“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
TRUMP AND 1,000 BOTTLES OF BABY OIL
By: Natiece Ford
While we cannot say whether music mogul Sean Combs aka “Diddy” is guilty or not. We do know that Donald Trump was found guilty on all charges of business fraud in New York on May 30, 2024 and is free, while his sentencing has been postponed until after the 2024 presidential election. Does money and status only affect
freedom if you are a white criminal? Both Diddy and Trump have charges that involve sex workers, both have a racketeering charge but only one man is behind bars while they await trial and only one of these men is running for the President of the United States of America. Trump pg. 3
Your vote and your money are the two most powerful things you have. Be careful who you give them to.
- Roy Douglas Malonson
By: Ronald Williams MELVIN
Melvin Troy Williams was born on September 28, 1956 in Houston, Texas. He passed away into eternal life at the age of 67, 11 months on September 15, 2024. Melvin grew up in Acres Homes Community and attended George Washington Carver High School where he enjoyed playing football. Melvin had a business acumen. He started his own trucking company and pressure washing service.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized at an early age. He enjoyed family time. Melvin was known for his unique sense of humor, his compassion for others. He loved to make people laugh. He was always willing to help others with words of wisdom, a kind word, a listening ear, or a few dollars. He never met a stranger.
TROY WILLIAMS
A Revival of God Consciousness
Bobby Mills, Ph.D.
A NEW WAY FORWARD
America is at a constitutional spiritual crossroads: which way chaos or national unity?
Trumpism represents antimulti-cultural democratic tenets (White Privilege Autocracy). erefore, everything America constitutionally has declared she is, Trumpism is against. Trumpism and GOP conservatism are not seeking to preserve and expand constitutional Human Rights and Civil Rights, but deny human and civil rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Hence, conservatism is about preserving the tenets of institutional racism and ungodly dehumanization. In fact, the desire of the
GOP is to restrict access to the bounty of America (American Dream) that was foundationally built o the backs of slave labor. Trump’s Presidency is a backwardlooking movement of the ungodly. God is a God of the present and the future, not the past. e past was not perfect. God is perfect in LOVE, not hatred, because: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3: 16-17). Americans it is up to US as to whether, we desire to save America, because MAGA Trumpism represents the absolute destruction of American society. erefore, the Trump Presidential candidacy says more about the Americans who are willing to vote for Trump than Trump, himself! On the other hand, the candidacy of VP Harris
And all that Jazz
Esperanza Jazz Paz
Forward pg. 3
WORD OF THE DAY: CO-LOCATION
Bomb threats; guns and knives on campuses; persistent bus problems; sweltering classrooms; teachers begging publicly on social media for necessary supplies; students denied permission to accept invitation to perform in Sugar Bowl parade. ( e mayor stepped in to solve this. Mike Miles was entirely unaware, he said).
HISD has a lot to overcome in coaxing voters to approve Mile’s historic bond proposal. He wants $4.4 billion to enhance schools and increase student enrollment as the state seeks to entice students away by o ering stipends to use at parochial schools.
Now Miles wants to “colocate” eight mostly minor-
ity schools with seven other campuses. He claims that each school would be independent entities as they share cafeterias and gymnasiums. He has not explained how this will a ect sports or special activities, nor has he converted many parents.
On September 18th Dr. Daniel Solis made a 30-minute presentation at the rst public information meeting. In it Najah Callander, HISD’s senior executive director for external engagement, said the co-location of Franklin and Edison schools would probably not even be ready before August 2028. Per Doctor Solis, “We want to do everything we can to ensure that our families and our students are receiving the best education possible, and ... keep our students within HISD.” Still, parents were startled and anxious. Mr. Callander said the district is holding more meetings to inform the community and communicate with parents about the plan, extending more
“We Africans in America have been socially engineered to reject our past, and far too many of us live in a state of suspended animation. We deny the historical realities confronting us daily. Too many of us mistakenly believe that the past has no bearing on the present and is unrelated to the future. Thus, we have been conditioned to live our lives disconnected from cultural values, principles, and ideals - essential for peaceful living.”
