On Aug. 26, individuals and organizations will descend upon the nation’s capital to mark the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Most folk remember the “I have a dream” refrain from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech that day. But the real fre came when those Aug. 28, 1963 marchers were returning the check America wrote to Black people marked “insufcient funds” and reminded attendees of the “ferce urgency of now.” Rev. Al Sharpton and other Aug. 26, 2023 event organizers stress it’s not a “commemoration” but a “continuation” of that demand for justice. So, whether you’ll be in DC marching or marching with your own squad here in H-Town, we would all do well to remember the words of the late State Rep. Al Edwards who said “Tere are just a few laws between us and the plantation.” And whatever gains we’ve made since ’63 are being threatened. So, let’s get to work. Because as our South African cousins ofen said while battling apartheid, “Aluta Continua” (the struggle continues).
On Aug. 28, 1955, Emmett was kidnapped, tortured, mutilated and murdered. The “trial” of his murderers was a shame. Everyone knew the accused were guilty, yet, an all-white jury set them free. Te murderers had the nerve and privilege to later admit their guilt, then proft of sharing their story with LIFE magazine. Te woman who lied on Emmett, which led to his murder, was allowed to live out her days, deep into her 80s, and die a peaceful death (unlike Emmett), never being held accountable. And here we are, 68 years later, and each week it seems there’s another Emmett Till; another Black person who had their life stolen from them (or darn near), yet the perpetrators get of scot-free. And before you hit me with that, “What
about Black-on-Black crime” refrain, just know that all races commit the lion’s share of their crimes against one another, but the justice system must also stop others from abusing us. So, if not for ourselves, then for our children, let’s honor Emmett Till Day by devoting some piece of ourselves to creating a world where such crimes against our humanity are no longer allowed to occur… at the very least, not without serious consequences and repercussions.
I know Simone Biles’ return to competition went down a few weeks ago, but I can’t help thinking about how we’re, in the words of my pastor, “missing our shout.” Biles came back to competition, and it was as if she never lef. If that’s not insanely incredible enough, think about this: At the age of 26 (ancient for a female gymnast), she still reigns supreme. Her recent “don’t-call-it-a-comeback” is all the more powerful when you remember that she stepped away from the sport in the middle of the Olympics, placing herself and her reputation in the crosshairs of small-minded haters, to prioritize her mental health. Self-righteous folk chastised her for not having a true great’s focus and willingness to push through life’s stresses. Professional athletes and non-athletes alike had the nerve to attack Biles for prioritizing her own well-being. Ten, she came back to competition slaying as usual, as if to tell the haters, “How ya like me now.” Tis is a story worth celebrating, whether I’m late to the party or not.
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Texas Southern University has unveiled a new Texas historical marker for the late Congressman George Tomas “Mickey” Leland.
An alumnus of TSU, Leland graduated in 1970 with a degree in pharmacy and was a Texas House Representative for the 88th district, serving six years. He later went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representative for six terms representing Texas’ 18th district.
Te Texas Supreme Court denied Harris County’s request for emergency relief to temporarily block the September 1 implementation of Senate Bill 1750, which abolishes the Harris County Elections Administrator’s Office. The court also set for oral argument the state’s appeal of the trial court’s ruling in favor of Harris County. Tat argument is set to take place on Nov. 28, 2023, afer the election.
This ruling comes in the wake of a Travis County District Court’s recent ruling halting SB 1750 from going into efect as scheduled on Sept. 1. Te Travis County court ruling was hailed as a victory by Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and immediately appealed by the state’s Attorney General ofce.
Menefee sees the state’s higher court ruling as a major setback, not only to his county but to democracy, in general.
“I am disappointed that the Texas Supreme Court is quietly allowing the legislature to illegally target Harris County, instead of considering the arguments and timely deciding whether Senate Bill 1750 violates the constitution. We frst learned of today’s decision from media, instead of from the court itself,” said Menefee.
“From the start, Republican legislators pushed this law abolishing the Harris County Elections Administrator’s Ofce to undermine local elections and score political points on the backs of the good people who run them. By setting the law to go into efect September 1, and not passing a single law to assist in the
transition or provide additional funding, Republican legislators are making the job of running this November’s election much more difcult. It was on the Texas Supreme Court to rein in these badfaith lawmakers. Te court failed Harris County residents.”
Te county requested emergency relief because if the law were to go into efect while the county’s case is pending and the county refused to abolish the elections administrator’s ofce, it is not clear how that would impact the Nov. 2023 elections.
Early voting for that election begins Oct. 23.; an election that includes statewide constitutional amendments, countywide bond propositions and municipal races for the City of Houston.
Menefee has already made his position
on the matter clear, viewing SB 1750 as a “political vendetta by a single senator in the Texas Senate who doesn’t like Harris County ofcials and wants to fnd ways to undermine them.”
“For nearly 100 years, the Texas Constitution has prohibited laws that can only ever apply to one locale. And that’s because legislators are supposed to be passing laws that beneft the entire state of Texas. At the end of the day, we know that this is not about making elections better for the Republican Party. It’s about undermining confdence in our elections.”
Menefee added to his argument that with SB 1750, confusion is the goal.
