Houston Defender: July 18, 2019

FEATURE

BLACKS SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN WHITES TO BE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF MURDER P4

Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

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Volume 88 | Number 38 JULY 18, 2019 |FREE

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NEWSTALK AL GREEN vows to bring impeachment vote to House

SPECIAL EDITION

BLACK WOMEN’S HEALTH GUIDE

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NATIONAL ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ

responds to Trump’s racist tweets

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HS SPORTS JOSHUA CEPHUS does it all at Dekaney

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Uzo Aduba

Russell Westbrook

While it was originally centered around the privileged white character, the supporting characters of the Netflix show, “Orange is the New Black,” including Aduba have become breakout stars.

Westbrook and James Harden are together again, and Chris Paul is leaving Houston to make that reunion happen. The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Westbrook to the Rockets for Paul in a swapping of top point guards.

breakout star

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TOP EVENTS

heading to Rockets

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Abena Adu, Bernard Johnson and Jenise Griffin at BLCK Market Houston.

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DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2019

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Rep. Green led vote on Trump impeachment Defender News Services Congressman

Houston Congressman Al Green Al Green said plans to bring a vote to impeach President Trump is unfit to hold President Donald Trump to the House office. of Representatives by the end of the month.

The Texas Democrat was among the first to call for Trump’s impeachment in 2017. He said that he would seek to force the House to take a vote by the end of this month, as any member of the House can bring an impeachment resolution to the floor.

Green forced two procedural votes in December 2017 and January 2018 on impeaching Trump when Republicans controlled Congress, and they were both defeated 364-58 and 355-66.

“Before the end of this month there will be another vote on the floor of the House of Representatives to impeach this president, who has demonstrated clearly that he is unfit to hold the

office,” Green said.

Green said he decided to move forward with another impeachment resolution because things “came to a boiling point,” citing Trump’s recent tweets as well as immigration raids and other issues.

Green’s desire to force an impeachment vote could create a tricky situation for House leadership and many rank-and-file Democrats who want the caucus to focus on other issues.

The timing could be even further complicated because of special counsel Robert Mueller’s upcoming testimony, the last week that the House is slated to be in session. Green said he would force the vote before the August recess.

Green called Trump a “racist bigot” and said those views have carried into his policies. He said that is not something people

in America should tolerate, and he believes he can get the majority of the House, regardless of their political affiliation, to agree.

“This is not about the Mueller Report,” said Green. “The Mueller Report deals principally with obstruction. This is not about obstruction. There is no need for anyone to cease with any aspect of what’s going on with the Mueller Report. We can impeach this president for his bigotry in policy that is harming our society.”

After the resolution is introduced, House leaders would have two legislative days to consider it, the aide said, and then either debate the resolution, vote to refer it to committee or vote to table – in effect to kill – the measure.

The question of impeachment has swirled among House Democrats since they took power this year, and now more than 80 Democrats are calling for the House to open an inquiry, the first step toward voting on articles of impeachment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have opposed beginning an impeachment inquiry, arguing that the public is not with them yet to take such a divisive step. Green said he was undeterred by the speaker’s opposition.

TSU Law School names dean Defender News Service

Elected official celebrated

Several Ft. Bend County elected officials were celebrated at their home church of Windsor Village UMC. Members of the congregation greeted Ft. Bend County Judge-Court at Law 5 Teana Watson, Missouri City Councilman Chris Preston, Missouri City Mayor Yolanda Ford, Windsor Village Pastors Suzette Caldwell and Kirbyjon Caldwell, and Ft. Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton.

Joan R.M. Bullock, professor emerita and former president and dean of Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, has been named the new dean of Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Joan R.M. Bullock Bullock is the 10th and the first female dean in the law school’s leadership history. Bullock’s appointment follows the recent, two-year chief administrative officer stint by acting dean, Gary L.

Bledsoe.

Her responsibilities include leading and managing law school operations, advancing a vision for the school’s future, fundraising, and building and sustaining partnerships and strong relationships with alumni of the law school and university.

Bullock, a Michigan-licensed attorney, CPA and strategic planning and business development expert, has more than 30 years of law school experience as an educator and administrator.

localbriefs HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES affected by severe storms in May are now eligible for low-interest, long-term loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Kingwood residents were particularly hard hit with flooding from rain on May 7 and 8. Representatives will be available at a Disaster Loan Outreach Center, William Travis Building, First Floor Meeting Room, 301 Jackson Street in ​​ Richmond, to discuss options. Call 800-877-8339 or visit disasterloan.sba.gov/ela……..FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICIALS are pushing back against accusations of harassment from a New England Patriots linebacker. In March, Elandon

Roberts was stopped for a basic speeding violation.

Dash cam footage showed that a Fort Bend patrol car followed Roberts and stopped him right as he parked in the driveway of his own home. The video showed Roberts getting out of his car and a deputy ordering him to get back in the vehicle, referring to Roberts as a “big Black male” and didn’t tell him the charge until nine minutes after being stopped. Officials said the deputy was reprimanded for the length of the traffic stop and the way he addressed Roberts’ fiancée. The deputy has also undergone two remedial trainings. The sheriff said he met with Roberts and apologized about the length of the traffic stop. Roberts

reportedly felt comments were “demeaning” and amounted to harassment……SPRING ISD PARENTS AND FAMILIES SEEKING TO get the 2019-20 school year off to a strong start are invited to attend the district’s 2019 Back to School Expo, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, at Dekaney High School. The event will feature a family resource fair, free immunizations and other health and wellness resources, plus back-to-school giveaways to help make sure students are ready for the start of the new school year on Aug. 14. For more information, contact 281-891-6019 or tcarroll@ springisd.org.

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JULY 18 | 2019 | DEFENDER

national

U.S.briefs TROPICAL DEPRESSION BARRY DIDN’T UNLEASH catastrophic flooding in Louisiana, but many residents across the Gulf Coast were urged to take heed of tornado and flash-flood warnings as the storm moved north. Barry was downgraded from a tropical storm but continued to pose a threat as it made landfall. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said he was “extremely grateful” that the storm had not caused the disastrous floods that had earlier been forecast. More than 90 people had been rescued in 11 parishes…….. A MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ON FEDERAL HATE CRIMES for deliberately driving his car into anti-racism protesters during a white nationalist rally in Virginia received another life sentence, plus 419 years. James Alex Fields Jr. 22, was sentenced for killing one person an injuring dozens during the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017.

Last month, Fields received a life sentence for 29 federal hate crime charges. Under state law, Judge Richard Moore was allowed to go lower than the jury’s recommendation, but cannot go higher…..A GROUP OF BLACK ATLANTA SCHOLARS TOOK HOME the title at an annual debate competition hosted by the Harvard Debate Council. It was the second consecutive year that the Atlanta Great Debaters won the international tournament organized by the Ivy League school. In preparation for the debate the team, which is predominately comprised of students of color, participated in a two-week summer program focused on public speaking, competitive debating and political science. After the workshops the students ended their experience with a program tournament, competing against over 400 scholars from around the globe. “It sends a message to the world to what African-American youth are capable of, if they are given access and opportunities,” said Brandon P. Fleming, founder of the Harvard Diversity Project.

VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 38 JULY 18, 2019 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler

Strategic Alliance Manager

Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers

Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison

Editors ReShonda Tate Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For digital subscriptions, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com/ subscribe. No paper subscriptions are available. All material covered by 2019 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were among four members of Congress targeted by President Donald Trump. His tweets were criticized as racist.

Trump digs in amid racist tweets about lawmakers Associated Press

Injecting race into his criticism of liberal Democrats, President Donald Trump said four congresswomen of color should go back to the “broken and crime infested” countries they came from, ignoring the fact that all of the women are American citizens and three were born in the U.S. His attack drew a searing condemnation from Democrats who labeled the remarks racist and breathtakingly divisive.

Even as White House officials moved to defend his incendiary tweets, Trump refused to apologize and instead asked on Twitter when “the Radical Left Congresswomen” would “apologize to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul language they have used, and the terrible things they have said.”

“So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions!” he wrote.

Asked whether Trump’s comments were racist, Marc Short, chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, defended Trump, telling reporters he had been responding to “very specific” comments made by Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who was born in Somalia, and was not making a “universal statement.”

