Anita Baker vs Baby Face??
Black Music Month is coming in hot with the battle between music industry heavyweights
Anita Baker and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Te Detroit Diva called upon Babyface to intervene and address the bullying and threats she has been receiving from fans. Te confict arose afer Babyface did not perform during a May show on Baker’s “Songstress” tour, leading some of his fans to direct hostility towards her. Tese fans, who have been dubbed “Kenny’s Crazies” by Baker, have targeted her due to Babyface’s absence.
Te situation prompted a furry of criticism towards Baker, with fans and celebrities alike expressing their disappointment. Many had assumed that Babyface, with his extensive catalog spanning a 40-year career, would co-headline with her. She’s asked Babyface to call his fans of, but you know how social media goes. I saw one comment from someone on Instagram who said that social media have reduced the aura of the celebrity, and I agree to an extent. Aren’t there any PR teams, or advisors to these celebrities these days? Tere is a reason why Beyonce’ is the celebrity among the celebrities. Not everything needs to be on the internet. I still got love for both of them and I hope they can nip this in the bud.
For all of my fellow federal student loan borrowers, empty out the cobwebs from your online accounts because the threeyear loan payment pause from the COVID-19 pandemic is coming to an end 60 days afer June 30, regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on the White House plan to forgive the debt.
We hufed and pufed and hoped that Biden’s plans to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt would alleviate some stress but it has faced legal challenges every step of the way. Tree years have gone by, and as the saying goes “All good things must come to an end.” My hope is that you borrowers have put the extra cash
in a high yield savings account, or an emergency fund, or used it to pay of other accumulating debts like private loans. If you haven’t planned ahead and are wondering where to start paying back these loans, start contacting your student loan advisor and/or go to StudentAid.gov to fnd a plan that fts your needs. Either way, it’s best to create a strategy for debt pay of, because at this rate, waiting for the government to solve your problems is only wishful thinking.
When it comes to Houston summer weather, it can be scorching. What else would the “H” in Houston stand for? HOT of course!!! Southeast Texas is preparing for record breaking heat this week. Be expected to see it hit triple digits. Typically, Houston doesn’t reach the 100s until July. So, I’m calling out to all of my Black folks in the area to take proactive steps to protect yourself this season.
1. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
2. Dress appropriately. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting light-colored outfts to stay cool.
3. Stay in the shade and or an air-conditioned space. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, especially if you are at the beach!
4. USE SUNSCREEN! If you don’t want the Black to crack down the line, use that high SPF to protect you skin from UV rays.
5. Limit your outdoor activities. Try working out from home, and if you must go outside, pace yourself and take breaks.
• Dallas leaders refect on Mike Miles tenure
• Check out Jimmie’s Journey: Rally Against Illegal Dumping
• What dad’s really want for Father’s Day
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has announced the Early REACH (Raising Educational Access for Children in Harris County) program, an early childhood program that will create 800-1,000 new childcare spaces for children up to four years old.
Te applications for the program are now open. Multiple children from the same family can be eligible. A child who qualifes for it can be in a childcare space by early July.
Te $26 million for the program came from the American Rescue Plan funds, a $1.9 trillion project signed by President Joe Biden in 2022. Te funding will run for three years.
Who is eligible?
Families must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for the free childcare:
*Demonstrate fnancial need (Family must make under $75,468 a year for a family of four)
*Live in an area of high need according to the Social Vulnerability Index or experiencing homelessness
*Be in foster care or receive benefits like WIC, SNAP, TANF, free or reduced lunch, or SSI income.
Te families who apply will know if they are eligible within two weeks. Ten, they will be paired with an eligibility specialist who will
work with them to fnd a childcare center for their needs.
According to Hidalgo, both children and childcare centers can apply to this program.
“Apply now, it is a frst-come frst-served system,” she said.
How will community leaders help?
In attendance at a recent press conference discussing the new program were Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones; Amanda McMillian, president and CEO United Way of Greater Houston; Rene Solis, chief program ofcer at BakerRipley, and Sandra Heath-Taylor, owner and director of Tiny Toes Academy.
“It’s not about quantity but quality,” Heath-Taylor said. “We need more quality centers, where teachers are getting paid. Tis program is so needed in the community.”
Hidalgo said this program is not meant to “solve the entire problem” but she believes the new additions will increase the availability of high-quality childcare by 10%.
“What makes the early REACH program different is it also seeks to address the inequities that exist in our county as it relates to the delivery of early care and education for neighbors,” Solis said. “By seeking to increase the number of high-quality classrooms, and spaces for infants and toddlers and by specifcally targeting childcare deserts within Harris County, the early
Access to quality childcare is critical for parents who are trying to return to the workforce and establish fnancial stability, added Briones and McMillian. Often, families with lower incomes cannot aford high-quality childcare on their already stretched budgets. Te program will also stress the retention of care providers by
ensuring that they get paid at least $15 an hour.
