Houston Defender: July 12, 2018

NATIONAL

OBAMA EDUCATION SECRETARY SLAMS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION P4

Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

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Volume 87 | Number 37 JULY 12, 2018 |FREE

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NEWSTALK JESSE JACKSON visits Houston to discuss economic injustice

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FEATURE YOLANDA ADAMS inducted as Honorary AKA

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J. PRINCE H O U S T O N N AT I V E

H.S. ZONE BOOKER T.

Rap mogul unleashes in new book H PAGE 5

Beto O’Rourke Who is he?

The El Paso Democrat is running against Ted Cruz for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas. The Defender talked to the 45-year-old lawmaker to find out why the Black community should vote for him.

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Johnny Jones

named TSU coach Texas Southern University continued a trend of bringing in big-name talent to head its basketball program by recently hiring former LSU head coach Johnny Jones as head coach. Find out what’s in store for the former Nevada coach.

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teaching wrestling at Kids Camp

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TOP EVENTS

Kenny Felder, George Springer and Charlise Castro at the George Springer annual bowling event.

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DEFENDER | JULY 12 | 2018

newstalk

Jackson addresses economic injustice Defender News Services

Rainbow PUSH Coalition founder Rev. Jesse Jackson is bringing his fight for economic justice to Houston. The civil rights leader joined Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and several other community leaders recently for a roundtable discussion “We’re facing a struggle for social justice and inclusion of minorities and we’re more committed than ever to seeing that through,” Jackson said.

Jackson talked about the importance of getting 2 million Latinos registered to vote. He said the vote really does matter for men and women of color and other minorities.

“We’re going to fight to register them to vote,” Jackson said. “We’re not going to let them use tricky leaks not WikiLeaks Community leaders joined Rev. Jesse Jackson for a discussion. to stifle our votes. You can use a gun license to vote, but you can’t use your school the number of county contracts awarded to minority and id. That’s tricky, that’s not wiki.” women-owned businesses which Ellis hopes to implement.

He also talked about the border crisis, pushing people He also weighed in on how Harris County Commissioners to fight for the poor, fight for the children and to fight for Court should settle a bail-reform lawsuit, which he called a an equal playing ground. Jackson criticized the Trump major civil rights issue of today. Harris County is currently administration’s now-abandoned policy of separating fighting a costly lawsuit contesting its unjust cash-bail immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico system that keeps poor people behind bars. border.

FIEL Houston, NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League “We work so hard to save kids from caves in Thailand, and other groups were part of the press conference. but not from cages in Texas,” Jackson said. “More and Jackson, 76, long has advocated for civil rights issues. more have less and less. We’ve got to change that. It is a He worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the ‘60s and crime against humanity. It undercuts our moral authority.” founded Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow CoaliJackson also tackled a number of county issues, tion in the 1970s and ‘80s. Jackson sought the Democratic including issuing support of programs designed to increase nomination for president in 1984 and 1988.

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NAACP meets in San Antonio July 14-18 Defender News Services The NAACP’s 109th National Convention, which will be held July 14-18 in San Antonio, will feature a variety of events and workshops designed to mobilize the leaders of tomorrow.

“We live in a time where Black millennials and postmillennials feel that their voices aren’t heard; that their opinions on issues that directly affect them don’t matter to people in positions of power,” said Tiffany Dena Loftin, NAACP Youth and College Division national director.

“Our workshops and events in San Antonio will bring several hundred young people together to show our collective strength, and to ultimately make lasting and impactful change in the communities of Black and Brown people.”

A Youth and College Public Mass meeting will take place on Monday, July 16, and is free and open to the public. It will include a panel discussion with notable organizations that work to advance civil rights alongside the NAACP. The Juanita Jackson Mitchell Dinner: Welcome to Wakanda, the Royal Gala, is Tuesday, July 17.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet activist Tamika Mallory and Terron Moore, senior director of social media for MTV/TRL. Workshops will tackle such topics as using collective power at the ballot box, gun reform, reproductive health and women’s rights and the relationship between the LGBTQIA community and the Black church.

Other highlights include the 40th anniversary of NAACP ACT-SO (Academic, Cultural, Technical and Scientific Olympics) final competition and awards, the Freedom Fund Banquet, plus a health pavilion, retail expo, veterans’ luncheon and a diversity career fair. This year’s convention theme is “Defeat Hate – Vote.”

For more information visit www.naacpconvention.org.

localbriefs THE FAMILY OF RICHARD OVERTON, the nation’s oldest veteran, became emotional after learning that the ex-soldier’s bank restored money stolen from his compromised account. “Man, I teared up. I couldn’t believe it. They made it happen.