But Trump didn’t make that distinction in his tweets.

He cited “Congresswomen” – an almost-certain reference to a group of women known as “the squad” that includes Omar, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

“I don’t think that the president’s intent any way is racist,” said Short, repeatedly pointing to Trump’s decision

to choose Elaine Chao, who was born outside the country, as his transportation secretary.

“The administration is welcoming of all nationalities into the United States,” he said.

Even as Short spoke, Trump, who has a long history of making racist remarks, continued to fan the flames, tweeting that, “If Democrats want to unite around the foul language & racist hatred spewed from the mouths and actions of these very unpopular & unrepresentative Congresswomen, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.”

Following a familiar script, Republicans remained largely silent after Trump’s broadsides that caused Democrats to set aside their internal rifts to rise up in a united chorus against the president.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump wants to “make America white again,” while Ocasio-Cortez said Trump “can’t conceive of an America that includes us.”

“Mr. President, the country I ‘come from,’ & the country we all swear to, is the United States,” she tweeted, adding that, “You rely on a frightened America for your plunder.” Omar also addressed herself directly to Trump in a tweet, writing: “You are stoking white nationalism (because) you are angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda.”

Ocasio-Cortez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was born in the Bronx, N.Y, and raised in suburban Westchester County. Pressley, the first Black woman elected to the House from Massachusetts, was born in Cincinnati.

Omar, the first Somali native elected to Congress and one of its first Muslim women, was born in Somalia but spent much of her childhood in a Kenyan refugee camp.

She immigrated to the United States at age 12. Tlaib was born in Detroit.

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DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2019

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Blacks more likely to be wrongfully convicted NNPA Newswire

Blacks are seven times more likely than whites to be wrongfully convicted of murder and three times more likely than whites to be wrongfully convicted of sexual assault.

This is all according to the Innocence Project, which recently shared the harsh reality of being Black behind bars and the survival mechanisms innocent people employ to overcome being wrongly convicted.

“From their very first interaction with the police, to being arrested, booked, charged, convicted, and sentenced, Black people are discriminated against and disproportionately criminalized at every stage of the criminal justice system,” said the report, #BlackBehindBars: Sparking a Conversation on the Black Wrongful Conviction Experience in the U.S. The report, which focuses on incarcerated individuals that have benefitted from the efforts of the Innocence Project, notes that to be a Black exoneree in America means: • You are one of the 222 Blacks of the 365 total exonerees of all races, proved innocent by DNA since 1989, when the first exoneration by DNA occurred. This includes the 84

Blacks on death row that were exonerated (from a total of 164 exonerees of all races) • You spent an average of 10.7 years behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit vs. 7.4 years for white exonerees (approximately 25 percent longer, on average) “How many people are convicted of crimes they did not commit?” asked Samuel R. Gross, a law professor at the

University of Michigan, and the editor of the National Registry of Exonerations in a 2015 opinion piece for the Washington Post.

“Last year, a study I co-authored on the issue [showed] that 4.1 percent of defendants who are sentenced to death in the United States are later shown to be innocent: 1 in 25.”

“Death sentences are uniquely well-documented. We don’t know nearly enough about other kinds of criminal cases to estimate the rate of wrongful convictions for those,” said Gross.

“I was 21 years old when I was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison,” said exoneree Jabbar Collins.

“I spent the next 16 years of my life there, all while prosecutors hid crucial evidence, and yet, not one prosecutor who hid evidence was punished or disciplined. I ask you, how is this fair?”

Collins said.

Black people in the United States have never been given a presumption of innocence in the criminal justice system, said Karen Thompson, the Innocence Project senior staff attorney.

“Their entire relationship to justice is not a standard of not guilty but one of not guilty yet.”

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HONORING HEROES. CELEBRATING ART. Join AARP at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum on SATURDAY, JULY 27, as we celebrate National Buffalo Soldiers Day. During this Military Inspired Art exhibition, African-American service members will showcase their artwork alongside other contemporary artists. Come help us honor their bravery and heroism as we celebrate their artistry and creativity.

Learn more by calling 1-877-926-8300 or visiting aarp.org/houston

The event is free and lasts from 10AM – 5PM. Register today to get into painting workshops, dance classes and a breakout session on caregiving and other issues affecting veterans and military families.

Image courtesy of Center for African American Military History

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JULY 18 | 2019 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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Uzo Aduba, Samira Wiley, Laverne Cox and Danielle Brooks are among the women of color who found success on “Orange is the New Black.” The final season begins July 26 on Netflix.

‘Orange is the New Black’ last season

Series leaves legacy for women of color

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Associated Press

rom corrupt, brutal overseers to the fraught world of inmate hierarchy to unlikely friendships and romances, “Orange is the New Black” told deeply rich and complex stories about life for women behind bars that resonated far beyond prison walls.

While it was originally centered around the privileged white character of Piper Chapman (played by Taylor Schilling), the supporting characters – some quirky, some volatile, some comic, some tragic – became the show’s breakout stars.

The award-winning Netflix series also became a showcase for actresses of color.

Uzo Aduba won the dramedy’s only acting Emmys, while Emmy-nominee Laverne Cox, Danielle Brooks and Samira Wiley all gave masterful performances that lifted their careers far beyond life in Litchfield federal penitentiary.

As the hit dramedy winds down with the seventh and final season on July 26, those actresses take a look back at the profound impact the series had on their lives.

ADUBA (Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren)

A not-so-funny thing happened to Uzoamaka Nwanneka Aduba on her way to audition for a different part on the show: She was late.

Aduba, 38, had been trying professionally for about 10 years, with small victories, but she quit after her tardiness, thinking maybe a law career was the way to go as her parents, of Nigerian descent, preferred.

That’s when the life-changing phone call came. There was bad news: She didn’t get the part of track star-inmate Janae Watson. But there was also good: She was offered Crazy

Eyes instead, though only for a couple of guest appearances.

Aduba’s role was extended and she won two Emmys, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe.

Now, with her higher profile, she has a goal: “I am trying to tell the stories of the missing, the people and the voices that are missing in the tapestry.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Upcoming projects include the film “Beats” and the FX series “Mrs. America.”

COX (Sophia Burset)

The LGBTQ activist didn’t quit her day job at the drag spot Lucky Cheng’s in Manhattan until after the first season of “Orange” wrapped. But it wasn’t long until she made history as the first trans person on the cover of Time magazine.

So much has changed for Cox in the show’s seven-year run.

“Seven years ago I turned 40 and I had not had the big breakthrough in my acting career that I had wanted. I was in tons of debt. I thought it was time for me to do something else,” she told the AP. “I was like, ‘I should go back to graduate school’ and I bought some GRE study materials from a friend of mine.”

Cox was the first openly trans person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category and the first to be nominated for any Emmy since composer Angela Morley in 1990.

WHAT’S NEXT: She has several projects pending, including the film “Promise Young Woman.”

BROOKS (Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson)

As the brash Taystee, Brooks showed the way not just for other actors of color, but for women of size.

The Augusta, Georgia-born Brooks was well on her way doing theater when “Orange” happened after she graduated with a bachelor’s from the Juilliard School.

Brooks is also a singer, earning a Tony nomination for Sofia (Oprah’s film part) in the 2015 Broadway production of “The Color Purple.”

The 29-year-old Brooks was working as a waitress in New York City when her agent got her an audition for “Orange,” though initially only two episodes were promised.

“It has completely changed my life,” Brooks said.

She believes it also opened doors for nontraditional shows featuring full casts of color on TV. WHAT’S NEXT: She appears in the film “Clemency” and is working on an EP. She is also expecting her first child.

WILEY (Poussey Washington)

Wiley was a bartender for two and a half years after she, too, graduated Julliard when she auditioned for “Orange.” There were no promises that lesbian character Poussey would be a recurring role. After she got the job, she stayed at Fred’s Restaurant in Manhattan for the first couple of seasons.

“I didn’t want to be stupid about it and quit my job and then end up nowhere,” she said.

Like her character, Wiley is gay. Raised in Washington, D.C., Wiley’s sexuality was embraced by her liberal pastor parents, which she considers key to her success. She’s now an advocate for LGBTQ, immigration and prison reform causes.

