April 25 – May 1, 2010 | FREE
Volume 79 Number 26
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CIVIL RIGHTS TRAILBLAZERS DIE DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT:
‘God Mother’ of the Civil Rights Movement
DR. BENJAMIN HOOKS:
Former NAACP Executive Director mourned
By Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA NEWS SERVICE, AND Alexis K. Barnes, HOWARD UNIVERSITY NEWS SERVICE
NNPA NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
By Pharoh Martin
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Dr. Dorothy R. Height, the civil rights icon and living legend whose name has for decades been synonymous with quest for justice, died at the Howard University Hospital April 20th at the age of 98. “Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dorothy Height - the godmother of the Civil Rights Movement and a hero to so many Americans,” President Obama said in a statement. “Ever since she was denied entrance to college
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - The news of the death of former NAACP Executive Director and CEO Benjamin Hooks has reverberated to the very core of America’s civil rights and political leadership, according to statements that poured into the NNPA News Service recently. “Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks was among the greatest Americans of the 20th Century,” said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “He was a giant of hope and humanity who, as executive director and CEO of the
★HEIGHT, Page 2
TSU student killed at local party
Mayor Annise Parker
First 100 days
By LaGloria Wheatfall DEFENDER
The Texas Southern University family continues to mourn an 18year-old student who was shot and killed at a recent off-campus party. Joshua McMackle was shot in the back and killed after a fight broke out in the 3700 block of Wheeler. Police say more than ten shots were Joshua fired. One of McMackle them hit the victim in the back. He collapsed in a nearby front yard and died a short time later at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Another victim was reportedly shot in the ankle but recovered and was sent home the next day. “It’s really sad that you can’t go to college and really enjoy ★TSU, Page 3
★HOOKS, Page 2
By Ron Reynolds DEFENDER
It has been just over 100 days since Annise Parker was elected the mayor of the Bayou City. Parker came in and immediately began making sweeping changes. The Defender sat and talked with her about the first 100 days, what she’s accomplished, and what lies ahead. Defender: What are the highlights of your first 100 days in office and were there any goals set that were not achieved? Mayor Parker: I didn’t set specific goals other than; I would do my best to name my department leaders as rapidly as possible. That I would establish transition teams to look at a number of areas in city government and have them report back to me. I would also make sure I would jumpstart some items that have been pending for a long time, such as the Dynamo stadium. Photo: Andray Stroud
Mayor Annise Parker addresses Imani School students on the topic “How city government operates.”
★MAYOR, Page 4
INTERVIEW
Black and beautiful Tasha By Kam Williams CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Tasha Smith and her identical twin, Sidra, were born on February 28, 1971 in Camden, New Jersey. Being raised by a single-mom in a crime and drug infested neighborhood proved to be almost too much of a hurdle for Tasha to overcome as her life spiraled down a self-destructive path marked by promiscuity, marijuana and cocaine addiction, chain-smoking and a stint as a stripper. Fortunately, she eventually embraced Christianity, cleaned up her act and moved to L.A. where she tried her hand at standup comedy before settling on an acting career. The versatile scene-stealer has since appeared in such movies as “Couples Retreat,” “The Longshots,” “Daddy’s Little Girls” and “Why Did I Get Married,” to name a few. When not working, Tasha gives back to the community, dividing her time between making motivational speeches and teaching actor’s workshops all across the country. Here, she
talks about reprising the role of Angela in “Why Did I Get Married Too,” as well as her new TV series, “My Black Is Beautiful,” a reality series premiering this month on BET. (Check local listings) Kam Williams: Hey Tasha, thanks for the time again. Tasha Smith: Hey, Kam Williams! [Shrieks] Whassup! How ya doing? KW: Very well, and you? TS: I am doing awesome! I was hoping to interview with you when I was in New York for the premiere [of “Why Did I Get Married Too”]. KW: This is probably better because I’m sure you were mobbed and I would have had to elbow my way just to get a few minutes one-on-one with you. TS: Hey, you can have as long as you need now. How’s that? KW: Tremendous, thanks. ★TASHA, Page 7
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Harry C. Alford
Make Sunday Mornings Sweet
Marian Wright Edelman
HBO's Lily White World War
Tax deductions.
A Call for Education Equity
Water rates on the rise? DEFENDER NEWS SERVICE
Houstonians could soon find themselves shelling out more for their water bills, if some city officials get their way. Mayor Annise Parker and some council members support a hike ★WATER RATES, Page 7
Fired Metro attorney sues agency DEFENDER NEWS SERVICE
A woman who served as chief counsel for The Metropolitan Transit Authority is fighting back, after being fired from the embattled organization. Pauline Higgins alleges that she was fired in Feb. for refusing to allow agency employees to destroy 16 or 17 Pauline boxes of documents. Higgins Higgins has filed a lawsuit against Metro and its chief ★METRO, Page 4