December 24, 2023
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
Vol. 28, Issue 49
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We the People
Success is one of the greatest cause of failure - Roy Douglas Malonson
WOMEN LIVING LONG TERM WITH HIV By Shadawn McCants
DR. MARC SMITH NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF FT. BEND ISD The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees selected Dr. Marc Smith from Duncanville ISD as the lone finalist for superintendent. Dr. Smith started his career in education as a classroom teacher and coach before advancing into campus and district leadership. He has served in public schools for over 30 years, nearly 12 of those years serving as superintendent in Duncanville ISD and Marshall ISD. He has received numerous recognitions and accolades for his exceptional leadership in this role. Most notably, in 2020, he was selected as the Re-
gion 10 Superintendent of the Year followed by the Board of Trustees being recognized as a Top 5 State Honor Board in 2021. “We are excited to announce that Dr. Marc Smith has been named as Fort Bend ISD’s lone finalist for superintendent of schools,” Fort Bend ISD Board President Judy Dae said. “Dr. Smith is a familiar face in our district and community having served in Fort Bend ISD for six years as an Executive Principal and Assistant Superintendent before accelerating to a successful career in the superintendency. Smith on pg. 3
Imagine a young African American woman in her early twenties going to her local health department’s STI testing and treatment center. Her test results come back positive for chlamydia and syphilis, which require three rounds of antibiotics. She receives the first and second treatments, but unfortunately, as tends to happen in Black communities, she doesn’t return for her final treatment. Now imagine, six months later, the city clinic advising her to come for a follow-up appointment. When this young woman makes it back to the clinic, the healthcare staff casually asks her if she is here to confirm her HIV results. Of course, she was shocked and scared. This is, in fact, a very real situation. For six months, this clinic knew that the young woman had tested positive for HIV and never informed her that she should be tested again. Then, there were discrepancies in the initial test and two consecutive confirmatory tests. Fortunately, this is where I stepped in two years ago to help her begin to navigate the complex emotions and decisions for her care that followed.
Long Term on pg. 3
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December 24, 2023
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
EDITORIAL A Revival of God
Consciousness Bobby Mills, Phd
THE REASON FOR THE SEASON The entirety of human existence comes into play with the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, because all have sinned, and come woefully short of the Glory of God. It is apparent that Christmas brings a profound sense of universal love and good will toward all men. It’s in the air, and it’s everywhere. At this time of the year individuals are transformed by the spiritual renewing of their minds and hearts that Christmas is a Manger Experience, not a department store experience nor a Santa Claus experience. Christmas is a spiritual renewing of our minds that we might come to know what the Divine Will of God is: “For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16). America, Christmas is the time of the year when we all should know to think and act lovingly, because: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8: 28). The Wise Men knew, the Shepherds in the fields knew, even the animals in the stable knew, and most of all, evil men such as Saul knew, even though Saul’s motivation and
intent was devilish evilness, not goodness. Hence, Christmas is a spiritual Manager Experience, not a department store experience. Individuals cannot purchase love. Love is God. Love comes from God, and therefore, love is the gift of God to the world. Hence, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4: 7-8). Once again, let’s not ever spiritually forget the reason for the season: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3: 17). Hence, if an individual has difficulty understanding this scriptural verse let’s make it plain and simple God, because this scripture is truly the reason for the season: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners:” (1 Timothy 2: 5). America, we can shout it from the mountain top, and from the lowest valley that Jesus Christ is born, even though it was two thousand years ago, it is fresh in the hearts and minds of those who spiritually know God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If God thought that individuals needed a Financial Planner, He would have sent one. If God thought that we needed a Physician, He would have sent one. If God thought that we needed a Great Musician, He would have sent one. For more visit aframnews.com
And all that Jazz Esperanza Jazz Paz
EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS We like to say everything is bigger in Texas. Bigger skies. Bigger stories. Bigger business. Bigger prison systems. Especially our prison systems. Texas is so legendary that the word itself has become slang in Norway. To Norwegians, “Texas” is a word that is included in everyday conversation. Their phrase “Der var helt texas!” (That was very, totally Texas!) describes any situation that is irrational, outrageous, and unmanageable, with anarchy in charge. Norway delights in cowboy movies, especially those filmed in or depicting Texas so much that the name of the state has become a symbol of uncontrolled lawlessness, without restraint, according to Daniel Gusfre Ims, the head of the advisory service at the Language Council of Norway. If they could watch movies based on the Texas prison complex there would be many more vocabularies involving the state. The first Texas prison opened with three reprobates detained in 1849. In 2021, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice was supervising 133,772 incarcerated convicts. That year there were 104 facilities, including 11 privately operated sites, located across
the state. Texas has an allinclusive lock up rate of 840 per 100,000 people, meaning that it restrains a higher percentage of its people than any democracy on earth. Norwegians know how hot and dusty our state is from the Western films they love. In 2022 the American Housing Survey found Houston to be the most air-conditioned city in the world, but in the Houston area alone there are 13 prison units holding 21,690 incarcerated people without adequate air conditioning. Texas jail standards require temperature control between 65 and 85 degrees, but during recent summers, temperatures have reached 150 degrees in some prisons. Texas enforces laws to protect animals from extreme heat; the Texas Department of Correction’s pig barns are air conditioned, but 70% of its Incarcerated citizens are not. About half of interned Texans live with chronic illnesses. Many imprisoned diabetics are dependent on prescribed life-saving insulin, a heat-sensitive medication that must be stored chilled. More are prescribed psychotropic medications which prevent the body from cooling by sweating, making those individuals more susceptible to the consequences of extreme heat. Their daily choice becomes taking their medication or risking heat-related death due to the side effects. To survive the prisoners flood their toilets and lay down in the water to try to regulate their core body temperature.
