We the People
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed
- Booker T. Washington
INAUGURATION FALLS ON MLK DAY
President-elect Donald Trump is soon to take o ce as the 47th President of the United States, alongside his running mate, Vice President-elect JD Vance. As Inauguration Day approaches, preparations are in full swing.
is year, the inauguration coincides with the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, adding a unique signi cance to the event.
Inauguration Day takes place every four years on January 20th (or January 21st if January 20th falls on a Sunday). e ceremony is held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
is year, Inauguration Day is set for January 20, 2025. It marks the occasion when the president-elect and vice presidentelect are o cially sworn into o ce.
And all that Jazz
Esperanza Jazz Paz
CELEBRATING MARTIN
KING DAY IN A RACIST COUNTRY
When President Reagan declared the third Monday of each January Martin Luther King Day, he could not have foreseen in 2025 it would coincide with the second inauguration of Donald Trump, but he would have been exhilarated if he knew. Reagan was hideously opposed to honoring MLK, telling thenGovernor omson, Jr. of New Hampshire
EDITORIAL
that expectations were “based on an image, not reality. Indeed to them perception is reality.” He judged King to be a communist, but allowed that “we will know in about 35 years’’. De ant challenges were also mounted by Senate Republicans and numerous states. Virginia recognized Lee- (as in the defeated Confederate general) Jackson- (another prominent Confederate o cer)-King Day until 2000. Some still abstain from full endorsement by pairing it with their own, more palatable “heroes.” Mississippi and Alabama both celebrate King-Lee Day. Idaho and New Hampshire observed Civil Rights Day until the
King on pg. 4
e GOP “MAGA” Party is playing a dangerous game of “Right Now, Politics”. In fact, MAGA “Right Now, Politics” is an ungodly political movement concerning White Privilege Autocracy without moral values or God conscience. Unfortunately, MAGA politics is simply White Nativism, without a coherent theory concerning multi-cultural democratic governance. Only co ee comes in instant form. Individuals seeking instant gratication is a dangerous lifestyle habit, because e Good Life comes through long-su ering
and self-sacri ce. is is why individuals must learn to follow before they can e ectively lead. Good followers usually make good leaders. Unfortunately, most GOP politicians do not spiritually understand this time-honored principle concerning leadership. For example, King David was a good leader, because he was an obedient follower of God. In Psalm 25, King David BOLDLY declared: “unto thee, O Lord, do I li up my soul. Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all day.” (Psalm 25: 1,4-5). erefore, if an individual desires to lead other individuals into a pathway of righteous living, it cannot be done by telling lies, because: “ e earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and Politics on Pg. 7
“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 idealsessential for peaceful living.”
- Anthony T. Browder
Bobby Mills, Ph.D.
Students Cont.
from job losses and reduced scholarship opportunities to the discontinuation of institutional commitments to diversity and inclusivity.
SB17 took e ect on January 1st, 2024, its impact has been huge. While it aimed to eliminate DEI o ces, not all colleges and universities immediately complied. is lack of compliance prompted Gov. Abbott to use stronger enforcement.
In the bill, Creighton said that SB17 “amends the Education Code to require public higher education institutions to prioritize creating an environment of intellectual inquiry, academic freedom, and intellectual diversity.” is ensures that all students are ready for the workforce and that they are respected and educated regardless of background or belief.
Texas is home to 105 public colleges and universities, collectively enrolling almost 1.5 million students. Students, professors, and chancellors from institutions like e University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the University of Houston, have been outspoken about the ban’s impact.
UT Austin’s enrollment exceeds 51,000 students, with less than 5% of that population identifying as Black.
Isabella Bellard, a UT Austin junior, was a member in the Fearless Leadership Institute (FLI), a program dedicated to supporting Black and Hispan-
ic female students until it was removed due to the ban. Bellard emphasized FLI’s importance as a necessary space for underrepresented students in an interview with USA Today.
Texas A&M University’s President Katherine Banks resigned in 2023 because of controversy surrounding the hiring of a black journalist to lead the journalism program. is hiring decision came with a lot of backlash against Banks’ diversity e orts. e journalist hired had a background in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
e university hired Kathleen McElroy, a professor known for advocating for diversity measures and promoting inclusivity. Public outrage led to changes in McElroy’s contract, saying that her employment could be terminated at any time. McElroy told the Texas Tribune hat she was being judged by race and gender.
