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Volume 83 | Number 47
OCTOBER 2, 2014 |FREE
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NEWSTALK GEN. COLIN POWELL promotes early education
OPRAH WINFREY
What she’s up to now
P2 ENTERTAINMENT LAURENCE FISHBURNE co-stars in TV’s “Blackish”
H PAGE 5
P7 HS ZONE DEVIN DUDLEY tackles Westside opponents
P15 TOP EVENTS
Eric Holder leaves void
Rick Lowe receives prize
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has resigned from his post, and some Black leaders are worried. See why Holder’s departure will leave a void in civil rights. Learn about his accomplishments with the Justice Department. Hear what his colleagues have to say.
Project Row Houses founder Rick Lowe has received a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship. Find out why the prize “speaks volumes.” Get info on the fellowship’s generous stipend. See why the award comes at a critical time for Lowe and his organization.
Judge Vanessa Gilmore and Sean Gilmore at invention launch
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 2 | 2014
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Early Matters
Education coalition pursues change
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By VON JILES Defender
new coalition of business, civic, education, philanthropic, non-profit organizations and volunteers has launched Early Matters, a local initiative to raise awareness of the importance of high-quality early education. “A quality investment in the very early years of a child’s life will set the child on a path to success,” said James Postl, chair of the coalition. The coalition recently held an education summit at Rice University, where Gen. Colin Powell was one of the guest speakers. “You are getting ready to invest in your future workers,” Powell said. He stressed the importance of parents establishing “a sense of expectation” and said that every child should have Gen. Colin Powell speaks at an education summit sponsored by Early Matters. a “model or example.” Early Matters notes that 90 percent of brain socialized or academically on point [by the 3rd grade] that kid is development occurs by age 5. on the way to jail.” Keynote speaker Powell, a retired four-star general and “The country is changing. America is still up there. We former secretary of state, want to remain an example to the world if we keep investing in said that once a child is born, “the education our kids,” Powell concluded. process begins.” Challenges faced Expressing his love for the animal kingdom, Powell Judson Robinson III, president of the Houston Area Urban shared the story of how lions raise their cubs. He said in two League and an Early Matters stakeholder, said such initiatives years, cubs receive a thousand years of nurturing, education and are important, noting that only 17 percent of Texas high school training that has been passed on from generation to generation. graduates are ready for college. He then drew the correlation to early education, asking the “There are 1,110 school districts in Texans, and if those question, “Why can’t adults do this?” children can’t read by the time they reach 3rd grade this Powell encouraged parents to begin reading to their children problem will continue,” Robinson said. “Full-day pre-K will and teaching them numbers as early as 6 months old. He reverse this problem that primarily Black and Brown children painted a picture of a child starting school. are facing.” “At the beginning of school, kids’ eyes light up,” he said. Early Matters lists three key aspects of challenges faced: “After a few days of school for some, the light goes out because children’s early education readiness, the changing population the kid knows he is behind and he starts to act out. If he is not and funding gaps.
According to 2013 figures from the HISD Department of Early Education, 1 out of 2 children is not ready for kindergarten. That statistic is the foundation for Houston’s dropout rate, in which 51 percent of area students fail to graduate within four years of entering high school. Population changes show that roughly 57 percent of area women work, and as a result, over half of the 553,400 children under age 5 in Harris County are in the care of other adults while their parents are working. In addition, only 4 percent of county childcare centers are nationally accredited. And the most critical indicator of quality child-care is the low state standards – the Texas average teacher-child ratio is 1:22 compared to the national standard of 1:10. On the funding side, only 5 percent of public education dollars are spent on early childhood education. That means for parents of young children, the average childcare cost – $7,960 to $11,770 a year – is as much or more than a college education. Tuition at the University of Houston, for example, is $9,500 year. The seven goals of the Early Matters initiative are community support for quality education and access, quality standards, family support, healthcare engagement, professional development, financing and governance and a statewide system. The initiative has outlined steps to achieve its goals: Parents should have access to a range of resources to become the best parents they can be for their growing child; child care programs should maintain high-quality standards and be accessible to working families; pre-k programs must be of high quality and accessible. K-3rd grade programs must continue the trajectory to literacy. For more information visit www.earlymattershouston.org.
First U.S. case of Ebola confirmed in Dallas The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed through laboratory tests the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States in a critically ill person who had traveled to Dallas from Liberia. The patient, an unnamed man, did not have symptoms when leaving West Africa, but developed symptoms approximately four days after arriving in the U.S. on Sept. 20. The patient fell ill on Sept. 24 and sought medical care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Sept. 26. After developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, he was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 28 for testing and remains there in isolation.
Local public health officials have begun identifying close contacts of the patient for daily monitoring. “Ebola can be scary,” said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. “But there’s all the difference in the world between the U.S. and parts of Africa where Ebola is spreading. “The United States has a strong health care system and public health professionals who will make sure this case does not threaten our communities. “While it is not impossible that there could be additional cases associated with this patient in the
coming weeks, I have no doubt that we will contain this.” Ebola is a rare and deadly disease that can infect humans and certain primates. Symptoms include fever greater than 101.5°F, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and unexplained bleeding or bruising. Symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure, but the average is eight to 10 days. Recovery from Ebola depends on the patient’s immune response. More information is available at www.cdc.gov/ ebola.