For more visit aframnews.com
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
December 24, 2023
NEW PARTNERSHIP TO TRAIN ASPIRING LOCAL TEACHERS The Houston Independent School District (HISD) and Texas Southern University (TSU) announced a partnership to train aspiring teachers. Through the initiative, students in TSU’s College of Education will earn their teacher certification and get paid while working as a Teacher Apprentices in HISD’s New Education System (NES) or NESaligned schools. “Teachers who serve as apprentices gain practical experience alongside veteran teachers, so they’re often more qualified to lead a classroom than those who have not had student teaching experience,” said HISD Superintendent Mike Miles. “We currently have nearly 500 teacher apprentices in
HISD, and they play an important role in supporting our teachers and students. Schools that have teacher apprentices experience fewer disruptions and are better equipped to deliver high-quality instruction every day. One reason is because there is no need for substitutes: If a classroom teacher has to be out, the apprentice—who is familiar with the lesson content and individual students—can jump right in. Through this work with Texas Southern University, we will strengthen our classrooms today and build the pipeline of teachers ready to support our students tomorrow.” Under the partnership, officially known as the Learning Legacy Pact, TSU students will
pursue their bachelor’s degrees in education, taking coursework at TSU while also working four days a week for HISD as Teacher Apprentices. In that role, each Teacher Apprentice will serve alongside a master teacher or several teachers. Teacher Apprentices learn the NES instructional model and effective teaching practices; plan lessons with their assigned teacher(s); coteach; substitute as necessary; and participate in the same professional development as core teachers. After meeting certain criteria, the Teacher Apprentices are eligible for promotion to teaching positions with HISD. For more visit aframnews.com
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Smith Cont. He is known around the state as a strategic leader with a heart for people, and the FBISD Board of Trustees believes his reputation of building unity with a relentless focus on student success makes him the ideal leader for our district.” Among Dr. Smith’s accomplishments, the measure of success he cares most about is student achievement. Dr. Smith is a humble, steadfast leader focused on putting students first. He believes a student’s circumstances today do not define their tomorrow which is why he will work tirelessly in partnership with the district’s staff, families, and community to give hope to every child in Fort Bend ISD. Smith is excited to return to
FBISD saying, “The opportunity to return to Fort Bend ISD feels like a homecoming. I am honored to rejoin the district and community as your superintendent and look forward to reconnecting with the people and traditions that have always inspired me.” Dr. Smith holds a doctorate from the University of Houston in Administration and Supervision and a master’s from Prairie View A&M University in Administration and Supervision. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Texas Southern University in Human Performance. Texas law requires school districts to implement a 21-day waiting period before an official contract is offered. Dr. Smith is scheduled to sign his contract on January 8, 2024.