- Anthony T. Browder
Cont.
Co-Location Cont.
says more about the founding spiritual inclusive character of our founding constitutional documents declaring the all men are created equal in God’s sight, and it also should be true in every American’s sight, because: “God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation.” (Acts 17: 26). Lest we forget all of US are immigrants coming from foreign lands, except Native American Indians. e Presidential candidacy of VP Harris represents a new way forward towards a more occasions for the district to engage and encourage involvement from the families who would be a ected by the measure before the vote.
Christina Quintero is the mother of two Port Houston Elementary students. eir campus will merge with Pleasantville Elementary and Holland Middle School at a new site, “ e Furr Campus.” She opposes the plan saying. “ is should not be an option; “Each community deserves its own space, deserves its own school and deserves a quality education.”
Kelley Ramirez and
perfect and just society of equals; whereby equal is equal, not more or less equal. Trump and his MAGA Cult Followers are operating under a devilish illusion of my way or the highway; without understanding that: “ ere is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14: 12).
Trump’s MAGA Cult Followers desire easy choices and free-loading options and solutions, and no self-sacri ces. America, life is about self-sacri ces, and work and self-sacri ces are spiritual commands from God, because of sin against the will of God in the Garden of Eden. erefore, Trumpers do not desire to change their devilish material-
istic lifestyles, because it requires no Godly moral restraints. Godly choices require hard work, self-sacri ces, and moral constraints. Trump is o ering nonthinking Americans an easy way (short-cut) to confusion, hell on earth, and eternal damnation; without understanding that: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14: 34). VP Harris and Governor Walz are o ering America a chance (new way) to experience love, joy, and peace, because: “this joy that I have the world did not give it, and the world cannot take it away. Hallelujah!
Elizabeth Coli both have two children each at Edison Middle School. Ms. Ramirez is concerned about the big kids bullying the younger ones and the site’s ability to accommodate the in ux. Ms. Coli is also uneasy. “I feel like they wouldn’t get the experience they’re supposed to experience in middle school, but at the same time, I know the community needs to improve schools.”
Other parents and community members complained that colocating will crush their school’s special identities and dilute their community presence. Cognizant of the organized “No trust, no
Trump Cont.
Donald Trump has more in common with the millions of Americans in this country unable to vote due to their felon status than the other portion of the population who he is attempting to gain votes from. Prosecutors seeking the detention of Diddy have argued that “he poses an ongoing danger to the community…” which may be true but the false claims of Donald Trump are equally as dangerous for members of the community specifically with his comments during the September 10th debate where he said that immigrants of the Spring-
field, Ohio community were eating “the pets” which put many Haitian immigrants at risk, forcing schools, government buildings and hospitals to evacuate due to bomb and mass shooting threats.
This is not the first time and likely not the last that Donald Trump will incite violence. The January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S Capitol is a great place to start, with the danger that Donald Trump poses on the community. A criminal is a criminal in America unless you’re a white man with money, or the illusion of money and power.
said that immigrants of the Spring-
bond” e ort among voters, Mr. Callander tried to appease the skeptical. “We are trying really hard to engage with these communities multiple times so that we can make sure that people are hearing about the bond and getting opportunities to give their input and provide feedback,” he said “We know the questions and the concerns may be di erent, so we’re planning to spend the next several weeks talking to families.” But then HISD refused to reveal the location or time of the future community meetings. No trust, no bond, indeed.
THE DEMOCRATS’ PLATFORM ON RACIAL JUSTICE & CIVIL RIGHTS
THE REPUBLICANS’ PLATFORM
its claim of right to surround the ballotboxes with troops and deputy marshals, to intimidate and obstruct the election, and the unprecedented use of the veto to maintain its corrupt and despotic powers, insult the people and imperil their institutions.
