Can we have a round of applause for Megan Tee Stallion? Te Houston-born rap per became the frst Black woman to grace the cover of the Forbes 30 Under 30 issue. The 27-year-old icon in the making racked up $13 million in 2022 through ticket sales, merchan dise, endorsements and royalties according to the publication. Despite the rather unneces sary entertainment industry drama that has surrounded her recently, she still continues to rise up in every occasion.
In her Forbes interview she said she felt like she wasn’t doing enough. “I’ll take a break when I’m dead… I’m trying to really build something.” She has come a long way from her South Park neighborhood. She’s working on a world tour for 2023, a studio album and a Netfix deal to produce shows, including a comedy based on her childhood.
Te City of Houston was as surprised as I was when millions of residents were issued a boil water notice afer a power outage at a city water purifcation site.
Schools were forced to close down and businesses scram bled to aid the infux of customers looking to stock up on clean water.
Many residents were obviously angry at the fact a notice was sent out six hours afer the initial outrage. When water pressure dips below a certain point it could increase the risk of bacteria and other harmful microbes in the drinking water supply.
Tough Houston ofcials said the city’s water supply remains safe and that it just fell below regulatory require ments, they still should have done better to notify the public in a timely fashion regardless. Tank goodness for Twitter,
Onyenehoright? Luckily for me, I was quite prepared. Sev eral of my friends reminisced about times they were visiting families back home in their native countries in the Caribbean and Africa where bathing and carrying buckets of water in their villages were a norm.
Smith’s
Will Smith is back with a new movie called “Emancipation” which opens in theaters Dec. 9. Te movie is based on the true-life story of Peter (Smith), a slave who runs away from his plantation in search of his family.
Some of you might be hesitant to watch the movie because of him slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars this year, or you might not want to watch it because you are tired of the “slave movie” narrative.
Either way Smith says he is aware of the concerns and he’ll “completely understand” if audiences decline to watch the movie. He’s hoping his actions (slapping Rock) won’t penalize the hard work and sacrifce of his team. Tere hasn’t been much promotion behind the flm because the slap might have an impact on how audiences and critics will view the movie.
Before the slap, “Emancipation” was expected to be a major Oscar contender, but even if the flm garners any nom inations, Smith won’t be able to attend due to his 10-year ban from all Academy events. At this point, the man has taken proper accountability and seemed very honest about it. Te ball is in Rock’s court and as long as Smith is alive and well, he will rebound from this.
• Shattering misconceptions of Blacks and clinical trials.
• Tips to safely shop online.
• Sports reporter Jodie Jiles has all the game highlights.
The Texas Tribune recently hosted a “Conversation with Houston Mayor Syl vester Turner,” where Houston’s CEO dis cussed current city issues and his plans for his last year in ofce.
Here are excerpts from that Q&A which was moderated by the Tribune’s editor-inchief Sewell Chan.
Tings are more difcult now than when I started as an elected official, even as a legislator. And even now as mayor, things are a lot more extreme. Tose are the realities. Things are more extreme. And it’s not about being conservative. You can be conservative. Tat’s fne; not a problem. Te question is when you become extreme; when you’re operating on the shoulder of the road, and not in the right lane. And right now, we have too many elected ofcials that are oper ating on the shoulder. So, it makes it very difcult to reach a consen sus or to talk through or work through problems. When I was in the legislature,
the biggest issue was urban versus rural. It wasn’t even Democrat versus Republi can. And then even when it became more partisan, there were times we could work things through.
I want us to go out strong. Tere are a number of projects council members have, I know I have, that I want us to get done. I don’t know who the next mayor will be, but I do know we have 13 months to get a lot of stuf done. I’ve got 22 parks that we are working to revitalize across this city. Tere are a number of infrastructure projects I want us to move forward on. It is import ant for us to build a more resilient city. There are a number of priorities and projects that I have on my board, so to speak, that I want us to be able to check the box on.
