Houston Defender: September 15, 2022

The of

To the POINT

Reporter’s Message

Texas mom alleges daughter victim of racist taunts

Lakesha Adams, the parent of a Paetow High School volleyball player in Katy ISD, alleged the school district failed to protect her daughter from racial taunting she experienced during a game, though the district said it is investigating the incident.

Adams said that kids in the opposing school’s student section made “monkey sounds” when Paetow’s players -- who are all students of color -- served the ball.

A video of the incident was shared on her Twitter profile and received a lot of attention. Comal ISD also caught heat for similar allegations. It shows how important it is to address race-based speech and microaggressions in school. ese kids don’t pick up behaviors from anywhere, and they will have to face the consequences and be willing to unlearn them in a safe place because the real world will be a tougher pill to swallow pulling a stunt like that.

Queen Elizabeth’s legacy: A painful reminder for Black nations

As Britain remains in its period of national mourning, the death and legacy of Queen Elizabeth have opened the doors of deep reflection and criticism online. e Queen’s legacy began in colonialism, and her death le a poor taste in the mouths of Africans and Caribbean citizens who’ve struggled with the a ermath of British rule.

When I heard the news about the death of the Queen, I felt indifferent about it. On the one hand, she lived almost a whole century and had a long productive life. On the other hand, I remember the stories of family members and friends of relatives who recounted Britain’s shameful role in the Nigerian Civil War. More than 1 million people died

between 1967-1970 during the conflict a er ethnic Igbo officers declared independence in the southeast.emonarchy, until this day, hasn’t taken accountability. It was one part of history that has been brushed under the rug, and the discourse on her legacy couldn’t have come at a better time. We have access to resources to educate ourselves about the plight of Black nations at the hands of the British.

Sheryl Lee Ralph takes home Emmy

On a lighter note, did you see that amazing speech by now Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph at the awards show? I don’t shed thug tears o en, but her speech sure did it.

She became the second Black actress to win outstanding supporting actress for her role in the comedy series “Abbott Elementary.” e first was Jackée Harry, who won for her role in “227” in 1987.

Ralph, 65, burst out in a verse from Diane Reeves’ song “Endangered Species” and ended with a strong message on never giving up on your dreams. is was her FIRST Emmy! Testimonies like this also help me stay the course whenever I get frustrated or veer off track. It takes consistency, grit and faith to push through for as long as she has. I’m so happy she is getting her flowers and is basking in her glow.

ON THE WEB

• Check out our DN+ channels featuring stories for Black Women, Community Central, and Under 40.

• Read what Black folk are saying online about the death of Queen Elizabeth.

• Stay tuned for our “Woman King” movie premiere event recap.

Laura Onyeneho

Students accused of racist taunting during high school game. CNN Newsource/KTRK

POLL

Gov. Greg Abbott leads Beto O’Rourke by 5 points

The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott leads his Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke by 5 percentage points, according to a new poll from the Texas Politics Project at the Univer sity of Texas at Austin.

Te survey found that Abbott received 45% of sup port among registered voters, while 40% supported O’Rourke and 4% supported third-party candidates. Tree percent of respondents named “Someone else” as their choice, and 8% said they have not thought about the race enough to have an opinion.

Te result is almost identical to the margin from when the pollsters last surveyed the race in June, fnd ing Abbott ahead of O’Rourke 45% to 39%.

Abbott is seeking a third term against O’Rourke, the former El Paso congressman who had a near-miss loss to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018. Forty-six percent of respon dents approve of the job Abbott is doing while 44% dis approve, according to the poll. It marks an improvement over the June poll, when Abbott’s approval rating was up side down, with 43% approving and 46% disapproving.

Other fndings:

Voter issues

• Immigration/border security 26%

• State economy 13%

• Abortion 12%

• Gun violence 11%

Voters said they trusted Abbott more on the border and economy and O’Rourke more on abortion. Tey were equally divided on who had the advantage on gun violence.

Infrastructure funding to bring millions to Houston airports

Defender News Service

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee recently hosted U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Houston to see how tens of millions of federal dollars will be used to im prove the region’s transportation needs. Sec. Buttigieg was able to see how federal funding would be used for the con tinued modernization of Bush Intercontinental Airport. Buttigieg and Jackson Lee were joined by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, and other local leaders to present a $40

million check for infrastructure to help improve airport security checkpoints, baggage claim areas, gates and pick up and drop of spots. Hobby Airport is slated to receive $3 million through the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Butt igieg also addressed major infrastructure projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Buttigieg said that $21 million will be used to buy a new feet of elec tric buses, which would help with less greenhouse gases, pollution, and faster commutes.

Permitless carry bill results in mass shootings

Defender News Service

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner says the number of mass shootings increased after Governor Greg Abbott signed the permitless carry bill last year. Abbott signed the bill in June 2021, and from June 13, 2021 to June 13, 2022 the num ber of mass shootings in Texas was 65. From 2020 to 2021 Texas had 40 mass shootings.“Tenumbers are more alarming when you consider the victims of the mass

shootings,” Turner explained. “In the oneyear period before the bill was signed 187 people were killed and injured during mass shootings in Texas. In the one year afer, 375 people killed or injured in mass shootings in Texas.”

Tat 100% increase has Turner advocat ing for gun laws to be changed.

“Not one gun law has been changed since the mass shooting in Uvalde,” Turn er added. “Tose who are 18 years old can have a gun with no background or train

ing; there are more guns than people.”

As for Houston, Turner says homicides are down three percent compared to this time last year. Other violent crimes are also down across the city. Houston police Chief Troy Finner says it’s going to take a unifed front to keep the crime rate head ed in the right direction.

“We’re going to fght crime, but we’re going to fght crime in a way that we bring everyone together and that’s when you send those numbers down and that’s

when they will stay down,” Finner added.

“Regardless of what’s going on with the backlog.”Cityleaders are attributing the down ward trend to the One Safe Houston ini tiative. Te $53 million initiative is feder ally funded aimed to combat crime. Last month, its gun buyback event resulted in 845 guns being collected.

“I want to caution people you’re going to have valleys, but we are going to stay steadfast,” Finner said. SYLVESTER TURNER SAYS

Sheila Jackson Lee (c) speaks while Pete Buttigieg and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner listen in.

Gov. Greg Abbott

Beto O’Rourke

ROE

Divine 9 campaignlaunchestoSave the Lives of Black women

Defender News Service

Te Divine 9, the historically Black fraternities and so rorities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council led by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., are joining forces to save the lives of Black women. Te organization will launch “Tell Somebody,” a public service campaign emphasizing the profoundly disproportionate impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 decision to overturn nearly half a century of established law under Roe v. Wade, on Black women. Te campaign is a collective efort by the Divine 9 to em power the community to counteract the potentially di sastrous efect of the repeal by urging Americans to con tact the politicians who can make the most diference.

