Houston Defender: August 29, 2019

HS SPORTS

BROTHERS FRANK AND ANTHONY BROWN ARE THE DYNAMIC FOOTBALL DUO AT STERLING P13

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Volume 88 | Number 44 AUGUST 29, 2019 |FREE 0

PERSPECTIVE

BLACK WOMEN

wage gap cost during lifetime

P10 SPORTS DESHAUN WATSON

concerned about injured teammate

‘Yolanda Adams Morning Show’ comes home to KTSU-FM H PAGE 5

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FEATURE JAMES HARDEN donates to basketball courts

P14 TOP EVENTS

Lydia Modelist Alston

Eleanor Brackins-Lee

Glenda Taylor

Mark Taylor

Ministers of Music Extraordinaire

The Defender celebrates four talented individuals who set the musical tone in area churches. Learn about their influences, testimonies, prayers and roles.

H PAGE 8-9

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Bishop D. Kimathi Nelson, Angela Knight and Omowale LuthuliAllen at Sankofa 400 Points of Light Conference

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 29 | 2019

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newstalk

More affordable housing approved for county Defender News Services

County commissioners have given the green light to Harris County Project Recovery-Harvey to proceed with development plans of eight multi-story affordable rental facilities in various locations. The projects also vary in terms of those served, from families, to seniors, to homeless youth and those

with mobility, hearing and vision impairments.

This past January, the Harris County Community Services Department received over $200 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds to replenish the county’s shrinking affordable housing market. The first $90 million of these funds will cover the first phase of development.

“This is a historically high amount of new affordable units that we are able to add to the housing landscape in Harris County, thanks to this federal disaster funding,” said Daphne Lemelle, director of Harris County Community Services.

“When rental units come off the market because of flooding rental prices going up, it makes our lowerincome population vulnerable to homelessness.”

Former officer charged with murder over raid Associated Press

A former Houston police officer has been charged with murder in connection with the deadly January drug raid of a home that killed a couple who lived there and injured five officers, drawing mixed reactions.

Former Officer Gerald Goines, who was shot in the ensuing gunfight during the Jan. 28 raid, is charged with two counts of felony murder after police accused him of lying in a search warrant about having a confidential informant buying heroin at the home. Goines later acknowledged there was no informant and that he bought the drugs himself, authorities said.

Another former officer, Steven Bryant, was charged with tampering with a government record for allegedly providing false information in a report after the raid that supported Goines’ story about a confidential informant.

“We recognize that the community has been violated and I want to assure my fellow Houstonians and other residents of Harris County that we are getting to the truth,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said at a news conference. “Each day we uncover more and with each fact, we work toward doing justice.”

Goines’ attorney, Nicole DeBorde, previously said Goines has done nothing wrong.

If convicted, Goines faces up to life in prison.

Bryant faces up to two years in state jail.

At a separate news conference, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said the charges against the two exofficers were a result of his agency’s investigation and are an example of how a police department can ask tough questions about its actions.

“We are a department that will vigorously pursue the rule of law, including holding our officers accountable as we did here,” Acevedo said.

Killed in the raid were Rhogena Nicholas, 58, and Dennis Tuttle, 59.

Family and friends of Tuttle and Nicholas have continuously dismissed allegations the couple sold drugs. Police found small amounts of marijuana and cocaine in the house, but no heroin.

Ogg offered an apology to the couple’s families.

“I want to tell them how sorry we are as a city and a county for the actions that resulted in the loss of their loved ones lives and that our work is dedicated to ensuring that their loved ones receive justice,” Ogg said.

Gerald Goines

Initially, Houston police maintained that after officers entered the home, Nicholas tried to take away a shotgun from an officer and was fatally shot by officers who saw what was happening.

But an independent review by the family of Nicholas earlier this year cast doubt on that portrayal.

Following the shooting, prosecutors began reviewing more than 2,000 cases tied to Goines and Bryant. In June, prosecutors said their investigation has grown into a probe of 14,000 cases handled by the Houston Police Department’s narcotics division.

Both officers were relieved of duty after the shooting and later retired.

Fresh food for recipients

Families with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can bring home double the amount of fresh locally grown food from participating farmers markets. Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Clear Channel Outdoor and Urban Harvest recently launched a public service campaign, including 13 donated billboards, to promote the Double Up Houston program. The campaign was announced at the grand opening of the Northeast Community Farmers Market. It will operate twice a month at Kashmere Gardens Elementary, 4901 Lockwood. Double Up Houston is funded by the Rebuild Texas Fund. “Urban Harvest, Rebuild Texas and partners have created an innovative solution to one of Precinct One’s biggest public health issues by opening farmers markets in areas designated as food deserts and doubling the impact of SNAP benefits,” Ellis said.

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AUGUST 29 | 2019 | DEFENDER

national

U.S.briefs AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY after a teen’s family filed a lawsuit against the Fresno, Calif. Police Department after body cameras appeared to show officers repeatedly beating the high schooler. The family is outraged after watching video which shows 17-year-old London Wallace getting brutally assaulted by cops who claim they were carrying out a gang enforcement operation.

Wallace’s attorney said the teen has no gang affiliation. The body camera video shows an officer violently pummeling Wallace from several different angles. Charges were ultimately dropped against the teen. The officer is on desk duty while the beating is under investigation…….FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER A BLACK employee’s possessions at the Department of Education were recently vandalized in what could have been a racially motivated attack. African art objects were beheaded and dismembered and a school desegregation poster was damaged within the department’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education in Washington, D.C. The employee had been out of the office for several days prior to reporting the damage. A department spokesperson said Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sought a “comprehensive” probe into the matter……..

ARRESTS ARE EXPECTED SOON IN THE CASE OF A FLORIDA NURSING home where 12 patients died after the air conditioning went out amid sweltering heat following Hurricane Irma in 2017. Three nurses, in addition to an administrator, are expected to be charged in connection with the deaths after Irma, which blew through Florida on Sept. 10 of that year. The storm knocked out a transformer linking the main air-conditioning unit to the power grid at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, sending temperatures soaring. The 12 deaths at the center were ruled homicides.

