May 2 – 8, 2010 | FREE
Volume 79 Number 27
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Whitewashing American History
Community rallies after rape of 7 year old
Texas textbooks threaten to rewrite ethnic contributions
By Nisa Islam Muhammad SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE FINAL CALL
TRENTON, N.J. (NNPA) - What was promoted as a “Stop the Violence” rally at the First Baptist Church of Pennington to respond to the alleged rape of a 7-year-old girl in a housing complex quickly became the largest recruitment of community men to join the Peace Keepers, a neighborhood watch program to protect women and children. “The reason we have the Peace Keepers is because there is a problem across America with crime and violence. But crime and violence is not everywhere. There’s no crime and violence in Crown Heights (a section of New York City). You won’t hear about a drive by or police coming to beat up Jews in Crown Heights,” Peace Keepers founder Dennis Muhammad told the standing room only crowd of several hundred people. “You can’t go into a community that loves itself and brutalize it. You can only do it in a community that doesn’t love itself.” After his rousing words, he quickly organized dozens of men from
By Aswad Walker DEFENDER
T
he State Board of Education recently took the first step toward ratifying changes in the Texas social studies curriculum that will radically alter public school textbooks with a decidedly conservative spin. Many are charging that the proposed changes will result in a whitewashing of Texas and American history by downplaying some, and outright ignoring other, historical contributions made by African Americans, Latinos and women. The NAACP, LULAC, Congressional Black Caucus and others are seeking to rally the public to take actions aimed at swaying the Board’s ratifying vote away from its current course of action. The final vote, scheduled for May 21, could enact curriculum changes like erasing nearly the entire Civil Rights Movement from classroom conversations that could do an incredible disservice to generations of Texas public school students Since January, a seven-member conservative bloc of Republicans on the 15-member Board have helped pass over 100 amendments to Texas’ curriculum standards, affecting history, sociology and economics courses from elementary to high school, and infecting these areas with an unapologeticallyconservative read of past events and present realities. Some of the changes that will affect children statewide include teaching children that gains by racial and ethnic minorities were the result of the good graces of whites rather than the heroic strug-
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Notre Dame’s first Black valedictorian Institute for Global Health on the mosquito that carries dengue and yellow fever. She is the co-author (NNPA) - Katie Washington, a of a research paper with David biological sciences Severson, professor of major from Gary, Ind., biological sciences. has been named valedicWashington directs torian of the 2010 the Voices of Faith University of Notre Gospel Choir at Notre Dame graduating class Dame, is a mentor/tutor and will present the for the Sister-to-Sister valedictory address durprogram at South Bend’s ing Commencement Washington High School and serves as the exercises on Sunday, Katie student coordinator of May 16, in Notre Dame Washington the Center for Social stadium. Concerns’ “Lives in the Balance: Washington, who earned a 4.0 Youth Violence and Society grade point average, has a minor Seminar.” in Catholic Social Teaching. She Upon graduation, Washington has conducted research on lung plans to pursue a joint M.D./Ph.D cancer at the Cold Spring Harbor program at Johns Hopkins labs and performed genetic studies in the University’s Eck University . SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE MISSISSIPPI LINK
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INTERVIEW
Omari Hardwick has arrived! By Kam Williams CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Born in Savannah, Georgia on January 9, 1974, Omari Hardwick was the second of four children, blessing the union of Clifford and Joyce Hardwick. The family moved to Decatur, where Omari excelled in athletics and established himself as a standout, eventually earning himself a college football scholarship. Although he had demonstrated a certain flair for the dramatic early in life, it wasn’t until his junior year at the University of Georgia that Omari began his formal training in acting. While there, he joined the Athens Theater Company and eventually starred in a number of plays, including
August Wilson’s “Fences.” Soon after graduation, a knee injury cut short his plans for a pro football career. Omari then decided to focus on acting fulltime and headed to New York City to hone his skills on the stage before making the move to Los Angeles. After years of perseverance, Omari finally landed a breakout role when Spike Lee cast him as Dante’ in “Sucker Free City.” Omari’s showbiz career has benefitted from a steady rise ever since, with the versatile thespian exhibiting an enviable acting range in such films as “Miracle at St. Anna,” “Next Day Air,” “The Gridiron Gang,” “The Guardian” and “Beauty Shop.” And among his upcoming offerings are “The A-Team,” “For Colored Girls,”
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“Bolden” and “I Will Follow.” Meanwhile, he’s also appeared on TV shows like “CSI: Miami,” “Crossing Jordan” and “Saved,” and he currently co-stars opposite Dylan McDermott on TNT’s gritty, cop series “Dark Blue.” Here, Omari talks about his controversial new movie, “Kick-Ass,” the adaptation of the Marvel Comics series, which opened up in the #1 spot at the box office. Kam Williams: Hey, Omari, nice to meet you, and thanks for the time. Omari Hardwick: Same here. KW: What interested you in doing “KickAss,” such a controversial film? OH: It was the controversy itself, which interested me. I already was a fan of ★HARDWICK, Page 2
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MAY 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER
Hardwick
continued from page 1 [director] Matthew Vaughn from his collaborations with Guy Ritchie on “Snatch and Lock,” “Stock,” and “Two Smoking Barrels.” I met with him early on in the process and appreciated his creative vision. My interest definitely revolved around how an 11-year-old girl would be a superhero and potentially train my character in the sequel. So, of course, I salivated at the opportunity. It was definitely a bold pick, but I had a lot of fun working with a young genius in [co-star] Chloe Moretz. Plus, she’s from Georgia, I’m from Georgia, so everything lined up. KW: What was your main challenge in doing this film, the action sequences? OH: I wouldn’t say it was the physicality, having come to acting from the world of sports. The main challenge was just the scheduling, really, because my TV show, “Dark Blue” was taking off at the same time, and this was being shot in London for the most part, and then also in Toronto. There was a lot of travel involved and scheduling conflicts, but I had to do it, so I figured a way to get it done. KW: Were you surprised when the picture was #1 at the box office? I loved it, and said in my review that it’s the best comic book adaptation since The Dark Knight. It’s also the best blockbuster I’ve seen this year so far. OH: Man, that’s very humbling for me to hear you say that, Kam. I knew that it would do well, but I didn’t expect this kind of initial reaction. It’s definitely the “Pulp Fiction” of its day, only with kids. KW: Did you have any pre-conceived notions about what “Kick-Ass” would be like, and does going into a project with ideas about it tend to prepare you or hinder you? OH: That’s a great question. I’d have to say it’s a little bit of both. For this kind of film, there was enough vagueness in the script that it left me a little baffled about where I’d fit in and what I’d mean to the film. There were some challenges for me in trying to figure out how to play this guy because, honestly, my character was the only one that was quote-unquote “real.” The rest were sort of fantastical. The major challenge was in figuring out, how do I maintain Marcus’ subtlety and realness while supporting the superhero theme of the movie? But of course, I jumped in full steam ahead.
