Houston Defender: January 27, 2011

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Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

Volume 80 Number 13

www.defendernetwork.com

Number 47

President Obama gives State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress. Behind him, Vice President Joe Biden Byand Odochi Ibe House NNPA SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Speaker John Boehner ON (NNPA) - Thelisten. Congressional Black Caucus is (R-Ohio)

C tackles employment

rent debilitating joblessness in the Black community veral sessions on the connection between education t at its 40th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). will be September 15-18 at the Walter E. Washington ter. W. Burris (D- Ill) recently hosted a panel on “Exploring ss Opportunities with the Federal Government.” Sen. advocate of looking toward the future when it comes believes Americans should devote time into learning es and becoming aware of new jobs in the emerging

JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2011

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September 16 – 22, 2010 | FREE

Black Leaders rate Pres. Obama’s speech www.defendernetwork.com

By Hazel Trice Edney Editor-in-Chief, Trice Edney News Wire WASHINGTON (TEWire) – It was an evening marked by thunderous applause, Republicans and Democrats symbolically sitting together instead of across the aisles, and a message from the President of the United States that soared with hope for economic recovery, health care, education and jobs. Still, President Obama fell slightly short of 10 points in the view of most Congressional

Black Caucus members and Black leaders when they were asked to grade the “State of the Union” speech on a scale of 1-10. “I give it a nine-and-a-half,” says Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). He says the President gets an A for giving the inspiration that was needed as the economy appears to be generally turning around. But, Cleaver expressed concern about a void in specificity on what programs might be cut in order to make up for a $400 billion freeze on annual

domestic spending that the President proposed to start this year and extend for the next five years. “This freeze will require painful cuts,” President Obama said. “Already, we’ve frozen the salaries of hardworking federal employees for the next two years. I’ve proposed cuts to things I care deeply about, like community action programs. The Secretary of Defense has also agreed to cut tens of billions of dollars in spending that he and his generals believe our H OBAMA, Page 7

Tough times for Black children ★CBC Page 3

By ReShonda Tate Billingsley vision and courage to combat the Defender DEFENDER growing racial and class segregaForty percent of Black tion in America. We must close children are born poor. In the www.tsu.edu/giving exas Southern University’s president has come up fourth grade, 85 percent of Black the achievement gap; reweave or contact Wendy Adair with a plan he hopes will put an end to a controthe fabric of family and comchildren can neither read nor do University Advancement versy surrounding the painting over of some hismunity; and build a loud and efmath at grade level and later, Adair@tsu.edu toric murals on the campus of the historically Black unifective adult voice for children,” almost half drop out of school. versity. But some students and community members EWS SERVICE tions against his relative, who’s said Geoff Canada. A Black boy born in 2001 has a wonder if his contribution of $50,000 for a Preservation olderof going thanto the ageThisofimportant 65. new one in three chance plan is enough to undo the damage. University officials r of financial Harrison faces charges False by Hart researchofconducted prison sometime in his lifetime. say they know it’s not enough, but it’s a first step. rris County Some has community Statement ResearchCredit, Associates for the Chilleadersto Obtain “We know $50,000 isn’t enough for the whole project. with dren’s Defense a for theft and Tampering Fund It’s just enough to bring in a conservator to analyze the ctments recently Governmental Record, (CDF) Theft,on behalf of against Edwin and Misapplication the Black of Community ★MURALS, Page 7 e from allega- Fiduciary Property. Three of for Children Crusade Alumni from across Texas visited the capitol to request elected officials avoid deep budget cuts ole from an eld- the charges are first degree (BCCC) found two for historical Black colleges and universities. ecile Harrison felonies that expose Harrison issues have risen to the defendernetwork.com esponsible for a up to 99 years or life in prison. top of serious concerns elated issues in The fourth is a state jail felony Let us know what you think adout the Mural Preservation the Black community his indictments on Friday @ defendernetwork.com. We want to hear from you! faces. An overwhelmom the allegaing majority, 85 ★INDICTED, Page 3 percent said unemployment presents serious challenges to Black communities and chilStudy reveals Black children impacted by dren today. unemployment. “We must shut down the cradle to prison pipeline and in Houston and Washington, State Rep. Slyvester Turner DC, are working to change these replace it with an expressway to college and work,” said Marian disturbing statistics. The Houston community is remembering y Imani Evans by city staff to extend included significant capital Edelman. Marian Wright Edelman,dationWright a longtime political L TO THE president, NNPA FROM ofjustice Star investments, during a periThe criminal sysChildren’s Defensethe contracts activist who died Sept. 11, DALLAS EXAMINER andtreatment Hudson od of uncertainty following tem’s unequal of Black Fund and Geoffrey Canada, Concessions 2010. Beulah Shepard, attacks ulti- for the 89, Retail Sales two firms with Americans is the other major ispresident and CEO, Harlem budget predictions 2011made session, By Leslie Rangel the 9/11 terror her mark both NPA) - The arcane world of ties sue perceived to prominent mately failedlegislators to carryinsist the budget cuts to be a devastating Children’s Zone, recently are ineviDefender locally and nationally as a ons contracts been and laidan- Democrats, argument. table since the state has antireless problem.including Most BlackState adults bereleasedhas two studies almost-$27 fighter for civil Rep. Helen Giddings and In the three years since me, what nounced they seetheisn’t pretty. lieve the criminal justice system goals of a renewed rights and political jusbillion deficit. Students from Historically Black the council first Texas embarked sometimes heated discussion, is doing more to hurtEddie than to help commitment to confront the U.S. Congresswoman tice. Alumni Southern University Colleges may soon face higher tuition ded citycrisis council voted 8-7 Bernice Johnson without a on its Love Field modern- says she hoped Helen Eddie Bernice Black children. Half of the youth facing Black children. Funeral services will be Emily Thompson to talk costs and no grant money. It’s an issue al that would“We have given more competitive ization plan, the concesJohnson surveyedbid. say that the potential to Giddings must act with urgency, held at 10am at Galilee to legislators concerning cuts. that recently rallied alumni, attendees Beaulah concession space in a renovatThe essence of the city sions contracts have MBC, 6616 D.S. Bailey “Keep the money coming, support and HBCU supporters to the state capiShepard erminal to the airport’s current staff recommendation that the no-bid contracts emerged as by far the most contentious issue, Pastor Edwin the universities and we areLane. here to suptol in efforts to lobby lawmakers for H BLACK CHILDREN, Page 3 incumbents’ State Rep. James White out a competitive bid - for a would be appropriate given the and have led to accusations of political Davis, officiating. Interment: Houston future HBCU impacts. After alarming years. experience, the desirability of minimizing dis- favoritism on both sides. H HBCU, Page 4 se of some long-time council ruptions during the renovation and the busi★SHEPARD, Page 4 ouncil overruled a recommen- ness risks taken by the incumbents, which ★AIRPORT CONTRACTS, Page 4