Police have been investigating the deaths for nearly two years but no charges have been filed thus far. The nurses and administrator said they are merely scapegoats.

VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 44 AUGUST 29, 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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Florida man convicted in ‘stand your ground’ trial Defender News Services

The family members of a Black man who was fatally wounded in a controversial “stand your ground” case said they can finally heal now that the man who shot 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton has been found guilty by a jury.

After six hours Defense attorneys painted Michael of deliberation, a jury Drejka (center), McGlockton’s found Michael Drejka killer, as a man seeking protection. guilty of manslaughter for shooting unarmed McGlockton in Clearwater, Fla. last summer over a handicapped-accessible parking space.

“It’s been well over a year since we’ve been dealing with this matter, and I can safely say my family can rest now,” McGlockton’s father, Michael McGlockton, told reporters. “Now we can start putting the pieces back together and move on.”

“Far too often the criminal justice system fails us by allowing people who take the lives of unarmed Black people to walk free as though their lives meant nothing. We are hopeful that this conviction will be a brick in the road to changing the culture of racism here in Florida,” McGlockton’s mother, Monica Robinson, said in a statement.

Britany Jacobs, the mother of McGlockton’s four children, said that she is thankful prosecutors received justice.

“I went home last night. I woke up little Markeis and I said, ‘Baby we got justice for Daddy.’ And he said, ‘Mommy, that’s good.’”

Drejka argued that the incident was a justifiable homicide according to Florida’s “stand your ground” law, a claim that renewed a national debate on the controversial law.

After five days in court, the jurors were presented with closing arguments: the prosecution presented Drejka, who did not take the stand, as an armed vigilante and the defense portrayed him as a man who feared for his life.

The case began in July 2018 when Jacobs parked in a handicapped-accessible space at the Circle A Food Store in Clearwater.

Drejka, then 47, got into an argument with Jacobs over the spot while McGlockton and their 5-year-old son were in the car. McGlockton come out of the car, walked over and pushed Drejka.

Surveillance footage showed Drejka on the

Michael McGlockton, the father of Markeis McGlockton, displays a photo of his son, who was shot to death in 2018.

ground pulling out a gun and shooting McGlockton as he started to move away. Drejka argued that he saw McGlockton moving toward him and thought McGlockton was going to kick and beat him.

“If he was going to hit me that hard to begin with, a blind side from the get-go, what else should I expect?” Drejka said in his police interview.

Police questioned him several times on the discrepancy between the video and his statements that McGlockton took steps toward him.

“I shoot to save my own ass, and that’s that,” Drejka said.

Drejka was not immediately arrested. He had a concealed weapons license and appeared to have immunity under the “stand your ground” law, the Pinellas County Sheriff said.

A month later, the state attorney charged him with manslaughter.

Prosecutors argued the case was the killing of a man who came out to protect his girlfriend from a self-proclaimed “parking lot vigilante” with a “pet peeve” about enforcing handicap parking rules.

The McGlockton’s family attorney, Michele Rayner-Goolsby, told reporters that the “stand your ground” statute constitutes legalized murder and that people are done seeing Black people killed by “vigilantes” with guns.

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 29 | 2019

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The late Bob McNair’s legacy lives on at the Pro-Vision Academy in Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood as his wife, co-founder and chair Janice McNair, announced a gift of over $5 million to the Houston school through The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation.

Texans owner donates $5 mil to Sunnyside school

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Janice McNair, co-founder and senior chair of the Houston Texans, donated $5 million to the Pro-Vision Academy, a charter school founded in 1990 by former NFL player Roynell Young. The donation is the largest in the school’s history and was part of the late Houston Texan owner Bob McNair’s vison.

“Before Bob passed, we had the opportunity to tour the facilities at Pro-Vision and visit with their leadership,” Janice McNair said. “We were captivated by their mission, their approach and the impact they are having in areas of need within our community.”

The donation will be used for several Pro-Vision initiatives including low-income housing, a football field and a track facility. An additional $450,000 of the McNair gift will be used to expand the Pro-Vision Urban Farm and Aquaponics Initiative where the school grows produce and has become a provider for many area restaurants.

“Pro-Vision is honored to be the recipient of such an impactful contribution from the McNair family,” said Young. “This gift to Pro-Vision is helping to set the foundation for the transformation of the Sunnyside community, as well as enhancing the quality of life for those who live there. I consider it a great responsibility that they have chosen to partner with our organization. The hope is that this investment will positively reach generations who are yet to be born.”

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The unemployment rate for Black Americans is at least twice as high as white unemployment at the national level.

Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the unemployment dropped to the lowest level since December 1969, the jobs situation for Black Americans remains substantially worse than that of almost any other group.

Those disturbing statistics prompted several local organizations to join forces to help connect employers dedicated to diversity hiring with minority job seekers. A career fair will take place Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center, 3810 W. Fuqua St. The career fair is hosted by the Mu Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., in partnership with Houston City Councilmember Martha Castex-Tatum, Workforce Solutions and the Houston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

The career fair will include workshops on resume writing and free headshots for potential employees to create LinkedIn accounts. Register at www.eventbrite.com

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AUGUST 29 | 2019 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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‘Yolanda Adams Morning Show’ moves to KTSU

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By ASWAD WALKER Defender

exas Southern University’s public radio station KTSU 90.9 FM has pulled off a major programming coup, snagging the nationally syndicated “Yolanda Adams Morning Show” that will kick off broadcasting from its new home on Monday, Sept. 16. The show will air every weekday morning from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., and will feature Adams and her on-air partner in crime, comedian Marcus D. Wiley.

