TYRE NICHOLS, BLACK & BLUE
Te horrifc murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of fve Black male police ofcers should serve as a stark reminder that police culture, more ofen than not, trumps race. Tose sister or brother cops we know who treat us with dignity and respect, do so not by refecting police culture but by going against the grain of it. Y’all know as well as I do, that policing in this country was founded upon and rooted in anti-Blackness. So, over the decades, we’ve seen cops of color (Black, Latino, Asian) brutalize Blackfolk just like white cops do... but in a way no ofcers of any color would brutalize whites. What’s jarring about Tyre’s case is it was fve bruhs who beat him to death. Five bruhs. And all of them were about Tyre’s age.
I know we’re celebrating the Black nominees for this year’s go-round of Oscars. But how in the hell, if Oscars is about movie excellence and impact, did “Te Woman King,” “Till,” “Master,” “Kimi,” “A Jazzman’s Blues,” “Nanny,” etc. receive “not-nare” nomination in any category? And did the Oscar-winning director Jordan Peele get nominated for his latest work, “Nope”? Nope. And, sure, you could argue that not all the flms I listed here are “Oscar-worthy.” But yo, have you seen some of the stuf that has won Oscars in the past? Apparently, as long as it’s white, a period piece, with big-name stars and a bigger
budget, and is boring as hell, it qualifes. But if Danielle Deadwyler, who acts her behind of in everything she’s in, doesn’t deserve to be nominated for Best Actress for her work in “Till,” then the Oscars don’t deserve us.
I have to be honest. I’m not a Texans fan. Especially afer they “one-and-done(d)” two brothers—David Culley and Lovie Smith—in back-to-back seasons. Tey gave neither a real chance to lead the team and the large organization. So, in essence, they were set up to fail. Kinda like the Astros did with Bo Porter, who was brought on to develop the incredible rookie talent on the roster, and then fred just as that talent began to blossom into what it is today. But back to the Texans. Because they did two brothermen wrong, I was hoping that DeMeco and other top coaching prospects would pass on the H-Town job and look elsewhere. But the way the NFL does Black coaches dirty, choosing retread whiteboys umpteen times before choosing one of the homies, what’s a brother to do? Hopefully, the Texans will let Ryans do his thing. We’ll see.
• Check out this hot topic op-ed, “Te HBCU Dilemma.”
• Stroke deaths rising among millennials.
• Local restaurants & chefs named James Beard fnalists.
Mayor Sylvester Turner kicked of his signature program, Hire Houston Youth, continuing his commitment to invest in today’s youth and young adults to ensure a better, more equitable tomorrow.
Paid local jobs and internships are available for the eight-week program, open to residents between ages 16 to 24. Te positions are in the City of Houston and the public, private and philanthropic sectors. Turner has set a goal this year of providing 15,000 jobs, with a stretch goal of 20,000 jobs. If you are an employer interested in joining Hire Houston Youth, visit https:// hirehoustonyouth.org/employers/. Youth can register for jobs at https://hirehoustonyouth.org/youth/.
Mayor Sylvester Turner joined city ofcials and business leaders for the 2023 kick of of his signature program, Hire Houston Youth, continuing his commitment to invest in today’s youth and young adults to ensure a better, more equitable tomorrow. Paid local jobs and internships are available for the eight-week program, open to young people between the ages of 16 – 24. Te positions are in the City of Houston and the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. Mayor Turner has set a goal this year of providing 15,000 jobs, with a stretch goal of 20,000 jobs.
“Hire Houston Youth provides the City of Houston with an opportunity to address long-standing inequities by creating pathways for residents to resilient, living wage trajectory jobs,” said Turner. “Te program enables Houston’s youth to acquire the training and skills needed for a successful path to higher education and future careers.
Te City of Houston is dedicated to ofering and securing these opportunities and ensuring success during and afer these internships, including providing fnancial counseling to those employed at the City of Houston.”
Te mayor was joined at the press conference by HISD Superintendent Millard House II, Alief Independent School District Superintendent Anthony Mays, Retired McDonald’s Owner and Operator Dave Moss, University of Houston Bauer College Dean Paul Pavlou, several council members, and business leaders. Also present was former Hire Houston Youth intern Tommy Wan.