“We’re going to be behind the eight ball,” Menefee said, regarding the possibility of SB 1750 going into efect, “and that’s because that’s exactly what (State) Senator (Paul) Bettencourt and Republican legislators wanted. Tey wanted us to be in a situation where we were just a few weeks out from the start of important processes in the November election, and we were having to scramble because of this law that blows up our election processes.”
“When you’re preparing for an election, you start nine months out. And to turn that over to a new set of ofcials just weeks before the start of voting in a new election, it’s going to be catastrophic,” he added.
“At the next Commissioners Court meeting on Aug. 29, I will discuss the ruling and its implications with Commissioners Court members so that they can decide how best to proceed,” added Menefee.
“[The] tribute is symbolic and illustrates to each of us that the works and good deeds of the honorable Mickey Leland are not forgotten for those of us here at Texas Southern University, this is his home,” said TSU Interim President, Dr. Mary Evans-Sias. “Tis will become a place where many young scholars will come. walk in the path he walked and hopefully do as good in their walk as he did.”
During his years of public service, Leland fought to bring awareness to issues like health care and hunger, passing legislation that many say is still making a diference today. His eforts created the National Commission on infant mortality, easier access to fresh food for women, children, and infants at-risk, and the frst comprehensive services for people with home insecurity.
Cleo Glenn-Johnson McLaughlin, a former staf member for Leland said, the work he put in years ago opened up many changes we have today.
“We still benefit from the remnants of what Mickey was all about,” she said. “He had done much for many all over this world and we’re still reaping from the fact that there was a man who was born and raised in Fifh Ward, who decided to go forward and become an instrument of our peace.”
Leland’s advocacy stretched not only across the United States, but to places like Cuba and Africa. He brought many leaders and organizations together to create general public support for the Africa Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985 – providing $800 million in food and humanitarian relief supplies. Leland’s work didn’t stop there, he had a hand in energy and commerce, telecommunications and fnance, postal operations and services and more.
While on another mission trip in Africa, Leland died in a plane crash in Ethiopia in 1989. Many of Leland’s friends and family were in attendance praising him for his advocacy as a leader throughout his life.
Allison Leland, Mickey’s late wife, said it’s comforting to know his legacy is being kept alive.
“For me, Mickey has always been a beautiful mosaic and pieces of a puzzle continuously put together. I’ll be out in the community or at Walgreens and a stranger or friend will come up to me and tell me a piece of a story about Mickey, and I fnd it fascinating,” she said. “It is really important that he is missed and remembered – he really deserves to be.”
Senate Bill 1750 violates the Texas Constitution because it abolishes the elections administrator’s ofce in only Harris County and will never apply to another county.”
CHRISTIAN MENEFEE Harris County AttorneyStephanie Tilley makes history as PVAMU’s frst Fulbright scholar. Don Rosette, former KYOKAM General Mgr., receives the Salvation Army William Booth award for his community impact. Leland TEXAS SUPREME COURT RULING
Anyone who has read the Georgia indictment against former President Donald Trump will notice one name throughout: poll worker Ruby Freeman.
The Fulton County election stafer was helping count ballots in the state when she was singled out by Trump and his then-attorney Rudy Giuliani and accused of mishandling ballots, sparking a wave of threats against Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss.
Freeman’s name appears some 40 times in the indictment, a detail Gwen Keyes Fleming, a former district attorney (DA) in Georgia, said refects that there are “actual identifable victims that the DA’s office is sworn to protect,” in addition to the voters in the state whose will Trump sought to deny.
“Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you?” Freeman said to investigators from the House committee reviewing the Jan. 6, 2021 attack. “The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one.”
Giuliani, a defendant in the case and Trump’s longtime ally, claimed to have video evidence showing the mother-daughter pair scanning ballots hidden in suitcases under tables at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, according to a report by Georgia’s State Election Board.
The alleged USB drive he accused them of passing between each other “as if they were vials of heroin or cocaine” was in fact just a ginger mint. Trump would go on to call Freeman a “professional vote scammer.”
In December 2020, Illinois pastor Stephen Lee traveled to Freeman’s home and spoke with her neighbor, intending to mislead Freeman and “influence her testimony in an official proceeding,” prosecutors allege in the indictment.
Lee reportedly enlisted Black Voices for Trump leader Harrison Floyd (who is also named in the indictment) to help
persuade Freeman, who feared talking to Lee “because he was a white man.”
Both Freeman and Moss are Black.
A month later, Floyd recruited Trevian Kutti — a former publicist for rapper and Trump ally Kanye West — to join their eforts, according to the indictment. Kutti met with Freeman at the behest of an unidentified “high-profile individual” and urged Freeman to confess to Trump’s election fraud claims or go to jail within 48 hours, Reuters reported. Kutti is also named in the indictment.
Eric Segall, another law professor at Georgia State University, said the role played by the election workers in the indictment’s broader narrative creates a racial component to the case, one that is less present in the ex-president’s other criminal cases.
The women were an impediment to eforts to change election results in a state where civil rights organizing propelled the movement forward. At a future
trial — which would likely be televised, thanks to Georgia’s court rules — race would play an inevitable role, he said.
“We have these white, northern … lawyer, powerful mentypes intimidating these Black women,” Segall said. “It has a symbolism about it, and images can be really powerful.”