I want us to fnish with a bang. In the last six months, my goal is to have the “Mayor’s Farewell to the City of Houston.” Every month we’re going to have a major event
where I’m saying farewell. It’s going to be a six-month farewell party. Tis is an ener getic, kinetic sort of city. And, the vibe is good, and it’s important that we celebrate that and we keep it going. But I will say, I want us to set the bar very high, and then the next mayor that comes in, will have to build on top. Tat’s my goal.
Can you believe that these people have announced that they’re running for mayor while I’m still mayor? I mean, that is so disrespectful <laughs>. Tey could have at least waited until next year. They are already running. And then I’ll be waiting for the question, “What will you do that the mayor hadn’t done?” Or “How can you do things better?” And then I’ll be listening very carefully to what they say. Let ‘em crit icize me if they want to. Whoever criticizes me, I ain’t helping you at all <laughs>. But no, I mean, it is good to see people running and interested. And I’m sure that there will be more getting into the fray. I’m going to let them do what they do. You all hired me for two terms: eight years. I’ve got 13 months lef on my job. I intend to focus on my job and completing my job for the next 13 months. Te people who are run ning for mayor, they’ll have an opportunity once I’m out.
A Louisiana grand jury began hearing evidence in the deadly 2019 arrest of Ron ald Greene, long-awaited testimony that will determine whether state charges are brought against the white troopers seen on body-camera video stunning, striking and dragging the Black motorist by his ankle shackles following a high-speed chase.
Prosecutors planned to present a wide range of felony counts related to the troop ers’ use of force and their decision to leave the heavyset Greene handcufed and prone for several minutes before rendering aid. Te panel is expected to hear from several witnesses before deciding on indictments in the coming weeks.
“I want justice to be done,” John Belton, the Union Parish district attorney, told Te Associated Press. “I just feel like I need to do the right thing and present everything to the grand jury and have them determine which way this thing is going to go.”
Te proceedings come three and a half years afer Greene died in Louisiana State Police custody on a rural roadside outside Monroe. Te state case was held up for months by an ongoing FBI investigation that expanded to include allegations of an attempted cover-up. Federal prosecutors asked Belton to hold off pursuing state charges before reversing course last spring and handing over a voluminous case fle.
“The goalposts moved,” Belton said, adding he long expected the U.S. Justice Department to bring civil rights charges in the case. “I had to balance it because I promised the feds I wouldn’t pursue any charges pending their investigation — but I promised the family I’d seek justice.”
up
ics arrived on May 10, 2019, outside of Monroe, La. No longer waiting for a federal investigation, state prose cutor Union Parish District Attorney John Belton says he intends to pur sue his own case against the Louisi ana troopers involved in the deadly 2019 arrest of Greene. (Louisiana State Police via AP, File)
A Houston rapper has reportedly been arrested in con nection with the murder of Migos rapper, Takeof. Te Houston Police Department has not publicly identifed the suspect, but according to HotNewHipHop, rapper Lil Cam 5th (born Joshua Cameron) was arrested on November 22 on gun charges including felony to possess a frearm and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
Investigators are reportedly questioning him about his potential involvement with Takeof’s murder. Cameron was out on bail for a prior felony. Te possession of a frearm is a violation of the terms of his release.
Tis afer he was previously convicted of Grand Tef in Los Angeles County on October 27, official court records stated.
While Joshua’s connection to Takeof’s case has not been disclosed by law enforcement ofcials, a video that went viral moments before the Migos rapper was shot down shows he was on the scene.
Te fatal shooting happened on November 1, around 2:30 a.m. at 810 Billiards & Bowling in the 1200 block of San Jacinto Street. Tat’s where investigators say a man, later identifed as Takeof, whose real name was Kirsnick Khari Ball, of the rap trio Migos along with Quavo and Ofset, was killed
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner urged the public to
be patient while they seek justice for the popular rapper.