The speakers also added the benefits of early childhood programs like higher rates of employment as adults, a reduction in the likelihood of contact with the criminal justice system, and a rise in graduation rates and academic performance.
Hidalgo told the Defender that one of the ways the program will ensure that underrepresented communities can access the benefts is by targeting who qualifes.
“Te way we can reach the most people is really everybody’s help and spreading the word,” she said. “We’ve made it accessible in multiple languages, making sure that it’s online and via phone.”
Solis added that some outreach has already been conducted by analyzing data on where childcare facilities exist, and where low-income parents reside.
“Since then, we’ve also had provider meetings with childcare facilities,” he said. “We sent invitations to childcare providers to come in and have open houses and conversations about the program. We’ve also had parent meetings where we’ve gone into those neighborhoods and we’ll be going more into those neighborhoods to have conversations with the parents who most need the service.”
By Aswad Walker
Texas Southern University’s Executive Master of Public Administration Program (eMPA) and the League of Women Voters-Houston have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish cooperative initiatives to support civic engagement programs and events for their respective institutions.
Under this agreement, TSU will support the League’s eforts to uplif youth voters by providing nonpartisan election information, extending an invitation to students to attend networking events, and collaborating with TSU on other programs. Te League, on the other hand, will provide voter registration and education events, as well as collaboration opportunities in other partnerships deemed applicable by both entities. TSU’s eMPA program will be featured in the Voters Guide and serve as a distribution site, recruit students for potential internships with the League as an academic component, also recruit students for the League’s Rising Stars Civic leadership programs,
and volunteering opportunities, such as on-site campus voter registration during the academic year, specifcally National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) and civic outreach eforts in locations in the historic Tird Ward.
“Tis is an excellent opportunity for students to gain invaluable experience in the political and civic engagement arena while also contributing to the community,” said eMPA program founding director Dr. Michael O. Adams, who is excited about the mix of educational and community service benefts that the partnership will provide TSU students.
“Tis partnership ofers students the chance to engage in voter registration drives, participate in forums and debates, and foster meaningful dialogues on the most pressing issues afecting the community. Such an agreement also serves as a vital bridge between academic learning and the real-world experience needed to drive positive change in our society,” added Adams, who anticipates more collaborative eforts in the future.
For more information, visit tsuempa.com.
The mother of Migos rapper Takeof, who was shot and killed afer a Halloween night party in Houston, is seeking more than $1 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against the downtown business that hosted the event, along with the owner of the property and its operators and managers.
Te lawsuit was fled by Georgia resident Titania Davenport, whose son’s real name was Kirsnick Khari Tiquon Ball. Te 28-year-old musician died early Nov. 1 afer a private party at 810 Billiards & Bowling.
Te lawsuit claims the venue and its associated business entities were negligent by failing to provide a safe and secure environment for the
party and allowing criminal activities to occur. Te property had been rented out for an “afer-hours” party by a “well-known music personality,” according to the lawsuit.
“Defendants were informed that the event required extra security and would draw a large crowd, many of whom could be celebrities, which in itself presents unique and advance security considerations, none of which were taken,” the lawsuit claims. “Despite this knowledge, defendants negligently failed to provide proper and adequate security for the event.”
The lawsuit does not name any individuals associated with the shooting death of Takeoff, including the man who has been
criminally charged with murdering him. Patrick Clark, a 33-year-old Channelview man, was arrested by Houston police in December and indicted last month by a Harris County grand jury.
Houston police have said Takeof, part of the Atlanta-based rap trio Migos along with relatives Quavo and Offset, was an innocent bystander and unarmed when he was fatally shot in the back and head afer the private party. Two other people also were injured at the time and transported to hospitals.
Clark is accused of fring multiple gunshots into a crowd and fatally striking Takeof, according to documents filed in his criminal case. The civil lawsuit filed
by Davenport claims Takeof was struck by stray bullets during a shootout between two people or groups of people.
“Mr. Ball sustained pre-death injuries, conscious pain and sufering, and ultimately became aware of his impending death,” the lawsuit states.
Davenport, as a surviving parent of Takeof and the administer of his estate, requested a trial by jury in the lawsuit and is seeking to be compensated for a variety of damages, including mental anguish, pain and suffering, medical and funeral expenses, loss of companionship and loss of earning capacity.
NNPA
A recent study in Health Services Research found that of-duty police officers commit homicides more ofen than previously thought, and media coverage of these events is limited. Te research analyzed murders by victim race and gender and the context surrounding these incidents.
Te study revealed signifcant disparities in the victims of homicides and the media attention they receive based on their race and gender.
39.3% Black men
25.2% White men
11.2% Hispanic men 9.1% White women 9.1% Men of unknown race
4.1% Black women
Te study also found signifcant discrepancies in news reporting based on the victim’s race.Incidents involving Black and Hispanic victims were three times more likely to receive news coverage than other cases.Moreover, news reports ofen identifed the perpetrator as an ofduty ofcer when the victim was Black or Hispanic.