Megan Thee Stallion Foundation Dream Bus tour stops at TSU

By Laura Onyeneho

Houston rapper Megan Tee Stal lion foundation is coming to Hous ton to curate fun and educational experiences for young Black women andNamedgirls. after the Grammy-Award winning musician’s parents, The Pete and Thomas foundation is col laborating with the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium (Southern Black Girls) for the “Joy is our Journey” Dream Bus Tour, a month-long tour around multiple southern states “to empower our young Black women, give them the resources to succeed and help them pursue their personal and profes sional dreams,” according to the official press release.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for all of these ladies to experience pure Black girl joy, discuss their challenges, dream big, and chan nel their creativity,” said LaTosha Brown, founder of Southern Black Girls. “We are focused on uplifting Black girls in the south because there aren’t enough philanthropy dollars that support these Black women and girls.”

Te Dream Tour caravan stopped at Megan’s alma mater Texas South

ern University (TSU), providing young Black women between the ages of 12-24 a free mini-festi

val-like experience featuring inter active workshops and programming centered around health and well ness, culture, entrepreneurship, and S.T.E.M

“Thereeducation.werethings that I thought I couldn’t achieve because I was a Black female,” said Jasmyne ten penny, TSU freshman biology ma jor. “I’m getting out of my comfort zone and meeting many amazing women.”Inpartnership with local commu nity organizations, each event will be held outdoors and feature mu sic, food trucks, game stations, swag bags, and giveaways.

“I love how the organizations are bridging the social opportunity that exists for the young women to take advantage of,” said Kay Gordon, owner/operator of Te Beauty of Public Relations. “Every component of this event embodied real hot girl stuf. Being a Black woman in this world is hard, and a space like this makes it easier to embrace ourselves.”

Te tour runs through September 17th. Te 2022 Black Girls Dream Conference, which will take place in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sep tember 16–17, 2022, will serve as the tour’s grand fnale.

“Overturning Roe v. Wade will not end abortion, it will only end safe abortions and access to healthcare for millions of women—particularly poor women of color— and fuel a full-fedged public health crisis in this coun try,” said Chris V. Rey, J.D., President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. “We’re calling on the 2.5 million members of the Divine 9 to contact lawmakers to mitigate the impact of this egregious blow to the well-being of 10 million Black women of child-bearing age.” *

“Tell Somebody,” narrated by iconic actor Jenifer Lew is (Black-ish, Strong Medicine, Five, Te Preacher’s Wife, Cars, What’s Love Got to Do with It), starkly illustrates the circumstances that drive nearly four times more Black women to seek abortions versus their white peers, par ticularly sexual violence. Nearly half of Black women ex perience sexual coercion, and one in four will experience sexual abuse by the age of 18. Tirty-fve percent will ex perience some form of sexual violence within their life time. Black women are also three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white peers. Tis mortality rate among Black mothers is expect ed to increase by 33 percent in the wake of the repeal.

LaTosha Brown, founder of Southern Black Girls. Photo Laura Onyeneho

Kay Gordon, owner/operator of The Beauty of Public Relations. Photo: Laura Onyeneho

TSU cheerleader squad at the Joy is our Journey Dream Bus Tour at TSU on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Photo: Laura Onyeneho

NewsBriefs

HOUSTON NURSE HIT 130 MPH

BEFORE DEADLY LA CAR CRASH

Prosecutors in Los Angeles say Nicole Linton was conscious when she caused a fiery high-speed car wreck that killed five people, including a pregnant woman, and injured eight others at an intersection on Aug. 4. Linton, a 37-year-old nurse from Houston currently held on $9 million bail, has been charged with the murder of six people, including the unborn fetus. Linton’s lawyers argued that their client, a traveling intensive care nurse then stationed in L.A., lost consciousness in the moments before the crash.

Prosecutors dispute the claims, citing data recorded by the electronic control unit (ECU) in Linton’s car that showed at the point of impact, Linton was traveling 130 mph. ey also said emergency room doctors who treated Linton in the immediate a ermath of the crash did not report any signs of seizure or impairment that would cause her to lose consciousness while driving. Linton’s lawyers want her released on bail and transferred to a mental health treatment facility. Prosecutors want her to remain in custody until her trial.

BOND RAISED FOR MEN ACCUSED OF MURDERING BLACK DEPUTY

e two men accused of murdering Harris County Precinct 3 Deputy Omar Ursin have been given two new bond amounts for

previous murder charges they were facing. Ahsim Taylor Jr., 20, and Jayland Womack, 20, were both out on $75,000 bonds for two separate murder cases when investigators said they killed Ursin in a reported road rage incident. Both men had bonds raised to $2 million for their 2021 capital murder cases.

Taylor also received a $1 million bond for a tampering with evidence charge. An ankle monitor led investigators to Taylor and Womack during the search for Ursin’s killer, putting both Womack and Taylor in the same car at the murder scene at the time Ursin was killed.

HUD GIVES $5.5 MIL TO HBCUS FOR HOUSING, RESEARCH

e Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is giving $5.5 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to establish or bolster existing Centers of Excellence (COE) that conduct housing and community development research.

e grants will be used to provide HBCUs with funding to conduct research on the topics of housing, community development and economic development, particularly in underserved areas. Research projects will initiate an ongoing series of reports focused on areas that can serve as national, local or regional benchmarks and assist in support of COEs that expand efforts at HBCUs.

FBI ARETHASURVEILLEDFRANKLIN

According to recently declassified FBI files on Aretha Franklin, the government spent years surveilling the late singer’s civil rights activism in the 1960s and ’70s. e 270-page document shows that the agency monitored Franklin’s involvement with the Civil Rights Movement, communism and the Black Power movement, NPR reports.

According to People, journalist Jen Dize obtained the files that show how the FBI monitored Franklin ahead of her performances and appearances for civil rights groups, such as the

NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The FBI documents also reveal that Franklin and her family received numerous death threats. Franklin’s late father, C.L. Franklin, was also surveilled by the agency. Franklin’s FBI file reportedly includes memos that show two informants acknowledging the lack of evidence linking her to any “radical movements.”

TDLR SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR ADVISORY BOARDS, COMMITTEES

e Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation needs volunteers to serve on 16 advisory boards and committees to provide technical knowledge and industry expertise to the agency, which regulates 37 professions in Texas. Most of the advisory board meetings are online, so members no longer have to travel to Austin to meet.

Many of the vacancies that TDLR aims to fill are for public members who do not have a connection to the industry of their appointed board and will represent Texas consumers. Most terms on the boards and committees last for six years, although some terms may be shorter because a seat has been vacated by a member who was unable to complete their term. ere is no financial compensation for membership. Visit morewww.tdlr.texas.gov/media/vacancies.htmhttps://forinfo.