Wiley won three Screen Actors Guild Awards for Poussey. She went on to receive an Emmy nomination in 2017 for her portrayal of Moira in the Hulu series “The Handmaid’s Tale” and won an Emmy for that part the following year.

WHAT’S NEXT: Wiley appears in the film “BIOS” and is working in a comedy, “Breaking News in Yuba County.”

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DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2019

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Trailblazer Dr. Edith Irby Jones remembered

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By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

r. Edith Irby Jones, a nationally known medical pioneer who established a practice in Houston’s Third Ward, died July 15 at age 91. She is being remembered as a dedicated physician who cared about her patients and her community.

As a trailblazer, she was the first Black student to attend the University of Arkansas Medical School, the first Black woman resident at Baylor College of Medicine and the first woman president of the National Medical Association (NMA).

Dr. William Lawson, pastor emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, knew Dr. Jones for more than 50 years.

“It is important that she be remembered as a person who was not just a doctor, but a person who made many personal contributions to the lives of her patients and to people who were not her patients,” Dr. Jones began practicing medicine in the 1950s during a time of segregation. he said. “I first met her husband ily members to typhoid. [the late Dr. “I was inspired to become a docJames B. Jones] tor with the death of my sister,” she when he was dean recalled.

“I felt that if I had been a of students at Texas physician, or if there had been other Southern Univerphysicians who would have been availsity and I met Edith able, or if we had money adequately – through him. which may not be true – that this physician “The most important The late Dr. Edith Irby Jones would have come to us more frequently and thing that can be said about that she would not have died.” her is that she always mainShe pursued higher education with the tained her sense of citizenship in the help of others.

A high school teacher helped African-American community and she always her obtain a scholarship to historically Black maintained her faith. She was a staunch memKnoxville College in Knoxville, Tenn. ber of Antioch Baptist Church,” Lawson said.

African-Americans in Little Rock and across “And she was a constant contributor to educaArkansas contributed to her medical school tion and was always available for schools. Her fund, high school alumni helped pay for her passing turns a page in history in Houston.” tuition and a Black newspaper, the Arkansas Dr. Wanda Mott, a Houston obstetrician State Press, paid for her living expenses. and gynecologist, knew Dr. Jones for more than Her enrollment in a white Southern 25 years and admired her pioneering efforts in Dr. Jones was the first woman to lead the National Medical Association, the largest and oldest medical school made national headlines yet medical school and beyond. national organization representing African-American physicians and their patients. she still encountered segregation. She was “Dr. Jones went on to open a practice in not allowed to use the same dining, lodging or the inner city whereas many people are more bathroom facilities as other students.

While in Care Act would transform and facilitate access to interested in their economic growth,” Mott said. medical school she met and married her husband. affordable quality medical care, Dr. Jones was there, “She was much more focused on giving back to the After receiving her M.D. in 1952, Dr. Jones practiced opening her doors to those who needed access to community and she often spoke to students about in Hot Springs, Ark. before moving to Houston for her medical care.” their commitment to the care of others.” residency at Baylor. She remained segregated with limited Jackson Lee added that Dr. Jones did not let age Mott said Dr. Jones’ commitment made her a patient rosters and finished her training at Freedman’s Hosslow her down. pillar of the community. pital (now Howard University Hospital) in Washing“Well into her later years, Dr. Jones continued “She took an interest in her patients and the ton, D.C. In 1962, she set up a private practice in to work, because she recognized the importance people who she worked with, and she gave of herHouston. of her mission – to help those in need any way she self on a regular basis.”

In addition to her election as NMA president could. I will remember her for all these reasons, but Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said Dr. in 1985, she was active in the American Medical also for her joy.

Dr. Jones was always full of joy and Jones understood how health care could transform Women’s Association and Planned Parenthood and had a love of life, which was infectious.” the lives of the less fortunate. sponsored the establishment of a medical clinic in Dr. Jones was born near Conway, Ark. in 1927 “She was a civic leader, always one to render Haiti.

She was a member of Delta Sigma Sorority, and was the daughter of a sharecropper and doaid, give advice and counsel,” Jackson Lee said. “In Inc. mestic worker.

As a child, she couldn’t walk for 18 a world dominated by men, she made her mark as a Dr. Jones’ survivors include three children, months due to illness. Her father died in an accident role model for women throughout our community Myra, Keith and Gary. Funeral services are pending. when she was 8 and she lost a sister and other famand the nation. And, long before the Affordable

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health

JULY 18 | 2019 | DEFENDER

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Defender Special Edition

things about women’s health

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here have been numerous improvements in the overall health of women over the years. In the last 30 years alone, women are living longer, fewer women are dying from breast cancer and awareness of mental health issues has increased.

While there have been improvements in minority women’s health as well, many women of color continue to lag behind white women in a number of areas, including access to care, timeliness and outcomes. Here are 10 things to know about women’s health:

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The life expectancy at birth for American women is 81.1 years compared to 78.7 years for men. The life expectancy for white women (81.3 years) is higher than that of Black women (78.3). The life expectancy of American women ranks far below Asian and European women, whose life expectancies range from 87 to 90 years.

The 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act – Obamacare – is seen as the most important advance in women’s health policy since Medicare became law in 1965. The law increases the number of American women who can get health insurance and lowers the costs of health care for many women.

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African-American women have the highest rates of being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the U.S. About four out of five African-American women are overweight or obese. African-American girls are 50 percent more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white girls.

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Excess weight can increase the risk for many health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease, kidney disease and pregnancy problems.

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There has been a decrease in the number of women who smoke. In 1985, 28 percent of adult women in the U.S. reported smoking. In 2016, that figure fell to 13.5 percent. Cigarette smoking is the No. 1 risk factor for lung cancer.

The good news is lung cancer death rates have been declining for African-American women since 2003.

By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

. Fewer women are dying from AIDS due to the introduction of highly active antiretroviral drugs. Although HIV/ AIDS affects more African-American women and Latinas compared with other women, new HIV infections among Black women have decreased since 2008.

There has been an increase in breastfeeding among women. Today, 77 percent of mothers initiate breastfeeding after birth and 49 percent are still breastfeeding six months after birth. In addition to the benefits breastfeeding brings to infants, breastfeeding moms are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer, and postpartum

depression. Although differences still exist in breastfeeding rates between racial and ethnic groups, the gaps are getting smaller.

Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, is three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women. It also occurs at a younger age and is more severe. It is not known why lupus is more common in African-Americans, but some scientists think that it is related to genes. Hormones and environmental factors also play a role.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Leading causes of death in Black women

1. Heart disease 2. Cancer 3. Stroke 4. Diabetes 5. Alzheimer’s disease 6. Chronic lower respiratory diseases 7. Unintentional injuries 8. Kidney disease 9. Septicemia (blood infection) 10. Hypertension

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The racial disparity in maternal death rates continues to be a problem. Black mothers die at a rate that’s 3.3 times greater than whites, and Native American or Alaskan Native women die at a rate 2.5 times greater than whites.

The U.S. teen birth rate is at an all-time low. Since 1991, the rates of teen pregnancy have dropped by half. In 2013, birth rates for U.S. teens 15-19 years old dropped to a record low not seen since 1946. The decline in teen pregnancies crossed all races and ethnicities.

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DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2019

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health

Diabetes:

Frequently asked questions

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Defender News Services

frican-Americans are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as whites and are more likely to suffer complications such as end-stage renal disease and lower extremity amputations. The difference is even greater between Black women and white women. A 2018 study by Northwestern University School of Medicine found that the obesity problem plaguing Blacks is driving the differences.

Here are frequently asked questions about the disease.

Q. What is diabetes?

A. Diabetes is a long-lasting condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin, which acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy.

If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should.

When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease.

Q. Who’s at risk for diabetes?

A. A. You’re at risk if you have prediabetes, are over-

weight, African-American, 45 years or older, physically active less than three times a week, have ever had diabetes during pregnancy or given birth to a baby who weighed more than nine pounds, or have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes.

Q. What are the types of diabetes?

A. There are three main types: • Type 1 diabetes – It is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake) that stops your body from making insulin. About 5 percent of the people who have diabetes have type 1. It’s usually diagnosed

in children, teens and young adults.

