Houston Defender: April 11, 2019

NATONAL

AUTHORITIES SEARCH FOR ANSWERS IN THE BURNING OF BLACK CHURCHES IN LOUISIANA P4

Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

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Volume 88 | Number 24 APRIL 11 | 2019 |FREE

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NEWSTALK EARLIE HUDNALL receives top photographic honor from Texas

P2 PRO SPORTS KENDALL SHEFFIELD former local player ready for NFL draft CommissionerAdrian Garcia

Commissioner Rodney Ellis

P14

Conversations & Coffee

Blacks and Browns:

Our Common Ground H PAGE 8

Marsai Martin

Nipsey Hussle

The "Black-ish" star is out to change the industry, taking matters into her own hands, becoming the youngest executive producer with “Little,” coming out from Universal Pictures on April 12. Will Packer is the producer on the comedy starring Martin, Issa Rae and Regina Hall.

The tragic death of the 33-yearold Grammy-nominated rapper has resonated across the country.

Tributes from those who knew him - and those who didn’t - took place across the country, where fans discussed the rapper’s legacy and how to keep his entrepreneurial spirit alive.

shines in ‘Little’ movie

H PAGE 7

touched lives

H PAGE 6

H.S. SPORTS ARMANI SANCHEZ looking forward to the baseball playoffs for the Heights

P15 TOP EVENTS

Carla Lane and Michelle Lewis at the This Woman’s Work IronWoman brunch

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DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2019

newstalk

City of Houston layoffs begin Defender News Services

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña laid out his plan to implement firefighter pay parity with the city's police officers, proposing 220 personnel layoffs and reduction of shifts.

Peña made his pitch to City Councilmembers in the midst of tensions between the governing body and firefighters. Layoff notices were recently sent to 66 fire cadets whose statuses were in limbo.

Under Peña's proposal, his firefighters would move from four to three shifts, some units would be out of service, and there would be no station closures. Peña advised that the plan would result in a response time increase, averaging two seconds citywide.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said the City of Houston has had to make some hard choices after the passage of Proposition B, which came without a funding source as it adds $80 million to $100 million a year to the city's bottom line. At the same time, the city is experiencing a $117 million budget gap, with the cost of Prop B added on top of that.

By law, the city must balance its budget before the start of the next fiscal year, July 1.

“The city asked Patrick "Marty" Lancton of the firefighters' association to phase in Prop B over five years to avoid any layoffs of

firefighters and municipal workers,” Turner said. “He refused and is demanding the immediate implementation of Prop B. The city is doing precisely that, but it will require layoffs to balance the city's budget,” Turner said.

The fire cadets received notice that they will be laid off in 60 days. Next, 47 municipal workers will receive notices.

On April 17, City Council will vote on layoffs of classified (first responder) personnel.

“In the absence of a phased-in approach, the city's options are limited when we must balance our budget by the end of June,” Turner said.

The fire chief's plan counters one offered last month

by Turner, in which he suggested as many as 375 firefighter layoffs.

The mayor eyed May 9 as the date to fully implement pay raises of at least 20 percent for Houston firefighters, according to city council sources.

Prop B was voter-approved last November.

The ballot initiative called for increasing salaries of firefighters to the same levels held by their police department colleagues.

In the months since it was approved, the mayor's office and the firefighters' union sparred over Prop B's implementation, with making layoffs almost a certainty.

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TSU photographer named Texas State Artist for 2020 Defender News Services

Longtime Texas Southern University photographer Earlie Hudnall Jr. was selected by the Texas State Legislature as one of the Texas State Artists for 2020 in the two-dimensional category.

During each session, the Legislature designates Texas State Artists for four positions – state poet laureate, state musician, state two-dimensional artist and state three-dimensional artist. Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) manages the TCA nomination process.

“I am grateful for the honor and recognition but my joy comes from carrying this camera, finding a subject that is interesting and clicking,” said Hudnall.

As a Texas State Artist, Hudnall will serve a one-year-term and represent the state’s artistic legacy. He will be widely recognized Earlie Hudnall Jr. is representing for his contributions to the state’s artistic legacy. the state and advancement of his art form. He will also have the opportunity to be included on TCA’s Texas Touring Roster.

“Earlie Hudnall is a true Tiger institution. He has left an incredible legacy at TSU,” said TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane, “Not only has he perfected his craft of photography, he has mentored and inspired so many TSU students along the way. This is a well-deserved honor.”

Nominations for Texas State Artists are reviewed by the TCA and a final list is provided to the selection committee, composed of members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, who designates the artists during the Legislative session.

For more information about TCA Texas State Artists visit www.arts.texas.gov.

localbriefs THE LAST LIVING TUSKEGEE AIRMAN HAS DIED. Robert Tennerson McDaniel of Fort Worth was 96. He was a member of the all-Black elite military crew that fought during World War II. McDaniel graduated as valedictorian of his class at I.M. Terrell High School in 1940 and earned a scholarship to what was then Prairie View College. Three years later, in September 1943, he was drafted into the Army, where he trained as a bombardier and as a pilot at Tuskegee Institute, Moton Field, and Tuskegee Army Air Field. Flight Officer McDaniel flew the TB-25J, serving as a flight officer with the 477th Bombardier Group. McDaniel was

honored in 2007 by President George Bush and in 2009

by President Barack Obama……..MISSOURI CITY RESIDENTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY to safely dispose of their expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs during the next “Take Back Day” in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration. As the misuse of prescription medications continues to rise, events such as this provide an easy, anonymous way for residents to dispose of drugs. Locally and nationally, the program has successfully helped to promote community awareness of the issue, to combat illegal use of prescription drugs and to provide a place for proper disposal of

medications. The event takes place Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Missouri City Police Department, 3849 Cartwright Road……..THE FBI IS RECRUITING SPECIAL AGENTS and will host a Diversity Agent Recruiting (DAR) information session on Monday, May 6, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Cypress. The invitationonly event is geared toward individuals with diverse ethnic, educational, and professional background experiences interested in becoming FBI special agents. Those interested in attending the DAR information session must apply via www.fbijobs.gov, select “Apply to Jobs” and search for “Houston DAR.”

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APRIL 11 | 2019 | DEFENDER

COMMITTED TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION Texas is at the forefront of America’s energy renaissance. U.S. energy production is reaching all-time highs and so is our commitment to the environment and the many communities where we operate and employ many of your neighbors, family and friends.

That’s why we believe in the importance of advanced pipeline infrastructure that helps us get your energy safely from point A to point B, while reducing emissions for cleaner air and helping alleviate traffic congestion by taking thousands of trucks off the road.

We invest in your energy security, jobs in your communities, and a healthier environment in the areas where you – and we – work, live and play.