Nicole Linton. AP

FEMA campaign targets Blacks

NNPA

e Federal Emergency Management Agency has again teamed with the Ad Council for a public service announcement to kick off National Preparedness Month.

With its new “Ready Campaign,” FEMA specifically targets African American communities with messages that encourages advanced preparedness for storms and all natural disasters.

“Preparing for disaster is not just about protecting people and property, it’s about safeguarding the lives we’ve built and the legacy we will leave to our children and the generations to come,” FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks told the NNPA’s Let It Be Known live morning news show.

“With this campaign, FEMA reaffirms our commitment to equity and says loud and clear that every community deserves to be protected from hazards.” Hooks and others kicked off the campaign at Howard University, speaking with students in an ongoing series highlighting the urgency of preparedness.

“Black communities are on the frontlines of climate change and related extreme weather events,” Hooks stated.

He referenced a report from the Environmental Protection Agency which revealed that socially vulnerable populations, including Black and African American communities, may be more exposed to the highest impacts of climate change. Specifically, with global warming, Black and African American individuals have a 10% higher risk of living in areas with the highest projected inland flooding damag-

es compared to reference populations, the report“Blackconcluded.andAfrican American communities o en suffer disproportionate impacts from disasters. is is something that we must work to change and that starts with how we prepare,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.

“Our 2022 Ready campaign speaks directly to the communities who need our

help the most and who deserve equitable access to preparedness resources that protect people and property,” Criswell remarked.“Bycontinuing to advance accessibility and cultural competency in our preparedness messaging, we can make sure that everyone is ready when disaster strikes.”

e Ready Campaign PSAs, titled “A Lasting Legacy,” will run nationwide in both Spanish and English, and are meant to help mitigate these discrepancies by encouraging Black communities to protect the lives they have built and the legacies they will leave behind through preparation and disaster readiness.

“We all want to protect our families, whether that’s our grandparents or our grandchildren,” said Ad Council Chief Campaign Development Officer Michelle Hillman. “ is latest creative work is grounded in the importance of family and reminds us that preparation can make sure that our loved ones endure whatever disasters life sends our way.” For more information and tips on preparing an emergency plan, visit ready.gov/plan or listo.gov/plan.

The new Bundle. next generation of WiFi technology is here. Now you can save big on supersonic WiFi, with 3x the the to connect 100s of devices at once. Plus, you get Unlimited Gig-speed Internet Internet rate guarantee, no annual contract, and no equipment fees. Get all this and with the new Xfinity Supersonic Bundle.

Limited time offer. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New Xfinity Internet residential customers only. Advertised price requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing ( $10/mo. more without). Automatic payment and paperless billing discount effective within 45 days of enrolling. Limited to Gigabit Extra with xFi complete for 24 months plus a Flex device. All other equipment, installation, taxes & fees extra, and subj. to change during and after promo. After 24 months, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular charges apply to all services and devices. Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. Xfinity Mobile Discount: New Xfinity Mobile Unlimited customers only. Limited to 24 months. Must activate Xfinity Mobile Unlimited within 90 days of Internet order and maintain the line to receive discount. Discount effective within 30 days of Xfinity Mobile activation. To continue receiving a discount, you must keep Xfinity Mobile and Fast Xfinity Internet service or a higher tier of Xfinity Internet for 24 months. If you cancel Xfinity Mobile or Xfinity Internet or change Xfinity Internet to a tier below Fast, or Xfinity Mobile Unlimited is changed to By the Gig, you will no longer receive the advertised Xfinity Mobile discount. Internet: Actual speeds vary and not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. Flex: Not available to current Xfinity TV customers.

Requires post-pay subscription to Xfinity Internet, excluding Internet Essentials. Limited to 3 devices. 1 device included, additional devices $5/mo. per device (subj. to change). All devices must be returned when service ends. Subscriptions required to access Peacock, Disney+, Apple TV+, Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu. Viewing will count against any Xfinity data plan. Mobile: Xfinity Mobile requires residential post-payXfinity Internet. Line limitations may apply. Equip., intl. and roaming charges, taxes and fees, including reg. recovery fees, and other charges extra, and subj. to change. $25/line/mo. charge applies if Xfinity TV, Internet or Voice post-pay services not maintained. Pricing subject to change. In times of congestion, your data may be temporarily slower than other traffic. After 20 GB monthly data use, speeds reduced to a maximum of 1.5Mbps download/750 Kbps upload. No rollover data. For Xfinity Mobile Broadband Disclosures visit: www.xfinity.com/mobile/policies/broadband-disclosures. Call for restrictions and complete details,

HBCU fnalistsscholarshipnamed

By Laura Onyeneho

Four Texas HBCU students are fnalists for the Propel Center 2022 Student Im pact Scholarship program to the tune of $1Temillion.global

HBCU technology and in novation hub collaborated with Apple and Southern Company to support students interested in pursuing careers in agritech, energy and health, business, social justice, and arts and entertainment.

Te 89 fnalists from 34 HBCUs had to be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or grad uate students to qualify. Te cohort is expected to receive $10,000 in academic scholarship funds and cutting-edge workbased learning opportunities.

Te names of the Houston area fnalists are:

• Huston Tillotson University - Ckyra An thony, Idris Oyebamiji, and Samuel Oye takin

• Paul Quinn College- Darion Barrie

• Texas Southern University- Joshua Gibson

• Prairie View A&M UniversityDevaughn Pryor

Propel Center hosted an Instagram (IG) live conversation with “HBCU Buzz” with Dr. Charles Gibbs, president of Propel Center-HBCU Consortium, and HBCU student scholarship winners discussing the benefts of the award.

“Tese students that have received this scholarship, one of the things that were a prerequisite is you have to commit to be ing mentored, and you have to commit to

work-based learning experiences, which means we put boots on the ground, said Gibbs on IG Live. “We want to put you in positions where you can learn and under stand corporate strategy. [To] understand where the workforce for the 21st century and beyond is going.”

In an ofcial statement, Gibbs said this opportunity would level the playing feld for Black scholars at HBCUs. Applicants were tasked with creating an infographic and video describing their career interests in one of the designated industry pillars aligned with Propel’s mission.