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 2 | 2014
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U.S.briefs
White House security under more scrutiny
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he director of the Secret Service acknowledged that her agency failed to fully protect the White House when a man with a knife entered the building and sprinted through half the ground floor being subdued. Julia Pierson testified before members of Congress after new details revealed that Omar Gonzalez, an Army veteran, actually made it into the White House before he was tackled in the East Room. Gonzalez burst inside an unlocked door before being overpowered by an off-duty Secret Service officer who was leaving his shift. In addition, it was discovered that the agency fumbled a response to 2011 shooting in which a man fired a semiautomatic rifle into the White House residence while Sasha Obama was home. The Secret Service discounted the gunshots as a shoot-out between rival gangsters. Democratic and Republican lawmakers criticized Pierson and the Secret Service for giving misleading and partial accounts of the security breach. “It’s clear that our security plan was not properly executed,” Pierson said during a four-hour House Oversight Committee hearing. “This is unacceptable, and I take full responsibility.” “I wish to God you protected the White House like you protected your reputation here today,” Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch told Pierson at the hearing. “The fact is the system broke down,” said com-
mittee chairman Darrell Issa. “An intruder walked in the front door of the White House, and that is unacceptable.” “How on earth did it happen?” he asked. “This failure ... has tested the trust of the American people in the Secret Service, a trust we clearly depend on to protect the president.” Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania called the intrusion, “Stunning, outrageous, disgraceful.” Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, said what concerned him most was that agents said they were hesitant to raise security concerns with their supervisors. “Does it trouble you that some of your agents apparently don’t feel comfortable coming to you with concerns?” Cummings asked Pierson. “Yes it does,” she responded.
Fallout continues in Ferguson community NNPA News Service
In the continuing aftermath of the shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, several issues plague the community of Ferguson, Mo., including a memorial for the teen being set on fire. Protests continued in Ferguson, with shots fired, store windows smashed and fires set. Three people were arrested. The protest swelled to as many as 200 people. Members of the Ferguson community had to rebuild the memorial created near where Brown was shot by white police officer Darren Wilson. It’s not clear whether the fire was an accident or intentional. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice
ordered Ferguson police officers to stop wearing “I am Darren Wilson” bracelets while in uniform and on duty, according to a letter sent to Police Chief Thomas Jackson. “There is no question that police departments can and should closely regulate officers’ professional appearance and behavior, particularly where, as here, the expressive accessory itself is exacerbating an already tense atmosphere between law enforcement and residents in Ferguson,” wrote Christy Lopez of the DOJ Civil Rights Division. “The bracelets reinforce the very ‘us versus them’ mentality that many residents of Ferguson believe exists.”
THE U.S. HAS MADE tremendous progress since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but there is unfinished work to be done in order to make the nation a more perfect union. That was the message President Barack Obama gave attendees at a recent Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner. “Our high school graduation rate is at a record high, the dropout rate is falling, more young people are earning college degrees than ever before,” Obama said. “Last year, the number of children living in poverty fell by 1.4 million, the largest decline since 1966. But our work is not done when too many children live in crumbling neighborhoods, cycling through substandard schools, traumatized by daily violence,” he said ……..THOUSANDS OF WORKERS in New York City will get raises. Mayor Bill de Blasio is expanding the city’s living wage measure to include additional workers, as well as increase the amount workers are paid under the law. De Blasio signed an executive order to make the change, which his administration estimated could extend coverage to 18,000 workers over the next five years. The living wage would go to $11.50 an hour from $10.30 for workers who receive benefits such as health insurance, and for those without benefits, it would rise to $13.13 an hour from $11.90 an hour……..AMERICA’S MAYORS who serve in the leadership of the U.S. Conference of Mayors gathered in Sacramento for the organization’s fall meeting. They discussed such topics as the economy, transportation, education, housing and the situation in Ferguson, Mo. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, the group’s president, said: “We had an open and candid conversation about what I’m calling the four R’s: Resident frustrations, Relationships between the community and police, Recruitment of police officers, as well as the issue often talked about but not by name, Race.”
VOLUME 83 • NUMBER 47 OCTOBER 2, 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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Oprah Winfrey: What she’s up to now
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he groundbreaking “Oprah Winfrey Show” went off the air in 2011, but its host remains the queen of conversation, whether it’s on her TV network or nationwide tour coming to Houston Oct. 17-18. This fall on OWN, Winfrey returns with “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” It airs Sundays at 8 p.m. and features updates on newsmakers and most memorable show guests. On Oct. 5, Winfrey sits down with Raven-Symoné for a candid conversation. The “That’s Oprah Winfrey talks to guests such as Jermaine Jackson on “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” So Raven” star talks about her sexuality and what it was like On Friday, Oct. 17, Winfrey takes the stage, being in the public eye for so long as a child actress, bringing her personal story and insights to life and beginning with “The Cosby Show.” inviting those in attendance to join her on a “bold On Oct. 12, Winfrey’s guests include Vivica Fox. journey of transformation.” On Saturday, Oct. 18, On Oct. 19, she talks to Macy Gray, among others. On Winfrey leads a day-long gathering with the help Oct. 26, Winfrey welcomes the cast of the 1980s hit of handpicked “life trailblazers,” including Iyanla sitcom “A Different World.” Vanzant and Deepak Chopra. In addition to her TV work, Winfrey recently Available tickets start at $299 and can be embarked on her Oprah’s The Life You Want obtained at www.oprahweekend.com. Weekend 2014 Tour, which comes to Houston’s Winfrey, 60, was born in the rural Mississippi Toyota Center. town of Kosciusko. She began her broadcasting career
at a Nashville radio station while still in high school. At 19, she became the youngest person and the first AfricanAmerican woman to anchor the news at Nashville’s WTVF-TV. She then relocated to Baltimore’s WJZ-TV to co-anchor the 6 p.m. news and later went on to become co-host of its local talk show, “People Are Talking.” In 1984, Winfrey moved to Chicago to host the morning talk show “AM Chicago,” which became the No. 1 local talk show just one month after she began. In less than a year, the show expanded to one hour and was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” It entered national syndication in 1986, becoming the highest-rated talk show in TV history. Winfrey shared the secret to creating a great talk show. “The secret is authenticity,” she said. “The reason people fail is because they’re pretending to be something they’re not. And even those who are not in alignment with my value system, people like Jerry Springer, he works because he’s real. If you can find what the passion is and figure out a way to express that in an authentic and entertaining way, you have a chance at success.”