nty financial ctor indicted

Save the TSU Murals

T

@ ★

HBCUs

in jeopardy

rport contracts divide Dallas City Council in Race debate

REMEMBERING

Beulah Shepard

Lawmakers asked to limit budget cuts

Simmons shares path to wealth Kickin’ back with K’Naan INTERVIEW

Today dubbed him one of the “Top 25 Most Influential empowering at-risk youth through education, the arts, People of the Past 25 Years,” calling him a “hip-hop butions by the likes Damian Marley, Mos Def, Chali andofsocial engagement. Furthermore, he serves as UN By Kam Williams pioneer” for his groundbreaking vision has Hammett influGoodwill Ambassador The Permanent Russell Wendell Simmons was born in Queens, 2na, that Kirk of Metallica andforAdam LevineMemorial of CONTRIBUTING WRITER00 enced music, fashion, jewelry, finance, television to Honor the Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic New York on October 4, 1957, the middle of three Maroon 5. and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy. Trade. the Western music, which sons to bless the marriage of Daniel and Evelyn SimDuring his early Slave childhood, Somalia. The name alone conjures up images of From creating his seminal Def Jam Recordings talks about his new book, to Super Rich: mons, a public school administrator and NYC parks reached K’naan’s ears Here, was he pretty much limited “Bob unbridled destruction, merciless warlords ruthless to writingand his New York Times best-seller You!Tracy 12 A Guide to Having It All, how-to which administrator, respectively. Russell and Rick Rubin MarleyDoand Chapman,” until ata10, he tome, became terror. ARecords, place where nobody is safeLaws from the atrocities to Access the Power in Youfascinated to Achieve Happichampionsbeing meditation over materialism the path co-founded Def Jam the legendary hip-hop by the hip-hop emitting from aastiny carto of war, and where eight year olds handle AK-47s like is recognized globally for ness and Success, Russell true wealth. label, in 1984. speaker. “I had heard a rap verse, but I had no idea what toys. When Forbes magazine recently unveiled his influence andtheir entrepreneurial approach to boththen,” he recalls. KW: Hey Russell, thanks for the time. I don’t know if Russell parlayed his success in music into several it was back “Most Dangerous Destinations,” Somalia, above Iraq Since giving back is of business and philanthropy. you remember but we met at that partyattacked you threw for fashion lines, most notably, Phat Farm and At 14, K’naan and his threeme, best friends were andPhat. Afghanistan, it’s also “Theto him in all aspects of life, he has primary importance Soledad O’Brien. I came over and told you I’d Baby Meanwhile, astopped Chairmanthe andlist. But by warlords, just one of countless indelible imagesbeen fortrying Nation ofumbrella Poets,”organization, where a Rush poem canconsistently both inspire peace leveraged his influence in the recording to interview you for years. Thanks for finally hooking me CEO of his the impressionable teenager. Having chased them and end wars. he also ran an ad industry, fashion, television, financial services, and up. Communications, through the streets of Mogadishu, eventually cornering Growing up, movies it wasand both of these jewelry Somalias sectorsthat to advance the interests of a host RS:men My man! Of course, I remember you. I felt agency, produced TV shows, the boys in ofan alley, the began shooting. K’naan informed musician/emcee K’naan Warsame, who is charitable causes. wasfriends that possible? and published a magazine. avoided injury, butbad. hisHow three were brutally forgingForbes his own musical via a unique blend of Russell reg- also leads the non-profit A devoted yogi, KW: What gave you the idea to write the book? Magazine recentlypath named gunned down. gae,Simmons funk, pop, soul and, above all, hip-hop. Recorded division of his empire, Rush Community Affairs, RS: Well, the last of timetime I wrote a book (Do one of “Hollywood’s Most Certain that it was only a matter before her primarily in Kingston, Jamaica Marley’s home to and its ongoing commitment Influential Celebrities.” And USA at Bob H SIMMONS, Page 2 studio, his second album, “Troubadour,” includes contri★K’NAAN, Page 2 By Kam Williams

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