“Black men were the most frequent victims of of-duty police violence,” said Emmanuella Asabor, lead author of the study and an M.D.-Ph.D. student at Yale School
of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health.“And that’s consistent with the literature on policing. Due to the weapons allowances for off-duty police officers and that of-duty and even veteran police ofcers are imbued with a great degree of power to intervene, we felt that of-duty policing was worthy of investigation,” said Asabor, who reported the fndings to Yale University News.
According to the analysis, less than half of the victims allegedly carried a weapon at the time of
their killings, and nearly all were shot.And while only 6.3% of the U.S. population identifed as Black men in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 39.3% of those killed by of-duty police ofcers were Black men, the study found.
“Black men were the most frequent victims of of-duty police violence,” Asabor said. “And that’s consistent with the literature on policing.” The study shows
concerning fndings and emphasizes the urgent need for clear rules and more investigation into ofduty ofcers’ roles. Te researchers emphasized the importance of media outlets reporting on all killings by of-duty police ofcers, irrespective of the victim’s race. They urged journalists to seek information from diverse sources instead of solely relying on statements provided by the police.
VOLUME 92, NUMBER 31 - JUNE 15, 2023
Publisher | CEO
Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles
Digital Content Manager Get Current Studios
Managing Editor ReShonda Tate
Associate Editor
Aswad Walker
Education Reporter
Laura Onyeneho
Sports Terrance Harris
Jodie B. Jiles
Photographer Jimmie Aggison
Social Media Manager
Tia Alphonse
Jordan Hockett
Some call us pioneers. Others call us surgeons. Nurses. Paramedics.
Saving lives in the middle of the night at a nationally renowned trauma center.
Delivering at-risk babies against all odds, from all across the county.
Year after year, training the majority of the doctors who practice in the most famous medical center in the world.
And, day after day, providing essential care and vital resources to those who need it most in every one of our communities.
You might not know our name. And that’s okay.
YOU’LL KNOW US BY THE WORK WE DO.
Protests continue against the Texas Education Agency’s takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD). A coalition of organizations and concerned residents have vowed to continue protesting outside the HISD Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, at the upcoming board meetings of what they call, the “unelected Board of Managers.”
The first meeting took place June 8 and the room was packed with local teachers, students, parents, and advocates for public schools. Nearly 150 people attended, heckling and booing the Board of Managers as they pushed through the agenda, similar to outbursts during the TEA community meetings in March.
With an array of participants, the coalition seeks to highlight the detrimental effects of the school takeover and call for a more inclusive, community-centered approach in shaping the future of education.
Here were the key takeaways from the June 8 meeting:
- Board unanimously voted to approve a temporary contract for newly appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, who did not attend the meeting
- Board approved motion to [temporarily] suspend regular meetings
- Miles to be paid $25,000 for relocation expenses and receive $1,473 per day under interim contract
- Board voted Audrey Momanaee as board president
- Board voted to elect Angela Lemond Flowers as secretary
- Approved $3 million in-kind donation from Good Reason Houston to cover some consultation support
Kourtney Revels, a resident of North Forest who experienced her second takeover in two years, worried that the current initiatives rolled out by Supt. Miles don’t focus on the holistic aspects of the child, including mental health and cognitive development.
“It’s hurtful because our kids aren’t numbers, they aren’t test scores. They are children,” said Revels. “Our elected officials know that there are multiple factors when it comes to student achievement and student outcomes, instead of focusing on evaluating teachers and principals.”
She is referring to Miles’ performance-based salary structure, which relies on the student success rate on standardized test scores in
order to evaluate teacher and principal per formances for pay increases.
Critics argue that the appointment of an unelected Board of Managers only serves as a financial boon for outside consultants, rather than prioritizing the needs and inter ests of students. Despite claims of improved performance, evidence from past school takeovers in Texas shows a lack of sus tained gains for students, raising concerns about the effectiveness and longterm impact of such interventions.
“We are basing the worth of a particular school, on their student outcomes on the test,” said Dr. Patrick Huff, a retired educator. “This is the most inequitable system ever devised because it takes schools located in neighborhoods of poverty and grades it on the same testing program as the more affluent schools in the suburbs.”
1
Te actions in Galveston and coastal Texas surrounding June 19, 1865 impacted (freed) roughly 250,000 enslaved Black people.
2
The Emancipation Proclamation only applied to enslaved persons in Confederate states. Even though Juneteenth marks the day that the last remaining enslaved persons in the final Confederate holdout were freed, slavery was not actually abolished as a matter of national policy until the Tirteenth Amendment was ratifed on December 6, 1865.
Number 3 alone did not free the roughly 250,000 still enslaved individuals from their captors. Te predominantly Black Union soldiers had to wage war against enslavers who refused to give up what they considered their “property,” making the Juneteenth story one of Black people liberating Black people rather than another “white savior” narrative.
