Houston Defender: September 11, 2014

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Volume 83 | Number 45

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NATIONAL DR. JERRY YOUNG elected Baptists’ president

P4 ENTERTAINMENT HENRY LOUIS GATES helps find roots

In the spotlight

P5

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

SPORTS CHARLIE STRONG coaches Texas Longhorns

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TOP EVENTS

Black schools closing Predominantly minority schools have been closing across the country and Houston is no exception. Find out why closings are seen as a threat to education.

See why community members are being urged to take action and avoid “political gestures.” Learn about the nationwide problem and the impact it has on students and neighborhoods from San Antonio to St. Louis.

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Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, State Rep. Alma Allen and PVAMU Provost Felecia Nave at scholarship banquet

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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 11 | 2014

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newstalk

Post office to be named after Leland

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By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

he Southmore Post Office, located at 4110 Almeda Road, is getting a new name – the George Thomas “Mickey” Leland Post Office. The announcement was recently made by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents the district formerly represented by Leland.

Jackson Lee’s bill designating the name change was passed on the House floor by voice vote.

“I was pleased that my bill, HR 78, was passed on the House Floor,” Jackson Lee said. “As the representative of the 18th Congressional District, I treasure and want to preserve the historic landmarks of the district. This post office was the

Wheatley/Smith controversy lands in mediation

historic site of a 1960 civil rights demonstration that became Houston’s first sit-in.”

The post office has also been a rallying cry for the community. Earlier this year, the facility was one of six in Houston being considered for closure or relocation. Supporters argued that closing it would inconvenience residents, especially the elderly and the disabled, and nullify its historical significance.

Local government officials and community leaders appealed to United States Postal Service (USPS) authorities to keep the facility open. After strong opposition, the USPS halted its plan to close the facility.

After District Court Judge Elizabeth Ray ordered mediation between the Wheatley/E.O. Smith Preservation Coalition and HISD representatives, both parties failed to reach a conclusion following 11 hours of mediation.

Coalition members are fighting to save the historic school building, which is being demolished as part of plans to renovate the Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy (YMCPA).

Jackson Lee said the new designation will be a “living memorial to a dedicated public servant.

The life and legacy of Mickey Leland…continues to inspire students, activists and citizens around this great nation and the world.”

Leland was elected congressman in 1978 and focused needed attention on such issues as health and world hunger. He died in August, 1989 during a relief mission to Ethiopia.

“His accomplishments went far beyond his duties as a member of Congress, and he died serving his lifelong cause of alleviating world hunger and impoverishment – a task that we all must continue,” Jackson Lee said.

Mediation is ongoing until a later date, and coalition representatives are under a gag order not to discuss or disclose details of the negotiations. A final decision will hinge on the vote of the HISD board.

In the meantime, the board will vote on renaming YMCPA the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men. The school is located in Fifth Ward, where Leland grew up.

He also represented the area in Congress.

localbriefs OPEN ENROLLMENT in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund, the state’s prepaid college tuition program, has begun and runs until Feb. 28, 2015.

The fund offers parents the chance to prepay for their child’s education at Texas public colleges and universities at today’s prices. Participating families purchase prepaid “tuition units” that can later be used toward undergraduate tuition and required fees at schools ranging from Texas public community colleges to four-year, in-state universities. Prices are based on 2014-15 academic year costs for the state’s public colleges. For information visit www.

TuitionPromise.org or call 1-800-445-4723……..

STATE REP. SYLVESTER TURNER has been

appointed to a legislative committee to recommend a minimum balance for the state’s Rainy Day Fund. The Select Committee to Determine a Sufficient Balance of the Economic Stabilization Fund was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013. It will go into effect if voters approve Proposition 1 on the November ballot.

That proposition would take funds from the Economic Stabilization Fund – the Rainy Day Fund – and move them to the State Highway Fund for construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and acquiring right-ofway for public roads……..TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY will pay tribute to the memory of the late Congressman Mickey Leland during this year’s annual Founder’s Day observance. It will

be held Friday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. in the Sawyer Auditorium. Attorney Gene Locke will serve as guest speaker. Founder’s Day also commemorates the 25th anniversary of the death of Leland, who succeeded fellow TSU alumna Barbara Jordan in representing Houston’s 18th Congressional District. Immediately following the program, the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs will unveil the Mickey Leland Archival Digitalization Project. In addition to Founder’s Day, historical markers will be placed around TSU outlining the contributions of Jordan, Dr. John Biggers and the student murals of Hannah Hall. For more information visit www.tsu.edu.

