Houston Defender: June 06, 2013

HS ZONE GIRLS’ STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT CELEBRATES 20 YEARS P13

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NEWS TALK REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE hopeful about NFISD

P2 OPINION OPINION

GEORGE CURRY looks at Watergate comparison

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Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

Volume 82 | Number 32

JUNE 6, 2013 |FREE

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Single moms increasing H Page 8

SPORTS PRAIRIE VIEW A&M receives SWAC honors

P12 CHAG’S PLACE

Rochelle Aytes stars in series

Actress Rochelle Aytes has established herself as a rising star in Hollywood, and can be seen in a new prime-time soap opera. Read about the provocative drama and its scandalous characters. Learn about Aytes’ previous roles. Discover her guilty pleasures and heartfelt wishes.

Yolanda Adams launches her bath & beauty line

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Dr. John Rudley chairs council Texas Southern University President Dr. John M. Rudley has a new role as chair of the SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors. What are his priorities for student-athletes? Where does he feel improvement is needed? What can be done to further the mission of the conference’s HBCUs?

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DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2013

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North Forest awaits court decision

By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

After winning a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt its merger with HISD, the North Forest ISD is waiting for the results of a June 13 hearing in Austin.

NFISD hopes a preliminary injunction will be issued at the hearing to further stop the merger, scheduled to take effect on July 1.

NFISD filed a petition in district court against Michael Williams, TEA commissioner, and Lizzette Gonzales Reynolds, TEA chief deputy administrator. The TRO was ordered by Judge Jon Wisser.

“There have been illegal actions by the commissioner and his appointees throughout this process,” said NFISD attorney Chris Tritico. “The law does not permit the government to manipulate the law to accomplish its own ends.

Today is a major step in ensuring

the continuation of the North Forest School District.”

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee also applauded the TRO. “The order issued by the district court makes it clear that there is enough evidence to halt the actions of the Texas Education

Agency and prevent it from further damaging a progressing school district and to allow them due process through our judicial system,” Jackson Lee said.

“We cannot allow school districts with similar situations to receive disparate treatment from TEA.” Lee added that, “Because Texas is a covered jurisdiction, Section

5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act requires that TEA’s attempt to dissolve [NFISD] must be approved in advance or ‘pre-cleared’ by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“TEA requested pre-clearance without ever submitting a plan for review. It was apparent to the state of Texas that a plan needed to be submitted before it requested preclearance to merge NFISD. Its failure to produce a plan shows total disregard for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as reauthorized,” she said.

TEA, however, believes the NFISD/HISD merger will proceed as planned.

“TROs are routinely granted,” the agency said in a statement. “We are absolutely confident that we will prevail in this matter. North Forest students are going to be served, and will be better served,

by Houston ISD next year.”

In the meantime, HISD is proceeding with annexation plans.

“The Houston Independent School District is not a party to the

Empowerment Expo held Defender News Services

Texas Children’s Health Plan recently held an Empowerment Expo at the Kashmere Multi-Service Center.

The Expo connected area residents with various organizations, including the Houston Food Bank, SNAP Mobile Clinic, the Forgotten Dogs of the 5th Ward, Houston Public Library and YMCA. Expo participants received instruction on pet safety and handling, employment counseling and health screenings, and free produce. Other sponsors included the Department of Health and Human Services and the Houston Dog Ranch.

Texas Children’s Health Plan was founded in 1996

by Texas Children’s Hospital and is the nation’s first health maintenance organization (HMO) created just for children. It offers a primary-care network, specialists and a large hospital network.

For more information visit texaschildrenshealthplan.org.

Tonya Chretien and Evelyn Cannon receive a grocery tote from Texas Children’s Health Plan employee Monica Martinez at the recent Empowerment Expo.

Continued on Page 5

localbriefs HOUSTONIANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO attend hearings on redistricting maps which are the focus of the current legislative special session.

The House Select Committee on Redistricting will hold a field hearing on Wednesday, June 12, at 2 p.m. in Michael J. Cemo Hall at the University of Houston main campus. “This is such an important issue and it is paramount to the legislature to gain the input of the public on an issue that affects their voice when they vote,” said State Rep. Senfronia Thompson. Public testimony at the hearing will be limited to five minutes. The Senate Select Committee on Redistricting will hold a hearing

.. on June 12 at 9 a.m. in Senate Finance Committee Room E1.036 at the Capitol Building in Austin.

“It’s important to let the Texas leadership and the attorney general know we are watching them and will continue to fight for the protection of voting rights,” said State Sen. Sylvia Garcia……..

STATE REP. SYLVESTER TURNER has been named the Most Valuable Player in the Texas House by the non-partisan website Capitol Inside.

The website said Turner “arguably emerged as the regular session’s true superstar on the wings of an extraordinary performance.” It added that, “By the time the curtain fell on the regular session, nothing

of major significance had passed without Turner’s personal approval. Very few Texas lawmakers have ever had that kind of impact when they were members of the majority party. The prospects for a member of the minority party wielding that level of clout had simply been unfathomable.”

Turner has represented District 139 since 1988........METRO’S NEW ROUTE 348 shuttle is a welcome addition for food bank clients and Houston Community College students. The shuttle connects 11 routes from the Fifth Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center to the Houston Food Bank and HCC Northeast Campus.