Omari Hardwick is excited about his upcoming role in the film, “Kick Ass.” KW: You have an amazing acting range. How do you go back and forth from shooting a nonstop action film like this to the TV show and then to making “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide” without getting whiplash. OH: I appreciate the compliment. It’s very humbling to hear someone recognize the range that I have, but the whiplash definitely happens. Travel in between work helps, and maybe getting away after a project’s done. KW: Since you’re going to be in “A-Team,” what do you think of this resurgence of eighties action films and are there any you’d like to see the dust blown off of and remade today? OH: Like anybody who grew up in the eighties, I cringe at the thought of these movies being remade, because of the corniness and cheesiness of the originals. I hope that in the 21st Century, they’ll be able to eliminate the cheese factor when they redo them. If I could remake any eighties project, it would be less an action flick than a character-driven drama with a rich story to tell. KW: What are your goals as an actor, and where do you want your career to go? OH: Just to tell the truth in whatever role I do, and not got lost or swallowed up by the scope when I’m in a blockbuster. And I want to avoid being typecast and any obvious comparisons to other actors. KW: You don’t want to get pigeonholed?
OH: Right. If I can just be thought of as Omari Hardwick who had a really, really solid career, and whose work is appreciated in its own right, I think that would be a great legacy to leave behind. KW: What were the factors and who were the people who made you who are? OH: My mom and pop, and my four grandparents who I’m blessed to still have. As an African-American male born with a couple of strikes against you because of your skin color, I think it’s very, very important to have some positive role models around, especially male influences. Fortunately, for me, one was never that far away. I could always just turn to the left or to the right, and I had positive grandparents, uncles and coaches. So, I was lucky that I didn’t have to search far for my heroes. KW: Yeah, when I interviewed LeBron James, who was raised by a single mom, he credited his coach for serving as an important male influence in his life. Did you see his movie? OH: LeBron actually invited me to the premiere to play in a celebrity game. We talked and found out that we have a lot in common. That dude was going on 45 at 14 years of age. He’s a great guy and ridiculously mature. KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would? OH: I thought of one the other day, but I can’t remember it now. It had to do with exposing
yourself as an actor, and then having to go back into the world as myself. KW: I recently asked Don Cheadle whether there were any parts of his psyche he had not yet explored on camera. And he responded, “If there’s anything I haven’t revealed yet, it’s probably best kept under wraps.” OH: Wow! I’m not anywhere near Don’s stature, and haven’t put in that much time yet, so I’d say I have a lot more to share and to reveal. But I think Don Cheadle’s definitely onto something. I would guess that there’s a risk of ending up feeling pained and lonely while walking in a world full of people. KW: Are you ever afraid? OH: Yeah, I would say my biggest fear, since experiencing a major tragedy in the family, is that I count my days left on this Earth. I now look at life as fleeting, not a marathon. KW: Are you happy? OH: Yeah, although I feel weighty and some inner turmoil at times. But overall, I’d say I’m optimistic, if not happy on a daily basis. KW: What is your favorite dish to cook? OH: Salmon with caramelized crushed pecans on top. I like fish a lot, but I’m addicted to apples. KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see? OH: Someone who’s trying to grow. It’s rare for artists to really stare deeply at themselves in the mirror, literally, because there’s constantly a mirror on you. But figuratively speaking, I’m really into growth, so when I look in the mirror, I see somebody who’s just trying to get better every day. KW: What is your earliest childhood memory? OH: [LOL] Being laughed at by my big brother and his friends. I was wearing Oshkosh B’gosh overalls while riding a duck tricycle very fast down a hill in Nashville. At the time, my father was in law school at Vanderbilt. KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure? OH: Krispy Kreme donuts. KW: How can your fans help you? OH: By staying interested. Their interest alone humbles and flatters me. KW: What do you want to be remembered for? OH: For my consistency. KW: Thanks again, Omari, and I look forward to speaking to you again soon about some of your upcoming projects. OH: That sounds good, man. Take care of yourself and your family.
SPORTS
MAY 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER
Max Edison
on Sports
Brooks Receives Honor While you’re sitting (laying) on your sofa, watching the NBA playoffs and lamenting the fact that, for the first time in many years, the Rockets are not in the mix; find consolation in this: point guard Aaron Brooks was named the NBA Most Improved Player for the ‘09‘10 NBA season. The annual award, sponsored by Kia Motors, is given to a player who has made a significant improvement from the previous season. Brooks becomes the first Rockets player to ever win this award. Brooks (6-0, 161, Oregon) averaged career highs of 19.6 points and 5.3 assists in 82 starts this season topping the Rockets in scoring 34 times (including ties) and leading the team in assists on 45 occasions. Houston’s starting point guard made the biggest jump in points per game (+8.4) of any qualifying player in the NBA from 2008-09 (11.2) to 2009-10 (19.6). Among players with at least 70 games played or 400 assists in each of the last two seasons, Brooks (+2.3) stood as one of just three players in the NBA with an increase of two assists per game from 2008-09 (3.0) to 2009-10 (5.3). Brooks also had a teamhigh 39 20-point performances and 10 outings of 30 or more points this season. He became the first Rockets point guard to reach at least 20 points in 20 or more games since Steve Francis’ 42 20-point outings in 2002-03. He had 10 20-point outings in the month of December alone. Another marked improvement for Brooks was his ★EDISON, Page 4
Darrell Ardison
on H.S. Sports The Houston area girls high school softball regular season has come to a close with the playoffs set to commence this week. Bellaire will enter the postseason with a 30-4 overall record, including 12-0 in District 20-5A, with a 10-0 victory over rival Lamar. The Cardinals scored four runs in the fifth inning and added two additional scores in the sixth to secure the mercy rule. Gabby Smith scattered five hits and struck out nine to record the shutout. Smith also contributed to the Cardinals’ offense with an RBI in the fourth. The rematch was a far cry from the schools first encounter when Bellaire squeezed out a 3-2 verdict. Lamar committed five errors in the fifth inning to hurt its cause. Bellaire is ranked seventh in the state Class 5A poll. The Woodlands No. 1 In the latest coaches’ state softball poll, nine Houston area 5A schools are in the Top 25, including The Woodlands in the No. 1 position. Other top 10 schools include second-ranked Clements, No. 2 Pearland and No. 7 Bellaire. Cinco Ranch jumped to No. 11 after winning the District 17-5A championship outright with a 3-0 victory over Seven Lakes. Pitcher ★ARDISON, Page 4
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Texans Draft 2010 The Future is Now
Photo: Houston Texans
Kareem Jackson (pictured with family) is happy to be playing with the Texans. By Max Edison DEFENDER
The 2010 NFL Draft has come and gone and the Texans have secured nine new players to help them achieve their ultimate goal for the upcoming season; making the playoffs. The team’s 9-7 record in 2009 was the first winning season in the franchise’s eightyear history. Now the focus for 2010 is clearly defined, the team must take the next step forward by securing a playoff spot. The top players selected in this draft will be expected to come in and make an immediate change to the bottom line, winning. The departure of starting cornerback Dunta Robinson to free agency has left a gaping hole in the Texan secondary. To remedy this problem the Texans selected
Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson (5’10” 196 lbs.) with the 20th pick of the first round. Jackson, who entered the draft after his junior year, was a three-year starter with the Crimson Tide, playing in the SEC, college football’s most competitive conference. He was coached by ‘Bama head coach Nick Saban, who was a former NFL secondary coach and prepares his troops for the NFL style of play. For added measure, he brings a champion’s pedigree, having won this year’s College Football National Championship. It goes without saying, Jackson was elated to be a first-round draft pick and a member of the Houston Texans. “I’m very excited right now,” Jackson confessed. “I couldn’t be part of a better family than the Houston Texans. I have a guy I played with in college, (Texans C) Antoine Caldwell, who told me it’s a great organiza-