“Because of Hire Houston Youth, I now want to work in local government,” said Wan. “It is an avenue for change focusing on urban policy, transportation, infrastructure and housing needs for the City of Houston. Te experience and skills I obtained working with Council Member Tifany D. Tomas in my home district, District F, will take me beyond Hire Houston Youth, and I want to thank Mayor Sylvester Turner for this opportunity.”
In April 2016, Hire Houston Youth was launched through the Mayor’s Office of Education and Youth Engagement to serve as a facilitator to connect youth, where they are empowered with an “earn and learn” opportunity in Houston’s dynamic economy.
If you are an employer interested in joining Hire Houston Youth, visit https:// hirehoustonyouth.org/employers/, and if you are a youth or young adult wanting to register visit: https://hirehoustonyouth. org/youth/.
Defender News Service
Te NCAA® Men’s Final Four and Houston Local Organizing Committee (HLOC) recently announced the top 68 schools from this year’s Read to the Final Four program. More than 19,000 students from 186 diferent schools across 11 districts in the Greater Houston area participated in the initiative, launched in September, which promotes and inspires reading for third graders through a fun and engaging bracket-style competition.
Tese 68 schools led the way with more than 23 million total combined minutes read. Now, they will compete headto-head in a March Madness bracket-style tournament for the title of 2023 Read to the Final Four champion.
Tis year, more than 19,000 Houston-area students set a new Read to the Final Four record, reading for more than 26 million minutes combined. Te fnal 68 teams were selected based on a formula that calculated the average minutes read per school during a designated reading season.
“We are so proud to see the incredibly high level of participation in the 2023 Read to the Final Four program,” HLOC Senior Director of Community Relations Dorita Hatchett
said. “My initial thanks goes to all of the teachers and school leadership for embracing this efort. Seeing these students take on this reading challenge and set a new record for the number of minutes read is something truly special, and we are excited to see these 68 schools across the Houston area continue competing for the championship spot.”
The 2023 Read to the Final Four champion will be announced March 31 at the Men’s Final Four Fan Fest® Presented by Capital One.
Houston will host the 2023 Men’s Final Four® from March 31 through April 3, 2023. Houston Christian University, Rice University, Texas Southern University and University of Houston will make history as the frst quartet of institutions to host the Final Four. Games will be played on April 1 and 3 at NRG Stadium. Te city of Houston is hosting the event for the fourth time, having previously crowned national champions in 1971, 2011 and 2016. For more information, visit www.ncaa.com/mensfnalfour.
Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Health Department recently opened the frst combined health and multi-service center in the Sunnyside community, ofering a new state-of-the-art facility to better support the underserved community. Te new Sunnyside Health and Multi-service Center located at 4410 Reed Rd., ofers more than 57,000 square feet of combined community service-oriented, multi-service center, and health center programs in one facility.
“Tis new facility has been a long time coming for the Sunnyside community and this community has long been a focus of my Complete Communities initiative,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “They now have access to a magnifcent health and multi-service center in one state-of-the-art facility.”
Te facility is the frst of its kind for the Sunnyside community with a large two-story indoor atrium connecting the health and multi-service areas. Te new $25.8 million center replaces the nearby 30-year-old former Sunnyside Health Center and Sunnyside Multi-Service Center. A large auditorium, conference rooms, classrooms will be available for use by community and non-proft organizations and there’s an on-site public charging station that houses six pay-and-go charge points for electric vehicles. Te center also has a quarter-mile walking trail open daily for exercise, a community garden for volunteers to help maintain and a fitness
room. Te health and multi-service center will also showcase two original public art pieces created by local artists commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA). Te pieces will provide Houstonians and visitors an opportunity to engage with art in public spaces.