• Type 2 diabetes – With type 2, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels.

About 90 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more and more in young people).

• Gestational diabetes – It develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. It usually goes away after your baby is born but increases your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.

Q. What is prediabetes?

A. Prediabetes means a person’s blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than normal, but not high enough yet for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. In the U.S., 84.1 million adults – more than 1 in 3 – have prediabetes, but 90 percent of them don’t know it.

Q. How can I reverse prediabetes?

A. There are four steps you can take: 1. Manage your weight – Losing just 5-7 percent of your body weight can make the difference in reducing your risk.

2. Get active – Get at least 2.5 hours of moderately intense activity every week.

3. Eat healthier – Eat more fresh vegetables and fruit. Cut back on salt, sugar, fat and certain starchy foods.

4. Don’t smoke – Smokers are 30 to 40 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers, and smokers with diabetes are more likely to have trouble with insulin dosing and controlling the disease.

Sources: American Diabetes Association, CDC

Message from the Publisher

M Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

any women lead hectic lives. We take care of children and grandchildren, hold down jobs, run businesses, spend time with our mates, keep our houses in order, make ends meet, attend school, volunteer with organizations and go to church.

The question is, how’s our health? With so much going on, do we still find time to exercise, eat a healthy diet, get plenty of rest, minimize stress, learn to relax and follow doctors’ orders?

Our bodies require tender loving care and attention, which is why in this special edition, the Defender is focusing on women’s health.

Many of us know first-hand the health problems facing Black women – heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure

and more. But we also know that by being disciplined and developing good lifestyle habits, we can fight many of the ailments that take their toll on us.

In this edition, we begin with 10 things to know about women’s health, followed by valuable information on diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

We would like to thank our partners – Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Legacy Community Health, Partners in Primary Care, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children’s Hospital – for their expert advice on health matters.

By taking better care of ourselves, we can look forward to happier, healthier livers.

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Fight heart disease, the No. 1 killer

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Defender Exclusive

eart disease kills more than 400,000 women each year, and women of color are disproportionately affected. In a Q&A with the Defender, Dr. Shelby Kiles, a family medicine physician with Legacy Community Health’s Northline Clinic, sheds some light on the subject.

Defender: What is the number one thing AfricanAmerican women should know about heart disease?

Kiles: They should know that risk factors for heart disease are becoming more prevalent at a younger age.

Once a young person has developed hypertension and high cholesterol, they are at increased risk for heart disease. Also, 1 in 3 people has prediabetes, and diabetes increases your risk for heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for African-American women in the United States. Out of all the races and genders, AfricanAmerican women have the highest risk of death from heart disease, including heart attacks, strokes and heart failure.

Defender: What is heart disease in layman’s terms?

Dr. Shelby Kiles Kiles: The term heart disease includes several conditions, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) and congenital heart defects (heart defects you are born with). Heart disease occurs as a result of a buildup of plaque in your arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart. Plaque is caused by high

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cholesterol which is found in foods that are high in fats. Over time, the plaque buildup causes a narrowing of the arteries which can partially or completely block blood flow. The decrease or block of blood flow can lead to heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

Defender: What are the most common types of heart disease, the symptoms and treatment?

Kiles: The most common type of heart disease in the United States is CAD. The symptoms of CAD in men are more well-known and include mid-chest pain, shortness of

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hearthealthy eating tips

breath and arm and shoulder pain. In women the symptoms differ and include more shoulder, neck and jaw pain, upper abdomen and back pain, and symptoms like those of indigestion. Sometimes the first sign of CAD in men and women is a heart attack. CAD can weaken the heart muscle over time which may lead to other heart conditions, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), or heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood as well as it should.

Medical treatment for CAD includes medications to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure, low blood flow and an irregular heartbeat. Your doctor can also recommend lifestyle modifications such as eating a heart-healthy diet (lower fat, lower sodium), maintaining a normal weight, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, managing stress, getting regular preventative care, like annual wellness exams, and reporting any possible symptoms to your health care provider as soon as possible.

Defender: Are there any differences in heart disease between women and men?

Kiles: Yes, 44 percent of Black men and 48 percent of Black women have heart disease. This means that AfricanAmerican women are at increased risk of heart disease.

Women have less typical chest pain, may only have nausea, and therefore, may also be less likely to seek treatment immediately for serious symptoms that may indicate heart disease.

Defender: What immediate steps can African-American women take to improve their heart health?

Kiles: Maintain a healthy weight. Know your blood pressure. Increase exercise. Be aware of the symptoms of heart disease for women. Talk to a health care provider about checking your blood cholesterol and triglycerides and discuss any symptoms with a health care professional, especially if they are new, frequent and won’t go away. Know your family history. Engage the support of family members and friends on your path to a heart-healthy life.

foods with herbs, spices or lemon juice instead of salt. Beware of high salt content in certain restaurant and fast foods.

Enjoy healthy foods. They include: Vegetables such as greens, broccoli and carrots; fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, pears and grapes; whole grains such as plain oatmeal, brown rice, and whole-grain bread or tortillas; fat-free or low-fat dairy foods; proteinrich foods such as fish, lean meats, skinless poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds and legumes such as beans and black-eyed peas; canola, corn, olive, and soybean oils, and nuts such as walnuts and almonds.

Limit saturated and trans fats. Saturated fats are found in fatty cuts of meat, poultry with skin, wholemilk dairy foods, butter and lard. Trans fats are found in high amounts in foods made with partially hydrogenated oils, such as some desserts, microwave popcorn, frozen pizza and stick margarines.

Limit sodium. Choose lowsodium or no-salt added products.

Avoid pre-seasoned, sauce-marinated, or processed meats, poultry and vegetables. Flavor

Limit sugar. Eat unsweetened or whole fruits for snacks or dessert instead of cake, pie, cookies or candy.

Choose drinks such as water, low-fat or fat-free

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milk or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice.

Avoid sugary juices, soft drinks and coffee drinks.

Limit alcohol. Women should have no more than one alcoholic drink per day. One drink is 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1½ ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause weight gain or worsen heart failure in some patients.

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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things women should know about

ovarian cancer

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By MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER

eeling bloated, full or constipated? These can all be signs that your dinner didn’t agree with you. Or, they could be symptoms of something more serious, such as ovarian cancer. Before panic sets in, take a deep breath. Experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have outlined four things every woman needs to know about ovarian cancer symptoms to help distinguish between a simple case of indigestion and something that requires a visit to a specialist.

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Your risk increases with age Pay attention to As your age increases, so does the symptoms that may risk of ovarian cancer. About half of seem minor ovarian cancers occur in women over According to Pamela Soli60, especially those who are post-menopausal. man, M.D., associate professor in According to Soliman, the average age at Gynecologic Oncology and Reprothe time of ovarian cancer diagnosis is between ductive Medicine at MD Anderson, 50 and 60, so the normal hormonal fluctuations symptoms of ovarian cancer can be that can cause these symptoms in menstruating vague, but that doesn’t mean you women are often no longer a factor. should dismiss them.

If you are post-menopausal, it’s important “If something lasts for weeks to tell your doctor if you’re suddenly experiand won’t go away – even with medication – the first thing you need encing symptoms traditionally associated with menstruation, such as bloating, constipation or to do is let your doctor know,” Soliweight gain. man says.

Ovarian cancer has many sympAsk for a diagnostic imaging toms, but three of the most common scan are: If you are experiencing constant • Bloating: If bloating seems abdominal pain or pelvic discomfort, constant, doesn’t come and go, and ask your doctor for a CT scan or another type of can’t be explained by occasionally diagnostic imaging study to determine the cause. eating gas-producing foods, take “Pelvic pain will generally get you a pelvic note. Your face may also appear thinner while your abdomen grows larger ultrasound, while pain in your upper abdomen will get you some kind of GI workup,” says because tumors metabolize some of Soliman. “This is to rule out gallstones and acid the nutrients you ingest. reflux.”