We’re here every step of the way towards a better future for Texans.

MORE U.S. ENERGY PRODUCTION LESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION IS

UP MORE THAN (1990-2017)

METHANE EMISSIONS FROM NATURAL GAS ARE DOWN (1990-2017)

14%

57% 14%

DECREASE IN CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS (FROM 2007 TO 2017)

© Copyright 2019. Paid for by the American Petroleum Institute. All rights reserved.

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DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2019

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national

U.S.briefs

Arson has not been ruled out in the burning of Black churches such as Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, La.

Authorities search for leads in Black church burnings Defender News Services

Authorities continue to search for leads after several historically Black churches have burned in less than two weeks in one south Louisiana parish. Officials said they had found “suspicious elements” in each case. The officials have not ruled out the possibility of arson, or the possibility that the fires are related.

“There is clearly something happening in this community,” State Fire Marshal H. Browning said in a statement. “That is why it is imperative that the citizens of this community be part of our effort to figure out what it is.”

The three fires at churches that are all over a hundred years old and occurred on March 26, April 2 and April 4 in St. Landry Parish, north of Lafayette. A fourth fire, a small blaze that officials said was “intentionally set,” was reported at a predominantly Black church in Caddo Parish, about a three-hour drive north. Authorities don’t believe that fire is connected to the three but are continuing to investigate.

“It's sad that our society has stooped this low to do something like that,” said Gerald Toussaint, 56, pastor of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, Louisiana, which was the

second church to burn.

The Louisiana State fire marshal, the lead investigator on the multiple fires, is working with the ATF and FBI to comb through what remains to determine a cause and possible motive.

Meanwhile, more than 100 criminal investigators are on the scenes while another 150 to 200 investigators are working across the country to determine the cause.

“Right now, what we have to say is that the fires are suspicious,” said Louisiana State Fire Marshal Butch Browning.

“We do believe that crimes have occurred. We believe that the three fires obviously are not coincidental, they are related.”

During the civil rights era, the burning of Black churches was used as an intimidation tactic — both towards individuals and communities collectively.

“We know the past and we know the history and it certainly drives our investigation. I think it brings more passion to our investigation to quickly get answers,” Browning. said “We're hunting them down right now and we're going to find them. We're gonna bring them to justice.”

SEN. CORY BOOKER PLANS TO LEAD THE ESTABLISHMENT of a commission to study possible reparations, an idea that has emerged as a key policy question in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary and won broad support from the candidates. Such a commission would seek to remedy generations-worth of discrimination as a result of “overt policies fueled by white supremacy and racism that have oppressed African-Americans economically for generations,” the New Jersey Democrat said in a statement, in addition to policies “that have ushered millions of Americans into the middle class” but “systematically excluded Blacks.” The bill, originally introduced by former Rep. John Conyers of Michigan and currently sponsored in the House by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, has emerged as a key issue for 2020 Democrats….A JURY HAS CONCLUDED THAT A WOMAN who killed her six adopted kids by driving off a 100-foot Pacific coast cliff wanted to make sure the children didn’t suffer.

Jennifer and Sarah Hart intentionally killed their six adopted children, ages 12-19. At first, it seemed unfathomable the parents would drive their children from their home in Woodland, Washington, to their deaths in Mendocino County, California. Their social media pages included photos of beaming children holding “love is always beautiful” signs. Allegations surfaced that their parents abused and starved the six adopted children and Jennifer was drunk when she intentionally drove off the cliff.

Though the entire family died, officials continued to investigate in hopes of getting better federal oversight of abuse…..THE BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY WANTS the mayor out. In a statement urging Elizabeth Pugh to resign, the 15-member council said Baltimore was deserving of a mayor who can focus on other issues affecting the city. Pugh is under investigation into the sales of almost $700,000 worth of her book, “Healthy Holly,” to various state agencies. She said she has no plans to step down.

Presidential hopefuls tout agendas to Black voters Defender News Service

Democratic presidential candidates are touting their plans on criminal justice reform, the study of reparations and other racial equality issues, highlighting the critical role Black voters will play in choosing the party’s 2020 nominee.

Speaking at the National Action Network’s conference in New York, California Sen. Kamala Harris pledged to double the size of the Justice Department’s civil rights division and to sign legislation creating a commission to study reparations to African -Americans hurt by slavery.

“We know that they are using the Department of Justice in a way that is about politics and not about pursuit of equality,” Harris, one of two Black candidates for the party’s nomination, told the receptive audience. Earlier, she told a radio interviewer she would be open to choosing a woman as her running mate if she wins the nomination to take on President Donald Trump.

She’s one of more than a half-dozen White House hopefuls who have spoken at the conference to spotlight their records on remedying economic and social inequities that have impeded African-American communities. Democratic presidential contenders slated to address the group later Friday at its annual convention include Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Cory Booker of New Jersey.

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper used his speech to the group to outline his record on policing, suggesting that the nation “shutter some prisons altogether.”

In her speech, Warren plans to escalate her call for Democrats to end the 60-vote requirement for many major bills to clear the Senate if her party wins the White House and Republicans try to block their agenda. Warren’s prepared remarks outline the history of the Senate filibuster’s use “as a tool to block progress on racial justice.”

VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 24 APRIL 11, 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 Tate 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).

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APRIL 11 | 2019 | DEFENDER

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LegaL Notice

To merchants who have accepted Visa and Mastercard at any time from January 1, 2004 to January 25, 2019: Notice of a class action settlement of approximately $5.54-6.24 Billion.

Si desea leer este aviso en español, llámenos o visite nuestro sitio web, www.PaymentCardSettlement.com.

Notice of a class action settlement authorized by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York.

This notice is authorized by the Court to inform you about an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit that may affect you. The lawsuit claims that Visa and Mastercard, separately, and together with certain banks, violated antitrust laws and caused merchants to pay excessive fees for accepting Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, including by: •

Agreeing to set, apply, and enforce rules about merchant fees (called default interchange fees);

Class Plaintiffs in service awards for their efforts on behalf of the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class.

hoW

To

aSk

for

PaymenT

To receive payment, merchants must fill out a claim form. If the Court finally approves the settlement, and you do not exclude yourself from the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class, you will receive a claim form in the mail or by email. Or you may ask for one at: www.PaymentCardSettlement.com, or call: 1-800-625-6440.

legal righTS

and

oPTionS

•

Limiting what merchants could do to encourage their customers to use other forms of payment; and

Merchants who are included in this lawsuit have the legal rights and options explained below. You may:

•

Continuing that conduct after Visa and Mastercard changed their corporate structures.

•

File a claim to ask for payment. Once you receive a claim form, you can submit it via mail or email, or may file it online at www.PaymentCardSettlement.com.