Devaughn Pryor is a junior mass com munications major at Prairie View A&M University. He said being a fnalist for the Propel Center Scholarship will help him fnancially as he works to complete his degree.“I’mfrom California, and I live of cam pus. I’m still fghting to pay in-state tui tion, and it costs my family about $13,000 a semester,” Pryor said. “My parents have done their duty getting me to this point, and it wouldn’t be fair that they spend all this money to keep me in school when I know they are looking forward to retire ment. It’s unrealistic, and taking out loans I can’t aford isn’t either. Tis scholarship helps relieve the stress. It means so much to Teme.”application process for the fall se mester is closed, but Gibbs said prospec tive candidates for the center’s second cohort should anticipate the application reopening in the spring.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Metropolit a n T r

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED METRO FISCAL YEAR 2023 OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGETS

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is holding a public hearing to receive public comments on its proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2023 (October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023). The public hearing will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 in the METRO Board Room on the Second Floor at 1900 Main Street in Houston, Texas 77002.

The public is invited to attend the hearing and provide comments in person. You may also join the hearing on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87281252499 or by dialing: 346-248-7799, Meeting ID: 872 8125 2499. Participation on Zoom is only necessary if you want to provide comments during the public hearing. Otherwise, you may view a livestream of the hearing online at https://www.RideMETRO.org/Pages/BoardStreamingVideo.aspx. A video recording of the hearing will also be archived on ARideMETRO.org.copyofMETRO’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Operating and Capital Budgets is currently available for review by the public on METRO’s website at RideMETRO.org and in the lobby of the METRO RideStore in the Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building, located at 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002.

PROCESS FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENTS

It is recommended that anyone wanting to make public comments register as a public speaker with METRO’s Board Office at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing by calling 713-739-4834 or sending an email to BoardOffice@RideMETRO.org, and providing their name, address, and telephone number. If you pre-register, your comments will be heard first at the public hearing. Your name will be called at the appropriate time for you to make your comments.

Alternatively, you may provide public comments after the pre-registered speakers by raising your hand when called upon if you are present in the Board Room, by selecting the “Raise Hand” feature on the Zoom platform online, or by pressing *9 if joining by telephone. Those calling in will automatically be placed on mute.

After an unregistered speaker’s name or number is recognized, their microphone will be unmuted and they will be able to provide their Thecomments.publicmay

also provide comments by email to Budget.Book@RideMETRO.org or by calling METRO Customer Service at 713-635-4000 in advance of the public hearing.

LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE, ACCESSIBILITY AND SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Upon request, METRO provides free language assistance to help patrons who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English in accordance with its language assistance plan. METRO’s public hearings are accessible to persons with disabilities. Request for language assistance and other accommodations should be directed to the Board Office at 713-739-4834 at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

BLACK WOMEN

THE POWER OF US

By ReShonda Tate

Black women drive turnout and are one of the most progressive voting blocs in the country. Without Black women, Barack Obama would not have won the White House in 2012. Joe Biden would’ve lost his race and Kamala Harris might have never been VP.

When it comes to elections, Black women show up to the polls at higher rates than any other group,

despite the fact that they only make up about seven percent of the nation’s population. And now, Black women are urged to tap into that same power in the upcoming November election. Tey’re urged to gal vanize others, tap into sororities, churches, commu nity and civic organizations and fex their political muscles.

always do - step up and make a diference.

Te answer to both questions is simple: Power. InFocus

In a low-enthusiasm election year, the stakes are too high for Black women to stay home. When for mer president Donald Trump was running, he ofen told Black people, ‘What do you have to lose by vot ing for me?’ What do we have to lose by not showing up at the polls?

The political power of Black Women

Focusing on voting, not just registration

By ReShonda Tate

Black women have played pivotal roles in voter mobilization and voter turnout for years. More than two-thirds of Black women turned out to vote in the 2020 presidential election— the third highest rate of any race-gender group. Now, with another election just weeks away, Black women are urged to approach this non-presidential election with the same vigor of 2020.

“Black women are a powerful force in the American political system, and their political power at the polls and on the ballot continues to grow and is increasingly recognized as the force it is,” said Glynda Carr, president and CEO of Higher Heights for America PAC, which supports Black women candidates. In the Houston area, voters will decide everything from Governor to school board. Elected officials will decide everything from abortion rulings to what our children learn in school. Tat’s why it’s important to turn out to vote and political are calling on Black women leaders to help get people to the“Wepolls.saw millions of folks turn out to vote in 2020. And the truth of the matter is communities of color sit at home and we don’t activate in non-presidential elections,” added Harris County Clerk Tene shia Hudspeth. “If we don’t step up and do something about it next year, we will sufer and we will sufer greatly for years to come.”

Beyond voter registration

All across the country, voter registra tion eforts are forefront. From NNPA’s 10 Million Voters program to Rock the Votes nationwide engagement, there’s been a focus on signing people up to vote.

But Anne Benifeld with the League of Women Voters says getting peo ple registered is only half the battle.

“I’ve been looking at some of the polling data and looking at registration and it appears that there’s an uptick and a surge in women registering to vote. So that’s good news. But women have been determining who was going to win elections for quite some time now. We

put a lot more energy in the registration effort than we do in the get-out-to-vote,” said Benifield, who is the frst woman of color to lead theBenifieldLeague. says her orga nization is reaching out to groups and trying to get their voter education informa tion into the hands of voters, including the Voter’s Guide, which people can take to the“Tat’spolls. the other part. We lose enthusi asm for the entire ballot. And sometimes

the people who are down ballot don’t get voted on at all.”

What’s at stake

As leaders in the community, Benifeld says we have to do a better job in explaining what’s at stake for voters.

“We’ve got to get people to realize if I don’t vote, that means the social services in my community are not gonna be read ily available. Tat means the allocation of resources will not come into my community. Tat means that when you elect a mayor, that mayor picks the police chief and that determines policing happening in your com munity. When you elect to judge that judge

TAPPING INTO YOUR POWER

the time is now for Black women to lead again.“Tis is what we do,” Brown said. “We want to take it to another level. We see what’s happening in this country. We know how to fght, we know how to win, we know how to transform, we know how to build power. We have everything weOverneed.”the last year, Black women have shattered the glass ceiling from the White House to the Supreme Court. With the midterms election just months away, a record number of African-American women are chasing history, hoping to also break barriers in ”ItNovember.isnowthat Black women, in the spirit of Shirley Chisholm, are step ping of the sideline in realizing that we can be more than organizers and stafers and volunteers. We can also be campaign operatives, and that we too can be candidates,” said Carr. “We have Black women running for governor across this country in the deep South, to the Midwest. And we are not only looking to send one Black woman to the US Senate, but a cohort. And that is about institutional and generational change that we’re normalizing Black women’s leadership.”

Cheri Beasley, former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., are both running for Senate, hoping to change the landscape following Kamala Harris’ ascension to the Vice Presidency. Since Harris’ departure from the senate, there are currently no Black women senators in Congress. Only two African-Amer ican women have been elected to the Senate in history.

In the House, there are a record num ber of Black women serving in ofce -25. None of them are Republican.

