Houston Defender: January 24, 2019

FEATURE

NO SHORTAGE OF BLACKS IN THE 2019 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS P8

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Volume 88 | Number 13 JANUARY 24 |2019 |FREE

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NEWSTALK DIANA DAVILA elected HISD President

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SPORTS

State Sen. Borris Miles

State Rep. Alma Allen

State Rep. Garnet Coleman

State Rep. Harold Dutton

State Rep. Jarvis Johnson

State Rep. Ron Reynolds

State Rep. Shawn Thierry

State Rep. Senfronia Thompson

HOUSTON OPEN COMING TO TOWN

P10 H.S. SPORTS MALON GARNER making waves at Yates

P11 TOP EVENTS

Tammie Kahn, State Rep. Garnet Coleman and Sonceria MessiahJiles at the Children’s Museum MLK Celebration.

Lawmakers

FOCUS ON BLACKS H PAGE 6

Kamala Harris running for president

Samuel Jackson opens up

The Democratic senator has officially thrown her hat in the ring, aiming to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020. The announcement is drawing mixed reactions across the country.

The talented actor reprises his “Unbreakable” character Elijah Glass, a genius and comic book aficionado who suffers from brittle bone disease. He opens up about the popular role and shares details of his drug-filled past.

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 24 | 2019

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Shift turns HISD board leadership Hispanic Defender News Services

The racial makeup of HISD’s board took a dramatic shift as the four Hispanic trustees were elected to the top officer positions.

Trustee Diana Dávila recently became the president of the embattled board. She replaces Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who is Black. Skillern-Jones and the board’s other Black trustees – Wanda Adams and Jolanda Jones – have each accused the Hispanic trustees of, in some form or another, exhibiting racially-motivated actions surrounding the district superintendent position.

The slate of new officers reflected the racial divide on the board. None of the three Black board members were nominated to take officer posts after holding top positions each of the past two years. Skillern-Jones and Jones served as president and first vice president, respectively, in 2018. Adams held the presidency in 2017.

Dávila previously served on the HISD board of trustees from 2003 to 2010. A former teacher, Dávila was reelected in 2015.

"There have been choppy waters, I’m going on my sixteenth year and there have always been choppy waters, there are always sharks in the water,” she said.

Dávila will now set the leadership tone in HISD following months of governance strife that has often cut across racial Trustee Wanda Adams lines. Elected officers do not have more voting power than other trustees, but the board president presides over board meetings and drives the agenda.

Dávila said her priorities will include ensuring the district’s longest-struggling schools get resources needed to meet state academic standards, fighting for more education funding and restructuring board meetings to foster greater engagement and transparency.

“I’m looking to be bringing back some of those things we used to do before, making sure that we respect each other as colleagues on the board and respect the administration,” said Dávila.

Board members voted 7-2 to appoint Dávila as president, with Adams and Jones opposed. Trustees Holly Maria Flynn

HISD board officers are Sergio Lira, Elizabeth Santos, Diana Dávila, Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca and Sue Deigaard.

Trustee Jolanda Jones

Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones

Vilaseca (first vice president), Elizabeth Santos (second vice president), Sergio Lira (secretary) and Sue Deigaard (assistant secretary) rounded out the leadership roles. All except Deigaard worked in HISD as teachers before joining the board.

The demographic split comes amid months of tension between the board’s Black and Hispanic trustees, who have disagreed over whether to permanently retain Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan.

The board’s four Hispanic members and Trustee Anne Sung have opposed keeping Lathan permanently and maneuvered to oust her in October 2018.

They reversed course two days later after their

chosen replacement, former HISD superintendent Abelardo Saavedra, backed out.

Adams, Jones and Skillern-Jones all wanted to keep Lathan, who is Black, arguing that she has been instrumental in reducing the district’s number of schools failing to meet state academic standards. The trio criticized the board’s Hispanic trustees for leaving them in the dark about their effort to boot Lathan from her temporary post.

Adams said the effort to replace Lathan with Saavedra left her distrustful of Dávila’s leadership. Dávila said she made the first contact with Saavedra, and she voiced the motion to install him as superintendent.

“In light of what has happened on this board, I just think it sends the wrong message,” Adams said.

Lathan, who joined HISD in 2015 as Chief Schools Officer over elementary transformation, has not committed to whether she will seek the position permanently.