According to CNN, Texas A&M and McElroy reached a $1 million settlement. e university issued an apology to McElroy and acknowledging mistakes in the hiring process. Texas A&M is the largest public university in the state, with an enrollment of around 74,000 students.
e impact on faculty and sta has become clear as UT Austin laid o 60 employees in early April 2024 to follow the state ban. Approximately 200 UT Austin students disrupted a virtual faculty meeting held by university presi-
dent Jay Hartzell in protest of the move. Hartzell announced that the school will not support diversity, equity, and inclusion e orts anymore due to SB17.
Two days a er the meeting, the executive committee of the UT Austin advocacy chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Texas Legislative Black Caucus
with DEI initiatives is discriminatory and infringes on their freedom of expression.”
Legislative Black Caucus jointly sent a letter to Hartzell urging him to rescind the termination notices issued to approximately sixty UT Austin professional sta . ese employees, who previously held DEI roles, have been terminated from their previous roles and reassigned to other non-DEI positions. Members of the committee said, “terminating sta for their previous lawful association
In an interview with CBS Austin, Creighton said that while some professors can stay, those in DEI roles might have to nd work elsewhere, ensuring that top educators stay in classrooms. “And so, the best and the brightest, they will end up teaching in another classroom… And
another classroom… And some, if they are not needed, if they are in an administrative
role, they will have to go somewhere else for employment.” According to the Daily Texan, in May 2023, Rep. John Kuempel testi ed that DEI sta would not lose their jobs, but some eventually did. e removal of DEI o ces, programs and related initiatives is a continuing to hurt wave minority students and faculty. Students and educators are still pushing back
tors are still pushing back against what they think is as a threat to the core values of higher education.
ON RACIAL JUSTICE & CIVIL RIGHTS
Taken from justiceatthegate.com
THE DEMOCRATS’ PLATFORM
1954 school desegregation decision, southern Democratic Governors went to extreme lengths to keep the Court decision from going into e ect. For example, in 1956, Democratic Governor Allan Shivers of Texas deployed the Texas Rangers to keep blacks from entering public schools in Mans eld. e following year, 1957, Democratic Governor Orval Faubus of Arkansas called out the National Guard to keep black students from entering Central High School in Little Rock. However, Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower intervened and federalized the Arkansas National Guard to take it away from Governor Faubus. He then replaced the Arkansas Guard with 1,200 troops from the elite 101st Airborne Division, ordering them to protect the nine black students who had chosen to go to Central High. Democrats in the U. S. Senate strongly protested against Eisenhower’s actions to protect these black students. For example, Georgia Democratic Senator Richard Russell speci cally complained about using “the whole might of the federal government, including the armed forces . . . to force a commingling of white and Negro children in the statesupported schools of the state.” Georgia Democratic Governor Marvin Gri n also attacked Eisenhower’s actions but praised Arkansas Governor Faubus for his attempt to prevent blacks from entering Central High School. Governor Gri n promised that as long as he held o ce, he would “maintain segregation in the schools; and the races will not be mixed, come hell or high water.” To prepare for the possibility that Eisenhower might do in Georgia what he had done in Arkansas, legislation was introduced in the Democratically-controlled Georgia legislature so that if desegregation was attempted, the public schools of the state would be dissolved and replaced with state-run private schools so that blacks could be excluded. ese type of schools became known as “segregation academies.” Meanwhile, in Arkansas, Democratic Governor Faubus, unable to prevent black students from attending school because of the federal protection they received, simply shut down the schools for the next year to prevent further attendance. And Virginia Democratic Governor James Almond – like other southern Democratic (to be continued in the next issue).
23 of 26 Special Edition
THE REPUBLICANS’ PLATFORM
aters, and playgrounds. e Eisenhower Administration has eliminated discrimination in all federal employment. Great progress has been made in eliminating employment discrimination on the part of those who do business with the federal government and secure federal contracts. is Administration has impartially enforced federal civil rights statutes, and we pledge that we will continue to do so.