“I was delighted to be a part of the unveiling of Sunnyside’s new health and multi-service center, which is located in my congressional district. I thank Mayor Turner for demonstrating good stewardship of tax dollars with the construction and unveiling of this multi-service center. Te opening of
this health center was facilitated by the millions of federal dollars that beneft the overall growing demand across Houston for health and community services, as well as this health and multi-service center,” Congressman Al Green said. I eagerly await to see how this new health and multi-service center will transform the lives of Sunnyside residents and encourage them to lead healthier lifestyles.”
Services include immunization, dental, family planning, sexual health, tuberculosis, a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) center, and programs for mental health, new mothers, and seniors. According to data from the
Houston State of Health, more than 46 percent of families in Sunnyside received SNAP benefts in 2022 compared to Houston overall at 61 percent, and the number of people with disabilities living in poverty is more than 40 percent compared to the city, at 28 percent. “Tere is no doubt this expansion to a combined health and multi-service center was long overdue in the Sunnyside community,” said Houston Health Department Director, Stephen L. Williams. “We are all passionate about providing access and equity and this center will go a long way towards achieving that positive outcome.”
Te pressure on the government to do something about rising housing costs has resulted in the Biden administration announcing major new initiatives to safeguard tenants and make renting more afordable.
Te Biden administration announced new actions to protect renters across the U.S., including trying to curb practices that prevent people from accessing housing and curtailing exorbitant rent increases in certain properties with government-backed mortgages.
A “Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights” lays out a collection of principles for the federal government and
other entities to take action on, including “access to safe, quality, accessible and afordable housing” and “clear and fair leases.”
“Having the federal government and the White House talk about the need for and endorse a renters’ bill of rights is really signifcant,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Over 44 million households, or roughly 35% the U.S. population, live in rental housing, according to the White House.
While the coronavirus pandemic led to a wave of new renter protections and aid measures, including a historic pot of rental assistance for those who’d fallen behind, most of that help has dried up by now.
Advocates have long called on the government to respond to an afordability crisis facing renters. Nearly half of renter households in the U.S. direct more than 30% of their income to rent and utilities each month, and 900,000 evictions occurred annually prior to the public health crisis.
Before the pandemic, well over 2 million eviction fllings and roughly 900,000 evictions occurred annually – disproportionately afecting Black women and their children, administration ofcials stated.
Since then, rental housing has become less afordable with some landlords taking advantage of market conditions to pursue egregious rent increases.
“Tese announcements recognize there are responsible housing providers – large and small, national and local – willing to treat renters fairly, but it also holds accountable those who exploit market realities at the cost of renters’ housing access and stability,” ofcials stated.
VOLUME 92, NUMBER 12 - FEBRUARY 2, 2023
Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Strategic Alllance
Clyde Jiles
Creative Director Michael Grant
Managing Editor ReShonda Tate
Associate Editor
Aswad Walker
The
Education Reporter
Laura Onyeneho
Sports Terrance Harris
Jodie B. Jiles
Photographers
Jimmie Aggison
Social Media Manager
Tia Alphonse Intern
Alania Bookman
This undated photo released in June 2003 provided by NASA shows STS-107 crew members aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. On Feb. 1, 2003, the seven crew members were lost as the Columbia fell apart over East Texas. This picture was on a roll of unprocessed flm later recovered by searchers from the debris. From the lef (bottom row), wearing red shirts to signify their shif’s color, are mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, commander, Rick D. Husband, mission commander Laurel B. Clark and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist. From the lef (top row), wearing blue shirts, are mission specialist David M. Brown, pilot William C. McCool, pilot; and payload commander Michael P. Anderson. NASA via AP