She became interim superintendent in March 2018 following the departure of Richard Carranza.

localbriefs THE FORT BEND ISD BOARD WILL NOT move forward with the high school portion of boundary changes that have drawn criticism throughout the district. Tensions have been high as anxious Fort Bend ISD parents waited for the district to finalize plans for large-scale re-zoning and new programs planned for Willowridge, Marshall and Hightower High Schools. Last October, administrators promised “innovative new programs” for students at Marshall and Willowridge, which have lower enrollment and lack popular academic programs that currently thrive at other campuses…….THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PARTNERING WITH the Houston

Relief Hub and several local nonprofit groups to connect furloughed employees living in Houston with assistance during the government shutdown.

Furloughed federal employees can apply for a $100 voucher and obtain information about organizations and businesses offering meals, deals and other assistance. At the same time, the public will have one central location to donate non-perishable food, diapers and other baby items, cleaning supplies, gift cards and cash. Visit houstonreliefhub.org for more information. ………HOUSTON CITY COUNCILMEMBER AMANDA EDWARDS encourages residents to have a seat at the table at two critical high capacity

transit meetings on Jan. 25 and on Feb. 22 impacting the future of mobility in the eight-county region.

The anticipated population growth in the HoustonGalveston region from 2015 to 2045 is expected to increase by 4.2 million people, according to the Houston-Galveston Area Council. That means the population will spike from 6.54 million people (2015) to 10.76 million people by 2045. Accordingly, the Houston region needs to address how to move as many people as efficiently as possible. The meetings will take place Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. and Feb. 22 at 9:30 a.m. at 3555 Timmons Lane, 2nd floor, Room B. For information call 832-393-3012.

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JANUARY 24 | 2019 | DEFENDER

national

U.S.briefs CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES OF GENERAL MOTORS have sued the auto-making giant over accusations of a racist workplace environment that included everything from nooses to being called the N-word and even a “whites only” sign. The combination has resulted in a growing call to boycott the struggling company that was also facing other potential boycotts unrelated to the allegations of racism at a manufacturing plant in Ohio. The accusations allege that Black supervisors were “denounced as ‘boy’ while being called ‘monkey’ or told to ‘go back to Africa.’” GM officials are investigating……..CONTROVERSY CONTINUES OVER Kentucky high school students who were engaged in a confrontation with a Native American elder that renewed a sensitive national debate about race relations in America. Students from Covington Catholic High School were in Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life rally when a student appeared to stare down Omaha tribe leader Nathan Phillips as he played his drum and chanted. The video attracted outrage on social media, where many accused the students of mocking Phillips, a Vietnam veteran, who later told CNN he felt threatened. The students – a number of whom were wearing caps adorned with President Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” – have disputed that they were mocking Phillips, and several conservative outlets have championed their version of events……..MANY CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO ARE OUTRAGED over the sentence of the former police officer who shot and killed 17-yearold Laquan McDonald in 2014. Jason Van Dyke was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. The counts carry a minimum mandatory sentence of six years each while the seconddegree murder charge carries a minimum sentence of four years. After serving two years, probation could be considered.

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Reactions mixed over Harris presidential run Defender News Services

Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris has officially thrown her hat in the ring and aims to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.

The former California attorney general made her announcement from her alma mater, Howard University.

Long rumored to be considering a run, Harris saw her national profile grow in part to her prosecutorial questioning of then-Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

She portrayed herself as a fighter for justice, decency and equality in a video distributed by her campaign as U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California joined the 2020 presidential race. she announced her bid.

"They're the values we as Americolor, especially African-American women, have been the cans cherish, and they're all on the line backbone of the Democratic party” and they “deserve a seat now," Harris said in the video. “The future of our country at the table.” depends on you and millions of others lifting our voices to Harris is widely considered a top-tier Democratic presifight for our American values." dential candidate, amid a field that includes or could include Harris’ announcement coincided not only with the Dr. U.S. Sens.

Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday but with the anniversary of and Kirsten Gillibrand, former Texas senatorial candidate the late U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm becoming the first Black Beto O’Rourke and former Vice President Joe Biden. woman to run for president. Harris is the daughter of JamaiHarris’ record as former California attorney general left can and Indian immigrants. some feeling cold.