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Project Row Houses founder Rick Lowe said he is honored to be named to the 2014 class of MacArthur fellows. The MacArthur Fellowship, commonly referred to as the “MacArthur Genius Grant,” is a prize awarded annually to residents of the United States who “show exceptional merit and promise for continued and enhanced creative work.” Nominated anonymously by leaders in their field, fellows receive a stipend of $625,000 paid over the course of five years to use as they see fit. “There is a history of African-American artists being overlooked when their work focuses on AfricanAmerican communities or issues,” Lowe said. “So it speaks volumes that the MacArthur Foundation sought to recognize my work as being a significant contributor to contemporary art, as well as the communities my work serves.” Lowe added that the fellowship comes at a critical time for him. “Project Row Houses is now 20 years old and poised to embark on new initiatives for the next 20 years. This important award from the MacArthur Foundation will enable me to continue to perform my work in communities around the world, as well as right here in Houston.” Lowe, who helped establish Project Row Houses in 1993 in Third Ward, has sought to better his community by nurturing and supporting it through art, education, economic development and the preservation of relevant architecture. “The MacArthur is seen as the highest award in the field of art, so my work being recognized will undoubtedly be an encouragement to other artists who are doing similar work while bringing new artists into the field of socially and community engaged art,” Lowe said. Lowe and the PRH board are doing their part to encourage other artists. “We are designing the Project Row Houses Institute to provide fellowships to artists,” he said. “The fellowships will provide long-term residencies to a small group of artists who will work with PRH on projects around the city under our guidance and mentoring. “
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entertainment
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Laurence Fishburne
co-stars in new show ‘Black-ish’ By KAM WILLIAMS Special to the Defender
L
aurence Fishburne has achieved an impressive body of work as an actor, producer and director. Starting at the age of 10, he starred on the soap opera “One Life to Live.” He made his feature film debut at age 12 in “Cornbread, Earl and Me” and followed that up a few years later with “Apocalypse Now.” He starred for three seasons on the hit series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and he was an Emmy Award nominee and an NAACP Image Award winner for his starring role in the telefilm “Miss Evers’ Boys,” which he executive-produced. And he can currently be seen in the NBC thriller series “Hannibal.” Through his production company Cinema Gypsy, Fishburne is scheduled to executive-produce and star in “The Right Mistake” on HBO. The company also made the movies “Akeelah and the Bee,” “Five Fingers” and “Once in the Life.” Among his many film credits are “Boyz n the Hood,” “A Rumor of War,” “The Color Purple,” “The Matrix” trilogy and “The Tuskegee Airmen.” Here, he talks about playing Pops on the new TV sitcom, “Black-ish.” KW: What inspired the title “Black-ish?” LF: The title came from Kenya Barris, our writer/creator. It’s like “squeamish” or “Jewish” or other “ish” terms like that.
KW: Why this show? Why now? LF: What was intriguing to me, first of all, was that it’s comedy, which is something I don’t do a lot of. I’ve wanted to do comedy for a while, and the elements of this show fit. They really made sense in terms of my doing a comedy basically about a wellto-do Black family with children of privilege, living in modern America, in our digital age. I can relate to what all of that means and how we have to navigate it. So, that’s the why and the where. A lot of people don’t know that I actually can be quite funny. Plus, I feel that the context of the show, the timing of everything, and my wonderful cast mates, Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, all added up to the perfect combination of ingredients.
It just makes sense at this time. And actors should be able to do both comedy and drama. At least the good ones. KW: How would you describe your character, Pops, in 25 words or less? LF: I wouldn’t describe my character Pops in 25 words or less. KW: You’ve presented some of the most memorable images of AfricanAmerican men at either end of the spectrum, including Ike Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” Is it difficult to portray characters that are so different in persona and morality, and do you have a preference? LF: I don’t have a preference. The wonderful thing about what I do is being able to run the gamut. It’s never the same. I don’t get excited about the idea of playing the same person all the time. I do get excited about being able to explore different people and different characters, and using my range, as it were. KW: Is it any easier for African-American actors to land parts on television and web series these days? LF: It’s certainly easier than it was 30 years ago. KW: Do you think diversity has improved on television over the years? Is there anything the general public can do to campaign for more authentic diverse images being represented? LF: I think that if the general public would use that social media tool to express their desire to see a more authentic and genuine representation of what the American family looks like, then that would be helpful.
what’sup DENZEL WASHINGTON ruled the box office with the debut of his latest film, “The Equalizer.” The movie, based on 1980s CBS series, topped all other films with a weekend gross of $35 million. Washington portrays a former Special Forces member who is leading a quiet life. When he meets a young girl under the control of Russian gangsters, he comes out of selfimposed retirement to do battle on the streets of Boston…….. DR. DRE earned the No.1 spot on Forbes magazine’s “Hip-Hop Cash Kings” 2014 list. The annual list ranks the highest-earning artists and executives in the hip-hop industry.
Earnings include income from touring, record and sales merchandise sales, endorsements and other ventures. Dre earned $620 million, due in part to Apple’s buyout of his headphone and portable speaker company. JAY-Z and DIDDY tied for second place with $60 million each. They were followed by Drake ($33 million) and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ($32 million). Other artists on the list included KANYE WEST (No. 6), LIL WAYNE (No. 8) and NICKI MINAJ (No. 11)…….. Bishop T.D. JAKES is vowing to file a lawsuit against rapper YOUNG JEEZY and singer KENDRICK LAMAR for using por-
tions of his sermon “Don’t Let Chatter Stop You” without his consent. The artists used a part of the sermon for their “Holy Ghost” remix……..NEYO has released a new single titled “She Knows” on the Motown label. He is also hitting the road with his One Night With NE-YO Tour, which begins in San Francisco and ends in Chicago. He will perform at the House of Blues in Houston on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Ne-Yo’s first three studio albums debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and were certified platinum. He won Grammy Awards for the album “Because of You” and the song “Miss Independent.”