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SEPTEMBER 11 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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Having all your daughter’s radio stations programmed.

Hearing her giggle when you say: Play episode “Natural Hair for Newbies.”

Loving your baby girl’s music and hating yourself for it.

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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 11 | 2014

national

U.S.briefs

Young elected national president The National Baptist Convention and doing good – to all the people, USA – the largest group of Black whether they were saints or sinners.”

Christians in the United States – recently Young is a native of Scott, Miss. and elected Dr. Jerry Young as president was one of 10 children born to a preacher during its annual session held in New and his wife. He received his calling into Orleans. the ministry at age 17. He received a Young, the pastor of New Hope bachelor’s degree from Rust College, and Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss., a masters and doctorate from Reformed defeated four other candidates for Theological Seminary in Jackson. the position. He said he wants the He became pastor of New Hope in organization to expand its outreach.

1980.

He and his wife Helen have two Dr. Jerry Young “The community needs to be able children and four grandchildren. to hear from the faith community,” Young said. “The The National Baptist Convention USA was church has got to be socially responsible. The Bible says founded in 1886 and has an estimated 7.5 million that Jesus went about doing good – preaching, teaching members.

Blacks commit less crime than whites think NNPA News Service

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hites often overestimate the amount of crime committed by Blacks and “associate Blacks and Latinos with criminality,” beliefs that are also held by whites who work in the criminal justice system, according to a new report on racial perceptions of crime by the Sentencing Project.

According to the report, whites “overestimated the actual share of burglaries, illegal drug sales, and juvenile crime committed by African-Americans by 20-30 percent.”

Despite recent advances in sentencing policies and a reduction in the number of prisons nationwide, the report said that racial perceptions of crime continue to endure as “a driving force of criminal justice outcomes.”

According to the Sentencing Project, Black men are six times more likely to be locked up than white men, and 1 in every 10 Black men in their 30s is in prison or jail on any given day, trends often driven by, “criminal justice policies and practices, and not just crime rates,” the report said.

Media depictions that often portray whites as victims and Blacks as criminals fail to challenge

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deep-rooted racial bias held by white audiences, missing a valuable opportunity to foster positive dialogue between the races.

Police officers also pursued Blacks more aggressively on the reality TV shows “Cops” and “America’s Most Wanted.”

When whites perceive that Blacks commit more crime, they are also more likely to push for tougher crime laws such as mandatory minimum sentences and policies associated with the War on Drugs. Whites also outpace minorities when it comes to support for the death penalty.

The study recommended that lawmakers study the racial impact of new crime policies before implementation and provide better resources to defend poor and minority offenders in court.

BLACK LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE, headquartered in Washington, D.C., filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the “Ferguson Five,” individuals who said they were abused during protests and a law enforcement crackdown in Ferguson, Mo. The civil lawsuit is seeking $40 million in damages from Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson, St. Louis Chief of Police Jon Belmar and officers from Ferguson and St. Louis police departments. The group said police abuse occurred following the shooting death of Michael Brown. “We are here because the police are out of control and have used excessive force,” Attorney Malik Shabazz said during a press conference. “We just want to say to Chief Jackson, justice will not sleep.”

Shabazz said the five plaintiffs were the first of many……..THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT has launched a website to combat abuse of older adults. Elder abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. “The launch of the Elder Justice website marks another milestone in reaching our shared goal of keeping older Americans safe from abuse and neglect,” said Associate Attorney General Tony West. “The more we embrace our elders with respect and care, the stronger our society will be. This tool helps move us closer to that goal.” Victims and family members can find information on reporting abuse by visiting www.justice. gov/elderjustice/........PROTESTS LED BY FAST-FOOD WORKERS urging employers and Congress to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour have resulted in arrests in several major cities. Nineteen protestors were arrested in New York City on charges of disorderly conduct for blocking vehicular traffic. In Detroit, police arrested approximately two dozen individuals who refused to stop blocking a McDonald’s drive thru lane and nearby street.

Fifty protestors were arrested in Chicago for disrupting traffic. The protests are part of a “Fight for $15” national campaign.