One critic said she took no action in key She is the second woman of color to announce her canpolice abuse cases and defended a troubled prison system. didacy in the 2020 presidential election. She was preceded by Others felt her background as a prosecutor could be a Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, who is of Samoan descent. strength as Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland expressed exciteinto President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign continues. ment over Harris’ announcement, saying that “women of

Biden says whites must admit racism exists VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 13 JANUARY 24, 2019 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler

Strategic Alliance Manager

Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers

Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison

Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Max Edison Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For digital subscriptions, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com/ subscribe. No paper subscriptions are available. All material covered by 2019 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

Defender News Services

The former vice president of the United States addressed the racism that goes “almost unnoticed by so many of us.”

Speaking at a breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Joe Biden said that “white America has to admit there is systemic racism.”

Biden, a potential 2020 presidential candidate, said at the event hosted by Al Sharpton’s National Action Network that “we have a lot to root out, but most of Joe Biden all the systematic racism that most of us whites don’t like to acknowledge even exists.”

The 76-year-old addressed the hatred in this country and how, in the last two years, the nation learned that “it doesn’t take much to awaken hate” and that President Donald Trump has helped facilitate it.

“We saw it in Charlottesville as Klansmen and white supremacists, literally, and neo-Nazis, literally, slunked out of their dark rooms, their digital hideaways, their crazed and vicious faces literally contorted, illuminated by torchlight,” said Biden.

“I never thought I would live to see…a president of the United States make a moral equivalence between those who were spreading the hate and those who were opposing it, saying there were ‘very fine people on both sides.’

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 24 | 2019

You Spoke.

We Listened.

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PUBLIC MEETINGS

2019

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METRO is coming back to the public to share the draft long-range transportation plan designed with your input. Join us at a public meeting or learn more at METRONext.org.

Any person who requires language interpretation or special needs accommodations is encouraged to contact METRO Public Affairs at 713-739-4018, or via email at METROPublicAffairs@ridemetro.org.

Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate your needs.

JOIN US FOR A PUBLIC MEETING SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center 4014 Market Street Houston, Texas 77020

Missouri City Community Center 1522 Missouri City Drive Missouri City, Texas 77489

HCC - Spring Branch Campus 1010 West Sam Houston Pkwy N. Houston, Texas 77043

Tracy Gee Community Center 3599 Westcenter Drive Houston, Texas 77042

Springhill Suites Conference Center 20350 Northwest Freeway Houston, Texas 77065

Double Tree Houston Hobby Airport 8181 Airport Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77061

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Missouri City MCTX Flex route

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MONDAY, JANUARY 28 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Fulbright Tower 1301 McKinney Houston, Texas 77010

Kingwood Community Center 4102 Rustic Woods Drive Kingwood, Texas 77339

Magnolia Multi-Service Center 7037 Capitol Houston, Texas 77011

Montrose Center 401 Branard Street Houston, Texas 77006

South Park Baptist Church 5830 Van Fleet Street Houston, Texas 77033

Junior League of Houston 1811 Briar Oaks Lane Houston, Texas 77027

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MONDAY, JANUARY 28 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Klein ISD Multipurpose Center 7500 FM 2920 Klein, Texas 77379

Double Tree by Hilton Hotel IAH 15747 John F Kennedy Blvd Houston, Texas 77032

Katy ISD Boardroom 6301 South Stadium Lane Katy, Texas 77494

Southwest Multi-Service Center 6400 High Star Houston, Texas 77074

Volunteers of America Texas 4808 Yale Houston, Texas 77018

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JANUARY 24 | 2019 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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Jackson opens up about new role, his past

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Defender News Services

early two decades after releasing the genre-bending superhero story “Unbreakable,” writer-director M. Night Shyamalan has unveiled the third and final film in his scifi trilogy, “Glass.”

In the film, Samuel L. Jackson reprises his “Unbreakable” character Elijah Glass, a genius and comic book aficionado who suffers from brittle bone disease. He’s joined by Bruce Willis as vigilante do-gooder David Dunn and James McAvoy, who plays Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with dissociative identity disorder and the focus of 2017’s “Split.”

While Willis and McAvoy both appeared in the second chapter of the trilogy, audiences have long-awaited Glass’ return.

Samuel L. Jackson, one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, portrays genius Elijah Glass in the new film “Glass.”

“He’s been locked up for 18 years, people have been trying to block his mind In the early ’90s, Jackson was working on Broadway and break his spirit,” Jackson said. “I think as an understudy for actor Charles Dutton in “The Piano it’s a very different person than the first one we had, or he needs to Lesson.” look that way.”