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 2 | 2014
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Holder’s resignat
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By AFRO Staff
eactions from Black and civil rights leaders to the news of Attorney General Eric Holder’s imminent resignation was summarized best by President Obama. “This is bittersweet,” Obama said during a White House press conference to announce Holder’s
decision. After listing Holder’s achievements, the president pinpointed what many have identified as his most valued accomplishment. “Eric’s proudest achievement might be reinvigorating and restoring the core mission to what he calls ‘the conscience of the building’ – and that’s the Civil Rights Division,” Obama said. Some Black leaders worry that the work Holder began – or was not able to accomplish – might not be completed after his departure. “The resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder is met with both pride and disappointment by the civil rights community,” said Rev. Al Sharpton.
“We are proud that he has best attorney general on civil r U.S. history and disappointed b leaves at a critical time when w continued diligence most.” Holder, the first African-A to serve as U.S. attorney gener remain in his post until a succe place. Civil rights advocacy grou they found a great ally in Hold larly in fighting for issues such rights. “Over the course of Attorn Holder’s illustrious career span years with the Department of J has displayed a strong commit racial justice and equality,” sai and executive director of the L Rights Under law. “The DOJ has made great s leadership…He has led the DO
DOJ accomplishments unde The Justice Department lists numerous accomplishments that have been made under the leadership of Attorney General Eric Holder. Here are some of them: Vigorously enforced the right of equal access to the ballot box by closely monitoring new state laws that would significantly change how elections are conducted. Initiated a record number of inquiries into police departments throughout the country to ensure constitutional police practices. Charged a record number of human trafficking cases, increasing the number of prosecutions by more than 38 percent in forced labor and adult sex trafficking cases. Investigated and prosecuted hate crimes under the landmark Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Renewed its commitment to environmental justice, including the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws. Thwarted multiple terrorist plots against the United States, convicting and incarcerating scores of individuals on terrorism-related charges. Provided unprecedented support for state and local law enforcement partners, including distributing billions of dollars in funding and helping create and save nearly 8,000 law
Attorney General Eric Holder met with Capt. Ro
enforcement jobs. Supported effective prisoner reen helping to improve access to educatio care, and reduce the collateral consequ Established the most effective stri care money by fighting healthcare frau Aggressively prosecuted child ex targeting sex offenders and the use of traffic in child pornography.
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erfold
tion leaves civil rights void
been the rights in because he we need his
American ral, will essor is in
ups said der, particuh as voting
including those on marriage equality.” Holder has been at the forefront in dealing with controversial investigations such as the killing of Trayvon Martin and more recently Michael Brown. The attorney general visited Ferguson, Mo., to listen to residents and offer solutions after violent protests erupted in the wake of Brown’s death at the hand of a white police officer. Perhaps as a result of those conversations, the Justice Department is expected to impose new curbs on racial profiling in the context of federal law enforcement investigations in the coming weeks. One of three cabinet members from Obama’s original team who is still in office, Holder leaves behind an indelible mark and an enduring legacy, political scientists say. “I was very impressed by Eric Holder’s tenure as attorney general in general but specifically as it regards civil rights issues,” said Robert Smith, a professor of political science at San
“I will continue to serve and try to find ways to make our nation even more true to its founding ideals.”
ney General nning 26 Justice, he ment to id Barbara Arnwine, president Lawyers’ Committee for Civil
strides under his visionary OJ in taking many bold stances,
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on Johnson in Ferguson, Mo.
ntry and reinvestment programs, on, employment, housing and health quences of a criminal record. ike force in history to protect Mediaud. xploitation and pornography, f online networking platforms to
Francisco State University. Smith said the Bush administration had left the Civil Rights Division “in shambles.” The functioning and importance of the division had been “downgraded,” funding was cut and the morale among its civil servants was low. Some say Holder also served as a mouthpiece for Obama on matters of race. “On issues of race in particular, almost from the very beginning of the administration, and clearly with Obama’s knowledge and acquiescence, Holder spoke about these matters in a way the President might not have felt comfortable doing,” Smith said. Because of Holder’s outspokenness and liberal leanings on such matters, he has become a favorite target for Republicans. “Republicans will try to make over Holder’s record,” Smith said. Holder has said he plans to continue working on some of the issues he addressed during his tenure after he steps down from a position he called “the greatest honor” of his professional life. “In the months ahead, I will leave the Department of Justice, but I will never leave the work,” Holder said. “I will continue to serve and try to find ways to make our nation even more true to its founding ideals.”
Black leaders praise Holder President Obama – "As younger men, Eric and I both studied law. And I chose him to serve as attorney general because he believes, as I do, that justice is not just an abstract theory. It’s a living and breathing principle…Soon, Eric, [his wife] Sharon, and their kids will be a bit freer to pursue a little more happiness of their own. And thanks to Eric’s efforts, so will more Americans – regardless of race or religion, gender or creed, sexual orientation or disability, who will receive fair and equal treatment under the law." Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee – “Eric Holder is my friend and he is a friend to America and its values, liberties and beliefs. He is a friend to the less vulnerable. He brings history and an emotional connection to those who have been denied their civil liberties. He knows what it is to sometimes be viewed as a second class citizen but he does not carry it as a burden but as an opportunity.” Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings – “As the first-ever African-American to serve in this position, Attorney General Holder has promoted equal protection under the law by building bridges across ideology, race, gender, and class. His capacity to fight for the rights of every American has been boundless.”
he Houston area for over 80 years
President Obama said Holder shares his views on justice
NAACP President Cornell William Brooks – "The resignation of the most prepared and the most steadfast attorney general, in particular in the arena of civil rights, is a moment of lament for the nation but also celebration. We celebrate his achievements but we also grieve his absence. From voting rights, civil rights to criminal justice reform, Attorney General Holder's record from the vantage point of history and the view of citizens across the country is unassailable and will be enduring."
