Blacks & Thanksgiving To celebrate or not
NEWS
KIM OGG
OBIT
The Harris County DA is in the midst of drama that could jeopardize her maintaining her seat.
Volume 93, issue 3 November 16, 2023
MS. CHAG
Friends and family are mourning the community icon, Yvette Chargois, who died at age 81.
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DN To the POINT
Let’s celebrate our veterans 365 days a year.
Message from the Associate Editor VETERANS DAZE
by the GOP. Protecting cities we control Yeah, I know; Veterans Day 2023 has politically is like our last line of defense come and gone. And so has all the overagainst anti-democratic, apartheid-style the-top veteran love. Happens every year. rule in Harris County. With just 20% of Every commercial, every professional and eligible Black voters showing up, we can college sporting event, every news talking protect this house. If we dared get 30-50% head and every politician shares live or Black voter turnout, we’d win every local recorded or posted words of support for and state election. We should be embarU.S. veterans on Veterans Day. Then afterrassed about that 17% number. We can ward… silence. That’s symbolic of the party do better. We must. And we have a shot at of supposed patriotism – the GOP. They’ve redemption on Dec. 9. Aswad Walker branded themselves protectors of veterans, but their voting record shows the exact MISSING MS. CHAG opposite. At the national and state levels, across the country, When I joined the Defender family, Ms. Chag was still Democrats, who Republicans always label as “un-American,” doing “Chag’s Place” on a weekly basis. As the new kid, Ms. constantly push for better veteran healthcare, efforts to end Chag welcomed me immediately with open arms. When veteran homelessness, veteran job assistance programs, etc. she retired, I was one of the folk asked to take over covAnd every time, their efforts are shot down by Republicans. ering events in Houston. And every event I covered I was Don’t believe me. Look it up for yourself. As a nation, we guaranteed to have someone come up to me and ask, “Hey, need to decide: Are we gonna keep being all pomp and no where’s Ms. Chag? I thought this was her beat.” I’m talking circumstance regarding veterans, or are we gonna actually years and years after she retired, folk were still expecting and treat them via laws and policies in a way that reflects all wanting to see the legendary Ms. Chag. Even after she left the rhetoric? the Defender, we kept in contact via Facebook. She cheered on my family successes and mourned our losses. She often 17% shared notes of support for various articles or editorials I According to Nov. 2023 Houston/Harris County election wrote that she really liked. The fact that this living legend stats, only 17% of eligible Black voters voted. That means was taking the time out of her day to read my words was more than eight out of 10 eligible Black voters didn’t cast victory enough. But to also receive her words of praise, was a ballot. At a season when white nationalists, who stand just icing on the cake. I could literally feel her infectious opposed to every issue Blackfolk care about and who are energy through her posts. I’m gonna miss that. I’m gonna in the minority in terms of voting numbers, are using devi- miss Ms. Chag. ous measures to block criminal justice reform, gun reform, universal healthcare, student loan forgiveness, etc. on the ON THE WEB federal and state levels, our only real protection is controlling • Megan Thee Stallion talks mental health, depression. local politics. Because the nation’s largest cities are “blue,” • Black Star brings soccer platform to local Black youth. including Houston, they avoided much (though not all) of • Get the latest updates on Houston-area HS Football the hyper-conservative, white nationalist policies enacted playoffs.
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DN News
Rodney Ellis pushes equitable college funding Defender News Service
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg holds up photos of a robbery suspect during a 2022 press conference,
DRAMA IN HARRIS COUNTY
Kim Ogg, Lina Hidalgo at odds By ReShonda Tate
selected randomly, responding to jury duty. All three defendants were indicted.” Hidalgo claims the search warrants against her former staffers were part of what she said was Ogg’s political vendetta against her. “They’ve not been found guilty of anything because they’re not guilty of anything,” Hidalgo said. “This is just the Hidalgo Drama same dirty politics she’s been playing at The issue with Lina Hidalgo started for years.” after the Texas Rangers executed search Ogg adamantly disputes those claims. warrants in public corruption cases “Recognizing that investigations into involving three former staffers public officials are essential for in Hidalgo’s Office. These the checks and balances of our indicted cases concern alledemocracy, I remain steadgations of improperly steerfast in my commitment to ing a taxpayer-funded $11 upholding the oath of office million COVID outreach and ensuring fair treatment project to a “preferred” venfor everyone. It is a prosecudor in violation of the law tor’s oath to go beyond seekregarding the awarding of such ing convictions; our work is about Lina county government contracts. Hidalgo ensuring that justice is served. I According to the warrants, which am resolute in my commitment are public information, the Texas Rang- to ensuring that no one receives special ers are investigating allegations of miss- treatment based on their societal posiing or destroyed evidence. tion, political power, race, gender, or any “The Texas Rangers, an independently other unrelated factor. There will be no created law enforcement agency, report political intimidation of law enforcement to their own chain of command, which agents or prosecutors under my leaderis not the District Attorney’s Office nor ship,” Ogg said. its prosecutors,” Ogg said. “The investigation was presented to a Harris County Admonishment from her party Grand Jury, comprised of residents A petition asking for the district Harris County’s district attorney is up for reelection next year, but drama including an ongoing fight with County Attorney Lina Hidalgo and admonishment from her own party - could make the fight to hold onto her seat even more difficult.
attorney’s admonishment has so far been signed by more than 80 of the 549 Democratic precinct chairs throughout the county. The measure is up for discussion at the party’s steering committee meeting on Nov. 30 for inclusion on the agenda of the county executive committee meeting in December, according to Mike Doyle, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party. “Here’s the big takeaway: until it goes through the process, it’s not a party statement or a party decision,” Doyle said. Ogg is up for reelection next year and facing off against former prosecutor Sean Teare, who’s been endorsed by County Judge Lina Hidalgo, in the Democratic primary bid for district attorney in March 2024. According to Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston., an admonishment from her own party wouldn’t affect Ogg’s current job or punish her in any way, but may likely hurt her chances at maintaining her seat. “The Democratic Party certainly has a lot of sway,” Rottinghaus said. “If you combine this possible sanction with the endorsement from Judge Hidalgo of Sean Teare, then it’s possible that this will mean that the DA will lose some support among Democratic circles and really, that’s where she needs to be strong at this point.”