tion to be with. I’m very excited and I’m ready to come in and help any way I can.” He goes on to describe what fans can expect from his style of play. “I’m going to be real feisty out there,” KJ intimated. “I’m going to be real physical. Receivers are going to know I’m there. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make plays out there.” Jackson was also quick to acknowledge the role his college coach, Nick Saban, had in his development. “It helped me out a whole lot. My three years in college with Coach Saban helped me so much at that position. He taught me to pay attention to the little things. It helped me out a whole lot with us running a NFL-type defense, being able to be in situations to ★TEXANS DRAFT, Page 4
Yates’ Addison H. has memorable year in tennis By Darrell K. Ardison DEFENDER
It was only a matter of time. After spending time in a myriad of sports ranging from football, basketball, baseball and even hockey, Addison H. found a way back to his roots. While spending some quality time with his mother (Kimberly H.) during a family walk, Addison’s mind reverted to a time when he began playing novice tennis at the age of five or six. “We were walking along the bayou and I suggested going by the tennis courts to see if any of the players were still there,” he said. “They were still practicing and we were able to say hello and visit a little bit. “Two days later, I showed up for practice and I’ve been training ever since,” Addison said. The tennis courts are located at MacGregor Park’s Homer Ford Tennis Center, home of the Zina Garrison All Court Youth Tennis Academy. That’s where Addison began constructing his tennis game and where he is currently honing his skills. His mom is best friends with Zina Garrison. Since resuming full-time training in May of 2009, the 16-yearold honors student with a 3.6 grade-point-average at Houston’s Jack Yates High School has excelled on the tennis court. He won the District 21-4A boys singles title and was undefeated on the season before his season came to an end at regionals.
Addison H. has dominated on the tennis courts. “Although I had a good year, I have lots of room for improvement,” Addison said. “I plan to work my tail off this summer to improve my ground strokes and with emphasis on my serve.” Addison says his strength as a tennis player is to be able to channel the passion in his game into his strokes. “I’m an emotional player and I hate losing,” he said. “My dislike
for losing helps me concentrate on my shots. I’m at my best creating shots on the run.” With the current success surrounding the Yates sports teams, Addison H. admits that it is a fun time to be attending the school. The Yates football team was minutes away from an undefeated regular season and finished 10-2 overall. Both the Yates boys and girls
basketball teams were undefeated during the regular season and the boys’ team won a second consecutive state title and finished as the No. 1-ranked prep team in the nation. Addison anchored the Yates tennis team and the track and field team qualified several competitors for the regional meet. “It’s fun being a part of a winning atmosphere,” he said. “The fact that we have student-athletes earning scholarships to college inspires me. It’s likely that I’ll need a scholarship to attend college, so the success we’re experiencing right now serves as motivation for me. “I see highlights of our teams on ESPN and the Fox Sports Houston Network and it’s hard to keep from being excited. I worked as an equipment manager for the University of Houston football team last season and I’m happy that two Yates players will be going there next fall,” he said. Addison H. has a solid support group that includes his mom and dad (Reginald H). “ M y mom pushes me when I don’t want to be pushed and it always seems to work out in the end,” he said. “My dad lives across town now, but I hear from him everyday,” Addison said. “He knows that I tend to beat up on myself when I’m having a tough time and he’s always there to lend helpful advice.” ★ADDISON, Page 4
SPORTS
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Texans Draft
continued from page 3 make great plays helped. That’s a great coaching staff there. I owe a lot of credit to them. They made me the player I am.” For Texan Defensive Coordinator Frank Bush there is one characteristic that stood out to him when evaluating Kareem Jackson. “His toughness, the thing we’re trying to get here and become on defense is tough. And that kid is tough. We know that he’s tough. He showed it on tape. He’s been that way throughout his career at Alabama and we just want him to bring some of that to our building.” In the second round, (58th overall) the Texans selected a running back that is very familiar with Kareem Jackson, intra-state rival, Auburn’s Ben Tate (5’10” 214 lbs.). Tate should come in and start immediately and form an effective tandem with Steve Slaton. Texan new Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison was all smiles with the selection of Tate. “We were very excited about selecting Ben Tate in the second round,” Dennison shared. “We feel like he is an explosive player, has good size, good speed, and has good running skills, good hands. I think he fits with what we do. He is a player that we look forward to working with in the future next year.” For those not familiar with the resurgence of Auburn football and the ability of Ben Tate, this is how Tate describes himself. “I think I’m the total package,” Tate expressed. “I think I can bring it all. I’m going to do whatever the Houston Texans need for me to do. Hopefully I can make an impact this year.” The Texans employ a zone-blocking scheme in their offensive line, a system Tate had success with at Auburn. “When I first came to Auburn, that’s what I ran in and that was one of the reasons why I went to Auburn,” Ben explained. There’s no real reason why I was comfortable. It’s just
Addison
continued from page 3 Another pillar in the family support group is Addison’s grandmother (Cleo Thomas). “She’s the treasurer of the Yates PTO and she knows a lot of important people. She’s got a black book with all their phone numbers,” Addison said. “She’s the backbone of the entire family and she picks me up from school every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We always go to Whataburger together and whenever I need something, she’s the first person there,” he said. Other influential family members and supporters include George Thomas (general manager of radio station KTSU), Larry Thomas, Patrick Augbon, Calvin Murphy, Raymond Martinez and Ray
Edison
continued from page 3 prowess from downtown, where he set the franchise single-season record for three-pointers made with 209 on 525 attempts (.398 3FG%), which stood first in the NBA in three-pointers made. Brooks actually became just the sixth player in NBA history to make at least 200 three-pointers (209) and dish out 400 or more assists (434) in the same season. “When I was drafted I was getting
Ardison
continued from page 3 Kristen Rumley tossed a perfect game and had 12 strikeouts in the victory. Brazoswood (No. 19) and Lamar (No. 24) made the list while Tomball and Clear Creek tied for the final slot (No. 25). In the 4A poll, Angleton is the area’s highest-ranked school at No. 6. Montgomery is No. 11 and Manvel is No. 16 while Brenham (No. 19) and Magnolia (No. 22) close out the poll. Morton Ranch makes baseball playoffs For the first time since the school began competing in varsity baseball (2007), Morton Ranch is playoff bound. With a 9-4 win over Seven Lakes, the Mavericks improved to 13-12 on the
when you’re a running back, when you got the ball in your hands, you’re comfortable, period. That’s my style of running, you know? Inside zone, you get me downhill, that’s what I do best. I’m going to make people pay.” The Texans selected a local product in the third round (81st overall), former Northshore standout, Arizona defensive tackle, Earl Mitchell (6’1” 296 lbs.). Mitchell, a defensive co-captain in 2009, played in 49 games with 37 starts for Arizona, starting 12 of 24 games at tight end/H-back. He was converted to the opposite side of the ball as a Jr. started 25 games at defensive tackle. He was named All-Pac 10 second team as a Sr. Having played offense and now defense is a key that Mitchell believes will make him successful. “I bring a lot of versatility and athleticism. I just have a lot of knowledge because I played offense. I just bring a lot of things to the table just because of my knowledge of the game. I come here to produce. This is a passfirst league. I’m going to come in and try to learn from those guys (veterans) on becoming better as a pass rusher and develop my game on being a professional.” Of course, playing in his hometown is an added bonus. “Being able to play here is a fulfilled dream,” Mitchell said. “I grew up as an Oilers fan. Houston has been a big part of my life. Just being a part of something that has Houston on it is just a great experience for me and my family I really didn’t have it planned out, but it’s the best thing that happened to me.” Overall Texan G.M. Rick Smith was pleased with the results of the 2010 Draft. “Obviously, our portion of the 2010 NFL Draft is done and I feel extremely proud of our group. They (scouts and coaches) did an outstanding job of evaluating the class and I think we got a good group. I’m excited about them and our football team is better and that’s the ultimate goal of the weekend.”