VOLUME 83 • NUMBER 45 SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 Print Editor Publisher Marilyn Marshall Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Sports Editors Advertising/Client Relations Max Edison Selma Dodson Tyler Darrell K. Ardison Multimedia Coordinator Local Coordinator LaGloria Wheatfall Cierra Duncan Online Editor Interns ReShonda Billingsley Jazzi Black Art Director Michael Roman Tony Fernandez-Davila Velyjha Southern The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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SEPTEMBER 11 | 2014 | DEFENDER

entertainment

Ford, Gates

present ‘Finding Your Roots’

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By LaKARA PERSON Special to the Defender

ne show. Ten episodes. Thirty guests. As fall arrives and favorite shows return to the small screen, there’s one television show to watch to learn more about the heritage and ancestries of some of today’s leading entertainers, athletes, chefs and media personalities.

Ford Motor Company has joined forces with PBS to bring the second season of “Finding Your Roots” with Henry Louis Gates back this fall.

The 10-part series finds Gates continuing on his quest to “get into the DNA of American culture.” By weaving a group of celebrity stories together, each episode takes viewers on a journey through layers of ancestral history, uncovering familial secrets.

The series kicks off on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. as Gates discovers the secrets of author Stephen King, actress Gloria Reuben and actor Courtney B. Vance.

Ford was thrilled at the opportunity to join forces on the series.

“We are so excited to help play a role in bringing the second season of this program to life,” said Shawn Thompson, Ford manager, multicultural marketing. “The role that Professor Gates is undertaking to show how all Americans are connected is something that we as a company can stand by and are pleased to support.”

Each hour-long episode will highlight three celebrity guests bound together by an intimate, sometimes hidden link. With the help of a team of genealogists, Gates travels thousands of

years into the past to discover the origins of today’s game changers.

In addition, each episode will feature a 30-second spot that looks back at the history of Henry Ford and his visionary, family-owned company.

For Gates, one of Ford’s lasting contributions was his willingness to pay a fair wage to Black workers in his factories, which led Southern sharecroppers

to Detroit as part of the early 20th century’s Great Migration.

To find out when your favorite celebrity will be a guest on the show, visit http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ finding-your-roots/.

You can share your favorite celebrity stories, along with your own roots on Twitter using the hashtags #MyFordRoots and #FindingYourRoots.

Gloria Reuben, known for her roles on “ER” and “Raising the Bar,” appeared in the film “Lincoln.”

Author and historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a Harvard University professor and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.

Courtney B. Vance, a Tony Award-winning actor, co-starred on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”

what’sup QUEEN LATIFAH returns with a new season of her daytime talk show on Monday, Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. on Channel 2. “This show is truly the embodiment of my journey,” she said. “Nothing makes me happier than to have the opportunity to share my experience with others and give people a chance to realize their dreams. For those viewers who have been with us from the beginning and those who may be tuning in for the first time, season two of “The Queen Latifah Show” is going to deliver some great surprises and a whole lot of feel-good fun.” Latifah will welcome such stars as TONI BRAXTON, JADA PINKETT SMITH

and DENZEL WASHINGTON…….PBS talk show host TAVIS SMILEY and former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-star ALFONSO RIBEIRO are among the celebrities competing on the new season of “Dancing With the Stars,” which kicks off on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. on Channel 13. The show will also feature its first professional dancer of color, KEOIKANTSE “KEO” MOTSEPE of South Africa. Motsepe worked on the British version of the show, titled “Strictly Come Dancing.” He also toured with “Burn the Floor,” an international dance show……..KANYE WEST recently arrived in Australia for his “Yeezus” tour.

He made entertainment headlines by taking selfies with fans and playing basketball at a Melbourne gym. He is traveling with his wife, KIM KARDASHIAN, and daughter, NORTH……..

Usher is on the road this fall for his first tour in three years. The “UR Experience” begins in Montreal on Nov. 1. Usher performs in Houston on Dec. 5 at the Toyota Center. His opening act is AUGUST ALSINA, a recording artist from New Orleans signed to Def Jam Recordings. In addition, Usher is working on his eighth studio album, and guest artists will include NICKI MINAJ and DRAKE.

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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 11 | 2014

BLACK SCHOOL CLOSINGS A threat to education

cente

Community calls for a

S

By CIERRA DUNCAN Defender

chool closings can be devastating to the vitality, growth and economy of a community. They are proposed for a variety of reasons, but most center around shrinking budgets, low enrollment or subpar test scores.

Minority communities across the country have been disproportionately impacted by hundreds of school closings in recent years, which can disrupt students’ education and destabilize neighborhoods.

According to the Journey of Justice Alliance, 32 Houston schools have closed since 2003. (See map).