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis is calling for the State of Texas to take immediate action to rectify the funding disparities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and higher education institutions serving Latinos. Ellis recently issued a resolution calling on Governor Greg Abbott to add Prairie View A&M University funding to the Legislature’s current special session in compliance with Pres. Joe Biden Administration’s warning that the state is over $1.1 billion in arrears to the land-grant university. It also asks Abbott’s administration to conduct Rodney Ellis a broader review of funding policies at both public HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions to address any continuing discrimination. “This resolution seeks to address ongoing neglect and possible racially discriminatory funding policies of our Historically Black Colleges and Prairie View Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions,” Ellis said. “It appears there Texas Southern also are ongoing fundUniversity ing disparities with Texas’s other HBCU, Texas University Southern University, and of Houston possibly some Hispanic Downtown Ser ving Institutions such as the University of Houston-Downtown.” *Since 2009 By abandoning its financial responsibilities to these institutions, Ellis says the state may be violating its obligations under an agreement Texas signed to address continuing segregation in its funding decisions. In 2001, the resolution states, the Texas Legislature and governor first appropriated an additional $50 million to Prairie View and TSU as part of the Texas Agreement reached the previous year “in an effort to eliminate vestiges of historic discrimination.” However, since the 2010-2011 biennium, five general revenue appropriations at those institutions have remained stagnant while those to the flagship universities have ballooned. “In recognizing the dire financial situation of our HBCUs, this resolution demands an urgent response from state leaders,” stated Ellis. “The data portrays a distressing decline in state investment for these institutions, impacting the educational opportunities provided by Prairie View, Texas Southern, and the University of Houston-Downtown.”
5%
14.6% 15%
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DN News 1917 REBELLION
Camp Logan Soldiers granted clemency By Aswad Walker
On Nov. 13, 110 deceased members of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry who had been convicted during the nation’s largest mass court-martial trial in the aftermath of the Camp Logan rebellion on Aug. 23, 1917, had their convictions set aside and were granted honorable discharges. For many in attendance at the ceremony, held at the National Buffalo Soldiers Museum, it was a fitting and long overdue acknowledgment of the wrongs done to these Black Buffalo Soldiers who were wrongly convicted, with 19 of them hanged, for responding to the ongoing white domestic terrorism they and Houston’s Black civilian population were forced to continually endure. “In 1917, in the midst of a world at war, our nation bore witness to a great travesty; a tragedy that has taken over a century to address,” said U.S. Congressman Al Green, who acknowledged attendees who were descendants of these Camp Logan soldiers, including Professor Angela Holder, whose great uncle was Cpl. Jesse Ball Moore, and attorney Jason Holt, whose great-uncle was Pvt. 1st Class TC Hawkins. During the program, the U.S. Army officially committed to address and redress these wrongs. Gabe Camarillo, the 35th Under Secretary for the Army, laid out three specific things his institution is doing to restore the honor of the members of “3/24.”
Jason Holt addresses attendees. Screenshot courtesy KHOU.
Soldiers on trial in the fall of 1917 sit under guard at Fort Sam Houston. The building they were in is now known as the Gift Chapel. Two other trials were held in a different building, a gymnasium, in 1918. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army.
“First, the Amry hereby sets aside all 110 court-martial convictions of 3/24 soldiers stemming from the events of Aug. 23, 1917,” said Camarillo. “Second, we direct the correction of military records to show honorable discharge for the 95 soldiers of 3/24 not restored to duty. “Third and finally, in partnership with the VA, we’ve established a mechanism to deliver survivor benefits to families long denied the financial resources owed to them,” he added, addressing the generational monetary wrong done to the soldiers’ surviving kin. The fact that this move is coming over 100 years after the fact is a hard pill for
many to swallow, but it is consistent with past moments when major U.S. institutions acknowledge past injustices perpetrated upon its Black citizens. Matthew Quinn, the 17th Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs for the Department for Veterans Affairs, informed attendees that the VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) will correctly acknowledge and memorialize the service to our nation of the 17 members of the 3/24 interred at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. “They have been interred there for more than a century, but their historical headstones
make no mention of their Army service,” said Quinn, alluding to the practice of the time to keep headstone information to a minimum for soldiers convicted of a crime. “Now, with the Army setting aside these convictions and upgrading the discharges, NCA is ready to… provide new headstones with the same amount of information that every veteran is entitled to.” He added that the VA will do whatever possible to also properly memorialize those soldiers not interred in the National Cemetery. Additionally, through the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM), the NCA’s online platform to recognize and preserve the legacies of veterans, personal memorial pages are now live online for the 17 Buffalo Soldiers interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Visit www.va.gov/remember for more information.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY STUDY
Racism stems from perceived threat, not dislike Defender News Service
A new study shows that racism seems to originate from individuals perceiving Black Americans as a potential threat, and not from dislike. According to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, a study titled “Danger or Dislike: Distinguishing Threat from Negative Valence as Sources of Automatic Anti-Black Bias” uncovered that anti-Black bias among white Americans is influenced, in part, by seeing Black men as a threat. In lab studies, when presented with options such as “shoot,” whites tend to make faster decisions to shoot armed targets and are slower not to hit unarmed Black targets — a finding that also applied to Black participants. Recent tragedies in the news have underscored the deadly effects of anti-Black racism, especially in interactions with law enforcement. Studies show that police use force against Black people at a disproportionately higher rate than other racial groups. The research findings supplement previous beliefs about racial bias, emphasizing the significance of grasping the nuances in how individuals unconsciously perceive various races in America. “I suggested that many instances of anti-Black bias, like shooter bias, may be more strongly driven by a danger rather than negative association. That is, instead of
READ MORE ABOUT THE STUDY FINDINGS
VOLUME 93, NUMBER 3 - NOVEMBER 16, 2023
The study uncovers that anti-Black bias among white Americans comes from seeing Black men as a threat.
dislike, the underlying problem might be [a] threat,” said study author David S. March. “So, I wanted to test if white Americans implicitly process Black individuals as a survival threat and/or in terms of negativity.” Researchers performed five studies to examine the fundamental reasons for anti-Black bias. March said the studies reveal a consistent pattern indicating that white Americans instinctively connect Black men with the concept of threat.
Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho
Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles
Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison
Digital Content Manager Get Current Studios Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Associate Editor Aswad Walker
Social Media Jordan Hockett Ad Executive Jodie B. Jiles
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2023 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288
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Making Spirits Bright for Houston Area Children The Houston Fire Department will be spreading holiday joy by collecting and distributing toys during its annual Operation Stocking Stuffer event on Saturday, December 16. Thousands of families will be able to partake in creating lasting memories, as Houstonians express their gift of generosity. Shell in the USA is proud to sponsor this event because moving forward with everyone means moving forward within communities that support each other.