Over the past two weeks NASA employees, guests and family of the Columbia, Challenger and Apollo 1 crews have been honoring their loved ones at the Johnson Space Center’s Astronaut Memorial Grove as part of the agency’s Day of Remembrance. During the commemoration, NASA featured a T-38 fyover shortly afer remarks from Director Vanessa Wyche among others. Family and guests placed roses on placards beneath trees planted in the grove in honor of the lives of those who were lost. NASA honors those they have lost every January, but this remembrance focused on the 20th anniversary of the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia on Feb. 1. “NASA’s Day of Remembrance is about pausing, remembering, and uplifing the legacies of the NASA family who gave their lives to advance the cause of discovery,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. Nelson said that while this will always be a solemn day, it is also one of gratitude. “As we continue to expand humanity’s reach in this new era of exploration, we must always embrace NASA’s core value of safety,” he said. Johnson Space Director Vanessa Wyche said the tragedies of the Columbia and Challenger shuttles along with the Apollo mission have shaped the way NASA functions today. “Te culture of excellence and safety that the agency models today has been developed through the hard lessons learned from these accidents,” Wyche said. Seven astronauts died when Columbia disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere over Texas in 2003. Te NASA website states the STS-107 mission was 16 minutes from landing when Mission Control lost contact with the shuttle.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee is now accepting applications for the 2023 Summer Legal Academy (SLA), a two-week educational readiness program for high school students to learn more
about what it takes to become an attorney. Te inaugural program launched in the summer of 2022, yielding more than 250 applications. Te 2022 class of 21 students came from 21 diferent high schools in six local school districts (including HISD, Alief ISD, Klein ISD, and more). During the program students will: learn about what it takes to succeed in college, on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and in law school; participate in mock lectures given by current professors at local law schools; hear from multiple panels of attorneys in a variety of practice areas (including corporate law, criminal law, family law, etc.); and tour local law schools and courthouses. For more details on Summer Legal Academy and the application process, visit cao.harriscountytx.gov/students. Any high school student in Harris County entering grades 10 through 12 may apply. Te deadline for students to apply is March 24. Applicants are expected to submit a recommendation letter, a writing sample, and a short essay. Te program will be held Monday-Friday during a two-week period in July.
Ft. Bend ISD enrollment hits 80,000 for 1st time Fort Bend ISD’s enrollment has hit the 80,000 mark for the frst time in the district’s history. “Tis is big news, and we are extremely excited about achieving this goal,” FBISD Superintendent Dr. Christie Whitbeck said. “We invite the entire community to celebrate with us and help us keep the momentum going. Fort Bend ISD is one of the best school districts in the state, and we sincerely appreciate all the families who continue to ‘Choose Success’ by enrolling their children in our district.” Te district’s enrollment now stands at 80,088 and continues to rise.
Texas Legislature to reconsider legalizing casinos, sports betting
Gambling legalization advocates in Texas are going all in again this legislative session, confdent that they have built more support since their eforts came up far short in 2021. Te push is still an uphill battle, however, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who oversees the Senate, continues to pour cold water on the idea. But supporters have found promising signs elsewhere, and they have returned to the Capitol with an army of well-connected lobbyists afer doling out millions of dollars in campaign contributions during the 2022 election. Tere are two main camps pushing for expanded gambling in Texas and right now, they appear to be operating on parallel tracks. Te frst is a continuation of a lavishly funded and high-profle efort initiated by the late Sheldon Adelson and his gaming empire Las Vegas Sands to legalize casinos, specifcally high-quality “destination resorts” in the state’s largest cities. Te other lane is the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition of professional sports teams in the state and betting platforms that is exclusively focused on legalizing mobile sports betting.
A free Home Buyer Seminar will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1220 Augusta Drive. It is hosted by the Noel Collier Group Powered by Keller Williams Professionals, a Houston real estate agency. It is designed to help renters and prospective home buyers understand and navigate through the homebuying process and the local market. Te workshop is taught by experienced, licensed realtors as part of a community education program to help families and individuals learn the ins and outs, learn about valuable resources and assistance and help renters and future buyers become better prepared for shopping the market and purchasing their dream home. Te seminar will cover current local housing market conditions, a walkthrough of the buying process, down payments, mortgages, interest rates, fnancing and credit, the benefts of owning a home, and tips from how to improve your credit score to how to determine how much house you can comfortably aford. For more information visit https:// www.sellwithnoel.com.
Te Houston Symphony’s African American Leadership Council begins 2023 under the direction of a new chair: Dr. Juan Zane Crawford.
Council membership is comprised of business, education and community leaders tasked with advising the Symphony on how it can better connect with Greater Houston’s Black community.