“I had to sit there every night on the steps behind the The film picks up as Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) theater and listen to Charles Dutton do that part,” the 70-yearexplains that she’s a doctor specializing in delusions of grandeur, old told the Hollywood Reporter. “I’d sit there and smoke crack such as in those who believe they are superheroes. Scorned by while I listened to the play. It made me f—ing crazy. Because I’d the denial of their powers, Elijah sets out to persuade Kevin and be listening to him doing the lines and going, ‘That’s not right!’”

David to reveal their supernatural abilities to the world.

“The whole time I was using, sure, I had a good reputation,” While Shyamalan told Jackson from the start that “UnbreakJackson said. “I showed up on time, I did my lines. I was great. able” would be one part of a trilogy, his character’s storyline But there was something that was keeping me from getting to wrapped much later than Jackson expected. that next place.”

“I figured in around two years there’d be the next one, After his wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, and daughand two years we’d do the last one, but it never happened [until ter found him unconscious in the kitchen, Jackson now],” Jackson said. finally made the decision to check himself In the midst of promoting the movie, Jackson also opened into rehab, “I’d been getting up about his past drug use. The actor spoke about his struggles high since, s—, 15, 16 with an addiction to crack cocaine in the 1980s and 1990s.

years old, and I was tired as f—,” he said.”

Ironically, the very first role that he booked after leaving the rehabilitation facility was playing a drug addict, in Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever.”

“All the people in rehab were trying to talk me out of it. ‘You’re going to be messing around with crack pipes. All your triggers will be there. Blah, blah, blah,’” Jackson recalled. “I was like, ‘You know what? If for no other reason than I never want to see you motherf— ers again, I will never pick up another drug.’ Cause I hated their asses.”

what’sup Sony Music has dropped embattled R&B star R. KELLY from its roster, just weeks after the popular documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly” drew fresh attention to the sex abuse allegations against Kelly, which have dogged him most of his career.

The #MeToo and #MuteRKelly movements have held protests, demanding his music be dropped from streaming services and beyond. LADY GAGA and CELINE DION recently removed their duets with Kelly from streaming services. Kelly has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct involving women and underage girls……..WENDY WILLIAMS is taking an extended break from her TV talk show

to deal with health issues related to her immune system disorder, Graves’ disease. Treatment will include “significant time” in the hospital. Williams has a strong desire to return to work but must focus on her “personal and physical well-being,” her family said, adding a request that her privacy be respected. Williams, 54, is on the mend from another health problem, a shoulder fracture she suffered in December. Graves’ disease leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormones and can cause wide-ranging symptoms and affect overall health……..Legendary singer and civil rights activist GLADYS KNIGHT will sing the

National Anthem prior to Super Bowl 53, which is being held in her hometown of Atlanta on Feb. 3. Knight is being criticized for her move by supporters of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who they feel has been blackballed from the NFL because of his sideline protests against police abuse of African-Americans by “taking a knee.”

In response, Knight, 74, issued a statement saying she wanted to “…give the Anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life.”

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 24 | 2019

BLACK LEGISLATIVE

Area lawmakers address iss

By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

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he 86th Texas Legislature is underway in Austin, and runs through May 27. Bills passed by the House and Senate will have a profound impact on the state’s residents. The Defender asked the Houston area’s eight African-American legislators to address the issues they will personally focus on in Austin, and why those issues are important to their constituents. Education is at the top of the list, followed by criminal justice reform and economic development.

TEXAS SENATE BORRIS MILES

State Sen., District 13 "Our kids deserve a high-quality education and our schools are in need of more funding to help our kids reach their goals. I plan on building upon the $11 million I secured for the Student Success Initiative last session, targeted to assist African-American males, who statistically test poorly on state assessments and who rank among the lowest of all groups to attend college. My goal is to ensure that our African-American male youth are provided the tools to succeed where they can get a good paying job and stay out of the school to prison pipeline. The Texas leadership has stated that public education finance is a key priority even though they cut public education to the tune of $5 billion in 2011. Those cuts had a dramatic impact on our schools and communities. I plan on fighting for every single dollar that was cut to repair the damage and ensure our public schools are fully funded."

TEXAS HOUSE ALMA ALLEN

State Rep., District 131 "In the 86th Legislative Session, my legislative package will largely focus on criminal justice reform. Specifically, I have filed HB 371 regarding penalty reduction, and I will be filing a bill on jury instructions. The criminal justice system disproportionately impacts the African-American community, and specifically the constituents of House District 131. African-American defendants are more likely to be handed longer sentences for the same crimes as non-minority defendants.