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national

U.S.briefs GEORGE ZIMMERMAN’S attorneys said they raised more than $34,000 in 48 hours after announcing their defense funds were running low. That figure is 26 percent of the $120,000 they originally requested. Jury selection for Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial is scheduled to begin June 10. He is accused of killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012, and insists he shot the teen in self-defense. According to his defense team’s website, some donors said they weren’t sure of Zimmerman’s guilt or innocence but they felt he had the right to a fair trial……..ALLEN WEST, the former Florida Republican congressman, said options such as impeachment should be on the table for President Barack Obama in the wake of recent scandals involving the White House. West said he agrees with Republican Congressman Trey Radel, who raised the impeachment issue earlier. West cited the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, as a reason for impeachment. “We did something that is the most heinous thing that could ever happen, we abandoned Americans while they were under attack,” West said…….. MICHAEL STEELE, another Black Republican, is considering running for governor of Maryland. Steele, former Republican National Committee chairman, said, “I love my state. I think the potential in Maryland is huge.” Steele is now a political analyst with MSNBC…….. THE NAACP IS APPLAUDING the restoration of voting rights in Virginia for people with non-violent felony convictions. Gov. Bob McDonnell announced that he would automatically grant voting rights, on an individualized basis, to those with non-violent felony offenses upon completion of all the terms of their sentence. “As Americans we believe in second chances and we believe in the right to vote,” said Benjamin Todd Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP. “We commend Governor McDonnell for his courageous leadership to restore the right to vote for hundreds of thousands of Virginians.”

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Majority of Blacks satisfied with lives Defender News Services Most African-Americans are satisfied with their lives overall, but many also have concerns about the future, according to a new poll released from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health.

Over half of African-Americans report that their lives in general have gotten better in recent years (53 percent), while only one in 10 (10 percent) say that their lives have gotten worse.

A strong majority (86 percent) say they are satisfied with

their lives overall, including just under half (48 percent) who say they are very satisfied.

Results also offer a mixed picture of African-Americans’ personal lives and their communities, particularly related to discrimination, health care, financial security and crime.

Nearly half of employed African-Americans are very or somewhat concerned about losing their jobs in the next 12 months, almost half are not confident that they could pay for a major illness and about one-third of all African Americans have had specific experiences with racism at least a few times a year.

Continued on Page 4

Blacks arrested for marijuana more often VOLUME 82 • NUMBER 32 - JUNE 6, 2013 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Advertising/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alliance Manager Clyde Jiles Multimedia Manager Tiffany Williams Online Editor ReShonda Billingsley

Print Editor Marilyn Marshall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila People Editor Yvette Chargois Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing Writer Aswad Walker

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2013 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

Defender News Services Black people are 3.7 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people despite comparable usage rates, according to a report released by the American Civil Liberties Union.

“The War on Marijuana in Black and White: Billions of Dollars Wasted on Racially Biased Arrests” examines nationwide state and county marijuana arrest data by race.

“The war on marijuana has disproportionately been a war on people of color,” said Ezekiel Edwards, director of the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project and one of the report authors.

“State and local governments have aggressively enforced marijuana laws selectively against Black people and

communities, needlessly ensnaring hundreds of thousands of people in the criminal justice system at tremendous human and financial cost.”

The findings show that while there were pronounced racial disparities in marijuana arrests 10 years ago, they have grown significantly worse.

Despite the fact that a majority of Americans now support marijuana legalization, states spent an estimated $3.61 billion enforcing possession laws in 2010 alone.

The ACLU calls for states to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana, which it says would eliminate the unfair selective enforcement of marijuana laws.

If legalization is not possible, the ACLU recommends either depenalizing marijuana or deprioritizing police and prosecutorial enforcement of possession laws.

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DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2013

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Majority....Continued from page 3 The poll findings provided the foundation for the NPR series “The View from Black America,” exploring how AfricanAmericans see themselves in a changing U.S. The poll surveyed the life experiences of 1,081 African-Americans. Among the findings: • Over half (56 percent) report that financially they are better off than their parents were at their age, but one in seven (14 percent) say they are worse off than their parents were.

• High blood pressure/stroke and diabetes are the top health concerns for African-American families. When asked to say in their own words what is the biggest health problem for their family, one in five African-Americans cite high blood pressure/stroke (20 percent) and diabetes (19 percent).

• While the problems in African-American communities may dominate the national discussion, the majority (82 percent) are satisfied with the area in which they live.

• When asked to say in their own words what is the most important issue facing the area in which they live, about one in four African-Americans (26 percent) name crime. Issues related to the economy are mentioned by 16 percent.

• When asked to grade aspects of the area in which they live, less than half give top grades (A or B) to city or local government (47 percent), the quality of available housing (47 percent), or entertainment venues like clubs and movie theaters (39 percent), • Though nationally, school quality in many minority communities is often seen as a problem, a majority of African-American parents rate the school their child attends today as excellent or good (70 percent).

• Altogether, about one-third (36 percent) of all AfricanAmericans report that at least a few times a year they have specific experiences with racism.

High blood pressure is one of the main health concerns for African-Americans.

T:9.75”

We Invite You to Attend:

Location: 611 East 6th Street | Austin, Texas The TLC HUB Forum is FREE of Charge!