Poll: Power of the Sister Vote

Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) and Essence Magazine recently con ducted a “Power of The Sister Vote” poll, a survey of Black women voters on the issues that matter most to them.

A prevailing theme of this year’s survey is economic anxiety. Nearly 50% of respondents feel they are falling behind economically. Half of the respondents say eco nomic conditions are worsening.

Systemic racism was also a top issue, with 33% of the women polled agreeing that the 2022 elections should be most about “combating discrimination and systemic racism.”

“This is the fourth year in a row that Racism…has registered as [a] top concern for Black women. We are also seeing an increasing rise in concern of economic anxiety for Black women and their families. I believe the lasting economic impact of the pandemic and the heightened partisan environment across the nation are refected in this year’s poll,” said to Melanie L. Camp bell, President of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Conve ner of the Black Women’s Roundtable,

Other key fndings:

• Improving the economy and increasing wages” took the top spot (34%) in terms of what the elections should be most about.

• Making housing more afordable” was the top policy concern, with 88%

determines synthesis in courtrooms that afect your community. When people come before them in terms of the application of the law. So we need to do a better job in explaining, this is how this will impact you. We need to show people this is how your community will be afected by the people

who are elected, who make the public policy, who make the decisions that will determine what happens in your community. And when someone says, I don’t see why I should vote. Ask what’s the alternative,” she said.

Tracey Yvette Scott, president of the Black Women’s PAC agrees that education is key.

“We’ve got to educate people as to who is on the ballot, what role they play and how it connects with your life specifcally.

If your cousin was arrested, who is the judge? Is that person on the ballot? How does that police chief come in play? Te mayor, the city council member, take some time and ask, how does this afect my life? Who are these people? And are they on my ballot and then decide how you’re gonna vote,” Scott said.

Black women lead LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, which aims to increase political power in Black communities, says

Even though Black women are still largely underrepresented in American politics, a recent report Higher Heights Leadership Fund, an organization ded icated to building the collective political power of Black women, and the Cen ter for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University, spot lights promising recent strides for Black women in politics, including:

• A record number of Black women ran for and won congressional ofces in 2020.

• Between 2020 and 2021, Black wom en’s state legislative representation increased, though not as much as it did afer the 2018 election.

• Black women reached a record high in state legislative representation in 2021.

• Black women now hold the top exec utive post in 8 of the 100 most popu lous cities, matching their proportion of the U.S. population, which is 7.8%.

• Protecting Social Security and Medicare was the 2nd most import ant concern. Although Democrats enjoy signifcant advantage on some issues, only 57% of respondents say the party “fghts for people like you,” and 27% believe there is no diference. In 2018 and 2019, in contrast, 73% of Black women identifed Democrats as the party that best represented their issues.

• There are also deep concerns about protecting reproductive freedom, voting rights and crime across Black women of all age groups.

“While Black women have always had a full plate, to manage that plate is now overfowing with an unusually high depth and breadth of issue concerns. Economically they say they are falling farther behind personally and feel the economy is getting worse not better. Systemic racism and the need for criminal justice reform continues to be a driving concern both personally and broadly with nearly half reporting they experience racism ofen in their daily lives,” said Karen Finney and Cornell Belcher of Brilliant Corners.

Members of the Missouri City Sugar Land Chapter registering people to vote.

Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, were frst in line to testify against House Bill 3 at the House Constitutional Rights and Remedies Committee hearing at the state Capitol on Saturday, July 10, 2021

Black Lives Matter Founder Alicia Garza speaks during the Women’s March “Power to the Polls” voter registration tour launch at Sam Boyd Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dr. Annie Benifeld

DN Health

September Is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

By SHELDON GAINES, M.D.

Prostate cancer is the No. 1 form of cancer diagnosed in men. And Black men have a greater risk of getting prostate cancer – and a more aggressive type –than their Caucasian counterparts. What’s more, African Americans are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.

Early diagnosis gives physicians more treatments options with higher expectations for favorable patient outcomes. This is why it’s so important to recognize warning signs and seek early medical treatment.

Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer

In the earliest stages, prostate cancer may not present alarming symptoms, which may cause a delay in seeking medical

FROM THE DOC

“Prostate cancer is the No. 1 cancer diagnosed in men.”

Dr. Gaines is board-certifeda Family

Medicine physician at Gulfgate Clinic.

intervention. As the cancer advances, however, you would likely experience hard-to-ignore problems with bladder function and painful urination.

Symptoms of more advanced prostate cancer may include:

• Frequent, sometimes painful, nighttime urinations

• Urinary blood

• Incontinence

Diagnosing prostate cancer

A physician will frst check the prostate for lumps or abnormal swelling. Then, depending on your age and overall health, the doctor may recommend a prostate-specifc antigen (PSA) test. This simple blood test helps measure substances that may suggest

a problem. If the doctor suspects cancer, an ultrasound test may be recommended, and a tissue sample may be taken for a biopsy.

Treatment for prostate cancer

If cancer is diagnosed, the doctor may refer you to a urologic oncologist specializing in prostate cancer. Treatment will depend on how advanced or aggressive the cancer is when diagnosed.

Be proactive about your health. See your healthcare provider for regular preventive exams that include checking your prostate, and ask about lifestyle strategies to help prevent this all-tooprevalent cancer.

Kelsey-Seybold’sDr.GaineswelcomesnewpatientsatGulfgateClinic.

By Alaina Bookman

Nearly 1 in 5 adults who have had COVID are still suffering from long COVID symptoms, according to reports from the CDC.

Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, M.D., Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, said the COVID patients she treats suffer from long-term, debilitating symptoms.“COVID is still here and there are still people with long COVID. Don’t throw away your masks. COVID is not over,” Gutierrez said.

She noted the problems patients can face.

“ ese patients have really debilitating fatigue that impacts their quality of life and their ability to do activities,” Gutierrez said. “So some people aren’t able to go to work, some people can’t even help to clean in their home or cook a meal.”

Because there is such a wide range of long COVID symptoms, rehabilitation programs are multidisciplinary and o en long-term as patients may need a range of treatment options including speech, physical, occupational and vocational rehab.

Gutierrez said she is hoping to educate

to them, including healthcare workers, rehab counselors and social workers to aid those who may not have the resources or ability to pay for long-term care.

On the national level, the Biden-Harris administration has been working to make resources more accessible as two new reports on long COVID have recently been released.

e reports provide individuals with both federal and local resources such as health care coverage options and methods to locate a range of trustworthy medical services.

e Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 report by the Department of Health and Human Services highlights resources for health care workers and includes information on health insurance coverage. e National Research Action Plan on Long COVID is the first national research agenda focused on advancing prevention, diagnosis, treatment and services for those experiencing Long COVID. Both reports also include research regarding health inequality –relating factors such as access, education and income with higher rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death among racial and ethnic minority groups.

e National Research Action Plan writes, “Implications of Long COVID on such factors affecting health equity could further exacerbate disparities, particularly among racial and ethnic minority and socioeconomically

disadvantaged communities who have been historically underserved.”