The jury instruction legislation will require sentencing instructions to be accurate, so that jurors aren’t choosing longer sentences based on instructions that assume the defendant will be guaranteed certain time credits that would shorten their sentence. HB 371 would lower the penalties from felonies to misdemeanors for certain amounts of marijuana possession."

GARNET COLEMAN

State Rep., District 147 "Education is the great equalizer for Black people. That is why the number one issue I am focusing on this session is ensuring student success in our public schools. This includes modifying our school accountability system so districts like HISD are not punished for things outside of their control, which ultimately punishes the students when we should be putting students first. Additionally, we need to fix the school finance system to increase funding for our public schools, including funding for full-day quality pre-kindergarten and special education."

HAROLD DUTTON

State Rep., District 142 “When I was elected over three decades ago, I promised that I would focus on making government more responsive to the needs of the people who elected me. Today, that remains at the top of the list for me. Our government continues to affect the African-American community in the areas of education, economic development, criminal justice, health care and mental health and just about every facet of our lives. As always, I intend to bring my legislative district's perspectives to all of the issues.”

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AGENDA

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Five things

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to know

The Texas Legi slative Black Ca ucus is compr lawmakers. Th ised of state A e TLBC was fo State Reps. A frican-Americ rmed in 1973 nthony Hall, M an and Houston founding mem ic ke ton. Houston y Le la nd , Se bers were nfronia Thom State Rep. Har pson and Crai old Dutton is g Washingthe current TL BC chair.

State Rep. Th ompson, who was first electe longest-servin d to the Legisl g woman and ature in 1972, African-Amer is the ican in Texas history.

The demogra phic breakdow n of the 86th 36 percent pe Legislature is ople of color, 64 percent w 42 percent w co mpared to the hite and hite and 58 pe state of Texas rcent people breakdown w of color. hich is The age breakd own of the Le gislature is 20 64, 37 percen -34, 3 percen t; and 65 and t; 35-49, 39 pe older, 20 perc rcent; 50ent.

The Texas Sena te is comprised Democrats. Th of 31 members e Texas House , with 19 Repu with Republic of Representa blicans and 12 ans holding an tiv es is comprised 83 to 67 major of 150 membe ity. rs,

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RON REYNOLDS

State Rep., District 27 “My top legislative priority for the 86th Legislative session is economic empowerment for the African-American community. I have filed several bills to strengthen business opportunities for African American small businesses and raise the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour. My bills address the economic disparities that have plagued our communities for generations and create opportunities that lift Texans out of poverty and into the middle class and beyond. Unfortunately, the racial wage and wealth gaps in America are worsening. I will continue to support policies that strengthen protections for workers and expand Black entrepreneurship and business development. I will continue to fight for economic justice for AfricanAmericans and speak truth to power.”

SHAWN THIERRY

JARVIS JOHNSON

State Rep., District 139 “My two main focuses on the 86th Legislative session are creating an independent prison oversight and increasing mental health screening for peace officers. An independent prison oversight is incredibly important to African-Americans; African-Americans are incarcerated at five times the rate of whites in this state. With an independent prison oversight in place, I hope to decrease the likelihood of more inmates dying at the hands of guards, or having time added to their sentences because of planted contraband. Last year, more police officers died by suicide than in the line of duty. The safety and well-being our communities depend on having a strong and healthy police and fire force. This is a public safety crisis. Our police officers and firefighters need access to mental health care without fear of being reprimanded, or worse, losing their jobs. We need to prioritize the mental health of those who risk their lives for the safety of our communities.”

the Houston area for over 88 years

State Rep., District 146 “I am working passionately on a wide range of issues affecting African-Americans, such as public education, healthcare and job creation. I am proud to have filed House Bill 612, which will require full day pre-K for economically disadvantaged children. I have also filed House Bill 719, to combat the inequities and disparities in health care treatment commonly experienced by African-Americans due to implicit bias and racism. In terms of jobs, African-Americans must be able to compete for top-tier jobs in emerging fields. Statistics show that Texas is a growing technological hub, yet many of our high school students are graduating without proficiency in the field of technology. As such, I have filed HB 580, providing grant funding to school districts that enroll students in career and technology education (CTE) courses. My bill will allow eligible schools to partner with private employers offering job training and paid internships to students enrolled in CTE courses. I believe all of these impactful pieces of legislation will provide benefits and added protections for my constituents in District 146, as well as African-Americans across the state of Texas.”