Register on-line on or before 6/14/13 at: www.txlottery.org/hub For more information contact: Joyce Bertolacini, HUB Coordinator (512) 344-5293 or joyce.bertolacini@lottery.state.tx.us

© 2013 Texas Lottery Commission. All Rights Reserved.

The forum will provide information about the TLC’s HUB program, procurement processes, and Mentor Protégé initiatives. It will also feature roundtable networking sessions with key Lottery Commission staff and prime contractor representatives. Roundtable assignments will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis on the day of the forum.

T:6.5”

The Texas Lottery Commission’s Annual Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Forum Tuesday, June 25, 2013 | 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm

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Deadly fire remains under investigation Defender News Services

Local, state and federal authorities are investigating the cause of the five-alarm blaze that killed four Houston firefighters and injured 13 on May 31 at the Southwest Inn. The fire was the single worst loss of life experienced by the Houston Fire Department in its 118-year history. A public memorial service for the four victims was

North Forest....

Continued from page 2 litigation involving the North Forest ISD and the Texas Education Agency,” the district said in a statement. “HISD will continue to plan and prepare to implement Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams’ order to annex North Forest effective July 1, unless that decision is reversed by a court of law.”

In addition to the TRO delaying the merger, the U.S. Department of Justice put the annexation on hold pending its review of the matter. The department said it would not rule on NFISD’s closure or annexation until TEA’s or HISD’s plan regarding future changes related to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are presented.

MegaFest returning Defender News Services

More than 50,000 attendees from some 40 countries are expected to descend upon Dallas for MegaFest, hosted

by Bishop T.D. Jakes, from Aug. 29-31.

The three-day festival is making its return to the United States for the first time since 2006 and will be held at the Dallas Convention Center, American Airlines Center and other venues throughout the city.

The event combines four of Jakes’ most popular conferences: ManPower, Woman Thou Art Loosed, MegaYouth and MegaKidz.

Joel and Victoria Osteen will headline the event along with Jakes. Other guests include Bishop I. V. Hilliard and Dr. Marvin Sapp.

“Whether you come on your own or with family and friends, one thing is for sure: people attending MegaFest will find joy, fun, great music, encouraging community and powerful messages of inspiration, hope and purpose,” Jakes said.

For information visit mega-fest. com.

held at Reliant Stadium.

“They were risking their lives to save our community,” said Houston Fire Chief Terry Garrison.

Ed Arthur, deputy chief of HFD’s Arson Division, said while it is too early to determine a specific cause of the blaze, investigators are focusing their attention on the area above the kitchen in the motel’s restaurant. He said investigators also

detected the presence of heavy fire in the structure’s attic.

Killed in the fire were Capt. Matthew Renaud, 35, who had been with HFD since 2001; Engineer Operator Robert Bebee, 41, who also joined the department in 2001; Firefighter Robert Garner, 29, who joined the department in 2010, and Anne Sullivan, 24, a probationary firefighter who graduated from the HFD Academy in April.

Renaud and Bebee were with Station 51, and Garner and Sullivan were with Station 68.

HFD is working closely with the 100 Club for those would like to make donations to the victims’ families. The organization supports the dependents of firefighters and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Visit the100club.org for more information.

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DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2013

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entertainment

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Rochelle Aytes

excited about new series

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By KAM WILLIAMS Special to the Defender

orn in New York in 1976, Rochelle Aytes is quickly establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s rising stars. She is now starring on “Mistresses,” ABC’s new, nighttime soap

opera.

The provocative drama that finds four women with scandalous romantic lives caught in storms of excitement and selfdiscovery, secrecy and betrayal.

Rochelle plays the lead role of April, a young widow and mother running a high-end linen shop. She was previously seen as a series regular on a shortlived but funny sitcom for ABC titled “Work.” And she starred opposite Christian Slater on ABC’s “The Forgotten.”

She enjoyed a recurring role on the hit series “Desperate Housewives.” In addition, she has shot guest leads on such TV shows as “White Collar,” “CSI: NY” and on “House of Payne” as Allen Payne’s love interest.

Rochelle made her big screen debut in the summer of 2004 playing the love interest of Shawn Wayans in the comedy

“White Chicks.” More recently, she starred in a lead role in “Madea’s Family Reunion.”

Here, she discusses her career and other aspects of her life.

KW: Congratulations on landing a lead role on your own series.

RA: Thank you. I am so excited for it to finally air.

KW: How would you describe “Mistresses” in 25 words or less?

RA: “Mistresses” is about the lives of four women, each going through different versions of infidelity. Their longtime friendship is what gets them through extremely challenging times.

KW: Did you watch episodes of the British version in preparation for the role?

RA: I have actually never seen the British version.

KW: What makes your character, April Malloy, tick?

Rochelle Aytes hopes audiences will be thoroughly entertained by ABC’s “Mistresses.”

RA: April is the more down-to-earth, motherly one of the girls. She gets so worked up over prank phone calls and starts to believe that it is the ghost of her dead husband.

KW: What message do you want the audience to take away from the series?

RA: I hope that the audience is thoroughly entertained. Each story line is very relatable to the average person’s life and hopefully they will find comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

RA: Coffee and wine.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

RA: A cheese omelet with spinach and peppers and home fries.

KW: What excites you?

RA: Planning a vacation on a beach somewhere!

KW: What was your best career decision?

RA: Working with my team. I have the best agent, manager, publicist, acting coach and lawyer.