Nikole Hannah-Jones, “We have to tell the story of Juneteenth as Black people as actors. Tat we don’t see a northern victory without Black soldiers fghting in the Civil War… About 75% of free Black men of age in the North served in the Union [army]. No other group served at a rate like that.”
and Black remembrance ritual via enacting segregation laws to prohibit the use of public places and parks to celebrate the holiday. We found a way to celebrate anyway.
9
General Gordon Granger’s troops were predominantly Black, with scholars estimating them to make up at least 75% of the soldiers that accompanied Granger to Galveston for the reading of General Order Number 3.
3
4
According to UH history professor Dr. Gerald Horne, the story of Gen. Granger’s reading of General Order
5
In his book “The Counter-Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery, Jim Crow & the Roots of US Fascism,” Horne shows that those same Black Union soldiers who freed Blacks afer the June 19, 1865 reading of General Order Number 3 helped put down the attempt of Confederate soldiers working out of Mexico in collaboration with French-controlled and occupied Mexico to revive the Civil War and preserve slavery, by capturing the French-controlled “puppet” leader Maximillian who was executed on June 19, 1867.
6
Juneteenth was only possible because the North (Union) won the Civil War. According to award-winning journalist and Howard University professor
7
Texans wasted no time beginning the celebration of Juneteenth. Te frst year anniversary of the original Juneteenth (June 19, 1866) saw the frst such celebrations that included community-centric events, such as parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, and musical performances. Over time, communities have developed their own traditions. Some communities purchased land for Juneteenth celebrations, such as Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas. As families emigrated from Texas to other parts of the United States, they carried Juneteenth celebrations with them.
8
On the first anniversary of Juneteenth, white people wasted no time attempting to steal/block Black joy
On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth ofcially became a Texas state holiday. Al Edwards, a freshman state representative, put forward the bill, H.B. 1016, making Texas the frst state to grant this emancipation celebration. Since then, the federal government, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia have also commemorated or recognized the day.* 10
Te frst known ofcial movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday began in 1994, and the frst congressional resolution recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day was introduced in the 105th Congress in 1997. Te Senate and House of Representatives have since introduced these resolutions recognizing Juneteenth annually.*
*Source: “Juneteenth: Fact Sheet,” Congressional Research Service
For those who think the Juneteenth story we’ve been taught is all we and our children need to know about June 19, 1865, think again. Here are some unique perspectives on Juneteenth shared by nationally-acclaimed scholars.
Dr. Gerald Horne (interview on Activist News Network, Oct 15, 2022)
In Horne’s book “Te Counter-Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery, Jim Crow & the Roots of US Fascism,” the University of Houston history professor argues that there was a second “Juneteenth” just as important, if not more so, than the original (June 19, 1865).
Horne’s scholarship shows that during the Civil War (1861 – 1865), Mexico was occupied (colonized) by France who installed a puppet leader, Maximillian, who teamed with Confederate soldiers seeking, afer Robert E. Lee’s surrender, to re-ignite the Civil War in hopes of preserving slavery.
“Juneteenth (June 19, 1865), which by the way was enforced at gunpoint, including a compliment of Black troops in blue, U.S. military uniforms as well, was not the end of the story. Because the enslavers were going to continue the war as noted from the French-occupied Mexico. In fact, the French,
with their allies in Africa… began to transport Black soldiers from Africa to bolster their puppet regime in Mexico City. I speculate that some of the Black soldiers under the French fag who ended up in Mexico probably wind up in Texas. Certainly, many of them wind up staying in Mexico. But in any case, there’s another ‘Juneteenth,’ which is June 19, 1867, when the French puppet Maximillian, he’s captured in a joint process involving progressive Mexicans under the regime of Mexican leader and national hero Benito Juarez and Black troops in the Union blue. And [Maximillian is] executed on June 19, 1867. And that ‘Juneteenth’ actually brings us closer to a truer emancipation than the original Juneteenth, June 19, 1865.”
Kelsey Smoot, Ph.D. candidate (“Juneteenth – not the Fourth of July – was the real Independence Day,” July 4, 2020)
Find activities at www.JuneteenthHouston.org
Smoot’s original reason for no longer celebrating the 4th of July was not “expressly political,” though America’s history of imperialism and racism made that day feel for her like “utter hypocrisy.”
Ten, during the summer of 2020, she experienced a Juneteenth commemoration/ protest, and she has since viewed the day as America’s real Independence Day.
“I marched through the streets of the nation’s capital with a crowd of Black folks of all ages. In the rain, I walked until my feet ached and wound up in Black Lives Matter Plaza, the massive yellow letters painted onto the ground creating an implied gathering space. As I looked into the crowd, into the eyes of other celebrators, I saw my joy, and my fears, mirrored back to me. In that space, one of both celebration and resistance, we moved synchronously. We danced as we marched. I recognized that this was the feeling I had never truly felt on the Fourth of July. A feeling of true belonging. Suddenly, my decision not to celebrate the national independence day felt expressly political.”