“We have this opportunity to take what is already an amazing entity to a whole new global level, and I am so excited that I get a chance to take this ride along with every one of you in this room, especially our general manager [Ernest Walker], especially my dude Marcus,” said Adams echoing Walker’s words to open the standing-room-only press conference.

“KTSU is headed to become the number one urban public radio station in the country, and we’re not going to stop until we get there,” said Walker, who has been credited with the station’s meteoric rise from already respectable levels when compared to other public radio stations nationally, to having the top spot in its sights.

TSU’s VP of University Advancement, Melinda Spaulding, provided context regarding the significance of Adams’ show now being located at KTSU. “We are so excited about the ‘Yolanda Adams Morning Show’ coming to KTSU, and the exposure for our campus and our students, and we can now say

with pride that a nationally syndicated radio show will originate from the campus of Texas Southern University,” stated Spaulding. “And what’s even better about that is the show features two Houstonians and two TSU alumni.”

Adams, a multi-Grammy Award-winning gospel legend who has sold nearly 8 million albums world-

wide, graduated from TSU in the 1980s and started a career as a teacher and part-time model before attracting the attention of individuals in the gospel music world.

Wiley, an alumni of Willowridge High School and TSU, served as a professor at his alma mater for 15 years. But it was his hilarious, “clean” comedy that caught Adams’ attention. She then invited him to be her show’s co-host. The rest is history, a history the pair continue to write.

Adams recalled a radio “guru” telling the pair if they wanted to have a successful show they would have to generate confrontation. The duo disagreed, each stressing that what works with their audience is bringing their authentic selves to each show with no pretense.

“What I like about the ‘Yolanda Adams Morning Show’ is it fits the theme of KTSU; we’re all about community…We’re not confrontational. We try to be good people. We’re practicing Christians. Yolanda’s a little better than me because you know she’s real tight with the Lord. He hears her prayers like this. With me, he puts me on hold sometimes,” joked Wiley.

Wiley said he realized the show’s impact on lives when they started receiving “real” calls.

“Callers would say, ‘My mom, she has cancer. She’s stage 3, stage 4 and she listens to y’all every morning and she feels so much better,” said Wiley, who now sees clearer the responsibility he and Adams have as on-air personalities.

Adams added that they are excited about the opportunity to pour into young people experiences she and Wiley had not only in radio but in life.

“This is a calling for us,” she said. “There’s some people who will not go to a physical church but they feel comfortable enough talking to people they know have spirit…And you cannot duplicate presence. You cannot imitate presence.

It has to be there. And that’s the one thing that I love about us. We’re not trying to be anybody else. We’re authentically ourselves.”

what’sup A “Black Panther” sequel is coming to theaters on May 6, 2022, Marvel Studios recently announced.

RYAN COOGLER, who wrote and directed the 2018 original, will return to direct the sequel. “Black Panther,” an action movie that also celebrates Black culture and the African diaspora, nabbed three Oscar awards earlier this year, and became the first superhero film to earn a Best Picture nomination.

It won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture in March. The star-studded cast of the 2018 film included LUPITA NYONG’O, CHADWICK BOSEMAN, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, DANAI GURIRA, ANGELA

BASSETT and LETITIA WRIGHT. “Black Panther” shattered box office records by becoming the highest-ever grossing superhero film in North America.……The Queen of Soul left behind great music and also a large amount of uncashed checks. After a new inventory of her assets, almost $1 million dollars in uncashed checks have been found with ARETHA FRANKLIN’S estate. The checks found were from various sources, and included $702,711.90 from Sound Exchange and the Screen Writers Guild and $285,944.27 in checks from her publishing company, Springtime Publishing, EMI, BMI, Carlin Music and Feel Good Films.

The grand total of the uncashed checks is $988,656.17,

adding a new twist to the battle over Aretha’s estate……..

Forbes has released its World’s Highest-Paid Women in Music of 2019 list and 29-year-old TAYLOR SWIFT is the biggest earner, bagging $185 million before taxes between June 2018 and June 2019, according to the magazine. Coming in second is BEYONCÉ with $81 million, which she earned through the On the Run II tour with husband JAY-Z, her “Homecoming” album and Netflix documentary. RIHANNA placed third with $62 million, mostly from Fenty Beauty and the company’s partnership with LVMH. KATY PERRY is fourth with $57.5 million and PINK rounded out the top five with $57 million.

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 29 | 2019

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Cynthia Eaglin and Rufaro Jenkins fought for the development of Parkway Overlook Apartments in Washington, D.C.

Wells Fargo unveils $1 billion affordable housing plan

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By STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire

he lack of affordable housing has caught the attention of Wells Fargo and the banking giant isn’t taking it lightly and has unveiled an ambitious plan to tackle the problem.

Candy Moore, senior vice president and manager of Wells Fargo’s Community Relations and Southeast Community Development, told NNPA Newswire that the company will invest $1 billion over the next five years from its business and foundation to help make housing more affordable.

“We will address three key issues in underserved communities that have been plagued by the lack of affordable housing – housing affordability, financial health and small business growth,” Moore said.

“Charitable giving has always been a part of our history,” Moore added. “And, we feel we should be doing even more to address the systematic changes in affordable housing and uncover new ways to increase [its] availability and sustainability,” she said.

Moore noted that if one took the available affordable housing units in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston and Atlanta, they would still fall far short of meeting current housing demands.

“We want to continue to help the underserved reach their full potential with the support we’re offering through our philanthropic efforts,” Moore said.

The $1 billion pledge is part of a larger effort for the bank to overhaul its philanthropic strategy.

As part of its commitment, Wells Fargo aims to donate 2 percent of its after-tax profits to corporate philanthropy concentrating on housing affordability, small business growth and financial health, she said.

During a presentation to the NNPA’s member publishers, Moore shared a video that underscored the importance of Wells Fargo’s new initiative and why it’s vital to people of color and others in underserved communities.

The video presentation highlighted the Parkway Overlook Apartments in Washington, D.C., whose residents were unexpectedly forced to relocate when the development closed in 2008.