HISD’s decision earlier this year to close Dodson Elementary School and repurpose Jones High School outraged many in the Black community, and remains under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Charles X. White, CEO of Charity Productions, filed a complaint against HISD alleging that the school closings discriminated against Black and Hispanic students. HISD’s student population is 25 percent African-American and nearly 62 percent Hispanic.

OCR has not released any details on the investigation. However, HISD is complying with all OCR requests to produce documents in reference to their school closure process.

White said the district is attempting to resolve the matter through an “early complaint resolution.” This would allow White and his supporters and HISD an opportunity to resolve allegations quickly. White says he and his supporters are not satisfied with the possible outcome and will not agree to a resolution.

“Closing school kills neighborhoods,” White said. “Schools are closing in Black communities, and schools are being repurposed while students are being shipped out to other schools that have more academic,

career and trade programs instead of offering equal programs at local neighborhood schools.”

HISD originally considered closing five schools. However, school board President Juliet Stipeche used her authority to remove Nathaniel Q. Henderson Elementary, Port Houston Elementary and Fleming Middle School from the list.

“School closure discussions are never easy,” Superintendent Terry Grier said. “However, we must continue to have constructive conversations on the issue of school Charles X. size and school efficiency. Not to do so could be harmful to our communities and th students that reside in them. The goal remains cre better, stronger schools.”

At the time of the HISD board’s vote to clos campus, Dodson Elementary had about 445 stude with most students in the Montessori program. So the community believe that low enrollment had li do with Dodson’s closing.

“They started looking at property by Dodson before the bond even passed,” said community m Travis McGee, whose twins attended Dodson. “T started trying to take people’s property at the begi of this year using eminent domain.”

The Houston Branch of the NAACP also too a stand on school closings. In response to the scho repurposing vote, two Houston NAACP officers, Galloway and Dr. James Douglas, filed a lawsuit hopes of stopping HISD from turning Jones into specialty school.

Galloway and Douglas alleged that HISD vi the state’s open meeting law in March by not givi

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specific enough notice of its plans for Jones High School.

The public’s notice said the school board planned to consider a motion to merge Jones High with two other schools.

However, the school board voted to approve an amendment that said Jones would be repurposed into a specialty school where any student from the district can apply.

“This is what is happening to the mostly African-American schools,” Galloway said. “They’re going in and consolidating them all and not really wanting to find out what the students and community would like to see.”

Community leaders are calling on unity among African-Americans in light of school closures.

Activist Kathy Blueford-Daniels, who helped fight for Fleming Middle School to remain open, said its imperative that the community not be fooled by political gestures made by school board and other elected officials.

“Let’s not let them divide us,” she said. “It’s not north side or south side. It’s our side. We’ve got to come together.”

Blueford-Daniels encouraged the community to thoroughly learn about school board candidates before the next election and vote so that they can have input when the board makes decisions.

“It’s our schools today, it can be your school tomorrow,” said Kofi Taharka, National Black United Front Chair.

“Stop letting them tell you what’s best for your kids,” McGee said. “We’ve got to fight for our kids.”

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Shrinking Public School Districts School District

% Students of Color (2011-12)

Public School Enrollment 2005-06 to 2012-13

Charter School Enrollment 2005-06 to 2012-13

Houston Independent SD*

92%

11%

178%

Detroit Public Schools

98%

63%

53%

Gary (IN) Community School Corp.

99%

47%

197%

Indianapolis Public Schools

78%

27%

287%

St. Louis Public Schools

87%

25%

88%

District of Columbia Public Schools

90%

23%

95%

Los Angeles Unified SD

91%

23%

243%

San Antonio Independent SD*

98%

22%

483%

School District of Philadelphia

86%

21%

105%

Camden City Public Schools

99%

20%

88%

Memphis City Schools

93%

17%

377%

Newark Public Schools

92%

17%

197%

Chicago Public Schools

91%

14%

219%

Baltimore City Public Schools

92%

14%

366%

Pinellas County (FL) Public Schools

41%

12%

601%

Broward County (FL) Public Schools

74%

12%

119%

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

92%

11%

184%

Originally From: Journey for Justice Alliance Sources: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools; U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights

Schools shut down across the nation Public school closures have been occurring in predominantly minority neighborhoods across the country for more than decade.

In Philadelphia, 30 schools have closed since 2012.