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DN News NEWS TO KNOW
CITY BUYING MORE GUNS FROM CITIZENS
A firearms expert takes guns from a vehicle during the Houston Gun Buyback Program on July 30, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jimmie Aggison/ Houston Defender)
Kendrick Wilder
Devon Elliott Rhodes
Prairie View A&M shooting victim remembered
The nonprofit group that administers the test reported that Texans scored 19.3 out of a perfect score of 36 for the average composite score, just slightly behind the national average. Compared to other large states, Texas’s high school graduates’ average composite scores ranked higher than Florida’s at 18.9 but lower than California’s at 25.7 and Alaska’s at 20.2. The scores reflect the most recent indication of how the COVID19 pandemic impacted students. Students in the class of 2023 whose scores were reported were in their first year of high school when the virus reached the U.S. According to data obtained by Axios, the state average composite score has dropped by 1.6 points in the last nine years.
An employee at Prairie View A&M University who was shot and killed by a former co-worker at the university’s farm has been identified as 31-year-old Hempstead native Kendrick Wilder. Police say former employee Devon Elliott Rhodes went to the Governor Bill and Vera Daniels Farm and Ranch on Nov. 13. The two men reportedly had previously worked together and had “conflicts” in the last few months. Rhodes was fired three months ago and returned to campus where police say he shot Wilder multiple times in the back. In addition to being an employee of the university, Wilder was a husband, a father of four children, and a Prairie View alumnus. Additionally, Wilder was a coach of the non-profit youth football team, the Waller Pee Wee Bulldogs. Rhodes was out on a $100 bond on a separate, unrelated charge in Harris County at the time of the shooting. Report: Texas students aren’t making the grade
Class of 2023 Texas high school graduates scored lower on the ACT college entrance exam than previous classes, according to a report by the nonprofit organization ACT.
City buying more guns from citizens
The city of Houston will hold its fifth gun buyback event on Sat., Nov. 18 at the Westchase Park and Ride. The buy-back program is part of the One Safe Houston initiative the city launched in 2021 to decrease violent crime. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the program is an opportunity for people to voluntarily get rid of firearms. Officials say the buyback program also helps prevent accidental shootings and reduces the likelihood of stolen guns. According to city
TEXAS STUDENTS AREN’T MAKING THE GRADE officials, the last buyback event collected a record number of over 1,400 firearms in June. Turner said Houston Police Department volunteers will also be distributing 400 gun safes at the event. He said the city will have $170,000 worth of gift cards to be distributed to those who turn in a firearm. The city has spent a total of $77 million on the One Safe Houston initiative, according to Turner. The initiative was first funded from federal dollars through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Turner said the funds for the initiative should last through 2024 or 2025.The buyback event will go from 8 a.m. to noon. Texas Children’s Hospital closing centers serving low-income families
Texas Children’s Hospital is closing both of its Houston healthcare centers dedicated to serving low-income families. The Greenspoint facility at 700 North Sam Houston
Parkway West will be closing Dec. 1, and the other center at 9700 Bissonnet St. Suite 1000 W – which already has stopped accepting new patients – will close June 30, 2024. Both centers exclusively serve patients with medical coverage through the Texas Children’s Health Plan, which is available to those who qualify for Medicaid or the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The facilities offer a range of healthcare services for children and women, including pregnancy care, dentistry, optometry, speech therapy, behavioral health services and a pharmacy. A Texas Children’s spokesperson said the closures are necessary because they “identified an opportunity to create a different paradigm and care model that will improve the quality of care and patient experience as well as expand the access we provide to not only the special population of our Health Plan families but to all our patients and families.”
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DN InFocus THANKSGIVING
Healthy alternatives to soul food By Laura Onyeneho
Soul food is cherished by many in the Black community and holds a rich history that traces its origins back to the homeland of once free Africans. Picture the harrowing voyage of our enslaved kin, a journey from the coast of Africa to America on slave ships, where African culinary traditions intertwined with Western culture, birthing the meals that grace our tables today. From one generation to another, the nutritional richness and health benefits of ancestral food have slowly become a silent contributor to the elevated prevalence of chronic diseases among Black Americans, surpassing rates observed in other racial groups. Before you dust off your treasured cooking book ahead of Thanksgiving, it’s crucial to grasp how soul food has evolved over the years. Equally important is understanding the imperative need for healthier cooking alternatives to tantalize our taste buds and increase our lifespans and overall well-being. History of Soul Food
Soul food originated during slavery. It traders to sustain the enslaved during the started in the Deep South, mainly Alabama, middle passage. One-pot recipes such as Georgia, and Mississippi. Low-quality food jambalaya, reminiscent of West African rations were given to the enslaved, such as jollof rice, have become staples in African pigs’ feet, intestines, ham hocks, hog jowls, cooking. African yams were a staple that and pork necks. The enslaved turned these was no longer accessible, so sweet potatoes scraps into meals out of survival, and those became a suitable substitute in meals. dishes evolved and expanded across the U.S. by Black migrants who left the south during Crisis in Black communities the Great Migration. Bruce said the health issues plaguing the Dr. Marino Bruce, director of the Uni- Black community are more of a larger sociversity of Houston Population Health, said etal problem than equating soul food as the soul food’s evolution during problem. the dark period of slavery had “Today, there are other factors unintended consequences. that contribute to obesity, high “Many adaptations,” he cholesterol, and hypertension,” he explained, “were born out of said. “Lack of affordable grocery necessity and often required stores, poor dieting, and lack of the use of cheaper, less nutriexercise are just a few challenges tious ingredients. The result to address.” TIPS TO was a cuisine that sacrificed According to an American MAKE YOUR the inherent health benefits of Heart Association report, African CUISINE traditional African foods for Americans live shorter lives due to HEALTHIER the sake of sustenance.” cardiac issues. These issues were attributed to stress and poor dietThe African Connection ing that leaned heavily toward greasy foods. Critics argue that Black Southern Cui“If you don’t live near a full-service grosine defies the unhealthy stereotypes often cery store and you go to the corner market, associated with its history. The connection it might not have the refrigeration or proper between Southern cuisine and Africa has storage, and so you’re paying for a product deep roots. Staples like yams, black-eyed that may not last,” said Dr. Bettina Beech, peas, collard greens and okra originated in chief population health officer at the Unithe motherland. versity of Houston. “The easiest thing to do Okra became an ingredient in gumbo, is to buy cheaper items that lack nutritional often fried in the Deep South. The least value.” desired cuts of pork, including feet, interBeech also highlights often overlooked nal organs, and the head, were given to the factors in health disparities discussions. enslaved. “There is the mindfulness piece. Are peoRice was taken from Africa by slave ple stressed when we’re coming to the table?