As a result of the efforts of two former residents who fought hard for the community, working together with Wells Fargo and the District of Columbia, the apartments are being redeveloped a decade later.

“I feel like a mother who watched her troubled child in school finally graduate from high school,” said Rufaro Jenkins, one of the residents who is now a homeowner.

“I used to tell them in meetings that Parkway Overlook was one of my children. Mothers protect their children, and I was going to protect Parkway Overlook,” Jenkins said in the video presentation.

After a 10-year process to secure approval and funding to rebuild the community, the renovations to Parkway Overlook are currently underway, and construction is expected to be completed this year, providing 220 apartments of affordable housing for families in Ward 8, which is considered one of D.C.’s poorest areas.

While Jenkins and former resident and fellow Parkway Overlook Tenants Association member Cynthia Eaglin are happy about the redevelopment, it’s been a long journey, they said in the video.

The two have worked with Washington Interfaith Network – or WIN, a grassroots organization that brings citizens and residents together to develop solutions for communities — in this case, coming up with a strategy, bringing former residents together, and meeting with local leaders, according to the video.

The biggest hurdle, though, was obtaining funding to redevelop Parkway Overlook, said Jennifer Knox, lead organizer for WIN. In 2014, Mayor Muriel Bowser, then chairwoman of the City Council’s Committee on Economic Development, brokered a deal with the D.C. Housing Finance Agency and District of Columbia Housing Authority to take control of the property and finish the renovations, said Merrick Malone, director of the Office of Capital Programs for the District of Columbia Housing Authority.

Ultimately, Wells Fargo provided the construction loan and equity for the project development, D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development provided $20.1 million in financing toward the project, and the D.C. Housing Finance Agency provided bond financing in the amount of about $38 million and low-income housing tax credits.

“We will need to work with you,” Moore told NNPA publishers. “We will need to work with civic leaders, local governments, and residents to address the full spectrum of housing affordability,” she said.

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 29 | 2019

Defender celebrates

Ministers of Music

Extraordinaire H

ELEANOR BRACKI True Light Missionary Baptist

Defender: How did you get into music a Brackins-Lee: My Daddy, Leroy Brackins baby I would not sleep at night. However, my p start singing and playing. Asleep I went! Thus, Pastor Herman L. Price. Later, my parents enrol the Third Ward area and then to Del’s School o influenced my musical career are numerous – m my high school teacher, the late Mamie Reed L Defender: What is your testimony?

Brackins-Lee: God has deposited within ment of Praise” and to use my gift to bless HIM listen to my offerings and presentations of prai Defender: If you could ask the Lord for s Brackins-Lee: Because GOD is GOD, He a because I am witness to, “Morning by morning Defender: How important is your role in Brackins-Lee: As minister of music/wors I am also tasked with being in snyc with the ma it is a rewarding one considering that GOD g

GL

By VON JILES Defender

The

ouston is home to a thriving gospel music community, and leading the charge in many churches across the Bayou City are the ministers of music. Under the direction of these talented men and women, the church choir sets the tone with praise and worship preparing souls for the word of GOD. The Defender seeks to celebrate some of those unsung heroes and “sheroes,” who often go unrecognized. In the second year of acknowledging the Houston area Ministers of Music, the Defender, along with a panel of gospel peers selected honorees in four categories: boutique/small church, midsize church, large church and mega church.

D T by ear and I m Mater Brawle Kelley D T time G care fo influen Willia

LYDIA MODELIST ALSTON Brentwood Baptist Church w Mega Church

Defender: How did you get into music and who influenced you?

Alston: I started out at 2 years old. My mom said whatever I heard I would try to play along with. My mother was the church secretary at Boynton United Methodist for about 30 years and she also sang in the choir, so I would bring my toy piano to church and sit on the front row and try to play along with the choir. I got too loud so they moved me to the back row with the ushers.

The choir was singing, “Walk Together Children.” I picked that out and it went from one song to the next. The Forward Times ran an article on me when I was about 3 years old titled, “A Great Musician in the Making.” Music was just inside of me.

Defender: What is your testimony?

Alston: I have had several incidents that were meant to strengthen me as well as take me out, but God has seen fit to bring me through each one and at some point in my life each chapter has been the catalyst to strengthen me in my personal life as well as in my music ministry…I move as He says move and He has never failed me yet.

Defender: If you could ask the Lord for something BIG, what would it be?

Alston: The BIG thing I would ask the Lord for is to continue to allow me to minster through music and to continue to trust me with the gift of music. One day I want to record the songs that the Lord gave me as well as the ones that are most precious to me so that I can leave an indelible impression in the lives of the people I’ve ministered to over the years.

Defender: How important is your role in the church?

Alston: My role is very important, but it is not only musical, but administrative as well. My time is spent praying, planning, practicing, preparing and producing. Doing this allows me and my team to present a musical experience from “Bach to rock.”

c

MARK TAYLOR

Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church w Large Church

Defender: How did you get into music and who influenced you?

Taylor: I started playing piano at 3 years old. My parents both played a little piano, at my dad’s church at 8 years old, and studied classical music from age 8 through high sc and was exposed to “gospel royalty,” such as Thomas Dorsey, Sallie Martin, Albertina Wa Chicago artists in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and to be a part of the beginnings of Walt Whitman Chicago Mass Choir.

Defender: What is your testimony?

Taylor: I love GOD with everything I am. I am striving to be all that He created me t musician, worshipper. I’m an imperfect man working a perfect plan.

Defender: If you could ask the Lord for something BIG, what would it be?

Taylor: GOD has already blown my mind. I’ve been blessed with so many opportu I have recorded as an artist and produced others. I have performed internationally. At thi want to leave something tangible. Studies have shown that children with an inclination t cally. However, in our schools, arts education is one of the first budget items to be cut. So tion for our students. I’d also like to provide support, training and encouragement to mus Defender: How important is your role in the church?