In St. Louis, 42 schools have closed since 2003. Only five public schools remain open in New Orleans. Thirty-two schools have closed in Houston since 2003.

Recently, the Advancement Project, based in Washington D.C., filed three complaints with the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights division.

They are charging that the public school closures in Chicago, New Orleans, and Newark, N. J. violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act because public schools receive federal financial assistance and that those affected are only in predominantly minority communities.

he Houston area for over 80 years

Title VI states that “no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

“In each of the cities where we filed Title VI complaints, African-American children are being uprooted, shuffled around and ultimately sent to schools that are no better than the one that closed,” said Advancement Project Co-Director Judith Browne Dianis.

“Districts are shirking their responsibility to educate our children and instead are giving multi-million dollar contracts to companies to do the job. In each city, African-American students’ hopes of equal educational opportunities are being dashed.”

The Journey for Justice Alliance, under the

leadership of National Coordinator Jitu Brown, has worked closely with the Advancement Project in filing with the department of education. They have members and affiliates in 21 cities in the United States.

In its report titled “Death by a Thousand Cuts: Racism, School Closures and Public Sabotage,” the alliance stated why public schools are being closed.

“They are being killed by an alliance of misguided, paternalistic “reformers,” education profiteers, and those who seek to dismantle the institution of public education,” said the report.

“Some are being killed quickly; others are still in the early stages. But it is, at this point, quite clear that there will soon be little to nothing left of our public school systems – and many more like ours – unless current trends are disrupted.”

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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 11 | 2014

Rice case spotlights domestic violence

By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

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rights advocates, media commentators, pro athletes and concerned citizens express their opinions.

One NFL player, Denver defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, said domestic violence is unacceptable, and the elevator video obtained

by TMZ made him “sick to his stomach.”

“Originally, you just see [Rice] carrying her so you don’t know what happened,” Knighton said. “…

But now that the video is out, I think the league handled it the

right way. Like I said, there’s no place in the world for domestic violence.”

The White House released a statement condemning domestic violence though it did not mention Rice by name.”

“The President is the father of two daughters,” the statement said. “And like any American, he believes that domestic violence is contemptible and unacceptable in a civilized society.

Hitting a woman is not something a real

he elevator video of former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice knocking his fiancée-turned-wife Janay unconscious has put the problem of domestic abuse in the spotlight.

Rice, who was serving a two-game suspension for the abuse, has now been suspended indefinitely by the NFL and terminated by the Ravens. Some say the punishment was too Continued on Page 9 severe. Others say it fits the “crime.” Still others say it wasn’t harsh enough.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Services, 25 percent NOTICE TO PROPOSERS of women in the U.S. The Houston Independent School District located in the Hattie Mae will become victims White Educational Support Center at 4400 West 18 th Street Houston, of domestic violence Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until the stated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1 in their lifetime. But nearly 30 percent of  Project 14-08-02 – RFI/High School Reading Screener, with a deadline of 3:00 PM; September 17, 2014. A pre-proposal conferAfrican-American ence will not be held. women have been  Project 14-08-06 – Laboratory Testing – Food Service – with a subject to intimate deadline of 2 P.M. October 6, 2014. The pre-proposal conference partner violence, which for this project will be in Room 2E26 at the above stated address on September, 23 2014 at 12:30 P.M. includes rape, physical assault, or stalking.

Proposals are available on the HISD web-site at www.houstonisd.org.

The Rice incident The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or, to continues to underscore accept the proposal that is most advantageous to the District. the problem, as elected The District sells obsolete assets on-line at www.PublicSurplus.com. officials, women’s

classified

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Domestic violence...Continued from page 8 man does, and that’s true whether or not an act of violence happens in the public eye, or, far too often, behind closed doors. Stopping domestic violence is something that’s bigger than football – and all of us have a responsibility to put a stop to it.”

Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said the NFL should contribute major funding to stop domestic violence.

“I have fought year after year for adequate funding to make shelters and supportive services more accessible to victims of family and domestic violence,” Jackson Lee said. “It is now time for the NFL to place some of their resources into these shelters and programs that work to alleviate domestic violence in our society.

“Ray Rice and his family are now trying to heal and receive counseling. The scourge of domestic violence cannot be silenced or covered up. It is real and the NFL, after all the talk is done, can have a visible, constant and long term impact by providing this major funding initiative.”