“I feel good where we’re progressing,” Finner said. “You remember on that day, I met with his mother. I talked with that lady personally, made a promise and there’s a lot being said. We want all investigations on murders when people are being killed to move. But the main thing is we get it right. I do not want to send family members on a rollercoaster ride, and then we have to come back and say, ‘Whoa, that wasn’t the person.’ I want everyone to be
patient and just understand there will be some justice here in Houston, Texas.”
“I don’t want to discuss any details on it, but I can tell you that we will fnd this person and we will identify the person or persons responsible for Takeof’s death,” the chief added. “I don’t like talking too much while investigations are going on. I’m a person that says, ‘you know what, let people talk.’ But my talking is when we get that person and we put them in jail.”
Attorneys for a Georgia jail detainee recorded by security cameras being punched by guards repeatedly in the head and neck are calling for the deputies to be fred and arrested, insisting the videos show the violence was unjustifed.
“Tere is no way in hell that anybody should be beaten the way this man was beaten,” Harry Daniels, an attorney for the detainee, told reporters. “I don’t care what he did. I don’t care if he knocked the damn door down. You don’t beat a person like that.”
Jarrett Hobbs, a 41-year-old Black man from North Car olina, was booked into the Camden County jail in coastal Georgia on Sept. 3 on trafc violation and drug possession charges. Security video from the same night shows Hobbs standing alone in his cell before fve guards rush in and surround him. At least three deputies can be seen landing punches before Hobbs gets dragged from the cell and hurled against a wall.
According to federal court records, guards went into Hobbs’ cell on Sept. 3 because he was kicking the door and refused orders to stop. Te video shows a guard rush into the cell and grab Hobbs around the neck, trying to push him into a corner. Four others come in behind him.
As jailers try to hold Hobbs by his wrists, one of them starts punching Hobbs in the back of the head and neck. Te video shows at least two other guards throwing punches. A second video from a camera outside the cell shows jailers
dragging Hobbs through the open door and hurling him against a wall. Te struggle continues until Hobbs, who is out of the camera frame, appears to be pinned on the ground. Te entire confrontation lasts about a minute.
For most of the video, Hobbs is either obscured by the guards surrounding him or out of the camera frame. It’s unclear to what extent he fought the jailers. Daniels said Hobbs would have been justifed to fght back against an unlawful attack by the guards.
infuencers stay connected to their followers using ultra-fast WiFi. They stream, game, and create content for their online fanbases. With Xfnity supersonic WiFi, there's space to power every device in your home. Now, everyone can stay one step ahead of the game anytime, anywhere.
Black families are taking their power back and making decisions about the education of their children either by the traditional route or by homeschooling. Many are choosing the latter.
Homeschooling is increasing in the United States and the demographic doesn’t fit stereotypical white conservative communities.
A growing number of Black families have started teaching their kids from home, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, 3% of Black households chose to homeschool their children in AprilMay 2020, and by October, the percentage rose to 16%. Even though many students were learning virtually, the data focus didn’t include children enrolled in public or private school.
Prior to the pandemic, some Black parents found that schools were failing to improve learning among their children, and the problem exacerbated well into the pandemic.
In 2019, only one and a half out of 10 Black eighth-graders who took the national reading and math exams scored at or above the proficiency level. One study found that students in majority-Black schools ended the school year six months behind in both math and reading, while students in majority-white schools ended up four months behind in math and three months behind in reading.
In some cases, homeschooling is a way to protect students from other factors such as institutional racism and stereotyping. e Texas legislature battled over state laws that constrict teachers from teaching curriculum or reading books about race and gender, and with the long list of mass school shootings, many families are concern for their children’s safety as well.
The Defender spoke with two experts, Dr. Cheryl Fields-Smith, associate professor of Elementary Education at the University of Georgia-Athens, and Dr. Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, to discuss the increasing trend.
Defender: Was there history in the practice of homeschooling before it became popular?
