Houston’s Leading Black Information Source
Volume 80 Number 9
DECEMBER 23 - 29, 2010
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By Marilyn Marshall DEFENDER
ontroversy, tragedy, triumph, new beginnings and old issues all marked the year 2010. Such topics as the economy, health care, unequal education, partisan politics and charges of police brutality continued to make headlines. There were also new concerns, such as the U.S. Census, the devastation in Haiti and the British Petroleum oil spill. Following is a recap of the top stories you read about in 2010.
January
n Annise Parker took office as mayor of Houston, replacing Bill
White. Parker said she would focus on the city’s financial position, public safety, high school drop-out rate and poor drainage system. n A massive earthquake devastated the Black nation of Haiti, initially leaving more than 100,000 people dead and millions homeless. Officials estimated the death toll could rise to half a million. n The National Newspaper Publishers Association demanded that the U.S. Census Bureau allocate more advertising funding for Black newspapers to avoid an undercount in the nation’s African-American communities. n Carolyn Scantlebury became the new president of the Houston Branch of the NAACP. Scantlebury said she wanted the organization to make an impact on multiple areas, with an emphasis on youth and seniors.
February
n Questionnaires were mailed out for the U.S. Census count,
conducted every 10 years. African-Americans were reminded of the importance of being counted.
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1.- Haitians struggled to survive after the devastating 7.0 earthquake. 2.- U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, left, administers the oath of office to Houston Mayor Annise Parker. Center, as her partner, Kathy Hubbard, right, holds the Bible during a public inauguration ceremony.
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3.- Dr. Conrad Murray was charged with manslaughter in the death of superstar Michael Jackson. 4.- President Obama is applauded for signing the health care bill. 5.- (L-R) U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) speaks as Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) listen during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. 6.- Rev. Charles and Shirley Sherrod relax in their Southwest Georgia home after coming through yet another racial storm. 7.- Community leaders from across the city and state received expert reports on issues confronting African-Americans in Houston to determine where we are now. The next meeting will be held in February 2011 to discuss best practices to bring solutions to those issues.
Visit www.defendernetwork.com for the Year in Review
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