“We are thrilled and honored that Dr. Crawford has accepted this role with the Symphony’s African American Leadership Council,” said Houston Symphony Executive Director and CEO John Mangum. “Dr. Crawford has been a member of the Council since its inception. With his longstanding dedication to the Symphony and deep understanding of the community, Dr. Crawford will be an outstanding leader as the Symphony continues to endeavor to establish meaningful connections to our Houston community.”
Crawford, a retired US Air Force Captain, is the Division Chair for Marketing, Real Estate, Banking and Financing, Paralegal, and Translation and Interpretation at Houston Community College. He’s also the coordinator of HCC’s Real Estate Department.
Crawford earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University, an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Prairie View A&M University.
were given in two separate places: one near Nichols’ vehicle, and another where he had run to avoid being beaten severely. Te video revealed that ofen the ofcers shouted conficting orders, making it difcult for Nichols to understand and obey.
Because of the potential for escalation and confusion during police encounters, modern police training typically calls for a single ofcer to be present at the scene to issue clear and specifc commands.
It also necessitates that police officers respond professionally and proportionally to any perceived act of defance.
Houstonians are standing in solidarity with the family of Tyre Nichols in demanding justice over the 29-year-old Memphis man’s death.
Protesters gathered at the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston the day afer released video footage showed Nichols, a Black motorist, brutally beaten by fve Black Memphis police ofcers on Jan. 7.
Te gruesome video shows the ofcers kick, punch, pepper spray and tase Nichols multiple times over the span of several minutes.Nichols did not receive medical care for more than 20 minutes afer the end of the attack, even though medical ofcials were on the scene shortly afer the incident began. Nichols died in the hospital from his injuries
three days later.
Ofcers Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean were arrested and charged with second-degree murder, two counts of ofcial misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of ofcial oppression.
Nichols’ death marks another police killing less than a month afer 2022 set new records for the deadliest year for police violence in the U.S. According to reports, U.S. law enforcement killed about 100 people a month last year.
While Houston police ofcers watched close by, protestors here demanded justice for Nichols and refected on the city’s own history with police violence and how his death is similar to so many police brutality
instances in the region.
“You might be saying this happened in Memphis, why are we out here in Houston, well because it’s all connected,” Houston branch organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation Vivek Venkatraman said in front of protestors.
Te devastating video of Memphis police officers rehearsing their excuse for their deadly use of force even as Tyre Nichols’ lifeless body lay just steps away, painted a horrifying portrait of fve cops who allegedly murdered a man for no apparent reason and then conspired to destroy his reputation.
Te actions of Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith have lef many convinced that policing in America cannot
be reformed.
For many, the Memphis police ofcers were a blatant illustration of a widespread problem in policing, in which officers physically punish civilians for perceived disrespect or disobedience, a phenomenon known as “contempt of cop,” said the New York Times, who analyzed footage from the fatal trafc stop and found that police ofcers issued a barrage of confusing, conficting, and sometimes impossible to obey commands. If Nichols did not comply, or even if he did, the police would respond with increasing force. According to the footage analyze by the New York Times, police ofcers shouted a total of at least 71 orders in the roughly 13 minutes before they radioed in that Nichols was in custody. Te orders
Te review by the Times, however, shows that the Memphis officers consistently did the opposite. There is no evidence in the footage that the present ofcers did anything to prevent the excessive use of force. Actually, it seems to prove the opposite.
Afer Nichols attempted to fee the scene, an ofcer can be heard on camera saying, “I hope they stomp his ass.” (Tat ofcer, the lone white man, has been placed on administrative leave).
Te Times noted four “crucial instances” in which police ofcers reprimanded Nichols for disobeying incorrect orders.
One officer grabbed his handcuffed arm. Another ofcer then repeatedly hits him with a baton while demanding, “Give us your hands!” He tries to avoid being hit with the baton as he is surrounded by four police ofcers. “Give me your [bleeping] hands!” another ofcer demands. But Nichols, because of having an ofcer pin his arms behind his back, another grip his handcufed wrist, and a third punch him in the face, simply cannot comply. He collapses
to the ground and cries for his mom, but the brutality continued. Officers eventually drag Nichols and toss him against a patrol car. More than 21 minutes pass before emergency medical personnel arrive, during which time the officers celebrate their victory by fst-bumping and laughing about their crime.