RAY: Yes, and I think there is a big picture. Parent-led education is the norm in the history of humankind. It was not until the late 1800s in the U.S where institutionalization started becoming the norm. When institutionalized schooling, or tax-funded schools became dominant in America, there was a fight against it. Not everyone
wanted government run schooling. Many historians have said this and I concur that these types of schooling are a lot about control, and not about empowering children to read, write and do arithmetic. In the 1970s, there was the Christian homeschooling movement giving parents the opportunity to teach their religious and moral values to their children and decrease the secular influences on them. Fast forward to the 2000s, homeschooling is growing but if you get into race and ethnicity, it’s still disproportionately white.
Defender: Why are more Black families considering homeschooling?
RAY: Not much research has been done
on Black families and homeschooling, but I did a quantitative study on this, though it’s not definitive. We found out that on average these homeschooled children are scoring above average on standardized tests [compared to] Black and white children in public schools. ey get the attention, they’re not being bullied, they are not being distracted and that’s the nature of homeschooling. These parents want to customize the curriculum for their children, rather than throw them in a group of 20-plus students in a system and see what happens. ey want to use different approaches to learning and they want more time with family. Plus, many still detect plenty of unequal treatment toward our children especially young Black boys and low expectations of them. Many parents
are concerned about the lack of cultural sensitivity in the curriculum as well.
Defender: Is homeschooling a way of activism for Black families?
RAY: Yes, it is. ese institutions make the decision about the curriculum students will learn based on knowledge and information and not about values, beliefs and world views. en, you’re supposed to bring your child and drop them off to receive this curriculum. at’s pacifism. In schools, we say we believe in the child’s autonomy and thinking for themselves, but the whole time we’re giving these children what the government or private organizations think they should be learning.
On the side of the parent, they are
supposed to be submissive and passive. e parent is supposed to trust the school system. Drop them off on the yellow school bus every morning and walk away. Now, more parents want to be involved. ey want to help their children explore their gi s and strengths and challenge their ways of thinking. at is the whole piece of the modern homeschool movement -- activism
same as public schools. Schools tend to measure “success/achievement” through tests whereas parents do not.
Another complication in answering this question is that state laws vary a great deal from one another. Not all states require testing of homeschooled children, for example. States also use different tests for public school systems.
positive cultural self-identities and provides them with opportunities to interact and collaborate with people from more diverse backgrounds then their resegregated publicly assigned schools would have and therefore, they are more able to adjust in college, for the most part.
Again, much more research is needed on this topic to be able to say anything definitive. Also, home education families vary a great deal from one another and so my research is again limited to say anything definitive regarding the transition to college...this was not the focus of my research.
Defender: Are there challenges that Black parents need to be aware of when deciding to homeschool their children?
FIELDS-SMITH: Black parents need to be fully aware of their state homeschool laws first and foremost before beginning to homeschool. Some states allow homeschool parents to hire tutors, but other states do not, for example. is will play a large part in determining how some Black families will be able to homeschool or even if they cannot homeschool.
Source: www.census.gov
To help overcome this, they have to travel an hour or more to find like-minded, culturally similar homeschool groups to partner with. is travel serves as an extra burden in the homeschool practice. Single parents also face a challenge in homeschooling, but it s not impossible, particularly if they live in a state with flexible homeschool policies. Single parents can use co-ops to enhance their homeschool practice, if laws allow co-ops to exist.
How can you measure the academic progress compared to those who are in public schools?
FIELDS-SMITH: is is a really complicated topic that requires expertise in quantitative research beyond my ability. But, keep in mind that parents’ definitions of academic progress will not always be the
Does homeschooling have an impact on social and emotional behaviors of students who chose to go to college?
FIELDS-SMITH: Absolutely. We need more research on this, but based on what I have found in my limited research, homeschooling helps Black children to develop
If both parents have to work and they live in a state that does not allow hiring of tutors then there will need to be some flexibility in parents’ work or in the child’s day. When families homeschool, they are not held to the 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday school day, which can be helpful in thinking creatively how to meet the requirements of teaching your own children.