Nikole Hannah-Jones, award-winning journalist & Howard University professor (featured speaker, Schomburg Center’s June 9, 2022, “Freedom Dreams: Juneteenth-Inspired Professional Learning for NYC Educators”)
“It’s like most things; complicated. So, I’ve long believed that we should have an Emancipation Day in this country. Many other countries in the Americas that also engaged in chattel slavery make a big deal, they acknowledge the emancipation of slavery. And the fact that we won’t do it just speaks to the continued cover-up of the role that slavery played in our country and our inability to grapple with it. Because emancipation
is a good story. I mean, this is when we can fnally begin to work toward becoming the country of our highest ideals. And it should not be seen as a Black holiday, but an American holiday.
Dr. Gerald Horne (Defender articles) Horne joins other scholars in pushing back against the traditional Juneteenth narrative that places General Gordon Granger and his reading of General Order No. 3 at the story’s center. Horne’s research pushes back against this white savior narrative by showing that Granger’s troops, 75-80% Black, had to go to war with Texas and Louisiana plantation owners to secure our freedom AFTER Granger read that famous order, making Juneteenth a Black Liberation holiday.”
Nikole Hannah-Jones (“Freedom Dreams”) “If we look at the protests of 2020, literally, that’s all we got. Tat’s all. Tere’s been no police reform bill passed. Tere’s been no voting rights bill passed. Even things like Child Tax Credits, which are race-neutral, not passed, throwing millions of Black children back into poverty. So, the passage of Juneteenth in some ways feels very cynical [and] symbolic. And not to say that symbolism doesn’t matter, but of course, we would like the symbol and the substance.”
The iconic and breathtaking mural “Absolute Equality,” ofcially presented to the world on June 19, 2021, was for some their introduction to the powerful Houston-based artist Reginald Adams. However, countless Bayou City residents have been blown away by his many public art displays, and are not surprised that Adams is fast becoming known as the nation’s ofcial Juneteenth muralist.
Te Defender spoke with Adams about his Juneteenth “mission” and other art projects he’s got going on locally and nationally, including 10 murals in six cities, fve of which are in Houston alone.
DEFENDER: Though you were already an acclaimed artist, how has your life changed since the Galveston Juneteenth mural?
REGINALD ADAMS: I’ve become much more focused on the work, and particularly this work with Juneteenth; almost hyper-focused. And, while I always had intent around my work and doing things in the community, now I’m very, very interested in bringing light to this story, this era of time we know now as Juneteenth. It started in Galveston, Texas, but now it’s a nationwide, happening and largely in part to a lot of freedom fghters and Juneteenth infuencers as I call them, that allowed for that moment in Galveston in June 19, 1865, to now be a federal holiday. And so, because I’ve learned so much from this story, I want to help tell the story through the voice of an African-American artist. And, I don’t have to wait for permission to do that. So, my focus around using art to tell the stories of Juneteenth has become priority one for me.
DEFENDER: How did Juneteenth 2021 impact society?
ADAMS: The impact of Juneteenth 2021, on the cusp of the dedication of that wonderful mural with a lot of support from the Juneteenth Legacy Project, a phenomenal committee of community citizens in Galveston who are kind of really the backbone of making it happen, but afer the holiday, I realized that this story, while it’s quintessentially anchored in Galveston, this is now a national conversation. People, the next day afer declaring this national holiday, woke up around the nation, were like, “What the hell is Juneteenth?” Literally, there were hundreds of millions of people who woke up to a
TO FOLLOW ADAMS
Website: ReginaldAdams.com
Adam’s Juneteenthspecifc projects: AbsoluteEquality.org
LEARN MORE ABOUT ADAMS’ OTHER LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS.
new federal holiday and never heard of the word before. And, as I’m watching just the ripple efects of that, I realized that forevermore, for the rest of American history, we’ll be celebrating this holiday and we’ll be able to talk about what does it mean, what does Juneteenth mean?
DEFENDER: Can you speak to the Juneteenth murals you have done outside of Galveston?
ADAMS: I realized through mankind’s history, public art has been a very well-used tool to document those historical artifacts. Tat’s why the hieroglyphs in Egypt still to this day tell about the dynasties of that era. This was thousands of years ago. And this can be found around the world in cultures where art told the story of what was happening. So, at the freshness of this new holiday, I said, “What better way than to use public
art, open mediums, open galleries, identify artists who are already sensitive and passionate about community-based work, hook up with these artists across the country, and go into cities that have the biggest markets of Black folks and people of color, and tell the story of freedom and emancipation through that localized lens. And that’s what we’ve done. We have now this year, 10 murals all under production at some stage [in Dallas, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Miami and Houston]. Many of them are done.
Lavaille Lavette may not be a household name, but there are few Black households that she hasn’t impacted in some way as an author, educator and social entrepreneur. One of her last collaborations was with superstar Viola Davis. Te team produced “Finding Me,” the New York Times bestseller, the audible version of which earned Davis a Grammy and rari fed air EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner) status.