Lack of insurance and health literacy can be a significant barrier for those seeking long-term COVID treatment. Black, Indigenous and Latinx populations are more likely to be affected by COVID because of healthcare“Thatdisparities.wasone of the saddest days of my clinic practice,” Gutierrez said. “I saw someone who had had COVID, was hospitalized, had fatigue, could barely walk because she’d been in hospital for so long, and when I saw her she said, ‘This is my last day of insurance and then tomorrow, I might lose it.’”

With public health and the ongoing pandemic remaining a widely debated topic, medical professionals and government officials are continuing to increase access to accurate information and care options.

“What’s unfortunate is that it’s become so political and it cannot be political because it is something that impacts humans,” Gutierrez said. “Public health is not separated by party lines. We need to take these public health crises seriously.”

Karla Jefferies, 64 tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020 and has been bothered by puzzling symptoms ever since. AP

Sheryl Lee Ralph Brings crowd to tears afer Emmy win

Defender News Service

As a kindergarten teacher on “Abbott Elementary,” she can get an unruly class to sit up and listen. And that’s exactly what Sheryl Lee Ralph did at the Emmys — cap turing the attention of a packed theater and a global TV audience with a stirring accep tance speech for the ages.

It was the frst Emmy (and nomination) for stage and screen veteran Ralph, at 65, and she made the most of it, delivering the ultimate feel-good moment of the Emmys.

“Abbott Elementary,” from writer, pro ducer and star Quinta Brunson, has been a smash hit for ABC, earning critical acclaim and breaking ratings records. With seven nominations, the series has been a favor ite to win in many of the categories. Ralph plays veteran teacher Barbara Howard at the fctional school.

Tearfully accepting the award, Ralph began her speech with a moving rendition of “Endangered Species” by Dianne Reeves that had the entire crowd on its feet. Te actress belted out, “I am an endangered species but I sing no victim’s song. I am a woman, I am an artist, and I know where my voice belongs.”

Continued Ralph, “Anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream … couldn’t come true. I am here to tell you that this is what believing looks like. Tis is what striving looks like. And don’t you ever, ever give up on you.” She went on to specif ically shout out Brunson, her husband and children in the speech.

Te speech immediately got the actress trending on Twitter where viewers called it one of the best Emmys speeches of the night and of all time. One user wrote, “Give Sheryl Lee Ralph a Tony for her Emmy acceptance speech, please and thank you.”

Ralph’s win is also a historic one at the Emmys, as she is only the second Black actress to ever win in the category. Thir ty-fve years ago, Jackée Harry won for her role of Sandra Clark on “227.” Harry herself celebrated Ralph’s win on Twitter, congratu lating the fellow actress on her new trophy, while also disclosing that Ralph was actually supposed to play Sandra all those years ago.

Some other notable Emmy moments:

LIZZO’S POIGNANT REMINDER

She was visibly blown away by Ralph’s speech, but soon Lizzo was onstage for her own emotional win for her competi tion series, “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” in which contestants vie to be her backup dancers, beating out frequent win ner “Ru Paul’s Drag Race.” Te singer gave

a compelling lesson on how crucial repre sentation is in our pop culture. “When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media,” she said. “Someone fat like me, Black like me, beautiful like me.” She said she eventually did, but she had to be that person. Lizzo gave a shout-out to her dancers in the balcony. “Tis is for the big girls!” she said.

HEADING HOME

When Jerrod Carmichael won best writ ing for a comedy special with his “Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel,” he decided to end the evening then and there on a high note, saying he was going home. “I made something that was of great personal con sequence to me and this defnitely contrib utes to the meaning of it,” he said of his very personal special. “I’m not like a sore winner, but I’m gonna go home because I can’t top this right now.”

Sheryl Lee Ralph sings as she accepts the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “Abbott Elementary” at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, at the Microsof Theater in Los Angeles.

US singer-songwriter Lizzo poses with the Emmy for Outstanding Com petition Program for “Lizzo’s Watch Out For the Big Grrrls” during the 74th Emmy Awards at the Microsof Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Sep tember 12, 2022. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

DN+ BRINGS TAILORED

INFO TO READERS

By Raquel Rogers

For more than 93 years, the Houston Defender has been at the forefront of bringing readers news and information. And as technology evolved, so has the outreach to the community.“Wewill always be a go-to source for news and information in the Black community, but we wanted to explore ways we can tailor our coverage of issues to particular niche groups,” said Defender Publisher/ CEO Sonny Messiah Jiles.

e creation of DN+ fills that need. e channels (found on the Defender Network’s website) cater to Black women, community and those under 40. With members of the Defender staff taking the reigns as mini-publishers, visitors to those channels can expect engaging, enlightening and educational original stories geared toward that particular group.

“Our mini-publishers not only write original content, but they also post trending and curated content that reflects the diverse interests and experiences of Black Houston-area readers,” Messiah Jiles added.Check out more on each channel:

BLACK WOMEN

A place where Black women in the Houston area can learn, grow and bring their voice Black women make up 13% of the female population in the United States, but their impact feels much more powerful. Black women continue to make significant strides in education, politics, health and other areas. And it is those strides that are highlighted on the Black Women channel.

From stories that impact Black women most to profiles of Black-female-run businesses and sisters breaking barriers to opeds shining a light on injustices, the BWC is a go-to source for all things Black Girl Magic.Ledby Defender Managing Editor, longtime Houston journalist and national bestselling author, ReShonda Tate, the BWC gives voice to Black women from Houston and“Whetherbeyond. we’re talking about how Black women best flex their political muscles, or highlighting the 10 best spots for brunch, we’re making history (and chronicling every minute of it) on the Black Women’s Channel,” Tate said.

COMMUNITY CENTRAL

Where Blacks in the Houston area meet neighbors, learn about Black businesses and share experiences.

e Defender’s Community Central Channel takes this ancient, traditional Blackfolk concept and value of “community,” and places it online so we can vibe together virtually, from wherever you may be, with good folk from Houston to Havana; from Acres Homes to Accra.

What can you expect to see and experience via Community Central? Us, Blackfolk, fam, in all our splendor, especially as it relates to our places of worship, businesses, educational institutions, initiatives and service efforts.And the channel will be shining the spotlight on those individuals, organizations, neighborhoods and congregations who are out there representing for the culture, and li ing us all up in ways big and small.“

e Community Central Channel is going to be as interactive as you want to be, because it is a space where you can be seen, heard and most importantly, felt,” said Aswad Walker, Community Central Channel publisher.