I have found that parents who live in rural communities tend to experience a great deal of isolation when they choose to homeschool.
FIELDS-SMITH: I think traditional schools need to value Black families and all families of color a great deal more. Many times, the parents in my studies tried to work with/partner with their local schools, but found they were marginalized or disenfranchised in the homeschool partnership as they attempted to advocate for their children. Instead of labeling children as “troublemakers,” I wish teachers and other school staff had the time, energy, and ethic of care to work with parents to see what might be causing the behavior issues.
Sometimes it is the way a teacher teaches or sometimes it is the content being below the student’s abilities. ese are things that can be addressed if teachers and parents work together. Bullying continues to be a challenge and many Black families homeschool a er trying to resolve the bullying issue within the schools. Homeschooling provides a refuge for Black children to be able to avoid issues such as discipline disproportionality, school safety and teachers’ low expectations.
Defender: How can traditional school settings improve to better provide academic quality Black children need to thrive if a parent doesn’t homeschool?
Dr. Tammy E. Smithers, Ed.D, is an interdisciplin ary scholar, researcher, writer and thought leader on issues of race/ethnicity, gender disparity, political engagement, diversity and inclusion. One of her unique gifs is facilitating conversations as a moder ator, speaker and panelist on diversity and social jus tice issues with engaging, thought-provoking candor.
The Defender spoke with Smithers, a former visiting scholar at the Center for Minority Serving Institutions and Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity and Justice and current execu tive consultant at Bridge Philanthropic Consulting (BPC), one of the largest African American-owned fundraising frms in the U.S. Smithers spoke about her professional work, impact in academia, challenges specifc to being a Black woman and more.
Defender: With your many titles, how would you describe what you do?
Smithers: As a self-described disruptor, I avoid relegating my professional identity to a position or employer afliation. Instead, I consider myself to be an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner who thrives at the intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion and social justice philanthropy.
DEFENDER: Can you speak on your role at BPC?
SMITHERS: In addition to being president and CEO of Smithers Global Enterprises, LLC, a boutique con sultancy focusing on providing diversity, equity, and inclusion training for corporations and fundraising strategy for nonprofts, I am an executive consultant with BPC. BPC is the U.S.’s only full-service Blackowned fundraising frm providing counsel to plan or enhance capital campaigns, annual giving, major gifs programs, special events, program development, conference management, organizational development, strategic planning, team building, board training, planned giving, and strategic communication.
My role within BPC is to provide major gifs fund raising strategy, serve as project lead managing the cli ent and other consultants, as well as perform tactical activities such as solicitation, donor development and grant writing. Currently, two of the major projects I am helming include a $5 million Philadelphia-based memorial statue for a deceased political leader and a multiyear $70 million capital campaign to build a national museum and economic development project in north Texas.
Smithers: My lived experience as a Black woman professionally has been wrought with good, not-sogood and great experiences. Te good was being able to navigate certain spaces based on pedigree, network and skill with the frst two being the door opener for many of my opportunities. Te not-so-good came
I consider myself to be an interdisciplinary scholarpractitioner who thrives at the intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion and social justice philanthropy.
TAMMY SMITHERSduring a time when I was working in a highly com petitive environment that came with hitting numbers, building teams, bringing in assets and closing deals.
I can remember moments when I became so vul nerable that I once cried in front of one of my bosses. Shortly thereafer, I developed a thicker skin and used the system to fght battles for me. Te great expe riences came with wins, bonuses, promotions, and deal closes.
Birthplace: I am ffh-generation Texan born in Houston’s historic Third Ward and was reared from the age of 3 in South Park.