•

Exclude yourself from the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class.

If you exclude yourself, you can individually sue the Defendants on your own at your own expense, if you want to. If you exclude yourself, you will not get any money from this settlement. If you are a merchant and wish to exclude yourself, you must make a written request, place it in an envelope, and mail it with postage prepaid and postmarked no later than July 23, 2019, or send it by overnight delivery shown as sent by July 23, 2019, to Class Administrator, Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement, P.O. Box 2530, Portland, OR 97208-2530. Your written request must be signed by a person authorized to do so and provide all of the following information: (1) the words “In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation,” (2) your full name, address, telephone number, and taxpayer identification number, (3) the merchant that wishes to be excluded from the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class, and what position or authority you have to exclude the merchant, and (4) the business names, brand names, “doing business as” names, taxpayer identification number(s), and addresses of any stores or sales locations whose sales the merchant desires to be excluded. You also are requested to provide for each such business or brand name, if reasonably available: the legal name of any parent (if applicable), dates Visa or Mastercard card acceptance began (if after January 1, 2004) and ended (if prior to January 25, 2019), names of all banks that acquired the Visa or Mastercard card transactions, and acquiring merchant ID(s).

The defendants say they have done nothing wrong. They say that their business practices are legal and the result of competition, and have benefitted merchants and consumers. The Court has not decided who is right because the parties agreed to a settlement.

The Court has given preliminary approval to this settlement.

The SeTTlemenT Under the settlement, Visa, Mastercard, and the bank defendants have agreed to provide approximately $6.24 billion in class settlement funds. Those funds are subject to a deduction to account for certain merchants that exclude themselves from the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class, but in no event will the deduction be greater than $700 million. The net class settlement fund will be used to pay valid claims of merchants that accepted Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards at any time between January 1, 2004 and January 25, 2019.

This settlement creates the following Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class: All persons, businesses, and other entities that have accepted any Visa-Branded Cards and/or Mastercard-Branded Cards in the United States at any time from January 1, 2004 to January 25, 2019, except that the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class shall not include (a) the Dismissed Plaintiffs, (b) the United States government, (c) the named Defendants in this Action or their directors, officers, or members of their families, or (d) financial institutions that have issued Visa-Branded Cards or Mastercard-Branded Cards or acquired Visa-Branded Card transactions or Mastercard-Branded Card transactions at any time from January 1, 2004 to January 25, 2019. The Dismissed Plaintiffs are plaintiffs that previously settled and dismissed their own lawsuit against a Defendant, and entities related to those plaintiffs. If you are uncertain about whether you may be a Dismissed Plaintiff, you should call 1-800-625-6440 or visit www.PaymentCardSettlement.com for more information.

•

WhaT merchanTS Will geT from The SeTTlemenT Every merchant in the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class that does not exclude itself from the class by the deadline described below and files a valid claim will get money from the class settlement fund.

The value of each claim will be based on the actual or estimated interchange fees attributable to the merchant’s Mastercard and Visa payment card transactions from January 1, 2004 to January 25, 2019. Pro rata payments to merchants who file valid claims for a portion of the class settlement fund will be based on: •

The amount in the class settlement fund after the deductions described below,

•

The deduction to account for certain merchants who exclude themselves from the class,

•

•

Deductions for the cost of settlement administration and notice, applicable taxes on the settlement fund and any other related tax expenses, money awarded to the Rule 23(b) (3) Class Plaintiffs for their service on behalf of the Class, and attorneys’ fees and expenses, all as approved by the Court, and

For more information about these rights and options, visit: www.PaymentCardSettlement.com.

if

courT aPProveS final SeTTlemenT

The

The

Members of the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class who do not exclude themselves by the deadline will be bound by the terms of this settlement, including the release of claims against the released parties provided in the settlement agreement, whether or not the members file a claim for payment.

The settlement will resolve and release claims by class members for monetary compensation or injunctive relief against Visa, Mastercard, or other defendants. The release bars the following claims: •

The total dollar value of all valid claims filed.

Attorneys’ fees and expenses and service awards for the Rule 23(b) (3) Class Plaintiffs: For work done through final approval of the settlement by the district court, Rule 23(b)(3) Class Counsel will ask the Court for attorneys’ fees in an amount that is a reasonable proportion of the class settlement fund, not to exceed 10% of the class settlement fund, to compensate all of the lawyers and their law firms that have worked on the class case. For additional work to administer the settlement, distribute the funds, and litigate any appeals, Rule 23(b)(3) Class Counsel may seek reimbursement at their normal hourly rates. Rule 23(b)(3) Class Counsel will also request (i) an award of their litigation expenses (not including the administrative costs of settlement or notice), not to exceed $40 million and (ii) up to $250,000 per each of the eight Rule 23(b)(3)

Object to the settlement. The deadline to object is July 23, 2019. To learn how to object, visit www.PaymentCardSettlement.com or call 1-800-625-6440. Note: If you exclude yourself from the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class you cannot object to the settlement.

•

Claims based on conduct and rules that were alleged or raised in the litigation, or that could have been alleged or raised in the litigation relating to its subject matter. This includes any claims based on interchange fees, network fees, merchant discount fees, no-surcharge rules, no-discounting rules, honor-all-cards rules, and certain other conduct and rules. These claims are released if they already have accrued or accrue in the future up to five years following the court’s approval of the settlement and the resolution of all appeals.

Claims based on rules in the future that are substantially similar to – i.e., do not change substantively the nature of – the above-mentioned rules as they existed as of preliminary approval of the settlement. These claims based on future substantially similar rules are released if they accrue up to five years following the court’s approval of the settlement and the resolution of all appeals.

The settlement’s resolution and release of these claims is intended

to be consistent with and no broader than federal law on the identical factual predicate doctrine.

The release does not extinguish the following claims: •

Claims based on conduct or rules that could not have been alleged or raised in the litigation.

•

Claims based on future rules that are not substantially similar to rules that were or could have been alleged or raised in the litigation.

•

Any claims that accrue more than five years after the court’s approval of the settlement and the resolution of any appeals.

The release also will have the effect of extinguishing all similar or overlapping claims in any other actions, including but not limited to the claims asserted in a California state court class action brought on behalf of California citizen merchants and captioned Nuts for Candy v. Visa, Inc., et al., No. 17-01482 (San Mateo County Superior Court). Pursuant to an agreement between the parties in Nuts for Candy, subject to and upon final approval of the settlement of the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class, the plaintiff in Nuts for Candy will request that the California state court dismiss the Nuts for Candy action. Plaintiff’s counsel in Nuts for Candy may seek an award in Nuts for Candy of attorneys’ fees not to exceed $6,226,640.00 and expenses not to exceed $493,697.56.