The executive of the company said he’d take care of this, and he took care of it,” the World War II veteran’s third cousin Volma Overton said, adding that the family was shocked when a Bank of America executive called to give them the good news. A week earlier, the family of the Austin, Texas man, who was born in 1906, discovered that a large sum of money

was drained from his account. It appears that a thief accessed Overton’s Social Security number and checking account numbers. The money was used to purchase savings bonds with Treasury Direct. Money in Richard Overton’s GoFundMe account, which exceeded $444,000, was untouched in the theft. The family launched the fund-raising campaign in December 2016 to help pay for the 24-hour, in-home care that he needs…….THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PLEASED THAT A court challenge to the 2017 election on the City’s pension bonds has been decided in its favor. State District Judge Mark Morefield dismissed the case. In December 2017, a voter

sued the City to set aside the results of the Nov. 7, 2017 election after Houstonians overwhelmingly approved the pension bonds……..KIDS CAN GET FREE BACK-TOSCHOOL immunizations from the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center and Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Houston/Galveston’s free medical mobile clinic.

The immunization for children in Fort Bend County will take place from 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesday, July 24 at the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center. Participants must be in line prior to 3:30 p.m. to ensure registration. Call 281633-7433 for transportation availability and to make transportation reservations.

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JULY 12 | 2018 | DEFENDER

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national

U.S.briefs

Obama education secretary slams diversity rollback The rollback of the guidance does not change current affirmative action laws, but King predicted that the move would usher in a number of court battles – potentially one at Former Education Secretary John King Jr. expressed the Supreme Court. dismay that the Trump administration is “going backward “In the end, if the Supreme Court ends up backing away on civil rights issues” following the rollback of Obama-era from affirmative action, if we see policies on the use of race to individual universities concerned promote diversity in higher about this new position from the education. federal government changing their The Education and Justice policies, what we could end up with Departments announced is even less access to opportunity for that they rescinded seven talented African-American and Latino Obama-era policy guidelines students,” King said, adding that such on affirmative action. The an outcome would be a “long-term guidance provided examples of disaster for the country.” different educational contexts “The future of the country dewithin which institutions could pends on having African-American, permissibly consider race and Latino and low-income students who answered questions about how get great educational opportunities to interpret Supreme Court and are prepared to lead into the decisions. future,” he said.

King, who served as edu- John King Jr. is critical of the Trump administration’s King said that reversing the cation secretary in the last year assault on affirmative action. guidance could have detrimental of former President Barack effects on K-12 education because it Obama’s second term, called “sends a signal to school districts that the administration is the move “dangerous.” opposed to them thinking about how to create more diverse “It’s dangerous because the truth is African-American and Latino students are significantly underrepresented: under- schools within school districts.”

King accused the Trump administration of using the represented on Ivy League campuses, underrepresented in research universities, underrepresented in flagship state public decision to sow discord in order to rile up its base.

“Diversity is good but this administration is trying to higher-ed institutions, dramatically underrepresented in many frame diversity as something that’s bad,” he said. cases,” King said.

Defender News Services

Anti-gun violence protesters take over Chicago highway Defender News Service

Protestors in Chicago recently shut down a major Chicago highway to protest gun violence in the city.

The “Dan Ryan Shut Down,” as it was billed, was organized by ChicagoStrong, a group of students advocating to reduce gun-related deaths.

“Too many people are shot and killed in our city each week, but our stories never gain national attention. We need America to hear our voices too because Chicago’s problems are America’s problems,” the group states on its website.

“We’re going to disrupt the flow of traffic July 7th to make sure they know we’re serious.”

They were serious.

The marchers started at 79th Street and Dan Ryan, near an “L” stop on the south side of the city, and began moving north on the highway en masse.

Illinois State Police had released a statement saying protesters were allowed to occupy all but two northbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway and that police and transportation authorities would be “providing a safety barrier between the motoring public traveling on the interstate and the marchers.”

However, the protesters — led by the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a prominent activist and Catholic priest in Chicago, as well as the Rev. Jesse Jackson — soon faced a standoff with police, demanding access to the entire highway. Pfleger would later tell the newspaper that they had given police three weeks’ advance notice and that they had permission to occupy all of the lanes.

Eventually, police agreed that the march could take place in the northbound lanes, effectively shutting down the expressway toward downtown Chicago for about an hour, the newspaper reported.

On social media, Jackson said they were marching to draw attention to the growing disparity between what he called two different Chicagos. The south and west sides of the city, he said, faced “growing desperation” because they need jobs, education, infrastructure and justice.