As the domestic violence conversation continues, Janay Rice said the media attention has caused her family pain. She posted a message on her Instagram account calling the incident a nightmare. “…To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret everyday is a horrible thing,” Rice wrote. “To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is a horrific. THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don’t you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you’ve succeeded on so many levels…”

Fact: 25 percent of women in the U.S. will become victims of domestic violence in their lifetime.

But nearly 30 percent of AfricanAmerican women have been subject to intimate partner violence, which includes rape, physical assault, or stalking.

Ray Rice and his wife Janay addressed the media in May. He has since been cut by the Ravens and T:4.79” suspended indefinitely by the NFL.

Dhani Jones Sports Honoree (not shown)

Iyanla Vanzant Inspirational Honoree

Kevin Liles Entertainment Honoree Henry Coaxum McDonald’s Owner/Operator Honoree

Gabrielle Williams Community Choice Youth Honoree

Al Sharpton Humanitarian Honoree

Will Packer Arts & Entertainment Honoree

v

SERVING OTHERS IS THE GREATEST REWARD OF ALL. All of the McDonald’s® 365Black® Award honorees deserve recognition, but for them, nothing is more fulfilling than helping others. Please join us as we applaud their dedication and let us all be inspired to be deeply rooted in the communityTM by giving back. Find your motivation at 365Black.com.

©2014 McDonald’s

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Skyler Grey Community Choice Youth Honoree

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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 11 | 2014

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sports

Charlie Strong: UT’s new ‘sheriff’ in town

Coach Charlie Strong

By MAX EDISON Defender

T

here’s a new coach guiding the fortunes of the University of Texas football program. His name is Charlie Strong, and he is tasked with the job of pulling the storied Longhorn program out of the pit of mediocrity where it languished in recent years after winning a national championship in 2005 and being a finalist in 2009.

As no-nonsense guy with a resume brimming with success, Strong appears to be the right man at the right time.

The 29th head coach in UT history, Strong comes to Austin after a successful four-year run at Louisville where he was 3715. He revitalized a Cardinal program that had gone 15-21 in the three years prior to his Strong wants his University of Texas team to “compete for championships.” arrival.

Over the past two years, Strong said.” The foundation has been laid, now Louisville has been the nation’s fourth winningest it’s up to us to build on that foundation. program, posting a 23-3 record (88.5 percent) and “The mission here is very simple,” he registering bowl victories in consecutive seasons continued. “It will never change. We will make for the first time in school history. Strong was sure we graduate our young men. We want to make named Big East Coach of the Year in 2010 and sure we go compete for championships, but we 2012. want to make sure they become a better person Strong also has a pair of national than they were when they came into the program.” championship rings he earned as defensive Known for their physical style of play while at coordinator for the Louisville, Strong will seek University of Florida in 2006 defendernetwork.com to incorporate that same and 2008. mentality on the 40 Acres.

Serena Williams shows why she’s No. 1 Strong succeeds Mack “It’s all about putting Brown, who reestablished a ‘T’ back into Texas,” the Longhorns’ program Strong said. “You talk as a perennial contender, but in recent years had about toughness, you talk about trust, you talk grown stagnant despite stellar recruiting classes. about togetherness and you talk about just The pervasive opinion was that Longhorn players becoming a team.” lived in a country-club environment and lacked the Strong has been a man of his word by passion to win like their SEC brethren. It will be suspending and in some case kicking players off Strong’s job to correct that attitude if it exists. the team for various rules infractions.

Armed with a five-year, $25 million-plus Offensively, the Horns return five starters. contract, Strong will be out to improve on last They face a major dilemma at the quarterback year’s 8-5 season. Still, the legacy of Brown’s position. Junior signal caller David Ash has been tenure casts a long shadow. sidelined due to repeated concussions, the latest “I’m following an icon in Coach Brown,” occurring in game one against North Texas.

Quarterbacks Tyrone Swoopes (sophomore) and true freshman Jerrod Heard will have to grow up in a hurry. Expect the Longhorns to rely on a potent running attack featuring the tandem of Malcolm Brown and Jonathan Gray. Senior center Dominic Espinosa, a three-year starter, will lead a talented yet inexperienced offensive line. Jaxon Shipley and John Harris will be primary targets at wideout.

On defense, Texas welcomes back seven starters, most notably, arguably the Big 12’s best trio of linebackers – seniors Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmonds, and junior Peter Jinkins. Seniors Quandre Diggs and Mykkele Thompson along with junior Duke Thomas will anchor the secondary against a pass-happy Big 12 Conference.