We support the enactment of the civil rights program already presented by the President to the Second Session of the 84th Congress. e regulatory agencies under this Administration have moved vigorously to end discrimination in interstate commerce. Segregation in the active Armed Forces
crat at that time, set the record in the U. S. Senate for the longest individual libuster speech ever given in Senate history – over twenty-four hours of continual speaking in his attempts to block Eisenhower’s 1957 civil rights bill. e sti Democratic opposition in the Senate resulted in a watered- down version of Eisenhower’s original bill.
Despite the fact that the bill was much weaker than introduced, Eisenhower did succeed in creating a Civil Rights Division within the U. S. Justice Department. is division subsequently played a prominent role in helping secure civil rights in the South during the 1960s and 1970s. at law also started a Civil Rights Commission that became instrumental in publicizing the e ects of southern segreg tion and racial oppression.
In 1959, Eisenhower presented a second civil rights bill to Congress. at bill was met with unyielding opposition in the House by Democratic Representative Howard Smith of Virginia, Chairman of the House Rules Committee. Smith would actually disappear from Congress for weeks on end in order to keep his committee from acting on the civil rights bill. As had happened in the Senate with the earlier Eisenhower civil rights bill, a few House Democrats were willing to join (to be continued in the next issue).
reprehensible racism in Idaho, headquarters of the Aryan Nations, was revealed the state coveted a new façade. In 2000 they would nally tolerate a holiday to honor MLK. Upholding hybrid holidays champions white people’s patriotism and obfuscates their racial bigotry.
In 1986 Governor Babbit Arizona issued an executive order creating a paid MLK holiday, but in Evan Mecham’s rst performance as governor in 1987, he annulled it. “ e state cannot a ord to pay the many employees of the state for a holiday of a man who served as a major leader for civil rights. Yes, he did gain civil rights for blacks, but the state has observed paid holidays for presidents of the United States only. Why should the State of Arizona pay employees for a holiday of a non-national leader?”
New Hampshire adopted Civil Rights Day in 1993; in 2000 it became MLK Day. e fact that it took so long for New Hampshire to recognize the holiday still o ends some residents. JerriAnne Boggis, the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail director said, “It was really strange to me that all the talk was around all these other things, except the real reason: that we really didn’t want to honor a man of color.”
color.”
Stevie Wonder boycotted the state. Jesse Jackson cancelled his intended trip. Even the NFL couldn’t convert the governor, In March 1993, the city forfeited the Super Bowl and about $200 million revenue by refusing to restore the reverend’s holiday. Arizona was the concluding state to honor MLK Day.
ese repudiating states also minimize America’s racist violence. Massachusetts, an early adopter, teaches slavery 104 times in its K-12 public school history. Alabama, only 15 times, and Idaho mentions it twice. In New Hampshire, consequences of the civil rights movement, like the murder of Emmett Till, are sometimes omitted. Instead of celebrating his commitment to true equality, politicians dismiss King as a uniter, evidence of America’s contemporary “brotherhood.” e FBI even tweeted its admiration for King’s “incredible career ghting for civil rights” — even though they accused him of being a domestic threat during his lifetime and urged his suicide.
104 times in its
COPING, CREATING, CONQUERING: MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
By: Chloé Richards
Mental health is important for everyone, but young Black men and women between 18 and 25 face unique challenges that make it even harder to stay mentally healthy. is stage of life comes with big changes, starting college, new jobs,
do not feel comfortable talking about their feelings or asking for help. Society teaches them to “man up” or stay tough, which leads many to bottle up their emotions until it feels unbearable.
Black women aged 18 to 25 also face unique
and women. It is easy to feel like you are not good enough when you see other people posting about their successes or perfect lives. is can lead to depression, anxiety, or feelings of failure, even when you are doing your best.
e good news is that more young Black adults are starting to break these cycles. Many are choosing therapy, talking to friends and family about their feelings, and nding ways to struggles. Many feel pressure to “have it all together” balancing school, work, family, and relationships while looking perfect and staying strong. is “strong Black woman” stereotype can make them feel like they have no room to be vulnerable or ask for help when they need it.
take care of themselves. erapy is not just for when something is “wrong,” it is a way to grow, heal, and take control of your life.
If you are a young adult struggling, you are not alone. Start by nding someone you trust, like
a mentor, pastor, teacher, or counselor. Look into mental health resources in your community. You
can also try things like journaling, meditation, or even taking breaks from social media to focus on yourself.