UNDER 40

From finance and health to career and relationships, we’ll help you navigate it all.

We continue to push the envelope and talk about real things that impact our relationship, personal lives, and careers.

e Under 40 channel is dedicated to the bold, passionate, and driven Black millennials and Gen-Z. Each month the channel will prepare our readers to take control over their lives and equip them with the knowledge and resources that will help take them to the next level in their finances, health, careers, and relationships.“Notonly do we feature the stories of the Under 40 movers and shakers of the city, readers will also learn about financial investments, how to practice self-care, and how to survive in the workplace,” said publisher Laura Oneyeho. “If you’re starting out in college, entrepreneurship, a new career, starting a new family, making career pivots, working on health and wellness, or stepping your financial game up, the Under 40 channel will be there to guide you.”

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PROVOST

GEORGIA PROVOST

Chronicling Black Houston

By Aswad Walker

If there is one perennial Mrs. Texas Southern University, it has to be the stately woman in those crazy car commercials who is a proud TSU alum, former model, political candidate, widow of a legendary TSU tennis coach and owner of one of the city’s most iconic Black businesses. And if you’ve lived in Houston for any decent amount of time, you already know who I’m talking about — the one and only Georgia Provost.

Mrs. Provost, also a former Defender church editor, sat down to discuss Provost Studios, a photography business that opened just one year a er Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier.

Defender: Mrs. Provost, how does it feel to be a living legend?

Georgia Provost: If there’s a legend in Houston, it’s certainly the late Herbert, Georgia and Jerome Provost of Provost Studios, Texas’s leading professional photographers. We have chronicled the Houston community and many other communities with portraits and photographs since 1948. What do church pastors, universities, families, elected officials and graduating classes have in common? ey along with about 3 million other Texans and Louisianans have been photographed by Provost Studios.

Defender: How did the business get started?Provost: My husband, a Navy man, he came out and enrolled at Texas Southern University. en he went to a graduate school of photography in Connecticut. And when he came back, he decided he would open up his studio in April of 1948.

Defender: What’s the secret to longevityin business?

Provost: e key is to give good service, get yourself involved in the community and give back financially to organizations that are helping these young people. We do different things. For example, if we have a customer that’s doing something exciting in the neighborhood, we’ll get a story and send that information to news people so they can run a story on them. See, you’ve got to network and work with your people. at’s the key.

DEFENDER: What has been your proudest moment as a business owner?Provost: My proudest moment is that for 61 years, I have supported my Texas Southern University.

ABOUT PROVOST STUDIOS

Phone: 713-527-9488

Cell: 281-704-6655 gdprovost@hotmail.com

Defender: What are Black businesses doing wrong that they need to fix immediately?Provost: We need to do what we used to do when we were segregated, when all we had was us. We worked together. I’ll give you an example. e man that owned Frenchy’s Chicken was one of my husband’s competitors. He was working for Herb Jones. My husband was working for Intercollegiate Press. But every Saturday morning I would fix breakfast for them and they would work out their strategy, how they were going to beat the other white representatives.

If Herbert would get a contract, then the next one, Mr. Creuzot would get the contract for Herb Jones. So, they had a system going. [Today], we don’t have a system. We don’t have an agenda. We don’t work together. We don’t love each other. Let me tell you this, and I say it all the time. Black people have two cancers that MD Anderson can’t cure, and they’re in the cancer business: envy and jealousy. at’s what’s stopping us from moving forward.

Defender: What are your favorite things about Houston?

Provost: My number one favorite thing is [TSU]. My second favorite is to go pick up all the Black newspapers and sit at my kitchen table and read. My third favorite thing is to start working with these students and these schools, elementary, middle and high school.

Georgia Provost, Kim Roxie and Pastor Suzette Caldwell

Roy Owens and Georgia Provost. Photo by Aswad Walker.

Racists blast The Little Mermaid movie

By ReShonda Tate

Who knew that only white folks lived in FantasyLand? At least that’s the way it appears with all the unbelievable backlash from the new Disney movie, The Little Mermaid.

e live-action adaptation of the popular Disney princess film starring Grownish actress Halle Bailey, 22, as the iconic Ariel has garnered over 1.5 million dislikes on YouTube. It’s so bad that the video sharing

Disneymanythetraileranticipatedhaslikeshowpeoplelikedisabledplatformthedis-countersocan’tseemanydis-thetrailergarnered.Thehighlycapturedheartsofdevotedfanswhen it premiered, but almost immediately the hype surrounding the trailer was overshadowed by trolls who took to social media for online racial attacks.Comments flooded social media like: “ e Little Mermaid is white.

Period.” And “Why would they mess up a classic in the name of diversity? Go get your ownHoldmermaid.”up,wait a minute. Let me put a dose of reality in it. THE LITTLE MERMAID ISN’T REAL.

But white folks are losing their minds like she is. ere are calls for boycotting. Anti-Little Mermaid Facebook groups are popping up. One is even called Christians against e Little Mermaid. The hate inside that group is unreal. #WhatWouldJesusDo?

REPRESENTATION MATTERS

I remember when Disney unveiled e Princess Frog. Once I got over the fact that our first Black princess spent the majority of the movie as a frog, I was elated to have a Disney character that my little girls could relate to. e joy in their eyes as they watched Princess Tiana was priceless. So, I

was happy to see that our next generation was getting a Disney character that looked likeBlackthem.girl joy over the movie is being seen all over social media, with little girls exclaiming “Her skin…it looks like mine” and “She has my hair!” Let’s focus on that joy and not the hate.

MERMAID POLICE

Fans of the original 1989 classic argue that Ariel should remain white. They complain that Bailey’s hair in the trailer wasn’t red enough, her vocals were too soulful. It’s bad enough when white folks try to dominate Earth but now they want to regulate imaginary worlds too. From decrying Black royalty to threatening actors for starring in movies like Star Wars, white people seem to believe in superheros, butdragons,fire-breathingandwitchcra,notdiversity.

White folks have Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Mary and her little lambs….I could go on and on. But want to get mad because they don’t get yet another white fairytale character. Newsflash: is character can be any color the writer wants her to be. Just like Santa Claus, she’s not real and that means she’s notAtwhite.first,

I was trying to find a young girl I could take to the movies, but now, I don’t need a kid to cover me. I’ll be front and center supporting this film. I hope you’ll join me and send a message to the haters that we can be just as loud in our support…. and oh, yeah, e Little Mermaid isn’t real.

The for in the and our compliments to the other area schools for their continued progress.

Hateful memes have sprung up all over social media.