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 2 | 2014
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opinion
Violence against women and children is wrong By MARC MORIAL NNPA Columnist
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he NFL may have inadvertently done us all a favor by shedding light on a problem that is too often ignored or swept under the rug. Recent incidents of abuse of his then fiancée/now wife by former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and alleged child abuse by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson are stark reminders that domestic violence against anyone has no place in any relationship, even when it is not captured on camera or doesn’t become a national news story. As the president of a civil rights organization that is steeped in a tradition of peaceful change, and as a husband and father of two daughters, I have consistently spoken out against the lack of value placed on the lives of Black males, including Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and too many more across the nation. Today, I want to send a similar message about the value we place on the women and children who live in our homes. Non-violence has always been the cornerstone of what Dr. King and John Lewis have called “The Beloved Community” – and non-violence begins in the home. While a wide range of disciplinary choices are available to parents, we must ask ourselves if the way
we were raised is the same way we want to raise our children. What lessons are we teaching children when disputes between fathers and mothers are more likely settled with physical confrontations instead of reasoned conversations? While spanking – sometimes with belts and switches – might have been a part of many of our childhoods, what are we saying to our children when we whip them until their butts are black and blue? Charles Barkley was a formidable basketball player and is an entertaining sports commentator, but Chuck got it wrong when he recently downplayed Adrian Peterson’s use of a switch which caused lacerations and bruises on his 4-year-old son. Barkley responded by saying, “I’m from the
South. Whipping — we do that all the time. Every Black parent in the South is going to be in jail under those circumstances.” Responding to the fumbling response of the NFL in the wake of recent incidents and allegations of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse involving professional football players, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell admitted, “I got it wrong and I am sorry.” Saying that “Domestic abuse and sexual assault have no place in the NFL,” he also pledged to re-examine and change NFL policies to prevent future incidents and toughen sanctions for players who break the rules. But this is a problem that affects all of us. Domestic violence occurs among all races and in all communities. Parenting is not easy, and none of us are perfect; but when loving discipline crosses the line into angry and hurtful punishment, it is time to take a step back and seek healthier ways to teach our children right from wrong. Many urban families facing the twin stresses of poverty and single parenthood may need special help. That is why many Urban League affiliates across the country offer parenting counseling as part of their services to the community. This issue is about more than Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and the NFL. It is about who we are as a nation. It’s time for all of us to take a stand and make it clear – domestic violence is wrong – no tolerance, no excuses. Our mothers, daughters, wives, sisters and friends are counting on us.
Early Matters could make big difference: A suggestion The new early childhood initiative Early Matters plans to invest in early education by focusing significant resources and funding on children from low-income families who are not succeeding in school. The Houston coalition of business, civic, education, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations and volunteers has their work cut out for them. When you consider that only 1 of 5 children in our area graduate from high school, it is clear not enough students are making it through the educational pipeline. As a result, it makes sense that if we invest more heavily in the early stages of our children’s learning we will get a higher return with better prepared children who have a stronger foundation for success. The alternative is making high investments in building and sustaining more
prisons. The reality is children from low-income families face serious inequalities, some due to lack of resources, finances and basic knowledge of how to develop positive learning skills. It is commendable that Early Matters will channel its attention on young children’s early interactions with parents, caregivers and teachers. We agree with this objective. Knowing that the initiative focuses on existing parents, our suggestion is that Early Matters should create a program strategically formulated for high school students, who are our future parents. Since parenting is an inevitable part of life development for a significant number of students, it makes sense to educate young people about the correlation between
vocabulary, reading and talking to young children showing them how all these contribute to a strong foundation for a child between 1 and 5 years of age. Seeing the difference this investment makes, these future parents will be armed with tools they can use. In addition, these high schoolers will learn the fundamentals of how to turn their own lives around or influence their younger siblings. The training could be in classes or through a community service project. Whatever the case, since 90 percent of brain development occurs by age 5, we all should be on board this train of early childhood education that will ensure our children and grandchildren have a stronger foundation for building a successful life. If you want to learn more or get involved visit www.earlymattershouston.org.
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OCTOBER 2 | 2014 | DEFENDER
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HUD grants assist low-income residents
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he U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $5 million to help public housing and Housing Choice Voucher residents in Texas connect with local services to improve their education and employment and to put them on a path to self-sufficiency. The Houston Housing Authority received $324,552. Funded through HUD’s Family SelfSufficiency Program (FSS), the grants allow public housing agencies to work with social service agencies, community colleges, businesses and other local partners. The partnership helps public housing residents and individuals participating in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (commonly known as Section 8) increase their education or gain marketable skills that will enable them to obtain employment and advance in their current work. In 2014, Congress combined funding for the Public Housing FSS and Housing Choice Voucher FSS programs into one program serving both populations. “HUD connects folks to opportunity,” said HUD Secretary Julian Castro. “These grants will link people to the computer access, financial literacy, job training, childcare and other tools they need to compete and succeed in the workplace. Every American
deserves access to the skills and resources necessary to become self-sufficient.” HUD’s FSS Program helps local public housing authorities hire service coordinators who work directly with residents to connect them with programs and services that already exist in the local
community. Service coordinators also build relationships with the network of local service providers so as to more effectively serve residents. The program encourages innovative strategies that link public housing and Housing Choice Voucher assistance with other resources to enable participating families to find jobs, increase earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for rental or welfare assistance and make progress toward achieving economic independence. Participants in the program sign a five-year contract that requires the head of the household to obtain employment and no longer receive cash welfare assistance at the end of the fiveyear term. As the family’s income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account. If the family successfully completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including improving credit scores, paying educational expenses, or a downpayment on a home. The FSS Program is a long-standing resource for increasing economic security and self-sufficiency among participants. One HUD study found that individuals who participated in the program fared better financially than those who did not enroll in the program.
