Houston’s Leading Black Information Source
Volume 80 Number 1
OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 3
www.defendernetwork.com
Number 47
NPR fires Juan C tackles Williams mployment
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September 16 – 22, 2010 | FREE
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By Gregory Dale Special to the Ibe NNPA from By Odochi the AFRO-American NNPA SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Newspapers (DC) ON (NNPA) - The Congressional Black Caucus is Afterjoblessness an appearanceinonthe Black community ent debilitating Fox News’ Factor between education veral sessions on the theO’Reilly connection on October 20, Legislative 2010, Naat its 40th Annual Conference (ALC). tional Public15-18 at the Walter E. Washington will be September Radio’s er. Senior W. Burris (DIll)News recently hosted a panel on “Exploring Analyst with the Federal Government.” Sen. ss Opportunities Wiladvocate Juan of looking toward the future when it comes was believes liams Americans should devote time into learning fired from aware of new jobs in the emerging s and becoming the company after ★CBC Page 3 Juan Williams claiming that By ReShonda Tate Billingsley Muslims make DEFENDER him “nervous” and “worried” on planes. www.tsu.edu/giving exas Southern University’s president has come up Williams’ comments or contact Wendy Adair with a plan he hopes will put an end to a controcame after the show’s host Bill University Advancement versy surrounding the painting over of some hisO’Reilly asked if the U.S. was Adair@tsu.edu toric murals on the campus of the historically Black unifacing a “Muslim dilemma.” versity. But some students and community members EWS SERVICE “Look Bill, tions against his relative, who’s I’m not a wonder if his contribution of $50,000 for a Preservation older than the age of 65. bigot,” Williams responded. plan is enough to undo the damage. University officials of financial Harrison faces charges of False “You know the kind of books a series of ads in support of the proposition. Renew By ReShonda Tate Billingsley say they know it’s not enough, but it’s a first step. rris County has Statement to Obtain Credit, I’ve written about the Civil Houston says as much as 80 percent of the city’s Defender “We know $50,000 isn’t enough for the whole project. for theft and Tampering with a Rights movement in this counHouston area voters will decide the outcome of a roads and drainage infrastructure is outdated. And It’s just enough to bring in a conservator to analyze the tments recently Governmental Record, Theft, try. But, when I get on the fixing it would be too expensive without a nominal controversial proposition regarding the city’s drainBen Jealous against plane, Edwin and Misapplication of I got to tell you, if I see fee added to property owners’ bills. age fee. It’s a decision that could affect nearly every ★MURALS, Page 7 from people allegaFiduciary Property. Three of who are in Muslim garb “Basically, you can go down pretty much any property owner in Houston and has divided city oftheknow, charges are first degree le from and an Ieldthink, you they street in the city and see how we really need this ficials. ecile Harrison are identifyingfelonies themselvesthat first expose Harrison proposition to pass,” said Branch.defendernetwork.com Proposition 1 calls for a fee to help pay for imsponsible for a up to 99 years in prison. and foremost as Muslims, I get or lifeprovements Proponents say the fee would raise $8 to $12 to the city’s crumbling drainage system. elated issues fourth is a state jail felony worried.inI getThe nervous.” Let 20 us know thinkthe adout the Mural Preservation billion over the next years.what It’s you money mayor Supporters hope the Proposition will alleviate the his indictments NPR announced that on Friday @ defendernetwork.com. We want to hear from you! believes Houstonians are willing to invest. Bayou City’s constant flooding problems, while opom the same allegaevening it was ending ★INDICTED, Pagesay 3 Prop 1 isn’t the answer. “Thirty-five thousand Houstonians signed a petiponents Williams’ contract with the tion saying do something about flooding in the city An age-old problem By Linn Washington Jr. company. of Houston. We can’t pass the fee until citizens deMost Houstonians know that every time it rains, Special to the NNPA from “Juan has been a valuable there is the threat of flooding. The problem is mainly cide they’re gonna pass Prop 1,” said Houston Mayor The Philadelphia Tribune contributor to NPR and public Annise Parker. because of Houston’s aging infrastructure. It needs radio for many years and we “Proposition 1 will create a dedicated, pay-asan expensive overhaul - something proponents say a The controversial resoludid not make this decision you-go fund to rebuild Houston’s streets and drainnew fee could certainly fund. tion issued by the NAACP lightly or without regret,” the age systems. I know that Houstonians need this “It’s about economic development. It’s about the this past summer calling out statement posted on the NPR city’s long-term growth,” said Theldon Branch of racism within the ranks of the website read. “However, his H PROP 1, Houston Page 3 community is remembering Renew Houston, a local group that has been running The Tea Party produced surprising remarks on The O’Reilly Imani Evans dation by city staff to extend included significant capital a longtime political results within that raging politFactor FROM were inconsistent withthe contracts of Star L TO THE NNPA investments, during a periactivist who died Sept. 11, ical/social movement, accordDALLAS EXAMINER od of uncertainty following our editorial standards and Concessions and Hudson 2010. Beulah Shepard, ing to the head of America’s the 9/11 terror attacks ultipractices, and undermined hisRetail Sales - two firms with 89, made her markoldest both civil rights organization, NPA) - The arcane of ties to prominent mately failed to carry the credibility as aworld news analyst locally and nationally as a Benjamin Jealous. they are being funded by the Super of the Southern Christian LeadBy Isaac Adul Haqq ons contracts has been laid Democrats, including State argument. with NPR.” tireless fighter for civil Special to the NNPA from The National Tea Party Rich who have been promised $4 ership Conference. “The pediIn the three years since me, what theyWilliams, see isn’t56,pretty. who also Rep. Helen Giddings and rights