• Abdominal discomfort: This may feel like acid reflux, a constant Be your own advocate pain or a dull ache. Some women If you suspect you might have report feeling pelvic pressure, which ovarian cancer, the most important causes more-frequent urination. thing to do is to be proactive about • A feeling of fullness: Your addressing the symptoms with your doctor, clothes are feeling tight and you’re getting tested for risk factors, like the BRCA gaining weight, but you can’t eat as much anymore. You may also be con- gene mutations, or finding out if there’s a history of ovarian cancer in your family. Any informastipated. tion you can provide to your physician will help Pay attention to how long you ensure a more personalized recommendation on experience these symptoms to deterwhat to do next. mine whether they warrant a visit to “Ovarian cancer symptoms are notoriously the doctor. That’s true whether you vague, but you know your own body best.” feel bloated all the time, have Soliman says that being persistent about ada constant sense of pressure in your vocating for yourself will help get your questions pelvis, or just notice that clothes feel answered and symptoms assessed. tighter even though you can’t eat as much.

Learn more about ovarian cancer symptoms and treatment, as well as other cancers that affect women, at mdanderson.org.

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“I’m an expert at finding you, cancer” Dr. Lavinia Middleton | Cancer Physician Giving patients an accurate diagnosis means giving them the right treatment plan and the best hope of beating cancer, from the start. At MD Anderson Cancer Center, our world-renowned pathologists correct a new patient’s initial diagnosis from another hospital up to 25 percent of the time.

Choose MD Anderson first. Call 713-745-9940 or visit FindYourMDAnderson.com.

LEAGUE CITY | MEMORIAL CITY | SUGAR LAND | TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER | THE WOODLANDS | WEST HOUSTON

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cancer symptoms

Cancer can cause many symptoms, but these symptoms are most often caused by illness, injury, benign tumor, or other problems. If you have symptoms that do not get better after a few weeks, see your doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Some of the symptoms that cancer may cause include:

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Breast changes – Lump or firm feeling in your breast or under your arm; nipple changes or discharge; skin that is itchy, red, scaly, dimpled or puckered

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Bladder changes – Trouble urinating, pain when urinating, blood in the urine

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Bowel changes – Blood in the stools, changes in bowel habits

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Cough or hoarseness that does not go away

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Eating problems – Pain after eating (heartburn or indigestion that doesn’t go away), trouble swallowing, belly pain, nausea and vomiting, appetite changes

the highest death rate and shortest survival of a nic group in the U.S. for most cancers.

What are the main reasons why? t’s estimated that 104,240 cancer cases in Escoto: There are many reasons for these i Black women will be newly diagnosed disparities are a very complex problem. Importa in 2019, and the highest percentages are ing factors are social and economic and reflect u cancers of the breast (32 percent), lung (11 to resources like work, wealth, income, educatio percent) and colon (9 percent). and barriers to high-quality cancer prevention, e The CDC reports that among all racial treatment and services.

Lower economic resour and ethnic groups combined in the U.S., access to healthier foods and opportunities for e at least 42 percent of newly diagnosed cancers are potenother lifestyle behaviors that lower cancer risk. tially avoidable. In a Q&A with the Defender, Kamisha Defender: Breast cancer is the most comm Escoto, Ph.D., project director in Health Disparities Kamisha Escoto, Ph.D. nosed cancer among Black women.

Why is ear Research at MD Anderson, tells what Black women important? need to know.

Escoto: Early detection and getting high-quality canc Defender: According to the American Cancer Society, Blacks have Defender Exclusive

Breast cancer ri

What you CAN’T • Getting older. The risk for breast cancer increases with age; most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.

• Genetic mutations. Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women who have inherited these genetic changes are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

• Reproductive history. Early menstrual periods before age 12 and starting menopause after age 55 expose women to hormones longer, raising their risk of getting breast cancer.

• Having dense breasts. Dense breasts have more connective tissue

Fever or night sweats for no known reason

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Mouth changes – A white or red patch on the tongue or in your mouth, bleeding, pain or numbness in the lip or mouth

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Neurological problems – Headaches, seizures, vision changes, hearing changes, drooping of the face

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Skin changes – A flesh-colored lump that bleeds or turns scaly, a new mole or a change in an existing mole, a sore that does not heal, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)

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Swelling or lumps anywhere such as in the neck, underarm, stomach, and groin

Source: National Institutes of Health

than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see mogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to ge • Personal history of breast cancer or certain non diseases. Women who have had breast cancer are more li cancer a second time. Some non-cancerous breast disease hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ are associated wi getting breast cancer.

• Family history of breast cancer. A woman’s risk higher if she has a mother, sister or daughter (first-degree

What you CAN

Fatigue that is severe and lasts

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Black women &

Bleeding or bruising for no known reason

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• Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

• Being overweight or obese after menopause. Older women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than those at a normal weight.

• Taking hormones. Some forms of hormone replacement

therapy (those that include both estrogen and p taken during menopause can raise risk for brea taken for more than five years. Certain oral co (birth control pills) also have been found to rai cer risk.

• Reproductive history. Having the first p

Triple-negative bre

Who is at risk?

Defender News Services

We’ve known for a while that triple-negative breast cancer is more common in Black women in the United States, compared to other groups. The news is the prevalence varies significantly depending on where these women were born.

American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers found that among Black women, those born in the U.S. and Western Africa were diagnosed more often with triple-negative breast cancer than women born

in East Africa. The authors published their findings in Can peer-reviewed journal.

Triple-negative breast cancer tends to grow and spre most types of breast cancer. These cancer cells don’t have progesterone, or human epidermal growth factor (HER2) (proteins). The lack of these receptors means that some co ments, like hormone therapy or targeted therapy, don’t wo of breast cancer.

Previous studies have reported that Black women in

defendernetwork.com • Servin

& cancer

any racial/eth-

are the most important strategies to prevent breast cancer death. Finding breast cancer when it’s small and has not spread is easier to treat successfully. We know that getting regular screening tests is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early.

Defender: Obesity is a major health issue among Black women.

Given the link between cancer and excess body weight, physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet, what advice do you have for overweight or obese Black women?

Escoto: Prioritize your health and self-care as an important part of your life. Enlist those that you trust to join and support you in living a life you feel is healthiest. Talk with your doctor and/or other trusted professional about ways to improve your eating, drinking, and physical activity habits. Seek out community resources that can help you make positive behavior changes. Finally, consistency is key. Make changes you feel you can stick with for the long haul.

inequities and ant contributunequal access on, housing early detection, rces also inhibit exercise and

monly diagrly detection

cer treatment

isk factors

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e tumors on a mamet breast cancer. n-cancerous breast ikely to get breast es such as atypical ith a higher risk of for breast cancer is relative) or multiple

family members on either her mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises a woman’s risk.

• Previous treatment using radiation therapy. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts (like for treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before age 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.

• Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was given to some pregnant women in the United States between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage, have a higher risk. Women whose mothers took DES

change

progesterone) ast cancer when ntraceptives ise breast can-

pregnancy after

age 30, not breastfeeding and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.

• Drinking alcohol. Studies show that a woman’s risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.

Source: CDC

east cancer

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ncer, an ACS

ead faster than e estrogen, receptors ommon treatork for this type

n the U.S. are

twice as likely as white women to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. This study, however, suggests that saying that all Black women have a higher risk of being diagnosed with this cancer type may be too general of a statement.

Using the National Program of Cancer Registries, the ACS researchers identified 65,211 non-Hispanic Black women who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 2010 to 2015. The women were recorded as being born in the U.S., East Africa, West Africa or the Caribbean.

ng the Houston area for over 88 years

Articles compiled by MARILYN MARSHALL

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Starting a mental health

conversation with kids a more straightforward manner. For example, they might say “that person is crying, they must be sad,” or “someone is yelling, they’re angry.” It’s important to answer their questions and confirm their probabilities truthfully and directly. At this age, children are more aware of their surroundings and more worried about their safety. Sometimes, having other family members (such as older siblings) present for these conversations is appropriate for additional perspective and support.

By JUAN L. BENAVIDES, LMSW and ELIZABETH ADKINS, LMSW Texas Children’s Hospital

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or much of today’s youth, mental health is an unavoidable topic. These discussions fill our news feeds, our schools, our communities and sometimes our own families. However, many caregivers express discomfort and timidity in talking about such heavy feelings and emotions with children.