The Longhorns haven’t won a Big 12 title since 2009. They’re predicted to finish fourth this season. They currently are 1-1 on the young season. If they can settle their uncertainty at the QB position the Longhorns have a chance to sneak up on some folks.

In any event, expect a positive change in the UT football program in the very new future. The new sheriff Charlie Strong wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Young represents past, future for Yates the University of Oregon, has supplied him with proper motivation moving forward.

“Joseph says there’s nothing like winning the state acob Young is the fourth generation of his title on the court,” Jacob said. “I want to do it just like family to attend Jack Yates High School. The he did.” junior shooting guard also represents the past Yates head basketball coach Greg Wise is hoping and future of Yates basketball. his current players take that same attitude from a Young recently joined former and tumultuous last six months that included the present teammates for a ceremony at the death of former teammate Artreal Jones in school honoring the 2013 and 2014 Yates’ early August due to heart failure. teams as Class 3A state champions.

Relatives and friends of Jones were The University Interscholastic League on hand at the Yates championship (UIL) made the designation following a ceremony as his mother accepted the Dallas ISD investigation that determined state medal on his behalf.

Dallas Madison, the school that beat “The real tragedy here is there Yates in the 3A finals both years, had was a death on both sides,” said Wise, utilized the same ineligible player during whose teams have now won four state each season. titles over a six-year span. “Artreal “It felt good to receive our medals wasn’t just a great player, he was a great and get the state championship trophy,” person and would do anything he could said Young, who had 10 points in the to help someone.

Lions’ 82-70 loss to Dallas Madison in “There was grief suffered on the the 2014 Class 3A state championship Dallas side as well and we feel for them,” game. “I was hurt when we lost that Wise said. “You never want to win by game. The truth came out and we got forfeit, but at the same time you don’t what we deserve.” want your kids to be cheated.”

Young’s father Michael graduated Yates will have 10 players back from Yates and became a charter member of the from the 2013-14 squad and Wise likes Jacob Young University of Houston’s “Phi Slama what he has already seen from Jacob Jama” basketball teams that made defendernetwork.com Young. three consecutive trips to the Final “He was a typical 10th grader Find out who Yates coach Greg Wise is counting on Four during the last year, nothing bad, just typical,” early 1980s.

Wise said. “Over the summer he’s His older brother Joseph was the leading scorer on the matured a great deal. He’s emerging into the leader we all 2009 and 2010 Yates’ teams that won two state titles and one thought he could be.” national prep title. Another Young sibling played football at In addition to the awarding of the state trophy, during the Yates.

Yates championship ceremony, State Rep. Alma Allen and “My goal now is to bring another state and national others donated more than $3,500 to purchase band uniforms for championship to Yates,” said Jacob Young. “The last time they the school. handed me a trophy, Yates team it was a second-place members from trophy and I was very 2013 and 2014 emotional. Getting a receive their state medals championship trophy after Dallas makes me very happy, Madison but I want to do it again forfeited the titles. on the court this time.

While the youngest of the Young clan said his dad congratulated him on getting a state championship ring, his brother Joseph, currently playing at

J

By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

SEPTEMBER 11 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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sportsbriefs Manvel start impressive Manvel head coach Kirk Martin came into the 2014 season wanting his team to prove it could play power football with the big boys. That’s one of the things Martin and his staff took out of a 5614 loss to Katy in the Class 5A Division II Region III championship game last December. The stateranked Mavericks have managed to turn heads in the first two weeks with consecutive blowout victories over Spring Westfield (35-10) and North Shore (42-17). The Manvel defense allowed a late touchdown against Westfield and held North Shore scoreless in the second half. “To shut them out in the second half speaks volumes about our defense,” Martin said. “I thought we were physical and matched their physicality. That’s something we hadn’t done in the past.” Manvel quarterback D’Eriq King has continued his torrid play from last season. King finished with 241 yards of total offense against North Shore with two rushing touchdowns and two passing TDs. In the season opener against Westfield, King tossed four TD passes and ran for another. Manvel will enjoy a bye week before returning to action Sept. 19 in the District 22-6A opener with Pasadena Dobie.

Elkins, Giles ‘must see’ One of the best-kept secrets in Houston area high school football is Fort Bend Elkins and quarterback Jonathan Giles. The Knights will be in action on Sept. 13 when they face rugged A&M Consolidated. Elkins is 2-0 and coming off a come-from-behind 21-13 victory over Houston Lamar. Giles directed two touchdown drives in the final six minutes, 26 seconds to earn the win.