Carrington. Standing 5-foot-7, Addison wants to add a little weight and strength prior to next tennis season. Yet he wants to continue his current tactical approach to the game.
MAY 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER
Photo: Houston Texans
Texans 2nd pic (58th overall), former Auburn running back, Ben Tate.
TEXAN | DRAFT PICKS RD 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7
Kareem Jackson Ben Tate Earl Mitchell Darryl Sharpton Garrett Graham Sherrick Mcmanis Shelley Smith Trindon Holliday Dorin Dickerson
“I have a serve-and-volley game and I just want to improve the quality of my shots,” he said. “I’d like nothing better than to meet my opponent at the regional meet again next year. I’m sure he’ll be back and I plan to be as well.”
COLLEGE Alabama Auburn Arizona Miami (Fla.) Wisconsin Northwestern Colorado State LSU Pittsburgh
POS Cb Rb Dt Lb Te Cb G Wr Wr
PICK 20 58 81 102 118 144 187 197 227
CLASSIFIED REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS RFQ 10-14 A&E SERVICES
ADDISON H. | HIGHLIGHTS
FOR RESTORATION OF FIRE DAMAGED HOUSE AT 1518 ANDREWS STREET, HOUSTON.TX 77019
Subject in school – English Book – “Seven seconds or less” (about 2005-06 season of Phoenix Suns) Movie – “The Blind Side” Meal – Steak with wild rice and broccoli
Activity – Video games Career – Wildlife Biologist Possible colleges – Kent State, CalBerkeley, Duke, Clemson, Texas Birth sign – Capricorn Birth date – Jan. 5, 1994
beat up by Rafer (Alston) and Mike (James) in practice every day,” Brooks recalled. “I was sent to the “D” (development) League my first year. I worked my way back up and gained a little respect in this league. This year, the opportunity presented itself and hard work paid off and I won this incredible award.” With center Yao Ming out this past season, Brooks was a consistent presence throughout the season, a fact that was not lost on Rocket owner Leslie Alexander.
“This is a great achievement that underscores the hard work and dedication Aaron has put in over the past two seasons to elevate all aspects of his game,” Alexander said. “This season, Aaron stepped up to the challenge of accepting increased responsibility as our team’s primary playmaker and scorer, and it’s great to see those efforts rewarded with this honor. Our entire organization is proud of Aaron’s accomplishment and we look forward to seeing him continue his rapid improvement as one of the NBA’s up and coming stars.”
season after finishing 4-23 a year ago. Willowridge wins District 235a boys track Led by four gold medals from sprinter/hurdler Lavon Collins, Willowridge tallied 127 points to edge secondplace Hightower by 16 points. Collins won the long jump and 300-meter hurdles along with running legs on the gold-medal winning 400- and 1,600-meter relays. Etc. Ronald Patton has been named new football coach and campus coordinator at Lamar Consolidated High School … Mark Rosenblaum was named the successor to Doug Lechtenberger as the head girls’ basketball coach at Dulles High School. Lechtenberger was 560-241 at Dulles and won the regional title five times.
The Houston Housing Authority hereby solicits qualification statements from qualified professional firms to provide architectural and engineering services for the restoration of fire damaged house located at 1518 Andrews Street as specified in RFQ No. 10-14. Interested offerors may obtain the Request for Qualifications package by contacting:
ANNA SIMOTAS PURCHASING OFFICER HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY 2640 FOUNTAINVIEW, SUITE 408 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77057 (713) 260-0554 FAX: (713) 260-0556 The Request for Qualifications will be available on the Internet at www.housingforhouston.com on April 27, 2010. The submittals must reach the Houston Housing Authority no later than 4:00 P.M. (CDT) on May 12, 2010. Submittals received after the deadline will be rejected unless the conditions allowed for late submittals exist for consideration as specified in the RFQ. A Fair Housing and Equal Employment Opportunity Agency. For assistance: Individuals with disabilities may contact the 504/ADA Administrator at 713-260-0528, TTY 713-260-0547 or 504_ADA@housingforhouston.com.
MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY will be accepting Request for Qualification for the following:
EMAIL ENCRYPTION SOFTWARE Specifications may be secured from MHMRA, Harris County, Purchasing Department located at 7011 Southwest Freeway, Suite 100 in Houston, Texas 77074 and/or via MHMRA website www.mhmraharris.org beginning Monday, May 03, 2010.The Request for Proposal (RFP) must be submitted to Purchasing Department, Room 100, 7011 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 10:00 a.m. in a sealed envelope marked "RFP - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010, 10 A.M – “EMAIL ENCRYPTION SOFTWARE”. Any questions pertaining to this RFP should be addressed in writing to Joycie Sheba, Buyer II / Sharon Brauner, Buyer III via fax (713) 970-7682 or email questions to joycie.sheba@mhmraharris.org, cc: sharon.brauner@mhmraharris.org. MHMRA reserves the rights to reject any and/or all offers it deems to be in its best interests, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
NOTICE
SpawGlass Construction Corp., General Contractor, is soliciting for subcontractor and vendor bids from qualified companies including Small Business and Minority Business Enterprises, for the construction of the New Fondren Police Station-District 17, for The City of Houston, located at 8605 Westplace Drive Houston,TX. Bids will be received until 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. The Project will attempt LEED Certification. Please direct all inquiries to Kan Phaobunjong or David Kaiser at 281-970-5300 or fax 281517-8282. Plans, specifications, bonding and insurance requirements are available for review at the SpawGlass plan room at 13800 West Road, Houston,TX and will be uploaded into ISQFT. Plans are also available for viewing at the AMTEK, ABC, AGC and FW Dodge Plan Rooms in the Houston area. SPAWGLASS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
OUR HEALTH
MAY 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER
5
A Defender & Texas Children’s Hospital Alliance
Elevate your child’s self-confidence Adults play a key role in children’s self-perceptions
C
hildren develop beliefs about themselves through their relationships with parents and other relatives, teachers and peers. Parents play a fundamental role in this process, and early efforts to build a child’s selfconfidence can pay off later in a better relationship (and more parental influence) during adolescence. Catch your child being good to promote positive behaviors • Provide specific and accurate praise to demonstrate that you appreciate and value initiative, effort or persistence. • Provide encouragement and then make it safe to learn from mistakes. • Avoid excessive praise and flattery. This raises self-doubts and sets unrealistic expectations, which might undermine your child’s coping efforts. Validate your child’s needs, feelings, ideas and interests • Tell your child that his or her needs and feelings are important. • Help your child find acceptable means to express his or her feelings and opinions. • Empathize and show interest in your child’s views and opinions. You don’t have to agree! • Express appreciation for your child’s
ideas and for the effort it took to think through a situation. • Avoid teasing or mocking what you consider to be “silly” ideas. • Attend events or join your children in activities that they enjoy. Maintain realistic expectations • Match your expectations to your child’s developmental abilities. For example, not all five-year-olds can tie their shoes. • Re-evaluate expectations if you find yourself frequently feeling “let down” or believe that your children “should” be doing things that they are not doing. Consider whether the problem is a “can’t” or a “won’t.” • When disabilities exist, avoid using language that labels the disability as unchangeable. For instance, instead of saying “You’re just not good at reading,” say something like “Sounding out those words was Hard.” Then work with your child to help build reading skills. Encourage activities that promote feelings of mastery • Give your children real responsibilities appropriate to their age and allow them to make choices. For instance, encourage your ★SELF-CONFIDENCE, Page 6
Validating children’s needs, feelings, ideas and interests can help elevate his self-confidence.
Staying safe during Parents should be summer activities aware of food allergies Though food allergies are often over- What causes food allergies? diagnosed, about five percent of children Allergic children produce antibodies have true allergic reactions to food. When against certain foods. When these dealing with food allergies, it’s important to antibodies come in contact with the food know the basics so that you can help your that causes the allergy, there is a reaction child live a healthy life. Here’s what you between the antibodies and the food. need to know. This reaction releases What are chemicals, such as histafood allergies? mines, that cause the Food allergies occur allergy symptoms. when the body’s Food allergies also are immune system rejects The following foods cause inherited. If one parent certain foods as more than 95 percent of all has allergies, each child harmful. Your child food reactions: has about a 40 percent may have a food • Peanuts (and peanut butter) chance of developing allergy if he or she has allergies. If both parents • Eggs any of the following have allergies, the • Cow’s milk products allergic symptoms chance of food allergy within two hours of • Soybeans rises to about 75 percent (and soy foreating certain foods: for each child. mula) • lips, tongue or Will my child outgrow a • Wheat mouth swelling food allergy? • diarrhea or vomiting • Fish At least half of the • hives children who develop a • Shellfish • itchy red skin (espe- • Tree nuts food allergy during the cially if a child first year of life outgrow already has eczema) Celery and peanut butter is a it by the time they are Rarely, some chil- popular snack for many chil- two or three years old. dren have a severe dren, but some kids are allergic Milk and soy allergies allergic reaction (called to peanut products. are more often outgrown an “anaphylactic reacthan others. Although tion”) that may be lifethree percent to four perthreatening. Symptoms of such a reaction cent of all babies have a cow’s milk allergy, are sudden difficulty breathing, sudden dif- less than one percent of them are allergic to ficulty swallowing, weakness from a sud- milk for the rest of their lives. Allergies to den fall in blood pressure (shock) or con- tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish often fused thinking. Never let your child try the do last a lifetime, however. food again if he or she had a severe or ana- How do I treat a food allergy? phylactic reaction to it. Avoid eating the food that causes the Children who have other allergic condi- allergy. This should keep your child free of tions, such as eczema, asthma or hay fever symptoms. If your child is breast-feeding are more likely to have food allergies than ★FOOD ALLERGIES, Page 6 children who do not have other allergies.
Most common food allergies in children
To keep them safe, make sure your children use playground equipment that is age and size appropriate. With the end of the school year approaching, parents are beginning to make summer plans. Families will soon be heading outside to enjoy summer activities. Texas Children’s Hospital offers some important tips on keeping families safe wherever they go this summer. Sun safety The first and best line of defense against the sun is covering up. • Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward. • Use sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV rays. • Wear cotton clothing with a light weave. • Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater whenever your child is in the sun. • Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside. • Re-apply sunscreen every two to three hours and after your child has been sweating or swimming.
About Texas Children’s Hospital Texas Children’s Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. For more information on Texas Children’s Hospital, visit www.texaschildrens.org.
• Apply waterproof sunscreen if your child will be around water or will go swimming. Waterproof sunscreens may last up to 80 minutes in the water. Re-apply when your child comes out of the water. • You should avoid sun exposure during peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Playground safety • Playground equipment is usually separated for younger and older children. Keep your child on the equipment that is right for his or her age and height. • Make sure equipment is dry. Wet surfaces can make your child slip and fall. • Have your child wear shoes on the playground and make sure they are tied. • Don’t let children play barefoot on the playground. They could get a splinter or a cut. • Only one person should be on the slide at one time.
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OUR HEALTH
Be prepared for the 2010 hurricane season
Food Allergies
Hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Do you and your family know what to do in case of a hurricane? Before hurricane season, make sure you have all the supplies on hand that you’ll need in an emergency. Prepare your disaster supply kit and check your stock of non-perishable food, drinking water, batteries, diapers and formula for babies, and pet food. If you are asked to evacuate, plan where you will go and how you will get there. Evacuation route maps are available online. Make sure to fill up your vehicle with gas before you evacuate. You may be on the road for hours, and gas may not be available along evacuation routes. If you are not told to evacuate, secure your home by closing and boarding windows. Tape is not enough to protect your windows in strong winds. Secure outdoor objects that may be blown away or uprooted. During the storm, stay in an interior room on the lowest floor. After the storm, do not drive unless it is absolutely necessary. Stay away from riverbanks, bayous, streams, flooded roads and washed-out bridges. Do not allow children to play in floodwaters. Poisonous snakes, fire ants and other animals may have been swept into the water. Water also may be contaminated with raw sewage.
Disaster supply kit • Portable battery-powered radio or TV • Flashlights • Batteries • First-aid kit • Credit cards and cash • Personal identification • Drinking water • Three-day supply of canned food • Manual can opener • Personal hygiene items
• Prescription medications and other special needs, like formula and diapers • Pet supplies and identification • Important papers Store a week’s supply of non-perishable food at home. Keep at least a gallon of water per person per day for three days on hand. Also, fill bathtubs and sinks with water to use to wash and flush toilets.