“We came out here to do one thing: to shut it down,” said Pfleger, dressed in a clerical collar and a shirt that depicted raised fists and the words “Enough is Enough: Peace Now!!” according to sources. “We came here to get their attention. Hopefully we got their attention. … Today was the attention getter, but now comes the action.”

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT JUDGE BRETT KAVANAUGH is President Donald Trump’s choice to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump made the announcement at the White House, where he was joined by Kavanaugh and his family. If confirmed, Kavanaugh would make the high court solidly conservative and provide a five-vote majority. Kavanaugh, 53, serves on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit……..

PITTSBURGH DEMONSTRATORS ARE BEING ATTACKED for protesting the death of 17-year-old Antwon Rose. On June 19, Officer Michael H. Rosfeld shot Rose in the back after the teen ran during an investigation of a drive-by shooting. Officials later confirmed he was not involved in the drive-by. Rosfeld was charged with criminal homicide for the shooting of Rose but protesters are still taking to the streets. Two drivers drove their cars through protesters on two separate occasions……..HUD SECRETARY BEN CARSON RELEASING PLANS to raise rent even more for low-income communities. Carson previously unveiled a plan to raise the minimum rent for some of the country’s poorest from $50 per month to $150, in hopes that it would “inspire” people to get off public assistance. Now, GOP officials have introduced a bill that would let state and local housing authorities raise the minimum rent by more than $500 a month on average.……A SAN BERNADINO COUNTY GANG OFFICAL is under internal investigation for a series of offensive posts on social media accounts that have now been deleted. Deputy District Attorney Michael Selyem targeted outspoken U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, former first lady Michelle Obama, Mexican immigrants and the victim of a police shooting in Facebook and Instagram posts.

Of Waters, Selyem said: “Being a loud-mouthed c#nt in the ghetto you would think someone would have shot this b— by now.” Selyem also posted a doctored picture of Mrs. Obama.

VOLUME 87 • NUMBER 37 JULY 12, 2018 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alliance Manager

Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Videographer

Jodie B. Jiles

Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Editor Max Edison Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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JULY 12 | 2018 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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‘The Art & Science of Respect’

Houston rap legend J. Prince releases book

By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender

His book also adds more details on his other ventures: boxing promoter and a landowner and details his meteoric rise to fame as one of the first and most lucrative independent record executives to amass a string of hits on the Billboard charts as well as millions in profit along the way.

It reveals a gripping life story and account of running a cultural movement while being targeted by DEA agents, police officers, and politicians, with one disgruntled

Anyone connected to Houston’s rap scene knows his name. He’s the behind-the-scenes man-of-few-words music mogul who has proven himself to be a giant in hip-hop culture. Now, Rap-A-Lot founder J. Prince is sharing how he rose to success with a new memoir.

Prince has partnered with Jasmine D. Waters, known for her writing on NBC’s “This Is Us,” to pen “The Art & Science of Respect: A Memoir.” The book chronicles his success, celebrity stories, and sage advice honed through years of representing public figures. Prince reveals personal stories and shares his own principles that kept him on top in hip-hop and help keep him relevant until this day.

Prince, who makes no secret that he built his empire in the streets, gives insight on how respect helped in moving into a legal pursuit of money. It’s a dream he’s had since childhood, growing up in Houston’s Fifth Ward, surrounded by poverty.

“I wanted to change my family’s life,” Prince said during a recent television interview. “It was important because all of my life we lived in the projects and I would hear my mom wish for a home. My inspiration Rap-A-Lot founder J. Prince shares the secrets of his success. came from watching her and my grandmother wish for a better life. So around 8 or 9, I vowed that I was going to be the one to break the poverty agent even attempting to take his life. The book serves as curse on my family,” Prince said.

Prince’s testimony to the challenges of surviving the inner At 19 he started Rap-A-Lot Records and became city, the lack of hope that derives from living there, and widely known as the driving force behind icons like Floyd the life rules he believes create success and garner respect.

Mayweather, the Geto Boys, Drake and others.

Prince, who has worked to promote the culture and

art of hip-hop, is now working to promote underprivileged neighborhoods and communities. He has been praised for reaching back and giving others a chance to work in the business, particularly those who had been jailed.

“Once I got in a position of power, I reached out to others who had been to prison and I told them you can’t straddle the fence. If you’re willing to change your life, I will extend an invitation and opportunity to do just that,” Prince said.

He details in the book how he urged Tupac and Biggie to squash their rap-beef, and recently, Prince made news for doing the same with Drake and Pusha T. “It begins with giving respect.