Education and degrees: The University of Texas at Austin – Bachelor of Journalism in Public Relations Rice University – Master of Business Administration University of St. Thomas –Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership Dream job as a child: I wanted to be an accountant. Mantra (words to live by): Do what you love and you will never have to work another day of your life because life is too short to be living out someone else’s dream.
Favorite artists: Tu-Pac and Biggie – of course! I love Mary J. Blige and Yolanda Adams. Both women’s music and voices are timeless.
The Houston Defender took home a major award at the Editor and Publisher’s EPPY Awards.
By Laura OnyenehoTe news team won frst place in the Best Black newspaper website (fewer than 1 million unique visitors) category. More than 400 entries across over 40 diverse backgrounds came from media companies large and small world-wide, including broadcast networks, cable news and
sports networks, local news publications, niche content publishers and colleges and universities.
“It is our honor and pleasure to continue this 26-year tradition for the news publishing industry, said Mike Blinder, Publisher of Editor and Publisher Magazine, the host of the EPPY’s. “When the internet and the digital boom started 26 years ago, the magazine decided to start the awards to advance digital journalism, spotlight innovation, and the news publishing industry is moving into a digital world at the same time.”
The category spotlighted websites that
focused on underserved communities ofer ing the latest news updates, original content presentation and inclusion of multimedia. Te Defender, Houston’s Leading Black News Source, continues to explore ways to tailor its coverage of issues to particular niche groups and meet them where they are through tech nology and social media.
“For over 90 years the Defender has served as Houston’s Leading Black information source,” said Sonny Messiah Jiles, CEO of the Defender Network. “We accepted the challenge of transitioning what and how we serve our
community. Our website is a refection of how we are continuing to transform.
“Tanks to our web designer Michael Grant with Get Current Studio, the graphic appeal of our site is inviting and easy to navigate. Te Defender content team is credited with the hard work of building our website daily with news and information that is provocative, informing and entertaining. I applaud our amazing team and thank our peers at Editor & Publisher for this honor.”
For more information about the awards visit: https://www.eppyawards.com/
Jackson State coach Deion Sanders didn’t deny that University of Colorado has offered him its Power 5 football job. In fact, he confirmed it while saying there have been other offers made that are not known about. But Sanders, while not saying whether or not he has accepted any offers, says his only focus this week is on leading the Tigers in the SWAC Championship Game against Southern. “I keeps the main thing, the main thing. And everyone that knows me, knows that about me,” Sanders said during Monday’s SWAC Media Zoom Call.
Prairie View didn’t get the help it needed from Grambling State during the Bayou Classic. As a result of the Tigers’ loss to Southern, the Jaguars are the SWAC West champs and will face Jackson State in the conference championship. The Panthers and Southern finished tied in the division but the Jaguars owned the tiebreaker by virtue of their head-to-head win over the Panthers in October.
The University of Houston Cougars men’s basketball team just to the No.1 spot in the nation in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll. It’s the first time since 1983 that the Cougars are ranked No.1. Back then it was Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler leading the way. Now it’s Marcus Sasser and freshman star Jarace Walker guiding the Cougars to the No.1 spot.
In a disaster of a season like the Texans are having, it’s all about the subplots.
Jalen Hurts, the prodigal son, returned home for the first time. How many more losses before the Texans realize Davis Mills isn’t the answer? How many more losses to secure the NFL’s worst record and the shot to dra one of the top college quarterbacks in this spring’s NFL Dra ?
But no subplot is bigger in Houston – and for that matter the NFL – than this week when much-maligned quarterback Deshaun Watson makes both his return to Houston and debut with the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 of the NFL season.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Years ago, while doing some advance coverage for Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, an NFL executive told me that nobody knows how to put on a show better than the NFL. He wasn’t lying.
But this time, the NFL should be ashamed of the show it’s putting on Sunday. If we thought Blaxsploitation was a thing of the past, think again.
Prior to this week, the last time we heard anything from the NFL concerning Watson, it was Commissioner Roger Goodell sentencing Watson to a rather unusual 11-game suspension for behavior against women which he called “egregious” and “predatory.”