Any fees or expenses awarded in Nuts for Candy will be separately funded and will not reduce the settlement funds available to members of the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class.

The release does not bar the injunctive relief claims or the declaratory relief claims that are a predicate for the injunctive relief claims asserted in the pending proposed Rule 23(b)(2) class action captioned Barry’s Cut Rate Stores, Inc., et. al. v. Visa, Inc., et al., MDL No. 1720, Docket No. 05-md-01720-MKB-JO (“Barry’s”).

Injunctive relief claims are claims to prohibit or require certain conduct. They do not include claims for payment of money, such as damages, restitution, or disgorgement. As to all such claims for declaratory or injunctive relief in Barry’s, merchants will retain all rights pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure which they have as a named representative plaintiff or absent class member in Barry’s, except that merchants remaining in the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class will release their right to initiate a new and separate action for the period up to five (5) years following the court’s approval of the settlement and the exhaustion of appeals.

The release also does not bar certain claims asserted in the class action captioned B&R Supermarket, Inc., et al. v. Visa, Inc., et al., No. 17-CV-02738 (E.D.N.Y.), or claims based on certain standard commercial disputes arising in the ordinary course of business.

For more information on the release, see the full mailed Notice to Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class Members and the settlement agreement at: www.PaymentCardSettlement.com.

The courT hearing abouT ThiS SeTTlemenT On November 7, 2019, there will be a Court hearing to decide whether to approve the proposed settlement. The hearing also will address the Rule 23(b)(3) Class Counsel’s requests for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and awards for the Rule 23(b)(3) Class Plaintiffs for their representation of merchants in MDL 1720, which culminated in the settlement agreement. The hearing will take place at: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York 225 Cadman Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11201 You do not have to go to the Court hearing or hire an attorney. But you can if you want to, at your own cost. The Court has appointed the law firms of Robins Kaplan LLP, Berger Montague PC, and Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP as Rule 23(b)(3) Class Counsel to represent the Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class.

QueSTionS? For more information about this case (In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1720), you may: Call toll-free: 1-800-625-6440 Visit: www.PaymentCardSettlement.com Write to the Class Administrator: Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement P.O. Box 2530 Portland, OR 97208-2530 Email: info@PaymentCardSettlement.com Please check www.PaymentCardSettlement.com for any updates relating to the settlement or the settlement approval process.

www.PaymentCardSettlement.com • 1-800-625-6440 • info@PaymentCardSettlement.com

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DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2019

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Why Nipsey Hussle’s death affected so many Defender News Services Two weeks ago, mostly only die-hard rap lovers had ever heard of Nipsey Hussle, but his tragic death has resonated across the country.

The 33-year-old Grammy-nominated rapper was gunned down in front of a store he owned in his Los Angeles Hyde Park neighborhood on March 31.

"Here was a young man who was not exclusively about the bling, flash, cash, cars, party, fun, and the fast life. Here was a guy who had his head screwed on right and was giving back to the community by investing in the community," Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, wrote in a column after his death.

Tributes took place across the country, where fans discussed the rapper’s legacy and how to keep his entrepreneurial spirit alive.

The coast-to-coast outpouring of love for the rapper, who was respected not only for his artistry but for his devotion to the Crenshaw District where he grew up, brought together those who have known his music

munity and to his craft.

One blogger for Blavity, who didn’t know the rapper, summed up what many non-fans felt: “I think at the basis of it, it’s the senselessness and audacity of how it happened. And that it happened to a man, as I have come to learn, who wanted nothing more than to inspire and uplift his community…I believe this sadness we all feel, whether you were previously a fan or not, is due to the fact that Nipsey Hussle was such a great representation of a good human being, but was killed so violently, anyway...”

Hussle owned businesses in his neighborhood, invested in the community and counted several Los Angeles rappers among his influences and collaborators.

Both police officers and rival street gangs were saddened by his death. Hussle had reached out to Los Angeles Police Department to request a meeting to discuss ways to curb gang violence and help chilMourners gathered at the Nipsey Hussle memorial outside his clothing store in Los Angeles. (Photo by Faye Sadou/MediaPunch/IPX) dren, police said following news that he'd been killed. and those who just discovered him.

Street gangs, meanwhile, brokered a Sorrowful tributes poured in, with John truce in Hussle’s honor.

Legend, J. Cole, Pharrell Williams, ConHussle was a member of the Rollin 60s Neighborhood gresswoman Karen Bass, Colin KaepeCrips, and Eric Holder, who police accuse of killing the rnick, Rihanna, LeBron James, 50 Cent rapper, is believed to belong to a gang as well, though police and Los Angeles Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff declined to specify gang affiliations. Holder has pleaded not among those applauding what Hussle gave to his comguilty.

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APRIL 11 | 2019 | DEFENDER

Marsai Martin

entertainment

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Native Texan a rising star with ‘Little’ movie

M

Defender News Service

any know her as the witty and bossy Diane on the hit sitcom "Blackish," but Marsai Martin says her star is so much bigger than that. The Plano native is out to change the industry, and taking matters into her own hands.

She’s doing just that as the face and co-founder (with a little help from her parents) of Genius Productions in Los Angeles.

Did we mention that she’s only 14 years old?

But that didn’t stop Martin from coming up with the idea for “Little,” coming out from Universal Pictures on April 12.

Will Packer is the producer on the comedy starring Martin, Issa Rae and Regina Hall. Issa Rae and 14-year-old Marsai Martin star in the new movie “Little” Hall and Martin both star as Jordan was a collective effort between Will Packard, Tina Gordon Sanders — Hall as the take-no-prisoners tech mogul adult version of Jordan and Martin as the 13-year- and my parents. They were the greatest support system and ultimately, made sure I didn’t fall on anything. It was such an old version of her who wakes up in her adult self’s penthouse easy road to get to the point where I am now. Well, easy and just before a do-or-die meeting. hard at the same time because a lot of people didn’t believe “Insecure’s” Issa Rae plays Jordan’s long-suffering in me because they sometimes judge a book by its cover. The assistant, April, the only one in on the secret that her daily easy part is working with people that trust you and believe in tormentor is now trapped in an awkward tween body just as your story is the best thing. everything is on the line.

Defender: Did you model Jordan (the main character) Martin talks about her inspiration and what she hopes after anyone in particular? viewers take away from the film.

Martin: There were certain parts that we thought of in Defender: Why did you want to do this story? certain time spans.

Tina saw Little Jordan with an Afro and so Marsai Martin: I started to think about all those young we adopted that.

We all contributed pieces to them. It all just little Black girls that look like me [are] not really seen on TV came together.

There was zero inspiration as to who we were a lot. That's the reason why I made this production company, modeling them after.