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 2 | 2014 |
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New Metro rail lines delayed until next year The opening date for Metro’s new East End (Green) and Southeast (Purple) Lines has been revised. The light rail extensions are projected to begin taking paying customers by April 4, 2015. Metro originally planned to have the lines operating by December of this year. Issues affecting completion of the additional 10 miles of rail include problems on non-Metro construction projects in the central
business district and the performance of equipment used to regulate light-rail traffic. Additional work, including reinstallation of fiber optic cable, signal testing and retesting brought delays to a total of 12 weeks. The Southeast Line begins downtown and travels southeast along Capitol and Rusk to Palm Center. It connects to Texas Southern University and the University of Houston.
T:4.79”
LEGAL NOTICE Game #
Game Name / Odds
These Texas Lottery Commission Scratch-Off games will be closing soon:
$
Official Close of Game
End Validations Date
Jumbo Cash Doubler Overall odds are 1 in 3.41
$10
10/23/14
4/21/15
1530
Black Cherry Tripler Overall odds are 1 in 3.88
$3
11/26/14
5/25/15
T:3.25”
1490
Metro’s East End and Southeast Lines will be ready to roll in April.
For detailed odds and game information, visit txlottery.org or call 1-800-37LOTTO. Must be 18 or older to purchase a ticket. The Texas Lottery supports Texas education. © 2014 Texas Lottery Commission. All rights reserved.
After-School Meal Program Programa de Alimentos para Después de la Escuela
September 2 - May 28
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approvals TX41191 TEXAS LOTTERY OCT EOG AD 4.79” x 3.25” None None BW HOUSTON DEFENDER NEWSPAPER None
t • austin, tx 78701 12.479.6024
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Friends, Fun and Free Food
Hey, Parents and Guardians!
FREE meals are available for children ages 1-18 who participate in programming at HPARD community centers. No registration is required. In more than 76 operating sites Snacks and supper served between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm
Amigos, diversión y comida gratis ¡Hola padres y tutores!
Alimentos GRATIS para niños y niñas de 1 a 18 años. No es necesario registrarse. En más de 76 sitios de operación 3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Refrigerio 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Cena Los niños deben consumir los alimentos en el sitio
Children must consume meals on site
Information / Información (832) 395-7284 Sponsored by Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Sponsored by Houston Parks and Recreation Department. This program is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Division. In accordance with federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Patrocinado por el Departamento de Parques y Recreación de Houston. El programa es administrado por el Departamento de Agricultura de Texas División de Alimentos y Nutrición. De acuerdo con la Ley Federal y los reglamentos del Departamento de Agricultura de E. U., no se permite la discriminación basada en la raza, el color de la piel, el pais de origen, el sexo, la edad o la discapacidad.
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OCTOBER 2 | 2014 | DEFENDER
Lawsuit stops demolition of Wheatley/E.O. Smith The demolition of Fifth Ward’s historic Wheatley/E.O. Smith school building by HISD has been stopped again after residents filed another lawsuit. A judge granted a temporary restraining order because of asbestos health concerns. A hearing has been scheduled on whether HISD can resume its demolition of the building, located at 1700 Gregg. HISD started tearing down the building to make room for the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men to be built on the historic site. Community members have been fighting to save the Wheatley/E.O. Smith building, and filed an earlier lawsuit against the district that was later dismissed. State District Judge Caroline Baker approved the second temporary restraining order against HISD. The lawsuit was filed by Fifth Ward resi-
dents and relatives of residents. Another concerned resident, Dr. Jayne McCullough, also voiced concerns about asbestos being released during demolition. “Every time they put a dent in that building asbestos is released,” said McCullough, a member of the Wheatley/E.O. Smith Preservation Coalition. “So we know they are putting our community and residents at harm.” According to the EPA, asbestos materials can become damaged over time, releasing fibers that can become a health hazard. Those fibers can be released into the air by the disturbance of asbestos-containing material during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair and remodeling. Exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of developing lung disease.