Long Term Cont. This is just another glaring reminder of a much larger issue that plagues Black communities, especially Black women—a healthcare system marked by racial disparities and a profound lack of cultural sensitivity. I know this because, as a long-term HIV survivor, I have seen firsthand the pervasive stigma and systemic inequities that Black women still face regarding healthcare. Today, 50% of HIV cases are in Houston’s Black communities. In fact, as of 2020, women made up almost a quarter (23.8%) of those living with HIV, with a troubling 48.3% of these women being Black. These statistics represent the glaring role of stigma, deeply rooted racism, and the persistent barriers to accessing healthcare affecting our Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+
communities. More importantly, they represent real stories, struggles, and lives of our friends, family, and neighbors across the southern region of the US. Black women often report feeling dismissed and unheard, leading to misdiagnosis and inadequate care. This includes receiving lower levels of pain management, facing longer wait times, and less likelihood of receiving necessary tests and treatments. The story is the same in HIV, where there’s a marked gap in connection to care, retention in care, viral suppression and the management of comorbidities related to treatments and HIV itself. We must be the voice that demands more from our healthcare providers. Furthermore, a pervasive lack of cultural understanding and respect hampers
communication and trust, decreasing the likelihood of treatment adherence. Addressing these issues necessitates a shift toward increased training in culturally competent care, recognizing it as essential to effective, equitable healthcare rather than a mere luxury. The stark and indifferent delivery of the young woman’s diagnosis, combined with the escalating HIV rates in Houston and the southern US, underscores an urgent need for change. This also reflects a healthcare system that frequently reduces patients to mere diagnoses, overlooking their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and needs.
For more visit aframnews.com
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December 24, 2023
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REMEMBERING PVAMU’S FBISD BUS DRIVERS BUY FIFTH PRESIDENT, HOLIDAY PRESENTS GENERAL JULIUS W. FOR STUDENTS BECTON, JR. (RET.) In the honorable echoes of “The Hill,” a legendary chapter has drawn to a close as Julius W. Becton, Jr., a revered Army lieutenant general and
distinguished national leader, passed away at the age of 97. Lt. Gen. Becton lived by the rule, “Leadership and ethics are inseparable.” His life of service to community, family, country, and education shaped the life histories of generations of young people and will continue to do so for generations to come. A 1960 alumnus of
PVAMU, Lt. Gen. Becton became the first graduate to attain a star rank in the Armed Forces of the United States. After a unanimous vote by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, he assumed PVAMU’s top leadership role in 1989 as the school’s fifth president. Under his leadership, the University experienced significant improvements in fiscal operations and institutional accreditation by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges, effectively saving the school from devastating financial crises and preserving its status as an academically top-tier educational institution. From 1991 through 1994, PVAMU Provost Emerita and Professor and Director of the Toni Morrison Writing Program, Dr. Emma Joahanne ThomasSmith, served as associate provost and associate vice president for Academic Affairs under the leadership of then President Lt. Gen. Becton. For more visit aframnews.com
Fort Bend ISD bus drivers have dug deep in their hearts and their wallets to buy gifts for elementary school students whose families may be unable to afford presents this holiday season. This week for the 5th year, the drivers loaded their buses with toys and other gifts for 78 students who attend 14 different schools. They dropped off the items they had purchased so that counselors could distribute the presents to previously designated children in need on the campuses. The group of drivers who participate in this act of kindness and generosity call themselves the “Bus Angels” and state they love doing this each year to bring joy to the children they serve daily.
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DONALD MASON AS MANAGING DIRECTOR The Ensemble Theatre has selected Donald Mason as Managing Director, following an executive search process led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). He began his tenure on November 16, 2023. “It was a pleasure to partner with ACG and our Board on the search efforts for our new Managing Director. We are pleased to welcome Donald Mason as our new Managing Director, and we are excited about the wealth of knowledge, experience, and talents that he will bring to The Ensemble Theatre,” said Search Chair Chereese Johnson. Mason will help guide The Ensemble Theatre through a new chapter of growth by developing and directing strategies that support future expansion, program development, and revenue opportunities. Mason is a committed arts and culture leader, previously serving as Executive Director of Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, and most recently, at the Classical Music Institute in San Antonio, Texas. In this role, he notably created the Junior Orchestra for Youth and secured the organization’s largest grant in its history. “I’m deeply honored and humbled to be named Manag-
ing Director of The Ensemble Theatre in Houston. Gratitude to the TET Board and Search Committee, the TET Team, and Arts Consulting Group. I’m blessed to join an esteemed organization with a solid foundation, and excited for what’s next,” said Mason. “The long legacy of TET has provided an amazing tapestry for the community through meaningful, relevant, world-class entertainment and story telling. Generations of people are connected to TET and will continue to stitch that quilt.” Additionally, Mason brings a background in the field of radio and as a music photojournalist covering concerts, festivals, and interviews with artists such as Branford Marsalis, YoYo Ma, Robert Randolph, and Sharon Jones from DapKings fame. For more visit aframnews.com
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