All of that plays a big role in metabolism,” she said. “How we feel about food and how we control our behavior is a factor, as well.” Enjoy healthier alternatives
African Heritage Diet programs are sweeping the nation, empowering Black communities to embrace their culinary heritage. These initiatives go beyond education, offering cooking classes and resources to facilitate a transition to healthier eating habits while celebrating the cultural significance of food. Abundant vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and lean proteins characterize this dietary approach. It consciously minimizes processed foods, added sugars, and unhealthy fats, aligning with key recommendations for a balanced, heart-healthy diet. Veganism has taken center stage in Black Southern Cuisine. Pew Research Center survey shows that eight percent of Black Americans identify as strict vegans or vegetarians, compared to just three percent of
the general population. This shift towards vegan diets within the Black community is not merely a dietary choice but a cultural alignment with traditional soul food, incorporating foods and cooking techniques rooted in African-American cultures and traditions. Houston has more than 20 vegan restaurants. As individuals redefine their dietary preferences, more Black-owned vegan establishments, from restaurants to food trucks, are emerging. These enterprises are reshaping perceptions of vegan food while providing consumers with various healthy dishes good enough to make the cut this Thanksgiving. “When we talk about diets, it sounds restrictive. The first thing I think about is what I can’t have,” Beech said. “It’s about lifestyle change. How we talk about nutrition and ways of medication can have a big impact on our mental wellbeing and how we approach our level of receptivity for making the kinds of changes needed.”
CLASSIFIED The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD will be accepting proposals for the following: Community Psychiatric Hospital Beds Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org beginning Monday, November 20, 2023. The Harris Center utilizes Bonfire for their solicitations https:// theharriscenter.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities . Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Thursday, November 30, 2023. Proposals must be submitted by 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 14, 2023. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The Harris Center reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
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DN InFocus
5 Blacks & Thanksgiving
COMMENTARY
REASONS BLACKFOLK SHOULD CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING
By Aswad Walker
The mainstream version of Thanksgiving is a lie that promotes the myth of white supremacy. That fairy tale ignores the utter ignorance, ineptitude and incompetence of those early colonists, who were on the verge of death, and had to resort to cannibalism just to semi-survive. The whitewashed telling of this story also deletes the absolute arrogance and savagery those colonizers displayed by repaying the indigenous folk who literally saved their lives (via teaching them survival skills) by stealing their land, killing off most of them and displacing the rest. So, I completely understand the army of Blackfolk and others who want nothing to do with the late November tradition known as Thanksgiving. That said, hear me out on why we SHOULD celebrate Thanksgiving.
To celebrate or not
W
By ReShonda Tate
hen it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving, Black folks have a mixed reaction to partaking in a holiday to commemorate the colonial Pilgrims’ harvest meal that they shared with Wampanoag Indians (especially since there are questions about whether the meal was originally intended to be shared). Some African Americans are choosing to skip the holiday altogether, while others have chosen to reframe the day as a time to spend with family and reflect on all the things they’re thankful for.
STOP GIVING COLONIZERS CREDIT THEY DON’T DESERVE Rejecting Thanksgiving based off the BS, fairy tale version they indoctrinated us with during our youth, at its core, gives colonizers a credit they absolutely don’t deserve. It suggests they invented or created the idea of giving thanks. Y’all know they didn’t (more on that later). Just like they didn’t form and found Christianity. Just like they didn’t invent a gazillion inventions they stole credit for because it was against the law for centuries to give patents to Blackfolk. Just like they didn’t create New Age religion/spirituality or yoga or countless other things they act like they invented, even though the world’s people of color gifted them to the planet. Let’s stop giving them credit they don’t deserve.
THE THANKSGIVING MYTH Americans were generally taught that the first Thanksgiving holiday was about a peaceful breaking of bread between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans in 1621. In reality, it was more like an unexpected meeting between New England colonists who were out hunting, and members of the Wampanoag tribe who showed up to investigate the ruckus. A shared feast followed over the next few days, and a treaty was sealed between the two groups. What’s often left out of the story, however, is that for the next 50 years, the alliance was tested by colonial land expansion, the spread of disease, and the exploitation of the Wampanoag tribe’s resources. When the treaty ended with King Phillips’ war in 1675, hundreds of colonists and thousands of Native Americans were killed. BLACKS AND THANKSGIVING About the same time the Native Americans were being massacred by the colonists, Africans were being captured and brought to America. President Abraham Lincoln established the Thanksgiving holiday in 1863, right after he approved the Emancipation Proclamation. Thanksgiving used to be a time when enslaved individuals would frequently attempt to escape, because it was the end of the crop season. It also offered slaves respite from their grueling work. In some instances, family members who had been separated could go visit each other on neighboring plantations. Now, Thanksgiving can still provide relief
from day to day oppression to Black and marginalized people. It’s often the one time of year that family can reunite with those who are far away. It can be a place of safety from the often hostile interactions with the white world, and a break from cultural acceptability performance. Thanksgiving celebrations fortify the bonds of communion sorely needed among humans, especially marginalized communities. We asked readers their thoughts on celebrating Thanksgiving. “The Pilgrims have never been a part of the ritual that I became accustomed to. I didn’t actually know that there was a pilgrim connection to the specific holiday until much
older in school and then I realized, ‘Oh, that Thanksgiving is the same Thanksgiving that my family used as an opportunity to thank God for all that we had, and pray to God for all the things that will come and to be thankful for all those things.’ So, in my household even now it has nothing to do with the Pilgrims,” said Eric Jamal. Most say they do not think about the history of Thanksgiving while celebrating. “I reframe it to make it my own,” said Cynthia Nelson. “I know it was the start of genocide, but now it’s the time of the year that families get together.” “It’s always been about family and food.
I think we’ve always KNOWN and just tolerated school rituals, performances, etc. My twins were in daycare when we did the last ‘First Thanksgiving’ performance, but we always told them the truth,” added Nicole Bird-Faulkner. “My family has never, ever, ever celebrated Thanksgiving in any way other than a time to gather and give thanks to the Lord. It doesn’t have anything to do with the colonizers and their ultimate genocide,” said Gina Torres.