Without them I wouldn’t have the opportunities that I’ve had.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be?

RA: To heal my mother. She has kidney failure and osteoporosis. It’s very sad.

KW: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

RA: Jesus.

KW: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you’d like to star in?

RA: Yes, “Pretty Woman.” I love Julia Roberts and that red dress. I actually had someone duplicate it for my high school prom.

what’sup MORGAN FREEMAN’S new film “Now You See Me” surpassed expectations by grossing $28 million its first weekend in theaters. Freeman portrays a former magician in the film, which revolves around about a team of bank-robbing illusionists. “Now You See Me” outperformed “After Earth” starring WILL SMITH and JADEN SMITH. It earned $27 million during its opening weekend, which is considered dismal for movie starring Smith. By comparison, “I Am Legend” opened at $77.2 million and “Men in Black 3” debuted at $54.6 million. “After Earth” received some awful reviews, and has been described by critics as a “catastrophe,” a “bomb” and “disastrous.” Smith and his wife JADA PINKETT SMITH are two of the film’s producers……. The teenage daughters of rapper LIL’ WAYNE and music mogul BIRDMAN are hoping for a

hit of their own. Reginae Carter, 15, and Bria Williams, 16, just released a book about their young lives titled “Paparazzi Princesses.” Reginae, who is Wayne’s daughter, signed on as a solo artist with her father’s Young Money label earlier this year……..CHRIS BROWN, MIGUEL and R. KELLY have been added to the list of the performers at the BET Awards on June 30. The show’s 2013 Humanitarian Award will be presented to Miami Heat star DWAYNE WADE for his dedication to charitable causes. Previous winners of the award include DENZEL WASHINGTON, STEVE HARVEY, JOHN LEGEND, ALICIA KEYS and MAGIC JOHNSON…….. “The View’ co-host SHERRI SHEPHERD and her husband Lamar Sally are expecting a baby via surrogate. “We found a drama-free uterus,” Shepherd told TOM JOYNER

on his morning show. “We found a girl that didn’t have any drama in her life. We’re putting in our egg and Sal’s sperm and we’ll let you know how it progresses.” In addition, Shepherd is releasing a new wig line and wrote a self-help book titled “Plan D: Losing Weight and Beating Diabetes.” In the book, Shepherd tells how she lost 40 pounds and got her diabetes under control ……..

TRACY MORGAN has closed a deal to star in the FX Network’s comedy series pilot, “Death Pact.” Morgan stars as a formerly lazy, pot-dealing assistant high school coach who returns to his hometown as a decorated war hero……..WILL.I.AM is partnering with CBS to feature his song “Hello” in a promotional campaign for the network’s summer and fall programming. The seventime Grammy Award-winner is best known for his work with the Black Eyed Peas.

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DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2013

Women heading households alone

By MAYA RHODAN NNPA Washington Correspondent

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hen Feona Huff, 38, was growing up, she pictured her ideal family.

“I always had the dream of having the husband, the dog, the house with a wrap-around porch,” Huff says. “Growing up in the church, I knew the importance of a strong family.”

Although she grew up seeing her grandparents thrive in a happy, fulfilling relationship, her dream never became a reality for Feona. When she became pregnant with her daughter at 25, she checked into the idea of being a mother and wife and her then-boyfriend checked out.

“I chose to be an active and involved parent from the time I was pregnant; he chose not to be as active,” Huff says.

“It’s not like I said ‘I want to become a single mom and endure the struggles of being a single parent.’ ” The Hampton Roads, Va. resident, however, is doing just that. She’s rearing her two kids, a daughter, 13, and son, 10, by herself.

Once a societal taboo, single-parenthood is no longer rare. A staggering 73 percent of Black babies were born to unmarried women in 2010, and 41 percent of all births in 2010 were to unmarried women.

According to a new Pew Research Center analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, a record 40 percent of all households with children under the age of 18 include mothers who are either the sole or primary source of income for the family. The share was just 11 percent in 1960.

Huff says although she’s “always busy” and “rarely sleeps” – going everywhere from track practice, to beauty pageants, to church events on any given day – she’s blessed to have her children.

“Not everyone is equipped to become a single parent,” Huff said. “I love my children. I know God gave them to me for a reason.”

Children at risk

There are a lot of statistics that show single-parenthood isn’t the ideal situation for a child. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, children born to unmarried women are a greater risk of dying in infancy and living in poverty than babies born to married women.

According to a report by Legal Momentum, a women’s legal defense and education fund, single parents in America are more likely to be low-wage workers and less likely to have health insurance.

“Single parenthood is a double-edged sword,” said Chawn Jackson, 44, a single mom from Prince George’s County in Maryland. “I think there’s some validity to the statement that it’s bad.”

Jackson divorced when her now 10-year-old daughter was just three months old, and has been rearing her daughter on her own since she and her ex-husband split.

Facts & figures • In Texas, 64 percent of African-American children live in single-parent homes.

• Nationally, in 2010, 31.6 percent of households headed by single women were poor.

• The share of never married mothers among all single mothers increased from 4 percent in 1960 to 44 percent in 2011.

• Nearly half of never married mothers in 2011 (46 percent) are ages 30 and younger.