We just wanted them to be totally differso everyone could feel welcome, just to create more films for ent from each other as well as characters that nobody had ever everyone that's very diverse and inclusive." seen before.

We wanted to have something that could define Defender: You actually pitched this idea when you were who Little Jordan was; natural hair and pink power suits. ten?

Big Jordan was the mean boss who was spoiled.

Martin: I did and I’ve been working on developing the Defender: What message do you hope viewers script and just trying to figure out the overall direction, which

take away?

Martin: The biggest message is about bullying, which I know happens in a lot of schools, and a lot of kids can relate to whether they are the bully or they are being bullied. Jordan’s story begins when she is bullied and then she turns into the bully, to protect herself. She thought that was a way to put her guard up, which isn’t the case at any point. You don’t have to change who you are for anyone: if you are your regular, authentic, confident self, then you can push to do whatever you want.

And that’s what people want to see.

Defender: What do you want the 14-year-old (little) Marsai to remember to tell the 30-year-old (big) Marsai?

Martin: Not to think too much into stuff.

Everything that I do now I get nervous and have anxiety. I want to tell her to be comfortable and be who you are because these people are just like you.

Martin, known for her role on “Blackish,” was born in Plano, Texas and now lives in L.A.

what’sup BEYONCÉ has taken her talents to Adidas for the relaunch of her Ivy Park athleisure line.

Additionally, Adidas said the music icon will be a “creative partner” for the brand. Adidas has been relying heavily on fashion and not so much on actual sports, during a time when urban culture continues to be sewn into corporate strategy. So there’s a lot at stake for Adidas in the sneaker race, as the culture around sports becomes almost more meaningful and profitable…. Seven women who said BILL COSBY sexually assaulted them decades ago and then labeled them liars by denying it - have settled defamation lawsuits against

the imprisoned actor. Court documents show a settlement has been reached since Cosby went to prison last fall in a separate Pennsylvania sex assault case. Cosby, 81, is serving a three- to 10year prison sentence. Cosby’s spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, said Cosby did not authorize the settlement reached between the women and American International Group Inc., and “vehemently denies the allegations.”… An attorney for JUSSIE SMOLLETT has written a letter warning that if Chicago follows through on its vow to sue the “Empire” actor for the cost of the investigation into his claim that he was attacked, he’ll demand sworn

testimony from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the police chief and others. In a letter dated April 4 — the same day the city announced that it was drafting a lawsuit for $130,106 — celebrity defense attorney MARK GERAGOS wrote that Smollett will “not be intimidated” by what he calls “threats that were made maliciously.” The threatened lawsuit and stern response mark the latest chapter in a story that has taken a number of strange twists since Smollett first reported in January that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack by two masked men in downtown Chicago.

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8

DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2019

Conversa

County commissi

‘Blacks & Browns: O

A

By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

frican-Americans and Hispanics have a long history of working together to improve the lives of Houston’s Black and Brown communities. Politically, that bond was exemplified by the relationship between the late Mickey Leland, Ben Reyes, Craig Washington and Senfronia Thompson when they served in the Texas State Legislature in the 1970s.

Today, Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia are ensuring that Blacks and Browns have a voice on the powerful Commissioners Court. They are joined by County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who upset incumbent Ed Emmett in 2018.

The Defender recently continued its Conversation series by hosting a discussion on “Blacks & Browns: Our Common Ground” with Ellis and Garcia.

Several partners joined the Defender in presenting the series: Greater Houston Black Chamber, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Houston Hispanic Forum, Houston Area Urban League, NAACP and LULAC. Ellis, a former Houston City Councilmember and Texas state senator, was elected Precinct 1 Commissioner in 2016. Garcia, a former Houston City Councilmember and Harris County sheriff, was elected Precinct 2 commissioner in 2018.

Ellis and Garcia discussed issues facing the county and their constituents of color.

Defender: How can we build a stronger relationship between Blacks and w Addressing the chemical fires Browns? w County plans for flooding/housing Ellis: We start by doing more of w Confronting tradition vs. growing leadership what’s going on today. Anytime you have the Hispanic chamber, Black chamber and Black newspapers working together, that helps. Plus, I think people in leadership positions set the tone. As much as we can, Commissioner Garcia, Judge Hidalgo and I try to work together. I saw that [in the 1970s in Austin]. I could see how the Black and Brown legislators oftentimes were pitted against each other but they were big enough not to let that happen.

Sometimes an issue may come up where we just legitimately disagree. At least if we disagree that increases the chances that one side might be right…

Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia share their views during a conversation with Defender P You figure out how you work together. Accentuate your positives and not your negatives.

Garcia: There is a history to the fact that the two of us are sitting up here. I making money and you want a s if they don’t know much about the candidate, sometimes they acknowledge that I stand on the shoulders of Ben Reyes and others, but the work workforce makes sense…Becau will just vote blindly, based on whether someone’s a woman needs to continue. In this day and age, it is even more critical to understand the city and county and one of four or a Democrat. I have been putting my name on the ballot for history that has been laid down before us so that we don’t think we got here all country we have to figure out ho over three decades and I know that first of all, I have to make by ourselves…

Garcia: Let us not forget th my case to African-American voters. After that, I know I have I also stand on the shoulders of African-American giants and that cannot be who want to see us succeed, and to make my case to Hispanic voters. You have to make sure lost in the conversation. look extremely broadly through and reach out to the other side.

Defender: Address some of the myths and realities between Blacks and that we are moving forward.

Garcia: One piece of advice I received a long time ago Browns, such as: Latinos do not vote for Blacks and Blacks do not vote or LaDefender: The criminal ju that served me well is…try to make sure that the people you tinos; Blacks do not hire Latinos and Latinos do not hire Blacks; and socially, ately impacts Blacks and Brow counsel with don’t always look like you. it’s us against them. doing related to pre-and post-in Ellis: I think we should lead by example. Often people Ellis: Most groups, first and foremost, want to elect one of their own, and Garcia: When I was sheriff tend to first associate with people they know. But if it’s about

DefenderNetwork.com

defendernetwork.com • Serving th

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9

ation with

ioners Ellis, Garcia

Our Common Ground’

Publisher Sonny Messiah-Jiles at Houston Community College.

successful business, a diverse use we are the most diverse minority-majority states in the ow to reach beyond our groups. hat there are a lot of whites d so we have to continue to hout the community to ensure

ustice system disproportionwns. What is Harris County is ncarceration? ff, I inherited a population 2,000

over the capacity. We had people sleeping on the floor, on low riders, and it was a dangerous and unhealthy situation. Eighty percent of the people were not yet adjudicated. They weren’t guilty, they weren’t innocent. They were in jail because they couldn’t make bail. Yet the person with money committing the same crime was able to walk out the jailhouse. [Ellis] initiated the bail reform process that finally caught up with Commissioner’s Court, and there are people who do not want to see this happen.