Te release of the video sparked protests across the country, including in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles and Memphis, where the crime took place. In addition to civil rights organizations, federal lawmakers fooded journalists’ email inboxes with statements condemning the ofcers.
As is their custom, lawmakers promised legislation to reform American policing. Similar promises were made afer the murders of Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Tamir Rice in Ohio and Eric Garner in New York, among numerous others.
In contrast, the Memphis ofcers were immediately fired and arrested, and the police unions did not offer them any support.
“What I witnessed in that video was horrific. It was a barbaric assault on another human being and is sickening,” Maryland State Fraternal Order of Police President Clyde Boatwright said. “This does not
represent policing or the men and women who wear a badge and dutifully protect their communities. I hesitate to even call these men police ofcers, because what I saw on that video is not policing. Tey deserve the strongest punishment allowed by Tennessee law.”
Local law enforcement leaders have spoken out as well.
“I was shocked, horrifed, and very disappointed,” said Fort Bend County Sherif Eric Fagan. “I was pleased that the Memphis Police Department took quick action relieving these people.”
Patrick Gaspard, the president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, called driving while Black “one of the most dangerous acts in America.”
“As we all just witnessed in the searing video of the brutal slaughter of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police who are paid by us to protect all of us. Te evidence here is
startling and indisputable. Tese ofcers need to be tried, convicted and imprisoned to satisfy justice and to send a message to police in all of our cities that this culture of violence in their ranks will no longer be sanctioned,” Gaspard said.
“Every police department should take a look at their own departments and make sure they have tools in place to keep that from happening in their cities,” added Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. “It takes determination, it takes will, it takes leadership. It requires the mobilization of the people in a community. At some point, enough is enough. You can’t be intimidated by police unions, you cant be intimidated by the next election cycle. A department that has integrity, that’s honest, will be more efective in battling violence and crime.”
NNPA Contributed to this report.
It very well could have been Houston; in fact has been Houston. It is Houston. And if we don’t do something in the future, it will also be Houston.”Demonstrators protest the death of Tyre Nichols on January 27, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. Getty Images
Most people can’t fathom the pain RowVaughn Wells is currently going through in the wake of the gruesome murder of her son Tyre Nichols. However, far too many people are all too familiar; namely, the mothers of other victims of police violence. Here’s what they had to say about dealing with the loss of their child, and Black youth, in general.
My heart is hurting. It’s like a piece of my heart was taken from me on April 27, 2022. It happened on a Wednesday roughly around 2:45 p.m. Jalen (Randle) was shot and killed by Ofcer Shane Privett. We are still waiting on justice.”
Tifany Rachel, mother of Jalen Randle (29) - April 27, 2022
go through what I’ve gone through.”
Wanda Cooper Jones, mother of Ahmaud Abrey (25) - Feb. 23, 2020
Attorney Ben Crump holds up a diagram explaining Jalen Ja’Von Randle’s gunshot wound during a news conference on May 11, 2022 in Houston, Texas. The news conference addressed Randle’s cause of death and demanded that the Houston Police Department release body-cam footage of the incident. Randle was fatally shot afer an altercation with police ofcers on April 27. Getty Images
You may not understand the pain that a mother endures when she loses a child, particularly a child who was unarmed and innocent yet was murdered by police. For me, it felt like I went into labor all over again. There is an emptiness in your stomach where you secured that child for nine months… If these tears do not shake America, the tears that we shed as mothers will be the tears that break America.”
Allison Jean, mother of Botham Jean (26) - Sept. 6, 2018
Ahmaud didn’t deserve that. No human being deserves that… When there’s a new victim of police brutality or hate crime, it makes me angry – angry that another family has to
I don’t think I ever really understood my position in this fght prior to what happened to my daughter. Of course, I always had opinions and I always was worried about what was happening to the Black community, but I have Black daughters, and sometimes I think that we don’t think that it can happen to them. People don’t hear these stories about these Black women. But I’m now learning that I have a higher position in this fght and, and whatever I have to do to remain in it is what I’m going to do, because it should never happen to another Black daughter, another Black person, period.”
Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor (26) - March 13, 2020
I don’t want any mother to listen to what people have to say about the way you should heal and the amount of time it should take for you to heal. Don’t feel any pressure from anybody that you should forget, that you should heal, that you should be happy… I
still cry eight years later and I don’t apologize for crying. Those are my tears. That was my son. You have to know that you have to allow yourself to be sad on that day. And then you have to allow yourself to know that a brighter day is coming.”
Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin (17) - Feb. 26, 2012
Being a Black mother in America is stressful. I’m nervous and scared all the time. What America had done by killing our children, a lot of us walk around angry. I have taken my anger and created something positive… Tamir is in high demand and I’m his voice, so that keeps me really busy in wanting to give back to the community with his foundation.”
Samaira Rice, mother of Tamir Rice (12) - Nov. 22, 2014
Afer my son was murdered I had to take a stand. I’m the only one who could tell his truth and my truth. I have to tell the world who my child really was.”
Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner (27) - July 17, 2014
Source: GoodMorningAmerica.com
Preserving Black historical landmarks in the United States is crucial but has its share of challenges. Of the 95,000 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, only 2% focus on the experiences of Black people, according to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.
History isn’t only told through a written or oral record; property, landmarks and buildings play a critical role in sustaining our collective culture. So as our neighborhoods endure the effects of urban development and gentrification, the erasure of our history follows, and future generations are left with nothing to look back on.
Preservation Houston, the only city-wide non-profit focused on preserving landmarks in the Houston area, recently named Kevan and Ayesha Shelton, owners of Park Street Home developments, as the first African-American co-chairs for the organization’s Good Brick Tour.
The Sheltons spoke with the Defender about their new role and the importance of protecting the community’s architectural and cultural heritage.
DEFENDER: Talk about Park Street Homes and its impact on Houston’s underserved communities.
KEVAN SHELTON: Park Street Homes came out of our desire to live in an underserved community where I’m from. I was born and raised in South Houston, graduated from Jack Yates High School, fourth generation, graduated from the University of Houston, and I’ve always wanted to live in the neighborhood where my family is from.
When we were looking for homes for our family, there were no new construction homes where we wanted to live. And as a builder by trade, I took the initiative to say, “If there’s nothing here, maybe we can build it.” And my wife agreed. She not only surrounded us with the resources but started the company and
the initiative for us to do that. Seeing people from the community build in the community is incredibly powerful. It’s a passion project for us as much as it is a business.
DEFENDER: Do you see a struggle to preserve Black landmarks and other historical monuments?
AYESHA: Organizations like Preservation Houston are vital in ensuring that historical landmarks in all communities are preserved. It’s particularly difficult in the African American community because we lack the resources to restore these homes and the knowledge about making them historical landmarks. One valuable thing Preservation Houston does is guide people through that process.
KEVAN: As a community, our buying power is not traditionally spent on preserving. It’s trying to acquire sustainable housing where we are. Preservation Houston is working within the community to keep what we have. When our young kids grow up in urban buildings hundreds of years old, and they have no basis for the impact of that structure, that is a problem.
Learn about the Black historical landmarks showcased this year at DefenderNetwork.com.
Rockets rookie forward Tari Eason came through with 21 points and 10 rebounds during the team’s recent 117-114 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Rockets guard Jalen Green, center Alperen
Sengun and forward Jabari Smith Jr. have been selected to play in the upcoming 2023 Jordan Rising Stars game. The Rockets are the only team with three players named to the team. The event will take place on Feb. 17 during NBA All-Star Weekend which, this year, is being held in Salt Lake City.
The Prairie View-Texas Southern men’s basketball rivalry didn’t disappoint when the two met at H&P Arena over the weekend. The Panthers pulled out an 89-74 doubleovertime win in front of 7,371 fans in a key SWAC matchup. Prairie View senior guard Hegel Augustin led the way with 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Texas Southern women’s mile relay team came up big during the Houston Invitational, claiming first place in the event. The mile relay team featuring Rayah Wynn, Madison Dominguez, Tardranique London and Shelby Brooks won the title with a time of 3:50.84. As a result, the team now has the second-fastest time in the SWAC.