I come from a 114-year-old greatgrandmother who emphasized the importance of respect. I learned and carried it with me on a business and personal level. I was able to live off those same standards that she left me with and they apply today,” he said.

Former Houston Mayor Bill White and the City Council honored Prince for more than 20 years of commitment and dedication to the city. He was also honored alongside fellow industry heavyweights Master P, Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland and Slick Rick at the VH1 7th annual Hip Hop Honors Awards for his creative contributions and philanthropic ventures.

Drake penned the book’s foreword and he and Prince also narrated the audiobook version of the memoir. All versions of the book are available at Amazon.com.

what’sup “Sunday Best” winner LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON is seemingly done with her gospel roots, as a recent expletive-filled rant against the church cost her a spot at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. “Ima tell you like this: I could be on a Kirk Franklin level. I could be on a Mary Mary level. Yolanda Adams, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond. All the gospel greats. All the R&B. Beyoncé, Brandy, if I played the game, I could really be on that level, but I’m not ’bout playin’ no games, though.”

Johnson went on to claim she’s “tired of this sh*t,” saying she refuses to stop cursing or being herself for the sake of being a gospel superstar. Festival

organizers heard Johnson loud and clear, cancelling her appearance during a group performance honoring DOTTIE PEOPLES……..BEYONCÉ and JAY-Z will lead an A-list lineup to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth in a Johannesburg festival by the Global Citizen. The Dec. 2 celebration will be broadcast internationally and center on a theme that includes encouraging world leaders to commit to ending extreme poverty by 2030. This year’s event, titled “Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100,” will also include an appearance by OPRAH WINFREY, who will deliver a keynote address remembering

the anti-apartheid revolutionary and philanthropist on what would have been his 100th birthday…….

Last month, JAMIE FOXX was accused of slapping a woman in the face with his penis. The alleged assault took place in Las Vegas 16 years ago. Foxx adamantly denied the accusations and even threatened to counter sue his accuser.

Now, TMZ reports that the case has been closed and Foxx will not be charged. The Las Vegas Police Department informed TMZ that Nevada’s statute of limitations only lasts for three years. The statute of limitations has been surpassed for suing Foxx as well.

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Who is

BETO

O’Rourke?

El Paso congressman hopes to be U.S. senator in Texas

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t’s a dream of many Texas Democrats to turn the Lone Star State blue. While not impossible, one man in particular would have to be unseated for the tide to turn – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. While others have tried unsuccessfully to unseat Cruz, Congressman Robert “Beto” O’Rourke thinks he’s on tap to actually do it.

O’Rourke has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013 and is a member of the House Committees for Armed Services and Veterans Affairs. He is a native of El Paso, a graduate of Columbia University and a former rock guitarist and El Paso City Councilmember. He and his wife Amy Beto O’Rourke have three children.

The Defender talked to the 45-year-old congressman to find out just who is Beto O’Rourke.

Defender: Why should African-American voters in particular vote for you instead of your opponent?

Beto O’Rourke: The work of the U.S. Senate impacts our communities and the lives of every single Texan – the roads we drive on, the health care we receive, the student loans we take out, the taxes our business and families pay, the federal funding we need to rebuild from Hurricane Harvey, the justices who serve on the Supreme Court, the accountability the Department of Justice has over law enforcement.

I am in this race to represent the people of Texas because we have clear inequities that are holding too many people back in education, housing, criminal justice, transportation, and healthcare, and far too many suffer under policies that do not allow all 28 million of us to be treated with the dignity and respect each of us deserves.

I want to reform our broken criminal justice system through real change. I want to ensure that every single Texan can afford to see a doctor and get the care they need. I want to strengthen our public schools so every child gets a high-quality education no matter what neighborhood they grow up in. I want to not only

represent Texans but elevate their voices in this campaign and beyond.

This campaign is people-led and people-driven. I committed early on to going everywhere, not writing anyone off or taking anyone for granted. Showing up and listening to those we want to represent by holding community conversations all across this state – taking our lead from those we meet along the way in communities like Greenspoint, Sunnyside, DeSoto and Fifth Ward.

Defender: Explain your fourpronged approach to what you hope to accomplish if elected.

O’Rourke: Working together, I want Texas to take the lead on the big, bold, important work of this state and this country – breaking down inequities in the criminal justice system, healthcare, education, and jobs so that we can truly invest in our communities and all Texans. We have to urgently address the imbalances in our criminal justice system that has often been called the new Jim Crow, intentionally holding back people of color and creating a cycle that puts a disproportionate amount of people of color in jail.