Ellis: Seventy-five percent of the people in Harris County Jail at this moment are people of color. A disproportionate number of people are sitting there for minor offenses, a lot

he Houston area for over 88 years

of them for marijuana. Bail reform is a big part of it because if we believe that people are innocent until proven guilty, you have to treat them like that. That lawsuit was based on the same theory Thurgood Marshall used to integrate the schools – the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Sandra Bland did not have $500. You can’t give them a credit card and they don’t take food stamps or a check – you have to have cash. Something is wrong with this system.

[Bail reform involves conducting] a risk assessment. You have to ask if someone has money…The reason this system has been perpetrated so long is because we tend to think if you have money, you’re better. When this country was founded, to vote you had to be white, male and own property.

Garcia: This issue also touches immigration. People who are in jail and have a job, have a family, have a house and may have the money to post bail, but solely because of their immigration status they are given no opportunity to post bail or it is exponentially higher than anyone else’s.

Defender: The jail system in America serves as a housing facility for the mentally ill. How is Harris County addressing mental health in jail?

Garcia: What is happening is not enough. In the county jail system, when you are arrested and if you are incarcerated for 30 days or more, in Texas your Medicaid is terminated, not suspended. When you get out you have to reapply and requalify. The basic Medicaid package does not provide for mental health benefits; it’s the next package up. So, if we recognize that Texas is 49th in the nation on per capita spending on mental health care, we need to do something about giving people more access to mental health benefits. Thirty percent of the general jail population is consistently on psychotropic medication [drugs that affect a person's mental state].

Ellis: It’s important to recognize we have been in [office together] three months. Adrian’s experience as a sheriff helps a heck of a lot about having Harris Health handle health care in day jail. We are also looking at expanding the public defender’s office; we’ve essentially doubled their budget. Criminal justice reform is the civil rights issue of this generation. So much of it is based on the lawyer.

Then, we have to stop arresting so many people and putting them in the system for penny ante offenses. Then you’re caught up in the system and you can’t get a college loan, can’t buy a home, it’s messed up.

Defender: Harris County has been called a “white elephant” because it does business with mostly white males and has not shared the big-dollar county contracts with Blacks, Browns or other people of color. What is being done to change this paradigm?

Ellis: I am proud to say that Harris County voted to conduct a disparity study.

You have to conduct a disparity study so you can justify having a race and genderbased program. You collect the data and see who got what, what went to Blacks, Hispanics, women, Asians…Metro decided to do it and the Port of Houston voted to do it at their last board meeting. We have to be ready. Now is the time for Blacks, Browns and women to combine some of these companies to pool resources to go after the big stuff [as prime contractors].

Garcia: This is a critical point – network with each other, talk to each other, get to know each other and be willing to take chances together as a starting point…Don’t get comfortable with crumbs.

Ellis: Don’t get caught up on distractions because people don’t give up power willingly. Don’t think there aren’t a lot of people who have had it for so long who are not angry. The disparity study takes about a year and while we are waiting on it to avoid being sued on the county side, we have to break up some of these contracts.

10 DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2019

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Blacks and Browns:

Attendees weigh in U

By: ReShonda Tate Billingsley Defender

nity is the key to improving Black-Brown relations. That was the consensus among many of the attendees at the Defender Conversations and Coffee event at Houston Community College. We talked one-on-one with representatives of all walks of the community. They weighed in on our common ground.

Ben Reyes

Former City Councilman, State Rep. “This coming together like this is what’s got to happen in order for us to make a difference. Coalitions have to be the future. Mickey Leland taught me that. And if we don’t work together as communities we are going to lose.

We have an election coming up in 2020. We lost the right to have straight ticket (voting) so we have to put that back together some kind of way. Two hundred thousand Hispanics voted this last election. 65 percent of them voted straight ticket. There’s no more of that because Republicans took that from us. So 2020 is going to be tough. But if we start unifying, we can do this. And the way you do it is by bringing people together. We need to have sensitivity and meetings like this.”

Von Douglass

Ben Reyes

Von Douglass

Carol Guess

Director of Community Engagement, County Judge Lina Hidalgo “I know the people in Houston and Harris County care about every day. I wanted to be here to meet people and show our support. County Judge Lina Hidalgo is the first Latina to hold this position. On her cabinet I’m the only Black person, so we talk about this all the time. I believe there are systems in place that keep Black and Browns from working well together. But then, there are interpersonal relationships, right? So if we work on the interpersonal relationships while we work on the systems then we can begin to see progress. So I’m glad that Commissioners Ellis and Garcia are doing that work on both levels.”

Ana Yañez Correa

Director of Community Engagement, Comm. Rodney Ellis “We have everything in common, we have the heart for the people, we’ve got the joy, we’ve got Mario Watkins

Ana Yañez Correa the flavor, culture and we have common challenges. And we’re not going to get to where we plans that the commissioners have put forth to solve need to be unless we work together. For a really them. We put on a Black and Brown summit in long time I worked closely with the African American Corpus Christi several years ago, so I know events community on criminal justice reform for 15 years. My like this are needed and crucial to bringing us number one partner at the time was the NAACP and it together.” was wonderful to work with my brothers and sisters.

So I’m very excited about this. We need to do more of Carol Guess these types of events so that’s why I am here.”

Board chair, Greater Houston Black Chamber Mario Watkins “The chamber supports unity in our comBusiness owner munity as far as working together and leveraging “I’m here as a small independent businessman and power and we see this as an important mechanism I wanted to listen to some of these issues and see the

Maggie Luna

to get the conversation started. Anything we can do to support unity among African Americans and Latinos, we’re here for. So I really wanted to hear what the commissioners have in mind for that plan to execute that unity and leverage that power.”

Maggie Luna

Anthony Graves Smart Justice “I wanted to see the black and brown divide come together. I’ve been really concerned with the criminal justice reform. We need to be working together.”

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APRIL 11 | 2019 | DEFENDER

health

A Defender and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Alliance

11

Prostate cancer screenings save lives

BY ALVIN BARROW, M.D.

E

arly detection of prostate cancer can save lives.

However, in some cases, prostate cancer has no early symptoms, so it’s important men ages 55 to 69 years old get tested regularly, according to guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Task Force.

African-American ALVIN BARROW, M.D. men have a higher risk for developing and dying of prostate cancer. You should discuss your personal risk with your doctor and the pros and cons of testing before deciding together when to begin screening. Your physician should take your age, family history, and medical history into consideration when determining your risk of prostate cancer and assessing your need for screening.