Goodell’s words spoke to the souls of people who find it easy to see a Black man as a predator. e league’s boss was wrong in his description of Watson when there was no criminal punishment to support them.
For those who may need a quick refresher, Watson was accused of sexual conduct with over a dozen massage therapists, most of whom encountered him in Houston. Two grand juries declined to indict Watson on any of the criminal charges and Watson denied the allegations. He eventually reached undisclosed out of civil court settlements with 23 of his 24 accusers.
Independent disciplinary officer and former Federal Judge Sue L. Robinson handed down a six-game suspension because she couldn’t find a precedent for more since Watson’s actions were deemed to be nonviolent. Goodell, however, shows how much of a waste of time that layer is when he stepped in and overturned his appointed officer’s punishment and levied his own against Watson.
Goodell fined Watson $5 million and suspended him for exactly 11 games. Use all your fingers and a toe if you need to do this math.
No matter what side of the Watson fence you stand on, Goodell has insulted all our intelligence while lining the deep pockets of the NFL with this one. Are we really supposed to believe it’s a coincidence that a never-heard-of-before 11-game suspension happens to end the week that Watson’s new team comes into NRG Stadium?
Let’s take it a bit further, asking ourselves if Goodell really believed that Watson’s behavior was “egregious” and “predatory” against women in the Houston community why wouldn’t common decency say have Watson’s season debut be any other week and any other place than NRG Stadium? Damn!
Yet, Sunday two struggling franchises will play in a packed house where seats have gone for premium for the first time this season and will be watched under the glare of national television. is game is not about the Browns vs. Texans.
It’s about the three-time Pro Bowl QB Watson and the controversy that engulfs his return to the football field and the ability of the NFL to exploit it all.
If you remove the emotions and followed the facts of many of these allegations, there is more than enough reasonable doubt that Watson’s actions were predatory or egregious.
Reckless and immature? For sure.
ose of us who understand what can happen to a Black man when he is considered a threat can’t help but frown at the timing coincidence between these allegations brought by controversial Houston attorney and Texans owner Cal McNair’s River Oaks neighbor Tony Buzbee and Watson’s demand for a trade from the Texans before the ink was dry on his contract extension way back in January 2021. Watson’s demands threatened how things are done in the NFL.
Watson really changed the game when he was finally able to force a trade to Cleveland this past summer and then sign an unheard-of-five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with all that was surrounding him.
It’s been nearly two years since Watson took a snap in a regular-season game, having sat out the entire 2021 season with the Texans. What’s one more game?
After clearing all of the hurdles, Watson was reinstated to play this week. But it would be nice to see Watson and the Browns make the decision to delay his return to the playing field one more week. How would that be for an NFL
No knock on our Houston Independent School District but it has been a while since a team representing HISD has earned a spot in a state title football game.
e last HISD team to appear in a football title game and win was the 1985 Jack Yates Lions. Since then powerhouse teams like Katy, Galena Park North Shore and other schools from outskirt districts have been raking up state titles in bunches by picking up high-caliber players from across the city.
So, when I see two recognizable names from HISD suddenly appear on the roster sheet of a powerhouse team that is on the brink of a state title berth all I can say is, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
A er an action-packed weekend of Texas regional semifinal playoffs, C.E. King High school is still in the hunt for a state title a er beating Hightower in a 38-21 dog fight that was decided by a superior groundand-pound attack and complimented with some great defensive play.
Leading way were North Forest senior transfer running back Keith Willis Jr., who finished the game with 185 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and senior edge rusher Kam Bizor, a senior transfer from Yates a er recording a 20-plus sack season.
C.E. King head football coach Derek Fitzhenry shed light on his primetime transfers’ impact this season.
“Kam is really athletic, he comes to work every day and is an explosive player...He switched to linebacker and has done an excellent job fighting through some pain stuff. He is just a great kid,” Fitzhenry said.