“It’s my favorite holiday of the year. We combine three families together and we eat, play bingo (my cousin gives out the best cheap prizes we often fight for) and we also play cards. Just our time to be together to laugh, talk trash and be thankful for being together,” said Leslie Harden. While the day has since evolved in many ways for the Black community, many still use it as a day to give thanks and be grateful for family and loved ones.
More readers weigh in on how they celebrate Thanksgiving.
DON’T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER I understand rejecting the value system of a colonizing people. But rejecting the notion of Thanksgiving is like throwing out the baby with the bathwater. We can “Just Say No” to the white nationalist propaganda version of the “first Thanksgiving” without also rejecting the act of giving thanks. THANKSGIVING (GRATEFULNESS) IS A SUPERPOWER Without going into the science of it, gratefulness (giving thanks) offers proven
mind, body and spirit benefits. There are thousands of articles on this subject you can check out at your leisure. And they all show that you are better individually and we are better collectively when we live and move in a space of gratefulness and thanksgiving. For many, when they reject the holiday of Thanksgiving they also turn their backs on the spiritual practice of giving thanks and being grateful. Doing so allows colonizers to steal even more from us than they’ve already pilfered. WE HAVE MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR Despite all that has been done in attempts to defile, destroy and demean Black people, still we rise. Not only were we (via our ancestors) the givers of religion, art, science and civilization to the world, we’ve had every dastardly deed known to humanity perpetrated upon us, yet we still built America. European powers wouldn’t exist without our gifts. WE INVENTED THE NOTION OF GIVING THANKS As alluded to already, Mr. and Mrs. Colonizer did not invent the spiritual practice of giving thanks. We did. In fact, every culture founded by people of color had their versions of “Thanksgiving.” African nations often referred to these practices as the “Festival of First Fruits,” which is literally what Kwanzaa means. But Black, Latinx and Asian folk have always taken time out of their lives to offer up thanks to God and the ancestors for various blessings. These communal gatherings of “thanksgiving” often happened after crops were harvested. Community members
thanked the creator for blessing them with the food needed to nourish their minds and bodies. Our people gave thanks after births, during and after weddings and at funerals, thanking God and the ancestors for the time spent with and contributions made by those who made their transitions. And since we all know all humanity traces its roots to Africa, and folks like us never had a problem uttering the words “Thank you, Lord.” BONUS REASON And when you think about it, when Blackfolk (conscious/progressive or not) celebrate Thanksgiving, we’re not gathering in our homes and re-enacting the Barry Goldwater-Richard Nixon-Snow WhiteJerry Farwell version of events; we’re celebrating family and friends. We’re gathering together in fellowship and community. We’re joining hands and lifting up words of thanks for what the Creator and/or our loved ones have done for us. We’re recalling the blessings that flowed our way over the past year. We’re thanking Spirit for those of our family who made their transition and remembering them fondly. We’re offering words of joy about the new babies born, graduations witnessed, knots tied, promotions gained, businesses started, illnesses overcome, and any number of additional miracles and praise reports. Ain’t “nare” Black family I know saying a “got-damn” thing about pilgrims. Rather, every Black family I know is participating in one of the most ancient of African rituals – fellowshipping over a good meal and recalling our blessings. And yes, we need to count our blessings every day. But, let’s not boycott the one day most folk actually do it.
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DN Education DISTRICT OF INNOVATION
HISD on the cusp of big changes By Amaka Watson
HISD is on the brink of achieving “District of Innovation” (DOI) status as the District Advisory Committee approved the final draft of the DOI plan on Nov 14. The district is edging closer to joining the ranks of more than 960 school districts in Texas with this designation. Superintendent Mike Miles highlighted its significance, emphasizing that HISD, the largest district in Texas, stands out as one of the few without DOI status. He believes this move signifies Houston’s commitment to prioritizing students’ best interests, reflecting a cultural shift in the community and transformative work within HISD. The crucial vote is scheduled during the board meeting on Dec. 14. If approved, HISD will gain various flexibilities, including starting the school year as early as the first Monday in August. The proposed changes also include an expansion of the school year’s duration and the option to hire uncertified teachers without annual waivers from the Texas Education Agency. Additionally, the plan seeks flexibility in
HISD Superintendent Mike Miles speaks to a room full of parents and educators at Pugh Elementary School discussing NES plan. Credit: Jimmie Aggison
determining the minimum attendance requirement for class credit for eligible high school students.
The 60-member District Advisory Committee, consisting of educators, community members, and public education advocates,
was pivotal in advancing the DOI plan. Comprising one-third of appointments from the superintendent, one-third from the school board, and one-third of elected members, the committee reflected a diverse representation. The DOI status, established by the Texas Legislature in 2015, offers traditional public school districts the flexibility akin to open-enrollment Texas charter schools. This local control empowers districts to tailor their operations to the specific needs of students and staff. HISD, currently without this designation, would join the majority of Texas school districts in embracing the framework. At present, only HISD and Cypress Fairbanks are the only two Houston-area districts without it. Miles announced additional community engagement with the initiation of monthly briefings called “Straight to the Source,” starting on Nov. 15. These briefings aim to enhance communication and transparency within the HISD community about the District’s progress toward his Destination 2035 goals.