Lavette’s latest proj ect is a children’s book she hopes exposes Black children to STEM (science, tech nology, engineering and math) felds, Juneteenth and more. Te Defender spoke with Lavette about the book, “Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise,” the importance of telling Black stories and her future projects.
DEFENDER: Tell us about your latest book project.
LAVETTE: Te latest project is a children’s book, “Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise.” Te main character is a curious little eight-year-old boy named Jayylen who wants to be an engineer when he grows up. Tis is the frst book in the series, and we hope to do many Jayylen books. It’s a STEM series. It’s about us, through the point-of-view of Jayylen, inspiring kids to get involved with science, math, engineering and technology… introducing kids to various professions. We thought it would be great to introduce the series around a holiday and that happens to be Juneteenth.
DEFENDER: How did the STEM/holiday mash-up come about?
LAVETTE:
During the pandemic, with George Floyd and all of the newfound renaissance around, let’s say Black history, with all of
the things that were going on in the world that came to the forefront, particularly blatant racism, I was having a conversation with my mom, Hazel, and she started talking about her childhood, telling me about Juneteenth and how that was a major thing they did as a child. Her father didn’t celebrate the 4th of July. Teir 4th of July was Juneteenth. And I sat and I listened to all of the stories, and I’m like, “We didn’t celebrate Juneteenth.” I didn’t know anything
about Juneteenth [until I] moved to Texas. I was shocked that her early childhood was flled with the celebration of Juneteenth… but our family did not. So, I just thought, as I was formulating and writing the Jayylen book, “What if this little boy is learning about it for the frst time? What would that be like?” And I imagined if I was a kid and I found out about Juneteenth for the frst time living in Louisiana, what would that be like?
DEFENDER: Why is it important to you to expose Black children to the STEM felds?
LAVETTE: It’s the future. When you look at job creation and you look at the needs of our society, of humanity, it’s
STEM. You find that a large percentage of African Americans are not going into those fields, particularly engineering… Part of me writing this book is, I hope to learn more about engineering as I research and as I write too, in the hopes that I can inspire our young boys and girls to look at that profession and then dig a little deeper. “What does it take to do that?” But not just engineering, science, technology, all of that. Our tagline happens to be, “Jayylen, future engineer.” But the characters we’ll be introducing in this series will not all want to be engineers. We’re gonna expose kids to a number of opportunities they can get involved in, and what does it take to get to that point to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, scientist, what have you.
“JAYYLEN’S JUNETEENTH SURPRISE” available wherever books are sold. Get a free teacher’s resource and parent’s guide at www.jayylen.com.
Despite everything they do, dads tend to get stuck with ties and socks on Father’s Day. In fact, many fathers say they feel like an afterthought on Father’s Day. Since we know that’s not the case, we asked fathers how can we get them a gift they REALLY want.
“Know your father’s interests. If he’s the type to hire a handyman for everything, then you buying him a hammer seems like you put no thought into his gift. Think about the things he loves to do, and choose accordingly.”
Marcus Brewera braided nylon cable, all while being environmentally conscious. With three charging coils, it’s fast and convenient for up to 10W charging, compatible with iPhone and Galaxy devices.
Yes, DVD. Who do you think is keeping DVD’s in business??? Dads all over the world. These storage boxes are perfect to store that “Juice” DVD that he simply can’t part with.
4
“Ask your father what he wants. You’d be amazed at how many people don’t do that.”
Jeffery Caradine“Dads have feelings, too. We like to feel special and appreciated just like moms.”
Emerson Johnson
We also went digging for some gifts that dad might actually love this year. These five topped the list.
Running bottle and holder-
Whether it’s for running, walking, hiking, or just commuting to work, this water bottle is a handy gift for any dad looking to stay healthy by getting steps in every day. The bottle holder even holds his phone and other valuables.
“While we appreciate handmade cards from the kids, it doesn’t hit the same when you’re 26. Put some sentimental thought into the gift. I never got a picture of my son with my father and the best Father’s Day gift I ever got was my son had photoshopped a picture of all of us together. I burst into tears on sight and still have that photo sitting on my mantle.”
Joseph Davis“You know how mothers always say they want some peace and just a day to themselves, Dads want those too. I’m just saying...”
Lee Washington
“Don’t wait until Saturday evening to try and find us a gift. That’s why so many of us feel like an afterthought, and how we end up with a pair of golf socks.”
Tatum ChristieCigar and favorite drink
Most of the dads we talked to say they’re easy. Get them their favorite cigar and favorite drink and they’ll be in heavan.
Any father rocking a beard, most likely puts a lot of care into it. A beard straighter will give dad a beard all other dads will envy and make him feel 20 years younger.