The false claims of election fraud that rapidly spread through Trump’s orbit and right-wing spaces caused Freeman and Moss to face harassment and threats they have said altered their lives.
“I don’t do nothing anymore. I don’t want to go anywhere. I second guess everything I do. It’s affected my life in a major way. In every way. All because of lies,” Moss testifed during a Jan. 6 committee hearing.
Freeman and Moss have sued Giuliani themselves for defamation over his election fraud claims, which a series of probes led by three law enforcement agencies found “were false and unsubstantiated.”
Giuliani wrote in court filings he will “not contest” that his
statements were “false” and “carry meaning that is defamatory” but maintained that they were “constitutionally protected.”
But Keyes Fleming said there’s another important distinction about having the false statements about Freeman addressed in a criminal case versus a civil defamation suit where the two women could receive monetary damages.
“It’s not about reimbursement …. It’s more about punishment for a
crime that’s consistent with the level of accountability for a particular act,” she said.
Though Trump’s efforts to subvert Georgia’s election results ultimately failed, the indictment makes clear his and his allies’ alleged actions were “not a victimless crime at all,” Segall said.
“Bringing in Ruby Freeman and her daughter shows a very human cost to what these people were doing,” he said.
VOLUME
With the 2024 presidential election being billed by some as “democracy’s last stand,” many see GOP eforts to overthrow the 2022 election (election deniers; Jan 6 insurrectionists, and MAGA big lie believers) as an existential threat to the survival of America as we know it. Tis includes Democrats and a block of “Never Trump” Republicans.
And members of those two groups (Democrats and Never Trumpers) are not happy about the emergence of No Labels, a third political party. Tey see a Democratic victory in 2024, whether that be a Biden re-election or the election of some other Democrat as the only way to stop the plans of Project 2025, a well-funded Republican-led initiative, which seeks to end nearly all checks and balances on the Executive Branch of the government (president), thus creating a king or dictator with nearly absolute power and authority over military, spending, investigations, etc.
No Party’s stated goal is to end DC political gridlock and restore bipartisanship where members of the nation’s two major parties are able to debate, compromise and
create consensus legislation for the good of the country. According to their website, “We are a national movement of commonsense Americans pushing our leaders together to solve our county’s biggest problems.”
Tose skeptical of No Labels see it as an attempt to siphon of votes from the Democratic presidential candidate, thus clearing the way for a Republican victory in 2024.
Dr. Ben Chavis, one of No Label’s four national co-chairs, told Joy-Ann Reid while a guest on her MSNBC show Te Reidout.
“Most Americans do not want to see a repeat of the 2020 election. So, what No Labels is doing at the grassroots level is trying to get ballot access in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia. ”
Still, skeptics of No Labels’ intentions note the party is made up almost entirely of Republicans—many of whom were hyper-critical of President Barack Obama and voted consistently to block his agenda while also echoing claims that Obama wasn’t born in America, lied about his faith afliation and worked in partnership with terrorists against American interests.
Chavis, who has been part of progressive
movements for decades and was the principal organizer of the Million Man March, is the lone progressive who is part of the No Labels leadership.
Rumors around DC have No Labels potentially endorsing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis or West Virginia U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat who often votes with Republicans, as their choice for president in the 2024 election.
“I can tell you, we have not endorsed any candidate, Republican or Democrat,” said Chavis to Reid. “As far as No Labels supporting DeSantis, that’s incorrect.”
BEN CHAVISChavis, who is also president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, further stated, “No
Labels would never support a candidate that bans books, burns books and prevents people from knowing true history. We are anti-discrimination in all of its forms. We’re also against voter suppression in all of its forms.”
He added No Labels is hoping America is open to a “unity ticket,” with a president/vice president tandem from diferent parties.
“We will not make a decision on any candidate until afer Super Tuesday before the April 2024 [Republican Party] convention in Dallas. If we don’t see a clear pathway for a unity ticket, Democrat/Republican, Republican/Democrat, to win the Electoral College we stand down.”
No Labels is not a pro-Trump spoiler and No Labels is not an anti-Biden group… No Labels doesn’t have any candidate. We’re not running anybody for ofce. What we’re trying to do is get in place in case we need to next year.”
PVAMU President Tomikia P. LeGrande announced on social media that the school will rethink future events after nearly 40 Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) students were hospitalized due to heat-related issues.
And though it is clear that 38 PVAMU students ended up hospitalized after experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion during Panther Camp activities, what is still unclear is who thought it was a good idea to hold events outside while the state and nation are in the midst of what scientists have called the hottest summer on record.
Here are excerpts of LeGrande’s posts:
“The health and safety of the students entrusted to us is always our priority. Yesterday evening, several members of the class of 2027 experienced heat-related illnesses at the concluding event of their Panther Week activities… Medical care was quickly provided and our staff continued to monitor our students for several hours after. We are conscientiously reviewing the decision-making process surrounding yesterday’s event; and also evaluating other programs planned for the immediate future”
School officials said emergency medical professionals were immediately dispatched to the scene to treat students for heat-related illnesses.
“[Black people] were falling out left and right, all around me,” said one Panther Camp attendee who wished not to
be named. “I saw people, dropping, and I’m like, I’m sho’ glad I brought my water and hat and fan and towel on my head. [Stuff] was crazy, yo.”