President Rutherford B. Hayes
won the presidency, claiming that the outcome of the 1876 election was the result of a “conspiracy.” The 1876 election had been between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden, and 185 electoral votes were needed for either to win the presidency. When the votes were counted, Democrat Tilden had received 184 electoral votes and Republican Hayes had received 165. Neither had received the necessary votes, but there was a total of 20 disputed electoral votes that had not been counted. If Republican Hayes received all 20 of those votes, he would became President; if Democrat Tilden received even one of those votes, he would became President.
The uncounted votes came primarily from the disputed southern states of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. In those three states, dual election results had been reported – one tally in each state showed Republicans had won, the other tally showed Democrats had won. In each of those three states, Democrats had been extremely active both in suppressing the black vote through violence and in altering the counts at the ballot box. Democrats therefore claimed that they had won those three states. However, Republicans counted the suppressed African American votes and ignored the fraudulent votes. They therefore claimed that they had won those three states.
Since the Electoral College did not count the disputed votes, and since neither presidential candidate could win without them, Congress was required to determine who would become President. A commission of 15 members was convened to hear the issue. The commission investigated and determined that there had been voter suppression through the killing, injuring, and intimidation of black Americans by Democrats. The commission therefore awarded the election to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes. The Democratic House, however, refused to ratify the findings of the commission and threatened a filibuster. The result was that America remained without a President.
This situation continued for four months until a solution, known as “The Great Compromise,” was proposed. Democrats offered to ratify the commission’s report – but only if the last federal troops were withdrawn from Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina, thereby officially ending Reconstruction in the South. If Republicans did not agree to the Democratic proposal, America would have no President. The proposal was finally agreed to, and federal troops departed from the three remaining states in which they had been stationed. (Following the withdrawal of those last federal troops, from that point forward the South became known as the “solid Democratic South.”) As a result of this agreement, Rep. Rutherford B. Hayes became President, and because of these circumstances, Democrats complain that “the existing administration is the representative of conspiracy only.”
LOCAL
MISSOURI CITY NATIVE SUPPORTS U.S. NAVY SQUADRON
By: Ensign Joash Ward, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Petty O cer 1st Class Dustin Holmes, a native of Missouri City, Texas, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (COMHSMWINGPAC).
Holmes graduated from urgood Marshall High School in 2008. Holmes joined the Navy 16 years ago. Today, Holmes serves as an engineman.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to make something better of myself and be nancially stable,” said Holmes. “I also wanted to have money for college. I’m in school right now, paying for it with the programs that are available to us. I wanted to set my life up to become the best version of myself, and realize my potential. I wanted to be a team player, nancial stable and physically t. At 18, I didn’t have the con dence and charisma that I have now, I got them from my time in the service.”
e skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Missouri City.
“I’ve learned how to turn nothing into something,” said Holmes. “ at means turning the worst situation into a good situation. A lot of times in the military and in my life, I’ve had the mental fortitude to change that into a positive outcome.
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OFFICER GERALD GOINES FOUND GUILTY
By: Houston Public Media
Former Houston o cer Gerald Goines has been found guilty of felony murder for his role in a botched drug raid on Harding Street in 2019. e jury began deliberating just a er 2 p.m. on Tuesday a er both sides wrapped up closing arguments. At 10:07 a.m. on Wednesday, jurors continued to look over
— save for defense attorneys, prosecutors and several family members of Tuttle and Nicholas, along with Goines and his wife, who sat on the far-le end of the courtroom.
LOCAL
BIKE AND LEARN: THE BLACK COWBOYS OF THE CHISHOLM TRAIL
By: Natiece Ford
sister anxiously dgeted with her face mask. Goines stood silently alongside his attorneys. e previously empty courtroom was full by the time jurors funneled in at 2:16 p.m.
As the jury worked throughout the day on Wednesday, the courtroom was largely empty
had been reached. e couple’s family stood together and prayed as they waited for the jury to enter the continued to look over the case.