There is no specific age or timeline to bring up mental health, though some research shows the sooner we do, the more informed our children will become. Labeling their emotions for what they are can be beneficial to their development. It’s important to validate your child’s emotions and reassure them it’s “OK” to feel different.

Here are tips on starting conversations in an ageappropriate manner:

PRESCHOOLERS & YOUNGER

Children at this young age have a limited understanding of concepts they can’t visualize. When talking to toddlers about mental health, keep the dialogue simple and concrete.

TEENAGERS

For example, they might ask why someone is crying or yelling.

Discussing how and why people might feel these emotions is crucial for their development. As a strategy, consider coloring or drawing different emotions with your child.

SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

Elementary school children might discuss emotions in

Get the care you need.

Most adolescents and teenagers are able to absorb and manage more information, leading to more difficult questions. Teens commonly talk more about mental health with their friends or peers rather than their parents. Offering teens an open and safe place for conversation is vital. Listen to them intently, and respond honestly and positively. Teenagers are often vulnerable on many levels, so engaging them with compassion and through calm dialogue can be helpful.

If you feel your child is experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, seek support through their pediatrician, school counselor and/or a licensed mental health professional.

Open late and on weekends.

To learn more, call 1-800-892-1399 or visit jointhecenter.org © 2019 Texas Children’s Health Plan. All rights reserved. MK-1905-486 5/19

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Every child should start the day with

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By KRISTINA LAKENMACHER Clinical Dietician Texas Children’s Hospital

breakfast

nowing breakfast is the most important meal of the day doesn’t exactly solve the challenge of feeding a resistant breakfast-eater.

When it’s time to return to school and shift schedules, this might feel like even more of a morning battle.

Kids and teenagers who eat breakfast tend to maintain sharper focus, increased energy, regulated appetite and a stronger immune system during the day.

Without breakfast, the body doesn’t get the start it needs to function at its fullest potential.

When choosing breakfast for your child, keep in mind these nutrients: protein, fiber and fats. Protein and fats help keep us full, regulate our blood sugar and fuel our bodies until our next meal or snack. Fiber from whole grains, fruits and vegetables will help with fullness and promote healthy digestion, too.

Breakfast is also a great opportunity to incorporate dairy, which provides calcium to build strong bones.

For kids and teenagers, the recommendation for milk or yogurt consumption is 2-3 cups per day.

FOOD SOURCES

• Fiber and whole grains – Oatmeal, whole grain cereals, whole wheat bread, tortillas, fruits and vegetables (look for varieties with 5 grams of fiber or more and less than 10 grams of sugar) • Protein and fats – Milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, beans, deli ham, turkey sausage, bacon, avocado and nut butters

TIPS TO CONSIDER • Make breakfast ahead of time and freeze individually • Wake up 5-10 minutes earlier to make time for breakfast • Choose grab-and-go items

BREAKFAST IDEAS • Whole grain frozen waffles topped with peanut butter and fruit • Greek yogurt mixed with berries and whole grain cereal • Whole wheat toast topped with mashed avocado, a hardboiled egg and fruit • Plain oatmeal mixed with banana and peanut butter • Vegetable and cheese omelet with turkey sausage, whole wheat toast and fruit

Being a parent is hard.

Parents, we know you’ve got an awful lot on your plate. That’s why we make it easy to find trusted, high-quality health care for your child, close to home. From routine check-ups to same-day sick visits to expert after-hours care, we’ve got your back, no matter what.

• Health care for children ages 0-18 • Prenatal counseling • Newborn and infant care • Immunizations • Hearing and vision screenings • School, sports and camp physicals

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GRAND OPENING

Health care with a focus on Seniors C

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Visit us at one of our next Grand Openings!

At Partners in Primary Care, we understand the unique health challenges

Tuesday, July 23, 2019 10am - 2pm Downtown East 5104 Harrisburg Blvd.

Suite 800 Houston, TX 77011

Experience the Difference Our Team Delivers

Wednesday, July 24, 2019 10am - 2pm Gulfgate 545 Gulfgate Center Mall Houston, TX 77087

that come with age. That’s why we choose to focus on health care for seniors, with staff, services and facilities specially designed to meet their needs.

Caring

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• Specialty referrals, if needed

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• Plenty of free parking • On-staff clinical pharmacists • Attached activity center

To RSVP, call 832-862-8886 or visit SeniorFocusedHouston.com Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm

Partners in Primary Care is Medicare Advantage friendly!

We accept Original Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, TexanPlus and WellCare of Texas Medicare Advantage plans.

Partners in Primary Care does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711). 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711).

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A woman’s lifetime journey

through health care

By LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH

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t every stage of life, women have unique and ever-changing health needs. That is why it is important for women to consistently stay connected to health care providers to guide them through health changes.

“A young woman’s health issues are sometimes different from those of a young man,” said Dr. Tamisha Jones, Legacy medical director of Pediatrics. “If not addressed properly with the personalized treatments they need at the right times in their lives, it could mean misdiagnosing serious health problems.”

Those personalized treatment options over a woman’s lifetime include well woman exams, family planning, vaccinations, adult primary care and life-saving screenings for hypertension, diabetes and even sexually transmitted diseases.

One of the most important periods in a woman’s life to access healthcare involves family planning, pregnancy and the

post-partum stage. Maternal mortality rates are high in Texas, with Black women more likely to die from pregnancy related complications than any other segment of the population.

“Many of the problems that pregnant women face are pre-

ventable,” said Dr. Vian Nguyen, Legacy medical director of OB/GYN. “It’s important to always ask questions, keep your scheduled appointments and see a doctor before trying to get pregnant.”

It is common for women, especially Black women, to fall in and out of care throughout their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 24 percent of Black women in Texas do not have a primary care doctor. Because women live longer, they have higher rates of disability and often face multiple chronic, ongoing health problems that can cause complications.

Access to consistent routine care is crucial for a women’s short-term and long-term health. From OB/GYN and pediatrics to geriatrics with all life stages in between, Legacy Community Health has a team of providers to integrate care for women as they navigate their health journey through life. Regardless of whether you have insurance, we are here to help.

Dr. Jones practices at the Legacy Fifth Ward Lyons location. Dr. Nguyen practices at the Legacy Mapleridge location.

Bringing Healthy Change to Our Communities – and the Women in Them.

Well-Woman Exams • Family Planning • Free Pregnancy Testing Comprehensive OB/Maternity & Pediatric Services Personalized Care for Each Mom & Child • Parenting Classes Make an appointment at a clinic near you today!

We accept most health insurance plans including HMO/PPOs, Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP. We also offer programs to lower the cost of health care services.

(832) 548 5000

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Early detection critical for glaucoma

BY JOSHUA UDOETUK, M.D.

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laucoma is a silent disease that can lead to permanent loss of vision. While it affects people from all walks of life, it strikes AfricanAmericans at much higher rates than other ethnicities.

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve.

JOSHUA UDOETUK, M.D. The exact cause remains unknown, but many cases are associated with elevated pressure within the eye.

A leading cause of blindness

About 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma, but many don’t know it. There are often no symptoms in the early stages of glaucoma, so early detection is crucial.

In fact, glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight” because of the slow, progressive nature of the disease and the absence of early symptoms. Because of this, it’s important to have your eyes checked at least once a year.

Glaucoma often strikes earlier and worsens faster in African-Americans, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. You’re also at a higher risk if you: • Have a family member with glaucoma • Are older than 60, although it’s also possible for even infants and children to have glaucoma • Have diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or sickle cell anemia • Have had an eye injury • Have been taking corticosteroid medications for a lengthy time Open-angle glaucoma, the most common and dangerous form of the disease, usually has no noticeable symptoms until the disease causes significant vision loss.

With the other type of glaucoma, known as narrowangle glaucoma, patients may notice: • Redness and pain in the eye • Halos around lights • Blurred vision • A larger than normal pupil The damage caused by glaucoma can’t be reversed, but treatment and regular checkups can help slow or

prevent vision loss, especially if the disease is caught in its early stages.

Treatment and prevention strategies Glaucoma is treated by lowering your eye pressure.

Depending on your situation, your options may include prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery, or a combination of any of these.