Most importantly, remember this: You matter. Taking care of your mental health is not sel sh, it is brave. relationships, or trying to gure out what is next. For many young Black adults, these pressures are made worse by racism, nancial struggles, or feeling like they must be perfect to succeed. e numbers are concerning. Studies show that suicide rates among young Black adults have been rising faster than for any other racial group.
Black men in this age group are at a high risk because they o en
not sel sh, it is brave. By asking for help and making yourself a priority, you are creating a future where
you can thrive and show others that it’s okay to do the same. Together, we can break the stigma and build a healthier, happier future for young Black men and women everywhere.
Another factor is social media, which a ects both young Black men
they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24: 1). Hence, all of us are called to become good stewards and Godly caretakers. is is why we must become Godly caretakers of the planet; always expressing our desire and willingness to be led by the Spirit of God (Truth), because God o ers help for the present moment and hope for the future. Seeking instant grati cation through politics and hooking and crooking is a dangerous lifestyleleadership habit, because: “where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29: 18). America, where there is spiritual ignorance and rejection of truth, sin and crime run rampant, because civil democratic society and public morality must be based upon a God conscience. On the one hand, fear of man can stymie everything an individual might attempt to do, even have some individuals afraid to leave their homes. On the other hand, fear of God can be liberating because the harm that others might intend, God can turn it into your bene cial good. Hallelujah! Unfortunately, the GOP is inhabited by an awful lot of angry individuals who boldly embrace the devilish principles and philosophy of “right now, politics”, and January 6th, 2020, is the historical ungodly
eternal example. erefore, “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression… e fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe…. Many seek the ruler’s favor; but every man’s judgment cometh from the Lord.” Proverbs 29: 22, 25-26). Once again, we should never fear our enemies, because with faithful obedience to God, prayer, and supplication, God can make your enemies your footstool. Let’s not forget, having too much or too little money can be spiritually dangerous for an individual’s soul salvation. Becoming rich is not the answer, because rich individual’s have a di cult time getting into the Kingdom of God: “Verily I say unto you, at a man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of heaven. And again, I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19: 23-24). Now run and tell the world that, because Jesus does not lie! Amen.
THE EDISON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER BEAM SIGNING CEREMONY
By: Phyllis Bailey
e Edison Cultural Arts Center invites community members, local leaders, and stakeholders to commemorate a major milestone in its development with a Beam Signing Ceremony on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. e event will be held at the center’s construction site, 7100 W. Fuqua. Scheduled for completion by September 2025, this project marks a pivotal step in transforming an old, vacant shopping center into a vibrant, non-pro t-run town center featuring cultural arts programs, community services, and a ordable housing. e initiative serves as a beacon for revitalization in Fort Bend, a legacy Black community, and aims to enhance the quality of life for its residents.
Friday, January 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. e event will be held at the center’s construction site, 7100 W. Fuqua REMINDER: PLEASE WEAR CLOSED TOE SHOES as this is an active construction site! Look for the signs at the green construction fencing next to the Edison Lo s.
Since the groundbreaking in December 2021 and the demolition of the former shopping center in September 2023, the Edison Cultural Arts Center has progressed steadily toward its vision. e Beam Signing Ceremony symbolizes a collective commitment to this transformative project.
Key par- tici-
pants include elected o cials from the City of Houston, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Edison Arts Foundation (EAF) board members, capital fund donors, and community leaders.
“ is ceremony represents much more than a construction milestone,” said Charity Carter, Founder of the Edison Arts Foundation. “It is a moment of unity and hope as we continue to create a thriving hub for arts, culture, and community services that will upli future generations.”
e Edison Arts Foundation, a communitydriven 501©(3) arts organization, spearheads the project as a cata-
lyst for comprehensive community revitalization. e Edison Center is a bold, high-impact initiative to foster wellbeing, prosperity, and cultural enrichment for the greater Fort Bend Houston community. e Beam Signing Ceremony also serves as a call to action for additional donor support as the organization continues to fundraise to address rising construction costs and in ationary pressures. Contributions will help ensure the project’s timely completion and lasting impact on the community. For more information or to donate, visit https:// edisonartsfoundation. org/donate
Arts Center
Construction Site
Friday, January 3, 2025
10:00AM
7100 West Fuqua
Missouri City, TX 77489
CHARITY CARTER, MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX-TATUM AND TROY CARTER