November 16, 2023 |
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DN Op-Ed BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS—A MATTER OF SUPPORT, NOT ABILITY
Dr. Quentin Wright
Speaks as President, Lone Star College-Houston North OP-ED
In 2022, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies released a report titled The State of Black Students at Community Colleges. This report was one of the most insightful reports that I’ve read on this subject in my twenty years in higher education. The authors discussed many concerning findings with Black students including the 18 percent decline in enrollment from this student group during the pandemic, the 11 percent graduation rate gap between Black and White students during this same period, and the pre-pandemic transfer rate that was below 30 percent. One of the more surprising findings was how Black students fared in their careers after graduation. According to this report, Black community college graduates earned $2,000 less than white workers with just a high school diploma. As difficult as it was to read these disparities, what I appreciated the most about this report were the recommendations noted in the conclusion section. Two of the ideas suggested included improving access to basic needs and childcare services. It was noted that 70 percent of Black students experience food insecurity and 27 percent of Black student parents have earned college credit without completing a degree. This focus on removing barriers, as opposed to simply better preparing the students, implied one very important point---that Black student success is often not an ability issue, but a structural one. As one of my former supervisors and mentors told me many years ago, “If students are not successful at our institutions, it may not be them. It may be us.” I have found truth in this concept at Lone Star College-Houston North which is the college that I have the honor of presiding over. Back in 2017, I, along with several colleagues, were asked to form a new college within the Lone Star College System (LSCS) that would consist of three existing satellite locations and a fourth that was in the planning stages. These sites were among the most diverse within LSCS, and unfortunately, had significant student completion gaps. The approach to designing the college was strategic. First, we aimed to learn everything we could about the students through institutional data as well as through exploration of the communities in which they resided. This process led us to several conclusions. First, while improving college readiness was a need, this solution, in and of itself, would not be sufficient. Many of these students lived in some of the lowest income neighborhoods within the large Lone
With the right structure and the right support, all students can be successful.” DR. QUENTIN WRIGHT
ABOUT DR. WRIGHT Hometown McGregor, TX Work Experience Founding College President of Lone Star College-Houston North Former Speech Communication Faculty Organizations / Affiliations Near Northwest Management District Board Member North Houston District Management Board Member Harris County Housing Policy Advisory Committee Member
Star College service area. There were students with food and housing insecurity as well as transportation being a barrier for some as well. Several of the students worked and many were parents. In addition, internal surveys found that many of our Black students were less likely to connect with staff members or utilize college
services in comparison to other student groups. We soon learned that solving this completion gap was not simply about preparing students for college, but making sure that we would be properly prepared to serve them. Therefore, with the permission of our system leadership, we developed an institutional model that would address, to the best of our ability, the needs we identified from learning about our students. We moved from 16-week (4 month) classes to 8-week terms which allows a student to take fewer classes at any given time to focus more on the subject matter. This model was chosen due to the success we observed at other institutions with these terms and seeing how this model helps the working student. To help students connect to college staff, we released our faculty from part of their teaching duties to mentor first-time-in-college students. This initiative was designed to help the students build trust in our college employees. We encouraged them to talk to us about any issues that would keep them from being successful. Often, we have the resources to help students if they trust us enough to ask for assistance. We partnered with several entities to provide wraparound services for students which includes food pantries known as CARE Centers
at each of our locations. The CARE Centers include food items, toiletries, and household goods. We have also partnered with the Houston Food Bank to provide food scholarships and a local Internet provider developed an agreement to allow our students to gain up to six months of internet access at their homes. We are still exploring and expanding different wraparound services to support the needs of our students. We recognize that if we do not assist with the basic needs concerns, the academic-related initiatives would not succeed at the level needed to close the identified completion gaps. Six years later, our students are proving my former mentor’s point. Our students have shown continual improvement in student success measures such as persistence, graduation, and completion. Our Black students have had double digit improvement in course success rates (A, B, or C’s) in courses. There is still a lot of work to do, and I am by no means suggesting that our college has the perfect model to address Black student success.
President Wright poses with Lone Star College-Houston North graduate during 2023 Commencement ceremony. Photo credit: LSC-Houston North Community Relations
12 | November 16, 2023 |
DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Obits COMMUNITY ICON
Her sense of style earned her a place on the Houston Chronicle’s Best Dressed list. A wall of fame in her home office showcased her alongside esteemed political leaders and celebrities.
Yvette ‘Ms. Chag’ Chargois mourned By Marilyn Marshall
Family, friends, colleagues and countless admirers are mourning the death of Yvette Chargois, a community icon, longtime City of Houston administrator, dedicated Street Olympics chair and former Defender People Editor. She died Nov. 10 at age 81. CAREER OF DISTINCTION
Affectionately known as “Ms. Chag” or “Chag” by many Houstonians and “Mimi” by her grandchildren, she is also remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, a caring volunteer who impacted countless lives, and a proud native of Fifth Ward. She served as community outreach director for the City for over 27 years, the last 12 of which were spent as a member of the Houston Police Department command staff. She served under numerous chiefs of police, including Lee P. Brown, Elizabeth Watson, Sam Nuchia and Clarence Bradford. She was the only civilian on the command staff. She received accolades for service from multiple mayors, including Kathy Whitmire, Bob Lanier and Lee P. Brown. In 1990, she was recognized as Public Administrator of the Year, for which she garnered a commendation from Congressman Craig Washington. Gov. Rick Perry recognized her outstanding service as a National Woman of Achievement and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee applauded her
Vanessa Gilmore, Former federal judge and friend
“Yvette was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, businesswoman, and community advocate, but to me, she was a friend. I admired her kindness, compassion and true concern for others. I also liked the fact that she was a fun traveling companion, trusted confidant and a really fun person to hang out with. She lived her life to the fullest and everyone who was blessed to be in her inner circle became an accidental beneficiary of her glow. I will miss my friend.”
EARLY YEARS
commitment to community service. COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
She was a founding member of the Houston chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) and a chapter president. Her commitment to community service extended to various organizations, including as chair of the Harris County Precinct One Street Olympics for over 30 years, and a supporter of Hester House, Friends of MHMRA, Hope Through Grace, Inc., and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. She was a member of LaFleur De Lis, a social club started by family and friends of the Creole culture. She was the Defender People Editor for nearly 25 years and covered local events in her weekly column known as “Chag’s Place” until 2013. If there was a social or community event to be covered, she was there. Each week, she bid readers farewell with her distinctive sign-off, “Ciao Darling.”
Catherine Yvette C hargois was born in Houston in 1942 to Daniel and Catherine Guerra. She was the eldest of five sisters. Her early education at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School paved the way for her graduation from Phillis Wheatley High School. She further pursued studies at Texas Southern University before embarking on a career as a businesswoman who owned three gas stations and real estate investments and later in her illustrious career in public administration. FAMILY TIES
Survivors include her sister. Danielle Guerra; children, Dana, John, Lisa and Chris; daughter-in-law, Veronica; grandchildren, Yvette (Byron, London and Canon), Ashley (Allen), Blaire (Jamarcus), Brittney (Jeremy), Chazton (Denise), Christian and Cayden; as well as 11 great-grandchildren, Haleigh, Jayden, Hannah, Jacques, Bryce, Jo-Leigh, Garmar II, Alek, Arik, Joshua and Landon, and awaiting two more in the spring of 2024.
Sharon Owens, Former Corporate Executive and friend
Kent Friedman, Attorney, and Street Olympic colleague
Sonny Messiah Jiles, Former colleague and friend
“On November 10th, this city lost a great community leader and several of us lost a dear friend who was like a sister and soulmate,” she said. “The beautiful Yvette Chargois…was called home to be with the Master. She has been my friend and sister for over 40 years and she is and will always be truly missed. Author Richard Exley once wrote, ‘A true friend prods you to personal growth, stretches you to your full potential.’ And most amazing of all, celebrates your successes as if they were her own. This was Yvette Chargois to many. I love you, Chag, and put in a good word for us in Heaven. “
“Yvette Chargois was a loving, caring human being who spent her life creating opportunities for others. Among her many community involvements, she was the chairman of the board of the Harris County Precinct One Street Olympics for over 20 years. In that capacity, she impacted over 50,000 innercity kids by overseeing the summer activities of that organization, keeping kids positively involved in healthy activities. Yvette was one of those rare individuals who truly made a difference in the world. It was an honor and a privilege for me to work with her on the [board] for many years. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.”