Six in 10 are either Black (40 percent) or Hispanic (24 percent), and 49 percent have a high school education or less. Their median family income is $17, 400, the lowest among all families with children.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Research Center

coverp

Single moms increasing

Like most single mothers, Jackson has been the main financial provider for her daughter since birth.

Of the 40 percent of women who are sole or primary providers, 5.1 million are married women who make more than their husbands. About 8.6 million are single mothers.

According to Pew, the married mothers – who are disproportionately older and white, have a median income of $80,000, nearly four times the amount of single-motherled households, which are disproportionately minority and young.

Jackson considers herself blessed to be in a position where she can easily provide for her daughter; she does not receive child support from her ex-husband. However, she worries that because her father isn’t around, her daughter will not know what a healthy relationship looks like as she grows older.

“A part of her is still in a fairytale world,” Jackson said.

“She’s seen a lot of her friends with a mom and a dad and she wants that.”

“I try to do all I can to keep positive male role models in my daughter’s life,” Jackson added. “We’ve lost a lot of our wholesome values as a society. I understand that it’s a

different day and you have to be able to adapt and be fluid, but we have to keep those core values that African-America families were raised with.”

Doing everything

JayVon Muhammad, a midwife based in the Bay Area of California, agrees.

“There is a decline of relationships and parental structures,” Muhammad, 41, said. “Women are having to do everything and become everything instead of making better decisions from the beginning.”

Muhammad has become a crusader against what she calls the “baby-mama epidemic,” which she says is destroying the Black community.

“I think that we have to recognize that what is happen ing to us and our families is not normal,” Muhammad sai “It’s not okay for a community to have 70 percent of their [babies] born to single mothers” Muhammad had her first daughter at 17 to a man she says was a “drug dealer and a hustler,” the type of man she considered normal growing up in a low-income, Blac community of San Francisco.

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Where moms can go for help The following United Way affiliate agencies offer services for single parents in the Houston area. Parents can also call the 2-1-1 Texas/ United Way Helpline for assistance.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star – Mentoring program 6437 High Star (713) 271-5683 bbbstx.org Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, Inc. – Programs for youth 1520-A Airline Drive (713) 868-3426 bgclubs-houston.org Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. – Helps identify, overcome barriers to employment 2302 Fannin, Suite 110 (713) 754-7000 careerandrecovery.org Child Care Council of Greater Houston, Inc. – Early childhood education 6220 Westpark Drive (713) 266-6045 cccghi.com DePelchin Children’s Center – Mental health services 4950 Memorial (713) 861-8136 depelchin.org

She calls the relationship she had with her baby’s father “dysfunctional,” and says she found herself, “willing to compromise my own happiness to make sure he was alright.” But she wasn’t alright as she struggled to raise their child while he spent his time in and out of jail.

When her daughter was 4 years old, however, her life changed for the better when she married her current husband.

“The contrast was huge,” Muhammad says. “I went from having to do it all to having help.”

Muhammad, the founder of Sista Girl Midwifery, speaks out against “baby-mamas” not because she’s critical, but because she wants women, especially AfricanAmerican women to want more for themselves and their families.

“Most women say they want love, they want a family where a man supports them but they can’t succumb to the feeling because they have to do it all,” Muhammad said.

“We have to start admitting that we don’t want to raise children on our own, that we deserve to have the option to stay at home so our children are safe.”

e Houston area for over 80 years

Family Services of Greater Houston – Counseling and case management services 4625 Lillian Street (713) 861-4849 familyservices.org Fifth Ward Enrichment Program, Inc. – Empowers boys 4014 Market, Suite W145 (713) 229-8353 fwepinc.org Houston Area Urban League – Employment and housing support.

1301 Texas Avenue (713) 393-8700 haul.org

Houston Area Women’s Center – Services for victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault 1010 Waugh Drive (713) 528-6798 hawc.org Julia C. Hester House – Programs for children and basic needs assistance 2020 Solo (713) 672-2573 juliachesterhouse.org Lone Star Legal Aid – Low or no-cost legal assistance 1415 Fannin Avenue, 3rd Floor (713) 982-1969 lonestarlegal.org Neighborhood Centers Inc. – Broad array of services Multiple locations (713) 667-9400 neighborhood-centers.org San Jose Clinic – Low or no-cost primary health care services.

2615 Fannin Street (713) 490-2601 sanjoseclinic.org

Star of Hope Mission – Emergency shelter/ transitional housing 6897 Ardmore Street (713) 748-0700 sohmission.org Target Hunger – Community gardens/ nutritous food 2814 Quitman (713) 226-4953 targethunger.org The Salvation Army – Emergency shelter 1500 Austin (713) 752-0677 salvationarmyhouston.org Wesley Community Center, Inc. – Broad array of services 1410 Lee Street (713) 223-8131 wesleyhousehouston.org Y.M.C.A. of the Greater Houston Area – Early childhood development, after school care, camps Multiple locations (713) 659-5566 ymcahouston.org

Visit defendernetwork.com for a list of 35 other agencies

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DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2013

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Enjoy the sun but beware skin cancer

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Defender News Services

ummer is here and it’s time for more outdoor activities.

It’s okay to spend some time in the sun, but the National Cancer Institute reminds AfricanAmericans that anyone can be at risk for skin cancer, regardless of their skin color.

While skin cancer is less common among people with darker skin, it is often detected at later or advanced stages.

Data show that when people of color are diagnosed with melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, it is usually at a later stage, when the disease is harder to treat.