“Keith is a workhorse…He executes and runs hard. e bulldozer.” e Defender spoke with Willis and Bizor about their journeys, keys to success, advice to others and more.
Willis: “I didn’t have much fun because it was all work and football. That is it. I take pride in football and that is what my team takes pride in too. We just keep working it day by day.”
Bizor: “My success going in 6A came from coaches, teammates, teachers and my parents who just helped me out.”
Willis: “Trying to push forward. If we had a bad play we just move onto the next. There is no point in holding your head down when you have one bad play because it is just going to sink you down from there.”
Bizor: “We just been
focusing on the next day. That is what we are doing. Come back tomorrow and be ready for film. Focus up.”
Willis: “Practice day by day, team, film and all that. We have to work together because if we can’t work together we can’t be a team.”
Bizor: “They have me doing drills so I got used to it and I played in my first game at linebacker and did good so I have been going from there.”
Bizor: “Do what you have to do to make it.”
Height: 6-feet-2 Weight: 235 pounds
Commitment Status: University of Colorado
Instagram: @kambizor9
Players he studies: Aaron Donald and Micah Parsons
Shout-outs: “My mom, my stepdad, all my brothers, Dylan Spencer, JoJo and the whole C.E. King football team.”
ABOUT KEITH WILLIS JR.
Height: 5-feet-11
Weight: 210 pounds
Commitment status: Uncommitted
Player he studies: Derek Henry
Shout-outs:“My team, coach Young and just my whole team and the staff.”
Dance veteran Traci Greene is no stranger to the performing on big stages.
Her work has taken her all over the world and she wants to expand her love for dance and the arts to other young women of color who look like her.
Greene along with her non-profit organization Culture Arts Initiative Inc., will produce Houston’s Urban Nutcracker taking a unique spin on the original on Dec. 16-18 at the Stafford Centre.
e production is more than a regular holiday show; it’s a city-wide fundraiser to help underrepresented and underserved students pursue a professional career in dance.
“I wanted to do something that will showcase the talents of young dancers in the city, Greene said. “ ere are a lot of opportunities presented to them but funding is difficult, and its discouraging. Minority dancers have challenges that a lot of people didn’t have, so I started this non-profit to make their dreams possible.”
The production celebrates Houston’s diverse communities, culture and historical landmarks like Emancipation Park/ ird Ward, Uptown Galleria district, Texas Medical Center and Montrose.
About 130 dancers have been cast from a city-wide audition. e show introduces a wide variety of dances including ballet, contemporary jazz and hip-hop. One dancer who will be returning this year is Kaelyn Hager, a 14-year-old freshman at e Village School, a pre-kindergarten through 12-grade private day boarding school in the Energy Corridor.
Kaelyn’s journey into the world of dance began at the age of 2. Her mother would sign her up for ballet, jazz and tap classes. Eager to pursue her dream of one day opening a dance studio, she attended e Village School which exposed her to new opportunities such as her enrollment in dance classes in collaboration with the renowned Juilliard School
in New York City.
Kaelyn credits the school and her coaches with helping her balance the demands of her academics and dance rehearsal schedule which ultimately prepare her for as a supporting cast in the Houston Urban Nutcracker.
“I’ve been doing the Houston Nut Cracker since it started in 2018. e experience has been amazing and there is so much diversity in the dance scenes,” Hager said. “As a dancer of color, I feel a sense of responsibility. A lot of young dancers who look like me are looking up to me. So, no matter how hard it gets I have to remember that I’m doing something that is bringing a good reputation for us.”
e Culture Arts Initiative has awarded over $50,000 to underrepresented dancers across the nation through its scholarship awards programs. Greene encourages the community to come out to support the youth and invest in their dreams.
“I’m just glad to be put into the position to give these youth something that I didn’t have,” she said. “ is production is bigger than me, these kids are our future.”
Senior primary care for your mind,