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classifieds ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-AT-RISK Sterling Aviation High School HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (HISD) Cadence McShane Construction as Construction Manager-at-Risk for HISD, in accordance with Texas Government Code 2269, will receive bids or proposals from all qualified subcontractors for the All-Trade Packages. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held 10:00am Friday, October 3, 2014, at Sterling High School Cafeteria located at 11625 Martindale, Houston, TX 77048. A Site-Visit walkthrough of the project will be held immediately following the pre-proposal conference. Bids or proposals are due Wednesday, October 22, at 2:00pm, and bids or proposals should be emailed to houstonbids@cadencemcshane.com or mailed/delivered to the Cadence McShane Construction, 7701 W. Little York, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77040. Late bids will not be accepted. There will be no public opening of bids or proposals. All bids or proposals shall be available after award of contract, or the 7th day after final selection of bids or proposals, whichever is later. After receipt of bids or proposals, Cadence McShane, will conduct its evaluation of the subcontractor bids or proposals in relation to the project requirements and will select the bid(s) or proposal(s) that offers the best value to HISD. Cadence McShane, is committed to meeting the M/WBE goals set for this project. M/WBE forms, schedules and statements, as required by the package documents, shall accompany each bid or proposal that is submitted. Bids or proposals submitted without all required information, and in the order and manner specified, may result in the bid or proposal being considered non-responsive. HISD, the Owner, reserves the right to waive any informality and/or to reject any, or all bids, or proposals. Contact Eddie Smith at esmith@cadencemcshane.com or Wm. Earl Finley, C.P.M., A.P.P. at wfinley@houstonisd.org for additional information on this project. Drawings and specifications are available on iSQFT (www.isqft.com) and in the Cadence McShane office located at 7701 W. Little York, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77040. Drawings and Specifications may also be reviewed at: Associated General Contractors, 3825 Dacoma Street, Houston, TX 77092, (713) 843-3700 McGraw Hill Construction/Dodge, www.construction.com Virtual Builders Exchange, 3910 Kirby, #131, Houston, TX 77098, (832) 613-0201
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 2 | 2014 defendernetwork.com
sports
Race is on for SWAC football championship
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By MAX EDISION Defender he SWAC football championship will be played at NRG Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6, and the race to determine what teams will play in the championship game has never
been hotter. Many teams that experts predicted to compete are floundering, and those that are normally at the top of the standings are looking up at new leaders. Who will represent the East and West division at this point is anybody’s guess. For the past two seasons the conference’s West division has been dominant. West division champion Arkansas Pine Bluff captured the SWAC title in 2012 in an overtime thriller over Jackson State. Last year, in the first season that the championship was played in Houston, Southern turned back Jackson State in yet another overtime heart stopper. Coach Reggie Barlow works to keep his Alabama State team motivated. This season Alabama State has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the East and so far they have lived up to the hype. The Hornets boast a perfect 3-0 in conference record (4-1 overall). They recently demolished Texas Southern University 38-3. The Tigers had been 2-0 in conference SWAC play. Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow seeks to keep his team motivated toward excellence this season. “We talked about having a hungry heart, and a hungry heart is wanting more and not being satisfied with just playing well the week before, but consecutively playing well,” Barlow said. With the Hornets everything revolves around the defense led by former TSU coordinator and interim head coach Kevin Ramsey. Alcorn State running back Anthony Williams is a team standout. “I think Coach Ramsey and the defensive staff are doing a good job State atop the East. The Braves host of continuing to develop our guys,” Alabama State in a key match-up that could Barlow said. “The athletes, I think, are spending more time with the philosophy of watching more film determine the winner of the division. To tune up for the Hornets, all the Braves did was destroy the and studying their opponents a little more, and that’s defending champion Southern Jaguars 56-16. The allowing us to have success.” Braves crushed the Jaguar’s spirit with a rushing Alcorn State is currently tied with Alabama
Alabama State is the favorite to win the SWAC East division.
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What’s behind Morey and Cuban’s feud? attack that amassed 410 yards and 6 touchdowns. In the West, the entire division has been turned upside down. Currently Grambling, who was predicted to come in last in the division, is the top team with a 2-0 conference record. This was the same Grambling team that was in shambles last season and forfeited a game against Jackson State. Despite losing to Alabama State, TSU is still in prime position to win the West. The Tigers have a 2-1 conference record, good enough for second place in the West. They have only played one West division foe, Prairie View A&M University. TSU was predicted to come in next to last in the West. Defending champion Southern is tied for second in the division with TSU. Their only conference loss was to Alcorn. They have yet to face TSU and Grambling, so hope springs eternal in Baton Rouge. The biggest disappointment thus far has been PVAMU. The Panther team, predicted to come in second to Southern in the West, is currently the cellar dweller in the West with a conference mark of 0-3. All roads to the SWAC title lead to NRG Stadium in early December. The only question to be settled is who will represent the two divisions.
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h.s.zone Westside’s Dudley loves life in the trenches “When he comes and tells us how good we did and we were the reason that he scored, we get pretty happy estside offensive lineman about that. Devin Dudley has an af“I always wanted to be a linefinity for pancakes and man, that’s my dream, because touchdowns, preferably in all I see good linemen do is make that order. In “cakes” all over the place,” life on the O-line, pancakes Dudley said. “My (putting an opponent on his only job is to hit back) are the ultimate powsomebody and er move and touchdowns that’s something are the direct result. I love to do.” The 6-foot-3, Westside head 285-pound right tackle had coach Mark Byrd a buffet of both entities in said Dudley brings a recent 61-0 thrashing of an element to the District 20-6A rival Milby offensive line that the at Barnett Stadium. Wolves’ Wolves have lacked running back Loren Easly recently. rushed for 233 yards on “Devin brings 12 carries and scored six length and that’s touchdowns as Westside something we opened district play haven’t had in the with its first win of the line for awhile,” season. he said. “When “I see this game you get an athlete as a victory, but I also to play tackle it see it as a way for makes a difference. my teammates and I He’s not just a big to show what we’re body, he’s a big made of,” Dudley athlete. When you said, after begincan tie together ning the 2014 season explosion and with tough losses extension in to perennial playthe same body, Hear more from Devin Dudley off qualifiers Lamar that’s what you Consolidated, Klein and coach Mark Byrd must have for and Brenham. “It was success on the a way for us to make offensive line. a statement that we can get some things accom“He’s been able to manhandle some people on plished.” the outside,” Byrd said. “Plus, our pass protection has Westside will take on Sam Houston next at gone up since he’s been there. Devin is a solid person Delmar Stadium. The Wolves are expected to sethat comes every day ready to work.” cure one of the four playoff berths in District 20Dudley is a senior two-year starter on the Westside 6A that includes Lamar, Bellaire, Reagan, Chavez, offensive line. He’s a Cancer (June 28, 1997) who likes Milby, Sam Houston and Westbury. to bond with his teammates, hang out in the gym, do Dudley expects Easly and the other Westside his homework and get a good night’s sleep. His favorbacks to continue feasting on opposing defenses ite subject in school is math. as he and his O-line buddies dine in the trenches. Tennessee State University has already offered “Usually when we score often and I know him a scholarship in football and he wants to that I’ve done a good job because I can feel him double major in culinary arts and mathematics. (Easly) coming off my back making touchdowns, If he could solve any problem, he would rid the I get my own personal satisfaction,” Dudley said. world of crime. By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
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OCTOBER 2 | 2014 DEFENDER
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sportsbriefs Elsik back with vengeance The 2013 high school football season was a rarity for the Alief Elsik Rams. Normally a perennial playoff qualifier, Elsik slumped to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in district play. So far, Elsik has stormed out of the starting blocks in 2014 with victories over South Houston, Stratford, Fort Bend Dulles, Alief Taylor and Fort Bend Kempner. Taylor was projected to be the District 23-6A champion with Elsik earning the last playoff berth in fourth place. In a recent 32-28 conquest of Kempner, running back E. J. Davis amassed 302 rushing yards on 23 carries and scored on touchdown runs of one, 20, 82 and 47 yards to improve the Rams to 5-0 on the season, including 3-0 in district play.