Serena wins third straight Serena Williams is the No. 1 rated women’s player in the world and she showed it by winning her third straight U.S. Open recently. The win was Williams’ 18th major win in her illustrious career, equaling Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

How dominant was Williams? She won all 14 sets she played in the tournament and never dropped more than three games in any of them.

“It is a pleasure for me to win my first Grand Slam here and then this No. 18,” Williams said. “So I’m really emotional. I couldn’t ask to do it at a better place.” She earned a record $4 million for two weeks of work at Flushing Meadows.

Lewis full-time UH coach University of Houston head track coach Leroy Burrell recently announced that legendary star athlete and 10-time Olympic medalist (nine gold, one silver) Carl Lewis will join the Cougar track and field coaching staff as a full-time member for the upcoming 2014-15 season. “I am very excited that Carl has committed to a full-time assistant coaching position with the program,” Burrell said. “Carl will oversee training and recruiting the men’s sprints and jumps with the goal of bringing the program to the international forefront. Carl brings a wealth of experience and international recognition to the program that I feel is second to none.” Lewis served as a volunteer coach during the 2013-14 season.

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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 18 | 2014

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

topevents

GALLERY SHOWCASE…..The Gite Gallery hosted the return of the “Oh Happy Dr. Thomas-Smith’s husband Rev. Sam Smith Sr., PVAMU President George Wright, Day” Happy Hour showcasing treasures of African artists. The occasion offered guests Provost Felecia Nave, Texas Southern University Provost James Ward, State Rep. champagne and sweet bites in an atmosphere of artistic delight and networking. Gallery Alma Allen, Mildred Mullett, Winell and William Herron, Sam and Laura Dodson, owner and former TV reporter Lloyd Gite has created an atmosphere that fuels creativity, Emmanuel and Angela Opara, Mark and Soluria Pierson, Elizabeth Jean Brumford ignites the mind and provides inspiration. Some of the guests included Alicia Balfour, and Richard Chappell, Tressey Wilson, Lewis Easley, Charlese Richard, Jeanette AXEL, Deborah Woodum, Anthony Rivera, Trena Acker Williams, Alton and Stephanie Johnson, Dr. Natalie Carroll, Lakisha Williams, Weny Wang, Dana Milbourne, Jan Hodges, Alomaya, Darek Roberson and Kenisha Wilson…..GO TEXANS…..

Defender TOP EVENTS LaQuinta Graham, Marsha Lilly, Mike Shavez, Lisa The Houston Texans first game was a winner and fans were outside More photos on defendernetwork.com McConnell, Shanthi Subramanian, Lisa Pradia and Diane celebrating the beginning of a new football season. The tailgaters were See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s ‘Crossroads’ Wilkins…..HONORING DR. THOMAS-SMITH…..Dr. serving everything from barbecue and fajitas to beer and margaritas. with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 5:30 and 11:30 a.m.

There was fun for everyone from the smallest toddler to the oldest fan.

E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, Prairie View A&M University Special guests of the Defender and Tri-Start Graphics Printing were senior vice president and provost for Academic Affairs, Veronica and Garrett Newton. A shout-out goes to some of the NRG staff working that was honored with a scholarship banquet at the Hilton Americas. Her 43 years of service day: Sam Joseph, David Pritchard, Luther Lastrape and Sherman Broomfield. A few at PVAMU included an 18-year tenure as provost, playing an instrumental role in the of the folks in the crowd were Roy and Maire Wagner, Ben Johnson, Ricky McCleland, reaffirmation of the university’s accreditation as well as the formation of the Undergraduate Terry Roberts, Shanita Bluitt, Chasity Stewart, Pastors Kirbyjon and Suzette Caldwell Medical Academy, iRead program and University College. Congratulations on a job well done and thank you for your commitment to higher education. Attending the event were and Tony Wyllie, a former Texans executive who is now senior VP for Washington.

Lloyd Gite and Dr. Dana Milbourne

Jan Hodges and LaQuinta Graham

Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, State Rep. Alma Allen and PVAMU Provost Felecia Nave

Charlese Richard and Jeanette Williams

Ben Johnson, Ricky McCleland and Terry Roberts

Marie and Roy Wagner

Anthony Rivera and Deborah Woodum

Mildred Mullett, Dr. Thomas-Smith and Dr. Natalie Carroll

Okon, Latricia, Benita and Darryl

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