This later diagnosis occurs partly because many people – even doctors – have long assumed that the pigment melanin in darker skin can protect against skin cancer. However, although melanin does help prevent sunburns, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can still damage skin.

Also, the sun isn’t the only cause of skin cancer. For example, you may be more likely

to develop skin cancer if you come into contact with certain chemicals or poisons, have scars or skin ulcers, or use medicines or develop medical conditions (such as HIV infection) that suppress the immune system.

When skin cancer is found early, it can be treated more easily. A change on the skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This may be any new mole or growth on the skin, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a change in an old growth.

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Check the skin on all surfaces of your body, even in your mouth. Talk with your doctor if you see any changes on your skin that do not go away within a month.

There are steps you can take to protect yourself and prevent skin cancer.

• Avoid staying out in the sun if you can, especially in the middle of the day, when the sun’s rays are strongest.

• If you work or play outside, you should wear clothes that cover your arms and legs, a hat that shades your face and ears, and sunglasses that filter out UV light to protect your eyes.

• Use sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. You should use sunscreen products that are labeled “broad spectrum” that can filter both UVA and UVB rays.

• Do not use tanning beds, booths, or sunlamps, because these machines also give off UV rays.

For more information visit www.cancer.gov.

JUNE 6 | 2013 | DEFENDER

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opinion

11

Obama’s troubles

aren’t Watergate

T

By GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA Columnist

Jeff Parker, Florida Today and the Fort Myers News-Press

he Obama administration deserves to be richly criticized for surreptitiously obtaining the telephone records of reporters for the Associated Press, especially for bypassing court proceedings that would have allowed executives of the news organizations an opportunity to at least argue against releasing the documents.

It was also wrong to single out conservative organizations for special IRS scrutiny. In case you haven’t noticed, the names of practically all Black professional organizations begin with the word “National.” That’s because most organizations bearing the name “American” – such as the American Bar Association and the American Dental Association – are professional groups that once barred Blacks from membership.

That’s why we had to start our “National” organizations. If it’s okay to target conservative groups today, there is nothing to prevent a future president or IRS commissioner from targeting organizations with the word “National” in their name.

Still, the actions of some Obama administration officials should not be compared to Watergate, as was the case on Sunday talk shows.

To refresh your recollection, as many of the Watergate witnesses would say, Watergate is a reference to a series of scandals that began with the June 17, 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. and ended with President Richard M. Nixon resigning on August 9, 1974 rather than face certain impeachment.

The five men arrested in connection with the Watergate burglary were linked to Nixon’s Committee for the Re-Election of the President. It

was later revealed that Nixon had recorded many conversations in the Oval Office that showed that he had knowledge about what his Press Secretary Ron Ziegler labeled “a third-rate burglary” and had attempted to cover-up his involvement.

Nixon fought to keep the tapes private, but the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that he had to turn them over to government investigators.

Nixon resigned in disgrace and 43 people,

including his top White House aides, were sent to prison. Nixon’s successor, Gerald R. Ford, pardoned Nixon, the only U.S. president to resign from office.

Unlike Nixon, President Obama said – and there’s been no evidence presented to contradict him – that he didn’t know about the IRS impropriety until after it had been disclosed in a report by the Treasury Department’s inspector general.

Obama said, “I have now had the opportunity to review the Treasury Department watchdog’s report on its investigation of IRS personnel who improperly targeted conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. And the report’s findings

are intolerable and inexcusable. The federal government must conduct itself in a way that’s worthy of the public’s trust, and that’s especially true for the IRS.” Instead of noting the distinction between Nixon’s role in Watergate and Obama’s non-role in the latest scandals, CBS “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer told Obama adviser Dan Pfeiffe, “You know, I don’t want to compare this in any way to Watergate. I do not think this is Watergate by any stretch… but I have to tell you that is exactly the approach that the Nixon administration took.

They said, ‘These are all second-rate things, we don’t have time for this, we have to devote our time to the people’s business.’ You’re taking exactly the same line that they did.”

Schieffer, who covered Watergate for CBS, should know better. And so should Peggy Noonan, a former White House speechwriter for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Noonan defended her May 17 Wall Street Journal column in which she claimed that we “are in the midst of the worst Washington scandal since Watergate.”

But the Boston Globe noted, “As startling as the reports have been in recent days…one Nixonian element so far is missing: There has been no evidence that Obama himself ordered or knew about the actions.”

Carl Bernstein, one of the Washington Post reporters who broke the Watergate story, told Politico: “In the Nixon White House, we heard the president of the United States on tape saying ‘Use the IRS to get back on our enemies.’ We know a lot about President Obama, and I think the idea that he would want the IRS used for retribution – we have no evidence of any such thing.”

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DEFENDER | JUNE 6 | 2013

sports

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PV athletic department honored for excellence

By MAX EDISON Defender

Texas Southern University President Dr. John M. Rudley

Rudley chairs SWAC Council Defender News Services

Texas Southern University President Dr. John M. Rudley has been named chair of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors for 2013-2015.

Rudley said branding of the SWAC and assuring that student-athletes graduate on time head the top of his list of priorities.

“We must do a better job of telling the many stories of our successes,” Rudley said. “Our student-athletes have made significant accomplishments both on the fields of play and in the classrooms and have achieved in various arenas postgraduation, including entrepreneurship, the music and entertainment industry, science and technology and politics…

“Highlighting these accomplishments will serve to further the mission of each individual institution.”