You can help prevent glaucoma by: • Getting regular, comprehensive eye exams • Engaging in regular, moderate exercise to help reduce eye pressure • Wearing eye protection to avoid eye injury • Taking prescribed eye drops regularly, even when symptoms aren’t present • Eating a healthy diet Be sure to review any possible risk factors you may have for glaucoma with your eye doctor. Based on that, he or she can recommend an exam schedule that’s right for you.

Dr. Joshua Udoetuk is Associate Chief of Ophthalmology at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. He cares for patients at the Berthelsen Main Campus and at the Spring Medical and Diagnostic Center. To schedule an appointment, call 713-442-0000.

Get KelseyConnected

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

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

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

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

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MyKelseyOnline. Email your doctor’s office, make appointments, refill prescriptions, view test results, and more.

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

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

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Ex-champ Pernell Whitaker hit by car, dies Associated Press

Former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker died after he was hit by a car in Virginia. He was 55.

Police in Virginia Beach say Whitaker was a pedestrian when struck by the car on July 14. The driver remained on the scene, where Whitaker was pronounced dead.

Whitaker was an Olympic gold medalist and boxing champion. He was regarded

as one of the greatest defensive fighters.

Sweet Pea was his nickname, and it fit perfectly. Whitaker was a left-hander who slipped in and out of the pocket and rarely gave an opponent an opportunity to land a clean shot.

He won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, made his pro debut on national television, and was fighting for a major title by his 17th fight, a loss to Jose Luis Ramirez that he would avenge the next year.

Pernell Whitaker, who competed from 1984 to 2001, won lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight titles. His record was 40-4-1.

Clues sought in death of Baton Rouge activist devastating news – the murder of a dear friend and a mother of the community – Sadie RobertsJoseph,” Broome wrote in an Instagram tribute.

“I’ve deliberately waited to comment because of the level of love and respect I had for Sadie; and because it

Defender News Services

The founder of an African-American history museum in Louisiana was found dead in the trunk of a car on July 13 and police are on the hunt for her killer. Sadie Roberts-Joseph was considered an icon in the Baton Rouge community.

Police found the body of Roberts-Joseph, 75, in the car about 3.5 miles from her home after a tip from an anonymous caller. It was unclear who the vehicle belongs to.

A preliminary autopsy determined that she died from traumatic asphyxia, including suffocation, In 2001, Roberts-Joseph founded the Odell S. Williams Now & Then Museum of AfricanAmerican History, which is now known as the Baton Rouge AfricanAmerican History Museum. She was revered in Baton Rouge for her charity and activism and for helping to start the annual Juneteenth celebrations in Louisiana’s capital city commemorating the ending of slavery.

She also launched the Community Against Drugs and Violence, a nonprofit dedicated to providing a safer environment for youths in Baton Rouge.

“Ms. Sadie was a tireless advocate of peace in the communi-

Sadie Roberts-Joseph, a well-known Baton Rouge activist, was found dead on July 13.

ty. We had opportunities to work with her on so many levels,” the Baton Rouge Police Department said in a statement.

“Ms. Sadie is a treasure to our community.

She will be missed by BRPD and her loss will be felt in the community she served.”

The department added, “Our detectives are working diligently to

bring the person or persons responsible for this heinous act to justice.”

Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle both said Roberts-Joseph was murdered before police would confirm it.

“In the midst of managing a major weather event in our parish, I was hit with some

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was such shocking news.

She loved this city and its people. Her commitment to the cultural and educational fabric of our community is beyond description.”

Marcelle said Roberts-Joseph “never bothered anyone” and wanted to expand the

museum she founded.

The NAACP branch in Baton Rouge called Roberts-Joseph a “Cultural Legend.”

“From reviving Juneteenth, to the culture preserved at her museum, she was a trendsetter and icon in this city,” the organization said.

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DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2019

pro sports

defendernetwork.com

Westbrook

going to Rockets, Paul leaving Russell Westbrook

R

Associated Press

ussell Westbrook and James Harden are together again, and Chris Paul is leaving Houston to make that reunion happen.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly traded Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Paul in a swapping of top point guards. The Thunder also are getting first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, plus the right to swap first-rounders in two other seasons, according to the person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been announced.

Westbrook, an eight-time All-Star with the Oklahoma City Thunder, was traded to the Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul.

ESPN first reported the agreement.

Paul is a nine-time All-Star, Westbrook an eight-time selection. Paul has 9,181 career assists, the most among active players.

Westbrook has 138 triple-doubles, tied with Magic Johnson for second-most in NBA history behind only Oscar Robertson’s 181.

Both members of Houston’s new glitzy backcourt are recent MVPs: Westbrook won it in 2017, Harden won it in 2018. And the trade means that the NBA’s two highest scorers over the last five seasons – Harden with 11,958 points, Westbrook with 10,025 – are now teammates.

Westbrook and Harden were Thunder teammates for three seasons, the last of those being the 2011-12 campaign when that duo and Kevin Durant took Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals.

They lost in five games to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, and Harden departed that summer for Houston – where he’s been an All-Star ever since.

But when the Thunder agreed to trade Paul George to the

Los Angeles Clippers – in a move that essentially sealed 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard’s decision to leave Toronto for the Clippers – it became clear quickly that Westbrook would be on the move as well. The trade, when completed, will mean that Thunder general manager Sam Presti has added eight first-round picks to the team’s stockpile in the last week or so.

Oklahoma City got five first-round future selections as part of the George trade. The Thunder are getting two more in this trade, and got a 2020 first-round pick in the deal completed earlier this week that sent Jerami Grant to Denver.

It’s the latest bold transaction in a wild offseason of movement that already saw Leonard become the first reigning Finals MVP change teams in the offseason after winning that award, Anthony Davis get traded from New Orleans to the Los Angeles Lakers, All-Star point guards like Kyrie Irving (Boston to Brooklyn), Kemba Walker (Charlotte to Boston) and D’Angelo Russell (Brooklyn to Golden State) change teams, Durant leave the Warriors for Brooklyn, Jimmy Butler go from Philadelphia to Miami in a sign-and-trade, Al Horford move from Philadelphia from Boston.

“Craziest NBA summer by far,” longtime NBA guard Jamal Crawford tweeted.

Paul and Harden were teammates for two seasons in Houston. The Rockets had a 3-2 lead over Golden State in the 2018 Western Conference finals when Paul injured a hamstring, and the Warriors rallied to win that series in seven games on the way to the NBA title. This past season, Houston was ousted in the second round by the Warriors.

The 34-year-old Paul is owed roughly $125 million over the final three years of his contract, including a $44.2 million option for 2021-22. Westbrook, who turns 31 early next season, is owed $171 million over the final four years of his existing deal.

Paul has called Oklahoma City home before.

He played his first two NBA seasons with the New OrleansOklahoma City Hornets while the team was displaced from Louisiana by the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“Every game we played, I’ve never seen fan support like that,” Paul told the Oklahoman for a story in February 2014 about his time in Oklahoma City.

The trade will become final after NBA approval, which is standard procedure.

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JULY 18 | 2019 | DEFENDER

h.s. sports Joshua Cephus

Dekaney grad does it all

By JODIE B. JILES Defender

Joshua Cephus, a graduating quarterback/wide receiver and pitcher/short stop from Dekaney High School, is a multi-talented athlete. He will play football and baseball at the University of Texas at San Antonio on a full-ride scholarship starting the 2019-2020 season.

Cephus’ 6-foot-5 frame allows him to withstand the wear and tear on the football field. His strong arm and agility give him the ability to make Derek Jeter-like plays in the infield and leave batters watching his fastball breeze by on the mound.

The Defender spoke with Cephus after the Houston Area Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game in Sugar Land to discuss his pitching style, keys to success and advice to the next generation of two-sport athletes.

Defender: How do you describe your style of play on the mound?

Cephus: It’s me and you one-on-one and I have to beat you.

Defender: How did you get into playing baseball?

Cephus: I have been playing it since I was little. My older brothers played it then I just followed after them

Defender: What has been your key to success in sports so far?

Cephus: A quote I live by is, “Hard work beats talent where talent fails to work hard.”

Defender: What made UTSA the perfect fit for your talents on the next level and what should fans expect when you arrive?

Cephus: I chose UTSA because the coaches make it a family environment and their head coach is a lot like my head coach at Dekaney. So, it can’t get any closer to family than that. The fans can expect hard work. They are going to get it all from me.”