“Ms. Chag was down-to-earth and never met a stranger. Her tireless commitment to covering local events was invaluable and demonstrated her dedication to sharing the best the community had to offer. Most of all, she was a champion for her family , from her siblings to her children, grandchildren, and even greatgrands. Although she had not been an active member of the Defender team for some time, her contributions will forever be recorded within the pages of the Defender.”
November 16, 2023 |
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DN Health
A DEFENDER AND KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC ALLIANCE
November Is Diabetes Awareness Month or none at all. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your pancreas may initially produce adequate amounts of insulin, but your body doesn’t use it properly. Type 2 usually presents in adulthood and is often called a “silent” disease because, in initial stages, most patients don’t have any symptoms — until the disease progresses.
By JERECIA WATSON, M.D.
Diabetes is a leading cause of disability in the United States. The disease detrimentally affects how your body uses glucose, a simple sugar and biological fuel source your cells need to provide energy for muscles and tissues; it’s also your brain’s main source of fuel. With diabetes, glucose can’t get into your cells the way it’s needed and builds up in your bloodstream. Left unmanaged, glucose buildup can lead to circulatory problems in the legs and feet, limb amputations, kidney disease, heart attacks, strokes, blindness, and a shortened life expectancy. Main types of diabetes Once referred to as juvenile diabetes, Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin
Diabetes symptoms FROM THE DOC “Unmanaged diabetes can lead to amputations, kidney disease, heart attacks, strokes, and blindness.” Dr. Watson is a boardcertified Family Medicine physician at KelseySeybold’s Stafford Clinic.
• Unusual thirst. • Overly frequent urination.
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle. • Having unmanaged hypertension. • African Americans are at higherthan-average risk. • Having a family history of diabetes. To help lower your risk • Eat high-fiber, portion-controlled meals low in sugar. • Exercise for at least 30 minutes, most days of the week.
• Unexplained, chronic fatigue.
• Maintain a doctor-recommended weight.
• Susceptibility to infections.
• Avoid nicotine in all forms.
• Ongoing sexual dysfunction.
• Have regular medical checkups and cooperate with your doctor to develop lifestyle strategies to help prevent this all-to-prevalent disease.
Type 2 risk factors • Being overweight.
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24/7 SCHEDULING IS EASY Call 713-442-0000, or go online to kelsey-seybold.com/appointments.
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14 | November 16, 2023 |
DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Sports Rockets guard Jalen Green scored 28 points, had seven rebounds and three assists in three quarters during the 128-94 win over the Lakers.
Sports Briefs BRITTNEY GRINER WANTS ANOTHER OLYMPIC SHOT WNBA star and Houston native Brittney Griner has expressed interest in making another Olympic run with Team USA. Brittney Griner, who won gold at the Griner 2016 and 2020 Olympics, is coming off a 300-day detainment in Russia last year in which she thought she might never play basketball again. Griner is currently competing with Team USA in some exhibition games ahead of tryouts for the 2020 games in Paris. “I didn’t think I would ever wear this jersey again. I didn’t know what the future was,” the 33-year-old Griner said during a session with the media at the USA women’s national team training camp in Atlanta. DILLION BROOKS’ DEAL PRAISED BY LEBRON JAMES Considering their frosty relationship, it was interesting to hear Lakers star LeBron James praise the deal Dillon Brooks received from the Rockets in the LeBron offseason. Brooks, of course, James left Memphis to join the Rockets after securing a four-year, $80 million contract. Brooks unwisely referred to James as “old” during the playoffs and James showed Brooks just how wrong he was. But prior to their most recent meeting this season, James had nothing but good things to say about Brooks and the contract he received from the Rockets. “I think in his case, he was worthy of the contract he got,” James said. “He’s put in the work since he came out of Oregon, and that’s what Houston found value in and he’s here.” TSU DUO MAKES ALL-SWAC TOURNAMENT SOCCER TEAM Texas Southern’s Isabella Dillow and Akiya Saine were named to the SWAC women’s soccer All-Tournament Team. Dillow, who was recently named Akiya the SWAC Freshman of the Saine Year, took five shots with four being on goal and added two goals in the quarterfinals to help the Tigers to a 3-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. She Isabella also assisted her teammate Dillow Liliane Class Baez in a goal, as well. Saine, a sophomore defender, played a total of 160 minutes against UAPB and GSU while contributing to a 3-0 shutout against Pine Bluff.
Prairie View freshman guard Ryann Pane had 18 points, six assists and three steals in 21 minutes during the Panthers 102-62 win over Huston-Tillotson.
AUSTIN TROUT FORMS TEAM COMBAT LEAGUE BOXING TEAM By Terrance Harris
A one-time WBA light middleweight champion, Austin Trout easily admits boxing is a passion that he just can’t let go of. Trout has been given an opportunity to coach and train boxers for the Team Combat League (TCL), a reality app-based boxing competition show. But even the 38-yearold can’t say he won’t still climb back into the ring when the right opportunity comes along. Currently, Trout and longtime Houston boxing trainer Bobby Benton are looking to put a boxing team together for Season 2 of the Team Combat League. “This is going to be my focus,” Trout said of the TCL. “If we get a fight maybe before the season, cool. But during the season, unless it’s a great opportunity… I will most likely be training with the team pretty much, so I’m going to be in shape. We’re going to be in camp for 10 weeks.” It’s hard for Trout and Benton to contain their excitement for this project that came their way recently. They’ve been tasked with putting together a 24-member team of boxers (both men and women) who will compete under the team name The Hitmen during a 12-match season. OPEN TRYOUTS
While the duo says they already have preferred boxers in mind to fill the slots, they are holding open tryouts on Nov. 18 and invite-only tryouts on Nov. 19 (12 p.m.) at Benton’s Main Street Boxing Gym (1612 Austin St., Houston, 77002). “Honestly, we have some really good guys in mind,” Trout said. “Hopefully, this tryout can maybe change our mind and take some of these spots we need filled. We are looking for guys with the basics of boxing, effective aggression, effective punching. Those are probably going to be the two most important because of this one-round style.” But superior boxing skills are not all that will be needed to fill the slots that cover six weight classes on the men’s side and two on the women’s side. Personality, charisma and a strong social media following will be helpful, too, to pull in viewership and to keep it building throughout the season. “We’re looking for some killers,” Trout said. “We want people who can get busy, get it active, that are exciting. We’re also looking for people who have good personality. And it doesn’t hurt to have a good following. But we will let the show executives look for the
A world-class boxer himself and former WBA light middleweight champion Austin Trout is excited to work with some young and upcoming boxers for the Team Combat League show. (Credit: Courtesy of The Hitmen)
personalities second, in my opinion.” Benton agrees. “We’re coming to win,” Benton said. “Austin is competitive and so am I. We’re not coming just to be a part of this thing. We want to make a statement.”