Taylor: I feel my role as worship arts director is important, because I believe effecti “followship,” is key to successful ministry. As the leader, my job is to take the pastor’s visi it and equip the people to do the work of the ministry.

defendernetwork.com • Servin

NS-LEE

Church w Mid-Size Church

and who influenced you?

Jr., was a great singer, composer and self-taught pianist. He often told the story of how as a parents finally figured it out. My Dad said he would go to the piano, put me across his lap and at the age of 5, my parents enrolled me in piano with Mrs. Ola Price, wife of the late olled me, along with my sister, Jerri into Clayton Johnson’s Music Studio in of Music with Deltessa Lee. Those who have impacted, encouraged and my parents, siblings, relatives, pastors and church family, along with Lee.

me the gift of music. I am so thankful to be able to be “an instruM. I continue to pray that I shall be a blessing to those who hear and ise to our God who is so worthy! something BIG, what would it be? already knows the desires of my heart. I trust Him to supply g new mercies I see...” n the church? ship arts director, my role is one of significance because I am tasked with leading the people of GOD in praise to Him. an of God, the pastor, and managing music staff and worship arts personnel. It can be a challenging assignment but gets the Glory!

LENDA TAYLOR

e Genesis Church w Boutique Church

Defender: How did you get into music and who influenced you?

Taylor: I am a preacher’s daughter and was introduced to gospel music at the age of 6, playing and singing “Sweet Hour of Prayer” r. My mother and father kept us in church all the time as well as the school bands, where I played the clarinet. I moved to Houston met and watched two of the most dynamic influences of my life, whom I love so much, maestros V. Michael McKay and Ronald rre. Later, I was able to work with other directors and ministers of music. To name a few: Oliver Scott, Keith Leak, Damien Price, Chad ley, Michael Pickett, Keith Eason, Eldrick Brown, Stephanie Wilson, Christopher Watkins, Michael Dotson, Michael Keith Jester, Kyle y, Dr. Eddie Robinson and Bruce Allen. To their credit, I am the better!

Defender: What is your testimony?

Taylor: My testimony is that I owe GOD in every aspect of my life…I have been in and out of the hospital throughout the course of my life. Each GOD delivered, healed and raised me up to continue to do His work. I have successfully raised two awesome sons as a single parent. I also love and or my soon-to-be 93-year-old mom. I am completing a Doctor of Education degree…I never would have made it without Christ in my life and the ences of my mother, children, church family and the students I serve on a daily basis. My pastor and spiritual leader of 30-plus years, Dr. Michael P. ams, has been an encouragement and model for me in education.

Defender: If you could ask the Lord for something BIG, what would it be?

Taylor: If I could ask the Lord for anything and achieve, it would be to establish my ministry again to full-time with all the necessary financial compensation.

Defender: How important is your role in the church?

Taylor: I have served in ministry since I was a child. I am inspired by deeply held and well- tested faith in GOD through Jesus Christ…

h

, and my dad’s five brothers all played instruments. I started playing chool. At age 12, I started playing for a few local artists in Chicago, alker and many others. I was blessed to work with most of the major n and the Soul Children of Chicago, Ricky Dillard and New G, and

to be –man, husband, father, son, brother, friend, teacher, leader,

unities to work with major artists all over the country. is point in my life, I’m concerned about legacy. I toward the arts, with cultivation, excel academio, I’d like to provide supplemental arts educasicians in leadership at their churches.

ive leadership, coupled with effective ion, formulate a plan to accomplish

ng the Houston area for over 88 years

defender network.com

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 29 | 2019

defendernetwork.com

perspective

Black women wage gap costs

B

Defender News Services

lack Women’s Equal Pay Day was recently observed, marking the point when Black women’s income finally caught up to earnings of white non-Hispanic men in the previous calendar year.

On average, Black women in America make 61 cents to every dollar a white man makes. Regardless of socioeconomic or education level, Black women work decades longer than white men to match their earnings, according to a study released by the National Women’s Law Center.

The analysis shows Black women are losing out on $23,653 yearly.

Over the course of a 40-year career, that totals $946,120.

In order to match the lifetime earnings of a 60-year-old white man, a Black woman would have to work until she’s 86 years old, if they both started working at age 20. The gap is even greater for Black women born outside of the U.S., who make just half the earnings of foreign-born men in this country.

A nearly $1 million loss over a decades-long career is “unfathomable,” Jasmine Tucker, director of research at the National Women’s Law Center, said.

It’s like “losing out on the American dream,” Tucker said. “A million dollars is child care, it’s health care, it’s a house, it’s economic stability.

And that’s just straight earnings.”

It doesn’t stop there. The disparity widens depending on where you live. In Louisiana, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, Utah and Virginia, lifetime wage losses equate to more than $1 million.

Washington, D.C., has the worst U.S. income inequality for Black women, where they earn 51 cents to every dollar for white men and accrue

a lifetime loss of $1.9 million, according to the study. Black women in D.C. would have to work until they are 98 to make up for those lost wages.

“This is the same old, tired story that’s been going on for decades,” Tucker said. “I think that the sort of interesting thing is that Black women are gaining political power right now. Black women are going to continue to drive the movement forward and they’re gonna continue because they’re the one pushing this forward and there’s a mismatch between their growing political power

and [them] falling behind terms of economic security and family security.”

Tina Sherman, the paid leave campaign director at MomsRising, and Alicia Garza, Black Lives Matter co-founder and creator of Black Futures Lab, know this old story well.

Sherman, a mother of four, is currently staring at what a lifetime’s work of pay disparity looks like numerically as she helps her mother prepare for retirement. Garza recalled watching her single mother work multiple jobs to sustain her family while she followed her dreams at night. Both are now fighting for pay equity for all Black women.

“It is shameful that in this day and age that Black women have to work 20 months to be paid what white men are paid in 12 months,” Sherman

said. “It’s racist, it’s sexist and it harms me as a mom, my family and the economy at large. There’s absolutely no justification.”