Waller County officials told reporters that 38 patients were taken to the hospital. One of them was taken by Life Flight.
According to those Waller County officials, the vast majority (37) of those patients were admitted for heat-related issues, while the remaining patient was admitted for
trauma.
The student who wished not to be named added, “It was scary. Even though I tried giving people water and fanning people, I felt straight up helpless.”
State health officials encourage students to monitor themselves and others for symptoms such as high body temperature, dizziness or fainting, confusion, and upset stomach. Individuals exhibiting these symptoms or seeing them in others should call 911.
Personal advice. Multiple home loan options. And a trusted partner to help you find the right one. Because good loans are something everyone deserves.
right home loan can turn your plans for the future into realities today.
The health and safety of our students entrusted to us is always our priority.”
TOMIKIA P. LEGRANDE PVAMU President
Since 2021, the Texas Legislature has been on a mission to dismantle voting as we know it in Harris County. Come Sept. 1, one of their major efforts at election change will take place as Senate Bill 1750 goes into effect. But that’s not the only election law that could place the voting rights of Black folks in jeopardy.
“The last two sessions of the Texas State Legislature have really been kind of devastating in terms of the impact that it has had on the electoral process,” said Texas Southern University political scientist, Dr. Michael Adams.
“It has made it difficult within a democracy to actually exercise the right to vote in the state. It’s important to understand that one’s vote is a voice, and it should be the ease of voting that we need, as opposed to trying to create mechanism that will make it difficult for one to cast a ballot and to be heard.”
Here’s a look at some of the major election law changes:
Senate Bill 1750, passed by Republican lawmakers in May, is slated to go into effect weeks before early voting starts for the November elections in the state’s largest county. The law requires Harris County to transfer all election-related duties from elections administrator Clifford Tatum, who was appointed just before the November 2022 elections, to the county clerk and the county tax assessor-collector.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee filed a lawsuit last month arguing that the law is unconstitutional because it singles out one county. Though Travis County District Judge Karin Crump granted a temporary injunction barring the law from taking effect, the Texas Supreme Court ultimately overruled it.
Texas Republicans authored SB 1750 after controversy surrounding Harris County’s 2022 primary elections, which led to the resignation of the elections administrator at the time, Isabel Longoria. In November, paper ballot shortages and long wait times at several polling locations led several losing Republican candidates to seek a redo of the elections. Several of those lawsuits are still moving through the courts.
Senate Bill 1933 allows the secretary of state to impose administrative oversight during an election in counties with a population of more than 4 million people (i.e., Harris County alone) if the secretary of state “has good cause to believe that a recurring pattern of problems with election administration or voter registration exists in the county.”
House Bill 1243 raises the penalty for voting illegally from a misdemeanor
to a second degree felony, on par with manslaughter and attempted murder. It also raises the penalty for attempting to vote illegally to a state jail felony. However, it doesn’t include a provision the Senate wanted, which would have punished a person for voting illegally even if they did not realize they were committing a crime.
Both HB 1243 and the Sen ate’s version, SB 2, came after several high-profile cases of individuals being arrested for voting while still on parole and not having had their voting rights restored yet.
“This version that did pass, while horrible, insofar as it increases the criminalization of voting, and it ultimately will intimidate people from the process because of the threat of felony penalties, it at minimum doesn’t include that opened door for prosecutions of mistakes and confusion,” said Katya Ehresman, voting rights program manager for Common Cause Texas.
Senate Bill 1070 begins the process of withdrawing Texas from the interstate voter data consortium known as Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). The measure would allow the Texas Secretary of State’s Office to create its own system for maintaining the state’s voter rolls.
“It especially is concerning for voting rights advocates, insofar as it means the Secretary of State’s Office could create their own system for list maintenance.”
Senate Bill 477 expands protections for voters with mobility issues. Requires
signage explaining how to vote curbside and mandates the marking of multiple parking spaces for curbside voting.
voters
Sylvia Ann Miller-Scarborough remembers when people of color had to pay a poll tax to vote in Houston. She recalls her grandmother, undeterred by such obstacles, reminding her how important it was to be heard at the ballot box.
Miller-Scarborough worries that much of the hard-won progress she’s seen in more than a half-century of voting in the largest county in Texas could be erased by Republican lawmakers. And she says it’s gotten harder to convince her own grandchildren that it matters.
“They don’t believe in voting,” she said. “They are all in their thirties, but they don’t vote. They won’t go to a political rally with me. They say what’s the use? Nothing has changed, as far as they can see.”
Miller-Scarborough, 79, lives in Kashmere Gardens, a historically Black neighborhood in Houston. She thinks the legislature’s actions will fuel cynicism that already exists among voters who don’t remember the struggle for the right to vote.
“I hear my grandkids already saying, ‘See that, granny? I told you that didn’t do any good to vote, didn’t I?’”
Around Houston, it is easy to find voters who say the political implications of constant legislative meddling in Harris County elections are obvious.
