that my husband is the veteran and he quickly and proudly corrects them, saying that she is the veteran.”
Dr. Chandra Richardson and Retired United States Navy admiral Michael Mullen
Amendment Cont.
many professors of law proposed that the 14th amendment required Trump be barred from office. When liberal advocacy groups sued to unseat Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) from any future ballots for her actions they were unsuccessful, but a New Mexico judge did remove County Commissioner Couy Griffin from his post for unlawfully entered the Capitol on January 6th. He was convicted of trespassing. In Greene’s case, a judge found that she didn’t participate in the January 6 insurrection, making her eligible to run for reelection. In August of this year a pair of conservative law professors, William Baude and Michael Stokes, Paulsen, released a lengthy law review article on the issue. To great fanfare they concluded that Section 3 sets out a “sweeping” exclusion standard that prevents Trump “and potentially many others” from holding office. Their opinions are significant because Mr. Baude and Mr. Paulsen
AFRAMNEWS.COM 3 are members of the Federalist Society, an extremely formidable conservative advocacy group. They hold that the Constitution must be interpreted as its authors intended at the time of their writing. Their position has since been backed by other legal experts with very conservative credentials. Their work was endorsed by conservative former judge J. Michael Luttig. The case against Trump is straightforward. He took an oath as an officer of the United States; the violent assault on the Capitol was an insurrection (defined as an act of open revolt against civil authority or a constituted government); Trump engaged in and propagandized that insurrection. The secretary of any state can be ordered by the court to keep him off their state’s ballot because of this crime, but so far this has not occurred. Rulings by state supreme courts can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court but the Supreme Court is not required to hear the case. Legal
experts predict that the Supreme Court will almost certainly get involved if any state prevents Trump from getting on the ballot, though. Trump’s o challengers state that Section 3 is well-defined and can be used either on its own terms or through state laws that give election officials and courts the power to determine who can be on a ballot. Of course, Trump and his attorneys absolutely discard the entire 14th Amendment argument outright. His lawyers contend that since the 14th Amendment has been untested for more than 150 years for this end, it is being misinterpreted in this case. (It was used against the Confederate president Jefferson Davis and his vicepresident Alexander Stephens, both of whom had served in Congress, but has seldom been invoked since. It has never been brought against a former president.)
For more visit aframnews.com
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November 12, 2023
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
COMMUNITY
The 33rd Annual Banquet Gala
By: Sheba Roy
The 33rd Annual Banquet Gala at the Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development was a remarkable affair. The event took place on October 27th 2023 at the Acres Home Chamber event center located at 6112 Wheatley St. Guests from across the city attended the occasion sponsored in part by HEB, The City of Houston, and Aldine ISD. Notable attendees included Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and Congressman Al Green, Congressional candidate Amanda Edwards, three candidates for Texas State Senate District 15, Molly Cook, Karthik Soora, and State Representative Jarvis Johnson among others. The scholarship fundraiser was hosted by Master of Ceremonies Donnie Lewis, the “Louisiana County Boy”, and included a dinner curated and served by Celebrity Chef Willie Holmes and his staff, while saxophonist Cleo Fox played along with popular tunes prior to the beginning of the awards ceremony. For the last two years the Acres Home Chamber of Commerce for Business and
Economic Development has partnered with Lone Star College Houston North Victory campus to provide a scholarship to one of their students in their Workforce Program. This year the scholarship award was presented by Dr. Quentin Wright to Felecia Mayon. She shared that her academic journey and life experience have led her to pursue a degree and a career in substance abuse counseling. With the receipt of this scholarship she will be able to attend classes at no cost to her for the upcoming semester. Chamber CEO and Board Chairman Warren F. Muhammad said “It’s important to stimulate educational and training opportunities in the trade sector in order to increase employment and avenues for entrepreneurial development.” Mayor Sylvester Turner and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee were able to take a photo with the scholarship winner as well as the three other award recipients, City of Houston Director of Community Relations Janice Weaver with Special Recognition, Entrepreneur Award recipient She Happy Hair co-founder
Marcus Bowers, and founder of the Acres Home Advocacy Group Ebony Rain Eatmon Community Service Award. Claude Cummings, Jr. was the keynote speaker for the annual event. The Houston native has spent his career in the field of communications, working for fair conditions and unionization and was recently named the International President of Communications Workers of America, or CWA which is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States. In his address Cummings, Jr. made it a point to highlight the importance of voting and how a community effort to speak out about the need to vote can change the outcome of an election. Claude shared a story about Mayor Turner winning his first election after Cummings, Jr. and a group of campaign volunteers went out to canvas on his behalf in predominately African American neighborhoods. Another key component of his speech was that self accountability and responsibility can also effect great change. His message tied into the theme of this year’s banquet which
Master of Ceremonies Donnie Lewis, AHCBED Member Trina Lowry was the Business of Building a Sustainable Community. The overall mission and purpose of the Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development is to build a sustainable community. The organization hopes to bring the spirit of Black enterprise back to a community that was founded by that ethic. Events like the annual banquet gala, networking luncheons, and the newly introduced evening business networking mixer help to remind community members what it means to have economic power as a people. “Knowledge is a force and power, the bearer of which enables the possessor
to overcome barriers and obstacles”. Warren F. Muhammad shared this, “The chamber has been striving to provide the community with the relevant and necessary knowledge to enable them to empower themselves in their business efforts.” With its upcoming partnership with Houston Community College to provide business owners with a disaster preparedness plan, additional programs focusing on small business support, and its collaboration with the City of Houston OBO to provide business development programming, the Acres Home Chamber is committed to helping individuals
and organizations grow and strengthen their networks through community development. All in all, it was a great evening and launch point towards the next year in the life of the Acres Home Chamber For Business and Economic Development, Inc. Look for us at www. acreshomechamber.com and join the chamber. Written by Sheba Roy, owner of CreativeAFMUZE Brand Management a full service marketing and public relations firm in Houston, TX. To learn more about Sheba and her services please visit www.mscreativeafmuze. com
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
November 12, 2023
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Marcus Bowers, Warren F. Muhammad, Mayor Sylvester Turner
Mayor Sylvester Turner
Saxophonist Cleo Fox
Cleo Johnson, State Representative Jarvis Johnson
Judy Foston, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
AFRAMNEWS.COM 5
Jessica Jones, AHCBED Board member Pamela Jones, Latasha Jones (standing)
Keynote Speaker, Claude Cummings, Jr.
Aldine ISD general counsel Kaye Dewalt, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Dr. Latonya Goffney
Dr. Quintin Wright, Dr. Sheldon Moss
Warren F. Muhammad, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, scholarship recipient Felecia Mayon, Dr. Quintin Wright, Mayor Sylvester Turner
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Warren F. Muhammad, Ebony Rain Eatmon, Mayor Sylvester Turner
candidates Amanda Edwards, Molly Cooke
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November 12, 2023
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