That means working together to end mandatory minimums for minor drug offenses, ending the federal prohibition on marijuana, finally putting an end to the war on drugs, and providing an environment that welcomes re-entry from banning the box and returning driver’s licenses to protecting the constitutional right to vote. It also means reforming the perverse incentives that distort the criminal justice system, from ending private and for-profit prisons that create an unending cycle of incarceration to stopping the broken system of bail bonds that punish people for being poor.

I want Texas to take the lead in building a criminal justice system that all Texans can trust. I also want to make sure that every single Texan can see a doctor, afford their prescriptions, and get the care they need – not as a function of luck or circumstance, but as a fundamental right. No family should have to choose between buying their insulin medication or paying for groceries. We

Congressman Beto O’Rourke walking in Mayor Turner’s Juneteenth Parade

must eliminate the stark disparity in health outcomes experienced by communities of color and continue to push for a more equitable healthcare system.

I want Texas – the least insured state in the country – to lead on this: to expand Medicaid; to reduce Texas’ high maternal health rate that is particularly high among African American mothers; to achieve guaranteed, universal health care; and to ensure that every single one of us can be well enough to go to school, to work, and to live to our God-given potential. Every child in Houston and all across Texas deserves to go to a high-quality public school, regardless of their zip code.

We cannot allow Betsy DeVos and Ted Cruz to turn our hardearned tax dollars into vouchers that divert money away from our public classrooms to private schools. We must ensure equity in our classrooms, increase public funding for low income and underserved communities, increase teacher pay, ensure teachers in our classrooms look like the children in their classrooms, and put an end to the school to prison pipeline at a time when our country im-

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Beto O’Ro

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prisons more of our citizens – disproportionately Black and Brown – than any other country on the planet.

As a small business owner, I know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities. I want to ensure Black businesses can access the capital they need to expand; help students leap into entrepreneurship without being saddled with student loans that prohibit opportunities to much needed financing; and invest in job training programs that provide our children with the skills they need to succeed.

As we do that work, I want to make sure that every single Texan is treated with dignity and respect. Meeting the small, petty, and divisive politics of this age with a confidence, courage and strength that could only come from Texas. Ensuring that we are unapologetically proud of the fact that Houston is the most diverse city in the most diverse state in the country.

Defender: What are some of your greatest accomplishments?

O’Rourke: As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I have been proud to work with Democrats and Republicans

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alike to write and pass bills to ensure our service members who have borne the battle for this country are able to get the care they have earned. At a time when 20 veterans a day are taking their own lives, I was able to work with a Republican colleague earlier this year to get legislation signed into law to help make sure that every separating service member receives mental health care screenings.

I also return to El Paso every single month for an in-person, public community conversation so that I can be accountable to my constituents. Anyone can come and ask any question, share any idea, offer any criticism, and I have used that feedback to give urgency and direction to our work in Congress. Since 2013, I’ve held 95 of these public meetings, and they have made me a better, more responsive Representative.

During my time serving on the El Paso City Council, I was proud to lead initiatives that ensured full domestic rights were given to all members of the community. On top of this, I successfully fought to overturn a domestic partnership ban, which had allowed members of our community to be discriminated against and not be

treated with the dignity, respect, and equality we all deserve. I also led a push to end the prohibition on marijuana. As a small business owner, I was proud to launch a new company that invested life into an underserved community, bringing in high-skill, high wage jobs, increasing vitality, and elevating new voices.

Defender: How did you get the name Beto?

O’Rourke: Beto has been my nickname since I was born. It’s part of growing up as a fourth-generation El Pasoan in a binational community. There are people named Beto all across El Paso. Beto is your neighbor, your mailman, your kids’ teacher, your congressman.

Defender: How can people assist with your campaign?

O’Rourke: First of all, people can assist by helping me learn from their experiences and insights. That means coming to our next Houston town hall to join the discussion. People can also get involved by joining a block walk, a phone bank, or a campaign meet-up.

For more info visit www.betofortexas.com.

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DEFENDER | JULY 12 | 2018

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Area women among AKA honorary members Defender News Services

Three women with Houston ties were among those recently named honorary members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which held its 68th Boule in Houston.

They include acclaimed gospel artist and native Houstonian Yolanda Adams, astronaut Dr. Jeanette J. Epps of Johnson Space Center and Teta V. Banks, national chair of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) and a faculty member at Prairie View A&M University.