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and is allergic to a food that you are eating, do not eat this food until your child stops breast-feeding. Consider avoiding other foods in the same food group. Some children are allergic to two or more foods. This happens most often to children who are allergic to ragweed pollen. These children often react to watermelon, cantaloupe, muskmelon, honeydew melon and other foods in the gourd family. Children allergic to peanuts may react to soybeans, peas or other beans. Join the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. This national organization can help with any food allergy questions you might have. Provide a substitute for any vitamins or minerals your child is not consuming due to allergies. Eliminating single foods from the diet usually does not cause any nutrition problems. If you eliminate a major food group, however, you will need to make sure your child gets all the nutrients he or she needs from other sources. For example, if you eliminate dairy products, your child will need to get calcium and vitamin D from other foods or supplements. Talk to your health care provider or a nutritionist about dietary supplements like vitamins. Visit your health care provider. If you suspect your child may have a food allergy, your pediatrician can help diagnose the allergy with a skin prick test or blood test. Call 911 immediately if your child develops serious symptoms including wheezing, croupy cough, trouble breathing, lightheadedness or tightness in the chest or throat.
MAY 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER
Test taking tips As the school year comes to a close, many students are preparing to take final exams. If your child sweats, chews pencils and feels butterflies in his stomach as the teacher hands out a test, he’s not alone! A lot of people (adults included) get nervous when it’s time to take a test. It’s natural to feel some stress about taking tests. In fact, sometimes a little adrenaline (a hormone made by the body during times of excitement or stress) is a good thing to jump-start you. Here are some tips to share with your student when it comes to taking tests: • First, be sure you’ve studied well. If you’ve studied for the test, you’ll have less reason to be worried. • Get enough sleep the night before the test. Your memory recall will be much better if you’ve had enough rest. • Listen closely to any instructions. As the teacher hands out the test, be sure you know what’s expected of you. • Read the test first. Once you have the test paper in front of you, read over the entire test. This will allow you to guess how much time you have for each section and ask the teacher any questions. If something seems unclear before you start, don’t panic – ask. • Focus on answering each question individually. As you take the test, if you don’t know an answer, don’t obsess over it. Instead, answer the best way you can or skip over the question and come back to it after you’ve answered other questions. • Relax. If you’re so nervous that you blank out, you might need a mini-break. Of course you can’t get up and move around the middle of a test, but you can wiggle your fingers and toes, take four or five deep breaths or picture yourself on a beach or some other calm place. • Finished already? Although most teachers will let you hand in a test early, it’s usually a good idea to spend extra time checking over your work. These tips should help your child but if test anxiety persists, talk to a parent, teacher or counselor.
Self-confidence continued from page 5
four-year-old to participate in decision-making about dressing herself by giving her the choice of two or three outfits (rather than directing her to choose from the whole closet). • View challenges as opportunities for your children to develop their problem-solving and decision-making skills. Be available to coach, but allow children to work out their own solutions.
Source: www.kidshealth.org
• Avoid being overprotective as this undermines your child’s confidence and keeps him or her from learning problem-solving and decision-making skills. • Demonstrate faith in your child’s abilities, including the ability to handle disappointments. For example, say something like, “Uggg! That didn’t work out like you expected. What are you going to do?” Then listen well and be encouraging. • Expect positive outcomes while also sending the message that it is okay to try something and fail. When necessary, help your child cope with defeat by providing unconditional love and support.
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MAY 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER
EEOC finds racism at Turner Industries Texas plant SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS
(NNPA) - African-American employees at a Turner Industries plant in Paris, Texas were the subject of racial discrimination and were targeted by management if they complained, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has confirmed. According to an April 14 EEOC letter, Black employees at the plant “were subjected to unwelcome racial slurs, comments and intimidation, racial graffiti, nooses in the workplace and other symbols of discrimination.” The EEOC
Whitewash
continued from page 1 gles and sacrifices of participants in the Civil Rights Movement; affirmative action and the Great Society were filled with failed and faulty policies and results; and the Confederacy is something to be celebrated and its heroes canonized. In addition, the changes call for limited instruction on founding father Thomas Jefferson, due to his belief in the separation of church and state, the omission of many important African American and Latino leaders in Texas history, and even the belittling of the impact of former President and Texas native Lyndon Baines Johnson. Another Texas native, the late historian and university professor, Dr. Asa Hilliard, led a lifelong effort to infuse African and African-American content into school curriculums nationally, enduring vicious battles just to allow our story to be potentially part of the national conversation. Incredibly, the battle now is merely to keep the woefully inadequate mentions of African-American, Latino and female contributions to society from being removed. Heading this fight is president of the Texas NAACP, attorney Gary Bledsoe. Bledsoe, who has a lengthy track record of service with the NAACP, views the Board’s proposed changes as putting a smiling face on slavery, Jim Crow, ethnocentrism and racism, by destroying critical knowledge of the past. “It appears that there is a desire to not have an honest discussion of America and its history of race,” said Bledsoe, “A desire not to address the issue of slavery directly and to portray African-Americans as
VOLUME 79 • NUMBER 27 MAY 2 – 8, 2010 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Editor Von Jiles Associate Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Cale Carter Columnist Yvette Chargois Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Webmaster Corneleon Block The Houston Defender Newspaper published by The Houston Defender Inc. Company (713) 663-6996. The Defender audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscriptions, send $60.00 — 1 year, to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All materials covered by 2009 copyright... (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
also said Blacks weren’t given equal employment and advancement and that those who complained about their treatment were subject to reprisals. “I’ve been called colored boy, coon, monkey,” Dontrail Mathis, 33, a painter’s helper, told the Dallas Morning News. “When Obama won, they went off. My superiors said, ‘If he ain’t white, it ain’t right. I saw nooses, swastikas on the wall. It was horrible.” Turner Industries, an industrial construction and maintenance company based in Baton Rouge, La., has issued statements to both employees and clients.