and doing it out of Houston once he found out that his longtime friend and trainer Benton was on board. Now the two are focused on putting together a team that won’t just compete but win. There will be three boxers in each of the combined eight weight classes. The men will HOUSTON A HOTBED FOR BOXING fight in the 126, 135, 147, 160, 175 and 201The statement they want to make loud- pound weight classes and the women will est is that there is quality boxing in Hous- compete in the 126 and 147 weight classes. ton. Benton has a roster of All fighters will fight one world-class boxers fighting round each. In the end, the out of Main Street, includteam with the most victoTRYOUTS ing unified lightweight ries will be the winner. The Nov. 18, 19 world champion Devin Hitmen’s season, which will Noon Haney. consist of five home matches Benton's Main Trout, a native of Las and seven away, kicks off on Street Boxing Gym Cruces, New Mexico, but March 28. fights out of Houston and “I’m fired up,” Benton said. 1612 Austin St., Houston, TX held the WBA light mid“Like I said, Austin and I are 77002 dleweight title from 2011 both competitive and when to 2013, has had several we watched this thing last 713-658-0299 world-class fights includseason, it was like, `Oh yeah, ing a couple of close losses we’re coming to win.’ to Houston brothers Jermall and Jermell “There are great coaches in this thing, and Charlo in recent years. they are competitive, too. But I feel like with Benton said, “Houston is underrated as us, we’re going to win.” a fight town.” Along the way, Trout believes this will be “Big time,” Trout co-signed. a major opportunity for the fighters, whose That is why it was a no-brainer for Trout professional won-loss record will not be when approached by TCL executives to be impacted. There is some residual income to part of the show. Initially, they wanted him be gained along with getting boxing expeto be a fighter, but Trout was thinking more rience and a chance to develop or grow a as a commentator. He was sold on coaching following.
November 16, 2023 |
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DN Sports
| 15
ZION BROWN ATASCOCITA STAR QB
MAKES HIS DECISION By Jimmie Aggison
In 2019, the Atascocita Eagles went a perfect 8-0 in 6A region III district 22. However, after dropping down to 6A region III district 21 the Eagles have had to settle for second place in the district behind the Galena Park North Shore Mustangs for several years. By adding a few pivotal pieces on the offensive end and having several returning stand-out seniors, the Eagles are hoping to turn things around this season. Leading the offense this season is their returning star quarterback Zion Brown. “He means a lot to our program. At the quarterback position, he is the guy that gets to touch the ball every play and without him, the offense doesn’t move,” said Atascocita head coach Craig Stump. “As a younger quarterback, a bad play would really upset him, and possibly lead to another bad play. However, this season he’s more mature in those moments.” Brown is a dual-threat quarterback who last season threw for over 2,845 yards with 26 touchdowns and ran for 829 yards with 10 touchdowns. Through 10 games this season, Brown has accounted for over 2,276 yards passing with a completion rate of 65%, 375 yards rushing with seven touchdowns, 26 passing touchdowns and only three interceptions. However, due to back-to-back losses against both North Shore and Summer Creek, some critics still doubt his ability to lead his team in tough games. “I can take criticism because that comes with the job. Disappointing my teammates and coaches is a hard pill to swallow. Practice can’t get here fast enough,” said Brown. Brown began playing football when he was 5 years old. He played with the Atascocita Red Eagles in the Humble Area Youth Football League (HAYFL) before moving on to play with the Houston Panthers in the Texas Youth Football Association (TYFA). He then attended Timberwood Middle School and later Atascocita High School. The teams and schools changed, but one thing that remained constant was his position. Brown has always played quarterback. Freshman year, Brown played four games at the freshman level before being moved to varsity. “The game was super-fast. I had the opportunity to play under Gavin Sessions and that helped me develop,” said Brown. As a sophomore, Brown understood the assignment. When Atascocita’s starting quarterback, Sessions, went down with a season-ending injury, it was next man up. Brown took control of the offense and never looked back. “Gavin was a big playmaker. Things would happen, but he would always turn it into a big play. That’s what I try to do, keep the momentum going on our side,”
said Brown, who has leaned into his leadership role as a senior. “I’m just making sure everybody is focused on the bigger picture. We have to get better every week. In the offseason, a large part of it was making sure people were present every day, sometimes picking them up from their house for summer workouts, just being that big brother role,” said Brown. Brown studies USC’s Caleb Williams and the Houston Texans rookie quarterback CJ Stroud as he looks to improve his game. “I like Caleb Williams’ scramble ability and his pocket awareness,” said Brown. Earlier in the season Brown committed to Northwestern State University, but as the season went on, he withdrew his commitment and found a new home. “I had a checklist that included several important things: great academics, great coaching staff, longevity from the head coach, major airport so my family can fly in, and NIL opportunities,” said Brown. “The University of Texas Rio Grand Valley checked every box. UTRGV is new and my name will be a part of their history forever.” “They’re getting a great kid and they’re getting a very committed young man that’s an overall well-rounded athlete that cares about school and his teammates,” said Stump. When looking back at how far he has come, Brown offers advice to the next generation who seek some of the same success he experienced. “Stay confident and be there for your team. Try to be a great leader and know it will take time, but you will get better at it.”
ABOUT ZION BROWN Class: 2024 IG: @notquitelikezion Twitter: @ZionQb Position: Quarterback Height & weight: 5-feet-11, 180 pounds Players he studies: Caleb Williams (USC), CJ Stroud (Houston Texans) Status: Committed to The University of Texas Rio Grand Valley Favorite artist: NBA YoungBoy Favorite subject: Calculus Shout-outs: God, Coach Stump, offensive coordinator, mom, dad and sister.
16 | November 16, 2023 |
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