International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson led the induction ceremony at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. announced the induction of new honorary members sorority’s biennial conference in Houston. She also the host of “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show.” founder Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Harris’ commitment to noted that the sorority, the oldest organization founded by • Teta V. Banks was born in Nigeria. She is the first helping others started at a young age. Through her church Black college-educated women, bestows honorary member- person of African descent to hold the position in the UNAshe served the homeless and worked with the Circle of ship upon women with high ethical standards who have USA’s 70-year history. She leads the council that develops, L.O.V.E program that was started by her grandmother and achieved international recognition for their outstanding recommends and implements programs and advocacy member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Muriel “Puff” Lyle Smith. contributions. initiatives to address human rights issues such as human Harris continues to advocate for women and children in Previous honorary membership inductees include trafficking, poverty, education, environmental justice, her community. She is currently working to eliminate Jada Pinkett-Smith, Maya Angelou, Ntozake Shange, gender equality, global health, injustice, racism and sexism. hostile work environments and workplace bullying.

Alice Walker, Iyanla Vanzant, Ella Fitzgerald, Alicia Keys, Prior to joining UNA-USA, she was executive director of • Margo Lee Shetterly is the author of the book Gladys Knight, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, C. Delores the King Association for Nonviolence, in conjunction with “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Tucker, Suzanne de Passe, Dr. Mae Jemison, Eleanor Roos- the King Center.

Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped evelt, Zina Garrison and C. Vivian Stringer.

• Dr. Jeanette J. Epps was selected in July 2009 as a Win the Space Race.” The book was adapted into the hit “Each of this year’s inductees have demonstrated member of the 20th NASA astronaut class. The New York movie “Hidden Figures.” Shetterly is also the founder of remarkable strength and perseverance to achieve her goals native was a NASA Fellow during graduate school and the Human Computer Project, which is recovering the and have a positive impact on the world,” Buckhanan authored several journal and conference articles describnames and accomplishments of the women who worked as Wilson said.” Most importantly, these women have done so ing her research. She worked for Ford Motor Company computers, mathematicians, scientists and engineers at the with a commitment to serving others, a hallmark of Alpha where she received both a provisional patent and a U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and Kappa Alpha.” patent for her research. She later joined the CIA for seven its successor NASA from the 1930s through the 1980s. In • Yolanda Adams is a five-time Grammy award-win2014, she received the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow years, working as a technical intelligence officer before ning artist. The former teacher is blessed with one of the and was a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grantee. becoming an astronaut. most powerful voices in the industry. Her pioneering blend She is a native of Hampton, Va., where she knew many of • Chantél D. Harris is a human rights activist and of modern gospel, R&B and a touch of jazz continues to the women behind the history of “Hidden Figures.” the great-great granddaughter of Alpha Kappa Alpha inspire her fans and transform the musical landscape. She is

Habitat for Humanity offers homeownership for Harvey-impacted Houstonians Defender News Service

With $125 billion in damage, 88 lives lost, 12,700 homes destroyed and 130,000 in need of repair, Houstonians continue to face a long road to recovery as the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey nears.

Houston Habitat for Humanity is giving a hand up to Harvey-impacted residents by changing its policy so more Houstonians can qualify for its program. The Houston Habitat board recently voted to waive the requirement that applicants be first-time homebuyers through 2019.

“On top of a mounting affordable housing crisis, thousands of Houston-area residents still don’t have a place to call home or are faced with lengthy, expensive home repairs,” said HHFH Executive Director Allison Hay. “Through our ongoing recovery efforts, we see Harvey’s destruction and continued devastation every day. Now, more than ever, our program is essential to provide our neighbors with the safe, affordable housing they need.”

Houston was one of the most severe metropolitan areas in the country before the hurricane when it came to affordable housing shortages. The affordable housing

crisis, a result of stagnant incomes and rising housing prices, has worsened in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

“As we continue to rebuild and revitalize, it’s apparent there’s work left to be done to help Houston communities recover from Hurricane Harvey,” said HHFH Board Chair Sherman Lewis. “Our moral responsibility as an organization is to do everything we can to empower Houstonians to build homes, communities and hope.”

For more information, including a list of qualifications and to apply, visit houstonhabitat.org.

Harris County names adult education director Defender News Services

Stephanie Ross has been named director of the Harris County Department of Education’s Adult Education.

HCDE’s Adult Education division serves approximately 9,000 adults each year, with free classes in English as a second language, GED and workforce development at 50 community locations.

Ross most recently served as campus director for Vista College in Beaumont, where she led the college as executive administrator and launched

three new workforce programs. She has a track record of career successes as a business strategist, academic and workforce program developer and recruitment and enrollment leader.