During the early stages of prostate cancer, there are no symptoms, which underscores the importance of early detection to find cancer early before it spreads.

Screening for prostate-specific antigen, or PSA for short, is the primary diagnostic tool of choice for

prostate cancer detection. PSA is a protein found in both cancerous and noncancerous prostate tissue. When PSA levels rise, it could mean cancer. Since some cancers don’t produce as much PSA, a digital rectal exam also is performed.

If cancer is detected, it’s important you and your doctor discuss all treatment options to help make the decision that best fits your needs. With improved treatments, now men have a better chance of enjoying a good quality of life after cancer. In some cases, treatment may not be necessary right away and regular follow-up may be recommended to monitor progression.

New technology minimizes side effects When radiation therapy is part of the treatment plan, the Kelsey-Seybold Cancer Center uses GPS tracking in prostate cancer treatments thanks to a new system implemented in 2018 called the Calypso® system. Just as a GPS system in a car can pinpoint where the car is at all times, Calypso provides continuous, real-time location information of the tumor during treatment, despite naturally occurring organ motion from digestion, breathing, or coughing.

This enables clinicians to more accurately manage the

delivery of radiation to the tumor. Patients eligible to be treated with Calypso have three tiny responders, smaller than grains of rice, inserted into the prostate in an outpatient procedure. When activated, the transponders transmit a signal. The system monitors the coordinates of the transponders, automatically stopping the radiation beam if the target area moves out of range.

Surgery is a common treatment choice when cancer hasn’t spread outside the prostate gland. Nervesparing robotic prostatectomy performed by surgeons assisted by the da Vinci System® helps provide patients with a safe and minimally invasive way for removal of the prostate gland, while helping to preserve as much of the surrounding nerve structures and penile function as possible. Among the potential benefits of robotic surgery are decreased blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and quicker time to continence.

Your doctor might recommend a mix of treatments.

You’ll work together to find the best plan for you.

Dr. Alvin Barrow is a board-certified Family Medicine physician at Kelsey-Seybold’s Meyerland Plaza Clinic.

To schedule an appointment, call 713-442-0000.

Get KelseyConnected

SM

Healthcare that Revolves Around You. KelseyConnected is a smarter approach to your healthcare – because it revolves around you. As a Kelsey-Seybold patient, you have an entire healthcare team that can share your medical history through one electronic medical record and collaborate on medical care that’s right for you.

Being KelseyConnected makes your experience with us easy and convenient with: n

Locations close to home and work. Choose the location most convenient for you at kelsey-seybold.com/locations.

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24-Hour Nurse Hotline. Speak with a Kelsey-Seybold nurse after 5 p.m. and on holidays and weekends.

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Appointments today! Book a Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Pediatrics appointment online at kelsey-seybold.com/NOW.

24-Hour Appointment Scheduling: 713-442-0000 | kelsey-seybold.com

12 DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2019

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2019 State of Black Women Summit | Friday-Saturday, September 20-21, 2019 Texas Southern University

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APRIL 11 | 2019 | DEFENDER

13

Kingston crowned WrestleMania champ Defender News Services

A prestigious championship has made its way into the hands of a Black man for just the fourth time in more than 30 years. During the recent WrestleMania, Kofi Kingston took home the WWE heavyweight championship.

“It’s so emotional,” he said.

“You work so hard to get here and sometimes you work as hard as you can and things aren’t going your way, you know? And you don’t know if the hard work is going to pay off.

It’s paying off right now.”

Kingston, a Ghanaian-American, at first promoted himself as being from Jamaica and not from Ghana, believing that people would more readily accept a person from the land of Bob Marley. He is a member of the New Day group with Big E and Xavier Woods.

Kingston’s WWE championship came on the same night the people who write the scripts thought it was a good idea to let an admitted racist open professional wrestling’s most famous show.

Prior to Kingston raising the belt, Hulk Hogan made an appearance and was met by loud applause

despite the racism that many believe should have ended his wrestling career.

In 2015, Hogan, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, caught major backlash when tapes surfaced of him using the N-word. In the tapes, which were recorded in 2007, Hogan ranted about his daughter sleeping with a Black man and admitted to being a racist.

Hogan apologized and called his words “unacceptable” and “offensive” and was subsequently fired from the WWE. In July 2018, the WWE announced it would be giving the disgraced wrestler a second chance.

“On a personal level, when someone makes racist and hateful comments about any race or group of people, especially to the degree that Hogan made about our people, we find it difficult to simply forget, regardless of how long ago it was, or the situation in which those comments were made,” Kingston said in a statement in July.

“But we also do not respond with more feelings of hate. Instead, we just do not associate with the people who convey or have conveyed this negative hurtful mindset…”

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Kofi Kingston celebrates after winning the WWE heavyweight championship.

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14

DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2019

sports

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Texans prepare for 2019 NFL draft

T

By MAX EDISON Defender

he 2019 NFL draft is two weeks away beginning Thursday, April 25, and will be broadcast live from Nashville. The draft is like Christmas for NFL franchises. Teams have made a list (draft board) and they’re checking it twice. They’re trying to determine what players have been naughty (draft value sliding) or nice (ascending in value).

Locally, Brian Gaine prepares for his second draft as Texans general manager. Last year, the Texans didn’t have a draft pick until the third round due to the Deshaun Watson trade.

This season, they have the 23rd selection in the first round and two picks, No. 54 and No. 55, in the second round. They also have a third-round selection (86th overall). With four picks in the top 100, Gaine and the Texans have a very good chance of filling some key personnel needs.

The Texans are comKendall Sheffield of Ohio State is the total package at cornerback and played high school football at Ft. Bend ing off an impressive 11-5 Marshall. season in 2018 that saw them roll off nine consecutive include: Dalton Risner, Kansas State OT; Cody wins en route to capturing Ford, Oklahoma OT; Kaleb McGary, Washington the AFC South division title.

OT and Tytus Howard, Alabama State OT. They underperformed and The second most glaring need the Texans were embarrassed at home hope to address in the draft is in the secondary. in the first round of the The Texans lost safeties Tyrann Mathieu and playoffs by the Indianapolis Kareem Jackson to free agency. Oft-injured former Colts 21-7. first-round selection cornerback Kevin Heading into this offseaJohnson was released. The team signed son the Texans have some former Jaguar starting safety Tashaun Gipnoticeable needs that must Andraez "Greedy" son. In three seasons with Jacksonville, Williams, an elite LSU be addressed in order to stay Gipson, 28, started all 48 of his games. cornerback, is another in contention with the upper The Texans signed two cornerbacks player to watch in the NFL echelon teams in the AFC. The draft. in free agency to one-year deals. Former most glaring weakness is in the Denver standout Bradley Roby, 26, is exoffensive line. Quarterback Watson was sacked a pected to start opposite Johnathan Joseph. league-leading 62 times in 2018. Clearly there’s a Former Cleveland corner Briean Boddyneed for improvement Calhoun was brought in for depth at the there. position.