In addition to his appointment as chair, Rudley is leading the NCAA’s Advisory Group that is assisting with academic challenges that impact limited resource institutions (LRIs).

The formation of the advisory group represents an effort between HBCU institutions and the NCAA to serve as a conduit to communicate issues and concerns that might impact LRIs. Prior to joining TSU, Dr. Rudley served as interim chancellor of the University of Houston System and interim president of UH. He also served as vice chancellor/vice president for administration and finance.

For the second consecutive year the Prairie View A&M University athletic department has captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s (SWAC) James Frank Commissioners Cup. The award is bestowed for overall athletic department success and based on the accomplishments of both men and women’s sports.

The Panthers won two first-place titles in men’s competition. They also recorded three second-place finishes and two others in the top five.

View personnel display SWAC honors. Front (l. tor.) are Glenn White (bowling), Toyelle In the women’s competitions, Prairie Wilson (women’s basketball), President Dr. George C. Wright, Fred Washington (AD) and Alicia PV had six top-five finishes, Pete (SWA/volleyball). Back (l. to r.) are Heishma Northern (football), Bobby Johnson (golf), Byron Rimm II (men’s basketball), Vernon Bland (softball) and Waskyla Cullivan (baseball). including a title and two in second place. concepts; you’re working on refining and getting better.”

For their men’s sports “The odds of a student-athlete becoming a professuccess the Panthers were awarded the C.D. Henry Award sional athlete when their collegiate career is over are not for the top men’s team in the conference. The Panthers good,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what school you attend. finished second for the Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award We realize that at Prairie View. We have to do a great job for excellence in women sports. of preparing our students for life after sports and being PV Athletic Director Fred Washington is stepping productive in their professional careers. The awards show down from the position after five years of distinguished we’re doing just that.” service. He will devote his time exclusively to his role of VP of auxiliary services. He was understandably proud of what the department had accomplished.

“Our coaching staff and our student-athletes have bought into what we’ve tried to put together,” Washington said. “Although we’re individual sports, we’re one team.

Each team sport contributes to that. Everyone’s competing The search for the next Prairie View A&M and the results are there.”

University athletic director has been narrowed Washington noted the importance of building a college down to six candidates. They are: program.

“It’s one thing to build a team for the short run, but if Dr. Tamica Smith-Jones, director of athletics at you can build a program and you strive for consistency and Clark Atlanta University since 2008 set a standard, then you just replace the small pieces and you Troy Mathieu, executive director of athletics at should be able to compete every year. We may not win it Grand Prairie ISD since 2009 every year, but will definitely be in the running.”

Washington acknowledged the defining principle of his Henry Frazier III, head football coach at North tenure, academic success.

Carolina Central since 2011 and former PV head “The thing I’m most proud of is the academic perforfootball coach mance of our student-athletes,” Washington said. “The two Shelley Davis-Hill, senior associate athletic years prior to this we were the Academic Excellence Awardwinner. director/senior woman administrator at Howard “Last year we were the best in the classroom and on University since 2011 the playing field. The results won’t be out for this year until Derrick Ramsey, director of athletics at Coppin sometimes in late July, but I’m predicting we will duplicate that feat again this year, the best academically across the State University since 2008 and former AD at board and athletically.”

Kentucky State University Washington believes the success of PV student-athletes Ashley Robinson, director of athletics at Misin the classroom has had a direct correlation to their success sissippi Valley State since 2012 and former PV on the field “When you can put the same student-athletes on the assistant VP and SWAC assistant commissioner playing field for three or four years those teams are going to be better. At that point you’re not teaching the basics or

AD search narrowed to six

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sportsbriefs

Girls’ state softball tournament turns 20

By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

AUSTIN – “We have more girls playing high school softball than any other state in the U.S.” Those words were proudly echoed by Peter Contreras, University Interscholastic League assistant athletic director and 13-time State Softball Tournament director. “Obviously the popularity is there and it’s crazy. It seems to grow more from yearto-year,” he said.

Contreras addressed the current status of an event celebrating its 20th anniversary. Softball became a UIL-sanctioned sport in 1993 when Pasadena Dobie defeated Tomball 1-0 to become the first state softball champion in Texas.

Three Houston area schools advanced to the 2013 UIL girls’ state tournament, including Richmond Foster, defending Class 5A state champion Deer Park and Humble Kingwood, which hadn’t advanced to the state tournament since the inaugural event. Fifteen games were played in five divisions over a four-day format.

Foster lost 10-5 in 12 innings to Lucas Lovejoy in a Class 4A state semifinal game. Kingwood eliminated Deer Park 9-3 with Cassie McClure tossing a complete-game six-hitter and going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and four RBI. Hot-hitting Kingwood met underdog Lewisville in the Class 5A championship game that was originally scheduled to begin a 4 p.m. The start time was pushed back 95 minutes due to the length and crowd size of the two previous title games. Contreras spoke with the Defender just prior to the start of the 5A title game.

“That was one of the main reasons we switched to the four-day format instead of three days three years ago,” Contreras said. “It allows us to manage the tournament a little bit better. The 4A game was a sellout and the 5A game will have a good crowd.