With MomsRising, Sherman is pushing Congress to pass pay equity legislation, including the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help protect more workers against pay discrimination.

Garza said that as long there is racism within the U.S. economy, the wage and wealth gap will persist.

The Black Futures Lab has joined forces with Phenomenal Woman to launch Phenomenally Black, a campaign that celebrates Black women. Celebrities and elected officials will wear shirts that read “Phenomenally Black” to highlight Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. “Oftentimes, we hear things about the wage gap between white women and white men and that’s not necessarily the wage gap between women of color and white men and in particular Black women and white men,” Garza said.

“I think for me, what’s so exciting about Phenomenally Black is the opportunity just to make that visible. Not just the struggles that we have, but we also want to be able to highlight the ways in which we are persisting and resisting and enduring circumstances that are not ideal and we want to be able to do that to encourage and motivate and activate people to take action.”

Garza emphasized the need to include all Black women in the fight. She revealed that the results from Black Futures Lab’s forthcoming Black Census Project show that Black trans women are severely impacted by the wage gap.

“What we found is that 85 percent of Black trans women who responded to our survey reported that they were making incomes less than $50,000 a year and 23 percent reported that they are making incomes less than $15,000 a year…,” Garza said.

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years

defendernetwork.com

AUGUST 29 | 2019 | DEFENDER

and KTSU 90.9 Present

How Firm a Foundation Conference Concerts All Concerts Open to the Public (There will be a Free Will Offering)

Hosted by: V. Michael McKay and Yolanda Adams

Sat. Aug. 31

Sun. Sept. 1

7:00 PM

“Christmas Now” Concert

Songs of African American Composers The Westin Oaks Galleria Houston 5011 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77056 Hosted by

Dr. Bobby Jones

7:00 PM

“Hymns for Him Now” Concert Hymns of African American Composers New Faith Church 4315 Fuqua St. Houston, TX 77045 Hosted by

V. Michael McKay, Yolanda Adams Featuring Dr. Margaret Douroux We pay homage to: Hanq Neal, Theola Booker & Ronald Materre

Mon. Sept. 2

Mon. Sept. 2 1:00 PM

7:00 PM

The Journey

The Journey Continues

A Historical look at Praise and worship with

Patrick Henderson

The “Saints in Praise” Praise and Worship African American Pioneer The Westin Oaks Galleria Houston 5011 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77056 Registration Fee: $30 which includes VIP seating at the 7pm concert and a meet and greet with the artists.

For ticket information go to:

Hymnsforhimnow.com/ticketedevents or call 832493.4139

Minister of Music Extraordinaire 2019 Awards Presentation

Lydia Alston

Minister of Music

Brentwood Baptist Church

“Praise & Worship Now” Concert A Praise & Worship Gathering Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church 3015 N. MacGregor Way Houston, TX 77004 Hosted by

Stephen Hurd & Melanie Daniels Featuring Patrick Henderson Special Honorees: Defender Awardees Ministers of Music Extraordinaire

Glenda Taylor

Mark Taylor

Eleanor Lee

Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church

Minister of Music

Minister of Music

True Light Missionary Baptist Church

The Genesis Church

Minister of Music

Labor Day, Mon. Sept. 2 @ 7 pm. Good Hope Baptist Church

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DEFENDER | AUGUST 29 | 2019

pro sports

defendernetwork.com

Watson leaves early, Miller out for season

D

Associated Press

eshaun Watson didn’t get the longer preseason look he wanted against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Houston Texans couldn’t get their quarterback off the field fast enough, especially after running back Lamar Miller sustained a torn ACL and will miss the upcoming season.

Watson didn’t return for a second series after getting dropped twice in three plays. The first play wasn’t a sack because of defensive holding, the second was and resulted in a fumble, the first of four Houston turnovers in a 34-0 exhibition loss to the Cowboys.

Miller was carted off after defensive tackle Maliek Collins slammed into his left leg at the line of scrimmage in Miller’s only carry of the preseason. The eighth-year back didn’t play in the first two exhibitions.

“It’s very tough,” Watson said. “You have a guy that’s so special to our team. Anybody that gets hurt, it’s tough. But he’s one of the guys that has a lot of energy and a lot of power for this team. It’s tough to see him go off in the cart.”

Watson was hoping for more than the single series he got in a previous 30-23 win over Detroit. His only other appearance was productive, though. Watson was 5 of 7 for 60 yards with a 4-yard touchdown to DeAndre Hopkins. Since he couldn’t get a pass off in two dropbacks against the Cowboys, those will be his preseason numbers. The opener is Sept. 9 at New Orleans.

“Even if we went out and the starters played a half and put up 34 points, I still don’t believe that we’d be ready,” Watson said.

“There’s always ways to get better all the way to kickoff of the Saints game.”

With Miller out, the focus will turn to Duke Johnson, acquired from Cleveland in a trade this month. Johnson hasn’t played for the Texans yet. The other two backs who got carries against the Cowboys are undrafted rookies: Karan Higdon Jr. (13 carries for 28 yards) and Damarea Crockett (three for 27).

The night got worse for Houston’s offensive line when versatile starter Zach Fulton was carted off in the first half. Last year’s right guard has also played center and left guard in previous seasons.

Dak Prescott scrambled and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Michael Gallup while playing the first two series for Dallas. Prescott was 2 of 5 for 22 yards, the three incompletions his first of the preseason.

“I’m just excited for where we’re going to go,” Prescott said.

“This team is coming together, this team is strong, this team is excited. A lot of youth, a lot of energy.”

Tony Pollard, the starting running back with Ezekiel Elliott holding out, stayed an extra series, when the rookie had a 20-yard run to finish with 26 yards on six carries. Alfred Morris, the primary replacement during Elliott’s six-game suspension two years ago, had a 1-yard TD run.