The Cypress resident holds an MBA from University of Phoenix, a graduate certificate in project management from DeVry University and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Texas Southern University.

Ross is an active member of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators, the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and the National Black MBA Association.

Stephanie Ross

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JULY 12 | 2018 | DEFENDER

9

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7/2/18 1:04 PM

10

DEFENDER | JULY 12 | 2018

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sports

Jones named new TSU basketball coach

By MAX EDISON Defender

Texas Southern University continued a trend of bringing in big-name talent to head its basketball program by recently hiring former LSU head coach Johnny Jones as head coach.

Jones comes to TSU after spending a season as associate head coach at the University of Nevada.

He helped guide the program to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. He becomes the 15th head coach in program history.

Jones brings an impressive resume to TSU. He played at LSU from 1980-84 and was an assistant coach under Dale Brown for 13 seasons. He had an 11-year stint as head coach at the University of North Texas. There, he compiled a record of 190146 overall, leading the Mean Green to two NCAA appearances.

He enjoyed a five-year span as head coach at his alma mater compiling a 90-72 record. His 90 victories at the university was the most of any coach at LSU in their first five years. Overall, his 17 year head coaching record is 295-234.

After a nationwide search, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Charles McClelland decided Jones was his guy.

“He has all the credentials,” McClelland said.

“What we wanted to do is present him an opportunity to continue our legacy. Our legacy is hanging banners. My commitment to him was we would continue to be the top-funded program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. We’re going to give him the tools that are necessary for him to continue the championship run.”

For his part Jones knows what he’s walking into at TSU. “I’m not coming here cold turkey,” he said.

“I’ve been very familiar with this program, following [former coach Mike] Davis. When I saw this job open I knew it was something I had to go after.

It has a great deal of potential.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Jones said. “I’ve been the head coach at the University of Memphis, University of North Texas and LSU; taking advantage of this great situation here at Texas Southern is second to none.

All of those opportunities were rebuilds and you never know what you’re going to get. This program is on solid footing. When you have something that’s on a solid foundation its special.

“We will be very aggressive in terms of our approach to recruiting, going after some of the top players in the country, in the state and the bordering states. We won’t take a back seat to anyone and they’ll know exactly who we are. This is a championship program,” Jones said.

Jones was w elcomed by

TSU Presiden t

Dr. Austin La

ne.

ll e TSU basketba ke charge of th ta ill w s ne Jo Coach Johnny s by Earlie Hudnall) to program. (Pho

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Charles as TSU VP Dr. said Jones “h nd lla le cC M ” s. ential all the cred

Jones was joined by his wife Kelli and daughter Jillian at the announcement of his hiring.

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h.s.zone

JULY 12 | 2018 | DEFENDER

11

Booker T’s Kids Camp offers alternative

By JODIE B. JILES Defender

Robert Booker Tio Huffman – professionally known as Booker T – is a hall of fame icon in pro wrestling. The Fifth Ward native competed in the ring for over 28 years. He is a former champion of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

Booker T can also be seen on local television commercials and heard on his podcast, “Heated Conversations.” He took time to talk to the Defender about the upcoming ROW (Reality of Wrestling) Jr. Kids Camp Wrestling Program.

Defender: Describe the Kids Camp wrestling program.

Booker T: It’s my wife Sharmell’s brainchild. She created it. We are in our third year of doing Kids Camp. The camp is a program for ages 8-15 and it’s a week-long program for beginners, intermediate and advanced students.

They get a chance to become and create the character that they want to be. Sometimes they want to create their own characters but sometimes they might want to [imitate stars such as] Finn Balor, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin or Booker T. Wrestling champ Booker T hosts an annual camp for young people.

That’s what’s really cool about it.

They learn a skill set, comradery, seen as a result of young brotherhood and kinship over @defendernetwork.com people attending the camp? the week here at the gym. They Booker T: We have a One-on-One with Booker T work on their character, they lot of success stories. We work on their promos and they have one kid who’s deaf and work on their wrestling. They he comes to every Kids Camp. You get a chance to become a learn a technique and on Friday they get a chance to actually perform in front of all of their fans consisting of their moms, dads, superhero on that day. I’ve seen his confidence grow. We have one little girl and she’s been to every Kids Camp. She is one aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers and more. of my most awesome students. She comes out and performs By the time we fill this place up on Friday with the parents at a very high level. Her confidence is way over the top and and the relatives it’s normally a full house. We film it and we for us to be able to help her gain that confidence is very, very produce it just like it’s a real wrestling show and let the kids go important. I think that’s what kids camp does for a lot of out there and have fun. There is nothing like a childhood first and these kids more than anything. It lets them know they can foremost and having one is very special. be anything that they want to be in life, but it all comes with Defender: What are some of the values youth learn during a little hard work. That is what the week is for – to let them the camp?