“We want to make sure that people can get in to see their school in between games,” Contreras said.

“We’ll take a look to see if there should be a greater time gap between games so that fans don’t Kacie Saucedo have to wait around to get into the facility.

“We want to make sure that we’re doing our part to make sure the popularity of the sport continues to grow and the student-athletes and schools have a good experience.”

Despite advancing with a state-

13

tournament high 13 losses on the season and a fourth seed from District 5-5A, Lewisville held Kingwood scoreless for six innings before hanging on for a 3-2 victory. Freshman pitcher Maribeth Gorsuch went the distance for the victory to improve to 22-4.

Junior left fielder Kacie Saucedo was 1-for-3 with a run scored and made two key defensive plays. Center fielder Miranda Worthington had two hits, including a solo home run in the fourth inning. Becca Scott gave the Farmers a 2-0 edge in the second inning with a two-out single.

“Our defense has been solid all season,” Saucedo said.

“Maribeth was injured at the end of the regular season and we struggled. But once we got everybody back, we got on a roll.”

Gorsuch believes playing under the radar screen worked in the favor of Lewisville.

“I think people may have underestimated us,” she said. “We didn’t let that bother us and focused on believing in one another.”

Gorsuch was named Class 5A title game Most Valuable Player.

Maribeth Gorsuch

According to the UIL, more than 31,500 girls played high school softball in Texas this year.

Peter Contreras

Woodlands, Dulles advance It was the opposite end of the spectrum but it produced the same result for two Houston-area high school baseball powerhouses. Dulles defeated Jersey Village 5-2 in a one-game Region III-5A final at the University of Houston to head back to the state tournament for the first time since winning the title in 1989. Senior right hander Dakota Mills tossed a complete-game, no-hitter with 13 strikeouts to help his team improve to 31-7 on the season. Jersey Village (23-14-1) scored its two runs in the fourth inning with the help of two Dulles miscues. After winning the first game of a best-of-three Region II-5A series against Rockwall 12-5, The Woodlands was forced to a third and deciding game when pitcher Cason Adams threw a complete-game seven-hitter in the Yellowjackets’ 7-1 victory. The high-powered Highlanders got their offense going during an 11-run third inning and advances to the state tournament with a 12-6 victory over Rockwall. The Woodlands (36-4) will be making its first trip to the state tournament since winning the title in 2006.

Tomball making first trip Left-handed pitcher Nick Banks hurled a complete-game two-hitter and the Tomball bats provided plenty of run support as the Cougars pummeled Richmond Foster 10-0 in a Region III-4A one-game final at Rice University. Banks, a Texas A&M signee, added two hits and one RBI as the Cougars improved to 33-4 on the season. Tomball had five consecutive hitters reach base with singles in both the fifth and sixth innings. The Woodlands, Dulles and Tomball are all nationally ranked.

Dwight Howard watch begins In what promises to be one of the most exciting off-seasons in recent Rocket history, the Dwight Howard watch has officially begun. Howard, the talented Laker center, is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and already the preliminary suitors have begun to line up. Reportedly the Rockets are at the top of the list. Although teams can’t officially begin to court Howard until July 1, the Rockets’ unofficial envoy is All-Star guard James Harden. He and Howard have developed a friendship and he is doing his best to convince the talented big man to make Houston his new home. In addition to Harden, fellow Rocket teammate Chandler Parsons, a star at the University of Florida for four years while Howard was with the Orlando Magic, has also joined the unofficial recruiting team.

SWAC championships coming

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Recently the Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously to relocate the SWAC Football Championship and Basketball Tournament to Houston for the next three seasons, beginning in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The football championship will be played at Reliant Stadium and the basketball championship at the Toyota Center.

“We are looking forward to our partnership with the City of Houston, Toyota Center and Reliant Stadium,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said.

“We are very excited about having [Houston] as a showcase for the very best of competition for the SWAC,” TSU president Dr. John M. Rudley said.

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Heat vs. Spurs in NBA Finals match-up

A

By MAX EDISON Defender

fter a grueling 82-game schedule and three playoff rounds it has come to this – the last two teams standing for the NBA Finals. The defending champion Miami Heat takes on the San Antonio Spurs beginning June 6.

The stage won’t be too big for either team; both franchises have championship pedigrees.

The Spurs will be making their fifth trip to the game’s biggest stage, having won championships in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. The Heat will be making the trip to the Finals for the third time in eight years with two titles to show for their effort.

Both organizations feature a Big 3. The Heat will feature the NBA’s best player in LeBron James, flanked

by Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Spurs will counter with the mercurial Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and the always reliable Tim Duncan.

The teams faced each other twice during the regular season, with the Heat winning both games under what amounts to odd circumstances.

In the first meeting, in Miami, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich not only didn’t play his Big 3, he put them on a plane back to San Antonio. Later in the season, Heat coach Eric Spoelstra returned the favor in San Antonio, benching his All-Star trio.

There will be an element of revenge in the series for James, the NBA’s reining MVP. In 2007, James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs in four games.

This is the type of marquee match-up that NBA executives secretly dream of – the league’s top player against one of the game’s dominant, though understated franchises.

This series has the potential to be a classic.

LeBron James and the Miami Heat will defend their NBA title.

Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs won their last title in 2007.

JUNE 6 | 2013 | DEFENDER

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For Event Coverage...visit

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chag’splace

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