SENFRONIA THOMPSON

State Rep., District 141 “My legislative program is wide-ranging and includes subjects such as hurricane recovery, mental health, human trafficking, voting rights, equal pay and family law. While all of these issues are important to my district, my priority is criminal justice reform. Bills I am filing include legislation that would limit a peace officer from arresting an offender for most misdemeanors without a warrant, that would limit deadly force to situations where there is an eminent threat to an officer or another person, that would keep parents and their children together by encouraging community-based solutions for nonviolent offenses, and that would ensure that officers are consistently disciplined for misconduct by using a wider range of disciplinary actions appropriate to the misconduct. In a state that has always been considered 'tough on crime,' I believe this is the right time to address these subjects."

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 24 | 2019

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#OscarsSoBlack

Blacks rack up Academy Award nominations

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Defender News Services

lack Panther could soon add “Oscar Award-winning film” to its growing list of accolades.

The history-making blockbuster brought in over $1 billion worldwide at the box office to become the third highest-grossing film in the U.S. and the ninth highest-grossing film of all time. Now, the Marvel masterpiece has earned seven 2019 Academy Award nominations.

Nominations earned for “Black Panther” include Best Picture, Best Original Song (“All the Stars” by SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar), Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Achievement in Sound Mixing, Achievement in Sound Editing and Achievement in Production.

The blockbuster isn’t alone. Several other African-American actors, filmmakers and designers recently received nominations. Here’s a rundown of the list.

“Black Panther” – After being ignored “Black Panther” earned seven Oscar nominations. through most of awards season, “Black Panther” earned a major nomination with Best Picture, becoming the first superhero film ever nominated for the award. The film also landed nominations for Original Score, Sound Editing, Original Song, and Sound Mixing.

“If Beale Street Could Talk” – Earned nominations for Original Score and Adapted Screenplay “BlacKkKlansman” despite being snubbed in a number of categories, also earned six including Best Picture. nominations.

“BlacKkKlansman” – Landed a coveted nomination for Best Picture along with nominations for treet “If Beale S ” Actor in a Supporting Role, Film Editing, Original Could Talk three Score and Adapted Screenplay. picked up ns. inatio m o n “Green Book” – Came out ahead with five nominations – including Best Original Screenplay, Actor in a Leading Role, Best Film Editing and Best Picture – despite some bad press and controversy.

Mahershala Ali – Received a Supporting Actor nomination for his role in “Green Book.”

Regina King – Landed a nomination for Supporting Actress for her role in “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

Mahershala Ali receiv Spike Lee is nominated for Best Director for Spike Lee – Earned a nomination for Achieveed a nomination for his role in “Green Bo received five nomi “BlacKkKlansman.” na ok.” The film tions. ment in Directing for his film “BlacKkKlansman.”

Barry Jenkins – Earned a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for “If Beale Street NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR Could Talk.”

Project LEAP 2019 Ruth Carter – Project LEAP (Learning, Empowerment, Advocacy, Participation) is a free 17 week Earned a nomination ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS training course for individuals living with or affected by HIV. The purpose of in Costume Design for Project LEAP is to train people to become active participants on local HIV planning SWBC KINGWOOD, L.P. (“the OWNER”) will receive sealed bids for the ROCK CREEK DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS project, located in CITY “Black Panther.” bodies. Topics covered include history of HIV in the Houston area, local HIV OF HOUSTON, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS. Bids will be trends, services for people living with HIV and much, much more!

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T:13”

HIS DREAM NEEDS YOUR VISION. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Washington for a dream. Over 50 years later, people are still marching because of his vision. Comcast celebrates Dr. King’s legacy with a one-of-a-kind interactive digital mosaic made up of pictures and videos of people sharing their vision of his dream.

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Personality rights and copyrights of Dr. King are used with the permission of The Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. Inc. Represented by Greenlight. ©2019 Comcast. All rights reserved.

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 24 | 2019

sports

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Houston Open coming to Memorial Park the golf tournament that will go to charity in Houston, and there will be about $90 million in revenue that comes into the city with the tournament being GA fans get ready. In case you haven’t heard, held downtown,” Crane continued. the Houston Open is coming to Memorial Park Mayor Sylvester Turner was elated about the in 2020. The Houston City Council unanimousevent. ly approved a $13.5 million plan to renovate the “This is a positive step for Memorial Park and Memorial Park Golf Course. all of Houston,” Turner said. “I am grateful to the Houston was in jeopardy of losing the Open, which Astros Foundation and other stakeholders. Memorial began in 1946, before a group headed by Astros Owner and Park will be the future home of the Houston Open Chairman Jim Crane successfully spearheaded efforts to and that’s exciting. not only keep the tournament in Houston, but to improve it.