Pollard nearly reached the end zone by running 24 yards on a screen, but it was negated by an illegal block penalty on Jason Witten. The tight end, poised to set the Dallas record with a 16th season, was playing at home for the first time since coming out of retirement after a year in broadcasting.

Texan quarterback Deshaun Watson saw his team lose to the Cowboys 34-0.

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years

Running back Lamar Miller is out with a torn ACL after starting 14 games last year.

defendernetwork.com

AUGUST 29 | 2019 | DEFENDER

sports

13

Frank & Anthony Brown

Dynamic duo shines at Sterling

By JODIE B. JILES Defender

W

ith standout senior running back Frank Brown Jr. leading the way as returning offensive MVP of his perspective 5A Division and his younger brother Anthony making the signal calls at quarterback, the Sterling Raiders’ offense knows what it means to have a dynamic duo.

Sterling athletic director and head football coach Kanavis McGhee is pleased with the Browns’ contributions to his backfield.

“Anthony is as quiet as all outdoors and Frank is not as quiet and speaks up a little bit,” McGhee said. “What makes that combo unique is that the running back talks a whole lot and the quarterback doesn’t talk a whole lot.

“It’s interesting to watch them in the huddle because the big brother wants the ball all the time and little brother reminds him ‘but you’re not always open all of the times, someone else is open,’ “McGhee added.

The Defender spoke with the two brothers about their styles of play, how they push one another to be their best and their connection on and off the field.

Defender: How would you describe your style of play?

Frank Brown: My style is quick where I have to go and get it moving. I bring a lot to the table because I have to keep going with the tempo.

Defender: How does your brotherly connection off the field contribute to your success on the field?

Frank: It helps a whole lot because we have the connection that nobody has. We’re in the house everyday together and we grew up together so nobody can stop that.

Defender: How do you two push each other to be the best you can be on the field?

Frank: He will get on me and I will get on him to make each other better.

Defender: What’s it like playing with your brother?

Anthony Brown: Most of the time it is good because I feel like we have a connection where nobody can stop us.

Then sometimes my brother can see things that I can’t see down the field.

Defender: What do you admire about your brother?

Anthony: His work ethic and his leadership. He sets the tone for the team throughout the season. Just like yesterday in the scrimmage when he scored and that got the team hyped up to do better.

Defender: Is there anything you have learned from your brother’s success so far?

Anthony: I learned a lot of stuff in football and in life too like never take things for granted.

Anthony Brown plays quarterback while Frank is a Raiders running back.

The Brown brothers are encouraged by their mother Aleisha Drexler. (Photos by David Wall)

About Frank

NFL players he studies: Odell Beckham Jr., Saquon Barkley, DeAndre Hopkins Hobby: Listening to music World problem he would solve: Police brutality

About Anthony

Favorite food: Pasta Favorite musician: Lil Durk What no one knows about him: “I can throw with both hands.”

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years

14

DEFENDER | AUGUST 29 | 2019

defendernetwork.com

Harden donates to basketball courts Defender News Services

ity weekend included a comedy show and a celebrity softball game featuring newly acquired Rockets guard Russell Westbrook. Earlier activities included a concert, where Westbrook danced on stage alongside Harden.

All of the JH-Town Weekend events benefitted Harden’s 3 The Harden Way foundation, which offers scholarships and internship opportunities for students facing economic adversity.

classifieds Momesara Inc. Sales Manager

James Harden presented local kids with bikes and gave money to renovate outdoor basketball courts.

steps, but we’re going to get there. In a few years, we’re going to change this city around and make it legendary.”

Harden is entering his eighth season in Houston, and he cited support from the city over his time with the Rockets as the driving force behind his donation and the annual charity weekend.

“The whole reason behind it is giving back to this beautiful city that has embraced me

for the last eight years,” he said. “I’m here to help. This is the first of many courts that we’re doing.”

Turner noted that Harden also donated $1 million to the city two years ago after Harvey.

“This is not a onetime deal,” said Turner.

“He loves the city, loves the people in this city. ...We didn’t contact him. He knocked on my door.”

Harden, the 2018 NBA MVP, averaged a

career-high 36.1 points per game last season to go with 7.5 assists and 6.6 rebounds. That total included the second-longest streak of consecutive 30-point games (32) in NBA history, which helped Houston go 42-15 over its final 57 games.

Despite the historic production, Harden finished second to Giannis Antetokounmpo in MVP voting. However, Turner said Harden remains MVP in the Houston

T:4.79”

LEGAL NOTICE

2 yrs experience as a Sales Manager. Duties: overseeing sales operations, such as handling staffing, new accounts, promotions, transportation, pricing, and analyzing market and sales reports; supervising. Mail resume: Momesara Inc., Attn: Human Resources. 13306 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77047.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS The Greater Southeast Management District is soliciting sealed bids for Right of Way Maintenance and Median Enhancements, Trash/ Debris Disposal Services and Bus Shelter Sanitation & Maintenance addressed to Greater Southeast Management District, at 5445 Almeda Rd, #503, Houston, TX 77004, until 3:00 pm on Monday, October 7, 2019. A pre-bid meeting will be held at 3:00 PM on Thursday, September 5, 2019 at the District’s office noted above.

Bid packages are available for download from the District’s website at http://www.houstonse.org/notices-2/.

Commercial Loan Broker Houston First Holdings LLC requests proposals from commercial loan brokers capable of assisting the company in obtaining a loan to refinance existing indebtedness secured by the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel.

An experienced finance team is needed to prepare and conduct a marketing process, identify funding options and assist in all aspects of negotiation of loan applications, commitments, and the satisfaction of lender-required due diligence.

Please visit https://www.houstonfirst.com/do-business for complete details.

These Texas Lottery Commission scratch ticket games will be closing soon:

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Txlottery.org is the official source for all pertinent game information. Game closing procedures may be initiated for documented business reasons. These games may have prizes unclaimed, including top prizes. In addition, game closing procedures will be initiated when all top prizes have been claimed. During closing, games may be sold even after all top prizes have been claimed. Must be 18 or older to purchase a ticket. For help with a gambling problem, ncpgambling.org. © 2019 Texas Lottery Commission. PLAY RESPONSIBLY.