prove and political jus- Mark Williams, the The Los Angeles Sentinel ejected Trillion Dollars in tax cuts for grees of their candidates it. the council first embarked sometimes heated discussion, U.S. Congresswoman Eddie serves as a political commentatice. chairman of the pivotal Tea their support by theon GOP. TheseFieldThe GOP is running Saboteurs, ed city torcouncil votedoutraged 8-7 Bernice Johnson - without a its Love modernHelen Eddie Bernice for FOX News, Funeral services will beExpress, for making In a stunning display of bigParty Tea Party Republicans are directly Satanists, Scientologists, and l that would have givengroups more andcompetitive bid. ization plan, the concesGiddings Johnson Muslim advocacy held at 10am at Galilee otry and viciousness, powerful outrageouslyBeaulah racist remarks, attacking Blacks, Latinos, This is just like the oncession space in a renovatsions women contractsSurvivalists. have liberal commentators who de- The essence of the city MBC, 6616 D.S. Bailey Shepard Republicans are raising millions another important tea party and gays--and they are winning Nazis in Depression Era Germany rminal tomanded the airport’s current staff recommendation that the no-bid contracts emerged as by far the most contentious issue, his ouster. According Lane. Pastor Edwin ofappropriate dollars to support an extreme entity issued an anti-racist votes in the process. attacking the Jews,” he said. ut a competitive bid for a would be given the incumbents’ and have led to accusations of political to CBS News.com, conserDavis, officiating.statement Interment: Houston crop GOP candidates for the dis- favoritism and that move“The Republicans are panderAt first, many pundits thought years. vative bloggers deemed the experience, theofdesirability of minimizing on both sides. mid-term elections. They are ment began showcasing ing to the most primitive elements that the GOP was simply disorgaruptions during the renovation and the busie of some long-time council ★SHEPARD, Page 4 incident political correctness called “Tea Party Candidates,”which and of their base,” said Rev. Eric Lee uncil overruled a recommenness risks taken by the incumbents, ★AIRPORT CONTRACTS, Page 4 spiraling out of control. H REPUBLICANS, Page 3 H NAACP, Page 4 H WILLIAMS, Page 8
nty financial ctor indicted
Save the TSU Murals
Prop. 1
T Debate
NAACP reports on Tea Party
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rport contracts divide Dallas City Council in Race debate
REMEMBERING
Beulah Shepard
Republicans depend on low minority turnout
INTERVIEW
The Devine Miss Kickin’ back withLoretta K’Naan
By Morgan Lynch Defender: What was it like growing up in LD: God, I broke in so long ago, these kids are butions by the likes of Damian Marley, Mos Def, Chali Defender By Kam Williams Houston and how did it impact2na, your Kirk career? breaking in all on their own. [laughs] Everything is Hammett of Metallica and Adam Levine of CONTRIBUTING oretta Devine is known for her effervescent WRITER00 LD: (laughs) I grew up in a largeMaroon household5.of five done differently now. I mean there’s so many ways personality, infectious laugh and commitment sisters and one brother. It was a single-parent home be discoveredthe now.Western They’re using the Internet During his earlytochildhood, music, which The name alone of often had to work double duty to herSomalia. craft. But the Houston native fromconjures the andup myimages grandmother and there are new reality shows that all the“Bob kids are reached K’naan’s ears was pretty much limited to unbridled destruction, ruthless Acres Home area says she’s just merciless an ordinary warlords while my and mother worked. It was Marley hard but itand neverTracy felt on. But, it all comes back down to loving your Chapman,” until at 10, he became gift, from atrocities woman. terror. A place where nobody is safe hard. I wasthe lucky to have been able to go to college studying and going to schoolfrom to learn how tocar do fascinated by the hip-hopit,being emitting a tiny and where eight year AK-47s like Yet, anyoneof whowar, knows Loretta Devine, knows she’solds handle at the University of Houston and speaker. then to Brandeis it. That gives you longevity and that’s what I would “I had heard a rap verse, but I had no idea what WhenAForbes magazine unveiled anythingtoys. but ordinary. fact that will once againrecently University to get their my MFA. Barbara Marshall wasthen,” an advise any young person to do is to study and to hone it was back he recalls. “Mostas Dangerous Destinations,” be proven the talented thespian prepares for Somalia, incredible above influenceIraq as well as a theater when and theirhis talents. It’s best never friends as easy aswere it appears to be no At teacher 14, K’naan three attacked and Afghanistan, the list. But it’s also “The her latest release in “For topped Colored Girls,” I was growing up. And, I had highbyschool teachers just one matter it is. Andindelible to realize that they’re wanting warlords, ofwhat countless images for Nation ofTyler Poets,” inspire peace directed by Perry. where a poem can thatboth inspired me as well. be in something that there are just a few slots at a the impressionabletoteenager. Having chased them and end wars. Loretta sat down with the Defender Defender: Houston is becoming the hubthe to streetstime. So, it’s a very competitive field. through of Mogadishu, eventually cornering Growing up,new it was both Somalias thatlike you, Yolanda Adams, to talk about the project, basedof thesesome big names made you want to do this the boys in an alley,Defender: the menWhat began shooting. K’naan informed Warsame, who and is Beyonce. For young on Ntozakemusician/emcee Shange’s iconic playK’naan “For George Foreman, What do you think of Tyler Perry and his avoided injury, butfilm? his three friends were brutally forging path via apeople unique blend reg- who are looking to Coloredhis Girlsown Who musical Have Considered from your of hometown interpretation of this Obie Award winning gunned down. gae, funk, pop, soul and, above hip-hop. Recorded Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf” (in all,breakout in the industry what advice would youit was only a matter of time before her Certain that primarily Kingston, Marley’s home theaters onin November 5th). Jamaica at Bob give them? H LORETTA, Page 2 studio, his second album, “Troubadour,” includes contri★K’NAAN, Page 2
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