An attack on Harris County
Harris County, a Democratic stronghold in a state long dominated by Republicans, is one of the most diverse places in Texas, where the minority population has been growing for decades. Democrats have long predicted the state would turn in their favor, but those dreams have been dashed repeatedly. Harris County has more than 4 million people and over 2.5 million registered voters. While Donald Trump won Texas by under 6 percentage points in the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden won Harris by a 13-point margin
Just four years earlier, Republicans controlled the county; their slipping grip reflects the shifting population trends. The non-Hispanic white population of Texas fell below 50% for the first time between 2000 and 2010, when it made up 45% of the total, and continued to decline through 2020 to 41%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The changing demographics have cut into Republicans’ typically wide margins of victory and made Democrats, who have
consistently won substantial majorities among both Black and Latino voters for decades, more competitive in Texas’ booming suburbs.
In Houston, where the population shift to majority-minority status happened earlier, new voting maps also drew an outcry in 2021 after Republicans lawmakers created no new congressional districts where minority residents hold a majority -- even though Hispanic residents are driving Texas’ surging growth.
That adds to a wariness among voters of color that’s deeply rooted in Texas history. White leaders of both parties employed numerous tactics to suppress the minority vote, from the poll tax to literacy tests, for at least a century. Texas was one of five states that still allowed poll taxes when they were outlawed by the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1964, and while the tax went away, Texas didn’t ratify the change until 2009.
That history motivates former Democratic Senator Rodney Ellis, who
sponsored the Senate resolution to abolish the poll tax and remove the old stigma. He said the problems of the past should inspire apathetic voters.
“Knowing that my ancestors had to count jellybeans, had to try and recite the Constitution by memory — I’ve got three degrees, including a law degree — I can’t do that,” said Ellis, now a Harris County commissioner. “Yet somehow, they had to make a way.”
Keith Downey, president of the Kashmere Gardens Super Neighborhood Council, a planning forum in Houston, said the legislature’s heavy-handed tactics are about control.
“It discourages the voter,” he said.
“It discourages a resident. The resident wants to have taxation with representation. What they’re getting is taxation and no representation.”
“How can you control a community you don’t live in, and you never visited?”
Downey asked.
What we’ve seen in the state of Texas is more retro aggression in terms of going backwards. We have challenges going forward, and there has to be a movement to push back and to make voting easy as opposed to cumbersome.”
DR. MICHAEL ADAMS TSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST
“I think it absolutely leaves Texas voter registration lists more vulnerable than they were before.”
KATYA EHRESMAN COMMON CAUSE TEXAS
Voting should be free of partisan politics. I want you to have the right to vote against me just as much as I want people to have the right to vote for me. And I’ll take my chances. I’ll roll the dice, so to speak, with the voters.”
RODNEY ELLIS HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERSylvia Ann MillerScarborough
Yellowstone Schools is breaking new ground in Houston’s educational landscape. Welcoming a fresh 9th grade class, the institution is poised to unveil its high school program within a newly remodeled and expanded campus.
This educational endeavor not only bridges critical gaps in learning but also pays homage to a rich legacy while adapting to the ever-evolving world of teaching and scholarship.
Yellowstone Schools is no ordinary institution; it’s a pioneering educational model that fuses a private Christian PK3 through 5th grade school with a public charter school stretching up to 12th grade – all within one comprehensive campus.
Te visionary blend of these components not only sets Yellowstone apart as a frst-ofits-kind establishment in the state, but also underscores its commitment to holistic and inclusive education.
Yellowstone’s mission is to empower students facing generational poverty. A remarkable 88% of its alumni graduated from high school in the 2022-23 academic year, with every single graduate expressing intent to
embark on a journey to higher education.
Tis impressive feat resonates powerfully within the Tird Ward community it serves, where only 18% of residents hold high school diplomas. Seventy percent of Yellowstone’s students have surmounted these odds, completed high school and enrolled in academic or vocational certifcation programs.
Te recently remodeled campus stands as a tangible realization of Yellowstone’s commitment to excellence. Embarking on a $30 million comprehensive campaign, the institution
transformed its facilities, paying homage to the enduring legacy of the nearly century-old Frederick Douglass building. Tis landmark structure, steeped in history and community, continues to enrich the lives of neighborhood children through education.
Originating as Frederick Douglass Elementary School in 1926, this building has witnessed generations of learners. It remains a tribute to the famed freedman afer which it was named.
Acquiring the facility in 2006, Yellowstone
Academy took on the mantle of nurturing minds and fostering growth. Earlier in the year, Yellowstone hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration on its newly-remodeled fouracre campus, which includes more than 50 classrooms, learning centers, playgrounds and green space, two multipurpose centers, a library, music room, art studio and innovation hub. During the grand opening Nicola Springer, the principal architect of the campus’ new construction, said the building design channels the community’s history and culture.
“Tis is—a reinvestment into Tird Ward by adding this new campus. Te building gains its inspiration from the original architecture of Tird Ward,” Springer said. “So, whether it’s the row houses, the brick building, red tile roofs or the art of famous artists like John Biggers, the building constantly reinforces the culture and quality [of the community].”
Springer also said during the master planning phase, they “embarked on a thorough exploration of Tird Ward’s essence.” Every nook and cranny, every stroke of artistry, every hue of color, and every interplay of texture that defnes this community was scrutinized and seamlessly woven into the fabric of the design.