AGENCY WIDE DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION SERVICES Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER’s, Purchasing Department, located at 9401 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7304 and/or via The HARRIS CENTER’s website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site, https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/ beginning Wednesday, September 4, 2019..

The deadline for prospective contractors to submit questions to this RFP is Tuesday, September 17, 2019. Responses to the Request for Proposal (RFP) must be submitted to The HARRIS CENTER’s Purchasing Department by 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 9401 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 in a sealed envelope marked "REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019, “AGENCY WIDE DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION SERVICES”.

Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Marguarette Washington, Senior Buyer or E-mail questions to marguarette.washington@theharriscenter.org cc sharon.brauner@theharriscenter or via fax at (713) 970-7682. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all responses to this proposal, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interest, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

T:3.25”

Houston Rockets superstar James Harden is donating more than $240,000 to the City of Houston to renovate outdoor basketball courts in underserved areas that were ravaged

by Hurricane Harvey.

Harden addressed the donation recently alongside Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner as part of his JH-Town Weekend of charity.

The announcement was made at Tuffly Park in north Houston, where over 100 neighborhood children also received new bicycles.

“Every day I wake up, I think about being legendary, being the best basketball player I can be on the court.

But on the flip side of that, I think, ‘How can I impact the world?’

Ultimately, I want to be a legend off the court as well, in the community,” Harden said in delivering the news.

Harden shared that when he grew up in Los Angeles, playing basketball in outside parks was a big part of his upbringing and helped him make friends. As such, he thinks more children would benefit from those types of experiences today.

“Nowadays, everything is so social media-based, kids aren’t outside playing anymore,” Harden said. “They’re on their phone or playing video games. [They] need to be active and have fun and be kids. Courts is just the beginning.

My ultimate goal is to change Houston and make it better.

“Obviously the hurricane affected this area greatly, and so this is one of the reasons why I wanted to bring some positive energy and some light on this community,” Harden continued. “It’s baby

community.

“We appreciate him, we love him,” Turner said of Houston’s appreciation for Harden. “In our book, he’s always the MVP.” “That’s the beauty of our city,” Turner said of Harden’s donation.

“When you see these athletes, don’t just look at them as athletes. Look at them as community citizens that are giving back to the community, and they’re paying it forward.”

Harden’s char-

defendernetwork.com

AUGUST 29 | 2019 | DEFENDER

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

topevents

15

SANKOFA 400 POINTS OF LIGHT CONFERENCE……..Sankofa 400, a the Southeast Houston Affordable Housing Initiative and Center for Civic & Public coalition of individuals and organizations seeking to commemorate the African Policy Improvement. Attendees included Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman American Quad-Centennial (the 400-year anniversary of Black people’s acknowledged Sheila Jackson Lee, Todd Edwards, Zinetta Burney, Constable May Walker, presence in the U.S.), hosted the 400 Points of Light Conference and Bell Ringing to this County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Dr. Abdul Muhammad, Keith Wade, Theola end. August 1619 saw the first Africans sold into slavery in the U.S., marking a journey Pettiway, Rev. John Eigege, Ken Rodgers and many others……..COALITION OF of unfathomable brutality, yet also overcoming and achievement responsible for America COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS RIBBON CUTTING……..The Coalition becoming a world power. The event at Riverside UMC was of Community Organizations (COCO) and the Houston East End followed by a national bell ringing to honor ancestors. Attendees Chamber of Commerce celebrated a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Defender TOP EVENTS included Omowale Luthuli-Allen, Joan Hubert, Pastor Keith Open House Fundraiser while opening the doors to its new office/ More photos on defendernetwork.com Somerville, Mark Williams, Anelle Williams, Ann Chinn, studio at the EADO Workspaces. COCO originated in 2008 via residents and organizations in the greater Houston area to make sure Dr. Jason Oby, Keda Cunningham, Rev. Loretta Hubbardthat community interests are represented at the city, state and national Green, Patricia Dixon, Bishop D. Kimathi Nelson, Nailah Nelson and many more……..PALMETTO PLACE 100 HOMES INITIATIVE…….. levels, and that stakeholders have a vested interest in maintaining healthy, sustainable communities. Attendees included Rev. James Caldwell, Cecelia Fontenot, Thelma State Rep. Ron Reynolds and Houston Business Development, Inc. hosted the Palmetto Scott, Councilmember Karla Cisneros, Dr. Carla Brailey, Vicky Pink, County Place ground-breaking, the first leg of the 100 Homes Initiative that will provide the Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Nikki Nsombi, Martha Hernandez, Dr. Frances construction of the first new single-family subdivision in Southeast Houston in over 50 years, as part of the city’s Complete Communities. Other players in this endeavor were Dyess and more.

Joan Hubert, Ann Chinn, Davette Daggett

Marley Cunningham, Keda Cunningham, Peyton Cunningham

Palmetto Place groundbreaking dignitaries

Participants breaking ground

County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Rev. James Caldwell, Martha Hernandez

COCO ribbon-cutting

Bishop D. Kimathi Nelson, Angela Knight, Omowale Luthuli-Allen

Todd Edwards

Councilmember Karla Cisneros, Dr. Carla Brailey, Vicky Pink, Frances Dyess

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 88 years

16

DEFENDER | AUGUST 29 | 2019

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2019 FELLOWS ON COMPLETING THEIR JOURNEY.

SIX STUDENTS FROM HBCUs

SIX SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY JOURNALISM

TWO CELEBRITY ADVISORS

ONE STYLISH RIDE

THE ROAD TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Experience their full story online.

Discover everything they accomplished in the All-New 2019 Chevy Blazer.

See them find new roads at nnpa.org/chevydtu.

@ChevroletDTU

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