LOVIE SMITH STANDS BEHIND DAVIS MILLS

All eyes were on Texans’ second-year quarterback Davis Mills, who had some impressive moments but mostly was ineffective in the fourth quarter and overtime of the 20-20 tie with Indianapolis. Davis was 23-of-37 for 240 yards with two touchdowns but sputtered with a costly fumble and an inability to complete a significant pass late in the game as Indianapolis mounted a comeback from a 20-3 fourth-quarter deficit. But head coach Lovie Smith defended his quarterback. “I can’t say gun-shy,” Smith said. “None of us, I didn’t coach my best ball at the end. We didn’t finish the way we needed to. Davis is a part of that. Looking at it on the other hand, for us to be able to get that lead, Davis had to do some good things. So we’re going to build on those good things, going to learn an awful lot from this game, but we’ll recover.”

TSU FACING FAMILIAR COACHING FOE AT SOUTHERN

The Southern Jaguars will have a rather familiar feel to the Texas Southern Tigers when the two SWAC West teams clash at Globe Life Stadium on Saturday a ernoon. That’s because former Prairie View A&M coach Eric Dooley has brought his high-powered offense to Southern this season. So Clarence McKinney and his staff already know what to expect offensively from the Jaguars. “This is a totally different Southern team than last season,” McKinney said this week. “We know Coach Dooley is going to do a great job and have his guys ready to go.”

O.J. HOWARD MAKES IMPRESSION WITH TEXANS

Recently acquired Texans tight end O.J. Howard had a strong first game with the Texans. The veteran was on the receiving end of both of Davis Mills’ touchdown passes against the Colts, a 16-yard scoring pass and then a 22-yard touchdown.

Owens was targeted twice and caught both passes for a total of 38 yards and two touchdowns. There have been only two tight ends since 1970 to have two-plus touchdown receptions in their first game with a new team.

DAMEON PIERCE MAKES HUGE IMPRESSION

By Terrance Harris

Rookie running back Dameon Pierce’s emotions could have been all over the place as he was about to make his NFL debut – as a starter no less – in the Houston Texans backfield.

But the University of Florida product did his best to rely on the experience gained in the preseason as the season opener against Indianapolis

“Comparedapproached.tothe

last three weeks they were way more calm because I had a couple of games under my belt,” Pierce said. “But this game, I just took it for what it was. I was just having fun.”

Truth be told, Pierce has been having fun since he arrived this offseason as an unheralded fourth-round dra pick (107th overall). And he has turned heads and made quite an impression since.

Pierce really turned it on in training camp and during the first two preseason games with his burst, ability to break tackles while running downfield and versatility catching the ball out of the backfield. e coaching staff was so impressed with Pierce that Marlon Mack, the veteran free agent back the Texans brought in during the offseason to be the starter, suddenly became expendable.

It wasn’t hard to figure out that the Texans had seen enough of Pierce to know the hard-running rookie could be their immediate starter.“We’ve seen everything you need to see from a good running back,” said Texans coach Lovie Smith. “He can catch the ball. He can run in between tackles. He’ll make you miss in the open field. Pads down low, there are a lot of things to like about Dameon.”

His teammates and coaches have all been impressed with his approach to not just playing, but being a student of the game and a sponge soaking up the knowledge. It wasn’t long before everyone around the organization realized the team had gotten more than it bargained for from the second-day dra pick.

“He comes into the room, you start talking to him, he’s got a little

confidence,” Smith said. “ en, he went to the field, special teams, `what do I need to do coach,’ every day. He loves football.

“I did know a little bit about some of his highlights before, run the football. ought he would meet our personality that we’d like to be and that’s what we’ve seen. en he starts playing in games and we’ve seen every step along the way. We’ve seen the same thing from him. We’re excited about him being on the team and that running back room is a lot stronger with him in it.”

Receiver Brandin Cooks, the Texans veteran offensive leader, has also been impressed.

“ e way he’s been coming to work from the moment he has stepped into this building, you can see he’s about his business,” Cooks said. “He’s been running at a high level. One thing I continue to tell him is to never get comfortable, always find ways to improve, and I think he took that to heart because you see him go out there every day working on something.”

And the culmination of his work came this past weekend he took the field as the starter against the Colts. Pierce finished with 33 yards on 11 carries and had one reception for 6 yards, but his ability to find holes and to fight through tackles was obvious.

It was also obvious that he is still learning some of the nuances of the game, which was why veteran back Rex Burkhead carried more of the load, especially toward the end when the Texans needed another score in a game that ultimately ended in a 20-20 tie in overtime.

Pierce understood why he was watching from the sideline during crunch time of his first game. But best believe he was taking mental notes.“Ifeel like this was a learning point for me to see how the vets do it so that when I am there I will know how to handle it, I will know how to play situational football,” Pierce said. “And I want to be comfortable going out there so seeing Rex, I will get to see on film how he attacks presses. So it was a learning standpoint for me.”

Eric

Rice junior running back Ari Broussard ran for 71 yards and one touchdown during the Owls’ 52-10 win over McNeese State.

TEXANS ROOKIE RB

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (31) rushes for a gain against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Houston. AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Wiley College women’s volleyball senior and former Hightower standout Alia Scott was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Defender of the Week a er coming up with 78 digs in three matches.

ALIEF TAYLOR QB

CHASE JENKINS PLAYMAKER

By Jodie B. Jiles

Alief Taylor High School’s senior pro-style quarterback Chase Jenkins, a Rice University commit, is a first-team All-District selection transfer from (Bellaire) Episcopal who is up to the challenge of Class 6A football.eyear has been up and down early on in the season for the Lions, with an overall 1-2 record and losses to playoff contenders Klein Forest and Fort Bend Marshall. Jenkins, however, showed his true colors in a 54-0 win against Westside. In the victory, Jenkins managed to score six touchdowns -- three passing and three rushing -- in the game.

Lions head coach Shawn Gray noted what Jenkins has added to the offense.

“He is a culture guy and a great team leader,” Gray said. “All the kids look up to him and he leads by actions not by talk.”eDefender spoke with Jenkins a er the Westside victory to discuss his style of play, the Rice commitment, and more.

Style of play

“I am a dual-threat. My first read is always to look to throw, and if that breaks down I know I can use my legs.”

3 TD passes vs. Westside

“ e main thing is that I trust my receiver and O-lineman. So, however many touchdowns we score I know that we all had to execute. I don’t worry about how many touchdowns I score, I just worry about getting the ‘W’ [win].”

Rice commitment

“All the coaches up there showed me their plan for me moving forward and I just bought in a er that and committed a month and a half later.”

About Chase Jenkins

Players he Lamar Jackson Bryce Young Malik Willis

Other offers: Jackson State, Alcorn State, Lamar, Texas A&M Commerce

Hobbies: Reading and drawing

Favorite artist: Gospel artist Fred Hammond

Shout-outs: “My parents, Mario Hall, and the coaches at Select Quarterback Athletics and here at Taylor.”

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