NOT
ALL DANGERS COME WITH WARNING LABELS
you’re 60 or older, talk to a pharmacist or doctor about getting vaccinated against RSV today.The newly renovated Yellowstone School building. Yellowstone Schools
By Laura Onyeneho
Te topic of eating disorders is ofen complex and unexplored in the Black community. Stereotypes and misconceptions have resulted in a limited understanding of these disorders, leaving many struggling individuals without proper support.
When you turn on the TV or watch movies and shows, the subject focuses mostly on young white women. Tere is a trend that perpetuates this perception that eating disorders primarily affect white individuals, encapsulated in the acronym “SWAG” for “skinny, white, afuent girl.” This narrow viewpoint has led to a troubling belief that eating disorders are not a concern for Black women, even within their
own community.
Startling statistics indicate that nearly nine percent of the U.S. population, equivalent to 28.8 million Americans, will grapple with an eating disorder in their lifetime.
Remarkably, eating disorders rank as some of the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid abuse, as noted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.
Te scarcity of research dedicated to eating disorders among Black women compounds the issue, leading to underdiagnosing and misunderstandings within the medical feld.
A clear understanding of eating disorders is vital to dismantling myths and promoting a culture of empathy and support. Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders are not a
lifestyle choice but serious medical conditions. Tese mental health disorders encompass a range of issues related to thoughts about food and eating habits.
The Defender spoke to Paula Edwards-Gayfeld, regional vice president at The Renfrew Center, the nation’s premiere eating disorder treatment facility, to discuss the importance of advocating for the awareness of eating disorders in the Black community.
DEFENDER: Why are Black women generally not seen as potential ED patients.
Paula Edwards-Gayfield: I would say that some of it could be provider bias, but I would state that the reason why Black women tend to be underdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all is because of how we really see eating disorders. Eating disorders have been thought to impact white adolescent young adult women. When we think about
people who don’t look that way, they’re not being assessed. Te questions are not being asked of them to determine, “Wait; is there a little something more?” When you think of eating disorders it doesn’t look like them.
DEFENDER: How can we end these stereotypes?
Edwards-Gayfield: The stereotypes that we tend to see are on TV, movies or print magazines. It’s this really thin, no curves. I would have a client who told me she wanted to be a hanger, and I think about how models used to be considered that way. In our society it’s like thin is what’s healthy and acceptable. Tin is desirable. Black women didn’t ft that statement. Tat isn’t a blanket statement considering some may like the thin [look], but Black women tend to be more accepting of curves. Tat’s where some stereotypes start. White women tend to identify themselves as being at a heavier weight than what they would like compared to a Black woman.
Hannah Adams is embarking on a path less traveled. She stands as a beacon of aspiration for many Black students as she enters the world of veterinary medicine.
A recent graduate of Prairie View A&M University, Adams is setting her sights on achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian by enrolling in graduate school at another HBCU, the historic Tuskegee University.
Veterinary medicine is a feld both esteemed and fnancially rewarding, yet, these opportunities have ofen felt elusive for individuals of color seeking entry into the industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 3% of all veterinarians identifed as Black. However, this did not deter Adams from pursuing her passion.
Tuskegee is rooted in a history of successfully preparing students to play “efective professional and leadership roles in society.” Tat was a major factor in Adams’ decision to attend the institution.
“I have so much pride as a young Black woman,” she said. “It only makes sense to continue my education at an HBCU.”
She started her first semester at Tuskegee University and hopes to shatter the barriers for Black youth in the feld of veterinary medicine and “pave the way for future generations.”
Te Defender spoke with Adams about her academic journey.
DEFENDER: Can you share your personal journey that led you to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?
HANNAH ADAMS: I knew I always wanted to be a veterinarian. I love animals. I never knew this could be a career until toward the end of high school, because they don’t really talk about agriculture in high school. When people think of agriculture, they probably think of plants and farming. You can get a degree in agriculture under the animal side and use it to be able to go to vet school, which is what I did. I grew up watching vet shows like “Te Vet Life” and “Critters Keepers.” Tose shows had Black representation. I saw that and I wanted to do it. Tat’s when I started reaching out to other people who knew about it, doing my research before deciding that I wanted to get a doctorate in veterinary medicine.
DEFENDER: Tuskegee University is renowned for producing African American veterinarians. How do you feel about being a part of this legacy and what impact do you hope to make in the feld?
ADAMS: I went to PVAMU for my undergraduate and that is an HBCU. I wanted to continue the tradition of going to an HBCU. I felt like I would get more representation here and it would be more of a community than if I would go to a predominantly white institution. I wanted to be with other successful Black people who wanted to be a veterinarian. Tese HBCU campuses are more like family. Everybody is nice. I haven’t met a mean person. I feel comfortable in these spaces.
DEFENDER: What do you envision your career to look like?
ADAMS: I don’t want to be put into a certain box. I want to be a veterinarian, but I also want to do other things. Help animals in rehabilitation. I want to maybe take a grooming class and learn how to do animal grooming. I want to have diferent side hustles because I know with my degree, I can do a lot of things to earn money.
Defender: Veterinary medicine is ofen perceived as a predominantly caucasian feld. In your opinion, what steps can be taken to create a more diverse and equitable landscape within the industry?
Adams: I feel like if I had more knowledge about career opportunities like this in high school, I would have started sooner. I went to Channelview High School, and they had an agricultural program but there wasn’t enough done to provide career options for students who might be interested in taking their interest a little further.