“We want Houston to be in the top tier of The tournament will be primarily underwritten by the Astros conversation across the Foundation, per an agreement beboard, and in order for tween the foundation and the PGA that to happen, you have Tour. The agreement is for five years to have things occurring (2019–23). within your city that people Mayor Sylvester Turner Jim Crane The 2019 Houston Open will will focus on around the be played Oct. 7-13 at the Golf country.

Club of Houston in Humble. It “Now that this item will move to Memorial Park in has passed, I also want 2020 at a date to be determined. people to know that I The golf course will close am committed to finding during renovation, scheduled to resources to upgrade our begin next month, pending permit neighborhood parks along approvals. It would reopen by with the funds committed fall of 2019 if all goes as planned. through this agreement,” The plan includes construction Turner said of a two-story driving range, a For Johnnie McFarnew and relocated maintenance land, president of Lone facility and a short course for the Star Golf Association, the first tee. upgrades to Memorial Park City officials said the imhave historical signifiprovements to the public course cance. will not result in a fee increase “We held our first for users. golf tournament there in The Astros Golf Foundation 1946, so you could say will make minimum donations we have a shared history,” each year of McFarland said. “We’re Live from Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta! $1.0 million excited to see the Open Follow Max Edison on to the Houscoming back to Memorial.

Defender social media platforms ton Parks and You could say that we at Recreation LSGA are your average Department and $500,000 to the golfers, so to see a PGA Memorial Park Golf Course is scheduled to be renovated in anticipation of hosting the PGA Tour's Houston Open.

First Tee of Greater Houston, event come to a public a non-profit organization that course is huge.” community as well as generating significant dollars each year encourages youth to be active with the game of golf, via the Houston Open Tournament Director Colby Callaway said for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and for the PGA Tour. All other net proceeds will be distributed throughthe event will have a new look and feel.

First Tee of Greater Houston. out the Houston community by the Astros Foundation.

“In addition to featuring an attractive field of golfers, we “We appreciate the great support that we have received from “Our goal is to work hard and establish a first-class will also be adding some new elements for our spectators, inso many for this tournament, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, tournament that one day will be considered one of the best cluding musical entertainment and a tailgate zone,” he said. “The City Council, the PGA Tour, Escalante Golf and the Memorial on Tour,” Crane said. “This tournament will benefit the City Houston Open will have a purse [$7.5 million] that will make it Park Conservancy. of Houston in many ways, creating revenue for the business the premier fall event on the PGA Tour in the USA.” “We will be able to raise a lot of funds for the city through

P

By MAX EDISON Defender

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HS sports

Garner put up 20 points against top-ranked North Forest.

Garner and Yates were also victorious in the Wheatley game.

Malon Garner

Yates guard a star on, off the court

Defender: How would you describe your leadership style?

Garner: They always tell me if I’m down then they are down.

If I’m up they’re up. So, my goal is to keep everybody’s mind on the t takes hard work and dedication to be a successful studentgame and make sure they slow the ball down and we don’t make any athlete and Yates High School point guard Malon Garner raises dumb mistakes. We’re trying to win a ring and the only way for us to the bar to another level. On the court, Garner helped lead Yates win a ring is to play as a team and make sure everyone does their job on to wins over the top two teams in their district. In the classroom, the court. I have to motivate them so that we can be on top together.

Garner maintains a top three ranking in her class.

Defender: Walk us through your process with your court Yates head coach Patrick Augbon said Garner is the team’s engine. vision?

“This is her third year on varsity and second year under me,” Garner: We press a lot and when we go up against teams. I Augbon said. “She does everything we watch first and once I see their feet move, need her to do. She is a leader on the I am quick enough to get there, and I team and does everything that is needed move. I also know if I penetrate and kick, DefenderNetwork.com as a leader.”

I know someone will be open because See game highlights The Defender spoke with Garner they are going to close down on me, so I about her performance on the court and just dish the ball for an easy bucket. in the classroom.

Defender: What were the keys to your victories in the Defender: How would you describe your style of play? one-on-one matchups against Wheatley and North Forest?