Defender: You saw how Bo Jackon and Deion Sanders played both football and baseball on the college and pro levels and made it work.

How do you foresee it working out for you playing in college?

Cephus: There is a certain schedule that I have to follow. Right now, during the summer it’s strictly football and then when football season ends then I go right into baseball.

Defender: What advice do you have for young two-sport athletes who hope to accomplish the same success you have?

Cephus: In anything you do you have to put God first and you will succeed. That is what I live by.

Joshua Cephus throws a strike in the Houston Area Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game. (Baseball photos by Jimmie Aggison)

About Cephus

Twitter: @jcephus1612 Favorite artist: Chris Brown Hobby: Singing Favorite food: Fish Baseball player he studies: Nolan Ryan

Cephus, a quarterback and receiver at Dekaney, will play college ball at UTSA.

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9

10

DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2019

defendernetwork.com

opinion

Women’s suffrage forged by founding sisters

Happy birthday to Ida B. Wells-Barnett

“

By GWEN McKINNEY NNPA Newswire

The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.”

So proclaimed Ida B. Wells-Barnett, who fearlessly shined a light with words on the abominable dark days after slavery and into the 20th century.

Journalist, publisher, author, activist, and suffragist leader, Ida B.’s spirit soars.

July 16 marked the 157th anniversary of her birth. Blood, sweat, and ink sealed her legacy and the future of a nation still struggling to be whole.

Ida B. revered the Black press as an organizing tool. Though her newspaper the Memphis Free Speech was destroyed by racist mobs, she was never silenced. During her life, she would publish three newspapers and authored “Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases” and “The Red Record,” investigative reports that remain definitive sources on racist violence more than 100 years later.

Small in stature but huge in courage, Wells, an emancipated slave, joined a cadre of Black contemporaries – scholars, activists, and thought leaders – who pledged to change the trajectory of bondage and demand that Black women have a voice.

They defy the clichés and caricatures planted in popular culture with their searing voices. Their cadence would not be paraphrased or translated into the often quoted “Ain’t I A Woman” reprise. But forever burdened by their womanhood and Blackness, their path – then and now – is littered with obstacles.

Educator and writer Mary Church Terrell observed, “Nobody wants to know a colored woman’s opinion about her own status [or] that of her group. When she dares express it, no matter how mild or tactful..., it is called ‘propaganda,’ or is labeled ‘controversial.’”

Poet, teacher, and Baltimore abolitionist Frances Ellen Harper was among the suffragists who pleaded the case for linked fate unity. “We are all bound up together in one great bundle of humanity,” she said.

“Society cannot trample on the weakest and feeblest of its members without receiving the curse in its own soul.”

These founding sisters forged civil rights organizations with Black men, sororities, and service clubs with their women peers, and joined “woke” White women against lynching and disenfranchisement and for education and economic development.

It was Ida B. and a coterie of Black women publishers, writers, and teachers of the era who led the movement for universal suffrage even when Black women were shunned and excluded.

Nonetheless, women’s suffrage, deeply rooted in abolitionism, is depicted in a single dimension as the jumpstart

for the white feminist/voting rights movement.

Regarded as social reformers, white suffragists – many of them supporters of abolition – confronted a fork in the road, conflicted between the “Negro question” and universal suffrage.

With passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870 granting Black men voting rights, universal suffrage would be sacrificed on the altar of patriarchy and white supremacy.

Defended or oversimplified, the words of Susan B. Anthony, crowned the mother of women’s suffrage, illustrate

the entrenched stranglehold of whiteness.

Though she counted abolitionist Frederick Douglas as an admired cohort, Anthony’s contradictions can only be measured today in the context of racism and exclusion.

“I would sooner cut off this right arm of mine before I would ever work for or demand the ballot for the Black man and not the woman,” she said.

One might conclude that she was seduced by the divide-and-conquer tactics of the male proponents of the 15th Amendment. But Anthony’s view was widely embraced by the white women’s suffrage movement.

Her friend and suffrage leader Elizabeth Cady Stanton, arguing against the 15th Amendment, protested: “It’s better to be the slave of an educated white man than of a degraded Black one.”

One year away from the centennial of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, how much ground have we gained as women and a nation? How much of the conversation about gender equality denies the overlapping impact of white nationalism, patriarchy, and privilege? Where and when do the voices of Black and Brown women enter?

But first and foremost, when do Black women get the recognition that they have earned in their unbroken march to freedom?

Our compass should be guided by that path forged by Ida B. Wells and other courageous Black women whose intersectional quest to make America stand upright changed the world.

This opening salvo embraces Suffrage. Race. Power. Spurred by my collaboration with a small collective of women that is Black-led, crossgenerational, and supported by “woke” White women, we’ve named ourselves “Founding Sisters.” This space will offer regular installments that honor our Founding Sisters of the last centuries and spotlight the unfinished business of Suffrage. Race. Power.

To kick it off: Happy birthday Ida B.!

Gwen McKinney is president and founder of McKinney & Associates Public Relations, for which she is responsible for translating the vision of “public relations with a conscience” into a sustained, bold and tested suite of communications services and activities. She is also the founder and lead collaborator for Suffrage.Race.Power.

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JULY 18 | 2019 | DEFENDER

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

topevents

11

VEGFEST HOUSTON 2019……..VegFest, a premier vegan community performances and spoken word added to the positive vibe experienced by enthusiastic festival in Texas, was held recently at Minute Maid Park, sponsored by the Vegan attendees who included Kanisha Bey, Korenn and Jacob Grovey, Mishaand Usaf Society of P.E.A.C.E. The family-friendly event featured “Ask a Vegan” panels Joseph, Ramone and Asia Mack, Abena Adu, Bernard Johnson, Jenise Griffin, including a vegan physician panel, an animal rights panel, and a vegan athlete panel; Neisha Pittman, Domenique Montgomery and countless others………ANNUAL a children’s area; music by DJ Chris Whaley and food galore, along with literature IGBOFEST HOUSTON……..Hosting performers from across the nation, the 18th on what being vegan is all about. Houston is ranked the fourth “Most Veg-friendly Annual IgboFest Houston again proved to be an impressive cultural event. Ndi-Ichie City” in the nation, and the top veg-friendly city in Texas.

Cultural Club sponsored the affair that saw professional dancers The diversity of supporters was on full display with event of Nigerian and non-Nigerian descent who have embraced Igbo Defender TOP EVENTS attendees who included Georgette Whaley, Eden Henry, culture on display along with other cultural dances and folklore with More photos on defendernetwork.com Mariah Rushing, Ariel Brigham, Adam Richard, Delilah an educational twist. Additionally, the 7-foot tall, mystical aweBanks, Rosaand Lamont Alford, Yolanda Thompson, inspiring grandeur Ajofia Nwewi, Nigeria’s most feared masquerade, Cynthia Thompson, Japhae Rogers, T.J. Thompson, Jessica Wesley and was previewed. Additionally, Wazobia African Market, among others, provided scores more……..BLCK MARKET HOUSTON……..BLCK Market Houston authentic foods that drew everyone’s attention. Attendees included Dr. Christian partnered with the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum to provide participants with Ulasi, Steve Okoroha, Kevin Bahati Johnson, Andrea Peoples, Rebecca Burkes, the experience of supporting progressive, “out-of-the-box,” Black entrepreneurs from Charles snf Nkechi Foriest, Charles Foriest Jr., Zubaidah Pode, Chima Ukonu, Houston and beyond, and enjoying ground-breaking artists and much more. Musical Charles Onuogu and many more.

Dominique Side, Latara Jeffers, Jessica Wesley

Abena Adu, Bernard Johnson, Jenise Griffin

Dr. Christian Ulasi, Steve Okoroha

Tonya Carson, Donnell Carson

Kimberly Flanagan, Alexuis Hogan

Zubaidah Pode, Maryanne Kadenge, Olivia Ekperikpe

Yolanda Thompson, Cynthia Thompson, Japhae Rogers, T.J. Thompson

Ramone Mack, Asia Mack

Charles Foriest, Nkechi Foriest, Charles Foriest Jr.

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12

DEFENDER | JULY 18 | 2019

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