Wireless
Dad probably has his phone, earbuds and loose change just sitting on the nightstand. This classic wireless charging station and valet tray is made of premium Italian leather, high-grade aluminum, and features
Balfour Beatty is soliciting bids for subcontractors and vendors for construction of control no 0028-01-067, ETC on BU 90-U at IH 610 NE to E of Mesa Rd (Old FM 527), and control no 0598-01-105, ETC on SH 288 at North Macgregor Way to IH 69, bid date is June 27, 2023. Email, mail, or fax quotations to Balfour Beatty, 1114 Lost Creek Blvd, Suite 500, Austin, TX 78746, fax: (512) 707-0798 email: bbiisw@bbus.com. DBE contractors are encouraged to submit bids. Plans and specifications are available to be reviewed at TxDOT Plans Online: https://www.txdot.gov/business/plans-online-bid-lettings.html E.O.E. For information contact Brian Ficzeri at (512) 707-0797.
The HARRIS CENTER For Mental Health and IDD (formally known as Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County) will be accepting Request for Proposal for the following:
LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS / INSPECTION SERVICES
Life Safety Systems / Inspection Services RFP may be secured from The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org beginning Wednesday, June 21, 2023. The Harris Center utilizes Bonfire for their solicitations https://theharriscenter.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities. There will be a Non-Mandatory meeting on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. via Lifesize. Lifesize Meeting Link and ID: https://call.lifesizecloud.com/18364681. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Proposals must be submitted by 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The Harris Center reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
A migraine can cause severe pain, usually on one side of the head, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines can last for hours or days with pain so severe it interferes with normal daily activities. Fortunately, we have prescription medications that target and reduce migraine-specific pain and lifestyle strategies to help lessen severity and occurrences.
Headache vs. migraine
Stress-induced tension headaches usually occur on both sides of the head or neck and are relieved with overthe-counter pain relievers. A migraine, however, tends to occur on only one side of the head, usually lasting between four and 72 hours.
FROM THE DOC
“The right medication taken at the right time, combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes, can help prevent some migraine occurrences.”
Dr. Thomas is associate chief of Neurology at Kelsey-Seybold.
Research suggests migraines are related to blood vessels and electrical changes in the brain that we don’t completely understand. Common triggers include dehydration, sudden changes in weather, bright lights, loud noises, strong odors, red wine, and certain food additives such as MSG. About 1-in-10 Americans suffer migraine attacks with women disproportionately susceptible.
Additional migraine triggers:
• Stress and anxiety.
• Female hormonal changes.
• Overuse of certain medications.
• Poor sleep habits.
• Jet lag.
• Allergic reactions.
• Nitrate-rich foods such as cured meats and hotdogs.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Fatigue.
Certain prescription medications can significantly reduce the pain and duration of an acute attack if taken in the early stages of an evolving migraine, and for patients with frequent migraines who meet specific criteria, in-office Botox injections can offer significant relief. The right medication taken at the right time, combined with selfhelp remedies and lifestyle changes, can help prevent some migraine occurrences. Anyone suffering repeat migraines needs a comprehensive evaluation by a neurologist to discuss treatment options and reclaim their quality of life.
Kelsey-Seybold welcomes new patients and accepts more than 50 health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and many more.
We have 36 convenient locations close to home and work –and still growing!
University of Houston senior Sydni Townsend earned Second-Team All-American honors after finishing ninth at the NCAA women’s track field championships in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.27.
Houston native and WNBA star Brittney
Griner was recently harassed by a social media provocateur at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Griner and her Phoenix
Mercury teammates were catching a flight when a man approached Griner and started yelling
“Merchant of Death.” Griner spent 10 months in a Russian prison before orchestrating a prisoner swap, freeing Griner in exchange for convicted and dangerous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the merchant of death. WNBA teams are not allowed to fly charter, which has long been a criticism of the league. Griner was not harmed during the incident.
University of Texas senior women’s track & field star
Miami forward and Houston native Jimmy Butler scored 28 points on 11 of 24 shooting to lead the Heat to a stunning Game 2 win over Denver during the NBA Finals.
Julien
Alfred
Julien Alfred won the 100 meters, 200 meters and ran the first leg of the 4x100 meter relay team to help the Longhorns women win their fifth national championship during the NCAA Championships in Austin. Alfred clocked a 10.72 in the 100, and 21.73 in the 200 for the fastest all-conditions mark in collegiate history. She is the first woman to win both the 100 and 200 since 2016 and just the third to do so in the last 25 years.
Texas Southern men’s track & field standout triple jumper
Chadrick Williams
wrapped up his season ranked 16th nationally to earn
By Terrance Harris
Dylan Campbell fully embraced the history and expectations that come with the University of Texas baseball program when he committed as a junior at Strake Jesuit.
But Campbell, now a junior outfielder for the Longhorns, is finding living the UT baseball experience is far more exciting than knowing its past.
Chadrick Williams
Second Team AllAmerican honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Williams, competing in his first-ever nationals this past week in Austin, logged a length of 50-10¾ to finish in the top 16. He is only the third Tiger to earn a trip to nationals since 2012.
“It’s been absolutely amazing,” Campbell said during a recent interview with The Defender. “Not everybody in their first two years of college gets to go to the College World Series two years in a row. That has been outstanding for me to be a part of. Last year, I was fortunate enough to play in it.