Garner: I try to get everybody’s hands on the ball and make sure I Garner: I’m an aggressive player. If you play aggressive with am not being selfish with the ball; making sure that we get easy buckets me, I will play aggressive with you and a lot of point guards can’t before I try to. handle that pressure. They’ve probably played teams, but not as Defender: As a three-year letterman and ranked No. 3 in your good as we are. They talk but I am a humble player and I just wait class, how have you been able to be so successful on and off the until we see them on the court to do what I have to do. court?

Defender: After beating Wheatley and North Forest, how do Garner: Since my daddy passed in October 2018, I already knew you keep the momentum going for a deep playoff run? my grind had to be much harder. I had to be more dedicated to what Garner: Like our coach says, we play game by game by game.

I wanted to be to make him proud because I know he is watching me.

We don’t worry about what game we are playing three games That is my motivation right there. after this.

I

By JODIE B. JILES Defender

About Garner

IG: @limit.lonnie Favorite subject: Math Hobbies: Dancing, singing Favorite food: Seafood Pro players she watches: Lebron James, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving World problem she would solve: Gun violence Shout-outs: “My pops. I know you’re proud of me and I love you.”

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 24| 2019

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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

topevents

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM SYMPOSIUM……..Texas Southern University’s Award for her professional excellence and commitment to community. Attendees included Urban Research and Resource Center in partnership with the Harris County Racial and emcee Len Cannon, U.S. Reps. John Lewis, Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee, Mayor Ethnic Disparities (RED) Committee recently kicked off its “2019: The Year of Criminal Sylvester Turner, County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, HISD Trustee Wanda Adams, Justice Reform” campaign with a Criminal Justice Reform Symposium. The event featured Willie G. Dennis, keynote speaker Ryan George, Simone Simpson, Alexis Herron, panel discussions focused on reforming juvenile justice, incarceration, bail, policing and Melanie Simpson, James Harris, Roderick Brown, Shraya Williams and hundreds more. Organizers, panelists and attendees included Marcia Johnson, Larry Brown, more……..CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON 23rd ANNUAL MLK DAY Judge Darrell Jordan Jr., Harris County District Attorney CELEBRATION……..State Rep. Garnet Coleman and the Children’s Kim Ogg, Anthony Graves, former Congressman Craig Museum of Houston hosted its 23rd Annual MLK Day Celebration where Defender TOP EVENTS Washington, Alycia Miles, Secunda Joseph, Brandi Defender Publisher and CEO Sonny Messiah-Jiles received the coveted More photos on defendernetwork.com Holmes, Noel Pinnock, Tarsha Jackson, Carroll Robinson, Carry-A-Kid Award. The honor is not one given out annually, but only Sarah Guidry, Nicole Porter, Dr. Marlon Smith, Dr. Ana when an individual exhibits extraordinary commitment to youth education.

Yanez-Correa and scores more……..GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB MLK Gardere Oratorical Contest winner Nyla Johnson performed her winning speech. Dr. MLK SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST……..The Greater Houston Frontiers Club Jason Oby of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild performed two selections. Museum director hosted its 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast. For three decades Tammie Kahn welcomed attendees, including Judge Lori Chambers Gray, Jodie Jiles, the GHFC has awarded over $2 million in scholarship funds. GHFC president Donnell Jodie B. Jiles, Clyde Jiles, Andrea and Roux Jiles, Clydette Messiah, C.J. Messiah, Cooper and event chairperson Shirley Carter-Williams awarded Carla Lane, president State Rep. Ana Hernandez, Kristi Rangel, Ann McClellan, Margo Williams Hubbard, and CEO of Lane Staffing and founder of This Woman’s Work, with the Drum Major Dominique Hawkins, Anecia Castro, Max Edison Jacob Hodgson and many others.

PHOTOS BY: Aswad Walker

Carroll Robinson, Judge Darrell Jordan Jr., Michael Fields

Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman John Lewis, Mayor Sylvester Turner

Tammie Kahn, Nyla Johnson, Sonny Messiah-Jiles

Marcia Johnson, Larry Brown

Simone Simpson, Alexis Herron, Melanie Simpson

The Messiah and Jiles family

TSUPD Chief Mary Young, Georgia Provost, HPD Chief Art Acevedo, DA Kim Ogg, Anthony Graves

Ryan George, Jacey Patterson, Pastor L.D. Lee

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, Sonny Messiah-Jiles, Anne McClellan, Kristi Rangel

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