Prairie View senior forward Kennedy Paul scored 16 points to lead the Lady Panthers past Texas Southern 60-54.
In a move that seemed hard to imagine just two weeks ago, the Texans have hired their former All-Pro linebacker and current San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as the team’s new head coach.
“Being the head coach of the Houston Texans is my dream job and my family is thrilled to be back in H-Town,” Ryans said. “I have been around the game of football my entire life and I’ve always had a natural ability to lead others.
“I know what it takes to win and be successful in this league as both a player and coach. We’re going to build a program filled with players who have a special work ethic and relentless mindset. I understand the responsibility I have to this organization and to the fans of Houston to build a winner and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Ryans, who has been one of the hottest names during this hiring cycle, had a second interview with the Texans early Tuesday. Within hours of that interview with team CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio, word began to leak that a deal was done between the two sides.
The Texans initially met with Ryans nearly two weeks ago, but were unable to hire him until the 49ers were out of the playoffs. Their run ended against the Eagles during the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
“We are thrilled to welcome DeMeco Ryans as the new head coach of the Houston Texans,” McNair said in a statement. ‘For so many reasons, DeMeco is everything we are looking for in a leader and coach for our organization. He has a proven track record for developing high-quality players and constantly innovated his defensive scheme over the last six seasons in San Francisco.
“We started this process with the goal of finding someone our fans and city can be proud of and we’ve done just that. While we received a lot of incredible feedback and support for DeMeco from different people, it was
our discussions with him and his vision for our football team that made him the right coach to lead us as we continue to evolve as an organization.”
Ryans replaces Lovie Smith, who was fired after one season and a 3-13-1 record. Ryans comes aboard at a rather tumultuous time with the Texans firing consecutive African American coaches after just one season and with the franchise not having a winning season since 2019.
But if there is a hire who can energize the Texans fan base and deliver hope, it seems to be Ryans. The 38-year-old former star linebacker for the Texans is a throwback to some of the Texans better days and his defenses with the 49ers the last two years have been among the elite in the NFL.
The 49ers ended the 2022 regular season as the NFL’s top-ranked defense, finishing No.
1 in yards allowed, No. 1 in points allowed, No. 1 in fewest big plays allowed, No. 2 rush yards allowed, No. 2 in turnovers forced and No. 4 in yards per play.
Ryans, a second-round pick of the Texans in 2006, spent six seasons in Houston before he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. During his tenure with the Texans, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, he was a first-team All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowl player.
Once his playing days were over, he joined former Texans assistant coach Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.
“I’d like to first thank the San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch for six incredible seasons where I grew as a coach and a man,” said Ryans.”I couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished together, and I will always cherish the relationships I built there.”
Bellaire senior guard Mykyla Allen makes things happen for the Cardinals on the basketball court when called upon.
The two-way guard is leading the team in scoring and steals this season and is currently pushing her team into the playoffs behind a 66-47 win over Heights and 66-64 victory over Westside.
With just a few weeks left in the regular season, Allen has Bellaire in a great position to take home a playoff spot. Only time will tell how far this young lady can take this team, but if one thing is for sure, she will give it her all on her way out.
When Bellaire girls’ basketball coach Brittany Maxey was asked what makes Allen special, Allen responded.
“She has a lot of potential and doesn’t realize how good she can really be.”
“I am starting to pull it out of her and she is believing in herself and that is what I need her to do,” Coach Maxey concluded.
The Defender spoke with Allen to discuss her style of play, the upcoming playoffs, and more.
“I’m patient, look for the open man, and shoot my shots to get a bucket.”
“On offense, I try to do the best I can to get the ball in the hoop and put some points on for my team.”
“I try to get as many rebounds and steals as possible so that we can transition over into offense.”
“Picking up the energy. We didn’t have any energy at first but we had to pick it up on defense.”
“We just got to put in some work and go as hard as we can, not let ting up to anybody.”