At around 1:50 p.m., the sound of two bells rang through the courtroom, indicating that a verdict had been reached. e couple’s family stood together and prayed as they waited for the jury to enter the room. Goines’
A er more than seven hours of deliberation, jurors returned with their verdict: guilty of two counts of felony
Images of John Wayne o en come to mind when thinking of cowboys. Augusto Macedo and a group of friends have set out to change the imagery and tell the real story of the original cowboy, the black cowboy. Set to ride from Rosenburg, Tx on September 21st and end at the National Western Multicultural Museum in Fort Worth, Tx on September 26th along the original Chisholm Trail, stopping in major cities along the way to tell the rich history of the trail and the black cowboys imprint on the West. Augusto spoke with AFRAM News about the mission of the histori-
cal tours that he and his group take around the country. e “Bike and Learn” tours started in 2016 with the 51st anniversary of the “Selma Marches” and have gone on to bike through other signi cant places in the country. e Chisholm Trail is a signi cant piece of black history and Augustos’ aim is to change the mythological image that cowboys are white men into the reality that being a cowboy is yet another piece of Black history. A big part of being a cowboy starts with the very horse you ride, with many not knowing that horses are not indigenous to the Americas
but to Africa. Brought over through the Iberian Peninsula and then to Spain and then to South Carolina where horses were used to graze the marsh lands used to grow rice which were more pro table than cotton early in the slave trade because the rice could be used to feed those among the slave ships without it running the risk of spoiling like yams. e Black cowboys and those who worked the land made their way from the Carolinas to Texas by 1850.
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS
Request for Proposal will be received by Lone Star College for:
• RFP #24-09-04 – Comprehensive Campus Counseling Services. Electronic submittals due by 2:00PM, Monday, October 21, 2024.
• Contact: janet.bradley@lonestar.edu or (832)813-6299.
• Must Register to Bid: https://lonestar. ionwave.net/Login.aspx. If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with the on-line registration process, contact MC-vendors@lonestar.edu.
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 2:00 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, October 16, 2024, for the following solicitations:
•RFP 25-09-02 Disaster Debris Removal and Disposal Services
A pre-proposal conference 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 speci c to this solicitation.
“Durotech, Inc., as Construction Manager at Risk, on behalf of Fort Bend I.S.D, will receive sub-contractor/vendor proposals for the Clements High School Rebuild project, as designed by DLR Group. Proposals and quali cation statements will be received by Durotech, Inc., from interested proposers, sub-proposers and suppliers until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in the presence of the Owner and Architect at the o ces of Durotech, Inc. at 11931 Wickchester Lane, #205, Houston, TX 77043-4501, Phone: 281-558-6892 and Fax: 281-496-5637. Construction Manager Contact: Sidhesh Kakodkar/Julian Ciarella. Drawings and Speci cations will be available for review at the o ces of Durotech, Inc., and at the plan rooms of AGC, Dodge Data & Analytics, Virtual Builders Exchange, Brazos Valley Contractors Association, Construction Data and CMD Group. Prevailing wage rates in conformance with State of Texas law will be paid on this project. All proposals shall remain valid for sixty (60) days.
e Owner, Architect/Engineer and Construction Manager reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive any informalities and irregularities in the proposal process, and to make the awards in the best interest of the owner. By submitting a proposal, each proposer agrees to waive any claim it has or may have against the Owner, the Architect/Engineer, Construction Manager and their respective employees arising out of or in connection with the administration, evaluation, or recommendation of any proposal; waiver of any requirements under the Proposal Documents, or the Contract Documents; acceptance or rejection of any proposals; and award of a Contract.”
DIVERSITY
H-E-B’s Supplier Diversity Program works hard to ensure we’re selling goods and utilizing services from a wide variety of Texan businesses. We’re proud that our suppliers are as diverse as the Lone Star State itself.
As a former small business ourselves, we believe in and celebrate the value & strength that working with small businesses, local businesses, and businesses owned by minorities, women, LGBTQ+, Veterans, and disabled Texans brings to both our business and the communities we serve.