“It’s surreal. You don’t really know what you are getting into until you are in the mix and in it every single day. Then you realize how special it is.”
While Campbell and his teammates weren’t able to make it three CWS trips in a row after losing to Stanford in the NCAA Super Regionals earlier this week, it was still a season for the record books
for Campbell.
He shattered the consecutive hits record for UT and the Big 12 with a 38-game hitting streak that began in March and didn’t end until the first game of last weekend’s Super Regional matchup against Stanford. But he did manage to extend his on-base streak.
The right-handed batter set the Longhorns’ record with 26 straight games with a hit on May 7 and then broke the Big 12 record with 36 consecutive games during NCAA Regional play against Louisiana. But Campbell, a First-Team All-Big 12 selection, said his attention this season was on winning and not records.
“Honestly, I feel like the mindset has really been trying not to focus on that or any of my individual accolades and accomplishments,” said Campbell, who led the team with a .339 batting average, 82 hits and 26 stolen bases on the year. “I feel like the most important thing is trying to win for the team. I think it will just take care of itself honestly. Where I’m at, I feel like
I should be able to produce for our team offensively. If I’m not trying to do that it will take care of itself if we are just focused on winning the game.”
What’s next for Campbell seems to be the question quite a few people are asking with the MLB Draft coming up next month. But it’s not an issue of major consequence for Campbell, who just might opt to remain in school.
“I have thought about it a little, but I try to limit myself to thinking about so far ahead and just worrying about the present because we are at a crucial part of our season right now,” said Campbell, whose father, Donovan, played baseball at Texas Southern and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves organization in 1988. “I really don’t know yet. I haven’t thought too much about it or talked to my family about whether it’s going to be going to the draft or coming back next year or going to play summer ball. We haven’t put too much thought into that. It will all work out however it’s supposed to work out.”
At the end of every baseball season, the Houston Coaches Baseball Association collects nominations from fellow coaches to assemble two rosters comprised of the top players in the region. This final showdown on the diamond offers these exceptional athletes a chance to compete before embarking on their collegiate journeys. In class 6A, Zion Stephens & Robert Robinson Jr. were two of those athletes who had the opportunity to showcase their skills.
“I was truly blessed to receive the nomi nation today. I want to thank God for the opportunity to come out and play with the best of the best,” said Ridge Point High School senior Zion Stephens.
Stephens grew up playing golf but transitioned to baseball at 9 years old. He played for the Pearland Outlaws in Pearland, Texas before relocating to Georgia where he would join the Georgia Bombers. After returning to Houston, he began playing with Marucci baseball.
“Man, it felt great to get the nomination,” said Heights High School senior Robert Robinson Jr. “I balled during my season and to have coaches notice and nominate me, it is truly a blessing to be out here competing with some of the best in Texas.”
Robinson began playing T-ball in Kingwood, Texas at the age of 3. He joined his father’s select team at the age of six, where he gained experi ence playing against older opponents..
“We were always playing up in age. When we were 6, we played against 8- and 9-yearolds,” said Robinson.
In middle school, Robinson played with a
Class: 2023
IG: @Rjunior.0
Twitter: @RJRobinson_23
Position: First base, catcher
Height & weight: 6-feet-1, 215 pounds
Player he studies: Martín Maldonado (Astros)
Status: Committed to Morehouse College
Favorite artist: Lil Baby
Favorite subject: Calculus
Shout-outs: Mom, dad, sister, Coach Petty
team called Wow Factor, participating in major tournaments across Texas and Atlanta. During his junior season, he decided to take the next step and began attending showcases to increase
Both Robinson and Stephens agree that playing competitive travel baseball helped them elevate their game and prepared them to walk into high school ready to compete on the
“Travel ball really prepared me for my freshman year to have the opportunity to start on varsity and play with the bigger guys,” said Robinson.
“Summer Ball has good competition. Marucci did a good job at getting us to play against the best competition out there. Seeing that level of competition really helped me prepare for the high school level,” said Stephens.
Both Stephens and Robinson Jr. have committed to play baseball at the collegiate level next season. Stephens will be playing at Abilene Christian University, where he plans to major in business management and Robinson will be playing at Morehouse College, where he plans to major in business finance.
“Abilene Christian is a good Christian school. It’s a mid-major that loves to compete, I love the coaching staff, and they have great facilities,” said Stephens.
“Morehouse was a perfect fit for me because it’s an HBCU. The culture’s amazing. I took a visit and stayed in one of the dorms with one of the guys and it felt like a family. I felt like this could really be my home where I could thrive,”
@Zion_Stephens7
@ZionStephens6
Shortstop, second base
Height & weight: 6-feet-
Players he studies: Justin Vassos, Tim Anderson (White Sox), Jose Altuvè (Astros) Committed to Abilene Christian University
Favorite artist: Bryson Tiller
Favorite subject: Calculus Mom, family, God