The Texans signed Don’t be surprised if the Texans free agent left tackle draft two cornerbacks. Names to watch · Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m. – Round 1 Matt Kalil to a one include: Andraez "Greedy" Williams, · Friday, April 26, 6 p.m. – Rounds 2-3 Tytus Howard, an offensive tackle, has been a standout at HBCU year deal. Kalil, is LSU; Deandre Baker, Georgia; Tayvon · Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m. – Rounds 4-7 Alabama State. a former Pro Bowl Mullen, Clemson and Kendall Sheffield · ABC, ESPN, NFL Network performer who comes (from Fort Bend Marshall), Ohio State. the team to draft at least one and with an impressive The Texans are woefully thin at receiver. Will possibly two offensive linemen. resume. He was a former fourth pick overall by Fuller has yet to complete a full season in the three Watson is a franchise quarterback but his effectivethe Minnesota Vikings and has been a starter in 82 years he has been on the roster. Names like speedness will be minimized if he’s constantly running games. He missed the 2018 season due to a knee inster Mecole Hardman, Georgia and Auburn’s Darius for his life or picking himself up off the turf. As jury and the Texans are hoping that at 29, Kalil can Slayton could be on the list as late selections. an added bonus, improvement in the offensive line return to his Pro Bowl form.

The Texans have needs and NFL Christmas improves the rushing game for Lamar Miller and Fortunately for the Texans, the 2019 draft class comes in two weeks. They hope to find players to D’Onta Foreman. is loaded with quality offensive linemen. Expect fill their needs.

Names to watch for potential draft choices

Draft schedule

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APRIL 11 | 2019 | DEFENDER

15

HS sports Heights shortstop

Armani Sanchez, a name to remember

H

By JODIE B. JILES Defender

eights High School senior shortstop Armani Sanchez, a University of Oklahoma commit, is a sensation just waiting to make his name known in baseball.

His 6-foot-2 athletic frame allows him to be a hawk in the infield and his power and batting skills are impressive.

David Petty, Heights baseball coach, has praise for his primetime player.

“Armani is a very special player who has more God-given talent than anybody that I have had in the 27 years I have coached,” Petty said. “His ceiling is really up to him and he can go anywhere he wants to because his talent is unlimited.

“I think he makes the players around him work harder because of his level of play on the field and he pushes us all by making plays that others cannot.”

The Defender spoke with Sanchez before he led his team to victory against Westbury.

Armani Sanchez of Heights is looking forward to the baseball playoffs.

Defender: How did you get started in baseball?

Sanchez: I started when I was 3 years old and began to understand it as a game of failure. So, I knew this was the sport I needed to play. Of course God blessed me with talent and everything else has been put together.

Defender: How have you overcome adversity throughout your journey?

Sanchez: As a kid, when I would practice, I would grab a tennis ball, hit a palm tree and use my natural resources around because I never had enough cash to have the opportunity to pay to go somewhere else and do all that stuff so I always used what I could.

Defender: What should the Oklahoma fans be looking out for when you arrive?

Sanchez: I should be able to start my freshman year.

Defender: How would you rate your season so far and what will it take to close it off with a bang?

Sanchez: The hard part is out of the way, beating Lamar and Bellaire two times. Now with the playoffs approaching, the main focus is just staying healthy and keeping our minds on the right track.

About Sanchez

Twitter: @sanchez_armani7 Favorite subjects: Math and reading Favorite musicians: Lil Baby, NBA Youngboy and Romeo Santos Shout-outs: Heights High School, my mom and Marrucci

Sanchez winds up to hit an early home run against Westbury.

Sanchez makes a routine throw to first.

(Photos by Jimmie Aggison)

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16

DEFENDER | APRIL 11 | 2019

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

topevents

IRONWOMAN BRUNCH……..In honor of Women’s History Month, Woman’s the 2020 Census, housing, healthcare, immigration and much more. The event was Work held its inaugural IronWoman Brunch at the Norris Conference Centers. The moderated by Defender CEO Sonny Messiah Jiles, with remarks by HCC Trustee Eva room bustled with over 80 women in attendance to hear from Vanessa E. Wyche, Loredo. Attendees included Matala Idi, HISD Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Ana deputy director, NASA who’s leaving her legacy as a woman of history. Woman’s Yanez Correa, Carol Guess, Eva Loredo, Jodie Jiles, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Work Founder Carla Lane sat for an intimate conversation with the only Africanformer City Councilmember Ben Reyes, Maggie Luna, Tammie Lang Campbell, American female deputy director in a male-dominated field. The two discussed Wyche’s Shar-day Campbell, Michael Harris and many others……..91st ANNIVERSARY history making challenges, thriving in a work environment with CHARTER DAY CELEBRATION BANQUET……..The limited female influence and more. Attendees included HISD Houston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Defender TOP EVENTS recently held its 91st Anniversary Charter Day Celebration Banquet.

Trustee Wanda Adams, Kim Roxie, Vanessa Reed, Colleen More photos on defendernetwork.com Banks, Dorita Hatchett, Naomi Hardy, Martica Sherman and Actor John M. Jones gave the keynote address on the topic “The others……..CONVERSATIONS AND COFFEE: BLACKS & Next 100 Years: Are We Ready to Move Forward?” For more than BROWNS – OUR COMMON GROUND……..The Defender a century, Kappa Alpha Psi has been in the forefront with a focus Network’s Conversations & Coffee series continued recently with “Blacks & Browns: of honorable achievement and community service. Attendees included Ronald Lockett Our Common Ground,” a discussion with Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis II, Erroll Hughes, Keith Cornelius, Ferrial Jackson, Fred and Tiffany Navarre, and Adrian Garcia. Topics during the Defender Network and Houston Community Ronald Julen, Mattelia B. Graves, Louis Maryland, Michael Allen, Capt. Paul College System-sponsored event included flood control, bail reform, mental health, Matthews, Diallo Smith, Rev. Johnnie Simpson Jr. and many more.

Carla Lane, Michelle Lewis

NASA Deputy Director Vanessa E. Wyche

Adrian Garcia, Wiley Henry, Ben Reyes, Rodney Ellis

DeWayne Armstrong, Cowanetta Armstrong, John M. Jones

Shar-day Campbell, Tammie Lang Campbell

Ferrial Jackson, Ronald Lockett II

Mentors and mentees

McKayla Jackson, Pauleaner Willams and Jhazzmon Key

Ronald Julen, Mattelia B. Graves

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