an afterthought.” At the Board’s March 10-12 meetings Bledsoe, along with NAACP representatives from across the state, provided testimony calling for the Board’s conservative faction to leave political machinations out of textbook and curriculum changes. The seven members of this conservative bloc are routinely joined by one of the other three Board Republicans on certain votes. The March vote to sanction the proposed changes fell along party lines, with 10 for and five against votes. “The five African American and Latino members of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) have done a tremendous job in trying to prevent this. However, there are seven members of the Board who seem intent to follow through with this come hell or high water, and the conservative movement is such that the three other Board members are threatened with political reprisals if they do the right thing,” shared Bledsoe. The Board, whose members are elected, has influence beyond the state because Texas is one of the largest customers for textbooks in the nation. Curriculum standards are reviewed every decade and lay the content foundation for textbook publishers because they must come before the board with drafts of their books. If textbook publishers want to sell their product to one of their largest customers, the books must contain Board approved information, regardless of that information’s historical accuracy. As was reported by a recent New York Times article entitled, “Texas Conservatives Win Curriculum Change,” no historians, sociologists or economists were consulted at the Board’s March meetings, where numerous changes were made in the TEA-approved curriculum that called into question such things as the separation of church and state, the secular nature of the
In his letter to employees, chairman and CEO Roland Toups said, “As you may be aware, the EEOC has issued a statement that certain employees in our Paris, Texas fabrication plant were harassed or were victims of retaliation. I want you to understand that we strongly disagree with the EEOC’s findings, and we are defending our employment practices at that facility, as well as any job site that may be mentioned.” Toups also wrote, “Because of the personal and professional relationships we have forged with you, we are concerned that you might be misguided by any negative inferences or portrayals in the media ... We are committed to pro-
This outright denial of historic fact is a tactic that has been used against people of color, women and the poor to continue their disenfranchisement. The danger we face is that if we don’t learn our history, we are doomed to repeat it.” — LaChanda Jenkins
American Revolution, and the relevance of Civil Rights Movement participants. Amendments to the curriculum proposed by the Board’s minority members such as Mavis B. Knight, a Democrat from Dallas, and Latina Mary Helen Berlanga have been routinely defeated by party-line votes, leaving Knight to charge the Board’s conservative members with perverting accurate history to promote their own agenda. Berlanga’s failed attempts to increase the number of Latino role models in the state curriculum Latino led her, according to the New York Times, to storm out of the Board’s March 12 meeting, saying, “They can just pretend this is a white America and Hispanics don’t exist. They are rewriting history, not only of Texas but of the United States and the world.” Bledsoe and others contend that as the nation’s oldest and largest Civil Rights group, the NAACP has earned a place in the public school conversation and curriculum on social studies and history. A March 10 letter to the Board signed by Bledsoe and other state NAACP members as well as representatives of LULAC, the National Alliance For Education, and the American G.I. Forum, NAFE, urged the Board to adopt curriculum standards that present
Rape
continued from page 1 Trenton and surrounding areas to march out of the church and into the neighborhood where the alleged rape occurred. “I think it’s a good beginning,” Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer told reporters as he and hip hop legend and businessman Russell Simmons marched alongside the men—which included a contingent of the Nation of Islam’s Fruit of Islam. Thrilled residents watched and waved from their homes. “The proof will be if we can get more men together in this and other sustaining activities,” said the mayor, regarding follow up efforts. The mayor was initially reluctant to come to the rally but changed his mind when the Peace Keepers got involved. “I’m sick and tired of marches and didn’t want to participate in another one. I prayed on it this week. I believe that this time it will be different. The whole world is watching. I’ve gotten calls from all over the world from people saying ‘how can I help,’” said Mayor Palmer, when he spoke at the rally. “Folks, I believe it will be different because people are working together. The blame game is over. We’re going to work together. I’ve been in
a historically accurate and complete account of the struggle for civil rights in our nation’s history while avoiding a curriculum “polluted by political efforts to whitewash American civil rights history and downplay the determined efforts of various ethnic groups to achieve basic liberties.” The letter went on to say, “It would be an insult to those Americans who sacrificed so much – in some cases, their lives – for the cause of civil rights to present this skewed view of history in our public school classrooms. Doing so would also be a terrible disservice to the next generation of Texas students of all races and ethnicities.” Board-proposed omissions from the curriculum that are of particular concern to Bledsoe are those of the legendary Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall and the advocacy groups the NAACP and LULAC. “At one point in our history, African-Americans could not vote in the Democratic Party primary. Thurgood Marshall caused that to change. At one point African Americans could not attend the University of Texas. Thurgood Marshall changed that. And it was the decision in Brown II, also a Marshall case, that led to the desegregation of undergraduate education at UT and Texas
constant contact with this family on a daily basis. This is a family crisis. They are going through hell. Pray for this seven-year-old. She’s a baby.” It was a rally reminiscent of a summer church revival full of spirit, rousing songs from a choir and speakers that had the crowd stomping and standing on their feet. New York radio legend Bob Law said, “We can’t deny the conditions that contribute to the violence in our communities but how can the government declare a war on violence and they don’t declare war against the conditions of poverty that produce the violence?” he asked. Connie Watson, wife of community activist, rally organizer and mayoral candidate Shahid Watson, said it was important to teach women and girls how to dress themselves and respect themselves. “We have to march our children out of the foolishness they’re into today,” she said. According to police, a 15-year-old girl took her 7-year-old stepsister to a party and had sex with men for money. For more money she allowed the men to touch her sister. That touching led to gang rape, police said. The Rowan Towers high-rise community just blocks from the church is all too familiar with crime and violence
viding you with as much information as you require that will assist you in sorting through the information being disseminated.” The NAACP has also been involved in the case. Kenneth Rogers, senior pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church in Paris, Texas and spokesman for the local chapter of the NAACP said greater racial diversity among Turner management would help. “Turner is a big fish in a small pond,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “We want jobs here in Paris but we want it to be a favorable place to work.”
A&M. And when the state sought to shut down the NAACP in Texas, in stepped Marshall. So you can see he had a great impact on our state as have the NAACP in general and LULAC,” stated Bledsoe. Yannis Banks, legislative liaison of the Texas NAACP vehemently disagrees with the Board’s assertion that gains made during the Civil Rights Movement were gifts bestowed by a generous majority population rather than incremental progress earned by struggle and sacrifice. “If those rights were just granted, then the events on March 7, 1965, known as Bloody Sunday would not have happened,” stated Banks. “If those rights were just granted Thurgood Marshall would not have had to argue before the Supreme Court that ‘Separate but Equal’ was a violation of the 14th Amendment. If those rights were just granted, NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Evers would not have been assassinated because he was trying to desegregate schools. If those rights were just granted, Montgomery, AL NAACP Secretary Rosa Parks would never have been arrested and the Montgomery Bus Boycott would have never been necessary just for African Americans to ride the bus. If those rights were just granted there wouldn’t have been such strong opposition in Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” LaChanda Jenkins, Director of Special Events at Texas Southern University and Howard University graduate, believes the Board’s actions follow an historical trend. “This move by the Board to distort history and relegate the contributions of people of color and women to the background is just more of the same,” said Jenkins. “It is what we have historically experienced when it comes to our contributions to history. This outright denial of historic fact is a tactic that has been used
associated with inner city life—but the alleged gang rape, which took place in a vacant apartment, has motivated residents to demand change. The rally and demand for action was “way overdue for this community. The Peace Keepers give order and structure to our community. Their coming out of New York was very uplifting and inspiring. It gives us hope that if it can happen in New York it can happen here. We are happy to have them,” said Rev. Melvin Brown, president of the Trenton Youth Crusade. Organizers say the Peace Keepers have had success records in New Orleans, New York, Houston and Wilmington, Del. Mr. Simmons was instrumental in bringing the group to Queens, New York. “We sit back sometimes and allow just a few bad eggs in our community to scare us off our own corners,” Mr. Simmons said. He told the audience some of his history. “I stood on the corner. I sold drugs. But I went back and saw what it felt like when we launched our Queens Peace Keepers movement. “We must show that we love our community. The eyes of the world are on Trenton and how this movement progresses. We can inspire other communities around the world,” he said. “Trenton’s going to make a huge state-
against people of color, women and the poor to continue their disenfranchisement. The danger we face is that if we don’t learn our history, we are doomed to repeat it.” This historic tactic stands to damage new, young minds according to Alicia HawkinsBalark, a teacher at HISD’s Codwell Elementary. “Children today really do not understand their history as it is. Many don’t know what a slave is, and simply don’t grasp the importance of a free education or understand where we came from,” said Hawkins-Balark. “They have no clue about the Civil Rights Movement; no clue that years ago it was illegal for Blacks to read.” Hawkins-Balark believes the Board’s proposed changes will make a bad situation worse. “If you never heard about the struggle, you will have no consciousness about the effort it takes for you to get what you want in life, and the sacrifices and hard work required. And just as bad, they won’t feel like they have to make any contributions back to the community. And as the parents get younger they know less and less about our history. Taking our contributions out of the textbooks is truly a scary proposition.” In order to pass an amendment in May eight votes are required. Bledsoe and the NAACP are asking that concerned citizens take action by writing and faxing the Board of their disapproval of the proposed curriculum changes, participating in a rally and forum scheduled for May 19 in Austin, the same day the Board begins its public hearing, or by attending the public hearings. “It would be both a travesty and an abdication of duty for the State Board of Education to recommend textbooks that do not allow students to receive a balanced and fair portrait of the historical contributions of the people and events that have helped to shape this country,” said Banks.