Booker T: Teamwork is the dreamwork. It’s more important than anything at Kids Camp. Everybody pulls for each other Booker T’s favorites because it’s not about winning or losing or anything like that.

They don’t actually wrestle each other; they wrestle a couple of Favorite wrestler: Roman Reigns our students that put the mask on, go out and make everything Favorite food: Crab safe. Safety comes first. This is not something that you want to Hobbies: Golf, video games try at home because you can really get hurt. We actually promote Favorite movie: “Rambo” that and for these kids to go out there and put that to work for us is What he loves: Family pretty awesome.

What he dislikes: Bad drivers Defender: What are some of the success stories you have

Booker T’s ROW Jr. Kids Camp July 16-20, 10 a.m-2 p.m.

World Gym Arena, 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Texas City, Texas Ages 8-15

know it’s not just about playing around, you have to really be serious. It starts at a young age and I think these kids are pretty awesome.

Defender: What is your response to parents concerned about safety in wrestling?

Booker T: I think parents should be concerned about their children in wrestling. I think they should be concerned about them walking across the street. I think they should be concerned about them just messing around at [a fast food] playland. It’s a parent’s job to be concerned about their kids.

I’ve been in professional wrestling for many, many years.

I’ve never had one bad story about professional wrestling and I’ve never heard of one bad event. Wrestling is a familyfriendly affair. Parents should investigate what their kids are doing and I think if they look into professional wrestling they will see that it is harmless.

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12

DEFENDER | JULY 12 | 2018

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

topevents

LUC MBAH A MOUTE CHARITY SOCCER GAME……..The Afro Culture activating millennials, organizing rides to the polls and more. Other attendees Weekend featured Houston Rockets player Luc Mbah A Moute Charity Soccer included Kim Topps, HISD Board President Rhonda Skillern Jones, Maisha Game, helping youth locally and in Moute’s home country of Cameroon. Players Walker, Susan Bynam, Councilmembers Martha Castex-Tatum and Dr. consisted of some of the most legendary soccer players in the world, NBA players, Sharon Shaw-McEwen and countless others……..GEORGE SPRINGER’S Olympics Nigerian bobsled team member Seun Adigun and local celebrities.

4th ANNUAL ALL-STAR BOWLING BENEFIT……..Bowlmor Houston was Attendees included event organizer Nathan Kouamou, U.S. Rep. Sheila the sight of Astro George Springer’s 4th Annual All-Star Bowling Benefit with Jackson Lee, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Trae tha Truth, proceeds helping to send children from families in need to Councilmember Amanda Edwards, Keisha Nicole (97.9 the Camp SAY, a summer camp for young people who stutter.

Defender TOP EVENTS Taro Alexander, founder of SAY (Stuttering Association for Box), Judith Miller, Nerissa Lawford, Ngum Suh, Mazda More photos on defendernetwork.com Denon, Omar Orozi and many more……..AKA TAKE the Young) was on hand with event chairs Dr. Carolyn Farb, ACTION NOW FORUM….. As part of Alpha Kappa Lara Bell and Melissa Deayala to welcome celebrity bowlers Alpha’s 68th Boule, the sorority hosted a Take Action Now and fans alike. Over 70 million people stutter on a daily basis, Forum at the George R. Brown Convention Center featuring panelists U.S. Sen. including 5 percent of all children. Attendees included Springer’s wife Charlise Kamala Harris, U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, Alma Adams, Frederica Wilson Castro, Laura and George Springer II (parents), Chester Pitts (former Texan), and Terri Sewell, and AKA International President Dr. Dorothy Buckhanan Chita Craft (KHOU), Dan Pastorini (former Oiler), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Wilson, with moderator Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (former Baltimore mayor).

(NBA), Tony Sipp (Astros), Kasey Sipp, Defender Sports Editor Max Edison, The main topic was organizing to maximize voter turnout this November, including Kim Padgett, Amber Elliott and scores more.

Mazda Denon, Olympian Seun Adigun

Luc Mbah A Moute, Yves

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a soror, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris

Dr. Sharon Shaw-McEwen, Kim Topps

Kenny Felder, George Springer, Charlise Springer

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Chester Pitts

Shakira Wardally, Trae tha Truth

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell

Kasey Sipp, Tony Sipp, Sabrina Lusa

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