I feel like Black professionals in this space should consider going into the schools and expanding their reach to high school with majority Black and Brown youth. Even at career fairs, that would be cool to see more people who look like me talk about being a veterinarian like people do for other STEM careers.
When most people think of community activists, they envision the person present at all the social injustice protests, bullhorn in hand, speaking truth to power. Loudly and courageously.
Te ever-upbeat, and no less courageous, Ken Rodgers, proves that activists who care about and make a diference in our communities, come in all forms. Known for his cheerful nature and ability to light up any room he enters, Rodgers is one of Houston’s most formidable and respected activists not only because of his efectiveness, but also because he’s in a lot of rooms.
Te Defender caught up with the busy change agent, and asked him about his many vehicles for improving life for all Houstonians, but especially those who reside in his beloved Tird Ward.
DEFENDER: Canyou name some ofthe community-serving organizations and initiativesyou’re part of?
KEN RODGERS: Te Greater Tird Ward Super Neighborhood (president). And of course, near and dear to my heart is Operation Love. We have our frst backto-school event coming up Aug. 26, the last Saturday before school starts. And of course, Faith in Action, which is a workgroup under the EEDC (Emancipation Economic Development Council). And there is a new EEDC workgroup called Lots to Love, I’m working closely with. Tat’s to locate vacant lots in Tird Ward, locate the owners of those lots and utilize those lots, especially on busy thoroughfares like Emancipation Avenue. We want to create activity on those vacant lots and have things going on so they’re not just lying there. I’m in a health organization with the University of Houston that started pre-COVID, the Tird Ward Health Collaborative. UH’s Tillman Fertitta School of Medicine gathered a lot of community leaders together, and asked what did we want from them? We gave them a list, and they have been coming through with that list, doing things of that list, and I’m really happy about that.
DEFENDER: Canyou elaborate on Operation Love?
RODGERS: It occurred to me about eight, nine years ago that there had been numerous attacks on Yates High School. And every time they would come for Yates, the alumni would step up. Ten all of a sudden, this thing just
popped in my head: “If they’re that determined to get Yates, the best way they can do that is kill the feeder pattern.” Tere was enough people mentoring high school students, including alumni at Yates, that will come through when they need them. I looked at Blackshear and thought this feeder pattern is starting to dwindle; fewer and fewer kids going through and getting to Yates. So, I decided to focus my attention at the elementary level. I talked to the principal at the time (Alicia Lewis), she fung the doors wide open and told me what they needed. Back then, she had a man on staf, Mr. Lee. Tose two nourished Operation Love in the very beginning. Te main thing Lewis told me was, “I don’t believe a lot of my kids are going to get a wrapped Christmas present, so this is what we want.” So, that was the focus for the frst Operation Love… As I was hanging around there more, I could see a greater need. So, every year Operation Love adds some new component.
DEFENDER: Wereyou just bornwith this communityspirit orwas there something that opened up this communityconnectionwithyou?
RODGERS: At my age right now I’m trying to fgure out how did I get here. And when I thought about it, I thought about my parents and their work in the community in Beaumont. And then, about 30 years ago,
when I was around 40, I had a great aunt die and at the top of the (service) program it said “Family Motto,” which I was totally unaware of, “Not For Ourselves, But For Others.” I was excited about that. And when I really thought about it, I went, “Oh, that’s what I’m doing. I understand it now.” So, I understand why my parents were about that life.
After playing just two series as the starter in the Texans’ preseason opener at New England, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud got much more extensive action during his home debut against the Miami Dolphins. Stroud, the Texans’ second-overall pick in the spring’s NFL Draft, played the entire first half and finished with an efficient 7-of-12 for 60 yards and no touchdowns and no interceptions in a game the Texans lost 28-3. He did lead the offense on an 11-play, 61yard drive that resulted in the Texans’ only points of the game – a 35-yard field goal. Head coach DeMeco Ryans will not say whether or not he will name Stroud as the regular-season starter, although he has started the first two preseason games ahead of incumbent Davis Mills, who started the last two seasons.
The Texas Southern Tigers athletic department is kicking off the 2023-24 athletic year with the inaugural Community Fan Fest on Sunday, Aug. 27 from 1-5 p.m. at H&PE Arena. The event is free and fans will have a chance to meet and interact with the coaches and studentathletes from 16 teams, including the Ocean of Soul, cheerleaders, mascots and Tiger Sensations.
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner missed last weekend’s games against the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever after entering the COVID health and safety protocol.
Texans rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. can’t help but feel he has something to prove not just to players standing across from him and his teammates, but to the scouts who are breaking him down each week.
The Alabama standout and the player the Texans gave up assets to move up to take No.3 overall last spring, has heard so much about his impressive speed since the NFL Combine. But Anderson is out to prove there is more to his package than speed.
“They sleep on my power,” said Anderson, who is 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds. “They see me and my frame, and they’re like, ‘Oh, he’s probably just a speed guy.’ And then I – boom – I hit them with power as a counter, anything like that, so it’s just good to have that speed to power a lot of people wouldn’t think of my body type having.”
Both his speed and power have been on display during his two brief preseason appearances where Anderson has quickly made his presence felt. He is coming off an impressive outing during last weekend’s second preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.