La Porte tops Deer Park Neighboring rivals La Porte and Deer Park have played almost every year since 1946. For the past five years, the game has been decided by an average of 4.3 points or less. Deer Park won last year’s game in overtime. The home team had won the last eight games going into the latest chapter at standingroom-only Bulldog Stadium in La Porte. It should come as no surprise that the game was a scoreless tie at halftime and the winning touchdown was scored with 12 seconds left in regulation. Trailing by three points in the fourth quarter, La Porte put together a 66-yard drive in eight plays and James Jacobs bulled into the end zone from a yard out to secure the 10-6 victory.
Morey, Cuban feud On the eve of training camp beginning all over the NBA landscape, leave it to Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban to stir up some mess with his I-45 rival, your Houston Rockets. It seems Cuban felt it was time to stick out his chest after they overpaid for Rocket restricted free agent small forward Chandler Parsons earlier this summer. The Rockets declined to match a Maverick offer to Parsons that will pay him roughly $15 million per year. Cuban recently told a Dallas radio station it was satisfying to nab Parsons after losing out to the Rockets in the Dwight Howard sweepstakes. Cuban seems to think the Mavericks have better chemistry and thus are a better option for free agents. Rockets GM Daryl Morey disagrees. “If the money’s equal between the Rockets and Mavericks, I think players are picking Houston. Every time,” Morey said.
Goodell meets with Strong Embattled NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and league executive Troy Vincent recently met with University of Texas head coach Charlie Strong to discuss a core values program Strong has instituted at UT for his players. The five values are honesty, treating women with respect, no drugs, no stealing and no weapons. The meeting was designed to improve the NFL’s relationships with college programs. Since implementing the program in Austin, Strong has kicked nine players off the team for violations. “[Strong] is taking a stand,” Vincent said. “He made it clear that playing at Texas is a privilege, not a right.”
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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 2 | 2014
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
MUSICAL CELEBRATION…..The Gospel Heritage Month celebration was a festival of ment and implementation of scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban praise as the Gospel Music Heritage Foundation headed by chairman Carl Davis kicked off the backgrounds. Melanie Lawson served as mistress of ceremonies and the program spotlighted sixth annual “Evolution of Gospel” Awards program at Texas Southern University. It seems like SHAC Boy Scout Board Chairman Rodney Eads, SHAC Boy Scouts President Tom Varnell, it was just yesterday when Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee pushed through Congress the SHAC District Director Donnell Cooper, African-American Scouting Initiative Committee Chair designation of September as Gospel Heritage Month. The event honored the fantastic Dionne Rey Alton, and awards luncheon co-chairs Tony Council and Ricky Raven. Others attending Warwick and Houston gospel music greats the late Dr. Theola Booker of Greater St. Matthew were Young Men’s Preparatory Academy Troop 1-Color Guard (Jesus Garcia, Nahome MekonBaptist Church and the late Hanq Neal of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Under the direction nen, Joshua Pardo, Terence Boxie and Clinton Watkins), Charlie Tinsley, Clarence Nicholas, of producer Ernest Walker of Walker Entertainment Group, the show featured the combined Lionel Jenkins, Jackie Alton and Chris Holt…..YOUNG INVENTOR…..Sean Gilmore, a choirs of Greater St. Matthew, Angela Bennett, V. Michael McKay and 13-year old Houstonian, launched his new invention the “sleepover bed tent” at Stacy Johnson & Unified Praise. The icing on the cake were performances Defender TOP EVENTS Lynn Goode Vintage. The unique solution for sleeping single in a double allows More photos on defendernetwork.com you and a friend to share the same full or queen sized bed, but feel like you’re by Kurt Carr, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Gary Mayes & Nu Era, Ray See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s ‘Crossroads’ in a bed of your own. When asked what he thought of his new adventure as an Bady & Greater Houston Kingdom Movement, Javier Galvan and the with Melanie Lawson on Sunday Morning TSU Ocean of Soul band and the choir. Thanks for a spiritually upliftinventor, the eighth grader said, “It’s cool.” Sean is the son of federal Judge ing experience. Can’t wait until next year’s program……AWARDS Vanessa Gilmore, who is his only employee, and who helped file a patent for LUNCHEON…..The Sam Houston Area Council (SHAC) Boy Scouts of America held the his new invention. Congrats and good luck Sean in your new business venture. The future looks 2014 Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Awards luncheon honoring chief operating officer of Wheeler bright. Other good wishers and supporters included Anthony and Ashley Harrison, Jackie Avenue Baptist Church Maurice Carr and Texas Capital Bank. The purpose of the luncheon is to Edwards and son Reddick, Jodie Jiles, Jodie Brandon Jiles, Jerome Gray and son Chase, recognize outstanding adults or organizations for their demonstrated involvement in the developMadison Davis and Dee Parker.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
Dionne Warwick
Tom Varnell, Donnell Cooper, Melanie Lawson, Tony Council and Rodney Eads
Vanessa and Sean Gilmore with Jodie Jiles
KCOH-AM’s Michael Harris, Pastor Gusta Booker and KTSU-FM’s Charles Hudson
Rey and Jackie Alton
Jackie Edwards and son Reddick
Charles Tinsley and Clarence Nicholas
Chase and Jerome Gray
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