ment. It’s a shame we had such a terrible event to bring us together.” The Peace Keepers come into communities with a rally, recruitment, training and then a street corner Hour of Power, which started last February in New Orleans. “A four year old had just been murdered by his dad because he didn’t want to pay child support,” said Willie Muhammad, who runs the program in New Orleans. “That crime motivated us to do something. We brought the Peace Keepers and began patrolling. Things have changed since then.” “We started with one Hour of Power but our goal is to keep increasing it. We offer more than just neighborhood patrols. We connect residents to GED programs and let them know about jobs. The program is beneficial to the residents but it also helps the men who walk. They have a better sense about the neighborhood.” Rowan Towers housing management, Interstate Realty, met with residents April 7 and promised greater security. The alleged gang rape, which police say involved some seven men and boys, was reported on March 28. Four minors, including the seven-yearold’s step sister, and two adults had been charged in the case at Final Call presstime.
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NUTTIN’ BUT STRINGZ……..Twotime Emmy award winning urban rock violinist, Tourie and Damien Escobar are the creative geniuses behind the innovative group Nuttin’ But Stringz. Having studied at the acclaimed Julliard School in New York City, they learned to transcend their classical training to incorporate pop, rock and hip-hop, creating their own unique sound. This dynamic duo truly dazzled the crowd as they entertained a packed house during the 2010 Power to End Stroke, Power of Legacy Soiree held at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. In 2006, the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, launched Power to End Stroke to empower individuals through education and awareness of their risk of stroke and the choice they have in preventing this devastating disease. Merele Yarborough served as the event chair and Aetna, Grammy award-winning gospel artist, Kirk Franklin and Judy and Wayne McConnell were honored because of their continued support through the years. Deborah Duncan, KHOU Channel 11, Great Day Houston served as emcee. Spotted at the event were Aabba Brown, Wanda and Ralph Holmes, Audrey and Wardell Gilbreath, Connie and Jonathan Gregory, Carole Pinkett, Lillian Lockett, Barbara Seymour, Anita and Gerald Smith, Kelly Hodges, Chandra Brooks, Larry Payne and Valarie Jackson. Great Event!..........REMEMBERING OUR PAST & STYLING OUR FUTURE…….That’s the theme chosen for the 29th Annual Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show hosted by the Ivy Educational and Charitable Foundation of Houston, Inc. The organization continues to provide financial assistance for deserving high school seniors and college students as well as distribute funds for charitable, educational and scientific projects. Over 1,000 stylishly dressed ladies attended this event. Oh, there were some well-dressed men there also. The 2010 honorees included Dr. Larraine E. Breckenridge-Sterling, Lois Bullock, Tracy Carmen-Jones, Delores Hadnott, William J. Hill, Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Annella Metoyer, Rep. Boris Miles and Brenda Peters-Chase. We salute Regina Carrington, Chapter President, Honorary Chairmen Congressman Al Green, Gene and Dr. Jacqueline Horton-Cobbin and Bill White and the event’s General Chairs, Joyce Warner and Tracy Warner. Continued Success!.......... BLACKS IN ENERGY……. The American Association of Blacks in Energy-Houston Chapter and the National Society of Black Engineers partnered again to recognize the hard work and pursuit of excellence of Houston area youth by awarding several students with scholarships. This year’s recipients included Luz Rocha, Eboni Axel, Jessica Rhone, David Carmichael, Clifton Boudreaux, Dannie Perkins, Jr., Michelle Robinson Living, Thierry Espassa and Chelle Leonard. These students are also eligible to compete for additional regional and national scholarships. The success of this program can be attributed to Terry Stinger, President of AABEHouston Chapter, Rejanah Steward, Scholarship Chair, Nicole Sherrod, Stephanie Sigers, Erica Freeman, Andrea Thomas and Dr. Ahmad Shaheed. Carla Powers Herron, Group Litigation with Shell Oil Company was the keynote speaker and Senator Rodney Ellis served at the Honorary Chairman. Congratulations!........CONDOLENCES ……..Our prayers are with the family of Oscar Rauls who recently celebrated his homegoing. Think of it this way, Mr. Rauls has a new position, he’s now your guardian angel appointed by God to look after you. God saw the road was getting rough, the hills were hard to climb, so He gently closed his loving eyes and whispered, “Peace Be Thines.” God Bless!........ Have a great week and remember to watch CROSSROADS on Channel 13 Sunday morning with Melanie Lawson for your event covered by Ms. Chag. Also check out our website at defendernetwork.com to view the “Event of the Week.”…..From Chag’s Place to your place, Ciao Darling!
MAY 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER
Barbara Seymour and Ralph and Wanda Holmes
Valarie Jackson and Larry Payne
Merele Yarborough, Aabba Brown, and Wayne and Judy McConnell
Violinist Damien and Tourie Escobar
Shannon McGilbra and Shawn Crutcher
Carole Pinkett and Lillian Lockett
Wardell and Audrey Gilbreath
Honorees Brenda Peters-Chase, Tracy Carmen-Jones, William Hill and Dr. Lorraine Bredkenridge-Sterling
Honorary Chairmen Congressman Al Green and Bill White
Ahmad Shaheed, Carla Powers Herron and Paschal Eleanya
Honorees Lois Bullock and Dr. Rhea Brown-Lawson
Honorary Chairs Dr. Jacqueline Cobbin and Gene Cobbin
Judge Hilary Green, Staci Fullmighter and Regina Carrington
David Carmichael, Jessica Rhone and Clifton Boudreaux
Honorees Annella Metoyer and Delores Hadnott
Andrea Thomas and Terry Stinger
Luz Rocha, Danny Perkins, Jr. and Eboni Axel
James Harrison, Rejanah Steward, Nichole Sherrod and Omar Higgs