Anderson recorded two tackles, one tackle for loss, a sack and a forced fumble during the Texans’ 28-3 home loss to Miami. During an
early Miami drive, Anderson dropped running back Raheem Mostert for a five-yard loss around the goal line.
But his most impressive play of the day came on an obvious passing situation with the Dolphins looking at second-and-10. Anderson went unblocked, ran over running back DeVon Achane and strip-sacked quarterback Skylar Thompson, which resulted in a 14-yard loss.
Anderson enjoyed that hit the most.
“They called the play, they knew that was gonna happen,” he said. “I just go out there and do my job and whatever the coaches tell me to do.”
And the Texans coaching staff have certainly been impressed with the player the team thought so much of that it moved back up to take him one pick after drafting C.J. Stroud second overall. Taking Anderson appears to be a great decision and perhaps the steal of the draft.
“Will [Anderson Jr.], I thought he did a really good job of disrupting,” Texans first-year head coach DeMeco Ryan said following Saturday’s game against Miami. “Playing on their side of the line of scrimmage; that’s what we want from our defensive end. It’s good to see Will show that. That’s what we know Will can do. It was fun to see him make a play. It was fun to see the energy
after he made a play. And Will has shown, just as C.J. [Stroud], both guys have shown [the drive] to get better each and every week, and I’m proud of where they are.”
Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman said what fans have gotten to see during the first two preseason games is the intensity Anderson brings every day in practice.
“I’ve said this before, Will [Anderson Jr.] comes into work every day angry,” Perryman said. “I can see him doing that every play, every day. It was an amazing play, to be honest with you.”
As impressive as Anderson has been, he says he is still learning and soaking up as much knowledge as he can.
“Really just trying to do what my coaches told me to do,” Anderson said. “I think one of the biggest things they’ve been harping on for the D-line is just getting off the ball, wreaking havoc and being physical.”
Anderson is showing signs he is up to the task.
“It was fun, but it just goes back to being disciplined, doing what my coaches are telling me to do: get off the ball, take two steps, climb up the field and be physical,” Anderson said. Saturday night. “(Coach Ryans) doesn’t really care (what you do) as long as your being
Every year millions of athletes have hopes of playing collegiate-level sports and moving on to play professionally. For some, the dream comes to fruition. For others, it’s nothing more than a dream. Some parents are flooded with recruiting pitches while others are lef to fgure out the journey themselves. However, recruiting really breaks down to three diferent areas: are you academically eligible, can you play, and what character do you possess. Honest Game helps with the eligibility aspect.
“Honest Game is not a recruiting service,” said Kim Michelson, co-founder, and CEO of Honest Game. “Honest Game is an educational sofware/system that was created to solve a problem.”
Te inspiration for starting Honest Game came from understanding that everything revolves around academic eligibility, seeing patterns then noticing that eligibility rules change often. However, once rules have changed there’s not a lot of education and understanding around them.
“A student can become academically ineligible, having nothing to do with their
grades. Tey could have a nice GPA, but not taking the right accredited classes, could still have them academically ineligible,” said Michelson.
“I wasn’t sure of Honest Game when it was frst introduced to me,” said Director of Football Operations and the Recruiting Coordinator at Crosby High School, Callie Cameron. “However, now I can’t imagine recruitment without it.”
While previously working with North Shore, Cameron played a vital role in helping Rashaad Johnson, a senior stand-out running back who attended the school.
“He was previously behind on credits because he wasn’t in an NCAA qualifier class,” said Cameron.
Johnson was taking a class he believed would count towards his NCAA status, but afer the North Shore athletic department applied his records to the Honest Game system, they found out one of the classes he believed counted towards his eligibility was not accepted by the NCAA.
“I was taking a class entitled Money Management, which I believed counted towards my eligibility,” said Johnson. “But when Coach Cameron told me it didn’t I was shocked. It was November, I had already committed to the University of Central Arkansas, and now I’m finding out I’m only a D2 - NAIA qualifier due to this class not counting. I had to fgure out what I needed to do fast. Tat’s when I talked to Coach Cameron and his wife and they told me about Honest Game. I enrolled in another math class that qualifed, passed, and accepted a full ride to Lamar University.”
This one class would have kept Johnson from being D1-level eligible. Trough
Honest Game’s, guidance and projections Johnson and his family were immediately identifed. Tey notifed the school counselor and were able to get that additional NCAA accredited class added to the NCAA eligibility portal for North Shore High School just in time before the window closed.
“He was notifed early, reacted to the data, and was able to accept his scholarship and he’s now a freshman at Lamar University, competing on a D1 level,” said Michelson.
Honest Game is an honest look according to the data.
“It’s a one-stop shop. A comprehensive system that houses all the athletic opportunities from academic eligibility in real-time in every division,” said Michelson.
Eligibility rules change often, and it’s important to know what to do when they do. Everything about Honest Game is proactive and not reactive. If it weren’t for Honest Game, by the time Johnson would have been informed he was academically ineligible it would have been too late to correct the situation. Being too late can cost any athlete the dream they’ve worked so hard for.
Honest Game is a one-stop shop. A comprehensive system that houses all the athletic opportunities from academic eligibility in real-time in every division.”
KIM MICHELSON CEO & Co-founder of Honest Game
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